History Main / CoupDegrace

If it's done to ensure a swift and painless death, see MercyKill. Part of the CoupDeGraceCutscene. May be used as (part of) a FinishingMove. See also FinishingStomp and DoubleTap.

* ''Film/JohnWickChapter2''. John Wick is sent to assassinate a former friend Gianna D'Antonio, who [[BetterToDieThanBeKilled elects to die her own way]] and [[BathSuicide slits her wrists in the bath]]. Wick holds Gianna's hand as she bleeds out, then once D'Antonio loses consciousness, he puts a bullet in her head, [[ConsummateProfessional likely to fulfill his contract]], but possibly also so she won't have committed a mortal sin by dying from her own hand.

* In ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'', the character [[VideoGame/BionicCommando Spencer]] has a level 3 [[LimitBreak Hyper Combo]] literally called "Coup de Grace." He knocks the opponent out, walking up to them to see if they're conscious, only to stick a grenade on them, swinging away as it blows up on his opponent.

'''As a DeathTrope, all Spoilers will be unmarked ahead. Beware.'''

If pronounced after the French manner, the term is pronounced "coo deh graass" and translates as "blow of mercy". However, most English speakers hypercorrect the pronunciation so the last word is pronounced "grah", which in French changes the meaning to "[[MyHovercraftIsFullOfEels blow of fat]]". (However, since we're speaking English and not French, it's a bit of a moot point.) It comes from the use of such execution methods as the "Breaking Wheel", often used in France during the Dark Ages, where the victim would be stretched across a wheel and tortured by nonfatal hammer blows that would break bones but not cause death -- the executioner would usually be ordered to end the victim's pain with a strike to the chest.

* ''Film/JohnWickChapter2''. John Wick is sent to assassinate a former friend Gianna D'Antonio, who [[BetterToDieThanBeKilled elects to die her own way]] and [[BathSuicide slits her wrists in the bath]]. Wick holds Gianna's hand as she bleeds out, then once D'Antonio loses consciousness, he puts a bullet in her head
, [[ConsummateProfessional likely to fulfill his contract]], but possibly also so she won't have committed a mortal sin by dying from her own hand.

, [[ConsummateProfessional likely to confirm she's dead]], but possibly also so she won't have committed a mortal sin by dying from her own hand.

* ''Film/JohnWickChapter2''. John Wick is sent to assassinate a former friend Gianna D'Antonio, who [[BetterToDieThanBeKilled elects to die her own way]] and [[BathSuicide slits her wrists in the bath]]. Wick holds Gianna's hand as she dies, but once she's unconscious he puts a bullet in her head [[ConsummateProfessional just to be sure she can't be revived again]], but possibly also so she won't have committed a mortal sin by dying from her own hand.

* ''Fanfic/TheForbiddenDrink'': The FinalBattle climaxes with Luz blowing a whole clean through Belos' chest, fatally wounding him. She then makes a point of finishing him off with a SuperScream that vaporizes his body, just to be sure.

* In ''Film/ThePatriot'', Benjamin Martin is treating wounded American and British soldiers. The British Colonel Tavington orders the American soldiers shot and the house burned down as punishment for "harboring the enemy".

* Somewhat present in the ''VideoGame/BatmanArkham'' series, as the player can finish off enemies that are knocked down but not out. While most characters simply either hit the thug's head with a blunt object (or with the floor, or their fists, or their own head...) rendering them unconscious, the playable Red Hood in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'' simply flat out shoots them on their heads.

** Roy Greenhilt delivers several of these to Goblins afflicted with sleep in one of the early chapters. The technique he uses is even called "Coup de Grace." It wasn't V's spell which put them to sleep but the length and boring nature of the speech ''leading up'' to the incantation.

Also used in assassinations. In Russia, this is known as a "control shot". It can be done by all stripes of characters, and often spy characters, either to ensure a kill has succeeded or to make sure a BigBad [[MakeSureHesDead is indeed dead]]. Not to be confused with actions such as a "DoubleTap" in which multiple bullets are fired during the initial action; these are additional killing shots (or blows) delivered at some point after the target is disabled.

