Line #336 Main/MeleeATrois


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4	[[quoteright:350:[[Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMansChest https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/three_pirates_9.jpg]]]]
5	[[caption-width-right:350:Left to right: A blacksmith, a pirate captain, and a disgraced Naval Commander. Each seeks the chest for his own desires.]]
6
7	->'''Gabe:''' Well, isn't the enemy of your enemy, like, your friend? Or whatever? Can't they team up?\
8	'''Tycho:''' Not exactly. In ''this'' setting, the enemy of your enemy is still a floating, greasy, armored ''brain''.\
9	'''Gabe:''' Well, what about ''his'' enemy? Maybe you could be friends with him.\
10	'''Tycho:''' No, because ''that'' guy is a mechanical horror in an undying battle shell. He sails from world to world in a flying tomb, serving gods who eat ''hope''.
11	-->-- ''Webcomic/PennyArcade'' (on ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000''), [[http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/03/05/in-the-grim-etcetera "In the Grim Etcetera"]]
12
13	This is any fight where there are ''at least'' three sides involved (i.e., against each other), with no prearranged alliances.
14
15	We can be talking individuals or armies, although the version with the individuals is usually more fun since the army one often degenerates fast into a free for all. Often noted by directors and fight coordinators as being very difficult to set up or film properly, although often worth it for the aforementioned fun if they manage to pull it off right.
16
17	Almost always begins as a MexicanStandoff as the various sides try to figure out who to shoot or stab or fireball first. Things get particularly fun if you have several guys with a [[GunsAkimbo gun in each hand]], each trying to keep aim on the other two targets simultaneously. Expect a lot of sweating, twitching, and flicking eyes until the [[BlastOut inevitable happens]].
18
19	This trope calls for no prearranged alliances, because then it's not really three-sided -- unless there are so many sides involved that even taking prearranged alliances into account, there are still at least three sides! However, it is fairly common that after a short amount of fighting, two of the sides will accidentally or on purpose end up [[EnemyMine ganging up]] on the third, often with an unspoken agreement to finish dealing with each other once the third side is out of the way. As a general rule, at the very least two of the sides will have to be in an EvilVersusEvil scenario and at the very most ''everyone'' involved.
20
21	Often enough, this alliance will be helped along when the third side assumes that all its foes are on the same side.
22
23	Alternatively, if neither side can win the battle on their own, the outcome depends entirely on whom the weakest of the three will ally themselves with, resulting in the KingmakerScenario.
24
25	[[TakeAThirdOption As another alternative]], a particularly devious side may manipulate the others into LetsYouAndHimFight, then go after whoever is left.
26
27	In a video game, especially a FirstPersonShooter, 99% of the time the three sides will consist of the player and any allies vs. enemy soldiers vs. some sort of mutants/aliens/zombies.
28
29	The trope name comes from the French phrase "Ménage à trois", which basically means a [[ThreeWaySex threesome.]] Who knows if that's connected to what this trope means.
30
31	No real relation to ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosMelee'', [[MascotFighter although that trope appears quite prominently in that series as a whole]].
32
33	Compare GambitPileup, which is like this trope but with gambits instead of fights. Can be a result of CollidingCriminalConspiracies.
34
35	----
36	!!Example subpages:
37	[[index]]
38	* MeleeATrois/AnimeAndManga
39	* MeleeATrois/FanWorks
40	* MeleeATrois/{{Film}}
41	* MeleeATrois/{{Literature}}
42	* MeleeATrois/LiveActionTV
43	* MeleeATrois/VideoGames
44	* MeleeATrois/RealLife
45	[[/index]]
46
47	!!Other examples:
48	[[foldercontrol]]
49
50	[[folder:Board Games]]
51	* ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sannin_shogi Sannin shogi]]'' is a kind of chess with 3 players playing against each other. However, an alliance is automatically formed if two players gang up on the third.
52	* ''TabletopGame/{{Diplomacy}}'' features ''seven'' sides, and the only good way to get an advantage is by convincing other players to join with you in ganging up on somebody else. Since the rules are explicitly designed to allow you to lie to other players about what you are going to do in your next move, things quickly get crazy. Many players have remarked that playing Diplomacy is a good way to ruin friendships.
53	** And that's just the original; many variants can have up to eleven players, but these boards tend not to be as balanced as the original, so some countries are doomed from the start unless the player is exceptionally good.
54	* This is actually quite common in board games, whether the games range from simple to mind-bogglingly complex. Consider ''TabletopGame/{{Risk}}'' and its variants, ''TabletopGame/TwilightImperium'', Dirk Henn's ''Shogun'', and dozens of other examples. Heck, even a lot of games that prohibit direct conflict, like ''TabletopGame/SettlersOfCatan'', ''TabletopGame/{{Monopoly}}'', etc., allow for the same dynamic as this trope -- if you excuse a broad enough definition of "conflict".
55	[[/folder]]
56
57	[[folder:Card Games]]
58	* This is part of the draw of ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'''s Commander format. Up to four players, each trying to beat the other three with large amounts of short-term alliances, politicking, deception and backstabbing, each with higher than normal starting life totals and each with a deck consisting of one "commander" and 99 cards which all have to be distinct from one another outside of basic lands, and since the cards can be from anywhere in the game's history there are limitless ways in which the players can screw each other over, leading to long, convoluted {{Gambit Pileup}}s compared to one-on-one tournament formats. There's even sets, fittingly titled ''Conspiracy,'' that promote this environment, set on a plane on which basically the same backstabbing and espianoge takes place on a daily basis in-universe.
59	* The card game ''TabletopGame/{{Munchkin}}'' in all its forms lives and breathes this trope. Although it can be played with only two people, it works perfectly fine up to six with just one box set, and even beyond if you have enough expansions, all of which are a side unto their own.
60	* Also by Creator/SteveJacksonGames, the game ''TabletopGame/{{Illuminati}}'' isn't any fun with fewer than three players. Players can support each other's attacks and defenses, and sides will change rapidly as players approach their respective goals.
61	* TabletopGame/{{Poker}}, and its deformed brother Texas Hold 'Em.
62	* Speaking of poker, the ''TabletopGame/{{Deadlands}}'' CCG ''Doomtown'' (which uses a poker mechanic to resolve shootouts) can be played this way.
63	* ''TabletopGame/SentinelsOfTheMultiverse'': Games that take place in some of the more aggressive Environments can easily become this.
64	** The Enclave of the Endlings' target cards consist solely of powerful aliens that are ''very'' displeased at this invasion of their home, and will rip into hero and villain targets with equal abandon.
65	** Dok'Thorath Capital is enveloped in a civil war, with cards representing both freedom fighters and regime soldiers. They'll attack ''each other'' just as much as they lay into the heroes and villains.
