Invisibility Cloak: Difference between revisions
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[[Greek Mythology]] examples make this [[Older Than Feudalism]].
Having said that, the
Compare [[Invisibility]], where this is an ability instead of an equipment. Watch out for [[Invisibility Flicker]], though.
{{examples}}
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==▼
* ''[[Full Metal Panic!]]'', ECS mode for 3rd generation Arm Slaves. Tessa's M6A1 also had ECS despite being 2nd-gen. [[The Other Wiki]] states that ECS is based on an array of rapidly oscillating lasers. The first models only shielded against infrared but the newest stuff works against optics as well—with the trade-off of having a strong ozone smell, attracting birds and freaking out dogs.
▲== [[Anime]] ==
** Mao was moving at a pretty good clip in the Behemoth story arc, trashing roadsigns and even "helping" Souske and Weber get their truck through a roadblock.
* ''[[Gundam Seed]]'', Mirage Colloid for Gundams, ships, and mini-Death Stars
* ''[[Robotech]]'', Shadow Alpha/Beta fighters
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== [[
* In ''[[Kyon: Big Damn Hero]]'', {{spoiler|Kyon's greatcoat, skinsuit, PDA, and weaponry}} conspire to give them one of these.
* The most useless invisibility cloak ever in ''[[My Immortal]]''. [[Completely Missing the Point|People can see it when it's in use.]]
** [[Fridge Brilliance|
* A team of mercenaries in the ''[[Dresden Files]]'' fic ''[[Fair Vote]]'' had the technological variant; surprising in a universe where magic-users are [[Walking Techbane
* In ''[[Renegade (fanfic)|Renegade]]'', invisibility technology is used by {{spoiler|Tali}} to sneak into an enemy base.
* In an
== [[Film]] ==
* The Tarnhelm is parodied in the 1989 film ''[[Erik the Viking]]'', where the protagonist uses Aud's invisibility cloak, which only works on King Arnulf. Unaware of that Erik pulls off a hilarious "now you see me, now you you don't see me" scene on the villain's ship.
:The priest cannot see it, the same way that he cannot see {{spoiler|the Dragon of the North Sea or the gates of Asgard.}}
* ''[[Predator]]'' - This is a Predator's main defense against the prey that it is hunting. [[Trope Maker]].
* ''[[G.I. Joe]]'' - There is a camouflage suit used by Scarlett.
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* The magic ring in ''[[Orlando Furioso]]'', which Angela uses to get away from Ruggiero in what might be the epic's most crucial scene. It reappears at various points and may have inspired the One Ring.
* ''[[Perry Rhodan]]'' has the 'deflector field' (not to be confused with [[Deflector Shields]]) as a relatively commonplace technology. It works by bending light around the cloaked object or person and, while useful under the right conditions, isn't too hard to foil since it only affects a small part of the electromagnetic spectrum (an early issue had an invisible intruder detected by 1970s Earth ''radar'') and the field itself can be easily spotted by advanced sensors.
* In the ''[[Starfist]]'' series by David Sherman and Dan Cragg, Confederation Marine combat uniforms are called "chameleons" - they incorporate an otherwise undescribed technology that approximates the color of objects in the uniform's near vicinity. Chameleons only work in visible spectrum, a weakness that is ruthlessly exploited by the series' recurring [[Aliens and Monsters]].
:Later on, when the Marines are fighting against human rebels, they advance across an open field of chest-high grass. [[Idiot Ball|Apparently, no one realized just how brilliant this plan was until they got ambushed by the rebels who could easily spot them.]]
* In the ''[[Wheel of Time]]'' series by Robert Jordan, Warders' cloaks blended with the scenery, making their heads and legs appear disembodied when the cloaks were worn.
* William Gibson's ''[[Neuromancer]]'' has Molly donning a "mimetic polycarbon" body suit, which changes pattern to match the surroundings, in order to infiltrate the Sense/Net headquarters.
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* Parodied in an episode of ''[[Wizards of Waverly Place]]'' when Max buys an invisibility poncho. When worn, only the poncho turned invisible, Max didn't.
* Similar to the Muppet Labs spray above, one episode of ''[[Sesame Street]]'' featured the spray-on invisibility cloak "Disappear-O."
* In the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' two-parter ''[[Doctor Who
* In season 9 of [[Stargate SG-1]], the team discovers Arthur's Mantle, which is basically a computer that takes the user out of phase, making them invisible. Daniel guesses that a medieval storyteller who didn't understand the mechanics of the machine attributed its properties to an actual cloak.
