History Main / GoldfishPoopGang

%%* The Specter in ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne''.
%%** As well as the Terminal Guardian in ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV''.

* The [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario RPGs]] love these. It's seemingly mandatory for them to feature at least one in every game:

* The Dark Wings from ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' are a fairly unique example. Unlike most examples, you don't actually fight them, and they're actually fairly competent. [[spoiler:Not to mention that you're technically on their side once Asch hires them]]. That doesn't stop them from being comic relief that fill the storyline role to a tee, though.
* [[DefectingForLove Sheena]] from ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' is treated like this, until the inevitable HeelFaceTurn. Showing her [[PetTheDog playing hide-and-seek with kids and helping sick people]] certainly did nothing for her villain cred.
* ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'' has Zagi, who appears threatening at first but, as the party levels, becomes less and less to the point that Yuri is legitimately exasperated at his final appearance near the end of the game. To a lesser extent are the beast tamers Karol seeks the approval of, though they aren't so much bad guys or rivals so much as [[CannotSpitItOut looking to make sure]] [[WomenPreferStrongMen Karol can handle being Nan's boyfriend.]]
** From the same game, Adecor and Boccos AKA Tweedle-A and Tweedle-B fulfil this role with their persistent bumbling attempts at arresting the protagonist. Though they are mostly dealt with in cutscenes, player involvement is only required when the game needs a punching bag for a ForcedTutorial. That said, the final Tutorial fight with them, the Burst Arte tutorial, is annoyingly hard because it's two on one and they keep interrupting your attacks. Outside the storyline, you can also fight them in the arena (where they suck) and in the BonusDungeon (where they don't).

* The [[Characters/PokemonTheSeriesTeamRocketTrio Team Rocket]] [[CanonImmigrant trio]] (see above) actually apply to this trope in the video game sense in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Pokémon Yellow]]'' and ''VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndLetsGoEevee'', despite being ''somewhat'' more competent in those games (like they were in the show before VillainDecay set in).
%%* CampGay Bandiger in ''VideoGame/ThousandArms''.
* Wheeler from ''VideoGame/PokemonRanger: Shadows of Almia''. While most of the members of Team Dim Sun, even the lower-level {{Mooks}}, like to throw down with relatively powerful (stolen and {{brainwashed}}) Pokemon like Rampardos and Magmortar, Wheeler is the [[YesMan sycophantic second-in-command]] to the BigBad, and his Pokemon of choice is...''[[ComMons Bidoof]]''. And that's the only one he uses. '''''Ever.'''''
* ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia'''s Baltor the Black Bearded is an example of this. He is the first ship battle you have to fight against, and is relatively challenging when you come across him. However, the second time you fight him much later in the game, you have [[CoolAirship the most powerful airship built to date]] that has a cannon that you literally use to [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu kill ancient gods of destruction]], while he [[VillainForgotToLevelGrind still has the same old sailing ship he used last time]]. Too bad Baltor [[WeWillMeetAgain can't let go of things...]]
* ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration Super Robot Taisen OG2]]'' has The Inspectors. They start off as a threat, sure, but by the end of the game, they've cemented their position here. Well, except for their TRUE leader...
* The Dread Lord of Contagion from ''{{VideoGame/Lusternia}}''. Don't let the name fool you, he's about as dread as a paper bag. [[{{Determinator}} Persistent little bugger, though.]]
* The Bandit Trio from ''VideoGame/HalfMinuteHero''.
* In ''VideoGame/JaysJourney'', Thinbeard and his dragon companion Azareth are constantly referred to as [[LampshadeHanging "Annoying recurring wannabe RPG villains"]].
* ''VideoGame/EatLeadTheReturnOfMattHazard'' has Sting Sniperscope, a [[DumbMuscle meathead]] with a [[Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger dumb accent]]. He's also Matt's (surprise) would-be replacement as video game protagonist and his intended executioner. With help from a hacker, Matt kills Sniperscope (effectively derailing his game's intended plot) and heads off on a quest to find out why the game developer wants rid of him. Matt has to fight Sniperscope two more times throughout the game, because he has [[OneUp three lives]]. Matt and Sting get more and more annoyed with each other every time they fight.
