History Main / EnigmaticMinion

%%* ''Series/{{Witchblade}}'': Ian Nottingham in the TV adaptation starts out this way. Throughout the first season, he swings closer and closer to a HeelFaceTurn, eventually [[spoiler: sacrificing his life for Sarah.]]

* Theodore Slowslop from ''VideoGame/GadgetPastAsFuture'' is the right-hand man to the dictator of the main setting, the Empire, who tasks the player character with investigating a group of scientists who claim the world is going to end from an incoming comet. At first, it appears that he wants the scientists to be arrested, but as you talk with the scientists more, they claim that he in fact actually believes them, unlike the Empire's dictator, and some characters say that he was planning to eventually overthrow the dictator until the news of the comet stopped those ambitions. By the end, [[spoiler: Slowslop is working full-time with the scientists and appears at the end personally to help their plan to escape Earth.]] Though, with this game's MindScrew nature, it can be difficult to tell how much of the narrative is real and how much of it is brainwashing-induced hallucinations.

** Bohan's raven also appears to be this; it seems to be sentient, but never speaks, and appears rather mysteriously at various points. [[spoiler: By the end of the game, the Raven remains pretty mysterious, but it turns out it was never a minion.]]

** Axel. In his first appearance, ''Chain of Memories,'' he betrays (and is at least partially responsible for the [[spoiler: deaths of]]) pretty much everyone in Castle Oblivion. Within his Organization his role appears to be a mix of assassin and secret police, and he's on no-one's side but his own. Even his team-mates remark that they don't have a clue about what goes on in his head. [[spoiler: Eventually some light is shed on his motives--namely, helping his old friend Saix rise to power and [[ToxicFriendInfluence keeping Roxas and Xion by his side even if it might hurt them.]] No small amount of angst is generated when he realizes [[ConflictingLoyalty these goals are becoming mutually exclusive]].]]

%%** Yuber.

* Judge Hakari Mikagami (Justine Courtney in the fan translation) from ''[[Franchise/AceAttorney Ace Attorney: Investigations 2]]'' spends 3 out of the 4 cases where she appears trying to take away Edgeworth's prosecutor badge. However, in the fourth case, she behaves strangely, often leaving hints for Edgeworth to pick up. [[spoiler:She finally reveals herself as GoodAllAlong: she's trying to take down her corrupt boss, Bansai (Blaise), by spurring Edgeworth in the right direction]].

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': When first introduced, Neopolitan appears to serve Roman and is completely loyal to him. She's an extremely skilled fighter, superior to Roman, and usually ends up protecting him when his skill isn't enough. She [[SilentAntagonist never speaks]] and appears to get on with the villains that control Roman much better than Roman does, even though she's clearly serving him and not them. Why she is willing to work better with the other villains than Roman despite her loyalty to Roman is unknown. The reason why she is so loyal to Roman, and whether or not she's capable of speech remained unknown. Volume 6 eventually revealed that she is mute, and the creators released the supplementary novel ''Literature/RWBYRomanHoliday'' that finally gave her backstory: [[spoiler:she grew up isolated and abused, was inducted into Spider and trained as a top-notch assassin, but chose to follow Roman instead because he was her OnlyFriend when everyone else tried to use or control her.]]

* ''Webcomic/{{Adventurers}}!'' has a particularly good example of this trope in [[NobleDemon Argent]]. He's working for [[LaughablyEvil Khrima]], one of the story's [[BigBadDuumvirate main villains]], but he doesn't care about the heroes; his real motivation is gradually revealed through the story - [[spoiler: he has a personal vendetta against the other main villain, [[KnightOfCerebus Eternion]], and is just using Khrima for resources; when Eternion is defeated, he bows out of the story.]]

* Gamzee Makara of ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' definitely fits the wild card aspect of this. He's clearly an antagonist, but his relationships with some of the protagonists add ambiguity. [[spoiler: In addition, it's now uncertain how much of what he did was MindControl and how much was his own initiative.]]
* ''Webcomic/Collar6'' has Gunther, an associate of the strip's main antagonist, Mistress Butterfly. He walks into the strip with no real introduction, backtalks Butterfly, effortlessly puts down a pile of {{Red Shirt}}s, has enough SuperStrength to take out a vault door with a single blow, and does it all with unflappable, mildly amused calm. Ultimately, he turns out to be a SuperSoldier rescued from death's door, utterly devoted to Butterfly and her husband, just perplexed and concerned at the [[TheDarkSide dark turn]] Butterfly's powers have recently taken.

* The Masked Men from ''WebVideo/MarbleHornets''. About all we can say for sure is that they have some connection to The Operator. Season 2 drops hints that they may not be entirely malevolent, culminating in the season finale, in which [[spoiler:one of the masked men saves Jay and Jessica from Alex, who was holding them at gunpoint.]] Totheark, a Website/YouTube account full of cryptic messages which might be run by one or more of the Masked Men, is similarly inscrutable.

