History Main / TieredByName

* Higher-level ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'' often have the names of their prior level with a prefix attached, such as Greymon - [=MetalGreymon=] - [=WarGreymon=], or Garurumon to [=WereGarurumon=] and then [=MetalGarurumon=]. However, there is no universal rule, as there's Digimon who change their names entirely when gaining levels, such as Togemon - Lilymon - Rosemon. There are also a handful of prefixes that go the other way and denote a lower-level version, such as [=DemiDevimon=] and [=ChibiTortomon=]. And some prefixes are just used with different, equally ranked versions; such as Agumon and [=ToyAgumon=], Greymon and [=GeoGreymon=], [=MetalGreymon=] and [=RizeGreymon=], and [=WarGreymon=] and [=ShineGreymon=]. In comparison, ''Anime/DigimonXrosWars'' uses a different name system for its main Digimon, Shoutmon. Shoutmon can [[FusionDance combine]] with his friends, and the result is called Shoutmon X[number] - As in, a four-mon combination is Shoutmon X4. By the end of the series, he goes up to Shoutmon X7.

* BonusBoss Vanitas Remnant in ''KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'' Final Mix has more attacks than the original, all of which {{One Hit Kill}}s you if you did not set your abilities up right.

* In ''Ogre'' by Metagaming and Steve Jackson Games, The titular {{AI}} controlled tanks were identified by putting a "Mark X" after the word "Ogre", with the X being a Roman numeral (I, II, III, IV, V, VI). The higher the number, the more powerful the Ogre.

* Almost all of the bosses and minibosses in ''Videogame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand'' that appear in [[spoiler:extra mode]] have "EX" added to their names, in addition to looking more menancing than their [[spoiler:normal mode]] counterparts.

* Higher-level ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'' often have the names of their prior level with a prefix attached, such as Greymon - [=MetalGreymon=] - [=WarGreymon=], or Garurumon to [=WereGarurumon=] and then [=MetalGarurumon=]. However, there is no universal rule, as there's Digimon who change their names entirely when gaining levels, such as Togemon - Lilymon - Rosemon. There are also a handful of prefixes that go the other way and denote a lower-level version, such as [=DemiDevimon=] and [=ChibiTortomon=]. And some prefixes are just used with different, equally ranked versions; such as Agumon and [=ToyAgumon=], Greymon and [=GeoGreymon=], [=MetalGreymon=] and [=RizeGreymon=], and [=WarGreymon=] and [=ShineGreymon=].
** ''Anime/DigimonXrosWars'' uses a different name system for its main Digimon, Shoutmon. Shoutmon can [[FusionDance combine]] with his friends, and the result is called Shoutmon X[number] - As in, a four-mon combination is Shoutmon X4. By the end of the series, he goes up to Shoutmon X7.

* In ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'', direwolves are a species of wolf common north of the Wall that can grow to the size of a small horse. They are named after the real-world [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dire_wolf dire wolf]], the largest species of ''canid'' (but still much smaller than its fictional counterpart), which went extinct around 10,000 years ago.

** ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'': Rita Repulsa's Putty Patrollers are replaced with Lord Zedd's Z Putty Patrollers, which [[BroughtToYouByTheLetterS have a Z on their chests]] and are practically indestructible - unless you hit them directly in the "Z" in which case they explode into harmless bits.

[[AC:General]]
* It's pretty common for there to be a "dire" version of an enemy that is a souped-up version of a common enemy in video games and tabletop games. For instance, a dire wolf is harder than a wolf. A dire rat is more dangerous than a rat.

* It's pretty common for there to be a "dire" version of an enemy that is a suped up version of a common enemy in video games and tabletop games. For instance, a dire wolf is harder than a wolf. A dire rat is more dangerous than a rat.

* Higher-level ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'' often have the names of their prior level with a prefix attached, such as Greymon - [=MetalGreymon=] - [=WarGreymon=], or Garurumon to [=WereGarurumon=] and then [=MetalGreymon=]. However, there is no universal rule, as there's Digimon who change their names entirely when gaining levels, such as Togemon - Lilymon - Rosemon. There are also a handful of prefixes that go the other way and denote a lower-level version, such as [=DemiDevimon=] and [=ChibiTortomon=]. And some prefixes are just used with different, equally ranked versions; such as Agumon and [=ToyAgumon=], Greymon and [=GeoGreymon=], [=MetalGreymon=] and [=RizeGreymon=], and [=WarGreymon=] and [=ShineGreymon=].

* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'': The series in general does this for the spells: Fire -> Fira -> Firaga -> Firaja.

* Higher-level ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'' often have the names of their prior level with a prefix attached, such as Greymon - [=MetalGreymon=] - [=WarGreymon=], or Garurumon to [=WereGarurumon=] and then [=MetalGreymon=]. However, there is no universal rule, as there's Digimon who change their names entirely when gaining levels, such as Togemon - Lilymon - Rosemon. There are also a handful of prefixes that go the other way and denote a lower-level version, such as [=DemiDevimon=] and [=ChibiTortomon=]. And some prefixes are just used with different, equally ranked versions; such as Greymon and [=GeoGreymon=], [=MetalGreymon=] and [=RizeGreymon=], and [=WarGreymon=] and [=ShineGreymon=].

* ''Wrestling/TheRoadWarriors'' (also known as the Legion of Doom) were repackaged in 1998 as LOD [[{{Trope2000}} 2000]], with little changing except more colorful shoulderpds and the addition of Sunny as their manager. This lasted for about six months.

* ''Franchise/YuGiOh'':

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasy'': The series in general does this for the spells: Fire -> Fira -> Firaga -> Firaja.

* ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory'' and ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiDreamTeam'' both have most of the bonus bosses be tougher versions of the normal bosses found in the game. They have the same name as the originals, but with "X" added to them. The latter also has the UndergroundMonkey mooks having names of the original mooks with "R" at the end of them.
* Almost all of the bosses and minibosses in ''Videogame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand'' that appears in [[spoiler:extra mode]] have "EX" added to their names, in addition to looking more menancing than their [[spoiler:normal mode]] counterparts.

* In ''WarcraftIII'', most neutral creeps of a line use different suffixes (but there's no universal "this suffix means this type" effect) in addition to the usual size, model and hue differences. For example, Bandit/Salamander/Ogre Lord, Forest/Ice/Dark Troll Trapper/Priest/Warlord, Ancient Sasquatch/Wendigo/Hydra, etc.

* Megatron and Galvatron from ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' are the same being from two different time periods, although [[AlternateContinuity in some continuities]], they're two different people.

* ''Franchise/YuGiOh'':
** The franchise has many monsters that act as variants of the same base monster, though not always stronger, with the connection being signified by a partial name change, such as Dark Magician to Dark Sage or Dark Magician Knight. Played straightest with the Gagagigo family, Gagagigo's card lore tracing his evolution into Giga Gagagigo, then Gogiga Gagagigo.
** There's also the LV monsters, which are more this trope combined with PowerLevels and/or CharacterLevel. Examples include [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Armed_Dragon Armed Dragon]] and its more powerful forms [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Armed_Dragon_LV3 Armed Dragon LV3]], [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Armed_Dragon_LV5 Armed Dragon LV5]], etc., or [[http://yugioh.wikia.com/wiki/Silent_Swordsman Silent Swordsman]] and its more powerful forms, among others.
** The Chaos Xyz monsters (Including the Chaos Numbers) also follow this pattern. Examples of the first type include "Number 39: Utopia/Aspiring Emperor Hope" which becomes "Utopia Ray" or if Ranked up becomes "Utopia Ray V" or "Utopia Ray Victory". Example of the variation include "Norito the Moral Leader" becoming "[=CXyz=]: Simon the Great Moral Leader".
* Megatron from ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' and Galvatron are the same being from two different time periods, although [[AlternateContinuity in some continuities]], they're two different people.

[[AC:General]]
* It's pretty common for there to be a "dire" version of an enemy that is a suped up version of a common enemy in video games and tabletop games. For instance, a dire wolf is harder than a wolf. A dire rat is more dangerous than a rat.

[[AC: Literature]]
* In Literature/WarriorCats, this doubles as both MeaningfulName and MeaningfulRename, in that the name of a cat denotes rank in a Clan Hierarchy (like -kit for kits, -paw for apprentices and -star for leaders).

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasy'':

** The series in general also does this for the spells: Fire -> Fira -> Firaga -> Firaja.
** In VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII, the summon Bahamut comes in 3 increasingly powerful versions, culminating in Bahamut Zero

* BonusBoss Vanitas Remnant in KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep Final Mix has more attacks than the original, all of which {{One Hit Kill}}s you if you did not set your abilities up right.

