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14[[quoteright:279:[[WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/scaled_up.png]]]]
15[[caption-width-right:279:"A ''[[SmugSnake snake]]'', am I? Perhaps you'd like to see how ''{{sssssnake|Talk}}like I can be!''"]]
16
17->''"I will not turn into a snake. It never helps."''
18-->-- EvilOverlordList, Rule #34[[note]]No, not [[RuleThirtyFour THAT one]].[[/note]]
19
20There's probably something [[FauxSymbolism symbolic]] about the tendencies of a villain to turn into a snake. In the West, there is a strong established symbolism for snakes as symbols of evil from Literature/TheBible (most famously [[Literature/BookOfGenesis the serpent in the Garden of Eden]]) and Myth/NorseMythology, and there's {{Orochi}} in Myth/JapaneseMythology. Adding onto this, there is the fact that when walking in the wild, it's generally not a good idea to stop and pet a snake.
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22Of course, the result of all that symbolism is that when a villain turns into a snake there can be no doubt about the evil nature of a foe, and it gives TheHero a [[WhatMeasureIsANonCute comfortably scary]] and suddenly [[NotEvenHuman less human foe]] to kill.
23
24[[GenreBlind Villains do love their symbolism and cliches]], however, so despite how often this trope tends to end with the villain chopped up on the hero's sword, (usually rather easily too) villains everywhere still love the order Squamata because, of course, SnakesAreSinister. Think about it for a second: how often have you ever seen a villain turn into, say, a bear, a rhino, a lion, a koala, or something else that would actually be useful?
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26This trope is not strictly limited for the bad guys; indeed, there are arguably just as many places around the world that revere snakes as much as other places dislike them, and, if done properly, a serpentine hero can easily satisfy the RuleOfCool. However, when it's the good guys doing this, they typically turn into dragons instead of snakes. That said, villains turning into dragons is [[WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty not unheard of]] either.
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28It isn't also limited to just snakes either. Usually all ReptilesAreAbhorrent, and even if [[SubvertedTrope isn't]]. They are still included. These other reptiles include [[LovableLizard lizards]], [[NeverSmileAtACrocodile crocodilians]], [[SturdyAndSteadyTurtles turtles]], and even [[OurDragonsAreDifferent dragons]].
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30Extra points if the protagonist is female.
31
32A [[SubTrope specific variant]] of OneWingedAngel. Villains transforming into a dragon can fall under DragonsAreDemonic. This can also overlap with the ReptilianConspiracy in instances when SnakePeople [[TheyLookLikeUsNow make themselves]] look {{human|Disguise}} before revealing their true forms. [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant If you're looking for]] video game characters being shown as grotesquely oversized compared to their surroundings on an overview map, that's over at UnitsNotToScale. Also not to be confused with MakeMyMonsterGrow, although it often gets invoked alongside this trope.
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34
35----
36!!Examples:
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38[[foldercontrol]]
39
40[[folder:Advertising]]
41* A drug PSA features a drug dealer who gets more snake-like towards the end. WebVideo/JonTron had a field day with it.
42[[/folder]]
43
44[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
45* In ''Manga/SazanEyes'' we have Hua She, a snake demons who spends the entire second series as the human consciousness of the protagonist, Pai. After she sacrifices herself to stop Benares, she undoes the spell and returns being a small harmless snake... only for Parvati to actually give her a human identity which plays a bigger role during the fourth act, Trinetra. Benares himself usually appears as a human (well, a [[EvilIsBigger really big human]]) but when Yakumo tries to seal him away with Genma Hoshin he forcibly assumes his true form: a colossal, mindless wyrm made of brilliant energy. [[spoiler:Benares willingly undergoes a draconic-snakelike transformation for the final battle.]]
46* In ''{{Manga/Berserk}}'', the Apostle form of the Baron of Koka Castle is a disturbingly Freudian snake-monster who actually manages to land a few good hits on Guts ([[MadeOfIron although, pretty much every Apostle lands many good hits on him]]). He still doesn't last very long though, due to Guts unloading his ArmCannon right into the Baron's face and then hacking him in half in one blow with the [[{{BFS}} Dragon Slayer]].
47* ''Manga/BusoRenkin'': At the beginning of the series, one of Kazuki's teachers morphs into a mechanical, king cobra-like creature that is [[SpikesOfVillainy covered in spikes]] and large enough to [[SwallowedWhole swallow a person whole]].
48* Divine Ancestors in ''Literature/{{Campione}}'' have the ability to gain a massive increase in power by transforming into their primordial form, a dragon or serpent. This comes at a cost as doing so sacrifices their eternal youth and hampers their ability to regain their lost powers.
49* ''Manga/{{Claymore}}'' has [[spoiler:Ophelia]] turn into an Awakened, resulting in her becoming a massive snake-like being with lots of blades. At first, it helps against Clare, until she realizes it herself by seeing her reflection, after which she has Clare to play a game of kill or get killed.
50* [[BigBad Yasha]] from ''Anime/CuteyHoney'' turns into a giant monstrous lamia in her final battle against Honey. She puts up a decent fight due to her impenetrable scales, but [[spoiler:it turns out gravity combined with the spikes at the bottom of Yasha's lair are enough to tear through her scales.]]
51* ''Manga/FairyTail:'' [[SubvertedTrope While it doesn't turn them into dragons,]] first-generation Dragon Slayers are capable of using an advanced magic ability called [[EleventhHourSuperpower Dragon Force,]] which ''immensely'' increases their magic power and gives them visible scales on their bodies. [[TheHero Natsu]] is first seen using it during his fight with [[ArcVillain Jellal,]] and [[spoiler:[[TagalongKid Wendy]] and [[ExtraOredinary Gajeel]] are seen using it against Ezel and Bloodman, respectively.]] However, the Dragon Slayer in question must consume ''A LOT'' of magical energy to enter this state. Second and third-generation Dragon Slayers, like [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Laxus,]] [[ThoseTwoGuys Sting and Rogue,]] are capable of using it at will, but it lacks a lot of "oomph" compared to the real deal.
52** [[BigBad Acnologia]] and [[spoiler:[[TheBaroness Irene Belserion,]]]] however, are capable of turning into full-fledged dragons.
53** In the sequel series the fifth-generation Dragon Slayers (or [[CannibalismSuperpower Dragon Eaters]]) are introduced, they do have Dragon Force but consider it a DangerousForbiddenTechnique: [[spoiler:they do gain a transformation and an incredibly powerful form, but they slowly and inexorably undergo Dragonization and irreversibly become true dragons.]]
54* ''Franchise/FullmetalAlchemist''
55** Near the end of ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemist2003'', [[spoiler:Envy turns into a giant serpent in order to cross the Gate and kill his father, Hohenheim. He ends up getting stuck in [[UsefulNotes/WeimarRepublic Germany]], where he's captured by the Thule Society and used as a giant Ouroboros to activate their transmutation circle and open a portal to Amestris]]. However, this process does accomplish the one thing he really wanted: [[spoiler:killing Hohenheim.]]
56** In the [[Manga/FullMetalAlchemist manga and Brotherhood anime]], [[spoiler:Envy tries it again on Mustang after revealing he was the one to kill Hughes... but Rule 34 of the EvilOverlordList kicks him ''hard'' when Mustang demonstrates that all Envy did was give Mustang an easier target with his [[KillItWithFire flame alchemy]].]]
57* ''Manga/HanaTheFoxGirl's'' Haru Sakamoto is an inversion. She was born a snake but has the ability to transform into a human. She was adopted and raised by a human couple who saw her hatch and change.
58* A MonsterOfTheWeek from ''Manga/InuYasha'' does this. Notable as he actually put up a pretty decent fight while in humanoid form, (thanks to a magic trident) but got carved up like a Thanksgiving turkey post-transformation. Played with in that the monster was a water snake spirit who stole the trident from the local river goddess, so he didn't change into a snake, he changed ''back'' from his assumed human form.
59* In Part 7 of ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure'', there is a Stand called "Scary Monsters" that allows its user Dr. Ferdinand and, later [[spoiler:Diego Brando]], to transform himself and anyone he injures into dinosaurs.
60* Inverted by ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'''s Cobra Gundam, which starts off as a {{Naga}} and can separate into a humanoid HumongousMecha and a mechanical snake, operated by the pilot's pet snake.
61* Orochimaru from ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' probably takes inspiration from his namesake {{Orochi}} and does this in the series. [[spoiler:He gets taken out by a certain IneffectualLoner after said loner's FaceHeelTurn]]. Though [[spoiler:his chances as a snake were probably better than a drugged-up old man who was near-dying, and he apparently didn't have a choice in the matter]].
62** Rather, Orochimaru takes his inspiration from the original Orochimaru, who likely gets it from ''his'' namesake Orochi.
63** Later, he takes on a Hydra form to fight an attack called Susano, named for the god that killed the eight-headed serpent Orochi. It doesn't go well for him -- he was mythologically doomed to lose that fight.
64** In contrast to the above, [[spoiler:Kabuto]] turning into a snake let him escape a trap and kidnap someone on his way out. He later "evolves" this snake form into [[spoiler:an EvilCounterpart to [[TheHero Naruto]]'s [[SuperMode Sage Mode]], changing from a snake to a ''dragon'']].
65* ''Manga/OnePiece'' has [[{{Animorphism}} Zoan]] Devil Fruits, so of course there are reptile-based ones. In fact, two specific "families" of reptile Zoan Devil Fruits have appeared in canon: The Snake-Snake Fruits, which turn their users into specific kinds of snake, and the Dragon-Dragon Fruits, which are actually a family of [[PrehistoricMonster Ancient Zoan]] Fruits that covers [[DinosaursAreDragons dinosaurs]].
66** The first Snake-Snake Fruit users were the Boa sisters Marigold (King Cobra) and Sandersonia (Anaconda). Their big sister Hancock, however, breaks the theme by instead having a Paramecia that lets her [[TakenForGranite petrify anyone who thinks lustful thoughts about her]]. Marigold and Sandersonia actually fare pretty well against Luffy…up until the point where he [[LetsGetDangerous stops holding back]].
