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Stranger Things is a phenomenon for numerous reasons, the most prominent of which are its gripping story, compelling characters, retro style, and, most notably, its use of Dungeons & Dragons. The world's greatest roleplaying game plays a pivotal role in the show, being the hobby of several main characters and inspiration for many things, such as the dynamic between the group of friends, the names of antagonists, and the overall story.

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The influence of Dungeons & Dragons on Stranger Things begs the question of what the alignment is of the main characters. The TTRPG defines alignment as a player character's ethical and moral perspective, their virtues or lack thereof. Determining the Dungeons & Dragons alignments of the main characters of Stranger Things is challenging as there is much development and alterations throughout the seasons, but there are solid answers.

18 Mike Wheeler - Neutral Good

Stranger Things Mike Wheeler

Mike Wheeler, the deemed leader of the group, is a hopeful and compassionate person that aims to do the right thing, even at his own expense. His dedication to doing good for others, especially his friends, has driven him to do many virtuous things, such as jumping off a cliff to save Dustin from a gang of bullies. There is nearly nothing to keep Mike from doing good, regardless of what he must sacrifice or the authorities he must overcome.

These characteristics are consistent with the Neutral Good alignment, which communicates one's willingness to do the right thing disregarding law and chaos. Mike is not one to needlessly go against authority, but at the same time, he is not afraid to if it means doing the moral thing. This open-mindedness and desire to do good makes him an outstanding leader and friend, albeit he is not without his imperfections and occasional shortcomings.

17 Will Byers - Lawful Good

Stranger Things Will Byers

Will Byers is amicable and selfless, putting the needs of others before his own and feeling a personal responsibility to do so regardless. He continues being unselfish even when it causes him discomfort or pain, such as when he communicates Eleven's need for Mike, indirectly expressing his love while mending things between the couple. Will's desire to aid others has changed things for the better, yet he scarcely receives praise.

This code of helping others without regard for personal wants is typical of the Lawful Good alignment, which values a strict sense of duty such as this. Will does not strive to attain and uphold his freedom and wants, especially not to the extent of costing others theirs. This inspiring selflessness and desire to aid others have benefited his friends and inspired them or granted them the edge needed to push past adversity.

16 Lucas Sinclair - Lawful Good

Stranger Things Lucas Sinclair

Lucas Sinclair is an adamantly protective and surprisingly pragmatic person who is kindhearted despite his belying demeanor. He is a staunch defender of everything he holds dear, and most of his actions are in the best interests of those he loves, exemplified by his initial skepticism and mistrust of Eleven. Lucas's fierce instinct to shield his family and friends has allowed him to defend his loved ones against many imposing dangers.

This rigid and assertive desire to protect is a trait frequent with the Lawful Good alignment, which respects uncompromising responsibilities like this. No matter what it is, if there is even the slightest chance it could cause harm, Lucas will fend against it with unwavering resistance. This determined commitment to guard has saved his family and friends many times, risking his reputation with his loved ones and his own life without hesitation.

15 Dustin Henderson - Neutral Good

Stranger Things Dustin Henderson

Dustin Henderson is observant and diplomatic, being the voice of reason and compromise. He often acts as the adjudicator within his friend group, seeking to amend differences in opinion and maintain unity, rarely supporting any one side and keeping neutral. Dustin's drive to mediate and resolve disputes kept the party from falling apart, even when disagreements seemed too great to settle without causing further strife.

Dustin's disinterest in law and chaos but determination to do right by others makes him one of the Neutral Good alignment, which emphasizes the need to do the moral thing. He values every side of an argument regardless, so long as they are in the pursuit of good for his friends or the world. Although he has had a fair share of hiccups, Dustin has solved many disputes to find a pragmatic or all-around good solution to problems.

14 Jane "Eleven" Hopper - True Neutral

Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) in Stranger Things

Jane Hopper, best known as Eleven, is fiercely protective and unyieldingly loyal to those she holds dear. Her family and friends are a priority, and she will do nearly anything to ensure they are safe, even at the expense of her safety and often her own life. Eleven's willingness and motivation to protect those close to her have driven her to save the world many times, yet her ethics and morals are somewhat questionable.

Eleven started as an uncaring and withdrawn person without care for others and only self-preservation. Through the kindness of Mike and the party, she began tending toward good but more so out of the need to protect those she held dear. In truth, it seems Eleven's family and friends are the only things keeping her from becoming selfish or evil. Without these people by her side, Elven would be unable to become the hero she is.

13 Max Mayfield - Chaotic Good

Stranger Things Max Mayfield

Max Mayfield is an independent and bold person whose rough exterior hides her compassionate nature. She does not care for other's opinions and what is supposedly acceptable, constantly challenging those that seek to impose or conventions that aim to restrict. Although unsociable and sharp-tongued at first, Max did show that she values others and her capability of doing the right thing, even protecting her abusive step-brother Billy.

