Line #23 Main/TimeToUnlockMoreTruePotential


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7	In the endless rounds of MyKungFuIsStrongerThanYours, there will eventually come a time when one's self-directed training [[HardWorkHardlyWorks (or lack thereof)]] will no longer prove sufficient to the task. The character must then find a {{mentor\|s}} who will help then tap into their inner strength and develop new and more powerful attacks. This invariably requires multiple rounds of TrainingFromHell, or a difficult [[TheQuest quest]] (which is [[TheOnlyWayTheyWillLearn the same thing disguised as a trip]]).
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9	This is the usual manner in which a character will learn how to perform KiManipulation.
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11	Sometimes done in a flashback to surprise the viewer.
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13	Compare SoLastSeason and SuperEmpowering. See also FullPotentialUpgrade when a character's weapons or tools have to be powered-up along with the character. For their first fight afterwards see LookWhatICanDoNow
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15	For information on why this trope so often appears in Japanese media, please read [[Analysis/TimeToUnlockMoreTruePotential our Analysis page]].
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17	!!Examples
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19	[[foldercontrol]]
20
21	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
22	* To fight the devil hosts of the Spade Kingdom, most of the Black Bulls in ''Manga/BlackClover'' get stronger over the six month time skip: Asta and Noelle train in the Heart Kingdom, Charmy, Luck, and Nero learn arrays from the Spirit Guardians in the Heart Kingdom, and Gordon studies Curse Magic under his father. When said training in most cases proves insufficient against the might of the Dark Triad themselves, most of them need to take it to the ''next'' level to be ready for the rematches and more importantly against the high-ranking devils the Triad are getting ready to unleash on the world.
23	* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' is made of this trope -- Ichigo turning to the Visoreds for training as well as Orihime training with Rukia and Chad training with Urahara and Renji are the most standard examples. You could also say that, when a Shingami achieves Bankai by training with the spirit of their Zanpakuto it's a variation of this trope as the Zanpakuto teaches them how to unlock their true power. Ichigo has especially abused this trope, as he has been (deep breath): a shinigami, a Bankai level shinigami, a Visored, a Vasto Lorde-like shinigami, a more powerful shinigami, a Fullbringer, a ''more'' more powerful shinigami, and a [[spoiler:Quincy]]. Again -- that's ''all performed by a single character.''
24	* Inverted in Kojirō Hyūga's case during the World Youth arc of ''Manga/CaptainTsubasa'': until then, he unlocked more potential thanks to his mentor Kozo Kira's help, but in this arc Kira told him he had nothing more Hyūga could learn from him, and that he needed to hone his skills by himself. Cue Hyūga going hermit in the mountains for a TrainingFromHell session, in which he gained his new destructive Raiju Shoot.
25	* For most of ''Manga/CodenameSailorV'' Minako coasted in combat through her natural athleticism, what techniques Artemis managed to teach her though the [[TaughtByTelevision Sailor V game]], and the martial arts training she had in her MysteriousPast... Up until she was punched in the face (while untransformed) by a common thug. Fast forward to the Valentine's Day chapter and Artemis has figured out how to train her in full, and by the start of ''Manga/SailorMoon'' she's once again unstoppable.
26	** Implied in the ''Sailor Moon'', as the fighting abilities of Usagi, Ami, Rei, and Makoto grow exponentially once they meet the now MarriedToTheJob Minako, indicating she starts training them off-screen as soon as she joins the group.
27	* ''Franchise/DragonBall'' takes this to dizzying levels: anyone more than a century old and not evil will either impart new techniques or glow eerily, increasing the main characters' strength either way. Even when the characters train solo rather than directly under a master, it's acknowledged by Goku multiple times that he thought he'd hit his limit only for a much more powerful foe to show up. Luckily for him, the excitement of training up and fighting to see how he does is more than enough motivation to start all over again.