66	** A game with Ra on the team, the Ennead as the villain, and the Tomb of Anubis as the Environment becomes one of these [[GameplayAndStoryIntegration that's supported by game mechanics]] -- Anubis, the Tomb's most powerful card, shares Ra's Nemesis icon with the Ennead, so his attacks will deal increased damage to both them and Ra (and vice versa).
67	[[/folder]]
68
69	[[folder:Comic Books]]
70	* ''[=KnightsEnd=]'', the third and final story arc of ''[[{{ComicBook/Knightfall}} Batman: Knightfall]]'', culminates in a four-way battle between the original Batman, Nightwing and Robin vs. [=AzBats=] vs. Catwoman vs. Selkirk and his goons. The focus is mainly on Bruce Wayne and Jean-Paul, though.
71	* In ''ComicBook/ThePunisherMAX'', the first arc essentially boils down to a giant all-out war between the CIA, [[TheMafia Cesare Family]], and ''every other crime syndicate in New York''. All of whom are trying to get their hands on Frank with the intention of either killing him or recruiting him.
72	* The great big battle at the end of ''ComicBook/{{Lucifer}}'' is between Lucifer, allied with the angels of the Silver City, and Lilith's faction. Halfway through the battle, Christopher Rudd appears leading an army of demons and the damned combined. When his general asks who they're attacking, he responds, "Both. We attack both."
73	* Also seen in Franchise/TheDCU's mega-crossover ''ComicBook/AmazonsAttack''.
74	* ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'':
75	** In one issue: Sonic vs. Scourge vs. Shadow vs. Amy vs. Rosy vs. Rob 'O vs. Metal Sonic vs. Silver... with absolutely no real clear way to tell who's fighting who and when. Though it quickly turns into everyone vs. Scourge when he [[spoiler:turns Super]].
76	** At issue 162-164, it's initially The Freedom Fighters vs. Mammoth Mogul and the Destructix vs. Ixis Naugus and the Arachne fighting for the [[MacGuffin Crown and Sword of Acorn]]. Naugus joins forces with Mogul half-through when he is being told by Mogul that he is the founder of the Order of Ixis and therefore Naugus' master, turning the battle into a simple two-sided war. The battle gets interrupted by Dr. Eggman, however, and he captures Mogul, Naugus, and their forces back to his capital prisons, leaving The Freedom Fighters as the victors, but with the cost of [[spoiler:Sir Connery]].
77	** And during one of the ''[[ADayInTheLimelight Sonic Universe]]'' arcs, we end up with Team Rose (Amy, Cream and Cheese, and Blaze), Team Dark (Shadow, Rouge, and Omega), Team Hooligan (Nack, Bean, and Bark), and the Babylon Rogues all fighting each other over a Sol Emerald. Teams Rose and Dark briefly [[EnemyMine team up]], but by the end of the story, it quickly devolves into a four-way battle.
78	** A later ''Sonic Universe'' arc, ''Pirate Plunder Panic'', briefly becomes one of these as Team Rose and the rival pirate crews of Captain Metal and Captain Whisker fight over control of the last Sol Emerald. However, Whisker's crew gets taken out pretty quickly, leaving it a normal two-way fight.
79	* ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW'':
80	** During the Battle for the Empire saga, it was Sonic, Tails and Belle vs. Dr. Starline, Surge and Kit vs. Dr. Eggman and Metal Sonic; with Surge and Kit planning to betray Starline and kill him along with the rest after the battle. The battle ended with [[spoiler:Dr. Starline]]'s death, concluding his arc in the comic.
81	** In the ''Bad Guys'' miniseries, after when Dr. Starline manages to create a VillainTeamUp, only to have his plan to pull a YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness exposed by Zavok and Mimic in the midst of their raid of one of Dr Eggman's bases, it is Dr. Starline vs. Zavok, Mimic, Rough and Tumble vs. Dr Eggman and his badnik forces.
82	* ComicBook/SpiderMan sometimes gets in between certain [[AntiHero Anti-Heroes]].
83	** He stops ComicBook/GhostRider from killing the [[LegacyCharacter Demonic Hobgoblin]], and then later tries to stop the [[SuperPoweredEvilSide Demogoblin]] from killing the depowered Hobgoblin. None of the parties like the others. Then there is the 2006 story involving all three versions of Mysterio, one of whom is (un)dead at the time.
84	** Half an issue into Eddie Brock's transformation into Anti-Venom, we get a three-way fight between him, Spidey, and the then-current Venom (Scorpion). Spidey and Anti-Venom soon realize they're more or less on the same side and gang up on Mac, but not before Peter quips:
85	--->'''Spider-Man:''' Hey, what's black and white and red all over?
86	* In ''ComicBook/ThroneOfAtlantis'', the battle is initially between the [[Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica Justice League]] and [[BigBad Ocean Master]]'s Atlantean forces. Then [[spoiler:the Trench]] are freed from their watery prison and attacks both sides. [[spoiler:When Aquaman becomes king again, he orders Atlantis to ally with the League and fight the Trench]].
87	* The climax of the Eppy Thatcher arc in ''ComicBook/{{Grendel}}'', with the corrupt Pope's army of fanatics fighting Orion Assante's anti-corruption followers fighting Pellon Cross's horde of vampires, with Eppy acting as a lone agent of chaos and a load of drug-crazed worshippers caught in the middle.
88	* In ''ComicBook/SinestroCorpsWar'', the battle for Earth turns into this toward the end. The Green Lantern Corps and Earth's superheroes are on one side, the [[EvilCounterpart Sinestro Corps]] are on the other, and ComicBook/SuperboyPrime--who was previously affiliated with the Sinestro Corps--is in the middle, fighting everyone else for the hell of it.
89	[[/folder]]
90
91	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
92	* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanMaskOfThePhantasm'' is largely a three-way conflict between Batman, the Phantasm, and Joker, as demonstrated by [[http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/WF/batman/btas/backstage/motpstyleguide/13.gif this]] nifty color guide. By the time they're all gathered in the same place, though, EnemyMine has come into effect.
93	* ''WesternAnimation/IronWithin'': The Dark Eldar attack the Imperial Guard stronghold in the planet for their periodical harvest of prisoners to be enslaved or sacrificed, and since the odds are against the humans the officers decide to use the ancient rituals to summon the Emperor's "angels" (i.e. the Space Marines) which legends say they would come in time of need when called. The calling codes are still functional, what the officers didn't know was that they were linked to a chapter that is now renegade, the Iron Warriors, who effectively come but then proceed to strike both the Dark Eldar and the guardsmen (at least those who show signs of weakness like wavering or do make the imperial salute, which is anathema to the Iron Warriors because they greatly hate the Emperor).
