You need one standard 7-piece polyhedral set: a d4, d6, d8, d10, a percentile d10, a d12 and a d20. That covers Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder and most other tabletop RPGs. Pick a set with numbers you can read from across the table, in a material you like holding, and you’re ready to roll. Everything below is how to make that choice without a spreadsheet, a panic attack, or a $400 impulse buy at 2 a.m.
TL;DR
- A standard starter set has seven dice: d4, d6, d8, d10, percentile d10, d12 and d20. One set is enough to play.
- The d20 does the heavy lifting. The other dice mostly handle damage and other side jobs.
- Readability beats flash. If you can’t read the number in dim light, the pretty die is just a pretty paperweight.
- Acrylic and resin are friendly starting points. Gemstone, metal, wood and liquid core are fun upgrades once you know your taste.
- Mystery bundles and dice make good gifts, as long as you know the recipient plays the same type of game.
Table of Contents
- What dice do you actually need?
- The d20 is the star, everything else is the band
- How to read dice notation without crying
- How to choose your first set
- Starter set ideas by player type
- Do you need more than one set?
- A few accessories worth having
- Perspective: why the dice matter more than they should
- Gift ideas: dice and mystery bundles
- Where to start
- FAQ
What dice do you actually need?
Tabletop RPG dice are polyhedral, which is a fancy word for “dice that look like they came from a wizard’s junk drawer.” Pathfinder’s rules list the d4, d6, d8, d10, d12 and d20, and note that a d% roll uses two d10s, one for the tens and one for the ones. Chaosium’s Basic Roleplaying rules give the same six core dice and call a percentile die useful too.
For D&D, the Wizards of the Coast quick reference tells players to prepare a set made of d20, d12, d10, d8, d6 and d4. That’s why nearly every starter set arrives as a seven-piece bundle. Our 7 piece sets follow that same layout, so you can grab one and skip the shopping list.
Good news for your wallet: you don’t need a pile of them. Pathfinder’s rules say players and the Game Master need at least one set, though many people bring their own. Your own dice are a nice bonus. Borrowing the same cursed d20 from your DM for six months is not.
Meet the cast
| Die | Sides | Common job in a game |
|---|---|---|
| d4 | 4 | Small damage rolls. Also the die you will step on at midnight. |
| d6 | 6 | Damage, plus lots of everyday rolls. |
| d8 | 8 | Damage for many weapons and spells. |
| d10 | 10 | Damage, and half of a percentile roll. |
| d% (00 to 90) | 10 | Pairs with the d10 for results from 1 to 100. |
| d12 | 12 | Big damage rolls. |
| d20 | 20 | The main die for checks, attacks and saves. |
Want the long version of why each one exists? Our guide to the function of each die walks through it, and there’s a companion piece on why D&D uses so many different dice.
The d20 is the star, everything else is the band
In D&D, the d20 is central to what the rules call D20 Tests, while the other dice are most commonly used to determine damage. The basic loop in the D&D quick reference is simple: roll a d20, add a number, and tell the Dungeon Master your result.
So, practically speaking: you will roll your d20 about a thousand times more than your d12. Some players treat the d12 as a rare, majestic creature that appears once per campaign, usually when a barbarian swings. If you’re going to splurge on one die, make it the d20, because it gets the most use and the most dramatic moments (good and tragic).
How to read dice notation without crying
The notation looks like math homework, but it’s tiny. Per Pathfinder’s rules, dice are written as “d” plus the number of sides, so 4d6 means rolling four six-sided dice. Roll20’s D&D 2024 rules use 3d8 + 5 as an example: roll three eight-sided dice, add the results together, then add 5.
The pattern is a number of dice, then the die type, then a flat bonus. Here is how it looks:
- 1d20 + 3: roll one d20, add 3. This is your standard check.
- 2d6: roll two six-sided dice and add them.
- 1d8 + 2: roll one d8, add 2. A typical damage roll.
- d%: roll two d10s. According to Roll20’s rules, one die supplies the tens digit and the other the ones digit, and two zeros represent 100.
That last one trips up everybody once. The percentile die is the one that goes 00, 10, 20 and up to 90. The percentile d10 is marked in increments of ten, so if it shows 30 and your regular d10 shows 4, you rolled 34. If you roll 00 and 0, that’s 100. Yes, really. Math is weird.
How to choose your first set
Here’s where the fun begins, and where wallets start nervously sweating. Skip the quest for “the best dice” and ask a few practical questions.
Can you read it?
This is the first and only non-negotiable. A die with ornate fonts, glittery swirls and low contrast numbers looks gorgeous on a shelf and is miserable at a table lit by one sad lamp. Look for numbers that contrast clearly with the die body. Dark numbers on a pale die, or bright numbers on a dark one, are easiest. Our best dice for tabletop RPG campaigns guide goes deeper on what holds up over a long campaign.
How does the material feel?
