What is the Shadowfell? | Dungeons & Dragons

The Shadowfell, also called the Plane of Shadow, is a dimension of black, gray, and white where most other color has been leached from everything. It is a place of darkness that hates the light, where the sky is a black vault with neither sun nor stars.
The Shadowfell overlaps the Material Plane in much the same way as the Feywild. Aside from the colorless landscape, it appears similar to the Material Plane. Landmarks from the Material Plane are recognizable on the Shadowfell, but they are twisted and warped - distorted reflections of what exists on the Material Plane. Where a mountain stands on the Material Plane, the corresponding feature on the Shadowfell is a jagged rock outcropping with a resemblance to a skull, a heap of rubble, or perhaps the crumbling ruin of a once-great castle. A forest on the Shadowfell is dark and twisted, its branches reaching out to snare travelers’ cloaks, and its roots coiling and buckling to trip those who pass by.
Shadow dragons and undead creatures haunt this bleak plane, as do other creatures that thrive in the gloom, including cloakers and darkmantles.
#dnd #dungeonsanddragons #strangerthings

[@LordDragox412]

4:53 "Itches that scratch" is definitely the Shadowfell version of "Scratches that itch".

[@sk8rdman]

I'd like to clarify that there is no existing canon (as far as I know) to suggest that time flows differently in the Shadowfell. That's a possible wrinkle for the Feywild, but generally that's not how the Shadowfell works. However, space does work differently. 10 minutes of travel through the Shadowfell correlates to a distance of 7 miles in the prime material. That's how spells like Shadow Walk work. This is all well documented in Manuals of the Planes from past editions. Unless something about the Second Sundering has somehow changed the rules, that's presumably all still true for the Shadowfell today. Specific domains of dread or other regions may be exceptions. Obviously, a DM can choose to run the Shadowfell however they see fit, but if you care about existing canon then time shifts are explicitly not a property of the Shadowfell, though alterations in space are.

[@jackwilliams9338]

Not that whether something is canon matters but 'The Shadowfell: Gloomwrought and Beyond' has a section called "passage of time" on p6 that says: "A visitor to the shadowfell might feel as though days or weeks have passed, when in fact years have gone by on his or her native plane".

[@stephensommers4628]

Between the Shadowfell, the Negative Energy plane, and the Far Realm D&D has a lot of nightmare planes.

[@orwin5445]

Not to mention the Hells, the Abyss, Gehenna, Hades, Tarterus, Acheron, and Pandemonium. Plenty of places for you to find your own personal worst spot in all existence.

[@jcmahrt5100]

Don't forget the Domains of Dread.

[@orwin5445]

@@jcmahrt5100 technically now those are all subdomains of the shadowfell (like each layer of the abyss) but they are definitely worth mentioning.

[@jcmahrt5100]

@@orwin5445 Yeah, though if I read it right from the Guide to Ravenloft, while technically a part of the Shadowfell, they are more or less secluded in a forgotten corner of it. But yeah, you can't mention nightmare planes without mentioning them seeing as they were created to be living nightmares for the Darklords and by extension the inhabitants who call them home.

[@Apillis124]

If we're going by the creation myth of the Shadowfell--in a way--it is directly connected to the Negative Energy plane as Shar utilized the Negative Energy plane smacking it with the Plane of Shadow and thus it morphed into the Shadowfell, so linking the two would make perfect sense.

[@mal9421]

Always a delight to listen as Chris Perkins talks D&D

[@kodiakthebear4422]

Glad this was reposted, wondering why it was taken down initially.

[@paulunderhill550]

How about actually giving us supplemental book for the Shadowfell.

[@Zai-kyu]

I love these videos! So glad Todd is such a part of it all. His take on things rings very true to me.

[@albertgauche9271]

Shadowfell versions of Myth Drannor would be interesting or Tower of High Sorcery in Palanthus on Krynn would be too.

