History Main / Thedragon

Every good villain could use a sidekick. Just like TheHero has TheLancer, this character is the main villain's right-hand minion, their closest confidant (or something akin to it), frequently acts as their {{Foil}}, and may be seen working as the front-liner of the evil forces to personally carry out their master's orders as one of his most dangerous and competent subordinates. Sometimes TheDragon is the most active threatening villain in the story, which makes them TheHeavy, while their boss makes orders from the shadows.

While TheDragon may be paired with a BigBad, that does not make them a BigBadDuumvirate, which requires the villains to be equals. However, a Duumvirate can have one or [[CoDragons more]] Dragons of their own.

%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order. Thanks!

[[caption-width-right:350:"My apprentice, Darth Vader, will find [[TheHeavy and crush]] your [[YouRebelScum pitiful little band of Rebel friends.]]"]]

While TheDragon may be paired with a BigBad, that does not make them a BigBadDuumvirate, which requires the villains to be equals. However, a Duumvirate can have one or more Dragons of their own.

!This trope is [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=17027950910.65149200&page=1 under discussion]] in the Administrivia/TropeRepairShop.

The BigBad needs a NumberTwo; this would be the EvilCounterpart of that (or TheLancer). He's the main villain's right-hand man, his closest confidant (or something akin to it), frequently acts as his {{Foil}}, and may be seen working as the front-liner of the evil forces to personally carry out his master's orders as one of his most dangerous and competent subordinates.

A Big Bad and a Dragon aren't a BigBadDuumvirate, as this would require them to be on equal footing for it to apply. Though a Duumvirate can have one or more Dragons of their own. For literal dragons and their permutations, see OurDragonsAreDifferent. Not to be confused with the DragonLady (which describes a character stereotype, not a character's role).

!This trope is [[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=17027950910.65149200 under discussion]] in the Administrivia/TropeRepairShop.

* LancerVsDragon: When the secondary hero and villain fights each other.

A Big Bad and a Dragon aren't a BigBadDuumvirate, as this would require them to be on equal footing for it to apply. Though a Duumvirate can have one or more Dragons of their own. For literal dragons and their permutations, see OurDragonsAreDifferent. Not to be confused with the DragonLady, who is more likely to be a Big Bad in stories she appears in unless she is the subordinate of a greater villain.

A Big Bad and a Dragon aren't a BigBadDuumvirate, as this would require them to be on equal footing for it to apply. Though a Duumvirate can have one or more Dragons of their own. For literal dragons and their permutations, see OurDragonsAreDifferent. Not to be confused with DragonLady.

A Big Bad and a Dragon aren't a BigBadDuumvirate, as this would require them to be on equal footing for it to apply. Though a Duumvirate can have one or more Dragons of their own. For literal dragons and their permutations, see OurDragonsAreDifferent. Not to be confused with DragonLady, who is more likely to be a Big Bad than the Dragon, or ''{{Magazine/Dragon}}'', which was a magazine. Definitely not to be confused with ''ComicBook/SavageDragon''.

* VileVillainLaughableLackey: A duo consisting of a [[KnightOfCerebus serious villain]] with a [[LaughablyEvil humorous]] [[TheDragon subordinate]].

!!Related tropes:

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!!Examples:
[[index]]
* TheDragon/AnimeAndManga
* TheDragon/ComicBooks
* TheDragon/FanWorks
* [[TheDragon/LiveActionFilms Films — Live-Action]]
* {{TheDragon/Literature}}
* TheDragon/LiveActionTV
* TheDragon/VideoGames
* TheDragon/WebComics
* TheDragon/WebOriginal
* TheDragon/WesternAnimation
* TheDragon/OtherMedia
[[/index]]

A Big Bad and a Dragon aren't a BigBadDuumvirate, as this would require them to be on equal footing for it to apply. Though a Duumvirate can have one or more Dragons of their own. For literal dragons and their permutations, see OurDragonsAreDifferent. Not to be confused with DragonLady, who is more likely to be a Big Bad than the Dragon, or ''Magazine/{{Dragon}}'', which was a magazine. Definitely not to be confused with ''ComicBook/SavageDragon''.

