Since 1974, Dungeons and Dragons has used a morality system known as alignment to map the behaviors of player and non-player characters alike. In the original version, alignment existed along a single axis, from lawful to chaotic, with neutral in the center. Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, released in 1979, introduced a second axis, from good to neutral to evil.

RELATED: D&D: 10 Best Monsters For Urban Adventures

This system of nine has remained largely unchanged, with a brief alteration in 2008's D&D 4th Edition, though the actual descriptions of each have varied a lot. These alignments have crossed from the D&D fandom into broader pop culture, often used as a shorthand to describe a fictional character or real person's behaviors and outlooks on life.

9 Lawful Good Uses Laws Or Codes To Protect People

A human paladin in DnD being followed by a golden ghost.

In a live stream on his YouTube channel, former D&D designer Tim Kask said that the lawful alignment was originally conceived to describe creatures whose behavior could be predicted. "You were a creature of habit, not that you wore a badge," according to Kask. This gave way to literal laws upon the introduction of the good/evil axis in AD&D, which describes lawful good characters as being strong adherents to law and order, willing to sacrifice certain personal freedoms in pursuit of the supposed common good. Lawful good was one of the five alignments in 4e, where its definition was expanded slightly to include people who respect all codes of conduct, whether they be at a personal level or a broader societal one. 5e's lawful good is something of a return to form. "Lawful good creatures can be counted on to do the right thing as expected by society."

8 Neutral Good Is The Catch-All Good Alignment

A halfling wizard casting a fire spell in DnD.

Perhaps the most generic alignment for heroic characters, neutral good has changed a decent amount in its presentation throughout the years. AD&D describes neutral good creatures in fairly political terms, stating that they "believe that there must be some regulation in combination with freedoms if the best is to be brought to the world." Neutral good evens out in 3.5, 4e (where it was simply called "good") and 5e, generally encompassing creatures who do what they can to help others and generally promote wellbeing.

7 Chaotic Good Prioritizes Freedom

An elven bard playing the harp among a backdrop of fir trees in DnD

Chaos was one of the two metaphysical factions back in the original version of Dungeons and Dragons, and it was generally used as an analog for evil. AD&D complicated this by adding chaotic good, an alignment that upholds personal freedom and the value of every life.

RELATED: D&D: 9 Ways DMs Cheat Without Even Realizing It

3.5 describes the chaotic good character as the "rebel," following their conscience above all else, regardless of the structures around them. Chaotic good was absent in 4einstead being mostly wrapped up with the good alignment. 5e's description of chaotic good largely reflects the 3.5 iteration as well.

6 Lawful Neutral Is Concerned With Order Of All Kinds

A Monk in DnD using healing hands

The original description of lawful neutral in AD&D describes creatures who "view regulation as all-important." The ultimate goal of this version of lawful neutral is somewhat lofty, as they see good and evil as irrelevant in the pursuit of a world that is purely and perfectly ordered. 3.5's lawful neutral is a bit more human, describing characters who follow "law, tradition, or a personal code." This marks a departure from the more cosmic history of alignment and a move towards a system that is more applicable to real, individualized characters. Lawful neutral was absent in 4e, and 5e's lawful neutral is basically the same as 3.5's.

5 Neutral Has Changed The Most

A Druid casting spells in DnD

The neutral alignment has been through the most changes from edition to edition, hands down. In AD&D, it was referred to as "true neutral." True neutral characters are ultimately concerned with balance, seeing good and evil, law and chaos, as all arms of a cosmic scale. True neutral favored the power of nature, and AD&D druids were always true neutral.

RELATED: Top 10 TTRPGs For Fantasy Fans

3.5 instead cast neutral as "the undecided," the alignment for characters who follow their instincts, lacking a strong conviction rather than adhering to neutrality. The old version of neutral was present but implied to be the less common version. 4e did away with neutral and replaced it with unaligned, a similar alignment for people who had no particular bent. 5e is largely the same, describing neutral characters as those who do "what seems best at the time."

4 Chaotic Neutral Reviles Authority

DandD drow getting knocked down a well by a tiefling

Chaotic neutral in AD&D may be the closest to the original D&D's chaotic alignment. Chaotic neutral creatures value randomness and disorder above all else. Following a trend, 3.5 makes this a little more actionable by calling chaotic neutral characters "free spirits," pure individualists who subvert authority and question tradition. Chaotic neutral is absent in 4e, and 5e says that chaotic neutral characters "follow their whims, holding their personal freedom above all else." Chaotic neutral gets the biggest bad rap among all alignments, largely due to a long history of players using it to justify problematic and disruptive in-character behavior. There are plenty of other ways to conceptualize the alignment, but its reputation stands.

3 Lawful Evil Seeks To Subjugate

dnd avernus evil angel

Just as chaos was sometimes used as a stand-in for evil in the original D&Dlaw was something of a proxy for good. With the introduction of the secondary axis in AD&D, lawful evil was born. The original lawful evil describes creatures who respect law and order without any value placed on life, beauty, or freedom. This alignment has largely remained unchanged over the years, even in 4e that had only an evil and chaotic evil alignment. 4e's evil alignment says that "evil characters use rules and order to maximize personal gain," indicating that this alignment actually shares more with lawful evil than neutral evil. 5e, as expected, follows in the previous edition's footsteps and describes lawful evil creatures as dominating others within certain hierarchies and systems.

2 Neutral Evil Is Pure And Simple Bad

A mage casting the Haste spell on an ally in DnD

 

 

Just as neutral good is a nice catch-all for good people, neutral evil is sort of the generic evil alignment. AD&D says that evil creatures view law and chaos as superfluous, instead pursuing their goals without qualms.

RELATED: D&D: 8 Old Campaign Settings We'd Like To See In 5th Edition

3.5 neutral evil is similarly reserved for characters who do what they want without a moral code or a particular bent towards destruction. 4e's evil alignment is like neutral and lawful evil rolled together, while 5e uses it as a catch-all evil alignment much like previous editions.

1 Chaotic Evil Will Do Anything For Power

magic the gathering domri rade brandishing a weapon

Chaotic evil, like the other chaotic alignments, has changed somewhat throughout the years. AD&D's chaotic evil was incredibly nihilistic, stating that "Life has no value." 3.5 did away with this more philosophical bent, playing up the independence and cruelty angle instead. Chaotic evil was presented in 4e as almost an even worse version of evil, citing the fact that this philosophy warps a person's worldview such that they are completely unpredictable. 5e follows the rather simple chaotic evil formula, describing creatures who "act with arbitrary violence, spurred by other gree, hatred, or bloodlust."

NEXT: D&D: 5 Rules From Old Editions We're Glad Are Gone (& 5 We'd Like To See Come Back)