Fantasy
Fantasy worlds occupy a special place amongst fictional worlds because historically they have been the most immersive. This is largely do to the works of JRR Tolkien, whose Middle Earth transformed what it meant to create a fictional setting. Many worldbuilders, Tolkienists if you will, strive to create worlds based on principles Tolkien exemplified: worlds so rich and detailed that every facet of geology, history, language, and culture have been composed to the greatest degree.
While it is far from necessary to have Tolkien’s level of depth for a world to be enjoyable, fantasy worlds do generally share a collection of common elements that arise from both the fantasy genre itself (magic & fantastic beasts), as well as entrenched fantasy worldbuilding customs (the inclusion of maps and timelines). On this page you will find a selection of those common elements to help your worldbuilding within the fantasy genre.
A Fantastic World
Fantasy worlds often come with fantastic world settings. Floating islands, a plethora of moons, and forests with trees as tall as the highest skyscrapers are all common elements found in fantasy worlds. Perhaps even more so with fantasy worlds than with other world types, defining the physical geography of your world is critical. Below are a few resources to help you create the landscape of your fantasy world:
Once you have chosen what elements exist in your world, giving those forests, mountains, towns, and cities names is equally important!
Maps & Timelines
Fantasy worlds often include maps and timelines. This helps their intended audience more fully experience the world as it becomes easier to envision the space. Maps of kingdoms, maps of regions, and maps of cities & towns are all common.
Inhabitants
A fantasy world is generally inhabited by fantastic beings. These may be adventurers of all kinds, powerful wizards and sorcerers, or magical creatures both large and small.
If you are creating your own creatures, use the Model Creature for ideas!
Fantasy Enemies
Particularly important for game-oriented worlds, a plethora of fantasy enemies can be important elements to fantasy worlds. Below is a filterable table so builders can find the exact beast or horror needed for any sub region within a world.
| Enemy | Description | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rat | Simplify | Woods, Roads, Underground, Seas, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Coasts, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A regular rat. Does it carry disease? |
| Giant Rat | Simplify | Woods, Roads, Underground, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Coasts, Sewers, Castles | Beast | Beast | Would you look at the size of that rat! It's huge! |
| Wolf | Simplify | Woods, Roads, Mountains, Frozen, Swamps, Badlands | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A regular wolf. Are there more? Looks hungry |
| Dire Wolf | Woods, Roads, Mountains, Frozen, Swamps | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A larger, more vicious wolf | |
| Bat | Woods, Roads, Hell, Underground, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A regular bat | |
| Slime | Simplify | Underground, Towns, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Coasts, Sewers, Castles | Beast | Beast | Looks like jello but moves. Hello neighbor! |
| Giant Centipede | Woods, Underground, Swamps, Jungles | Beast | Beast | A massive centipede with just too many legs | |
| Spider | Woods, Underground, Towns, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Sewers | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A regular spider | |
| Giant Spider | s | Woods, Underground, Towns, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Sewers | Beast | Beast | Good gods! Look at the size of that spider! |
| Giant Fly | Woods, Roads, Hell, Underground, Towns, Graveyards, Swamps, Sewers | Beast, Flying | Beast, Flying | Gross | |
| Goblin | Simplify | Woods, Underground, Mountains, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | A crafty, green creature |
| Imp | Hell, Graveyards | Demonic | Demonic | A small, mischevious demon | |
| Demon | Simplify | Hell, Graveyards | Demonic, Mythological | Demonic, Mythological | A being of Hell |
| Sphinx | Desert | Beast, Mythological | Beast, Mythological | What is half lion, half person and loves riddles? | |
| Bear | Woods, Mountains, Badlands | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A regular bear | |
