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10[[quoteright:350:[[{{Franchise/Batman}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/batman_joker_6.png]]]]
11[[caption-width-right:350: "I think [[Characters/BatmanTheCharacter you]] and [[Characters/BatmanTheJoker I]] are [[Film/TheDarkKnight destined to do this forever]]."[[labelnote:Clockwise from top left]]''[[TabletopGame/CerberusEngineGames DC Comics Deck-Building Game: Rivals - Batman vs. The Joker]]''; ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheKillingJoke''; ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamAsylum''; ''[[Film/Batman1989 1989 film]]''[[/labelnote]]]]
12
13->'''Optimus Prime:''' After eons of conflict, I finally see the truth of your words, Megatron.\
14'''Megatron:''' And what might that be, Optimus?\
15'''Optimus Prime:''' This universe, no matter how vast, will never be big enough for you and I to coexist!
16-->-- ''VideoGame/TransformersFallOfCybertron''
17
18An Arch-Enemy, archfoe, archnemesis or simply nemesis is some character's designated and most important enemy.
19
20The Arch-Enemy can be the BigBad, TheDragon, TheRival, an EvilCounterpart, or even a HarmlessVillain. The essential element is that, with them, ItsPersonal. Most typically, the Arch-Enemy is a {{foil}} of some sort, usually a [[MirrorCharacter mirror foil]]. For example, the Arch-Enemy of the physically strong could be very smart. If there is a GreaterScopeVillain, his Arch-Enemy commonly is the GreaterScopeParagon.
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22The Arch-Enemy will stand out from the SuperHero's RoguesGallery -- there will be one opponent where the relationship to the hero and the motivations for battling them are more potent. These feelings may be mutual, felt more by the villain than the hero, or occasionally vice-versa. If one side is an UnknownRival, it won't stay that way for long.
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24A hero's Arch-Enemy is not necessarily the biggest threat to them. ComicBook/LexLuthor is considered Superman's Arch-Enemy; {{ComicBook/Brainiac}} is smarter, and both Brainiac and {{ComicBook/Darkseid}} are vastly more powerful and [[SlidingScaleOfVillainThreat dangerous]], but for Lex -- and, to a lesser extent, for Superman -- it's ''personal'' between them. Additionally, although Superman has battled many foes of great power and strength, Luthor is still seen as his Arch-Enemy because to a general audience, he's viewed as the most iconic and recognizable of all of Superman's rogues.
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26Sometimes, [[WhatIf the hero could have made the same choices as the Arch-Enemy]]: the Arch-Enemy is showing us [[TheDarkSide what he could have become]], as in the case of Batman and the Joker.
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28A hero may possess more than one Arch-Enemy if more than one villain from his RoguesGallery stand out, or if a former Arch-Enemy dies and new one comes in to the picture. As an example, consider ComicBook/SpiderMan: the Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, and Venom have all established themselves as recurring and iconic foes of Spider-Man, each of whom has been considered the wallcrawler's Arch-Enemy at different points in time.
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30Lastly, remember that this generally refers to the enemy the ''hero'' considers to be his Arch-Enemy, and ideally, it should be personal on both sides (though there are plenty of good "ButForMeItWasTuesday"-type Arch Foes out there). Especially in the case of a RoguesGallery, the hero is usually considered an Arch-Enemy to ''all'' of his villains, but he doesn't treat all of them as such. Electro, Rhino, Scorpion, and others all consider Spider-Man their most hated foe, but compared to the Goblin, Venom, or Doc Ock, Spidey regards these guys more like superpowered nuisances. Also, remember that being the BigBad does not automatically make a villain the hero's Arch-Enemy. For instance, it could be that the hero's enmity with TheDragon is far more personal than the one they have with their master. It's ubiquitous enough to have its own trope: ItsPersonalWithTheDragon. Sometimes, a villain becomes the Arch-Enemy of the hero when the villain does something that makes the hero realize that they are BeyondRedemption.
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32Beware of letting an Arch-Enemy fall victim to VillainDecay.
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34See also BreakoutVillain, for those instances when a run-of-the-mill villain ascends to Arch-Enemy status.
