History Main / MatchstickWeapon

* Taking this trope to its most literal conclusion, there's a subset of improvised firearms called matchstick guns, with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC2BSb9MZYc several]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZGPeXH8P10 videos]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Tkb4KwanMw around]] the internet creating [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBlRmte7sCk most of them]] from [[https://youtube.com/shorts/yJLtdkm7yzA?feature=share wood]]. Although there's a few [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxJupfSzmgU made out of metal]].

* ''Film/Zorro1975'': The climax has the titular hero and his nemesis, Colonel Huerta, dueling each other in a SwordFight that leads both combatants into a dark room full of gears. Both men grab torches on nearby walls and use them simultaneously with their swords with.

* ''Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz'': Having no brain, the only thing the Scarecrow is afraid of is a lighted match, as it would burn him to a cinder very quickly. In the film, the Wicked Witch uses her broom as a torch to set him on fire.

* ''Morgyn the Mighty'': The eponymous character is a ''Franchise/{{Tarzan}}'' {{Expy}} who had a "boy's own" adventure strip appearing in BritishComics in the early to mid [[The20thCentury twentieth century]]. In one story he fought off a gorilla that attacked him in a cave by grapping a nearby torch and smashing it into the gorilla's face.
* ''ComicBook/VengeanceOfVampirella2019'': In issue #14, Nyx has a dream in which she fights her father Chaos, who shows disapproval of her relationship with Vampirella. During the fight, Nyx grabs a burning log from the fire place and strikes Chaos with it.

* ''Film/Zorro1975'': The climax has the titular hero and his nemesis, Colonel Huerta, dueling each other in a SwordFight that leads both combatants into a dark room full of gears. Both men combatants grab torches on nearby walls, and use them simultaneously with their swords with.

* ''Theatre/{{Firebringer}}'': Key point in the play, where the tribe learns how good agressive mammoths taste when burnt to death, plus when Zazzalil creates fire to protect the tribe against [[BigBad Snarl]]. Parodied when Emberly and Grunt use painted fire in an attempt to intimidate Snarl. [[DidntThinkThisThrough It fails miserably]].

* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'': After beating King Cerberus, Dante gains a new Devil Arm aptly named [[https://devilmaycry.fandom.com/wiki/King_Cerberus_(Devil_Arm) "King Cerberus"]], a much stronger version of his old [[https://devilmaycry.fandom.com/wiki/Cerberus_(Devil_Arm) "Cerberus"]] Devil Arm from ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening''. Not only does it have the good ol' triple-handed nunchaku that has the element of ice, but it's also a MorphWeapon that can access three forms with their own elements (Ice, fire and lightning, which each head of King Cerberus respectively had). One of these forms is a metal bo staff that imbued with the power of hellfire.

* ''Videogame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'': Torches can be can used to block (albeit considerably less effectively than an actual shield). The torch's equivalent of a {{Shield Bash}} inflicts a small amount of fire damage to the enemy.

* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterPC'': Torches are the go-to weapon for killing FrankensteinsMonster enemies, although it takes two to successfully finish them off. Upon getting burnt alive the first time, the monster will then crawl back to it's spawner to recharge itself, and the Hunter must collect a second torch as soon as possible and torch the monster again, otherwise it regenerates itself back to full health.

* ''Videogame/OriAndTheWillOfTheWisps'': When Ori first arrives in Niwen, you don't go too far before you find a torch, which shortly becomes useful in fending-off [[SavageWolves Howl]]. Ori ends up abandoning the torch later when you have to jump through waterfall which, naturally, douses it.

* Taking this trope to it's most literal conclusion. There's a subset of improvised firearms called matchstick guns. With [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC2BSb9MZYc several]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZGPeXH8P10 videos]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Tkb4KwanMw around]] the internet creating [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBlRmte7sCk most of them]] from [[https://youtube.com/shorts/yJLtdkm7yzA?feature=share wood]]. Although there's a few [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxJupfSzmgU made out of metal]].

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'': The opening sequence has a mob of villagers armed with TorchesAndPitchforks going into the swamp to capture Shrek for reward money. They get intimidated by him when they actually confront him but one man gathers enough courage to wave a torch in the ogre's face. Shrek simply snuffs out the torch with wetted fingers and scares them off.

* ''LightNovel/GoblinSlayer'': The main hero has used torches as {{Improvised Weapon}}s against goblins on more than one occasion.

* ''VideoGame/DarkestDungeon'': The Brigand Pounder boss is accompanied by a Matchman that lights it up if left able to take action[[labelnote:+]]i.e. alive and not stunned[[/labelnote]] in a turn, and that will be re-summoned as reinforcements if killed. Should the Pounder is destroyed and the Matchman left alive, he will use "Hot Shot", bonking the entire party with his giant match. This only deals minor damage, but can bring weakened heroes to [[LastChanceHitPoint Death's Door]] or kill them if they're already on it.

* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'': After beating King Cerberus, Dante gains a new Devil Arm aptly named [[https://devilmaycry.fandom.com/wiki/King_Cerberus_(Devil_Arm) "King Cerebrus"]], a much stronger version of his old [[https://devilmaycry.fandom.com/wiki/Cerberus_(Devil_Arm) "Cerebrus"]] Devil Arm from ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening''. Not only does it have the good ol' triple-handed nunchaku that has the element of ice, but it's also a MorphWeapon that can access three forms with their own elements (Ice, fire and lightning, which each head of King Cerebrus respectively had). One of these forms is a metal bo staff that imbued with the power of hellfire.

* ''Morgyn the Mighty'': The eponymous character is a ''Franchise/{{Tarzan}}'' {{Expy}} who had a "boy's own" adventure strip appearing in BritishComics in the early to mid [[TheTwentiethCentury twentieth century]]. In one story he fought off a gorilla that attacked him in a cave by grapping a nearby torch and smashing it into the gorilla's face.

* ''VideoGame/DragonsCrown: Torches can often be found in dark areas and provide light to explore by. The light instantly kills any ghosts that get too close. On the other hand, players should be careful swinging them around spilt oil.

* ''Film/Zorro1975'' have the titular hero and his nemesis, Colonel Huerta, dueling each other in a SwordFight in the climax, that leads both combatants into a dark room full of gears. So both combatants grabs torches on nearby walls, and DualWield their swords with flaming torches simultaneously.

A burning torch isn't just useful for finding your way in the dark. It can also be used as a weapon too. Granted, this is not a very effective weapon in real life [[LogicalWeakness given the number of ways to put out a flame.]] To say nothing of the risk of burning yourself. Therefore, this weapon is more useful for intimidation or to set something else on fire, like a puddle of oil your opponent is drowning in. Of course if the flame is generated by supernatural means, this won't be an issue.

* ''VideoGame/KillerInstinct'': Kim Wu fights with flaming [[FightingWithChucks nunchucks]].

* Certain areas in ''Videogame/{{Medievil}}'' have burning torches that Daniel can use to light his [[CarryABigStick large]] [[PrimitiveClubs club]] on fire, allowing it to inflict extra damage to certain enemies and set things on fire. In it's sequel ''Videogame/Medievil2'', Daniel gets a torch to replace the club from the previous game. It has a weak melee attack but can be ignited and used to burn enemies in certain areas.

A burning torch isn't just useful for finding your way in the dark. It can also be used as a weapon too. Granted, this is not a very effective weapon in real life [[LogicalWeakness given the number of ways to put out a flame.]] Therefore, this weapon is more useful for intimidation rather than actual melee combat or to set something else on fire, like a puddle of oil your opponent is drowning in. Of course if the flame is generated by supernatural means, this won't be an issue.

* ''VideoGame/FatalFury''[=/=]''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'': Billy Kane can set his MartialArtsStaff [[PlayingWithFire ablaze]] for extra damage. He can also use this power to create a [[EnergyRingAttack ring-shaped fire projectile.]]

* ''VideoGame/FatalFury''[=/=]''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'': Billy Kane can set his SimpleStaff [[PlayingWithFire ablaze]] for extra damage. He can also use this power to create a [[EnergyRingAttack ring-shaped fire projectile.]]

* '''Burning stick/club weapons''': Flaming staffs, batons and [[CarryABigStick clubs]]. They can either be set ablaze by an external source or burn as one of their features.

* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'': After beating King Cerberus, Dante gains a new Devil Arm aptly named [[https://devilmaycry.fandom.com/wiki/King_Cerberus_(Devil_Arm) "King Cerebrus"]], a much stronger version of his old [[https://devilmaycry.fandom.com/wiki/Cerberus_(Devil_Arm) "Cerebrus"]] Devil Arm from ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3''. Not only does it have the good ol' triple-handed nunchaku that has the element of ice, but it's also a MorphWeapon that can access three forms with their own elements (Ice, fire and lightning, which each head of King Cerebrus respectively had). One of these forms is a metal bo staff that imbued with the power of hellfire.

* ''[[ComicBook/{{Vampirella}} Vengeance of Vampirella (2019)]]'': In issue #14, Nyx has a dream in which she fights her father Chaos, who shows disapproval of her relationship with Vampirella. During the fight, Nyx grabs a burning log from the fire place and strikes Chaos with it.

* ''Film/TheSpiritOfTheSword'': The Fire Demon God wields a bronze staff shaped like a serpent which can shoot flames from its mouth.