Alignment is a founding tradition of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). Present since 1974, it defines the moral compass of player characters, non-player characters, and monsters. By indicating who aligns with Good, Evil, Law, or Chaos — or who chooses Neutrality — alignment distinguishes heroes from villains and permeates the game’s cosmology.

This essay offers a comprehensive exploration of alignment in Dungeons & Dragons. It examines what alignment is, its purpose in the game, its meaning, and how it shapes both characters and monsters on individual and social levels.

Alignment is a cornerstone of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D). Its concepts of player morality and ethics are integral to many aspects of the game,

Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax enjoyed sprinkling his writings with unusual and often archaic words, a habit that gave his rulebooks and adventures a distinctively arcane flavor. Rather than relying on familiar fantasy clichés, Gygax seemed to delight in language that felt half-forgotten, lending the game an almost scholarly strangeness that players found both puzzling and enchanting.