History Main / AdaptiveArmor

-->-- '''Artakha''', ''{{Bionicle}}''

** Also, the DNA rewriting thing? [[CloneByConversion Not so great when the suit is convinced the person wearing it is someone else]].

** Also, the DNA rewriting thing? Not so great when the suit [[CloneByConversion is convinced the person wearing it is someone else]].

* Coincidentally (as it came before the trope was defined[[note]] and no, we're not sure whether it had any influence on the trope name[[/note]]), ''Franchise/{{Bionicle}}'' had the Toa Nuva acquire gear ''called'' Adaptive Armor just before they went to Karda Nui. True to the trope, said armor can adapt to terrain and enemies; it gave them flight capabilities (propellors, wings, jetpacks) for Karda Nui's sky-high setting and light energy weapons for use against the shadowy Makuta.

* {{Downplayed}} in ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive''. Shardplate will change shape to perfectly fit any wearer, but other than that it grants everyone the same powers and advantages [[spoiler: so far, at any rate.]]

* In the TabletopGame/{{Exalted}} supplement ''Shards of the Exalted Dream'' we are introduced to "Modern Alchemicals" which has themodularity and adaptability of the Alchemical Exalted and removes their utter dependence on infrastructure. In a way, all Exaltations qualify for this, save that they are less "armour" and more "omnitool".

* ''ComicBook/TransformersDarkCybertron'' had Jhiaxus use one of these to mimic Starscream's new body, giving him all of the latter's abilities and a similar appearance.

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvengersEarthsMightiestHeroes'', Captain Mar-Vell's armor-suit can morph into various weapons.

* The Allies in ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3'' field the [[TanksButNoTanks Multigunner IFV]], an adaptive ''jeep'' that would power up any infantry put inside ([[TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything including the other factions']]). There was also a base defense version. Hilariously enough, a Multigunner Turret seen through the fog of war would appear to have ''all'' its possible addons, including several guns, a missile rack, a lightning gun, a freeze ray, a plasma beam, an energy bow, a ninja star launcher, and some kind of automatic repair arm.

* In TabletopGame/MutantsAndMasterminds' core setting ''TabletopGame/FreedomCity'', this trope is filled by the Star Knight Corps, combined Expys of the GreenLanternCorps and RomSpaceKnight
* In the TabletopGame/{{Exalted}} supplement ''Shards of the Exalted Dream'' we are introduced to "Modern Alchemicals" - essentially a {{Guyver}}-ripoff which takes the modularity and adaptability of the Alchemical Exalted and removes their utter dependence on infrastructure. In a way, all Exaltations qualify for this, save that they are less "armour" and more "omnitool".

* Coincidentally (as it came before the trope was defined[[note]] and no, we're not sure whether it had any influence on the trope name[[/note]]), ''Franchise/{{Bionicle}}'' had the Toa Nuva acquire gear ''called'' Adaptive Armor just before they went to Karda Nui. (Lewa Nuva's sky forme armor pictured) True to the trope, said armor can adapt to terrain and enemies; it gave them flight capabilities (propellors, wings, jetpacks) for Karda Nui's sky-high setting and light energy weapons for use against the shadowy Makuta.

* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'': The Berserker Armor that Guts wears is this trope. Besides the fact that the helmet shape changes form according to the wearer's [[AnimalMotif inner beast]] (in Guts's case, the dog-like beast), it increases the wearer's endurance and power, but at the cost of allowing the wearer to surpass their physical limit by making their subconscious unaware of physical injuries (though while wearing the armor, massive wounds can be temporarily healed - but this is done by the armor piercing splinters through the skin). Oh, and it also causes temporary insanity by making the wearer go [[TheBerserker berserk]], and is insinuated that [[DeadlyUpgrade long term use will cause mental deterioration.]] It is a [[{{Curse}} cursed]] piece of armor, after all.

