“ | The mark of a true hero is somebody who's willing to sacrifice his own personal morality to help keep the world safe. | „ |
~ Tess Mercer, Smallville. |
“ | We get dirty, and the world stays clean. | „ |
~ John Price |
“ | huh. always wondered why people never use their strongest attack first. | „ |
~ Sans, at the start of his Boss fight. |
Pragmatists, are those who follow practical considerations above traditional morals, values or taboos. Pragmatic protagonists are heroes who are often opposite to Honorable heroes, though depending on character development, certain characters may be both at one point or another (e.g. Yor Forger). A Pragmatist will be willing to lie, cheat, steal, manipulate, offend, or just generally 'play dirty' in order to save the day. In darker moments, a Pragmatist may well be willing to abandon their own otherwise firm values to save others. These types of heroes are very Machiavellian in this way, because for them the "end justifies the means". It is common for pragmatic characters to be used to directly ignore/defy hero clichés in order to win.
It must be remembered that these are not rampant scoundrels who just happen to save people, but heroes who are quite willing to resort to less than honorable methods in order to save others. In general, it will not be their default behavior, just how far they are willing to go - similar to Lethal heroes.
Pragmatists are the good counterparts of Cheaters, Con Artists, Hypocrites, Master Manipulators and Opportunists.
NOTE: Because of how ambitious they can be, it can be difficult for a pragmatist to be Pure Good. However, exceptions can be made if the pragmatist does not sacrifice their morals or resort to anti-heroic deeds while not exhibiting true corrupting factors and are able to meet all criteria. They must show remorse if their actions ended up caused harm to others or simply made the situation worse than it is (e.g. James P. Sullivan, Mika Misono, and Izuku Midoriya).
All items (1754)
- A (Naruto)
- A Kou
- A4
- Aasim
- Abby Griffin
- Abel (Street Fighter)
- Accelerator
- Ace Operatives
- Ada Tucker
- Adaline Pratt
- ADAM
- Adam Malkovich
- Aela the Huntress
- Ageha Chono
- Agent 47
- Agent Bishop (TMNT 2003)
- Agent Kramer
- Agent Six
- Agents (Crackdown)
- Ai Sen
- AJ Styles
- Akame (Akame ga Kill!)
- Akari Hizamaru
- Akito Sohma
- Akiyama Shinichi
- Akshan
- Aladdin (2019)
- Alan Becker (Animator vs. Animation)
- Alastor Moody
- Alex (Madagascar)
- Alex Mason
- Alex Wilder (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
- Alexander Anderson
- Alfred Pennyworth (DC)
- Alias
- Alkai Turner
- Allison Cameron
- Alvin Jr.
- Alvis
- Alyssa Hale
- Amanda Porter
- Amanda Waller (DC)
- Ameth
- Amicia de Rune
- Amicus
- Amleth
- Amy Rose (Archie Comics)
- Anakin Skywalker (Star Wars)
- Andrei Ivanovich Yermak
- Android 17
- Angel (Lady and the Tramp)
- Angelia
- Angelise Ikaruga Misurugi
- Angelo Lagusa
- Anger
- Angry Video Game Nerd
- Angus Grimaldi
- Anko Mitarashi
- Anna Myers
- Anna Williams
- Anos Voldigoad
- Anubis (Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts)
- Anya Forger
- Aoi Todo
- Aphrodite (God of War)
- Applejack (G4)
- April Eagle
- Aqualad (Young Justice)
- Aquaman (DC Animated Universe)
- Aquaman (DC Extended Universe)
- Aquaman (DC)
- Aquamarine Hoshino
- Arc Eda Ricolne
- Archer (Fate/stay night)
- Argos
- Arlo (UnOrdinary)
- Armin Arlert
- Arrow
- Arsène Lupin III
- Artemis Crock (Young Justice)
- Arthur (Into the Badlands)
- Artus Cimber
- Ash Crimson
- Ash Williams
- Ashi
- Ashley (WarioWare)
- Aske Stenstrom
- Assane Diop
- Assassins
- Astro Boy
- Asuka Langley Sohryu
- Asuka R. Kreutz
- Attina
- Aunt Marie
- Avallac'h
- Aversa
- Avery Bullock
- Avery Bullock, Sr.
- Axel (Kingdom Hearts)
- Ayane (Dead or Alive)
- Azura (Barbie)
- Azusa Aizawa
- Bagheera (Disney)
- Ban Midō
- Band of the Hawk
- Barb Wire
- Barbatos
- Barnabas Collins
- Baron Klaus Wulfenbach
- Barret Wallace
- Barry Steakfries
- Bart Simpson
- Basho
- Batgirl (DC Animated Universe)
- Batgirl (DC)
- Batman (Batman Beyond)
- Batman (Burton/Schumacherverse)
- Batman (DC Animated Universe)
- Batman (Frank Miller)
- Batman (Telltale)
- Beast (Marvel)
- Beast Boy (Teen Titans Go!)
- Beatrix Kiddo
- Becky Demuth
- Becky Lynch
- Bee Boonchuy
- Beetlejuice
- Bela Talbot
- Belle Fontiere
- Ben Hayes
- Bender Bending Rodríguez
- Benjamin Linus
- Benn Beckman
- Benson Dunwoody
- Berlioz
- Bernie Barges
- Bickslow
- Big Boss
- Big Cass
- Big Daddies
- Big Daddy Cool Diesel (Kevin Nash)
- Big Show
- Bigmouth
- Bilbo Baggins (Gene Deitch)
- Bilbo Baggins (Middle-earth)
- Bilbo Baggins (Peter Jackson)
- Bill & Ted
- Bill Nye the Science Guy
- Bill Overbeck
- Bill Williamson
- Billy (The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy)
- Billy Butcher (TV Series)
- Birdie (Street Fighter)
- Birds of Prey (DC)
- Bishop (Marvel)
- Bizuki
- Black Lightning
- Black Panther (Marvel)
- Black Widow (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
- Black Widow (Natalia Romanova)
- Black Woz
- Blackjack (Killzone)
- Blade (Marvel)
- Blaze (Mortal Kombat)
- Blind Mud Puddle Johnson
- Blocky
- Bloo
- Bloodshot
- Blue Mermaids
- Bo' Rai Cho
- Boba Fett
- BoBoiBoy
- Bode Locke
- Bolo (Final Space)
- Bomby
- Bond Forger
- Bonkers D. Bobcat
- Boo (Mario Party)
- Booster Gold
- Bowser
- Boyfriend (Friday Night Funkin')
- Brain (Animaniacs)
- Braun Strowman
- Brian Griffin
- Brock Lesnar
- Brock Samson
- Brogan
- Brunhilde
- Buck Crosshaw
- Bucky Barnes (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
- Buffy Summers
- Bugs Bunny (Space Jam)
- Buster Moon
- Byakuya Kuchiki