Resin vs FDM for Pokemon Miniatures: Which Should You Use?
Resin gives you crisp detail; FDM gives you cheap, easy color. Here's an honest comparison for printing Pokemon figures, with a clear recommendation for each situation.
Both technologies print great Pokemon. They're just good at different things. Skip the forum arguments — here's what actually matters for figures.
From the shop · Etsy 16 Pokemon STL Bundle | Pikachu Charizard Mewtwo Lugia and More | 3D Printable Figures | FDM & Resin | Instant Digital Download 20.00 EURDetail and surface finish
Resin (SLA/DLP) wins, full stop. Tiny teeth, feather edges on Lugia's wings, the texture on Mega Charizard's scales — resin captures it with almost invisible layer lines. FDM has improved massively; at 0.12 mm layers a chunky chibi looks clean, but you'll see faint lines on curved surfaces and fine points can get mushy below ~60 mm.
Color
This is FDM's home turf. With a Bambu Lab AMS you get a fully colored Pikachu with zero painting (see our AMS guide). Resin prints in one color and expects you to prime and paint — which is either a dealbreaker or the whole hobby, depending on you.
Cost, mess and safety
| FDM | Resin | |
|---|---|---|
| Consumable cost | Low (PLA) | Medium (resin + IPA) |
| Mess | Minimal | Gloves, IPA wash, cure |
| Fumes/safety | Low | Ventilation + PPE required |
| Best scale | 60 mm and up | Any, shines when small |
The verdict
Want colored figures on the shelf with minimal fuss? FDM + AMS. Want display-grade minis you'll paint? Resin.
Good news: our files ship as both STL (for either machine) and, in multicolor packs, AMS-ready 3MF. You don't have to choose the file to the printer — the same bundle works on both.
The hybrid approach many makers use
You don't have to pick one forever. A common setup is an FDM printer with an AMS for fast, colorful shelf figures and everyday prints, plus a cheap resin printer for the handful of pieces where detail really matters — a centrepiece legendary, a competition mini, a gift. The two machines cover each other's weaknesses, and both run the same STL files.
If you're buying your first printer
Start with FDM. It's safer, cheaper to run, forgiving of mistakes, and pairs with multicolor 3MF for instant colored results. Learn slicing, orientation and supports there. Add resin later, once you know you want display-grade detail and are ready for the wash-and-cure workflow. Buying resin first is a common way to get discouraged early.
FAQ
Which is cheaper overall for Pokemon figures?
FDM has lower running costs and less consumable waste. Resin adds resin, IPA, gloves and cure time, but excels at small, highly detailed models.
Can I get multicolor on resin?
Not automatically. Resin prints one color per print; multicolor means priming and hand-painting. FDM with an AMS gives color straight off the plate.
What's best for a beginner?
FDM. It's more forgiving, safer, and pairs with multicolor 3MF files for instant results. Move to resin when you want display-grade detail.
