The variant rules for this book are contained on pages 110–111, which include Open-Ended Rolls; Death from Massive Damage (change with a new feat option as well); Extended "Death's Door" (adds your character level * −1 onto your Dying HP when above level 20); Spell Resistance for Time Stop; NPC Challenge Ratings (Fix for Epic Levels); Epic Luck (1 per day reroll of a roll); and the Three Deaths and You're Out variant rules are all contained.

The Epic Level Handbook was designed by Andy Collins and Bruce R. Cordell, and published in July 2002.

[1] The cover art is by Arnie Swekel, with interior art by Daren Bader, Brom, David Day, Brian Despain, Larry Dixon, Michael Dutton, Jeff Easley, Lars Grant-West, Rebecca Guay, Jeremy Jarvis, Alton Lawson, Todd Lockwood, David Martin, Raven Mimura, Matthew Mitchell, Vinod Rams, Wayne Reynolds, Darrell Riche, Richard Sardinha, Marc Sasso, Mark Smylie, Arnie Swekel, and Anthony Waters.

"[5] James Voelpel from mania.com commented: "A landmark book from Wizards of the Coast, the Epic Level Handbook not only helps dungeon masters run high level games but encourages smart players to strive for it's [sic] unlimited greatness.

"[6] Viktor Coble listed Epic Level Handbook as #6 on CBR's 2021 "D&D: 10 Best Supplemental Handbooks" list, stating that "It offers a wide scope of ways to engage extremely powerful characters and build them, and it even gives options beyond experience points for progressing and growing the characters.