History PlayingWith / TookAlevelInBadAss

** Bob [[IJustWantToBeBadass wanted to be badass]] so he wouldn't be bullied. But then it turns out that he still gets bullied, leading him to despair.

* '''Enforced''': "This Bob character is a bit pathetic. Let's spice him up and improve the ratings by adding a few fight scenes!"

* '''Played For Drama''': Bob's newfound ability is built on something incredibly traumatic, and he struggles with regular life while using his superhero life as a way to ignore dealing with it.

%%* '''Implied''': ???

%%* '''Played For Laughs''': ???

* '''Exaggerated''': Bob was a FailureHero who became an InvincibleHero, who [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu slaughters]] an EldritchAbomination in a CurbStompBattle.

%%* '''Played For Laughs''': ???
%%* '''Played For Drama''': ???

'''Basic Trope''': An otherwise average or weak character suddenly becomes a lot more powerful and/or competent

** Bob's attempt to take a level in badass transforms him FromNobodyToNightmare, as he discards his morality and empathy in favor of incredible power.

* '''Straight''': Bob goes from being an average hero into being a kickass superhero who can beat up bad guys easily.

* '''Exploited''': ???

* '''Averted''': All characters stay at about the same BadAss level throughout the story.

* '''Invoked''': [[TheObiWan Bob's mentor]] sends him to a ninja school in order to make him a better fighter.

* '''Zig Zagged''': Bob appears to be extra badass, but by beating up kittens. Then he takes on some real enemies...and loses. But then we discover he [[IAmNotLeftHanded was holding back his power all along!]]

'''Basic Trope''': An otherwise average character suddenly becomes a lot more powerful and/or competent

'''Basic Trope''': An otherwise average character suddenly becomes a lot more powerful.

* '''Parodied''': Bob used to be a nerd, complete with a [[GeekPhysiques geek physique]]. He retains this appearance, and yet is able to beat people up like a OneManArmy.

* '''Exaggerated''': Bob was a FailureHero who became and InvincibleHero, who [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu slaughters]] an EldritchAbomination in a CurbStompBattle.

* '''Exaggerated''': Bob goes from being the weakest pansy one could possibly come across, to being able to crush [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu Cthulhu]] with a blink of an eye.

* '''Reconstructed''': Bob willingly subjects himself to TrainingFromHell to become strong enough to save his beloved Alice. When all is said and done, he decides it was WorthIt.

* Bob becomes a KnightInSourArmor and holds on to his original idealism, all while kicking ass.

** Bob is happy to remain [[TooCleverByHalf using his intellect]] to fight battles, and refuses to work out or learn new skills.
** ThePenIsMightier

Oof! You aren't the same wimp you were two seasons ago...I take it you TookALevelInBadass during the break?

* '''Justified''': Bob went to a ninja academy which taught him loads of badass skills.

* '''Downplayed''': ???

'''Took A Level In Badass''': An otherwise average character suddenly becomes a lot more powerful.

* '''Deconstructed''': In an effort to [[IJustWantToBeBadass become more badass]], Bob goes through TrainingFromHell to make himself stronger. The torment he undergoes destroys his psyche, which is only revealed later, at a pivotal point in the story.
** Bob's attempt to take a level in badass transforms him FromNobodyToNightmare, as he discards his morality and empathy in favor of incredible power.
* '''Reconstructed''': Bob willingly subjects himself to TrainingFromHell to become strong enough to save his beloved Alice. When all is said and done, he decides it was WorthIt.

* '''Defied''': Bob is happy to remain [[TooCleverByHalf using his intellect]] to fight battles, and refuses to work out or learn new skills.

* '''Reconstructed''': Bob willingly subjects himself to TrainingFromHell to become strong enough to save his beloved Alice. When all is said and done, he decides it was worth it.

* '''Straight''': Matt goes from being an average hero into being a kickass superhero who can beat up bad guys easily.
* '''Exaggerated''': Matt goes from being the weakest pansy one could possibly come across, to being able to crush [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu Cthulhu]] with a blink of an eye.
* '''Justified''': Matt went to a ninja academy which taught him loads of badass skills.
* '''Inverted''': Matt undergoes BadassDecay.
* '''Subverted''': We think Matt is beating people up, but the people he beats up are even more pathetic than the original Matt.

