Line #34 Main/FightingSpirit


1	[[quoteright:300:[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fighting_spirit_4.png]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:300:Star Platinum's always [[StealthPun got your back]].]]
3
4	->'''Zenkichi:''' [W]hat's with the chained-up knight thing?\
5	'''Morgana:''' That's the rebel in your heart awakened: the power of your Persona.\
6	'''Zenkichi:''' A rebel, huh... Hey, fine by me. I don't understand a damn thing, but if it can help me fight, I'll take it.
7	-->-- ''VideoGame/Persona5Strikers''
8
9	A Fighting Spirit is when a person's ki/mana/spirit/psychic power is manifested in a physical form that acts on its own. They don't need to lift a finger to punch you; their ki will do it for them. This usually resembles SummonMagic, except that it's an extension of the user rather than a separate entity. This can sometimes manifest as an AnimalBattleAura. See also GuardianEntity, {{Tulpa}}, AstralProjection and ShapingYourAttacks. SubTrope of PowersDoTheFighting.
10
11	For the ''other'' kind of Fighting Spirit, see HeroicResolve.
12	----
13	!!Examples
14	[[foldercontrol]]
15	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
16	* The TropeCodifier for this trope in Japanese media are the Stands from ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure''. Introduced in the third installment, ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Stardust Crusaders]]'', as a way of making PsychicPowers more visually interesting,[[note]]Inspired by an ''ComicBook/XMen'' storyline in which Xavier and the Shadow King sat at a table together, then [[AstralProjection projected their spirits out of their bodies and battled on the Astral Plane]].[[/note]] they would prove to be so awesome that [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness they would become the main powerset of all later installments]]. Their name comes from how they typically manifest as InvisibleToNormals humanoid beings that ''stand'' behind their user and cannot move very far away, but they come in many stranger forms, some of which are less like this trope and more like {{Tulpa}}s, SummonMagic or {{Magic Tool}}s. A strong fighting spirit (or at the very least a lot of passion, as seen with [[SupremeChef Tonio]] in Part 4) is actually required to properly control a Stand; Jotaro's main reason for hunting DIO in ''Stardust Crusaders'' is because his mother is too gentle to control her forcibly-awakened Stand and it's [[SuperpowerDisability slowly killing her]].[[labelnote:*]]Though even that tenet of Stands ends up a case of FridgeLogic when later on, characters like Mannish Boy, an EnfantTerrible BrainyBaby and Bug-Eaten, a literal, if highly cunning and sadistic, rat also manifest and perfectly control Stands of their own.[[/labelnote]]
17	* Possibly the first series to take after ''[=JoJo=]'' may have been an obscure, children's anime called ''Wrestler Gundan Galaxy-hen''. The main characters could project psychic "Binds" which looked like swirling energy in the shape of humanoids or animals that [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin held a target in place]] for their [[FinishingMove finishing move]]. Broadcasting ''less than 6 months'' after Stardust Crusaders debuted, it was either a massive coincidence or one shameless rush.
18	* ''Manga/AhMyGoddess'' has symbiotic [[GuardianEntity angels]] attached to each goddess. Since they mainly materialize to make casting spells look cooler, they're essentially this trope whenever conflict breaks out.
19	* ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'':
20	** Omokage are duplicates of people made from their LifeEnergy and manifesting their inner desires. Usually they're a EnemyWithout the creator can't control that drains them to the point of injury or death. Suzu has enough energy to spare, and eventually learns to recreate and control hers at will, and even [[RemoteBody link their senses together]].
21	** Sosuke Hinojiki is himself a spirit, albeit one that looks human, but his Engulfing Shadow ability is a giant, spectral mouth that devours LifeEnergy. He can manifest in anywhere in sight, [[ConfusionFu letting him attack from bizarre angles and blind spots]], [[spoiler:but the mouth itself is relatively fragile, and [[{{Synchronization}} damage done to it carries over to his actual body]]]].
22	* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'''s transforming [[EmpathicWeapon Zanpakuto]] are extensions of the wielder' souls. Most simply become other melee weapons but a few are more dramatic. Hitsugaya's forms parts of an [[AnIcePerson ice dragon]] around him while Komamura's creates a giant, armored warrior to mirror his movements. The latter also shares its battle damage with Komamura in ''[=JoJo=]'' tradition, though it was only revealed so during the later half of the Winter War Arc, because until then, no one was able to even damage Komamura's Bankai.
23	* ''Manga/BungouStrayDogs'': Some of the [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividuals Gifts]] take the form of these. The most prominent in the story are Akutagawa's [[PowerOfTheVoid Rashoumon]] and Kyouka's [[AbsurdlySharpBlade Demon Snow]].
