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13[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/simpsons_taser.jpg]]]]
14[[caption-width-right:350:"The essence of drama is conflict. That's why they gave me this Taser."]]
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16%% Caption selected per above IP thread. Please do not replace or remove without discussion in the Caption Repair thread:
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19->''Gun shy, but trigger happy? Get excited. Get delirious. Get all the pain compliance you need with this “non-lethal” weapon.''
20-->'''TEASER description''', ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoChinatownWars''
21
22As we know all too well, ElectricityKnocksYouOut.
23
24Concurrently, electricity has many uses; one of these manifold uses is a natural taser.
25
26This trope refers to the tendency for electricity to serve as a stunning mechanism. If a person can summon/harness lightning or electricity, chances are someone hit with it with be stunned, with arcs flowing across their body. Water is basically a giant taser trap waiting to be sprung by the proper application of an electric shock. Additionally, victims of said tasing with often cry out spasmodically before falling in a heap, in order to [[TheCoconutEffect properly convey the force of the incapacitating blast]]. Even when "ordinary" tasing doesn't behave like that in a given show, this effect often (inexplicably) appears when a taser is applied to the [[InTheBack back of the neck]].
27
28This is very common in VideoGames, where the paralysis {{Status Effect|s}} is frequently inflicted by electric attacks or visually represented by electric sparks.
29
30Related to ShockAndAwe, as most of the Electric weaponry related therein would carry this effect.
31
32In SF literature after about 1955, you are much more likely to encounter a SonicStunner. Since then, Static Stun Guns have been primarily a visual-media trope.
33
34A Static Stun Gun can be considered a type of stun gun, because both kinds of weapons have the ability to incapacitate. It's just that the former is [[WordOfGod explicitly]] [[AllThereInTheManual mentioned]] to be lightning-driven while the latter can use something else besides electricity to do the same job.
35
36This trope is not TruthInTelevision -- if a live-action character is tased and loses consciousness, it's safe to assume that the "taser" is not a real taser at all and the actor is merely guessing what it's like to be tased.
37
38See LightningGun for a more lethal way to use electricity, and TaserTagWeakness for when a Static Stun Gun proves just as useful against superpowered individuals as it does against unpowered ones (i.e., very useful). See also ShockStick for electrified weapons that take the form of a staff or baton, usually combining this effect with blunt trauma. Compare InstantDeathBullet, for when ''guns'' are depicted as a painless way to incapacitate someone. SubTrope of ElectricityKnocksYouOut.
39
40----
41!!Examples:
42[[foldercontrol]]
43
44[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
45* [[ShockAndAwe Misaka Mikoto]] of ''Manga/ACertainScientificRailgun'' uses her powers for this in one episode of the anime after cheerfully explaining that electric stun guns don't work on her.
46* Hei in ''Anime/DarkerThanBlack'' uses his electricity power like this at times. In one case he actually pretended to have a taser, because he wasn't disguised at the time.
47* In ''Literature/FullMetalPanic: The Second Raid'', Sousuke gives Kaname a taser weapon on her request, which she later uses to defend herself against an assassin.
48* One type of weapon ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'''s Section 9 uses is something like a handshake joy buzzer, built like fingerless gloves. Of course, they're designed specifically for use against cyborgs.
49* When trying to wake up a sleeping Bean in ''Anime/RidingBean'', Rally tries to use a taser on his neck to wake him up. It ''[[HeavySleeper doesn't]]'' work, so she just elicits to place a burning hot pan to his face; he wakes up no worse for wear.
50* ''Manga/StarStrikeItRich'': Ichika uses a Taser to knock out Hina. Hana implies it was something Ichika confiscated from a delinquent, before stealing it for herself.
51* ''Manga/TomodachiGame'': The main characters are knoked out by tasers for what is probably hours when they are kidnapped for the titular game. When one of those tasers appears prominently in a later arc, the effect is somewhat handwaved by claiming they are a special model much more powerful than standard.
52* ''Manga/YokohamaKaidashiKikou:'' Kokone has a pistol loaded with "9mm electroshock rounds." They're non-lethal, but leave a scar.
53[[/folder]]
54
55[[folder:Comic Books]]
56* ComicBook/BlackWidow's wrist gauntlets fire electric shocks called the "Widow's Bite."
57* In ''ComicBook/DayOfTheDollmaker'', Catherine Grant uses a taser which she carries in her purse to disable one of Dollmaker's dollified slaves.
58* ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'': Lightning Lad often uses his ShockAndAwe powers this way (as does his sister when she possesses electrical power as Lightning Lass).
59[[/folder]]
60
61[[folder:Fan Works]]
62* ''Fanfic/TheNewAdventuresOfInvaderZim'': When the members of SMOG abduct Gaz in Season 1 Episode 18, they do so by hitting her with a taser baton. While she isn't knocked out, she's left momentarily paralyzed and disoriented, long enough for them to restrain her. When she breaks free later and [[BullyingADragon goes berserk in revenge]], she takes the baton and uses it to beat people with.
