'''Basic Trope''': A group of five heroes consists of [[TheLeader its leader]], [[TheLancer the leader's counterpart]], [[TheBigGuy the muscle]], [[TheSmartGuy the intellect]] and [[TheChick the peacekeeper]]. Their archetypes complement one another, and their skills contribute to the group in a unique way.
* '''Straight''': [[HeroesPreferSwords Bob]] is the leader of The Guardians of Gameland, who also consist of the jealous and brooding [[KnightInSourArmor Tony]], the nerdy [[BlackMage Jack]], the muscular [[BareFistedMonk Charlie]], and TheHeart [[WhiteMage Alice]].
* '''Exaggerated''':
** Their roles on the band are their [[FlatCharacter only defining traits]].
** Or, their traits are very obvious: Bob is a {{Badass}}, Tony is TheGunslinger, Jack [[MyBrainIsBig has a big Brain]] and PsychicPowers, Charlie is a GentleGiant and MadeOfIron, Alice is an {{Innocent Fanservice|Girl}} ActionGirl with HealingHands and [[SixthRanger Sam]] is a DeathSeeker. Then they get [[TeamPet Yuki the]] [[EverythingsBetterWithPenguins Penguin]].
* '''Downplayed''': ???
* '''Justified''':
** There's safety in numbers, and they only have five {{Macguffin}}s that will let people fight.
** In the RPG Tales of Troperia, Bob wants a well-balanced team, so he recruits Jack, Alice, Charlie, and Tony.
* '''Inverted''':
** There are five ''teams'', each one specializing in one thing.
** FiveBadBand
* '''Subverted''':
** One of them [[SacrificialLamb eventually dies]] or quits.
** Alternatively, their positions on the team don't match their appearances/skill.
* '''Double Subverted''': The team goes through a succession of {{Optional Party Member}}s.
* '''Parodied''': Their traits are too obvious: Bob is an IdiotHero dressed like a knight and fights with a giant spoon, Tony is a PsychoForHire dressed like a pirate, Jack is a BrainInAJar in a robot body, Charlie is a BoisterousBruiser dressed like a viking, Alice is a StrawFeminist ActionGirl, Sam is TheAce and [[InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons a dragon]], and there's also [[NonHumanSidekick Yuki the Wonder Penguin]] who has ElementalPowers and wears a cape. They always act like BigDamnHeroes even [[MundaneMadeAwesome when doing mundane tasks]].
* '''Zig Zagged''': They are the Literature/{{Animorphs}}. Seriously, go look at the entry on that page and at the discussion.
* '''Averted''': Bob works alone, or with only one or two other people.
* '''Enforced''': The writers use the FiveManBand, since it is the ideal group.
* '''Lampshaded''': "Only a five-man team can look this good while beating evil!"
* '''Invoked''': Bob purposely seeks out other group members that fit certain roles.
* '''Exploited''': ???
* '''Defied''': "I don't need four other members, one or two is just fine!"
* '''Discussed''': Emperor Evulz: "Why do my troubles always come in fives?"
* '''Conversed''': "Hey, that's TheChick. And that's TheLancer!"
* '''Deconstructed''':
** The members of the FiveManBand, when alone, are helpless. Without Alice, the rest of the members fight among each other. Without Jack, they don't have a plan. [[BigBad Emperor Evulz]] uses this to his advantage. He also forces Sam into [[HeroicSacrifice sacrificing himself at their darkest hour]] with a game of XanatosSpeedChess.
** Alternatively, they each become so tired of being constrained to their roles and having to deal with each other, so they all leave on their own adventures, but they all become injured without support. Sam realizes he's going to die and leaves the group, Tony gets sick of playing second fiddle, Jack gets fed up with being TheLoad, Charlie gets tired of not being as smart as the others, Alice gets bored with being TheMedic, and Bob grows weary of being a vessel for CharacterDevelopment, leaving Yuki asking everyone not to leave.
* '''Reconstructed''': The members of the FiveManBand learn from each other as the story goes on. Bob becomes a [[GuileHero Guile]] ActionHero, Tony becomes a {{Chessmaster}} FriendlySniper, Jack becomes a BadassBookworm GadgeteerGenius, Charlie becomes a {{Lightning|Bruiser}} GeniusBruiser, and Alice becomes a BadassNormal LadyOfWar.
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Go back to FiveManBand and remind them that they are the best team ever.
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%% Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:
%%
%%* '''Implied''': ???
%%* '''Plotted A Good Waste''': ???
%%* '''Played For Laughs''': ???
%%* '''Played For Drama''': ???