Deserts
Deserts are areas of extremely limited rainfall. While deserts can be badland areas, polar areas, or other arid regions, fictional deserts are most often ergs (vast stretches of sand dunes). These fictional deserts are often inhospitable yet mysterious places, full of cavern systems, ancient temples, and buried ruins. Massive sandstorms may ravage the landscape, but oases, desert rivers, and mesa towns may offer respite from the sand and heat. Often there are trade routes that cross these desert expanses, and markets or mysterious vendors may sell strange or magical goods. Fictional deserts are often home to raiders, wandering traders, and giant creatures.

Synonyms: arid lands |
Example Mythonyms: the Salasash Desert, the Grand Sand Seas, the Drylands |

Designing Fictional Deserts
Archetypes
Overview
Fictional deserts are often areas where sands and time have worn down structures from a long past age. Ancient temples or ancient tombs may be waiting to be explored. In addition, desert towns and cities that exist within deserts or on different sides may require trade routes to exist or to generate great wealth.
Deserts can be inhospitable places due to the lack of water. Because of this they may be located on borders, as conquering these lands can be difficult. It also may mean that towns, cities, and other inhabited regions may be clustered around whatever rivers, oases, subterranean aquifers or underground lakes that do exist in the area.
The people and cultures of the desert may adopt clothing fashions that use fabric to cover themselves from the sun while remaining light enough to avoid overheating. The architecture of the region may be sand or stone-based. Desert vehicles may feature filtration systems capable of removing sand and dust from critical systems. Fictional desert animals may have evolved attributes and behaviors to help keep them cool, such as ways of dissipating heat or being active at night when it is cooler.
Desert Terrain
Element | Explore | Icon | Archetypes | Additional Links | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Coasts | Explore | ![]() | Sandy Beaches │ Coastal Cliffs | Biomes │ Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000, tera0000001, tera0000002 |
Islands | Explore | ![]() | Archipelagos │ Tropical Islands │ Treasure Islands │ Wandering Islands │ Skull Islands │ More | Biomes │ Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000, tera0000001, tera0000002 |
Lakes | Explore | ![]() | Frozen Lakes │ Underground Lakes │ Acid Lakes │ Lava Lakes │ More | Biomes │ Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000, tera0000007, tera0000009 |
Ravine Labyrinths | Explore | ![]() | Canyons │ Labyrinths │ Badlands | Biomes │ Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000, tera0000005 |
Rivers | Explore | ![]() | Uncharted Rivers │ Underground Rivers │ Dry Rivers │ Frozen Rivers │ More | Biomes │ Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000, tera0000007, tera0000009 |
Fire Swamps | Explore | ![]() | Biomes │ Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000 | |
Forests | Explore | ![]() | Giant Forests │ Mangrove Forests │ Cactus Forests │ Mushroom Forests | Biomes | bior0000000, tera0000000, tera0000009 |
Swamps | Explore | ![]() | Fire Swamps │ Mangrove Forests | Biomes | bior0000000, tera0000000 |
Great Hives | Explore | ![]() | Biomes │ Places │ Terrain | bior0000000, plac0000000, tera0000000 | |
Giant Forests | Explore | ![]() | Biomes │ Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000 | |
Frozen Waterfalls | Explore | ![]() | Waterfalls | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Giant Trees | Explore | ![]() | Giant Forests | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000007 |
Giant Water Lilies | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000 | |
Giant Skeletons | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000 | |
Giant Industrial Machinery | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000 | |
Isthmuses | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000002 | |
Icicles | Explore | ![]() | Icicle Caverns │ Ice Caves | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Icicle Caverns | Explore | ![]() | Ice Caves | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Icebergs | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000 | |
Ice Caves | Explore | ![]() | Caves │ Icicle Caverns | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000003 |
Hoodoos | Explore | ![]() | Badlands │ Precarious Boulders | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000005 |
Holy Islands | Explore | ![]() | Islands | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Hollow Logs | Explore | ![]() | Giant Trees | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000007 |
Frozen Peaks | Explore | ![]() | Mountaintops │ Mountains | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000009 |
Frozen Lakes | Explore | ![]() | Lakes | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Forest Clearings | Explore | ![]() | Flower Fields | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000007 |
Lava Fountains | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000 | |
Old Mountains | Explore | ![]() | Mountains │ Hills | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Mountaintops | Explore | ![]() | Frozen Peaks | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000009 |
