History Main / ImmuneToFlinching

** Tenshi's "State of Enlightenment" spell card and the Dragon Star system card in Hisoutensoku temporarily gives this effect to the user.

* The Typhoon weather effect in [[TouhouProject Scarlet Weather Rhapsody]] gives both players SuperArmor but also makes it impossible to block until the weather ends.

* ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork'' provides Super Armor as an ability; later games had the same effect during certain transformations such as Guts Soul or Metal Soul.

* Sometimes referred to as "Penetrate" in some of the ''TalesSeries'' games. It's the ability for some bosses to take a certain (Sometimes visible) amount of hits or damage without flinching, after which they can be hit with a proper combo, but they'll regain their flinch resistance once the combo ends. Also shows up in a more traditional fashion with the bosses frequently being immune or highly resistant to flinching while attacking and the party being able to utilize it with skills, buffs or by activating the game's SuperMode.

* Referred to as "Penetrate" in some of the ''TalesSeries'' games. It's the ability for some bosses to take a certain visible number of hits without flinching, after which they can be hit with a combo, but they'll regain their full penetrate counter once it ends. Also shows up in a more traditional fashion in pretty much every other game, with the bosses frequently being immune or highly resistant to flinching while attacking, and the characters being able to utilize it with skills, buffs or by activating the game's SuperMode.

* In ''VideoGame/TatsunokoVsCapcom'', giant characters Gold Lightan and PTX-40A are {{Mighty Glacier}}s; extremely slow and unwieldy compared to the rest of the cast, but in exchange they are nearly impossible to flinch, and can stomp through even the strongest special moves from other characters easily.

* In the ''MegaMan'' series in general, Robot Masters (or Mavericks) can typically endure blaster fire without flinching, although they often do recoil when hit with their particular weakness; Wily and Sigma bosses, as well as Ride Armors, are immune to flinching and knockback.
* ''MegaManBattleNetwork'' provides Super Armor as an ability; later games had the same effect during certain transformations such as Guts Soul or Metal Soul.

Compare FeelNoPain, which is a non-gameplay version of this trope, and InvulnerableAttack, which is invincible to ''everything.''

* In ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'', Garland's EX Mode gives him super armor to anything that isn't ArmorPiercing (or an HP attack).

In the genre of {{Fighting Game}}s, this is the ability of characters to endure damage without suffering the "flinch", the recoil/stun animations that are associated with the hit. In some games this is referred to as having "Super Armor" (not to be confused with armor that actually is [[ClothesMakeTheSuperman super]]-[[PoweredArmor powered]]).

Normally in VideoGames, a flinch animation and {{knockback}} are used to punctuate the fact that a character has taken damage. In action-based genres it also interrupts the player's current action, and creates the potential for a "stunlock." If the character receives ''another'' hit during their flinch animation, the animation will reset, extending the time the player is stunned. This can be problematic for CompetitiveBalance in {{Fighting Game}}s. For example, a MightyGlacier might never get to attack a FragileSpeedster when the latter lands hits faster than he can even react to them -- and while whomever is playing the Speedster would certainly enjoy setting up and executing such a massive {{Combo|s}}, it would decidedly '''not''' be [[RuleOfFun fun]] for whomever is playing the Glacier to receive it.

By contrast, if the character is ImmuneToFlinching then their actions cannot be interrupted if the opponent lands a hit; if the Glacier has this ability, then he can safely counterattack the Speedster even while he's enduring the incoming flurry of hits.

Of course, if the Glacier no longer has to worry about avoiding or defending against hits (since he can simply [[AttackAttackAttack punch right through them]]), this could risk making him a GameBreaker in the process. Thus, many games limit the extent to which a character is (and is not) ImmuneToFlinching in the name of fairness:

* Sometimes it only works on a limited number of hits at a time -- a character may be able to take single hits without flinching, but a continuous stream of incoming strikes (such as a Combo) will "break" through and knock them aside just the same as a character without the ability.