67** A Mythic Zoan branch of the Snake-Snake Fruit tree, the [[{{Orochi}} Yamata no Orochi Model]], turns up in the Wano arc. [[spoiler:Fittingly, it's been consumed by the evil Shogun of Wano, Kozuki Orochi... although he's so pathetic that he's a complete waste of the fruit's powers. The main purpose of it turns out to be allowing 7 different people who have good reasons to want Orochi dead to get their own turns at decapitating him before he dies for good]].
68** One of the Supernovas, the most formidable pirates to set sail during the timeframe of the series, is X Drake, who has the Allosaurus model of the Dragon-Dragon Fruit.
69** Most of the other Dragon-Dragon Fruits appear during the Wano arc, in the hands of high-ranking members of Emperor Kaido's Beast Pirates: King has the Pteranodon fruit, Queen has the Brachiosaurus fruit, Sasaki has the Triceratops fruit, Ulti has the Pachycephalosaurus fruit, and Page One has the Spinosaurus fruit.
70** Kaido himself has the ability to transform into a massive Eastern dragon. [[spoiler:Ironically, despite having multiple Dragon-Dragon Fruit users under his command, it turns out ''his'' fruit is classified as a Mythical Zoan model of the '''Fish-Fish Fruit'''! (A reference to the LegendaryCarp of Chinese and Japanese folklore.)]]
71** [[spoiler:Momonosuke has the same ability as Kaido, as he's eaten an artificial replica of Kaido's fruit created by Dr. Vegapunk.]]
72* A recurring antagonist in ''Literature/ShakuganNoShana'' lives to be recurring only because he shapeshifts into a ''small'' snakelike creature to escape a losing battle.
73* Medusa the Serpent Witch from ''Manga/SoulEater'' turns into a ''small'' snake to escape when her main body is cut in half. This is ''after'' her band succeeded in releasing the SealedEvilInACan; so definitely a win, while her opponent thinks he killed her [[DeaderThanDead so hard it destroyed her soul]].
74* ''Manga/TalesOfWeddingRings'' has a heroic example in Saphir, who once used the Ring of Water to transform herself into an enormous dragon and devour the kraken that was menacing her friends.
75* ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'': During the climactic fight at the end of the first anime season, Beatrice summons meta-Kinzo, who immediately gives an EvilLaugh, turns into a ''dragon'', and tries to eat meta-Battler's face, only to be stopped by a non-magical explanation and blasted to pieces by a multitude of flying spikes that accompany Battler's signature dramatic gesture.
76* In ''Anime/TheWonderfulWorldOfPussNBoots'', [[BigBad Lucifer the ogre]] shapeshifts into a [[DragonsAreDemonic three-headed dragon]] in an attempt to kill the heroes and impress his [[AndNowYouMustMarryMe forced-fiancée]] Princess Rosa with his sheer power. Unfortunately for him, it doesn't work as she faints at the horrific sight of him. ''But fortunately for him'', he's so powerful that all the heroes can do is run for their lives or else get burned alive by his fire breath.
77* An inversion in ''Anime/YuGiOh'' in the Waking the Dragons arc: [[spoiler:the secret of the three dragons is that they were actually knights transformed by Dartz in an attempt to weaken them. Yami Yugi transforms them back into knights in order to defeat Dartz]].
78[[/folder]]
79
80[[folder:Card Games]]
81* There's a ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' card for everything: [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=178016 Form of the Dragon]]. The card has found a home in at least one successful combo deck (Enduring Ideal) as a powerful finisher.
82** The ''Eventide'' set gave us [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=405388 Snakeform]], which has the (temporary) [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin obvious effect]] on the affected creature...which in the process [[ForcedTransformation loses all its special abilities for the duration and generally becomes much weaker as well.]] So you obviously shouldn't be using it on ''your'' creatures...
83** ''Dragon's Maze'' gave us [[https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=369061 Dragonshift]], and ''Modern Horizons'' gave us a card literally called [[https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=464128 Scale Up]]. These cards can turn one or all of your creatures into Dragons or Wurms respectively (Wurms, in Magic, basically being gigantic land serpents).
84* The ''TabletopGame/{{Munchkin}}'' Conan expansion has the monster modifier "...That Turns Into A Giant Snake." Rather amusingly, you can put it on a giant snake. The card specifically says it turns into a ''different'' giant snake.
85[[/folder]]
86
87[[folder:Comic Books]]
88* In the video for the game ''TabletopGame/DragonStrike'', as well as its tie-in Marvel comic, Teraptus turns into the giant dragon Darkfyre.
89* The Creator/MarvelComics ''Comicbook/FearItself'' crossover ended with the [[BigBad Serpent]], a humanoid Asgardian god whose name is more of a nickname/title due to his nature, abandoning his human form and all if its powers to turn into a giant snake that is easily sliced up by [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]] for no apparent reason.
90* Dragons in ''Comicbook/GoldDigger'' all have the ability to [[VoluntaryShapeshifting disguise themselves as humans,]] and several dragon characters have in fact been [[ModeLock Mode Locked]] in human form. Generally, the dragon population is divided on the opinion of whether a race of talking mammals like humans is adorable ("They're like little talking bunnies! I want to play at being a bunny too!") or disgusting ("They're like little talking rats!").
91* ''Comicbook/TheIncredibles'' comic arc, ''City of Incredibles'' has Shifty taking on the form of a dragon after having his shapeshifting powers enhanced by a superpower virus, only to be taken down by the family after they powered up on the same disease.
92* The Creator/MarvelComics character ComicBook/{{Moondragon}}, who despite her name was a human with psychic powers and {{Arrogant Kung Fu|Guy}}, turned into a literal dragon to save the day, and was "killed" (the whole {{Energy Being|s}} part) by Ultron, an evil robot that resembles a KnightInShiningArmor.
93* ''Comicbook/TheLastTemptation'' graphic novel by Creator/NeilGaiman and Music/AliceCooper (yes, you read that right) has The Showman turn into a giant snake at the end, but he doesn't actually attack the hero. He just messes with his head a bit, and scares him away. If this story is meant to tie into Cooper's song "Welcome To My Nightmare", (which many of his fans believe it is) then it was an entirely successful head-mess, because by then, Stephen is a SerialKiller.
94* ''ComicBook/LegendsOfBaldursGate'': As befits someone associated with the Cult of the Dragon, [[spoiler:Deniak]] turns into one. It's probably not quite what he was after -- he wanted draconic ''power'', not shape.
95* In ''[[ComicBook/TeenTitans New Teen Titans]]'' #5, they were mind-controlled. One guess which form Changeling took when developing a crush (their pun, not mine) on ComicBook/{{Zatanna}}'.
96* ''Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet'' comics:
97** In ''Comicbook/NightmaresOnElmStreet'', Freddy appears as a dragon to Alice in the [[Literature/AliceInWonderland Wonderland]] dreamscape. He carries the form to the climactic confrontation.
98** In ''Comicbook/NewLineCinemasTalesOfHorror'', Freddy turns into a giant snake, coils around his crazy fan and informs him that their supposed partnership could never work, as he won't be able to eat souls of those who weren't killed by him personally.
99* In the ''Comicbook/OmegaMen'' comic book, turning into a giant snake was Demonia's only real superpower. It did, however, make her quite tough in a fight. All things considered, it is unsurprising that Demonia turned out to be TheMole.
100* In "Pikappa", the reboot of ''ComicBook/PaperinikNewAdventures'', [[MadScientist Vendor]] developed a gas that transforms people into dinosaur-like creatures.
101* One of ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'''s longest-running foes is the Lizard, a kindly scientist who accidentally transformed himself into an evil lizard-like monster. How lizard-like and sapient he is tends to vary [[DependingOnTheWriter depending on writer]] and [[DependingOnTheArtist artist]], but he's always bad news - and sometimes he plans on turning others into lizards like himself. Spidey's also faced off with other, similar LizardFolk villains, including Iguana and Stegron.
102* In the ''ComicBook/{{Vampirella}}'' story "She who Waits" the Cobra Queen can transform into a giant cobra.
103* ''ComicBook/XMen'' villain Scaleface has the ability to transform into a dragon-like reptile creature.
104[[/folder]]
105
106[[folder:Fan Works]]
107* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' has both heroic and villainous examples. In the former case, Loki transforms into a giant serpent to hold a zombified Kraken still so Thor can get a clean shot in on it. In the latter case, in the sequel, Selene Gallio transforms into a black long wyrm (fire-breathing dragon with no wings), in an attempt to destroy her enemies, getting into a fight with Sue, Harry Dresden's zombie t-rex in the process -- Dresden and Wanda actually quote the ''EvilOverlordList'', with Wanda noting that Strange made her memorise it, and speculates that he might well have written it. It doesn't work, as [[spoiler:Wanda Maximoff drops Dresden on her back, he uses his staff as an improvised spear and lightning conductor into her brain]].
108* In ''FanFic/TheDarknessSeries'' Harry learns how to transform into a sea krait using [[TheDarkArts "parselmagic."]]
109* In the ''Fanfic/{{Eleutherophobia}}'' series, Tom's (the real Tom) preferred battle morph is a king cobra. He mainly uses it to inject venom into morph-capable opponents, giving them enough time to demorph before it kills them; the only person he's killed this way was [[DiesDifferentlyInAdaptation his Yeerk]], and he [[TheDogBitesBack deserved it]].
110* Protagonist example: This is how [[spoiler:[[Franchise/TheIncredibles Violet]], [[ShrinkingViolet of all people]]]] gains the power to stop the BigBad in ''Fanfic/RiseOfTheGaleforces''. A surprisingly interesting example in that [[spoiler:Ludlow was the one who gave Violet that power in the first place,]] attempting to turn her into his own personal {{Tykebomb}}. [[TheDragon Velociripper]] makes matters even worse (for the antagonists, anyway) when he gives Vi a dose of his [[DevolutionDevice devolution ray]], momentarily trapping her in her UsefulNotes/TyrannosaurusRex form. Needless to say, she immediately goes on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge, cripples Ripper in single combat, destroys most (if not all) of the villainous forces, and fights the BigBad's {{tank|sForNothing}}. [[CurbStompBattle Really!]]
