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| 6 | %% This list of examples has been alphabetized. Please add your example in the proper place. Thanks! |
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| 13 | %% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=xrrbavjkpvx0gpc4bufrzxrr |
| 14 | %% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread. |
| 15 | [[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/TheSwordInTheStone https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/shapeshifter_duel.png]]]] |
| 16 | [[caption-width-right:350:"It's a battle of wits. The players change themselves into different things in an attempt to destroy one another."]] |
| 17 | |
| 18 | ->'''Merlin:''' N-now, Mim, no dragons, remember?!\ |
| 19 | '''Madam Mim:''' Did I say no ''purple'' dragons? ''DID I?'' |
| 20 | -->-- ''WesternAnimation/TheSwordInTheStone'' |
| 21 | |
| 22 | There's nothing quite like the awesome brought to bear when a hero goes into battle with -- or as -- a {{Shapeshift|ing}}er, as they change forms and faces, [[ShapeshifterWeapon grow weapons and limbs]], turn into various animals or monsters, or use camouflage to hide and strike. |
| 23 | |
| 24 | Know what's better? A fight between ''two'' {{Shapeshift|ing}}ers! |
| 25 | |
| 26 | When two shapeshifters fight the only thing holding them back is their imagination and the versatility of their shape shifting abilities. Two similarly gifted shape shifters can play a deadly escalating game of Cat and Mouse [[EscalatingWar and Dog and Cougar]] [[{{Metaphorgotten}} and Manticore and Phoenix]] until one is finally outwitted and defeated by a form they just can't counter. Indeed, this is pretty much the ''only'' way for a shapeshifter duel to end. When compared with a normal fight, and even ignoring the HealingFactor issue, using blunt force trauma to win seems passé and overly prosaic. The winner is not necessarily the one who manages to get the biggest form; wits are more useful than brute force. |
| 27 | |
| 28 | Alternately, the combatants will turn each other into undesirable forms to try to get the upper hand. This is usually PlayedForLaughs. |
| 29 | |
| 30 | This is a recurring theme in myths and folklore, and is at least OlderThanPrint; folklorists call it a "transformation chase". There are a number of Celtic ballads, in particular, where a suitor pursues his chosen bride through a series of forms before she consents to marry. |
| 31 | |
| 32 | TransformingMecha can often do a variant of this, but as they only have a set number of modes, they're allowed to pair up versatility with firepower. |
| 33 | |
| 34 | Almost guaranteed to involve ShapeshifterSwanSong, OneWingedAngel, {{Shapeshifter Weapon}}s, {{Shapeshifter Mashup}}s and very often a variant of ElementalRockPaperScissors. Compare BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind. Contrast TrickingTheShapeshifter. |
| 35 | |
| 36 | ---- |
| 37 | !!Examples: |
| 38 | |
| 39 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 40 | |
| 41 | [[folder:Advertising]] |
| 42 | * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2nL5sSSvd0 One]] Franchise/{{Lego}} advert features this with a Lego cat and mouse rebuilding themselves into advantageous forms. |
| 43 | * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfZta3CBppU This commercial]] for Tiger beer has two guys about to engage in an arm-wrestling match over the last can of the beer in question. But both guys change into different forms in an attempt to outmatch the other before the match can even start. |
| 44 | * A Creator/CartoonNetwork bumper featured [[https://twitter.com/ramenretro1/status/1649452419175120910 a sequence]] of Beast Boy from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'' dueling with the eponymous ''WesternAnimation/Ben10''; [[spoiler:despite Ben having the advantage most of the fight, Beast Boy wins with a come-from-behind knockout--the sequence ends with the reveal that the duel is a video game match between Gwen (Beast Boy) and Raven (Ben)]]. |
| 45 | [[/folder]] |
| 46 | |
| 47 | [[folder:Animation]] |
| 48 | * Season 7 episode 35 of ''Animation/HappyHeroes'' has a battle between Kalo and Bael, the latter of which has taken over the former's spotlight. This is a sort of variant since both characters only morph their arms into other things during the fight. |
| 49 | * ''Animation/{{Lamput}}'': In "Shape Shift", the docs give themselves the ability to shapeshift and do their best to outmatch Lamput in his transformations. A downplayed example as no physical combat is involved. |
| 50 | [[/folder]] |
| 51 | |
| 52 | [[folder:Anime & Manga]] |
| 53 | * A variation of this trope is played out in the ''Manga/GetterRobo'' series. In the ''Shin Getter'' manga and the ''Armageddon'' OVA, the Getter Team fights enemies with Getter Robo of their own, and win by luring their foes into rapidly switching between the Getter's forms, gaining advantage due to their skill and speed in completing their combinations faster. |
| 54 | * The manga ''Manga/{{Parasyte}}'' averts this by having its shapeshifting Parasytes almost always using utilitarian bladelike shapes rather than imaginative ones, and simply aiming to kill the other Parasyte's host before exhausting its own. |
| 55 | * Parodied in ''Manga/{{Yaiba}}'' when the titular hero fights the sorcerer Shiro Amakusa and uses the power of the Gold Orb to change form to match Amakusa's transformation: aside from turning in a (rather unimpressive) Dragon humanoid to fight the latter's tiger form, the duel soon degenerates to parodic levels (like, UFO vs Space Shuttle transformations). |
| 56 | [[/folder]] |
| 57 | |
| 58 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 59 | * A particularly dark chapter of ''ComicBook/CaptainBritainACrookedWorld'' climaxes with a duel between villains Mad Jim Jaspers and the Fury: since Jaspers has the power to [[RealityWarper alter reality at will]] and the Fury is a robot that can [[AdaptiveAbility adapt to virtually any situation]], it's pretty extreme to say the least. In the end [[spoiler:the Fury wins by shifting into a dimension where matter and reality don't exist, leaving Jaspers completely defenseless]]. |
