History Main / GracefulLoser

** Sergey Volkov in ''Anime/YuGiOhArcV'' reacts to losing to Jack Atlas this way. Moved by Jack's dedication to his Scarlight Red Dragon Archfiend, Sergey actively lets himself fall off of the racecourse, bidding Jack farewell.

* LetsPlay/PartyCrashers: When Vernias and Sophist win ''VideoGame/MarioParty1''[='=]s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA5bs6NHQHM Wario's Battle Canyon]] and ''VideoGame/MarioParty3''[='=]s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyWk-1CcBSo Woody Woods]] respectively, Brent takes it rather well, as they've never won those games before.

* In ''WebVideo/PositivelyDreadful''. when [[VideoGame/GhostbustersTheVideoGame Sideburns and the Ghostbusters are killed in battle,]] he's not happy about it, but instead of whining, he just tells the others to get in the trap.

* ''LetsPlay/{{Dream}}:'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oySp75huAp8 In the grand finale explanation video,]] [=BadBoyHalo=] congratulates Dream for winning, and the hunters made him a golden cup filled with lava. It was originally going to be for the hunters since they thought they were going to win, but repurposed it for Dream.

** When [[HotBlooded Bazz-B]] finally gets [[WeUseToBeFriends Haschwalth]] to fight back against him, [[CurbStompBattle the latter takes a few seconds at most to defeat him]]. Right before collapsing from his injuries, Bazz-B admits defeat and muses to Haschwalth that he had expected his defeat at the latter's hands to sting a little more.

* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14223068/2/A-Savage-Nature A Savage Nature]]'': Upon realizing he's going to lose their [[DuelToTheDeath Mak'gora]], Grom Hellscream tells his opponent that he'll be a strong leader of the Warsong once he's dead.

* Golfer Roberto DeVicenzo was this in the 1968 Masters Tournament at Augusta National, when he was denied a playoff with Bob Goalby on the technicality of having a higher number of strokes put down on his card on one hole than what he actually had (the error was on the 17th hole, a par-4, and Roberto's playing partner Tommy Aaron marked Roberto for a par-4 there, instead of the birdie-3 that Roberto actually had; Roberto was unaware of the error, and signed the card, and this made that 4 his official 17th hole final-round score, instead of the 3 [Roberto, quite famously, called himself "a stupid" for not noticing the error prior to signing the card]). Roberto, however, was very much this trope in defeat and accepted his loss to Goalby, and this would make him one of the most sportsmanlike players in the game of golf.

-->[[spoiler: Sejanus]] looked up at last. Then, with a little effort, he shrugged, like a man who has lost a bet on a footrace or dice roll. Accepting a shattering defeat with some dignity intact he was more likable than he ever had been in the past. [...] He saluted the king. "Basileus" he said, using the archaic term for the fabled princes of the ancient world.
* ''Literature/TheSapphireRose'': Martel takes being beaten [[spoiler:(and killed)]] by Sparhawk with dignity. Sparhawk acknowledges this by bringing Sephrenia over so Martel can [[spoiler:die in the presence of those he loved most]].

*** At the end of the duology, [[spoiler:the Moff's plot comes unraveled. The Moff himself is ''not'' this trope, but one of his partners in crime, Flim -- whose role was primarily as the one who would impersonate the legendary Grand Admiral Thrawn -- reacts calmly to the news, and even helps to smoothly resolve the situation by giving one last speech in-character as Thrawn]].

* ''Literature/TeenPowerInc'': The main culprit in ''[[spoiler:Dangerous Game]]'' is clearly impressed and not really mad after hearing the narrator's summation and being exposed as a smuggler. He even pays the gang for the work they did before learning he was a crook.

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E7AmysChoice "Amy's Choice"]], after our heroes have worked their way through his dream trap, the Dream Lord gracefully admits defeat and accepts his end of the bargain, saving their lives and fading away. [[spoiler:It's a subversion; when he leaves them, they're still trapped in his dream trap, and this is just his way of trying to fool them.]]

* This is the main thing that separates the grifters from their marks on ''Series/{{Hustle}}''. Mickey especially doesn't seem to mind that much whenever he himself has been conned. A notable example is when [[spoiler: the two future halves of the team con each other thanks to manipulations by Albert]] at the beginning of Season 5 and none of them seem to mind. They have the same reaction against [[spoiler: Richard Chamberlain's]] character when he beats them as they are happy to have seen a true master at the game. By contrast, whenever a mark loses, they tend to scream, yell, and throw tantrums. Mickey often says his motivation for taking down a mark is to see if they can dish it out as well as take it, and he apparently holds himself to that.
* ''Series/{{JAG}}'': In "Pilot Error", once presented with solid evidence that the autopilot system may have in fact malfunctioned [[spoiler: due to not being designed with the abuse of Navy carrier landings in mind]], the Macroplex executive accepts this and promises to have the newly discovered flaws corrected.
* Near the end of ''Series/KamenRiderExAid'', [[spoiler:After Graphite is defeated by the combined might of Hiiro and Taiga, he laughs and says it was the best fight he's ever had. When [[BigBad Masamune Dan]] tries to rescue him (not because they were allies, but because he needs Graphite alive for his plans) he actually fights back, declaring that the heroes won fair and square and that he won't let Masamune tarnish the sanctity of their battle. He says his goodbyes to his fellow Bugsters, thanks the Riders for letting him fulfill his role as a video game's FinalBoss, then throws himself into the path of Nico's FinishingMove]].

* In the sample adventure for ''TabletopGame/SpiritOfTheCentury'' [[spoiler:the book suggests that should the characters convince the council running the scientific awards that Dr. Methusala is a threat, or is otherwise a liability, he will leave at their behest. Of course, he'll also be rather miffed, and when Dr. Methusala gets miffed, people cease to ever have been]].

* In ''Theatre/OnceOnThisIsland'', "sly demon of death" Papa Ge, despite being nothing but smug and cruel for the entirety of the story, is mentioned as specifically being gentle when [[spoiler:he carries Ti Moune's corpse back to shore after she drowns herself. This despite him having quite thoroughly lost his bet with Erzulie that death would triumph over love]].

** In case 1-3 (Turnabout Samurai) of ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'', the killer [[spoiler:Dee Vasquez]], upon being discovered in full in court by Phoenix, chooses not to go into a grand FreakOut like so many other murderers do, (though [[spoiler:she does snap her pipe in half in anger first,]]) but to simply congratulate Phoenix for his efforts and quietly admit guilt.
** [[spoiler:Damon Gant]] of the bonus case counts as well. [[spoiler:When he's finally taken down for the shit he's pulled, he bursts into emphatic laughter and extremely fast clapping out of madness. Afterwards, he calms down, apologizes to the Judge for being unable to make their later appointment, and even admits that the justice system is in good hands with Phoenix and Edgeworth.]]
** [[spoiler:Acro/Ken Dingaling]] would qualify. When you finally present irrefutable evidence that [[spoiler: he]] was the [[spoiler:([[MurderByMistake unintentional]])]] killer of ringmaster Russel Berry, [[spoiler: he]] simply congratulates you for figuring it out. [[spoiler:Acro/Ken]] even congratulates Franziska for her performance. The last bit, though, cements [[spoiler: his]] place as a SympatheticMurderer:
---> [[spoiler:Acro/Ken Dingaling]]: No. I'm not a victim. ''([[TearsOfRemorse tears start flowing,]] all while keeping a genuine smile)'' I'm nothing but a murderer.
** [[spoiler:Godot, aka Diego Armando]]. When he finally gets nailed by Phoenix at the end of [[spoiler:the last case of ''Trials and Tribulations'']], he freely admits his guilt in the death of [[spoiler:Elise Deauxnim, aka Misty Fey]], and even [[spoiler:shares his last cup of coffee with Phoenix, the guy he'd been constantly disparaging since case 3-2]]. It's hinted, though, that on some level he ''wanted'' to be caught: he drops little hints throughout that eventually help Phoenix reach the correct conclusion. It's also hinted that he's not going to live very long anyway due to fragile health.
** Klavier Gavin is a non-culprit example. Previous prosecutors tended to get upset when Phoenix wins in court; Miles Edgeworth and Franziska von Karma due to [[EvilMentor Manfred von Karma]] indoctrinating them in his 'win-at-all-costs' philosophy, and Godot because [[spoiler:he had a grudge against Phoenix and was prosecuting mostly to see him lose]]. Klavier, on the other hand, doesn't care if he loses, so long as Apollo makes a convincing argument that the defendant really ''isn't'' guilty.

