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{{trope}}
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[[File:evil_plan.jpg|frame]]
[[File:evil plan.jpg|frame]]


{{quote|''"Ah, how shall I do it? Ooh, I know. I'll turn him into a flea, a harmless little flea, and then I'll put that flea in a box, and then I'll put that box inside of another box, and then I'll mail that box to myself, and when it arrives, ahahaha... ''[[Memetic Mutation|I'LL SMASH IT WITH A HAMMER!]]'' It's brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, I tell you! Genius, I say!'' ([[That Poor Plant|BAM]]) '' ...Or, [[Cutting the Knot|to save on postage]], I'll just poison him with'' this!"
<!-- %%Image source: http://poagao.com/blog/ -->
|'''Yzma''', ''[[The Emperor's New Groove]]''}}


So you've got your [[Big Bad]] [[Evil Overlord]], looming over the world like a colossus. But he can't just [[Orcus on His Throne|putz around on his throne]] or [[Kingpin in His Gym|hang out in his gym]] all day long, waiting for the [[Big Damn Heroes]] to show up and kick his butt. And while [[The Omniscient Council of Vagueness]] doesn't seem to do much but [[We Wait|sit around and wait]] while spouting off cryptic nonsense, they've got to have some sort of [[Hidden Agenda Villain|hidden agenda]] to hide or there isn't much of a point.
{{quote|''"Ah, how shall I do it? Ooh, I know. I'll turn him into a flea, a harmless little flea, and then I'll put that flea in a box, and then I'll put that box inside of another box, and then I'll mail that box to myself, and when it arrives, ahahaha... ''[[Memetic Mutation|I'LL SMASH IT WITH A HAMMER!]]'' It's brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, I tell you! Genius, I say!'' ([[That Poor Plant|BAM]]) '' ...Or, [[Cutting the Knot|to save on postage]], I'll just poison him with'' this!"|'''Yzma''', ''[[The Emperors New Groove (Disney)|The Emperors New Groove]]''}}


So they've got to have a [[Plan]]. An '''Evil Plan'''. [[The Villain Makes the Plot|Otherwise there's not much of a story, is there?]]
So you've got your [[Big Bad]] [[Evil Overlord]], looming over the world like a colossus. But he can't just [[Orcus On His Throne|putz around on his throne]] or [[Kingpin in His Gym|hang out in his gym]] all day long, waiting for the [[Big Damn Heroes]] to show up and kick his butt. And while [[The Omniscient Council of Vagueness]] doesn't seem to do much but [[We Wait|sit around and wait]] while spouting off cryptic nonsense, they've got to have some sort of [[Hidden Agenda Villain|hidden agenda]] to hide or there isn't much of a point.

So they've got to have a [[Plan]]. An evil plan. [[The Villain Makes the Plot|Otherwise there's not much of a story, is there?]]

''If you are looking for [[Evil Plan (Webcomic)|Evil Plan the webcomic try here.]]''


Some popular examples of Evil Plans:
Some popular examples of Evil Plans:


* ''[[Take Over the World]]'': [[That Guy With the Glasses|Of course!]] Probably the most popular villainous scheme of all. The scale of conquest can vary depending on the setting -- some warlords are content to settle with conquering a kingdom or nation, while [[Science Fiction]] overlords will go for nothing less than galactic, universal or even multidimensional domination.
* ''[[Take Over the World]]'': [[That Guy With The Glasses|Of course!]] Probably the most popular villainous scheme of all. The scale of conquest can vary depending on the setting—some warlords are content to settle with conquering a kingdom or nation, while [[Science Fiction]] overlords will go for nothing less than galactic, universal or even multidimensional domination.
** ''[[The Evils of Free Will]]'' is a popular means to this end: by robbing everyone of their free will, they will have no choice but to serve their rightful ruler!
** ''[[The Evils of Free Will]]'' is a popular means to this end: by robbing everyone of their free will, they will have no choice but to serve their rightful ruler!
* ''[[Earthshattering Kaboom|Destroy The World]]'': Why take over the world when you can blow it up? Like [[Take Over the World]], the scale of destruction also varies depending on the setting -- some villains are content with merely destroying a city or kingdom (particularly if they feel the city or kingdom has somehow wronged them -- see ''Vengeance Is Mine''), while [[Science Fiction]] [[Omnicidal Maniac|Omnicidal Maniacs]] may well wish nothing less than to destroy the entire universe or multiverse.
* ''[[Earthshattering Kaboom|Destroy The World]]'': Why take over the world when you can blow it up? Like [[Take Over the World]], the scale of destruction also varies depending on the setting—some villains are content with merely destroying a city or kingdom (particularly if they feel the city or kingdom has somehow wronged them—see ''Vengeance Is Mine''), while [[Science Fiction]] [[Omnicidal Maniac]]s may well wish nothing less than to destroy the entire universe or multiverse.
* ''[[Kill All Humans|Kill All The Humans]]'': No one's going to miss [[Humans Are Bastards|the little bastards]], right?
* ''[[Kill All Humans|Kill All The Humans]]'': No one's going to miss [[Humans Are the Real Monsters|the little bastards]], right?
* ''[[Omnicidal Maniac|Kill Everything]]'': Why stop with just the humans?
* ''[[Omnicidal Maniac|Kill Everything]]'': Why stop with just the humans?
* ''[[The End of the World As We Know It|Cause The Apocalypse]]'': Not so much destroying the world or humanity as really screwing up civilization; though the former two may be involved in the bargain.
* ''[[The End of the World as We Know It|Cause The Apocalypse]]'': Not so much destroying the world or humanity as really screwing up civilization; though the former two may be involved in the bargain.
* ''[[A God Am I|Gain]] '''[[A God Am I|UNLIMITED POWERRRRR!!!!]]''''': Don't just play God, BE God!
* ''[[A God Am I|Gain]] '''[[A God Am I|UNLIMITED POWERRRRR!!!!]]''''': Don't just play God, BE God!
* ''[[Immortality|Live Forever]]'': Pursue the quest for eternal life, no matter what [[Powered By a Forsaken Child|foul deeds]] are needed to make it happen.
* ''[[Immortality|Live Forever]]'': Pursue the quest for eternal life, no matter what [[Powered by a Forsaken Child|foul deeds]] are needed to make it happen.
* ''[[MacGuffin|Grand Theft Macguffin]]'': Steal an ancient artifact with untold powers. Of course, this is usually done in the pursuit of one of the other Evil Plans.
* ''[[MacGuffin|Grand Theft Macguffin]]'': Steal an ancient artifact with untold powers. Of course, this is usually done in the pursuit of one of the other Evil Plans.
* ''[[Sealed Evil in A Can|Unleash The Evil]]'': Release the source of all Evil from its prison. [[Evil Is Not a Toy|This rarely goes well for the villain attempting it]].
* ''[[Sealed Evil in a Can|Unleash The Evil]]'': Release the source of all Evil from its prison. [[Evil Is Not a Toy|This rarely goes well for the villain attempting it]].
* ''[[Revenge|Vengeance Is Mine!]]'': You know that guy that wronged you in the past? It doesn't matter how [[Disproportionate Retribution|petty]] or misplaced your grievance is, it's payback time! Time to kill the bastard, or make his life a living hell!
* ''[[Revenge|Vengeance Is Mine!]]'': You know that guy that wronged you in the past? It doesn't matter how [[Disproportionate Retribution|petty]] or misplaced your grievance is, it's payback time! Time to kill the bastard, or make his life a living hell!
* ''[[Get Rich Quick Scheme|Get Rich Quick]]'': Or, if you're already rich, get richer. Any scheme is fair game in the pursuit of the profit margin, be it theft, blackmail, or auctioning the world off to hungry demons. Unfortunately, this lust for wealth [[Step Three Profit|falls prey to poor planning]].
* ''[[Get Rich Quick Scheme|Get Rich Quick]]'': Or, if you're already rich, get richer. Any scheme is fair game in the pursuit of the profit margin, be it theft, blackmail, or auctioning the world off to hungry demons. Unfortunately, this lust for wealth [[Step Three: Profit|falls prey to poor planning]].
* ''[[Utopia Justifies the Means|Create A Perfect Society]]'': You know how people keep hurting themselves and each other? Make them stop, by whatever means are necessary. [[Well Intentioned Extremist|No ill will required]]! Just like in [[Take Over the World]], [[The Evils of Free Will]] often gets put into play here.
* ''[[Utopia Justifies the Means|Create A Perfect Society]]'': You know how people keep hurting themselves and each other? Make them stop, by whatever means are necessary. [[Well-Intentioned Extremist|No ill will required]]! Just like in [[Take Over the World]], [[The Evils of Free Will]] often gets put into play here.
* ''[[Poke the Poodle|Ignore A "Keep Off The Grass" Sign]]'': [[Arson Murder and Jaywalking|...Wait, what?]]
* ''[[Poke the Poodle|Ignore A "Keep Off The Grass" Sign]]'': [[Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking|...Wait, what?]]


Normally, these are accomplished with [[Stock Evil Overlord Tactics]]. Of course, most of the smaller-scope plans can usually be accomplished [[Mundane Solution|in a less grandiose fashion]].
Normally, these are accomplished with [[Stock Evil Overlord Tactics]]. Of course, most of the smaller-scope plans can usually be accomplished [[Mundane Solution|in a less grandiose fashion]].


Can involve a [[Xanatos Gambit]] but ONLY if the [[Evil Plan]] is arranged so that whatever the heroes do helps the villain in some way. See the trope page for details.
Can involve a [[Xanatos Gambit]] but ''only'' if the '''Evil Plan''' is arranged so that whatever the heroes do helps the villain in some way. See the trope page for details.


