History Main / NecessaryDrawback

** Izuku and All Might's Quirk, [[SuperStrength One For All]], requires careful control to use. Concentrating too much power into one body part can result in grievous injury.

** Tokoyami's Quirk, [[CastingAShadow Dark Shadow]], is affected by the surrounding level of light. Bright lights make his Quirk weaker, but easier to control; while dark surroundings make it harder to control, but stronger.

** Todoroki's Quirk, [[AnIcePerson Half-Cold]] [[PlayingWithFire Half-Hot]], balance each other out. If Todoroki overuses one of his powers, it can weaken him, such as becoming more sluggish from overusing his ice powers.

* In the ''Manga/OnePiece'' fanfic, ''Fanfic/ThisBites'', [[spoiler:Princess Vivi]] gains the power of the Sovereign's Will. The Sovereign's Will is a variation of Conquorer's Haki that [[CompellingVoice forces the listener to obey her commands for a brief time,]] but comes with an additional requirement to work. Like Conquorer's Haki, [[spoiler:Vivi]] has to impose her will on another, but that person must also ''respect'' her and her authority, or her Will won't affect them.

* The [[PrestigeClass advanced vocations]] in ''VideoGame/DragonsDogma'' enhance aspects of their base class, but at a cost. The Warrior can inflict greater damage with [[{{BFS}} greatswords]] and [[DropTheHammer warhammers]], but cannot use shields to bolster their defenses like Fighters, and their heavy weapons can leave them vulnerable to bosses. Rangers can fight well from long distances with longbows and have a wide array of skills to disrupt enemies, but their melee capabilities pale in comparison to Striders, making them less flexible. Sorcerors have access to the most damaging attack spells in the game, but sacrifice their healing abilities as Mages to use them.

* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'':
** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable Diamond is Unbreakable]]'':
*** Josuke's Crazy Diamond lets him [[HealingHands restore anything]], but it does come with some limitations. Firstly, he can't use it on himself since he would be NighInvulnerable otherwise. Secondly, while he can mend grievous injuries, he cannot bring back the dead, meaning if he's not fast enough, then the person stays dead.
*** Yoshikage Kira can only have one bomb activated from Killer Queen, no matter the type, can be active at a time. While "standard" bombs can be deactivated at will in order to "make space" for a new one, Sheer Heart Attack has to be manually retrieved by Kira before being deactivated.
** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind Golden Wind]]'': Giorno's Gold Experience can only change inorganic material into small animals or body parts to heal himself or his allies — the biggest being a fish to pull himself and Mista ashore. Otherwise, Giorno would be utilizing much larger animals to fight with.
** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStoneOcean Stone Ocean]]'': Pucci's Whitesnake can extract discs from people's heads, but not from their Stand. This is an exception to the general rule where someone can affect a Stand User by targeting their Stand.
** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureJoJolion JoJolion]]'': Josuke's Invisible & Explosive Spin is essentially an attack that can pass and travel through anything, but cannot be controlled and can only be shot directly out from his birthmark. To counteract this, Josuke relies on Yasuho and Paisley Park's guidance ability, using the route her Stand took through the internet and phone signals.
** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureTheJoJoLands The JoJoLands]]'': Usagi's Stand is able to make anything. But what stops The Matte Kudasai from being too strong is that it can only trigger its ability if someone wishes for something they want, not what he wants.
* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'':
** Sage Mode is a powerful SuperMode that grants the user super strength, super toughness, and the ability to [[SensorCharacter sense people]] for miles by adding nature energy to the mix of physical and mental energy that forms Chakra. It is, however, [[DifficultButAwesome very hard to learn]], with [[TheMentor Jiraiya]] having trained for forty years but only being capable of an imperfect form that comes with [[LittleBitBeastly frog traits]]. Nature energy is far more potent than the energy a single person generates, and [[RequiredSecondaryPowers unless they have major Chakra reserves already]] the nature energy eventually [[TakenForGranite turns them to stone]]. Sage Mode’s biggest drawback is that one is required to sit completely still to collect Nature Energy and can only use as much energy as they can collect. Naruto finds a way around this by preparing shadow clones in advance to refill his power supply, though he eventually masters Sage Mode enough to enter it near-instantly and keep it active for much longer.
** Naruto's Nine-Tailed Chakra Mode draws its power from a finite amount of energy stolen during a duel with [[EnemyWithin the Nine-Tailed Fox itself]]. Using this mode ran the risk that the Fox would consume Naruto's chakra in turn, to the point where he could die from chakra exhaustion. The biggest complication, however, was that Naruto’s signature technique of dividing his power among an army of shadow clones would accelerate the process and so he was suddenly much more restricted in its usage. [[spoiler:However, after he and Kurama become partners there aren't any risks to the form, and it can even be used as a FantasticLightSource.]]
** The powers of the [[MasterOfIllusion Mangekyo]] [[MindRape Sharingan]] cost a staggering amount of Chakra to use [[spoiler: and will eventually blind the user. This drawback actually affects the villainous [[TheDreaded Itachi]] far more than his ‘[[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor heroic]]’ brother Sasuke. Itachi’s [[DramaPreservingHandicap low chakra reserves]] mean that he can only use the Mangekyo three times a day if he doesn't want to collapse. The only way to get rid of the drawback is a transplant from another [[MagicalEye Sharingan]] user who has achieved Mangekyo. When he is briefly resurrected as an Edo Tensei, Itachi circumvents the drawback with unlimited chakra and regeneration]].