[@GZilla311]

Is this implying we will be getting more direct Shadowfell stuff soon? Ravenloft doesn’t really count, given it’s an included demiplane.

[@HonestAuntyElle]

I had no idea Chris Perkins was in this video from the thumbnail. I love Chris, and I wish it was easier to tell who was hosting what videos on the channel

[@12oshinko]

The outro for the old Tales From the Darkside show used to scare the sense out me as a kid. 😱😱😱

[@Abiaxas]

👀👀 shadowfell adventure? give us one please!

[@joefig55]

Yes! I love these new videos! Just like the good old lysk days! Now if only Chris would dm a game again showcasing new content my dreams would come true!

[@Millstone1985]

What happens if you bring a spelljamming ship to the Shadowfell? My guess is that, like material wildspace fades into the Astral Sea, umbral wildspace fades into the Negative Plane.

[@reb3llo]

Why did this video have to be reposted?

[@Jeff-ne1lh]

Loved the Shadowfell I used it as a return point from Ravenloft...it took a very long time for my group to figure out what was going on....

[@o_double_t_o]

I’m curious what 2024 will bring to D&D. We “technically” do not have a Shadowfell setting book nor a Feywild setting book. With Radiant Citadel focusing on the ethereal plane (inner planar travel) and then Spelljammer for using on the astral plane (outer planar travel), are we getting Sigil or will we be using the Radiant Citadel as one of the hubs for the inner planes? 2023 shall be interesting, but 2024 will be the finale of 5e.

[@TheDragonshunter]

Shadow Dragons are a nice template

[@krolltheknight]

Such a twisted place. However, darkness is not always an inherent enemy.

[@Daemonarch10]

Question, is there a version/reflection of the Underdark in the Shadowfell? like version of Menzoberranzan ? or is that a situation like placing a bag of holding inside an extradimensional space created by a handy haversack, portable hole?

[@y.og.i]

Yep. The Feywild and the Shadowfell both have their own reflections of the Underdark: the Feydark and the Shadowdark.

[@Daemonarch10]

@@y.og.i cool! I love the underdark, now imagine a even darker and twisted version of it XD

[@LordDragox412]

@@Daemonarch10 Thought mindflayers were bad? Introducing The Ghost King! A composite being formed from: Hephaestus, a dracolich; Crenshinibon and its seven disembodied liches; and the sentience of Yharaskrik, an illithid; which had powers over the undead denizens of the Shadowfell! The super ultra powerful being- oh wait, Drizzt killed him. God damn heroes! This is why we can't have nice things! >:(

[@babymordred121]

I remember reading somewhere that the deepest parts of the Underdark are so divorced from the surface world that the boundaries between inner planes kind of break down down there- so, one could claim that, at least in part, the roots of the same Underdark are shared by many planes.

[@DimiusG]

There's also a city in the Underdark (forgotten realms) called Chaulssin which has a part of it called the Shadow Fringe that exists partly in the Shadowfell 👍

[@Tachilen]

'A Light in the Belfry' is my favorite adventure for level 1 characters - it is in a certain domain of dread, of course 😇

[@ChasoGod]

If the Feywild is the Disney Fairytale world, then the Shadowfell is the Brothers Grimm fairytale world.

[@zelbarnap]

Well said

[@schaughtful]

The shadowfell could be how the forgotten realm see’s our world

[@TheLanach]

Are telling me that the Shadowfell is like the material plane, but flipped into a sinister reflection...an upside down version, if you will.

[@Millstone1985]

Would the Feywild be the Downside Up then?

[@tyrongkojy]

Worse. And more zombie filled.

[@johnnyscifi]

Imagine a shadowfell Menzoberranzon

[@Subcomandante73]

If only we could get proper sourcebooks rather than some lore mixed in with sub par adventures. Why does WoTC assume DM focused books don't sell?

[@tiredeyesish]

Its not that DM focused books don’t sell well, its that player focused books sell even better. In a group of 5, a DM focused book is sold to 1, while a player focused book is sold to all 5.