* ''VideoGame/PennyArcadeAdventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode 4'' introduces the Fish Force, a blatant {{Expy}} of [[Anime/PokemonTheSeries Team Rocket]], who even have their own theme song! They show up several times to menace the heroes, despite having no connection to the greater plot, and while they can be challenging to an underleveled party, represent no real threat. If you fight them enough times, at the end of the game they [[HeelFaceTurn become your allies]].
* ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV'''s Terminal Guardian is a one-man poop gang. Every terminal you find is guarded by one man, wearing a different disguise and throwing different demons at you each time you find a terminal.
* The Beastector in ''VideoGame/MischiefMakers'', a trio of animal-men who have giant robots and goofy voices. They constantly hound Marina and bicker among themselves, and are actually challenging bosses, but in the grand scheme of the plot, they serve little purpose. They ''do'' [[spoiler: end up as the final boss; after the real plot is over of course]].
* ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline'': Ja'rod, son of Torg, captain of the IKS ''Kang'', ''was'' for the Starfleet player character. He tried to take them out several times during the "Klingon War" arc and ended up with Starfleet PC leaving the ''Kang'' dead in space every time. To add insult to injury, the PC then reveals Ja'rod's mentor Ambassador B'Vat was a nutcase trying to send the Klingons and Federation into a ForeverWar, and poor Ja'rod ended up on [[PunishmentDetail tribble extermination duty]] and the ''Kang'' gets disabled by the PC ''again''. Various quest revamps gradually removed his appearances, however.
* Dondera Tank from ''VideoGame/HolyUmbrella'' is an unusual example in that your first encounter with him is a HopelessBossFight. He still returns repeatedly after being defeated, each time with a new body and the same old bluster. In his fourth appearance, he gets taken out by another character before the player can fight him. The fifth time around, he desperately tries to prove he's still relevant by singing a VillainSong and [[BreakingTheFourthWall breaking the fourth wall]] when Dondera complains about it.
* ''VideoGame/SpiderMan2'' has Mysterio. Dude's got a million robots that are actually threatening... but he himself is not. Aside from being a walking cliché by pretending to be an alien invader and hiding out in a Funhouse of Doom (hidden within an apartment), [[http://youtu.be/K1MZIU_feIk?t=27s he's probably the easiest "boss fight" in video game history]].
* ''VideoGame/Superman64'' has ComicBook/{{Brainiac}} who, despite being one of ComicBook/{{Superman}}'s most formidable foes normally, is about as easy to defeat as Mysterio above, as he [[ZeroEffortBoss literally has no AI programmed and will just stand there throughout the entire battle]].
* EXALT from ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown'''s expansion Enemy Within. Exalt is a paramilitary organization opposing your team and committing acts of sabotage around the globe. When you first meet them, they are using ballistic weapons and no gene mods, while wearing business suits, while your team probably fields [[SlowLaser laser]] weapons, if not plasma. A while later, elite EXALT agents appear, fielding one gene mod each, and a pretty low powered one at that, laser weapons, and wearing body armor show up. XCOM soldiers definitely have access to plasma weapons, PowerArmor, and possibly PsychicPowers by then. EXALT doesn't progress further than that.[[note]]On Classic and Impossible difficulty, they become a much more serious threat due to their numbers, persistence, and effect on the strategic situation.[[/note]]
* ''VideoGame/MortalKombat9'' has several fighters in the Story Mode, who are generally portrayed as ineffectual hangers-on to the big bad. [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Baraka]] has this lampshaded by [[McNinja Cyrax]].
* Sir Ronvid of the Small Marsh in ''VideoGame/TheWitcher3WildHunt'' is a knight who challenges Geralt to a duel multiple times to defend the honor of his love Maid Bilberry. Ronvid is comically incompetent at combat and Geralt gets more annoyed with every challenge.
* Kayla, Wally, and Ink from ''VideoGame/{{Landstalker}}'', full stop. They get a single moment of competence when [[spoiler:they hold Friday hostage in exchange for the Lithograph]]. Beyond that, every time they show up, it's only so that they can be subjected to [[HumiliationConga increasingly cruel and hilarious punishments]]. It's so bad that [[TheUnfought you never actually fight them]]; their rotten luck always does them in before you ever get the chance.
* ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIII'': Robbin' 'Ood is a recurring boss that shows up twice to get in the Hero's way.
* For most of the first episode of ''VideoGame/{{Deltarune}}'' you had Suzie and Lancer, your "archenemies" who primarily showed up, cackled about how evil they were and how screwed you were at facing them, and then run away giggling. Notably, they underwent a quick HeelFaceTurn once [[KnightOfCerebus The King Of Spades]], the ''real'' villian of the game, shows his presence.

