History Main / DeathRay

** Necrons ([[RecycledInSpace undead metal skeletons]]) now have a literal Death Ray in their 2011 Codex. Pick a point, pick another point, [[DeathFromAbove anything in between gets strafed]] [[EnergyWeapon with a beam firing at]] [[WaveMotionGun basically the highest strength a normal game can achieve]] [[UpToEleven (outside of Armageddon games, that is)]] [[OneHitKill and easily enough to immediately]] [[LudicrousGibs splatter all but certain characters immediately]].

* This is basically how radiotherapy works. By bombarding a tumor with death rays, it mutates to the point that it can't produce any more aberrant cells.
** Add in some poor engineering decisions and you get the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therac-25 Therac-25]], a radiotherapy device that would occasionally malfunction and deliver ''100 times'' the normal dose, leading to several fatalities and a costly lesson in proper quality control procedures that is still studied in collegiate engineering classes.

Visually, it's probably going to emit a [[ColourCodedForYourConvenience red]] [[EnergyWeapon beam]] and [[SpikesOfVillainy look scary]] compared to a hero's [[RaygunGothic clean chrome]] RayGun (which, [[ThouShaltNotKill of course]], [[StunGuns just makes you sleep]]). It can vary from your garden variety DisintegratorRay because the Death Ray usually causes inanimate things to explode but humans to keel over dead. Why don't humans explode? Probably because it would raise the flick into R or NC-17 status (plus, [[LudicrousGibs it costs a]] ''[[LudicrousGibs ton]]'' [[LudicrousGibs more]] in SpecialEffects compared to a cheap ray effect). In effect, it is the most evil of retro SciFi weapons, much worse than its "little brother" the AgonyBeam.

* In the ''VideoGame/DestroyAllHumans'' series, the Death Ray is the basic weapon of your FlyingSaucer. It fries human targets rather well.

* A death ray appears in the final mission in ''VideoGame/AdvanceWars 2: Black Hole Rising.'' Ironically, it can't kill units, only reduce them to 1HP.
** So more of a Near Death Ray then.
*** Considering units have 10 HP, I believe the proper term is Decimation Ray.
*** Surely a decimation ray would reduce their HP ''by'' 1 not ''to'' 1?

Visually, it's probably going to emit a [[ColourCodedForYourConvenience red]] [[EnergyWeapon beam]] and [[SpikesOfVillainy look scary]] compared to a hero's [[RaygunGothic clean chrome]] RayGun (which, [[ThouShaltNotKill of course]], [[StunGuns just makes you sleep]]). It can vary from your garden variety DisintegratorRay because the Death Ray usually causes inanimate things to explode but humans to keel over dead. Why don't humans explode? Probably because it would raise the flick into R or NC-17 status (plus, [[LudicrousGibs it costs a]] ''[[LudicrousGibs ton]]'' [[LudicrousGibs more]] in SpecialEffects compared to a cheap ray effect). In effect, it is the DesignatedVillain of retro SciFi weapons, much worse than its "little brother" the AgonyBeam.

* One hand-held short-range one-shot version appears briefly in 1927 Russian novel by Creator/AlekseyTolstoy (relative of Creator/LeoTolstoy) called ''The Hyperboloid of Engineer Garin'' (AKA ''The Garin Death Ray''), but it is ironically not the titular weapon (which is much more laser-like (or rather, [[{{Defictionalization}} the other way around]]), despite the English title. The victim is found covered in unpleasant spots. It is implied that it is powered by radium.

* One hand-held short-range one-shot version appears briefly in 1927 Russian novel by Creator/AlekseyTolstoy (relative of Creator/LeoTolstoy) called ''The Hyperboloid of Engineer Garin'' (AKA ''The Garin Death Ray''), but it is ironically not the titular weapon (which is much more laser-like (or rather, [[{{defictiolization}}the other way around]]), despite the English title. The victim is found covered in unpleasant spots. It is implied that it is powered by radium.

* One hand-held short-range one-shot version appears briefly in 1927 Russian novel by Creator/AlekseyTolstoy (relative of Creator/LeoTolstoy) called ''The Hyperboloid of Engineer Garin'' (AKA ''The Garin Death Ray''), but it is ironically not the titular weapon (which is much more laser-like), despite the English title. The victim is found covered in unpleasant spots. It is implied that it is powered by radium.

* ''Series/{{Eureka}}'' had these.

Visually, it's probably going to emit a [[ColourCodedForYourConvenience red]] [[EnergyWeapon beam]] and [[SpikesOfVillainy look scary]] compared to a hero's [[RaygunGothic clean chrome]] RayGun (which, [[ThouShaltNotKill of course]], [[StunGuns just makes you sleep]]). It can vary from your garden variety DisintegratorRay because the Death Ray usually causes inanimate things to explode but humans to keel over dead. Why don't humans explode? Probably because it would raise the flick into R or NC-17 status (plus [[LudicrousGibs it costs a ''ton'' more]] in SpecialEffects compared to a cheap ray effect). In effect, it is the DesignatedVillain of retro SciFi weapons, much worse than its "little brother" the AgonyBeam.

* A two-part commercial for [[Advertising/EnergizerBunny Energizer batteries]] features the fictional Supervolt battery company hiring [[Franchise/JamesBond Ernst Blofeld]] to destroy the Energizer Bunny. At the end of the first part, Blofold has a miniature one hidden in his cane, which he uses to zap a picture of the Bunny with. In the second part, Blofeld has a giant one in his mountain lair, set to zap the Bunny when he passes by. Unfortunately for Blofeld, the short life of the Supervolt batteries powering the ray put a stop to that plan.

