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Historical Nations
In General
- Killed Off for Real: Polandball lacks any sort of canon, but those guys being long dead is pretty much one of the only things that sticks. They can still return, though, one way or another.
The Byzantine/Eastern Roman Empire
- Humiliation Conga: He was one of the most powerful European empires for centuries, but the end of his life was a string of humiliations.
- Inadequate Inheritor: Zig-zagged. Some comics portray him as Rome's less talented son, but plenty show him as a steadfast warrior and statecrafter who held out against numerous invasions for centuries.
- Riches to Rags: Some comics interpret him as turning into Greece after the Ottomans defeated him.
- What the Hell, Hero?: To the Catholic Nations during the Fourth Crusade.
- When You Coming Home, Dad?: Inverted. As the years went by, was increasingly indifferent to his father in the West. It didn't turn out well for either of them◊.
Republic of Venice
- Archenemy: To fellow Maritime Republic Genoa.
- Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: He had a habit of switching sides whenever it looked like his erstwhile allies were getting too strong or started disrupting his trade.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: Tends to be portrayed as extremely greedy and backstabbing. Just ask Byzantium or Albania.
- Glass Cannon: Was basically a city-state with several possessions in the Mediterranean Sea rather than a kingdom or an empire, yet it was one of the biggest competing superpowers in the region he operated.
- Friendly Enemy: With the Ottoman Empire. They have been at war several times, but they occasionally traded goods with each other◊. D'awwwwww!
- Non-Standard Character Design: In many official Reddit comics, he is commonly depicted with tentacles.
- Pay Evil unto Evil: His role as leader in the Fourth Crusade is sometimes interpreted as vengeance for The Massacre of the Latins.
- Proud Merchant Race Guy: He was the trader to know in the eastern Mediterranean, and he never let anyone forget it.
- The Rival: To all the other Italian Maritime Republics.
Prussia
- Arch-Enemy: France, Austria, and Bavaria...until Realpolitik kicks in and he's forced to switch alliances as part of his greater goal.
- Ax-Crazy: Sometimes, his love for battle goes a little too far.
- Big Brother Instinct: Towards Germany.
- Blood Knight: Prussia lives for fighting and conquering other countries.
- The Determinator: United the German states into one Empire.
- The Dreaded: He's a terrifying opponent in battle and with good reason.
- Germanic Efficiency: His über-strict demeanour led to Germany becoming a workaholic.
- Misblamed: Was blamed for starting the two world wars and thus dissolved.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: His demeanour is often based on Otto von Bismarck, understandably enough.
- Proud Warrior Race Guy: As commonly once said "Prussia is an army that happens to have a nation."
- War Is Glorious: Believes this. This demeanor gets him blamed for starting the World Wars.
- Villainous Legacy: Although broken up, his clay lives on as Kaliningradskaya as a part of Russia and temporarily as East Germany (who inherited his Axe-Crazy militaristic demeanor) before it was reunited in 1990. The "Villainous" part comes in with a comic◊ theorizing that his clay being forced onto Poland after World War 2 caused Prussia to curse him for life.
The Confederate States of America
- Arch-Enemy: He hates many things but America most of all.
- Ain't Too Proud to Beg: Pleads for France and Britain to help him.
- Cain and Abel: CSA is often portrayed as the Cain to USA's Abel.
- Mad Scientist: He may talk like a hayseed, but that doesn't stop him from building submarines and ironclads.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: Thinks slavery is awesome.
- Southern-Fried Genius: See the bit about submarines and ironclads under Mad Scientist above.
- Villainous Legacy: Although he is gone he has left an impression on many of the US states he was a part of and then some. His ghost sometimes tempts other country balls toward racism.
The Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy
- Boisterous Weakling: On occassion. Mostly because of Serbia.
- Eyepatch of Power: Well, Eyepatch of something anyway. Though coming from a place of sincere compromise, it may indicate an overall lack of vision for the new state.
- It's All About Me: Can be somewhat impulsive in international politics, mostly picking whatever suits its fancy in the moment, without regard for how its neighbors will respond.
- The Load: Germany doesn't have the fondest memories of being Austro-Hungary's comrade in the first World War.
- Retcon: Ever since the rising of awareness that the flag commonly used to portray it is its civil ensign, and it had no national flag, it is sometimes portrayed as Austria and Hungary separate from each other.