** In a combined secular and ecclesiastical meeting discussing the plight of the captive Bishop Istelyn, Bishop Arilan says, "Prayers will not deliver him from the agony Loris intends for him. If I could give him the coup and save him Loris' spite, I would." Archbishop Bradene and Bishop Hugh de Berry look startled at his words, but [[MercyKill Dhugal recalls having to give such a death blow to a clansman who had fallen from a cliff]].
** In ''King Javan's Year'', the evil Earl Murdoch of Carthane is mortally wounded by [[AgonizingStomachWound an axe blow to the gut]] during a duel. He knows he's a dead man, but such a wound could take days to kill him, and he'll spend whatever time he has left in horrible pain. So he asks his friend Lord Rhun to finish him quickly, and Rhun does.

* In ''Anime/{{Monster}}'', Johan performs several on screen, and God knows how many off.

* ''LightNovel/RebuildWorld'': When Akira launches a surprise attack on hunters-turned-bandit attempting to rob and probably do worse to Elena and Sara, Elena does this to the hunters Akira downed in his first volley while leaving where she was held hostage.

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* The penultimate issue of ''ComicBook/BatmanNoMansLand'' sees ComicBook/TheJoker do this to Sarah Essen. Notably, this is one of the few times the Joker ''isn't'' pleased with himself.

* In ''Fanfic/RobbReturns'', after Baelish drowns in his trial by combat, Bronn takes a heavy chain and drops it on Baelish' head, to make sure he is dead.
* The act of killing an opponent in agony is named "the Mother's Mercy" in ''Fanfic/PurpleDays''.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformersTheMovie'': The Decepticons hijack an Autobot shuttle bound for Earth and lay waste to its crew. Ironhide is the one unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of a ''coup de grâce'' from Megatron (as if being KilledOffForReal so soon wasn't bad enough). Additionally it [[TheWorfEffect cements Megatron's badass credentials]] when he looks at Ironhide, who is feebly grasping at his leg, sneers a magnificent "Such heroic nonsense!" at him and blows him away.

* ''Film/ThreeHundred'': An amusing hero-on-villain version; Leonidas and the Captain are finishing off wounded Persians after the first day of battle when one of the Spartans tells Leonidas that Xerxes approaches for a parley. Leonidas agrees to go as the rest of the Spartans continue to execute the wounded Persians.
-->'''Leonidas''': There's no reason we can't be civil.\\
'''Spartan''': ''[Casually]'' None, milord. ''[Stabs a Persian]''