94	* ''Anime/PokemonTheRiseOfDarkrai'', which has the original Japanese title of ''Dialga vs. Palkia vs. Darkrai''. Basically, Dialga and Palkia are having a territorial feud (the reason for which wasn't revealed until two movies later), a battle which they incidentally bring to the town of Los Alamos, Darkrai's home. Darkrai has to protect the town from the two OlympusMons' rampage, making ''him'' the [[DarkIsNotEvil hero of the movie]].
95	* ''Anime/PrincessMononoke'': No less than eight distinct factions, what with San and the Wolves, Ashitaka, Eboshi and Irontown, Jigo and his hunters, the Boars, the Apes, the Deer God, and Asano's samurai. All at cross-purposes. Of course, they aren't all actively trying to kill every other faction, but the resulting tangle is pretty impressive. The main plot revolves around three fractions in midst of a war: there is Lady Eboshi who wants to protect Irontown and expand their mining, the spirits of the forest who want to protect their homes from Irontown's expansion and a samurai warlord who wants Irontown for its wealth.
96	* ''Anime/TekkenBloodVengeance'' has a really impressive brawl between Heihachi Mishima, Kazuya Mishima, and Jin Kazama.
97	[[/folder]]
98
99	[[folder:Logic Puzzles]]
100	* You are in a three-way duel where each duelist takes turns firing one shot at any target. The duel starts with the person who is the worst shot, then passes to the middling shot (if still alive), and then the best shot. The turn keeps rotating until only one person is left. You are by far the worst shot. What is your best strategy to stay alive? [[spoiler:Shoot in the air until one opponent is killed -- the two better shooters will fire at each other until one dies, and you will get the first shot at the survivor.]]
101	[[/folder]]
102
103	[[folder:Music Videos]]
104	* The bizarre abusable child music video addition: What looks like the entire lineup of Music/CobraStarship does one of these with hidden pies around a table piled with cash in the music video for "The City Is at War". This doesn't really constitute a pie fight, however, as they're meant to be basically gun/knife stand-ins, with being pied in the face being a cause of death.
105	[[/folder]]
106
107	[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
108	* Occurs rather often in Professional Wrestling, in the form of a "Triple Threat Match" or "Fatal Four-Way" (those are the terms used by Wrestling/{{WWE}}), or the "Three/Four-Way Dance" (as Wrestling/{{ECW}}[==]Wrestling/{{SMW}} called it).
109	** Wrestling/RingOfHonor uses a combination "four-way" and tag match (separate from a four-way tag team match with eight participants) called "Four Corner Survival," where either of the two 'legal' wrestlers can tag in either of the two wrestlers but only one can win (which is just a cooler name for the old "four corners" match).
110	** Matches can go from Triple-Threat Matches to Fatal Four-ways to Six-Pack Challenges to full scale 20-60 man Battle Royals.
111	* Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin vs. [[Wrestling/DwayneJohnson The Rock]] vs. Wrestling/TripleH in 1999.
112	* This is basically [[WhatCouldHaveBeen how it looked like]] the [=InVasion=] storyline was going to play out. To sum up: after the WWF (later Wrestling/{{WWE}}) very publicly buying out Wrestling/{{WCW}}, it turns out that [[Wrestling/ShaneMcMahon Shane]] pulled some last-second shenanigans and now "owns" it, and a massive WWF/WCW feud builds up. Suddenly from left field comes Wrestling/PaulHeyman and the {{Wrestling/ECW}} Originals, sick of [[TheUnFavorite playing second fiddle]] to the Big Two, especially since their buy out was ''far'' more low-key and basically ignored while their wrestlers were quietly filed into place. [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot But then]], it turned out he was just TheDragon to [[Wrestling/StephanieMcMahon Stephanie]], who was in fact allied with Shane against [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vince]], supposedly set-in-stone contractual alliances changed almost on a weekly basis, only a handful of people from either ECW or WCW were saved from becoming jokes, and by the end of it [[FanonDisContinuity most folks would rather just forget it ever happened]].\
113	It got so bad that when Wrestling/VinceRusso was eventually re-promoted to the position of head writer of the WWE, his first act was supposedly to suggest relaunching the entire debacle again, YEARS after the whole thing was dead and gone. Debate still rages on whether, if true, it was a case of [[ObfuscatingStupidity being so rash as to force them to let him go]] or simply [[TooDumbToLive thinking that doing the exact same thing again would turn out differently]], since obviously [[ViewersAreGoldfish no one would remember how horribly the last one turned out]].
114	* ''IWA Mid-South No Blood, No Guts, No Glory'' in featured a three-way [[GarbageWrestler bloody]] [[GimmickMatches war games]] match between Team IWA, Team NWA and Team Fannin.
115	* Wrestling/{{N\|ationalWrestlingAlliance}}WA Empire's Lord Of The Dance Title and Vendetta Pro Wrestling's Triforce Title could only be won in three-way matches. Wrestling/{{TNA}} tried to enforce this limitation on its X Division but it was negatively received since the X Division title was introduced with no limits as far as who could win it.
116	* The first holder of Wrestling/DragonGate USA's Open The Freedom Gate was decided mostly by a series of multi-man matches. One of the few men to advance in the {{tournament\|arc}} by way of a one-on-one match, [=BxB Hulk=], ended up being the winner.
117	[[/folder]]
118
119	[[folder:Roleplay]]
120	* ''Roleplay/GetThatPizza'': Exaggerated. Literally ''everyone'' is against each other, and anyone will hurt anyone else to get the pizza. Subverted with Bluethorn, [=DrNoPuma=], and [=TropesForever=], who eventually formed their own alliance when it came time for them to post after each other.[[note]]This is because their players are such close friends that they didn't want to hurt each other even in a fictional setting.[[/note]]
121	* Occurs in ''Roleplay/SurvivalOfTheFittest'' on a couple of occasions. For example, Andrew Klock vs. Xian Chun vs. Cole Hudson (becoming Xian and Cole vs. Andrew) and Maxie Dasai vs. Johnathan Rizzolo vs. Emma Babineaux (and turning into Maxie vs. Riz and Emma).
122	* In ''Roleplay/YuGiOhEastAcademy'' there was a battle royale between Justin, Marcus and an NPC called Yikhezkel.
123	* One of ''Roleplay/{{Zeonquest}}'''s [[AlternateUniverseFic main deviations from the UC canon]] is the One Year War turning into one of these. [[spoiler: [[EvilPrince Ghiren Zabi]] attempts to poison his father so he can seize control of Zeon and win the war [[ColonyDrop his]] [[NukeEm way.]]]] The news of this causes the royal family to split into the Legitimacy and Loyalist factions.
