Ever notice how in every adventure story there’s always one character who, at first glance, feels like dead weight? They’re clumsy, nervous, or plain odd. They trip on their own sword, forget the map, or ask the wrong questions at the wrong time. You wonder why they’re even there. Yet somehow, without them, the story wouldn’t land the same way. Yes, I’m talking about the so-called “useless” member of the party. The one no one would draft if they were building a team for efficiency. The one who makes everyone groan. And at the same time, the one who ends up being the glue that holds everything together. So let’s get into why your party needs someone who can’t swing a sword straight, and why they might matter more than the chosen hero. 

Why Include a Useless Character? 

Most fantasy parties are built like machines. Fighter smashes. Mage blasts. Rogue sneaks. Healer saves. Everything works. But efficiency doesn’t make a story worth reading. That’s where the “useless” one comes in. Think of Samwise Gamgee. Can’t fight, but carries Frodo and the heart of The Lord of the Rings. Or Neville Longbottom, mocked for years, only to strike the final blow against Voldemort’s Horcrux. Or Ron Weasley, insecure and overshadowed, yet the one who makes Harry’s impossible life bearable. Characters like these remind us that not everyone in a story has to be extraordinary. They give readers someone to connect with on a human level. Because let’s be honest, most of us are closer to the bumbling sidekick than the chosen one with the glowing sword. 

The Comic Relief Factor 

Comedy matters in adventure. Without it, everything risks becoming too heavy. Take Merry and Pippin from The Lord of the Rings. They get kidnapped, almost roasted by orcs, and ask about second breakfast while armies march. Do they contribute in the traditional sense? Barely. But they make Tolkien’s long epic bearable. Their ridiculousness cuts through the weight of despair. That’s what the “useless” one does. They give the reader room to breathe. Their chaos keeps the darker moments from grinding the story down.

The Hidden Strength 

Here’s the trick. “Useless” rarely means useless forever. That weak link usually hides the best payoff. Neville was clumsy for six books, then stepped forward when no one else could. Samwise, the gardener, ended up carrying Frodo and the fate of Middle-earth. Their uselessness sets up surprise. It makes the audience underestimate them. Then, when the moment comes, the reversal hits harder. 

Balancing the Party 

If every character in a party is competent, the story gets boring fast. Challenges become predictable. The weak link keeps the story messy. Picture Guardians of the Galaxy without Drax misunderstanding everything or without Groot, who can only say one line. Their quirks are more than funny—they create tension. Tension sparks banter. Banter builds relationships. Relationships make readers care. 

Reader Empathy: The Real Secret 

Think about why readers root for Ron Weasley or Shaggy from Scooby-Doo. They’re ordinary. They’re scared. They screw up. That’s precisely why they work. If every character is brave and brilliant, you lose connection. Throw in someone who panics, who admits they’d rather be at home eating snacks, and suddenly the story feels closer to real life. That’s the character who keeps people reading. 

How to Write Your Own “Useless” Member 

1. Lean into their flaws. Make them inconvenient. Clumsy, cowardly, constantly hungry. Let the flaws create friction. 

2. Balance them with heart. Give them loyalty, humor, or a perspective that no one else offers. 

3. Give them a moment. Let their flaw turn into an asset. The coward spots a trap. The chatterbox talks their way out of trouble. 

4. Don’t push too far. They shouldn’t stall the whole story. They’re seasoning, not the meal. 

Things to Watch Out For 

● Overdoing annoyance. If they trip up every single scene, readers will want them gone. 

● No growth at all. If they stay useless forever, that’s wasted potential. The best part is the shift. 

● Adding them just for laughs. The flaw should serve the story, not be a gag with no purpose. 

Final Thought 

Your party doesn’t just need the fearless knight and the genius wizard. It needs the one who drops their sword, forgets the plan, and eats all the rations. That character proves heroes don’t have to be perfect. They’re made through mistakes, stumbles, and the people who stand beside them. So add that useless bard, cowardly squire, or confused villager to your party. Give them space. Because odds are, they’ll be the one who surprises everyone in the end.