- Wild Card: It's as difficult to know what the Dual Monarchy is going to do as it is to know why it's going to do it.
The Reichtangle/The Fourth Reich/The German Empire
A tall rectangle in the colours of the German Empire, Reichtangle represents (depending on who you ask) the future Fourth Reich, the German Empire, or German's militaristic side in general, and is Germany's Superpowered Evil Side. Its sole purpose is to absorb other countries into itself.
- Armies Are Evil: Represents years of German conquest.◊
- Catchphrase: "Guten Tag" and "Surprise Anschluss!".
- Depending on the Writer: If he's the second reich German Empire, the hypothetical 4th reich or just Germany's simple Superpowered Evil Side.
- Does Not Know His Own Strength: The more innocent portrayals of Reichtangle sometimes show him hurting or killing lesser countries without realizing it.
- The Dreaded: Oh, yes. No other character (with the possible exception of Omsk Bird) arouses such sheer terror in the regular countries.
- Eldritch Abomination: Being a rectangle with hollow eyes certainly comes off as creepy to expressive adorable countries.
- Empty Eyes: Sports small beady white eyes all the time, thus effectively giving him a cold and soulless appearance, in stark contrast to the more expressive standard country eyes.
- Enemy Within: According to some strips (ie, the "Fourth Reich" interpretation), he's this to the EU. There's one strip where this istreated as just a campfire story-told by the EU itself! Another has the EU going insane from teasing and actually becoming the Reichtangle.
- Evil Is Bigger: He is much bigger than all of the other countries due to his shape. When anschlussing them, he towers over them, which makes him look more threatening.
- Evil Me Scares Me: Modern Germany has this relationship with the Reichtangle and outright fears having it take over his body and tries to suppress it as much as possible, but he might not have a choice..
- Greater-Scope Villain: Thanks to genocide and extreme racial prejudice, Nazi manages to be the only one to come off as worse than Reichtangle. Also leads to Fridge Horror since these two warmongering characters are the historical alter egos of Workaholic Germany, showing some pretty nasty Hidden Depths within him.
- Knight of Cerebus: His presence causes most of the countries, (even the ISIS) to panic.
- Mundane Utility: Apart from making it terrifying, its size and shape have plenty of practical uses, such as being a bridge◊ being able to reach tall places.◊
- Non-Malicious Monster: It doesn't seem to be driven by any type of ideology, or even demonstrate any anger or hatred towards its victims. It simply exists to anschluss until there is nothing left to anschluss.
- Nonstandard Character Design: It is a large, two-dimensional (though Depending on the Artist it is sometimes shown as a thin box, or even a cylinder) rectangle in a world of balls. It's hinted that this is one of the reasons it is so terrifying to the other countries.
- Fittingly, Kazakhstan is the only country besides Austria (who wants Anschluss) who is typically unafraid of Reichtangle.
- Omnicidal Maniac: As If he wasn't scary enough.◊
- Painting the Medium: Its dialogue is always in Courier, or (very occasionally) Fraktur.
- Superpowered Evil Side: Modern Germany will turn into it as soon as he annexes a country. In some comics, other countries deliberately take advantage of this because they have need of the Reichtangle's powers. Such as when they need someone tall enough to fetch a jar of cookies from the top shelf.◊
- War Is Glorious: Seems to think this.
- Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds: Sometimes depicted as having a genuinely innocent, childlike personality and being unable to understand why everyone else runs in terror from it.
Nazi Germany
- Arch-Enemy: For the USA, UK, and USSR.
- Ax-Crazy: Started aggressive wars of expansion (or worse), even against his former and current allies.
- Big Bad: Of most comics set during World War II.
- The Dreaded: To his neighbors.
- Driven to Suicide: Usually the way he dies.
- Future Me Scares Me: Any comic involving him and modern Germany often has the former disapproving of the latter as an Untermensch-ridden cesspool.
- Germanic Efficiency: Double Subverted - He spent three years at war without properly adjusting his economy, but when he did it was able to keep him in the fight for longer.
- Hate Sink: How else can you portray the country that started WWII and committed all sorts of heinous atrocities?
- Knight of Cerebus: While not without his comedic moments, any appearance of Nazi Germany where he's not Played for Laughs tends to be among the darkest comics in the series.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: One of the most infamous examples.
- The Sociopath: To an UNGODLY degree.
- Those Wacky Nazis: Goes without saying.
