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Following

Standard Evil Empire Hierarchy

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Running The Empire is hard work. No Dark Lord, no matter how powerful and feared, can manage everything on his own and a military-style hierarchy is usually the best of delegating tasks to the various henchmen and minions. As a result, if the heroes wind up having to topple The Empire, they'll end up going against a Standard Evil Empire Hierarchy.

A Standard Evil Empire Hierarchy is defined by the roles they have within a larger Imperial hierarchy. Each member will be encountered individually, either with their assembled mooks or by themselves. In addition, the members rarely deal with each other unless the Emperor calls them for a joint meeting. Infighting is common as they all attempt to assert their authority and it's not unheard-of for one boss to aid the heroes, only to turn on them afterward.

One of the hallmarks of the hierarchy is that there is often no clear-cut Dragon role, as all of the bosses answer directly to the Emperor himself. The hierarchy usually consists of:

  • The Emperor: The Big Bad himself. Although he might not be an actual Emperor, he is the undisputed ruler of The Empire and the heroes won't reach him until very late in the game, if not the very end. His Imperial Majesty will very rarely do much himself, putting things in the hands of his generals and various subordinates. Is very likely to be The Chessmaster and Evil Overlord, naturally.
  • The Right Hand: Commonly the Emperor's bodyguard, the Right Hand will often exist outside of the official military and police structure. While his position makes him most likely to be a clear-cut Dragon, it's also possible for him to be dumb muscle that's sent to calm down a particularly troublesome situation. A common device is for him to face the heroes mid-way through, sometimes winning, and then pop up again right before the Emperor. If he is The Dragon, having his own agenda or plans to take over will be much more likely due to his more independent nature. When The Emperor is literally an emperor, this trope's position can be filled by the Battle Butler, or his Empress.
  • The General: Leader of the Empire's military. Most likely to be portrayed sympathetically, The General could very well be a Worthy Opponent, though a General Ripper is also common if the setting runs on Black-and-White Morality. A Mook Lieutenant is rare, as The General is usually portrayed as being competent, morality aside. Common for him to be The Dragon, The Brute and The Strategist rolled into one, though never an Evil Genius since his smarts come from his strategical and tactical abilities. In settings with more than one military branch (army, navy, air force) there can be more than one General.
  • The Guard: In contrast to The General, who is in command of the field armies, The Guard is in command of a high-profile prison, fortress or other stationary strong-point. They will likely contrast with The General and be portrayed far less sympathetically, sitting back in their comfy, well-protected stronghold. Expect him to be any combination of Ax-Crazy, a Dirty Coward or simply incompetent. They will usually be encountered and defeated early on, to make it clear that The Empire is evil before the heroes encounter a more sympathetic member of the hierarchy. Often serves as a Threshold Guardian, both literally (in the "gatekeeper" sense) and metaphorically.
  • The Security Officer: Is in charge of the State Sec and its Doom Troops, stamping out internal dissent and rebellion in the Empire. Often he is also in charge of spies and commandos, one of whom is likely to be the next character on this list. Often he is also The Guard or The Oddball.
  • The Evil Counterpart: Whether he's a Rival Turned Evil, Sixth Ranger Traitor, Turncoat or simply someone who happens to have similar powers and abilities, he's someone with similar powers and abilities as the heroes, often times creating a Mirror Match. Could fall under any of the other slots depending on the setting, but most commonly The Right Hand or The Oddball.
  • The Oddball: If The Right Hand or The Evil Counterpart don't fall under this, expect The Oddball to be a Dark Chick or Evil Genius, wielding powers far different from the others, either dark magic or science. They will have their own agenda and they will be unpredictable, even for their own allies. Alternatively, they could be a mercenary or other form of lowlife hired to track down the heroes, in which case they'll employ the standard weaponry but use unconventional tactics. Either way, the emphasis is that they're connected to The Empire but different.
  • The Man Behind the Man: If The Emperor really isn't the Big Bad, expect this one to be. Often times The Man Behind the Man will be allied with The Emperor, promising dark powers and victory if The Empire aids him in his quest to recover an Artifact of Doom or unlock some Sealed Evil in a Can. The Man Behind the Man is far more common if The Empire is shown to be in command of forces that would be outside what's considered mundane by the standards of the setting.

Compare and contrast with the Standard Evil Organization Squad and Power Stable.

Examples

    open/close all folders 

    Anime & Manga 
  • Akame ga Kill!
    • The Emperor: Emperor Makoto
    • The Right Hand / The Man Behind the Man: Prime Minister Honest
    • The General: General Esdeath
    • The Guard: Captain Ogre
    • Security Officer: Commander-in-chief Budou
    • The Oddball: The Jaegers

  • Marley in Attack on Titan
    • The Emperor: Willy Tybur, Lord of the Tybur Family and de facto ruler of Marley.
    • The Right Hand: Lara Tybur, Willy's sister and the holder of the War Hammer Titan.
    • The General: General Calvi, commander-in-chief of both the Marleyan army and navy.
    • The Guard: Sergeant Major Gross, a Public Security Bureau officer in charge of the Liberio Ghetto.
    • The Oddball: Zeke, who heads the "Warrior Unit" of Eldian Titan-Shifters sent to besiege Paradis.

  • Bleach: The Vandenreich
    • The Emperor: Emperor Yhwach, The leader of the Vandenreich and progenator of all Quincies.
    • The Right Hand: Lille Barro, leader of the Schutzstaffel, Yhwach's Elite Guard.
    • The General: Jugram Haschwalth, Grand Master of the Sternritter, Yhwach's main army, and second in command.
    • The Guard/Security Officer: Quilge Opie, Executive Hunting Captain of the Jugdarmee Division, who hunts down and locks up Hollows, and entrusted to stall Ichigo.

  • Britannia of Code Geass
    • The Emperor: Charles zi Britannia
    • The Right Hand: Marianne vi Britannia, later Bismarck Waldstein
    • The General: Schneizel el Britannia (Evil Counterpart to Lelouch)
    • The Guard: Clovis la Britannia
    • The Security Officer: Cornelia li Britannia
    • The Oddball: Suzaku Kururugi
    • The Man Behind the Man: V.V.

  • Cyborg 009: Black Ghost in the 2001 anime.

  • The D-Reaper from Digimon Tamers

  • Dragon Ball:

  • Izetta: The Last Witch: The Germanian Empire.
    • The Emperor: Kaiser Otto.
    • The Right Hand: Elliot, Otto's Honest Advisor.
    • The General / The Guard: Lieutenant General Grosskopf.
    • Security Officer: Special Unit commander Arnold Berkman.
    • The Oddball: Elisabeth, who heads the army's Design Division.
    • Evil Counterpart: Sophie, a witch whose purpose is to combat Izetta.

  • Legend of the Galactic Heroes actually subverts some of the roles, as The Empire is not all that evil

  • Mobile Suit Gundam: The Principality of Zeon
    • The Emperor: Degwin Zabi, Sovereign of Zeon, though he leaves the running of the war effort to his eldest son, Gihren
    • The Right-Hand/The General: Gihren Zabi, Commander-In-Chief of the military and de facto ruler of Zeon
    • The Guard: Dozle Zabi, commander of Solomon Base
    • Security Officer: Kycilia Zabi, one of Zeon's best admirals who oversees a number of internal affairs and R&D projects.
    • The Oddball: M'Quve, Kycilia's right-hand, and more notably Char Aznable, Zeon's mysterious ace pilot.

  • Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: The Titans, despite being State Sec for the Earth Federation, fit this pretty well
    • The Emperor: Jamitov Hymem, supreme commander of the Titans.
    • The Right Hand: Jerid Messa, Jamitov's bodyguard and enforcer, as well as his Bastard Understudy.
    • The General: Bask Om, field leader of the Titans and Number Two to Jamitov.
    • The Guard: Jamaican Deringhan, Titans fleet commander and captain of the Alexandria. Later succeeded by Gady Kinsey.
    • Security Officer: Ben Wooder, at least for the Titans forces on Earth.
    • The Oddball: Four Murasame, a Cyber-Newtype groomed to be a Super Soldier for the Titans and to pilot the Psyco Gundam. This role could also be filled by the other Cyber-Newtypes like Rosamia and Gates.
    • The Man Behind the Man: Paptimus Scirocco, who later supplants Jamitov as commander of the Titans.

  • Mobile Suit Victory Gundam: The Zanscare Empire.
    • The Emperor: Prime Minister Fonse Kagatie. Queen Maria Pia Armonia nominally holds this role, but she is little more than just a Puppet Queen for Fonse, who has an iron grip around the Zanscare political system.
    • The Right Hand: Chronicle Asher, Ace Pilot and brother to the Queen.
    • The General: Tassilo Vago, the Zanscare fleet commander in charge of overseeing the construction of the Keilas Guille superweapon, and later the Angel Halo.
    • The Guard: Fuala Griffon, commander of Largaine Base on Earth.
    • The Oddball: Motorad squadron commander Duker Iq as well as Katejina Loos after she defects. Really, a lot of Zanscare officers are wacky enough to fall under this.

  • Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Romefeller Foundation
    • The Emperor: Duke Dermail
    • The Right Hand: Dorothy Catalonia, Dermail's granddaughter and attendant.
    • The General: Treize Khushrenada, commander of OZ, Romefeller's military wing
    • The Guard: Chief Engineer Tsubarov, commander of Lunar Base
    • The Oddball: Zechs Merquise, "Lightning Baron" and Ace Pilot of Romefeller

  • Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
    • ZAFT
      • The Emperor: Chairman Patrick Zala
      • The Right Hand: Ezalia Joule, Zala's chief ally and strongest supporter among the PLANT Supreme Council
      • The General: Rau Le Creuset, leader of the Le Creuset Team and one of the lead commanders of ZAFT. Also the Evil Counterpart to both Kira Yamato and Mu La Flaga.
      • The Guard: Andrew Waltfield, commander of the ZAFT forces in the Libya Desert.
      • The Oddball: Athrun Zala, Ace Pilot and The Rival. Another Evil Counterpart to Kira.
    • Earth Alliance
      • The Emperor: Muruta Azrael, head of Blue Cosmos and wirepuller behind the Earth Alliance
      • The Right Hand/The Guard: General Staff Officer William Sutherland, Muruta's key ally among the Earth Alliance military and the one in charge of the Cyclops System.
      • The General: Natarle Badgiruel, stern officer and The Captain of the Dominion
      • The Oddball: Clotho Bauer, Orga Sabnak, and Shani Andras, a trio of Biological CPUs fed drugs to enhance their performance on the level of Coordinators
      • The Man Behind the Man: Rau Le Creuset, to both ZAFT and the Earth Alliance, whom he manipulated into furthering humanity's destruction.

  • Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
    • ZAFT
      • The Emperor: Chairman Gilbert Durandal
      • The Right Hand: Rey Za Burrel, Durandal's loyal enforcer
      • The General: Talia Gladys, The Captain of the Minerva
      • The Oddball: Shinn Asuka. Also Meer Campbell, a Lacus Clyne impersonator used by Durandal to gain support for his actions.
    • Earth Alliance under Blue Cosmos / LOGOS
      • The Emperor: Lord Djibril
      • The Right Hand: Joseph Copeland, President of the Atlantic Federation and political pawn of Djibril's
      • The General: Neo Roanoke, commander of Phantom Pain, LOGOS's private military force
      • The Oddball: Stella Loussier, Sting Oakley and Auel Neider, Phantom Pain's Extended pilot trio.
      • The Man Behind the Man: Strongly implied to be Durandal, who used LOGOS' atrocities as justification to further his own plan.

  • Mobile Suit Gundam 00: The A-Laws in the second season
    • The Emperor: Homer Katagiri, commander-in-chief of the A-Laws
    • The Right Hand: Graham Aker/Mr. Bushido, the A-Laws' most skilled Ace Pilot
    • The General: Arthur Goodman, Katagiri's Number Two and field commander of the A-Laws
    • The Guard: Aber Lindt, commander of the Orbital Elevator defense force
    • The Oddball: Louise Halevy, the A-Laws' financier.
    • The Man Behind the Man: Ribbons Almark and the Innovators, the string pullers behind the A-Laws.

  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans: Gjallarhorn
    • The Emperor: The Seven Stars, the aristocratic ruling council of Gjallarhorn
    • The Right Hand: Carta Issue, commander of the (mostly ceremonial) Outer Earth Orbit Joint Regulatory Fleet
    • The General: Rustal Elion, supreme commander of the Arianrhod Fleet, Gjallarhorn's largest military force
    • The Guard: Coral Conrad, the head of Gjallarhorn's Mars Branch
    • Security Officer: Inspectors Gaelio Bauduin and McGillis Fareed
    • The Oddball: Ein Dalton, a low-ranked Gjallarhorn officer who joins Gaelio's team and later becomes the test subject for the Ayaku-Shiki.

  • One Piece:
    • The World Government:
      • The Emperor: The Five Elder Stars, the leaders of the World Government. Five old rulers who have mysterious reasons for wiping out those who would discover the secrets of the Void Century, which led to the foundation of the World Government.
      • The Right Hand: Commander-in-Chief Kong, a former Fleet Admiral who serves directly under the Five Elder Stars, as head of all World Government forces, including the ones shown below.
      • The General: Fleet Admiral Sengoku, and later Sakazuki. The Fleet Admiral of the Marines is the head of the World Government's naval forces. Notable forces includes the Three Admirals, one of the two Superpowers of the World Government, and Vice-Admirals, who engage in island destroying bombardments known as Buster Calls.
      • The Guard: Chief Warden Magellan, the warden of an inescapable government prison known as Impel Down. Later replaced by Hannyabal, his vice warden.
      • The Security Officers: Cipher Pol, a secret intelligence agency of the World Government, whose various branches handle different tasks, such as espionage, assassinations, and catering to the World Nobles. Notable members include Spandine and Spandam, the directors of their branches, and Rob Lucci, Spandam's strongest assassin of his branch.
      • The Oddballs: The Seven Warlords of the Sea, a group of seven government protected pirates that serves as one of the two Superpowers of the World Government to combat an enemy superpower: the Four Emperors. Also, a mysterious scientist known as Vegapunk, who has made various creations for the World Government.
      • The Evil Counterpart (or rather, Lawful Counterpart): Various Marines and the Seven Warlords; Commodore Smoker and Tashigi, and Coby and Helmeppo to Luffy and Zoro (A Fruit-user and a swordswoman, and a Haki-user and a Kukri-wielder to a Haki- and Fruit-user and a swordsman). Mihawk to Zoro.
      • The Man Behind the Man: The Celestial Dragons, also known as the World Nobles. They are descendants of 20 Kingdoms who founded the World Government, and because of this, they see themselves as gods over humanity, and have gotten away with murder, torture, and slavery, among other things. They hold complete power and influence over the Admirals and the Five Elder Stars. Imu, the one who sits on "the empty throne" —said to never be used to symbolize unity between the twenty kingdoms- and before whom even the Five Elder Stars prostrate to, being the true ruler of the world only very few people are aware of.
    • The Big Mom Pirates:
      • The Emperor: Charlotte Linlin, aka Big Mom. Captain of the Big Mom Pirates, one of the Four Emperors, and the Queen of Totto Land, and with over 80 offspring acting as crewmembers, and legions of subordinates.
      • The Right Hands: The Sweet Commanders. Top members of the crew who are most powerful and dangerous and ensure that no outsider enters Big Mom's territory. Charlotte Katakuri, Charlotte Smoothie, and Charlotte Cracker are the three Sweet Commanders. Charlotte Snack was demoted for his failure, showing that Big Mom does not trust them as much as her homies.
      • The Evil Counterpart: Charlotte Katakuri, the strongest of the Sweet Commanders, whose skillset is very similar to that of Luffy, with seemingly contrasting demeanors.
      • The Guards: Napoleon, Zeus, and Prometheus. Three sentient soul fragments of Big Mom (called homies), who inhabit a Bicorne Hat, a Cloud, and a Miniature Sun. Unlike her offspring, she trusts them completely, and they serve and guard her 24/7; acting as her personal firepower and weapons.
      • The General: Charlotte Perospero. The eldest sibling that is among the most powerful fighters, and a strategist that is privy to Big Mom's personal plans, ensuring that they are carried out. When Big Mom is overcome by her eating disorder, he organizes their battle forces in the climax, guiding Big Mom towards her enemies, and is seen giving orders to some of the Sweet Commanders.
      • The Security Officer/The Guard: "Scribe" Charlotte Mont-D'Or. A family member who uses his power over books to entrap creatures for Big Mom's collection, as well as jailing any intruders. He also acts as a strategist among the crew, and organizes counter-offensives and family meetings to discuss events.
      • The Oddballs: Pekoms, Tamago, Bobbin, Capone Bege, four non-family members who are prominent and important combatants among the crew.
      • The Man Behind the Man: Head Chef Streusen. Linlin's surrogate father, and Co-founder of the Big Mom pirates.
    • The Beast Pirates:
      • The Emperor: Kaido, Leader of the Beast Pirates, and one of the Four Emperors.
      • The Right Hand: King the Wildfire, the most trusted All-Star of the crew, who personally prevented the Big Mom Pirates from invading.
      • The General: Jack the Drought, an All-Star entrusted with strike forces against the Mink Tribe, and the heavy formations of the Marines to retrieve their ally.
      • The Guard: Queen the Plague, the All Star in charge of Headliners in the Prison mines in the Udon region, creating weapons for the crew, and breaking the spirits of prisoners.
      • The Security Officer: Shogun Kurozumi Orochi, an oppressive tyrant who rules over Wano, and is allied with Kaido.
      • The Oddball: Joker, aka: Donquixote Doflamingo, who supplied the Beast Pirates with artificial Devil Fruits.

