Hoard

What is a Hoard?

A collector's complete fantasy toy collection, borrowing from dragon mythology where dragons guard vast treasure piles in their lairs.

Where Did the Term Hoard Come From?

The word hoard entered fantasy toy vocabulary through a perfectly fitting metaphor. In mythology, dragons obsessively accumulate treasure, guarding it jealously in their caves. Fantasy toy collectors, many of whom are drawn to dragon and creature aesthetics in the first place, recognized themselves in that image immediately. The term stuck because it captures both the accumulation instinct and the protective pride that collectors feel about their pieces. "Show me your hoard" became one of the most common prompts on Reddit and Discord, an open invitation for collectors to share their family photos and discuss their acquisitions.

How Do Collectors Build a Hoard?

A hoard grows organically over time. Most collectors begin with a single curious purchase, perhaps a ready-to-ship piece that caught their eye during a drop. The second purchase usually follows within weeks. By the third or fourth acquisition, the collector has developed preferences for specific firmnesses, sizes, creature types, and color styles. From that point forward, the hoard grows with increasing intentionality. Dedicated collectors track their inventory in spreadsheets, noting model names, sizes, firmness levels, colorway names, acquisition dates, and whether each piece is a daily driver or a shelf queen.

The composition of a hoard reveals a collector's personality. Some collectors pursue breadth, acquiring one example of every creature type and texture style available. Others pursue depth, collecting multiple sizes and firmness options within a single favorite model. A third approach is color-driven collecting, where the visual aesthetic of rogue colors and striking marble effects matters more than the underlying sculpt.

How Should You Store and Care for a Hoard?

As hoards grow, storage becomes a genuine logistical consideration. Silicone toys must be stored individually or with barriers between them. Different silicone formulations can react with each other over extended contact, causing surface degradation or color transfer. Serious collectors invest in dedicated storage solutions: individual cloth bags, compartmentalized drawer systems, or display shelving with UV-protective glass. Each piece should be cleaned, dried thoroughly, and dusted with renewing powder if applicable before long-term storage.

Climate matters too. Extreme heat can soften silicone and cause deformation under its own weight, especially in extra soft firmness. Direct sunlight fades pigments and degrades glow-in-the-dark additives. A cool, dark, dry environment is the gold standard for preserving a hoard's condition and value over years of ownership.

Why Does the Community Celebrate Hoards?

The fantasy toy community celebrates hoards without judgment about size. A carefully curated five-piece collection commands as much respect as a hundred-piece archive. What matters is the thought behind each acquisition and the stories attached. Collectors bond over shared pieces in their hoards, commiserate over white whales that remain unfound, and celebrate when a new arrival joins the family. Start your own hoard with handcrafted fantasy pieces from LustMonster.com and join a community that understands the thrill of collecting.