History SoYouWantTo / WriteACompleteMonster

* '''Defined Motives''': The motives and goals of Complete Monsters must be shown and be clear. As such, a GenericDoomsdayVillain would not count ([[VideoGame/MarioPlusRabbidsKingdomBattle The Megabug]] is an OmnicidalManiac who tries to devour two worlds, but since it never speaks, it never expresses a coherent motivation for doing so). Villains with characterizations that are too ambiguous or vague won't count either (disqualifying the likes of [[VideoGame/Mother3 Porky Minch]]). Also, their goals can ''not'' be good as that makes them somewhat sympathetic, so this excludes the WellIntentionedExtremist ([[Film/TheSpyWhoLovedMe Karl Stromberg]] tries to KillAllHumans, but only because he genuinely believes he is preserving the planet by doing so). However, the NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist can be (and often are) Complete Monsters ([[WesternAnimation/GeneratorRex Van Kleiss]], [[Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean Lord Cutler Beckett]]). The most common motives of a Complete Monster are sadism/ForTheEvulz ([[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind Cioccolata]]), greed ([[Literature/TheABCMurders ABC]]), or a desire for power ([[Franchise/StarWars Darth Sidious]]). In addition, a KnightTemplar can be a CM if in their last instance, their goals are egotistical and counter their own belief, or may even start with good intentions, but lose them during the story ([[Manga/DeathNote Light Yagami]] saw himself as a VigilanteMan who was purging the world of evil, but the further along he went on his crusade, it became less about making the world a better place and more about making himself god of the world and killing anyone who got in his way). However, there are many other possible motives to a CM. Any clear motive that's not good or justified in the context of the story can count.

* '''Defined Motives''': The motives and goals of Complete Monsters must be shown and be clear. As such, a GenericDoomsdayVillain would not count. Villains with characterizations that are too ambiguous or vague won't count either (disqualifying the likes of [[VideoGame/Mother3 Porky Minch]]). Also, their goals can ''not'' be good as that makes them somewhat sympathetic, so this excludes the WellIntentionedExtremist. However, the NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist can be (and often are) Complete Monsters ([[WesternAnimation/GeneratorRex Van Kleiss]], [[Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean Lord Cutler Becker]]). The most common motives of a Complete Monster are sadism/ForTheEvulz ([[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind Cioccolata]]), greed ([[Literature/TheABCMurders ABC]]), or a desire for power ([[Franchise/StarWars Darth Sidious]]). In addition, a KnightTemplar can be a CM if in their last instance, their goals are egotistical and counter their own belief, or may even start with good intentions, but lose them during the story ([[Manga/DeathNote Light Yagami]] saw himself as a VigilanteMan who was purging the world of evil, but the further along he went on his crusade, it became less about making the world a better place and more about making himself god of the world and killing anyone who got in his way). However, there are many other possible motives to a CM. Any clear motive that's not good or justified in the context of the story can count.

* '''Exceptionalism''': The Complete Monster's actions must stand out as particularly horrible in the story, and overpass the base standard of the story and the genre. If a villain stands out in a story, but the story is "LighterAndSofter" in comparison with most stories of the same genre, the villain cannot be a CM ([[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePony Tirac]] is awful by MLP standards, but his actions amount to a generic, easily-reversible ForcedTransformation and ''threatening'' to kill a character; in contrast, [[ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW Cosmos]] actually tries to kill children and does everything Tirac did in a much more heinous manner). Conversely, if a villain does genuinely horrific actions, but is still out-heinoused by other threats who do more, they will fail to stand out in that series ([[Manga/Berserk The Snake Baron]] regularly slaughters innocents including children, but limits himself to a single town, while Apostles like Wyald have much greater bodycounts). It's for this reason that only a limited number of villains can be a CM. "Exceptionalism" only refers to the heinousness of the actions, not about lacking redeeming qualities or being taken seriously. If the villain is a member of an organization or species, they must also surpass the heinousness of the other members to be a Complete Monster ([[WebAnimation/MinecraftEndventures Wrecker]], [[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPartnersInTime Princess Shroob]]).

* '''Agency''': A Complete Monster must show the capacity of knowing the difference between good and evil. This is why MadeOfEvil villains can't count, since they're just doing what their instincts tell them to. The only exception to this rule is if a supposedly Made of Evil villain has other individuals in the same Made of Evil situation managing to turn good ([[ComicBook/TheTerrorOfTrigon Trigon]] is ''literally'' Made of Evil, being a demon born of the concentrated expelled negative energy of an entire civilization, but many demons of DC comics have been able to pull off a HeelFaceTurn before). However, some Complete Monsters can start without any agency, before getting one later where they continue being evil ([[Characters/DarkNightsMetal The Batman Who Laughs]] initially had immense agency problems due to being corrupted by Joker Gas, however after attaining the powers and cosmic awareness of Dr. Manhattan, he ''creates'' his own agency showing he has full control over his own actions, yet still ''chooses'' to be evil on his own freewill).