* Sometimes it is dependent on the exact action being performed. Actions with a higher internal 'priority' (e.g. Limit Breaks) will interrupt those of a lower priority (like basic attacks) much like [[RockPaperScissors Rock crushes Scissors]]. Some special moves may have temporary armor as their defining feature, allowing the attacker to plow through an opponent's projectiles with proper timing.
* If the character is exclusively a {{Boss|Battle}}, they may have this as their ''default state'', especially when they are much larger in size than a player character; this increases the difficulty of the battle because the boss can execute their attacks with impunity while the player must time their attacks carefully to avoid getting caught off-guard.

* Sometimes it is dependent on the exact action being performed -- actions with a higher internal 'priority' (e.g. Limit Breaks) will interrupt those of a lower priority (like basic attacks) much like [[RockPaperScissors Rock crushes Scissors]].

* In ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'', many of the slow, hard-hitting characters (Bowser, Ganondorf, etc.) have attacks that cannot be interrupted by an opponent's move, although they will still flinch from attacks in their default state. Certain special attacks (like Ike's "Aether" strike) also have short moments in which the character, even if they take a hit, is not interrupted or knocked back.

* In ''DissidiaFinalFantasy'', Garland's EX Mode gives him super armor to anything that isn't ArmorPiercing (or an HP attack).

* ''StreetFighter 4'' gives every character a [[ChargedAttack focus attack]], which allows them to endure one hit without flinching while it is charging; they will also recover the damage taken during the charge if they don't receive another.
* In ''SuperSmashBros'', many of the slow, hard-hitting characters (Bowser, Ganondorf, etc.) have attacks that cannot be interrupted by an opponent's move, although they will still flinch from attacks in their default state. Certain special attacks (like Ike's "Aether" strike) also have short moments in which the character, even if they take a hit, is not interrupted or knocked back.
* In ''TatsunokoVsCapcom'', giant characters Gold Lightan and PTX-40A are {{Mighty Glacier}}s; extremely slow and unwieldy compared to the rest of the cast, but in exchange they are nearly impossible to flinch, and can stomp through even the strongest special moves from other characters easily.

In the genre of {{Fighting Game}}s, this is the ability of characters to endure damage without suffering the "flinch", the recoil/stun animations that are associated with the hit. In some games this is referred to as having "Super Armor"[[hottip:*:Not to be confused with armor that is itself [[ClothesMakeTheSuperman super]]-[[PoweredArmor powered]]).

In the genre of {{Fighting Game}}s, this is the ability of characters to endure damage without suffering the "flinch", the recoil/stun animations that are associated with the hit.

Normally in VideoGames, a flinch animation and {{knockback}} are used to punctuate the fact that a character has taken damage. In action-based genres it also interrupts the player's current action, and creates the potential for a "stunlock." If the character receives ''another'' hit during their flinch animation, the animation will reset, extending the time that the player is unable to control them. This can be problematic for CompetitiveBalance in {{Fighting Game}}s. For example, a MightyGlacier might never get to attack a FragileSpeedster when the latter lands hits faster than he can even react to them -- and while whomever is playing the Speedster would certainly enjoy setting up and executing such a massive {{Combo|s}}, it would decidedly '''not''' be [[RuleOfFun fun]] for whomever is playing the Glacier to receive it.

By contrast, if the character is ImmuneToFlinching then their actions cannot be interrupted if the opponent lands a hit; if the Glacier has this ability, then he can safely counterattack the Speedster even while he's enduring the incoming flurry of hits. Of course, since the Glacier no longer has to worry about avoiding or defending against hits (since he can simply [[AttackAttackAttack punch right through them]]), this could risk creating a GameBreaker in the process.

Thus, many games limit the extent to which a character is (and is not) ImmuneToFlinching in the name of fairness:

Normally in VideoGames, a flinch animation and {{knockback}} are used to punctuate the fact that a character has taken damage. In action-based genres it also interrupts the player's current action, and creates the potential for a "stunlock." If the character receives ''another'' hit during their flinch animation, the animation will reset, extending the time that the player is unable to control them. This can be problematic for CompetitiveBalance in {{Fighting Game}}s. For example, a MightyGlacier might never get to attack a FragileSpeedster when the latter lands hits faster than he can even react to them -- and while whomever is playing the Speedster would certainly enjoy landing such a massice {{Combo|s}}, it would decidedly '''not''' be [[RuleOfFun fun]] for whomever is playing the Glacier.

