Line #49 Main/ItemDropMechanic


1	[[quoteright:260:[[Webcomic/SanThreeKingdomsComic https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/192_cut_1307.png]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:260:He turned into a meatbun. [[ImAHumanitarian The Horror...]]]]
3
4	A gameplay element in video games where you can get items from fallen enemies. Typically it takes form of enemies fading and the drops simply appearing where they died.
5
6	Item drops often have fixed types within the game. Some of which are:
7	* {{Experience\|Points}}: enemies turn into experience upon death.
8	* [[HyperactiveMetabolism Food]]: They turn to food which replenishes either HitPoints or the ManaMeter.
9	* PowerUps that increase your stats temporarily (such as attack or defense).
10	** SprintShoes: speeds up the character.
11	* Ammo: More prevalent in FPS and other shooter games, where you can pick ammo from other enemies. Often a UniversalAmmunition.
12	* Equipment, such as weapons or armor.
13
14	Supertrope to the following:
15	[[index]]
16	* CarryingTheWeakness: Enemies drop items they're weak to.
17	* EssenceDrop: Enemies drop energy that directly boosts character stats.
18	* MoneySpider: Enemies drop currency when killed.
19	* ImpossibleItemDrop: Enemies drop items they have no business even having on their person. (e.g., a Bat dropping a chainsaw.)
20	* LootMakingAttack: A special attack that somehow generates items that are useful to you, such as by turning an enemy into an item.
21	* MoneyMultiplier: Another mechanic that increases the amount of items gained.
22	* OrganDrops: Enemies drop parts of their anatomy.
23	* PowerUpMagnet: It can attract dropped items, whether power ups, treasure, or other things.
24	* RandomDrop: The items that are dropped are random, or certain things only drop at a fixed chance.
25	* RandomDropBooster: You get dropped items more frequently and/or of higher quality.
26	* RareRandomDrop: Some items have a much lower probability of being dropped.
27	* StrongEnemiesLowRewards: High-level enemies will drop little-to-no worthwhile rewards for the effort of defeating them.
28	[[/index]]
29
30	Very prevalent in [=RPGs=] -- in fact, the UrExample is ''VideoGame/DragonSlayer'', an ActionRPG -- but can appear in any other game genre. In most {{Roguelike}}s, enemies will drop whatever they were carrying when they died. For humanoid enemies this often includes the equipment that they were wearing, which can then be used by the player. It also includes things like potions of healing, but in cases like that you have to kill the enemy ''before'' it uses the item for it to drop.
31
32	Not to be confused with discarding an item in your inventory.
33	----
34
35	!!Examples
36
37	[[foldercontrol]]
38
39	!!Video Game Examples
40
41	[[folder:Action]]
42	* ''VideoGame/BillyBladeAndTheTempleOfTime'': Enemies that [[PlayerCharacter Billy]] defeats drop items that can power up his weapon.
43	[[/folder]]
44
45	[[folder:Action-Adventure]]
46	* ''VideoGame/CaveIn'': Sometimes, enemies will drop health kits when defeated.
47	* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'': Enemies sometimes drop rupees, hearts, or item pickups upon being killed.
48	** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'', ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD]]'', enemies don't drop hearts if you're playing on Hero Mode (unless you have the Heart Medal in ''Skyward Sword'').
49	** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'': Defeated enemies will typically drop weapons, food, and body parts.
50	[[/folder]]
51
52	[[folder:Beat 'em Up]]
53	* ''VideoGame/FightingForce'' Has enemies drop things such as stacks of money, sandwiches gold ingots and other things when then die which either restore health or give points to the player.
54	* Creator/KoeiTecmo:
55	** ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'', ''VideoGame/SamuraiWarriors'', and ''VideoGame/WarriorsOrochi''. Because all the processing power and memory is dedicated to [[TheWarSequence rendering hundreds]] of {{Mook}}s, all three employ this trope. GrandfatherClause applies too as it has always been this way since ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors 2'' in the Platform/PlayStation2. Fallen {{Mook}}s sometimes {{Randomly Drop\|s}} PowerUp items. Officers both Generic and Playable will ''always'' drop [[ExperiencePoints XP bags]] (or Stat Up items like "Defense up" depending on the game) and sometimes RandomlyDrops treasure like mounts or weapons.
56	** The other Warriors type games have dropped different items depending on the game.