* '''Heinousness''': The actions and plans of a Complete Monster must be completely heinous. Their actions are never limited to simply [[PokeThePoodle poking the poodle]], and they have to cross the MoralEventHorizon at ''least'' once. However, they don't necessarily need to have succeeded in all of their actions, but some success is still necessary, lest they become a laughingstock. And even if they're not usually successful in their plans, they must still ''attempt'' to succeed. They shouldn't hold ''anything'' back ([[VideoGame/LuigisMansionDarkMoon King Boo]]). However, a Complete Monster doesn't always need to kill someone to count. For example, they could do something equally horrible or something [[FateWorseThanDeath even worse]] than death, such as putting people in AndIMustScream situations or causing people a great deal of physical and/or psychological damage ([[Wiki/SCPFoundation Farmer]] and [[Manga/HappySugarLife Shio and Ashai's dad]] are an example of each one respectively). Preferrably, they should also harm the main characters. Their actions don't have to be completely restricted to main characters, but people will care much more if they harm your protagonist than if the only people hurt by their actions are side characters or mooks. ([[Manga/HappySugarLife The Princess Imperial Manager]]) The Complete Monster should also actually hurt the main character, instead of them getting away in the nick of time.

* '''Exceptionalism''': The Complete Monster's actions must stand out as particularly horrible in the story, and overpass the base standard of the story and the genre (if a villain stands out in a story, but the story is "LighterAndSofter" in comparison with most stories of the same genre, the villain cannot be a CM). It's for this reason that only a limited number of villains can be a CM. "Exceptionalism" only refers to the heinousness of the actions, not about lacking redeeming qualities or being taken seriously. If the villain is a member of an organization or species, they must also surpass the heinousness of the other members to be a Complete Monster ([[WebAnimation/MinecraftEndventures Wrecker]], [[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiPartnersInTime Princess Shroob]]).

* '''Individuality''': Only an individual character can be a Complete Monster. Subjects like evil organizations, teams, or species never can be one, even if specific members of said groups are. The only exceptions of this rule are groups of two or three people who work to get the same goal ([[WesternAnimation/Cars2 Miles Axlerod and Professor "Z"]], [[Film/{{Shooter}} Colonel Isaac Johnson and Senator Charles F. Meachum]]). Also, keep in mind that in this case they're only working with each other by PragmaticVillainy, and usually don't worry about their partners unless threatened otherwise. The reason for this guideline is because groups tend to get messy in their blame-shifting, and even if they're all equally horrible, none of them stand out enough.

* '''Visibility''': The actions of a Complete Monster can never be OffstageVillainy. Even if the audience doesn't see their actions directly, the ''consequences'' that are shown in some other way can still count; however, it is not necessary to show all of their actions, but it ''is'' necessary to show enough horrible actions to consolidate how irredeemable they are (we don't see or know all the actions of The Lich when he fought with Billy or of his hands in another dimension, but his actions during [[WesternAnimation/AdventureTime the series]] were enough to make him a CM). If the actions of the villain are only mentioned in conversations, then it is Offstage Villainy. However, if the actions of the villain are seen in things like flashbacks, photos, news, or any form of onscreen kill count (such as a CreepySouvenir) then it is ''not'' Offstage Villainy.

* '''Played Seriously''': A Complete Monster must be taken seriously by the narrative they reside in. If the villain regularly does realistically terrible things, but they aren't treated worse than your typical UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist or walking joke, they cannot be a Complete Monster. By extension, shock comedy settings like ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' or ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks''don't have [=CMs=], as even if a villain were played seriously, their atrocities wouldn't stand out along those PlayedForLaughs. However, if a villain's wrongdoings are played for drama and/or horror and make them a legitimate threat within the narrative, they can be a CM while also being LaughablyEvil ([[WesternAnimation/GravityFalls Bill Cipher]]).

* '''Played Seriously''': A Complete Monster must be taken seriously by the narrative they reside in. If the villain regularly does realistically terrible things, but they aren't treated worse than your typical UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist or walking joke, they cannot be a Complete Monster. (So if the setting resembles something like ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' or ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'' where every other heinous act is PlayedForLaughs, then it can't have any [=CMs=] because of this, or because nothing can really stand out.) However, if a villain's wrongdoings are played for drama and/or horror and make them a legitimate threat within the narrative, they can be a CM while also being LaughablyEvil ([[WesternAnimation/GravityFalls Bill Cipher]]).

