History PlayingWith / VillainDecay

* '''Averted''': He keeps his menacing stature throughout the series, despite failures.

** The villain starts out a sadistic, genocidal monster who destroys cities and and innocent lives ForTheEvulz, then in his ''very next appearance'', he becomes a [[LaughablyEvil humorous]], IneffectualSympatheticVillain who hilariously fails at everything EvilPlan he tries. (Usually involving [[HarmlessVillain covering people's houses with toilet paper]].)

** The villains true defeat was years ago, early in the heroes' adventure. What we're witnessing is their slow and steady fall into exile as resources, willpower, and general influence dwindle. [[RealLifeWritesThePlot Many real-world despots ended up going this route when they weren't killed at the height of their power]].
** The conflict is a metaphor for [[MentalHealthRecoveryArc mental health recovery]] and the villain [[TheHeartless represents]] the disorder. Disorders never truly vanish, let alone all at once, but become more manageable over time until it becomes little more than an annoyance.

* The villain is [[DespairEventHorizon slowly losing hope]] in realizing their goals, causing him to stand less of a chance against the heroes and thus perpetuate the ViciousCycle.

** The villain won last time but in but doing so ended up inflicting critical injuries to him and draining most of his resources, with any followers he ''may'' have had now dead, [[TheStarscream defecting]], doing a MookFaceTurn or simply in jail. He's going to go down a lot easier this time around because he has less.

** The writers don't know what to do with the villain to keep him relevant after he's defeated so many times.

** The villian was an InvincibleVillain, and was weakened so that it actually could be beaten, even if you have to [[BrokeYourArmPunchingOutCthulhu break your arm]] to do it.

** The villain started off being on mostly equal terms with the hero, beating him after a hard fight. In the second fight, it ends in a draw. The third time, the hero barely ekes out a win.

'''Basic Trope''': Villain gets progressively less menacing, even after he started out [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomping the hero]].
* '''Straight''': A villain starts out strong and a genuine threat to the heroes, but later becomes more and more incompetent against them.

** The villain is consistently [[MegatonPunch punched into space]] every time he steps into frame.
** The villain starts out a sadistic, genocidal monster who destroys cities and and innocent lives ForTheEvulz, then in his ''very next appearance'', he becomes a [[LaughablyEvil humorous]], IneffectualSympatheticVillain who hilariously fails at everything evil plan he tries. (Usually involving [[HarmlessVillain covering people's houses with toilet paper]].)
** The villain nearly kills the hero the first time they fight but in the second meeting, the villain is killed almost immediately.

** The villain starts out being the main issue of the show, even episodes that didn't focus on him personally ended up being part of the plot to destroy him or part of his plans. In later episodes, he's no longer the only villain and preparation to defeat him takes a lot less.

** The villain may have had a narrow failure after sending most of the rebellion into comas or the morgue, but doing so ended up inflicting critical injuries to him and draining most of his resources, with any followers he ''may'' have had now dead, [[TheStarscream defecting]], doing a MookFaceTurn or simply in jail. He's going to go down a lot easier this time around.
** The villain was going after the heroes instead of actually training and no longer learns new skills.
** LinearWarriorsQuadraticWizards

** It's the [[BadassDecay hero who gets less capable]].
* '''Subverted''': He ''seems'' to be going through decay, but it's all part of one elaborate plot...
* '''Double Subverted''': ...Which falls flat on it's face, causing the villain to get more pathetic.

** During the final showdown, a split-screen effect shows the first battle on one side (the past) and the current one (real time in-universe). A voiceover from one of the heroes points out AllTheMyriadWays in which the two confrontations differed.

* '''Averted''':
** He keeps his menacing stature throughout the series, even after all the circumstances.
** He stays as menacing, and might even become more menacing than before.

** The writers plan on making him more human, [[HeelFaceTurn switch sides]], or other circumstances that may change his cynical personality.
** The writers eventually just don't know what to do with the villain to keep him relevant after he's defeated so many times.

* '''Invoked''': The BigBad purposely decreases the power of his minions somehow, to give the heroes a false sense of security before facing him.
* '''Exploited''': The heroes wait awhile to rebattle a powerful enemy.
* '''Defied''': The villain assiduously endeavors to remain as powerful as ever, even learning from his mistakes.
* '''Discussed''': "Lord Facestomp shows up in the sequel, but only as a cameo."
* '''Conversed''': "Apparently, the guy who [[ColonyDrop almost crashed an asteroid into NORAD]] gets defeated in the first 10 minutes of ''[[Series/{{Community}} Kickpuncher 2]]''."

* '''Deconstructed''': The villain is going through progressively tough times, meaning that he's losing his threatening stride...
* '''Reconstructed''':
** ...Doesn't mean that he's not out of business, though.
** The writers give him a villainous DyingMomentOfAwesome.

'''Basic Trope''': Villain gets progressively less menacing, even after he started out [[CurbStompBattle curb stomping the hero]].

* '''Downplayed''':

** The villain started off being on mostly equal terms with the hero, beating him after a hard fight. In the second fight, it ends in a draw. The third time, the hero barely pulls out a win.

** The villain gets [[FromNobodyToNightmare more menacing after his first appearances.]]
** It's the [[BadassDecay hero who gets less capable.]]

* '''Enforced''':

* '''Lampshaded''': The heroes recall that the villain used to be such a threat, but turned into a joke as soon as they beat him.

* '''Defied''': The villain continues to be as powerful as ever, even learning from his mistakes.

* '''Conversed''': "Apparently, the guy who [[ColonyDrop almost crashed an asteroid into NORAD]] gets defeated in the first 10 minutes of ''Kickpuncher 2''."

