The latest LEGO Minifigures series critically succeeds in almost every way, offering something for every Dungeons & Dragons enthusiast – and everyone else, too.
LEGO Dungeons & Dragons is one of the most recent partnerships under the LEGO Group’s belt, continuing the ongoing collaboration with Hasbro, which also includes LEGO Transformers and LEGO DUPLO Peppa Pig. It’s off to a strong start with LEGO Ideas
As impressive as LEGO Ideas
LEGO Minifigures
Release: September 1, 2024 Price: £3.49 / $4.99 / €3.99 Pieces: 9 (varies) Minifigures: 1 per blind box LEGO:
How to find LEGO D&D minifigures
LEGO Minifigures
You can also guarantee a complete set of the new Dungeons & Dragons minifigures (and any duplicates you want for custom characters) by pre-ordering a guaranteed set of 12 characters or a box of 36 minifigures from The Minifigure Store now.
Check for perception
Now that we’ve had the chance to get used to the cardboard packaging of LEGO Minifigures combined with new methods to tell which character is in each blind box, the change doesn’t seem quite as drastic anymore. That said, this is an especially annoying series to not be able to identify most easily which minifigure you’re getting, so you’re definitely going to want to arm yourself with the Brick Search app (and its minifigure scanner) before heading to the LEGO Store.
The mix of named characters and generic combinations of races and classes means that longtime Dungeons & Dragons enthusiasts will be on the lookout for iconic villains including Strahd von Zarovich. Meanwhile, they and everyone else will also be hunting down their favourite class for a quick and affordable miniature to use in their next D&D session, or to display at home.
That’s not accounting for the LEGO Castle enthusiasts who will be scouring this series for parts to upgrade their knights, wizards and more. You might still miss blind bags, but the recyclable packaging is easier to appreciate now that reliable methods to identify minifigures have been found.
While we wait for the Brick Search team to ensure that every code for the new series is identified and catalogued, let’s analyse the diverse cast of characters in
Dwarf Barbarian
The Dwarf Barbarian is one of the least visually appealing minifigures in
That’s not to say the Dwarf Barbarian is bad but in a series with such highs, it unfortunately finds its place towards the bottom of our list of preferred minifigures. Of note is a new axe head element that will be endlessly useful everywhere from LEGO Castle to NINJAGO. Hopefully, this is one of the rare LEGO Minifigures elements that continues to be used beyond its debut series.
The heavy mix of fur via the collar element and on the torso helps this minifigure to stand out, though whether it’s enough is uncertain. The design on the printing is more reminiscent of Dwarfs than Barbarians, aside from the axe pendant and the horn on the back. This may be because almost no torsos or legs in
This minifigure features two heads with two expressions each – one for male-presenting characters and another for female-presenting characters. It’s a common feature across
Gith Warlock
While the Dwarf Barbarian is surprisingly generic, the Gith Warlock is much more exotic, matching the extraplanar nature of the race and the class. While Gith skin colour is usually depicted as a light shade of yellow, the LEGO designers have opted for the standard yellow colouring here. On the one hand, this means that we finally have access to the new hair piece from
While some may take issue with this, it’s the kind of creative liberty that can be present in Dungeons & Dragons campaigns and it will be most beneficial for LEGO enthusiasts seeking to reuse parts. The designs on both the male and female faces keep the minifigure identifiable as a Gith at least.
As a warlock, the Gith Warlock’s torso and legs are suitably detailed with ominous swirls, mysterious potions and magic items, and they wield an odd eye-topped staff. The new knife element is fantastic too and demonstrates that warlocks can be proficient casters and melee fighters. This could have been a good opportunity for a Green Flame Blade piece, though a knife is more versatile for use beyond
Tiefling Sorcerer
The Tiefling Sorcerer may be one of the stand-out minifigures in
The most important of these new elements is a horned hair element with no pointed ears to speak of, meaning you can use them for any Tiefling. Tieflings are commonly depicted in a wide variety of colours and this minifigure is a fiery orange. They even come with an orange tail though this creates a notable separation between the legs and torso.
