History Main / ShockandAwe

* The Nautilus in ''Film/TwentyThousandLeaguesUnderTheSea'' can electrify its outer hull to administer painful shocks to anything or anyone in contact with it. This capability proves very effective against a tribe of cannibals, but only partially so against a giant squid.

* This is one of the more common StockSuperpowers in the ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse''. Problems involving PowerIncontinence seems common for it, too.

Has nothing to do with the [[UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks United States military]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shock_and_awe rapid dominance doctrine,]] though [[ThisIndexIsNotAnExample that's where the name comes from]].

* One of the new heroes from ''WesternAnimation/Incredibles2'' is Helectrix, who has powers over electricity.

Related to BlindedByTheLight and RideTheLightning. Someone with this power may be a {{Technopath}} or FastAsLightning as well. Compare MagnetismManipulation which (sometimes) includes electromagnetism. See GodOfThunder, ElectricJellyfish, ThunderBeetle and {{Thunderbird}} for animals often associated with this power. Contrast AnIcePerson, PlayingWithFire, and WeatherManipulation for weather controllers who use lightning among other attacks. For other uses of lightning and electricity, see MagicalDefibrillator and ElectricTorture. For the physics ([[ArtisticLicensePhysics or lack thereof]]) behind electrical attacks or weapons, see ChainLightning, LightningGun, StaticStunGun and ShockStick. Combine with WhipItGood and you've got a LightningLash.

Related to BlindedByTheLight and RideTheLightning. Someone with this power may be a {{Technopath}} or FastAsLightning as well. Compare MagnetismManipulation which (sometimes) includes electromagnetism. See GodOfThunder, ElectricJellyfish, ThunderBeetle and {{Thunderbird}} for animals often associated with this power. Contrast AnIcePerson, PlayingWithFire, and WeatherManipulation for weather controllers who use lightning among other attacks. For other uses of lightning and electricity, see MagicalDefibrillator and ElectricTorture. For the physics ([[ArtisticLicensePhysics or lack thereof]]) behind electrical attacks or weapons, see ChainLightning, LightningGun, and StaticStunGun. Combine with WhipItGood and you've got a LightningLash.

*** Susanoo is sometimes associated with thunder and lightning as well.
** Leigong, the Chinese "lord of thunder", who is also noted for being [[{{Gonk}} very ugly]]. According to Wikipedia, the Chinese have a whole slew of thunder and lightning deities; Leigong is just one of the most prominent. Another prominent one is [[RareFemaleExample Leizi]], the goddess of lightning.

[[folder:Card Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'': Many Red direct damage spells, starting with the classic [[https://scryfall.com/card/mb1/1001/lightning-bolt Lightning Bolt]].
* ''TabletopGame/{{Yomi}}'' features Grave Stormborne, who mixes lightning attacks in with his martial arts.
* ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh'': Thunder was one of the least impressive types in the early days of the game, though [[DemBones Daemon Summon/Summoned Skull]] used electricity in the source material. The original "Forbidden Spell" Raigeki is lightning-based, and the type did introduce a few powerful monsters like The Creator and Hamon - Lord of Striking Thunder. But the type itself only began to shine when they introduced Thunder-type archetypes such as the Watts and Batterymen. Then, in 2018, they expanded on Thunder Dragon, one of the oldest and most well-known Thunder monsters, into a full and formidable archetype.
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Related to BlindedByTheLight and RideTheLightning. Someone with this power may be a {{Technopath}} or FastAsLightning as well. Compare MagnetismManipulation which (sometimes) includes electromagnetism. See GodOfThunder, ElectricJellyfish, ThunderBeetle and {{Thunderbird}} for animals often associated with this power. Contrast AnIcePerson, PlayingWithFire, and WeatherManipulation for weather controllers who use lightning among other attacks. For other uses of lightning and electricity, see MagicalDefibrillator and ElectricTorture. For the physics ([[ArtisticLicensePhysics or lack thereof]]) behind electrical attacks or weapons, see ChainLightning, LightningGun, and StaticStunGun.

* The eponymous hero in ''Film/SHAZAM2019!'' has this ability and exploits it all the time [[MundaneUtility including charging people's phones]] and only stops when man's phone explodes. The BigBad Dr Sivana also has this power, [[spoiler: along with the rest of the kids in their [[SuperModes adult forms]] during the FinalBattle]].

* Ares from ''Film/WonderWoman2017'' has Lightning powers which took from his father Zeus after killing him, [[spoiler:Diana (who is also a child of Zeus) [[FeedItWithFire channels the powers through her bracelets after her brother tries frying her]] and then defeats him with PowerOfLove]].
* In ''Film/WonderWoman1984'' Diana has expanded her Shock and Awe powers to extent where she can literally swing on lighting bolts during a thunder storm.

Wielders of this power set have an odd tendency [[PsychoElectro to be insane]], [[PersonalityPowers hyperactive]], [[ElementalHair have blond hair]], [[ElectricBlackGuy be African-American]], or some combination of the above. Also not unheard of for the LightningBruiser, though that "lightning" is usually a reference to speed.

