Mapping Center Answer:

You can easily change the look of a north arrow by changing the character that is referenced from the Esri north Arrow font. Add a north arrow to your map, right click it and click Properties, then click Character to select a different north arrow symbol. This is a character marker symbol that references the Esri North Arrow font. You can also combine north arrow character marker symbols to create some really ornate mariner’s compass-types of north arrows, but be sure that this is appropriate for your map before you get carried away!