24	* ''Manga/DragonBallSuper'': [[spoiler:The climactic battle of the Galactic Patrol Prisoner Saga has Moro growing to giant size due to merging with the planet. Thanks to a power boost from Uub and the Grand Supreme Kai, Goku is able to manifest a giant blue avatar of himself which he uses to pin down Moro and shatter the crystal on the evil wizard's head that empowers him.]]
25	* ''Franchise/FateSeries'' has its Heroic Spirits, who are mythological figures from across history, employ Noble Phantasms, which are aspects of their legend formed into tools for defense/offense. For instance, Gilgamesh, one of the earliest Heroes whose myth has him collect all the treasures of the world, has Gate of Babylon, a vault that contains every weapon ever made.
26	* Raoh from ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' could use his ''[[BattleAura Touki]]'' to attack an opponent without so much as flexing a single finger.
27	* Many of the Nen abilities from ''Manga/HunterXHunter'' qualify, such as Razor's 13 Devils.
28	** Netero's 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva in particular [[RapidFireFisticuffs fights like a giant Stand]].
29	* ''Manga/MashleMagicAndMuscles'' is set in a world of magic, where the most powerful magicians, known as Divine Visionaries, can shape their specific power into the form of deity-like figures. For instance, Ryoh Grantz, who wields light magic, can summon Hyperion the god of light.
30	* Arguably, ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam''[='s=] Sekiha Tenkyoken, a KamehameHadoken that takes the form of a gigantic energy fist. Near the end of the series, Domon even uses this to perform a gigantic version of his Bakunetsu God Finger attack that grabs the opponent's entire body and not just their head.
31	** During the final battle, Domon and Rain perform the Sekiha [[ThePowerOfLove Love-Love]] Tenkyoken, which transforms into a giant, pissed-off King of Hearts.
32	* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'': Tokoyami Fumikage's Quirk is a birdlike creature called Dark Shadow that grows more powerful in darkness and eventually gives him an AnimalBattleAura.
33	* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'':
34	** Naruto's [[SuperPoweredEvilSide Fox Cloak]] can function as this, forming arms of chakra to attack independently of Naruto's movements and at its most powerful forming a gigantic AnimalBattleAura he controls from within.
35	** The Susanoo technique of the [[MagicalEye Sharingan]] similarly creates a massive EnergyBeing around the user, its form evolving from a [[DemBones skeletal]] form into a [[WarriorMonk yamabushi]] and then finally a {{Samurai}} as it increases in power.
36	** Sakura's "Inner Sakura" is simply a visualization of her repressed feelings, but some of the video game portray it as an actual physical being she can fight with.
37	* In ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagicaTheMovieRebellion'' [[spoiler:Sayaka can now call forth Oktavia, her own Witch form, to fight alongside her.]]
38	** [[spoiler:This concept gets expanded to basically the whole cast of the series in ''VideoGame/MagiaRecordPuellaMagiMadokaMagicaSideStory''. By using a power known as Doppel, the Magi can summon their Witch form to fight for them.]]
39	* This is how spirits are materialized via Oversoul in ''Manga/ShamanKing'', in many ways similar to Stands.
40	* ''[[Anime/{{Scryed}} s-CRY-ed]]'' drew heavily from ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'' with its Alters. The main difference is that while Stands are mental constructs, Alters are physical in nature (and blow away small portions of the landscape for the material to form themselves). Additionally, only a few Alters are humanoid, with others becoming weapons, elements, or 'harmonius' armor, while Stands are the opposite - mostly humanoid, with a minority taking on other shapes or styles.
41	** Special mention goes to Zetsuei, a humanoid Alter whose injuries reflect on its user, Ryuho.
42	* The Appetite Demons in ''Manga/{{Toriko}}'' are hulking, humanoid monsters that become more corporeal as their users' Gourmet Cells grow stronger.
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44
45	[[/folder]]
46
47	[[folder:Comic Books]]
48	* ''ComicBook/AgentsOfAtlas'': Crescent's MaskOfPower allows her to summon Io, a "half-moon" bear spirit that can aid her in battle.
49	* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'': Minor villain Doctor Double X was a scientist specializing in auras that managed to supercharge his into a superpowered duplicate that can act independently of him. Its main weakness is requiring an external source of power to maintain itself.
50	* ''Diesel'', a one-off comic by Joe Weltjens, is a [[SerialNumbersFiledOff transparent ripoff]] of ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders'', up to and including calling its examples of this trope "Stands."
51	* ''ComicBook/GreenLantern'': The Green Lantern Corps and Lanterns of other colors sometimes use their constructs in this way. Karu-Sil of the Sinestro Corps especially is known for being accompanied by three constructs of [[RaisedByWolves the beasts that raised her]], and all of the Orange Lanterns are constructs of people that Larfleeze has killed and assimilated.
52	* ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'': The 2006 run featured a Canadian Mountie named Daniel Crow-Brings-Darkness who could transform his [[CastingAShadow shadow]] into a crow.