Look upon my DiminishingVillainThreat, ye mighty, and despair!

%%* '''Implied''': ???

** The villain starts out a sadistic, genocidal monster who destroys cities and and innocent lives ForTheEvulz, then in his ''very next appearence'', he becomes a [[LaughablyEvil humorous]], IneffectualSympatheticVillain who hilariously fails at everything evil plan he tries. (Usually involving [[HarmlessVillain covering people's houses with toilet paper]].)

** The villain starts out being the main issue of the show, even episodes that didn't focus on him personally ended up being part of the plot to destroy him or part of his plans. In later episiodes, he's no longer the only villain and preparation to defeat him takes a lot less.
** The villain started off being on mostly equal terms with the hero, beaitng him after a hard fight. In the second fight, they ended up stalemating with no winner. The third time, the hero barely pulls out a win.

** The Villain was going after the heroes instead of actually training and no longer learns new skills.

* '''Conversed''': "The guy who [[ColonyDrop almost crashed an asteroid into NORAD]] gets defeated in the first 10 minutes of ''Kickpuncher 2''? [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks LAME]]."

** The writers give him a villainous CrowningMomentOfAwesome before [[KilledOffForReal killing him off for real]].

** It's the hero who gets less capable.

[[redirect:PlayingWith/DiminishingVillainThreat]]

'''Basic Trope''': Villain gets progressively less menacing, even after he started out [[CurbStompBattle curb stomping the hero]].
* '''Straight''': The villain is beaten every single time he fights.
* '''Exaggerated''': The villain is consistently [[MegatonPunch punched into space]] every time he steps into frame.
** The villain starts out a sadistic, genocidal CompleteMonster who destroys cities and and innocent lives ForTheEvulz, then in his ''very next appearence'', he becomes a [[LaughablyEvil humorous]], IneffectualSympatheticVillain who hilariously fails at everything evil plan he tries. (Usually involving [[HarmlessVillain covering people's houses with toilet paper]].)
* '''Justified''': The heroes get stronger and figure out more of the villain's weaknesses, giving them a better advantage.
** The villain may have had a narrow failure after sending most of the rebellion into comas or the morgue, but doing so ended up inflicting critical injuries to him and draining most of his resources, with any followers he ''may'' have had now dead, [[TheStarscream defecting]], doing a MookFaceTurn or simply in jail. He's going to go down a lot easier this time around
** The Villain was going after the heroes instead of actually training and no longer learns new skills
** LinearWarriorsQuadraticWizards
* '''Inverted''': The villain gets ''more'' menacing after his first appearances.
** It's the hero who gets less capable.
* '''Subverted''': He ''seems'' to be going through decay, but it's all part of one elaborate plot...
* '''Double Subverted''': ...Which falls flat on it's face, causing the villain to get more pathetic.
* '''Parodied''': The villain declares he's had it with the heroes always kicking his butt and gives up world domination for [[HonestJohnsDealership selling used cars]].
** Because there's NoFourthWall, the heroes (or the producers) tell him to improve his game or risk being DemotedToExtra.
* '''Deconstructed''': The villain is going through progressively tough times, meaning that he's losing his threatening stride...
* '''Reconstructed''': ...Doesn't mean that he's not out of business, though.
** The writers give him a villainous CrowningMomentOfAwesome before [[KilledOffForReal killing him off for real]].
* '''Zig Zagged''': The villain goes from being a legitimate threat to a weakling on several occasions.
* '''Averted''': He keeps his menacing stature throughout the series, even after all the circumstances.
** He stays as menacing, and might even become more menacing than before.
* '''Enforced''': The writers plan on making him more human, [[HeelFaceTurn switch sides]], or other circumstances that may change his cynical personality.
* '''Lampshaded''': The heroes recall that the villain used to be such a threat, but turned into a joke as soon as they beat him.
* '''Invoked''': The BigBad purposely decreases the power of his minions somehow, to give the heroes a false sense of security before facing him.
* '''Exploited''': The heroes wait awhile to rebattle a powerful enemy.
* '''Defied''': The villain continues to be as powerful as ever, even learning from his mistakes.
* '''Discussed''': "Lord Facestomp shows up in the sequel, but only as a cameo."
* '''Conversed''': "The guy who [[ColonyDrop almost crashed an asteroid into NORAD]] gets defeated in the first 10 minutes of ''Kickpuncher 2''? [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks LAME]]."
----
Look upon my VillainDecay, ye mighty, and despair!
----

** It's the hero who gets less capable

* '''Straight''': The Villain is beaten every single time he fights.

* '''Justified''': The heroes get stronger and figure out more of the Villains weaknesses, giving them a better advantage.
* '''Inverted''': The Villain gets ''more'' menacing after his first appearances.

* '''Parodied''': The Villain declares he's had it with the heroes always kicking his butt and gives up world domination for [[HonestJohnsDealership selling used cars]].
* '''Deconstructed''': The Villain is going through progressively tough times, meaning that he's losing his threatening stride...

* '''Zig Zagged''': The Villain goes from being a legitimate threat to a weakling on several occasions.

* '''Defied''': The Villain continues to be as powerful as ever, even learning from his mistakes.
* '''Discussed''': "Lord Facestomp shows up in [[{{Sequelitis}} the sequel]], but only as a cameo."

* '''Exploited''': The hero's wait awhile to rebattle a powerful enemy.

* '''Exploited''': The hero's wait awhile to rebattle a powerful enemy

* '''Invoked''': The BigBad purposely decreases the power of his minions somehow, to give them a false sense of security before facing him.

* '''Invoked''':

* '''Invoked''': "I can't believe we used to be afraid of this guy!"