124	[[/folder]]
125
126	[[folder:Sports]]
127	* On June 26, 1944, a "Tri-Cornered " UsefulNotes/{{Baseball}} Game was held in UsefulNotes/{{New York\|City}} between the [[UsefulNotes/MajorLeagueBaseball Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Yankees, and New York Giants]]. The exhibition match was held to raise War Bonds for the American effort in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII and raised $5.5 million USD ($73.8 million USD adjusted for inflation) in bonds. [[labelnote:link]] http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/1944-ny-baseball-teams-faced-support-war-effort-article-1.1787483[[/labelnote]]
128	* German racing series DTM in its early years was this with car manufacturers Audi, Opel, and Mercedes-Benz fighting for wins and titles - until Opel withdrew from the sport. BMW joined in 2012, making DTM an example of this trope again.
129	[[/folder]]
130
131	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
132	* In the setting of the RPG ''TabletopGame/CthulhuTech'', the Aeon War is a grand Mêlée à Trois between the New Earth Government, who want to live; the alien Migou, who want humanity to die so they don't learn more of the mythos and accidentally wake up the Old Ones; and the Cults of the Old Ones, who want the Old Ones to wake up which would result in the death or massive alteration of everyone else. It's a fun time all around.
133	* ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'' has the official agenda of The Computer, the clandestine agendas of over a dozen secret societies, the office politics of several service groups, plus the personal goals of six [=PCs=] and as many [=NPCs=] as Friend Gamemaster can keep track of. Any two of these ''may'' sort-of-align at any given moment (in the sense of "yes, this person will screw me over, but this other person will screw me over faster and harder"), or may pretend to do so. Some official missions up the ante by having everyone pursue the same MacGuffin at once, generally in ways that are as mutually-exclusive and GambitPileup-inducing as possible.
134	* Since even the heroes of the setting are professional domestic terrorists, ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'' tends to turn into this. Corps hire runners to do their dirty work and even if a lot of runners shun wetwork (outright assassination contracts), they aren't above sabotage, bombings, espionage, theft, and occasionally offing some security guards if things get messy. As a result, runners tend to be grey-area men and women working for bad people against other bad people. Other teams of runners rarely cooperate past a pulling a big job together and many will betray each other for the sake of a bigger cut. To quote one book's fluff:
135	-->''The only mate a runner should trust is himself... unless some corp brainwashed him into one of those sleeper sorts who go blow themselves up when they [[TriggerPhrase heard the phrase "warm bacon"]]. Then he probably would be best off not trusting himself either.''
136	* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'':
137	** The [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters humans have a policy of extermination for all xenos/mutants/heretics]], the [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orks are biological war machines]], the [[OmniscientMoralityLicense Eldar consider humans barbarous space monkeys]], the [[OmnicidalManiac Necrons want to kill all life]], the [[HordeOfAlienLocusts Tyranids want to eat everything]], and [[TheCorruption Chaos is]]... [[AlwaysChaoticEvil Chaos]]. The sole exception are the [[TheFederation Tau]], who are happy to recruit other races into their little space commie family (although they at least recognize Necrons, orks and Tyranids will never join), [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans with force and brainwashing if necessary]].
138	** Most of the factions above ''also'' spend a lot of energy on internal squabbles: [[TheEmpire the Imperium]] is constantly engaged in insurrections and reconquests, the Eldar have a break-off group of {{evil counterpart}}s who prey on the other Eldar as much as any other race, the forces of Chaos are divided amongst rival gods, and the Orks will happily fight each other if there aren't any other enemies available.
139	*** Not even the Tyranids and Necrons are immune to this in-fighting; the former is controlled by a HiveMind that will occasionally run survival-of-the-fittest tests on itself, and the latter has recently been broken up into multiple rival "dynasties", some of which are lead by rather... damaged individuals.
140	*** Even the Tau have a breakaway faction led by a former military hero now bent on exterminating the orks, and while not currently actively hostile to the Tau Empire is an affront to their "Greater Good" philosophy and a deserter to boot.
141	** On the gameplay side there's the mission [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Carnage]] where 4 players battle it out for a central objective.
142	* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}} Fantasy Battles'':
143	** During the storm of chaos, the Empire is fighting the forces of Chaos led by Archaon. Then Grimgor and his orcs turn up, fights their way through both forces, kills the Chaos leader to prove that he is the best and goes away -- leaving both forces badly damaged. Most worldwide campaigns pit everyone against everyone, though. Old Imperium motto used by fans: "The enemy of my enemy is the next one to ''die''".
144	** In general, the forces of Chaos are locked in the four-sided variety of this trope. There are four Chaos gods, and a given Chaos warrior is aligned with one of them and opposed to the other three. The key is getting the four sides to stop fighting long enough to actually accomplish something. But hey, at least they get an army of Demi-Gods by feeding thousands of raw recruits to their chosen champions.
145	[[/folder]]
146
147	[[folder:Toys]]
148	* The Mahri Nui saga in ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'' has five sides fighting over the Mask of Life: The Toa Mahri need it to save the world; the BigBad Makuta also doesn't want the world to die but the Toa (justifiably) don't trust him; the Barraki want the mask because it can reverse their mutations and allow them to try conquering the world again, and they hate Toa on principle but despise Makuta even more for his role in putting them in this position in the first place; Hydraxon thinks it's too dangerous [[spoiler:thanks to subconscious memories from his old life as Dekar]] and must be destroyed; and a mutated Gadunka beast is just territorial. Not to mention that the Mask passes from person to person in the conflict, and some of the Barraki decide to just go solo and escape, leading to an internal conflict within the Barraki group as well. [[TheAtoner Brutaka]] arrives at some point to try and get the Mask and fight Makuta, for reasons of his own. The mad ruler Karzahni also got an interest in the Mask after hearing about it, but [[spoiler:he never to join the conflict as he was defeated and taken captive by Lesovikk in a side-story.]]
149	[[/folder]]
150
151	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
152	* The final battle of ''VisualNovel/DiesIrae'' is a huge free-for-all between [[spoiler:[[TheHero Ren]], [[BigBad Reinhard]] and [[TheManBehindTheMan Mercurius]], each fighting to determine who is gonna be the next god of the multiverse, all while doling out reality shattering attacks trying to win the upper hand. Ultimately they end up destroying each other as neither Ren nor Reinhard can exist without Mercurius and instead it is Marie, who had been sitting back the entire time, who is able to move in and seize godhood]].
153	* ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'': The Holy Grail War is fashioned as one: seven Masters, their eventual associates, seven Servants. To reach the end of the War and fully open the path to the Holy Grail, all seven Servants must ultimately die. The Master's death is not required, but killing a Master is the fastest way to dispose of a Servant who doesn't have the Independent Action skill. A Servant who survives their Master's death long enough can take a new contract, and under some conditions a Master can have a contract with more than one Servant.
