History Main / EffectiveKnockoff

** The Clan-made ''Mad Dog''/''Vulture'' was an intentional knock-off of the ''Timber Wolf'' ([[ProudWarriorRaceGuy the Clans' idea of]] 'patent law' being a [[DuelToTheDeath Trial of Grievance]]), with the name being an intentional slight on the latter. While the ''Timber Wolf'' [[AwesomeButImpractical is still a superior machine on an individual basis, it costs almost twice as much to make and its creators, Clan Wolf, only has a single assembly line that makes it]]. By contrast, the ''Mad Dog'' was quickly adopted and produced by anyone who had seen a ''Timber Wolf'' in action and wanted one, since Clan Smoke Jaguar practically gave away the production specs to anyone who wanted them. This lead to the 'knockoff product' achieving over ten times the production numbers and market penetration to the original and was a workhorse 'mech for most Clans, while still 'good enough'.

** The Clan-made ''Mad Dog''/''Vulture'' is a funny example of this, in that it was ''intended'' as a ShoddyKnockoffProduct meant to insult the ''Timber Wolf'' it was heavily based on. (Un)fortunately, while the ''Timber Wolf'' [[AwesomeButImpractical is still a superior machine on an individual basis, it costs almost twice as much to make and its creators, Clan Wolf, only has a single assembly line that makes it]]. By contrast, the ''Mad Dog'' was quickly adopted and produced by anyone who had seen a ''Timber Wolf'' in action and wanted one, since its creators weren't shy about giving away the production specs to anyone who wanted them. This lead to the knockoff product'achieving over ten times the production numbers and market penetration to the original and was a workhorse 'mech for most Clans, while still 'good enough'.

* In ''Manga/OnePiece'' Momonosuke ate an artificial copy of the Fish-Fish Fruit; Model: Dragon. The Devil fruit was introduced being discarded as a failure and unlike [[spoiler: Kaido]], the original user of the fruit his transformation manifests as a tiny eel-like dragon with no fighting capabilities rather than an invincible giant serpent capable of destroying entire towns. However, it is eventually revealed that this is due to Momonosuke being only 8 years old and inexperienced as [[spoiler: when he is aged up, he possesses the same giant size and deadly strength as Kaido, albeit still lacking control due to inexperience]]. It is eventually revealed that the reason that the fruit was labeled as a failure was due to it being the wrong color.

* In ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'', the StarterVillain Father Cornello is given a fake Philosopher's Stone to [[PathOfInspiration attract mindless followers into his religious order]]. However, it follows the same effects such as the apparent violation of EquivalentExchange that it fools the Elric brothers into mistaking it for the real thing.

* Kaine, initially a mysterious character first appearing in the infamous ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' Clone Saga, turns out to be a clone of ComicBook/SpiderMan whose powers are all enhanced versions of the original. The disfiguring mark he leaves on victims' faces is due to using his wall-sticking powers on them, precognition is SpiderSense, etc. As for his strength, he could hold his own against the original Spidey and ''two'' other Spider-clones AT ONCE, and once shrugged off a massive explosion with little ill effect.

* ''LightNovel/{{Bakemonogatari}}'': In the Nisemonogatari subplot, the CentralTheme that surrounds the story is whether or not a "fake" can be more real than the real thing. Examples of this include Tsukihi, who turns out to be [[NotBloodSiblings not blood-related]] to Koyomi, but who is still his precious sister in his eyes and Kaiki Deishuu, a conman pretending to be a BlueCollarWarlock, who actually manages to solve a supernatural case using his guile.

* In ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'' magic pretty much runs on this trope. By using something called Idol Theory, magicians copy the tools, weapons, abilities, and feats of gods and legendary figures. The result is always inferior to the original, but can still be literally world-shaking, with the most powerful magicians crossing into VariantPowerCopying.

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': ''Literature/DeathMasks'' features the ShroudOfTurin as a central MacGuffin with potent healing powers. Much later in ''Literature/SkinGame'' it's revealed that Jesus's actual burial shroud is somewhere else, and that the ShroudofTurin is a forgery that [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve ended up developing the same powers as the original because so many people believed in it]].

* M.E.R.C (More Economical Recruiting Center) from ''VideoGame/JaggedAlliance'' is a budget amateurish competitor to [[PrivateMilitaryContractors A.I.M]], the series' central mercenary group. Unlike its more established rival, which offers proven killers with military/police backgrounds or seasoned support personnel, MERC's meager selection consists solely of gun hobbyists, wannabe tough guys, and some random thugs. To even attract customers, MERC has to oversell and lie through the teeth on their goons' resumes, even faking testimony from a deceased legend. Nearly everyone in the trade knows how bad of an idea it is to go against A.I.M, and A.I.M itself wishes nothing but luck to its wannabe rival. Despite this, it's made rather clear that MERC's shoddiness is more due to lack of funds and bad reputation rather than incompetence, and if the player sticks with them through their turbulent startup period, MERC's goons will eventually prove themselves [[MagikarpPower nearly half as good as A.I.M's]] while being several times cheaper (and don't even have to be paid immediately because MERC is that desperate for business).