28	** Gohan takes this trope extremely literally: he has an inner strength far beyond anyone around that only appears when he's emotionally pushed to the brink, and much is made about how powerful he'd be if he could use it at will. The first "unlock" is with the Grand Elder on Namek, but then in the Cell Arc this hidden power was utilized as the way for him to reach Super Saiyan 2.[[labelnote:*]]Remember, the Grand Elder made it so that this emotion-based power jump wasn't needed anymore.[[/labelnote]] Then in the Buu Arc, Elder Kai performs a ritual that draws out the "hidden abilities" of mortals beyond what they're normally capable of, layering on top of the Grand Elder's unlock! It's later acknowledged in ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'' by Beerus and Whis that Gohan has a ''ridiculous'' amount of potential that not even Goku and Vegeta can hope to have, but the issue is Gohan simply isn't a BloodKnight like they are, so he doesn't have the same drive for training and combat.
29	** In ''Anime/DragonBallGT'', the Kais think Goku's in for this after his first defeat by Baby Vegeta. Played with in a sense, as all Goku needs to unlock his potential is to have his old tail grow back, in a particularly painful manner involving a pair of pliers. It ''certainly'' did the trick, as while Goku is still barely a match at first, he meets the criteria needed to unlock [[SuperMode Super Saiyan 4]] and gain the upper hand.
30	* Used in ''Manga/FairyTail'' to quickly explain away how the core cast managed to catch up to everyone who's had seven more years than them to hone their magic abilities. Some of them did it through (off-screen) TrainingFromHell for three months while others, because they got stuck at a party [[YearOutsideHourInside in a dimension where one day is three months in the real world]], had to get a handy PowerUp from an old enemy-turned-ally that forcibly and permanently doubled their magic power at the cost of extreme agony throughout the night. Later on, a second {{Timeskip}} has everyone going off to do one year of TrainingFromHell to improve even further.
31	* ''Manga/{{Haikyuu}}'' has Hinata, who starts to get frustrated that he can't improve his unique quick attack with Kageyama simply by trying, especially with Kageyama telling him it's as good as it will get. Cue Ukai taking him to see [[spoiler:his grandfather, the senior Coach Ukai with a reputation for extremely demanding training. Hinata learns to apply more complex thought and technique to his spikes, and becomes a much more formidable opponent on the court in the Spring tournament.]]
32	* MagicalGirl example: In ''Anime/HeartcatchPrettyCure'', Tsubomi and friends had to do this ''twice''. The first was after the [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Desert Generals]] gained their DeadlyUpgrade, and the second was after the BigBad Dune curbstomped them in a battle.
33	* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' has this happen often for the main character, especially in ''Shippuden''. After he returns from a [[TookALevelInBadass three-year-long training trip]], does some [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique more training]], after which he gets to do some [[MeditationPowerup extra special training]] -- and that's when [[SuperMode the ''real'' training starts.]]
34	** And each previous unlocking of his true potential is proven ultimately ineffective against the current threat before he defeats them with the [[SignatureMove Rasengan]], which requires him to unlock more true potential that will likewise prove to be ultimately ineffective against THAT current threat.
35	** Eventually, the plot just ditches the vanity of training altogether and just hands him new power-ups as the situation arises.
36	* ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'': Negi's {{Training from Hell}} with [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Vampire]] Evangeline, complete with a YearInsideHourOutside bottle containing an enchanted resort. This is hardly the only instance, either. He does it again with Jack Rakan, learning BlackMagic. [[spoiler:And he's going through this again with Pseudo-Eva, to get the BlackMagic under control.]]
37	* Luffy and Zoro of ''Manga/OnePiece'' went off to do this [[spoiler:during the two-year TimeSkip after the Marineford arc. Luffy went off to train his [[BattleAura Haki]] with Silvers Rayleigh and Zoro went to train with Dracule Mihawk. The other characters went off to either [[TookALevelInBadass Take Levels of Badass]] in their own way or on other escapades.]]
