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8[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/DiceyDungeons https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/limitbreak.png]]]][[caption-width-right:350: Go on, hit me. [[SchmuckBait I dare you]].]]
9
10->''"My Limit Break involves a moose, the demon Baphomet and a Kuiper Belt object. It takes four hours and you can't skip any of the cutscenes."''
11-->-- '''Pintsize''', ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'' #707
12
13%% One quote is sufficient. Please put additional entries on the quotes tab.
14
15A powerful attack or technique available after some requirement during battle is fulfilled. In video games, this is often indicated by a refillable or chargeable gauge on the menu allowing the player to gauge when it will become available, how strong it will be, or so on; and the most common requirement is taking (and/or giving) damage in combat. Thus, it's usually a kind of EvolvingAttack. May overlap with SuperMode or be a form of DesperationAttack.
16
17It's always displayed in the character's StatusLine. It may be accompanied by a SuperMovePortraitAttack. It might unlock a SuperSpecialMove.
18
19The popularity of the trope, and its assimilation into numerous forms of media is a testament to the widespread effect that ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', [[TropeNamers the originator of the term]], had in [[GenrePopularizer making RPGs more mainstream]]. Although a nearly identical gameplay mechanic appeared a few years earlier in ''VideoGame/LufiaIIRiseOfTheSinistrals'', the concept has become synonymous with the ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games series, and the term is now widely used as a catch-all term to describe such attacks.
20
21The inverse of BreakMeter. For when you can make a vehicle do this, see {{Overdrive}}[[note]]Which has nothing to do with the limit breaks used in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX''.[[/note]] or NitroBoost. See EXSpecialAttack for a {{downplayed|Trope}} version of this trope. Not to be confused with limit breaks in ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'', which are closer to SanitySlippage.
22----
23!!Example subpages
24[[index]]
25* LimitBreak/VideoGames
26[[/index]]
27
28!!Examples
29
30[[foldercontrol]]
31
32[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
33* ''Manga/InuYasha''
34** The Kaze-no-Kizu (Wind Scar) can only be used if Inuyasha can find the "rift" between his aura and the opponent's, and cut through it. Made particularly difficult by Kagura, who can control wind and thus manipulates the flow of their auras so Inuyasha can't find the rift.
35** Inuyasha's Bakuryuuha (Backlash Wave) fits, since [[AttackReflector it turns an opponent's energy-based attack back upon them]].
36* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' features Eren Jaeger, whose ability [[spoiler:to turn into a Titan]] only activates when he's injured. However, he instinctively realizes that self-harm works as well, and from then on it becomes a controlled ability. Other [[spoiler:Titan Shifters]] activate their powers in the same fashion.
37* In ''Franchise/DragonBall'':
38** The requirements to activate the Saiyan SuperMode introduced in ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' are similar to this. Once a Saiyan of sufficient power has been pushed to the absolute limit of what they can take, said Saiyan will trigger the golden-haired Super Saiyan state. Part of Gohan's training involved taking control of his anger in this fashion.
39** Majin Buu's Angry Explosion. Its only activation is when his [[RageBreakingPoint massive anger]] is triggered.
40** In ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'', Goku's Ultra Instinct transformation can only be accessed when he is under extreme duress not only physically but mentally as well (such as being under the pressure of competing in a tournament where the entire universe is at stake). Unlike his other transformations, he has yet to re-attain it outside of those conditions.
41* ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'':
42** The GIGA DRILL BREAKER can only be unleashed when the main character's spiral energy peaks (usually caused by an extreme burst of emotion).
43** In ''Gurren-Lagann The Satire'', when Simon and Kamina use Giga Drill Break, Kamina doesn't shout FINISHING MOOOOOOOOVE! Instead, he actually shouts "LIMIIIT BREEEEEEEAK! GIGA DRILL BREEEEEEEAK!" This is despite the series trying to avoid tropes and main-stream pop-culture references.
44* In ''Manga/KurokosBasketball'', the Zone works like this. The requirements are, at minimum, that you must love the sport you're playing, that you be an advanced prodigy (i.e. the Generation of Miracles or [[spoiler:Kagami]]), that you have an incredible, single-minded focus on the game and your desire to win, and that you are pressed to activate your unique "trigger" to open the door (i.e. Aomine's trigger is to have a "worthy opponent", against whom he can go all-out and have fun). However, with knowledge of one's trigger, and sufficient focus, it's possible to force open the door on your own, as [[spoiler:Aomine, Kagami, and Akashi demonstrate]], so it works more like Dragon Ball's Super Saiyan form than the standard limit break.
45* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' does this as traditionally as ''Dragonball''. Naruto's first activation of the Nine-Tails Chakra occurs after believing that his friend/rival has been killed, enraging him and tapping into his hidden power. [[spoiler:Eventually, Naruto learns how to activate this power at will, so it's not really a Limit Break anymore. Prior to this, though, it manifested primarily when Naruto saw his friends being injured or killed; ironically, in one incident, this actually caused further harm to his own team.]]
46* In ''Manga/OnePiece'', Luffy's first use of the Gears is considered a Limit Break, especially Gear Third. So much so that Gear Third shrinks him down to a small, kid-like chibi form [[spoiler:(before the timeskip, anyway)]]. Gear Second, on the other hand, is CastFromHitPoints.
47** Elizabello II has a signature attack that he calls the "King Punch", which is strong enough to supposedly take down a fortress. However, the downside is that he needs to warm up for one hour before he can use it, requiring his subordinates to protect him during this time.
48* Shinji of ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' can trigger one when he's under extreme emotional duress, whether from battle fatigue or just sheer pressure. His EVA 01 unit goes berserk in a scene usually complete with horror. Unit 01 goes berserk whenever Shinji's life is in danger to the point that he's almost pissing himself in fear. The other, much more powerful kind appeared in the second ''Rebuild'' movie and was triggered by his BerserkButton; as such, his opponent is completely fucked. In fact, him going full-power had [[spoiler:triggered literally TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt]] and turned Unit 01 into a PhysicalGod by vaporizing its {{Restraining Bolt}}s. In the same movie, Mari was able to manually activate and control EVA 02's limit break by disabling its [[RestrainingBolt Restraining Bolts]].
49* ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'' calls Nanoha's Blaster System and a few other attacks limit breaks with some GratuitousEnglish. And her [[WaveMotionGun Starlight Breaker]], which recycles recently-used mana in the vicinity, and so gets more powerful the later in the fight it's used.
50* The eponymous ''Manga/{{Sekirei}}'' have a form of this. A special power-up and attack available only when their Ashikabi kiss them of all things.
51* A variation is used in ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}''. As Alucard's powers are controlled by Integra via HermeticMagic, only she can say how much of his power can be used. This is seen when different levels of Alucard's power are released, culminating in the GodzillaThreshold when [[spoiler:Alucard's full power is released, allowing him to call forth the millions of souls he has consumed over the centuries to tear the forces of Millennium and Iscariot to shreds]].
52* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'':
53** In omakes and anime, it's revealed that Hanatarou's zanpakutou is this, [[HealingShiv absorbing the injuries of others]] that fills a gauge on the side of the sword, whereupon the stored power can be used as a surprisingly powerful, explosive attack.
54** Rukia's third dance can only be used when her zanpakutou has broken.
55** Renji's shikai can also perform a special maneuver (Higa Zekkou) only when his zanpakutou is broken.
56** Ikkaku's bankai functions according to this principle. He has to wait for the dragon crest on his blades to fill completely with the colour red by striking or being struck by the enemy, like a power gauge, before he is at full strength.
57* Practically every soccer player (including goalkeepers) in the anime series ''VideoGame/InazumaEleven'' has this, which is called "Hissatsu" (Japanese for "Certain Kill").
58* ''[[Anime/CControl [C] - The Money of Soul and Possibility Control]]'' has "Macroflations", the highest tier of attacks for [[{{Familiar}} Assets]], they're all incredibly expensive (in a world where money is literally power), exhausting for the Assets and have powerful effects ranging from mind control, massive flames or [[spoiler: stopping time.]]
59* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'':
60** All of the protagonists and eventually the antagonists too have [[SuperMode Trans-Am]]. Around mid-way through the second season, the 00 Gundam aquires the [[MechaExpansionPack 0-Raiser]] which makes it able to Trans-Am without malfunctioning as before... except that THIS Trans-Am is ridiculously powerful even when compared to the others; even the Gundam's designer is completely shocked at a [[RealRobotGenre RealRobot]] ''outputting significantly more power than what it's theoretically capable of''.
61** In the penultimate episode, Setsuna triggers a Trans-Am Burst which is truly this trope, filling several hundred cubic kilometers with enough GN particles to put everyone inside into a temporary HiveMind - even ordinary, non-psychic humans. And if that's still not enough, TheMovie gives us the Quantum System aboard the 00 Quan[T] which is ''even more powerful'' to the point the participants can share memories.
62* ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'' has the "SHINING/BURNING FINGER!!". It's more of a finishing move, but in a closer sense, there's Domon's Super/Hyper modes, which (at first) can only be triggered by intense anger, then supreme calm (the former being an imperfect and unreliable version). However, [[ScreamingWarrior the man]] [[HotBlooded is boiling all the time]], so it doesn't mean much. [[spoiler: However, later, Domon mixes the Burning Finger with Master Asia's ultimate attack, so that has to count for something.]]
63* ''Literature/ACertainMagicalIndex'': Accelerator's "Awakened" state, in which he develops black wings made of exotic matter and his powers skyrocket beyond the already [[SuperpowerLottery ridiculously high level they start at]]. This only happens when Accelerator is under severe mental and/or emotional stress, so he's rarely thinking straight or even entirely coherently when in that form, making him all the more dangerous. [[spoiler:When he finally manages to Awaken consciously, his wings are white and he gets a [[HolyHalo halo]] over his head. The exact ramifications of what this means have not yet been explored.]]
64* In ''Anime/TigerAndBunny'', the titular characters' PoweredArmor enters the Good Luck Mode when they only have three seconds of their power remaining, which involves Wild Tiger's arm and Barnaby's leg virtually quadrupling in size, allowing for one final strike. [[spoiler: [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] when, immediately following the first time Good Luck Mode is activated, it's revealed that it doesn't raise their power one bit. [[AwesomeButImpractical It was only designed to look awesome.]]]]
65* In ''Manga/{{Claymore}}'', the titular Claymores can use their strongest personal techniques and become more powerful in general only when they unleash their Yoma energy, an energy they can use thanks to the fact that they are themselves [[HalfHumanHybrid half Human and half Yoma]], this is quite dangerous, however, as the more ''Yoki'' a Claymore uses, the more she becomes [[SuperpoweredEvilSide similar to a Yoma]], and can even potentially [[AndThenJohnWasAZombie lose control and turn into an Awakened being]]. [[spoiler:There are, however, those who managed to turn back even after losing control and coming very close to Awakening; these ones can use their techniques with greater freedom and become considerably stronger than how they were before.]]
66[[/folder]]
67
68[[folder:Comic Books]]
69* The [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Human Torch]]'s Nova Flame attack sometimes works like this, but often it takes the role of TheWorfBarrage.
70* [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor's]] ''Godly Essence Blast'', often known simply as the 'Godblast', is an attack that takes a bit of charge-up time, and can even damage or destroy {{Mjolnir}} from overuse. However, it lets him do things like drive away Galactus and break the armor of Celestials.
71* ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk's transformation could be seen as this, as it can only be triggered when Bruce Banner is in danger or under emotional stress (typically anger).
72[[/folder]]
73
74[[folder:Film]]
75* ''Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren'' had the characters using several of their limit breaks from the game. Many of them are not used as "limit breaks", though, after taking enough damage to fill an imaginary bar, but as just special attacks seemingly at will.
76** Tifa uses her entire limit chain except for [[{{Shoryuken}} Dolphin Blow]] and [[KamehameHadoken Final Heaven]] when fighting Loz.
77** Nanaki uses Sled Fang against Bahamut Sin.
78** Barret seems to use a combination of his Heavy Shot and Mind Blow attacks.
79** Cid uses Boost Jump to smack Bahamut right in the brain. Ow.
80** Cloud uses Blade Beam against his foes in the Forgotten City, then uses Braver, Climhazzard against Bahamut Sin, Finishing Touch against Kadaj, and then finally an upgraded Omnislash against Sephiroth. In true limit break fashion, it could be said that he was only able to use the latter of these due to being severely injured by Sephiroth beforehand.
81** In ''Advent Children Complete'', Cloud also uses the original Omnislash against Sephiroth. [[spoiler:Sephiroth ''parries'' Omnislash, which, for those who don't know, was the attack that, two years ago, finished off Sephiroth, banishing him from Cloud's mind. Sephiroth casually parries the first fourteen hits and then impales Cloud before he can come down with the final slash]].
82** Yuffie can be said to have used Greased Lightning, but it's hard to tell.
83** Even [[spoiler:Aerith, who's '''dead''',]] gets in on the act by healing Cloud, and using [[spoiler:Great Gospel]] to cure everyone of their Geostigma.
84[[/folder]]
85
86[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
87* Though nearly all seasons of ''Series/KamenRider'' have {{Finishing Move}}s with awesome titles, ''Series/KamenRiderFourze'' actually uses the term Limit Break. The trope isn't used, however - no requirement (other than it being the appropriate point in the episode) must be met before using finishers.
