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* When the girls in WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}} defeat Phobos, it turns out there was another, arguably worse villain that had been planning out her come-back since the start of the series.
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* When the girls in WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}} ''WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}}'' defeat Phobos, it turns out there was another, arguably worse villain that had been planning out her come-back since the start of the series.
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* In ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'' season 4, the wizards of the Black Circle seem to have changed their ways, only for the Earth fairies to become the new enemies. After they get redempted, it turns out the wizards just pretended to be nice and pick up their villainous ways [[spoiler: becoming the very first characters to permanently kill a main character/]]
** One might argue that up until seasons 5, the villains got worse and viler along the go, ending with Trittanus, who was completely unredemptable.
* When the girls in [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/WesternAnimation/WITCH W.I.T.C.H.]] defeat Phobos, it turns out there was another, arguably worse villain that had been planning out her come-back since the start of the series.
** One might argue that up until seasons 5, the villains got worse and viler along the go, ending with Trittanus, who was completely unredemptable.
* When the girls in [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/WesternAnimation/WITCH W.I.T.C.H.]] defeat Phobos, it turns out there was another, arguably worse villain that had been planning out her come-back since the start of the series.
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* In ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'' season 4, the wizards of the Black Circle seem to have changed their ways, only for the Earth fairies to become the new enemies. After they get redempted, it turns out the wizards just pretended to be nice and pick up their villainous ways [[spoiler: becoming the very first characters to permanently kill a main character/]]
** One might argue that upcharacter]]. Up until seasons 5, the villains got worse and viler along the go, viler, ending with Trittanus, who was completely unredemptable.
irredeemable.
* When the girls in[[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/WesternAnimation/WITCH W.I.T.C.H.]] WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}} defeat Phobos, it turns out there was another, arguably worse villain that had been planning out her come-back since the start of the series.series.
* ''WesternAnimation/ShimmerAndShine'' introduces the sea enchantress Uzma late in season 4, who's sneakier than BigBad Zeta and is willing to harm Nazboo to get what she wants, necessitating an EnemyMine.
** One might argue that up
* When the girls in
* ''WesternAnimation/ShimmerAndShine'' introduces the sea enchantress Uzma late in season 4, who's sneakier than BigBad Zeta and is willing to harm Nazboo to get what she wants, necessitating an EnemyMine.
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Trope misuse (Cinder was always The Heavy of the first part of the story; Roman was actually a one-shot character given an extended role at the last minute. The Big Bad was also introduced in the pilot episode (as a Narrator), so the introduction of the main villains have been about the heroes being introduced to escalating threat levels as they learn more and more about the Big Bad and her plan.)
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[[folder:Web Animation]]
* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' goes through an escalating series of these:
** First we have Roman Torchwick, dapper, amusing, and deadly in a fight, but ultimately just a petty crook.
** Roman soon gets the White Fang working for him, a group of Faunus terrorists lashing out at humanity for generations of prejudice and oppression.
** And all this is the plan of [[spoiler:[[KnightOfCerebus Cinder Fall]] ]], a mysterious and powerful young woman running a ploy to [[spoiler:steal the immense mystical power of the Fall Maiden. [[TheBadGuyWins She succeeds]], and uses her new power to [[HeroKiller kill Ozpin and Pyrrha]]. The death of Penny and utter destruction of Beacon is just collateral damage on her way to her objective]].
** And then [[spoiler:Cinder is revealed to be working for [[TheManBehindTheMan Salem]], she who [[BigBad controls the Grimm]] and may or may not functionally be a [[HumanoidAbomination goddess of evil]].]]
** ZigZagged with Adam Taurus, implied early on to be the current leader of the White Fang and responsible for their shift from peaceful protest to terrorism. [[spoiler:We soon learn he's only the leader of a splinter faction. . . but the bulk of the White Fang agrees with him, and while the actual leader is a ReasonableAuthorityFigure in comparison to Adam, he shortly and violently removes her from power and brings the White Fang fully under his control.]]
[[/folder]]
* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' goes through an escalating series of these:
** First we have Roman Torchwick, dapper, amusing, and deadly in a fight, but ultimately just a petty crook.
** Roman soon gets the White Fang working for him, a group of Faunus terrorists lashing out at humanity for generations of prejudice and oppression.
** And all this is the plan of [[spoiler:[[KnightOfCerebus Cinder Fall]] ]], a mysterious and powerful young woman running a ploy to [[spoiler:steal the immense mystical power of the Fall Maiden. [[TheBadGuyWins She succeeds]], and uses her new power to [[HeroKiller kill Ozpin and Pyrrha]]. The death of Penny and utter destruction of Beacon is just collateral damage on her way to her objective]].
** And then [[spoiler:Cinder is revealed to be working for [[TheManBehindTheMan Salem]], she who [[BigBad controls the Grimm]] and may or may not functionally be a [[HumanoidAbomination goddess of evil]].]]
** ZigZagged with Adam Taurus, implied early on to be the current leader of the White Fang and responsible for their shift from peaceful protest to terrorism. [[spoiler:We soon learn he's only the leader of a splinter faction. . . but the bulk of the White Fang agrees with him, and while the actual leader is a ReasonableAuthorityFigure in comparison to Adam, he shortly and violently removes her from power and brings the White Fang fully under his control.]]
[[/folder]]
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* ''Literature/ZodiacSeries'': [[spoiler:Aquarius is a WellIntentionedExtremist who genuinely believed in what he was doing, and didn't even want to do it at first. Which amounts for a lot more when you compare him to [[GreenEyedMonster Blaze]] and [[HeroKiller Aryll]].]]
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* ''Literature/ZodiacSeries'': ''Literature/{{ZODIAC}}'': [[spoiler:Aquarius is a WellIntentionedExtremist who genuinely believed in what he was doing, and didn't even want to do it at first. Which amounts for a lot more when you compare him to [[GreenEyedMonster [[BitchInSheepsClothing Blaze]] and [[HeroKiller Aryll]].]]
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* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'': ComicBook/{{Brainiac}} functions like this with the Man of Steel's other ArchEnemy ComicBook/LexLuthor. Both are [[EvilGenius evil geniuses]], however, Luthor has always been given humanizing elements like [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans believing that he's bettering humanity]], [[EvenEvilHasStandards loved ones]] [[AffablyEvil or affability]]. Brainiac, by contrast, has almost always been written as a completely inhuman foe([[AliensAreBastards literally]] and figuratively) who destroys civilizations [[ControlFreak just to keep their knowledge to himself]]. While Luthor and Brainiac have teamed up on numerous occasions, [[TeethClenchedTeamwork Luthor has always been uneasy about it]].
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* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'': ComicBook/{{Brainiac}} functions like this with the Man of Steel's other ArchEnemy ComicBook/LexLuthor. Both are [[EvilGenius evil geniuses]], however, Luthor has always been given humanizing elements like [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans believing that he's bettering humanity]], [[EvenEvilHasStandards loved ones]] [[AffablyEvil or affability]]. Brainiac, by contrast, has almost always been written as a completely inhuman foe([[AliensAreBastards foe ([[AliensAreBastards literally]] and figuratively) who destroys civilizations [[ControlFreak just to keep their knowledge to himself]]. While Luthor and Brainiac have teamed up on numerous occasions, [[TeethClenchedTeamwork Luthor has always been uneasy about it]].
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* ''Literature/ZodiacSeries'': [[spoiler:Aquarius is a WellIntentionedExtremist who genuinely believed in what he was doing, and didn't even want to do it at first. Which amounts for a lot more when you compare him to [[GreenEyedMonster Blaze]] and [[HeroKiller Aryll]].]]
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The "Oblivion" in EvilVersusOblivion often fill this role, but that doesn't mean they have to eviler than the "Evil". A WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds is easily more sympathetic than a bumbling CardCarryingVillain, but they're also likely to be more powerful in terms of strength and conviction, making them worse by default. The polar opposite of ALighterShadeOfBlack, where a villain is better than another, and, like that trope, it's often used to determine who should be rooted for or against in EvilVersusEvil situations.
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The "Oblivion" in EvilVersusOblivion often fill this role, but that doesn't mean they have to eviler than the "Evil". A WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds is easily more sympathetic than a bumbling CardCarryingVillain, but they're also likely to be more powerful threatening in terms of strength and conviction, making them worse by default. The polar opposite of ALighterShadeOfBlack, where a villain is better than another, and, like that trope, it's often used to determine who should be rooted for or against in EvilVersusEvil situations.
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The "Oblivion" in EvilVersusOblivion often fill this role, but that doesn't mean they have to eviler than the "Evil". A WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds is easily more sympathetic than a CardCarryingVillain, but they're also likely to be more powerful in terms of strength and conviction, making them worse by default. The polar opposite of ALighterShadeOfBlack, where a villain is better than another, and, like that trope, it's often used to determine who should be rooted for or against in EvilVersusEvil situations.
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The "Oblivion" in EvilVersusOblivion often fill this role, but that doesn't mean they have to eviler than the "Evil". A WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds is easily more sympathetic than a bumbling CardCarryingVillain, but they're also likely to be more powerful in terms of strength and conviction, making them worse by default. The polar opposite of ALighterShadeOfBlack, where a villain is better than another, and, like that trope, it's often used to determine who should be rooted for or against in EvilVersusEvil situations.
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The "Oblivion" in EvilVersusOblivion often fill this role, but sometimes they're just as evil or even [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds more sympathetic than the "Evil"]]. The polar opposite of ALighterShadeOfBlack, where a villain is better than another, and, like that trope, it's often used to determine who should be rooted for or against in EvilVersusEvil situations.
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The "Oblivion" in EvilVersusOblivion often fill this role, but sometimes they're just as evil or even [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds that doesn't mean they have to eviler than the "Evil". A WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds is easily more sympathetic than the "Evil"]].a CardCarryingVillain, but they're also likely to be more powerful in terms of strength and conviction, making them worse by default. The polar opposite of ALighterShadeOfBlack, where a villain is better than another, and, like that trope, it's often used to determine who should be rooted for or against in EvilVersusEvil situations.
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While similar to EvilerThanThou, that's when one villain demonstrates their superiority over another villain, usually to prove they're more of a threat. Here, the villain is shown to be more ''evil'' to another villain without any sort of rivalry involved. The "Oblivion" in EvilVersusOblivion often fill this role, but sometimes they're just as evil or even [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds shown as more sympathetic than the "Evil"]]. The polar opposite of ALighterShadeOfBlack, where a villain is better than another, and like that trope it's often used to determine who should be rooted for or against in EvilVersusEvil situations.
