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* LargeHam: For as much of an amoral SocialDarwinist as he is, Armstrong has quite possibly the most pork-infused lines and delivery of any Metal Gear villain to date. His masterful ability to ChewTheScenery and [[MilkingTheGiantCow Milk The Giant Cow]] and do so with utter sincerity makes him astonishingly persuasive when he gives Raiden his MotiveRant.
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One of Colorado's elected Senators, and a candidate for the US Presidency, Steven Armstrong is the [[ManBehindTheMan backer of Desperado Enforcement]] and the [[BigBad main villain]] of the game. A full-blown [[TheSocialDarwinist Darwinist]] at heart, Armstrong wishes for a world ruled solely by strength, where ideals are literally fought for, and the strong can mold the world in their image. He uses nanomachines infused in his body to enhance his physical abilities to inhuman levels, granting him drastically increased strength, durability and speed during combat.
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One of Colorado's elected Senators, and a candidate for the US Presidency, Steven Armstrong is the [[ManBehindTheMan backer of Desperado Enforcement]] and the [[BigBad main villain]] of the game. A full-blown [[TheSocialDarwinist Social Darwinist]] at heart, Armstrong wishes for a world ruled solely by strength, where ideals are literally fought for, and the strong can mold the world in their image. He uses nanomachines infused in his body to enhance his physical abilities to inhuman levels, granting him drastically increased strength, durability and speed during combat.
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One of Colorado's elected Senators, and a candidate for the US Presidency, Steven Armstrong is the [[ManBehindTheMan backer of Desperado Enforcement]] and the [[BigBad main villain]] of the game. A full-blown Darwinist at heart, Armstrong wishes for a world ruled solely by strength, where ideals are literally fought for, and the strong can mold the world in their image. He uses nanomachines infused in his body to enhance his physical abilities to inhuman levels, granting him drastically increased strength, durability and speed during combat.
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One of Colorado's elected Senators, and a candidate for the US Presidency, Steven Armstrong is the [[ManBehindTheMan backer of Desperado Enforcement]] and the [[BigBad main villain]] of the game. A full-blown Darwinist [[TheSocialDarwinist Darwinist]] at heart, Armstrong wishes for a world ruled solely by strength, where ideals are literally fought for, and the strong can mold the world in their image. He uses nanomachines infused in his body to enhance his physical abilities to inhuman levels, granting him drastically increased strength, durability and speed during combat.
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* ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney: Raiden's support crew repeatedly warns him that ''this'' is the number one reason taking down Armstrong and World Marshall will be so difficult. As a sitting senator with ties to the military and powerful [=PMCs=], even if the ironclad evidence of Armstrong's crimes in Mexico were brought to light, no investigation would ensue and no media platform would ever consider airing it since anyone trying would be committing financial and political suicide in the process.
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* TheWormThatWalks: Dr. Voigt hypothesizes this as a possible explanation for Armstrong's invulnerability, calling it "claytronics." Most or ''all'' of his body is a mass of nanomachines taking human shape and instantly reshaping itself if damaged.
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** '''MG RAY''': RAY teaches the basics of boss battles, which Armstrong also adheres to.
** Averted in the Japanese version, where Raiden angrily shouts "Steven!" when he catches the Murasama. This indicates to show that Raiden's been accepting some of Armstrong's ideas, but still wants to stop him.
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* UnskilledButStrong: Compared to Raiden and Sam, he relies on sheer brute force, something he happens to have [[SuperStrength extraordinary amounts of]].
* VillainousFriendship: Seems to be on very good terms with [[QuirkyMinibossSquad the Winds of Destruction]]. Has a Type III relationship with Mistral, a Type IV relationship with Monsoon, and while he doesn't interact with Sundowner in-game, he trusts him with control of [[PrivateMilitaryContractors Desperado]]. Sam, however, is an exception, as he regards him as a "pain in his ass", and it's unknown how he feels about Khamsin.
* VillainousFriendship: Seems to be on very good terms with [[QuirkyMinibossSquad the Winds of Destruction]]. Has a Type III relationship with Mistral, a Type IV relationship with Monsoon, and while he doesn't interact with Sundowner in-game, he trusts him with control of [[PrivateMilitaryContractors Desperado]]. Sam, however, is an exception, as he regards him as a "pain in his ass", and it's unknown how he feels about Khamsin.
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* UnskilledButStrong: Compared to Raiden and Sam, he relies on possesses almost no fighting finesse, but compensates for it with sheer brute force, something he happens to have [[SuperStrength extraordinary amounts of]].
* VillainousFriendship: Seems to be on very good terms with [[QuirkyMinibossSquad the Winds of Destruction]]. Has a Type III relationship with Mistral, a Type IV relationship with Monsoon, and while he doesn't interact much with Sundowner in-game, he trusts him with control of [[PrivateMilitaryContractors Desperado]]. Sam, however, is an exception, as he regards him as a "pain in his ass", and it's unknown how he feels about Khamsin.
* VillainousFriendship: Seems to be on very good terms with [[QuirkyMinibossSquad the Winds of Destruction]]. Has a Type III relationship with Mistral, a Type IV relationship with Monsoon, and while he doesn't interact much with Sundowner in-game, he trusts him with control of [[PrivateMilitaryContractors Desperado]]. Sam, however, is an exception, as he regards him as a "pain in his ass", and it's unknown how he feels about Khamsin.
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** This is also shown with Metal Gear Excelsus. It isn't a nuclear capable mecha, but rather its meant to destroy extremist hideouts and positions. The reason why it's so huge is to warn anyone in the way of Excelsus, Armstrong designed it in a way that non-combatants would have a really good chance to escape.
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** This is also shown with Metal Gear Excelsus. It isn't a nuclear capable mecha, but rather its it's meant to destroy extremist hideouts and positions. The reason why it's so huge is to warn anyone in the way of Excelsus, Armstrong designed it in a way that non-combatants would have a really good chance to escape.
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* AdjustingYourGlasses: He does this while Raiden is going full [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure Jotaro]] on him just to emphasize that he is doing whatever the ScratchDamage equivalent to ScratchDamage is.
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* ContrastingSequelAntagonist: To Zero from the previous installments in the chronology. Both are political leaders who tried to achieve their goals through power, but Zero’s ultimate goal was to unite the world, whereas Armstrong believed the world benefited more from wars. Zero also stayed behind the scenes and used his brains to further his plans, while Armstrong was more physical. In addition, the two have completely opposite personalities, with Zero being a calm and refined QuintessentialBritishGentleman, and Armstrong being a vulgar LargeHam who embodies the {{Eagleland}} trope.
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* ContrastingSequelAntagonist: To Zero from the previous installments in the chronology. Both are political leaders who tried to achieve their goals through power, but Zero’s ultimate goal was to unite the world, whereas Armstrong believed the world benefited more from wars. Zero also stayed behind the scenes and used his brains to further his plans, while Armstrong was more physical. In addition, the two have completely opposite personalities, with Zero being a calm and refined QuintessentialBritishGentleman, and Armstrong being a vulgar LargeHam who embodies the {{Eagleland}} trope.
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* ContrastingSequelAntagonist: To Zero from the previous installments in the chronology. Both are political leaders who tried to achieved their goals through power, but Zero’s ultimate goal was to unite the world, whereas Armstrong believed the world benefited more from wars. Zero also stayed behind the scenes and used his brains to further his plans, while Armstrong was more physical. In addition, the two have completely opposite personalities, with Zero being a calm and refined QuintessentialBritishGentleman, and Armstrong being a vulgar LargeHam who embodies the {{Eagleland}} trope.
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* ContrastingSequelAntagonist: To Zero from the previous installments in the chronology. Both are political leaders who tried to achieved achieve their goals through power, but Zero’s ultimate goal was to unite the world, whereas Armstrong believed the world benefited more from wars. Zero also stayed behind the scenes and used his brains to further his plans, while Armstrong was more physical. In addition, the two have completely opposite personalities, with Zero being a calm and refined QuintessentialBritishGentleman, and Armstrong being a vulgar LargeHam who embodies the {{Eagleland}} trope.
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* ContrastingSequelAntagonist: To Zero from the previous installments in the chronology. Both are political leaders who tried to achieved their goals through power, but Zero’s ultimate goal was to unite the world, whereas Armstrong believed the world benefited more from wars. Zero also stayed behind the scenes and used his brains to further his plans, while Armstrong was more physical. In addition, the two have completely opposite personalities, with Zero being an [[AffablyEvil affable]], calm and collected QuintessentialBritishGentleman, and Armstrong being a [[{{Jerkass}} crass]] LargeHam who embodies the {{Eagleland}} trope.
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* ContrastingSequelAntagonist: To Zero from the previous installments in the chronology. Both are political leaders who tried to achieved their goals through power, but Zero’s ultimate goal was to unite the world, whereas Armstrong believed the world benefited more from wars. Zero also stayed behind the scenes and used his brains to further his plans, while Armstrong was more physical. In addition, the two have completely opposite personalities, with Zero being an [[AffablyEvil affable]], a calm and collected refined QuintessentialBritishGentleman, and Armstrong being a [[{{Jerkass}} crass]] vulgar LargeHam who embodies the {{Eagleland}} trope.
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* ContrastingSequelAntagonist: To Zero from the previous games. Both are political leaders who tried to achieved their goals through power, but Zero’s ultimate goal was to unite the world, whereas Armstrong believed the world benefited much more from wars. Zero also stayed behind the scenes and used his brains to further his plans, while Armstrong was more physical. In addition, the two have completely opposite personalities, with Zero being an [[AffablyEvil affable]], calm and collected QuintessentialBritishGentleman, and Armstrong being a [[{{Jerkass}} crass]] LargeHam who embodies the {{Eagleland}} trope.
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* ContrastingSequelAntagonist: To Zero from the previous games. installments in the chronology. Both are political leaders who tried to achieved their goals through power, but Zero’s ultimate goal was to unite the world, whereas Armstrong believed the world benefited much more from wars. Zero also stayed behind the scenes and used his brains to further his plans, while Armstrong was more physical. In addition, the two have completely opposite personalities, with Zero being an [[AffablyEvil affable]], calm and collected QuintessentialBritishGentleman, and Armstrong being a [[{{Jerkass}} crass]] LargeHam who embodies the {{Eagleland}} trope.
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* ContrastingSequelAntagonist: To Zero from the previous games. Both are political leaders who tried to achieved their goals through power, but Zero’s ultimate goal was to unite the world, whereas Armstrong believed the world benefited much more from wars. Zero also stayed behind the scenes and used his brains to further his plans, while Armstrong was more physical. In addition, the two have completely opposite personalities, with Zero being an [[AffablyEvil affable]], calm and collected QuintessentialBritishGentleman, and Armstrong being a [[{{Jerkass}} crass]] LargeHam who embodies the {{Eagleland}} trope.
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* HypocriteHasAPoint: Invoked; Raiden points out that for all his talk about the survival of the fittest, Armstrong has never experienced any kind of hardship in his life, let alone the kind that Raiden grew up with. Armstrong then retorts by saying that [[OneManArmy Raiden himself]] validates his philosophy.
