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5[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mooks_92.png]]]]
6[[caption-width-right:350:As brainless as they are servile.]]
7
8->''They may be called the Palace Guard, the City Guard, or the Patrol. Whatever the name, their purpose in any work of heroic fantasy is identical: it is, round about Chapter Three (or ten minutes into the film) to rush into the room, attack the hero one at a time, and be slaughtered. No one ever asks them if they wanted to.''
9-->-- ''Literature/GuardsGuards''
10
11A slang term for the hordes of standard-issue, [[WeHaveReserves disposable bad guys]] whom TheHero mows down with utter impunity and [[WhatMeasureIsAMook complete disregard]]. Deadly, competent, loyal, abundant... [[MinionWithAnFInEvil You can]] [[SurroundedByIdiots pick]] [[MookFaceTurn any]] [[MookDepletion two.]]
12
13Also called "baddies", "[[FacelessGoons goons]]", "scrubs", "[[AttackDrone drones]]", "[[BitPartBadguys small fry]]", "{{flunk|yBoss}}ies", "[[TabletopGame/{{Chess}} pawns]]", "toadies", "grunts", "[[EvilMinions minions]]", "[[SycophanticServant lackeys]]", "underlings", "[[ZergRush swarmers]]", "{{hench|menRace}}persons", "popcorn enemies", "foot soldiers", and "CannonFodder". In Japanese videogame jargon, they're known as "zako" or "small fry", in {{Tokusatsu}}, they're called "Sentōin" or "Combatants". The actual term "mook" presumably comes from Hong Kong Cinema, and takes its name from the ''mook jong'', the wooden training dummies used in Wing Chun, whose only function is to get hit. In Hong Kong movie circles, they're often called "three-hit men," in reference to [[RuleOfThree how many hits it takes]] to put them down, though the actual number of hits varies.
14
15It's a thankless job, to be sure, but ''somebody's'' gotta do it. Enter the humble mook.
16
17[[Administrivia/TropesAreTools Mooks play an important role]], as without someone to fight on a constant basis, an action movie/show/game would have a lot less action. If every single minion your hero ever runs into has a personality, then the pacing of the show would slow to a crawl and QuirkyMinibossSquad, TheDragon, and the BigBad would not feel as unique in comparison. Thus, mooks serve as {{Filler}} and a backdrop to the truly climactic moments of an action franchise while also ensuring that in-between things are kept lively. In VideoGames, they may also double as a ready source of ExperiencePoints, [[MoneySpider gold]], and recovery items for the player.
18
19In addition to accentuating the real villains, mooks also help establish the heroes, especially their combat skills, as their lack of [[NominalImportance an identity]] allows them to be beaten, mauled, shot or otherwise [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential disposed of in creative ways]] without guilt. TheHero might find it in his heart to SaveTheVillain, forgive him, even [[DefeatMeansFriendship accept him into his inner circle]], but the guys whose only crime is not finding a better employer [[WhatMeasureIsAMook will be shown no mercy]] (although [[MookFaceTurn exceptions apply]]). Next to PunchClockVillain, but usually more faceless, this is one of the tropes most liable to JustFollowingOrders, a fact that may be pointed up in order to reduce their disposability.
20
21It's rarely explained just ''why'' they're willing to fight and die for villains who want to destroy the world, or what they get in return. [[SortingAlgorithmOfMortality Their life expectancy is on a level with that of the average mayfly]], and you have to wonder [[SignedUpForTheDental why they took the job in the first place]], especially if master is abusing them [[BadBoss as much if not more than the heroes]]. Depending on [[IControlMyMinionsThrough just who/what they are fighting for]], the plausibility of this can vary.
22
23Being AcceptableTargets by definition, sometimes mooks serve as ([[VillainDecay or devolve into]]) outright [[GoldfishPoopGang comic relief]] rather than an ''actual'' menace by being [[TheGuardsMustBeCrazy dimwitted]], {{ineffect|ualSympatheticVillain}}ive, [[LethalKlutz clumsy]], [[TooDumbToLive a genuine danger to themselves]] or [[HoistByHisOwnPetard just plain unlucky]]. Despite all this, some may [[BreakoutMookCharacter get their own moments in the spotlight]] or become [[MookPromotion genuine villains in their own right]].
24
25Except where noted in some of the subcategories, it is generally considered [[TheLawOfConservationOfDetail "bad form"]] for mooks to be given any sort of detailed backstory or personality (beyond broad strokes). Put another way, for the purposes of heroes continuing to be seen as heroes, and to avoid a major mood swing, mooks generally have no girl/boyfriends, children, parents, grandparents; they don't belong to church groups or non-profits that might miss them; they don't spend part of their day looking forward to what's on TV tonight (never to see the show because they're about to die), and they generally die quick, semi-painless deaths (blood and gore optional). Mooks are rarely female, and if they are, they generally don't fall into the "gorgeous" category because you don't want the viewer/reader to become attached to a character the hero is about to kill (''Film/TheSpyWhoLovedMe'' is a noted example where this rule is broken, and years later ''Film/JamesBond'' fans still criticize the decision to have Bond murder Caroline Munro's helicopter-flying babe, though more in the TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter sense). There are, of course, exceptions, either to make a MoodWhiplash and ponder about the nature of violence, establish the protagonist as a ruthless AntiHero, or [[PlayedForLaughs briefly acknowledge that the mooks have lives and personal affairs]] but [[ComedicSociopathy they're so trite and cliche that they deserve no sympathy anyway]].