88[[/folder]]
89
90[[folder:Roleplay]]
91* {{Charged attack}}s in ''Roleplay/DestroyTheGodmodder'' count as this.
92** It is possible to create a very-powerful one-shot weapon by [[{{Webcomic/Homestuck}} alchemizing]] an already potent weapon and a [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Smash Ball]].
93** [[Webcomics/ProblemSleuth Comb Raves]] are a confirmed feature in Act 4.
94[[/folder]]
95
96[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
97* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'':
98** ''Burn Legend'', an alternate take on the setting detailed in ''Shards of the Exalted Dream'', has Overdrives, which charge up when you hit your enemies. Overdrive techniques tend to have enormous clash pools, deal massive damage (sometimes to multiple targets), and automatically force the enemy to lose a health stock and take a roll to remain conscious[[note]]except a few oddities like Demon Emperor Shintai, which instead provide you with a significant stat boost or other long-lasting benefit[[/note]]. Of course, if your opponent knows what your Overdrive ''is'', you might be advised to assume they'll try and counter it, so then you [[TacticalRockPaperScissors use a technique that beats their most likely countermeasure]]. And then there are the few techniques that force stagger checks or even automatic stagger on an opponent, which will give you a chance to ream them while they can't counter you.
99** ''Exalted'' itself has a mechanic ''called'' Limit Break, but it's actually an example of what this wiki calls SanitySlippage.
100* ''TabletopGame/IronKingdoms'': The tabletop wargame ''Warmachine'' features similar abilities amongst the warcasters called feats. Feats can only be used once per game, but when used properly can turn almost certain defeat into victory.
101* ''TabletopGame/{{Monsterpocalypse}}'' has Hyper Mode. Every monster can hyper-up by spending power dice, entering Hyper Mode (depending on the figure, Ultra, Mega, or Quantum). Both the Alpha and Hyper forms need to be defeated, so this crosses over with TurnsRed.
102%%* ''[[http://www14.brinkster.com/zodiacrpg/ ZODIAC]]'': An optional rule introduces Limit Breaks in a similar style of those of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', as the system itself was designed to give the feel of a ''Final Fantasy'' game.%%Describe the example.
103* ''TabletopGame/FadingSuns'': A rule allows a very unsettled character to snap and go for UnstoppableRage or other kinds of fanatical fun. If the appropriate test is passed, the character receives bonuses to other tests until the matter in question is resolved. It may require some tact from the GM to execute it properly.
104* ''TabletopGame/{{Malifaux}}'': Masters can manifest Avatar forms, giving them access to new and improved abilities. To manifest, they have to meet a set of requirements specific to each Master, usually based on using that Master's unique abilities successfully.
105* ''Tabletopgame/BattleTech'' features the Triple Strength Myomer equipment, which upgrades the [[HumongousMecha battlemech's]] artificial muscles to work at triple strength and speed. However, they only receive the strength and speed bonus as the mech is nearing [[OverHeating critical heat levels]]. Once at optimal heat from combat or just dumbfiring its weapons (at which point, the [[ATeamFiring targeting computer begins to fail]]), a TSM equipped mech will be [[LightningBruiser absurdly fast]] and possess the ability to nearly [[KneeCapping instantly kick the legs off enemy battlemechs]] or literally ''[[OneHitKill curb-stomp]]'' fallen mechs by [[SnipingTheCockpit crushing the cockpit]]. Pilots of TSM mechs need to be careful to maintain their heat level without increasing it too far, or they run the risk of [[ExplosiveOverclocking spontaneous death]] by causing any [[MadeOfExplodium ammunition]] in their mech to explode, or have the fusion reactor [[GoingCritical burst]] inside the mech's chest.
106* ''Anime/CardfightVanguard'': There's a skill called, word for word, ''Limit Break'', which activates when the player has 4 or more damage (the player loses when he/she has 6 damage). Limit Break skills generally have strong effects such as boosting power, destroying cards on the field, adding extra cards to your hand, etc., to help the player turn the tables.
107** Ultimate Break is introduced later. These skills only activate when a player has 5 damage.
108** There's also the Damage Trigger Check. As you take damage, your Vanguard may grow stronger (so you don't need to defend as much that turn), and in addition, you may draw a card, or even heal some damage.
109** Megablast abilities require you to counterblast five cards' worth of damage ''and'' remove eight cards from their soul, but allow you to pull game-winning effects like standing all of your units for another two attacks, providing a significant permanent boost to the mega-blasting vanguard, or (most commonly) destroying all your opponent's rearguard units.
