History Characters / FireEmblemAntagonistArchetypes

->'''Characters that only have elements of this archetype:''' [[spoiler:Idunn]][[note]]While she is ForcedIntoEvil, how she ended up that way wasn't done through either possession or brainwashing, but rather the result of being lobotomized by the other dragons.[[/note]] (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade The Binding Blade]''); Gunter[[note]]''Revelation''; though he is possessed for a majority of the game, he only actively opposes Corrin for one chapter and returns to his senses after being beaten.[[/note]] (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]''); [[spoiler:Shez]][[note]]Same reason as Gunter[[/note]] and [[spoiler:Byleth]][[note]]They only get possessed by Sothis if the player fails to recruit them. [[/note]](''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemWarriorsThreeHopes Warriors: Three Hopes]]'');

->'''Characters of this archetype''': Terrors (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Gaiden]]''),
War Dragons (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade The Binding Blade]]''), Morphs (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade The Blazing Blade]]''), Monsters (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones The Sacred Stones]]''), Feral Ones (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Path of Radiance]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''), The Risen (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]''), The Faceless and The Vallites (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]''), Demonic Beasts (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses Three Houses]]''), The Corrupted (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage Engage]]'')

War Dragons (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade The Binding Blade]''), Morphs (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade The Blazing Blade]]''), Monsters (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones The Sacred Stones]]''), Feral Ones (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Path of Radiance]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''), The Risen (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]''), The Faceless and The Vallites (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]''), Demonic Beasts (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses Three Houses]]''), The Corrupted (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage Engage]]'')

->'''Characters of this archetype''': Terrors (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Gaiden]]''), Morphs (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade The Blazing Blade]]''), Monsters (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones The Sacred Stones]]''), Feral Ones (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Path of Radiance]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]''), The Risen (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]''), The Faceless and The Vallites (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]''), Demonic Beasts (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses Three Houses]]''), The Corrupted (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage Engage]]'')

->'''Characters that only have elements of this archetype:''' Gunter[[note]]''Revelation''; though he is possessed for a majority of the game, he only actively opposes Corrin for one chapter and returns to his senses after being beaten.[[/note]] (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]''); [[spoiler:Shez]][[note]]Same reason as Gunter[[/note]] and [[spoiler:Byleth]][[note]]They only get possessed by Sothis if the player fails to recruit them. [[/note]](''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemWarriorsThreeHopes Warriors: Three Hopes]]'');

** Averted ''big time'' by Orson, who is at least somewhat pitiable, since he only betrayed his homeland to Grado because his wife's death drove him into DespairEventHorizon, and he jumped at the chance of having his dear wife resurrected. His poor rulership of Renais is due to him ignoring everything else aside from spending time with his wife, and his death is depicted in a [[AlasPoorVillain a very tragic way]].

->'''Character that only has elements of this archetype''': Corrupted Monarchs [[labelnote:*]]Corrupted Morion, Corrupted Hyacinth, Corrupted Lumera[[/labelnote]][[note]]While they are undead, these three are never fought together. Also, Corrupted Morion and Corrupted Hyacinth are fought several chapters too early, as deadlords are usually fought a few chapters before the endgame chapter (or are fought in the endgame chapter itself). Corrupted Lumera, on the other hand, is at least fought in the second last chapter of the game, but she is still fought independently.[[/note]] and Seven Emblem Bracelets[[labelnote:*]]Tiki, Hector, Veronica, Soren, Camilla, Chrom/Robin, and Edelgard/Dimitri/Claude[[/labelnote]] [[note]]They are all wielded by the alternate royals in Xenologue 6, with all of them being fought together with Fell Rafal, but since Emblems are at most immortal and they aren't fought directly, they do not qualify.[[/note]] (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage Engage]]'')

** In ''Sacred Stones'', Caellach actually combines several traits of a traditional Michalis. While he's selfish, ruthless and [[LackOfEmpathy lacks empathy]], he does not lack a code of honor, being disgusted with Valter (the more traditional sadistic Kempf) and Riev. And while he only cares for himself, he is also the only one to showcase his ambition to move up ranks and eventually become a king on his own[[note]]If he is already a king or high ranking noble by the time the game started, Caellach would've been a full blown Michalis than a Kempf.[[/note]]. Therefore, while Valter has Michalis' class, Caellach has parts of his mentality. Additionally, Calleach is AffablyEvil and he has [[EvenEvilHasStandards standards that he wouldn't even cross]], which also made himself [[ALighterShadeOfBlack look not so bad]] especially when compared to Valter.

