History SoYouWantTo / WriteAMagnificentBastard

* EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas: Having your villain their parents can make said villain more likeable, especially in cultures where familial love is culturally appreciated.

* LaughablyEvil: Just like with the CompleteMonster, a MagnificentBastard ''can'' be funny ([[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 Trazyn the Infinite]]). One point of divergence between this trope and CompleteMonster is that the latter disallows primarily comedic characters ([[WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra Iknik Blackstone Varrick]], [[Film/LittleShopOfHorrors Audrey II]]) or most BlackComedy settings, but here they are considered fair game. Just be sure to ''not'' make them too silly -- excessive silliness may end up costing a character dignity, especially if they're the butt of the joke too much (multiple incarnations of [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Dr. Robotnik/Eggman]]), but as long as you make sure the MB is ''consistently'' portrayed as magnificent, they can still count. An MB should always be funny only because they want to; and if they do, they should do it in a CrossesTheLineTwice manner where they are hilarious but doesn't disminish their threat level. Alternately, you can make your Magnificent Bastard look comical but making it clear that they are still a serious threat ([[VideoGame/{{Cuphead}} Chief Saltbaker]]), just don't go too overboard with it.

* {{Sadist}}[=/=]TerrorHero: While this trope doesn't automatically disqualify someone from becoming magnificent ([[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Kirei Kotomine]], [[Literature/TheHeroLaughsWhileWalkingThePathOfVengeanceASecondTime Ukei Kaito]], [[WesternAnimation/PussInBootsTheLastWish The Wolf/Death]]), it's nonetheless a trope that you'll usually want to avoid. A TerrorHero is acceptable given they don't commit pointlessly cruel acts just to take pleasure at their victims suffering ([[Franchise/{{Doom}} the Doom Slayer]]), but there is a fine line that when crossed, will automatically disqualify your character because the way they kill off and/or torture their enemies are way too gruesome and horrific, and they would become too unsavory to be considered magnificent ([[Franchise/BlazBlue Hazama]], [[Anime/DigimonGhostGame GulusGammamon]], [[Characters/BatmanArkhamSeriesTheScarecrow Arkhamverse!Scarecrow]],[[VideoGame/TheCoffinOfAndyAndLeyley Ashley Graves]]).

* {{Sadist}}[=/=]TerrorHero: While this trope doesn't automatically disqualify someone from becoming magnificent ([[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Kirei Kotomine]], [[Literature/TheHeroLaughsWhileWalkingThePathOfVengeanceASecondTime Ukei Kaito]], [[WesternAnimation/PussInBootsTheLastWish The Wolf/Death]]), it's nonetheless a trope that you'll usually want to avoid. A TerrorHero is acceptable given they don't commit pointlessly cruel acts just to take pleasure at their victims suffering ([[Franchise/{{Doom}} the Doom Slayer]]), but there is a fine line that when crossed, will automatically disqualify your character because the way they kill off and/or torture their enemies are way too gruesome and horrific, and they would become too unsavory to be considered magnificent ([[Franchise/BlazBlue Hazama]], [[Anime/DigimonGhostGame GulusGammamon]], [[VideoGame/TheCoffinOfAndyAndLeyley Ashley Graves]]).

* AxCrazy: This trope should generally be avoided, as making the bastard too violent and taking sadistic glee in inflicting harm will immediately cost them sympathy and sometimes even dignity ([[Characters/DarkNightsMetalTheBatmanWhoLaughs The Batman Who Laughs]], [[Characters/TheDarkKnightTrilogyTheJoker Nolanverse!Joker]]). A Magnificent Bastard should be a {{Pragmatic Villain|y}} who avoids unnecessarily cruel actions.

* {{Pride}}: Giving your Bastard a healthy dose of confidence is necessary, since they are, after all, an admirable schemer or soldier ([[VideoGame/LegacyOfKain Kain]], [[VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou Sho Minamimoto]]). However, this needs to be handled with caution; if their natural confidence and belief in themselves devolves into unwarranted arrogance and ends up getting them foiled or killed, they will degenerate into an insufferable SmugSnake ([[Manga/{{Naruto}} Madara Uchiha]]) and it's a one-way ticket to disqualification from that point on. A MagnificentBastard's confidence must stay ''within reason'' -- their assumptions about their own competence should be more or less the same as the audience's own perception of them.
* PsychopathicManchild: These types characters are usually too petty or egotistical to count ([[Film/HowTheGrinchStoleChristmas 2000!Grinch]]). It's very difficult to play childish and horrific acts and/or motives as an admirable trait, making these types of villains better off being {{Hate Sink}}s or {{Complete Monster}}s. Of course, if it's simply an intelligent character who just has childish hobbies they can count no problem ([[Manga/DeathNote L Lawliet]]), but it’s a hard line to tend by any other definition.