!!Sub-tropes:

* VillainousFriendship: When a Dragon is good friends with the Big Bad.

* TheDragon/{{Literature}}

{{Trope}}s related to The Dragon:

A Big Bad and a Dragon aren't a BigBadDuumvirate, as this would require them to be on equal footing for it to apply. Though a Duumvirate can have one or more Dragons of their own.

For literal dragons and their permutations, see OurDragonsAreDifferent. Not to be confused with DragonLady, who is more likely to be a Big Bad than the Dragon, or ''Magazine/{{Dragon}}'', which was a magazine. Definitely not to be confused with ''ComicBook/SavageDragon''.

[[noreallife]]

!!Example subpages:

!!Other examples:
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Board Games]]
* In TabletopGame/{{chess}}, the queen is arguably the Dragon of the king, and quite clearly the most powerful piece on the board. Just look at any themed chess set: the BigBad will be the king, and the Dragon will be the queen.
* In ''Betrayal at House on the Hill'', there were several Dragons, ranging from a literal example to a slasher killer, a witch, and even man eating plants. One of the players could even be the Dragon to the scenario's BigBad... or turn out to be BigBad, and get furnished with a Dragon. The game has "betrayal" in its name for a reason.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Card Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'':
** Volrath has Greven.
** ... As Greven has his [[SmugSnake Vhati]] [[TheStarscream il-Dal]].
** And Volrath himself was Dragon to Yawgmoth, until he was replaced by [[FallenHero Crovax]] (and, later still, [[AxeCrazy Tsabo Tavoc]]).
*** Technically (at least according to the novels) Tsabo and Crovax were active at the same time, not to mention a Phyrexian-augmented Ertai, running about causing havoc. So it's more like a case of triple Dragons, no? Also, in that same block the 5 Dragons were awakened, each of whom had their own Golem Attendant, that could be considered their own Dragons.
*** Ertai has more shades of EvilGenius; Yawgmoth would too, except that he's the BigBad. The five dragons are more a case of GoodIsNotNice, though.
** In ''Kamigawa'', Lady Masako the Humorless serves Emperor Konda as administrator, and she's a rather harsh mistress. Oh, and despite the trappings, she's not Konda's wife.
--->Konda's servants dared not neglect their duties for a moment under Masako's icy gaze, knowing that what she saw, Lord Konda would hear.
** In ''Conflux'', [[MagnificentBastard Nicol Bolas]] (the BigBad despite being a literal dragon) has [[TheChessmaster Gwafa Hazid]], [[TheBrute Malfegor]], and [[DarkActionGirl Rakka Mar]] as minions, but had to go for something extra special to lead them -- Sarkhan Vol, a psychopathic, dragon-worshipping (and perhaps BrainwashedAndCrazy) planeswalker. He also has Tezzeret, a planeswalker he has [[WeCanRebuildHim rebuilt]] after said planeswalker was {{Mind Rape}}d and left for dead by Jace Beleren. Bolas has saved Tezzeret from death twice, so the latter owes the former a significant debt, albeit grudgingly.
** Tezzeret seems to have a knack for the position of Dragon. He stays on as this to Bolas for the next ten years' worth of sets, eventually kicking off Bolas' final master plan by serving as TheHeavy in ''Kaladesh''. He and Bolas both get taken down in ''War of the Spark'', but [[spoiler:Tezzeret seems to have moved to serving the Phyrexians, and again serves as TheHeavy to [[TheEvilGenius Jin-Gitaxias]] in ''Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty''.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films — Animation]]
* [[WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}} Disney's Aladdin]] has Iago, who makes trouble for our heroes in stealing their posessions, decieving them with fake voices, and acting as a sort of sentry before the final conflict. He even gives Jafar ideas about how to proceed (like suggesting that he try and usurp the throne).
* [[spoiler:[[DarkActionGirl Helga]] [[FemmeFatale Katrina Sinclair]]]] from ''WesternAnimation/AtlantisTheLostEmpire'' is this to [[spoiler: Rourke]]. However at the end of the film [[spoiler:Helga is pissed when Rourke throws her off the blimp the two villains are escaping in, and as a result [[LastBreathBullet she shoots down the blimp]] with her FlareGun.]]
* Lefou in ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast'' to Gaston. Lefou is Gaston's primary lackey, sings a whole VillainSong to get his sprits back up, and does his best to menace the Enchanted Objects when Gaston decides to attack the Beast's castle.