| Troll | Woods, Roads, Underground, Mountains, Frozen, Swamps | Beast | Beast | A large brute. May not like fire | |
| Dragon | Simplify | Roads, Underground, Mountains, Volcanic, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts, Castles | Beast | Beast | Enjoys gold and charred meals |
| Giant | Simplify | Woods, Mountains, Frozen, Badlands, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | A massive, lumbering brute |
| Spirit | Simplify | Desert, Spirit World, Mountains, Frozen, Jungles, Badlands | Spirit, Flying | Spirit, Flying | A being of pure energy |
| Bandit | Simplify | Woods, Roads, Mountains, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A bandit, out to enjoy the night and mug the unsuspecting |
| Wizard | Mountains, Towns, Dungeons, Badlands, Sewers, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | A person that can use magic. Wonder what spells they know | |
| Pirate | Simplify | Seas, Coasts | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A sailor who likes to rob people and hide treasure |
| Witch | Simplify | Woods, Towns, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands | Humanoid, Flying | Humanoid, Flying | A magic using woman |
| Assassin | Desert, Roads, Towns, Dungeons, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A skilled, cold-blooded killer | |
| Knight | Roads, Towns, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A skilled warrior | |
| Skeleton | Simplify | Desert, Hell, Underground, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers, Castles | Humanoid, Undead, Demonic | Humanoid, Undead, Demonic | Animated bones |
| Zombie | Simplify | Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers | Humanoid, Undead, Abomination | Humanoid, Undead, Abomination | A reanimated corpse. Watch out for its' bite! |
| Elf | Simplify | Woods, Jungles, Badlands, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | A dainty humanoid with pointy ears |
| Dark Elf | Woods, Underground, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | An evil elf | |
| Werewolf | Woods, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Badlands | Beast, Humanoid | Beast, Humanoid | Just a person who might turn into a wolf | |
| Giant Snake | Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts, Sewers | Beast | Beast | A massive snake | |
| Giant Lizard | Volcanic, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands | Beast | Beast | A massive lizard | |
| Pixie | Woods, Spirit World | Spirit, Flying | Spirit, Flying | A small, mischevious fairy | |
| Mutant | Underground, Towns, Dungeons, Swamps, Badlands, Sewers | Humanoid, Abomination | Humanoid, Abomination | A malformed person | |
| Ghost | Simplify | Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Badlands, Castles | Spirit, Undead, Demonic | Spirit, Undead, Demonic | The specter of an undead person |
| Cultist | Simplify | Desert, Woods, Hell, Underground, Mountains, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid, Undead, Demonic | Mundane, Humanoid, Undead, Demonic | A devotee of some forbidden religion |
| Hag | Woods, Roads, Mountains, Towns, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts, Sewers | Humanoid | Humanoid | A crazed and wild woman, perhaps magical | |
| Socerer | Desert, Mountains, Towns, Dungeons, Badlands, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | A magic user | |
| Necromancer | Simplify | Desert, Underground, Graveyards, Frozen, Dungeons, Swamps, Badlands, Sewers, Castles | Humanoid, Undead | Humanoid, Undead | A person that can raise the dead from their slumber |
| Highway Robber | Roads | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A thug who ambushes those on the road | |
| Vampire | Simplify | Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Castles | Humanoid, Undead | Humanoid, Undead | An undead creature who drinks the blood of the living |
| Golem | Desert, Underground, Volcanic, Dungeons, Swamps, Badlands | Beast | Beast | A creature of mud brought to life | |
| Elemental | Simplify | Desert, Woods, Underground, Spirit World, Seas, Mountains, Frozen, Volcanic, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts | Spirit | Spirit | A spirit of pure elemental power |
| Shadow | Woods, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons | Spirit | Spirit | A living shadow | |
| Barbarian | Simplify | Roads, Mountains, Frozen, Badlands | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A warrior from the outlands |
