Quick answer
Upgrade metal coins first if your group handles money every turn and you want an immediate tactile payoff; upgrade cardboard tokens first only if the tokens are the components you touch most or the ones showing wear.
Why coins usually come first
Coins are handled constantly: you collect, pay, and count them throughout a game. That repetition makes a metal coin upgrade noticeable right away, while a token upgrade may only matter when a specific event or track comes into play.
Cardboard tokens are not automatically worse. They are lighter, cheaper, and often printed with game-specific art that metal replacements cannot match. The question is which component your group actually touches more.
The trade-offs you are accepting
Metal coins add weight and a premium feel, but they also add bulk to the box and cost more than cardboard. Cardboard tokens keep the game lighter and preserve the original art, but they can fray, dent, or lose shape with heavy handling.
Neither upgrade changes the rules. If your group is happy with the current components and plays occasionally, the money may be better spent on an expansion or a different game.
When a token upgrade makes more sense
Choose tokens first if your game's cardboard pieces are the ones you pick up, flip, or move every round, or if they are already showing wear at the corners. A token upgrade also makes sense when the tokens are tied to a specific faction or city and you want that part of the table to stand out.
If coins are only used at the start and end of a round, a coin upgrade will feel less impactful than replacing the pieces in constant motion.
Decision rules for your first upgrade
- Count the touches: If coins are handled every turn and tokens only occasionally, buy metal coins first; if the reverse is true, buy tokens first.
- Check for wear: If your cardboard tokens are already frayed or dented, replace those before adding metal coins that will sit next to damaged components. Inspect corners and edges before ordering.
- Match the upgrade to the game: Buy an upgrade made for your specific game when possible, such as the Realm of Reckoning Metal Coins for that game's wooden coins, rather than a generic set that may not match the count or size.
- Set a budget for feel, not function: Metal coins cost more than cardboard and do not change gameplay. If the upgrade budget is tight, upgrade the component you touch most and leave the rest for later.
Product facts
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Realm of Reckoning Metal Coins: Set of 25 metal coins designed to replace the original wooden coins in Realm of Reckoning. If you already own Realm of Reckoning, this is a direct swap that upgrades the coins you handle most often without changing the rules.
Realm of Reckoning Metal Coins
Who should upgrade coins first
Best for
- Groups that play frequently and handle coins every turn
- Players who want an immediate tactile upgrade without learning new rules
- Owners of Realm of Reckoning who want to replace the wooden coins
Not for
- Players who rarely get the game to the table
- Groups whose cardboard tokens are the most-handled components
- Buyers who need the upgrade to change gameplay rather than feel