History Main / DestroyTheVillainsWeapon

* ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'': An episode had Miss Bellum battle Sedusa, and their fight is soon taken to a pool where Sedusa's hair is soaked to the point of being rendered useless. The Girls and Bellum seize the opportunity to have her hair cut off to render her powerless, though NegativeContinuity in later episodes shows that she has gotten her hair back.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks''. The Humane 6 and Sunset Shimmer manage to make a rainbow beam big enough to defeat the sirens and destroy their pendants that enable their powers. Not only have they lost their magic, but also their ability to sing afterward.
* Dr. Facilier from ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'' has a voodoo charm which, when it contains a blood sample from another person, will cause the wearer of the charm to take on the appearance of that person. However, it also acts as a SoulJar and as shown in the end, if it is destroyed, his 'Friends On the Other Side' will drag him into their dimension since the destruction of his charm means he is unable to give them the souls of everyone in New Orleans like he promised.

* Like the original animated movie, ''Film/Aladdin2019'' has Aladdin destroy Jafar's SerpentStaff, though again once Jafar wishes to become a powerful sorcerer, he gains a new one, rendering the destruction moot.

* In ''Film/JusticeLeague2017'', Franchise/{{Superman}} freezes [[BigBad Steppenwolf's]] axe with his breath, and then Franchise/WonderWoman shatters it with her sword.

[[folder:VideoGames]]

* In the ''WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteers'' episode "Mind Pollution", the titular hero manages to stop Verminous Skumm from selling any more of his designer drug Bliss by forming a flame tornado that destroys both the last pieces of Bliss and the notebook containing the recipe for it.
-->'''Captain Planet''': [[LampshadeHanging So much for the product.]]
** Well, one piece of Bliss managed to survive, but Skumm accidentally eats it and gets doped up himself.

[[folder:RealLife]]

* In the ''WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteers'' episode 'Mind Pollution', the titular hero manages to stop Verminous Skumm from selling any more of his designer drug Bliss by forming a flame tornado that destroys both the last pieces of Bliss and the notebook containing the recipe for it.

* In ''Literature/TheEmperorsGift'', the main character is nicknamed Bladebreaker by the Space Wolves after he [[spoiler: breaks with his psychic power the gigantic daemon blade of Angron, Chaos Primarch of the World Eaters.]]

* Subverted somewhat hilariously in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2'', when Po and the Furious Five do manage to destroy what they think is Lord Shen's cannon...which is actually a miniature replica for the real deal, which they end up destroying anyway, only for Shen to reveal he has countless more already mass-produced. However, it then gets played straight when Po uses his newly-gained inner peace powers to decimate all of Shen's cannons, ending their threat there and then for good.

Compare to WreckedWeapon, which only applies to ''heroes'' whose weapons get wrecked.

[[folder:Films - Live Action]]

* ''Fanfic/SuperRWBYSisters'': At the end of "Partners In Time", Master Hand crushes Adam's sword after [[CurbStompBattle curb stomping]] the villain.

[[folder:Films - Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'': Aladdin notices Jafar using his SerpentStaff to brainwash the Sultan, so he takes it and destroys it. Not that it matters, though, because once Jafar uses the Genie to wish to become the most powerful sorcerer in the world, he magically gains a new staff. This example is also the page image.
* Subverted somewhat hilariously in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2'', when Po and the Furious Five do manage to destroy what they think is Lord Shen's cannon...which is actually a miniature replica for the real deal, which they end up destroying anyway, only for Shen to reveal he has countless more already mass-produced. [[spoiler:However, it then gets played straight when Po uses his newly gained inner peace powers to decimate all of Shen's cannons, ending their threat there and then for good.]]

* Like its animated counterpart, ''Film/Aladdin2019'' had Aladdin destroy Jafar's snake staff, though again once Jafar wishes to become a powerful sorcerer, he gains a new one, rendering the destruction moot.

* ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'': After [[BigBad Judge Doom]] is [[spoiler:dissolved in his own dip]], the giant dip machine he made to destroy Toontown crashes through the wall of the warehouse, where it starts making its way ''to'' Toontown... only to be hit by a train.

* ''VideoGame/SniperElite4'': There are two possible methods to destroy [[spoiler:General Bohm's jet]] bomber. The first is to [[AttackItsWeakPoint shoot out both its engines]]. Should that fail, the other, more difficult method is shooting the Ms 300 "Razor" missile slung underneath the aircraft once it's airborne and about to climb. Either way, the plane goes down, killing TheBigBad, and Operation ''Avalanche'' goes as planned.
* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', when it seems the players are winning the fight against Arthas, he suddenly reveals that it was AllAccordingToPlan and that he ''wanted'' them to reach his throne so he can turn them into his servants. He then [[spoiler: unleashes a TotalPartyKill attack until Tyrion Fordring summons the Light to free himself and destroys [[Main/CoolSword Frostmourne]], releasing all the souls that Arthas had consumed and allowing the party to come back to life and finally end him for good.]]

[[/folder]]

* During WorldWarTwo, the Allies went to great efforts to do this to Nazi Germany. At first it was just about hitting the production facilities where the Third Reichs tools of war were being built. However, as the war went on, and the Vengeance weapons began making an appearance, the Allies began targeting those sites as well. This proved difficult to accomplish, as the bombs weren't dropped with the best accuracy, and the equipment was often moved before the strike could arrive.

[[folder:VideoGames]]
* ''VideoGame/{{Mercenaries}}: Playground of Destruction'': One mission you get halfway through the game is to destroy a positively gargantuan North Korean artillery cannon that's capable of firing nuclear artillery shells at any point in South Korea. To do so, you need to capture a smaller (but still enormous) cannon that's nearby and use it to shoot the first cannon.
* ''VideoGame/QuakeII'': The second half of the game is about crippling the Stroggos in multiple ways, the most important one being the destruction of the Strogg Interplanetary Defense System (the Big Gun). After its destruction, Stroggos becomes more vulnerable as a planet, and (after all is said and done in ''II'') allows the entirety of {{sequel}} ''VideoGame/QuakeIV'' to happen.
* ''VideoGame/SniperElite4'': There are two possible methods to destroy [[spoiler:General Bohm's jet]] bomber. The first is to [[AttackItsWeakPoint shoot out both its engines]]. Should that fail, the other, more difficult method is shooting the Ms 300 "Razor" missile slung underneath the aircraft once it's airborne and about to climb. Either way, the plane goes down, killing TheBigBad, and Operation ''Avalanche'' goes as planned.
* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', when it seems the players are winning the fight against Arthas, he suddenly reveals that it was AllAccordingToPlan and that he ''wanted'' them to reach his throne so he can turn them into his servants. He then [[spoiler: unleashes a TotalPartyKill attack until Tyrion Fordring summons the Light to free himself and destroys [[Main/CoolSword Frostmourne]], releasing all the souls that Arthas had consumed and allowing the party to come back to life and finally end him for good.]]
[[/folder]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Getting rid of a villain's weapon helps the hero stop the villain.]]

** ''Series/UltramanGeed'': In order to stop Belial once and for all, Geed makes sure to obliterate his Giga Battle Nizer in their final battle, depowering Belial out of his Atrocious form in the process and depriving him of one of his game-changing weapons, though Geed still has to normally confront Belial before defeating him for goo.

* Subverted somewhat hilariously in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2'', when Po and the Furious Five do manage to destroy what they think is Lord Shen's cannon... Which is a miniature replica for the real deal, which they end up destroying anyway, only for Shen to reveal he has countless more already mass-produced. [[spoiler:However, it then gets played straight when Po uses his newly gained inner peace powers to decimate all of Shen's cannons, ending their threat there and then for good.]]

