History Main / OutsideTheBoxTactic

** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'', the only practical way to defeat BonusBoss Odin is to use petrification attacks, which will instantly kill him.
*** Also in ''Final Fantasy V'' is the Mimic. He'll attack with whatever you attack him with. The key to victory: Do nothing.

** Also in ''Final Fantasy V'' is the Mimic. He'll attack with whatever you attack him with. The key to victory: Do nothing.

*** There's also the Mimic. He'll attack with whatever you attack him with. The key to victory: Do nothing.

* VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiSuperstarSaga features the Trunkle boss, which dies to one or two hits of the Chopper Bros. attack to the forehead.

* In TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons, casting ''Remove Blindness/Deafness'' on an Eye of Gruumsh (a one-eyed, mad orc fighter) restores its other eye and negates its magical abilities as well.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' has a [[FunctionalMagic Charm]] (Order-Affirming Blow) that undoes Shaping effects. Guess what? TheFairFolk use shaping effects to create their bodies. OneHitKill.
* In ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'', Saber is representative of [[spoiler:King Arthur Pendragon]]. She is vulnerable to items and spells that harm [[spoiler:dragons]] as a result.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' episode "Hawk and Dove", the Annihilator defeats much of the League by feeding off aggression and hostility. When [[ActualPacifist Dove]] faces the machine and neither attacks it nor fights back in self defense, the machine shuts down.
** In the same vein, the android AMAZO mimics both the principal characters' superpowers and weaknesses. After he obtains Superman's strength, he also obtains his weakness to kryptonite. He [[SubvertedTrope quickly evolves past this weakness though]].

* The ''SamuraiJack'' episode "Jack vs. Mad Jack" has Jack fighting a clone spawned from his irrational anger. At the conclusion, he catches on, steps back and meditates. With his anger calmed, the clone's power cuts off and it dissipates.
** ''StarTrek'' and ''[=TNG=]'' used this trick as well.
* [=ATAT's=] in the ''Franchise/StarWars'' series have thick armor impervious to the blasters on rebel fighters. However, due to their being very top-heavy, a simple harpoon and tow cable can bring them down with ease.
* In ''Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz'', water is this to the Wicked Witch of the West.

** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'', there is the spell "Invisible". It temporarily causes all physical attacks to miss, but guarantees the next magical attack to hit. [[spoiler:Use it on an enemy, the cast [[OneHitKO Death]]. Works every time. [[GameBreaker Even on the]] FinalBoss.]]

[[AC:Role-Playing Games]]

[[AC:Other]]

* Several enemies in ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime 3'' can be killed in a single strike of the Nova Blaster augmented by the X-Ray Goggles, due to the limitations of their Phazite armor.

* In ''Comicbook/{{X-Men}}'', Sebastian Shaw absorbs any kinetic energy directed at him, even a bullet, so Storm covers him in snow, which actually saps his energy, due to cold being a lack of said energy. [[hottip:*:Ironically, 15ish years later the X-Man Bishop--whose powers are similar to Shaw's--would charge himself up ''by using snowfall''.]]

* Get the hit just right, and it's possible to OneHitKill the final boss of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaLinksAwakening'' with the boomerang.

** The ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' series continues the trend of its predecessor series. While many bosses have {{Logical Weakness}}es, the Launch Octopus has one of these - the boomerang attack can cut off its tentacles and prevent it from using its homing attack. You can also [[CycleOfHurting stunlock]] Spark Mandrill and Sting Chameleon.

* In ''{{Invincible}}'' the main character faces a villain with powers similar to the X-Men character mentioned above; the way the main character wins is [[spoiler: continues punching the badguy until he's been overloaded with so much energy it travels through the floor vaporizing his family and emotionally crippling him]]

* In ''[[RogueLike Moria]]'' and some versions of ''Angband'', the spell "Turn Stone to Mud", normally used for digging new passages, can also be used to devastating effect against stone-based monsters such as golems.
* It's a running gag that the final boss, [[spoiler:Dhaos]], of ''VideoGame/TalesOfPhantasia'' is susceptible to the ''Indignation'' spell. In cameo appearances in later games, he dies to one use of the spell.

* ''{{Exalted}}'' has a [[FunctionalMagic Charm]] (Order-Affirming Blow) that undoes Shaping effects. Guess what? TheFairFolk use shaping effects to create their bodies. OneHitKill.

** The ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' series continues the trend of its predecessor series. While many bosses have {{Logical Weakness}}es, the Launch Octopus has one of these - the boomerang attack can cut off its tentacles and prevent it from using its homing attack. You can also stunlock Spark Mandrill and Sting Chameleon.

** The ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' series continues the trend of its predecessor series. While many bosses have {{Logical Weakness}}es, the Launch Octopus has one of these - the boomerang attack can cut off its tentacles and prevent it from using its homing attack.

An OutsideTheBoxTactic is a simple or otherwise overlooked tactic that is particularly effective against a certain monster or type of monster. It is a closely related to an AchillesHeel; the difference being that this weakness is not the only way to reliable way to defeat such a foe. A foe susceptible to an Outside The Box Tactic is still vulnerable to other tactics, but is very weak to this particular strategy. It is primarily a RolePlayingGame trope, but may be found in other types of games as well.

* All of the final bosses in the [[VideoGame/EarthBoundZero Mother]] / VideoGame/{{EarthBound}} [[VideoGame/{{Mother3}} series]] qualify.
** In the first game, Giegue cannot be harmed by normal attacks. You must sing Queen Mary's song eleven times to subdue him.
** Once you reach Giygas's final form, he has unlimited HP and cannot be defeated normally. You must use Paula's Pray ability ten times before Giygas finally dies.
** [[spoiler:Claus]]/The Masked Man cannot be fought directly - Lucas will not [[spoiler:strike down his own brother]]. Instead, you must guard and heal until [[spoiler:Hinawa, their mother, reaches Claus and he eventually [[TearJerker regains his]] [[RedemptionEqualsDeath humanity and free will.]]]]

* All of the final bosses in the [[EarthBoundZero Mother]] / {{Earthbound}} [[{{Mother3}} series]] qualify.

** In the original NES version of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyI'', Tiamat can be killed with an the instant death spell BANE.

* Several enemies in ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime 3'' can be killed in a single strike of the Nova Blaster augmented by the X-Ray Goggles. The game [[GuideDangIt makes no mention of this]].

** In the original NES version of ''VideoGame/{{Final Fantasy|I}}'', Tiamat can be killed with an the instant death spell BANE.

* Several enemies in MegaMan series. For example, Mecha Joe walkers in VideoGame/MegaMan2 are very vulnerable to air shooter and several HumongousMecha are vulnerable to boomerangs.
** In VideoGame/MegaMan2, during the BossRush portion of the game, Metal Man dies to one hit of [[PowerCopying his own weapon]].
** The VideoGame/MegaManX series continues the trend of its predecessor series. While many bosses have {{Logical Weakness}}es, the Launch Octopus has one of these - the boomerang attack can cut off its tentacles and prevent it from using its homing attack.

** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'', the only practical way to defeat BonusBoss Odin is to use a character with the MagicKnight class and use Break Blade, which will instantly kill him.

** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'', bosses are immune to Death... except the final boss, if you choose to try it.

!Examples

* In ''Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz'', water is this to the Wicked Witch of the West