Line #6 Main/PileBunker


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10	[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/AnarchyReigns https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_pile_bunker_1009.jpg]]]]
11
12	Sometimes, a big old enemy mecha or monster wants to press the hero. Whether a long-range engagement fails, or they're just more keen on a close encounter, they've come face to face with the enemy and make it a point to [[OneHitKill take it out pronto.]] What's the weapon that ''[[{{Pun}} really]]'' [[{{Pun}} drives the point home best?]] None other than the pile bunker, a weapon that shoots a single spike forward, which then retracts so it can be fired again, just like a pile driver.
13
14	A common weapon in the RealRobotGenre and other Sci-Fi works, but not necessarily used by the [[HumongousMecha mecha]] themselves, as there are sometimes hand-held variants. Also, oddly, a uniquely Japanese trope, with very few non-{{Animesque}} Western examples. They work much like RealLife pile drivers, but rather than operating continuously (for example, hydraulically), they typically work with a one-shot chemical charge that drives the metal stake or penetrating spike, complete with SpentShellsShower and a [[RevolversAreJustBetter revolver]] mechanism.
15
16	Pile bunkers are sometimes built into a special [[PowerFist gauntlet]] or [[ArmCannon arm]] for mecha or humans. Other times, they can take a more external form, like that of a [[{{BFG}} massive gun.]] Often, like with [[ThisIsADrill drills]], it is justified by the need to [[AntiArmor penetrate heavy armor or barriers]].
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18	The spike usually returns to its original position after each "shot" (though ''how'' is not always apparent). Also, the pile bunker's firing mechanism must be made from incredibly strong materials, or it will explode (or at least have a very good chance to be damaged) every time the spike strikes the target, similar to a gun with a jammed barrel. Alternatively, it won't be able to penetrate a tough enough target. Also note that it would need to include a stopper made from equally strong materials that prevents the spike from simply flying out of the barrel like a bullet, thus having much greater attack range, which begs the question of why the spike, in fact, ''isn't'' simply fired like a bullet (although it could potentially be [[JustifiedTrope justified]] if the spike has to be made from specific, very expensive materials so that making multiple bullets out of them would be unaffordable, or if it is too heavy to carry additional spikes).
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20	Can be the cause of a FacepalmOfDoom. Usually an AmmoUsingMeleeWeapon. Guns that fire the spike away should go into the [[NailEm nailgun]] category.
21	----
22	!!Examples:
23
24	[[foldercontrol]]
25
26	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
27	* Featured prominently in ''Anime/ArmoredTrooperVOTOMS'' and its spinoff, ''Armor Hunter Mellowlink''. The hero of the latter especially likes to finish off his opponents with the pile bunker attachment on his AT-rifle. Armored Troopers, on the other hand, work on the principles of this trope via punching with the arm, as they spend rounds to quick-fire a punch, without a stake or spike present.
28	* ''Anime/TheBigO'' has these as one of its signature weapons. Each of its massive arms contains a piston which is used to amplify its punches.
29	* In ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', Gin primarily uses his Zanpakuto (an extending sword) like a pile bunker.
30	* ''Anime/DaiGuard'''s Knot Buster and Knot Punisher. Justified, since they have to be very precise, easy to use and very powerful to accurately destroy Fractal Knots. And they have to grab the Heterodyne in order to hold it still before using the piledriver.
31	* ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'' Crusadermon has one of these built into [[ShesAManInJapan his/her]] arm, though it shoots magical blasts instead of stakes.
32	* ''Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren'': Loz wields Dual Hound, a left-handed gauntlet with twin electrified prongs that function like a pile punker.
33	* In ''Manga/{{Gamaran}}'', Banri Omiya wields a special "kuda yari" (tube spear) and, thanks to the above-mentioned tube, can use it to stab, withdraw and stab again at a very fast speed, like a pile driver indeed.
34	* Charlotte Dunois' Rafale Revive Custom II from ''Literature/InfiniteStratos'' can carry a pile bunker weapon module hidden in its left shield.
35	* ''Manga/InuYasha'' Ginkotsu from the Band of Seven is shown to have one built in his chest, but is destroyed before he can use it on Inu Yasha.
