History Main / GoodArmorEvilArmor

** Arthur plays this straight before getting a {{Subversion}}. When he becomes a Lance during the WarArc, he is given the same silver and red armor worn by all the Lances in combat. During his endeavors [[spoiler:in the Relictombs after the war, he acquires a suit of [[{{Precursors}} Djinn]] PoweredArmor only he can wear due to being descended from them. Said armor is ebon black with gold highlights and horns on his head. However, despite the armor's appearance, Arthur donning the armor coincides with him becoming the BigGood]].

** In all settings, Chaos armor in alike tends to be black (especially if it is Chaos Undivided), rusted with blood, and covered in spikes and skulls. Depending on the patron Chaos God, the armor has additional traits. Khornate armor is a blood RedIsViolent, Tzeentchian armor is navy blue and frequently sports eyes and sinister curves, Nurglish armor is diseased green (and oftentimes the diseased bulk of the occupant just bursts through the seams of the armor), and Slaaneshi armor is either a PsychoPink or LightIsNotGood sheen of gold or silver with BSDM elements littered throughout it.
* The Loyalist Space Marines, meanwhile, tend to have a far sleeker and shinier appearance compared to their Traitor counterparts, [[SubvertedTrope though they're not a whole lot more good]]. After all, a good portion of the Traitor Legions were a case of MistreatmentInducedBetrayal.
* In the Old World, the human nations have more realistic looking suits of armor when compared to the Warriors of Chaos. The Empire has full plate Gothic armor, Bretonnia has high medieval panoplies and great helms, Kislev has rugged scale armor and PeltsOfTheBarbarian, and Cathay has silver lamellar armor. Of course, while all of the human nations have their own flaws, it isstill a case of GreyAndBlackMorality.
* The High Elves wear glistening ithilmar panoplies and blue tunics in contrast to the Dark Elves who wear black armor with purple tunics. The Wood Elves tend to wear less armor given their environment, but their armor tends to be either a bronze or gold color with green cloaks.
* The ''40k'' counterparts follow the same philosophy. Craftworld Aeldari armor tends to have bright colors and sleek contours. Drukhari armor tends to be black in color and sports lots of SpikesOfVillainy.
* The Dwarves have impressive gromril suits of armor that are gold and silver in color. In sharp contrast, the Chaos Dwarves have blackshard armor that is darker in color compared to their uncorrupted cousins, oftentimes being dark red, black, or navy blue.
* ''Age of Sigmar'' introduces the Stormcast Eternals, who are meant to be the GoodCounterpart to the Chaos Warriors. They wear powerful suits of armor complete with face masks and sport bright colors to indicate they are the good guys. In particular, the main Stormhost, the Hammers of Sigmar, sport gold armor and blue tunics.

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Franchise/StarWars'': In the original trilogy, the [[FacelessGoons Stormtroopers]] wear completely identical, all-white armor with a skull-like helm. In the prequels, the [[BadassArmy Clone Troopers]] sport various predecessor forms of this armor which, while still mostly white, has friendlier-looking, colorful markings and they're allowed to customize it. Their helms also resemble more Mandalorian helmets (which were based on crusader helms) than skulls, though they are shown to gradually evolve into what Stormtroopers wear, just as the clones turn from heroic soldiers to [[ManchurianAgent the villain's enforcers]].
[[/folder]]

* The Chaos Armor in ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' and ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' alike tends to be black, rusted with blood, and covered in spikes. The armor of Empire's knights and Imperium's Space Marines, meanwhile, is far sleeker and shinier, [[SubvertedTrope though they're not a whole lot more good]].

* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'': Inverted with Guts (an AntiHero) and Griffith (a VillainWithGoodPublicity). The former wears black wolf-themed armor (and spends his days brutally killing Apostles), the latter pure white hawk-themed armor (and is responsible for there being so many Apostles around, not to mention his betraying his entire army to the Godhand).

* Inverted with Guts (an AntiHero) and Griffith (a VillainWithGoodPublicity). The former wears black wolf-themed armor (and spends his days brutally killing Apostles), the latter pure white hawk-themed armor (and is responsible for there being so many Apostles around, not to mention his betraying his entire army to the Godhand).

Evil armor is colored in dark, sinister colors, usually [[EvilWearsBlack black]] and decorated in colors associated with villainy in context of the story like {{red|is violent}} or {{secondary color|nemesis}}s. It can be reflective like it was carved from obsidian, or so rusted and aged that just putting it on could be a health hazard. They'll be covered in SpikesOfVillainy because it is meant to elicit caution in all who see at, meant to look like it is as big of a danger to their opponents as their weapons. Typically worn by {{Tin Tyrant}}s full-time or {{Evil Overlord}}s during battle. Dialed UpToEleven and that makes it ScaryImpracticalArmor. In rarer cases, the [[ArtifactOfDoom armor is cursed]] and it is what [[ArtifactDomination causes the bad behavior of the wearer]].

Heroic armor is often done in {{primary|color champion}} or [[LightIsGood bright colors]], either [[GoldAndWhiteAreDivine reflective chrome silver or the purest of gold]], [[RuleOfSymbolism their monetary wealth a reflection of their moral wealth]]. If worn by the protagonist or the king, it will have a BadassCape flowing behind them connected from the collar and embroidered by the symbol of the nation or their House. If enchanted, [[PoweredArmor the armor is capable of surviving any blow no matter how improbable and enhancing the wearer's capabilities as a fighter]], with an equally enchanted AntiArmor weapon capable of rendering it [[ArmorIsUseless useless]].

