WizKids has announced a new line ofDungeons & Dragonsminiatures featuring glow-in-the-dark paint. AlthoughDungeons & Dragonscan be played using just the imaginations of its players,many Dungeon Mastersstill prefer to use a grid and miniatures. Miniatures allow players to visualize the battlefield and better measure out their movements, attacks, and spellcasting. Luckily, there are a ton of miniatures, both officialand unofficial,to help players bring theirD&Dfights to life.
WizKidshas announced the latest in their line ofD&D: Icons of the Realmminiatures. The newUnderdark Expeditionsset will contain 47 miniatures, all of which can be found in classic dungeons and underground biomes. However, one twist in this new set is that several of the miniatures will utilize a new DungeonGlo effect that adds a glow-in-the-dark effect to some minis. The effect is available in several colors and adds a different dynamic for when the lights go down. TheD&D: Icons of the Realms - Underdark Expeditionscollection will go on sale starting in May 2025.
What Monsters Appear In The Underdark Expeditions Set
New Set Includes Gelatinous Cubs And Flumphs
A full list of miniatures for the new set is not yet available, but previews include several well-knownD&Dcreatures. The new set will include the gelatinous cube, gas spores, flumphs, darkmantles, myconids, and a Xorn. While not every new monster in the set contains this new DungeonGlo effect,it appears that the gelatinous cube, myconid, and green slime miniatures all use the effectin some way. As with other WizKidsD&Dmini sets, theUnderdark Expeditionsset will be available in blind boxes that come with a random assortment of small, medium, and large miniatures.
D&D’s 2025 Monster Manual Won’t Include One Feature Missing From The 2024 DMG
There’s a lot that’s new in the 2025 Monster Manual, but one feature that the 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide skipped isn’t returning here.
It appears that theUnderdark Expeditionsset will be the last WizKids miniatures set to use the2014 Monster Manualdesigns.WizKids has also announced a newMonster Manualcollectionthat will feature miniatures based on the artwork from the next rulebook. While manyD&Dmonsters have similar designs in the newMonster Manual, other creatures have received either minor or significant redesigns to better reflect their underlying lore or make them seem more unique when compared to their traditional non-D&Droots.
Our Take: Impractical, But Cool Miniatures
Most DMs Can’t Use DungeonGlo Effect, But It’s Cool If You Can Pull It Off
Glow-in-the-dark miniatures are a goofy gimmick, but one that could make for a very cool gaming experience under the right circumstances. Utilizing blacklights or other effects might give the DungeonGlo minis a bit more practicality,although you’d have to have a pretty complicated gaming setup to pull this off.
I’m not sure that the averageDungeons & DragonsDM will be able to do much with these minis, but all power to the ones who can find a way to use these to give their players an unforgettable experience.
