How to Protect Your Board Game Miniatures: Care Tips for Gloomhaven and Frosthaven

Quick answer

Protect your miniatures by handling them from the base, storing them so nothing presses on swords or cloaks, and keeping them away from heat, sunlight, and moisture. A quick dust with a soft brush after each session prevents most wear, and a dedicated storage plan matters more than any single product.

Miniatures are the most fragile part of a Gloomhaven or Frosthaven campaign. A snapped blade or a chipped paint job is hard to repair, and replacements are not always available. The good news is that most damage comes from a few repeatable habits, so a short care routine solves the majority of problems.

This guide walks through the steps in the order that prevents the most damage: handle, clean, store, and travel. Each step includes the mistake that quietly ruins miniatures and a checkpoint to confirm you got it right.

Why miniature care is different for campaign games

Gloomhaven and Frosthaven miniatures get handled far more often than display models. They move from box to table, get picked up dozens of times per session, and then go back into storage. That cycle, not a single accident, is what wears them down.

The biggest risks are flexing thin parts like weapons and cloaks, paint rubbing off at contact points, and warping from heat. None of these require special tools to prevent, but they do require a consistent routine.

• Treat every miniature as if it has one weak point: the thinnest part of the sculpt.
• Keep food, drinks, and pets away from the play area during sessions.

Handle miniatures by the base, not the sculpt

Pick up each miniature by the base or the thickest part of the body. Gripping a sword, staff, or cloak transfers pressure to the weakest joint and is the most common cause of breaks. If a miniature feels loose on its base, fix that before it becomes a handling problem.

Set miniatures down instead of dropping them, even from a short height. A drop onto a hard table is more damaging than a full session of careful play.

• Common mistake: grabbing a miniature by the weapon because it is the easiest part to reach.
• Checkpoint: after a session, every miniature should still sit flat and stable on its base.

Clean dust and oils without harsh chemicals

Dust settles into recesses and makes painted details look muddy. Use a soft makeup brush or a clean, dry paintbrush to sweep dust away after sessions. For fingerprints or oily residue, a slightly damp cloth on the base and non-painted areas is enough.

Avoid alcohol, acetone, and household cleaners on painted surfaces. They can strip paint and dull finishes. If a miniature is unpainted, a dry brush is still the safest first step.

• Common mistake: using paper towels, which leave lint and can snag thin parts.
• Checkpoint: the miniature should look the same after cleaning, with no shiny or dull patches.

Store miniatures so nothing presses on them

Storage is where most long-term damage happens. Miniatures should stand or lie in a way that no other component rests on a thin part. Foam trays or compartment boxes work well because they separate figures and absorb small bumps.

Keep storage out of hot cars, attics, and direct sunlight. Heat softens plastic and can warp weapons and bases over time. A cool, dry shelf is better than a sealed bin in a warm room.

• Common mistake: piling miniatures into one bag or box where they rub against each other.
• Checkpoint: shake the storage box gently. If you hear rattling, the miniatures are not secured.

Travel and transport without paint loss

When you take miniatures to another table, use a case or tray that holds each figure in place. Movement during transport causes rubbing, and rubbing causes paint loss at the highest points of the sculpt. A layer of soft foam or a fitted insert reduces that movement.

If you use a carrying bag, pack miniatures so the bag cannot collapse onto them. Place the heaviest components at the bottom and keep the miniature tray flat.

• Common mistake: tossing miniatures into a bag with books or boxes that shift during travel.
• Checkpoint: after a trip, inspect the most exposed parts like weapons and shoulders for new wear.

Protect the campaign components that touch your miniatures

Miniatures are not the only thing that needs care. Map tiles, coins, and stickers all interact with your figures and can cause scratches or snags if they are stored badly. Keeping the rest of the game organized reduces handling damage to miniatures.

For example, storing map tiles in a dedicated archive keeps them flat and prevents them from pressing against miniatures in the same box. Small upgrades like this protect the whole collection, not just one part of it.

• Common mistake: storing miniatures in the same loose box as map tiles and other heavy components.
• Checkpoint: every component has a defined place, and nothing rests on a miniature.

Your miniature care routine, step by step

1. Step 1: Set up a clean, stable play surface: Use a mat or a clean table and keep drinks and snacks away from the miniature area. A stable surface prevents accidental drops and keeps dust and crumbs out of recesses. Checkpoint: no food, drinks, or loose items within reach of the miniatures.
2. Step 2: Handle from the base every time: Pick up and set down each miniature by its base. Never lift by a weapon, cloak, or thin limb. This single habit prevents most breaks. Checkpoint: thin parts never bear the weight of the figure.
3. Step 3: Dust after each session: Use a soft dry brush to sweep dust from recesses and flat surfaces. Avoid liquids on painted areas and never use paper towels. Checkpoint: the miniature looks the same as before, with no dull or shiny spots.
4. Step 4: Store with separation and support: Place miniatures in foam trays or compartments so nothing presses on them. Keep the storage box cool, dry, and out of direct sunlight. Checkpoint: a gentle shake of the box produces no rattling.
5. Step 5: Transport in a fitted case: Use a case or tray that holds each figure in place, and pack the bag so it cannot collapse onto the miniatures. Keep the miniature tray flat during travel. Checkpoint: after travel, inspect weapons and shoulders for new wear.
6. Step 6: Review and repair small issues early: Check bases for looseness, look for bent parts, and fix small problems before they get worse. A loose base is easier to reattach than a broken sculpt. Checkpoint: every miniature sits flat and stable, with no new cracks or bends.

Products that support miniature care

• Frosthaven: Map Tile Archive: Store your Frosthaven map tiles quicker and easier with this elegant solution from Folded Space and Cephalofair Games. Designed to fit IKEA Kallax shelf cubbies and the Official Frosthaven Premium Carrying Bag. Keeps map tiles flat and separate from miniatures, reducing the chance of tiles pressing on fragile parts during storage.
• Gloomhaven: Metal Coin Upgrade: Compatible with all titles in the Gloomhaven Universe, this premium 60 ct. coin set contains 40 one-value coins, 10 three-value coins, 10 five-value coins, and a drawstring pouch. Replacing cardboard tokens with metal coins means fewer worn cardboard pieces and less handling of miniatures during play, since coins are easier to pick up and pass around.
• Gloomhaven: Removable Sticker Set: This set of vinyl stickers replaces all of the normal scenario, enhancement, and unique stickers in Gloomhaven (2nd Edition) and can be removed at any time with no damage to the components. If you plan to reset or resell your game, removable stickers protect the value of the whole set, including the miniatures you have cared for.

Protecting miniatures is mostly about small, repeatable habits: handle from the base, dust after sessions, store with separation, and transport in a fitted case. Pair that routine with organized storage for the rest of the game, and your Gloomhaven and Frosthaven figures will stay table-ready for the whole campaign.