History Main / DevilsPitchfork

The pitchfork, originally a tool used for moving hay, has in modern culture become strongly associated with {{Satan}}, demons, and Hell in a broader sense. Pronged spears of this sort are thus a common choice of weapon for demonic characters, or otherwise ones who are ''extremely'' evil. Tridents don't go to ordinary villains, and certainly not to everyday thugs; if you're wielding one, you're pretty much {{Satan}} or his [[SatanicArchetype local counterpart]], or one of his direct underlings. Outside of the big guys themselves, these weapons are also often seen in the hands of the common demons and devils (cartoony or otherwise) who work in Hell by punishing sinners. A pitchfork of this kind is practically mandatory equipment for the BigRedDevil.

Despite [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Hades/Pluto]] often being [[EverybodyHatesHades confused for a Satan analogue]], he has little to do with this image; his personal weapon was a ''bident'' (two prongs) while the trident was instead a symbol of his brother Poseidon[=/=]Neptune (Zeus[=/=]Jupiter completed the trifecta by wielding the single-pronged Lightning Bolt). An ''actual'' pitchfork, on the other hand, has four tines, equally long, and are [[AvertedTrope very rarely seen being carried by demons]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheEmperorsNewGroove'': At various points in the film, Kronk's conscience manifests as [[GoodAngelBadAngel a bickering angel and devil]] on opposite shoulders. The devil version of Kronk carries a golden trident. When Yzma insults [[BerserkButton Kronk's cooking]], devil!Kronk pumps the trident like a shotgun and declares that she's going down.

* ''Literature/{{Maddrax}}'': Evil [[FishPeople hydrites]] sometimes use a trident as a weapon.

** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaFourSwordsAdventures'', set after Ganondorf's death in ''Twilight Princess'', introduces a reincarnation of the Demon King who steals the magical Trident of Power to become Ganon.

* ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'':

Despite [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Hades/Pluto]] often being [[EverybodyHatesHades confused for a Satan analogue]], he has little to do with this image; his personal weapon was a ''bident'' (two prongs) while the trident was instead a symbol of his brother Poseidon[=/=]Neptune (Zeus[=/=]Jupiter completed the trifecta by wielding the single-pronged Lightning Bolt).

* In ''Film/SpiderMan1'', the Green Goblin has a collapsible trident as one weapon in his arsenal, tying in with his demonic costume and his maniacally sadistic personality. He tries to execute Spider-Man with it near the end of their fight, but the hero manages to catch the blades and disarm him.

* In ''Literature/{{Eric}}'', the current King of Hell, Astfgl, wears what he considers a sophisticated new ensemble -- which the reader will recognize as a cheap-looking Halloween or pantomime devil costume, complete with a trident whose head keeps falling off. Somehow, when he gets ''really'' angry, the trident stops looking comical and starts looking like a horrible weapon.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Hades}}'', the [[AntagonistTitle titular]] antagonist used to wield Varatha, the "Eternal Spear," which is actually a two-pronged bident. Zagreus can also use it himself, as the God of the Dead now wields a much bigger bident called Gigaros. While Hades is [[DarkIsNotEvil not really evil]], he's still the god of the Underworld and a major {{Jerkass}}.

* In ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'', Tritnnus, the main villain in Season 5, uses a trident to blast his enemies and brainwash people. As a merman, he's also connected to oceans.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'': King Asgore Dreemurr, ruler of the Monsters and a clear Ganon {{expy}}, wields a huge red trident (inspired by the one from ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'') in his boss battle, and even uses it to [[spoiler: [[BreakingTheFourthWall destroy the MERCY option beforehand]] in order to [[DuelToTheDeath prevent you from sparing him]], though trope is actually PlayedWith since Asgore is revealed to be a GentleGiant who does not wish to kill the player at all, [[AntiVillain but feels duty-bound to do so despite his own regrets]]]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheGoddessOfSpring'', a [[ClassicDisneyShorts Silly Symphony]] loosely based on the myth of Hades and Persephone, Hades' little devil minions carry these, shoving each other around with them and using them to fence Persephone in at the beginning of the short so Hades can abduct her.

* Lil Imp in ''Comicbook/{{Hoot}}'' carries a trident much taller than she is, with a button she can use to fire lightning at people, and another one which summons a {{Hellevator}}.

%% * In ''Film/SpiderMan1'', the Green Goblin has a collapsible trident as one weapon in his arsenal. He tries to execute Spider-Man with it near the end of their fight, but the hero manages to catch the blades and disarm him.

* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' has Mayuri Kurotsuchi's shikai, although it has a very short shaft the more important part is that it [[PoisonedWeapons exudes a paralyzing poison]].

* ''Manga/Reborn2004'': Rokudo Mukuro and Chrome Dokuro are no exceptions... they will skewer you with their trident... and also... Mukuro is an expert at MindRape.

* In ''Film/SpiderMan1'', the Green Goblin has a collapsible trident as one weapon in his arsenal. He tries to execute Spider-Man with it near the end of their fight, but the hero manages to catch the blades and disarm him.

* ''Series/MahouSentaiMagiranger'': Dagon is an odd combination of aquatic and evil. Not only is he a GodOfEvil, he's also based on a fishman monster.

* ''TabletopGame/Wasteland2010'': The swamp witch Eve-L carries a metal trident that shoots [[ShockAndAwe electrical beams]].

* ''VideoGame/Blood1997'': The pitchfork is Caleb's melee [[WeaponSpecialization weapon of choice]]. He swaps it for a knife in ''VideoGame/BloodIITheChosen'' for no clearly explained reason.
* In ''VideoGame/BrainDead13'', the [[LivingStatue giant statue]] at the end of the maze has a giant one that can impale Lance if he's not quick or careful.

* ''VideoGame/{{Blood}}'': In the first game, the pitchfork is [[AxCrazy Caleb]]'s melee [[WeaponSpecialization weapon of choice]]. He swaps it for a knife in the second game for no clearly explained reason.

[[caption-width-right:350:''[[EvilOverlord Does your soul cry for destruction and conquest]]?\\
[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaFourSwordsAdventures We grant you the power to ruin the world]]''.]]

* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'': Ganon, the series' demonic archvillain, typically wields a trident as his signature weapon. It first appears in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast A Link to the Past]]'' and has become a staple of his monstrous form, with the exception of ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]''. With the exception of the non-canon ''VideoGame/HyruleWarriors'', Ganondorf never uses it in his humanoid form; however, his humanoid ghost-double Phantom Ganon wielded a trident in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]''.