* The [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario RPGs]] love these. It's seemingly mandatory for them to feature at least one in every game:
** Croco the mobster wannabe from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'';
** "Master" Jr. Troopa from ''VideoGame/PaperMario'';
** Popple the Shadow Thief from ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiSuperstarSaga'';
** Lord Crump from ''VideoGame/PaperMarioTheThousandYearDoor''. At first he appeared as TheDragon to Sir Grodus, but his [[YouHaveFailedMe continuous screw-ups]] cemented his position as the resident Goldfish Poop Gang.
** O'Chunks, Count Bleck's [[DumbMuscle no-brains-all-brawn]] henchthug from ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario''.
** [[MeaningfulName Midbus]] of ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory''.
* Inverted in ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' with [[DemonicSpiders hit-squads from the NCR, and/or Caesars Legion.]] They will send a squad of Legionaries or Rangers occasionally if you pissed either side off one too many times, and they will most of the time catch you off guard, and possibly half-cocked, as their weapons can even eat through Power Armor like a hot knife through butter. Plus their armor is pretty strong as well. And even if you manage to defeat one of these death squads, you can count on another ambushing you sometime during your travels through the Mojave. Played straight once you reach higher levels and get better weapons and armor for yourself and your follower.

* The Elements from ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}''. Of the four of them, their leader Dominia is the only credible threat posed to the party. Seraphita is so dumb she sometimes forgets she's a bad guy, Tolone spends much of her time ''reminding'' Seraphita she's a bad guy, and Kelvena just doesn't really seem to care all that much.
* Benny & Clyde[[note]]and by extension, their original selves Kamijo and Yamamoto in the original ''Downtown Nekketsu Monogatari''[[/note]] in ''VideoGame/RiverCityRansom''.
* Dotty and Petty in ''VideoGame/MonsterRancherEVO'' most definitely fit this definition. You battle their weak monsters every so often, and they play this trope as straight as possible, often citing "Evil Villain Rules" that they live by.
* The [[Characters/PokemonTheSeriesTeamRocketTrio Team Rocket]] [[CanonImmigrant trio]] (see above) actually apply to this trope in the video game sense in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Pokémon Yellow]]'' and ''VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndLetsGoEevee'', despite being ''somewhat'' more competent in those games (like they were in the show before VillainDecay set in).
* Cruelly deconstructed in the second ''VideoGame/{{Robopon}}'' game, where the "rival" is an impoverished orphanage owner who challenges you to win money "for the children!" and has an absolutely pathetic team that always has at least one [[JokeCharacter Gear or Bulbot]].
* The [[MeaningfulName quite appropriately nicknamed]] Mid-Boss in ''VideoGame/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness'', as well as Axel[=/=]Akutare in the [[VideoGame/Disgaea2CursedMemories sequel]] (you fight each one at least four times during the course of their respective games).
** Interestingly enough, Mid-Boss and Axel are both voiced by Creator/GrantGeorge in the English versions (but sound nothing alike).
** In ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 3|AbsenceOfJustice}}'', the Vato brothers fit this trope to a tee, as well as being about as strong as the trope implies.
** The same Axel plays the same role in ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 4| A Promise Unforgotten}}'', taken to [[TheVirus an absurd degree]] in Chapter 6.

* Liz and Ard from ''VideoGame/WildArms2'', and the members of Cocytus, though to a lesser extent since they're all quite powerful and competent, not to mention that you fight none of them more than twice (Liz and Ard, however, are fought three times, almost always follow up a fight with them by throwing one of their robot bosses at you, and also accidentally set a ''very'' powerful optional boss on you late in the game).
** Not to mention Zed in the original ''VideoGame/WildArms1''. The rest of the demons basically follow the SortingAlgorithmOfEvil, but Zed just shows up to cause havoc independently.
** And let's not forget the Schrodinger family (Maya in particular) in ''VideoGame/{{Wild ARMs 3}}''. They pose a moderate threat (though nothing TOO bad), but they're still gimmicky comic relief and they reappear enough times to be annoying.
* In ''[[VideoGame/BanjoKazooie Banjo-Tooie]]'', Klungo gets three {{Boss Battle}}s with our heroes. The first time, he's the WarmupBoss, and he doesn't get much more challenging after that, despite (randomly) switching strategies.
-->'''Banjo:''' Don't you ever learn?\\
'''Klungo:''' Klungo clever, learn lotsss. Hasss learnt new potion.\\
'''Kazooie:''' Is it as useless as all the others?
* The Dark Wings from ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' are a fairly unique example. Unlike most examples, you don't actually fight them, and they're actually fairly competent. [[spoiler:Not to mention that you're technically on their side once Asch hires them]]. That doesn't stop them from being comic relief that fill the storyline role to a tee, though.
* [[DefectingForLove Sheena]] from ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' is treated like this, until the inevitable HeelFaceTurn. Showing her [[PetTheDog playing hide-and-seek with kids and helping sick people]] certainly did nothing for her villain cred.
* Dio? and his lackeys in ''VideoGame/SoulNomadAndTheWorldEaters''.
* ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'' has Zagi, who appears threatening at first but, as the party levels, becomes less and less to the point that Yuri is legitimately exasperated at his final appearance near the end of the game. To a lesser extent are the beast tamers Karol seeks the approval of, though they aren't so much bad guys or rivals so much as [[CannotSpitItOut looking to make sure]] [[WomenPreferStrongMen Karol can handle being Nan's boyfriend.]]
** From the same game, Adecor and Boccos AKA Tweedle-A and Tweedle-B fulfil this role with their persistent bumbling attempts at arresting the protagonist. Though they are mostly dealt with in cutscenes, player involvement is only required when the game needs a punching bag for a ForcedTutorial. That said, the final Tutorial fight with them, the Burst Arte tutorial, is annoyingly hard because it's two on one and they keep interrupting your attacks. Outside the storyline, you can also fight them in the arena (where they suck) and in the BonusDungeon (where they don't).
* ''VideoGame/CaveStory'' has Balrog, who does a HeelFaceTurn after being defeated for the third or fourth time.
* ''VideoGame/ShogoMobileArmorDivision'' features Samantha Sternberg, a hot-headed female who constantly appears out of nowhere, screaming that she'll kick the player's ass, only to be quickly dealt with with no trouble at all, yet somehow manages to survive every encounter. [[spoiler: Near the end of the game, however, you have to face her on foot while she's in a HumongousMecha.]]
%%* The Specter in ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIIINocturne''.
%%** As well as the Terminal Guardian in ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV''.
* Street Urchin Sabu in ''VideoGame/BangaiO''. His profile [[AllThereInTheManual in the instruction manual]] even states that he's addicted to the "Goldfish Game" salesman's waffles. [[LampshadeHanging Yeah]].
%%* CampGay Bandiger in ''VideoGame/ThousandArms''.
* ''VideoGame/AceCombat'' examples:
** In ''VideoGame/AceCombat04ShatteredSkies'', the Yellow Squadron devolves into this in the final mission, since it had already been starting to take in rookies (with veteran members being transferred to augment other groups) even before [[spoiler:the player shot down both Yellow Four and then their leader Yellow Thirteen]]; even though they're flying the same planes, for this mission instead of 150 points per Yellow shot down, you only get 90 points each.
** Strigon Team in ''VideoGame/AceCombat6FiresOfLiberation'' go from being elusive, deadly opponents in the first mission to being completely wiped out multiple times over in later missions.
* In ''[[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsDestiny Super Robot Wars D]]'' you had to fight five generals throughout the game [[spoiler: and all five of their mechs in the final battle]].

