Outer Plane - Standard D&D Cosmology

Standard D&D Cosmology

The standard Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) cosmology contains seventeen Outer Planes. Cosmologically, they are arranged in a ring of sixteen planes with the Good-aligned planes, or Upper Planes at the top, and the Evil-aligned planes, or Lower Planes at the bottom. The Lawful planes (or Planes of Law) sit to the left, and the Chaotic planes (or Planes of Chaos) to the right. Between all of these sit the Neutral planes, or the Planes of Conflict. One further plane sits in the centre of the ring, the Outlands, being neutral in alignment. At the center of the Outlands is a Spire of infinite height; the city of Sigil floats above the Spire's pinnacle. The standard D&D cosmology is the official cosmology used in the Planescape and Greyhawk campaign settings. Many of the alternative names derive from the 1st-edition Manual of the Planes (1987, ISBN 0-88038-399-2), and the in-game explanation given in the Planescape setting is that these names are used by the "Clueless", or characters from the Prime Material unfamiliar with the planes.

Outer Planes
Celestia Bytopia Elysium Beastlands Arborea
Arcadia ↑Good↑ Ysgard
Mechanus ←Lawful Outlands Chaotic→ Limbo
Acheron ↓Evil↓ Pandemonium
Baator Gehenna Hades Carceri Abyss


Name Alternative Name(s) Alignment Description Notable native inhabitants
Elysium Blessed Fields Neutral good The plane of peace and unadulterated goodness.
  • Guardinals - noble immortal humanoids with bestial features
  • Pelor - The sun-deity
The Beastlands Happy Hunting Grounds Neutral good / Chaotic good The plane of idealized nature.
  • Animal lords - archetypal rulers of the various animal species
  • Ehlonna - Goddess of forests
Arborea Arvandor, Olympus, Olympian Glades Chaotic good Fey realm of passion, abundance and nature's caprice.
  • Eladrin and The Court of Stars
  • Titans & gods of Greek mythology
  • The Seldarine pantheon of Elven gods
Ysgard Asgard, Gladsheim, Heroic Domains Chaotic neutral / Chaotic good The eternal battleground where true heroes prove their valor.
  • Gods of Norse mythology
  • Kord - God of strength
  • Olidammara - God of rogues
Limbo Plane of Ever-Changing Chaos Chaotic neutral An alien, anarchistic and unpredictable plane.
  • Slaad - frog-like creatures
  • Githzerai - human-like monks
Pandemonium Plane of Windswept Depths Chaotic evil / Chaotic neutral An infinite network of pitch-black catacombs, with winds that drive men mad.
  • Erythnul - God of hate and slaughter
The Abyss Plane of Infinite Layers Chaotic evil Evil lands of shocking perversity and unpredictable horror.
  • Tanar'ri Demons - Mortal enemies of the Baatezu
  • Obyrith Demons - Lovecraftian ancestors to the Tanar'ri
  • Loumara Demons - Newest race of demons born by the dying dreams of evil gods
  • Lolth - Spider Goddess of the Drow
  • Demogorgon - Beastly Prince of Demons
  • Graz'zt - The Dark Prince
  • Orcus - The Demon Lord of the Undead
  • Iggwilv - Witch Queen of Perrenland, Mother of Demigod Iuz. Infamous author of the blasphemous Demonomicon. The true identity of Tasha, member of the infamous adventuring group known as the Company of Seven.
Carceri Tarterus, Tartarus Neutral evil / Chaotic evil Liars, cheats and traitors are imprisoned here by their own deceptions.
  • Nerull - God of murder and darkness
  • Titans exiled from Olympus
  • Demodands (Gehreleth)
  • Yugoloths - presence largely confined to Othrys
The Gray Waste Hades Neutral evil Here, all emotion and compassion is drained away, until only hopelessness, selfishness and apathy remain as baatezu and tanar'ri meet and clash in a colorless expanse.
  • Yugoloths (Daemons)
  • Tanar'ri and Baatezu fight the Blood War on this plane
  • Abbathor - God of dwarven greed.
  • Grey Sisters (Night Hags)
  • Hades - Greek god of death and the underworld. Believed to be the most powerful deity on the plane.
  • Hel - Norse goddess of death.
  • Mydianchlarus - Current Oinoloth of Khin-Oin.
  • Hordlings
Gehenna Plane of Bleak Eternity Neutral evil / Lawful evil Volcanic realm of evil schemes and merciless cliffs.
  • Yugoloths (Daemons)
Baator Hell; The Nine Hells Lawful evil A realm of oppression, torment, and diabolical plots
  • Baatezu (Devils) - mortal enemies of the Tanar'ri
  • Tiamat - The Chromatic Dragon
  • Kurtulmak - God of Kobolds
  • Asmodeus - Lord of the Ninth. Previously believed to have used the name Satan as one of numerous aliasis.
Acheron The Infernal Battlefield Lawful neutral / Lawful evil A plane of constant, pointless war, where identity is forever lost.
  • Gods of the goblins and orcs, such as Gruumsh and Maglubiyet
  • Wee Jas - Goddess of death and magic
  • Hextor - God of Tyranny
Mechanus Nirvana Lawful neutral This clockwork plane is the ultimate in order; scholars and constructs live here.
  • Modrons, orderly geometrically-shaped beings
  • Formians, warlike ant-like beings
  • Inevitables, mechanical enforcers of all law
Arcadia The Land of Perfect Order, Plane of Peaceable Kingdoms Lawful neutral / Lawful good A peaceful place where all live in harmony; consequently, it is quite dull.
  • Saint Cuthbert - God of Retribution and Common Sense
Mount Celestia The Seven Heavens Lawful good Countless paladins and saints have ascended here.
  • Aasimons, Archons and Devas
  • Bahamut - The Platinum Dragon
  • Heironeous - God of Valor
  • Moradin - God of Dwarves
  • Yondalla - Goddess of Halflings
Bytopia Twin Paradises Neutral good / Lawful good Gnomes and other industrious folk dwell here.
  • Garl Glittergold and other Gods of the Gnomes
The Outlands Plane of Concordant Opposition True Neutral The plane between all other outer planes.
  • Rilmani - Metallic skinned humanoids
  • Boccob - God of Magic
  • Obad-Hai - God of Nature
  • The Lady of Pain - Protector of Sigil

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