History Main / UnpredictableResults

[[folder:Film]]

* In ''VideoGame/PathOfExile'', corrupting a piece of equipment via a Vaal Orb can do a variety of things to an item. It can add a powerful implicit modifier or change a [[SocketedEquipment gem socket]] to white. It might also do nothing, or worse, transform the item into something else entirely. While powerful, the downside is that once an item is Corrupted, it can't be modified further, except for very certain aspects which are prohibitively expensive. The Altar of Corruption takes this UpToEleven; it can add two implicit modifiers, change every socket color to white, or outright destroy the item.

* In ''VideoGame/PathOfExile'', corrupting a piece of equipment via a Vaal Orb can do a variety of things to an item. It can add a powerful implicit modifier or change a [[SocketedEquipment gem socket]] to white. It might also do nothing, or worse, transform the item into something else entirely. While powerful, the downside is that once an item is Corrupted, it can't be modified further, except for very certain aspects which are very expensive. The Altar of Corruption takes this UpToEleven; it can add two implicit modifiers, change every socket color to white, or outright destroy the item.

* ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'': The finishing move of Chang's [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown Tekkyuu Dai Bousou]] varies across its numerous appearances. Results include (but are not limited to) a gut check, a RollingAttack, a slide and a front kick.

* ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'': The finishing move of Chang's Tekkyuu Dai Bousou varies across its numerous appearances. Results include (but are not limited to) a gut check, a RollingAttack, a slide and a front kick.

->''"What do you mean, 'it breaks reality?'"''
->''"I mean you turn it on, and'' ''reality breaks."''

* ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'''s {{Unobtainium}}, Energized Protodermis either transforms all that comes into contact with it into [[BecauseDestinySaysSo whatever its destiny calls for]], or simply destroys it. This goes for everything, from objects to living beings. Then, there are the Reconstitute at Random Kanoka Disks, which transform their target into who-knows-what, Teleportation disks, which [[RandomTeleportation teleport the targets to random locations]], and the Mask of Summoning, which summons random creatures whom the mask's user unfortunately has no control over (including whether or not they'll attack ''them'' along with the enemy).

[[folder:Toys]]
* ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'''s {{Unobtainium}}, Energized Protodermis either transforms all that comes into contact with it into [[BecauseDestinySaysSo whatever its destiny calls for]], or simply destroys it. This goes for everything, from objects to living beings. Then, there are the Reconstitute at Random Kanoka Disks, which transform their target into who-knows-what, Teleportation disks, which [[RandomTeleportation teleport the targets to random locations]], and the Mask of Summoning, which summons random creatures whom the mask's user unfortunately has no control over (including whether or not they'll attack ''them'' along with the enemy).

* Red mana in ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' is the color of randomness, chaos and unpredictability. Most of the time that appears in the form of cards that happen to interact like that; for example, creatures attacking the turn they come into play and changing the targets of other effects are both red abilities, and both result in unpredictable game states, especially for your opponents. Some effects, though, genuinely require players to randomize things, such as by flipping a coin or rolling a dice. In its most extreme form, the card [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=220300 Scrambleverse]] will assign every card in play to a new controller chosen at random.

[[folder:Toys]]
* ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'''s {{Unobtainium}}, Energized Protodermis either transforms all that comes into contact with it into [[BecauseDestinySaysSo whatever its destiny calls for]], or simply destroys it. This goes for everything, from objects to living beings. Then, there are the Reconstitute at Random Kanoka Disks, which transform their target into who-knows-what, Teleportation disks, which [[RandomTeleportation teleport the targets to random locations]], and the Mask of Summoning, which summons random creatures whom the mask's user unfortunately has no control over (including whether or not they'll attack ''them'' along with the enemy).
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* Who could forget the Wabbajack? A magical staff from ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' that turns a creature into a random creature.
** In the lore, Sheogorath, Daedric Prince of Madness[[labelnote]]and, incidentally, the Wabbajack's patron Daedra[[/labelnote]], is essentially this trope personified. Excepting the player characters, any interaction with him has just as high a chance of going incredibly well as it does of going catastrophically poorly; scholars indicate this is true on a ''mathematical'' level.

* A major arc of the webcomic ''Webcomic/ItsWalky'' centers around this. The Head Alien uses a machine to stop time in Canada (Citing his reason as, "I figured, who the heck would notice? Damn if I wasn't right...") in order to trap a demigodly alien known as 'The Cheese'. However, overuse of the time-stopping device creates unpredictable results, such as [[GenderBender reversing the gender]] of everybody in the vicinity, giving somebody a FunnyAfro, or turning him into a {{Pirate}}...

* ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'''s {{Unobtainium}}, Energized Protodermis either transforms all that comes into contact with it into [[BecauseDestinySaysSo whatever its destiny calls for]], or simply destroys it. This goes for everything, from objects to living beings. Then, there are the Reconstitute at Random Kanoka Disks, which transform their target into who-knows-what, {{Teleportation}} disks, which teleport the targets to random locations, and the Mask of Summoning, which summons random creatures whom the mask's user unfortunately has no control over (including whether or not they'll attack ''them'' along with the enemy).

->''"I mean you turn it on, and'' ''[[RealityBreakingParadox reality breaks.]]"''

* ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'''s {{Unobtainium}}, Energized Protodermis either transforms all that comes into contact with it into [[BecauseDestinySaysSo whatever its destiny calls for]], or simply destroys it. This goes for everything, from objects to living beings. Then, there are the Reconstitute at Random Kanoka Disks, which transform their target into who-knows-what, [[TeleportersAndTransporters Teleportation disks]], which teleport the targets to random locations, and the Mask of Summoning, which summons random creatures whom the mask's user unfortunately has no control over (including whether or not they'll attack ''them'' along with the enemy).

* The Source in the ''Divinity'' series plays with this trope. It's not an unpredictable result every time a Sourcerer uses their powers, but ''when'' the Sourcerer was born comes with a host of fun obstacles; there has never been a ''Divinity'' game where Source is both present and functioning properly the whole way through. [[UnequalRites Not that this has any bearing on non-Source magic.]]
** In ''VideoGame/DivineDivinity'' (the very first game!) Source magic has almost stopped working completely.
** ''VideoGame/DivinityIITheDragonKnightSaga'' has some mentions of Source magic, but nobody seems able to use it.
** The protagonists of ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSin'' are [[TheWitchHunter Source Hunters]] because [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity people who use Source magic usually end up crazy and evil]]. It can be purified by the end of the game but it's clearly gone wrong by ''Divine Divinity''.
** ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSinII'' plays this trope the most straight. Source magic works again, and the spells cast do what they're supposed to, but they also come with the occasional random helping of [[EldritchHorror eldritch horrors]]. It can be purified again (and apparently for good), but considering it seems to go back to being broken in ''Divinity II'' that ''also'' doesn't stick.

** By ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSinII'' Source magic is working again... but using it has decent odds of summoning eldritch horrors. It can be purified again (and apparently for good), but considering it seems to go back to being broken in ''Divinity II'' that ''also'' doesn't stick.

Essentially, the opposite of FunctionalMagic. RandomEffectSpell and RandomizedDamageAttack is a subtrope.

[[folder:Real Life]]
* TruthInTelevision: Change just ''one line'' of a sufficiently complex piece of code without fully understanding what it does, e.g.: "Segmentation Fault. Core Dumped."
* In C/C++ the language standard allows for "undefined behavior" for some operations (e.g. accessing an array beyond its bounds), leading to the "[[http://www.catb.org/~esr/jargon/html/N/nasal-demons.html nasal demons]]" joke.
[[/folder]]

* In ''John and Dave and the Temple of X'al'naa'thuthuthu'', the sequel to ''JohnDiesAtTheEnd'', the Furgun embodies this trope. Technically it does whatever the user wants it to do, but getting the result right is finicky. It's as likely to enlarge things as it is to turn them into mashed potatoes, blow them up or give them beards. When the narrator tries to defend himself with it, the mental image of an old painting of Jesus flips into his mind, so the painting pops out of nowhere and starts shooting lasers out of its eyes. When he has an urgent, urgent case of KillItWithFire, he does all he can to imagine flames as he pulls the trigger. Nothing happens. Then there's a streak of light in the sky...

* The {{Pokemon}} attack Metronome, which allows a 'Mon that knows it to perform almost ANY attack at random.

* A Disclaimer on ''Series/NedsDeclassifiedSchoolSurvivalGuide'' is "Your Results May Vary".

%%* The [[WildCards Wild Card]] virus.

* The Allspark and the key it empowered in ''TransformersAnimated'', which apparently has a mind of its own.

* The Lab Ray in ''{{Neopets}}'', which can add stats, take them away, change species, or even change gender.

* A Disclaimer on NedsDeclassifiedSchoolSurvivalGuide is "Your Results May Vary".

* ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'''s {{Unobtainium}}, Energized Protodermis either transforms all that comes into contact with it into [[BecauseDestinySaysSo whatever its destiny calls for]], or simply destroys it. This goes for everything, from objects to living beings. Then, there are the Reconstitute at Random Kanoka Disks, which transform their target into who-knows-what, [[TeleportersAndTransporters Teleportation disks]], which teleport the targets to random locations, and the Mask of Summoning, which summons random creatures whom the mask's user unfortunately has no control over.