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== [[Tabletop Games]] ==
* ''[[BattleTech]]'' takes the chameleon approach with mimetic armor coatings for some types of power armor. The "Chameleon Light Polarization Shield", invisibility on a Mech scale, has never been truly explained, but is implied to somehow render a Mech invisible only in the visible light spectrum, allowing it to still hunt in its magnetic resonance and infrared sensor modes. Those Mechs that mount it have to find their own ways around not showing up to those, frequently resorting to advanced composites for construction and various gimmicks to reduce heat signature
:The [[Cargo Cult|Word of Blake's]] new Void-Signature System combines the theory of the Chameleon Light Polarization System as well the Null Signature System with Battlesuit Scale mimetic armour to create a system which blocks you from Mag Scan, IR, Radar sensors as well as any visual system by making your 'Mech change colours as to appear the same as their background... thus simply being a blur.
* Rings, cloaks and other Items of Invisibility from ''[[Dungeons
* ''[[Rifts]]'' shows a surprising dosage of reality in averting the traditional sci-fi cloaking fields. The usual invisibility magic still works, but technological efforts at an Invisibility Cloak take the form of highly advanced "chameleon" fields or coatings which mimic the surroundings rather than bending light around them and making the user blind too.
* Various versions exist in ''[[GURPS]]: Ultra-Tech''. By [[Technology Levels|TL12]] the Invisibility Surface works not only in the visual spectrum but well beyond it.
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** In the ''[[Command & Conquer: Tiberium|Tiberium]]'' saga, the Brotherhood of Nod is rather fond of Invisibility Cloaks and is specifically mentioned to be the leader in that field. It first began with "Ezekiel's Wheel" Stealth Tanks and the occasional [[Crate Expectation]] bonus when the very first ''C&C'' game, ''Tiberian Dawn'', debuted in 1995. And then, it just expanded from there. ''Tiberian Sun'' moved on to footsoldier and building versions when it included the aptly-named Chameleon Spy, as well as mobile and stationary Stealth Generators that can generate invisibility fields base-wide. As of ''Tiberium Wars'', Nod even gained a [[Support Power]] derivative.
*** GDI, on the other hand, has learned to somewhat embrace this trope in ''Tiberium Wars'' through the use of [[Cold Sniper|Sniper teams]].
*** EA and Westwood [[Continuity Nod|even made sure that the continuity]] between ''Tiberian Dawn'' and ''Tiberian Sun'' [[Continuity Porn|stayed consistent]]: ''Renegade''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [http://www.cncden.com/wallpapers_ren/Stealth_1024.jpg Black Hand Chameleon soldier] is, apparently, the precursor to ''Tiberian Sun''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s Chameleon Spy.
** The ''[[Command & Conquer: Red Alert|Red Alert]]'' series takes Invisibility Cloak differently, what with even wackier science. The Allies understand this trope as the ability to jam radar or generate [[Fog of War]] using specialist vehicles and buildings. Although they mostly subvert this trope, they do learn to build a [[No Plans, No Prototype, No Backup|one-time prototype]] [[Awesome Personnel Carrier|S.Tank-APC hybrid]] in ''[[Expansion Pack|Red Alert: Aftermath]]''. ''Red Alert 2'' sees no changes in their mindset: [[Mobile Shrubbery|Mirage Tanks]] are implied to use holograms to hide themselves. The Soviets (and later on, Yuri's army and Imperial Japan) are more straightforward about this with submarine technology, which survived all the way to ''Red Alert 3''.
** ''[[Command & Conquer: Generals|Generals]]'' and ''Generals: Zero Hour'' are easily the most generous and the least sci-fi ''C&C'' games with this trope, seeing how Invisibility Cloak (innate or attained by upgrade) can apply to aircraft, footsoldiers, vehicles and even buildings alike. Justifiable in a sense that most of it is merely from modern camouflage technology, rather than from [[Applied Phlebotinum]]. The extremest of extreme goes to none other than ''Zero Hour'''s Stealth General, Prince Kassad. He has the [[Support Power]] to cast an Invisibility Cloaks on literally ''anything''.
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* ''[[Global Agenda]]'' has one for the Recon class. It also greatly increases movement speed or jump length (your pick) while active, making it a viable travel alternative to the jetpack.
* The ''[[Fallout]]'' series features the StealthBoy.