* '''Exceptionalism''': The Complete Monster's actions must stand out as particularly horrible in the story, and overpass the base standard of the story and the genre (if a villain stands out in a story, but the story is "LighterAndSofter" in comparison with most stories of the same genre, the villain cannot be a CM). It's for this reason that only a limited number of villains can be a CM. "Exceptionalism" only refers to the heinousness of the actions, not about lacking redeeming qualities or being taken seriously. If the villain is a member of an organization or species, they must also surpass the heinousness of the other members to be a Complete Monster ([[WebAnimation/MinecraftEndventures Wrecker]]).

* '''Individuality''': Only an individual character can be a Complete Monster. Subjects like evil organizations, teams, or species never can be one, even if specific members of said groups are. The only exceptions of this rule are groups of two or three people who work to get the same goal ([[WesternAnimation/Cars2 Miles Axlerod and Professor "Z"]], [[Film/{{Shooter}} Colonel Isaac Johnson and Senator Charles F. Meachum]], [[Film/{{Kidnap}} Terry and Margo Vickey]]). Also, keep in mind that in this case they're only working with each other by PragmaticVillainy, and usually don't worry about their partners unless threatened otherwise. The reason for this guideline is because groups tend to get messy in their blame-shifting, and even if they're all equally horrible, none of them stand out enough.

* '''Heinousness''': The actions and plans of a Complete Monster must be completely heinous. Their actions are never limited to simply [[PokeThePoodle poking the poodle]], and they have to cross the MoralEventHorizon at ''least'' once. However, they don't necessarily need to have succeeded in all of their actions, but some success is still necessary, lest they become a laughingstock. And even if they're not usually successful in their plans, they must still ''attempt'' to succeed. They shouldn't hold ''anything'' back ([[VideoGame/LuigisMansionDarkMoon King Boo]]). However, a Complete Monster doesn't always need to kill someone to count. For example, they could do something equally horrible or something [[FateWorseThanDeath even worse]] than death, such as putting people in AndIMustScream situations or causing people a great deal of physical and/or psychological damage ([[Wiki/SCPFoundation Farmer]] and [[Manga/HappySugarLife Shio and Ashai's dad]] are an example of each one respectively). Preferrably, they should also harm the main characters. Their actions don't have to be completely restricted to main characters, but people will care much more if they harm your protagonist than if the only people hurt by their actions are side characters or mooks. ([[Manga/HappySugarLife The Princess Imperial Manager) The Complete Monster should also actually hurt the main character, instead of them getting away in the nick of time.

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: You also don't want a character who ''shouldn't'' be a Complete Monster to end up counting as one. Ultimately, a FreudianExcuse or a [[EvenEvilHasStandards standard]] can only go so far, and there could very well come a point where your seemingly complex character simply gets viewed as a heinous monster ([[Film/TheMummy2017 Ahmanet]], [[WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra Unalaq]], [[Film/TransformersDarkOfTheMoon Sentinel Prime]]). The character may well count, but it'll count for all the wrong reasons, and it will taint the audience's experience of the work. In short, whether you want a character to count or not, you need to pick one and stick with it; trying to pick a middle ground on a trope in which a middle ground does not exist will only confuse the audience and leave them unsure of what to think of the character overall.

* MagnificentBastard: As with a Complete Monster being a dangerous trope to use on a Magnificent Bastard, the coin flips the other way around. Granted, characters can indeed count as both ([[Sandbox/CMAndMBCrossovers and some do!]]), but they're still a pair of tropes that are very hard to mix together. The Complete Monster evokes fear and loathing, and trying to add genuine magnificence to that could result in your character no longer being a ''Complete'' Monster. Regardless, a Complete Monster can be just as cunning and brilliant as a Magnificent Bastard--just know that their sheer evilness will ultimately render them ineligible for the latter trope ([[Franchise/StarWars Emperor Palpatine]], [[Characters/NewGodsDarkseid Darkseid]], [[Franchise/ResidentEvil Albert Wesker]], [[Manga/{{ERASED}} Erased's killer]]. For further information about what can lead to this, see the SoYouWantTo/WriteAMagnificentBastard page.

* MagnificentBastard: As with a Complete Monster being a dangerous trope to use on a Magnificent Bastard, the coin flips the other way around. Granted, characters can indeed count as both ([[Sandbox/CMAndMBCrossovers and some do!]]), but they're still a pair of tropes that are very hard to mix together. The Complete Monster evokes fear and loathing, and trying to add genuine magnificence to that could result in your character no longer being a ''Complete'' Monster. Regardless, a Complete Monster can be just as cunning and brilliant as a Magnificent Bastard--just know that their sheer evilness will ultimately render them ineligible for the latter trope ([[Franchise/StarWars Emperor Palpatine]], [[Characters/NewGodsDarkseid Darkseid]], [[Franchise/ResidentEvil Albert Wesker]]). For further information about what can lead to this, see the SoYouWantTo/WriteAMagnificentBastard page.

