History Main / Mooks

->''They may be called the Palace Guard, the City Guard, or the patrol. Whatever the name, their purpose in any work of heroic fantasy is identical: it is, round about Chapter Three (or ten minutes into the film) to rush into the room, [[MookChivalry attack the hero one at a time]], and [[WhatMeasureIsAMook be slaughtered]]. No one ever asks them if they wanted to.''

* ''TabletopGame/SentinelsOfTheMultiverse'' several of the villains have decks that summon out several mooks to fight the heroes either alongside them or for them. Examples include Citizen Dawn, Grand Warlord Voss, the Dreamer, Omnitron, and La Capitan to name a few.

Except where noted in some of the subcategories, it is generally considered "bad form" for mooks to be given any sort of detailed backstory or personality (beyond broad strokes). Put another way, for the purposes of heroes continuing to be seen as heroes, and to avoid a major mood swing, mooks generally have no girl/boyfriends, children, parents, grandparents; they don't belong to church groups or non-profits that might miss them; they don't spend part of their day looking forward to what's on TV tonight (never to see the show because they're about to die), and they generally die quick, semi-painless deaths (blood and gore optional). Mooks are rarely female, and if they are, they generally don't fall into the "gorgeous" category because you don't want the viewer/reader to become attached to a character the hero is about to kill (Film/TheSpyWhoLovedMe is a noted example where this rule is broken, and 35 years later JamesBond fans still criticize the decision to have Bond murder CarolineMunro's helicopter-flying babe). There are, of course, exceptions, either to make a point about violence, or if the hero is more of an anti-hero.

Except where noted in some of the subcategories, it is generally considered "bad form" for mooks to be given any sort of detailed backstory or personality (beyond broad strokes). Put another way, for the purposes of heroes continuing to be seen as heroes, and to avoid a major mood swing, mooks generally have no girl/boyfriends, children, parents, grandparents; they don't belong to church groups or non-profits that might miss them; they don't spend part of their day looking forward to what's on TV tonight (never to see the show because they're about to die), and they generally die quick, semi-painless deaths (blood and gore optional). Mooks are rarely female, and if they are, they generally don't fall into the "gorgeous" category because you don't want the viewer/reader to become attached to a character the hero is about to kill (Film/TheSpyWhoLovedMe is a noted example where this rule is broken, and 45 years later JamesBond fans still criticize the decision to have Bond murder CarolineMunro's helicopyer-flying babe). There are, of course, exceptions, either to make a point about violence, or if the hero is more of an anti-hero.

[[TropesAreTools Mooks play an important role]], as without someone to fight on a constant basis, your action movie/show/game would have a lot less action. If every bad guy your hero runs into is a {{BadAss}} or at least is being developed solely to be killed in the next scene, then TheDragon or the BigBad would not feel as unique in comparison. Thus, mooks serve as {{Filler}} and a backdrop to the truly climactic moments of an action franchise while also ensuring that in-between things are kept lively. In VideoGames, they may also double as a ready source of ExperiencePoints, [[MoneySpider gold]], and recovery items for the player.

* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TA-QJ2d3kk&playnext_from=TL&videos=5HHk7A68tmY He only has one line, but saves the day... ]]

* "Soldier A", an AMV, is a dedication to anime mooks in particular.

* EliteMooks

'''Note #3 (to Tropers):''' Mooks refer to easily-killed ''bad'' guys. If you're looking for easily-killed ''good'' guys, you want RedShirtArmy.

In addition to accentuating the real villains, mooks also help establish the heroes, especially their combat skills, as their lack of NominalImportance allows them to be beaten, mauled, shot or otherwise [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential disposed of in creative ways]] without guilt. The hero might find it in his heart to SaveTheVillain, forgive him, even [[DefeatMeansFriendship accept him into his inner circle]], but the guys whose only crime is not finding a better employer [[WhatMeasureIsAMook will be shown no mercy]] (although [[MookFaceTurn exceptions apply]]). Next to PunchClockVillain, but usually more faceless, this is one of the tropes most liable to JustFollowingOrders, a fact that may be pointed up in order to reduce MoralDissonance about their disposability.