154	[[/folder]]
155
156	[[folder:Web Animation]]
157	* Exaggerated in the ''[[WebAnimation/TheCyanideAndHappinessShow Cyanide & Happiness]]'' short "High Noon", where a cowboy, bandit, sheriff, native american, pirate captain, rich pimp, U.S. soldier and a fly-like alien are willing to get their hands on the treasure the old prospector found in the desert, all for different reasons. One guy insists the real treasure is friendship, but they simply don't care. [[spoiler:Turns out, he was right.]]
158	* Garry's Mod Animation series ''WebAnimation/GamingAllStars'':
159	** A three-way battle occurs between [[spoiler:[[Franchise/StarFox Fox's]] Team vs. [[VideoGame/IceClimber The Polar Bears]] vs. [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Eggman's badniks]]]] in "Shadow Moses". [[spoiler:WordOfGod states that [[VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft the Worgen]] were also going to be involved as yet another separate faction]].
160	** In the ''Remastered'' version of "High-Poly", there's the heroes vs. Eggman [[spoiler:and his [[VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog Shadow androids]]]] vs [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros the Fighting Polygons]] (who are working for [[VideoGame/PlaystationAllStarsBattleRoyale Polygon Man]])]].
161	* In ''WebAnimation/MonkeyWrench'', the titular duo is ambushed by Queen Tyneen's crew of {{space pirate}}s and the Scratch Cat Gang just as they're about to complete their contract to deliver Nobert to Oberon station. Then Scratch and Tyneen's second-in-command Ricket start arguing about which group has a better claim to the massive bounty on Nobert's head, leading to a three-way fight for possession of the bird.
162	* In the Recollection saga of ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'', it's the [[RagtagBunchofMisfits Blood Gulch Crew]] vs. Project Recovery (and, by extension, the [[TheFederation UNSC]]) vs. The Meta. Though, with the introduction of other characters and elements, the sides shift quite constantly.
163	* In ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'', when Clover and Qrow start fighting after Ironwood's order to arrest Qrow, Tyrian gets involved in the fight, having escaped from his cuffs. When Qrow tries to subdue Tyrian, Clover targets Qrow instead of helping to recapture the prisoner. For a short while, the three men all fight each other before Tyrian decides to help Qrow fight Clover. When he successfully convinces Qrow to join forces to subdue Clover, the fight becomes an EnemyMine battle.
164	* The Flash video series ''WebAnimation/SuperMarioBrosZ'' pits the Mario team (Consisting of Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic and Shadow]]) against the Koopa Bros (From ''VideoGame/PaperMario'') and the Axem Rangers X (Upgraded versions of the Axem Rangers from ''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG''), in a fierce battle on Yoshi's Island. Later, Mecha Sonic appears, who fights against all three, though only one team at a time. He enters the battle by [[spoiler:ramming into the Koopa Bros, taking them out instantly.]] With them down, he then proceeds to [[spoiler:nab the Axem Ranger's Chaos Emerald and destroy their gunship. The Rangers attack him, but he systematically beats and then kills them.]] This leaves only the heroes, Mario, Sonic and the gang, to take on Mecha Sonic, and the rest of the episode revolves around this fight rather than the earlier Mélêe à Trois.
165	* In Zimaut Animation's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=espnaISmbV0 "Super Soldiers Clash"]], what starts as a duel between [[Franchise/StreetFighter Guile]] and [[ComicBook/BuckyBarnes The Winter Soldier]] is interrupted halfway by [[spoiler:Brock Rumlow a.k.a. Crossbones, trying to recapture Bucky for HYDRA, turning the fight into a three-way brawl]].
166	[[/folder]]
167
168	[[folder:Webcomics]]
169	* ''Webcomic/{{Evon}}'': [[TheHero Hero]] and [[SendInTheClones Evee]] take on [[BigBad Sevarian]], [[TheDragon Ferneris]] and Ferneris' right hand, Freya, in a bid to rescue Evon. The fight suddenly turns into both sides fighting for their lives against a DrunkOnTheDarkSide [[TheBrute Maximus]]. [[spoiler: Maximus wins]]
170	* In ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'', you have:
171	** Agatha and her friends, plus (now) Castle Heterodyne and all the Jägermonsters.
172	** Baron Wulfenbach and his army (with Gilgamesh torn between this side and Agatha's).
173	** House Sturmvoraus (with [[TheLancer Tarvek]] being of dubious allegiance, and possibly choosing Agatha's side). Also, the multiple branches of the family are constantly schisming, re-aligning, and betraying each other.
174	** Zola and the conspiracy backing her. This started out being part of the Sturmvoraus plan, but appears to no longer be under the control of any known family members.
175	** The Other and her minions.
176	** Othar Tryggvassen, GENTLEMAN ADVENTURER.
177	** And many others, including any power-hungry Spark that would get involved. It doesn't simplify things that [[spoiler:The Other, Lucrezia, is currently inhabiting Agatha's body.]]
178	** The best illustration of a Mêlée à Trois, though, would certainly be [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20100716 this page.]]
179	** In one arc [[spoiler:there's at least ''seven'' different factions fighting for control of Mechanicsburg, and word is ''more'' are on their way.]]
180	* ''Webcomic/GoneWithTheBlastwave'''s premise is three armies (the protagonists' faction Red, plus Blue and Yellow) fighting a ForeverWar in a bombed-out city. [[spoiler:An AprilFools [[http://www.blastwave-comic.com/index.php?p=comic&nro=73 page]] has the Red protagonists find their way out of the city to find that the entire war is a giant museum exhibit or memorial to a war that, for everyone else, ended centuries ago.]]
181	* ''Webcomic/GrrlPower'': The "situation" in Manhattan starts with alien bounty hunters trying to capture Maxima and tangling with the rest of her team, but it soon gets complicated by the meddling of local supervillains that are after the alien tech, and also inside intel on ARCHON.
182	* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'':
183	** God-tier Vriska vs. Eridan vs. Gamzee! STRIFE! Subverted, [[OurVampiresAreDifferent A newly undead]] [[BewareTheNiceOnes Kanaya]] kicks Gamzee [[GroinAttack in the crotch]] and off a cliff, punches Vriska and sends her sliding away, and breaks Eridan's wand and [[ChainsawGood pulls out a chainsaw]] on him.
184	** Later on in the act, there's a showdown with a '''quintet''', existing of the aforementioned Kanaya and Gamzee, but also with [[spoiler: Karkat]], [[spoiler: Sollux]] and [[spoiler: Terezi]]. The first one is named 'Attempt a rare 3x showdown combo', and the second one is titled in the same vein: 'Attempt a rare [[RecycledInSpace and highly dangerous]] 5x showdown combo'. Though this is downplayed in that everyone except Gamzee is on the same side; Karkat merely calms his friends down to stop them from fighting Gamzee so he can settle things himself.