63* ''Fanfic/TheSecretReturnOfAlexMack'': This is Terawatt's usual nonlethal takedown method, until she tries out telekinetic ChokeHolds and finds that they work very well (at least so long as the opponent isn't able to resist with their own telekinesis or SuperToughness). She still pulls out the lightning bolts when fighting non-sapient monsters, but those are turned up to lethal levels.
64[[/folder]]
65
66[[folder:Film -- Animation]]
67* In ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe2'', Lucy renders Gru unconscious with a taser gun disguised as lipstick.
68[[/folder]]
69
70[[folder:Film -- Live Action]]
71* PlayedForLaughs in ''Film/TwentyTwoJumpStreet'' when [[spoiler:[[DaChief Captain Dickson]] uses one to tase Schmidt [[GroinAttack in the gonads]] as the retaliation for [[PapaWolf sleeping with his daughter]]]].
72* In ''Film/BlackRat'', the killer uses an electric stun gun to knock out Kanako. When she wakes up, she is wired to a chair in the AV lab.
73* ''Film/TheCreeps'': [[MadScientist Dr. Berber]] has a collapsible taser that he uses to knock Anna unconscious so he can steal the ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'' manuscript [[spoiler:and her]].
74* The Glow Rods in ''Film/DemolitionMan'' at first do not necessarily appear to be electrical, but near the end of the film, John Spartan exploits the "water = taser trap" form of the trope.
75* ''Film/TheEnforcer'': A taser is used during the kidnapping of the Mayor of San Francisco when he refuses to leave his limousine. As the weapon had just come onto the market when the movie was made in 1976, there's brief exposition among the villains on what it is.
76* ''Film/EverythingEverywhereAllAtOnce'': An FBI agent renders Chad unconscious with a taser.
77* ''Film/HitchhikerMassacre'': The killer has a taser that he uses to knock his victims unconscious before he abducts them. It makes a flashing blue light when it's in use.
78* In ''Film/LazerTeam'', Zach is tased not once, but three times (inadvertently the third time), including being tased twice in a row in one scene. This is especially notable as his actor, Creator/MichaelJones, was later tased twice in a row during the Creator/RoosterTeeth Extra Life fundraising stream in which they were raising money for a children's hospital. What's more, he volunteered for this as part of a fundraising goal.
79* ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'':
80** Black Widow has her Widow's Bite, which can discharge electric blasts to stun enemies. In ''Film/IronMan2'', she uses small discs to knockout some guards with an electric jolt. ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' sees her add a pair of electroshock batons to her arsenal.
81** ''Film/AntMan1'': Detective Paxton tases Scott, knocking him out so he can be put in the police car and taken back to jail.
82* ''Film/TheOtherGuys'': When Hoitz and Gamble are shocked with the tasers they both pass out.
83* In ''Film/ThePerfectWeapon'', Detective Sanders knocks Tanaka out with a taser gun.
84* In the final scene of ''Film/ResidentEvilApocalypse'', as Alice [[EscapedFromTheLab escapes from the laboratory she's cloned in]], a guard tries restraining her with a ranged taser. Since Alice is a superhuman, she simply rips the taser embedded on her skin and throws it back at the guard, knocking him out.
85* In ''Film/RoboCop2014'', one of the titular character's weapons is a NI-408 pistol (a.k.a. TSR-66). As Mattox says, "Each projectile releases up to 200,000 volts. It can stun, it can kill... and it's nasty shit." Murphy frequently uses it [[GunsAkimbo together]] with an M2 Battle Rifle, and is not above applying it as ElectricTorture by [[PayEvilUntoEvil shooting people who already surrendered if he feels the target deserves it]].
86-->'''Murphy:''' Hey, doctor, what happens if I taze an exoskeleton with a little asshole inside?
87%%* "Dynamo" in ''Film/TheRunningMan''
88* In ''Film/TomorrowNeverDies'', Film/JamesBond's mobile phone includes, besides its signature ability to remote-control his CoolCar, a two-pronged electroshock weapon activated by pressing the Recall button. In a memorable case of this, Bond overcomes one of the villains by tricking him into zapping himself with it.
89[[/folder]]
90
91[[folder:Literature]]
92* In ''Literature/BakaAndTestSummonTheBeasts'', [[{{Yandere}} Shouko]] does this to a non-complying [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend Yuuji]] while at the theaters, after he objects to watching ''Film/ApocalypseNow'' two times in a row, and later another film that lasts 7 hours, again two times in a row.
93* Agent Grant uses a cattle prod as a taser during a bank robbery in ''Literature/{{Curveball}}''. He later mentions that he wouldn't have bothered with the cattle prod if he'd known that their helmets weren't padded, which meant that [[TapOnTheHead tapping them on the head]] was far more effective than he thought it would be.
94* ''Literature/{{Durarara}}'': Akane attacks Shizuo with one after having been told the latter would kill her father and grandfather. The model she used was given to her by [[spoiler:Nakura]] under Izaya's orders and was heavily modified in order to be a lethal weapon. [[MadeOfIron Unsurprisingly]], all it does is sting Shizuo a little.