* ''Film/PansLabyrinth'': Done generously throughout, mostly by Captain Vidal but briefly by the heroic guerrilleros as well.
* When clearing the White House lawn and foyer, the terrorists in ''Film/OlympusHasFallen'' shoot each and every downed opponent in the head whether they seem alive or not. When Banning turns the tables on them, he has no problem with ventilating their skulls in kind.
* ''Film/KillBill'': The Bride was a victim of one such, described as such by the Bride's own words. [[TisOnlyABulletInTheBrain Proven unsuccessful, naturally.]]
* At the end of ''Film/ReservoirDogs'' does Mr. White shoot the badly-wounded Mr. Orange in order to [[MercyKill put him out of his misery]], or is it because Orange has just confessed to White that he's a cop?
* In ''Film/ThePatriot'', Benjamin Martin is treating wounded American and British soldiers. The British Colonel Tavington orders the American soldiers shot and the house burned down as punishment for "harboring the enemy".
* In ''Film/RamboIV'', after the titular character has shot up the crew of a pirate boat (with a pistol vs automatic weapons, no less; he gets six shots off in the space of about one second, and they ''all'' hit) there is still one pirate left wounded, so Rambo blows his brains out.
* Clarence Boddicker, noted cop killer, shoots Detroit police officer Murphy in the head after Boddicker's men have just [[KickTheDog had their fun shooting the officer with shotguns]], [[CruelAndUnusualDeath repeatedly]]. With Murphy dead, [=OCP=] technicians have a fresh corpse they can use to build [[Film/RoboCop1987 RoboCop]].
* In ''Film/BadCompany2002'', Anthony Hopkins shoots an unconscious terrorist dead for no readily discernible reason (there were like 50 CIA agents in the building, so it's unclear why they couldn't have just taken the guy prisoner.). He later complains that there's no one left to interrogate after the second terrorist jumps off the roof of the hotel.
* In one scene in ''Film/BladeTrinity'', Blade and his sidekicks get into a fight against a bunch of security guards armed with nightsticks. After easily overpowering most of the security guards, Blade whips out a gun and kills the last security guard for no apparent reason other than to show that he can.
* ''Film/RedDawn1984'': The good guys are seen finishing off Soviet wounded as part of that movie's [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized uncompromising depiction]] of guerrilla warfare.
* Film/JamesBond generally [[InstantDeathBullet didn't need]] to execute a coup de grace on his targets. An exception is Dr. Dent in ''Film/DrNo'', who after being shot down receives an extra bullet in the back, for safety. (An act that [[DarkerAndEdgier does not occur in any of Ian Fleming's novels]].) Reportedly the original edit of the film had Bond shoot the man ''six times'' but this was considered excessive. Reportedly, this scene was added primarily to illustrate the "licenced to kill" aspect of the character given most other killings by Bond in the film were of the self-defence or "heat of battle" variety and not cold-blooded. The scene was controversial with Bond fans to the extent that nothing similar would be attempted again until ''Casino Royale'' in 2006.
* In ''Film/{{Commando}}'', Arnie's character, sitting next to a bad guy on a plane, knocks the thug unconscious and, even though the enemy is out cold, then proceeds to break his neck, just to be sure. ("He's dead tired.")
* After Sonny's NoKillLikeOverkill execution in ''Film/TheGodfather'', one of the killers walks over and gives him a superfluous final burst to the chest. Then kicks him in the face.

* ''Film/{{Haywire}}'': after a thorough CurbStompBattle against Paul, leaving him dazed and likely seriously injured, Mallory proceeds to execute the man with a bullet to the head (using a pillow silencer).
* After downing Leatherback in ''Film/PacificRim'', Gipsy Danger proceeds to confirm the kill by disintegrating its chest with the plasma cannon. The scene is a CallBack to the opening, where failing to confirm the kill caused the kaiju to make a comeback and defeat the heroes.
* In the film version of ''Film/TheLordOfTheRingsTheReturnOfTheKing'', the orc general Gothmog finds Faramir's aide de camp helpless and dying on the ground in Osgiliath, and takes the opportunity to shove a spear in his chest. It's probably meant to demonstrate the merciless nature of the orcs and make us hate them personally, rather than just an abstract, "they're the servants of the Dark Lord" level. But really, Gothmog practically did the guy a favor. Surprisingly merciful for an orc.
* ''Film/TheStoneKiller'' (1973). A group of trained mercenaries burst into a Mafia Commission meeting and open fire with submachine guns. Then a single member of the group shoots each victim in the heart with a pistol, [[TheOnlyWayToBeSure whether they're alive or not]].
* ''Film/JohnWickChapter2''. John Wick is sent to assassinate a former friend Gianna D'Antonio, who [[BetterToDieThanBeKilled elects to die her own way]] and [[BathSuicide slits her wrists in the bath]]. Wick holds Gianna's hand as she dies, but once she's unconscious he puts a bullet in her head [[ConsummateProfessional just to be sure she can't be revived again]], but possibly also so she won't have committed a mortal sin by dying from her own hand.

