History Main / ClassicalElementsEnsemble

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* ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'''s FiveManBand has this along with Sokka as the BadassNormal. {{Lampshaded}} (or...something) in the finale.

* The Xiaolin Monks of ''XiaolinShowdown'' each control one of the four elements.

* The four Fiends from ''FinalFantasyI''.
* The four crystals from ''FinalFantasyIII''.
* The four Emperors in ''FinalFantasyIV''.

* ''DragonQuestVII'' has the heroes awaken and round up the four Elemental Spirits. They're also BonusBosses.

* ''MysticKnightsOfTirNaNog''. "Fire within me! Earth beneath me! Air above me! Water around me!"

Another common variation is a "four elements plus one" system, with the fifth being the StandardizedLeader, SixthRanger, BadassNormal, or some other role.

** With a large of helping of LightningCanDoAnything.

A SubTrope of ElementalPowers, [[TheSameButMoreSpecific but more specific]] or "classic" one.

* The main enemies of the first ''Zoids Saga'' game are called the Four Heavenly Kings, and their first Zoids correspond to the four "heavenly creatures" associated with them - a blue dragon (dinosaur), red bird (well, dragon), white tiger and black tortoise. There's also some subtle [[ThemeNaming theme naming]] happening, based on the corresponding elements: Blood ''Keel'' = wood, ''Flam'' Vogel = fire, ''Gale'' Tusk = metal (+ wind), and Opis Kerone = water (Opis was a water spirit in Greek mythology).
* ''{{Chrono Trigger}}'' uses fire, water, lightning, and shadow. Each character embodies one of the four, except for characters born before magic appeared in the world, notably Ayla. Even Robo gets an elemental aspect (shadow).
* The old Psygnosis RPG ''Hexx: Heresy of the Wizard'' has Earth, Chaos, Dragon (fire), and Night. The game lets you pick from sixteen characters--one for each element for each of the four classes. Character alignment affects what spells you can learn.

* ''{{Summoner}}'' has two sets for the two sets of rings you collect, the first are the four demons: Machival (Dark), Luminar (Light), Titus (Earth) and Pyrul (Fire), the second set are the four dragons, who also have elements.

* "Gormiti- The Lords of Nature" Has four kids with the power of Air, Earth, Water and Forest, with the fifth being Light.

** Sue: Air. She has the power to become invisible, like the wind.

** Mr. Fantastic: Water. Like liquid, he is able to change his shape and fit through obstacles that solid objects can't.
** The Thing: Earth. In addition to being [[MightyGlacier super-strong and resilient]] like rock, his appearance is similar to that of a golem.

Despite the idea of the "four elements" being obsolete, writers love to play with the idea in fiction. Sometimes, a writer will merely use the idea of the "four elements" for an ElementalRockPaperScissors system. Other times, however, writers will base not a character, but an entire ensemble based on the classical elements.

** [[SixthRanger Forrest infront of me]]

* JKRowling has stated that the four Hogwarts houses in ''HarryPotter'' are based off the four elements. Gryffindor is fire, Hufflepuff is earth, Ravenclaw is air, and Slytherin is water. Also according to WordOfGod, the Triwizard Tournament was originally going to have four tasks with each one based on a classical element. However, Rowling had difficulty coming up with tasks for all them. In the end, the First Task combines air and fire while the Second Task is water and the Third Task is earth.

* It's often thought that the four Hogwarts houses in ''HarryPotter'' are based off the four elements. Following this, Gryffindor is fire, Hufflepuff is earth, Ravenclaw is air, and Slytherin is water. According to WordOfGod, the Triwizard Tournament was originally going to have four tasks with each one based on a classical element. However, Rowling had difficulty coming up with tasks for all them. In the end, the First Task combines air and fire while the Second Task is water and the Third Task is earth.

** [[CriticalResearchFailure Not five]]?

* The FantasticFour: Mr. Fantastic = Water (sort of), the Thing = Earth, Johnny = Fire, Sue = Air.