History Main / DirtyCoward

** The Craven feat in The Book of Vile Darkness invokes this trope: it gives bonus to [[BackStab Sneak Attack]] damage but penalizes will saves vs fear and specifically states that characters who are immune to fear aren't eligible for it.

May be the MilesGloriosus, and even believe his own brags when out of danger. The FearlessFool may invoke this to persuade his companions to [[YouthIsWastedOnTheDumb act like idiots]]. Not to be confused with the CombatPragmatist, who may employ tactics that can be considered dirty and cowardly but does so out of cold calculation rather than fear. Contrast the LovableCoward, who numbers among the good guys and has foibles portrayed far more sympathetically, generally due to [[AtLeastIAdmitIt their not trying to pose]] as anything ''but'' a coward, and even then will often face their fears and ultimately still risk their lives if the chips are really down (as will the CowardlyLion). TheSoCalledCoward is by definition mistaken for one of these; if they don't want to be, they'll say "NobodyCallsMeChicken." See also TheBully (characters who are brave enough when tormenting those weaker than they are, but [[PaperTiger showing their true colors]] in the face of those equal to or stronger than they are), OriginalPositionFallacy (where one holds a moral position on the assumption that they will recieve the benefits, without considering that they may be among the ones to suffer from said beliefs), SoreLoser (for when someone isn't afraid of death or injury so much as they are of losing, though many Dirty Cowards are also Sore Losers) and OpportunisticBastard. Does not apply when [[KnowWhenToFoldEm retreating really is the most practical option one has]].

May be the MilesGloriosus, and even believe his own brags when out of danger. The FearlessFool may invoke this to persuade his companions to [[YouthIsWastedOnTheDumb act like idiots]]. TheBully is often a Dirty Coward, brave enough when tormenting those weaker than they are, but [[PaperTiger showing their true colors]] in the face of those equal to or stronger than they are. Also similar is the OriginalPositionFallacy, in which one holds a moral position on the assumption that they will receive the benefits, without considering that they may be among the ones to suffer from said beliefs. Not to be confused with the CombatPragmatist, who may employ tactics that can be considered dirty and cowardly but does so out of cold calculation rather than fear. Contrast the LovableCoward, who numbers among the good guys and has foibles portrayed far more sympathetically, generally due to [[AtLeastIAdmitIt their not trying to pose]] as anything ''but'' a coward, and even then will often face their fears and ultimately still risk their lives if the chips are really down (as will the CowardlyLion). TheSoCalledCoward is by definition mistaken for one of these; if they don't want to be, they'll say "NobodyCallsMeChicken." Also see SoreLoser, for when someone isn't afraid of death or injury so much as they are of losing, though many Dirty Cowards are also Sore Losers. See also OpportunisticBastard. Does not apply when [[KnowWhenToFoldEm retreating really is the most practical option one has]].

* ''FanFic/IWillNotBow'' series:

* ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'' fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11886910/1/Gankona-Unnachgiebig-Unità Gankona, Unnachgiebig, Unità]]'': The homophobe is this. The homophobe, despite having brutally beaten and nearly raping Italy, ran like a pansy after Italy convinced Germany and Japan to stop beating the crap out of him.

* ''FanFic/BadFutureCrusaders'': [[TheSpymaster Featherweight]] relies on his status to intimidate others, and his changeling minions to fight them for him. When neither works, he runs away with his tail between his legs.
* Alexander Valentine of the ''Manga/RosarioToVampire'' fic ''FanFic/HereInMyArms''. At first, he's smugly gloating over Tsukune and his harem and boasting of his superiority, but the very ''instant'' he discovers that [[spoiler:Tsukune's a Blood Sage]] and that Inner Moka is released from her seal, he changes his tune, shamelessly begging Moka for forgiveness and trying to run for his life. Inner Moka even lampshades his attitude change right before she literally beats him to a bloody pulp:

* Janos Slynt in ''FanFic/RobbReturns''. [[spoiler:Jon chooses not to send him to the Wall, knowing the message this might send.]]

* Disney’s Robin Hood gives us the treacherous but sissy mama’s boy Prince John. Prince John is greedy and abusive. He also plots revenge on Robin Hood. During the brawl at the archery tournament, Prince John attempts to smite Robin Hood with his sword, only to be disarmed by the latter. Prince John pathetically pleas, “Don’t hurt me! No, no, don’t hurt me!” Then he cries “Help! Help” as he runs and hides behind a barrel.

