| 1 | %%% |
| 2 | %% |
| 3 | %% The examples have been alphabetized. Please put any new example in its proper place in the folder rather than at the end. |
| 4 | %% |
| 5 | %%% |
| 6 | |
| 7 | ->''"You got the best of both worlds, don't you? All of our strengths, none of our weaknesses."'' |
| 8 | -->-- '''Deacon Frost''', ''Film/Blade1998'' |
| 9 | |
| 10 | InAWorld where [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividual superpowers are commonplace,]] or at least common enough to be [[TheUnmaskedWorld common knowledge]], it tends to be the case that these powers come with [[WeaksauceWeakness certain drawbacks.]] Maybe there's a [[PowerAtAPrice price that has to be paid]], or a ritual that must be performed, or they're [[SacrificedBasicSkillForAwesomeTraining correspondingly bad at a different skill,]] or some other caveat that can make [[BlessedWithSuck having these powers a pain]], or using them [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway annoyingly cumbersome]]. Then you have this character. |
| 11 | |
| 12 | They were born under the right stars or [[HybridPower to the right combination of parents]], [[TouchedByVorlons blessed]] with [[ProtectiveCharm the protection of a supernatural entity]], armed with certain unique talents or just plain lucky: he happens to be the only one in the whole world (or [[TheChosenMany one of a small minority]]) who is exempt from this ironclad rule. A wizard who can cast magic without a wand, for instance, or a superhuman immune to the local flavor of {{Kryptonite|Factor}}. A more "fair" treatment may make holding the sauce a trade-off for reduced powers such as with the {{Dhampyr}} or other HalfHumanHybrid characters. Ultimately this is not required though and all the trope concerns are heroes who are special because they can [[BeyondTheImpossible flout the physical, magical, etc. rules]] that all other metanormals in the setting are chained by. |
| 13 | |
| 14 | The name is a play on a phrase commonly used for making a special order at a restaurant: "Hold the X" means "This dish normally includes X, but I would like it without X." [[DontExplainTheJoke This is a pun because "hero" is also a kind of sandwich, so it's like you're ordering a Hero sandwich, but without the ]]WeaksauceWeakness. |
| 15 | |
| 16 | A SubTrope of ConditionalPowers and WrongContextMagic. Often a UniqueProtagonistAsset. In a world where CompetitiveBalance is in effect, a LightningBruiser or MasterOfAll can be considered a form of this trope. Normal supers can invoke this trope with a KryptoniteProofSuit. |
| 17 | |
| 18 | Not to be confused with [[KryptoniteRing one hero holding]] [[BetrayalInsurance another hero's weaksauce]]. |
| 19 | |
| 20 | ---- |
| 21 | !!Examples: |
| 22 | |
| 23 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 24 | |
| 25 | [[folder:Anime & Manga]] |
| 26 | * In ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', mastering [[SuperMode the Bankai]] can take a {{Shinigami}} as long as ''ten years''. This is because, even though the Bankai is in most cases essentially only a bigger version of the Shikai, the amount of power can be 5 to 10 times greater and thus much more difficult to control. Enter TheHero, Ichigo, whose Bankai actually compresses his spiritual power, circumventing the above problem, and actually giving him more speed and control. [[spoiler:It should be noted Yamamoto's bankai "Zanka no Tachi" also seems to follow this.]] |
| 27 | * In ''Manga/BrynhildrInTheDarkness'', witches risk death via [[ImMelting melting]] if they overuse their powers or if the Harness device in their neck is ejected. They also risk a monster called a Drassil hatching from the Harness, which will also kill them. Hatsuna Wakabayashi's main powers are HealingHands and a HealingFactor. Her ability to heal herself is so powerful that she can recover even from melting, and she is also the only character to survive and recover from her Drassil hatching. |
| 28 | * In addition to physical deformities, the other Borners in ''Anime/{{Canaan}}'' have to take regular shots of medication to avoid death from their [[TheVirus virus]]-originated superpowers. The eponymous protagonist has neither of these problems (though her hair did go white because of them). For comparison, another character who received an internal and therefore invisible physical mutation, in her case two appendixes. [[BlessedWithSuck Not exactly]] super-powered synthesia. It does [[FridgeLogic bring up the question]] of if she'd still have to take the medication if she got them removed, too... |
| 29 | * Clare, the protagonist of ''Manga/{{Claymore}}'', seems to be [[spoiler:completely immune to [[TheCorruption Awakening]] (even when she is deliberately trying to!), which threatens every other Claymore]]. The main reason for that is believed to be [[spoiler:Jean's sacrifice to bring her back from the brink of Awakening before, which left Clare with a psychological block that prevents her from transforming]], though this may also have something to do with her being only quarter-yoma. [[spoiler:When Clare finally does Awaken, it is nowhere near as monstrous or horrifying as the other Awakened, and is essentially Teresa of the Faint Smile reborn. The Organization caught on and mass-produced quarter-yoma, with general success. While they're generally weaker than regular Claymores, the probability of a frenzied Awakening is next to nil, while lesser Awakenings give them the powers of various Yoma with conscious control. The senior Claymores outright claim the quarter-yoma Claymores are the future.]] |