[@cbeaird52]

Statistics. They've looked at past editions and it's pretty accurate that DM only books dont sell as well. So, they put the DM stuff into books that both DMs and players would want.

[@Subcomandante73]

@@tiredeyesish Lucky for us some great 3rd party products fill the gap and make money :) Less and less of my hobby money goes to WoTC these days.

[@dessamator1420]

Need more full campaigns within the shadowfell such as maybe bring back Vecna and have him be a lord of one of the domains of dread.

[@McDarkBeer]

Stranger Things Hawkins as a DnD setting confirmed.

[@Slicknick72636]

@chrisperkins who stole the belt of Giant Strength in the Horn Enclave. Inside job right?!

[@harleywilliams6657]

Man I’ve had acid trips like this

[@user-vk4mm9so7l]

I like the shadowfell, it reminds me of schizopherenia, you see all that wierd dark stuff.

[@princexizor5151]

5:40 hey we live in one of those!

[@kyubiotsutsuki2435]

I am planning to make a Campaign that takes place in a Shadowfell themed plane Anyone have any resources that I should use?

[@HorrorMetalDnD]

The Raven Queen, the BTGG of D&D. LOL.

[@GoreManiiaC]

But how was the Shadowfell created? Was it always there?

[@majestyc0359]

As Chris said, it came out of the old Plane of Shadow. As for a in-game reason: ask your DM.

[@YamatoCannonFire]

New campaign setting 2023 confirmed.

[@Saberwolf71]

When will there be a 5e Shadowfell Campaign gude?

[@ronben-ezer8373]

The ravenloft setting takes place in the shadowfell, and there's a setting book for that

[@Saberwolf71]

@@ronben-ezer8373 - I know that and have Van Richten's Guide but it does NOT give any information about the area that is NOT the Domains of Dread. I'm especially suggesting/advocating for a campaign guide that gives information to help run a campaign in the areas that the video actually talks about rather than the varied DoDs, but thanks.

[@UHBroward]

I would really love to be able to see this as a whole interview, not just pieces. Is that possible?

[@O4C209]

Where's the "What is Stranger Things?" video?

[@tyler420durdenAk]

Shadowfell Menzobranzan....

[@Millstone1985]

Probably ruled by Kiaransalee.

[@daerwyn]

Demimonde - 1) A class of women supported by wealthy lovers and considered to be promiscuous or otherwise unrespectable. 2) Women prostitutes considered as a group. 3) A group whose respectability is dubious: Also, from the French demi- (half) -monde (world) TIL

[@joshuaharvey8046]

I swear to Tiamat at 5:00 one of them farted.

[@mutineer2639]

I am going to disagree with you here about what is was called. In the original hardbound players handbook version of the game circa 1978 it is referred to as the negative material plane(page 121). Not the plane of shadow.

[@simonfernandes6809]

It was called the Plane of Shadow in 3e, seperate from the Negative Energy plane.

[@bloodsin28]

Some of these videos drive me nuts. No mention of things like the shadar-kai, shadowvar, shades, no Furlinastis, no nothing. There are several dnd fiction books that touch on or have large percentages of story that take place in or around the shadowfell / plane of shadow and not a single word about them here. Weaksauce.

[@gregkun1]

Profound psychological consequences you say. Does that mean 5e. is going to stop being barebones lore to none existing? Using previous DnD lore is interesting deep lore and its unwavering Beauty and Horror. It's a solid foundation to build on. Casting it aside just nit-pick and modify it's like a fool trying to build his house upon the sand.

[@deadlyDM]

Shhh... we can't talk about evil things in D&D anymore

[@jonathanfesmiresteampunkau6983]

Slip into a darker reality... you mean what we did in November 2016?

[@omega311888]

yet the economy is in the toilet, food is scarce and gas prices are skyrocketing since the idiot puppet took over....