May be the MilesGloriosus, and even believe his own brags when out of danger. The FearlessFool may invoke this to persuade his companions to [[YouthIsWastedOnTheDumb act like idiots]]. TheBully is often a Dirty Coward, brave enough when tormenting those weaker than they are, but [[PaperTiger showing their true colors]] in the face of those equal to or stronger than they are. Also similar is the OriginalPositionFallacy, in which one holds a moral position on the assumption that they will receive the benefits, without considering that they may be among the ones to suffer from said beliefs. Not to be confused with the CombatPragmatist, who may employ tactics that can be considered dirty and cowardly but does so out of cold calculation rather than fear. Contrast the LovableCoward, who numbers among the good guys and has foibles portrayed far more sympathetically, generally due to [[AtLeastIAdmitIt their not trying to pose]] as anything ''but'' a coward, and even then will often face their fears and ultimately still risk their lives if the chips are really down. TheSoCalledCoward is by definition mistaken for one of these; if they don't want to be, they'll say "NobodyCallsMeChicken." Also see SoreLoser, for when someone isn't afraid of death or injury so much as they are of losing, though many Dirty Cowards are also Sore Losers. See also OpportunisticBastard. Does not apply when [[KnowWhenToFoldEm retreating really is the most practical option one has]].

Though the Dirty Coward may be a [[TheSociopath sociopath]] (or a SocialDarwinist), they're certainly not [[SociopathicHero heroic]] [[HeroicComedicSociopath or]] {{comedic|Sociopathy}}. And if they're a bastard, they're ''certainly'' not meant to be {{magnificent|Bastard}}. [[SmugSnake They're usually only marginally competent to start with, and even the cleverest of them tends to be short-sighted]]. Even when they know that breaking ranks will leave a hole in the defenses that will let the enemy in, leading to far more danger for them in the long term, they will generally run for it anyway (and get shot InTheBack). Their allegiance almost always lies with whoever can cause them the most immediate harm, even if that threat isn't likely to last. They'll be happy to badmouth people to their faces when they can not immediately hurt them, only to attempt to curry favor when the roles reverse. Dirty Cowards are especially prone to suffering a KarmicDeath, usually at the hands of whatever they were trying to run from, and are similarly likely to suffer a VillainousBreakdown.

* The Chief in ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}''. Who survived the massacre by hiding and ignoring the cries of his villagers. Afterwards, he becomes a cleric to start a path of redemption.
** Which comes to a [[TearJerker tragic end]] when he performs a HeroicSacrifice to prevent Kore from slaying his fellow goblins.
* Lightning from ''Webcomic/{{Sidekicks}}'' all the way. Despite being a {{Superhero}}, he never puts himself in the line of fire unless he absolutely has to or he is [[BerserkButton provoked]] into doing so. It's no wonder that three [[spoiler:(four if you count Theo being overtaken by Metheos as the former dying)]] of his previous five sidekicks have died. He's also [[NiceJobBreakingItHero indirectly responsible for the destruction of the Committee headquarters.]]

May be the MilesGloriosus, and even believe his own brags when out of danger. The FearlessFool may invoke this to persuade his companions to [[YouthIsWastedOnTheDumb act like idiots]]. TheBully is often a Dirty Coward, brave enough when tormenting those weaker than they are, but [[PaperTiger showing their true colors]] in the face of those equal to or stronger than they are. Also similar is the OriginalPositionFallacy, in which one holds a moral position on the assumption they will receive the benefits, without considering that they may be among the ones to suffer from said beliefs. Not to be confused with the CombatPragmatist, who may employ tactics that can be considered dirty and cowardly but does so out of cold calculation rather than fear. Contrast the LovableCoward, who numbers among the good guys and has foibles portrayed far more sympathetically, generally due to [[AtLeastIAdmitIt their not trying to pose]] as anything ''but'' a coward, and even then will often face their fears and ultimately still risk their lives if the chips are really down. TheSoCalledCoward is by definition mistaken for one of these; if they don't want to be, they'll say "NobodyCallsMeChicken." Also see SoreLoser, for when someone isn't afraid of death so much as they are of losing, though many Dirty Cowards are also Sore Losers. See also OpportunisticBastard. Does not apply when [[KnowWhenToFoldEm retreating really is the most practical option one has]].

* ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'' gives you Paracule, a tall, haughty [[JerkWithAHeartOfJerk jerkass]] with a green fish face, who in general calls everybody scum, is the first to abandon somebody, demands that people should be sacrificed for his ends or in his stead, sticks up for nobody, openly switches sides to gain the majority's favor, and has neither skill nor intelligence to back his behaviour up. He is known in the fandom as the ass. Why he survives is a [[MemeticBadass mystery to all]].