* In ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'', Zenitsu's Thunder Breathing technique and its SuperSpeed are limited by severe muscle fatigue that makes it incredibly difficult to perform moves consecutively in this style.

* Played with in ''Manga/HunterXHunter'', as the Nen users can intentionally give their abilities specific downsides or limitations, which directly results in a massive powerup to the ability. For instance, Kurapika Kurta made a Nen Contract to only use Chain Jail on the Phantom Troupe with a penalty of his power killing him if he uses it on anyone else. The result is an ability that can restrain someone with SuperStrength [[PowerNullifier in addition to shutting down all their Nen abilities]], but it only works on a ''very'' small group of people.

* The ''Manga/{{Guyver}}'' Biobooster Armour has a neat sliding scale of power vs speed, with a ChestBlaster on one end of the scale that can destroy mountains but requires the wearer to open his chest with his own hands and takes several seconds to charge up.
* Firing the WaveMotionGun in ''Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato'' requires that the ship's engines be taken offline, leaving her a sitting target immediately before and after each shot.

* ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' explains the nature of the specific weakness of the bosses to the obtainable weapons. [[OriginalCharacter Dr. Fujiwara]] (who in this story is the proper creator of reploids in lieu of Dr. Cain) intentionally designed the Maverick Hunters who'd eventually go rogue with weapon chips compatible with X, so that he could be his top enforcer once he'd gotten them, as well as giving each one of the Maverick Hunters who'd follow Sigma into his rebellion a specific built-in weakness to make this process even easier.

** Sage Mode; Whilst Chakra is formed from a person's Mental Energy mixed with their physical energy, Sage Mode adds in Nature Energy, adding even more potency, super strength, super toughness, and the ability to [[SensorCharacter sense people]] for miles. It is, however, [[DifficultButAwesome very hard to learn]], [[TheMentor Jiraiya]] has trained for forty years yet still gets [[LittleBitBeastly frog traits]] whilst using it. Nature energy is far more potent than the energy a single person generates, [[RequiredSecondaryPowers unless they have major Chakra reserves already]] the nature energy ends up overpowering them and turning them to stone, [[LiteralGenie making them 'one with nature' literally]]. Its biggest drawback. however, is how to collect Nature Energy you are required to sit completely still and only lasts as long as you don't burn through your reserves. The title character finds a way around this, using a limited number of clones he prepared in advance to refill his powers with, simply staying perfectly still as the clone bursts to send its power to his real body. His weaknesses to these modes do go away: Naruto can enter Sage Mode near-instantly and keep it active for a relatively long time later on.
** Naruto's Nine-Tailed Chakra Mode, power stolen from a duel with the fox himself. Not only was the amount stolen finite, but ran the risk was that the Kyubi would consume Naruto's chakra to the point where he could die from chakra exhaustion. The fact was that Naruto's trademark technique Kage Bushin, divides his power into many bodies would accelerate the process, thus he could only use it sparingly. [[spoiler:However, after he and Kurama become partners there aren't any risks to the form, and it can even be used as a FantasticLightSource.]]
** The powers of the Mangekyo Sharingan have a drawback that they cost a staggering amount of Chakra to use [[spoiler: and they will eventually blind the user. The former doesn't affect Sasuke as much as it affects Itachi, who with his low chakra reserves can only use the MS three times a day if he doesn't want to collapse. The only way to get rid of the drawback is an MS transplant, which gives the user the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan-which only Sasuke and Madara have]]. Itachi doesn't have the drawback as an Edo Tensei due to unlimited chakra and regeneration.

