History Main / TimeToUnlockMoreTruePotential

* Characters with demonic ancestry in the ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' series are able to use that side in order to gain more power through an ability called "Devil Trigger". However Dante always seems to be pushing that envelope and finding new and more powerful forms. The Majin form from ''2'' and the [[spoiler:Sin]] form in ''5'' are examples of this.

** There are hints that he self-taught during the gap between Episodes 5 and 6, coming back with much more powerful force techniques, and declaring himself a Jedi Knight. And Yoda admits that he's effectively a Jedi already, and only needs to undergo one more true test of character to finalize it.
** In ''Film/TheForceAwakens'', Rey discovers her latent Force abilities with no prior training after Kylo Ren attempts to probe her mind. It's ultimately explained that [[spoiler:Rey and Kylo form a dyad in the Force, and when Kylo unwittingly awakened that connection, their increasingly strong mental link lets her rapidly learn to use the Force.]] Otherwise, the majority of Rey's Jedi training is off-screen with Leia in the year between ''Film/TheLastJedi'' and ''Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker''.

* At different points in the series Ranma and Ryoga in ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' would turn to the Chinese Amazon matriarch Cologne for advanced training.

* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' is made of this trope--Ichigo turning to the Visoreds for training as well as Orihime training with Rukia and Chad training with Urahara and Renji are the most standard examples. You could also say that when a Shingami achieves Bankai by training with the spirit of their Zanpakuto it is a variation of this trope as the sword teaches them how to unlock their true power. Ichigo has especially abused this trope. As of this writing, he has been (deep breath): a shinigami, a Bankai level shinigami, a Visored, a Vasto Lorde-like shinigami, a more powerful shinigami, a Fullbringer, a ''more'' more powerful shinigami, and a [[spoiler:Quincy]]. Again--that's ''all performed by a single character.''
* ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'''s Kyoto Arc features Kenshin returning to the Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū master he ran away from years ago, in order to learn the [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique succession technique]] that will help him defeat the main villain of the arc. This training also features psychological TrainingFromHell: [[spoiler:Kenshin, a [[TechnicalPacifist pacifist]], must kill his master in order to learn the Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki. Thankfully for him, [[ThouShaltNotKill his reverse-bladed sword]] had a loose stay pin, which negated the damage just enough so Kenshin didn't kill his master]].

* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' has this happen often for the main character, especially in ''Shippuden''. After he returns from a [[TookALevelInBadass three-year-long training trip]], does some [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique more training]], after which he gets to do some [[MeditationPowerup extra special training]]--and that's when [[SuperMode the ''real'' training starts.]]
** And each previous unlocking of his true potential is proven ultimately ineffective against the current threat before he defeats them with [[SignatureMove The Rasengan]], which requires him to unlock more true potential that will likewise prove to be ultimately ineffective against THAT current threat.
** Eventually they just ditch the vanity of training altogether and just hand him new power-ups as the situation arises.
* ''Manga/SoulEater'': Black Star does this by going to Japan to train after a series of defeats. [[TookALevelInBadass It works wonders]]. Maka and Soul, by contrast, have always taken the more direct approach, whereas Kid got his [[UpgradeArtifact forcibly]] and briefly unlocked because no time was available.
* In the anime adaptation of ''Manga/Reborn2004'', the Vongola are sent back to the present twice to go through some trials. The first arc deals with them passing the Arcobaleno Trials in order for a boost up before Choice. The second arc has them prove themselves to the First Generation in order to be able to use their Vongola box weapons to the fullest. The Inheritance arc averts this instead, where they receive upgrades that are meant to compliment their fighting styles instead and did not even train how to use them.
* Inverted in Kojirō Hyūga's case during the World Youth arc of ''Manga/CaptainTsubasa'': until then, he unlocked more potential thanks to his mentor Kozo Kira's help, but in this arc Kira told him he had nothing more Hyūga could learn from him, and that he needed to hone his skills by himself. Cue Hyūga going hermit in the mountains for a TrainingFromHell session, in which he gained his new destructive Raiju Shoot.