''If you are looking for [[Evil Plan (webcomic)|Evil Plan the webcomic try here.]]''
{{examples|Examples:}}


{{examples}}
== Anime ==
== Anime and Manga ==
* [[Windaria (Anime)|Windaria]] has {{spoiler|Lagado}} who wants to take over Lunaria and while he's not the reason Alan gets involved, he does provide the means.
* ''[[Windaria]]'' has {{spoiler|Lagado}} who wants to take over Lunaria and while he's not the reason Alan gets involved, he does provide the means.
* [[Naruto]]: Each [[Big Bad]] had their own
* ''[[Naruto]]'': Each [[Big Bad]] had their own
** Orochimaru wanted to [[Mega Manning|learn every jutsu]] and [[Immortality Immorality|live forever,]] though he also tried to destroy Konoha and start a war [[For the Evulz]].
** Orochimaru wanted to [[Mega Manning|learn every jutsu]] and [[Immortality Immorality|live forever,]] though he also tried to destroy Konoha and start a war [[For the Evulz]].
** Pain wanted [[Utopia Justifies the Means|a world without war.]]
** Pain wanted [[Utopia Justifies the Means|a world without war.]]
** Tobi wants to eradicate [[The Evils of Free Will]].
** Tobi wants to eradicate [[The Evils of Free Will]].
** And Kabuto wants...[[Jerkass Woobie|someone to notice him.]] Via [[Power Parasite]] [[Mega Manning]] and [[War for Fun And Profit]].
** And Kabuto wants...[[Jerkass Woobie|someone to notice him.]] Via [[Power Parasite]] [[Mega Manning]] and [[War for Fun and Profit]].
* [[Dragonball]]
* ''[[Dragon Ball]]''
** Emperor Pilaf wanted to [[Take Over the World]] for the usual reasons.
** Emperor Pilaf wanted to [[Take Over the World]] for the usual reasons.
** Frieza wanted to become immortal. After Goku kicks his ass, his goal changes to [[Earthshattering Kaboom|destroying the world]] for revenge on him.
** Frieza wanted to become immortal. After Goku kicks his ass, his goal changes to [[Earthshattering Kaboom|destroying the world]] for revenge on him.
** Cell wanted to destroy the world ''and'' kill Goku because he was programmed to, but possibly [[For the Evulz]] as well.
** Cell wanted to destroy the world ''and'' kill Goku because he was programmed to, but possibly [[For the Evulz]] as well.
** Etc.
** Etc.
* The villains of [[Sailor Moon]] have their own plans but they all want to collect [[MacGuffin|Macguffins]] for power, like energy or heart crystals etc and used the [[Monster of the Week]] format to get them.
* The villains of ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' have their own plans but they all want to collect [[MacGuffin]]s for power, like energy or heart crystals etc and used the [[Monster of the Week]] format to get them.
* [[Inukami (Anime)|Inukami]] Two (maybe three) major villains with plans ranging from 'erase the nudity taboo so I can walk naked in public without shame' to 'push people beyond the [[Despair Event Horizon]] because I am a [[Emotion Eater]]'
* ''[[Inukami!]]'' Two (maybe three) major villains with plans ranging from 'erase the nudity taboo so I can walk naked in public without shame' to 'push people beyond the [[Despair Event Horizon]] because I am a [[Emotion Eater]]'
* [[Bleach]]'s [[Big Bad|Sousuke Aizen]] either wants to "[[A God Am I|fill the unbearable vacancy in heaven]]" or create a [[Worthy Opponent]] for himself. Either way, he steals the Hougyoku and plans to use it to create the Royal Key, as the first step toward attacking the Spirit King.
* ''[[Bleach]]''{{'}}s [[Big Bad|Sousuke Aizen]] either wants to "[[A God Am I|fill the unbearable vacancy in heaven]]" or create a [[Worthy Opponent]] for himself. Either way, he steals the Hougyoku and plans to use it to create the Royal Key, as the first step toward attacking the Spirit King.
* [[Kekkaishi (Manga)|Kekkaishi]] The first [[Big Bad]] wanted to take over Katasumori to restore his [[Ill Girl]] princess back to life.
* ''[[Kekkaishi]]'': The first [[Big Bad]] wanted to take over Katasumori to restore his [[Ill Girl]] princess back to life.
* [[Cowboy Bebop]] has a number of villains but the recurring one, [[Names to Run Away From Really Fast|Vicious]], wants to take over the Red Dragon Syndicate and settle a long-time score with Spike Spiegel.
* ''[[Cowboy Bebop]]'' has a number of villains but the recurring one, [[Names to Run Away From Really Fast|Vicious]], wants to take over the Red Dragon Syndicate and settle a long-time score with Spike Spiegel.
* [[Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water (Anime)|Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water]] features Gargoyle, another [[Take Over the World]] villain. Its a popular goal.
* ''[[Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water]]'' features Gargoyle, another [[Take Over the World]] villain. It's a popular goal.
* Two [[Big Bad|BigBads]] with seperate goals in [[Fullmetal Alchemist]], depending on the source. In the first anime, Dante wants to [[Immortality Seeker|live forever]]; in the second, Father wants to [[A God Am I|become a god]] by eating Truth.
* There are two [[Big Bad]]s with separate goals in ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'', depending on the source. In the first anime, Dante wants to [[Immortality Seeker|live forever]]; in the second, Father wants to [[A God Am I|become a god]] by eating Truth.
* In ''[[Death Note (Manga)|Death Note]]'', Light Yagami wanted a world without crime or evil, and for those pesky cops to stay out of his way. Light being [[The Chessmaster|Light]], [[Gambit Pileup|everything goes just according to keikaku]]. ([[Footnote Fever|TL note]]: [[Gratuitous Japanese|"Keikaku"]] [[Gag Sub|means]] [[Memetic Mutation|plan]]). [[Villain Protagonist|"Evil"]] [[Black and Grey Morality|has a loose value in this series.]]
* In ''[[Death Note]]'', Light Yagami wanted a world without crime or evil, and for those pesky cops to stay out of his way. Light being [[The Chessmaster|Light]], [[Gambit Pileup|everything goes just according to keikaku]]. ([[Footnote Fever|TL note]]: [[Gratuitous Japanese|"Keikaku"]] [[Gag Sub|means]] [[Memetic Mutation|plan]]). [[Villain Protagonist|"Evil"]] [[Black and Grey Morality|has a loose value in this series.]]
* [[Cardcaptor Sakura (Manga)|Cardcaptor Sakura]]: Invoked by Eriol. He pretends to be a shadowy villain with a devious agenda to give Sakura opportunities to transform the Clow Cards.
* ''[[Cardcaptor Sakura]]'': Invoked by Eriol. He pretends to be a shadowy villain with a devious agenda to give Sakura opportunities to transform the Clow Cards.
* [[Wedding Peach (Anime)|Wedding Peach]]: The [[Big Bad]] Reindevila and her devil minions are {{spoiler|afarid of angels attacking them}} [[Allergic to Love]] so they try to ruin relationships {{spoiler|The source of angel power}} and find the Saint Something Four, which amplifies love waves {{spoiler|and according to a prophecy, would destroy their world.}}
* ''[[Wedding Peach]]'': The [[Big Bad]] Reindevila and her devil minions are {{spoiler|afarid of angels attacking them}} [[Allergic to Love]] so they try to ruin relationships {{spoiler|The source of angel power}} and find the Saint Something Four, which amplifies love waves {{spoiler|and according to a prophecy, would destroy their world.}}
* [[Astro Boy (Anime)|Astro Boy]]: Skunk has them when he appears; usually either revenge on Astro or making money. Tenma's larger scale plan is a world where robots rule the world and are ruled by Astro himself.
* ''[[Astro Boy (anime)|Astro Boy]]'': Skunk has them when he appears; usually either revenge on Astro or making money. Tenma's larger scale plan is a world where robots rule the world and are ruled by Astro himself.
* [[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha (Anime)|Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]: A strange example as it there isn't one until [[Dark Magical Girl|Fate]] shows up. Yuno just needed help recovering artifacts scattered by an actident. Eventually its revealed that {{spoiler|Precia wanted the jewel seeds to revive her real daughter and 'go back to way things used to be.}}
* ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha (anime)|Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]'': A strange example as it there isn't one until [[Dark Magical Girl|Fate]] shows up. Yuno just needed help recovering artifacts scattered by an actident. Eventually its revealed that {{spoiler|Precia wanted the jewel seeds to revive her real daughter and 'go back to way things used to be.}}
* [[Sister Princess (Light Novel)|Sister Princess]]:[[Designated Villain|For a given value of evil]] {{spoiler|Akio's plan to seperate Wataru from his sister and Promise Island is the only thing resembling an overarching plot in the series and forms the climax.}}
* ''[[Sister Princess]]'': [[Designated Villain|For a given value of evil]] -- {{spoiler|Akio's plan to separate Wataru from his sisters and Promise Island is the only thing resembling an overarching plot in the series and forms the climax.}}
* [[Flame of Recca (Manga)|Flame of Recca]]: [[Big Bad]] Mori Kouran wants to capture Yanagi because he thinks her Healing powers will make him immortal. [[The Hero|Recca]] gets involved because [[Lady and Knight|she's his princess and he has to protect her.]]
* ''[[Flame of Recca]]'': [[Big Bad]] Mori Kouran wants to capture Yanagi because he thinks her Healing powers will make him immortal. [[The Hero|Recca]] gets involved because [[Lady and Knight|she's his princess and he has to protect her.]]


== Fanfiction ==
* [[Ultimate Spider Woman (Fanfic)|Ultimate Spider Woman]] 'Change With The Light' did this with Jack O'Lantern, Spider-Woman's [[Arch Enemy]] as well. Jack immediately minimizes most of the risk to himself by using [[Corrupt Corporate Executive]] Phillip Watson as his mind-controlled dupe and making it look like ''Phillip'' is the one pulling the strings. Jack is giving Phillip instructions on what to say and do, and makes sure to delete all his correspondence with Phillip so it can't be traced back to him. The plan works out just as he'd hoped -- the resulting [[Mob War]] decimates two of New York City's crime syndicates, allows him to begin implementing his [[Legion of Doom]] plan to set up a new supervillain crime organization, Phillip is blamed for the whole thing and Jack gets off scot-free, and he manages to give Spider-Woman a [[No Holds Barred Beatdown]] as the final delicious twist.


== Fan Works ==
* ''[[Ultimate SpiderWoman: Change With the Light]]'' did this with Jack O'Lantern, Spider-Woman's [[Arch Enemy]] as well. Jack immediately minimizes most of the risk to himself by using [[Corrupt Corporate Executive]] Phillip Watson as his mind-controlled dupe and making it look like ''Phillip'' is the one pulling the strings. Jack is giving Phillip instructions on what to say and do, and makes sure to delete all his correspondence with Phillip so it can't be traced back to him. The plan works out just as he'd hoped—the resulting [[Mob War]] decimates two of New York City's crime syndicates, allows him to begin implementing his [[Legion of Doom]] plan to set up a new supervillain crime organization, Phillip is blamed for the whole thing and Jack gets off scot-free, and he manages to give Spider-Woman a [[No-Holds-Barred Beatdown]] as the final delicious twist.