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* HypocriteHasAPoint: Invoked; Raiden points out that for all his talk about the survival of the fittest, Armstrong has never experienced had to experience any kind of hardship in his life, let alone the kind that Raiden grew up with. Armstrong then retorts by saying that Raiden's hellish upbringing is what turned him into [[OneManArmy Raiden himself]] validates what he is today]], thus validating his philosophy.
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* HypocriteHasAPoint: Invoked; Raiden points out that for all his talk about the survival of the fittest, Armstrong has never experienced any kind of hardship in his life, let alone the kind that Raiden grew up with. Armstrong then retorts by saying that [[OneManArmy Raiden himself]] validates his own philosophy.
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* HypocriteHasAPoint: Invoked; Raiden points out that for all his talk about the survival of the fittest, Armstrong has never experienced any kind of hardship in his life, let alone the kind that Raiden grew up with. Armstrong then retorts by saying that [[OneManArmy Raiden himself]] validates his own philosophy.
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* HypocriteHasAPoint: Invoked; Raiden points out that for all his talk about the survival of the fittest, Armstrong has never experienced any kind of hardship in his life, let alone the kind that Raiden grew up with. Armstrong then retorts by saying that [[OneManArmy Raiden himself]] validates his own philosophy.
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* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: He briefly shows up in a short cutscene midway in the game prior to the final mission and at no point was it ever implied that he was anything other than some politician. Naturally, all of Raiden's mission support are utterly baffled at him fighting Raiden.
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* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: He briefly shows up in a short cutscene midway in He's mentioned at various points throughout the game prior to the final mission and but at no point was it ever implied that he was anything other than some politician. Naturally, all of Raiden's mission support are utterly baffled at him fighting Raiden.
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* LastNameBasis: He is almost never referred to by his given name, Steven, most of the time Armstrong is all Raiden and others will scream at the of their lungs; him being mostly called just Armstrong also goes in hand with his imposing nature and presence, ironic since he gets personal with Raiden right way, only calling him by his given name Jack.
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* LastNameBasis: He is almost never referred to by his given name, Steven, most of the time Armstrong is all Raiden and others will scream at the top of their lungs; him being mostly called just Armstrong also goes in hand with his imposing nature and presence, ironic since he gets personal with Raiden right way, only calling him by his given name of Jack.
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* LastNameBasis: He is almost never referred to by his given name, Steven, most of the time Armstrong is all Raiden and others will scream at the of their lungs; him being mostly called just Armstrong also goes in hand with his imposing nature and presence, ironic since he gets personal with Raiden right way, only calling him by his given name Jack.
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* LanternJawOfJustice: This guy's jaw puts Superman's to shame. Though his own dark brand of "justice" makes it a subversion.
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* LanternJawOfJustice: This guy's jaw puts Superman's to shame. Though his own dark brand of "justice" makes it a subversion.
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* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: He is barely mentioned before the final mission and at no point was it ever implied that he was an active combatant. Naturally, all of Raiden's mission support are utterly baffled at him fighting Raiden.
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* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: He is barely mentioned before briefly shows up in a short cutscene midway in the game prior to the final mission and at no point was it ever implied that he was an active combatant.anything other than some politician. Naturally, all of Raiden's mission support are utterly baffled at him fighting Raiden.
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* RatedMForManly: A mega-buff former football player turned Navy SEAL turned senator who [[HulkingOut hulks out]] with ridiculous charges of electricity to become stronger than Raiden and able to create giant pillars of fire and lava with his punches.
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* RatedMForManly: A mega-buff former football player quarterback turned Navy SEAL man turned United States senator who [[HulkingOut hulks out]] with ridiculous charges of electricity to become stronger than Raiden and able to create giant pillars of fire and lava with his punches.
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* CoolOldGuy: Villainous example. One can even see that his hair has started whitening a bit. And in his life he was a quarterback for the University of Texas, a navy veteran, a United States Senator, and possibly the most dangerous fighter alive thanks to his superhuman physique.
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* CoolOldGuy: Villainous example. One can even see that his hair has started whitening a bit. And in his life he was a quarterback for the University of Texas, a navy Navy veteran, a United States Senator, and possibly the most dangerous fighter alive thanks to his superhuman physique.
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* TheSocialDarwinist: Wants to create a new America where the strong survive and the weak die. His motivations are very similar to the Patriots who wanted to socially engineer American evolution, only difference being is that instead of information control he intends to use violence to enforce this new world.
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* TheSocialDarwinist: Wants to create a new America where the strong survive and the weak die. His motivations are very similar to the Patriots who wanted to socially engineer American evolution, only difference being is that instead of information control he intends to use violence to enforce this new world. Unlike most examples, he's not a hypocrite and proves to be enough of a believer that he accepts that Raiden beating him proves him right in his mind.
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* CoolOldGuy: Villainous example. One can even see that his hair has started whitening a bit. And in his life he was a quarterback for the University of Texas, a navy veteran, a state senator, and possibly the most dangerous fighter alive thanks to his superhuman physique.
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* CoolOldGuy: Villainous example. One can even see that his hair has started whitening a bit. And in his life he was a quarterback for the University of Texas, a navy veteran, a state senator, United States Senator, and possibly the most dangerous fighter alive thanks to his superhuman physique.
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* BareFistedMonk: He uses no weapons and has no reason to.
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* SuperStrength: Strong enough to make the entire Metal Gear Excelsus explode with a single punch. Even Raiden, who can toss around a RAY unit, as trouble against him.
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* SuperStrength: Strong enough to make the entire Metal Gear Excelsus explode with a single punch. Even Raiden, who can toss around a RAY unit, as has trouble against him.
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* RedEyesTakeWarning: His glasses obscure his bright red eyes.
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* RedEyesTakeWarning: His glasses obscure his bright red eyes. In his final battle, he puts away the glasses to show he's no longer holding back.
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* CigarChomper: He has a cigar in hand while going on a MotiveRant about starting a war with Pakistan. He also takes a smoke break after kicking the shit out of a bruised-up Raiden.
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* NoPartyGiven: No indication is given as to his political party: He hails from the swing state of Colorado, and his yellow tie is neither [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience Democrat blue nor Republican red]]. His personal philosophy also makes speculating on him being right wing or left wing utterly misses the point, since his personal goal is extreme libertarianism combined with a good dose of insanity.
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* NoPartyGiven: No indication is given as to his political party: He hails from the swing state of Colorado, and Colorado. With his yellow tie is neither (neither [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience Democrat blue nor or Republican red]].red]]) he's either independent or in the Libertarian Party, a party too small to be very controversial. His personal philosophy also makes speculating on him being right wing or left wing utterly misses the point, since his personal goal is extreme libertarianism combined with a good dose of insanity.
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One of Colorado's elected Senators, and a candidate for the US Presidency, Steven Armstrong is the backer of Desperado Enforcement and the main villain of the game. A full-blown Darwinist at heart, Armstrong wishes for a world ruled solely by strength, where ideals are literally fought for, and the strong can mold the world in their image. He uses nanomachines infused in his body to enhance his physical abilities to inhuman levels, granting him drastically increased strength, durability and speed during combat.
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One of Colorado's elected Senators, and a candidate for the US Presidency, Steven Armstrong is the [[ManBehindTheMan backer of Desperado Enforcement Enforcement]] and the [[BigBad main villain villain]] of the game. A full-blown Darwinist at heart, Armstrong wishes for a world ruled solely by strength, where ideals are literally fought for, and the strong can mold the world in their image. He uses nanomachines infused in his body to enhance his physical abilities to inhuman levels, granting him drastically increased strength, durability and speed during combat.
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* FoeTossingCharge: The first thing he does once he starts fighting Raiden is knock him back with a powerful shoulder tackle. He also performs plenty of these in the final battle proper.
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[[center:[-[[Characters/MetalGear Main Character Index]] | Characters/MetalGear1 ([[Characters/MetalGearSolidSnake Solid Snake]] | [[Characters/MetalGearBigBoss Big Boss / Naked Snake]]) | [[Characters/MetalGear2SolidSnake Metal Gear 2]] | [[Characters/MetalGearSolid Metal Gear Solid]] | [[Characters/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty Sons of Liberty]] ([[Characters/MetalGearRaiden Raiden]]) | [[Characters/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater Snake Eater]] | [[Characters/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots Guns of the Patriots]] | [[Characters/MetalGearSolidPortableOps Portable Ops]] | [[Characters/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker Peace Walker]] | [[Characters/MetalGearRisingRevengeance Revengeance]] ('''Senator Armstrong''') | [[Characters/MetalGearSolidV The Phantom Pain]] | [[Characters/MetalGearAcid Acid]] | [[Characters/MetalGearGhostBabel Ghost Babel]] | [[Characters/SnakesRevenge Snake's Revenge]]-]]]
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%% PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE EDITING THIS PAGE
%%[= Do not use acronyms like "MGS2" and "MGS4" without escaping them. It creates a redlink, and redirects from acronyms are prohibited.=]
%%[= Incorrect: MGS3 =]
%% Correct: [=MGS3=]
%%Now have fun trying to figure out which drug Kojima is smoking.
!!Senator Steven Armstrong
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/revarm_8629.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:''[-"I'm not one of those beltway pansies. I could break the president in two with my bare hands!"-]'' ]]
[[caption-width-right:300:[[labelnote: When powered up by nanomachines (son!)]] https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Steven_Armstrong_5169.jpg[[/labelnote]]]]
->Voiced by: Creator/UnshoIshizuka (JP), Creator/AlastairDuncan (EN)
->'''ImageSong and {{Leitmotif}}:''' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUoFNrYHvu4 It Has To Be This Way]]
-->"Nationalism! Unilateralism! Materialism! Welcome maxims for those with no faith -- without guiding principles of their own. Give yourself up to the whole. No need to better yourself -- you're American! You're ''number one''!"
One of Colorado's elected Senators, and a candidate for the US Presidency, Steven Armstrong is the backer of Desperado Enforcement and the main villain of the game. A full-blown Darwinist at heart, Armstrong wishes for a world ruled solely by strength, where ideals are literally fought for, and the strong can mold the world in their image. He uses nanomachines infused in his body to enhance his physical abilities to inhuman levels, granting him drastically increased strength, durability and speed during combat.
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[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:A-H]]
* AchillesHeel: Armstrong's body is infused with nanomachines that harden almost instantaneously upon contact with physical trauma, but they still have limits. Sufficiently powerful physical forces, such as attacks from the Murasama HF Blade, will force the nanomachines to converge and localize their energy into the targeted area of the body. Raiden exploits this during the last portion of their fight by first slashing Armstrong across his upper body, before proceeding to quickly stab through his midsection and critically injure him. Another is that the nanomachines spread out from his heart, so Sam is able to use his gunsheath to outpace the response time of the nanomachines and cut off Armstrong's arm before it can harden, while Raiden ultimately kills Armstrong by Zandatsuing and crushing his heart.
* ActionPolitician: Being a Senator doesn't stop him from piloting a Metal Gear or getting into personal combat with Raiden.
* AdjustingYourGlasses: He does this while Raiden is going full [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure Jotaro]] on him just to emphasize that he is doing whatever the ScratchDamage equivalent to ScratchDamage is.