53	* ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'': ComicBook/{{Raven}} can manifest a bird made of black energy referred to as her "soul-self". It can travel long distances, become intangible, communicate telepathically and act as a shield.
54	[[/folder]]
55
56	[[folder:Literature]]
57	* A variant appears in ''[[Literature/DreamPark The Barsoom Project]]'': [[{{LARP}} The Gamers]] must fight an Inuit demon called a Paija. Because they themselves aren't fit to do so (this particular Game is called a "Fat Ripper Special" for good reason), shaman Snow Goose uses magic to summon their spirit-selves, which have their faces on healthy, strong, fit bodies. The spirit-selves then battle the Paija.
58	[[/folder]]
59
60	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
61	* ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'': Amaya Jiwe can manifest spectral versions of animals to aid her in battle.
62	* In ''Series/PowerRangersJungleFury,'' a common battle tactic of members of the Order of the Claw is to summon giant ki representations of the animal one's fighting style is based on. There's one awesome scene where the BigBad and TheHero are fighting over ''here'' while at the same time their lion and tiger spirits (respectively) are fighting over ''there.'' This also exists in the [[Series/JukenSentaiGekiranger Sentai version]] but done less often, due to that series focusing on martial arts. Of course, these spirit animals being giant and solid create the series' HumongousMecha.
63	** Later, the Ranger's Masters are kidnapped and forced to attack the Rangers in the form of "Spirit Rangers" that are controlled from back in the villains' base, mimicking the mind-controlled Masters' moves. After the Masters are freed, the Rangers learn to summon them in battle much like they do their animal spirits. In the final episode, the Masters fight ''alongside their own Ranger forms.''
64	[[/folder]]
65
66	[[folder:Mythology]]
67	* In ''Literature/TheSagaOfHrolfKraki'': During the Battle of Hleidragard, a huge bear appears on the battlefield and fights for King Hrolf. Meanwhile, Hjalti goes looking for Bodvar Bjarki and finds him seemingly sleeping in his quarters. When Hjalti wakes him, Bodvar blames him, but goes with him to the battle where the bear has now disappeared; thus revealing to Hjalti that the bear was Bodvar's spirit.
68	[[/folder]]
69
70	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
71	* In ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' this is a favored tactic of the planeswalker Ajani, who has several cards involving him making avatars from his or other people's emotions. The most direct is [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Discussion.aspx?multiverseid=174951 Soul's Fire]].
72	* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': The sourcebook ''Tasha's Cauldron of Everything'' introduces the Way of the Astral Self subclass for monks, where monks can harness their ki to summon a spiritual representation of their being known as an astral self. Just from the way this subclass functions makes it appear like it was heavily inspired by Hamon and Stand users from ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure''.
73	[[/folder]]
74
75	[[folder:Video Games]]
76	* ''VideoGame/BloodRayne'': Rayne's "Ghost Feed" ability allows her to conjure a spectral entity in her own image that feeds on enemies without Rayne physically engaging them. This allows Rayne to recover health while fighting, but it cannot be used on large enemies and bosses.
77	* Amara from ''VideoGame/Borderlands3'' fights alongside with an astral projection of herself that she can manifest to send it charging at her foes, or as giant fists to either hold her opponents up in the air for her to shoot, smash them into the ground, or increase her reach and power when engaging in melee combat.
78	* The Aura Smash technique in the ''Franchise/BreathOfFire'' series creates a giant image of the user to strike the enemy.
79	* Nero from ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'' manifests a Fighting Spirit [[spoiler:version of Vergil]] when he uses [[SuperMode Devil Trigger]], in contrast to Dante and Vergil who simply transform into demons.
80	* One of the main gameplay mechanics in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage'' is that the characters are able to fight alongside the spirits of characters from previous installments of [[Franchise/FireEmblem the franchise]], called “Emblems.” The Emblems inhabit magical rings or bracelets. The Emblems give their user certain buffs and abilities, and can even [[FusionDance merge with their user]] (called “Engaging”) for some exclusive attacks and abilities.
81	* This is what Keshins/Fighting Spirits are in ''[[VideoGame/InazumaEleven Inazuma Eleven GO]]'', they appear from the spiritual energy of their user once it is mastered, it also severely drains the stamina of their user after usage. While it is rare for normal players to have one, it is the opposite for [=SEEDs=]. Keshins/Fighting Spirits can be {{fus\|ionDance}}ed, such as [[spoiler: Shuu/Tezcat and Hakuryuu/Bailong creating [[Myth/ArthurianLegend Sei Kishi Arthur/Holy Sword Paladin Arthur]]]]
82	** Later in ''Chrono Stone'', Keshins/Fighting Spirits are capable of becoming one with the users. This technique is called Keshin Armed/Armourified Fighting Spirit, where the Keshin/Fighting Spirit is worn like an armor. In the games, this allows the player to reduce their TP consumption.