* The Creeper from ''WesternAnimation/TheBlackCauldron'', who is the only character in the film that wasn't even in [[Literature/TheChroniclesOfPrydain the books.]]
* Chakal from ''WesternAnimation/TheBookOfLife'', has one in a bearded bandit named Chato who informs him of his medal's whereabouts.
* Molt (Hopper's younger brother) from ''WesternAnimation/ABugsLife''. It ends up being subverted, however, as Molt is largely inept at being evil and has no input on Hopper's decision making. The ''real'' Dragon ends up being [[RightHandAttackDog Thumper]], whom Hopper ''actually'' uses to get make examples of the ants.
* ''Franchise/CareBears''
%%** Nicholas is the dragon to the evil book in ''WesternAnimation/TheCareBearsMovie''.
** Christy is this to Dark Heart in ''WesternAnimation/CareBearsMovieIIANewGeneration'', due to a DealWithTheDevil.
%%* Professor Z from ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Cars}} Cars 2]]''.
* Dr. Nefario serves as this for [[NobleDemon Gru]] in ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe''. His main capacity is to create weapons for Gru to use during his supervillain schemes. The EvilMinions also have a high amount of respect for him.
** [[spoiler:he then "temporarily" becomes the Dragon to El Macho]] in the sequel as [[spoiler:the person tasked with transforming the Minions with PsychoSerum]], a vital step in El Macho's plan... until [[spoiler:El Macho sends one of these Minions after Gru's family.]]
* Bruton from ''WesternAnimation/{{Dinosaur}}'' is actually this to Kron. Also, the Carnotaurus Bruton killed in the cave (which results in him being crushed to death by falling rubble) is actually this to um, Carnotaurus.
* Kronk Pepikrankenitz from ''WesternAnimation/TheEmperorsNewGroove'' is the only one of Yzma's minions who knows about her regicide plans and yet he barely qualifies as evil.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheFlightOfDragons'', the evil red wizard Ommadon's Dragon is a literal dragon, Bryaugh, who is defeated by the Hero's literal [[TheLancer Lancer]], Sir Orin. [[spoiler:Sir Orin is a knight who allows Bryaugh to engulf him in flames, then casts his fiery sword into Bryaugh's chest. They both die, though Orin gets better.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/TheGreatMouseDetective'' has Fidget, Ratigan's loyal bat, who is in charge of carrying out all the kidnapping/stealing/trapping that his BigBad boss plans.
* In Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}'', [[BumblingHenchmenDuo Pain and Panic]] are frequently called upon by Hades to assist in his plan to take over the cosmos, namely by turning baby Hercules mortal at the beginning and serving as his eyes and ears on Earth.
* ''WesternAnimation/HerculesPureMagic'' has King Eurystheus, who follows [[BigBad Hera]]'s orders to get rid of Hercules, setting most of the plot in motion.
* In Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{The Hunchback of Notre Dame|Disney}}'', Phoebus initially fills this post as [[HangingJudge Minister of Justice Frollo's]] Captain of the Guard. However [[ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight he puts an end to that]] when Frollo burns down a mill full of innocent people, so Frollo promotes Brutish Guard (the tall, muscular half of an EvilDuo with a mustache) to his spot.
* Mirage from ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' to Syndrome. She serves as his second-in-command and plays an integral part in his plans by luring superheroes to his island to fight the Omnidroid.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheInvincibleIronMan'', the leader of the four elemental mini-bosses and The Dragon to the mystically powered Mandarin is an actual dragon, the physically dominating Fin Fang Foom, who gives Iron-man his toughest battle, where the magically powered Mandarin is defeated by reaching out to the Mandarin's host and convincing her to cut the Mandarin's power at its source, the magic rings.
* [[SavageWolf The Wolf Boss]] from ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2'' commands Lord Shen's wolf army. Interestingly his loyalty to his men is stronger than it is to Shen.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegoMovie'': Good Cop Bad Cop is this to [[BigBad Lord Business]] in carrying out the arrest, interrogation, imprisonment and execution of plenty of Master Builders over 8 and a half years. However, [[spoiler: [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness Lord Business betrays him by abandoning him to die in the self-destructing Think Tank at the peak of his masterplan]], leading to his HeelFaceTurn]].
