History Main / MidSeasonUpgrade

* Crossing into RealLife, the [=PS4=] Pro and [=XBox=] 1 X were this to the UsefulNotes/{{PS4}} and UsefulNotes/XBoxOne. They play the same games (there are no [=PS4=] Pro or [=XBox1X=] exclusives), but can render 4k graphics compared to the 1080p of the base models -- not to mention they have more hard drive space.
** Nintendo themselves have dabbled in these as well. These include the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem Famicom Disk System]], the UsefulNotes/GameBoyColor, the [[UsefulNotes/Nintendo64 64 Disk Drive, the Expansion Pack]], the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoDS DSi]], and the [[UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS NEW 3DS]]. They also dabbled in an add-on for the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SNES]], but they canceled it and the project became [[UsefulNotes/PlayStation their biggest competitor.]]
** The UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis had two add-ons: the CD based UsefulNotes/SegaCD and the 32 bit UsefulNotes/Sega32X.
** Some systems can recieve quiet upgrades. The most notables are the UsefulNotes/PlayStation and the UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, the former getting better chips to allow for better handling of graphics and the latter for better battery life.

* Aside from Xbox examples mentioned above, Creator/{{Microsoft}} has dabbled themselves into this trope in form of {{Updated Rerelease}}s through each OS' lifespan. UsefulNotes/{{MSX}} had hardware-based upgrades in form of [=MSX2=] and [=MSX2+=], while its SpiritualSuccessor UsefulNotes/MicrosoftWindows receive software-based upgrades for each of its versions (3 to 3.1, 95 to 98 and [=98SE=], and recently 8 to 8.1 are some of the notable examples).
* The ''UsefulNotes/SegaGenesis'' received the Sega CD and 32X upgrade packs. However, the mishandling of the ''Saturn'' (a 32-Bit replacement for the whole mess that came out barely within a month of the 32X) ultimately killed Sega's hardware division.
* The ''UsefulNotes/Nintendo64'' received the Expansion Pak that doubled its RAM, allowing for more colors onscreen. Not bad for something intended to mitigate a GameBreakingBug in one single game.

* The titular mecha in ''Anime/AuraBattlerDunbine'' is replaced midway through the show by the new Aura Battler Billbine (as a gift, no less). It's also a textbook early example of the hand-me-downs variation, predating ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam'' by 3 years, with Dunbine becoming Marvel Frozen's mecha.
* In ''Anime/EurekaSeven'', the Nirvash is upgraded to Spec 2 standard just a ''little'' bit after the series' midpoint, allowing it to better contend with [=theEND=], as well as adding an additional vehicle mode.
* In ''Manga/FinalFantasyLostStranger'', Princess Sara knights Shogo, Rei, Sharuru, and Duston to justify their presence in her palace after they agree to stay and protect her. To go along with this, she replaces their lost gear with weapons from the Mysidian armory, giving them all a much needed upgrade in time for [[spoiler:the Magus Sisters to besiege the Mysidian Royal Cathedral with Calcabrinas.]]
* ''Literature/FullMetalPanic'' plays this trope straight. Mithril's [=M9E=] Gernsbacks are shown to be capable of opening a can of whoopass on just about every other stuff used at the time and coming out victorious (mainly due to them being third gen; in comparison, mainstream second-gen uses more-or-less real-life technology). Until, smack dab in the middle of the first season, Kurz is nearly killed when the Codarl blows his M9 to hell and back with his own shot. Conveniently, Mithril has their own SuperPrototype, the ARX-7 Arbalest (essentially an M9 with FullContactMagic capabilities) which they quickly airdrop for Sousuke. Cue [[BigBad Gauron]] getting his ass kicked. He later returns with an advanced Codarl model so that's a Mid-Season Upgrade ''for the bad guys''.
** And much later, [[spoiler:the Arbalest gets torn up by the Belial. No problem, though; it's wreck is used to birth the most badass Arm Slave ever made: the ARX-8 Laevatein]] which is somewhere between SuperPrototype and AceCustom since it's truly one-of-a-kind but it was specifically built for the pilot.
* ''Anime/{{Gravion}}'' doesn't get its upgrade until midway through the ''second'' season/series.
* The ''Anime/BraveSeries'':
** Anime/GaoGaiGar to Star [=GaoGaiGar=]. In addition to gaining giant engines (the better to operate in space), [=GaoGaiGar=] used the nacelle cowlings ''on'' the engines to beef up its RocketPunch and the Protect Shade.
** Guy starts out ''FINAL'' in the replacement mecha [=GaoFighGar=], which gets utterly totaled early in the series. After a few episodes centering around the SixthRanger King J-Der, he comes back in the [[GameBreaker patently overpowered]] [[PhysicalGod Genesic GaoGaiGar]].
** The entire series, which the above-mentioned Gaogaigar belongs to, all make heavy use of this trope. In general, the series feature one main mecha and one or two teams of combining support mecha, though occasionally this is switched up with one team of support mecha and one other stand alone mecha. Each series runs 52 episodes or there abouts. By episode 18, one of those two support mecha teams will have gained an additional (usually fourth) member, allowing all four to combine into a larger mecha. Around episode 25-27, expect the main mecha to get knocked out of action somehow, and a new hero mecha introduced to replace him in fighting evil. By episode 32, you can look forward to the original hero mecha and the new one combining into a new form (usually named "Great" Hero mecha)[[note]] Funnily enough, the aforementioned [=GaoGaiGar=] is the only exception to this since there is no new hero mecha for [=GaoGaiGar=] to combine with-- The closest thing to another robot it combines with is Goldymarg, and that's not part of the aforementioned Star [=GaoGaiGar=]. The series seems to treat the SixthRanger King J-Der kinda like one of these mecha as there's a brief period of time where Guy is out of commision, but J-Der can't combine with [=GaoGaiGar=]. [[/note]]. The other support team doesn't usually get an upgrade. Occasionally, new mecha are introduced who are either stand alone guys, or who turn into weapons for the hero mecha, giving him a second mid-season upgrade.
* In ''Anime/FutureGPXCyberFormula'', the cars get mid-season upgrades as the series progresses. For instance, Hayato's Asurada GSX is upgraded to the Super Asurada 01 in the second half of the TV series. In ''11'', it's been upgraded into the Super Asurada AKF-11, and in ''SAGA'', the car is upgraded once again into the v-Asurada AKF-0-AKF-0/G. Similar cars get the same treatment.
* ''Manga/BakusouKyoudaiLetsAndGo'', features several upgrades for each of the good guys mainly because their racing cars are occasionally trashed by [[CarFu battle cars.]] Go and Retsu each get ''two'' upgrades of Magnum (Victory Magnum and Cyclone Magnum) and Sonic (Vanguard Sonic and Hurricane Sonic) in the first season.
* Halfway through ''Anime/GearFighterDendoh'' the titular mecha is upgraded with technology copied from [[GrandTheftPrototype the captured Ogre]] to allow it to use a single pilot instead of needing two (the one actual difference between Dendoh and Ogre). [[BoringYetPractical It's very small, but considering they only had two pilots capable of piloting the mechas it effectively doubled their fighting force]].
* Miho's Panzer IV Ausf. D is the only tank from Ōarai to get an actual Mid-Season Upgrade in ''Anime/GirlsUndPanzer'', the girls swapping out its original cannon for a high velocity gun just before the semifinals (upgrading it to an Ausf. F2 configuration). The Panzer IV is upgraded again just before the FinalBattle, gaining additional armor "skirts" to make it an Ausf. H configuration. The only other tank from Ōarai to get an upgrade is Turtle Team's Panzer 38(t), which is converted into a Jagdpanzer 38(t) "Hetzer" tank destroyer before the final match.

