History Main / MarkedToDie

* In ''VideoGame/AzurLane'', Warspite Retrofit's improved ''Divine Marksman Plus'' skill will brand whichever enemy is targeted by ''literally'' painting a target on their heads. This mark serves as a debuff/buff which [[AlphaStrike makes it more likely for the automatically-aimed salvos of allied Royal Navy battleships]] [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill to focus on this one target,]] effectively giving them a death sentence. Moreover, Warspite's kit shines in PvP, where this same skill's intended use is [[DwindlingParty to progressively mark for death and sink the enemy's backline one by one.]]

Sometimes in works of fiction, a special form of {{foreshadowing}} is used that is overt in a way that even the characters can see: something happens to someone that makes him or her a [[SortingAlgorithmOfMortality sure target]] for being [[KilledOffForReal killed off]] in the near future. Typically the mark of death is not fatal in a TruthInTelevision-type way; it does not refer to a [[IncurableCoughOfDeath potentially terminal illness]] or a [[SecretStabWound life-threatening injury]]. The "mark", in this case, refers to a signal, either physically attached to the victim or separate, visible or invisible, that denotes that the character's time is limited.

Depending on the nature of the mark, the characters may or may not be aware of their impending doom. Physical blemishes, brandings, and other things applied directly to his or her body or clothing may seem perfectly innocuous, unless the character happens to be sufficiently {{genre savvy}}. The mark may also appear elsewhere, allowing it serve as a form of {{dramatic irony}} for the benefit of the audience. Prophetic dreams and visions may also serve as a "mark" of sorts, if it specifically claims that a character will soon die.

-->-Kain [[DiscussedTrope discussing]] Raziel that Kain was forcibly destined to be slain by Raziel in the Sarafan Stronghold at this very moment, ''[[VideoGame/LegacyOfKain Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2]]''

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* ''Videogame/Dota2'': Sniper's Ultimate Ability, ''Assassinate'', is an ultra-long range single-target nuke often used to finish off fleeing heroes. For the few seconds while Sniper is aiming, a bullseye icon appears over the unfortunate enemy's head, and then...BoomHeadshot

** The horror game ''VisualNovel/DeathMark'' revolves around people who bear the eponymous Mark, who are fated to die after having it for too long, and suffer memory loss in the meantime (which affects their ability to live normally). Marks are the doing of malevolent [[OurGhostsAreDifferent spirits]]; they must be dispelled in order to cure their Marked victims. The PlayerCharacter has been Marked by a unique spirit in H City, leaving him with a Mark for the game's duration until he can finally locate and dispel that spirit, whoever or whatever it was.

* In ''VideoGame/AzurLane'', Warspite Retrofit's improved ''Divine Marksman Plus'' skill will brand whichever enemy is targeted by ''literally'' painting a target on their heads. This mark serves as a debuff/buff which [[AlphaStrike makes it more likely for the automatically-aimed salvos of allied Royal Navy battleships]] [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill to focus on this one target,]] effectively giving them a death sentence. Moreover, Warspite's kit shines in PvP, where this same skill's intended use is [[DwindlingParty to progressively mark for death and sink the enemy's backline one by one.]]
* There are ''many'' examples of branding in ''VideoGame/HonkaiImpact3rd'', but the one that fits the trope the closest is probably the Raven Mark of Kallen's ''Sixth Serenade'' suit. The Raven Mark gradually builds stacks of itself upon enemies hit by her combo attack, ultimate evasion skill or ultimate skill. When the max stack of 3 marks is reached, enemies suffer a rather unique form of Time Lock--in the sense that even if the enemy hit 0 HP, [[HopeSpot the Raven Mark will actually keep them alive at 0 HP]][[YouAreAlreadyDead ...for a few seconds, whereupon it detonates and finally kills the enemy,]] [[AreaOfEffect as well as blasting nearby targets and potentially killing them too.]] Moreover, due to 6S applying these marks to any enemy she hits with the aforementioned skills, [[CrowdControl it's possible to do this to a crowd of enemies at the same time if they were all bunched up]], and yes, they ''all'' suffer the area blast from each other.
* Sniper's Ultimate Ability, ''Assassinate'', from ''Videogame/Dota2'' is an ultra-long range single-target nuke often used to finish off fleeing heroes. For the few seconds while Sniper is aiming, a bullseye icon appears over the unfortunate enemy's head, and then...BoomHeadshot

* Sniper's Ultimate Ability, ''Assassinate'', from ''Videogame/Dota2'' is an ultra-long range single-target nuke often used to finish off fleeing heroes. For the few seconds while Sniper is aiming, a bullseye icon appears over the unfortunate enemy's head, and then...BOOM! Headshot.
* In the {{VideoGame/Dominions}} series, it's possible to give someone a horror mark. What does a horror mark do? Every turn there's a chance for someone marked to be attacked by a Horror -- and even if they survive (nearly impossible for ordinary humans) they'll likely receive more horror marks, which raises the odds of being attacked and, after enough marks, stronger horrors. They're not removable, so once marked, even the strongest unit would eventually be killed. Resurrecting them won't help, as the horror marks remain.

* ''Manga/DeathNote''. Anyone whose name is written into the Death Note is marked to die after a period of time.

