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{{trope}}
[[File:arthasx2b250_1777.jpg|link=War CraftWarcraft|frame|<small>Arthas: from a nice person to [[An Ice Person|An]] [[A Worldwide Punomenon|Ice]] [[An Ice Person|Person]].</small> ]]
 
 
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A wrestler's heel turn is often a sign that he or she is about to see his or her popularity skyrocket. Indeed, it is very common, once they have turned, to remain heels for their entire careers. Heels that become ''really'' popular may end up "naturally" becoming faces again, but it is just as likely for heels to be beloved ''because'' [[Love to Hate|they are heels]]. In fact, as paradoxical as it might seem, a heel turn can help an otherwise despised wrestler become likable: fans may well resent a [[Mary Sue]] face character, and may be better able to relate to a character who is [[This Loser Is You|profoundly flawed in one way or another]] (after all, that's what satire is all about).
 
In other genres, it means "good guy turns bad," the opposite of the [[Heel Face Turn]]. Perhaps the former hero(ine) has become a [[Rival Turned Evil]]. Perhaps he or she has lost perspective, and became a [[Well-Intentioned Extremist]] or [[Knight Templar]], or worse, [[Jumping Off the Slippery Slope|Jumped Off The Slippery Slope]] into true villainy. Perhaps something horrible has happened that [[Despair Event Horizon|shattered his or her faith in good]], and he or she has become a [[Fallen Hero]]. [[Love Makes You Evil|Maybe his or her love for someone turned into a dangerous obsession that went out of control]]. The hero may have bravely declared "[[You Shall Not Pass]]!" or his companions may have found it impossible to ensure that [[No One Gets Left Behind]], but he proved to be [[Not Quite Dead]] and, [[Being Tortured Makes You Evil|deranged by his suffering]], blames his companions for abandoning him. Perhaps he or she has [[No Good Deed Goes Unpunished|had too many of their good deeds come back to bite them]] and decided that [[Being Good Sucks|being a hero is no longer worth it]]. Maybe he or she has [[Who's Laughing Now?|had enough of being pushed around, laughed at and put through hell]], or maybe he or she has [[Beware the Nice Ones|snapped]] after one too many rounds of [[Break the Cutie]]. Perhaps his (alleged) allies have [[Divided We Fall|made his life too difficult]], or possibly even [[Et Tu, Brute?|out-and-out betrayed him]], or maybe she's just gone [[Drunk Withwith Power]]. Perhaps fighting evil too long has led to his [[He Who Fights Monsters|becoming what he once opposed]]. Maybe [[The Corrupter]] got his hooks into him and over time brought out the worst in him (usually in combination with any of the above factors).
 
This is the [[Evil Counterpart]] to the more common [[Heel Face Turn]] and is generally found in a story with [[Black and White Morality]]. The many reasons and the probability for a turn are listed in the [[Sorting Algorithm of Face Heel Turning]].
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In a world full of [[Brainwashed]] victims, they may be the one who appears to be but really is [[Not Brainwashed]].
 
See also [[Heel Face Revolving Door]], [[Neutral No Longer]], [[Deal Withwith the Devil]], [[We Used to Be Friends]] and [[Start of Darkness]].
 
Since it is too subjective to proclaim that someone has joined the "dark side" in real life, not to mention calling a person evil isn't really a good idea, '''[[No Real Life Examples, Please|No real life examples, please]].'''
 
'''SPOILERS AHOY'''
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* Char Aznable in ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam]]: [[Chars Counterattack|Char's Counterattack]]'', goes from a father figure to fucking insane.
* Yui in ''[[Fushigi Yuugi]]'', and most other instances of [[Rival Turned Evil]].
* Kaiser Ryo following a textbook [[Freak-Out]] in ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh! GX]]''. The dub even has Judai/Jaden compare this to, "when a pro-wrestler suddenly starts dressing in black and throwing chairs in the ring." Judai, like his predecessor in ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'', also temporarily turns to [[The Dark Side]] (hey, [[Super-Powered Evil Side|Superpowered Evil Sides]] take some getting used to).
** In 5D's we have the Dark Signers.
* Vegeta from ''[[Dragonball Z]]'', who was admittedly already a [[Heel Face Turn]] and technically just returning to his original alignment, went through yet another [[Heel Face Turn]] after the showdown of rivals. The whole arc also has the bonus of being a mid-life crisis as well as being a [[Not Brainwashed]] moment. Come to think of it, he is probably the one character in the entire series to do as many alignment changes as a pro wrestler.
** It could be argued that he never switched sides at all, as he's always been on the same side: his own. Trusting him is the fault of the heroes.
* {{spoiler|Heppokomaru/Gasser}} in the manga sequel of ''[[Bobobo Bobobobo Bobobo]]''. He comes around eventually, though. This fact is made more infuriating when {{spoiler|everyone discovers that the reason he betrayed Bo-bobo and his group was in order to save his sister, who joined the empire of the [[Big Bad]] on her own, and is rather unpleasent in the personality department.}}
* Happens very briefly in the manga adaptation of ''[[Slayers]]: Evolution-R'' with {{spoiler|Zelgadis}}.
* We know that Griffith from ''[[Berserk]]'' is a bad guy at the start of the anime, but most of us wouldn't know this from the idealistic mercenary leader that we meet in flashback during the second episode, who is about as close to [[The Messiah]] as one can get in a series like ''Berserk''. The anime, which follows the Golden Age manga arc of the series, is about Guts's time with Griffith's Band of the Hawks, and the events that lead up to Griffith's betrayal, his {{spoiler|ascension as the fifth member of the Godhand}}, and Guts's circumstances in the very first episode. And when Griffith finally ''does'' go bad in the final episodes, [[Beware the Nice Ones|he]] [[Deal Withwith the Devil|goes]] [[Moral Event Horizon|very]], [[Dark Messiah|very]] [[Downer Ending|bad]].
* ''[[Code Geass]]'' has enough [[Face Heel Turn]] and [[Heel Face Turn]] to drive one mad. By the end of the series everyone has switched to someplace at least once and some have done it two or three times do really screw your list over. Practically the only character never to change sides is [[Mysterious Waif|C.C.]], who was on her own side from Day 1 and just followed [[Magnificent Bastard|Lelouch]] out of obligation.
** What's really infuriating is that you can't even tell which side is good and which is bad. They're both morally ambiguous [[The Chessmaster|chessmasters]] with {{spoiler|roughly the same plan for world peace.}}
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* Wonrei joins the Faudo revival cult in ''[[Gash Bell|Konjiki no Gash Bell!!]]'' when his bookkeeper is placed under a curse that will kill her if Faudo is not revived. However, this Face Heel Turn is fairly temporary, as expected given the nature of the series.
* {{spoiler|Megumi}} in ''[[Gate Keepers]]'', after {{spoiler|her envy towards Ruriko reaches its peak.}}
* ''[[Panty and& Stocking Withwith Garterbelt (Anime)|Panty and Stocking With Garterbelt]]'': In classic [[Gainax Ending|Gainax fashion]], {{spoiler|Stocking slices Panty up into [[Number of the Beast|666]] pieces and reveals that she is a demon about a minute before the end of the last episode (whether of the whole series or just the first season is yet to be known).}}
* {{spoiler|Mikael}} from ''[[Tenshi Nini Narumon]]'' does a Face Heel Turn {{spoiler|in the last episodes of the series which ends in an epic breakdown. He gets better}}.
* Shinobu Sensui in ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]'', following an EPIC [[Freak-Out]] {{spoiler|[[Go Mad From the Revelation|when he stumbled upon]] [[Black and Gray Morality|humans torturing demons]] [[For the Evulz]]}}. Incidentally, Koenma (who sent Sensui on the mission that caused his alignment change) considers this [[My Greatest Failure|his greatest failure]].
