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* Rintaro in ''Manga/DragonsRioting'' starts his journey into high school after ten years of rigorous martial arts training have turned him into an extraordinary badass, even by the standards of the [[WorldOfActionGirls Action Girl-packed school]] he's found himself enrolled in.
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* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'': The playable protagonists have all been elite veterans serving in the UNSC or [[ScaryDogmaticAliens Covenant]] militaries, even the youngest of the bunch like [[VideoGame/Halo3ODST the Rookie]] and [[VideoGame/HaloReach Noble Six]]. In particular, the [[SuperSoldier Master Chief]] has spent nearly all of his 40+ years of life fighting for the UNSC, while the [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy the Arbiter]] is a former Covenant [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority Supreme Commander]] who's over 67 years old.
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* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'': The playable protagonists have all been elite veterans serving in the UNSC or [[ScaryDogmaticAliens Covenant]] militaries, even the youngest of the bunch like [[VideoGame/Halo3ODST the Rookie]] and [[VideoGame/HaloReach Noble Six]]. In particular, the [[SuperSoldier Master Chief]] has spent nearly all of his 40+ years of life fighting for the UNSC, while the [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy the Arbiter]] is a former Covenant [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority Supreme Commander]] who's over 67 years old.
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* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'': Most protagonists are veteran soldiers of the [=UNSC=] or [[ScaryDogmaticAliens Covenant]] militaries. In particular, [[VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved Master Chief]] has spent nearly his entire life embroiled in the art of war, [[VideoGame/{{Halo2}} The Arbiter]] is a former Covenant Supreme Commander.
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* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'': Most The playable protagonists are veteran soldiers of have all been elite veterans serving in the [=UNSC=] UNSC or [[ScaryDogmaticAliens Covenant]] militaries. militaries, even the youngest of the bunch like [[VideoGame/Halo3ODST the Rookie]] and [[VideoGame/HaloReach Noble Six]]. In particular, [[VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved the [[SuperSoldier Master Chief]] has spent nearly all of his entire 40+ years of life embroiled in fighting for the art of war, [[VideoGame/{{Halo2}} The UNSC, while the [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy the Arbiter]] is a former Covenant [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority Supreme Commander.Commander]] who's over 67 years old.
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* Sagara Sousuke of ''FullMetalPanic'' is a ChildSoldier who has several years of combat experience when the story begins.
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* Sagara Sousuke of ''FullMetalPanic'' is a ChildSoldier who has several years of combat experience when in Afghanistan. Kurz Weber was a mercenary who fought in many countries and Melissa Mao was an ex-American Marine before the story begins.three worked together in Mithril.
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* In ''PersonOfInterest'', John Reese and Samantha Shaw have combat experience from serving in the US military and having participated in black ops operations in the past before Finch recruited them.
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* In ''PersonOfInterest'', John Reese and Samantha Shaw have combat experience from serving in the US military and having participated in black ops operations in the past before Finch recruited them. Finch, for his part, has been an expert hacker when he started from his high school days. Fusco and Carter have been veteran officers with the [=NYPD=], the latter having served in Iraq.
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* SherlockHolmes is almost always been a detective for years.
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* SherlockHolmes is almost always been Literature/SherlockHolmes was a consulting detective for years.years before he met his friend and biographer Watson, and most adaptations follow the same line.
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* Gintoki in ''Manga/{{Gintama}}'' at the start of the series is already a war veteran and has already retired from fighting against the aliens.
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* Both leads of ''Series/Intelligence2014''; Gabriel Vaughn is a former Delta Force operator with five tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Riley Neal is a former Secret Service agent who was on the US President's detail.
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* Both leads of ''Series/Intelligence2014''; ''Series/{{Intelligence 2014}}''; Gabriel Vaughn is a former Delta Force operator with five tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Riley Neal is a former Secret Service agent who was on the US President's detail.
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* In ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'', Edward and Alphonse Elric are already experienced alchemists who have been working for the Amestris military for three years when the story begins.
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* In ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'', Edward and Alphonse Elric are already experienced alchemists who have been working for the Amestris military for three years when the story begins. The anime does provide several episodes worth of flashback, however.
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* The ''{{James Bond}}'' films, from ''{{Dr No}}'' through {{Pierce Brosnan}}'s Bond character, had 007 pretty much established as an ace agent who could do incredible feats and was at the top of his savvy and game. It was only the recent three {{Daniel Craig}}-as-Bond movies that actually showed a new 007 making rookie mistakes, paying a price, and learning from them.
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* The ''{{James Bond}}'' ''Film/JamesBond'' films, from ''{{Dr No}}'' ''Film/DrNo'' through {{Pierce Brosnan}}'s Creator/PierceBrosnan's Bond character, had 007 pretty much established as an ace agent who could do incredible feats and was at the top of his savvy and game. It was only the recent three {{Daniel Craig}}-as-Bond Creator/DanielCraig-as-Bond movies that actually showed a new 007 making rookie mistakes, paying a price, and learning from them.