111* [[spoiler:Count Logan once Dr. Beljar takes over]] in ''FanFic/TheEndOfEnds''.
112* The heroes and the villain both did in [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7546548/1/Danny_Phantom_Royal_Occupation Royal Occupation]] of the ''FanFic/FacingTheFutureSeries''.
113* In ''Fanfic/HarryIsADragonAndThatsOK'', the climax involves Voldemort taking a leaf out of Harry's book and making a flash-grown Hungarian Horntail into his newest body.
114* Harry Potter also does this in ''FanFic/OhGodNotAgain'', having become a snake Animagus before getting [[PeggySue sent back in time]]. He only uses this to capture Wormtail, though.
115* In the Madoka fanfic ''Seeing Clearly'', antagonist Anzu Anzai's witch form is a giant snake, and is named after the Egyptian snake god Apep.
116* In the ''Literature/WarriorCats'' MultipleAnimatorProject [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cwoup-e0lc "Serpent Sol"]], Sol transforms into a giant snake for his final confrontation with Squirrelflight and Feathertail.
117* ''FanFic/ThreeSlytherinMarauders'' has a ([[AntiHero anti]])-heroic example when [[spoiler:[[LiteralSplitPersonality Tom Riddle]]]] discovers his animagus form is of a great black dragon.
118* ''Fanfic/VowOfTheKing'': Tatsuki's powers let her transform into draconic form. As her powers grow, her size goes up as her transformation progresses further.
119* ''Fanfic/VoyagesOfTheWildSeaHorse:'' Lilith is a Sky-lander with a model of the [[{{Animorphism}} Snake-Snake Devil Fruit]] that lets her turn into a cobra. Her full cobra form is "merely" 160 centimeters long, which makes it as big as she is in her human form. ''Hybrid'' form, on the other, turns her into a [[GiantWoman 616 centimeter long]] [[SnakePeople snake woman]], which makes her roughly two meters bigger than [[SharkMan Miriam]], who was previously the biggest person aboard.
120* ActualPacifist Protagonist example: George in ''Fanfic/WithStringsAttached'' discovers he can become a red dragon at a very opportune moment about two-thirds of the way through the book. [[TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody Though it does make him think of his wife as... tasty.]]
121[[/folder]]
122
123[[folder:Film -- Animated]]
124* In Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'', [[BigBad Jafar]] transforms into a humongous snake after gaining sorcerer powers from the Genie, as pictured above. He actually has Aladdin and company on the ropes for quite a while until Al tricks him into trying to gain even more power by using his last wish to [[BecomingTheGenie become a Genie, and Jafar is sealed inside a new lamp]]. In hindsight, Jafar should have stuck to the reptile form.
125* Averted in ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheReturnOfJafar'', the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' games, and in some of the storybooks, however, where he is instead either fought as a human or immediately goes straight to becoming a genie. Played straight in the [[VideoGame/AladdinCapcom Super Nintendo]] and [[VideoGame/AladdinVirginGames Sega Genesis]] games, however, which both use his snake form as the FinalBoss and omit the second OneWingedAngel form of the Genie.
126* ''WesternAnimation/BartokTheMagnificent'': An unintentional example, where the villainous Ludmilla steals and drinks a magic potion under the belief it would make her ten times more beautiful. However, the potion actually makes people's appearance [[EvilMakesYouMonstrous ten times what they are on the inside]], she transforms into a giant ugly purple dragon.
127* In ''WesternAnimation/GIJoeTheMovie'', Cobra Commander, former leader of Cobra, is punished by his masters in Cobra-La for his repeated failures in conquering the world by being turned into a humanoid snake that eventually devolves into a full, but human-sized, snake, with limited speech capacity. This somewhat bites Golobulus and co. in the ass towards the end of the film, when a vengeful Cobra Commander attacks Serpentor, CC's usurper and Cobra-La's new favorite, just when the Cobra Emperor is about to finish off new hero Lt. Falcon.
128* Although ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'' does a good job at subverting the ReptilesAreAbhorrent trope, even going as far as to feature a benevolent snake as the pet of the BigGood, a happy-go-lucky alligator as one of the main protagonists and a pair of frogs as the central leads (not reptiles, but [[ColdBloodedWhatever close enough insofar as fiction tends to care]]), [[BigBad Dr. Facilier]]'s LivingShadow briefly turns into a snake during the "[[VillainSong Friends on the Other Side]]" scene. Since ''Princess'' is from the same directors as Aladdin, this may have been a nod to Jafar.
129* In ''Animation/TheReturnOfHanuman'', Rahu and Ketu's henchmen turn into their true forms; which are dragon-like creatures, in order to snatch Rahu and Ketu's snake staff from Maruti. They failed because Maruti tricked them and eventually their necks get twisted and tied up.
130* Maleficent from ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'' is notable for upping the stakes of the final confrontation by [[OneWingedAngel turning into an enormous black dragon]].
131---> "Now shall you deal with '''ME''', O Prince -- and all the powers of '''HELL!'''"
132* ''WesternAnimation/TheSwordInTheStone'': At the beginning of Merlin and Madam Mim's wizard's duel, Mim explicitly forbids turning into "make-believe things like, uh, oh, pink dragons and stuff." [[LoopholeAbuse She later breaks this rule on a technicality]] in an attempt to beat Merlin by claiming she didn't specify ''purple'' dragons, only to have Merlin go in exactly the opposite direction and turn into an infectious bacterium. He makes her sick, which pushes her to bed rest. She also turns into a crocodile and a rattlesnake earlier in the fight, and Merlin himself starts off by transforming into a turtle.
133* In ''WesternAnimation/BatmanVsTheTeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'', ComicBook/TheJoker mutates into a snake after being sprayed with Ooze.
134* ''WesternAnimation/{{Wizards}}'': The prologue has [[BigBad Blackwolf]] turning himself into a snake during his battle with his brother, [[TheHero Avatar]]. Avatar responds by turning himself into an eagle before banishing Blackwolf to Scortch.
135[[/folder]]
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137[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
138* ''Film/FortySevenRonin'': Mizuki, the witch who serves Lord Kira, is normally a [[AsianFoxSpirit Kitsune]], but in the final battle, she transforms into a dragon to fight Kai.
139%%* ''Film/{{Beetlejuice}}''. ''[[MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily The teeth]]''.
140* At first, Thulsa Doom of the first ''Film/{{Conan the Barbarian|1982}}'' movie seems to be doing this for no reason at all, but then subverts the expectations of the audience by fleeing through a hole in the wall made for a snake and getting to safety. (It's also in keeping with his character so far as he seems to have a thing for snakes: his religion worships them, he has a pet snake that Conan kills, he has ''[[TrickArrow snake arrows]]''... no, really.)
141* In ''Film/{{Dreamscape}}'', villain Tommy gets the bright idea of turning into a snake-like monster, quickly resulting in his decapitation. By the President of the United States, no less. And not a [[OurPresidentsAreDifferent President Action]], either, but an old, overweight, out-of-shape President Target who hits him from behind with a shovel.
142* ''Film/{{Enchanted}}'': Narissa pulls a Maleficent-crossed-with-''Film/KingKong'' when she turns into a dragon, [[JamesBondage kidnaps Robert]], and climbs a skyscraper during a thunderstorm. Bad idea. The result is impressive, though. Still a strange move, though, considering that being GenreSavvy was one of her more dangerous villainous traits until that point.
143* In ''Film/TheKidWhoWouldBeKing'', Morgana has a humanoid snake-dragon form she becomes to fight Alex and his knights.
144* The villainess in ''Film/TheLairOfTheWhiteWorm'' turns into a snake shortly before the good guys kill her.
145* In the climax of ''Film/{{Maleficent}}'', the titular fairy transforms [[NotHisSled her raven/servant Diaval]] into a dragon to do battle with King Stephan and his knights. After a brief tangle with some chains around the maw, he proceeds to wreak vengeance upon the throne room.
146* ''Film/MortalKombatAnnihilation'' infamously worked the Animalities from the third game into the plot, with Liu Kang transforming into a dragon to fight Shao Kahn, who likewise becomes a hydra. In a subversion, neither really benefits from the arrangement, with the encounter not even lasting two minutes before they revert to their mortal bodies to continue the fight.
147* In ''Film/TheMummyTombOfTheDragonEmperor'', the Emperor turns into a three-headed dragon, kidnapping Lin and managing to evade the heroes. He doesn't return to that shape, though. Later on, he shifts into a {{Kirin}} and was similarly unbeatable. In fact, it's safe to say that had he not been goaded into a fair fight, he'd have succeeded.
148* Freddy Krueger in ''Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet3DreamWarriors'' turned into a serpentine creature to swallow a dreaming teen whole. He managed to gulp down her legs when Nancy appeared to haul her back out of his mouth. This scene could be considered foreshadowing, as we later learn that he absorbs/eats the souls of his victims to grow stronger.
149* Sorceress Irendri in the ending of the fantasy film ''Film/OnceUponAWarrior'', befitting her as a snake-themed villain, have her turning into a green, snake-human hybrid monster, having snakes protruding from her hair, arms, and her lower body turning into multiple snake tails, which she use to brutally assault the heroes.
150* The titular prince in the ending of ''Film/TheSnakePrince'' reveals his true, OneWingedAngel form at the end of the film, having been exposed to sulphurous smoke -- as a giant snake monster. One of the rare non-villainous examples of this trope.
151* In the 1973 B-movie ''Film/{{Sssssss}}'', a MadScientist turns his lab assistants into king cobras.
152* In ''Film/YamatoTakeru'', the BigBad PhysicalGod Tsukuyomi turns into the [[{{Orochi}} Yamata no Orochi]] when he really feels like destroying.
153[[/folder]]
154
155[[folder:Literature]]
156* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'':
157** In the second-to-final book, ''The Answer'', Jake morphs an anaconda on the cover. [[spoiler:He uses it in the book to convince the Taxxons to turn on their Yeerk overlord and go [[ShapeshifterModeLock nothlit]], in order to escape their constant, mind-breaking hunger by turning into animals that only need a good meal once every few months]].