%%* Owen, the original [[WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}} Xanatos']] BattleButler.
* Calypso in ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan'' is more of a "Villain's Engimatic Girlfriend", but otherwise fits. She's introduced in the same episode as Kraven, pops in and out of the narrative, has what might be mystical powers and knowledge like her comic counterpart, or might just be spooky intuition, and is never really explained (though it's not unlikely that she was intended to have a role in later seasons, before the show was cancelled).
* Solomon from ''WesternAnimation/SymBionicTitan'' -- he's mysterious, badass, tends to pop in and out of things, and is overall the least malevolent of the three main villains (himself, [[GeneralRipper General Steel,]] and [[GalacticConqueror General Modula]]). He ends up [[spoiler: becoming an ally of the heroes after they save his life against an EldritchAbomination during an EnemyMine]] and is [[spoiler: solidified as a minion rather than a mastermind in his own right when the episode "Fortress of Deception" revealed he had a boss, who's plenty enigmatic himself.]]
* Vater Orlaag from ''WesternAnimation/{{Metalocalypse}}''. It's not clear exactly what his deal is, aside from seeming very loyal to [[BigBad Mr. Salacia.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'':
** Iroh is introduced as Zuko's AffablyEvil uncle and mentor who halfheartedly tags along on his nephew's quest to capture the Avatar. Over time, we find out details about his past, like the death of his son Lu Ten, and his experience as a war hero and a mystic. It's only later that we find out that he's [[spoiler:a leader in the Order of the White Lotus and an active opponent of the Fire Nation's campaign of conquest.]]
** Mai is a decent example as well, in contrast to Azula's volatile nature. Mai keeps to herself and rarely does anything, however get between her and Zuko and you'll see [[TheDogBitesBack who's more uncaring then.]]
** [[TheSpook Combustion Man]] might count too, in that he's Zuko's hired minion with an ''extremely'' enigmatic backstory, but his agenda is pretty clear from the start: ''[[ProfessionalKiller kill the Avatar, get money.]]''
* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': Pearls are normally low-ranking, homogenized, anthropomorphized fashion accessories. White Pearl possesses seemingly vast power, a voice distinct from every other Pearl seen thus far, and countermands the authority of both ''Yellow and Blue Diamond'' without so much as a word of protest from either.
** Subverted later when we learn that [[spoiler:White Pearl's personality is merely an extension of White Diamond's will and not her true self. She used to be a regular, pink-colored Pearl belonging to Pink Diamond before White Diamond took control of her.]]

%%

** Itachi's a good example. His neglect to finish off enemies (outside of his [[BloodbathVillainOrigin backstory]]), unnecessary retreats from battle, and reluctance to share information with his Akatsuki allies often confuse both the protagonists and antagonists alike. [[spoiler:It turned out that he was a spy with loyalties to Konoha and his younger brother]].

* ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'': Beatrice's BattleButler, Ronove has a servile and snarky tone towards her. It's not clear how deep his obligation toward her is, but he often lampshades clues or leaks important information for Battler.
%%* Isako from ''Anime/DenNohCoil''.
%%* Joker in ''Manga/FlameOfRecca''.
%%* Aika seems to be one while following after Athena in ''Manga/HayateTheCombatButler''. Her motives are yet unexplored.
%%* Nagi from ''Anime/MyHime'' is like this throughout most of the show, even after TheReveal.
%%* Mikage, and especially Mamiya, in ''Anime/RevolutionaryGirlUtena''.
%%* Kyuzo fills this role for much of ''Anime/SamuraiSeven''.
%%* Christopher Armalite (early on) and Cz (later on) from ''Literature/ScrappedPrincess''.
%%* El ''Manga/{{Shitsurakuen}}'' fits this, posing as Karin when he is out to help her and being El to oppose her
%%* Ikuto from ''Manga/ShugoChara''.
%%* Kamisama in ''Manga/{{Saiyuki}}''

* Yuri from ''Anime/YuGiOhArcV''. He works for [[VisionaryVillain the Professor]] and follows his command, [[AndIMustScream turning people into cards]], kidnapping people and participating in war crimes. Unlike most people on the Professor's side, who are fighting to merge the restore the original world and bring back the Professor's daughter, Yuri joined the bad guys [[ForTheEvulz for fun.]] The Professor questions if Yuri's actually loyal or not, and worries that Yuri could turn on him at any moment. As it turns out, Yuri [[spoiler: is simply siding with the Professor so he can go to war and hurt people. He has no loyalties to anyone but himself, and he plans on carding his allies the second he runs out of proper enemies.]]