95* In the 1941 story "Fire-Power", by Creator/CyrilMKornbluth (writing as "S.D. Gottesman"), there is one reference to "electric stunners". This has been cited as the first occurrence of SonicStunner, but was probably intended as a static stun gun.
96* ''Literature/FunJungle'': The park security force uses them. In ''Panda-monium'' guard Kevin Wilks tries to stop a fleeing criminal with his taser gun but trips over a little kid as he's about to shoot and accidentally tasers an old lady instead (although the crook then trips over her and knocks himself out).
97%%* Alan E. Nourse's 1958 novel ''Literature/{{Gold in the Sky}}'' has "Markheim stunners".
98* Creator/RobertAHeinlein's classic 1949 story "Literature/{{Gulf}}" features a static stun gun called a "Markheim". This may well have been be the TropeCodifier; Heinlein's influence on later genre SF was enormous.
99* In ''Literature/HammersSlammers'', "needle stunners" fire a needle that carries a static charge strong enough to make muscles seize up like a taser, except the range and ammo capacity are greater and it can penetrate heavy clothing or even light armor.
100* In ''Literature/TheHandmaidsTale'', the Aunts wield cattle prods.
101* The [[FishPeople hydrites]] from the German SF series ''Literature/{{Maddrax}}'' have shocking staffs. These look a lot like a telescopic baton, but are much thicker and can shoot lightning bolts. Because the hydrites are a pacifist and peaceable species, the shock sticks are usually set to merely anesthetize the attackers. However, they can also shoot deadly lightning with them.
102* The ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'' explains the stun setting on a blaster as an electrical effect.
103* ''Literature/TomSwift'':
104** ''Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle'' (1911) gave the taser its name: '''T'''homas '''A'''. '''S'''wift's '''E'''lectric '''R'''ifle.
105** The villain of ''Tom Swift and His Ultrasonic Cycloplane'' (1957) has a weapon that generates electromagnetic waves which shock the target into stunned submission.
106* ''Literature/UniversalMonsters'': Joe improvises one in book 5, jabbing the Gill Man with the broken-off end of a power cord that's still plugged into the wall to drive the creature off.
107[[/folder]]
108
109[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
110* In the ''Series/Batman1966'' episode "That Darn Catwoman", Catwoman's goons use electric cattle prods to stun Batman into unconsciousness.
111* In the ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'' episode "[[Recap/BrooklynNineNineS3E11HostageSituation Hostage Situation]]", Jake knocks Charles out by shocking him in the back with a taser.
112%%* The weapons used by The Initiative in Season 4 of ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''.
113* In an early episode of ''Series/BurnNotice'', Fiona zaps a Russian mobster with a taser gun. However, since the mobster is currently grappling with her, the zap renders both of them unconscious. Note that in real life, taser guns neither cause unconsciousness, nor pass their current by physical contact with another person.
114* ''Series/Daredevil2015'': The Kitchen Irish members that corner Frank Castle at the carousel in "[[Recap/Daredevil2015S2E4PennyAndDime Penny and Dime]]" use tasers to subdue him.
115* ''Series/DoctorWho'': "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E9ColdBlood Cold Blood]]" has a Taser. SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome occurs when the person hit with it ends up dying from repeated shocks.
116* In ''Series/{{Dollhouse}}'', Ballard pretends to hand Topher some paperwork to sign, and when he is close enough stealthily tasers him in the chest, incapacitating him. This impresses a watching Alpha.
117-->''Alpha'': What the ''hell'' was that?! Some sort of joybuzzer stun-gun? You know officially I deplore violence, but that was ''totally'' worth the loss of karma points.
118* In ''Series/{{Farscape}}'', Captain Larraq carries a specialized stasis gun for capturing hosts of the intelligent virus he and his crew of commandos are chasing.
119* In ''Series/{{Helix}}'', [[ResearchInc Arctic Biosystems]] security techs have 600 kV stun batons, which knock humans out cold, but only serve to irritate [[NotUsingTheZWord Vectors]].
120* In the ''Series/Intelligence2014'' episode "Athens" Dr. Cassidy improvises an electrical stun bomb to temporarily incapacitate [[MonsterOfTheWeek Jin Cong]] and one of his {{mooks}}.
121* In ''Series/{{Leverage}}'', Parker loves zapping people with various tasers and other stun guns. Her old mentor/father-figure has two nearly identical specialty canes, one extends a six-inch blade from the tip, the other acts as a taser. When a hacker makes some rude comments about Parker, [[PapaWolf the old man places his cane's tip against the guy's crotch and asks him if he'd like to find out which one he was using today]] (later, the same guy continues making rude comments, so he hits him in the neck with it and discovers it was the taser after all).
122* ''Series/{{Lost}}'''s Others have weapons similar to tasers, with multiple settings.
123* In the ''Series/MurdochMysteries'' season 8 finale, Murdoch demonstrates his new invention: a "weaponised capacitor", which is basically a {{steampunk}} taser. He does warn that it could possibly kill someone.