185	** Much later, in "[[WhamEpisode [S] Game Over]]", there's the Condesce vs. Aranea vs. the protagonists, who all attack the members of the other groups with the intent to kill (and, in many cases, successfully do kill each other). There's a minor fourth side with Gamzee, who's in a mad rage, but he only attacks the protagonists, and only manages to kill one and badly injure another before a third protagonist kills ''him''.
186	** In the climax of Act 6, there is a three-way between Terezi and Dave and Dirk on one side, Spades Slick on another, and Jack English on the third. Both Jacks are equally hostile to everyone.
187	* ''Webcomic/{{Housepets}}'': ''Temple Crashers 2''. By the final battle, we have ''seven'' factions duking it out around the Mana Pool;
188	** Peanut, Max, Grape, Mungo, Fox, and Res, who were initially with Tarot and Sabrina until they abandoned them. Peanut now feels betrayed as a result, driving the rest of his team to win first. [[spoiler: Max technically wins, but is forcibly kicked out by Keene's trick summoning spell.]]
189	** Tarot and Sabrina, who understand the deeper gravitas of the situtation and split ForTheGreaterGood to ensure Keene doesn't activate the Pool.
190	** Joey's group of nerds, who still think they're playing a LARP.
191	** The angels (Spring, Summer, and Rufus) who are trying to ensure that ''no'' mortals activate the Pool.
192	** Keene, who rigged the game to make sure he activates the Pool first.
193	** Breel, who is trying to protect Keene.
194	** And Karishad, who's motives are dubious beyond the fact that he lives here.
195	* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': This briefly occurs during the Battle of Azure City, when both one of [[BigBad Xykon's]] decoys and some ninja assassins sent by [[AristocratsAreEvil Daimyo Kubota]] try to kill [[SupportingLeader Hinjo]]. Humorously, the duplicate and one of the ninjas actually argue over who gets the kill, before Hinjo suggests a third option:
196	-->'''Hinjo:''' I call my proposal [[BigDamnHeroes "Giant Dwarf with a hammer".]]
197	* An appropriate quote from ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'':
198	-->''The enemy of my enemy is my enemy's enemy. No more, no less.''
199	* During the "Stormbreaker Saga" from ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'', a straightforward battle between the kingdoms of Trent and Mercia is interrupted by K'Z'K attacking both sides with its demon army. Whether any of the Trents or Mercians join sides (besides Torg and Zoe) is unclear.
200	* Two instances in ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'': First in the crown game, where up to 5 teams could and would face off against each other, and then the three-way fight between [[BadassLongcoat Viole]], [[PapaWolf Hon Akraptor]], and [[TheBigGuy Kang Horyang]].
201	* In the webcomics of ''VideoGame/UrbanRivals'', the B team have to protect their captured leaders from Zlatars robot ninjas and the Ghiest clan.
202	[[/folder]]
203
204	[[folder:Web Original]]
205	* On the Internet, "Player 3 has entered the game" is a popular {{memetic\|Mutation}} phrase used to highlight moments or situations where a third party abruptly barges into an otherwise simple feud between two subjects, in reference to DropInDropOutMultiplayer.
206	* ''Literature/TheFireNeverDies'':
207	** While the [[SecondAmericanCivilWar Second American Revolution]] is largely a two-sided battle betwen the Reds and Whites, California sees a third faction: the Blues, led by Governor Hiram Johnson. Johnson opposed President Wilson's attempts to crush the IWW (which provoked the Revolution) and sought to turn California into a neutral zone (and position himself as a compromise leader in the aftermath). [[NeutralityBacklash This backfired]], turning both sides against him, and the ensuing bloodshed and famine would give California the nickname "The Golden Abbatoir".
208	** The Russian Civil War gradually turns into one of these as the Bolsheviks and Anarchists turn against each other while still fighting the Whites. The Anarchists are far stronger, but the Bolsheviks have a de facto alliance with Germany.
209	* This is going on throughout the ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'' story "Saks and Violence" but the final battle in the wrecking yard is Jadis (the protagonist) and her fellow Bad Seeds plus as many minions as she could hire on short notice vs. the Empire City Guard and the Cadet Crusaders vs. the armies of the Anti-Champion. Plus whatever Jobe is up to, and the general untrustworthiness of anyone whose last name is Wilkins.
210	%%* [[http://www.intuitor.com/forchess/ Cutthroat Forchess]].
211	%%* [[http://www.oldeenglish.org/gymclass.html Gym Class]].
212	%%* ''JustForFun/TheWarOfTheAbridgedSeriesCreators''
213	* ''Literature/TheRuinsOfAnAmericanPartySystem'':
214	** The German Civil War of the 1920s is a three-way conflict between the Communists, the Nazis, and a more centrist movement that supports a restored (and constitutional) monarchy. [[spoiler: The latter wins.]]
215	** The Indian Civil War of the 40s is even more complicated. On the surface, it's the British and their loyalists vs Hindu nationalists vs Muslim nationalists vs Communist revolutionaries. But both nationalist groups are further divided by factions willing to work with each other against the Communists, and those willing to work with the Communists against the British. And there's also the maharajas, who are playing the field amongst the British and both sets of nationalists to fend off the Communists.
216	* ''Literature/AMorePersonalUnion'' has a few examples:
217	** The Italian theater of the Great War becomes this, as the Pavian Compact is formed by the otherwise neutral northern Italian city-states to kick both the French and the Spanish out of their territory once their fighting spills into it.
218	** The unrest in China during the early 1600s has the Imperial court, a sizable army faction that's gone rogue out of disgust at the court's corruption, [[TheCaligula Red Tiger's]] revolutionary army, and the Jurchen invaders (the latter two eventually reluctantly teaming up), as well as numerous smaller groups, all fighting each other.
219	** The [[spoiler: Spanish Civil War]] has four claimants fighting over the throne, as well as having to deal with an uprising by the Muslim Moriscos.
220	* ''Literature/MagicMetahumansMartiansAndMushroomCloudsAnAlternateColdWar'':
221	** Egypt's CivilWar upon [[CurseOfThePharaoh resurrection of Ramses XI]] has four distinct factions -- Ramses' undead forces and living supporters of his restored monarchy, the ousted General Naguib's remaining loyalists trying to restore him to power, and various Communist and Muslim groups trying to take over Egypt for themselves.
222	** The power vacuum in India following Subhas Bose's takeover and subsequent death results in several of his lieutenants fighting to take his place, while also dealing with uprisings by the Sikh population, loyalists of the ousted Prime Minister Nehru, and the Communist Party of India.
