Line #1 Main/LightningBruiser


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6	[[caption-width-right:350:He's just picking up steam!... and rubble, rebar, glass shards, a body count, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking groceries]]...]]
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11	->''"He was never motionless or in the same place an instant; springing, side-stepping, whirling, twisting, he offered a constantly shifting target for their swords, while his own curved blade sang death about their ears."''
12	-->-- ''Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian'', "Literature/XuthalOfTheDusk"
13
14	The Lightning Bruiser is an {{Archetype}} that sets itself apart from the competition in that it is able to take and give a lot of damage and can move quickly. When considering strength, speed, and toughness, the Lightning Bruiser does not trade off one advantage for another the way, say, the FragileSpeedster trades off durability for speed, the GlassCannon trades durability for power, the StoneWall trades offense for defense or the MightyGlacier trades mobility for power.
15
16	To prevent the character from becoming a GameBreaker or StoryBreakerPower, the Lightning Bruiser may have [[NecessaryDrawback weaknesses]] beyond strength, speed, and toughness: a [[CloseRangeCombatant lack of range]], [[UnskilledButStrong technique]], [[DumbMuscle intelligence]], [[MagicallyIneptFighter magical capability]], or [[WeakToMagic magical resistance]] are some of the challenges these characters can face, as would be a high resource cost that prevents them from seeing much use. Sometimes, the Lightning Bruiser may be balanced by being [[BoringButPractical less interesting than its counterparts]]: it hits fast and hard, and it can take a punch, but it doesn't do much else. In fighting games, they are typically balanced by poor or situational approach options and inadequate or nonexistent defensive options; they struggle to actually get in, and they can take a hit, but they can't do much to keep themselves from getting hit. If it's a strategy or MOBA title, they typically either [[CrutchCharacter plateau at higher levels]] or [[MagikarpPower start out weak]], and usually have minimal utility or kits that don't lend themselves to alternative roles. If it's a game that incorporates CombatDiplomacyStealth, they [[CripplingOverspecialization may be locked into combat]] and rely on their teammates to fulfill the other niches. On the other hand, TheHero might be one of these, and is simply much more powerful than everyone else. Lightning Bruisers are relatively common as video game protagonists for this very reason - it explains why they're capable of taking down hordes of enemies single-handedly.
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18	Either FasterThanTheyLook or StrongerThanTheyLook may apply if the Lightning Bruiser '''looks''' more like a MightyGlacier or a FragileSpeedster, respectively. The resulting surprise factor is useful for getting an edge on unsuspecting opponents.
19
20	Like the FragileSpeedster, the Lightning Bruiser is well-suited to ConfusionFu; unlike a FragileSpeedster it can also use [[AttackAttackAttack a more direct approach]] without needing to rely on HitAndRunTactics to stay safe. The classic FlyingBrick SuperHero archetype is usually a Lightning Bruiser. Compare and contrast {{Acrofatic}} and MasterOfAll, with which it may also overlap. Compare and contrast also JackOfAllStats, which is similarly well-rounded but not exceptional in any particular area in the way a Lightning Bruiser is.
21
22	When adding examples, keep in mind: '''This trope only exists relative to other characters in universe.''' A statement that a character is strong, fast, and durable does not define them as a Lightning Bruiser; most {{Action Hero}}es already demonstrate those qualities. A character is a Lightning Bruiser if they are explicitly stated to be strong'''er''', fast'''er''', '''''and''''' tough'''er''' than most of the other characters, or if it is stated explicitly that another character of comparable speed or strength is a FragileSpeedster or a MightyGlacier. If most characters with combat capabilities are Lightning Bruisers, you're probably looking at an {{exaggerated\|Trope}} WorldOfBadass.
23
24	Note that being a Lightning Bruiser has nothing to do with [[ShockAndAwe using lightning-based attacks or magic]], though [[FastAsLightning they can overlap to the same character]].
25
26	----
27	!!Example Subpages:
28	[[index]]
29	* LightningBruiser/AnimeAndManga
30	* LightningBruiser/ComicBooks
31	* LightningBruiser/FanWorks
32	* [[LightningBruiser/AnimatedFilms Films — Animation]]
33	* [[LightningBruiser/LiveActionFilms Films — Live-Action]]
34	* LightningBruiser/{{Literature}}
35	* LightningBruiser/LiveActionTV
36	* LightningBruiser/ProWrestling
37	* LightningBruiser/{{Sports}}
38	* LightningBruiser/TabletopGames
39	* LightningBruiser/VideoGames
40	** ''LightningBruiser/FireEmblem''
41	* LightningBruiser/{{Webcomics}}
42	* LightningBruiser/WesternAnimation
43	* LightningBruiser/RealLife
44	[[/index]]
45
46	!!Other Examples:
47
48	[[foldercontrol]]
49
50	%%[[folder:Podcasts]]
51	%%* Carey of ''Podcast/TheAdventureZoneBalance'' is amazingly fast and powerful.
