"The ultimate villain of the story, who's causing the problem the heroes must solve."

Note that Big Bad is not a catch-all trope for the biggest and ugliest villain of any given story. The BigBad is the one who turns out to be behind several other seemingly independent threats.
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* Emperor Vakudos from chapters 1 - 25 of [[http://alaxr274.deviantart.com/gallery/37280372 Hottie 3: The Best Fan Fic in the World]], his daughter, Princess Lotora AKA Empress Lotora, afterwards.
* [[spoiler: Carly]] Shay in ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8532906/1/iFightCrimeWithVictorious iFight Crime With Victorious]]'' from a BadFuture where most of [[spoiler: her friends and family were killed and she became obsessed with hording powers]].
* [[SailorMoon Mercury]], from Fanfic/DungeonKeeperAmi. [[BlatantLies No, really,]] [[RunningGag she'd Evil!]]
** A straighter Example would be [[GodOfEvil Azzaratha]], and Later [[OurZombiesAreDifferent Crowned Death]]. Then [[BigBadDuumvirate Crowned Death AND Azzaratha]].
** A possible-subversion, Mukrezar
* Baal in [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6984913/1/Disgaea_Jewel_of_the_gods Disgaea: Jewel of the gods]]
* Princess Jody from [[http://alaxr274.deviantart.com/gallery/33810717 Super Milestone Wars]].
** The Biggest Bad in the first half of [[http://alaxr274.deviantart.com/gallery/36864527 Super Milestone Wars 2]]. King Dyce in the second half and Princess Jody in the 3rd half.
** Don Tyrano in [[http://fav.me/d5f2u52 Super Milestone Wars: Year One]]
** Dr. Beeswax in [[http://fav.me/d5kqh6t Supetastic 6: Year Four]]
* [[Franchise/HarryPotter Voldemort]] in MyImmortal, who can timetravel in this story, and also has a band.
* In [[Fanfic/AzulaTrilogy the Azula Trilogy]], the overarching BigBad is [[spoiler: Zhan Zheng, the spirit of War]]. Each of the three fics also has its own BigBad:
** ''Heart of Fire'': [[WellIntentionedExtremist General Azun]]
** ''Path of Fire'': [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds Wei Ming]]
** ''Soul of Fire'': [[spoiler: Zhan Zheng]], possessing [[EvilOverlord Jian Chin]]
* [[EvilSorceror Radcliffe]] in Fanfic/KeepersOfTheElements.
* Ho-oh in PokeWars
* The Vizard Trilogy had an interesting variant. Each of the four stories has its own BigBad, all of whom are part of the FiveBadBand, but the most involved in the overarching plot is Asayama Shiba. By contrast, her leader, Takeshi Katano, is a NonActionBigBad; he's the most powerful of the FiveBadBand and the leader of the Visoreds, but he barely does anything present-time, apart from sending an underling to save Ami and Rukia after a fight. However, the reason Asayama got so far was because Katano ''let'' her continue her machinations.
* In the FanFic/BattleFantasiaProject, each 'arc' will have a big bad. As of July 2011, said Big Bads are...
** Arc One: The Nightmare Factory, headed by The Oneirovore.
** Arc Two: [[FateKaleidLinerPrismaIllya The Magical Alliance]], who want to discredit the infant Magical Girl Alliance, and 'disprove' magic as a 'silly supersticion' once more.
** Arc Three: [INFORMATION PENDING]
** Arc Four: The [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica Incubators]], and whoever's in charge of them.
** Arc Five: [[Manga/SailorMoon Jedite]] and a horde of Dark Kingdom survivors.
** Arc Six: [[Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers Jail Scaglietti.]]
** Arc Seven and Up: Little has been discussed beyond Arc Six. [[spoiler:That said, it seems to be the consensus of the board that [[SmugSnake Quattro]] from Strikers will escape and come back as the Big Bad at a later time.]]