| 60 | * Another one of these involving Impossible Man takes place in ''ComicBook/{{Exiles}}'', when they visit an AlternateUniverse in which he can not only transform himself but also other things and went AxCrazy after an attempt of a supervillain to take control over him had GoneHorriblyWrong. It ends with shapeshifter Morph dueling Impy and winning by making him laugh so much the brainwashing breaks. |
| 61 | ** Morph gets into another one in mini-series ''X-Men: Die By The Sword'', with Mad Jim Jaspers. Sadly, we don't see too much of it. |
| 62 | * ''ComicBook/{{Fables}}'' has a couple of magical duels involving Frau Totenkinder (the witch from Hansel and Gretel) and other powerful opponents, and shapeshifting is one of the techniques the combatants employ. |
| 63 | * In ''ComicBook/GreenLantern 80 Page Giant'' #2, Plas and Kyle amuse themselves while on monitor duty by pitting Plas's shapes against ring-conjurations. The winner is [[spoiler: Martian Manhunter, who sneaks onto the Watchtower, and convinces them they're being attacked by two separate alien monsters]]. |
| 64 | * ''[[ComicBook/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica JLA]]'' #88-89: Plastic Man v. Fernus (Martian Manhunter's EnemyWithin). |
| 65 | * The ComicBook/NewMutants became helpless bystanders when the Impossible Man dueled their member Warlock. As both characters are largely pacifistic, the bulk of the battle involved a "beefcake contest". [[spoiler:Impy was ultimately undone by his one weakness: he can't change color.]] |
| 66 | * In ''ComicBook/TheSandman1989'', Morpheus fought the demon Choronzon in a poetry battle of sorts, where each sought to become something capable of defeating the opponent's previous form. Choronzon tried to trump Morpheus by turning into entropy, the end of all things. Morpheus won by turning into [[spoiler:hope]]. |
| 67 | * ''ComicBook/{{Silverblade}}'' #5 features an epic shape-shifting duel between Blackfeather and Jonathan Lord. Blackfeather keeps changing animal forms in an effort to kill Lord, and Lord keeps turning into different film characters to counter him. |
| 68 | * A shapeshifting duel took place between Impy and Mr Mxyztplk in the IntercontinuityCrossover ''ComicBook/SilverSurfer[=/=]ComicBook/{{Superman}}'', in which they both took on the forms of heroes from their respective universes. |
| 69 | * In Creator/GeoffJohns's ''Comicbook/TeenTitans'' issue "Beast Boys and Girls", a MadScientist type is revealed to have experimented on children and animals to discern the link between human and beast. These experiments changed him into a shapeshifter along the same lines as Beast Boy, calling himself the Zookeeper (his skin and animal forms are purple). Cue epic throwdown in the middle of downtown UsefulNotes/SanFrancisco. |
| 70 | ** In another issue, Beast Boy had to fight Madame Rouge's shapeshifting daughter. After a long string of transformations, during which she mocked him for being unable to choose a form she couldn't mimic, he settled for an old-fashioned knockout in his human form. |
| 71 | * An erotic variation occurs in the ''ComicBook/XXXenophile'' story "Things That Go Bump in the Night". |
| 72 | [[/folder]] |
| 73 | |
| 74 | [[folder:Comic Strips]] |
| 75 | * ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'', kinda -- in the first test of the [[TransformationRay transmogrifier gun]], Calvin asks Hobbes to turn him into a giant pterodactyl so he can terrorize the neighborhood, so Hobbes zaps him into a (scientifically accurate) 2-foot ''Pterodactylus''. Calvin, having thought that ''Pterodactylus'' was one of the larger pterosaur species, is none too pleased with this outcome, so he spitefully zaps Hobbes into a duck. In due course, Hobbes zaps Calvin into a pig, so Calvin zaps Hobbes into a chimpanzee, so Hobbes zaps Calvin into a flower, so Calvin zaps Hobbes into a crocodile, so Hobbes zaps Calvin into an armadillo... cut to "much later", where an owl and a hobgoblin are sulking and wondering who is which. (This is one of the very few {{Sunday Strip}}s to take place in the middle of an ongoing StoryArc.) |
| 76 | -->'''Owl''': Great. Just great. Which of us is Calvin and which is Hobbes ''now?''\ |
| 77 | '''Hobgoblin''': Well, I hope Calvin is ''you'', because his mom's going to have a fit when she sees this. |
| 78 | * ''ComicStrip/{{Zits}}'', combines the above with VolleyingInsults due to its love for illustrating metaphors: "Who are you calling a chicken? You pig!" |
| 79 | [[/folder]] |
| 80 | |
| 81 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 82 | * [[https://drdomo-gem.tumblr.com/post/695866562915303424/sandman-vs-satan-in-extreme-rock-paper-scissors This]] fan comic for ''Series/TheSandman2022'' parodies the Oldest Game. After Lucifer plays a boulder, Dream counters with paper, so Lucifer responds with scissors. The game turns into an endless loop of rock paper scissors; three hours in, Dream 'wins' by playing a bottomless pit instead of paper, and Lucifer automatically responds with scissors. While Lucifer protests that Dream cheated, Dream throws sand in their eyes and runs. |
| 83 | * [[http://dc-nation.livejournal.com/159575.html Aurora "Fauna" Andersen versus Black Lantern Garfield "Menagerie" Logan]] in ''Roleplay/DCNation'''s version of ''ComicBook/BlackestNight''. |
| 84 | * The ''Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries'' has an example during the FinalBattle of the Wedding Arc in the duel between [[spoiler: Cadence and Queen Cadenza ([[AGodAmI Alicorn!Chrysalis]])]], with both constantly shifting species to try and gain an advantage over the other. |
| 85 | * ''Fanfic/UniverseFalls'': "Into the Bunker" naturally has a showdown between Amethyst and Experiment 210, but Amethyst's brute-force tactics prove to be no match for the more cunning Shapeshifter, especially when he resorts to [[ShapeshifterGuiltTrip more psychological tactics]]. |
| 86 | [[/folder]] |
| 87 | |
| 88 | [[folder:Fairy Tales]] |
| 89 | * Frequently appearing motif in fairy tales, often as either between the magician and his pupil/servant (Aarne-Thompson type 325) or with a young man and woman ([[MadScientistsBeautifulDaughter the magicians daughter]]) trying to hide from an enemy (Aarne-Thompson type 313). "Och" (Ukrainan folk tale) is an example of first type. "Jean the soldier and Eulalie, the Devil's daughter" a.k.a. "Belle Eulalie" (French) are an example of the second. |