May lead to EnemyMine situations (where the previous villain has to team-up TheHero to finish this menace and come back to the previous status quo) and HeroRivalBaddieTeamUp (where also TheRival is summed to the team to defeat this menace), both alliances made temporarily and ''[[TeethClenchedTeamwork teeth-clenched]]''. When there's a truly heroic figure to compare, it's TheGoodTheBadAndTheEvil. Related to SortingAlgorithmOfEvil, and particularly SlidingScaleOfAntagonistVileness - the new villain has to be less sympathetic on that scale than the older one.
May lead to EnemyMine situations (where the previous villain has to team-up TheHero to finish this menace and come back to the previous status quo) and HeroRivalBaddieTeamUp (where also TheRival is summed to the team to defeat this menace), both alliances made temporarily and ''[[TeethClenchedTeamwork teeth-clenched]]''. When there's a truly heroic figure to compare, it's TheGoodTheBadAndTheEvil. Related to SortingAlgorithmOfEvil, and particularly SlidingScaleOfAntagonistVileness - the new villain has to be less sympathetic on that scale than the older one.
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The "Oblivion" in EvilVersusOblivion often fill this role, but sometimes they're just as evil or even [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds more sympathetic than the "Evil"]]. The polar opposite of ALighterShadeOfBlack, where a villain is better than another, and, like that trope, it's often used to determine who should be rooted for or against in EvilVersusEvil situations.
May lead to an EnemyMine situations (where the previous villain has to team-up TheHero to finish this menace and come back to the previous status quo)
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* ''Franchise/{{Dragonball}}'' sometimes uses this trope in regards to introducing new villains.
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* ''Franchise/{{Dragonball}}'' sometimes commonly uses this trope in regards to introducing new villains.villains.
** ''Dragon Ball Red Ribbon Arc'': General Blue (already this trope compared to Colonel Silver and General White) was a formidable opponent who very nearly got to kill Krillin and proved to be the first personally severe obstacle to overcome. He's ursurped by Tao Pai-Pai, who kills him ''with his tongue'' and then proceeds to kill Bora and then Goku (briefly). From a larger perspective, the Red Ribbon Army as a whole serve as a dramatic and hate-able military force than the bumbling Pilaf Gang.
** ''Dragon Ball Piccolo Daimao Arc'': Piccolo Daimao is easily the biggest jump, as he's much more formidible and callous than the Red Ribbon Army or Tao Pai-Pai, being the embodiment of evil. This jump is strongly contrasted as he spends the first half of this arc paired with the goofy Pilaf Gang. Daimao was notably the first villain to actually achieve his plan (restore his youth and take over the world), and in short order at that.
** ''Dragon Ball Red Ribbon Arc'': General Blue (already this trope compared to Colonel Silver and General White) was a formidable opponent who very nearly got to kill Krillin and proved to be the first personally severe obstacle to overcome. He's ursurped by Tao Pai-Pai, who kills him ''with his tongue'' and then proceeds to kill Bora and then Goku (briefly). From a larger perspective, the Red Ribbon Army as a whole serve as a dramatic and hate-able military force than the bumbling Pilaf Gang.
** ''Dragon Ball Piccolo Daimao Arc'': Piccolo Daimao is easily the biggest jump, as he's much more formidible and callous than the Red Ribbon Army or Tao Pai-Pai, being the embodiment of evil. This jump is strongly contrasted as he spends the first half of this arc paired with the goofy Pilaf Gang. Daimao was notably the first villain to actually achieve his plan (restore his youth and take over the world), and in short order at that.
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* In the original ''VideoGame/HalfLife'' campaign the Marines are portrayed as evil [[MeleeATrois despite also being enemies of the Xen aliens]]. In ''Opposing Force'' you [[PerspectiveFlip play as one of the Marines]], who are humanized a lot more than before and shown to mostly be PunchClockVillains ''at worst''. As the creators still wanted an evil human faction for Sheppard and the Marines to fight, they added the Black Ops, who are statistically the same as the NPC Marines from the first game, but are portrayed as a lot more inhuman and scary, as they all [[EvilWearsBlack wear black from head to toe, including face masks,]] and hardly ever talk (and when they do, it's invariably about some evil plan such as how they [[spoiler: plan to nuke Black Mesa.]]
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* In ''Westernanimation/WinxClub'' season 4, the wizards of the Black Circle seem to have changed their ways, only for the Earth fairies to become the new enemies. After they get redempted, it turns out the wizards just pretended to be nice and pick up their villainous ways [[spoiler: becoming the very first characters to permanently kill a main character/]]
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* In ''Westernanimation/WinxClub'' ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'' season 4, the wizards of the Black Circle seem to have changed their ways, only for the Earth fairies to become the new enemies. After they get redempted, it turns out the wizards just pretended to be nice and pick up their villainous ways [[spoiler: becoming the very first characters to permanently kill a main character/]]
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[[folder:Live Action TV]]
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While similar to EvilerThanThou, that's when one villain demonstrates their superiority over another villain, usually to prove they're more of a threat. A Darker Shade Of Black is when a villain is shown to be more ''evil'' to another villain, and there isn't a rivalry involved. The "Oblivion" in EvilVersusOblivion often fill this role, but sometimes they're just as evil or even [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds shown as more sympathetic than the "Evil"]]. The polar opposite of ALighterShadeOfBlack, where a villain is better than another, and like that trope it's often used to determine who should be rooted for or against in EvilVersusEvil situations.
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While similar to EvilerThanThou, that's when one villain demonstrates their superiority over another villain, usually to prove they're more of a threat. A Darker Shade Of Black is when a Here, the villain is shown to be more ''evil'' to another villain, and there isn't a villain without any sort of rivalry involved. The "Oblivion" in EvilVersusOblivion often fill this role, but sometimes they're just as evil or even [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds shown as more sympathetic than the "Evil"]]. The polar opposite of ALighterShadeOfBlack, where a villain is better than another, and like that trope it's often used to determine who should be rooted for or against in EvilVersusEvil situations.
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** In ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Stardust Crusaders]]'', the moment the crusaders encounter Terence T. D'Arby, [[TheGambler Daniel's]] younger brother and the last of the glory gods, they are left with a shock that he is ''even viler'' than his older brother. Despite having stolen fewer souls than Daniel, Terence [[LivingDollCreator traps them within dolls]] and [[AndIMustScream deliberately keeps them fully aware of their situation]] and inability to do anything about it. DIO is especially fond of this guy and not only is he the worst of the glory gods, he is the most vicious of DIO's goons since [[SerialRapist J. Geil]].
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** In ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Stardust Crusaders]]'', the moment the crusaders encounter Terence T. D'Arby, [[TheGambler Daniel's]] younger brother and the last of the glory gods, they are left with a shock that he is ''even viler'' than his older brother. Despite having stolen fewer souls than Daniel, Terence [[LivingDollCreator [[LivingDollCollector traps them within dolls]] and [[AndIMustScream deliberately keeps them fully aware of their situation]] and inability to do anything about it. DIO is especially fond of this guy and not only is he the worst of the glory gods, he is the most vicious of DIO's goons since [[SerialRapist J. Geil]].
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* ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure]]'':
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* ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure]]'':''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure JoJo's Bizarre Adventure]]'':
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** In ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardust Crusaders Stardust Crusaders]]'', the moment the crusaders encounter Terence T. D'Arby, [[TheGambler Daniel's]] younger brother and the last of the glory gods, they are left with a shock that he is ''even viler'' than his older brother. Despite having stolen fewer souls than Daniel, Terence [[LivingDollCreator traps them within dolls]] and [[AndIMustScream deliberately keeps them fully aware of their situation]] and inability to do anything about it. DIO is especially fond of this guy and not only is he the worst of the glory gods, he is the most vicious of DIO's goons since [[SerialRapist J. Geil]].
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** In ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardust Crusaders ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Stardust Crusaders]]'', the moment the crusaders encounter Terence T. D'Arby, [[TheGambler Daniel's]] younger brother and the last of the glory gods, they are left with a shock that he is ''even viler'' than his older brother. Despite having stolen fewer souls than Daniel, Terence [[LivingDollCreator traps them within dolls]] and [[AndIMustScream deliberately keeps them fully aware of their situation]] and inability to do anything about it. DIO is especially fond of this guy and not only is he the worst of the glory gods, he is the most vicious of DIO's goons since [[SerialRapist J. Geil]].
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* The plot of ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureVentoAureo'' centers around a bunch of mobsters, who vary in morality. However among [[BigBad the Boss]]' Special Unit, [[MadDoctor Cioccolata]] is meant to stand out as particularly horrible. While ruthless, most of the guard is motivated [[OnlyInItForTheMoney by cash]] and try to avoid harming innocent civilians. Cioccolata however is a disturbed sadist and SerialKiller who only joined Passione [[PsychoForHire for the opportunity to torture and murder people]], and delights in the mass slaughter of innocent civilians. Everyone in Passione, ''even the Boss'' [[EvenEvilHasStandards considers him repulsively evil]].
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* ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure]]'':
** In ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardust Crusaders Stardust Crusaders]]'', the moment the crusaders encounter Terence T. D'Arby, [[TheGambler Daniel's]] younger brother and the last of the glory gods, they are left with a shock that he is ''even viler'' than his older brother. Despite having stolen fewer souls than Daniel, Terence [[LivingDollCreator traps them within dolls]] and [[AndIMustScream deliberately keeps them fully aware of their situation]] and inability to do anything about it. DIO is especially fond of this guy and not only is he the worst of the glory gods, he is the most vicious of DIO's goons since [[SerialRapist J. Geil]].
** The plot of''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureVentoAureo'' ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureVentoAureo Vento Aureo]]'' centers around a bunch of mobsters, who vary in morality. However among [[BigBad the Boss]]' Special Unit, [[MadDoctor Cioccolata]] is meant to stand out as particularly horrible. While ruthless, most of the guard is motivated [[OnlyInItForTheMoney by cash]] and try to avoid harming innocent civilians. Cioccolata however is a disturbed sadist and SerialKiller who only joined Passione [[PsychoForHire for the opportunity to torture and murder people]], and delights in the mass slaughter of innocent civilians. Everyone in Passione, ''even the Boss'' [[EvenEvilHasStandards considers him repulsively evil]].
