Best DND dice sets

Buying guide for best DnD dice sets

Seven dice have fueled tabletop role-playing games for decades, and while they are often associated with Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), they’re used in a variety of games. Every set contains the same seven dice, usually with matching colors or themes.

While there are some considerations about balance and material, any tabletop role-playing gamer knows that picking dice that look great on the table is a key factor. While most are made of plastic, some are made of other materials like wood or metal.

D&D dice sets come in a seemingly limitless number of colors and styles. While any set will function for your next campaign, there are some considerations when choosing dice that you’ll likely use for years. A good shopping guide and recommendations can help.

A matching set of dice has a striking look, but by mixing sets you can color-code the dice to find the right size more easily.

How to buy the best DnD dice set

Each player has their own “best” when it comes to dice sets. Understanding what each set contains, how consistently the dice roll, and how easy they are to read are the most important factors to consider when shopping.

What is a DnD dice set?

Also known as polyhedral dice, D&D dice come in sets of seven with various numbers of faces and values. For simplicity’s sake, the names of the dice are usually abbreviated (for example, a 6-sided die is called a d6).

Abbreviated die names are more than just shorthand used when discussing dice. They are reflected in tabletop role-playing games (TTRPG) and character sheets as well. For example, when a player is to roll “2d6” to determine damage, this means they should roll a 6-sided die twice.

• d4 is a 4-sided pyramid-shaped (tetrahedron) die numbered one through four. Because this shape never has a flat side facing upward, each numeral is printed near each corner or near each edge. Depending on the style, you either look at the top corner or the edge on the table to determine the roll value.
• d6 is a 6-sided cube-shaped die also commonly found in traditional board games. However, the d6 dice used in TTRPGs typically have numerals instead of pips.
• d8 is an 8-sided die (octahedron) with triangular faces.
• d10 dice have 10 sides (decahedron). These dice in pairs are slightly different in that one die has numerals 1 through 10, while the other has 00 through 90. When rolled together, they produce results from 1 to 100 and so are often called “percentile” dice. The die with double-digits determines the tens place, while the die with 1 through 10 determines the ones place. That means rolling 60 and 8 gives you 68. In most TTRPGs, no unmodified die roll can give you a result of 0. This means that rolling 00 and 0 gives you a result of 100 percent, the only time rolling low is actually a good thing.
• d12 is a 12-sided die with pentagonal faces (dodecahedron).
• d20 is the iconic 20-sided die with triangular faces (icosahedron). It’s the die that players usually roll most because it’s used for a range of attacks and checks and is responsible for critical hits.

Balance

Just because a die looks geometrically sound doesn’t mean it will reliably produce random rolls. Some manufacturers advertise “balanced” dice that have been tested to roll without bias so you know your dice aren’t working against (or for) you. However, the difference between a balanced die and a regular die is so miniscule you’re unlikely to notice.

Readability

As you’re comparing different sets, remember that readability is just as important as looks. Think about the lighting of the environment you play in most. Is it well-lit from several angles, does it rely on natural light, or is there a single light source?

The higher the contrast between the numerals and the color of the die, the easier it will be to read. Numeral size is a factor as well, as is the typeface used. Thematic typefaces and dice with additional decorations and details can be more challenging to read, especially in low light.

Similar to how the opposite sides of a d6 add up to 7, the opposite sides of a d20 add up to 21.

Features to look for in DnD dice sets

Now that you know what type of dice you need, you get to do the fun part of choosing from the variety of patterns, colors, materials, and themes of D&D dice sets.

Engraved, inked, or embossed faces

Engraved: Almost all D&D dice have engraved numerals. The numerals are recessed into the die and usually painted a different color from the background.

Inked or printed: These faces aren’t molded, but instead the numerals are painted on the flat surfaces. This gives the die slightly more mass, and some players prefer inked faces because each face is weighted equally, in theory resulting in more balanced rolls. However, ink is more likely to wear off flat dice that aren’t engraved or embossed.

Embossed: These die faces have raised numerals (and often edges) rather than recessed numerals. They have a bit more texture and are often more distinctive on the table.

Color, transparency, and pattern

Color: Think of a color and there’s a good chance there’s a D&D dice set in that color. There are also multicolored dice with different patterns.

Transparency: Most dice can be divided into two categories: opaque and transparent. Opaque dice have one or more solid colors and are usually highly readable. You can see through transparent dice, and they are often tinted in different colors. Some transparent dice also have color fills and swirls inside. Less common are dice filled with objects like eyes, gears, or skulls. A few have liquid cores filled with glitter or other substances that continue to swirl after each roll.