* AffablyEvil: Between all his threats, he is also polite and respectful to his opponents, even when he's winning. Particularly in the Jetstream DLC, where he's gently smiling while completely schooling Sam in a fight. It's to the point where, during Raiden's ISurrenderSuckers moment, he immediately helps Raiden up and dusts him off when he thinks Raiden will join him. Before this, even when Raiden is utterly baffled at how he got to where he is, we get this gem.
--->'''Raiden:''' How the ''hell'' did you get elected?\\
'''Armstrong:''' ''[[ActuallyPrettyFunny (Chuckles)]]'' Well, I don't write my own speeches.
* AmbiguousRobots: Thanks to his nanomachines, Armstrong is a fusion of man and machine on the cellular level.
* AnArmAndALeg: In the ''Jetstream'' DLC, Sam manages to sever Armstrong's right arm, but his body-hardening nanomachines keep the stump sharp, allowing him to sever Sam's own arm in return, as well as reattaching his.
* TheAntiNihilist: He has a sideways version of Solid Snake's philosophy. He sees a world full of citizens pacified by empty principles and soldiers dying for causes they don't believe in, but rather than a world of peace, he wants to create a world of freedom - one where people can choose their own principles and fight for their own causes. He may not be able to end all war, but at least he can make sure that those who put their lives at stake are doing it for their own good reasons.
* AntiVillain: Though he isn't above using child soldiers and using Desperado to create conflicts in nations that are recovering from war, he is a man that wants what's best for his country... Or at least what ''he'' thinks is the best. Being one of the only antagonists in the series that '''doesn't''' want to use nuclear weapons is also a plus. He also genuinely believes in DefeatEqualsFriendship, has genuine respect for Raiden and ''really'' wants him on his side.
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: He's both the ultimate backer of Desperado, and the most advanced and lethal combatant they have, using {{Nanomachines}} in his body to become a [[NighInvulnerability nigh-invulnerable]] superhuman.
* BadassBaritone: Very tough, extremely cunning and one hell of a LargeHam, with a booming voice to hammer it all home. If his goals weren't genuinely well-meaning then this would've been EvilSoundsDeep.
* BadassBoast: The entire fight with him is riddled with these. Everything coming out of his mouth that isn't about politics is this in spades. It's weird to hear that the man didn't write his own speeches. Then again, everything he says makes him sound crazy.
* BadassBureaucrat: With the "Badass" part including physical badassery, unlike most examples of the trope.
* BadassInANiceSuit: As expected from a Senator, though he drops the jacket when he pilots Excelsus. His shirt also slowly gets torn off when he starts using his nanomachines.
* BareHandedBladeBlock: Not only does he catch Raiden's HF blade in one hand, he ''snaps it in half''. He also does this if you get too trigger happy with Blade Mode on him.
* BattleAmongstTheFlames: Which is also the ruins of Metal Gear EXCELSUS.
* BattleAura: Emits one during his fight with Raiden. In "Jetstream", he can also trigger an even bigger one when he TurnsRed.
* BeatStillMyHeart: Raiden kills him by ''ripping out his still beating heart '''and crushing it'''''.
* BerserkButton: Sam's extended taunt suggests that it's his age. Armstrong's [[UnstoppableRage impossibly mean rage-only attack]] suggests that it's ''definitely'' his age.
-->'''Sam''': ''[laughs]'' Not bad... for an old man!
* BigBad: Of ''Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance''. He's the ultimate backer of Desperado and the Winds of Destruction.
* BodyHorror: Has giant veins coming out of a massive scar on his chest from which his nanomachine armor expands. Even Raiden looks shocked when he first sees it. His arms also gets covered with burn marks and scratches from using his nanomachines to generate massive amounts of heat for his punches.
* BloodKnight: Loves a good fight and says things like "Hah, that one hurt!" when he takes a lot of damage in the latter half in the fight. His biggest blood knight line of them all is probably "Hahaha! This is the greatest fight ''of my life!''"
* CharacterFilibuster: He gives two of the longest speeches in the game.
* ClusterFBomb: Quite possibly the most foul-mouthed character in the ''Metal Gear'' franchise to date. His MotiveRant is composed in good part of f-bombs and degrading slurs.
* CoolOldGuy: Villainous example. One can even see that his hair has started whitening a bit. And in his life he was a quarterback for the University of Texas, a navy veteran, a state senator, and possibly the most dangerous fighter alive thanks to his superhuman physique.
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: He's the de facto head of World Mashal, which seeks to create war to gather funds and isn't above using cyberized child soldiers.
* CorruptPolitician: Is a Colorado Senator with links to PrivateMilitaryContractors and human trafficking.
* CoveredWithScars: His nanomachine heart creates an ugly pulsating scar all over his chest. This is especially noticeable whenever he hulks up.
* CurbStompBattle: The fight with him is initially this, Raiden manages to get some hits in, but Armstrong mostly shrugs them off and gives him the worst beating he's ever endured, up until Blade Wolf gives Raiden the Murasama. Also, his fight with Sam in the Jetstream DLC. The whole fight he was just testing him, and when Sam attempts another go, Armstrong gets serious and beats his face, even losing a hand barely slows him down.
* TheCynic: Outright says the "average joe" only cares about money. He also thinks people don't care about information control, or right and wrong, as long as the information is spun well enough to make them feel comfortable.
%%DarkMessiah
%%DeadpanSnarker
* DefeatEqualsFriendship: He's a stern believer in this. He offers Sam a job and constantly offers Raiden a place too. Problem is, his job interviews involve a fight...
* DefeatingTheUndefeatable: He recruited Sam, who had garnered a reputation as an untouchable swordsman by breaking him in both body and spirit.
* {{Determinator}}: In the FinalBattle he gets buried under rubble repeatedly, and if the player gets the Quick-Time Events right, kicked with enough force you can hear his ribs crack, punched repeatedly in the midsection, backhanded and smashed in the face with the full force of Raiden's fist hard enough to make him fly back several feet, yet still gets back up to kick ass. In the final part of the fight, Raiden '''jabs the Murasama right through his midriff, and Armstrong still tries to overpower him one last time!'''
** The Jetstream DLC, Sam cuts his hand off, and he uses the sharp stump of his arm as a weapon.
* DystopiaJustifiesTheMeans: Wishes to make America a nation based on Social Darwinism, where everyone is free to fight and kill for what they believe in.
* EmpoweredBadassNormal: He was athletic and strong enough to play pro-football straight out of college before becoming a Navy SEAL. The nanomachines he uses bulk him up enormously, make him ''stronger than Raiden'', and nearly impossible to kill to boot.
* EqualOpportunityEvil: Will accept anybody from a NobleDemon to a PsychoForHire who doesn't care about ideals into his ranks.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: He's disgusted by what the Patriot [=AIs=] did to the world, and when he reveals his plans before the FinalBattle, he straight up says that his "Second War on Terror" is only out to kill extremists, madmen and the like. Of course, when he talks about his "Second War On Terror" he is pretending to be a stereotypical CorruptPolitician and has just gotten through a speech on how easily manipulated the masses can be and profiting on war. So, it is likely he was referring to "extremists, madmen, etc." as labels that can be used to justify attacking other countries and starting war for profit. As he reveals after Raiden destroys Metal Gear Excelsus and fights him hand-to-hand, Armstrong actually despises war as a business and how the masses can be manipulated through government, labels, media, etc.; he is a CorruptPolitician, but he actually is also a WellIntentionedExtremist who wants to give America freedom from control by corrupt government, media, etc. ... by creating a [[TheSocialDarwinist Social Darwinist]] "utopia".
* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Despite his goal being to recreate America into a nation where people will not be coerced, conned, or conscripted into fighting someone else's war, but will instead settle ideological differences with literal duels to the death to fight for what they personally believe, he simply cannot understand why truly ideal would-be citizens of this new nation such as Raiden and Blade Wolf refuse to fall in line behind him.
* EvilIsHammy: '''Big time''', to a memetic degree.
** "Don't FUCK with this Senator!"
** "Feel the Wrath of the U.S.A.!"
** "Played college ball, ya know."
** "Ashes to ashes ''motherfucker!''"
** "Hit the road, Jack!"
** "Uncle Sam needs you to die, Jack!"
** ''Every word'' of his [[ClusterFBomb cuss word-laden]] MotiveRant.
** And of course, "Nanomachines, son!"
* EvilIsPetty: Calls cherry blossoms and other forms of transient beauty "sissy crap." Even mentions that he'll fire one of his executives for constructing the Japanese garden seen inside World Marshal, and that the guy will be lucky if he can even carry his box of personal belongings out of the office.
* EvilSoundsDeep: Has possibly the deepest voice of all the villains in this game. Kinda goes without saying when he's built like a freight train.
* {{Expy}}: A lot of fans have pointed out that his plan would essentially create the lawless Hell that is the world of ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'', albeit one that isn't plagued by nuclear holocaust. The irony is that when powered up he looks and fights like Raoh, the very person in that world trying to bring about order and law.
* FaceDeathWithDignity: He admits defeat when Raiden pulls his heart out, but goes down with his chin held high and his ideals untarnished.
* FinalBoss: He's the final enemy of both the main game and the Jetstream DLC.
* FinalExamBoss: If you haven't mastered every mechanic that the other bosses demanded, Armstrong will ''wreck'' you.
** '''LQ-84i''': Recognizing and properly responding to the UG's startup animations is key to surviving the following attacks. However, Armstrong's startup animations are harder to tell apart, and incorrect predictions tend to set you up for a damaging punish.
** '''Mistral''': Certain parts of the fight provide scripted Blade Mode setups that let the player chop off Mistral's arms or her spear. With Armstrong, Blade Mode is absolutely required during certain quick-time events that target his arms, and he can heal himself infinitely unless the player ''manually'' uses Blade Mode to hit him in the back.
** '''GRAD''': Armstrong's movement is both faster and more flexible than Raiden's, so understanding approach tools like Dystopia and purchasable DashAttack skills is the only way to keep up with him.
** '''Monsoon''': Beating Monsoon requires that the player has mastered parrying. Armstrong requires that the player do it with better reflexes.
** '''Sundowner''': His explosive-shield gimmick can only be defeated by lining up the Blade Mode plane through multiple boxes. Armstrong's rubble-tossing attack demands the same skill, except performed multiple times in a row and at different angles.
** '''Sam''': Sam teaches defensive play by blocking overeager attacks. Armstrong doesn't even flinch from them, and he has enough HP to take a few attacks before hitting back with more power.
* FinalSpeech: When Raiden is about to kill him, Armstrong stops him short and states that although war will continue to thrive as a business, he leaves Raiden as a worthy successor to end war as a business, while also remarking how they're [[NotSoDifferentRemark not so different]].
-->'''Armstrong:''' You've guaranteed the status-quo will go on, for a while longer at least... War... will continue as an institution. As an industry. Men will fight for reasons they don't understand, causes they don't believe in... But at least I'll leave a worthy successor... You, Jack. You carve your own path, use whatever methods you see fit... You don't let legal bullshit get in the way. And if it costs a few lives? So be it... [[NotSoDifferentRemark Deep inside, we're... kindred spirits... you... and I...]]
* {{Foreshadowing}}: "Huh, why does that politician in a suit look like he could bench press a small tank?", you might wonder when you first see Armstrong in the Desperado labs in Mexico. Of course, that's because he's the LightningBruiser FinalBoss!
