Line #23 Main/SicklyProdigy


1	This character is extremely skilled in a fight, often applying brains over brawn in order to win with little effort. However, when pushed too hard he may collapse in a coughing fit, or pass out post-battle. He may find it hard to train, as he has to take it easy, but his talent allows him to keep up with other characters.
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3	This may be caused by a weak immune system and frequent sicknesses that sap his strength, a single disease such as consumption or epilepsy, or just being born with a weak body (such as a malformed heart).
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5	This character might depend on WaifFu and is likely to be a FragileSpeedster. Expect him to be WeakButSkilled and said to possess TheGift.
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7	A common occurrence would be for this character to be ambushed because of his weak appearance, then fight off his attackers, only to collapse after the fight has ended
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9	It is a subtrope of HandicappedBadass. If this character is old then they may be FeelingTheirAge. They may or may not be a TeenGenius or a ChildProdigy.
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12	!!Examples
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14	[[AC:AnimeAndManga]]
15	* In ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'', Toki is a master of Hokuto Shinken whose skills in their prime actually surpassed both Kenshiro and Raoh. However, when the bombs fell, he ended up outside of shelter (he was closing the doors for other survivors), resulting in him contracting radiation poisoning. Consequently, [[DiseaseBleach he has white hair]], and his abilities declined enough that he abdicated his position as the master of Hokuto Shinken for his brothers.
16	* Captain Ukitake from ''Manga/{{Bleach}}''. Even though he's one of the most powerful Soul Reapers, his illness seems to prevent him from fighting for very long, and he appears to lapse into coughing fits at inopportune moments.
17	* Suekichi Kaneda in ''Manga/KenganAshura''. Despite an ability to read fighters that allows him to pull off CombatClairvoyance, his weak body keeps him from excelling.
18	* Kurogane Hiroto in ''Manga/Kurogane2011''. Because of his weak body Hiroto was always the worst at sports. But when he takes up kendo his excellent eyesight allows him to avoid being hit by his opponents. At one point he faints because he's unused to the weight on the kendo armor. Waiting to see if he can strengthen his body or not.
19	* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'':
20	** Kimimaro is dying from an incurable disease which should have left him unable to move let alone fight, yet has no problem taking on a Kyuubi-empowered Naruto, Lee, and Gaara. The only reason he fails to deliver a death blow to the latter two is that his body simply gives out mid-strike.
21	** Also applies to Itachi, who contracts the IncurableCoughOfDeath at some point after leaving Konoha. He seeks medical treatment so that he can meet up with Sasuke again, in hopes that the latter would kill him in battle. [[spoiler: While Itachi ''does'' die in a battle with Sasuke, it's from overexertion, not the direct result of anything Sasuke does.]]
22	* Kashitarou in ''Manga/{{Gamaran}}''. So weak he can't swing a full katana, he uses a wakazashi instead and focuses on extreme control of his movements, in particular eliminating wasted movements.
23	* ''Manga/BusoRenkin'': Koushaku Chouno was a TeenGenius who excelled at studying until his IncurableCoughOfDeath resulted in him twice being held back a year at school and disinherited by his family. In an effort to cure himself, Chouno took up [[AlchemyIsMagic alchemy]] and eventually became the superpowered [[OurHomunculiAreDifferent homunculus]] known as Papillon with a near-immortal body and is capable of stabbing his hand straight through an opponent's body. As the transformation wasn't complete, however, Papillon is still physically frail and coughing, despite his inhuman abilities.
24	* Izumi from ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist,'' despite her insistence to the contrary, is a powerful alchemist and all-around badass who famously survived for a month in the frozen wastes of Briggs by [[RefugeInAudacity raiding the military outpost there for supplies]]. However, she lost several of her internal organs to the Portal of Truth when she attempted human transmutation in order to resurrect her baby; she's still no less badass than before, but tends to break down coughing up blood if she exerts herself for too long. [[spoiler: In the first anime, she dies in between the end of the series and TheMovie; in the second series and the manga, Ed and Al's father Hohenheim gives her an "alchemy punch" of sorts that cannot restore her lost organs, but ''does'' stop the bleeding more or less permanently.]]
25	* Li Xingke from ''Anime/CodeGeass'', said to be the equal of TheChessMaster Lelouch in intelligence, and the equal of Suzaku Kururugi in combat prowess. He can pilot a physically demanding Knightmare Frame despite having the IncurableCoughOfDeath, but doing so worsens his condition.
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27	[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
28	* ''Literature/TheElricSaga'': Elric of Melnibone is physically frail and weak, requiring him to depend on either herbal medicine or his {{Life Drain}}ing sword Stormbringer for the strength necessary to fight. However, when he has the strength he's an excellent fighter.
29	* ''Literature/TheInfernalDevices'': Jem is addicted to a drug that [[YourDaysAreNumbered kills him slowly]] but the withdrawal will kill him if he doesn't take it. So he takes as little as possible, but as the drug also gives him energy this causes him to appear very frail. Yet he is more than capable of fending for himself against the demons he frequently encounters.
30	* The ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' series of books has Raistlin, at least when he's human in the earlier books. Ridiculously powerful mage from a very early age, but also sickly and prone to coughing up blood.
31	* ''Literature/TheIrregularAtMagicHighSchool'' series has Minoru, who was born out of incest for the purpose of SuperpowerfulGenetics. His magic is actually too strong to be contained by his body: he can cast very powerful spells, but even so he spends a third of his life bedridden, and [[GlassCannon has no physical ability to dodge or fight off a non-magical opponent]]. He is extremely bitter about this, [[spoiler:and ditches his "family" at the first opportunity he gets]].
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33	[[AC:{{Manhwa}}]]
34	* Subverted in ''Manhwa/TheBreaker'': while Shi Woon originally has such bad ki circulation that he can't exercise without fainting, the AppliedPhlebotinum fixes his health issues.
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36	[[AC:TabletopGames]]
37	* Teclis in ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasy'' is one of the greatest mages on the planet, but is extremely [[SquishyWizard squishy]], requiring potions just to stay alive. His frailty is caused by a HereditaryCurse that manifests differently in each member of his ancestor's bloodline.
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39	[[AC:VideoGames]]
40	* [[spoiler: Alfia]] from ''VideoGame/MemoriaFreese'' is a talented Mage from the legendary [[spoiler: Hera familia]], she is capable of short, one word chants and wears a PowerLimiter [[spoiler: that doubles as a AntiMagic barrier]]. One of the highest level characters revealed so far, her stamina is limited by her IncurableCoughofDeath.
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Context Main / SicklyProdigy