== Film ==
== Film ==
* Every ''[[James Bond (Film)|James Bond]]'' villain has had one of these:.
* Every ''[[James Bond (film)|James Bond]]'' villain has had one of these:.
** [[Dr. No (Film)|Dr. No]]'s plan was to topple American rockets from his island base as part of a mission from [[Nebulous Evil Organization|SPECTRE]], probably with a hostile foreign power as a client.
** [[Dr. No]]'s plan was to topple American rockets from his island base as part of a mission from [[Nebulous Evil Organization|SPECTRE]], probably with a hostile foreign power as a client.
** Kronsteen and Rosa Klebb in ''[[From Russia With Love (Film)|From Russia With Love]]'' wanted to steal a cryptographic device from the Soviets and sell it back to them, as well as take revenge on Bond for killing Dr. No. This was also a SPECTRE mission.
** Kronsteen and Rosa Klebb in ''[[From Russia with Love]]'' wanted to steal a cryptographic device from the Soviets and sell it back to them, as well as take revenge on Bond for killing Dr. No. This was also a SPECTRE mission.
** ''[[Goldfinger (Film)|Goldfinger]]'''s scheme was to nuke Fort Knox to devalue American gold and increase the value of his own.
** ''[[Goldfinger]]'''s scheme was to nuke Fort Knox to devalue American gold and increase the value of his own.
** Emilio Largo's plan in ''[[Thunderball (Film)|Thunderball]]'' was to steal two nuclear missiles and try to get ransom from the U.S. by threatening to launch them. This, too, was a mission from SPECTRE.
** Emilio Largo's plan in ''[[Thunderball]]'' was to steal two nuclear missiles and try to get ransom from the U.S. by threatening to launch them. This, too, was a mission from SPECTRE.
** Blofeld's plan in ''[[You Only Live Twice (Film)|You Only Live Twice]]'' was to start World War III by destroying American and Russian spacecraft and framing the other. Again, SPECTRE had been hired to do this by a hostile foreign power.
** Blofeld's plan in ''[[You Only Live Twice]]'' was to start World War III by destroying American and Russian spacecraft and framing the other. Again, SPECTRE had been hired to do this by a hostile foreign power.
** Blofeld's plan in ''[[On Her Majesty's Secret Service (Film)|On Her Majesty's Secret Service]]'' involves hypnotising a group of 12 unwitting divas and arming them with a virus that causes infertility in the plant and animal life of his choosing, unless the world meets his demands of immunity from past crimes and to be recognised as a Count.
** Blofeld's plan in ''[[On Her Majesty's Secret Service]]'' involves hypnotising a group of 12 unwitting divas and arming them with a virus that causes infertility in the plant and animal life of his choosing, unless the world meets his demands of immunity from past crimes and to be recognised as a Count.
** Blofeld's plan in ''[[Diamonds Are Forever (Film)|Diamonds Are Forever]]'' is to use stolen diamonds to build a [[Kill Sat]] and hold the world hostage.
** Blofeld's plan in ''[[Diamonds Are Forever]]'' is to use stolen diamonds to build a [[Kill Sat]] and hold the world hostage.
** Kananga/Mr. Big from ''[[Live and Let Die (Film)|Live and Let Die]]'' wanted to corner the heroin market.
** Kananga/Mr. Big from ''[[Live and Let Die (film)|Live and Let Die]]'' wanted to corner the heroin market.
** Scaramanga, ''[[The Man With the Golden Gun (Film)|The Man With the Golden Gun]]'', wanted to corner the market on solar power during the '73-'74 energy crisis. Bit of an [[Excuse Plot]]- the real meat of the story is that Scaramanga has abused his girlfriend one too many times and she has duped Bond into going after him by making it look like Scaramanga has taken a contract on his life.
** Scaramanga, ''[[The Man with the Golden Gun]]'', wanted to corner the market on solar power during the '73-'74 energy crisis. Bit of an [[Excuse Plot]]- the real meat of the story is that Scaramanga has abused his girlfriend one too many times and she has duped Bond into going after him by making it look like Scaramanga has taken a contract on his life.
** Stromberg from ''[[The Spy Who Loved Me (Film)|The Spy Who Loved Me]]'' wanted to start World War III by hijacking nuclear submarines and launching them at New York and Moscow respectively, as in ''[[You Only Live Twice (Film)|You Only Live Twice]]'' framing both countries a perpetrators of the others plan. He will then build and rule an underwater city as a paradise for the survivors to rebuild civilization. Yes, [[Your Insane|he is insane.]]
** Stromberg from ''[[The Spy Who Loved Me]]'' wanted to start World War III by hijacking nuclear submarines and launching them at New York and Moscow respectively, as in ''[[You Only Live Twice]]'' framing both countries a perpetrators of the others plan. He will then build and rule an underwater city as a paradise for the survivors to rebuild civilization. Yes, [[You're Insane!|he is insane.]]
** The plan of Hugo Drax of ''[[Moonraker (Film)|Moonraker]]'' was the annihilation of the human race in order to repopulate the world with his own "ideal" specimens. Given that the original villain of ''[[Moonraker (Literature)|Moonraker]]'' was a Nazi, this shouldn't come as much of a surprise.
** The plan of Hugo Drax of ''[[Moonraker]]'' was the annihilation of the human race in order to repopulate the world with his own "ideal" specimens. Given that the original villain of ''[[Moonraker (novel)|Moonraker]]'' was a Nazi, this shouldn't come as much of a surprise.
** Kristatos in ''[[For Your Eyes Only (Film)|For Your Eyes Only]]'' wants to recover a [[MacGuffin]] for the [[KGB]], and to manipulate Bond into assassinating his rival as a bonus.
** Kristatos in ''[[For Your Eyes Only (film)|For Your Eyes Only]]'' wants to recover a [[MacGuffin]] for the [[KGB]], and to manipulate Bond into assassinating his rival as a bonus.
** [[Renegade Russian]] General Orlov in ''[[Octopussy (Film)|Octopussy]]'' wanted to detonate a nuclear warhead on an American base (making it seem like an American accident), forcing the US to pull out of Europe and leaving it vulnerable to Soviet conquest. He is in a [[Big Bad Duumvirate]] with [[Diabolical Mastermind]] Kamal Khan who is getting paid for it, and hopes to kill his boss / partner in crime in the process and take over her organization afterwards.
** [[Renegade Russian]] General Orlov in ''[[Octopussy]]'' wanted to detonate a nuclear warhead on an American base (making it seem like an American accident), forcing the US to pull out of Europe and leaving it vulnerable to Soviet conquest. He is in a [[Big Bad Duumvirate]] with [[Diabolical Mastermind]] Kamal Khan who is getting paid for it, and hopes to kill his boss / partner in crime in the process and take over her organization afterwards.
** Max Zorin's ultimate plan in ''[[A View to A Kill (Film)|A View to A Kill]]'' is to detonate explosives along the Hayward and San Andreas Faults, causing them to flood. The other major bomb was set to destroy a "geological lock" that's in place to prevent the two faults from moving, causing a double earthquake that would destroy Silicon Valley, leaving his microchip company with a monopoly.
** Max Zorin's ultimate plan in ''[[A View to a Kill]]'' is to detonate explosives along the Hayward and San Andreas Faults, causing them to flood. The other major bomb was set to destroy a "geological lock" that's in place to prevent the two faults from moving, causing a double earthquake that would destroy Silicon Valley, leaving his microchip company with a monopoly.
** The evil plan of [[Big Bad Duumviarate]] General Koskov and Brad Whitaker in ''[[The Living Daylights (Film)|The Living Daylights]]'' is to get ludicrously rich using the profits from a large shipment of opium paid for using diamonds and to repay the loan from the Russkies they took and are a bit late in returning, as well as pitting the British against the KGB chief who is on to them by framing him for murdering British agents.
** The evil plan of [[Big Bad Duumvirate]] General Koskov and Brad Whitaker in ''[[The Living Daylights]]'' is to get ludicrously rich using the profits from a large shipment of opium paid for using diamonds and to repay the loan from the Russkies they took and are a bit late in returning, as well as pitting the British against the KGB chief who is on to them by framing him for murdering British agents.
** Sanchez's scheme in ''[[Licence to Kill (Film)|Licence to Kill]]'' involves cocaine hidden in gasoline sold to Asian drug dealers, conducted via a televangelist, revolutionizing the drug smuggling business. He's also bought Stinger missiles from the Contras and is threatening to use them on American airliners if the DEA didn't back off. The story, however, is more about Bond's [[Roaring Rampage of Revenge]] for what Sanchez and his people did to Felix Leiter and his new wife.
** Sanchez's scheme in ''[[Licence to Kill]]'' involves cocaine hidden in gasoline sold to Asian drug dealers, conducted via a televangelist, revolutionizing the drug smuggling business. He's also bought Stinger missiles from the Contras and is threatening to use them on American airliners if the DEA didn't back off. The story, however, is more about Bond's [[Roaring Rampage of Revenge]] for what Sanchez and his people did to Felix Leiter and his new wife.
** Alec Trevelyan of ''[[Goldeneye (Film)|Goldeneye]]'' sought revenge against the British government for betraying his family, who were Lienz Cossacks sent back to Stalin, by detonating the titular [[Kill Sat]] over London. Furthermore, he planned to steal billions of pounds from the Bank of England -- as well as all sorts of data like credit ratings, land registers and criminal records -- and the records of the transactions will be zapped, leaving him very rich and leaving the British -- and indeed, the world -- economy in shambles.
** Alec Trevelyan of ''[[GoldenEye (film)|GoldenEye]]'' sought revenge against the British government for betraying his family, who were Lienz Cossacks sent back to Stalin, by detonating the titular [[Kill Sat]] over London. Furthermore, he planned to steal billions of pounds from the Bank of England—as well as all sorts of data like credit ratings, land registers and criminal records—and the records of the transactions will be zapped, leaving him very rich and leaving the British—and indeed, the world—economy in shambles.
** Elliot Carver of ''[[Tomorrow Never Dies (Film)|Tomorrow Never Dies]]'' wanted to start a war between the West and China to increase the ratings of his media empire, and then to murder the Chinese government so his ally in the military could take over, who would give him exclusive media access (China being the only country in the world that refused him broadcast rights after he gained the ability to reach the entire world with his new satellite system).
** Elliot Carver of ''[[Tomorrow Never Dies]]'' wanted to start a war between the West and China to increase the ratings of his media empire, and then to murder the Chinese government so his ally in the military could take over, who would give him exclusive media access (China being the only country in the world that refused him broadcast rights after he gained the ability to reach the entire world with his new satellite system).
** ''[[The World Is Not Enough (Film)|The World Is Not Enough]]'' has Elektra King and Renard scheming to raise petroleum prices by triggering a nuclear meltdown in the waters of Istanbul, destroying every oil pipeline except for hers and giving her a monopoly on Europe's oil.
** ''[[The World Is Not Enough]]'' has Elektra King and Renard scheming to raise petroleum prices by triggering a nuclear meltdown in the waters of Istanbul, destroying every oil pipeline except for hers and giving her a monopoly on Europe's oil.
** ''[[Die Another Day (Film)|Die Another Day]]'''s [[Big Bad]], Gustav Graves, takes a page from Blofeld's book from ''[[Diamonds Are Forever (Film)|Diamonds Are Forever]]'' and uses a diamond-powered [[Kill Sat]] that runs on solar energy. He sought to use it to help North Korea take over the South, as well as Japan and presumably elsewhere (he is actually a corrupt North Korean colonel [[Faking the Dead]] and in disguise as a wealthy [[Corrupt Corporate Executive]]).
** ''[[Die Another Day]]'''s [[Big Bad]], Gustav Graves, takes a page from Blofeld's book from ''[[Diamonds Are Forever]]'' and uses a diamond-powered [[Kill Sat]] that runs on solar energy. He sought to use it to help North Korea take over the South, as well as Japan and presumably elsewhere (he is actually a corrupt North Korean colonel [[Faking the Dead]] and in disguise as a wealthy [[Corrupt Corporate Executive]]).
** ''[[Casino Royale (Film)|Casino Royale]]'' involves one bad guy, criminal banker Le Chiffre, who short-sells successful companies and engineers terrorist attacks in order to sink their stock values and turn a profit. The other bad guys are his superiors and clients who are pissed because he is doing this with their funds and behind their back. Bond screws up Le Chiffre's plan by foiling a terrorist attack and Le Chiffre has to hold and win a multi-million dollar poker tournament to pay his clients back. Bond is there to win it to force Le Chiffre to sell out his clients and superiors to [[MI 6]] in return for sanctuary before the other villains track him down and kill him.
** ''[[Casino Royale]]'' involves one bad guy, criminal banker Le Chiffre, who short-sells successful companies and engineers terrorist attacks in order to sink their stock values and turn a profit. The other bad guys are his superiors and clients who are pissed because he is doing this with their funds and behind their back. Bond screws up Le Chiffre's plan by foiling a terrorist attack and Le Chiffre has to hold and win a multi-million dollar poker tournament to pay his clients back. Bond is there to win it to force Le Chiffre to sell out his clients and superiors to [[MI 6]] in return for sanctuary before the other villains track him down and kill him.
** ''[[Quantum of Solace (Film)|Quantum of Solace]]'' involves Dominic Greene wanting to hold the revolutionary government-to-be of Bolivia over a barrel by controlling the majority of the {{spoiler|water and not oil}} through a system of planned underground demolitions.
** ''[[Quantum of Solace]]'' involves Dominic Greene wanting to hold the revolutionary government-to-be of Bolivia over a barrel by controlling the majority of the {{spoiler|water and not oil}} through a system of planned underground demolitions.
** And while we're at it, ''[[Never Say Never Again (Film)|Never Say Never Again]]'' is a rehash of ''Thunderball'' with SPECTRE hijacking nuclear weapons and holding the world hostage; ''[[Casino Royale 1967]]'' spoof is much the same as above, except Le Chiffre is (as in the novel) working for SMERSH instead of terrorists and his double-dealings (which, again like the novel, has nothing to do with Bond) are a side-plot to SMERSH's master plan, which involves murdering spies all over the world (like the [[Real Life]] SMERSH, a Soviet counter-intelligence agency) and to fill the world with a biological agent at the behest of its [[Diabolical Mastermind]] Doctor Noah {{spoiler|aka Jimmy Bond, the ''real'' James Bond's nephew, a.k.a. Woody Allen}}. The agent will kill all men over 4'6" (his height) and make all women beautiful; in other words leaving him as the "big man" who gets all the girls.
** And while we're at it, ''[[Never Say Never Again]]'' is a rehash of ''Thunderball'' with SPECTRE hijacking nuclear weapons and holding the world hostage; ''[[Casino Royale 1967]]'' spoof is much the same as above, except Le Chiffre is (as in the novel) working for SMERSH instead of terrorists and his double-dealings (which, again like the novel, has nothing to do with Bond) are a side-plot to SMERSH's master plan, which involves murdering spies all over the world (like the [[Real Life]] SMERSH, a Soviet counter-intelligence agency) and to fill the world with a biological agent at the behest of its [[Diabolical Mastermind]] Doctor Noah {{spoiler|aka Jimmy Bond, the ''real'' James Bond's nephew, a.k.a. Woody Allen}}. The agent will kill all men over 4'6" (his height) and make all women beautiful; in other words leaving him as the "big man" who gets all the girls.
* Dr. Leopold from [[MST3K]]-film ''[[The Blood Waters of Dr. Z]]'' has one of these on a huge chart with each step illustrated, and which he crosses off as he completes them.
* Dr. Leopold from [[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]-film ''[[The Blood Waters of Dr. Z]]'' has one of these on a huge chart with each step illustrated, and which he crosses off as he completes them.
* The Kagenos' true goal in ''[[Robo Geisha (Film)|Robo Geisha]]'' is to drop an atomic bomb into Mt. Fuji, which they believe will destroy Japan so that they can rebuild it in their own image.
* The Kagenos' true goal in ''[[Robo Geisha]]'' is to drop an atomic bomb into Mt. Fuji, which they believe will destroy Japan so that they can rebuild it in their own image.
* [[Season of the Witch]]: The villain {{spoiler|is a demon who seeks the only book with the knowledge of how to banish it back to Hell in order to destroy it}} and the entire movie is the heroes helping them find it.
* ''[[Season of the Witch]]'': The villain {{spoiler|is a demon who seeks the only book with the knowledge of how to banish it back to Hell in order to destroy it}} and the entire movie is the heroes helping them find it.
** Also a case of [[Using You All Along]].
** Also a case of [[Using You All Along]].
* Many, many Disney villains have these.
* Many, many Disney villains have these.
** [[Hercules (Disney)|Hercules]] had a take over the world thing
** ''[[Hercules (1997 film)||Hercules]]'' had a take over the world thing
** [[Snow White (Disney)|Snow White]] was more about vanity; "Then I'LL be fairest in the land!"
** ''[[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Disney film)|Snow White]]''{{'}}s Evil Queen was more about vanity; "Then I'LL be fairest in the land!"
** [[Peter Pan (Disney)|Peter Pan]] was Hook's revenge on the protagonist.
** ''[[Peter Pan (Disney film)|Peter Pan]]'' was Hook's revenge on the protagonist.
** ''[[The Emperors New Groove (Disney)|The Emperors New Groove]]'' (the page quote) also had the take over the world thing. A remarkable example as the [[Big Bad]] started out with the traditional elaborate plan then [[State the Simple Solution|pointed out the simple method herself.]]
** ''[[The Emperor's New Groove]]'' (the page quote) also had the take over the world thing. A remarkable example as the [[Big Bad]] started out with the traditional elaborate plan then [[State the Simple Solution|pointed out the simple method herself.]]
* ''[[Austin Powers|Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery]]'' parodies this trope. Dr. Evil explains various evil plans only for his [[Number Two]] to point that they already have happened. At last he throws up his hands and says, "Let's just do what we always do: hijack some nuclear weapons and hold the world hostage."
** etc
* [[Austin Powers International Man of Mystery (Film)|Austin Powers International Man of Mystery]] parodies this trope. Dr.Evil explains various evil plans only for his [[Number Two]] to point that they already have happened. At last he throws up his hands and says, "Let's just do what we always do: hijack some nuclear weapons and hold the world hostage."