| Fire Spirit | Desert, Hell, Spirit World, Volcanic, Dungeons, Badlands | Spirit, Demonic | Spirit, Demonic | A spirit of flame and heat | |
| Angel | Graveyards, Castles | Spirit, Flying, Mythological | Spirit, Flying, Mythological | A heavenly being | |
| Orc | Simplify | Woods, Underground, Mountains, Dungeons, Swamps, Badlands | Humanoid | Humanoid | A large goblinesque creature |
| Dwarf | Simplify | Roads, Underground, Mountains, Dungeons | Humanoid | Humanoid | A short, stocky humanoid creature with a penchant for mines |
| Specter | Hell, Graveyards, Frozen, Castles | Spirit, Undead | Spirit, Undead | A spirit of the dead | |
| Ghoul | Hell, Graveyards, Swamps, Jungles, Sewers | Humanoid, Spirit, Undead, Abomination | Humanoid, Spirit, Undead, Abomination | An evil spirit or demon that consumes corpses | |
| Wight | Hell, Graveyards, Frozen, Swamps | Spirit, Undead | Spirit, Undead | An undead being | |
| Cyclops | Mountains | Humanoid, Mythological | Humanoid, Mythological | A giant with one eye. Saves twice as much on contact lenses | |
| Shade | Hell, Graveyards | Spirit, Undead, Mythological | Spirit, Undead, Mythological | A spirit of the undead | |
| Merperson | Seas, Coasts | Humanoid | Humanoid | Half fish, half person. But which half? | |
| Kraken | Simplify | Seas, Coasts | Beast | Beast | A giantic squid-like creature which can drag ships to the deep |
| Giant Wolf | Woods, Roads, Badlands | Beast | Beast | Twice as hungry | |
| Naga | Desert, Swamps, Badlands, Sewers | Humanoid, Mythological | Humanoid, Mythological | Half snake, half person. | |
| Snake | Simplify | Desert, Woods, Roads, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts, Sewers | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | Just a snake |
| Asp | Desert | Mundane, Beast, Mythological | Mundane, Beast, Mythological | A poisonous snake | |
| Nymphs | Woods, Swamps, Jungles | Spirit | Spirit | Female nature spirits | |
| Evil Lord | Towns, Dungeons, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Just your typical bad guy leader | |
| Shaman | Desert, Woods, Mountains, Frozen, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands | Mundane, Humanoid, Demonic, Abomination | Mundane, Humanoid, Demonic, Abomination | A person who can commune with the spirits | |
| Dark Priest | Woods, Hell, Underground, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid, Demonic, Abomination | Mundane, Humanoid, Demonic, Abomination | A priest of some terrible religion | |
| Sorcerer | Desert, Towns, Dungeons, Badlands, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | A magic user | |
| Scout | Woods, Roads, Mountains, Frozen, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A regular scout. What or who are they scouting for? | |
| Ranger | Woods, Roads, Mountains, Frozen, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A person accostumed to living in the wilds | |
| Town Guard | Simplify | Towns, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A regular town guard |
| Earth Spirit | Desert, Underground, Spirit World, Volcanic, Badlands | Spirit | Spirit | A spirit of earth and plant | |
| Forest Spirit | Woods, Spirit World, Jungles | Spirit | Spirit | A spirit of the woods | |
| Water Spirit | Spirit World, Seas, Coasts | Spirit | Spirit | A spirit of the water | |
| Giant Worm | Desert, Underground, Dungeons, Jungles, Badlands | Beast | Beast | Look at the size of those holes it makes through the earth | |
| Frost Giant | Mountains, Frozen | Humanoid, Mythological | Humanoid, Mythological | A giant who prefers to live in the cold regions of the world | |
| Ice Spirit | Spirit World, Mountains, Frozen | Spirit | Spirit | A spirit of frost and cold | |
| Incubus | Hell | Demonic | Demonic | A male demon who entices women | |
| Succubus | Simplify | Hell | Demonic | Demonic | A female demon who entices men |
| Djinn | Simplify | Desert, Dungeons | Spirit, Flying, Mythological | Spirit, Flying, Mythological | A magical being that will grant wishes if it can be contained |
| Wind Spirit | Woods, Spirit World, Seas, Mountains, Frozen, Badlands | Spirit, Flying | Spirit, Flying | A spirit of the wind | |
| Alligator | Swamps, Coasts, Sewers | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A regular alligator | |
| Giant Alligator | Swamps, Coasts, Sewers | Beast | Beast | A massive alligator | |
| Worlock | Desert, Towns, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | A magic user | |