* ''VideoGame/AxiomVerge'': [[spoiler:[[BigBad Athetos]] takes his defeat pretty well and accepts that Elsenova is about to kill him, and tells Trace (by this point revealed to be a clone of Athetos) not to blame himself for his progenitor's actions]].
* In ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'', every major boss leaves with the line "May Jubileus, the Creator, grace you!" [[spoiler:Subverted in that the "Grace" of Jubileus involves annihilating all of existence, meaning the line is essentially an overly-polite "SeeYouInHell!"]]
* A particularly odd example occurs in ''VideoGame/{{BioShock|1}}'': [[spoiler:Once you finally confront Andrew Ryan, he exploits your sleeper agent code words to take control of you, then makes you kill him anyway, just because he'd rather die on his own terms]]. It is also possible that he did so because he realized that [[spoiler:you are actually his own mind-controlled son.]]

** In ''VideoGame/Bomberman64'', Regulus compliments Bomberman for defeating him in battle and even aids him in the final fight against [[spoiler:Sirus]]. Regulus will continue to be this way in ''Bomberman 64: The Second Attack'',

* ''VideoGame/CelestialHearts'': The boss of the Depths is [[spoiler:Silnastra, who wants Malady's Grimoire. When the party defeats her, she relents and lets them keep the book while maintaining their alliance against Lilth]].

*** Surprisingly, even [[spoiler:[[BigBad Velo]] does that with Team Bandicoot after he's defeated for the second time and his real form is exposed, letting them his empire and his scepter. However, Crash gives him his scepter back, thinking that ruling an empire would be quickly boring, and Crunch tells him they only want Earth to be free of danger and get back home.]]
* In ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaTriggerHappyHavoc'', [[spoiler:Celestia Ludenberg]] has just been found guilty and is about to be executed. They also know about a secret that, if revealed to Monokuma, would destroy any hope the other survivors have of escape. However, they instead decide to be purposefully vague during their MotiveRant, keeping the secret and wishing the others goodbye as they're led to their execution.
-->'''[[spoiler:Celestia]]:''' Well then, take care everyone. Perhaps we'll meet again, in another life.

** When finally defeated, [[spoiler:Lady Luck's reaction is [[ThisCannotBe disbelief]]... and utter joy, because it's the first time she's been shocked.]]

* In ''VisualNovel/DiesIrae'', [[spoiler:upon his defeat in Marie's route, the BigBad Reinhard Heydrich sings his praises to the main character Ren for defeating him, telling him to hold his head high. He departs the world with no regrets and gives Ren his blessing]].
* In ''VideoGame/{{Dishonored}}'', [[spoiler:[[ProfessionalKiller Daud]]]], assuming you choose to openly challenge and defeat him, accepts defeat with admirable grace and composure, and tells [[PlayerCharacter Corvo]] that his fate is now up to him. The player can choose whether to slit his throat or grant him mercy.

* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' has [[spoiler: Teyrn Loghain]], after being [[DuelBoss defeated in single combat]] with the player or a party member, submitting to the player's justice -- whether that justice is cutting off his head, [[spoiler: letting Alistair take his revenge]], or [[spoiler: turning him into a Grey Warden and having him [[RedemptionEqualsDeath sacrifice himself to kill the Archdemon]]]].

** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]'''s ''Shivering Isles'' expansion, [[BigBad Jyggalag]] treats the player rather politely upon defeat, especially since [[spoiler:he is ''counting on'' the [[PlayerCharacter Champion of Cyrodiil]] defeating him so that they could both break the [[ViciousCycle cycle of the Greymarch]] and the Champion could become [[MadGod Sheogorath]]]].

** In ''VideoGame/Persona5'', the first Palace Ruler Kamoshida accepts his defeat after it becomes clear that the Phantom Thieves have bested him, returning to his "true self" and facilitating the real-world Kamoshida's change of heart. It occurs again with the seventh Palace Ruler, Shido, who accepts his defeat graciously and even apologizes to the PlayerCharacter for having had him arrested in the first place. Although the real world Shido {{subvert|edTrope}}s this; when he realizes the Thieves bested his Shadow, he attempts one last-ditch effort to kill them and prevent his change of heart. Finally, the TrueFinalBoss Yaldabaoth's last words calmly acknowledge the power that put him down, the desire of the masses, is greater than his own; it's implied that since he was also born of the masses' subconscious desires, he understands he's not wanted anymore]].

** [[TheDon Giovanni]] in ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'' gets angry when you beat him twice over the course of the game, but when you beat him in the final gym]], he instead compliments your skill and thanks you for a wonderful fight. He then declares that Team Rocket is finished forever and he'll dedicate his life to studying Pokemon. [[SubvertedTrope This turns out to be a complete lie]] in the remakes of ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'' where Giovanni is planning to get Team Rocket back together and manages to actually do so several games later. Though when he is beaten in the Celebi event, [[DoubleSubversion he accepts defeat for real.]]

** Her grudge against [[EmotionlessGirl Nano]] stems not from Nano defeating her in a beauty pageant (which she handled gracefully), but from Nano's callous refusal of Mimimi's offer to be friends afterwards. After some hi-jinks, Nano (who has since undergone CharacterDevelopment from joining Rentarou's harem) apologizes and asks to be friends, and Mimimi is content to let bygones be bygones. Later, Mimimi challenges Nano to a redo of the beauty pageant at their old junior high not because she wants to defeat her, but because she realizes that Nano feels guilty about how she'd handled the situation before. [[spoiler:When it results in a draw, Mimimi ultimately comes to the conclusion that since that spurning pushed her to make herself even more beautiful, she actually ought to thank Nano for it.]]

* Subverted by Trinidad's past in ''Manga/BattleAngelAlita''. The bad guy leaves a recording of something that matches this trope. [[spoiler: While the REAL him is busy pleading for his life, and begging, in utter terror. The recording of the villain, while leaving Trinidad instructions for a MyDeathIsJustTheBeginning plan, admits that he wouldn't have the courage to go through with the plan in the clutch.]]

** [[spoiler:Charlotte and Edorad]] in their respective debut arcs. Their last words are either a compliment to the rival's strength and resolve ([[spoiler:Charlotte, towards Yumichika]]) or being glad to know the name of the one who defeated them ([[spoiler:Edorad, to Ikkaku]]).
** Dordoni initially takes his loss to Ichigo with calm and grace after finally forcing him to fight [[SuperMode with his Bankai and his Hollow mask]]. Then it's {{subverted|trope}} when he tries to ambush Ichigo while his guard is down [[UngratefulBastard and calls him a fool for sparing his life and having Nel heal him]]. [[spoiler:Then it's DoubleSubverted when, after Ichigo leaves, it's revealed that Dordoni deliberately played it up in order to make Ichigo leave before the [[InternalDeathSquad Exequias]] could catch him, and once they show up [[YouShallNotPass prepares to hold them off at the cost of his own life]]. [[WhatYouAreInTheDark With his final thoughts]] he [[VillainRespect commends Ichigo for his warrior code]], but [[VirtueIsWeakness chides him for showing mercy to his enemies]] in Las Noches, a place where [[TheSocialDarwinist doing such a thing will only get you killed]], and urges him to become like a demon if he wants to survive.]]

