History Main / SupportingLeader

* Optimus Prime was mildly downgraded from main hero to Supporting Leader for protagonist Sam in the live-action ''Film/{{Transformers}}'' [[TheMovie movie]].

* ''Literature/RebuildWorld'': Sheryl is this for a RagtagBunchOfMisfits AntiheroTeam that becomes of the slumlord gang Akira installs her in charge of, relying on GuileHero BattleOfWits skills as well as on Akira's reputation to AppealToForce. Her own motivation in the whole arrangment is half being terrified for her own survival, and half DoggedNiceGirl. Basically, Akira can't be bothered with politics and has NoSocialSkills, so pushes it on her, resulting in his corporate allies who act as TheTeamBenefactor helping him through helping Sheryl's gang, which along with his training and donations, builds it up to the point where the PrivateMilitaryContractor former StreetUrchin boys under her fit the MenOfSherwood trope and start taking on a LawEnforcementInc role from their HomeBase fortress [[WrongSideOfTheTracks in the slums]], where Sheryl rules over the other slum lords in a quasi-feudal arrangement through Shijima.

* Madmartigan in ''Film/{{Willow}}'' is something of an expy Han Solo who eventually leads the rebel army while Willow takes care of the BigBad.

* ''Anime/{{Patlabor}}'': Shinobu Nagumo and Kiichi Gotoh are the captains of the [=SVU's=] 1st and 2nd divisions respectively. While both are crucial to the overall narrative, the series mainly focuses on officers Noa Izumi and her partner, Asuma Shinohara.

* This has popped up in a few ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' series.

%%* If the BigDamnHeroes moment is to be taken as this, then The Group from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' serves this role to a certain extent.

* The player character in ''VideoGame/{{Majesty}}'', despite being the protagonist, has a lot of similarities to this archetype, acting as the sovereign of the land and deciding what to build and what heroes need to be recruited, while the heroes actually go on the quests that accomplish the goal for the scenario.

%%* General Luft in the ''VideoGame/GalaxyAngel'' games. Tact inherits this role, too, once Kazuya becomes the new lead.
* In ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption'', the Galactic Federation commander, Admiral Dane, serves this role, showing up to send Samus off on a special mission as the rest of his forces fight the bulk of the Space Pirates. In fact, this happens twice, on two consecutive missions.

* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'':
** In ''VideoGame/Halo2'', Master Chief becomes this to the Arbiter. While Master Chief is the main hero of the overall series, it is the Arbiter around whom the vast majority of ''2''[='=]s plot revolves, and ultimately he's the one to stop Tartarus and save the galaxy (temporarily, at least). Master Chief retakes the role of TheHero in ''VideoGame/Halo3'', with the Arbiter dropped down to Sidekick status.
** Admiral Terrence Hood becomes the supreme commander of Earth's forces by the end of the Covenant War, with [[TheCaptain Commander Keyes]], [[SergeantRock Sgt. Johnson]], and the Master Chief all under his command.
** Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum takes this role from Admiral Hood in the second half of ''Halo 3''.
** The Arbiter himself has taken this role in post-''3'' media as the leader of the Swords of Sanghelios, most notably in ''VideoGame/Halo5Guardians''.
** Thomas Lasky takes up this role in the Creator/ThreeFourThreeIndustries-made games after being made captain of the UNSC ''Infinity''.
* ''VideoGame/EternalSonata'' has Jazz, a playable character and the leader of a revolutionary group known as Andantino.
* ''Franchise/MassEffect'':
** Admiral Hackett plays this role in ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'', leading the human fleet against [[spoiler:Sovereign and the geth fleet]] while Shepard goes after Saren.
** He does it again in ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', in which he's more or less the leader of the human race. What's more, any forces the other races commit to the war effort fall under his command, and he's in charge of the FinalBattle to [[spoiler:retake Earth and the Citadel from the Reapers]].
--->''"Never before have so many come together from all quarters of the galaxy. But never before have we faced an enemy such as this. The Reapers will show us no mercy, we must give them no quarter. They will terrorize our populations. We must stand fast in the face of that terror. They will advance until our last city falls, but we will not fall. We will prevail. Each of us will be defined by our actions in the coming battle. Stand fast, stand strong. Stand together. Hackett out."''
** Assuming he [[StoryBranching survived the first game]], Urdnot Wrex becomes this for the rest of the trilogy. As leader of the krogan, he's only too happy to assist you how he can, but his duties come first, and he isn't going to join the crew of the ''Normandy'' again. Subverted in the ''Citadel'' DLC of ''3'', which brings him back (temporarily) as a party member to combat the villain of that story arc.

* ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}'':
** In ''Warcraft II'', Lothar serves as one of these for most of the Alliance campaign. He is killed by orcs in the second-to-last mission, requiring the player character to take command.
** In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', almost any friendly NPC that appears after the very beginning of a dungeon is this. In the Icecrown 5-man instances, for example, Jaina or Sylvanas is leading a bunch of regular soldiers on a covert mission into the backdoor to the citadel, and your party is just a group of elite, irregular forces helping.
** The Halls of Stone makes the player characters The Aragorn when your only role in-story in the second half of the place is to protect Brann Bronzebeard long enough for him to hack into the Titans' [[{{Magitek}} computer]] and deactivate the defense systems you're fighting.
** Bolvar Fordragon fits this trope, as he leads the Alliance forces at the battle of the Wrath Gate.
%%** Dranosh Saurfang also qualifies.
%%** [[MemeticBadass Or Dranosh's legendary father]], High Overlord Varok Saurfang.
* Takeda Shingen from ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'', a HotBlooded CoolOldGuy and mentor to one of the protagonists. Though not a main character, he is easily one of the most powerful and influential, and holds a lot of sway over Yukimura.
* ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'':
** [[TheAce Flynn]] is always one step behind the heroes, providing them with aid as Captain of the knights. The [=PS3=] remake and Definitive Edition removes most of this however as now he generally meets up with the heroes in time and helps out for most of the end of chapter events, before joining the party for good towards the end.
** [[KidHero Karol]] is the official leader of the party's guild Brave Vesperia, but Yuri and Estelle are the main focus characters in the story.

* If the BigDamnHeroes moment is to be taken as this, then The Group from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' serves this role to a certain extent.
* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' starts out with [[ShelteredAristocrat King Cailan Theirin]] and Duncan, continues with Arl Eamon, and, finally concludes with either [[spoiler: Alistair]] or [[spoiler: Queen Anora]] fulfilling this role, depending on the player's choices. Before the final battle, the player can also choose [[spoiler: one of the remaining party members to stay behind and lead a brief gaiden encounter]].
%%* Leo, Ladius, Thoma, and Duran are this to Rex in ''VideoGame/AgarestSenki''.

* The player character in ''VideoGame/{{Majesty}}'', despite being the protagonist, has a lot of similarities to this archetype, acting as the sovereign of the land and deciding what to build and what heroes need to be recruited, while the heroes actually go on the quests that accomplish the goal for the scenario.
* ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonorVanguard'': Sergeant Magnusson and Lieutenant [=McCollum=] are this to [[PlayerCharacter Keegan]].
* ''VideoGame/SonicForces'': Knuckles the Echidna is this to LaResistance.
* ''VideoGame/GodOfWarI'': The [[{{Seers}} Oracle of Athens]] leads the city's defense against Ares' invasion, while [[PlayerCharacter Kratos]] goes in search of Pandora's Box in order to defeat Ares.
* ''VideoGame/BetrayalAtKrondor'':
** Prince Arutha, the hero of the [[Literature/TheRiftwarCycle original books]], becomes this. He only appears in the cutscenes between chapters, when he gives orders to heroes, questions prisoners or moves his troops to repel invasion. While the heroes are searching for the real cause of the invasion.
** Similarly, Duke Martin, another hero of the first novels, in chapter 5 effectively commands preparations for Northwarden defence (the baron is less than competent) and is the major quest-giver.
* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'': On the [[spoiler: Silver Snow]] route, [[NobleFugitive Ferdinand]] serves as this, as while he is outclassed by Byleth [[spoiler: and Seteth]] in the [[spoiler: Resistance Army,]] he acts as the leader of the student characters [[spoiler: and provides the Resistance Army with what's left of House Aegir's troops.]] He also tends to speak up more on this route.
* The ''VideoGame/NintendoWars'' game ''Advance Wars: Days of Ruin'' has Captain Brenner, who leads what's left of the military to try and rescue and rebuild as much as possible AfterTheEnd, backed up by his second in command Lin. You play as Will, who's just some cadet they picked up and who wants to help as much as possible. [[spoiler:After Brenner's HeroicSacrifice Lin attempts to take over as leader, but her cold, emotionless, and analytical approach to leading quickly puts her at odds with the survivors so she appoints the kinder and more caring Will as commander to put them at ease, relegating herself to a supporting role with her logical intelligence and expertise]].
* ''VideoGame/Persona3'': Mitsuru is the founder of SEES and has been its leader long before the protagonist arrives. However, due to her serving as MissionControl until Fuuka joins the group, the protagonist is chosen to lead the group in battle instead, but Mitsuru is still considered the official leader.

