Line #104 Main/LightningGun


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13	[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/504bab75fd10b8706ffa2d3f2797b2ec.jpg]]]]
14	[[caption-width-right:350: DirtyCommunists [[SovietSuperscience don't believe in electric bills.]]]]
15
16	->''"We've got lightning guns. We can do ''anything''."''
17	-->-- ''ComicBook/AtomicRobo and the Shadow from Beyond Time''
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19	%% One quote per page, thanks. Additional entries can go on the Quotes tab.
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21	In RealLife, for electric current to flow there must be a difference in electrical potential. There must be negative and positive termini for current to flow between. Not so in fiction. Quite often, it will be possible for some device or [[ShockAndAwe some person]] to simply fire a lightning bolt more or less straight forward toward another presumably electrically neutral object, with no sign of [[ChargedAttack building up charge separation]] beforehand. It is rare to see lightning weapons or electricity-based ElementalPowers that have electricity behaving the way it does in RealLife.
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23	This trope is primarily about electric weapons or attacks that appear to throw electricity around as if it's some sort of branching [[EnergyWeapon laser beam]], rather than a system of electrons moving in response to electric potential, and sometimes hitting [[ChainLightning multiple enemies]] [[HerdHittingAttack simultaneously]]. Aversions are electric weapons or attacks that actually follow the rules of how electricity works.
24
25	When this is an actual gun, it can be regarded as a [[RuleOfCool cooler]] version of the basic RayGun, StaticStunGun or FireBreathingWeapon. No matter how outlandish the idea is, adding UsefulNotes/NikolaTesla as (the inspiration for) the creator will [[TeslaTechTimeline immediately suspend any disbelief a reader may have]].
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27	Science shows like ''Series/MythBusters'' and others have explored the possibility. The general consensus is that it's possible in a couple of ways, but requires so many conditions/complications that the chance of creating a practical one is virtually zero.
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29	Recently, there have been a few examples of lightning gun technology deployed in real life, [[RealityIsUnrealistic though it obviously doesn't function the same as in fiction]].
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31	----
32	!!Examples:
33	[[index]]
34	* LightningGun/VideoGames
35	[[/index]]
36
37	[[foldercontrol]]
38
39	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
40	* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' ''Bount Assault on Soul Society'' arc, episode #108. During his final battle with Ichigo, Jin Kariya reveals that his doll's control over wind allows it to generate and throw lightning at his opponents. He wears it on his arm and points it at Ichigo while shooting lightning bolts at him.
41	* Misaka Mikoto from ''Manga/ACertainScientificRailgun''. She is an electromaster, which is a nice way of saying "someone who can generate electricity and use it". Her powers revolve around electricity, and magnetism, and her most basic attack is blasting someone with electricity to unconsciousness. And since all espers are low-level reality warpers, she can completely ignore the laws of physics if she focuses on the electricity. In one episode, Mikoto happens to be near a power station, and she accidentally caused a city-wide blackout because her gathering of electricity accidentally caused the power station to overload.
42	* Averted in ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'' in which the main character's electricity attack must be used through conductive material.
43	* As his name suggests, [=RaiRyu=] from ''Anime/GaoGaiGar''. He also lends his power to his combinations [=GekiRyuJin=] and [=GenRyuJin=].
44	* ''Anime/GreatMazinger'''s Thunder Break[[note]]Also possessed by the mass produced knock-offs made by the Myceneans[[/note]] and [[Anime/UFORoboGrendizer Grendizer]]'s Space Thunder; when partnered up in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'', they gain a combination attack called the Double Lightning Buster. In the ''Anime/{{Mazinkaiser}}'' {{OVA}} Shin Great Mazinger has a more powerful version which ''SRW'' dubbed the Double Thunder Break.
45	* During a fight with Rakan in ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'', Negi temporarily ''transforms into lightning'' primarily to boost his speed. This much is HandWaved through the magic system, but then it subverts part of the usual fault: Rakan is able to sense the momentary charge up of energy and counterattack accordingly.
46	* In ''Manga/MissionYozakuraFamily'', Kyoichiro gives Taiyo a gun that shoots lightning instead of bullets that can be used as a direct attack, disable enemy electronics, and destroy incoming projectiles by frying them before going into for hand-to-hand. Even when he does use it to injure someone, he usually fires it at near point-blank range even though it can hit things farther away due to the potential for collateral damage. That said, unless it's being played for drama, the worst the gun does to people is HarmlessElectrocution.
