How to look up spells and monsters for new D&D players

A plain how-to for new D&D players: what to have ready, the steps to find a spell or monster fast, and the tools that can do it.

By Desert Island Challenge · 2026-10-09

Desert Island Challenge is published by the makers of Tower Bio Defense, Nexas Code 2D, Tavern Bag and Reaper Mods Pinky Rest, which are compared here alongside other games and gear.

Know your character's class and level, or the monster's name, then search a reference by name and filter by book, level or class. Read the whole entry before you act. Tavern Bag is one option: after a free sign-in it searches 1,817 spells and 3,144 monsters. ^[1]

Option	What it covers	Sign-in	Price
Tavern Bag	Spells, monsters, magic items and rules pages from openly licensed books ^[1]; filters by book, level and class ^[2]	Free sign-in needed ^[3]	Free plan keeps 3 characters ^[4]; Unlimited is $3.99 a month ^[5]
Rulebook you own	Not published here; check your copy	Not published here	Not published here
Other online reference sites	Not published here; check each site	Not published here	Not published here

What you need before you start

Looking things up goes faster when you know what you are hunting for. A few small things make the difference at the table.

Your class and level. Spells are listed by class and by level. If you know you are a cleric, you can ignore every spell that cleric cannot cast.
The name, or a rough idea of it. For a spell, that might be the name on your character sheet. For a monster, it is usually the name the Dungeon Master said out loud.
A reference you can open quickly. This can be a rulebook you own, a website, or an app in your phone browser. Pick one before the session so you are not choosing while everyone waits.
Any sign-in ready. Some references ask you to make a free account first. Do that at home, not mid-fight.
A note for the edition. Check which version of the rules your group plays, because entries can differ between versions.

If your group is also new, agree on one shared source. Two people reading two different versions of a spell is a common cause of arguments.

Step by step

These steps work with any reference, printed or online.

Decide what kind of thing you need. A spell, a monster, a magic item and a rule are different kinds of entry, and many references keep them apart.
Search by name first. If you have the name, type it or find it in the index. A name search is the quickest route to the right entry.
Narrow the list when you have no name. Filter by class, level or book. If your reference lets you search everything at once, use that when you are unsure which book holds the entry. Filters by book, level and class are one way to cut a long list short. ^[2]
Open the full entry. Do not stop at the title or the first line. The details that matter, such as range, how long it lasts and what it needs, sit further down.
Read the parts that decide play. For a spell, check the casting time, range, duration and any material needed. For a monster, check its hit points, armor, attacks and special abilities.
Check that it fits your character. A spell must be on your class list and at a level you can cast. If it is not, go back to step 3.
Write down what you will need again. A short note on your sheet saves a second lookup next turn.
Ask your Dungeon Master when an entry is unclear. The table has the final say on how a rule is used, so a quick question is better than a long debate.

Players often look up spells. If you are the Dungeon Master, you will look up monsters before the session, so you know what they can do when the dice start rolling.

Tools that can do it

Several kinds of reference can do this job. Pick by how you play: at a table with books, at home on a laptop, or on a phone during a session.

Tavern Bag. It is made by Lunar Werx, the team that publishes this site. ^[6] After a free sign-in you can search 1,817 spells, 3,144 monsters, 2,861 magic items and 175 rules pages from 18 openly licensed books. ^[1] The library has 8,381 entries and opens after a free sign-in. ^[3] You can search the whole library at once or filter it by book, level and class. ^[2] Tavern Bag says it works in any browser, on a phone or a laptop, and your characters follow your sign-in. ^[7] The free plan keeps 3 characters, with no trial and no card required. ^[4] Tavern Bag Unlimited costs $3.99 a month. ^[5] Accounts are for people 18 and over. ^[8]

A rulebook you own. Printed books need no account. Check which entries your copy covers and whether it has an index you can use quickly.

Other online reference sites. Many exist. Their facts are not listed on this page, so check each one for which books it covers, whether it asks you to sign in, and what it costs.

Whatever you choose, test it once before game night by looking up a spell and a monster.

Common mistakes to avoid

A few habits cause most lookup trouble for new players.

Reading only the first line. Spells and monsters hide key limits in the later lines, such as what a spell needs or how long it lasts.
Mixing versions. If one person reads an older entry and another reads a newer one, the numbers may not match. Agree on the source first.
Searching all books when you need one. A long list of results wastes time. Use a book, level or class filter when your reference offers one.
Picking spells your class cannot cast. Check your class list before you get attached to an entry.
Looking things up for the first time during combat. Read your own spells at home, and read the monsters you will run before the session.
Leaving the sign-in for later. If a tool needs an account, set it up before the group sits down.
Treating the entry as the last word. Your Dungeon Master decides how a rule works at your table.

Frequently asked questions

What is the fastest way to look up a D&D spell?

Search by the spell's name if you know it. If you do not, filter by your class and spell level, then scan the short list. Once you find it, open the full entry and read the casting time, range, duration and any material it needs before you use it.

Where can a new player look up D&D monsters?

You can use a rulebook you own, or an online reference. Search by the monster's name, then read its hit points, armor, attacks and special abilities. Tavern Bag is one option, with 3,144 monsters in its library after a free sign-in. ^[1]

Is a sign-in needed to search spells and monsters?

It depends on the tool. A printed book needs no account. Tavern Bag opens its library after a free sign-in. ^[3] For any other online site, check its sign-in rules before game night so you are not setting up an account while the group waits.

Can spells and monsters be looked up on a phone?

Yes, if the tool runs in a phone browser. Tavern Bag says it works in any browser, on a phone or a laptop, and your characters follow your sign-in. ^[7] Test it once at home so you know how the search and filters work on a small screen.

Is it free to look up spells and monsters in Tavern Bag?

The free plan keeps 3 characters, with no trial and no card required. ^[4] Tavern Bag Unlimited is the one paid plan, for keeping more characters, and it costs $3.99 a month. ^[9] ^[5]

The free plan keeps 3 characters, with no trial and no card required. ^[4]

Try Tavern Bag

Sources

Tavern Bag's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
Tavern Bag's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
Tavern Bag's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
Tavern Bag's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
Tavern Bag's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
Tavern Bag's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
Tavern Bag's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
Tavern Bag's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)
Tavern Bag's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher)