History Main / TheSneakyGuy

Related tropes are StealthExpert, TechnicolorNinjas, ArmyScout of the western movies, or the ScarilyCompetentTracker. Sometimes clad in a SpyCatsuit. If a character manages to be both good at fieldcraft and fighting straight-up, it's usually a {{Ranger}} or the point man variety. Depending on how [[HighlyVisibleNinja stealthy they are]], the {{Ninja}} may qualify.

* Zuko from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', as displayed in "The Blue Spirit". He combines the trope with elements of the PointMan/Big Guy, taking out soldiers and remaining in the shadows until he rescues Aang. Once detected, he's still able to get Aang out alive. In other episodes, he also sneaks onto Zhao's warship and into the Water Tribe Kingdom.

Many games, like ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', has prepared roles for the sneaky guy, like thief or rogue.

* PARKER from ''The Last Stage'' by WebVideo/NatOneProductions relies heavily on stealth to be effective. He is the only member of the team that can pick locks and infiltrate places quietly, and was designated on more than one occasion to tail suspects without being seen.

* Zuko from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. Displayed in "The Blue Spirit" in Book One: Water. He combines this with elements of the PointMan/Big Guy by taking out soldiers and remaining in the shadows until he rescues Aang. Once detected, he still was able to get Aang out alive, before being shot by an arrow. Later, displayed when he snuck onto the Zhao's warship after surviving an assassination attempt. Followed by sneaking into the Water Tribe Kingdom and entering the Oasis, without being seen. That's just season one folks.

%%* Kouta Tsuchiya in ''LightNovel/BakaAndTestSummonTheBeasts''.
* Jozak Gurrier in ''LightNovel/KyoKaraMaoh'', a spy who is regularly sent on missions in places where the protagonists just happen to be going next. A RecurringCharacter just to the side of the main cast, he's known for his repeated knack for showing up behind enemy lines [[BigDamnHeroes just in time]] to rescue Yuuri and company from whatever trouble they've gotten themselves into.

* Hunter from ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheBadBatch'' has the least amount of equipment among his squad. He's particularly known for his knife and tracking skills. Hunter has very acute environmental awareness, meaning he can predict weather patterns and know when he's being watched almost without fault.

* Glenn [[BrickJoke in]] ''Series/TheWalkingDead'' is more given to slipping quietly around opposing forces than engaging them head-on, which also serves to not attract Walkers to his position.

* Glenn [[RuleOfThree in]] ''VideoGame/TheWalkingDead'' is more given to slipping quietly around opposing forces than engaging them head-on, which also serves to not attract Walkers to his position.

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* Violetta in ''WebComic/GirlGenius'', a Smoke Knight specialising in "misdirection and sleight-of-hand". Even [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20140509 lampshaded by Zeetha]] once.
%%* Haley in ''WebComic/TheOrderOfTheStick''.

* Robin and Miss Martian in ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'', by virtue of mastering the StealthHiBye and VisibleInvisibility, respectively. Aqualad takes the role if there's water involved, and the team as a whole generally plays TheSneakyGuy to the public celebrities that are the Justice League.

The sneaky guy corresponds to the thief in FighterMageThief, just as TheBigGuy corresponds to the fighter and TheSmartGuy to the mage. Duos with a Big Guy are common. The Sneaky Guy can also easily serve as the Beauty in a BeautyBrainsAndBrawn trio, or TheChick in a group -- at least they get to do more than as TheHeart. In a FiveManBand, TheLancer or The Smart Guy can double as the sneaky guy. If serving in TheSquad, a not-uncommon variation is serving as the DesignatedPointMan, where the sneaky guy often takes on elements of The Big Guy.

* In ''Anime/RuneSoldierLouie'', which is basically set in a ''Dungeons & Dragons'' universe, Merrill is the thief of the group and a master at lockpicking.

* ComicBook/{{Nightcrawler}} in ''ComicBook/XMen''. His nimbleness and ability to WallCrawl, blend into shadows, and {{Teleport|ation}} allow him to slip past enemy lines undetected.

* ''ComicBook/StreetFighter'' has an extra called "Case Closed" in which the [[GirlyGirl girly]] {{Ninja}} [[FragileSpeedster girl]] Ibuki is sent by her ninja village to infiltrate a high-security military base and steal a high importance briefcase. She doesn't have any problem getting in and only fails when another fighter called Q was unexpectantly there and brought unwanted attention. She does escape afterwards simply by using her superhuman jumping ability.