| Sea Monster | Seas, Coasts | Beast, Mythological | Beast, Mythological | A massive monster of the sea | |
| Drake | Seas, Mountains, Badlands | Beast, Flying | Beast, Flying | A dragon-like creature with no forearms | |
| Harpie | Hell, Mountains, Badlands | Beast, Flying | Beast, Flying | A screaming half-bird, half-woman creature | |
| Mimic | Towns, Dungeons, Sewers, Castles | A creature which can take the shape of inanimate objects | |||
| Ooze | Simplify | Woods, Underground, Towns, Dungeons, Swamps, Sewers, Castles | Beast | Beast | Sentient goop |
| Gelatinous Blob | Underground, Dungeons, Castles | Beast | Beast | A jello mold that dissolves human flesh | |
| Shape-Shifter | Desert, Woods, Towns, Badlands | Beast | Beast | A shape-changing creature. No wait. That's just Bob. Wait. Is it? | |
| Magical Construct | Desert, Towns, Dungeons, Sewers, Castles | An automoton brought to life by magic | |||
| Ninja | Roads, Towns | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A crafty, sneaky, sort | |
| Ogre | Simplify | Woods, Roads, Underground, Mountains, Dungeons | Beast | Beast | A lumbering, ugly brute |
| Tiger | Jungles | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A regular tiger | |
| Pixie | Spirit World | Spirit, Flying | Spirit, Flying | A type of fairy | |
| Animated Scarecrow | Towns | A living scarecrow. Scary | |||
| Fungus Person | Woods, Underground, Swamps, Jungles, Sewers | Humanoid | Humanoid | A person infeced with fungus | |
| Giant Bat | Woods, Roads, Hell, Underground, Mountains, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers, Castles | Beast, Flying | Beast, Flying | A massive bat | |
| Herald | Castles | Mythological | Mythological | An angelic messenger | |
| Mummy | Simplify | Desert | Humanoid | Humanoid | An embalmed person brought back to life |
| Monster | Woods, Roads, Underground, Towns, Graveyards, Volcanic, Dungeons, Jungles, Sewers, Castles | Beast | Beast | Some strange beast | |
| Bees | Woods, Roads, Jungles | Mundane, Beast, Flying | Mundane, Beast, Flying | A swarm of bees | |
| Horsemen | Desert, Roads, Towns, Badlands, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | Warriors on horseback | |
| Rock Beast | Desert, Underground, Mountains, Volcanic, Badlands | A creature made of rock | |||
| Crab | Simplify | Seas, Coasts | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A regular crab |
| Giant Crab | Seas, Coasts | Beast | Beast | A regular crab, but masssive. Look at those pincers! | |
| Archer | Simplify | Desert, Woods, Roads, Mountains, Towns, Dungeons, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A person with a bow, some arrows, and good aim |
| Crossbowman | Roads, Towns, Dungeons, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A person with a crossbow | |
| Animated Object | Towns, Dungeons, Sewers, Castles | Any object brought to life with magic | |||
| God | Desert | Mythological | Mythological | Or gods, usually considered the most powerful things around | |
| Serial Killer | Roads, Towns, Graveyards, Sewers | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A person with a hunger to kill | |
| Skeleton Warrior | Simplify | Desert, Hell, Underground, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers, Castles | Humanoid, Undead, Demonic | Humanoid, Undead, Demonic | Animated bones equiped with aged and rusting weaponry |
| Fairy | Simplify | Woods, Spirit World | Spirit, Flying | Spirit, Flying | A small, flying magical being |
| Behemoth | Woods, Mountains, Frozen, Volcanic, Jungles, Badlands | Beast, Mythological | Beast, Mythological | A massive beast | |
| Beholder | Desert, Underground, Towns, Dungeons, Sewers, Castles | A floating eye with tenacles | |||
| Mind-Stealer | Underground, Towns, Dungeons, Sewers | A creature with the power of mind-control | |||
| Mushroom Person | Woods, Underground | Humanoid | Humanoid | A sentient mushroom | |
| Carniverous Plant | Simplify | Woods, Swamps, Jungles | Beast | Beast | Vegetable, not vegetarian |
| Tentacle | Simplify | Underground, Seas, Dungeons, Swamps, Coasts, Sewers | Beast, Abomination | Beast, Abomination | A flexible, grasping appendage |
| Minotaur | Mountains, Dungeons, Badlands, Sewers, Castles | Beast, Humanoid, Mythological | Beast, Humanoid, Mythological | Part man, part bull and likes to hang out in mazes. | |
| Thief | Simplify | Desert, Woods, Roads, Underground, Mountains, Towns, Dungeons, Coasts, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A regular thief looking to pick some pockets |
