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{{trope}}
<blockquote class="templatequote" style="background: #f53131; padding: 1em; border-style: solid;"><big>MODERATOR NOTE: This trope is '''''not''''' [[Complete Monster]]. Any attempt to turn Magnificent Bastard into a clone of Complete Monster will be reverted without debate.</big>
{{quote|''"[[Worthy Opponent|Rommel]]... you [[Trope Namer|magnificent bastard]], I read your BOOK!"''|'''George S. Patton'''<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJXKVOxqkWM YouTube link]</ref>, ''[[Patton]]''}}▼
<div class="templatequotecite">&#8212; The Mgmt.</div></blockquote>
 
<!-- Image of Lionel Luthor removed, because it was Just a Face and a Caption. If anybody has an image of a Magnificent Bastard actually *being* a Magnificent Bastard instead of simply posing for the camera, please add it here - with a caption. -->
If there was ever a character that deserved to be called “Magnificent”, that character ''is'' the [[Magnificent Bastard]]. The Magnificent Bastard is what happens when you combine the [[Chessmaster]], the [[Trickster]], and the [[Manipulative Bastard]] ([[Large Ham]] is optional): bold, charismatic, independent, and audacious. Capturing the audience with his charisma, incredible intellect, mastery of manipulation, and boldness of action, this character is a show-stealer, demanding your reverence at every turn. The term "Magnificent Bastard" was first used by General Patton in reference to Erwin Rommel in the film ''[[Patton]]'', upon realizing that he was facing a man who literally wrote the book on deceptive warfare. It acquired its current meaning courtesy of Lionel Luthor of ''[[Smallville]]'', who was given this nickname by the [[Television Without Pity]] boards.▼
▲{{quote|text=''"[[Worthy Opponent|Rommel]]... you [[Trope Namer|magnificent bastard]], I read your BOOK!"''|sign='''George S. Patton'''<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJXKVOxqkWM YouTubeGeorge link]</ref>,S. Patton]'''|source=''[[Patton]]''}}
 
▲If there was ever a character that deserved to be called “Magnificent”, that character ''is'' the [['''Magnificent Bastard]]'''. The Magnificent Bastard is what happens when you combine the [[Chessmaster]], the [[Trickster]], and the [[Manipulative Bastard]] ([[Large Ham]] is optional): bold, charismatic, independent, and audacious. Capturing the audience with his charisma, incredible intellect, mastery of manipulation, and boldness of action, this character is a show-stealer, demanding your reverence at every turn. The term "Magnificent Bastard" was first used by General Patton in reference to Erwin Rommel in the film ''[[Patton]]'', upon realizing that he was facing a man who literally wrote the book on deceptive warfare. It acquired its current meaning courtesy of Lionel Luthor of ''[[Smallville]]'', who was given this nickname by the [[Television Without Pity]] boards.
 
So what makes a character a Magnificent Bastard? Let's break it down:
 
* '''[[The Chessmaster|HeThey isare brilliant]] and utterly devious''', to an almost breathtaking, mind-boggling degree. Call it [[The Chessmaster|genius]], call itor [[Xanatos Roulette|virtual omniscience]], but hethey always seemsseem to [[Batman Gambit|know what everyone else is planning at any given moment]], and exactly how to arrange the game so [[Xanatos Gambit|hethey winswin every time]].
* '''[[Manipulative Bastard|HeThey is aare smooth operatoroperators.]]''' HeThey'll always knowsknow exactly what to say to [[Manipulative Bastard|position you where hethey wantswant you]], [[Xanatos Gambit|always hashave a backup strategy]] and [[Xanatos Speed Chess|never loses histheir cool]]. Even if on the remote chance something happens that wasn't in histheir plans, [[Xanatos Speed Chess|you'd never know it]] [[I Meant to Do That|from histheir actions]].
* '''[[Visionary Villain|HeThey hashave a goal]],''' he'sand are not going to stop until hethey'sve completed it...[[Hidden Agenda Villain|whatever it is]]. To that end hethey will do almost anything. HeThey'll move heaven and hell, and we ''want'' to see himthem succeed. Despite histheir choice of tactics, hethey isare [[Noble Demon|rarely if ever pointlessly cruel]], and has ahave reason for everything hethey doesdo.
* '''HeThey isare charismatic,''' often [[The Charmer|charming]], histheir personality like a physical force. People tend to like himthem, sometimes even when they know hethey [[Faux Affably Evil|isnaren't on their side]], and even those who hate histheir guts [[Worthy Opponent|have to admit respect]]. Even when at histheir darkest, hethey hashave traits which one can't help but admire.
 