36	* Ikoma has one as a weapon of choice against the [[OurZombiesAreDifferent Kabane]] from ''Anime/KabaneriOfTheIronFortress''.
37	* The [[CompilationMovie movie adaptation]] of ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaAs'' gives Reinforce a ''[[ClingyMacGuffin parasitic]]'' pile bunker as a physical representation of [[SuperpoweredEvilSide her corrupted Defense Program]]. [[AllThereInTheManual According to supplemental material]] it's an Ancient Belkan AntiArmor weapon modified from a wrist-mounted spear thrower.
38	* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamF91'' introduced a weapon called the Shot Lancer which effectively combines the Pile Bunker with the JoustingLance; its main goal is to let pilots disable enemy mobile suits without triggering a [[StuffBlowingUp catastrophic reactor explosion]] (which is extra bad when you're in a space colony). The Shot Lancer also turns up in the sequels ''[[Manga/MobileSuitCrossboneGundam Crossbone Gundam]]'' and ''[[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam V Gundam]]''
39	* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans'': the mace wielded by Gundam Barbatos is equipped with a Pile Bunker that fires from its tip. The [[spoiler: Graze Ein]] also has a pair of these mounted on each arm. [[spoiler: Ein uses one of them to [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice critically injure]] Shino, and another one for breaking the Barbatos Wrench Mace.]] Unlike most examples, they are single use and once fired, they detach themselves instead of retracting.
40	* In ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', Sachiel, the very first Angel encountered, has one in its palms (when retracted, the spikes extend from the Angel's elbows). It pierces right through the protagonist's mecha's eye, in a very painful-looking way.
41	* In ''Manga/FireForce'', the Special Fire Force make use of a weapon known as the Core Annihilating Pile Bunker, consisting of a piston and spiked shaft, and is often used by Company 8 Captain Akitaru Ōbi.
42	* In ''Anime/{{Symphogear}}'' Hibiki Tachibana is [[BareFistedMonk unable to make her Gear summon weapons]], so instead she learns to convert its wrist and calf armor into piston-like structures which can be "fired" to add more force to her punches and [[InASingleBound jumps]]. By the second season she has upgraded to ''[[RocketPoweredWeapon rocket-propelled]]'' pile bunkers, and can [[ElementalPunch use them as a delivery system]] for the team's CombinedEnergyAttack.
43	* ''Franchise/{{Zoids}}'':
44	** The CP-08 Pile Bunker used by Rev Rapter and Iguan is likely the TropeNamer.
45	** By ''Anime/ZoidsGenesis'' many different Zoids carry small pile bunkers used for pivoting.
46	[[/folder]]
47
48	[[folder:Fan Works]]
49	* ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'': The Good Hunter pulls out the Stake Driver in two occasions in the original version -- the attack on the Malys Estate, and the hunt for Mandeville. A [[PowerFist heavy gauntlet]] with a large stake strapped to it, it is [[OneHitKill strong]] enough to reduce a mutant to LudicrousGibs. The resulting explosion from this trick weapon can also stagger nearby foes, making them vulnerable to any incoming attack.
50	[[/folder]]
51
52	[[folder:Films (Live Action)]]
53	* In ''Film/NoCountryForOldMen'', one of Anton Chigurrh's favorite weapons is the captive-bolt pistol which he uses both the kill people and punch the locks out of doors. The weapon, explained by Sheriff Ed Tom Bell, shoots out a spike and immediately retracts it. It's usually used for killing livestock.
54	* In ''Film/FromDuskTillDawn'', Seth Gekko attaches a wooden stake to the end of a jackhammer to create a pile bunker for use against vampires.
55	[[/folder]]
56
57	[[folder:Literature]]
58	* ''Literature/AccelWorld'': Cyan [[MeaningfulName Pile]] wields an enormous arm-mounted one as his signature weapon, with his SpecialAttack "Lightning Cyan Spike" letting its spike [[TelescopingStaff extend to impossible lengths]]. It's later revealed that [[PersonalityPowers the trauma which produced Pile's avatar]] came from his time in kendo club, where older students put the fear of life in him by practicing their thrusts on his neck. When he confronts this trauma he develops the incarnate technique "Cyan Blade", which allows him to pull the spike out of his pile bunker and transform it into a much less cumbersome [[KatanasAreJustBetter katana]].