* FriendlyEnemy: As he admits, he actually rather likes Raiden and would rather have him on his side. He wouldn't have spent all that time debating philosophy if he didn't want to convince Raiden. Even more evident in the Jetstream DLC, [[EqualOpportunityEvil where he keeps offering Sam a]] ''[[EqualOpportunityEvil job]]''.
* ForeheadOfDoom: According to the character designer, while Armstrong's original design made him look more intelligent, his forehead and chin were later emphasized to be more fitting with his character. Specifically, that of a man of action, not just words.
* GeniusBruiser: He is both a nigh-invincible juggernaut and a University of Texas graduate who can easily pilot an extremely advanced Metal Gear and orchestrate a series of large scale terrorism attacks.
* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: He is barely mentioned before the final mission and at no point was it ever implied that he was an active combatant. Naturally, all of Raiden's mission support are utterly baffled at him fighting Raiden.
* TheGlassesComeOff: He takes off his glasses when he gets serious against Raiden.
* GoodHairEvilHair: Armstrong never has a single strand of his slicked back hair out of place.
* GoodOldFisticuffs: Unlike other enemies, he doesn't use an HF weapon, just his fists. He played college football, and served in the Navy (which trains in hand-to-hand), but never saw combat.
* GoodSmokingEvilSmoking: The only one in the entire game who's seen smoking, and it's naturally cigars to boot.
* GoOutWithASmile: Dies happy knowing Raiden will keep trying to end war, even if unlike himself he won't try to create a [[TheSocialDarwinist Social-Darwinistic world]].
* GracefulLoser: As he dies, he congratulates Raiden for his victory and encourages him to fight for what he believes in, thereby becoming the embodiment of his ideals.
* HavingABlast: He can cause explosions simply by [[GroundPound punching the ground]]. He can even do this while on a ''helipad''.
** He also has an attack where he creates smaller explosions that ''chase you''. It's possible that he's focusing superheated Nanomachines into the ground to cause fiery explosions. [[WildMassGuessing Or something else, who knows]].
* HeadsIWinTailsYouLose: The fight with him in "Jetstream". Despite apparently losing by the end of the fight with Sam, in the cutscene afterwards he gets back like nothing happened (and from the look of him compared to other bosses when defeated, very little did) and beats the tar of out him.
* HealingFactor: Since his body is just as much a machine as it is flesh and blood, as long as his body is energized, his nanomachines will always recover; he can even reattach severed limbs just by slapping the severed appendage back on. Thus, he can heal by absorbing energy from the technology in his vicinity, though doing this forces him to halt whatever else he is doing, leaving him wide open to attacks.
* HiddenBadass: No one saw it coming that a US Senator would be one of the most powerful combatants in the ''Metal Gear'' universe to date.
* HiddenDepths: ''Twice''. Like a good politician, he keeps his real motivations hidden very well. The first time you meet him, he gleefully admits to being a sort of neo-Patriot who's set on restarting the war economy to maintain America's status as a world power. When Raiden points out the hypocrisy of his speech and his politician persona, Armstrong admits even ''that'' is just a pretense, and actually loathes the shallow, sensationalist, materialistic culture he earlier claimed to support, and is actually planning to ''destroy'' America and rebuild it as a Darwinist utopia.
* HobbesWasRight: Interestingly enough, his vision of an anarchic, [[TheSocialDarwinist social Darwinist]] utopia is very similar to what Hobbes believed was the natural endpoint of humanity without a sovereign to maintain order. The difference being Armstrong thinks this is a ''good'' thing.
* HulkingOut: He absorbs a ''massive'' amount of electricity from either several helicopters or what's left of Metal Gear EXCELSUS to activate his nanomachines. This causes him to temporarily bulk up to a huge degree.
* HumanHammerThrow: In "Jetstream", he pulls off a Giant Swing on Sam near the end of the battle.
* HumongousMecha: Shows up in the gigantic Metal Gear EXCELSUS to slaughter Raiden with.
* HopelessBossFight: It becomes apparent by the final part of the fight [[ILetYouWin that if Armstrong had fought seriously from the start]], Raiden wouldn't have stood the tiniest of chances.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:I-Z]]
* IKnowMaddenKombat: He "played college ball, ya know". Hence he likes to punt people around as if they were American footballs, and many of his attacks are powerful charging tackles.
* IAmNotLeftHanded: Raiden thought it was over when he destroyed Metal Gear EXCELSUS... then Armstrong activates his SuperMode. He was also holding back the first two rounds, only using his MagmaMan powers in the final round, once Raiden has a weapon capable of actually hurting him.
* ImprobableWeaponUser: In the Jetstream Sam campaign, he uses ''the stump of his chopped-off hand'', of all things, as a weapon.
* InstantArmor: His nanomachines harden in response to physical trauma (and likely through mental command, as well), allowing him to casually shrug off just about everything short of the Murasama.
* {{Irony}}:
** There's also his belief that individuals should be able pursue freedom and fight for what they believe in. When Blade Wolf, an ideal example of the individual that Armstrong describes, challenges Armstrong's position, [[{{Hypocrite}} his response is to attack him and disregard what he says]]. This one, however, is [[HypocriteHasAPoint built into what he said earlier]]: in his vision of a new America, if someone's views conflict with your own, you fight until one fighter's beliefs are rendered void. By punting Blade Wolf, he was trying to assert that his own views were superior to Wolf's.
* IvyLeagueForEveryone: Defied. When he mentions playing college football, Raiden assumes he attended "some cushy Ivy-League school." Armstrong proudly announces that he in fact attended the University Of Texas (admittedly still regarded as a "Public Ivy.")
* TheJuggernaut: For the first two phases of his fight, Raiden can barely put a dent in him. Even with the Murasama, Armstrong still shrugs off a lot of attacks.
* KickTheDog: A literal example. He punts Blade Wolf away after the latter gives Raiden the Murasama.
** At the end of Jetstream Sam's DLC, he extends his hand to shake Sam's. That is to say, the one he just cut off.
* KnightTemplar: Claims he's a hero out to save America, despite being a "batshit insane" monster, according to Raiden.
* LargeAndInCharge: He's the BigBad, who stands a full 200 centimeters tall with a heavy, muscular build.
* LanternJawOfJustice: This guy's jaw puts Superman's to shame. Though his own dark brand of "justice" makes it a subversion.
* LaughablyEvil: He spouts out some of the funniest lines a ''Metal Gear'' villain has delivered ''completely unironically''. And that isn't even getting into his over-the-top transformation poses.
* LightningBruiser: He is both [[NighInvulnerability nigh-invulnerable]] and capable of dashing across the final battlefield in a few seconds; his basic moveset is also stronger and faster than Raiden's basic attacks, and can easily eat off an entire healthbar of yours if he gets to unleash a full combo or stun you, even on Normal difficulty.
* MagnetismManipulation: In the "Jetstream" DLC, he demonstrates Monsoon's ability to levitate vehicles and toss them at his enemy. Possibly because he doesn't have any EXCELSUS wreckage to throw at Sam.
* TheManBehindTheMan: He's the man behind World Marshal and Desperado, funding their attacks to further his agenda of plunging the world into war.
* ManipulativeBastard: Easily adjusts for Raiden's attempt to interfere with his plans to his advantage. By framing his actions as terrorist attacks to justify starting a war, it allowed him to pull his plan off without having to kill the President like he originally intended.
* MeaningfulName: Maybe a bit on the nose; his arms ''are'' indeed very strong. And that's not even getting into when he activates his {{Nanomachines}}.
* MeetTheNewBoss: Thirteen years after [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty George "Solidus Snake" Sears's resignation]] from the US presidency over [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid the Shadow Moses Incident]] and nine years after his insurrection during the Manhattan Incident, Presidential candidate Steven Armstrong expresses a similar desire to reboot the United States by instigating a revolution within the American homeland. The similarity to ''Sons of Liberty'' led to rumors that Solidus actually appears in this game; actually, the "Sears Project" is mentioned in connection with plans to create child soldiers, just like Solidus did in Liberia.
* MotiveRant: Delivers one as he's beating Raiden senseless atop Metal Gear EXCELSUS:
-->"'I have a dream.' That one day every person in this nation will control their own destiny. A nation of the truly free, dammit. A nation of action, not words, ruled by strength, not committee! Where the law changes to suit the individual, not the other way around. Where power and justice are back where they belong: in the hands of the people! Where every man is free to think -- to act -- for himself! Fuck all these limp-dick lawyers and chickenshit bureaucrats. Fuck this 24-hour Internet spew of trivia and celebrity bullshit! '''Fuck American pride! Fuck the media!''' '''''FUCK ALL OF IT!''''' America is diseased. Rotten to the core. There's no saving it -- we need to pull it out by the roots. Wipe the slate clean. BURN IT DOWN! And from the ashes a new America will be born. Evolved, but untamed! The weak will be purged and the strongest will thrive -- free to live as they see fit, they'll make America '''great again'''! ... In my new America, people will die and kill for what they BELIEVE! Not for money. not for oil! Not for what they're told is right. Every man will be free to fight his own wars!"
* MultipleLifeBars: His final form has two.
* MyRulesAreNotYourRules: Unlike every other boss in the game, FinalBoss Armstrong has ''200%'' health.
* NighInvulnerability: His body cells are fused with nanomachines. When they are activated, his flesh hardens to become many times more durable than the CNT Muscle Fiber that Raiden is made of. The nanomachines also harden in response to physical trauma, making him as durable as he needs to be.
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Once he decides to go all out, Armstrong first delivers a punch that sends Raiden flying, then traps the cyborg underneath him while starting to punch him in a slow pace before going RapidFireFisticuffs and finally finishes with a punch that's strong enough to blow up the Metal Gear EXCELSUS.
-->'''Armstrong:''' Die, you '''PIECE OF''' '''''SHIT!'''''
* NoPartyGiven: No indication is given as to his political party: He hails from the swing state of Colorado, and his yellow tie is neither [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience Democrat blue nor Republican red]]. His personal philosophy also makes speculating on him being right wing or left wing utterly misses the point, since his personal goal is extreme libertarianism combined with a good dose of insanity.
* NoSell: He's special in that he is the only boss in the entire game that makes no attempt whatsoever to dodge any attack flung at him. He either catches, blocks, or straight up ignores it.
* NobleDemon: Inverted. His means are evil, but his goal not necessarily so. It depends on how much stock you put into [[TheSocialDarwinist Social Darwinism]] and MightMakesRight. In any case, he seems to put a lot of emphasis on its freedom and claritive aspects, and genuinely believes he's making the world a better place [[KnightTemplar by whatever means necessary]].
** A more straight example is his apparent full belief in DefeatMeansFriendship. While fighting Sam, he never gives up trying to recruit him, even while pounding his head into the concrete, even after Sam cuts off his arm, and always with that confident smile. When Raiden starts to look like he'll go the same route Sam did, Armstrong actually helps Raiden stand up and shakes his hand, and even gives him a ManHug... [[ISurrenderSuckers which gives Raiden the perfect opening to attack.]]
