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{{trope}}
{{quote|'''Edwin''': Can you tell me a little bit about your business plan?
'''Dr. Loeb''': World domination!!!
'''Edwin''': That's really more of a goal than a plan, isn't it?
'''Dr. Loeb''': Domination!!!
'''Edwin''': I'll just put down 'Mergers and Acquisitions'.|''[[How to Succeed In Evil]]''}}
So you're a villain with an [[Evil Plan]] that you want to accomplish, good for you! However, a plan is nothing without a, well, ''plan'' with which to execute it. This trope is about the Stock [[Evil Overlord]] Tactics used to accomplish the Evil Plan.
Be sure to consult the [[Evil Overlord List]] for more in depth help on the topic. [[I Control My Minions Through...]] shows different means of getting and controlling underlings.
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{{examples}}
* [[Mook]] Armies: The classic tactic, [[Zerg Rush|overrun with sheer numbers]] and institute whatever form of dictatorial ego-centric control you like. Criminal mafias, world conquering, or 'mere' mayhem; a Mook army can do all this and more.
** Corollary tactic: If mere mooks aren't enough, try [[Elite Mooks]] and [[Superpowered Mooks]], or even a [[Monster of the Week]] to face the heroes. If you have enough mooks, remember that you can [[We Have Reserves|use the reserves]]. You can even [[Evil Gloating|gloat about it]] all you like, just don't tell ''[[Mook Face Turn|them]]'' that... at least, not until after they charge.
* [[Doomsday Device]]: Why get a huge army when all you need is nasty [[Death Ray]], [[Weather Control Machine]], or [[Colony Drop]] to bully the world into submission? Good for money, domination, or sheer [[For the Evulz|misanthropic]] [[Evil Laugh|laughs]].
** Unless you have secure means to comfortably survive, show a little restraint in this department. Unless your specific stated goal is to destroy the world (in which case, [[Omnicidal Maniac|go nuts]]), then limit your doomsday device to mere "[[Apocalypse How|regional catastrophe]]" level. You don't want your Doomsday Device to accidentally go off, and then get forced into an [[Enemy Mine]] situation with the hero in order to save the world. [[Complaining About Rescues They Don't Like|It's undignified.]]
* Gain Massive Magical Power: Then again, doing the conquering/destroying yourself is so [[Drunk
** Corollary tactic: This works best if you snowball the artifact acquisition, culminating in a [[Cosmic Keystone]]. Just remember to stop shy of a [[Superpower Meltdown]]. Also, though it may hurt your pride, do ''not'' give in to taunts that ''"[[You're Nothing Without Your Phlebotinum]]!"'' by fighting mano a mano. It never helps.
* [[Sealed Evil in
** Corollary tactic: If controlling the evil isn't possible or too risky, your best bet is to deliberately unleash it within stomping distance of a [[Big Good|powerful force of good]], while keeping yourself well out of harms' way. Ideally, the good guys will be crushed, and the unsealed evil weakened sufficiently during the battle that you can destroy it yourself; or vice-versa.
** Guile Corollary: Simply getting to the point where the evil could be unsealed is often enough to make some real demands on the forces of good. Hold an auction between various key players, and you can be set for life.
** Guile Corollary combining the two above: Get to the point where the evil could be unsealed, hold an auction between various key players, but set things up such that whoever eventually gets the can inadvertently unseals it. Wait until one side is crushed and the other weakened, then destroy those players who remain. Gloat to taste.
*** However, make certain that the SEIAC is ''evil'' before attempting to unleash it: There's nothing more embarrassing than causing a [[Deus Ex Machina]] by [[Sealed Good in
* Buy It All: Favored tactic of the evil [[Mega Corp]] and [[Corrupt Corporate Executive]]. Become the supplier of every conceivable good, or one excessively valuable one (even water counts), and you can become rich beyond imagination.
** Corollary tactic: [[Terminally Dependent Society|Make your own super addictive drug, videogame, or commodity]] if all the standard ones are taken. That'll show em! Oh, and just remember: [[Scarface|don't get high on your own supply]]. It never helps.
* Give The Hero [[Hero
** Corollary tactic: Make an [[Evil Knockoff]] of the hero. This is not recommended for various reasons, but as part of a bigger plot it can be very effective.
* [[Mass Hypnosis]]: Use a [[Mind Control Device]], add in a bit of [[Fake Memories]], remove [[The Evils of Free Will]], and voila! The world is your oyster, and no one remembers it ever being otherwise.
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** Corollary: [[A God Am I|Become a God]] by harnessing their [[Gods Need Prayer Badly|faith and prayers.]]
* Replace The [[Big Good]]: Take [[Fake King]] to the extreme by killing and then impersonating the supreme leader of the forces of goodness. You'll not only have all the resources you'll ever need to [[Take Over the World]], but you've also effectively rendered your opposition inert.
** Corollary tactic: Replace the [[Crystal Dragon Jesus|BIG Big Good]]. Why settle for ruling the world, when you can destroy all the [[Cosmic Keystone
* [[Deal
** Always make sure you have the payment for your powers up front. If the entity requests [[Virgin Sacrifice|virgins]], make sure they're still virgins. Finally, never sell your own [[Soul]]. It may not seem important at the time, but it usually ends up biting you in the ass at the very worst possible time (and usually in the very worst possible way).
** Be wary of entities that might have their own designs on the world (
** Never, ''ever'' accept releasing the entity into the world as terms of payment, it's just as if not ''more'' dangerous than releasing the SEIAC considering the entity is both powerful and [[The Chessmaster|very]] [[Manipulative Bastard|wily]]. For this reason, never leave the summoning portal in a place where any [[You Fool!|fool]] might do so by accident. Remember: [[Evil Is Not a Toy]], and while you may shoot people who have [[You Have Outlived Your Usefulness|outlived their usefulness]], these entities tend to ''eat them.'' Also, [[Do Not Taunt Cthulhu]] if there's any chance it might ever become free or take away your power. [[Evil Is Stylish|Plus, it's tacky.]]
* [[Villain
* [[Conqueror From the Future|Invasion From Tomorrow]]: Go back a few generations to when your modern weapons are no longer merely formidable but completely unstoppable. Want to crush the Roman Empire beneath your heels? Park an aircraft carrier offshore and start bombing. If from [[Twenty Minutes Into the Future]] just bring a ray gun and a deflector shield, and waltz straight through 20000 centurions.
** For extra [[Timey
* Historical Impersonation: Eliminate an important historical figure and take their place, preferably a major military or political leader. With your knowledge of historical events, correct any and all tactical mistakes made by the real leader in order to achieve the world conquest they failed at. A few trinkets of future technology to tip the balance still helps.
** If you are lacking in the acting skills department, an acceptable alternative is to latch onto the original historical figure and rule from behind the scenes as [[The Man Behind the Man]]. Mind control helps here, in order to keep your historical puppet compliant.
* [[Make Wrong What Once Went Right|Screw Up History]]: You don't always need to conquer the past to rule the present. Sometimes you just need to make a [[For Want of a Nail|few minor changes]] to put history on your track. Even if your name isn't [[
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Evil Tropes]]
[[Category:Stock Evil Overlord Tactics]]
[[Category:
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