* ''Anime/BloodPlus'' has the final battle with [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds Diva]]. [[spoiler: Before she dies, her one last wish is to hold her children and finally tosses away all the negative feelings she has for [[TheHero Saya]]. [[TheManBehindTheMan Amshel]] [[TrueFinalBoss Goldsmith]] [[SubvertedTrope on the]] [[TakingYouWithMe other hand]]]]...

** Though initially upset that her plan has been ruined, Anko is ultimately left with no choice but to admit defeat. [[spoiler:At least, [[DrivenToSuicide until she tries to shoot herself]]...]]

** Susuki, for her part, initially breaks into InelegantBlubbering after [[spoiler:Yamori]] defeats her. Once she calms down, she reveals that [[BestHerToBedHer she's fallen in love with him]] for [[DefeatingTheUndefeatable being the first person to defeat her in a fight]].

* Rigardo in ''{{Manga/Claymore}}'' becomes this to Clare, admiring her sheer willpower and resolve before [[spoiler:being torn apart by her [[OneWingedAngel half-awakened]] [[SuperPoweredEvilSide form]] during her RoaringRampageOfRevenge]].
* In ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'', during the Infinite Castle arc's most heated battles, [[spoiler:when Akaza is finally free of Muzan's influence due to the workings of all his long-dead loved ones' spirits still trying to reach the human Hakuji buried deep inside the demon Akaza, he ceases all his bloodlust for winning against Tanjiro and Giyu, forcing himself to stop regenerating, reasoning that Tanjiro's Transparent World attack was the pinnacle of martial arts so he should have been killed by it if he hadn't "cheated" by overcoming death through decapitation by a nichirin blade. That's a far cry from his desperation to survive lest the sun burnt him down way back against Rengoku]].

* ''Anime/FairyTail'': In the Grand Magic Games, the members of [[spoiler:Sabertooth]] guild take their defeat quite well, except for [[spoiler:Minerva]].
* ''Literature/TheFamiliarOfZero'' builds a load of SupportingHarem for Saito, most of which are [[ClingyJealousGirl Clingy Jealous Girls]]. Surprisingly enough, when Saito eventually marries [[spoiler: the heroine Louise]] at the end of the series, not only they attend the wedding, but they also look very happy.

*** A significant part of several characters' ([[spoiler:Erina, Alice, Mimasaka, Akira, and to some extent Eishi]]) CharacterDevelopment is based around them learning to accept that for all their skills and special talents, they aren't untouchable.

** [[spoiler:Maho and, surprisingly enough, ''[[JerkAss Erika]]'' of all people from Black Forest. The former seems to welcome her defeat since it means her younger sister Miho has found a style of tankery different from the Nishizumi School but valid on its own merits. The latter comes off as fairly surprising, especially since she had grown upset over Oarai's pulling unpredictable moves on them and getting out of seemingly hopeless situations, but she promises with a smile that Black Forest won't lose the next tournament.]]
** Miho herself, at two separate points. [[spoiler:After losing to St. Gloriana in a practice battle in the anime, and after losing to her sister and a few of their mother's students in ''Little Army'']]

* ''Manga/HoshinEngi'': [[spoiler: Chou Koumei]] thanks Taikobo for his final battle as he departs to the Houshindai.

*** Upon realizing he's dead in the manga, [[spoiler: Kira doesn't seem too bothered by it. He even says that he might be content living his life as a ghost. Unfortunately for him, Reimi makes sure [[DraggedOffToHell he won't get off that easy.]]]]
** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStoneOcean Stone Ocean]]'': After his loss, Rikiel is more than willing to spill everything he knows, including the fact that [[spoiler:Weather Report is Pucci's twin brother]].

* A subversion occurs in ''Manga/KenichiTheMightiestDisciple'': [[spoiler:Silcardo Junazard, having been [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice fatally impaled]] by Akira Hongo, openly acknowledges his opponent's status as the {{Determinator}} of martial arts and asks to see the man's face up close. However, Hongo bounds backwards instead, knowing that Junazard would take the opportunity to [[TakingYouWithMe deliver a fatal blow to him despite being on the verge of death himself]]]].
** Played straight with Thor of Ragnarok. After being defeated fairly by Kenichi according to the rules of sumo, he acknowledges his defeat, prevents his subordinates from attacking the weakened Kenichi, and upholds his end of the bargain. [[spoiler:He soon pulls a HeelFaceTurn on top of all that after realizing the other members of Ragnarok weren't that honorable and would have attacked him.]]

* The Big Bad of ''Anime/MacrossFrontier'', [[spoiler: Grace O'Connor, did rant and rave about her plan coming apart only because it took her many years to work out, but realizing that she was going to die, accepted her defeat with a sigh and a grin, knowing that her adversaries earned a hard-fought victory]].

* [[MadScientist Jail Scaglietti]] flashes a GrinOfAudacity just before Fate sends him flying with the flat end of her BFS near the end of ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers''. When Ginga and [[spoiler:[[HeelFaceTurn Cinque]]]] [[ConsultingAConvictedKiller visit him]] in ''AudioPlay/StrikersSoundStageX'', he's content being in prison.
* Surprisingly, [[spoiler:Kumagawa]] in ''Manga/MedakaBox'' acts like this after losing to Medaka. [[spoiler:It helps that she was willingly BroughtDownToNormal, stripping her of all her superhuman powers and physical abilities, meaning that it was a fight he actually had a chance to win -- so he has no hard feelings when he doesn't. This is part of the reason Kumagawa is able to make a HeelFaceTurn, since losing fair and square allows him to let go of his resentment.]]
* ''Anime/MegaloBox'': [[spoiler:Aragaki, Yukio and Yuri]] all take their losses fairly well. [[spoiler:Aragaki got closure out of [[TheLastDance his last boxing match]], Yukio got a feel for what it means to be a 'boxer' and not just an engineer with a boxing machine doing the fighting, and Yuri is happy he was able to find and go all-out against a WorthyOpponent [[CareerEndingInjury even if it cost him his health and career]].]]

** The battle between the [[EvilVersusEvil League of Villains and the Meta Liberation Army]], and the duel between the leaders of the respective organizations, Shigaraki and Re-Destro, ends with [[spoiler: a large number of the MLA's forces killed, their home base absolutely devastated, Re-Destro forced to cut off his feet to avoid being disintegrated, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and on top of all this]], Shigaraki points out this was all Re-Destro's fault in the first place for forcing the League to come fight the MLA when they wanted nothing to do with him. Re-Destro gives a weary smile, [[KnowWhenToFoldEm calls off his forces]], and tells Shigaraki if he wants to kill him, then get it over with, before bowing to him and telling him the entirety of the MLA is his to command]].

** [[spoiler:Chao]] arranged for her {{Masquerade}}-breaking spell to be changed if she lost to Negi. This proved a good thing, as Negi was too exhausted to take out her accomplices.

