Warhammer Dice Sizes: 12mm Citadel vs Horus Heresy Sets

Quick answer

Choose 12mm Citadel dice if you want compact, stackable cubes that save table space and suit large infantry squads. Choose the Horus Heresy Age of Darkness set if you want 20 themed 16mm dice with silver markings and a Warmaster eye on the 6.

Why dice size changes your game more than you think

Dice size affects how many you can comfortably hold, how much table space your rolling tray needs, and how easy the results are to read across the table. Smaller dice let you roll handfuls of attacks without scattering models, while larger dice are easier to pick up and read but take up more room.

The 12mm Citadel dice and the Horus Heresy Age of Darkness dice sit at opposite ends of this trade-off. The Citadel set uses 12mm cubes, while the Horus Heresy set is a standard 16mm wargaming dice. Neither is objectively better — the right choice depends on your army and how you play.

12mm Citadel dice: compact and stackable

The Warhammer Dice Citadel 12mm set gives you 20 small dice in a hard-wearing plastic cube with an embossed skull lid. The cube stacks, so storage is tidy, and the skull icon replaces the 1 on every die. Because the dice are 12mm, you can fit more of them in your hand and roll large pools without needing a huge tray.

The trade-off is readability. At 12mm, the skull and pips are smaller, so players with reduced vision or anyone sitting far from the rolling area may need to lean in. Also, the set ships in a random colour from six options, so you cannot pick a specific colour to match your army.

Horus Heresy Age of Darkness dice: themed and readable

The Warhammer The Horus Heresy: Age of Darkness Dice Set contains 20 pearlised black acrylic dice with silver ink markings. The 6 face shows the stylised eye icon of the Warmaster Horus, which makes successful rolls easy to spot and adds a strong Horus Heresy theme to your games.

These are larger dice, so they are easier to read and pick up than 12mm cubes. The trade-off is space: 20 larger dice take up more room in a tray or hand, and the pearlised finish may show wear differently than solid-colour plastic. The set is also specifically themed for Horus Heresy, so it may look out of place in a different Warhammer setting if visual consistency matters to you.

What about 16mm dice for Warhammer 40k?

Many players search for dice for Warhammer 40k and assume 16mm is the standard. In practice, both 12mm and 16mm dice work for any Warhammer game as long as all players agree. The Horus Heresy set is a 16mm-style dice, while the Citadel set is explicitly 12mm. If you regularly roll 20 or more dice at once, 12mm reduces clutter; if you prefer clear readability, 16mm is easier on the eyes.

Neither set includes dice with custom faction symbols beyond the skull (Citadel) or the Warmaster eye (Horus Heresy). If you need specific faction dice, you will need to look at other sets.

Decision rules for buying Warhammer dice

• If you play large infantry squads or horde armies: Pick the 12mm Citadel dice. You can hold and roll many dice at once without needing a large tray, and the stackable cube keeps them organised between games. Check that your rolling tray is deep enough to contain 12mm dice — they bounce further than larger dice.
• If you want thematic dice for Horus Heresy: Choose the Horus Heresy Age of Darkness set. The Warmaster eye on the 6 and the pearlised black finish match the Horus Heresy aesthetic. Confirm your army's colour scheme — the black and silver may clash with brightly painted forces.
• If readability across the table matters most: Go with the larger Horus Heresy dice. The 16mm size and silver markings are easier to read from a distance than 12mm dice. Ask opponents if they mind larger dice if table space is tight.
• If you want a specific dice colour: Avoid the 12mm Citadel set unless you are happy with a random colour. The Horus Heresy set is fixed black, so you know exactly what you get. Random colour means you cannot match your army unless you buy multiple cubes and trade.

Product facts

• Warhammer The Horus Heresy: Age of Darkness Dice Set: Set of 20 pearlised black acrylic dice with silver ink markings and a stylised eye icon on the 6 face. The eye icon makes sixes easy to identify at a glance, and the pearlised finish gives the dice a distinct Horus Heresy look.

  

• Warhamme Dice Citadel 12mm: Set of 20 12mm dice in a stackable cube with an embossed skull lid; each die has a skull icon in place of the 1. The compact size and stackable storage make these easy to carry and tidy, while the skull on the 1 is a clear reminder of a failed roll.

  

Who should buy which

Best for

• Players who roll large pools of dice and want compact, stackable storage
• Horus Heresy fans who want themed dice with a readable 6 face

Not for

• Players who need a specific dice colour and cannot accept random selection (12mm Citadel set)
• Anyone who wants faction-specific symbols beyond a skull or the Warmaster eye