Fantasy Characters: How to Write Multi-Dimensional Heroes & Villains
Creating fantasy characters who leap off the page is one of the most rewarding—and challenging—parts of writing a fantasy novel.
Whether you're crafting a reluctant hero, a cunning villain, or a mysterious sidekick, your readers crave complexity, depth, and relatability in your characters.
After all, flat characters lead to flat stories.
This guide will help you breathe life into your characters with actionable tips and examples, so they feel real—even when they're wielding enchanted swords or summoning storms.
Bonus: Check out our Fantasy Character Profile Template to make your life easier.
Why multi-dimensional fantasy characters matter
Flat characters are easy to forget. Multi-dimensional characters, on the other hand, stick with readers long after they’ve closed your book. They have goals, flaws, and quirks that make them feel like actual people—people your audience can cheer for, cry over, or love to hate.
By putting in the effort to develop well-rounded characters, you’ll:
Create a stronger emotional connection with readers
Make your plot twists hit harder
Deepen the themes and conflicts in your story
Start with a character background template
Every great fantasy character starts with a foundation. A character background template is a handy tool to gather the essential details about your character’s past, personality, and motivations. Think of it as the skeleton upon which you’ll build their complexity.
Here’s a quick example of what you might include:
Name and title: Include nicknames, titles, or aliases (e.g., Eryn “The Thorn” of Velrath).
Birthplace and upbringing: Was your character born in a noble family or raised in a thieves’ guild?
Key life events: Did they lose a loved one? Survive a dragon attack? Learn forbidden magic?
Personality traits: Are they impulsive? Cunning? Anxious?
Physical description: Don’t stop at “tall and dark-haired.” What about scars, posture, or their favorite cloak?
Having these details at your fingertips will not only make your characters richer but also make it easier to keep them consistent throughout your story.
👉 Pro tip: Use our Fantasy Character Profile Template to streamline this process and keep all your character details in one place.
Add layers with conflicting traits
One-dimensional characters are boring because they’re predictable. To avoid this, give your fantasy characters conflicting traits or motivations that keep readers guessing.
A noble knight who secretly envies the villain’s freedom
A ruthless assassin who can’t bring themselves to harm children
A scholarly mage who’s terrified of their own power
Conflicting traits don’t just make characters interesting—they create tension and drive internal conflict, which can ripple out to affect your plot.
Flesh out motivations and flaws
Your characters’ choices should make sense based on who they are. This means understanding not just what they want, but why they want it. Motivation and flaws are key ingredients for creating believable fantasy characters.
Questions to ask about motivations:
What does this character want more than anything?
What’s driving that desire? (Fear, love, revenge, ambition?)
What would they sacrifice to achieve it?
Questions to ask about flaws:
What’s their biggest weakness, and how does it hold them back?
How do they justify their flaws to themselves?
How do their flaws create problems in relationships or goals?
For example, your villain might crave power because they grew up powerless. Their flaw? An inability to trust anyone, even their closest allies. That mistrust could lead to their ultimate downfall.
Connect your characters to your magic system
Fantasy characters don’t exist in a vacuum—they’re shaped by the world around them, including its rules and magic. A well-thought-out magic system can add depth to your characters by influencing their strengths, weaknesses, and motivations.
For example:
A mage might grapple with the ethical implications of using forbidden magic.
A warrior might be haunted by the curse of a magical weapon they can’t abandon.
A healer might face resentment from a society that mistrusts their abilities.
📜 Related post: How to Create a Unique Magic System (with Examples)
Show, don’t tell
When it comes to developing fantasy characters, actions speak louder than exposition. Instead of telling readers that your rogue is quick-witted, show them outsmarting a palace guard.
Examples:
Telling: “Lorien was fearless.”
Showing: “Lorien grinned as the dragon lunged, sidestepping its fiery breath and leaping onto its back with a whoop.”
This approach not only brings characters to life but also engages readers on a deeper level.
Create unique voices for dialogue
The way your characters speak is just as important as what they say. Give them distinct voices that reflect their background, personality, and mood.
Tips for unique dialogue:
Use slang or idioms based on their culture or upbringing.
Adjust tone and formality based on their personality.
Add quirks, like a favorite phrase or an unusual cadence.
For example, a grizzled mercenary might say, “Gold first, questions later,” while a scholar might use flowery, long-winded sentences.
Give your characters room to grow
Multi-dimensional characters don’t stay the same—they evolve. Think about how your characters will grow over the course of your fantasy novel.
Character arc types:
Positive arc: A character overcomes their flaws and grows stronger.
Negative arc: A character gives in to their flaws and falls from grace.
Flat arc: A character remains steadfast, inspiring change in others.
Whatever arc you choose, ensure the journey feels earned. Your readers will be more invested if they see the ups and downs along the way.
Bring it all together with a character profile template for writing
Developing multi-dimensional fantasy characters takes effort, but you don’t have to do it alone. A character profile template for writing can help you organize your ideas, stay consistent, and create characters your readers will never forget.
Ready to start crafting unforgettable characters? Download our Fantasy Character Profile Template now and bring your next hero—or villain—to life!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
How do I make my 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 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 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.
