Pictured: An Axe to Grind, Barbarian Hero, Barbarian Longhair, Braids of Barbarism, Exposed to the Elements, Fur Bikini, Heroic Build, Loincloth, Nemean Skinning, Nubile Savage, Pelts of the Barbarian, Skeletons in the Coat Closet and You Shall Not Pass!
An index for all those who wish to crush their enemies, see them driven before them, and hear the lamentations of their women.
This is a list of tropes revolving around barbarian people in fiction, who are usually of Eurasian extraction: Germanics, Celts, Turkics, Mongols, or their Fantasy Counterpart Culture.
Compare with Fictional Culture and Nation Tropes, when applied to fictional peoples, or National Stereotypes, when used in historical fiction.
Types of barbarians:
- Barbarian Hero: A barbarian warrior as The Hero.
- Barbarian Tribe: A tribe of undisciplined and fierce warriors.
- Born in the Saddle: A culture revolving around riding animals, often but not always horses.
- The Horde: A teeming horde of savage, cruel and barbaric Mooks.
- Hordes from the East: Peoples of the Eurasian Steppes
, or their Fantasy Counterpart Culture, in fiction.
- Horny Vikings: The stereotypical Viking warrior.
- Horse Archer: An expert archer able to shoot a bow on horseback.
- Proud Warrior Race Guy: A fictional race or people whose culture is built around warfare and honor.
- Valkyries: From the Norse Mythology.
Tropes associated with barbarians:
- Amazonian Beauty: Most barbarian warrior women fit into this category.
- An Axe to Grind: Their typical weapon of choice.
- Barbarian Longhair: Long and wild hair as a barbaric trait.
- Beard of Barbarism: Badass Beards on barbarians.
- The Berserker: An Ax-Crazy warrior fueled by an Unstoppable Rage who never retreats.
- Best Her to Bed Her: Inextricably linked to barbarian warrior women thanks to Red Sonja.
- Blood Knight: A character who lives for and enjoys a lot fighting.
- Braids of Barbarism: Long hair with braided styles as a barbaric trait.
- Brawn Hilda: It's not uncommon for a barbarian woman to portrayed as big, mannish and unattractive, when she's not an Amazonian Beauty.
- Chainmail Bikini: Chainmail armour with a bit too much Fanservice.
- Exposed to the Elements: Barbarian attire oftens seems to ignore the climate they live in.
- Fur Bikini: A scanty fur outfit.
- Grim Up North: Barbarians frequently hail from cold, dark, "northern" territories.
- Horns of Barbarism: Barbarians often wear horned helmets.
- Loincloth: Basic underwear made of cloth, fur or hide.
- Nemean Skinning: Expect the open-mouthed head of a skinned animal to be part of a barbaric attire.
- Nubile Savage: Barbarian women are often primitive and drop-dead gorgeous.
- Pelts of the Barbarian: Furs and rough leathers are a frequent costume of choice for barbarians.
- Rape, Pillage, and Burn: What most Always Chaotic Evil barbaric tribes do.
- Scarily Competent Tracker: Barbarians often are.
- Skeletons in the Coat Closet: Barbarian dress often uses bones and teeth as adornment.
- Tribal Face Paint: Face paint patterns on barbaric characters, frequently on those of Pictish inspiration.
- Viking Funeral: A funeral rite where the deceased is laid on a boat with his effects, sailed on the sea and burned with a flaming arrow.
- War God: Generally barbaric peoples' Gods are as warlike as the tribes from which they are worshipped.
- Warrior Heaven: A fantasy counterpart of the Norse Valhalla.
