The next evolution of the popular superhero roleplaying game, Mutants & Masterminds, is now in the hands of players. Green Ronin Publishing has released the Mutants & Masterminds Hero’s Handbook 4th Edition Playtest Origin Edition, a 240-page book that offers a complete, albeit preliminary, version of the game’s upcoming fourth edition.
Available on DriveThruRPG for nearly $15, this playtest edition is a significant step towards the full release of the fourth edition, which was previously confirmed for a 2026 launch. For over two decades, Mutants & Masterminds has been a stalwart in the d20-based RPG scene, known for its highly customisable character creation. This “Origin Edition” invites the community to actively shape the future of the game by providing direct feedback on a host of refined and updated rules.
Developer Steve Kenson has stated that the new edition aims for refinement rather than a complete overhaul, ensuring a degree of backwards compatibility with the extensive library of third-edition material. The core mechanics of the game, which eschew some of the more rigid elements of its d20 origins for a more fluid, action-oriented experience, remain largely intact.
Key changes being tested in the Origin Edition include a return to six core ability scores, with Fighting and Dexterity being removed, and a refined action economy that grants each character a reaction every round. This latter change is intended to create new design space for advantages and powers based on reacting to events in combat. A new “impress action” has also been introduced to unify social skills during conflict.
The playtest also introduces revised systems for powers like Impervious and Regeneration. In a significant adjustment, both damage and afflictions will now be calculated as 10 + rank, a change from the previous system where damage was 15 + rank. The equipment chapter has also received a substantial update.
The first wave of releases for the fourth edition will include a Heroes Handbook, a Mastermind’s Manual, and a book of villains, which will also serve as the first look at the game’s default setting of Earth-Prime in the context of the new rules.
Green Ronin is actively soliciting feedback on these changes and has established the Atomic Think Tank forums as the official hub for discussion.
Quick Links
- Muntants & Masterminds: Origin Edition.
