Archon (Dungeons & Dragons)
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
, archons are a type of creature from the Dungeons & Dragons
role playing game. In 1st and 2nd edition, they are powerful lawful good creatures from the upper planes, and in 3rd edition they are celestials. These creatures are sent by higher powers striving for good
to aid in battle against the forces of evil
. In 4th edition, the term archon instead refers to elemental soldiers of chaos and destruction.
(1987), including the hound archons, the lantern archons, the sword archons, the tome archons, and the warden archons.
(1985) in the Master DM's Book, the Immortal Rules
set, in the DM's Guide to Immortals (1986), and later in the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia
(1991).
campaign setting
, along with the trumpet archon, the throne archon, and a description of the fallen archon.
The book Warriors of Heaven (1999) details and focuses on celestials heavily. This book presents the hound archon, the lantern archon, the sword archon, the trumpet archon, and the warden archon as player character races.
Savage Species (2003) presented the hound archon and trumpet archon celestials as both races and playable classes.
The Book of Exalted Deeds
(2003) expanded and detailed celestials further, and includes the owl archon, the sword archon, the throne archon, and the warden archon. The Celestial Hebdomand, a group of celestial paragon
s of the archons, also appears in this book, including Barachiel, the Messenger, Domiel, the Mercy-Bringer, Erathaol, the Seer, Pistis Sophia, the Ascetic, Raziel, the Crusader, Sealtiel, the Defender, and Zaphkiel, the Watcher.
The Planar Handbook (2004) presented the hound archon as both a race and a playable class.
The hammer archon appears in Races of Stone
(2004). The word archon appears in Tome of Magic (2006). The sibyllic guardian appears in Complete Psionic
(2006). The justice archon and the justice archon champion appear in the Monster Manual IV (2006).
The earth archon, storm archon, and water archon appeared in the Monster Manual 2 (2009)., the air archon appeared in Manual of the Planes
, and the iron archon and mud archon appeared in The Plane Below.
game, archons are all extraplanar outsiders
which share a number of magical powers:
Archons live on the Outer Plane
of the Seven Mounting Heavens of Celestia
.
, there have been various types of archons, which include (click on the numbers following the names for images):
s of the archons are collectively known as The Celestial Hebdomad (and sometimes "tome archons"). The members include (click on the numbers following the names for images):
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
, archons are a type of creature from the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
role playing game. In 1st and 2nd edition, they are powerful lawful good creatures from the upper planes, and in 3rd edition they are celestials. These creatures are sent by higher powers striving for good
Alignment (role-playing games)
In some role-playing games, alignment is a categorisation of the moral and ethical perspective of the player characters, non-player characters, monsters, and societies in the game....
to aid in battle against the forces of evil
Alignment (role-playing games)
In some role-playing games, alignment is a categorisation of the moral and ethical perspective of the player characters, non-player characters, monsters, and societies in the game....
. In 4th edition, the term archon instead refers to elemental soldiers of chaos and destruction.
Publication history
Archons were introduced to the D&D game in the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
Archons appear in the first edition Manual of the PlanesManual of the Planes
The Manual of the Planes is a manual for the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. This text addresses the planar cosmology of the game universe....
(1987), including the hound archons, the lantern archons, the sword archons, the tome archons, and the warden archons.
Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)
This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the archon, which appeared in the Dungeons & Dragons Master RulesDungeons & Dragons Master Rules
Dungeons & Dragons Master Rules is an expansion boxed set for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It was first published in 1985 as an expansion to the Basic Set.-Publication history:...
(1985) in the Master DM's Book, the Immortal Rules
Dungeons & Dragons Immortals Rules
Dungeons & Dragons Immortals Rules is an expansion boxed set for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It was first published in 1986 as an expansion to the Basic Set.-Publication history:...
set, in the DM's Guide to Immortals (1986), and later in the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia
Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia
The Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia was published by TSR, Inc. in 1991, as a continuation of the basic edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, which ran concurrently with Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. Its product designation was TSR 1071...