Pattern: A pattern gives the dice a bit more texture. There are a handful of common patterns, including marbled, with a blend of colors or tones, sometimes with a bit of transparency; speckled, with one dominant color and speckles in a second color; and glitter which isn't so much a pattern as an effect, but it gives the dice a shimmery look. Opaque dice have glitter on the surface, while transparent dice usually have glitter throughout.

Themes

While most dice don’t have a specific theme, some are designed to evoke a certain style or to pair well with a TTRPG class, such as warrior or wizard. A themed dice set can make for a more immersive game-playing experience, though you might not want to use the same themed set for different games. Common themes include elven, dwarven, dragons, and runic.

Unique symbols and shapes

Symbols: Rolling a 1 or a 20 is always a dramatic moment. Some dice replace these numbers with a symbol like a skull, dragon, or weapon.

Shapes: D&D dice aren’t limited to the six traditional polyhedrons. Some dice sets are in the shape of cylinders, spheres, crystals, potions, and bullets. Dice can also be hollow with a smaller die inside.

Materials

The material typically has the biggest impact on cost.

Acrylic: The most affordable dice are acrylic, which is easy to pour into molds and typically results in a consistent density. However, acrylic dice can show wear after extended use.

Resin: This weighs about the same as acrylic, but it’s a harder material, resulting in finer details and a shinier texture. These dice are usually more expensive than acrylic dice.

Metal: One of the most popular materials among dice collectors and TTRPG enthusiasts, metal is weighty and loud as it rolls on the table. Most metal dice are made mostly of zinc alloy. When purchased in sets, metal dice are more expensive than resin. They’re often painted for a two-tone effect. Embossed metal dice are common.

Glass: Similar to metal dice, glass dice are heavy and clatter loudly on most hard surfaces. They may be frosted or clear. Most glass dice are made in molds and have numerals etched into the surface.

Gemstone: Many of the most expensive dice sets are made of gemstones. Common gemstones include amethyst, opal, and obsidian, but a synthetic gemstone is often used rather than natural stone. If you prefer authentic gemstone dice, most manufacturers make note of whether the gemstone is natural. Using these dice can chip them, so many people opt to only display their gemstone dice.

Wood: Wooden dice are made of a variety of woods, including sandalwood, walnut, and teak.

How much do DnD dice sets cost?

D&D dice sets can be quite affordable or luxury collectors’ items that are more suitable for display than use.

Inexpensive

Most acrylic dice sets and a few resin sets cost $7 to $15. Even in this range, you can find unusual patterns and colors, but themed sets are less common at this price.

Mid-range

High-quality resin sets, a few metal dice sets, as well as multipacks of acrylic dice sets cost $15 to $30. Transparent dice with objects inside are common in this range, as are themed sets.

Expensive

Dice sets made of resin, metal, glass, wood, or gemstone cost $30 to $100. Their designs vary widely, but most feature intricate patterns or multiple colors.

Rolling a 20 on a d20 is often called a “nat 20,” short for “natural 20.” Any roll that results in a 20 with or without modifiers usually results in a critical hit.

Tips

• Set dice with their highest number facing up to identify them quickly. This is helpful if you’re new to TTRPGs and have trouble identifying the dice. Also, you can write labels on your character sheet and leave each die on its corresponding space. Since you usually only roll one die at a time, you can simply return each die to the empty space after rolling it.
• Clean dice with a microfiber cloth. Dice can get greasy, and grime can collect in engraved numbers and designs. Giving your dice a quick polish with a microfiber cloth or a wash with dish soap and water keeps them shiny and easy to read.
• Consider how you’ll use your dice when choosing a set. You won’t use all of your dice equally. Depending on your character’s class, weapons, and abilities, you might end up hardly ever rolling your d12, or you might rely heavily on your d4. If possible, take this into consideration when comparing sets to make sure your most-used dice are readable and attractive.

Dice sets rarely come with bags, though they might include a crystal plastic case. A small dice bag can be a worthwhile purchase.

FAQ

Q. How can I tell if a die is balanced?

A. Other than rolling your die a hundred times or so and recording the results, you can perform the float test. Fill a glass with water and a lot of table salt, mixing the salt in well. Put the die in the water. After it floats to the surface with one face up, poke it to get the die rotating. If one face continually floats upward, your die could be imbalanced.

Q. Can gemstone, glass, or metal dice dent a wooden table?

A. It’s possible, and the table could chip or scratch your dice as well. Glass surfaces are also susceptible to damage, and rolling glass or metal dice on them is quite noisy.

Q. Do dice come in different sizes?

A. They do, though d6s are usually 14 or 16 millimeters tall when resting on one side, and the other dice are approximately the same. However, mini and extra-large sets do exist, though they’re often more of a novelty since they can be difficult to use.