To play Pathfinder you need one standard seven-piece polyhedral set (d4, d6, d8, d10, a percentile d10, d12 and d20), and then you pick the look, material and number of sets that fit how you play. The d20 does most of the heavy lifting, so choose one you can read from across the table and that you will not hate after your fifth critical failure in a row. The rest of this guide walks through what to buy, what to skip, and how to avoid the classic mistake of falling in love with a die you cannot read.
TL;DR
- Pathfinder uses d4, d6, d8, d10, d12 and d20 dice, and percentile rolls use two d10s, so a standard 7-piece set covers the basics.
- Readability beats looks: if you cannot read the number at a glance, the prettiest die in the world is just a very shiny paperweight.
- Own more than one set once you level up, because spells and multiple attacks ask for fistfuls of d6s and d8s.
- Material is a matter of taste and table habits: acrylic and resin are easy all-rounders, metal is weighty, and liquid core is pure show-off.
- For gifts and mystery bundles, think about who is playing, what they already own, and whether they like surprises more than control.
Table of Contents
- Which dice does Pathfinder actually use?
- How many dice do you really need?
- Readability: the thing nobody checks until it is too late
- Materials and looks: what each type is good at
- Fairness, finish and care
- Matching dice to your Pathfinder character
- Choosing Pathfinder dice as a gift
- Our perspective
- Ready to roll?
- FAQ
Which dice does Pathfinder actually use?
The official rules on Archives of Nethys state that Pathfinder uses d4, d6, d8, d10, d12 and d20 dice. If a rule asks for a d%, you roll two 10-sided dice and treat one as the tens place and the other as the ones place. That is why a standard set has two d10s: one is numbered 0 to 9, and the other is numbered 00 to 90.
The game is built around the d20 too. The Player’s Guide explains that most rolls use a twenty-sided die: you add your modifier and compare the total to a Difficulty Class. In other words, you will roll that one die about as often as you check your phone, and your d20 will become your favorite die, your sworn enemy, or both in the same session.
The standard seven-piece set
GeekDad points out that for games like D&D and Pathfinder, most people start with the seven-die polyhedral set: d4, d6, d8, d10, a percentile d10, d12 and d20. That is enough to play, and it is where nearly everyone begins.
Here is what each one does in a typical Pathfinder session:
| Die | Where you will see it |
|---|---|
| d20 | Attacks, skill checks, saving throws, flat checks |
| d12 | Big two-handed weapons and some class features |
| d10 | Some weapons, plus the percentile pair |
| d8 | Many weapons and healing effects |
| d6 | Spell damage, sneak attacks and a lot of everything else |
| d4 | Daggers, small effects, and your bare feet at 2 a.m. |
If you want a set that covers all of that in one purchase, browse our 7-piece dice sets. If you are brand new to the hobby and want a plain-language rundown first, our guide to beginner RPG dice covers what to buy for your first game.
How many dice do you really need?
One set gets you through your first session. After that, Pathfinder starts handing you handfuls of dice. GeekDad notes that a Pathfinder magus may need 11d6 at once, and a 10th-level wizard needs 10d6 for a fireball. If you own exactly six d6s, congratulations, you are now doing math on your fingers and begging the person next to you for dice.
So a sensible plan looks like this:
- Level 1 to 3: one 7-piece set is fine.
- Level 4 and up: add a second set, or at least a few extra d6s and d8s if you play a damage-heavy character.
- If you play a caster or a multi-attack martial: consider a dedicated set just for damage so your d20 can stay in its lane.
The American Library Association’s games round table, writing about a donated Pathfinder starter set, suggests buying a few extra sets so the players and the GM can each have their own dice to roll. That is good advice for any group. Dice sharing is fine until someone holds the lucky d20 hostage.
Color-code your damage dice
Here is a tip that sounds fussy and then changes your life. GeekDad’s Ryan Hiller describes assigning colors to damage types, such as a red d6 for fire and yellow d6s for electricity, so you can roll all your damage dice at once and speed up combat when characters make several attacks a round.