223	** The chaotic fighting that engulfs Paris in May 1968 is between Charles de Gaulle's government, various socialist and right-wing groups opposed to said government and each other, and an [[WarFromAnotherWorld expeditionary invasion force]] from an AlternateUniverse when the Bonaparte dynasty conquered the world.
224	** The Himalayan War involves China and India both separately invading Tibet to try and conquer it for themselves, with Tibet not only having to fend them both off but also having to deal with communist militias and fringe Buddhist sects aimed at bringing down the government.
225	** The Iraqi civil war almost has too many factions to count. Army cliques, Baathists, Islamists, minority separatists, local metahumans, and more all pop up to fill the power vacuum that happens when Nergal [[DecapitationStrike wipes out the government]], and start fighting each other for dominance.
226	* The SecondAmericanCivilWar featured in ''Literature/TheFalconCannotHear'' has ''five'' major factions -- Douglas [=MacArthur's=] military government ("the Khakis"), whose MilitaryCoup kickstarted the war in the first place; Huey Long's civilian government ("the Whites"), formed by business interests and fascist paramilitaries opposed to [=MacArthur=]; the American Soviet Republic ("the Reds"), a communist uprising that seizes power from Chicago to New York; the Provisional Government ("the Blues") set up primarily by democratic socialists who denounce both [=MacArthur=] and Long as illegitimate; and the Continental Congress ("the Greens"), a populist movement formed by residents of the flyover states. There's also numerous smaller factions, including an African-American rebel militia in White territory, several state governments that play neutral, military units that refuse to acknowledge any of the proclaimed governments, and opportunistic warlords (including Henry Ford, who turns Detroit into his personal fiefdom).
227	[[/folder]]
228
229	[[folder:Web Videos]]
230	* After the (entirely satirical) feud between WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd and WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic got really heated, the Critic busted in on one of the Nerd's autograph signings. Also, there was fellow Internet personality Captain S, who wasn't involved with the feud at all but invited himself in anyway, resulting in a slow-motion three-way brawl in the parking lot that simultaneously spoofed ''Film/TheGoodTheBadAndTheUgly'' and ''Film/RockyV''. [[http://www.thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/thatguywiththeglasses/nostalgia-critic/529-the-battle-of-epic-proportions It kind of has to be seen to be believed]].
231	* Happens sometimes in ''WebVideo/EpicRapBattlesOfHistory'' with a third person dropping by to smack both contestants:
232	** Steve Jobs vs. Bill Gates vs. [[spoiler:HAL 9000]]
233	** Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney vs. [[spoiler:Abraham Lincoln]]
234	** Ghostbusters vs. Mythbusters vs. [[spoiler:The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man]]
235	** Exaggerated in "Rasputin vs. Stalin" which was first interrupted by [[spoiler:Lenin]], then by [[spoiler:Gorbachev]] and then by [[spoiler:Putin]], each dissing out all previous contestants.
236	** Also exaggerated in "Steven Spielberg vs. Alfred Hitchcock", where the battle keeps getting interrupted by [[spoiler:Quentin Tarantino]], [[spoiler:Stanley Kubrick]], and [[spoiler:Michael Bay]].
237	** Played straight in "John Wick vs. John Rambo vs. John [=McClane=]", the first rap battle to have three contestants from the start, without anybody dropping in later.
238	* Perhaps a very downplayed example, but the whole format of ''WebVideo/MovieFights'' feature a three-way verbal battle between three movie nerds arguing about movie trivia. And, yes, they get very heated in their arguments, especially if [[SitcomArchnemesis Nick Mundy and Roger Barr]] are on the set together.
239	* ''Franchise/{{Noob}}'':
240	** ''[[FictionalVideoGame Horizon]]'' started out with two factions, the Empire (the faction in which the protagonists are playing) and the Coalition. Later installments introduce the Order, which is hostile to both, causing this trope to happen.
241	** Season 5 finale of the webseries had a fight between the three UltimateGamer386 characters. Fantöm and Amaras ended teaming up to have a chance to beat Spectre, who's good enough to put both of them in OvershadowedByAwesome territory.
242	[[/folder]]
243
244	[[folder:Western Animation]]
245	* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'':
246	** In "[[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheChase The Chase]]", Azula vs. Aang vs. Zuko. Then one by one the rest of the Gaang shows up, as does Iroh. Eventually collapses into everyone vs. Azula by silent agreement that [[EnemyMine they all hate her the most]]. She [[ISurrenderSuckers "surrenders"]] but [[MagnificentBastard gets away anyway]].
247	** This is also present in the rest of the series as a sort of RightHandVersusLeftHand between Zuko and the rest of the Fire Nation (especially Zhao) fighting over Aang, while Aang is trying to avoid capture.
248	** An earlier episode, "[[Recap/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTheWaterbendingScroll The Waterbending Scroll]]", has a three-way battle between the Gaang, the Fire Nation, and pirates.
249	* ''WesternAnimation/TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'': In "[[Recap/TheAvengersEarthsMightiestHeroesS1E21HailHYDRA Hail, HYDRA!]]", there is an EnemyCivilWar between HYDRA and A.I.M., with the Avengers trying to stop it, and S.H.I.E.L.D. trying to stop ''everyone''.
250	* ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman'': Batman vs. Catwoman vs. Ragdoll, as they fight over stolen goods.
251	* In the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode "[[Recap/TheNewBatmanAdventuresE23BewareTheCreeper Beware the Creeper]]", the Joker and Harley Quinn are trying to take down the Creeper, since the Joker feels that he's ruining his "act". The Creeper is trying to get revenge on the Joker (and seduce Harley) for turning him into the Creeper. Batman and Robin are trying to stop all of them from causing even more chaos than they already have.
252	* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/Birdman1967'', the evil organization F.E.A.R. controls the minds of the leaders of three nations to go to war with each other as part of their plans.
253	* ''WesternAnimation/CarmenSandiego'' features Carmen and her allies against both V.I.L.E., a secretive, extensive criminal organization, and A.C.M.E., a secretive, extensive ''crime fighting'' organization. Each organization believes (or at least, suspects) Carmen is working with the other. Carmen is only actively fighting against V.I.L.E., though, whereas she's merely trying to evade A.C.M.E.'s capture, and [[EnemyMine she happily works alongside A.C.M.E. Agent Argent.]] She was even considering formalizing the alliance with A.C.M.E. (who were beginning to realize she wasn't the enemy) toward the end of season two until she found out [[spoiler:the head of A.C.M.E. killed her criminal father in the line of duty, leaving her to be raised by V.I.L.E. in the first place; meanwhile, the cyber-attack Carmen did against A.C.M.E. to confirm this information soured the relationship on that side as well, making Carmen Sandiego their number one target. This leaves them opposing each other until the end of Season 4, when A.C.M.E. and Team Carmen finally team up to take down V.I.L.E. for good]].
