- "You will give the people an ideal to strive towards. They'll race behind you. They will stumble. They will fall. But in time, they will join you in the sun. In time, you will help them accomplish wonders."
- ― Jor-El (Man of Steel teaser trailer)
- "Ha! Not a memory to your name, yet you are as intent as ever to charge forward with only courage and justice on your side. You have not changed a bit. Once a hero, always a hero."
- ― Impa (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild)
- "Every time I fought alongside you, I have been Amazed."
- ― Steve Rogers to Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Marvel Comics)
- "I’m just a guy who’s aspiring to be a hero for fun."
- ― Saitama (One-Punch Man)
- "Even if he was called a Super Devil, he was originally a Gremory. Just a gentle and strong person. Yes, he was gentle and strong, precisely because of this, Sirzechs had such determination. Precisely because of his gentleness and his strength, he departed for the sake of protecting everything."
- ― Narrator on Sirzechs Lucifer (Highschool DxD)
- "A true hero isn't measured by the size of his strength, but by the strength of his heart."
- ― Zeus (Hercules)
The ability to use the powers and characteristics of a true hero archetype. Note that this is essentially a definition of an archetype. Opposite to Dark Lord.
Also Called
- Benevolent One
- Blazing/Shining/Radiant/Luminous Hero
- Emperor of Light
- Hero/Lord of Light/Righteousness
- Messiah/Redeemer/Savior
- True Patriot/Heroine/Warrior/Soldier
- White Knight
- Light Lord
Capabilities
User is a True Hero, a person who lives to help others, but in a way that shows those people how to help themselves, in the face of danger, combats adversity through impressive feats of ingenuity, bravery or strength, often sacrificing their own personal concerns for a greater good. They possess benevolent abilities and often command loyal friends, allies and followers.
These individuals also love to spread freedom, redemption and hope to others that are wrongfully enslaved by evil rulers even towards the evil rulers themselves. Anyone can be a True Hero; some are human, basically chosen ones, many have true and just nature and certain holders of the title are actually manifestations of their true, righteous goodness that lies within themselves.
True Heroes and Dark Lords are famously known as the perfect enemies throughout the fictional universe and reality.
Applications
- Invulnerability: Users are usually impervious to conventional attacks and weaponry.
- Pure Heart: A True Hero isn't measured by the size of their strength but by the size of their heart.
- Self-Resurrection: Even if destroyed, users can return to life.
- True Power: Some users may have untapped power within themselves.
Variations
- Demonic Slayer: May have training/ability to slay demonic entities.
- Deity Soul: Some may have divine possession, thus becoming literal manifestations of their inner god.
- Hypercompetence: Some users have unsurpassed talents and skills.
- Immortality: Some users gain eternal life.
- Magic: Wield all forms of Good and Neutral magic.
- Angelic Magic: Master Angelic magic.
- Animancy: Use magic that revolves around the living.
- Creation Magic: Use magic to recreate what was destroyed.
- Divine Magic: Use magic that revolves around divinity.
- Dream Magic: Use magic to bring the best dreams to life.
- Fertility Magic: Use magic to make land, living things & plants fertile.
- Hope Magic: Use magic to spread & be empowered by hope.
- Light Magic: Use magic to spread light.
- Love Magic: Use magic to spread & be empowered by love.
- Mysticism: Master the purest kind of magic.
- Nature Magic: Use magic to keep nature balanced.
- Order Magic: Use magic to maintain order.
- Peace Magic: Use magic to preserve peace.
- Purification Magic: Use magic of salvation.
- Pure Alchemy: Use magic to create pure elixirs and potions.
- Pure Chi Magic: Master magic of pure chi.
- Restoration Magic: Use magic that revolves restoration.
- Shamanism: Use magic to perceive, contact, and bargain or control the spiritual world
- White Arts: True Heroes' staple; mastering the aspects of good magic.
- Nigh Omnipotence: True Heroes tend to possess god-like powers.
- Energy Manipulation: Manipulate and control pure energy.
- Light Element Manipulation: Command light elements.
- Light Manipulation: Many users wield vast powers of light.
- Psionics: True Heroes are known to have many mental abilities.
- Mental Manipulation: Control the minds of virtually anyone.
- Telekinesis: Manipulate any and all forms of matter mentally.
- Telepathy: Send thoughts as messages across great distances.
- Personal Domain: Rule a benevolent kingdom or empire.
- Subordination Manipulation: Gain many followers (usually Guardians).
- Supernatural Condition: Many True Heroes possess supernatural traits.
- Transcendent Physiology: Some users have divine nature, granting powerful abilities.
