Line #15 Main/LudicrousMeleeAccuracy


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5	%% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks!
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11	[[quoteright:272:[[WebComic/GirlGenius https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hatblade.png]]]]
12	[[caption-width-right:272:I really liked that hat!]]
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14	Ludicrous Melee Accuracy is when someone makes an impossibly precise melee attack. Given the InverseLawOfSharpnessAndAccuracy, this often means a highly skilled MasterSwordsman with a high-quality blade will demonstrate their skill by ''not'' hurting an opponent -- but making it clear that they could have if they wanted to. Causing ClothingDamage is popular for this purpose (which may result in DefeatByModesty all by itself), as is slicing [[CloseCallHaircut hair]], while grittier works will opt for a [[PaperCutting single, shallow cut to the face]], which will bleed prettily without actually causing any real harm. The end result is the same either way: it demonstrates that the attack CouldHaveBeenMessy... and the only reason it wasn't is the peerless skill of the attacker.
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16	Of course, there are more pragmatic uses for ludicrously precise strikes. You can use one to [[PinnedToTheWall pin them in place]] with your weapon. If the target has a specific vulnerability, then you may need a ludicrously precise strike to AttackItsWeakPoint even as it dodges at high speed.
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18	Ludicrous melee accuracy, though not limited to swords and other bladed weapons (and indeed, may even be done [[BareFistedMonk completely unarmed]]), is one of the common forms of ImplausibleFencingPowers, and as such is often used by a MasterSwordsman. See also PressurePoint, which may need ludicrous accuracy to exploit successfully.
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20	For the JustforFun/GunCounterpart, see ImprobableAimingSkills.
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23	!!Examples:
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25	[[foldercontrol]]
26
27	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
28	* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'':
29	** King Bradley from cuts through Fu's headband and later [[spoiler:[[CutTheFuse cuts the wicks]] on the [[ActionBomb dynamite]] sticks [[TakingYouWithMe strapped to Fu's chest.]]]] He does cut skin in both instance, but it still shows ridiculous precision.
30	** His ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemist2003'' equivalent uses his swords to cut Mustang's gloves to pieces while leaving his hand mostly intact, after demonstrating that he's able to disrupt Roy's alchemy by cutting any concentrations of Oxygen Roy makes into pieces before they reach flammable levels.
31	* ''Manga/KenichiTheMightiestDisciple'' has Shigure.
32	** Early on, Kenichi laments his lack of experience against armed opponents and wonders whom to ask for help. Shigure overhears him and begins giving a dramatic display of her prowess with various weapons [[FunnyBackgroundEvent in the background]] in an attempt to get him to ask her. She finally gets fed up with him not noticing her and cuts apart a bead of sweat on his forehead. A few pages later, she [[ClothingDamage cuts up Kenichi's and Miu's clothes]] using a ''spoon''.
33	** When Kenichi first decides to live at Ryuzanpaku full-time, her initial training is for him to hold up a bunch of apples on his arms, legs, and head for her to cut without cutting him, to help him be less afraid (she thinks).
34	* In ''Anime/TheAnimatrix'', the short ''The Final Flight of the Osiris'' features a duel between two characters who use their swords to [[FanService strip each other to their underwear]] a single article of clothing at a time, while ''blindfolded''.
35	* Goemon from ''Manga/LupinIII''. DefeatByModesty is a frequent cause of victory for him, and he can cut ropes and handcuffs away from trapped allies with single swipe and no sign of blood. In one episode of ''[[Anime/LupinIIITheItalianAdventure The Italian Adventure]]'', he stabs someone ''through the chest'' with his katana, in order to [[spoiler:remove a bomb planted in her heart]], without killing her.