* NonActionBigBad: At first. He spends most of the game hiding his true intentions and ties to Desperado...and then the truth comes out. The instant he enters the battlefield, [[AvertedTrope he absolutely mops the floor with Raiden, again and again.]] '''''[[UpToEleven And then he keeps going.]]'''''
* NotSoHarmlessVillain: Seems at first to be a completely normal middle aged senator that is utterly defenseless without Metal Gear EXCELSUS. It soon turns out he's actually ''more dangerous'' on his own though.
* OrderVersusChaos: Initially claims to adhere to Order, as shown in his first battle theme "Collective Consciousness," which is about telling the masses to give up their rights and free will for the good of the country, and boasts about the wonders a little war can do for the economy, essentially continuing the Patriot's legacy. Once EXCELSUS is destroyed however, he reveals he actually pushes for Chaos, wishing to create a country where the weak are purged, the strongest thrive, and everyone is able to fight for their own freedom and beliefs, and that his previous stance was merely an act to get elected.
* OurPresidentsAreDifferent: Well, a senator of the "Action" variety. And by "Action", we do mean "''Action''."
* OutOfTheInferno: Sometimes pulls this during the last part of his fight. When he punches the ground and creates literal fire walls, he sometimes walks through them instead of his charging attack.
* PatrioticFervor: Armstrong is an incredibly fervent [[{{Eagleland}} Eaglelander]], if only for his vision of a Darwinist utopian America.
* PlayingWithFire: He's able to [[GroundPound punch the ground]] with enough force to trigger massive bursts of flame.
* {{Pride}}: Arguably what leads to his defeat. Armstrong holds back on Raiden for the first two phases of the fight, thinking he can still convince him to join his side. By the time he decides to get serious and finish off his opponent, [[BigDamnHeroes Blade Wolf makes an appearance and grants Raiden the one weapon that can harm him.]] Nonetheless, though defeated, [[GracefulLoser he dies happy]], knowing that in Raiden he has "a worthy succesor", [[ImplacableMan who like him]], will fight for his ideals no matter what.
* PunchPunchPunchUhOh: Raiden's attempts at RapidFireFisticuffs do nothing but slightly amuse him.
* RatedMForManly: A mega-buff former football player turned Navy SEAL turned senator who [[HulkingOut hulks out]] with ridiculous charges of electricity to become stronger than Raiden and able to create giant pillars of fire and lava with his punches.
* RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: He wears black pants and shoes, his nanomachines turn his skin black as well with some bloody red, and his eyes glow bright red.
* RedEyesTakeWarning: His glasses obscure his bright red eyes.
* RuleOfSymbolism: When claiming to be acting in the interests of the War Economy, you fight him as he pilots the multi-billion dollar Metal Gear Excelsus. When you pull him out of that "shell", he reveals his [[TheSocialDarwinist Social Darwinist]] agenda and proceeds to beat you down with his sheer strength.
** Raiden fighting for his belief system's right to thrive over Armstrong's Social Darwinist ideals is reminiscent of a Presidential debate. Fittingly, Armstrong intends to be President in the year 2020, so Raiden is his first great debate opponent in the way of his presidency; if he wins here, then he's already symbolically guaranteed his right to the future of America. Raiden's eventual victory over Armstrong symbolically has placed him as the leader of the new America, where his ideals will now be glorified instead. If you wanted to be more blatant about it, you could apply the business suit costume to Raiden during gameplay.
** On another level, Raiden fighting against Armstrong is symbolic of the struggle between the weak and the strong who prey on them. Raiden is symbolic of the citizens of America who for too long have been manipulated by politically powerful and wealthy men who dominate the way they live their lives, and Armstrong is symbolic of those crooked politicians. Raiden is symbolically representing every citizen who ever wanted to punch the politicians they hated in the face, and "fight the power" as the saying goes.
** When Raiden finally deals the finishing blow, he does it by [[AndShowItToYou ripping out Armstrong's heart]] and crushing it in his fist--''Zandatsu'', which is Raiden absorbing what he requires to fight from his enemies--ergo, Raiden took into himself Armstrong's ideals as he killed him, which would fuel him for his future struggles, as implied by Raiden's words and actions during TheStinger.
** Finally, as Armstrong lays dying, he gently claims that [[NotSoDifferentRemark he and Raiden are kindred spirits deep down.]] His corpse's position, Raiden standing over it, the sun behind him and the camera's angle make it seem like [[ShadowArchetype Armstrong is the shadow cast by Raiden's figure.]]
* ShadowArchetype: During the scene mentioned under GracefulLoser, he points out that he and Raiden aren't that different from each other. To make it even more blatant, after the whole thing is over, the final shot of Raiden standing over his corpse is laid out so that it looks as if Raiden's shadow cast by the sun behind him was Armstrong himself.
* SirSwearsALot: Easily the most foul-mouthed character in the ''Metal Gear'' franchise.
* SpannerInTheWorks: Raiden certainty wasn't expecting the backer of Desperado to be waiting for him in Pakistan with a giant robot and nano-machine enhancements that made him even stronger than his cyborg subordinates.
* StartXToStopX: He himself admits that he's using war as a business to get elected so he can ''end'' war as a business.
* StrawmanPolitical: Seems to take aspects of libertarianism to ludicrous, illogical extremes.
* SuperStrength: Strong enough to make the entire Metal Gear Excelsus explode with a single punch. Even Raiden, who can toss around a RAY unit, as trouble against him.
* SuperMode: In the Jetstream Sam DLC, he TurnsRed at low enough health. [[SchmuckBait Try taunting him in this part of the fight, see where it gets you]].
* TheSocialDarwinist: Wants to create a new America where the strong survive and the weak die. His motivations are very similar to the Patriots who wanted to socially engineer American evolution, only difference being is that instead of information control he intends to use violence to enforce this new world.
* TakeUpMySword: Upon his death, he tells Raiden he considers Raiden his successor, and Raiden should do what he thinks is right, regardless of what anyone else thinks.
* {{Ubermensch}}: He wants to create a world where ''EVERYONE'' is this, and any ideological/moral disputes are simply resolved by [[MightMakesRight strength]]. Armstrong considers Raiden a perfect example, as someone who "took back [his] life, following [his] own set of rules", and [[EvilCannotComprehendGood can't understand why Raiden won't join his side]].
* TheUnfettered: Claims that things like laws and lives cost in the pursuit of your goal don't truly matter in the long run. In his words, "[I'm] making the mother of all omelettes here, Jack, can't fret over every egg", basically saying that in creating your ultimate utopia, you can't worry about what you sacrifice to get there.
* UnskilledButStrong: Compared to Raiden and Sam, he relies on sheer brute force, something he happens to have [[SuperStrength extraordinary amounts of]].
* VillainousFriendship: Seems to be on very good terms with [[QuirkyMinibossSquad the Winds of Destruction]]. Has a Type III relationship with Mistral, a Type IV relationship with Monsoon, and while he doesn't interact with Sundowner in-game, he trusts him with control of [[PrivateMilitaryContractors Desperado]]. Sam, however, is an exception, as he regards him as a "pain in his ass", and it's unknown how he feels about Khamsin.
* VillainHasAPoint: Raiden admits he's right regarding people being forced to fight in wars they don't believe in and for causes they don't understand, judging by him echoing his words in TheStinger.
* VillainWithGoodPublicity: At least partially because he doesn't write his own speeches. Hell, he's even a candidate for the 2020 elections.
* VisionaryVillain: Wants to destroy and then remake the United States so it can be a place where every man, woman and child can fight for what they believe in, without being told by anyone else what is right or wrong.
* WalkingSpoiler: Everything related to his role in the end of the game is not what you expect when you first see him.
* WeaponOfChoice: ''Averted.'' Every other major combatant in the game has a weapon that reflects their ideals, but Armstrong himself fights only with basic footballer moves and [[UnskilledButStrong nanomachine power]]. However, this still keeps with his character: if you're difficult to kill and you're powerful enough to defeat anyone, [[MightMakesRight you're right]], ideals and beliefs be damned.
* WeCanRuleTogether: After Armstong is finished with his rhetoric, Raiden appears to relent, realizing he's not dealing with a mere criminal but a true believer. Armstrong extends his hand as a gesture of goodwill... but Raiden hasn't abandoned his moral compass just yet.
-->"I was wrong. [[BaitAndSwitchComment You're not greedy...]] '''[[YoureInsane YOU'RE BATSHIT INSANE!!!!]]'''"
* WellIntentionedExtremist: He really does want to make America great again and give the people true freedom. However, he plans to do this by creating hundreds of child soldiers, starting a war with Pakistan on false pretenses, and then burning the US government to the ground once he's in control of it.
** He sums up his intent at the end of the Jetstream DLC with:
--->"Organized violence, waging war as business. We're gonna put an end to all that bullshit."
** This is also shown with Metal Gear Excelsus. It isn't a nuclear capable mecha, but rather its meant to destroy extremist hideouts and positions. The reason why it's so huge is to warn anyone in the way of Excelsus, Armstrong designed it in a way that non-combatants would have a really good chance to escape.
* WorldsStrongestMan: When he's hulked out, he's the single strongest character in the entire ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' universe at the time of his introduction, surpassed only by [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolidVThePhantomPain the Man on Fire]]. He's also the strongest member of the most powerful PMC in the world, and considering the other members include ''Sundowner'', that's saying something. To put it simply, he's far more dangerous to Raiden than the ''[[HumongousMecha Metal Gear]]'' he starts the fight in.
* WorthyOpponent: Considers Raiden to be this. During the final boss battle he actually says that "this is the greatest fight of my life."
* YouCantMakeAnOmelette: Immediately after Raiden's ISurrenderSuckers moment:
-->"Making the mother of all omelettes here, Jack! Can't fret over every egg!"
* XanatosSpeedChess: Implied. It's not stated how [[EvilPlan Operation Tecumseh]] was supposed to work, but whatever the plan was, he managed to manipulate Raiden's involvement to his favor.
[[/folder]]
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%% PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE EDITING THIS PAGE
%%[= Do not use acronyms like "MGS2" and "MGS4" without escaping them. It creates a redlink, and redirects from acronyms are prohibited.=]
%%[= Incorrect: MGS3 =]
%% Correct: [=MGS3=]
%%Now have fun trying to figure out which drug Kojima is smoking.
!!Senator Steven Armstrong
[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/revarm_8629.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:''[-"I'm not one of those beltway pansies. I could break the president in two with my bare hands!"-]'' ]]
[[caption-width-right:300:[[labelnote: When powered up by nanomachines (son!)]] https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Steven_Armstrong_5169.jpg[[/labelnote]]]]
->Voiced by: Creator/UnshoIshizuka (JP), Creator/AlastairDuncan (EN)
->'''ImageSong and {{Leitmotif}}:''' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUoFNrYHvu4 It Has To Be This Way]]
-->"Nationalism! Unilateralism! Materialism! Welcome maxims for those with no faith -- without guiding principles of their own. Give yourself up to the whole. No need to better yourself -- you're American! You're ''number one''!"
One of Colorado's elected Senators, and a candidate for the US Presidency, Steven Armstrong is the backer of Desperado Enforcement and the main villain of the game. A full-blown Darwinist at heart, Armstrong wishes for a world ruled solely by strength, where ideals are literally fought for, and the strong can mold the world in their image. He uses nanomachines infused in his body to enhance his physical abilities to inhuman levels, granting him drastically increased strength, durability and speed during combat.
