Line #71 Main/KnockoutGas


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4	[[quoteright:300:[[WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vicky_gassed.png]]]]
5	[[caption-width-right:300:Sweet dreams, Vicky.]]
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7	->'''Dr. Carmichael:''' And the guards, how will you manage them?\
8	'''Root:''' I won't have to. They'll be incapacitated from the desflurane in the ventilation system. It vaporizes at 75 degrees, which the building climate control has been programmed to reach ten minutes ago.
9	-->-- ''Series/PersonOfInterest'', "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS03E03 Lady Killer]]"
10
11	In fiction, one of the easiest ways to incapacitate an opponent or group of opponents is to get them in a closed room and pump in Knockout Gas. Some forms of Knockout Gas are an area-effect form of InstantSedation: as soon as the recipient breathes it, they cough weakly a few times and then slump to the floor unconscious. Other forms give the recipient enough time to lie down comfortably before falling asleep.
12
13	Usually delivered as a visible fog, and often [[TechnicolorScience brightly colored]] as well, but invisible gas is also common, particularly in budget-conscious productions. Knockout Gas can be delivered through special vents just for that purpose, or it can be pumped in through the regular ventilation system. As with other forms of sedation, dosage doesn't seem to matter. The effects last just long enough for maximum tension or drama. Recovery tends to be just as fast as the onset, and the recipients rarely suffer any lasting effects beyond, perhaps, a mild headache. Nobody ever seems to crack their skull or otherwise get hurt when falling down, either.
14
15	Frequently employed by villains, but also a convenient weapon for heroes due to its non-lethal nature.
16
17	Often involves InstantSedation, and related to OneDoseFitsAll. SisterTrope to TranquillizerDart, DeadlyGas[[note]]in RealLife, though almost never in fiction, the line between the two can be a very fine one -- any knockout drug can be deadly in the wrong dosage[[/note]] and LaughingGas. HandSlidingDownTheGlass is a subtrope. Often used in a KnockoutAmbush. Often results in NonSequiturThud.
18
19	Though anesthetic and hypnotic gasses of many sorts exist, and are still occasionally used by wildlife biologists,[[note]]though "gassing down" is invariably a tactic of last resort,[[/note]] all have the properties of being fairly slow-acting, decidedly dosage-dependent, and fairly easily lethal, unlike the gasses in this trope. '''[[Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease Therefore, please refrain from citing real life examples.]]'''
20
21	----
22	!!Examples:
23	[[foldercontrol]]
24
25	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
26	* [[ColdSniper Dieci]] in ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'' has the [[AbnormalAmmo Aerosol Shell]] of her [[{{BFG}} Enormous Cannon]], which releases fast-acting knockout gas after they explode on impact as shown during the assault on the Ground Forces HQ. Unlike [[TechnicolorScience the more colorful gases used in many other media]], these have the appearance of ordinary white smoke.
27	** In ''Manga/MagicalRecordLyricalNanohaForce'', Arnage's knockout gas has so far been the only thing to reliably stop Reacted Thoma's rampage.
28	* In the ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' episode "[[Recap/CowboyBebopSession8WaltzForVenus Waltz for Venus]]", during a hijacking, Faye renders a female hijacker unconscious with a spray of vapor.
29	* Used a lot by Manga/{{Genzo}}, with the gas usually stored in his puppets.
30	* In ''Manga/OnePiece'', half of the Straw Hats fall victim to this whilst the others are exploring Punk Hazard. The ArcVillain Caesar Clown also uses a variation of the trope. He doesn't knock out people with gas, but rather ''lack'' of gas: he uses his powers to take away all of the oxygen from a specific area, and thus suffocates the opponent to unconsciousness.
31	* One of Kaito Kid's tricks in ''Manga/MagicKaito'', as seen used in the OVA.
32	* In ''Manga/DragonBall'' when Goku and friends are captured by Emperor Pilaf he floods their prison with sleeping gas to knock them out so he can search for the remaining dragon ball they have while they're all unconscious and can't do anything. [[TooDumbToLive He then enters the chamber before the gas has begun clearing out and knocks himself out too.]]
33	* In ''Manga/Brave10'', a special Iga knock out gas is used during Goemon's attack on Ueda castle. Unfortunately for the Ishikawa gang, all the {{ninja}} Braves have AcquiredPoisonImmunity. Although the attack is relatively serious, it's PlayedForLaughs the morning after for those who were out, with Isanami wondering [[WhatDidIDoLastNight whether she crossed the line with Saizo the night before]] and just can't remember, and Yukimura waking up to discover the heavy weight he feels is [[HoYay Rokuro]] [[PleaseGetOffMe lying on top of him]].
34	* ''Manga/SnowWhiteWithTheRedHair'': One of [[spoiler:Touka]]'s concoctions functions this way when tossed onto a fire, he has a version of it that is altered to be more deadly as well though it is possible this is the same concoction in different amounts since the "antidote" that prevents one from passing out dead asleep from the first version still works with it, it just does not prevent the recipient from becoming ill and dying. It also takes a bit longer to put those inhaling it to sleep than most examples.
35	* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' features a take on this trope that's halfway between this and DeadlyGas. [[spoiler:It's revealed that this is how the residents of Connie's village Rakago got turned into titans. Zeke, who has royal blood, can control titans created with his serum. In the case of Rakago, it was an experiment to see if gas containing Zeke's serum could also turn Eldians into titans. Essentially, Connie's entire village got gassed and subsequently were forcefully transformed into titans.]]
36	* This is the ability of pro hero Midnight in ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia''. She emits a sort of knockout gas from her body.
37	[[/folder]]
38
39	[[folder:Comic Books]]
40	* ''ComicBook/AmericanFlagg'': Somnabutol™, in low doses, is a recreational drug. In higher doses, it's "the Official Riot Control Device of the 1996 East Coast Meltdown." Also described as "like a wet dream without the hot parts."
