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Map legend

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This article is about the current version of DF.
Note that some content may still need to be updated.

Map legend preview.png

Dwarf Fortress uses tilesets and sprite graphics to draw the game, including maps. This map legend explains what the characters and colors represent in the pre-start embark (or adventure) map. This article covers both ASCII tiles and graphic sprites.

Tile colors[edit]

The colors of a map tile may give information about that region's predominant biome and surroundings; its temperature, alignment, and other handy things. Generally, cyan and blue means the area is "good" aligned. Purple, gray, brown, and red areas have "evil" alignment. Light grey, brown, and yellow areas usually are dry and have sparse vegetation. Green tiles have vegetation and are usually moist. White and cyan tiles indicate snow or ice. The color of trees that change season to season can tell about a tree's current growth.

In ASCII mode, the characters and their colors offer slightly more information about a biome, such as the temperature mixed with the moral standing of the biome (good, neutral and evil) compared to the graphics of the premium version of the game. With the graphics, the presentation is more simplified, as each biome type is displayed with the following graphical information: neutral, evil, evil savage, good and good savage. Some graphics are displayed the same, regardless of what type of biome or moral surroundings they are part of.

Biome/Region key[edit]

Tiles are listed by alignment, with normal tiles first, then good-aligned tiles, and then evil tiles. Snow and ice-covered tiles are included next to their respective alignments.

Hills and mountains/Plains[edit]

Yellow hills or plains indicate dry vegetation.

ASCII[edit]

Biome/Region Normal Snow/Ice Good Evil Evil snow/ice
Grassland
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Savanna
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
Shrubland
" τ
τ "
" τ
τ "
" τ
τ "
" τ
τ "
" τ
τ "
" τ
τ "
" τ
τ "

Graphics[edit]

Biome/Region Normal Good Good
(Savage)
Evil Evil
(Savage)
Grassland Grassland temp.png Grassland temp good.png Grassland temp goodsav.png Grassland temp evil.png Grassland temp evilsav.png
Grassland Tropical Grassland trop.png Grassland trop good.png Grassland trop goodsav.png Grassland trop evil.png Grassland trop evilsav.png
Shrubland Shrubland.png Shrubland good.png Shrubland goodsav.png Shrubland evil.png Shrubland evilsav.png

ASCII[edit]

Biome/Region Normal Snow/Ice Good Evil Evil snow/ice
Hills
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
Low mountains
Medium mountains
High mountains

Graphics[edit]

Biome/Region Normal Good Good
(Savage)
Evil Evil
(Savage)
Grassland Hills neutral.png Hills good.png Hills goodsav.png Hills evil.png Hills evilsav.png
Low mountains Mountain low neutral.png Mountain low good.png Mountain low goodsav.png Mountain low evil.png Mountain low evilsav.png
Medium mountains Mountain mid neutral.png Mountain mid good.png Mountain mid goodsav.png Mountain mid evil.png Mountain mid evilsav.png
High mountains Mountain high neutral.png Mountain high good.png Mountain high goodsav.png Mountain high evil.png Mountain high evilsav.png
Peak mountains Mountain peak neutral.png Mountain peak good.png Mountain peak goodsav.png Mountain peak evil.png Mountain peak evilsav.png

Forests[edit]

In normal forests, the color changes with the seasons.

ASCII[edit]

Biome/Region Normal Snow/Ice Good Evil Evil snow/ice
Temperate broadleaf forest
Tropical broadleaf forest
Γ
Γ
Γ
Γ
Γ
Γ
Γ
Γ
Coniferous forest

Graphics[edit]

Biome/Region Normal Good Good
(Savage)
Evil Evil
(Savage)
Temperate broadleaf forest Broadleaf temp neutral.png Broadleaf temp good.png Broadleaf temp goodsav.png Broadleaf temp evil.png Broadleaf temp evilsav.png
Tropical broadleaf forest Broadleaf trop neutral.png Broadleaf trop good.png Broadleaf trop goodsav.png Broadleaf trop evil.png Broadleaf trop evilsav.png
Tropical broadleaf forest (dry) Broadleaf trop dry neutral.png Broadleaf trop dry good.png Broadleaf trop dry goodsav.png Broadleaf trop dry evil.png Broadleaf trop dry evilsav.png
Temperate coniferous forest Conifer temp neutral.png Conifer temp good.png Conifer temp goodsav.png Conifer temp evil.png Conifer temp evilsav.png
Tropical coniferous forest Conifer trop neutral.png Conifer trop good.png Conifer trop goodsav.png Conifer trop evil.png Conifer trop evilsav.png
Taiga forest Taiga neutral.png Taiga good.png Taiga goodsav.png Taiga evil.png Taiga evilsav.png

Deserts[edit]

In normal sand deserts, the color depends on the type of sand.