%%* Tarot in the ''Pokémon'' fanfic ''Fanfic/TheDarknessWithin''.
* Faybol in the ''Franchise/StarWars'' [[Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse Expanded Universe]] fic series ''Legacy of the Sith'' has many elements of this- mysterious, powerful, pops in and out of the story seemingly at will, etc. [[spoiler: He turns out, however, to be almost completely evil and is one of the BigBad's most loyal minions- he's just secretive by nature. Said BigBad is also the only one who can be said to know ''all'' his secrets, though the reader now knows quite a bit about him too]].
* Masque of ''Fanfic/PokemonStormClouds'', a mysterious Team Rocket agent who specializes in brainwashing Pokémon to serve the Team, yet doesn't seem to actually care about Giovanni's agenda. [[spoiler:Giovanni calls him on this and it turns out that Masque is EvilerThanThou by a great deal. He reveals that the army of Pokémon brainwashed to serve Team Rocket are more loyal to Masque himself, and takes up the mantle of BigBad.]]
* ''Fanfic/QueenOfAllOni'' has Blankman, the dark wizard who [[VillainProtagonist Jade]] hires to serve as the [[TheSyndicate Shadow Hand's]] foreman. We know next to nothing about him (not even his real name), and whenever he does get any focus, it just raises more questions and makes him seem more mysterious. In later chapters, Hak Foo and even Jade herself are starting to realize just how much of an unknown factor he is in the grand scheme of things. The epilogue reveals that [[spoiler: he's been manipulating Jade all along to keep her from fulfilling her duties as the [[TheChosenOne Ben Shui Chosen One]] (thus ensuring the [[BalanceBetweenGoodAndEvil Grand Design]] will fail), and ultimately using her to steal most of the Talismans for his own ends]]. And even then, this is implied to be just part of an even larger plan.
* ''Fanfic/NightsFavoredChild'': [[TheDragon The Inquisitor]] is this ''in spades''. Among other things, Nightmare Moon doesn't even remember when he started working for her -- it's like he's been there all along. On top of that, he [[spoiler: ''knows her as Luna'']], something that [[WrittenByTheWinners shouldn't be possible]].

* ''Fanfic/RainbowDoubleDashsLunaverse:''

** [[spoiler:Midnight]], in ''Nightmares Yet to Come''. They're evidently part of an evil not-a-cult who attacks Trixie, and definitely knows more about certain parts of the setting's backstory than most, [[spoiler:but is discussed in the third person by the other members, and isn't shown sitting in on meetings with them. There's also some secret about them the group would rather keep hidden, beginning with "ch-". Not helping is that the story suggests the members can be controlled from a distance by the actual BigBad, and that Midnight herself may be under brainwashing... or just really good at lying.]]
* Commander Lexell from ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/40614021/chapters/101757720#workskin Fate of a Lost Comet]]''. [[VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl Team Galactic's]] newest Commander and Cyrus's [[TheDragon right-hand man]], he appeared out of nowhere, barged into Cyrus's office after defeating all of his guards, and demanded a job. Even Cyrus is wary of him. The audience knows that he's [[VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite Subway Boss Emmet]], who lost his brother Ingo to a time rift. Emmet worked out that he needs Dialga to find Ingo, and since Team Galactic is also seeking Dialga, he can help them along. He's entirely aware that Team Galactic is evil, but [[TheUnfettered doesn't care as long as he gets his brother back]]. Cyrus knows that he plans to betray him before he can destroy the world, but decided his strength was too useful.
Fanfic/InterdimensionalCartoonDiscussionAndSupportGroup: The lone figure, who seems to be under the "employment" of the Calamity Guardian, gives off the general feeling of mystique and intrigue. Not even the Guardian knows why they set up the viewing, as they wouldn't tell them initially, and the Guardian has to clarify to the Axolotl of Gravity Falls that this was the lone figures idea, and the Guardian only found out about it after they already began.

* Baron Samedi in the Film/JamesBond movie ''Film/LiveAndLetDie'' is perhaps the most enigmatic villain/henchman the cinematic Bond has ever faced. The character is an ambiguous one, and the audience cannot tell if he really is the Voodoo god Baron Samedi himself, or simply a mortal who has assumed Samedi's identity. Contributing to the mystery is the fact that Samedi seems to operate as an aide to Dr. Kananga aka Mr. Big, but is not entirely under his control.
%%* Kobayashi in ''Film/TheUsualSuspects''.
* Magenta in ''Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow''. We know her brother hated their master, but just whose side Magenta's on is never quite clear... ''We'' know Riff Raff hated Frank, but apparently Magenta is about as unclear on other people's allegiances as she is on her own.
-->'''Magenta:''' [[spoiler:You killed him!]] But ''I'' thought you ''liked'' him! He liked ''you''.\\
'''Riff Raff:''' ''He didn't like me! He '''never''' liked me!''
* Tom Reagan, TheConsigliere to mob boss Leo O'Bannon in ''Film/MillersCrossing'', is a rare example of a protagonist (albeit a fairly villainous one) fitting this trope. The audience is kept in the dark as to his motives and intentions, and even when by the end of the film his goal becomes clear, his reasons for it do not. The most explanation he offers is [[spoiler:the very enigmatic "Do you always know why you do things, Leo?"]]
* ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'':
** Agent Mercer of the East India Company has some qualities of an Enigmatic Minion, especially in the way he pops in and out of the story. Though unlike a lot of other examples, Mercer ''is'' clearly evil and unambiguously sadistic, to the extent that [[spoiler: his death by a number of tentacles felt like karma.]]
** [[NoNameGiven The Spaniard]] in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanOnStrangerTides'' is this to the King of Spain; he's the first of the three main factions to set out after the Fountain of Youth, but we see him by far the least and it's never quite clear exactly what he wants with it. [[spoiler: Turns out, he's been sent by the King to destroy the Fountain, which the Spanish see as blasphemous.]]