26
27{{Anime}}, has a second type tailored for HumongousMecha: A RealRobot series will usually have at least one class of {{mecha}} that basically acts as [[RedshirtArmy the "Grunt" unit]] for the bad guy's army. This mech is usually simply constructed, probably with a basic ranged weapon ([[GatlingGood machinegun]] or EnergyWeapon or two, a close-combat weapon, and may have the option of carrying a [[{{BFG}} bigger gun]], depending on how much tougher the hero's armor is.) How are they viewed depends on how much the writers want you to empathize with the enemy. There's usually a very good chance that the Hero's Rival will at least start out by riding in an AceCustom version of this mecha. [[TanksForNothing Tanks]] usually serve a similar role on the heroes' side, and said grunt will often be the only thing they can reasonably threaten.
28
29Not to be mistaken with a portmanteau of "magazine" and "book" intended for a longer term of publication between editions, a certain racial slur, or the tentacled aliens from the ''VideoGame/{{MOTHER}}'' series (They technically qualify as this, but they’re more fitting as DegradedBoss instead, as they’re the "common" form of one of the preceding bosses encountered), or the purple bird-like creature from Princess Comet (although he is also a Mook in this sense).
30
31This trope is the EvilCounterpart of the RedshirtArmy, which are Mooks on the good side (and thus are where to go when searching for easily-killed ''good'' guys). Similar to but not to be confused with their non-combat brother EvilMinions (likewise the RedshirtArmy with the RedShirt). Occasionally, it turns out they were NotAlwaysEvil. If a "character" who would otherwise qualify as a Mook is disqualified because he's apparently acting on his own, you have BitPartBadGuys. See also VanillaUnit, for the weakest and most basic player-controlled troops in strategy games.
32
33Also compare {{Meat Puppet}}s when biological mooks are directly controlled via DemonicPossession, MindControl, or similar.
34
35In Video Games, mooks tend to be slightly more powerful, and able to at least hurt the hero, if not kill him a few times. However, nine times out of ten, the hero has a HealingFactor (more often objects used to heal than spontaneous healing) while the mooks stay hurt forever. Also, while the hero can restart if they die, the mooks (usually) only die once per level, and, when the level is restarted, they usually do the exact same thing they did before.
36
37If they're lucky, mooks may very occasionally get [[MookPromotion promoted]] to the status of a more major villain. The heroes may also be able to [[HeelFaceTurn persuade them over to the good side]], in which case they have performed a MookFaceTurn. Humanizing mooks is a basic technique of {{Deconstruction}}. In some VideoGames, [[MookDebutCutscene certain kinds of mooks will have a special introduction when they appear for the first time]].
38
39Armies of mooks are ''not always'' but usually [[MenAreTheExpendableGender overwhelmingly male]]. Typically, killing or harming even ''one'' nameless female [[DoubleStandard tends to twist an audience's sympathies differently than the effect of the same to a male]]. As your protagonist escapes the fortress of doom, you don't want the audience worrying about the mooks being taken out or hurt. In video games however, all-male mook armies are usually there for an entirely pragmatic reason, since including random female enemies would be requiring constructing entirely new character models for characters the player won't interact with outside of killing them.
40
41If the mooks also provide romantic services, this may overlap with PaidHarem.
42
43When supposedly elite fighters in large numbers are less competent together than a man alone, it's ConservationOfNinjutsu.
