Metal Dice Collection
Dark Elf Dice is your source for metal dice used for Dungeons & Dragons and all your favorite tabletop roleplaying games. We offer a huge selection of metal DnD dice sets for every budget. Solid, heavy, durable and beautiful -- our dice can handle any adventure and come in a variety of metallic finishes and effects.
All About Metal Dice
Back when I started playing Dungeons & Dragons, polyhedral dice were either made of opaque or translucent plastic. In the 1980’s, despite the popularity of D&D and tabletop roleplaying games, there simply wasn’t a lot of choice when it came to dice. Today though, things are far different. Dice are made from just about any material you can think of: plastic, wood, gemstones, and of course metal. Gamers now have a lot of choices.
As many of you know, I’m a big fan of metal dice. I love the weight of the dice in my hand, and how a d20 rolls across the table with authority. Boom! I have access to thousands of DnD dice in my personal collection, but on game nights I find myself using metal sets more often than not.
And I’m not the only one.
Metal dice popularity is growing. Since the time I started Dark Elf Dice I’ve seen the number and types of metal sets grow exponentially to meet demand. When I first started our family business, only a few companies had metals in their catalogs. The cost to make molds was crazy expensive back then, and some of the tech and manufacturing techniques, commonplace now, wasn’t available to make dice. The first metals were basically a heavy, zinc alloy core plated with an antique or painted finish. From there, shiny metallic dice made the scene. Now, metal dice have cutouts with enamel inlays, and even prismatic glitter effects like our Giant d20 Kickstarter dice.
The choices keep expanding! Aluminum dice are now commonplace. Unlike traditional metal dice made with a mold, aluminum dice are machine-cut from a solid piece of light weight metal. Aluminums don’t have the weight of zinc alloy core dice, but they still have some heft and roll
brilliantly. They’re a great dice of choice for all your favorite tabletop games, and being machine-cut, they’re more balanced than traditional dice.
Our hobby is exciting! New and improved manufacturing techniques, driven by customer demand, have resulted in a myriad of choices. It’s a great time to be a gamer and collector, and I can only imagine what the future will bring for metals and other polyhedral dice.
Keep rolling nat 20s!
- Shane
Metal Dice FAQ
What are metal DnD dice made of?
Metal dice dice used for Dungeons & Dragons and other tabletop roleplaying games are usually made from either:
1) Zinc alloy with a plated finish, or
2) Machine-cut aluminum.
Zinc alloy offers a few advantages as far as dice go:
1) The metal is solid, durable, and heavy;
2) Different plated finishes can be applied to the core (antique, electroplated, brushed, shiny, etc.);
3) The cost is inexpensive compared to other metals.
Although more expensive, aluminum dice offer the advantage of being machine cut from a solid piece of metal (typically 6063 aircraft-grade aluminum). Computer, precision cut dice can be more accurately balanced as opposed to other dice.
Beyond zinc-alloy and aluminum, some metal dice are made from titanium-alloy, cast copper, or stainless steel. These materials are comparable to zinc-alloy, as far as the manufacturing process is concerned, but are generally more expensive.
How do you choose metal dice?
The choice of metal dice is a personal preference and is driven in part by:
1) Your budget, and
2) Your personal taste.
Zinc-alloy dice are the more affordable choice, and a good set of metal dice costs between $20 and $40. Aluminum dice on the other hand cost $100 or more.
Personal taste is just that -- personal -- and likes and dislikes differ from person to person. This is one of the reasons why Dark Elf Dice carries such a variety of metal DnD dice in different sizes, finishes, colors, and with distinct effects. Our extensive collection will make it easier for you to choose the perfect dice.
Our metal dice sets can handle any adventure, and include all your favorites: d4, d6, d8, d10, d00, d12, and d20. Suitable for Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, and all the best role playing
games.
Are metal dice more balanced?
Machine-cut, precision aluminum dice are more balanced than dice cast with a mold (plastic, metal, or otherwise). That doesn't mean that zinc-alloy or other dice are imbalanced. Far from it -- mold-cast dice are made using center mass principles and lines of symmetry to make the dice roll fair and are perfectly fine for casual tabletop roleplaying games.
Are metal dice worth it?
Metal DnD dice are more expensive than plastic acrylic and resin dice, but worth is defined by more than just dollars and cents.
Metal dice are worth it if you like the heavy feel of the dice in your hand and like the way they roll, to say nothing of the aesthetics of the dice with their metallic finishes, enamel inlays, and prismatic effects. Do you need a set of metal dice to play D&D? Absolutely not! Metals are a premium product and some gamers really enjoy how the dice look and feel.
Still have metal dice questions? Ask away! Please use the Contact button below and we'll do our best to answer and give you the information you need to make an informed buying decision.