* Franchise/{{Batman}} usually plays this role whenever he's with the ComicBook/JusticeLeague, skulking around to look for his enemies' weaknesses while the rest of the team fight. Justified, since most of his teammates are {{Physical Gods}} while he's a normal human being, and he does his best work as a detective, anyway.

* Bilbo Baggins is hired for this very role by the dwarf party in ''Literature/TheHobbit'', although he himself is initially unconvinced.
* Benito Valdosta in ''Literature/TheHeirsOfAlexandria'' series. Trained as a thief and a very good climber.
%%* Martinez in Norman Mailer's ''Literature/TheNakedAndTheDead''.

%%* Gray Mouser in Fritz Leiber's ''[[Literature/FafhrdAndTheGrayMouser Lankhmar]]'' books.

* In the ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'' books, Martin the Warrior (who would be The Fighter) is best friends and partners with Gonff the Mousethief, who plays this role (there might be a ''Lankhmar'' allusion here).
%%* The eponymous Reynard the Fox from ''Literature/TheReynardCycle''
%%* Silk in the ''Literature/{{Belgariad}}''.
%%* Poplock Duckweed in ''Literature/TheBalancedSword'' by Creator/RykESpoor.
%%* Caius Blohm in Creator/DavidDrake's ''Literature/{{Redliners}}'' is a point man variation.
%%* Ding Chavez in Creator/TomClancy's ''Literature/JackRyan'' series, introduced in ''Literature/ClearAndPresentDanger'', is another point man variation.

* Tobias sometimes in ''{{Literature/Animorphs}}''. Being trapped in a hawk body meant he didn’t go to school like the rest, so he often kept watch for new Yeerk pool entrances and watched what the controllers were doing. All the kids had morphs suitable for being sneaky when needed, though.

%%* Wait! What about the "evil dude" in ''Series/LazyTown''?

%%* Fero in ''VideoGame/TheReconstruction''.
%%* The Spy class from ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2''.
%%* Kasumi Goto in ''Franchise/MassEffect''.

* Glenn [[RuleOfThree in]] ''VideoGame/TheWalkingDead'' is more given to slipping quietly around opposing forces than engaging them head-on, which also serves to not attract Walkers to his position.
* The pointman in ''VideoGame/{{Vietcong}}''. In the first game, he's always an LLDB member, thus making him TheFace as well in certain situations where he's the only guy who can talk to a Vietnamese who doesn't understand English. Some of the [=VCs=] count as well, given their stealthy tactics. He doesn't appear in the second game except in one level in the VC campaign.
* If a character from a [[MultiplayerOnlineBattleArena MOBA game]] has a stealth mechanic, they'll more likely end up as this, sneaking to the enemy ranks while invisible and catching them by surprise. Examples include Riki, Gondar, Nyx Assassin, Clinkz from ''VideoGame/{{Dota 2}}'', Evelynn and Twitch from ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'', Loki and Ao Kuang from ''VideoGame/{{Smite}}'', Nova and Zeratul from ''VideoGame/HeroesOfTheStorm''.

* Robin Hood from the ''Franchise/FateSeries''. In his debut game ''VideoGame/FateExtra'', he uses underhanded tactics to defeat his enemies, by concealing his presence and laying traps (notably, poison), very similar to the Assassin-class. In ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'', Robin is also typecast as a scout while still retaining his usual M.O. for traps and poison. He scouts places ahead for his party, keeps a low profile and, if possible, a long distance from the enemy and he can sneak into places that sub-par Assassins can't get into. In supplementary materials, it's even stated that Robin Hood is capable of being put in the Assassin class.

* Violetta in ''WebComic/GirlGenius'', a Smoke Knight specialising in "misdirection and sleight-of-hand". Even [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20140509 lampshaded by Zeetha]] once.

* Zuko from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. Displayed in "The Blue Spirit" in Book One: Water. He combines this with elements of the PointMan/Big Guy by taking out soldiers and remaining in the shadows until he rescues Aang. Once detected, he still was able to get Aang out alive, before being shot by an arrow. Later, displayed when he snuck onto the Zhao's warship after surviving an assassination attempt. Followed by sneaking into the Water Tribe Kingdom and entering the Oasis, without being seen. That's just season one folks.
%%* Tunnel Rat fills this role in ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeRenegades''.