38	** [[spoiler:Interesting case with Luffy, as not only did he do Haki training, but after that, he trained on his own and also gained '''[[SuperMode Gear Fourth]]''', which combines Gears Second, Third, and Haki to create a much bigger form for him. Which, by the way, was first seen in a CurbstompBattle against Doflamingo, who, by the way, was in the ''receiving end.'' Mind you, Doflamingo is a ''[[TheDreaded Warlord]]'', and a particularly nasty one.]]
39	** Luffy then gets to do this ''again'' after [[spoiler: unleashing TheWorfBarrage on [[TheJuggernaut Kaido]] and getting [[CurbStompBattle one-shot]] for his efforts. After getting thrown in prison, he begins training under fellow inmate Hyogoro to master the art of using Armament Haki outside his body rather than coating himself in it and damaging things without touching them, which should supposedly help him actually deal damage to Kaido.]]
40	* Deconstructed in ''Manga/RamenFighterMiki'', an hilarious parody of the FightingSeries:
41	** Subverted with Kankuro, who goes into a TheQuest not for better TrainingFromHell, but after using underhanded methods to beat a rival (Kankuro is the IdiotHero) [[RedemptionQuest to become a better person]].
42	** Deconstructed when Miki and Megumi are Kanban Musumes (poster girls) for a Ramen Restaurant and a Bakery respectively. They only use their great fighting skills to fight between themselves. But they are so good fighting that two true martial artists (who played Pink Ranger and the ClassicVillain Hell Bunny, an expy of Sailor Moon at the ShowWithinAShow Star Rangers), come to their city only to see them fight and help them with Pink Star’s confidence. In other words, the protagonists are TheQuest.
43	--->'''Pink Ranger:''' ''[in civilian clothes]'' Amazing! I never thought I would see such skills outside such a small neighborhood store.\
44	'''Hell's Bunny:''' ''[in civilian clothes]'' What do you think? Aren't you glad we came?
45	* At different points in the series Ranma and Ryoga in ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' would turn to the Chinese Amazon matriarch Cologne for advanced training.
46	* In the anime adaptation of ''Manga/Reborn2004'', the Vongola are sent back to the present twice to go through some trials. The first arc deals with them passing the Arcobaleno Trials in order for a boost up before Choice. The second arc has them prove themselves to the First Generation in order to be able to use their Vongola box weapons to the fullest. The Inheritance arc averts this instead, where they receive upgrades that are meant to compliment their fighting styles instead and did not even train how to use them.
47	* ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'''s Kyoto Arc features Kenshin returning to the Hiten Mitsurugi-Ryū master he ran away from years ago, in order to learn the [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique succession technique]] that will help him defeat the main villain of the arc. This training also features psychological TrainingFromHell: [[spoiler:Kenshin, a [[TechnicalPacifist pacifist]], must kill his master in order to learn the Amakakeru Ryū no Hirameki. Thankfully for him, [[ThouShaltNotKill his reverse-bladed sword]] had a loose stay pin, which negated the damage just enough so Kenshin didn't kill his master]].
48	* ''Manga/SamuraiDeeperKyo''. The protagonist is trapped into the body of his worst enemy that they both share, but he's still strong as hell. Then he is surpassed and taken down... and suddenly he gets up, shouts something like "I remembered how this body fights!" and proceeds to kick his foe's ass. After some point, EVERY fight has this. Every character, sometimes more than once during the same battle if it's a long one, gets another upgrade by ThePowerOfLove, ThePowerOfFriendship, [[SuperMode the awakening of their hidden power]], [[RightMakesMight the pursue of their true convictions]] ([[AvertedTrope even when they know]] [[WellIntentionedExtremist that their acts are evil]])... even the bad guys get their upgrades this way, during the very same battle that the good guys are in!
49	* In ''Anime/SCryEd'', Kazuma, Ryuho, [[spoiler:Cougar, and Mujo]] all get more powerful versions of their Alter powers [[spoiler:after passing into the "Alter world" and back]].
50	* ''Manga/SoulEater'': Black Star does this by going to Japan to train after a series of defeats. [[TookALevelInBadass It works wonders]]. Maka and Soul, by contrast, have always taken the more direct approach, whereas Kid got his [[UpgradeArtifact forcibly]] and briefly unlocked because no time was available.