->'''Characters that only have elements of this archetype''': Veld[[note]]His goals mostly align with Manfroy, who is his boss; overall, he's just another Dark Mage that just happens to be the FinalBoss for the game, but not the one fully in charge of the resurrection of Loptous, the cult's overall goal[[/note]] (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Thracia 776]]''); Iago[[note]]Like Veld, he's only following King Garon's orders and while he is one of the last opponents you face in Birthright and Conquest, he is defeated midway through Revelations[[/note]] (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]''); Solon[[note]]Like Veld and Iago, he's only following Thales' orders, but he's defeated midway through the game, instead of being one of the last opponents you face[[/note]], Hubert[[note]]Hubert is playable for the Crimson Flower route, is a manipulator and at least just has a FaceOfAThug, and could be a sympathetic take of Gharnef. However, he is ruled out because he is not interested in resurrecting anything; he's just a loyal servant of Edelgard.[[/note]], Rhea[[note]]Rhea is an Archbishop and manipulates the history of Fódlan. As a very pretty woman, she is also in line with mid-era Gharnefs like Lyon or Sephiran. However, even if she is an Archbishop, it translates to the game as being a MagicKnight since she's also attuned to swordsmanship and brawling. She is only an enemy, and the FinalBoss at that (as Seiros) during the last half of the Crimson Flower route, though like most members of this archetype, she's fought in her human form in the penultimate chapter before being fought as the final boss; on the other routes, she works more as a genuine ally (she's kind of complex). And lastly, the being she's trying to resurrect (Sothis) is actually benevolent and more likely not going to ruin the world.[[/note]], and Aelfric[[note]]Cindered Shadows only, with similar reasons to Rhea, though unlike her, he ''used'' to be good before discovering Sitri's body. Also, he does succeed in resurrection... though it [[GoneHorriblyWrong goes horribly awry]].[[/note]](''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses Three Houses]]''); Zephia [[note]]She is the magic wielding architect behind Sombron's revival and the one pulling off the mind tricks to get everyone else in their side. However she has more in common with the Dark Lady archetype, especially in appearance. Additionally because Sombron is revived well before the Endgame, she spends a significant amount of time as his NumberTwo instead of as the BigBad herself in his absence. Finally she gets discarded and OutGambitted by her own master like a Dark Lady.[/note]] Alternate Ivy [[note]]Although she expresses a desire to resurrect Alternate Sombron, she isn't present until halfway through the Fell Xenologue and isn't the main enemy at any point of it.[[/note]] (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage Engage]]'')