The Dirty Coward is the slime of the earth, working exclusively for themselves and shamelessly [[CowerPower retreating from harm's way]] even if that harm is about to hit the AllLovingHero that [[AFriendInNeed just saved his or her life two seconds ago]]. They'll take every advantage and [[CombatPragmatist are not above using dishonorable tactics and dirty tricks]], but [[{{Hypocrite}} they'll cry and moan]] [[ItsAllAboutMe every time the tables are turned]] and [[MoralMyopia someone uses the same tactics against them]], [[WhoWillBellTheCat asks for a volunteer]], or reminds them of [[ThePromise that promise they made]]. Often full of vicious plans for anyone they dislike, [[NotInThisForYourRevolution as long as they aren't in need of that person's skills at the moment]].

** The Literature/NightLords. [[SuperSoldier Yes,]] [[TheDreaded really.]] They are a legion of Chaos Space Marines who specialise in raids, terror tactics, and guerrilla warfare. However, their reliance on this kind of fighting means they are themselves rather cynical and cowardly, lacking the conviction of the other, more fanatical legions. Several Night Lords characters are also shown to be willing to abandon their own brothers in the name of self-preservation, a trait which is also symptomatic of many fallen Chaos Space Marine warbands.
** The Spyrers from the spin-off game ''TabletopGame/{{Necromunda}}''. Justified by the fact that each and every one of them is a OneManArmy in a world full of {{Badass Normal}}s, so, if [[MassOhCrap a gang manages to kill one or even more of them...]]
** Gretchin are small and craven, with Leadership 5 and a tendency to hide whenever anything makes a loud noise nearby. Possibly justified given that compared to a Gretchin's stats and equipment, [[PunyEarthlings Imperial Guard]] CannonFodder look like {{Space Marine}}s — Gretchin are weaker, more fragile, slower, and have lower range, neatly explaining why they run like scared rodents as soon as the Ork who's pushing them into battle runs away. The Heralds of Ruin ''[[TabletopGame/Warhammer40000KillTeam Kill Team]]'' rules hack has a Grot Rebels team, based on a mob type in ''TabletopGame/{{Gorkamorka}}''; because morale enhancement is so out of character for Grots, the upgrades to offset the penalty from their Mork-awful leadership rating are themed around the Grots compensating for cowardice with ''[[TooDumbToLive rank stupidity]]'', meaning they take fewer Rout tests because they're too stupid right now to realise they should be.

* In this ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' [[https://salthaven.tumblr.com/post/189536099637/not-too-much-salt-alya-and-nino-get-lila-to Salty Prompt]], Lila Rossi ''abandons'' the three young children she was babysitting (Nino's brother and Alya's sisters) during an akuma attack, allowing said akuma to kidnap and brainwash them.

* ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'' gives you Parakewl, a tall, haughty [[JerkWithAHeartOfJerk jerkass]] with a green fish face, who in general calls everybody scum, is the first to abandon somebody, demands that people should be sacrificed for his ends or in his stead, sticks up for nobody, openly switches sides to gain the majority's favor, and has neither skill nor intelligence to back his behaviour up. He is known in the fandom as the ass. Why he survives is a [[MemeticBadass mystery to all]].

The Dirty Coward is pretty much almost AlwaysMale, for the [[UnfortunateImplications dubious reason]] that [[StayInTheKitchen women aren't expected to be brave in the first place]], and [[MenAreTheExpendableGender are allowed to sacrifice others to save themselves]]. FridgeLogic may lead to the NeutralFemale coming off as a DistaffCounterpart to the Dirty Coward.

* Iago of Disney's ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}''. For much of the second movie ''Disney/AladdinTheReturnOfJafar'' onward, he spent a lot of time looking out for himself almost exclusively (he even makes up a whole song about it), although unlike many of the examples here, he can be courageous and selfless. Two examples come up in the second film.

* ''Disney/TheLionKing''

* Similar to Scar from ''The Lion King'' mentioned above, Gaston of ''Disney/BeautyAndTheBeast'' acts all smug and tough, taunting Beast throughout their fight in the climax, but when Beast fights back and has Gaston at his mercy, he pathetically begs for his life. Then he stabs Beast in the back when he let his guard down. [[KarmicDeath He gets shoved by Beast into the ground below for his trouble.]] It's even worse in the live-action adaptation below.

** Raven's philosophy is that the weak die and the strong live; she'll only ever save a person once -- they must save themselves if they find themselves in danger again. She also refuses to get involved in the [[SecretWar conflict]] between [[BigGood Ozpin]] and [[BigBad Salem]], stating that anyone foolish enough to trust Ozpin will die for a lost cause. [[spoiler:By the end of volume 5, Yang makes Raven aware that she's willing to risk other people's lives whenever a danger arises; Yang declares that she is willing to fight Salem despite her fear while Raven would rather run despite being more powerful than her daughter; when Yang gives her the option of fleeing once again, she does so with a tearful apology, leaving her daughter to take the heat from Salem for possessing the [[ArtifactOfPower Relic of Knowledge]].]]