As Iconic As It Is Table Ready — WizKids’ New ‘Adult Black Dragon Corruptor’
by Anton Kromoff
Welcome to the table,
Dungeons & Dragons has all manner of creatures great and small to inhabit its various iconic locations and settings. The shape shifting mimic has felt like the D&D mascot alongside the ever-popular Beholder during this golden age of TTRPG. However, it is hard to deny that the Dragons themselves are still the most easily recognizable symbols of the franchise. I mean, it is right there in the name.
With that in mind, I want to talk about the Black Dragon a little bit. My pals at WizKids have sent over one of the brand-new Icons of the Realms: Adult Black Dragon – Corruptor miniatures.
Black dragons are one of my favorite dragons in all of D&D. Their focus on destruction and ruin over the accumulation of wealth makes them an ideal foe for a party of players who have amassed enough magic items and treasure to buy and sell small countries. The black dragons also have such an iconic look. The look has evolved in the new Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Monster Manual and, in typical fashion, the sculptors over at WizKids have knocked it out of the park capturing this terrifying titan in all its glory.
Black dragons make their homes in swamps, ruins, and places where the environment has been warped and corrupted by powerful magics. The updated design of the black dragon for the newest incarnation of D&D really leans into their connection to those kinds of environments with claw like leather wings, horned heads that seem to be burned away to bare bone giving them an almost undead or necrotic appearance, a feature that adds to the mystic of their ruinous nature.
The tail of the black dragon typically ends in a wicked point. This particular black dragon that the WizKids team has captured, known as Corruptor, has a sickly green webbing that laces together its back and tail spines. The way they have painted this mini is brilliant because it hearkens to the black dragon’s acidic breath weapon in such a visual way. Much like the poison frogs’ vibrant skin patters denote their danger, this pop of luminous green in the black and grey scales just deepens how dynamic this miniature looks on the table.
Speaking from a storyteller’s perspective and how this miniature function at the game table, I love this new design’s center of gravity. The classic design is great and if you want more black dragons, you can totally pick up one of the below Icons of the Realms: Adult Black Dragon Premium Figure at the link while they last.
The issue with these larger sculpts, depending on how much space you have at the table to play, is that they are very top heavy with their massive wings in the upright position. This new Adult Black Dragon design really does a fantastic job of staying stable at the table, while still remaining imposing and size appropriate to clash with your other minis during your various games.
WizKids has really been knocking it out of the park as of late. I have been a fan of their recent sets, and I can’t wait to see what the next dragon mini they drop looks like in person.
Until next time, I feel like Corruptor is going to be a character in the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons: Dragon Delves (D&D Adventure Anthology). Now would be the perfect time to head over to that link and grab one for your table before Dragon Delves drops in July.