| Crocodile | Desert, Swamps, Jungles, Coasts | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A regular crocodile | |
| Giant Crocodile | Desert, Swamps, Jungles, Coasts | A massive crocodile | |||
| Temple Guard | Simplify | Desert, Mountains, Volcanic, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid, Mythological | Mundane, Humanoid, Mythological | A regular temple guard. But what are they guarding? |
| Cannibal | Woods, Roads, Hell, Underground, Mountains, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid, Demonic, Abomination | Mundane, Humanoid, Demonic, Abomination | A person who enjoys cooking with others | |
| Living Sand | Desert, Badlands, Coasts | Sand with a mind of its' own | |||
| Sand Creature | Desert, Badlands, Coasts | A creature made from sand | |||
| Polar Bear | Frozen | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A ferocious polar bear | |
| Sentient Tree | s | Woods, Swamps, Jungles | It shakes not with the wind, but with rage | ||
| Sentient Bush | Woods, Swamps, Jungles | A bush with a brain | |||
| Gargoyle | Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons | Beast | Beast | A monster of stone | |
| Leviathan | Seas | Beast, Mythological | Beast, Mythological | A massive monster of the sea | |
| Sea Serpent | Seas, Coasts | Beast, Mythological | Beast, Mythological | A giant serpent of the oceans | |
| Orc Lord | Woods, Underground, Mountains, Dungeons, Jungles, Badlands, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | A lord of the orcs | |
| Goblin King | Woods, Underground, Mountains, Dungeons, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | The most royal of goblins | |
| Ronin | Roads, Towns | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A roaming swordsman | |
| Soldier | Desert, Roads, Mountains, Towns, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A regular soldier | |
| Bag-o-Bones | Hell, Graveyards | Undead, Demonic, Abomination | Undead, Demonic, Abomination | An animated bag of bones | |
| Boggart | Underground, Towns | A small, shape-shifting mischevious imp | |||
| Will-o-the-Wisp | Roads, Spirit World, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers | Spirit, Flying | Spirit, Flying | Spectral flames which may lead travelers astray | |
| Phantom | Desert, Mountains, Graveyards, Frozen, Dungeons | Spirit, Undead | Spirit, Undead | A spirit of the undead | |
| Demon-Spawn | Hell | Demonic | Demonic | The offspring of a human and a demon | |
| Hell Spawn | Hell | Demonic | Demonic | Creatures from the underworld | |
| Swordsman | Simplify | Desert, Woods, Roads, Mountains, Towns, Dungeons, Badlands, Coasts, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A regular swordsman |
| Barbarian King | Roads, Seas, Mountains, Frozen, Badlands, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A barbarian king | |
| Demon Lord | Hell, Dungeons, Castles | Demonic | Demonic | A lord among demons | |
| Goblin Lord | Underground, Mountains, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | A lord among goblins | |
| Rat King | Underground, Mountains, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Sewers, Castles | King of the rats | |||
| Wurm | Desert, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers | Beast | Beast | A dragon-like creature with no wings or other appendages | |
| Gnome | Simplify | Woods | Humanoid | Humanoid | Short, squat, garden lover |
| Banshee | Simplify | Graveyards, Swamps | Spirit | Spirit | Really likes shrieking |
| Basilisk | Simplify | Desert, Dungeons, Swamps, Sewers | Beast, Mythological | Beast, Mythological | A serpent king whose looks can kill |
| Gremlin | Simplify | Towns, Sewers | Beast | Beast | A mischevious creature that causes machinery to break down |
| Hydra | Simplify | Seas, Volcanic, Badlands, Coasts | Beast, Mythological | Beast, Mythological | A many-headed dragon |
| Leprechaun | Simplify | Woods | Humanoid | Humanoid | A mischevious creature that hides gold |
| Pheonix | Simplify | Desert, Spirit World, Badlands | Beast, Flying, Mythological | Beast, Flying, Mythological | A bird of flame that dies and rises again from the ashes |
| Unicorn | Simplify | Woods, Spirit World | Beast | Beast | Pokey horse |
| Gryffon | Simplify | Desert, Mountains, Badlands | Beast, Flying, Mythological | Beast, Flying, Mythological | The head and wings of an eagle and the head of a lion |