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36Not to be confused with various works known as ''{{Nemesis}}''. Also not to be confused with the [[Music/ArchEnemyBand Swedish melodic death metal band]] or the [[Film/Archenemy2020 2020 film]]. Technically, the word "nemesis" originally referred to an agent of ''divine justice'' or retribution for egotistical thinking; thus Batman could be described as Joker's nemesis, but not vice versa.
37----
38!!Examples:
39[[index]]
40* ArchEnemy/AnimeAndManga
41* ArchEnemy/ComicBooks
42** ArchEnemy/TheDCU
43** ArchEnemy/MarvelUniverse
44* ArchEnemy/FanWorks
45* [[ArchEnemy/LiveActionFilms Films — Live-Action]]
46** ArchEnemy/MarvelCinematicUniverse
47** ArchEnemy/StarTrek
48** ArchEnemy/StarWars
49* {{ArchEnemy/Literature}}
50* ArchEnemy/LiveActionTV
51** {{ArchEnemy/Arrowverse}}
52** ArchEnemy/StarTrek
53** ArchEnemy/{{Whoniverse}}
54* [[ArchEnemy/ProWrestling Professional Wrestling]]
55* ArchEnemy/VideoGames
56* ArchEnemy/{{Webcomics}}
57* ArchEnemy/WebOriginal
58* ArchEnemy/WesternAnimation
59** ArchEnemy/Ben10
60** ArchEnemy/TotalDrama
61* ArchEnemy/OtherMedia
62[[/index]]
63----
64!!Related tropes:
65[[index]]
66* AnimalNemesis: When the enemy is a non-sapient animal.
67* AntagonistInMourning: When the enemy mourns for TheHero.
68* BeyondRedemption: When the hero realizes that the villain will never make a HeelFaceTurn.
69* BigBad: Usually though not always, the hero's closest enemy is often the main villain of the story as well.
70* BigBadFriend: When the hero's worst enemy turns out to have once been their good friend.
71* CainAndAbel: When siblings are each other's worst enemies.
72* ClassicVillain: An archetypal villain who is characterized by a [[EmbodimentOfVice particular sin or vice]].
73* CreateYourOwnHero: This villain is often the one who sets the hero on their heroic path, through their evil deeds motivating the hero to bring them down or set right what the villain did wrong.
74* CreateYourOwnVillain: Conversely, many Arch Enemies are created by a hero's own mistakes or misdeeds.
75* DrivenByEnvy: The villain is motivated by envy that the hero has something they don't.
76* ElementalRivalry: The hero and the villain have powers over elements that contrast in nature.
77* EnemyMine: When TheHero and his enemy work together for a common goal.
78* EvilCounterpart: The enemy is the moral opposite of the hero.
79* EvilFormerFriend: When the arch-enemy used to be your best friend.
80* EvilVersusEvil: A villain opposes another villain.
81* FamilialFoe: The villain is the arch-enemy to an entire family, especially if they happen to be immortal.
82* FriendlyEnemy: When the hero and the villain are actually relatively chummy with each other, to the point of being best frenemies.
83* ItsPersonalWithTheDragon: When TheDragon rather than the BigBad is the arch-enemy in question.
84* JokerImmunity: You want to keep the villain around to be an arch enemy.
85* LukeIAmYourFather: The villain is the hero's long lost family member.
86* NemesisMagnet: What's better than one arch enemy? Multiple!
87* NotSoDifferentRemark: Two enemies find out they have one thing in common. Stated InUniverse.
88* OminousAdversarialAmusement
89* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: The enemy doesn't want anyone defeating TheHero except him.
90* PickOnSomeoneYourOwnSize: The hero is a child and their enemy is an adult.
91* TheResenter: Someone who actively resents another for their success.
92* RivalFinalBoss
93* RivalTurnedEvil: When TheRival becomes TheHero's greatest enemy.
94* RivalsTeamUp
95* SitcomArchNemesis: TheHero and his co-worker have a petty rivalry that's PlayedForLaughs.
96* {{Supervillain}}: The enemy of the {{Superhero}}.
97* UnknownRival: The hero doesn't acknowledge the villain as an enemy.
98* VillainTakesAnInterest: The villain becomes personally intrigued by the hero.
99* WorthyOpponent: The villain respects the hero as an equal (or vice versa).
100* YearningForANemesis: When someone actually desires to have their own personal opponent.
101* YouKilledMyFather: The hero and villain are enemies because the villain killed the hero's loved one(s).
102[[/index]]

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