** Katakuri accepts his defeat at Luffy's hands with complete grace. Having come to see Luffy as a true WorthyOpponent, his response to losing the fight is to praise and encourage his ambitions to be Pirate King before passing out. Luffy, for his part, is so impressed by Katakuri's [[VillainousValour courage and skill]] that he [[spoiler:leaves his mafia cap on Katakuri's unconscious body to both preserve his dignity (covering his deformed mouth) and demonstrate his respect]].

** Speaking of Paul, he takes his [[spoiler:loss against Ash during the Sinnoh League pretty well]]. Instead of blaming his loss on the Pokemon he used as he did previously, he actually ''thanked'' his Electivire for a job well done and was about to compliment Infernape.

* In ''Anime/{{Redline}}'', after [[spoiler: JP and Sonoshee]] manage to win the eponymous race, every other contestant is still pretty satisfied to just have participated in the race and witnessed somebody pass the finish line up close. Even Machinehead, who was just trash-talking them seconds ago and has his winning streak broken by this loss is happy to have been beaten by a WorthyOpponent.

* In the second ''Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato'' movie, Dessler is this trope after [[spoiler: he is seriously injured in combat and faces down WorthyOpponent Kodai. He tells Kodai the secret to defeating Comet's and commits suicide]].

* Both {{Big Bad}}s of ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann''. [[spoiler:Lordgenome gives a cryptic warning for the future, and the Anti-Spiral asks Simon to protect the Universe. It helps that both were [[WellIntentionedExtremist well-intentioned extremists]], albeit particularly brutal ones.]]
* Surprisingly enough, [[spoiler:Tommyrod]] in ''Manga/{{Toriko}}'', despite being an utterly monstrous villain who went into a VillainousBreakdown the first time he was badly injured and beaten, goes out this way when he is KilledOffForReal. [[spoiler:In his last thoughts before Sunny obliterates him, Tommyrod admits that he enjoyed their fight.]]

** In the penultimate chapter, Yaiba wins against [[spoiler: Onimaru]] and successfully wins the Oda Nobunaga Tournament. Not a single one of the tycoon and [=VIP=] present there bet on his success, and yet, as he's carried out of the arena, several men actually stand up to thank him for such an entertaining battle, complimenting his victory and encouraging him.

* At the end of ''ComicBook/AgeOfXMan'', Nate Grey (the titular [[Characters/MarvelComicsXMan X-Man]]) realises that he was wrong about the concept of relationships of any kind being a bad thing and that in fact, connections to other people are part of what make us human. This is thanks to a mixture of slowly dawning realisation, developing hatred of the MindRape involved in maintaining the ''[[CrapsaccharineWorld Age of X-Man]]'', and being whacked in the face with the fact that he's NotSoAboveItAll by [[spoiler: a subconsciously created copy of his ex-girlfriend, Dani Moonstar]]. Accordingly, he restores the X-Men's memories and lets them go. Given that he was [[WellIntentionedExtremist actually trying to]] ''[[WellIntentionedExtremist help]]'' [[WellIntentionedExtremist them]] (by breaking [[TheoryOfNarrativeCausality the endless cycle of conflict they're trapped in]]) and the X-Men admitted that he had some very good points, while he ended up reforming the AOX after they left ('no secret police' was the first change), it's debatable how much he actually lost.

** This is zigzagged in [[ComicBook/BatmanAndSpiderManNewAgeDawning the second]] ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}''[=/=]''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' {{crossover}}. [[spoiler:When [[Characters/BatmanRasAlGhul Ra's Al-Ghul]] realizes he's been OutGambitted by [[Characters/MarvelComicsTheKingpin The Kingpin]], who had been working with Spidey (opposed to Ra's himself) he ''laughs his head off'' and congratulates him for his cleverness, then tells Fisk and the heroes they can leave his stronghold unmolested. ''However'', he then tells Fisk that the cure for his wife he had promised doesn't actually exist, and the two heroes have to hold the big man back. (Ra's is lying; the cure does exist, and if not for [[Characters/BatmanTaliaAlGhul Talia]], she wouldn't have gotten it.)]] Further zigzagged when Batman tells Spider-Man that they better let Ra's be a KarmaHoudini or they won't survive long enough to leave while in ''his'' domain.

* In ''ComicBook/PS238'', [[CaptainPatriotic USA Patriot Act and American Eagle]] are [[PatrioticFervor so dedicated to democracy]] that they gracefully accept [[spoiler:[[DarkHorseVictory Tyler]]]] beating them in the class election.

** Dr. Destiny [[spoiler:after he botches it up all by himself]].

* ''Fanfic/AllAssortedAnimorphsAUs'': In "What if Tom was infested by a member of the Yeerk Peace Movement?", Visser One calmly accepts arrest for her treachery when the Council of Thirteen arrive. [[spoiler:Or she would have, if Rachel hadn't killed her.]]

** Havoc, Discord's father, actually proves very different than his son in regards to how he takes his losses. The only time he ever acted like a SoreLoser was quickly subverted and revealed to have been him ''pretending'' to have a meltdown [[ItAmusedMe because he thought it was funny]], and he is completely accepting that his side lost the Alicorn/Draconequi War. [[spoiler:In part because the war hurt his side far more than the reason they were fighting ever did.]]

** [[spoiler:[[TheDragon General Hercules Beetle]]]] takes his defeat very well, even congratulating the ones who beat him for being able to do so. Justified, as [[spoiler:Hercules never really believed in the Changelings invasion to begin with and was only fighting out of UndyingLoyalty to Queen Chrysalis, otherwise being a NobleDemon]].

* In ''Fanfic/ThisBites'', Foxy is surprisingly accepting about having to be a Straw Hat. [[spoiler:Or so he thinks]].
* ''WebAnimation/TurnaboutStorm'' [[ZigZaggingTrope zig-zags it]]. [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Trixie]] is angered by the resolution of the trial, something she makes clear in the {{Denouement}}. But the way [[Franchise/AceAttorney Phoenix Wright]] manages to uncover the actual truth of the night of the murder leaves her humbled. [[spoiler:It's not just that Phoenix gets Rainbow Dash proven not guilty; it's that [[SaveTheVillain he also proves that Sonata, who believes that she is the murderer because of her actions, isn't the murderer either]], despite her given a heartfelt HeelRealization over what she's done.]] After the truth is revealed, Trixie is [[StunnedSilence momentarily stunned into silence]] before just calling it quits. However, after the trial, she is too angry to speak and smacks Phoenix on the head, taking a while to cool down.

* Zig-zagged with Xibalba in ''WesternAnimation/TheBookOfLife''. [[spoiler:He does his best to stack the deck and shave the dice to win his bet with La Muerta, to the point that he would rather kill Manolo than lose his wager. But he then honored (albeit grudgingly) his second wager when Manolo won.]]
* During the Piston Cup tiebreaker race in ''WesternAnimation/Cars1'', [[spoiler:Lightning [=McQueen=] stops right before the finish line once he witnesses the King crashing, and goes off to help him finish his last race, letting Chick Hicks (who caused the King to crash) win the race. While Chick is booed off the podium for cheating, [=McQueen=] is recognized as the real winner for helping the King finish the race, and Tex, the owner of the King's sponsor Dinoco, gives him an offer to race for them. [=McQueen=] turns the offer down, preferring to stick with his old sponsor, Rust-eze, but he does allow his friend Mater to ride in Dinoco's helicopter.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/IsleOfDogs'': Once Mayor Kobayashi's plot to kill all of the city's dogs comes to light, [[spoiler: he and other members of his council go to prison. He offers no complaints.]]