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* Both leads of ''Series/Intelligence2014''; Gabriel Vaughn is a former Delta Force operator with five tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Riley Neal is a former Secret Service agent who was on the US President's detail.
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* Lieutenant Commander Schultz begins ''[[VideoGame/NavalOps Warship Gunner 2]]'' as an experienced Wilkian naval officer; the tutorial has him being tested on his navigation and gunnery skills, before assuming his first command.
* Alex Mason begins ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps'' as an experienced Marine who's recruited by the CIA. In ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps2'', his son David "Section" Mason is already a US Navy Commander and a member of SEAL Team Six, leading his own squad, when his story starts.
* Alex Mason begins ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps'' as an experienced Marine who's recruited by the CIA. In ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyBlackOps2'', his son David "Section" Mason is already a US Navy Commander and a member of SEAL Team Six, leading his own squad, when his story starts.
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* Allison/Mega Girl from ''Webcomic/StrongFemaleProtagonist'' has already served as, and retired from being, a Superhero. The series flips back and forth between her emotional struggles in trying to enjoy a "normal" life, and flashbacks detailing her time as a caped hero.
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[[folder:Film]]
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* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' starts with Mr. Incredible as a famous superhero. Much of the plot involves how he deals with being forced underground, then getting a chance to get back in the game.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Film - Live Action]]
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* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' starts with Mr. Incredible as a famous superhero. Much of the plot involves how he deals with being forced underground, then getting a chance to get back in the game.
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* In ''VisualNovel/{{Sunrider}}'', TheHero, Kayto Shields, is a trained Captain by the beginning of the story.
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[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* In ''VisualNovel/{{Sunrider}}'', TheHero, Kayto Shields, is a trained Captain by the beginning of the story.
[[/folder]]
* In ''VisualNovel/{{Sunrider}}'', TheHero, Kayto Shields, is a trained Captain by the beginning of the story.
[[/folder]]
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* In ''VisualNovel/{{Sunrider}}'', TheHero, Kayto Shields, is a trained Captain by the beginning of the story.''
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* In ''VisualNovel/{{Sunrider}}'', TheHero, Kayto Shields, is a trained Captain by the beginning of the story.''
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* In ''VisualNovel/Sunrider'', TheHero, Kayto Shields, is a trained Captain by the beginning of the story.''
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* In ''VisualNovel/Sunrider'', ''VisualNovel/{{Sunrider}}'', TheHero, Kayto Shields, is a trained Captain by the beginning of the story.''
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* In [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/VisualNovel/Sunrider Sunrider]], TheHero, Kayto Shields, is a trained Captain by the beginning of the story.''
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* In [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/VisualNovel/Sunrider Sunrider]], ''VisualNovel/Sunrider'', TheHero, Kayto Shields, is a trained Captain by the beginning of the story.''
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* In [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/VisualNovel/Sunrider Sunrider]], TheHero, Kayto Shields, is a trained Captain by the beginning of the story.''
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* ''PacificRim'' starts off with Raleigh already being a pilot who has to be TheMentor to a new partner.
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* ''PacificRim'' ''Film/PacificRim'' starts off with Raleigh already being a pilot who has to be TheMentor to a new partner.
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* ''PacificRim'' starts off with Rayleigh already being a pilot who has to be TheMentor to a new partner.
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* ''PacificRim'' starts off with Rayleigh Raleigh already being a pilot who has to be TheMentor to a new partner.
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* ''VideoGame/Disgaea4APromiseUnforgotten'' has [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Valvatorez]], an ex-tyrant overlord who willingly lost most of his power after a certain encounter with [[spoiler: Artina]]. His [[TheLancer Lancer]] (or [[TheDragon Dragon]], FromACertainPointOfView) [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Fen]][[UndyingLoyalty rich]] may also qualify as this.
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* ''VideoGame/Disgaea4APromiseUnforgotten'' has [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Valvatorez]], an ex-tyrant overlord who willingly lost most of his power after a certain encounter with [[spoiler: Artina]]. His [[TheLancer Lancer]] (or [[TheDragon Dragon]], FromACertainPointOfView) [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Fen]][[UndyingLoyalty rich]] may also qualify as this.
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* By the time the events of ''Manga/{{Black Lagoon}}'' start, the Lagoon Crew in Roanapur are experienced in handling cargo work in Southeast Asia, which sometimes does lead in to hijacking ships if needed to. Dutch and Revy are experienced fighters, with either bare hands or small arms while Benny is familiar with hacking thanks to some of his years in university before he was forced to drop out. While Rock is new to the crew, he is familiar with the business world, as well as fluent in several languages that he is heavily involved in Lagoon business, though Hotel Moscow takes advantage of his language skills.
