History Main / FireBreathingWeapon

** Japanese defenders confronted by American engineers using the flamethrower would make them a priority target, seeking to penetrate and ignite the napalm fuel carried in tanks on the operator's back. However, the weapon was tactically worth the risk since even the most fanatical Japanese defenders were prone to abandon their posts in screaming terror at a blast on their position.

* ''Literature/{{Baccano}}'': When things start to look bad for the Lemures, their leader Goose arms himself with one.
* ''Manga/BlackLagoon'': the character Claude "Torch" Weaver specializes in these.
* ''Manga/OnePiece'': early villain and weapon-maniac Don Krieg has, among his unnumerable arms, a powerful flamethrower hidden in the wristplates of his armor: it's compact but powerful enough to torch to ashes a huge piece of mast which Luffy threw at him like a javelin before it could hit him.
* ''Manga/PumpkinScissors'': Hans, the last surviving member of his 908th Flamethrower Troop, still wields his unit's weapon and is permanently stuck inside his [[ClingyCostume flamer unit gear]]. He witnessed the rest of his unit die before his eyes when they removed their gear, and subsequently became [[PyroManiac quite deranged as a result]].
* In ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'', minor villain [[FatBastard Hyottoko]] has a primitive flamethrower built in his body: basically, is a large bag of oil in his stomach, with the nozzle in his mouth and flint teeth, allowing him to breathe fire at will. Kenshin easily beats his fiery breath by spinning his sword fast enough to create a wind current and deflect the flames.
* In the 90s adaptation of ''Anime/SailorMoon'', Eudial of the Witches 5 uses flame-throwers made from household appliances called ''Fire Busters''. They prove surprisingly powerful and can even overpower Sailor Moon's FinishingMove.

* ''Anime/YuGiOh'': [[AxeCrazy Panik]] sets up his duel arena with flamethrowers that he uses against [[TheHero Yugi]]--first to intimidate him, then to burn him to a crisp after Yugi beats him. It fails, and Panik gets [[MindRape mind-crushed]].

** ''ComicBook/CodeNameGravedigger'': In ''Men of War'' #4, Gravdigger grabs a flamethrower during a raid on a secret German weapons store. He fires it down the barrel of a tank's main gun just after the tank has fired, when he knows the breech will be open as they reload. This fills the cab with flame; cooking the crew and touching off the ammo.
** ''ComicBook/TheFlash'': Heat Wave is a villain who carries to pistols that shoot fire.

* In ''ComicStrip/ScaryGary'', Leopold has a flamethrower. He occasionally uses it to "help" Gary do things like making toast when the toaster is busted, and claims it also does waffles.
** One of Leopold’s favorite phone apps is a mini-flamethrower.

* ''Fanfic/BaitAndSwitchSTO'': During the away mission in chapter seven Eleya's tricorder picks up traces of fuel from a flamethrower, and she later inadvertently sets off said flamethrower's fuel tank with a grenade. Near the end of the chapter, a Bajoran Militia captain describes the Orion slave-raiders as having given up trying to break into a building that some Militiamen had barricaded themselves into. Instead, they used the flamethrower to set it on fire.

* The SpaceMarines in ''Fanfic/RocketshipVoyager'' have atomic burners, specifically described as nuclear-powered flamethrowers, in homage to ''Literature/StarshipTroopers'' and ''Limbo''.

* ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'': Anatoli Knyazev, a mercenary working for Lex Luthor, uses a flamethrower to burn several corpses in order to frame Superman (making him look like Superman did it with his EyeBeams). Later on in the movie [[spoiler:Luthor kidnaps Superman's mother and orders Anatoli to BurnTheWitch if Superman doesn't fight Batman. Batman however comes to the rescue of Martha Kent, and Anatoli suffers a FlamethrowerBackfire after threatening to burn his hostage.]]

* ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'': some of HYDRA's EliteMooks wear battlesuits that have both [[ArmCannon plasma cannon]] and flamethrowers on the arms. The flamethrowers turn out to be the one weapon that Cap can't duck or dodge.

* ''Film/DontGoInTheHouse'' (aka ''Pyromaniac''). The eponymous pyro SerialKiller builds his own flamethrower to kill people with.