This is also the best excuse you will ever have to own more than one pretty set. It is not shopping, it is tactical logistics.
Readability: the thing nobody checks until it is too late
A beautiful die that you cannot read is a bad die. Pathfinder tables roll constantly and quickly, and nobody wants to say “is that a 6 or a 9?” for the hundredth time while the barbarian sighs.
When you look at a set, check these things:
- Contrast. Light numbers on a dark body, or the reverse, read faster than numbers that are close to the body color.
- Font. Clean, bold numerals are easy. Very stylized numerals look cool but can slow you down. GeekDad’s review of a set of engraved metal Pathfinder dice noted that the stylized numbers can be a bit harder to read than standard sans-serif numbers.
- The 6 and 9. Check whether the 6 and 9 have underlines or dots. If not, decide whether you are okay with the occasional existential crisis.
- Your lighting. Dim game rooms, candles for atmosphere and glittery dice are a combination to test in your own space.
A practical test: put the die on the table, step back a few feet, and read it. If you can do that with your eyes half closed and a snack in your hand, you have a winner.
Materials and looks: what each type is good at
The Pathfinder rulebooks do not care what your dice are made of. Your table, your hands and your taste do. Here is how the main types compare.
| Type | Feel | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Acrylic and resin | Light, familiar rolling | Everyday play, big color range, building a color-coded damage collection |
| Metal | Heavy and solid | Players who love a satisfying thunk and a bit of heft |
| Liquid core | Visual spectacle, fluid and glitter inside | Characters with a flair for drama |
| Gemstone | Stone look, natural-style patterns | Collectors and gift givers |
| Wood | Warm, organic look | Rangers, druids and anyone who likes a calmer aesthetic |
You can see all of our families in one place on our dice collection page, including metal, resin and acrylic, and wood.
Acrylic and resin: the all-rounders
Resin and acrylic are the workhorses. Pretty much every color and swirl you can imagine exists in them, which makes them ideal for color-coded damage sets. If you want a few to try, our Craterborn black and blue set and our Cinder Moon orange and charcoal set are both 7-piece acrylic sets, and they come in colors that read well together. The Shattered Planes set is another acrylic option if you like a fractured, cosmic look.
Want to know what to look for in a good one? Our guide on spotting high quality resin dice goes through the checks.
Metal: heavy, shiny, loud
Metal dice have personality. They land with authority and feel like treasure in your palm. GeekDad’s reviewer described one Pathfinder metal set as solid, weighty tin alloy and advised rolling it into a dice tray or on a padded table to avoid dings and scratches. The same review noted he was wary of using them with a flimsy dice tower, since tossing a heavy d20 or d12 might crack the slats.
The lesson: metal dice want a dice tray or a soft surface, and your table will thank you. If you are curious why they weigh what they do, we wrote up why metal dice are so heavy. For a dramatic pick, take a look at our Bloodforged black and crimson metal set.
Liquid core and gemstone: for the dramatic ones
Liquid core dice have a moving center that looks great when you roll, which is exactly what you want when your rogue is about to roll a natural 20 or a natural 1 for the whole table to witness. You can browse them in our liquid core collection. Gemstone dice have a stone-inspired look and make a lovely centerpiece for a collection. Both are the dice you buy because they make you smile when you pick them up, which is a perfectly good reason.
Fairness, finish and care
People love to argue about whether a die is fair. In practice, the physical things that matter are the shape, how the mass is distributed, and the surface finish. Dice Game Authority’s reference lists geometry, mass distribution and surface finish as the variables behind a die’s fairness, and notes that resin and acrylic are the dominant materials for tabletop sets.
What that means for you, in plain terms:
- Look for sharp, even edges and clean number cuts. Sloppy paint or uneven faces are a visual clue to pass.
- Give a new die a few rolls and see if it feels right. If a specific die keeps landing the same way, retire it to the decorative shelf.
- Protect your dice. Hard surfaces and big tosses can chip edges. Our care guide on how to prevent dice from chipping covers the basics.
A good dice tray, a felt-lined box and a little common sense go a long way.