  • The villains from the first half of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

    Comic Books 
  • Amulet: The Elves
    • The Emperor: The Elf King. As his title suggests, he's the leader of the elves.
    • The Right Hand: Gabilan, a bounty hunter employed by the king to carry out various missions for him. Also has his own agenda to take over.
    • The General: Max Griffin
    • The Guard: Luger
    • The Oddball: Logi, the Elf King's personal servant. Not really all that evil. Could also swap positions with Gabilan.
    • The Man Behind the Man: The Voice, who is influencing both the Elf King and Max Griffin to achieve its own mysterious goals.

  • New Gods : Apokolips
    • The Emperor: Darkseid
    • The Right Hand: Desaad
    • The General: Steppenwolf
    • The Guard: Granny Goodness
    • The Oddball: Kanto
    • The Evil Counterpart: Kalibak

  • Transformers: Generation 2: The Cybertronian Empire
    • The Emperor: Liege Maximo, the very first Decepticon
    • The Right Hand: Rook
    • The General: Jhiaxus
    • The Guard: Mindset
    • The Oddball: Starscream

  • V for Vendetta: The Norsefire Government

    Fanfiction 

    Films — Animated 

  • Robin Hood (1973)
    • The Emperor: Prince John
    • The Right Hand: Sir Hiss
    • The General: Captain Crocodile
    • The Security Officer: Sheriff of Nottingham
    • The Guard: Nutsy and Trigger

  • Toy Story 3: Sunnyside Daycare
    • The Emperor: Lotso
    • The Right Hand: Big Baby
    • The General: Ken
    • The Guard: The Monkey
    • The Oddball: Buzz Lightyear

    Films — Live-Action 

    Literature 

  • The Silmarillion:
    • The Emperor: Morgoth, also Evil Counterpart to Manwë
    • The Right Hand: Glaurung, a literal Dragon
    • The General: Gothmog, leader of the Balrogs and High-Captain of Angband
    • The Guard: Sauron, Saruman being the same position for Sauron later is intentional.
    • The Oddball: Ungoliant, ancestor of Shelob
    • Evil Counterpart: Carcharoth to Huan (But one could argue all Tolkien villains are evil Counterparts to someone)

  • Animorphs
    • The Emperor: The Yeerk Emperor
    • The Right Hand: The Council of Thirteen.
    • The General: The Vissers in general, but especially Visser One, though Visser Three is the one who directly opposes our heroes, and later gets formally promoted to Visser One.
    • The Guard: Visser Four
    • The Evil Counterpart: David, briefly.
    • The Oddball: Taylor, in two books at least.
    • The Man Behind the Man: Crayak

  • The Belgariad: Angarak Kingdoms

  • Belisarius Series
    • The Emperor: Skandagupta
    • The Right Hand: Venandakatra the Vile
    • The Guard: Possibly Nanda Lal
    • The General: Damodara and Rana Sanga
    • The Man Behind the Man: Link
    • The Oddball: Narses

  • Dune: The Galactic Padishah Empire

  • The Elenium
    • The Emperor: Azash
    • The Right Hand: Emperor Otha
    • The Guard: Primate Annias
    • The General / The Evil Counterpart: Martel
    • The Odball: Princess Arissa and Prince Lycheas

  • Harry Potter
    • Voldemort's Inner Circle of Death Eaters
      • The Emperor: Lord Voldemort. The Dark Wizard who wants to take over Britain, gain more power and immortality, and kill Harry Potter once and for all.
      • The Right Hand: Bellatrix Lestrange. Chief enforcer of the Death Eaters, whom Voldemort does value over the others for her devotion, cruelty, and power, even entrusting her with his Horcrux. Before Bellatrix's release, there was Voldemort's most competent and faithful Death Eater, Barty Crouch Jr., who was instrumental in the success of Voldemort's rebirth.
      • The General: Severus Snape. Voldemort's official second in command, even over his favorite Bellatrix. Snape is entrusted to lead missions Voldemort wouldn't trust to anyone else, and after orchestrating Dumbledore's death, he makes Snape headmaster of Hogwarts, in order to supply a new generation of followers in Voldemort's army. Although he was on Dumbledore's side all along
      • The Guard: Lucius Malfoy. The first Death Eater that gives Harry Potter trouble throughout the stories, and was initially Voldemort's number two before a disgraceful defeat. His only role after that is to provide a hideout for Voldemort, and keep watch over prisoners.
      • The Security Officer: Corban Yaxley. A Death Eater who helped Voldemort overthrow the Ministry Of Magic, and controls a puppet Minister to impose Voldemort's new regime. Yaxley's role was using the Ministry to purge the wizarding population of muggleborns, and hunt down Voldemort's enemies.
      • The Oddball: Fenrir Greyback. A vicious werewolf who acts as a mercenary to Voldemort's Death Eaters, and leads a gang of mercs. Wormtail is a cowardly turncoat who, despite also being responsible for Voldemort's return, is given very menial tasks, and is treated like garbage by everyone.
      • The Evil Counterpart: Draco Malfoy, towards Harry Potter. A Slytherin student who was made a Death Eater, but ultimately nowhere near as evil as his older comrades.

  • John Devil (1862) by Paul Féval. Henri Belcamp intends to create an Empire

  • The Lord of the Rings:
    • The Emperor: Sauron the Great, the Lord of the Rings.
    • The Right Hand: The Mouth of Sauron
    • The General: The Witch-King, the leader of the Nazgûl and commander of Sauron's armies
    • The Guard: Saruman, who commands forces from the Tower of Orthanc in Isengard (though he thinks himself Sauron's equal and seeks to overthrow him)
    • The Oddball: Shelob
    • The Man Behind the Man: Implied to be Morgoth, whose will Sauron is still serving if he knows it or not.

  • Masks of Aygrima:
    • The Emperor: The Autarch
    • The Right Hand: Shrela, the Mistress of magic, the Autarch's most powerful magic using subject.
    • The Guard: The Warden of the Magic Mine.
    • The General: Stank The Guardian of Security, who is in charge of all watchers.
    • The Oddball: The Palace Healer, The Master Masker, and the Master Maskmaker.

  • New Jedi Order: The Yuuzhan Vong, circa The Unifying Force
    • The Emperor: Oniminote 
    • The Right Hand: Shimrra note 
    • The General: Nas Choka
    • The Guard: High Prefect Drathul and High Priest Jakan
    • The Oddball: Nom Anor
    • The Evil Counterpart: The Slayers collectively, to the Jedi.

  • The Radiant Dawn: The worshipers of Tyadrig:
    • The Emperor: Aaron Murphy, the warrior "king" of the undead armies.
    • The Right Hand: Stacie Murphy, wife of Aaron and the leading spellcaster.
    • The General: Olaf Falkenskold, commander of northern forces. He also leads the expedition to recover Ondesverd.
    • The Security Officer: Roger Wellington, the death knight in command of the Australian detachment. They are tasked with eradicating all the plants and and animals to ensure the holdouts starve to death.
    • The Oddball: Kgosi, the African warlord turned death knight commander.
    • The Man Behind the Man: Tyadrig, the demon lord that all the evil leaders worship.

  • Romance of the Three Kingdoms
    • The Kingdom of Wei
      • The Emperor: Cao Cao
      • The Right Hand: Sima Yi
      • The General: Zhang Liao, as well as Xiahou Dun
      • The Guard: Cao Ren
      • The Oddball: Dian Wei
    • Before the rise of Cao Cao, we have Dong Zhuo's forces
      • The Emperor: Dong Zhuo
      • The Right Hand: Li Ru, adviser to Dong Zhuo
      • The General / The Oddball: Lü Bu
      • The Guard: Hua Xiong

  • A Song of Ice and Fire
    • Joffrey's regime in A Clash of Kings:
      • The Emperor: Joffrey Baratheon
      • The Right Hand: Sandor "the Hound" Clegane
      • The General: Tyrion Lannister
      • The Guard: Gregor "the Mountain" Clegane at Harrenhall
      • The Security Officer: Varys
      • The Oddball: Vargo Hoat
      • The Man Behind the Man: Tywin Lannister

  • The Sundering
    • The Emperor: Satoris
    • General: Tanaros Caveros
    • Guard: Vorax
    • Oddball: Ushahin

  • Timeline-191: The Confederate States of America after the Freedom Party takes control.
    • The Emperor: Jake Featherston.
    • The Right Hand: Don Partridge.
    • The General: George S. Patton.
    • The Guard: Jefferson Pinkard, who runs the Camp Dependable death camp
    • Security Officer: Ferdinand Koenig, Attorney General of the CSA and the one in charge of it's State Sec.
    • The Oddball: Clarence Potter, head of Confederate Intelligence.
  • The Wheel Oftime: The Shadow as of the Last Battle
    • The Emperor: The Dark One
    • The Right Hand: Moridin
    • The General: Demandred
    • The Guard: Mazrim Taim
    • Evil Counterpart: Slayer for Perrin. All of the above characters also pull double-duty as someone's Evil Counterpart: the Dark One for the Creator, Moridin for Rand, Demandred for Mat, and Taim for Egwene and Logain.
    • The Oddball: Shaidar Haran and Lanfear, albeit for vastly different reasons note 
    • Of course, considering how vast WOT's cast is, even for just one faction, there are lots of other minions of the Shadow who don't fit into this configuration due to either being less important or simply focusing more on undermining the Dark One's enemies than leading the Shadow's forces.

