History Main / TheRival

Compare with the ArchEnemy and SitcomArchNemesis, which may or may not overlap and TheLancer, with a similar personality but on the side of TheHero. Could one of the OpposedMentors. See also FandomRivalry.

* ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney''

The grim, volatile foe of the protagonist, who, through a series of inexplicable events up to and including attempted murder, gains grudging respect for said hero/heroine (and may [[IWasJustPassingThrough even save them]]) and goes from [[UngratefulBastard intolerable ass]] to [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold tolerable ass.]] They usually never measure up in a crisis and ofttimes end up sacrificing their lives (RedemptionEqualsDeath) so everybody else can have CharacterDevelopment. Unless they're a DarkMagicalGirl. Frequently a {{Foil}} for the hero, showing what [[ForWantOfANail he could have become]].
Usually begins the series [[PrivilegedRival with a leg up]] on TheHero.

If fate is unkind, they may be the ButtMonkey version, the UnknownRival. If they start out as an AloofAlly, a HeelFaceTurn can be expected somewhere down the line. Occasionally a regular villain might go through a similar process and become a FriendlyEnemy. If their antagonism with the protagonist is particularly emphasized, it'll probably lead to FoeRomanceSubtext and FoeYayShipping.

* Oberon and Theseus are this to each other in the ''{{Literature/Alterien}}'' series.
* Devlyn and Set are definitely rivals in the ''{{Literature/Astral Dawn}}'' series, even though they work with each other for common goals.

* TheRival/{{Live-Action TV}}

* ''WebVideo/TheyMadeMeWatchThis'' and ''TheFanfictionCritic'' are rivals in that when one sends on a crappy work to look at, the other retaliates in kind.

* This is an alternate title for Leonardo de Montreal, Nightmare's Angel, in ''TabletopGame/ChuubosMarvelousWishGrantingEngine'', to be used when he's focused more on his enmity with Chuubo than on his mad science.

* Battler has two through the course of ''VisualNovel/UminekoNoNakuKoroNi''. On the first four arcs his rival is most likely Beatrice; while Battler tries to prove that all the murders happened by human methods, Beatrice opposes him stating that all were made with Magic, they fight for a last time at [[spoiler: the Hidden Tea Party of the fourth episode, Battler turning to be victorious over a resigning Beatrice who already got tired of the game]]. On the Chiru arcs his rival turn to be [[spoiler: Furudo Erika a piece placed by Bernkastel to serve as the detective effectively hijacking Battler's role. Both clashes numerous times and their conflict finally end in the famous chained closed room deathmatch]]

->''"How very fitting that Yugi is competing in the first duel of my tournament. It's only a matter of time before he and I face off against each other again. After all, he's my [[InvokedTrope arch rival]]. The [[SherlockHolmes Sherlock Holmes to my Moriarty]]. The [[Manga/{{Akira}} Kaneda to my Tetsuo]]. The [[Anime/SpeedRacer Speed Racer to my Racer X]]. [[OverlyLongGag I could go on, but I won't.]]"''

If fate is unkind, they may be the ButtMonkey version, the UnknownRival. If they start out as an AloofAlly, a HeelFaceTurn can be expected somewhere down the line. Occasionally a regular villain might go through a similar process and become a FriendlyEnemy. Will probably lead to FoeRomanceSubtext and FoeYayShipping.

* Lance has a rival in ''[[http://www.goldcoincomics.com Gold Coin Comics]]'' named Blake, who has traits from Seifer in FFVIII.

* In the BackStory of JamesSwallow's TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} ''[[Literature/BloodAngels Deus Encarmine]]'', Rafen and Sachiel were rivals. Lends an edge to their clashes, and their {{Foil}} status.

* In Creator/RobertEHoward's "Literature/TheScarletCitadel," ConanTheBarbarian rescues Pelias, rival to EvilSorcerer Tsotha-lanti.

* For Lotto, Aradon in ''Manhwa/{{Yureka}}.

Often subject to an EmbarrassingRescue. Might [[RivalTurnedEvil turn evil]]. On the other hand, the rival might develop a [[FriendlyRivalry genuine friendship]] with the hero. If the character in question is also a [[RebelliousSpirit bit of a rebel]], then expect some [[RebelRelaxation bad posture and a tendency to lean against things]]. Compare with the ArchEnemy and SitcomArchNemesis, which may or may not overlap and TheLancer, with a similar personality but on the side of TheHero. Could one of the OpposedMentors. See also FandomRivalry.

If fate is unkind, they may be the ButtMonkey version, the UnknownRival. If they start out as an AloofAlly, a HeelFaceTurn can be expected somewhere down the line. Occasionally a regular villain might go through a similar process and become a FriendlyEnemy. Will probably lead to FoeRomanceSubtext.

The grim, volatile foe of the protagonist who, through a series of inexplicable events up to and including attempted murder, gains grudging respect for said hero/heroine (and may [[IWasJustPassingThrough even save them]]) and goes from [[UngratefulBastard intolerable ass]] to [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold tolerable ass.]] They usually never measure up in a crisis and ofttimes end up sacrificing their lives (RedemptionEqualsDeath) so everybody else can have CharacterDevelopment. Unless they're a DarkMagicalGirl. Frequently a {{Foil}} for the hero, showing what [[ForWantOfANail he could have become]].