Cowards

Villainous Benchmarks who are cowards. These types of villains do not confront the enemy themselves, beg for mercy, target those who are unable to fight back, and/or are prone to run away from their problems rather than face them head on.

Nihilists never qualify since they never overvalue their own lives.

Examples of cowardice include:

• Villains who endanger others to save their own skin, which is even worse if it involves a loved one (e.g.Marcus Cole, and Lieutenant Nolan).
• Villains who have the nerve to ask someone they badly hurt and/or is enemies with for help or mercy, often betraying them immediately after they do so, or at least intending to (e.g. Gaston LeGume, CJ Winkle, Mr. Burns, and Princess Morbucks).
• Villains who act all smug when the odds are in their favor, but then cheat, panic, cower, or retreat as soon as they're in actual personal danger (e.g. Zack Powers, Victor Perkins, Lord Farquaad, Minoru Mineta, and Dr. Royce Hemlock).
• Villains who simply lack any real bravery and only target those who are at a disadvantage (e.g. Richie Kirsch).
• Villains who show a combination of all four factors (e.g. Vice Admiral Rampart).

Note: Not every villain who show fear is automatically cowardly. In some cases (e.g. Darth Maul, Dwayne LaFontant, Nightmare Moon, Juan Bolsa, Alastor, Mojo Jojo, and Jesse Pinkman), the villain only reacts with reasonable terror to being faced with a genuine threat, and they may even have moments showing them to be brave otherwise.