East Germany
- Always Someone Better: He had the best standard of living and economy compared to all the Communist and third world capitalist nations, but being right next to his brother is a grim reminder that he can't keep up with the west.
- Ax-Crazy: The Stasi side of him can be really prevalent. You might be noticing a certain trend when it comes to Germany's past incarnations.
- Blood Knight: Will do anything to hunt down traitors.
- Degraded Boss: Invoked in universe. Although he's retained Prussia's militaristic and authoritarian demeanor, the Allieds splitting of Germany means that he isn't much of a threat to them anymore. Although he was more than competent enough to hold his own against most powers, even being second to Soviet in the Eastern bloc.
- Depending on the Writer: Whether he's a Sour Supporter that wants to reunite with his western brother and hates communism, whether he's a diabolical State Sec obsessed Bond villain, or an idiot that can never compare to the west.
- Germanic Depressives: Sometimes portrayed as just wanting to reunite with his brother amid miserable conditions. See Depending on the Writer.
- Germanic Efficiency: Less so than the west due to to having a fraction of his power, but still there. Much to Sovietball's displeasure.
- I Have Many Names: He can be called DDR, GDR, and East Germany without any problem.
- Proud Warrior Race Guy: The last "Germany" to ever have overtly Prussian militaristic tendencies... but see above.
- Sour Supporter: Sometimes loves what he does for real, or sometimes is only doing it because Sovietball said so.
- State Sec: Of course.
The Roman Empire/SPQR
"How tiresome. I was many enjoyings this vnopposed svperpower business"
-Rome's last words before going off to fight the barbarians.
- Accessory Wearing Countryball: A gladius or a Roman Army helmet.
- The Ace: Not only was he an unstoppable conqueror, he was also a highly intelligent mathematician, a master of art, culture, and literature, and a skilled horse breeder.
- Defeat Means Friendship: A variation. Some portrayals show SPQR becoming a father figure to Celtic, and the France and UK that he divides into, after conquering him.
- I Have No Son!: Has this reaction to the Latin countries upon meeting them.
- Genius Bruiser: He would conquer you, and then bring your IQ up within a few moments of tutoring.
- The Mentor: To UK, France, and Germany; by proxy, his learning was passed on to USA.
- Mentor Occupational Hazard: UK, France, and Germany had to rely on those lessons to survive after SPQR bit it.
- Proud Warrior Race Guy: To quote UK (to ISIL):"Shut up! You did not know Rome! When he was young, he was a fighter; he had to be. In his prime, he was a fighter; he was the best, unstoppable, and so much more. And when he was old... he was still a fighter. Yes, he may have abandoned you, just as he abandoned my brother and I. When he died, we were both sad and furious. But as he died, he fought to them off. Fought them all off. Saved us all, and left a strong son. He was the reason why these guns you are so proud of were manufactured, why your huts are not just more sand and branches. So be quiet. He was ten times the fighter you'll ever be."
- Small Role, Big Impact: A backstory character that changed everything.
The Soviet Union/USSR
- Abusive Parents: Frequently depicted as abusive to several of the non-Russian SSRs. Occasionally also to Russia as well, holding him to unrealistic standards as a global superpower and leaving Russia to deal with all of his problems.
- Berserk Button: Capitalism.
- Chummy Commies: More favorable portrayals of him, especially if the artist in question is a communist, which many are.
- Commissar Cap: Sometimes wears one.
- Dirty Commies: The non-favorable portrayals of him. There is no doubt that the Baltic and Eastern European nations (except Belarus) hated and feared him, and still dread his return.
- Freudian Excuse: USSR can trace his origins to a time when the impoverished Russian people resented the upper class and wished to displace them...
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: ...In order to create a better and more equal society. Whether he strayed from this ideal later as a result of being jaded is up to interpretation.
- Glorious Mother Russia: Is often drawn even larger than Russia. Bearing in mind that he was not just Russia, this trope is sometimes played down in favor of a more calculating and sinister Bond villain style demeanor.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: His personality is mostly based off of a caricature of Stalin's, even though each soviet leader was rather distinct.
- The Rival: USA, obviously. During the second World War, it was Nazi Germany.
- Worthy Opponent: Eventually considers him as this. Depending on the portrayal of USA's reaction to the USSR's downfall (see Why We Are Bummed Communism Fell, below), this sentiment may be reciprocated.
