Unleash the Horde: A Deep Dive into WizKids D&D Icons of The Realms: Undead Armies – Zombies Review

Ever found yourself narrating a horde of shambling undead in your Dungeons & Dragons campaign, wishing you had the visual impact to truly match the horror? WizKids, a name synonymous with quality tabletop miniatures, consistently delivers on that front. Today, we’re taking a closer look at a fantastic addition to any Dungeon Master’s arsenal: the WizKids D&D Icons of The Realms: Undead Armies – Zombies set. Get ready to bring your undead encounters to horrifying life!

First Impressions & Key Features: A Shambling Spectacle

Upon opening the WizKids D&D Icons of The Realms: Undead Armies – Zombies box, you’re immediately greeted with a varied collection of pre-painted zombie miniatures. Unlike sets that might give you a dozen identical sculpts, this collection offers a welcome diversity. You’ll find zombies in various states of decay and motion – some shambling slowly, others reaching, some missing limbs, creating a truly motley crew of the undead.

Each miniature stands on a standard D&D base, perfectly scaled for 28mm-32mm tabletop gaming. The sculpts are impressively detailed, capturing the gruesome nature of the undead with torn clothing, exposed bones, and decaying flesh. The paint application, while factory-level, is generally very good for pre-painted miniatures. They’re ready to hit the table straight out of the box, saving you valuable painting time.

The Good, The Bad, and The Undead: Pros & Cons

Let’s break down what makes this set shine and where it might stumble slightly.

Pros:

• Ready-to-Play, Right Out of the Box: This is perhaps the biggest draw. No assembly, no painting required. For DMs who have limited time or players who just want to jump straight into the action, these pre-painted zombies are a godsend.
• Excellent Value for Army Building: Acquiring a sizable horde of high-quality miniatures can be costly and time-consuming. This set provides a generous number of miniatures at a very competitive price point, making it ideal for populating large-scale undead encounters.
• Varied Poses & Sculptures: As mentioned, the diversity in poses is a huge plus. It makes your zombie horde feel organic and less like a collection of clones, adding to the visual immersion on the battlefield.
• Durable Construction: WizKids miniatures are known for their robust build. These zombies can withstand regular handling during game nights, making them a lasting investment for your tabletop collection.
• Enhances Immersion & Tactics: Having physical representations of your monsters drastically improves gameplay. Players can visualize the battlefield, strategize around the horde, and truly feel the weight of the undead threat bearing down on them.

Cons:

• Minor Paint Imperfections: As with most mass-produced pre-painted miniatures, you might find an occasional minor paint slip or less detailed area. These are usually not noticeable from a tabletop distance, but collectors seeking perfection might consider adding touch-ups.
• Limited Customization: Since they come pre-painted, extensive customization would require stripping and repainting, which defeats the purpose of buying pre-painted minis for many users.
• Fixed Scale: While perfect for D&D, if you play other skirmish games with wildly different scales, these might not integrate perfectly without looking a bit out of place.

User Impressions: What the Community Thinks

The general consensus among Dungeon Masters and tabletop RPG players is overwhelmingly positive for the WizKids D&D Icons of The Realms: Undead Armies – Zombies set. Many users praise the convenience and the ability to instantly field a terrifying number of enemies. DMs frequently highlight how much more engaging and easier it is to run combat when every enemy has a clear, physical presence on the battle mat. The value proposition is a recurring theme, with many agreeing that you get a fantastic bang for your buck, especially when compared to assembling and painting individual zombie miniatures.

Who is This Set Best For?

This WizKids D&D Icons of The Realms: Undead Armies – Zombies set is a fantastic choice for:

• Dungeon Masters (especially new ones!): If you’re tired of using bottle caps or coins to represent your monsters, this is a phenomenal upgrade. It saves you immense time and effort, letting you focus on storytelling.
• Players Who Want to Visualize Combat: For players who prefer a tactical, visual representation of their encounters, having a horde of zombies to fight against is incredibly satisfying.
• Wargamers: Beyond D&D, these miniatures can easily bolster undead armies in various fantasy wargames and skirmish games that use 28mm scale.
• Collectors on a Budget: If you’re looking to expand your D&D miniatures collection without breaking the bank, this set offers a substantial number of quality figures.
• Anyone Running Horror or Apocalyptic Campaigns: Nothing says “imminent doom” quite like a physical horde of the shambling dead.

Bringing Your Undead Encounters to Life!

For any Dungeon Master aiming to elevate their game sessions with tangible, terrifying threats, investing in the WizKids D&D Icons of The Realms: Undead Armies – Zombies is a no-brainer. These miniatures don’t just sit on a table; they breathe life (or unlife!) into your narratives, making combat more dynamic, immersive, and memorable for everyone at the table. From a small skirmish in a graveyard to a full-blown zombie apocalypse, this set has you covered.

Ready to unleash your own shambling menace on your players? Don’t just narrate a horde; show them. Grab your WizKids D&D Icons of The Realms: Undead Armies – Zombies set today and truly bring your undead encounters to terrifying life!

FAQ

Q. What is the ‘WizKids D&D Icons of The Realms: Undead Armies – Zombies’ product?
A. This product is a set of pre-painted miniature figures specifically designed for use with tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons. It provides multiple zombie figures, perfect for populating encounters, creating undead armies, and adding visual depth to your game sessions.

Q. How many zombie miniatures are included in this set?
A. The ‘WizKids D&D Icons of The Realms: Undead Armies – Zombies’ set typically includes six unique, pre-painted zombie miniatures, offering a variety of poses and sculpts to enhance your encounters.

Q. Are these zombie miniatures pre-painted or do they require painting?
A. All miniatures in the WizKids D&D Icons of The Realms line, including the ‘Undead Armies – Zombies’ set, come pre-painted and are ready for immediate use right out of the box. While they can be customized further with additional painting, it is not required.

Q. What scale are these miniatures, and are they compatible with standard D&D game grids?
A. These miniatures are scaled for standard 28mm tabletop gaming, which is the typical scale for Dungeons & Dragons. They are designed to fit perfectly on 1-inch grid battle maps, making them ideal for D&D 5th Edition and other similar fantasy skirmish games.

Q. Can these zombie miniatures be used for games other than Dungeons & Dragons?
A. Absolutely! While branded for D&D, these versatile zombie miniatures can be used in any tabletop role-playing game, war game, or skirmish game that requires undead creatures or humanoid enemies, such as Pathfinder, Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, or even custom scenarios. Their generic undead nature makes them widely applicable.

Q. Do the zombie miniatures feature different poses or are they all identical?
A. The ‘Undead Armies – Zombies’ set is designed to offer variety. It typically includes multiple unique sculpts and distinct poses, meaning you will receive different types of zombies (e.g., shambling, crawling, attacking, different states of decay) rather than multiple copies of the same figure. This enhances the visual diversity of your encounters.

Q. What material are these miniatures made from, and how durable are they?
A. These miniatures are typically made from a durable, pre-primed PVC plastic. This material provides a good balance of fine detail, flexibility (reducing breakage from accidental drops), and robustness for regular tabletop play, ensuring they can withstand frequent handling during game sessions.