* The ''FanFic/MyHostageNotYours'' trilogy:
** ''My Hostage, Not Yours'': The [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Valkian Queen]], who's trying to steal the LEECHY from Gaz so she can defeat the Irkens.
** ''The Revenge of Player 2'': [[spoiler: Iggins]], who wants revenge against Gaz for past actions against him.
** ''The Inevitable Takeover'': [[UnholyMatrimony Zim and Gaz]], who switch from [[AntiHero Anti-Heroes]][=/=][[AntiVillain Anti-Villains]] to full {{Villain Protagonist}}s to take over Earth. The Tallest could also be seen as the {{Bigger Bad}}s, since Zim is still loyal to them.
* The ''FanFic/TeenTitansSaga'': While Slade and [[spoiler: the Fifth Director/HIVE Master]] are the overall Big Bads of the series' two main {{Story Arc}}s, each story has its own:
** ''The Abyss Gazes Also'': Dark Raven
** ''The Art of War'': General Immortus
** ''Child of the Stars'': Blackfire
** ''Luck of the Draw'': The HIVE Mistress
** ''Abandon Hope, All Ye Who Enter'': Veneficus
** ''Sins of the Father'': Slade
** ''Shadow of the HIVE'': [[spoiler: The HIVE Master]]
* [[SuperMarioBros Bowser Koopa]] often plays this role in ''FanFic/CalvinAtCamp.''
* [[FanFic/AvatarTheLastAirbenderRevised ATLAR]] has Zotu and Azul's father, Aizo, set up as the BigBad in book one, with an expanded role in comparison to the original series' first season, but once Azul is properly introduced, it is clear that she will drive the plot far more-so than her father.
* The BigBad of the MassEffect fic The Council Era is set up as the Krogan Overlord, Kurvok. In fact, [[spoiler:Kurvok [[TheStarscream is swiftly usurped]] by his advisor, Halak Marr, and Kurvok is dead by the end of Part One, while Marr is present until the very end of the series.]]
* ''FanFic/TheImmortalGame'' has King Titan, Celestia and Luna's ArchnemesisDad and the creator/original ruler of Equestria. He also happens to be a [[TheSocialDarwinist Social Darwinist]] GodOfEvil bordering on being a full-blown EldritchAbomination, which is why the princesses [[SealedEvilInACan sealed him away]] in the first place.
* The ''FanFic/PonyPOVSeries'' is an interesting example: while Discord is only the direct BigBad in certain {{Story Arc}}s, he's also the BiggerBad of the series as a whole, as even the arcs where he doesn't show up in person are still all the fallout from his actions in canon and the BackStory [[spoiler: and there's also a subplot running through the series about his backup plan to escape his prison again]]. For the sake of precision, we'll break it down by arc:
** Naturally, Discord himself in the original Discorded Ponies series, as it's set during his canon appearance. This also includes the AlternateEnding Epilogue (eventually expanded on in the Dark World arc), which shows what [[BadFuture would have happened]] had he actually [[TheBadGuyWins managed to win]].
** The Reharmonization arc has [[spoiler: [[EnemyWithin Loneliness]]]] -- maybe not the arc as a whole, but the subplot about saving Trixie, which runs through a good chunk of it.
** The Pearls arc has [[WellIntentionedExtremist Princess Gaia]][=/=][[spoiler: [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds Nightmare Whisper]]]], [[spoiler: Fluttershy's SuperpoweredEvilSide]].
** The "AJ's Dream" two-parter has [[TheAssimilator Nightmare Mirror]], [[spoiler: Applejack's AlternateUniverse SuperpoweredEvilSide]].
** [[TheSocialDarwinist Strife]], Discord's sister, could arguably be said to be the BigBad of the Generational Transition arc, as of all the Draconequi she was definitely TheHeavy of the arc, and also served as the FinalBoss for the last survivors of the Gen 3.5 universe. Though, she was just doing her job [[spoiler: and was trying to give them a chance to prove their right to exist]].