124* ''Series/PersonOfInterest'': Averted in "[[Recap/PersonOfInterestS01E04 Cura Te Ipsum]]". Dr. Tillman is planning to kidnap and murder serial rapist Andrew Benton. She zaps him with a taser and he is almost immediately on the floor, but then Tillman follows this up by administering a drug via nasal spray that knocks Benton out long enough for her to restrain him in a wheelchair and wheel him to her van.
125* In one episode of ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', the villain of the week tries to murder Lana and her friend with a handgun that shoots a bolt of electricity, claiming it's painless and will immediately stop their hearts. Clark ends up speeding in and [[ImmuneToBullets tanking it]], accidentally ricocheting the energy back at the villain, which kills him instantly. He then speeds out so fast that it appears to Lana and her friend that the gun just explosively misfired.
126* The Goa'uld "Zat'Nik'Tel" weapons in ''Series/StargateSG1'' work like this; effectively scaled up versions of a Taser weapon. In one instance, one was even used as a substitute for electroshock therapy. It can also be used as a lethal weapon, since the charge is strong enough to kill most humanoids on a second shot.
127* ''Series/{{Torchwood}}'': In "[[Recap/TorchwoodS2E4Meat Meat]]", Torchwood use tasers against people who they don't think are dangerous. It turns out these people have guns and Ianto ends up tasering someone in the forehead, saying "Pray you survive."
128* ''Series/VeronicaMars'': Veronica's signature weapon is a taser that she often used to incapacitate opponents, as being a petite teen [[AmateurSleuth sleuth]], she's too young to carry a firearm and too small to directly take on most opponents.
129* The Tesla guns (designed, as one would expect in this series, by UsefulNotes/NikolaTesla himself) in ''Series/Warehouse13'' are exactly this.
130[[/folder]]
131
132[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
133* Wrestling/HarleyRace helped Wrestling/{{Vader}} win a Texas Death Match in Wrestling/{{WCW}} by shooting [[Wrestling/MickFoley Cactus Jack]] with a taser.
134* Wrestling/ScottHall, disguised as a security officer, helped Wrestling/KevinNash beat Wrestling/{{Goldberg}} to win the WCW World Championship by zapping Goldberg in the chest with a taser.
135[[/folder]]
136
137[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
138* In ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'', the Battlemech taser is a stun gun on steroids. It uses a modified [[MagneticWeapons Gauss Rifle]] mechanism to fire two armor-piercing harpoons into enemy [[HumongousMecha battlemechs]], then pumps it with electricity to fry the mech's electronics, allowing it to be salvaged mostly intact. Sadly, it doesn't cause the violently twitching that a stungun causes against meatbags, as battlemech's artificial muscles are immune to it courtesy of their extreme electrical resistance. The weapon also has a [[CriticalFailure small chance of feedback shocking the user]], and will violently [[MadeOfExplodium explode when damaged]].
139* One ''TabletopGame/{{Cyberpunk}} 2020'' splatbook includes two variants. First, one that uses a moderate charge laser between the contacts to ionize the air, turning it into something similar to the ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'' electrolaser -- and another that is the same thing, but built into a cyber arm.
140* The ''TabletopGame/DarkConspiracy'' supplement ''Darktek'' has the "E.T. Stun Gun". It fires a laser to ionize the air, then discharges an electric current that follows the ionization path.
141* ''TabletopGame/EclipsePhase'' has stunners, electrolasers that deal some damage and the "shock" status effect, shock batons, shock gloves, and [[BioAugmentation eelware]] are melee weapons that do practically the same thing. Also, [[AgonyBeam agonizers]] use microwaves to inflict incapacitating pain without damage (unless set to "roast"), and standard laser guns have a "stun" setting that uses a set of quick pulses to achieve a flashbang-like effect.
142* ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'':
143** ''TabletopGame/GURPSHighTech'' has tasers/batons as well as taser guns -- which are nearly useless against people wearing anything but normal clothing.
144** By ''TabletopGame/GURPSUltraTech'', the tasers have been replaced with [[LightningGun electrolasers]]. Incidentally, the latter cause stunning effects only in the early editions of the game, but in 4th edition, the laser element causes a modicum of burning damage. However, attacks with the [[ShockAndAwe Surge]] modifier always force characters to roll to avoid stun if enough damage is taken.
145* "The List of Character Survival Techniques" ([[http://home.planet.nl/~jvdriel/survivaladvice.txt v.1.5]]) recommends carrying a stun weapon such as tasers and [[InstantSedation knockout poison darts]] -- sooner or later your teammate ''will'' catch DemonicPossession, HatePlague or something. And considering it as a primary weapon, to reduce [[CycleOfRevenge inevitable complications]].
146* ''TabletopGame/StarFrontiers'' has electrostunners (ranged stunning weapons).
147[[/folder]]
148
149[[folder:Video Games]]
150* ''VideoGame/ArmoryAndMachine'' has the Stun Baton skill, which zaps an enemy to deal high damage to their shields and also "stuns" them by interrupting their current move, causing it to fail.
151* Players can control Mumbo Jumbo as a playable character in ''VideoGame/BanjoTooie''. His weapon, the Zap Stick, shoots a continuous stream of sparks that immobilize the victim and causes them to babble incoherently until they die. It is wonderful.