41	* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'': Batman has used knockout gas from various sources: bombs, canisters, guns, etc.
42	* ''ComicBook/TheGreenHornet'': As with the movie and TV versions, the comic versions have also used knockout gas.
43	* ''ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}}'': Hawkeye uses trick arrows, one of which, is a knock-out gas arrow.
44	* ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'': One of the most consistent ways of defeating the Hulk, at least on those occasions when he doesn't remember that he can hold his breath for hours. As the Hulk isn't all that bright, this is not infrequent. However, if he gets too angry his metabolism will dispel it completely.
45	* ''ComicBook/JetDream'': Jet uses "Kayo Powder" [[ShoePhone in a makeup compact]] for this effect.
46	* ''ComicBook/SandmanMysteryTheatre'': The golden age hero [[ComicBook/SandmanMysteryTheatre Sandman]], one of the members of the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica, used a knockout gas gun. Later versions of the character also used knockout gas.
47	* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': Enemies of Spider-Man have used it from time to time. Mysterio, Kraven, the Chameleon, the Hobgoblins, and Green Goblins are all culprits.
48	** Lampshaded in ''ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderMan1963'' #46, Just as Spider-Man is wondering where to start looking for The Shocker (A vibration-based villain) He spots a cop in a police call box reporting strange tremors, causing Peter to say.
49	---> Spider-Man: "Boy! If it had happened that easy in a movie, I'd say it was too phony!"
50	** In ''ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderManDanSlott'' #661, Veil turns into isoflurane, an anesthetic gas, to keep two muggers down. True to the usual depiction, despite the gas generally being colorless, it appears as a thick fog.
51	* ''Franchise/{{Tintin}}'': In ''Recap/TintinTintinInAmerica'', the Gangsters Syndicate of Chicago uses knockout gas on Tintin after dropping him through a TrapDoor and before dumping him into Lake Michigan. In the comic, they planned to use a DeadlyGas instead but got mixed up; in the Ellipse-Nelvana AnimatedAdaptation, they failed to account for Snowy instead.
52	* ''ComicBook/XMen'': In one issue of ''ComicBook/UncannyXMen'', Cyclops is being chased by the rest of the X-Men who have been tricked by Mastermind into thinking he's Dark Phoenix come back to life. He lures the X-Men into the Danger Room, where he uses a field of "Wizard of Oz" poppies keyed specifically to knock Rogue unconscious. He does this so that he can use her power absorption power to take brief control of a comatose Professor X's psionics to pierce Mastermind's illusion.
53	* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman'':
54	** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1942'': The Saturnian Count Mephisto Saturno floods Washington DC with Lassitude Gas, which is colorless and odorless and makes people feel listless and then fall asleep.
55	** ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': The Sangtee Empire pumps knockout gas into disabled ships found during their patrols before [[SalvagePirates boarding and stealing them]] and enslaving any outsiders on board.
56	[[/folder]]
57
58	[[folder:Fan Works]]
59	* ''Fanfic/CalvinAndHobbesTheSeries'':
60	** Used by [[MoralityDial Evil Jack]] on Calvin and Hobbes in "62 Percent More Evil". It comes in a deodorant can.
61	--> "Designed to render unconscious and keep you smelling like pine for at least two hours."
62	** Sherman later uses it on Andy's parents in "Dark Laughter".
63	* ''Fanfic/LavandulaSomnambulist'': Much like his mother, Izuku's quirk allows him to emit gas that can knock people unconscious. Here, it comes from his mouth, and can even make the unconscious bodies do his bidding to a limited capacity (making it fit the name "Somnambulist" more so than his mother). While he has fairly good control over it, he can suffer PowerIncontinence when he gets excited so he wears a face-mask when out in public.
64	* ''Fanfic/ThePlantarFamilyPet'': When Maddie finds a "beast" (Marcy Wu) injured and sick in a cave, she wants to help her. Unfortunately, Marcy has spent weeks being abused by Andrias and the various frogs, newts, and toads in Amphibia, so she isn't about to let Maddie anywhere near her. Maddie then throws a sleeping potion at her, causing her to sleep through the afternoon until midway through the next morning. Played somewhat realistically, as Maddie notes that she has to semi-calculate what dosage to give Marcy and believes that she overdosed her (though the narrative implies Marcy slept so long due to sheer exhaustion).
65	* ''Fanfic/TheRigelBlackChronicles'': Harry encounters a non-lethal nerve gas during the free-dueling tournament. Her opponent compliments her on forcing him to use it; he'd planned to save it for a later fight. [[spoiler: She nearly manages to flush it out of her system, too, but he takes advantage of her distraction to end the fight.]]
66	* ''Fanfic/WithThisRing'': Once he gets access to a proper technology database, the protagonist is able to manufacture a variety of gases for use on different alien species. Thanagarian riot gas seems to be the one he's had to use most often.
67	[[/folder]]
68
69	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
70	* ''WesternAnimation/Injustice2021''. Green Arrow has captured Harley Quinn with a [[TrickArrow net arrow]]. When she keeps yacking away, he takes out another arrow and hands it to her.
71	-->'''Quinn:''' What does ''this'' one do? ''(arrow sprays green gas in her face)'' You suuuuuuuck.... ''(collapses)''
72	* The short film ''Anime/{{Interstella 5555}}'' that goes with the Music/DaftPunk album ''Discovery'' starts off with an entire stadium full of concert-goers subdued by black-suited mooks with devices that shoot pink gas. The entire stadium goes down in seconds. The one person who escapes is taken down with a specialized crossbow bolt whose head bursts into a similar cloud of pink smoke.
73	* In ''WesternAnimation/Cars2'' sleeping gas is sprayed on Mater after he is put inside a truck.
74	* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueCrisisOnTwoEarths''. Batman is getting beaten up by Superwoman, so he throws out some bomblets which spray green gas everywhere. Superwoman just inhales the lot and mocks him for attempting a SmokeOut.