== Literature ==
== Literature ==
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* Dr. Impossible's [[Rotating Protagonist|half]] of ''[[Soon I Will Be Invincible]]'' revolves around escaping from jail, creating a(nother) new plan to [[Take Over the World]] and putting it into action.
* Dr. Impossible's [[Rotating Protagonist|half]] of ''[[Soon I Will Be Invincible]]'' revolves around escaping from jail, creating a(nother) new plan to [[Take Over the World]] and putting it into action.
* In [[Brandon Sanderson]]'s ''[[Mistborn]]'', we find out at the end of book 2 that {{spoiler|The entire plot of the first and second books were engineered by Ruin in order to get Vin to release him from the Well of Ascension.}} Also, the search for the Lord Rulers' {{spoiler|Atium stockpile}} which took up a good part of book three was {{spoiler|yet another gambit by Ruin}}. Although to be fair, {{spoiler|the Lord Ruler and the Terris prophets [[Gambit Pileup|had planned for this eventuality]]}}.
* In [[Brandon Sanderson]]'s ''[[Mistborn]]'', we find out at the end of book 2 that {{spoiler|The entire plot of the first and second books were engineered by Ruin in order to get Vin to release him from the Well of Ascension.}} Also, the search for the Lord Rulers' {{spoiler|Atium stockpile}} which took up a good part of book three was {{spoiler|yet another gambit by Ruin}}. Although to be fair, {{spoiler|the Lord Ruler and the Terris prophets [[Gambit Pileup|had planned for this eventuality]]}}.
* No matter how minor the case in [[The Dresden Files]], eventually it will turn out to have ''at least'' one of these behind it.
* No matter how minor the case in ''[[The Dresden Files]]'', eventually it will turn out to have ''at least'' one of these behind it.
* [[Discworld (Literature)/Going Postal|Going Postal]]: [[Big Bad]] Gilt wants to corner the communications market by keeping the post office closed. He's Moist's competition through the story.
* ''[[Going Postal (Discworld)|Going Postal]]'': [[Big Bad]] Gilt wants to corner the communications market by keeping the post office closed. He's Moist's competition through the story.