* In ''[[Puella Magi Madoka Magica]]'', {{spoiler|every witch counts as this due to [[The Corruption|how magic works]] in the general universe}}, the most prominent in-series example being {{spoiler|Sayaka becoming Oktavia Von Seckendorff after her Soul Gem darkened completely and turned into a Grief Seed}}.
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* [[X-Men (Comic Book)|Colossus]], after his [[Dead Little Sister|sister, Ilyana, dies]].
* Name a [[Teen Titans (Comic Book)|Teen Titan]]. Chances are good he/she has tried to kill the other Titans at some point. Raven, Jericho, and Beast Boy (yes, even BB) are some of the more well known ones.
* Mandrakk, the Dark Monitor from ''[[Final Crisis]]'', was a Lovecraftian Horror ultra-vampire who wanted to feed on the life blood of existence itself until it had been bled dry. Saying he was the Ultimate Evil is not pushing the envelope. If what has been suggested - namely that he originally was the Monitor, the heroic mentor figure who laid down his life so the Universe might live in ''[[Crisis Onon Infinite Earths]]'' - is true, then this might be the ultimate FHT in comics.
* In ''[[Dark Reign (Comic Bookcomics)|Dark Reign]]'' Sentry does that, joining Norman Osborn's [[Dark Avengers]] in hope to getting cured from his [[Super-Powered Evil Side]], The Void. {{spoiler|In the end Osborn set a scheme in the motion that made Void take over completely.}}
* {{spoiler|Javi}} in ''Negation'' goes through this after {{spoiler|Charon brought him back from the dead and convinced him that his conquest of the Negation-verse and his pending invasion of the main [[Cross Gen]] universe [[Well-Intentioned Extremist|was a good and necessary thing]]. Javi, a religious man who had questioned his faith even before his abduction to the Negation-verse, came to look upon Charon as a god, one in whom he could place his whole trust in, without question}}. He becomes a [[Knight Templar]] as a result.
* In ''[[Archie Comics Sonic the Hedgehog (Comic Bookcomics)|Archie Comics Sonic the Hedgehog]]'', the most notable thus far has been Fiona, who turned against the Freedom Fighters in #172 and joined Anti-Sonic/Scourge in Moebius (formerly Anti-Mobius).
** Naturally, anybody who was [[Unwilling Roboticisation|roboticised]] also pulled this, though [[Cybernetics Eat Your Soul|typically not of their own free will]].
** Espio turned against the Freedom Fighters and Chaotix to join the Iron Dominion, but returned. It turned out [[Double Agent|to be a ruse]], but it wasn't exactly a harmless one.
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* {{spoiler|Daniel Cross}} in ''[[Assassin's Creed the Fall]]''.
* [[Irredeemable]] is based on this concept with the Plutonian, a Superman-esque character, snapping due to the pressure and becoming the ultimate villian.
* In ''[[All Fall Down (Comic Book)|All Fall Down]]'', {{spoiler|Pronto}} undergoes this in exchange for new legs as fast as his old ones.
* A very big one few years ago was [[X-Men]] longtime member Bishop - after years of looking for a mysterious traitor who was supposed to kill X-Men, he betrayed them himself, for the same reason he joined them in the first place - to stop a [[Bad Future]] from happening.
* In ''[[Sonic the Comic]]'', Nack the Weasel is introduced as a member of the heroic Chaotix - but by the end of their introductory story he's sold them out to the Brotherhood of Metallix, an army of spectacularly evil robotic copies of Sonic. Admittedly a loose example, as a) he'd clearly already turned before the story started and b) the character was always a villain in the Sonic games, so seeing him as a hero first is the unexpected bit.
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== Fan Works ==
* In the ''[[Pony POV Series (Fanfic)|Pony POV Series]]'', {{spoiler|Fluttershy suffers a severe [[Break the Cutie]] and falls victim to the same corruption as Nightmare Moon, transforming into the [[Big Bad]] of the story arc, Princess Gaia/Nightmare Whisper.}}
* The entire plot of ''[[Queen of All Oni (Fanfic)|Queen of All Oni]]'' is kicked off when Jade's [[Super-Powered Evil Side]], the Queen of the Shadowkhan, is reawakened, setting Jade up as the [[Big Bad]].
* Similarly, the plot of ''[[Inner Demons (Fanfic)|Inner Demons]]'' is driven by a prophecy that Twilight Sparkle will succumb to the [[Enemy Within|darkness in her heart]] and become the "Queen of Darkness", who will [[Take Over the World|take over all of Equestria]]. This happens within half a dozen chapters, and Queen!Twilight proceeds to take up the mantle of [[Big Bad]] for the story.
** Trixie starts out the story as [[The Atoner]], who wants to learn true magic from Twilight in order to make up for her boastful and arrogant past. When Twilight turns, she talks Trixie into helping strike at the other Elements of Harmony... then Trixie sees [[In Love Withwith Your Carnage|how powerful Twilight is]], and performs a full turn herself in order to convince Twilight to keep her.
** In a rather [[Shocking Swerve]], {{spoiler|Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo}}, who join up due to a combo of [[More Than Mind Control]] and not seeming to be fully aware of what's happening.
 
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** A lesser known occurrence is when Count Dooku left the Jedi Order and became a Sith. Also many Jedi in the Expanded Universe.
* {{spoiler|Rooster}} in ''[[Righteous Kill]]''.
* While Kevin Flynn remains a protagonist throughout the entire ''[[Tron (Film)|Tron]]'' franchise, [[AI Is a Crapshoot|his program Clu]] turns HARD in ''[[Tron Legacy (Film)|Tron: Legacy]]''. The comic book, however, makes it arguable as to whether Clu was ''ever'' a Face to begin with.
** What's more, {{spoiler|Tron himself}} has traded in his hero status for a badass make over as villainous {{spoiler|Rinzler. At least until he snaps out of the [[Brainwashed and Crazy]]}}.
* In ''[[Undercover Brother]]'' the title character turns his back on the Brotherhood after he falls in lust with Penelope Snow. Luckily Sista Girl brings him back to his senses.
** More like [[Incredibly Lame Pun|turns his black]].
* Alec Trevelyan of the [[James Bond]] film ''[[Goldeneye (Film)|Goldeneye]]'' ''seems'' to be like this during the reveal of him being Janus. But as it turns out, he's been plotting revenge against the British government for the betrayal of his family, who were Lienz Cossacks.
* Scrappy from the first live-action ''[[Scooby Doo]]'' movie. He went all evil because the gang kicked him out years ago and wanted revenge by taking over the Earth with demons.
* {{spoiler|[[Late Arrival Spoiler|Harvey "Two-Face" Dent]]}} in ''[[The Dark Knight Saga]]''.
* {{spoiler|Sentinel Prime}} in ''[[Transformers Film Series|Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon]]''.
* The trope image gets lampshaded in ''[[Muppets Fromfrom Space]]'' where Rizzo the Rat tries to plead with Hulk Hogan by saying "What will your fans think?" The response: "Hey, I'm a bad guy now."
* In ''[[X-Men (Filmfilm)|X-Men First Class]]'', Raven Darkholme (Mystique) defects from the good X-Men to the evil Brotherhood.
* In ''[[The Incredibles]]'', Buddy Pine's career as Incredi-Boy is short-lived when he is rejected by his idol, Mr. Incredible. But Mr. Incredible learns the hard way that some people can't handle rejection when he goes up against Syndrome, who is actually Buddy all grown up and out for revenge.
 
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* An even more "they shoulda seen it coming" example: Raistlin Majere in the original ''[[Dragonlance]]'' books.
* Subverted in ''Red Seas Under Red Skies'', where the first chapter has Jean betraying Locke to a pair of assassins, then it flashes back to the start of the story. When it arrives back at the betrayal scene, we find that Jean was tricking the assassins and Locke just missed the hand signal for "lying."
* A certain Imperial general in one of the later ''[[Warhammer 40000]]: [[Gaunts Ghosts|Gaunt's Ghosts]]'' is eventually corrupted by Chaos. Surprisingly, he's shown to actually be a decent man when hit by amnesia - even his jailer notes that the general becomes ever more an unlikable bastard as he regains his memory.
