Dungeons & Dragons Balor Miniature

This is a highly detailed miniature of a Balor.

This model was created by MZ4250 who makes amazingly accurate models of the Monster Manual creatures and provided by Commercial License.

A Balor is one of the most iconic and terrifying demons in Dungeons & Dragons, drawing inspiration from the Balrog of Tolkien’s mythology. In D&D lore, the Balor is a towering demon of immense power and malice, often serving as generals in the Abyss's endless wars. Standing over 12 feet tall with bat-like wings, flaming whip, and a crackling lightning sword, a Balor is the embodiment of raw destructive force and chaotic evil. Its body is wreathed in flames, and even its presence can burn those nearby. Balors exude dominance, commanding lesser demons through sheer fear and overwhelming strength.

In the cosmology of D&D, particularly in the Great Wheel cosmology, Balors are classified as tanar’ri demons—one of the major demonic races of the Abyss. Despite their rarity, they hold authority over vast legions, answering only to demon lords or the Abyss itself. They are not just powerful physically but also possess potent magical abilities, able to cast spells and resist many forms of magic. Their aura of fire damages all who come too close, and their whip can drag enemies into further peril, often used in tandem with their sword to destroy foes in a brutal flurry.

Perhaps the most dangerous feature of a Balor is its death throes. When a Balor is slain, it explodes in a tremendous fiery blast, destroying everything nearby and making killing one a costly victory. In gameplay, this makes combat against a Balor especially risky even for high-level adventurers. Their intelligence and tactical cunning elevate them above mindless monsters—they can plot, deceive, and rule.

Balors represent the pinnacle of demonic might without ascending to demon lord status. As such, they are often used in epic campaigns as final bosses, dark lieutenants of greater evils, or harbingers of planar catastrophe. Confronting one is never a casual encounter—it’s a brush with annihilation.