* '''Played Seriously''': A Complete Monster must be taken seriously by the narrative they reside in. If the villain regularly does realistically terrible things, but they aren't treated worse than your typical UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist or walking joke, they cannot be a Complete Monster. (So if your work resembles something like ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' or ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'' where every other heinous act is PlayedForLaughs, then it can't have any [=CMs=] because of this, or because nothing can really stand out.) However, if a villain's wrongdoings are played for drama and/or horror and make them a legitimate threat within the narrative, they can be a CM while also being LaughablyEvil ([[WesternAnimation/GravityFalls Bill Cipher]]).

* '''Played Seriously''': A Complete Monster must be taken seriously by the narrative they reside in. If the villain regularly does realistically terrible things, but they aren't treated worse than your typical UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist or walking joke, they cannot be a Complete Monster. However, if a villain's wrongdoings are played for drama and/or horror and make them a legitimate threat within the narrative, they can be a CM while also being LaughablyEvil ([[WesternAnimation/GravityFalls Bill Cipher]]).

* '''Heinousness''': The actions and plans of a Complete Monster must be completely heinous. Their actions are never limited to simply [[PokeThePoodle poking the poodle]], and they have to cross the MoralEventHorizon at ''least'' once. However, they don't necessarily need to have succeeded in all of their actions, but some success is still necessary, lest they become a laughingstock. And even if they're not usually successful in their plans, they must still ''attempt'' to succeed. They shouldn't hold ''anything'' back ([[VideoGame/LuigisMansionDarkMoon King Boo]]).\\
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However, a Complete Monster doesn't always need to kill someone to count. For example, they could do something equally horrible or something [[FateWorseThanDeath even worse]] than death, such as putting people in AndIMustScream situations or causing people a great deal of physical and/or psychological damage ([[Wiki/SCPFoundation Farmer]] and [[Manga/HappySugarLife Shio and Ashai's dad]] are an example of each one respectively).\\
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Preferrably, they should also harm the main characters. Their actions don't have to be completely restricted to main characters, but people will care much more if they harm your protagonist than if the only people hurt by their actions are side characters or mooks. The Complete Monster should also actually hurt the main character, instead of them getting away in the nick of time.

* '''Visibility''': The actions of a Complete Monster can never be OffstageVillainy. Even if the audience doesn't see their actions directly, the ''consequences'' that are shown in some other way can still count; however, it is not necessary to show all of their actions, but it ''is'' necessary to show enough horrible actions to consolidate how irredeemable they are (we don't see or know all the actions of The Lich when he fought with Billy or of his hands in another dimension, but his actions during [[WesternAnimation/AdventureTime the series]] were enough to make him a CM).\\
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If the actions of the villain are only mentioned in conversations, then it is Offstage Villainy. However, if the actions of the villain are seen in things like flashbacks, photos, news, or any form of onscreen kill count (such as a CreepySouvenir) then it is ''not'' Offstage Villainy.

* '''Exceptionalism''': The Complete Monster's actions must stand out as particularly horrible in the story, and overpass the base standard of the story and the genre (if a villain stands out in a story, but the story is "LighterAndSofter" in comparison with most stories of the same genre, the villain cannot be a CM). It's for this reason that only a limited number of villains can be a CM. "Exceptionalism" only refers to the heinousness of the actions, not about lacking redeeming qualities or being taken seriously.\\
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If the villain is a member of an organization or species, they must also surpass the heinousness of the other members to be a Complete Monster ([[WebAnimation/MinecraftEndventures Wrecker]]).

* '''No Sympathetic Backstory''': Complete Monsters usually don't have any tragic story to explain their actions. In some instances a CM has a tragic past, but the evil of their [[DisproportionateRetribution actions is considered to surpass]] the justifications so that it is FreudianExcuseIsNoExcuse instead ([[WesternAnimation/ToyStory3 Lots-O'-Huggin' Bear]], [[VideoGame/SuikodenII Luca Blight]]). Some of the most strange monsters enjoyed circumstances that should be traumatic ([[Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit William Lewis]]).\\
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Other times, it shows that a CM with a tragic story without giving them sympathy by showing other people who experienced the same situation (or some worse) but don't succumb to evil ([[Film/DawnOfThePlanetOfTheApes Koba]]), that they are not affected by their past ([[Film/WolfCreek Mick Taylor]]), that the CM was evil before his supposed excuse ([[Film/Batman1989 Jack Napier]]), or that they would be equal without their excuse ([[Webcomic/NuzlockeComics Mewtwo]]).