* '''Parodied''': Matt used to be a nerd, complete with a [[GeekPhysiques geek physique]]. He retains this appearance, and yet is able to beat people up like a OneManArmy.
* '''Deconstructed''': In an effort to [[IJustWantToBeBadass become more badass]], Matt goes through TrainingFromHell to make himself stronger. The torment he undergoes destroys his psyche, which is only revealed later, at a pivotal point in the story.
* '''Reconstructed''': Matt willingly subjects himself to TrainingFromHell to become strong enough to save his beloved Alice. When all is said and done, he decides it was worth it.
* '''Zig Zagged''': Matt appears to be extra badass, but by beating up kittens. Then he takes on some real enemies...and loses. But then we discover he [[IAmNotLeftHanded was holding back his power all along!]]

* '''Enforced''': "This Matt character is a bit pathetic. Let's spice him up and improve the ratings by adding a few fight scenes!"
* '''Lampshaded''': "My God, Matt, you used to be pathetic, but you've gotten good at fighting all of a sudden!"
* '''Invoked''': [[TheObiWan Matt's mentor]] sends him to a ninja school in order to make him a better fighter.
* '''Defied''': Matt is happy to remain [[TooCleverByHalf using his intellect]] to fight battles, and refuses to work out or learn new skills.

* '''Discussed''': "Oh, look, the BigBad is coming - guess Matt is going to show him he's not what he used to be."
* '''Conversed''': "That Matt is a hell of a lot tougher than he was last episode..."

----

* '''Straight''': Bob goes from being an average hero into being a kickass superhero who can beat up bad guys easily.
* '''Exaggerated''': Bob goes from being the weakest pansy one could possibly come across, to being able to crush [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu Cthulhu]] with a blink of an eye.
* '''Justified''': Bob went to a ninja academy which taught him loads of badass skills.
* '''Inverted''': Bob undergoes BadassDecay.
* '''Subverted''': We think Bob is beating people up, but the people he beats up are even more pathetic than original Bob.

* '''Parodied''': Bob used to be a nerd, complete with a [[GeekPhysiques geek physique]]. He retains this appearance, and yet is able to beat people up like a OneManArmy.
* '''Deconstructed''': In an effort to [[IJustWantToBeBadass become more badass]], Bob goes through TrainingFromHell to make himself stronger. The torment he undergoes destroys his psyche, which is only revealed later, at a pivotal point in the story.
* '''Reconstructed''': Bob willingly subjects himself to TrainingFromHell to become strong enough to save his beloved Alice. When all is said and done, he decides it was worth it.
* '''Zig Zagged''': Bob appears to be extra badass, but by beating up kittens. Then he takes on some real enemies...and loses. But then we discover he [[IAmNotLeftHanded was holding back his power all along!]]

* '''Enforced''': "This Bob character is a bit pathetic. Let's spice him up and improve the ratings by adding a few fight scenes!"
* '''Lampshaded''': "My God, Bob, you used to be pathetic, but you've gotten good at fighting all of a sudden!"
* '''Invoked''': [[TheObiWan Bob's mentor]] sends him to a ninja school in order to make him a better fighter.
* '''Defied''': Bob is happy to remain [[TooCleverByHalf using his intellect]] to fight battles, and refuses to work out or learn new skills.

* '''Discussed''': "Oh, look, the BigBad is coming - guess Bob is going to show him he's not what he used to be."
* '''Conversed''': "That Bob is a hell of a lot tougher than he was last episode..."

* '''Exaggerated''': Bob goes from being the weakest pansy one could possibly come across, to being able to crush entire armies with the flick of his finger.

* '''Deconstructed''': Bob discovers that with great power [[ComesGreatResponsibility comes great moral responsibility]]. Uncomfortable with this [[GreyAndGrayMorality moral grey area]], he undergoes a lot of strain trying to come to terms with his new abilities.
* '''Reconstructed''': Bob knows that there is a lot of evil out there, evil so [[MoralEventHorizon depraved it doesn't deserve any good treatment]]. It is this evil that Bob decides to exert his badassery over.

* '''Averted''': Bob was a very powerful hero all along.

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