History Main / LethalJokeCharacter

** Further mention goes to Xiao Qiao, whose ultimate weapon in DW3 had the instant death element imbued onto her final charge attack string. Use it on an enemy officer and watch his/her life bar deplete instantly.

*** Shedinja will still be OHKOd by any kind of indirect damage though, such as the weather effects Hail and Sandstorm

* ''VideoGame/DiabloII''s expansion Lord of Destruction features the [[ProfessionalKiller Assassin]] which has a skill called Blade Fury which is weak in comparism to other traps the Assassin can set and receives barely a better base damage to mana cost ratio if you spend more skill points into it. The catch of this skill is that it gets stronger the stronger you get yourself as it inflicts 75% weapon damage to enemies. This becomes even more impressive when you realize that it also causes the traits of your weapons like elemental damage as well as the traits you add to it by other means like armor or skills. So if your weapon possesses Mana Steal you have a ranged attack that refills your mana as long as it hits, if your weapon possesses Knockback it will push enemies away from you and if your weapon possesses the ability to randomly cast spells it will cast that spell with a similar ratio where it hits and it costs almost no mana at all. The downwards of it are that you can't move while you use it (you can't move while you cast most spells anyway), it only hits single enemies as long as it doesn't cast other spells and enemies are still able to avoid or block it (though as evasions and blocks are often tied to an animation they might be hit by the next blade as soon as they recover from defending). This is an example of a literal [[DeathOfAThousandCuts death of a thousand cuts]] for bosses outside of the screen caused by a [[SpamAttack spam attack]].

* [[BanjoKazooie Banjo-Tooie]] allows Banjo to transform into a washing machine. While the one attack available here ([[AbnormalAmmo firing underpants]]) isn't exactly lethal, it's arguably the most useful transformation in the game thanks to its other abilities.

** Unlockable NPC characters in the Outbreak series occasionally fall under this trope. While they're essentially reskins of the main 8 characters, each of them have various stats altered. Notable are the "Mr./Mrs. Colors" skins, which are essentially colored stick figures with faces on them. Some of these have better stats than the default characters. Mr. Green, the stick figure equivalent of Jim, is arguably one of the best Jim skins in the game.

* Arguably, Zappa from ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear''. Due to the random nature of his ghost summons, he's just as unpredictable to the person playing him as he is to his opponent, and his really powerful ghost takes a long time to set up...but once Raoh appears, the fight is more or less over. Plus he's good for just plain freaking opponents out with his constant babbling and impossible contortions.

** Neko-Arc suffers from one problem - her only attack that's likely to land a hit on the opponent is her True Ancestor Beam, which requires magic circuit to use. Neko-Arc Chaos, on the other hand, combines all of Neko-Arc's advantages with some of Nrvnqsr Chaos' far-reaching attacks... * shudder*

* From the online card collection strategy game {{Poxnora}} there is a Champion called the "Magma Bunny" that had stats well below average for the Mana Cost. However, it had the ability to split off a copy (splitting its HP), and if you upgraded a useless ability you could pump its Mana Cost to huge levels. Senseless? Perhaps, except for two spells, one that sacrificed a champion to refund the full Mana Cost, and another spell that sacrifices a champion and deals damage equal to the Mana Cost to the nearest enemy champion. And each copy cloned off of the original had the same mana cost as the original. Then there also happened to be another (in most circumstances crappy) spell that allowed you to keep redeploying your Magma Bunny after Sacrificing it, over and over again. That Deck became known as the "Bunnies of DOOM!" Finally the mechanics were nerfed.

* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' has had Jigglypuff since the start. Low weight, weak moves on several of her buttons, and rather close range attacks, virtually everything about Jigglypuff screams low-mid tier or lower. She also has Rest, which can guarantee a kill pretty much once one figures out its hit box location. Her many flaws and her one plus got balanced out in Brawl. She became much more effective at recovery, and she's a monster in air combat, but her rest is far from dangerous.

* Cut from the US version of ''[[VideoGame/StreetsOfRage Streets of Rage 3]]'' is Ash, a ManlyGay character who runs and screams like a girl and has a limited move set (no air attacks). However, his main attack, a weak looking slap, [[ArmorPiercingSlap can tear even bosses apart in seconds]].

* The Novice class in ''VideoGame/RagnarokBattleOffline'' seems to be completely true to [[VideoGame/RagnarokOnline the source material]] at a glance, having terrible HP and MP, slow and weak attacks (Some of which result in them tripping or knocking themselves out), an extremely slow ground movement speed (Some characters can ''walk'' faster then either gender can dash), and only two skills, one of which is practically useless due to it only resorting a measly five HP per use (In a game where HP goes into the thousands range). However, once you place enough points in the right stats, they become capable of busting out highly destructive special attacks that can clear most of the screen in a single use, [[GuideDangIt assuming you know the button inputs]] (Though as they're CastFromHP, they can only be abused to the fullest with the aid of an Acolyte ally who can heal them). The male Novice also has a sweetspot on one of his air attacks that makes it a massive amount of damage (A fact the female Novice compensates for by being a more competent fighter overall).

** It does have Sheeva as a hidden character. Although tough as a boss, Sheeva lacks the variety of moves other characters have (such as a back attack or a directional super) to be as useful. Unless you realize that his default move (the one that replaces any move he doesn't have) is a short elbow jab that can infinite chain anybody.

* In the ps1 video game Digimon Card game, the Rare tribe had some elements of this, with awful stats but ssome interesting support effects. In particular Numemon an Toy Agumon. Numemon was the usual monster that looked like ppoop and had stats to match, but when played from your hand as support forced the opponent to discard 2 cards in their evolution pile. On its own, card advantage and a delicious way to mess up your opponents tempo while you beat up their underevolved mons, run a bunch of them and you can force your opponent to use almost nothing but rookies, except with the odd champion for the rest of the duel! Toy Agumon hhad unimpressive stats but the broken effect of making both mons hp 200, meaning you could one hit ko the enemy even when they were an ultimate or a tweaked out armour, then heal next turn, possibly with another lethal joke, Pyschemon (hp becomes the same as opponent).

