How to Design a Knight OC

This is part of our design series on how to make an OC! – The ultimate guide to character building.

Want to create a knight OC for your next fantasy story? We’re here to help! Whether you’re designing a heroic protagonist or a loyal guardian, we have some tips on how to get started with creating a knight character.

Knight OCs are a popular type of character, especially for fantasy stories. So how do you go about designing a heroic and chivalrous knight for your project? Let’s talk about it! 

Decide on the Knight OC’s Character

First, it’s a good idea to decide on the characterization of your knight OC. Aspects like personality and the type of knight can help influence the design of your character. A knight might serve as a protector of a kingdom, or they might serve as a guard to a royal figure. If they don’t have the best morals, they might even serve as a traitor to the crown or use their power for self-centered purposes. Here’s some knight OC ideas to help get your creativity flowing:

• A kind royal guard knight who serves to guard the kingdom’s princess or prince
• A shady knight OC who abuses their status to exploit the poor
• A noble knight who is leader of the kingdom’s army and leads expeditions and battles
• A manipulative knight who’s plotting to overthrow the throne

Knightly Details: Armor, Capes, and More

Next up, it’s time to decide on the details of the character’s design! Knights often wear armor and have protective gear to help them protect and defend themselves, as well as others. They might also have more decorative details within their design, such as capes or plumes. What they have might depend on their rank, status, or unique personality. If you need some ideas for knight armor and decorations, here’s a few to think about:

• A knight with swirling patterns on the armor and a long, fur-lined cape
• A knight OC with dented armor and a ragged cape and a messed-up plume
• A knight with protective chainmail over a tunic with the kingdom’s crest on it
• A knight with jeweled armor and a fancy bird feather on their helmet

Swords and Shields: Weapons of a Knight

Another thing to think about while designing a knight OC is the weapons and other gear they might have. A weapon could show off the knight’s unique fighting style, as well as what they prioritize. A knight who finds protecting more important than fighting might have a more defensive weapon, while the opposite might have a more offensive weapon. Some knight weapon ideas:

• A knight OC with a long lance for fighting while riding a horse
• A knight with a steel broadsword to inflict fatal damage
• A knight OC with a large iron shield with their crest on it for protecting themselves and others
• A knight with a bow and quiver of arrows for better long-range fighting

Creating a Medieval Setting

The setting of the character’s world can also play an important part in designing the knight character. The OC might have a different design depending on the setting and it could affect their appearance–as well as their attire. If the medieval setting is fantasy-based, the knight might have unique features like elf ears or wings. Some ideas on how setting could impact the design of the knight OC:

•  A flower field knight with sparkling wings, leaf armor, and a flower blade
• An ocean knight OC with a long eel-like tail, shell armor, and a swordfish-themed weapon
• A forest knight with armor made from precious stones, an enchanted sword, and pointed ears
• A medieval knight with classic metal armor, a longsword, and several scars

As you develop the setting of an OC story, another thing to think about is designing a map for the world. For help on how to get started on map design, check out our article on how to make fantasy maps.

Chivalric Bonds

Next up, bonds are another thing to think about while creating a medieval protector. Knights might have bonds with their fellow guardians, the royal family, or fantasy creatures! They could have aspects of their design that represent their relationships with other OCs. Here’s a few ideas to get your creativity flowing:

• A knight who wears a flower from their royal lover
• A knight OC who has a matching armor design with their best friend who’s also a knight
• A knight who wears a tattered cape that they stole from their arch nemesis of another kingdom
• A knight OC who wears the crest of the royal family on their armor since he’s loyal to them

For more ideas on how to develop relationships in an OC story, check out our article on writing relationships for your OCs.

Where the Knight Fits in the Story

Finally, it’s time to decide where the knight fits into the story! A knight can have a variety of different roles in a story. They might serve as a protagonist attempting to save their kingdom, or a leader mentoring a knight-in-training. A knight might also be a guardian to the royal family, or an antagonist plotting to overthrow the crown. Need some ideas on how the role in the story might affect a knight design? Here’s a few to get you started:

• A villainous knight who wears black, spiked armor and has glowing red eyes
• A heroic protagonist knight with shining white armor, swirling star patterns on their cape, and illuminated, magical markings on their skin
• An older mentor knight with dented armor, a faded cape, and weary eyes
• A strong protector knight who wears bulky armor, carries a large shield, and has a strong build

Create Your Knight OC

There are plenty of things to consider while you design your knight character. Deciding on their armor, their weapons, and their bonds are all aspects you can use to help brainstorm your knight character’s design. 

Once you’ve designed your space character, be sure to share them with us on Unvale! We’d love to see your characters and their stories!