* ''Film/IronMan'': When Tony Stark makes the first power suit in captivity, using nothing but a box of missile parts, he mounts flamethrowers on each arm. They actually behave like real wartime flamethrowers, and are quite devastating to the terrorists' weapons stockpile.

* ''Film/MadMax2TheRoadWarrior'': this is why Lord Humungus tries to BreakThemByTalking rather than trying to seize the oil-pumping station by force. TheApunkalypse gang of DesertBandits he commands have to rely on crossbow-like weapons because they have few bullets. Those inside the compound however have plenty of fuel for their flamethrowers and {{Molotov Cocktail}}s. In ''Film/MadMaxFuryRoad'' the People Eater owns his own refinery, so he also has 'flamers' among his mooks.
* ''Film/MajorGromPlagueDoctor''. The vigilante Plague Doctor kills his victims with TrickedOutGloves that shoot flame. The fuel is held in a canister inserted in the gloves, apparently filled with AppliedPhlebotinum developed by his weapons corporation as they are far too small for actual flamethrowers.

* ''Film/TheMonumentsMen''. The Nazis uses flamethrowers to torch an art depository in compliance with Hitler's [[TakingYouWithMe Nero Order]].
* In ''Film/OnceUponATimeInHollywood'', a flashback reveals Rick learned how to use a flamethrower for his role in ''[[FilmWithinAFilm The 14 Fists of [=McCluskey=]]]''. When Cliff goes to fix the antenna, the flamethrower from the movie [[ChekhovsGun can be seen hanging in the toolshed]]. [[spoiler:At the end of the movie, Rick grabs the flamethrower from the shed and uses it to torch Sadie after she crashes into his swimming pool.]]
* In ''Film/PhantomOfTheMallEricsRevenge'', Eric uses a weed burner in a hardware store to turn Harv Posner into a ManOnFire. Posner then stumbles into a display of propane tanks, which explodes and sets fire to Eric. ([[NoOSHACompliance One does does have to question the practices of a hardware store that not only keeps fully fueled weed burners on the shop floor, but displays them next to filled propane tanks.]])

* ''Film/TheRunningMan''. The Stalker known as Fireball uses this as his weapon of choice, and is HoistByHisOwnPetard when Ben Richards disconnects his fuel hose, then throws a road flare at his feet, sending [[MeaningfulName Fireball up in a ball of fire.]]

-->'''Yogurt:''' Spaceballs the '''FLAMETHROWER!!!!'''\\

* ''Film/SpaceMutiny'': during the big shootout there's a man standing in the open, shooting bursts of flame which--due to the extremely short range of his weapon--don't hit any of the men armed with laser pistols who are shooting back (fortunately all of them were trained at the ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy).

** In ''Film/AttackOfTheClones'', Jango Fett attacks Mace Windu with a miniature flamethrower in his left gauntlet. Windu jumps away quick enough that the only damage is to his outer layer of robes, which he quickly shucks.

* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}''

* ''Literature/FengshenYayi'':

* ''Limbo'' by Bernard Wolfe has [[AtomPunk nuclear-powered]] flamethrowers!

* In Mark S. Geston's novel ''Lords of the Starship'', the book's entire TwistEnding is that [[spoiler:the gigantic Starship of the title, which takes over a century to build, is not meant to fly at all -- its rockets are actually humongous flamethrowers designed to incinerate millions of people]].

* One book about an arsonist starting forest fires around Los Angeles (title unknown) had the hero suffering from a fear of fire. A rather gruesome flashback scene shows this was caused by him accidentally burning alive his sergeant while being trained on the use of a flamethrower.

