History Main / StrengthEqualsWorthiness

** Another good example is Ser Gregor Clegane, the Mountain Who Rides. He is an eight-foot slab of muscle and psychopathy who wields a zweihänder the way most men wield a dagger and is perfectly capable of bisecting people and breaking a pike wall single-handedly. His greatest claim to fame is the rape and murder of a defenseless woman and her infant son, and most people hold the muck under their boots in higher regard.

* ''{{Avatar}}'''s [[BigBadassBirdOfPrey Banshees]] revolve around this. Basically, when a hunter is deemed ready, they travel to a nest of Banshees, and try to form a bond with them. They know they've found the right banshee when it tries to kill them. If they succeed, the Banshee will ride with that hunter and only that hunter for the rest of it's life.

See also AsskickingEqualsAuthority, MightMakesRight. Related to ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption and SisterTrope to DefeatMeansFriendship. When used in romantic terms, this is instead AllAmazonsWantHercules and/or AmazonChaser.

* The Barbarian Elders on Mount Arreat in ''DiabloII: Lord of Destruction''.

See also AsskickingEqualsAuthority, MightMakesRight. Related to ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption and SisterTrope to DefeatMeansFriendship.

* Very annoyingly happens in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto: Vice City''. You have to beat the infuriatingly skilled Hilary in a difficult race before he'll agree to be the getaway driver for your bank job. Not only is this mission possibly the hardest in the game, but FridgeLogic dictates that if you could beat him then you wouldn't need him to be your driver in the first place. Of course, none of that matters, because [[ShootTheShaggyDog he dies during the job and you have to drive the getaway car anyway]].

* The Barbarian Elders on Mount Arreat in ''Diablo II: Lord of Destruction''.

* In ''Yakuza 3'', to use certain weapons you need a certificate, which you earn by defeating your weapons master while he, not you, is using said weapon.

* Atalanta of Greek Mythology, who would only marry a man if he could best her in a foot race.

* Subverted in ''Manga/FairyTail'', where the person is someone other than the one fighting. [[RatedMForManly Elfman]] requires that anyone who wants to date his sister be capable of besting him physically, without magic.

* Subverted in ''FairyTail'', where the person is someone other than the one fighting. [[RatedMForManly Elfman]] requires that anyone who wants to date his sister be capable of besting him physically, without magic.

[[AC:Video Games]]

* Very annoyingly happens in ''GrandTheftAuto: Vice City''. You have to beat the infuriatingly skilled Hilary in a difficult race before he'll agree to be the getaway driver for your bank job. Not only is this mission possibly the hardest in the game, but FridgeLogic dictates that if you could beat him then you wouldn't need him to be your driver in the first place. Of course, none of that matters, because [[ShootTheShaggyDog he dies during the job and you have to drive the getaway car anyway]].

* Pretty much the entire premise of unlocking characters in the ''SuperSmashBros'' (though, in ''Brawl'', many are unlocked as you play through the campaign mode).

* In ''TwilightPrincess'', the Gorons have become something of a [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Proud Warrior Race]], and equate physical strength with strength of character. Therefore, they refuse to let you help until you beat them in a sumo match ([[FridgeLogic which you win by cheating]]).

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** Both subverted and played straight in ''FinalFantasyVIII'', as you have to draw most of the summons from bosses - and not the actual summons themselves. There are a few summons where this trope is played straight, though.
* Subverted in ''TalesOfPhantasia''; The first five summons need to be fought before they'll join you, but when the party gets to [[SwordOfPlotAdvancement Luna]], they're ready to have a match with her ("We don't mind if you want to test our strength!") but she decides to simply join them without a fight.

This can be a DarthWiki/WallBanger if said creature is good or doesn't want its power to be misused, since just because you're strong doesn't mean you're going be able to use the being's power competently, or even for good in the first place. In particularly egregious cases, this can make the being look like a BloodKnight. Not to mention that if you are strong enough to defeat said being in a fight, odds are you don't need its help as much as someone who cannot defeat it. Can be (somewhat) justified if TellMeHowYouFight is involved.

This can be a WallBanger if said creature is good or doesn't want its power to be misused, since just because you're strong doesn't mean you're going be able to use the being's power competently, or even for good in the first place. In particularly egregious cases, this can make the being look like a BloodKnight. Not to mention that if you are strong enough to defeat said being in a fight, odds are you don't need its help as much as someone who cannot defeat it. Can be (somewhat) justified if TellMeHowYouFight is involved.

* Subverted in ''FairyTail'', where the person is someone other than the one fighting. Elfman (a mage) requires that anyone who wants to date his sister be capable of besting him physically, without magic.

* Very annoyingly happens in ''GrandTheftAuto: Vice City''. You have to beat the infuriatingly skilled Hilary in a difficult race before he'll agree to be the getaway driver for your bank job. Not only is this mission possibly the hardest in the game, but FridgeLogic dictates that if you could beat him then you wouldn't need him to be your driver in the first place. Of course, none of that matters, because [[WallBanger he dies during the job and you have to drive the getaway car anyway]].

* Pretty much the entire premise of unlocking characters in ''{{Super Smash Bros}}''.

* In ''TheReconstruction'', [[spoiler:Moke]] assumes this when he is told he will be put through a "test" by a mysterious stranger; he quickly objects, but it turns out [[SubvertedTrope the test is of a different nature]].

* As a {{JRPG}} {{homage}}, ''AetheriaEpics'' features this as well (to gain the more powerful summons, Allete has to beat them in battle).

* In ''TwilightPrincess'', the Gorons have become something of a [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Proud Warrior Race]], and equate physical strength with strength of character. Therefore, they refuse to let you help until you beat them in a sumo match (which you win by cheating).

* In ''Yakuza 3'', to use certain weapons you need a certificate, which you earn by defeating your weapons master while he, not you, is using said weapon.