History Main / VillainByDefault

** Used and then deconstructed in ''Literature/TheImmortals'' with [[HarpingOnAboutHarpies Stormwings]]. They desecrate bodies on the battlefield and feed on human fear, so they are universally hated by nearly all humans, and most other creatures. In ''Wild Magic'' they simply seem to be evil, helping Tortall's enemies and attacking Daine. She goes into ''Wolf-Speaker'' expecting that they're AlwaysChaoticEvil but several characters argue that she shouldn't. When she meets Rikash, who's taken on an older brother role for a neglected young girl, Daine is forced to grasp that Stormwings are individuals and some are outright good people. In ''Literature/TortallASpysGuide'' she says that Stormwings' natures are opposite to that of humans but that doesn't make them all evil.
** Bandits are generally this, though less so in ''Literature/ProtectorOfTheSmall'' as Kel, fighting them, understands that most bandits are driven to prey on others by extreme poverty rather than inherent evil, and sees starving children among their dependents. This doesn't make her hold back and more of her sympathy is for their victims, but she doesn't celebrate their deaths either. A bandit she fought in ''Page'' reappears as a convict-soldier forced to fight for her in ''Lady Knight''. Kel, seeing that he's now serving his time and isn't trying to make a difficult situation any worse, holds no malice towards him and doesn't allow he and the other convicts to be whipped.

* Used and then deconstructed in ''Literature/TheImmortals'' with the Stormwings. Their very nature is to desecrate bodies on the battlefield, and they feed on human fear, so they are universally hated by nearly all humans, and most other creatures. To ensure that they have a ready supply of "food," they actively attack people. However, when Daine meets Rikash she learns that not all Stormwings agree with ''waging'' war and have their own set of honor and values--plus their natures were decided by the human mage who created them.

If the protagonist of the story is an AntiHero, such as a vigilante or mob boss, or is [[ClearMyName wrongly accused]], then [[LawfulEvil any form of law enforcement will be the antagonist]]. Whether this is because they are ineffective, corrupt, [[InspectorJavert well-meaning-but-misinformed]], or just in the protagonist's way depends on the specific story.

* Terrorists

* The [[UsefulNotes/KuKluxKlan Klansmen]] in ''Film/LiveByNight''.

* In ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' and most fantasy media, Necromancers (Or {{Necromantic}}s) invariably abuse their powers for fun and profit. Even though it's a player accessible subclass of the Wizard, it's rare to see a "good" necromancer. After all, a necromancer who can't cast spells with the "evil" subtype loses most of the necromancer's best spells. The aversion is more common in 5e, where there are no morality restrictions on spells,although most necromancy spells feel somewhat evil anyway.

* Federal officers of any kind on the various ''Franchise/LawAndOrder'' shows. One exception was a cameo by the woman from ''Series/InPlainSight''.

* Bandits, robbers, and thieves (Literature/RobinHood is a notable exception, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. Another big exception is the JustifiedCriminal)

* Bandits, robbers, and thieves,

* [[HollywoodSatanism Satanists]],

Naturally, whenever a group is cast as Villains By Default without additional justification, there will be a part of the audience that's going to [[AlternativeCharacterInterpretation disagree with the assessment]]. This is particularly true of works that are [[PanderingToTheBase subtly or unsubtly pandering to]] [[AcceptableTargets one "fashionable" prejudice or another]], or that are aimed at very specific audiences. This is where ValuesDissonance will kick in: a work created by a fundamentalist Christian might have a "sinful" person (stripper, alcoholic, what-have-you) as an irredeemable villain, whereas a work by someone who despises Christians will want his/her audience to assume that ''Christians'' are the evil ones.

* [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain Racial supremacists]] (unless ''[[TragicBigot really]]'' good FreudianExcuse),

Other common examples of Villain by Default types:

* Bandits, robbers and thieves,
* Soldiers, who are often portrayed as either as [[ArmiesAreEvil explicitly this]] or as a NobleProfession, depending on setting, context and often on the author's politics. When the former, they will either be [[PsychoForHire Psychos for Hire]] or FacelessMooks - or [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Bandits by Any Other Name]], especially if this is a civil war/uprising/feud/separatist movement. Of course, what side they are on will also be a huge factor. In the majority of post-Vietnam media, soldiers on either side who participate in combat missions are portrayed as an example of GreyAndGreyMorality.

