A good fantasy gift should make someone say, “Where on earth did you find this?” before immediately clearing shelf space for it. That is the whole point of this fantasy gift buying guide: not to help you buy a generic dragon-shaped mug for a person who once watched Game of Thrones, but to find something that feels gloriously, suspiciously them.
Fantasy people are rarely difficult to buy for. They are merely specific. The friend who paints tiny armies may not want the same thing as the reader with three overflowing bookshelves, and your witchy sibling may have very different altar tastes from your dice-hoarding Dungeon Master. Observe their habitat. Their choices will reveal themselves.
Start with the evidence, not the stereotype
Before buying anything, think about what they already display, wear, play or talk about when nobody has asked. A fantasy fan with dragon art on every wall may love a dragon fidget, a sculptural shelf ornament or a book nook that turns an ordinary bookcase into a tiny other realm. Someone who keeps their D20 in a loose coat pocket, meanwhile, is giving a very clear cry for help. Dice storage, a dice tower or a proper display solution is both thoughtful and merciful to their future rolls.
It also helps to separate fandom from aesthetic. A person can adore high fantasy novels but dislike medieval-looking décor. They might play Dungeons & Dragons every week while dressing entirely in black, silver and occult symbols. In that case, a gothic dice tray or celestial-inspired accessory will probably land better than a cheery cartoon wizard.
Bramble’s unofficial rule is simple: buy for the version of them that takes over the room when they get excited. I will not be taking questions.
Notice whether they are a player, collector or wearer
A player wants things that earn their place at the table. Think dice towers, dice trays, storage, gaming accessories and characterful dice. A collector may prefer display shelves, licensed figures, playing cards, artful ornaments or a carefully chosen bag that nods to a favourite film, television series or anime.
A wearer wants their fandom to leave the house with them. Jewellery, accessories, bags and apparel make excellent choices, but only when you know their preferred flavour. Loud and colourful is not automatically better. For some people, a subtle moon motif or a black accessory with a tiny familiar is far more exciting than a logo the size of a dinner plate.
Fantasy gift buying guide: choose a useful kind of magic
The safest great gifts tend to sit at the crossroads of practical and peculiar. They solve a small problem, make a ritual feel better or give a beloved collection a proper home. They also avoid the dreaded fate of becoming “a thing I should probably dust”.
For tabletop gamers: improve the ritual
Tabletop players are blessed with an endless supply of gift possibilities, but there is one trap: not everyone wants more random dice. A beautiful set can be a brilliant present for a newer player, someone building a character around a specific colour scheme, or the friend who has openly admired every shiny click-clack set they see. For an established dice goblin, though, choose something that helps them use or store their treasured hoard.
Dice towers are satisfyingly theatrical and keep dice from launching themselves under the sofa at a crucial moment. Dice trays make rolls feel deliberate while protecting tables from enthusiastic natural twenties. Storage boxes and display stands give prized sets the treatment they believe they deserve – which is, frankly, royal.
If you do not know what system they play, do not panic. Accessories are usually more universal than game-specific rulebooks or miniatures. You do not need to understand their character sheet to understand that their dice deserve a home better than a mug with a cracked handle.
For readers: give them a portal, not another bookmark
Fantasy readers often receive books from well-meaning relatives who have spotted the word “dragon” on a cover. This can work, but tastes in authors, editions and unread piles are fiercely personal. Unless they have named a specific title, a bookish fantasy gift is often a better bet.
Book nooks make an especially memorable choice. Slotted between novels, they create a miniature scene that turns a shelf into a glimpse of another place. Choose darker woodland, magical-library or dragon-lair vibes according to their space. A reader with a carefully colour-organised shelf may want something clean and detailed; a maximalist collector may want the most dramatic little realm possible.
Display pieces, dragon fidgets and unusual shelves also work well for people who treat their bookshelves as a museum of their personality. Correct behaviour, obviously.
For witchy and pagan friends: respect beats guesswork
Witchy gifts can be deeply personal, so this is a category where a little care matters. Some people practise Wicca or another pagan path; others simply love moons, herbs, skulls and a convincing amount of candlelight. Do not assume that every person with black nail varnish wants ritual tools, and do not buy something sacred purely because it looks spooky.
When you know they practise, useful items such as altar accessories, oracle cards or beautiful storage can be meaningful, provided they suit their approach. If you are uncertain, choose aesthetic rather than prescriptive gifts: celestial décor, botanical designs, gothic accessories or a decorative piece for their reading corner. Let them decide what carries spiritual weight.
Oracle decks are often friendlier gifts than highly specific tools, especially for curious beginners. Still, consider the artwork. Dark folklore, classic celestial imagery and bright modern illustration speak to very different people. The deck should feel like an invitation, not like you grabbed the first thing with a crescent moon on it.
For dragon obsessives: go beyond the obvious
The person who loves dragons has probably already been given at least one mug, one figurine and a notebook with a winged lizard on it. You can do better. Look for a dragon that does a job: a fidget that keeps restless hands busy, a dice tower that presides over game night, a shelf that creates a proper display, or a bag and accessory they can actually use.
Scale matters too. A tiny dragon is easy to fit into a stocking or add to a larger present. A detailed 3D-printed piece feels more like an event and suits somebody who enjoys unusual craftsmanship. Planet Goblin’s own 3D-printed range is particularly handy here, because it occupies that excellent middle ground between practical gaming kit and “why is this magnificent creature living on my desk?”
Match the gift to your budget without making it feel small
A thoughtful fantasy gift does not need to cost a king’s ransom. Under £20, mystery dice, playing cards, small accessories, fidgets and compact witchy items can feel delightfully specific. The trick is presentation: pair the item with a note that references their campaign, favourite creature or current obsession. It says you noticed. That is the real expensive bit.
In the middle range, look for gifts with a clear purpose and visual impact, such as a dice tower, a decorative storage piece, a book nook or a licensed bag accessory. These work especially well for birthdays, housewarmings and the friend who has been “meaning to get one” for six months.
For a bigger occasion, build a small themed hoard rather than gambling everything on one enormous item. A gothic gamer bundle might combine dice, a tray and a dragon fidget. A bookish witch bundle could pair an oracle deck with a shelf-worthy decorative piece. Keep the theme coherent, but do not overdo it. Five moon-themed objects can become less “carefully curated” and more “you have been adopted by the lunar department”.
Avoid the gifts that create awkward gratitude
Novelty is good. Useless novelty is a risk. Avoid buying a highly specific character collectible unless you know the recipient loves that character, not merely the franchise. Likewise, be cautious with clothing if you do not know their size, preferred fit and tolerance for visible branding.
Rulebooks, tarot and oracle decks, and spiritual tools can all be excellent presents, but they depend on the recipient’s interests and experience level. A beginner may welcome an approachable deck or starter gaming accessory; a veteran may already have strong opinions, three editions and an alarming amount of storage. When in doubt, choose something adjacent to their hobby rather than something that dictates how they should enjoy it.
Finally, leave enough time for the post, especially around Christmas and other busy gifting seasons. Check dispatch information, give yourself room for a swap if needed, and keep the receipt or order details tucked away. The magic is considerably reduced if the dragon arrives after the birthday feast.
The best fantasy gifts are little acts of recognition. Choose the thing that says, “I see your dice, your dragons, your odd little altar, your shelf of magical nonsense, and I support this entirely.” Then wrap it with excessive flair. A proper goblin never arrives empty-handed.