** Which is established as a knock-off of Chinese technology, leading to a Chinese Stealth Suit showing up in the Operation Anchorage DLC for Fallout 3.<ref>The suit shows up in New Vegas as well, but it isn't an
* Several ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' games include invisibility spells or items. All physical attacks are a guaranteed miss while the item/spell is active (except in the Tactics games, where attacks can typically still hit, but the AI will ignore the invisible unit.) Some incarnations decrease magic evasion and/or magic defense as a trade-off
** ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]'', prior to its Game Boy Advance remake, included a notorious bug, Vanish/Doom, which combined Invisibility (0% physical hits, 100% magic hits) with a [[Useless Useful Spell]] (instant death, laughably low hit rate). One-hit kill every time, even for bosses who are supposed to be immune to it.
* ''[[Halo]]'' features lots of "active camouflage," as used by both Master Chief and various Elites including the Arbiter.
* ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'', Link had the Magic Cape in ''[[A Link to The Past]]''
:Also, the Stone Mask in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask|Majora's Mask]]'' allowed you to become invisible because [[Mobile Shrubbery|no one cares about a stone]]. Until you tried to do something plot-important with it on, like trying to take the Hookshot without starting the "beehive" cutscene beforehand in the Pirate Stronghold.
{{quote|"Hey! Some kid with a weird mask is trying to sneak into here!"}}
* The Ninja character from ''[[Live a Live]]'' had an Invisibility Cloak.
* ''[[Metal Gear Solid]]'' had both two-way invisibility and active camouflage. The OctoCamo from ''Metal Gear Solid 4'' is a peculiar example. To the player, Snake appears fully visible, just colored with the exact pattern and texture of whatever he's blending with, but while playing against Snake during a Sneaking Mission on ''Metal Gear Online'', when the camo index is high, Snake is virtually invisible, barely even noticeable when he moves, and one presumes this is also how the AI sees it. Stealth Camouflage in MGS4 and MGO (A call back to the original [[Metal Gear Solid|MGS]]), one is totally invisible to the naked eye, but one is still visible by enemies using infrared in-game, and the user still has a shadow
:The Stealth Camo is in a way [[Invisible to Normals]] since normal guards can't see you, but bosses, escort characters, and the Attack Team (the guards sent during an alert phase) can. It is possible they already know you're there and are specifically looking for you. Stealth camo doesn't provide total invisibility, so you could still spot it if you know what to look for.
* Shadow Pirates in ''[[Metroid Prime]]'' feature the "active camouflage" type of cloak (appear as a faint shimmer in visible spectrum, but stick out like a sore thumb in IR). Trace in ''Hunters'' can cloak itself in a similar fashion by standing still, but the cloak drops as soon as it moves.
* The RC-P120 from ''[[Perfect Dark]]'' had a ammunition powered cloaking device as its secondary function. The game also featured stand alone versions.
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** The cloaking device in ''Melee'' did prevent you from gaining any damage while worn, however.
* ''[[Wing Commander (video game)|Wing Commander]]'', Kilrathi (and later human) stealth fighters.
* ''[[
** Terran Ghosts are latent psychics which can use their powers, coupled with a special suit they wear, to cloak themselves for as long as they have enough energy.
*** ''[[Star Craft 2]]'' has Specters that use a similar system.
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** Protoss Observers and Dark Templar are permanently cloaked. The Observers use some kind of technological artifice, while the Dark Templar have invisibility skills as a cultural trait, given their history of persecution by the Khalai.
** Protoss Arbiters aren't cloaked themselves, but serve as an anchor for a reality-warping field that automatically cloaks allied units within a certain radius. This ability is carried over to the Mothership in ''[[Star Craft 2]]''.
* The Spy in ''[[Team Fortress 2]]'' has one built into his wristwatch. It lasts up to 8 seconds and then needs 30 seconds to recharge fully, so using it takes a fair bit of tactical sense. An alternate invisibility, the Cloak and Dagger, slowly regenerates while the player is cloaked but standing still, so they can be invisible forever, but it drains much faster while moving
:The Dead Ringer turns you invisible after faking your death to the enemy team. You also get 90% damage reduction, and the cloak doesn't flicker from bumping into enemies, so it is much more powerful, but can only be activated by damage, and requires you to run around uncloaked, waiting for someone to shoot you.