57	** ''VideoGame/FistOfTheNorthStarKensRage'' has defeated enemies dropping Scrolls, restoration items, or 'karma,' sort of like experience points.
58	** ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriorsGundam'' has defeated enemies mostly dropping restoration items or temporary power-up items due to the 'blueprints' system used in that game. Defeating any mobile suit, even the common {{Mook}}s, may grant the player a mobile suit blueprint, though the drop chance is something around 0.5% per generic enemy mobile suit. This is not as bad as it sounds, as you will destroy hundreds of them in a single mission and so likely earn at least one and probably several blueprints from them. Enemy aces always give up a blueprint upon defeat.
59	** ''VideoGame/WarriorsLegendsOfTroy'' is unusual in that it really doesn't have enemy drops per se, but rather the Kleos system which functions at experience points, a form of currency to purchase items in the item shop, and ties into your health restoration.
60	* ''VideoGame/NinjaClowns'': Sometimes, an enemy will drop food when defeated.
61	* ''VideoGame/{{Wulverblade}}'': Sometimes, enemies will drop weapons you can pick up and use in battle yourself.
62	[[/folder]]
63
64	[[folder:Driving Game]]
65	* ''VideoGame/{{Carmageddon}}'': Each pedestrian the protagonist reckless driver wastes during a race "drops" some in-game money as well as adds some [[TimedMission extra time to spend]].
66	* ''VideoGame/Vigilante8'': Destroying your enemy vehicles will make them drop their current weapons as well as some buffs (such as endurance or speed).
67	[[/folder]]
68
69	[[folder:Fighting Game]]
70	* In ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'', defeated enemies in the Smash Run mode drop power-ups that increase your speed, jump height, attack, special attack, projectile, item attack, and throw strength, and defense in the post-adventure course match.
71	[[/folder]]
72
73	[[folder:First-Person Shooter]]
74	* ''VideoGame/DoomII'': Enemies, even demonic ones, will drop medkits and/or ammo.
75	* ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands}}'' and its sequels are unusual among first person shooters in both giving randomly differentiated equipment to enemies as well as sometimes making that equipment available to you after they die as a drop. So if you see a bandit with a neat shotgun, you might very well be able to take it off him after you kill him.
76	* ''VideoGame/TronTwoPointOh'': When you de-rez an enemy, there's a "core dump" left behind containing subroutines, permissions, and small {{Essence Drop}}s of energy and health. Yes, this counts even for the digitized human Datawraiths. [[FridgeHorror Try not to think TOO much about the implications]], especially given humans are {{PhysicalGod}}s in {{Cyberspace}}.
77	[[/folder]]
78
79	[[folder:Platform Game]]
80	* ''VideoGame/AndroidHunterA'': Defeated enemies have the chance to drop items.
81	* ''VideoGame/AHatInTime'': Enemies will drop Health or Money pons when they die. Notably these seem to exist and be acknowledged in universe, in the final battle [[spoiler: all of the recurring characters in the game, realizing Hat Kid's victory would Retcon their deaths, effectively ''[[BlackComedy commit mass suicide]]'' so Hat Kid is gaining infinite health pons as an EleventhHourSuperpower]] and a shockingly dark scene where [[KnightOfCerebus The Empress]] murders an underling she suspects of stealing from her by throwing him against a wall hard enough to kill him has some of the edge taken off when he comically pops into money pons.
82	* ''VideoGame/EyraTheCrowMaiden'': Enemies and stationary flying crows will drop items upon defeat. What they drop varies.
83	* ''Franchise/MegaMan'':
84	** ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic'': Enemies will sometimes drop weapon energy or health energy. Same goes to ''VideoGame/MegaManX''. ''VideoGame/MegaManAndBass'' adds bolts (to be used for your upgrades) to the mix.
85	** ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'' omits the weapon energy but adds [[EnergyEconomy E-crystals]] to the mix. The first three games also have some Cyber Elves dropped from certain enemies, while the third also had Data Disks, and the fourth adds enemy parts. ''VideoGame/MegaManZX'' follows the above, but with weapon energy added again.
86	* ''VideoGame/Metroid1'': The manual stated Samus's suit was able to take the power of "his" enemies. Regular enemies turned into health or missile pickups but bosses did not, recharging her ammo automatically on death. Later games would just make bosses drop larger amounts of pickups. All but two enemies encountered in ''Videogame/MetroidFusion'' are duplicates created by X parasites, whom became living pickups that flee from you once the false body is destroyed. In ''Videogame/MetroidPrime3Corruption'', the nature of the drops change as with Samus's condition.