The accessories may just be the highlight of the Tiefling Sorcerer, including a small dragon with printed eyes perched on its rear legs as well as a spell effect that could be recreating a Magic Missile. It’ll be interesting to see how and where enthusiasts find use for both in the future, and they undoubtedly make this minifigure one not to miss in
Dragonborn Paladin
From one varied race to another, the Dragonborn Paladin is a returning race from
This minifigure may not be quite as exciting as other classes, focusing on weaponry and armour but the reused LEGO VIDIYO head continues to earn its new home in LEGO Dungeons & Dragons and is used to significant effect here. The Dragonborn Paladin truly has something for everyone and most effectively demonstrates the versatility of
LEGO Castle enthusiasts meanwhile will be able to find plenty of use for the printed armoured legs, the new armour element complete with generic but detailed decorations and the intricate arm printing. Underneath the extra armour element is more printing that could be useful for clerics and paladins.
While there is a new mace head piece, it comes only in an iridescent hue, which will be more limited to magical weapons than the Dwarf Barbarian’s axe head or the Gith Warlock’s knife. It’s the most unfortunate aspect of this minifigure in terms of versatility, but hopefully it’s not the last we’ll see of it.
Halfling Druid
Druids are the most nature-focused spellcasters of Dungeons & Dragons’ classes, with the ability to transform into animals, commune with plants, heal and protect allies as well as unleash nature’s wrath. To this end, the Halfling Druid in
This druid’s outfit incorporates bones and leaves but otherwise only displays hues of green and brown and it’s not as colourful as other
The Halfling aspect of this minifigure is more momentous though, differentiating from the Dwarf by using the shortest minifigure legs possible to capture proportions that are almost impossible for minifigures to depict. It’s a commendable effort from the LEGO designers but this minifigure won’t be a priority for everyone.
Its only new element is a horned hood that could make this minifigure more appealing. Many will be able to safely skip this character unless you’re aiming for a full set though.
Aarakocra Ranger
Continuing the array of varied and exotic races in
As a ranger, the Aarakocra minifigure’s design is suitably sleek with fitted leather armour and loose talons, which would be hard to fit boots around. However, there’s not nearly as much printed detail as on other
The printing on the legs leaves a small gap between the hips and the limbs when the minifigure isn’t leaning forward. It’s a shame to see such an oversight, which is presumably due to technical limitations during the production process. It’s only noticeable as the legs are coloured white. Making a brown Aarakocra could have solved this issue.
The rare leg element also has the side effect of standing out when customising the Aarakocra with parts from other minifigures as only the torso and accessories can be interchanged. The green on the legs especially stands out combined with all classes apart from the Druid and Barbarian. Overall, the Aarakocra is poised to work best as a ranger and isn’t quite as versatile as other minifigures in the series.
To make up for this, the new head and wings are excellent and will be another interesting pair of pieces to watch the online community use in the coming months.
Mind Flayer
The first numbered non-player character in
The only accessory for the Mind Flayer is an exquisitely moulded Intellect Devourer, introducing a second monster for players to battle in a single minifigure. We wouldn’t be surprised to see the Mind Flayer become a hard minifigure to track down – it’s the best minifigure in
The Mind Flayer itself has a solid amount of detail with the printed robe element as well as some armoured arms but its stand-out feature is the new head, which faithfully recreates the appearance of the monsters. There may not be as much to note as other minifigures in
Strahd von Zarovich
Hailing from the dark lands of Barovia, Strahd von Zarovich is one of the most iconic villains in Dungeons & Dragons’ history and he has more than earnt his spot in
The minifigure matches this tone with an array of intricate prints that boast luxury, style, and a slightly sinister nature. Strahd has a head with two expressions, useful for both vampires and other villainous minifigures that would require pale skin and red eyes. Specifically, Chiss characters from Star Wars may benefit from this head.
Strahd’s accessories are more of a mixed bag, including a standard sword and a chalice with nary a drop of blood, but he may have finished his latest drink. There’s also a printed black rat with red eyes, referencing one of Strahd’s abilities to summon swarms of rats, while introducing another variety of a common LEGO animal.