152-->DOW-BA-LA-DOW-BA-LA-DOW-BA-LA-DOW-BA-LA-DOW-BA-LA-DOW-BA-LA-AAAARRGHHH!!!
153* ''VideoGame/BattlefieldHardline'': If you choose to be a cop, you have to use a taser to subdue criminals before you can arrest them.
154* The infamous "One-Two Punch" in ''VideoGame/BioShock1'' involves first stunning an enemy with Electro Bolt and then whacking them upside the head with your wrench. Shooting a pool of water not only hits every Splicer in that pool, but kills them instead of merely stunning.
155* In ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands}}'', electric elemental damage can stun enemies.
156* Eddie Riggs can stun the various animals in ''VideoGame/BrutalLegend'', and then ride them, by calling down lightning with his guitar.
157* The Soviet Telsa Pistol used by commissars in ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3: Paradox'' is one of these, useful to stopping deserters or for stunning enemy soldiers alike.
158* ''VideoGame/CustomRobo'' has the Stun, Ion and Thunderbolt guns, electrical weapons that stagger the opponent for an extended time if they hit.
159* ''Franchise/DeusExUniverse'':
160** The stun baton in ''VideoGame/DeusEx'' is electric and awesome. The first hit would stop a regular human in the ass. If the second his is applied to their buttocks then they would be knocked out. Sometimes it takes more than two hits if not applied to the behind.
161** One of the weapons available to Adam Jensen in ''VideoGame/DeusExHumanRevolution'' is a taser pistol which, [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome surprisingly]], must be reloaded after every shot. Luckily, that's enough to take down basically any one person he fights.
162* The first ''VideoGame/EndlessNightmare'' grants you a ranged taser as the only weapon you can have, which is painfully sluggish but works decently well against the undead. You'll need to recharge it after each shot, however. In the sequels you can use firearms freely, and the stun gun is written out of the games ever since.
163* ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' crosses this with CarryABigStick in form of X-2 Antenna, [[ImprovisedWeapon which you wrench out from a radio dish]] as part of a ''Old World Blues'' DLC quest. It stays electrified after that and deals additional damage to robots and people in PoweredArmor, has insane reach and causes knockback, but is rather heavy. It also has a special VATS move that deals quadruple damage (doubled by VATS, then doubled once more by special itself), making it the strongest non-explosive attack in the game.
164* Some {{mooks}} near the end of ''VideoGame/FightingForce'' have an arm that can shock the player, knocking them down and taking some health.
165* The Thunder branch of spells in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyCrystalChronicles'' may inflict the "Stunned" status condition, preventing the victim from moving until it wears off.
166* In ''VideoGame/FindTheCure'', the infirmary is guarded by an electrical turret that incapacitates without killing.
167* The advanced edition of ''VideoGame/FTLFasterThanLight'' introduces weapons that both ionize the targeted systems and stun anyone nearby.
168* In ''VideoGame/GirlsFrontline'', SIG MCX's special attack has her pull out a Taser gun and shoot it at the nearest enemy, inflicting extra damage and debuffs.
169* ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'' represents [[StatusEffects stunning]] as two bolts of lightning alongside the afflicted character.
170* Inverted in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoChinatownWars''. The player can purchase a "Teaser", which shocks your target for as long as you hold the trigger. Realistic until you hold it long enough that the target ''bursts into flames'', instantly giving you a one-star Wanted level.
171* In ''VideoGame/HitmanBloodMoney'', using a taser will render the victim unconscious for the remainder of the mission.
172* ''VideoGame/InvisibleInc'': Tasers are standard issue to your starting agents and normally knocks out enemies for three turns, while letting agents stand on knocked out enemies to extend the knockout duration. More powerful variants exist that are required for dealing with more powerful enemies.
173* ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire'''s Storm Dragon style does this. It becomes a GameBreaker for many fights, since harmonic combos with Storm Dragon usually gives you Focus drops. Focus powers your BulletTime, so you can effectively stay unhittable and kill everything in a room in maybe 4 seconds of real-time.
174* ''VideoGame/JonathanKaneTheProtector'' is an FPS where if the player is in control of Jonathan's LoveInterest, Jennifer, they then get a ranged stun-gun as her sole weapon. It deals a OneHitKO on all enemies, knocking mooks unconscious, but tends to be somewhat slower than bullets.
175* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'':
176** ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI'' has an odd example: the Thunder spell can paralyze the Trickmaster boss on contact, but the spell is typically obtained after defeating that boss if the worlds are traveled in the intended order.
177** ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' also plays with this by having the cursed pirates from Port Royal similarly vulnerable to Thunder magic.
178* In ''VideoGame/LowGMan'', the titular character carries the electro-magnetic disruptor pistol, an infinite-ammo weapon that can be used to stun enemies before taking them out with the armor-piercing spear. It actually becomes a SpreadShot on higher levels.