* Played with in ''WesternAnimation/PussInBootsTheLastWish'': Upon seeing Puss's newfound resolve to preserve his last life and respect for death, [[spoiler:TheGrimReaper in the form of a red-eyed wolf, briefly throws a tantrum and curses in Spanish, angry at Puss for "ruining his fun" because he wanted to hunt down "an arrogant legend who thought he was immortal." However Death quickly calms down and walks away, saying that they'll meet again. Puss acknowledging this fact makes Death smile, satisfied that Puss truly isn't that arrogant legend anymore, and Death leaves without any further trouble.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rango}}'': After he's outsmarted and beaten, [[spoiler:Rattlesnake Jake simply [[VillainRespect acknowledges Rango as a great gunslinger]] and departs peacefully]].

* At the end of ''WesternAnimation/TheRescuersDownUnder'', [[spoiler:Bernard finally works up the courage to ask Bianca to marry him. Jake -- who has been flirting with Bianca since they got to Australia -- just gives him a thumbs up and says "Well done, mate."]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheTwelveTasksOfAsterix'', [[spoiler:Caesar admits defeat, surrenders his empire, and ''retires in the countryside with UsefulNotes/{{Cleopatra|VII}}''.]]

* [[spoiler: Wadsworth]], in ''Film/{{Clue}}'', congratulates his killer on their shooting skills.

* [[spoiler: Jackie]] in the 1978 production of ''[[Film/DeathOnTheNile1978 Death on the Nile]]''. After [[Literature/HerculePoirot Poirot]] soundly exposes their murder plot [[spoiler: and Simon is having his VillainousBreakdown Jackie]] gives the motive speech and sincerely apologizes to Poirot for [[spoiler: drugging him]].

* In ''Film/DirtyRottenScoundrels'', [[spoiler: Lawrence]] intends to be this when it looks like [[spoiler: Freddy]] has won their wager. He later proves he is one and has a good laugh when it turns out that [[spoiler: Janet]] has played them both. [[spoiler: Freddy]], not so much.

* In the climax of ''Film/EnemyAtTheGates'', [[spoiler:after shooting Danilov under the impression that he was Vassili, Konig leaves his cover to inspect the body only to be ambushed by Vassili, who takes aim at him from about 40 feet away. Konig slowly turns, looks at Vassili, and takes off his hat to give him a clean shot, which he promptly takes.]]
* In ''Film/EscapePlan'', [[spoiler: Hobbs' reaction to his impending death is a simple smirk and a "hmph"]].

* ''Film/InBruges'': Harry reluctantly [[spoiler:takes his own life]] when realizing he was damned by his principles.

* ''Film/KickingAndScreaming'': [[spoiler:Buck holds no hard feelings over losing the championship]].

** Also [[spoiler: O-Ren Ishii]], who first apologizes to her killer for not taking her seriously, and when given the last blow she muses with admiration about how the weapon that [[spoiler: scalps her]] is ''truly a Hattori Hanzou katana''.

-->'''Aunty:''' [[spoiler:Well. [[NotSoDifferentRemark Ain't we a pair]], raggedy man. [laughs as she walks away] Goodbye, soldier.]]

** [[spoiler:[[BigBad Loki]]]] in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}''. Conclusively defeated, surrounded by all of the Avengers, and Hawkeye's got an arrow aimed point-blank at him. His response?
--->[[spoiler:'''Loki:''' [[BrickJoke If it's all the same to you]], [[INeedAFreakingDrink I'll have that drink now.]]]]
** ''Film/{{Guardians of the Galaxy|2014}}'': When Yondu [[spoiler:sees that Peter faked him out and gave him a troll figurine instead of an Infinity Stone,]] he ''[[ActuallyPrettyFunny laughs]]''. Considering his predilection for knick-knacks to stick on his command chair, [[spoiler:it was probably an adequate consolation prize in any case]].
** ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'': When the cops capture Vulture, he merely grins in amusement [[spoiler:and [[SecretKeeper keeps Spidey's identity to himself]] out of gratitude for saving both his daughter and him]].

** ''Film/AvengersEndgame:'' Once it became clear he was defeated for real, [[spoiler:Thanos]] doesn't say a thing or try to take anybody with him. Instead, he closes his eyes and sits down [[spoiler:before disintegrating away]]. Whether this counts is debatable, as he doesn't seem to be doing so out of grace but out of [[VillainousBSOD utter despair]], as [[AlasPoorVillain he is fully aware that he has lost everything and knows that it is futile to resist the inevitable]].
** At the end of ''Film/{{Eternals}}'', Arishem [[spoiler:appears next to Earth and takes the remaining Eternals. He's upset with them for going against their mission to allow Tiamut to be birthed, but rather than destroy Earth or otherwise punish the Eternals, he just takes them away for judgment]].

* At the end of ''Film/{{Spectre}}'', [[spoiler: Blofeld]] seems to accept his capture at the hands of M with resignation.
* In the finale of the 2018 Russian WWII film, ''Film/{{T34}}'', there is a tank duel between the two sides. [[spoiler:Hanging precariously over the side of a bridge on his Panther tank, a defeated [[BigBad Klaus]] takes the helping hand of Nikolay.... only to shake it and give him a [[VillainRespect last nod of acceptance]], before finally letting go and falling over the side alongside his tank.]]

* Subverted in ''Film/TheWorldsEnd''. [[spoiler:The Network initially seems to be willing to leave, if not in good grace at least with a minimum of fuss. Then it spitefully knocks out human technology on the way out.]]
* In ''Film/XMenApocalypse'', after [[VillainExitStageLeft an attempt at escaping]] goes wrong, [[spoiler:Apocalypse suffers a VillainousBreakdown and once he sees the full power of the Phoenix about to be unleashed upon him, doesn't make any further attempt to fight back. Instead, he just [[WowingCthulhu basks in awe]], and cryptically remarks, "All is revealed."]]

* In ''{{Literature/Animorphs}}'' [[spoiler: Visser One (the former Visser Three)]] responds in this fashion after being defeated and captured in [[spoiler: book 53. Which is kind of odd considering his psychopathic behavior during his lesser defeats]].

** When Duke Frederick Steiner is confronted with the evidence of his involvement in a plot to topple his cousin Katrina and establish himself as Archon of the Lyran Commonwealth (involving an assassination attempt that he did ''not'' know about and would not have condoned), he acknowledges his defeat, accepts a suicide mission on the condition that the troops he takes along not be thrown away merely for their association with him, and indeed does not return. [[spoiler:He does survive, but effectively vanishes for over twenty years before appearing again in a somewhat more heroic role...in the ''Blood of Kerensky'' trilogy, and under a different name.]]

* In ''Literature/TheHeartsWeSold'', the Daemon handles it remarkably well when [[spoiler:Dee and James game the system to get Dee out of her contract early. He simply lets Dee go, commenting on how clever the gambit was and noting that he didn't see that coming. He even turns up to see Dee at the end, apparently just to check on her]].

* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': Both Gale Hawthorne and Peeta Mellark are rivals for Katniss's affection. In ''Mockingjay'', Katniss overhears them speaking privately. Peeta [[spoiler:has more or less always believed Gale is the one Katniss loves and, if anything, seems apologetic that he got between them]]. Gale [[spoiler:has gotten over his previous jealousy and realized Katniss really loves Peeta. He doesn't seem to have any hard feelings towards Peeta, whom Katniss loves despite him trying to kill her twice (ItMakesSenseInContext)]]. Towards the end of the book, [[spoiler:Gale doesn't seem to be all that upset when he knows for sure that Katniss will choose to be alone if she can't be with Peeta]].
* ''Literature/TheHomestarRunnerEntersTheStrongestManInTheWorldContest'': [[spoiler:The Homestar Runner was okay with losing]] because cheating Strong Bad didn't win either. [[spoiler:And Pom-Pom was nice enough to share the trophy.]]
* Creator/MatthewReilly's ''Literature/HoverCarRacer'': Alessandro Romba, the veteran hover car racer on the cusp of a historic Grand Slam, congratulates Jason on a good race when [[spoiler:he wins the Masters championship]], and tells him to go celebrate.

