How to Make Modular Magnetic Stairs for Your TTRPG Terrain

I started this project aiming for a spiral staircase, but quickly ran into a few problems. It was tough to make something that was:

Easy to replicate at the same scale
Stable enough for play
Still functional for placing minis

So, I shifted my approach. Instead of building a full staircase, I decided to imply the shape using stacked blocks of foam, each carved with a few steps. This way, the stairs would be modular, easier to build, and still totally playable.

ttrpg terrain spiral staircase with red X

Tabletop terrain modular stairs with mini and green check mark

Crafting the Stairs

I carved a few steps into the edge of 1×1 foam blocks of various heights, keeping the stair section small enough that a mini could still stand comfortably on the remaining surface. I loved the look of it, but knew I needed something to keep the pieces from shifting during play.

Enter: Magnets.

To make the pieces connect securely but still be reconfigurable, I embedded magnets into the bottom of each piece. Here’s how I did it:

Press the magnet into the foam to leave an imprint.
Carve out the indentation until it’s deep enough to fit the magnet.

pressing the magnet into the foam to create an indent

Magnet Polarity Matters

If you’re new to magnets, here’s something important: magnets have a positive and a negative side, and they only snap together when the polarity is aligned correctly.

To make sure my stairs would connect in any direction, I polarized the front edge of each stair piece one way (positive or negative), and the other three sides the opposite.

Diagram showing magnet placement and polarity

Here’s my quick method:

Start with your largest stair block.
Glue in a magnet on the front edge—this is your guide magnet.
Leave an extra magnet stuck to it, then use that to position and glue magnets into the back or sides of your next stair block.
Before the glue fully sets, gently separate the pieces so they don’t get glued together.
Repeat, making sure that you’re always using a guide magnet. The front of each stair should attract to the rear and sides of all stair blocks when you’re done.

Finishing Touches

Once the magnets are in, you can texture the stairs however you like. I used some texture rollers I had on hand, but you could use ballpoint pen or tin foil. Seal the foam with a mixture of Mod Podge and black paint. Once that’s dry, you’re ready to dry brush! For a weathered stone look, I usually do gray, with hints of brown, green, and white.

tabletop terrain modular playable stairs in Z configuration

Customization Tips

You can really go wild with these:

Make stairs of different heights
Use different textures or shapes
Build multiple sets that snap together
Add a magnet to the top of taller pieces to continue your spiral staircase upward (as long as your magnets are strong enough!)

That’s it for this build! Let me know in the comments if you have any questions, and if you found this helpful, consider subscribing to my youtube channel—it really helps me out. And hey, if you’re also a fantasy reader, check out my dark fantasy books here.

Thanks for reading, and until next time—happy crafting!