ASCII[edit]

Biome/Region Normal Snow/Ice Good Evil Evil snow/ice
Sand desert
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
Rocky wasteland
, ´
´ ,
n
n
, ´
´ ,
n
n
, ´
´ ,
n
n
, ´
´ ,
n
n
, ´
´ ,
n
n
Badlands
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V
V

Graphics[edit]

Biome/Region Normal Good Good
(Savage)
Evil Evil
(Savage)
Desert Desert neutral.png Yellow sand world.png Black sand world.png Red sand world.png White sand world.png Desert good goodsav.png Desert good goodsav.png Desert evil evilsav.png Desert evil evilsav.png
Rocky hills Rocky hills neutral.png Rocky hills good.png Rocky hills goodsav.png Rocky hills evil.png Rocky hills evilsav.png
Rocky plains Rocky plains neutral.png Rocky plains good.png Rocky plains goodsav.png Rocky plains evil.png Rocky plains evilsav.png
Badlands Badlands neutral.png Badlands good.png Badlands goodsav.png Badlands evil.png Badlands evilsav.png
Beach Beach neutral.png Beach good goodsav.png Beach good goodsav.png Beach evil evilsav.png Beach evil evilsav.png

Wetlands[edit]

ASCII[edit]

Biome/Region Normal Snow/Ice Good Evil Evil snow/ice
Swamp
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
Marsh
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"

Graphics[edit]

Biome/Region Normal Good Good
(Savage)
Evil Evil
(Savage)
Swamp Swamp neutral.png Swamp good.png Swamp goodsav.png Swamp evil.png Swamp evilsav.png
Marsh Marsh neutral.png Marsh good.png Marsh goodsav.png Marsh evil.png Marsh evilsav.png

Ice regions[edit]

ASCII[edit]

Biome/Region Normal Good Evil
Tundra
·
·
·
·
·
·
Glacier

Graphics[edit]

Biome/Region Normal Good Good
(Savage)
Evil Evil
(Savage)
Tundra Tundra neutral.png Tundra good goodsav.png Tundra good goodsav.png Tundra evil evilsav.png Tundra evil evilsav.png
Glacier Glacier neutral.png Glacier good.png Glacier goodsav.png Glacier evil.png Glacier evilsav.png
Frozen ocean Frozen ocean neutral.png Frozen ocean good.png Frozen ocean goodsav.png Frozen ocean evil.png Frozen ocean evilsav.png

Bodies of water[edit]

ASCII[edit]

Biome/Region Normal Good Evil
River •┬┴ ┬┴ ┬┴ ╦╩◄ •┬┴ ┬┴ ┬┴ ╦╩◄ •┬ ╩◄
Ocean
Lake
~ ~
~ ~
~ ~
~ ~
~ ~
~ ~

Graphics[edit]

Biome/Region Normal Good Good
(Savage)
Evil Evil
(Savage)
Brook* Brook world map.png
River* River world map.png
Major river* River major world map.png
Lake Lake neutral.png Lake good.png Lake goodsav.png Lake evil.png Lake evilsav.png
Ocean Ocean neutral.png Ocean good.png Ocean goodsav.png Ocean evil.png Ocean evilsav.png
Deep ocean Ocean deep neutral.png Ocean deep good.png Ocean deep goodsav.png Ocean deep evil.png Ocean deep evilsav.png
*Unlike ASCII mode, brooks and rivers will appear the same in good, neutral and evil biomes.

Terrain feature key[edit]

ASCII[edit]

Terrain feature Normal Snow/Ice Good Evil
Peak ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Volcano ^

Graphics[edit]

Biome/Region Normal Good Good
(Savage)
Evil Evil
(Savage)
Volcano Volcano neutral.png Volcano good.png Volcano goodsav.png Volcano evil.png Volcano evilsav.png

Construction key[edit]

ASCII[edit]

Construction Normal
Road •┬┴• •┬┴• •┬┴• •┬┴•

Graphics[edit]

Name Graphic
Tunnel Tunnel world map.png
Paved road Paved road world map.png
Dirt road Dirt road world map.png

Site key (ASCII)[edit]

Site tiles are organized by columns, from left-to-right: normal populated sites, ruined sites, and sites captured by necromancers or their night creature armies.

Dwarven sites[edit]

Site Normal Ruins Night creature
Mountain halls Ω μ μ
Hillocks Ω μ μ
Fortress Ω μ μ

Elven sites[edit]

Forest retreats marked as () are market towns.

Site Normal Ruins Night creature
Forest retreat î μ μ

Goblin sites[edit]

A light magenta dark fortress (Π) indicates the presence of an underworld spire.

Site Normal Ruins Night creature
Dark fortress Π Π μ μ μ
Dark pits º ª ª

Human sites[edit]

For towns, the tiles indicate a town's current population (increases from left to right). Hamlet tiles represent the region the hamlet is in (hills, plains, rivers, etc.).