51	* In ''Anime/YuYuHakusho'', Yusuke comes a long way in the run-up to the Dark Tournament and during it, but he's still far from being a match for Toguro until his mentor, Genkai, informs him that it's time for his final test. The test? To absorb, with excruciating pain, her Spirit Wave Orb, containing almost all of her phenomenal power.
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53
54	[[folder:Fan Works]]
55	* Averted in ''Fanfic/TheKeysStandAlone: The Soft World'' when Paul tries to train with Andro. Paul, being an ActualPacifist, merely wants to learn how to control his SuperStrength; the more combat-oriented Andro wants to tease more strength out of Paul so he can be a better fighter. As Paul bitterly complains to George: “ I don't care that he could defeat me in a fight. I don't ''wanna'' be a good fighter! I'm also sick of him telling me I'd be stronger [[RealMenEatMeat if I ate meat]].”
56	* Taken even further than canon in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5390962/35/AU-A-Saiyan-Warrior AU: A Saiyan Warrior]]'' where Guru unlocks the hidden potential of Krillin, Dende, Tien, Bardock (Kakarot's son with Bulma), Piccolo, and even Bulma. Notably, Bulma doesn't become stronger but smarter, noting that afterwards problems that eluded her for years seemed painfully easy and even instinctively knowing how to speak Namekian.
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59	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
60	* This happens entirely off-screen in ''Film/BillAndTedsBogusJourney''.
61	* Glaring example at the end of ''Film/KungFuHustle''. Possibly the most absurd number of [[TookALevelInBadass badass levels gained]] ever committed to film. Actually [[JustifiedTrope justified]] in that he should have been that powerful to start, but his chi paths were all messed up until the Beast broke his... Well, broke ''[[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown every single bit of him]]'' and the semi-mystical process of his healing not only fixed his bones and flesh but also his ability to be an insanely powerful martial artist. His potential was LITERALLY unlocked.
62	%%* The entire point of ''Film/TheLastDragon'' (ZCE: Explain how)
63	* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
64	** Over the course of the original trilogy, Luke Skywalker has never had more than two straight weeks of Jedi training (and that time is within ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack''); rather, he seems to have obtained ''all'' of his power from this trope.
65	** In ''Film/TheForceAwakens'', Rey discovers her latent Force abilities with no prior training after Kylo Ren attempts to probe her mind. It's ultimately explained that [[spoiler:Rey and Kylo form [[MergerOfSouls a dyad in the Force]], and when Kylo [[NiceJobFixingItVillain unwittingly awakened that connection]], their strengthening mental link lets Rey quickly realize a similar level of raw potential]]. Otherwise, the majority of Rey's Jedi training is off-screen with Leia in the year between ''Film/TheLastJedi'' and ''Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker''.
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68	[[folder:Gamebooks]]
69	* ''Literature/LoneWolf'' of the eponymous gamebook series. Whenever he reaches what is believed to the maximum Kai rank of any given series (Kai, Magnakai, and Kai Grand Master), he sets about mastering the ''new'' level's skills, as well as enhancing his repertoire with unrelated combat skills (Magi-Magic and Kai-alchemy, for instance). In normal play, this keeps the reader from merely skating through the books using all of the accrued skills from previous series.
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72	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
73	* ''Series/JukenSentaiGekiranger''
74	** The three core Rangers finding three additional masters (one each) to unlock their new weapons and mecha, then three ''more'' masters to access their SuperMode. Even the villains get in on the act, with the BigBad seeking out three of his own masters to train him in the ways of evil. Finally, when the ultimate mecha -- [=SaiDaiOh=]--is found, it sprinkles everyone with AppliedPhlebotinum to -- and this is stated -- "unlock their true potential".
75	** Its American counterpart, ''Series/PowerRangersJungleFury'', kept much of this, albeit the Rhino Steelzord didn't come with any True Potential Fairy Dust™, however, which is just as well -- the Rangers didn't seem stronger in later episodes. However, after trying and failing to awaken it, Dai Shi, ''the bad guy,'' realized he could now perfectly wield the technique he'd been trying to learn for the past several episodes.
