Werebeast Tropes

This index is for tropes that are either specifically about werebeasts, or frequently come up in relation to werebeasts.

See Werewolf Works for a list of works that prominently feature werewolves and Werebeast Works for works prominently featuring other types of werecreature. See also Vampire Tropes and Wolf Tropes. Sub-index of Shapeshifting. Compare and contrast Liminal Being, which shares two different natures at the same time.

Tropes:

Tropes about werebeasts:

• Asian Fox Spirit: A were-fox creature from East Asian mythology, described as a magical fox with the ability to shapeshift into a human form (usually a beautiful woman).
• Beast Man: A humanoid character with animal traits.
• Fur Against Fang: Vampires and werewolves fighting each other.
• Human-to-Werewolf Footprints: When a set of animal footprints changes into human footprints, or vice versa.
• My Instincts Are Showing: When a sentient and civilized non-human character involuntarily—and undesirably—exhibits occasional feral behavior that's associated with their species.
• Personality Remnant: A person changing in mind and body still has some of their old personality quirks or loyalties
• Resist the Beast: When an ordinary person tries to resist changing into a monster.
• Selkies and Wereseals: Mythological creatures that can become human by removing their seal skin and return to seal form by putting the skin back on.
• Silver Bullet: Silver being used as a Supernatural Repellent. In many works, silver is the only way to properly kill a werewolf.
• Skinwalker: An Evil Sorcerer from Navajo mythology, who has the ability to shapeshift into various animal (or human) forms.
• Sliding Scale of Anthropomorphism: The differences between different levels of anthropomorphism.
• Totally Not a Werewolf: When not everyone who transforms into a wolf is actually a werewolf.
• Vampire-Werewolf Love Triangle: A Love Triangle involving a vampire and a werewolf.
• Vampiric Werewolf: A Hybrid Monster that is both a lycanthrope and a hematophage.
• Weredragon: A human character who can turn into a dragon, or vice versa.
• Werewolf Theme Naming: Meaningful names that reference werewolf lore and mythology.
• Werewolves Are Dogs: Werewolves often act more like domesticated dogs than wild wolves.
• Wolf Man: A canine-like humanoid.
• Wolves Always Howl at the Moon: Werewolves often howl at the moon, especially right after they transform.
• Wonderful Werewolf: A werewolf that's friendly.
• Working-Class Werewolves: The tendency for werewolves to have low incomes.

Tropes that often happen to werebeasts:

• Absurdly Sharp Claws: Claws that are unrealistically sharp.
• The Ageless: Characters who can't die from old age but can still be killed through other means.
• Alpha and Beta Wolves: Werewolf packs are usually led by a dominant "alpha", supported by several "betas".
• Alternate Identity Amnesia: A character suffers from amnesia when changing form or self.
• Blessed with Suck: When a desired quality proves problematic.
• Body Horror: Grotesque body structures, human or otherwise.
• Cursed with Awesome: When an undesired quality proves useful.
• Cute Little Fangs: Small fangs used to denote cuteness.
• Fangs Are Evil: Fanged creatures portrayed as evil.
• Forced Transformation: A character is transformed into a shape that renders them powerless or impairs their ability to pursue their goals.
• Fully-Embraced Fiend: A vampire, werewolf, or similar creature embraces their monstrous nature rather than fight it.
• Fur Against Fang: Vampires fighting werewolves.
• Growing Muscles Sequence: A stage in the transformation that results in them becoming more muscular rapidly.
• Horror Hunger: When a character feels a supernatural and irresistible hunger for other humans.
• Howl of Sorrow: Giving an animal-like cry/scream, such as a howl, when faced with something upsetting.
• Hulking Out: Shapeshifting when angry and often going on a rampage afterwards.
• I Am a Monster: When someone admits that they are a monster, especially after becoming one.
• I Just Want to Be Normal: When a character thinks that whatever makes them different is a curse.
• Immortality: Werebeasts are sometimes depicted as being able to live forever.
• Involuntary Shapeshifter: Werebeasts often have little or no control over their transformations.
• Long-Lived: Werebeasts may sometimes have longer lifespans.
• Lunacy: The appearance of the (full) moon at night often triggers a werebeast's transformation.
• Magic Pants: Clothing that remains (mostly) intact even when one shapeshifts, especially pants.
• The Mind Is a Plaything of the Body: When shapeshifting causes a change in one's personality, as well.
• Monster Modesty: Werewolves tend to wear a very small amount of clothing in wolf form.
• Monster Progenitor: When a monster creates its own bloodline.
• Nighttime Transformation: Shapeshifting or transforming only at night.
• Painful Transformation: When shapeshifting causes pain.
• Really 700 Years Old: An extraordinarily ancient werebeast who looks much younger.
• Shapeshifting Excludes Clothing: Werewolves typically lose their clothing when they transform (often because it ends up being destroyed), or at the very least suffer some Clothing Damage.
• Stages of Monster Grief: The human-to-monster version of the Five Stages of Grief.
• Superpowered Evil Side: When someone's evil personality is incredibly strong compared to the good one.
• This Was His True Form: When shapeshifters return to their true form upon death.
• Tragic Monster: When a person who the audience cares about is turned into a monster.
• Transformation Horror: Graphic and unsettling transformation sequences.
• Transformation Sequence: A long, flashy change in appearance.
• Transhuman Treachery: A person who is turned into a monster, such as a werebeast, decides that they would like to stay that way and become evil/betray humanity in the process.
• Van Helsing Hate Crimes: Killing monsters just because they're monsters, regardless of if they're good or evil.
• Viral Transformation: A transformation that can be spread virally and physically changes humans to non-humans.
• The Virus: When all who are bitten or killed by the monster become the monster.
• Virus-Victim Symptoms: When a character exhibits strange behavior and physical changes due to a transformation.
• Voluntary Shapeshifting: When a character can change their form at will.
• Was Once a Man: A non-human character who used to be a normal human.