*** Also from [[UpdatedRerelease HeartGold and SoulSilver]], Togepi. And not just because of its more powerful evolutions--in Gen 4, one of the first moves it can learn is Extrasensory, a pretty powerful Psychic attack that can also lower Accuracy. Couple that with Yawn for sleep and Sweet Kiss for confusion, and you have a mon that's taken this troper on several runs through HG/SS, when in Gen 2 he never would have used it.

*** Also from [[UpdatedRerelease HeartGold and SoulSilver]], Togepi. And not just because of its more powerful evolutions--in HeartGold and SoulSilver, one of the first moves it can learn is Extrasensory, a pretty powerful Psychic attack that can also lower Accuracy. Couple that with Yawn for sleep and Sweet Kiss for confusion, and you have a mon that's taken this troper on several runs through HG/SS, when in Gen 2 he never would have used it.

** ''Prankster'': Generation V introduced this wonderful new ability that adds priority to non-damaging indirect attacks, letting them go ahead of "normal" priority moves. For a significant number of less-powerful pokemon, this ability suddenly gives them the means to make their move before most other vastly more fearsome opponents can curbstomp them, letting them completely mess up sweepers, bulky attackers, and even some tanks/bulky stallers simply by going before them and using moves like Taunt, Substitute, Will O' Wisp, Thunder Wave, Recover, Leech Seed, Tailwind, Trick Room, Sunny Day, Rain Dance, Hail, Sandstorm, Moonlight, Tail Glow, Swords Dance, Nasty Plot, Baton Pass, and so on. Go on, search "Prankster Whimsicott" or "Prankster Sableye" or "Prankster Volbeat" on Youtube or Google and watch battle records/read war stories where these low-powered Pranksters take dangerous matchups and turn them on their head.

* ''VideoGame/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness'' has the Scout and Thief classes. They have poor stats, poor aptitude so equipment boosts benefit them less than other classes, their only weapon proficiency is with Guns, and they're generally unfit for frontline combat. However, in the Item World, they are your [=MVPs=]. Scouts can use Geo Change to change the GeoEffects of the stage at random, removing harmful effects, and can use Dark Cannon to create a turret to attack enemies anywhere on the map, particularly useful in Item World as the randomized maps often puts enemies out of reach of even your spellcasters. Thieves meanwhile have a Throw range of 6, higher than any other class so they can quickly toss allies into position, and they're the only class able to steal from enemies competently -- on the higher tiers of Item World enemies begin using top-grade equipment ripe for the plucking, and what you don't keep can be sold for a lot of money.

*** With the recent buff to the deck, it's gotten even more lethal. Instead of shooting three energy shots, the deck now shoots fire, just like Zuo Ci's. Combined with the decks musou attack, you've easily got a slightly less powerful true musou.

*** The Tonfas are viewed as pathetic weapons due to their range, strange stat locations, and somewhat less than stellar emblems. Its charge 5, however, can naturally set things on fire, a very valuable attack to have. Ironically, it also has a large range and is very easy to hit someone from behind, effectively making guarding useless. Combined with a lightning orb, and you'll have an essentially undodgable attack.

* ''VideoGame/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness'' has the Scout and Thief classes. They have poor stats, poor aptitude so equipment boosts benefit them less than other classes, their only weapon proficiency is with Guns, and they're generally unfit for frontline combat. However, in the Item World, they are your [=MVPs=]. Scouts can use Geo Change to change the GeoEffects of the stage at random, removing harmful effects, and can use Dark Cannon to create a turret to attack enemies anywhere on the map, particularly useful in Item World as the randomized maps often puts enemies out of reach of even your spellcasters. Thieves meanwhile have a Throw range of 6, higher than any other class so they can quickly toss allies into position, and they're the only class able to steal from enemies competently, and on the higher tiers of Item World enemies begin using top-grade equipment ripe for the plucking, and what you don't keep can be sold for a lot of money.

* ''VideoGame/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness'' has the Scout and Thief classes. They have poor stats, poor aptitude so equipment boosts benefit them less than other classes, their only weapon proficiency is with Guns, and they're generally unfit for frontline combat. However, in the Item World, they are your [=MVPs=]. Scouts can use Geo Change to change the GeoEffects of the stage at random, removing harmless effects, and can use Dark Cannon to create a turret to attack enemies anywhere on the map, particularly useful in Item World as the randomized maps often puts enemies out of reach of even your spellcasters. Thieves meanwhile have a Throw range of 6, higher than any other class so they can quickly toss allies into position, and they're the only class able to steal from enemies competently, and on the higher tiers of Item World enemies begin using top-grade equipment ripe for the plucking, and what you don't keep can be sold for a lot of money.

** Tarmogoyf was originally printed as "pre-print" (a foreshadowing of cards to come, one of the gimmicks of the ''Future Sight'' set) solely so that it's reminder text could reference two card types that didn't yet exist in the game (Planewalker and the rarely used Tribal). However, it wound up being such an efficient win condition that it is currently (as of May 2013) the single most expensive card printed in the last ten years.

* ''{{Robopon}}'s'' first game has Teabot. Teabot is a little robot whose entire purpose is serving tea. You get one from your grandpa for completing your tower, and it's implied he bought it from a TV shopping channel. Its MonsterCompendium data outright calls it "useless." Tell that to its high-powered software, and the fact that its ''basic attack'' can scrap enemies in [[OneHitKO one hit.]]