| 90 | * In the FairyTale ''[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/authors/asbjornsenmoe/farmerweathersky.html Farmer Weathersky,]]'' after the father has reclaimed his son, [[EvilMentor Farmer Weathersky]] tries to reclaim him, but the boy runs off, shifting his shape to avoid being caught. Similarly in ''[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/authors/grimms/68thiefmaster.html The Thief and His Master]]'', ''[[http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/423.htm Master And Pupil]]'', ''[[http://www.mythfolklore.net/andrewlang/121.htm The Magic Book]]'' and ''[[http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/facetiousnights/night8_fable5.html Maestro Lattantio and His Apprentice Dionigi]]''. |
| 91 | * At least one version of ''Literature/PussInBoots'' also features a limited version of this trope. Via a spell, rather than an inborn ability, Puss defeats the ogre and wins his castle in a shapeshifting challenge rather than an outright fight. He does this by reverting to normal as the ogre changes into a mouse. |
| 92 | [[/folder]] |
| 93 | |
| 94 | [[folder:Films -- Animation]] |
| 95 | * ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDoom'' has Martian Manhunter and Ma'alefa'ak have a fight near the end of the film with the two transforming into various alien animals. |
| 96 | * In ''WesternAnimation/TheAdventuresOfPrinceAchmed'', the sorceror and the witch have one of these for about a minute before resorting to fireballs. |
| 97 | * Toward the end of ''WesternAnimation/TheEmperorsNewGroove'', both [[spoiler:Kuzco and Yzma]] have been unwillingly shape-shifted into animal form, and they fight over [[spoiler: the potion which can turn ''one'' of them back to normal.]] |
| 98 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheSwordInTheStone'', as the page quote and image indicate. Madame Mim and Merlin engage in a WizardDuel that involves this. [[spoiler:Merlin beats Mim's purple dragon form by turning into a germ and infecting her.]] |
| 99 | * ''WesternAnimation/{{Wizards}}'': After the death of their mother, Delia, her two sons fight a duel for supremacy. Both Avatar and Blackwolf are powerful wizards, and they reshape themselves a few times during the fight. Ultimately, Avatar triumphs, and he allows Blackwolf to slink away. Avatar would grow to oversee the fairy kingdom of Montagar, while Blackwolf broods in the wastelands of Scortch, building an army of mutants to conquer the elven territories. |
| 100 | [[/folder]] |
| 101 | |
| 102 | [[folder:Films -- Live-Action]] |
| 103 | * In ''Literature/ArabianNights'', the story of Aladdin involves a battle between the Genie of the Lamp and the Genie of the Ring: It starts with Mouse vs. Cat vs. Dog and goes from there. [[spoiler:There was a part where the Genie of the Lamp turns into a fire-breathing dragon. To counter, the Genie of the Ring turns into a camel and ''[[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome spits in the dragon's mouth]]''. In the end, Aladdin cheats and steals his opponent's lamp, gaining control of the Genie of the Lamp and winning by default.]] |
| 104 | * The final battle in ''Film/MortalKombatAnnihilation'' has [[spoiler: Liu Kang and Shao Kahn engaging in one of these. Though they only use one form.]] |
| 105 | * An early version of ''Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet3DreamWarriors'' featured one of these between Freddy and Will. |
| 106 | [[/folder]] |
| 107 | |
| 108 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 109 | * In ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'', both the Animorphs and Visser Three have shapeshifting powers, so these are common enough. The most extreme example is probably in ''The Return'', where Crayak pits Rachel and Visser Three against each other in a gladiatorial battle and they both strategically change forms constantly throughout the fight. |
| 110 | * Creator/PiersAnthony used a variant in his ''Literature/ApprenticeAdept'' series, in which two shapeshifters compete in a race rather than a head-on battle. The participants have a limited number of specified forms they can change into; it's how cleverly they can use these forms to circumvent obstacles along the course that determines which one wins. |
| 111 | * ''Literature/ArabianNights'': Such a battle takes place between a princess and a ''jinni'' in "The Story of the Second Dervish." |
| 112 | * Lloyd Alexander's ''The Arkadians'' features one of these in an in-story folktale. It's quite convincing. |
| 113 | * Shapeshifting demons are common in ''Literature/TheBartimaeusTrilogy'', being summoned by magicians to do their bidding. While they're rarely set against one another directly (the last time someone tried to order a demon to kill another one, it turned out they were friends, and the demon refused the order... [[StuffBlowingUp destroying himself and quite a bit of his surroundings]] as a side effect), fights are still fairly common as a side effect of whatever magician's bidding they're all trying to do, during which plenty of shapeshifting goes on. Bartimaeus notes that unintelligent spirits will habitually stick to one particular form (typically one that's centuries out of date) which can be detrimental in battle, whereas a smart one will change form frequently to adapt to their situation. He demonstrates this in his final fight with the djinni Jabor - Jabor prefers the form of a large [[Myth/EgyptianMythology jackal headed man]], and when [[spoiler:he strays too close to an interdimensional rift and is sucked in he doesn't think to change his shape, while Bartimaeus inwardly observes that any spirit with half a brain could have shrunk into something with less mass like a gnat in order to fight free and save himself]]. |
| 114 | * In Creator/JoeHaldeman's novel ''Camouflage'', the showdown between the only two aliens on earth comes into fruition when Jack a.k.a. the chameleon decides to follow his natural killing impulse and faces [[ShapeshifterDefaultForm Rae]]/ Sharon / Jimmy a.k.a. the changeling. Rae's ruses include transforming her severed arm in a monster with metal nails, knuckles as eyes, and centipede-like legs; while Jack transformed in a more brute figure: a [[OneWingedAngel neanderthal]]. Since both of them are pretty much immortal the confrontation gets unabashedly gory, it finishes rather unexpectedly though when [[spoiler: the artifact (Rae's partner in action a.k.a her flying sauce) lunges over the chameleon, jailing and freezing him for further examination in their home planet]]. |