* Senior Inspector Chin Hon-to in ''Series/{{Tiger Cubs}}'' is an experienced police officer in the Hong Kong Police Force with the rank of Senior Inspector while being one of the most known officers in the force's elite anti-crime/terrorist unit, the Special Duties Unit.
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* Most of the protagonists in the ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' series are this, coming from a military or law enforcement background (e.g. the first game's protagonist were S.T.A.R.S members). The main aversions being the ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilOutbreak'' spinoff series, (which focuses on the normal citizens of Raccoon City during the ZombieApocalypse of the first three games) and the second game (Leon being a rookie cop and Claire being a civilian[[note]]Albeit the sister of one of the S.T.A.R.S team from the first game[[/note]] - They've both become this trope in the later games, however). Jake Mueller is an experienced mercenary and Sherry is an experienced agent with tthe Division of Security Operations after years of being in custody of the American government before Resident Evil 6 begins.
* ''VideoGame/SpecOpsTheLine'' Martin Walker had served with the US Military in Afghanistan before he gets sent to Dubai. [[SanitySlippage not that]] [[MindScrew his experience]] [[{{Deconstruction}} helps much.]]
* ''VideoGame/SpecOpsTheLine'' Martin Walker had served with the US Military in Afghanistan before he gets sent to Dubai. [[SanitySlippage not that]] [[MindScrew his experience]] [[{{Deconstruction}} helps much.]]
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* Most of the protagonists in the ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' series are this, coming from a military or law enforcement background (e.g. the first game's protagonist were S.T.A.R.S members). The main aversions being the ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilOutbreak'' spinoff series, (which focuses on the normal citizens of Raccoon City during the ZombieApocalypse of the first three games) and the second game (Leon being a rookie cop and Claire being a civilian[[note]]Albeit the sister of one of the S.T.A.R.S team from the first game[[/note]] - They've both become this trope in the later games, however). Jake Mueller is an experienced mercenary and Sherry is an experienced agent with tthe the Division of Security Operations after years of being in custody of the American government before Resident Evil 6 begins.
begins. Piers was an ex-commando before he was recruited to be in the [=BSAA=] when the events of the tie-in manga "Biohazard: Marhawa Desire" start.
* ''VideoGame/SpecOpsTheLine'' Martin Walker had served with the US Military in Afghanistan before he gets sent to Dubai. [[SanitySlippagenot Not that]] [[MindScrew his experience]] [[{{Deconstruction}} helps much.]]
* ''VideoGame/SpecOpsTheLine'' Martin Walker had served with the US Military in Afghanistan before he gets sent to Dubai. [[SanitySlippage
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* Most of the protagonists in the ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' series are this, coming from a military or law enforcement background (e.g. the first game's protagonist were S.T.A.R.S members). The main aversions being the ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilOutbreak'' spinoff series, (which focuses on the normal citizens of Raccoon City during the ZombieApocalypse of the first three games) and the second game (Leon being a rookie cop and Claire being a civilian[[note]]Albeit the sister of one of the S.T.A.R.S team from the first game[[/note]] - They've both become this trope in the later games, however).
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* Most of the protagonists in the ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' series are this, coming from a military or law enforcement background (e.g. the first game's protagonist were S.T.A.R.S members). The main aversions being the ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilOutbreak'' spinoff series, (which focuses on the normal citizens of Raccoon City during the ZombieApocalypse of the first three games) and the second game (Leon being a rookie cop and Claire being a civilian[[note]]Albeit the sister of one of the S.T.A.R.S team from the first game[[/note]] - They've both become this trope in the later games, however). Jake Mueller is an experienced mercenary and Sherry is an experienced agent with tthe Division of Security Operations after years of being in custody of the American government before Resident Evil 6 begins.
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[[folder:Web Original]]
* In ''Roleplay/WeAreAllPokemonTrainers'', quite a few characters happened to have been experienced trainers long before joining the story proper. Tagg for instance had already been a trainer for about nine years.
[[/folder]]
* In ''Roleplay/WeAreAllPokemonTrainers'', quite a few characters happened to have been experienced trainers long before joining the story proper. Tagg for instance had already been a trainer for about nine years.
[[/folder]]
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* ''Webcomic/TheDragonDoctors'' all start off the comic as possibly the world's best team of magical doctors: Goro's an ex-military combat surgeon who can chop anyone apart and sew them back together again, Sarin the Wizard is a supreme transformation specialist, Mori is a super-smart magical scientist, and Kili is the most sensitive shaman in the world. Their real journey is one of character development rather than skill development.
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* The first ''Literature/CiaphasCain'' novel "For The Emperor" has the title character already an experienced Commissar and reknown war hero.
