Should you buy Critical Role Wave 2 miniatures by WizKids?

Are Critical Role miniatures worth your hard-earned money? Don't worry, you're no less a Critter for considering that question. Even if you're a big fan of the online series or its animated adaptation by Amazon, minis to go with the best Dungeons and Dragons books are expensive.

That's why I've been having a closer look at many of the new Critical Role miniatures by WizKids. Heavily inspired by artwork from the likes of Tal'Dorei Reborn, these figures promise to give you premium, tablet-ready game pieces you can throw straight into your games. But are they worthy of the Critical Role name? Similarly, how do they compare to other WizKids miniatures?

You'll find my thoughts on all of the above here, including how well these minis would integrate with other entries from our list of the best tabletop RPGs.

Critical Role Wave 2 - Characters of Tal'Dorei (Set 1)

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This pack isn't quite what you'd expect. With a name like 'Characters of Tal'Dorei', it'd be understandable to think you're getting well-known faces from the world of Critical Role - perhaps those who aided Vox Machina in their many quests.

As it turns out, there's only one recognisable name in here… and it's Dungeon Master Matt Mercer himself. Everything else is drawn from the creatures section of Tal'Dorei Reborn, allowing you to use them as foes, NPCs, or something else entirely.

In many ways, this is a net positive. There are many suitable candidates for player characters here if you're starting a game set in Tal'Dorei, and many of them are refreshingly unusual. The Kraghammer Goat Knight is a great example. Designed to split in half along the waist so that he can be seated on his (very grumpy-looking) steed, it's a good showstopper piece for your party.

Another case in point would be the Rivermaw goliaths. They're the same species as Vox Machina staple Grog, so tower over other models and boast intricate tattoo patterns all over their bodies.

While the other miniatures are more in line with archetypes, they still offer good - if not excellent, in the case of the Kuul'tevir lizardfolk - paintwork. The Verdant Guard Ranger will appeal to anyone that finds themselves drawn to playing wood elf bowmen, for instance. That means these minis are compatible with the likes of Pathfinder; there isn't much that ties them to Tal'Dorei specifically, letting them pull double-duty for games with different settings.

Naturally, I couldn't go any further without mentioning Mercer himself. Matt's miniature is delightful thanks to an outfit that evokes his real-life DM attire, along with a sly expression that suggests he's about to drop a very nasty monster on you. He'd make a great villain for your adventurers.

As always, the only hang-up I have is price. Costing $59.99 in the USA and £59.99 in the UK, that's steep for nine models - as awesome as they are.

Critical Role Wave 2 - Monsters of Tal'Dorei (Set 2)

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Let's be real for a minute; NPCs are all good and well, but monsters are where it's really at. If you're playing D&D, you probably have your party set and ready to go. That just leaves foes for them to fight, and for the most part, these Critical Role miniatures hit the spot. There's a great variety of beasts and bad guys here to suit your needs, and much like the other entries in Wave 2, many are pulled directly from the art of Tal'Dorei Reborn.

The Wraithroot tree (which is my favorite from the entire pack) is a great example. It's the spitting image of its monster entry at the back of the book, and the sharp detail, not to mention that precise paintwork, help it excel. Cue a 'chef's kiss' response from me on this one.

Not that it's a problem if they don't look exactly like their namesakes, of course. The Cyclops Stormcaller isn't a dead ringer for the book's concept, but it's still a fun sculpt that captures the creature mid-bellow to the skies.

Similarly, the Satyr (which initially seems like a bizarre inclusion) and Ettin are clearly mimicking the artwork that has the former feeding the latter something. And although these models don't recreate that scenario per se, it's a cool nod nonetheless matched by a menacing pose for the Ettin itself. The only thing I wasn't sold on? The Ettin is a little flat in terms of color - it lacks shading or highlights that I'd expect from a miniature this size. Which isn't a disaster by any means, yet it stops it short of being properly great.

I have reservations about the Skeleton Centaurs as well. Although they look fantastic, they're pretty fragile and taking them out of the box is a nightmare. One of mine broke in the process, and I had to glue it back together.