| 115 | * ''[[Literature/ForgottenRealms Cleric Quintet]]'' has one of these, though it's more a BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind. A cursed object used to [[GrandTheftMe possess people]], is fighting Cadderly's efforts to destroy it. Good thing he's strong-willed. |
| 116 | * ''Literature/CreaturesOfLightAndDarkness'' by Creator/RogerZelazny has a duel between shapechanging gods Horus and Thoth. Instead of [[InformedAttribute expected shapeshifting]] Thoth keeps teleporting them, effectively changing the environment to keep Horus neutralized but mostly unharmed. Horus tries to grow extra arms faster than they [[ItMakesSenseInContext get disabled/get burned/eat themselves]]. |
| 117 | ** The climactic battle between Set [[spoiler:(better known as Wakim)]] and [[EldritchAbomination The Thing That Cries In The Night]] is essentially a superwarrior with a MorphWeapon against a planet-sized shapeshifter. No matter what The Thing becomes, Set finds the form that can wound it some more. |
| 118 | * ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': |
| 119 | ** ''Literature/TheFifthElephant'' sees two [[WolfMan lycanthropes]] jump between animal and human while tearing at each other and fighting with themselves for control. Ow. |
| 120 | ** A dramatic Shapeshifter Showdown between two magic users in ''Literature/EqualRites'', was {{retcon}}ned into oblivion when the setting and a combatant settled into far less flashiness than what was shown. The ''TabletopGame/DiscworldRoleplayingGame'' suggests it was actually more of a Mental Illusion Showdown[=/=]BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind. |
| 121 | * In ''The Doomspell'' By Cliff [=McNish=], shifting forms rapidly in an attempt to outwit each other is a part of the epic battle between Rachel and Dragwena. |
| 122 | * In the climax of ''Literature/DoraWilkSeries''' second book, Loki and Badb fight this way, each trying to outwit another. One of them only manages to gain an edge over another only when [[spoiler:Faoilinara, goddess of those who turn into wolves, forces wolf form -- in which Badb is much more proficient than Loki -- on both of them.]] |
| 123 | * ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''. Near the end of ''Literature/TurnCoat'', [[spoiler: Injun Joe]] and the [[EldritchAbomination Skinwalker]] have one of these. And it is ''[[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome awesome]]''. |
| 124 | * Creator/MercedesLackey's ''Literature/ElementalMasters'' series: |
| 125 | ** It is mentioned in a backstory conversation in ''Literature/ReservedForTheCat'' -- [[spoiler:the Cat of the title is actually the heroine's father, trapped in cat shape as a result of this duel.]] |
| 126 | ** Between the heroine and villain of ''Literature/TheGatesOfSleep''. The Gates, the heroine makes a mental note of studying 'The Twa Magicians' (see the Music section below for details). |
| 127 | * In ''Literature/FengshenYanyi'', near the end of the novel the heroes are confronted by the seven evil monsters of Baishan, a gang of animals turned monster. To defeat three of them, Yang Jian (a young Erlang Shen) uses his power of transformation to turn himself into an animal suitable for subduing the opponent: he turns into a winged, sharp-pinced centipede to kill Chang Hao (a snake monster), then into a large rooster to kill Wu Long (a centipede monster) and finally into a tiger to maul Yang Xian (an ibex monster). |
| 128 | * A "friendly" version of this crops up early in the ''Literature/{{Hagwood}}'' series, when [[SadistTeacher Terser Gibble]] and [[TheAce Finnen Lufkin]] agree to a demonstration of their wergling powers just to prove which of them is better, the first contestant to falter being the loser. However, as Finnen starts winning, Gibble becomes increasingly less friendly - to the point that he actually transforms into a snake and almost appears ready to kill his opponent. In the end, though, Finnen wins. |
| 129 | * In the short story "Hardshell" by Creator/DeanKoontz (published in ''Literature/StrangeHighways''), the climax reveals to the reader that the titular detective and the killer that he's tracking down are both alien shapeshifters. [[spoiler:They engage in a shapeshifting duel, and it turns out that the criminal is younger and less experienced. Hardshell simply envelops it in an impervious shell and suffocates it, since they still need oxygen.]] |
| 130 | * Howl and the Witch of the Waste have one in ''Literature/HowlsMovingCastle''. |
| 131 | * Ran and Eln get into this in Doris Egan's ''Ivory'' trilogy. The fight finishes when [[spoiler: Theodora hops off the sidelines and just flat out stabs Eln.]] |
| 132 | * One ending in the {{Gamebook}} ''Literature/KingsQuest1984'' has two wizards doing this by turning themselves into ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' monsters. |
| 133 | * ''Literature/JaneYellowrock'' fights an evil SkinWalker who devoured the liver of its prey and was capable of taking on a vampire form along with the form of anything else it ate. |
| 134 | * ''Literature/JourneyToTheWest'': |
| 135 | ** Early in the story, Sun Wukong the Monkey King engages in such with the god Erlang. However, Erlang's magical third eye gives him an advantage, as no matter what form Wukong takes, Erlang can see through the disguise and transform into an appropriate predator. Wukong tries to make a last escape by disguising himself as a temple, but Erlang catches him and ultimately brings the Monkey King to Heaven for trial. |
| 136 | ** During the journey itself, Sun Wukong engages in another such battle against the Bull Demon King. It climaxes with the Bull Demon King turning into his true form, [[OneWingedAngel a colossal white bull]], and Wukong making himself gigantic in turn. The ensuing BehemothBattle proves so intense that the gods have to intervene and help Sun Wukong subdue the Bull Demon King for good. |
