History Main / AdvantageBall

* PlayedWith in ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'''s [[AngstNuke Shi Shi]] [[KamehameHadoken Hokodan]] arc. [[ButtMonkey Ryoga]] learns the titular technique and uses it against Ranma. DeconstructiveParody [[InvertedTrope Inversion]] HilarityEnsues when Ranma understands the technique and [[BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame adapts it]]; the fight becomes a {{Wangst}} contest, which Ryoga eventually wins due to having [[DeusAngstMachina more true angst]]. Ranma then decides to use a modified variant powered by confidence (the Moko Takabisha), which comes far more naturally to him. The stage looks set for him to inflict a CurbStompBattle. {{Subversion}} and [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome reality ensues]] (relatively speaking, given that they're using KiManipulation) when Ryoga learning that Ranma has a counter-technique only fuels his depression; his Shi Shi Hokodan becomes even stronger, breaking Ranma's confidence-powered Moko Takabisha technique. Then Ryoga revealed that he had been working to master an even stronger "perfected" variant of the Shi Shi Hokodan. [[spoiler: Ranma ultimately wins in [[DistractedByTheSexy an unrelated and anticlimactic way]].]]

* Throughout ''Film/TheMatrix'', agents are pretty much unstoppable, due both to their superior programming and the [[TheDreaded terror the other side has for them]]. But after Neo's awakening as The One, he can dispatch them with ease (and his team can at least hold their ground). Justified in the first and most of the second. The third doesn't even try to justify Neo's god-like abilities.

* The Church Knights of the ''Literature/TheElenium'' and ''Tamuli'', being basically [[ThePaladin Paladins]], have superlative training and political support. Moreover, they have a fierce (deserved) reputation, very large war-horses and armour which not only [[LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe protects them]], but is also intimidating at the same time. Combining this with the [[PlotArmor extra plot protection]] that the [[NominalImportance named protagonists enjoy]], the Knights have the ability to steamroll over practically any force, almost regardless of the opposition's numbers, tactics or equipment. This is taken even further at the climax of the Elenium, when Sparhawk is driven into an UnstoppableRage and kills probably dozens of [[{{Mooks}} enemy combatants]] without effort or personal damage. Soon after, however, he faces TheDragon, a man with considerable anthropic weight, and barely defeats him in single combat. In ''Tamuli'' there is some discussion on the topic, with the knights having trouble with keeping up with [[ProudWarriorRace Atan]] levels of physical conditioning, recent advantages in crossbows and dealing with the overwhelming heat during the campaign in Cynesga. Vanion specifically mentions feeling near-obsolete, but concludes that he can still pull his weight, at least.

* In Literature/TheBible, the Israelites' success in any conflict is based entirely on how faithful they're being to God at the time. When they're faithfully worshipping him, they wipe out hordes of Canaanites with a couple hundred men, and suffer no losses. When they're ignoring God or worshipping Ba'al or some other being other than God, they tend to get conquered, looted, and generally knocked around by any nation that cares to fight them. In one battle it's determined by whether Moses is holding his staff in the air, which he quickly needs help to maintain.

* A few schools of pro wrestling teach that best matches are not the most realistic, technically sound or athletically spectacular, but those that get the most "heat" without burning out the audience. Every audience being different means that basing a match on responses can result in anything from an extended one-sided affair with a few {{hope spot}}s (Wrestling/RickySteamboat and RickyMorton of Wrestling/TheRockNRollExpress were famous for it), a dizzying see-saw of advantages (Wrestling/TheRock was well known for these but it was almost literal in a ladder match between Wrestling/RobVanDam and Wrestling/ChristianCage), {{Heroic Second Wind}}s or {{villainous underdog}}s becoming increasingly frustrated/frightened as baby {{face}}s keep shaking off their 'clever' strategies (Wrestling/RicFlair, Wrestling/TerryFunk). Hold for hold (Wrestling/KurtAngle vs Wrestling/EddieGuerrero), blow for blow (Kazuchika Okada vs Wrestling/HiroshiTanahashi or Wrestling/AJStyles), counter for counter (ACH vs Ta'Darius Thomas or Cedric Alexander) rarely last long in a bout, and the term "back and forth" is rarely as literal as it is in other "genres" of fighting. Some multiple fall matches such as Perro Aguayo Jr vs El Hijo Del Santo literally had "advantage" shift each decision, and [[GimmickMatches match types]] like War Games literally run on it.

