History Main / FearlessUndead

* [[DownplayedTrope Downplayed]] by ''Literature/BlackTideRising''. The TechnicallyLivingZombies ZergRush armed soldiers because they're too brain damaged to make the connection between gunshots and their fellow zombies falling down. But run over a few dozen with a [[TankGoodness tank]], and the rest of the zombies in the area will [[Series/{{Mythbusters}} de-ass the area with the quickness]].

* Undead in ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' are immune to all morale effects, including magical fear and attempts to demoralize them through intimidation. Intelligent undead are not blind to threats, and might well flee when FearIsTheAppropriateResponse, but it is a considered rather than an emotional reaction when they do.

* The skeletons in ''VideoGame/DungeonKeeper 2'' are immune to fear traps, and will never retreat in battle... which can cause problems when they pull a LeeroyJenkins against stronger opponents.
** Especially considering that skeletons cannot be recovered to lairs by imps, so dying means they are lost, and that with no need to eat or sleep, they will usually spend all their time training - which costs gold.
** Then again, skeletons are implicitly free CannonFodder anyway.

* ''VideoGame/TheSecretWorld'' has [[{{Mummy}} Säid]], who responds to a gun pointed at his face with ''insulting the wielder and nonchalantly pushing it out of the way.''

** It is also averted as far as intelligent undead are perfectly capable of a TacticalWithdrawal, and indeed will do so when a battle turns against them since they know firsthand just how much their situation beats the NothingAfterDeath. They just can't be forced to by anything short of TurnUndead.

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

[[folder: Film ]]

* One of the things that makes Creator/GeorgeARomero's zombies from ''NightOfTheLivingDead'' and it's sequels a threat is that despite being slow and having very poor reaction time, the zombies arent capable of anything other than mindless hunger, and will relentlessly keep going after human prey, no matter how many of them are killed. When there are no humans around, the zombies will simply wander around aimlessly until they find more. Like in WorldWarZ below, the zombies only became a real threat because the humans idiotic reaction to an unconventional enemy.

[[folder: Literature ]]

* In ''Literature/TheDeathGateCycle'', there are two kinds of undead--Cadavers (who are unable to properly perceive anything) and lazar (which are sentient). Both are completely fearless--cadavers because they are barely aware of what's going on around them, and lazar because they are aware of the agony of their undead condition and know for a fact that nothing is worse. Fireballs, sword thrusts, decapitation, arrows through the heart--none of it matters to something that's that far beyond our meager understanding of "pain".
* Reg Shoe and many other undead from ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'', along with the Igors. Although if ''Discworld/NightWatch'' is any indication, Reg was pretty fearless while alive, too.
** He does complain about this idea in Discworld/{{Jingo}} though. Just because the ship sinking doesn't ''kill'' him doesn't mean he's not worried by it. Especially if a shark decides to eat him.
** The recently deceased, after a brief moment of disorientation, are usually rather calm and optimistic about what lies before them. Partly this is because they left their glands with their bodies, and without all those panic-inducing hormones it's easy to see things rationally. And partly it's because the worst has already happened - things can only go up from here ([[AssholeVictim the exceptions usually deserved it]]).

[[folder: Live-Action Television ]]

* ''Series/{{Being Human|UK}}'' often has the ghost character, Annie, reminding herself or others that she is a ghost and thus has no reason to be afraid of any physical danger.
--> Annie (terrified while exploring a creepy hospital wing): "I'm already dead. I'm already dead. I'm already dead..."

[[folder: Professional Wrestling ]]

* TheUndertaker, especially during his earliest days. One thing that made him so dangerous to fight was that it was impossible to intimidate him or make him lose focus. He didnt respond to anything other than direct force, and even then all it did was make him mad.

[[folder: Tabletop RPG ]]

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', to a varying degree in different editions. Undead are typically immune to all fear spells, and if morale is a factor, undead are unshakable. The only thing that will set undead running for the hills is holy power, such as that unleashed by the Cleric's ability to TurnUndead.

* Referenced in ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'', where several Black creatures cannot be blocked except by Black and Artifact creatures, defined in the flavour text as fear-based.
** The easiest way to give a creature this skill is to cast the black spell "Fear" on them.
** Another great example is the black spell "Terror". It instantly destroys a creature, provided they are not Black or an Artifact.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'', undead units never have to make leadership tests.
** Averted, however, in ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'', where the Necrons are basically Zombie Robots: The game explains that while they do ignore fear (comes with having your soul eaten by your gods and your entire body transferred into a machine), they can still judge when it would be advantageous to flee if in presence of a stronger enemy, and so must still take morale tests.

