WizKids to Release Amethyst Dragon Miniature

The dragon will be released in June 2026.
1757436317324.png


WizKids has announced the latest in their line of extra-sized D&D minis, this time bringing the 2014 version of the Amethyst Dragon to life. Announced today, the Amethyst Dragon wraps up the 2014 version of the gem dragons, as they were depicted in Fizban's Treasury of Dragons. WizKids specifically points out that this is the 2014 design as opposed to the newer version of the dragon. The amethyst dragon is depicted in mid-flight, with translucent wings. A painted version of the miniature will retail for $99.99, while an unpainted version sells for $79.99.

Like the chromatic and metallic dragons, the gem dragons received an updated look as part of D&D's 50th anniversary. While the other dragons appear in the Monster Manual, the gem dragons redesigns appear in the third-party produced Book of Dragons. The Amethyst Dragon notably loses its clear underbody and wings and adopts a halo-like mane around its face, floating around it thanks to its psionic powers.
 

log in or register to remove this ad

Christian Hoffer

Christian Hoffer


log in or register to remove this ad

It's a shame that it's another render image, when the actual minis are often disappointing in comparison. I have the BIG Tiamat and a couple of smaller Tiamats from Wizkids, as well as three Dracoliches. They look fine in person, but when you look at the digital renders, they are disappointing. Especially the seems that don't fit as well as they should...
The industry in general should start using a disclaimer of some sort. "Digital render, actual product may differ."
 

The industry in general should start using a disclaimer of some sort. "Digital render, actual product may differ."
“The industry” is Wizkids. No one else does pre-painted miniatures on a meaningful scale. Your point is accurate, though I feel most collectors know that what they are actually getting falls well short of the illustrations.
 


“The industry” is Wizkids. No one else does pre-painted miniatures on a meaningful scale. Your point is accurate, though I feel most collectors know that what they are actually getting falls well short of the illustrations.
It's happing in adjacent wargaming hobby as well. CGL's Leviathan's Kickstarter had great 3D renders of their flying battleships but evidently the manufacturer requested the detail be scaled back on some of the pre-painted ships. Until more companies learn how to adjust for for manufacturing, there is a chance it's going to happen more often.
 

“The industry” is Wizkids. No one else does pre-painted miniatures on a meaningful scale. Your point is accurate, though I feel most collectors know that what they are actually getting falls well short of the illustrations.
Most of those that were in the pre-painted minis 'space' have left it. One of the biggest ones left is Renegade Studios with Heroscape and it's line of prepainted miniatures. They actually show bot the drawn illustration and a photo of the painted miniature on the front cover of the box. Archon Studios is also doing stuff with terrain being printed on (not so much painted), but compared to Wizkids they are a far smaller niche. Wizkids doesn't just do the D&D prepainted minis, but also the Pathfinder, Critical Role, Heroclicks (Marvel & DC), Magic: The Gathering miniatures, etc.

Personally, I prefer the old WotC D&D minis over the Wizkids ones...
 

All I can say is... thank f'n G-d! Ever since they announced the newer, smaller black dragon, I was convinced that we'd end up in a similar situation as when WizKids took over the miniatures line and no big green dragon was released for the old Wizards line. I actually just posted to WizKids' social media a few days ago asking if we were ever going to get this.
I waited years for the gargantuan green, and it never happened. Then I got the 5 new chromatics, and they started releasing Metallics. I'd had the anniversary Sapphire dragon for a while, but I assumed they'd never make gem dragons.

The wait from the crystal dragon to amethyst dragon made me worry I'd have a new gap in my collection.
 


Hard pass. I'm glad that people who are into the more niche dragons are getting a mini like this, but I'm waiting on new models of the 2024 metallic and chromatic designs. The gemstone dragons just don't interest me in the slightest.
 

It's a shame that it's another render image, when the actual minis are often disappointing in comparison. I have the BIG Tiamat and a couple of smaller Tiamats from Wizkids, as well as three Dracoliches. They look fine in person, but when you look at the digital renders, they are disappointing. Especially the seems that don't fit as well as they should...
Naaaah. They are awesome, even up close. I think people who do miniature painting themselves have some ridiculously high standards.
Compare these minis with the ones WotC used to make for D&D or Star Wars. Or heck, compare them with the Wizkids Heroclix minis with their flat cartoony colors without shading.
Yes the human sized minis can have issues, but the big ones are almost all awesome painted.
And the Gem Dragons are the simplest as they don't even really need paint just a color sheen, as they are transparent.
DSCN3855.jpg
DSCN8522.jpg
DSCN0377.jpg
DSCN1161.jpg
DSCN8108.jpg


All I can say is... thank f'n G-d! Ever since they announced the newer, smaller black dragon, I was convinced that we'd end up in a similar situation as when WizKids took over the miniatures line and no big green dragon was released for the old Wizards line. I actually just posted to WizKids' social media a few days ago asking if we were ever going to get this.
Luckily, Vexwing - whom I have known from my days at the Allspark as a fellow Transformers fan, it is a small world - was put in charge of the fantasy miniature department recently at Wizkids, and he is an attentive guy, he listens to fan feedback on Minisgallery and elsewhere. He knew it was high priority for us fans to get the 5th Gem Dragon at the proper size, so this was one of the first thing he made sure happens! While Wizkids went back to the proper scale of Dragons - no more 1 size bigger due to wing support bases with rings - this one will still be the old size.
I am really looking forward to the Monster Menagerie Revisited set too, knowing he wants to give us the minis we have wanted for years to happen (Gorgon, Bar'Lgura, Hezrou, lot more) still done in the pre-MM2025 style.
(Edit - LOL for some reason his name getsturned into an X-Wing logo? Is that some Enworld feature?)

If little crystal bits aren't floating around the miniature . . . get on it Wizkids!
Sadly, ioun stone technology is too expensive to use for toy manufacture... :P
The way they do it is with transparent pegs holding them in place, it is OK. See my Topaz Dragon pic's back frill.

Most of those that were in the pre-painted minis 'space' have left it. One of the biggest ones left is Renegade Studios with Heroscape and it's line of prepainted miniatures. They actually show bot the drawn illustration and a photo of the painted miniature on the front cover of the box. Archon Studios is also doing stuff with terrain being printed on (not so much painted), but compared to Wizkids they are a far smaller niche. Wizkids doesn't just do the D&D prepainted minis, but also the Pathfinder, Critical Role, Heroclicks (Marvel & DC), Magic: The Gathering miniatures, etc.

Personally, I prefer the old WotC D&D minis over the Wizkids ones...
Generally, at the time of preorders there is no printed sample yet they could show. Usually 1-2 months before release, the Wizkids store page gets updated with photos of a prepainted copy, or they share them on Twitter or Instagram. For example, photos of the Pathfinder Adult Diabolical Dragon just got uploaded on Instagram yesterday.
 
Last edited:

Related Articles

Remove ads

Remove ads

Top