History Main / TheRival

The most important part of this relationship - distinguishing this from ArchEnemy and SitcomArchNemesis - is the feedback loop of one-upmanship that ultimately ''benefits'' the growth and character development of both sides: a rivalry that drags both sides down is likely more between [[ArchEnemy Arch Enemies]]. If the rivalry is not reciprocated by one side, the other is the UnknownRival. TheLancer is similar in personality but on the same side as TheHero; the rival may turn into TheLancer and vice versa through character development. Could be one of the OpposedMentors. See also FandomRivalry. For a specific rival in anime, see StockShonenRival.

The most important part of this relationship - distinguishing this from ArchEnemy and SitcomArchNemesis - is the feedback loop of one-upmanship that ultimately ''benefits'' the growth and character development of both sides; if the rivalry is not reciprocated by one side, the other is the UnknownRival. TheLancer is similar in personality but on the same side as TheHero; the rival may turn into TheLancer and vice versa through character development. Could be one of the OpposedMentors. See also FandomRivalry. For a specific rival in anime, see StockShonenRival.

The most important part of this relationship - distinguishing this from ArchEnemy and SitcomArchNemesis - is the reciprocity: if the rivalry is not reciprocated by one side, they are the UnknownRival. TheLancer is similar in personality but on the same side as TheHero; the rival may turn into TheLancer and vice versa through character development. Could be one of the OpposedMentors. See also FandomRivalry. For a specific rival in anime, see StockShonenRival.

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]]) going from [[{{Jerkass}} intolerable ass]] to [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold tolerable ass]]. Frequently a {{Foil}} for the hero, who's ultimately a MirrorCharacter. Often they show what the [[ForWantOfANail hero could have become]] if fate was just a little bit different.

If fate is unkind, they might [[RivalTurnedEvil turn evil]]. On the other hand, the rival might develop a [[FriendlyRivalry genuine friendship]] with the hero and perform a HeelFaceTurn somewhere down the line. If he is forced to [[EnemyMine team up]] with the hero over a common threat expect [[RivalsTeamUp much awesomeness to ensue]].

They may begin the series [[PrivilegedRival with a leg up]] on TheHero which is often the catalyst for the hero's character development as their desire to best the rival inspires them to improve themselves, which may in turn inspire the rival to do the same once he finally meets someone who [[DefeatMeansRespect gives him a challenge]] or worse subject him to an EmbarrassingRescue after surpassing him.

Even if they [[ReformedButNotTamed never]] perform a full HeelFaceTurn they may develop into an AloofAlly who is primarily concerned with being stronger than the hero, and since they see themselves as TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou this means they will oppose other antagonists attempts to kill the hero. Occasionally, a regular villain might go through a similar process and become a FriendlyEnemy.

In the event that the rivalry is one sided they are the UnknownRival.

Compare with the ArchEnemy and SitcomArchNemesis, which may or may not overlap. TheLancer, is similar in personality but on the same side as TheHero, the rival may turn into TheLancer and vice versa through character development. Could be one of the OpposedMentors. See also FandomRivalry. For a specific rival in anime, see StockShonenRival.

* Beginning in the Roger Moore years, [[Film/JamesBond James Bond]] and MI6 develop a friendly form of this relationship with the KGB in general and its director General Gogol in particular. The two sides are rarely actual enemies. They often work together to stop greater threats, having a shared interest in preventing spoilers on either side of the Iron Curtain (be it Western mad capitalists like Stromberg and Drax, or Soviet rogue generals like Orlov or Koskov) from overturning the world order for their own purposes. On the other hand, the two sides still compete for information and seek to gain advantage over each other, with [[ForYourEyesOnly one movie]] revolving around Gogol's attempts to obtain a lost device that would give the possessor access to Britain's nuclear submarine fleet. It's best summarized by KGB star agent Anya Amasova, who observes that she and Bond are "in the same business, but with rival companies."

[[caption-width-right:340:Ash and Gary clashing like [[StealthPun red and blue]].]]