| Lich | Simplify | Hell, Graveyards, Frozen, Dungeons | Humanoid, Undead | Humanoid, Undead | Undead spellcasters |
| Chupacabre | Towns, Badlands | Beast | Beast | Sneaks out at night to drink the blood of goats | |
| Centaur | Simplify | Woods, Spirit World, Swamps | Beast, Humanoid, Mythological | Beast, Humanoid, Mythological | Half man, half horse |
| Halfling | Roads | Humanoid | Humanoid | Their corn fields are tall, they are not | |
| Lizard Folk | Desert, Roads, Volcanic, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts | Humanoid | Humanoid | Lizard-like people | |
| Fae | Woods, Spirit World | Spirit, Flying | Spirit, Flying | On of many of the fairy-folk | |
| Kobold | Woods, Roads, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts | Humanoid | Humanoid | A fierce mammalian or reptillian like creature | |
| Sprites | Woods, Spirit World, Volcanic | Spirit, Flying | Spirit, Flying | Small fairies sometimes associated with nature | |
| Hunter | Simplify | Desert, Woods, Roads, Mountains, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | After the most dangerous game |
| Rat Folk | Woods, Roads, Underground, Towns, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers | Humanoid | Humanoid | Rat-like people | |
| Yeti | Simplify | Mountains, Frozen | Beast | Beast | Abominable |
| Illithid | Seas, Dungeons, Coasts, Sewers | Humanoid | Humanoid | A tall, squid-like humanoid with the power of mind control | |
| Suit of Armor | Towns, Dungeons, Castles | A magical suit of armor brought to life. And angry about it. | |||
| Giant Roach | Simplify | Woods, Roads, Underground, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Sewers, Castles | A very large cockroach | ||
| Abomination | Simplify | Hell, Underground, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Sewers, Castles | Beast, Demonic, Abomination | Beast, Demonic, Abomination | Some terrible misshapen monstrosity of flesh and parts |
| Gorgon | Underground, Dungeons | Humanoid, Mythological | Humanoid, Mythological | Just a lady with snakes for hair | |
| Archangel | Graveyards, Castles | Spirit, Flying | Spirit, Flying | A leader among angels | |
| Hellhound | Roads, Hell, Graveyards | Beast, Demonic | Beast, Demonic | A dog from hell itself | |
| Archdemon | Hell, Graveyards, Castles | Demonic | Demonic | A leader among demons | |
| Angry Townssperson | Roads, Towns, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Pitchforks and torches at the ready | |
| Titan | Roads, Hell, Volcanic | Demonic, Mythological | Demonic, Mythological | A massive, god-like humanoid. | |
| War Elephant | Desert, Jungles | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | As if an elephant couldn't kill already, this one's been trained | |
| Musketeer | Roads, Towns, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Time to reload, no time for you | |
| Treant | Woods, Jungles | Humanoid | Humanoid | A tree person | |
| Roc | Simplify | Roads, Mountains | Beast, Flying | Beast, Flying | A giant bird of prey |
| Swamps Monster | Swamps | Beast | Beast | A beast of muck and vine | |
| Lamassu | Desert, Mountains | Beast, Flying, Mythological | Beast, Flying, Mythological | Large, winged bulls or lions with human faces | |
| Wendigo | Woods, Swamps, Badlands | Humanoid, Spirit, Mythological | Humanoid, Spirit, Mythological | A spirit with insatiable hunger out to possess someone | |
| Scorpion | Desert, Dungeons, Jungles, Badlands | Mundane, Beast, Mythological | Mundane, Beast, Mythological | Venomous and kind of cranky | |
| Giant Scorpion | Desert, Dungeons, Jungles, Badlands | Beast, Mythological | Beast, Mythological | Venomous, large, and very cranky | |
| Wraith | Hell, Graveyards | Spirit, Undead | Spirit, Undead | An evil specter | |
| Colossal | Desert, Mountains, Volcanic, Badlands | Beast, Humanoid, Mythological | Beast, Humanoid, Mythological | A giant thing. | |
| Dinosaur | Simplify | Underground, Volcanic, Jungles, Badlands | Beast, Flying | Beast, Flying | Where have you been hiding? |
| Toad Folk | Woods, Volcanic, Swamps | Humanoid | Humanoid | A toad-like person | |
| Dungeon Guard | Simplify | Dungeons, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Gotta pay those bills somehow |
| Crawling Hand | Simplify | Hell, Graveyards, Dungeons | Undead, Demonic, Abomination | Undead, Demonic, Abomination | Wave hello to the crawling, severed hand |