Mountain Valleys | Explore | ![]() | Hidden Valleys | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000009 |
Mountain Ranges | Explore | ![]() | Old Mountains | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000009 |
Mountain Passes | Explore | ![]() | Cliffside Pathways │ Mountain Valleys | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000009 |
Mistlands | Explore | ![]() | Stormlands | Biomes │ Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000 |
Precarious Boulders | Explore | ![]() | Hoodoos │ Boulder Traps | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000005, tera0000009 |
Mermaid Coves | Explore | ![]() | Secluded Pools │ Lagoons | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Mesas | Explore | ![]() | Mesa Towns | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000004, tera0000005 |
Magma Chambers | Explore | ![]() | Craters | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Lone Mountains | Explore | ![]() | Mountains | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Logjams | Explore | ![]() | Beaver Dams | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000007 |
Piranha Pools | Explore | ![]() | Leech Infested Waters | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Leech Infested Waters | Explore | ![]() | Piranha Pools | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Lava Rivers | Explore | ![]() | Rivers | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Lava Lakes | Explore | ![]() | Lakes | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Lavafalls | Explore | ![]() | Waterfalls | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Flooded Chambers | Explore | ![]() | Underground Lakes │ Cisterns | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000003 |
Floating Ice | Explore | ![]() | Icebergs | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Planets | Explore | ![]() | Toroidal Planets | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Moons | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000 | |
Beaver Dams | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000007 | |
Bays | Explore | ![]() | Lagoons │ Mermaid Coves | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000002 |
Mushroom Forests | Explore | ![]() | Mushroom Farms │ Mushroom Villages | Biomes │ Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000 |
Flower Fields | Explore | ![]() | Biomes │ Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000 | |
Oases | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000004 | |
Floodplains | Explore | ![]() | Biomes │ Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000 | |
Floating Rocks | Explore | ![]() | Biomes │ Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000 | |
Cactus Patches | Explore | ![]() | Pointy | Biomes │ Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000, tera0000004, tera0000005 |
Cavernous Maws | Explore | ![]() | Skull Rocks | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Canyons | Explore | ![]() | Chasms │ Crevasses | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000004, tera0000005, tera0000009 |
Circling Birds | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | ||
Bottomless Pits | Explore | ![]() | Chasms | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Badlands | Explore | ![]() | Ravine Labyrinths │ Wastelands | Biomes | bior0000000, tera0000000, tera0000004, tera0000005 |
Deserts | Explore | ![]() | Badlands │ Salt Flats │ Dune Seas │ More | Biomes | bior0000000, tera0000000, tera0000004, tera0000005 |
Boneyards | Explore | ![]() | Giant Skeletons | Biomes │ Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000, tera0000004, tera0000005 |
Ocean Drop Offs | Explore | ![]() | Deep Sea Trenches | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000001, tera0000006 |
Ocean Caves | Explore | ![]() | Sea Caves │ Caves | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000001, tera0000006 |
Archipelagos | Explore | ![]() | Islands | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000001 |
Asteroid Belts | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000 | |
Acid Lakes | Explore | ![]() | Pools that will dissolve flesh | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Fallen Trees | Explore | ![]() | Hollow Logs | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000007 |
Debris Fields | Explore | ![]() | Kessler Belts │ Asteroid Belts | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Fire Spouts | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000 | |
Deep Sea Vents | Explore | ![]() | Fissure or chimney structures that release geothermally heated water | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000006 |
Submarine Volcanos | ![]() | Underwater volcanos which do not reach the surface | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000006 | |
Seagrass Expanses | ![]() | Areas of seagrass | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000006 | |
Seamounts | ![]() | Underwater mountains that do not reach the surface | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000006 | |
Oceanic Ridges | ![]() | Underwater mountain systems | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000006 | |