** [[spoiler:Interesting case with Luffy, as not only did he do Haki training, but after that, he trained oon his own and also gained '''[[SuperMode Gear 4]]''', which combines Gears 2, 3, and Haki to create a much bigger form for him. Which, by the way, was first seen in a CurbstompBattle against Doflamingo, who, by the way, was in the ''receiving end.'' Mind you, Doflamingo is a ''[[TheDreaded Warlord]]'', and a particularly nasty one.]]
* MagicalGirl example: In ''Anime/HeartcatchPrettyCure'', Tsubomi and friends had to do this ''twice''. The first was after the [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Desert Generals]] gained their DeadlyUpgrade, and the second was after the BigBad Dune curbstomped them in a battle.
* ''Manga/SamuraiDeeperKyo''. The protagonist is trapped into the body of his worst enemy that they both share, but he's still strong as hell. Then he is surpassed and taken down... and suddenly he gets up, shouts something like "I remembered how this body fights!" and proceeds to kick his foe's ass. After some point, EVERY fight has this. Every character, sometimes more than once during the same battle if it's a long one, gets another upgrade by ThePowerOfLove, ThePowerOfFriendship, [[SuperMode the awakening of their hidden power]], [[RightMakesMight the pursue of their true convictions]] ([[AvertedTrope even when they know]] [[WellIntentionedExtremist that their acts are evil]])... even the bad guys get their upgrades this way, during the very same battle that the good guys!
* Used in ''Manga/FairyTail'' to quickly explain away how the core cast managed to catch up to everyone who's had seven more years than them to hone their magic abilities. Some of them did it through (off-screen) TrainingFromHell for three months while others, because they got stuck at a party [[YearOutsideHourInside in a dimension where one day is three months in the real world]], had to get a handy PowerUp from an old enemy-turned-ally that forcibly and permanently doubled their magic power at the cost of extreme agony throughout the night. Later on, a second {{Timeskip}} has everyone going off to do one year of TrainingFromHell to improve even further.

* ''Manga/{{Haikyuu}}'' has Hinata, who starts to get frustrated that he can't improve his unique quick attack with Kageyama simply by trying, especially with Kageyama telling him it's as good as it will get. Cue Ukai taking him to see [[spoiler:his grandfather, the senior Coach Ukai with a reputation for extremely demanding training. Hinata learns to apply more complex thought and technique to his spikes, and becomes a much more formidable opponent on the court in the Spring tournament.]]

* To fight the devil hosts of the Spade Kingdom, most of the Black Bulls in ''Manga/BlackClover'' get stronger over the six month time skip: Asta and Noelle train in the Heart Kingdom, Charmy, Luck, and Nero learn arrays from the Spirit Guardians in the Heart Kingdom, and Gordon studies Curse Magic under his father. When said training in most cases proves insufficient against the might of the Dark Triad themselves, most of them need to take it to the ''next'' level to be ready for the rematches and more importantly against the high-ranking devils the Triad are getting ready to unleash on the world.
* For most of ''Manga/CodenameSailorV'' Minako coasted in combat through her natural athleticism, what techniques Artemis managed to teach her though the [[TaughtByTelevision Sailor V game]], and the martial arts training she had in her MysteriousPast... Up until she was punched in the face (while untransformed) by a common thug. Fast forward to the Valentine's Day chapter and Artemis has figured out how to train her in full, and by the start of ''Manga/SailorMoon'' she's once again unstoppable.
** Implied in the ''Sailor Moon'', as the fighting abilities of Usagi, Ami, Rei, and Makoto grow exponentially once they meet the now MarriedToTheJob Minako, indicating she starts training them off-screen as soon as she joins the group.