| 137 | * In ''Literature/{{Krabat}}'', in a dream. Krabat as a bird is hunted by the evil master (also polymorphed). Krabat sees a well, turns into a fish -- but now he's caught in the well. Fortunately, [[LoveInterest the Kantorka]] is there to take him out. He shapechanges into a golden ring on her finger. Then suddenly a one-eyed nobleman appears. Krabat turns into one grain, which Kantorka throws on the ground. The master turns into a rooster -- but Krabat is faster, turns into a fox and bites him dead. The dream sequence is a reference to the original tale Preussler's novel is based on; the shapeshifter duel there is how [[spoiler: Krabat kills the Master off for real]]. |
| 138 | * ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'': |
| 139 | ** ''Literature/LukeSkywalkerAndTheShadowsOfMindor'' has a MindScrew-y sort of mind battle at the end in which the villain cuts straight to the ultimate form, a supermassive black hole. He swallows Luke without an effort... and Luke [[spoiler:becomes a white fountain]], which frees the Big Bad's minions, which has the side effect of killing the villain. |
| 140 | ** During ''Literature/GalaxyOfFear'', the BigBad of the first six books and Hoole, the protagonists' uncle, are both shapeshifting Shi'ido. Regrettably, they never actually fight; Hoole takes on different forms for combat, but [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Gog]] is more inclined to infiltration. But in ''Clones'', well, there is an evil Hoole clone. |
| 141 | --->The two Hooles surged toward one another, but they moved so quickly that Tash could hardly follow. Her uncle shifted into the shape of a many-horned lizard, while the other Hoole transformed into some sort of giant snake. But by the time they clashed, each of them had morphed two or three more times, until the two combatants were a quivering mass of shrieking, shape-changing flesh.\ |
| 142 | Tash was awestruck. She had never seen her uncle so enraged, nor had she ever seen two Shi'ido fight. No wonder Hoole [[DissonantSerenity always remains so calm]], she thought. |
| 143 | * ''Literature/TheMagicians'' climaxes with a magical battle between Alice and the Beast, which eventually diverges into this trope: as the classically-trained WeakButSkilled Brakebills graduate, Alice transforms into a lion, an anaconda, a bear, a giant scorpion and a dragon while fighting him; the Beast, being an UnskilledButStrong PsychopathicManchild, just uses his magic to [[SizeShifter make himself progressively bigger and stronger]] until he's at eye-level with Alice's dragon form. [[spoiler: Alice wins by going full-blown OneWingedAngel and fatally transforming herself into a Niffin.]] |
| 144 | * A duel between the heads of the FeudingFamilies in ''Literature/TheMagiciansOfCaprona'' takes this form. |
| 145 | * ''Literature/APracticalGuideToEvil'': This is how VillainProtagonist Catherine fights against the drow goddess Sve Noc for the control over Night. By pitting her will against Sve Noc's, she first turns herself into a needle when Sve Noc attempts to bury her in a sea of her might, then into a pebble. As the goddess changes her will to a chisel, Catherine turns into wind, and when Sve Noc counters by becoming a storm, she turns into smoke. The pattern repeats itself until Catherine manages to draw blood. |
| 146 | * The Creator/UrsulaKLeguin short story ''The Rule of Names'' climaxes in a shape-shifting duel between two wizards, [[spoiler:one of which turns out to be a dragon in disguise]]. |
| 147 | * A Polish national epic ''Sir Thaddeus'' says common folk attributes this kind of powers to UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte and Aleksandr Suvorov, who were supposed to fight in a duel like that in the middle of a battle. |
| 148 | * In Sergey Lukyanenko's novel ''Star Shadow'', the main character has a symbiotic alien creature in him that grants him limited shapeshifting abilities. During a fight with a HumanAlien, one of his hands turns into a claw. Seeing this, his opponent reveals that he is a "metamorph" and turns into a "scaly, alien creature." The protagonist wins by allowing the enemy to bite him, after turning his blood into poison. |
| 149 | * As quoted above, Merlin and Madam Mim in ''The Sword in the Stone'', both [[Literature/TheOnceAndFutureKing the book]] and [[WesternAnimation/TheSwordInTheStone the Disney version]]. In both versions, Merlin wins by becoming an infectious bacterium, though in the Disney version Mim is merely bedridden instead of killed. It's strongly implied that this is the standard format for a "Wizard's Duel". |
| 150 | [[/folder]] |
| 151 | |
| 152 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 153 | * The 1998 TVB live-action adaptation of ''Series/JourneyToTheWest1996'', titled ''Journey to the West 2'', have the battle between Sun Wukong the Monkey King against his direct EvilCounterpart, the Long Armed-Ape Monkey, both of them dueling with a myriad of shapeshifting abilities (thanks to some 90s' CG-effects), firstly turning into animals, and then sentient flying weapons, and culminating with the Long Armed-Ape turning into a '''dragon''' to swallow Wukong, which Wukong retaliates by turning into a fly and buzzing out his opponent's nostrils. |
| 154 | * ''Series/TheSandman2022'', "[[Recap/TheSandman2022S01E04AHopeInHell A Hope in Hell]]": The Oldest Game, which Morpheus plays against Lucifer to get his helm of office back, is a semi-metaphorical version of this. They themselves don't actually transform, but they physically affect each other as if they had. It also allows for more abstract 'shapes': they start small and concrete, with various kinds of animals, then escalate to the point where Morpheus trumps Lucifer's supernova with an entire universe, capable of encompassing any threat, and Lucifer retaliates with entropy itself, which will eventually defeat even an entire universe. Morpheus still wins: |
| 155 | -->'''Morpheus:''' I am Hope. Well, Lightbringer...? What is it that kills Hope? |
| 156 | * ''Franchise/StarTrek'': |
| 157 | ** Subverted in ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' where Odo and another changeling fight conventionally at first and then basically start merging into each other and trying to take control over the other's body. The fight involves no forms other than the humanoid ones they start as and their natural liquid-states. |