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Despite her rough edges, Max is undeniably a good person that values the freedom of herself and others, which is consistent with that of the Chaotic Good alignment. She tries to do good for everyone she holds dear even if they are undeserving, albeit she does so in an often unorthodox way. Yet, Max has provided support and aid to her family and friends, getting them through somewhat trivial and exceedingly challenging situations.

12 Erica Sinclair - Chaotic Neutral

Stranger Things Erica Sinclair

Erica Sinclair is a calculating and independent person with an attitude and flair unlike any other. She has no issue bending or exploiting rules and others if it means getting her way, to the extent that her parents cannot make her do anything without compensation. While Erica has grown since her first appearance, she remains an independent and self-serving character.

Erica's value of independence at nearly any cost is a consistent and defining characteristic of the Chaotic Neutral alignment. Although she does care more about others now, Erica retains an air of selfishness that is tempered only by her care for her parents, her brother Lucas, and Hawkins. However, that is not to say she is incapable of doing good on her own it is just not a common occurrence.

11 Nancy Wheeler - Chaotic Good

Nancy Wheeler on Stranger Things

Nancy Wheeler is a compassionate and courageous person who does not let rules or perceptions stop her from doing the right thing. Although very responsive to authorities initially, she has since challenged many things in the pursuit of good, such as contesting the views of her misogynistic coworkers or exposing the Hawkins Lab. Nancy's drive to do right by herself and others is admirable, especially considering the lengths she goes.

Nancy's plight to do good by everyone causes trouble often in one way or another, which is definitive of the Chaotic Good alignment. She means to do well, but her methods often challenge authority in an outright questionable manner, bordering the fine line of legality. Yet, Nancy's lack of care for rules and expectations has allowed her to save her loved ones and Hawkins at large from hardship.

10 Jonathan Byers - Neutral Good

Stranger Things Jonathan Byers

Jonathan Byers is a kind and brave person who goes to great lengths to do the right thing sensibly. He will seek to do good in a way that favors reason over his personal feelings, such as when he disregarded his differences with Steve Harrington to fight the Demogorgon. Jonathan's practicality and inclination toward good have often saved him and others unnecessary hardship or mistakes.

Jonathan's desire to do good regardless of order or chaos is characteristic of the Neutral Good alignment. He always strives to do the moral thing free of such values, and although he occasionally falls short, he always means well. This fact is evident as Jonathan's practicality shows to benefit and hinder others, such as when he disregarded his mother Joyce's claims of Will being in the walls, trapped in another world.

9 Steve Harrington - Lawful Good

Stranger Things Steve Harrington

Steve Harrington is a goodhearted and protective person who aims to defend others adamantly, believing it to be a personal responsibility. Although initially sarcastic and egotistical, he has become a staunch do-gooder that acts as an authority or voice of reason to his friends, despite often going unheard. Even so, Steve's desire to protect has saved many, albeit often at the cost of his well-being.

Steve's dutiful undertaking as the guardian and advisor of his friends is typical of the Lawful Good alignment. He feels obligated to oversee and keep those he holds dear from risky pursuits, and should they endanger themselves anyway, he puts himself in the line of fire. Steve's willingness to steer his friends clear of danger, even at his expense, is respectable regardless of how underappreciated it often is.

8 Robin Buckley - Chaotic Neutral

Stranger Things Robin Buckley

Robin Buckley is an easy-going and hyperactive person on the outside, which her more sarcastic and cynical demeanor belie. She shows disdain for popular and traditional views of society, actively going against them, whether by poking fun at the once-popular Steve Harrington or challenging the pretentious Anthony Hurst. Robin's disregard for the conventional and her boldness have benefitted herself and her friends.

While Robin tends toward doing good, she follows her heart above all else, which is consistent with the Chaotic Neutral alignment. Without her friends' involvement in the weird happenings in Hawkins, she likely would not risk life and limb toward stopping the evildoing forces. Yet, Robin's contributions were undeniably vital in foiling various baddies, from the Soviets to the Upside Down's numerous monstrosities.

7 James "Jim" Hopper - Chaotic Good

Stranger Things James "Jim" Hopper

James "Jim" Hopper, best known as just Hopper, is a sympathetic and daring person, albeit that was not always the case. Initially, he was a lazy bum who grew to become a courageous guardian that challenges authority in the name of doing good. Hopper's methods for doing the right thing are unconventional, but saying they are ineffective would be a blatantly incorrect and thoughtless claim.

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Contrary to his occupation, Hopper consistently rebels against the expectations and rules of society to do good, putting him in the Chaotic Good alignment. He does all he can to do right by himself and others, rarely taking the appropriate means and even outwardly circumventing the law, despite being an authority figure himself. Yet, Hopper's uncommon strives toward doing the moral thing have saved Hawkins on various occasions.