47	* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED'''s [[{{Pun}} Lightning Strike]] (from the MSV line) is not actually an example; despite the name, its main weapon is actually a high-powered railcannon. However, in ''[[Manga/MobileSuitGundamSEEDAstray Gundam SEED Delta Astray]]'', [[TheEmpire the Earth Alliance]] obtains and modifies a Lightning Striker so its railgun can also [[HealingShiv recharge MS' batteries at a distance]].
48	[[/folder]]
49
50	[[folder:Comic Books]]
51	* Used frequently throughout ''ComicBook/AtomicRobo'', as evidenced by the page quote. They gather electrical charge and amplify it to "'''obscenely''' dangerous levels through an even '''more''' dangerous process."
52	* The ''[[Franchise/StarWars Millenium Falcon]]'' temporarily gets one in ''ComicBook/DarkEmpire II'' after finding a floating city ruled by [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot a cyborg Jedi that basically a floating head and torso in a metal sphere]] in some SpaceClouds. Comes in use against Boba Fett later.
53	* In the 1970's Polish series ''Gods From Outer Space'', the AncientAstronauts had handguns that fired a lightning-like zigzag beam -- how they aimed with any accuracy is a mystery.
54	* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' [[ComicBook/WonderWoman1942 Vol 1]]: The Uranians have guns that shoot out jagged bolts of electricity. Unfortunately for them Di can deflect these projectiles with her bracelets just as easily as she can regular bullets.
55	[[/folder]]
56
57	[[folder:Fanworks]]
58	* ''Fanfic/AWEArcadiaBayRogueDemon'': After defeating Orzai and The Monolith, Jesse finds an Object of Power that takes the form of a 19th century Winchester rifle that shoots lightning instead of bullets.
59	[[/folder]]
60
61	[[folder:Film -- Animated]]
62	* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSteamEnginesOfOz'', the munchkins have [[GatlingGood Gatling]] lightning cannons mounted on their planes.
63	* ''WesternAnimation/TreasurePlanet'': The guns in the movie's setting fire blasts that look like electricity.
64	[[/folder]]
65
66	[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
67	* ''Film/BattleInOuterSpace''. The {{Ray Gun}}s the Earth forces use appear to shoot bolts of electricity.
68	* One of the Prawn weapons in ''Film/District9'' is a Lightning Gun that appears to home in on targets and completely ''splatters them all over the surrounding scenery''.
69	* The schtick of "The Lightning", the BigBad of the 1938 FilmSerial ''The Fighting Devil Dogs'', who has an arsenal of lightning-based weaponry. Needless to say the Lightning Bug in the GagDub parody ''Film/JMenForever'' uses some of his scenes.
70	* ''Film/FirstMenInTheMoon'' (1964). The Selenites have a large crystal-tipped cannon that can fire lightning bolts. They use it to kill a huge caterpillar-like monster.
71	* The ''Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}}'' use a very specialized version of this trope for their Proton Packs (guns that fire very specific charged particles to weaken and trap ghosts).
72	* ''Film/TheMatrix'' features guns that fire lightning bolts as common weapons in [[AfterTheEnd the real world]].
73	** Not as cool as it sounds. They are somewhat effective on the sentinels due to instantly stunning them but it takes quite a few seconds of continous fire to fry one. And sentinels are [[ZergRush never alone]].
74	** They'll do a number on a person, though, but that's not what they were designed for. Humans in the real world are all supposed to be on the same side.
75	* ''Film/TheRunningMan''. Dynamo's "Electrical Launcher".
76	* In ''Film/SilentNight2012'', Santa kills Bratty Girl with a cattle prod.
77	* In ''Film/{{Stardust}}'', lightning is ''captured'' to use in this way. In the movie Tristan uses captured lightning to attack a witch. It doesn't go very straight, though, and behaves a bit more like real lightning.
78	* In ''Film/WarOfTheWorlds2005'', the Tripods use electron particle beam weaponry.
79	[[/folder]]
80
81	[[folder:Literature]]
82	* ''Literature/Area51'': The Mission has one, being capable of directing lightning blasts at aircraft and people nearby. However, it has only limited range near Mount Sinai.
83	* In ''Literature/BallLightning'', the Thunderball Machineguns fire electrified...''structures'' but is considered firing lightning.
