History Main / FinalBossPreview

-->''"Listen up, boy. If we were to say today was one of those Japanese video games I play in my spare time... Then this would be the part where you ask why the final boss helps you when you're about to die in the first dungeon."''

*** The BigBad of the Black Eagles route, [[spoiler: Rhea/Seiros]] shows up for the first time [[spoiler: ''during an optional paralogue you can perfectly miss]] ! '' They're already a powerful foe but fortunately they're on ''your'' side and will easily defeat any Mooks coming near them. You then face them as the DiscOneFinalBoss and they prove themselves very challenging. However it's still possible to defeat them. In fact, that's the thing to do to clear the map...execpt that after you beat them they reveal their OneWingedAngel form and defat Byleth, leading to the TimeSkip...oops.
*** The BigBad of the overall game [[spoiler: Thales]] shows up after the DiscOneFinalDungeon is cleared and casually gives a CurbStompBattle to Byleth nearly killing them. To top it all it happens in a ''cutscene'' '''and''' this is the event that leads to the TimeSkip in all routes but the Black Eagles one (as explained above). Why is this the event that kickstarts the TimeSkip ? [[spoiler: Well, because Thales nearly killed Byleth, leading to them being unconscious for '''five years''' of course]] !

*** In the Blue Lion and Golden Deer routes, you face the [[TheHeavy Flame Emperor]] [[spoiler: ''six times'']]. The last time you face them before the climax, they are ThatOneBoss: they're a MightyGlacier so they are strong and resistant but unlike the ''other mighty glaciers'' they're also pretty fast. The worst part ? You ''must'' defeat them to win the battle and it's really hard to do without losing any units.

*** The [[BlackKnight Death Knight]] shows up on the battlefield in chapter 4 for the first time. Unless Lysithea is on your team and has level grind a bit, Hubert has the dark staves after clearing his paralogue on a previous playthrough or Byleth went through some level grinding and/or has skills from a previous playthrough, '''avoid him at all costs'''. He reappears in chapters 6, 8 and 12 and it's easier to face him then but the guy is still a nearly unstoppable foe until the climax and even then, facing is still hard.

1->''"Listen up, boy. If we were to say today was one of those Japanese video games I play in my spare time... Then this would be the part where you ask why the final boss helps you when you're about to die in the first dungeon."''

* In ''WWE Day Of Reckoning 2'' when you fight Triple H and Ric Flair in a tag team match in story mode. Ric Flair is as much of a push over as everyone else you have wrestled up to this point on account that your CAW's stats are likely lower than the most non wrestling diva on the roster at this point. [[ImplacableMan Triple H's stats are comparable to one of the game's unlockable legend figures and the computer is much less passive when he is the legal man]]. Lucky for you, Chris Jericho is the

* In ''WWE Day Of Reckoning 2'' when you fight Triple H and Ric Flair in a tag team match in story mode. Ric Flair is as much of a push over as everyone else you have wrestled up to this point on account that your CAW's stats are likely lower than the most non wrestling diva on the roster at this point. [[ImplacableMan Triple H's stats are comparable to one of the game's unlockable legend figures and the computer is much less passive when he is the legal man]]. Lucky for you, Chris Jericho is the

->''"Listen up, boy. If we were to say today was one of those Japanese video games I play in my spare time... Then this would be the part where you ask why the final boss helps you when you're about to die in the first dungeon."''

*** On the Black Eagles route the first fight with the Flame Emperor happens later because [[spoiler: depending on wich path you take she's either TheHero(ine) or TheHeavy]]. If [[spoiler: you become Edelgard's enemy]] the two first time you face them before the TimeSkip they're already powerful. However things become worst ''after'' the TimeSkip because it starts Byleth having a CutsceneBoss battle with TheEmperor. They don't loose but they don't win either. It ends with a draw, because now the villain is just as strong is Byleth.

*** The BigBad of the Black Eagles route, [[spoiler: Rhea/Seiros]] firt shows up [[spoiler: ''during an optional paralogue you can perfectly miss]] !'' They're already a powerful foe but fortunately they're on ''your'' side and will easily defeat any Mooks coming near them. You then face them as the DiscOneFinalBoss and they prove themselves very challenging. However it's still possible to defeat them. In fact, that's the thing to do to clear the map...execpt that after you beat them they reveal their OneWingedAngel form and defat Byleth, leading to the TimeSkip...oops.
*** The BigBad of the overall game [[Thales]] shows up after the DiscOneFinalDungeon is cleared and casually gives a CurbStompBattle to Byleth nearly killing them. To top it all it happens in a ''cutscene'' ''and'' this is the event that leads to the TimeSkip in routes but the Black Eagles one (as explained above). Why is this the event that kickstarts the TimeSkip ? [[spoiler: Well because Thales nearly killed Byleth leading to them being unconscious for '''five years''' of course]] !

