History Main / OutsideTheBoxTactic

The most famous and common example involves the use of healing magic or other restorative items to harm the undead, examples of which should be listed under ReviveKillsZombie. If this particular application of a technique is the only place where it is effective, it may be NotCompletelyUseless. If the method was [[NotTheWayItIsMeantToBePlayed unintended]] by the game developers, it may be the result of a GoodBadBug. If the method of attack actually involves not attacking the opponent at all, it becomes SheatheYourSword. If it's not hinted at in any way, yet is the only way to defeat the foe, it may also be a GuideDangIt. If it's not the only way to defeat a foe, but it requires ForcedLevelGrinding to defeat it otherwise, it may be commonly thought of as ThatOneBoss or a BeefGate. Outside-The-Box Tactics are often necessary to defeat a PuzzleBoss or the FinalExamBoss.

Compare EasyLevelTrick, where knowing the secrets about a level makes it easier, which may involve outside-the-box thinking. Contrast LogicalWeakness, when it's immediately apparent what needs to be done, UnexpectedlyRealisticGameplay, where the tactic ''shouldn't'' be outside-the-box, but is thanks to defying game logic, and CombinatorialExplosion, which defines the game's limitations of finding different ways to achieve a goal, which outside-the-box tactics defy.

* A large draw of ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' is their sheer frequency. Rather than [[OnceAnEpisode Once a Chapter]] every now and then, they happen ''constantly''. The manga owes its title in part to the strange powers both the antagonists and the protagonists have, so Creator/HirohikoAraki spends a lot of time and energy making them into [[HeartIsAnAwesomePower viable]], [[WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer practical]] powers.
** For example, Josuke Higashikata, TheHero of ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable Diamond is Unbreakable]]'', has the power to [[HealingHands repair objects]], but instead of playing the role of TheMedic, he is instead a frontline fighter, using those healing skills to [[ThouShaltNotKill nonlethally]] incapacitate his enemies. For example, he takes down someone with total control over [[ShockAndAwe electricity]] by [[spoiler:taking a rubber tire from heavy machinery that had burst earlier in the battle, then "healing" the tire around the adversary to trap him within it, leaving him at Josuke's mercy. When his opponent's stand breaks out of the tire, the air rushes out and sends him flying into the ocean]].

* In the ending chapter of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'', the [[ImplacableMan Black Knight]] can be easily beaten by forgoing use of the InfinityPlusOneSword in favor of [[ArmorPiercingAttack using a common]] [[DropTheHammer Hammer]]. [[ThatOneBoss Ike's]] poor resistance can also be exploited by a Sleep staff on 3-13.

** The Ceaseless Discharge is probably the largest enemy fought in the game, with enormous amounts of health and overwhelming attack power that will give even high level players a bit of trouble if they get hit. And since he's standing in a pool of lava with you fighting him on a cliff edge, the usual strategy of getting inside his attack range where he can't hit you is impossible. The way you're supposed to beat him is to wait for him to attack, dodge, and then strike the arm/tentacle he used to attack you, killing him via a DeathOfAThousandCuts... or, if you've been paying attention to the level architecture, make him chase you along the cliff and trick him into falling off a cliff of his own, instantly killing him.
** Manus, Father of Abyss is a formidable foe, with a very aggressive attack power and control over Dark Sorcery. Normally, he can prove to be a huge challenge even for veteran players. However, you can kill him effortlessly ''outside his arena'' by sniping him with bow and arrows above, from a far distance where he can't even fight back.
** Darkeater Midir is an Archdragon notorious for being a DamageSpongeBoss. It's hard hitting, humongous, and its breath of fire can turn into a laser beam that can sweep through half of his lair. You can spend hours pelting its legs with a sword, shooting its head with a Greatbow, OR you can the Pestilent Mercury sorcery to cast a dense mist that can NoSell the dragon's hard shell and smoke it to death effortlessly with percentage-based damage. Due to Midir's huge size, so long as it doesn't actually start flying, part of his body is practically guranteed to be within the spell's area of effect. Of all the things available, the best and easiest dragonslaying tool is not a [[{{BFS}} huge sword]], not a [[GreatBow huge bow]], but a ''[[DeadlyGas puny mist]]'', no less.

* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':

** ''ComicBook/TheUnknownSupergirl'': [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} Kara]] must stop the Infinite Monster, but it is so big and heavy that she cannot hurt it, push it or lift it. Neither her immense strength nor any of her powers have any effect on the Monster whatsoever. So Kara borrows a size-changing ray and shrinks the Monster down until it is so small she can simply pick it and put it in a bottle-cage.
* In the ''ComicBook/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]] storyline ''ComicBook/JudgmentInInfinity'', Diana and her fellow heroines have been abducted by the Adjudicator and encased in individual pods which not even the team's [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} strongest]] [[ComicBook/PowerGirl members]] can break out of. However, Wonder Woman wonders whether their cages are also protected against someone trying to break ''into'' them. Wonder Woman spins her Lasso super-fast until turning it intangible, phases one end of the rope out of the bubble, and then she draws it back. The partially solid end of the rope hits the pod's outer surface and shatters her cage.

** 15ish years later the X-Man Bishop -- whose powers are similar to Shaw's -- would charge himself up ''by using snowfall''. Bishop, however, can absorb any kind of energy directed at him where Shawn can only absorb kinetic.

* ''VideoGame/MegaMan2:''
** During the BossRush portion of the same game, Metal Man dies to two (or even [[DifficultyByRegion one]]) hits of [[PowerCopying his own weapon]].

** Sniper Armors are very vulnerable to the Air Shooter and the first few Wily Castle bosses are vulnerable to Quick Boomerangs.