* Creator/NgaioMarsh's ''Literature/LightThickens'': When found, the killer tells the police he was expecting them, and calmly and politely confesses the whole crime to them, [[spoiler:only asking that they take care not to lose the letters in his possession. His final letter to child actor William Smith, accompanying his gifts, even reads "Regrettably, I shall not be at liberty to teach you but Mr. Simon Morten will, no doubt, be glad to do so..."]]

%%** Deadspawn when [[spoiler: he manages to vampirise hero Harry Keogh and tries a GrandTheftMe on him before being cast into oblivion]]. %%How was he graceful? How did he lose?

*** At the end of the [[MurderInc Dark Brotherhood]] questline, [[spoiler:the Emperor]] accepts his inevitable death, even observing that it's the natural order of things and that his commander who tried to stop you was a fool for trying. His only concession is a request for you to kill the man that hired you in the first place. Regardless, after that he'll wait for you to finish the deed with complete grace.
*** Alternatively, if you choose to kill [[spoiler:Astrid]] during the quest ''With Friends Like These'', they utter the words, "Well done." to you, implying this trope.

* ''VideoGame/EvenForEternia'': In the ending, after Arisu's plans are foiled, [[spoiler:he allows Rubellum to become the Calypso's host despite that being detrimental to his original plans, since this would be better than letting the Calypso slowly destroy reality without a host. When Rubellum manages to create a better world, Arisu concedes that she did a good job.]]

** Despite her antagonism towards Karin, Red takes her defeat well, since she believes this means the party will be able to go to the top floor and defeat the boss [[spoiler:that killed her in her human life]].
** The Guardian of the Tower tells the party everything they know about the tower after their defeat. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, they don't know everything about the tower.]]
* ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'': When you have [[spoiler:Benny]] at your mercy in [[spoiler:Caesar's tent]], he dies with his head held high and even tells you of [[spoiler:his plan to hijack House's Securitron army to oust both NCR and Caesar's Legion from New Vegas and make it an independent nation]] and encourages you to follow it through.
* Assassin in ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight''. [[spoiler:After losing a fight to Saber only because his sword is slightly bent ''despite'' having no superhuman abilities, he just tells her to go, sits down and talks to himself for a few minutes before vanishing. It helps that he didn't really care if he won or even lived, he just wanted one good fight against another MasterSwordsman. He was even rather graceful about [[BodyHorror True Assassin eating him from the inside.]]]] [[ExtremeDoormat He's just that kind of guy.]]
** And [[spoiler:Gilgamesh]], who at least takes losing to Saber ''slightly'' better than you'd expect given [[{{Jerkass}} his normal mode of behavior]].
** Similarly, Archer admits his defeat to [[spoiler: Shirou, his past self]] in the Unlimited Blade Works route. Unlike the other examples above, however, it wasn't a test of combat. The story makes it very clear that [[spoiler: Shirou]] had no chance to win the fight. Archer lost because he saw that [[spoiler: Shirou]] had a stronger conviction than he did. This leads to him performing a BigDamnHeroes moment in the FinalBattle.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'' has several notable examples on the Crimson Flower route:[[spoiler: When the Black Eagles defeat Claude, who has a reputation for being pragmatic and reasonable, they can choose to spare him. He acknowledges he's been bested and leaves the continent for good.]]
** [[spoiler: The Black Eagles fight Seteth and Flayn, and Byleth can spare them. While both of them still despise Byleth for siding with Edelgard, Seteth is wise enough to realize that the Black Eagles are too powerful and protecting his daughter is paramount. They abandon Rhea's army and go back into hiding.]]
* In ''VideoGame/GrowingUp'', while Alex gets a little upset when she loses, she doesn't take it so badly because it just motivates her to try winning next time. In fact, she doesn't like it if you deliberately lose to her, [[spoiler:and she'll leave you if you do that too many times]].

* ''VideoGame/HollowKnight'': Defeating the Mantis Lords will prompt them to bow in respect before opening the path to Deepnest. From that point onward, every Mantis you pass in the village will bow at you rather than attacking you. [[spoiler:Dream Nailing them will reveal they value your strength and are surprised to be met with honor from an outsider.]]
* ''VideoGame/HypnospaceOutlaw'': In the DistantFinale, the player finds proof that [[spoiler:Dylan Merchant's [[HanlonsRazor negligence]]]] caused the worst tragedy in the game. Despite their previous {{Jerkass}} behavior, the person in question makes no further effort to cover up their part in the tragedy. They're mostly just relieved that they've been freed of the burden of hiding their guilt without having to take the initiative and confess.

** Befitting his perpetually cheerful demeanor, [[spoiler:Hades takes his defeat in good stride as well. He even unlocks the BossRush for you as a reward.]] What a guy!

** At the end of ''3D'', though it's not a battle, [[spoiler:Sora does not get promoted to Keyblade Master while Riku does. True to his cheery nature, however, Sora doesn't mope about it and is genuinely happy for his friend.]]
** At the end of ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII III]]'', [[spoiler:this is a common theme with the True Organization XIII. With a few exceptions, they're all just glad it's finally over. Even Ansem, the original head villain, bids farewell to Sora and Riku with genuine respect, encouraging them to move on and see more of the world. Even ''Master Xehanort'' does it; after the FinalBattle that decisively concludes the long struggle with him, he is convinced to surrender. His final act before passing on is to bequeath the X-Blade to Sora and congratulate him]].
-->[[spoiler:'''Xehanort:''' Very well done.]]

*** [[spoiler:The Catalyst]], the GreaterScopeVillain of the series, admits its own defeat when [[PlayerCharacter Shepard]] interacts with him. Seeing that Shepard and their allies [[spoiler: finally completed the Crucible, the Catalyst admits that the Reapers have failed in their purpose, which the Catalyst admits to be disgusting. Then, the Catalyst leaves the new solution on Shepard's hands, even if it had a clear favourite option it would prefer you take]]. [[VillainousBreakdown It only really becomes upset]] if [[spoiler:Shepard refuses to use the Crucible]].

** It's part of yahg culture to bow down and accept that you've been beaten when someone turns out to be tougher than you. [[spoiler:Might be the reason the yahg Shadow Broker has left all of his computer systems without even password protection, so that once you and Liara kill him in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2''[='s=] "Lair of the Shadow Broker", she can seize control of his entire organization and use it to help defeat the Reapers.]]

* ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'': The BigBad, [[spoiler:Senator Armstrong]], is very composed when Raiden defeats them. [[spoiler:Armstrong]] is TheSocialDarwinist, wanting to create a world where every person can fight for their own ideals and the rule of law belongs to those strong enough to take hold of it by force; they're ''not'' a hypocrite, fully accepting that losing the fight to Raiden means, by their own standards, Raiden's ideals and point of view are superior to their own.

* Most of the ranked assassins in ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes'' accept their deaths quite calmly. Especially [[spoiler:[[NeverMessWithGranny Speed Buster]]]], but ''totally'' inverted with [[spoiler:[[AxCrazy Bad Girl]]]].