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* This is especially true for actions flicks that are vehicles for aging action stars. Creator/JohnWayne went through this in later years and ''Film/TheExpendables'' series revolves around this idea.
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* In ''FullmetalAlchemist'', Edward and Alphonse Elric are already experienced alchemists who have been working for the Amestris military for three years when the story begins.
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* In ''FullmetalAlchemist'', ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'', Edward and Alphonse Elric are already experienced alchemists who have been working for the Amestris military for three years when the story begins.
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This character's story only begins (specifically at the start of the FIRST work of a series) after they have finished their training, have attained most of their power, and made a name for themselves. They may even be a LivingLegend or be FamedInStory. The audience may only learn of their BackStory in a prequel, short flashback, or have it be mentioned orally, if they even learn of it at all. Usually the conflict they end up placed in is one specifically in their area of expertise or where their knowledge and training can be adapted to new uses.
Because the protagonist is often also the AudienceSurrogate, they are often a newcomer to the setting and have to learn everything and develop their skills - whether for fighting or whatever else the story focuses on - from scratch. In such cases the AudienceSurrogate may actually be a supporting character or a {{Deuteragonist}}.
Contrast OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent and FarmBoy, who are complete novices, RookieRedRanger who is a novice compared to the others on his team, and ChildProdigy and SkilledButNaive protagonists, who are young and inexperienced but are quick learners. Contrast TheMentor, who is experienced and skilled but is usually tasked with teaching the protagonist, rather then being one themselves.
Note that for video game characters, even if they are touted as being experienced or powerful, the trope is functionally averted if their level and abilities in the game are ordinary and average. If this is the case, such examples go under OverratedAndUnderleveled.
'''For all examples, please list exactly what skill, training, or experience the character has when the story begins.'''
----
!!Examples:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* ''Anime/{{Slayers}}'' starts off with Lina Inverse as an already powerful sorceress.
* In ''RurouniKenshin'', Himura Kenshin is a war veteran, has been an accomplished swordsman for over a decade, and is a strong contender for the best swordsman in Japan by the time the series starts.
* In ''FullmetalAlchemist'', Edward and Alphonse Elric are already experienced alchemists who have been working for the Amestris military for three years when the story begins.
* In ''{{Trigun}}'', Vash the Stampede is a ReallySevenHundredYearsOld expert gunslinger.
* Both Emiya Kiritsugu and Saber in ''FateZero''. Kiritsugu is an expert magus killer who is returning to his old job after a ten-year hiatus. In Saber's case, already being an established, powerful warrior is a PREREQUISITE for being summoned as a servant.
* Guts from ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' is a [[WalkingTheEarth wanderer with a grudge]] and one of the best swordsmen in the world at the start of the series.
* Koko's bodyguards in ''Manga/{{Jormungand}}'' (The majority) are veteran from various police and military forces. Jonah is an exception, although he had combat experience as a child soldier in West Asia.
* ''SeireiNoMoribito'' begins with Balsa being an experienced bodyguard. A {{flashback}} reveals her [[spoiler: deceased]] master, Jiguro, began teaching her at age 12. By the time she was 16, Balsa could already fight better than the men in their area, and spent the next twelve years honing those skills.
* Shanon and Raquel Casull of ''ScrappedPrincess'' are a powerful SwordAndSorcerer duo, right from the start, and tasked with safeguarding their adopted sister, Pacifica. [[spoiler: They were genetically engineered that way to ensure Pacifica would be well protected.]]
* In ''Manga/{{Spriggan}}'', some of the protagonists who are Spriggan operatives such as Yu Ominae, Jean Jacquemonde and Tea Flatte are experienced in combat in their respective fields with Ominae being an [[ChildSoldier ex-black ops child soldier commando for the US Army]].
* Sagara Sousuke of ''FullMetalPanic'' is a ChildSoldier who has several years of combat experience when the story begins.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Film]]
* ''PacificRim'' starts off with Rayleigh already being a pilot who has to be TheMentor to a new partner.
* The ''{{James Bond}}'' films, from ''{{Dr No}}'' through {{Pierce Brosnan}}'s Bond character, had 007 pretty much established as an ace agent who could do incredible feats and was at the top of his savvy and game. It was only the recent three {{Daniel Craig}}-as-Bond movies that actually showed a new 007 making rookie mistakes, paying a price, and learning from them.
*Dom is already an accomplished dream thief at the beginning of ''Film/{{Inception}}'', the plot is about all the baggage he's accumulated over the years in his profession. He even serves as TheMentor to the AudienceSurrogate.
* Indiana Jones in ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'' is already an experienced and capable AdventurerArchaeologist who has survived the events we would later see in ''[[Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom Temple of Doom]]''.
* ''Film/DirtyHarry'': Callahan has already served long enough on the force to earn himself a reputation as an infamous CowboyCop before the film begins.
* The ''Film/DieHard'' series starts off with John [=McClane=] as a seasoned New York cop.