| 30 | * ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'''s Hei doesn't appear to have a [[ConditionalPowers Remuneration]]. It's explained some Contractors can lose their Renumeration but retain their powers, specifically if they lose their original bodies (such as the case with Mao). [[spoiler:This turns out to be the reason for Hei's lack of renumeration as well -- since they're technically his sister's powers obtained via FusionDance, [[LoopholeAbuse he's not obliged to fulfill the renumeration]].]] He does, however, [[BigEater have one hell of an appetite to fulfill because of it]] since he's basically [[spoiler:eating for two]]. |
| 31 | * ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'': Nezuko is a mixed case of sorts. Other demons refresh their power by eating human flesh. She resists the urge by sheer force of will and sleeps for weeks at a time instead to recharge. [[spoiler:She also eventually becomes immune to sunlight.]] |
| 32 | * Inverted in ''Anime/DragonBallZ''. Saiyans Goku and Raditz both become extremely weak when their tails are grabbed, but when the heroes try this tactic against Vegeta and Nappa, the two explain that they've trained away that specific weakness. Vegeta also demonstrates that unlike Goku or Gohan, he can keep full control when he turns into a giant ape. |
| 33 | * Dragon Slayers in ''Manga/FairyTail'' are humans imbued with the physiology of dragons, though this comes with the risk of [[{{Weredragon}} permanently turning into dragons]] if they [[PowerAtAPrice overuse their power]]. By the time Natsu and his fellow Dragon Slayers learn this, they aren't aware that their dragons have already made them immune by [[spoiler:magically sealing themselves within their bodies]]. However, this is {{downplayed|Trope}} by the fact that they still suffer from an even bigger WeaksauceWeakness: incapacitating motion sickness. |
| 34 | * ''Franchise/FateSeries'': |
| 35 | ** ''Anime/FatePrototype'': Rider has a special mask that allows him to exist even though his Master died. It is not perfect because he has to regularly kill people and eat their souls to sustain himself. |
| 36 | ** ''Anime/FateStayNightUnlimitedBladeWorks'': Normally, a Servant would be handicapped by a poor Mana supply. However, not only does Gilgamesh have a massive innate reservoir of Mana, his [[HyperspaceArsenal Gate of Babylon]] only requires minimal amounts of Mana to be used. Shirou and Rin discuss this when they realize this is why Gilgamesh can fight at full power even when he has [[MuggleBornOfMages Shinji Matou]] for a Master. |
| 37 | * ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'': Edward Elric is, unlike ''most'' other alchemists, able to do alchemy without [[GeometricMagic using a circle]]. This, of course, [[CursedWithAwesome came with its own problems]]. Several other alchemists can also do this, though they paid their price as well. The wiser alchemists without this power have circles on their clothing or [[PowerTattoo tattooed on their body]], making it even easier for them to use their powers than for Edward who still needs to clap his hands together, but most alchemists who carry their transmutation circles around with them are powerless if those circles get disturbed and can only do specialized alchemy -- Mustang can only [[PlayingWithFire create fire]], Kimblee can only [[HavingABlast blow stuff up]], et cetera. Alchemy without an array is far more versatile, to the point that Ed can actually ''cancel out others' alchemic reactions''. His alchemy is only limited by his knowledge and creativity, which means that he and other alchemists who have seen [[GateOfTruth the Truth]] have a massive advantage even over alchemists with array tattoos. |
| 38 | * ''Manga/{{Inuyasha}}'': [[HalfHumanHybrid Half-yokai]] like the titular character have superhuman yokai abilities, the more complex and less animalistic personality of a human, and they can't be directly killed by spiritual attacks like full-blooded yokai can. The one downside is that they have a unique WeaksauceWeakness of their own, which involves a periodic time of weakness when they temporarily become fully human. |
| 39 | * ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureBattleTendency'': The Pillar Men are immortal, incredibly tough, and can regenerate essentially endlessly. Their only problem is their WeaksauceWeakness of sunlight, which both petrifies their bodies and halts their regeneration (which also applies to the solar-channeling martial art of Hamon and ultraviolet radiation). The motivation of the main villain is to use a ritual to become the UltimateLifeForm, which would give him [[AllYourPowersCombined the genes and abilities of every creature on the planet]], which would naturally include the ability of everything but Pillar Men and vampires to withstand sunlight. [[spoiler:Once he achieves his goal, he's so powerful that the narration claims that nothing on the planet can kill him permanently.]] |
| 40 | * ''Anime/KillLaKill'': Ryuko's Kamui Senketsu turns out to be the only [[spoiler:non-malevolent life fiber]]. |
| 41 | * The protagonist of ''Manga/MedakaBox'' is the only [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividual Abnormal]] who isn't psychopathic by default. |