254	* Happens frequently in ''WesternAnimation/CelebrityDeathmatch'', often unintentionally.
255	* ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'':
256	** Briefly, Danny vs. Vlad vs. Valerie in ''WesternAnimation/ReignStorm'' before they all decide to [[EnemyMine team up]] against a bigger foe.
257	** In "[[Recap/DannyPhantomS2E12FlirtingWithDisaster Flirting with Disasters]]", it's Danny vs. [[DatingCatwoman Valerie]] vs. Technus. Danny's prime target is Technus, though he has to shake Valerie off without hurting her. Valerie primary aims for Danny, though being a ghost hunter, she would eventually have aimed for Technus. Technus concentrated more on world dominating, but he would have warded off both of them as he attempted throughout the episode.
258	* The "Shanghai" trilogy of ''WesternAnimation/DCNation'' shorts ends in a three-way fight between Catwoman, Bane and [[spoiler:Batman]] over a valuable scroll, cutting to a suspiciously similar image of shadow puppetry as the battle goes on.
259	* ''WesternAnimation/ExoSquad'': Exofleet vs. Neosapiens vs. Pirates. Pirates are the KingMaker.
260	* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'', Shego, Monkeyfist and Duff Killigan all fight each other for possession of Ron's naked mole rat Rufus. Added awesomeness here as they fight on, in and around the Eiffel Tower, with Kim intervening to save Rufus from harm.
261	* In the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E4DaringDont Daring Don't]]", [[MacGuffin the Ring of Destiny]] is fought over by Daring Do with the Mane Six, who need to destroy it, Dr. Caballeron with his henchponies, who want to sell it for the money, and Ahuizotl, who wants it to use for his dark ritual.
262	* ''WesternAnimation/PJMasks'': In the episode "Robot's Pet Cat", after Romeo uses his Animal-Metamorpho Ray to turn Catboy into a cat and makes him Robot's pet, it leads to a struggle for control over the invention between The PJ Masks (who want it to turn Catboy back to normal), Robot (who wants to destroy the invention to prevent Catboy from being turned back) and Romeo (who wants it to turn more people into animals for his new zoo).
263	* ''WesternAnimation/ShadowRaiders'' involves an ages-long war between four planets, until they are all forced to cooperate because they are attacked by a fifth, far more powerful enemy.
264	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSpectacularSpiderMan'':
265	** Gang lords auction on a disc with the key to New York. This leads to a battle between Spidey, Hammerhead, Silver Sable, Rhino, and Roderick Kingsley, the guy who actually bought the disc. The winner of the fight? [[spoiler:Norman Osborn, who sold Kingsley a fake disc knowing it would never survive the ensuing chaos, and now has all the money Kingsley gave him and the real disc.]]
266	** Also, the brawl between Tombstone, Doc Ock, and Silvermane in "Gangland" with Spidey watching from the side, only getting involved to prevent collateral damage. The villains form a (very) brief alliance to take him down, but Tombstone turns on them to [[SlaveToPR maintain his image, as he couldn't be seen in public siding with the bad guys.]] The winner? [[spoiler:Norman Osborn ''again'' as his main rivals were arrested, or in the case of Tombstone had their assets severely crippled.]]
267	* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'':
268	** "[[Recap/StarWarsTheCloneWarsS3E14WitchesOfTheMist Witches of the Mist]]" gives us the franchise's first ''three-way'' lightsaber duel, between Count Dooku, Asajj Ventress, and Savage Oppress after Oppress [[MistreatmentInducedBetrayal gets sick of how Dooku and Ventress treat him]].
269	** The series' final battle is a three-way struggle between Ahsoka and Rex, Maul, and the Order 66-affected clone troopers.
270	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles\|2003}}'' (2003):
271	** Following the Shredder's supposed death, New York became a battleground between what was left of the Foot, the mob, and the Purple Dragons gang.
272	** Most of the major conflicts in the series are less Turtles vs. Shredder and more Turtles vs. Shredder vs. Baxter Stockman (who eventually pulls a TheStarscream on Shredder and remains a persistent thorn in both sides' sides by hitching his wagon to the aforementioned mob and later Bishop). Stockman usually gets eliminated from the three-way first, though.
273	** The "Turtles in Space" arc has the Turtles caught in the crossfire between the Federation and the Triceraton Republic, two galactic dictatorships that are nearly identical in their corruption, militarism, and insanity.
274	* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Teen Titans\|2003}}'' episode "[[Recap/TeenTitansS2E9WinnerTakeAll Winner Take All]]", the final battle among friendly competitors is between Robin, Speedy, and Wildebeest. The competitors hold no grudges and are only playing to win the tournament. The fight becomes a one-on-one once Wildebeest loses.
275	* ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'':
276	** The second season of ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' is Autobots vs. the Decepticons still working with Megatron vs. Starscream [[spoiler:and [[MesACrowd his clones]]]], with lone enemies like Swindle, Blackarachnia, and Meltdown showing up occasionally.
277	** ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformersTheMovie'': Autobots vs. Decepticons vs. Unicron.
278	** ''Anime/TransformersEnergon'': Autobots vs. Decepticons vs. Alpha Q and Team Rodimus (before their HeelFaceTurn).
279	** ''Anime/TransformersCybertron'': Autobots vs. Megatron's Decepticons vs. Starscream's Decepticons.
280	** ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'': In the midst of the general Autobots vs. Decepticons conflict, several third parties such as M.E.C.H., a temporary independent-acting Starscream, Airachnid and her Insecticons, Unicron, the Predacons and the Terrorcons joins in the fray, often as an enemy to either one of the main factions or to both. And put in with all the ever-shifting alliances and loyalties, backstabbings and betrayals Series/GameOfThrones style to go with it.
281	* The ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'' episode "[[Recap/WanderOverYonderS2E8TheBattleRoyale The Battle Royale]]" features nearly every villain in the series introduced up to that point fighting over an [[MockGuffin allegedly]] all-powerful ring of invincibility. A particularly large example, with no less than ''eleven'' sides fighting all at once (although [[HarmlessVillain Something the So and So]] barely even counts as his own side), six of which are supported by their respective armies of {{Mooks}} -- and that's just before [[KnightOfCerebus Lord Dominator]] shows up.
282	* In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Young Justice\|2010}}'' episode "[[Recap/YoungJusticeS1E4DropZone Drop Zone]]", on the Team's first mission, they find themselves going up against Bane and the cult organization Kobra, who are also warring against each other.
283	[[/folder]]

Context Main / MeleeATrois