* '''Defined Motives''': The motives and goals of Complete Monsters must be shown and be clear. As such, a GenericDoomsdayVillain would not count. Villains with characterizations that are too ambiguous or vague won't count either (disqualifying the likes of [[VideoGame/Mother3 Porky Minch]]). Also, their goals can ''not'' be good as that makes them somewhat sympathetic, so this excludes the WellIntentionedExtremist. However, the NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist can be (and often are) Complete Monsters ([[WesternAnimation/GeneratorRex Van Kleiss]], [[Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean Lord Cutler Becker]]). The most common motives of a Complete Monster are sadism/ForTheEvulz ([[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind Cioccolata]]), greed ([[Literature/TheABCMurders ABC]]), or a desire for power ([[Franchise/StarWars Darth Sidious]]). In addition, a KnightTemplar can be a CM if in their last instance, their goals are egotistical and counter their own belief, or may even start with good intentions, but lose them during the story ([[Manga/DeathNote Light Yagami]] saw himself as a VigilanteMan who was purging the world of evil, but the further along he went on his crusade, it became less about making the world a better place and more about making himself god of the world and killing anyone who got in his way).\\
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However, there are many other possible motives to a CM. Any clear motive that's not good or justified in the context of the story can count.

* AxCrazy: Deranged and violent characters are usually pretty dangerous, and their willingness to commit atrocities and/or violent crimes, sometimes along with [[{{Sadist}} sadism]], make them very likely to be Complete Monsters.

* {{Determinator}}: The Complete Monster shouldn't be willing to accept any forms of defeat unless [[FailureGambit they serve to further their goals]]. Even if they are defeated at first, they must do whatever it takes to make sure they get as many victories on their own self, no matter how vile ([[VideoGame/RuneFactory4 Ethelberd]]).

* TheSociopath: For obvious reasons, being a sociopath/psychopath is pretty much a requirement to be a Complete Monster. Typically, sociopaths are [[FauxAffablyEvil superficially charming]], [[ManipulativeBastard manipulative]], [[ThrillSeeker impulsive]], without remorse, guilt, empathy, or conscience; they have a perchant for violence, [[TheHedonist a pathological need for stimulation]], and a incredibly high criminal versatility. Since they consider people objects and things, they feel entitled to mistreat them, abuse them or worse. In general, a Complete Monster is practically an extreme version of a sociopath. In rare occasions, the character might not be a true ''sociopath'' but will have regardless dulled their empathy so severely that they're impossible to distinguish from one.

* TheSociopath: For obvious reasons, being a sociopath/psychopath is pretty much a requirement to be a Complete Monster. Typically, sociopaths are [[FauxAffablyEvil superficially charming]], [[ManipulativeBastard manipulative]], [[ThrillSeeker impulsive]], without remorse, guilt, empathy, or conscience; they have a perchant for violence, [[TheHedonist a pathological need for stimulation]], and a incredibly high criminal versatility. Since they consider people objects and things, they feel entitled to mistreat them, abuse them or worse. In general, a Complete Monster is practically an extreme version of a sociopath.

* AbusiveParents: If the Complete Monster is a parent, whether biological or adoptive, they will show no love for their children and treat them like absolute shit. If they ever do treat the kids well, it's merely out of [[ManipulativeBastard wanting to use them for their own gain]], but will go right back to abusing them, or [[OffingTheOffspring kill them]], once they have [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness outlived their usefulness]] ([[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender Fire Lord Ozai]] is an example of both cases).

* FallenHero: A Complete Monster can also be hero in the past. Though they must eschew any and ''all'' good qualities and start doing whatever heinous levels of evil to become the Complete Monster they are now. That isn't to say they can't still [[BitchInSheepsClothing pretend to be good]], so long as it's made clear it's all an act.

* StrikeMeDownWithAllOfYourHatred: If the story's setting applies the IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim moral, a Complete Monster may utter this trope word by word when they're on the verge of death by the heroes, thus so that they can get all of the CM's reputation and guilt for themselves.
* UsedToBeASweetKid: It's possible for the Complete Monster's backstory to involve that they were innocent in the past before they shed all that innocence into the trash at some point before the present ([[WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles Syndrome]] was a fan of Bob (Mr. Incredible) when he was young before becoming an irredeemable monster many years later, only because [[FreudianExcuseIsNoExcuse Bob told him to not interfere]] in his fight against Bomb Voyage).