* From the Literature/{{Deryni}} works by Creator/KatherineKurtz:

* In the ''The Book of Dreams'', the final Literature/TheDemonPrinces novel, Howard Alan Treesong is faced with a FateWorseThanDeath, permanently immobilized and surrounded by vengeful enemies. His split personalities, however, have enough psychic power between them to knock him over into a pool of water and drown him.
* In ''{{Literature/Malevil}}'', surviving enemy commander Jean Feyrac is shot with a bow when he rides a bicycle ahead of his retreating men. He falls silently and it isn't until a few minutes later, after the ambush is sprung, that someone checks on him and learns he was only fatally wounded. Hervè is reluctant but Feyrac's crimes are too great and he finishes him off with his rifle.
* ''Tatiana and Alexander'', by Paullina Simons. Alexander shoots a man creeping up on them in the woods. When Tatiana (a nurse) tries to give him first aid, an incredulous Alexander (a hardened frontline veteran) yanks her away and puts a bullet in the wounded man's head.
* In the end of ''Literature/TheAlloyOfLaw'', this is employed in the villain's execution -- but because he has an extremely strong HealingFactor, it's a rather more protracted example.
* It's implied that Lick did this to [[spoiler:Terror]] offscreen in ''Literature/SurvivorDogs''. During a fight she [[spoiler:rips off his jaw]] and lets him slowly bleed out on the floor. A few moments later, he's dead and Lick is standing near his body.
* ''Literature/TheExecutioner''. In "Canadian Crisis", Mack Bolan orders the ActionGirl with him to give a MercyKill to a wounded mafioso she's just shot. However in this case he's trying to discourage her from going down the same violent path that he did, by showing her that WarIsHell.

* ''[[Franchise/ASongOfIceAndFire Game of Thrones]]'' universe:
** ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
** Lommy gets this when one of the men who wounded him decline to carry him.
*** In "Baelor", after the Battle of The Green Fork, several tribesmen can be seen finishing of defeated northernmen.
*** In "Kissed By Fire", Jaime describes that he slit the Mad King's throat after stabbing him to makes sure he was really dead.
*** Arya delivers a couple to men the Hound has downed in "Two Swords", but takes special pleasure in downing Polliver herself and slowly stabbing him in the neck while delivering an IronicEcho.
*** The Hound gives a wounded crofter this in "The Laws of Gods and Men".
** ''Series/HouseOfTheDragon'': Daemon Targaryen comes back to the Vale to kill his UnwantedSpouse Rhea Royce. He causes her to fall from her horse, the fall paralyzes her and the scene's last shot is him [[BoulderBludgeon grabbing a stone]] and getting closer to finish her off.
* ''Series/{{Lost}}'': One tragic example is that mercenary bastard Keamy killing Alex in the fourth season.

* ''Series/{{CSI Miami}}'' features a rare example of a goodie doing this. On two occasions, with only the first being just in style as the guy still had a gun.

* ''Series/BurnNotice'': The pilot starts with the hero being viciously beaten up by some Nigerian arms dealers. After decoying a pair of their dumber thugs into carrying his supposedly helpless self into the bathroom where he then knocks them out, the hero stands over the unconscious thugs while drawing and cocking a pistol. The camera immediately cuts to a viewpoint ''outside'' the bathroom -- and then we hear two pistol shots through the door. The door then opens, revealing the hero limping away.

* ''Series/TwentyFour'' has had this occur on more than one occasion.
* In an episode of ''Series/TerminatorTheSarahConnorChronicles'', John does this to Cromartie, just to blow off some steam, apparently, since one bullet from a handgun won't do much to a Terminator.
** A debatable example depending on one's view as to whether Terminators are actually sentient (i.e., alive), made more complex by how the Terminator Cameron is depicted in the series (is she or isn't she?)
* Subverted in ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}.'' When the insurgents ambush the Cylon execution squad and rescue the human prisoners, Cavil is still alive but badly wounded. Rather than finish him off, Seelix leaves him lying there to suffer, saying, "I hope it hurts a long time before you go to Download City."
** "The Plan" has Cavil getting angry at Boomer for shooting Adama in the chest instead of the head. Indeed Adama himself learns from his experience -- when he orders Admiral Cain's assassination (using a plan clearly based on his own shooting) he makes a point of telling Starbuck to shoot Cain in the head.
** Also played straight in the {{Pilot}} MiniSeries: Galactica's fighter wing is remotely disabled by the Cylon fighters [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard exploiting a backdoor in their fighters' control software]]. Once the fighters are left adrift, the Cylon raiders perform a mass coup de grace, launching a volley of missiles with one missile tracking each helpless fighter.
* A later episode of the original ''Series/LaFemmeNikita'' TV series has the heroine rather disturbingly casually firing bullets into the heads of a group of unconscious Section agents, to ensure their deaths.
* It's shown in the ''Series/{{NCIS}}'' season finale "Judgment Day" that Mike Franks finishes off the bad guys Jenny Shepard only managed to wound during her last stand.