| 42 | * In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamTheWitchFromMercury'', Gundams are distinguished from their fellow mobile suits by their pilots being able to use [[BrainComputerInterface the GUND Format technology]] to link their bodies directly into the suit's systems. This allows them to accomplish feats that would be impossible for any other mobile suit and enables the use of highly dangerous AttackDrones, but also creates a backlash in the pilot that wreaks havoc on their body and puts them in serious pain, to the point that [[DeadlyUpgrade it can be outright lethal if taken too far]]. However, the suit of the main character, the Aerial, lacks this weakness entirely for mysterious reasons -- placing it in a legal gray area for a normally banned technology, and spurring on other characters to try to discern why it lacks that weakness. [[spoiler:What no one knows is that the Aerial [[PoweredByAForsakenChild holds the brain patterns of Prospera Mercury's eldest daughter Ericht Samaya]], and she easily takes up the burden without any side effects.]] |
| 43 | * ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'': |
| 44 | ** A minor example: Izuku's Quirk One for All is the only quirk immune to villain All for One's PowerParasite abilities, as it cannot be transferred to another without the user's consent. Later events in the series reveal that Izuku had another unexpected advantage. [[spoiler:One For All is revealed to stockpile not only raw energy, but the individual Quirks of each of its holders. Normally, a human body can only handle one Quirk and suffers grave physical and psychological damage if another is somehow artificially added. One For All makes it even worse as each Quirk in its collection is enhanced by its stockpile of energy. All its prior holders suffered [[RapidAging accelerated aging]] that severely cut their lifespans. It took over a century for anyone to become aware of this side-effect because all but one of the prior wielders of One For All died in battle before they displayed symptoms. All Might and Izuku were both immune to this effect because [[UnSorcerer neither of them had Quirks to begin with]], making them the ideal empty vessels to house One For All.]] |
| 45 | ** Todoroki is also immune to the logical side-effects of overusing his elemental Quirks ([[AnIcePerson creating ice]] causing the liquids in his body to freeze and [[PlayingWithFire creating fire]] causing him to overheat) by switching between them... Or he would be, if he didn't refuse to use his fire Quirk due to childhood trauma. Once he starts coming to terms with his issues, he uses both and starts [[YinYangBomb combining them]] for effects far greater than either side could do alone. |
| 46 | * ''Manga/RosarioPlusVampire'': After a series of near-death instances, Tsukune gains vampire powers from various blood transfusions. Unlike the female lead Moka, this comes without the WeaksauceWeakness. He effectively has no weaknesses (well, other than the potential to go [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity berserk]] and Crucifixes), which gives him an advantage. |
| 47 | [[/folder]] |
| 48 | |
| 49 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 50 | * ''ComicBook/{{Aquaman}}'', as an [[ApparentlyHumanMerfolk Atlantean]], could always breathe underwater indefinitely, but could only stay on the surface for up to an hour, tops -- that is, until Creator/GeoffJohns took over and made it so that all prominent or at least high-blooded Atlanteans such as Aquaman, Mera and Tula are effectively amphibious. What's more, [[{{Heavyworlder}} being adapted to living fathoms under the ocean]] makes them super-durable and powerful on land and gives them the nice little bonus of being able to [[InASingleBound leap great distances]]. Cue the shocked faces of every person who once laughed at them in the opening issues of the ''ComicBook/New52'' run. |
| 51 | * In ''ComicBook/GreenLantern: Emerald Knights'', Kyle Rayner finds himself sent to the time when Hal Jordan was still a rookie having trouble with Sinestro. While helping resolve the situation, Kyle lampshades this trope. |
| 52 | -->'''Kyle:''' Yeah, how ''''bout''' that? No [[WeaksauceWeakness weakness]], no [[HourOfPower 24-hour time limit]]. It's got '''yours''' beat. |
| 53 | * ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'': |
| 54 | ** Kryptonians can only be hurt by Kryptonite from their own universe meaning that Franchise/{{Batman}} couldn't hurt Superman from Earth-2 with his KryptoniteRing during ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis''. ComicBook/PowerGirl is supposed to be immune to Kryptonite because she hails from another universe but it [[DependingOnTheWriter depends whether the writers remember]] this or not. |
| 55 | ** During MediaNotes/{{the Bronze Age|OfComicBooks}}, even the mainstream Superman got in on the act for a little while after the ''Comicbook/KryptoniteNevermore'' storyline after all kryptonite in the world was converted to iron. |
| 56 | ** In several Silver Age stories, ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} became immune to Kryptonite for a short while. |
| 57 | ** In ''ComicBook/TheUnknownSupergirl'', Mr. Mxyzptlk turns ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} temporarily invulnerable to Green Kryptonite as part of one prank. As invulnerable, Supergirl took Superman away from one Kryptonite meteor, and then she caught the radioactive rock with her bare hands and buried it deep underground. |
| 58 | ** While most Kryptonians are susceptible to magic, Superboy-Prime ended up being altered just enough that being slugged by a lightning-infused [[ComicBook/{{Shazam}} Black Adam]] did zilch to him. |
| 59 | ** [[{{Elseworld}} "Imaginary" stories]] depicting Kryptonian-human offspring tend to depict them as being half as powerful as their kryptonian parents but also half as weak to kryptonite. |
| 60 | ** In ''ComicBook/LastSon'', Superman and Lois Lane's foster son Chris Kent lacks the kryptonite weakness due to be conceived in the Phantom Zone. The drawback is occasional RapidAging. |