| 158 | ** Played straight in Creator/PeterDavid's ExpandedUniverse novel, ''The Siege''. David even mentions this in the introduction, noting that he wasn't restrained by a live-action TV show's budget. |
| 159 | [[/folder]] |
| 160 | |
| 161 | [[folder:Music]] |
| 162 | * From the middle to the end, Music/ToriAmos's "The Chase" is a transformation chase between Tori trying not to be killed by Anabelle (representing the spirit of the Hunter). It doesn't take long, and it doesn't really end well... |
| 163 | --> '''Anabelle:''' Use your head or you'll be dead. |
| 164 | * [=ASPs=] ''Verwandlungen I -- III'' is about a Shape Shifting Battle between Literature/{Krabat}} and his master. It ends when [[spoiler:the master [[StakingTheLovedOne kills Krabats Loved One]]]]. |
| 165 | * ''[[Literature/ChildBallads Child Ballad]]'' #44 ("The Two Magicians") is all about this, but with "duel" replaced by [[ShapeshiftingSquick "attempted rape"]]. Best performed by British folk-rockers Music/SteeleyeSpan on their ''Now We Are Six'' album. Some interpret the ballad as being about [[DefrostingTheIceQueen persistent courtship]] rather than rape, so it may be a case of BestHerToBedHer. Love and courtship represented as some kind of hunt/ contest/ BattleOfTheSexes is actually not an uncommon motif in old works. |
| 166 | * The French variant of "The Two Magicians" is the folk song "Chanson Des Métamorphoses", except its not explicitly about "gaining the maidenhead" but rather about "gaining the lady's favor", making the shape-shifting duel a metaphor for courtship. In at least one version the lady eventually tells the suitor [[DefrostingTheIceQueen he's gained her heart]]. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buB5ja5cs1I]],[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUFG1MxlsAo]] |
| 167 | * Music/TheMagneticFields' tribute song to Robert Burns, "Wi Nae Wee Bairn Ye'll Me Beget," from ''Music/SixtyNineLoveSongs'', features one of these between a woman and her prospective suitor. It ends with him turning into God, and her winning by not believing in him. |
| 168 | [[/folder]] |
| 169 | |
| 170 | [[folder:Myths & Religion]] |
| 171 | * In Myth/KoreanMythology, Haemosu the sun god and Habaek the river god fights in this way until the latter admits defeat.. and acknowledges him as his son-in-law. This seems to be standard fighting method for gods and demigods, since [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suro_of_Gaya King Kim-suro]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talhae_of_Silla Seok-talhae]] also fought this way. |
| 172 | * In the [[Myth/CelticMythology Welsh myth]] of Taliesin's legendary origin, Ceridwen creates a magical potion to bestow the gift of ''awen'' (poetic inspiration and wisdom) upon her unlucky son, Morfran. However, the mixture spills on the boy-servant Gwion Bach while he is maintaining the cauldron, granting him the gifts instead. He repeatedly shapeshifts into different forms (a hare, fish and wren) to escape Ceridwen's wrath, but she counters each with her own transformations (greyhound, otter, hawk). He eventually becomes a [[NeedleInAStackOfNeedles grain of wheat]], which she eats as a hen. This makes her pregnant, but he is too beautiful at birth to kill, so she instead [[MosesInTheBullrushes abandons him to the sea]] in either a bag or a coracle. He is renamed Taliesin by the man who rescues and raises him, and becomes a great bard from this gift. |
| 173 | * OlderThanPrint ''Literature/ArabianNights'' examples: |
| 174 | ** This happens in a crazy sequence during the second "Tale of the Kalandar Prince." |
| 175 | ** Another one is in "A Tale of Porter and Girls" -- princess duels with Irfrit, resulting in both of them turning into fire and dying. |
| 176 | * A Kenyan story found in [[http://store.augusthouse.com/productdetails.cfm?SKU=5194 this book]] involves a boy who uses shapeshifting to con people by turning himself into a bull and letting himself be sold, then running away. Eventually he tries it on someone who turns out to be a more experienced shapeshifter. |
| 177 | [[/folder]] |
| 178 | |
| 179 | [[folder:Tabletop Games]] |
| 180 | * A ''Magazine/{{Dragon}}'' article from the days of 1st Edition ''AD&D'' described how druids would fight duels for the chance to advance to their class's upper levels. It recommended that attaining the highest level should mean winning a Shapeshifter Showdown against the incumbent Grand Druid. |
| 181 | * ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'': When you play a Lunar and your nemesis of the day is someone from the Wyld, this is bound to happen. And the Lunars do fight TheFairFolk on regular basis. |
| 182 | * ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'': Both ''GURPS Arabian Nights'' and ''GURPS Celtic Myth'' have discussions of the trope in relation to the respective mythologies, and how to handle it in games. The GURPS-based ''TabletopGame/DiscworldRoleplayingGame'' has rules for "Flashy Duelling in Magic" with the duels ''appearing'' to be shapeshifter showdowns. |
| 183 | * ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}''. An article in ''Shadowland'' magazine #5 on shapechanging mentions the "Shapshifter's Duel", where two wizards with shapechanging spells would do this. |
| 184 | * Fat Messiah Games's ''Shape Shifters: The Game of Transforming Wizards'' is entirely about this trope, with a large "tree of life" diagram showing the available shapes and the transitions between them, as well as their relative strengths and weaknesses. |
| 185 | [[/folder]] |
| 186 | |
| 187 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 188 | * The "Lost In Dreams" quest of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' ends with a battle against the sloth demon that's trapped you in [[DreamLand the Fade]]; over the course of the boss fight, the demon takes no less than four different shapes; however, as you've acquired the ability to shapeshift in dreams over the course of this quest, it's entirely possible for you to use your own hard-won forms to counter his advantages - though not an absolutely necessary method of play in this case. |