** The Toa Inika were created [[LightningCanDoAnything via special lightning]], and as a side effect, their elements became intertwined with electricity. Whenever they shot fire, air, water, stone, ice or rock, they not only burnt, blew away, smashed or froze their target, but also electrocuted them. Their toys had light-up weapons to simulate this. The trope is actually kinda justified for once, in that it's not exactly ordinary lightning. ItMakesSenseInContext.

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[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/AzureStrikerGunvolt https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gv1.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:[[Film/ReturnOfTheJedi You will pay the price for your lack of vision.]]]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/SouthParkBiggerLongerAndUncut'', after Cartman's V-chip gets zapped, he eventually discovers that swearing now lets him generate electricity without causing self-trauma. He uses this against Saddam in Sith[=/=]''Manga/DragonBall'' style.

* One of the new heroes from ''WesternAnimation/Incredibles2'' is Helectrix, who has powers over electricity.

* Franchise/{{Godzilla}} has been known to electrify and/or magnetize his body on occasion.
** In ''Film/KingKongVsGodzilla'', Kong has this, albeit only by touch.
** King Ghidorah spits gravity beams from his mouths, but with the exception of Keizer Ghidorah the beams look and act like lightning bolts.
** Megalon can fire a lightning bolt from his horn. Gabara generates electricity from a row of spines on his head and channels it through his hands. Mechagodzilla, Super Mechagodzilla, and Kiryu have at least one electricity-based weapon (a chest blaster, the Shock Anchor, and the Wrist Blades respectively).
** To an extent in ''Film/Godzilla2014''. The Mutos are able to emit [=EMPs=] thanks to their absorbing of radiation. It doesn't directly harm organic creatures, but the force of their footsteps still creates a powerful shockwave of its own that can send humans flying.
** Ghidorah from ''Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019'' has yellow lightning which he draws from sky, and Goji himself charges his BreathWeapon with lightning at one point.
* ''Film/HocusPocus'': Winifred Sanderson gives Emperor Palpatine a run for his money with her powerful magic lightning.
* ''Film/MacheteKills''. Machete kills a mook by grabbing him with one hand, then jamming his machete into a fuse box, killing him with the electricity flowing through his own body!
* Thor from the ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'' is the Norse Thunder God, in all his electrified glory. Becomes more adept at it during ''Film/ThorRagnarok'', as he realizes that [[spoiler:Mjölnir was a focus for his powers, but not the source]]. Then come ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'', with [[spoiler:Stormbreaker in hand and his newfound focus, Thor easily proves to be Thanos's better and almost [[BigDamnHeroes single-handedly turns the tide of the battle]] with his arrival. Captain America also gets granted the shocking powers of Mjölnir in ''Film/AvengersEndgame'']].
* The eponymous hero in ''Film/SHAZAM2019!'' has this ability and exploits it all the time [[MundaneUtility including charging people's phones]] and only stops when man's phone explodes. The BigBad Dr Sivana also has this power, [[spoiler: along with the rest of the kids in their [[SuperModes adult forms]] during the FinalBattle]].
* In ''Film/SonicTheHedgehog2020'', Sonic's body conducts electricity when he's using his SuperSpeed. He produces enough while running to cause a blackout across the entire Pacific Northwest. It's quickly revealed that Sonic has no idea how to control it at first - when he starts sparking and glowing while upset during the highway chase, his reaction is a panicked [[OhNoNotAgain "Not again!"]]
* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
** Force Lightning is considered one of the more powerful abilities of TheDarkSide, though you don't necessarily have to be evil to use it. Doing so is frowned upon, though: a power fueled by anger and aggression is something no Jedi should make a habit of playing around with because using the Force that way leads to ThisIsYourBrainOnEvil.
** One of R2-D2's gadgets is an arc welder. A particularly hilarious scene involves a droid KO'ing R2 after getting shocked.

* In ''Film/TheRunningMan'', one of the stalkers after Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger is "Dynamo", who can electrocute people using his LightningGun.
* In ''Film/PacificRim'', Cherno Alpha apparently has Tesla-powered punches! Also, [[spoiler:the {{Kaiju}} Leatherback has the ability to unleash electromagnetic pulses.]]

* ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderman2'': One of the antagonists is Electro, an electrical engineer who gains electrical powers after an industrial accident.
* In ''Film/TheWitchFiles'', one of the magical powers Brooke develops is the ability to shoot lightning from her fingertips, which she uses in her fight with Claire.

* ''Franchise/{{Zoids}}'' has Liger Zero X and Dark Spiner. Liger Zero X has electrified blades that ''shoot lightning'' while Dark Spiner fires a burst of electricity that causes other mecha to go into {{Unstoppable Rage}}s.

* Beatrice Waltrud von Kirscheisen from ''VisualNovel/DiesIrae'' uses lightning as her element. Additionally she is also able to [[ElementalShapeshifter become lightning]] in order to render herself both intangible and as fast as lighting. Tubal Cain is another character who can use lightning, although the [[YellowLightningBlueLightning bolts are black with purple/red highlights in his case]]. [[spoiler:This is due to him housing the soul of Beatrice allowing him to use her powers]].