** In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'', it is revealed that Keyblade wielders are traditionally given access to what is called Keyblade Armor, a suit of InstantArmor that is shoulder mounted and can be used as both protection in battle and protection from the corrosive darkness that exists between worlds, acting as a type of protective space-suit. Aqua, Ventus, Terra and Eraqus all have their own sets of armor that reflects their own specific motifs are predominantly built for practicality. Master Xehanort on the other hand possesses armor that is meant to either emphasize his inflated sense of importance (his "No Heart" armor done in an elaborate monarch motif) or his affinity to the darkness (his armor after forging the x-blade emphasizing his SatanicArchetype role in the story).

Compare CharacterModelKarmaMeter, for when you can tell where a videogame character sits on the KarmaMeter from their appearance. Related to ArmoredVillainsUnarmoredHeroes, ColorCodedPatrician, ElementalArmor, GoodColorsEvilColors and InstantArmor.

[[folder:Live Action Film]]

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[[quoteright:350:[[ComicBook/{{Fables}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fairest_good_armor_evil_armor.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:One of the least {{Fanservice}}-y [[CatFight cat-fights]] I have ever seen... today.]]

** ''Franchise/StarWars'': In the original trilogy, the [[FacelessGoons Stormtroopers]] wear completely identical, all-white armor with a skull-like helm. In the prequels, the [[BadassArmy Clone Troopers]] sport various predecessor forms of this armor which, while still mostly white, has friendlier-looking, colorful markings and they're allowed to customize it. Their helms also resemble more Mandalorian helmets (which were based on crusader helms) than skulls, though they are shown to gradually evolve into what Stormtroopers wear, just as the clones turn from heroic soldiers to [[ManchurianAgent the villain's enforcers]].

Evil armor is colored in dark, sinister colors, usually [[EvilWearsBlack black]] and decorated in colors associated with villainy in context of the story like {{red|is violent}} or {{secondary color|nemesis}}s. It can be reflective like it was carved from obsidian, or so rusted and aged that just putting it on could be a health hazard. They'll be covered in SpikesOfVillainy because it is meant to illicit caution in all who see at, meant to look like it is as big of a danger to their opponents as their weapons. Typically worn by {{Tin Tyrant}}s full-time or {{Evil Overlord}}s during battle. Dialed UpToEleven and that makes it ScaryImpracticalArmor. In rarer cases, the [[ArtifactOfDoom armor is cursed]] and it is what [[ArtifactDomination causes the bad behavior of the wearer]].

* In the climatic final battle between the Archangel Michael and Archdemon Belura, both are clad in armor that very clearly tells which side they're fighting for.

Heroic armor is often done in [[LightIsGood bright colors]], either [[GoldAndWhiteAreDivine reflective chrome silver or the purest of gold]], [[RuleOfSymbolism their monetary wealth a reflection of their moral wealth]]. If worn by the protagonist or the king, it will have a BadassCape flowing behind them connected from the collar and embroidered by the symbol of the nation or their House. If enchanted, [[PoweredArmor the armor is capable of surviving any blow no matter how improbable and enhancing the wearer's capabilities as a fighter]], with an equally enchanted AntiArmor weapon capable of rendering it [[ArmorIsUseless useless]].

Evil armor is colored in dark, sinister colors, usually [[EvilWearsBlack black]] and decorated in colors associated with villainy in context of the story like [[RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver red]], [[GreenAndMean green]] or [[PurpleIsTheNewBlack purple]]. It can be reflective like it was carved from obsidian, or so rusted and aged that just putting it on could be a health hazard. They'll be covered in SpikesOfVillainy because it is meant to illicit caution in all who see at, meant to look like it is as big of a danger to their opponents as their weapons. Typically worn by {{Tin Tyrant}}s full-time or {{Evil Overlord}}s during battle. Dialed UpToEleven and that makes it ScaryImpracticalArmor. In rarer cases, the [[ArtifactOfDoom armor is cursed]] and it is what [[ArtifactDomination causes the bad behavior of the wearer]].

In epic {{Fantasy}} worlds, "subtlety" is forbidden from their tomes of legend. When there is a clear line between the forces of good and evil, conflict is inevitable. Conflict usually means combat and thus protection from the opponent is required. With protect comes the opportunity for CharacterAlignment-based fashion, because there is always time to look fabulous.

* Downplayed in ''WesternAnimation/{{Trollhunters}}''. The Amulet of Daylight and the armor and sword it produces in usually bathed in glowing blue and is made of a chrome silver [[HardLight daylight-based alloy]]. When he incorporates the Triumbric Stones (three stones that possess either a literal or archaic connection to the series' BigBad Gunmar) into it, the armor and sword takes on darker tones - referred to as his Eclipse Armor - becoming black with red highlights. Aside from having a different summoning phrase and being able to remain active without the amulet being connected to him, it is functionally the same as his normal armor.

Of course these prerequisites are not exactly mandatory for the trope to apply. [[DarkIsNotEvil The hero can wear dark, battered armor]] and [[LightIsNotGood the rich villain could have saved a pretty petty for a shiny suit adorned with flowers and feathers]]. Inversions and subversions are as likely, just as long as symbolism can be drawn from the disparity.

In epic {{Fantasy}} worlds, "subtly" is forbidden from their tomes of legend. When there is a clear line between the forces of good and evil, conflict is inevitable. Conflict usually means combat and thus protection from the opponent is required. With protect comes the opportunity for CharacterAlignment-based fashion, because there is always time to look fabulous.