75	-->'''Batman:''' ''(wearing gasmask)'' It's not smoke. ''(Superwoman starts coughing)'' It's anesthetic gas. ''(Superwoman passes out)''
76	** Later Batman tries spraying gas in the face of his EvilCounterpart Owlman, who just grins and drops the transparent faceshield on his PoweredArmor.
77	* WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'s Minion possesses a Knockout Aerosol can, which he mostly uses on Roxanne in her endless kidnappings. Halfway through the film he runs out of it and resorts to [[TapOnTheHead Forget-Me-Stick]].
78	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsonsMovie'': Bart, Lisa and Marge are put to sleep with knockout gas.
79	[[/folder]]
80
81	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
82	* In TheFilmOfTheSeries of ''Film/TheAvengers1998'' Father knocks Mrs. Peel out instantly with gas from an aerosol can.
83	* In 1966's ''Film/BatmanTheMovie'', Batman and the Penguin each use a gas that causes instant unconsciousness (called Bat-Gas and Penguin Gas, respectively).
84	* ''Film/CatsAndDogs''. To capture the Brodys, the evil cats send fake tickets to a soccer game to them, then when the family pulls up in their car, the cats throw in a knock-out gas bomb leaving the family unconscious to take hostage.
85	* ''Film/CommandoCodySkyMarshalOfTheUniverse''
86	** The villains use a spray to knock out guards when sneaking into Cody's office or rocketship. It's pointed out that the guards will think they fell asleep on duty and therefore wouldn't admit that anything was wrong.
87	** For much of the FilmSerial there are a row of gas grenades lined up in the cabin of Cody's rocketship. The ChekhovsGun is finally fired when a FakeDefector uses one to knock out our heroes so their rocketship can be captured.
88	* The 1933 German film ''Film/{{FP1}}'' has the eponymous CityOnTheWater sabotaged by [[HarsherInHindsight gas pumped through the sprinkler system]]. One everyone's unconscious, the flood valves are opened and it's left to sink. Fortunately our heroes land an aircraft on F.P.1, then smash all the windows to let the gas out and wake everyone up.
89	* Film/JamesBond
90	** ''Film/DiamondsAreForever''. While Film/JamesBond is in Willard Whyte's elevator, Blofeld renders him unconscious with knockout gas.
91	** ''Film/TheSpyWhoLovedMe'': Anya Amasova uses a trick cigarette to blow knockout gas into Bond's face.
92	** Averted in ''Film/GoldenEye'' where it looks like James is using a sleeping gas canister to block the entrance to the room, but it turns out to be a grenade.
93	* Britt's iconic Gas Gun is included in 2011 ''Film/TheGreenHornet''. It instantly puts anyone to sleep for about an hour, though this was only after Kato experimented with and perfected it. Britt was accidentally exposed to the first mixture, which put him out for [[AsleepForDays eleven days]].
94	-->'''Britt:''' I was out for eleven days?! I wasn't asleep, that was a coma, you dick! Did you put this diaper on me?!
95	* In ''Film/{{Help}}'', a sinister red gas takes out all of the [[BritishRoyalGuard Buckingham Palace guards]] in a matter of seconds.
96	-->'''Ringo:''' It must be their tea break.
97	* In ''Film/TheHungerGamesMockingjayPart1'', the rebel team [[spoiler:sent to rescue the Victors]] uses sleeping gas bombs to clear areas before they enter. [[spoiler:Peeta gets knocked out by the gas as well, and comes to in the hospital at District 13]].
98	* ''Film/{{Lou\|2022}}''. The kidnapper removes the doorknob and inserts a tube that sprays halothane into the child's bedroom.
99	* ''Film/MysteryMen'' has [[JerkJock Captain Amazing]] fall victim to [[EvilGenius Casanova Frankenstein's]] fiendishly clever [[SchmuckBait Chloroform-Deploying Enticement Snare]].
100	* ''Film/OperationFortuneRuseDeGuerre'': When he breaks into the Ukrainian's villa, Orson connects a tank of knockout gas to the air conditioning system and floods the place with gas until everyone falls asleep.
101	* Even the great Wrestling/ElSanto proves vulnerable to a knockout gas grenade thrown by a hunchback in ''Film/SantoYBlueDemonContraDraculaYElHombreLobo''.
102	* ''Film/StrangePsychokineticStrategy'' had yellow smoke knocking out half a dozen police, from a cymbal-smashing monkey.
103	* ''Film/ThoroughlyModernMillie'': The antagonist is pumping a white sleeping gas into the room of someone she plans to kidnap and sell into slavery, the problem is that she is in the room with the gas. As the gas gets thicker in the room she starts to yawn, slows down, and finally just falls over onto the bed; the gas has dissipated by the time she is found, still asleep.
104	* Artemus Gordon's sleeping gas billiard balls in ''Film/WildWildWest''. The logic of having sleeping gas disguised as a billiard ball is {{lampshaded}} by Jim.
105	-->'''West:''' Well I don't know about you, but I'm certainly gonna sleep better, assuming Loveless barges in here and wants to play a game of pool.
106	** Except for the 8-ball, which is an incendiary bomb.
107	* In ''Film/CloseEncountersOfTheThirdKind'', the Army douses the Devil's Tower mountain with sleeping gas to prevent any unevacuated civilians from setting eyes on the UFO landing zone. Jillian and Roy manage to escape it, but Larry succumbs.
108	* In OldDarkHouse horror comedy ''Film/TheMonster'', the room that Johnny, Amos, and Betty are in has a fireplace that starts emitting knockout gas. Johnny and Amos escape, but Betty is captured when the bed she's lying on turns out to be a trap that's lowered into the basement.
109	* Ethan suffers from this after receiving a taunting briefing from the Syndicate in ''Film/MissionImpossibleRogueNation'', but not before witnessing [[BigBad Solomon Lane]] executing a shop girl. [[spoiler: Later, Ethan does almost the exact same thing to Lane, and then arrests him.]]