** Discord takes center stage again in Origins, due to it being his StartOfDarkness.
** The Mind Games arc has Discord again [[spoiler: as he manipulates Diamond Tiara into freeing him]].
** The Dark World arc returns to the BadFuture and thus Alternate!Discord is still the BigBad. Considering we're seeing it from a VillainProtagonist perspective at first, [[HeroAntagonist Queen Cadence]] could also count as having been one in the past. Meanwhile, [[TheStarscream the Valeyard's]] FinalSpeech implies Discord isn't [[BigBadEnsemble the only Big Bad]]... [[spoiler: It now appears to be [[TheVoice the Nameless Passenger]], which is shaping up as TheCorrupter (especially to Twilight) and a KnightTemplar willing to sacrifice anything to defeat Discord.]] This entity ultimately ends up as the FinalBoss and reveals itself to be [[spoiler: [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Nightmare]] [[IHaveManyNames Eclipse/Paradox]], an [[FutureMeScaresMe potential future incarnation]] of Dark World!Twilight who was [[HeWhoFightsMonsters consumed by her hatred]] of Discord, condemning him to [[GroundhogDayLoop a time loop]] that always ends in his death, followed by Twilight's transformation and the reseting of the loop, [[OmnicidalManiac destroying each version of Dark World]]]].
** Shining Armor's arc has [[GeneralRipper General-Admiral Makarov]] of the [[TheEmpire Hooviet Empire]] [[spoiler: in actuality, an [[HumanoidAbomination Equineoid Abomination]] called the Shadow of Chernobull.]]
** Several stories in the ''Gaiden: 7 Dreams/Nightmares'' collection have antagonists:
*** Patch's story has several villains over the course of her quest for the Rainbow of Light fragments, but the most prominent are [[StarterVillain Film Critique]], [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Basil]], and [[DangerouslyGenreSavvy Grogar]], who serves as FinalBoss.
*** Melody's story has [[TyrantTakesTheHelm Sharp Spear]], whose FantasticRacism towards Earth Ponies makes him a threat to Melody's family, especially once his son and her daughter become StarCrossedLovers. [[spoiler: (Though he does eventually have a HeelFaceTurn.)]]
*** Bright Eyes' story has [[spoiler: the Shadow of Existence of Discord's brother [[UnPerson D___t]], who briefly poses as her EnemyWithin Cruel Eyes, and tries twice to absorb her soul and potential Concept in order to reconstitute himself. He also spends the entire Nightmares section stalking her as a presence she feels lurking over her whenever she feels emotionally vulnerable.]]
** One could also argue that even when Discord is the BigBad, the series still has a BiggerBad in his father [[EldritchAbomination Havoc]] -- after all, he's the one who created Discord in the first place, and is also responsible for pretty much everything he's done in Equestria [[spoiler: since he fed Discord ''his own brother'' (as well as Havoc's own avatar) in order to increase his power, before having him reborn in the mortal world]]. He was also the DiscOneFinalBoss of Origins.
* ''Fanfic/AceCombatTheEquestrianWar'' has [[spoiler: Red Cyclone]], a malicious griffon soldier who, alongside his comrade Black Star, overthrows the good ruler of the Griffin Kingdom and plunges Equestria into a time of war. His reason for doing it is to [[spoiler: enslave or kill all ponies]], as he believes they are weaklings that spoil his ideal vision of the world.
* The ''FanFic/LegendsOfEquestria'' continuity introduces The Emperor, the lizard-like leader of an ultra-advanced race that controls a [[TheEmpire planet-wide empire]], of which Equestria is "but a speck". When Celestia and Luna first overthrow Discord, he shows up to assert his control. Being unable to defeat them in single combat, he vows to return with his army should they ever lose control of the kingdom.
* In the ''FanFic/TamersForeverSeries'', [=BlackWargreymon=] fills this role in the second book ''Omni-Tamer'' by virtue of being the only recurring threat.