- Villainous Legacy: While the villainous part changes from author (See Chummy Commies vs Dirty Commies) his legacy in world is usually wholly negative. The biggest part of this is the fact that he never sought to resolve ethnic tensions within his borders or sphere of influence causing a great deal of political strife when his children became independent. A great deal of Russia's antagonism is wanting to relive the glory days of his father.
- He also played a hand in creating many of the traditional antagonist of Polandball such as China. Much of the instability of the Middle East comes from the Soviet war in Afghanistan.
- Why We Are Bummed Communism Fell: Russia greatly misses the good old days and America doesn't even have a rival to take its anger out on.
Yugoslavia
- The Ace: Came strong out of World War II, managed to play both the Eastern Communist and Western Capitalist states and had a pretty good economy despite minor setbacks.
- Broken Ace: And when he died, his sons had a pretty violent break up party.
- Balkanize Me: A more outstanding example than the Trope Namer (and occurring in the same region). Yugoslavia is almost never portrayed in the flesh.
- Broken Pedestal: Most of his successors are fairly ambivalent about him these days, with a few diehard supporters and detractors on each side.
- Body Horror: His dissolution is either depicted as the Non-Serb republics either budding off Yugoslavia or becoming full on chest bursters.
- Guile Hero: In his prime, he was an excellent political player, managing a profitable relationship with both the US and USSR. Just holding himself together was a feat in itself, but he suffered major Badass Decay in his twilight years.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: Since he's what most think of when people mention Communist Yugoslavia, his personality is based off of Marshal Tito's.
- Parental Favouritism: Is generally portrayed as loving Serbia the most.
- Team Switzerland: A variation as he started the Non-Aligned Movement.
- Token Good Teammate: How the capitalist countries viewed him as a communist due to being non aligned.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
- Arch-Enemy: Has plenty. From the US, India, the previous Afghan Republic that now exists as a government-in-exile, and so on.
- Ax-Crazy: Was a brutal totalitarian dictatorship in his previous incarnation.
- Back from the Dead: Officially re-established at the end of the Afghanistan War and is currently the only historical countryball to return.
- The Fundamentalist: Is a given since his government is a literal terrorist organization.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: He is incredibly misogynistic and oppressive towards women.
Provinces, States, and Territories
England
- Berserk Button: He doesn't like being called a city.
- Composite Character: Cornwall and, less frequently, other countyballs make an appearance alongside or instead of the rest of England.
- Football Hooligans: Is very passionate about football and will often get violent and unruly if things don't go his way.
- The Leader: As stated above, dominates the Union and is treated in much the same way as UK, albeit with a greater tendency toward violence and swearing.
- Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: He's terrified of Normandy.
- Working-Class People Are Morons: In comics that contrast him with the posh UK, he's generally portrayed as being rather dim.
Isle of Mann
- Spear Carrier: Appears exclusively for name puns, flag jokes and comics containing the entire Celtic or United Kingdom cast.
Northern Ireland
- Ax-Crazy: Downplayed as he is not as murderous as the other examples of this trope, but he is already a pretty crazy one himself.
- Berserk Button: Flags are a very touchy subject◊ for him.
- He hates being confused with his neighbour Ireland.
- The Ditz: Out of all the countryballs on this page, he's portrayed as not being the brightest.
- Pokémon Speak: Talks like this in some comics; his most repeated words are "norn iron" (parodying the thick Northern Ireland accent) and "fleg".
- Split Personality: He is usually portrayed having a Protestant personality and a Catholic personality fighting for control, paralleling The Troubles.
- The Un-Favourite: UK seems to resent his inclusion the most out of all his regions.
Scotland
- Antagonistic Offspring: Sometimes with UK.
- The Alcoholic: Loves his whiskey a little too much.
- Gasshole: this comic.
- The Lancer: Complete with angsty violence, cynicism, and a grumpy history with England.
- Sitcom Arch-Nemesis: England, although some comics portray it as a Sibling Rivalry or vitriolic friendship, both of which are fairly fashionable in the UK...
- Trademark Favourite Food: Haggis. It doesn't come up often.
Wales
- Animal Motifs: Dragons.
- Bestiality Is Depraved: Sheep, of course.
- Gratuitous Welsh: Welsh is just mainstream enough to appear as one of Wales' habits without it being comprehensible to most people, although that said, an unusually large amount of writers who use it get it correct.