179* ''Franchise/MegaMan'':
180** ''VideoGame/MegaMan3'' features the Spark Shock as Spark Man's weapon, which allows Mega Man to paralyze enemies that aren't immune to it. Unfortunately, it's a UselessUsefulSpell by virtue of preventing weapon switching until it wears off, and dealing no damage by itself. [[VideoGame/MegaManIII The Game Boy version]] gives it a significant BalanceBuff by allowing the player to switch weapons while there's a paralyzed enemy on screen.
181** In ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork'', paralysis is an effect typically associated with the Elec type. This works in reverse, as well, as TheParalyzer Flash Man became Elec type in ''[=MMBN3=]''.
182* ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'':
183** ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'''s electricity-based Wave Beam may disable the target if charged. Also, Samus' pistol in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' fires a bolt of what is presumably electricity which stops foes in their tracks, complete with the coursing arcs.
184** ''VideoGame/MetroidZeroMission'': Samus is shot down on her first attempt to escape Zebes; in the crash, she loses her armor and has to infiltrate the Space Pirate mothership armed with only a stun gun. The gun has a ridiculously long recharge time, and it only stuns enemies if fired with a full charge; otherwise it just ticks them off. Worse, enemies shot with a full charge only stay stunned for three seconds, after which they wake up and sound the alarm, assuming Samus isn't hidden when they do wake up (which, given the above, is rather difficult to actually manage). Samus herself [[LampshadeHanging lampshades]] the gun's many failings in monologue:
185--->''"All I had for protection was my rather useless emergency pistol..."''
186%%* ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeed'' has this for ''cars''.
187* In ''VideoGame/{{Noita}}'', wet creatures struck with Lightning attacks will be temporarily stunned with the traditional white lightning running over their body.
188* ''VideoGame/{{Oni}}'' has the van de Graaf pistol, which fires a short-ranged arc of lightning does almost no damage but stuns an enemy for several seconds or until they are damaged. It's most useful for crowd control or allowing Konoko to get into position for a [[BackStab Backbreaker]].
189* ''PAYDAY'':
190** Taser units in ''VideoGame/PAYDAYTheHeist'' can stun you with their tasers, causing you to fire you gun uncontrollably. Unless another player kills the Taser or you happen to shoot him with your uncontrolled firing, you'll get incapacitated. [[VideoGame/PAYDAY2 The sequel]] keeps them the same but also adds a taser gun as a melee weapon that can stun any enemy except the Bulldozer.
191** Tasers return in ''VideoGame/PAYDAY3'', renamed Zappers due to "Taser" being trademarked by Axon and gaining the ability to drop shock mines which will briefly stun anyone caught in the blast.
192* ''VideoGame/PeoplePlayground'': The Stunner gun launches an electric energy packet and it immobilizes humans. It's one of the few weapons that can neutralize people without killing, but overusing it might fry them alive and kill them as a result.
193* Most ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'''s lightning attacks come with a paralysis side-effect. [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard Don't count on that to have an advantage if you're not using Thunder Wave, though, but do expect paralysis to occur often on your team members]]. Even when the paralysis is not inflicted by an Electric-type attack (for example, Body Slam or Stun Spore), the effect is represented by electric sparks covering the victim.
194* ''VideoGame/Prey2017'': The RSV-77 Neuroelectric Disruptor, or simply the Disruptor, fires an arc of electricity at the target. Can be used to stun Typhon (though Voltaic Phantoms are immune), and when upgraded is surprisingly effective against Technopaths and corrupted Operators. It also of course will effectively knock out human targets, such as those under control of a Telepath.
195* ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil'':
196** In ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilRemake'', Jill can acquire one of these as a defensive weapon. In ''[[VideoGame/ResidentEvilTheUmbrellaChronicles The Umbrella Chronicles]]'', it is her counter move, frying a zombie by tazing them in the stomach.
197** Weapons called "Stun Rods" appear in the hands of late-game mooks in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' and ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5''. It's a bit of a misnomer, though: in 4 they do about the same amount of damage as being shot in the face with a [[GatlingGood Gatling Gun]], and in 5 they instantly put you into [[ControlledHelplessness Dying status]]. You can also buy a Stun Rod in 5 and use it yourself; it is extremely powerful and works wonders for crowd control and, best of all, it doesn't use any ammo.
198* In ''VideoGame/RWBYAmityArena'', there are two characters who uses this trope - Nolan, whose Stun Rod is practically a DiskOneNuke as you get him early on, cost the least amount of Aura to deploy and can stop just about anything and anyone, and Neptune, who comes later on but has the added abilities of causing a stun just by being deployed and being able to shoot and stun his opponents.
199* ''VideoGame/{{Sipho}}'': Judging from the zapping sound and lightning-like visuals it makes, the ability-disabling Sizzler zooid acts through some sort of electric charge.
200* ''VideoGame/SpiderManPS4'': There's a scene in the DLC where Yuri Watanabe, [[WeUsedToBeFriends formerly]] Spidey's FriendOnTheForce, is attempting to shoot [[SuperMobBoss Hammerhead]] to death, but Peter tries to prevent her from doing so. Yuri immobilizes Peter by shooting him with electric restraining cables obtained from [[PrivateMilitaryContractors Sable Incorporated]], preventing him from stepping in long enough for her to [[BoomHeadshot shoot Hammerhead]]. This scene shows that, despite Yuri JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope in her revenge against Hammerhead, she refuses to kill Spider-Man for opposing her.