* Every Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger movie has him as a pro at kicking ass by the time the opening credits end.
* ''Film/CrouchingTigerHiddenDragon'' has two of the three protagonists as aging sword fighters.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Literature]]
* Eddard "Ned" Stark in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' has been a powerful lord of his keep for 15 years, a MasterSwordsman, and a former war veteran.
* ConanTheBarbarian is like this. Even in "The Tower of the Elephant", where he is about 17, he's already had considerable experience although Howard described him in a letter as "more daring than adroit at thievery, and has yet to earn a reputation among other followers of his profession." "At the age of 15, he received his baptism of blood at the siege of the border city of Venarium, between Gunderland and Cimmeria."
* Cordelia of the Literature/VorkosiganSaga is a bit over 30 and is TheCaptain over a ship in the Betan Astronomical Survey when we first meet her. Her experiences there (especially herding a bunch of scientists) help her when she is put into the high political circles of Barrayar.
* Cazaril in ''[[Literature/{{Chalion}} The Curse of Chalion]]'' is about 35 and has experience as a courier, a castle warden, courtier, and captain (also beggar, galley slave, and other non-conforming jobs). However, he entirely lacks experience as a tutor for a princess (though he does find it's somewhat alike training an young officer), and even less as a saint.
* SherlockHolmes is almost always been a detective for years.
*At the start of the ''Literature/IronDruidChronicles'', Atticus is already over ''[[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld two thousand years old]]'', has crafted a defensive amulet than makes most spells bounce off him, and can call in favors from everything from [[ElementalEmbodiment elementals]] to [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent werewolves]] to [[OurGodsAreGreater goddesses]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' is already an established Slayer at the start of the TV series. Though we do see her starting out in the original film.
* ''Series/{{Iris}}'' has Kim Hyun-jun and Jin Sa-woo as veteran commandos with the South Korean Army's [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/707th_Special_Mission_Battalion 707th Special Mission Battalion]] before being assigned to the National Security Service.
** ''Series/AthenaGoddessOfWar'' has ex-National Intelligence Service agent Lee Jung-woo, a veteran intelligence agent, assigned to the National Anti-Terror Service.
* In ''PersonOfInterest'', John Reese and Samantha Shaw have combat experience from serving in the US military and having participated in black ops operations in the past before Finch recruited them.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Video Games]]
* In ''VideoGame/AceCombatZeroTheBelkanWar'', if you start a NewGamePlus, you get different dialogue in the first mission, where your {{Wingman}} mentions he "heard stories about you" and makes a comment based on your KarmaMeter carried over from the previous playthrough.
* Commander Shepard is established as an experienced officer at the start of ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'', so that when you start a NewGamePlus, all the {{Character Level}}s you gained on the first playthrough would still make sense in-story.
* Dante from ''Franchise/DevilMayCry'' series, from the very start ([[AnachronicOrder the third game, that is]]), he had been a professional demon hunter (albeit with lots of debt). The very first scene of him has him fending off a minor demon invasion in his workplace without much effort.
* Kratos from ''GodOfWar'' starts off the game as a seasoned Spartan warrior.
* In the ''Franchise/MetalGear'' series, Naked Snake (aka Big Boss) and Solid Snake are experienced special forces operatives who were subsequently involved in FOXHOUND after being assigned to the unit from the Green Berets.
* Sigurd of ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemJugdral Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War]]'' starts as an extremely strong unit in a promoted class (Knight Lord) in contrast to every other protagonist of the series, including his son and nephew.
* Otto Baynes, the English protagonist of ''VideoGame/UnchartedWatersNewHorizons'', starts the game at sailing and combat levels 10 and 12, respectively (where most other protagonists start at 1/1), and has a nobility rank from the start (where others have to work hard to even get an audience with a monarch). In-story, this is justified by him being chosen as an agent by King Henry VIII on a top-secret government mission--not something you would entrust to a newbie captain.
* ''VideoGame/Disgaea4APromiseUnforgotten'' has [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Valvatorez]], an ex-tyrant overlord who willingly lost most of his power after a certain encounter with [[spoiler: Artina]]. His [[TheLancer Lancer]] (or [[TheDragon Dragon]], FromACertainPointOfView) [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Fen]][[UndyingLoyalty rich]] may also qualify as this.
* Subverted in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', Cloud is a mercenary-for-hire at the start of the game, but is established as a former SOLDIER, Shinra's elite SuperSoldier program. The game integrates this into its tutorial systems, Cloud instructing inexperienced [=NPCs=] on gameplay concepts instead of them instructing him. The subversion is that Cloud's supposed experience doesn't carry over into gameplay where he is not any stronger than the other characters, which makes sense because [[spoiler:he never actually made SOLDIER, and all his memories as such are fake.]]