* Shenzi, the leader of the hyena pack from ''WesternAnimation/{{The Lion King|1994}}'' works this way, especially since Scar doesn't want to reveal his role as the BigBad.
* Undertow the tiger shark from ''[[WesternAnimation/{{The Little Mermaid|1989}} The Little Mermaid II]]'' is this to Morgana. Also, Benjamin the manatee to Marina del Rey in ''[[{{Prequel}} The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning]]'' Don't forget Flotsam and Jetsam to Ursula from The Original.
* Tempest Shadow is this to the Storm King in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyTheMovie2017''
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'' has Minion, who helps design his costume and is the only friend he has. Since Megamind has become a superhero, Minion will now be his sidekick instead of his Dragon.
* [[spoiler:Mr. Waternoose]] from ''WesternAnimation/MonstersInc'' [[spoiler:decides to work with Randall as his henchman to kidnap children and extract their screams in order to save the company.]]
* Mr. Smee from ''WesternAnimation/PeterPan'' to Captain Hook.
* Wiggins from ''WesternAnimation/{{Pocahontas}}''. Curiously enough, both him and the film's BigBad are both voiced by Creator/DavidOgdenStiers.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheProphet'': The Commandant is in charge, but its the Sergeant who enacts his will; be that leading the soldiers, retrieving Mustafa, or [[spoiler:destroying Mustafa's work to ensure his legacy will be gone]].
* Snoops from ''WesternAnimation/TheRescuers'', Madame Medusa's bumbling BeleagueredAssistant.
%%* Nigel from ''WesternAnimation/{{Rio}}''.
* In the Creator/{{Disney}} version of ''WesternAnimation/RobinHood1973'', the Sheriff of Nottingham is clearly Prince John's Dragon. He's a constant physical threat, leads the squads of {{Mooks}} in their attempts to capture Robin, constantly (and relatively loyally) takes orders from his (somewhat) brighter boss, and serves as Robin's final opponent during the movie's climatic battle. Not bad for an [[StoutStrength overweight]] [[FunnyAnimal wolf]] with a Southern [[AnachronismStew accent]].
%% WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerbTheMovieAcrossTheSecondDimension has Perry the Platyborg (a [[UnwillingRobotification Cyborgized]] Perry-2) is this to Doofinshmirtz-2.
* ''Animation/RoadsideRomeo'' has Chhainu, Charlie Anna's [[ButtMonkey bumbling]] top enforcer.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Robots}}'': [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Ratchet]] to [[MyBelovedSmother his mother]], Madame Gasket.
* In ''Animation/TheSnowQueen2012'', the Snow Queen controls the powerful North Wind.
* Dennis in ''WesternAnimation/TheSpongebobSquarepantsMovie'' is an example of a hired one.
* Mr. Lickboot, the lawyer who works for Robyn's family from ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerryTheMovie'' is this for the movie's antagonist, Pristine Figg.
%%* Big Baby in ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3''.
* In the obscure movie ''WesternAnimation/TwiceUponATime'', The BigBad Synonamess Botch has a dragon in the form of Ibor, a giant mechanical gorilla with a television for a face. (Neatly, one of the clips that turns up on said face is of Darth Vader from ''The Empire Strikes Back'' -- Creator/GeorgeLucas executive produced this film.)
* ''Animation/WhiteSnake2019'': The "Little Daoist" is The General's apprentice and his main enforcer. He also shows hints to be a DragonWithAnAgenda, trying to capture Blanca on his own so he doesn't have to share the credit with The General, but he's defeated before it comes to that.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]
* In Rhapsody (of Fire)'s musically told-fantasy-epic, the Algalord Saga, [[BigBad Akron the Black King]], prone to ravaging every proverbial puppy in the story is served loyally by TheDragon Dargor, a fearless and [[NobleDemon honourable]] half-demon warrior prince, who is apparently so awesome as to warrant an entire song of his own (with two variations!). All of this is a fairly transparent foreshadowing of [[spoiler:Dargor's HeelFaceTurn at the climax of the story.]] And HOW!
* [[spoiler: Cyborg]] Noodle acts as one to Murdoc in the Music/{{Gorillaz}} canon.
* Nikki acts as this for Doctor X in Music/{{Queensryche}}'s ''Music/OperationMindcrime.''
* In the Music/EvilliousChronicles, [[MonsterClown Lemy]] [[CreepyChild Abelard]] and Gear serve as these for Pere Noël and the awakened vessels, respectively.
[[/folder]]