* EvenBadMenLoveTheirMamas: Having your villain love his or her parents can make said villain more likeable, especially in cultures where familial love is culturally appreciated.

* AxCrazy: This trope should generally be avoided, as making the bastard too violent and taking sadistic glee in inflicting harm will immediately cost them sympathy and sometimes even dignity ([[Characters/DarkNightsMetalTheBatmanWhoLaughs The Batman Who Laughs]], [[Characters/TheDarkKnightTrilogyTheJoker NolanVerse!Joker]]). A Magnificent Bastard should be a {{Pragmatic Villain|y}} who avoids unnecessarily cruel actions.

* AxCrazy: This trope should generally be avoided, as making the bastard too violent and taking sadistic glee in inflicting harm will immediately cost them sympathy and sometimes even dignity ([[Characters/DarkNightsMetalTheBatmanWhoLaughs The Batman Who Laughs]]). A Magnificent Bastard should be a {{Pragmatic Villain|y}} who avoids unnecessarily cruel actions.

* FinalSolution / OmnicidalManiac and GenocideTropes in general : Trying to indiscriminately murder anyone in the vicinity will completely vanquish whatever magnificence your character has ([[Series/TensouSentaiGoseiger Brajira]], [[Anime/TropicalRougePrettyCure Butler]], and [[VideoGame/SuperPaperMario Dimentio]] cannot qualify despite being intelligent enough to control even their superiors because they spitefully resort to bringing down billions with them when they lose), and depending on case this can be just as bad as [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil Rape]] or actions done ForTheEvulz. Even simply playing a supporting role in a genocide can lead a character to being too heinous. ([[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist Fuhrer King Bradley]] is ultimately a figurehead that is impartial to the genocide against the Ishvalans and held no ultimate say, but he was fully on-board with facilitating it, and mocked them to their faces when they begged for it to stop.) Unless the mass murder is only a means to the end, [[WellIntentionedExtremist there's a legitimate reason for carrying out the kills]] and/or the enemy is an AlwaysChaoticEvil race that's so pitilessly awful that it ''mandates'' a FinalSolution, of course.

* FinalSolution / KillAllHumans / OmnicidalManiac / SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum / Any and all GenocideTropes or tropes related to mass murder: Trying to indiscriminately murder anyone in the vicinity will completely vanquish whatever magnificence your character has ([[Series/TensouSentaiGoseiger Brajira]], [[Anime/TropicalRougePrettyCure Butler]], and [[VideoGame/SuperPaperMario Dimentio]] cannot qualify despite being intelligent enough to control even their superiors because they spitefully resort to bringing down billions with them when they lose), and depending on case this can be just as bad as [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil Rape]] or actions done ForTheEvulz. Even simply playing a supporting role in a genocide can lead a character to being too heinous. ([[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist Fuhrer King Bradley]] is ultimately a figurehead that is impartial to the genocide against the Ishvalans and held no ultimate say, but he was fully on-board with facilitating it, and mocked them to their faces when they begged for it to stop.) Unless the mass murder is only a means to the end, [[WellIntentionedExtremist there's a legitimate reason for carrying out the kills]] and/or the enemy is an AlwaysChaoticEvil race that's so pitilessly awful that it ''mandates'' a FinalSolution, of course.

* InvincibleVillain[=/=]VillainSue[[invoked]][=/=]MaryTzu: The one thing you probably want to avoid more than anything else is making your Magnificent Bastard TOO magnificent. A Magnificent Bastard is typically built up as a "perfect villain", but they are still characters with flaws and aren't completely unstoppable. A character whose plans always succeed, who always correctly predicts how everyone will react, and who [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomps]] everyone they fight will quickly become [[TheScrappy an object of fan hatred]] and drive the story into OnlyTheAuthorCanSaveThemNow territory, ''especially'' if they [[TheBadGuyWins win in the end]] ([[Manga/ShamanKing Hao Asakura]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2 Caius Ballad]], and [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans Rustal Elion]] all qualify as [=MBs=], but are ''very'' [[BaseBreakingCharacter controversial]] characters within their respective fandoms, as while some fans enjoy them, just as many despise them for never, ever losing and accuse the plot and [[IdiotBall characters]] of bending over backwards to grant them their victories). One of the defining traits of the Magnificent Bastard is that the audience ''likes'' them despite their morally ambiguous actions. Therefore, it is only natural that you might like them quite a bit too. But if you make the supposed MB too perfect, then they'll automatically lose the audience's respect. Give them their victories here and there to show their magnificence, but make them work for it and suffer setbacks too.