* The Abh from ''LightNovel/CrestOfTheStars'' subvert this trope (though they seem to embrace it at first). They have an interstellar empire acquired through conquest and they ban space travel for everyone but the Abh, claiming it's all for good reason; i.e., trying to prevent a vast and destructive conflict.

* Subverted to hell and back again on ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureBattleTendency'' with '''ThoseWackyNazis'''! No, really! Have we already mentioned that this manga is bizarre? To elaborate: At first, the Nazis are seen trying to revive an [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot ancient race of fossilized Mesoamerican vampires]], most likely for the sake of harnessing their power. However, later on it's revealed [[spoiler:that they were investigating them, from the very beginning, for the sake of finding [[{{Immortality}} a way to eliminate them]], as their resurrection would mean the end of the human race]]. While they get some KickTheDog moments, they ultimately cooperate with the heroes by virtues of there being a GreaterScopeVillain. They even give the hero, [[TheTrickster Joseph Joestar]], [[spoiler:a cool mechanical hand as a thank-you gift after he lost it in the final battle]].
* Significant aversion: One episode of ''LightNovel/KinosJourney'' involves slavers who had [[IAmAHumanitarian eaten their "cargo"]] to survive in a snowstorm. However, the episode is devoted to showing that despite how wicked their profession, actions, and plan seem once revealed, they're people as well, with loved ones, hopes, and dreams. Which only goes to show that ordinary people, too, are capable of acts of astonishing callousness — and conversely, that no matter how callous a person is, they're still a ''person''.

* ''ComicBook/TheUltimates'': The first arc had ScaryDogmaticAliens that used to work for the Nazis.

* The [[UsefulNotes/KuKluxKlan Klansmen]] in ''Film/LiveByNight''.

* You can pretty much count that any non-human robot in the ''Videogame/MegaManX'' and ''Videogame/MegaManZero'' series are down-and-out Mavericks, no exceptions; they're always either infected by TheVirus, criminally insane, or just plain fed up with humanity and aren't going to take it, anymore. Of course, this could also be considered a case of demonization; several Mavericks have called out the main characters as hunting them with little provocation, simply because the humans are paranoid and don't need a reason to point at a robot not doing what they think they should be doing and calling them "Maverick". And then they die at the protagonists' hands, anyway.
** Although, the animal Reploids of ''Zero'' were evil, they weren't considered Mavericks. You're playing on the side of the Mavericks, the bosses are fighting for humanity.

Essentially, this is a way to supply ready-made antagonists and EvilMinions without sacrificing screen time. EvilMinions, [[TheDragon Dragon]], and members of the QuirkyMinibossSquad are more dependent on this trope than the BigBad, since the BigBad usually has enough screen time to more clearly establish their motives.

[[caption-width-right:350:So he's a [[ThoseWackyNazis Nazi]], a [[TheUndead Zombie]], [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and]] a [[YouDirtyRat Rat]]. [[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter Must be a good guy.]]]]

** The bounty hunters in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', including Boba Fett, are portrayed (however briefly) as an unsavory bunch. Boba Fett, however, became unexpectedly popular, and has since been portrayed as a VillainProtagonist or even AntiHero in a number of spinoff works.

[[caption-width-right:350:So he's a [[ThoseWackyNazis Nazi]], a [[TheUndead Zombie]], and a [[YouDirtyRat Rat]]. [[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter Must be a good guy.]]]]

* In ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' and most fantasy media, Necromancers (Or {{Necromantic}}s) invariably abuse their powers for fun and profit. Even though it's a player accessible subclass of the Wizard, it's rare to see a "good" necromancer. After all, a necromancer who can't cast spells with the "evil" subtype loses most of the necromancer's best spells.