76	* ''Series/KevinProbablySavesTheWorld'': The point of Kevin's week-to-week missions. Each successfully completed mission gives him a vision and increases the spiritual energy he needs to find {{the righteous souls}}.
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79	[[folder:Manhwa]]
80	* Played with by Chaos in ''Manhwa/Ragnarok1997''. When we first see him, he's a [[MagicKnight Rune Knight]] with IdentityAmnesia. Turns out that amnesia "re-locked" true potential he had unlocked as a child -- he had once been trained by a Dragon Knight (swordsmen in direct service of Odin) in their style of combat, such as [[SingleStrokeBattle cleaving entire armies in half]]. Over the course of the novels, Chaos grows stronger as he remembers the training he'd forgotten.
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83	[[folder:Mythology]]
84	* OlderThanPrint: The mythical [[Myth/CelticMythology Celtic]] hero Cúchulainn's training under the immortal warrior woman Scathach conforms pretty closely to this trope.
85	* Ubiquitous in [[Myth/ChineseMythology Chinese legends]] and folklore, to the point that some mythical figures have this as their entire story. The trainer were almost always humans who have transcended human limitations, or outright supernatural beings. Even the [[Literature/JourneyToTheWest Monkey King]] (of whom [[Manga/DragonBall Son Goku]] was loosely based on) had met his matches -- and he used to lead an army that could match the legions of Heavens.
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88	[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
89	* At the end of 2004, Wrestling/SarahStock signed a six week exclusive contract to LLF and spent her increased time away from the ring training in the Wrestling/{{CMLL}} gym in preparation for the move from Monterrey to Mexico City she would take when those weeks were up.
90	* In 2008, CMLL World Welterweight Champion Wrestling/{{Mistico}} traveled to the second Beijing International Martial Arts Training Camp, to get instruction in Qinna joint locking from Belgium-based martial artist Mike Martello and Chinese traditional wrestling known as shuaijiao from two time Beijing Champion Yu Shaoyi. Clips of his progress were shown during the Olympic games.
91	* Wrestling/TheKingsOfWrestling, Wrestling/ClaudioCastagnoli and Wrestling/ChrisHero, were the most dominant {{tag team}} in the United States Of America bar none but when they went to Wrestling/ProWrestlingNOAH in 2009, they mostly got their asses kicked, leading Hero to train in NOAH's dojo to improve. However much Hero improved wasn't enough though as he and Castagnoli continued to lose. Then when he came back with Wrestling/ColtCabana, they lost some more. However, he was given an award for having the most outstanding technique in 2013. And if nothing, else, Hero wasn't content and continued to try and win, or at least advance out of the first block of the Global Tag League in following years, winning best technique again in 2014 and 2015.
92	* Davey Richards, having become the {{butt monkey}} of Wrestling/RingOfHonor in 2010 after becoming part of the "No Remorse Corps", who forced him to watch their bags, turned his fortunes around by training with the former Wrestling/{{N\|ationalWrestlingAlliance}}WA Wold Heavyweight Champion [[Wrestling/DanSevern Dan "The Beast" Severn]], eventually defeating {{tag team}} partner Eddie Edwards, who had earlier seemingly left him behind, for the ROH World title at ''Best In The World'' 2011.
93	* After being cheated out of Sean Allen's Future Of Wrestling Heavyweight Title, Shawn Prime sought out further training at The Spot (and [[ShooOutTheClowns broke up]] a [[DanceSensation Harlem Shake]] session after arriving to show how serious he was)
94	* Amber Rodriguez took on one of [[Wrestling/BlackRose La Rosa Negra]]'s old managers, Rico Casanova, in Ring Warriors, who naturally knew most of La Rosa's tricks, besides the new ones she had been learning with Wrestling/KevinSullivan.