110	* The [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans Gas of Peace]] in ''Film/ThingsToCome'', except for the warlord who fails to realize the benefits of OneWorldOrder and conveniently dies of a heart attack after inhaling it.
111	* As with most spy movie tropes, shows up in ''Film/GetSmart''.
112	-->'''Max''' Knockout gas, [[spoiler: Agent 99]]? Please. I have trained my body to be impervious to- eyes roll back in his head oooh that's new stuff. falls over
113	* The gang throw a knockout gas grenade into the security car trailing the armored van during the ArmedBlag on the Tower Bridge in ''Film/CircusOfFear''.
114	* In ''Film/KingKong2005'' the boat crew knock Kong out by chucking large bottles of chloroform at him.
115	* ''Film/KingCobra1999'': The film ends on a WhamShot as it's revealed that the giant cobra was merely inoculated, as the gas canister used against him was the wrong one, and only contained sleeping gas.
116	[[/folder]]
117
118	[[folder:Gamebooks]]
119	* ''Literature/LoneWolf'' features knockout gas in ''Castle Death'', filling some trapped rooms or delivered by an ugly dwarf blowing it in your face through a brass tube.
120	[[/folder]]
121
122	[[folder:Literature]]
123	* ''Literature/TheAdventuresOfAminaAlSirafi'': A trivial feat for a MasterPoisoner of Dalila's calibre, most prominently some doctored hashish that harmlessly puts anyone who inhales its smoke to sleep within seconds.
124	* ''Literature/DocSavage'' used anesthetic gas grenades. Somewhat justified in that Doc was supposed to have specifically invented these.
125	** In ''Fear Cay'', one of the ''Literature/DocSavage'' novels, the bad guys try to capture Doc with Knockout Gas dispensed from a rigged wallet left on the sidewalk where he would find it. It doesn't work, because of his superior ability to smell ([[FridgeLogic he somehow smelled it before he breathed it]]) and (as with [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk the Hulk]]) his ability to hold his breath for much longer than normal. In this case it was ''not'' visible.
126	* In the eighth book of the ''[[ComicBook/DavPilkeyDogMan Dog Man]]'' series, Grampa [[InstantSedation puts both Petey and Li’l Petey to sleep]] via sleep gas, after they visit him in custody. He then steals Petey’s identity and kidnaps Li’l Petey in the latter’s sleep.
127	* The Creator/AlistairMaclean novel ''The Golden Gate'' has aerosol gas that causes instant unconsciousness. The criminal mastermind planning TheCaper wants to [[JustLikeRobinHood avoid killing anyone for publicity reasons]] in case he doesn't get away with it.
128	* Subverted in the opening scene of ''A Piece of Resistance'' by Clive Egleton. LaResistance use a knockout gas to remove an innocent bystander, who then dies of a heart attack.
129	* ''Fighting Slave of Literature/{{Gor}}'': Jason Marshall and his date Beverly are taken out by knockout gas in the backseat of a specially-prepared taxi. They were only after her, but he forced his way into the cab when she was trying to end the date.
130	* In Creator/HarryHarrison's ''Literature/TheStainlessSteelRat'' series, both local law enforcement and Slippery Jim use Knock-out Gas with great abandon, although slightly more realistically than is usual in fiction. Jim makes sure to use nasal filters or a mask to avoid breathing it in himself, it's usually invisible rather than brightly colored, and there are numerous different types, with different effects, speed of action, duration and after-effects.
131	* In Creator/LarryNiven and Jerry Pournelle's ''Oath of Fealty'', The Todos Santos arcology uses knockout gas as part of its internal security system.
132	* In ''Literature/LittleGreenMen'', the "aliens" use a gas named sevoflurane to anesthetize their abductees, usually with added ammonia and cinnamon scent.
133	* Creator/AnneMcCaffrey's ''Pegasus'' series has Law Enforcement & Order use 'anesthesine gas'.
134	* Sleeping gas was one of the staple weapons ''Literature/ButlerParker'' used. Occasionally, though rarely, he also was at the receiving end of a dose - in which case often one of his ballpoint pens containing a breathing mask came in handy.
135	* Used in ''The Commissar'' by Creator/SvenHassel to immobilize a Soviet prison camp for TheCaper. It's pointed out the gas can only be used in confined spaces "otherwise the whole German army would have been put to sleep long ago." Several people start waking up early and have to be killed by the PsychoForHire ex-NKVD man who's helping them.
136	* Zig-zagged in ''Literature/{{Artemis}}'', the [[spoiler: meltdown of the smelter]] produces chloroform and [[spoiler: releases it into Artemis' air supply, knocking everyone out. But, it's not harmless and our protagonists have to flush the air before it kills them.]]
137	* In Creator/JohnChristopher's novel ''Year of the Comet'', the two protagonists get entangled in power-plays between the mega-corporations that rule their [[AfterTheEnd post-World War III world]], leading to them twice getting gassed and carted off to new locations. Just to add some variety, at another point they are also [[TapOnTheHead clubbed unconscious]].
138	* ''Literature/TheMachineriesOfEmpire'': [[BigBad Kujen]]'s flagship is rigged to deploy knockout gas everywhere except his hermetically sealed private suite in an emergency. Though it's ostensibly nonlethal, it needs an antidote and still causes lasting ill effects; several staff die from accidents like drowning in their baths; and [[BeleagueredAssistant Dhanneth]] is hospitalized with a serious allergic reaction.
139	* Brainships in ''Literature/TheShipWho'' books are able to flood their compartments with "sleepygas" to knock out unruly passengers. One such passenger complains when waking up about the "sleepygas hangover", leaving her with nausea a pounding headache. While it works without issue several times, it takes a few seconds to take effect, so sometimes characters counter it.