158** This also plays into the final book. Rachel has snuck aboard Tom's ship, hoping to defeat his rogue Yeerk army. She [[SuperMode transforms into a Grizzly Bear]] and he sends his minions after her after they have each changed into equally fearsome and tough creatures. Rachel has ''just'' enough of an opportunity during the battle to check on Tom as he hangs back and transforms -- into a king cobra. Rachel defeats several minions, but his small size and her poor vision makes it difficult for her to track him in the chaos. [[spoiler:He successfully bites and poisons her, but she (with help) impales him on her claws and then bites him in half. She demorphs, exhausted, and another minion, transformed into a polar bear, kills her with a single blow.]]
159** Series author Creator/KAApplegate seems to have a thing for giving snake morphs to SmugSnake characters. Marco (admittedly a hero, but his ego can sometimes get the better of him) and [[BastardUnderstudy Tom]] both have cobra morphs, while [[SixthRangerTraitor David]] acquires a rattlesnake for maximum heel factor in ''The Solution''. Ax meanwhile has a rattlesnake morph, but rarely uses it. The first time he does, it's for an assassination mission. [[TheHeart Cassie]] of all people has a pit viper morph, but she only uses it once and only to intimidate.
160* In ''Literature/TheBelgariad'', the kingdom of Nyissa is heavily snake-themed, with their patron god Issa having been a snake god (who's NotQuiteDead, but not particularly active), and their Queen Salmissra -- originally Issa's handmaiden, who he fell in love with, then, unfortunately, forgot to make immortal, meaning that when each dies (after their lifespan and youth is dragged out as long as possible via some very weird drugs), they're replaced by an IdenticalStranger. Since they're conditioned for the role from childhood, they tend to end up with broadly the same personality, enough that the immortal Polgara tends to treat them as all being the same person -- though as the prequels show, this isn't invariable, and some are quite different. The latest Salmissra, in the second book, decides to interfere with Garion, having him drugged and kidnapped since he is TheChosenOne, and she's got ambitions to have him as her consort and gain immortality that way. Polgara, [[MamaBear his many times great aunt and foster mother takes very poorly to this]] and decides to give Salmissra immortality by turning her into a giant snake. As it turns out, though, everyone from palace eunuchs to Salmissra herself is actually quite happy about this, as Nyissans love snakes and the lack of drugs means that she's much more rational and easy to manage.
161* ''Literature/BerenAndLuthien'': Sauron at one point becomes a snake in an effort to defeat Huan, the Hound of Valinor. It wasn't any more successful than any of the other forms he tried.
162* The novel ''[[Literature/{{Dragonlance}} Brothers in Arms]]'' inverts this trope: the DarkActionGirl Kitiara is trying to kill a dragon and her only chance to do so is when he is in his vulnerable ''human'' form, rather than in his nigh-invincible natural shape.
163* ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'':
164** The Lady of the Green Kirtle does this in ''Literature/TheSilverChair''. Lewis was definitely being symbolic in this case, but it's still a dumb move, especially when confronted by a [[LawfulStupidChaoticStupid Stupid Good]] hero who WouldntHitAGirl but has no problem cutting a giant serpent in half. The same villainess apparently used her serpent form to assassinate the queen of Narnia, some years previously and had pulled it off without a hitch, though.
165** In ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheDawnTreader'', Eustace, up to now a {{Jerkass}} protagonist, is turned into a dragon for being greedy (again, symbolic). It's a LiteralTransformativeExperience, since being an old-style gangly ugly dragon, having a metal ring digging painfully into his arm the entire time due to his increase in size, inability to communicate and finally understanding how much of TheLoad he is have [[CharacterDevelopment wonderful effects on Eustace's personality]].
166* In ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfPrydain'', when EvilOverlord Arawn, (based on the Celtic God of the Dead, who shares the name), master of terrible armies and incomprehensible BlackMagic is finally confronted face to face, he promptly turns into a serpent and dies within a paragraph or two, managing only to kill the slightly less evil queen before falling to everyone's favorite assistant pig keeper.
167** Justified as he was trying to get the hell out of his invaded castle.
168* In ''Literature/CurseOfTheWolfGirl'' the BigBad's [[TheDragon dragon]] really can turn into a dragon and manages to put up a good fight and has Malveria's army on the ropes. Of course, there remains the issue that the reason there are no true dragons left is because Malveria killed them all years ago, and [[CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass turned them into dragon-scale outfits]]. It ends about as well as can be expected when Malveria turns up to take charge personally.
169* In ''Literature/TheDeathGateCycle'', the ultimate evil beings are {{shape shift|ing}}ers that like to take the form of [[OurDragonsAreDifferent giant dragon-snakes]], probably meant to resemble wingless Chinese dragons with a more snakelike head. In a final confrontation with the heroes, one of them reverts into this shape, growing too large, and his head hits the roof of the room they're in, which is inscribed with death runes, thus killing him.
170** Somewhat justified by FridgeLogic, as the chamber the FinalBattle took place in was filled with magical energy that was anathema to the serpent -- he was likely dying by inches from the moment he entered it (which he only did out of desperation).
171** At the climax of the first book in the series, the EvilSorcerer antagonist pulls a more traditional version of this trope, turning himself into a giant snake, but he dies quickly because he'd already been fatally knifed in human form and the wound carried over.
172** A ''protagonist'' [[SuperMode turns into a dragon]] during TheSiege in the sixth book. He kicks a lot of ass (mostly off-screen, but considering what he's facing it's still badass). It's only a partial success because he ends up missing in action. The seventh book reveals why: [[spoiler:he was defeated and captured by a real dragon. How powerful is that? ''One person in the entire series has defeated one in battle]].
173* During a ShapeShifterShowdown in an early ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel, at one point the wizard transforms into a snake. Granny Weatherwax transforms herself into a ''snake charmer's basket'' as a counter.
174* In the ''Literature/DragonKnight'' series, James actively avoids turning into his dragon form during battle unless he needs to intimidate his enemies. While he ''is'' big and scary, he's also extremely vulnerable and unable to move as quickly or nimbly as a human foe.
175* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', Cassius's Denarian form is a snake-man. He manages to present a significant threat for a while, until [[spoiler:two very angry Knights of the Cross and a wizard corner him and he [[ISurrenderSuckers gives up his coin to avoid being killed]].]]
176** ... upon which said wizard [[spoiler:breaks Snakyboy's newly re-acquired kneecaps.]]
177* In ''Literature/DrFranklinsIsland'', [[{{Jerkass}} Arnie]] is turned into a [[MixAndMatchCritter creature that resembles a thick snake]] and is extremely fast and powerful, [[TailSlap striking with its tail]] and head to great destructive effect.
178* In the fourth ''Literature/{{Fablehaven}}'' book, [[spoiler:[[InvertedTrope inverted]] with [[TheMole Gavin]], Kendra's "boyfriend," turns back into his true self, the demonic dragon Navarog. He could have easily killed all the heroes then, but he decides to revert to his human form and capture Kendra, allowing the small fairylike dragon Raxtus to [[HalfTheManHeUsedToBe bite him in two]].]]
179* ''Literature/TheFindersStoneTrilogy'': The second book, ''The Wyvern's Spur'', has heroic and villainous examples of this. On the heroic side, anyone who possesses the titular spur (and [[OnlyTheChosenMayWield meets certain other criteria]]) can use it to transform themselves into an abnormally large, red-scaled wyvern. On the villainous side, the BigBad Flattery Wyvernspur can turn himself into a blue dragon using his magic. The climax of the novel is a HighAltitudeBattle between the two beasts.
180* During ''Literature/GalaxyOfFear'', the heroic shapeshifter Hoole has at least two snake forms, one for stealth and the other suitable for combat. Bad things happen more than once when he does, notably while on [[GhostPlanet Kiva]]. He once fights another shapeshifter, [[spoiler:his own clone]], and both take snake forms during their ShapeshifterShowdown. The battle is a draw and ultimately the deciding factor is another character going SpotTheImpostor.
181* Averted, [[spoiler:as well as inverted]], in the ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' series. In a world where wizards can, with hard work, learn to [[{{Animorphism}} transform into an animal]] that (arguably) fits their personality, Voldemort is: the last descendant of a man known for [[SpeaksFluentAnimal talking to snakes]], an [[InTheBlood inheritor of this ability]], member of a House whose symbol is a snake, commander of a giant serpent, owner of the pet snake Nagini, and wearer of a face repeatedly described as "snake-like". At no point does he turn into a snake. (Although events in [[spoiler:''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix Order of the Phoenix]]'']] may confuse one into thinking so.) However, in ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows Deathly Hallows]]'', [[spoiler:Nagini is at one point disguised as a human.]]
182* [[spoiler:Mister Monday]] transforms into a giant snake in the first book of the ''Literature/KeysToTheKingdom'' series, He ALMOST succeeds in killing Arthur, until Arthur [[spoiler:gets Suzy to write on him with her fingers and a bottle of ink, causing him to be attacked by hundreds of text-destroying, acid-spitting, Nithling-snakes.]]
183** Made creepier by having his face perfectly intact on top of the snake's head with the normal snake mouth beneath it.
184* Doing this is the villain's primary goal in Creator/OrsonScottCard's ''The Magic Box'', and a pretty well {{justified|Trope}} one too, given that dragons are ''extremely'' powerful in this book. [[spoiler:It almost works, but a minor character with a gun realized that [[TransformationIsAFreeAction transformation]] [[SubvertedTrope needn't be]] [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim a free action]].]]