** This trope is taken even further in ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'', where the undead mooks don't feel anything at all (including fear). No emotions means the Chaos gods can't control them, which is why one WellIntentionedExtremist vampire count's plan was to convert the entire world population into zobies, starving the Ruinous Powers. Strangely enough, most people not even associated with Chaos objected to this plan.

[[folder: Video Games ]]

[[folder: Webcomics ]]

* [[NoNameGiven The zombie]] in ''Webcomic/HannaIsNotABoysName'' has a touch of this ability: he's infamously cool headed and very little can scare or shake him.

[[folder: Web Original ]]

* MSF High Forums: Leanne the Chibi Vampire. Apparently, undeath keeps the worst of her [[IllGirl health issues]] at bay, the reason being that it means her most of her flawed organs don't need to work at all.

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* One of the things that makes GeorgeRomero's zombies from ''NightOfTheLivingDead'' and it's sequels a threat is that despite being slow and having very poor reaction time, the zombies arent capable of anything other than mindless hunger, and will relentlessly keep going after human prey, no matter how many of them are killed. When there are no humans around, the zombies will simply wander around aimlessly until they find more. Like in WorldWarZ below, the zombies only became a real threat because the humans idiotic reaction to an unconventional enemy.

See also ImmortalLifeIsCheap. Contrast FearlessFool, where a mortal character acts without fear in cases where they ''really'' should be afraid.

--> Annie (terrified while exploring a creepy hospital wing): "I'm already dead. I'm already dead. I'm already dead�"

[[AC:{{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]

* The Ghosts in ''Manga/SgtFrog'' aren’t particularly shocked when they come across the alien frogs. In one case, they come across the spirit of a dead pilot and the wreck of his plane, and they just sit down and make pleasant conversation for the rest of the night.

[[AC:{{Film}}]]

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]

-->You don’t have to be Sun freakin Tzu to know that real fighting isn’t about killing or even hurting the other guy, it’s about scaring him enough to call it a day. ...“[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shock_and_awe Shock and Awe]]”? Perfect name, “Shock and Awe”! But what if the enemy can’t be shocked and awed? Not just ''won’t'', but biologically ''can’t?'' That’s what happened that day outside UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity, that’s the failure that almost lost us the whole damn war. The fact that we couldn’t shock and awe [[NotUsingTheZWord Zack]] boomeranged right back in our faces and actually allowed Zack to shock and awe us! They’re not afraid! No matter what we do, no matter how many we kill, they will never, ever be afraid!

[[AC: Live-Action Television]]

--> Annie (terrified while exploring a creepy hospital wing): "I'm already dead. I'm already dead. I'm already dead…"

[[AC:ProfessionalWrestling]]

[[AC:TabletopRPG]]

[[AC:VideoGames]]

* ''VideoGame/TheSecretWorld'' has [[{{Mummy}} Säid]], who responds to a gun pointed at his face with ''insulting the wielder and nonchalantly pushing it out of the way.''

[[AC:{{Webcomics}}]]

[[AC:{{Web Original}}]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]

** Especially considering that skeletons cannot be recovered to lairs by imps, so dying means they are LostForever, and that with no need to eat or sleep, they will usually spend all their time training - which costs gold.

* This is Ayumu's view on ''his'' unlife in ''Anime/KoreWaZombieDesuKa''. [[TheNecromancer Eu]] will simply patch him up after action, what's to worry?

* ''Series/BeingHuman'' often has the ghost character, Annie, reminding herself or others that she is a ghost and thus has no reason to be afraid of any physical danger.

* The Apostle from ''Film/{{Dogma}}'' states that the dead have few things to worry about.

->''I don't know who to pity more: those who flee from my presence or the damned who can withstand it.''
-->-- [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=190575 Dread Warlock]] flavor text, ''MagicTheGathering''

* ''Anime/KoreWaZombieDesuKa'': This is Ayumu's view on ''his'' unlife. [[TheNecromancer Eu]] will simply patch him up after action, what's to worry?
* The Ghosts in ''KeroroGunsou'' aren’t particularly shocked when they come across the alien frogs. In one case, they come across the spirit of a dead pilot and the wreck of his plane, and they just sit down and make pleasant conversation for the rest of the night.

* The Cauldron-Born in Lloyd Alexander's ''PrydainChronicles'' have no emotions at all, including fear.
* The High Seekers in the ''NovelsOfTheChange'' are an odd case. When they are killed, they are possessed by a fearless dark power until such time as the bodies are no longer useful - but then, when they're alive, they're possessed pretty regularly too, to similar results.

* On ''DeadliestWarrior'', this was actually listed as an X Factor in the Vampires vs. Zombies episode. [[spoiler: The Zombies received the higher number due to being physically incapable of fear (unlike vampires).]]

* Averted in ''{{Exalted}}'', where the undead have fear normally (although Mindless Necrotech automatons don't). Abyssal exalted have fear and so on too, but the virtues (including Valour) are warped by their association with the Neverborn.