* ''VideoGame/BioshockInfinite'': PlayerCharacter Booker [=DeWitt=] is a hardened ex-PinkertonDetective and US Army veteran.
* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'': Most protagonists are veteran soldiers of the [=UNSC=] or [[ScaryDogmaticAliens Covenant]] militaries. In particular, [[VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved Master Chief]] has spent nearly his entire life embroiled in the art of war, [[VideoGame/{{Halo2}} The Arbiter]] is a former Covenant Supreme Commander.
* Wes from ''PokemonColosseum'' is not newbie Pokemon trainer that main series protagonists are. He already has two Pokemon in their mid level 20s, both who evolve by friendship so it's likely he's owned them for a while. He's a former member of Team Snagem as well.
* Altair in the original ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreed'' is [[ATasteOfPower introduced as a star assassin]], though his supposed experience helps him very little after he is demoted and stripped of all of his equipment a bit later in the game.
* Samus Aran of ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' fame was trained as a Chozo warrior (and physically enhanced) after being orphaned, as well as trained as a soldier by the Galactic Federation. Her [[UpgradeArtifact Modular]] suit of PoweredArmour helps too.
* Most of the protagonists in the ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' series are this, coming from a military or law enforcement background (e.g. the first game's protagonist were S.T.A.R.S members). The main aversions being the ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilOutbreak'' spinoff series, (which focuses on the normal citizens of Raccoon City during the ZombieApocalypse of the first three games) and the second game (Leon being a rookie cop and Claire being a civilian[[note]]Albeit the sister of one of the S.T.A.R.S team from the first game[[/note]] - They've both become this trope in the later games, however).
* ''VideoGame/SpecOpsTheLine'' Martin Walker had served with the US Military in Afghanistan before he gets sent to Dubai. [[SanitySlippage not that]] [[MindScrew his experience]] [[{{Deconstruction}} helps much.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Webcomics]]
* The titular character of ''Webcomic/QuentynQuinnSpaceRanger'' often gives the impression that he's been a Ranger for a few decades, especially whenever he lectures his AI partner/cadet Omnibus. In sharp contrast to the [[IdenticalGrandson ancestor]] he shares a name with as portrayed in [[Webcomic/TalesOfTheQuestor his own comic]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Western Animation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'', several of the protagonists such as Robin, Kid Flash and Aqualad are experienced superheroes who made their career as sidekicks with the official Justice League superheroes like Batman, Flash and Aquaman. Averted with a few like Superboy ([[spoiler:justified since he was cloned]]), Miss Martian ([[spoiler:who was a White Martian in disguise]]) and Artemis ([[spoiler:she only knows how to fight like an archer]]).
* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' starts with Mr. Incredible as a famous superhero. Much of the plot involves how he deals with being forced underground, then getting a chance to get back in the game.
[[/folder]]
Because the protagonist is often also the AudienceSurrogate, they are often a newcomer to the setting and have to learn everything and develop their skills - whether for fighting or whatever else the story focuses on - from scratch. In such cases the AudienceSurrogate may actually be a supporting character or a {{Deuteragonist}}.
Contrast OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent and FarmBoy, who are complete novices, RookieRedRanger who is a novice compared to the others on his team, and ChildProdigy and SkilledButNaive protagonists, who are young and inexperienced but are quick learners. Contrast TheMentor, who is experienced and skilled but is usually tasked with teaching the protagonist, rather then being one themselves.
Note that for video game characters, even if they are touted as being experienced or powerful, the trope is functionally averted if their level and abilities in the game are ordinary and average. If this is the case, such examples go under OverratedAndUnderleveled.
'''For all examples, please list exactly what skill, training, or experience the character has when the story begins.'''
----
!!Examples:
[[foldercontrol]]
[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* ''Anime/{{Slayers}}'' starts off with Lina Inverse as an already powerful sorceress.
* In ''RurouniKenshin'', Himura Kenshin is a war veteran, has been an accomplished swordsman for over a decade, and is a strong contender for the best swordsman in Japan by the time the series starts.
* In ''FullmetalAlchemist'', Edward and Alphonse Elric are already experienced alchemists who have been working for the Amestris military for three years when the story begins.
* In ''{{Trigun}}'', Vash the Stampede is a ReallySevenHundredYearsOld expert gunslinger.
* Both Emiya Kiritsugu and Saber in ''FateZero''. Kiritsugu is an expert magus killer who is returning to his old job after a ten-year hiatus. In Saber's case, already being an established, powerful warrior is a PREREQUISITE for being summoned as a servant.
* Guts from ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' is a [[WalkingTheEarth wanderer with a grudge]] and one of the best swordsmen in the world at the start of the series.
* Koko's bodyguards in ''Manga/{{Jormungand}}'' (The majority) are veteran from various police and military forces. Jonah is an exception, although he had combat experience as a child soldier in West Asia.