140	** In ''[=PartnerShip=]'', Polyon recognizes the signature hiss of release and just leaves the room in time to avoid more than momentary lightheadedness, [[spoiler: knowing that the brainship trying to gas him is too preoccupied with a ComputerVirus to keep the door locked]]. Sev, about to pass through a gas-flooded hallway too long to allow him to hold his breath the entire way, first hyperventilates in clean air so that when he does have to inhale a bit of the gas it doesn't have as strong of an effect.
141	** In ''The City Who Fought'', a SpacePirate being gassed starts to feel woozy and realizes what must be happening, so he kills himself rather than be captured while unconscious.
142	[[/folder]]
143
144	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
145	* ''Series/TheAquabatsSuperShow'': In the episode "[[Recap/TheAquabatsSuperShowS1E12CobraMan CobraMan!]]", while the team is trapped inside the Battletram by Carl, who forces the team to watch the MC Bat Commander fight the [=CobraMan=], Jimmy the Robot detaches one of his hands and remote controls it so as to access a knockout gas button that, when activated, knocks out Carl and the rest of the team inside (Jimmy, being a robot, isn't affected by the gas), effectively freeing the team from Carl's clutches.
146	* ''Series/TheBarrier'': A truck secretly transporting a group of children between two locations has its back filled with a gas that puts all its occupants asleep, except for the guard wearing a gas mask.
147	* A constantly recurring staple of both villains and heroes in ''Series/Batman1966'', most often in the form of colorful Knockout Gas.
148	** In "The Bookworm Turns", the sleeping gas released by the Bookworm's booby-trapped book renders Robin unconscious in seconds.
149	** In "While Gotham City Burns", the Bookworm uses a package booby-trapped with sleep gas to render Alfred and Aunt Harriet unconscious so he can steal a book from the Wayne manor library.
150	** In "Hi Diddle Diddle" and "Smack in the Middle", the Riddler uses an aerosol can of sleeping gas to put Robin to sleep.
151	** In "The Ring of Wax", The Riddler renders a guard unconscious with gas released from a candle.
152	** In "The Joker Goes to School", the Joker tampers with a milk machine so that it shackles the Dynamic Duo, then releases knockout gas before they can free themselves.
153	** Batman himself uses it several times when he has to bring someone to the Batcave. He even has a can of Bat-Awake that can reverse the effects just as quickly.
154	* ''Series/{{Believe\|2014}}'': Skouras tries to use this (or possibly DeadlyGas, but the fact that he has henchmen in gas masks with guns on hand suggests that the gas itself wouldn't have killed her) on Dani in the finale. She manages to neutralize it with her PsychicPowers, something that even with all of his years studying people like her he didn't think was possible.
155	* ''Series/BlakesSeven'':
156	** Sona gas is mentioned specifically in the episodes "[[Recap/BlakesSevenS1E7MissionToDestiny Mission to Destiny]]" and "[[Recap/BlakesSevenS2E5PressurePoint Pressure Point]]". Presumably there are other kinds.
157	** In "[[Recap/BlakesSevenS3E3Volcano Volcano]]", Tarrant and Dayna are walking through a BBCQuarry when aliens on the cliffs above fire a narcotic gas over their heads that drifts down as mist and knocks them out. A concentrated dose from the same weapon is later used as a DeadlyGas to kill someone.
158	--->'''Tarrant:''' It can't be raining? ''[keels over]''
159	* In the ''Series/{{Community}}'' episode "[[Recap/CommunityS3E01Biology101 Biology 101]]", a variant of Knockout Gas intended for monkeys ("Chimpan-Zzz" brand) is pumped into the Greendale air vents. It turns out to work on humans too, with the additional side effects of causing hallucinations and references to ''Film/TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey''.
160	* ''Series/Danger5'': Used to knock out Tucker and Jackson in "Diamond Girls" while they guard a secure bank vault.
161	* ''Series/DoctorWho'': The Master uses this to subdue the Doctor and Jo Grant when they break into his TARDIS in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS8E4ColonyInSpace Colony in Space]]".
162	* In one episode of ''Series/DrakeAndJosh'', Megan puts out a canister of knockout gas when the boys keep her up at night with their arguing. She uses another one at the end of the episode when they get into another argument.
163	* In ''Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond'', Creator/IanFleming demonstrates a fountain pen that sprays knockout gas (among other [[ShoePhone gadgets]]) for some visiting top brass. Unfortunately, he does this by gassing his SassySecretary, who is not amused when she wakes up.
164	* ''Series/TheGreenHornet'' has as one as his main weapons, the "Hornet gun", spraying "Hornet gas" that would knock out mooks with one sniff. This is a carryover from the original radio series and 1940s film serials.
165	* ''Series/MacGyver1985'': An instantly sedating knockout gas is one of the weapon systems of the attack helicopter in "Honest Abe".
166	* ''Series/PersonOfInterest'':
167	** In "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS03E03 Lady Killer]]", Root escapes from the mental hospital this way, as per the page quote.
168	** In "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS03E05 Razgovor]]", Shaw and the VictimOfTheWeek do an [[AirVentPassageway Air-Vent Escape]] in an old apartment building, so TheMafiya thugs chasing them do a field improvised version by puncturing the air conditioning system, causing chlorodifluoromethane to flood into the vents.
169	* ''Series/ThePrisoner1967'': The sleeping gas used on Number 6 in his apartment in the first episode (and each episode's opening title).
170	* ''Series/TheProfessionals'': In "Need to Know", the KGB snatch a DoubleAgent from a VulnerableConvoy, but don't want to invite retaliation by killing British agents, so use stun gas instead. [[spoiler:We later discover the snatch is a BatmanGambit by George Cowley, who is covering his men with a sniper rifle in case the KGB decided to use more lethal means. Bodie and Doyle weren't in on the plan, so aren't happy when they regain consciousness.]]
171	* The ''Series/SimonAndSimon'' episode "Under the Knife" has A.J. gassed in a hospital room and in danger of unnecessary surgery when the brothers get too close to the truth in a malpractice scam.