44----
45!!Examples:
46[[index]]
47* Mooks/AnimeAndManga
48* Mooks/ComicBooks
49* Mooks/{{Film}}
50* Mooks/{{Literature}}
51* Mooks/LiveActionTV
52* Mooks/TabletopRPG
53* Mooks/VideoGames
54* Mooks/{{Webcomics}}
55* Mooks/WesternAnimation
56* Mooks/OtherMedia
57[[/index]]
58----
59!!Go forth and vanquish the army of Mooks below:
60[[index]]
61[floatboxright:
62'''Also see:'''
63* EvilMinions
64]
65[[AC:Specific variations]]
66* AdorableEvilMinions (cute Mooks)
67* AirborneMook (flight-based Mooks)
68* AquaticMook (water-based Mooks)
69* BanditMook (Mooks who steal things from you)
70* BombardierMook (Mooks who drop things on you)
71* BossInMookClothing (looks like a Mook, fights like a Boss)
72* CowardlyMooks (Mooks that flee from battle)
73* CuteSlimeMook (little blob Mooks)
74* DoomTroops (Mooks whose signature is their fear factor, regardless of strength or status)
75* EliteMooks (puts up a much better fight than the others, but still a Mook)
76* EvilMinions (non-combat Mooks)
77* FacelessGoons (Mooks without distinct facial features, making it easier to mow them down without feeling bad about it)
78* FakeUltimateMook (looks tough, but it's not)
79* GasMaskMooks (wear gas masks over their faces, which may or may not protect them from gas attacks)
80* GiantMook (bigger and tougher, but still a Mook)
81* TheGoomba (a video game enemy defined by being pretty mook-ish even by Mook standards)
82* HardModeMook (Mooks that only appear on higher difficulties)
83* HeavilyArmoredMook (Mooks equipped with heavy armor)
84* HelpfulMook (a Mook that ends up helping you somehow, intentionally or not)
85* HenchmenRace (a race created to act as Mooks for their maker)
86* HiveDrone (a near-mindless Mook of a HiveMind)
87* InstakillMook (a Mook that can kill you in one blow)
88* InvincibleMinorMinion (can't be hurt by you at all)
89* KingMook (scaled-up, boss version of a Mook)
90* KungFuProofMook (a Mook who is immune to a certain form of attack, but not others)
91* LeaningTowerOfMooks (Mooks who stack up onto each other to form a tower)
92* MascotMook (marketable Mooks)
93* MechaMooks (robots, machines, just about anything mechanical, either piloted or automated)
94* MercifulMinion (a Mook who shows kindness towards the heroes)
95* MiddleManagementMook (Mook bureaucrats)
96* MiniMook (smaller than normal Mooks)
97* MooksAteMyEquipment (Mooks that eat your stuff)
98* MookBouncer (a Mook who teleports players back to a previous area)
99* MookLieutenant (regular Mooks take orders from this guy)
100* MookMedic (heals others)
101* MountedMook (rides a creature or vehicle)
102* NightOfTheLivingMooks (the undead)
103* NocturnalMooks (Mooks who only show up during nighttime)
104* PatrollingMook (Mooks who patrol a certain area)
105* PlantMooks (Mooks grown in a garden)
106* PlayerMooks (playable Mooks)
107* PunchClockVillain (fights for the villains, but is not a villain)
108* PushyMooks (Mooks that push you into hazards)
109* ReplacementMooks (Boss gets new Mooks)
110* RevivingEnemy (Mooks that do not stay defeated permanently)
111* ShieldBearingMook (carry shields and even attack with them)
112* SlaveMooks (Mooks that were enslaved and forced to work for the enemy)
113* SleepyEnemy (A mook that prefers to sleep, only fighting when disturbed)
114* SmashMook (Mooks who hit very hard but don't do much else)
115* StationaryEnemy (Mooks that can't move off their spot)
116* StealthyMook (Mooks who specialize in stealth, in some cases even having invisibility powers)
117* StompyMooks (Mooks who specialize in stomping very loudly)
118* SuperPoweredMooks (supers with red shirts)
119* UniqueEnemy (this Mook appears once, and ''only'' once)
120
121[[AC:Related tropes]]
122* ActuallyFourMooks (a [[PreexistingEncounters squad of Mooks]] is represented by [[PartyInMyPocket one individual]] on the overworld)
123* ArtifactMook (previously encountered Mooks that are contextually out-of-place in later appearances)
124* BreakoutMookCharacter (one exceptional Mook rises above the ranks and becomes his own character)
125* DancingMookCredits (credits featuring amusing Mooks)
126* EnemyChatter (Mooks talking to each other in video games for flavor)
127* EvenMooksHaveLovedOnes (Mooks have to choose between their loved ones and their loyalty to the BigBad)
128* IControlMyMinionsThrough (how a villain controls/coerces their Mooks)
129* TheJoysOfTorturingMooks (having fun messing around with Mooks)
130* KeystoneArmy (when the Mooks are subject to a fatal InstantWinCondition)
131* MillionMookMarch (large number of Mooks displayed in one grand march)
132* TheMinionMaster (a character who creates Mooks)
133* MooksButNoBosses (the game only features Mooks as enemies)
134* MookCarryover (Mooks get a new Boss)
135* MookChivalry (only one Mook attacks at a time)
136* MookCommander (this kind of enemy strengthens mooks passively)
137* MookDebutCutscene (fancy way to introduce Mooks)
138* MookDepletion (a villain discovers he no longer has reserves)
139* MookFaceTurn (a Mook that pulls a HeelFaceTurn)
140* MookHorrorShow (a Mook massacre)
141* MookMaker (spawns Mooks)
142* MookMobile (standard craft piloted by Mooks)
143* MookThemedLevel (video game level revolving around a specific mook type)
144* MookPromotion (a regular Mook that eventually upgrades into a villain of its own)
145* MultiMookMelee (a boss fight against a large number of Mooks at once)
146* NoSympathyBetweenMooks (Mooks who aren't very loyal to each other)
147* SetAMookToKillAMook (turn Mooks against one another)
148* UniformityException (one of these Mooks is not like the others)
149* VillainousDemotivator (YouHaveFailedMe = bad Mook morale)
150* WeHaveReserves (large numbers of Mooks can be tossed about because there's lots more to spare)
151* WhatMeasureIsAMook (Mook lives are morally irrelevant)
152[[/index]]

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