* In ''WWE Day Of Reckoning 2'' when you fight Triple H and Ric Flair in a tag team match in story mode. Ric Flair is as much of a push over as everyone else you have wrestled up to this point on account that your CAW's stats are likely lower than the most non wrestling diva on the roster at this point. [[ImplacableMan Triple H's stats are comparable to one of the game's unlockable legend figures and the computer is much less passive when he is the legal man]]. Lucky for you, Chris Jericho is there to back you up on top of Triple H and Ric Flair making quick tags as frequently as they can, even when it makes little sense for them to do so, so it is possible to simply isolate Flair and send Jericho after Triple H when you are ready to put him away. Fighting Triple H directly will probably lead to time running out unless your CAW is over leveled.
* ''VideoGame/ThunderForce IV'' had Versus at the end of the BattleshipRaid level. Your team of ships try to destroy it and get their asses completely handed to them, forcing the remaining members of your squad to resort in giving you the MidSeasonUpgrade. Thankfully, you get your revenge when you fight and destroy him as the last opponent before the final boss.
* ''VideoGame/TheInfynPrism'' has Leo in a HopelessBossFight against Rasen, Po, and Wyndi. [[spoiler:Those three are later part a of a final boss of 7, so while it is a preview per se, it's not all of the final boss.]]
* In an interesting case in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'', Revolver Ocelot is the very first boss, and the very last boss [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots three games later]] as Liquid Ocelot. What's interesting is that the final fight with him is more reminiscent of the final boss from the first game, Liquid Snake. You also fight Ocelot as the first boss [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater 40 years earlier]] in a fight very similar to the first one.
** Speaking of ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'', Naked Snake's mentor (appropriately named The Boss), easily breaks just about every bone in his body and tosses him off a bridge after she defects to the Soviet Union in the prologue. He squares off against her several more times in cutscenes over the course of the game, and noticeably improves on each occasion until the stage is finally set for their last confrontation at the denouement.
* ''VideoGame/Wizard101'' has a variation with Morganthe, the boss of the second StoryArc. When the player enters the Ghost of Avalon[[note]] a past version of Avalon but the player's actions don't change the present[[/note]] they encounter Moganthe [[ThatOneBoss the toughest boss the player is required to defeat]]. Why does this trope apply? She's only about ~14 back then and doesn't have her [[ArtifactOfDoom Deck of Shadows]]. Now she's in her late 20s and has the deck, and even [[BigGood Ambrose]] is scared.
* ''VideoGame/TheLordOfTheRingsOnline'' has Mazog, the orc leader of Moria. Despite being talked up early in the story, he tends to be more of an annoying putz. And then when you show up to attack him at his lair, Sauron's lieutenant Gorothul shows up to prove how weak you are...
* ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'':
** The Halls of Reflection dungeon. You have to flee from the Lich King. The reason for his many, many, many previews was due to the poster-villain of ''The Burning Crusade'' having next to no show time directly. [[spoiler:He is trying to help you level up to kill you when you are at your strongest as a forced conversion to his side.]]
** Deathwing is encountered in a few quests, a few of them being drunk men's tales. You can also encounter him in almost any area, at the least expected moment... and he'll just kill everyone in sight. At least you get an achievement for it...
* ''VideoGame/ArmedWithWings 3'' has a battle with [[EvilOverlord Vandheer Lorde]] at the end of level 3. The battle is not actually all that difficult, though that's primarily because Vandheer is [[JustToyingWithThem holding back]]. Once you've survived for about a minute, Vandheer announces "[[PreAsskickingOneLiner Your time is up]]" and [[CutscenePowerToTheMax kicks your ass in a cutscene]]. The next time you face him, he's the final boss.
* In ''VideoGame/FTLFasterThanLight'', one of random events may lead you to the Rebel shipyard, where you encounter [[spoiler: a second Rebel Flagship under construction]], which is roughly equal to the last phase of the final boss fight, but with smaller crew and without its LimitBreak. Unusually for this trope, it's fully beatable if you have a good ship, and not only gives you a huge reward, but it's required to unlock one of the ships.
* The Dragon in ''VideoGame/DragonsDogma'' takes up the very first instance of gameplay after the prologue. You can't even scratch him, but the fight is how you get marked as an Arisen and get involved in the plot.
* ''VideoGame/DragonView'' has you chance upon Giza while exploring the Keire Temple partway into the game, and he proceeds to utterly trounce you and humiliate your character in the scene that plays out. Bonus points for him trying the exact same attacks when you meet up with him for the final battle in his castle in the Underworld, only for Alex to resist his powers and kick his ass, causing him to transform into the final boss.
* The ''VideoGame/WanganMidnight Maximum Tune'' games, [[Manga/WanganMidnight being based on the manga that they are]] especially because you're not actually playing any of the characters, likes to throw story missions at the player early on in the single-player mode showing off [[TheHero Akio and his Devil Z]] and [[TheRival Tatsuya and his Blackbird.]] You can bet you'll be racing them later.
* When you first fight the big mech at the end of the first major mission of ''[[VideoGame/{{Broforce}} The Expendabros]]'', you won't be able to defeat it, especially since none of your Bros are with you. Your defeat and capture sets up the main plot of the game, where you have to rescue your Bros and then face down the BigBad for real.
* ''Starblade'' has the Enemy Flagship Commander, who appears a few times throughout the course of the game. It is indicated by the voiceclip "Located Enemy Flagship Commander", followed by "Pursue and engage" in some versions, but it is unkillable at first, going as far as to shooting at you before leaving. However, after taking care of the reactor in Iceberg, the Enemy Flagship Commander escapes to the outside alongside you, and when the voiceclip repeats "Located Enemy Flagship Commander," without warning, some music kicks in as it fires missiles at you. This prompts a proper final boss fight with the Enemy Flagship Commander, with you and the Commander firing rounds at each other as the Iceberg explodes while this is happening. It is satisfying after you destroy the Enemy Flagship Commander, as the enemy fighters become confused and in disarray after the destruction of the Commander, making the mission fully complete.
* Happens twice in ''VideoGame/EpicBattleFantasy 4'', first against Holy Godcat at [[spoiler:the end of Crystal Cavern]] and second against Dark Godcat in [[spoiler:the lava cave in Lankyroot Jungle]]. Both times you are forced to try your best and survive as she slaughters your party member until she gets bored and leaves. Good news is that she will only attack one party member at a time and leaves after 2 - 3 turns, spawning 2 lesser mooks that you can actually beat.
* Zeus does this twice, once in ''VideoGame/GodOfWarII'' and once in ''VideoGame/GodOfWarIII''. He fatally impales Kratos with the Blade of Olympus early on in ''II'' (some button-mashing resistance is possible, but futile). After some time-traveling shenanigans and quite a bit of help from the Titans, Kratos comes back for Round 2, and very nearly succeeds in killing him. Regardless, Zeus dispatches Kratos again quite handily at the start of ''III'' (which is rather grating, seeing as it picks up right where its predecessor left off), and it takes another whole game's worth of effort to defeat him for good.
* ''[[VideoGame/KatamariDamacy We Love Katamari]]'' has a rare non-sentient case of this when the Prince of All Cosmos is tasked with rolling up the '''''Sun'''''. At the time this is attempted, [[FailureIsTheOnlyOption there clearly aren't enough celestial bodies to do so yet, and he quickly gets burned]]. The objective can only be properly achieved after every other level in the game is cleared first.
* Happens twice in ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight''. The first opponent in the game is a reenactment of the ending of ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaRondoOfBlood'', where you fight Dracula (who returns as the baddie of ''[=SotN=]'') as Richter. Once you're Alucard, the first major character you encounter is Death in a cutscene, who proceeds to [[ATasteOfPower end your little powertrip]] by stealing all of Alucard's awesome endgame equipment, showing off just how much work you have left to do.
* Shiva, TheDragon to Mr. X in ''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage 2'', shows up as the first boss in the third game, although heavily nerfed. However, he's a preview of his encounter at the final level if you're on the path to the bad ending where you fail to save the chief of police and he fights a ''lot'' harder there. If you're on the path to the good ending, then you don't get to fight Shiva.
* Ryuji in ''VideoGame/Yakuza2'' is this when you fight him at the Omi Alliance headquarters, at the end of Chapter 3. While he ''does'' get defeated at Kiryu's hands, the latter makes it clear that the former wasn't at the top of his condition, since Daigo unsuccessfully tried to fight him earlier (expending Ryuji's stamina with nothing more than [[{{Determinator}} his tenacity]]). The more proper duel with him (sword included) happens at the end.
* In mission 10, "Transfer Orders", of ''VideoGame/AceCombat7SkiesUnknown'', [[PlayerCharacter Trigger]], Count, and Colonel [=McKinsey=], are ambushed by an Eurusean drone that’s more advanced than any drone encountered before. [[spoiler:Its the prototype to Hugin and Munin, two AI controlled drones who are the last enemies fought in the Lighthouse War.]]
* In ''VideoGame/GhostOfTsushima'', you face Khotun Khan in the second hour of the game and are completely trounced. Interestingly much of this is down to familiarity with the combat: you can actually put up a decent fight if you're starting in NewGamePlus after getting a lot of experience with it, whereas the first time you fight him you're much greener and more prone to making punishing mistakes.
* ''VideoGame/TailsOfIron'': After Redgi defeats his brother as the WarmUpBoss as part of the coronation ceremony, the BigBad Green Wart crashes the ceremony by killing the king, and then battling Redgi in a [[HopelessBossFight fight that ends with Redgi defeated and knocked out]].
* ''VideoGame/MetroidDread'': The very first thing Samus encounters upon descending into the depths of ZDR is Raven Beak, a powerful Chozo warrior who quickly overpowers her and is on the verge of blasting her to bits before she suddenly passes out and is [[BagOfSpilling left without most of her abilities]].
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[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* [[spoiler:Gilgamesh]] in ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'''s Fate and Unlimited Blade Works routes (he only gets to be the BigBad in the second route, though). The Black Shadow, a.k.a. [[spoiler:the incarnation of Angra Manyuu]] in the Heaven's Feel route.
* Early on in ''VisualNovel/DiesIrae'', the hero Ren encounters the main BigBad of the story, Reinhard, while his powers are still in their infancy. Even though Reinhard is only able to manifest in the material realm in what amounts to little more than a shadow, his power still proves to be far too overwhelming for Ren who is quickly defeated. He only survives due to Reinhard [[INeedYouStronger wanting him to be a worthy opponent and thus allows him to go free while waiting for his powers to grow]].
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[[folder:Webcomics]]
* Fred from ''Webcomic/WhatsShakin'' ''[[http://whatsshakincomic.com/2010/09/06/ch1-pg1/ appears early]]'' in the webcomic series for a bit of fighting with the main cast and hero, Coffinshaker.
* ''Webcomic/TheChosenFour'' adds one to the battle against the Mani Mani Statue in Moonside. Whereas in the [[VideoGame/{{Earthbound}} video game]] it was mostly just a conventional boss fight, here [[spoiler:Giygas is controlling the statue directly, and as Ness and Jeff damage it, he loses what remaining sanity he has left until he becomes the EldritchAbomination that appears at the end of the game. It's only thanks to the intervention of manifestations of [[VideoGame/EarthBoundBeginnings Ninten and his friends]] that Ness and Jeff manage to survive.]]
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[[folder:Web Videos]]
* Vox Machina of ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'' end up fighting (and losing against) [[spoiler:Vecna]] in episode 102, before fighting [[spoiler:him again, after he ascends to godhood and attacks Vasselheim]] in episode 115.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': [[EldritchAbomination Bill Cipher]] is introduced as a MonsterOfTheWeek in the penultimate episode of Season 1, working as hired muscle for the season's BigBad Gideon. Season 2 has him take over as the new BigBad, and further reveals that he was the GreaterScopeVillain of the series all along, serving as the ultimate ArchEnemy of the Pines family.
* Darkseid's first appearance on Earth in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', at the very end of the episode "Father's Day", counts. Superman catches up to the defeated episode villain Kalibak in time to watch Darkseid (who he has no idea who is) [[OffingTheOffspring disintegrate him]]. When Superman angrily demands he identify himself, Darkseid simply smiles, turns on his [[EyeBeams Omega Beams]], and zaps Superman to the floor. He then says "''That'' is who I am" and leaves.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012'' episode "The Gauntlet", the Turtles (who have grown too confident in their fighting skills) encounter the Shredder for the first time and he utterly curbstomps them. It's only through the Shredder being distracted by the mutation of his two henchmen that they escape.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Trollhunters}}'': Angor Rot's StartOfDarkness flashback near the end of Season 1 shows him cutting a DealWithTheDevil with a mysterious sorceress called the Pale Lady. In Season 3, she's revealed to be Morgana and confirmed to also be TheManBehindTheMan to [[BigBad Gunmar]], making her the GreaterScopeVillain of the whole series, who ends up serving as the FinalBoss in the GrandFinale.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/OKKOLetsBeHeroes'' episode "Let's Have A Stakeout", K.O. gets to fight Shadowy Figure for the first time, but the latter outmaneuvers, blocks and even returns every attack he can muster at him. It takes a VillainousBreakdown and K.O. dodging Shadowy Figure's lunge so that he ends up falling into a cliff, for him to get any sort of defeat.
[[/folder]]
----