59	* In Hiroshi Sakurazaka's ''Literature/AllYouNeedIsKill'', the [[PoweredArmor Jackets]] used by the [[CannonFodder Japanese troops]] carry one of these with a clip of twenty charges. They're only marginally effective, but still one of the best options they have.
60	--> When they first told me its magazine only held twenty rounds, I didn't think anyone could live long enough to use even that many. I was wrong. Mine had four rounds left. I had missed fifteen times--maybe sixteen.
61	* In ''Literature/NoCountryForOldMen'', both the book and the film, Anton Chigurh wields a captive-bolt pistol which is a Real Life version of this used for dispatching cattle humanely.
62	[[/folder]]
63
64	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
65	* ''Series/BakuryuuSentaiAbaranger''[=/=]''Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder'': The Blue Ranger's signature weapon is a shield designed like a triceratops's head. It has a spike that extends from the end.
66	* In ''Series/TheBookOfBobaFett'' in the ''Franchise/StarWars'' franchise, Boba Fett recruits a gang of cybernetically modified [[ScooterRidingMod scooter-speeder hooligans]] as enforcers. One of them has a pile bunker in his [[ArmedLegs leg]] comprised of a telescoping foreleg and a deployable spike in the heel. He uses it to expediently smash up a speeder's engine in a city chase.
67	[[/folder]]
68
69	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
70	* Piledrivers are a potential melee weapon that mechs can use in ''TabletopGame/BattleTech''. They're not very good, but this isn't surprising since they're civilian construction equipment that can be used as an ImprovisedWeapon and not dedicated anti-mech weapons in their own right. They sometimes show up in the famous battlemech arenas of Solaris 7, but since those are explicitly ''Series/RobotWars'' writ large their practicality or lack thereof plays second fiddle to the RuleOfCool.
71	* The Catalytic Hammer in {{TabletopGame/Lancer}} is part of the Tortuga's equipment package, but any mech in the game can mount one if they have the correct licences. The weapon's flavour text even references the name "pilebunker."
72	[[/folder]]
73
74	[[folder:Toys]]
75	* The M.S.G Weapon Unit [=MW28=] Impact Edge is a pair of spring-loaded Pile Bunkers, and the magazine at the top acts as the trigger for them. It received a re-release which is included in the ''Toys/FrameArmsGirls'' Architect kit.
76	* ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' had a toyline character named Dirtbag. He was a mutant mole with a jackhammer he used as a melee weapon.
77	[[/folder]]
78
79	[[folder:Video Games]]
80	* ''VideoGame/AnarchyReigns'': Douglas Williamsburg has two, built into both arms.
81	* Zenia Valov from ''VideoGame/ArcanaHeart'' has one in her PowerFist [[ICallItVera named "Edinorog"]]. [[BilingualBonus That's Russian for "unicorn"]].
82	* ''VideoGame/ArmoredCore'' series has this as one of the melee weapon styles, trading the range of bladed weapons for high damage.
83	* ''VideoGame/Ashes2063'' has a [[AmmoUsingMeleeWeapon gas-powered]] jackhammer that, when upgraded once to the "Smackhammer" in ''Afterglow'', replaces the flat end with a spike like a proper pile bunker. It works similarly to the {{chainsaw\|Good}} in ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'', except it pushes the target away rather than pull the player towards it. Alt-fire revs up the machine for a single stronger, stunning strike, but it costs ammo to stay revved up.[[note]]In the Legacy builds of ''2063'', the base jackhammer used to be called a Pile Bunker, but it still had the stock flat head instead of a spike.[[/note]]
84	* ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}}'' has one in the form of the Stake Driver, a weapon that can be used with the spear-like blade either extended or retracted and causes a detonation at the tip if an attack is fully charged with the blade retracted.
85	* Also by From Software, the now-forgotten ''Platform/Xbox360'' game ''VideoGame/{{Chromehounds}}'' featured several versions of these, but powered by hydraulics, not explosives.
86	* ''VideoGame/DigDug'''s Taizo Hori wields a giant Pile Bunker in ''VideoGame/NamcoXCapcom''.