| Floating Eyeball | Simplify | Desert, Hell, Underground, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Sewers | Demonic, Flying, Abomination | Demonic, Flying, Abomination | It sees what you're doing |
| Thunderbird | Mountains, Badlands | Beast, Flying, Mythological | Beast, Flying, Mythological | A bird that shakes the sky and brings thunder and lightning | |
| Firebird | Desert, Mountains, Volcanic, Badlands | Beast, Flying | Beast, Flying | A large bird of flames | |
| Turtle Folk | Woods, Swamps, Coasts | Humanoid | Humanoid | A turle-like person | |
| Bird Person | Roads, Seas, Mountains, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts | Humanoid, Flying | Humanoid, Flying | Abird-like person | |
| Cloud Giant | Mountains | Humanoid | Humanoid | A very large person that lives in Castles in the sky | |
| Flesh Monster | Roads, Hell, Underground, Graveyards, Dungeons, Sewers | Beast, Undead, Demonic, Abomination | Beast, Undead, Demonic, Abomination | A monster made from the flesh and appendages of many | |
| Trapper | Woods, Roads, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A person who hunts using traps | |
| Black Powder Expert | Desert, Towns, Dungeons | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | An explosives 'expert' | |
| Martial Artist | Simplify | Roads, Mountains | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Hyyah! |
| Monk | Desert, Roads, Spirit World, Mountains, Graveyards, Volcanic, Badlands | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A religious devotee | |
| Cleric | Roads, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid, Mythological | Mundane, Humanoid, Mythological | An evil practitioner of the religious arts | |
| Grim Reaper | Roads, Hell, Graveyards | Spirit, Undead, Demonic | Spirit, Undead, Demonic | Death personified | |
| Cerebus | Hell, Underground, Graveyards | Beast, Mythological | Beast, Mythological | The three headed dog of the underworld | |
| Drowned | Hell, Seas, Swamps, Coasts, Sewers | Humanoid, Spirit, Undead | Humanoid, Spirit, Undead | Spirit or zombies of those perished by drowning | |
| Gladitator | Simplify | Desert, Towns, Badlands | Mundane, Humanoid, Mythological | Mundane, Humanoid, Mythological | Do they fight for fun, or for freedom? |
| Lion | Simplify | Desert, Badlands | Mundane, Beast, Mythological | Mundane, Beast, Mythological | A regular lion. Rawr. |
| Giant Ant | Desert, Woods, Underground, Swamps, Jungles | Beast | Beast | Where is its' queen? | |
| Shark | Simplify | Seas, Coasts | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | Yes, a shark |
| Giant Walrus | Seas, Frozen, Coasts | Beast | Beast | A walrus, but like, really, really big. | |
| Giant Vulture | Mountains, Swamps, Badlands | Beast, Flying | Beast, Flying | What carrion is it looking for? | |
| Feral Dog | Desert, Woods, Roads, Towns, Graveyards, Swamps, Badlands, Sewers | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A viscious, untamed dog. Does it have rabies? | |
| Boar | Woods, Roads, Frozen, Swamps, Jungles, Coasts | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A regular boar | |
| Giant Boar | Woods, Roads, Frozen, Swamps, Jungles, Coasts | Beast | Beast | A massive boar. | |
| Giant Shark | Seas, Coasts | Beast | Beast | Megalodon Megalodon Megalodon | |
| Ant Swarm | Woods, Roads, Underground, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | A swarm of ants | |
| Grave Robber | Hell, Underground, Towns, Graveyards, Sewers | Mundane, Humanoid, Undead, Demonic | Mundane, Humanoid, Undead, Demonic | Just a guy out for a nighttime dig in the Graveyards | |
| Living Statue | Desert, Graveyards, Dungeons, Castles | Mythological | Mythological | A statue brought to life | |
| Undead Cat | Desert, Hell, Graveyards | Beast, Undead | Beast, Undead | The animated corpse of a rotting cat | |
| Nightmare | Hell, Graveyards | Beast, Spirit, Demonic | Beast, Spirit, Demonic | A living nightmare. Or a demonic horse. Or both. | |
| Undead Wolf | Hell, Graveyards | Beast, Undead | Beast, Undead | The animated corpse of a rotting wolf | |
| Carrion Crow | Hell, Towns, Graveyards, Swamps | Mundane, Beast, Undead, Flying, Abomination | Mundane, Beast, Undead, Flying, Abomination | A crow that likes to cunsume dead flesh | |
| Bogeyman | Towns, Graveyards, Sewers | Bogeyman: a monster who hides under the bed | |||
| Brownie | Woods | Humanoid | Humanoid | Brownies: tiny (inches in height) humanoids | |
| Diety | Simplify | Desert, Hell, Spirit World, Mountains | Spirit, Flying, Mythological | Spirit, Flying, Mythological | A god or goddess |
