History Main / DualModeUnit

[[caption-width-right:350:[[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Totally not a]] Anime/{{Macross}} {{Expy}}.]]

** Kled, who rides a lizard, called Skaarl, that will flee after recieving enough damage, leaving Kled on foot (who is slow, but moves faster when chasing toward enemy champions) and with only two of his abilities (Pocket Pistol, unique to his unmounted state, and Violent Tendencies). He can mount back on Skaarl after dealing

** The first example came in ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerTiberianSun'', where Nod's Tick tanks could deploy into a stationary turret (and undeploy into a tank again, if necessary).

* Raiden from ''[[VideoGame/TheNinjaSaviorsReturnOfTheWarriors The Ninja Saviors: Return of the Warriors]]'' is a BeatEmUp example. As a TransformingMecha, it has a melee- and grapple-based humanoid form, and a ChickenWalker form. The second form has ranged OneHitPolykill attacks, but all its attacks drain energy that can only be replenished over time in humanoid form.

* ''VideoGame/{{Starcraft}}'' really got the ball rolling. Nearly every Terran unit has some kind of special ability, but the one that fits the pattern best is the Siege Tank. It goes from a mobile tank with a decent cannon and no minimum range (a bit lacking in the ability to well,[[GlassCannon ''tank'']]) to a fixed artillery gun with a powerful, long range attack with SplashDamage. Other units have different attack modes for air or ground targets, but that mode switch is automatic.

* Raiden from ''VideoGame/TheNinjaSaviorsReturnOfTheWarriors'' is a BeatEmUp example. As a TransformingMecha, it has a melee- and grapple- based humanoid form, and a ChickenWalker form. The second form has ranged OneHitPolykill attacks, but all its attacks drain energy that can only be replenished over time in humanoid form.

*** The game's expansion, Uprising, gave everyone another DualModeUnit: The Pacifier FAV (a Siege Tank in all but name, but its mobile form is amphibious) for the Allies, the Giga Fortress (anti-everything floating fortress that turns into a ''flying siege weapon'') for the Empire, and the Reaper (a StoneWall SpiderTank dedicated to MoreDakka, that can jump on enemies to crush them, permanently becoming an immobile turret in the process) for the Soviets.

** ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3'' took it UpToEleven and specifically designed every unit to have a special ability, which often meant an alternate mode. The special abilities range from weapon switches like [[RedShirt Conscripts]] that can switch from assault rifles to [[MolotovCocktail molotov cocktails]]; to units that deploy into expansion structures such as Sputniks and Prospectors. The Empire of the Rising Sun is the real standout, as they are the only faction that does not have an airbase structure because all of their air units are transformed from ground or sea units (Mecha Tengu > Jet Tengu, Striker VX > Chopper VX, Sea Wing > Sky Wing), or infantry with jetpacks such as Rocket Angels (who either shoot photon rockets or unit-disabling beams).

*** The game's expansion, Uprising, gave everyone another DualModeUnit: The Pacifier FAV (a SiegeTank in all but name, but its mobile form is amphibious) for the Allies, the Giga Fortress (anti-everything floating fortress that turns into a ''flying siege weapon'') for the Empire, and the Reaper (a StoneWall SpiderTank dedicated to MoreDakka, that can jump on enemies to crush them, permanently becoming an immobile turret in the process) for the Soviets.

** ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3'' took it to the next level and specifically designed every unit to have a special ability, which often meant an alternate mode. The special abilities range from weapon switches like [[RedShirt Conscripts]] that can switch from rifles to molotov cocktails; to units that deploy into expansion structures. The Empire of the Rising Sun is the real standout. They are the only faction that does not have an airbase structure because all of their air units are transformed from sea units, HumongousMecha (see picture above showing an anti-infantry Mecha Tengu and anti-air Jet Tengu), or infantry with jetpacks (who either shoot rockets or unit-disabling beams).
*** The game's expansion gave everyone another DualModeUnit: The Pacifier artillery vehicle (a Siege Tank in all but name, but its mobile form is amphibious) for the Allies, the Giga Fortress (anti-everything floating fortress that turns into a ''flying siege weapon'') for the Empire, and the Reaper (a StoneWall SpiderTank dedicated to MoreDakka, that can jump on enemies to crush them, permanently becoming an immobile turret in the process) for the Soviets.
* Spin off studio Petroglyph's game ''VideoGame/UniverseAtWar'' had the Masari, whose entire military doctrine relies upon this trope. All units and buildings could switch between Light and Dark Mode. Light Mode increased the damage and sight range of units, while Dark Mode strengthened their armor instead (air units would also be grounded by switching). Even the superweapon of the Masari behaved differently depending on its mode.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[BlatantLies Totally not a]] Anime/{{Macross}} {{Expy}}.]]

** This was expanded upon in ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert2'', where Allied GI units (their basic infantry) could deploy behind sandbags to increase their range, power, and defense at the cost of movement, and the IFV, which could carry a single infantryman, and swapped out it's missiles for a different weapon depending on which trooper was in it. The ExpansionPack added Guardian [=GIs=], whose deployment allowed them to attack armor and Anti-Air.

** ''VideoGame/StarCraftII'' features the Viking, a TransformingMecha that can switch between a ground-based and aerial unit. ''VideoGame/StarCraftIIHeartOfTheSwarm'' introduced a "walker" mode for the Hellion jeep that makes it slower moving but more durable.

* In the original SNES version of ''VideoGAme/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem'', mounted Cavaliers/Social Knights are horse mounted units with Lances that can dismount to travel on difficult terrains or indoors, as well as to switch their weapon type from lance to sword.

* Early ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' games lets mounted Social Knights dismount to travel on difficult terrains or indoors, as well as to switch weapon type from lance to sword.