** The BigBad of the Black Eagles route, [[spoiler: Rhea/Seiros]] firshows up [[spoiler: ''during an optionnel paralogue you can perfectly miss]] !'' They're already a powerful foe but fortunately they're on ''your'' and will easily defeat any Mooks coming near them. You then face them as the DiscOneFinalBoss and they prove themselves very challenging. However it's still possible to defeat them. In fact, that's the thing to do to clear the map...execpt that after you beat them they reveal thei OneWingedAngel form and defat Byleth, leading to the TimeSkip...oops.

*** In the Blue Lion and Golden Deer routes, you face the [[TheHeavy Flame Emperor]] [[spoiler: ''six times'']]. The last time you face before the climax,they are ThatOneBoss: they're a MightyGlacier so they are strong and resistant but unlike the other mighty glaciers they're also pretty fast. The worst part ? You ''must'' defeat them to win the battle and it's really hardcto do without losing any units.
*** On the Black Eagles route the first fight with the Flame Emperor happens later because [[spoiler: depending on wich path you take she's either TheHero(ine) or TheHeavy]]. If [[spoiler: you become Edelgard's enemy]] the two first time you face them before the TimeSkip they're already powerful. However things become worst ''after'' the TimeSkip because it starts Byleth having a CutsceneBoss battle with TheEmperor. They don't loose but they don't win either. It ends with a draw, because now the villain is just as strong has Byleth.
*** The [[BlackKnight Death Knight]] shows up on the battlefield in chpter 4 for the first time. Unless Lysithea is on your team and has level grind a bit, Hubert has the dark staves after clearing his paralogue on a previous playthrough or Byleth went through some level grinding and/or has skills from a previous playthrough, '''avoid him at all costs'''. He reappears in chapters 6, 8 and 12 and it's easier to face him then but the guy is still a nearly unstoppable foe.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Redline}}'', the Red Sixer leader is both the first boss you fight as well as the game's final boss. The key difference is that in the first level you fight him on foot, while in the final level he has access to a unique hover-tank that is the most powerful vehicle in the game.

* In ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'', this happened every time the Digidestined encountered the BigBad of the arc: When they first encounter Devimon, he scatters them across the broken pieces of File Island, [[PuttingTheBandBackTogether forcing them to seek each other out]]. Etemon is their first encounter with an Ultimate level villain (one who has the ability to nullify their digivolutions). Myotismon first attacked them in a field and showed that he was leagues beyond Etemon. The Dark Masters took this UpToEleven when they all ganged up on the children and toyed with them as they attempted to fight back; Piedmon even easily taking out [=WarGreymon=] and [=MetalGarurumon=] in an instant.

* In ''Manga/{{Gintama}}'', the Farewell Shinsengumi Arc; Kagura, Sougo, and Nobume fought against the head of the Naraku and one of the Tendoshu; Utsuro. They all get curbstomped by him but Gintoki appears and was able to match up to his speed until [[spoiler:his mask broke off to reveal himself to look like his teacher Shouyo and even fought like he does!]] Even with the combined effort from the others to help Gintoki defeat Utsuro, it was all for naught because [[spoiler:he can regenerate his wounds fast and effectively because of the Altana]].

