History Main / MonsterKnight

* While exactly ''what'' Maximus in ''VideoGame/MightAndMagic'' and ''VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic'' is isn't really explained, he (or they, rather, since there, like so many others, appears to be multiple incarnations of him) is a green-skinned (except his ''X'' incarnation, who is brown-orange on account of explicitly being an Ashan-type orc), has tusks, and is a Knight.

** This is common for [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Orcs]] throughout the series, as they favor heavy armor and melee combat. Though technically [[OurElvesAreBetter a race of Mer (Elves)]], Orcs face [[FantasticRacism prejudice]] similar to the [[PettingZooPeople Beastfolk]], but are also respected as strong and honorable warriors.

Monsters are, well, [[CaptainObvious monsters]]. They're uncouth, messy, dirty, disgusting, barbaric creatures with no sense of honor. The only times they do work together will more than likely resemble something akin to a [[TheHorde horde]] than anything like a professional army.

* In ''LightNovel/ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime'' it's relatively common within the Jura Tempest Alliance, as they are all monsters and are crafting a nation. Plenty are capable of fighting and quite a few fit the noble attributes nicely.

** The Holy Knights of Fortuna in the third game are an ChurchMilitant organization inspired by Sparda that underwent an Ascension ceremony to become demons themselves.

* This is very common in {{mons}} media, especially that which has an overarching narrative beyond simply trying to be a game, since the monsters usually have to be smart enough to understand human commands.
** The trainer hating Bulbasaur from the ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' show, whom later decides to challenge main character Ash to a battle to see if he capable of capturing it, after Ash shows it there are honorable trainers.
** [[CallASmeerpARabbit The wolf-like Tiger]] bandits from ''Anime/MonsterRancher'', though the decayed state Moo's influence has brought on the world caused them to become less honorable (bandits), they avoid simply killing who they steal from even when it would be easy to do and under the right circumstance will accept duels in which they will not interfere on the behalf of their clan member until concluded. In addition there are also [[OurCentaursAreDifferent Centaur]]'s band, who only joined Moo's cause because they were defeated by one of his big bad four and still reign justly in their realm otherwise, the martial artist Kato, the resurrecting guardian of the Jill village, Cinder-bird who willingly gave himself up to feed another monster who invaded due to starvation and the enlightenment seeker turned prized fighting champion, Most, who wishes to use what he learned to inspire the next generation.
** Tiger's expy Dorulumon from ''Anime/DigimonXrosWars'' turns back on the Bagra Army precisely because they are not loyal to their own troops, putting them in harm's way just to preserve the general's "perfect" record. He is even more so in the the [[Manga/DigimonXrosWars comic adaptation]], where it is revealed Dorulumon was the best warrior in a warrior society of other wolf monsters before taking their combat skill to the Bagra Army (he leaves the army for similar reasons and has even more guilt about his membership here, since he felt he disgraced his clan).
*** The manga even gives Dorulumon a knight-like evolved form called [=JagerDorulumon=].
** Too many ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'' to name individually, though [[KingOfBeasts Leomon]] is a recurring example (especially in the anime) and some species literally have "Knight" in their name!
** Pick a character from the Royal Knights or the Olympus XII, chances are he/she is one of these.

* Nelo Angelo, whom Dante comes to respect out of all the bosses in the first ''Franchise/DevilMayCry'' game. Makes sense, considering Nelo Angelo is quite clearly [[spoiler: his brother Vergil]].

* William Marshal in ''VideoGame/Vampyr2018'' was an famous knight and an ancient vampire said to strongly adhere to chivalric honor. [[spoiler:It's revealed that he still retains his knightly disposition as well as his [[RealMenLoveJesus faith in Christ]] (which is impressive considering faith is an anathema to vampires). The main protagonist himself, Jonathan E. Reid, is also supposed play the same role as Marshal's - protect Britain from the [[BigBad Red Queen's]] wrath, in [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential one way or the other]]]].

* Arguably any Jedi who isn't a human could be considered this.

* "El Eliminati" in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' were an all-male ''vampire'' order of duelists that strongly adhered to honor. Unfortunately, this means they had a hard time adapting to the modern world are just a shadow of their former selves.

* Gogandantess ('''[[LargeHam THE GREATEST SWORDSMAN OF ALL DEMONS]]''') from the second ''VideoGame/{{Onimusha}}'' game. Despite being a pompous windbag he's also chivalrous and a NobleDemon to the point that the player character [[AlasPoorVillain reacts with visible sadness]] when Gogandantess is mortally wounded in their final duel.

* Most members of the [[Myth/HinduMythology Asura class]] worth mentioning. The Rakshasas were among the most monstrous, being multi-headed, fanged or tusked giants who preyed on mankind and were expelled from Brahma's realm after he created them on accident and was nearly devoured by them in his sleep. Yet they also studied vigorously, meditated, grew gardens and developed a sophisticated society during the time they ruled on Earth called Lanka. Ravana, possibly the biggest bad guy in Hinduism, was honored for his respectable points after Rama, the avatar of the god of the universe, killed him.

* William Marshall in ''VideoGame/Vampyr2018'' was an famous knight and an ancient vampire said to strongly adhere to chivalric honor. [[spoiler:It's revealed that he still retains his knightly disposition as well as his [[RealMenLoveJesus faith in Christ]] (which is impressive considering faith is an anathema to vampires). The main protagonist himself, Jonathan E. Reid, is also supposed play the same role as Marshall's - protect Britain from the [[BigBad Red Queen's]] wrath. Whether [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential he will or not is another matter]]]].