    Live Action TV 
  • Chouseishin Series:
    • Chouseishin Gransazer: Cosmic Alliance Warp Monarch.
      • The Emperor: The Will of Warp Monarch
      • The Right Hand: The High Council, who based on the references we get seem to be directly below the Will.
      • The General: Belzeus, the commander of the Earth invasion force.
      • The Guard: The Bisil aliens, who guard the building where the dimensional transfer system is.
      • The Oddball: The Akelon spy posing as Karin Saeki.
      • Evil Counterpart: The Impactors, with their leader Logia being The Rival of Sazer Tarious.
      • The Man Behind the Man: Belzeus, in the sense of manipulating the Warp Monarch into invading Earth.
    • Genseishin Justiriser: The Hades Army.
      • The Emperor: Kaiser Hades.
      • The Right Hand / Evil Counterpart: Shiro Jinno / Demon Knight.
      • The General: General Bachuss, the army's top commander.
      • The Guard: Doctor Zora, who coordinates the Army's initial invasion from Kamishiro Mountain.
      • The Oddball: The Death Commandos, Kaiser Hades's elite guard.
      • The Man Behind the Man: Majin Daruga, Kaiser Hades's older brother.
    • Chousei Kantai Sazer X: Neo Descal.
      • The Emperor: King Neo Descal.
      • The Right Hand: Barreda, Neo Descal's top aide and right-hand woman.
      • The General / The Guard: Garade, fleet commander and captain of the Galeo Rogue.
      • The Oddball: Grouza, the top scientist of the Neo Descal.
      • Evil Counterpart: Jackall, Commander Shark's arch-nemesis and rival.

  • Game of Thrones:
    • The regime at King's Landing for the first half of the series.
      • The Emperor: King Joffrey Baratheon.
      • The Right Hand: Cersei Lannister, the Queen Regent.
      • The General: Jaime Lannister.
      • The Guard: Ser Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane, head of the prison camps at Harrenhal. Roose Bolton as well after being named Warden of the North.
      • Security Officer: Varys, the Master of Whispers.
      • The Oddball: Grand Maester Pycelle, Littlefinger as Master of Coin, and Sandor "The Hound" Clegane.
      • The Man Behind the Man: Tywin Lanniser, Hand of the King and real power behind the throne.
    • The Boltons have their own hierarchy when they usurp the Starks as rulers of the North.
      • The Emperor: Roose Bolton.
      • The Right Hand: Locke, Roose's master-at-arms.
      • The General: Harald Karstark, the chief vassal pledged to House Bolton.
      • The Guard: Ramsay Bolton, as lord of the Dreadfort.
      • The Oddball: Walder Frey.
      • The Man Behind the Man: The Lannisters, as they're the ones backing the Boltons' claim to the North.
    • When Cersei becomes the queen her regime fits it perfectly:
      • The Emperor: Cersei Lannister
      • The Right Hand/Security Officer: Qyburn, Cersei's Hand of the Queen and spymaster
      • The Guard: Euron Greyjoy, Lord of the Iron Islands who brings the Iron Fleet to support Cersei and likes needling the rest.
      • The General: Jaime Lannister, replaced by Harry Strickland after Jaime's defection at the end of Season 7
      • The Oddball: Gregor Clegane, Cersei's lead bodyguard

  • Inazuman: The Despar Army.
    • The Emperor: Führer Geisel.
    • The Right Hand: Sadespar.
    • The General: Udespar, field commander of the army.
    • The Guard: Sadespar again, as mayor of Despar City.
    • The Oddball: One Shot villains Miss One and Red Queen.

  • Kamen Rider Kiva: The Fangire elites.

  • Dai-Shocker in Kamen Rider Decade
    • The Emperor: The Great Leader of Dai-Shocker aka Tsukasa Kadoya. Later Shadow Moon when he usurps control in All Riders Vs Dai-Shocker.
    • The Right Hand: Nobuhiko Tsukikage/Shadow Moon in All Riders Vs Dai-Shocker. Sayo Kadoya / High Priestess Bishium fills this role when Shadow Moon takes command of the organization.
    • The General: Ambassador Hell, who commands Dai-Shocker's army in the World of Decade.
    • The Guard: Ten Faced Demon Llumu Qhimil, who rules the A.R. World of Amazon with backing from Dai-Shocker.
    • Security Officer: Chief of Security Apollo Geist
    • The Oddball: Schwarian

  • The Overlord Inves in Kamen Rider Gaim
    • The Emperor: Rosyuo, the Man of the Beginning and ruler of the Overlord Inves
    • The Right Hand: DJ Sagara, acting as something of an adviser to Rosyuo
    • The General: Redyue, the Overlord in charge of the invasion of Earth
    • The Guard: Demushu, who leads the initial incursion on Zawame City
    • The Oddball: Mitsuzane Kureshima, by virtue of being a human allied with the Overlords.
    • The Man Behind the Man: Helheim Forest

  • The Ganma in Kamen Rider Ghost:
    • The Emperor: Adonis, the Grand Imperial Majesty. Later usurped by Adel.
    • The Right Hand: Edith, the grand magistrate.
    • The General: Alain/Kamen Rider Necrom, the one initially in charge of Ganma's incursion into Earth.
    • The Guard: Igor, who uses the Deep Connect company as a front for the Gamma's plans.
    • The Oddball: Chikara Saionji, a human allied with the Gamma.
    • Evil Counterpart: Makoto Fukami / Kamen Rider Specter.
    • The Man Behind the Man: The Gammaizers.

  • Seito in Kamen Rider Build.
    • The Emperor: Juzaburo Namba, a Corrupt Corporate Executive whose Mega-Corp has effectively supplanted Seito's government.
    • The Right Hand: Nariaki Utsumi, Namba's assistant and chief engineer.
    • The General: Kamen Rider Rogue, lead commander of Seito's military forces.
    • The Guard: Masakuni Mido, Prime Minister of Seito and Namba's puppet ruler.
    • The Oddball: Fu and Rai Washio, a pair of Laser Guided Tyke Bombs assigned to assist Rogue.
    • The Man Behind the Man: Blood Stalk, who is just manipulating everyone towards his real goal of constructing the Pandora Tower.

  • Kikaider: World Crime Organization SHADOW
    • The Emperor: Big Shadow.
    • The Right Hand: Zadam, Big Shadow's top advisor and strategist.
    • The General: Shadow Knight, the main field commander of the organization.
    • The Oddball: Waruder, a robot samurai assassin-for-hire.
    • Evil Counterpart: Hakaider, and briefly Bijinder.

  • Metal Heroes
    • Space Sheriff Shaider: The Fuuma
    • Jikuu Senshi Spielban: The Waller Empire
      • The Emperor: Queen Pandora, who communes with Waller and gives commands to the empire.
      • The Right Hand: Emperor Guillotine.
      • The General: General Deathzero, commander of the Waller Empire's Machine Army.
      • The Oddball: Doctor Bio, Rikki, and Shadow and Gasher.
      • Evil Counterpart: Hellvira
      • The Man Behind the Man: Waller, the deity the Waller Empire worship for protection. Although it's actually an illusion created by Queen Pandora.
    • Kidou Keiji Jiban: Criminal Syndicate Bioron.
      • The Emperor: Doctor Giba.
      • The Right Hand: Marsha and Karsha, Giba’s secretaries.
      • The General / Evil Counterpart: Mad Garbo, Bioron field commander and Jiban Cyborg Killer.
      • The Guard: The commanders of Bioron’s various other cells seen in #35.
      • The Oddball: Bubi and Muku, the Team Pets.

  • Seigi No Symbol Condorman:
    • The Monster Clan
      • The Emperor: King Monster.
      • The Right Hand: Mad Scienter, King Monster's Evil Genius assistant.
      • The General: Smogton, Gomigon and Hedoranger, the "Three Great Executives"
      • The Guard: Salamander, director of the Monster Clan's Far East branch. Later replaced by Oil Snake.
      • The Oddball: Zeni Crazy and Satan Gametsku.
    • Salamander's operation also has this on a smaller scale.
      • The Emperor: Salamander.
      • The Right Hand: Gemsler, his secretary.
      • The General: Zeni Crazy, who ranks directly below Salamander as direct manager of their operation.
      • The Guard: Satan Gametsku, who runs the Kimon Company as a front.
      • The Oddball: Red Bat.
      • The Man Behind the Man: King Monster.

