14 Popular Fantasy Tropes (and How to Revitalize Them)

Fantasy tropes are recurring images, themes, and devices that enrich a fantasy story with common conventions expected in the genre. 

When writing within a genre, authors can find themselves straddling a fine line: too many tropes will push a book into cliché territory, while stories that don’t feature a single popular trope can deny readers what they crave most in a genre read.

However, it’s important to remember that tropes are popular because they often contain elements of a universal relatability — and the best fantasy novels make use of those elements. 

For this post, we spoke with Lauren Humphries-Brooks and Lesley Jones, two of Reedsy’s fantastic Marketplace fantasy editors. They have us their insights on characters,

PRO-TIP: Ever wanted to find out which book genre you are? Take our 1-minute quiz below to see! 

Character tropes

At their heart, stories are about characters representing a fictionalized aspect of human nature — fantasy is no exception. The genre utilizes archetypes heavily, and this is not a bad thing if the alignment of your characters' development works with the narrative arc. One of the pleasures of writing is making ideas feel fresh — nailing this will help your story shine.

Note: Throughout this article, we’ll use popular books as examples, so there may be some spoilers.

1. The Chosen One

A character who is alone capable of fulfilling an important purpose, and whose responsibility is to resolve the plot’s main conflict — which will often be to save the world.

Example: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by JK Rowling

Before he becomes the ‘Chosen One’ who defeats the evil wizard Lord Voldemort, Harry Potter is simply a boy who lives under the stairs at the home of his cruel aunt and uncle. Receiving an invitation to join Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he quickly learns that even within this new magical world, he’s someone special: the famed ‘Boy Who Lived.’

Top Tip: There’s more than one flavor of savior

Editor Lauren Humphries-Brooks, whose clients include award-winning authors, Pulitzer nominees, and new authors, warns against adhering strictly to the Chosen One trope and offers advice to make it your own. “This is one of the most common fantasy tropes which has been overdone in recent years.

“However, instead of playing it straight, you can make it more interesting — if the idea is right. An example might be a protagonist who thinks they’re the Chosen One, but actually isn’t. Maybe they really want to be the chosen one, then discovers it’s way worse than they expected.”

2. The Secret Heir

An orphan ends up being the long-lost scion to a royal throne. This fantasy character is often raised on a farm or another humble situation that contrasts their true lineage. Maybe they lost their parents at a young age and were sent away for their own protection. Perhaps they were switched at birth in some sort of hilarious misunderstanding. Maybe their mother had a summer fling with an undercover prince in her gap year.

Example: The City of Brass by In S.A. Chakraborty

In this acclaimed fantasy novel, our protagonist is Nahri, a con artist and orphan (naturally) in 1700s Cairo who accidentally summons forth a djinn. When the spirit informs Nahri of her noble heritage, she must use her street-earned wit and guile to challenge and depose the current king and other dynamic characters who stand in her path.

Top tip: Make their claim believable

While the idea of a street rat with a claim to the throne is appealing to many readers, fantasy editor Lesley Jones urges authors to make it believable. “No matter what your reader is meant to believe, no matter what rules govern your world, it must feel possible.

"However your protagonist is connected to this lineage must ring true.”

Want to relive your fantasy-filled childhood? Check out the 60 best children's fantasy books right here, with classics from Lewis, Tolkien, Rowling, and more!

3. The Evil Overlord

Fire and brimstone, darkness and inhospitable lands, the Evil Overlord usually lives in a realm that reflects their wicked intentions, surrounded by their minions and followers. The Evil Overlord is also often bent on world domination. As opposed to anti-villains who are morally grey, the Evil Overlord is, well, pure evil.

Example: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

In creating a world where it’s “always winter, never Christmas,” the White Witch from The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe is an Overlord (or Lady?) who’s as evil as they come. While C.S. Lewis subverts the common convention of the white being associated with moral purity, he’s careful to let us know just how dastardly the Queen of Narnia is. After all, what sort of monster bribes a young boy with a confection as disgusting as Turkish delight? Nefarious, indeed! 