* Subverted somewhat hilariously in ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda2'', where Po and the Furious Five do manage to destroy what they think is Lord Shen's cannon... Which is a miniature replica for the real deal, which they end up destroying anyway, only for Shen to reveal he has countless more already mass-produced. [[spoiler:However, it then gets played straight when Po uses his newly gained inner peace powers to decimate all of Shen's cannons, ending their threat there and then for good]]

* Dr. Facilier from ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'' has a voodoo charm that enables whoever's blood is in it to have whoever wears it to be turned into the person whose blood is in it, though it also acts as a SoulJar and as shown in the end, if it is destroyed, his 'Friends On the Other Side' will drag him into their dimension since the destruction of his charm means he is unable to give them the souls of everyone in New Orleans like he promised.
* Rothbart from ''WesternAnimation/TheSwanPrincess'' had the necessities needed for the Forbidden Arts but they were destroyed in the movie's opening by the royal guards when he was about to use them to overthrow King William.

* ''Film/TalesFromMuppetlandTheFrogPrince'': Taminella, the evil witch that had cursed both Sir Robin (the titular frog prince) and Princess Melora (who she cursed to speak in {{Spoonerism}}s so she couldn't tell her father Taminella's true identity), got her powers from the crystal ball at the end of her staff. Robin, who is the only one who understands Melora, finally figures out that her warning to "bake the hall in the candle of her brain" means "break the ball in the handle of her cane." He breaks the ball, the spells are broken, and Taminella turns into a crow that flies away.
* ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'': After [[BigBad Judge Doom]] is [[spoiler:dissolved in his own dip]], the giant dip machine he made to destroy Toontown crashes through the wall of the warehouse, where it starts making its way [=TO=] Toontown... only to be hit by a train.

* In ''[[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers Power Rangers,]]'' the Red Ranger frees the Green Ranger from Rita's mind control by destroying the Sword of Darkness with his Blade Blaster. FridgeLogic kicks in when viewers remember [[VoodooShark Tommy's mind control wasn't connected to the Sword of Darkness, but it worked anyway]].

* In the ''WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteers'' episode 'Mind Pollution', the titular hero manages to stop Verminous Skumm from selling any more of his designer drug Bliss by forming a flame tornado that destroys the last pieces of Bliss and the notebook that has the recipe for it.

* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'' has Numbuh 4 do this impulsively when he has a football-shaped bomb and when he performs a touchdown, it blows the rocket stadium he, his team, and the villains were on straight to the ground.

* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', when it seems the players are winning the fight against Arthas, he suddenly reveals that it was AllAccordingToPlan and that he wanted them to reach his throne so he can turn them unto his servants, [[spoiler: unleashing a TotalPartyKill attack until Tyrion Fordring summons the Light to free himself and destroys [[Main/CoolSword Frostmourne]], releasing all souls that Arthas had consumed and allowing the party to come back to life and finally end him for good.]]

* ''Film/TheLion,theWitch,andtheWardrobe'': Edmund recognizes that the White Witch's wand is the source of her petrifying powers, so when he attacks her, he goes straight for it and shatters it with his sword.

Destroying the weapon can cause a whole lot of things to happen, like if the villain's power stems from the weapon as if it is magical/supernatural, than destroying it will cause him to lose that power and also can cause whatever magical/supernatural influence the weapon has caused to be un-done. As for any normal weapons like guns and tanks, they can be destroyed through realistic means like being melted, blown up, etc. They can also be destroyed through mundane mean as well like a hammer

* ''WesternAnimation/TheMitchellsVsTheMachines'': The BigBad PAL is essentially a living weapon (she's an A.I. on a smartphone) and she has the ability to control all electronics worldwide. Once Katie throws her into a conveniently placed glass of water, all that goes away.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirlsRainbowRocks''. The Humane 6 and Sunset Shimmer manage to make a rainbow beam big enough to defeat the sirens and destroy their pendents that enable their powers. Not only have they lost their magic, but also their ability to sing afterward.
* Dr. Facilier from ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'' has a voodoo charm that enables whoever's blood is in it to have whoever wears it to be turned into the person whose blood is in it, though it also acts as a SoulJar and as shown in the end, if it is destroyed, his 'Friends On the Other Side' will drag him into their dimension, since the destruction of his charm means he is unable to give them the souls of everyone in New Orleans like he promised.