'''Note #3:''' Mooks refer to easily-killed ''bad'' guys. If you want easily-killed ''good'' guys, see RedShirtArmy.

A slang term for the hordes of standard-issue, disposable bad guys whom the hero [[FoeTossingCharge mows down]] with [[MoralDissonance impunity.]] Strong, competent, loyal... pick any two.

This trope is the EvilCounterpart of the RedshirtArmy, which are Mooks on the good side. Similar to but not to be confused with their non-combat brother EvilMinions (likewise the RedshirtArmy with the RedShirt). Occasionally, it turns out they were GoodAllAlong. If a "character" who would otherwise qualify as a Mook is disqualified because he's apparently acting on his own, you have a BitPartBadGuy.

[[caption-width-right:220: [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy Wouldn't hit you even if they started firing from the screen.]]]]

Being AcceptableTargets by definition, sometimes mooks serve as ([[VillainDecay Or devolve into]]) outright [[GoldfishPoopGang comic relief]] rather than an ''actual'' menace by being [[TheGuardsMustBeCrazy dimwitted]], [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain ineffective]], [[TooDumbToLive a genuine danger to themselves]] or [[HoistByHisOwnPetard just plain unlucky]]. Despite all this, sometimes they may [[TeamRocketWins get their own moments in the spotlight]] and become [[MookPromotion genuine villains in their own right]].

If you have time, please take time to put examples in alphabetical order. This page Administrivia/HowToAlphabetizeThings should help you with that.

Also called "baddies", "[[FacelessGoons goons,]]" "scrubs," "[[AttackDrone drones,]]" "[[BitPartBadguys small fry,]]" "[[FlunkyBoss flunkies,]]" "[[TabletopGame/{{Chess}} pawns]]," "toadies," "grunts," "[[EvilMinions minions,]]" "[[SycophanticServant lackeys,]]" "underlings," "[[HenchmenRace henchpersons,]]" and "CannonFodder". In {{Shoot Em Up}}s, they're also known as "zako" (Japanese for "small fry"), or "popcorn" enemies for their tendency to show up in swarms and quickly being blown up in one hit each. The actual term "mook" presumably comes from Hong Kong Cinema, and takes its name from the ''mook jong'', the wooden training dummy used in Wing Chun, whose only function is to get hit (and hit ''hard''). In Hong Kong movie circles, they're often called "three-hit men," in reference to [[RuleOfThree how many hits it takes]] to put them down, though the actual number of hits varies.

Also called "baddies", "[[FacelessGoons goons,]]" "scrubs," "[[AttackDrone drones,]]" "[[BitPartBadguys small fry,]]" "[[FlunkyBoss flunkies,]]" "[[TabletopGame/{{Chess}} pawns]]," "toadies," "grunts," "[[EvilMinions minions,]]" "[[SycophanticServant lackeys,]]" "underlings," "[[HenchmenRace henchpersons,]]" and "CannonFodder". In {{Shoot Em Up}}s, they're also known as "zako" (Japanese for "small fry"), or "popcorn" enemies for their tendency to show up in swarms and quickly being blown up in one hit each. The actual term "mook" presumably comes from Hong Kong Cinema, and takes its name from the ''mook jong'', the wooden training dummy used in Wing Chun, whose only function is to get hit (and hit ''hard''). In Hong Kong movie circles, they're often called "three-hit men," in reference to [[RuleOfThree how many hits it takes]] to knock them out, though the actual number of hits varies.

A slang term for the hordes of standard-issue, disposable bad guys whom the hero [[FoeTossingCharge mows down]] with [[MoralDissonance impunity.]] Strong, competant, loyal... pick any two.