%%[[folder:Pinballs]]
%%* Both Mini-Me and Fat Bastard are prominently featured on the playfield of ''Pinball/AustinPowers''.
%%* ''Pinball/FlashGordon'' has Kala and Klytus, who are seen on the slingshop bumpers beside Ming himself.
%%* Starscream fits this role for the Decepticons in ''Pinball/{{Transformers}}''
%%* Following its playing-card naming motif, ''Pinball/LightsCameraAction'' has "Jack," the BigBad's enforcer.
%%* In ''Pinball/PopeyeSavesTheEarth,'' the Sea Hag is this for Bluto.
%%[[/folder]]

%%[[folder:Podcasts]]
%%* ''Podcast/WelcomeToNightVale''[='s=] [[EvilCounterpart Kevin]] seems to be one to [[FauxAffablyEvil Lauren]].
%%[[/folder]]

[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
* [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vince [=McMahon=]]], being WWE's owner and BigBad, has had a LOT of [[TheDragon Dragons]] throughout the years. Wrestlers who have been Vince's [[TheDragon Dragon]] include: Wrestling/MickFoley, [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock]], Wrestling/TheUndertaker, Wrestling/TripleH, Wrestling/KurtAngle, Wrestling/BigShow(when he wasn't TheBrute), Wrestling/BrockLesnar, Wrestling/{{Batista}}, Wrestling/EricBischoff, etc. Even Wrestling/HulkHogan was this when Vince brought in the nWo to help him kill WWE, though they didn't interact much until Hogan turned face and feuded with Vince. Perhaps the most shocking was Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin, Vince's ArchEnemy, who became Vince's [[TheDragon Dragon]] in order to be WWE champion.
* [[Wrestling/ShaneMcMahon Shane [=McMahon=]]] was Vince [=McMahon=]'s most consistent [[TheDragon Dragon]]. He started off as a non-action one, serving as Vince's second-in-command and letting whoever was the [[CoDragons other dragon]] do most of the fighting, but over time began wrestling more frequently and he eventually TookALevelInBadass so that he played a more physical one as well.
* '''[[Wrestling/ArnAnderson ARN ANDERSON]]''': Basically made a career as "The Enforcer" of the Four Horsemen, always there as the second-in-command to Wrestling/RicFlair. Even the one time they were at odds in September-October 1995, it was all a setup for Flair to turn on Wrestling/{{Sting}} at ''Wrestling/{{WCW}} Halloween Havoc 1995'' and reform the Horsemen with Wrestling/BrianPillman, and Wrestling/ChrisBenoit being added the next night on ''Wrestling/WCWMondayNitro''.
* In wrestling, AsskickingEqualsAuthority. Therefore, usually if you're going to have a Dragon, it's in a situation similar to [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vince [=McMahon=]]] and Wrestling/TheCorporation -- a CorruptCorporateExecutive as the BigBad and his hand-picked champion as TheDragon. Some examples...
** [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock]] to Vince [=McMahon=] in Wrestling/TheCorporation
** Wrestling/HulkHogan to Wrestling/Eric Bischoff in the Wrestling/NewWorldOrder (although Hogan was more of a DragonInChief)
** Wrestling/TheUndertaker to Vince [=McMahon=] in The Corporate Ministry
** Wrestling/TripleH to Wrestling/VinceMcMahon in the [=McMahon=]-Helmsley regime.
** Wrestling/RandyOrton, Wrestling/SethRollins, and Wrestling/{{Sheamus}} have all played this role for Wrestling/TheAuthority.
* [[Wrestling/{{Meng}} Meng[=/=]Haku]] made a career out of playing TheDragon to various heels. He Dragoned for Wrestling/BobbyHeenan, Colonel Robert Parker, Wrestling/KevinSullivan (during the Wrestling/DungeonOfDoom), and his final mainstream wrestling role was The Dragon to Wrestling/{{Rikishi}} during Rikishi's attempted main event heel push.