Each material has a personality. These are our own observations from selling and playing with dice, not lab results:
| Material | What it’s like | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Acrylic and resin | Light, easy to read, comfortable on the wallet | First sets, trying out colors |
| Liquid core | Contains a shifting liquid inside for extra eye candy | Players who like something to stare at during a boring rules debate |
| Gemstone | Cool to the touch, each one slightly different | Keepsake sets and special characters |
| Metal | Heavy, loud, satisfying | Players who like a dramatic clunk |
| Wood | Warm and natural looking | Players who want something understated |
Metal dice are fun, but they are heavy and they roll hard. Roll them on a tray or a soft mat, not on the family dining table you want to keep scratch-free. If you’re new, an acrylic or resin set is the low-pressure place to start. We wrote up why in affordable resin dice for new players.
Do you want a theme?
Yes, this is allowed. Dice that match your character are one of the great joys of the hobby. A shadowy rogue might want black and blue. A druid might want green gemstone. A chaos sorcerer might want whatever is glowing. You can browse the whole range in our DnD dice collection, sorted by material.
Starter set ideas by player type
Not sure where to land? Here are a few pairings.
- The “I’m just trying this out” player: Go for an acrylic set with high-contrast numbers, like the Craterborn black and blue 7-piece acrylic set. Moody, readable, and not so precious that you’ll flinch if one rolls off the table.
- The “this is my new personality” player: Try a gemstone set such as Earth Stone or Stone of Golorr. Each piece of stone is a little different, so your set is truly yours.
- The “I like shiny moving things” player: Look at our liquid core dice. They’re the ones that make other people at the table say, “Wait, what is that?”
Check the product pages for current pricing and availability, since both can change.
Do you need more than one set?
Not at first. One 7-piece set carries you through your first campaign. Later, extra dice come in handy for specific situations. Rolling a fireball’s worth of d6s is a lot faster when you have a handful on hand, which is why people eventually pick up a 10d6 dice set. If you eventually run the game as a DM, how many dice a DM needs is a good read before you buy in bulk.
A few accessories worth having
A good set of dice is better with a few friends. A small dice tray keeps rolls from sprinting across your snacks, and a box or bag keeps your set from vanishing into the couch. Our guide to D&D player accessories covers what to buy and what to skip, and you can browse dice accessories if you want to see the options.
Perspective: why the dice matter more than they should
Here’s the truth from where we sit. Dice are not required to be fancy. The game works fine with a cheap set and a good group. But dice are also the one piece of gear that’s yours at the table, and they’re in your hand for every tense moment. Rules exist to create a random, impartial way of settling a challenge where failure is possible, as one rules explainer puts it, and that tension feels better when you love the thing you’re shaking in your fist.
Our approach is to make dice that look striking, from liquid core to gemstone, metal, resin and wood, and to run the shop like a community instead of a vending machine. Most of our customers aren’t hunting for a spec sheet. They want a set that makes them smile when they pick it up. If a die makes you grin even when it rolls a 1, it’s a keeper. And we back our products with an unconditional money-back policy, so you aren’t gambling on the purchase, only on the rolls.
— Teresa
Gift ideas: dice and mystery bundles
Dice make easy gifts, as long as you check one thing first: what does the person play? If they run D&D or Pathfinder, a standard 7-piece set is a safe bet, because those games use the standard set described above. Some games use different dice or rules, so ask a friend at their table if you’re unsure.
A few tips for gift buyers:
- Check whether they already own a set. Most players do. A new one is still welcome, but a different material or color makes it feel special.
- Pick a theme that fits them. If they love playing a particular class or color, lean in.
- Consider a mystery bundle for a player who loves surprises. Part of the fun is not knowing what comes out of the box. If they have strong color preferences, a regular set is safer.
- Add storage. Dice that live in a good box feel more like treasure.
New player? Tell your friends exactly what you want. “I’d like a readable 7-piece set in a color I’ll love” is a perfectly fine gift request.
Where to start
If you want the easy route, start with our 7 piece sets, pick a color you can’t stop looking at, and check that the numbers are easy to read. Want more choices by material? Browse the full D20 Collective dice range, where metal, resin, wood, gemstone and liquid core sets all live.
FAQ
How many dice do I need to start playing D&D?
One standard 7-piece set is enough. That means a d4, d6, d8, d10, percentile d10, d12 and d20. The Wizards of the Coast quick reference lists the polyhedral set players should prepare. Extra sets are a convenience, not a requirement.
Are the same dice used for Pathfinder?
Yes, for the most part. Pathfinder uses d4, d6, d8, d10, d12 and d20, with a d% roll made from two d10s. A standard 7-piece set covers all of it.
What is the percentile die for?
It’s the d10 marked 00 to 90. You roll it with a regular d10 to generate a result from 1 to 100, with the percentile die giving the tens and the regular d10 the ones. Two zeros count as 100.
What material is best for a beginner?
Acrylic or resin is a friendly place to start because it’s lightweight and easy to find in readable color combinations. If you fall in love with the hobby, gemstone, metal, wood and liquid core are all fun upgrades. Pick based on readability first and style second.
Is a mystery dice bundle a good gift?
It can be, if the recipient enjoys surprises and plays a game that uses standard polyhedral dice. If they have a strict color palette or a specific character in mind, a chosen set is the safer pick.