----
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:A-H]]
* AchillesHeel: Armstrong's body is infused with nanomachines that harden almost instantaneously upon contact with physical trauma, but they still have limits. Sufficiently powerful physical forces, such as attacks from the Murasama HF Blade, will force the nanomachines to converge and localize their energy into the targeted area of the body. Raiden exploits this during the last portion of their fight by first slashing Armstrong across his upper body, before proceeding to quickly stab through his midsection and critically injure him. Another is that the nanomachines spread out from his heart, so Sam is able to use his gunsheath to outpace the response time of the nanomachines and cut off Armstrong's arm before it can harden, while Raiden ultimately kills Armstrong by Zandatsuing and crushing his heart.
* ActionPolitician: Being a Senator doesn't stop him from piloting a Metal Gear or getting into personal combat with Raiden.
* AdjustingYourGlasses: He does this while Raiden is going full [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure Jotaro]] on him just to emphasize that he is doing whatever the ScratchDamage equivalent to ScratchDamage is.
* AffablyEvil: Between all his threats, he is also polite and respectful to his opponents, even when he's winning. Particularly in the Jetstream DLC, where he's gently smiling while completely schooling Sam in a fight. It's to the point where, during Raiden's ISurrenderSuckers moment, he immediately helps Raiden up and dusts him off when he thinks Raiden will join him. Before this, even when Raiden is utterly baffled at how he got to where he is, we get this gem.
--->'''Raiden:''' How the ''hell'' did you get elected?\\
'''Armstrong:''' ''[[ActuallyPrettyFunny (Chuckles)]]'' Well, I don't write my own speeches.
* AmbiguousRobots: Thanks to his nanomachines, Armstrong is a fusion of man and machine on the cellular level.
* AnArmAndALeg: In the ''Jetstream'' DLC, Sam manages to sever Armstrong's right arm, but his body-hardening nanomachines keep the stump sharp, allowing him to sever Sam's own arm in return, as well as reattaching his.
* TheAntiNihilist: He has a sideways version of Solid Snake's philosophy. He sees a world full of citizens pacified by empty principles and soldiers dying for causes they don't believe in, but rather than a world of peace, he wants to create a world of freedom - one where people can choose their own principles and fight for their own causes. He may not be able to end all war, but at least he can make sure that those who put their lives at stake are doing it for their own good reasons.
* AntiVillain: Though he isn't above using child soldiers and using Desperado to create conflicts in nations that are recovering from war, he is a man that wants what's best for his country... Or at least what ''he'' thinks is the best. Being one of the only antagonists in the series that '''doesn't''' want to use nuclear weapons is also a plus. He also genuinely believes in DefeatEqualsFriendship, has genuine respect for Raiden and ''really'' wants him on his side.
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: He's both the ultimate backer of Desperado, and the most advanced and lethal combatant they have, using {{Nanomachines}} in his body to become a [[NighInvulnerability nigh-invulnerable]] superhuman.
* BadassBaritone: Very tough, extremely cunning and one hell of a LargeHam, with a booming voice to hammer it all home. If his goals weren't genuinely well-meaning then this would've been EvilSoundsDeep.
* BadassBoast: The entire fight with him is riddled with these. Everything coming out of his mouth that isn't about politics is this in spades. It's weird to hear that the man didn't write his own speeches. Then again, everything he says makes him sound crazy.
* BadassBureaucrat: With the "Badass" part including physical badassery, unlike most examples of the trope.
* BadassInANiceSuit: As expected from a Senator, though he drops the jacket when he pilots Excelsus. His shirt also slowly gets torn off when he starts using his nanomachines.
* BareHandedBladeBlock: Not only does he catch Raiden's HF blade in one hand, he ''snaps it in half''. He also does this if you get too trigger happy with Blade Mode on him.
* BattleAmongstTheFlames: Which is also the ruins of Metal Gear EXCELSUS.
* BattleAura: Emits one during his fight with Raiden. In "Jetstream", he can also trigger an even bigger one when he TurnsRed.
* BeatStillMyHeart: Raiden kills him by ''ripping out his still beating heart '''and crushing it'''''.
* BerserkButton: Sam's extended taunt suggests that it's his age. Armstrong's [[UnstoppableRage impossibly mean rage-only attack]] suggests that it's ''definitely'' his age.
-->'''Sam''': ''[laughs]'' Not bad... for an old man!
* BigBad: Of ''Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance''. He's the ultimate backer of Desperado and the Winds of Destruction.
* BodyHorror: Has giant veins coming out of a massive scar on his chest from which his nanomachine armor expands. Even Raiden looks shocked when he first sees it. His arms also gets covered with burn marks and scratches from using his nanomachines to generate massive amounts of heat for his punches.
* BloodKnight: Loves a good fight and says things like "Hah, that one hurt!" when he takes a lot of damage in the latter half in the fight. His biggest blood knight line of them all is probably "Hahaha! This is the greatest fight ''of my life!''"
* CharacterFilibuster: He gives two of the longest speeches in the game.
* ClusterFBomb: Quite possibly the most foul-mouthed character in the ''Metal Gear'' franchise to date. His MotiveRant is composed in good part of f-bombs and degrading slurs.
* CoolOldGuy: Villainous example. One can even see that his hair has started whitening a bit. And in his life he was a quarterback for the University of Texas, a navy veteran, a state senator, and possibly the most dangerous fighter alive thanks to his superhuman physique.
* CorruptCorporateExecutive: He's the de facto head of World Mashal, which seeks to create war to gather funds and isn't above using cyberized child soldiers.
* CorruptPolitician: Is a Colorado Senator with links to PrivateMilitaryContractors and human trafficking.
* CoveredWithScars: His nanomachine heart creates an ugly pulsating scar all over his chest. This is especially noticeable whenever he hulks up.
* CurbStompBattle: The fight with him is initially this, Raiden manages to get some hits in, but Armstrong mostly shrugs them off and gives him the worst beating he's ever endured, up until Blade Wolf gives Raiden the Murasama. Also, his fight with Sam in the Jetstream DLC. The whole fight he was just testing him, and when Sam attempts another go, Armstrong gets serious and beats his face, even losing a hand barely slows him down.
* TheCynic: Outright says the "average joe" only cares about money. He also thinks people don't care about information control, or right and wrong, as long as the information is spun well enough to make them feel comfortable.
%%DarkMessiah
%%DeadpanSnarker
* DefeatEqualsFriendship: He's a stern believer in this. He offers Sam a job and constantly offers Raiden a place too. Problem is, his job interviews involve a fight...
* DefeatingTheUndefeatable: He recruited Sam, who had garnered a reputation as an untouchable swordsman by breaking him in both body and spirit.
* {{Determinator}}: In the FinalBattle he gets buried under rubble repeatedly, and if the player gets the Quick-Time Events right, kicked with enough force you can hear his ribs crack, punched repeatedly in the midsection, backhanded and smashed in the face with the full force of Raiden's fist hard enough to make him fly back several feet, yet still gets back up to kick ass. In the final part of the fight, Raiden '''jabs the Murasama right through his midriff, and Armstrong still tries to overpower him one last time!'''
** The Jetstream DLC, Sam cuts his hand off, and he uses the sharp stump of his arm as a weapon.
* DystopiaJustifiesTheMeans: Wishes to make America a nation based on Social Darwinism, where everyone is free to fight and kill for what they believe in.
* EmpoweredBadassNormal: He was athletic and strong enough to play pro-football straight out of college before becoming a Navy SEAL. The nanomachines he uses bulk him up enormously, make him ''stronger than Raiden'', and nearly impossible to kill to boot.
* EqualOpportunityEvil: Will accept anybody from a NobleDemon to a PsychoForHire who doesn't care about ideals into his ranks.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: He's disgusted by what the Patriot [=AIs=] did to the world, and when he reveals his plans before the FinalBattle, he straight up says that his "Second War on Terror" is only out to kill extremists, madmen and the like. Of course, when he talks about his "Second War On Terror" he is pretending to be a stereotypical CorruptPolitician and has just gotten through a speech on how easily manipulated the masses can be and profiting on war. So, it is likely he was referring to "extremists, madmen, etc." as labels that can be used to justify attacking other countries and starting war for profit. As he reveals after Raiden destroys Metal Gear Excelsus and fights him hand-to-hand, Armstrong actually despises war as a business and how the masses can be manipulated through government, labels, media, etc.; he is a CorruptPolitician, but he actually is also a WellIntentionedExtremist who wants to give America freedom from control by corrupt government, media, etc. ... by creating a [[TheSocialDarwinist Social Darwinist]] "utopia".
* EvilCannotComprehendGood: Despite his goal being to recreate America into a nation where people will not be coerced, conned, or conscripted into fighting someone else's war, but will instead settle ideological differences with literal duels to the death to fight for what they personally believe, he simply cannot understand why truly ideal would-be citizens of this new nation such as Raiden and Blade Wolf refuse to fall in line behind him.
* EvilIsHammy: '''Big time''', to a memetic degree.
** "Don't FUCK with this Senator!"
** "Feel the Wrath of the U.S.A.!"
** "Played college ball, ya know."
** "Ashes to ashes ''motherfucker!''"
** "Hit the road, Jack!"
** "Uncle Sam needs you to die, Jack!"
** ''Every word'' of his [[ClusterFBomb cuss word-laden]] MotiveRant.
** And of course, "Nanomachines, son!"
* EvilIsPetty: Calls cherry blossoms and other forms of transient beauty "sissy crap." Even mentions that he'll fire one of his executives for constructing the Japanese garden seen inside World Marshal, and that the guy will be lucky if he can even carry his box of personal belongings out of the office.
* EvilSoundsDeep: Has possibly the deepest voice of all the villains in this game. Kinda goes without saying when he's built like a freight train.
* {{Expy}}: A lot of fans have pointed out that his plan would essentially create the lawless Hell that is the world of ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'', albeit one that isn't plagued by nuclear holocaust. The irony is that when powered up he looks and fights like Raoh, the very person in that world trying to bring about order and law.
* FaceDeathWithDignity: He admits defeat when Raiden pulls his heart out, but goes down with his chin held high and his ideals untarnished.
* FinalBoss: He's the final enemy of both the main game and the Jetstream DLC.
* FinalExamBoss: If you haven't mastered every mechanic that the other bosses demanded, Armstrong will ''wreck'' you.
** '''LQ-84i''': Recognizing and properly responding to the UG's startup animations is key to surviving the following attacks. However, Armstrong's startup animations are harder to tell apart, and incorrect predictions tend to set you up for a damaging punish.
** '''Mistral''': Certain parts of the fight provide scripted Blade Mode setups that let the player chop off Mistral's arms or her spear. With Armstrong, Blade Mode is absolutely required during certain quick-time events that target his arms, and he can heal himself infinitely unless the player ''manually'' uses Blade Mode to hit him in the back.
** '''GRAD''': Armstrong's movement is both faster and more flexible than Raiden's, so understanding approach tools like Dystopia and purchasable DashAttack skills is the only way to keep up with him.