Pro Tip: They shouldn’t think they’re baddies

Everybody thinks of themselves as the heroes of their story — even the bad guys. That’s how they sleep at night and continue doing the things they do.

“Many villains don’t consider themselves villainous,” Humphries-Brooks says. “They think they’re doing the right thing — that they know better than everyone else, and, therefore should be in charge.

"So what’s your Evil Overlord’s motivation? We need to help readers understand why they want it so badly. We don’t need to agree with them, but we do need to understand them.”

4. The Reluctant Hero

The protagonist is thrust down the path of a story they don’t wish to be a part of. They long to return to normal life and only continue on their quest out of obligation or necessity. Whether their reluctance stems from a desire to hold on to their old life or a lack of self-belief, these protagonists will eventually overcome their internal conflicts and allow greatness to be thrust upon them — just in the nick of time.

Example: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien

Samwise Gamgee is a reluctant hero for the ages. At first, we see him as a somewhat cowardly companion to the more classically heroic Frodo. (Sam would much rather be back in The Shire preparing Second Breakfast for his beloved Rosie.) But he soon rises to the challenge and proves himself among The Fellowship's bravest members. 

Pro tip: Plant some seeds before you drop a surprise twist

“When playing with readers' assumed knowledge of common conventions, giving them a sense that the trope is being played out can allow us to subvert their expectations,” Jones says.

“We can play with the ending. And in some instances, when the ending arrives and defies the reader's expected outcome, they then remember all the seeds planted and subtle clues that led to it throughout the book. It’s about justification.”

5. The Lucky Novice

This sometimes manifests when a character who has never attempted a specific activity before is suddenly extremely talented at that specific skill.  Other times it’s presented in the form of a protagonist — who’s had a moderate amount of training — defeating the villain who has been honing their powers for years or decades (or even centuries).

These sudden skills can be a byproduct of being the “Chosen One”— those skills might “run in their blood,” or the protagonist might have an inexplicable influx of energy and skill when their back is pushed against the wall.

Example: The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins

Suzanne Collins’ pentalogy series follows Gregor, a boy from the hustling streets of New York. Our protagonist soon finds himself in the ‘Underland’ below the city. Discovering a prowess with the sword, which shouldn’t befit him, Gregor learns that he can tap into a berserk part of himself, allowing him to access this skill. However, it’s only accessible when his life is in mortal danger — a deficiency he realizes won’t help him save the say. 

Pro Tip: Make their ‘luck’ related to their past

“Consider why your novice might be capable of certain things,” Lauren Humphries-Brooks says. “I always prefer to read a book where this is not based on heredity or innate ability, because the background can be so much more convincing.

Someone who has never held a sword will not be able to wield it perfectly on their first try, but someone who has scrapped on the streets will have combat experience.”

6. The Mentor

Usually an elderly character who prepares the protagonist for whatever conflict they are facing. The Mentor often leaves before the big climax — whether they are killed, retire, or leave to carry out a job elsewhere — forcing the protagonist to stand on their own two feet.

Example: The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan

Moiraine Damodred is the mentor of Rand al’Thor (a Chosen One). On top of the dangers and responsibilities that come with mentoring Rand (and what he is), the help she can offer him is also limited. Because the type of magic they wield is different, the true value of Moiraine's mentorship lies in the human connection she forges with him.

Pro tip: At some point, the training wheels have to come off 

While the mentor will give the hero some of what they need to succeed, at some point, it's crucial that they leave so that the protagonist can overcome their conflicts by themselves, according to Lesley Jones.

 “The protagonist must be the one who takes action in the climax of the story. The lessons are proven true — and they can only do this without their mentor.”

Plot tropes

Plot is the chain of events that comprise your narrative arc. Many fantasy novels share a link or two (or seven) in common with other novels, and for good reason.

7. The “Here Comes the Cavalry” Twist

When all is lost, and the villain’s army is too strong. Moments before the inevitable death, our saviors arrive! And just as they say in the ol' westerns: here comes the cavalry!

