History Main / ScaledUp

* ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'' has [[RobotMe Metal Sonic]], having spent the entire game masquerading as Eggman so he could [[PowerCopying copy the powers of the heroes]] along with that of Froggy and a Chao [[ChekhovsGun who both contain parts of the DNA of Chaos from]] ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', use the combined data to reconfigure himself into a massive mechanical dragon called [[OneWingedAngel Metal Overlord]].

* The Dragonlord in ''VideoGame/DragonQuestI'' does this after defeating his normal human form. It only partially works for him because unless you've procured [[AncestralWeapon Loto's/Erdrick's Sword]], [[CherryTapping your attacks will only do scratch damage to him]], making the fight [[MarathonBoss take a while]]. It's still quite possible to defeat him with the Flame Sword, and possible in theory with the weaker buyable weapons. Same goes for the Lord of the Dragovians from ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII''.
* ''VideoGame/EyeOfTheBeholder 2'' has the game's BigBad Dran Draggore turn out to be a Dragon. Of course, the dragon is still vulnerable to the attack+ side-step maneuver.

* In later ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' games, the Be Dragon spell, or Puff as it is now known, appears a handful of times. It allows the user to transform into a fire-breathing dragon for a few turns. ''Very'' effective, especially in ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIII'' where it was introduced; in that game, it's the only reliable way to kill multiple [[MetalSlime Liquid Metal Slimes]] in a single battle.

* ''WebAnimation/GamingAllStars'': Reptilian transformations featured in this series include the dragon-like [[spoiler: [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes Metal Overlord]]]] in ''The Ultimate Crossover'' and ''Remastered'', and [[VideoGame/MediEvilResurrection Zarok’s serpent phase]] in ''2''.

* ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce'': LoveableAlphaBitch Luna turns into Queen Ophiuca when she [[DealWithTheDevil accepts the FMian Ophiuchus' offer]] and allows herself to be possessed. The possession turns her into a [[SnakePeople lamia]]-esque being, complete with a snake-like tail.

* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2'', the BigBad Caius Ballad has the ability to become his [[SummonMagic Eidolon]] [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Bahamut]], a process that is normally fatal but doesn't bother him at all because he is [[PerfectImmortality immortal]]. As the FinalBoss he becomes a different more powerful dragon and summons two more to aid him for good measure.

* In a heroic version, Aelia of ''VideoGame/ValkyrieProfile'' turns into a dragon briefly during her FinishingMove to fire a giant beam at enemies. It only partially works because it's a bit weaker than most anyone else's finishing move, and is even less useful when you consider the one hit does little to help the ComboMeter.

* The Wyrmic class in ''WebComic/TalesOfMajEyal'' have skills that allow them to transform into several different kinds of dragon, including elemental, DracoLich (Undead Dragon), and DraconicAbomination (Scourge Dragon) types.

** Maleficent from ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'' is notable for upping the stakes of the final confrontation by [[ OneWingedAngel turning into an enormous black dragoness]].

** In Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'', [[BigBad Jafar]] transforms into a humongous snake after gaining sorcerer powers from the Genie (he provides the ImageSource for the trope here). He actually has Aladdin and company on the ropes for quite a while until Al tricks him into trying to gain even more power by using his last wish to [[BecomingTheGenie become a Genie, and Jafar is sealed inside a new lamp]]. In hindsight, Jafar should have stuck to the reptile form.

** Maleficent from ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'' is notable for upping the stakes of the final confrontation by turning into an enormous black dragoness; her image also is the ImageSource for OneWingedAngel.

* ''WesternAnimation/BartokTheMagnificent'': An unintentional example, as the villainess is turned into a dragon after downing a potion.

* In the first episode/chapter of ''Manga/BusoRenkin'', one of Kazuki's teachers morphs into a cobra-like creature. He manages to swallow Kazuki's sister Mahiro whole but gets thoroughly dismantled by Tokiko without even getting a chance to attack. ''Laaaaaame.''

* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' has both heroic and villainous examples. In the former case, Loki transforms into a giant serpent to hold a zombified Kraken still so Thor can get a clean shot in on it. In the latter case, in the sequel, Selene Gallio transforms into a black long wyrm (fire-breathing dragon with no wings), in an attempt to destroy her enemies, getting into a fight with Sue, Harry Dresden's zombie t-rex in the process. It doesn't work, as [[spoiler: Wanda Maximoff drops Dresden on her back, he uses his staff as an improvised spear and lightning conductor into her brain.]]

* In the first episode/chapter of ''Manga/BusouRenkin'', one of Kazuki's teachers morphs into a cobra-like creature. He manages to swallow Kazuki's sister Mahiro whole but gets thoroughly dismantled by Tokiko without even getting a chance to attack. ''Laaaaaame.''

* Averted, [[spoiler:as well as inverted]], in the ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' series. In a world where wizards can, with hard work, learn to [[{{Animorphism}} transform into an animal]] that (arguably) fits their personality, Voldemort is: the last descendant of a man known for [[SpeaksFluentAnimal talking to snakes]], an [[InTheBlood inheritor of this ability]], member of a House whose symbol is a snake, commander of a giant serpent, owner of the pet snake Nagini, and wearer of a face repeatedly described as "snake-like". At no point does he turn into a snake. (Although events in [[spoiler:''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix Order of the Phoenix]]'']] may confuse one into thinking so.) [[spoiler:However, in ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows Deathly Hallows]]'', Nagini is at one point disguised as a human.]]

