Army of the Dead: Difference between revisions

[[File:Army_of_the_deadArmy of the dead.jpg|link=The Lord of the Rings (Filmfilm)|rightframe|Do you have any idea how long we've been waiting to kick ass?]]

Man, I sure am glad the [['''Army of the Dead]]''' is on ''our'' side. They're tearing [[The Evil Army]] right up. I sure hope we can keep these guys around! ...What do you mean, "good for one battle only?"

The essence of this trope is: Fallen allies, usually having died either in the battle at hand or in a previous battle with the same enemy, rise temporarily from the dead ''en masse'' and contribute to the ongoing battle in some critical way. The undead in question are more likely to be spectral than physical, but both are possible. The important part is that the loyalty of the fallen is preserved. Also, the [['''Army of the Dead]]''' can help win the (usually climactic or highly significant) battle, but they can't then join the standing army. They tend only to last until the immediate threat is vanquished.

The [[Trope Namer]] and possibly also modern [[Trope Codifier]] is the Army of the Dead from ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. [[Norse Mythology|However]], it's [[Older Than They Think]].

* In [[Fate Zero (Literature)|Fate/Zero]], among the Noble Phantasms owned by Servant Rider, Alexander the Great, is {{spoiler|his Reality Marble: Ionioi Hetairoi, "Army of the King". After the boundary field is set, his ''entire army'' from life slowly appear, each and every one [[Undying Loyalty|so ferociously loyal to Alexander that death itself can not keep them from aiding their king.]] 100 of the greatest assassins in history? [[Badass Army|Meet the army that]] '''[[Badass Army|conquered the world.]]'''}}

* The film of ''[[The Lord of the Rings (Filmfilm)|The Lord of the Rings]]'', as noted above, has the [[The Cavalry|Army of the Dead]], led by Aragorn, sweep in and [[Big Damn Heroes|save the day]].

* In ''[[MST3KMystery Science Theater 3000|Deathstalker and the Warriors From Hell]]'', Deathstalker is able to beat the evil overlord Troxartes with the help of an army of undead warriors.

* ''[[The Mummy Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (Film)Trilogy|The Mummy Tomb of the Dragon Emperor]]''. The final battle is between the titular Emperor's army of terracotta soldiers, a smaller army that's brought out from the Great Wall of China, a pair of warplanes, and a group of yetis.

* In [[JRRJ. TolkienR. (Creator)|JRRR. Tolkien]]'s ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', the Dead of Dunharrow, who over three thousand years ago betrayed Isildur by running away and not coming to his aid against Sauron, are called upon by his descendant Aragorn to fulfill their oath and have peace afterwards. They are released after defeating the fleet of Umbar coming up the river Anduin. This stops Sauron getting reinforcements at the Battle of Minas Tirith, frees the now unoccupied South Gondorian soldiers, and conveniently provides transport to get them up the river to Minas Tirith to once again turn the tide of the battle.

* In the climax of ''[[Harry Potter and Thethe Goblet of Fire (novel)|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]'', the shades of the last several people [[Big Bad|Voldemort]] murdered come out of his wand and swarm him, giving [[The Protagonist|Harry]] just enough time to escape.

* In ''[[The Bible (Literature)|The Bible]]'', Ezekiel, with God's help, raised his own army of the dead.

* In ''[[Age of Mythology (Video Game)|Age of Mythology]]'', when you lose normal army units while playing as the Greeks worshiping Hades, you will receive weak "shade" units at your temple. They're weak and vulnerable, but they don't count toward your [[Arbitrary Headcount Limit]], making them great for a [[Zerg Rush]] or as last-ditch [[Cannon Fodder]].

* ''[[The Order of the Stick (Webcomic)|Order of the Stick]]'' does this during [[The Siege]] of Azure City [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0449.html here]. Due to [[Well-Intentioned Extremist|various]] [[Spanner in Thethe Works|circumstances]], it [[All Your Base Are Belong to Us|doesn't end well]].

* [[DM of the Rings]] [[Deconstruction|Deconstructs]] this trope. (It also [[Parody|parodies]] this trope, of course, just like everything else in LOTR.) Commanding elite undead warriors is almost always [[Black Magic|evil]], or at least [[Dark Is Not Evil|looks that way]], and relying on ''anyone'' bound to serve you by a curse is [[Playing Withwith Fire]]. Specifically, be careful of the [[Curse Escape Clause]].

[[Category:ArmyIndex Ofto The DeadRescue]]