87	* ''VideoGame/MiniNinjas'': Defeated enemies turn into animals (whom you can possess with a special spell and use it to sneak around) and also drop glowing orbs that increase your experience.
88	* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'':
89	** ''VideoGame/Sonic3DBlast'': Destroying a robot will set a Flicky free. These are needed to get through the goal rings. In Panic Puppet Zone, however, the Flickies are in capsules. [[AllThereInTheManual The game's manual explains]] that Sonic got to that zone early enough and as a result, Robotnik didn't have time to put the Flickies in the robots.
90	** ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'': Destroying a robot will release a small animal inside, much like [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog1 the classic]] [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2 Genesis]] [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog3 games]]. However, these small animals can be taken to the Chao Garden and used to improve your Chao's stats, [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience depending on the color]] (Red for Strength, Yellow for Swim, Green for Speed, and Purple for Flight).
91	** ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure2'' retains this feature with Dr. Robotnik's robots and expands upon it with the G.U.N. robots. Destroying a G.U.N. robot releases a Chaos Drive, which, like the animals, increases your Chao's stats depending on the color.
92	** ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'': Destroying one of the more powerful enemies in the game will release a colored sphere. These spheres will upgrade your teammate's stats depending on the color (Blue for Speed, Red for Power, and Yellow for Flight).
93	** ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'': An enemy carrying a weapon will drop their weapon if Shadow defeats them. Shadow can then collect the weapon and use it against other enemies.
94	* ''VideoGame/WallachiaReignOfDracula'': Enemies drop a variety of items when defeated.
95	[[/folder]]
96
97	[[folder:Real-Time Strategy]]
98	* ''VideoGame/{{Sacrifice}}'': Killed creatures leave "souls" behind for any wizard to gather and use in summoning something new. The souls left by creatures that belonged to other wizards -- appear red in color, which means they would take longer to collect.
99	[[/folder]]
100
101	[[folder:Rhythm Game]]
102	* ''VideoGame/{{Hamsterdam}}'': Sometimes, the enemies will drop bags that [[PlayerCharacter Pimm]] can pick up.
103	[[/folder]]
104
105	[[folder:Role-Playing Game]]
106	* ''VideoGame/ConquerorsBlade'': All battles reward you with loot and Bronze, but open-world battles give you items that are specifically taken from the slain enemies. For example, defeating bandits will reward you with their kits and gear, which you can donate to other fiefs for rewards. On the other hand, if you pursue and defeat an enemy player, you will steal some of the items that they are carrying--which, depending on the player, can be quite valuable.
107	* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'': Enemies explode into "prizes", which are categorized differently depending on games, but the staples are treasure (which could be spells or weapons or crafting materials), HP, MP, and Munny.
108	* ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork'': You'll get some rewards whenever you beat a RandomEncounter battle. Typically it's small amounts of Zenny, but sometimes it could be a Battle Chip, Bugfrags, or (if your HP's low enough) HP recovery. Some installable programs for Mega Man can turn any rewards into just zenny, or just battle chip.
109	* ''VideoGame/{{Miitopia}}'': Most monsters can drop loot in the form of [[PowerUpFood grub]] representing their species.
110	* ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2'': Defeated enemies lie as corpses for some time, but eventually turn into loot bags containing their stuff.
111	* Enemies and allies that are slain in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics'' leave behind one of two things once their bodies vanish after three turns; treasure chests will contain one random piece of equipment that the character had on them. Crystals can either fully restore a character's HP and MP or they can opt for learning a random skill the slain character had learned previously.
112	[[/folder]]
113
114	[[folder:Roguelike]]
115	* ''VideoGame/{{Elona}}'': Each item an enemy is carrying only has a chance to drop upon its death, with that chance depending upon the LuckStat of the one who landed the killing blow.
116	* ''VideoGame/PandorasTower'': [[MookArmy Servant Beasts]] drop items, in addition to the Beast Flesh you need to [[spoiler: reverse Elena's curse]]. Master Flesh is dropped by Tower Masters, the equivalent of a boss in this game.
117	[[/folder]]
118
119	[[folder:Third-Person Shooter]]
120	* ''VideoGame/MegamanLegends'': Enemies always explode into refractors, crystal shaped objects that work as [[EnergyEconomy Zenny and power sources]]. Some enemies only drop {{Mana}} and HitPoints crystals.