** Double-subverted in ''VideoGame/Persona2: Eternal Punishment'', during [[spoiler: the final battle against Nyarlathotep]]. After the party beats his first form, he compliments them for being the first to see his second form, telling them to die with "his highest praise". Then it's entirely averted mid and post-battle as he throws a tantrum.
** In ''VideoGame/Persona4'', the TrueFinalBoss [[spoiler:[[WellIntentionedExtremist Izanami]]]] compliments the Investigation Team after they unmask and defeat her. Also, [[spoiler:Tohru Adachi]] accepts his fate of imprisonment and agrees to play by society's rules after the IT defeats him, to the point that in ''VideoGame/Persona4ArenaUltimax'' his main reason for fighting is so that he'll be put back in jail again once everything's over.
** In ''VideoGame/Persona5'', the first Palace Ruler Kamoshida accepts his defeat after it becomes clear that the Phantom Thieves have bested him, returning to his "true self" and facilitating the real-world Kamoshida's change of heart. It occurs again with the seventh Palace Ruler, [[spoiler:Shido]], who accepts his defeat graciously and even apologizes to the PlayerCharacter for [[spoiler:having had him arrested in the first place]]. Although the real world [[spoiler:Shido]] {{subvert|edTrope}}s this; when he realizes the Thieves bested his Shadow, [[spoiler:he attempts one last-ditch effort to kill them and prevent his change of heart]]. Finally, the TrueFinalBoss [[spoiler:Yaldabaoth's]] last words calmly acknowledge the power that put him down, [[spoiler:the desire of the masses, is greater than his own; it's implied that since he was also born of the masses' subconscious desires, he understands he's not wanted anymore]].
*** Also, the Star Confidant Hifumi Togo lectures on this during her meetings with the protagonist: conceding means to admit defeat with grace. It has something of an echo; she says it to Joker during their first meeting, and then again in their penultimate meeting after [[spoiler:her concession to a professional player]].
* ''VideoGame/PapersPlease'' has the recurring Jorji Costava, whose papers are [[spoiler: almost]] always easily-recognized fakes, and if they aren't, [[spoiler: he's smuggling illegal drugs]]. Every time you catch him with a forgery [[spoiler: or contraband]], he sincerely praises you for a job well-done and waits patiently for arrest... so he can [[CardboardPrison bribe the guards]] and try again next time.

'''Jorji:''' Is okay! You have tough job! [[spoiler: I rather sell drugs!]]

** [[TheDon Giovanni]] in ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'' gets angry when you beat him twice over the course of the game, but when you beat him in [[spoiler:the final gym]], he instead compliments your skill and thanks you for a wonderful fight. He then declares that Team Rocket is finished forever and he'll dedicate his life to studying Pokemon. [[spoiler:[[SubvertedTrope This turns out to be a complete lie]] in the remakes of ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'' where Giovanni is planning to get Team Rocket back together and manages to actually do so several games later. Though when he is beaten in the Celebi event, [[DoubleSubversion he accepts defeat for real.]]]]
** In ''VideoGame/PokemonBlack2AndWhite2'', Colress gracefully accepts his losses to the player feeling satisfied by the result anyway. [[spoiler:He even disband Team Plasma after being defeated for the last time. He certainly showed more dignity than Ghetsis]].
** Guzma from ''VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon'' and their re-release ''VideoGame/PokemonUltraSunAndUltraMoon'', takes his losses surprisingly well. He chastise himself and then remarks that he'll defeat the player one day, before leaving. After being defeated at the [[spoiler:Aether Paradise]], he calmly let the player reach [[spoiler:Lusamine]]. In that, he certainly showed more dignity than [[spoiler:her]].
** In ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield'', [[spoiler:Rose]] calmly accepts his defeat and claps for the player. After Eternatus is caught, [[spoiler:he resigns as Chairman]] and accepts arrest.

* ''VideoGame/PonyIsland'': After beating defeated, [[spoiler:Asmodeus.EXE]] congratulates the player, and accepts his demise with dignity.

* The only thing that [[spoiler:James Moriarty]] says to his killer [[spoiler:Sherlock Holmes]] in ''VisualNovel/ShikkokuNoSharnoth'' is [[spoiler:"aren't you supposed to do this at a waterfall?"]] He is, in fact, completely satisfied with what he managed to accomplish.
* ''VideoGame/Shrek2'' has [[spoiler: The Fairy Godmother calmly accepting her defeat as she slowly descends to the ground and vanishes in a flash of magic after you beat her for the last time]].

* In ''VideoGame/Splatoon3'', after [[RocketPoweredWeapon two]] [[TakingYouWithMe attempts]] to [[spoiler: [[ApocalypseHow/Class4 turn all of the inklings and octolings on the planet into mammals]] [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Mr. Grizz]]]] realizes that [[spoiler: mammals will never be able to rule the earth again]] and reluctantly accepts defeat. [[spoiler: [[YouBastard The most evil]] part of this though is [[KickTheDog you]] get [[SkewedPriorities no severance pay for your job at Grizzco]] [[DubPersonalityChange in the English version]]]].

** In ''VideoGame/StreetFighterV'', [[spoiler: as Bison accepts his defeat at the hands of Ryu, all he does is let out one last EvilLaugh before he crumbles into nothing]].

*** In the final awards ceremony, [[spoiler:when the Super Star is crowned, Bowser approaches the pedestal they're standing atop and congratulates them for their victory, before promising to step up his game for the next party. If Bowser himself becomes the Super Star, Bowser Jr. will take his place and cheer for his papa]].

*** Surprisingly, [[spoiler:'''Hellen Gravely''' herself is this when Luigi manages to finally defeat her; as soon as she's about to be captured, she takes a moment to freshen up her hair and makeup right before she's sucked into the Poltergust G-00]].

* ''VideoGame/TheTalosPrinciple'': [[spoiler: When you're about to end the simulation, Elohim admits that the whole point was for you to defy him. He's terrified that he'll die with everything else when the sim ends, but there's no changing the fact you've won]].
-->'''[[spoiler:Elohim]]:''' [[spoiler: So be it. Let your will be done]].

** [[spoiler:While he was an absolute SoreLoser back in Gluttony, Gabriel takes his second defeat with good stride in Heresy when he realizes just how liberating defeat is, now that he's free from The Council's expectations and sees [[VillainProtagonist V1]] as a WorthyOpponent.]]
** [[spoiler:Sisyphus Prime seemingly despairs about the futility of his ambitions, only to shamelessly proclaim that [[IRegretNothing he regrets nothing]] before letting out [[DiesLaughing a proud laugh]] until he dies for good. This is because [[DeterminedDefeatist he accepts]] that his battle against Heaven is [[HopelessWar hopeless no matter what]], so he embraces the futility by [[BloodKnight finding joy in battle]] while seeing the mere act of rebellion as its own victory.]]

* ''WebAnimation/SmashKing'' has this in Captain Falcon. Initially when Sonic and Falcon first raced, Falcon was shocked and hurt that he lost, but quickly pretended to laugh it off, saying he underestimated Sonic. He even suggested that he and Sonic form a team together for the tourney to dominate it with their speed. Sonic refuses, however, which sowed the seeds of Falcon's rivalry with the hedgehog. This is then played straight after Sonic races the [[spoiler: reincarnated]] Captain Falcon in Episode 16. Although Sonic wins again, Captain Falcon simply remarks that he lost, and agrees to Sonic's offer to rematch him some other time. This example contains a YMMV entry. It should be moved to the YMMV tab. This may be because Falcon has only just been reborn, and has not had time to build up his ego as much as he had when he was first born.

* [[spoiler:Tsutsumu]] from ''Webcomic/AngelMoxie'', to the point of [[spoiler:leaving his vast economic empire to the [[MagicalGirl girl]]s when they kill him]]. He doesn't make it easier and fights right up to the end, fully intending to kill the girls if he can... but he's left a pleasant surprise for the heroes if they do manage to beat him.