* Higher-level ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'' often have the names of their prior level with a prefix attacked, such as Greymon - [=MetalGreymon=], or Garurumon to [=WereGarurumon=]. However, there is no universal rule, as there's Digimon who change their names entirely when gaining levels, such as Togamon - Lillymon - Rosemon.

* ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'': Rita Repulsa's Putty Patrollers are replaced with Lord Zedd's Z Putty Patrollers, which [[BroughtToYouByTheLetterS have a Z on their chests]] and are practically indestrucible - unless you hit them directly in the "Z" in which case they explode into harmless bits.

Anyone or anything that returns in a stronger, more powerful fashion tend to have letters, symbols or other similar prefixes or suffixes (like [[XMakesAnythingCool X]], R, Mega, Super or even Mk II) either at the end of their names or at the beginning of one.

A variation is when the name itself is modified to signify it's stronger, though the change isn't too major since it would mistakenly suggest the enemy or character is a completely different entity.

Bonus points if the character or enemy's either [[PaletteSwap recolored]] or has his appearance changed to look more menacing.

Anyone or anything what returns in a stronger, more powerful fashion tend to have letters, symbols or other similar prefixes or suffixes (like [[XMakesAnythingCool X]], R, Mega, Super or even Mk II) either at the end of their names or at the beginning of one.

Anyone or anything who return in a stronger, more powerful fashion tend to have letters, symbols or other similar prefixes or suffixes (like [[XMakesAnythingCool X]], R, Mega, Super or even Mk II) either at the end of their names or at the beginning of one.

Characters or enemies who return in a stronger, more powerful fashion tend to have letters, symbols or other similar prefixes or suffixes (like [[XMakesAnythingCool X]], R, Mega, Super or even Mk II) either at the end of their names or at the beginning of one.

Characters or enemies who return stronger tend to have letters or symbols or other similar prefixes or suffixes (like [[XMakesAnythingCool X]], R, Mega, Super or even Mk II) either at the end of their names or at the beginning of one.

A variation is when the name itself is modified to signify it's stronger (like [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} "Machop" to "Machoke" to "Machamp"]]).

A the true name of a sword in full release tends to be build up on the release name - such as Senbonsakura (thousand cherry blossoms) becoming Senbonsakura Kageyoshi (thousand cherry blossoms vibrant display).

* In Anime/{{Bleach}}, the true name of a sword in full release tends to be build up on the release name - such as Senbonsakura (thousand cherry blossoms) becoming Senbonsakura Kageyoshi (thousand cherry blossoms vibrant display).

* Almost all of the bosses and minibosses in ''Videogame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand'' that appears in [[spoiler:extra mode]] has "EX" added to their names, in addition to looking more menancing than their [[spoiler:normal mode]] counterparts.

* Almost all of the bosses and minibosses in ''Videogame/KirbysReturnToDreamLand'' that appears in [[spoiler:extra mode]] has "X" added to their names, in addition to looking more menancing than their [[spoiler:normal mode]] counterparts.

* The decker programs sold by Hacker House for the 'TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'' supplement ''Virtual Realities'' had numbers at the end of their names. The higher the number, the larger and more powerful the program.

* In Literature/WarriorCats, this doubles as both MeaningfulName and MeaningfulRename, in that the name of a cat denotes rank in a Clan Hierarchy (like -kit for kits, -paw for apprentices, -star for leaders0

* In Anime/{{Bleach}}, the true name of a sword in full release tends to be build up on the release name - such as Senbonsakura (thousand cherry blossoms) becoming Senbonsakura Kageyoshi (thousand cherry blossoms vibrant display

** The series in general also does this for the spells: Fire -> Fira -> Firaga.
** In VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII, the summon Bahamut comes in 3 insreasingly powerful versions, culminating in Bahamut Zero

* In ''WarcraftIII'', most neutral creeps of a line use different suffixes (but there's no universal "this suffix means this type" effect) in addition to the usual size, model and hue differences. For example, Bandit/Salamander/Ogre Lord, Forest/Ice/Dark Troll Trapper/Priest/Warlord, Ancient Sasquatch/Wendigo/Hydra, etc.

** * In VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII, the summon Bahamut comes in 3 insreasingly powerful versions, culminating in Bahamut Zero