Black Widow Dragon Colored Pencils 36 Set: What This New Palette Adds to the Range

Introduction

Black Widow has released a new 36-pencil set called Dragon, and it is a worthwhile release to understand even if you already own some of the brand’s earlier sets. The pencils themselves are essentially the same as the rest of the Black Widow range, with only a few small differences in the barrel. What genuinely separates the Dragon set is its color palette, which adds tones the earlier sets do not cover.

For readers new to the brand, some quick context is useful. Black Widow pencils were created by an Australian founder with mental health support as a core motivation. He understood how important coloring has been within the adult coloring movement for people dealing with mental health issues, and he has put money back into that community. Affordability and accessibility were part of the push from the start, so the sets have always been priced to be reasonable compared with premium brands such as Caran d’Ache Luminance or Derwent Lightfast.

A New Palette, Not a New Pencil

If you have used any Black Widow pencil before, you already know how the Dragon pencils perform. The core is the same across the range, and testing confirmed the Dragon set behaves like its siblings. That consistency matters, because it means the Dragon set is a palette decision rather than a quality-of-pencil decision.

The brand’s lineup has grown steadily. It started with a 24-set of the original Black Widow pencils, followed by the 24-piece Scorpion set, then the Cobra set, then two 12-piece skin tone sets covering light and dark tones, and then the 48-piece Monarch set. All of that brought the range to 144 colors. The 36-piece Dragon set takes the full range to 180 colors.

How Dragon Compares With the Other Sets

Every set in the range uses a different palette, and that is where Dragon earns its place. Its lighter tones give the range an extra dimension that was not there before. There is perhaps a slight overkill in pinks and reds, but the purpley-reds in this set are not available in the other sets, and that alone makes it interesting for anyone building out the full range.

There are also good greens here, though the original Black Widow, Scorpion and Cobra sets already offer a solid green selection. Standout shades worth noting include an olive green, a charcoal gray-green in the Scorpion set, a forest green in the Cobra set, and a dark gunmetal-style gray called Dark Knight. Across 180 colors there are one or two near-duplicates, but looking across the full swatch range, none of the colors are truly identical.

The Monarch set is the natural comparison point, since it already carried a lot of gorgeous pastel tones plus a useful set of grays that complemented the earlier sets. Dragon’s lighter tones sit alongside those rather than repeating them. If you already own several Black Widow sets, it is worth comparing swatches before buying to see exactly which new hues the Dragon palette adds for your style of art.

Who This Set Is Best For

The original Black Widow sets suited adult coloring book users and crafters very well, and Dragon follows the same logic. If you are a colorist who works with decorative palettes, the purpley-reds and lighter tones here will fill gaps that the earlier sets leave open.

For artists building a complete range, the appeal is straightforward: Dragon extends the total palette to 180 colors, and no single color in the range duplicates another exactly. For buyers who only want one set, the limited 36-color palette means it works best for people drawn to this particular group of hues rather than as a full standalone studio set.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The palette is the deciding factor. The pencils are the same as every other Black Widow set, so there is nothing new to learn about performance. Look closely at the Dragon swatches before ordering and check that the specific colors appeal to you, especially if you already own the Monarch set with its pastels and grays.

Pricing across the range has been kept reasonable by design, and this set follows that approach. Compared with top-end pencils such as Luminance or Derwent Lightfast, the cost sits well below premium territory, though affordability is always relative to your own budget.

Buying Advice

If you are new to Black Widow, any of the sets is a good entry point, and Dragon is a sensible choice if its palette matches your subjects. If you are extending an existing collection, this is one of the more useful additions to the lineup, because the purpley-reds and lighter tones genuinely expand what the range covers. Checking the swatch charts side by side before buying is the smartest step, since it lets you confirm exactly which new colors you are adding.

Conclusion

The Dragon 36 set does not change how Black Widow pencils work, and it does not need to. It delivers a fresh palette of purpley-reds, lighter tones and useful greens that round out a 180-color range built on affordable, accessible pencils with a genuinely positive origin story. For colorists and artists who like the palette, it is an easy set to recommend.