83	* Ansem from ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI'' fights with a LivingShadow "Guardian" which floats behind him. The Guardian seems to be an ability of his, not a separate entity. ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'' reveals that [[spoiler:it's effectively Terra's Heartless, and his Heart returns from it to retake his old body.]]
84	* Personas from the ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' series are mythology/history/literature-based representations of different sides of their user's personality, and are the basis of the game's magic system.
85	** In ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'', [[VideoGame/Persona5 Joker]] can summon his initial Persona, [[Literature/ArseneLupin Arsène]], as a combination LimitBreak SuperMode.
86	* ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' protagonists have gathered a wide range of powers and abilities over the years, some more ''[=JoJo=]''-influenced than others.
87	** ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaRondoOfBlood'': Maria Renard's Guardian Knuckle creates a warrior projection of herself to punch monsters.
88	** ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaAriaOfSorrow'' and ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaDawnOfSorrow'': Soma Cruz's power lets him absorb the souls of enemies to gain their abilities. Many let him temporarily recreate their bodies to sic at targets, some with an accompanying [[{{Kiai}} "ORAORAORA!"]].
89	* ''VideoGame/MiddleEarthShadowOfMordor'': The Elf Wraith Celebrimbor functions like this to [[PlayerCharacter Talion]]. The wraith animates his corpse, though Talion still retains his own consciousness and will. The wraith has a life and will of his own, but talks to Talion and will occasionally come out to assist in combat, granting him supernatural abilities and ResurrectiveImmortality.
90	** The sequel ''VideoGame/MiddleEarthShadowOfWar'' expands on this by the end of the game [[spoiler:during Celebrimbor's betrayal, Talion puts on a different Ring of Power and gains his own wraith clone to function the same way, albeit without a mind of its own. While Celebrimbor gives his ring to Eltariel and becomes ''her'' spirit fighter]]. In the ''Blade of Galadriel'' DLC, Eltariel [[spoiler:gains her own wraith clone after Celebrimbor dies and drops his ring.]]
91	* ''VideoGame/FatalFury'': Tung Fu Rue can [[TemporaryBulkChange temporarily]] [[HulkingOut Hulk out]] to various degrees or fire off oddly redundant Chi blasts shaped like himself Hulking out.
92	* The third unlockable LimitBreak in ''VideoGame/{{Cuphead}}'' is called the Giant Ghost. It allows Cuphead and Mugman to summon a ghost from themselves that can be directed to throw [[SpinAttack spinning double punches]] at the enemy. After delivering enough punches, it vanishes, leaving behind a floating pink heart they can parry for the extra charge to their Super Meter.
93	* Shadows from ''VideoGame/BlueDragon'' are like this, taking on the forms of various animals like dragons, sabertoothed tigers, and more. A deep enough bond with their wielder allows the Shadow to subsume their wielder, who essentially becomes a PuppeteerParasite that can still control their actions. Unlike some instances of this, however, the Shadows are still fully sapient.
94	* In ''VideoGame/DarkDevotion'', Sariandel, Prisoner of the Void has a ghostly figure which floats behind him and imitates his attacks. Since the figure is much larger than he is, its attacks have a much greater reach and area of effect.
95	* In ''VideoGame/PathOfExile'' with the exception of Sirus, the most powerful, the [[FallenHero conquerors of the atlas]] manifest energy constructs that fight for them, with their bodies hanging limply from the projection. Sirus' fully separates from his body and he fights in concert with it, criticizing the others for being too reliant on them.
96	[[/folder]]
97
98	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
99	* In ''Ayakashi'', the titular creatures can be seen as a literal embodiment of their user's life force; the more their power is used, the closer their user comes to death.
100	[[/folder]]
101
102	[[folder:Webcomics]]
103	* ''Webcomic/TheGodOfHighSchool'''s Charyeok fighters are somewhere between this and SummonMagic or GuardianEntity. The actual power comes from whatever god, monster, or spirit they've contracted, but almost everything about the power (from effectiveness, to form, to power level, to versatility) is determined by the user's skill, preferenecs, and PowerLevel.
104	[[/folder]]
105
106	[[folder:Western Animation]]
107	* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' season 2 introduced the character of Tye Longshadow who had the ability to manifest a spirit giant around his body.
108	* In the ''WesternAnimation/OKKOLetsBeHeroes'' episode "Wisdom, Strength, and Charisma," Enid defeats her holographic opponent by summoning a large, humanoid, cat-eared apparition to land the killing blow. Since Enid is a huge manga fan and the show itself is heavily influenced by anime, it's a safe bet this was also a ''[=JoJo=]'' reference.
109	[[/folder]]

Context Main / FightingSpirit