New D&D Minis Pay Tribute to Legendary Holmes Boxed Set
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Popular dice maker Sirius is trying their hand at a set of new miniatures inspired by one of Dungeons & Dragons most iconic pieces of art. The new Sirius Metal Miniatures: 1977 D&D Holmes Boxed Set, features three new minis that are based on the cover art to the original D&D box set. Fittingly, they’re constructed out of metal as a way to recreate the look and feel of lead minis which were popular among D&D gamers back in the late 70s and early 80s (which we now know poses some serious health risks). While the new metal minis will officially be released in early February of 2026, you can pre-order them now from you local game store, the Sirius website or Amazon.
So are these new minis a fitting tribute to an legendary piece of D&D lore? Below, we get the lead out and try to find out.
What’s Included in the Sirius D&D Holmes Boxed Set minis?
The new box set contains three metal miniatures that are based on the characters featured on the cover of the 1977 Holmes Box set, as illustrated by TSR artist Dave Sutherland. They include a red dragon on a large 75 mm base and a wizard and fighter (the latter of which are on a standard 25 mm base).
Unlike modern miniatures, however, these collectbles are not made of plastic. Instead, they’re made of a unique zinc alloy, which give the miniatures that weight and texture of a lead mini, without having to worry about negative health effects.
How much are the new Sirius D&D minis?
Each Metal Miniatures: Holmes Boxed Set retails for $49.95 USD (not including taxes, shipping and handling), which is a little on the pricey side for three miniatures, but makes sense given that they’re made of hig-end metal and really meant to be a collector’s item, rather than a mini you’d prime and paint (although, you could potentially use them at the table if you were so inclined).
What is the D&D Holmes Box Set?
The Dungeons & Dragons Holmes Basic Set, often simply called the “Holmes Boxed Set,” was first published in 1977 and served as an introductory version of D&D designed to make the game more accessible to new players. Edited by Dr. J. Eric Holmes, a neurology professor and avid fan of the original 1974 D&D rules, the version distilled the complex mechanics of the original game into a more organized and digestible format. The boxed set included a 48-page rulebook covering character creation, spells, monsters and treasure, along with a set of polyhedral dice. Later reprints also contained the classic adventure B1: In Search of the Unknown.
Holmes’ edition bridged the gap between the original D&D (OD&D) and the later Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (AD&D) line, helping establish many conventions that would define the game in later decades. Notably, it limited character levels to 3rd level but was explicitly designed as a gateway to AD&D for higher-level play. The set also helped to define the visual look of the game, with now iconic cover art by David Sutherland and interior illustrations from Tom Wham.
Who is Sirius Dice?
Sirius Dice is a Brooklyn based RPG accessory creator founded in 2019 by tech entrepreneur Lax Chandra and business consultant Tina Trenkler. In 2023 the company signed a licensing deal with Wizards of the Coast and has since released a number of products using the official Dungeons & Dragons brand, including cups, pins and dice sets.
Final Thoughts
Sirius’ new Holmes Boxed Set minis will mark the start of a new line of metal miniatures, so it’ll be interesting to see what they come up with next. In the meantime, this unusual collectible is a solid metal homage to one of Dungeons & Dragons’ most important early products.
You can pre-order Sirius Dice’s new minis now from your local game store, the Sirius website or Amazon.
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Jason Volk is the Publisher of Dungeons & Dragons Fanatics and lives in the wilds of Western Canada. He has been playing D&D for over 25 years and is a huge fan of Dragonlance and the Forgotten Realms. His favorite character of all time was a Necromancer named Neek who spent most of his adventuring career resurrecting the corpses of slain monsters. When he’s not playing TTRPGs, Jason enjoys video games, Magic: The Gathering, Warhammer 40K, watching football and spending time with his wife and adorably nerdy children.