By contrast, if the character is ImmuneToFlinching then their actions cannot be interrupted if the opponent lands a hit; if the Glacier has this ability, then he can safely counterattack the Speedster even while he's enduring the incoming flurry of hits.

However, this could risk creating a GameBreaker as the Glacier no longer has to worry about avoiding or defending against the Speedster's hits if he can simply [[AttackAttackAttack punch right through them]]. Therefore, many games limit the extent to which a character is (and is not) ImmuneToFlinching in the name of CompetitiveBalance:

* Sometimes it only works on a limited number of hits at a time -- a character may be able to take single hits without flinching, but a continuous stream of incoming strikes will "break" through and knock them aside just the same as a character without the ability.
* It may be included with a character's SuperMode or LimitBreak, giving those modes an extra tactical advantage, but only for limited periods at a time.
* Sometimes it is dependent on the exact action being performed -- actions with a higher internal 'priority' (like aforementioned Limit Breaks) will interrupt those of a lower priority much like [[RockPaperScissors Rock crushes Scissors]].
* If the character is exclusively a {{Boss|Battle}}, they may have this as their ''default state'', especially when they are much larger in size than a player character; this increases the difficulty of the battle because the boss can execute their attacks with impunity while the player is forced to avoid and defend against the strikes.

Normally in VideoGames, a flinch animation and {{knockback}} are used to punctuate the fact that a character has taken damage. In action-based genres it also interrupts the player's current action, and creates the potential for a "stunlock." If the character receives ''another'' hit during their flinch animation, the animation will reset, extending the time that the player is unable to control them. This can be problematic for CompetitiveBalance in {{Fighting Game}}s. For example, a MightyGlacier might never get to attack a FragileSpeedster when the latter lands hits faster than he can even react to them. Thid would definitely not be [[RuleOfFun fun]] for whomever is playing the Glacier.

The extent to which a character is ImmuneToFlinching varies depending on the character and the desire for CompetitiveBalance:
* Sometimes it only works on a limited number of hits at a time -- a character may be able to take single hits without flinching, but a continuous stream of incoming strikes will "break" through and knock them aside the same as a character without the ability.
* It may be included with a character's SuperMode or LimitBreak, giving it an extra tactical advantage, but only for limited periods at a time.

* If the character is exclusively a {{Boss|Battle}}, they may have this as their ''default state'', especially when they are much larger in size than a player character; this increases the difficulty of the battle because the player cannot avoid the boss's attacks by simply interrupting them.

Compare FeelNoPain, which is a non gameplay version of this trope, and InvulnerableAttack, which is invincible to ''everything.''

* In ''SuperSmashBros'', many of the slow, hard-hitting characters (Bowser, Ganondorf, etc.) have attacks that cannot be interrupted by an opponent's move, although they will still flinch from attacks in their default state.

In the genre of {{Fighting Game}}s, this is an ability of characters to endure damage without suffering the "flinch" or recoil/stun animations that are associated with the hit.

Normally in VideoGames, a flinch animation and {{knockback}} are used to punctuate the fact that a character has taken damage, but in action-based genres it also interrupts the player's current action, and creates the potential for a "stunlock." If the character receives ''another'' hit during their flinch animation, the animation will reset, extending the time that the player is unable to control them. This can be problematic for CompetitiveBalance in games (especially Fighting Games), since a MightyGlacier might never get to attack a FragileSpeedster when the latter lands hits faster than he can even react to them (which is also the technical definition of a {{Combo|s}}). Which would definitely ''not'' be [[RuleOfFun fun]] for whomever is playing the Glacier.

Known as '''Super Armor''' in the genre of {{Fighting Game}}s, this is an ability of characters to endure damage without suffering the "flinch" or recoil/stun animations that are associated with the hit.

Normally in VideoGames, a flinch animation (and {{Knockback}} with it) is merely used to punctuate the fact that a character has taken damage, but in action-based genres it also interrupts the player's current action, and creates the potential for a "stunlock": If the character receives ''another'' hit during their flinch animation, the animation will reset, extending the time that the player is unable to control them. This can be problematic for CompetitiveBalance in games (especially Fighting Games), since a MightyGlacier might never get to attack a FragileSpeedster when the latter lands hits faster than he can even react to them (which is also the technical definition of a {{Combo|s}}). Which would definitely ''not'' be [[RuleOfFun fun]] for whomever is playing the Glacier.