84	* Brian Gragg aka "Loki Stormbringer" from the ''Literature/{{Daemon}}'' books uses the Laser-Induced Plasma Channel weapon (aka "electrolaser" or LIP-C) to kill folk.
85	* ''Literature/DamselsOfDistress'': Jen has electric powers and uses them to charge her electrobolter, a gauss gun that fires small metallic particles that channel electricity in between them, making it look like the gun shoots lightning.
86	* ''Literature/DustOfDreams'', book nine of the ''Literature/MalazanBookOfTheFallen'', has the K'Chain Nah'Ruk who wield weapons whose descriptions put them ''very'' close to tesla coils. They generate enough electricity to enable them to shoot lightning at their enemies.
87	* In ''Literature/TheEarTheEyeAndTheArm'', Lightning Guns make an appearance under the incredibly cool name of "Soul Stealers".
88	* In ''Literature/HeartOfSteel'', Alistair uses one of these to incapacitate Cyborg!Jim. He calls it the Jovian Stormcaller.
89	* ''Literature/KnownSpace'': The [[http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/content.asp?Bnum=208 Wunderland Treatymaker]] from ''Man-Kzin Wars'' is a KillSat-scale, double-barreled version of a DisintegratorRay. It wouldn't fit this trope, except that Known Space Disintegrator Rays work by making all the atoms in the target temporarily positive ions. There is also a variant that makes all the atoms in the target ''negative'' ions. The Treatymaker had one barrel of each type. Correspondingly, when it was fired, a ''thirty mile long'' bar of lightning flowed between the two points where the beams touched the planetary surface.
90	* ''Literature/{{Leviathan}}'':
91	** The Clanker Tesla Cannons from ''Behemoth'', a cluster of Tesla coils tipped with long spines, which makes it look like a radio array (the illustration, however, looks like a square-barreled cannon). It's designed to shoot down airships by simulating a lightning strike and set their hydrogen alight.
92	** The sequel's eponymous Goliath is a supercharged version, designed to sync up with Earth's electromagnetic field, and is powerful enough to set the air on fire. [[spoiler:At least, that's what Tesla was ''convinced'' it would do.]]
93	* In ''Literature/LoneHuntress'', this is one of the weapons in Lisa's ArmCannon. Since she doesn't have the power capacity to match an actual lightning storm, it's less of a lethal weapon and more of a ranged taser.
94	* In the ''Literature/MagicExLibris'' series, the Hero Isaac has one of these starting with the second book. It has six settings, from "stun" to "[[TheresNoKillLikeOverkill make a dinosaur extra-crispy]]". Or, you know, a Dragon make of mining equipment...
95	* In the ''Literature/ParadoxTrilogy'', charge throwers are lightning guns designed to be non-lethal anti-armor weapons. They shoot bolts of electricity which pass straight through DeflectorShields and short out PoweredArmor.
96	* In ''Literature/TheSalvationWar'', demon tridents can be charged to fire ball lightning (nagas are powerful enough "mages" to do so without a trident). Late in the Hell war, a deceased Nazi helps Belial build an artillery-style "great trident" which is much more destructive, but it never sees battlefield use. It's explicitly noted that only the Hell dimension's slightly more permissive physics allow this; when human-made generator-powered tridents are later tested, units made in Hell have a range of over a mile, whereas identical units made on Earth just arc to ground.
97	* The Great Race of Yith from ''Literature/TheShadowOutOfTime'' are described using lightning guns. How exactly they work is not described, but apparently they look kind of like old-fashioned cameras.
98	* The Scepter of the Ancients in ''Literature/SkulduggeryPleasant'' fired lightning. Then again, it was [[CastingAShadow black]], [[AWizardDidIt magic]] lightning...
99	* Bolters in ''Literature/SuperMinion''. They fire electrified projectiles, and are a go-to for [[AntiRegeneration killing things that can regenerate from normal wounds]].
100	* Creator/LinCarter's ''Thongor of Lemuria'' novel ''Thongor Fights the Pirates of Tarakus''. Thongor's fleet of floaters (air boats) is armed with a weapon that fires lightning bolts, the energy for which is stored in sithurl crystals.
101	* In Victor Appleton's ''Literature/TomSwift and his Electric Rifle'', Tom Swift creates a weapon that fires a concentrated charge of electricity like a bullet. The charge could pass through any material: it took effect at a pre-set range from the rifle.