* ''SeireiNoMoribito'' begins with Balsa being an experienced bodyguard. A {{flashback}} reveals her [[spoiler: deceased]] master, Jiguro, began teaching her at age 12. By the time she was 16, Balsa could already fight better than the men in their area, and spent the next twelve years honing those skills.
* Shanon and Raquel Casull of ''ScrappedPrincess'' are a powerful SwordAndSorcerer duo, right from the start, and tasked with safeguarding their adopted sister, Pacifica. [[spoiler: They were genetically engineered that way to ensure Pacifica would be well protected.]]
* In ''Manga/{{Spriggan}}'', some of the protagonists who are Spriggan operatives such as Yu Ominae, Jean Jacquemonde and Tea Flatte are experienced in combat in their respective fields with Ominae being an [[ChildSoldier ex-black ops child soldier commando for the US Army]].
* Sagara Sousuke of ''FullMetalPanic'' is a ChildSoldier who has several years of combat experience when the story begins.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Film]]
* ''PacificRim'' starts off with Rayleigh already being a pilot who has to be TheMentor to a new partner.
* The ''{{James Bond}}'' films, from ''{{Dr No}}'' through {{Pierce Brosnan}}'s Bond character, had 007 pretty much established as an ace agent who could do incredible feats and was at the top of his savvy and game. It was only the recent three {{Daniel Craig}}-as-Bond movies that actually showed a new 007 making rookie mistakes, paying a price, and learning from them.
*Dom is already an accomplished dream thief at the beginning of ''Film/{{Inception}}'', the plot is about all the baggage he's accumulated over the years in his profession. He even serves as TheMentor to the AudienceSurrogate.
* Indiana Jones in ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'' is already an experienced and capable AdventurerArchaeologist who has survived the events we would later see in ''[[Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom Temple of Doom]]''.
* ''Film/DirtyHarry'': Callahan has already served long enough on the force to earn himself a reputation as an infamous CowboyCop before the film begins.
* The ''Film/DieHard'' series starts off with John [=McClane=] as a seasoned New York cop.
* Every Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger movie has him as a pro at kicking ass by the time the opening credits end.
* ''Film/CrouchingTigerHiddenDragon'' has two of the three protagonists as aging sword fighters.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Literature]]
* Eddard "Ned" Stark in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' has been a powerful lord of his keep for 15 years, a MasterSwordsman, and a former war veteran.
* ConanTheBarbarian is like this. Even in "The Tower of the Elephant", where he is about 17, he's already had considerable experience although Howard described him in a letter as "more daring than adroit at thievery, and has yet to earn a reputation among other followers of his profession." "At the age of 15, he received his baptism of blood at the siege of the border city of Venarium, between Gunderland and Cimmeria."
* Cordelia of the Literature/VorkosiganSaga is a bit over 30 and is TheCaptain over a ship in the Betan Astronomical Survey when we first meet her. Her experiences there (especially herding a bunch of scientists) help her when she is put into the high political circles of Barrayar.
* Cazaril in ''[[Literature/{{Chalion}} The Curse of Chalion]]'' is about 35 and has experience as a courier, a castle warden, courtier, and captain (also beggar, galley slave, and other non-conforming jobs). However, he entirely lacks experience as a tutor for a princess (though he does find it's somewhat alike training an young officer), and even less as a saint.
* SherlockHolmes is almost always been a detective for years.
*At the start of the ''Literature/IronDruidChronicles'', Atticus is already over ''[[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld two thousand years old]]'', has crafted a defensive amulet than makes most spells bounce off him, and can call in favors from everything from [[ElementalEmbodiment elementals]] to [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent werewolves]] to [[OurGodsAreGreater goddesses]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' is already an established Slayer at the start of the TV series. Though we do see her starting out in the original film.
* ''Series/{{Iris}}'' has Kim Hyun-jun and Jin Sa-woo as veteran commandos with the South Korean Army's [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/707th_Special_Mission_Battalion 707th Special Mission Battalion]] before being assigned to the National Security Service.
** ''Series/AthenaGoddessOfWar'' has ex-National Intelligence Service agent Lee Jung-woo, a veteran intelligence agent, assigned to the National Anti-Terror Service.
* In ''PersonOfInterest'', John Reese and Samantha Shaw have combat experience from serving in the US military and having participated in black ops operations in the past before Finch recruited them.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Video Games]]
* In ''VideoGame/AceCombatZeroTheBelkanWar'', if you start a NewGamePlus, you get different dialogue in the first mission, where your {{Wingman}} mentions he "heard stories about you" and makes a comment based on your KarmaMeter carried over from the previous playthrough.
* Commander Shepard is established as an experienced officer at the start of ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'', so that when you start a NewGamePlus, all the {{Character Level}}s you gained on the first playthrough would still make sense in-story.