Associations
- Chivalry
- Courage Embodiment
- Godly Incarnation
- Good Embodiment
- Heroism Embodiment
- Heroism Inducement
- Light Embodiment
- Superpowered Physiology: via superhero
- Virtue Embodiment
Limitations
- Will be opposed by malevolent forces.
- May be manipulated.
- May be equal or in servitude to a more powerful being (another True Hero, a Transcendent Being or a Righteous Figure).
- Temptation may either void the power or corrupt into a Dark Lord.
Known Users
See Also: The Cape, The Paragon, and Ideal Hero
Comics/Cartoons
- Finn the Human (Adventure Time)
- Avatars (Avatar: The Last Airbender/The Legend of Korra)
- Ben Tennyson (Ben 10)
- Rex Salazar (Generator Rex)
- Bruce Wayne/Batman (DC Comics)
- Green Lanterns (DC Comics)
- Kyle Rayner
- John Stewart
- Guy Gardner
- Hal Jordan
- Kal-El/Clark Kent/Superman (DC Comics)
- Diana Prince/Wonder Woman (DC Comics)
- Booster Gold (DC Comics)
- Hercules (Disney's Hercules)
- Captain America (Marvel Comics)
- Isaiah Bradley
- Steve Rogers
- James "Bucky" Barnes
- Sam Wilson
- Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Marvel Comics)
- Moana (Moana)
- Jack (Samurai Jack)
- Zayne Carrick (Star Wars Legends)
- Anakin Solo (Star Wars Legends)
- Cade Skywalker (Star Wars Legends)
- Lion-O (Thundercats)
- Optimus Prime (Transformers)
- Hot Rod/Rodimus (Transformers)
Movies
- Grandmaster Jedi (Star Wars)
- Yoda
- Luke Skywalker (Star Wars)
- Primes (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen)
Folklore/Mythology
- Archangel Michael/Mîkhā'ēl/Mīkhā'īl (Abrahamic Religions)
- Jesus Christ (Christianity)
Literature
- Harry Potter (Harry Potter)
- Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle)
Live Television
- Wyatt Halliwell (Charmed)
- Leo (Charmed)
- Jon Snow/Aegon Targaryen (Game Of Thrones)
- Daenerys Targaryen (Game of Thrones)
- Tyrion Lannister (Game of Thrones)
- Hiro Nakamura (Heroes)
- Peter Petrelli (Heroes)
- Merlin (Merlin)
- Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)
- Emma Swan (Once Upon a Time)
- Spartacus (Spartacus)
- Dean Winchester (Supernatural)
- Sam Winchester (Supernatural)
- Bobby Singer (Supernatural)
Anime/Manga
- Son Goku (Dragon Ball series)
- Agatsuma Zenitsu (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba)
- Sairaorg Bael (Highschool DxD)
- Dulio Gesulado (Highschool DxD)
- Issei Hyodou (Highschool DxD)
- Sirzechs Lucifer (Highschool DxD)
- Vasco Strada (Highschool DxD)
- Jonathan Joestar (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part I Phantom Blood)
- Joseph Joestar (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part II Battle Tendency)
- Caesar Zeppeli (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part II Battle Tendency)
- Jotaro Kujo (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part III Stardust Crusaders)
- Noriaki Kakyoin (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part III Stardust Crusaders)
- Muhammed Avdol (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part III Stardust Crusaders)
- Jean Pierre Polnareff (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part III Stardust Crusaders)
- Hayato Kawajiri (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part IV Diamond is Unbreakable)
- Iihiko Shishime (Medaka Box); the original version
- All Might (My Hero Academia)
- Izuku Midoriya (My Hero Academia)
- Mumen Rider (One Punch Man)
- Saitama (One Punch Man)
- Shiba (Rave Master); the First Rave Master
- Haru Glory (Rave Master); the Second Rave Master
- Chloe O'Bell (Tensei Shitara Slime Datta Ken)
- Natsuki Subaru (Re:Zero − Starting Life in Another World)
Video Games
- Ryu (Breath of Fire I)
- Lightning (Final Fantasy XIII: Lightning Returns)
- Cole MacGrath (inFAMOUS series); with Good Karma
- Riku (Kingdom Hearts franchise)
- Sora (Kingdom Hearts franchise)
- Spyro (The Legend of Spyro)
- Link (The Legend of Zelda series)
- Commander Shepard (Mass Effect); as a Paragon
- Kyle Katarn (Star Wars: Jedi Knight series)
- Noishe (Tales of Symphonia); as one of his evolutionary states
- Frisk (Undertale)
- Undyne (Undertale); as Undyne the Undying
- Adol Christin (Ys series)