* This actually comes up in ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'' and, to a lesser extent, ''VideoGame/SamuraiWarriors''. When you accomplish specific tasks, your side gains morale, which basically buys you more time and progress to defeat the enemy general, by adding or removing soldier units from the battlefield. Especially in Dynasty Warriors, even if you're being completely creamed, if you get over 1000 soldier kills, you get unlimited morale. Then you have hundreds of troops rush in and push back the enemy, for no particular reason than that you're now so cool.

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* Tex's ability to handle the ball in ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'' is subject to the RuleOfFunny, she will beat entire teams into the ground when its funny and nothing is on the line and fail miserably when something actually is. [[spoiler:This turns out to be a part of her character, she's an artificial intelligence based on a woman who died in the line of battle.]]

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* Any video game with a story that ping-pongs the narrative between characters like the new ''Franchise/MortalKombat'', many ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' games and ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry 4'' gives the ball to whoever is under player control. Oftentimes because victory is the only way to proceed thus the player has to overcome obstacles and enemies that may have once been under player control.

* The Church Knights of the ''Literature/TheElenium'' and ''Tamuli'', being basically [[ThePaladin Paladins]], have superlative training and political support. Moreover, they have a fierce (deserved) reputation, very large war-horses and armour which not only [[LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe protects them]], but is also intimidating at the same time. Combining this with the [[PlotArmor extra plot protection]] that the [[NominalImportance named protagonists enjoy]], the Knights have the ability to steamroll over practically any force, almost regardless of the opposition's numbers, tactics or equipment. This is taken UpToEleven at the climax of the Elenium, when Sparhawk is driven into an UnstoppableRage and kills probably dozens of [[{{Mooks}} enemy combatants]] without effort or personal damage. Soon after, however, he faces TheDragon, a man with considerable anthropic weight, and barely defeats him in single combat. In ''Tamuli'' there is some discussion on the topic, with the knights having trouble with keeping up with [[ProudWarriorRace Atan]] levels of physical conditioning, recent advantages in crossbows and dealing with the overwhelming heat during the campaign in Cynesga. Vanion specifically mentions feeling near-obsolete, but concludes that he can still pull his weight, at least.

* Much like ''Manga/DragonBall'', ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' passes the ball whenever a mon evolves and/or learns a new move. This doesn't necessarily mean coming back with a new move though.

* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' and its sequel, ''Ghosts of the Past'', tilt ''hard'' towards this, with [[Creator/NimbusLlewelyn the author]] frequently making the point that conflict is not a simple game of top trumps, that anyone can be beaten if caught off-guard, and "will does not beat skill." Accordingly, while [[BadassCrew the Avengers]] can and frequently do stomp most of their opponents flat in a straight fight, the smarter villains try and play DivideAndConquer, separating them out so they can pick them off one by one. Equally, surprise attacks are a key part in deciding who'll win one fight or another.
** This also applies a lot to [[Literature/{{HarryPotter}} Harry]] (and to an extent, his friends), who loses fights that he shouldn't, with both his inexperience, [[GlassCannon lack of durability relative to]] [[PersonOfMassDestruction the raw power he's capable of summoning up]], and [[HotBlooded unfortunate habit of losing his temper at the wrong moment]] frequently undercutting him against often less powerful but more skilled opponents. Particular examples include his fight with HYDRA's Destroyer, piloted by Zemo, in chapter 60 (after a temporary PlotRelevantAgeUp, he's got all the powers he would as an adult, but none of the skill required to use them effectively, and nearly gets roasted alive for his pains) and his fight with Daken in chapter 70 (which involves [[ManipulativeBastard Daken]] [[IShallTauntYou goading]] [[HotBlooded Harry]] into a fist-fight, which Harry barely survives [[spoiler: and only because the Phoenix stepped in]]). In the latter case, Harry learns from his mistake and in the rematch [[MindOverMatter uses his telekinesis]] to pummel Daken into submission, and by ''Ghosts of the Past'', is taking steps to rectify his lack of skill/experience, [[TranquilFury control his temper]], and fight smarter.
** [[Literature/{{TheDresdenFiles}} Harry Dresden]] also manages to hurt and thus terrify Gravemoss, despite the fact that the latter is a PhysicalGod and {{Necromancer}} on Loki's level, through an admittedly very powerful sucker punch (while he can't repeat it [[spoiler: without dying]], Gravemoss doesn't know that - or how Dresden survived doing it in the first place, which is why he's so scared of Dresden thereafter).