Ki Attacks: Difference between revisions

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A staple of the martial arts genre. Ki ([[Why Mao Changed His Name|also chi or qi]]) is the [[Life Energy|life force energy]] of the martial artist and/or the world around him; true masters can tap into that energy and use it for what amounts to superhero-style attacks. Compare Chi with [[Mana]]. Learning how to do [['''Ki Attacks]]''' usually results in your rival learning his own, leading to an endless cycle of [[My Kung Fu Is Stronger Than Yours]].

If [[Functional Magic]] also exists in the universe, there's usually a distinction made between the two, comparable to the distinction between [[Psychic Powers]] and [[Functional Magic]] in Western [[Speculative Fiction]]. If no distinction is made, it's [[Supernatural Martial Arts]]. If a character can use both individually, then they're a [[Kung Fu Wizard]]. At times may overlap with [[The Force]], which isn't surprising as the [[Star Wars]] ability was based on the concept. Sometimes the [['''Ki Attacks]]''' are a part of some [[Martial Arts and Crafts]], making it either [[Rule of Funny]] or [[Rule of Cool]].

If the attack is ''not'' based on Ki or Mana, then the trope is [[Hand Blast|Hand Blasts]]s.

** Note that Saffron does not actually use [[Ki Attacks]]; rather, he shoots out ''[[Playing with Fire|raw flame]]''.

** Hinako Ninomiya literally has only two attacks and both of them are [[Ki Attacks]]. With the first, she [[Energy Absorption|drains]] the [[Battle Aura]] from a victim, usually rendering them too weak to fight. If facing more then one opponent, or they don't fall to her technique, she can unleash a [[Kamehame Hadoken]] that uses up all of the stolen ki energy. Both attacks trigger her [[Dual Age Modes|Dual Age Mode]], the draining aging her up and the other aging her down.

** The exception being a group of [[Artificial Human|Artificial Humans]]s, who due to their cybernetic nature have no ki (despite 3 out of the 5 being enhanced humans rather than completely artificial constructs). This presents its own problems for the heroes, whose ability to sense ki is obviously useless against enemies who don't have any.

* ''The Kundalini Equation'' by Stephen Barnes features an instruction manual that teaches the reader [[Ki Attacks]] and [[Battle Aura]].

* In ''[[Power Rangers Jungle Fury]],'' the Rangers (and other members of their order) can generate [[Ki Attacks]] in the form of the animal they're linked to... including giant versions that solidify into, essentially, [[Humongous Mecha]]. And this is one of the more basic techniques...

** In a way, ''all'' attacks are [[Ki Attacks]] in the [[Power Rangers]] version, with the various weapons actually channeling one's animal spirit. The shiny suits themselves come from another source, but the morphers can only be activated by animal spirit power. Which means if yours is out of balanced due to angst, or stolen by an enemy, you're screwed. It may be true to an extent in Gekiranger (Red's [[How Do I Shot Web?]] moment was the same, and White's finger missiles are actually ''his ki blade channeled differently and fired off by his gauntlet thing,'' something not made explicit in PRJF though the visuals remained.) but in Jungle Fury, animal spirit being the power behind everything and the different ways it can be used is a ''much'' bigger plot point.

** [[Pathfinder]] takes this even further: Monks now have a Ki Pool, constituted of Ki Points, which can be used to give the character an ungodly burst of speed, up their melee attack damage, or initiate a "Stunning Fist" attack. Coupled with an official Feat from 3.5 called Ki Blast, many [[Game Master|Game Masters]]s are now playing around with home-brewed rules for progressive ranged-combat Ki attack Feats for Monks for Pathfinder.

* In the GBA ''[[Golden Sun]]'' series, the heroes are masters of "Psynergy", a type of magic/[[Psychic Powers|psychic power]]. They encounter a martial arts school, and the head of the dojo comments on how their powers differ from [[Ki Attacks]]. "Psynergy comes from the mind, while Chi comes from the body." It's commented that Psynergy is genetic, while "anyone" can eventually learn to use Chi, though [[When All You Have Is a Hammer|nobody in the party learns.]] ''However'' there are ''Ki'' techniques (not Chi) from a different temple/dojo that Psynergy resembles/substitutes that the heroes can learn. It's not entirely clear whether Ki and Psynergy are the same or simply in the same "sphere."

* ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]'' has the martial arts user Sabin, whose special ability is [[Ki Attacks]] in combat. The player activates them via ''[[Street Fighter]]'' style button commands. These do not take up [[Mana|Magic Points]] and can be done indefinitely.

* Asura from ''[[Asura's Wrath]]'' uses these. They can be fired out rapidly and resembleshis fists. He's essentially making [[Ki Attacks]] by PUNCHING! The energy itself is called Mantra.

* Yin and Yang, the protectors of Hong Kong in the ''[[Global Guardians PBEM Universe]]'', utilize [[Ki Attacks]] as part of their mystical martial arts training, as does the Lucky Bandit, heroic protector of Shanghai.

* ''[[MAG-ISA]]'' -- Used—Used by [http://mag-isa.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/119585 Claudita] in this comic.