- The Unintelligible: When speaking Welsh; comes close when speaking English as well, as seen by the fact that he is one of the only anglophone countryballs to use butchered grammar and spelling in some comics.
- Wholesome Crossdresser: Averted with the Rebecca Riots.
Catalonia
- Antagonistic Offspring: While a lot of Spain's regions kind of hold some sort of animosity towards him due to him refusing to give them independence, Catalonia is by far the most adamant and notorious one in this. Every comic he is featured in has him bickering with Spain at some point.
- Commonality Connection: Gets along well with other separatist territories such as Kurdistan, Kosovo and other regions of Spain that seek independence.
- Heterosexual Life-Partners: With Basque, since they are the most demanding of independence out of all separatist regions in Spain.
- Spear Carrier: Generally appears in comics featuring Spain's problems with separatism.
Falklands/Islas Malvinas
- Not Helping Your Case: As seen here◊.
Hong Kong
- Antagonistic Offspring: Doesn't get along well with China, as their ideologies oppose each other.
- Berserk Button: Associating him with China, or calling him Xianggang are big pet peeves for him.
- Butt-Monkey: Downplayed, as it is not as bad as most of the other examples, but it's still present. He gets bullied by China in a lot of comics that feature him.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Is usually very polite and affable. When China starts making problems again with him however, he will do anything to defend himself.
- Determinator: As shown in the Butt-Monkey and Yank the Dog's Chain entries, he gets a lot of abuse from China everytime he demands his independence. One thing though; he never gives up.
- Happily Adopted: In contrast to his relationship with China, Hong Kong was needless to say, very content with his adoption by UK. He is very grateful towards him and loves him very much... Until UK has to give him up to China. Saying that he misses him◊ is understating it.
- Improbable Weapon User: Uses umbrellas in defend himself against China. Too bad it doesn't stop tear gas.
- Pint-Sized Powerhouse: Like his relative Singapore, he may be tiny, but he has a pretty big economy going on for him, and other countries have apparently forgotten◊ how rich he is.
- Not to mention he has successfully taken care of Chinese policemen coming to suppress his demonstrations, as seen in this comic◊. Using an umbrella, no less!
- Yank the Dog's Chain: Comics that show him◊ trying to◊ get independence◊ from China◊ will usually have something go wrong for him in the end.
Tibet
- Butt-Monkey: Frequently tormented by China.
- Incendiary Exponent: He often sets himself on fire to protest China. Sometimes the latter uses it as a power source akin to coal.
Jewish Autonomous Oblast
- Ambiguously Gay: His flag is a rainbow. Depending on the Writer, he's usually portrayed as either being gay, or being mistaken for gay (and bullied by Russia).
- Artifact Title: He did used to be Jewish, having been established as a homeland for Jews in the Soviet Union, but these days if he expresses interest in any religion at all it's Orthodox Christianity.
- Fridge Logic: Causes this in-universe. He's got "Jewish" in his name (and is portrayed as a cube), but isn't actually Jewish.
- Greedy Jew: Sometimes depicted as Russia's banker.
- Nonstandard Character Design: A cube like Israel (even though his population is only 0.2% Jewish).
- Straight Gay: In his gay portrayals.
The Omsk Bird
A tall, anthropomorphic bird in a red cloak and with glowing red eyes, Omsk Bird is an Eldritch Abomination to rival the Reichtangle. Often seen getting countries addicted to drugs such as krokodil, or simply scaring the everloving hell out of them. Since it represents the Russian city of Omsk, it is sometimes considered to be Russia's child, but other than that, it is veiled in mystery.- Blue-and-Orange Morality: Omsk Bird doesn't seem to be pure evil, as much as stoking the countries' self-destructive impulses out of some enigmatic purpose.
- The Corrupter: Many of his appearances has him offering countries the thing they most desire, but at a terrible cost.
- Crossover: Originated as a meme separate from Polandball on Russian imageboards, making fun of Omsk for allegedly being a Wretched Hive of drugs and general weirdness. However, it has gained enough traction in the Polandball community to count as an honorary Polandball character.
- The Dreaded: Omsk is the definition of fear. Everyone dreads it, except possibly the Reichtangle.
- Emotion Eater: One of the theories as to whatever the hell Omsk Bird is is that it feeds on countries' fear and despair.
- In the Hood: Wears a hood that hides its face in darkness, except for its beak and glowing eyes.
