When I started writing my fantasy novel, one of the first things I focused on after the premise was creating my fantasy characters.
Because I could have the coolest world, the most unique magic system, and the wildest plot twist ever written, but without compelling characters, I wouldn’t have much of a story.
Fantasy characters are what readers latch onto. They’re the reason someone keeps turning the page, not your map or your magic rules.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to write fantasy characters step by step, from the first idea to a full arc. You’ll also get a free character profile template you can start using right away.
How to write fantasy characters (7 steps)
1. Pick your fantasy character's role in the story
Before you build their entire personality, decide what role this character plays in the narrative. This will determine how much development they need and where to spend your energy.
Protagonist (main character)
The story revolves around your protagonist's internal and external journey. They make the most consequential choices and undergo the clearest internal change.
When writing your protagonist, focus on:
- A strong belief they hold that will eventually be challenged
- A flaw that creates repeated problems throughout the novel
- An internal arc that mirrors the plot (more on this later)
Villain (antagonist)
Aside from being an obstacle (and a jerk), a villain is also a character whose goal directly opposes the protagonist’s.
The stronger ones don’t see themselves as the villain at all. They believe they’re right, and what they’re doing makes sense to them, even if it doesn’t to anyone else.
And a villain who thinks they’re right will always feel more dangerous than one who’s evil for the sake of being evil.
Supporting characters
Supporting characters aren’t there to just nod along and agree with everything your protagonist says. They’re there to push back a little, and sometimes they make things harder instead of easier.
They should be doing something in the story, whether that's helping, getting in the way, or complicating a decision the protagonist would rather not think about (just like friends in real life).
Minor characters
Minor characters (aka "extras") can add a bit of realism to your story. They don’t need full arcs like your primary characters do, but let them have one or two details that make them (and the scene they're in) feel real.
2. Build your character's core (want, fear, flaw)
To avoid writing fantasy characters who feel boring or flat, ask yourself these questions for each of them.
- What does this character want right now?
- What are they afraid will happen if they fail?
- What internal weakness (flaw) keeps sabotaging them?
Here's an example of what that looks like:
- Want: Protect their younger sibling
- Fear: Being powerless again
- Flaw: Control disguised as responsibility
3. Add contradictions to your fantasy character
This is where your fantasy character starts to feel like an actual person.
Give them traits that don’t fully agree with each other.
For example, they can be:
- Compassionate, but still capable of being vindictive
- Loyal, but emotionally closed off
- Idealistic, but a little too drawn to power
That’s where your character's' internal conflict comes from, and that's what naturally drives the plot.
If your character always reacts the way they should, they probably need more work.
4. Write backstory that fuels their motivation
When you’re writing a fantasy character, their backstory matters because a) it's what shaped them and b) it explains why they believe what they believe.
But instead of front-loading their history, reveal character backstory through:
- Behaviour (what they refuse to do or are adamant on doing)
- Dialogue (what they deflect or overreact to)
- Choices (decisions that seem wrong until the past is revealed)
Your character's backstory should in some ways shape every major choice they make, even when it’s never stated outright.
5. Tie your fantasy characters to your magic system
Fantasy characters are shaped by the world around them, and that includes your magic system.
A properly set up magic system (i.e., one with clear rules, limitations, consequences, and source) can influence your fantasy character's strengths, weaknesses, motivations, and ultimately, their decisions.
For example:
- A wielder might grapple with the ethical implications of using forbidden magic
- A healer might face resentment from a society that mistrusts their abilities
The point is, your magic system should affect how your character thinks/feels and some of the decisions they make.
6. Give them unique voices for dialogue
The way your fantasy characters speak is just as important as what they say.
If everyone sounds the same, your dialogue’s going to feel flat no matter how good the lines are.
So think about what would actually shape the way this person talks. This can be:
- Where they’re from (regional dialects or slang)
- How they were raised (with/without education)
- Their social status (peasant vs. noble)
- How they see the world (idealist/optimist vs. sinical)
- Their speces/race
- Their gender
- Their belief system
- And a ton more I'm sure I'm forgetting
All of that can show up in tone, word choice, and how direct (or not) they are.
Side note: In my novel, my FMC and MMC come from different kingdoms, and it shows in their dialogue. The most obvious differences are in the expressions they use, which are tied to where they grew up and the religions practiced there.
7. Plan the internal arc of your characters
Instead of thinking only in terms of the usual “positive” or “negative” arcs, focus on your character's internal movement.
(This is something I learned from N.K. Jemisin's fantasy writing masterclass).