102	** True Story: The modern day Taser gets its name from an acronym of this example ('''T'''homas '''A.''' '''S'''wift's '''E'''lectric '''R'''ifle). Apparently the inventor was a fan.
103	* In the Creator/DaleBrown books from ''Warrior Class'' on, Tin Man PoweredArmor suits mount electrodes that can fire electric blasts over a distance. No attempt is made to explain how it works. Possibly the softest element in the series.
104	* {{Averted}} in ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' - magic users are capable of creating lightning, but it really does work by moving electrons to build up a large negative charge in one area and then releasing it. As a result, Mat is still vulnerable to Rahvin's lightning at the end of book 5 despite his AntiMagic medallion. The backstory mentions "shocklances" that were once in common use and were implied to work with this principle (probably combined with BoomStick).
105	* In ''Literature/TheZombieKnight'', one of the weapons that Morgunov's "Robert" combat robots can use is the aptly named "Big Scary Lightning Gun,"[[note]]Originally called the Anti-Air Scatterburst Particle Exciter, but Morgunov had to agree that Jercash's name for it was better[[/note]] which creates a spray of ionized channels in the air and then energizes them with a massive current. It's powerful enough to seriously wound multiple [[AsskickingLeadsToLeadership Vanguard Generals]] with a single shot.
106	[[/folder]]
107
108	[[folder:Live Action TV]]
109	* ''Series/Batwoman2019'': The villains in "Time Off for Good Behavior" use this type of weapon. Appropriately, they all use the codename "Kilovolt".
110	* The Initiative in season 4 of ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' used these to fight demons.
111	* ''Series/TheGreenHornet'' episode "Invasion from Outer Space". The "alien" Vama can throw lightning at opponents using a battery-filled belt.
112	* The Series/{{Mythbusters}}, while testing the myth of using water to increase a taser's range, created one of these by firing a large squirt gun from inside a Tesla coil.
113	* Another show set out to recreate sci-fi themes tried to create a lightning gun. While they were able to create a rudimentary one using ionized gas, it was large, clunky, short ranged, and could only be used in a specially conditioned room.
114	* ''Series/ThePower2023'': The titular power often does this for [[RuleOfCool a more TV-worthy visual effect]].
115	* ''Series/StargateSG1'' has Zats, snake-shaped handguns that fire stun lightning.
116	* ''Series/Warehouse13'' has a gun that shoots an electrical pulse, invented by and named for Nikola Tesla. At the levels the heroes use them, they [[HarmlessElectrocution knock people out]] and cause short term memory loss. Turned all the way up by a villain at one point, they're basically a disintegrator ray.
117	[[/folder]]
118
119	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
120	* ''TabletopGame/{{Arduin}} Trilogy: Volume III The Runes of Doom''. Lightning Guns (hand and rifle) fire a bolt of lightning that does electrical shock damage to their target.
121	* ''TabletopGame/BattlelordsOfTheTwentyThirdCentury'': The supplement ''Lock N' Load: Weapons and Tactics'' provides a few examples:
122	** Weapons in the game include "Thunderbolt Generators" that fire bolts of lightning.
123	** The Electrical Discharge Unit is a type of implanted cybernetic weapon. It generates a nasty electrical bolt that arcs to the closest target.
124	* ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'': The PPC, or Particle Projection Cannon, is regularly described as firing "a bolt of man-made lightning" in-universe, though this is acknowledged as being an inaccurate description based only on appearances.
125	* The Lightning Gun in ''TabletopGame/BleakWorld'' deals shock damage.
126	* ''TabletopGame/CallOfCthulhu''.
127	** The Yithians (Great Race) often have lightning guns. In the ''Fragments of Fear'' adventure "Valley of the Four Shrines" one of the Yithians has a lightning gun that it can use to kill a flying polyp.
128	** ''The Stars Are Right!'' supplement, adventure "Music of the Spheres". The Mi-Go have an electric rifle that throws a bolt of electricity.
129	** ''Terror from the Stars'' supplement. The Mi-Go have a "electric gun" that fires a bluish bolt of sparks that does damage, causes muscle spasms and can cause death.