* ''[[Thief|Thief II: The Metal Age]]'' has invisibility potions. Sometimes they are available for purchase (and are very expensive when they are); sometimes they are hidden somewhere in a mission. The effect lasts for only a minute or so, and when it wears off, Garrett breathes very hard as though surfacing for air.
* ''[[Warcraft|Warcraft III]]'', Shades, Night Elves (subverted in that it's only at night and while stationary), Blademasters and the Sorceress' Invisibility spell. In ''Warcraft 2'', casting invisibility on a Demolition Squad [[Game Breaker|killed it outright]], in ''Warcraft 3'' it just tells you you cannot use it.
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* The Assassins in the ''[[F.E.A.R.]]'' series have active camo. Notably, the camouflage only covers the Assassins' body, not any weapons said Assassin is carrying, which forces them to rely on hand-to-hand attacks. They get around this by having finger-mounted claws that [[Shock and Awe|channel electricity into their targets.]]
* The V38 Phantom TIE Fighters in ''[[Star Wars Expanded Universe|Star Wars: Rebel Assault II]]'' have this, "a capability previously unheard of for ships their size".
* Infamously, ''[[Wizards and Warriors]]'' for the NES features a
* ''[[Touhou]]'' has resident [[Gadgeteer Genius]] kappa Nitori and her optical camouflage suit.
* In ''[[Turok (series)|Turok 2]]'', some of the Endtrails have stealth camouflage.
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* Spoofed in ''[[Escape From St. Mary's|Escape From St Marys]]'': The cloak makes everything else invisible (it blinds you).
* In ''[[Mega Man 7]]'', the Wily Capsule explicitly pulls out a cloak when pulling off its disappearing trick.
== [[Web Comics]] ==
* In ''[[Elf Blood]]'', the punk Scout uses one to escape from the Renegades after he tosses a grenade at them.
* In ''[[Far From Home]]'', the pirates have a device that makes them only appear on the scanner.
* In ''[[Girl Genius]]'' "stealth cloaks" are used by Smoke Knights, but probably not limited to them. They are imperfect: high-end thinking engines like [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20080901 Castle Heterodyne] or a [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20160530 Muse] and very observant people [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20150410 (like Bang)] notice distortions, and tend to consider these annoying. The large-scale ones [https://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20171127 produce distortions] noticeable with uneven background.
== [[Web Original]] ==
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* The Shroud of Shadows from ''[[Xiaolin Showdown]]''.
* The Renegades' Stealth Device from ''[[Challenge of the Go Bots]],'' said to be a holographic projector that worked across the entire electromagnetic spectrum.
* One episode of ''[[Batman: The Animated Series]]'' featured a criminal who had stolen a supply of a plastic that could bend light around it, and had made for himself an invisibility suit (and similarly outfitted his car)
:Batman might've also adapted a safer version of this (in the ''Batman The Animated Series'' episode, it's mentioned as being toxic to the user), as the suit in ''[[Batman Beyond]]'', Terry's costume has a similar ability that he uses sometimes.
* The Saurians of ''[[The Mighty Ducks (animation)|The Mighty Ducks]]'' had extremely sophisticated cloaking devices that not only rendered them invisible to the naked eye, but to almost all forms of radar or locating devices. In fact, its power is why the Mask of Drake Du Caine is so important to Puckworld. It is the one and only thing that can see through their cloaks.
* The costume worn by Spider-Man throughout most of ''[[Spider-Man Unlimited]]'' can briefly turn him invisible.
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== [[Real Life]] ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090523085717/http://www.time.com/time/specials/2008/top10/article/0,30583,1855948_1863947_1863931,00.html Metamaterials].
* If you made a cloak out of a lot of tiny cameras and screens, it should be possible to get the invisibility effect while still being able to see the outside on a screen inside the cloak. It would be ridiculously fragile, though.
* BAE Systems is developing an [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pftna34TbJU adaptive infrared camouflage system] that makes vehicles blend with the background IR of the environment, making them practically invisible when viewed with IR cameras.
* A tongue-in-cheek example was included as part of the exhibition the British Library created in 2018 for the 20th anniversary of the ''[[Harry Potter]]'' books (which then went on an international tour in 2019): an empty hanger hanging from the top of a large security-glass case, labeled "Harry Potter's Invisibility Cloak".
{{reflist}}
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[[Category:Invisibility Index]]
[[Category:Older Than Feudalism]]
[[Category:Invisibility Cloak]]▼
[[Category:Magic Items Index]]
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