| 61 | ** In ''ComicBook/AllStarSuperman'', flying up close to the sun has vastly increased Superman's powers and made him immune to green Kryptonite. Black K can still affect him though. |
| 62 | ** The older, stronger Superman of ''ComicBook/KingdomCome'' can't be hurt by Kryptonite due to absorbing more sunlight over the years. |
| 63 | ** ''ComicBook/TheHuntForReactron'': Thara Ak-Var cannot be harmed by Kryptonite when she transforms into [[GodOfFire Flamebird]], which she shows when she contemptuously grabs and crushes Reactron's piece of Golden Kryptonite. |
| 64 | [[/folder]] |
| 65 | |
| 66 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 67 | * Godzilla Junior from ''Fanfic/TheBridgeMLP'' was born with his radiation-based mutation and powers because he mutated in his egg rather than as an adult, meaning he has far better control and regulation over them than his father did. This gives the bonus that he can recharge based off just solar radiation rather than needing to raid power plants for fuel. |
| 68 | * ''Fanfic/CodePrime'': Cybertronian Combiners are a rare subspecies of Cybertronians that have the ability to combine into a larger and more powerful Cybertronian. The downside to this ability, is that the combined form also combines the minds of the Cybertronians, which reduces the combined form into a DumbMuscle. The Black Wyverns however, do not have this weakness when they form the Hercules, a Combining Knightmare that was created by the Enigma of Combination, as their minds are instead synched together thanks to Leila’s Geass. |
| 69 | * ''Fanfic/FateParallelFantasia'': False Caster has the Dragon Blood Talismans, which give her unlimited mana, meaning she can survive without a Master and fight indefinitely. Of course, she has a limit on how much mana she can process at one time, so she can still wear herself out. |
| 70 | * ''Fanfic/JoJoNewUniverse'': When [[Manga/MyHeroAcademia All Might]] is summoned as a Berserker in [[Literature/FateZero the Fourth Holy Grail War]], he has a few advantages that overcome most weaknesses in both his life and [[PowerAtAPrice his class]], which has [[WorldsStrongestMan Gilgamesh]] comparing him to [[WorthyOpponent Enkidu]]: |
| 71 | ** One, as a Heroic Spirit he's summoned in his prime. This means he not only has the full Quirk of One For All before giving it to Izuku, but he lacks the CareerEndingInjury he has in the manga. |
| 72 | ** Two, he doesn't have any notable moments of rage or wrath in his past for even a moderate Madness Enhancement. While this means a very minimal boost to his strength (which is already superhuman as when he was alive), it also means he still has access to his sense of reason and tactical wit. This also benefits his Master Kariya Matou, as there is less of a mana drain. |
| 73 | * In ''Fanfic/NeitherABirdNorAPlaneItsDeku'', Izuku is Kryptonian. While this means he has weaknesses to magic, intense sound, kryptonite, and red sunlight that he didn't have in canon, he has a huge draw over Quirk users: his powers are not tied to his vital biological functions. As a result, he doesn't suffer from side effects like Uraraka's nausea or Bakugou's arm strain when using his powers. |
| 74 | * In ''FanFic/OriginStory'', the [[ComicBook/{{Superman}} Kryptonian]] Alex Harris retains her species' normal weakness against kryptonite. The thing is, she lives in the Marvel Universe, where there is no kryptonite. Averted in that she also retains her species' weakness against magic, which is found in abundance in the Marvel Universe. |
| 75 | * ''Roleplay/PuellaMagiAdfligoSystema'': In the source material, ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'', use of a magical girl's powers cause Grief to build up in their Soul Gems, and if they don't kill Witches and harvest Grief Seeds to cleanse their Soul Gems, the buildup of Grief can eventually turn them into the Witches they fight. Enter the quest hero Sabrina, whose magical girl powers specifically allow her to ''[[StoryBreakerPower control]]'' Grief -- allowing her to cleanse Soul Gems and Grief Seeds herself (including her own), tear apart the Grief that makes after five minutes. up a Witch's form, and use the collected Grief as a weapon. |
| 76 | * ''Fanfic/TalesOfKittyWhiskersAndLadybug'': Children [[WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug Miraculous users]], like [[Franchise/{{AceAttorney}} Trucy Wright]] as Kitty-Whisker in this fic, can only use their [[LimitBreak signature power]] once and then lose their transformation after five minutes. Apollo Justice as Ladybug can use his powers multiple times as long as he has enough energy thanks to being an adult. |
| 77 | * The Paragon protagonist of ''Fanfic/WithThisRing'' undergoes a FusionDance with the universal embodiment of [[{{Greed}} avarice]], and comes away from the experience with "orange [[EnlightenmentSuperpowers enlightenment]]" -- constant total awareness of his own desires. This allows him to use an orange power ring without the usual risk of becoming lost in short-term obsession, and even wield the orange light at the same time as feeling other emotions (the necessary level of emotional focus normally makes this impractical without enlightenment). |
| 78 | * ''Fanfic/WonderShock'': Alice possesses what's known as an ADAM-Gene, or A-Gene for short. This allows her to inject herself with and utilize Plasmids as much as she desires without the risk of becoming a Splicer. |
| 79 | [[/folder]] |
| 80 | |
| 81 | [[folder:Films -- Live-Action]] |