** In the third book: ''Forget the Y2K, This is Madness!!'' The sadistic Nightmare virus becomes the prominent threat to the Tamers
** However the Nightmare itself pales when compared to the overwhelming power of the psychotic [[spoiler: Daemon]], who sends his [[TheDragon Agent]] to weaken the Tamers during the fourth book: ''Theory of Chaos'', before terrorising them personally throughout ''Silent Sorrow''
* [[HardLight Holographic Retro]] from ''Fanfic/CalvinAndHobbesTheSeries'' takes on this role in Season 4. [[spoiler: He traps Calvin and Hobbes in TheMaze [[RaceAgainstTheClock with a time limit]], also revealing that he'd [[ArcWelding been behind some events from the season as well.]] Calvin and Hobbes actually comment on this, narrowing the perpetuator as him because of his competence.]]
** Thunderstorm also takes on the mantle in [[Recap/CalvinAndHobbesTheSeriesS3TVM2Thunderstorm the TV movie of the same name.]]
* In ''FanFic/ClashOfTheElements'' this trope is ZigZagged a few times. At first [[{{MarioAndLuigiSuperstarSaga}} Cackletta]] looks to be the main villain, but then [[spoiler: Joe Dark]] takes over after Alex defeats her. Then this looks to be switched AGAIN in a case of [[spoiler: HijackedByGanon and DemonicPossession via the Dark King]] only for [[spoiler: Joe Dark to regain control]], but then it is revealed in the epilogue that [[spoiler: Cackletta is not only alive, but is working with [[{{SuperPaperMario}} Dimentio]] and [[{{SuperMarioRPG}} Smithy]], setting up possibly a BigBadEnsemble]], but then as it is revealed in Part 2, [[spoiler: Both of them were Cackletta's pawns, meaning that she is the true BigBad of Parts 1 and 2 all along.]]
** This is also subverted in Movie 1. [[spoiler: Tabuu was NOT the BigBad, [[{{WellIntentionedExtremist}} not even]] [[{{GoodAllAlong}} in the slightest]]]]
* Illua is the BigBad of FanFic/TheTaintedGrimoire.
* ''FanFic/GettingBackOnYourHooves'' has [[TheSociopath Checker]] [[ManipulativeBitch Monarch]] [[spoiler: Trixie's sinister [[CainAndAbel sister]]]].
* ''FanFic/TimeLordsAndTerror'': [[WickedWitch Matron Hydia]] is TheHeavy for most of the story, carrying out a plot to release [[spoiler: [[EldritchAbomination the S'Muz]]]] and conquer TheMultiverse... unfortunately for her, [[spoiler: the S'Muz]] is an OmnicidalManiac to the extreme, and it proves itself [[EvilerThanThou worse than Hydia]] [[spoiler: by rendering her DeaderThanDead]] before becoming the TrueFinalBoss.
** The sequel ''FanFic/MinesOfDragonMountain'' initially has [[WellIntentionedExtremist Gabbro]], who is willing to do anything to stop the Diamond Dogs from accidentally [[spoiler: [[SealedEvilInACan releasing Tirac]]]]. However, about halfway through, it turns out [[spoiler: Tirac has been [[TheManBehindTheMan manipulating Gabbro the whole time]]]], at which point [[spoiler: Tirac]] becomes the direct BigBad.
* [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/75340/ Silent Elegy]]'s series of ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' fan fics has a BigBadEnsemble. Every story has its own BigBad; in addition to the standalones, there are villains who are involved in multiple stories: [[TheChessmaster Vlad]], "Silver" Meryll Santiago, [[spoiler: [[HeWhoFightsMonsters the Paranormal Society]]]], and [[{{Technopath}} Technus]] takes center stage in several stories. For the sake of precision, let's break it down by story:
** ''Pandora's Box'': The [[PlayingWithFire titular]] [[JerkassGenie character.]]
** ''Electric Rhapsody'': A VillainTeamUp between Technus and Ember.
** ''Starcrossed'': The ghosts of Ronan and Julia are the joint [[TheHeavy Heavy]], but the whole plot was an EvilPlan by Vlad.
