Made in six materials

Dice Materials, Explained

Metal, resin, liquid core, glass, gemstone and hollow metal all roll differently. Here is what actually changes, from the people who cast and mill them.

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Six materials, one honest question: what do you want the dice to do?

A die is a die, but the material changes the whole feel of the roll: the weight in your hand, the sound on the table, how the light hits it, how it wears, and what it costs. None is better than the others. They are better at different things. Every CritStones set, in every material, is covered by the same lifetime guarantee, so you can choose on feel and not on fear.

Want heftGo metal. Real, cold weight and a roll that lands with authority.

Want artGo sharp-edge resin or liquid core. Foils, flowers and a core that swirls as it settles.

Want quietGo sharp-edge resin. The softest landing on the table.

Want the metal look, lighterGo hollow metal. Metal shine and shimmer with less weight and less noise.

Want the real thingGo gemstone. Cut from actual stone, so no two dice are the same.

Want clarityGo glass. Cool, clear and gem-like, with a smooth confident roll.

Whichever you pick, sharp-edge sets roll truer than heavily rounded ones, so a crisp set is the safe bet for a fair roll.

Metal Sharp-edge resin Liquid core Glass Gemstone Hollow metal

Metal

The heavyweight

Pick up a metal set and you feel it before you roll it: cold, dense, and heavier than any plastic or resin die. On the table it lands with a solid clack and a short roll, and it looks the part for years because there is simply less to chip. This is the material for players who want their dice to feel like a real object, and for wargamers and collectors who want a set that lasts.

Honest note: metal is the loudest material we make, and a heavy set can mark a bare wooden table. Roll on a tray or a mat and you get all of the heft with none of the worry.

Shop metal dice

FeelCold, dense, substantial
SoundLoud, a solid clack
WeightHeaviest we make
PriceMid to premium
Best forHeft lovers, collectors, wargamers

Sharp-edge resin

The artist

Sharp-edge resin is where the artwork lives. Each set is hand-poured and then cut with crisp, clean facets, so the numbers sit sharp and the light catches every edge. Because resin is see-through, we can suspend things inside it: gold and copper foil, real dried flowers, glitter, deep layered colour. It is lighter than metal and warmer in the hand, and those sharp corners are not just for looks. Crisp edges tumble more freely than heavily rounded ones, which is exactly what you want from a fair roll.

Honest note: hand-poured means every set has tiny natural variations. That is the fingerprint of a handmade die, not a fault. The crisp corners can leave a mark on a very soft surface, so they too are happiest on a tray.

Shop sharp-edge resin

FeelLight, warm, crisp edges
SoundSoft, a gentle tumble
WeightLight
PriceEntry to mid
Best forRPG players and wargamers who want art plus a fair roll

Liquid core

The showpiece

A liquid-core die has a sealed pocket of liquid and glitter at its heart. Roll it and the core swirls, then slowly settles like a snow globe in your palm. It is built on the same sharp-edge resin body, so you keep the crisp faces and the true roll, and you add a little theatre every time it lands. Our floating-eye sets go one step further, with an eye that turns to look back at you whichever way it stops.

Honest note: the core is fully sealed and does its job purely for the show. It does not affect the roll, and it is not going anywhere.

Shop liquid core

FeelLight, crisp edges
SoundSoft, a gentle tumble
WeightLight
PriceMid
Best forPlayers and wargamers who want spectacle

Glass

The minimalist

Glass is the quiet flex. It is cool to the touch, clearer than resin, and carries a reassuring weight for its size. The faces are smooth and the whole die reads like a cut gem, so a glass set looks stunning next to a simple black tray and needs no foil or glitter to earn its place. The roll is smooth and confident.

Honest note: glass is a premium material and we make fewer designs in it, so treat a set with a little care and it will reward you with a look nothing else matches.

Shop glass dice

FeelCool, smooth, gem-like
SoundSoft, a glassy click
WeightSolid for its size
PricePremium
Best forMinimalists and clarity lovers

Gemstone

The real thing

Gemstone dice are cut from actual mineral, not resin made to look like stone. That means real cool-to-the-touch heft, natural depth you cannot fake, and a simple truth: because it is real stone, no two dice are ever identical. The grain, the flecks, the way the light moves through a cat's-eye set is unique to the piece in your hand. If you want dice that are a genuine object first and a game piece second, this is the material.

Honest note: real stone is a premium price and comes with natural variation, including the occasional natural line or inclusion. That is the stone being honest about what it is. Beware anywhere selling cheap gemstone-style dice, which are usually dyed resin. Ours are the real thing.

Shop gemstone dice

FeelCool, weighty, natural
SoundSoft, a stony click
WeightSolid, naturally varied
PricePremium
Best forAnyone who wants the real thing

Hollow metal

The metal look, lighter

Hollow metal gives you the metal look and the metal shine with a lighter body and a softer voice on the table. Many designs are cut through, so light passes right into the die and the numbers seem to float in the frame. It is the sweet spot for players who love how metal looks but want less weight in the bag and less noise in a quiet room.

Honest note: hollow means lighter than a solid metal set. If it is maximum heft you are after, go solid metal. If it is the look you love, this is your set.

Shop hollow metal

FeelMetal shine, lighter body
SoundSofter than solid metal
WeightLighter than solid metal
PriceMid to premium
Best forMetal fans and wargamers who want less weight

Whichever you choose

Every material, one promise

Metal, resin, glass or stone, every CritStones die is covered by the same lifetime guarantee. If one chips or breaks, we replace it, with the postage on us. That is why 7,471 players have rated us an average of 4.95 out of 5. Choose on feel, roll with confidence.

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Common questions about dice materials

Which dice material is best for tabletop roleplaying or wargaming?

There is no single best material. Metal gives you heft and presence, sharp-edge resin gives you art and a free roll, liquid core adds spectacle, glass and gemstone are the premium picks, and hollow metal splits the difference. For a first upgrade from basic plastic, most players love sharp-edge resin or a metal set. Both roleplayers and wargamers are covered.

Are metal dice better than resin dice?

Not better, different. Metal is heavier, louder and extremely durable. Resin is lighter, quieter, and the only way to get suspended foils, flowers and liquid cores. Sharp-edge resin also rolls very freely thanks to its crisp faces. Pick metal for heft, resin for art.

Are sharp-edge dice more fair than rounded dice?

Crisp, sharp faces tumble more freely and are less likely to favour a face than heavily rounded corners, so a sharp-edge set gives you a clean, true roll. All CritStones sets are made to sit true.

Are gemstone dice real stone or resin?

Ours are cut from genuine mineral, so every die is naturally unique. A lot of cheap gemstone-style dice online are actually dyed resin. If the price looks too good and every die is identical, it is not real stone.

What is inside a liquid-core die?

A sealed pocket of liquid and glitter that swirls as it rolls and settles like a snow globe. It is purely visual, fully sealed, and does not affect the roll. Floating-eye sets carry an eye that stays upright whichever way the die lands.

Do metal dice damage the table?

A heavy metal set can mark a bare wooden table over time. A dice tray or a rolling mat solves it completely and protects the dice too. We make trays and mats for exactly this.