My Defense Need Not Protect Me Forever: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

Suddenly, the villain is promptly defeated. It may be because a group of reinforcements [[Big Damn Heroes|arrived in time to take him down]]. It may be because the hero had to take time to prepare the attack needed to take the villain down.

* In [[Naruto]], during an anime filler, Yamato dodges every attack from a Earth element user, because he was waiting for his preparations to complete for using an Earth technique.

* In ''[[Code Geass]] R2'', the Black Knights fight a defensive battle against the [[Eunuchs Are Evil|corrupt eunuchs]] who rule the Chinese Federation. They get trapped in a mountain cave and hold out until Lelouch's [[Engineered Public Confession]] causes the oppressed masses to rise up, turning the tide of the battle.

* In ''[[Dragonball Z]]'', Goku has tried everything else to no effect against [[Big Bad|Frieza]], and has to resort to his trump card, the Spirit Bomb. The problem is, it'll take him several minutes to create a big enough Spirit Bomb, and [[Awesome but Impractical|he has to stand motionless and let Frieza pummel him while doing it]]. This means the much weaker Piccolo is forced to step in and fight a losing battle to keep Frieza distracted long enough. {{spoiler|[[Subverted]], as the Spirit Bomb doesn't work.}}

 

== [[Literature]] ==

* This is a recurring motif in ''The Lies of Locke Lamora'' by Scott Lynch. Locke doesn't have to hold out forever, only until Jean gets to him...

'''Arthur Dent:''' "I'm game, we'll see who rusts first." }}

** It doesn't really work.

*** Well, if Arthur had stayed there another half an hour, the planet would have been destroyed before Prosser could get around to bulldozing the house.

 

== [[Tabletop Games]] ==

 

== [[Video Games]] ==

* Most defend or hold-the-line missions in [[RTS]] is this, seeing as the usual result is either a counterattack or a straight-up victory.

* The final level of ''[[Warcraft]] III'' has the allied races desperately trying to hold off Archimonde so Malfurion can set a trap for him.

*** However, in one of the early missions, if you build up enough defenses, they really can protect you forever.

*** Starcraft II, as well. In fact, one mission is designed to specifically test if you CAN do this. It only ends when you die.

**** It should be noted that this is one of the few missions you play as the protoss instead of your usual terran army that excels on turtling.

* In ''[[Dragon Age Origins]]'', the king's strategy at the battle of Ostagar is make the main force hold the gates while a smaller force ambush them from behind and turn the tide of the battle.

** Many speedrunners save their protective measures for such occasions, where speed is more important than killing all the enemies.

** In ''[[Team Fortress 2]]'', the Scout's secondary unlockable is the BONK! Atomic Punch energy drink. When you drink it, the Scout becomes invincible for 5 seconds but cannot attack. ...Except for the [[Lethal Joke Weapon|taunt kill]] with an incredibly long wind-up time. A relatively easy way of getting the Scout's taunt kill achievement is therefore to drink BONK!, then quickly approach an enemy from behind and start the taunt. Even though BONK! will wear off just before the swing finishes, your enemy will die instantly from the attack and thus you don't need the protection anymore. Unless the rest of the team is nearby, which they most likely will be.

*** This example could also be seen as something of an inversion if viewed from Sabine's perspective; her ''Attack'' did not protect her forever... and the [[Evil Is Sexy|backup plan]] [[Window Pain|failed spectacularly.]]

** [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0182.html V also was on the receiving end of this trope once.]

"Clever. However, there's one number you've failed to include in your analysis. Your hit point total." *chomp* }}

* ''[[Girl Genius]]'':

"She [http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date{{=}}20090513 doesn't have to]." }}

** This one is subverted, as it turns out that Agatha has to hide after all.

 

== [[Web Original]] ==

* [[Chakona Space]]: Played with in the hands of a stowaway:

 

== [[Western Animation]] ==

* Lightning in ''[[Teen Titans (animation)|Teen Titans]]'' was fighting Beast Boy, who used his shapeshifting powers to evade Lightning's attacks. Lightning remarked that BB's powers couldn't protect him forever. As soon as he finished, he got rammed by BB.

* In ''[[Justice League]]'', Kalibak was fighting Batman and used this line, but Batman revealed that he was just stalling for Superman. When Supes arrived, he [[Punched Across the Room|punched Kalibak across the block]] and said, "For what it's worth, I don't think you could have taken Batman either."

 

== [[Real Life]] ==