** ''The Dark Angel'': [[ProfessionalKiller Ebony Angel]], paid off by Vlad.
** ''What If?'': The BigBad of the AlternateUniverse appears to be [[PhysicalGod Pariah Dark]] [[spoiler: but it turns out he was successfully [[TheStarscream Starscreamed]] by Vlad.]]
** ''Cat and Mouse'': Silver.
** ''Flawless Fiona Fenton'': Technically Fiona; she's not evil, but she's TheHeavy of the story.
** ''Hounds and Hunters'': Silver, again, though this time the [[EldritchAbomination malefactors]] [[EvilVersusEvil aren't under her control]].
** ''Electric Angel'': Starts out as an Ensemble between Ebony Angel and Technus, but he quickly proves [[EvilerThanThou worse than her]], forcing her to [[EnemyMine team up with Danny]] against him.
** ''Black and White'': Silver yet again, rounding out her trilogy. This time, in addition to the malefactors, Danny also has to deal with [[EldritchAbomination the Malice]] [[spoiler: the collective ghosts of everyone Silver's ever killed]].
** ''Erik'': The titular AxCrazy ghost, who thinks he's ThePhantomOfTheOpera.
** ''Whistlin' Dixie'': At first there's the [[PunchClockVillain Ghost Master and his haunters]], but the [[EvilerThanThou true threat]] turns out to be [[spoiler: the Paranormal Society]].
** ''Dance of Bone'': [[GodOfEvil Necrowind]].
** ''Guys and Dolls'': Technically Fiona, but it turns she's taking orders from [[spoiler: [[TheOmnipotent Elegy's]] EvilTwin Nocturne]].
** ''Phantasmis ex Machina'': A VillainTeamUp of Vlad, Skulker, and Technus. While Vlad is nominally in charge, Technus ends up going rogue with his own plans. [[spoiler: [[XanatosSpeedChess Not that Vlad cares...]]]]
** ''Shattered Reflections'': Skulker ''[[BigBadWannabe tries]]'' to finally be BigBad in this story, but quickly [[EvilerThanThou loses out]] to the AlternateUniverse counterparts of himself and Kat/Elektra.
** ''A Step Too Far'': None, though Kat's prank is what sets the plot in motion.
** ''Dance of the Pales'': Starts out with [[FutureMeScaresMe the future Valerie]], though she ends up a pawn of [[spoiler: Silver]].
** ''Lament Impromptu'': None, as the whole thing turns out to be Elegy engineering a BreatherEpisode.
** ''Time Crisis'': Dan.
* Professor Moriarty is the most popular BigBad in [[SherlockHolmes Sherlockian]] fanfiction by virtue of being the trope canonically... but Colonel Moran has also had his moments of behind-the-scenes glory.
** In ''Fanfic/AStudyInRegret'', Moran is indeed the BigBad, playing quite the XanatosSpeedChess with [[InspectorLestrade Lestrade]] and Holmes.
** ''Fanfic/TheGhostMap'' utilizes Moran as the BigBad with Moriarty revealed as the BiggerBad.
** The ''Fanfic/DeliverUsFromEvilSeries'' starts out with Professor Moriarty as the BigBad. After his death, however, the role splits along with the protagonist focus: ''Colonel'' Moriarty plays the BigBad to Watson's [[TheHero Hero]], and Colonel ''Moran'' plays the BigBad to ''Holmes's'' [[TheHero Hero]].
* ''FanFic/TheStarsWillAidTheirEscape'' has Herald, who is implied, and eventually confirmed, to be an avatar of [[CthulhuMythos Nyarlathotep]] working to release [[BiggerBad the Outer Gods]] onto Equestria.
* ''{{FanFic/Alex}}'' has the titular antagonist herself from an ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' fanfic. It turns out she's the BigBad of the animated series all along, commanding the likes of Ice King, Ash, and Door Lord to do her bidding.