Fortunately, the Flaming Skeleton (with excellent use of translucent 'fire' plastic) and Demonfeed Spider make up for it. These are evocative horrors that will look great on any tabletop.

The Atronach will also look superb, but for a different reason. This one's more ethereal and the use of opaque purple plastic sells that notion perfectly. The face is a little 'blobby' in that it's hard to make out the features, but it's impressive overall.

That's very much the theme of these monster models in general; they aren't perfect, but for the price, you're getting a decent selection that can be used in a variety of unique scenarios. 

Critical Role Wave 2 - NPCs of Tal'Dorei (set 1)

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Even though it's called 'NPCs of Tal'Dorei', a better name for this pack might be 'Ashari' - these elemental guardians are the focus. With a representative from each of the four tribes (Earth, Air, Water, and Fire) to go with elemental monsters they can battle against, the set stands out from other Critical Role miniatures thanks to unique designs. Take the Waverider; their outfit looks like something out of Aquaman, bringing a very different flavor to the tabletop. It's nice to see more diverse body types being represented, too.

For the most part, these models do their inspiration justice. The Firetamer has a distinctly moody expression that's easily readable from a distance, and they're rocking a translucent flaming sword (always a win in our books). Equally, the Skydancer has a badass shooting-a-bow-while-in-midair pose that's elevated by opaque hair you won't find from other miniature brands. As for the Waverider, they possess surprisingly detailed facial features despite the figure's smaller size. That's true across the board for Critical Role Wave 2, actually.

The monsters are cool as well if a little plain at times. The Ashari Octopus has a creepy, mindflayer-eque face that adds spice to what would otherwise have been… well, just an octopus. Meanwhile, the Fire Elemental's aggressive flame effects and beady little eyes make for a genuinely intimidating foe. Yes, it's a shame the shark isn't given an equal amount of 'awesome' to play with, but it's an evocative sculpt nonetheless.

That leaves the Stoneguard. Sadly, there's a reason I've held it back for last; despite having a suitably dramatic design (they're holding something off with the haft of their axe), the paint really leaves something to be desired. While I may have ended up with a dud, the model in official PR photos isn't much better. That makes me wonder whether the dark color scheme is to blame; the overall result is muddy.

Still, I'd say these miniatures are worth their $59.99 / £59.99 price tag on the whole - you won't find pre-painted Ashari sculpts anywhere else.

Critical Role Wave 2 - NPCs of Exandria (Set 1)

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This pack is broader in scope than the other Critical Role miniatures listed here; it takes us through the world of Exandria's history. King Warren Drassig is exhibit A of that particular concept. As one of the setting's most infamous despots, he's the perfect villain for anyone running a campaign set in the past - and the model is suitably imposing. Although I would have liked to see more layering in the paintwork (it's somewhat plain), it's still an epic pose with that fur cloak flapping in the wind.

The other miniatures are equally well done (the criminal Clasp members ooze menace, particularly that devilish Enforcer), but the most notable one might be Jorreal, the Caedogeist. As a Critical Role villain from campaign two, she's probably the standout because this is the only way of getting her onto your tabletop. I'm in love with the translucent, billowing smoke she's leaping out of; it's a nicely premium touch.

Captain Avantika is every bit as cool, if not as flashy. A long-running NPC from the second season of Critical Role, this model has suitable swagger and conveys a strong personality without much effort. It's inspiring, practically crying out for a campaign revolving around her early adventures.

The downside of this pack? The Ravager Slaughter Lord isn't nearly as interesting as the art from the book, and neither is the Ravager Stabby-Stabber (though in its defence, it does have the best name ever). Tal'Dorei Reborn depicts haunting, corpse-like monsters that you really wouldn't want to encounter down a dark alley, but the miniatures opt for very generic fantasy instead. They're good sculpts, of course, but they don't represent the source material all that well. Considering how close the others hew to the book's illustrations, it's an odd choice.

Reviewed using samples provided by WizKids.

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