== Live-Action TV ==

* ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'': What do you think [[Jeffrey Combs|Weyoun]] and all his Cardassian underlings talk about in all those staff meetings? Yamak sauce recipes?
== Live Action TV ==
* The [[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|Cylons']] plan in (what else?) ''The Plan''.
* ''[[Star Trek Deep Space Nine]]'': What do you think [[Jeffrey Combs|Weyoun]] and all his Cardassian underlings talk about in all those staff meetings? Yamak sauce recipes?
* ''[[Sherlock]]'': Basically the entirety of episode 3: {{spoiler|Every case Sherlock has to solve ends up having been orchestrated by Moriarty, looking for a fun challenge. It's implied that he, as a consulting criminal, has been arranging a vast array of crimes all over the place.}}
* The [[Battlestar Galactica Reimagined|Cylons']] plan in (what else?) ''The Plan''.
* [[Sherlock (TV)|Sherlock]] Basically the entirety of episode 3: {{spoiler|Every case Sherlock has to solve ends up having been orchestrated by Moriarty, looking for a fun challenge. It's implied that he, as a consulting criminal, has been arranging a vast array of crimes all over the place.}}
** {{spoiler|Subverted in that the [[Kansas City Shuffle|whole thing was to distract Sherlock from the plans]]. Revealed that the plans were a [[McGuffin]], and double-subverted, when Moriarty tosses them away.}}
** {{spoiler|Subverted in that the [[Kansas City Shuffle|whole thing was to distract Sherlock from the plans]]. Revealed that the plans were a [[McGuffin]], and double-subverted, when Moriarty tosses them away.}}
* ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]''. According to their [[Bread Eggs Milk Squick|whiteboard list]] the Trio plan to; "[[Weather Control Machine|Control The Weather]], [[Shrink Ray|Miniaturize]] [[Goldfinger (Film)|Fort Knox]], [[Glamour|Conjure Fake I.D.s]], [[Shrink Ray]], [[All Men Are Perverts|Girls]], [[You Need to Get Laid|Girls,]] The [[Killer Gorilla|Gorilla Thing]], and [[Awesome but Impractical|Workable Prototype]] [[Jet Pack|Jet Packs]]." Oh, and make Buffy their [[Sex Slave]].
* ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]''. According to their [[Bread, Eggs, Milk, Squick|whiteboard list]] the Trio plan to; "[[Weather Control Machine|Control The Weather]], [[Shrink Ray|Miniaturize]] [[Goldfinger|Fort Knox]], [[Glamour|Conjure Fake I.D.s]], [[Shrink Ray]], [[All Men Are Perverts|Girls]], [[You Need to Get Laid|Girls,]] The [[Killer Gorilla|Gorilla Thing]], and [[Awesome but Impractical|Workable Prototype]] [[Jet Pack]]s." Oh, and make Buffy their [[Sex Slave]].


== Theater ==
* [[The Tempest]] A rare heroic version; the entire play is Prospero's [[God Game]] to end his exile from Milan. 'heroic' because all he wants is to get his home back and teach his [[Evil Brother]] a lesson. No one gets hurt, not even the evil brother, and almost all of them go back to Milan as more or less friends.


== Theatre ==
* ''[[The Tempest]]''—A rare heroic version; the entire play is Prospero's [[A God Is You|God Game]] to end his exile from Milan. 'heroic' because all he wants is to get his home back and teach his [[Evil Brother]] a lesson. No one gets hurt, not even the evil brother, and almost all of them go back to Milan as more or less friends.


== Video Games ==
== Video Games ==
* Raphael from the ''[[Soul Series]]'' has some of the most ridiculously insane plans ever devised, [[Love Makes You Evil|all for his adopted daughter]]. In ''Soul Calibur 2'' he planned to destroy the country that he fled from by giving its nobles the Soul Edge on the basis that they would tear the country apart in a demonically-dueled civil war so that the world would..somehow.. be safer for his adopted daughter Amy. In ''Soul Calibur 3'', on discovering that he and Amy had been accidentally turned into [[Our Vampires Are Different|basically vampires]], he decided to turn the ''entire world into creatures like them so Amy wouldn't feel left out''. Amy may constitute a pretty drastic subversion of a [[Morality Pet]].
* Raphael from the ''[[Soul Series]]'' has some of the most ridiculously insane plans ever devised, [[Love Makes You Evil|all for his adopted daughter]]. In ''Soul Calibur 2'' he planned to destroy the country that he fled from by giving its nobles the Soul Edge on the basis that they would tear the country apart in a demonically-dueled civil war so that the world would..somehow.. be safer for his adopted daughter Amy. In ''Soul Calibur 3'', on discovering that he and Amy had been accidentally turned into [[Our Vampires Are Different|basically vampires]], he decided to turn the ''entire world into creatures like them so Amy wouldn't feel left out''. Amy may constitute a pretty drastic subversion of a [[Morality Pet]].
* [[Shining Force III]]: The plot to abduct Emperor Domaric in the third game {{spoiler|is a rare villain-on-villain [[Evil Plan]], perpetrated by Domaric himself. When he hears that one of his sons is plotting to have him killed, blame it on the breakaway republic of Aspinia, and use the resulting war to seize the throne and conquer the rest of the continent, Domaric sends his own agents to infiltrate his son's conspiracy and allows himself to be kidnapped. Then, when the empire's armies are geared up to invade, Domaric has his mole "free" him, takes control of said army, and marches on Aspinia - just as he's wanted ever since the country seceded 20 years before. He even corners his son's partner in the whole plan, to force him to use an ancient superweapon to break down Aspinia's walls for him.}}
* ''[[Shining Force III]]'': The plot to abduct Emperor Domaric in the third game {{spoiler|is a rare villain-on-villain Evil Plan, perpetrated by Domaric himself. When he hears that one of his sons is plotting to have him killed, blame it on the breakaway republic of Aspinia, and use the resulting war to seize the throne and conquer the rest of the continent, Domaric sends his own agents to infiltrate his son's conspiracy and allows himself to be kidnapped. Then, when the empire's armies are geared up to invade, Domaric has his mole "free" him, takes control of said army, and marches on Aspinia - just as he's wanted ever since the country seceded 20 years before. He even corners his son's partner in the whole plan, to force him to use an ancient superweapon to break down Aspinia's walls for him.}}
* [[Tales Series]] often has [[Well Intentioned Extremist]] s but the plot's have the same narrative purpose
* [[Tales (series)|The ''Tales'' series]] often has [[Well-Intentioned Extremist]]s but the plots have the same narrative purpose
** [[Tales of Symphonia (Video Game)|Tales of Symphonia]]: {{spoiler|Mithros wishes to revive his sister and end discrimination, and to do that he splits a world in two and makes them fight over [[Mana]] while his evil army antagonizes the dying one.}} The first part is [[Unwitting Pawn]] and the rest of the game is the heroes unraveling the plan and how to foil it.
** ''[[Tales of Symphonia]]'': {{spoiler|Mithros wishes to revive his sister and end discrimination, and to do that he splits a world in two and makes them fight over [[Mana]] while his evil army antagonizes the dying one.}} The first part is [[Unwitting Pawn]] and the rest of the game is the heroes unraveling the plan and how to foil it.
** [[Tales of the Abyss (Video Game)|Tales of the Abyss]]: The [[Big Bad]] and his minions are more upfront about their goal of ending [[Because Destiny Says So|The Score]] but unraveling the details and creating a counter measure still drives the bulk of the plot
** ''[[Tales of the Abyss]]'': The [[Big Bad]] and his minions are more upfront about their goal of ending [[Because Destiny Says So|The Score]] but unraveling the details and creating a counter measure still drives the bulk of the plot
** [[Tales of Legendia (Video Game)|Tales of Legendia]]: Actually has ''three'' [[Big Bad|BigBads]] and each has their own plot to either [[Take Over the World]] or [[Kill Em All]].
** ''[[Tales of Legendia]]'': Actually has ''three'' [[Big Bad|BigBads]] and each has their own plot to either [[Take Over the World]] or [[Kill'Em All]].
* [[Legend of Dragoon]] likewise has a series of [[Man Behind the Man]] whose plans drive the plot. From Emperor Doel's plan to usurb his homeland to Lloyd's manipulation of that war to collect [[MacGuffin|Macguffins]] to the final [[Big Bad]]'s [[A God Am I]] ambition.
* ''[[Legend of Dragoon]]'' likewise has a series of [[Man Behind the Man]] whose plans drive the plot. From Emperor Doel's plan to usurb his homeland to Lloyd's manipulation of that war to collect [[MacGuffin|Macguffins]] to the final [[Big Bad]]'s [[A God Am I]] ambition.
* In the ''[[Baldurs Gate]]'' series, Bhaal [[War God|the Lord of Murder]] sired the the Bhaalspawn in order to revive himself. They would kill each other until none remained, at which point his essence that was scattered among them would have accumulated, and his chosen follower, Amelyssan, would have performed rituals that would have [[Back From the Dead|brought him back.]] Neither [[Dragon Ascendant|Amelyssan]] nor [[Spanner in The Works|the last Bhaalspawn]] (the protagonist) complied to these plans, however.
* In the ''[[Baldur's Gate]]'' series, Bhaal [[War God|the Lord of Murder]] sired the the Bhaalspawn in order to revive himself. They would kill each other until none remained, at which point his essence that was scattered among them would have accumulated, and his chosen follower, Amelyssan, would have performed rituals that would have [[Back from the Dead|brought him back.]] Neither [[Dragon Ascendant|Amelyssan]] nor [[Spanner in the Works|the last Bhaalspawn]] (the protagonist) complied to these plans, however.
* [[Saints Row 2 (Video Game)|Saints Row 2]]: Dan Vogel's plann is to strike a deal with the winner of the gang war and get credit for cleaning up Stilwater. {{spoiler|The Boss nuked that dream nicely.}}
* ''[[Saints Row 2]]'': Dan Vogel's plan is to strike a deal with the winner of the gang war and get credit for cleaning up Stilwater. {{spoiler|The Boss nuked that dream nicely.}}
* In ''[[Mass Effect 3 (Video Game)|Mass Effect 3]]'', [[Magnificent Bastard|the Illusive Man]] attempts a massive one: to take control of [[Eldritch Abomination|the Reapers]] themselves and use their overwhelming power to bring complete human dominance. {{spoiler|As brilliant as he was, it doesn't work and he ends up indoctrinated for his efforts.}}
* In ''[[Mass Effect 3]]'', [[Magnificent Bastard|the Illusive Man]] attempts a massive one: to take control of [[Eldritch Abomination|the Reapers]] themselves and use their overwhelming power to bring complete human dominance. {{spoiler|As brilliant as he was, it doesn't work and he ends up indoctrinated for his efforts.}}