* FinalSolution / KillAllHumans / OmnicidalManiac / Any and all GenocideTropes or tropes related to mass murder: Trying to indiscriminately murder anyone in the vicinity will completely vanquish whatever magnificence your character has ([[VideoGame/SuperPaperMario Dimentio]] pettily tries to bring down all existence with him when he loses), and depending on case this can be just as bad as [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil Rape]] or actions done ForTheEvulz. Even simply playing a supporting role in a genocide can lead a character to being too heinous. ([[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist Fuhrer King Bradley]] is ultimately a figurehead that is impartial to the genocide against the Ishvalans and held no ultimate say, but he was fully on-board with facilitating it, and mocked them to their faces when they begged for it to stop.) Unless the mass murder is only a means to the end, [[WellIntentionedExtremist there's a legitimate reason for carrying out the kills]] and/or the enemy is an AlwaysChaoticEvil race that's so pitilessly awful that it ''mandates'' a FinalSolution, of course.

* {{Sadist}}[=/=]TerrorHero: While this trope doesn't automatically disqualify someone from becoming magnificent ([[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Kirei Kotomine]], [[Literature/TheHeroLaughsWhileWalkingThePathOfVengeanceASecondTime Ukei Kaito]]), it's nonetheless a trope that you'll usually want to avoid. A TerrorHero is acceptable given they don't commit pointlessly cruel acts just to take pleasure at their victims suffering, but there is a fine line that when crossed, will automatically disqualify your character because the way they kill off and/or torture their enemies are way too gruesome and horrific, and they would become too unsavory to be considered magnificent ([[Franchise/BlazBlue Hazama]], [[Anime/DigimonGhostGame GulusGammamon]], [[VideoGame/TheCoffinOfAndyAndLeyley Ashley Graves]]).

* AffablyEvil: Making an MB polite or even downright friendly despite their villainy can help to win them further audience sympathy ([[Franchise/{{Saw}} John Kramer]], [[WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}} David Xanatos]]) It's better if your protagonists like them too, as it adds a whole new dimension to the relationship that you can play with ([[VideoGame/BlueArchive Black Suit]]). However, if an MB becomes too friendly, they can become morally white and lose their status.

* ForTheEvulz: This is a trope that most certainly ''never'' goes together with a Magnificent Bastard. Committing evil acts just for the sake of it completely destroys any respect the audience has for a character because of the wanton cruelty inherent to evil actions done for no reason ([[Manga/{{Inuyasha} Naraku]] and most incarnations of [[Franchise/CthulhuMythos Nyarlathotep]] are highly intelligent and charismatic schemers, but their entire motive revolve around harming and killing people just because they could, so they cannot qualify as [=MBs=]). A Magnificent Bastard should have a clear reason behind their most depraved actions and not do them just because they feel like it.

* ForTheEvulz: This is a trope that most certainly NEVER goes together with a Magnificent Bastard. Committing evil acts just for the sake of it diminishes the respect the audience has for them ([[Film/TheDarkKnight Heath Ledger's Joker]], [[Franchise/CthulhuMythos Nyarlathotep]]) and the wanton cruelty inherent to it is a major disqualifier. A Magnificent Bastard should have a clear reason behind their actions and not do them just because they feel like it.