* HeWhoFightsMonsters: This trope is commonly reserved for anti-villains and largely cannot count. The only way they can qualify is if they are worse than the people they fight, they are remorseless in hurting innocent people, and/or they are only fighting against other villains/criminals for egotistical reasons ([[Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries Nightmare Eclipse]], [[VideoGame/BloodstainedRitualOfTheNight Dominique Baldwin]]). However, if your villain manages to drag another character to ''their'' level through manipulation or breaking them down, then by all means go for it.

HeWhoFightsMonsters commonly are anti-villains and largely cannot count as this trope. The only way they can qualify is if they are worse than the people they fight, they are remorseless in hurting innocent people, and/or they are only fighting against other villains/criminals for egotistical reasons ([[Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries Nightmare Eclipse]], [[VideoGame/BloodstainedRitualOfTheNight Dominique Baldwin]]).\\
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* TheSociopath: For obvious reasons, being a sociopath/psychopath is pretty much a requirement to be a Complete Monster. Typically, sociopaths are [[FauxAffablyEvil superficially charming]], [[ManipulativeBastard manipulative]], [[ThrillSeeker impulsive]], without remorse, guilt, empathy, or conscience; they have a perchant for violence, [[TheHedonist a pathological need for stimulation]], and a incredibly high criminal versatility. Since they consider people objects and things, they feel entitled to mistreat them, abuse them or worse. In general, a Complete Monster is practically [[UpToEleven an extreme version]] of a sociopath.

* '''Visibility''': The actions of a Complete Monster can never be OffstageVillainy. Even if the audience doesn't see their actions directly, the ''consequences'' that are shown in some other way can still count. However is not necessary to show all of their actions, but it ''is'' necessary to show enough horrible actions to consolidate how irredeemable they are (we don't see or know all the actions of The Lich when he fought with Billy or of his hands in another dimension, but his actions during [[WesternAnimation/AdventureTime the series]] were enough to make him a CM).\\

* '''Defined Motives''': The motives and goals of Complete Monsters must be shown and be clear. As such, a GenericDoomsdayVillain would not count. Villains with characterizations that are too ambiguous or vague won't count either (disqualifying the likes of [[VideoGame/Mother3 Porky Minch). Also, their goals can ''not'' be good as that makes them somewhat sympathetic, so this excludes the WellIntentionedExtremist. However, the NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist can be (and often are) Complete Monsters ([[WesternAnimation/GeneratorRex Van Kleiss]], [[Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean Lord Cutler Becker]]). The most common motives of a Complete Monster are sadism/ForTheEvulz ([[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind Cioccolata]]), greed ([[Literature/TheABCMurders ABC]]), or a desire for power ([[Franchise/StarWars Darth Sidious]]). In addition, a KnightTemplar can be a CM if in their last instance, their goals are egotistical and counter their own belief, or may even start with good intentions, but lose them during the story ([[Manga/DeathNote Light Yagami]] saw himself as a VigilanteMan who was purging the world of evil, but the further along he went on his crusade, it became less about making the world a better place and more about making himself god of the world and killing anyone who got in his way).\\

* '''Defined Motives''': The motives and goals of Complete Monsters must be shown and be clear. As such, a GenericDoomsdayVillain would not count. Also, their goals can ''not'' be good as that makes them somewhat sympathetic, so this excludes the WellIntentionedExtremist. However, the NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist can be (and often are) Complete Monsters ([[WesternAnimation/GeneratorRex Van Kleiss]], [[Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean Lord Cutler Becker]]). The most common motives of a Complete Monster are sadism/ForTheEvulz ([[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind Cioccolata]]), greed ([[Literature/TheABCMurders ABC]]), or a desire for power ([[Franchise/StarWars Darth Sidious]]). In addition, a KnightTemplar can be a CM if in their last instance, their goals are egotistical and counter their own belief, or may even start with good intentions, but lose them during the story ([[Manga/DeathNote Light Yagami]] saw himself as a VigilanteMan who was purging the world of evil, but the further along he went on his crusade, it became less about making the world a better place and more about making himself god of the world and killing anyone who got in his way).\\

* KnightOfCerebus: Since their character archetype already has their actions be played completely seriously, a Complete Monster could easily be a character responsible for darkening the mood of a work or scene just by being in the room, especially when most of the villains beforehand were somewhat sympathetic.

* ThatOneBoss: For video game examples, giving a Complete Monster a brutally difficult boss battle is a great way to demonstrate their sheer cruelty and ruthlessness, give the player as much anguish as the Complete Monster's in-universe victims, and make the CM's defeat at the player's hands [[CatharsisFactor all the more satisfying]] and personal ([[VideoGame/FreedomPlanet Lord Brevon]]).