* Zoro of ''Manga/OnePiece'' gets this in the Baratie Arc, when Hawkeye Mihawk, the greatest swordsman in the world and Zoro's ultimate goal, shows up long enough to humor Zoro with a duel. Turns out Zoro really is nothing compared to Mihawk, but [[MadeOfIron fortunately,]] he manages to gain the guy's respect, so Mihawk merely gives him a ''[[NotQuiteDead nearly]]'' [[NotQuiteDead fatal wound.]]
** Happens fairly often to Luffy, with the final boss of a given story arc.
** He was defeated by Sir Crocodile the first time they fought.
*** Luffy went through the same thing with Rob Lucci (who swatted him down with ease) and Warden Magellan (who managed to indirectly take ''ten years off Luffy's life''). [[spoiler:He never does beat Magellan though, instead just escaping the prison he was in charge of.]]
** In the New World, [[spoiler:Luffy got defeated with ''a single strike'' when in Gear 4 mode. Who was the enemy this time? '''Kaido'''.]]

** ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiDreamTeam'' also has Antasma and Bowser fought as a team in Dream's Deep, which can almost be seen as a FinalBossPreview for BOTH the [[BigBad Big Bads]]. Indeed, both even use one or two attacks similar to those they use in their later main battles.

* A variant is used in ''VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness''. The BigBad and his Dragons show up and effortlessly beats down… [[spoiler:a mook who broke the rules. Oh, and you don't know it's the BigBad and his 2 Dragons, though it is [[ObviouslyEvil pretty obvious]] anyway]]. Another example is Shadow Lugia in the introduction.

* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2'', [[BigBad Caius]] is both [[BookEnds your first and your final opponent]].

** The Halls of Reflection dungeon. You have to flee from the Lich King. The reason for his many, many, many previews was due to the poster-villain of TheBurningCrusade having next to no show time directly. [[spoiler: He is trying to help you level up to kill you when you are at your strongest as a forced conversion to his side.]]

* Happens twice in ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight''. The first opponent in the game is a reenactment of the ending of ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaRondoOfBlood'', where you fight Dracula (who returns as the baddie of [=SotN=]) as Richter. Once you're Alucard, the first major character you encounter is Death in a cutscene, who proceeds to [[ATasteOfPower end your little powertrip]] by stealing all of Alucard's awesome endgame equipment, showing off just how much work you have left to do.

** Speaking of ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater'', Naked Snake's mentor (appropriately named The Boss), easily breaks just about every bone in his body and tosses him off a bridge after she defects to the Soviet Union in the prologue. He squares off against her several more times in cutscenes over the course of the game, and noticeably improves on each occasion until the stage is finally set for their last confrontation at the denouement. [[spoiler: Unfortunately for Snake and the player, since the story behind The Boss' betrayal is far more complicated than it seems at first glance, the only catharsis either of them will get out of beating her will be the [[{{Tearjerker}} teary-eyed kind]].]]

The Final Boss Preview is when a major antagonist, such as the BigBad or TheDragon, shows off just how dangerous he or she is by getting into a fight with the protagonist early on and [[CurbStompBattle easily defeating]] them. If the protagonist has already been established as a badass in their own right, then this overlaps with TheWorfEffect.

Variants are when the villain fully intends to kill the protagonist, but he/she is [[BigDamnHeroes rescued]] by their [[TheMentor mentor]] or [[TrueCompanions allies]], maybe at the [[HeroicSacrifice cost of one of their lives]]. Or the villain is frightened off somehow or forced to leave, [[ButForMeItWasTuesday maybe they've got far more pressing matters to worry about]] (say, their EvilPlan is put in jeopardy by TheStarscream and he has to leave posthaste). In some cases, this can overlap with ATasteOfPower, where the villain shows up on the side of the ''player'' for a brief period. If the villain turns out to be a DiscOneFinalBoss, this trope may end up repeating itself when the ''real'' BigBad shows up.

* Zoro of ''Manga/OnePiece'' gets this in the Baratie Arc, when Hawkeye Mihawk, the greatest swordsman in the world and Zoro's ultimate goal, shows up long enough to humor Zoro with a duel. Turns out Zoro really is nothing compared to Mihawk, but [[MadeOfIron fortunately,]] he manages to gain the guy's respect, so Mihawk merely gives him a ''[[NotQuiteDead nearly]]'' [[NotQuiteDead fatal wound.]]
** Happens fairly often to Luffy, with the final boss of a given story arc.
** He was defeated by Sir Crocodile the first time they fought.
*** Luffy went through the same thing with Rob Lucci (who swatted him down with ease) and Warden Magellan (who managed to indirectly take ''ten years off Luffy's life''). [[spoiler:He never does beat Magellan though, instead just escaping the prison he was in charge of.]]
** In the New World, [[spoiler:Luffy got defeated with ''a single strike'' when in Gear 4 mode. Who was the enemy this time? '''Kaido'''.]]
* Fate Averruncus of ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' does this ''thrice''.
** Evangeline ''says'' she's doing this (see page quote), [[NobleDemon but no one really believes her]].
* Fate Testarossa of ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' does this nicely. Setting the stage for the GenreShift that is to come in episode 7, and beyond.
* In ''Manga/TheLawOfUeki'', Ueki tries to defeat Robert Haydn early in the series, but is quickly dropped from a great height, only to be saved in a HeroicSacrifice by his mentor.
* Zagato does this to our three heroines in ''Manga/MagicKnightRayearth'' just after they've become more powerful than we've ever seen them.

* Moo is this early on in the ''Anime/MonsterRancher'' anime. The only reason he didn't kill the heroes then and there was to kidnap Holly, and because his true form wasn't revived.
* In ''Manga/FairyTail'', [[spoiler:Acnologia]] appears at the end of the Tenrou Island Arc after being attracted by both the battle between Fairy Tail and Grimoire Heart as well as the actions of [[spoiler:Zeref]] in order to [[spoiler:casually NoSell the attacks of the entire main cast before nuking the entire island off the face of the earth]] before flying off to parts unknown, setting up the first TimeSkip. Then he shows up again near the end of the Tartaros Arc to [[spoiler:fight and kill Natsu's dragon dad Igneel]] before taking off again, setting the stage for the second TimeSkip. Finally, [[spoiler:Acnologia becomes the TrueFinalBoss of the series facing off against all the Dragon Slayers and the rest of the heroes]].
* The witch from Madoka's dream in episode 1 of ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' that Homura is seen fighting against turns out to be [[spoiler:Walpurgisnacht, the strongest witch and the second closest thing the series has to a main villain]].

* In ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'', this happened every time the Digidestined encountered the BigBad of the arc: When they first encounter Devimon, he scatters them across the broken pieces of File Island, [[PuttingTheBandBackTogether forcing them to seek each other out]]. Etemon is their first encounter with an Ultimate level villain (one who has the ability to nullify their digivolutions). Myotismon first attacked them in a field and showed that he was leagues beyond Etemon. The Dark Masters took this UpToEleven when they all ganged up on the children and toyed with them as they attempted to fight back; Piedmon even easily taking out [=WarGreymon=] and [=MetalGarurumon=] in an instant.