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': While Nora Valkyrie doesn't actually shoot lightning, she channels electricity into strength and can run at lightning speed. Fittingly, she is rambunctious, weird, hyperactive, and very physically strong. Then there's her story of her TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening.
-->'''Nora:''' Got struck by lightning. Didn't die. ''Crazy'' Thursday...
* ''WebAnimation/DSBTInsaniT'': Blake has electric powers. Fitting for someone who runs an arcade.

* This is one of the more common StockSuperpowers in the ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse''. Problems involving PowerIncontinence seems common for it, too.
** Imperious, as befits an avatar (or whatever) of Zeus, can hurl lightning bolts where he wants them to go.
** Blitz has control over the voltages she generates, but can't project them. The martial arts instructors use her as an object lesson about not grappling someone with unknown powers.
** Antenna, who can't ''stop'' generating incredible amounts of lightning from his body, which arcs all over the place and he has no control over it. When he's outside his room, he has to be in a walker full of gadgets that keep him from electrocuting everyone nearby.
** Jolt has some control over his electrical powers, but has some difficulty managing his voltage, so he wears a (much less intrusive) monitor to know when to discharge his current.
** Circuit Breaker is primarily a {{Technopath}}, but as a RequiredSecondaryPower she generates and absorbs electricity, though she can't really control it except by discharging the current frequently. Since she can hold a charge in the hundreds of thousands of volts, this makes touching or even approaching her quite dangerous, and she often overloads electronic devices just by being near them. Did we mention that she has severe anger management issues and multiple personality disorder, and that two of those personalities were later transferred into her clone?
* In ''Literature/TrintonChronicles'', Sabella has the ability to generate electrical blasts and ball lighting. This, merged with her [[MakingASplash water control]], tends to be rather lethal.
* ''WebOriginal/ProtectorsOfThePlotContinuum'': The [[BigBad Mysterious Somebody's]] weapon of choice was blasts of Force Lightning; aside from telekinetically snapping [[spoiler:Serna Tjan]]'s neck, it's the only attack he was shown using. [[spoiler:Appropriately enough, he ended up HoistByHisOwnPetard when Lady Zhevago made him electrocute himself with it.]]

* Several mages, in ''Literature/TheSaints'', have used lightning attacks.
* Literature/LightningDust is effectively a human electric bolt.

* WebOriginal/{{Mortasheen}} has [[http://www.bogleech.com/mortasheen/abcoulix.htm Abcoulix]], an enormous brain toad created as an organic electrical generator, which can attack by frying people from a distance with an electrical bolt or trying to grapple with them to fry them like an electric chair.

* ''WebVideo/SkippyShorts'': "Can you stop electrocuting people with your horrible electricity shocking powers?"
* In ''WebVideo/{{Kickassia}}'', both [[spoiler: the Nostalgia Critic and Dr. Insano can shoot lightning from their hands. The Critic uses superconductor electromagnetism, while Dr. Insano uses ''science!'']]

** Kaila can send down black bolts of lightning.

* Marcia Griffiths' classic "Electric Boogie", [[RefrainFromAssuming also known as the "Electric Slide"]]. ''It's electric!"

* ''WebOriginal/ProtectorsOfThePlotContinuum'': The [[BigBad Mysterious]] Somebody's]] weapon of choice was blasts of Force Lightning; aside from telekinetically snapping [[spoiler:Serna Tjan]]'s neck, it's the only attack he was shown using. [[spoiler:Appropriately enough, he ended up HoistByHisOwnPetard when Lady Zhevago made him electrocute himself with it.]]

Wielders of this power set have an odd tendency [[PsychoElectro to be insane]], [[PersonalityPowers hyperactive]], [[ElementalHair have blond hair]], [[ElectricBlackGuy be African-American]], or some combination of the above.

Has nothing to do with the [[UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks United States military]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shock_and_awe rapid dominance doctrine,]] though [[ThisIndexIsNotAnExample came from that name]].

* The primary streamthrowers in ''Film/{{Ghostbusters 1984}}''. They can burn toilet paper, explode maid's carts, and will cause TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt if you [[ForbiddenChekhovsGun cross the streams]]. You can snare ghosts with it as well. Gozer can also bust this out, as Ray and the others learn the hard way:

* The primary streamthrowers in ''Film/{{Ghostbusters 1984}}''. They can burn toilet paper, explode maid's carts, and will cause TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt if you [[ForbiddenChekhovsGun cross the streams]]. Oh yeah, and you can snare ghosts with it.
** Gozer can also bust this out, as Ray and the others learn the hard way:

Wielders of this power set have an odd tendency [[PsychoElectro to be insane]], [[PersonalityPowers hyperactive]], [[ElementalHair have blond hair]], [[ElectricBlackGuy be black]], or some combination of the above.