| 82 | * ''Film/BladeTrilogy'': Blade ([[DaywalkingVampire the "Daywalker"]]) is a half-vampire with "all of their strengths, and none of their weaknesses". The slogan is ''mostly'' accurate: he isn't harmed by things like silver, sunlight or garlic, but he still feels blood hunger and he ages normally. |
| 83 | * In ''Film/HappyGilmore'', Happy uses a running start for his golf swing. This actually can add distance in real life, but no one uses it seriously because it's impossible to drive accurately this way. Happy, on the other hand, is able to drive so accurately with a running start that he makes a par 4 hole-in-one. |
| 84 | [[/folder]] |
| 85 | |
| 86 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 87 | * When Bella is turned in ''Literature/BreakingDawn'', she doesn't suffer from the typical [[HorrorHunger uncontrollable vampire hunger]]. |
| 88 | * Most of the human population in ''Literature/CodexAlera'' can use one or two types of [[ElementalPowers elemental fury]], which invariably leaves them vulnerable to other types. The exception are powerful noble families, particularly the High Lords, which generally have access to ''all'' six types of furies, making them incredibly powerful and without obvious weaknesses. This is most prominent with Watercrafters, compared to Watercrafter-Metalcrafters. Watercrafting has a constant disadvantage (an empathic sense ''that cannot be shut off'') and not just deficiencies in the furycrafting that can be exploited. Metalcrafting can compensate for that by artificially repressing the wielder's emotions. |
| 89 | * In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', [[EldritchAbomination Outsiders]], being literal alien demons, are so heavily resistant to magic which means that only the oldest, most experienced wizards have a chance of defeating them. [[TheChosenOne The protagonist]], despite being a relatively young wizard, can bypass this resistance instinctively to attack them effectively. This is because [[spoiler:he is a Starborn]]. It doesn't do him much good though, because 99% of the [[FantasyKitchenSink creatures]] he fights are from [[TheMasquerade his own universe]], and Outsiders are [[TheDreaded extremely difficult]] to fight even with this ability. |
| 90 | * In ''Franchise/{{Dune}}'', the intentional ''creation'' of one of these by eugenic planning is the goal of the Bene Gesserit order: the ''Kwisatz Haderach'', a man possessing the normally [[GenderRestrictedAbility Gender Restricted Abilities]] of a Bene Gesserit sister, while also capable of accessing parts of the mind a woman could not. Paul Atreides is the culmination of this effort, albeit a generation early, and he exceeds every expectation. Being the ''Kwisatz Haderach'' grants him unparalleled prescience with the ability to see all possible futures, and even [[spoiler:to use this prescience in place of sight after he is blinded]], on top of virtually unmatched fighting prowess and the [[WetwareCPU human computer]] abilities of a Mentat. |
| 91 | * ''Literature/ElementalMasters'': |
| 92 | ** Elemental Mages and Masters are usually unable to contact elementals of the [[ElementalRockPaperScissors opposing element]], but Earth Master Rosamund von Schwarzvald is able to speak with and even command Air elementals. In her own book, ''Blood Red'', this is because she's working with a pagan god to deal with a terrible evil, while in ''From a High Tower'', it's because the Great Air Elementals choose to speak with her when she's mentoring Giselle. |
| 93 | ** In ''The Serpent's Shadow'', it's mentioned that Earth Masters are extremely sensitive to pollution and can't stand living in London. Maya is a special case, going about her daily life in London with no difficulty. This is at least partly because she has a cleansed sanctuary to live in, but she doesn't even really notice the pollution when she's outside (she's more likely to complain about the heat). |
| 94 | * ''Franchise/FateSeries'': |
| 95 | ** ''Literature/FateZero'': |
| 96 | *** Heroes summoned as the TheBerserker in the Holy Grail War normally [[UnskilledButStrong lose their skills in exchange for raw power]], but Berserker, [[spoiler:aka Lancelot,]] has an ability called Eternal Arms Mastership that allows him to retain his combat abilities even in the grip of madness. It makes him [[SuperpowerLottery incredibly overpowered]]. |
| 97 | *** Caster has a Noble Phantasm called Prelati's Spellbook, which gives him an infinite supply of Mana. This means he is not handicapped by having a non-magus as a Master and doesn't immediately die when said Master is killed, since the Spellbook was what was sustaining him. Also, unlike regular Noble Phantasms, Prelati's Spellbook can regenerate itself when damaged. |
| 98 | ** ''Literature/FateApocrypha'': Berserker of Black/Frankenstein's Monster has a skill called Galvanism that allows her to absorb Mana from her surroundings. This means she is not handicapped by having a weakling like Caules for a Master and she can fight indefinitely. [[spoiler:Sieg absorbs her powers after her death, which allows him to spam Balmung's SwordBeam and fight evenly with Amakusa Shiro.]] |
| 99 | ** ''Literature/FateStrangeFake'': True Assassin has a skill called Shadow Lantern that lets him absorb Mana from darkness itself, allowing him to function without draining his Master. |
| 100 | * Jane from ''Literature/TheIronDragonsDaughter'' has this nice passive skill of being immune to regular defensive in-world charms. Most of those charms are made with specific magical species in mind. Being a human, Jane is too rare a creature in this world for the charms to account for. |