172	* In the ''Series/StargateAtlantis'' episode "[[Recap/StargateAtlantisS05E13Inquisition Inquisition]]", Atlantis' first team is taken out by Knockout Gas in a cell, before being moved to another planet through the Stargate so the rest of the expedition can't find them.
173	* ''Franchise/StarTrek''
174	** In the ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'' episode "[[Recap/StarTrekS1E22SpaceSeed Space Seed]]", after Khan takes over the Enterprise, Kirk orders that all decks be flooded with Neural Gas, which would render everyone aboard unconscious. That attempt fails, but later the attempt succeeds.
175	** ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' and ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' mention use of anesthizine and neurozine to contain intruders, which are essentially fast-acting medical anesthetics pumped through the ship's (or station's) ventilation system.
176	* ''Series/TheWildWildWest'':
177	** In "[[Recap/TheWildWildWestS1E4TheNightOfSuddenDeath The Night of the Sudden Death]]", invisible gas pumped in from a gaslight lamp [[AndSomeOtherStuff with an unspecified additive]] is used to fill a very large U.S. Mint set and knock out several people within seconds.
178	** In another episode, Gordon uses Knockout Gas himself, but he's still dissatisfied with it because it's too visible.
179	* ''Series/WonderWoman1975'': Wonder Woman is taken down many times this way. Knockout gas and chloroform were the only reliable method of fighting her when she was not disguised as [[SecretIdentity Diana Prince]].
180	** In "Judgment from Outer Space (Part 1)", a Nazi mole fires a gun at her feet that turns out to be a knockout gas grenade.
181	** In "Baroness Von Gunther", the eponymous [[TheBaroness Baroness]] sprays Wonder Woman with knockout perfume.
182	** In "The Feminum Mystique Part 2", the Nazis [[spoiler:take over Paradise Island. When they discover that all of the women [[BullyingTheDragon can overpower them]], they turn to hand thrown knockout gas grenades]].
183	[[/folder]]
184
185	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
186	* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''.
187	** At the end of module A3 ''Assault on the Aerie of the Slave Lords'', a green gas (the "Smoke of the Little Death") is used to knock out the {{PC}}s so they can start the next module as the Slave Lords' prisoners.
188	** In module S1 ''Tomb of Horrors'', there's an area filled with sleep gas. Everyone who enters the corridor immediately falls asleep for between 20 minutes and more than an hour, during which time they will probably be squashed flat by the magical equivalent of a steamroller.
189	** Module S3 ''Expedition to the Barrier Peaks'' has sleep gas grenades. Anyone exposed to their gas falls asleep for 20-50 minutes.
190	* ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}''. The various Neurostun gasses are often used to take out shadowrunners without killing them.
191	* Judges Guild supplement ''Revised Guide to the City State''. The Temple of Bubastis has a huge hollow brass idol with a 4th level magic user inside it. Worshippers drop treasure before the idol and then leave. If they return too soon, the magic user will pull a lever and fill the area with sleeping gas.
192	* ''TabletopGame/{{Traveller}}''
193	** Double Adventure 3 ''Death Station''. One of the items of equipment available to {{PC}}s was Tranq Spray, a small aerosol can that sprayed a tranquilizing mist. When used at close range, it calmed the target down and then put it to sleep.
194	** Adventure 8 ''Prison Planet''. The guards in the Imperial prison on Newcomb can release knockout gas to neutralize rioting inmates. The gas is not stopped by a standard filter mask.
195	* ''TabletopGame/MarvelSuperHeroes'' supplement ''Uncanny X-Men'' boxed set "Adventure Book".
196	** In chapter 4 "Time Out" the {{PC}}s are at a charity basketball game when the supervillain Arcade performs a KnockoutAmbush by flooding the gymnasium with sleep gas in order to capture them.
197	** At the end of Chapter 8 "Terror in the Amazon" the {{PC}}s are subjected to another KnockOutAmbush by Arcade's sleep gas the same way they were in Chapter 4.
198	* Gas Grenades are a weapon that can be used by the crew-player in the board game.''TabletopGame/TheAwfulGreenThingsFromOuterSpace''; the effect on the Things (good, bad or indifferent) is randomly determined for each game, but any crew present when one gets set off are knocked unconscious for a turn.
199	* ''TabletopGame/{{Champions}}'' Organization Book 2 ''PRIMUS and DEMON''. Demonflux tries to capture the superhero Sureswift by luring him into a warehouse and flooding it with a sickly-sweet gas that causes unconsciousness.
200	* ''TabletopGame/TopSecret Companion'', adventure "Operation Meltdown". There are two sleep gas traps in the houses occupied by the main villains that render anyone without appropriate protection unconscious.
201	** In an elevator, pushing one of the buttons releases sleeping gas through vents in the ceiling.
202	** A secure vault will release sleep gas if one of the necessary combinations to open it is not entered correctly.
203	[[/folder]]
204
205	[[folder:Theatre]]
206	* In ''Theatre/AnimalCrackers'', when Doucet threatens to arrest people unless they produce the painting, the Professor sprays everyone else with knockout gas, and after lying down beside a girl sprays himself. For no particular reason, this became the ending of the film version.
207	[[/folder]]
208
209	[[folder:Video Games]]
210	* ''VideoGame/ThiefTheDarkProject'' has Gas Arrows: shooting a mook will knock him out even if he's fully aware of your presence (and thus would only get annoyed by the Blackjack). Shooting the ground has an area effect, knocking out everyone within a meter or so.
211	** ''VideoGame/ThiefIITheMetalAge'' adds in Gas Mines -- a mix of the Gas Arrow and Mine that can be used in the same way, but only as an area effect and only after a mook steps on it.
212	*** ''VideoGame/ThiefDeadlyShadows'' replaces the above with the Gas Grenade. It works like the Gas Mine, but is instantaneous.
213	* ''VideoGame/DeusExHumanRevolution'' has Gas Grenades as one of the weapons in the pacifist player's arsenal. It's a generally useful tool for knocking out multiple enemies where tranqs, stun guns, and takedowns are just inappropriate, and everything else is overly lethal.
