The Concept Art of KALDHEIM
From the plane of Kaldheim and its 10 Realms
Skoti (GODS)
Alrund, Father of the Gods - Art by Tyler Jacobson
Gods’ Hall within the World Tree - Concept from a Planeswalker’s Guide to Kaldheim
God’s Palace at the bottom of World Tree - Art by Jehan Choo
Sword of the Realms design and render/texture map for the Kaldheim cinematic - Art by Gabriel Neville of Axis Studios
Kaldring, the Rimestaff of Jorn - Art by Magali Villeneuve
THE WORLD TREE
World Tree Design - Art by Axis Studios
World Tree Design - Art by Axis Studios
The World Tree - Illustration from a Planeswalker’s Guide to Kaldheim
View of the World Tree from on one of the realms - Artwork by David Metzger & Mike Szabados of Axis Studios
Close-Up of the Roots and branches of the World Tree - Artwork by David Metzger & Mike Szabados of Axis Studios
COSMOS MONSTERS
Concept for “Fenrir” that would eventually become Sarulf - Concept by Chris Rahn
Sarulf encounters Kaya - Concept artwork by Gaspar Gombos & Mike Szabados
Sarulf Character orthographic illustrations - Art by Axis Studios
Koma, the Cosmos Serpent, based on the Norse World-Serpent Jörmungandr - Concept by Steve Prescott
Rune-Weaver Spider - Art by Rebecca On
The “Great Owl atop the World Tree” concept - Art by Rebecca On
ISTFELL, REALM OF SPIRITS
Istfell in the roots of the world tree - Concept from the Kaldheim World guide
Spirit concept - Art by Jehan Choo
KARFELL, REALM OF draugr
Brinebarrow, Hall of the undead - Concept from the Kaldheim World guide
Draugr undead berserker concept - Art by Tyler Jacobson
Draugr undead cleric concept - Art by Tyler Jacobson
Draugr undead wizard concept - Art by Tyler Jacobson
Draugr undead rogue concept - Art by Tyler Jacobson
IMMERSTURM, REALM OF DEMONS
Demon concept designed to have a “viking helmet with horns” look but with biological elements instead of armor. According to artist Chris Rahn, this lead to “what if their beards were made of horns?” and “maybe weapons made of weapons?”
“Syakker” Legendary R/B Demon-Worshipping Human - Art by Tyler Jacobson
Red-aligned berserker with animated tattoo weapons - Art by Rebecca On
Immersturm concept - Concept from the Kaldheim World guide
Black aligned berserker for Kaldheim. The horns (made of the bent swords of vanquished enemies) were purposeful despite horned helms not actually being a Viking thing. This particular faction fashioned their look after Kaldheim demons which have horned heads and wear armor made of battered weapons. - Concept by Steve Prescott
Black-aligned, demon-worshipping rogue inspired by Scandinavian black metal. - Concept by Steve Prescott
The Skelle Mire - Concept from the Kaldheim World guide
GNOTTVOLD, REALM OF TROLLS
Torga (RG) Troll - Concept from a Planeswalker’s Guide to Kaldheim
Hagi Trolls: “So much hair, such little feet!” - Concept by Steve Prescott
Swarm of trolls around Kaya - Art by by Mark Molnar & Gaspar Gombos
The deep forest - Art by by Mark Molnar & Gaspar Gombos
Sacred stones - Concept from a Planeswalker’s Guide to Kaldheim
Gnottvold Forest - Art by by Mark Molnar & Gaspar Gombos
BRETAGARD, REALM OF HUMANS
Final Berserker concept designs with tattoo motifs - Art by Tyler Jacobson
Destroyed forest houses - Art by David Metzger
Tuskeri in the realm of Bretagard - From the Planeswalker’s Guide to Kaldheim
Wayfinder Hair & Tattoo study - Art by Steve Prescott
Concept for blue aligned humans (wayfinders they were called during the design stint) - Art by Steve Prescott
Destroyed forest houses - Art by David Metzger
Destroyed forest houses - Art by David Metzger
Destroyed forest houses - Art by David Metzger
Tuskeri concept - Art by Jehan Choo
“Seafaring Ladies” - Art by Jehan Choo
Concepts for human Legends Arni Brokenbrow and Sigurd Hurrikson - Art by Tyler Jacobson
Concepts for human Legends Harja Ryne-Eyes and Fynn the Snakehunter - Art by Tyler Jacobson
Viking concepts - Art by Jehan Choo
Helmet designs - Art by Marina Ortega Lorente
Shield designs - Art by Marina Ortega Lorente
Helmet designs - Art by Marina Ortega Lorente
STARNHEIM, REALM OF valkyries
The Hall of heroes’ souls at the peak of the world-tree - Concept from the Kaldheim World guide by Jenn Ravenna Tran
Starnheim Valkyrie concept design - Art by Tyler Jacobson
Exploration of the unique shepherd valkyrie wings inspired by a sea bird - Concept by Chris Rahn
Valkyrie Reaper design with raven-shaped wings - Concept by Chris Rahn
Kaldheim mood plate - Art by Randy Vargas
Hall of the Valkyrie - Concept from the Kaldheim World guide by Jenn Ravenna Tran
The Yetta Docks - Concept from the Kaldheim World guide by Jenn Ravenna Tran
SURTLAND, REALM OF GIANTS
Fire and Ice Giant concepts - Art by Chris Rahn
Kaldheim mood plate - Art by Randy Vargas
Exploratory design for how fire and ice could coexist in a single landscape - Concept from a Planeswalker’s Guide to Kaldheim
SKEMFAR, REALM OF EINIR (ELVES)
Skemfar environment design with shed Cosmos Serpent skin on a massive tree - Concept from a Planeswalker’s Guide to Kaldheim
Ear concepts for the elves of Skemfar. Elves have a narrow design zone, so artists pulled from norse cultural visuals involving knotwork and worked it into the ear cartilage of the elves - Concepts by Steve Prescott
Skemfar Elderhall - Art by Mike Szabados
“Shadow Elves” who follow the Great Cosmos Serpent. Designed with lots of scale motifs and a cloak of shed serpent skin - Concepts by Chris Rahn
Dark Elf study - Art by Jehan Choo
Light elf design - Concept by Chris Rahn
Light-Elf Weapon Designs rooted in ancient and heavy visuals as opposed to the iron and steel of other races - Concepts by Chris Rahn
AXGARD, REALM OF DWARVES
Axgard environment exploration - Art by Rebecca On
Axgard environment exploration - Art by Rebecca On
Axgard environment exploration - Art by Rebecca On
Dwarven “Hammerfiend” Mech - Art by Rebecca On
LITTJARA, REALM OF SHAPESHIFTERS
Concept artist Steve Prescott described the Littjara as “robed shapeshifter beings wearing carved wooden animal masks and lurking in mists. I thought it would be interesting to have the masks show multiple animal features in one - eyes, teeth, beaks, snout, antlers, all mushed together until some cool, dynamic, forms came out.”
Littjara mask form ideation - Concept by Steve Prescott
Robed Shapeshifter - Concept by Steve Prescott
Robed Shapeshifter - Concept by Steve Prescott
Robed Shapeshifter - Concept by Steve Prescott