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender,'' Iroh leads an army to reconquer Ba Sing Se in the name of the Earth King while the Gaang is fighting Ozai.
** The GrandFinale pretty much gives this role to all the supporting characters; Zuko and Katara go to the Fire Nation to ensure that he is ready to ascend to the throne (and deal with Azula), Iroh leads the army which reclaims Ba Sing Se, and Sokka, Toph and Suki go to sabotage the airship fleet, all ensuring that everything that comes after Aang beating Ozai will be positive.

* Buliwyf in ''Film/TheThirteenthWarrior'' is the hero Viking leader, but Ibn is the protagonist.

* Buliwyf from ''Literature/TheThirteenthWarrior'' is the leader of the Norse against the Wendol, though the [[AudienceSurrogate main]] [[NaiveNewcomer character]] is Ahmed Ibn Fahdlan, a visiting Arab.

* In ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime3: Corruption'', the Galactic Federation commander, Admiral Dane, serves this role, showing up to send Samus off on a special mission as the rest of his forces fight the bulk of the Space Pirates. In fact, this happens twice, on two consecutive missions.

* ''Franchise/MassEffect'': Admiral Hackett plays this role in ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'', leading the human fleet against [[spoiler:Sovereign and the geth fleet]] while Shepard goes after Saren.
** He does it again in ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', where he's more or less the leader of the human race. What's more, any forces the other races commit to the war effort fall under his command, and he's in charge of the FinalBattle to [[spoiler: retake Earth and the Citadel from the Reapers]].
--> "Never before have so many come together from all quarters of the galaxy. But never before have we faced an enemy such as this. The Reapers will show us no mercy, we must give them no quarter. They will terrorize our populations. We must stand fast in the face of that terror. They will advance until our last city falls, but we will not fall. We will prevail. Each of us will be defined by our actions in the coming battle. Stand fast, stand strong. Stand together. Hackett out."
** Assuming he [[StoryBranching survived the first game]], Urdnot Wrex becomes this for the rest of the trilogy. As leader of the krogan, he's only too happy to assist you how he can, but his duties come first, and he isn't going to join the crew of the ''Normandy'' again. Subverted in the ''Citadel'' DLC of ''3'' which brings him back -- temporarily -- as a party member to combat the villain of that story arc.

** [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII Squall]] - or "Leon" - is the leader of the first group of allies Sora meets, but he and his friends generally act as the home guard while Sora and co. save the world.
** Once he stops serving as the MysteriousProtector, King Mickey starts to take on this role for the Disney characters.
* In ''VideoGame/WarcraftII'', Lothar serves as one of these for most of the Alliance campaign. He is killed by orcs in the second-to-last mission, requiring the player character to take command.

* One could make a case for [[spoiler: Ocelot]] of the ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' series. [[spoiler:He'd been scheming to take down the Patriots, and without him as a diversion for the Patriots' wrath, it's questionable whether Snake and co would have lasted as long as they did, much less saved the day. And, yes, this was all according to Ocelot's plan.]]
** Snake himself is the Aragorn of ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2.'' Raiden gets the lion's share of the gameplay, but it is clear that he is inferior to Snake and Snake is busy being awesome off-screen.
* In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4'', Mei Ling, as commander of the ''Missouri'', is leading the only visible resistance (paltry as it may be) against the Patriots and Ocelot. Of course, during the final battle she and her men weren't really providing a ''distraction'' as much as desperately trying to just survive until Snake could get to [[spoiler: GW's server room.]] They still pulled a little of the heat off of Snake, though.

* In ''VideoGame/BetrayalAtKrondor'' Prince Arutha, the hero of the [[Literature/TheRiftwarCycle original books]], becomes this. He only appears in the cutscenes between chapters, when he gives orders to heroes, questions prisoners or moves his troops to repel invasion. While the heroes are searching for the real cause of the invasion.