185* The universe of Creator/StevenErikson and Ian Cameron Esslemont, best known from the ''Literature/MalazanBookOfTheFallen'' books, features the Soletaken, who can [[VoluntaryShapeshifting change ("veer") from humanoid to beast form]]. Some Soletaken veer into draconean forms, which is powerful, but also occasionally PlayedForLaughs or the RuleOfCool in order to underline the series's theme of ancient or powerful creatures being too long out of touch with the world and just as susceptible to a brick in the head as any mortal. Examples:
186** In book one, ''Literature/GardensOfTheMoon'', several [[DarkIsNotEvil Tiste Andii]] Soletaken veer into their draconic forms to better be able to confront [[SealedEvilInACan Raest]], [[GodEmperor the Jaghut Tyrant]]. [[spoiler:He chases them off.]]
187** Also in ''Literature/GardensOfTheMoon'', [[AntiVillain Anomander Rake]] veers into his draconean form before he attacks a Demon Lord that has been set free in the city of Darujhistan. He eventually sembles back into his Tiste Andii form because he'd rather not destroy half the city with his draconean bulk, though.
188** In book three, ''Literature/MemoriesOfIce'', Anomander Rake -- being on the [[CombatPragmatist pragmatic side of things ]] -- veers into a dragon in order to harry a bunch of enemy troops away rather than having to kill them.
189** In the fourth book, ''Literature/HouseOfChains'', the [[LightIsNotGood Tiste Liosan]] Osserc veers into a dragon in order to fly his son L'oric, who had come seeking him unbidden, out of the crumbling memory of the desert Raraku, since it's much easier for dragons to travel between realms and Osserc wants to get rid of L'oric again as soon as possible.
190** In the prologue of ''Literature/MidnightTides'', the fifth volume, Silchas Ruin, and Scabandari Bloodeye use their draconean form to better be able to attack the [[OminousFloatingCastle flying fortresses]] of the K'Chain Che'Malle, which they couldn't have reached otherwise.
191** In the seventh book, ''Literature/ReapersGale'', the mage Quick Ben uses the ability of the [[PhysicalGod demi-goddesses]] Menandore, Sheltatha Lore and Sukul Ankhadu to turn into dragons against them. Since all dragons, true or not, have a bad case of the ChronicBackstabbingDisorder, he waits until they all veer in order to attack him, then leads them into turning on each other.
192** Also in ''Literature/ReapersGale'', in a deliberate anticlimax, Silchas Ruin veers into a dragon in order to attack the city of Letheras because he feels like it, only to be driven off by a couple of soldiers with grenades who shout that [[PlayedForLaughs they'd had enough of dragons for the day]].
193* The Dragonlord Chronicles books from ''TabletopGame/{{Mystara}}'' feature Sir George Kirbey, a seemingly human knight who is actually a sort of small were-dragon called a drake. Further, it is eventually revealed that [[spoiler:the hero Teldin is a descendent of the [[PhysicalGod dragons' gods,]] and he becomes one himself.]]
194* Inverted in ''Literature/GoodOmens'': Crowley was originally known as Crawly, aka the snake that told Eve about the Fruit of Knowledge. In modern times, he takes on the appearance of a human male (with shades to hide his snake eyes and has a tendency to hiss) but never turns into a snake.
195* In ''Literature/TheOnceAndFutureKing'' Scaling Up is explicitly described as being the ordinary strategy of a wizards' duel:
196-->At the first gong Madam Mim immediately turned herself into a dragon. It was the accepted opening move...
197* The ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean: Jack Sparrow'' book, ''City of Gold'' concludes with voodoo witch Madame Minuet fusing with her two new allies into a three-headed serpent to try and take down the young pirate.
198* In Creator/RobinJarvis' ''[[Literature/DeptfordMice Thomas]]'', the villainous adepts of a [[ReligionOfEvil serpent cult]] known as the Scale have the ability to tear off their mammalian flesh and assume the forms of reptiles.
199* ''Literature/{{Underworlds}}'': Loki transforms into the eponymous Ice Dragon to battle the kids in ''The Ice Dragon''.
200* In ''Literature/TheWarOfEmbers'' a character is permanently turned into a dragon. Doubles as RuleOfCool and CursedWithAwesome as he also gains their magic but has to deal with the social and mental consequences of being a dragon.
201* Women in ''Literature/WhenWomenWereDragons'' can spontaneously transform into dragons when provoked. For example, a woman named Stella dragons out in response to a group of men harassing her, and an unnamed woman dragons after her husband slaps her. Another group of women dragon to take out a team of strike-breakers.
202* Played straight by a female Dark One at the conclusion of ''The Wizard of Sunset Strip''. Probably a tribute to ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'', as the battle in question takes place at a reconstructed Disneyland.
203* Lung of ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' slowly metamorphoses into a dragon as he fights.
204** Not surprising. Lung is Chinese for Dragon.
205[[/folder]]
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207[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
208* This was actually the end goal of the Mayor from Season 3 of ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', which he'd spent a '''century''' working towards and built all sort of elaborate machinations around. He promptly gets taken out, of all things, by [[IShallTauntYou Buffy exploiting his love for his pseudo-adopted daughter]]. Oh, and a stockpile of well placed explosive, while a bunch of high schoolers mostly armed with crossbows and such fight off his minions.
209** But hilarious-aside from his undeniably evil aspirations, he's been characterized as a [[AffablyEvil personable]], mildly absent-minded guy who [[GoshDangItToHeck doesn't like swears.]] His only comment on his seconds-nigh doom? "Well gosh!"
210* In ''Series/ChinesePaladin 3'', one of the heroines turns into a snake to get an extra edge in combat.
211* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
212** In the climax of [[Recap/DoctorWhoS19E3Kinda "Kinda"]], the Mara, a malevolent entity that possesses both Tegan and a member of the titular tribe, is revealed to be a giant snake after being exorcised by the Doctor and the rest of the tribespeople. The Mara reappears in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS20E2Snakedance "Snakedance"]], where its serpentine form is shown much more frequently.
213** The Master briefly turns into a gelatinous, cobra-like creature during [[Recap/DoctorWhoTVMTheTVMovie the TV movie]] after being seemingly reduced to ash by the Daleks, and slithers down Bruce's throat while he's asleep in order to possess him.
214* In the final battle of the ''[[Series/KamenRiderRyuki Ryuki]]'' arc of ''Series/KamenRiderDecade'', Decade uses the Final Form Ride to force Ryuki into changing into a leaner version of his own contract monster, Dragredder. Ryuki as Dragredder tears the enemy's shark contract monster to pieces before they use Ryuki's finisher, [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome with Decade taking Ryuki's part and Ryuki-as-Dragredder taking Dragredder's part]], to temporarily blow up the enemy himself. Naturally what makes it work in this instance is that the good guys did it.
215** Series/KamenRiderKiva had his own heroic example one year earlier -- [[SuperMode Emperor Form]]: Flight Style turns him into a winged dragon with an impressive BreathWeapon. There are two accounts of how he got it -- in the NonSerialMovie, it's forced on him by the villain, and he's unable to control it until he gets a cooldown-hug from Otoya. He reverts to normal until the villain uses his ''own'' OneWingedAngel form. In the actual series, it's just an extension of Emperor Form that he unlocks late in the series and has no problem controlling.
216* Very rare heroic example: in ''Series/{{Manimal}}'', to get his girlfriend [[WillTheyOrWontThey (?!?)]] out of a [[QuicksandSucks quicksand peril]]. The girl is a bit ophidiophobic, maybe a giraffe would have been a better idea...rats, not enough money for the FX. Played with in another episode: [[spoiler:the snake is actually real and the girl, who played Fearless Snakecharmer, promptly faints when Manimal comes to the scene.]]
217* ''Series/OnceUponATime'': As fitting with her original tale, Maleficent can turn into a dragon. [[spoiler:Her daughter]] has the ability, too, though she hasn't quite learned how to control it yet.
218* A variant occurs in the ''Series/RedDwarf'' episode "Polymorph" when a shapeshifting EmotionEater turns into a snake. It works because it wasn't for combat reasons, but to freak Lister out (as he is scared of snakes). It helps make him even more scared until the beast assumes its true form and drains him of his fear.
219* Inverted in ''Series/StargateSG1'': The Goa'uld are actually snakes that turn into humanoids (sort of).
220** More like [[PlayingWithATrope Double Subverted or just Played With]]. Physically, Goa'uld are foot-long, water-dwelling worms with big fangs on a round mouth and a fin or frill below their heads -- basically, snakes with SpikesOfVillainy. However, they are also {{Puppeteer Parasite}}s who take over the bodies of humans and other species. However, some Goa'uld ruled over humans as {{God Emperor}}s, most of whom used some kind of totem animal as an icon, and the BigBad for the first several seasons happened to use a snake as his icon. So there's a snake inside a human, whose {{Mooks}} are ordered to dress up as snakes...
221[[/folder]]
222
223[[folder:Music & Music Videos]]
224* In Music/TheMechanisms' concept album "The Bifrost Incident", Odin turns into Jormungandr, the World Serpent, after being fully corrupted by [[EldritchAbomination the Old Gods]].
225* In the Music/RobbieWilliams music video "Radio", Robbie becomes something like this at the very end.
226[[/folder]]
227
228[[folder:Myths & Religion]]
229* Myth/ClassicalMythology: The river god Achelous turns into a serpent to fight Hercules for the hand of a princess called Deianeira. He loses, and in one version Hercules rips off one of his horns, which was used by the nymphs to make the Horn of Plenty.
230* Myth/ChineseMythology: "Literature/TheWhiteSnake" tale has Madame White Snake forcibly morphed into her original form when she is captured by the monk Fa Hai.
231[[/folder]]
232
233[[folder:Podcasts]]
234* Wyvern from ''The Chimera Program'' arc of ''Podcast/CoolKidsTable'', as per her codename, can become an enormous draconic creature. She doesn't manifest fire or wings at this stage, however.
235[[/folder]]
236
237[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
238* Chuubo, the titular character of ''TabletopGame/ChuubosMarvelousWishGrantingEngine'', has the ability to turn into a giant 108-meter snake at will. The name of that power? "It Probably Wouldn't Help." Sure enough, there is an actual law of physics in that game (backed by the rules) which states that turning into a snake cannot help you.
239* In the 4th edition of ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' a druid can take the Paragon path of the coiled serpent, where you have the ability to scale up. what you do with this ability and whether you die or not is at the player's (or more realistically, the DM's) discretion.