* CompleteMonster: Although some [=MBs=] may seem like this for being how gruesomely vicious they are, only to ultimately not count as a one because of their sparse, yet significant redeeming qualities ([[Manga/MadeInAbyss Bondrewd]], [[VideoGame/AzureStrikerGunvolt Asimov]]), generally speaking, making a Magnificent Bastard a full-blown Complete Monster is something that you want to avoid. The Magnificent Bastard evokes awe in the audience, and grudging respect from the hero (for example: even Franchise/{{Superman}} has acknowledged Luthor's intelligence); while the CompleteMonster evokes fear and loathing, and a certain level of disgust from both. The audience will, on some level at least, want a Magnificent Bastard to stick around. All they want a CompleteMonster to do on the other hand, is die as soon as possible. This isn't to say that the Magnificent Bastard doesn't frighten the hero, but it's in a "I'm not sure I can defeat them" way, not a "Oh my God, I have to stop them before they start raping nuns in the street" way. There's a difference there, and it's very important: No matter how effective a [[TheChessmaster chessmaster]] or [[ManipulativeBastard manipulator]] a CM may be, their deeds will often be so awful that their magnificence will be overshadowed by their evilness ([[Toys/{{Bionicle}} Makuta Teridax]], [[Franchise/{{Danganronpa}} Junko Enoshima]]). Granted, characters can indeed count as both, but they're still a pair of tropes that are very hard to mix together. Though, if you really want to write a character that's both a Complete Monster and a Magnificent Bastard, a general rule is that they will be defined as a Monster through the sheer harm their plans can cause rather than their sadism, while following most of the usual telltale signs of a MB. They can't be any more sadistic than a standard villain especially in the personal crimes department, and their defeat cannot be too undignified ([[VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonExplorers Darkrai]] is a good example; his plan is ''so'' monstrous that it alone makes him go way past the heinous standard and he's portrayed as nothing but an incredibly dangerous criminal, but his most heinous actions out of that are small-scale moves directed against the player character). For further information about what can lead to this, see the SoYouWantTo/WriteACompleteMonster page.

* ForTheEvulz: Committing evil acts just for the sake of it can diminish the magnificence of a villain and therefore the respect the audience has for them ([[Film/TheDarkKnight Heath Ledger's Joker]], [[Franchise/CthulhuMythos Nyarlathotep]]). Likewise, the wanton cruelty inherent to this trope always results in a KickTheDog moment. A Magnificent Bastard should have a clear reason behind their actions and not do them just because they feel like it.

* TheTrickster: While it applies more to the antiheroic version of the MagnificentBastard, a cunning version of TheTrickster has serious skill in matters of cleverness and in defiance of authority. TheTrickster is extremely useful when writing many characters who are liars, scoundrels, or antiheroes who the audience nonetheless loves.

* EvilIsPetty: Gratuitous acts of evil tend to diminish the respect the audience has for a bad guy, ''especially'' if it's small-minded in nature ([[VideoGame/Persona4 Tohru Adachi]], [[WebAnimation/{{RWBY}} Arthur Watts]]). It's not an automatic disqualifier, but it's definitely something a writer should be careful about using if they want to write a Magnificent Bastard.

* FinalSolution / KillAllHumans / OmnicidalManiac / Any and all GenocideTropes or tropes related to mass murder: Trying to indiscriminately murder anyone in the vicinity will completely vanquish whatever magnificence your character has ([[VideoGame/SuperPaperMario Dimentio]] pettily tries to bring down all existence with him when he loses), and depending on case this can be just as bad as [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil Rape]] or actions done ForTheEvulz. Even simply playing a supporting role in a genocide can lead a character to being too heinous. ([[Manga/Fullmetal Alchemist Fuhrer King Bradley]] is ultimately a figurehead that is impartial to the genocide against the Ishvalans and held no ultimate say, but he was fully on-board with facilitating it, and mocked them to their faces when they begged for it to stop.) Unless the mass murder is only a means to the end, [[WellIntentionedExtremist there's a legitimate reason for carrying out the kills]] and/or the enemy is an AlwaysChaoticEvil race that's so pitilessly awful that it ''mandates'' a FinalSolution, of course.

* HairTriggerTemper: Having your character get angered easily can cost them their magnificence ([[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender Jet]], [[WesternAnimation/SpiderManAcrossTheSpiderVerse Miguel O'Hara]], [[Literature/HowToTrainYourDragon Norbert the Nutjob]]). Keep in mind that if a Magnificent Bastard gets angry, it's usually for understandable reasons and they don't go too far in their anger.

* HumanTrafficking: Given how it heavily ties into RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil and SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil, which are two very disqualifying factors in themselves, people should avoid this trope when writing their bastards ([[VideoGame/FarCry4 Pagan Min]] is hilarious and charming, but also a brutal dictator directly involved in a human trafficking ring ran by a woman he is extorting).

