Dice are one of the few D&D purchases every player eventually makes their own. The game uses seven dice types, they come in dozens of materials and styles, and the range available through Amazon AU has expanded significantly. This guide covers what you actually need, what the material options mean in practice, and what storage products make sense if your collection grows.
Every D&D player needs a standard seven-piece polyhedral dice set: d4, d6, d8, d10, d10 (percentile), d12, and d20. Plastic sets from AU$10 to AU$20 play identically to premium metal or resin sets at AU$40 to AU$80. Buy what suits your budget and aesthetic preference. Dice trays are a practical addition once you own multiple sets. Weighted balance matters more for d20s than any other die — metal dice roll more consistently on hard surfaces.
The Seven Dice You Need
A standard polyhedral set contains:
d4 (four-sided pyramid): Used for small damage rolls, certain spells, and some weapon types.
d6 (standard cube): Common damage die for swords, shortswords, and many weapons. Rogues, Barbarians, and several classes use these in multiples.
d8 (eight-sided): Used for longswords, rapiers, healing spells, and various damage types.
d10 (ten-sided): Damage for heavy crossbows, hand crossbows, and some class features. Also used as a percentile die.
d10 percentile (also d10, usually numbered 00–90): Paired with the standard d10 for percentile rolls, generating numbers from 1 to 100. Used infrequently in 5e.
d12 (twelve-sided): The barbarian's signature damage die. Also used by great axes and some class features. Most players use it rarely until they play a Barbarian.
d20 (twenty-sided): The most-used die in D&D. Every attack roll, skill check, and saving throw uses the d20. The quality of your d20 matters more than any other die in the set.
Dice Materials: What the Differences Actually Mean
Plastic (standard acrylic): The baseline for most dice sets. Light, inexpensive, rolls fine on any surface. Standard sets come in solid colours, translucent, sparkle, and marble finishes. The functional quality is identical to more expensive options.
Sharp-edge resin: A subset of plastic dice where the edges are ground to a crisper angle rather than the rounded edges of standard acrylic. Aesthetically distinct. No proven difference in balance or roll outcomes versus standard plastic.
Liquid core: Resin dice with a visible liquid-filled sphere inside. Purely aesthetic. They function identically to standard acrylic. Popular as display pieces or gift items.
Metal: Significantly heavier than plastic. Roll with more momentum and produce a satisfying sound on hard surfaces or dice trays. Genuinely more balanced than cheaper plastic sets in many cases. The weight can chip table surfaces if rolled directly. Require a dice tray. Price range is approximately AU$30 to AU$80 for a quality metal set.
Handmade resin: Custom or craft dice with inclusions (flowers, glitter, suspended objects). Quality varies significantly by maker. Beautiful as display objects. Functional for play.
Dice Sets Available in Australia
The C3 D&D shop stocks a range of dice sets available on Amazon AU. Options currently available include:
Standard plastic polyhedral sets (42-piece sets giving multiples of each type), sharp-edge resin sets, liquid core sets, metal weighted sets, and 15-piece extended sets covering d3 through d100 for players who want the full range. Prices start at approximately AU$12 for basic plastic sets and run to AU$60 to AU$80 for metal or premium resin options.
A 42-piece set (six of most dice types plus additional d6s) is the practical choice for most players. Having multiple d6s and d8s saves time when rolling damage for multi-attack or spellcasting characters.
Browse D&D dice on the C3 shop →
Dice Trays and Storage
Once you own more than one set of dice, storage and containment become relevant. Rolling dice off a table mid-session is a near-universal experience. Options available on Amazon AU:
Dice trays: A felt or leather-lined flat tray that keeps dice contained when rolling. Sizes vary from small personal trays (suitable for one player's set) to larger shared trays. Some fold for transport. Prices range from approximately AU$15 to AU$45 depending on size and material.
Dice towers: A standing tower structure you drop dice into, which tumbles them through internal baffles and delivers them to a tray at the base. Produces a cleaner roll than hand-throwing on a flat surface. Some players prefer the ceremony. Others find them slow. Personal preference.
Dice boxes and cases: Rigid cases for transporting dice. Some designs include a built-in rolling tray and lid storage. Useful if you bring dice to a game store or friend's house. Capacity ranges from a single set to several hundred dice.
Dice bags: Soft fabric pouches for carrying a single set. The classic option. Simple, functional, inexpensive.
Mimic-style dice boxes: Novelty storage shaped like a D&D mimic (a monster that disguises itself as a treasure chest). Functionally a dice box. Popular as gifts for D&D players.
All of these are currently available through the C3 D&D shop.
Practical Buying Advice
For a first set: A standard 42-piece acrylic set at AU$12 to AU$20 is the sensible starting point. You get multiple copies of each die type without spending much. Once you've played a few sessions and developed preferences, you'll have a better sense of whether you want a premium set.
For a gift: A metal dice set in a tin or with a matching bag reads as a considered gift. Liquid core sets are visually striking. Either option in the AU$30 to AU$50 range is appropriate for a player who already owns a basic set.
On balance and fairness: No consumer-level dice are precision instruments. Even expensive metal sets aren't casino quality. Roll your d20s on a flat surface a few times before using them in a campaign — if one number shows up suspiciously often, retire that die. For casual home play this matters far less than some hobbyists suggest.
On quantity: Most classes need at most two or three of any single die type for damage rolls. A 42-piece set covers this. Players running builds that require rolling large numbers of dice (some Wizard spells, Bardic Inspiration at higher levels) occasionally benefit from having extra d8s and d10s handy.
Browse D&D dice, trays, towers and storage on Amazon AU. All products confirmed available with Australian shipping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need special dice to play D&D in Australia? No. Any standard polyhedral dice set works. The game does not require any specific brand or material. A basic plastic set plays identically to a premium metal set.
How many dice does a D&D player need? A single seven-piece polyhedral set is sufficient to play. A 42-piece set (which includes multiples of each type) is more convenient for classes that roll several dice at once. Most experienced players own multiple sets.
What is a d20 and why does it matter? The d20 is the twenty-sided die used for almost every roll in D&D, including attacks, skill checks, and saving throws. It is the die you roll most often. The quality and balance of your d20 matters more than any other die in your set.
Are metal dice worth it for D&D? Metal dice are heavier, roll differently, and are more aesthetically impressive than plastic sets. They are not meaningfully more balanced or fair than good-quality plastic dice. Whether they're "worth it" is a personal preference question, not a mechanical one.
Where can I buy D&D dice in Australia? Amazon AU stocks a wide range of polyhedral dice sets with Australian shipping. Local game stores in Australian capital cities also carry dice. The C3 D&D shop links to confirmed Amazon AU stock across multiple price points and styles.
Can I use dice-rolling apps instead of physical dice? Yes. Roll20 and D&D Beyond both include built-in digital dice rollers. For in-person play, physical dice are the standard. For online play, digital rollers are common and widely accepted.