HeWhoFightsMonsters commonly are anti-villains and largely cannot count as this trope. The only way they can qualify is if they are worse than the people they fight, they are remorseless in hurting innocent people, and/or they are only fighting against other villains/criminals for egotistical reasons ([[Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries Nightmare Eclipse]]).\\

* MagnificentBastard: As with a Complete Monster being a dangerous trope to use on a Magnificent Bastard, the coin flips the other way around. Granted, characters can indeed count as both ([[Sandbox/CMAndMBCrossovers and some do!]]), but they're still a pair of tropes that are very hard to mix together. The Complete Monster evokes fear and loathing, and trying to add genuine magnificence to that could result in your character no longer being a ''Complete'' Monster. Regardless, a Complete Monster can be just as cunning and brilliant as a Magnificent Bastard--just know that their sheer evilness will ultimately render them ineligible for the latter trope ([[Franchise/StarWars Emperor Palpatine]], [[Characters/NewGodsDarkseid Darkseid]], [[Anime/{{Monster}} Johan Liebert]]). For further information about what can lead to this, see the SoYouWantTo/WriteAMagnificentBastard page.

* '''Resources''': Not every Complete Monster in the same work will have the same level of crimes, but this is not a result of good intent; it's due to the limitations of their physical capabilities. An EvilOverlord who commands legions is obviously going to be able to rack up a higher body count than a lone SerialKiller operating on their own, but this doesn't necessarily make the latter less heinous so long as they are ''as bad as possible'' from what their resources allow and still manage to stand out ([[Series/{{Arrow}} Cecil Adams/Count Vertigo]] had a much lower body count than the {{Omnicidal Maniac}}s in his [[Series/{{Arrowverse}} verse]], but he managed to cause so much [[ColdBloodedTorture pain]] and [[MindRape torment]] as he could with the drug he created that he still stands out as sufficiently heinous). A diabolical mastermind with no redeeming traits can do everything in their power to make things worse, but if they fail to competently commit actions more deplorable than an everyday typical burglar, they cannot be counted as this trope. ([[VisualNovel/AceAttorneyInvestigations Blaise Debeste]] goes out of his way to hurt several other characters, including other Complete Monsters, in the worst ways possible, but the extent of his actions is easily replicated by characters with less to work with than him, so he flunks the heinous standard.) However, there is still a baseline heinous standard for each work that needs to be passed, so if a villain fails to reach that, regardless of resources, then they will still fail the heinous standard ([[Manga/DragonBallZ Van Zant]] is a frequently cited example of a villain who goes out of their way to be as bad as possible, going on a killing spree during the middle of an apocalypse where he takes advantage of the end of the world to justify his sadistic tendences. However due to the astronomically high heinous standard, destroying a planet is the bare minimum of being considered. Of note is that [[Characters/DragonBallVegeta Vegeta]] contributed heavily to the heinous standard, having destroyed several planets over his life yet was still able to be redeemed. Hence, Van Zant still fails to stand out despite how depraved he is)

* '''Irredeemable''': A Complete Monster must be BeyondRedemption and has long since crossed the MoralEventHorizon. The heroes may have tried reasoning with them, only to have utterly failed, or it's been shown that trying to convince them to pull a HeelFaceTurn is a lost cause. The CM is just so god awful that they simply will not stop their reign of terror until they are killed or locked-up (Gowasu tried to reason with [[Anime/DragonBallSuper Goku Black/Zamasu]] and make him see his wrongs, but by this point Zamasu was beyond reasoning and kills his former master for daring to show himself before him). If a CM does end up pulling a HeelFaceTurn, then they instantly lose their CM status ([[Series/LegendsOfTomorrow Vandal Savage]] was one of the most heinous villains in his [[Series/{{Arrowverse}} verse]], but his time spent in hell mellowed him out, and he ends up becoming friends with Ray after regretting his past actions). This doesn't however rule out a CM forming an EnemyMine with the heroes if it is solely for selfish reasons and if it is made clear they have ''not'' turned over a new leaf ([[Series/DoctorWho The "Harold Saxxon" Master"]] did end up assisting the Tenth Doctor in defeating Rassilon, but it was solely out of revenge for what was done to him. Later appearances show he is very much still evil).

* FreudianExcuse[=/=]TragicVillain: Since these tropes are, by default, designed to make you feel sympathy for the many different kinds of antagonists out there, they're usually a one-way ticket to disqualification. This is especially the case for the latter trope, since the character is doing misdeeds because they were forced to instead of moral choice. There ''are'' exceptions - see the ''No Sympathetic Backstory'' section above for more details - but it's going to be an incredibly hard sell unless they go above and beyond the pale.