240** Inverted by an NPC from the ''Carnival'' TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}} supplement, a snake familiar who had a HeelFaceTurn and abandoned her evil master after he turned her into an elf.
241** Also, many types of D&D dragons are depicted as being able to [[VoluntaryShapeshifting shapeshift]] into human form. Some even fall in love with humans.
242** Many yuan-ti can also transform into full-on snakes -- though their normal forms are ''already'' [[SnakePeople a mixture of serpentine and human features]], looking progressively snakier as you go up through the FantasticCasteSystem (in an inversion of the BishonenLine).
243** ''TabletopGame/{{Mystara}}'' has a race of small dragon-like creatures called drakes who can become human at will.
244** Back in 3.5, the spell Dragonshape lets you instantly turn into an adult red dragon. There's also the variant spells Least and Lesser Dragonshape, which turns you into a [[ShoulderSizedDragon pseudodragon]] and a young red dragon, respectively.
245** The 5th edition has the ninth level spell True Polymorph, which, among other things, allows its user to transform any creature into another creature of equal or lower level or challenge rating. Coincidentally (?), two creatures of challenge rating 20 are the Ancient Brass Dragon and the Ancient White Dragon. So it's perfectly possible to see a high-level wizard or warlock turn into a giant dragon in a pinch.
246** A slightly less impressive result may be attained at lower level with the '''regular''' Polymorph spell, which only allows transformation into beasts as opposed to any creature. Coincidentally (?), the highest challenge rating beast one can transform into just so happens to be none other than '''Tyrannosaurus rex'''. (Which may or may not count as Scaling Up, given that it is now known T. rex was feathery instead, although common public perception of it remains as a reptilian creature.)
247* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'': The [[OneWingedAngel real form]] of the Unconquered Sun (the de-facto and [[CelestialBureaucracy de-jure]] BigGood of the settings) is a gigantic golden dragon with tons of HP and an attack that does [[WaveMotionGun unlimited points of damage]].
248* Parodied in ''TabletopGame/{{Munchkin}}'' with a monster modifier card "...That Turns Into a Giant Snake." Even monsters that would logically be ''more'' powerful in their original forms, like a Plutonium Dragon or ''Cthulhu itself'', gain an advantage by scaling up.
249* ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}''
250** 1st edition includes a versatile spell, Form of the Dragon, with three variations for Medium, Large, and Huge dragons, and the user choosing which dragon to turn into. [[InTheBlood Draconic]] [[HeroicLineage sorcerers]] get access to all three versions as bloodline spells. 2nd edition instead has the Arcane and Primal spell Dragon Form, which turns you into a Large dragon, and has a heightened version for Huge dragons, which Draconic sorcerers again receive as a bloodline spell.
251** Characters with the Dragon Disciple prestige class -- which generally, but not always, requires being a draconic-blooded sorcerer or bloodrager to start with -- slowly transform into dragons as they level up.
252** In 1st edition the Dinosaur druid archetype could use their Wild Shape ability to change into a dinosaur. 2nd edition has the Dinosaur Form Primal spell.
253* In ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'' the Followers of Set, one of the 13 main clans, have an entire set of powers related to becoming a snake, called Serpentis. The 1st power lets you immobilize someone with your gaze, the 2nd grows a razor-sharp tongue to use as a weapon, the 3rd gives you armored scales, and the 4th turns you into a giant cobra.
254** The Tzimisce have as one of their final and most powerful abilities of their powerset, The Last Dracul, the ability to transform themselves into dragons, winged and fire-breathing and all.
255* ''TabletopGame/WerewolfTheApocalypse'' has a double-helping of this trope: the 1st Edition Players Guide introduced us to the Mokole, a race of were-saurians whose relationship to the sun is similar to the wolves' relationship to the moon, while the 2nd Edition Players Guide introduced the Nagah, a predominantly Asian and Middle-Eastern race of were-snakes who functioned primarily as assassins.
256[[/folder]]
257
258[[folder:Theater]]
259* Happens twice in ''Theatre/DerRingDesNibelungen'', to the same {{Leitmotif}}. In ''Das Rheingold'', when Alberich is demonstrating the shapeshifting powers of the Tarnhelm, he first transforms into a dragon, and Loge pretends to be frightened. (Wagner's actual word, Riesenwurm, literally means "giant worm.") In ''Siegfried'', Fafner has already transformed himself from a giant into a dragon. Since he has the ArtifactOfDoom, his fate is sealed.
260[[/folder]]
261
262[[folder:Toys]]
263* From various ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'' works:
264** The (already enlarged) Fenrakk spider is transformed into the Kardas dragon after the Toa Inika made him and his rider Vezon fall into magma. As a subversion, this was an involuntary transformation on their part -- it was the work of the [[SentientPhlebotinum Mask of Life]], which tried to protect itself by upgrading its guardians. The Toa realize that if they kept on defeating it, it would only come back more powerful, so they [[TimeStandsStill freeze the dragon and Vezon in time]] with special ammo and then take the Mask from them easily.
265** Makuta Miserix had a fondness for reptiles, so he [[{{Animorphism}} turned]] into one whenever a battle broke out.
266** Inverted with Krahka: she tended to turn into a smaller snake to sneak away or avoid detection.
267[[/folder]]
268
269[[folder:Video Games]]
270* The FinalBoss of every ''Franchise/{{Aladdin}}'' LicensedGame has Jafar transform into his giant snake form from the movie, including ''VideoGame/AladdinVirginGames'' (where the snake really is his final form) and ''VideoGame/AladdinCapcom'' (Where the snake is so big that his body makes up the entire ground you fight him on).
271* Edgar Oinkie from ''VideoGame/AnarchyReigns'' invented a SuperSerum he calls "the Juice" that can temporarily give him the bulk, scales, and claws of the settings Mutants.
272* One of the minor villains in ''VideoGame/ArcanumOfSteamworksAndMagickObscura'' is Kraka-Tur, a human who, tired of being bullied for his weakness, killed Arcanum's last dragon by feeding him poison and used his blood in a magic ritual which turned him into a dragon, a crime for which he was banished. While the transformation gives him impressive strength and fighting prowess, he still has the personality of a coward.
273* Blackhorn from the NES version of ''VideoGame/{{Astyanax}}'' transforms into a dragon upon his first defeat at the top of his tower, and is quite a bit harder to defeat.
274* Draconis and Abazigal from ''VideoGame/BaldursGateIIThroneOfBhaal'' revert to their [[OneWingedAngel true forms]] -- adult dragons -- upon being whacked sufficiently while in human form. While you still kill them, the 'partial success' part is because Draconis' dragon form is a challenge (or at least a ''bloody'' annoyance) and is widely considered to be an actually difficult boss. Abazigal, however... Isn't.
275* DarkIsNotEvil heroic example from the titular character from ''VideoGame/Bayonetta2'' when she obtains the ability to [[{{Animorphism}} transform into a giant snake]] in order to swim quickly underwater, aptly named Snake Within. Her mother, [[SecretCharacter Rosa]], also gains a similar ability called Cobra Within.
276* ''Franchise/BreathOfFire'':
277** This is the main character's signature ability. He usually starts out as a human from a LostTribe with the power to transform into dragons, and throughout the game, he gradually acquires bigger and more powerful dragon forms to use. In [[VideoGame/BreathOfFireDragonQuarter the fifth game]], he only has a single transformation and has to avoid overusing it.
278** Major antagonists in the series usually have a similar power: Emperor Zod in the first game, Teepo in the third, and Fou-lu in the fourth all fight the party in their dragon forms, the last [[SequentialBoss more than once]]. The situation in the fifth installment is more complicated, but the technical final boss and the {{Superboss}} are still both dragons.
279* ''VideoGame/DragaliaLost'' gives anybody who possesses the ability of "dragonblood" the ability to shapeshift into a dragon they've created a pactstone with. Most notably, all of the royal Alberian family has this ability, though there are a few exceptions, such as the twelve Wyrmclan leaders of Hinomoto (incidentally, they call pactstones "soulpacts" over there.) [[GameplayAndStorySegregation In-game, however,]] any playable character can shapeshift as long as they have a dragon equipped, forming the game's main "gimmick."
280* ''Franchise/DragonAge'':
281** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', [[spoiler:Flemeth]] turns into a dragon and is one of the hardest fights in the game.
282** She does it again in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', although this time she helps the player.
283** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', [[spoiler:Morrigan]] can potentially turn into a dragon at the climax [[spoiler:if she drank from the Well of Sorrows]].
284* ''Franchise/DragonQuest'':
285** The Dragonlord in ''VideoGame/DragonQuestI'' turns into a bipedal, black-winged, violet dragon after defeating his normal human form. It only partially works for him because unless you've procured [[AncestralWeapon Loto's/Erdrick's Sword]], [[CherryTapping your attacks will only do scratch damage to him]], making the fight [[MarathonBoss take a while]]. It's still quite possible to defeat him with the Flame Sword, and possible in theory with the weaker buyable weapons.
286** In later games, the Be Dragon spell, or Puff as it is now known, appears a handful of times. It allows the user to transform into a fire-breathing dragon for a few turns. ''Very'' effective, especially in ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIII'' where it was introduced; in that game, it's the only reliable way to kill multiple [[MetalSlime Liquid Metal Slimes]] in a single battle.
287** The Lord of the Dragovians from ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII'' also transforms into a large, ferocious dragon.
288* The top-tier transmutation spell in ''VideoGame/DungeonCrawl'' is Dragon Form which [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin turns the player into a dragon]]. Whether or not it ''helps'' depends on the player's skill. On the one hand, the player is rendered vulnerable to cold and loses the benefits of any magical items other than rings. But the player is also a dragon, and, capable of breathing fire on enemies and, with sufficient skill in unarmed combat, tearing even ''other dragons'' to shreds in hand-to-claw combat.
289* In ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994'', the dragonite item turns one character into a dragon and damages every enemy for a ton of damage.
290* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'':
291** The Ka Po' Tun, an [[{{Wutai}} Akaviri]] race of "[[CatFolk tiger folk]]", hold dragons in high reverence. Their ultimate goal is to ''become'' dragons, with their leader, Tosh Raka, being the first and (so far) only one known to succeed. He now rules them as a GodEmperor and, once their ArchEnemy [[SnakePeople Tsaesci]] are eliminated, he intends to invade Tamriel. (The continent where all of the games to date in the series have taken place.) ''Maybe'' -- the only source for this is the book ''Mysterious Akavir'', which both reads as unreliable and by the time of ''Skyrim'' is over two hundred years old with no sign of a Tosh Raka-led invasion.
292** This trope plays into why the [[LizardFolk Argonians]] subject to FantasticRacism by the other races.
293** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollSIVOblivion Oblivion]]'', [[spoiler:Martin]] pulls a ''heroic'' version of this at the end of the main quest, becoming[[note]]it's possible he also ''summoned'' the avatar, but in such a way that his own body was destroyed[[/note]] the avatar of Akatosh, the draconic [[TopGod Chief Deity]] of the [[SaintlyChurch Nine Divines]] pantheon, in order to defeat the [[OurGodsAreDifferent Daedric Prince]] [[OmnicidalManiac Mehrunes]] [[BigBad Dagon]]
294** ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'' contains plenty of ''actual'' dragons, but the only thing that comes close to this trope downplays it. Dragon Aspect is a Shout that -- true to form -- is the SignatureMove of [[EvilCounterpart Miraak]], the BigBad of the ''Dragonborn'' expansion, and [[PlayerCharacter The Last Dragonborn]] can learn it as well. While the user does not literally become a dragon, an ethereal outline of dragon scales and horns does surround them and they gain dragon-like features -- a tough hide that boosts armor, a boost to physical strength that empowers melee attacks, higher resistance to fire and frost elemental damage and more powerful Shouts with a shorter cooldown.
295* ''VideoGame/EyeOfTheBeholder 2'' has [[BigBad Dran Draggore]] turn out to be a Dragon. Of course, the dragon is still vulnerable to the attack+ side-step maneuver.
296* In ''VideoGame/{{Faria}}'', after the BigBad's first form is defeated, he uses the powers of the King's scrolls to transfer his soul into a dragon.
297* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2'', the BigBad Caius Ballad has the ability to become his [[SummonMagic Eidolon]] [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Bahamut]], a process that is normally fatal but doesn't bother him at all because he is [[CompleteImmortality immortal]]. As the FinalBoss he becomes a different more powerful dragon and summons two more to aid him for good measure.
298* The Manaketes in ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' provide both heroic and villainous examples of this in the dragon variety, and are a force to be reckoned with for those not fortunate enough to have a dragon-slaying weapon on hand. They're not so much ''becoming'' dragons as they are ''reverting'' back into dragons, though, having been forced to take human forms to avoid losing their minds.
299* ''VideoGame/GargoylesQuest'': In ''Demon's Crest'', Phalanx uses the Crest of Heaven to transform into a giant demonic naga if you complete enough levels to make the game its longest.
300* ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'':
301** In [[VideoGame/GoldenSun1 the first game]], after being thrashed sufficiently by Isaac's team, antagonists Saturos and Menardi transform [[spoiler:into a single two-headed dragon. While the Fusion Dragon is a more powerful boss than either opponent separately]], team Isaac still wins.
302** In ''VideoGame/GoldenSunTheLostAge'', the final boss is actually [[spoiler:another fused dragon comprised of three of the heroes' parents]].
303** The Flame Dragons in ''The Lost Age'' were [[spoiler:[[ForcedTransformation transformed]] Agatio and Karst, as the Wise One wanted to keep them from being the ones to restore Alchemy. The Wise One was successful. [[AlasPoorVillain Agatio and Karst were not]]]].
304** In all these cases, the dragon shape really ''is'' far more powerful (especially in the case of the [[ThatOneBoss Doom Dragon]]), but results in a ''nasty'' case of VillainousRROD when it wears off. A line of Saturos's before his transformation suggests he knew about this [[spoiler:which would explain why he and Menardi were DrivenToSuicide after their defeat as the Fusion Dragon]]. In ''The Lost Age'', everyone who transformed was explicitly stated afterward to be too weak to withstand Mars Lighthouse's environmental hazards, [[spoiler:which is how Agatio and Karst died. The heroes' parents were saved by DeusExMachina]].
305* In ''VideoGame/GuitarHero: Warriors of Rock'', this is Casey Lynch's powered-up form.
306%%* ''VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic'': Mutare, the protagonist of the ''Heroes of Might and Magic III: Armageddon's Blade'' Dragon Blood campaign.
307* ''VideoGame/HeroesOfMightAndMagic III'': This turns out to be the Nighon Overlord Mutare's goal in her campaign in ''Armageddon's Blade'', which she succeeds at in the second-to-last mission. She turns up again in ''Heroes Chronicles'', leading an army of dragons to conquer more lands after establishing dominance over Nighon. For this trope, it was unusually successful -- it ''did'' lead to success for quite a while after her transformation, it just eventually led her to being too greedy and ambitious and overreaching.
308* In the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' series, Maleficent sometimes turns into a dragon at times of danger. She'd tried it [[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep ten years earlier]] against an ActionGirl with the same type of weapon, as well as [[WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty Prince Phillip]] himself. The result? She survives. Barely.
309* ''VideoGame/KingsQuestVAbsenceMakesTheHeartGoYonder''. The showdown with Mordack involves him shapeshifting into various forms, which Graham must counter with some spells he learned very conveniently about five minutes earlier. One of which is a dragon (defeated by turning into a rabbit, too nimble for the dragon to hit). Straight after, it's a snake (obviously countered by a mongoose).
310* In ''VideoGame/KlonoaDoorToPhantomile'', during Joka's boss battle, he frequently transforms into a creature resembling a cross between a turtle and a lizard. What's worse is that Joka's clownish appearance carries over to his reptilian form, making it a literal MonsterClown.
311* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
312** Onox, the main villain of ''{{VideoGame/The Legend of Zelda Oracle|Games}} of Seasons'', turns into a dragon in the final battle.
313** ''VideoGame/HyruleWarriors'' has Volga, a knight who borrows many elements from dragons, including turning into one.
314** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTearsOfTheKingdom'': [[spoiler:In the final battle, Ganondorf swallows Queen Sonia's stone to transform into the [[AlmightyIdiot mindless]], serpentine [[DragonsAreDemonic Demon Dragon]]. ''Tears of the Kingdom'' also has a heroic example in Princess Zelda herself, who underwent a similar process after being sent 10,000 years in the past in order to take TheSlowPath back to Link. The result is Link riding atop Zelda as a PowerUpMount, taking her high into the air so he can land on the Demon Dragon's body and AttackItsWeakPoint.]]
315* The big bad from ''VideoGame/LordOfMagnaMaidenHeaven'' transforms into this for the final battle. While he loses his incredibly accurate instant death attack, he becomes such a massive DamageSponge that it can take ''hours'' to beat him. He also gains an attack that's able to wipe out any party member that isn't the Stone Wall caught in its radius, so he doesn't lose much by changing.
316* ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce'': LovableAlphaBitch Luna turns into Queen Ophiuca when she [[DealWithTheDevil accepts the FMian Ophiuchus' offer]] and allows herself to be possessed. The possession turns her into a [[SnakePeople lamia]]-esque being, complete with a snake-like tail.
317* ''Franchise/MortalKombat'':
318** One of Liu Kang's finishers is to turn into a dragon and bite the opponent in two.
319** Likewise, Shang Tsung's animality from ''VideoGame/MortalKombat3'' had him turn into a glowing green giant cobra that swallowed the victim whole.
320* In ''VideoGame/MystariaTheRealmsOfLore'', one character, Ashe, can change into a dragon at will. While he doesn't have quite the variety of abilities as a dragon as he does while human, he's so ridiculously powerful as a dragon that there's almost literally no reason not to be a dragon at all times.
321* In the [=PS1=] StrategyRPG ''VideoGame/SaiyukiTheJourneyWest'', one of the characters is a dragon princess who can transform into her true form in combat. One of the other playable characters can turn into a monstrous turtle in the same way. (And if fish scales count, yet another of the playable characters transforms into a fish monster) On the villain's side, there's a dragon queen and a snake man, who you fight in both forms in separate battles.
322* ''VideoGame/SimonTheSorcerer''. At one point, you partake in a [[WizardDuel "wizard's duel"]] (read: magical rock-paper-scissors) with a witch. Upon winning three rounds, the witch transforms into a dragon (breaking the rule she set at the start). This is completely ineffective, of course -- you just transform into a mouse and escape through the small mouse hole in the wall.
323* ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'':
324** In his [[OneWingedAngel final form]], Chaos, the BigBad of ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', becomes a large, serpentine, dragon-like beast.
325** ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'' has [[RobotMe Metal Sonic]], having spent the entire game masquerading as Eggman so he could [[PowerCopying copy the powers of the heroes]] along with that of Froggy and a Chao [[ChekhovsGun who both contain parts of the DNA of Chaos from]] ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', use the combined data to reconfigure himself into a massive mechanical dragon called [[OneWingedAngel Metal Overlord]].
326** ''VideoGame/SonicSuperstars'' has [[spoiler:a heroic example with Trip, a sungazer, becoming a dragon in her SuperMode.]]
327* The Wyrmic class in ''VideoGame/TalesOfMajEyal'' have skills that allow them to transform into several different kinds of dragon, including elemental, DracoLich (Undead Dragon), and DraconicAbomination (Scourge Dragon) types.
328* The MacGuffin in ''VideoGame/TombRaiderII'' was a magical dagger that would turn those who stabbed themselves through the heart with it into a dragon. Having said dagger removed would kill them. In the intro, the ancient emperor who originally owned the dagger is killed when he gets too close to a wounded monk, while the BigBad of the game is killed when Lara shoots him a bunch of times, then pulls out the dagger.