* The Scorpion Army from ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana''.
* Wheeler from ''VideoGame/PokemonRanger: Shadows of Almia''. While most of the members of Team Dim Sun, even the lower-level {{Mooks}}, like to throw down with relatively powerful (stolen and {{brainwashed}}) Pokemon like Rampardos and Magmortar, Wheeler is the [[YesMan sycophantic second-in-command]] to the BigBad, and his Pokemon of choice is...''[[ComMons Bidoof]]''. And that's the only one he uses. '''''Ever.'''''

* Subverted with the three Garlyle Forces female sergeants Nana, Saki and Mio in ''VideoGame/Grandia1''. You encounter and fight them repeatedly, but if anything they get more dangerous as the encounters go on, using a lot of new moves and fighting more as a team. They must have been [[TookALevelInBadass leveling up and getting new kit]] just as busily as your party.

* An even better example would be the Babylon Rogues from the ''VideoGame/SonicRiders'' games, consisting of [[ArrogantKungFuGuy Jet]], [[WrenchWench Wave]], and [[FatBastard Storm]]. They are never a threat to the heroes. They show up in nearly every race, though.
* The BB Bandits in ''VideoGame/FossilFighters''--or at the very least, the main TerribleTrio, consisting of leader Vivian, obnoxious lackey Snivels, and TeamPet Rex. When they first appear, they might seem tough, but quickly prove to be little more than a recurring nuisance. Even when you invade their base! However, after you beat the game [[spoiler: and after their HeelFaceTurn]], they're upgraded to {{Superboss}} status--and a ''hard'' {{Superboss}} they are, too.
* The Tour Official, Sally Dobbs, in ''[[VideoGame/BackyardSports Backyard Skateboarding]]''.
* Sly in ''VideoGame/MysticArk''. He's actually something of a threat when you first meet him in the second world, but then after beating the Beetle King, the guy starts to get a little strange. Then he just doesn't show up until the final world of the game where he expects you to give a flying hoot when he shouts "My plan is too brilliant for a dumbass like y-o-u to understand!" though he's surprising pathetic for a boss that late into the game, but then again, the game decides to subject you to two more moderately hard boss fights after him. He also never really did explain what that brilliant plan was...[[WildMassGuessing perhaps he's supposed to be Darkness' right-hand man?]]

* In ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireIII'' Ziggy is just a jerk you have to help a guy beat up to eventually gain access to a ship. But in ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireIV'' a similar Ziggy shows up who constantly challenges the party to fight him, and is not all that much of a threat what with low HP and, at his worst, can poison a member of your party.

* Giacomo in ''VideoGame/BatenKaitosOrigins'': Arrogant and headstrong, he goes from being a cruel WakeUpCallBoss to one of these over the course of three fights. The last time he and Sagi fight, it's revealed TheEmpire ''threw him out'' for being one of these, and Sagi even admits to envying his perseverance. However, by the time ''VideoGame/BatenKaitos'' rolls [[FromNobodyToNightmare around]], [[TookALevelInBadass well...]]
--> '''Giacomo:''' Say what you will. [[BadassBoast But you're my ticket back to the Empire, Sagi.]] [[HamAndCheese And every good ticket has to get punched!]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'' has Strega, a team of FlawedPrototype Persona users that often hound the heroes. While they are responsible for [[spoiler:killing Shinjiro]], one of the more important moments of the game, aside from that they are for the most part mere inconveniences for the player who generally don't put up much of a fight (though it certainly helps that you always outnumber them).

* Team Turmoil from Creator/MarkWaid's run on ComicBook/TheFlash were this. Defeating was such a routine task that the Flash rarely bothered to interrupt his conversations while doing so -- except to make fun of them, of course.

* The Royal Flush Gang has been sort of the default team of minor Justice League villains for decades. If you need a brief cutaway shot of the League defeating some baddies, it's likely to be the Royal Flush Gang. They keep popping up mostly because they do look memorable, with their PlayingCardMotifs.
* E.G.G. from ''ComicBook/{{Chew}}'' is a terrorist group that believes the government is covering up the real truth behind the bird flu epedimic and tries to correct said injustice by holding people hostage in order to force them to do something. Usually they show up only to be easily defeated whenever there is a need to show how badass certain character is (sometimes in-universe and sometimes to the audience).

* The Mane Six in ''Fanfic/TheDarkSideOfTheMirrorverse'', who are a bunch of annoying nuisances who can barely even be qualified as evil at all; any damage they manage to inflict is accidental or comes from a place of good intentions. [[spoiler:Twilight accidentally manages to become a real threat when one of her inventions backfires and transforms her into [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Nightmare Spotlight]].]]