* In ''VideoGame/AzurLane'', Warspite Retrofit's improved ''Divine Marksman Plus'' skill will brand whichever enemy is targeted by [[FanNickname WarKai]] by ''literally'' painting a target on their heads. This mark serves as a debuff/buff which [[AlphaStrike makes it more likely for the automatically-aimed salvos of allied Royal Navy battleships]] [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill to focus on this one target,]] effectively giving them a death sentence. Moreover, Warspite's kit shines in PvP, where this same skill's intended use is [[DwindlingParty to progressively mark for death and sink the enemy's backline one by one.]]
* There are ''many'' examples of branding in ''VideoGame/HonkaiImpact3rd'', but the one that fits the trope the closest is probably the Raven Mark of Kallen's ''Sixth Serenade'' suit. The Raven Mark gradually builds stacks of itself upon enemies hit by her combo attack, ultimate evasion skill or ultimate skill. When the max stack of 3 marks is reached, enemies suffer a rather unique form of Time Lock--in the sense that even if the enemy hit 0 HP, [[HopeSpot the Raven Mark will actually keep them alive at 0 HP]][[YouAreAlreadyDead ...for a few seconds, whereupon it detonates and finally kills the enemy,]] [[AreaOfEffect as well as blasting nearby targets and potentially killing them too.]] Moreover, due to [[FanNickname 6S]] applying these marks to any enemy she hits with the aforementioned skills, [[CrowdControl it's possible to do this to a crowd of enemies at the same time if they were all bunched up]], and yes, they ''all'' suffer the area blast from each other.

Administrivia/NeedsABetterDescription

-->-Kain [[DiscussedTrope discussing]] Raziel that Kain was forced to be destined to be slain by Raziel in the Sarafan Stronghold at this very moment, ''[[VideoGame/LegacyOfKain Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2]]''

-->Kain [[DiscussedTrope discussing]] Raziel that Kain was forced to be destined to be slain by Raziel in the Sarafan Stronghold at this very moment, ''[[VideoGame/LegacyOfKain Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2]]''

* In ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'', the worst criminals whom Batman kicks the crap out of are left branded with a bat symbol. It's rumored that this constitutes being MarkedToDie, as other prison inmates single out anyone thus branded for attack or abuse.

* ''[[Literature/{{Dragons}} The Last Dragon Chronicles]]'': [[spoiler: Ms.Gee, literally, by Hannah. Hannah threw her dead ancestors hand at Ms.Gee, and she caught it, dooming her to a horrible death.]]

* In a third season episode of ''Series/{{Criminal Minds}}'', the victims all appear on "Have You Seen Me" posters before they disappear.

* In ''''ComicBook/XDarkHorseComics'''', this is X's trademark. A single diagonal slash across your face meant that YouWereWarned and you'd better not break his rules again; if he completed the X, he killed you. No exceptions.

* ''Film/LChangeTheWorld'': [[spoiler: After writing his name in the Death Note at the end of the live action Manga/DeathNote movie, L has 23 days left to live. Using that time to solve cases, L is essentially invincible until his time runs out.]]

* Happens in a few Creator/StephenKing books. In ''Literature/{{Insomnia}}'', Ralph is able to tell when people are about to die when they are surrounded by a black "deathbag". In ''Literature/DoctorSleep'', Danny has visions of flies crawling across a person's face when they are about to die or have a serious illness.
* In King's ''Franchise/TheDarkTower'' series, when a [[TrueCompanions Ka-Tet]] is about to end, they feel Ka-Shume, a sense that the parting of ways is coming.

* In ''ComicBook/{{X}}'', this is X's trademark. A single diagonal slash across your face meant that you were warned and you'd better not break his rules again; if he completed the X, he killed you. No exceptions.

** The horror game ''VisualNovel/DeathMark'' revolves around people who bear the eponymous Mark, who are fated to die after having it for too long, and suffer memory loss in the meantime (which affects their ability to live normally). Marks are the doing of malevolent [[OurGhostsAreDifferent spirits]]; they must be dispelled in order to cure their Marked victims. The {{Protagonist}} has been Marked by a unique spirit in H City, leaving him with a Mark for the game's duration until he can finally locate and dispel that spirit, whoever or whatever it was.

* There are ''many'' examples of branding in ''VideoGame/HonkaiImpact3rd'', but the one that fits the trope the closest is probably the Raven Mark of Kallen's ''Sixth Serenade'' suit. The Raven Mark gradually builds stacks of itself upon enemies hit by her combo attack, ultimate evasion skill or ultimate skill. When the max stack of 3 marks is reached, enemies suffer a rather unique form of Time Lock--in the sense that even if the enemy hit 0 HP, [[HopeSpot the Raven Mark will actually keep them alive at 0 HP]][[YouAreAlreadyDead ...for a few seconds, whereupon it detonates and finally kills the enemy,]] [[AreaOfEffect as well as blasting nearby targets and potentially killing them too.]] Moreover, due to [[FanNickname 6S]] applying these marks to any enemy she hits with the aforementioned skills, [[CrowdControl it's possible to do this to a crowd of enemies at the same time if they were all bunched up]], and yes, they ''DisasterDominoes all'' suffer the area blast from each other.

** If a lot of people share the same number, it's indicative of a potential large-scale disaster soon to come. [[spoiler:In-game, ''everyone'' inside the Yamanote Line encirclement is slated to perish by the final day of the in-game week of events, whether it is by [[TheLegionsOfHell demonic invasion]], [[CouncilOfAngels divine punishment]] or [[GovernmentConspiracy a secret super weapon]] [[GodzillaThreshold that will fry every COMP in the encirclement]] [[NecessaryEvil as well as every human and MAYBE some demons.]]]]

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* The horror game ''VisualNovel/DeathMark'' revolves around people who bear the eponymous Mark, who are fated to die after having it for too long, and suffer memory loss in the meantime (which affects their ability to live normally). Marks are the doing of malevolent [[OurGhostsAreDifferent spirits]]; they must be dispelled in order to cure their Marked victims. The {{Protagonist}} has been Marked by a unique spirit in H City, leaving him with a Mark for the game's duration until he can finally locate and dispel that spirit, whoever or whatever it was.