214	* In the Apple II-era game ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infiltrator Infiltrator]]'' and ''Infiltrator II'', you use a canister of knock-out gas to deal with enemy {{mooks}} (and I don't mean hitting them with the can). Works instantaneously every time.
215	* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfTianding'', the {{Geisha}} dancer turns out to be a master thief, Kaguya, who reveals herself by dropping a SmokeBomb full of nerve gas knocking out everyone in a room in order to steal a valuable Macguffin item. Unfortunately for ''her'', you're a master thief yourself (of the JustLikeRobinHood variety) who beats her to the punch by pickpocketing Kaguya's intended recipient, escaping before her gas affects you. She then challenges you to a duel leading to a difficult boss fight.
216	* ''VideoGame/MasterDetectiveArchivesRainCode'': In the later half of the game, [[spoiler:after tricking Yuma and co. into helping him oust [[TheHeavy Yomi Hellsmile]] from power, [[BigBad Makoto Kagutsuchi, CEO of Amaterasu Corporation]], dispenses white sleeping gas in the detective agency after shocking them with footage of the WDO being blown up by a terrorist attack, knocking out the detectives so he can then kidnap them for his plot in the following chapter. The entire sequence is, of course, PlayedForHorror.]]
217	* The ''VideoGame/RuneScape'' quest "The Great Brain Robbery" has a section where Harmony Island is covered in knockout gas. You have to wear a scuba-diving helmet or you'll be knocked unconscious.
218	* In ''VideoGame/MegamanBattleNetwork 5'', at the very beginning of the game, Lan, Dex, Mayl, Yai, and Yuuchiro are knocked out with bright pink sleeping gas, Yuuchiro is kidnapped, and everyone's navies except Megaman are stolen.
219	* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidVThePhantomPain'' allows players to develop and use sleeping gas grenades, which can knock out almost any enemy guard in seconds. There are also sleep gas variants of the game's grenade launchers, though GasMaskMooks are immune to all forms of sleeping gas.
220	** There's also the AM A114 Riot Pistol, which disperses a small cloud of sleeping gas where its shots land.
221	* ''VideoGame/PAYDAY2'': Part of the stealth route for [[CasinoPark Golden Grin Casino]] involves pumping sleeping gas into the security center, knocking out the guards inside. Helpfully, this also disables the cameras.
222	* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' has the moves Sleep Powder and Spore. The only differences are the accuracy and the PP.
223	* In ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', Eggman gives Sonic and Tails a quick snort of purple sleeping gas outside the casino. Puts 'em under in seconds flat, too!
224	* The later ''VideoGame/SyphonFilter'' games have [=DormaGen=] gas grenades.
225	* ''VideoGame/PonyIsland'': [[spoiler:At the end of Act II, the arcade machine spews sleeping gas at the player, causing a 300-year TimeSkip. Not that it matters in Limbo; the only difference being that Pony Island now looks nicer.]]
226	* ''Sherlock: The Riddle of the Crown Jewels'' requires you to hold your breath before breaking an ampoule filled with a knockout gas. You then have an extremely tight window to do what's necessary with the two knocked out enemies.
227	* The ''{{VideoGame/Desperados}}'' series has flasks of green gas, which render anybody unconscious within a small area.
228	* In ''VideoGame/MrShifty'', Mr. Shifty is ambushed with this early on.
229	* Several monsters from ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'' can do this, inflicting the Sleep status if the affected Hunters don't chug an Energy Drink fast enough.
230	** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter3Tri'': Uragaan has pores on its back that it can use to release sleep-inducing gas. The Crystalbeard variant introduced in ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterGenerations'' launches [[GemstoneAssault gems from its tail]] that can be mined, and each material they give you sells for 10,000 Zenny a pop. However, said gems [[SchmuckBait can ALSO release sleeping gas at random]], so you'd best have some Energy Drinks handy or you're in real trouble.
231	** ''VideoGame/MonsterHunterWorld'':
232	*** Radobaan, Uragaan's smaller cousin introduced, has a back that can be mined for bones. However, one must be careful when doing so, as it can also release sleeping gas from its back.
233	*** Paolumu has a subspecies introduced in the ''Iceborne'' expansion, Nightshade Paolumu, who mixes chemicals in its air sac to produce a sleep gas, which it can then shoot out in lingering clouds.
234	* ''Videogame/CavesOfQud:'' The Sleep Gas Generation mutation lets you (and random creatures that can get it) puff out a large mass of sleeping gas that will force those that inhale it to roll Toughness against falling asleep right on the spot. It's quite useful, as it keeps them down a while and vulnerable to your attacks, but [[LogicalWeakness it doesn't work on anything that doesn't breathe or sleep]].
235	[[/folder]]
236
237	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
238	* In ''VisualNovel/NineHoursNinePersonsNineDoors'' and its sequel, ''VisualNovel/VirtuesLastReward'', the main characters are all sedated with a gas called Soporil, after which they are kidnapped to play the Nonary Game.
239	** In the first game it's a huge plot point that it works like this. Pretty much the first anesthetic gas that you don't have to dose properly to avoid overdose.
240	[[/folder]]
241
242	[[folder:Web Animation]]
243	* ''WebAnimation/LoboWebseries'': Sunny Jim uses this on Darlene Spritzer in "Lobo Is A Four Letter Word".
244	[[/folder]]
245
246	[[folder:Webcomics]]
247	* Used occasionally by [[EmperorScientist Klaus Wulfenbach]] in ''Webcomic/GirlGenius''.
248	* In ''Webcomic/{{Kukuburi}}'', ghrungs are monsters that breathe out Knockout Gas to immobilize prey.