== Web Original ==
== Web Original ==
* The less creative of us may use the [http://members.tripod.com/~mrpuzuzu/plan.html Evil Plan generator].
* The less creative of us may use the [http://members.tripod.com/~mrpuzuzu/plan.html Evil Plan generator].
* ''[[Broken Saints]]'' has a whole big complicated scheme. The short version? {{spoiler|Lear Dunham wants to bring down the corrupt power systems of the world and end the suffering they cause. To do so, he plans to use various high-tech gadgetry to blast a [[Mind Rape|Mind Raping]] "God signal" across the entire planet. Major world leaders and military honchos implanted with a certain chip -- a chip they thought was supposed to protect them while the blast took care of their enemies -- would find that in actuality the chip ''enhances'' the signal, and all implanted with the chip will die horrific deaths, and surrounding un-chipped populations would be hit with massive psychic trauma. The rest of humanity would receive the signal but would not die; instead they would hear the ominous voices, see the giant [[Evil Eye|"eye of God"]] in the sky, and feel the signal-stimulated fear in their hearts, and submit themselves to the angry God. Those few whose brains are less prone to the signal's power would be drawn to Lear's [[Evil Tower of Ominousness]], where he would make them his apostles, helping him rebuild the world. Oh, and in order to broadcast the "emotion" element of the signal, he uses ''his own daughter'', an [[The Empath|empath]] born and bred to fulfill precisely this function}}.
* ''[[Broken Saints]]'' has a whole big complicated scheme. The short version? {{spoiler|Lear Dunham wants to bring down the corrupt power systems of the world and end the suffering they cause. To do so, he plans to use various high-tech gadgetry to blast a [[Mind Rape|Mind Raping]] "God signal" across the entire planet. Major world leaders and military honchos implanted with a certain chip -- a chip they thought was supposed to protect them while the blast took care of their enemies -- would find that in actuality the chip ''enhances'' the signal, and all implanted with the chip will die horrific deaths, and surrounding un-chipped populations would be hit with massive psychic trauma. The rest of humanity would receive the signal but would not die; instead they would hear the ominous voices, see the giant [[Evil Eye|"eye of God"]] in the sky, and feel the signal-stimulated fear in their hearts, and submit themselves to the angry God. Those few whose brains are less prone to the signal's power would be drawn to Lear's [[Evil Tower of Ominousness]], where he would make them his apostles, helping him rebuild the world. Oh, and in order to broadcast the "emotion" element of the signal, he uses ''his own daughter'', an [[The Empath|empath]] born and bred to fulfill precisely this function}}.
* [[Doctor Steel]] is "a man with a plan and a mechanical band, who [[HR Pufnstuf|can't do a little cause he can't do enough!]]"
* [[Doctor Steel]] is "a man with a plan and a mechanical band, who [[H.R. Pufnstuf|can't do a little cause he can't do enough!]]"
* [[Red vs. Blue|Omega]] an aggressive AI has tons of evil plans. They range from rather elaborate - [[Weather Control Machine]], extremely slow [[Mecha Mooks|robot army]], [[Arson Murder and Jaywalking|downloading]] [[Digital Piracy Is Evil|music]] - to just plain crushing the entire universe.
* ''[[Red vs. Blue]]'': Omega, an aggressive AI, has tons of evil plans. They range from rather elaborate - [[Weather Control Machine]], extremely slow [[Mecha-Mooks|robot army]], [[Arson, Murder, and Jaywalking|downloading]] [[Digital Piracy Is Evil|music]] - to just plain crushing the entire universe.
* The Necromancer of the [[Whateley Universe]] has one, but it still hasn't been revealed, because he's still at the Grand Theft [[MacGuffin]] stage of the plot.
* The Necromancer of the ''[[Whateley Universe]]'' has one, but it still hasn't been revealed, because he's still at the Grand Theft [[MacGuffin]] stage of the plot.
** He still had a massive plan in play just in "Ayla and the Birthday Brawl" where he found out Ayla was having a birthday party in Boston. He spun it into a plan to: break his minions out of the inescapable superjail outside Boston; find out which of his other minions was [[The Mole]]; steal yet another [[MacGuffin]]; create a hostage situation to get yet another [[MacGuffin]]; take out the SWAT teams that would get sent to that hostage situation; get Fey under [[Mind Control]] or worse; and also kill a bunch of Ayla's friends, just to send a message to someone who had pissed him off. He pulled off most of it.
** He still had a massive plan in play just in "Ayla and the Birthday Brawl" where he found out Ayla was having a birthday party in Boston. He spun it into a plan to: break his minions out of the inescapable superjail outside Boston; find out which of his other minions was [[The Mole]]; steal yet another [[MacGuffin]]; create a hostage situation to get yet another [[MacGuffin]]; take out the SWAT teams that would get sent to that hostage situation; get Fey under [[Mind Control]] or worse; and also kill a bunch of Ayla's friends, just to send a message to someone who had pissed him off. He pulled off most of it.
* Played for laughs with Cinder's [[Department of Redundancy Department|"Evil Plan of Evil"]] in ''[[RWBY Chibi]]''. Judging from what we can see written on her whiteboard, there's no small amount of [[Step Three: Profit]] involved.


== Web Comics ==

== Webcomics ==
* Tons in ''[[Sluggy Freelance]]''.
* Tons in ''[[Sluggy Freelance]]''.
** [[The Omniscient Council of Vagueness|Hereti]] [[Corrupt Corporate Executive|Corp]]: 1) create an army of invincible alien clones to conquer the world, 2) locate Oasis by making the [[Manchurian Agent|trigger]] for her [[Brainwashed and Crazy|homicidal rages]] the symbol for a national fast food chain.
** [[The Omniscient Council of Vagueness|Hereti]][[Corrupt Corporate Executive|Corp]]: 1) create an army of invincible alien clones to conquer the world, 2) locate Oasis by making the [[Manchurian Agent|trigger]] for her [[Brainwashed and Crazy|homicidal rages]] the symbol for a national fast food chain.
** Chilus: release a swarm of mind-eating insects to bring about "the end of the world through bugs" as prophecied.
** Chilus: release a swarm of mind-eating insects to bring about "the end of the world through bugs" as prophecied.
** Dr. Steve: [[Brainwashed|brainwash]] his [[Wife Husbandry|adoptive daughter]] so she can "go on a date with a lesbian and then tell all." Okay, they can't all be winners.
** Dr. Steve: [[Brainwashed|brainwash]] his [[Wife Husbandry|adoptive daughter]] so she can "go on a date with a lesbian and then tell all." Okay, they can't all be winners.



== Western Animation ==
== Western Animation ==
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* Cobra Commander from ''[[G.I. Joe]]'' once wasted a huge amount of resources stealing equipment to build a giant laser... so he could carve his face in the moon. Destro was not impressed.
* Cobra Commander from ''[[G.I. Joe]]'' once wasted a huge amount of resources stealing equipment to build a giant laser... so he could carve his face in the moon. Destro was not impressed.
** Another attempt by Cobra Commander was to use a love potion to allow [[The Baroness]] to seduce a ship magnate, only to have a fight break out between Cobra and G.I. Joe over the chemical, only to have the potion stolen by a crab. At least this time Destro found the whole silly fiasco hilarious.
** Another attempt by Cobra Commander was to use a love potion to allow [[The Baroness]] to seduce a ship magnate, only to have a fight break out between Cobra and G.I. Joe over the chemical, only to have the potion stolen by a crab. At least this time Destro found the whole silly fiasco hilarious.
* Endlessly [[Lampshade Hanging|lampshaded]] and [[Subverted Trope|subverted]] over and over again by the various [[Card Carrying Villain|Card Carrying Villains]] of ''[[Kim Possible]].''
* Endlessly [[Lampshade Hanging|lampshaded]] and [[Subverted Trope|subverted]] over and over again by the various [[Card-Carrying Villain]]s of ''[[Kim Possible]].''
** In fact, while tutoring another villain, Shego explains how it's the single most important part of being a villain.
** In fact, while tutoring another villain, Shego explains how it's the single most important part of being a villain.
* The Robot Devil in an episode of ''[[Futurama]]'': "My ridiculously circuitous plan is one-quarter complete!"
* The Robot Devil in an episode of ''[[Futurama]]'': "My ridiculously circuitous plan is one-quarter complete!"
* Parodied ([[Stealth Parody|we hope]]) in ''[[Justice League Unlimited]]'', where Grodd's elaborate evil plan turns out to be "{{spoiler|transforming every man, woman and child on Earth...'''''[[Large Ham|INTO AN APE!!!]]'''''}}" This is appropriately lampshaded, and also [[Coup De Grace|face-shotted]].
* Parodied ([[Stealth Parody|we hope]]) in ''[[Justice League Unlimited]]'', where Grodd's elaborate evil plan turns out to be "{{spoiler|transforming every man, woman and child on Earth...'''''[[Large Ham|INTO AN APE!!!]]'''''}}" This is appropriately lampshaded, and also [[Coup De Grace|face-shotted]].
* Parodied in ''[[The Tick]]'', in which The Tick has just captured one of the serial robber Idea Men and demands to know "what's the big idea". The idea man explains that [[Captain Obvious|their plan was to steal a lot of money, so they'd get rich and wouldn't have to work any more]]. The Tick is genuinely shocked by this fiendish plan.
* Parodied in ''[[The Tick (animation)|The Tick]]'', in which The Tick has just captured one of the serial robber Idea Men and demands to know "what's the big idea". The idea man explains that [[Captain Obvious|their plan was to steal a lot of money, so they'd get rich and wouldn't have to work any more]]. The Tick is genuinely shocked by this fiendish plan.
* Played every which way with [[Phineas and Ferb]] 's Dr. Doofenshmirtz, whose main goal is to "TAKE OVER THE tri-state area". He's not above the occasional revenge sideplot or a little mind control, but ultimately, he wants to rule. The alternate-universe Doofenshmirtz in the "Across the 2nd Dimension" movie has alt-Doof trying to take over the multiverse's... tri-state area. Some things never change.
* Played every which way with ''[[Phineas and Ferb]]''{{'}}s Dr. Doofenshmirtz, whose main goal is to "TAKE OVER THE tri-state area". He's not above the occasional revenge sideplot or a little mind control, but ultimately, he wants to rule. The alternate-universe Doofenshmirtz in the "Across the 2nd Dimension" movie has alt-Doof trying to take over the multiverse's... tri-state area. Some things never change.
* The villain in the first season of ''[[Wakfu (Animation)|Wakfu]]'' looked for fuel for his [[MacGuffin]], so he can undo a past wrong. In the process, he nearly destroys an entire race, justified by "it will all be undone when I'm successful." In the end, though, it seemed that his [[MacGuffin]] isn't very 'fuel-efficient'.
* The villain in the first season of ''[[Wakfu]]'' looked for fuel for his [[MacGuffin]], so he can undo a past wrong. In the process, he nearly destroys an entire race, justified by "it will all be undone when I'm successful." In the end, though, it seemed that his [[MacGuffin]] isn't very 'fuel-efficient'.
* Virtually every episode of [[Pinky and The Brain]] is driven by a plan to [[Take Over the World]].
* Virtually every episode of ''[[Pinky and The Brain]]'' is driven by a plan to [[Take Over the World]].