| Dryad | Woods, Spirit World | Spirit | Spirit | A female,half-human, half-tree forest spirit | |
| Fallen Angel | Hell, Graveyards | Spirit, Demonic, Flying | Spirit, Demonic, Flying | An angel who now serves a malevolent cause | |
| Nymph | Woods, Jungles | Spirit | Spirit | A female nature spirit | |
| Satyr | Woods, Roads, Spirit World | Humanoid, Mythological | Humanoid, Mythological | Half-human, half-goat creature | |
| Siren | Seas | Humanoid | Humanoid | A beautiful woman whose singing can lure men to their deaths | |
| Sylph | Woods, Spirit World | Spirit, Flying | Spirit, Flying | An air spirit that is invisible to humans | |
| Wyrm | Mountains | Beast | Beast | A massive serpent resembling a dragon without wings or legs. | |
| Wyvern | Mountains | Beast | Beast | A creature resembling a dragon but missing it's front legs. | |
| Snake (Venomous) | Desert, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | Look at those fangs | |
| Snake (Constrictor) | Swamps, Jungles, Coasts | Mundane, Beast | Mundane, Beast | Just loves hugs | |
| Wild Man | Desert, Woods, Roads, Underground, Mountains, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Sewers | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A feral person. Raised by wolves maybe? | |
| Outlander | Desert, Roads, Mountains, Badlands | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A warrior who has left civilization behind | |
| Pyromaniac | Towns | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | A burning passion for flames | |
| Crime Boss | Towns, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | The leader of a gang | |
| Potions Master | Towns | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Who are those potions for | |
| Acrobat | Roads, Towns | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Agile and swift | |
| Sailor | Seas, Towns, Coasts | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Has sailed the oceans to find new ways to hurt someone | |
| Parrot | Seas, Jungles, Coasts | Mundane, Beast, Flying | Mundane, Beast, Flying | Often the pet of a pirate | |
| Mage | Mountains, Towns, Dungeons, Castles | Humanoid | Humanoid | A magic user | |
| Count | Towns, Graveyards, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Royalty | |
| Familiar | Woods, Roads, Spirit World, Dungeons, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands | Beast, Flying | Beast, Flying | The animal companion of a witch | |
| Beastmaster | Desert, Woods, Roads, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands | Mundane, Beast, Humanoid | Mundane, Beast, Humanoid | A person who can control animals. Is there beast with them? | |
| Prince | Towns, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Maybe got tired of waiting for the crown | |
| Thug | Simplify | Desert, Woods, Roads, Seas, Mountains, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Badlands, Coasts, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Just a bully |
| Warrior | Desert, Woods, Roads, Mountains, Frozen, Volcanic, Swamps, Jungles, Badlands, Coasts | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | An honorable fighter | |
| Criminal | Simplify | Desert, Woods, Roads, Seas, Mountains, Towns, Graveyards, Dungeons, Swamps, Badlands, Coasts, Sewers, Castles | Mundane, Humanoid | Mundane, Humanoid | Up to no good |
Magic
Magic may be the most common component in fantasy worlds and can manifest itself in a number of ways. There may be witches and wizards, spells and potions, and magical beasts that roam the land. Or perhaps there is a people who can control the very elements of nature but are ostracized by their fellow countryfolk. How magic rears itself in your world (or doesn’t) and the rules under which it operates are critical to consider as a worldbuilder.
Ruins
In game-oriented worlds, often ruins are the sites of dungeons.
Ruins from a bygone era are common in fantasy worlds. Castles, temples, watchtowers, and more can all be found scattered across fantasy lands. When building a fantasy world, consider the use of ruins as they both serve as a location for any potential audience to explore, but also help age your world.
Towns, Taverns & Inns
A roaring fire, a tankard of ale, and whispers of adventure on the smoky air. Taverns and inns are common locations in fantasy worlds, serving as gathering spots for enterprising heroes, temporary respites during long journeys, and seedy dens of palace intrigue.
