2D Monster Tokens vs 3D Minis: What's Inside the D&D Idols of the Realms Goblinoids Set

Quick answer

The D&D Idols of the Realms: Goblinoids – 2D Set gives you ten flat goblin miniatures for about the price of a single booster, making it the cheapest way to field a full goblin warband. Choose it when you need many identical monsters fast and cheap. Choose 3D options like D&D Nolzur's Marvelous Miniatures: Bearded Devils or Pathfinder Battles: The Mwangi Expanse - Adult Cloud Dragon when presence, painting, or premium display matters more than cost per figure.

You need goblins. Not one goblin—a pack of them, enough to surround the party, soak up a fireball, and still have a second wave. The D&D Idols of the Realms: Goblinoids – 2D Set solves that specific problem for USD 7.50, and it does it with ten flat miniatures that stand in for ten 3D ones.

But flat tokens and full 3D miniatures trade different things. This comparison lines up the Goblinoids 2D Set against two 3D alternatives from the same store—D&D Nolzur's Marvelous Miniatures: Bearded Devils and Pathfinder Battles: The Mwangi Expanse - Adult Cloud Dragon—so you can decide based on how you actually run combat, not on which option sounds more premium.

What the Goblinoids 2D Set actually contains

The set collects an assortment of popular and recognizable monsters ready to deploy into any scenario. You get X4 Goblin #1, X4 Goblin #2, X1 Goblin #3, and X1 Goblin #4—ten figures total. That breakdown matters: eight of the ten are duplicates, which is exactly what you want for a goblin ambush, a war camp, or a dungeon room where the party fights a swarm rather than a boss.

Because the figures are 2D, they are an inexpensive way to gain a huge assortment of miniatures. You are not paying for sculpting depth or a paint job. You are paying for table coverage. For a Dungeon Master who regularly needs six to ten identical enemies on the grid at once, that math is hard to beat.

• Count the duplicates before you buy: this set is built around eight near-identical goblins plus two variants, not ten unique characters.

2D tokens vs 3D miniatures: the real trade-offs

The honest difference is presence. A 3D miniature occupies vertical space, casts a shadow, and reads clearly from across the table when it stands next to a larger creature. A flat token lies on the grid and depends on the art facing up. In tight corridors or crowded melees, some players find flat tokens easier to move and stack; others find them easier to knock out of position.

Cost and quantity pull the other way. The Goblinoids 2D Set covers ten creatures at USD 7.50, while a single 3D figure like D&D Nolzur's Marvelous Miniatures: Bearded Devils runs USD 3.00 and Pathfinder Battles: The Mwangi Expanse - Adult Cloud Dragon runs USD 25.00. If your encounter design calls for one dramatic monster, buy the 3D piece. If it calls for a crowd, buy the flat set.

• Decide per encounter, not per collection: a boss deserves a 3D centerpiece, while minions rarely need one.

Where 3D miniatures still win

Nolzur's Marvelous Miniatures come highly detailed, primed, and ready to paint out of the box, with deep cuts for easier painting. The packaging shows a highly detailed render on each side plus a window box, so you know exactly what you are getting. That combination—paint-ready surface, visible packaging, and a sculpt you can customize—is something a flat token cannot match.

Pathfinder Battles: The Mwangi Expanse - Adult Cloud Dragon takes a different route. It is a pre-painted premium figure with detailed painting at an eye-catching size, standing over 5 inches tall as a Huge miniature. That is a display piece and a boss encounter in one. Neither of these replaces a cheap goblin horde; they serve a different job at the table.

• If you plan to paint, check that the figure is supplied primed and ready to paint—the Nolzur's line states this explicitly.

Scale, storage, and table logistics

The supplied catalog facts do not list a base size or scale for the Goblinoids 2D Set, so treat that as an open question and check the product page images before you commit. What the facts do confirm is the count and the price. For 3D reference, the Adult Cloud Dragon is described as Huge and over 5 inches tall, which tells you it will dominate a standard battle map.

Storage favors flat tokens: ten of them tuck into a small sleeve or bag, while a 5-inch dragon needs shelf space and protection. Transport favors the same. If you game at a store or a friend's house, a flat set is the easier thing to carry alongside dice and a DM screen.

• Measure your battle map and your storage before buying a Huge figure; a 5-inch dragon is a commitment.

Trade-offs at a glance

• Cost per creature: The Goblinoids 2D Set spreads USD 7.50 across ten figures; a single 3D Nolzur's pack is USD 3.00 and the Adult Cloud Dragon is USD 25.00. Flat tokens win whenever your encounter needs quantity.
• Table presence: 3D miniatures occupy vertical space and read clearly across the table; the Adult Cloud Dragon stands over 5 inches tall as a Huge figure. Choose 3D when the monster is the moment.
• Painting and customization: Nolzur's figures arrive primed and ready to paint with deep cuts for easier painting, while the 2D set is supplied as flat printed pieces with no painting step. Pick Nolzur's if hobby time is part of the fun; pick 2D if you want to play tonight.
• Storage and transport: Ten flat miniatures pack into a small sleeve, while a 5-inch pre-painted dragon needs shelf space and protection. If you game away from home, flat tokens are the easier carry.

Product facts that decide the comparison

• D&D Idols of the Realms: Goblinoids – 2D Set: Contains X4 Goblin #1, X4 Goblin #2, X1 Goblin #3, and X1 Goblin #4—ten 2D miniatures total, priced at USD 7.50. Ten figures for the price of a couple of 3D singles makes this the low-cost way to field a full goblin encounter without proxying.
• D&D Nolzur's Marvelous Miniatures: Bearded Devils: Highly detailed figures, primed and ready to paint out of the box, with deep cuts for easier painting and clear visible packaging. If you want to paint your monsters and see exactly what you are buying, this line is the paint-friendly 3D option at USD 3.00 per pack.
• Pathfinder Battles: The Mwangi Expanse - Adult Cloud Dragon: Pre-painted premium plastic miniature, Huge size, standing over 5 inches tall, with detailed painting at an eye-catching size. This is a centerpiece boss figure at USD 25.00, not a horde filler—buy it when one dramatic monster matters more than ten cheap ones.

Which should you buy?

Best for

• Dungeon Masters who need eight to ten identical goblins on the grid at once
• New groups building a first monster roster on a tight budget
• Players who travel to games and want minis that pack flat

Not for

• Collectors who want painted, display-worthy sculpts
• Hobbyists who specifically want figures to paint
• Encounters built around one Huge centerpiece monster, where a premium 3D figure fits better

Buy the D&D Idols of the Realms: Goblinoids – 2D Set when you need a cheap, deep bench of identical monsters, and buy 3D miniatures like D&D Nolzur's Marvelous Miniatures: Bearded Devils or Pathfinder Battles: The Mwangi Expanse - Adult Cloud Dragon when a single figure needs to carry the scene. Most tables end up using both, and that is the point.