* The Goku Uniforms in Anime/KillLaKill are all made using a special material called Life Fibers that grant the person wearing them enhanced [[ClothesMakeTheSuperman strength, speed, and durability,]] but it's the Kamui (often translated as "God Robes" in fan dubs) that really stand out. The majority of uniforms are woven with only a certain amount of fibers (A [[{{Mooks}} One Star ]] uniform is made up of 10% Life Fibers, a [[EliteMook Two Star]] with 20%, and [[FiveBadBand Three Stars]] are made with 30%), with more powerful uniforms having a higher percentage of fibers. Kamui are unique in that they are made ''entirely'' of Life Fibers (100%), and their powers are exponentially greater than the other uniforms. However, it comes with a cost of using the wearer's blood as fuel, and the wearer also has to have the willpower to maintain that power without overloading. One of the Kamui, Senketsu, is sentient and has a psychic link with the main protagonist. Kamui can transform all or parts of themselves into weapons, wings, claws, and even rockets to allow the wearer to fly. Give a Kamui too much blood, however, and the results are ''[[UnstoppableRage not]]'' [[HumanoidAbomination pretty.]]

* The boringly but appropriately named Suits in Creator/AlastairReynolds ''[[Literature/RevelationSpaceSeries Revelation Space]]'' books are this, effectively turning their wearers into [[FlyingBrick Flying Bricks]] and providing a pretty devastating range of weapons via a HyperspaceArsenal. They're potentially smart, but not sentient or intelligent. Capable of operating independently as an AttackDrone. Used quite casually by the super-high-tech Ultras, but considered an exceptionally rare and valuable weapon of GameBreaker status by the embattled citizens of Sky's Edge.

* ''[[VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising Kid Icarus: Uprising]]'' downplays this during the final chapter, but it's still there. [[spoiler:The Great Sacred Treasure's stats are influenced by the weapon you equip to the battle, so picking a good weapon is still necessary.]]

[[folder:WebOriginal]]
* From the ''Roleplay/GlobalGuardiansPBEMUniverse'', Rainbow Knight's "PoweredArmor" is actually a piece of alien biotechnology that molded itself onto his body. Beyond some standard capabilities (like superhuman strength, [[NighInvulnerable invulnerability]], and [[IBelieveICanFly flight]]), the armor's capabilities [[SwissArmyWeapon change depending on the wearer's needs]].
* In ''Webcomic/QuentynQuinnSpaceRanger'', the Sapphire Star assassin had a suit of bio-armor (actually [[spoiler:a Gestaltian female]]) that among other things gave her extreme speed and strength, deployable wings, an (extra) [[BewareMyStingerTail venomous sting]], and ''very'' powerful [[FunctionalMagic lux abilities]]. Unfortunately, it wasn't properly tuned for her, so it also gave her a nearly fatal allergic reaction.
[[/folder]]

[[quoteright:290:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/b0e6ea0bedbead29d7aececd39b800dc.PNG]]
[[caption-width-right:290:No wings? No problem.]]

* The new ComicBook/BlueBeetle has armor.

* Literature/TheCulture also has suits, named in its usually literal way [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Suits]], though as with most Culture technology they're controlled by an AI (usually of the lower end of the sentience scale) rather than being passive tools. FlyingBrick capabilities come as standard, but offensive weaponry beyond the [[MagicTool Effector]] would not be generally issued. Being sentient, they can also operate quite independently of a wearer if needs be and are not practically stealable.

[[quoteright:290:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/b0e6ea0bedbead29d7aececd39b800dc.PNG]]]

* Coincidentally (as it came before the trope was defined[[note]] and no, we're not sure whether it had any influence on the trope name[[/note]]), ''Franchise/{{Bionicle}}'' had the Toa Nuva acquire gear ''called'' Adaptive Armor just before they went to Karda Nui. True to the trope, said armor can adapt to terrain and enemies; it gave them flight capabilities (propellors, wings, jetpacks) for Karda Nui's sky-high setting and light energy weapons for use against the shadowy Makuta.

