List of epic fantasy novel tropes
This is a list of common epic fantasy tropes that you can use as inspiration in your own novel or writing. No matter if you’re writing a swords and sorcery-inspired epic fantasy or something on the darker side, you’ll find plenty of tropes that you can use in your novel 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 epic 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
Side quests
Quest tropes
Hero's journey
Rescuing a friend
Rescuing a kidnapped royal
Find the hidden tomb
Quest from the gods and goddesses
A cursed child
Tests of worthiness
Trials
Searching for an ancient relic
Labyrinths
Pilgrimages
Coming of age rituals – when the protagonist has to undergo a ritual or journey to become an adult in the eyes of their town or culture
Dark forces tropes
Cursed cities
Necromancers
Plagues
Cursed kings and queens
Ancient evil is awoken
Elemental fortresses
Cursed objects
Blood moons
Living forests
Evil libraries!
Magical storms
Eclipses – a one in a thousand year eclipse or magical forces block the sun
Rituals
Spiritual or mirror worlds
Time curses
Blood magic
Tainted blood
Generational curses
Imprisoned antagonists
Forgotten cities
Ancient ruins
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
Kingdoms divided by magic
Kingdoms reliant on magical or ancient relics
Cursed nobility
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 (potentially evil!) 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
Battle tropes
Sieges
Warring kingdoms
Betrayed at the last moment
Diplomatic battles – think trade embargoes, meetings on neutral ground, etc.
Gladiators
Chosen champions – instead of sending a whole army to war, each kingdom choses a champion to fight in a duel
Item tropes
Mysterious amulets
Magic rings
Powerful artifacts
Invisibility cloaks
Magic potions
Sentient weapons
Capes, for dramatic – I mean, practical – purposes
Hidden treasure
Magic swords
Twin daggers
Bow and arrows
Axes
Musical instruments
Trapped soul in a necklace
A magical sword stuck in stone that only the worthy can retrieve
Long lost magical weapons
Bottomless bags – bags that are pretty much a TARDIS, bigger on the inside!
Crown of thorns
Bonded weapons – a weapon has a magical bond to its owner
Weapons forged from the depths of an ancient forge
Talking weapons
Book of magic spells – maybe your protagonist learns spells from them, or they must stop it from falling into the wrong hands
Magic tropes
Seasonal magic
Spellbooks
Wands
Celestial magic
Single-use magic – think scrolls, potions etc.
Ancient prophecies
Magic weapons
Lost magic – the art of magic has been forgotten but recently rediscovered
Magic that comes at a cost
Wish magic
Healing magic
Ancient magic
Black magic
Magic schools
Alchemy
Nature magic
Necromancy
Hidden magic
Forbidden magic
Resurrection magic
Fantasy race and animals tropes
Dragons
More dragons
Even more dragons
Give us all the dragons!
Sea serpents
Giants
Wraiths
Elemental guardians
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
Organisations and groups tropes
Mercenaries
Assassin guilds
Rogue guilds
Order of knights
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