Miniatures are one of the most optional parts of D&D that nevertheless make combat significantly clearer for many groups. They're also one of the more confusing product categories, with multiple formats, scales, and price points that aren't always obvious from a product listing. This guide covers what the options actually mean and what makes sense depending on how you play.
D&D miniatures are optional visual aids for tracking combat positions on a grid. Pre-painted plastic sets (like WizKids Icons of the Realms) are ready to use out of the box. Unpainted sets (like WizKids Nolzur's Marvellous) are cheaper and meant for painting. Budget multi-packs of generic fantasy figures give the most pieces for the least money. You do not need miniatures to play D&D — many groups play "theatre of the mind" without any visual aids at all.
Do You Actually Need Miniatures?
No. D&D was played for decades before miniatures became a standard component. Many experienced groups still play entirely without visual aids, describing scenes verbally and trusting players to track positions in their imagination. This approach, called "theatre of the mind," is free and requires no additional purchases.
Miniatures become useful when:
- Combat involves many enemies or characters in complex positions
- Players find it hard to track where everyone is spatially
- The DM wants to communicate environment layout clearly
- The group enjoys the visual and tactile element of the hobby
If your group tries theatre of the mind and finds it creates confusion in combat, that's the signal to look at miniatures. If it works fine, it's not a gap that needs filling.
The Main Formats Available in Australia
Pre-painted plastic miniatures (WizKids Icons of the Realms): Ready to place on the table with no painting required. WizKids is the official D&D miniatures licence holder. The Icons of the Realms line covers a vast range of monsters, player character types, and iconic D&D creatures. Quality varies by set but is generally acceptable for tabletop use at normal viewing distance. These come as random booster packs (you don't know exactly which figures you'll get) or as set box sets with known contents.
Unpainted plastic miniatures (WizKids Nolzur's Marvellous): The same quality plastic as the pre-painted line but supplied in grey plastic without paint. Designed for players or DMs who want to paint their miniatures. Significantly cheaper per figure than pre-painted. Not useful if you don't intend to paint them — grey plastic on a grey grid mat is difficult to distinguish.
Multi-pack budget sets: Generic fantasy RPG miniature sets from third-party manufacturers, typically sold as 20 to 170 pieces per set. Not branded as D&D but include adventurers, monsters, and creature types that cover most standard encounters. Often 2D flat acrylic standee-style figures rather than full 3D models. The most cost-efficient option for a DM who needs broad coverage across creature types.
Premium and collector singles: Individual premium figures at higher price points, including large models for boss monsters and dragons. WizKids produces premium single figures for iconic D&D monsters and races.
Scale: What 28mm Means
Most D&D miniatures are produced at 28mm scale — a human-sized character is approximately 28mm tall from base to eye level. This scale is compatible with standard D&D grid mats where each square represents 5 feet (approximately 25mm). Most miniatures, battle mats, and accessories are designed around this standard.
When buying miniatures and battle mats separately, confirm both are 1-inch grid scale (25mm squares) to ensure miniatures fit correctly on the grid.
Sets Worth Knowing About
The C3 D&D shop links to a range of miniature options currently available on Amazon AU. These cover:
Starter packs: Sets of 40 to 170 pieces covering a broad range of character types and monsters. Suitable for a DM building an initial collection without focusing on specific creatures.
Themed packs: Sets focused on specific environments or creature types, such as arctic-themed packs or undead-themed packs. Useful for DMs running specific published adventures.
WizKids Icons of the Realms booster packs: Random assortment packs from specific D&D sourcebooks. Each pack contains a mix of common, uncommon, rare, and very rare figures. The randomised format means you may receive duplicates.
WizKids Icons of the Realms box sets: Known contents, higher price per set than boosters. Better value for DMs who want specific figures without randomisation.
WizKids Nolzur's Marvellous Miniatures: Unpainted sets of specific creature types (clerics, giants, familiars, etc.) for players who paint.
Premium singles: Individual large or boss-tier creatures. Froghemoth, Tree Blight, Demon Lords. Used for climactic encounters.
Browse current availability in the C3 D&D shop.
Acrylic Standees as an Alternative
Several of the budget miniature packs use flat acrylic standees rather than full 3D figures. A standee is a flat printed image on an acrylic base. They take up the correct grid space, are clearly identifiable as specific creature types, and cost significantly less than 3D plastic figures.
For DMs who want visual tracking of combat positions without the cost of a full 3D miniature collection, standees are a practical middle ground. Some players prefer the look of 3D miniatures. This is purely a preference and budget decision.
Practical Buying Advice
Starting a collection from scratch: A large budget pack of 40 to 170 generic figures gives you enough pieces to represent almost any encounter for AU$30 to AU$60. It won't look as polished as a curated WizKids collection but it covers the functional need. Add specific WizKids boosters or boxes over time for creatures that appear frequently in your campaign.
For a DM running published adventures: Check which creatures appear most in the adventure you're running and buy targeted sets or singles for those specific encounters. Running Curse of Strahd, for example, benefits from undead-focused sets.
For player character miniatures: Most players prefer a single miniature representing their character specifically. WizKids produces a large range of character types and races. Custom 3D-printed options also exist through local printing services for players who want an exact match.
On storing miniatures: A soft zipper case or divided storage box prevents miniatures from rubbing against each other and chipping paint. The C3 D&D shop includes storage bag options suitable for miniature transport.
Browse D&D miniatures, starter packs and accessories on Amazon AU. All products confirmed available with Australian shipping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need miniatures to play D&D? No. Many groups play entirely without miniatures using theatre of the mind. Miniatures are an optional visual aid that some groups find makes combat clearer.
What scale are D&D miniatures? Most D&D miniatures are 28mm scale, designed to fit on a 1-inch (25mm) grid. Check that any battle mat you use is also on a 1-inch grid for proper compatibility.
What is the difference between WizKids Icons of the Realms and Nolzur's Marvellous? Icons of the Realms are pre-painted, ready to use. Nolzur's Marvellous are unpainted grey plastic, designed for players who want to paint their own figures. If you don't plan to paint, stick with Icons of the Realms or budget pre-painted sets.
Are booster pack miniatures random? Yes. WizKids Icons of the Realms booster packs contain a random assortment of figures from a set. If you want specific figures without randomisation, look for single-figure releases or box sets with known contents.
Where can I buy D&D miniatures in Australia? Amazon AU stocks a range of WizKids and third-party miniature sets with Australian shipping. The C3 D&D shop links to confirmed current stock across multiple price points. Local game stores in Australian cities also carry WizKids ranges.
Can I use coins or tokens instead of miniatures? Yes. Many groups use coins, cardboard tokens, or anything that fits a grid square to track positions. This costs nothing and works fine. Miniatures are a quality-of-life upgrade, not a requirement.