Example: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien 

A quintessential fantasy story, some of Tolkien’s epic’s best moments are its battle scenes. Why? Because Tolkien understood that action needed context — emotion. The Battle of Helm’s Deep is weighted with meaning. Betrayals and old alliances separate the parties here, not just land and sky — and to answer the call means to heal old wounds. Whether the aiding army will arrive in time, or if they’ll come at all, builds tension throughout each scene. But just as the sheer number of orcs overwhelm the party, dawn brings Gandalf and his epic army!

Pro tip: For knockout action scenes, fuel them with emotion

“Always set up the cavalry charge,” Humphries-Brooks says, reminding writers that surprise arrivals shouldn't come as a complete surprise. “It must be integrated into the overall plot arc so that when, or if, the cavalry comes swooping in, we know why. Where did they come from? How? Why?

"Knowing that the cavalry is approaching, and even that they might not get there in time, is far more exciting than their sudden appearance!”

8. The Waiting Evil

Long ago an evil force was defeated and locked away. Supposedly dead, it bides its time to break free and unleash vengeance. Once the cat’s out of the bag, it does not want to go back in. 

Example: Duma Key by Stephen King 

In Duma Key, the Master of Horror introduces us to the ancient evil force Perse, who has been sealed in a keg and dropped down a well. When our protagonist discovers the keg, they discover that it has all but leaked dry, and Perse has escaped.

Pro tip: Pair your evil with a great backstory to create a powerful character

“The Waiting Evil trope is often paired well with a great backstory for the villain,” Lesley Jones says. “Mixing together why the ‘evil’ was locked away, and understanding our villain can lead to a conflict of sympathies for our protagonist to battle emotionally. This is how you breathe life into an old trope.”

9. The Black and White Morality Theme

The battle between “good” and “evil” is a prevalent theme in fantasy — and with characters often directly opposing each other, it can be easy to play up the black and white trope. When it strays to a cliché is when the line between good and evil is perceived as black and white, with no grey area.

Example: Redwall by Brian Jacques 

Brian Jacques’ middle-grade anthropomorphic fantasy series about the ‘good’ animals of Mossflower Wood (all 22 books) are children’s tales full of right and wrong stories. Whether learning that ‘right’ doesn’t always mean to ‘win’ — the animals learn that sometimes the shades of our world can only be understood alongside the black and white of it. 

10. The Quest

The hero, and a handful of secondary cannon-fodders (sorry, characters), set out on a quest with a specific goal which must be achieved. 

While similar to The Hero's Journey, the key difference is that the Quest focuses on your character's outer journey (and not the inner journey of a hero). The result is that some of literature's greatest action books have begun from the simplest of mysteries.

Example: The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan

The Percy Jackson series follows Percy and his demigod friends as they fight mythological monsters on their quest to defeat Kronos, King of the Titans.

Pro tip: The right stakes can justify any quest 

“Again, however outlandish the idea seems, or however frivolous the reason for the Quest, the overarching idea has to be believable,” Jones says. “There are many stories that begin following the smallest of inciting incidents, but if the protagonist doesn’t act, the stakes are huge — and become greater the longer the protagonist delays. This is what is needed for a quest, or any story. If they don’t act, everything is lost.

Think about Obi-Wan’s invitation to Luke at the beginning of the first (chronologically) Star Wars film – ‘A New Hope’. Luke is sure he will not follow the old Jedi, but then he rushes home to find that his uncle and aunt have been killed. If his quest was important before, it’s even more important now, and he agrees to follow Obi-Wan.”

Worldbuilding tropes

While the many subgenres of fantasy will all have their own tropes, here are a few worldbuilding conventions you're bound to see more often.

11. The Pseudo-European Medieval Setting

A feudal system governing a society where taverns are frequented and duel-by-swords are a daily occurrence. The stories don't usually take place in actual Europe, but a world that very much resembles the continent’s medieval era. This setting is a mainstay of fantasy — significantly solidified in the genre by The Lord of the Rings, but harking back to European folklore and tales of King Arthur.