* M.E.R.C (More Economical Recruiting Center) from ''VideoGame/JaggedAlliance'' is a shoddy amateur competitor to [[PrivateMilitaryContractors A.I.M]], the series' central mercenary group. Unlike its more established rival, which offers hundreds of proven killers with military/police experience, MERC's meager selection consists solely of gun hobbyists, wannabe tough guys, and random thugs. To even attract customers, MERC has to lie through the teeth on all of their goons' resumes, even faking testimony from dead veterans. Nearly everyone in the trade knows how bad of an idea it is to go up against A.I.M, and A.I.M itself wishes nothing but luck to its wannabe rival. Despite this, it's made rather clear that MERC's shortcomings are more due to lack of funds and bad reputation rather than incompetence, and if the player sticks with them through their turbulent startup period, MERC's goons will eventually prove themselves [[MagikarpPower nearly as good as A.I.M's]] while being several times cheaper (and don't even have to be paid immediately because MERC is that desperate for business).

* M.E.R.C (More Economical Recruiting Center) from ''VideoGame/JaggedAlliance'' is a shoddy amateur competitor to [[PrivateMilitaryContractors A.I.M]], the series' central mercenary group. Unlike its more established rival, which offers hundreds of proven killers with military/police experience, MERC's meager selection consists solely of gun hobbyists, wannabe tough guys, and random thugs. To even attract customers, MERC has to lie through the nose on all of their goons' resumes, even faking testimony from dead veterans. Nearly everyone in the trade knows how bad of an idea it is to go up against A.I.M, and A.I.M itself wishes nothing but luck to its wannabe rival. Despite this, it's made rather clear that MERC's shortcomings are more due to lack of funds and bad reputation rather than incompetence, and if the player sticks with them through their turbulent startup period, MERC's goons will eventually prove themselves [[MagikarpPower nearly as good as A.I.M's]] while being several times cheaper (and don't even have to be paid immediately because MERC is that desperate for business).

* M.E.R.C (More Economical Recruiting Center) from ''VideoGame/JaggedAlliance'' is a shoddy amateur competitor to [[PrivateMilitaryContractors A.I.M]], the series' central mercenary group. Unlike its more established rival, which offers hundreds of proven killers with military/police experience, MERC's meager selection consists solely of gun hobbyists, wannabe tough guys, and random thugs. To even attract customers, MERC has to lie through the nose on all of their goons' resumes, even faking testimony from dead veterans. Nearly everyone in the trade knows how bad of an idea it is to go up against A.I.M, and A.I.M itself wishes nothing but luck to its wannabe rival. Despite this, it's made rather clear that MERC's shortcomings are more due to lack of funds and bad reputation rather than incompetence, and if the player sticks with them through their turbulent startup period, MERC's goons will eventually prove themselves [[MagikarpPower nearly as good as A.I.M's]] while being several times cheaper (and don't even have to be paid immediately because MERC is that desperate for customers).

* M.E.R.C (More Economical Recruiting Center) from ''VideoGame/JaggedAlliance'' is a shoddy amateur competitor to [[PrivateMilitaryContractors A.I.M]], the series' central mercenary group. Unlike its more established rival, which offers hundreds of proven killers with military/police experience, MERC's meager selection consists solely of gun hobbyists, wannabe tough guys, and random thugs. To even attract customers, MERC has to lie through the nose on all of their goons' resumes, even faking testimony from dead veterans to prop them up. Nearly everyone in the trade knows how bad of an idea it is to go against A.I.M, and A.I.M itself wishes nothing but luck to its wannabe rival. Despite this, it's made rather clear that MERC's shortcomings are more due to lack of funds and bad reputation rather than incompetence, and if the player sticks with them through their turbulent startup period, MERC's goons will eventually prove themselves [[MagikarpPower nearly as good as A.I.M's]] while being several times cheaper (and don't even have to be paid immediately because MERC is that desperate for customers).

* M.E.R.C (More Economical Recruiting Center) from ''VideoGame/JaggedAlliance'' is a shoddy amateur competitor to [[PrivateMilitaryContractors A.I.M]], the series' central mercenary group. Unlike its more established rival, which offers hundreds of proven killers with military/police experience, MERC's meager selection consists solely of gun hobbyists, wannabe tough guys, and random thugs. To even attract customers, MERC has to lie through the nose on all of their goons' resumes, even faking testimony from dead veterans to prop them up. Nearly everyone in the trade knows how bad of an idea it is to go against A.I.M and A.I.M itself wishes nothing but luck to its wannabe rival. Despite this, it's made rather clear that MERC's shortcomings are more due to lack of funds and bad reputation rather than incompetence, and if the player sticks with them through their turbulent startup period, MERC's goons will eventually prove themselves [[MagikarpPower nearly as good as A.I.M's]] while being several times cheaper (and don't even have to be paid immediately because MERC is that desperate for customers).