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!! Examples from FightingGames

* In the ''{{Gundam}} Battle Assault'' titles, boss mechs have this as their default state, sometimes at the expense of being able to guard/block against attacks.
* {{Maplestory}} has this as an ability for many of the classes. Each of the adventurer warriors, Aran, Battlemage, Dual Blade, and Evan has a 90% chance of not flinching due to a class skill. All adventurer magicians, Wild Hunters, and Cannonshooters have similar skills (mount in the case of Wild Hunters), but which have a lower probability of triggering. Some classes like Mechanic and Demon Slayer can receive 100% protection from flinching at earlier levels.
* In the [[CapcomVsWhatever Marvel Vs Capcom]] titles, larger characters like Juggernaut or Sentinel have various amounts of Super Armor -- there is also "Hyper Armor" status which temporarily renders a character completely immune to flinching and knockback. Boss characters (like Galactus) have this as their default state.

!! Examples from other genres

Normally in VideoGames, a flinch animation (and {{Knockback}} with it) is merely used to punctuate the fact that a character has taken damage, but in action-based genres it also interrupts the player's current action, and creates the potential for a "stunlock": If the character receives ''another'' hit during their flinch animation, the flinch animation will trigger again, extending the time that the player is unable to control them. This can be problematic for CompetitiveBalance in games, especially Fighting Games, since a MightyGlacier might never get to attack a FragileSpeedster when the latter lands hits faster than he can even react to them (which is also the technical definition of a {{Combo|s}}). Which would definitely ''not'' be [[RuleOfFun fun]] for whomever is playing the Glacier.

* This may be a feature included with a character's SuperMode or LimitBreak, giving it an extra tactical advantage, but only for limited periods at a time.
* Sometimes it is dependent on the actions being performed -- actions with a higher priority (like aforementioned Limit Breaks) will interrupt those of a lower priority like [[RockPaperScissors Rock crushing Scissors]].

Known as '''Super Armor''' in the genre of FightingGames, this is an ability of characters to endure damage without suffering the "flinch" or recoil/stun animations that are associated with the hit.

* ''StreetFighter4'' gives every character a [[ChargedAttack focus attack]], which allows them to endure one hit without flinching while charging it up. In addition, they will recover the damage taken during the charge if they don't get hit again.

* In ''TatsunokoVsCapcom'', giant characters Gold Lightan and PTX-40A are the epitome of the Mighty Glacier; they are extremely slow and unwieldy compared to the rest of the cast, but in exchange they are nearly impossible to flinch, stomping through even the strongest special moves easily.

Known as "Super Armor" in the genre of FightingGames, this is an ability of characters to endure damage without suffering the "flinch" or recoil/stun animations that are associated with the hit.

Normally in VideoGames, a flinch animation (and {{Knockback}} with it) is merely used to punctuate the fact that a character has taken damage, but in action-based genres it also interrupts the player's current action, and creates the potential for a "stunlock": If the character receives ''another'' hit during their flinch animation, the flinch animation will trigger again, extending the time that the player is unable to control them. This can be problematic for CompetitiveBalance in games, especially Fighting Games, since a MightyGlacier might never get to attack a FragileSpeedster when the latter lands hits faster than he can even react to them (which is also the technical definition of a {{Combo|s}}). Which would definitely ''not'' be [[RuleOfFun fun]] for whomever is playing the Glacier.

Compare FeelNoPain, which is a non gameplay version of this trope, and InvulnerableAttack, which is invincible to ''everything.''

Normally in VideoGames, a flinch animation (and {{Knockback}} with it) is merely used to punctuate the fact that a character has taken damage, but in action-based genres it also interrupts the player's current action, and creates the potential for a "stunlock": If the character receives ''another'' hit during their flinch animation, the flinch animation will trigger again, extending the time that the player is unable to control them. This can be problematic for CompetitiveBalance in games, especially {{Fighting Game|s}}, since a [[MightyGlacier slow but powerful character]] might never get to attack a [[FragileSpeedster quicker, if weaker, opponent]] when the opponent lands hits faster than the bruiser can react to them. (This is also the technical definition of a {{Combo|s}}.)

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