95	* Boogie Woogie Man Jimmy Valiant served as a trainer for the promotions that joined the Allied Independent Wrestling Federations, such as when baby {{face}} Jenny Jannetty degenerated into obsession with losses to Kacee Carlisle in 2012.
96	* Wrestling/JimmyJacobs [[TheCorrupter tricked]] Ta'Darius Thomas into thinking he was doing this for him when he turned him against "TD's" Adrenaline Rush partner ACH.
97	* Shayna Baszler has said her mission, having educated mixed martial artists on UsefulNotes/CatchWrestling, was to bring catch back to pro wrestling. At Ring Of Honor's thirteenth anniversary Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish revealed they were two of her first benefactors.
98	* Enforced on [[Wrestling/AngelaFong Black Lotus]] by Dragon Azteca after she was kidnapped by [[Wrestling/TrevorMann Prince Puma]] and brought to him. Dragon Azteca explained that to fight The Monster Mantanza as she was would be pointlessly throwing her life away and that she would need a lot more training if she was so insistent on it. Lotus came to see he was right.
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101	[[folder:Sports]]
102	* In 2003, no one in [=K1=] wanted to fight the pro wrestler Wrestling/BobSapp except for Mirko Cro Cop, an opponent who himself rattled Sapp enough to train in Mu Thai after spending his entire career up to that point simply [[GoodOldFisticuffs bum rushing his opponents while swinging his arms.]]
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105	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
106	* ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'' has the Trained By A Master ability, which has to be learned by finding a GM-approved NPC to train you rather than just being bought with character points. Once you've got it, your character becomes able to learn a variety of new techniques depending on what the training was like.
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109	[[folder:Video Games]]
110	* Characters with demonic ancestry in the ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' series are able to use that side in order to gain more power through an ability called "Devil Trigger". However Dante always seems to be pushing that envelope and finding new and more powerful forms. The Majin form from ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry2'' and the [[spoiler:Sin]] form in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'' are examples of this.
111	* In ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSinII'', the goal of Act II is to develop your [[TheChosenOne Godwoken]] abilities so you're capable of [[GodhoodSeeker claiming Divinity]]. Various mentors teach you to handle more [[SoulPower Source]] (for a [[{{Sidequest}} price]], of course), while an AstralProjection ritual lets you learn to perceive and manipulate souls from the deity who chose you as Godwoken.
112	* The ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' mobile phone game ''Dokkan Battle'' takes this to ridiculous heights. The game has three types of "awakenings", which increases your power--Awaken, which is just a normal power boost, Z-Awaken, which jumps the character to a new rarity level, and Dokkan Awaken, which transforms your character to a brand new form. The worst offender to this trope is the Rare-level Technique-type Overflowing Resolve Goku, who will Dokkan Awaken ''twice'' to Message from the Heavens Goku (Angel) then The Legendary Super Saiyan Goku, which pushes him from Rare, to Super Rare to S-Super Rare with one final Z-Awaken to turn him ''Ultra Rare''.
113	* Upon completing Ness's JourneyToTheCenterOfTheMind in ''VideoGame/EarthBound1994'', Ness will gain a huge stat increase across the board. In particular, his PP pool shoots through the roof and ensures he can fire off PSI Rockin Omega with the mana to spare.
114	* This is what the player will spend a lot of time doing in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'', from slaughtering dragons to eat their souls, and then finding Words of Power to apply the knowledge from aforementioned dragon souls into devastating [[WordsCanBreakMyBones Shouts]]. [[BlownAcrossTheRoom Unrelenting Force]] is given to the player for free, but everything else requires you to unlock it.
115	* In ''VideoGame/FableI'', the Hero repeatedly gets the "power in [his] [[SuperpowerfulGenetics bloodline]]" unlocked, first by [[spoiler:his long-lost sister Theresa]] and then by [[spoiler:his mother, a legendary Hero]]. This takes the form of a moment of [[PowerFloats dramatic floating]] and [[PowerGlows glowing]], followed by a hefty {{Experience Point\|s}} reward.