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': When the politician giving their Graduation Day speech suddenly morphs into a giant student-eating snake demon, the students [[TrenchcoatWarfare whip off their graduation robes]] to reveal the usual arsenal of medieval anti-demon weaponry, plus several flamethrowers that make the creature back off from chomping on them until Buffy can lure it to its death. Not sure why we didn't see them being used before; presumably stakes and crossbows are BoringButPractical.
* ''Series/ForeverKnight''. In "The Fire Inside", the VillainOfTheWeek torched homeless people with a flamethrower. Being a VampireDetective Nick Knight is ImmuneToBullets but [[FaceYourFears afraid of fire]], which can kill him.
* ''Series/{{Hunter|1984}}'' has a VillainOfTheWeek using a flamethrower to commit arson, and Hunter takes the case when a homeless person dies in one of his fires. Naturally the song played during the teaser was "Burning Down the House".
* ''Series/ICarly'': One episode has Spencer shooting fire from a fire '''''[[EpicFail extinguisher.]]'''''

* ''Series/TheYoungIndianaJonesChronicles'': in the "Trenches of Hell" episode, soldiers retreat in panic when GasMaskMooks bearing flamethrowers come out of a cloud of poison gas.

* ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'' has a slew of them. Flamers and fusion guns from ''Ultra-Tech''. Flamethrowers and {{aerosol flamethrower}}s in ''High-Tech''. Low tech flamethrowers for [[ChurchMilitant clerics]] in ''Dungeon Fantasy''. Heat rays in ''Spaceships''. The fire lance from ''Fantasy''. The cheirosiphon and eruptor style weapons from ''Low-Tech''.

* In ''TabletopGame/RocketAge'' the flamethrower is available to players and enemies alike. Although essentially just a conventional early 20th century weapon, more daring and suicidal individuals use Radium fuel, which burns hotter and faster, but is, well, radioactive and even more likely to leave a crater than a regular pack if shot.

* ''Toys/GIJoe'': The weapon of choice for Torch, one of the Dreadnoks, as well as Blowtorch and Charbroil on the Joes' side.

* ''VideoGame/ArmyMen'' : The series as a whole is about toys, mainly plastic soldiers. Oddly enough, these guys aren't afraid to use fire to kill one another. Just look at Scorch from the RTS game, and the uses of one in Sarge's Heroes.

* In ''VideoGame/BrokenHelix'', there's a flamethrower [[spoiler:Reese]] gives you to clear out the laboratory's vents. And it uses [[ArtisticLicensePhysics energy cells instead of gas canisters]].

* The ''VideoGame/BrutalDoom'' has the Mancubus Flame Launcher and the Revenant's hellish shoulder missile launchers, the same used by Revenants and Mancubi after they've been blown to pieces. The Mancubus flame cannon and Revenant missile launcher shoots globs of fire to burn any demon and zombie it hits. ''Project Brutality'' allows the Mancubus flame launcher to act as a flamethrower. The M2 Heavy Plasma has a plasmathower SecondaryFire that Doomguy swings in a wide swath in front of him.
* ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty: World At War''. Short range but unlimited ammo if it doesn't [[{{Overheating}} overheat]]. Potent at short-range like a real one but piss poor anywhere else. While it is powerful in ''VideoGame/NaziZombies'', it quickly looses potency as the rounds go on.
* In ''VideoGame/ColdFear'' you can get your hands on a flamethrower later in the game. It works pretty well against most enemies, thought the invisible specimens and the Brutes won't be staggered by it. Furthermore, it's pretty much useless outside, as the rain and the strong winds will render it useless.

** The Brotherhood of Nod often has infantry armed with these, among other weapons included in their arsenals. It should be noted that the realism of fire-based weaponry in the series tends to vary from game to game. Nod's love affair with flamethrowers has, several times, extended to flamethrower ''tanks''. In ''Tiberian Sun'', this extended to the bizarrely improbable [[DrillTank Subterranean Flame Tank]]. Over in ''Red Alert'', the Soviets have been known to use flamethrower turrets for base defense.
** And Generals gives us [[RedChina the Chinese]], who love (nuclear) fire just as much. "Dragon" Flamethrower Tanks, fire-shelling artillery, fire-bombing [=MiGs=] and various nuclear weapons are all present in the game.

-->'''Dingodile''': Break out the butter. I'm gonna make toast!
* ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'': [[{{Deuteragonist}} Johnny Silverhand's]] signature weapon is the Malorian Arms 3516 pistol, which comes with a short range flamethrower to deal with enemies that got a bit too close. Though it's worth noting that this is its secondary function and the Malorian is primarily used for shooting.

