The Resident Evil series is known for its catalog of terrifying monsters and iconic villains. The Tyrant was one of the first to be both. This towering hyper-intelligent bioweapon appears in a great deal of Resident Evil games, as well as movies and other related fiction in the expansive RE universe, and it is also one of the strongest, smartest, and most grotesque enemies in the games.
The Tyrant made its debut to scare gamers in the first Resident Evil game released for the PS1 in 1996. Since then, a variant of the Tyrant has appeared in a variety of media related to the franchise. All Tyrants eventually turn into a Super Tyrant form, which almost always leads to it growing a fleshy claw arm and becoming the final boss. Here's a list of every Tyrant appearance in Resident Evil in chronological order, beginning with the very first game in the historic survival horror franchise.
Updated on October 12th, 2022, by Jason Wojnar: There is never a bad time to talk about Resident Evil. The franchise has never stopped pumping out titles since its 1996 inception. While the Tyrant has not shown up in all of them, it has been there enough to be considered a staple of the franchise, especially when the T-Virus is involved.
As a celebration of this horrific monster, we updated this list to include photos of all these beasts and add the newer Tyrant from the ill-fated TV show. One we'll find there is not a lot of variation in the various models, but some come with an extra special kick that make them stand out.
T-002 (Resident Evil)
The original Tyrant was created in the Arklay Laboratory during the events of the first Resident Evil. The events of the game lead T-002 to mutate into a Super Tyrant before trying to kill the last remaining S.T.A.R.S. members in the facility. The T-002's exposed heart and organs as well as its claws for hands became one of the two templates, alongside the T-103, for most future Tyrants.
This Tyrant is the climactic boss of the game and stands out as one of the best bosses from Resident Evil and its 2002 remake. Whether one is playing the 1996 original or the 2002 GameCube remake, one can be rest assured that the Tyrant boss will have them shaking in their boots.
T-00 (Resident Evil 2)
The Tyrant that appeared in the original Resident Evil 2 is T-00, but since the 2019 remake, most fans have known him as "Mr. X." In the original 1998 game players could get used to where he pops up and know when to expect him. In the remake, Mr. X stalks the player around the police station more dynamically, causing terror with just the sound of a distant footstep.
This Tyrant is known for his iconic trenchcoat and more human-like form. T-00 is huge, towering, and one of the most formidable video game enemies of 2019. The beasts giant trench coat and fedora feel like they should be silly, but it just makes the monster scarier.
Nemesis-T Type (Resident Evil 3)
The Nemesis in Resident Evil 3 created the idea of a Tyrant that stalks the player throughout the game. While it's not as well-implemented as in the modern Resident Evil 2, Nemesis was a technical marvel for the time and the defining hook of the third RE game. Nemesis is known for its massive size and giant teeth-filled mouth, and it was the first appearance of a T-103, the first mass-produced Tyrant.
Fans were expecting Nemesis to follow players around the way Mr. X did in the Resident Evil 3 remake. However, it shows up in pre-determined, scripted sequences and players either run or fight it head-on in a traditional boss fight. It might be disappointing for some, but it is easier to appreciate if one knows what to expect and can just enjoy the ride.
T-078 (Resident Evil: Code Veronica)
One of the multiple Tyrants that appear in the Dreamcast and PS2 game Resident Evil: Code Veronica, T-078 is another T-103 model. This one looks similar to the T-002 model from the original game. Sent to kill Claire Redfield and Steve Burnside, T-078 eventually gets pushed out of an airplane by Claire at the end of that game.
It also appears as a boss in Resident Evil: Darkside Chronicles, a light-gun game that takes players through the events of classic Resident Evil titles.
Bandersnatch (Resident Evil: Code Veronica)
Bandersnatch, based on the Lewis Carroll character, is the other Tyrant from Code Veronica. This creature appears as a boss and has uncanny arms that can stretch out to unreasonable lengths to damage the player.
Following the boss fight, Bandersnatch is killed by Steve in an awesome cutscene. It used to be so easy to get comfortable being out of arm's reach of monsters, but this creature's ability to stretch really brings a new layer of fear into the equation.
Hypnos-T (Resident Evil: Survivor)
Resident Evil: Survivor was the firs of a small handful of light-gun games games in the Resident Evil franchise. Players move around the environment freely and then press a button to enter aiming moder and start shooting and the undead. It can be played with both a controller or a light-gun peripheral.