* In ''Fanfic/{{Wonderful}}'', Squealer and Bakuda are the chief [[TheEngineer Tinkers]] of their respective gangs. Squealer regards Bakuda as her rival, and built one of her tanks to fight her, specifically.

* Clay and Candide in ''ComicStrip/SafeHavens'' are competitive with each other since right before birth-in fact, who could be born first ''was'' their first competition. (Candide claims victory, Clay maintains she only won cause she was four inches shorter than him.) As they've gotten older the rivalry has drifted into more friendly territory, and Clay is implied to have a crush on Candide.

* DiscussedTrope in ''The Vergil Effect -- How to Make a Good Rival'', by The Digital Dream Club. The host discusses what makes a good rival character in videogames, with his preference for [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry3 Vergil]] from ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' being obvious examples, but he offer his positive thoughts on ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'', ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'' and ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes''.

* Aubrey James ''should'' be this to ''Film/StrokerAce'', but Stroker cares so little that Aubrey might as well be rival to a brick wall. It avoids UnknownRival status since Stroker will occasionally acknowledge this thing with Aubrey and take potshots at him when he can remember at ''least'' Aubrey's number ([[RunningGag remembering Aubrey's name is out of the question]]).
* Orson Krennic and Wilhuff Tarkin are this in ''Film/RogueOne'' at first, but this firmly escalates into EvilerThanThou territory when Tarkin fires the ''Death Star Superlaser'' onto Scarif, simply for the purpose of killing Krennic, and in the process also kills thousands of imperial personnel and destroying a small chunk of the planet.

* In the BackStory of Creator/JamesSwallow's ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' ''[[Literature/BloodAngels Deus Encarmine]]'', Rafen and Sachiel were rivals. Lends an edge to their clashes, and their {{Foil}} status.
* In ''Literature/SpaceMarineBattles'' novels ''Fall of Damnos'' and ''Veil of Darkness'', Captains Sicarius and Agemann are described as such. Both are renowed and accomplished captains and equal candidates for the next Chapter Master, but their understanding of the BigBookOfWar differ greatly (for Sicarius, it's tips and guidelines, but for Agemann, it's the Bible).
* ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'':
** Sammael [[RivalTurnedEvil turned to the dark side]] because he was jealous of his rival (the former incarnation of the protagonist).
** Demandred has essentially the same motivation, but much, much stronger- he was born (birth name Barid Bel Medar) ''one day'' after Lews Therin Telamon (aforementioned prior incarnation) and his life followed that pattern from there on, with him being second to Lews Therin in almost every way, including skill with magic, political success, good looks, and even ''height''. They even both courted the same woman, but she preferred Lews Therin. Then [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt the War of Power]] broke out, and Barid Bel found out he was better than Lews Therin at one thing- ''war''. Unfortunately, the powers that be made Lews Therin their top general anyway, and that final straw snapped Barid Bel's mind completely so that he became obsessed with killing Lews Therin and joined the Shadow to better accomplish it, changing his name to Demandred in the process and quickly becoming its most feared general [[note]] Though the joke was on him still; the Dark One already ''had'' a [[TheDragon Dragon]], so Demandred was still stuck playing second fiddle, this time to [[TheAntichrist Ishamael]] [[/note]]. In the last book of the series, [[TheHero Rand]] (who now has memories of his life as Lews Therin back) reflects on how he encouraged this rivalry and expresses regret that he drove Demandred to madness and evil when he could have been one of the greatest heroes of the age- had he not been born at the same time as Lews Therin.

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

* Iseult to her mother's other student in ''Literature/TheWitchlands''. The other girl is a perfect Truthwitch and Iseult can't catch up, causing her to dislike the student a lot more than she admits she should.
* In military science fiction ''Literature/{{Victoria}}'', Leader von Braun's [[ANaziByAnyOtherName neo-Nazi]] state sort of becomes this to the [[TheRepublic Confederation]]. They are obviously enemies, but engage in a struggle more reminiscent of the Cold War than an open military conflict, and while the Nazi ideology is evil, the protagonists come to respect at least some of the [[NobleDemon individual enemy leaders]], even as they resent and fear their state's GermanicEfficiency and growing strength.