* ''[[VideoGame/AdvanceWars Advance Wars: Days of Ruin]]'' has Captain Brenner who leads what's left of the military to try and rescue and rebuild as much as possible AfterTheEnd, backed up by his second in command Lin. You play as Will, who's just some cadet they picked up and who wants to help as much as possible. [[spoiler:After Brenner's HeroicSacrifice Lin attempts to take over as leader, but her cold, emotionless, and analytical approach to leading quickly puts her at odds with the survivors so she appoints the kinder and more caring Will as commander to put them at ease, relegating herself to a supporting role with her logical intelligence and expertise]].

* Prince Barin in ''Film/{{Flash Gordon|1980}}''. Vultan fills this role to a certain extent as well, but Barin more so.

* Buliwyf in ''Film/The13thWarrior'' is the hero Viking leader, but Ibn is the protagonist.

* ''LightNovel/RebuildWorld'': Sheryl is this for a RagtagBunchOfMisfits AntiheroTeam that becomes of the slumlord gang Akira installs her in charge of, relying on GuileHero BattleOfWits skills as well as on Akira's reputation to AppealToForce. Her own motivation in the whole arrangment is half being terrified for her own survival, and half DoggedNiceGirl. Basically, Akira can't be bothered with politics and has NoSocialSkills, so pushes it on her, resulting in his corporate allies who act as TheTeamBenefactor helping him through helping Sheryl's gang, which along with his training and donations, builds it up to the point where the PrivateMilitaryContractor former StreetUrchin boys under her fit the MenOfSherwood trope and start taking on a LawEnforcementInc role from their HomeBase fortress [[WrongSideOfTheTracks in the slums]], where Sheryl rules over the other slum lords in a quasi-feudal arrangement through Shijima.

The Supporting Leader is a secondary character who [[TheLeader leads]] [[{{Heroes}} the forces of good]] in their struggle against the BigBad. He isn't TheProtagonist of the series, and he might not be TheHero either, but generally gets a [[ADayInTheLimelight spotlight episode]] focusing on some important battle right as the actual heroes are off performing whatever task winds up actually saving the day. This character is often the {{Deuteragonist}}.

* [[TheAce Flynn]] from ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'' fits this trope, as he is always one step behind the heroes, providing them with aid as Captain of the knights.
** The [=PS3=] remake removes most of this however as now he generally meets up with the heroes in time and helps out for most of the end of chapter events, before joining the party for good towards the end.

** In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4'', Mei Ling, as commander of the ''Missouri'', is leading the only visible resistance (paltry as it may be) against the Patriots and Ocelot. Of course, during the final battle she and her men weren't really providing a ''distraction'' as much as desperately trying to just survive until Snake could get to [[spoiler: GW's server room.]] They still pulled a little of the heat off of Snake, though.

* [[AmazonianBeauty Chun]][[KickChick -]][[InterpolSpecialAgent Li]] of the ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' series tends to be one of the few characters trying to stop the BigBad of each game. While [[AllAmericanFace Guile]] could also qualify for this role, he only really started opposing Bison story-wise in ''Street Fighter Alpha 3'' due to being OutOfFocus. Chun-Li however has been trying to stop Shadaloo since ''Street Fighter Alpha 1'' and continues on to fight the Illuminati in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIII'' when Guile is retired.

* ''[[VideoGame/AdvanceWars Advance Wars: Days of Ruin]]'' has Captain Brenner who leads what's left of the military to try and rescue and rebuild as much as possible AfterTheEnd, whose backed up by his second in command Lin. You play as Will, who's just some cadet they picked up and who wants to help as much as possible. [[spoiler:After Brenner's HeroicSacrifice Lin attempts to take over as leader, but her cold, emotionless, and analytical approach to leading quickly puts her at odds with the survivors so she appoints the kinder and more caring Will as commander to put them at ease, relegating herself to a supporting role with her logical intelligence and expertise]].
* ''VideoGame/Persona3'': Mitsuru is the founder of SEES and has been it’s leader long before the protagonist arrives. However, due to her serving as MissionControl until Fuuka joins the group, the protagonist is chosen to lead the group in battle instead, but Mitsuru is still considered the official leader.

