From iconic designs to shifting shimmers of color, most luxury dice look amazing thanks to resin and acrylic. They are both transparent and can be hand-poured, allowing for more variety and game immersion. But what sets them apart? Why do some choose to make or buy dice made of resin instead of acrylic, and vice versa? While resin and acrylic dice have many similarities, there are some important differences you should be aware of before opening your wallet and inviting your friends over for game night. Today we’re talking resin versus acrylic dice, so keep reading to find out which is right for you.

Acrylic dice

What is acrylic?

Acrylic is a plastic polymer which can be molded and is often known as acrylic glass. It can be poured into molds, and sets as it comes to room temperature, making it a great material for dice. This liquid can be dyed and you can embed other items (like miniatures or glitter) in them.

Pros of acrylic dice

1. Perfect for minimalists - Acrylic molds can’t be too detailed due to the softness of the plastic. Details that are too small and edges that are too sharp won’t hold their shape. This is why you will often find acrylic dice in bold colors with simple, clean designs. If you favor a classic, old school roleplaying look and feel for your dice, acrylic is what you’re after.

2. Unpredictability - Acrylic dice are extremely lightweight compared to other options out there. Due to this as well as their lack of very sharp edges, acrylic dice bounce quite a bit when you roll them. This makes your roll outcomes more unpredictable and fun.

3. Cost-effective - From less detailed molds and designs to a readily-available material that’s easy to work with and produce en masse, acrylic dice are cheaper than most alternatives. They’re a great option for you if you have kids around, you’re an enthusiastic roller, or if you’re just a dice goblin who wants a large collection.

Cons of acrylic dice

1. Scratching - Acrylic dice scratches quite easily, and may not have the longevity of other options. If numbers or designs are painted on, they rub away with time, and heavy scratching distorts your view of anything that may be suspended inside the dice. For all your favorite or collectible acrylic dice, you’ll need to use a dice tray or remember to roll as gently as you can.

2. They feel cheap - As mentioned before, acrylic dice are very light and they also have the texture of many everyday plastics. This can make them feel and look cheap, even if they have been beautifully designed.

Resin dice

What is resin?

Resin is similar to acrylic in that it’s transparent, and it can be molded, dyed and have all sorts of fun components added to it. Resin, however, doesn’t cure with temperature. It is made by mixing two components together, and the chemical reaction between them is what hardens the resin.

Pros of resin dice

1. Durability: If you and your players are enthusiastic rollers, resin dice are what you need. This material is hard and more scratch-resistant than acrylic. They’re also your best bet if you get attached to playing with certain sets, and you know your dice are going to get a lot of good use across multiple campaigns.

2. Highly detailed: Since resin is harder and more stable, the molds can be incredibly detailed. Resin dice can have extra sharp edges, as well as embossed and debossed decorative details.

3. Transparency: Resin dice are also more transparent and shiny. Regular plastic, like acrylic, can warp the appearance of inner details, and it discolors over time. The surface of resin is smooth, allowing you to see through it perfectly, and it reflects light beautifully, making the edges and faces extra sparkly.

4. Randomness: Resin dice are both nice and heavy, and they can have very sharp edges. This makes them more balanced than other dice, increasing your chances of randomness during gameplay. You can read more about how dice are balanced right here!

5. Luxury: As we have mentioned, resin dice literally hold more weight, and can be designed with more intricate detail and texture than almost any other dice material. Their transparency allows for creators to add more beauty and fun to the inside of the dice as well.

Cons of resin dice

1. Chipping: Resin dice are strong and can take quite a bit of wear-and-tear. When the dice are sharp-edged, however, they can be so sharp-edged that it becomes possible for those edges to chip if they are rolled on hard surfaces like glass or tile.

2. High cost: Resin is a more expensive material than acrylic, so resin dice will almost always be more expensive. These prices are also higher because the possibility of more detail makes each die a tiny piece of art. This means more delicate molds, painted icons, glitter and mica powders, and even tiny figurines to go in the middle.

Are Dispel dice resin or acrylic?

We don’t need to tell you that Dispel likes to have the best of the best. We want our dice to have a balanced roll, look and feel luxurious and, of course, we want them all to be tiny pieces of art! For all of that to be possible, Dispel dice are made with hand-poured resin.

We use a premium resin base that we proudly use and roll daily. We can include lightweight metal foils, glitters, mica, A/B coating (because more shiny!), and even real flowers.

Take a look at our top 10 most intricate designs available below, all made possible by the magic that is resin.