* The new ComicBook/BlueBeetle has armor that basically functions as a high tech/quasi mystical GreenLanternRing.
* The Beta Suit in ''{{Echo}}'' cushions against g-forces, can emit deadly electrical attacks, cures diseases and can even re-write the DNA of its wearer. Unfortunately, as wonderful as it is, Julie [[ClingyCostume just can not get the darn thing off]].

* In ''WeaponZero'', ''everybody'' super is so because of an adaptive armor. And the armors show complete disrespect for the law of conservation of mass (at a whim shrinking away to nothing or growing very thick).
* ''{{Wetworks}}'' is another comic where the titular team's most distinctive trait is the liquid "gold" armor covering [[spoiler:(and in some cases replacing)]] their bodies. While initially just making the wearers effectively invulnerable, "the gold" later turns out to have other powers as well.

* X-O, from the comic of the same name produced by Valiant. The original version is an alien-created series of power armor with the most powerful being the Man-O-War class of armor. So powerful almost none of the aliens even have the mental and physical abilities to use one and in the hands of a Visigoth slave responding to his powerful will the armor can adapt and grow to deal with virtually any situation, sustain its wearer almost indefinitely and heal nearly any injury (having his stomach slashed open simply had him trapped in the armor for 10 years while it repaired him). It was even capable of regenerating someone else's arm when ordered to do so (although again this took time).

* The Goku Uniforms in Anime/KillLaKill are all made using a special material called Life Fibers that grant the person wearing them enhanced [[ClothesMakeTheSuperman strength, speed, and durability,]] but it's the Kamui (often translated as "God Robes" in fan dubs) that really stand out. The majority of uniforms are woven with only a certain amount of fibers (A [[{{Mooks}} One Star ]] uniform is made up of 10% Life Fibers, a [[EliteMook Two Star]] with 20%, and [[FiveBadBand Three Stars]] are made with 30%), with more powerful uniforms having a higher percentage of fibers. Kamui are unique in that they are made ''entirely'' of Life Fibers (100%), and their powers are exponentially greater than the other uniforms. However, it comes with a cost of using the wearer's blood as fuel, and the wearer also has to have the willpower to maintain that power without overloading. One of the Kamui, Senketsu, is sentient and has a psychic link with the main protagonist. Kamui can transform all or parts of themselves into weapons, wings, claws, and even rockets to allow the wearer to fly. Give a Kamui too much blood, however, and the results are ''[[UnstoppableRage not]]'' pretty.

* The Goku Uniforms in Anime/KillLaKill are made from a special Life Fibers that give their user enhanced [[ClothesMakeTheSuperman strength, speed, and durability,]] but it's the Kamui who really stand out. Whereas the majority of uniforms are only woven with a certain amount of fibers (A [[Mooks One Star Uniform]] is is made up of 10% Life Fibers, a [[EliteMook Two Star]] with 20%, and Three Stars are 30%), Kamui are made of ''100%'' Life fibers, and only a handful of people in the world can use them effectively. These uniforms have been shown to adapt to the user's needs, transforming into various forms that include different weapons and the ability to fly.

* The {{Guyver}} units are this. They all share similar capabilities, but each one looks vastly different. Humans, who were created by {{Precursors}} as {{Living Weapon}}s, gain exponentially more power from the suit than the aliens themselves, as well as inexplicable immunity to their MindControl abilities. It is implied that a [[BishonenLine Zoalord]] who equipped a Guyver unit would have [[AGodAmI power approaching that of a god]].

* The [[{{Berserk}} Berserk Armor]] that Guts wears is this trope. Besides the fact that the helmet shape changes form according to the wearer's [[AnimalMotif inner beast]] (in Guts's case, the dog-like beast), it increases the wearer's endurance and power, but at the cost of allowing the wearer to surpass their physical limit by making their subconscious unaware of physical injuries (though while wearing the armor, massive wounds can be temporarily healed - but this is done by the armor piercing splinters through the skin). Oh, and it also causes temporary insanity by making the wearer go [[TheBerserker berserk]], and is insinuated that [[DeadlyUpgrade long term use will cause mental deterioration.]] It is a [[{{Curse}} cursed]] piece of armor, after all.
* Clothes in {{SaintSeiya}} have shades of this, if not all the elements. One size fits all? Check. Mind of its own (helping Seiya in a pinch more than once, screwing its rogue Gold Saint bearer) ? Check. Some of them upgrade (in the Poseidon arc after being revived by Gold Saint blood, and in Hades arc turning into God Cloths) in response to HeroicResolve? Check.