** In ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardust Crusaders Stardust Crusaders]]'', the moment the crusaders encounter Terence T. D'Arby, [[TheGambler Daniel's]] younger brother and the last of the glory gods, they are left with a shock that he is ''even viler'' than his older brother. Despite having stolen fewer souls than Daniel, Terence [[LivingDollCreator traps them within dolls]] and [[AndIMustScream deliberately keeps them fully aware of their situation]] and inability to do anything about it. DIO is especially fond of this guy and not only is he the worst of the glory gods, he is the most vicious of DIO's goons since [[SerialRapist J. Geil]].
** The plot of
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* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'': Eggman has this relationship with [[EvilCounterpart his even eviller counterpart]] and/or [[KidFromTheFuture future descendant]], Eggman Nega. While Eggman wants to TakeOverTheWorld, [[EnemyMine he'll work with the heroes]] [[EvilVersusOblivion if something threatens the world]], and has his share of PetTheDog moments. Eggman Nega, by comparison, is a [[AxCrazy deranged]] [[TheSociopath sociopath]] who often delves into OmnicidalManiac tendencies. While Eggman [[AffablyEvil has a friendly side]], Nega [[FauxAffablyEvil only act polite]] as a MaskOfSanity.
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* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'': ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'': Eggman has this relationship with [[EvilCounterpart his even eviller counterpart]] and/or [[KidFromTheFuture future descendant]], Eggman Nega. While Eggman wants to TakeOverTheWorld, [[EnemyMine he'll work with the heroes]] [[EvilVersusOblivion if something threatens the world]], and has his share of PetTheDog moments. Eggman Nega, by comparison, is a [[AxCrazy deranged]] [[TheSociopath sociopath]] who often delves into OmnicidalManiac tendencies. While Eggman [[AffablyEvil has a friendly side]], Nega [[FauxAffablyEvil only act polite]] as a MaskOfSanity.
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* ''Franchise/{{Spiderman}}'': While ComicBook/{{Venom}} was introduced as a villain, he became more popular as an AntiHero. This led to the creation of ComicBook/{{Carnage}} to serve as his [[EvilCounterpart truly evil counterpart]]; while Eddie Brock was antagonistic to Spiderman out of IrrationalHatred, Cletus Kasady was a convicted SerialKiller who used the Carnage to kill people [[ForTheEvulz for fun]], often leading to an EnemyMine situation with Spidey and Venom against him.
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* ''Franchise/{{Spiderman}}'': ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': While ComicBook/{{Venom}} was introduced as a villain, he became more popular as an AntiHero. This led to the creation of ComicBook/{{Carnage}} to serve as his [[EvilCounterpart truly evil counterpart]]; while Eddie Brock was antagonistic to Spiderman Spider-Man out of IrrationalHatred, Cletus Kasady was a convicted SerialKiller who used the Carnage to kill people [[ForTheEvulz for fun]], often leading to an EnemyMine situation with Spidey and Venom against him.him. During the majority of the 2000s, the Mac Gargan version of Venom usurped this status, and Carnage was temporarily killed off.
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** [[TheFairFolk Fairies]] are generally considered [[FaceOfAnAngelMindOfAnDemon beautiful, but also vicious]]. First, only the fairies from Seelie Court are shown, and many of them are really prone to be evil. But the sequel ''Literature/TheDarkArtifices'' shows the Unseelie Court. And the fairies there are even more cruel.
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** [[TheFairFolk Fairies]] are generally considered [[FaceOfAnAngelMindOfAnDemon [[FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon beautiful, but also vicious]]. First, only the fairies from Seelie Court are shown, and many of them are really prone to be evil. But the sequel ''Literature/TheDarkArtifices'' shows the Unseelie Court. And the fairies there are even more cruel.
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* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' has this in play alongside the SortingAlgorithimOfEvil. The first recurring antagonist Prince Zuko is an AntiVillain with a a discernible FreudianExcuse, standards and redeeming qualities. Admiral Zhao, the next recurring villain and an antagonist to Zuko and the Gaang at separate intervals throughout Season 1, is more competent and more willing to cross the MoralEventHorizon. After [[spoiler:Zhao is killed in the first season finale]], Zuko's sister Princess Azula, who is more competent than Zhao and lacks any of Zuko's redeeming qualities, becomes the [[TheHeavy main villain]] and deals the team a crushing blow at the end of Season 2. Season 3 introduces Fire Lord Ozai in a full appearance (he had mainly appeared via flashback beforehand), who is perfectly happy to burn the world to ash to [[TakeOverTheWorld conquer it]].
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* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' has this in play alongside the SortingAlgorithimOfEvil.SortingAlgorithmOfEvil. The first recurring antagonist Prince Zuko is an AntiVillain with a a discernible FreudianExcuse, standards and redeeming qualities. Admiral Zhao, the next recurring villain and an antagonist to Zuko and the Gaang at separate intervals throughout Season 1, is more competent and more willing to cross the MoralEventHorizon. After [[spoiler:Zhao is killed in the first season finale]], Zuko's sister Princess Azula, who is more competent than Zhao and lacks any of Zuko's redeeming qualities, becomes the [[TheHeavy main villain]] and deals the team a crushing blow at the end of Season 2. Season 3 introduces Fire Lord Ozai in a full appearance (he had mainly appeared via flashback beforehand), who is perfectly happy to burn the world to ash to [[TakeOverTheWorld conquer it]].
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* Takemaru from ''Anime/InuYashaTheMovieSwordsOfAnHonorableRuler'' was far from being a good person. He was a cruel samurai and murderer. However, he had only a hatred for Inuyasha, Sesshomaru and their father. The demonic sword So'unga, on the other hand, wanted to destroy the world and flood it with undead.
* ''LightNovel/IsItWrongToTryToPickUpGirlsInADungeon'' was the first opponent rather some assholes (and later also [[AssholeVictim asshole victims]]) who have maltreated Liliruca. The sequel ''Sword Oratoria'', on the other hand, had a bad adventurer and contract killer working for a [[ManEatingPlant malicious plant monster]].
* ''LightNovel/IsItWrongToTryToPickUpGirlsInADungeon'' was the first opponent rather some assholes (and later also [[AssholeVictim asshole victims]]) who have maltreated Liliruca. The sequel ''Sword Oratoria'', on the other hand, had a bad adventurer and contract killer working for a [[ManEatingPlant malicious plant monster]].
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* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'': Cassidy and Butch serve as this and EvilerThanThou rivals to Jessie, James and Meowth. Both are Pokemon thieves working for Team Rocket, but Jessie and James are shown to care for their own Pokemon, [[EnemyMine work with]] or even sympathize with the heroes and have other likable traits. Cassidy and Butch by contrast lack any AffablyEvil traits and don't show any care for their Pokemon.
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* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'': Cassidy ''Manga/MagiLabyrinthOfMagic'' has as the first opponents a cruel but completely incompetent conqueror, and Butch serve as this later also a robber gang and EvilerThanThou rivals to Jessie, James a corrupt and Meowth. Both are Pokemon thieves working for Team Rocket, but Jessie and James are shown to care for their own Pokemon, [[EnemyMine work with]] or even sympathize with incompetent king. But the opponents who then attack the heroes belong to an organization of black magicians who want to bring the world into chaos and have other likable traits. Cassidy and Butch by contrast lack any AffablyEvil traits and don't show any care for their Pokemon.call themselves Al-Thamen.
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* ''LightNovel/IsItWrongToTryToPickUpGirlsInADungeon'' was the first opponent rather some assholes (and later also [[AssholeVictim asshole victims]]) who have maltreated Liliruca. The sequel ''Sword Oratoria'', on the other hand, had a bad adventurer and contract killer working for a [[ManEatingPlant malicious plant monster]].
* Takemaru from ''Anime/InuYashaTheMovieSwordsOfAnHonorableRuler'' was far from being a good person. He was a cruel samurai and murderer. However, he had only a hatred for Inuyasha, Sesshomaru and their father. The demonic sword So'unga, on the other hand, wanted to destroy the world and flood it with undead.
* ''Manga/MagiLabyrinthOfMagic'' has as the first opponents a cruel but completely incompetent conqueror, and later also a robber gang and a corrupt and incompetent king. But the opponents who then attack the heroes belong to an organization of black magicians who want to bring the world into chaos and call themselves Al-Thamen.
* Takemaru from ''Anime/InuYashaTheMovieSwordsOfAnHonorableRuler'' was far from being a good person. He was a cruel samurai and murderer. However, he had only a hatred for Inuyasha, Sesshomaru and their father. The demonic sword So'unga, on the other hand, wanted to destroy the world and flood it with undead.
* ''Manga/MagiLabyrinthOfMagic'' has as the first opponents a cruel but completely incompetent conqueror, and later also a robber gang and a corrupt and incompetent king. But the opponents who then attack the heroes belong to an organization of black magicians who want to bring the world into chaos and call themselves Al-Thamen.
* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'': Cassidy and Butch serve as this and EvilerThanThou rivals to Jessie, James and Meowth. Both are Pokemon thieves working for Team Rocket, but Jessie and James are shown to care for their own Pokemon, [[EnemyMine work with]] or even sympathize with the heroes and have other likable traits. Cassidy and Butch by contrast lack any AffablyEvil traits and don't show any care for their Pokemon.
* The movie version of ''Literature/SometimesTheyComeBack'' shows three murderers who become undead and haunt those who killed them then. The three murderers in the sequel, on the other hand, have [[DemonOfHumanOrigin become demons]], and they are much more cruel and sadistic than those from the prequel.
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* The movie version of ''Literature/SometimesTheyComeBack'' shows three murderers who become undead and haunt those who killed them then. The three murderers in the sequel, on the other hand, have [[DemonOfHumanOrigin become demons]], and they are much more cruel and sadistic than those from the prequel.
* [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]] with Roose and Ramsay Bolton in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''. Roose Bolton is a [[TheSociopath sociopathic]] [[AristocratsAreEvil lord]] that starts as the TokenEvilTeammate for House Stark, [[TheStarscream before betraying them]] in the Red Wedding. While bad, he tries to promote order. His [[BastardBastard bastard son]] Ramsay is a wild sadist who openly tortures and kills people, much to his father's frustration. However, Roose is almost sadistic as his son beneath his MaskOfSanity and opposes Ramsay's naked cruelty [[PragmaticVillainy because it's bad PR rather than any morality]]. However he does have one distinct standard above Ramsay, that being even he wouldn't kill his own kin despite how StupidEvil his bastard is, while Ramsay is heavily implied to have murdered his legitimate half-brother to become Roose's heir.