Other common aspects of a [[Magnificent Bastard]] include being a [[Large Ham]], a [[Sharp-Dressed Man]], [[Wicked Cultured]], [[Crazy Awesome]], and [[Dangerously Genre Savvy]].
 
A key difference that separates the [[Magnificent Bastard]] from other character tropes like the mere [[Manipulative Bastard]] or [[The Chessmaster]] is the Bastard's willingness to step onto the playing field in person. The risks are obvious, but the strategic advantages are numerous.
 
While usually an antagonist, especially if he's the [[Big Bad]], the [[Magnificent Bastard]] can be aligned on either side of a conflict. Hell, he's so amazing he tends to [[Ubermensch|forgo the idea of good and evil all together]], instead following his own agenda, choosing to [[Playing Both Sides|help whichever side]] will further his goals. However, it's true that his penchant for manipulation at the expense of others means it's common for him to be a [[Villain]], [[Villain Protagonist]], or at least an [[Anti-Hero]], but purely heroic examples exist. Either way, he's almost always in charge of whatever organization he's involved with, or [[The Man Behind the Man|might as well be]].
 
Aside from all the various aspects which come together to define the [[Magnificent Bastard]], compare and contrast the [[Smug Snake]], who may once have been a [[Magnificent Bastard]] in the making but fell short due to his own arrogance. When a villainous [[Magnificent Bastard]] becomes so over the top that he is no longer believable, then he becomes a [[Villain Sue]] (a regular [[Mary Sue]] for the heroic version). Also compare the [[Guile Hero]], who uses cleverness, trickery and manipulation but lacks the flair and depth of-planning to elevate him to [[Magnificent Bastard]] status. Despite the term, he is not likely to be a [[Bastard Bastard]], thanks to that person's inherent daddy issues, but there's nothing preventing him either.
 
Bonus points if at one point he or she (more commonly he) offers the enemy a [[Xanatos Gambit]] choice, and gives a [[Slasher Smile]].
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As [[Willing Suspension of Disbelief]] and popularity can vary from person to person in an audience, [[Your Mileage May Vary]] as to which characters qualify for the title or fall under some other trope such as those stated above. Check this page out if you want to [[So You Want To/Write a Magnificent Bastard|Write a Magnificent Bastard]] of your own.
 
[[No Real Life Examples, Please]]
{{noreallife| it's problematic to call people this outside of works of fiction.}}
----
{{examples|Examples of ''Magnificent Bastards'' are on these egregious subpages:}}
* [[Magnificent Bastard/Anime|Anime]]
* [[Magnificent Bastard/Comic Books|Comic Books]]
* [[Magnificent Bastard/Fanfic|Fanfic]]
* [[Magnificent Bastard/Film|Film]]
* [[Magnificent Bastard/Literature|Literature]]
* [[Magnificent Bastard/Live Action TV|Live Action TV]]
* [[Magnificent Bastard/Tabletop Games|Tabletop Games]]
* [[Magnificent Bastard/Video Games|Video Games]]
* [[Magnificent Bastard/Web Comics|Web Comics]]
* [[Magnificent Bastard/Web Original|Web Original]]
* [[Magnificent Bastard/Western Animation|Western Animation]]
* [[Magnificent Bastard/Others|Others]]
 
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Tropes of Legend{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Older Than Steam]]▼
[[Category:Gambit Index]]
[[Category:HomeOlder Page/YMMVThan Steam]]
[[Category:The Trickster]]
[[Category:YMMVThe TropeUtterly and Completely Definitive Guide to Cool]]
[[Category:This Index Is Not an Example]]
▲[[Category:OlderTropes Thanof SteamLegend]]
[[Category:Villains]]
[[Category:indexYMMV Trope]]
[[Category:Magnificent Bastard]]
[[Category:No Real Life Examples, Please]]
[[Category:The Utterly and Completely Definitive Guide to Cool]]
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