* ''Franchise/StarWars'': Luke Skywalker never had more than two straight weeks of Jedi training; rather, he seems to have obtained ''all'' of his power from this trope.
** There are hints that he self-taught during the gap between Episode 5 and 6, coming back with much more powerful force techniques, and declaring himself a Jedi Knight. And Yoda admits that he's effectively a Jedi already, and only needs to undergo one more true test of character to finalize it.

* Glaring example at the end of ''Film/KungFuHustle''. Possibly the most absurd number of [[TookALevelInBadass badass levels gained]] ever committed to film. Actually [[JustifiedTrope justified]] in that he should have been that powerful to start, but his chi paths were all messed up until the Beast broke his... Well, broke ''[[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown every single bit of him]]'' and the semi-mystical process of his healing not only fixed his bones and flesh but also his ability to be an insanely powerful martial artist. His potential was LITERALLY unlocked.

* ''Series/JukenSentaiGekiranger'' has this in ''spades'', with the three core Rangers finding three additional masters (one each) to unlock their new weapons and mecha, then three ''more'' masters to access their SuperMode. Even the villains get in on the act, with the BigBad seeking out three of his own masters to train him in the ways of evil. Finally, when the ultimate mecha--[=SaiDaiOh=]--is found, it sprinkles everyone with AppliedPhlebotinum to--and this is stated--"unlock their true potential".
** Its American counterpart, ''Series/PowerRangersJungleFury'', kept much of this (the Rhino Steelzord didn't come with any True Potential Fairy Dust™, however, which is just as well - the Rangers didn't seem stronger in later episodes. However, after trying and failing to awaken it, Dai Shi, ''the bad guy,'' realized he could now perfectly wield the technique he'd been trying to learn for the past several episodes.)

* Played with by Chaos in ''Manhwa/{{Ragnarok}}''. When we first see him, he's a [[MagicKnight Rune Knight]] with IdentityAmnesia. Turns out that amnesia "re-locked" true potential he had unlocked as a child--he had once been trained by a Dragon Knight (swordsmen in direct service of Odin) in their style of combat, such as [[SingleStrokeBattle cleaving entire armies in half]]. Over the course of the novels, Chaos grows stronger as he remembers the training he'd forgotten.

* In 2003, no one in [=K1=] wanted to fight the pro wrestler Wrestling/BobSapp except for Mirko Cro Cop, an opponent who himself rattled Sapp enough to train in Mu Thai after spending his entire career up to that point simply [[GoodOldFisticuffs bum rushing his opponents while swinging his arms.]][[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'' has the Trained By A Master ability, which has to be learned by finding a GM-approved NPC to train you rather than just being bought with character points. Once you've got it, your character becomes able to learn a variety of new techniques depending on what the training was like.

* Claus from ''VideoGame/TalesOfPhantasia'' never gets any ability aside from [[DefeatMeansFriendship making pacts with summons]]. By the halfway point of the game, you need to gather four elementals for him to progress in the game. Other summons in the future aside from Origin are totally optional.
* The Fell Arms from ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'' can be awoken and powered up to become [[InfinityPlusOneSword the best weapons in the game]], and you'll need to them if you want to unlock the bonus boss battles at the end, including an extra OneWingedAngel form of the FinalBoss.
* Link from ''VideoGame/ZeldaIITheAdventureOfLink'' learns new magic and sword skills from wise men living in the hidden parts of towns. ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendofZeldaTheMinishCap The Minish Cap]]'' also have Link meets multiple mentors that teaches him new sword techniques. And ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendofZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'' has Link learn special attacks from the [[SpiritAdvisor Hero's Shade]].
* In ''VideoGame/GranblueFantasy'', all characters have Fate Episodes which unlock their third (or fourth) skills when completed. There are also those who have their 5★ uncaps unlocked after completing one post max-level. Finally, Cross-Fate Episodes permanently increase the Attack and HP stats of the two involved characters (or unlock another skill, depending on the individual).
* Inverted in ''VideoGame/InazumaEleven'', where some of the team members rely on finding new techniques from manuals early on too much that the rest has to remind them that they can also win if they try hard on their own.
* This is what the player will spend a lot of time doing in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'', from slaughtering dragons to eat their souls, and then finding Words of Power to apply the knowledge from aforementioned dragon souls into devastating [[MakeMeWannaShout Shouts]]. [[BlownAcrossTheRoom Unrelenting Force]] is given to the player for free, but everything else requires you to unlock it.