* The "Mystery Man" from ''Film/LostHighWay'' has no clear goals or motivation, looks somewhat strange, and only shows obvious threatening behavior towards the end of the movie. His role in the movie is, along with everything else in it, open to interpretation...it ''is'' a David Lynch film, after all.

* Gaff from ''Film/BladeRunner'', to the point that it's uncertain if he ''is'' a villain, or even a minion to anybody. He clearly knows more than he lets on about everything happening, and he ''might'' be [[TheChessmaster playing some role in it all]], but [[RiddleForTheAges we never even come close to learning what's going on in his head]]. [[Film/BladeRunner2049 The sequel]] just makes him even more mysterious; he's retired and gives K no more answers than he did Deckard, but you get this strange feeling that he's the only person who ''really'' understands what's going on.

* In the last three books or so of the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' series, Snape comes to occupy this role, to the extent that pretty much every fan site had lists of equally strong arguments why he was good or evil.

* Sol from ''Literature/WarriorCats''. Although he isn't a minion exactly, he has many Enigmatic Minion tendencies, such as randomly coming and going whenever the plot requires.
* Vergere from the ''Literature/NewJediOrder'' is a mysterious alien who serves [[ScaryDogmaticAliens the Yuuzhan Vong]] but is decidedly reticent about her own history and motivations for doing so. "Everything I tell you is a lie." [[spoiler: Though she turns out to be more of a WildCard than a minion, as she's a former Old Republic Jedi whose goals are motivated by her extremely esoteric approach to the Force - and later she got retconned as being a Sith acolyte ''too'']].
* The Remover of Inconvenient Obstacles from ''Literature/TheWarOfTheFlowers'' by Creator/TadWilliams is an extremely ancient and powerful fairy, an expert in numerous fields hired by the BigBad to capture protagonist Theo, and who hides numerous secrets of his own [[spoiler: that turn out to be the key to the entire plot, and an agenda entirely separate from his alleged employer]].
* Childermass from ''Literature/JonathanStrangeAndMrNorrell''. He is the manservant of Mr. Norrell and has an odd sort of power over the man that no one else can understand. At one stage Mr. Norrell tells an aristocrat to be quiet because Childermass is talking, and it's never revealed as to where exactly Childermass came from or why he works for Norrell.
* She's not exactly a minion, but Diana from ''Literature/{{Gone}}'' could qualify. She's very open about the fact that she's working on her own side. She's never really done anything evil, although she has often stood aside and let others do terrible things. She helps both sides when it suits her. She won't commit to anything. And yet she's probably [[LoveMakesYouCrazy the only person Caine trusts]], and the heroes have offered to let her join them, [[spoiler: and, [[ManipulativeBitch when she realizes she's losing control over Caine]], [[HeelFaceTurn she takes them up on it.]]]]
%%* Literature/TimeScout: Chuck Farley, ever so.

%%* The tempomancer is one of these in the ''Literature/MediochreQSethSeries'.

%%* Angela in the ''Literature/InheritanceCycle'' could be considered an inversion, as she serves as this except on the heroes' side. Same goes for the Twins, who turn out to be [[spoiler:enemy spies]].
* In ''Literature/WolfHall'', a number of people are willing to be Thomas Cromwell's associate or patron, but he keeps his past and motives largely to himself, and attempting to categorize him usually ends up concluding only that he is a "person" of some kind. The only person he trusted enough to let down his guard was Cardinal Wolsey, and Wolsey made things even more enigmatic for everyone else by making up outrageous stories about his right hand man.

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' has a few, but most prominently Kumori from ''Literature/DeadBeat'': she helps the BigBad of the story, Cowl, in trying to achieve the Darkhollow, which will kill a large number of people in the city. However, she takes time out of her busy villain schedule to heal people back from the brink of death, and makes it clear that she and Cowl are not in it to become gods, but to get the power to do something else very important. We never find out what it is, as [[spoiler: Cowl appears to be killed when the Darkhollow fails, and Kumori hasn't been seen since.]]

* Judge Hakari Mikagami (Justine Courtney in the fan translation) from ''[[Franchise/AceAttorney Ace Attorney: Investigations 2]]'' spends 4 out of 5 cases trying to take away Edgeworth's prosecutor badge. However, in the fourth case, she behaves strangely, often leaving hints for Edgeworth to pick up. [[spoiler:She finally reveals herself as GoodAllAlong: she's trying to take down her corrupt boss, Bansai (Blaise), by spurring Edgeworth in the right direction]].

* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': Garak, whose trademark is his enigmatic nature. Although he ''seems'' to be on the good side, episodes like "The Die is Cast" prove that he can certainly play the role of the villain when it suits him. Like other Enigmatic Minions, he never reveals his motives, he's involved with a mysterious organization (The Obsidian Order), he is an EnsembleDarkhorse (he was originally just supposed to be a guest character), and he always knows more than he's letting on. And good luck getting any [[CrypticConversation useful information]] out of him, ''especially'' about his own past - he'll insist it's all true, especially the lies. In the end he turns out to have very straightforward loyalties; [[spoiler]]he is a loyal patriot of the Cardassian people, and a sworn enemy of the Cardassian government. He will strike against that government or, later, its Dominion masters, but not if Cardassia itself is harmed. And his past as a spy was complicated by the fact that his chief was ''also'' his father.[[/spoiler]]

* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': Garak, whose trademark is his enigmatic nature. Although he ''seems'' to be on the good side, episodes like "The Die is Cast" prove that he can certainly play the role of the villain when it suits him. Like other Enigmatic Minions, he never reveals his motives, he's involved with a mysterious organization (The Obsidian Order), he is an EnsembleDarkhorse (he was originally just supposed to be a guest character), and he always knows more than he's letting on. And good luck getting any [[CrypticConversation useful information]] out of him. In the end he turns out to have very straightforward loyalties; he is a loyal patriot of the Cardassian people, and a sworn enemy of the Cardassian government. He will strike against that government or it's later Dominion masters, but not if Cardassia itself is harmed.

* Ignition from the ''ComicBook/EmperorJoker'' story arc. Reality is now shaped by the Joker's twisted mind, and even he has no idea where this guy came from. Ignition later appeared in the "normal" DC universe working for the third General Zod (the one who was actually a Russian human being possessed by the spirit of Zod) but [[PutOnABus never appeared again]] after.
* The various Scriers that appeared during ''ComicBook/TheCloneSaga'', under the service of various {{Hidden Agenda Villain}}s such as Judas Traveller, and established to have an agenda of their (his?) own. Their enigmatic status [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools would work to their disadvantage]], however, since the Clone Saga had a KudzuPlot of such proportions that [[TheChrisCarterEffect no one really cared about uncovering their mistery]].
* While initially an independent villain, the ''Comicbook/XMen'' villain Mister Sinister served this function in a number of arcs after the eventual reveal that he was a 19th century British scientist who had been empowered by perennial X-Men BigBad ComicBook/{{Apocalypse}}. This transferred over to the [[WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries animated series]] as well, with Sinister first introduced in the second season as an independent villain and later functioning as one of Apocalypse's lackeys (though the reason for his service to Apocalypse was undermined with an origin story episode in the final season that changed his origins).
** The 90s ''X-Men'' story arc ''ComicBook/FatalAttractionsMarvelComics'' introduced one of these for ComicBook/{{Magneto}} in the form of [[Characters/MarvelComicsExodus Exodus]], a mysterious mutant who appeared out of nowhere to be Magneto's MouthOfSauron recruiter. He would later be given depth (and eventually a backstory establishing him as a time-displaced KnightTemplar), but in the first appearance he was very much this.
* The "Tarnished Angel" arc of ''ComicBook/AstroCity'' has Donnelly Ferguson, a fixer in Kiefer Square who [[AmbiguousSituation may or may not]] be a former crime lord and helps [[BigBad the Conquistador]] in his scheme to [[spoiler:murder a bunch of supervillains as a staged "redemption story"]] by pointing as many [[CListFodder low-level villains]] in Conquistador's direction as possible, only to help Steeljack in solving the case by making the same offer to him despite knowing Steeljack is investigating the crime Ferguson is party to. It's astoundingly unclear what his game is in doing so; was he in on the Conquistador's plans but [[HeelFaceTurn grew a conscience]], an UnwittingPawn who eventually pieced together the truth and took action, or was his it something he was ordered to do it ''by'' Conquistador, essentially [[HeKnowsTooMuch sending Steeljack into the lion's den to stop the investigation]]? When we last see him after everything goes down, he's fleeing town and Steeljack confronts him about the whole situation, demanding to know the truth. Ferguson just glares at him silently before turning and leaving without a word. Steeljack can't figure out if Ferguson's reaction indicates that he's upset Steeljack would think so little of him as to assume he'd knowingly help Conquistador, that he's ashamed from being caught red-handed, or that he's [[TranquilFury furious]] about the conspiracy going belly up and non-verbally threatening Steeljack to let him go or else. [[RiddleForTheAges Neither the reader nor Steeljack learn what really happened]], as Ferguson takes it to his grave.

* ''Series/{{Awake}}'': Captain Harper. The second episode reveals that she is in contact with the people who caused Britten's accident, and that she's conducting a cover-up. On the other hand, she seems to have moral objections to the murder.

** Rau Le Creuset of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED'' seems to be just a competent ZAFT commander with a mysterious connection to Mu La Flaga and a CoolMask. He's even willing to listen to civilian authorities like Lacus. However, he starts [[MrExposition narrating some of the series backstory episodes]], [[ThePhilosopher reveals a strange fixation on human nature]], privately expresses contempt for his boss, and [[spoiler: later passes intel to the Earth Alliance]]. It all comes to a head at Mendel where he reveals [[spoiler: his backstory as a [[CloningBlues clone of Al Da Flaga]], [[HumansAreBastards his hatred of humanity]], and [[OmnicidalManiac his desire to watch them]] [[InYourNatureToDestroyYourselves wipe themselves out]].]] By the end of the series, [[spoiler: he is the unquestionable BigBad, [[ManipulativeBastard having successfully manipulated both factions]] [[MagnificentBastard into setting the apocalypse in motion]], all while playing the part of TheDragon and TheMole, with nobody the wiser but the main heroes.]]

