There are several new Dungeons and Dragons adventures that you can play through with the new Ravenloft: The Horrors Within sourcebook. This is the first major expansion for the TTRPG in 2026. The horror-based sourcebook provides a deep dive into the Domains of Dread and the Darklords that rule them, as well as tons of character options for players to pick from. There are seven new D&D subclasses in Ravenloft: The Horrors Within, some of which are reworked versions of previous releases.
In addition to that, players can find Origin Feats and Dark Gifts that tailor their characters even further into the horror themes of the expansion. There are also new D&D species in Ravenloft: The Horrors Within. Once you craft your character or see your friends craft their characters, you may want to participate in an adventure in any of the Domains of Dread, and, luckily, the book features many adventures to choose from, depending on your preferences.
The Tithe: Level 2
The lowest-level adventure in Ravenloft: The Horrors Within, The Tithe is also one of the coolest ones you can play. Diving straight into the folk horror themes of Tepest, led by Mother Lorinda, the level 2 adventure will make the PCs participate in a strange religious ceremony called the Tithe, meant to honor their god, Mother.
In this adventure, players can participate in small games, engage in roleplay, and potentially even battle. The Tithe is a perfect low-level choice that serves not only as an introduction to a Tepest-based adventure, but for those who enjoy the darker side of fey-themed settings, like The Wild Beyond the Witchlight module in D&D.
The Grand Masquerade: Level 4
Set in Dementlieu, this Ravenloft adventure in D&D is a fun option for everyone involved. Players are invited to the Grand Masquerade, a ball with lavish costumes and fancy masks. This adventure is much less focused on combat, but on roleplay, deception, and investigation, as you navigate the high society, flirting, gossiping, and dancing, for example.
There are guests who may be particularly interested in the party members, for a variety of reasons, and the mystery will linger in the air from the start to the end. This is not to say there won’t be any battles, but there is much more to do. It’s a great start to a Dementlieu campaign, or, perhaps, a session set in that Domain of Dread.
Lethal Lavender: Level 5
Another great lower-level adventure to take on is Lethal Lavender. Set in the Domain of Desire and Deceit, Borca, the level 5 adventure will have players try to help siblings escape a terrible fate after they stole an item from the wrong people. This adventure features a lot more combat, but there’s also investigation and what could be considered political intrigue.
Lethal Lavender is a bit simpler by comparison, making it an excellent one-shot adventure, or perhaps the ideal session in a Borca campaign that will set up the party’s first big encounter with Ivana Boritsi, one of the Darklords in this Domain of Dread. Depending on the DM, players could even get a new Dark Gift Feat from D&D: Ravenloft as a reward.
Blood o’ the Vine: Level 6
If players want to dive straight into Barovia for what could potentially become one of the best campaigns in D&D, Curse of Strahd, Blood o’ the Vine is a great level 6 option. In the village of Barovia, players will uncover a sinister magic within the local tavern, and from there, set off to investigate at the request of an important NPC.
Blood o’ the Vine is a great and short dungeon crawl, full of combat scenarios that directly connect the players to a larger Strahd-hunting campaign. There are great rewards in store for those who participate in this adventure, as well as a potential Dark Gift. If you want even more Strahd-adjacent fun, be sure to run the level 9 Treacherous Blood adventure.
Trial of Hearts: Level 8
Trial of Hearts is a level 8 adventure set in Valachan, the Domain of the Hunter. The jungle adventure will feel a bit different than most of those within Ravenloft: The Horrors Within. Players are tasked with participating in a special trial, overseen by Chakuna, the Darklord of this Domain of Dread. By getting past it, they could potentially escape the domain.
This adventure will see players trace a route for their escape and, after that’s done, head on out. There will be tough combat encounters along the way, as well as what could be an epic conclusion. If your players aren’t too much into roleplaying, Trial of Hearts is a great way to go.
The Shadowborn Sword: Level 10
At level 10, things start getting a lot more serious, not only because of the character and enemy levels, but also because of the consistency of the Darklords’ presence. Taking place in the Shadowlands, The Shadowborn Sword will have players aiding a knight to reclaim a hero’s long-lost sword for a hefty amount of gold. The premise itself is pretty simple.
Players will be faced with several encounters, not all of which are combat-based. There are a lot of surprises in store with this adventure, including the return of Ebonblade, a powerful Darklord that players may be anxious to meet. This adventure can also set up a larger campaign or be the encounter that leads up to the conclusion of the Shadowlands arc.
Vault of the Elder: Level 11
Vault of the Elder may be one of the most exciting new adventures in Ravenloft: The Horrors Within. This new sourcebook for Dungeons and Dragons introduces Cthulhu as a Darklord, and Vault of the Elder is directly connected to the cosmic horror creature. While you won’t be facing it directly, the level 11 adventure will set the stage for what could become an epic fight a few levels later.
Vault of the Elder features the many different cults that inhabit the Domain of Innsmouth and worship the cosmic beings therein. The adventure features several spine-chilling encounters with inexplicable creatures, as well as a constant atmosphere of tension and cryptic messages. If you want to have trouble sleeping at night, moved by existential dread, this may be a fantastic one-shot adventure for D&D.
If you’re looking for a different type of new adventure in Dungeons and Dragons, Scrolls of the Dead may be the one for you. Set in Har’Akir, a desert domain full of tombs, ancient secrets, and lost gods, Scrolls of the Dead will have players participate in a ritual for the Darklord Ankhtepot.
This adventure has several combat instances for players who enjoy smacking monsters rather than talking, and a few high-stakes battles that may require evaluating your odds. It’s a fast and straightforward adventure that has the possibility of becoming a dungeon crawl if you’re already in a Har’Akir campaign.
Shadow of the Black Rose: Level 14
Shadow of the Black Rose is one of the coolest adventures in the new Ravenloft book because of the many ways it could end. Contrary to most adventures that have one or two endings, you have a few more options in this level 14 adventure set in Sithicus. Like a few other adventures here, you must assist an NPC in exchange for a means of escape from the domain.
There are some pretty cool enemy encounters in Shadow of the Black Rose, but it’s also very roleplay-heavy, if you choose so. There are different ways of engaging with the characters in this adventure, including the Darklord known as Lord Soth from D&D: Dragonlance. This could be the conclusion of your Sithicus campaign or the start of another in the many Ravenloft domains.
Secrets of Avernus: Level 16
Secrets of Avernus is the highest-level adventure in Ravenloft: The Horrors Within. Set at level 16 in the domain of Darkon, the adventure will have to investigate to learn more about why this particular Domain of Dread does not have a Darklord, and where its previous ruler has gone.
This is a great adventure to run because it’s related to Azalin Rex, one of the best Darklords and a rival to Strahd, and it serves as a stage for a huge lore dump. As a DM, you could go many different ways with the possibilities and encounters suggested by the book. There are plenty of other pretty cool adventures in Dungeons and Dragons’ latest Ravenloft: The Horrors Within book, like Isles of Agony and Siege of Lekar, so be sure to check them out, too.
- Original Release Date
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1974
- Publisher
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TSR Inc., Wizards of the Coast
- Designer
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E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson
- Player Count
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2-7 Players