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Latest revision as of 17:13, 24 January 2023

"Ah, how shall I do it? Ooh, I know. I'll turn him into a flea, a harmless little flea, and then I'll put that flea in a box, and then I'll put that box inside of another box, and then I'll mail that box to myself, and when it arrives, ahahaha... I'LL SMASH IT WITH A HAMMER! It's brilliant, brilliant, brilliant, I tell you! Genius, I say! (BAM) ...Or, to save on postage, I'll just poison him with this!"

So you've got your Big Bad Evil Overlord, looming over the world like a colossus. But he can't just putz around on his throne or hang out in his gym all day long, waiting for the Big Damn Heroes to show up and kick his butt. And while The Omniscient Council of Vagueness doesn't seem to do much but sit around and wait while spouting off cryptic nonsense, they've got to have some sort of hidden agenda to hide or there isn't much of a point.

So they've got to have a Plan. An Evil Plan. Otherwise there's not much of a story, is there?

Some popular examples of Evil Plans:

Normally, these are accomplished with Stock Evil Overlord Tactics. Of course, most of the smaller-scope plans can usually be accomplished in a less grandiose fashion.

Can involve a Xanatos Gambit but only if the Evil Plan is arranged so that whatever the heroes do helps the villain in some way. See the trope page for details.

If you are looking for Evil Plan the webcomic try here.

Examples of Evil Plan include:

Anime and Manga

Fan Works

  • Ultimate SpiderWoman: Change With the Light did this with Jack O'Lantern, Spider-Woman's Arch Enemy as well. Jack immediately minimizes most of the risk to himself by using Corrupt Corporate Executive Phillip Watson as his mind-controlled dupe and making it look like Phillip is the one pulling the strings. Jack is giving Phillip instructions on what to say and do, and makes sure to delete all his correspondence with Phillip so it can't be traced back to him. The plan works out just as he'd hoped—the resulting Mob War decimates two of New York City's crime syndicates, allows him to begin implementing his Legion of Doom plan to set up a new supervillain crime organization, Phillip is blamed for the whole thing and Jack gets off scot-free, and he manages to give Spider-Woman a No-Holds-Barred Beatdown as the final delicious twist.

Film

  • Every James Bond villain has had one of these:.
    • Dr. No's plan was to topple American rockets from his island base as part of a mission from SPECTRE, probably with a hostile foreign power as a client.
    • Kronsteen and Rosa Klebb in From Russia with Love wanted to steal a cryptographic device from the Soviets and sell it back to them, as well as take revenge on Bond for killing Dr. No. This was also a SPECTRE mission.
    • Goldfinger's scheme was to nuke Fort Knox to devalue American gold and increase the value of his own.
    • Emilio Largo's plan in Thunderball was to steal two nuclear missiles and try to get ransom from the U.S. by threatening to launch them. This, too, was a mission from SPECTRE.
    • Blofeld's plan in You Only Live Twice was to start World War III by destroying American and Russian spacecraft and framing the other. Again, SPECTRE had been hired to do this by a hostile foreign power.
    • Blofeld's plan in On Her Majesty's Secret Service involves hypnotising a group of 12 unwitting divas and arming them with a virus that causes infertility in the plant and animal life of his choosing, unless the world meets his demands of immunity from past crimes and to be recognised as a Count.
    • Blofeld's plan in Diamonds Are Forever is to use stolen diamonds to build a Kill Sat and hold the world hostage.
    • Kananga/Mr. Big from Live and Let Die wanted to corner the heroin market.
    • Scaramanga, The Man with the Golden Gun, wanted to corner the market on solar power during the '73-'74 energy crisis. Bit of an Excuse Plot- the real meat of the story is that Scaramanga has abused his girlfriend one too many times and she has duped Bond into going after him by making it look like Scaramanga has taken a contract on his life.
    • Stromberg from The Spy Who Loved Me wanted to start World War III by hijacking nuclear submarines and launching them at New York and Moscow respectively, as in You Only Live Twice framing both countries a perpetrators of the others plan. He will then build and rule an underwater city as a paradise for the survivors to rebuild civilization. Yes, he is insane.
    • The plan of Hugo Drax of Moonraker was the annihilation of the human race in order to repopulate the world with his own "ideal" specimens. Given that the original villain of Moonraker was a Nazi, this shouldn't come as much of a surprise.
    • Kristatos in For Your Eyes Only wants to recover a MacGuffin for the KGB, and to manipulate Bond into assassinating his rival as a bonus.
    • Renegade Russian General Orlov in Octopussy wanted to detonate a nuclear warhead on an American base (making it seem like an American accident), forcing the US to pull out of Europe and leaving it vulnerable to Soviet conquest. He is in a Big Bad Duumvirate with Diabolical Mastermind Kamal Khan who is getting paid for it, and hopes to kill his boss / partner in crime in the process and take over her organization afterwards.
    • Max Zorin's ultimate plan in A View to a Kill is to detonate explosives along the Hayward and San Andreas Faults, causing them to flood. The other major bomb was set to destroy a "geological lock" that's in place to prevent the two faults from moving, causing a double earthquake that would destroy Silicon Valley, leaving his microchip company with a monopoly.
    • The evil plan of Big Bad Duumvirate General Koskov and Brad Whitaker in The Living Daylights is to get ludicrously rich using the profits from a large shipment of opium paid for using diamonds and to repay the loan from the Russkies they took and are a bit late in returning, as well as pitting the British against the KGB chief who is on to them by framing him for murdering British agents.
    • Sanchez's scheme in Licence to Kill involves cocaine hidden in gasoline sold to Asian drug dealers, conducted via a televangelist, revolutionizing the drug smuggling business. He's also bought Stinger missiles from the Contras and is threatening to use them on American airliners if the DEA didn't back off. The story, however, is more about Bond's Roaring Rampage of Revenge for what Sanchez and his people did to Felix Leiter and his new wife.
    • Alec Trevelyan of GoldenEye sought revenge against the British government for betraying his family, who were Lienz Cossacks sent back to Stalin, by detonating the titular Kill Sat over London. Furthermore, he planned to steal billions of pounds from the Bank of England—as well as all sorts of data like credit ratings, land registers and criminal records—and the records of the transactions will be zapped, leaving him very rich and leaving the British—and indeed, the world—economy in shambles.
    • Elliot Carver of Tomorrow Never Dies wanted to start a war between the West and China to increase the ratings of his media empire, and then to murder the Chinese government so his ally in the military could take over, who would give him exclusive media access (China being the only country in the world that refused him broadcast rights after he gained the ability to reach the entire world with his new satellite system).
    • The World Is Not Enough has Elektra King and Renard scheming to raise petroleum prices by triggering a nuclear meltdown in the waters of Istanbul, destroying every oil pipeline except for hers and giving her a monopoly on Europe's oil.
    • Die Another Day's Big Bad, Gustav Graves, takes a page from Blofeld's book from Diamonds Are Forever and uses a diamond-powered Kill Sat that runs on solar energy. He sought to use it to help North Korea take over the South, as well as Japan and presumably elsewhere (he is actually a corrupt North Korean colonel Faking the Dead and in disguise as a wealthy Corrupt Corporate Executive).
    • Casino Royale involves one bad guy, criminal banker Le Chiffre, who short-sells successful companies and engineers terrorist attacks in order to sink their stock values and turn a profit. The other bad guys are his superiors and clients who are pissed because he is doing this with their funds and behind their back. Bond screws up Le Chiffre's plan by foiling a terrorist attack and Le Chiffre has to hold and win a multi-million dollar poker tournament to pay his clients back. Bond is there to win it to force Le Chiffre to sell out his clients and superiors to MI 6 in return for sanctuary before the other villains track him down and kill him.
    • Quantum of Solace involves Dominic Greene wanting to hold the revolutionary government-to-be of Bolivia over a barrel by controlling the majority of the water and not oil through a system of planned underground demolitions.
    • And while we're at it, Never Say Never Again is a rehash of Thunderball with SPECTRE hijacking nuclear weapons and holding the world hostage; Casino Royale 1967 spoof is much the same as above, except Le Chiffre is (as in the novel) working for SMERSH instead of terrorists and his double-dealings (which, again like the novel, has nothing to do with Bond) are a side-plot to SMERSH's master plan, which involves murdering spies all over the world (like the Real Life SMERSH, a Soviet counter-intelligence agency) and to fill the world with a biological agent at the behest of its Diabolical Mastermind Doctor Noah aka Jimmy Bond, the real James Bond's nephew, a.k.a. Woody Allen. The agent will kill all men over 4'6" (his height) and make all women beautiful; in other words leaving him as the "big man" who gets all the girls.
  • Dr. Leopold from Mystery Science Theater 3000-film The Blood Waters of Dr. Z has one of these on a huge chart with each step illustrated, and which he crosses off as he completes them.
  • The Kagenos' true goal in Robo Geisha is to drop an atomic bomb into Mt. Fuji, which they believe will destroy Japan so that they can rebuild it in their own image.
  • Season of the Witch: The villain is a demon who seeks the only book with the knowledge of how to banish it back to Hell in order to destroy it and the entire movie is the heroes helping them find it.
  • Many, many Disney villains have these.
  • Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery parodies this trope. Dr. Evil explains various evil plans only for his Number Two to point that they already have happened. At last he throws up his hands and says, "Let's just do what we always do: hijack some nuclear weapons and hold the world hostage."