* It is said that UsefulNotes/NikolaTesla actually built a prototype of a tower that could kill anything within a certain radius. For some strange reason, the military wasn't at all interested when he pitched it to them. He called it a Peace Ray, rather than a Death Ray, of course. Despite the name, it was actually closer to SomeKindOfForceField. It was supposed to create an electromagnetic bubble around an area and anyone that tried to pass through would be electrocuted to death. Tesla noted that a literal "death ray" (that is, projecting radiation) was impossible, because the rays would inherently disperse over distance. Thus, his "ray" was actually meant to be a particle beam. The idea was to deploy them around every country to create world peace by making it impossible for anybody to invade anybody else's land. Also, like nearly all of Tesla's ideas post-1914 or thereabouts, [[RealityEnsues it didn't work]].

* Mentioned in one of the top jobs from the ''The Sims Bustin' Out''.

[[caption-width-right:350:Fig. 1: a death ray causing death.]]

* One hand-held short-range one-shot version appears briefly in 1927 Russian novel by Creator/AlekseyTolstoy (relative of Creator/LeoTolstoy) called ''The Hyperboloid of Engineer Garin'' (AKA ''The Garin Death Ray''), but it is ironically not the titular weapon (which is much more laser-like), despite the English title. The victum is found covered in unpleasant spots. It is implied that it is powered by radium.

* The Neutron Daisy Cutter weapon from ''Webcomic/{{Drive}}'' requires the crew that fires it to be on a specially shielded deck (Up until the Empire stared using drones instead). It instantly desintegrates the Vinn PuppeteerParasite while leaving the host alive (in theory, at least. In practice, the host usually dies as well from neural shock).

* ''[[http://www.wetanz.com/holics/raygun-directory.php Doctor Grordbort's Contrapulatronic Dingus Directory]]'' is a tongue-in-cheek sales catalog of SteamPunk destructive devices, though it's implied many of their UpperClassTwit customers are CompensatingForSomething.

* During World War 2, when German communications concerning the V-weapons were intercepted, British scientists viewed with deep suspicion Hitler's references to a "devastating weapon with which we ourselves cannot be attacked". The actual weapons referred to - early pulse-jet cruise missiles and ballistic rocket missiles - were several guesses below "death rays" on the scientists' list of suspects.
** [[RealityIsUnrealistic That does not mean they did not at least consider it]], of course: plans for a so-called [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_gun Sun gun]] (Sonnengewehr), essentially a large lens/mirror to redirect sunlight, were thrown around late during UsefulNotes/WorldWarII. With an estimated construction time between ''50 to 100 years'', it could never manifest.

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': The Saturnians have death rays, but they seem to much prefer to use their two flavors of GravityScrew rays instead, which can also prove fatal but in a more delayed fashion when the effect wears off and gravity reasserts itself. They only pull out the death rays when Diana and ComicBook/SteveTrevor have already ruined their earth invasion prep, freed their slaves, stolen a ship and done a massive amount of property damage.

'''Chaotica:''' [[CompensatingForSomething The most powerful in the cosmos!]]"

* The [[EnergyWeapon Energy Weapons]] on top of the alien spaceships in 1953's ''Film/TheWarOfTheWorlds''. They actually ''are'' referred to in the movie as {{Death Ray}}s. Not to mention the horrifying CG versions in the [[Film/WarOfTheWorlds 2005 Steven Spielberg remake]]. True, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense that the rays turn flesh into ash without any effect on clothing, but it [[ArtisticLicensePhysics does allow for some spectacularly grisly visuals]] without having to use any blood or gore.

Visually, it's probably going to emit a [[ColourCodedForYourConvenience red]] [[FrickinLaserBeams beam]] and [[SpikesOfVillainy look scary]] compared to a hero's [[RaygunGothic clean chrome]] RayGun (which, [[ThouShaltNotKill of course]], [[StunGuns just makes you sleep]]). It can vary from your garden variety DisintegratorRay because the Death Ray usually causes inanimate things to explode but humans to keel over dead. Why don't humans explode? Probably because it would raise the flick into R or NC-17 status (plus [[LudicrousGibs it costs a ''ton'' more]] in SpecialEffects compared to a cheap ray effect). In effect, it is the DesignatedVillain of retro SciFi weapons, much worse than its "little brother" the AgonyBeam.

-->'''The Wolf:''' Are you thinking about putting in a [[FrickinLaserBeams laser]]?\\

* The FrickinLaserBeams on top of the alien spaceships in 1953's ''Film/TheWarOfTheWorlds''. They actually ''are'' referred to in the movie as {{Death Ray}}s. Not to mention the horrifying CG versions in the [[Film/WarOfTheWorlds 2005 Steven Spielberg remake]]. True, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense that the rays turn flesh into ash without any effect on clothing, but it [[ArtisticLicensePhysics does allow for some spectacularly grisly visuals]] without having to use any blood or gore.

* Quite possibly the most iconic Death Ray (and [[FrickinLaserBeams frickin' laser]] ''and'' WaveMotionGun while we're at it) capable of an EarthShatteringKaboom, not just the size of an entire ship but ''[[BigDumbObject a small moon]]'' and in the hands of [[TheDragon the ultimate baddie]] is the ''Death Star'' from ''Franchise/StarWars: Film/ANewHope''.

** Necrons ([[RecycledInSpace undead metal skeletons]]) now have a literal Death Ray in their 2011 Codex. Pick a point, pick another point, [[DeathFromAbove anything in between gets strafed]] [[FrickinLaserBeams with a beam firing at]] [[WaveMotionGun basically the highest strength a normal game can achieve]] [[UpToEleven (outside of Armageddon games, that is)]] [[OneHitKill and easily enough to immediately]] [[LudicrousGibs splatter all but certain characters immediately]].