List of fantasy novel tropes

Written By Becker

This is a list of common fantasy tropes that you can use as inspiration in your own novel or writing. No matter if you’re writing an epic fantasy or a paranormal romance, you’ll find plenty of tropes that you can use in your book in this list.

What are tropes?

Tropes are common themes, plot devices or motifs in novels. In other words, they are common scenarios and patterns that take place in your novel.

For example, a common trope in epic fantasy novels is the chosen one where the protagonist’s coming has been foretold in a prophecy or legend. They are destined to save the world and solve everyone’s problems by themselves! This weight of responsibility often leads the protagonist to question their worth and abilities.

List of fantasy tropes

Most of these tropes are self explanatory but to ensure this list is accessible to both new and veteran writers alike, I have written a short explanation for some tropes that may not be familiar to everyone. Furthermore, many tropes can fit into multiple categories.

Worldbuilding tropes

  • Price for winning

  • The prophecy

  • Pseudo-medieval settings

  • Resurrection

  • Time travel

  • Solve the puzzle

  • Training montages

  • Portal to another world

  • Society stopped in time

  • True names

  • Under a spell

  • Myths and legends

  • Hero's journey

  • Side quests

Location tropes

  • Sprawling libraries

  • Royal court

  • Kingdoms

  • Secret lair

  • Forbidden forest

  • Mystical forest

  • Magicians guild

  • Thieves' guild

  • Taverns

  • Floating islands

  • Dark caves

  • Floating castles

  • Assassins guild

  • Spaceships

Protagonist tropes

  • The antihero

  • Orphan hero

  • Reincarnated from the gods

  • Lucky novice

  • Lost heir

  • Heir to the throne

  • I want to be the very best (like no one ever was)

  • The reluctant hero

  • Patience, or lack thereof

  • Reluctant hero

  • Secret heir

  • Secret royalty

Side character tropes

  • Old man mentor

  • Rags to riches

  • Supreme ruler

  • World's worst spellcaster

  • Evil overlord

  • Dual wielding

  • Old allies

  • Evil rulers

  • The mentor

  • Tavern owner

  • The parental figure

  • The bard

  • Good wizards and witches

  • Outcast hero

  • The outlaw

  • Guardian

  • Dark lord

  • Nobility

  • Swordsperson

  • Magic wielder

  • Evil wizards and witches

  • The loner

  • Shield-maiden

  • Parental figure

  • Damsels or dudes in distress

  • King's right-hand person

  • The good Samaritan

  • Assassins

  • Unlikely allies

Plot tropes

  • Good and evil

  • Quests

  • Gods and goddesses

  • Point of no return

  • Secret knowledge locked away in an even more secret library

  • Pure evil

  • Coming of age

  • Potions

  • Final showdown

  • Rags to riches

  • Good vs. evil

  • Discovering ones powers

  • Acquired superpowers

  • Quest for immortality

  • Hell and heaven

  • Road back home

  • Antagonist turned ally – redemption arc

  • Reward

  • The price to pay

  • The eagles – this trope has been popularised through Lord of the Rings where the eagles swoop in and save Frodo and Sam at the last moment

  • The chosen one

  • Call to adventure

  • Refusal of the call

  • Chosen one

  • Rally the troops

  • Destroy the evil artifact

  • Resurrection

  • Enchanted sleep

  • The next adventure – after your protagonist completes their quest, they're itching for more

  • Royalty joins the crew

Item tropes

  • Magic rings

  • Powerful artifacts

  • Invisibility cloaks

  • Magic potions

  • Sentient weapons

  • Capes, for dramatic – I mean, practical – purposes

  • Hidden treasure

  • Magic swords

  • Book of magic spells – maybe your protagonist learns spells from them, or they must stop it from falling into the wrong hands

Magic tropes

  • Wish magic

  • Healing magic

  • Ancient magic

  • Black magic

  • Magic schools

  • Alchemy

  • Nature magic

  • Necromancy

  • Hidden magic

  • Forbidden magic

Fantasy race and animals tropes

  • Dragons

  • More dragons

  • Even more dragons

  • Give us all the dragons!

  • Dark elves

  • Elves and dwarves

  • Demonic creatures

  • Halfling

  • Faes

  • Elves

  • Trolls

  • Dwarves

  • Goblins

  • Demons

  • Shapeshifting

  • Guardian animals

  • Fire-breathing dragons

  • Unicorns

  • Werewolves

  • Vampires

  • Legendary creatures

  • Monsters

  • Animal familiars

  • Fairy godmother

  • Animal guides

  • Horses

  • Gnomes

  • Orcs

  • Talking animals

  • Magical creatures

Relationship tropes

  • Fish out of water

  • Intergenerational trauma

  • Distracted by love

  • Found family

  • Diplomatic marriage

  • Group of misfits

  • Travelling parties

  • Secret identity

  • Misfits

  • Next generation – the protagonist's child features in their own novel or series 

Becker
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