* M.E.R.C (More Economical Recruiting Center) from ''VideoGame/JaggedAlliance'' is a shoddy amateur competitor to [[PrivateMilitaryContractors A.I.M]], the series' central mercenary group. Nearly everyone in the trade knows that competing with A.I.M is a bad idea and A.I.M itself wishes nothing but luck to its wannabe rival. Despite this, it's made rather clear that MERC's shortcomings are more due to lack of funds and bad reputation rather than incompetence, and if the player sticks with them through their turbulent startup period, MERC's goons will eventually prove themselves [[MagikarpPower nearly as good as A.I.M's]] while being several times cheaper (and don't even have to be paid immediately because MERC is that desperate for customers).

* M.E.R.C (More Economical Recruiting Center) from ''VideoGame/JaggedAlliance'' is a shoddy amateur competitor to [[MurderInc A.I.M]], the series' central mercenary group. Nearly everyone in the trade knows that competing with A.I.M is a bad idea and A.I.M itself wishes nothing but luck to its wannabe rival. Despite this, it's made rather clear that MERC's shortcomings are more due to lack of funds and bad reputation rather than incompetence, and if the player sticks with them through their turbulent startup period, MERC's goons will eventually prove themselves [[MagikarpPower nearly as good as A.I.M's]] while being several times cheaper (and don't even have to be paid immediately because MERC is that desperate for customers).

* M.E.R.C (More Economical Recruiting Center) from ''VideoGame/JaggedAlliance'' is a shoddy amateur competitor to A.I.M, the series' central mercenary group. Nearly everyone in the trade knows competing with A.I.M is a bad idea and A.I.M itself wishes nothing but luck to its wannabe rival. Despite this, it's made rather clear that MERC's shortcomings are more due to lack of funds rather than incompetence, and if the player sticks with them through their turbulent startup period, MERC's goons will eventually prove themselves [[MagikarpPower nearly as good as A.I.M's]] while being several times cheaper (and have a much more user-friendly payment plan to boot).

* M.E.R.C (More Economical Recruiting Center) from ''VideoGame/JaggedAlliance'' is a shoddy amateur competitor to A.I.M, the series' central mercenary group. Nearly everyone in the trade knows competing with A.I.M is a bad idea and A.I.M itself wishes nothing but luck to its wannabe rival. Despite this, it's made rather clear that MERC's shortcomings are more due to lack of funds rather than incompetence, and if the player sticks with them through their turbulent startup period, MERC's goons will eventually prove themselves [[MagikarpPower nearly as good as A.I.M's]] while being several times cheaper.

* M.E.R.C (More Economical Recruiting Center) from ''VideoGame/JaggedAlliance'' is a shoddy amateur competitor to A.I.M, the series' main mercenary group. Despite this, it's made rather clear that MERC's shortcomings are more due to lack of funds rather than incompetence, and if the player risks their neck employing them, MERC goons will eventually be at least half as good as A.I.M's while being several times cheaper.

*** The Unlimited Blade Works is all about creating an unlimited arsenal of Noble Phantasms that are knockoffs. Shirou states that they can not defeat the original Noble Phantasms, but are still able to imitate their abilities to a close second. Gilgamesh is defeated by this Noble Phantasm because even though he has all the originals, he merely uses them as throwing objects, never utilizing them to their full potential. That, and being copies, they can be Broken, turning them into a single use version with a rank boost that bumps the power up to the same as the original. Since it's a copy you can always just make another one after breaking the first. And many abilities can't be effectively reduced at all, so a copy of say, Rule Breaker, is just as effective as the original because it's ability is absolute and not dependent on rank at all.

* The Excalipoor in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'' is a crappy knockoff of the Excalibur, and a JokeItem that only does 1 damage for regular attacks. But if you throw the knockoff onto an enemy or use it for the Goblin Punch special ability, [[LethalJokeItem it can carry a whooping amount of damage]]. Additionally, its basic attack is an AlwaysAccurateAttack, which can be exploited by using the SpellBlade ability to imbue it with status effects, even instant death.

* Kaine, initially a mysterious character first appearing in the infamous ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' Clone Saga, turns out to be a clone of ComicBook/SpiderMan whose powers are all enhanced versions of the original. The disfiguring mark he leaves on victims' faces is due to using his wall-sticking powers on them, precognition is SpiderSense taken UpToEleven, etc. As for his strength, he could hold his own against the original Spidey and ''two'' other Spider-clones AT ONCE, and once shrugged off a massive explosion with little ill effect.