249	[[/folder]]
250
251	[[folder:Web Original]]
252	* In ''Literature/{{Curveball}}'', [[spoiler:Agent Travers]] rigs the fire sprinklers in his office to spray an instantly paralyzing neurotoxin to deal with unfriendly visitors. One second he's kicking his desk in a certain spot, the next, everyone is wondering why they're suddenly on the floor. [[spoiler:Agent Travers]] is also paralyzed by the gas, but since he took the antidote beforehand, it wears off him in just a few minutes.
253	[[/folder]]
254
255	[[folder:Western Animation]]
256	* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': ''Magazine/{{MAD}}'' parodied the tendency of villains to use this.
257	-->Bats-man: "Cattywoman's releasing some horrible gas!"\
258	Robin (drawn to look like [[ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes Calvin]]): "That might be me, Bats-Man. We did stop at '''Taco Bell'''!"
259	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
260	** In the "Treehouse of Horror III" segment "King Homer", the giant ape is subdued by knockout gas, but not before eating someone.
261	** In one episode where the Simpsons go to Cuba, Grampa's CIA agent girlfriend hijacks their return flight and floods the passenger cabin with knockout gas. Homer is conscious long enough to express relief that he can finally get some sleep on one of these flights.
262	** In "'Round Springfield", Dr. Nick Riveria is putting Bart to sleep for surgery and accidentally puts himself to sleep as well.
263	** "The Computer Wore Menace Shoes'': Knockout gas is used to subdue Homer so he can be taken to the island. Used again at the end of the episode to kidnap the entire family and take them to the island.
264	** Smithers uses knockout gas on Mr. Jones in "Marge Gets a Job".
265	* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents''
266	** In the episode "Totally Spaced Out", Mark Chang uses this on Vicky at the episode’s start and kidnaps her all because of wish made by Timmy to get rid of Vicky and she remains unconscious throughout the episode.
267	** In "Boys in the Band", Chip gets hit by it twice, first by Vicky [[AndNowYouMustMarryMe to kidnap him]], and later by Timmy so he can get him to the concert without revealing his secret.
268	** In "Class Clown", the seemingly harmless plant uses this on Trixie to knock her out prior to eating her heart.
269	* ''WesternAnimation/JonnyQuest'' TOS episode "The Quetong Missile Mystery". Sleep gas knocks out General Fong in a couple of seconds.
270	* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' Peter gave his rival a statue of himself that sprayed "Crazy Purple Knockout Gas!". When it fails to go off, he nudges it with his foot several times before [[HoistByHisOwnPetard it sprays the gas backwards at]] ''[[HoistByHisOwnPetard him]]''.
271	* ''[[WesternAnimation/SheRaPrincessOfPower She-Ra: Princess of Power]]'' once features a scene where villain Hordak sprays one of the heroes with some sleep gas from his [[SwissArmyAppendage Swiss Army Hand]]. The hero gets off an exclamation and keels over. Hordak then comments that he's going to have to have a word with his scientists; the recipient shouldn't have had time to say anything before succumbing.
272	** Shadow Weaver also uses spells that consist of "sleep mist" which is magical Knockout Gas.
273	* ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'': Skeletor has spells that function as this.
274	* ''WesternAnimation/SpaceGhost'' episode "The Looters". Brak uses a sleep gas missile on a ship.
275	* In one of the Music/{{Gorillaz}} short animated idents, 2D is knocked out cold by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lrvdbQFI2w just a whiff of gas.]]
276	* ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'' uses a gun that could fire knock out gas (among other things). Due to the character being a little clumsy, he knocks himself out once or twice.
277	* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'' season 2, the [[HeroAntagonist Justice Knight]] captures fugitives with his [[{{Thememobile}} Justice Train]] by trapping them inside the wagon, which then fills with a golden Knockout Gas. The effects are shown to be immediate even with the heroes.
278	* Subverted in ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'', when Cyril thinks he's delivering a dose:
279	-->'''Cyril:''' ''(procuring a [[BriefcaseFullOfMoney briefcase]])'' I got the ten million in bearer bonds.\
280	'''Spelvin:''' Unbelievable!\
281	'''Cyril:''' Well, I...\
282	'''Spelvin:''' No, I mean literally. I don't believe you. I suppose this is full of knockout gas or something... ''(opens briefcase to reveal a single cupcake)''\
283	'''Cyril:''' Apparently not.\
284	'''Archer:''' ''(kicking in the door)'' Exactly! Because I don't know if that's even a real thing!
285	* One of WesternAnimation/KimPossible's gadgets is [[ShoePhone a "lip gloss" container]] that actually holds a [[StinkBomb "super-stink" formula]] created by [[MissionControl Wade]] using [[SmellyFeetGag his dad's dirty socks]].
286	* The ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' episode "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E24MysteryOnTheFriendshipExpress MMMystery on the Friendship Express]]" has the cake-guarding Pinkie Pie taken out with this by a [[TuxedoAndMartini Tuxedo-and-Martini]] superspy in one of Pinkie's {{Imagine Spot}}s.
287	** In the season 4 premiere, Twilight gets knocked out by some weird black plants when they unleash some blue gas on her.
288	* One of the many types of gases used by the vile borg, Noxious in ''WesternAnimation/SkysurferStrikeForce''.
289	* ''WesternAnimation/TheGalaxyTrio'' episode "The Duplitrons". Meteor Man is taken out twice by sleep gas: once while he's flying in a rocket pod, the second time after he wakes up in the Duplitrons' base.
290	* ''WesternAnimation/FantasticVoyage''. At the beginning of "The Master Spy" the title character knocks out Professor Carter by using a gas gun to fire sleeping gas into his face.
291	* [[WesternAnimation/MiloMurphysLaw Milo Murphy]] uses this to deal with animals such as tigers and polar bears.
292	* In ''WesternAnimation/XMenEvolution'', Wolverine proposes that the mansion's security be tightened with the use of poison gas sprayers to prevent external access through the ventilation system. He settles for knockout gas after Storm voices an objection to this.
293	[[/folder]]

Context Main / KnockoutGas