130	* ''TabletopGame/CastleFalkenstein''. The ''Steam Age'' supplement introduces the Lightning Hurler (more formally, the Focussed Electrical Discharge Cannon). It fires a lightning bolt as far as the horizon that can burn its target to ashes. It's even capable of destroying the walls of a fortress.
131	* ''TabletopGame/{{Champions}}'': The supplement ''Gadgets!'' has an Electric Gun that fires lightning bolts.
132	* ''TabletopGame/ChangelingTheDreaming'': A standard weapon produced by [[MadScientist Nockers]]. Inserting a metal rod into a ball of pure technology, then poking the ball of technology with a stick, causes lightning to shoot out of the rod. A small stick can thus be attached to a trigger of something that looks like a gun, with the metal rod in the barrel.
133	* ''TabletopGame/DarkConspiracy'': The supplement ''Darktek'' has the "E.T. Stun Gun". It fires a laser to ionize the air, then discharges an electric current that followed the ionization path, much like the real-world electrolaser.
134	* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'':
135	** Weapon enhancements that deal electricity or lightning damage can be applied to ranged weapons that then deal the damage via the ammunition.
136	** Wands of Lightning can cast Lightning Bolt spells.
137	** The Javelin of Lightning, a classic item that on hit creates a lightning bolt blasting everything behind it.
138	** ''TabletopGame/{{Planescape}}'': In the adventure ''Doors to the Unknown'', the units of the world of Logicus behind the Third Door have lightning guns.
139	%%** ''TabletopGame/IronKingdoms'': [[SteamPunk Cygnar]] has them too.
140	** ''Magazine/WhiteDwarf'' magazine #28 adventure "Counterstrike": The Ralkans are based on the Martians in Creator/HGWells' ''Literature/TheWarOfTheWorlds1898''. They have 80-foot-high tripod fighting machines with lightning guns that can fire a lightning bolt up to 1/2 a mile away.
141	* Creator/GamesWorkshop games:
142	** ''TabletopGame/DarkHeresy'': Xenarch death-arcs are ranged weapons that create an arc of electricity between themselves and their targets, harming them continuously over time as long as the connection lasts.
143	** ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'':
144	*** [[MechanicalLifeform Necron]] tesla cannons and Staffs of Light function as these. Justified, mainly in that the Necrons are so technologically advanced compared to other civilizations, even after millions of years of hibernation!
145	*** The forces of the [[MachineWorship Adeptus Mechanicus]] make use of rare and powerful arc weaponry in battle. Powered by ancient batteries, some of which predate the founding of the Imperium, these arcane weapons fire bolts of electrical energy that are able to fry an organic target's brain or destroy a vehicle's controlling circuitry in an instant.
146	*** The Xenarch death-arc is one of the more exotic alien weapons available to characters in ''TabletopGame/{{Inquisitor}}''. Produced by a mysterious race from the Northern Rim of the galaxy, the death arc utilizes highly advanced charge cells and capacitors to fire multiple bursts of electrical energy, each of which hits as hard as a [[SniperRifle long rifle lasgun]].
147	*** The Zzap gun is one of the orks' most powerful weapons, some of which are even used on spaceships.
148	** ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasy'' has the somewhat unstable Skaven Warp Lightning Cannon, which fires magical lightning bolts of massively variable potency.
149	* ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'':
150	** The main game has electrolasers. However these are merely stunguns that don't need a wire. Electrolasers are actually in development, see RealLife.
151	** ''Wild Cards''. One of Modular Man's {{Shoulder Cannon}}s can be a lightning gun.
152	* ''TabletopGame/HunterTheVigil'': Members of Task Force: VALKYRIE can get their hands on the Mjolnir Cannon, a man-portable electrolaser that uses a laser beam to ionize a channel of air and then send a powerful electric current through the resulting plasma; a more powerful vehicle-mounted version also exists. It's mentioned that these weapons have a tendency to attract ''real'' lightning bolts during thunderstorms.
153	* ''TabletopGame/IronKingdoms'': In ''Warmachine'', the Cygnar army uses a lot of electrical weaponry (both melee and ranged) to the point that it's practically their [[PlanetOfHats hat]]. Most of their lightning-based ranged attacks are short- or medium-ranged, and they also have some electrical spells such as ChainLightning. A few units from other armies can also use electrical ranged attacks, such as the [[OurElvesAreDifferent Retribution of Scyrah's]] Electromancers.