* Dybbuk from ''[[Children of the Lamp]]'', though it was sort-of foreshadowed in that his father just happened to be Iblis, the most evil djinn of the most evil djinn tribe, meaning he was half [[Always Chaotic Evil]]. It wouldn't be surprising if he eventually had a change of heart, though.
* [[The Bible (Literature)|Judas Iscariot]], which makes this trope [[Older Than Feudalism]].
** The [[Big Bad|big man himself]], [[Satan|Lucifer]].
* Brutus in the ''Emperor'' series. And indeed any other series ever written about Ancient Rome. Because, well, he's one of the best examples of it in real life.
* Saruman in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.
** Maeglin in ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.
* Aramis, in the D'Artagnan Romances by [[Alexandre Dumas]]. In ''[[The Three Musketeers (Literaturenovel)|The Three Musketeers]]'' he's unequivocally One Of The Good Guys, alongside Athos, Porthos and D'Artagnan -- although even then, when short of money, we see him accepting expensive gifts from his mistress(es). In ''[[TwentyThe YearsThree AfterMusketeers (Literaturenovel)|Twenty Years After]]'', all motives are less certain, Athos and Aramis find themselves (for different reasons) on the opposite side to Porthos and D'Artagnan, it is far less clear which side is In The Right, and it takes much more intricate politics to have them all on the same side again with their disparate interests in agreement: and, in the end, Aramis becomes the true, shadowy [[The Chessmaster|villain]] of ''[[The VicomteThree De BragelonneMusketeers (Literaturenovel)|The Vicomte De Bragelonne]]'', as the person who wants King Louis replaced by his [[Man in Thethe Iron Mask|secret twin brother]] Philippe, not in pursuit of justice but in pursuit of his personal ambition to be Pope (and those of the [[Corrupt Church|Jesuits]], to establish further control over Europe's rulers): and, knowing that he could not suborn Athos or D'Artagnan to this scheme, he tricks Porthos into assisting it instead. And yes, here, Aramis is a true villain even when presented in a good light, and the Musketeers' accord is blown apart: because for all King Louis's inadequacies, he is the rightful king, {{spoiler|and in the book D'Artagnan recognises this and sides with Louis, conducting the ill-fated Philippe back to jail (though he later refuses to actually open fire on the fort containing his friends, D'Artagnan holds to their compact to stand together even though Aramis has broken it: as a result of which Aramis escapes [[Load-Bearing Hero|at the cost of Porthos's life]].) It is Louis who remains on the throne and leads France to greatness}}. It's also amazing how many films of "The Man in the Iron Mask" reverse the ENTIRE point, and have Louis be unequivocally bad, and the Musketeers all on the same side and succeeding in pulling off the replacement... Though that may have been Dumas's point.
* In ''[[Avalon: Web of Magic]]'''s eleventh book, ''Dark Mage'', heroine Emily becomes the dark mage and [[Kick the Dog|kills the comic relief]] [[Weasel Mascot]].
* The main [[Love Interest]] from Ursula Vernon's ''[[Black Dogs (Literature)|Black Dogs]]'' turns out to have been modified by the [[Big Bad]] before the novel even started to appear much nicer and gentler and less evil than he would be normally. Towards the end of the novel, the [[Big Bad]] reverses these restraints and the [[Love Interest]] becomes a major villain.
* Just a couple of examples from ''[[Harry Potter]].''
** Peter Pettigrew, who everyone thought was James and Lily Potters' friend -- until he {{spoiler|betrayed them to Lord Voldemort and caused their deaths}}, which everyone initially blamed on Sirius. And {{spoiler|Snape}}'s involvement with that whole issue; he had one when he and {{spoiler|Lily}} were in school, where they had a row and parted ways, leading him {{spoiler|to the Death Eaters/Dark Side}}, although he really always {{spoiler|loved Lily}}.
** And arguably {{spoiler|Voldemort}} himself; he started off as an {{spoiler|(admittedly creepy) child in an orphanage}} and then got so screwed up throughout the years that he eventually became {{spoiler|He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named}}.
** Also, it's hard to imagine that Percy was unaware Umbridge was ordering muggleborns' souls to be removed. A sufficiently dictatorial system CAN compartmentalise to this degree, through threat of violence and/or careful selection of personnel, and the Ministry under Voldemort qualifies. When he turns up for the final battle, Percy says his decision to turn face has been building for some time, so maybe he's been hearing hints and putting two and two together.
* In ''[[CarrerasCarrera's Legions (Literature)|The Lotus Eaters]]'', Legate Pigna, over a case of wounded pride, [[Disproportionate Retribution|betrayed the Legion]].
* In ''[[The Demonata]]'' series, {{spoiler|Nadia Moore}} was one of the disciples who later joined Lord Loss, masquerading as {{spoiler|Juni Swan}}.
* {{spoiler|Nimue}} in ''[[The Warlord Chronicles]]'' is an interesting example -- her motives and methods don't change, but all of the other heroic characters learn to compromise, and she never does.
* [[Time Scout (Literature)|Time Scout]]: Skeeter Jackson goes from a [[Lovable Rogue]] to a [[Lovable Rogue]] on the right side of the law.
* David in ''[[Animorphs (Literature)|Animorphs]]''. He starts out helping the team, then goes evil and [[Sixth Ranger Traitor]].
* In ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Literaturenovel)|The Hunchback Of Notre Dame]]'', Archdeacon Claude Frollo is a compassionate man in the beginning, but after seeing [[Hot Gypsy Woman|Esmerelda]], he goes mad with [[Lust]] and slowly becomes evil, desiring to either have her for his own or kill her if she won't become his.
 
 
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** {{spoiler|...and Anna Sheridan, }}who could be assumed to be a good person prior to getting Shadowed.
* The third season of ''Degrassi'' revolves entirely around Manny and Sean turning [[Heel]], then slowly turning back to [[Face]].
* Half the cast of ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]''. Double-agency was a big part of the premise of the show, so it is to be expected.
** Perhaps most notable was {{spoiler|Lauren, Vaughn's (first) wife}}, which was probably supposed to be a big surprise, but which everyone saw coming anyway.
** There were several in-show Face-Heel Turns that the audience was in on before the characters were:
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*** Sydney's mother did this over and over and over. It's not a spoiler because it's a defining trait of her character, and in the end you're never really sure which side she was on.
*** {{spoiler|Vaughn}} appeared to do this at the end of season 4, but then it's pretty gray as to what's happening. The show has so much of this trope that the audience expected it (or at least was hardly surprised), and then the turn was subverted because he didn't really turn evil.
* On ''[[Lost (TV)|Lost]]'', Michael was of the [[Well-Intentioned Extremist]] variety, as he just wanted to save Walt, his son. He felt really bad about it, but there's varying opinion over whether or not we should feel sorry for him.
** Locke also tagged along with the Others for a while, but he didn't really switch sides (though he certainly came close to being an out and out villain during a portion of Season 4, where his leadership was borderline tyrannical.)
** {{spoiler|Jack in season 5}} to some.
*** {{spoiler|The "some" being irrational Jack-haters. He himself says detonating Jughead to stop the plane crash is the right thing to do because it will save hundreds of lives, but he does have more personal reasons for doing it. In no way are any of his actions "evil".}}
* Gul Dukat of ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' starts off as a recurring annoyance, but [[Heel Face Turn|gradually warms up to the crew]] and looks like he's on the road to [[Badass Decay]]... then he realizes [[Good Is Dumb]] and stabs everyone in the back.
** Gul Dukat was one of the more interesting 'grey' characters (along with fellow Cardassian Garak). Most of Dukat's crimes were committed way before the series started, so the fans would not automatically hate him along with Kira Nerys. It was more of case the DS9ers were warming up to ''him'', especially when he embarked on his {{spoiler|one-bird-of-prey crusade against the Klingons}}. But as soon as he is sees the chance to 'make Cardassia strong again' (i.e. get himself into a position of power again) he does indeed remind everyone that sometimes [[Good Is Dumb]].
