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Defence Mechanism Superpower: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}}
A character has a superpower that only works when they're threatened - they can't initiate it at will, and occasionally [[Power Incontinence|they can't stop it either]]. This kind of situation is a common cue for [[Die or Fly|heretofore unknown powers to develop]] or for existing ones to undergo [[Power Creep, Power Seep|a dramatic boost in power]], either temporarily or [[Took a Level In Badass|for keeps]]. A storyline in which the character [[How Do I Shot Web?|tries to learn to use their power voluntarily]] is a likely result.
Can be used in a similar way to [[Always a Bigger Fish]], with a cowering hero looking up to discover their aggressor has mysteriously been blasted into dust, and muttering innocently "Did I do that?". Compare [[Desperation Attack]], a similar trope in video games.
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* ''[[Inuyasha]]''. When [[Inuyasha]] feels death staring him in the face, his [[Youkai|superhuman]] ancestry goes into a [[Super-Powered Evil Side]], which would eventually [[Ax Crazy|consume his soul]]. His sword has a [[Restraining Bolt|binding spell on it to prevent this]].
** Happened to Kagome in the first episode, while [[Youkai|Mistress Centipede]] is hauling her through the Bone Eater's Well.
* ''[[Jo Jo's Bizarre Adventure (Manga)|Jo Jos Bizarre Adventure]]'' has a stand called "[[U 2|Achtung Baby]]" (yes, the entire series is [[Shout
* ''[[Naruto]]'''s [[Ax Crazy|Gaara]] qualifies as he is protected by the sand controlled by his [[Sealed Evil in A Can|inner demon, Shukaku]]. {{spoiler|The ninja war arc reveals he is protected by his mother, not Shukaku.}}
* In ''[[One Piece (Manga)|One Piece]]'', [[Heavily Armored Mook|The Invincible Pearl]] could manifest flames when he felt threatened, i.e. whenever anyone managed to put a scratch on him through his supposedly invincible defense. While screaming "DANGER!! DANGER!!"
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** Now we have Intersect 2, which is essentially a bucket full of one [[Defence Mechanism Superpower]] after another.
** 2.0 actually both subverts it and plays it straight. Chuck can only use it when he's not overly emotional, which means he can use it when he's not in danger. The moment things get stressful he can't use it, until he really needs to, at which point he emotionally either enters the eye of the storm (if somebody else is in danger) or has to use a calming mantra (if he's in danger).
* Possibly a bit different, but in ''[[
{{quote| '''Tenth Doctor:''' They have survived this long because they have the most perfect defence system ever evolved.}}
** When they reappear in "The Time of Angels", it is clarified that they aren't just ''stone''--you cannot, for example, break them with a hammer--but somehow out of phase with the universe in such a way that they cannot be damaged at all in stone mode. The word quantum may be involved.
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== [[Video Games]] ==
* In ''[[Golden Sun (Video Game)|Golden Sun]]'', [[Psychic Powers|adepts]] have forms of [[Elemental Powers|Psyenergy]] which unconsciously protect them when they need it. This is first demonstrated in a cutscene in the first game when {{spoiler|they first enter Kolima or Kolima forest. They discover that some crystals are raining from the sky and turned the villagers into [[And I Must Scream|trees]]. They're knocked unconscious but are protected by a shield (which reappears in several other parts of the game to help avert [[Convection, Schmonvection]] and the like)}}. They vow to make an attempt to master this unconscious power, but never actually learn to willingly trigger it.
* ''[[Mario and Luigi Bowsers Inside Story]]'' gives this to Bowser. Whenever he gets himself crushed by something massive, his "Rump Command" becomes active and requires the brothers to pump him full of energy. The end result is that Bowser grows to Godzilla-size, ready to [[Megaton Punch]] whatever just smashed him.
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[[Category:Magic and Powers]]
[[Category:Defence Mechanism Superpower]]
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