* Xelloss from ''Literature/{{Slayers}}'' is cheerfully open about the fact that he is working towards his own villainous ends. The heroes let him hang around with them because he [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder betrays their enemies just as often as he betrays them]], with the explanation that he was only siding with them while it advanced his own plan. His own plan is, of course, [[CatchPhrase a secret]].

-->-- ''VideoGame/AdvanceWars: Dual Strike''

Compare with the HiddenAgendaVillain, who is a clear villain-- and also clearly a BigBad-- but whose plans are unknown. The StealthMentor will frequently take on this guise as part of their teaching process. Also compare the AloofAlly, who is commonly mistaken for an Enigmatic Minion in their first appearances, but isn't a villain, just a jerk, and the MysteriousBacker, who's this trope with the "Minion" part replaced with "BigGood". Subtrope of MysteriousStranger.

* And as quoted, Hawke in his appearance in ''VideoGame/AdvanceWars: Dual Strike''. [[spoiler:He pulls a HeelFaceTurn when his boss tries to have him killed.]] Also, Hawke in the previous game (''VideoGame/AdvanceWars 2: Black Hole Rising'') as well. [[spoiler:After losing the battle for Green Earth, he leaves Sturm, only to come back at the end of the final mission and finish off Sturm with his Super [=CO=] Power.]]

* Xelloss from ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'' is cheerfully open about the fact that he is working towards his own villainous ends. The heroes let him hang around with them because he [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder betrays their enemies just as often as he betrays them]], with the explanation that he was only siding with them while it advanced his own plan. His own plan is, of course, [[CatchPhrase a secret]].

%%* Christopher Armalite (early on) and Cz (later on) from ''LightNovel/ScrappedPrincess''.

* Phalse, in the ''[[Literature/ForgottenRealms Azure Bonds]]'' novel. Until the final showdown he was the least transparent of the villains, representing an unknown force with unknown motivations, and did not do anything but recruit TheMole. He gradually proved himself to be both the smartest and creepiest participant of the conspiracy, despite competition from his partners; [[spoiler:a VainSorceress, a [[DemBones lich]], a band of vengeful killer-thieves, and an ancient evil god]].

* Theodore Slowslop from ''VideoGame/GadgetPastAsFuture'' is the right-hand man to the dictator of the main setting, the Empire, who tasks the player character with investigating a group of scientists who claim the world is going to end from an incoming comet. At first, it appears that he wants the scientists to be arrested, but as you talk with the scientists more, they claim that he in fact actually believes their claims, unlike the Empire's dictator, and some characters claim that he was planning to eventually overthrow the dictator until the news of the comet stopped those ambitions. By the end, [[spoiler: Slowslop is working full-time with the scientists and appears at the end personally to help their plan to escape Earth.]] Though, with this game's MindScrew nature, it can be difficult to tell how much of the narrative is real and how much of it is brainwashing-induced hallucinations.

%%* Yuber from the ''VideoGame/{{Suikoden}}'' series.
* [[spoiler:Kratos]] from ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia''. His interest in your progression during the storyline becomes so prevalent and noticeable that Lloyd eventually begins wondering out loud why the heck someone who betrayed and all but killed him once and who constantly refers to himself as an enemy keeps appearing to drop enigmatic hints and encouragements about what he should be doing next.
%%* [[spoiler:Ryoji Mochizuki]] from ''VideoGame/Persona3''. He isn't even aware of his role ''himself'' for a while.
* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'':
** [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry Dante]] in ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne''. While at first just doing his job to hunt you, he eventually realizes there's something fishy going on...
** In ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV'', Mastema is no longer the SmugSnake asshole he was in ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiStrangeJourney''. In fact, he has the Four Archangels' plan to eradicate Tokyo smashed, and imprisons three of them in Kagome Tower, only allowing Gabriel to escape. Thus, he saves Tokyo... and then collaborates with Tayama's scheme to produce Red Pills, ditching him in due time... To further mudden the waters, he's implied to be the only angel left who can actually ''hear'' God's voice, ''and'' despite being the fricking ''Angel of Hostility'', he's surprisingly cool with you taking the Chaos Path, saying that straying from the Lord is one way to learn about Him as well.
%%* ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'':
%%** Mid-Boss from ''VideoGame/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness'', although he does a fair job of appearing pathetic rather than truly enigmatic.
%%** Zenon's masked underlings from ''VideoGame/Disgaea2CursedMemories'' fit the trope to a tee, however.
%%* Meta Knight, ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'''s mysterious recurring WorthyOpponent, sometimes fills this role; very much so in [[TheAnimeOfTheGame the anime]], ''Anime/KirbyRightBackAtYa!''