In a fight, the sneaky guy will probably try to stay inconspicuous, looking for a weak spot to exploit or a way to confuse the enemy. Ranged weapons are common, as are daggers and short swords. Very likely to be a CombatPragmatist and/or an UnderhandedHero. Expect this character to be chosen for scouting and infiltration missions.

The sneaky guy corresponds to the thief in FighterMageThief, just as TheBigGuy corresponds to the fighter and TheSmartGuy to the mage. Duos with [[TheBigGuy a Big Guy]] are common. TheSneakyGuy can also easily serve as the Beauty in a BeautyBrainsAndBrawn trio, or TheChick in a group -- at least they get to do more than as TheHeart. In a FiveManBand, TheLancer or TheSmartGuy can double as the sneaky guy. If serving in TheSquad, a not-uncommon variation is serving as the point man, where the sneaky guy often takes on elements of the BigGuy.

* Robin Hood from the ''Franchise/FateSeries''. In his debut game ''VideoGame/FateExtra'', he uses underhanded tactics to defeat his enemies, by concealing his presence and laying traps (notably, poison), very similar to the Assassin-class. In ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'', Robin is also typecast as a scout while still retaining his usual M.O. for traps and poison. He scouts places ahead for his party, keeps a low profile and, if possible, a long distance from the enemy and he can sneak into places that sub-par Assassins can't get into.

The sneaky guy is the one in TheTeam who searches things out, looking for traps, enemies, and other hidden things. If they go first, they sneak and hide, not relying on speed and strength like TheBigGuy. They are usually [[FragileSpeedster mobile]], carrying little equipment. They rely on spotting danger first, stealth, reflexes and their wits to stay alive. They are often stealthy, but the focus can also be on choosing paths thought impossible, being inconspicious, or some other strategy.

The sneaky guy corresponds to the thief in FighterMageThief, just as TheBigGuy corresponds to the fighter and TheSmartGuy to the mage. Duos with [[TheBigGuy a Big Guy]] are common. TheSneakyGuy can also easily serve as the Beauty in a BeautyBrainsAndBrawn trio, or TheChick in a group -- at least they get to do more than as TheHeart. In a FiveManBand, TheLancer or TheSmartGuy can double as the sneaky guy. If serving in TheSquad, a not uncommon variation is serving as the point man, where the sneaky guy often takes on elements of the BigGuy.

* Kabuto Kirisaki fills this role for the drifters in ''Manga/{{Psyren}}'' being a usually unwilling participant in the battles initially only skilled at running and hiding, but his keen eyes and being amongst the first to link the similarities between the geography of Psyen [[spoiler: and the modern day world, which leads to one of the most important discoveries of the series]]. Later, after awakening his PSI, [[SpiderSense Menace]], he fits this even more, using his power to help the drifters avoid attacks and the like, and prefers to avoid a straight fight if able.

* ''ComicBook/StreetFighter'' has an extra called "Case Closed" in which the [[GirlyGirl girly]] {{Ninja}} [[FragileSpeedster girl]] Ibuki is sent by her ninja village to infiltrate a high security military base and steal a high importance briefcase. She doesn't have any problem getting in and only fails when another fighter called Q was unexpectantly there and brought unwanted attention. She does escape afterwards simply by using her superhuman jumping ability.

* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' ArchangelUriel, The Watchman, fits this bill amongst the other Archangels. He is Heaven's wetwork agent, the one who keeps a low profile but some work is still known (such as the slaying the first born of Egypt) and labeled as one of the most dangerous, if not ''the'' most dangerous of them. As the guardian of freewill, he will use any means inside the rules to help protect humanity's right to choose.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'': Nina is extremely good at stealth and recon, making her one of the army's premiere scouts. When asked by Caeldori to just get the location of the enemy and their numbers for a mission, she came back with very detailed notes about their weaknesses, what patrol routes they take, and the locations of their weapons.

* Zuko from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. Displayed in "The Blue Spirit" in Book One: Water. He combines this with elements of the PointMan/Big Guy by taking out soldiers and remaining in the shadows, until he rescues Aang. Once detected, he still was able to get Aang out alive, before being shot by an arrow. Later, displayed when he snuck onto the Zhao's warship after surviving an assassination attempt. Followed by sneaking into the Water Tribe Kingdom and entering the Oasis, without being seen. That's just season one folks.