* On ''Series/UltimateForce'', in conjunction with ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill, SAS troopers are shown taking down terrorists with controlled bursts and then raking the body with a few more to make sure their targets don't get back up.
* In the mini-series ''Rhodes'', a colonial expedition uses a Maxim machine gun to mow down attacking tribesmen, then they finish off the wounded with pistols, with the latter portrayed more as a bloodthirsty slaughter than a MercyKill.

* ''Series/TheProfessionals''. In "Discovered in a Graveyard", Doyle is shot in his apartment by a female radical student seeking revenge after her friends were killed in a car crash while being pursued by [=CI5=]. She shoots him in the chest, but is unable to put the killing shot into his head, shooting Doyle InTheBack instead.

* [[Wrestling/PrinceDevitt Finn Bálor]] has a FinishingStomp from the top rope that's [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin the same name as this trope]].

* Done quite often in ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''; there are actually rules in the 3rd edition of the game for when it may be done and how it affects attacks. One of the most surefire ways to kill something in 3rd edition is to have a spell-caster [[StatusEffects paralyze or otherwise incapacitate your opponent]] and then have a [[AnAdventurerIsYou fighter or a rogue]] with a high-critical weapon perform this trope on them while they're down, because a coup de grace is a guaranteed critical hit. If the victim survives, they must roll a Fortitude save with a difficulty equal to 10 plus the damage dealt or die. Often, it's the failure of the save that kills them, not the damage. It comes up in earlier editions as well, back to the original D&D rules in the "Three Little Brown Books" that came immediately after Chainmail. A helpless person could be slain instantly, for example paralyzed or magically-sleeping ones. Most of the durability of a person (HitPoints) were abstract. It was assumed that regardless of the combat rules one should still be able to behead or neck-shiv a comatose man.
** Downplayed in 5th edition [=D&D=] -- hitting an opponent who is at zero hit points results in an automatic failed death save (or two auto-fails if it's a critical hit), but characters need to fail ''three'' death saves before they die. The only way you're going to one-shot-kill an opponent is if they've already failed at least one death save or a teammate hit them first.
* There are rules for coup-de-grace (here called "point-blanking") in ''TabletopGame/UnknownArmies''. Appropriately for the themes of the game, they also detail the effect killing a helpless victim has on the executor's SanityMeter.

* In ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'', if you are unable to turn Bastila back to the Light Side, you have three options: defeat her in combat and kill her, be defeated and killed ''by'' her, or defeat her and then give her a quick, execution-style death.
* ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare'':
** Done by BigBad Zakhaev to the incapacitated SAS troops in the final bridge scene.
** Also done by Captain Price to Khaled al-Asad.
** You yourself can do this to wounded enemy troops, which is usually a good idea: you have no idea if they're going to produce a pistol or a grenade to take you down with them. ''Call of Duty'' does a ''damn'' good job reminding the player of the merciless brutality of war.
** In ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty: World at War'', in the campaign mode, there are various sections where you can finish off unarmed and surrendering Germans. Reznov encourages killing them, but it's ultimately up to the player.
* Several of the [[FinishingMove Sync kills]] in ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000: VideoGame/DawnOfWar'' have this at the end.
* Delivered to Ricardo Diaz in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto: [[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoViceCity Vice City]]''.
** Defied in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas'': CJ ''wants'' to put a bullet in Tenpenny's head, but Sweet stops him. Sweet points out that Tenpenny is going to die from his injuries anyway, and that shooting him would make CJ a marked man, but if he walks away Tenpenny is just another car crash victim with no-one to blame for his death.
* ''VideoGame/GearsOfWar'' famously allowed the player to curb-stomp wounded enemy soldiers. ''Gears of War 2'' ups the ante with many, many more instant kills to wounded enemy soldiers. Oh the humanity.
* ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'' has an instance of this in the case of a certain spoileriffic death: Joshua shooting Neku while he's down and startled.
* ''VideoGame/DarkMessiah'': The player can use a bladed weapon to run through any enemy that's been knocked to the ground.

