Dungeons and Dragons alignments explained

The nine Dungeons and Dragons alignments are broad categories used to measure a creature's morality and lawfulness. The DnD alignments chart as we know it has been part of the game since 1977, but interpretations of it have evolved over time. This guide offers a detailed explanation of 5e alignments, with handy examples and a personality test to flesh out your D&D characters.

If you need some extra help with that character build, we have plenty of other expert guides, too. DnD classes, DnD races, and DnD backgrounds are all equally important for defining who your character is, so be sure to consider these alongside possible alignments.

Dungeons and Dragons alignments explained:

What are DnD alignments?

The 2024 Player's Handbook defines Dungeons and Dragons alignments as follows:

"A creature's alignment broadly describes its ethical attitudes and ideals. Alignment is a combination of two factors: one identifies morality (good, evil, or neutral), and the other describes attitudes toward order (lawful, chaotic, or neutral)."

Your DnD alignment is split into two parts, then: your position on the good-evil scale and your position on the lawful-chaotic scale, with the neutral alignments in the center.

Good vs evil

Good characters care about other people, will try to help those in need, and are often self-sacrificing. In contrast, evil characters prioritize their own wellbeing, and will often perform actions that benefit themselves even if (or sometimes especially if) it causes harm to other people.

Lawful vs chaotic

Lawful characters are naturally rule-abiding and typically work within the rules of society to achieve their aims. They may hold concepts of honor or tradition in high esteem, respect authority figures, and keep their promises.

Chaotic characters, on the other hand, listen to their conscience over what society tells them to do, valuing a personal code over whatever may be written down on paper. They may seem rebellious, and they tend to be more flexible than lawful characters. They'll value personal freedoms highly and won't care about rank or title.

Neutral

Some characters like to sit on the fence, and this is when the word 'neutral' tends to sneak into their DnD alignment. To be neutral, a character must not feel particularly strongly about matters like law, chaos, good, or evil - or perhaps instead, they believe the world needs a bit of all of them.

Can DnD alignments change?

In modern-day D&D, alignments are mostly a roleplaying tool. They are meant to reflect the ideals of a character, and they should influence the actions that individual takes.

A person's view of the world rarely stays the same, particularly when they're on a grand adventure. So, yes, DnD alignments can change.

Here's a few examples of how that might happen:

• A Lawful Good Paladin 5e attunes to a corrupt magic item, and their alignment changes to Lawful Evil as it begins to warp their mind.
• A Chaotic Neutral Rogue 5e performs many selfless and heroic acts to help a city in need, so Chaotic Good becomes a more appropriate alignment.
• A Lawful Good Cleric 5e realizes that their church is using its laws to hurt others. They still believe in doing what's right, but they refuse to do so within an abusive system - so Chaotic or Neutral Good becomes more fitting.

Lawful Good

Lawful Good characters follow the rules and work within the system to achieve benevolent goals, assisting those in need and fighting evil wherever it lurks. Lawful Good characters tend to be the most well-liked by NPCs, who can be sure that a Lawful Good party will not only rid them of nearby monsters, but obey local laws while doing so.

Neutral Good

A Neutral Good character typically chooses the course of action that does the most good possible. Characters with a Neutral Good alignment are not particularly attached to order or chaos, but they do love being nice. They'll often follow the rules simply because this causes the least friction, but will not be especially hesitant to break those rules if they think a better outcome will be achieved by doing so.

Chaotic Good

Chaotic Good characters try to do what is right, but on their own terms, not those set by society. As a result, they may end up breaking rules in an effort to do the right thing. They'll have benevolent intentions, but will follow their own consciences first and foremost. Chaotic Good and Lawful Good characters will often disagree on the best solution to a problem.

D&DBeyond's 2019 statistics show that the most common D&D alignment is chaotic good. This makes a lot of sense when you think about it. Most adventurers live slightly outside of society's rules, and they must be prepared to try pretty much anything to save the world (or loot a tomb).

Lawful Neutral

Lawful Neutral characters follow their chosen rules, and they don't question whether those rules are morally just. These characters aren't overly concerned with ethics, instead valuing order and authority above all else. Or perhaps they're just not brave enough to upset the status quo. Either way, Chaotic Good characters hate them.

True Neutral

True Neutral characters aren't particularly dedicated to stamping out evil, but nor are they especially diabolical themselves. They won't seek to break the rules but won't put undue effort into upholding them either.

Which admittedly all sounds a bit grey. What do True Neutral characters care about? Well, most of them are just middle-of-the-road folk, getting on with their lives without worrying about sticking to any kind of strong code. Deep down, we're probably all a little bit 'True Neutral'. However, there are some characters with this alignment that take their neutrality to a (relative) extreme, determined to uphold a balance between law and chaos, good and evil.

