User blog comment:Darkest Shadow/SFW Summer Awards 2016 Category Discussion/@comment-1942179-20160508220359

Also, new categories. Or, from me, just one new category. '''Best Foil. I'd say Best Lancer''', but then people might get the wrong idea. Regardless, it basically revolves around this trope.

The basic gist of it is that characters in these categories serve as a foil to their respective protagonist. While sidekicks can count, and can possibly be overlapped by Lancer, they aren't always the same. The main thing is that there has to be some noticeable contrast(s) between the protag and foil, but most importantly, the Lancer is someone the character can trust. Someone they can rely on. Even if they don't show it, deep down they know that they've always got their back, and vice versa.