| 101 | * In the ''Literature/MagisterTrilogy'', all human magic is CastFromLifespan. While this means that most witches must be very careful with their magic, because they have a very strictly finite amount, there exist a handful of men known as Magisters who deliberately burn up their own lifespan and latch onto someone else's. This makes them effectively immortal and thus grants near-infinite power. A Magister can only be killed if you catch them by surprise and kill them before they can defend or heal themselves with magic, or if you catch them during Transition, the few seconds between when one consort dies and when they bond another. |
| 102 | * ''Literature/ShakuganNoShana'': Yuji Sakai isn't doomed to [[RetGone vanish from existence]] like other Torches thanks to a special artifact called the Midnight Lost Child that periodically replenishes his energy. |
| 103 | * Literature/SonjaBlue is the first person ever to become a vampire without dying, and therefore far more powerful than any but the oldest, strongest Master vampires. |
| 104 | * Eli Monpress from ''Literature/TheSpiritThief'' has the ability to simply talk to spirits and convince them to do his bidding, as opposed to the other wizards in the world who need to make pacts with spirits in order to access their power. |
| 105 | * Many [[HunterOfHisOwnKind vampire hunter]] series with a [[{{Dhampyr}} half-breed]] protagonist, like ''Literature/VampireHunterD'', have a theme of being immune to vampire weakness. Even then they aren't immune; they are just so powerful that they resist the effects. In D's case, it's because [[LamarckWasRight of his father]]. |
| 106 | * In ''Literature/TheWardedMan'', sunlight destroys magic. Demons burn in sunlight, and humans who are Invested with power lose it when the sun touches them. Three of the major protagonists are notable as the exceptions to this rule: |
| 107 | ** Arlen and Renna got around this by eating demonflesh, which eventually altered their biology to the point where they could hold Investiture within themselves where the sunlight couldn't touch it. |
| 108 | ** Jardir, on the other hand, uses the Spear and Crown of the Deliverer, artifacts made of demonbone wrapped in electrum. As with Arlen and Renna, the demonbone core can hold a magical charge, while the electrum coating protects the demonbone from sunlight and lets Jardir draw out the power. |
| 109 | [[/folder]] |
| 110 | |
| 111 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 112 | * ''Series/WandaVision'': As [[spoiler:Agatha Harkness]] tells Wanda, most witches need a coven to teach them magic, and then rely on incantations to work said magic. Wanda, on the other hand, had no coven and does not speak aloud when using her magic, and is able to work spells beyond most other witches in spite of that. [[spoiler:Agatha uses this lack of weaksauce as evidence that Wanda is the fabled [[TheChosenOne Scarlet Witch]].]] |
| 113 | [[/folder]] |
| 114 | |
| 115 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 116 | * ''VideoGame/BaldursGateIII'': The vampire spawn Astarion, who can be a PlayerCharacter or a companion in the party, is inexplicably [[DaywalkingVampire protected from sunlight]] by his illithid parasite. It's a tenuous HandWave, but necessary to prevent either excluding him from the party or planning all the gameplay around keeping him out of the sun. |
| 117 | * Alucard of the ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' series reaps many benefits from his status as a {{Dhampyr}}, such as resistance to sunlight and holy symbols along with the ability to survive without feeding on blood. However, he does play more fair than many other examples by logically being only half as powerful as a full-blooded vampire. [[GameBreaker Not that this stops him from inheriting his father's magic...]] |
| 118 | * In ''VideoGame/DeusExHumanRevolution'', Adam Jenson turns out not to need the anti-rejection drug other cyborgs do (thus allowing him to avoid the side effects, as well as have fairly extensive upgrades). [[spoiler:In a sidequest, you can discover that this was a result of experiments he was a part of as a child. His girlfriend reverse-engineering this trait is the breakthrough discovery she was about to announce to the world at the start of the game as well as what leads to the creation of JC and his brother in the original ''VideoGame/DeusEx''.]] |
| 119 | * ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'': |
| 120 | ** A minor example, but over the main questline of ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind'', you contract the deadly Corprus, which causes your stats to be wildly upset while giving you immunity to other disease. You eventually cure the negative symptoms but keep the immunity. |
| 121 | ** The power of the [[SuperScream Thu'um]] in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'' is normally reserved for (a) Dragons or (b) those willing to devote years of training to "the Way of the Voice". Not so for the [[TheChosenOne prophesied "Dragonborn"]], who can use any Thu'um after merely seeing the word written down, provided s/he's consumed a healthy breakfast of dragon souls. |
| 122 | * In the ''VideoGame/{{Fable}}'' series, the main character's bloodline is unique in that it results in heroes that [[MasterOfAll can access all three disciplines]] (Strength, Skill, and Will), while most heroes are only able to access one. |