- Nonstandard Character Design: The only sapient character with a humanoid body. (However, it's sometimes depicted in ball form, negating this.)
Quebec
- Annoying Younger Sibling: Treated as such by Canada.
- French Jerk: Speaks French. Is a general asshole.Canada: Why do you call strangers "tu"? I thought you were supposed to use "vous" to be polite.
Québecb: POLITE IS FORM OF WEAKNESS - Odd Friendship: Sometimes shown as getting along oddly well with Russia, possibly because of their shared love for Putin/poutine.
- Trademark Favorite Food: Can't resist poutine, even if it's made by Canada.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: Desperately craves France's approval. Doesn't always get it.
Sápmi
The cultural region traditionally inhabited by the Sámi people, and represented locally by Sámi Parliaments.
- Butt-Monkey: Most comics about him show him getting kicked around by the Nordics and Russia.
- Do Not Call Me "Paul": He doesn't like being called Lapland.
- Mushroom Samba: Sometimes shown using Amanita muscaria for religious purposes... or just for the hell of it.
- Out of Focus: He doesn't show up much except as a side-character in comics about the Nordics or Russia.
Texas
He was an independent nation once.
- Ascended Extra: Texas easily appears more often than some countries (and more often than all of the other states), and is prevented from being considered part of the supporting cast only by his integration into USA.
- The Ace: In a very forgiving definition, his strength is one of the few reasons he hangs alongside USA as an Ascended Extra.
- Bratty Half-Pint: May act like one, especially after becoming independent.
- Cowboy: His most common portrayal.
- Deep South: Of course. What? Did you expect the urban liberal cities of Dallas, Austin and Houston to undo a classic stereotype?
- Happily Adopted: Although USA is less than trilled.
- Ping Pong Naïveté: Alternative Character Interpretation is in full effect with this trope. In comics where he is portrayed as USA's child, he is shown to be rather naive and therefore, isn't generally trusted with a gun. However, in Stateball comics, he usually holds his ground and can be quite Trigger-Happy.
- The Un-Favourite: USA doesn't hesitate to call him "retarded" due to being a Trigger-Happy Bratty Half-Pint.
- Vitriolic Best Buds: With California. They have opposite personalities and fight a lot but still hang out out the end of the day. They also agree to split the other states after getting independence.
Supranational Organizations
ASEAN
- Expy: Of the European Union. As referenced both in the Polandball Wiki and this comic◊ with disturbing accuracy.
- Paper-Thin Disguise: Sometimes portrayed (and subsequently referred to) as a cardboard cutout (ASEANBoard or ASEANCoin) with the member nations propping him up.
African Union
- Good Is Impotent: His ideals are noble. His competence is nonexistent.
- Driven to Suicide: More than one comic ends with his suicide, or a prelude thereof.
- The Friend Nobody Likes: His constituent countries treat him like a joke. To his face. Constantly.
- Ping Pong Naïveté: The two most common portrayals of AU are diametrically opposed: Either he's a Wideeyed Idealist whose optimism is abruptly crushed by harsh reality, or he's a Deadpan Snarker wearing Jade-Coloured Glasses as a coping mechanism.
The European Union
- Humongous Mecha: Can be portrayed as one. Built after WWII, he is shown to be operated by member states, and can be used as a general meeting spot.
- Nice Guy: Just wants human rights for everyone and doesn't display any overt bigoted or political extremist tendencies.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Of course, some countries play this all as a sham as he's being used as Germany's proxy for the 4th reich.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: His decisions more or less coincide with the decisions of German Chancellor's Angela Merkel's, which has sometimes earned him the nickname Merkelreich.
- Obstructive Bureaucrat: Britain at least thinks so.
- Only Sane Man: Generally keeps his cool to get the Euros functioning. Even true as a meta example regarding the chaotic facebook polandball community, wherein the admins of the page are vocal about violent and nationalistic community outbursts.
- Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping: While all countries are subject to Poirot Speak, EU takes this to new heights, with dialogue peppered with words and phrases from all over Europe. French and German tend to be most prevalent, though.
- The Empire: How his detractors (notably Russia, Greece, England, Wales and the more nationalistic Euros such as Hungary) see him. Doesn't help that some comics literally portray him as the secret 4th Reich.
- The Federation: How he wants to be seen, but see above.
