Quick answer
The Death Saves War of Dragons Box Set 1 is a solid RPG accessory for dragon encounters, offering eight pre-painted miniatures from Joe Manganiello's world, but it's best for collectors and DMs who want ready-to-use characters rather than unpainted bulk minis.
What makes this set different from a standard miniatures pack?
This isn't just a random assortment of dragon-themed minis. The War of Dragons Box Set 1 is a collaboration with Death Saves, featuring characters from Joe Manganiello's own campaign. Each miniature represents a specific adventurer with a backstory, which adds narrative weight if you run a connected campaign or want named NPCs for your dragon encounters.
The trade-off is that you're paying for branding and a curated cast. If you just need generic dragon cultists or a horde of kobolds, a bulk unpainted pack will give you more minis for less money. This set is about quality and theme, not quantity.
What about the price?
At USD 43.79 (compared to a catalog price of USD 59.99), you're getting eight pre-painted minis for about USD 5.50 each. That's competitive for pre-painted specialty minis, especially if you value the character-specific designs. However, if you're a painter who enjoys customizing, you might find the pre-painted finish limiting.
How to decide if this box set is for you
- Do you run narrative-heavy dragon encounters?: If your campaign features named NPCs or recurring adventurers, the pre-painted character minis save prep time and add immersion. The set's built-in story hooks from the Death Saves universe can inspire side quests or rival parties. Yes: This set fits well. No: Consider generic dragon minis instead.
- Do you prefer painting your own minis?: These minis come pre-painted. If you enjoy customizing paint schemes or want a uniform look for your table, the fixed paint job might clash with your aesthetic. Painting hobbyists should skip this set.
- Is your budget tight?: At roughly USD 5.50 per mini, it's a premium price for a premium product. If you need many dragon-themed minis for a horde, bulk unpainted options offer better value per figure. Budget-focused buyers should look elsewhere.
Product facts
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Death Saves: War of Dragons Box Set 1: The set includes eight named characters: Maeglin, Poe, Kimathi Stormhollow, Brago, Neruk the Unkillable, Phann Naïlo, Lapp, and Christopher Squawkin. Each miniature is a distinct personality, not a generic figure, making them ideal for role-playing encounters where NPC identity matters.
Death Saves: War of Dragons Box Set 1
Who should buy this?
Best for
- Dungeon Masters who want ready-to-use, character-specific minis for dragon-related story arcs
- Collectors of Death Saves or Joe Manganiello's campaign content
Not for
- Players who prefer to paint their own miniatures
- DMs who need a large number of generic dragon-themed minis on a budget