->'''Characters that only have elements of this archetype''': Veld[[note]]His goals mostly align with Manfroy, who is his boss; overall, he's just another Dark Mage that just happens to be the FinalBoss for the game, but not the one fully in charge of the resurrection of Loptous, the cult's overall goal[[/note]] (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Thracia 776]]''); Iago[[note]]Like Veld, he's only following King Garon's orders and while he is one of the last opponents you face in Birthright and Conquest, he is defeated midway through Revelations[[/note]] (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]''); Solon[[note]]Like Veld and Iago, he's only following Thales' orders, but he's defeated midway through the game, instead of being one of the last opponents you face[[/note]], Hubert[[note]]Hubert is playable for the Crimson Flower route, is a manipulator and at least just has a FaceOfAThug, and could be a sympathetic take of Gharnef. However, he is ruled out because he is not interested in resurrecting anything; he's just a loyal servant of Edelgard.[[/note]], Rhea[[note]]Rhea is an Archbishop and manipulates the history of Fódlan. As a very pretty woman, she is also in line with mid-era Gharnefs like Lyon or Sephiran. However, even if she is an Archbishop, it translates to the game as being a MagicKnight since she's also attuned to swordsmanship and brawling. She is only an enemy, and the FinalBoss at that (as Seiros) during the last half of the Crimson Flower route, though like most members of this archetype, she's fought in her human form in the penultimate chapter before being fought as the final boss; on the other routes, she works more as a genuine ally (she's kind of complex). And lastly, the being she's trying to resurrect (Sothis) is actually benevolent and more likely not going to ruin the world.[[/note]], and Aelfric[[note]]Cindered Shadows only, with similar reasons to Rhea, though unlike her, he ''used'' to be good before discovering Sitri's body. Also, he does succeed in resurrection... though it [[GoneHorriblyWrong goes horribly awry]].[[/note]](''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses Three Houses]]''); Zephia [[note]]She is the magic wielding architect behind Sombron's revival and the one pulling off the mind tricks to get everyone else in their side. However she has more in common with the Dark Lady archetype, especially in appearance. Additionally because Sombron is revived well before the Endgame, she spends a significant amount of time as his NumberTwo instead of as the BigBad herself in his absence.[[/note]] Alternate Ivy [[note]]Although she expresses a desire to resurrect Alternate Sombron, she isn't present until halfway through the Fell Xenologue and isn't the main enemy at any point of it.[[/note]] (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage Engage]]'')

* TheBaroness: They are sexy, cold and sadistic. Despite playing the role of the seductress, none of them have ever had a DatingCatwoman situation with the main heroes. They may have [[UnholyMatriomony real]], [[HoneyPot fabricated]], or [[DarkMistress yearned for]] connections with male villains however.

** Eremiya is the adoptive mother of Clarisse and Katarina [[spoiler: but is only evil due to brainwashing; beforehand she was a true genuinely nice adopted mother to all orphanage children]]. Similarly Clarisse, as an Wicked Stepsister rather than an WickedStepmother, was kidnapped and raised to be evil, but may have been a good person if her biological family wasn't killed. [[spoiler: She too gets a sympathetic death scene with her stepsister Katarina taking care of her in her final moments, acknowledging their bond despite their BigScrewedUpFamily.]]

* The Dark Lady: Hand-picked [[MsFanservice beautiful women]] who execute the will of the true evil. Usually in charge of luring in partners, commanding soldiers, and discarding both [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness when they are no longer useful]].
** The Witch: Evil by choice and without any remorse or with origins that did not provide adequate sympathy, a [[HateSink despicable]] [[WitchWithACapitalB witch]] meant to avert FemalesAreMoreInnocent. Often an EvilMatriarch.

Enter the Witch, a female member of the bad guys amongst the evil's inner circle. Extremely loyal to the main bad guys, be it the Gharnef or the Rudolf or even the Medeus, or at times, only for themselves, these women demonstrate a high level of ruthlessness and don't blink an eye at murder or manipulation. They may even gloat about it. Unlike the Kempf, these women are rarely of lower rank; they typically rival a Jiol in the hierarchy of the inner circle of evil. Another common element amongst these 'witches' are that they're mothers, but ''never'' expect them to be anything decent. Often being a stepmother, they represent the fears of children that were unfortunate enough to be born from or adopted by an evil woman, so they will be greatly abusive towards these little children.\\\

Despite the name, these antagonists aren't necessarily [[WitchWorks a literal witch or classed as one]], this is more or less because there is [[WitchWithACapitalB a trope with the same name]] that works in tandem with ''Fire Emblem'''s [[GoshDangItToHeck sometimes archaic and censor-prone choice of vocabulary]] and these ladies' nasty personalities. This marks the first archetype to be named after a Class instead of a character. [[note]]We did consider naming it 'The Hilda', after [[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar the first example of these dark ladies originating from the Jugdral games]], but we did not want to insult [[VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses Hilda Valentine Goneril]], whose greatest vice was that she's merely lazy.[[/note]]

* TheBaroness: As befitting of their high ranking in the evil's inner circle, most of the time taking the Rosa Klebb type of Baroness: They are sexy, cold and sadistic.