* In ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'', as the series progresses Zenitsu steadily becomes one of the fastest beings in the story; but the drawbacks of his Thunder Breathing techniques never fade away. Zenitsu only works around making the extreme muscle fatigue on his legs take longer to kick in after continuous usage of his abilities. That limitation is put into place so Zenitsu doesn't become an untouchable speedster without limits - otherwise he would be an unparalleled demon slayer, with very few equals.
* ''Manga/InuYasha'' learned how to use the wind scar technique at any time, instead of using it only when he could sense the right moment. But from that point on, he encountered enemies who were able to defend against or reflect it, thus making it most useful for slaughtering mooks rather than villains like Naraku.

* The most common explanation of the silver age ''ComicBook/GreenLantern'''s inability to affect yellow objects was that his ring and power battery had a "necessary impurity" in their composition.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Invincible|2021}}'': Eve's potential is immense but the setting makes it so her powers do tax her body the more she uses it beyond just creating light constructs, she using her matter manipulation to help people day after day tires her out more than just busting out crime.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* Anyone in the world of ''Anime/{{Toriko}}'' endowed with Gourmet Cells gets this trope. The cells provide you with tremendous power, ''but'' you gotta keep feeding them...''a lot''...''every day''. All Gourmet Cell users are by necessity {{Big Eater}}s.

There is a direct relationship between the power and ability of a device and the drawbacks attached to using the damn thing. This means that the more powerful something becomes, the more likely it is to seriously harm its user in the process.

In stories, this balance exists for several reasons, but especially for two important ones: to keep an audience interested and to [[OnlyTheAuthorCanSaveThemNow avoid making things difficult for the writer]]. Without this balance, it calls into question [[HoldingBackThePhlebotinum why someone doesn't use such a weapon in the first place]], or why ''everyone in the world'' isn't using it if there is no drawback. For example, the invention of [[NeverBringAKnifeToAGunFight accurate, rapid-firing firearms killed]] {{Sword Fight}}ing outside of gentlemanly sports contests. One plausible reason why only one combatant would use a weapon or power is [[LensmanArmsRace if they're the first ones to find, invent or create it]]. Another plausible reason is that they are TheOnlyOne who has it, because [[NoPlansNoPrototypeNoBackup the blueprints have been destroyed]] or [[ItOnlyWorksOnce it can only be used for a short time]] before it's gone for good.

* ''VideoGame/KanColle'': As a rule, the better a shipgirl's stats, [[ResourceManagementGameplay the more of your resources she will consume]], both individually and as classes. Coastal Defense ships are extremely cheap but are effectively origami against anything but submarines, while the toughest and most modern battleships (such as Iowa and the Yamatos) will make you shell out for even one sortie. This trope is worked into Yamato's character; the fact that [[TooAwesomeToUse her extreme awesomeness means no one has the resources to sortie her]] drives her absolutely ''bananas''.

** Semi-realistic shooters may take another approach, making rifle weapons just as powerful as in real life, but allowing pistols to match them in accuracy and/or be dual wielded to help them remain competitive. Rifles and submachine guns may have other limitations like being cumbersome to carry and needing to be dropped to enable dual wielding and/or being limited to one rifle/submachine gun in your inventory so that you have to carefully consider what big gun you want to take into a fight. In games with stealth mechanics, big guns will naturally be difficult if not impossible to conceal and the wrong weapon in hand may appear suspicious even with a disguise on.

** Semi-realistic shooter may take another option, making rifle weapons just as powerful as in real life, but allowing pistols to match them in accuracy and/or be dual wielded to help them remain competitive. Rifles may have other limitations like being cumbersome to carry and needing to be dropped to enable dual wielding and/or being limited to one rifle/submachine gun in your inventory.