| 123 | * In ''VideoGame/MarvelsSpiderMan2'', Peter acquires the Venom symbiote, and as per usual within the Spider Verse, it gives him increased strength and nifty new powers, but also corrupts him (and anyone else it bonds with) by amping up his negative emotions and sending his aggression and adrenaline off the charts. Once he rids himself of it, [[spoiler:he still has some traces of it in his system which keeps causing problems. Miles and Martin Li help him bring it under control by Li transferring all of his power into it, which turns it into the Anti-Venom suit. Thus, Peter now has all the Venom powers without the psychological side-effects, and it also does extra damage against "normal" symbiotes.]] |
| 124 | * ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'': |
| 125 | ** The main characters of ''VideoGame/Persona3'' and ''[[VideoGame/Persona4 4]]'' are both special cases who can have multiple Personas, avoiding the set weaknesses of every other Persona user. In ''4'', while everyone else has to own up to their own darker thoughts, the main character doesn't have a hidden dark side to face. In contrast, ''[[Anime/Persona4TheAnimation The Animation]]'' does make him face his fears to [[spoiler:break out of a LotusEaterMachine and unlock his SuperMode]]. Notably, this doesn't apply to the [[VideoGame/Persona1 first]] and [[VideoGame/Persona2 second]] games, in which the characters gain their Personae in different fashion. |
| 126 | *** As a contrast, the main character of ''VideoGame/Persona5'', Joker, also has the Wild Card ability, but he gets his persona power the same way as the rest of the Phantom Thieves: by being confronted with an unacceptable injustice and refusing to let it go. |
| 127 | *** When all three main characters end up meeting in ''VideoGame/PersonaQ2'', they note that their abilities are similar [[spoiler: and, in close proximity to each other, mildly reality warping, as noted by the Velvet Room attendants]] and how it gives them decided advantages in both combat and leadership. And then they all lament that they can't change their personas willingly in this world. |
| 128 | ** Much of Elizabeth's story in ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena'' revolves around her trying to learn more about the nature of this "Wild Card" ability that the P3 and P4 protagonists possess. [[RealityWarper She can already do pretty much anything]], but even to her it remains something special and mysterious. |
| 129 | * Downplayed in ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'': The Nameless One is the only character capable of changing classes, meaning he can become a Fighter, Mage or Thief as the needs require, but unlike some of his companions cannot play a hybrid class, meaning his stats grow slower. |
| 130 | * {{Exaggerated|Trope}} with Asellus in ''VideoGame/SagaFrontier''. Humans and mystics normally have separate kinds of abilities, strengths and weaknesses; humans learn skills and increase their stats by [[StatGrinding using them in combat]], while Mystics increase their stats and get combat skills by absorbing monsters with their Mystic Weapons, and are also usually equipped with unremovable Mystic armors (which are normally fairly weak) in their gear slots. The [[HalfHumanHybrid Half-Mystic Asellus]] is essentially a human who can train like a human ''and'' use the Mystical Weapons to empower herself, making her a human with [[HybridPower all the advantages of mystics and none of their disadvantages]]. The combination of powers allows her to easily break the stat {{cap}} that almost everyone else has to adhere to; other Mystics can theoretically do this, but it's impractical because their base stats can't improve. |
| 131 | * In ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'', Neku is one of the few players who has access to multiple powers/pins (most of his partners just have one ability that they make use of, e.g., Shiki's ability to animate her stuffed animal). |
| 132 | [[/folder]] |
| 133 | |
| 134 | [[folder:Webcomics]] |
| 135 | * ''Webcomic/StraylightTiger'' takes place in a world where mages and were-beasts are beaten back from supremacist ambitions by muggles who can safely handle magic-disrupting {{Unobtainium}}. The protagonist is a HalfHumanHybrid who has been genetically engineered by her parents to have magic powers and a were-tiger form with no Kryptonite factor. |
| 136 | * In ''Webcomic/TheYoungProtectors'', a side effect of the mysterious "Grey Working" causes everyone with magical power to [[http://webcomics.yaoi911.com/typ/ete-ch3-page-51/ go completely insane]]. Spooky Jones, the Protectors' resident spellcaster, shows no signs of this, which ''might'' have something to do with why a {{Demon Lord|sAndArchdevils}} calls him an "[[HorrifyingTheHorror abomination]]". |
| 137 | [[/folder]] |
| 138 | |
| 139 | [[folder:Web Original]] |
| 140 | * Gimble is the only gadgeteer in the ''Literature/AcademyOfSuperheroes'' universe to whom TheSparkOfGenius does not apply; her technology can be used by anyone and everyone, even [[AntiMagic Anchors]]. |
| 141 | * ''Literature/{{Worm}}'': |
| 142 | ** Eidolon's power is that [[AllYourPowersCombined he has all the powers]]. No matter what power you bring against him, he has several perfect counters to it on hand. ''And'' he can ignore the Manton Effect. The only limitation is he can only access three powers at once, but considering that one of those powers can be ''invincibility''... |
| 143 | ** Contessa [[spoiler:is one of two [[AwesomenessByAnalysis Thinkers]] on the planet whose powers aren't disrupted by other Thinkers, and the specific nature of her CombatClairvoyance means that without this weakness she's essentially unbeatable. Unfortunately, the other is [[MagnificentBastard the Simurgh]], who is immune to all precog abilities ''including'' Contessa's.]] |