->'''Character that only has elements of this archetype''': Limstella[[note]]Despite following a similar character arc to the typical Eremiya, Limstella was specifically created - rather than brainwashed - to be evil, and it's hardwired in them to have UndyingLoyalty to [[BigBad Nergal]]. While significantly more sympathetic than ''The Blazing Blade'''s token Witch, Sonia, Limstella is not above [[KickTheDog kicking the dog]] themself (especially towards [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness other villains]]), nor does the story attempt to downplay or justify their actions.[[/note]] (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade The Blazing Blade]]''); Camilla[[note]]While she was a provocatively dressed high ranking older female, she was not at all brainwashed and not evil to the core, she just had trouble with her living family members. And likewise, she's genuinely a very doting lady for her underlings.[[/note]](''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'')

* TheBaroness: Something they share with the Witches, although they instead mostly fell under the Sexpot type and sometimes fall into DarkMagicalGirl.

* BlackMage: This is why they're part of the Dark Ladies along with the Witches. Eremiya, Arete, Nuibaba and Thrasir are part of the mage class family proper. Aversa is a Dark Flier with Shadowgift, a magic-wielding pegasus class unique to ''Awakening'' with the personal ability to cast Dark Magic. Freyja is a Beast unit where her attacks were counted as magic type.

** Eremiya is the adoptive mother of Clarisse and Katarina [[spoiler: but is only evil due to brainwashing; beforehand she was a true genuinely nice adopted mother to all orphanage children]].

->'''Characters that only have elements of this archetype''': Veld[[note]]His goals mostly align with Manfroy, who is his boss; overall, he's just another Dark Mage that just happens to be the FinalBoss for the game, but not the one fully in charge of the resurrection of Loptous, the cult's overall goal[[/note]] (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Thracia 776]]''); Iago[[note]]Like Veld, he's only following King Garon's orders and while he is one of the last opponents you face in Birthright and Conquest, he is defeated midway through Revelations[[/note]] (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]''); Solon[[note]]Like Veld and Iago, he's only following Thales' orders, but he's defeated midway through the game, instead of being one of the last opponents you face[[/note]], Hubert[[note]]Hubert is playable for the Crimson Flower route, is a manipulator and at least just has a FaceOfAThug, and could be a sympathetic take of Gharnef. However, he is ruled out because he is not interested in resurrecting anything; he's just a loyal servant of Edelgard.[[/note]], Rhea[[note]]Rhea is an Archbishop and manipulates the history of Fódlan. As a very pretty woman, she is also in line with mid-era Gharnefs like Lyon or Sephiran. However, even if she is an Archbishop, it translates to the game as being a MagicKnight since she's also attuned to swordsmanship and brawling. She is only an enemy, and the FinalBoss at that (as Seiros) during the last half of the Crimson Flower route, though like most members of this archetype, she's fought in her human form in the penultimate chapter before being fought as the final boss; on the other routes, she works more as a genuine ally (she's kind of complex). And lastly, the being she's trying to resurrect (Sothis) is actually benevolent and more likely not going to ruin the world.[[/note]], and Aelfric[[note]]Cindered Shadows only, with similar reasons to Rhea, though unlike her, he ''used'' to be good before discovering Sitri's body. Also, he does succeed in resurrection... though it [[GoneHorriblyWrong goes horribly awry]].[[/note]](''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses Three Houses]]''); Alternate Ivy [[note]]Although she expresses a desire to resurrect Alternate Sombron, she isn't present until halfway through the Fell Xenologue and isn't the main enemy at any point of it.[[/note]] (''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage Engage]]'')

** The Agarthans became DrunkWithPower given to them by Sothis and rebelled in an attempt to prove their superiority, causing Sothis to obliterate them. They then became the first generation of the people that would be known as 'those who slither in the dark' (not including Thales) and manipulated Nemesis and the Ten Elites into slaughtering Sothis and the Nabateans as revenge, causing Seiros to snap and eventually lock Fódlan in MedievalStasis to prevent such tragedy again.