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The Complete Monster can be recognized by these signs:
* '''Atrocious acts''': theThe character is truly heinous by the standards of the story, andwhich hasmakes crossedno theattempt Moralto Eventpresent Horizon,the usuallycharacter severalin timesany topositive empathizeway. ofThe howcharacter's evilterribleness theyis are.played Villainsseriously, whoeven only crossif the MEHwork onceis usuallylight doesand/or notcomedic. qualify,Other althoughcharacters rarein-story examplesmust existexpress iffear, thehate, lineand they cross was heinous enough for the standardsrevulsion of thethis storycharacter.
* '''No sympathy''': theThe character has either no [[Freudian Excuse ]] to validate their crimes, or their [[Freudian Excuse ]] is presented in-story as inadequate. Any sympathy evoked in their backstories is long gone in the present. ▼* '''Moral Agency''': the character can distinguish right from wrong but choose to do what is wrong and stay evil all the time. For this reason, forces of evil such as eldritch abominations, demons or artificial intelligences usually do not qualify unless their Moral Agency is made clear.
* '''No redeeming quality''': theyThey are completely devoid of altruistic qualities, show no regret for their crimes, are never redeemed or have any possibility of redemption. ▼* '''Seriousness''': the character's terribleness is played seriously, even if the work is light or comedic. Other characters in-story must express genuine fear, hate, and revulsion of this character.
* '''No love nor compassion for anyone''': the character can never feel love for others, only for themselves. If complete monsters claim to "feel love", that love would merely be obsession or perversion.
▲* '''No sympathy''': the character has either no Freudian Excuse to validate their crimes, or their Freudian Excuse is presented in-story as inadequate. Any sympathy evoked in their backstories is long gone in the present.
▲* '''No redeeming quality''': they are completely devoid of altruistic qualities, show no regret for their crimes, are never redeemed or have any possibility of redemption.
* '''No honor''': in other words, a complete aversion of [[Even Evil Has Standards]]. They have ''no'' standards whatsoever.
Please note that a character crossing the [[Moral Event Horizon]] does not alone make them a Complete Monster. This trope isn't just about what the character does, but about what the character is. Their monstrous characters are reflected in their heinous deeds, which is what puts them a cut above the regular villains. And whatever their position, a Complete Monster has to go the full mile and meet all criteria: they are the worst they can possibly be in their role, in the space and scale they occupy.
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