History PlayingWith / SpikesOfVillainy

* '''Justified''': The spikes serve a function: they are part of the villain's offensive or defensive tactics, are useful for intimidation, or identify him as a member of a certain group.

* '''Zig Zagged''': After sidestepping, the villain is revealed to not have spikes on his armor, but TheDragon is behind him, clad in spikes. However, the Dragon is actually a heroic ReverseMole trying to get close to the villain so he can assassinate him.

* '''Played For Horror''': The Villain uses the Spikes to inflict ColdBloodedTorture or [[CruelAndUnusualDeaths Cruel and Unusual Deaths]] on his victims.

* '''Justified''':
** The spikes serve a function: they are part of the villain's offensive or defensive tactics, are useful for intimidation, or identify him as a member of a certain group.

** The Villain has a Targe[[labelnote:Note]] A shield with a spike welded to the boss[[/labelnote]] or a spiked section on his armor.

** The Villain has a [[labelnote:Targe]] A shield with a spike welded to the boss[[/labelnote]] or a spiked section on his armor.

** The villain puts spikes on his gloves, so that he can use them in self-defense.
** The villain's main attack is a body slam and the spikes are for extra "oomph".
** The hero's a kickboxer.
** The villain wants to intimidate his enemies with his spiky armor.
** The spikes allow the villain to decorate his armor [[CreepySouvenir with the heads of his fallen foes.]]
** Spikes indiscriminately drain magic from nearby magic users. Heroes, who often work as a team, cannot use them without draining their allies as well, while villains, always working alone, face no such issues.

** The guy with the spiky outfit eventually does a HeelFaceTurn and keeps the spikes.

** The guy with the spiky outfit does a HeelFaceTurn and keeps the spikes. Until he becomes fully integrated into the hero's team, at which point he [[GoodCostumeSwitch ditches the spikes]].

* '''Exaggerated''': The villain's entire outfit is hidden under a mass of spikes.

** The Villain has a [[hottip:Targe: A shield with a spike welded to the boss]] or a spiked section on his armor.

* '''Downplayed''': The Villain has a [[hottip:Targe: A shield with a spike welded to the boss]] or a spiked section on his armor.

* '''Exploited''': The hero expects and somehow uses villain's spiky armor against him, maybe when the villain tries to body slam the hero he's nailed himself into the ground and is essentially stuck?

* '''Downplayed''': The villain's outfit has no spikes, but he does have IdiotHair.

* '''Exploited''': The hero somehow uses villain's spiky armor against him, maybe when the villain tries to body slam the hero he's nailed himself into the ground and is essentially stuck?

* '''Exploited''': ???

* '''Downplayed''': ???

* '''Justified''': The villain puts spikes on his gloves, so that he can use them in self-defense.

* '''Inverted''': The hero wears some spiked armor into battle.
** Alternatively, the villain wears divots.
* '''Subverted''': We see a shot of the villain in his "spiky" armor, but then he steps to the side and we realize he was just standing in front of a somewhat spiky, large weapon.

* '''Double Subverted''': After sidestepping, the villain is revealed to not have spikes on his armor, it was just something behind him...specifically, TheDragon, all ready for combat in his spiked shoulder guards.

* '''Parodied''': After donning his spiked armor, the villain stumbles around awkwardly and barely avoids stabbing himself several times before giving up on it.
** After returning from a harsh battle, the villain is received with a hug from [[DaddysLittleVillain his beautiful daughter]]...[[TooDumbToLive who gets impaled]] by the insane amount of spikes. "OhNoNotAgain"

* '''Deconstructed''': The spikes are too long to be functional, and it becomes obvious that no living person could do normal activities in them.
* '''Reconstructed''': The spikes are a deliberate self-handicap: upon seeing them, the hero realizes the depths of the villain's poise and control, because anyone else would cut themselves badly trying to walk in that outfit.
** The spikes are [[MacrossMissileMassacre missiles]].
** Though an ordinary person would barely be able to move in the villain's spike-bedecked armor, the villain is freakishly strong and dexterous enough to use the spikes to his advantage.

* '''Played For Drama''': The Dragon is a giant, and each spike holds a corpse belonging to one of the millions of foolish heros that dared to challenge him. [[HeroicBSOD Like the hero's father.]]
* '''Played For Laugths''': The spiked suit of armor keeps getting stuck in doors, leading the wearer to awkwardly stagger through them.

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** The villain's main attack is a body slam and the spikes are for extra "oomph."

** The guy with the spiky outfit eventually does a HeelFaceTurn, and keeps the spikes.
* '''Double Subverted''': After sidestepping, the villain is revealed to not have spikes on his armor, it was just something behind him... specifically, TheDragon, all ready for combat in his spiked shoulder guards.
** The guy with the spiky outfit does a HeelFaceTurn, and keeps the spikes. Until he becomes fully integrated into the hero's team, at which point he [[GoodCostumeSwitch ditches the spikes]].

** After returning from a harsh battle, the villain is received with a hug from [[DaddysLittleVillain his beautiful daughter]]... [[TooDumbToLive who gets impaled]] by the insane amount of spikes. "OhNoNotAgain"

* '''Reconstructed''': The spikes are a deliberate self-handicap: upon seeing them the hero realizes the depths of the villain's poise and control, because anyone else would cut themselves badly trying to walk in that outfit.

** The spikes allow the villain to decorate his armor with the heads of his fallen foes.

** The guy with the spiky outfit does a HeelFaceTurn, and keeps the spikes. Until he becomes fully integrated into the {{Nakama}}, at which point he [[GoodCostumeSwitch ditches the spikes]].

** After returning from a harsh battle, the villain is received with a hug from [[DaddysLittleVillain his beautiful daughter]]... [[TooDumbToLive who gets impaled]] by the insane amount of spikes. "OhNoNotAgain!"

** After returning from a harsh battle, the villain is received with a hug from [[DaddysLittleVillain his beautiful daughter]]... [[TooDumbToLive who gets impaled]] by the insane amount of spikes. [[TheyKilledKenny "Oh, no! Not AGAIN!"]]

** The villain's main attack is a body slam. the spikes are fo extra "oomph."

** Though an ordinary person would barely be able to move in the villain's spike-bedecked armor, the villain is freakishly strong and dexterous enough to use the spikes to his advantage, easily delivering things like lethal, spiked backhands.