36	* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED''[='=]s Kira Yamato is able to cleanly slice off mobile suit heads or limbs while leaving the chest area where the pilot is intact, typically in only the fraction of a second he's flying by them. He does the same thing in the sequel, ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSeedDestiny''. It sometimes verges on BladeSpam territory, as we'll see something like one (visible) downward slash, and the target mecha will have all four limbs, its head, and its backpack cut off -- while leaving the torso intact. [[spoiler:Shinn exploits this, using the [[DiscardAndDraw easily replaceable limbs]] of his Impulse Gundam and knowledge that Kira never goes for kill-shots in order to defeat him.]]
37	* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing'', Heero spends some time posing as a student in Relena's school. He gets into a fencing match with a classmate of Relena's who obviously didn't like him[[note]]and is apparently an {{Expy}} of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam''[='s=] LovableCoward Kai Shiden[[/note]]. The match ends with Heero breaking his foil against his opponent's with a ''tip to tip clash'' and then buries it in his facemask, the broken blade stopping roughly an inch from his nose. He understandably freaks out. He does the exact same thing much later in the series, to [[TheMole Dorothy Catalonia]]. To Dorothy's credit, she doesn't even flinch.
38	* Displayed in an early ''Manga/SamuraiExecutioner'' story, where a criminal takes no pains to defend himself, because he's found an impossible-to-beat way to save himself from decapitation: tattooing the name of a deified emperor on his neck, which the authorities cannot injure in any way. Despite being even more of a ByTheBookCop as his superiors, Asaemon simply and quickly resolves the issue by cutting out the tattoo in a single stroke, ''then'' decapitating the criminal.
39	* ''Manga/{{Shigurui}}'': The Kogan school of swordsmanship has an initiation ceremony in which the new student is made to kneel before Master Kogan, and a sticky bean is placed on the new student's forehead. Kogan cuts with his sword, [[DiagonalCut a moment of suspense passes]], and then the bean splits while the forehead turns out to be unharmed.
40	* In an episode of ''Anime/TheWallflower'', the main character makes a single leaping attack against her opponent, lands and sheathes her sword. Then the clothing of said opponent falls to pieces in a manner that suggests he had been attacked from all sides at once.
41	* Performed by ''Manga/{{Yaiba}}'' in a filler arc against a small band of Samurai.
42	* In the works of Creator/KenAkamatsu the [[SupernaturalMartialArts Shinmeiryu school of swordfighting]] has a line of advanced techniques subtitled ''Nii no Tachi'' ("Second Blade"), all of which can pass through an obstacle in their path to strike something behind them. The most famous example, ''Zanmaken: Nii no Tachi'', applies this variant to an AntiMagic attack - originally designed to kill [[DemonicPossession possessing demons]] without harming their hosts, it has also been used to DispelMagic, as an UnblockableAttack version of the regular ''Zanmaken'', and to [[TheNudifier destroy an opponent's clothes without hurting them]].
43	[[/folder]]
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45	[[folder:Fan Works]]
46	* In ''Fanfic/TheZeroContextSeries'', this is the outcome of Callista's Quantum Cutters when they're used at their maximum potential. Both a truly ludicrous amount of precision ''and'' speed are required for her to be able to reduce something to a mist by cutting through each individual atom in the time it takes to blink.
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49	[[folder:Film -- Animated]]
50	* ''Anime/TheAnimatrix'': In "Final Flight of the Osiris", Captain Thadeus and Jue engage in a blindfolded sword fight in a virtual reality dojo. With each slice of their swords, they remove another part of each other's clothing. Immediately after cutting the other down to their underwear, they lift their blindfolds to peek at the other.
51	[[/folder]]
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53	[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
54	* This is how a ''teenage boy'' dispatches a FakeUltimateMook in ''Film/ThreeNinjas''.
55	* The 2017 Filipino comedy-action film ''Film/ExtraService'' contains a ClothingDamage example, in which one of the three heroines is apprehended in her mission by a man in a balaclava, and a katana-fight ensues. She promptly strips him to his boxer shorts by slicing the rest of his clothes off in a few quick katana-strokes, without landing even a scratch on his body. However, this does ''not'' lead to DefeatByModesty.