Matching dice to your Pathfinder character
You do not need to match your dice to your character. But it is the most fun part of this hobby, so let us talk about it.
- Fighters and barbarians: metal or heavy-looking sets. Bonus points if they sound like a dropped anvil.
- Wizards and sorcerers: liquid core or glittery sets. You are casting fireballs, you are allowed a little sparkle.
- Rogues: dark, low-key colors, plus a very suspicious look when you roll a 1.
- Druids and rangers: wood or earthy colors.
- Clerics and champions: something bright, with a clean font.
If you play multiple characters, make one set your “home” set and keep it for the main character. Then collect themed extras the same way a wizard collects books they will probably never read.
Choosing Pathfinder dice as a gift
Gift shopping for a gamer is easy once you know three things.
- What they already own. If they play Pathfinder every week, they probably have a basic set. A second set in a new color or material is a thoughtful upgrade.
- What they play. A player with a spellcaster will love a set of extra d6s and d8s in a distinct color for damage.
- How they like to be surprised. Some people love picking colors themselves. Others love opening a bundle and discovering what they got.
A complete 7-piece set is a safe pick for a beginner. For a veteran, go for something with real visual punch, like liquid core, metal or gemstone. Check our 7-piece sets for a complete gift that does not require any extra thought.
What about mystery bundles?
Mystery bundles are for people who enjoy surprise more than control. You might not know the exact colors, but the fun is in the unboxing. Think about the receiver: if they have strong color preferences, a specific set is the safer gift. If they are the type to cheerfully accept whatever the dice gods deliver, a mystery bundle is a delight. We offer mystery bundles for exactly that player, and you can find the current options on our main store.
Our perspective
We started D20 Collective because gaming accessories can feel painfully samey. Your character has a backstory, a bad habit and a questionable tavern history, so your dice should have personality too.
Our take on choosing dice for Pathfinder is simple. Start with a standard seven-piece set, choose a design you can read quickly, and then let the collecting begin. We make dice in liquid core, gemstone, metal, resin and wood series, so there is a look for every character and table.
We also care about the community side of this hobby. Dice are not just products, they are part of the story you tell with your friends. That is why we focus on bright, striking designs and on a customer experience that makes you feel part of the adventure. And because we want you to be happy with your order, we back it with an unconditional money-back policy.
If you are unsure, pick the set that makes you grin when you hold it. That is usually the right one.
Teresa
Ready to roll?
If you want to pick up your first Pathfinder set, or add another one to your growing hoard, start with our full dice collection. You will find 7-piece sets in acrylic, resin, metal and more, plus our liquid core and gemstone lines for when you want the table to gasp.
If you like to keep things organized, we also make customizable dice boxes called Hex Chests and Spellbook Gaming Kits for storing dice and miniatures. Your dice deserve a home that is not a sock.
FAQ
Do I need special dice for Pathfinder, or will D&D dice work?
Standard polyhedral dice work for both. Pathfinder uses the same d4, d6, d8, d10, d12 and d20 as other fantasy tabletop games, so a regular 7-piece set is perfectly fine. Branded dice are a matter of style, not a requirement.
How do I roll a percentile in Pathfinder?
Roll two 10-sided dice and treat one as the tens place and the other as the ones place, as the Pathfinder rules explain. A standard set includes a tens die and a ones die for exactly this reason. Use different colors if you want to avoid mixing them up.
How many sets of dice should a Pathfinder player own?
One set is enough to start. As you level up and roll multiple damage dice, a second set or a handful of extra d6s and d8s makes the game faster. Many groups also like each player and the GM to have their own set.
Are metal dice a good choice for Pathfinder?
Yes, if you like a weighty feel and a satisfying roll. Use a dice tray or a padded surface to protect both your dice and your table. If you want to know why they feel so heavy, our metal dice guide explains it.
What is the best dice gift for a Pathfinder player?
A complete 7-piece set in a color or material they do not already own is a safe and welcome gift. If they love surprises, a mystery bundle adds some fun. Match the style to their character and you cannot go far wrong.