** Eddington is a more straightforward example from ''Deep Space 9''.
* Angel, Willow and Faith of ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV)|Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' (all three get subsequent [[Heel Face Turn|HeelFaceTurns]]).
** Angel's [[Face Heel Turn]] happened due to having what is later described as a "moment of perfect happiness" which was his night with Buffy. This activated the [[Curse Escape Clause]] which brought back his original self, the incredibly evil [[Complete Monster|Angelus]].
** Angel's evil alter ego is used several times on [[Angel (TV)|his spinoff]], to the extent that he's now [[Heel Face Revolving Door]].
*** This is more [[Jekyll and Hyde]] with Angel, as it is stated quite clearly that the two are mutually exclusive. Angelus hates his Alter Ego and considers him weak because he won't feed from humans.
** Willow's [[Face Heel Turn]] came about due to her going crazy after Warren accidentally killed Tara while trying to gun down Buffy. She corners and kills Warren in [[Cruel and Unusual Death|exceedingly cruel fashion]] and then goes after the others, until she eventually [[Jumping Off the Slippery Slope|Jumps Off The Slippery Slope]] and tries to [[Omnicidal Maniac|destroy the world]].
*** Willow's is far more this trope than Angel as she was always the same person (albeit far, far more angry). She even says later that she remembers exactly how it felt and why she was doing it - and that it felt pretty good. Dark Willow is Normal Willow on the ultimate despairing rage power trip.
** In the best surprise on either show, {{spoiler|Cordelia}} does a face-heel turn in the middle of Season 4 of ''[[Angel (TV)|Angel]]'', awesomely and dramatically revealed when she {{spoiler|cuts Lila Morgan's throat}}.
*** That's more of a subversion, really, seeing as {{spoiler|Cordelia herself never changed sides -- she was possessed by [[Eldritch Abomination|Jasmine]] at the time}}.
** Giles in "The Lost Slayer" novel [[Bizarro World]], in his vampire version.
* Jake Straka, for some reason, near the end of ''The Guardian''.
* Tyr on ''[[Andromeda]]'' - though we all knew it would happen sooner or later, as Tyr was always [[Magnificent Bastard|playing his own game]].
* Every character on ''[[Charmed (TV)|Charmed]]'', at some point or other.
** Subverted with It's a Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad World, where the entire WORLD takes a face heel turn, excluding the {{spoiler|demons, which all take a [[Heel Face Turn]]}}
* Agent Lee on ''[[NCIS (TV)|NCIS]]'' appears to be [[The Mole]], faking a relationship to gain access to a private area (of the complex, you pervs) and killing another agent to protect herself. {{spoiler|She's actually being forced to do it by [[I Have Your Wife|her niece's kidnappers]]. Naturally, [[Redemption Equals Death]] for Agent Lee.}}
* Undersheriff McKeen on ''[[CSI]]''.
* Dr. Zack Addy, who turned out to be the serial killer's apprentice on ''[[Bones]]''. {{spoiler|He didn't actually kill anyone and it's more of a case of a weak will being overpowered by a strong one, but only Sweets knows that Zack prefers to be thought of as insane since he wouldn't survive prison. Regardless, his friends still love him (to the confusion of his replacements)}}
* Sweet-natured Kes returns to ''[[Star Trek: Voyager|Voyager]]'' to crumple bulkheads and anonymous ensigns in "Fury". It turns out she's angry at her former friends because...well it's never really explained. But don't worry as [[Reset Button|everything's back to normal by the end]].
** Kes was supposed to be upset over being talked into leaving all of her people and life behind to travel to the middle of nowhere with Voyager's crew, and the episode's plot was about her trying to go back in time and convince her younger self to bail while she still had the chance. Given her [[Ascended to A Higher Plane of Existence]] exit in "The Gift," it was likely a case of [[With Great Power Comes Great Insanity]].
* ''[[St Elsewhere]]'''s Dr. Peter White winds up being a serial rapist.
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** Earlier on in the series, {{spoiler|Boomer [[Heel Face Revolving Door|appears]] to have joined Cavil's side in the Cylon civil war, later helps the final Cylon escape from exploratory brain surgery and gives her lover a literal [[Imagine Spot|Imagine]]/HopeSpot then steals her "twin's" daughter only to [[Pet the Dog|bond]] with her "niece" and give her back and is finally killed by her "sister"}}.
* Shane Vandrell in ''[[The Shield]]'', more than once.
* ''[[Twenty Four24]]'' embodies this trope. Most seasons have at least one of [[The Mole]] at some point. Sometimes this turns out to be misleading, with a few [[Fake Defector|Fake Defectors]], but there are several infamous true face heel turns. Going back to the first season was {{spoiler|Nina Myers, who turns into a recurring villain for two more seasons}}. Most recently was the even more drastic {{spoiler|Tony Almeida, whose [[Heel Face Revolving Door]] led the audience to be surprised by the (second) revelation that he was a villain, despite the fact that this was technically common knowledge months before the season even began}}.
* {{spoiler|Allan}} in season 2 of the new ''[[Robin Hood (TV series)|Robin Hood]]'', at least until {{spoiler|his [[Heel Face Turn]]}} later on in the season.
* Professional [[Idiot Ball]] handler {{spoiler|Stuckey}} in the 2009 season finale of ''[[Law and Order Special Victims Unit]]'' {{spoiler|subverting [[Narrowed It Down to Thethe Guy I Recognize]]. After That Yellow Bastard and Simka Graves, I for one didn't suspect ''the guy who'd been there since the beginning of the season''}}.
* ''[[Doctor Who]]'''s own 10th Doctor went a little overboard (shall we say) in the episode "The Waters of Mars" when he finally realized he was the only Time Lord left in the Universe and didn't have to follow their rules anymore. He became megalomaniacal, the "Time Lord Victorious!" until the episode's heroine corrects his mistake. {{spoiler|By killing herself.}}
** This is played straight with the Time Lords, led by [[Department of Redundancy Department|Lord President of the Time Lords]] Rassilon, turning into [[Omnicidal Maniac|Omnicidal]] [[Knight Templar|Knight Templars]] with the Time War, leading to the destruction of most of the Daleks as well as the Time Lords, [[Earthshattering Kaboom|including Gallifrey]], by the Doctor.
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* ''[[Chuck]]'': Daniel Shaw is an all-American hero, willing to die for his country, but {{spoiler|when he finds out thanks to the Ring that Sarah killed his wife, he joins the Ring setting on killing Sarah for revenge; this turns out to be fatal, as Chuck kills him in order to prorate Sarah}}.
** {{spoiler|Shaw does survive, though not without super-advanced medical help, and returns later on a grand plan to take over every major American intelligence agency while framing his former allies as traitors before executing them. If that wasn't enough, he gets his own Intersect and kills Chuck's dad.}}
* In the 1998 ''[[Merlin (FilmTV miniseries)|Merlin]]'' series, {{spoiler|Lord Lot and Morgan Le Fay}} both turn against Arthur and Merlin.
* As of the finale of season 3 of the BBC's ''[[Merlin (TV series)|Merlin]]'', {{spoiler|Morgana has finally completely turned against Arthur, Merlin and the rest of Camelot, and, with the possible death of Morgause, is in a prime position to take over as the [[Big Bad]] of the next season. Technically she was an enemy right from the beginning of season 3, it's just that now ''everyone'' knows about her Face Heel Turn instead of just Merlin and Gaius (and Gwen later on)}}.
** The "face-heel-turning" actually begins that the ''start'' of Series 3 {{spoiler|after Morgana returns to Camelot after going missing for a year and becomes [[The Mole]] for Morgause and begins doing things like killing people in cold blood and threatening Merlin who unwittingly provokes her move to the dark side by attempting to kill her (for valid reasons) at the end of Series 2.}} The face-heel-turning of {{spoiler|Morgana}} is amplified by the fact the first two seasons spend extensive time establishing the character as sympathetic and on a few occasions heroic.