87	* ''VideoGame/EarthDefenseForce2025'' [=/=] ''Earth Defense Force 4'' in Japan: The Fencer PowerArmor character has a variety of pile bunker-like weapons available to them some causing additional effects like explosions inside the target from forcefully injected plasma. ''VideoGame/EarthDefenseForce5'' also sees the Fencer equipped with pile bunker-like weapons, such as the Blasthole Spear.
88	* ''VideoGame/ExtrapowerGiantFist'': Not the titular Giant Fist itself, but the final unlock character Power King can augment his punches with a steel blade that thrusts out at the end of the attack with an additional button input, retracting it after.
89	* The Power Fist in ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' can be modified like this. The Puncturing Power Fist upgrade straps a block of concrete with pieces of steel rebar sticking out to the power fist's impact plate. This increases the fist's damage and gives it armor bypassing capability.
90	* A Pile Bunker (mistranslated as "Pile Banger") appears as one of Barret's Arm Cannon attachments in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII''.
91	* The Machinist class in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' receives a lategame summon which always finishes its attacks with this attack, complete with name.
92	* Those in ''VideoGame/FrontMission'' look very much like some ''Anime/ArmoredTrooperVotoms'' versions.
93	* The Scale, the fourth boss of ''VideoGame/{{Furi}}'', wields a pair of pile bunkers.
94	* While he doesn't use one himself, Slayer from ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear'' has this as the name for one of his special moves, which is a sliding straight MegatonPunch (that supposedly punches with the force of an actual pile bunker).
95	** From ''VideoGame/GuiltyGearXrd'' onwards, Potemkin uses some proper ones for his "Heat Knuckle" attack, with automatic revolver action for further effect. In his prior appearances, he did not use pile bunkers, but did use powder cartridges.
96	* ''VideoGame/LostPlanet'' has them as a hand-held weapon, and one for the mecha.
97	* ''VideoGame/MegaMan11'' has the Robot Master Impact Man, who uses this as his weapons of choice. Mega Man acquires the Pile Driver [[PowerCopying after beating him]] which combines this with DashAttack. Bonus points for being named Pile Man in Japan.
98	* ''VideoGame/MeltyBlood'': Both Riesbyfe Stridberg and Powerd Ciel wield their own pile bunkers, the True Apocrypha Gamaliel and Seventh Holy Scripture, respectively.
99	* ''VideoGame/MetalSlug'':
100	** ''5'' has it as the Slug Gunner's melee weapon, although this one can't really shoot over a distance.
101	** In ''Metal Slug 3D'', one of the weapons that can be fitted to the customizable Slug is a Pile Bunker that can be shot out on a chain or used as a ramming tool. Another part having a similar function is the Gunner Arm, essentially two Pile Bunkers placed onto the Vulcan parts. Speaking of which, if one equipped all the Gunner Parts, the Slug will transform into the aforementioned Slug Gunner.
102	* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'':
103	** The Dragonators are building-sized pile bunkers powered by steam or clockwork and used to spike monsters that are large enough to be targeted.
104	** The "Wyrmstake Cannon" of the Gunlance class is a form of Pile Bunker. The Hunter will thrust at a monster, pull the trigger to fire the spike, and, [[AwesomeButImpractical if you can actually hit something with it]] the spike will detach and explode after a couple of seconds, dealing damage to whatever part of the monster it hit while ignoring any defense.
105	* [[RobotGirl Aigis]] acquires one in ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena'' which she uses to start off her All-Out Attack.
106	* ''VideoGame/RagnarokOnline'' has a weapon by that name, but with no special qualities other than its incredible power (and weight), and a skill that truly goes with the trope -- it's an attack used by Mechanic class while in their [[PoweredArmor Madogear]] and it has a good chance to cancel any defensive spells or skills on the target it strikes. The only downside of the skill is that you need to equip the no special qualities weapon mentioned above.
107	* This is the strongest but slowest melee weapon option in ''Rogha Armor Force''. It had the most limited targeting arc (mostly consisting of attacking directly ahead in a single linear direction) and takes the most time to recharge between attacks, but makes up for it by destroying any non-miniboss enemy with a giant steel spike through the face.
