**Special Note For Anyone Using My Review**
1. I review individual miniatures based on their quality, not what I think their rarity slot should be.
I've seen a couple reviews that, after praising a piece with a solid sculpt and paint job, knock down the rating a couple stars seemingly because they feel it would fit a better rarity slot. That is nonsense to me. I don't think it helps anyone looking at reviews trying to determine the actual quality of a piece in hand. I keep that type of conversation reserved for Erik's weekly Friday Preview blog or the review of the set as a whole.
2. For those new to pre-painted miniatures, please understand that no piece is going to look as close to quality as the digital 3D render. It just isn't going to happen. Think of the renders as what to expect conceptually. But in practice digital renders don't have to deal with real world techniques such as shading, washing, and other methods used to make a miniature look more than just a shiny cartoon once it is on the table. **
My Official Grade For Silver Dragon:
Quality of Sculpt: 2 out of 2 Stars:
This is one of the better sculpted dragons out there. If you're going to make your dragon stand on the ground, you need to make sure you sculpt him with enough personality (and skill) to allow for a masterful paint job. This piece does just that. The reason he's so well painted is because the sculpt allows for it. The wings are fantastic and full of definition. The tips on the wings are sharp and deadly. He is sculpted to look exactly like a lawful good silver dragon should look: sleek and elegant.
Quality of Paint Job: 2 out of 2 Stars:
As others have pointed out, the paint job here is a great example of how less is more. How do you make a metallic dragon look good? Make him shine like metal. How do you emphasis is wing tips? Paint them a nice black. No blotches, no drips, nothing negative.
Overall appeal and usefulness: 1 out of 1 Star:
I own quite a few silver dragons, going as far back as the old WOTC-made miniatures. I even own a couple dragon toys from other hobby companies, like Papo. I can honestly say this is my favorite looking Silver Dragon. They somehow manage to give him a level of shading without dampening the metallic shine. Incredible!
My Advice For Cherry Pickers:
Dragons are common again in miniature form. Silver Dragons are Lawful Good, so often times, your party won't be fighting them. Still, they make excellent NPC types. And hey, it's a dragon!
Some prefer their dragons in flight. I don't have a preference, although I'm glad that Wizards makes their dragons in-flight pieces. It balances out really well with these grounded dragons that Pathfinder puts out. I actually prefer the look of most Pathfinder dragons over their counterparts at WOTC, and the Silver Dragon is no different.
If you're looking for the best silver dragon out there in miniature form, this elegant piece is the one for you. Despite how great it looks, you can probably pass if you're not a fan of dragons, not sure you'll use one that likely won't fight against a group of good characters, or simply prefer your dragons in a flying pose.
He's up to $10 cheaper on some third party sites, so you might check there first.
(based on 4 ratings)