-->-- Rule #34 of the '''EvilOverlordList'''[[note]]No, not [[RuleThirtyFour THAT one]][[/note]]

[[quoteright:279:[[Disney/{{Aladdin}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/scaled_up.png]]]]

This trope is not strictly limited for the bad guys. However, when it's the good guys doing this, they typically turn into dragons instead of snakes. Note that since Disney's ''Disney/SleepingBeauty'', many villains have also turned into fire-breathing dragons.

** In Disney's ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}'', [[BigBad Jafar]] transforms into a humongous snake after gaining sorcerer powers from the Genie (he provides the ImageSource for the trope here). He actually has Aladdin and company on the ropes for quite a while until Al tricks him into trying to gain even more power by using his last wish to [[BecomingTheGenie become a Genie, and Jafar is sealed inside a new lamp]]. In hindsight, Jafar should have stuck to the reptile form.
** Averted in ''Disney/AladdinTheReturnOfJafar'', the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' games, and in some of the storybooks, however, where he is instead either fought as a human or immediately goes straight to becoming a genie. Played straight in the [[VideoGame/AladdinCapcom Super Nintendo]] and [[VideoGame/AladdinVirginGames Sega Genesis]] games, however, which both use his snake form as the FinalBoss and omit the second OneWingedAngel form of the Genie.
** Maleficent from ''Disney/SleepingBeauty'' is notable for upping the stakes of the final confrontation by turning into an enormous black dragoness; her image also is the ImageSource for OneWingedAngel.

** ''Disney/TheSwordInTheStone'': At the beginning of Merlin and Madam Mim's wizard's duel, Mim explicitly forbids turning into dragons. [[LoopholeAbuse She later breaks this rule on a technicality]] in an attempt to beat Merlin by claiming she didn't specify ''purple'' dragons, only to have Merlin go in exactly the opposite direction and turn into a contagious bacterium. He makes her sick, which pushes her to bed rest. She also turns into a crocodile and a rattlesnake earlier in the fight, and Merlin himself started off by transforming into a turtle.
** Although ''Disney/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'' does a good job at subverting the ReptilesAreAbhorrent trope, even going as far as to feature a benevolent snake as the pet of the BigGood, a happy-go-lucky alligator as one of the main protagonists and a pair of frogs as the central leads (not reptiles, but [[ColdBloodedWhatever close enough insofar as fiction tends to care]]), [[BigBad Dr. Facilier]]'s LivingShadow briefly turns into a snake during the "[[VillainSong Friends on the Other Side]]" scene. Since ''Princess'' is from the same directors as Aladdin, this may have been a nod to Jafar.

* Played straight by a female Dark One at the conclusion of ''The Wizard of Sunset Strip''. Probably a tribute to ''Disney/SleepingBeauty'', as the battle in question takes place at a reconstructed Disneyland.

* In the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' series, Maleficent sometimes turns into a dragon at times of danger. She'd tried it [[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep ten years earlier]] against an ActionGirl with the same type of weapon, as well as [[Disney/SleepingBeauty Prince Phillip]] himself. The result? She survives. Barely.

* Jafar does this as the FinalBoss of every ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}'' LicensedGame, including ''VideoGame/AladdinVirginGames'' (where the snake really is his final form) and ''VideoGame/AladdinCapcom''.

* Protagonist example: This is how [[spoiler: [[WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles Violet]], [[ShrinkingViolet of all people]]]] gains the power to stop the BigBad in ''Fanfic/RiseOfTheGaleforces''. A surprisingly interesting example in that [[spoiler:Ludlow was the one who gave Violet that power in the first place, attempting to turn her into his own personal {{Tykebomb}}. [[TheDragon Velociripper]] makes matters even worse (for the antagonists, anyway) when he gives Vi a dose of his [[DevolutionDevice devolution ray]], momentarily trapping her in her TyrannosaurusRex form. Needless to say, she immediately goes on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge, cripples Ripper in single combat, destroys most (if not all) of the villainous forces, and fights the BigBad's {{tank|sForNothing}}. [[CurbStompBattle Really!]]

* The main villain of VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleOfSeasons, General Onox, turns into a dragon in the final battle.
** VideoGame/HyruleWarriors has Volga, a knight who borrows many elements from dragons, including turning into one.

* The Dragonlord in ''VideoGame/DragonQuestI'' does this after defeating his normal human form. It only partially works for him because unless you've procured [[AncestralWeapon Loto's/Erdrick's Sword]], [[CherryTapping You do a little fewer HP damage to him each turn]], making the fight [[CurbStompBattle take a long time]]. It's still quite possible to defeat him with the Flame Sword, and possible in theory with the weaker buyable weapons. Same goes for the Lord of the Dragovians from ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII''.

** Averted in ''Disney/AladdinTheReturnOfJafar'', the ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts'' games, and in some of the storybooks, however, where he is instead either fought as a human or immediately goes straight to becoming a genie. Played straight in the [[VideoGame/AladdinCapcom Super Nintendo]] and [[VideoGame/AladdinVirginGames Sega Genesis]] games, however, which both use his snake form as the FinalBoss and omit the second OneWingedAngel form of the Genie.

** Also in the Wano arc, [[spoiler: Shogun Orochi's]] Zoan fruit allows him to turn into a hydra-like dragon, with eight writhing, snake-like heads.]]

* This plays into the final ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' book. Rachel has snuck aboard Tom's ship, hoping to defeat his rogue Yeerk army. She [[SuperMode transforms into a Grizzly Bear]] and he sends his minions after her after they have each changed into equally fearsome and tough creatures. Rachel has ''just'' enough of an opportunity during the battle to check on Tom as he hangs back and transforms - into a very small but very poisonous snake. [[spoiler: After Rachel has defeated each of the minions, she bites Tom in half. She demorphs, exhausted, and another minion, transformed into a polar bear, kills her with a single blow.]]