52	%%[[/folder]]
53
54	[[folder:Roleplay]]
55	* ''Roleplay/DarwinsSoldiers'', Alfred is noted to be ''much'' faster than almost everyone else. In addition, he is the second strongest person in their group.
56	* Several examples from ''Roleplay/FateNuovoGuerra'':
57	** A notable one is Uther Pendragon: he has top-level endurance, a Dragon Affinity that boosts that endurance even further as well as protects against status-lowering effects, a Rank-A [[CoolSword holy sword]] that specializes in [[ArmorPiercingAttack armor piercing]], and AGI to throw it down with the rest of them. His main problem is his limited range, and the off-chance that somebody might come equipped with an [[KryptoniteFactor Anti-Dragon]] Noble Phantasm.
58	** Another is Mordred, who hefts a Rank A++ WaveMotionSword that has a secondary ability of slowing down enemies by making their weapons heavier with each stroke they exchange, has enough speed to keep up with most speedsters, and reasonable defense. [[spoiler:As the war progresses, however, she grows closer to MightyGlacier Saber Alter, due to the growing power of the corrupted Grail.]]
59	** As mentioned, several Servants (like Odysseus and El Cid) have top-level AGI paired with superior defense and strength.
60	* Several characters from the fantasy crossover [=RPG=] ''Dark Clouds Gathering'' on Website/{{Rplegacy}}, but particularly [[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Marth]] of the [[DesignatedHero Legion of Light]].
61	[[/folder]]
62
63	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
64	* In the {{Franchise/Nasuverse}} doujin game ''VideoGame/BattleMoonWars'', [[VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}} Arcuied]] -- when she finally stops playing around as a MagicalGirl -- turns into this. With her innate [[OurVampiresAreDifferent True Ancestor]] ability and her ridiculous stats, she can laugh off enemy damage, dish out insane damage with criticals, and still dodge, despite being a nominal [[SuperRobotGenre Super]]-type character.
65	%% * Yuuto and Etrangers in general function as this in ''VisualNovel/AseliaTheEternalTheSpiritOfEternitySword'' which is why they are valued so highly. While Yuuto has no skill in combat to start, he's still a match for all but the most skilled and powerful of spirits. [[spoiler:Also, Eternals.]]
66	* ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'':
67	** Berserker. Insane strength, surprisingly fast, and has natural armor that can't be penetrated by anything but the most powerful attacks. Not to mention that he also has twelve lives that all need to be claimed before he's offed. On top of that, he also gains immunity from whatever ''does'' manage to kill him the first time.
68	** Lancer. He's the fastest hero and also the best defender, thinking nothing of fighting over several other heroes at once (though Assassin unnerves him somewhat). Also has a cheap instant kill attack, powerful magic and a primary limitation of being unable to win the Grail War because not only is he not a protagonist, his Master won't let him win either.
69	[[/folder]]
70
71	[[folder:Web Animation]]
72	* A key trope/attribute for the various characters that have turned up in ''WebAnimation/DeathBattle'', especially when said characters come from ComicBooks (especially [[Franchise/TheDCU DC]] and [[Franchise/MarvelUniverse Marvel]]), {{Anime}} (especially ''Franchise/DragonBall'' and other [[ShonenDemographic Shōnen]]) and VideoGames. A lack in strength, speed and durability can often mean a brutal victory for the character who isn’t lacking in those traits comparatively. Even characters who are Lightning Bruisers by peak human standards (such as the [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Bat-Family]]) tend to have quite a high mortality rate on the channel against characters who have genuine superhuman strength, speed and toughness.
73	** There’s also plenty of battles where one character just excels at just one or two of said Lightning Bruiser traits to such a ludicrous degree that their opponents can’t deal with it. Like “''[[Recap/DEATHBATTLES05E13MarioVSSonic Mario VS Sonic (2018)]]''” [[spoiler:where Sonic’s speed was definite advantage but Mario’s ridiculously high strength and durability (not to mention his surprisingly good reflexes) trumped Sonic’s own Lightning Bruiser-ness]]. Then there’s “''[[Recap/DEATHBATTLES06E10GhostRiderVSLobo Ghost Rider VS Lobo]]''” where Lobo as per DC Herald standard was immensely physically stronger than his opponent, but Ghost Rider’s supernatural defences as well as his speed, meant Lobo could neither kill him or escape Ghost Rider long enough to figure out a way (holy weapons) to do so [[spoiler:whereas Ghost Rider had the ability the keep up, survive everything Lobo threw at him and then make his opponent DeaderThanDead.]]
