D&D: Onslaught is both a pricey collectible and a miniatures skirmish game

Dungeons & Dragons: OnslaughtIt is actually two different things. It is the tactical board game of skirmish. The second half is all about miniature collecting. Either of those things — a board game or collectible figures — are nonissues on their own and would be easy to write about here. It’s that D&D: OnslaughtBoth can be confusing at the same time, which may result in a loss of appeal.

It can be played as a game of chess. At the Onslaught is a self-contained, two-player, scenario-based skirmish game based on 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons combat rules. You will find pre-painted miniatures and a double-sided map. Each player controls a party of adventurers in tactical battles against an opponent’s adventuring team and enemy monsters.

Image: Wizards of the Coast

Evidently At the Onslaught isn’t meant to replace D&D. Polygon was told by Alex Davy of WizKids’ miniatures gaming director, At the Onslaught was designed as a “fun, fast, and urgent” way to experience a specific part of D&D — specifically, the experience of combat and being big damn heroes.

At the Onslaught’s rules pare down 5e’s combat into a “balance of crunchy tactics and accessibility,” Davy said, that’s “weighted toward success.” There are no damage rolls (every successful attack deals a set amount of damage) and every attack is made with advantage (rolling two d20s and choosing the higher). The monsters that populate the scenarios automatically hit and deal damage based on rules laid out in the scenario — they don’t roll to attack. It is impossible to monitor their skills and abilities. A deck of numbered cards simplifies even initiative.

Image: Wizards of the Coast

A character card of index size contains everything you need about your characters. This card provides you with attack options, reactions and critical hit effects as well as all your stats. Five dials are located on the exterior of each character card. Anything that changes over the course of a battle — like hit points, experience points, or ability cooldowns — has a dial. Even your stats — of which there are three: speed, armor class, and hit points — have a dial. It is possible for armor class or speed to change depending on which character you are (similarly to HeroClix in another WizKids franchise).

The scenarios you’ll be navigating those characters and minis through are laid out in an included scenario guide rulebook. WizKids claims that you can complete a scenario in approximately 90 minutes. The scenario’s details include the location of loot, team configurations, start or spawn points, rules regarding how monsters behave and any special items. The “Greathalls & Goblins” scenario provided in the preview we saw was simple: “Slay your way to safety!” Two teams of two heroes enter a dungeon and battle each other and a stream of goblins while they fight for control of a special weapon. Based on the actions taken, such as defeating monsters and capturing special loot at fight’s end, victory points can be assigned. And… that’s it. It’s a skirmish, though, so it doesn’t necessarily need more. That said, it’ll be interesting to see how “Greathalls & Goblins” compares to the other scenarios in the full release.

Photo: Charlie Hall/Polygon

While both the scenario and the character cards are simplified and easy to understand, the gameplay itself isn’t much different than playing D&D with minis on a battlemat. You’ll still be dealing with things like range, line of sight, area-of-effect attacks, and ability cooldowns. In an initiative order, players activate their hero in turn. Each hero can have movement speeds, special attacks, reaction times, and actions. That complexity probably accounts for the 14-year-old recommendation.

So At the Onslaught doesn’t want to replace pen-and-paper D&D, and it’s not baby D&D for babies. WizKids would like Dungeons & Dragons: Onslaught to be a pickup game solution that doesn’t require the same prep work a full, role-play heavy session would take. WizKids also plans tournaments and organized play.

We now reach the other half. D&D: Onslaught — collecting.

Image: Wizards of the Coast

An important part of At the OnslaughtThe minis. The core set includes 21 minis. They’re all-new sculpts — 12 heroes and nine monsters like kobolds, gnolls, and a black dragon — that will be exclusive to At the OnslaughtThe first year. They’re just as high-quality as you’d expect from WizKids, which also produces pre-painted miniatures for traditional D&D under license from Wizards of the Coast.

Each player selects one faction and has their own miniatures. At launch, you’ll choose between the spy-like Harpers and the mercenary Zhentarim — both are factions found in D&D’s Forgotten Realms. Later in the year, more factions — the Red Wizards and Many Arrows — and faction expansions will be released. As Davy told us, “We want you to get excited about the faction you’re repping.”

WizKids offers a selection of proxy minis, which can be used to supplement any character minis. These will come from sets like Icons of the Realms, Nolzur’s Marvelous Miniatures, and Frameworks.

Image: Wizards of the Coast

And that means — or, at least, implies — that you’ll want to keep expanding your At the Onslaught Collection to enjoy the complete experience. This brings us to the price.

Core set costs $139.99 The set includes 21 minis, including monsters and characters, a double-sided maps, four 20-sided dice and 16 character cards. In October 2023, the faction expansion pack will come with six miniatures and character cards as well as two themed d20s. These will be $59.99 each. If we’re talking about a per-mini basis, that’s between about $7 and $10 each. Keep up to At the Onslaught’s releases is going to add up fast.

At the Onslaught’s gameplay is all very satisfying and provides a solid framework for a wargaming skirmish. The streamlined experience of that particular part of D&D — the wargaming part where you’re moving miniatures around on a map and battling baddies — is exactly what At the Onslaught delivers. It’s not going to replace long-form (for lack of a better word) D&D, but it’s a good way to get a quick combat fix. However, it’s up to you how you feel about the game. Dungeons & Dragons: OnslaughtIt really depends on your level of miniatures collection. And how much money you’re willing to spend on them.

Dungeons & Dragons: Onslaught It is anticipated to be available in shops by January 2023. Red Mages and Many Arrows faction pack orders are due for October 2023.