| 144 | ** Weld, as a parahuman made of living metal, is in the unique position of being immune both to powers that only work on metal and powers that only work on flesh. |
| 145 | ** More generally, people who can ignore the Manton Effect (the tendency of powers to be unable to directly affect people) are very rare and valuable. |
| 146 | [[/folder]] |
| 147 | |
| 148 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 149 | * In the universe of ''Franchise/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', benders (people who can potentially manipulate water, earth, fire, or air) are born with the ability to be control a single element, meaning an earthbender can never learn waterbending (for example) -- except [[ChosenOne the Avatar]], who can learn to use [[ElementalPowers all four elements]]. This is enhanced even further by the [[SuperMode Avatar State]] in which the Avatar can access the knowledge of all his/her past lives, resulting in powers akin to a PhysicalGod. A fully realised Avatar is quite literally a nigh-unstoppable force of nature. This is helped by something [[OldMaster Iroh]] demonstrates, since while normal benders are locked into one element, they can learn the styles of other benders,[[note]]since each element is bent using different martial art stances and disciplines[[/note]] so they can learn different applications of their native element with benders of different elements. This is yet another reason why the Avatar is so powerful given his or her collective knowledge can be used across all four elements. |
| 150 | * ''WesternAnimation/GeneratorRex'': |
| 151 | ** In a world where every living thing is infected with {{nanomachines}}, Rex is one of the few people able to control them. He still has to deal with LaserGuidedAmnesia and the occasional BodyHorror, but that's miniscule compared to what the average EVO is subjected to. |
| 152 | ** Bobo Haha. All the nanites did to him was make him smarter. Granted, he also lacks any LovecraftianSuperpower that is typically dished out, but the monkey dodged all the downsides of being an EVO. |
| 153 | * ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': While all unicorns are capable of magic, most of them only learn magic that is related to their [[OnePersonOnePower special talent]], aside from general [[MindOverMatter telekinesis]]. [[TheHero Twilight Sparkle]]'s special talent is an affinity for ''magic in general'', which, combined with her being a massive bookworm, allows her to learn a larger variety of spells than most unicorns. Other unicorns with similar power levels and versatility (such as [[HerosEvilPredecessor Sunset Shimmer]][[note]]although Sunset is confined to the ''[[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls Equestria Girls]]'' spinoffs, and as such moatly appears in [[HumanityEnsues human form]], locking off her powers aside from [[TheEmpath empathy]][[/note]] and [[SixthRanger Starlight Glimmer]]) appear later, but by that point Twilight has become an [[WingedUnicorn alicorn]], giving her [[AllYourPowersCombined the abilities of all three major pony races]]. |
| 154 | * ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'': Most of the princesses have to regularly recharge their magic with their runestones, with the exception of some princesses who don't use runestones like Scorpia and Entrapta and thus don't have magic. Since most of the runestones are quite large and non-portable, the princesses cannot stay away from their realms for too long. Adora/She-Ra's runestone is her Sword of Protection, meaning she is empowered anywhere. In addition, She-Ra can use the Sword of Protection to recharge the other princesses. She has a different weakness in that she can be separated from her sword and rendered unable to transform. In the final season, [[spoiler:the Sword of Protection is destroyed, rendering her unable to transform for a while. She eventually manages to transform on her own and summon a new sword with her innate magic, meaning she can't be depowered anymore]]. |
| 155 | [[/folder]] |
| 156 | |
| 157 | [[folder:Real Life]] |
| 158 | * Things like breeding, genetic engineering, medicine, and eventually {{transhuman}}ism are about stripping the Weaksauce from either ourselves or other living things we interact with. |
| 159 | * In a geopolitical sense, the United States of America. It spans an entire continent, like Russia, but isn't so huge as to be cumbersome. And unlike Russia, its two neighboring nations haven't been serious threats for 200 years, and they haven't even been mild threats for about as long. It also has a massive internal navigable waterway for shipping that needed only minor maintenance and a small handful of cheap and easy canals to link them all together, the first of which was done without engineers! So it's nearly an island, like Britain, and any power capable of fighting its army would need to sail to get there, like Britain. But unlike Britain, all its power and resources were within its starting borders and not overseas. The USA has the geopolitical strengths of Britain, Russia, and the old Roman Empire rolled into one, with almost none of the weaknesses. Almost. What this means is that the American military has next to no ''defensive'' mandate and exists entirely as an offensive and forward deployable tool. It has never garrisoned foreign lands for its own security, only for extra power. |
| 160 | [[/folder]] |
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/context.php
FollowingContext Main / OneHeroHoldTheWeaksauce
Go To
- Show Spoilers
- Night Vision
- Sticky Header
- Wide Load