** '''Monsoon''': Beating Monsoon requires that the player has mastered parrying. Armstrong requires that the player do it with better reflexes.
** '''Sundowner''': His explosive-shield gimmick can only be defeated by lining up the Blade Mode plane through multiple boxes. Armstrong's rubble-tossing attack demands the same skill, except performed multiple times in a row and at different angles.
** '''Sam''': Sam teaches defensive play by blocking overeager attacks. Armstrong doesn't even flinch from them, and he has enough HP to take a few attacks before hitting back with more power.
* FinalSpeech: When Raiden is about to kill him, Armstrong stops him short and states that although war will continue to thrive as a business, he leaves Raiden as a worthy successor to end war as a business, while also remarking how they're [[NotSoDifferentRemark not so different]].
-->'''Armstrong:''' You've guaranteed the status-quo will go on, for a while longer at least... War... will continue as an institution. As an industry. Men will fight for reasons they don't understand, causes they don't believe in... But at least I'll leave a worthy successor... You, Jack. You carve your own path, use whatever methods you see fit... You don't let legal bullshit get in the way. And if it costs a few lives? So be it... [[NotSoDifferentRemark Deep inside, we're... kindred spirits... you... and I...]]
* {{Foreshadowing}}: "Huh, why does that politician in a suit look like he could bench press a small tank?", you might wonder when you first see Armstrong in the Desperado labs in Mexico. Of course, that's because he's the LightningBruiser FinalBoss!
* FriendlyEnemy: As he admits, he actually rather likes Raiden and would rather have him on his side. He wouldn't have spent all that time debating philosophy if he didn't want to convince Raiden. Even more evident in the Jetstream DLC, [[EqualOpportunityEvil where he keeps offering Sam a]] ''[[EqualOpportunityEvil job]]''.
* ForeheadOfDoom: According to the character designer, while Armstrong's original design made him look more intelligent, his forehead and chin were later emphasized to be more fitting with his character. Specifically, that of a man of action, not just words.
* GeniusBruiser: He is both a nigh-invincible juggernaut and a University of Texas graduate who can easily pilot an extremely advanced Metal Gear and orchestrate a series of large scale terrorism attacks.
* GiantSpaceFleaFromNowhere: He is barely mentioned before the final mission and at no point was it ever implied that he was an active combatant. Naturally, all of Raiden's mission support are utterly baffled at him fighting Raiden.
* TheGlassesComeOff: He takes off his glasses when he gets serious against Raiden.
* GoodHairEvilHair: Armstrong never has a single strand of his slicked back hair out of place.
* GoodOldFisticuffs: Unlike other enemies, he doesn't use an HF weapon, just his fists. He played college football, and served in the Navy (which trains in hand-to-hand), but never saw combat.
* GoodSmokingEvilSmoking: The only one in the entire game who's seen smoking, and it's naturally cigars to boot.
* GoOutWithASmile: Dies happy knowing Raiden will keep trying to end war, even if unlike himself he won't try to create a [[TheSocialDarwinist Social-Darwinistic world]].
* GracefulLoser: As he dies, he congratulates Raiden for his victory and encourages him to fight for what he believes in, thereby becoming the embodiment of his ideals.
* HavingABlast: He can cause explosions simply by [[GroundPound punching the ground]]. He can even do this while on a ''helipad''.
** He also has an attack where he creates smaller explosions that ''chase you''. It's possible that he's focusing superheated Nanomachines into the ground to cause fiery explosions. [[WildMassGuessing Or something else, who knows]].
* HeadsIWinTailsYouLose: The fight with him in "Jetstream". Despite apparently losing by the end of the fight with Sam, in the cutscene afterwards he gets back like nothing happened (and from the look of him compared to other bosses when defeated, very little did) and beats the tar of out him.
* HealingFactor: Since his body is just as much a machine as it is flesh and blood, as long as his body is energized, his nanomachines will always recover; he can even reattach severed limbs just by slapping the severed appendage back on. Thus, he can heal by absorbing energy from the technology in his vicinity, though doing this forces him to halt whatever else he is doing, leaving him wide open to attacks.
* HiddenBadass: No one saw it coming that a US Senator would be one of the most powerful combatants in the ''Metal Gear'' universe to date.
* HiddenDepths: ''Twice''. Like a good politician, he keeps his real motivations hidden very well. The first time you meet him, he gleefully admits to being a sort of neo-Patriot who's set on restarting the war economy to maintain America's status as a world power. When Raiden points out the hypocrisy of his speech and his politician persona, Armstrong admits even ''that'' is just a pretense, and actually loathes the shallow, sensationalist, materialistic culture he earlier claimed to support, and is actually planning to ''destroy'' America and rebuild it as a Darwinist utopia.
* HobbesWasRight: Interestingly enough, his vision of an anarchic, [[TheSocialDarwinist social Darwinist]] utopia is very similar to what Hobbes believed was the natural endpoint of humanity without a sovereign to maintain order. The difference being Armstrong thinks this is a ''good'' thing.
* HulkingOut: He absorbs a ''massive'' amount of electricity from either several helicopters or what's left of Metal Gear EXCELSUS to activate his nanomachines. This causes him to temporarily bulk up to a huge degree.
* HumanHammerThrow: In "Jetstream", he pulls off a Giant Swing on Sam near the end of the battle.
* HumongousMecha: Shows up in the gigantic Metal Gear EXCELSUS to slaughter Raiden with.
* HopelessBossFight: It becomes apparent by the final part of the fight [[ILetYouWin that if Armstrong had fought seriously from the start]], Raiden wouldn't have stood the tiniest of chances.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:I-Z]]
* IKnowMaddenKombat: He "played college ball, ya know". Hence he likes to punt people around as if they were American footballs, and many of his attacks are powerful charging tackles.
* IAmNotLeftHanded: Raiden thought it was over when he destroyed Metal Gear EXCELSUS... then Armstrong activates his SuperMode. He was also holding back the first two rounds, only using his MagmaMan powers in the final round, once Raiden has a weapon capable of actually hurting him.
* ImprobableWeaponUser: In the Jetstream Sam campaign, he uses ''the stump of his chopped-off hand'', of all things, as a weapon.
* InstantArmor: His nanomachines harden in response to physical trauma (and likely through mental command, as well), allowing him to casually shrug off just about everything short of the Murasama.
* {{Irony}}:
** There's also his belief that individuals should be able pursue freedom and fight for what they believe in. When Blade Wolf, an ideal example of the individual that Armstrong describes, challenges Armstrong's position, [[{{Hypocrite}} his response is to attack him and disregard what he says]]. This one, however, is [[HypocriteHasAPoint built into what he said earlier]]: in his vision of a new America, if someone's views conflict with your own, you fight until one fighter's beliefs are rendered void. By punting Blade Wolf, he was trying to assert that his own views were superior to Wolf's.
* IvyLeagueForEveryone: Defied. When he mentions playing college football, Raiden assumes he attended "some cushy Ivy-League school." Armstrong proudly announces that he in fact attended the University Of Texas (admittedly still regarded as a "Public Ivy.")
* TheJuggernaut: For the first two phases of his fight, Raiden can barely put a dent in him. Even with the Murasama, Armstrong still shrugs off a lot of attacks.
* KickTheDog: A literal example. He punts Blade Wolf away after the latter gives Raiden the Murasama.
** At the end of Jetstream Sam's DLC, he extends his hand to shake Sam's. That is to say, the one he just cut off.
* KnightTemplar: Claims he's a hero out to save America, despite being a "batshit insane" monster, according to Raiden.
* LargeAndInCharge: He's the BigBad, who stands a full 200 centimeters tall with a heavy, muscular build.
* LanternJawOfJustice: This guy's jaw puts Superman's to shame. Though his own dark brand of "justice" makes it a subversion.
* LaughablyEvil: He spouts out some of the funniest lines a ''Metal Gear'' villain has delivered ''completely unironically''. And that isn't even getting into his over-the-top transformation poses.
* LightningBruiser: He is both [[NighInvulnerability nigh-invulnerable]] and capable of dashing across the final battlefield in a few seconds; his basic moveset is also stronger and faster than Raiden's basic attacks, and can easily eat off an entire healthbar of yours if he gets to unleash a full combo or stun you, even on Normal difficulty.
* MagnetismManipulation: In the "Jetstream" DLC, he demonstrates Monsoon's ability to levitate vehicles and toss them at his enemy. Possibly because he doesn't have any EXCELSUS wreckage to throw at Sam.
* TheManBehindTheMan: He's the man behind World Marshal and Desperado, funding their attacks to further his agenda of plunging the world into war.
* ManipulativeBastard: Easily adjusts for Raiden's attempt to interfere with his plans to his advantage. By framing his actions as terrorist attacks to justify starting a war, it allowed him to pull his plan off without having to kill the President like he originally intended.
* MeaningfulName: Maybe a bit on the nose; his arms ''are'' indeed very strong. And that's not even getting into when he activates his {{Nanomachines}}.
* MeetTheNewBoss: Thirteen years after [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty George "Solidus Snake" Sears's resignation]] from the US presidency over [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid the Shadow Moses Incident]] and nine years after his insurrection during the Manhattan Incident, Presidential candidate Steven Armstrong expresses a similar desire to reboot the United States by instigating a revolution within the American homeland. The similarity to ''Sons of Liberty'' led to rumors that Solidus actually appears in this game; actually, the "Sears Project" is mentioned in connection with plans to create child soldiers, just like Solidus did in Liberia.
* MotiveRant: Delivers one as he's beating Raiden senseless atop Metal Gear EXCELSUS:
-->"'I have a dream.' That one day every person in this nation will control their own destiny. A nation of the truly free, dammit. A nation of action, not words, ruled by strength, not committee! Where the law changes to suit the individual, not the other way around. Where power and justice are back where they belong: in the hands of the people! Where every man is free to think -- to act -- for himself! Fuck all these limp-dick lawyers and chickenshit bureaucrats. Fuck this 24-hour Internet spew of trivia and celebrity bullshit! '''Fuck American pride! Fuck the media!''' '''''FUCK ALL OF IT!''''' America is diseased. Rotten to the core. There's no saving it -- we need to pull it out by the roots. Wipe the slate clean. BURN IT DOWN! And from the ashes a new America will be born. Evolved, but untamed! The weak will be purged and the strongest will thrive -- free to live as they see fit, they'll make America '''great again'''! ... In my new America, people will die and kill for what they BELIEVE! Not for money. not for oil! Not for what they're told is right. Every man will be free to fight his own wars!"
* MultipleLifeBars: His final form has two.
* MyRulesAreNotYourRules: Unlike every other boss in the game, FinalBoss Armstrong has ''200%'' health.
* NighInvulnerability: His body cells are fused with nanomachines. When they are activated, his flesh hardens to become many times more durable than the CNT Muscle Fiber that Raiden is made of. The nanomachines also harden in response to physical trauma, making him as durable as he needs to be.
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Once he decides to go all out, Armstrong first delivers a punch that sends Raiden flying, then traps the cyborg underneath him while starting to punch him in a slow pace before going RapidFireFisticuffs and finally finishes with a punch that's strong enough to blow up the Metal Gear EXCELSUS.
-->'''Armstrong:''' Die, you '''PIECE OF''' '''''SHIT!'''''