56	* In ''Film/Hero2002'', the nameless protagonist demonstrates his skill with a sword by throwing a bundle of reeds into the air, then holding his sword so that only a single reed is cut perfectly in two as it falls. He also boasts that he can stab someone in such a way that the sword can pass clean through their body without damaging any of their organs, [[spoiler:a trick which he uses to fake the death of a wanted assassin]].
57	* In the 1998 film ''Film/TheMaskOfZorro'', Antonio Banderas's DerivativeWorks/{{Zorro}} relieves Catherine Zeta-Jones's character of her night-dress with a few sword slashes. In all film incarnations of the character, he leaves the classic ZorroMark on a number of people, which only cuts their clothing and does no damage. Zorro is very good at killing cloth.
58	* In ''Film/MuppetTreasureIsland'', Captain Smollett (played by Kermit the Frog) deftly slices all the buttons and gold trim from Long John Silver's pirate coat. Subverted when Silver gets visibly bored and folds his arms, then says "Excuse me", distracting Smollett enough that the sword flies out of his hand.
59	* In ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanAtWorldsEnd'', Barbossa draws his sword and slashes at Jack Sparrow's forehead in one quick movement, cleanly slicing off the lock of hair with his Piece of Eight, while leaving nothing more than a small cut in Jack's Bandanna.
60	* In ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'', Anakin strikes the manacles off of Chancellor Palpatine's hands with his [[LaserBlade lightsaber]] without touching Palpatine himself. The chancellor flinches noticeably.
61	* In ''Film/TheScarletPimpernel1982'' the title character (Creator/AnthonyAndrews) deftly slices buttons and unties ribbons with his sword tip while dueling Chauvelin (Creator/IanMcKellen) in a sequence that contains just about every sword-fighting cliche known to man.
62	* ''Film/{{Zatoichi}}'':
63	** The ronin Hattori Gennosuke displays his katana skills to a yakuza leader by slashing the cord around his waist and then slamming the blade into the ground. The yakuza isn't impressed until he realizes that the Hattori's sword is perfectly embedded between two of his toes.
64	** In ''Zatoichi at Large'' (1972), Ichi strikes in a general direction of four men, who wanted to attack him. After blink of an eye, boss Tetsugoro has assured male nude dancing.
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67	[[folder:Jokes]]
68	* Three samurai are in a sworsmanship competition. The first slashes twice at a fly, which falls to the ground in four pieces. The second slashes twice at a fly, which falls to the ground, shortly followed by its wings. The third slashes twice at a fly, [[InstantSoprano whose buzzing becomes much more high-pitched.]]
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71	[[folder:Literature]]
72	* ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfAmber'': Benedict does this to a shadow ghost of one of the premier fencers of the Courts of Chaos when Merlin needs to have him kept occupied.
73	* A pivotal scene in ''[[Literature/TheDarkElfTrilogy Homeland]]'' by R.A. Salvatore, novelist regent of the Mad Sword Skillz, though the aim is not humiliation.
74	* In ''Literature/TheIntercontinentalUnionOfDisgustingCharacters'', while Sick Sword is fighting Omnion in melee, she uses her improbable weapon mastery skills to give Omnion a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radial_keratotomy radial keratotomy]].
75	* In ''Literature/LadyOfTheLake'', Geralt the witcher unshackles Yennefer with a single strike of his dwarf-made sword. The show [[IntimidationDemonstration is enough in itself]] for a bunch of {{mook}}s approaching them to immediately [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere pack up and leave]].
76	* The climax on ''Literature/MidnightTides'' includes a swordfight between Rhulad Sengar, who has the blessing (or curse) of a god restore him to life and heal his wounds when he is killed, and [[MasterSwordsman Brys Beddict]]. Brys wins the duel with literally surgical precision, cutting Rhulad's tendons and motive muscles while avoiding the major blood vessels to keep him from bleeding out.