(1991).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
Archons appear first in second edition in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Outer Planes Appendix (1991), including the hound archon, the lantern archon, the sword archon, the tome archon, and the warden archon. The same set of archons appeared again in the Planes of Law boxed set (1995) for the PlanescapePlanescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
, along with the trumpet archon, the throne archon, and a description of the fallen archon.
The book Warriors of Heaven (1999) details and focuses on celestials heavily. This book presents the hound archon, the lantern archon, the sword archon, the trumpet archon, and the warden archon as player character races.
Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)
Archons appear in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000) under the celestial entry, including the hound archon, the lantern archon, and the trumpet archon.Savage Species (2003) presented the hound archon and trumpet archon celestials as both races and playable classes.
Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)
Archons appear in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003), including the hound archon and the hound archon hero, the lantern archon, and the trumpet archon.The Book of Exalted Deeds
Book of Exalted Deeds
The Book of Exalted Deeds is an optional sourcebook for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, providing supplementary game material for campaigns involving characters of good alignment...
(2003) expanded and detailed celestials further, and includes the owl archon, the sword archon, the throne archon, and the warden archon. The Celestial Hebdomand, a group of celestial paragon
Celestial paragon
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, celestial paragons are powerful unique outsiders of the Upper Planes. They are to the celestials as the archdevils are to the devils and the demon lords are to demons....
s of the archons, also appears in this book, including Barachiel, the Messenger, Domiel, the Mercy-Bringer, Erathaol, the Seer, Pistis Sophia, the Ascetic, Raziel, the Crusader, Sealtiel, the Defender, and Zaphkiel, the Watcher.
The Planar Handbook (2004) presented the hound archon as both a race and a playable class.
The hammer archon appears in Races of Stone
Races of Stone
Races of Stone is an optional sourcebook for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:...
(2004). The word archon appears in Tome of Magic (2006). The sibyllic guardian appears in Complete Psionic
Complete Psionic
Complete Psionic is a supplemental rulebook for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game published by Wizards of the Coast released in April 2006...
(2006). The justice archon and the justice archon champion appear in the Monster Manual IV (2006).
Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)
Archons appear in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008), including the fire archon emberguard, the fire archon blazesteel, the fire archon ash disciple, the ice archon hailscourge, the ice archon rimehammer, and the ice archon frostshaper.The earth archon, storm archon, and water archon appeared in the Monster Manual 2 (2009)., the air archon appeared in Manual of the Planes
Manual of the Planes
The Manual of the Planes is a manual for the Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. This text addresses the planar cosmology of the game universe....
, and the iron archon and mud archon appeared in The Plane Below.
Description
In the 3rd edition of the Dungeons & DragonsDungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
game, archons are all extraplanar outsiders
Outsider (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, an outsider is a type of creature, or "creature type". Outsiders are at least partially composed of the essence of a plane other than the Prime Material Plane....
which share a number of magical powers:
- They possess Darkvision, the ability to see in the dark.
- They are immune to electricityElectricityElectricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
and petrificationPetrifaction in mythology and fictionPetrifaction, as definied as turning people to stone, is also a common theme in folklore and mythology, as well as in some works of modern fiction.-Historical:...
. - They are resistant to poisonPoisonIn the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
. - They can teleportTeleportationTeleportation is the fictional or imagined process by which matter is instantaneously transferred from one place to another.Teleportation may also refer to:*Quantum teleportation, a method of transmitting quantum data...
at will. - They can speak with any creature that has a languageLanguageLanguage may refer either to the specifically human capacity for acquiring and using complex systems of communication, or to a specific instance of such a system of complex communication...
. - They have righteous aura that menaces nearby enemies and reduces some of their abilities.
- They have a protective field that wards them against evil creatures and effects.
Archons live on the Outer Plane
Outer Plane
In the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, an Outer Plane is one of a number of general types of planes of existence. They can also be referred to as godly planes, spiritual planes or divine planes. The Outer Planes are home to beings such as deities and otherworldly creatures such as...
of the Seven Mounting Heavens of Celestia
Mount Celestia
In Dungeons & Dragons, the fantasy role-playing game, Mount Celestia or more fully, the Seven Mounting Heavens of Celestia, or even the Seven Heavens is a lawful good-aligned plane of existence...