* This has popped up in a few ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' series- ''Series/DenjiSentaiMegaranger'' has [=MegaBlack=] being the default leader in spite of [=MegaRed=]'s central role in battle (this didn't make it into ''Series/PowerRangersInSpace'' for the most part due to ''PR'''s tendency to make the Blue Ranger second in command; this is turn lead to some awkward instances of Sentai footage where Carlos the Black Ranger seemed more assertive compared to TJ). ''Series/MahouSentaiMagiranger'' also had a form of this- Kai Ozu is the youngest of his siblings, but is [=MagiRed=]; the oldest, Makito, is [=MagiGreen=] instead. (This also didn't make it Stateside, but that was because ''Series/PowerRangersMysticForce'' didn't have the Rangers as siblings.)
* Tsuyoshi Kaijou/Akaranger becomes this in the legendary war in ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'' as the leader of the combined Super Sentai teams.

* Jacqueline Carey's ''Literature/KushielsLegacy'' series subverts this trope by having a supporting character act as an Aragorn in the first book, leading the Royal Army, and then turning traitor and leading the Army in a coup in the second book.

** In some ways, Will (TheHero of the second book) becomes the Aragorn to Bran in the fourth book. While the story is still told from Will's point-of-view, most of what is actually accomplished in the book is entirely Bran's doing.

* ''Film/TheMuppets'': Kermit the Frog acts as supporting leader in movies where he isn't the focus, playing Captain Smollett in ''Film/MuppetTreasureIsland'' and AsHimself in ''Film/MuppetsFromSpace''. Gonzo and Rizzo even lampshade his RousingSpeech in the commentary of the latter because he pretty much gets one in every movie.

** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'', completing the {{Civil War}} questline before completing the main quest turns the leader of whichever side you supported ([[FourStarBadass General Tullius]] or [[RebelLeader Ulfric Stormcloak]]) into this. It is most evident when it comes to using Dragonsreach castle in Whiterun to [[spoiler:capture a dragon alive]]. If the Civil War is still raging, you must get both sides to agree to a temporary truce at High Hrothgar in order to be allowed to use Dragonsreach. If you've won the war for either side, they'll agree to let you use it without question.

* ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonorVanguard'': Sergeant Magnusson and Lieutenant [=McCollum=] are this to [[{{Player Character}} Keegan]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'', the Justice League may have all of Earth's greatest heroes, regularly stave off massive threats, and give the Team their orders, but they're all strictly secondary cast.

* ''Anime/JewelpetKiraDeco'': Retsu is TheLeader of the [[FiveManBand Kira Deco 5]], but the show actually follows TheChick, Pink.

** Princess Leia, despite being the trope image for TheChick, is a much better fit for this trope. She's the defacto leader of the Rebellion through all three movies, her main strength is diplomacy, she's tough as nails and withstood ColdBloodedTorture during her imprisonment on the Death Star and didn't give up any information (she did talk plenty of shit to her captors even after said torture though, and even with the threat of her people being genocided she still put the Rebellion over her own interest) and she engages in every firefight in every movie! The instant Luke breaks her out of her cell she takes charge of the situation and gets them to safety. She has to almost literally be dragged out of the Rebel HQ on Hoth even when it's being bombed to crap. She leads the charge to save Han; she's the first of the group to sneak into Jabba's Palace and almost succeeds in freeing him, and afterwards despite ending up in an outfit that's the epitome of fanservice, ultimately is the one who ends up killing Jabba (in a surprisingly brutal way). Then on Endor she's the one who softens the Ewoks up to make way for an alliance that ultimately wins the war. She leads the strike team against the shield generator, and is prepared to go out in a blaze of glory, [[TakingYouWithMe taking as many Stormtroopers with her as she can]] even after getting shot.

* ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''.
** Aragorn. Remarkably, he is completely cognizant of the fact that his role is to divert enemy forces away from the real heroes, rather than actually saving the day himself. Bard, the secondary character from ''Literature/TheHobbit'', who slays the dragon Smaug and leads the men in the final battle, is another Middle Earth example. Arguably, Tolkien uses the ability to see oneself as merely one strand of a larger struggle or story as a mark of the humility that MAKES a leader great. He's the former TropeNamer for a reason.
** In broader terms, Gandalf's entire reason for being could be considered this. As a Wizard sent to Middle-earth by the gods, his role was to oppose Sauron and his influence and to aid those opposing him. He often acts as TheChessmaster and TheManBehindTheMan but also gets down and dirty himself.
%%* Prince Gwydion from ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfPrydain'', a fairly similar character to Aragorn himself.
* [[MamaBear Raven]] of the ''Literature/HIVESeries'' serves as this. She serves as a protector for all of the main characters, leading the young protagonists while on missions, and conducting the majority of the rescue missions. The series has been gradually shifting towards a center around her, leaving Otto more and more as a SupportingProtagonist.

