13 Fantasy Tropes and How to Update Them

What are Fantasy Tropes?

If you’re active on Bookstagram, you’ve probably seen lots of reels and posts about people’s favourite fantasy tropes. As with any other literary trope, fantasy tropes are recurring themes or devices that are used to the point of becoming common conventions within a particular genre.

Fantasy, especially modern fantasy , is saturated with popular tropes and including them in writing can feel something akin to standing on a precipice, windmilling your arms, and trying not to fall over. Include too many tropes and readers will get déjà vu. But, if you don’t include a single one of the popular fantasy tropes, you risk losing readers who have come to expect certain themes (one bed, party of two).

I know what you’re thinking. As an author, you hardly want to be cliché. As a reader, you don’t want the same old tired story. But the truth is that fantasy tropes crop up in stories because most of them contain some element of universal relatability and people enjoy the familiar. Even the most popular and arguable the best fantasy novels make use of tropes from time to time. So, you know what? Let’s embrace tropes by acquainting ourselves with some of the most popular fantasy tropes in modern fantasy and learn how to do so while preventing characters, plots, and worldbuilding from becoming a cliché.

Character Tropes

Characters drive a story. You’re hardly about to have a compelling novel about a piece of cardboard after all. Or maybe you do, in which case, hats off to you. I don’t think I’ll be picking that one up any time. Characters represent human nature and should include an element of relatability. Many fantasy genre books feature archetypes, which, like tropes, need not be a bad thing. Again, it’s a balancing act: ensure your characters’ development aligns with the narrative arc, has natural catalysts, and doesn’t rely on cliché tick box pitstops.

1)    The Chosen One

A character who is solely capable of fulfilling an important purpose (such as a prophecy) and whose responsibility is to resolve the plot’s main conflict. Enough already, am I right? How many chosen one novels have we seen since Harry Potter popularised the concept. Let’s go back to the days of a simple hobbit, who could have been anyone, destroys the one ring to rule them all. But for all its overuse, the chosen one concept is exceptionally popular and that’s because we like an underdog. Someone who is plucked from a seemingly ordinary life and is destined to great things. As long as being the chosen one isn’t your character’s sole personality trait, this is a great fantasy trope and can be an excellent catalyst for a story. Being an orphan is usually an excellent pairing with this trope.

2)    The Reluctant Hero

Very rarely does popular fantasy feature a character who is gung-ho about suddenly having to save the world. They long to return to their normal life or at least whatever life was before, and only continue their quest out of obligation or necessity. The Reluctant Hero often overlaps with The Chosen One.

3)    The Lucky Novice

The protagonist, who has trained for but a mere month at most with their newfound powers, defeats the villain who has been honing their powers for years or decades. Realistic, right? These sudden skills are usually a byproduct of being the Chosen One.

4)    The Mentor

What Chosen One would be complete without an often elderly, wise character who prepares the protagonist for whatever conflict they are facing? Drop in a few philosophical one liners and you’ve got yourself a Dumbledore. The Mentor often leaves just before the climax of the book, either retiring, leaving, or being killed.

5)    Found Family

The protagonist, undoubtedly an orphan, has grown up without a family or perhaps have a cruel family. But over time they make friends and realise that family isn’t chosen by blood, but the people who choose us along the way. GASP.

Worldbuilding Tropes

Fantasy, even when it’s set on Earth, often demands a lot of worldbuilding. Here are just a few fantasy tropes you’re likely to see in worldbuilding.

6)    The World that Never Progresses

In reality, the world is ever changing, making technological, political, social, and cultural developments. But in fantasy, particularly high fantasy, we often find worlds that doesn’t seem to progress, no matter how much time passes.

7)    The Pseudo-European Medieval Setting

Who doesn’t love a good feudal system governing a society where taverns are frequented and swords are toted around on the regular? This fantasy trope doesn’t usually take place in actual Europe, but the fantasy world will usually resemble the continent’s medieval era. This is a staple of the fantasy tropes, significantly solidified by The Lord of the Rings.

8)    The Powerful Artifact

This isn’t exactly exclusive to fantasy tropes: an object of great power must be kept from the wrong hands or can only be wielded by the Chosen One. The object isn’t always inherently evil (here’s looking at you the one ring to rule them all), but it’s powers can have the effect of tempting and corrupting even the best of your characters. Two words for you pals: The Precious.

9)    The Homogeneous Species

The fairfolk love their trees and dwarves are obsessed with gold and live in mountains, right? Dragons hoard treasure and unicorns are shy, elusive beasts. It often happens that entire races are categorised into a few commonalities in fantasy novels, rather than taking the time to flesh out a robust culture and society. Humans aren’t all alike after all, so why should our fantasy species be?

Plot Tropes

If you ask Joseph Campbell, all heroes’ stories are the same. But fantasy novels tend to share more than a link or two (perhaps even twenty), in common with one another.

10) The Waiting Evil

Long ago, in a time long forgotten, an evil force was defeated, but only just. It was locked away, never to wreak havoc again. That is, of course, until now. How convenient! Having bided its time, the evil entity breaks free or is released and our protagonist must stop it.

11) Here Comes the Cavalry!

All hope is lost. The protagonist stands, outnumbered, outmatched, and simply cannot hold off the opposition. They fight to their last breath, fall to their knees, and accept their fate. But hark! What do I hear? It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s the heroes’ friends shown up in the nick of time!

12) The Black and White Morality Theme

Good versus evil. Don’t even get me started on how boring I find this fantasy trope. If I could do away with any fantasy trope, it would be this one. Give me a morally grey character any day. Often, the good guys manage to win the day with killing a soul or even trampling someone’s front lawn.

13) The Quest

From a safe haven, the hero and a smattering of colourful characters set out on a quest. This may involve saving a princess, defeating a villain, destroying a corrupt artifact, or finding someone. Heck, why not do all four!

How to Update Fantasy Tropes

All fantasy series contain tropes, but the best ones will put a unique spin on them. It’s great to give your readers what they’ve come to expect of fantasy while also surprising them. So here are a few ways to update fantasy tropes and personalise them.

1)    Deconstruct Them

By understanding the common fantasy tropes, you can deconstruct and challenge them, discussing the deeper implications of the convention or shine a light on its consequences.

2)    Defy Expectations

Distinguish between the elements of a fantasy trope that are required and which are simply expected. Come up with your own unique specifics for the latter category.

3)    Subvert It

When in doubt, subvert expectations. Use a reader’s assumed knowledge of a common convention to your advantage. Give readers the sense of a well-known trope only to reveal there is something else going on.