  • Seven Star Fighting God Guyferd: Crown
    • The Emperor: Zodiac.
    • The Right Hand: Kuzan, Zodiac's top researcher.
    • The General: Metal Master, the organization's top field officer.
    • The Guard: Mister Bicross, who runs the Mutian Labs and acts as Crown's front man.
    • The Oddball: Shion, head of Crown's Fallah research.
    • Evil Counterpart: Deathferd, who serves as a counter to Guyferd.

  • Star Fleet: The Imperial Alliance
    • The Emperor: The Imperial Master
    • The Right Hand: The Imperial Council
    • The General: Commander Makara
    • The Guard: Captain Orion
    • The Oddball: Caliban
    • Evil Counterpart: Captain Carter

  • Super Sentai
    • The Black Cross Army in Himitsu Sentai Gorenger.
      • The Emperor: The Black Cross Führer.
      • The Right Hand: Commander-In-Chief Golden Mask, the most trusted of the Black Cross Army's four generals and a close adviser to the Führer.
      • The General: Iron Man Mask General Temujin, commander of the Steel Brigade.
      • The Guard: Volcano Mask General Magman, head of Mobile Fortress Navarone.
      • The Oddball: Sun Halo Mask, the officer with the most "out there" motif and the only one not officially ranked as a "general".

    • Machine Empire Black Magma in Taiyou Sentai Sun Vulcan.

    • Dark Science Empire Deathdark in Dai Sentai Goggle Five

    • The Jashinka Empire in Kagaku Sentai Dynaman
      • The Emperor: Emperor Aton
      • The Right Hand: General Kar
      • The General: Prince Megiddo, later replaced by General Zenobia.
      • The Oddball: Princess Chimera.

    • The Great Star League Gozma in Dengeki Sentai Changeman.
      • The Emperor: Star King Bazoo.
      • The Right Hand: Gyodai, a creature kept by Bazoo to enlarge his Space Beasts.
      • The General: Queen Ahames.
      • The Guard: Giluke, The Captain of the Gozmard.
      • The Oddball: Adjutant Shiima and Navigator Gator.
      • Evil Counterpart: Adjutant Booba, to ChangeDragon.

    • The Reconstructive Experiment Empire Mess in Choushinsei Flashman
      • The Emperor: Great Emperor Ra Deus
      • The Right Hand: Great Doctor Lee Keflen
      • The General: Leh Wanda, Leh Nefel and Leh Galus
      • The Oddball: Wolk and Kilt
      • Evil Counterpart: Sir Cowler and the Alien Hunters

    • The Tube Empire in Hikari Sentai Maskman
      • The Emperor: Earth Emperor Zeba
      • The Right Hand: Anagmas
      • The General: Prince Igam and Commander Baraba
      • The Oddball: Imperial Ninjas Fumin and Oyobu
      • Evil Counterpart: Thief Knight Kiros

    • The Zone Empire in Chikyuu Sentai Fiveman.

    • The Bandora Gang in Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger.

    • The Gorma Tribe in Gosei Sentai Dairanger.
      • The Emperor: Gorma Emperor XV
      • The Right Hand: The Four Deva Kings
      • The General: The Gorma Triumvirate
      • The Guard: Archbishop Saw
      • The Security Officer: General Tenpou
      • The Evil Counterpart: Akomaru
      • The Oddball: The Three Gorma Stooges
      • The Man Behind the Man: Lieutenant Colonel Shadam

    • Ninja Sentai Kakuranger: The Youkai Army Corps.

    • The Evolians in Bakuryuu Sentai Abaranger.
      • The Emperor: Dezumozorlya, the patron god of the Evolians.
      • The Right Hand: Disciple of Dawn Reje, the metatron Dezumozorlya speaks through.
      • The General(s): Creative Messenger Mikela and Visionary Messenger Voffa, who make the monsters and plan the attacks.
      • The Guard: Geildon, controller of the Anomalogaris.
      • The Oddball: Destruction Messenger Jeanne.
      • Evil Counterpart: Abare Killer

    • Juken Sentai Gekiranger: The Rinjuken Akugata
      • The Emperor: Rio, who revived the style in modern times.
      • The Right Hand: Mele, Rio's enthusiastic right-hand woman.
      • The General(s): Fist Demons Kata and Rageku, who plot the attacks in addition to mentoring Rio.
      • The Oddball: The Five Venom Fists, a team of elite Rinrinshi.
      • Evil Counterpart: Rio and Mele, as Rinjuken Warriors with similar powers to the Gekirangers.
      • The Man Behind the Man: Maku, who originally founded the school of martial arts with Kata and Rageku, and who supplants Rio after being brought back. And behind Maku, there's Long...
    • Also in Gekiranger, the Genjuken.
      • The Emperor: Rio.
      • The Right Hand: Long, Rio's main advisor in the ways of the style.
      • The General: Sanyo, the primary field commander of the Genjuken.
      • The Oddball: Mele has been bumped here.
      • Evil Counterpart: Suugu, who is capable of using similar moves to the Gekirangers and is really GekiRed's father.
      • The Man Behind the Man: Long, who secretly plans to mold Rio into a "God of Destruction" for his own plans.

    • The Gaiark in Engine Sentai Go-onger
      • The Emperor: Crime Minister Yogoshimacritein. While not the true leader of the Gaiark, he's the highest ranked and most powerful member seen in the TV series.
      • The Right Hand: Chirakasonne, Yogoshimacritein's right hand man
      • The General: Cleaning Minister Kireizky
      • The Guard: Earth Pollution Minister Yogostein, Water Pollution Minister Kegalesia and Air Pollution Minister Kitaneidas, the three Gaiark ministers heading the invasion of Earth from Hellgaille Palace.
      • The Oddball: Hiramechimedes, Yogostein's right hand who acts as The Strategist for the three ministers.
      • The Man Behind the Man: Pollution President Batcheed, the actual leader of the Gaiark, though he's absent for the TV series, only being mentioned in the final episode before appearing in The Movie.

    • The Gedoshu in Samurai Sentai Shinkenger
      • The Emperor: Dokoku Chimatsuri.
      • The Right Hand: Dayu Usukawa, Dokoku's right-hand woman and shamisen-player.
      • The General: Akumaro Sujigarano, the top field commander of the Gedoshu.
      • The Guard: Movie-exclusive villain Manpuku Aburame, head of the Kusare Gedoshu.
      • The Oddball: Shitari of the Bones, the Gedoshu strategist and experimenter.

    • The Zangyack Space Empire invasion force in Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger.
      • The Emperor: Warz Gill at first; he's eventually replaced by his dad, the actual Emperor.
      • The Right Hand: Barizorg, Warz's bodyguard who has no agenda of his own due to being a good guy reforged into a cyborg minion.
      • The General: Damaras, the chief of staff and Warz's second-in-command / babysitter.
      • The Guard: Ashurada, warden of Makuu Prison.
      • The Oddball: Insarn
      • The Evil Counterpart: Basco, the Red Ranger's former comrade turned enemy, who is only nominally allied with Zangyack and mostly harasses the Gokaiger for his own ends.

    • Space Shogunate Jark Matter in Uchu Sentai Kyuranger
      • The Emperor: Don Armage, the ruler of the entire Shogunate.
      • The Right Hand: Scorpio, Jark Matter's top assassin who answers personally to Armage.
      • The General: The Vice-Shoguns, who rank directly below Armage as commanders of the Jark Matter's military forces.
      • The Guard: The Karos, who serve as governors for each of the constellation systems under Jark Matter's control. Eridoron, the Karo in charge of the Sagittarius System, fills this story wise.
      • The Oddball: Ikagen and Madako, two assassins in the employ of Jark Matter

    • The Tozitend Dynasty from Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger:
      • The Emperor: Great King Boccowaus, the leader of the Tozitend who rules Kikaitopia with an iron fist.
      • The Right Hand: Gege, Boccowaus’ pet who holds a good amount of influence in the Tozitend.
      • The General: Mobile Commander Barashitara, as he is the one holding down most of the fight against the Zenkaigers.
      • The Guards: The Walds, though instead of guarding the Tozitend’s captured worlds they literally become them.
      • The Oddball: Mechanical Officer Ijirude, the Evil Genius of the Tozitend.
      • The Evil Counterparts: Stacy and Hakaizer, who serve as the Tozitend’s enforcers.
      • The Man Behind the Man: The Creator of Worlds

    Newspaper Comics 

    Tabletop Games 

    Video Games 
  • Advance Wars: Days of Ruin: The New Rubinelle Army (and their allies):
    • The Emperor: Admiral Greyfield
    • The Right Hand: Waylon
    • The General: Captain Brenner technically fills this role for the missions where the 12th Battalion is under New Rubinelle. Otherwise it's vacant.
    • The Guard: Davis
    • The Oddball: Tabitha and Penny
    • The Man Behind the Man: Caulder