Dead Zones | ![]() | Areas of ocean with such low oxygen content that sea life cannot survive | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000006 | |
Brine Pools | ![]() | Underwater pools or lakes on the seafloor composed of high salt content | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000006 | |
Abyssal Plains | ![]() | Flat areas on the seafloor | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000006 | |
Deep Trenches | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000001, tera0000006 | |
Mangrove Forests | Explore | ![]() | Swamps │ Forests │ Root Areas | Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000, tera0000002 |
Dry Rivers | Explore | ![]() | Prone to sudden flooding | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000004, tera0000005 |
Alternate Seascapes | Explore | ![]() | Dune Seas │ Grass Seas │ The Skies │ More | Biomes | bior0000000 |
Whirlpools | Explore | ![]() | Treacherous Waters | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000001, tera0000006 |
Rapids | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000 | |
Quicksand | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000 | |
Peninsulas | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000002 | |
River Deltas | Explore | ![]() | Rivers │ Uncharted Rivers | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000002 |
Deserted Islands | Explore | ![]() | Islands | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000001 |
Craters | Explore | ![]() | Crater Seas | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000005 |
Crater Lakes | Explore | ![]() | Craters │ Crater Seas | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Crater Seas | Explore | ![]() | Craters │ Crater Lakes | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000001 |
Crater Islands | Explore | ![]() | Islands │ Craters | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Deadly Waters | Explore | ![]() | Whirlpools | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000001, tera0000002 |
Root Areas | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000003, tera0000007 | |
Chasms | Explore | ![]() | Bottomless Pits | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000003, tera0000009 |
Ore Veins | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000003, tera0000005, tera0000009 | |
Rock Bridges | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000003, tera0000009 | |
Underground Rivers | Explore | ![]() | Rivers | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000003 |
Underground Tunnels | Explore | ![]() | Underground Regions │ Mines │ Snow Tunnels │ Maintenance Shafts │ More | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000003 |
Underground Lakes | Explore | ![]() | Underground Seas │ Flooded Chambers | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000003 |
Underground Seas | Explore | ![]() | Underground Lakes │ Flooded Chambers | Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000001, tera0000003 |
Cave Ins | Explore | ![]() | Collapsing Floors │ Collapsing Traps | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000003 |
Cenotes | Explore | ![]() | Sea Caves │ Caves | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000003 |
Boulder Chokes | Explore | ![]() | Narrow passageways littered with rocks | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000003 |
Fjords | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000002 | |
Belly Crawls | Explore | ![]() | Narrow passageways that require crawling | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000003 |
Stalactites | Explore | ![]() | Mineral deposits formed by dripping water | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000003 |
Stalagmites | Explore | ![]() | Mineral deposits formed by dripping water | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000003 |
Jagged Rocks | Explore | ![]() | Sharp and dangerous | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000003, tera0000009 |
Crystal Caverns | Explore | ![]() | A chamber of dazzling crystal | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000003 |
Columns | Explore | ![]() | A pillar of rock formed when a stalactite and stalagmite meet | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000003 |
Caves | Explore | ![]() | Cenotes │ Sea Caves │ Underwater Caves │ Ice Caves │ More | Terrain | tera0000004, tera0000005 |
Caves | Explore | ![]() | Cenotes │ Sea Caves │ Underwater Caves │ Ice Caves │ More | Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000, tera0000003, tera0000007, tera0000009 |
Wormholes | Explore | ![]() | Portals | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Tidal Islands | Explore | ![]() | Islands | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000002 |
Lagoons | Explore | ![]() | Secluded Pools │ Mermaid Coves | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000002 |
Tidal Flats | Explore | ![]() | Coasts | Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000, tera0000001 |
Kelp Forests | Explore | ![]() | Kelp Farms | Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000, tera0000001, tera0000002, tera0000006 |
Coral Reefs | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000001, tera0000002, tera0000006 | |
Sandbars | Explore | ![]() | Sandy Beaches | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000002 |