* The ''[[Fanfic/PonyPOVSeriesChaosVerse Chaos Verse]]'' (an official spinoff of the ''FanFic/PonyPOVSeries'') has [[spoiler: [[EnemyWithout Nightmare Phobia]]]]. Interestingly, in addition to being the main antagonist of the story, she's also stated to be behind many events of canon by manipulating ponies (including the Mane Six) through their fears.
* ''FanFic/MyLittleAvengers'' has [[GodOfEvil Loki]], who manages to [[TheChessmaster manipulate the entire plot in his favor]] up until the FinalBattle as part of his plot to TakeOverTheWorld.
* ''FanFic/BurningBlack'' at first seems to have Remy as it's central antagonist, but it eventually turns out that he's working with [[spoiler: the Pixies]], who seem to be using him as a means to fulfilling their own agenda.
* ''Fanfic/CrisisEquestria'': [[MagnificentBastard Silvertongue]] at first, though he turns out to be TheDragon to BiggerBad [[GodOfEvil Nihila]]. [[spoiler: Until chapter 25, when he [[TheStarscream betrays her]] and [[AGodAmI steals her power]], making him the definite BigBad.]]
* ''FanFic/ThePowersOfHarmony'': After a lot of buildup, the mysterious entity Cetus reveals herself as the main antagonist. She turns out to be [[spoiler: Nightmare Moon's Echo]], and is planning to [[TakeOverTheWorld take over Equestria]] and then to [[spoiler: complete Nightmare Moon's [[TheNightThatNeverEnds goal]]]].
* In ''Fanfic/WithStringsAttached'', there are two: [[spoiler: Jeft]], who was responsible for all the crap in the Second and Third Movements, and [[spoiler: Brox]], whose machinations are responsible for the Fourth Movement.
* The BigTimeRush fanfic ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7986375/1/Big-Time-Obsession Big Time Obsession]]'' has Hyde, the serial rapist/killer who terrorizes BTR (mainly Logan) and their friends througout the story. [[spoiler: Turns out he is really one of many multiple personalities of Detective Simmons. And even in that case, Hyde tries to manipulate the other voices to his will.]]
* ''Fanfic/YugiohTheThousandYearDoor'' has the Shadow Queen, whom plots to defeat the heirs to the Three Heroes who defeated her so she can escape her palace, unable to leave it until she does so due to the curse the Three Heroes placed on her.
* Titan in ''Fanfic/MyLittleUnicorn'' .
** Queen Chrysalis in the sequel.
* Gouki [[spoiler: Namikaze]] in FanFic/AGrowingAffection is the ultimate BigBad; he is Pein and Konan's second teacher and they are working for Madara on his orders, both to reign in Madara and to enable Gouki to take control of Madara's plan if it works out. In book 2 Madara was the BigBad, before Gouki comes out of the shadows.
* ''Fanfic/MyLittleCastlevania'': Obviously, as a crossover with ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'', it has {{Dracula}} as its main antagonist. However, like certain games in the series (like ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaBloodlines Bloodlines]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaPortraitOfRuin Portrait of Ruin]]''), he's more of a BiggerBad (you know, due to being dead and everything), with the role of TheHeavy falling to his minions (primarily [[TheDragon Death]] and [[EvilGenius Actrise]] in this case) as they work to resurrect him.
* In ''Fanfic/PerfectionIsOverrated'', The Usurper directs the [=SUEs=] in their efforts to defeat [[MaiHime the Himes]]. [[spoiler:He even [[DemonicPossession possesses]] the Obsidian Lord, the canon antagonist, but is killed after his minions are defeated and the Obsidian Lord is forced from Reito's body]].
* ''FanFic/JusticeLeagueOfEquestria'':
** ''Mare of Steel'': The first arc has [[AGodAmI General Zod]], while the second arc has a VillainTeamUp of [[LexLuthor Alexander Silversmith]] and {{Brainiac}}.
** ''The Princess of Themyscira'' has [[GodOfEvil Ares]] shaping up to this role.
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