History Main / Combos

* ''VideoGame/HearthstoneHeroesOfWarcraft'': Rogue cards have a unique keyword called "Combo", which activates if the player has already played at least one card beforehand. Many Rogue cards have effects that encourage playing as many cards out of you hand, such as effects that activate for each card played or scale with the number of cards you've already played.

In video games, '''combos''' are a sequence of hits where, if the first hit connects, the target cannot act in any capacity until it is over (compare to MercyInvincibility). A ComboBreaker is the sole exception to this rule. If your target could have escaped your attack sequence by any other means, such as blocking or performing an invincible move, then it isn't a combo.

[[folder:Hack a Slash]]
* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening'' lets you feel like a superhero by the simple measure of allowing you to {{cancel}} out almost any move ''into'' almost any move at no cost, racking up devilishly large combos limited only by the monster's ability to absorb damage. In most games, this would break the game right in half. In ''[=DMC3=]'', [[NintendoHard it was a necessity]].

[[folder:Hack 'n Slash]]

** Note that in combos seem to play a larger role in the {{Metagame}} and culture of [[AffectionateNickname Mahvel]] than they do in most other fighting games. This seems to be because each player controls a three-person TagTeam, rather than a single fighter. While a TouchOfDeath combo would be a GameBreaker in most other fighting games, they are only normal here. Likewise, the study of combo construction — be it the development of TouchOfDeath combos or special, case-specific combos — is thus not only ''acceptable'' but ''standard and basic''. And the appreciation of combos is a hallmark of Mahvel culture.

* ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIX'': Using the same command (attack/skill/spell) on a single enemy will cause increasing damage, up to double damage on the fourth one. However, this requires no different actions between the combos including from the enemy, who will rarely be all faster or all slower than the party.

*** The Falcon Sword. For the first time in the series, a character could strike twice in a row. Unfortunately, the Attack buff was only PLUS FIVE (Seven in the remix, but still, whoopdeedoo).[[note]]In comparison, the Sword of Destruction, which is available at the same time, gives more than 11 times the attack buff of the Falcon Sword. Granted the [=SoD=] is cursed, but even comparable level non-cursed equipment is 7 or 8 times more powerful than the Falcon Sword.[[/note]]
*** In the original, depending on your cash flow, this is Cannock's best weapon, despite being weaker than the Iron Spear's single strike (by 15, sure, but do the math, especially when you factor in critical hits). However, it is REALLY expensive, even with the Gold Card, and you may not even bother once you're rich enough in the final area, [[NintendoHard because you'd have to go through the final area all over again.]]
*** The point of the Falcon Sword is probably to increase your chances of killing {{Metal Slime}}s and Metal Babbles, since you can only deal ScratchDamage to them regardless of attack power. It essentially doubles your potential damage to them.
** In ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIX'', combos occur when a single target is attacked physically a number of times in a row. The second hit does 1.2x damage, the third hit does 1.5x damage, and the fourth hit does 2x damage.

* Cody in ''VideoGame/FinalFight'' had an infamous trick where he could restart his normal attack string by turning around on the 3rd hit and makinng it whiff, letting him repeat the first 2 punches over and over without ever delivering a knock-down blow.

* ''Pinball/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' doubles the value of a shot whenever a combo is made.

* The ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series has these as well, though most prominently in ''Melee''. The first game had fighters fly too far after each attack for easy follow-ups, while ''Brawl'' tweaked the physics engine to make escaping combos much easier. The fourth game tries to strike a happy medium between ''Melee'' and ''Brawl''.

Commands for special moves are not combos (e.g. down, diagonal, toward + punch).

* In ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIX'', combos occur when a single target is attacked physically a number of times in a row. The second hit does 1.2x damage, the third hit does 1.5x damage, and the fourth hit does 2x damage.

* Satirized in the animated series ''WesternAnimation/DrawnTogether'', in which Xandir (a gay video game character) has a number of combos that are given DoubleEntendre-based names.

* Satirized in the animated series ''WesternAnimation/DrawnTogether'', in which the character of Xandir has a number of absurd power-ups and combos, mostly playing on the fact that Xandir is gay (e.g., a special attack called 'The Reach-Around').

* Several appear in ''Pinball/LastActionHero.'' The most lucrative is two consecutive ramp shots followed by a shot to the center scoop, which rewards the "Second Cousin Frank's" ProgressiveJackpot.

* Satirized in the animated series ''WesternAnimation/DrawnTogether'', in which the character of Xandir has a number of absurd power-ups and combos, mostly playing on the fact that Xandir is gay (e.g., a special attack called 'The Reach-Around', etc.)

* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' games allow you to string attacks together (abilities let you extend the combos to a preset number), after which you can pull off a finishing move that does extra damage. In ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII II]]'' and [[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII III]], magic spells work the same way.
** In ''II'', Combo Finishers are one of the only ways to finish off bosses. (The other ways being {{Limit Break}}s and magic). If Sora/Roxas doesn't perform a combo on the boss, it will continue to retain its last hit point indefinitely. (It should be noted that party members, and playable guest characters like Mickey and Riku cannot perform combo finishers. Only Sora can. Because he's apparently [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou the only one allowed to kill the bosses]].
*** It should also be noted that Sora himself has a fairly lengthy hitstun, and is thus easy to combo; thankfully, few enemies take advantage of this, and for those that do there's the "Once More"[[note]][[InconsistentDub "Withstand Combo" in III]][[/note]] ability that [[LastChanceHitPoint prevents combo hits from reducing Sora's HP below 1]].

* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' games allow you to string attacks together (abilities let you extend the combos to a preset number), after which you can pull off a finishing move which does extra damage.
** In the sequel, Combo Finishers are one of the only ways to finish off bosses. (The other ways being {{Limit Break}}s and Magic). If Sora/Roxas doesn't perform a combo on the boss, it will continue to retain its last hit point indefinitely. (It should be noted that party members, and playable guest characters like Mickey and Riku cannot perform combo finishers. Only Sora can. Because he's apparently [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou the only one allowed to kill the bosses]].
*** It should also be noted that Sora himself has a fairly lengthy hitstun, and is thus easy to combo; thankfully, few enemies take advantage of this. Also, on boss characters, if you choose to temporarily forgo your finishing move (meaning you now have an infinite combo attack), they will always block/teleport after a little while, to avoid allowing a completely cheap win. Works perfectly on non-bosses, though.