* The new BlueBeetle has armor that basically functions as a high tech/quasi mystical GreenLanternRing.

* The alien symbiotes (Venom, Carnage, etc.) of {{Spider-Man}} fame are examples of this.
* In WeaponZero, ''everybody'' super is so because of an adaptive armor. And the armors show complete disrespect for the law of conservation of mass (at a whim shrinking away to nothing or growing very thick).
* The Comicbook/{{Witchblade}} is definitely one of these.
* {{Wetworks}} is another comic where the titular team's most distinctive trait is the liquid "gold" armor covering [[spoiler:(and in some cases replacing)]] their bodies. While initially just making the wearers effectively invulnerable, "the gold" later turns out to have other powers as well.

* The [[TheChosenMany Droods]] in Literature/SecretHistories are best known for their "strange matter" armor, given to them by a friendly EldritchAbomination named Ethel. The armor is effectively indestructible (although it has notably never been tested against an actual atomic bomb), has a {{Glamour}} field that makes its owner InvisibleToNormals if they want to be, and is capable of changing its style and shape based on the owner's will. It is implied that its only real limitation is its owner's imagination, and later books have the armor using new tricks like gliding, hacking computers, and growing machine guns that fire powerful strange matter bullets.

* Coincidentally (as it came before the trope was defined[[note]] and no, we're not sure whether it had any influence on the trope name[[/note]]), ''{{BIONICLE}}'' had the Toa Nuva acquire gear ''called'' Adaptive Armor just before they went to Karda Nui. True to the trope, said armor can adapt to terrain and enemies; it gave them flight capabilities (propellors, wings, jetpacks) for Karda Nui's sky-high setting and light energy weapons for use against the shadowy Makuta.

* In ''{{Champions}}'' this would be done with a Variable Power Pool using the Focus (power suit) and No Conscious Control limitations.
* In MutantsAndMasterminds' core setting FreedomCity, this trope is filled by the Star Knight Corps, combined Expys of the GreenLanternCorps and RomSpaceKnight
* In the {{Exalted}} supplement ''Shards of the Exalted Dream'' we are introduced to "Modern Alchemicals" - essentially a {{Guyver}}-ripoff which takes the modularity and adaptability of the Alchemical Exalted and removes their utter dependence on infrastructure. In a way, all Exaltations qualify for this, save that they are less "armour" and more "omnitool".

* From the ''GlobalGuardiansPBEMUniverse'', Rainbow Knight's "PoweredArmor" is actually a piece of alien biotechnology that molded itself onto his body. Beyond some standard capabilities (like superhuman strength, [[NighInvulnerable invulnerability]], and [[IBelieveICanFly flight]]), the armor's capabilities [[SwissArmyWeapon change depending on the wearer's needs]].

* The Allies in ''CommandAndConquer: Red Alert 3'' field the [[TanksButNoTanks Multigunner IFV]], an adaptive ''jeep'' that would power up any infantry put inside ([[TheDevTeamThinksOfEverything including the other factions']]). There was also a base defense version. Hilariously enough, a Multigunner Turret seen through the fog of war would appear to have ''all'' its possible addons, including several guns, a missile rack, a lightning gun, a freeze ray, a plasma beam, an energy bow, a ninja star launcher, and some kind of automatic repair arm.
** Don't forget this trend started with the earlier, bog-standard IFV of Red Alert 2. While lacking anything quite as awesome-sauce as a freeze ray, placing President Dugan in one certainly caused a [[FrickinLaserBeams fantastic light show...]]