* In the miniseries ''[[Thumb Wrestling Federation]]'' (this sorta fits here), former Dextera member Evil Ira left for the Sinistras, simply because being good while he has evil in his name was too confusing.
* In ''[[Smallville]]'': {{spoiler|[[Lex Luthor|Oh you]] [[Foregone Conclusion|highlighted this.]] [[Schmuck Bait|For shame!]]}}
** Other FHT include {{spoiler|[[Super-Powered Evil Side|Davis Bloome/Doomsday]], [[Momma's Boy|Jason Teague]], and after a round of [[Heel Face Revolving Door]], [[Colonel Badass|Major Zod]].}}
* In season 6 of ''[[Supernatural (TV series)|Supernatural]]'', the Big Bad of the season, to whom both {{spoiler|Crowley and Eve}} played [[Disc One Final Boss]], is revealed to be {{spoiler|Castiel, who has decided that to defeat Rafael and put Heaven on the right track, anything is acceptable - in this case, taking on a million souls. The Winchester boys do their best to stop Castiel throughout the final episodes of the season, while he continues to plead for them to accept him and his reasons for evil}}.
* Duncan MacLeod does this for two episodes in ''[[Highlander the Series]]'', while he's possessed by the Dark Quickening. His good and evil sides finally battle after Methos drags him into a magical hot spring, and his goodness wins, enabling a [[Heel Face Turn]].
 
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* In Christianity and Islam, [[Satan|Lucifer]] was an Angel who led a revolution against God – in some versions he wanted to take God's place, in other he refused to acknowledge humans as God's beloved creations, among numerous other reasons - and was, together with all other rebel Angels, sent to hell, where they all become demons. Which makes this trope [[Older Than Feudalism]].
** Islam's story is actually slightly different. Satan was never an angel, but a Djinn near God. He did fall because of his pride, and not acknowledging that humans now were in a higher position with the God than the used to be (OK, that part is similar). He did not challenge God himself, but His influence on mankind, saying he'll sway the humanity to corruption, and will show humans are no better. And finally he will not become a demon, he'll just be sentenced to eternity in Hell.
* ''[[The Bible (Literature)|The Bible]]'' has lots of examples of this. There's Adam and Eve at the Fall. Noah, the nice guy who herded animals into his ark to save them, gets hung over and curses his grandson. The once-wise Solomon becomes corrupt. A more controversial example would be to allege [[Heel Face Turn|Heel Face Turns]] and/or [[Face Heel Turn|Face Heel Turns]] by God himself.
** Then there's what may be the most infamous example of all: Judas. Although there's been some debating from historians and archaologists, speculating that Judas and Jesus [[The Planb|had arranged for his betrayal so that Jesus could carry out his plan]].
** But then, Judas is said to have died rather gruesomely at the beginning of Acts (the "sequel" to the four Gospels) which would imply either God wasn't in on the plan, or that He simply made a ''serious dick move.''
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== Tabletop Games ==
* Crovax and Ertai of the Weatherlight crew in ''[[Magic: theThe Gathering]]''.
** Crovax and Ertai turned in two completely different ways. Crovax did so through a vampiric curse triggered through his own slaying of his [[Guardian Angel]], Selenia, and completed the turn by killing Mirri and assuming the Rathi evincar-ship in Volrath's absence. Ertai, meanwhile, was systematically broken during the Nemesis storyline, becoming fully under Crovax's sway on the realization that his crewmates had abandoned him to his fate.
** Urza dedicated himself to fighting against the forces of Phyrexia and spent millenia taking steps to defeat them. Once he actually found himself ''in'' Phyrexia however, the [[Mad Scientist]] in him couldn't help but admire the sheer genius of its design. He eventually turned on his fellow planeswalkers and pledged himself to Yawgmoth because he couldn't bear to destroy a plane that embodied everything he had sought.
* ''[[Betrayal Atat House Onon the Hill]]'' has this as its main mechanic: the players start out exploring the haunted mansion together, but once the Haunt is triggered, one of them turns Traitor and tries to complete their evil mission before the others can stop them or escape.
* A major part of the backstory of ''[[Warhammer 40000]]'' is Horus's fall to Chaos, which tears the Imperium of Mankind apart. A rather more minor part of the backstory is the [[Face Heel Turn]] of the [[Our Elves Are Better|Eldar]] Phoenix Lord Ahra. With [[The Corruption]] a constant threat in the game universe, Face Heel Turns are a constant threat to all the [[Black and Grey Morality|greyer]] factions.
* Antipaladins in the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.
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== Theater ==
* Arguably Elphaba from ''[[Wicked (Theatretheatre)|Wicked]]'' fits this trope, after having everything she tries spectacularly backfire on her, and having everyone she loves die all around her, she snaps during the song 'No Good Deed' dedicating herself to a lifetime of evil. Almost immediately subverted when she is shown to be just very, very pissed off, but not actually evil a mere song later.
* In the back story of [[Euripides]]' ''Hecuba'', Achilles, hero of ''[[The Iliad (Literature)|The Iliad]]'', defected to Troy after falling in love with Trojan princess Polyxena. And then his would-be brother-in-law Paris shot him in his [[Achilles Heel]] ''at the wedding'', and everything went pear-shaped for the Trojans.
 
 
== Video Games ==
* EVERYONE in ''[[Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne]].''
* The supposed [[Face Heel Turn]] of Ralgha "Hobbes" nar Hhallas in ''[[Wing Commander (Videovideo Gamegame)|Wing Commander]] III'' didn't work for many fans of that series who have only played the PC version (the console versions used bigger CDs than computers of the time, and could thus fit the explanation cutscene into the game; the [[Novelization]] also covers the explanation). In this case, he was an (unwitting) [[The Mole|mole]].
* Sorbet in ''[[Magical Starsign]]'' fakes one as part of an elaborate plan to trick the Big Bad, and it's so convincing that even your party falls for it...unfortunately, you waltz in just as her plan is about to come to fruition.
** Fortunately, it wasn't the best thought out plan anyway...
* Ghaleon in ''[[Lunar: theThe Silver Star]]''.
* The player's wingman Solo-Wing Pixy does this in ''[[Ace Combat]] Zero'' after witnessing the horrors of war, including the enemy dropping ''seven'' nuclear bombs ''on their own soil''.
* Sephiroth in ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'' goes through a particularly malignant [[Face Heel Turn]] in the main character Cloud's [[Start of Darkness|flashback]]...the awesomeness of which also made him the ultimate [[Draco in Leather Pants]] character.
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** Captain Lee in ''[[Super Robot Wars]]: [[Original Generation]] 2'' pulls one of these, after spending his entire time [[Kick the Dog|kicking dogs]]. Even a [[Dead Little Sister]], or in this case family, doesn't protect him.
* Jerry Ying from the [[John Woo]] game ''[[Stranglehold]]'', who starts out as Tequila's partner and ally inside Wong's Dragon Claw syndicate, only to {{spoiler|[[Going Native|go native during the Chicago History Museum stage]] and carry out Wong's orders to kill Tequila and [[Offing the Offspring|Billie, Wong's own daughter]]. Tequila survives, but Billie isn't so lucky, setting up a furious showdown between partners as Tequila seeks vengeance for Billie}}.
* ''Everybody'' in ''[[War CraftWarcraft]]''. The only creatures who were evil from the start are the [[Eldritch Abomination|Old Gods]] of Azeroth and some of their servants. Everybody else started good and was corrupted by some means.
** Sargeras by [[He Who Fights Monsters|fighting a bit too much demons.]]
** The Eredar and the Orcs started out as peaceful [[Magitek]] and shamanistic races, respectively, but were corrupted by promises of power.