* {{Card Carrying Villain}}s

* [[TheAggressiveDrugDealer Drug dealers]] (though [[Series/BreakingBad exceptions do exist]])
* [[TheBully Bullies]] (especially in school-related or SliceOfLife works)
* {{Necromancer}}s (with occasional exceptions like BadPowersGoodPeople, or if "necromancy" is defined more like the original term, to be InterrogatingTheDead or similar)
* [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain Racial supremacists]] (unless [[TragicBigot they have a]] ''[[TragicBigot really]]'' [[TragicBigot good]] FreudianExcuse)
* [[HollywoodSatanism Satanists]]
* [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil Slavers and slave owners]] (unless they live in a society in which slavery is deeply ingrained and are shown to treat their slaves well)
* [[GoodSmokingEvilSmoking Tobacco]] [[CorruptCorporateExecutive company executives]]

* [[PaedoHunt Pedophiles]]
* HumanTraffickers
* [[BondageIsBad Sadomasochists]]
** {{Sadist}}s
* People who are [[AxCrazy psyc]][[InsaneEqualsViolent hotic]]
* Anyone or anything in a SciFi show that [[AGodAmI claims to be a deity]], [[NoSuchThingAsSpaceJesus even (or especially) if they have a good case.]]
* [[OurGoblinsAreDifferent Goblins]], [[OurOrcsAreDifferent orcs]], and [[OurMonstersAreDifferent various other monsters]]. See AlwaysChaoticEvil.
* [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Demons]] and other evil spirits.

* [[TheFundamentalist Religious Fanatics]], especially ones who employ terror tactics (also, on the other end of the spectrum and less commonly portrayed, [[OutgrownSuchSillySuperstitions militant atheists]])
* [[EvilDebtCollector Debt collectors]]
* Bandits, robbers and thieves.

* Political "advisors" from other countries in BananaRepublic settings, who are more interested in profiteering and creating their own little fiefdom than actually helping the people
* {{Greedy Televangelist}}s
* [[TheSociopath Sociopaths]]
* [[CardCarryingVillain Card-Carrying Villains]]
* Any kind of GenericDoomsdayVillain.
* Anyone working for the [[IntimidatingRevenueService IRS]] (tax collectors) or, more generally {{Obstructive Bureaucrat}}s.

** Also the concern of some WB staff such as Creator/FrizFreleng. While Elmer was designated Bugs' main antagonist, they worried he was so meek and unthreatening that audiences would ultimately start to feel Bugs was bullying Elmer rather than thwarting him. Later foes such as Yosemite Sam, Rocky and Muggsy, and Marvin The Martian were created to counter this by being far more self explanatory villains, while Elmer became more commonly cast in non villainous roles.

* Music/JustinBieber. Just Justin Bieber, it is obvious.

* [[SadistTeacher Teachers]], [[BadBoss bosses]], and other authority figures in a school or office setting.

* Anyone working for the [[IntimidatingRevenueService IRS]] (tax collectors) or, more generally {{ObstructiveBureaucrat}}s.

* Anyone working for the [[IntimidatingRevenueService IRS]] (tax collectors) or, more generally {{ObstrctiveBureaucrat}}s.

* [[PrivateMilitaryContractors Mercenaries]], because they fight for money, unless they are helping the hero in LaResistance, in which case they become dashing FreedomFighters.
* Political "advisors" from other countries in BananaRepublic settings, who are more interested in creating their own little fiefdom than actually helping the people

* Anyone working for the [[IntimidatingRevenueService IRS]]

* Bandits
* Soldiers, who are often portrayed as either as [[ArmiesAreEvil explicitly this]] or as a NobleProfession, depending on setting and often on the author's politics. When the former, they will either be [[PsychoForHire Psychos for Hire]] or FacelessMooks - or [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Bandits by Any Other Name]], especially if this is a civil war/uprising/feud/separatist movement. Of course, what side they are on will also be a huge factor. In the majority of post-Vietnam media, soldiers on either side who participate in combat missions are portrayed as an example of GreyAndGreyMorality.

* [[PrivateMilitaryContractors Mercenaries]].

* In lighthearted works set in American high schools or similar adolescent environments, it's TheBeautifulElite (the AlphaBitch, the JerkJock, etc.) who are usually automatically evil. This stereotype is so pervasive that even when a pretty girl or boy is not supposed to be a villain, or might even be TheHero, they will still tend to be depicted as deeply flawed.

** Of course, once we saw a lawyer appear in the first movie we ''knew'' he was going to get eaten; having him sitting on a toilet at the time was just lagniappe. Whereas in the book, the lawyer was a bit more of a JerkAss, but a severe badass who punched out a raptor in one scene in contrast to his {{Dirty Coward}}ice in the movie.

* Templars in ''VideoGame/DeusExInvisibleWar'' are neo-luddites with some legitimate concerns (especially those involving the [[TheCuckoolanderWasRight technocratic conspiracies]]). Their modus operandi is [[KillEmAll quite simplistic]] however.