  • Baten Kaitos: The Alfard Empire.
    • The Emperor: Geldoblame
    • The Right Hand: Giacomo, the empire's top official.
    • The General: Fadroh, supreme leader of the Alfard Army.
    • The Oddball: Georg, the imperial top scientist who eventually defected by faking his death in a Freak Lab Accident after being forced to conduct experiments on living beings.
    • The Man Behind the Man: Melodia, corrupted avatar of Malpercio

  • BioShock: The Government of Rapture.
    • The Emperor: Andrew Ryan
    • The Right Hand: Bill McDonagh
    • The General: Sulivan (technically, Rapture doesn't have an army, but Sullivan heads its security police)
    • The Guard: Augustus Sinclair (Owner and manager of Persephone Detention Facility)
    • The Oddball: Sander Cohen
    • The Man Behind the Man: Frank Fontaine, AKA Atlas

  • The Rapture Family, in BioShock 2
    • The Emperor: Sofia Lamb
    • The Right Hand: Eleanor Lamb (or at least, a Right Hand in training)
    • The General: Father Simon Wales
    • The Guard: Grace Holloway
    • The Evil Counterpart: Augustus Sinclair — after his unwilling conversion into an Alpha Series Big Daddy
    • The Oddball: Dr Gilbert Alexander

  • The Founders in BioShock Infinite
    • The Emperor: Zachary Hale Comstock
    • The Right Hand: Elizabeth Comstock
    • The General: Cornelius Slate
    • The Guard: The Songbird
    • The Evil Counterpart: Zachary Hale Comstock
    • The Oddball: Jeremiah Fink
    • The Man Behind the Man: Robert and Rosalind Lutece

  • Loghain's regime from Dragon Age: Origins
    • The Emperor: Loghain Mac Tir
    • The Right Hand: He's too paranoid to have one.
    • The General: Ser Cauthrien
    • The Guard: Arl Rendon Howe
    • The Oddball: Uldred

  • The Elder One's Venatori from Dragon Age: Inquisition

  • The Almenga Empire from Exit Fate
    • The Emperor: Siegfried
    • The Right Hand: Brunhild
    • The General: Gudrun
    • The Guard: Ash
    • The Evil Counterpart: Leonius
    • The Oddball: Trevor and Sick

  • Caesar's Legion from Fallout: New Vegas
    • The Emperor: Caesar
    • The Right Hand: Lucius
    • The General: Legate Lanius
    • The Guard: Aurelius of Phoenix, Dead Sea
    • The Oddball and The Security Officer: Vulpes Inculta

  • Final Fantasy IV
    • The Emperor: Golbez, although in public he plays the General and has Cagnazzo of the Archfiends pose as the King.
    • The Right Hand: The Elemental Archfiends
    • The General: Kain Highwind, commander of the Dragoons
    • The Guard: Dr. Lugae, who oversees the Tower of Babil for Golbez
    • The Oddball: Baigan
    • The Man Behind the Man: Zemus

  • The Empire from Final Fantasy VI

  • Shinra Electric Power Company in Final Fantasy VII
    • The Emperor: President Shinra, later succeeded by his son Rufus.
    • The Right Hand: Scarlet
    • The General: Heidegger.
    • Security Officer: The Turks
    • The Oddball: Profesor Hojo
    • The Man Behind the Man: Jenova

  • The Kingdom of Alexandria from Final Fantasy IX

  • The Archadian Empire from Final Fantasy XII

  • The Empire of Niflheim from Final Fantasy XV

  • Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones

  • The Kingdom of Daein in Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
    • The Emperor: Ashnard
    • The Right Hand: The Black Knight
    • The General: Petrine, Bryce
    • The Guard: Bertram (fought later than most, but he doesn't have much of a role beyond guarding one castle)
    • The Oddball: Ena and Nasir, both of whom are Good All Along
    • The Evil Counterpart and The Man Behind the Man: The Black Knight

  • The Begnion Empire in Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn

  • The Kingdom of Nohr in Fire Emblem Fates, when they're antagonists.
    • The Emperor: Garon
    • The Right Hand: Xander
    • The General: Hans
    • The Guard: Zola
    • The Security Officer: Iago
    • The Oddball: Kotaro, being a traitorous Hoshidan.
    • The Man Behind the Man: Anankos, and by extension the Garon we know, as the real Garon is Dead All Along and Anankos is possessing his corpse

  • The Covenant from the Halo universe
    • The Emperor: The High Prophets (especially the High Prophet of Truth)
    • The Right Hand: The Arbiter, or whomever is filling the position at the time. Ripa 'Moramee is the Arbiter during the events of Halo Wars and Thel 'Vadamee gets bestowed the position in Halo 2
    • The General: Tartarus, chieftain of the Brutes. Supreme Commander Thel 'Vadamee as well, prior to his promotion to Arbiter.
    • The Guard: The unnamed Elite Field Marshal in Halo: Reach
    • The Evil Counterpart: Tartarus to Thel 'Vadam post-Heel–Face Turn
    • The Oddball: 343 Guilty Spark

  • The Covenant remnant from Halo 4 has a new leadership
    • The Emperor: The Ur-Didact
    • The Right Hand: Jul 'Mdama
    • The General: Gek 'Lhar
    • The Guard: Parg 'Vol
    • The Oddball: Dr Catherine Elizabeth Halsey

  • The Banished as seen in Halo Infinite.
    • The Emperor: Atriox
    • The Right Hand: Jeda 'Rdonmai, commander of the Hand of Atriox under Escharum.
    • The General: Escharum, who becomes acting leader of the Banished when Atriox goes MIA.
    • The Guard: Chak 'Lok, who runs the interrogation tower.
    • The Oddball: Adjutant Reflex, the sub-monitor for Installation 07.
    • The Man Behind the Man: Harbinger, who is allied with the Banished and using them as part of her plan to free the Endless.

  • House of the Dead 2
    • The Emperor — The Emperor
    • The Right Hand — The Magician
    • The General — The Hierophant
    • The Guard - Judgement & Strength
    • The Oddball — The Tower
    • The Man Behind the Monsters — Goldman

  • Iconoclasts: One Concern
    • The Emperor: Mother
    • The Right Hand: Mother’s Corners, her elite bodyguards.
    • The General: General Chrome, who leads the One Concern’s Army.
    • The Guard: Emmet Darland, Corrupt Corporate Executive and head of the “Suits” who administrate the different regions under One Concern’s control.
    • The Security Officer: Agent Black, the top ranked Agent charged with stamping out dissent.
    • The Oddball: Royal, who is Mother’s progeny and anointed successor, but is incidental to the One Concern hierarchy apart from that.
    • Evil Counterpart: Definitely Agent Black, who serves as Robin’s most personal foe throughout the game.
    • The Man Behind the Man: “Him” aka the Starworm, whom Mother claims to be the Medium of. Actually a subversion. The Starworm doesn’t know or care about the One Concern and Mother is acting entirely on her own.

  • Knights of the Old Republic

  • Jade Empire's Empire:
    • The Emperor: Emperor Sun Hai
    • The Right Hand: Death's Hand
    • The General: Sun Li, the Glorious Strategist, until his Heel–Face Turn before the game began.
    • The Security Officer: Grand Inquisitor Jia, head of the Lotus Assassins. Also the Guard of the Lotus Assassin Fortress.
    • The Evil Counterpart: Sun Li again, as the Spirit Monk's teacher
    • The Man Behind the Man: Death's Hand is controlling the Emperor and corrupting the Empire. Not. He's being set up to look like that to conceal the Emperor's status as the Big Bad.

  • The Legend of Dragoon has one for the first disc

  • The main villains of Legend of Legaia:

  • The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess:
    • The Emperor: Zant.
    • The Right Hand: Phantom Zant.
    • The General: King Bulblin, who leads the Bulblin army in carrying out Zant's will.
    • The Guard: Stallord.
    • The Oddball: Argorok.
    • The Man Behind the Man: Who else but Ganondorf?

  • Cerberus from Mass Effect

  • Desperado Enforcement LLC from Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

  • Metal Slug: The Rebel Army gets one in Metal Slug Attack.
    • The Emperor: General Donald Morden, supreme commander of the Army.
    • The Right Hand: Sergeant Allen O'Neil, Morden's most trusted soldier.
    • The General: Abigail, a high-ranking officer who gives orders to most of the other officials in the army.
    • The Guard: Izabella, warden of the Rebel Army's prison system.
    • The Oddball: Beatriz, Abigail's younger sister and the "idol" of the army.