** Arthas in ''[[War CraftWarcraft]] III'' falls to due to to Lich King's [[Evil Plan]].
** Vincent Godfrey is interesting in the fact that he Face Heel Turns twice without ever commiting a [[Heel Face Turn]]. When you first start the Worgen starting experience he's a loyal Gilnean citizen and is seemingly important in helping cure your character of the Worgen curse. He then Face Heel Turns against you when he finds out that King Greymane is a Worgen and attempts to ransom him to the Forsaken until rescued by the player character. After killing himself, he is risen as a Forsaken and helps the Forsaken players in helping fight Gilnean Rebels in Pyrewood Village before he the betrays the Forsaken and sets up shop in Shadowfang Keep.
* Beat in ''[[The World Ends With You (Video Game)|The World Ends With You]]'' does a Face Heel Turn ''and'' [[Heel Face Turn|the opposite]].
** Technically, Joshua also had a Face Heel Turn, but he was that way from the beginning; he was just acting.
* ''[[Baten Kaitos]]'' has a fantastic example in the first game, where {{spoiler|''the main character'', Kalas}} pulls a [[Face Heel Turn]]. {{spoiler|He later pulls a [[Heel Face Turn]], though}}.
* Sialeeds in ''[[Suikoden V (Video Game)|Suikoden V]]''.
** Jowy in ''[[Suikoden II (Video Game)|Suikoden II]]''.
* The Boss in ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater]]: Snake Eater'', who switches from United States allegiances to the Soviet Union. {{spoiler|It turns out that The Boss was really doing this to help the United States regain The Philosopher's Legacy. ''Naked Snake'' kills her, taking her position as Big Boss, only afterwards learning the truth.}}
** It's more of a [[Fake Defector]] really.
** A huge Face Heel Turn takes place in ''[[Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty]]'' when {{spoiler|most of the characters on Raiden's Codec turn out to be part of a computer system training him to become an artificial Solid Snake, a wonderful example of ''[[The Computer Is Your Friend]]'' that continues in ''[[Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns of the Patriots]]''}}. Giant metaphysical discussions and a ''[[Motive Rant]]'' ensue.
* {{spoiler|Judith Mossman }} from ''[[Half-Life]] 2''. She {{spoiler|Does it so much you'll have whiplash by the final level.}}
* Riku from ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]'' was, unknown to his best friend Sora, gradually making the [[Face Heel Turn]], desperate to [[I Did What I Had to Do|save Kairi through whatever means possible]]. He ends up going a similar way as Kain from [[Final Fantasy IV]], complete with a return to the good side and a [[My God, What Have I Done?]].
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** In ''[[Mario and Luigi Superstar Saga]]'' {{spoiler|Birdo}} pulls out a FHT after helping the Mario brothers earlier. Another FHT happens in ''[[Mario and Luigi Bowsers Inside Story|Bowser's Inside Story]]'', when {{spoiler|Sergeant Guy, Corporal Paraplonk and Private Goomp}} betray [[Villain Protagonist|Bowser]] and switch over to [[Big Bad|Fawful]]'s side.
* The player character and his [[Five-Man Band]] in ''Mechwarrior 4: Vengeance'' becomes the [[Five-Bad Band]] in the ''Black Knight'' expansion.
* Sigma from ''[[Mega Man X (Video Game)|Mega Man X]]'' was originally the leader of the Maverick Hunters before he caught (and soon after became) [[The Virus]] from Zero and decided to go evil and declare war against mankind. Zero, in turn, does a [[Heel Face Turn]], caused by said virus transfer via a punch to the forehead.
** And in a turnaround, {{spoiler|the title character}} of ''[[Mega Man X (Video Game)|Mega Man X]]'' was supposed to make a [[Face Heel Turn]] into the [[Big Bad]] of the ''[[Mega Man Zero (Video Game)|Mega Man Zero]]'' series. [[Fauxshadow|Emphasis on]] ''[[Fauxshadow|supposed]]'', thanks to a [[Continuity Snarl]].
* Colonel from ''[[Mega Man Battle Network (Video Game)|Mega Man Battle Network]]'' was previously the Navi of the leader of a team that aimed to purge Nebula from the Net before doing a [[Face Heel Turn]].
* In ''Hero Senki'' {{spoiler|Gilliam Yeager, the Ally with the most powerful unit at the start of the game is the final boss. He becomes [[The Atoner]] after he jumps universes though}}
* It's stated that {{spoiler|Gol and Maia}} from the original ''[[Jak and Daxter]]'' were good once, but exposure to [[Bad Powers, Bad People|Dark]] [[Green Rocks|Eco]] caused a faceheel before the beginning of the game.
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** And {{spoiler|Bishop}} does so even earlier. He never was much of a Face to begin with.
* How have we missed {{spoiler|[[Neverwinter Nights|Aribeth de Tylmarande]]}} thus far? {{spoiler|Bastila}} was {{spoiler|Aribeth}} dropped into an alternate setting and given a more active role in the story, after all.
* In the backstory for ''[[Star Fox (Video Gameseries)|Star Fox]] 64'', Pigma Dengar betrayed James McCloud to Andross. Later in the series, Andross's grandson Dash Bowman undergoes one of these in two alternate endings for ''Star Fox: Command''.
* In a rare example of the ''player'' doing this, the original ''[[Streets of Rage]]'' has, near the end of Round 8, Mr. X asking you if you want to join him. In a 2-player game, if one player answers "yes" while the other answers "no," they will fight to the death, with the winner being asked again if they want to join. If the winner says no, and defeats Mr. X, the winner gets an alternate ending in which he or she becomes the new syndicate leader.
* Common in the ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'' seriesm, though considering you are usually playing a [[Villain Protagonist]] it's usually more a case of Heel Heel Turn.
** Catalina in the opening sequence of ''[[Grand Theft Auto III (Video Game)|Grand Theft Auto III]]''.
** {{spoiler|Salvatore Leone in the mission Last Requests}} of ''[[Grand Theft Auto III (Video Game)|Grand Theft Auto III]]''.
** {{spoiler|Lance}} in ''[[Grand Theft Auto Vice City (Video Game)|Vice City]]''.
** {{spoiler|Big Smoke and Ryder}} in ''[[Grand Theft Auto San Andreas (Video Game)|San Andreas]]''.
** {{spoiler|Dmitri Rascalov}} and {{spoiler|Michelle}} in ''[[Grand Theft Auto IV]]''.
*** {{spoiler|Darko Brevic}} in the backstory of ''[[Grand Theft Auto IV]]''.
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** Also, in the main game, {{spoiler|Anna Holt is the one who tells the enclave about the project purity activation code, after she's captured, and later shows up as a scientist working for them in their base. Oddly enough, you still get bad karma for killing her}}.
* In the Halo series, your buddy friend, 343 Guilty Spark does this on two occasions. In the first Halo, he helps you to activate the ring until Cortana stops him, saying that doing so will kill everyone. 343 Guilty Spark sees this as breaking protocol and then tries to kill you. This also happens in Halo 3, where you go to destroy the ark. 343 starts going off at you again and then kills Seargent Johnson. {{spoiler|You quickly kill 343 Guilty Spark with Johnson's spartan laser.}}
* Possible in ''[[Spider-Man: Web of Shadows]]'' if you choose to let the Symbiote have its way. In the end of an all villain story, Spider-Man becomes the emperor of the Symbiotes and rules over New York City.
* In ''[[Guild Wars]]'', {{spoiler|Vizier Khilbron, who appears about halfway through the Prophecies campaign, provides indispensable assistance to the players on several occasions in fighting the White Mantle and their Mursaat allies, and turns out to be the [[Big Bad]] who has been manipulating the player all along to set up the proper conditions for his Titans to assault Tyria so he can take it over.}}
** The leaders of the White Mantle, and basically the entire White Mantle as a whole. The Bonus Mission Pack shows White Mantle founder Saul D'Alessio as a pretty swell guy, fearlessly defending his homeland from the Charr in an epic battle with help from the Mursaat. What did he get for his trouble? The Mursaat kidnap him and take him away forever as payment for their help. The remaining survivors, who felt understandably betrayed and ripped off, decided fighting for justice isn't all it's cracked up to be, and instead started a campaign to take over Kryta and secure absolute power for themselves.