| 189 | * In ''VideoGame/KingsQuestV'', King Graham and Mordack have a shapeshifting duel in which Graham has to counter each of Mordack's forms with a shape of his own that can effectively counter his opponent's strengths. Eventually Mordack turns into a {{ring of fire}}, and Graham summons a raincloud, extinguishing him. Not that Graham is a shapeshifter, mind you. He just conveniently learns the four required spells (and ''only'' those four) just before [[GuideDangIt recharging his wand with a slice of rotten cheese]]. |
| 190 | * ''Franchise/MortalKombat'': Shang Tsung vs. Shang Tsung kombats quickly degenerate into the two kombatants shapeshifting into other characters and beating the living daylights out of each other with copied moves. |
| 191 | * While you aren't ''physically'' transforming, this is actually a major part of the newer ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' games. Each Persona has specific strengths and weaknesses, and the main character can shift through Personae to exploit his enemy's weaknesses while protecting his own. Certain boss fights (most obviously the [[spoiler:Nyx Avatar]] fight from ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'', but also the {{Superboss}} from each game) involve shifting between Personae (in some cases on a turn by turn basis) to counter your opponent's attacks. Through clever manipulation of Personae strengths and weaknesses, you can take very little damage during a fight. (Except of course, when fighting a {{Superboss}}, as attempting to use a Persona with a "Null" or "Absorb" effect will result in a OneHitKill). |
| 192 | * In ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'', battles between two Ditto are tiresome. A Ditto is a blob-like Pokémon whose only attack is [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Transform]]. This allows it to shift into any opponent's form and use their attacks and stats for the duration of a battle. Catch is, it can only change into a copy of whatever opponent it is currently facing. [[DontExplainTheJoke One can fill in the rest]]. |
| 193 | ** In fact, if the battle is between two trainers who only have Dittos, the battle will ''never'' end (unless one Ditto is holding a harmful item). Normally, if two Pokemon are incapable of damaging each other, all you have to do is wait for them to run out of Power Points (using a move uses up 1 PP for that move, and can be replenished for free at a Pokemon Center), and then they will start using Struggle (which damages both Pokemon). But when Transform is used, the PP of all the copied moves is set to 5. Thus, using Transform on a Ditto will replenish your Ditto's PP, preventing either Ditto from using Struggle. And since you can't run from Trainer battles, you have to reset the game. (Thankfully, this was fixed in ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'', as it is now impossible to transform into a transformed Pokémon.) |
| 194 | * There are 3 of these in ''VideoGame/AlteredBeast2005'', first is a flashback sequence showing a fight between [[spoiler:Luke and Brad]] shown upon getting the Minotaur form, the second is an actual playable fight against [[spoiler:Brad]] and the third is against [[spoiler:Anastasia]] |
| 195 | * In the first ''Videogame/SimonTheSorcerer'' game, once you learn some actual spells, you can challenge the Witch to one, complete with a ShoutOut to ''WesternAnimation/TheSwordInTheStone''. It functions as a game of RockPaperScissors: snake beats cat, cat beats mongoose, and mongoose beats snake. [[spoiler: And mouse enables you to escape through a hole in the wall when the Witch turns herself into a dragon.]] |
| 196 | * ''VideoGame/{{Skullgirls}}'': Double vs Double battles ultimately feature this in spades, as the shapeshifter naturally changes to mimic one of the other characters with every single attack. |
| 197 | * This can sometimes happen during [[Film/TheThing1982 Changeling mode]] on ''[[VideoGame/SpaceStation13 Space Station 13.]]'' As demonstrated masterfully during [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLyXIg03opA&feature=youtu.be this episode of Razage's LP.]] |
| 198 | * In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', druids of the opposing factions can do this in PVP. Since they can turn into bears with high defense, speedy cheetahs and seals (for water travel), damage-over-time-based big cats, and the occasional spellcasting moonkin, ''and'' they can all go back to caster form to heal themselves, you can occasionally have a spat with a single other druid that goes on for a very long time. These eventually turn into simply trying to chase the other one down and root them or making them exhaust their mana supply. |
| 199 | * In one scene in ''[[VideoGame/WeenTheProphecy Ween: The Prophecy]]'' the hero has to get past a shapeshifting dragon. The hero knows several forms, but the dragon always takes a form stronger than the hero's. [[spoiler:The solution is: become a worm to make him a wasp, catch him with a wasp trap, use outside help to dispose of the trap.]] |
| 200 | [[/folder]] |
| 201 | |
| 202 | [[folder:Web Animation]] |
| 203 | * ''WebAnimation/AnimatorVsAnimation'': In Episode 21 of the [=AvM Shorts=], Both Blue and the witch comes to a head with a one-on-one battle between each other constantly using potions to shapeshift into various mobs. |
| 204 | [[/folder]] |
| 205 | |
| 206 | [[folder:Web Comics]] |
| 207 | * Depends on the fight in ''Webcomic/ButImACatPerson''. With novice (or nervous) Masters, Beings are more likely to enter battle in a single form and stick with it, sometimes with the Masters [[https://www.bicatperson.com/comic/chapter-four-page-4/ agreeing on that form beforehand]]. With more-experienced or more-daring Masters, or creative Beings whose options haven't been limited, look out for [[https://www.bicatperson.com/comic/chapter-seventeen-page-7/ fast-paced and dramatic changes.]] |
| 208 | [[/folder]] |
| 209 | |
| 210 | [[folder:Web Original]] |
| 211 | * [[FourthWallMailSlot Ask Vect]][[Anime/TransformersCybertron or Prime]] brings us [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Ask_Vector_Prime/Facebook_src#July_17 The tale of the Malignus and the Metrotitan.]] In the end [[spoiler:the Malignus tries to become entropy itself and explodes]]. |
| 212 | * An episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman'', "Clayfaces", invokes this trope when the original, reformed [[TragicVillain Clayface]] (Ethan Bennett) tries to help Batman stop the new homicidal [[GoingPostal Clayface]] (Basil Karlo). |