* In ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'', The Nameless One needs to find a trainer who can teach him improved weapon mastery (as a fighter), or someone to train him in the ways of thievery or magic. Played with, given that thanks to the fact that the Nameless One is an amnesiac immortal, he's not unlocking new skills at all but recovering memories of skills he'd learned long ago.
* Characters with demonic ancestry in the ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' series are able to use that side in order to gain more power through an ability called "Devil Trigger". However Dante always seems to be pushing that envelope and finding new and more powerful forms. The Majin form from ''2'' and the [[spoiler:Sin]] form in ''5'' are examples of this.

* In ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSinII'', the goal of Act II is to develop your [[TheChosenOne Godwoken]] abilities so you're capable of [[GodhoodSeeker claiming Divinity]]. Various mentors teach you to handle more [[SoulPower Source]] (for a [[{{Sidequest}} price]], of course), while an AstralProjection ritual lets you learn to perceive and manipulate souls from the deity who chose you as Godwoken.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': In "Magic Duel", a minor antagonist called Trixie runs the protagonist Twilight Sparkle out of town by beating her with the help of an AmplifierArtifact [[ArtifactOfDoom of Doom]], which enables her to perform magic normally available only to the highest level unicorns; Twilight is known to have immense magical potential, but it's shown here that she hasn't yet gotten the skill to perform the most advanced spells. Twilight seeks training with Zecora, who teaches her more about magic. [[spoiler:Subverted: Whatever Twilight may have learned, she doesn't use any new skills in the rematch, rather relying on trickery and help from her friends to give the appearance of doing impossible things with magic, ultimately part of a BatmanGambit to get Trixie to relinquish the artifact.]]

* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' has this happen often for the main character, especially in Shippuden. After he returns from a [[TookALevelInBadass three-year-long training trip]], does some [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique more training]], after which he gets to do some [[MeditationPowerup extra special training]]--and that's when [[SuperMode the ''real'' training starts.]]

* In the anime adaptation for ''Manga/Reborn2004'', the Vongola are sent back to the present twice to go through some trials. The first arc deals with them passing the Arcobaleno Trials in order for a boost up before Choice. The second arc has them prove themselves to the First Generation in order to be able to use their Vongola box weapons to the fullest. The Inheritance arc averts this instead, where they receive upgrades that are meant to compliment their fighting styles instead and did not even train how to use them.

** [[spoiler: Interesting case with Luffy, as not only did he do Haki training, but after that, he trained oon his own and also gained '''[[SuperMode Gear 4]]''', which combines Gears 2, 3, and Haki to create a much bigger form for him. Which, by the way, was first seen in a CurbstompBattle against Doflamingo, who, by the way, was in the ''receiving end.'' Mind you, Doflamingo is a ''[[TheDreaded Warlord]]'', and a particularly nasty one.]]

* To fight the devil hosts of the Spade Kingdom, most of the Black Bulls in ''Manga/BlackClover'' get stronger over the six month time skip: Asta and Noelle train in the Heart Kingdom, Charmy, Luck, and Nero learn arrays from the Spirit Guardians in the Heart Kingdom, and Gordon studies Curse Magic under his father.

** Gohan is the example takes this trope extremely literally: he has an inner strength far beyond anyone around that only appears when he's emotionally pushed to the brink, and much is made about how powerful he'd be if he could use it at will. The first "unlock" is with the Grand Elder on Namek, but then in the Cell Arc this hidden power utilized as the way for him to reach Super Saiyan 2.[[labelnote:*]]Remember, the Grand Elder made it so that this emotion-based power jump wasn't needed anymore.[[/labelnote]] Then in the Buu Arc, Elder Kai performs a ritual that draws out the "hidden abilities" of mortals beyond what they're normally capable of, layering on top of the Grand Elder's unlock! It's later acknowledged in ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'' by Beerus and Whis that Gohan has a ''ridiculous'' amount of potential that not even Goku and Vegeta can hope to have, but the issue is Gohan simply isn't a BloodKnight like they are, so he doesn't have the same drive for training and combat.

* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' is made of this trope--Ichigo turning to the Vizard for training as well as Orihime training with Rukia and Chad training with Urahara and Renji are the most standard examples. You could also say that when a Shingami achieves Ban-Kai by training with the spirit of their swords it is a variation of this trope as the sword teaches them how to unlock their true power. Ichigo has especially abused this trope. As of this writing, he has been (deep breath): a shinigami, a bankai level shinigami, a Vizard, a Vasto lord shinigami, a more powerful shinigami, a Fullbringer, a ''more'' more powerful shinigami, and a [[spoiler:Quincy]]. Again--that's ''all performed by a single character.''

* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' has this happen often for the main character, especially in Shippuuden. After he returns from a [[TookALevelInBadass three-year-long training trip]], does some [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique more training]], after which he gets to do some [[MeditationPowerup extra special training]]--and that's when [[SuperMode the ''real'' training starts.]]

** [[spoiler: Interesting case with Luffy, as not only did he do Haki training, but he also gained '''[[SuperMode Gear 4]]''', which combines Gears 2, 3, and Haki to create a much bigger form for him. Which, by the way, was first seen in a CurbstompBattle against Doflamingo, who, by the way, was in the ''receiving end.'' Mind you, Doflamingo is a ''[[TheDreaded Warlord]]'', and a particularly nasty one.]]

-->'''Pink Ranger:''' ''[in civilian clothes]'' Amazing! I never thought I would see such skills outside such a small neighborhood store.\\

** There are hints that he self-taught during the gap between Episode 5 and 6, coming back with much more powerful force techniques, and declaring himself a Jedi Knight. And Yoda admits that he's effectively a Jedi already, and only needs to undergo one more TrueTestOfCharacter to finalize it.

** Gohan is the example takes this trope extremely literally: he has an inner strength far beyond anyone around that only appears when he's emotionally pushed to the brink, and much is made about how powerful he'd be if he could use it at will. The first "unlock" is with the Grand Elder on Namek, but then in the Cell Arc this hidden power utilized as the way for him to reach Super Saiyan 2[[labelnote:*]]Remember, the Grand Elder made it so that this emotion-based power jump wasn't needed anymore[[/labelnote]]. Then in the Buu Arc, Elder Kai performs a ritual that draws out the "hidden abilities" of mortals beyond what they're normally capable of, layering on top of the Grand Elder's unlock! It's later acknowledged in ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'' by Beerus and Whis that Gohan has a ''ridiculous'' amount of potential that not even Goku and Vegeta can hope to have, but the issue is Gohan simply isn't a BloodKnight like they are, so he doesn't have the same drive for training and combat.

* ''Franchise/DragonBall'' takes this to dizzying levels: anyone more than a century old and not evil will either impart new techniques or glow eerily, increasing the main characters' strength either way. Even when the characters train solo rather than directly under a master, it's acknowledged by Goku multiple times that he thought he'd hit his limit only for a much more powerful foe to show up. Luckily for him, the excitement of training up and fighting to see how he measured up is more than enough motivation to push himself even further.

* ''Manga/DragonBall'' and ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' take this to dizzying levels; anyone more than a century old and not evil will either impart new techniques or glow eerily, increasing the main characters' strength either way. Gohan sorta embodies this trope in the Dragon Ball world since he is the one with the most "hidden powers." He gets his true power unlocked three times.
** It's even been acknowledged by the likes of Beerus and Whis that Gohan has a ''ridiculous'' amount of potential that not even Goku and Vegeta can hope to have, the problem is Gohan simply isn't a BloodKnight like them, so unlike them, he doesn't spend all his time training.