* Dante from ''Franchise/DevilMayCry'' series, from the very start ([[AnachronicOrder the third game, that is]]), he had been a professional demon hunter (albeit with lots of debt). The very first scene of him has him fending off a minor demon invasion in his workplace without much effort.
* Kratos from ''GodOfWar'' starts off the game as a seasoned Spartan warrior.
* In the ''Franchise/MetalGear'' series, Naked Snake (aka Big Boss) and Solid Snake are experienced special forces operatives who were subsequently involved in FOXHOUND after being assigned to the unit from the Green Berets.
* Sigurd of ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemJugdral Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War]]'' starts as an extremely strong unit in a promoted class (Knight Lord) in contrast to every other protagonist of the series, including his son and nephew.
* Otto Baynes, the English protagonist of ''VideoGame/UnchartedWatersNewHorizons'', starts the game at sailing and combat levels 10 and 12, respectively (where most other protagonists start at 1/1), and has a nobility rank from the start (where others have to work hard to even get an audience with a monarch). In-story, this is justified by him being chosen as an agent by King Henry VIII on a top-secret government mission--not something you would entrust to a newbie captain.
* ''VideoGame/Disgaea4APromiseUnforgotten'' has [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Valvatorez]], an ex-tyrant overlord who willingly lost most of his power after a certain encounter with [[spoiler: Artina]]. His [[TheLancer Lancer]] (or [[TheDragon Dragon]], FromACertainPointOfView) [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Fen]][[UndyingLoyalty rich]] may also qualify as this.
* Subverted in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', Cloud is a mercenary-for-hire at the start of the game, but is established as a former SOLDIER, Shinra's elite SuperSoldier program. The game integrates this into its tutorial systems, Cloud instructing inexperienced [=NPCs=] on gameplay concepts instead of them instructing him. The subversion is that Cloud's supposed experience doesn't carry over into gameplay where he is not any stronger than the other characters, which makes sense because [[spoiler:he never actually made SOLDIER, and all his memories as such are fake.]]
* ''VideoGame/BioshockInfinite'': PlayerCharacter Booker [=DeWitt=] is a hardened ex-PinkertonDetective and US Army veteran.
* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'': Most protagonists are veteran soldiers of the [=UNSC=] or [[ScaryDogmaticAliens Covenant]] militaries. In particular, [[VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved Master Chief]] has spent nearly his entire life embroiled in the art of war, [[VideoGame/{{Halo2}} The Arbiter]] is a former Covenant Supreme Commander.
* Wes from ''PokemonColosseum'' is not newbie Pokemon trainer that main series protagonists are. He already has two Pokemon in their mid level 20s, both who evolve by friendship so it's likely he's owned them for a while. He's a former member of Team Snagem as well.
* Altair in the original ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreed'' is [[ATasteOfPower introduced as a star assassin]], though his supposed experience helps him very little after he is demoted and stripped of all of his equipment a bit later in the game.
* Samus Aran of ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' fame was trained as a Chozo warrior (and physically enhanced) after being orphaned, as well as trained as a soldier by the Galactic Federation. Her [[UpgradeArtifact Modular]] suit of PoweredArmour helps too.
* Most of the protagonists in the ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' series are this, coming from a military or law enforcement background (e.g. the first game's protagonist were S.T.A.R.S members). The main aversions being the ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilOutbreak'' spinoff series, (which focuses on the normal citizens of Raccoon City during the ZombieApocalypse of the first three games) and the second game (Leon being a rookie cop and Claire being a civilian[[note]]Albeit the sister of one of the S.T.A.R.S team from the first game[[/note]] - They've both become this trope in the later games, however).
* ''VideoGame/SpecOpsTheLine'' Martin Walker had served with the US Military in Afghanistan before he gets sent to Dubai. [[SanitySlippage not that]] [[MindScrew his experience]] [[{{Deconstruction}} helps much.]]
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Webcomics]]
* The titular character of ''Webcomic/QuentynQuinnSpaceRanger'' often gives the impression that he's been a Ranger for a few decades, especially whenever he lectures his AI partner/cadet Omnibus. In sharp contrast to the [[IdenticalGrandson ancestor]] he shares a name with as portrayed in [[Webcomic/TalesOfTheQuestor his own comic]].
[[/folder]]
[[folder:Western Animation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'', several of the protagonists such as Robin, Kid Flash and Aqualad are experienced superheroes who made their career as sidekicks with the official Justice League superheroes like Batman, Flash and Aquaman. Averted with a few like Superboy ([[spoiler:justified since he was cloned]]), Miss Martian ([[spoiler:who was a White Martian in disguise]]) and Artemis ([[spoiler:she only knows how to fight like an archer]]).
* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'' starts with Mr. Incredible as a famous superhero. Much of the plot involves how he deals with being forced underground, then getting a chance to get back in the game.
[[/folder]]