* ''Anime/YuYuHakusho'': Yusuke has his big showdown with Younger Toguro at the end of the long Dark Tournament Arc. Before that arc begins, he faces Toguro in what's otherwise a textbook case; with help from Kuwabara, he ''barely'' manages to eke out a win. Then it turns out that Toguro was using a fraction of his real strength, and even then he admits to his employer that he was worried that he'd accidentally kill the boys before he could find a plausible chance to fake his death. Then Toguro shows up alive and shows Yusuke just how outmatched he is, specifically saying it's to motivate him to train his ass off for the tournament.
* In ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'''s first half, Kenshiro's first battle with Raoh starts shortly after the latter [[spoiler:strikes a pressure point on Rei]]. At this time, Kenshiro isn't any stronger than Raoh, so they end up so evenly matched that both of the combatants end up being far too bruised to keep going, forcing Raoh to retreat. A more proper case happens later on, when the arc villain Souther manages to defeat Kenshiro by simply being '' completely immune'' to his Hokuto Shinken techniques.
* ''Anime/YuGiOhArcV'' has the [[spoiler:BigBad Zarc possessing Yuya]] right at the end of ''the first episode''. He makes several appearances of this type throughout the following events and gives the viewers a very good idea about how aggressive and overwhelming he is as a duelist.

* ''Anime/TheBraveFighterOfSunFighbird'' has Draias directly interfere with the Space Police's efforts and beat them in the early episodes.
* ''Anime/FutariWaPrettyCureSplashStar'' has The confrontation with Akudaikaan in episode 23. Akudaikaan No Sells the Cures' attacks, claims that he's not even showing half his power and beats the Cures while never getting up from his throne. While the Cures did fight him again, it turns out Akudaikaan wasn't the final villain...
* It happens accidentally in ''Anime/BikiniWarriors'', courtesy of Dark Elf teleporting the gang to [[BigBad Deathgeld]]'s lair.
* In ''Manga/TheLuciferAndBiscuitHammer'', the fight with Hekatombaion gave the remaining Beast Knights a small taste of what's to come, as well as formally introduced the Knights to Animus.

* In ''Franchise/XMen''[='=]s seminal storyline ''ComicBook/TheDarkPhoenixSaga'', the heroes are very badly trounced when ComicBook/JeanGrey goes Dark Phoenix on them.

* ''Fanfic/RoaringHeartsPrettyCure'': Sardonyx shows up to handily defeat Pretty Cure in episode 12. Were it not for some last-second intervention, she would have easily taken out the heroines prematurely.
* Subverted with [[spoiler:the real Linka]] in ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'' fanfiction ''Fanfic/StoriesAndTalesFromDimension63''. During chapter 20, she easily beats up Lincoln when they meet after suffering a "The Reason You Suck" Speech from her counterpart, but when she reappears in the citadel, the two are evenly matched, to an extent.

* ''Fanfic/TheVampireOfSteel'': Buffy and Kara are ambushed by [[HumanoidAbomination Zol-Am]] and easily defeated early in the story.

* The ''Literature/CodexAlera'' series does this with the Vord Queen. She first appears as a random monster during Tavi and Kitai's side quest to the Wax Forest in the first book, and the reader could be forgiven for thinking at the time that that will be the end of it. However, starting with the following book, she becomes a secondary antagonist whose presence presents a [[GreaterScopeVillain looming threat]] far greater than Alera's internal political squabbles or even their wars with the surrounding other races. By the final books, the Vord take center stage as main antagonists, and the Queen proves far worse than anything else the heroes have faced prior.

* The first battle between ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' and ComicBook/DoctorOctopus'' in ''Amazing Spider-Man'' #3 went like this: Doc Ock slapped Spidey around until he got tired and threw him out of the window, gloating that the wall-crawler is no threat.

* Happens twice in ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight''. The first opponent in the game is a reenactment of the ending of ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaRondoOfBlood'', where you fight Dracula as Richter. Once you're Alucard, the first major character you encounter is Death in a cutscene, who proceeds to [[ATasteOfPower end your little powertrip]] by stealing all of Alucard's awesome endgame equipment, showing off just how much work you have left to do.

* In the beginning of ''Fanfic/TheUnfantasticAdventuresOfBizarroNo1'', SelfDemonstrating/{{Bizarro}} engages the [[ManOfKryptonite Blue-Kryptonite Men]] and is defeated and knocked out two seconds later.

The point of this is to give the plot a shift to high gear by giving the protagonist a taste of battles to come and something to fight for, as well as building up the villain as a serious threat. In VideoGames this often coincides with CutsceneIncompetence, {{Railroading}}, HopelessBossFight, and HeadsIWinTailsYouLose, making victory impossible. The exception being in a NewGamePlus where you can beat the villain, but they [[TheBattleDidntCount teleport away before the final blow.]]

Variants are when the villain fully intends to kill the protagonist, but he/she is [[BigDamnHeroes rescued]] by their [[TheMentor mentor]] or [[TrueCompanions allies]], maybe at the [[HeroicSacrifice cost of one of their lives]]. Or the villain is frightened off somehow or forced to leave, [[ButForMeItWasTuesday maybe they've got far more pressing matters to worry about]] (say their EvilPlan is put in jeopardy by TheStarscream and he has to leave posthaste). In some cases, this can overlap with ATasteOfPower, where the villain shows up on the side of the ''player'' for a brief period. If the villain turns out to be a DiscOneFinalBoss, this trope may end up repeating itself when the ''real'' BigBad shows up.

* Done many times in ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' with Ichigo, most potently when Aizen managed to stop his bankai with one finger, then casually sliced him nearly in half. Just to hammer the point home, Aizen says he's surprised that he didn't completely sever Ichigo's spine, and tells himself not to hold back so much next time [[spoiler: Its later revealed that he let him live on purpose, as Ichigo is integral to his master plan.]]

*** Luffy went through the same thing with Rob Lucci (who swatted him down with ease) and Warden Magellan (who managed to indirectly take ''ten years off Luffy's life.'') [[spoiler: He never does beat Magellan though, instead just escaping the prison he was in charge of]].
** In the New World, [[spoiler: Luffy got defeated with ''a single strike'' when in Gear 4 mode. Who was the enemy this time? '''Kaido'''.]]

** In [[Anime/FullmetalAlchemist the 2003 anime version]], Ed's encounter with [[TheDragon Envy]] and Lust in Laboratory 04 count, [[spoiler:as Envy is the last person in the anime Ed fights since Dante is the non-fighting type.]]