* Holli Would's goons in ''Film/CoolWorld''. That gang certainly knows how to mess around.
* Captain Redbeard and his pirate crew in ''Film/AsterixAndObelixMissionCleopatra''.

* Played with in ''Literature/HarryPotter''. In perspective, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle pose less of a threat to Harry as [[spoiler: Voldemort]] rises in power. Though the goldfish poop gang join with [[spoiler:Voldemort]], they come to realize that it's not as fun as it sounds. Ultimately subverted when the gang endangers the PowerTrio's lives in the seventh book.
-->''[Harry] [[LampshadeHanging could not believe that he was this close]], and he was going to be thwarted by Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle.''
* Out of the thousand-plus Nadir tribes alluded to in the Literature/{{Drenai}} saga, the Green Monkeys have this reputation in-universe. The name probably doesn't help.

* Bulk and Skull from ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' started as bullies who would try to harass the gang at school and work out the Rangers' secret identities. They later became more sympathetic ans serve as comic relief.

* The Prism organization in ''TabletopGame/BleakWorld'' they're to busy fighting each other to bother anyone else with their goal of [[BrainwashingForTheGreaterGood assimilation.]]

* Of course, ''Webcomic/{{Adventurers}}!'' [[http://www.adventurers-comic.com/d/0192.html made fun of this too]].
* The gnomish monks of ''Webcomic/WTFComics'' start out as a bit of a threat and get less effective every time they are encountered. [[http://www.wtfcomics.com/archive.html?421_13 The first time they were encountered]] they were a surprise to even Straha.

* In ''Webcomic/CaptainSNES'', it's implied that the [[FunWithAcronyms Daltonian Hyper-Oceanic Piratical Extortion Squad]] will become this, and given that its members include [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI Ultros, Chopon]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyV Gilgamesh]], [[VideoGame/{{Lufia}} Berty, Bart]], [[VideoGame/SecretOfMana the Scorpion Army]], and, of course, [[VideoGame/ChronoTrigger Dalton]] himself, it's quite appropriate.
* Professor Lupin Madblood of ''Webcomic/{{Narbonic}}''. Lupin tries to be the BigBad, but ends up being easily defeated no matter what he tries. One time, he lost when a gerbil convinced his army of robots to unionize.
* Stunt and Bumper, the two thieves from ''Webcomic/DominicDeegan'', play this role in the early years of the comic, before their respective [[HeelFaceTurn Heel Face Turns]].
* After Allison in ''WebComic/KillSixBillionDemons'' gets publicly exposed as carrying the MacGuffin, and everyone puts a price on her head to get it, she's followed around by a horde of various weird mercenaries who keep crashing into whatever DimensionLord's stronghold she's currently getting in over her head in. They're not incompetent as fighters, but in practice, they just keep fighting the local guards and each other, and a bunch of them die every time, while Allison is already making her escape from the real villains anyway.

* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'': the Circus Freak Trio could be considered this, though they never really were a threat to begin with; the only thing that makes them dangerous in the episodes they show up in is the boss they are working for (successively [[MonsterClown Zombozo]], [[EnemyWithout Ghostfreak]] and Forever King Discroll). Most of the time, however, Ben kicks their asses pretty easily, to the point where it's borderline humiliation for them.

* Fung and his croc bandits in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPandaLegendsOfAwesomeness''. Let's just say there's a good reason his catchphrase is "Darn it!"
* The Really Rottens from ''WesternAnimation/LaffALympics'' are a crew of malcontents who try to cheat their way into winning against the Yogi Yahooeys and the Scooby Doobies. Most of the time, they are caught cheating and disqualified, but once in a blue moon they will [[TeamRocketWins bumble their way to victory.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998'': The Amoeba Boys. Their attempts at villainy are truly pathetic, to the point that they only manage to do something really bad ''by complete accident'' that requires the girls' assistance to rectify.

* Hack and Slash from ''{{WesternAnimation/ReBoot}}'', who consistently fail to execute Megabyte's plans.

* The Mutant leaders on ''WesternAnimation/{{ThunderCats|1985}}'' deteriorated into this over the course of the series, near the end unable to muster even a tiny iota of competence. At times, they even made mistakes they were even ''specifically'' warned against. (For instance, in one episode, Vultureman builds a thundrainium-powered cannon - thundrainium being a WeaksauceWeakness to Thundarians - but warns them that it won't work if fired at close range. This is ''exactly'' the miatake Sslith and Jackalman make when using it.) This is in stark contrast to BigBad Mumm-Ra, who remained a major threat.