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* [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]] with Roose and Ramsay Bolton in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''. Roose Bolton is a [[TheSociopath sociopathic]] [[AristocratsAreEvil lord]] that starts as the TokenEvilTeammate for House Stark, [[TheStarscream before betraying them]] in the Red Wedding. While bad, he tries to promote order. His [[BastardBastard bastard son]] Ramsay is a wild sadist who openly tortures and kills people, much to his father's frustration. However, Roose is almost sadistic as his son beneath his MaskOfSanity and opposes Ramsay's naked cruelty [[PragmaticVillainy because it's bad PR rather than any morality]]. However he does have one distinct standard above Ramsay, that being even he wouldn't kill his own kin despite how StupidEvil his bastard is, while Ramsay is heavily implied to have murdered his legitimate half-brother to become Roose's heir
* ''Literature/TheseWordsAreTrueAndFaithful'': Ernie, the VillainProtagonist, has standards but sometimes grants himself a [[SpecialPleading dispensation]] because he lets his heart (or other body parts) rule him. His affair with Danny, who turns out to be an amoral leech, causes him to reconsider what he's done.
* ''Literature/TheseWordsAreTrueAndFaithful'': Ernie, the VillainProtagonist, has standards but sometimes grants himself a [[SpecialPleading dispensation]] because he lets his heart (or other body parts) rule him. His affair with Danny, who turns out to be an amoral leech, causes him to reconsider what he's done.
* ''Literature/TheseWordsAreTrueAndFaithful'': Ernie, the VillainProtagonist, has standards but sometimes grants himself a [[SpecialPleading dispensation]] because he lets his heart (or other body parts) rule him. His affair with Danny, who turns out to be an amoral leech, causes him to reconsider what he's done.
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* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
** Tywin Lannister and Gregor "the Mountain" Clegane. The former is a MagnificentBastard obsessed with keeping his family in power, the latter is a rape-happy PsychoForHire who kills whoever Tywin tells him to ([[OverzealousUnderling and then some]]). When Cersei eventually takes the throne and uses the Mountain (now a TechnicallyLivingZombie) as her bodyguard, she still has a use for his brute strength, but this fails her in the final season when [[spoiler:the Mountain disregards her orders and kills his creator in order to fight his brother Sandor.]]
** The Night King serves as this in contrast to the rest of the various lords squabbling for power. While many of these lords and nobles are bad people, they're still human beings with relatable or reasonable reasons for what they do. The Night King, by contrast, is a literally inhuman force of nature than only wants to [[OmnicidalManiac wipe out every living thing]], and has zero interest in any of the politics or personal relationships of the rest of Westeros.
** Tywin Lannister and Gregor "the Mountain" Clegane. The former is a MagnificentBastard obsessed with keeping his family in power, the latter is a rape-happy PsychoForHire who kills whoever Tywin tells him to ([[OverzealousUnderling and then some]]). When Cersei eventually takes the throne and uses the Mountain (now a TechnicallyLivingZombie) as her bodyguard, she still has a use for his brute strength, but this fails her in the final season when [[spoiler:the Mountain disregards her orders and kills his creator in order to fight his brother Sandor.]]
** The Night King serves as this in contrast to the rest of the various lords squabbling for power. While many of these lords and nobles are bad people, they're still human beings with relatable or reasonable reasons for what they do. The Night King, by contrast, is a literally inhuman force of nature than only wants to [[OmnicidalManiac wipe out every living thing]], and has zero interest in any of the politics or personal relationships of the rest of Westeros.
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
** Tywin Lannister and Gregor "the Mountain" Clegane. The former is a MagnificentBastard obsessed with keeping his family in power, the latter is a rape-happy PsychoForHire who kills whoever Tywin tells him to ([[OverzealousUnderling and then some]]). When Cersei eventually takes the throne and uses the Mountain (now a TechnicallyLivingZombie) as her bodyguard, she still has a use for his brute strength, but this fails her in the final season when [[spoiler:the Mountain disregards her orders and kills his creator in order to fight his brother Sandor.]]
** The Night King serves as this in contrast to the rest of the various lords squabbling for power. While many of these lords and nobles are bad people, they're still human beings with relatable or reasonable reasons for what they do. The Night King, by contrast, is a literally inhuman force of nature than only wants to [[OmnicidalManiac wipe out every living thing]], and has zero interest in any of the politics or personal relationships of the rest of Westeros.
** Tywin Lannister and Gregor "the Mountain" Clegane. The former is a MagnificentBastard obsessed with keeping his family in power, the latter is a rape-happy PsychoForHire who kills whoever Tywin tells him to ([[OverzealousUnderling and then some]]). When Cersei eventually takes the throne and uses the Mountain (now a TechnicallyLivingZombie) as her bodyguard, she still has a use for his brute strength, but this fails her in the final season when [[spoiler:the Mountain disregards her orders and kills his creator in order to fight his brother Sandor.]]
** The Night King serves as this in contrast to the rest of the various lords squabbling for power. While many of these lords and nobles are bad people, they're still human beings with relatable or reasonable reasons for what they do. The Night King, by contrast, is a literally inhuman force of nature than only wants to [[OmnicidalManiac wipe out every living thing]], and has zero interest in any of the politics or personal relationships of the rest of Westeros.
** The sequel ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' also plays this trope. The Red Lotus is made up of terrorists and assassins, but their actions bring Kuvira to power in the fourth season.
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* Zuko from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' was from the beginning rather an anti-hero or anti-villain, than a real villain. Midway of the third season, he even joins the heroes. But his sister [[AxCrazy Azula]] is much worse.
** The sequel ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' also plays this trope. The Red Lotus is made up of terrorists and assassins, but their actions bring Kuvira to power in the fourth season.
** The sequel ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' also plays this trope. The Red Lotus is made up of terrorists and assassins, but their actions bring Kuvira to power in the fourth season.
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* ''LightNovel/IsItWrongToTryToPickUpGirlsInADungeon'' was the first opponent rather some assholes (and later also [[AssholeVictim asshole victims]]) who have maltreated Liliruca. The sequel ''Sword Oratoria'', on the other hand, had a bad adventurer and contract killer working for a [[ManEatingPlant malicious plant monster]].
* Takemaru from ''Anime/InuYashaTheMovieSwordsOfAnHonorableRuler'' was far from being a good person. He was a cruel samurai and murderer. However, he had only a hatred for Inuyasha, Sesshomaru and their father. The demonic sword So'unga, on the other hand, wanted to destroy the world and flood it with undead.
* ''Manga/MagiLabyrinthOfMagic'' has as the first opponents a cruel but completely incompetent conqueror, and later also a robber gang and a corrupt and incompetent king. But the opponents who then attack the heroes belong to an organization of black magicians who want to bring the world into chaos and call themselves Al-Thamen.
* The first parasites from ''Manga/{{Parasyte}}'' just want to eat humans, and actually have no sadistic pleasure in killing them. [[BlueAndOrangeMorality They even compare the eating of humans with the consumption of pigs and cows]]. But then Gotou, a particularly powerful parasite, is the new enemy. And he's [[AxCrazy crazy]] about killing as many humans as possible.
* Takemaru from ''Anime/InuYashaTheMovieSwordsOfAnHonorableRuler'' was far from being a good person. He was a cruel samurai and murderer. However, he had only a hatred for Inuyasha, Sesshomaru and their father. The demonic sword So'unga, on the other hand, wanted to destroy the world and flood it with undead.
* ''Manga/MagiLabyrinthOfMagic'' has as the first opponents a cruel but completely incompetent conqueror, and later also a robber gang and a corrupt and incompetent king. But the opponents who then attack the heroes belong to an organization of black magicians who want to bring the world into chaos and call themselves Al-Thamen.
* The first parasites from ''Manga/{{Parasyte}}'' just want to eat humans, and actually have no sadistic pleasure in killing them. [[BlueAndOrangeMorality They even compare the eating of humans with the consumption of pigs and cows]]. But then Gotou, a particularly powerful parasite, is the new enemy. And he's [[AxCrazy crazy]] about killing as many humans as possible.
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* The movie version of ''Literature/SometimesTheyComeBack'' shows three murderers who become undead and haunt those who killed them then. The three murderers in the sequel, on the other hand, have [[DemonOfHumanOrigin become demons]], and they are much more cruel and sadistic than those from the prequel.
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* Valentine Morgenstern from ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments'' was a racist [[FantasticRacism who had despised the humans and]] [[FantasyKitchenSink downwoldlers]], and wanted a world in which there are only [[{{Nephilim}} shadowhunters]]. After he was defeated, and Sebastian Morgenstern became the next [[BigBad big bad]], it turned out that he was much more evil and wanted to turn the whole world into a hotbed of demons.
** [[TheFairFolk Fairies]] are generally considered [[FaceOfAnAngelMindOfAnDemon beautiful, but also vicious]]. First, only the fairies from Seelie Court are shown, and many of them are really prone to be evil. But the sequel ''Literature/TheDarkArtifices'' shows the Unseelie Court. And the fairies there are even more cruel.
* Luke from ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'' is an anti-villain who has at least a legitimate reason to rebel against the gods, even if that does not excuse many of his actions. But the sequel ''Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus'' shows Gaia, who is a very powerful and very evil goddess and wants to destroy the world.
** Even minor villains like Octavian are far more vicious than Luke was.
** [[TheFairFolk Fairies]] are generally considered [[FaceOfAnAngelMindOfAnDemon beautiful, but also vicious]]. First, only the fairies from Seelie Court are shown, and many of them are really prone to be evil. But the sequel ''Literature/TheDarkArtifices'' shows the Unseelie Court. And the fairies there are even more cruel.
* Luke from ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'' is an anti-villain who has at least a legitimate reason to rebel against the gods, even if that does not excuse many of his actions. But the sequel ''Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus'' shows Gaia, who is a very powerful and very evil goddess and wants to destroy the world.
** Even minor villains like Octavian are far more vicious than Luke was.
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* This happened several times in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''.
** Spike started as [[BigBad Big Bad]] of the second season. But by the [[AlwaysChaoticEvil standards of vampires]], he was not very evil. Although he was a real opponent for Buffy, and killed some humans, Angelus was worse. He showed from the outset a very cruel and sadistic behavior. And he wanted to free a demon that would turn the whole world into hell.
