Right-Hand

TheRight-Hand, also calledThe Dragon, is the most powerful, loyal, trusted, and authoritativehenchperson of the their master, also being the next-in-command and usually the second-to-last villain taken down by heroes. Right-hands of themain villain are oftenSecondary Antagonists unless there are more important villains taking the role.

Almost all right-hands are totally loyal to their master (sometimes even worshiping them like gods, often committing the crimes ofaiding and abetting) but there are some at their side just for personal interests or feelings. While the main villain often provides a mental challenge, the right-hand often provides a physical challenge; as such, it is not uncommon for a right-hand to be mightier than the main villain.

In some works, the right-hand or secondary antagonist isThe Heavy villain and not only appears more often but also gets more screen time than their master in order to make the main villain more mysterious and therefore more frightening (e.g.Darth Vader,Saruman,Nui Harime andYukio Tonegawa). A main villain can also have multiple right-hands asCo-Dragons, either with different responsibilities or as a replacement for one who has died (e.g.Gin Ichimaru &Kaname Tousen,Wrath &Pride,The Doctor &The Captain, andStarscream &Shockwave). Sometimes, a right-hand can survive their master's demise and seek to revive them or accomplish their master's goal on their behalf, then they are calledDragon Ascendants (e.g.Death,Enrico Pucci andFate Averruncus).

When the right-hand is the de-facto Big Bad and is actually in charge, they are calledDragon-in-Chief (e.g.Tywin Lannister andPrime Minister Honest). In this case they usually don't fall into this category, unless they are still enforcing the order of their masters despite being Big Bads themselves (e.g.Randall Boggs,Ragyō Kiryūin).

Their heroic counterparts areSidekicks, who are characters who assist heroes.