201* The Shock Trap from ''VideoGame/StarWarsBattlefront2015'' is an electronic mine which immobilizes any enemy within range and kills them if they fail to struggle loose in five seconds. Both R2-D2 and Lando Calrissan can use these Traps as one of their abilities, though Lando's variant of the above is not only more powerful, but also disguises itself as a power-up. R2's is a more literal gun, shooting straight out of his body.
202* In ''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage 4'', some [[DirtyCop police officers]] carry single-use stun guns that shock and immobilize enemies. They can also be used on arcade machines to unlock [[NostalgiaLevel hidden stages based on stages from previous games]].
203* In ''VideoGame/SuperScribblenauts'', shooting something with electricity gives them the "vegetative" adjective. This is extremely effective due to the fact that it can easily put down characters that are virtually invincible.
204* ''VideoGame/SWAT4'''s array of less-lethal weaponry includes (with the expansion pack) two different tasers. One a standard black-and-yellow ranged taser, the other a more rounded-edges newer model, which can be used as both a ranged taser and a melee weapon (an up-close paralyzer). In terms of game mechanics, the tasers are used for non-complying suspects resisting arrest or for overly paniced civilians. (With the expansion pack, you can also [[TakeAThirdOption avoid tasing non-compliant suspects or especially civilian NPCs]], by using a [[GoodOldFisticuffs slight punching melee attack]] to threaten them to comply.)
205* ''VideoGame/SyphonFilter'' has the air taser, an electroshock weapon that is notable for three major attributes -- firstly, it has infinite ammo, which is quite handy in an FPS. Secondly, it has infinite range -- if you can see it, you can shoot it with the air taser. Finally, while stunning opponents via electric shock, holding down the trigger too long results in the victim ''bursting into flames'' while screaming loudly and spasming wildly. Fans widely consider this 'side effect' to be gruesomely hilarious. Conversely, the hand taser available in the sequel is a standard contact-type stun weapon similar to a real-life electric stun gun. It doesn't have the same range, utility, or entertainment value as the air taser, and is therefore uninteresting to expound upon.
206* In ''VideoGame/UrbanChaosRiotResponse'', if you taze someone for too long, they will burst into flames, killing them.
207* ''VideoGame/VoidBastards'' has the Zapper, a 3-shot tazer that does a small ammount of damage and stuns the target. It's very effective on robots and turrets. Its upgrades, Cattle Prod and Herd Zapper, stun for longer.
208* ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}} III'' has Purge (hits target with lightning), which removes buffs but slows the target a great deal, as well as Storm Bolt, an electrically charged hammer that stuns the target. Used by name without involving electricity, Thunder Clap also slows enemies by slamming the ground.
209* ''VideoGame/{{Warframe}}'': The Electric StatusEffect stuns enemies for a few seconds while making them give off a ChainLightning effect to other nearby enemies.
210* In the ''VideoGame/{{X}}'' games, the Ion Disruptor acts like an [[ChainLightning arcing]] [[LightningGun lightning ray]] against ships, which does good shield damage but is effectively useless against the hull. Ion Disruptors are also the only way to capture {{Space|Whale}}flies - zap a spacefly with the disruptor as it zips past, and it will be stunned long enough for the spaceship to scoop it up with a spacefly collector. The spacefly can then be sold to the [[ProudWarriorRace Split Dynasty]] to [[PoweredByAForsakenChild power their reactors]] or to the {{Space Pirate}}s for pretty much the same purpose.
211* ''VideoGame/XCom'':
212** The Stun Rod's ''[[VideoGame/XComTerrorFromTheDeep Terror From The Deep]]'' equivalent, the Thermal Taser, is incredibly useful for one reason: Lobstermen, which are [[NighInvulnerability nigh-invulnerable]], take full damage from the Taser. Since the only other weapon that does full or more damage to Lobstermen is the equally short-ranged [[{{Vibroweapon}} VibroBlade]] weapons, the Taser can be useful if you encounter Lobstermen before you've researched either the blades or the Thermal Shok Launcher.
213** ''VideoGame/XCOMUFODefense'' has stun rods, cattle prod-like tools used to stun aliens for capture. They can also stun your own soldiers when they get mind-controlled, or civilians to stop their tendency to run into enemy fire.
214** ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown'' has the Arc Thrower, a short-ranged electrolaser designed and invented as a research project after you research the alien invaders' xeno-biology. It works better the less health the target has, and once the stun procs, the alien will stay unconscious until the end of the mission. Later projects in the Foundry increase its effectiveness to make stuns easier, and give it an extra role in [[HackYourEnemy hacking]] alien Drones and repairing mechanical units[[labelnote:*]][[AttackDrone SHIVs]], other hacked Drones and, in ''[[ExpansionPack Enemy Within]]'', [[{{Cyborg}} MEC Troopers]] and [[MindControl mind-controlled]] Mechtoids.[[/labelnote]]. It should be noted that each of these uses consume one charge of the Arc Thrower's very limited pool.