* In ''Manga/FairyTail'', [[spoiler:Acnologia]] appears at the end of the Tenrou Island Arc after being attracted by both the battle between Fairy Tail and Grimoire Heart as well as the actions of [[spoiler:Zeref]] in order to [[spoiler:casually NoSell the attacks of the entire main cast before nuking the entire island off the face of the earth]] before flying off to parts unknown, setting up the first TimeSkip. Then he shows up again near the end of the Tartaros Arc to [[spoiler:fight and kill Natsu's dragon dad Igneel]] before taking off again, setting the stage for the second TimeSkip. Finally, [[spoiler:Acnologia becomes the TrueFinalBoss of the series facing off against all the Dragon Slayers and the rest of the heroes.]]
* The witch from Madoka's dream in episode 1 of ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'' that Homura is seen fighting against turns out to be [[spoiler: Walpurgisnacht, the strongest witch and the second closest the series has to a main villain.]]
* In ''Manga/{{Gintama}}'' the Farewell Shinsengumi Arc; Kagura, Sougo, and Nobume fought against the head of the Naraku and one of the Tendoshu; Utsuro. They all get curbstomped by him but Gintoki appears and was able to match up to his speed until [[spoiler:his mask broke off to reveal himself to look like his teacher Shouyo and even fought like he does!]] Even with the combined effort from the others to help Gintoki defeat Utsuro, it was all for naught because [[spoiler:he can regenerate his wounds fast and effectively because of the Altana.]]

* In ''Franchise/XMen'' seminal storyline ''ComicBook/TheDarkPhoenixSaga'', the heroes are very badly trounced when ComicBook/JeanGrey goes Dark Phoenix on them.

** ''ComicBook/WhoIsSuperwoman'': When they fight for the first time, Superwoman beats ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}, encases her in a block of solid ice and dumps her into the ocean.
** ''ComicBook/TheGreatPhantomPeril'': Faora Hu-Ul beats Superman so badly during their first engagement than he is forced to flee in order to rethink his strategy.

[[folder:Film-- Live-Action]]

** ''Series/KamenRiderGaim'' has a perfect example of this in episode four. Up to this point, Gaim had become smug and confident, winning all of his fights easily and without ever facing a significant challenge... and then he ends up coming face to face with [[BigBad Kamen Rider Zangetsu]]. What follows is Zangetsu causally mopping the floor with Gaim and giving him such a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown that he's left in a HeroicBSOD and ''terrified'' of facing Zangetsu again. [[spoiler: Subverted later, as Zangetsu becomes an ally of Gaim once the true villains are revealed.]]

*** '''[[WrestlingFamily Family members]]''': Both legit and "on-screen." When the parents -- most often, the father -- are involved, a storyline is used where the father, almost always elderly, has some health issues but that doesn't stop the heel from taking him out, often in an exceptionally brutal way. It is not unheard of for mothers to have their faces slapped (hard). Brothers are usually portrayed as older teenagers or aspiring wrestlers. Sisters usually aren't involved here, but often it is implied that they were brutally treated off-screen.
*** '''[[DamselInDistress Girlfriends]]''': Not unheard of. Often, they will merely be kidnapped, but that hasn't stopped some particularly evil monster heels from brutally beating the woman-- sometimes literally a girlfriend, other times simply a super-attractive woman allied with the babyface -- in the ring and using his full array of moves on her to show what he is capable of.

* Wrestling/{{TNA}} was\is infamous for fast tracking wrestlers into the main event and or title contention. It's most infamous case, where Wrestling/KurtAngle arrived and staggered Wrestling/SamoaJoe with a headbutt, is ironically the case that worked the best, as they went on to have the most financially successful program Impact Wrestling ever had under the "TNA" branding. Another case that worked was when Wrestling/GailKim had established herself as champion of the Knockout's division and quite possibly the best pure wrestler in it, then Wrestling/AwesomeKong arrived and beat her rather easily. The latter case lead to a program that drew TNA's highest ratings, and isn't as infamous as the Kurt vs Joe case in that while Kong did proceed to beat the piss out of Kim, Kim still quickly found ways to win at least half of the time, where Kurt just beat Joe again, and again in a most dramatic fashion.

* ''TabletopGame/CurseOfStrahd'' highly reccomends the DM does this with the main villain, Strahd. He's supposed to show up several times to threaten the players. He's designed to be a challenge for a level 15 party, and the adventure only goes to level 11 at most, so he's pretty much going to wipe them, especially if the DM is smart with his chosen battleground.

* ''[[VideoGame/DarkForcesSaga Jedi Outcast]]'' has this when Desann schools your Force-less ass and then mocks you how you might have been a challenge if you still had your Force powers (Kyle gave them up after the last game). Of course, [[spoiler: this was just part of a BatmanGambit to get you to go to the Valley of the Jedi and use it to infuse all of his troops with the Force.]]

* ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes'' has this happen during [[spoiler: the 5th ranked fight with Letz Shake. Just before the fight starts, Henry pops in and easily strikes him down with the intent of dueling with Travis.]] Before the two of them come to blows, Sylvia calls the fight off and Travis grudgingly has to wait until beating the game and earning the real ending to fight him.
* In the first ''VideoGame/BaldursGate'', BigBad Sarevok shows up five minutes into the game and kills your mentor in a cutscene. In ''VideoGame/BaldursGateII: Shadows Of Amn'', BigBad Jon Irenicus shows up several times and captures the party at least twice (once offscreen) before you even get the chance to fight him. His [[TheDragon lieutenant]] Bodhi does this as well. Averted in ''[[VideoGame/BaldursGateIIThroneOfBhaal Throne of Bhaal]]'' where the BigBad never shows up before the fight, [[spoiler:or at least not in a way that you can recognize her as the BigBad.]]
* ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3'' has this very early, [[spoiler:just when you were about to enter the Raccoon City Police Station. The Nemesis makes a BigEntrance and you can choose to either fight him or run inside. If you choose to flee, he later comes through the window, carrying a rocket launcher - and you are both in a ''very'' narrow hallway. If you choose to fight, you better have a .357... but this only means he will later reappear without the rocket launcher. And if you beat him inside the station, that ''still'' doesn't mean he's dead. After all, he is the FinalBoss.]]
* ''[[VideoGame/MetalSaga Metal Max 2]]'' has this at the very start of the game but it is TheDragon Ted Broiler who promptly kicks the ass of your mentor and her allies before beating on you and leaving you for dead.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIVTheAfterYears'' does this numerous times with the game's primary antagonist. At one point you have the option to send a single weak playable character into a matchup with the villain that buffed out parties before him couldn't touch, and upon the first weak shot landed she effortlessly casts one of the most powerful spells in the entire story to rid of you.
** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'', this is inverted when you fight Kefka earlier in the game, as he's a [[BreatherBoss pushover]] and you wouldn't imagine he could possibly be the Final Boss. [[NotSoHarmlessVillain This changes once he gets a power boost....]]

* ''[[VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy]]'' has a ''[[TrueFinalBoss True Final Boss]] Preview''. If you say "I am a master." to the tutorial moogle, he throws you and the Level 1 [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII Lightning]] you've been taking the tutorial with into a fight against a level 130 [[spoiler:Feral Chaos]] equipped with the same equipment and abilities as is ultimately fought in the post-game. [[SarcasmMode Have fun]].

