The franchise of Dungeons & Dragons is shaped not only by its settings but also by important characters that players cannot ignore. We present 4 that have particularly significant influence.
How were the characters chosen for this list? Dungeons & Dragons thrives not just on what players and dungeon masters make of it, but also on various NPCs found in numerous campaign books, modules, comics, video games, and films.
For this list, we have selected 4 of them that not only frequently appear but also have a great influence on Dungeons & Dragons. For example, by immortalizing themselves as creators of important spells or items or frequently being important points of contact for players, as they appear in many parts of various adventures.
The following personalities should absolutely not be missed if you dive into the worlds of Dungeons & Dragons.
Mordenkainen
Mordenkainen is one of the most powerful archmages of the multiverse and wields arcane powers unlike anyone else. Many of his iconic and legendary spells are utilized by gifted spellcasters such as “Mordenkainen’s Magnificent Mansion,” “Mordenkainen’s Faithful Hound,” or “Mordenkainen’s Sword.”
Additionally, there are numerous supplemental rulebooks with his name in the title, such as “Mordenkainen’s Fiendish Folio” or “Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse.”
Moreover, he is distinguished not only by raw magical power but also by his extensive knowledge of the multiverse and his strategic ability to influence events from behind the scenes. As the leader of the Circle of Eight, a secret group of wizards dedicated to maintaining cosmic balance, he enhances his power through collective influence.
Mordenkainen embodies the ideal of the extremely powerful yet morally complex and far-sighted mage who watches over the fates of realms and worlds, thus becoming a fixture in D&D.
A special fact that also anchors him in the franchise: He was created by none other than Gary Gygax, one of the co-creators of D&D, as his own player character, which granted him a unique status from the start. Originally from the campaign setting Greyhawk, he is known for traversing the entire multiverse. He is thus also among the so-called “planeswalkers,” who connect the worlds of Dungeons & Dragons with those of Magic: The Gathering.