6 Joyce Byers - Neutral Good

Stranger Things Joyce Byers

Joyce Byers is a benevolent and dauntless person willing to go to considerable lengths to do the right thing. She has moved heaven and earth to perform remarkable feats, such as saving Will from the Upside Down and rescuing Hopper from the Soviets. Regardless of the situation, Joyce has always been a virtuous figure who does the moral thing despite the personal costs and tribulations.

Joyce's desire to do good despite everything is a pivotal characteristic of the Neutral Good alignment. She has sacrificed much striving to do the right thing, even closing a Gate to the Upside Down, seemingly at the cost of her friend and lover Hopper's life, which was no easy decision. Joyce's pursuit of good without regard for law or chaos has contributed significantly to stopping the Upside Down's encroachment on the world.​​​​​​

5 Murray Bauman - Chaotic Neutral

Stranger Things Murray Bauman

Murray Bauman is an eccentric and arguably excessively vigilant person who seeks to uncover the truth of various conspiracies. He seems to be just another crazed conspiracy theorist, yet he has been a pivotal figure in revealing the secrets of Hawkins Lab, aiding in bringing it down. However, despite his penchant for disclosing the hidden truth, Murray is mostly in it for himself and those he holds dear.

Murray values his freedom and scarcely takes risks that can compromise it, which is a trait of the Chaotic Neutral alignment. While he has done much good, it is often to further his interests in exposing corrupt or duplicitous organizations and plots. Otherwise, it takes much convincing and motivation to get Murray to do good for the sake of doing good, especially when doing so compromises his tenuous anonymity.

4 Martin Brenner - Lawful Evil

Stranger Things Martin Brenner

Martin Brenner is a manipulative and ruthless person who cares little for morality so long as it furthers his selfish desires. He has conceived and orchestrated various horrible experiments in the name of science and the United State's interests. Despite the unsavory nature of his work, Brenner believed that the outcome of his tests would outweigh the atrocities committed, causing him to do truly horrible things.

Brenner is undoubtedly immoral, but there is an order to his wickedness consistent with the Lawful Evil alignment. He feels no inclination to do wrong things and is not selfish, but firmly believes every horrible thing he does is justifiable, using his work as an excuse. Brenner believes that his position and the system he follows are enough rationales for his extreme experiments and manipulation of others.

3 The Demogorgon - Unaligned

Stranger Things The Demogorgon

The Demogorgon is the supposed foot soldier of the Mind Flayer, terrorizing and slaughtering any that cross its path. Yet, the true nature of this deemed villain is unclear chiefly due to how the story presents it and how many perceive it. Regardless of how horrific and brutal, the Demogorgon is nothing more than a simple-minded predator desiring to hunt and further its species.

The Demogorgon's animalistic nature is typical of the Unaligned alignment, which cares not for the views of good and evil or law and chaos. There is no ill-intent or malice behind its hostility and killing, just the need to survive and thrive. The harsh environment of the Upside Down is likely the reason for the seemingly evil behaviors of the Demogorgon and its aggression towards humans altogether.

2 The Mind Flayer - Chaotic Evil

Stranger Things The Mind Flayer

The Mind Flayer is the omnipotent and vindictive orchestrator of many of the weird and violent happenings in the town of Hawkins. Everything it has done is in the pursuit of eradicating humanity and their world to build its own, much like the Upside Down. Yet, the Mind Flayer is not above being petty, as it postponed its plans for eradication and domination to destroy Eleven and her friends personally.

The Mind Flayer's penchant for evil extends beyond its goals and to more personal desires, typical of the Chaotic Evil alignment that cares only for selfish pursuits. While it has an overarching goal, the Mind Flayer is more than willing to set it aside for seemingly trivial things. After all, why bother terrorizing a group of kids when its pursuit is within reach? Why, to get revenge on those who have foiled and embarrassed it, of course.

1 Henry "Vecna" Creel - Chaotic Evil

Vecna in Stranger Things

Henry Creel, best known as Vecna, is the supposed five-star general of the Mind Flayer — despite possibly being its creator or influencing it — taking an active role in killing Hawkin townsfolk and opening portals to the Upside Down. Even before becoming the horror he is, Vecna was a mercilessly villainous person with no qualms about doing horrible things. Despite his cunning and guile, Vecna is not above doing comparatively trivial evil.

Vecna is an inherently self-absorbed and malicious person that cares for his desires above all else, much like those of the Chaotic Evil alignment. His means of opening portals to the Upside Down are needlessly cruel and predatory, as he torments his victims' minds to great lengths before killing them. Rather than practically executing his plans, Vecna outwardly ridicules and challenges others for his amusement.

Stranger Things is streaming on Netflix.

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