* You can do this to wounded people in ''VideoGame/{{Postal}}''. There is a control (default: X) which stands for "Execute".
* ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire'': [[EvilColonialist Sir Roderick Ponce von Fontlebottom]] does this to you if he defeats you. Given how hard it is to beat him without exploiting your own {{Game Breaker}}s, you'll probably see it at least once.
* Each member of the ''VideoGame/Killer7'' has their own method for dispatching Heaven's Smiles that have lost their legs. They range from Dan kicking the target onto its back and double-tapping, to Coyote curb-stomping it, to Garcian bashing its head in with his briefcase.
* Done by Ocelot in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'' during the Virtuous Mission[[note]]Virtual Mission?[[/note]]. He walks in while Snake is surrounded by KGB operatives, and then shoots all of them. One is left on the ground, squirming on Ocelot's beret. Ocelot promptly shoots him in the head and picks up his hat.

* In ''VideoGame/ScarfaceTheWorldIsYours'', if you get into melee range with an enemy while having a gun out, Tony can force him onto his knees and shoot him up. The game clearly labels this as "Execution" and gives you extra Balls for killing folks this way.
* In ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'' you have the option of attacking enemies on the ground and doing so while armed is a OneHitKill. Some of the moves shown for ''Brotherhood'' include sweeping an enemy off his feet and shooting him with the crossbow or following up a flooring GroinAttack with a curb-stomp.
* "Fatality" moves in ''Franchise/MortalKombat''.
* ''VideoGame/DwarfFortress'': If you've knocked an enemy unconscious, you get a guaranteed hit on any part of the body you like, allowing you to do what you like: [[HalfTheManHeUsedToBe slicing them in half]], [[OffWithHisHead decapitating them]], and [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential hacking off their limbs and watching them writhe in agony]] are among the countless options available.
** This also causes trap immune enemies to become vulnerable to traps.
** Although you ''can'' instantly kill unconscious things, it's much more profitable to [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential cut off small extremities to raise skills faster.]]
** The AI generally prefers to go straight for the head when it gets this opportunity, reducing the head to [[ChunkySalsaRule chunky salsa]] or sticking a blade into the skull depending on their weapon. This can [[ArtificialStupidity fail]] if the victim is wearing an [[{{Unobtainium}} adamantine]] helmet.
* In ''VideoGame/DefenseOfTheAncients'', an assassin-type hero named Morted has this as her ultimate. It doesn't always invoke this trope, instead being more of a massive CriticalHit.
* ''VideoGame/EternalSonata'': Actually a subversion. One of the first special attacks Fréderic learns is called "Coup de Grace", yet it can be used any time, is weak compared to later specials, and has no special effects for finishing off an enemy. It feels good to finish an enemy with it though.
* Troika's ''VideoGame/TempleOfElementalEvil'' uses this as per the Dungeon's and Dragon's rules, and uses it as the method to ensure trolls remain dead.

* In ''VideoGame/SoldierOfFortune'', [[BigBad Dekker]] delivers this to Hawk.