* UsefulNotes/RichardTheLionheart plays this role in most adaptations of the RobinHood legend. Robin has no hope of ever being anything but a bandit as long as Prince John rules England, but "when the true king returns" to overthrow John's corrupt administration, he knights Robin and pardons his men.

* An event in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' that happened before the series takes place the main character's parents had this kind of relationship with the mother, Princess Arika, serving as The Aragorn to the father, The Thousand Master in his fight against the BigBad who was known as "The Life Maker" and "The Mage of the Beginning". Though neither Arika nor her forces actually help the Thousand Master in his fight as he defeated the Mage of the Beginning shortly before they arrived. But they DID suppress and seal the World Destroying Apocalyptic Magic that was released as "The Ritual to Return the World to Nothing" was completed. So after saving the world they at some point had [[GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex hot sex]] and thus the greatest ChickMagnet/Shounen Lead the world has ever seen was born.

** ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind'': Team Bucciarati is "led by Bruno Bucciarati due to him being the direct superior of every member, in addition to him acting as a "TeamMom" to the group in general". That being said, the story's main character is Giorno Giovanna.

* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'' has Vanessa Kimball for seasons 12 and 13, and Agent Carolina took up this role starting with the Chorus Arc.

** This also popped up in a few ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' series- ''Series/DenjiSentaiMegaranger'' has [=MegaBlack=] being the default leader in spite of [=MegaRed=]'s central role in battle (this didn't make it into ''Series/PowerRangersInSpace'' for the most part due to ''PR'''s tendency to make the Blue Ranger second in command; this is turn lead to some awkward instances of Sentai footage where Carlos the Black Ranger seemed more assertive compared to TJ). ''Series/MahouSentaiMagiranger'' also had a form of this- Kai Ozu is the youngest of his siblings, but is [=MagiRed=]; the oldest, Makito, is [=MagiGreen=] instead. (This also didn't make it Stateside, but that was because ''Series/PowerRangersMysticForce'' didn't have the Rangers as siblings.)
* Tsuyoshi Kaijou/Akaranger becomes this in the legendary war in Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger

Compare BigGood, and TheLancer. Contrast with HeroProtagonist. If the battle scenes seem like they'd be pretty interesting in their own right, this character may be the HeroOfAnotherStory.

* In ''WesternAnimation/GetEd'', the team leader is actually Burn, who has just a few follicles too many to count as a BaldBlackLeaderGuy (points for the military cut, though). Ed himself is more of a SixthRanger who just joined before the start of the series (the couriers' uniforms all have numbers; five is absent from the team, being a [[WhatMightHaveBeen space left for a character named "Fader" who was to have his own plotline]] [[{{Cliffhanger}} in the second season that never materialized]]).

** [[BaldBlackLeaderGuy Mace Windu]] personally leads the Jedi Order in rescuing Obi Wan and Anakin in ''Film/AttackOfTheClones''.

* In ''Manga/{{Claymore}}'' Miria is this as leader of Clare's group of Claymores and the main Deuteragonist of the series. Miria is the one who takes on the Organization [[spoiler:who is behind the creation of the Yoma and is using their island as a giant research lab]] while Clare is searching for Raki and seeks to take revenge on Priscilla.

* This is common in ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'', with the leader generally being a main character that isn't the part's main [=JoJo=]. To quote jojowiki.com, "The majority of the Joestar Groups are not led by the main [=JoJo=], but rather by an ally", or a previous part's [=JoJo=] :

** ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind'': Team Bucciarati is "led by Bruno Bucciarati due to him being the direct superior of every member, in addition to him acting as a" TeamMom "to the group in general". That being said, the story's main character is Giorno Giovanna.

** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'' every character not named [[TheHero Ashe]], [[SupportingProtagonist Vaan]], or Penelo including the guests in the party.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'': Banon, leader of the Returners, is this to the [=PC=]s.

** Shipmaster Rtas 'Vadum, better known as [[FanNickname Half-Jaw]], takes this role from Admiral Hood in the second half of ''Halo 3''.