* Raven from the game ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}} 5'' who gets introduced as an mysterious observer in the opening sequence, and is in the tournament on a mission for his unknown employments.
* Alex from ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'' fulfils this trope expertly; he nominally works for or with the villains but seems kind and decent, and shows sympathy to the heroes on numerous occasions. His motives are unfathomable, but it becomes clear that [[spoiler:[[ItWasHisSled he's using both sides]], and is ultimately [[TheChessmaster the most dangerous of the lot]]]]. At one point in the second game, there is a battle that can be optionally won or lost; if the heroes win, Alex will save the villains, but if the villains win, Alex will save the heroes. He'll also heal the player's party just before the fight, and if you mind read him, shows concern over Mia, who is in a trap at the time. It's interesting to watch him as you play through for the second time. You can start to see how everything he does fits into his plan.
** He comes back to the role in (''VideoGame/GoldenSunDarkDawn'') manipulating the Tuaparang agents to some unknown goal, but also helping the player by distracting them so the player can end the eclipse. Since Alex engineered the eclipse in the first place though, he assumedly accomplished some goal of his own between starting and ending it. It also features his first battle against an ally, in which he downs Tyrell with a single attack.
* [[spoiler:Naomi]] in the ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' series shows almost no signs of being anything but another member of Snake's large support team, but begins to act somewhat strangely over the course of the first game. Even after several turns of the HeelFaceRevolvingDoor you still have not the slightest idea whom the character is actually working for or is always coming back to your side, but does not seem to be trying to harm you.
%%* ''VideoGame/{{Xenosaga}}'''s testaments.
* Ada Wong from ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' is fairly enigmatic, being nominally Leon's enemy while having an agenda of her own and playing the other power players against each other.

%%* Samir Duran from ''VideoGame/StarCraft: Brood Wars''.
%%* Suzaku from ''VideoGame/{{Tenchu}} 2''.
* ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'':
** Garland becomes this, while somehow simultaneously being a LargeHam. He's surprisingly sympathetic, knows more about the nature of the universe than the gods themselves, and serves an even higher power. In fact, he has to [[spoiler:''personally'' explain the plot to the BigBad]]. The one difference is that he never passes up a chance to fight the heroes. His job is to fight, and [[BloodKnight he enjoys doing it]]. [[spoiler: It's implied that he knows that Shinryu perpetuates the cycle of fighting, and wants to keep it going because he loves to fight more than anything. Unfortunately, the extra mode in which the heroes fail the 13th cycle indicates that he dies along with everyone else when Chaos becomes Feral Chaos.]]
** Golbez also qualifies, often appearing to leave hints and clues on the villains' plans without outright stating his true intentions.
* Kariya from ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'' is a BrilliantButLazy example of this. He frequently turns down promotions within the Reapers, prefers to spend time in the fields instead of lounging around in the Dead God’s Pad unlike the head Reapers, and will even go out of his way to provide helpful information and items to Players. Suffice to say, this frustrates the hell out of his partner, [[{{Tsundere}} Uzuki]].
* Vincent from ''VideoGame/SilentHill3'' at first seems to be in league with BigBad Claudia, sharing her background and occult beliefs and meeting with her a few times throughout the game, while also making it clear to the heroine Heather that he has his own hidden agenda. Later it turns out that [[spoiler:he's working against Claudia and trying to save the world, though he's doing it for entirely selfish and amoral reasons]].

* ''VideoGame/SaintsRowIV'' has the Professor Genki, an insane DeadlyGame [[GameShowHost Show Host]], willingly signing up to serve the [[AlienInvasion Zin Empire]] to create versions of his game shows that utilize superpowers. But winning his games causes chaos that disrupts the Zin's systems, and he's as often found giving the player shiny new toys to wreak havoc as he is hindering them. Whether he's a genuine [[TheQuisling Quisling]] who isn't very good at his job, a TricksterMentor, or [[ItAmusedMe just plain nuts]] is left up in the air.
* Axel from ''Franchise/KingdomHearts''. In his first appearance, ''Chain of Memories,'' he betrays (and is at least partially responsible for the [[spoiler: deaths of]]) pretty much everyone in Castle Oblivion. Within his Organization his role appears to be a mix of assassin and secret police, and he's on no-one's side but his own. Even his team-mates remark that they don't have a clue about what goes on in his head. [[spoiler: Eventually some light is shed on his motives--namely, helping his old friend Saix rise to power and [[ToxicFriendInfluence keeping Roxas and Xion by his side even if it might hurt them.]] No small amount of angst is generated when he realizes [[ConflictingLoyalty these goals are becoming mutually exclusive]].]]