* PragmaticHero: A particularly ruthless, visionary, Machiavellian yet well-intentioned pragmatic hero could be a very good choice. As [[Creator/NiccoloMachiavelli Machiavelli]] himself could attest in his book ''Literature/ThePrince'', while ruthless methods may be unavoidable, everything could be distilled down to a greater good for which the character is fighting, especially if they are acting in the interests of a nation.

* FinalSolution / KillAllHumans / OmnicidalManiac / Any and all GenocideTropes or tropes related to mass murder: Trying to indiscriminately murder anyone in the vicinity will completely vanquish whatever magnificence your character has ([[VideoGame/SuperPaperMario Dimentio]] pettily tries to bring down all existence with him when he loses), and depending on case this can be just as bad as [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil Rape]] or actions done ForTheEvulz. Unless the mass murder is only a means to the end, [[WellIntentionedExtremist there's a legitimate reason for carrying out the kills]] and/or the enemy is an AlwaysChaoticEvil race that's so pitilessly awful that it ''mandates'' a FinalSolution, of course.

You all know the character: they're the MagnificentBastard. That villain you LoveToHate. The one who baffles the heroes at every turn with their clever schemes, fights them to a draw with their sheer badassery, and makes everyone else in the show, TheSmartGuy included, look like a total idiot. They're awesome. They're stylish. They're about as great as villainy can get. Or perhaps the MagnificentBastard is an AntiHero, a hero befuddling the enemy with diabolical intellect and brilliance equal to that of a villainous mastermind, yet altogether not unwilling to resort to immoral means in their attempts to ensure their goals, whether those goals are heroic in nature or not.

** In a similar vein, treat the Bastard's VillainousBreakdown with caution; they cannot be breaking down in a way that compromises all of their intellectual high ground and end up getting defeated ([[Manga/DeathNote Light Yagami]]). Anyone can be charming when they're calm and plans go their way, but the very end of their road where things usually never go the characters way is all that matters. If the final part of a confrontation against a supposed MB is just a giant VillainousBreakdown on their end, this part is likely the only thing the audience ever remembers. Occasionally this can be excused in certain circumstances ([[VideoGame/FireEmblemWarriorsThreeHopes Three Hopes!Edelgard]] suffers a horrific and pathetic breakdown in the Azure Gleam route and regresses to a child, but only under a brainwashing spell from Thales that she could not possibly have seen coming, and she still laid the groundwork for Thales’ defeat), but this is rare.

* CompleteMonster: Although some [=MBs=] may seem like this for being how gruesomely vicious they are, only to ultimately not count as a one because of their sparse, yet significant redeeming qualities ([[Manga/MadeInAbyss Bondrewd]], [[VideoGame/AzureStrikerGunvolt Asimov]]), generally speaking, making a Magnificent Bastard a full-blown Complete Monster is something that you want to avoid. The Magnificent Bastard evokes awe in the audience, and grudging respect from the hero (for example: even Franchise/{{Superman}} has acknowledged Luthor's intelligence); while the CompleteMonster evokes fear and loathing, and a certain level of disgust from both. The audience will, on some level at least, want a Magnificent Bastard to stick around. All they want a CompleteMonster to do on the other hand, is die as soon as possible. This isn't to say that the Magnificent Bastard doesn't frighten the hero, but it's in a "I'm not sure I can defeat them" way, not a "Oh my God, I have to stop them before they start raping nuns in the street" way. There's a difference there, and it's very important: No matter how effective a [[TheChessmaster chessmaster]] or [[ManipulativeBastard manipulator]] a CM may be, their deeds will often be so awful that their magnificence will be overshadowed by their evilness ([[Manga/{{Monster}} Johan Liebert]], [[Toys/{{Bionicle}} Makuta Teridax]]). Granted, characters can indeed count as both, but they're still a pair of tropes that are very hard to mix together. Though, if you really want to write a character that's both a Complete Monster and a Magnificent Bastard, a general rule is that they will be defined as a Monster through the sheer harm their plans can cause rather than their sadism, while following most of the usual telltale signs of a MB. They can't be any more sadistic than a standard villain especially in the personal crimes department, and their defeat cannot be too undignified ([[VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonExplorers Darkrai]] is a good example; his plan is ''so'' monstrous that it alone makes him go way past the heinous standard and he's portrayed as nothing but an incredibly dangerous criminal, but his most heinous actions out of that are small-scale moves directed against the player character). For further information about what can lead to this, see the SoYouWantTo/WriteACompleteMonster page.