** We get the same scene again in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'', only this time Ganondorf is smart enough to proceed to try to kill Link... If it weren't for [[BigDamnHeroes Tetra]] barging in and saving Link.
** In ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'', [[spoiler:Zant ambushes Link and Midna after beating the Lakebed Temple, trapping Link in wolf form and nearly killing Midna by exposing her to Lanayru's light]]. Of course, [[spoiler:[[HijackedByGanon Zant technically isn't even the final boss]].]]
** In ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword Skyward Sword]]'', you get to encounter Ghirahim quite a number of times, and even fight him twice, before your ultimate battle with him. The first time you fight him is, in fact, as the boss of the ''first dungeon''. [[spoiler:The actual final boss, The Imprisoned/Demise, is fought three times throughout the game before his final showdown, although it's vastly different from the final battle.]]
** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds'', the BigBad Yuga turns up as both the boss of the first dungeon and the Hyrule Castle dungeon, mirroring Ghirahim and Agahnim's appearances in ''Skyward Sword'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast A Link to the Past]]'' respectively. [[spoiler:Although the FinalBoss battle with him is very different to his first two battles]]

* Bowser in ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' and Count Bleck [[spoiler: and later, Dimentio]] in ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'', as well as, technically, all three ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigi'' games, where Bowser is fought in the tutorial of all three games, but he's never actively the final boss. [[spoiler: In the first two games he serves as such while possessed by the true Big Bads, in the third his own final boss is a shadow version of himself.]]

* A non-RPG ''Mario'' example would be in the beginning of ''VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy'', where shortly after Bowser captures Peach and carries both her and her castle into outer space, Mario jumps onto one of Bowser's spacecraft as it is leaving Earth orbit, only to be knocked out by one of Bowser's Magikoopas (confirmed to be Kamek [[AllThereInTheManual in the tie-in trading card game)]], sending him plummeting toward a small planet nearby where he is then rescued by Rosalina and some Lumas.

** The DS version even gives you a sort-of preview of [[spoiler: the Time Devourer, the final boss of ''VideoGame/ChronoCross'', in the form of its previous form, the Dream Devourer.]]

*** [[spoiler:Yggdrassil]]. You get into ''two'' {{Hopeless Boss Fight}}s with before you finally get a chance to fight him legitimately.
*** And just [[SequentialBoss before that]] you get to fight [[spoiler:Kratos]]. He isn't going to be the final boss, but you'll have to [[DuelBoss solo]] him at one point near the end of the game, yet here you're not even required to win with your full party present (rather lose, plot-wise). Just so that you know how badass you're going to get.

** ''VideoGame/TalesOfPhantasia'', which was released first but takes place far later in the same timeline as ''Symphonia'', does this with Dhaos. [[spoiler:Twice as Dhaos is also the boss of the DiscOneFinalDungeon.]]

** ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia'' does this with [[spoiler: Gaius]] and [[spoiler: Muzet]]. Both of them are fought multiple times, but the final boss fight pits you against both of them simultaneously.

* ''VideoGame/TearsToTiara2'' has [[BigBad Abraxas]] appear at the Cemenelum Gates as a projection of his will. When you beat him the Lord of Death appears to laugh at how hard it was for you to beat him.

** In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar'' this somewhat happens... twice: First, you see Arvis (Chapter 10's final boss, and one of the major antagonists in the game) in the Prologue as an "Ally" unit... He's a bit weaker than in Chapter 10, but at level 25, and wielding his signature [[InfinityPlusOneSword Holy Weapon]], pity the poor level 1 to 3 mook who comes too close. Then the real FinalBoss Julius shows up for a little "game" in Chapter 10, where he and [[ThatOneBoss his girlfriend]] have a competition to see who can kill one of your units quickest... Of course, the next chapter is the endgame, so it's not that much of a preview. (Funnily, the Julius you fight in Chapter 10 is a bit nerfed; he's missing his crit-negating Nihil skill, which makes him somewhat beatable.)

** Happens quite frequently with TheDragon in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance'' and ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn''. The Black Knight shows up and only attacks if you get within range. Should you value your life, don't attack him. He's got super high stats in all aspects, appears at the level cap, and either has blessed armor that renders him invulnerable to any attack other than Ragnell (''Path of Radiance'') or a special attack that is so powerful that the final boss can't even survive it (''Radiant Dawn'').
*** In ''Radiant Dawn'', when he first appears, he's on YOUR side. If Micaiah is also level capped, the mission is one of the easiest ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' missions ever. Of course, he's also the most EXP eating happy CrutchCharacter in the entire series.

* Malak in ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'', and Sion in the sequel. Interestingly enough, between them they demonstrate the best and worst ways to do this:

** You can also possinly fight [[BigBad Galcian]] in your first time in Valua, by meeting him on the roof of the train when he does TheSlowWalk towards you. Aika will clue you in with "I'm not sure we can take him, we should keep moving". [[CurbStompBattle She's damn right]].
* The very first boss in ''VideoGame/ShadowHearts'' is the BigBad. Naturally, he knocks you out in one hit. If not for CutscenePowerToTheMax it'd be a very short game.
* A variant is used in ''VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness''. The BigBad and his Dragons show up and effortlessly beats down...[[spoiler: a mook who broke the rules. Oh, and you don't know it's the BigBad and his 2 Dragons, though it is [[ObviouslyEvil pretty obvious]] anyway]]. Another example is Shadow Lugia in the introduction.

* The first boss battle against Takeda/Tiny in the original ''VideoGame/{{Persona|1}}'' initially features BigBad Takahisa/Guido as part of the enemy party. Kei/Nate attempts to attack him, only to miss. Takahisa counters with a Mabufu spell before retreating. Of course, [[spoiler:he isn't the final boss...]]
** There's a variation in ''VideoGame/Persona4'' too. In one of the very first scenes of the game, you go to the Yomotsu Hirasaka in your sleep and fight an enemy shrouded in fog. Since BigBad [[spoiler: Izanami]] later reminds you of it, presumably this means that she was the enemy you fought.

* Zigzagged in ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 3|AbsenceOfJustice}}''. Mao's father is the boss of the first chapter, and is easily beatable if you've been leveling up a bit, but even if you win, he'll revive himself in the following cutscene, forcing Mao and Almaz to retreat. The third twist is that [[spoiler:he isn't the final boss at all.]]

** Gades plays this role in all of the first three Lufia games. Usually, if you do manage to defeat him anyways, you get a special item, but then he wipes the floor with you in a cutscene.

* Emperor Doviculus from ''VideoGame/BrutalLegend'' has one hell of a great example of this.[[spoiler: After having effortlessly killing Lars by stabbing him with his Big Fucking Spear, Eddie tries to attack him, but is stopped as a horde of BDSM Demons [[ItsRainingMen rain down from the sky.]] And the [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome CMoA]] appears just after this as you drive right out of Lionwhyte's collapsing fortress as Music/DragonForce plays in the background. Fuck. ''Yes''.]]