154	* ''TabletopGame/LeviathanTheTempest:'' The primary weapon of the [[HeroAntagonist Marduk Society]], since lightning is one of the Tribe's banes.
155	* ''TabletopGame/{{Rolemaster}}'' campaign setting ''Shadow World''. The underground insectoid creatures known as Krylites have devices that can throw lightning.
156	* ''TabletopGame/{{Scion}}'': The Level 6 Sky Boon Levin Fury lets a character fire lightning bolts as projectiles. In the canon fiction, there is even a scene with a signature character doing just that.
157	* ''TabletopGame/Space1889''. The Moon Men have weapons that can throw lightning. The Lightning Cannon and the Electric Rifle are two possible inventions in the main book.
158	* ''TabletopGame/{{Toon}}'': The "Mektoon" section of the ''Tooniversal Tour Guide'' has a Lightning Cannon as a possible mecha weapon. [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin It's a cannon that fires a Lightning Bolt]]. It doesn't just damage an enemy Mek but can fry its computer and controls as well.
159	* ''TabletopGame/UnhallowedMetropolis'': The undead aren't so fearsome when you have access to Galvanic weapons like the Van Haller Lightning Gun and its big brother, the Van Haller Death Ray (which lives up to its name). In the supplement, ''Unhallowed Necropolis'' there's even a Lightning Gun that is powered by souls.
160	[[/folder]]
161
162	[[folder:Webcomics]]
163	* ''Webcomic/ABeginnersGuideToTheEndOfTheUniverse'': When the Everyman battles [[spoiler:the priests of the Icosahedron]] in the climax, one of them arms itself with a gun that shoots electric bolts. The Everyman turns this against him by transforming his helmet into silver, which attracts the lightning bolts to itself and electrocutes him.
164	* ''[[http://dynamoguns.blogspot.com/ Dynamo Guns]]'': Ezekiel owns a rare gun called the Tesla Colt that shoots twisty lightning bolts.
165	* ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'': Gilgamesh Wulfenbach has one, and it's been a ChekhovsGun. And he has used it (in conjunction with other devices) to call down lightning. The later use of his hand-held scepter is closer to the "classic" Lightning Gun. [[MadScientist Agatha, Tarvek, and Othar]] have [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20121123 improved]] Gil's gun. [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20121126 Immensely.]] [[http://www.girlgeniusonline.com/comic.php?date=20121219 Impressively.]]
166	* ''Webcomic/TheMansionOfE'': In the backstory, soldiers were armed with a magical version of these, until [[TheMagicGoesAway the magic went away]].
167	* ''Webcomic/AMiracleOfScience'': [[http://www.project-apollo.net/mos/mos363.html It's a BALL LIGHTNING gun!]] Notably, the person building it is experiencing a relapse of [[ScienceRelatedMemeticDisorder a certain mental disorder]] and previously wielded a more practical [[MagneticWeapons railgun]].
168	* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': The [[OurGnomesAreWeirder gnome]] city of Tinkertown stands out as a steampunk {{Tomorrowland}} where the city guard have tank-sized lightning guns. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, they fire one at a rampaging FleshGolem, whose unique powers are only ''enhanced'' by lightning.]]
169	%%* ''Webcomic/SequentialArt'': Scarlet asks to "fix stuff" [[http://www.collectedcurios.com/sequentialart.php?s=199 built with something like this]].%%ZCE
170	[[/folder]]
171
172	[[folder:Web Original]]
173	* WebVideo/CorridorDigital made [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDlif8Km4S4 a video]] about guns that fire [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking lightning, death and dubstep]].
174	* The most commonly appearing experimental weapon from Pelvanida Base's arsenal in ''Roleplay/DarwinsSoldiers'' is an "electric rifle."
175	* ''Website/SCPFoundation'': [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-2954 SCP-2954 ("Looping Kaiju Killing")]]. SCP-2954-1 look like radio telescopes on pedestals. They can fire an electrical arc similar to a lightning bolt.
176	[[/folder]]
177
178	[[folder:Western Animation]]
179	* Master firebenders in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', such as Iroh, Azula, and Firelord Ozai don't use actual guns, but fire off lightning bolts in a very similar fashion. Zuko, Aang, and Iroh can also catch lightning and redirect it. The "physics" behind it -- separating negative and positive ki -- is very reminiscent of polarizing the air or targets as several above weapons do.