* ''Franchise/{{Patlabor}}'':
** ''Anime/PatlaborTheTVSeries'': Almost inverted in one episode: there are plans to downgrade from the Ingram to the cheaper Economy Model Ingram mk. I, but [[SubvertedTrope its performance is simply too poor]]. Played straight for SV1, who trade in the obsolete Pythons for AV-0 Peacemakers, a mass-production version of the "Type Zero" that had appeared in ''Anime/PatlaborTheMovie''.
** ''Anime/PatlaborTheNewFiles'': The Griffon gets one, replacing its wings, which broke off after it crashed into a mountain, with a pair of back-mounted hydrojets.

* ''Fanfic/ThousandShinji'': After [[EldritchAbomination Ramiel]] melted Unit-01's armor, the [[HumongousMecha Evas]] got the L-Type Equipment: new, sturdier armor, and new, more dangerous weapons. After the first battle against Israfel, Unit-01 got a WaveMotionGun and Unit-02 a chain-axe.

* ''Fanfic/ShadowsAwakening'': About midway through the story, [[EvilSorcerer Daolon Wong]] manages to transform himself into a Shadowkhan and add their [[CastingAShadow powers]] to his own, including being able to make his own tribe of Wizard Khan. In response, Jade -- who already has Shadowkhan powers of her own thanks to [[SuperPoweredEvilSide her Queen persona]] -- also learns to make her own tribe of [[AmazonBrigade Kunoichi Khan]].

* In ''Film/TheDarkKnight'', Batman is still using his suit from ''Film/BatmanBegins'' at the beginning of the film, but after a suit malfunction during an encounter with Scarecrow, Bruce asks Lucius Fox for a more flexible suit that allows him more mobility, such as turning his head.
* ''Film/JamesBond'':
** In ''Film/{{Octopussy}}'', Bond's Walther PPK pistol is replaced with the Walther [=P5=] in this movie [[ProductPlacement as part of a deal with Walther]]. Most people didn't notice, because not only do they look similar, but also Bond refers to having "mislaid my PPK" in spite of using a P5 for the entirety of the film.
** In ''Film/TomorrowNeverDies'', Bond gets a Walther [=P99=] from Wai Lin's armoury, which he uses in every subsequent Bond film, including the ContinuityReboot of ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006'', before switching to the PPK again in ''Film/QuantumOfSolace''.
* A common occurrence in ''Franchise/StarTrek'':
** The original ''Enterprise'' is given a complete refit for ''Film/StarTrekTheMotionPicture'', changing her into a brand new, state of the art ship, complete with a more advanced bridge, warp core, an integrated deflector dish, and a set of rectangular nacelles.
** After her destruction in ''Film/StarTrekIIITheSearchForSpock'', Starfleet gifts a new ''Enterprise'' to her crew in ''Film/StarTrekIVTheVoyageHome'', the ''Enterprise''-A. It's essentially the same ship as her predecessor, but it gets retrofitted over time until her [[Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry retirement]].
** ''Film/StarTrekGenerations'' would introduce the ''A's'' successor, the ''Enterprise''-B, herself an upgrade to the ''Excelsior'' class. The most notable differences are fins on the nacelles, a reinforced deflector housing and impulse engines, and a more advanced bridge. The film also necessitated the replacement of the ''Enterprise''-D when she was destroyed, so the next film, ''Film/StarTrekFirstContact'', would feature the ''Enterprise''-E in her stead. She too would get minor tweaks over the years, mostly to her weaponry and armoring.
* In ''Film/BeverlyHillsCopII'', Billy switches out his standard service revolver for a [[HandCannon .44 Magnum]] roughly halfway through the film, reasoning that after a shootout at a nightclub that he needed more firepower. His drawing of the Magnum during a chase prompts an incredulous reaction from Axel.

* It's late in the original ''Anime/BubblegumCrisis'' (probably because the series was originally meant to be 13 episodes but only 8 were made), and also present in the remake.