** [[DarkActionGirl Faith]] in the third season kills Mr. Trick, [[TheDragon the Dragon]] of the ''Big Bad''. And then she became his new dragon. Among her acts were the attempted rape of Xander, the (indirect) rape of Riley, the kidnapping of Willow, the brutal torture of Wesley, a murder attempt on Angel, and at least four murders (three humans and a benevolent demon, the first of which was really an accident).
** Maggie Walsh in the fourth season was just a scientist with evil motives. And she created a monster named Adam, which consisted of the body parts of humans, demons and machines. Adam killed her and became the next ''Big Bad'' of the season. However, since he pursued roughly the same plan as Maggie Walsh, it is more a case of creating a more dangerous villain rather than a more vicious villain.
** In the sixth season, the new opponents are a trio of supervillains. The three are not very effective as villains, and at least one of them is [[HarmlessVillain more of a nuisance than really evil]]. But after Warren kills Tara, Willow falls into evil magic and trying to destroy the world.
** In ''Series/{{Angel}}'', this is discussed as the heroes fight a powerful demon they call ''The Beast''. They want to get Angelus to give them informations on how to fight this demon. But some of the heroes are against it, arguing that Angelus could be far more dangerous than this demon.
* The three Weird Sisters from ''Series/ChillingAdventuresOfSabrina'' are [[TheBully really assholes]]. But even during the first season shows that Father Blackwood is much more malicious. And at the end of the plot, they even have to fight the devil.
** Spike started as [[BigBad Big Bad]] of the second season. But by the [[AlwaysChaoticEvil standards of vampires]], he was not very evil. Although he was a real opponent for Buffy, and killed some humans, Angelus was worse. He showed from the outset a very cruel and sadistic behavior. And he wanted to free a demon that would turn the whole world into hell.
** [[DarkActionGirl Faith]] in the third season kills Mr. Trick, [[TheDragon the Dragon]] of the ''Big Bad''. And then she became his new dragon. Among her acts were the attempted rape of Xander, the (indirect) rape of Riley, the kidnapping of Willow, the brutal torture of Wesley, a murder attempt on Angel, and at least four murders (three humans and a benevolent demon, the first of which was really an accident).
** Maggie Walsh in the fourth season was just a scientist with evil motives. And she created a monster named Adam, which consisted of the body parts of humans, demons and machines. Adam killed her and became the next ''Big Bad'' of the season. However, since he pursued roughly the same plan as Maggie Walsh, it is more a case of creating a more dangerous villain rather than a more vicious villain.
** In the sixth season, the new opponents are a trio of supervillains. The three are not very effective as villains, and at least one of them is [[HarmlessVillain more of a nuisance than really evil]]. But after Warren kills Tara, Willow falls into evil magic and trying to destroy the world.
** In ''Series/{{Angel}}'', this is discussed as the heroes fight a powerful demon they call ''The Beast''. They want to get Angelus to give them informations on how to fight this demon. But some of the heroes are against it, arguing that Angelus could be far more dangerous than this demon.
* The three Weird Sisters from ''Series/ChillingAdventuresOfSabrina'' are [[TheBully really assholes]]. But even during the first season shows that Father Blackwood is much more malicious. And at the end of the plot, they even have to fight the devil.
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* Zuko from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' was from the beginning rather an anti-hero or anti-villain, than a real villain. Midway of the third season, he even joins the heroes. But his sister [[AxCrazy Azula]] is much worse.
** The sequel ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' also plays this trope. The Red Lotus is made up of terrorists and assassins, but their actions bring Kuvira to power in the fourth season.
** The sequel ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' also plays this trope. The Red Lotus is made up of terrorists and assassins, but their actions bring Kuvira to power in the fourth season.
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* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' has this in play alongside the SortingAlgorithimOfEvil. The first recurring antagonist Prince Zuko is an AntiVillain with a a discernible FreudianExcuse, standards and redeeming qualities. Admiral Zhao, the next recurring villain and an antagonist to Zuko and the Gaang at separate intervals throughout Season 1, is more competent and more willing to cross the MoralEventHorizon. After [[spoiler:Zhao is killed in the first season finale]], Zuko's sister Princess Azula, who is more competent than Zhao and lacks any of Zuko's redeeming qualities, becomes the [[TheHeavy main villain]] and deals the team a crushing blow at the end of Season 2. Season 3 introduces Fire Lord Ozai in a full appearance (he had mainly appeared via flashback beforehand), who is perfectly happy to burn the world to ash to [[TakeOverTheWorld conquer it]].
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** One might argue that up untill seasons 5, the villains got worse and viler along the go, ending with Trittanus, who was completely unredemptable.
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** One might argue that up untill until seasons 5, the villains got worse and viler along the go, ending with Trittanus, who was completely unredemptable.
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* When the girls in ''WesternAnimation/WITCH'' defeat Phobos, it turns out there was another, arguably worse villain that had been planning out her come-back since the start of the series.
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* When the girls in ''WesternAnimation/WITCH'' [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/WesternAnimation/WITCH W.I.T.C.H.]] defeat Phobos, it turns out there was another, arguably worse villain that had been planning out her come-back since the start of the series.
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Changed line(s) 73 (click to see context) from:
* When the girls in ''Westernanimation/WITCH'' defeat Phobos, it turns out there was another, arguably worse villain that had been planning out her come-back since the start of the series.
to:
** One might argue that up untill seasons 5, the villains got worse and viler along the go, ending with Trittanus, who was completely unredemptable.
* When the girls in''Westernanimation/WITCH'' ''WesternAnimation/WITCH'' defeat Phobos, it turns out there was another, arguably worse villain that had been planning out her come-back since the start of the series.
* When the girls in
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* In ''Westernanimation/WinxClub'' season 4, the wizards of the Black Circle seem to have changed their ways, only for the Earth fairies to become the new enemies. After they get redempted, it turns out the wizards just pretended to be nice and pick up their villainous ways [[spoiler: becoming the very first characters to permanently kill a main character/]]
* When the girls in ''Westernanimation/WITCH'' defeat Phobos, it turns out there was another, arguably worse villain that had been planning out her come-back since the start of the series.
* When the girls in ''Westernanimation/WITCH'' defeat Phobos, it turns out there was another, arguably worse villain that had been planning out her come-back since the start of the series.
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* The first recurring antagonist for ''WesternAnimation/BugsBunny'' is Elmer Fudd, going back to 1941's ''Elmers Pet Rabbit'' (or 1940's ''WesternAnimation/ElmersCandidCamera'', if you regard this rascally rabbit as Bugs Bunny). Elmer, however, seemed too gullible and undeserving of the KarmicTrickster's abuse, so Isadore "Friz" Freleng created six-gun bandit Yosemite Sam in 1945 to trouble Bugs; a deliberate {{Jerkass}} who'd deserve to be bested by Bugs. Of course, Sam fared no better than Elmer, so 1953 ushered in the Tasmanian Devil, a ChaoticNeutral whirling dervish with a ravenous appetite.
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* The first recurring antagonist for ''WesternAnimation/BugsBunny'' is Elmer Fudd, going back to 1941's ''Elmers Pet Rabbit'' (or 1940's ''WesternAnimation/ElmersCandidCamera'', if you regard this rascally rabbit as Bugs Bunny). Elmer, however, seemed too gullible and undeserving of the KarmicTrickster's abuse, so Isadore "Friz" Freleng created six-gun bandit Yosemite Sam in 1945 to trouble Bugs; a deliberate {{Jerkass}} who'd deserve to be bested by Bugs. Of course, Sam fared no better than Elmer, so 1948 saw the debut of Marvin the Martian, who is very calm and soft-spoken by contrast, but wants to cause an EarthShatteringKaboom, and then 1953 ushered in the Tasmanian Devil, a ChaoticNeutral whirling dervish with a ravenous appetite.
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A LikableVillain can be fun, either because [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans they have a good goal]], [[AffablyEvil are pleasant]] or otherwise relatable. But sometimes you want a more straight villain, [[HateSink someone to be hated for their evil]]. Maybe the likable villain used to fill that role, but since they TookALevelInKindness that role needs filling. Perhaps there needs to be a worse villain for the nicer villain to have a plausible EnemyMine situation with the hero, or have a HeelFaceTurn [[EvilVersusEvil to oppose them]]. The darker shade of black contrasts the nicer by lacking their nobler intentions, [[EvenEvilHasStandards standards]], attachments and geniality. If the likable villain isn't a KnightOfCerebus, this villain might be. That, and/or they function as a HateSink, though sometimes they can take the role of [[LoveToHate being enjoyed for their heinousness]] in a way the nicer villain can not. Usually they're an [[EvilCounterpart even eviller counterpart]] or {{Foil}} to the honorable villain to make the point clear. Expect them to provoke EvenEvilHasStandards from the other villains.
While similar to EvilerThanThou, that's when one villain demonstrates their superiority over another villain, usually to prove they're more of a threat. A Darker Shade Of Black is when a villain is shown to be more ''evil'' to another villain, and there isn't a rivalry involved. The "Oblivion" in EvilVersusOblivion often fill this role, but sometimes they're just as evil or even [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds shown as more sympathetic than the "Evil"]]. The polar opposite of ALighterShadeOfBlack, where a villain is better than another, and like that trope it's often used to determine who should be rooted for or against in EvilVersusEvil situations.
May lead to EnemyMine situations (where the previous villain has to team-up TheHero to finish this menace and come back to the previous status quo) and HeroRivalBaddieTeamUp (where also TheRival is summed to the team to defeat this menace), both alliances made temporarily and ''[[TeethClenchedTeamwork teeth-clenched]]''. When there's a truly heroic figure to compare, it's TheGoodTheBadAndTheEvil. Related to SortingAlgorithmOfEvil, and particularly SlidingScaleOfAntagonistVileness - the new villain has to be less sympathetic on that scale than the older one.
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!!Examples:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* ''Manga/AkameGaKill'': The Jaegars serve TheEmpire, but even the worst of them have a strict moral code, don't indiscriminately kill citizens of the Empire unless they believe they're part of LaResistance. Later on the Wild Hunt is introduced as secondary enforcers of the Empire, who serve to make the Jaegars look good by comparison by being [[PsychoForHire hired psychopaths]] who will kill and rape innocent citizens [[ForTheEvulz out of sadism]], and have no care for each other's well-being compared to the genuine sense of camaraderie the Jaegars have for each other. They're so vile [[EnemyMine Night Raid and the Jaegars team up against them]].
* ''Franchise/{{Dragonball}}'' sometimes uses this trope in regards to introducing new villains.