Site Normal Ruins Night creature
Town + * # μ μ
Hamlet = æ Æ

= æ Æ

= æ Æ

= æ Æ

= æ Æ = æ Æ
Castle

Other sites[edit]

Site Normal Night creature
Camp
Cave
Fort
Labyrinth #
Lair
Monastery
Shrine Å
Tomb 0
Tower I I
Vault
Adventurer camp

Site key (ASCII and graphics)[edit]

Tile Sprite Name Inhabitated by
Icon site camp2.png Icon site camp.png Icon site camp3.png Camp Bandits
Icon site cave2.png Icon site cave.png Cave Monsters
Π Π Icon site dark fortress b.png Icon site dark fortress 1.png Icon site dark fortress 3.png Dark fortress Goblins (and potentially a special creature)
º Icon site dark fortress 2.png Dark pits Goblins and Humans
î Icon site forest retreat 1.png Icon site forest retreat 2.png Forest retreat Elves and Dwarves
Ω Icon site mountainhome.png Fortress Dwarves
Icon site castle.png Castle Humans
Icon site fort2.png Icon site fort.png Fort Bandits
= æ Æ Icon site village.png Hamlet Humans and Goblins
Ω Icon site hillocks.png Hillocks Dwarves and Humans
# Icon site labyrinth.png Labyrinth Minotaur
Icon site lair burrow.png Lair Monsters
Icon site monastery.png Monastery
Ω Icon site fortress.png Mountain halls Dwarves
μ μ μ μ Icon site ruin1.png Icon site ruin2.png Icon site ruin dwarf.png Icon site ruin castle.png Icon site ruin castle2.png Icon site ruin castle3.png Icon site ruin small1.png Icon site ruin small2.png
Icon village ruin1.png Icon village ruin2.png
Ruins
μ Icon site ruin forest retreat1.png Icon site ruin forest retreat2.png Forest retreat ruins
Å Icon site shrine titan.png Icon site fort2.png Shrine Megabeast
0 Icon site tomb.png Tomb Undead
I Icon site necrotower.png Tower Necromancer(s) and undead
+ * # Icon site city 1.png Icon site city 2.png Icon site city 3.png Icon site city 4.png Town Humans
Icon site vault.png Vault Special creatures

Drawn site key (graphics)[edit]

This is how sites and landscapes appear on the map when they are out of range and/or undiscovered.

Sprite Name
Icon drawn grassland.png Grassland
Icon drawn water.png Water
Icon drawn forest conifer.png Conifer Forest
Icon drawn forest broadleaf.png Broadleaf Forest
Icon drawn hills.png Hills
Icon drawn mountains.png Mountains
Icon drawn marsh.png Marsh
Icon drawn glacier.png Glacier
Icon drawn site.png Site
Icon drawn desert rock.png Desert Rock
Icon drawn desert badlands.png Desert Badlands
Icon drawn desert sand.png Desert Sand
Icon drawn roads.png Roads
Icon drawn rivers.png Rivers
Icon drawn labyrinth.png Labyrinth
Icon drawn shrine.png Shrine
Icon drawn lair.png Lair
Icon drawn cave.png Cave
Icon drawn mountain home.png Mountain Home
Icon drawn hillocks.png Hillocks
Icon drawn fortress.png Fortress
Icon drawn mountain ruin.png Mountain Ruin
Icon drawn dark fortress.png Dark Fortress
Icon drawn dark pits.png Dark Pits
Icon drawn evil ruin.png Evil Ruin
Icon drawn home tree.png Home Tree
Icon drawn forest retreat.png Forest Retreat
Icon drawn forest ruin.png Forest Ruin
Icon drawn castle ruin.png Castle Ruin
Icon drawn necrotower.png Necromancer Tower
Icon drawn fort.png Fort
Icon drawn monastery.png Monastery
Icon drawn castle.png Castle
Icon drawn vault.png Vault
Icon drawn tomb.png Tomb
Icon drawn city.png City
Icon drawn town.png Town
Icon drawn city ruin.png City Ruin
Icon drawn village1.png Icon drawn village2.png Icon drawn village3.png Icon drawn village4.png Village
Icon drawn village ruin.png Village Ruin

Embark assistant added sites[edit]

Shown when the DFHack plugin is active, list is from the in game plugin information, see there for details.

Site Symbol
Camp C
Cave c
Lair m b l
Labyrinth L
Monument M
Shrine S
Vault V

Fast travel key[edit]

Description Symbol
Adventurer(s) @
Other traveling individual or group *
Worlds
General
Map
Biomes
Chasm · Desert · Forest · Glacier · Grassland · Lake · Mountain · Murky pool · Ocean · River · Savanna · Shrubland · Tundra · Wetland
Features
Aquifer · Brook · Deep pit · Island · Magma pool · Passage · Road · Tunnel · Volcano · Waterfall
Underground
Civilization
Sites
Camp · Castle · Cave · Dark fortress · Dark pits · Forest retreat · Fort · Fortress · Hamlet · Hillocks · Labyrinth · Lair · Monastery · Mountain halls · Ruins · Shrine · Tomb · Tower · Town · Vault
Structures
Other