Giants and Drakes: What We Love from Return of the Dragons
Karwind's Collectibles: D&D Miniatures Spotlight
Ten years is a long time in miniatures. Painting gets better, sculpts get sharper, and old favorites start to look a little dated. So when WizKids decided to rebuild one of its earliest D&D sets from scratch, a lot of us were curious. D&D Icons of the Realms: Return of the Dragons is that rebuild, and here are three figures from it that we especially like.
About the Set
Back in 2014, WizKids' first D&D Icons of the Realms set was Tyranny of Dragons, made to go with the Cult of the Dragon storyline. Return of the Dragons, announced in July 2024, revisits that set and updates the sculpts for all 44 of its miniatures, with new poses and new paint. The collector database MinisGallery lists it as Set 34, released January 29, 2025 (WizKids had first planned on December 2024). Each booster has one Large figure and three Small or Medium ones, and an 8-booster brick retails for $199.92.
It also adds four Very Rare figures (#45–48): the Tyranny of Dragons villains Rath Modar, Talis the White, Pharblex Spattergoo, and Severin. Going by Miniature Market's single listings, the rarities break down like this:
Commons: 13 figures, a classic adventuring crowd: a Gnome Wizard, Halfling Bard, Svirfneblin Fighter, Sun Elf Guard, and Barbarian, plus kobolds, goblins, and a doppelganger.
Uncommons: 19 figures, including the Stone and Frost Giants, Guard Drake, Wyvern, Pegasus, Ballista, and four young dragons.
Rares: 12 figures, including Rezmir, the Red Wizard, the Mind Flayer, a Half-Red Dragon Veteran, and four more young dragons.
Very Rares: the four villains above.
We haven't read a full review of the set, so we'll leave the verdict to you.
A note on stock: Our Return of the Dragons stock is mostly commons and uncommons right now, and the Mind Flayer is our only Rare. So we're featuring it along with our two favorite Uncommons.
Mind Flayer (#35, Rare)
Mind flayers have been one of D&D's creepiest villains for decades, and this one has the classic look: a squid-like head with long tentacles, and a high-collared robe in deep purple and blue. It looks like it's about to reach right into someone's mind.
Why collectors want it: Illithids are always popular, and every collector seems to need at least one more. It's a Rare, too, so it's harder to find than most of the set.
At the table: Use it for a mind flayer (naturally), the hidden boss of an Underdark adventure, a cult's mysterious patron, or a psionic villain in any setting.
👉 Mind Flayer: $17.49. Shop at Karwind's Collectibles · View on eBay
Stone Giant (#26, Uncommon)
This is a big one. The Stone Giant stands about 108mm tall on a 75mm base (per Miniature Market), so it's one of the tallest figures in the set. It has smooth, gray, stone-like skin, simple hide clothing, and a heavy club. It looks calm and very, very strong.
Why collectors want it: Giants make a great showpiece, and you get a lot of figure for the price. It's an Uncommon, but it's still one of the most impressive minis in the set.
At the table: Use it for a stone giant, a mountain guardian, a giant from Storm King's Thunder, or any big brute. Players always stop and stare when a giant hits the table.
👉 Stone Giant: $11.99. Shop at Karwind's Collectibles · View on eBay
Guard Drake (#22, Uncommon)
A guard drake is a beast bred from dragon stock to watch over lairs and hoards. This one is a stocky, wingless blue drake with a ridged back, a thick tail, and an open mouth full of teeth. It's like a guard dog, if your guard dog were a small dragon.
Why collectors want it: It fits perfectly with the Cult of the Dragon theme of the set, and it's a fun sculpt with lots of personality. Blue paint makes it pop on the table.
At the table: Use it as a guard animal for a cult hideout, a pet for a dragon-worshipping villain, or a monster for a low-level party that wants a "dragon fight" before they're ready for a real one.
👉 Guard Drake: $11.99. Shop at Karwind's Collectibles · View on eBay
Rejoin the Cult (or Fight It)
We also have the Dragonclaw, Wraith, Needle Blight, Wood Elf Druid, Bugbear, Doppelganger, Manes, and all the classic adventurers from the commons: Gnome Wizard, Halfling Bard, Svirfneblin Fighter, Sun Elf Guard, Barbarian, and more. Browse our Return of the Dragons collection, or wander through the whole D&D Miniatures section.
Long live the dragons, or at least, may they always lose in the end.
Michael, Karwind's Collectibles
Set details come from WizKids' announcement (via ICv2) and the MinisGallery collector database. Rarity counts and figure sizes come from Miniature Market's single listings as of October 2026. Prices come from our website as of October 17, 2026; our eBay listings (export of October 10, 2026) show the same prices. Prices and stock can change.
