History Main / NonActionBigBad

This guy has zero fighting skills. He isn't interested in becoming stronger or more powerful either, but probably has lust for conquest. Of course, he will rely on a [[TheDragon champion]] or a QuirkyMinibossSquad to do all the dirty jobs. Compare TheManBehindTheCurtain. For Big Bads who ''have'' power but act like this until the climax, see OrcusOnHisThrone. Partner trope of DragonInChief.

* In the arcade version of ''TheCombatribes'', the main heroes spent the last two stages chasing after a man in a suit who fits the image of a stereotypical crime boss. When the crime boss is cornered in the final stage, he is betrayed and killed by his [[BodyguardBabe female bodyguard]] Martha Splatterhead, who proceeds to fight the player in her boss' place.

[[PlayingWith/NonActionBigBad The playing with version]].

* Lord Straff Venture in the second ''{{Mistborn}}'' book- he's a thoroughly evil man, but is middle-aged, out of shape, and a Tineye (meaning that he has magical abilities, but they involve SuperSesnes rather than anything physical). As such, he prefers to work through his army and his AxCrazy [[TheDragon Dragon]] [[spoiler: and illegitimate son]] Zane.

* Professor Moriaty in the SherlockHolmes stories.

** Arthur from season 3 is a borderline case. He pretty much becomes a PhysicalGod after absorbing Peter's powers, and could easily [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomp]] the heroes, but he doesn't, and is easily killed off by [[EvilerThanThou Sylar]]. However, what keeps him from being a total case is the fact that he ''does'' steal Peter's powers and uses them to mess with the heroes (especially Hiro).

* Linderman from ''Series/{{Heroes}}'', who as a [[AffablyEvil seemingly friendly]] old man with [[HealingHands healing]] as his power is the only BigBad without decent combat skills.

* Cutler Becket from the ''PiratesOfTheCaribbean'' movies. He loves to sit and enjoy his tea while he watches his armies to fight against the pirates.

Enter the NonActionBigBad

This guy has zero fighting skills. He isn't interested in becoming stronger or more powerful either, but probably has lust of conquer. Of course, he will rely on a [[TheDragon champion]] or a QuirkyMinibossSquad to do all the dirty job. Compare TheManBehindTheCurtain. For Big Bads who ''have'' power but act like this until the climax, see OrcusOnHisThrone. Partner trope of DragonInChief.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* Most of ''[[TwentyFour 24]]'''s {{Big Bad}}s, who prefer to leave the fighting to TheDragon or other more violent underlings.
* Linderman from ''Series/{{Heroes}}'', who as a [[AffablyEvil seemingly friendly]] old man with [[HealingHands healing]] as his power is the only BigBad without decent combat skills.
[[/folder]]

* [[TheThrawnTrilogy Grand Admiral Thrawn]]. He's actually implied to be at least a decent fighter, and is described as being powerfully built, but he has no interest in engaging in combat himself- it's strategy and trickery that hold his interest, not brawling.

* [[JackieChanAdventures Shendu]] Being TakenForGranite will do that to you.

This guy has zero fighting skills. He isn't interested in becoming stronger or more powerful either, but probably has lust of conquer. Of course, he will rely on a [[TheDragon champion]] or a QuirkyMinibossSquad to do all the dirty job. Compare TheManBehindTheCurtain. For Big Bads who ''have'' power but act like this until the climax, see OrcusOnHisThrone.

* Doctor Robotnik from ''SonicTheHedgehog'' games. You'll never see him fighting outside an HumongousMecha

* Queen Brahne from ''FinalFantasyIX''

** Actually, Andrew Ryan [[spoiler:killed a defenseless woman. NotSoHarmless after all.]]