180	* In the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode "[[Recap/BatmanTheAnimatedSeriesE63FireFromOlympus Fire from Olympus]]", having developed the delusion that he's the king of the gods, shipping magnate Maximillion Zeus steals a military prototype Electron Discharge Cannon which is powerful enough to obliterate an entire building. He then mounts it in his Olympus-styled penthouse, which is high enough that he can blast anything in Gotham at a whim.
181	* Creator/CartoonNetwork Groovies episode "Jabberjaw". At one point the villain slithers toward the heroes firing a weapon that shoots bolts of electricity.
182	* Creator/{{Filmation}} 1960s cartoons:
183	** ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfBatman'':
184	*** In "Partners in Peril", the Penguin's umbrella shoots out a lightning bolt to fry a police communications console.
185	*** In "My Crime Is Your Crime", the Penguin uses a trick rack of pool cues that fire a bolt of electricity, knocking out the Dynamic Duo.
186	** In the ''WesternAnimation/{{Superboy}}'' series episode "Superboy's Strangest Foe", two aliens use lightning pistols to destroy a railroad trestle.
187	* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'', a lighting gun eventually becomes the weapon of choice of Macbeth and his underlings. After the Gargoyle Griff manages to steal one, it becomes his weapon of choice as well.
188	* In ''WesternAnimation/TheMysteriousGeographicExplorationsOfJasperMorello'', Kovacs uses a SteamPunk variation to shoot the creature when it attacks Jasper. Electricity guns are apparently commonplace. There are even advertisements for them on the website.
189	* ''WesternAnimation/TheNewAdventuresOfJonnyQuest'': In "Warlord of the Sky," villain Dragna's {{Mooks}} carry rifles that fire bolts of electricity. This is in addition to them being able to [[ShockAndAwe electrocute people by touch]].
190	* Unagi of ''WesternAnimation/SushiPack'' frequently throws electricity at his opponents, and in one episode he was able to target random objects (he'd gained the ability to turn them into living things).
191	* In ''WesternAnimation/TaleSpin'''s FiveEpisodePilot, it's noted that the Air Pirates have been recently raiding cargo planes for bizarre things like fishbowls and other assorted items while leaving behind valuables; one of these is the [[GreenRocks red crystal]] that Baloo's plotline revolves around, a seemingly worthless stone that turns out to actually be a tiny electrical generator. Eventually, one of Sher Khan's scientists puts together all the clues and realizes that Don Karnage is using the stolen supplies to build a Lightning Gun, but it's too late to stop the [[AirborneAircraftCarrier Iron Vulture]] from attacking Cape Suzette with it.
192	* [[TheDragon Grune]] from ''WesternAnimation/Thundercats2011'' has a [[CarryABigStick mace]] that [[ShapeshifterWeapon doubles]] as one of these.
193	[[/folder]]
194
195	[[folder:Real Life]]
196	* Not quite the same thing, but the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolaser electrolaser]] comes close. And made into a weapon care of the [[http://www.army.mil/article/82262/ U.S. Army]]. The electrolaser design has the potential to scale right up. Making an ionised beam of air a significant length just by blasting away with a laser is possible, but [[CoolButInefficient currently impractical due to power requirements.]] On the other hand, the world of nonlinear optics brings up the phenomenon of 'light filamentation', a high intensity pulse of light that generates a long, thin trail of plasma. Possible applications suggested by the discoverers include triggering lightning discharges.
197	* And then there's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWNNHVHVD4c this guy]].
198	* An electron beam that could be considered close to a lightning gun -- which would make every functioning vacuum tube in existence a little lightning factory. It ''can'' generate a lightning on shutdown, if the transferred charge cracks back through a path of conveniently ionized air. Relativistic electron beams self focus in air. This means that if combined with an electrolaser type system to aim them, you could make a long range and highly accurate lightning weapon that would also produce a hazardous amount of beta radiation (so you wouldn't want to hold one if you weren't very well armoured).
199	* Close contact tasers will arc electricity across the electrodes, so it's kind of like a lightning gun. A ridiculously-short-range lightning gun.
200	** Long range tasers were designed as a {{defictionalization}} of this trope. The inventor read the story "Tom Swift and his Electric Rifle" as a kid and thought that it would make a great stun weapon. The end result was less flashy, but affordable with current technology.
201	[[/folder]]

Context Main / LightningGun