329* In a heroic version, Aelia of ''VideoGame/ValkyrieProfile'' turns into a dragon briefly during her FinishingMove to fire a giant beam at enemies. It only partially works because it's a bit weaker than most anyone else's finishing move, and is even less useful when you consider the one hit does little to help the {{Combos}}.
330* ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'': The FinalBoss first fights you in his human form, which is a tricky fight because his attacks are fast and unpredictable and can hit very hard. Then he turns into a giant snake, which is generally easier because its attacks are much slower and easier to avoid. Then he turns into an even bigger dragon and [[FloatingInABubble traps all your partners in bubbles]].
331[[/folder]]
332
333[[folder:Visual Novels]]
334* Avaritia, the leader of the Black Knights in ''VisualNovel/ElevenEyes'', stays on the sidelines for most of the story. Come the final fight, he transforms into a gigantic black dragon. Kukuri and Shiori face him down, and, though it takes a hell of a lot of power from Shiori, they just barely end up victorious.
335[[/folder]]
336
337[[folder:Webcomics]]
338* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'': When [[EldritchAbomination cherubs]] [[BizarreAlienReproduction mate]], they each grow into a serpentine form that is ''one astronomical unit'' (149,597,871 km, the distance between the Sun and Earth) in length. Then, in great [[TheMasochismTango hatred]], they wage an epic battle around a black hole, and they conclude this battle with a position shaped like AURYN from ''Film/TheNeverendingStory''. It is implied, then, that this form is at least incorporated into Lord English's OneWingedAngel.
339* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': Vaarsuvius at one point [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0638.html turns into a dragon]]... [[spoiler:while inside another dragon.]]
340* ''Webcomic/ScaledUp'' (not the trope namer):
341** Adrien, one of the main characters, often turns into a dinosaur against his will.
342** This happens to Patricia too in the 4th part of the Pilot comic thanks to User Override being turned on when she and Adrien time travel.
343* ''Webcomic/SlightlyDamned'': [[spoiler:Moonshade transforms into a giant cobra with [[DishingOutDirt earth powers]] (which he [[VictorGainsLosersPowers acquired]] by killing his [[DivineParentage ancestor]] [[PhysicalGod Moku the Snake]]) to kill the guardians Melli the fire bee and Meeros the mortori bird and unlike most villainous versions he succeeds, slaying Melli and seemingly driving away Meeros.]]
344[[/folder]]
345
346[[folder:Web Originals]]
347* In Chapter 33 of ''Literature/BusterGirls'' we're introduced to [[spoiler:Saya's Heartless form, Saydra, a giant multi-bodied hydra.]]
348* As the quote at the top of the page indicates, the EvilOverlordList advises against this.
349* ''WebAnimation/GamingAllStars'': Reptilian transformations featured in this series include the dragon-like [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/SonicHeroes Metal Overlord]]]] in ''The Ultimate Crossover'' and ''Remastered'', and [[VideoGame/MediEvilResurrection Zarok’s serpent phase]] in ''2''.
350[[/folder]]
351
352[[folder:Western Animation]]
353* The ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'' episode "[[Recap/BatmanBeyondS2E3Splicers Splicers]]" has the villains mix animal DNA with their own. While the lead villain uses DNA from several different animals, he winds up as basically an eight-foot-tall snake [[spoiler:(at least until Terry overloads him with injectors and he [[OneWingedAngel turns into a monster]])]]. He puts up a fairly decent fight against Batman (certainly better than he would have as a human), but still loses in the end.
354* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'', Morgan [=LaFey=] turns into a dragon with obvious results.
355* The classic ''WesternAnimation/BettyBoop'' cartoon "Snow White" ends with the Evil Queen turning into a dragon after her magic mirror blows up, and promptly being taken down by Betty, Koko the Clown and Bimbo the Dog. Considering that the highlight of the cartoon involves Koko being turned into a ghost-like creature singing "St. James Infirmary Blues" with the voice of Cab Calloway, this can be seen as the least bizarre moment in this cartoon.
356* In ''WesternAnimation/BigMouth'' and its spinoff ''WesternAnimation/HumanResources2022'', Love Bugs transform into "Hate Worms" when [[ThePowerOfHate fueled by their clients' hate or their own hate]]. While some Hate Worms just look like worms, if they consume enough hate, they can grow into massive destructive snakes.
357* In the series finale of ''WesternAnimation/CodenameKidsNextDoor'', Father transforms into a giant, black dragon. Still gets knocked into a pit, but unlike most examples, doesn't die.
358* Rare good guy example; the BadFuture episode of ''WesternAnimation/ConanTheAdventurer'' has Jesmine do this to try and hold off Set, having earlier in this timeline been forcibly transformed into a serpentwoman. As she does so, she screams about how Set will "never touch her again".
359* ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'': While the second episode that showed a dragon (transformable via a [[ClothesMakeTheManiac magic pendent]]) played this trope straight, the second, more evil one, was much, much harder for the hero to defeat. In fact, his abused little sister was the one who ended it, but not before he created some serious damage.
360* In the ''WesternAnimation/DarkwingDuck'' episode "Jurassic Jumble", when the villain uses a [[DevolutionDevice ray gun]] that de-evolves anthropomorphic ducks into dinosaurs, the main character gets turned into a Franchise/{{Godzilla}}-like dinosaur.
361* The ''WesternAnimation/DefendersOfTheEarth'' episode "Dracula's Potion" also contains a rare example of one of the heroes turning into a snake, albeit involuntarily. The titular potion transforms most of the Defenders into the animals which best reflect their personalities; in Mandrake's case, the animal in question is a cobra.
362* ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'': One of the very few examples where it's a good character doing this. When Dee Dee was a baby she gave birth to an imaginary world called Koosland, with Peepers as her first creation, a cynical rabbit like creature who gave away so much happiness in the land that he left none for himself. One day, an evil animesque alien kidnapped him to use as an energy source. In the end, foiled by the efforts of Dexter and Dee Dee's other imaginary friend, Koosy, the alien warlord meets his demise by being stomped by Peepers, who mutated himself in a flesh-colored, evil-looking dragon.
363* ''WesternAnimation/DinoSquad'' is about a group of [[RecruitTeenagersWithAttitude Teenagers With Attitude]] who can turn into dinosaurs, fighting a dinosaur who can turn into a man, who wants to turn every creature on Earth into a dinosaur.
364* On one of ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' [[WesternAnimation/OhYeahCartoons pilot shorts]], Vicky gets turned into a dragon at the end. In this case, it wasn't intentional on Vicky's part, but because Cosmo and Wanda lose control of their magic.
365* In ''[[WesternAnimation/HerculesTheAnimatedSeries Hercules: The Animated Series]]'', Hercules and Adonis visits Nereus, an elderly, grouchy shape-shifter able to turn into various creatures. While attacking Hercules, Nereus transforms into a gorilla, serpent, and giant spider.
366* ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'': In "Scotsman Saves Jack", the burly Scotsman tries to help an amnesiac Jack by retrieving his lost memories from a trio of sirens who hypnotize unlucky travelers. In the final battle, they combine into a fiery, three headed snake like creature and almost defeat the Scotsman before Jack finally remembers who he is and beheads (threeheads) the creature.
367* The EvilutionaryBiologist Grimsby Roylott turns himself into a giant snake-creature in order to slip into buildings [[AirVentPassageway through the air vents]] in the ''WesternAnimation/SherlockHolmesInTheTwentySecondCentury'' episode "Scales of Justice" (Holmes aficionados will recognize this plot as being just barely SuggestedBy "The Adventure of the Speckled Band"). It also helps in his fight with Holmes, but not as much as he'd hoped.
368* In ''[[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003 TMNT: The Lost Episodes]]'', the True Shredder, a human merged with a demon, has the ability to manifest his spirit avatar, which takes the form of a hideous dragon. In the {{backstory}} regarding him, the Ninja Tribunal also transformed into dragons to do battle with and defeat him. In the climax of his battle with the Turtles, the Shredder once again transforms into a dragon, to which the Turtles, having trained under the Tribunal, ''[[HistoryRepeats also]]'' [[HistoryRepeats manage to manifest their avatars, which are dragons]].
369* In ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012'', [[spoiler:Karai]] winds up mutating into a serpentwoman during season 2. This is an unintentional case, as she fell into a vat filled with mutagen meant for the ''Turtles'', as the Foot Clan was going to forcibly turn them into vipers in a plot to kill their master Splinter. For added irony, [[spoiler:Karai was starting to transition from villain to AntiHero at that point]].
370* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'':
371** Malchior, though he didn't so much transform into a dragon as he was transformed back to his real form. It still doesn't help him much (technically he was handing the entire Titan team [[CurbStompBattle their asses]], but it slipped his mind that Raven, the one who unsealed him in the first place due to his manipulations, knew both the spell to put him away again and had the will to do it until she already brought the sealing book up).
372** Done again when Beast Boy gets an EvilTwin. It transforms into a cobra, just to show it's evil by using a form Beast Boy never would.
373** Of course, Beast Boy himself is also a heroic example: he ScaledUp into a pteranodon, tyrannosaur, or a ''Jurassic Park''-style velociraptor on occasion. One time he even ScaledUp into a T-Rex to fight his ScaledUp EvilTwin, [[Film/JurassicPark3 who turned into a spinosaur]].
374* In ''WesternAnimation/TenkoAndTheGuardiansOfTheMagic'', Jana and Jason combine their starfire crystals to turn into a two-headed dragon.
375* ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'':
376** The Golden One transforms into a dragon and back in ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'' episode "Madman's Paradise".
377** Transmetal II/Megatron in ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' and ''WesternAnimation/BeastMachines''. Considering all the bad guys who this doesn't work for, it seems ironic that he grows to hate his Scaled Up form despite it being responsible for his success.
378* In ''WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}}'', [[TheDragon Cedric]]'s snake-man form is initially very effective; however, as the heroines become increasingly proficient in using their powers (and in battle in general) [[VillainForgotToLevelGrind he's increasingly left in the dust]].
379* Chase Young from ''WesternAnimation/XiaolinShowdown'' often turns into an anthromorphic lizard when the going gets tough.
380[[/folder]]

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