-->-- ''Videogame/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness''

* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'':
** Team Rocket from the anime (Jessie, James and Meowth), who thrive on popularity despite no longer posing a threat to Ash and friends. When we say they thrive on popularity, we mean that literally: on one occasion they save Ash's life on the premise that if he dies, [[NoFourthWall the show's over and they're out of a job]]. This even applies ''within'' the fourth wall. On several occasions they've helped Ash out or cheered him on in battle, because, as Meowth put it during Ash's battle with Tobias: "This is the guy who beats us all the time! So if he loses, think how bad it'll make US look!"
** Subverted in the ''Anime/PokemonTheSeriesBlackAndWhite'' as Team Rocket truly TookALevelInBadass, even ignoring Ash and company sometimes. Officially [[ZigZaggingTrope zig zagged]] by ''Anime/PokemonTheSeriesXY'', where they're back to their usual selves, though noticeably more competent than they were before ''Black & White'', and no longer appear in every episode.
* ''Literature/{{Slayers}}'':
** Lina Inverse actually gave this nickname to Naga at one point, as she constantly insists on calling Lina her partner (or rival, depending on which season/movie you're watching).
** Martina from ''Slayers NEXT'' is a very obvious example. Subverted in that she winds up with some CharacterDevelopment and getting exactly what she wants at the end while Lina's still WalkingTheEarth, but then, she had stopped being a villain by that point.
* Depending on the story, Zenigata can be this in ''Franchise/LupinIII''. No matter what the plot/enemy is, he's pretty much guaranteed to be involved in ''some'' capacity, but that can vary from him [[WorthyOpponent being a serious threat to Lupin and his plans]], a [[FriendlyEnemy grudging ally]], a useful patsy, or (this trope) simply a minor annoyance who's only there because the fans would miss him if he didn't make an appearance.
* Weevil Underwood and Rex Raptor, from the ''Anime/YuGiOh'' anime, are basically this for the main characters or the bad guys. Although first introduced as winner and runner up of a televised tournament, they're immediately afterwards presented as credible threats only when they cheat, they pretty much exist for two purposes: 1) be annoying schemers, and 2) serve as mooks for the filler season villain Dartz. Less so in the manga, where Rex Raptor is never seen again after losing to Esper Roba, and Weevil is never seen again after losing to Joey. Out of the other major Duelist Kingdom opponents, Mako Tsunami shows up to lose to Joey, and Mai Valentine falls victim to TheWorfEffect, but does pretty well for herself against BigBad Yami Marik, even managing to acquire [[InfinityPlusOneSword one of the God cards]] from him, [[NewRulesAsThePlotDemands only to find she couldn't use it]]. Marik really only won on a technicality--if Mai ''had'' been able to use the card (or decided against using it), she would probably have won.

%%* Tom and Tab from ''Manga/KimbaTheWhiteLion.''
* The [=MK5=] from ''Manga/{{Beelzebub}}''. It's even stated that losing in one page is their specialty.
* Zonge and his followers in ''Manga/{{Toriko}}'' are a non-villainous version, though they are technically rivals to Toriko ''et al.'' simply by virtue of being other Bishokuya, and they show up in many arcs and are almost always ineffective (or if so, Zonge himself is not deliberately effective).
* In ''Anime/RaveMaster'' there was the Jiggle Butt Gang (Big Butt Bandits in the dub) three crooks who were likely the most incompetent thieves in existence. How did they get their name? [[MeaningfulName Guess.]]
** The Jiggle Butt Gang is persistent enough to return even in a different series, specifically Hiro Mashima's second manga series, ''Manga/FairyTail''.

* Crumplezone and Ransack degenerate into this in ''Anime/TransformersCybertron''. Subverted when the former becomes [[TookALevelInBadass Dark Crumplezone]] near the end of the series, then promptly zig-zagged in the very episode Dark Crumplezone made his debut in.

* In ''Manga/{{Kurohime}}'' Onimaru starts out as a one-man Goldfish Poop Gang, being a warlord with a grudge against Kurohime who keeps turning up in pursuit of her and driven away as soon as she can use her power. His life manages to go downhill from there when he loses his gang and gets turned into the TeamPet during the Shinigami arc.
* The Rubberobo Gang from ''VideoGame/{{Medabots}}'' would try to steal rare medals and were essentially the franchise's answer to ''[[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Team Rocket]]''.
* In ''Manga/DragonGoesHouseHunting'', Letty has frequent run-ins with a group of GlorySeeker "Heroes" led by a black-haired JRPG protagonist parody, usually ending with the "Heroes" being [[DeathIsCheap incinerated]] by Dearia or otherwise defeated by Letty's other monster "underlings".

* In ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'', Jack Spicer starts out as an actual threat, but quickly undergoes VillainDecay that turns him into a one-man GoldfishPoopGang, to the point where the Xiaolin Warriors start beating him up for sport and he's left with only a single Shen Gong Wu by the end of the series. However, in the GrandFinale, we are introduced to an alternate BadFuture where Omi was not present, and Jack has [[TookALevelInBadass taken the mother of all levels in Badass]] and has successfully [[TakeOverTheWorld taken over the world]], and has [[WickedWitch Wuya]], [[MagnificentBastard Chase Young]] and [[SealedEvilInACan Hannibal Roy Bean]] as his prisoners. Also at the beginning of that same season, his good side had been split from him and he was proving himself to be quite formidabble.