* HeelFaceTurn: For obvious reasons, this trope must be avoided at all costs when writing these kinds of characters. If a villain realizes the error of their ways and stops their evil doings, they will be immediately disqualified from this trope. However, victims of HeelFaceBrainwashing can still qualify if it is made apparent that they are not reforming of their own volition ([[VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork5TeamColonelAndTeamProtoMan Dr. Regal]], [[VideoGame/Persona5 Suguru Kamoshida]], [[VideoGame/PokemonMysteryDungeonExplorers Darkrai]]). [[FakeDefector A fake Heel-Face Turn]], on the other hand, can further cement a character as a monster depending on the severity of the betrayal. Unclear or unconformed turns can still allow the character to qualify, going sheerly off their actions within the provided story ([[Manga/{{Monster}} Johan Liebert]]).

* KarmaHoudini: While this trope has no effect on a Complete Monster counting or not, a villain this heinous getting away with their atrocities can leave a sour taste in the mouths of the audience ([[VideoGame/BreathOfFireIV Yuna]]). It's recommended to make a CM receive a defeat as satisfying as possible.

* MadeOfEvil: While this trope seems like it would fit right at home with a Complete Monster, in actuality, it can be a one-way ticket to disqualification. Characters need to possess moral agency (that is, they need to be fully aware that what they are doing is evil while holding nothing back in spite of it) in order to qualify as a Monster. Typically, if a character is made in-universe specifically to be evil, they are only doing what they are capable of, and [[EvilCannotComprehendGood are unable to do anything outside of their moral programming]] ([[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer The First Evil]], [[WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack Aku]]). However, characters that use powers made of pure evil, or who willingly throw away their positive traits, are still fair game ([[VideoGame/StreetFighter M. Bison]], [[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Gharnef]]). See AlwaysChaoticEvil above for information when it comes to the villain's species or race.

* ObliviouslyEvil: Generally speaking, someone being unaware of the wronghood of their actions is more likely to make audiences sympathize with them. This is related to Agency, in that a character does not have the capacity in making morally sound decisions.

* VillainProtagonist: It is ''very hard'' to write a story that revolves around a Complete Monster without the work falling into TooBleakStoppedCaring. By definition, a Complete Monster is as unsympathetic as possible, while a protagonist is supposed to be, if nothing else, understandable and entertaining to watch; when all the audience is watching is somebody that we just want to lose already, it's hard to get invested in the work. This does not mean this is impossible to pull off with [[Sandbox/CMAndVillainProtagonistCrossovers quite a few instances]] of this being done successfully — in fact, some of the most iconic Villain Protagonists ''ever'' are Complete Monsters ([[Manga/DeathNote Light Yagami]], [[Series/HouseOfCardsUS Frank Underwood]], [[Literature/AmericanPsycho Patrick Bateman]], [[Film/{{Spree}} Kurt Kunkle]]) — but it is an incredible balancing act that is very difficult to execute properly without demotivating the audience, and most of these series have elements of their plot that mitigates this somewhat, often by having them share near-equal screen time with a more sympathetic {{Deuteragonist}}. (Light Yagami takes a decent amount of time to fully fall into CM territory and his opponent L shares nearly the same degree of screentime, and Patrick Bateman is an AllegoricalCharacter.)
* WellIntentionedExtremist[=/=]KnightTemplar: Complete Monsters do not have good intentions behind their actions. This trope can ultimately disqualify characters who go beyond the pale in heinousness if they genuinely believe they are doing the right thing, even if other characters beg to differ ([[VisualNovel/ZeroTimeDilemma Zero II]]). While NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist is a more fitting trope for these kinds of characters, it can only work if the character continues their crimes despite knowing their "good" intentions are ultimately causing more harm, or if it's so absurdly obvious that they look worse for not realizing ([[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist Shou Tucker]]) A character realizing that their intentions are not as noble as they thought (or that their actions do not justify them) [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone and feeling guilty about it]] will tell viewers that they are not as crooked as you might want to present them as, though if they decide ThenLetMeBeEvil that can qualify them even more ([[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure Dio Brando]]).

* FreudianExcuseIsNoExcuse: As the villain goes on their MotiveRant explaining their actions, suddenly the hero calls them on their BS and tells them that nothing can justify their heinous actions. If you want a character with a genuinely sad backstory (or you're doing a parody of a traditional FreudianExcuse), having other characters point out that there is no excuse for their actions is a great way to ensure that the audience doesn't accidentally end up sympathizing with the villain. Of course, you must ensure that the heroes deserve to call them out on it; if a DoubleStandard is in play, the potential CM could become UnintentionallySympathetic.
* KickTheDog: There is no better way to show how evil your CM is by making them inflict suffering whenever they get the chance, even or rather ''especially'' when it is unneeded for their main plans. Just that extra bit of twisting the knife, making a hero ForcedToWatch as a loved one or friend gets killed, or just a good old bit of EvilGloating to further rub a hero's failures in.