- Unwitting Pawn: He doesn't know that he's being used by Germany in order to further the latter's dream of controlling the whole of Europe.◊
ISIS
"I LOVE ONLY TWO THINGS AMPHETAMINES AND ALLAH!!!"
- Action Bomb: And it somehow survives every suicide bombing too.
- Always Chaotic Evil: Threatens every single country in the world, from the powerful USA, Russia, and China as well as Germany, to resident nice guy Canada and the perpetually neutral Switzerland, and you count.
- Ax-Crazy: ISIS is extremely violent, and uses violence as the answer to every problem he faces.
- Black-and-White Insanity: Divides the whole world into two categories: The part under his particular brand of Wahabbist Islam (and only that brand), and mortal enemies.
- Bullying a Dragon: Once tried to threaten Germany. For a moment, Germany's Killing Intent activated and loomed over ISIS as The Dreaded Reichtangle, towering far, far above and curving down to almost completely surround ISIS, leading to a Grade-A Oh, Crap! reaction.
- ISIS attacks the US. Cue retaliation in the form of mass bombing.
- When ISIS attempts to attack Russia, the latter slowly turns around and ominously looms above ISIS with a glare.
- Tunisia calls ISIS dinner.
- Dark Is Evil: Has a black and white pattern, with black as the main body.
- Depending on the Writer: While it is a ball in one comic like any other in most comics, Reddit treats it as an organisation in-universe: a group of smaller balls (Syria, Iraq, Nigeria, Libya) wearing black headbands and engaging in acts of terrorism. Aside from avoiding showing extremist imagery, this also helps to explain why it keeps showing up - sometimes in one comic - while constantly exploding.
- The Fundamentalist: ISIS believes in a medieval ultrafundamentalist Wahhabist Islam doctrine, which alienates and creeps out all other Islamic countries, even already fundamentalist Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia.
- Hated by All: Literally everyone on Earth hates it— even the group of people it believes it is fighting for. Even completely batshit insane nations like North korea garner more pity from others than him!
- Hate Sink: ISIS gets no sympathy from any comic, even compared to other villains and crazy nations.
- Knight Templar: ISIS thinks that he's liberating the secular and modernized world from the evils of modernity.
- Leeroy Jenkins: Challenges everyone at once.
- Logic Bomb: Will blow itself up if confused.◊
- Love Makes You Evil: Born out of Iraq and Syria's love for each other and their desire to repeal the Sykes-Picot Agreement that separated them. They wished to unite, and unite they did◊.
- Moral Guardians: Likes to think of itself as one. No one else agrees.
- Not-So-Harmless Villain: Has caused actual damage to powerful countries like France.
- Psycho Serum: A big fan of combat drugs.
- Wicked Cultured: Inverted; the Islamic State hates that there are even reminders of the pre-Islamic middle east and destroys ancient artifacts and monuments with abandon.
The United Nations
UN: "What is a solution."
EU: "When you make a problem better."
UN: "That is not something I do."
- Beware the Nice Ones: In this portrayal of him◊, he is shown as being downright pissed while doing his job due to the constant obstacles in getting everyone to play accordingly.
- Butt-Monkey: Countless◊ comics◊ has portrayed◊ references and jabs◊ at him as being useless, and he gets virtually little respect from every nations. Hell, not even Canada pays respect for him.
- Death Seeker: Oh, so much. It is one of his most consistently-portrayed traits.
- When he is asked what he sees in The Mirror of Erised he replies: "A Peaceful World"◊. We don't see his reflection in the Mirror. Should the World become completely at peace, the United Nations would be rendered redundant and dissolved.
- This comic◊ also expresses it well.
- Too depressing? Here's a black comedy take on this trope.
- Good Is Impotent: Means well, but has a hard time getting world powers to play nice.
- Horrible Judge of Character: His choices for the Human Rights Commission? China, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Syria, Russia, and North frickn' Korea.
- Inept Mage: Has a penchant for geopolitical magic tricks that often go awry.
- Nice Guy: Just wants the world to be in peace, and can't bring himself to hate anyone. Considering how it's taking toll on him though, this trope is deconstructed hard.
- Non-Action Guy: The last time where he attempted to stop damage at world peace was during Korean War, and he hasn't done much ever since, only relying on strongly worded letters.
- Obstructive Bureaucrat: How other nations view him.
- Self-Deprecation: Prone to this.
- Strongly Worded Letter: His, uh, "Weapon" of Choice.