* Wrestling/{{CHIKARA}} had a rare subversion of the AsskickingEqualsAuthority with Wrestling/DieBruderschaftDesKreuzes (BDK). The stable's top wrestler was Wrestling/ClaudioCastagnoli, but the real mastermind behind the whole thing was Claudio's tag partner Ares.
* Wrestling/JackSwagger played this role to Wrestling/MichaelCole during Cole's feud with Wrestling/JerryLawler.
** As Jake Hager in Wrestling/AllEliteWrestling, he became the Dragon for heel champion Wrestling/ChrisJericho.
* Wrestling/JohnLaurinaitis had David Otunga as one...who at one point [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere left him]] during a match against Wrestling/JohnCena.
* Wrestling/DolphZiggler seemed to be playing the role of TheDragon to Wrestling/VickieGuerrero, until he went out on his own, aligned himself with Wrestling/AJLee and now has Big E. Langston on his side.
* In Wrestling/AllEliteWrestling, Wardlow became the Dragon for MJF during the latter's feud against Wrestling/CodyRhodes.
%%* Most recently, Wrestling/RandyOrton to BigBad Wrestling/TripleH.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Radio]]
* ''Radio/AdventuresInOdyssey'': During the Novacom Saga, Mr. Charles is assumed to be to the BigBad; it's eventually revealed that he's only second-in-command, and the real mastermind is someone [[TheGhost who's often referenced but never appears]] until the finale, "The Chairman."
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Roleplay]]
* In ''Roleplay/SurvivalOfTheFittest'', the main Dragon to [[BigBad Danya]] (although he has a number of prominent henchmen) is Steve Wilson, who was effectively in charge of orchestrating a whole slew of the kidnappings which comprised Version 2 of SOTF. However, the three other members of the so-called [[FourIsDeath "Big Four"]] -- Jim Greynolds, Melvin Carter and Sonia Nguyen -- [[CoDragons could each be considered a dragon in their own right]]; it's up to interpretation who is the official right-hand man.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* This is literally the scenario in the ''Age of Worms'' campaign where the BigBad's second in command is a [[spoiler:dracolich]]. And that character has their own Dragon, who is [[spoiler:a vampiric silver dragon]].
* The Herald from the ''Franchise/CthulhuMythos'' board game, ''TabletopGame/ArkhamHorror''. Giving the [[BigBad Ancient One]] a Herald greatly increases the [[NintendoHard difficulty]] of the game and every expansion adds a new Herald to the pool.
* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'':
** In the cosmology, Dagon serves as TheDragon for Demogorgon, he closest thing the Demons have to a leader. It's hinted, though, that Dagon does this [[DragonWithAnAgenda because it's a convenient cover for his own plans]], and that he gets quite a bit more out of the bargain than Demogorgon (for one, Demogorgon is on pretty much everyone else's hitlist, be they rival demon lords, archdevils, celestial paragons or even some deities and mortals. Dagon? Not so much). He may even be [[TheManBehindTheMan the Obyrith behind the Tanar'ri]].
** Also in the ''Dungeons & Dragons'' cosmology, Tiamat (the evil Dragon Goddess of the [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience chromatic dragons]]) has five dragons (one of each chromatic type) as her Dragons.
** Within the Greyhawk setting, Kas was the right hand man, enforcer, and assassin of the archlich Vecna until he betrayed his master.
** Typically averted with actual dragons: if the players meet an evil dragon it is usually the BigBad of the adventure.
* The ''Franchise/JamesBond'' RPG refers to this character type as the "Privileged Henchman".