* ''Literature/HoshiAndTheRedCityCircuit'' has Martin Ho, who worked with Hoshi as a codebreaker before she was granted autonomy. Hoshi was younger but was promoted past him thanks to her work ethic. Martin kept trying to spread malicious rumors and set up mistakes so Hoshi would get in trouble. Hoshi knew about it, thanks to a glitch in her [[BrainComputerInterface navis]] that allows her to spy through sensorcams undetected, and was able to parry his increasingly unsubtle attempts. Finally Hoshi was granted autonomy, quit codebreaking, and became a private detective, and Martin got her post, but he still holds a lot of resentment for her.

* ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'': Nobic sees himself as a rival of Khun's half-brother Ran, who in turn sees him as nuisance.

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

* This is an alternate title for Leonardo de Montreal, Nightmares' Angel, in ''TabletopGame/ChuubosMarvelousWishGrantingEngine'', to be used when he's focused more on his enmity with Chuubo than on his mad science.
* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': A big part of why the Horus Heresy happened was down to feuds between the primarchs. Most famously, Perturabo of the Iron Warriors, who ''despised'' Rogal Dorn of the Imperial Fists. Both legions were siege specialists, but the latter got the privilege of being asked to design the Emperor's Palace while Perturabo and his legion were pigeon-holed into digging trenches and garrisoning planets, with no glory and no thanks. When Horus turned traitor, Perturabo followed him, and took great delight in destroying what their rivals built.
* Being a love letter to [[RealRobotGenre mecha anime]], ''Beam Saber'' (a ''[[UsefulNotes/ForgedInTheDark Forged in the Dark]]'' game) allows each player character to have a Rival, a recurring enemy NPC controlled by the GameMaster who operates on special rules that bend the story around them whenever they appear and make them a particularly challenging opponent to defeat, let alone defeat ''permanently''. The rulebook encourages Rivals to be portrayed as morally complex {{foil}}s to the player character who don’t necessarily need to be killed to be removed as a threat, up to pulling a HeelFaceTurn if that seems narratively appropriate.

* Battler has two through the course of ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry''. 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, and they fight for a last time at [[spoiler: the Hidden Tea Party of the fourth episode, with Battler victorious over a resigning Beatrice who already got tired of the game]]. On the Chiru arcs his rival turns out to be [[spoiler: Furudo Erika, a piece placed by Bernkastel to serve as the detective, effectively hijacking Battler's role. Both clash numerous times and their conflict finally ends in the famous chained closed room deathmatch.]]

* Lance has a rival in ''Webcomic/GoldCoinComics'' named Blake, who has traits from Seifer in FFVIII.
* Sixx and Butterfly, and to an extent Ginger and Laura in ''Webcomic/Collar6''.

* In ''Webcomic/{{Rascals}}'', Jazmin and Reiko have a sisterly rivalry with their ninja skills.
* Langstrom for Schtein in ''Webcomic/StringTheory2009''.

* ''WebVideo/TheyMadeMeWatchThis'' and ''WebVideo/TheFanFictionCritic'' are rivals in that when one sends on a crappy work to look at, the other retaliates in kind.
* ''WebVideo/PokemonPals'': Just as in the series it is parodying, Gary Oak is the rival to Ash. Made worse when he starts dating Misty.
* ''WebAnimation/DSBTInsaniT'': Alex and Seth, who even call one another 'rival' as a nickname. They are always making a competition of almost anything.

* DiscussedTrope in ''The Vergil Effect - How to Make a Good Rival'', by The Digital Dream Club. The host discusses what makes a good rival character in videogames, with his preference for [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry3 Vergil]] from ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' being obvious examples, but he offer his positive thoughts on ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'', ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'' and ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes''.

* Sixx and Butterfly, and to an extent [[FoeYay Ginger and Laura]] in ''Webcomic/Collar6''.

* DiscussedTrope in ''The Vergil Effect - How to Make a Good Rival'', by The Digital Dream Club. The host discusses what makes a good rival character in videogames, with his preference for [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry3 Vergil]] from ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' being obvious examples, but he offer his positive thoughts on ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'', ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}} and ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes''.