116	* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' does this with its relic weapons. In the post-game for each expansion, a player will start a quest to obtain a nifty-looking weapon, which will be the strongest of each patch. After a major patch, you'll learn that that weapon can be made even stronger and you go off to do just that. This process continues until the last major patch, where the weapon will be the strongest in the game... until you go into the next expansion. D'oh!
117	* In ''VideoGame/GranblueFantasy'', all characters have Fate Episodes which unlock their third (or fourth) skills when completed. There are also those who have their 5★ uncaps unlocked after completing one post max-level. Finally, Cross-Fate Episodes permanently increase the Attack and HP stats of the two involved characters (or unlock another skill, depending on the individual).
118	* Inverted in ''VideoGame/InazumaEleven'', where some of the team members rely on finding new techniques from manuals early on too much that the rest has to remind them that they can also win if they try hard on their own.
119	* In ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'', The Nameless One needs to find a trainer who can teach him improved weapon mastery (as a fighter), or someone to train him in the ways of thievery or magic. Played with, given that thanks to the fact that the Nameless One is an amnesiac immortal, he's not unlocking new skills at all but recovering memories of skills he'd learned long ago.
120	* Claus from ''VideoGame/TalesOfPhantasia'' never gets any ability aside from [[DefeatMeansFriendship making pacts with summons]]. By the halfway point of the game, you need to gather four elementals for him to progress in the game. Other summons in the future aside from Origin are totally optional.
121	* The Fell Arms from ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'' can be awoken and powered up to become [[InfinityPlusOneSword the best weapons in the game]], and you'll need to them if you want to unlock the bonus boss battles at the end, including an extra OneWingedAngel form of the FinalBoss.
122	* Link from ''VideoGame/ZeldaIITheAdventureOfLink'' learns new magic and sword skills from wise men living in the hidden parts of towns. ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendofZeldaTheMinishCap The Minish Cap]]'' also has Link meeting multiple mentors who teach him new sword techniques. And ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendofZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'' has Link learn special attacks from the [[SpiritAdvisor Hero's Shade]].
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124
125	[[folder:Webcomics]]
126	* Gray from ''Webcomic/WeakHero'' is already one of the most effective fighters in the series, but his battle with Wolf is the first time that he takes a serious beating before he comes out victorious. In the hospital afterwards he's shown running combat simulations in his mind, optimising himself to become an even better fighter than before. It's shown in his next fight that his enhanced analysis combined with adrenaline and strength training from his friend allows him to predict opponent's moves almost before said opponent even knows what they're doing themselves.
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129	[[folder:Web Original]]
130	* ''Webcomic/ButtlordGT'' makes fun of ''Anime/DragonBallZ'', and contains this gem of a line: "My true power is more true and more powerful than yours!"
131	* In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', Aranea's powers as a Sylph of Light allow her to heal others by healing their mind. Vriska and Rose are also able to do this as Light players, but not as well as Aranea.
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134	[[folder:Western Animation]]
135	* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': In "Magic Duel", a minor antagonist called Trixie runs the protagonist Twilight Sparkle out of town by beating her with the help of an AmplifierArtifact [[ArtifactOfDoom of Doom]], which enables her to perform magic normally available only to the highest level unicorns; Twilight is known to have immense magical potential, but it's shown here that she hasn't yet gotten the skill to perform the most advanced spells. Twilight seeks training with Zecora, who teaches her more about magic. [[spoiler:Subverted: Whatever Twilight may have learned, she doesn't use any new skills in the rematch, rather relying on trickery and help from her friends to give the appearance of doing impossible things with magic, ultimately part of a BatmanGambit to get Trixie to relinquish the artifact.]]
136	* In ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'', Robin heads to a monastery to get some more martial arts training from "the True Master". But first, he undergoes a SecretTestOfCharacter to see if he is ''worth'' training with the True Master. After fighting three or four Guardians and the Student Who Didn't Get It, he only ''then'' begins the actual training just as the episode fades to black. The test, which involved chasing after a MacGuffin, was just a lure to get him up the mountain.
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Context Main / TimeToUnlockMoreTruePotential