A simple internally driven arc looks like this:
- Complacency → The character is stable in a belief or coping mechanism
- Encounter → An event challenges that belief
- Disintegration → Old strategies stop working; the flaw causes damage
- Reintegration → The character adapts or chooses a new belief
- Resolution → They act from this new internal truth
P.S. This model works for both heroes and villains.
Popular character archetypes (and how to twist them)
Character archetypes are NOT your enemy. Yes, they can be overused and outdated, but that's why you need to give them your own twist.
The Hero(ine)
This is a character who's driven to act when others won’t (or can't).
To deepen this popular archetype:
- Give them a belief that once protected them but now causes harm
- Force them to choose between safety and integrity
- Let bravery come after fear (not instead of it)
The Villain
Your fantasy villain should want something that directly conflicts with your protagonist. And they should believe their reasoning is justified.
If you want a structured way to build this, my Complete Villain Workbook ⬆ breaks down fear, justification, escalation, and downfall step by step.
The Mentor
A mentor in a fantasy novel provides knowledge or guidance to the protagonist, but they should never be flawless.
Your mentor can either have a regret over a past failure or offer biased or incomplete advice. Whatever you choose as their flaw, it should add depth to that character.
The Ruler
A ruler normally represents order, control, power, or responsibility (or all four).
A few ideas for writing interesting rulers:
- They're constrained by power, not freed by it
- They fear being remembered for the wrong reason
- They struggle between duty and desire
- They’re surrounded by people, but have no one they can actually trust
- Every decision costs them something, and there’s no version where everyone walks away happy
The Outlaw
The outlaw archetype pushes back against authority or any system trying to box them in (usually with a good reason, but sometimes not).
To make an outlaw more interesting, tie that rebellion to something that actually hurt them. Give them something they’d never openly admit they want to protect. And at some point, force them to choose between staying free and taking responsibility.
The Caregiver
The caregiver is someone who wants to protect and take care of other people.
They’re usually a steady presence that everyone relies on, especially when things fall apart.
But just because they're caregivers doesn't mean they need to be one-dimensional.
Maybe the care they offer starts to cross a line. Maybe it turns into control (without them realizing it). Maybe they start making decisions for others "for their own good," but really it makes things worse.
Adding these types of flaws makes them more interesting and relatable.
Fantasy character example: Katniss Everdeen
Let’s look at how this all plays out using Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games as an example (because she's a badass and I like her).
- Role: Protagonist
- Archetype: Reluctant hero / Caregiver
- Want: Keep her family (especially her sister) safe
- Fear: Being powerless to protect the people she loves
- Flaw: Emotional withdrawal and mistrust disguised as self-reliance
- Contradiction: Fiercely protective yet resistant to emotional intimacy
- World pressure: An authoritarian system that weaponizes survival and spectacle
- Cost of survival: Trauma, public manipulation, loss of agency
Internal arc breakdown
At the start of the novel (and movie), Katniss keeps people at a distance and refuses to rely on anyone. That’s how she survives.
Then the Games take that option away.
She’s forced into alliances, and she's forced to perform/care in front of an audience.
And that’s where things start to fall apart.
Because the more she tries to protect people, the less she can do it alone. The thing she relies on (distance) stops working.
So her decisions start to change.
It's difficult for here and she resists it, but you slowly see the shift.
By the end, she’s not just trying to survive. She’s making choices that go against the system, and she’s doing it in a way that exposes her.
What makes Katniss compelling isn’t her skill with a bow (I mean, that too). It’s more the way her flaw is constantly at odds with what the story demands of her, which in turn forces real internal change.
Templates for writing a fantasy character
These templates are designed to support you while creating a fantasy character. You don't need to fill out every single section—just stick to the ones that are relevant to your own characters and story.
Free fantasy character template (Notion)
My Free Fantasy Character Profile Template helps you capture wants, fears, flaws, backstory, voice, archetypes, and arcs in one place.
Download the free Notion fantasy character template
Complete fantasy villain workbook (paid)
If your antagonist feels flat or underpowered, my Fantasy Villain Template helps you design villains/antagonists with clear justification, escalation, and consequences.
Explore the villain character template
Frequently asked questions about fantasy characters
How do I make my fantasy characters relatable to readers in a fantasy setting?
Focus on universal emotions and struggles, like love, fear, ambition, or loss. Even if your characters live in a magical world, readers will connect with their humanity through these shared experiences.
Should every fantasy character in my story have a detailed backstory?
Not necessarily. Main characters and significant side characters benefit from detailed backstories, but minor characters only need enough detail to serve their role in the story without feeling flat.
How can I make my fantasy characters’ decisions feel authentic?
Ensure their choices align with their established motivations, flaws, and past experiences. A well-developed character will make decisions that feel natural based on who they are, even if those choices surprise the reader.