* The Mark Sein in ''Anime/FafnerInTheAzureDeadAggressor''.
%%* ''Franchise/SailorMoon'' had these. Some of them are lost at the end of the season, which somewhat justifies the following SoLastSeason.
* Happens at various points in ''Anime/CodeGeass'', though rarely with actual upgrades.
** Lelouch hijacks the SuperPrototype IFX-V301 Gawain to replace his AceCustom Burai about 2/3 of the way through the first season. Said SuperPrototype gets destroyed in the season finale, and the salvaged parts are used to rebuild it into the Type-0/0A Shinkirō, which has {{Deflector Shield}}s and a BeamSpam WaveMotionGun.
** Suzaku gets a flight pack for his Z01 Lancelot in Episode 20, making the Z01/A Lancelot Air Cavalry. In the second season, Suzaku has the entirely new Z01/D Lancelot Conquista, essentially a visually similar redesign with an integrated flight system and a WaveMotionGun. The Lancelot Conquista is thrashed in its battle with Kallen Kōzuki and her Guren, so it's replaced with the [[PowerGivesYouWings winged]] Z01/Z Lancelot Albion a few episodes later; the Albion is more of an AceCustom than a SuperPrototype as it is built specifically for Suzaku. Of course, the Albion is destroyed in the final episode by Kallen and the Guren. As for the original Lancelot, it is rebuilt using spare parts into the Lancelot Frontier, which is also destroyed by Kallen very quickly.
** Speaking of Kallen, she gets two: first her Guren MKII is upgraded in the sixth episode of the second season into the Type-02/[=F1A=] Guren Flight-Enabled Type to take on the Lancelot Conquista, featuring an integrated flight system and a new right arm [[FacePalmOfDoom Radiant Wave Surger]] that's almost {{Wave Motion Gun}}/{{Kamehame Hadoken}} levels of badass. It's eventually captured by the Britannians and heavily upgraded in Episode 18 into the extremely high-spec Type-02/[=F1Z=] Guren S.E.I.T.E.N. Eight Elements, which not only features a [[LawOfChromaticSuperiority red version of the Lancelot Albion's wings]], it's right arm becomes capable of DetachmentCombat.
*** In ''Anime/CodeGeassLelouchOfTheResurrection'' movie, Lelouch initially piloted the Mahoroba Type-0 following his return as Zero but after getting it heavily damaged, C.C. brought the Gekkoei to him so that they could continue in their mission to rescue Nunnally. He and C.C. became co-pilots again, a CallBack to them co-piloting the Gawain in Season 1. Also, both Suzaku and Kallen pilots the Lancelot siN and Guren Type Special respectively, which are successor units to their final Knightmare Frames in the TV series and third CompilationMovie.
* Every ''Anime/PrettyCure'' series features a mid-season upgrade, invariably the ability to summon some item that allows the use of a more powerful attack and is [[MerchandiseDriven conveniently available in toy form.]]
** ''Anime/FreshPrettyCure'' plays with this a bit. Miki realizes she's the only one who doesn't have her upgrade yet, and spends an entire episode desperately trying to avert CantCatchUp.
** ''Anime/HeartcatchPrettyCure'' have the girls get the ''item'' they need for their upgrade, but they don't get the actual upgrade until the 3/4ths mark; they needed a fourth and she was busy being in a TenMinuteRetirement until someone told her to GetAHoldOfYourselfMan, then they had to deal with a SecretTestOfCharacter.
** ''Anime/SmilePrettyCure'' took this to ridiculous heights: they get their first upgrade just after they get the team fully formed a few episodes in, then they get the required upgrade, then they get another upgrade at the 3/4ths mark and a ''final'' one in the final episodes.
** ''Anime/HappinessChargePrettyCure'', plays with this as well. The first person to get a mid-season upgrade? Iona, after her old powers get destroyed.
** Later seasons also have the monsters start getting upgrades, too, usually adding something to their names or changing them.
* ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'''s seasons usually have their first Mega debut around the 35th to the 40th episode, and it's usually TheHero and TheLancer that gets to have this (with the exceptions of ''Anime/DigimonDataSquad'', which had all of the main fighters get a Mega ''and'' Burst Mode; and ''Anime/DigimonTamers'' with the PowerTrio and SixthRanger).

* The first two seasons of ''Anime/OjamajoDoremi'' had this. The first season just upgraded their porons, but ''Sharp'''s was a magic upgrade (complete with a brand new outfit) that could be only be used on Oyajide when he kidnapped Hana-chan.

* ''Anime/{{Macross}}'' often subverts this; whenever a character changes mecha, their new ride isn't necessarily better than their previous one:
** In ''Anime/MacrossFrontier'', Alto and Luca actually ''downgrade'' from their VF-25s to a VF-171 variant called the VF-171EX. On the plus side, this variant is specifically tuned to be an anti-Vajra upgrade. In the film adaptation, Alto then gets a genuine upgrade: The YF-29 Durandal Valkyrie.
** In ''Anime/Macross7'', [[TheHero Basara]] uses the same Valkyrie for the whole show, while [[TheLancer Gamlin's]] upgrade is practically the same unit as his first one with only a different head and different markings to show that he is a squadron commander. The only character to actually switch to a completely different mecha is Mauve Shirt Docker upgrading from a Nightmare to an Excalibur, and he's totally ineffective with it. Basara gets an true upgrade in ''Dynamite 7'' though.
** In the original ''Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross'':
*** In his first battle, the still-civilian Hikaru is on the Valkirye VF-1D trainer variant; when he's finally in the military, he gets the VF-1J ace variant, which itself gets the battroid-only upgrade for a single battle; after Roy's death, he inherits his VF-1S, which is faster and better armed than the standard ace custom, and gets a Super Pack with anti-ship reaction missiles for the final battle against Bodolza's forces.
*** Max starts with the standard VF-1A, receives a VF-1J after getting promoted, and fights the final battle with his fighter upgraded with a Super Pack.
*** Milia starts with a Meltrandi Queadluun-Rau power armor, gets downgraded to the inferior VF-1J upon joining UN Spacy (since it doesn't have any Queadluun-Raus), but fights Bodolza with her VF-1J upgraded with a Super Pack and the one thing the Queadluun-Rau never had, anti-ship missiles.

* ''Anime/TokyoMewMew'': Mew Ichigo's Strawbellbell gets an upgrade once we are through the DebutQueue, and again once they get all the Mew Aqua... so it's more of a quarter-season and three-quarter-season upgrade.
* In ''Anime/MermaidMelodyPichiPichiPitch'', once the PowerTrio gets the song ''KIZUNA'', they get instant FrillyUpgrade - and so do the AloofAlly they were saving and the girls trapped in PeopleJars, despite not doing anything. You tell me how that works.
* In ''Anime/TransformersSuperGodMasterforce'', Ginrai discovered a trailer approximately 1/3 of the way through the series, and learned to combine with it a couple of episodes later at a moment of [[DieOrFly dramatic need]]. A around the 2/3 point, he got his hands on the Godbomber, which allowed him to become even more super.
* A frequent occurrence in ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'', first with Nanoha and Fate adopting the cartridge system in ''A's''. It's usually accompanied by a new TransformationSequence for the characters as well. In ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'' the devices had limiters and were actually capable of doing things like the dagger mode of Cross Mirage as early as the time the Forwards had received them. The only sort of upgrade that happens to them is Mach Caliber being tweaked to better support Subaru.

* ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann's'' most obvious upgrade is [[MechaExpansionPack hijacking a flying Gunmen and converting it into a jetpack/mega boomerang]]. Since the jetpack was attached to Gurren's body, Gurren is also now able to fly on its own, but the series only depicts this once: [[spoiler: right as Viral is forced to detach Lagann and throw it at Granzeboma when Gurren is pinned by its CombatTentacles]].
** From the beginning, it starts off as just Simon with the Core Drill. Then, he finds Lagann, finds out the Core Drill activates it, and now has a MiniMecha. Next episode, Kamina hijacks the Gunzar, totals an arm and both legs, and tears apart two other mecha piloted by Beastmen mooks. Littner village salvages enough parts from the two wrecked mecha to rebuild Gunzar with better, more humanoid limbs, and Kamina has the mecha stylishly repainted, emblazoned with Team Dai-Gurren logos, and the swords reforged into a giant pair of boomerang glasses. He re-dubs the Gunmen "Gurren," and no faster than its debut episode, does Kamina get the idea to wedge Lagann on top to match up with Viral's two-headed Enki... and Gurren Lagann is born. On top of that, Kamina tears off Enki's helmet head by accident, plunders it, [[AwesomeMomentOfCrowning places it atop Lagann]], and completes the transformation.
** Viral's Gunmen, Enki goes through a forced downgrade. He loses his helmet to Kamina, which had a focusing lens for an energy beam weapon, losing it in the process. He remodels Enki into Enkidu, basically the same mech with an axe blade crest replacing the head. Then, he realizes the weapon's not good enough, has it removed, and replaces it with a second set of swords and arms, turning Enkidu into Enkidudu. Unfortunately, the mechs never stand up to Gurren Lagann, and after the TimeSkip, seven straight years of wear and tear cause Enkidudu to break down for good.
** It's also mentioned that most of the protagonists' Gunmen were upgraded by Makken and Leyte during the TimeSkip with new [[spoiler: Anti-Spiral]]-combative weaponry. Later, when they discover the frightening Gunmen-manufacturing capabilies of Cathedral Terra, they devise Space Gunmen, new, super-sized versions of the pilots' original Gunmen with much more firepower on tap.
** The protagonists' base also upgrades throughout the series: first is the captured Dai-Ganzan (repainted red, given a new control watchtower and a team flag, and renamed Dai-Gurren), then the Arc-Gurren (and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rfKf8JLnbY Arc-Gurren Lagann]]), then Cathedral Terra (and Super-Galaxy Gurren Lagann), and finally the [[TitleDrop Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]].
** In a subversion or parody of the usual mid-season upgrades, the new, larger and more powerful Space Gunmen everyone receives, and all the scaled up Gurren Lagann mecha are actually ''piloted by'' the original Gunmen, so it's [[MetaMecha giant robots driving even larger giant robots]]. Repeat this four times for Gurren Lagann in all its variations. And if you want to know the scale, it goes from person-sized robot, to standard mecha genre building-size robot, to New York City-sized robot, to ''planetary-sized robot,'' and finally a robot that '''''dwarfs galaxies.'''''
** Kittan has a unique combination sequence he performs with Kiyal's Kiyalunga: the latter become a shield and double-pointed spear for the former- Kittan calls the combination "King Kittan Deluxe," and he hitches a ride on the Dayyakaiser for good measure.
** The first movie adaption, ''Gurren-hen,'' gives the Beastmen Generals' fortress Gunmen a combined form, with Viral replacing Thymilph's hijacked Dai-Gunzan with a look-alike of his own. Yoko also gets a more stylized version of Dayyaka's Gunmen to fit her persona better.
** The second movie, ''Lagann-Hen'' goes as far as to not only give Yoko another new Space Gunmen take of the Dayyakaiser in the original series, but has a major alteration in plot that [[spoiler: [[SparedByTheAdaptation spares all six Space Gunmen pilots killed in episode 24 of the original anime]]]], and a huge change to the FinalBattle. This time around, Granzeboma [[CurbstompBattle tears apart Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]], only for all the pieces to form scaled-up Tengen Toppa versions of Lagann, the Space Gunmen, a fusion form of Gimmy and Darry's Grapearls, and a fused form of the Dai-Gurren and Super Galaxy Dai-Gurren. Lordgenome, however, doesn't assume a Tengen Toppa Lazengann (mainly because he's such a badass he can both fight on his own ''and'' survive the ''vacuum of space'' on his own and generate a Gunmen at will), but according to series concept drafts, one was made; basically his mecha fused with his generals' mecha and Viral's Enki. Kittan also got a Tengen Toppa mecha concept design... [[spoiler: but unfortunately, [[HeroicSacrifice his role in the series did not change...]]]]
** Finally, we have the upgrade that happens at the movie climax: The Gunmen reform back into Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann and assume an even ''bigger'' form, the Super Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, a swirling, caped humanoid mass of Spiral Energy that is [[spoiler: [[WordOfGod supposed to be Kamina reincarnated]]]] and is almost '''''UNIVERSE-SIZED.''''' On top of that, [[spoiler: Anti-Spiral]] matches the transformation with Super Granzeboma, revealing that all this time, there was an even ''greater'' extent to the race's power than the anime ever depicted. And did we mention they hold the all-time record for largest mecha ever depicted in anime, or for that matter, ''ever?'' Obviously!
* The ''[[Anime/UnicronTrilogy Transformers Unicron Trilogy]]'' is built on this trope:
** In ''Anime/TransformersArmada'' [[spoiler: Smokescreen]] is killed messily, but Red Alert makes a new body for him. Later a number of the cast members supposedly get "upgrades", but they're mostly repaints.
** The QuirkyMinibossSquad of Tidal Wave (later Mirage), Cyclonus (later Snowcat) and Demolishor (who is...still Demolishor) get new bodies in''Anime/TransformersEnergon''. The repaint issue shows up again.
** Overhaul gets upgraded to the lion Leobreaker in ''Anime/TransformersCybertron''. Red Alert, Hot Shot, and Scattorshot are given new bodies when they become the Cybertron Defense Team.
* In ''Manga/FinalFantasyLostStranger'', Princess Sara knights Shogo, Rei, Sharuru, and Duston to justify their presence in her palace after they agree to stay and protect her. To go along with this, she replaces their lost gear with weapons from the Mysidian armory, giving them all a much needed upgrade in time for [[spoiler:the Magus Sisters to besiege the Mysidian Royal Cathedral with Calcabrinas.]]
* Chachamaru in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' gains one of these after her GadgeteerGenius creator [[MadScientist Hakase]] gathered the observed battle-data of the [[SchoolFestival previous arc]]. Among a few new weapons and a speed upgrade, one major aesthetic improvement has her concealing her mechanical joints with softer, more realistic skin. She still has a set of [[UnusualEars antenna ears]] on her head, so its not hard to figure out she's a robot.
* Chor Tempest in ''Anime/{{Simoun}}'' suffers a mid-season ''downgrade'' from the ''[[CoolShip Arcus Prima]]'' to the ''Messis'' when the former ship is sabotaged.
* ''Anime/MazingerZ'' and his sequels:
** Mazinger Z was routinely upgraded to allow it fight on different enviroments successfully or to endow it with new weapons to fight increasingly powerful enemies. The most prominent of those upgrades was the [[RazorWings Jet Scrander]]. Sayaka's robot -Aphrodite A- also got upgraded in the third episode with [[TorpedoTits its signature missiles]], and in one of the last episodes Sayaka got her upgrade to Diana A.
** ''Anime/GreatMazinger'' got the Great Booster (a JetPack increased its speed and was endowed with a retractable spike could be used to impale enemies with) relatively late in the series.
** ''Anime/UFORoboGrendizer'' got upgraded throughout the series with several attachable, flying vehicles allowed it maneouvering more easily in space, in sea or underground: Double Spacer -piloted by [[TheLancer Kouji]]-, Marine Spacer -piloted by [[LoveInterest Hikaru]]- and Drill Spacer -piloted by [[WarriorPrince his sister Maria]].
** ''Anime/{{Mazinkaiser}}'' subverts and plays straight this trope. Kouji Kabuto gets the upgrade from Anime/MazingerZ to Mazinkaiser in the first episode and doesn't get his Kaiser Scrander upgrade until the final episode. However, Sayaka Yumi gets her upgrade from Aphrodite Ace to Venus Ace in episode 3.
* The titular mecha in ''Anime/AuraBattlerDunbine'' is replaced midway through the show by the new Aura Battler Billbine (as a gift, no less). It's also a textbook early example of the hand-me-downs variation, predating ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam'' by 3 years, with Dunbine becoming Marvel Frozen's mecha.
* ''Literature/FullMetalPanic'' plays this trope straight. Mithril's [=M9E=] Gernsbacks are shown to be capable of opening a can of whoopass on just about every other stuff used at the time and coming out victorious (mainly due to them being third gen; in comparison, mainstream second-gen uses more-or-less real-life technology). Until, smack dab in the middle of the first season, Kurz is nearly killed when the Codarl blows his M9 to hell and back with his own shot. Conveniently, Mithril has their own SuperPrototype, the ARX-7 Arbalest (essentially an M9 with FullContactMagic capabilities) which they quickly airdrop for Sousuke. Cue [[BigBad Gauron]] getting his ass kicked. He later returns with an advanced Codarl model so that's a Mid-Season Upgrade ''for the bad guys''.
** And much later, [[spoiler:the Arbalest gets torn up by the Belial. No problem, though; it's wreck is used to birth the most badass Arm Slave ever made: the ARX-8 Laevatein]] which is somewhere between SuperPrototype and AceCustom since it's truly one-of-a-kind but it was specifically built for the pilot.
* ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'':
** After getting hit and partly melted by Ramiel's laser beam, Unit-00 was outfitted with new armor and weapon-carrying capabilities.
** Unit 01 gains an S2 (Super Solenoid) Engine, the core that gives the Angels endless energy, allowing it to become both self-sustained and self-aware. However, the upgrade is acquired by [[spoiler:devouring the organ right from an still-breathing Angel's guts.]]
** Unit-02 got special, heat-proof armor in an episode. Said armor resembled a scuba diver suit.