  • The original Outworld Army from Mortal Kombat
    • The Emperor: Shao Kahn, an otherworldly ruler who wants Earth.
    • The Right Hand: Shang Tsung, Kahn's chief sorcerer who unfairly runs the MK tournament.
    • The General: Goro governs and leads Kahn's strongest army, the Shokan.
    • The Guard: Sheeva, a female Shokan, is Kahn's head jailer.
    • The Security Officer: Baraka leads Shao Kahn's shock troops, the Tarkata.
    • The Evil Counterpart: Kano, Kahn's weapons dealer. He's human, like the heroes, and favors tech over magic.
    • The Oddball: Mileena is Kahn's assassin, a Literal Maneater with issues.

  • The Cipher Syndicate from Pokémon Colosseum

  • The Cipher Syndicate from Pokémon XD
    • The Emperor: Master Greevil, the true leader of Cipher.
    • The Right Hands: Ardos and Eldes, the two bodyguards for Master Greevil.
    • The General: Evice, as it turns out, functioned as this, leading Cipher's Orre branch in the previous game.
    • The Guards: Lovrina and Gorigan, two Cipher admins in charge of Cipher's Shadow Pokemon facilities.
    • The Security Officer: Snattle, an admin who led an attack on Pyrite town's ONBS news station and Phenac city.
    • The Oddball: XD001, the Shadow Lugia that acts as the flagship Shadow Pokemon of Cipher.

  • Los Illuminados from Resident Evil 4
    • The Emperor: Osmund Saddler
    • The Right Hand/The Evil Counterpart/The Oddball: Jack Krauser
    • The Guard: Ramon Salazar
    • The General: Bitores Mendez

  • Shining Force

  • Star Wars: The Old Republic:
    • The Sith Empire from the original game.
      • The Emperor: The Dark Council. While the Sith Emperor is the true ruler of the Empire, the Dark Council serves as its legislative branch, and holds the day-to-day task of governing the Empire.
      • The Right Hand: The Emperor's Wrath, who serves as the Sith Emperor's personal top enforcer.
      • The General: Darth Malgus, the spearhead of the Imperial military for much of the game, as well as General Arkos Rakton, one of the Empire's greatest strategists and military commanders.
      • The Guard: Darth Angral, who is in charge of the Desolator superweapon and the main foe of the first chapter of the Jedi Knight storyline.
      • Security Officer: Darth Jadus, head of the Sphere of Imperial Intelligence.
      • The Oddball: Mandalore the Vindicated, the original Havoc Squad that defected to the Empire, and the Dread Masters.
      • Evil Counterpart: The Dark Council to the Jedi Council, Darth Malgus to Satele Shan, The Sith Warrior to the Jedi Knight, the Imperial Agent to the Republic Trooper, and the Bounty Hunter to the Smuggler.
      • The Man Behind the Man: The Sith Emperor, the true leader of the Empire and the one who a majority of the game's plot can be traced back to.

    • The Eternal Empire from the Knights Of The Fallen Empire/Eternal Throne expansions.
      • The Emperor: Valkorion aka Vitiate/The Sith Emperor. He is later usurped by his son Arcann who is in turn later usurped by his sister Vaylin.
      • The Right Hand: Arcann. At least until he usurps his father. After Vaylin takes over, SCORPIO serves this role.
      • The General: Vaylin, leader of the Knights of Zakuul who later takes over as The Empress.
      • Evil Counterpart: The Knights of Zakuul, who are the Eternal Empire's equivalent to the Jedi Knights and Sith Lords.

  • House Godwin from Suikoden V:
    • The Emperor: Gizel Godwin (Lymsleia is a puppet queen who actually supports the rebels)
    • The Right Hand: Dolph
    • The General: Bahram Luger, Dilber Novum
    • The Guard: Zahhak, Alenia, Childerich
    • The Oddball: Miakis, Galleon later Sialeeds.
    • The Man Behind the Man: Marscal Godwin, though he doesn't mind letting his son Gizel run the show.
    • The Evil Counterpart: Almost everyone: Gizel is the Prince's, Dolph is Lyon's, Bahram Luger is Raja's, Dilber Novum is Boz Wilde's, Zahhak is Kyle's, Alenia is Miakis'.

  • The Subspace Army from the The Subspace Emissary story mode in Super Smash Bros. Brawl
    • The Emperor: Master Hand
    • The Right Hand: Ganondorf and Bowser
    • The General: The Ancient Minister
    • The Guard: Mr. Game and Watch
    • The Oddball: Wario
    • The Man Behind the Man: Tabuu

  • Super Mario Bros.:
    • The Koopa Kingdom in New Super Mario Bros. Wii and New Super Mario Bros. U.
    • Super Mario RPG: The Smithy Gang.
      • The Emperor: Mr. Smithy
      • The Right Hand: Exor, the giant sword which acts as Smithy's gateway between worlds.
      • The General: The Factory Chief, who is in charge of making minions for Smithy.
      • The Guard: Mack, Bowyer and Yaridovich, who each guard different checkpoints for the Gang.
      • The Oddball: The Axem Rangers.
    • Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door: The Secret Society of X-Nauts.
      • The Emperor: Sir Grodus, leader of the Society.
      • The Right Hand: Beldam, leader of the Shadow Sirens and Grodus's advisor on specific aspects of his plan.
      • The General: Lord Crump, field commander of the X-Nauts.
      • The Guard: TEC-XX, the supercomputer which runs the X-Naut Fortress.
      • The Oddball: Marilyn and Vivian, the other two Shadow Sirens under Beldam.
      • Evil Counterpart: Doopliss fills this role once he joins the Shadow Sirens, given his shape-shifting powers.
      • The Man Behind the Man: The Shadow Queen, who Grodus and Beldam are working to free and who manipulated the events of the entire game.
    • Super Paper Mario: Count Bleck's forces.
      • The Emperor: Count Bleck, the ringleader of the plan to use the Chaos Heart to remake everything.
      • The Right Hand: Nastasia, Count Bleck's assistant.
      • The General: O'Chunks, who in the series lore originally was a general before falling in with Count Bleck.
      • The Guard: Mimi, who takes over Merlee's mansion and tries to keep the protagonists trapped there.
      • The Oddball: Dimentio, the strangest and most mysterious of Count Bleck's minions.
      • Evil Counterpart: Mr. L, who is definitely not a brainwashed Luigi.
      • The Man Behind the Man: Dimentio, who is manipulating Bleck so he can take the Chaos Heart for himself.

  • In Tyranny, there's Kyros' empire, and possibly the player's own realm.
    • The Emperor: Kyros. Utterly Shrouded in Myth, they are never seen, and even their gender is unknown, but Sirin can confirm they exist, and the game's events clearly prove they are possessed of incredible magical power. The Fatebinder, naturally, holds the same role if they rebel against Kyros.
    • The Right Hand: The Fatebinder is both Tunon's chief agent and the Mouth of Sauron who is sent to enact Kyros' Edicts. Eb can also take on this role if she's loyal.
    • The General: Two of them, ever-bickering and barely able to stand one another. General Graven Ashe, Archon of War, is leader of the most Elite Mooks of Kyros' army. The Voices of Nerat, Archon of Secrets, leads the raving hordes of the Scarlet Chorus. One of them may potentially serve as this to the Fatebinder as well. And if Verse is loyal enough, she'll form her own army/mercenary band and frequently serve the Fatebinder's conquests.
    • Security Officer: Two of them.
      • Tunon, the Archon of Law, is the eldest of Kyros' servants and executes their law ruthlessly and impartially, holding responsibility for the administration of the official legal system in conquered territories. They may also become this to the Fatebinder instead, if convinced that the Fatebinder understands Law better than Kyros.
      • Bleden Mark personally dispatches potential threats to Kyros' realm before they can become a threat. Usually before they're ever heard of. He may be convinced to serve the Fatebinder in the same capacity.
    • The Oddball: Sirin, Archon of Song, though her title is a formality and she's mostly deployed as a Person of Mass Destruction. When the Fatebinder revolts and starts their own realm, most of the rest of the party qualifies.

  • Valkyria Chronicles:
    • The Emperor: Prince Maximillian
    • The Right Hand: Selvaria Bles
    • The General: Berthold Gregor
    • The Guard: Giorgios Geld
    • The Evil Counterpart: The Enemy Aces
    • The Oddball: Radi Jaeger

  • Valkyria Chronicles III: Same as the above, plus a few new characters.
    • The Evil Counterpart: Adds Zig and Gusurg to the list.
    • The Oddball: Adds Dahau to the list.

    Web Animation 
  • The White Fang in RWBY
    • The Emperor: High Leader Sienna Khan. Later Adam Taurus after he usurps her.
    • The Right Hand: Fennec and Corsac Albain, who act as messengers and advisors for the White Fang's leadership.
    • The General: Adam Taurus, a high-ranking member of the organization who heads its sect in Vale.
    • The Guard: The unnamed White Fang Lieutenant, who appears early on and heads a White Fang compound with Roman Torchwick.
    • The Oddball: Roman Torchwick, a human criminal allied with the group.
    • The Man Behind the Man: Cinder Fall, another human allied with the group who appears to be using them for her own ends. And, by extension, Cinder's master Salem as well.