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* Dan Stewart in the N64 game ''Winback: Combat Operations''.
* No one mentioned perhaps the most famous example? [[Double Dragon]], in which Billy and Jimmy fight side-by-side through everything to rescue the girl, only to find that Jimmy is indeed the [[Big Bad]]
* {{spoiler|Wheatley, after the core transfer with [[G La DOS]]}} in [[Portal 2 (Video Game)|Portal 2]]. In fact, the audio files for these lines have "heel turn" in their names.
* In the [[Web Game]] [[TCTRPG|The Colour Tuesday,]] Paige tries to seize the [[Chekhov's Gun|guitar of Alex's disappeared brother]] when she tries to claim it.
* In [[Night Trap]]...{{spoiler|1=you, in the perfect ending. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnVKqlyjz7s If you are so inclined.]}}
** {{spoiler|You don't even go that fair. Just let one of the Martins escape during the final sequence and kick back and watch the fun. You get the same ending either way.}}
* [[Septerra Core]]. Selina, when {{spoiler|she saw Doskias almost getting killed by one of the good guys}}. Actually, she goes back and forth a few times throughout the game.
* Marty "Monk" Malone is a loyal Corleone enforcer and a good friend of the protagonist in the video game adaptation of ''[[The Godfather (Film)|The Godfather]]''. When {{spoiler|his sister is murdered late in the game}} to get at the protagonist, Monk becomes embittered and eventually turns traitor, forcing the player to kill him.
* ''[[Pokémon Mystery Dungeon]]'' has this seemingly innocent line, if it wasn't for its [[Dissonant Serenity|dissonantly gleeful]] delivery:
{{quote| ''' {{spoiler|Your partner}}:''' ''"The world of darkness is going to be wonderful.''}}
* Clyde in ''[[Vigilante 8]]'' goes from a member of the Vigilantes opposing [[Corrupt Corporate Executive|OMAR]] and their thugs to the CEO of OMAR who stole a time machine to kill his former leader and ensure the submission of the US in the sequel thanks to {{spoiler|finding [[Brainwashed and Crazy|Houston's]] mind control bracelets in a service station bathroom.}}
* Quox, [[The Dragon]] of ''[[The Tower of Druaga]]'', was an ally of Ki in ''[[The Quest of Ki (Video Game)|The Quest of Ki]]'' who turned evil after Druaga split the Blue Crystal Rod.
* {{spoiler|Almalexia}} did this at some point prior to the ''Tribunal'' expansion to ''[[The Elder Scrolls III Morrowind (Video Game)|The Elder Scrolls III Morrowind]]'', due in large part to loss of access to the Heart of Lorkhan.
* Both {{spoiler|Dr Sorkin and Yoder}} turned on the team for their selfishness in episode 4 of [[Jurassic Park: theThe Game]].
* Both {{spoiler|Jaesa Wilsaam}} and {{spoiler|Nomen Karr}} in ''[[Videogame/The Old Republic|The Old Republic]]'' did this the first to join you and the second to kill you...3 times
 
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* {{spoiler|Dr. Schlock}} from ''[[Sluggy Freelance]]'', though he'd been straddling the fence for quite some time, anyway.
* {{spoiler|Otra}} appears to be doing this in ''[[Girly]]'', shown [http://girlyyy.com/go/698 here].
* {{spoiler|[[The Protomen (Music)|Panther]]}} in ''[[Dead of Summer]]'' does this in a [[Nightmare Fuel|very scary scene]], first by {{spoiler|[[Eye Scream|tearing out Dr Light's eyes]] and killing him,}} then by {{spoiler|declaring Doug Fetterman will be the new leader}}.
** {{spoiler|[[Subverted Trope|Though not really]], as it's an [[Evil Twin|evil clone]] of him as part of Fetterman's [[Evil Plan]].}}
* Sebastian Jalek in ''[[True Villains]]'' does this in the first Saga. He tries to not regret it.
* In ''[[Zebra Girl]]'', Sandra turns evil after being dragged into hell by [[Well-Intentioned Extremist|Professor Broadshoulders]]. [[Evil Feels Good|She's having fun now.]]
* In ''[[The Adventures of Dr. McNinja (Webcomic)|The Adventures of Dr. McNinja]]'', Dr. McNinja is having trouble battling the evil {{spoiler|Frans Rayner}}, because all the McNinja clones (long story) are triggering [[Conservation of Ninjutsu]]. So the [[Genre Savvy]] doctor does the only thing he can -- {{spoiler|''team up with Frans and start taking the clones out himself''.}} Yes, [[Face Heel Turn]] as a fighting tactic. {{spoiler|The clones were going to die either way, and Doc would have died with them if he hadn't changed sides. Besides, he went back to Face when there were no more clones, because [[Conservation of Ninjutsu]] was no longer in effect (and Rainer would have killed him had he stood quiet).}}
* {{spoiler|Eridan}} from ''[[Homestuck]]'' does this after deciding that the fight against Jack Noir is completely hopeless {{spoiler|and as the "Prince of Hope" he believes he is the most qualified to determine if all hope is lost}}. {{spoiler|He figures the only chance for survival is to pledge his loyalty to Jack. He then proceeds to K.O. Sollux, kill Feferi, and finally kill Kanaya (while destroying the key to restoring the Trollian race) when they try to stop him before he escapes.}}
** And then, not long after, {{spoiler|Gamzee runs out of [[No Medication for Me|sopor slime pies]] and becomes sane, which causes him to remember his destiny as a murderous Subjugglator. Later on however Karkat delivers a [[Cooldown Hug]] that manages to calm him and return him back to the way he was.}}
* Ellen of ''[[El Goonish Shive (Webcomic)|El Goonish Shive]]'' shortly after her creation. Fortunately Dan [[Heel Face Turn|scrapped the idea of her staying evil]].
* In [http://worldpeace.emilymarthasorensen.com To Prevent World Peace,] Kendra's future would have involved becoming a [[Dark Magical Girl|Dark Magical Girl.]] She decides to prevent this by choosing a [[Face Heel Turn]] instead. This was not precisely what the future-seer intended when she warned Kendra about it . . .
 
 
== [[Web Original]] ==
* In ''[[The Gamers Alliance (Roleplay)|The Gamers Alliance]]'', [[Snark Knight|Abel]] makes this very clear by adapting the name Cain once he's turned to the dark side. The heroes are oblivious to his new, treacherous nature and think he's only acting emo because of his embarrassing encounter with a lustful mage earlier in the story. {{spoiler|[[He Who Fights Monsters|Refan]] and [[Cloudcuckoolander|Ronove]]}} also make a [[Face Heel Turn]] later on when they side with demons.
* {{spoiler|Corey}} from ''[[Three in The Afternoon]]'' does this not once, but ''twice'', taking full advantage of his more idealistic friends the second time around.
* {{spoiler|Julia van Helden}} does this in ''[[Kate Modern]]'' in response all the traumatic experiences she suffers while helping the K-Team, and out of misplaced [[Love Makes You Evil|love for a villain]].
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* In ''[[Metalocalypse]]'', when Toki gets fed up with always being the child friendly one and then starts burning the lair with a flamethrower.
* Zuko from ''[[Avatar: The Last Airbender]]'' does a beautiful [[Face Heel Turn]] in the season 2 finale. Actually, he does a [[Face Heel Turn]], then a [[Heel Face Turn]], then another [[Face Heel Turn]], then a few somersaults, ending with another [[Heel Face Turn]]. Say that three times fast. His first [[Face Heel Turn]] came when he was 13. An innocent, adorable boy gets his face almost burned off by his loving father. After this, he hunts Aang ruthlessly for his "honor." His second, and most exemplary [[Face Heel Turn]], came at the finale. After starting fresh in Ba Sing Se, Zuko has to choose between his honor and his Uncle. After a blatant "I Hate You" speech, he attacks Aang and returns home a hero, at least until his final [[Heel Face Turn]].