* Most members of the [[Myth/HinduMythology Asura class]] worth mentioning. The Rakshasas were among the most monstrous, being multi-headed, fanged or tusked giants who preyed on mankind and were expelled from Brama's realm after he created them on accident and was nearly devoured by them in his sleep. Yet they also studied vigorously, meditated, grew gardens and developed a sophisticated society during the time they ruled on Earth called Lanka. Ravana, possibly the biggest bad guy in Hinduism, was honored for his respectable points after Rama, the avatar of the god of the universe, killed him.

* William Marshall in ''VideoGame/Vampyr2018'' was an famous knight and an ancient vampire said to strongly adhere to chivalric honor. [[spoiler:It's revealed that the main protagonist was supposed play the same role as Marshall's - protect Britain from the Red Queen's wrath]].

* The Dremora from ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls,'' who are a type of Daedra who fight in armor with weapons and often [[MagicKnight magic]]. They refer to themselves in their own language as "the people" as opposed to the other Daedra, whom they see as mindless animals.
** The Golden Saints and Dark Seducers protect the Shivering Isles and are pledged to serve the Duke of Mania and Duchess of Dementia respectively. There is a certain level of rivalry between the two.
** Prince Jyggalag has the Order Knights, who he used to try and conquer the Shivering Isles.
** Khajiit and Argonian players who chose to use heavy armor capture the visual aspect of this trope, and given both races tendency towards thievery and assassination, can end up playing the entire thing straight if they stick to the more honorable path.
** This is more or less the default play style for Orcs. They favor heavy armor and melee combat. Though technically [[OurElvesAreBetter elves,]] Orcs face [[FantasticRacism prejudice similiar to Beastfolk]], though are also respected as honorable warriors.

** There is also a passing mention to Tripurasura, a monster accidentally created by the sage Gritsamad and destroyed by Shiva. Despite his unnatural conception, Gritsamad raised Tripura as his own son and Tripura's diligent work gained him blessings from the deva Ganesh. Unfortunately this blessing caused him to grow proud and wreak havoc across various worlds, so Ganesh relented and helped Shiva, who was finding him particularly hard to get rid of. Still, his meditation on Ganesh's mantra and others qualified Tripura for salvation after death, [[RedemptionRejection unfortunately]] he returned as the demon Mahamada on Bali's order and started a religion [[PathOfInspiration based around himself and corrupting the established religions]] (luckily for all non demons, Shiva will be around to destroy him again)

* While exactly ''what'' Maximus in ''VideoGame/MightAndMagic'' and ''VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic'' isn't really explained, he (or they, rather, since there, like so many others, appears to be multiple incarnations of him) is a green-skinned (except his ''X'' incarnation, who is brown-orange on account of explicitly being an Ashan-type orc), has tusks, and is a Knight.

* While not encountered in ''Videogame/PokemonRedAndBlue'', the Pokdex describes Victreebel, essentially a mobile pitcher plants with eyes, as forming secret societies and executing those who trespass. In ''Videogame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'' players can come across the Musketeer trio ([[OneExtraMember plus Keldeo through downloadable content]]), whom ended a war between humans when Pokemon were getting caught up in it and whom become [[BerserkButton indignant]] ([[TurnsRed and more powerful]]) if you employ underhanded (or evil) moves against them.

* The Blood Dragons in ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'' are an vampire bloodline made up of battle-obsessed knights that are honorable to fault. They believe that only cowards feed upon the weak - the only ones that Blood Dragons will willingly feed on are powerful warriors and monsters. And as such, they wander the realm looking for stronger enemies to fight, living only for combat, the attainment of honor and the thrill of battle. Though it may seen they are [[FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire the friendly sort]], they are still evil as hell though fairly [[PragmaticVillainy pragmatic]] since their progenitor [[NobleDemon Abhorash]] advised his fellow vampires that preying on the innocent would drive other people and neighboring kingdoms against them (they didn't listen and that is exactly what happened).

But, that's a bit too {{Cliche}} for most writers, so it's not that surprising to see many monsters that aren't mindless [[TheBrute brutes]]. Monsters that are trained, with a thought for technique, tactics, strategy, [[VillainousValour valour]], and (perhaps) a sense of [[EvenEvilHasStandards honor]] that would make them seem [[NobleDemon almost]] [[WorthyOpponent respectable]]. A monster that's also a true warrior.

* In ''MarvelComics'', the Knights of Wundagore are an entire [[PlanetOfHats Tribe Of Hats]] who have this as their hat. They're all animals evolved into humanoid creatures by the High Evolutionary.

* Gaichu from ''[[VideoGame/ShadowrunReturns]]'' was one of [[MegaCorp Renraku's]] [[ElitesAreMoreGlamorous Red Samurai]] before succumbing to [[TheVirus HMHVV-K]] and becoming a [[OurGhoulsAreCreepier ghoul.]] While this made him a pariah in Japanese society, he kept his sanity and personality intact, and still lives according to the ''bushido''-inspired code he was raised to follow. He has even honed his swordsmanship to an even higher level than before, since ghoulhood made him even faster and stronger than he was before, but also cost him his eyesight.