| 213 | [[/folder]] |
| 214 | |
| 215 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 216 | * An episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheBatman'', "Clayfaces", invokes this trope when the original, reformed [[TragicVillain Clayface]] (Ethan Bennett) tries to help Batman stop the new homicidal [[GoingPostal Clayface]] (Basil Karlo). |
| 217 | * One episode of ''WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce'' has Ben go up against Albedo, a former apprentice of Azmuth who had made a copy of the Omnitrix. Their fight involved just about all of Ben's forms between them. (Except [[AwesomeButImpractical Alien X]], naturally). |
| 218 | * The original pilot for ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'' (also known as "Changes") had Dexter and Dee Dee zapping each other into various improbable animal forms with a remote Dexter had invented, ending with Dexter and Dee Dee [[FreakyFridayFlip stuck in each other's forms]]. |
| 219 | -->'''Dee Dee:''' ''[in Dexter's body]'' Last one downstairs is an ugly, stinky, slimy spider!\ |
| 220 | '''Dexter:''' ''[in Dee Dee's body]'' Why not? I've been everything ''else'' today... |
| 221 | * A variation appears in ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales1987'' where Magica [=DeSpell=] had a bag of powder that turns whatever the powder is sprinkled on to whatever the person (well, FunnyAnimal, but we digress) wants. The climax is Huey and the Beagle Boys fighting over the powder and transforming themselves and each other with it. It was awesome. |
| 222 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'': The episode "Apartnership" has Cosmo and Wanda's marriage on the rocks, and they have a "magic fight" at one point in which involves turning each other into undesirable forms. The end result has Timmy transformed into a toilet. |
| 223 | * In ''WesternAnimation/IlEtaitUneFois l'Espace'' (''Once Upon a Time... Space''), Psi is prisoner of the Humanoids, and they try to interrogate her for information. To this end, they bring a Cassiopeian telepath who tries to read her mind, but Psi's own PsychicPowers proves to be a match. The ensuing BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind takes the form of a Shape-Shifter Showdown, the telepath first taking the shape of a giant rat in her mind, which she counters by turning into a cat. The caught rat then turn into a snake, and Psi counters with a coyote, etc. This quickly escalates to a battle between Kaiju-like monsters and dinosaurs. |
| 224 | * ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'': |
| 225 | ** The Martian Manhunter vs. Clayface. Eventually, [[spoiler:the Martian wins through cleverness, shifting into Clayface's natural form, tricking Killer Frost into freezing the real Clayface (in the form of Martian Manhunter) solid before he could protest, and waiting until a critical moment to reveal the trick.]] |
| 226 | ** Justice League members faced off against their evil counterparts -- both Martians turned into long, serpenty things and... [[FightUnscene wrestled]]. |
| 227 | ** Justice League members faced off against their ''robotic duplicates'' of their evil counterparts. It's even more minimalist than last time, just a couple of seconds of grappling hand-to-hand in their regular forms. |
| 228 | ** ComicBook/MartianManhunter finally gets a much better one in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueDoom'' in his fight with Ma'alefa'ak. |
| 229 | * In the "Whimzee Come Home" episode of the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyAndFriends'' side-series "Moondreamers", Whimzee has one similar to the "Sword in the Stone" example against the Queen of Imagination, but with magic amulets. |
| 230 | * ''WesternAnimation/PinkPanther'': The episode "Pink-A-Rella" ends with the Panther and a WitchClassic snatching her wand back and forth to transform each other into various objects.. until she gets turned into a comely female panther. |
| 231 | * A few episodes of ''WesternAnimation/SabrinaTheAnimatedSeries'' had Hilda and Zelda fighting by turning one another into undesirable forms, with one fight ending with Hilda as a gingerbread cookie and Zelda as a fat child (presumably [[Literature/HanselAndGretel Hansel]]). Yeah... |
| 232 | * A shifting wrestling match occurred in ''WesternAnimation/StaticShock'' between [[RubberMan Rubberband Man]] and [[LivingShadow Ebon]]. |
| 233 | * In ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'', Beast Boy is pitted against an evil version of himself in the fourth season finale. Granted, a fair bit of it is offscreen, but the bits that they do show are really cool, especially when Evil!Beast Boy turns into an elephant, so Beast Boy turns into a mouse to frighten him. Played with in that neither Beast Boy is able to overcome the other, leaving this Shapeshifter Showdown a draw. However, ''none'' of the Titans are able to beat their own EnemyWithout, [[OpponentSwitch so they switch who they're fighting]], and it's Cyborg who defeats Evil!Beast Boy via NoSell. [[CallBack Cyborg always knew he could beat Beast Boy]] [[TacticalRockPaperScissors (but of course, Starfire can beat Cyborg, and Beast Boy can beat Starfire)]]. |
| 234 | ** Also done in ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo'' between Beast Boy and... well, [[WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003 Beast Boy]] through the use of the Worlogog. They first start mimicking each other before 2013 Beast Boy changes into a kitten to invoke CutenessOverload on 2003 Beast Boy and then knocks him out of the arena. |
| 235 | * Most fights between Franchise/{{Transformers}} involve multiple shifts in and out of robot form. Justified, since their robot forms are better for fighting, but their disguise forms are more suited for transportation. Most fights were had while one side was running away from the other, or while they were vying for control of some [=MacGuffin=]. |
| 236 | * In ''WesternAnimation/WalterMelon'', when Melon and Bitterbug are filling in for Lancelot and Arthur respectively, Merlin uses them to do this. |
| 237 | [[/folder]] |
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