** The series' sequel, ''[[The Legend of Korra (Animation)|The Legend of Korra]]'' gives us Tarrlok, a [[Smug Snake|Smug Weasel-Snake]] who, at least, appeared to be willing to [[Shoot the Dog]] and [[I Did What I Had to Do|doing what he had to do]] to keep Republic City safe from the Equalists and [[Big Bad]] Amon. In "When Extremes Meet," though, he [[Took a Level In Jerkass|takes a massive level in Jerkass]], arresting most of the new Team Avatar and a lot of innocent non-benders. When Korra confronts him about it, Tarrlok tries to tell Korra she's [[Not So Different]] than him, but she rebuffs him, including rejecting Tarrlok's request to free Team Avatar if she works with him. Then Tarrlok [[People Puppets|bloodbends Korra]] and kidnaps her, telling her she'll never see Republic City again.
*** The previous episode also featured a [[Face Heel Turn]] for Hiroshi Sato, Asami's father, who joined up with the Equalists because [[Love Makes You Evil|a firebender killed his wife]].
* ''[[Codename: Kids Next Door]]'' had an agent, Numbuh 274, who had appeared in a couple Season 1 and Season 2 episodes become a villain from Season 3 onwards after turning 13. However, it turned out that {{spoiler|he'd been working for [[Reverse Mole|the good side all along]]}} in the penultimate episode of the show.
** The 4th grade class president also began as a heroic character but, after the KND works to ensure his safe election, it's revealed that he's [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero|actually their enemy]]. The exact nature of his [[Face Heel Turn]] is something of a mystery: while his blank eyes, [[Creepy Monotone]] and Father's [[Evil Laughter]] during his [[Face Heel Turn]] implies that he'd been brainwashed, later episodes establish him as not only a [[Not Brainwashed|perfectly willing]] heel, but one whose agenda has little connection to Father.
* {{spoiler|Raimundo}} in the season one finale of ''[[Xiaolin Showdown (Animation)|Xiaolin Showdown]]''. Shortly into season two, he [[Heel Face Turn|reverses it]] and returns to his friends, but not without suffering some consequences and trust issues.
** {{spoiler|Omi}} undergoes an involuntary turn after coming back from the yin/yang dimension, leaving his good side behind.
* Elyon Brown in ''[[WITCH (Animationanimation)|WITCH]]''.
* Dinobot in the ''[[Transformers]]: [[Beast Wars (Animation)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "Maximal No More." He does a [[Heel Face Turn]] back at the end, though, upon realizing that just because everything's going according to Megatron's plans doesn't mean that Megatron isn't a dangerous madman.
** Blackarachnia in ''[[Transformers Animated]]'' pulls her [[Face Heel Turn]] during the (mainly) flashback episode "Along Came A Spider." We discover that when they were in the Autobot Academy, Elita-1, Sentinel, and Optimus went to an organic planet, even though it was forbidden, and they encountered giant spiders. Escaping from the spiders, Elita used her download power to borrow Optimus's grapplers, but ran out of time, falling into a pit full of the spiders when Optimus failed to catch her with his other grappler. She attempted to use her download power on the spiders, but, the spiders being organic, it turned her into a mutated part-organic, part-mechanical Transformer with one of the spiders as her alt-mode. The new signal type made her impossible for Optimus to pick up on his radar, and led him and Sentinel to believe Elita was dead, and Blackarachnia to believe they abandoned her, and she joined the Decepticons.
** Why hasn't anyone mentioned Wheeljack from ''[[Transformers Armada]]''? He has one after believing that Hot Shot abandoned him and turns Decepticon.
** Back to ''Beast Wars'', there is also {{spoiler|Rhinox/Tankor}} in the sequel show ''[[Beast Machines (Animation)|Beast Machines]]''.
* Tai Lung of ''[[Kung Fu Panda]]''.
* In ''[[Kim Possible]]'' [[The Dragon]] Shego used to be a superhero before becoming a villain. Various other characters have short, often for a single episode heel turns, including Ron at least twice.
** Most due to the Attitudinator, a [[Heel Face Turn]]/[[Face Heel Turn]] [[Applied Phlebotinum|in a helmet]]. One episode with it caused a [[Heel Face Revolving Door]] for everyone but Kim Possible.
* Professor Hamilton, a longtime Superman supporter, as seen in ''[[Superman: theThe Animated Series]]'', turns against him in ''[[Justice League|Justice League Unlimited]]''
* In ''[[Iron Man: Armored Adventures]]'', {{spoiler|Gene Khan}} does this in spectacular fashion during the second half of the season finale. Given that the writers had spent the entire first season making this character friends with the hero, humanizing him and integrating him into the [[True Companions]], this is actually fairly stunning, especially given that this show loves sympathetic villains being redeemed the way it does.
** One could argue Gene made his original turn at the start of the series, when he threw down his stepfather and took the role of Mandarin for himself. Outing himself to his friends after they out themselves as Team Ironman just sealed the deal.
* Jojo does this in a rather epic fashion in ''[[The Powerpuff Girls]]'' movie, in what also counts as a [[Crowning Moment of Awesome]]: "[[Large Ham|The hobo formerly known as Jojo is no more! From this day on, I shall be known as... MOJO Jojo!]]" Then again, he was [[Evil All Along]], so this might not count.
* Gibbs from [[Adult Swim]]'s ''[[Titan Maximum]]''. His heel face turn in the first episode generates the conflict for the rest of the series. Unfortunately, it seems that he's perhaps the only character with any shred of competence.
* A fictional pro wrestling example. In one episode of ''[[Futurama]]'', Bender becomes a popular robot wrestler named Bender the Offender. After his popularity fades, management turns him into the Gender Bender.
* [[Hanna-Barbera]]'s Muttley [[Captain Ersatz]] as well as [[Columbo (TV)|Columbo]] [[Expy]] Mumbly was made a bad guy in ''[[Laff-aA-Lympics]]'' and ''Yogi Bear and the Magical Flight of the Spruce Goose'' because they didn't have all the rights to ''[[Wacky Races]]'' at the time and [[They Just Didn't Care|couldn't be bothered]] to create a new character.
* In the second ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003 (Animation)|TMNT]]'' series, the real Oroku Saki was originally one of a group of warriors that defeated a powerful demon. However Saki [[With Great Power Comes Great Insanity|absorbed the power]] and became the Tengu Shredder.
* Parodied in ''[[Ed, Edd 'n' Eddy]]'' when, after a misunderstanding caused the other kids to beat up Captain Melonhead (Jonny) and Splinter the Wonder Wood (Plank), they face heal turned into The Gourd and Timber the Dark Shard to get revenge on the cul-de-sac. {{spoiler|Too bad the movie was over.}}
* [[Barnacle Boy]] in ''[[SpongebobSpongeBob SquarePants]]'', however it's only for one episode over the fact he wasn't allowed to have an adult-sized Krabby Patty.
** Mr. Krabs is a more permanent example, but YMMV.
* [[My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (Animation)|Princess Luna]]'s descent into Nightmare Moon
* [[Winx Club]]: Riven in season one, Bloom(via [[Mind Control]]) in season two, and {{spoiler|Layla/Aisha}} in season four.
* {{spoiler|Aqualad/Kaldur'ahm}} in season two of ''[[Young Justice (Animationanimation)|Young Justice]]'', after he becomes embittered at his former friends for {{spoiler|letting Tula die during a mission gone wrong}} and his own mentor, {{spoiler|Aquaman, for hiding the truth about his real, supervillain father, Black Manta. Kaldur ends up joining him.}}
* ''[[The Clone Wars|Star Wars: The Clone Wars]]'': {{spoiler|Captain Argyus, Slick, Pong Krell.}}
 
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