** ''Recap/DragonBallZNamekArc'': Frieza serves as this role to previous ArcVillain Vegeta. While Vegeta is just as interested in conquering the galaxy as Frieza, he has [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy a warrior's pride]] and is willing to work with the heroes against a common threat. Frieza is even larger scale villain than Vegeta was, and is shown to be far more sadistic and cutthroat. And while Vegeta has VillainousValor, Frieza [[DirtyCoward is ultimately a coward]] that tries to kill Goku behind his back [[UngratefulBastard even after Goku saved his life]].
** ''Recap/DragonBallZAndroidArc'': Cell ends up being the final antagonist in the Android arc after Android 17 and 18. Like them, he's a killer android, but while they are delinquents who only plan to kill Goku, Cell is a homicidal android that drains the life of thousands of people with glee, and after becoming perfect wants to kill everyone so he can watch their faces contort in terror. While the twins end up having a HeelFaceTurn, Cell rejects any desire to stop his villainy and dies evil through and through.
** ''Recap/DragonBallZMajinBuuArc'': The Majin Buu introduced at the start of the arc is a villain that causes random destruction and turns people into candy, however there is a large amount of levity to his actions [[LaughablyEvil because of his comical personality]], and only does bad things [[ObliviouslyEvil because he doesn't know they're evil]]. After he has a HeelFaceTurn, a new ArcVillain is introduced in his SuperpoweredEvilSide Super Buu, who's intentionally cruel and sadistic. He, in turn, is replaced by Kid Buu, who's animalistic and a completely insane force of evil in contrast to "Fat Buu".
* The plot of ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureVentoAureo'' centers around a bunch of mobsters, who vary in morality. However among [[BigBad the Boss]]' Special Unit, [[MadDoctor Cioccolata]] is meant to stand out as particularly horrible. While ruthless, most of the guard is motivated [[OnlyInItForTheMoney by cash]] and try to avoid harming innocent civilians. Cioccolata however is a disturbed sadist and SerialKiller who only joined Passione [[PsychoForHire for the opportunity to torture and murder people]], and delights in the mass slaughter of innocent civilians. Everyone in Passione, ''even the Boss'' [[EvenEvilHasStandards considers him repulsively evil]].
* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'': Cassidy and Butch serve as this and EvilerThanThou rivals to Jessie, James and Meowth. Both are Pokemon thieves working for Team Rocket, but Jessie and James are shown to care for their own Pokemon, [[EnemyMine work with]] or even sympathize with the heroes and have other likable traits. Cassidy and Butch by contrast lack any AffablyEvil traits and don't show any care for their Pokemon.
* ''LightNovel/Overlord2012'': Ainz is stuck babysitting a bunch of murderous psychopaths (essentially a bunch of [[OriginalCharacter Original Characters]] created by people in full edgelord phase) united only in their unwavering faith and devotion in Ainz as their PhysicalGod and their hatred of humans. Because Ainz still thinks like a human, he's unaware of their more troublesome quirks like Demiurge running a vast vivisection operation on beastmen or Lupusregina interpreting Ainz' orders to guard a human as "don't kill him yourself", even as he's trying to run a kingdom where different races can live in peace.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Comic Books]]
* ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'': The team's archnemesis Doctor Doom is regarded as the Most Dangerous Man On Earth, being both an OmnidisciplinaryScientist and versed in FunctionalMagic. Doom rules the small Balkan nation of Latveria as absolute monarch. That is, until he was snared by the Puppetmaster, leaving his nation bereft of leader. Exiled Prince Zorba appears, and claims the Latverian throne. Zorba then slowly devolves into a petty tyrant, turning Latveria from the crown jewel of Europe into a jackboot hellhole. The Fantastic Four actually help Doom regain the throne rather than let decent people suffer Zorba's tyranny.
* ''Franchise/GreenLantern'': The second Mongul ended up getting this treatment upon his RoguesGalleryTransplant and attempted coup of the Sinestro Corps. While Sinestro is a fascist alien who enforces his will with fear, [[WellIntentionedExtremist he still believes he's a force for good and order]], [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes and cares for his daughter]]. By contrast, Mongul merrily runs whatever he conquers into the ground and punched off the head of his own sister because she was a "weakness". Sinestro also carries a certain charisma and properly leads the Sinestro Corps, while Mongul is a {{Jerkass}} [[BadBoss who kills anyone that remotely questions him]], and [[ZeroPercentApprovalRating his faction only follows him because they fear for their lives]].
* ''Franchise/{{Spiderman}}'': While ComicBook/{{Venom}} was introduced as a villain, he became more popular as an AntiHero. This led to the creation of ComicBook/{{Carnage}} to serve as his [[EvilCounterpart truly evil counterpart]]; while Eddie Brock was antagonistic to Spiderman out of IrrationalHatred, Cletus Kasady was a convicted SerialKiller who used the Carnage to kill people [[ForTheEvulz for fun]], often leading to an EnemyMine situation with Spidey and Venom against him.
* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'': ComicBook/{{Brainiac}} functions like this with the Man of Steel's other ArchEnemy ComicBook/LexLuthor. Both are [[EvilGenius evil geniuses]], however, Luthor has always been given humanizing elements like [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans believing that he's bettering humanity]], [[EvenEvilHasStandards loved ones]] [[AffablyEvil or affability]]. Brainiac, by contrast, has almost always been written as a completely inhuman foe([[AliensAreBastards literally]] and figuratively) who destroys civilizations [[ControlFreak just to keep their knowledge to himself]]. While Luthor and Brainiac have teamed up on numerous occasions, [[TeethClenchedTeamwork Luthor has always been uneasy about it]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Darth Vader was initially introduced as a straight villain, but as the original trilogy progressed he was revealed to be a TragicVillain [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes who deeply cared for his son Luke]] and [[WeCanRuleTogether wanted to rule the galaxy together]]. To make his eventual redemption and fall seem more understandable, Emperor Palpatine was introduced as an unambiguously evil figure [[TheManBehindTheMan who turned Vader evil in the first place]] and for Vader to ultimately strike down as part of his break from the Dark Side. While Darth Vader would be characterized as an AntiVillain and FallenHero [[BeingEvilSucks who hated what he'd become]] and his StartOfDarkness would be shown in the prequels, Palpatine would be written as lacking any redeeming qualities, and having no tragic past or good reason why he became who he was asides from [[DespotismJustifiesTheMeans sheer power-lust]] [[EvilFeelsGood and sheer delight in being evil]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/ConanTheBarbarian'': Conan will frequently go from [[AssholeVictim administering well-deserved violence unto a reprehensible example of humanity]] at the start of a story to [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu punching out Cthulhu]] by the end.
** ''Literature/ThePhoenixOnTheSword'': The conspirators attempting to assassinate King Conan and usurp his throne are not nice people, but EvilSorcerer [[BreakoutVillain Thoth-Amon]] and the demon he summons with his Serpent Ring of Set are so nasty a long-dead adversary of Set is forced to give Conan mystical assistance from beyond the grave (the titular Phoenix) to stop them.
** ''Literature/XuthalOfTheDusk'': Thalis is the primary antagonist for much of the story, intending to sacrifice Conan's GirlOfTheWeek to [[EldritchAbomination Thog]] so she can have Conan all to herself. She's eaten ([[NothingIsScarier or something]]) by Thog, leaving Conan to lay the smackdown upon the "god."
** ''Literature/TheValeOfLostWomen'': Conan leads his tribe of warriors to slaughter the tribe they'd come to parley with (who Conan knew full well would betray them the first chance they got) to rescue the fair maiden the other tribe had captured. In a panic, said fair maiden flees into the titular Vale, home to a "[[EldritchAbomination Demon of the Outer Dark]]," which Conan sends packing with his trusty sword.
* ''Literature/MorganvilleVampires'' features the vampire [[IceQueen Amelie]] and her father Bishop. Amelie as leader of the Morganville vampires can be ruthless and perfectly willing to kill people if it means that vampires are able to survive as she feels its for the good of her people. That said she does everything with the [[WellIntentionedExtremist best of intentions]] and is also [[AffablyEvil genuinely friendly]] and even views the series heroine Claire Danvers as a surrogate daughter of sorts. In contrast her father, Bishop who is introduced later in the series is a ruthless sociopath who would bring about the extinction of all other vampires but him if it meant he got to rule and is far more prone to violence and bloodshed. Every ounce of politeness or apparently kind thought that comes from Bishop is [[FauxAffablyEvil fake]].
* [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]] with Roose and Ramsay Bolton in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''. Roose Bolton is a [[TheSociopath sociopathic]] [[AristocratsAreEvil lord]] that starts as the TokenEvilTeammate for House Stark, [[TheStarscream before betraying them]] in the Red Wedding. While bad, he tries to promote order. His [[BastardBastard bastard son]] Ramsay is a wild sadist who openly tortures and kills people, much to his father's frustration. However, Roose is almost sadistic as his son beneath his MaskOfSanity and opposes Ramsay's naked cruelty [[PragmaticVillainy because it's bad PR rather than any morality]]. However he does have one distinct standard above Ramsay, that being even he wouldn't kill his own kin despite how StupidEvil his bastard is, while Ramsay is heavily implied to have murdered his legitimate half-brother to become Roose's heir
* ''Literature/TheseWordsAreTrueAndFaithful'': Ernie, the VillainProtagonist, has standards but sometimes grants himself a [[SpecialPleading dispensation]] because he lets his heart (or other body parts) rule him. His affair with Danny, who turns out to be an amoral leech, causes him to reconsider what he's done.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
** Tywin Lannister and Gregor "the Mountain" Clegane. The former is a MagnificentBastard obsessed with keeping his family in power, the latter is a rape-happy PsychoForHire who kills whoever Tywin tells him to ([[OverzealousUnderling and then some]]). When Cersei eventually takes the throne and uses the Mountain (now a TechnicallyLivingZombie) as her bodyguard, she still has a use for his brute strength, but this fails her in the final season when [[spoiler:the Mountain disregards her orders and kills his creator in order to fight his brother Sandor.]]
** The Night King serves as this in contrast to the rest of the various lords squabbling for power. While many of these lords and nobles are bad people, they're still human beings with relatable or reasonable reasons for what they do. The Night King, by contrast, is a literally inhuman force of nature than only wants to [[OmnicidalManiac wipe out every living thing]], and has zero interest in any of the politics or personal relationships of the rest of Westeros.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/GalacticCivilizations 2'': The Drengin Empire are a CardCarryingVillain species who believe other species are only good for enslavement or Human Resources. Dark Avatar introduces the AbsoluteXenophobe Korath Clan, which split off from the Empire to pursue its goal of exterminating all alien life.
* ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'': Implied in the case of Revan. Malak is genuinely unhinged and veers close to StupidEvil, as compared to Revan's brand of PragmaticVillainy. So even many of the Sith characters you encounter would rather have Revan kick their former apprentice off the throne and take charge of the Sith again.
* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'': Eggman has this relationship with [[EvilCounterpart his even eviller counterpart]] and/or [[KidFromTheFuture future descendant]], Eggman Nega. While Eggman wants to TakeOverTheWorld, [[EnemyMine he'll work with the heroes]] [[EvilVersusOblivion if something threatens the world]], and has his share of PetTheDog moments. Eggman Nega, by comparison, is a [[AxCrazy deranged]] [[TheSociopath sociopath]] who often delves into OmnicidalManiac tendencies. While Eggman [[AffablyEvil has a friendly side]], Nega [[FauxAffablyEvil only act polite]] as a MaskOfSanity.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Web Animation]]
* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' goes through an escalating series of these:
** First we have Roman Torchwick, dapper, amusing, and deadly in a fight, but ultimately just a petty crook.
** Roman soon gets the White Fang working for him, a group of Faunus terrorists lashing out at humanity for generations of prejudice and oppression.
** And all this is the plan of [[spoiler:[[KnightOfCerebus Cinder Fall]] ]], a mysterious and powerful young woman running a ploy to [[spoiler:steal the immense mystical power of the Fall Maiden. [[TheBadGuyWins She succeeds]], and uses her new power to [[HeroKiller kill Ozpin and Pyrrha]]. The death of Penny and utter destruction of Beacon is just collateral damage on her way to her objective]].
** And then [[spoiler:Cinder is revealed to be working for [[TheManBehindTheMan Salem]], she who [[BigBad controls the Grimm]] and may or may not functionally be a [[HumanoidAbomination goddess of evil]].]]
** ZigZagged with Adam Taurus, implied early on to be the current leader of the White Fang and responsible for their shift from peaceful protest to terrorism. [[spoiler:We soon learn he's only the leader of a splinter faction. . . but the bulk of the White Fang agrees with him, and while the actual leader is a ReasonableAuthorityFigure in comparison to Adam, he shortly and violently removes her from power and brings the White Fang fully under his control.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Web Original]]
* ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall'': [[EldritchAbomination The Entity]] proves to be this to [[MultiversalConqueror Lord Vyce]]. While Vyce is a haughty conqueror of worlds, [[WellIntentionedExtremist he is trying to protect the worlds he conquers from the Entity]], and while the Entity wishes to consume and assimilate the multiverse. [[spoiler:Ultimately, at the end of their lives this trope is ''reversed''. The Entity ends up becoming pitiable [[AndThenWhat due to a lack of purpose]] and bonds with Linkara over its fears before vanishing gracefully, while Vyce [[VillainousBreakdown breaks down at not being able to accept the Entity is dead]], before proceeding to destroy the entire universe out of a mad belief that it'll kill the Entity. [[HeWhoFightsMonsters In a way, he becomes worse than the Entity]], who at least was only doing what came naturally to it.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Western Animation]]
* The first recurring antagonist for ''WesternAnimation/BugsBunny'' is Elmer Fudd, going back to 1941's ''Elmers Pet Rabbit'' (or 1940's ''WesternAnimation/ElmersCandidCamera'', if you regard this rascally rabbit as Bugs Bunny). Elmer, however, seemed too gullible and undeserving of the KarmicTrickster's abuse, so Isadore "Friz" Freleng created six-gun bandit Yosemite Sam in 1945 to trouble Bugs; a deliberate {{Jerkass}} who'd deserve to be bested by Bugs. Of course, Sam fared no better than Elmer, so 1953 ushered in the Tasmanian Devil, a ChaoticNeutral whirling dervish with a ravenous appetite.
* PlayedForLaughs in ''WesternAnimation/RenAndStimpy'': Stimpy ends up causing Ren to undergo a LiteralSplitPersonality between his evil side and indifferent side. The Evil Ren ends up splitting himself to create an army, resulting in the creation of ''Hideously'' Evil Ren. This even more evil Ren ends up dodging normal Evil Ren's punches and keeps punching him, before going off to live in UnholyMatrimony together.
[[/folder]]
While similar to EvilerThanThou, that's when one villain demonstrates their superiority over another villain, usually to prove they're more of a threat. A Darker Shade Of Black is when a villain is shown to be more ''evil'' to another villain, and there isn't a rivalry involved. The "Oblivion" in EvilVersusOblivion often fill this role, but sometimes they're just as evil or even [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds shown as more sympathetic than the "Evil"]]. The polar opposite of ALighterShadeOfBlack, where a villain is better than another, and like that trope it's often used to determine who should be rooted for or against in EvilVersusEvil situations.
May lead to EnemyMine situations (where the previous villain has to team-up TheHero to finish this menace and come back to the previous status quo) and HeroRivalBaddieTeamUp (where also TheRival is summed to the team to defeat this menace), both alliances made temporarily and ''[[TeethClenchedTeamwork teeth-clenched]]''. When there's a truly heroic figure to compare, it's TheGoodTheBadAndTheEvil. Related to SortingAlgorithmOfEvil, and particularly SlidingScaleOfAntagonistVileness - the new villain has to be less sympathetic on that scale than the older one.
----
!!Examples:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* ''Manga/AkameGaKill'': The Jaegars serve TheEmpire, but even the worst of them have a strict moral code, don't indiscriminately kill citizens of the Empire unless they believe they're part of LaResistance. Later on the Wild Hunt is introduced as secondary enforcers of the Empire, who serve to make the Jaegars look good by comparison by being [[PsychoForHire hired psychopaths]] who will kill and rape innocent citizens [[ForTheEvulz out of sadism]], and have no care for each other's well-being compared to the genuine sense of camaraderie the Jaegars have for each other. They're so vile [[EnemyMine Night Raid and the Jaegars team up against them]].
* ''Franchise/{{Dragonball}}'' sometimes uses this trope in regards to introducing new villains.
** ''Recap/DragonBallZNamekArc'': Frieza serves as this role to previous ArcVillain Vegeta. While Vegeta is just as interested in conquering the galaxy as Frieza, he has [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy a warrior's pride]] and is willing to work with the heroes against a common threat. Frieza is even larger scale villain than Vegeta was, and is shown to be far more sadistic and cutthroat. And while Vegeta has VillainousValor, Frieza [[DirtyCoward is ultimately a coward]] that tries to kill Goku behind his back [[UngratefulBastard even after Goku saved his life]].
** ''Recap/DragonBallZAndroidArc'': Cell ends up being the final antagonist in the Android arc after Android 17 and 18. Like them, he's a killer android, but while they are delinquents who only plan to kill Goku, Cell is a homicidal android that drains the life of thousands of people with glee, and after becoming perfect wants to kill everyone so he can watch their faces contort in terror. While the twins end up having a HeelFaceTurn, Cell rejects any desire to stop his villainy and dies evil through and through.
** ''Recap/DragonBallZMajinBuuArc'': The Majin Buu introduced at the start of the arc is a villain that causes random destruction and turns people into candy, however there is a large amount of levity to his actions [[LaughablyEvil because of his comical personality]], and only does bad things [[ObliviouslyEvil because he doesn't know they're evil]]. After he has a HeelFaceTurn, a new ArcVillain is introduced in his SuperpoweredEvilSide Super Buu, who's intentionally cruel and sadistic. He, in turn, is replaced by Kid Buu, who's animalistic and a completely insane force of evil in contrast to "Fat Buu".
* The plot of ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureVentoAureo'' centers around a bunch of mobsters, who vary in morality. However among [[BigBad the Boss]]' Special Unit, [[MadDoctor Cioccolata]] is meant to stand out as particularly horrible. While ruthless, most of the guard is motivated [[OnlyInItForTheMoney by cash]] and try to avoid harming innocent civilians. Cioccolata however is a disturbed sadist and SerialKiller who only joined Passione [[PsychoForHire for the opportunity to torture and murder people]], and delights in the mass slaughter of innocent civilians. Everyone in Passione, ''even the Boss'' [[EvenEvilHasStandards considers him repulsively evil]].
* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'': Cassidy and Butch serve as this and EvilerThanThou rivals to Jessie, James and Meowth. Both are Pokemon thieves working for Team Rocket, but Jessie and James are shown to care for their own Pokemon, [[EnemyMine work with]] or even sympathize with the heroes and have other likable traits. Cassidy and Butch by contrast lack any AffablyEvil traits and don't show any care for their Pokemon.
* ''LightNovel/Overlord2012'': Ainz is stuck babysitting a bunch of murderous psychopaths (essentially a bunch of [[OriginalCharacter Original Characters]] created by people in full edgelord phase) united only in their unwavering faith and devotion in Ainz as their PhysicalGod and their hatred of humans. Because Ainz still thinks like a human, he's unaware of their more troublesome quirks like Demiurge running a vast vivisection operation on beastmen or Lupusregina interpreting Ainz' orders to guard a human as "don't kill him yourself", even as he's trying to run a kingdom where different races can live in peace.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Comic Books]]
* ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'': The team's archnemesis Doctor Doom is regarded as the Most Dangerous Man On Earth, being both an OmnidisciplinaryScientist and versed in FunctionalMagic. Doom rules the small Balkan nation of Latveria as absolute monarch. That is, until he was snared by the Puppetmaster, leaving his nation bereft of leader. Exiled Prince Zorba appears, and claims the Latverian throne. Zorba then slowly devolves into a petty tyrant, turning Latveria from the crown jewel of Europe into a jackboot hellhole. The Fantastic Four actually help Doom regain the throne rather than let decent people suffer Zorba's tyranny.
* ''Franchise/GreenLantern'': The second Mongul ended up getting this treatment upon his RoguesGalleryTransplant and attempted coup of the Sinestro Corps. While Sinestro is a fascist alien who enforces his will with fear, [[WellIntentionedExtremist he still believes he's a force for good and order]], [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes and cares for his daughter]]. By contrast, Mongul merrily runs whatever he conquers into the ground and punched off the head of his own sister because she was a "weakness". Sinestro also carries a certain charisma and properly leads the Sinestro Corps, while Mongul is a {{Jerkass}} [[BadBoss who kills anyone that remotely questions him]], and [[ZeroPercentApprovalRating his faction only follows him because they fear for their lives]].