* The Mutant leaders on ''WesternAnimation/{{ThunderCats|1985}}'' deteriorated into this over the course of the series, near the end unable to muster even a tiny iota of competence. At times, they even made mistakes they were even ''specifically'' warned against. (For instance, in one episode, Vultureman builds a thundrainium-powered cannon - thundrainium being a WeaksauceWeakness to Thundarians - but warns them that it won't work if fired at close range. This is ''exactly'' the miatake Sslith and Jackalman make when using it.) This is in stark contrast to BigBad Mumm-Ra, who remained a major threat.
* The Trix become this in the third season of ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub''. While they were formidable foes in the first two seasons, they are horribly outclassed by the fairies' new Enchantix forms, to the point where any one of the fairies is often enough to take down all three witches.
* Hack and Slash from ''{{WesternAnimation/ReBoot}}'', who consistently fail to execute Megabyte's plans.
* [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin The Box Ghost]] of ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom''. But with a name like that, would you really expect otherwise? However, we see a possible alternate future in which he's taken [[TookALevelInBadass enough levels of badass to be considered epic]]. He also happens to have once gained control over ''Pandora's Box''. Good thing he's relatively nice.
* ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'':
** Bebop and Rocksteady from ''WesternAnimation/{{Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles|1987}}'' (1987). Because regardless of species, common thugs/henchmen are no match for trained ninjas.
** ''All'' the 1987 villains are delegated to this status during the ''WesternAnimation/TurtlesForever'' movie, mainly because they were stupid enough to release Ch'rell from his cosmic prison.
** The Purple Dragons in the [[WesternAnimation/{{Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles|2012}} 2012 series]]. Even the Turtles don't take them seriously. The worst they really do is commit thievery. It gets a little better later when Hun comes along and replaces Fong as the new leader, being a more skilled fighter, but Hun and the rest of the gang quickly became DemotedToExtra after that.
* Sgt Blob, Frizz and Nug are this in ''WesternAnimation/TheDreamstone'', blundering mooks for Zordrak, who constantly fall against the heroes in their attempts to steal their MacGuffin, and even described by the latter as "tiresome".
* The Amoeba Boys from ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998''. Their attempts at villainy are truly pathetic, to the point that they only manage to do something really bad ''by complete accident'' that requires the girls' assistance to rectify.
** There's also the Gangreen Gang, who, while sometimes being a legitimate threat, mostly commit common petty crimes such as common thievery, vandalism, and prank phone calls, and are generally seen as more of a nuisance compared to most of the other villains on the show (bar the Amoeba Boys mentioned above).

* The Dirt Dudes from ''WesternAnimation/MrBogus'' fall into this territory DependingOnTheWriter.
* The Dark Hand in ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures''. Doesn't help that their formerly badass boss got canonically [[RetCon retconned]] later on. The Shadowkhan at times as well, though their effectiveness appears to depend on [[spoiler: how close the mask holder is]].
* ''WesternAnimation/LeagueOfSuperEvil'' is what happens when one makes a show about this trope.

* Fung and his croc bandits in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPandaLegendsOfAwesomeness''. Let's just say there's a good reason his CatchPhrase is "Darn it!"

** Though it turns out that they're really the unwitting (apart from [[DarkActionGirl Sabine]]) agents of [[TheChessmaster the Three Fiends]], recently introduced but ''[[MagnificentBastard highly]]'' competent major villains. The Guild can actually be [[TeamRocketWins pretty dangerous on their own, too]]- it's just that their victories never last long, due to their leader Nale's attempts at being {{Troperiffic}} always giving him a ''giant'' VillainBall.

* The [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} Team Rocket]] [[CanonImmigrant trio]] (see above) actually apply to this trope in the video game sense in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue Pokémon Yellow]]'' and ''VideoGame/PokemonLetsGoPikachuAndLetsGoEevee'', despite being ''somewhat'' more competent in those games (like they were in the show before VillainDecay set in).

* ''VideoGame/PennyArcadeAdventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness: Episode 4'' introduces the Fish Force, a blatant {{Expy}} of [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} Team Rocket]], who even have their own theme song! They show up several times to menace the heroes, despite having no connection to the greater plot, and while they can be challenging to an underleveled party, represent no real threat. If you fight them enough times, at the end of the game they [[HeelFaceTurn become your allies]].

** Scratch and Grounder, the Sonic Super Special Search and Smash Squad. They don't even have half a brain between them. More like a quarter. Hey, you could probably call them the WesternAnimation equivalent of [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} Team Rocket]].

* The [[VideoGame/SuperMarioBros Mario RPGs]] love these. It's seemingly mandatory for them to feature at least one in every game:

* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'':

** Subverted in the ''Best Wishes!'' series as Team Rocket truly TookALevelInBadass, even ignoring Ash and company sometimes. Officially [[ZigZaggingTrope zig zagged]] by ''XY'', where they're back to their usual selves, though noticeably more competent than they were before ''Best Wishes!'', and no longer appear in every episode.

** Team Rocket from the anime (Jessie, James and Meowth), who [[EnsembleDarkhorse thrive on popularity]] despite no longer posing a threat to Ash and friends. When we say they thrive on popularity, we mean that literally: on one occasion they save Ash's life on the premise that if he dies, [[NoFourthWall the show's over and they're out of a job]]. This even applies ''within'' the fourth wall. On several occasions they've helped Ash out or cheered him on in battle, because, as Meowth put it during Ash's battle with Tobias: "This is the guy who beats us all the time! So if he loses, think how bad it'll make US look!"

* Bulk and Skull from ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' started as bullies who would try to harass the gang at school and work out the Rangers' secret identities. They later became more sympathetic ComicRelief.