Sandy Beaches | Explore | ![]() | Coasts | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000002 |
Cliffs | Explore | ![]() | Coastal Cliffs | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000005 |
Cliffs | Explore | ![]() | Coastal Cliffs | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000009 |
Coastal Cliffs | Explore | ![]() | Cliffs | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000002 |
Sea Stacks | Explore | ![]() | Coastal Cliffs │Rock Arches | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000001, tera0000002 |
Sea Caves | Explore | ![]() | Cenotes │ Underwater Caves | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000002 |
Lagrange Points | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000 | |
Kessler Belts | Explore | ![]() | Debris Fields | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Hidden Valleys | Explore | ![]() | Valleys │ Mountain Valleys | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Sacred Trees | Explore | ![]() | Sacred Groves │ World Trees │ Giant Trees | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Stormlands | Explore | ![]() | Mistlands | Biomes │ Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000 |
Dune Seas | Explore | ![]() | Deserts │ Alternative Seascapes | Biomes │ Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000 |
Straits | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000002 | |
Wilderness | Explore | ![]() | Frontiers │ Uncharted Rivers │ Primordial Jungles │ More | Biomes │ Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000 |
Wastelands | Explore | ![]() | Badlands │ Deserts | Biomes │ Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000 |
Tar Pits | Explore | ![]() | Biomes │ Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000, tera0000005 | |
Tall Reeds | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000 | |
Valleys | Explore | ![]() | Mountain Valleys │ Hidden Valleys | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Uncharted Rivers | Explore | ![]() | Rivers │ Underground Rivers │ Piranha Pools │ Leech Infested Waters | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Secluded Pools | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000 | |
Snow Tunnels | Explore | ![]() | Ice Caves │ Icicle Chambers | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Snow Bridges | Explore | ![]() | Crevasses | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Skull Rocks | Explore | ![]() | Cavernous Maws │ Skull Islands | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Waterfalls | Explore | ![]() | Frozen Waterfalls │ Sandfalls │ Lavafalls │ Rapids | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000007, tera0000009 |
Wandering Islands | Explore | ![]() | Treasure Islands │ Hidden Islands | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Volcanic Islands | Explore | ![]() | Treasure Islands │ Tropical Islands | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Canopy Areas | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000007 | |
Vines | Explore | ![]() | Canopies | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000007 |
Tree Hollows | Explore | ![]() | Hollow Logs | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000007 |
Treasure Islands | Explore | ![]() | Skull Islands │ Tropical Islands | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Tropical Islands | Explore | ![]() | Treasure Islands | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Skull Islands | Explore | ![]() | Skull Rocks │ Treasure Islands │ Hidden Islands | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Sandfalls | Explore | ![]() | Waterfalls | Terrain | tera0000000 |
Salt Flats | Explore | ![]() | Deserts │ Badlands │ Wastes | Biomes │ Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000, tera0000005 |
Sacred Groves | Explore | ![]() | Holy Sites | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000007 |
Stone Arches | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000002 | |
Stone Arches | Explore | ![]() | Terrain | tera0000000, tera0000004, tera0000005, tera0000009 | |
Hills | Explore | ![]() | Biomes │ Terrain | bior0000000, tera0000000, tera0000007 | |
Junkyards | Explore | ![]() | Biomes | bior0000000, tera0000000 | |
Jungles | Explore | ![]() | Primordial Jungles | Biomes | bior0000000, tera0000000 |
Near Orbit | Explore | ![]() | Biomes | bior0000000 | |
World Trees | Explore | ![]() | Sacred Trees │ Giant Trees | Biomes | bior0000000 |
The Skies | Explore | ![]() | Biomes | bior0000000 | |
Underground Regions | Explore | ![]() | Caves │ Lava Lands │Underground Seas │ More | Biomes | bior0000000 |
Frozen Regions | Explore | ![]() | Biomes | bior0000000 | |
Underwater Ocean Regions | Explore | ![]() | Kelp Forests │ Oceanic Trenches │Coral Reefs │ More | Biomes | bior0000000, tera0000000, tera0000001 |
Oceans & Seas | Explore | ![]() | Underwater Ocean Regions | Biomes | bior0000000, tera0000000 |
Grass Seas | Explore | ![]() | Biomes | bior0000000, tera0000000 | |
Grasslands | Explore | ![]() | Grass Seas | Biomes | bior0000000, tera0000000 |
Mountains | Explore | ![]() | Mountain Ranges │ Lone Mountains │ Old Mountains │ More | Biomes | bior0000000, tera0000000, tera0000004, tera0000005, tera0000009 |