 

Example: A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin 

Set in Westeros — a world strikingly similar to medieval-era Europe and Renaissance Britain — this now classic grimdark fantasy (the subgenre made famous by A Song of Ice and Fire) is what put Martin on the map.

What made his world so refreshing is that he reconstructed that era's brutality. No one is safe. Characters die left, right, and center — and it is the ideas and realities of this world that create tensions for the reader. Problems can’t be solved the same way, nor should they be.

Pro tip: To make your unreal world real, use the resonance of history as a base

“The influence of European folklore and tales of King Arthur are undeniable in fantasy,” Lesley Jones says. “Again, this comes back to believability, the conventions we expect in fantasy today are snippets of history from yesterday. These medieval worlds and realities are glimpses of what we learned about in school. This base helps immerse us in a foundation of something real.”

12. The World That Never Progresses

When a novel or series covers a society through the ages — but that world seems to never change or progress. It could be a century later, but no social, technological, political, or cultural developments seem to have occurred. This one is fairly typical of high fantasy, which usually take place on grand, epic scales.

Example: The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant series by Stephen R. Donaldson

Thomas Covenant, a man destined to save a world called ‘The Land,’ battles the impossible foe of time. This lack of worldly progress is key to Thomas' story as thousands of years pass in The Land when he is not there (and only months or years in the real world). The emotional impact of the jumps affects him deeply, and the static nature heightens the loss that continues to happen. The stakes increase each time as the continuing pause is worse than no evolution.

Pro tip: Change is slow, not static

“Consider how our world has changed and not changed over the years. If you set a book 1,000 years in the future, that’s the same amount of time that passed between the year 1023 and the year 2023. The world changed a lot during this period, which should be shown in your work. Don’t fall into the assumption that human (or any) society will remain static. If you can conceive of a world where magic is real, you can conceive of a world where women are treated as equals.”

13. The Powerful Artifact

This convention is used across all types of genres: an object of great power must be saved from falling into the wrong hands. The object is typically inanimate and derives its power from the manipulation of those who use it. The object might not be inherently evil, but its powers can have the effect of tempting and corrupting even the noblest characters.

Example: The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

The Auryn medallion given to Bastian in The Neverending Story is not an evil artifact, but its power affects humans differently than the Fantastican inhabitants of Fantasia. For humans, the wishes are granted at the cost of losing one’s memories.

As artifacts like this are desired for their use, the need often overshadows the price, and it’s this trap young Bastian falls into. He believes he must continue to use the medallion despite the loss. Only when Atreyu teaches him that “means without purpose is meaningless” does he recognize that not all prices are fair.

Pro tip: The greater the power, the greater the consequence, the greater the conflict

“It’s desire manifest in reality, essentially,” says Lesley Jones. “And an object that can make the impossible real, or conjure dreams into existence must have a price. Only if the consequences are as grand (positive or negative) as the power can it be believable, but no hero ever thinks about the consequences until there’s no going back.”

14. The Races of Fantasy

Example: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

This world of goblins, faes, elves, dwarves, trolls, orcs, humans, and monsters — fits at home in any fantasy book. All living their stereotypical and expected lives, our protagonist, Viv, is an anomaly. She indeed does spend her days hunting and slaying, yet also dreams of retiring and opening a cafe — a very humane dream. And once the cafe opens, she meets many other inhabitants subverting their fated lives and expectations. The book utilizes many fantasy book tropes and expectations of readers to tell a tale that is just as enlightening as it is amusing.

Pro tip: Give all your races relateable needs and wants

“Fantasy races play with long-established tropes, often reaching back into folk tales, superstitions, and oral history,” Lauren Humphries-Brooks says. “So knowing where your tropes come from in the first place can help in developing your ideas and characters from that — either as subversions or as extensions of the trope. Take the established ‘facts’ about fantasy races and spin them out.”