* In ''VideoGame/SpecOpsTheLine'' this can be done to wounded or stunned enemies. It's also used to show Walker's SanitySlippage, as they become more and more vicious during the course of the game; what starts out as him simply shooting downed soldiers in the head turns into him shooting their limbs to prolong their suffering or ''shoving the barrel of his gun down their throats'' before pulling the trigger.
* At the very end of ''VideoGame/TheLastOfUs'', Joel shoots and severely wounds Marlene after it seems like he's about to surrender Ellie to her, then shoots her in the head despite her pleading to be spared.
* The finale of ''VideoGame/TheWalkingDead'' has [[spoiler:Lee infected and on the brink of death. It's up to you as a player if Clementine shoots him or leaves him to turn]].
* The hero of ''VideoGame/FableI'' can do this when an enemy is stunned.
* Critically-wounded enemies in ''VideoGame/CharlieMurder'' can be finished off by a [[YourHeadAsplode head-asploding]] curb-stomp. Some bosses and mini-bosses ''need'' to be killed this way, or else they will get right back up with some health restored.
* In the ''VideoGame/StarTrekOnline'' mission "Cutting the Cord", either Obisek or the Romulan PlayerCharacter shoots [[TheHeavy Hakeev]] in the head, execution-style, after the boss battle against him.
* Somewhat present in the ''VideoGame/BatmanArkham'' series, as the player can finish off enemies that are knocked down but not out. While most characters simply either hit the thug's head with a blunt object (or with the floor, or their fists, or their own head...) rendering them unconscious, the playable Red Hood in ''VideoGame/BatmanArkhamKnight'' simply flat out shoots them on their heads.

* In ''VideoGame/MarvelPuzzleQuest'', ComicBook/ThePunisher (ComicBook/DarkReign) has an ability called "Retribution" which acts as this trope. If Frank's opponent still has a lot of health, doing this attack will only deal a bit of damage to them. However, after they reach a set percentage of health, using this ability instantly kills them. When you first get this skill, it's an insta-kill at 20% health, but at max, it's insta-kill at ''40%''.
* ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIVApocalypse'' has Nanashi deliver this to the FinalBoss YHVH on the Bonds and Massacre routes after a post-battle dialogue choice.
--> '''YHVH:''' "Guh...there is no truth to your ideas. The future you pursue is a fabrication. Cease this at once." \\
'''Dagda:''' "Your so-called truth makes me nauseous. Enough of this, kid. '''Put an end to him with your own two hands!'''"

* A game mechanic in ''[[Franchise/GundamExpandedUniverse Gundam Breaker]]'' games, called "Ground Break." It only triggers when you've blown off an enemy's legs, leaving them immobile on the ground. This is usually a good idea, because any enemy that can recover its legs can rejoin the battle--destroying them before they get a chance permanently takes the enemy out of the fight. Notably you can do this to ''any'' enemy that loses its legs, including enemy player teams and even named rival [=NPCs=].

* In ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomInfinite'', the character [[VideoGame/BionicCommando Spencer]] has a level 3 [[LimitBreak Hyper Combo]] literally called "Coup de Grace." He knocks the opponent out, walking up to them to see if they're conscious, only to stick a grenade on them, swinging away as it blows up on his opponent.
* Mentioned, though not shown in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', when recruiting [[SpellMyNameWithAThe The Iron Bull]]. His men are on "throat-cutting duty."

* Encouraged by gameplay in ''VideoGame/DeadSpace2''. When a Necromorph dies, its corpse won't drop loot until it takes an additional hit. Giving each enemy a FinishingStomp becomes standard practise to ensure you don't miss any supplies. Of course, some Necromorphs have a habit of FakingTheDead, so sometimes it's safer to [[DoubleTap use your gun]], instead.

->''But I can't shake the feeling something happened back there, when the battle was already over. That something was done while my back was turned...''
->''And if it was? I didn't hear any savage barking or tearing. Is a killer still a killer if death comes as a mercy?''

* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':

** In "Baelor", after the Battle of The Green Fork, several tribesmen can be seen finishing of defeated northernmen.
** In "Kissed By Fire", Jaime describes that he slit the Mad King's throat after stabbing him to makes sure he was really dead.
** Arya delivers a couple to men the Hound has downed in "Two Swords", but takes special pleasure in downing Polliver herself and slowly stabbing him in the neck while delivering an IronicEcho.
** The Hound gives a wounded crofter this in "The Laws of Gods and Men".

* Before repeating firearms became common, hunters often killed wounded game animals with a knife or sword. A specific style of German hunting knife with a thin, highly pointed blade called a Nicker is said to have been originally designed for the purpose of stabbing deer in the back of the neck (an act called ''abnicken''), which was considered more merciful than letting the animal slowly bleed to death.