74	** Extreme SuperSpeed in conjunction with sufficient SuperStrength and SuperToughness is frequently why one character wins out against another, see “''[[Recap/DEATHBATTLES07E10SheRaVSWonderWoman Wonder Woman VS She-Ra]]''”, “''[[Recap/DEATHBATTLES09E04ThorVSVegeta Thor VS Vegeta]]''” or “''[[Recap/DeathBattleS08E08LinkVsCloud 2021 Cloud VS Link (2021)]]''”. Though superior speed isn’t ''always'' the deciding factor as seen in the aforementioned “''Mario Vs Sonic''” or “''[[Recap/DEATHBATTLES08E03LexLuthorVSDoctorDoom Lex Luthor Vs Doctor Doom]]''”.
75	* ''WebAnimation/MadnessCombat'': Hank counts as this, especially after [[EmpoweredBadassNormal his magnification]]. In his MAG form, not only has his strength and endurance taken a massive boost along with his size, but his speed has also been increased heavily, with the computer listing his speed as supposedly being even ''higher'' than his strength at a staggering ''50'', allowing him to evade hits from the [[GiantMook Mag Agent: V3]] and briefly dodge heavy gunfire from the Auditor.
76	* Most of the freelancers in ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'' qualify as this.
77	** A special mention goes to Agent Texas and Carolina -- like most freelancers, they just look like normal soldiers (albeit in armour) but are exceptionally fast and hard-hitting, even amongst their fellows.
78	** [[spoiler:Agent Maine/]]The Meta, which despite being exceptionally large and wearing some heavy power-armour, can move at lightning speeds.
79	* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': While most of the time Penny simply manipulates her blades, when she actually does get moving she both moves fast and hits ''hard''. She has the physical strength to stop vehicles with her bare hands and even pull planes out of the sky and she can boost her speed in an almost rocket-boost style fashion when she needs to. She is the first character to genuinely put [[TheAce Pyrrha]] on the defensive in battle. [[spoiler:Penny is secretly a combat robot, the first artificial being capable of generating Aura. As a result, she is phenomenal in terms of speed, strength and toughness. She is only defeated by accident; when Pyrrha is tricked into using her full magnetism Semblance, Penny loses control over her blades which are controlled by wires. The wires wrap around Penny's body and pull tight, garroting her in multiple places, tearing her to shreds.]]
80	[[/folder]]
81
82	[[folder:Web Original]]
83	* The [[AceCustom Raktapata tank]] in ''Literature/TheSolsticeWar''. It is fast enough that it can keep up with light tanks while being invulnerable to their weapons, and can destroy them all in one hit wherever it manages to get them.
84	* The Website/SCPFoundation Documents several instances:
85	** [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-096 SCP-096,]] an invincible humanoid that's fast and strong, and can rip a minivan to shreds. It won't attack if you don't look at its face.
86	** [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-173 SCP-173,]] an invincible statue that's just as fast as a [[Series/DoctorWho Weeping Angel]], but much, much more brutal. It can't act while being watched.
87	** [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-682 SCP-682,]] a lizard the size of a small truck who's capable of rapidly slaughtering dozens of trained, experienced military personal, sometimes including tanks, during routine breakouts.
88	** [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-076 SCP-076-2,]] otherwise known as "Able" can spawn blades out of thin air & go on a killing spree even under heavy gunfire. Also, he respawns after death...sometimes in just 6 hours.
89	** [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-058 SCP-058]] is a bovine heart with spiny legs, [[CombatTentacles spiny tentacles]] & a [[BewareMyStingerTail sharp tail]]. [[PintsizedPowerhouse He's small, but he can dish out the same amount of damage that he can take & he moves incredibly fast]].
90	* Aries, at [[SuperheroSchool Whateley Academy]] in the ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse''. As strong as the tougher bricks, as fast as the faster speedsters. But he's a [[TheDragon Dragon]] for the school's BigBad.
91	* [[{{Kaiju}} Leviathan]] from ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' is a thirty-foot-tall monster with [[MakingASplash hydrokinetic abilities capable of destroying large islands]]. He is also extremely fast on land, fast enough to run on the surface of water, and faster than literally any parahuman in the ''world'' when swimming.
92	[[/folder]]
93
94	[[folder:Web Videos]]
95	* In LetsPlay/StacyPlays' ''Dogcraft'' series, Basil is the most athletic wolf and a [[ActionGirl good fighter]]. She was also blessed with super speed after being struck by [[LightningCanDoAnything lightning]].
96	* In ''WebVideo/TribeTwelve'' "Mary Asher's Phone Call", Slendy reveals that the reason he can be anywhere, everywhere, no matter what isn't because he somehow teleports. He's just ''really fast''. Especially unnerving since he's usually motionless.
97	[[/folder]]

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