* ''Franchise/DeadSpace'' has a chemical one. It's the size of a fire extinguisher and for some reason couldn't work in a vacuum in the first game.
* ''VideoGame/DeusEx'' and [[VideoGame/DeusExInvisibleWar its sequel]]. In the first game short puffs work frighteningly well against common mooks and panics the ones that can last the burns but eats its rare ammo if put on full blast, takes up [[InventoryManagementPuzzle 4x2 spaces in your inventory]], and requires more skill in Heavy Weapons to be effective. ''Invisible War'''s flamethrower has a napalm ball launcher as its SecondaryFire and acts much like its predecessor.
* ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'', ''VideoGame/DoomIIHellOnEarth'', ''VideoGame/Doom3'', and ''VideoGame/Doom2016'' has the Mancubi with their arm-mounted flame launchers that spit fireballs with deadly accuracy.

* ''VideoGame/SpiderTheVideoGame'' have flamethrowers your character - a sentient spider - can obtain. The flames deals severe damage and kills most enemies on one hit, but it lacks range compared to other weapons and have limited ammunition.

* ''VideoGame/TeamFortressClassic'': long story short [[VideoGameFlamethrowersSuck it sucked]]. Piss-poor damage and short range while leaves its only use as a gimmicky weapon that blocks your target's vision and that's about it.
* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'': [[PyroManiac The Pyro]] has a short-ranged flamethrower as their primary weapon, along with some alternate flamethrowers with different stats. They are much more effective than in ''VideoGame/TeamFortressClassic'', but are generally still considered [[VideoGameFlamethrowersSuck one of the game's weaker weapons]] due to somewhat poor damage and the prevalence of options to extinguish afterburn. They're especially poor in competitive due to their low skill ceiling, leaving pyro with little chance against other classes of sufficient skill. They did however gain a major new use in the form of an alternate fire airblast, which can be used to [[AttackReflector reflect projectiles]], knock back enemies, and extinguish teammates; and are also very effective at checking for cloaked or disguised spies. The Pyro can also use a few [[FlareGun flare guns]], each with different effects and drawbacks.

* ''VideoGame/{{X}}'': ''X3 Terran Conflict'' introduces the Plasma Burst Generator, which is a flamethrower powered by a nuclear fusion reactor. A favored weapon of the SpacePirate faction, the weapon is a thorough gamebreaker in the hands of the player due to SplashDamageAbuse against large targets.

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'': Flamethrowers are a series staple. The ''Broken Steel'' add-on to ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'' adds the Heavy Incinerator, which rapid-fires gobs of napalm over long distances, more like a real-life flamethrower. ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' adds the "Shishkebab", a Chinese officer's sword with a flamethrower mounted onto it.\\
In terms of skills, they were categorized as [[{{BFG}} Big Guns]] until ''New Vegas'', which changed them to use the same Energy Weapons skill as the {{Slow Laser}}s.

** The F weapon in ''Contra III'' and its Game Boy port, ''Contra: The Alien Wars''.
** A flame-thrower is one of Iron's special weapons in ''Contra Force''.
** The one in ''Contra 4'' fires spinning fireballs (by twos in the back-view stages), and then upgrades to a gigantic one.

** Protoss Colossi, meanwhile, are known for their [[Literature/TheWarOfTheWorlds heat rays]].

[[caption-width-right:350:[[VideoGame/StarCraft Need a light?]]]]

* ''VideoGame/StarCraft'':

* ''Series/{{Hunter}}'' has a VillainOfTheWeek using a flamethrower to commit arson, and Hunter takes the case when a homeless person dies in one of his fires. Naturally the song played during the teaser was "Burning Down the House".

* In ''Film/ShredderOrpheus'', the Underworld parking garage has flame jets appear sporadically for Orpheus to dodge on the way to the final confrontation with Hades.

See also GreekFire, FlamingSword, AerosolFlamethrower, BoozeFlamethrower, MolotovCocktail, HomemadeFlamethrower, VideogameFlamethrowersSuck, and FlamethrowerBackfire. Compare PlayingWithFire, for people who make fire themselves. If you were looking for literally breathing fire, that's BreathWeapon.