Literature

  • Voldemort in Harry Potter wants to make a perfect society (one ruled by wizards, pure-blooded wizards, loyal only to him), rule it (with much pain and torture and fear), and become immortal. In fact, the immortality is probably the most important to him.
    • The especially ironic part of this is that while he vaunts the so-called purity of blood among wizards, he is himself not a pure-blood wizard - he is a half-blood, as his father was a Muggle (non-wizard) whom his witch mother tricked into eloping with her with a love potion because she loved him (which he did not reciprocate).
      • The books also mention that practically no wizard is pure-blood even though the so-called "pure-blood" families marry almost exclusively amongst each other; most of them have at least one Muggle or Muggle-born wizard somewhere up their family tree.
  • Dr. Impossible's half of Soon I Will Be Invincible revolves around escaping from jail, creating a(nother) new plan to Take Over the World and putting it into action.
  • In Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn, we find out at the end of book 2 that The entire plot of the first and second books were engineered by Ruin in order to get Vin to release him from the Well of Ascension. Also, the search for the Lord Rulers' Atium stockpile which took up a good part of book three was yet another gambit by Ruin. Although to be fair, the Lord Ruler and the Terris prophets had planned for this eventuality.
  • No matter how minor the case in The Dresden Files, eventually it will turn out to have at least one of these behind it.
  • Going Postal: Big Bad Gilt wants to corner the communications market by keeping the post office closed. He's Moist's competition through the story.

Live-Action TV

Theatre

  • The Tempest—A rare heroic version; the entire play is Prospero's God Game to end his exile from Milan. 'heroic' because all he wants is to get his home back and teach his Evil Brother a lesson. No one gets hurt, not even the evil brother, and almost all of them go back to Milan as more or less friends.

Video Games

  • Raphael from the Soul Series has some of the most ridiculously insane plans ever devised, all for his adopted daughter. In Soul Calibur 2 he planned to destroy the country that he fled from by giving its nobles the Soul Edge on the basis that they would tear the country apart in a demonically-dueled civil war so that the world would..somehow.. be safer for his adopted daughter Amy. In Soul Calibur 3, on discovering that he and Amy had been accidentally turned into basically vampires, he decided to turn the entire world into creatures like them so Amy wouldn't feel left out. Amy may constitute a pretty drastic subversion of a Morality Pet.
  • Shining Force III: The plot to abduct Emperor Domaric in the third game is a rare villain-on-villain Evil Plan, perpetrated by Domaric himself. When he hears that one of his sons is plotting to have him killed, blame it on the breakaway republic of Aspinia, and use the resulting war to seize the throne and conquer the rest of the continent, Domaric sends his own agents to infiltrate his son's conspiracy and allows himself to be kidnapped. Then, when the empire's armies are geared up to invade, Domaric has his mole "free" him, takes control of said army, and marches on Aspinia - just as he's wanted ever since the country seceded 20 years before. He even corners his son's partner in the whole plan, to force him to use an ancient superweapon to break down Aspinia's walls for him.
  • The Tales series often has Well-Intentioned Extremists but the plots have the same narrative purpose
    • Tales of Symphonia: Mithros wishes to revive his sister and end discrimination, and to do that he splits a world in two and makes them fight over Mana while his evil army antagonizes the dying one. The first part is Unwitting Pawn and the rest of the game is the heroes unraveling the plan and how to foil it.
    • Tales of the Abyss: The Big Bad and his minions are more upfront about their goal of ending The Score but unraveling the details and creating a counter measure still drives the bulk of the plot
    • Tales of Legendia: Actually has three BigBads and each has their own plot to either Take Over the World or Kill'Em All.
  • Legend of Dragoon likewise has a series of Man Behind the Man whose plans drive the plot. From Emperor Doel's plan to usurb his homeland to Lloyd's manipulation of that war to collect Macguffins to the final Big Bad's A God Am I ambition.
  • In the Baldur's Gate series, Bhaal the Lord of Murder sired the the Bhaalspawn in order to revive himself. They would kill each other until none remained, at which point his essence that was scattered among them would have accumulated, and his chosen follower, Amelyssan, would have performed rituals that would have brought him back. Neither Amelyssan nor the last Bhaalspawn (the protagonist) complied to these plans, however.
  • Saints Row 2: Dan Vogel's plan is to strike a deal with the winner of the gang war and get credit for cleaning up Stilwater. The Boss nuked that dream nicely.
  • In Mass Effect 3, the Illusive Man attempts a massive one: to take control of the Reapers themselves and use their overwhelming power to bring complete human dominance. As brilliant as he was, it doesn't work and he ends up indoctrinated for his efforts.

Web Original

  • The less creative of us may use the Evil Plan generator.
  • Broken Saints has a whole big complicated scheme. The short version? Lear Dunham wants to bring down the corrupt power systems of the world and end the suffering they cause. To do so, he plans to use various high-tech gadgetry to blast a Mind Raping "God signal" across the entire planet. Major world leaders and military honchos implanted with a certain chip -- a chip they thought was supposed to protect them while the blast took care of their enemies -- would find that in actuality the chip enhances the signal, and all implanted with the chip will die horrific deaths, and surrounding un-chipped populations would be hit with massive psychic trauma. The rest of humanity would receive the signal but would not die; instead they would hear the ominous voices, see the giant "eye of God" in the sky, and feel the signal-stimulated fear in their hearts, and submit themselves to the angry God. Those few whose brains are less prone to the signal's power would be drawn to Lear's Evil Tower of Ominousness, where he would make them his apostles, helping him rebuild the world. Oh, and in order to broadcast the "emotion" element of the signal, he uses his own daughter, an empath born and bred to fulfill precisely this function.
  • Doctor Steel is "a man with a plan and a mechanical band, who can't do a little cause he can't do enough!"
  • Red vs. Blue: Omega, an aggressive AI, has tons of evil plans. They range from rather elaborate - Weather Control Machine, extremely slow robot army, downloading music - to just plain crushing the entire universe.
  • The Necromancer of the Whateley Universe has one, but it still hasn't been revealed, because he's still at the Grand Theft MacGuffin stage of the plot.
    • He still had a massive plan in play just in "Ayla and the Birthday Brawl" where he found out Ayla was having a birthday party in Boston. He spun it into a plan to: break his minions out of the inescapable superjail outside Boston; find out which of his other minions was The Mole; steal yet another MacGuffin; create a hostage situation to get yet another MacGuffin; take out the SWAT teams that would get sent to that hostage situation; get Fey under Mind Control or worse; and also kill a bunch of Ayla's friends, just to send a message to someone who had pissed him off. He pulled off most of it.
  • Played for laughs with Cinder's "Evil Plan of Evil" in RWBY Chibi. Judging from what we can see written on her whiteboard, there's no small amount of Step Three: Profit involved.

Web Comics

  • Tons in Sluggy Freelance.
    • HeretiCorp: 1) create an army of invincible alien clones to conquer the world, 2) locate Oasis by making the trigger for her homicidal rages the symbol for a national fast food chain.
    • Chilus: release a swarm of mind-eating insects to bring about "the end of the world through bugs" as prophecied.
    • Dr. Steve: brainwash his adoptive daughter so she can "go on a date with a lesbian and then tell all." Okay, they can't all be winners.

Western Animation

  • Boris and Natasha go through many Evil Plans on Rocky and Bullwinkle, such as a sinister plot for giant, robotic mice from the Moon to eat through American TV antennas so that entertainment-starved Americans will flee the country, leaving it ripe for conquest. Boris is, of course, the Big Cheese.
  • Cobra Commander from G.I. Joe once wasted a huge amount of resources stealing equipment to build a giant laser... so he could carve his face in the moon. Destro was not impressed.
    • Another attempt by Cobra Commander was to use a love potion to allow The Baroness to seduce a ship magnate, only to have a fight break out between Cobra and G.I. Joe over the chemical, only to have the potion stolen by a crab. At least this time Destro found the whole silly fiasco hilarious.
  • Endlessly lampshaded and subverted over and over again by the various Card-Carrying Villains of Kim Possible.
    • In fact, while tutoring another villain, Shego explains how it's the single most important part of being a villain.
  • The Robot Devil in an episode of Futurama: "My ridiculously circuitous plan is one-quarter complete!"
  • Parodied (we hope) in Justice League Unlimited, where Grodd's elaborate evil plan turns out to be "transforming every man, woman and child on Earth...INTO AN APE!!!" This is appropriately lampshaded, and also face-shotted.
  • Parodied in The Tick, in which The Tick has just captured one of the serial robber Idea Men and demands to know "what's the big idea". The idea man explains that their plan was to steal a lot of money, so they'd get rich and wouldn't have to work any more. The Tick is genuinely shocked by this fiendish plan.
  • Played every which way with Phineas and Ferb‍'‍s Dr. Doofenshmirtz, whose main goal is to "TAKE OVER THE tri-state area". He's not above the occasional revenge sideplot or a little mind control, but ultimately, he wants to rule. The alternate-universe Doofenshmirtz in the "Across the 2nd Dimension" movie has alt-Doof trying to take over the multiverse's... tri-state area. Some things never change.
  • The villain in the first season of Wakfu looked for fuel for his MacGuffin, so he can undo a past wrong. In the process, he nearly destroys an entire race, justified by "it will all be undone when I'm successful." In the end, though, it seemed that his MacGuffin isn't very 'fuel-efficient'.
  • Virtually every episode of Pinky and The Brain is driven by a plan to Take Over the World.