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]]) going from [[{{Jerkass}} intolerable ass]] to [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold tolerable ass]]. Frequently a {{Foil}} for the hero, who's ultimately NotSoDifferent. Often they show what the [[ForWantOfANail hero could have become]] if fate was just a little bit different.

Contrasts with FriendlyRivalry.

** The ''VisualNovel/DaiGyakutenSaiban'' duology has the so-called [[RedBaron 'Grim Reaper of the Old Bailey,']] Barok van Zieks, to Ryuunosuke; so named because every defendant he prosecutes dies, even if they are acquitted.

* ''Literature/HoshiAndTheRedCityCircuit'' has Martin Ho, who worked with Hoshi as a codebreaker before she was granted autonomy. Hoshi was younger but was promoted past him thanks to her work ethic. Martin kept trying to spread malicious rumors and set up mistakes so Hoshi would get in trouble. Hoshi knew about it, thanks to a glitch in her [[BrainComputerInterface navis]] that allows her to spy through censorcams undetected, and was able to parry his increasingly unsubtle attempts. Finally Hoshi was granted autonomy, quit codebreaking, and became a private detective, and Martin got her post, but he still holds a lot of resentment for her.

[[quoteright:340:[[Anime/{{Pokemon}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Ash-and-Gary-ash-ketchum-10888934-985-615_8589.jpg]]]]

* ''FanFic/{{Alex}}'': Alex to ''[[WesternAnimation/AdventureTime Marceline]]''.
* ''Manga/{{Evangelion 303}}'':

* The ''FanFic/PoniesOfOlympus'' series:

* In the ''FanFic/TamersForeverSeries'', after Takato [[TookAlevelInBadass takes a level in badass]], Rika becomes determined to prove herself the better Tamer no matter the cost.

* ''FanFic/{{crawlersout}}'': Even though they haven't interacted in ''decades'', Gellert Grindelwald still views his former best friend Albus Dumbledore as a rival, to such an extent that thought of Dumbledore beating him in ''anything'' angers him. It's decidedly a one-sided rivalry though, as after the death of his sister Dumbledore wanted absolutely nothing to do with Grindelwald. Then there's the fact that prior to that event, Dumbledore was madly in love with him.

* ''FanFic/BlackenedSkies'' gives Kaede two rivals: Celeste and Korekiyo. Of the pair, Celeste is far more ''overt'' in challenging Kaede's attempts to unite the students under her banner and collectively stand against Monokuma, treating her as a naïve, WideEyedIdealist who also refuses to acknowledge her hypocrisies. Korekiyo, meanwhile, was involved in the [[VisualNovel/DanganronpaV3KillingHarmony same mutual killing game]] as Kaede, and is thus more ''aware'' of her complexities and contradictions than Celeste is, undermining her efforts in relatively more subtle ways.

* 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.

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

* Yanagi and Hiroki have this relationship in ''VisualNovel/{{Canvas 2}}'' after reconciling.

* Lance has a rival in ''WebComic/GoldCoinComics'' named Blake, who has traits from Seifer in FFVIII.
* Sixx and Butterfly, and to an extent [[FoeYay Ginger and Laura]] in ''Webcomic/{{Collar 6}}''.

* Langstrom for Schtein in ''Webcomic/StringTheory''.

* Being a love letter to [[RealRobotGenre mecha anime]], ''Beam Saber'' (a ''[[UsefulNotes/ForgedInTheDark Forged in the Dark]]'' game) allows each player character to have a Rival, a recurring enemy NPC controlled by the GameMaster who operates on special rules that bend the story around them whenever they appear and make them a particularly challenging opponent to defeat, let alone defeat ''permanently''.

* Being a love letter to [[RealRobotGenre mecha anime]], ''Beam Saber'' (a the ''[[UsefulNotes/ForgedInTheDark Forged in the Dark]]'' game) allows each player character to have a Rival, a recurring enemy NPC controlled by the GameMaster who operates on special rules that bend the story around them whenever they appear and make them a particularly challenging opponent to defeat, let alone defeat ''permanently''.