Strahd won’t appeal to those unfamiliar with D&D as much as other
Elf Bard
The Elf Bard brings us back to the customisable player characters with another class not represented in the LEGO Ideas set from earlier this year. Bards are a quintessential Dungeons & Dragons class and this minifigure encompasses the idea of a bard to a tee. The colourful clothing mixed with the flourishes of gold styling and the tall boots highlight the nimble but showboating nature of bards and the printed lute doesn’t hurt either.
Elves are nothing new to the LEGO Group and there are plenty of existing pointed-ear hair pieces. For
The LEGO designers have somehow managed to provide a unique take on a LEGO Elf after countless other minifigures from multiple other franchises. The alternate expressions for the heads are especially endearing, either belting out a ditty to inspire their party in battle or put on a show for their adoring fans. The minifigure’s dual-moulded legs are going to be useful for a variety of custom characters and it’ll be worth picking the bard up for this reason alone.
The Lady of Pain
Similar to Strahd von Zarovich, The Lady of Pain is an iconic character from Dungeons & Dragons history and one that most recently featured in the return of the Planescape setting. The Lady of Pain is an extremely powerful figure in Sigil – the self-proclaimed centre of the multiverse and one of the most powerful beings in Dungeons & Dragons’ lore.
Suffice to say, there’s certainly reason to give her a minifigure and it’s an excellent but incredibly specific recreation of the character. Everything from her unique cape with four strands to the jagged crown of spikes on her helmet works in perfect tandem with one another.
While you’d expect Dungeons & Dragons enthusiasts to get the most kick out of this minifigure, there will be a few newcomers to the game who pick up this minifigure out of sheer curiosity, given the incredible level of detail on show for such a unique character.
Szass Tam
After a brief cameo appearance in the recent Dungeons & Dragons movie, Szass Tam of the Red Wizards of Thay is back as a minifigure of another iconic villain. This time, he’s from the starter Forgotten Realms campaign setting rather than any expansion book. Szass Tam is an undead lich seeking power and control over life itself and one of the most challenging beings to beat in Faerûn (the world in which the Forgotten Realms setting takes place).
His minifigure is suitably creepy with a skeletal design and menacing red robes that pair well with a high fabric collar and cape. The printing is less detailed than that of the Mind Flayer despite using a similar array of pieces and their accessories aren’t nearly as good as the Intellect Devourer either.
These include a common flame element that can be held a minifigure’s hand, maybe representing a fireball being cast, as well as a trans-red skull. The skull is adorned with the standard skeleton minifigure face, which is the best (and only) classic LEGO reference on show in
Tasha the Witch Queen
Tasha the Witch Queen rounds out the named characters in
She was also recently featured in the Vecna: Eve of Ruin campaign as a main character for the 50th anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons. All that means D&D fiends will love to see her earn a place in the minifigure series, but to the unaccustomed, this is an incredibly standard minifigure design that won’t be anywhere near as appealing as any of the other 11 minifigures in this series.
As much as she has a decent level of printing for a Collectible Minifigure and effectively re-uses the Hocus Pocus hair and hat piece, Tasha ultimately falls flat compared to the other high-quality minifigures in
A Minifigures series like no other
LEGO Minifigures series rarely fail at delivering a cast of impressively detailed characters, but
And despite the change from blind bags to boxes, £3.49 / $4.99 / €3.99 is still a fantastic price for LEGO Minifigures. Considering that the only LEGO Dungeons & Dragons set is nearly 10 times the price of these minifigures in some regions, this is a far more accessible way to sprinkle a little LEGO into your D&D campaign – especially when using the Brick Search app to scan and find specific characters.
There’s no doubt that some minifigures in
It’s a critical success for LEGO Dungeons & Dragons after a strong start via the LEGO Ideas set and you should aim to pick up at least one of the 12 minifigures as soon as you see them on shelves. Remember to download the Brick Search app on iOS or Android ahead of time so you’re ready for launch, or check the FAQ if you have any questions. No need to roll for luck then…
This set was provided for review by the LEGO Group.
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