Chaotic Neutral

Chaotic Neutral characters put their own independence above all, regardless of how ethical their choices might be in the current moment. They are at the mercy of their own whims, always doing what's best for themselves at any given moment. They value immense personal freedom, but won't put that at risk to protect the freedoms of others.

This D&D alignment has a bit of a bad reputation. It's sometimes associated with the kind of 'murder hobo' player who'll save a village from a marauding army, then steal all its gold, set the inn on fire, shout 'Chaotic Neutral, baby!', and ride off into the sunset. That is a way you can play the Chaotic Neutral alignment, but be warned that in most games, this won't get you an invitation to session two.

Lawful Evil

Some Lawful Evil characters may believe they're actually good, simply because they're following the rules. They may uphold the law, but apply it methodically and mercilessly, without nuance, or using loopholes for selfish and destructive reasons.

Other Lawful Evil characters may know full well that they're rotten, and seek to dominate and rule in an authoritarian, but lawful, manner. These are likely to be the most dangerous villains of all, combining evil intent with the discipline and organization to achieve their aims.

Neutral Evil

Above all else, a Neutral Evil alignment means complete selfishness, doing whatever wrongs one can without hesitation or compassion. A character with the Neutral Evil alignment isn't tied to any kind of code (like a Lawful Evil character), but is also not wantonly destructive or bloodthirsty (like a Chaotic Evil one). They're simply committed to evil.

Chaotic Evil

Chaotic Evil characters have selfish goals, and follow no rules or codes beyond their own desires - they don't care what they have to do or who they hurt to achieve their dastardly aims. The alignment most in line with the cackling maniacal supervillain, Chaotic Evil is a difficult alignment for a player-character to take.

According to statistics released by D&DBeyond in 2019, Chaotic Evil is the rarest D&D alignment for player-characters. That's because Chaotic Evil characters don't play well with others, even those who share this alignment. Cruel and perhaps sadistic, they probably perform evil acts simply for the sake of it, and for their own enjoyment.

DnD alignment test

Need some help choosing your alignment? Here's a two-part D&D alignment test that can help place your character's moral compass. First, we'll test where your character stands on the scale of lawful vs chaotic. After that, we'll figure out whether they're good, evil, or somewhere in between.

Lawful vs chaotic

A. What was your character like when they were at school?

• Teacher's pet
• Class clown
• A nobody who kept to themselves

B. Who is your character most likely to turn to for advice?

• An official figure in my society that I respect
• A close friend who knows how I think
• Multiple people, so I can get a variety of perspectives

C. How does your character feel about religion?

• Everyone should worship someone - there's a god for everybody out there
• Religion is just another way to control people, and I won't take part
• I'll worship a god if there's a proven benefit to doing so

D. What's your character like when they're on holiday?

• I plan a careful itinerary that helps me get the most out of the trip
• I don't plan at all and see where the moment takes me
• I make a loose plan, but I'll change it if something better comes along

E. Your character finds a lost wallet - what do they do?

• Take it straight to local law enforcement.
• Try and find the owner myself - or keep it if I really need the money.
• Keep it, but only if no one sees me pick it up.

Results

• Mostly 1 - Lawful
• Mostly 2 - Chaotic
• Mostly 3 - Neutral

Good vs evil

A. How does your character feel about violence?

• I only resort to violence when necessary
• I take pleasure in hurting others
• If the person deserves it, I'm okay with them getting hurt

B. If your character became filthy rich overnight, what would they do first?

• Donate to charity - I can use my money to make the world better
• Don't tell anyone, and buy the biggest mansion I can find
• Buy myself something nice, and then give some money to my loved ones

C. Your companion runs out of rations on the road - what do you do?

• Share mine, even if there won't be enough for me
• Let them find their own food
• Share if I have enough, but there's no point making us both go hungry

D. Your character's place of work is on fire! Who do they save?

• As many people as possible
• Me, duh
• Someone I cherish, if I can

E. If your character became ruler of the world, how did they get there?

• My reputation for good deeds meant I was fairly elected
• I lied, cheated, and killed to get to the top
• Honestly pure luck - I'm really not qualified for this job

Results

• Mostly 1 - Good
• Mostly 2 - Evil
• Mostly 3 - Neutral

Your D&D alignment is

• 1.1 - Lawful Good
• 1.2 - Lawful Evil
• 1.3 - Lawful Neutral
• 2.1 - Chaotic Good
• 2.2 - Chaotic Evil
• 2.3 - Chaotic Neutral
• 3.1 - Neutral Good
• 3.2 - Neutral Evil
• 3.3 - True Neutral

For more rules explainers, here's all you need to know about DnD level ups and DnD languages. Or, for the latest on fifth edition, here's all the books coming up on this year's DnD release schedule.