* Being a love letter to [[RealRobotGenre mecha anime]], ''Beam Saber'' (a the ''[[UsefulNotes/ForgedInTheDark Forged in the Dark]]'' game) allows each player character to have a Rival, a recurring enemy NPC controlled by the GameMaster who operates on special rules that bend the story around them whenever they appear and make them a particularly challenge opponent to defeat, let alone defeat ''permanently''.

* Being a love letter to [[RealRobotGenre mecha anime]], ''Beam Saber'' (a the ''[[UsefulNotes/ForgedInTheDark Forged in the Dark]]'' game) allows each player character to have a Rival, a recurring enemy NPC controlled by the GameMaster who operates on special rules that bend the story and make them a particularly dangerous opponent.

** ''Literature/ShadowsOfTheEmpire'' (and a few other books) give Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine's Sith apprentice and personal [[TheDragon Dragon]], a rival in Prince Xizor, the most powerful corporate and criminal overlord in the galaxy (they're described as the Empire's number two and number three, respectively). On Vader's side, the rivalry is mostly professional - he sees Xizor as a political threat because of his too-great influence on the Emperor, and despises the man's preference for gaining power through political maneuvering and intrigue rather than open combat. Unknown to Vader, ItsPersonal to Xizor, whose entire family was wiped out by Vader as part of a much larger operation long ago.
** The ''Literature/XWingSeries'' has quite a few. Bror Jace, Rogue Squadron pilot and scion of a major family in the Bacta Cartel, is actually a fairly minor character but is still a rival to two of the more important ones. Corran Horn, the main character, is a professional rival as the only member of the squadron whose piloting skills rival his own; Erisi Dlarit, another pilot, is a family rival who hails from the ''other'' major family in the Bacta Cartel. (The first rivalry is mostly good natured and fades with time; the second [[spoiler:turns deadly when Erisi, who's actually an Imperial spy, nearly manages to have him killed]]. Erisi, meanwhile, finds a romantic rival in Mirax Terrik, a smuggler and frequent Rogue Squadron ally, who shares her attraction to Corran Horn and ultimately wins out (though it's not clear if Erisi's attraction [[spoiler:was genuine or simply part of her schemes as an Imperial spy]].
** The Wraith Squadron trilogy, in the same series, gives us a much harsher rivalry between Han Solo, the commander of the New Republic task force the Wraiths are assigned to, and Warlord Zsinj, the target they're trying to capture. Appropriately, the two men are something of a mirror image to each other: Han is an outlaw who finally abandoned his life of crime to fight for the Rebel Alliance/New Republic, while Zsinj began as an Imperial officer but deserted as soon as the Emperor died and has spent the last few years building up an underworld empire of his own.
** Probably the greatest rivalry in the series, however, is the one between Wedge Antilles and Baron Fel. It's both a professional rivalry (the two of them being the greatest pilots of the Rebel Alliance and the Empire, respectively), and personal (in that Wedge's sister, Syal, is also Fel's wife). Partly because of Syal, Fel's loyalties are complicated enough that the two men have gone from being opponents to being on the same side several times over a couple of decades (continuing beyond the X-wing series itself).

** The same series also features a much more short-lived rivalry between Zekk and Vilas, the two best students at the Shadow Academy. This being a school of the dark side, this rivalry is ultimately resolved in a DuelToTheDeath in a zero-G arena, [[spoiler:which Zekk wins]]. It's also a rivalry-by-proxy between the instructors, as Zekk was the star student of the academy's headmaster, Brakiss, while Vilas was the star student of Vonnda Ra, one of the other senior instructors.
** Amusingly averted in most of the media surrounding Boba Fett. A dizzying number of bounty hunters loathe him, believe themselves to be his rival, and think they can take over his spot as the galaxy's greatest bounty hunter by killing or defeating him. None of them are anywhere close to his level, however, and he himself views them as annoyances rather than actual threats (either to his job or his life).