** ''Series/UltramanX'': During the crossover episode where the Ultramen team consisting of Victory, Ginga and X battles the Specter siblings, Mold Specter becomes even stronger when his brother and sister, Juda and Gina, transform themselves respectively into his sword and ax which he {{Dual Wield}}s. But Ginga and Victory manage to turn the tide by aiming their energy beams at Mold's weapons, destroying his sword and ax and leaving Mold exposed to Ultraman X's counterattack.

* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'' has Numbuh 4 do this impulsively when he has a football-shaped bomb and when he performs a touchdown, it blows the rocket stadium he, his team and the villains were on straight to the ground.

* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'' has Numbuh 4 do this impulsively when he has a football-shaped bomb and when he performs a touchdown, it blows the rocket stadium they were on straight to the ground.

** The Rebels/Resistance destroying either of the [[Film/ANewHope Death]] [[Film/ReturnOfTheJedi Stars]] or [[Film/TheForceAwakens Starkiller Base]] counts as well. They count as weapons (albeit [[AwesomeButImpractical absurdly huge]]) that the bad guys have in their possession, and "not being blown to smithereens" is a pretty big advantage for the good guys...

* The Rebels/Resistance destroying either of the [[Film/ANewHope Death]] [[Film/ReturnOfTheJedi Stars]] or [[Film/TheForceAwakens Starkiller Base]] counts as well. They count as weapons (albeit [[AwesomeButImpractical absurdly huge]]) that the bad guys have in their possession, and "not being blown to smithereens" is a pretty big advantage for the good guys...

** Also, the Death Stars from the original trilogy.

* ''Film/TalesFromMuppetlandTheFrogPrince'': Taminella, the evil witch that had cursed both Sir Robin (the titular frog prince) and Princess Melora (who she cursed to speak in {{Sponerism}}s so she couldn't tell her father Taminella's true identity), got her powers from the crystal ball at the end of her staff. Robin, who is the only one who understands Melora, finally figures out that her warning to "bake the hall in the candle of her brain" means "break the ball in the handle of her cane." He breaks the ball, the spells are broken, and Taminella turns into a crow that flies away.

[[folder:Film-Animation]]

[[folder:Film-Live Action]]

* ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'': Peter distracts the BigBad Ronin in order for the rest of his team to use a spacwe gun to destroy his Warhammer, which was empowered by the Power Stone.

* ''Literature/TheGunsOfNavarone''. During WorldWarII, the Nazis have built a fortress housing powerful artillery on the island of Navarone. The weapons are blown up by explosives planted by a team of Allied saboteurs.

* And in ''Literature/TheEmperorsGift'', the main character is nicknamed Bladebreaker by the Space Wolves after he [[spoiler: breaks with his psychic power the gigantic daemon blade of Angron, Chaos Primarch of the World Eaters.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'': Aladdin notices Jafar using his SnakeStaff to brainwash the Sultan, so he takes it and destroys it. Not that it matters, though, because once Jafar uses the Genie to wish to become the most powerful sorcerer in the world, he magically gains a new staff. This example is also the page image.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'': Aladdin notices Jafar using his snake staff to brainwash the Sultan, so he takes it and destroys it. Not that it matters, though, because once Jafar uses the Genie to wish to become the most powerful sorcerer in the world, he magically gains a new staff. This example is also the page image.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/staff_0.png]]

[[quoteright:150:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/frog_04.png]]

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'': Aladdin notices Jafar using his snake staff to brainwash the Sultan, so he takes it and destroys it. Not that it matters, though, because once Jafar uses the Genie to wish to become the most powerful sorcerer in the world, he magically gains a new staff.