* ''Franchise/{{Spiderman}}'': While ComicBook/{{Venom}} was introduced as a villain, he became more popular as an AntiHero. This led to the creation of ComicBook/{{Carnage}} to serve as his [[EvilCounterpart truly evil counterpart]]; while Eddie Brock was antagonistic to Spiderman out of IrrationalHatred, Cletus Kasady was a convicted SerialKiller who used the Carnage to kill people [[ForTheEvulz for fun]], often leading to an EnemyMine situation with Spidey and Venom against him.
* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'': ComicBook/{{Brainiac}} functions like this with the Man of Steel's other ArchEnemy ComicBook/LexLuthor. Both are [[EvilGenius evil geniuses]], however, Luthor has always been given humanizing elements like [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans believing that he's bettering humanity]], [[EvenEvilHasStandards loved ones]] [[AffablyEvil or affability]]. Brainiac, by contrast, has almost always been written as a completely inhuman foe([[AliensAreBastards literally]] and figuratively) who destroys civilizations [[ControlFreak just to keep their knowledge to himself]]. While Luthor and Brainiac have teamed up on numerous occasions, [[TeethClenchedTeamwork Luthor has always been uneasy about it]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Darth Vader was initially introduced as a straight villain, but as the original trilogy progressed he was revealed to be a TragicVillain [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes who deeply cared for his son Luke]] and [[WeCanRuleTogether wanted to rule the galaxy together]]. To make his eventual redemption and fall seem more understandable, Emperor Palpatine was introduced as an unambiguously evil figure [[TheManBehindTheMan who turned Vader evil in the first place]] and for Vader to ultimately strike down as part of his break from the Dark Side. While Darth Vader would be characterized as an AntiVillain and FallenHero [[BeingEvilSucks who hated what he'd become]] and his StartOfDarkness would be shown in the prequels, Palpatine would be written as lacking any redeeming qualities, and having no tragic past or good reason why he became who he was asides from [[DespotismJustifiesTheMeans sheer power-lust]] [[EvilFeelsGood and sheer delight in being evil]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/ConanTheBarbarian'': Conan will frequently go from [[AssholeVictim administering well-deserved violence unto a reprehensible example of humanity]] at the start of a story to [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu punching out Cthulhu]] by the end.
** ''Literature/ThePhoenixOnTheSword'': The conspirators attempting to assassinate King Conan and usurp his throne are not nice people, but EvilSorcerer [[BreakoutVillain Thoth-Amon]] and the demon he summons with his Serpent Ring of Set are so nasty a long-dead adversary of Set is forced to give Conan mystical assistance from beyond the grave (the titular Phoenix) to stop them.
** ''Literature/XuthalOfTheDusk'': Thalis is the primary antagonist for much of the story, intending to sacrifice Conan's GirlOfTheWeek to [[EldritchAbomination Thog]] so she can have Conan all to herself. She's eaten ([[NothingIsScarier or something]]) by Thog, leaving Conan to lay the smackdown upon the "god."
** ''Literature/TheValeOfLostWomen'': Conan leads his tribe of warriors to slaughter the tribe they'd come to parley with (who Conan knew full well would betray them the first chance they got) to rescue the fair maiden the other tribe had captured. In a panic, said fair maiden flees into the titular Vale, home to a "[[EldritchAbomination Demon of the Outer Dark]]," which Conan sends packing with his trusty sword.
* ''Literature/MorganvilleVampires'' features the vampire [[IceQueen Amelie]] and her father Bishop. Amelie as leader of the Morganville vampires can be ruthless and perfectly willing to kill people if it means that vampires are able to survive as she feels its for the good of her people. That said she does everything with the [[WellIntentionedExtremist best of intentions]] and is also [[AffablyEvil genuinely friendly]] and even views the series heroine Claire Danvers as a surrogate daughter of sorts. In contrast her father, Bishop who is introduced later in the series is a ruthless sociopath who would bring about the extinction of all other vampires but him if it meant he got to rule and is far more prone to violence and bloodshed. Every ounce of politeness or apparently kind thought that comes from Bishop is [[FauxAffablyEvil fake]].
* [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]] with Roose and Ramsay Bolton in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''. Roose Bolton is a [[TheSociopath sociopathic]] [[AristocratsAreEvil lord]] that starts as the TokenEvilTeammate for House Stark, [[TheStarscream before betraying them]] in the Red Wedding. While bad, he tries to promote order. His [[BastardBastard bastard son]] Ramsay is a wild sadist who openly tortures and kills people, much to his father's frustration. However, Roose is almost sadistic as his son beneath his MaskOfSanity and opposes Ramsay's naked cruelty [[PragmaticVillainy because it's bad PR rather than any morality]]. However he does have one distinct standard above Ramsay, that being even he wouldn't kill his own kin despite how StupidEvil his bastard is, while Ramsay is heavily implied to have murdered his legitimate half-brother to become Roose's heir
* ''Literature/TheseWordsAreTrueAndFaithful'': Ernie, the VillainProtagonist, has standards but sometimes grants himself a [[SpecialPleading dispensation]] because he lets his heart (or other body parts) rule him. His affair with Danny, who turns out to be an amoral leech, causes him to reconsider what he's done.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
** Tywin Lannister and Gregor "the Mountain" Clegane. The former is a MagnificentBastard obsessed with keeping his family in power, the latter is a rape-happy PsychoForHire who kills whoever Tywin tells him to ([[OverzealousUnderling and then some]]). When Cersei eventually takes the throne and uses the Mountain (now a TechnicallyLivingZombie) as her bodyguard, she still has a use for his brute strength, but this fails her in the final season when [[spoiler:the Mountain disregards her orders and kills his creator in order to fight his brother Sandor.]]
** The Night King serves as this in contrast to the rest of the various lords squabbling for power. While many of these lords and nobles are bad people, they're still human beings with relatable or reasonable reasons for what they do. The Night King, by contrast, is a literally inhuman force of nature than only wants to [[OmnicidalManiac wipe out every living thing]], and has zero interest in any of the politics or personal relationships of the rest of Westeros.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/GalacticCivilizations 2'': The Drengin Empire are a CardCarryingVillain species who believe other species are only good for enslavement or Human Resources. Dark Avatar introduces the AbsoluteXenophobe Korath Clan, which split off from the Empire to pursue its goal of exterminating all alien life.
* ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'': Implied in the case of Revan. Malak is genuinely unhinged and veers close to StupidEvil, as compared to Revan's brand of PragmaticVillainy. So even many of the Sith characters you encounter would rather have Revan kick their former apprentice off the throne and take charge of the Sith again.
* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'': Eggman has this relationship with [[EvilCounterpart his even eviller counterpart]] and/or [[KidFromTheFuture future descendant]], Eggman Nega. While Eggman wants to TakeOverTheWorld, [[EnemyMine he'll work with the heroes]] [[EvilVersusOblivion if something threatens the world]], and has his share of PetTheDog moments. Eggman Nega, by comparison, is a [[AxCrazy deranged]] [[TheSociopath sociopath]] who often delves into OmnicidalManiac tendencies. While Eggman [[AffablyEvil has a friendly side]], Nega [[FauxAffablyEvil only act polite]] as a MaskOfSanity.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Web Animation]]
* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' goes through an escalating series of these:
** First we have Roman Torchwick, dapper, amusing, and deadly in a fight, but ultimately just a petty crook.
** Roman soon gets the White Fang working for him, a group of Faunus terrorists lashing out at humanity for generations of prejudice and oppression.
** And all this is the plan of [[spoiler:[[KnightOfCerebus Cinder Fall]] ]], a mysterious and powerful young woman running a ploy to [[spoiler:steal the immense mystical power of the Fall Maiden. [[TheBadGuyWins She succeeds]], and uses her new power to [[HeroKiller kill Ozpin and Pyrrha]]. The death of Penny and utter destruction of Beacon is just collateral damage on her way to her objective]].
** And then [[spoiler:Cinder is revealed to be working for [[TheManBehindTheMan Salem]], she who [[BigBad controls the Grimm]] and may or may not functionally be a [[HumanoidAbomination goddess of evil]].]]
** ZigZagged with Adam Taurus, implied early on to be the current leader of the White Fang and responsible for their shift from peaceful protest to terrorism. [[spoiler:We soon learn he's only the leader of a splinter faction. . . but the bulk of the White Fang agrees with him, and while the actual leader is a ReasonableAuthorityFigure in comparison to Adam, he shortly and violently removes her from power and brings the White Fang fully under his control.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Web Original]]
* ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall'': [[EldritchAbomination The Entity]] proves to be this to [[MultiversalConqueror Lord Vyce]]. While Vyce is a haughty conqueror of worlds, [[WellIntentionedExtremist he is trying to protect the worlds he conquers from the Entity]], and while the Entity wishes to consume and assimilate the multiverse. [[spoiler:Ultimately, at the end of their lives this trope is ''reversed''. The Entity ends up becoming pitiable [[AndThenWhat due to a lack of purpose]] and bonds with Linkara over its fears before vanishing gracefully, while Vyce [[VillainousBreakdown breaks down at not being able to accept the Entity is dead]], before proceeding to destroy the entire universe out of a mad belief that it'll kill the Entity. [[HeWhoFightsMonsters In a way, he becomes worse than the Entity]], who at least was only doing what came naturally to it.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Western Animation]]
* The first recurring antagonist for ''WesternAnimation/BugsBunny'' is Elmer Fudd, going back to 1941's ''Elmers Pet Rabbit'' (or 1940's ''WesternAnimation/ElmersCandidCamera'', if you regard this rascally rabbit as Bugs Bunny). Elmer, however, seemed too gullible and undeserving of the KarmicTrickster's abuse, so Isadore "Friz" Freleng created six-gun bandit Yosemite Sam in 1945 to trouble Bugs; a deliberate {{Jerkass}} who'd deserve to be bested by Bugs. Of course, Sam fared no better than Elmer, so 1953 ushered in the Tasmanian Devil, a ChaoticNeutral whirling dervish with a ravenous appetite.
* PlayedForLaughs in ''WesternAnimation/RenAndStimpy'': Stimpy ends up causing Ren to undergo a LiteralSplitPersonality between his evil side and indifferent side. The Evil Ren ends up splitting himself to create an army, resulting in the creation of ''Hideously'' Evil Ren. This even more evil Ren ends up dodging normal Evil Ren's punches and keeps punching him, before going off to live in UnholyMatrimony together.
[[/folder]]