    Webcomics 

    Web Original 
  • The Antagonists in To Boldly Flee
    • The Emperor/ The Man Behind the Man: The Executor
    • The Right Hand: Darth Snob
    • The General: General Zodd and General Ferdinand von Turrell
    • The Guard: Lame R. Prick
    • The Evil Counterpart: Most of them counts: Turrell (to The Nostalgia Critic), The Executor (to Oancitizen), Darth Snob (to Luke Mochrie), Mechakara (to Linkara), Seven-of-Eleven (to Obscurus Lupa), and Ma-Ti (to Film Brain)
    • The Oddball: Mechakara

    Western Animation 
  • The Fire Nation in Avatar: The Last Airbender
    • The Emperor: Fire Lord Ozai
    • The Right Hand: Princess Azula
    • The General: Zhao
    • The Guard: Boiling Rock's warden
    • The Evil Counterpart: Prince Zuko
    • The Oddball: Mai and Ty Lee

  • The Toad Empire in Bucky O'Hare and the Toad Wars!

  • The Neosapien Commonwealth in Exosquad:
    • The Emperor: Phaeton, being an obvious Hitler expy
    • The Right Hand: Livia, Phaeton's most trusted general and advisor always at his side, almost bordering on Girl Friday and Unholy Matrimonynote 
    • The General: Shiva, the most brilliant and loyal Neosapien general, who is also the only top-rank presented as a Worthy Opponent to the Terrans
    • The Guards: Draconis and Typhonus, governor-generals of the Neosapien-occupied Venus and Mars, respectively, noted for their cruelty and repeated treachery attempts
    • The Security Officer: Livanus, the One-Episode Wonder chief of security on the Neosapien-occupied Earth who uses his telepathy to track La Résistance members
    • The Evil Counterparts: Thrax, a Neosapien Ace Pilot frequently pitted against Able Squad's own hotshot ace, Kaz Takagi; also, Amanda Connor, a Terran collaborationist in charge of Neosapien propaganda and the Rebel Leader Sean Napier's ex-wife
    • The Oddballs: Xenobius and Praetorius, the Neosapien Mad Scientists, the latter of which additionally genetically engineered the Evil Genius race of Neo Megas, who also serve as Oddballs within Phaeton's regime

  • COBRA in G.I. Joe
    • The Emperor: Cobra Commander
    • The Right Hand: Storm Shadow, a ninja who specializes in assassinations and Cobra Commander's bodyguard, and Destro, COBRA's weapons dealer who also acts as The Dragon to Cobra Commander
    • The General: Major Bludd, head of COBRA's Infantry Deployment
    • Security Officer: The Baroness, head of COBRA's intelligence and espionage
    • The Evil Counterpart: Storm Shadow to Snake Eyes.
    • The Oddball: Dr. Mindbender, COBRA's top scientist, Tomax and Xamot, head of COBRA's economic affairs and the Crimson Guard, Zartan, a shapeshifter who leads the Dreadnoks and Firefly, who is contracted by Cobra Commander to perform sabotage missions.
    • The Man Behind the Man: Golobulos and the Cobra-La, at least in the movie

  • The Irken Empire in Invader Zim
    • The Emperor: The Almighty Tallests, the rulers of the empire whose position was given to them because they were the tallest
    • The Right Hand: The Control Brains, who handle judiciary matters, as well as evaluate who gets to be Invaders. Their decisions even have to be accepted by the Tallests, making them the true rulers of the empire.
    • The General: The Tallests again, as they appear to be in charge of the empire's military and are the ones who send Invaders to conquer planets
    • The Guard: Sizz-Lorr, who runs a restaurant on the planet Foodcourtia
    • The Oddball: The titular Invader Zim

  • The Boiling Isles' leadership in The Owl House
    • The Emperor: Emperor Belos, the most powerful being on the Isles
    • The Right Hand: The Golden Guard.
    • The General: Lilith Clawthorne, until she defects.
    • The Guard: Warden Wrath, administrator of the Conformatorium.
    • The Oddball: Kikimora, the Emperor's majordomo and vizier.

  • Darth Maul's Shadow Collective, though an underworld empire, still fits.
    • The Emperor: Darth Maul. At least until his power reveals his location to Sidious... Comes back for the series finale.
    • The Right Hand: Savage Oppress.
    • The General: Pre Vizsla. Ends up trying to assert himself as the leader. A silent grunt takes his place. Gets replaced later by Gar Saxon for the finale.
    • The Guard: Almec. The leaders of various crime organizations also qualify, of which the Pykes are seen.
    • The Evil Counterpart: Mandalorian Supercommandoes in general play this part to Death Watch loyalists and the Clones.
    • The Oddball: Bo-Katan Kryze.

  • The Confederacy of Independent Systems in Star Wars: Clone Wars
    • The Emperor: Count Dooku, the leader of separatist senate.
    • The Right Hand: Asajj Ventress. Savage Oppress was intended to replace her in the role.
    • The General: General Grievous
    • The Guard: Osi Sobeck
    • The Oddball: A lot of CIS-aligned minor villains fall to this category having very different abilities, but mostly being no match for the heroes, particularily the Jedi and the clones in sheer combat prowess.
    • The Man behind the Man: Darth Sidious.
    • The Evil Counterpart: All over the place:
      • Grievous is a lightsaber wielding cyborg implied to have wanted to be a Jedi and Dooku is a former Jedi. Both act as Evil Counterparts to the various Jedi in the show, particularily Obi-Wan Kenobi.
      • Ventress begins as one to Anakin Skywalker: Ventress was a secret padawan found and trained by a traveling Jedi who got killed shortly thereafter. Ventress was turned sith assassin and apprentice for Dooku much like Anakin remains largely independent former apprentice to Obi-Wan.
      • A bit ironic to mention in the context of a hierarchy, but both Ventress and Ahsoka end up leaving their respective organizations and become independent operators.
      • Dooku performing a function similar to Palpatine in their respective senates.
      • Palpatine himself is the Big Bad Sith Master to Yoda's Big Good Jedi Grand Master

  • The Galactic Empire in Star Wars Rebels
    • The Emperor
    • The Right Hand: Darth Vader, Grand Moff Tarkin
    • The General: Grand Admiral Thrawn
    • The Guard: The Grand Inquisitor fills the tropes role as the first arc villain and Knight of Cerebus, while Governor Pryce assumes the command of Lothal from Season 3 onward. Various minor imperials in command of outposts, garrisons and important ships.
    • The Security Officer: Agent Kallus, the various Inquisitors.
    • The Oddball: Minister Maketh Tua, the only civil servant among the baddies. Gar Saxon the leader of Vichy Mandalorians. Baron Valen Rudolf and Various imperial collaborators.
    • The Evil Counterpart: Vader to Ahsoka, Gar Saxon to Sabine, Agent Kallus to Zeb, Vult Skerris to Hera, the Inquisitors to Kanan and Ezra.

  • The Diamond Authority in Steven Universe
    • The Emperess: White Diamond, the supreme authority over all of Homeworld, and a godly being who is feared by the other Diamonds.
    • The Right Hand: White Pearl, a proxy of White Diamond, who can countermand the authority of the younger Diamonds.
    • The General: Yellow Diamond, a ruthless commander of the army of Homeworld.
    • The Guard: Blue Diamond, the most diplomatic of the Diamonds, the one acting as judge of the trial, and the first Diamond to personally engage the Crystal Gems.
    • The Oddball: Pink Diamond, the youngest, and lowest ranking of the Diamonds, who is one of the biggest mysteries in the setting.
    • The Evil Counterpart: Jasper, perhaps the most powerful gem working for the Diamond Authority, who antagonizes the Crystal Gems. Archenemy of Rose Quartz.

  • Storm Hawks: Cyclonia.
    • The Emperor: Master Cyclonis.
    • The Right Hand: The Dark Ace, the right-hand and closest servant to Master Cyclonis.
    • The General: Ravess and Snipe, two high-ranking Cyclonia commanders.
    • The Guard: Mr. Moss, warden of Cyclonia's Zartacla prison.
    • The Oddball: The Raptors, whenever they're working under Cyclonis.
    • Evil Counterpart: Master Cyclonis to Piper and the Dark Ace to Aerrow.

  • The Decepticons in Transformers: Prime.
    • The Emperor: Megatron.
    • The Right Hand: Soundwave. While other 'Cons might nominally hold the role of Megatron's Number Two, Soundwave is Megatron's closest ally and most useful follower.
    • The General: Starscream, the head military officer. During the time when Starscream was AWOL, this role was held by Airachnid and then Dreadwing.
    • The Guard: Shockwave, who ran a lab on Cybertron's surface and is later put in charge of the facility for engineering the Decepticons' Predacon army.
    • The Oddball: Knock Out, the Decepticon medic. Also Predaking after he becomes sapient.

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