Turn Undead: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

A [[Videogame Effects and Spells|standard spell]] which causes [[The Undead]] to panic or be destroyed, depending on the work.

 

 

Subtrope of [[Holy Hand Grenade]]. Closely related to [[Revive Kills Zombie]]. Can be a side effect of the [[Care Bear Stare]]. Contrast [[Cross-Melting Aura]]. If a character is turning ''into'' an undead creature rather than turning them ''away'', see [[And Then John Was a Zombie]].

{{examples}}

* Melissa and the other priestesses of Mylee have this ability in ''[[Rune Soldier Louie]]''.

* Etoh in ''[[Record of Lodoss War]]'' uses this ability now and then.

* ''[[Slayers]]'': Amelia uses the spell "Megiddo Flare" with the help of a stone of binding in one episode.

 

== Comic Books ==

* Featured in ''L'Armée du Nécromant'' ("''The Necromancer's Army''") -- the first album of the [[Comic Book Adaptation]] for ''[[Kaamelott]]'', parodying both Arthurian Legends and Tabletop RPGs. [[King Arthur]] and his knights going on a mission to investigate a surge of zombies, they bring Father Blaise with them, on the principle that priests are supposed to have powers against [[The Undead]]. However, Blaise never tried this before, and all his attempts are failure. Except at a critical moment toward the end, after hours of prayer, where he obliterates a group of giant zombies, almost accidentally (and fries his holy symbol in the process).

 

== Films -- Live-Action ==

 

== Tabletop Games ==

** Turn Undead is a power of [[Religion Is Magic|clerics and paladins]]; it causes one or more undead to panic, or be obliterated if the cleric is [[Curb Stomp Battle|sufficiently stronger]] than the undead. The earliest editions also allowed you to turn ''demons and other denizens of the Lower Planes'' if you were at a high enough level to do so.

** Then there is Turn Undead's [[Evil Counterpart]], "Rebuke Undead", which enslaves weak undead rather than destroying them. Evil clerics can also "Bolster Undead" which makes them more resistant to turning.

* The Kender Spoon of Turning, from ''[[Dragonlance]]''.

* ''[[GURPS]]'' has a few spells that do things like this. There is also the True Faith advantage which has an enhancement (called Turning) that makes this possible without a spell.

* ''[[Arkham Horror]]'' has a cross that counts as a magical weapon except it only provides a combat bonus against undead enemies.

 

== Video Games ==

* ''[[Baldur's Gate|Baldurs Gate]]''

** It also has the Mace of Disruption, which is very disrupty and allows you to plough through all but the most durable undead with ease. Amusingly if you [[Guide Dang It|find the sidequest to upgrade it]] it even works on [[Bonus Boss|Kangaxx the Demilich]], whose piss-poor save vs death spells means he stands a good chance of eating an instant kill the round after you strip his spell protections.

** The [[An Axe to Grind|Azure Axe]] has the same "save or die" effect on undead as the Mace of Disruption. There is a small chance it even works on [[The Dragon|Bohdi]].

** ''[[The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim|Skyrim]]'' now has master level spells; the master [[White Magic|Restoration]] spell Bane of the Undead now not only sends undead fleeing in fear, but also burns them, causing damage over time. If they die from the spell, instead of a corpse or a pile of bones, they leave behind ashes.

* One of the paladin's spells in ''[[World of Warcraft]]'' was originally Turn Undead. It's now called Turn Evil and extends to demon targets in addition to undead ones. ''World of Warcraft'' paladins also have a [[Holy Hand Grenade]] spell called "Holy Wrath" which affects everything, but stuns undead and demons.

* In the ''[[Breath of Fire]]'' series of games, there is the spell "Kyrie" which instantly kills all Undead enemies present in the battle. Even bosses, which is why most of the installments that had this spell tried to avoid undead bosses or simple made the spell unavailable till after said undead bosses. Usually learned by the Nina of that installment.

* This is Ryuna's basic ability in ''[[Shining Force|Shining Tears]]'', as part of her role as the [[White Mage]]. Considering how many Undead enemies appear early on, it really comes in handy.

* ''[[Final Fantasy I]]'' has the Dia line of spells, which only harm undead opponents. In all subsequent installments, [[Revive Kills Zombie|Cure is used in place of Dia]].

* ''[[Eye of the Beholder]]'': This is a power for the cleric or the paladin, along with the ''D&D'' 2nd edition rules. In ''Eye of the Beholder'', it is an automatic function, as long as the character is holding a holy symbol. Starting with ''Eye of the Beholder 2: The Legend of Darkmoon'', it becomes a selectable action like any spell-casting, though not limited in use.

* In ''[[Seiken Densetsu 3]]'', Carlie's Bishop class has this skill. It pretty much does 999 damage to any undead to the game, INCLUDING HER PATH's FINAL BOSS if she is high enough level for a mere 1MP.

 

== Web Comics ==

** [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0016.html Here is Durkon getting overenthusiastic.]

** [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0113.html "Turn Undead!" "Bolster Undead!" "Stab Undead!"]

** [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0459.html Redcloak and Jirix against the ghost-martyrs.]

** [http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0514.html Thanh vs. Wights.] Good thing this isn't 1st Edition, or Tsukiko would have turned the paladin in turn.

* Uriel (an Anglican minister in RL) of ''[[Little Tales]]'' usually gets annoyed when [[Cloudcuckoolander|Gen]] asks if he can scare off vampires. Though he did once wonder if [http://www.little-tales.com/index.php?Strip=349 a zombie priest can turn himself].

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Videogame Effects and Spells]]

[[Category:Undead Index]]

[[Category:Magic and Powers]]