* Deconstructed in ''Manga/MutekiKanbanMusume'', an hilarious parody of the FightingSeries:

-->'''Pink Ranger:''' (''in civilian clothes'') Amazing! I never thought I would see such skills outside such a small neighborhood store.\\
'''Hell's Bunny:''' (''in civilian clothes'') What do you think? Aren't you glad we came?

* ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'': Negi's {{Training from Hell}} with [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Vampire]] Evangeline, complete with a YearInsideHourOutside bottle containing an enchanted resort. This is hardly the only instance, either. He does it again with Jack Rakan, learning BlackMagic. [[spoiler:And he's going through this again with Pseudo-Eva, to get the BlackMagic under control.]]

* In the anime adaptation for ''Manga/KatekyoHitmanReborn'', the Vongola are sent back to the present twice to go through some trials. The first arc deals with them passing the Arcobaleno Trials in order for a boost up before Choice. The second arc has them prove themselves to the First Generation in order to be able to use their Vongola box weapons to the fullest. The Inheritance arc averts this instead, where they receive upgrades that are meant to compliment their fighting styles instead and did not even train how to use them.

* Used in ''Manga/FairyTail'' to quickly explain away how the core cast managed to catch up to everyone who's had seven more years than them to hone their magic abilities. Some of them did it through (off-screen) TrainingFromHell for three months while others, because they got stuck at a party [[YearInsideHourOutside in a dimension where one day is three months in the real world]], had to get a handy PowerUp from an old enemy-turned-ally that forcibly and permanently doubled their magic power at the cost of extreme agony throughout the night. Later on, a second {{Timeskip}} has everyone going off to do one year of TrainingFromHell to improve even further.

** Subverted with Kankuro, who goes into a TheQuest not for better TrainingFromHell, but after using underhanded methods to beat a rival (Kankuro is the IdiotHero) to become a better person.

This is the usual manner in which a character will learn how to perform KiAttacks.

* The Kings Of Wrestling, Wrestling/ClaudioCastagnoli and Wrestling/ChrisHero, were the most dominant {{tag team}} in the United States Of America bar none but when they went to Wrestling/ProWrestlingNOAH in 2009, they mostly got their asses kicked, leading Hero to train in NOAH's dojo to improve. However much Hero improved wasn't enough though as he and Castagnoli continued to lose. Then when he came back with Wrestling/ColtCabana, they lost some more. However, he was given an award for having the most outstanding technique in 2013. And if nothing, else, Hero wasn't content and continued to try and win, or at least advance out of the first block of the Global Tag League in following years, winning best technique again in 2014 and 2015.

* Shayna Baszler has said her mission, having educated mixed martial artists on catch wrestling, was to bring catch back to pro wrestling. At Ring Of Honor's thirteenth anniversary Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish revealed they were two of her first benefactors.[[/folder]]

** [[spoiler: Interesting case with Luffy, as not only did he do Haki training, but he also gained '''[[SuperForm Gear 4]]''', which combines Gears 2, 3, and Haki to create a much bigger form for him. Which, by the way, was first seen in a CurbstompBattle against Doflamingo, who, by the way, was in the ''receiving end.'' Mind you, Doflamingo is a ''[[TheDreaded Warlord]]'', and a particularly nasty one.]]

* In the anime adaptation for ''Manga/KatekyoHitmanReborn'', the Vongola are sent back to the present twice to go through some trials. The first arc deals with them passing the Arcobaleno Trials in order for a boost up before Choice. The second arc has them prove themselves to the First Generation in order to be able to use their Vongola box weapons to the fullest. The Inheritance arc averts this instead, where they receive upgrades that are meant to compliment their fighting styles instead and the guardians feel like it have been meant for them.

* In the anime adaptation for ''Manga/KatekyoHitmanReborn'', the Vongola are sent back to the present twice to go through some trials.