* [[BraggartBoss Gilgamesh]] in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'' is the first one in the series, and one of the most popular ones too. He is once again a GoldfishPoopGang member in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'', going most of the game as Alleyway Jack before revealing his true identity. He also reappears as a BonusBoss in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'', makes a cameo in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' if the player has acquired Odin (who is killed by Seifer and replaced by Gilgamesh), and was retroactively added to ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' in the Advance series as a hidden esper. He is a BonusBoss again in ''Final Fantasy Advance: Dawn of Souls'' and a DLC boss in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII-2'', but he's vastly more difficult in that game. He is the only character in the series that is implied to have been the same person from game to game, in effect becoming goldfish poop for the whole series.

* The BB Bandits in ''VideoGame/FossilFighters''--or at the very least, the main TerribleTrio, consisting of leader Vivian, obnoxious lackey Snivels, and TeamPet Rex. When they first appear, they might seem tough, but quickly prove to be little more than a recurring nuisance. Even when you invade their base! However, after you beat the game [[spoiler: and after their HeelFaceTurn]], they're upgraded to BonusBoss status--and a ''hard'' BonusBoss they are, too.

* ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'':

* ''LightNovel/ReZero'' has two-bit alley thugs, Ton, Chin and Kan. They regularly encounter and harass Subaru or his friends, and their meetings almost always end with the trio getting beat up or scared off.

* Weevil Underwood and Rex Raptor, from the ''Anime/YuGiOh'' anime, are basically this for the main characters or the bad guys. Although first introduced as winner and runner up of a televised tournament, they're immediately afterwards presented as credible threats only when they cheat, they pretty much exist for two purposes: 1) be annoying schemers, and 2) serve as mooks for the filler season villain Dartz. Less so in the manga, where Rex Raptor is never seen again after losing to Esper Roba, and Weevil is never seen again after losing to Joey. Out of the other major Duelist Kingdom opponents, Mako Tsunami shows up to lose to Joey, and Mai Valentine falls victim to TheWorfEffect, but does pretty well for herself against BigBad Yami Marik, even managing to acquire [[InfinityPlusOneSword one of the God cards]] from him, [[NewRulesAsThePlotDemands only to find she couldn't use it]]. Marik really only won on a technicality--if Mai ''had'' been able to use the card, she would probably have won.

* The Royal Flush Gang has been sort of the default team of minor Justice League villains for decades. If you need a brief cutaway shot of the League defeating some baddies, it's likely to be the Royal Flush Gang. They keep popping up mostly because they do look memorable, with their playing card motif.

** For ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'' Ba'Gamnan and his siblings fall under this trope, particularly later on in the narrative, but more or less it is averted almost all together. Likewise, much like other games set in Ivalice, the other villains never take up this role. In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIIRevenantWings'', however, Ba'Gamnan and his motley crew play this role perfectly. To the point that Ba'Gamnan's own siblings grow tired of his bumbling leadership and decided to ditch him, prompting the ruthless bangaa bounty hunter to beat some sense into them, literally, affer a kidnapping they staged went wrong.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' has Grynewaht, who is introduced at the very end of ''Heavensward'' and fights the player throughout ''Stormblood''.

* Benny & Clyde in ''VideoGame/RiverCityRansom''.

* The Amoeba Boys from ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls.'' Their attempts at villainy are truly pathetic, to the point that they only manage to do something really bad ''by complete accident'' that requires the girls' assistance to rectify.

* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'': the Circus Freak Trio, could be considered this, though they never really were a threat to begin with; most of the time, the only thing that makes them dangerous in the episodes they show up in is the boss they are working for (successively [[MonsterClown Zombozo]], [[EnemyWithout Ghostfreak]] and Forever King Discroll). Most of the time, however, Ben kicks their asses pretty easily, to the point where it's borderline humiliation for them.

* The Really Rottens from ''WesternAnimation/LaffALympics'' are a crew of malcontents who try to cheat their way into winning against the Yogi Yahooeys and the Scooby Doobies. Most of the time they are caught cheating and disqualified but once in a blue moon they will [[TeamRocketWins bumble their way to victory.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'': the Circus Freak Trio, could be considered this, though they never really were a threat to begin with; most of the time, the only thing that makes them dangerous in the episodes they show up in is the boss they are working for (successively [[MonsterClown Zombozo]], [[EnemyWithout Ghostfreak]] and [[DarthVaderClone Forever King Discroll]]). Most of the time, however, Ben kicks their asses pretty easily, to the point where it's borderline humiliation for them.

** Subverted in the ''Best Wishes!'' series as Team Rocket truly TookALevelInBadass, even ignoring Ash and company sometimes. Officially [[ZigZaggingTrope zig zagged]] by ''XY'', where they're back to their usual selves, though noticeably more competent than they were before ''Best Wishes!''.

** Scratch and Grounder, the Sonic Super Special Search and Smash Squad. They don't even have half a brain between them. More like a quarter. Hell, you could probably call them the WesternAnimation equivalent of [[Anime/{{Pokemon}} Team Rocket]].

* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'': the Circus Trio Freak, could be considered this, though they never really were a threat to begin with; most of the time, the only thing that makes them dangerous in the episode they show up in is the boss they are working for (successively [[MonsterClown Zombozo]], [[EnemyWithout Ghostfreak]] and [[DarthVaderClone Forever King Discroll]]). Most of the time, however, Ben kicks their ass pretty easily, to the point it's borderline humiliation for them.