The game received almost universal jeers at launch. The final boss is this Tyrant model, who physically has nothing really standout about it.
T-001 (Resident Evil Zero)
The first Tyrant prototype was, of course, featured in the earliest game in the Resident Evil timeline. T-001, or the Proto Tyrant, was created in Arklay's Lab as the first Tyrant bioweapon and is a boss fight multiple times in Resident Evil Zero. It was destroyed during self-destruct sequence of the Umbrella Training Facility at the end of the game.
Resident Evil 0 tries something new by letting players control two different protagonists by switching between them at will. While an interesting idea, it stumbles with the execution in some key areas in this prequel.
Tyrant 091 (Resident Evil: Dead Aim)
Resident Evil: Dead Aim was another light-gun spinoff that was released in 2003. The game features Tyrant 091 who has the first attempt at engineering a Tyrant with both the T and the G virus, but this one has a unique look.
Instead of claws for hands, like many of the T-002-inspired creations, this Tyrant had tentacles that came out and attacked the player. Bruce McGivern, the player character of Dead Aim, destroyed Tyrant 091 in a boss fight.
Thanatos (Resident Evil Outbreak)
Resident Evil Outbreak was an experimental multiplayer Resident Evil spin-off that took place in Raccoon City around the time of the events of RE 2 and 3, and Thanatos is one of the Tyrant bosses to appear in the game.
It was created by rogue Umbrella Corporation scientist Greg Mueller and is visually similar to the design of the T-002 model in both regular and Super Tyrant form. Outbreak's unique approach to online cooperative play makes it unique even in this day and age. Back in the early days of the PS2, it was downright bleeding edge gaming.
Tyrant R (Resident Evil Outbreak File #2)
The Tyrant R experimental subspecies of the T-103 Tyrant appears first in the sequel to Outbreak and later in The Umbrella Chronicles where it is killed by Ada Wong. At the end of Outbreak File #2, R is absorbed by Nyx, the grotesque biological weapon that serves as the final boss fight.
It survived when Nyx was destroyed due to its strength and regenerative abilities. Like the first Outbreak game, it is almost impossible to play the game online, the way it was meant to be experienced. Perhaps a re-release will remedy this sometime in the future.
Tyrant C (Resident Evil Outbreak File #2)
Another Tyrant variant exclusive to Resident Evil Outbreak File #2 is the horned Tyrant C.
It is similar in appearance to the T-103 model, like Mr. X or Nemesis, but it wears a red coat and has horns. It appears as an enemy multiple times throughout Outbreak File #2.
T.A.L.O.S (Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles)
T.A.L.O.S. (Tyrant-Armored Lethal Organic System) is a computer-controlled powered assault armor grafted onto the body of a T-011. It was created by Umbrella as a response to Nemesis. This armored Tyrant is unique in its cybernetic appearance and also only shows up as a boss in light-gun shooter The Umbrella Chronicles.
The game retells the story of some of the early games but also adds new episodes that expand the lore. It is a great way to experience the earlier games for any players turned off by classic survival horror gameplay.
Ivan (Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles)
Ivan is a line of Tyrants that only appears in Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles. Ivans wear a protective coat with black gloves, complete with boots, and has a head that looks like an old-school alien. Players can fight two of them at a time in the game while playing as Albert Wesker.
The game was first released on the Nintendo Wii but eventually came to other consoles with updated graphics. The PS3 version could even use the Move controllers for a true light-gun experience.
Angel Rubio (Resident Evil Netflix Series)
The TV series based on Resident Evil does a lot that fans would not expect. Most notably, it brings back Albert Wesker long after he was thought gone. There is an explination for this in the show, which readers will just have to watch to discover.
The last episode introduces the Tyrant monster who runs away and is never seen again. A journalist named Angel Rubio is captured and turned into the hideous monster by Albert Wesker. Unfortunately, it looks like this character will never be resolved because the series was canceled.
Unidentified New Tyrant Series (Resident Evil: Damnation)
In the animated film Resident Evil: Damnation, Leon S. Kennedy encounters a new Tyrant aesthetically similar to Umbrella's T-103 model. Multiple models in this new series, known as "08", "013", and "016" appear in the movie as the main villains, but 013 is the most prominent Tyrant of the movie.
The origin and official model of this Tyrant in Resident Evil are currently unknown. The animated film series is kind of all over the place, so fans will likely never really know the origins of this monster.