77	* In Creator/TanithLee's ''Literature/{{Piratica}}'' books, this is practically a signature move for Art and her pirate crew. [[spoiler:Almost all of them are actually actors, and have only been trained in stage combat.]]
78	* ''Literature/TheScarletPimpernel'''s eponymous character cuts the clothing off his nemesis when he finally gets the chance
79	[[/folder]]
80
81	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
82	* Hilariously averted in an episode of ''Series/{{Scrubs}}''. JD is using a circular saw to cut wood, then turns to an intern and cuts off his tie with it. A second or two later, the intern's chest starts gushing blood.
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85	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
86	* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'':
87	** The Eldar's Shining Spears (jetbikers with lances) are said to be able to target individual blood vessels when they attack.
88	** And then there's MemeticPsychopath and AxCrazy BloodKnight Khârn the Betrayer, the Chosen of Khorne, who ''always'' hits in melee combat. [[GameplayAndStoryIntegration That is, if he misses the enemy]], [[ExactWords the wounds are allocated to]] [[MeaningfulName someone on his side instead.]] "Khorne cares not from where the blood flows, only that it flows", after all.
89	[[/folder]]
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91	[[folder:Video Games]]
92	* Scias in ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireIV'' demonstrates this after [[TheGunslinger Ursula]], an [[EnemyMine Empire agent]], joins the party. The group had her tied up after she was defeated, and Scias releases her by quickly cutting the rope without touching her.
93	* ''VideoGame/EarnestEvans'' whips the cigarette in his companion's mouth.
94	* ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'' has this as a core game mechanic. Blade Mode [[BulletTime slows down time]] and allows you to closely align the direction of your slash, creating a CleanCut on any enemy sufficiently weakened. While this is usually used to Zandatsu (remove the power source of enemies to recharge your own), you can also use it to [[AnArmAndALeg sever a cyborg's limbs]], reducing them to a useless torso, and awarding you extra points for a "PacifistRun".
95	* ''VideoGame/SoulCalibur'''s Siegfried (the BFS wielder) sometimes says "I've missed your vitals. You'll be fine." In general, intentionally missing vitals is an impossible thing to do, but it's to demonstrate his incredible skill that his opponent won't die from their wounds. Given his fighting style features stabbing someone through the sternum and/or brain with a weapon the size of a surfboard it's a...dubious claim.
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98	[[folder:Web Comics]]
99	* In ''Webcomic/HomeStuck'', Bro Strider is so great with a katana that as he lays a beatdown on Dave, he cuts the disk on Dave's shirt in half... without cutting Dave's shirt.
100	* Cloud from ''Webcomic/SandraAndWoo'' swiftly [[http://www.sandraandwoo.com/2009/01/22/0027-major-mistake/ cuts the clothing of the school bully Ralph to pieces]]... with a plastic knife! He is also able to [[http://www.sandraandwoo.com/2009/12/21/0122-random-encounter/ hit a flying bat mid-air]] with a wooden katana.
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102
103	[[folder:Western Animation]]
104	* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'': In "Blade of Grass", Finn acquires a magical "Grass Sword", which is enchanted to perfectly cut whatever Finn turns it on, something which disturbs Tree Trunks enough to (rightfully) call it cursed.
105	* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': One of the first things the Blue Spirit does on screen is cut right through the manacles binding Aang's ankles and wrists without leaving a single mark on his limbs or clothes.
106	* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', when Zoidberg and Fry square off in a ritualized dual over a woman, Zoidberg showboats for the crowd by using his claw to slice a letter "Z" into Fry's shirt without touching the skin, then quickly adding a "DR" above it, presumably so as not to be confused with ''DerivativeWorks/{{Zorro}}''.
107	[[/folder]]

Context Main / LudicrousMeleeAccuracy