* In ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden'', the first boss is [[spoiler: your uncle Murai before his [[FaceHeelTurn sudden change]].]] The final boss is... [[spoiler: Murai AFTER his sudden change,]] and the battle dynamics is the same, with other powers provided by the Dark Dragon Blade. In this case, you ''can'' defeat [[spoiler: Murai, but it will just be a friendly combat between family.]]
** Ninja Gaiden Sigma offers a better example, where you fight [[TheDragon Doku]] right after he snatches the Dark Dragon, one hit will end the battle and move on with the story, and if you defeat him here... he still kills you and we move on with the story. You face him again a few chapters later, [[spoiler: twice]].

* About halfway through ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'', [[spoiler:a figure clad in misshapen golden armor appears before the half-dead Ravel and [[strike:tries to convince]] ''demands'' that she help it defeat the Nameless One. When Ravel refuses, a scripted battle ensues in which the golden figure effortlessly obliterates her with an impressive array of magic powers. Say hello to [[BigBad the Transcendent One]].]]
* Though you don't get to fight him then, the BigBad of ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'' makes quite an impression in the first mission on Eden Prime. [[spoiler: [[ManBehindTheMan He's not who you think he is.]]]]
** The game also provides a straighter example on [[spoiler:Virmire]], where you encounter [[spoiler:Saren Arterius, who shows up just as the nuclear bomb is set.]] You fight [[spoiler:Saren]] until his health is gone, but [[spoiler:this changes nothing; his flying disk simply emits a pulse that sends Shepard flying and triggers a cutscene before Saren escapes.]] This fight is very similar to [[spoiler:the final boss fight against Saren in the Citadel, but you can TakeAThirdOption then...]]

* You (as Raziel) get to fight Kain two times in ''VideoGame/LegacyOfKain: Soul Reaver'', but it is implied he's holding back. Both battles end with Kain victorious, but running away instead of finishing the job. (Although there is some [[RetCon discrepancy]] between the final battle of ''Soul Reaver'' and the intro of ''Soul Reaver 2'' - in the former, Kain is visibly exhausted and his remark "You nearly had me, Raziel" seems genuine, while in the latter, he brushes off Raziel's attacks easily and his remark comes across as sarcastic.) A third and final battle ensues in ''Defiance'' in which [[spoiler: Raziel rips out Kain's heart and leaves him for dead. Which he isn't.]]
* Nero gets to battle [[spoiler: Sanctus]] once around the middle of ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'' and once at the very end. The first battle is just against the ascended form but the second is against his OneWingedAngel form that comes with the power gained from Sparda's sword.
* In ''VideoGame/ArcanumOfSteamworksAndMagickObscura'', the BigBad shows up once you reach the Wheel Clan to taunt you and then knocks your entire party unconscious before disappearing.[[spoiler: Pretending to be the devil figure of the main religion on the continent,]] though an attentive player can notice something is up if they look at the interface and realise the race indicated for the speaker by the UI isn't the one history says it should be...

** There's also an odd one with this game and its [[VideoGame/GoldenSunTheLostAge sequel]]. The Doom Dragon you face in the final battle atop Mars Lighthouse...turns out to be [[spoiler: the parents of the main characters who went missing at the start of the first game]]!
* In ''VideoGame/TimeShift'', the first level ends with you and the resistance being blown away by the BigBad's giant spider-mech fortress. In the final level you replay the exact same scene, only you have a better vantage point and are armed with a weapon capable of harming the giant robot.

** The first ''VideoGame/{{inFAMOUS}}'' plays with this a little. You get your first look at [[spoiler: Kessler]] after one of the early missions. You don't fight him or anything though; he just proceeds to show you a vision of the future.

** Not to mention [[spoiler: that you have to fight him alongside Paarthurnax on top of Throat of the World after learning Dragonrend, only to have him get bored and leave before you can do any real damage.]]

* ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'': When Ezio first meets [[spoiler: Rodrigo Borgia]] face-to-face, Ezio immediately learns that he is ruthless and cunning. He [[YouHaveFailedMe stabs his subordinate and leaves him for dead after his failure in the Pazzi Conspiracy]], and predicts the arrival of Ezio and sets a trap for him, leaving him for dead as well.

* ''VideoGame/{{Geneforge}}'': Due to the political nature of the games and the multiple plots leading to multiple endings, you're often obligated to have met all of the potential final bosses in the course of the game. Of course, some may also be your final allies, depending on your choices. In particular, some of the most serious opposition you can face in Geneforge 5 show up as students and potential party members in Geneforge 3.
* ''VideoGame/{{Avadon}}'': Several examples. You meet [[spoiler: Tarkus the Shadow several times as the Wayfarer]] over the course of the game. [[spoiler: Additionally, since you get a final option to rebel against Avadon, you can end up fighting Redbeard back WhereItAllBegan.]]

* ''VideoGame/TheInfynPrism'' has Leo in a HopelessBossFight against Rasen, Po and Wyndi. [[spoiler: Those three are later part a of a final boss of 7, so while it is a preview per se, it's not all of the final boss]]

* In "Transfer Orders" of ''VideoGame/AceCombat7SkiesUnknown'', [[PlayerCharacter Trigger]], Count, and Colonel [=McKinsey=], or ambushed by an Eurusean drone that’s more advanced than any drone encountered before. [[spoiler:Its the prototype to Hugin and Munin, two AI controlled drones who are the last enemies fought in the Lighthouse War.]]

* ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'':
** [[spoiler:Yggdrassil]]. You get into ''two'' {{Hopeless Boss Fight}}s with before you finally get a chance to fight him legitimately.
** And just [[SequentialBoss before that]] you get to fight [[spoiler:Kratos]]. He isn't going to be the final boss, but you'll have to [[DuelBoss solo]] him at one point near the end of the game, yet here you're not even required to win with your full party present (rather lose, plot-wise). Just so that you know how badass you're going to get.
* ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphoniaDawnOfTheNewWorld'' does this in a strange way. The Final Boss turns out to be Richter Abend, a [[GuestStarPartyMember temporary party member]] from the beginning of the game. However, when the party learns that he's not actually on their side, there is a HopelessBossFight against him, where he uses his own [[LimitBreak Mystic Arte]] to destroy the party in one fell swoop, and proves his having the annoying ability to ''counter'' Emil's Mystic Arte any time he uses it. And when the party finally ''does'' battle Richter in a proper battle, it turns out that [[spoiler:the ''real'' Final Boss is Emil's SuperpoweredEvilSide 'Ratatosk']].
* ''VideoGame/TalesOfPhantasia'', which was released first but takes place far later in the same timeline as ''Symphonia'', does this with Dhaos. [[spoiler:Twice as Dhaos is also the boss of the DiscOneFinalDungeon.]]
* Also, Shizel in ''VideoGame/TalesOfEternia''. It isn't as much of a curb stomp since you CAN fight back, but after a while the fight abruptly ends anyways.
* ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia'' does this with [[spoiler: Gaius]] and [[spoiler: Muzet]]. Both of them are fought multiple times, but the final boss fight pits you against both of them simultaneously.
* ''VideoGame/TalesOfBerseria'' has the party's ill-fated first battle with Shepherd Artorius Collbrande, in which all your attacks (with the exception of Mystic Artes) will do zero points of damage and you're automatically KO'd when Artorius uses his own Mystic Arte.