- Throw the Dog a Bone: Ocassionally, comics will highlight his rather sucessful charity work.
Organization of American States
- Antagonistic Offspring: Does not like Cuba, Venezuela, or Nicaragua... who all are co-founders. Doubly so for Venezuela, as the OAS was inspired by an idea of Símon Bolívar's.
- Bit Character: Usually only shows up with other international organizations or occasionally against Venezuela.
- Only Sane Man: Of the international organizations. He is considered effective without being overbearing.
Everybody Else
Antarctica
Since Antarctica isn't an actual country, he represents the scientists and researchers that stay there.
- Depending on the Writer: It varies he views the other countries as polluters and annoyances or if he sees them as company he longs for in his lonely state.
- Friendless Background: Nobody visits Antarctica. The only company he ever has are the penguins and the frozen dead bodies of failed explorers. Then again, sometimes he would rather be alone.◊
- I Just Want To Have Company: Backfired one time when other countries came and attempted to claim pieces of him.
- Non-Standard Character Design: He's drawn with a ski mask and scarf. Not to mention his flag is just a blue backdrop with a white outline of Antarctica itself.
- Pictorial Speech-Bubble: He usually speaks this way, due to being isolated from other countries for so long that he has forgotten how to talk normally and since Antarctica technically doesn't belong to any humans.
- Small, Secluded World: Is never seen leaving his frosty home and has little to no communication with other countries, thus fueling his loneliness (although sometimes that's what he prefers).
- The Voiceless: Sometimes he just doesn't speak and only expresses himself through emotions.
- Yank the Dog's Chain: Almost every country that visits Antarctica will be quickly scared off by the frozen dead bodies, thus eliminating any chance of him making a new friend. In portrayals where he'd rather be alone keeping Antarctica's wildlife safe, some other country will usually find a way to pollute or hunt his animals.
Kurds/Kurdistan
- Annoying Younger Sibling: Some portrayals has depicted them this way in regards to Turkey, which is ironic since they are actually Iranian in origin.
- Arch-Enemy: Ba'athist Iraq, Turkey and ISIS have been candidates since they tried to repress or straight up genocide them.
- Composite Character: Representative of the Kurdish people regardless of country of origin.
- Chummy Commies: A typical portrayal by sympathetic artists, since they have a "socialist" reputation among Muslims.
- Fighting for a Homeland: They are completely stateless and living in someone else's clay. They have campaigned to gain their own land since World War I.
- Split Personality: Coupled with a dose of We ARE Struggling Together, Kurdistan is sometimes portrayed having two personalities; one representing the more militant, filo-Russian Turkish Kurdistan, the other representing the more pacifist, filo-American Iraqi Kurdistan. Considering their opposing views on world politics, they rarely get along and their squabbles usually hold back their projects for an independent Kurdistan.
The Roma/Gypsies
A ball representing the Romani people, based off the flag of the World Romani Congress.
- All Take and No Give: Pretty much why they're hated. They're treated akin to a parasite.
- Butt-Monkey: Nobody wants them in their country.
- Catchphrase: "Gib fer?" Fer means iron, in reference to the traditional gypsy profession of metalworking, and the modern scrap-metal trade.
- Impossible Thief: Can steal stuff directly from their victims without them noticing.
- Roguish Romani: Everyone else views them as this stereotype and hates them for it.
- Scape Goat: Is often blamed for crimes they didn't commit.
- Sticky Fingers: Has a tendency to steal anything that isn't pinned down.
Sealand
- Forgettable Character: Other countries don't recognise Sealand (in the literal sense) to the point that they don't even see him - this may also be due to the fact that Sealand is drawn far smaller than even other famously small countries such as the Vatican.
- Funny Background Event: His small size makes for funny cameos in otherwise unrelated strips.
- The Runt at the End: Is consistently drawn the smallest out of the countries.
- Yank the Dog's Chain: No matter what Sealand does, he'll never become relevant or recognised as a proper nation.
Faceblock (Facebook)
The only private company in Polandball. His social networking services dare either a welcome pastime or a dreaded evil to the countries of the world. He himself is pretty ditzy though.- Berserk Button: Changes constantly and tends to be increasingly trivial things.
- The Dreaded: Some countries fear him like hes the Reichtangle.
- The Ditz: Faceblock's opinions often change at a moments notice and he tends to forget what hes talking about.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Usually pretty nice but if he becomes offended by something he will come for you.