* ALighterShadeOfBlack: If you really want the audience to root for your character putting them up against a more evil character in an EvilVsEvil situation will go a long way ([[Film/{{KillBill}} TheBride]],[[Series/GameOfThrones Sandor Clegane]]). But using this poorly runs the risk of seeming like we have to root for the character because the other characters are worse and leading to the audience considering it [[TooBleakStoppedCaring too bleak and no longer caring.]] ([[Manga/HappySugarLife Satou Matsuzaka]]).

* PayEvilUntoEvil: If among some of the "[[AssholeVictim victims]]" of your Magnificent Bastard there are villains worse than him and depraved monsters, whether for reasons of justice ([[ComicBook/ThePunisherMAX MAX!Frank Castle]]) or simply to advance goals seen from a purely pragmatic perspective and in favor of certain interests ([[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoIV The U.L. Paper Contact]]), there can be a very strong argument for this trope to apply to them and be cheered on by the same audience.

* UndignifiedDeath: No matter how brilliant your character was, if they're reduced to a sobbing wreck before they're brutally and/or anticlimactically killed, they're simply too undignified to be magnificent. If you want your potential keeper to die, you'll want them to be defeated after a climatic battle or confrontation instead. All that said, there ARE villains who have had not so graceful ends and still qualify as an MB ([[Film/TheDarkKnightRises Nolanverse!Bane]], [[WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil Toffee of Septarsis]]). Just make sure it isn't TOO undignified like the example above.

* WorthyOpponent: This is another way that you can make your Magnificent Bastard appeal to the audience: if they consider the hero a worthy adversary, or is viewed as one by the hero ([[Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba Akaza]], [[Franchise/{{Kirby}} Meta Knight]], [[VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance Jetstream Sam]]). Also, one the bastard's strengths is that they rarely, if ever, underestimates their opponents, so keep this trope firmly in mind when you write their plans. They knows that the hero (or villain if they're playing on the heroic side) is bright, and plans accordingly.

** In a similar vein, treat the Bastard's VillainousBreakdown with caution; they cannot be breaking down in a way that compromises all of their intellectual high ground and end up getting defeated ([[Manga/DeathNote Light Yagami]]). Anyone can be charming when they're calm and plans go their way, but the very end of their road where things usually never go the characters way is all that matters. If the final part of a confrontation against a supposed MB is just a giant VillainousBreakdown on their end, this part is likely the only thing the audience ever remembers.

* BrainwashedAndCrazy[=/=]DemonicPossession: If your character is brainwashed or possessed, they lack agency to begin with and thus cannot be a Magnificent Bastard ([[VideoGame/DevilMayCry Vergil]] spent various years as Mundus' brainwashed minion after getting [[CurbStompBattle brutally defeated by him]]). The character brainwashing or possessing them however, will often count.

* EvilGenius: Nothing exemplifies the magnificence of a Magnificent Bastard better than a villain who is a genius – an extremely intelligent villain whose intellect is their most crucial ability in advancing their goals. This could provide a strong argument for why they are a {{Chessmaster}} and an exceptional [[ManipulativeBastard manipulator]].

* WellIntentionedExtremist: Intentions behind ones crimes are among the most important for if the audience is meant to sympathise or revile your Bastard. In fact sometimes it is just down to intent that makes the difference between a destructive Magnificent Bastard and a CompleteMonster, even when the crime in question is equal or greater. Though be careful about the Well-Intentioned Extremist's VillainousBreakdown and actions, as this may risk them falling into NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist territory and potentially becoming a CompleteMonster KnightTemplar.

* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder[=/=]NoHonorAmongThieves: while some betrayals are acceptable (especially if your character is [[TheMole A Mole]], TheStarscream, or a ConMan) making them betray everyone will make them come off as not magnificent at all, especially if said betrayals come back to bite them. '''That said''', if the constant betrayals of the character are calculated and/or necessary for them to advance toward clear objectives, there can be a strong argument for applying this trope to your character.

* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder[=/=]NoHonorAmongThieves: while some betrayals are acceptable (especially if your character is [[TheMole A Mole]], TheStarscream, or a ConMan) making them betray everyone will make them come off as not magnificent at all, especially if said betrayals come back to bite them.