* Quite a few in ''TabletopGame/LegendOfTheFiveRings'', as the BigBad [[GodOfEvil Fu Leng]] spends almost all of the story as SealedEvilInACan. During the Clan War, the undead Scorpion shugenja Yogo Junzo opened the first of the [[ArtifactOfDoom Black Scrolls]] that kept Fu Leng imprisoned, and led armies of Shadowlands monsters and undead to find the others. Junzo has his own dragon, [[FallenHero Moto Tsume]].
* Various ''TabletopGame/TheWorldOfDarkness'' games give vampires and mages the ability to create what effectively is their own Dragon. Vampires in both ''TabletopGame/VampireTheRequiem'' and ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'' have ghouls, human slaves who are addicted to vampire blood, inherit a share of the vampire's powers, and generally acts as a vampire's bodyguard and enforcer wherever the vampire him or herself isn't required. ''TabletopGame/MageTheAwakening'' gives mages have their own version of this, called Sleepwalkers. These are humans immune to paradox, that allow mages to do all sorts of nifty, reality bending tricks without a nasty abyssal horror eating their faces off.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theatre]]
* In ''noh'' theater, this archetype is called the ''wakizure'', second to the ''waki'' who is the BigBad.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* In ''WebAnimation/BrokenSaints'', [[spoiler:Gabriel, son of the BigBad Lear Dunham]] generally seems to fill this role in the grand scheme.
* ''WebAnimation/{{Dreamscape}}'': Keela used to be one for the Master of the Dammed, [[TheStarscream but it was all a gambit so she could kill him.]] Kaila was his Dragon before that.
* ''WebAnimation/DSBTInsaniT'': ???'s [[Franchise/{{Digimon}} Tyrannomon]] is this to him. He seems to treat it almost like a partner Digimon.
** Screech is one to Eel, the BigBad.
* Parodied in ''[[WebAnimation/HomestarRunner Dangeresque]]'' with Perducci's "secret weapon", [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Killingyouguy!]].
* ''WebAnimation/HTFPlus'': LG Creepybloom, [[spoiler:later FI Creepybloom]].
* In the ''WebAnimation/MadnessCombat'' series of Flash animations, Jebus/Joe/the one with the halo was originally The Dragon for The Sheriff, but he has since taken over as Hank's arch-nemesis.
* ''WebAnimation/TheMostEpicStoryEverToldInAllOfHumanHistory'': Ridiculously Epic Fail seems to be this to [[BigBad Ridiculously Epic]] in the trailer. Then [[TokenRobot Epic Robot Guy]] becomes an official dragon to Ridiculously Epic in the fifth episode, “The Most Epic Crime-Stopping Mission Ever”. This makes it likely that the two will eventually serve as CoDragons.
* Amaroq in ''WebAnimation/NoEvil'' appears to serve this role to [[EnfantTerrible Charles]], the ten-year-old BigBad.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Videos]]
* In ''WebVideo/DrHorriblesSingAlongBlog'', Moist could technically be seen as Dr. Horrible's Dragon since he's the only henchman he has.
* Simon seems to become TheDragon to [[spoiler:Oswald Sherzikien]] in ''[[WebVideo/TheCartoonMan Return of the Cartoon Man]]'' and ''[[WebVideo/TheCartoonMan Journey of the Cartoon Man]]''.
* [[Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos The Slender Man]] will sometimes use one, such as Albert Conaghan in Blog/SeekingTruth. In WebVideo/MarbleHornets, it's initially implied that totheark is this, but by the end of Season 2 it's fairly clear that totheark has his own agenda while the role of Dragon belongs to [[spoiler: Alex.]]
[[/folder]]