* Following a FaceHeelTurn, [[spoiler:Sialeeds]] in ''VideoGame/SuikodenV'' becomes this to the Godwin faction. Gizel even knows he's being played by accepting the help but chooses not to do anything about it. [[spoiler:Sialeeds is eventually killed by overuse of the Twilight Rune, [[HeroicSacrifice using it to shield the Prince and Lyon from the Sun Rune]]. Gizel notes as he's dying himself that [[BadGuysDoTheDirtyWork she was able to use her Godwin support to purge the country of many of its corrupted nobles that would have opposed her niece's queendom]], and the only member of Team Evil who actually obtained their objective.]]
* In ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'', Dimentio is the only one of [[BigBad Count Bleck]]'s minions who volunteered on his own to work under Bleck. As if this weren't shady enough, he's the only villain who doesn't seem interested in actually ''stopping'' the heroes, but when he does finally decide to get the job done he's [[WhamEpisode shockingly ruthless]] [[OneHitKill and effective at it]]. Or at least, he would be, if doing that wasn't exactly what the heroes needed in order for them to get the last Pure Heart. In fact, he never seems to do anything that really helps the Count... [[spoiler:It turns out that his plan all along was to have the heroes defeat Count Bleck, exhausting their own [[MacGuffin MacGuffins]] in the process and leaving Dimentio in sole control of the DoomsdayDevice.]]
* Bleden Mark, the Archon of Shadows, in ''VideoGame/{{Tyranny}}''. His job is killing potential threats to Kyros, but as long as the player doesn't merit that title, he's an affable-if-enigmatic sort-of-friend to the Fatebinder's ascent. In the [[OmnicidalNeutral anarchist]] path, he's the Fatebinder's main "questgiver", pointing them towards useful artifacts [[spoiler:and possibly becoming one of the Fatebinder's CoDragons along with Tunon]].
* Auron and Kimahri from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' are heroic versions. Auron's conversations were always cryptic, and Kimahri didn't speak at all at first. However as progress is made, Auron's words become more justifiable and Kimahri begins to open up to Tidus.
* ''VideoGame/RuneScape'' has Sliske. He is a Mahjarrat aligned with Zaros, but he is far more sinister and chaotic than the other Zaros aligned Mahjarrat, who warn the player not to trust Sliske even though they trust in his loyalty to Zaros. He is also very interested in the player for mysterious reasons. During the events of ''The World Wakes'', he [[spoiler:assassinates Guthix to allow the gods to return even though the other Zarosians wanted to reason with Guthix instead]]. He then becomes the BigBad of the following storyline, deliberately trying to start a new war between the gods, and it becomes increasingly obvious that he no longer is loyal to Zaros. Then the player finds out that he actually is working with a mysterious new master, who turns out to be [[spoiler:the elder god Jas]]. In the climax of his storyline, he reveals that he really just wants to see the world burn for his own amusement due to his boredom, but the player is still left with a lot of unanswered questions about him and his plans. [[spoiler:And it is strongly implied that he is now sharing a body with the player after his defeat so his plans may not be over.]]
* ''VideoGame/DungeonKeeper 2'': FlavorText for the [[FallenAngel Dark Angels]] describes them as "terrifying entities, who join you only for their own amusement and interest." In play, they're late-game units who are attracted to your lair and kept employed through the same mechanics as your other evil minions, albeit extremely powerful and demanding ones.

* [[spoiler:Klaasje]] from ''VideoGame/DiscoElysium''. The deeper into the mystery you get, the more enigmatic, inexplicable, and terrifying she becomes as you steadily realize she's part of some secret conflict or conspiracy ''way'' above your pay-grade and is manipulating you and Kim to achieve ''something'' ([[spoiler:ostensibly helping you solve the murder case without exposing herself to her enemies because the victim was her lover, but even that is questionable with just how many lies she spins]]). You never truly figure out what's going on with her, just that she's a lying manipulator and possible CorporateSamurai putting on fake personas to achieve her goals, somehow involved with the Moralintern, and with a lot of enemies she'd rather avoid. Seemingly the '''only''' glimpse you get of her ''real'' self is a moment in her interrogation where you point out that she seems to have "conveniently" ended up comfortably out of the spotlight… and her response is to briefly let slip a ''furious'' DeathGlare before seemingly realizing what she's doing and quickly reasserting her usual "smooth mysterious lady" act.

* Nioi in ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive''. She [[spoiler:searches for a way to backstab General Shade Tail (SubordinateExcuse vs. PoisonousFriend court intrigue)]] when not on her proper job [[spoiler:(artifacts research)]] or fixing minor problems like Kaoli's abnormal status.

* Axel from ''Franchise/KingdomHearts''. In his first appearance, ''Chain of Memories,'' he betrays (and is at least partially responsible for the [[spoiler: deaths of]]) pretty much everyone in Castle Oblivion. Within his Organization his role appears to be a mix of assassin and secret police, and he's on no-one's side but his own. Even his team-mates remark that they don't have a clue about what goes on in his head. [[spoiler: Eventually some light is shed on his motives--namely, helping his old friend Saix rise to power and [[PoisonousFriend keeping Roxas and Xion by his side even if it might hurt them.]] No small amount of angst is generated when he realizes [[ConflictingLoyalty these goals are becoming mutually exclusive]].]]

* ''Anime/DeathParade'' has Oculus, who is the closest thing this series has to a BigBad. He claims to be [[AGodAmI the closest one to God]] and is upholding a failing system that has Arbiters, who are [[LackOfEmpathy unfeeling puppets]] [[{{Psychopomp}} judging dead humans]] to decide where to send their souls. He doesn’t tolerate any sort of change and will invade someone’s memories if he suspects they’re working against him. When he finds out that Nona has been experimenting with the system, he simply adds ''more'' rules that subjugate the Arbiters even further: getting close to humans will “ruin them,” firmly [[StatusQuoIsGod maintaining the status quo]]. However, it’s never explained ''why'' he needs to do this. It’s not known if he’s the only one at the top of the system, or if he even created it in the first place. His BlueAndOrangeMorality makes it hard to tell if he’s doing it out of malice or not, and it’s not clear if he’s even aware of the negative consequences in this system.