* Partway through the second season of ''Manga/InitialD'', Takumi's [=AE86=] Trueno [[spoiler:[[HeroicRROD breaks down]] ([[HeroicBSOD along with him]])]] and gets an engine swap. [[spoiler:His father [[TricksterMentor lets this to happen]] so as to force Takumi to accept the swap.]]
* Subverted with ''Anime/TigerAndBunny'''s [[SuperMode Good Luck Mode]], a modification Doc Saito added to Kotetsu and Barnaby's PoweredArmor in episode 5. What does it do, exactly? [[spoiler:Absolutely nothing. Except make them look cooler]].

* ''Anime/YuGiOhCapsuleMonsters'' has Yami's ability to merge with his monsters in the fifth episode. Dark Magician evolves into Magician of Black Chaos in the eighth, and stays that way.
* In ''Anime/{{Xabungle}}'', Jiron goes from the titular mech to the Walker Gallia. To note: this is ''the first'' mid-season upgrade for the RealRobot genre.
* The titular mecha of ''Anime/MetalArmorDragonar'' get attachments that give more missiles and the ability to fly midway through the show, though they feature prominently in the opening from the very beginning.

* ''Anime/PanzerWorldGalient'': Galient got "Assault Galient", a combination of assault rifle and ShoulderCannon.

* Rare Non-mecha example: Mid-way of ''Anime/RurouniKenshin's'' Kyoto Arc, Kenshin's Sakabatou Kageuchi got broken in his first match against Soujirou Seta. He then receives the Sakabatou Shinuichi from the son of both sakabatou's forger. The Shinuichi has better quality than the Kageuchi, as shown during Kenshin and Soujirou's rematch: where the latter's new sword (which has better quality than the one he used to break the Shinuichi) got broken by the Shinuichi while the former's new sakabatou didn't even received a scratch in the process.
* The hero of ''Manga/TentaiSenshiSunred'' has his Firebird Form, which gets introduced in episode 14, but the whole series is an AffectionateParody of {{Toku}} so it is unceremoniously revealed after Red's amicable archenemy spots a drab cardboard box with "Firebird Form" written on it in Red's closet, which is then pushed further back into the closet as soon as Red explains this trope to him. Viewers just get to see it in action in the opening credits sequence. The same thing happens with "Prominence Form" in season 2, but that doesn't even get a joke scene dedicated to it.
* ''Literature/RebuildWorld'': Akira gets improved equipment relatively frequently both in replacements and upgraded variants, usually after the old ones were lost somehow. These consist of new guns, ammo types, PoweredArmor, vehicles, and eventually swords. Most of these Akira has ordered by his FriendlyShopkeeper Shizuka and he even gets some equipment [[CorporateSponsoredSuperhero brand sponsorship deals.]]
* Zigzagged in TheAnimeOfTheGame for ''VideoGame/{{Medabots}}'' when Spyke of the Screws upgrades his Medabot by swapping its Cyandog chassis for a Krosserdog chassis. Playing the trope straight, Krosserdog ''does'' have better stats than Cyandog. Subverting the trope is the fact that this actually does nothing to address Spyke's fundamental issue, which is that he's trying to use a hand-to-hand specialist Monkey medal in a '''shooting-focused''' Dog chassis. Meaning that even though his Medabot's base states have gone up, ''it still sucks in combat''. The fact Spyke made this decision whilst consciously knowing about the medal-chassis incompatibility bumps him from WillfullyWeak to [[IdiotBall just plain stupid]].

** ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam'' was the TropeCodifier, with Kamille Bidan first piloting the Gundam Mk. II and then transferred mid-season to the eponymous Zeta Gundam. Emma Sheen later pilots the Mk. II as a replacement for her Rick Dias--which itself was a hand-me-down from Quattro after he replaced it with the Zeta's FlawedPrototype the Hyaku Shiki.

*** In Destiny, Kira keeps the Freedom but because of the peace treaty that limited use of certain technologies by the Earth Alliance and [=ZAFT=], it is still the most powerful suit on the battlefield until Shinn exploits Kira's reluctance to kill and successfully destroys it. Kira then upgrades to the Strike Freedom that allows him to be the biggest threat once again. Athrun initially has the Saviour which is inferior to the Justice which was destroyed at the end of the last series. The Saviour is destroyed around the half way mark but Athrun doesn't get his upgrade, the Infinite Justice until much later and spends a lot of time out of commission. Initially, the Legend was intended for him but this did not play out as he defects from [=ZAFT=].
*** Mu La Flaga initially pilots a space-bound Mobius Zero and switches to a Skygrasper when they return to Earth. When the Strike is rebuilt, he keeps it. Similarly, Cagalli pilots a Skygrasper on occasion but upgrades to the Strike Rouge. In the sequel, Cagalli gets a much better suit, the Akatsuki but she doesn't pilot it for long. Neo Roanoke who initially piloted a Mobeius Zero and Windam [[spoiler:and is actually Mu La Flaga]] ends up piloting the Akatsuki.

** In ''Series/UltramanGaia'', Gamu receives Ultraman Agul's light from Fujimiya [[spoiler:when he gives up the mantle of Ultraman Agul]] about halfway through the series, allowing Ultraman Gaia to use some of Agul's powers.

The second half of the second season introduces an unusual twist: [[spoiler:Suletta ''loses'' Aerial entirely, because the suit is sapient and chooses to side with Prospera. When Suletta gets back in action, she's left with the Calibarn, which is little more than an [[BreakOutTheMuseumPiece outdated]] [[FlawedPrototype proof of concept machine]] which is incredibly dangerous to pilot, and its equipment is positively spartan compared to the Aerial, being just a single beam cannon and a booster. This makes the whole thing more of an [[InvertedTrope end of season downgrade]] that is supported by Suletta's piloting skills and its crazy unfiltered GUND-Format system.]]

*** The last 2 episodes of first season have the Gundam Aerial being repaired and upgraded into Gundam Aerial Rebuild, which adds on additional boosters and replaces the original beam rifle with a ''much'' larger one that can combine with Aerial's bits to fire a WaveMotionGun.\\
What's interesting to note is that Aerial is ''also'', like the Turn A, unlocking more power over the course of the series by pushing the GUND Format to higher Permet Scores. They don't visibly change the suit, but are much more important to the plot.
*** Guel's suits have an interesting history: he starts the series dueling Suletta with an AceCustom Dilanza, but then upgrades to the unique prototype Darilbalde just a few episodes later for a rematch. After he loses again, Jeturk House don't let Guel use ''any'' mobile suit, so he fights his next duel in another, stolen Dilanza--which runs ''worse'' than his old one because it was tuned to be used by his brother. It's not until midway into the second season that Guel gets back his Darilbalde, which then has four {{Attack Drone}}s instead of two and makes the arm-mounted shields larger.
*** Late in the second season, [[spoiler:Norea's attack on Asticassia]] destroys Chuchu's AceCustom Demi Trainer, so Secelia lets her borrow her family's Demi Barding, the newest prototype from the same mobile suit line. The suits are similar enough that Chuchu [[FallingIntoTheCockpit can immediately, expertly use it]] [[spoiler:once Nika returns to Earth House and tunes it properly]].
*** [[spoiler:Played with in regards to Suletta's final suit, the Gundam Calibarn. First it takes place right before the final battle against Ericht and Prospera rather than at the middle of the season. Second is that the Calibarn is little more than an [[BreakOutTheMuseumPiece outdated]] [[FlawedPrototype proof of concept machine]] which is incredibly dangerous to pilot, and its equipment is positively spartan compared to the Aerial, being just a single beam cannon and a booster. This makes the whole thing more of an end of season downgrade that is supported by Suletta's piloting skills and its crazy unfiltered GUND-Format system]].

** ''Anime/ZoidsGenesis'' to most of the protagonist units -- except the main one, which already had its own [[TransformingMecha powers]].

** The original ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness never has the original Gundam replaced or rebuilt]], only giving passive modifications that aren't visibly apparent. ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam0080WarInThePocket'' [[LampshadeHanging acknowledges this absence]], showing the Gundam Alex was supposed to be given to Amuro for the final battle of the One Year War, but Zeon commandos ultimately destroyed it before it could finish testing. Note that in [[Literature/MobileSuitGundam Tomino's novelization]], Amuro ''does'' upgrade to the RX-78-3 "G-3" Gundam, a similar model to the RX-78-2 with magnetic coating on its joints, among other upgrades to let it keep up better with his heightening [[PsychicPowers Newtype reflexes]] (in the anime, they just apply said coating to his RX-78-2).

** The last 2 episodes of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamTheWitchFromMercury'''s first season/cour has the Gundam Aerial being repaired and upgraded into Gundam Aerial Rebuild. With the story continuing on second season/cour, it's a sure thing that Aerial will either receive more upgrades or it will be replaced by a successor unit instead (and if that's the case, said successor will receive its own upgrades too).

* Then there are the Alter upgrades in ''Anime/{{S cry ed}}''.

* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:
** Tony Stark has a tendency to do this in the ''Film/IronMan'' movies, as he is constantly tinkering his PoweredArmor which results in a PerpetualBeta situation where each armor is field testing unproven tech. In the first movie, he goes through two early versions of his armor before developing his working all-purpose iconic armor, but also upgrades his chest-mounted arc reactor to increase its power output. When his newer reactor is stolen from him, he was forced to rely [[BreakOutTheMuseumPiece on the earlier underpowered version]] for [[WorfHadTheFlu the climactic fight]]. In the second movie he has a more has to engineer a new atomic element to fix a fatal flaw in that reactor, which he uses alongside his newest armor upgrade.
*** Also Rhodey becomes ComicBook/WarMachine by taking Tony's Mark II armor (the second prototype) and upgrading by the military in the second movie. The third movie has a modified "Iron Patriot" paint scheme used for PR reasons, but most later movies have him in the basic, original, War Machine colors. In ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' he used the same armor for most of the movie, but for the climax deployed in an even heavier looking armor that emulates the tech advances Tony had been using.
*** ''Film/IronMan3''. Building new suits became his coping mechanism to deal with the PTSD of his near-death experience in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', reaching ''42'' suits. He found comfort in tinkering around his workshop, but the problem became a lack of proper testing and faulty mechanics.

*** [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'', where Cap ditches his black ops uniform (in a deleted scene it's revealed that it had a tracker on it) and switches back to his World War II uniform. Notably, unlike the new uniform the old one is ''not'' bulletproof, resulting in a serious injury in the climax.
*** ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'' has most of the Avengers with new costumes and tech courtesy of Tony Stark. ComicBook/TheFalcon has a new wing suit with built-in missiles, transformable wings and a high-tech drone, ComicBook/BlackWidow has wrist-mounted weapons that launch miniature tasers, War Machine has a new armor with even ''more'' weaponry and ComicBook/ScarletWitch now has a proper costume instead of street clothes. In an inversion, Captain America no longer has his magnetic gauntlet from ''Age of Ultron''. Spider-Man is an odd case as it is revealed he's been in action for awhile in a homemade suit and is given his upgrade in his first onscreen appearance.
** ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' has Tony using the Mark VI armor from the end of the second movie, but is forced to use a mostly untested Mark VII for the climax. SHIELD gives ComicBook/CaptainAmerica a new, modern uniform to replace his World War II outfit.
*** All of the original Avengers in ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'', except Thor. Iron Man has yet another new suit (three of them, even), Captain America now has an electromagnetic gauntlet that allows him to remotely retrieve his shield, ComicBook/BlackWidow has electric stun batons and a new costume with glowing TronLines, and ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}} has a new costume and an even larger arsenal of {{Trick Arrow}}s. Even ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk gets a new pair of stretchy pants!
*** ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' sees ComicBook/SpiderMan don a new high-tech suit that's inspired by his Iron Spider armor from the comics. Tony uses his most advance PoweredArmor yet, using NanoMachines from the chestpiece to let it construct around him and produce new weapons and other devices instantaneously. [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]] also gets a powerful new axe called Stormbreaker, which serves a replacement for his hammer, which got destroyed during ''Film/ThorRagnarok''.
** In ''Film/{{Black Panther|2018}}'', Shuri gives T'Challa a new suit that uses NanoMachines to act as a suit of InstantArmor. It also lets him absorb and redistribute kinetic energy, making him even more dangerous.
* In the ''Film/{{Transformers}}'' live-action movies, Bumblebee changes from a beat-up 70's Camaro into a brand-new 2009 Camaro, and the sequel the twins go from being an ice cream truck to Chevy compacts.
** In [[Film/TransformersAgeOfExtinction the fourth movie,]] Bumblebee goes through two different forms (a mostly black and worn out 1967 Camaro and a 2014 concept Camaro), and Optimus likewise goes through two vehicle modes after ditching his Peterbilt form from the first three movies, taking the shape of a [[Franchise/TransformersGeneration1 G1-evocative]] Marmon 97 truck while in hiding, then becoming a Western Star once he takes on his new, more knightly appearance.
* In ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' Batman is still using his suit from ''Film/BatmanBegins'' at the beginning of the film, but after a suit malfunction during an encounter with Scarecrow, Bruce asks Lucius Fox for a more flexible suit that allows him more mobility, such as turning his head.
* Film/JamesBond:

* ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'' plays this trope straight. Mithril's [=M9E=] Gernsbacks are shown to be capable of opening a can of whoopass on just about every other stuff used at the time and coming out victorious (mainly due to them being third gen; in comparison, mainstream second-gen uses more-or-less real-life technology). Until, smack dab in the middle of the first season, Kurz is nearly killed when the Codarl blows his M9 to hell and back with his own shot. Conveniently, Mithril has their own SuperPrototype, the ARX-7 Arbalest (essentially an M9 with FullContactMagic capabilities) which they quickly airdrop for Sousuke. Cue [[BigBad Gauron]] getting his ass kicked. He later returns with an advanced Codarl model so that's a Mid-Season Upgrade ''for the bad guys''.

* ''LightNovel/RebuildWorld'': Akira gets improved equipment relatively frequently both in replacements and upgraded variants, usually after the old ones were lost somehow. These consist of new guns, ammo types, PoweredArmor, vehicles, and eventually swords. Most of these Akira has ordered by his FriendlyShopKeeper Shizuka and he even gets some equipment [[CorporateSponsoredSuperhero brand sponsorship deals.]]

** The original ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness never has the original Gundam replaced or rebuilt]], only giving passive modifications that aren't visibly apparent. ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam0080WarInThePocket'' [[LampshadeHanging acknowledges this absence]], showing why the Gundam Alex was supposed to be given to Amuro for the final battle of the One Year War, but Zeon commandos ultimately destroyed it before it could finish testing. Note that in [[Literature/MobileSuitGundam Tomino's novelization]], Amuro ''does'' upgrade to the RX-78-3 "G-3" Gundam, a similar model to the RX-78-2 with magnetic coating on its joints, among other upgrades to let it keep up better with his heightening [[PsychicPowers Newtype reflexes]] (in the anime, they just apply said coating to his RX-78-2).

** The original ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness never has the original Gundam replaced or rebuilt]], only giving passive modifications that aren't visibly apparent. ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam0080WarInThePocket'' [[LampshadeHanging acknowledges this absence]], showing why the Gundam Alex was supposed to be given to Amuro for the final battle of the One Year War, but Zeon commandos ultimately destroyed it before it could finish testing. Note that in [[Literature/MobileSuitGundam in Tomino's novelization]], Amuro ''does'' upgrade to the RX-78-3 "G-3" Gundam, a similar model to the RX-78-2 with magnetic coating on its joints, among other upgrades to let it keep up better with his heightening [[PsychicPowers Newtype reflexes]] (in the anime, they just apply said coating to his RX-78-2).