121	[[/folder]]
122
123	[[folder:Wide-Open Sandbox]]
124	* ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto'': Beating people to death or unconsciousness will make them drop money and sometimes weapons and ammo.
125	* ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'': Most mobs, including all enemies, will drop items after being killed. This mostly boils down to OrganDrops, but also includes weapons and armor if an enemy was equipped with them, arrows from skeleton archers, potion bottles from witches killed in the middle of using them, and the mysterious ender pearls from endermen.
126	[[/folder]]
127
128	!!Non-Video Game Examples
129
130	[[folder: Anime and Manga]]
131	* ''Manga/SleepyPrincessInTheDemonCastle'': Taking place in an RPGMechanicsVerse, this occasionally happens. For example, when Silmoth ([[DeathIsCheap temporarily]]) [[UndignifiedDeath dies of embarrassment]], she drops a pile of silk related items along with leaving an InstantGravestone.
132	[[/folder]]
133
134	[[folder:Comic Books]]
135	* ''ComicBook/ScottPilgrim'': Volume 2 features Ramona's second Evil Ex, Lucas Lee, dropping a {{Mithril}} skateboard when he is "[[HoistByHisOwnPetard defeated]]" by Scott. +4 Speed, +3 Kick, +1 Will, but Scott can't use it because he forgot to pick up skateboard proficiency in fourth grade.
136	[[/folder]]
137
138	[[folder:Literature]]
139
140	* ''Literature/HeWhoFightsWithMonsters'': Jason's abilities cause the magic of monsters to condense into usable items. This isn't an unheard of ability in this world, but the local authorities are a bit confused when they start noticing money with a strange face on it showing up. For the most part it has minimal plot relevance, but eventually Jason kills a cultist and gets their DeadlyUpgrade AmplifierArtifact as a drop. When the cultist leader hears about it, he insists it's ''not possible'', and the cult has to scramble to cover their asses because that drop gives the heroes too many clues about them.
141	* ''Literature/IveBeenKillingSlimesFor300YearsAndMaxedOutMyLevel'': "Monsters" in the RPGMechanicsVerse drop crystals upon death, which are [[ShopFodder good for money]] at the AdventureGuild. Azusa's titular LevelGrinding comes from killing 25 low-level [[CuteSlimeMook slimes]] every day for petty cash.
142	* ''Literature/LogHorizon'' takes place in something of an RPGMechanicsVerse, including item drops. This is eventually justified as some sort of powerful spell that sends gold to the dying monsters. It ends up being a plot point.
143	[[/folder]]
144
145	[[folder:Webcomics]]
146
147	* ''Webcomic/TheGamer'': Han Jee-Han's powers cause defeated entities to drop items. For the most part, they're logical drops (such as equipment they were wearing), but they also drop somewhat rare magical resources, and eventually a boss drops [[MoneySpider actual cash]]. When Shin Sun-Il freaks out over that last one, Jee-Han points out that when you think about it, it's probably stranger that the other enemies ''didn't'' drop cash.
148	* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'': The cosmic video game that the kids are drawn into is populated by enemies that, when killed, explode into showers of grist, an abstract video game resource representing raw materials to be used in building up their homes and creating items. All enemies drop the basic "build grist" used to construct building extensions, but specific enemy varieties will drop more exotic materials used in item crafting such as shale, tar, mercury, chalk, marble, amber, ruby and uranium.
149	* ''Webcomic/KidRadd'' is set in a {{Cyberspace}} populated by characters from various video games, who retain many of the mechanics that governed them in their original games, so some of them still drop items when killed. PlayedForDrama in the FinalBattle when [[spoiler:Bogey forces his friend Radd to kill him in order to claim a {{Power Up\|s}} that lets Radd survive and defeat the BigBad]].
150	* ''Webcomic/ReturnToPlayer'': This is how most players get extra equipment. Sehan lies and says lots of equipment he has is from it.
151	* ''Webcomic/SanThreeKingdomsComic'': People dying and turning into meatbuns is a RunningGag. Taishi Ci in particular dies in [[http://san.paulguo.com/?id=192 page 192]] and turns into one. Which is then ''eaten'' by Sun Quan who was beside him in his death bed.
152	[[/folder]]

Context Main / ItemDropMechanic