110* ''TabletopGame/YuGiOh'': Number C39: [[TheHero Utopia]] [[SuperMode Ray]] can only activate its effect if your Life Points are 1000 or less (you start with 8000).
111* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'': Each planeswalker card has a powerful "ultimate" ability that can only be used after building up its loyalty over several turns and is often designed to win the game shortly after it's used. Since a planeswalker's loyalty also functions as its health, damaging a planeswalker is actually the best way to stop this from happening.
112* ''TabletopGame/FabulaUltima'': The ''High Fantasy'' sourcebook introduces optional "Zero Powers", incredibly potent custom abilities that must be charged up (whether by spending Fabula Points, taking damage that isn't self-inflicted, or fulfilling a trigger of the creator's choice) before they can be used. Their possible effects include such things as unleashing a hard-hitting weapon attack, giving your whole party resistance to all damage for a turn, casting a spell for free while having it inflict extra damage, dealing high elemental damage to all enemies, curing the party of all status effects while simultaneously restoring a large amount of health, and more.
113[[/folder]]
114
115[[folder:Visual Novels]]
116* In ''VisualNovel/SilverCrisis'', when the door inside of one’s Aura/Soul is opened, it allows them to achieve this, gaining access to their true potential. [[spoiler: Lucas achieves his true power during the finale, giving him Silver hair with a Yellow streak in it. Likewise, Lucario’s Mega Evolved form is his equivalent of this.]]
117[[/folder]]
118
119[[folder:Web Comics]]
120* In ''Webcomic/GoldCoinComics'', the characters have something called a [[http://www.goldcoincomics.com/?id=131 Final Attack]], similar to this.
121* ''Webcomic/KeychainOfCreation'', an ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' webcomic, sets this up. The Forgotten Flame of Endless Unmarked Years keeps pushing Misho, reminding him of all his failures, pushing him closer and closer to a limit break...[[SubvertedTrope only for it to turn out]] that Misho's Limit Break is [[HeroicBSOD Heart of Tears]], turning him into a blubbering mess.
122-->'''Flame:''' Well...this is awkward.
123* ''Webcomic/MobPsycho100'' has this in the form of Mob's titular 100% State, where his [[EmotionSuppression usually-suppressed emotions]] are pushed their breaking point and spill out alongside the vast majority of his psychic powers. Of these emotions, his 100% Rage against Dimple [[spoiler: and Touichirou]] and 100% Animosity against Koyama fit the bill best, due to them involving Mob [[MartialPacifist actually focusing on fighting]].
124* ''Webcomic/MSPaintAdventures'':
125** [[AffectionateParody Affectionately parodied]] in the series ''Webcomic/ProblemSleuth'' in many ways. Murder Flux, Ostentation Drive, and Comb Rave are just a few of the strange permutations featured, and despite their [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001276 silliness]], they can [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001277 get]] [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001278 rather]] [[http://www.mspaintadventures.com/?s=4&p=001279 epic.]]
126** In the more widely-known MSPA comic ''{{Webcomic/Homestuck}}'', characters have abilities called Fraymotifs that can be bought for astronomical amounts of money and are to be used either alone or in tandem with other members of the session. They supposedly are the most powerful attacks in the game, but since the only characters that they have been used on [[spoiler:are a dog with the powers of the First Guardians and the Troll empress]], this may be a moot point.
127* In ''WebComic/WhiteDarkLife'', Lugifan's Ultimate Rage Burst is this. It activates only when Luigifan is pushed to a state of extreme rage (usually by hurting someone he cares about), and generates a sphere of raw elemental power around him that can be launched forth to vaporize whatever it touches.
128[[/folder]]
129
130[[folder:Web Original]]
131* [[ButtMonkey Krillin]] of ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'' unleashes his in Episode 7 to kill three Saibamen... and is immediately [[OvershadowedByAwesome upstaged by Piccolo]]. As consolation, Vegeta and Nappa conclude that "Earth's Raditz" is at least not quite as pathetic as their Raditz.
132* Found all over the place in ''Pirate Baby's Cabana Battle Street Fight 2006'', where the two characters will call out something else to bulldoze through the enemy, including ''Series/TheATeam'' and [[Film/TheBigLebowski Walter Sobchak]].
133* ''Website/{{Cracked}}'''s #5 [[http://www.cracked.com/photoplasty_388_27-science-lessons-as-taught-by-famous-video-games_p2/ Science Lesson As Taught by Famous Video Games]] is that one in five men can transform under stress.
134[[/folder]]
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