* In ''{{GURPS}}'', the templates for most undead include Unfazeable and Indomitable, making them disregard all reaction rolls and fear effects.
* Referenced in ''MagicTheGathering'', where several Black creatures cannot be blocked except by Black and Artifact creatures, defined in the flavour text as fear-based.

** This trope is taken even further in {{Warhammer}} where the undead mooks don't feel anything at all (including fear). No emotions means the Chaos gods can't control them, which is why one WellIntentionedExtremist vampire count's plan was to convert the entire world population into zobies, starving the Ruinous Powers. Strangely enough, most people not even associated with Chaos objected to this plan.

[[AC:{{Webcomics}}]]
* [[NoNameGiven The zombie]] in ''Webcomic/HannaIsNotABoysName'' has a touch of this ability: he's infamously cool headed and very little can scare or shake him.

[[AC:{{Web Original}}]]
* MSF High Forums: Leanne the Chibi Vampire. Apparently, undeath keeps the worst of her [[IllGirl health issues]] at bay, the reason being that it means her most of her flawed organs don't need to work at all.

* Bizarrely averted in ''{{Gladius}}''. Undead aren't immune to ''any'' stats effects. Skeletons can bizarrely be effected by the "bleeding" condition.

* Averted in DawnOfWar, where the Necrons have morale bars like everyone else, and become less effective in combat if broken (except the Pariahs, who are immune). The in-game explanation is that while they don't feel fear, they can still recognize when the situation is against them, and when to run and regroup.

* ''KoreWaZombieDesuKa'': This is Ayumu's view on ''his'' unlife. [[TheNecromancer Eu]] will simply patch him up after action, what's to worry?

* [[NoNameGiven The zombie]] in ''HannaIsNotABoysName'' has a touch of this ability: he's infamously cool headed and very little can scare or shake him.

* ''DungeonsAndDragons'', to a varying degree in different editions. Undead are typically immune to all fear spells, and if morale is a factor, undead are unshakable. The only thing that will set undead running for the hills is holy power, such as that unleashed by the Cleric's ability to TurnUndead.

* Reg Shoe and many other undead from ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'', along with the Igors.
** Although if ''Discworld/NightWatch'' is any indication, he was pretty fearless while alive, too.
** He does lampshade this idea in Discworld/{{Jingo}} though. Just because the ship sinking doesn't ''kill'' him doesn't mean he's not worried by it. Especially if a shark decides to eat him.

* In ''Literature/TheDeathGateCycle'', there are two kinds of undead--Cadavers (which are nearly mindless) and lazar (which are sentient). Both are completely fearless--cadavers because they are barely aware of what's going on around them, and lazar because they are aware of the agony of their undead condition and know for a fact that nothing is worse. Fireballs, sword thrusts, decapitation, arrows through the heart--none of it matters to something that's that far beyond our meager understanding of "pain".
** The cadavers aren't exactly mindless, their minds have just gotten stuck to the moment of their death, and they can't learn anything new, and are inclined to return to whatever they were doing just before their death, unless somebody constantly keeps an eye on them. They're essentially dementia patients taken up to eleven.

* This becomes a plot point during ''Literature/WorldWarZ''. As one of the interviewed soldiers points out, normal human warfare isn't about killing every last one of the enemy, it's about breaking the enemy's will to continue fighting. Zombies never get scared however, so at the disastrous Battle Of Yonkers, when the US Air Force lets out some DeathFromAbove that would make any normal enemy run for the hills, the zombies keep coming, which begins breaking the will of the ''troops on the ground'', turning the battle into a massacre... of the US Army.
-->You don’t have to be Sun freakin Tzu to know that real fighting isn’t about killing or even hurting the other guy, it’s about scaring him enough to call it a day. “Shock and Awe”? Perfect name, “Shock and Awe”! But what if the enemy can’t be shocked and awed? Not just ''won’t'', but biologically ''can’t?'' That’s what happened that day outside UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity, that’s the failure that almost lost us the whole damn war. The fact that we couldn’t shock and awe [[NotUsingTheZWord Zack]] boomeranged right back in our faces and actually allowed Zack to shock and awe us! They’re not afraid! No matter what we do, no matter how many we kill, they will never, ever be afraid!
** Later, this is used against the zombies. When the Army changes tactics, they lure zombies into a prearranged kill zone and calmly mow them down one after another. The zombies, unable to be deterred by the fact that thousands upon thousands of their fellow creatures have been killed without even getting ''close'' to the troops, keep coming, and keep getting mowed down. Essentially, the Army turned them into {{Fearless Fool}}s, and made them pay the price for it.

See also ImmortalLifeIsCheap.