* ''LetsPlay/{{Dream}}:'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oySp75huAp8 In the grand finale explanation video,]] [[spoiler: [=BadBoyHalo=] congratulates Dream for winning, and the hunters made him a golden cup filled with lava. It was originally going to be for the hunters since they thought they were going to win, but repurposed it for Dream]].

* ''WesternAnimation/CarmenSandiego'': [[spoiler:When ACME raids V.I.L.E.'s castle to arrest the faculty during the series' end, Countess Cleo is the only member of the faculty who doesn't try to run or fight; she just sits in a room lets out a sigh when Julia kicks down her door, knowing what is going to happen]].
* ''WesternAnimation/ElenaOfAvalor'': [[spoiler:At the end "Party of a Lifetime", Elena, Naomi, Gabe, and Mateo escape being forced into joining Captain Chiloya's crew. He and his crew just decide to keep having their [[LivingForeverIsAwesome eternal party]] without them]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/HotWheelsBattleForce5'', [[spoiler:Kalus takes the Vandal's final defeat fairly well. They may have lost all their Sentient technology, but he's reunited his planet under his rule, defeated the Red Sentients attacking his world, and finally gets his hands on [[TheStarscream Grimian]] and seems content with that]].

** Subverted with [[TheTrickster Discord]] in the Season 2 premiere, where he gives the ponies a free shot at him ''twice'', but only because he believed the Elements of Harmony would have no effect after he used a HatePlague on the heroes. He's only right the first time. One season later, [[spoiler: however, it's played straight. When Discord realizes that Fluttershy's friendship is too valuable for him to risk losing -- meaning that he cannot go on his planned rampage of chaos -- his reaction is remarkably subdued and dignified]].
---> "[[spoiler:[[{{Touche}} Well played, Fluttershy. Well played.]]]]"

* ''WesternAnimation/SuperRobotMonkeyTeamHyperforceGo'': [[spoiler: Stranded on the world where Nova learned combat and learning it's been tainted by the Skeleton King Worm, the team fights to escape, Chiro learning from Offay. However, even Offay was affected, as master of the dojo, he became the leader. Chiro uses what he learns against him and beats Offay with his own move using the Primal Primate. Finally snapping Offay from the corruption, the OldMaster humbly accepts defeat with dignity before Chiro tells everyone to escape the poisoned world]].

** The ending of Part 1 of ''Island (2023)'' [[spoiler:Bowie is a bit bummed over having lost the competition to Priya, but he is still shown to be happy for her when she claims the million dollar prize money]]. Then in Part 2 [[spoiler:He has no problem accepting his elimination, even saying that he isn't angry at the people who voted him off... [[ArchEnemy except Julia]]]].

** In ''VideoGame/CrashBandicootWarped'', both [[{{Pyromaniac}} Dingodile]] and [[TimeMaster N. Tropy]] are surprisingly appeased after they're defeated, though they still say that they still haven't faced the greatest dangers yet.
** In ''Crash Team Racing'', after having trash talked the player prior to the race, [[HollywoodNatives Papu Papu]] is surprisingly good sport when defeated, complimenting the player's skills and while he says that Oxide is a bigger problem, he doesn't say that they can't defeat him.
** In ''Crash Nitro Kart'', the same can be said about two champions:

* Surprisingly, [[spoiler:Kumagawa]] in ''Manga/MedakaBox'' acts like this after losing to Medaka. [[spoiler:It helps that she was willingly BroughtDownToNormal, stripping her of all her superhuman powers and physical abilities, meaning that it was a fight he actually had a chance to win -- so he has no hard feelings when he doesn't. This is part of the reason Kumagawa is able to make a FaceHeelTurn, since losing fair and square allows him to let go of his resentment.]]

* The battle between the [[EvilVersusEvil League of Villains and the Meta Liberation Army]] in ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'', and the duel between the leaders of the respective organizations, Shigaraki and Re-Destro, ends with [[spoiler: a large number of the MLA's forces killed, their home base absolutely devastated, Re-Destro forced to cut off his feet to avoid being disintegrated, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and on top of all this]], Shigaraki points out this was all Re-Destro's fault in the first place for forcing the League to come fight the MLA when they wanted nothing to do with him. Re-Destro gives a weary smile, [[KnowWhenToFoldEm calls off his forces]], and tells Shigaraki if he wants to kill him, then get it over with, before bowing to him and telling him the entirety of the MLA is his to command]].
** Kendo Rappa is an odd case of this. According to him, the only true fight is a battle to the death; therefore, if both sides are still alive, then there is no ture winner or loser. Despite that, when he's beaten by the heroes, he directs them towards an infirmary so that they can patch up their wounds. He still angrily objected when they implied that he gave up, though.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* [[EvilChancellor Chancellor Long Feng]] from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' reveals himself as such, gracefully admitting defeat and kneeling to Azula while admitting she beat him at his own game. Azula, however, is ''far'' from a graceful winner and [[UnsportsmanlikeGloating coldly takes the piss out of him]].

Another common situation for graceful loss is in [[LoveTriangle matters of the heart]]. A RomanticRunnerUp who bows out when they realize their love interest doesn't prefer them is usually characterized as kind and understanding. Since they've shown themselves to be a nice person, just not right for the hero, they are ripe for a LastMinuteHookup or PairTheSpares situation at the end of the story.

* In the climax of ''Film/EnemyAtTheGates'', [[spoiler:after shooting Danilov under the impression that he was Vassili, Konig leaves his cover to inspect the body only to be ambushed by Vassili, who takes aim at him from about 40 feet away. Konig slowly turns, looks at Vassili, and holds his hat to his chest to give him a clean shot, which Vassili promptly takes.]]

* In the climax of ''Film/EnemyAtTheGates'', [[spoiler:After shooting Danilov under the impression that he was Vassili, Konig leaves his cover to inspect the body only to be ambushed by Vassili, who takes aim at him from about 40 feet away. Konig slowly turns, looks at Vassili, and holds his hat to his chest to give him a clean shot, which Vassili promptly takes.]]

* In the climax of ''Film/EnemyAtTheGates'', [[spoiler:Zaytsev ends up ambushing Major Konig and aiming at him from about 40 feet away. Konig turns around and ''calmly holds his hat to his chest'' while Zaytsev shoots him]].

* In ''VideoGame/HollowKnight'', defeating the Mantis Lords will prompt them to bow in respect before opening the path to Deepnest. From that point onward, every Mantis you pass in the village will bow at you rather than attacking you. [[spoiler:Dream Nailing them will reveal they value your strength and are surprised to be met with honor from an outsider.]]
* In the DistantFinale of ''VideoGame/HypnospaceOutlaw'', the player finds proof that [[spoiler:Dylan Merchant's [[HanlonsRazor negligence]]]] caused the worst tragedy in the game. Despite their previous {{Jerkass}} behavior, the person in question makes no further effort to cover up their part in the tragedy. They're mostly just relieved that they've been freed of the burden of hiding their guilt without having to take the initiative and confess.

* In the third chapter of ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising'', the Hewdraw has three heads with different personalities and depending on the order in which you defeat them in the sky battle determines when will you face them in the ground level (they fight the same but have different dialog). If your last battle is against the more classy-speaking head, upon defeat he says "Look at how far you've come. I'm proud of you" before he explodes. Pit even comments that you don't normally see such niceness from bosses.

* In ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters 2003'', if you reach Adelheid (Rugal Bernstein's son) and beat him. He actually praises you for winning. His sister, Rose, on the other hand, is quite the SoreLoser just like their dad. So much so that Adelheid has to force her to let the winners go as they won fair and square.