215** The ''[[VideoGame/XCOMLongWar Long War 2]]'' mod for ''VideoGame/XCOM2'' brings the Arc Thrower back as a sidearm for some classes. While it no longer KO's enemies for the entire mission, it has a significantly better range than in Enemy Unknown and uses a short cooldown rather than limited charges. A number of soldier perks let the Arc Thrower deal direct damage, incapacitate robotic enemies, and daze targets even when missing a shot. The weapon and perks have also been reused by a number of other mods.
216* ''VideoGame/YandereSimulator'': Wielded by Kocho Shuyona. First shown in [=YandereDev's=] ''Let's Examine [[VideoGame/Persona5 Persona]]'' series of videos, where he is seen in concept art wielding an [=X-26=] Taser gun. Sure enough, when he was introduced into the game several months later, he has that taser gun on him and ''will'' use it on Ayano without hesitation.
217[[/folder]]
218
219[[folder:Visual Novels]]
220* ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'''s Shion Sonozaki has a habit of knocking people out with tasers, often by pushing it very hard into their ''neck''. She has never given anyone more than a few hours of unconsciousness (at least, [[TortureCellar that's all she's done with the]] ''[[TortureCellar taser]]''...).
221* In ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'', [[spoiler:Manfred von Karma]] uses one of these on Phoenix and Maya to steal incriminating evidence from them. Maya somehow holds the static charge into the next day, and zaps Phoenix, Edgeworth, and Gumshoe in the courtroom lobby.
222[[/folder]]
223
224[[folder:Webcomics]]
225* Thanks to using a robotic avatar to communicate with the world, Princess Anevka of ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'' can produce small bursts of electricity capable of stunning people. She can also use this to kill people, including [[spoiler: her father]].
226* The police in ''Webcomic/KiwiBlitz'' use pistols loaded with stun bullets (apparently miniature tasers) because they were tired of being sued whenever someone died resisting arrest.
227* In ''Webcomic/TheLydianOption'', the Tha'Latta carry long rods with tasers at the end to subdue unruly prisoners.
228%%* A very common weapon in ''Webcomic/{{Spacetrawler}}''.
229* In ''Webcomic/TrueMagic'', the guards wield collapsible metal batons that can stun people. Since it channels the nobility’s inherited magic, peasants can’t wield the batons, and receive a shock if they touch it.
230[[/folder]]
231
232[[folder:Western Animation]]
233* In the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode "Heart of Steel", Alfred thinks he must have dozed off after being shocked with a taser.
234* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', the [[AntiMagicalFaction Equalist]] shock glove is a Static Stun Gun in {{Power Palm|s}} form, designed to give the Equalists' [[{{Muggle}} nonbender]] forces an edge over enemies like the armored [[ExtraOreDinary metalbending police]]. It becomes the weapon of Asami Sato, Team Avatar's token BadassNormal.
235* ''WesternAnimation/RoughnecksStarshipTroopersChronicles'': The Shock Stick is a melee staff weapon used by the Skinnies that delivers powerful amperages of electricity. They are capable of killing Bugs or disabling a Trooper's PowerArmor. The Troopers later adopt this technology for their own use.
236* In ''WesternAnimation/SkysurferStrikeForce''. Crazy Stunts' duel pistols can fire long cable at his enemies that will shock them if they touch it.
237* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'':
238** In "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS10E21MontyCantBuyMeLove Monty Can't Buy Me Love]]", Mr. Burns uses a cattle prod on numerous people at the mall, including Ned Flanders.
239--->'''Burns:''' ''[to a passed-out Ned]'' That's a good lad.
240** Subverted in "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS14E5HelterShelter Helter Shelter]]". Squiggy from ''Series/LaverneAndShirley'' is sent in to boost the show's ratings, and zaps Homer with a taser. Homer cries out spasmodically but does not end up losing consciousness.
241--->'''Squiggy:''' The essence of drama is conflict. That's why they gave me this Taser.
242** Discussed in "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS24E22DangersOnATrain Dangers on a Train]]". Marge skypes Ben and asks him if he's watching ''Upton Rectory''. He says he can't because his wife is "watching a show about a man who repossesses zoo animals". She is then heard yelling "Come on, taser that flamingo!" followed by an electrical buzzing sound and a flamingo shrieking.
243* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'':
244** Subverted in "[[Recap/SouthParkS8E10PreSchool Pre-School]]". Cartman tries to stop Trent Boyett with his mother's taser gun but misses and hits Miss Claridge, overcharging her wheelchair and causing her to spin out of control.
245** After being tased by the police in "[[Recap/SouthParkS8E13CartmansIncredibleGift Cartman's Incredible Gift]]", Tom Johansen falls to the floor, unconscious.
246** In "[[Recap/SouthParkS25E6CredigreeWeedStPatricksDaySpecial Credigree Weed St. Patrick's Day Special]]", Butters pinches a policeman for not wearing green and gets tased unconscious by another for "sexual assault".
247[[/folder]]

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