Written by Annie Shi
Arena encounters can be some of the most dramatic moments in D&D and other TTRPG campaigns. Whether your party is participating in a royal tournament, battling monsters in an illegal fighting pit, or proving themselves in a cutthroat duel, arenas naturally create a sense of tension and showmanship.
For Game Masters running games on virtual tabletops (VTTs), a well-designed battlemap can bring all those stakes to life. Arena battlemaps can make it easy to stage tournaments and dramatic boss fights while giving players a clear battlefield—not only for counting grid-squares, but also providing a visual of the hazards and spectacle.
From grand colosseums and magical tournaments to underground fighting pits and eldritch boss lairs, these arena maps offer plenty of ways to turn a tough battle into a memorable moment for the rest of your campaign.
1. Glory and Bloodsport — Colosseum of Challenges
Few historical tropes feel as timeless as the gladiatorial arena. Massive colosseums filled with roaring crowds create an instant feeling of drama, and this Colosseum of Challenges sets the stage—literally—for that kind of spectacle.
Use this arena for tournament arcs or public trials where victory might earn the party prestige, glory… or their lives. Perhaps the players must fight through a gauntlet of challengers to win a noble patron’s favor, or uncover corruption behind the games themselves.
This map is especially well-suited for a Mythic Odysseys of Theros campaign, where heroic trials and public contests are part of the setting’s culture.
This map also comes with an illustrated scene, perfect for setting the tone as your players step into the first time, hearing the crowds roar as the gates slam shut behind them.
2. Glory and Bloodsport — Hippodrome
Gladiatorial arenas were made to host brutal one-on-one combat. The hippodrome, however, was built for races of speed and spectacle. This grand Hippodrome map—one of our longest maps yet!—is built for exactly that, depicting a sprawling racing stadium where chariots thunder down the track beneath waves of brightly colored banners and faction flags.
Beyond racing, the sheer scale of this venue also makes it a great host for dramatic festival events or political demonstrations. Like the map above—and the rest of the Ancient City series—this one works especially well for campaigns inspired by classical Greco-Roman fantasy settings, such as Theros.
3. Arcane Spectacle — Magical Tournament Arena
Magical tournaments are a fantastic way to showcase spellcasters and their unusual combat mechanics, and this Magical Tournament Arena turns the battlefield itself into part of the challenge.
Floating platforms, arcane traps, and enchanted terrain all force combatants to think creatively. This map works especially well for campaigns set at magical academies such as Strixhaven, but it can also serve as a public magical competition where powerful mages from across the realm gather to test their skill.
This map also includes a scene illustration that helps establish the spectacle of a magical duel and the unpredictable nature of arcane competition.
4. Savage Entertainment — Monster Fighting Pit
Not every arena is a place of glory, however. Some exist in the shadows of cities where coin flows freely, and lives are cheap. This Monster Fighting Pit is perfect for illegal fighting rings, criminal entertainment, or other underground gambling operations.
Send your party to infiltrate the pit and rescue a captured creature, or investigate a criminal syndicate—or force them to survive getting thrown into the arena themselves, if they get discovered!
5. Festival of Champions — Jousting Tournament (Fighting Platform Day)
At the same time, not every arena battle involves (too much) bloodshed. Many kingdoms might host grand tournaments where knights, warriors, and adventurers alike compete for prestige and honor, and this Jousting Tournament Arena is perfect for hosting such a competition.
Events here might range from duels and archery contests to mounted jousts and team challenges—all of which are supported by the map’s many variants. Between matches, this map could also support roleplay scenes with rival contestants or sabotage attempts by factions hoping to rig the outcome.
This map also comes with an illustrated scene from the spectator stands—great for establishing the lively festival atmosphere around the contest.
6. Games of Skill — Sacred Ballcourt
Inspired by an ancient Mesoamerican ballgame, this Sacred Ballcourt offers a very different type of arena encounter. Rather than straightforward combat, this arena works beautifully for contests of agility, coordination, and teamwork—or a public challenge where the party must impress a crowd or win favor for themselves.
It’s an especially good fit for campaigns that want a change of pace from standard gladiatorial fights. The court layout encourages team play and unusual objectives, whether your players are taking part in a tense match or festival event.
7. Trial by Combat — Orc Desert Camp (Fighting Pit)
In harsher lands, arenas may serve as places to prove strength or survive, rather than entertain crowds. The fighting pit variant of this Orc Desert Camp map is great for encounters where the party must prove their worth to a warband—perhaps to earn safe passage, or win the respect of a tribal leader.
The surrounding camp also provides opportunities for chaos, should the fight spill beyond the pit—especially if rival warriors decide to intervene!
8. Test of Shadows — Shadowlands Pyramid (Arena Grand Finale)
Some arenas are not meant for sport at all, and the arena variant of this Shadowlands Pyramid feels perfect for a supernatural test, magical ritual, or even a climactic boss battle. Perhaps ancient guardians awaken when challengers enter the arena, and the battlefield itself shifts with eldritch energy.
This location works beautifully as the final stage of a dungeon, where the party must survive a ritual challenge or defeat a powerful entity before the surrounding dark magic consumes them for good.
9. Nature’s Arena — Beetle Tribe Canyon (Beetle Arena)
This Beetle Tribe Canyon arena map provides a unique setting for ritual contests or tribal competitions. While originally designed for bug-themed encounters, the space easily works as a natural sparring ground in any setting where local warriors might test their strength.
Perhaps your party might get invited to participate in one of these ceremonial fights, or face a monstrous champion released into the arena. For a woodlands campaign such as Humblewood, this map could also work especially well for insect gladiators and other magical forest beasts.
10. Lanternlit Duels — Wuxia Tavern (Sparring Ring)
Arena combat doesn’t always require a massive stadium—sometimes, the most memorable fights happen in intimate settings. This Wuxia Tavern Sparring Ring is a great location for friendly duels and martial arts challenges, as well as dramatic confrontations with rivals.
Players might challenge a local champion, witness a thrilling fight between rival masters, or participate in a tavern tournament during a festive celebration. The surrounding rooms also make this map excellent for social roleplay encounters before or after the duel.
11. Noble Cruelty — Drow Manor (Fighting Pit)
In the cruel courts of the Underdark, combat arenas often serve as entertainment for powerful nobles. This Drow Manor Fighting Pit sits within a larger drow estate complex, making it perfect for a sinister event where captives or slaves are forced to fight for the amusement of the elite.
DMs running Underdark adventures can use this arena to show off the cutthroat viciousness of drow society in the Forgotten Realms—or even throw the party into the pit themselves. It’s especially fitting for campaigns like Out of the Abyss, where characters begin as drow captives and must survive the whim of a capricious jailer before making their escape.
Didn’t Find the Perfect Arena Map?
Czepeku’s Fantasy library contains over 8,000 hand-drawn battlemaps with countless variants each—covering everything from cozy taverns and eerie dungeons to mystical ruins and magnificent castles. With seasonal, lighting, and event variations across the library, it’s easy to find a map to suit your campaign’s exact needs.
👉 How to find the perfect map for your campaign
Start Your Adventure With a FREE Asset Pack!
Keep up to date with the latest from Czepeku, sign up to our mailing list now and receive an introductory goodie bag of fantasy and sci-fi maps, scene, and tokens.