.
Types of Archons
In the various editions of Dungeons & DragonsDungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
, there have been various types of archons, which include (click on the numbers following the names for images):
- Hammer Archon http://nightmare.org/dnd/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=14214 - Hammer archons strive to root evil out of its hiding places within the earth.
- Hound Archon - Canine-headed defenders of the innocent and the helpless against evil.
- Justice Archon http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/mm4_gallery/98693.jpg - Menacing angels resembling radiant warriors clad in bright full plate, wielding glowing greatswords. They consider themselves the purest champions of justice in Celestia. While they do not attack without provocation, they are easily incensed by the mere sight or suspicion of evil.
- Lantern Archon - Floating balls of light that give what assistance they can.
- Owl Archon http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/boed_gallery/75096.jpg - Airborne scouts, messengers, spies, infantry, and protectors of lesser celestial creatures.
- Sword Archon http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/boed_gallery/75097.jpg - Enforcers of the heavenly laws, its forearms can transform into holy flaming longswords.
- Throne Archon http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/boed_gallery/75098.jpg - Commanders of the cities of Celestia and the judges of the Heavens, occasionally tasking themselves with meting out justice to the particularly vile or corrupt.
- Tome Archon - Prior to changes in the 3.5 BoED these appeared as humanoids with arms and feathered wings protruding from their back. They have very hawk-like heads. They are aloof and dignified creatures who possess powerful intellect, magic, and physical might. There are only seven of these beings, one residing on each of Celestia's layers. They record all things that happen in the Heavens with passionless accuracy and total indifference. As of the 'Book of Exalted Deeds' the nomenclature of Tome Archons was ignored and their descriptions changed.
- Trumpet Archon - Celestial messengers and heralds with considerable martial skills.
- Warden Archon http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/boed_gallery/75099.jpg - Guardians of the gates of the Seven Heavens, and observers of the affairs of the Material Plane.
- Word Archon http://nightmare.org/dnd/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=12007 - Using the power of truenames, they ensure such words inspire the good-hearted everywhere.
The Celestial Hebdomad
In the game, the celestial paragonCelestial paragon
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, celestial paragons are powerful unique outsiders of the Upper Planes. They are to the celestials as the archdevils are to the devils and the demon lords are to demons....
s of the archons are collectively known as The Celestial Hebdomad (and sometimes "tome archons"). The members include (click on the numbers following the names for images):
- Barachiel, the Messenger http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/boed_gallery/75075.jpg - Ruler of Lunia, the bottom layer of Celestia, also known as the Silver Heaven.
- DomielDomielDomiel is a powerful archon, in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Publication history:Domiel was first mentioned as one of the Hebdomad in Planes of Law ....
, the Mercy-Bringer http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/boed_gallery/75076.jpg - Ruler of the Golden Heaven of Mercuria, the second layer of Celestia. - ErathaolErathaolErathaol is a powerful archon, in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Publication history:Erathaol was first mentioned as one of the Hebdomad in Planes of Law ....
, the Seer http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/boed_gallery/75077.jpg - Ruler of Venya, the Pearly Heaven, the third layer of Celestia. - Pistis Sophia, the Ascetic http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/boed_gallery/75078.jpg - Ruler of Solania, the Crystal Heaven, the fourth layer of Celestia.
- Raziel, the Crusader http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/boed_gallery/75079.jpg - Ruler of Mertion, the Platinum Heaven, the fifth layer of Celestia.
- Sealtiel, the Defender http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/boed_gallery/75080.jpg - Ruler of Jovar, the Glittering Heaven, the sixth layer of Celestia.
- ZaphkielZaphkiel (Dungeons & Dragons)Zaphkiel is a powerful archon, in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.-Publication history:Zaphkiel was first mentioned as one of the Hebdomad in Planes of Law ....
, the Watcher http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/boed_gallery/75081.jpg - Ruler of the Illuminated Heaven of Chronias, the seventh layer of Celestia.