108	* ''VideoGame/RType Final'' has several ships with a pile bunker in place of a charged laser weapon. The bunkers do absolutely immense damage, in some cases more than enough to OneHitKill a boss... but they're extremely short-ranged and getting close enough to use them without killing yourself is very difficult.
109	* ''VideoGame/SLAISteelLancerArenaInternational'' features the Carro's 'pile hammer' melee weapon. As might be expected, it is a slower but more powerful close-range weapon that attacks directly ahead of the Carro in a straight line. The problem is that ''SLAI'' is a third-person high-speed arena-combat mech-sim, and thus the pile hammer is not nearly as effective a melee weapon as other manufacturer's offerings.
110	* ''VideoGame/SteelBattalion: Line of Contact'' introduces the Garpike, a [[HumongousMecha VT]] whose signature weapon is the pair of Bang Needles flanking its sides, which punch through their target and explode.
111	* A pile bunker is one unlockable weapon that the titular protagonists of ''VideoGame/{{SUGURI}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{SORA}}'' can both use in their respective games. Using it like with other melee weapons will grant temporary invulnerability to the player, with the one in ''sora'' also having the ability to charge the attack for more damage.
112	* The ''[[http://images.wikia.com/superrobotwars/images/7/7c/Alteisen.png Alt Eisen]]'' of ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' has a Revolving Stake mounted on the right arm. The machine's MidSeasonUpgrade (the ''[[http://images.wikia.com/superrobotwars/images/3/37/Alteisen_Riese.jpg Alt Eisen Riese]]'') and [[{{Expy}} variants]] all carry the same weapon.
113	** Similar OriginalGeneration weapons include Rapiecage's Magnum Beak, the equipable weapon "G-Impact Stake", the claws wielded by the Strike Guarlion in the Record of ATX manga, and [[VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsMX Cerberus Ignite]]'s "Ignite Pike". Additionally, Haken Browning from ''VideoGame/EndlessFrontier'' wields the Night Fowl assault rifle with an underslung stake below the barrel of the weapon, just like [[Anime/ArmoredTrooperVOTOMS Mellowlink]].
114	* Many of the walker-type robot characters in ''VideoGame/{{Tobal}} 2'' use this as their melee attack.
115	* Chuck has one as his weapon in ''VideoGame/WildArms5'', making him one of the 3 melee characters.
116	[[/folder]]
117
118	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
119	* ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}'': Ciel's and [[VideoGame/MeltyBlood Riesbyfe Stridberg]]'s conceptual weapons, Seventh Holy Scripture and True Apocrypha respectively, are magical examples. Notable in that Ciel's weapon, Seven or [[BilingualBonus Nanako]] (Literally means Seven Girl), is sapient, and can transform into a girl.
120	[[/folder]]
121
122	[[folder:Western Animation]]
123	* Armodrillo from ''WesternAnimation/Ben10UltimateAlien'' has pike-bunker arms that are likewise blunt and used to shake the earth.
124	* ''[[WesternAnimation/COPS1988 C.O.P.S.]]'': Barricade has a pneumonic battering ram with a blunt head that he strapped to his arm. Though he generally used it to break down doors, he also sometimes would also use it on robotic enemies.
125	* In ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', Bismuth, the blacksmith of the Crystal Gems, created a weapon called the "Breaking Point" that [[spoiler:was specifically designed [[AntiRegeneration to shatter]] a Gem's [[HeartDrive gemstone]] in a single strike, destroying them.]]
126	* Most versions of Rumble from ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' have a pair of these for arms, except blunt. He uses these to [[DishingOutDirt create small-scale earthquakes]]. Oh by the way, [[PintsizedPowerhouse Rumble is a Cassette-bot]] that fits into Soundwave's chest. Autobot Sideswipe had a pair in his arms, too, in a couple of first season episodes, [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness but this was quickly dropped]].
127	[[/folder]]
128
129	[[folder:Real Life]]
130	* Captive-bolt humane killers, used by abattoir workers or vets in some areas as an alternative to the bolt-gun type, operate on much the same principle.
131	* The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QnUn3U59VY&t=434s Backyard Scientist]] tried his hand on making an "automatic punching machine" and did pretty well. The device also had a boring, [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant and we mean boring as in "making a hole" not "uninteresting"]], attachment.
132	[[/folder]]

Context Main / PileBunker