* NoPartyGiven: No indication is given as to his political party: He hails from the swing state of Colorado, and his yellow tie is neither [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience Democrat blue nor Republican red]]. His personal philosophy also makes speculating on him being right wing or left wing utterly misses the point, since his personal goal is extreme libertarianism combined with a good dose of insanity.
* NoSell: He's special in that he is the only boss in the entire game that makes no attempt whatsoever to dodge any attack flung at him. He either catches, blocks, or straight up ignores it.
* NobleDemon: Inverted. His means are evil, but his goal not necessarily so. It depends on how much stock you put into [[TheSocialDarwinist Social Darwinism]] and MightMakesRight. In any case, he seems to put a lot of emphasis on its freedom and claritive aspects, and genuinely believes he's making the world a better place [[KnightTemplar by whatever means necessary]].
** A more straight example is his apparent full belief in DefeatMeansFriendship. While fighting Sam, he never gives up trying to recruit him, even while pounding his head into the concrete, even after Sam cuts off his arm, and always with that confident smile. When Raiden starts to look like he'll go the same route Sam did, Armstrong actually helps Raiden stand up and shakes his hand, and even gives him a ManHug... [[ISurrenderSuckers which gives Raiden the perfect opening to attack.]]
* NonActionBigBad: At first. He spends most of the game hiding his true intentions and ties to Desperado...and then the truth comes out. The instant he enters the battlefield, [[AvertedTrope he absolutely mops the floor with Raiden, again and again.]] '''''[[UpToEleven And then he keeps going.]]'''''
* NotSoHarmlessVillain: Seems at first to be a completely normal middle aged senator that is utterly defenseless without Metal Gear EXCELSUS. It soon turns out he's actually ''more dangerous'' on his own though.
* OrderVersusChaos: Initially claims to adhere to Order, as shown in his first battle theme "Collective Consciousness," which is about telling the masses to give up their rights and free will for the good of the country, and boasts about the wonders a little war can do for the economy, essentially continuing the Patriot's legacy. Once EXCELSUS is destroyed however, he reveals he actually pushes for Chaos, wishing to create a country where the weak are purged, the strongest thrive, and everyone is able to fight for their own freedom and beliefs, and that his previous stance was merely an act to get elected.
* OurPresidentsAreDifferent: Well, a senator of the "Action" variety. And by "Action", we do mean "''Action''."
* OutOfTheInferno: Sometimes pulls this during the last part of his fight. When he punches the ground and creates literal fire walls, he sometimes walks through them instead of his charging attack.
* PatrioticFervor: Armstrong is an incredibly fervent [[{{Eagleland}} Eaglelander]], if only for his vision of a Darwinist utopian America.
* PlayingWithFire: He's able to [[GroundPound punch the ground]] with enough force to trigger massive bursts of flame.
* {{Pride}}: Arguably what leads to his defeat. Armstrong holds back on Raiden for the first two phases of the fight, thinking he can still convince him to join his side. By the time he decides to get serious and finish off his opponent, [[BigDamnHeroes Blade Wolf makes an appearance and grants Raiden the one weapon that can harm him.]] Nonetheless, though defeated, [[GracefulLoser he dies happy]], knowing that in Raiden he has "a worthy succesor", [[ImplacableMan who like him]], will fight for his ideals no matter what.
* PunchPunchPunchUhOh: Raiden's attempts at RapidFireFisticuffs do nothing but slightly amuse him.
* RatedMForManly: A mega-buff former football player turned Navy SEAL turned senator who [[HulkingOut hulks out]] with ridiculous charges of electricity to become stronger than Raiden and able to create giant pillars of fire and lava with his punches.
* RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver: He wears black pants and shoes, his nanomachines turn his skin black as well with some bloody red, and his eyes glow bright red.
* RedEyesTakeWarning: His glasses obscure his bright red eyes.
* RuleOfSymbolism: When claiming to be acting in the interests of the War Economy, you fight him as he pilots the multi-billion dollar Metal Gear Excelsus. When you pull him out of that "shell", he reveals his [[TheSocialDarwinist Social Darwinist]] agenda and proceeds to beat you down with his sheer strength.
** Raiden fighting for his belief system's right to thrive over Armstrong's Social Darwinist ideals is reminiscent of a Presidential debate. Fittingly, Armstrong intends to be President in the year 2020, so Raiden is his first great debate opponent in the way of his presidency; if he wins here, then he's already symbolically guaranteed his right to the future of America. Raiden's eventual victory over Armstrong symbolically has placed him as the leader of the new America, where his ideals will now be glorified instead. If you wanted to be more blatant about it, you could apply the business suit costume to Raiden during gameplay.
** On another level, Raiden fighting against Armstrong is symbolic of the struggle between the weak and the strong who prey on them. Raiden is symbolic of the citizens of America who for too long have been manipulated by politically powerful and wealthy men who dominate the way they live their lives, and Armstrong is symbolic of those crooked politicians. Raiden is symbolically representing every citizen who ever wanted to punch the politicians they hated in the face, and "fight the power" as the saying goes.
** When Raiden finally deals the finishing blow, he does it by [[AndShowItToYou ripping out Armstrong's heart]] and crushing it in his fist--''Zandatsu'', which is Raiden absorbing what he requires to fight from his enemies--ergo, Raiden took into himself Armstrong's ideals as he killed him, which would fuel him for his future struggles, as implied by Raiden's words and actions during TheStinger.
** Finally, as Armstrong lays dying, he gently claims that [[NotSoDifferentRemark he and Raiden are kindred spirits deep down.]] His corpse's position, Raiden standing over it, the sun behind him and the camera's angle make it seem like [[ShadowArchetype Armstrong is the shadow cast by Raiden's figure.]]
* ShadowArchetype: During the scene mentioned under GracefulLoser, he points out that he and Raiden aren't that different from each other. To make it even more blatant, after the whole thing is over, the final shot of Raiden standing over his corpse is laid out so that it looks as if Raiden's shadow cast by the sun behind him was Armstrong himself.
* SirSwearsALot: Easily the most foul-mouthed character in the ''Metal Gear'' franchise.
* SpannerInTheWorks: Raiden certainty wasn't expecting the backer of Desperado to be waiting for him in Pakistan with a giant robot and nano-machine enhancements that made him even stronger than his cyborg subordinates.
* StartXToStopX: He himself admits that he's using war as a business to get elected so he can ''end'' war as a business.
* StrawmanPolitical: Seems to take aspects of libertarianism to ludicrous, illogical extremes.
* SuperStrength: Strong enough to make the entire Metal Gear Excelsus explode with a single punch. Even Raiden, who can toss around a RAY unit, as trouble against him.
* SuperMode: In the Jetstream Sam DLC, he TurnsRed at low enough health. [[SchmuckBait Try taunting him in this part of the fight, see where it gets you]].
* TheSocialDarwinist: Wants to create a new America where the strong survive and the weak die. His motivations are very similar to the Patriots who wanted to socially engineer American evolution, only difference being is that instead of information control he intends to use violence to enforce this new world.
* TakeUpMySword: Upon his death, he tells Raiden he considers Raiden his successor, and Raiden should do what he thinks is right, regardless of what anyone else thinks.
* {{Ubermensch}}: He wants to create a world where ''EVERYONE'' is this, and any ideological/moral disputes are simply resolved by [[MightMakesRight strength]]. Armstrong considers Raiden a perfect example, as someone who "took back [his] life, following [his] own set of rules", and [[EvilCannotComprehendGood can't understand why Raiden won't join his side]].
* TheUnfettered: Claims that things like laws and lives cost in the pursuit of your goal don't truly matter in the long run. In his words, "[I'm] making the mother of all omelettes here, Jack, can't fret over every egg", basically saying that in creating your ultimate utopia, you can't worry about what you sacrifice to get there.
* UnskilledButStrong: Compared to Raiden and Sam, he relies on sheer brute force, something he happens to have [[SuperStrength extraordinary amounts of]].
* VillainousFriendship: Seems to be on very good terms with [[QuirkyMinibossSquad the Winds of Destruction]]. Has a Type III relationship with Mistral, a Type IV relationship with Monsoon, and while he doesn't interact with Sundowner in-game, he trusts him with control of [[PrivateMilitaryContractors Desperado]]. Sam, however, is an exception, as he regards him as a "pain in his ass", and it's unknown how he feels about Khamsin.
* VillainHasAPoint: Raiden admits he's right regarding people being forced to fight in wars they don't believe in and for causes they don't understand, judging by him echoing his words in TheStinger.
* VillainWithGoodPublicity: At least partially because he doesn't write his own speeches. Hell, he's even a candidate for the 2020 elections.
* VisionaryVillain: Wants to destroy and then remake the United States so it can be a place where every man, woman and child can fight for what they believe in, without being told by anyone else what is right or wrong.
* WalkingSpoiler: Everything related to his role in the end of the game is not what you expect when you first see him.
* WeaponOfChoice: ''Averted.'' Every other major combatant in the game has a weapon that reflects their ideals, but Armstrong himself fights only with basic footballer moves and [[UnskilledButStrong nanomachine power]]. However, this still keeps with his character: if you're difficult to kill and you're powerful enough to defeat anyone, [[MightMakesRight you're right]], ideals and beliefs be damned.
* WeCanRuleTogether: After Armstong is finished with his rhetoric, Raiden appears to relent, realizing he's not dealing with a mere criminal but a true believer. Armstrong extends his hand as a gesture of goodwill... but Raiden hasn't abandoned his moral compass just yet.
-->"I was wrong. [[BaitAndSwitchComment You're not greedy...]] '''[[YoureInsane YOU'RE BATSHIT INSANE!!!!]]'''"
* WellIntentionedExtremist: He really does want to make America great again and give the people true freedom. However, he plans to do this by creating hundreds of child soldiers, starting a war with Pakistan on false pretenses, and then burning the US government to the ground once he's in control of it.
** He sums up his intent at the end of the Jetstream DLC with:
--->"Organized violence, waging war as business. We're gonna put an end to all that bullshit."
** This is also shown with Metal Gear Excelsus. It isn't a nuclear capable mecha, but rather its meant to destroy extremist hideouts and positions. The reason why it's so huge is to warn anyone in the way of Excelsus, Armstrong designed it in a way that non-combatants would have a really good chance to escape.
* WorldsStrongestMan: When he's hulked out, he's the single strongest character in the entire ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' universe at the time of his introduction, surpassed only by [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolidVThePhantomPain the Man on Fire]]. He's also the strongest member of the most powerful PMC in the world, and considering the other members include ''Sundowner'', that's saying something. To put it simply, he's far more dangerous to Raiden than the ''[[HumongousMecha Metal Gear]]'' he starts the fight in.
* WorthyOpponent: Considers Raiden to be this. During the final boss battle he actually says that "this is the greatest fight of my life."
* YouCantMakeAnOmelette: Immediately after Raiden's ISurrenderSuckers moment:
-->"Making the mother of all omelettes here, Jack! Can't fret over every egg!"
* XanatosSpeedChess: Implied. It's not stated how [[EvilPlan Operation Tecumseh]] was supposed to work, but whatever the plan was, he managed to manipulate Raiden's involvement to his favor.
[[/folder]]
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