** Because ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' was [[{{Frankenslation}} utilizing multiple Sentai shows]], the new weapons and mecha were functional mostly for running out of footage of the previous mecha. In a form of LuckyTranslation, the similarities in mecha designs between Zyuranger and Dairanger made for a near seemless evolution between the dinozords and the thunderzords.

** Lelouch hijacks the SuperPrototype IFX-V301 Gawain to replace his ace custom mecha about 2/3 of the way through the first season. Said SuperPrototype gets destroyed in the season finale, and the salvaged parts are used to rebuild it into the Type-0/0A Shinkirō which has {{Deflector Shield}}s and a BeamSpam WaveMotionGun.
** Suzaku gets a flight pack for his Z01 Lancelot in episode 20 (Z01/A Lancelot Air Cavalry). In the second season, Suzaku has the entirely new Z01/D Lancelot Conquista, essentially a visually similar redesign with an integrated flight system and a WaveMotionGun. The Lancelot Conquista is thrashed in it's first battle with the Guren SEITEN so it's replaced with the [[PowerGivesYouWings winged]] Z01/Z Lancelot Albion a few episodes later; the Albion is more of an AceCustom than a SuperPrototype as it is built specifically for Suzaku. The Albion is destroyed in the final episode. As for the original Lancelot, it is rebuilt using spare parts into the Lancelot Frontier which is destroyed very quickly.
** Kallen gets two: first her Guren Mk-II is upgraded in the sixth episode of the second season (Type-02/[=F1A=] Guren Kashōshiki) to take on the Lancelot Conquista, featuring an integrated flight system and a new right arm radiant wave surger that's almost {{Wave Motion Gun}}/{{Kamehame Hadoken}} levels of badass. It's eventually captured by the Britannians and heavily upgraded in episode 18 into the extremely high-spec Type-02/[=F1Z=] Guren [[FunWithAcronyms S.E.I.T.E.N.]] which not only features a [[LawOfChromaticSuperiority red version of the Lancelot Albion's wings]], it's right arm becomes capable of DetachmentCombat.

** ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam'' was the TropeCodifier, with Kamille Bidan first piloting the Gundam Mk. II and then transferred mid-season to the eponymous Zeta Gundam. Emma Sheen later pilots the Mk. II as a replacement for her Rick Dias.

** Wing Zero was first piloted by ''Quatre'', and passed through most of the main cast before becoming the official mobile suit for the original Wing Gundam pilot Heero. While counted as an upgrade, the Wing Zero is actually the [[SuperPrototype predecessor unit]] to the initial five colony Gundams.
** Heero was the first pilot for the Epyon, and trades it to Zechs for the Wing Zero.

** The original ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness never has the original Gundam replaced or rebuilt]], only giving passive modifications that aren't visibly absent. ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam0080WarInThePocket'' [[LampshadeHanging acknowledges this absence]], showing why the Gundam Alex was supposed to be given to Amuro for the final battle of the One Year War, but Zeon commandos ultimately destroyed it before it could finish testing. Note that in [[Literature/MobileSuitGundam in Tomino's novelization]], Amuro ''does'' upgrade to the RX-78-3 "G-3" Gundam, a similar model to the RX-78-2 with magnetic coating on its joints, among other upgrades to let it keep up better with his heightening [[PsychicPowers Newtype reflexes]] (in the anime, they just apply said coating to his RX-78-2).

* In ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' fanspeak it happens in almost every series except for [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam the original]] (which only had a passive modification for the first mobile suit, not a replacement).

** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamThe08thMSTeam'' has fun with this trope, giving protagonist Shiro what can only best be described as a "side-grade", with his damaged Ground-type Gundam being repaired into the "Ez-8", a kitbash using whatever spare parts were available just trying to get the thing running again, that nonetheless slightly outperformed its original incarnation.
*** The antagonists' ''Apsalus'' mobile armor plays the trope straight and hard, getting ''two'' upgrade over the course of 12 episodes. This one is justified by the Apsalus being an experimental new weapon in active development and testing — the first two versions were work-in-progress prototypes.
** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam0080WarInThePocket'' was actually a LampshadeHanging of this trope, showing why the original anime [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness never used this trope]] (the Gundam Alex was supposed to be given to Amuro for the final battle of the One Year War, but Zeon commandos ultimately destroyed it before it could finish testing). Note though that only the actual anime lacked this trope; in the {{novelization}}, Amuro ''did'' upgrade to the RX-78-3 "G-3" Gundam, a similar model to the RX-78-2 with magnetic coating on its joints, among other upgrades to let it keep up better with his heightening [[PsychicPowers Newtype reflexes]] (in the anime, they just apply said coating to his -2).

** [[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam The V2 Gundam]] is a straight example of this, even though the protagonist would still occasionally pilot the previous model or even an enemy unit.

** And of course, there's ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Gundam Wing]]'', in which each of the six primary pilots gets a mid-season upgrade. Played with in that Wing Zero was first piloted by ''Quatre'', and passed through most of the main cast before becoming the official mobile suit for the original Wing Gundam pilot Heero. In fact, Heero was the original pilot for the Epyon, and trades with Zechs as at that point he was piloting Wing Zero. While counted as an upgrade, the Wing Zero is actually the [[SuperPrototype predecessor unit]] to the initial five colony Gundams.
*** Trowa's Heavyarms and Quatre's Sandrock technically get upgraded, but this mostly just consists of making them space-worthy by tacking on a few extra thrusters and slightly improving their firepower[[note]]Heavyarms gaining a second Gatling gun and Sandrock getting a beam submachine gun, but losing its [[PowerPincers Cross Crusher]] weapon since the backpack was modified[[/note]]. This seems to be mainly because Heavyarms and Sandrock remained relatively intact over the course of the story, while Deathscythe and Shenlong were outright destroyed by OZ and had to be rebuilt from the ground up into Deathscythe Hell and Altron.

Compare to the MechaExpansionPack, which may just be adding a JetPack to the existing machine. May overlap with SuperMode or TimeToUnlockMoreTruePotential, but those can just be linear performance improvements, although developing new superpowers or adding new features to old abilities may count. See also NextTierPowerUp.

In a series dealing with mecha (or CoolShip / CoolCar), typically anime, it's common for the important machines to be upgraded with a MechaExpansionPack with a MeaningfulRename or replaced with a brand new version about halfway through the storyline. The original is either damaged, destroyed, served as the base skeleton of the new model or retired entirely because of [[LensmanArmsRace the escalating technology of the conflict]]. It may also be that the machine was [[FlawedPrototype a work in progress]], with the newer version a better realization of its' capabilities.