%% Image chosen per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=qi3gx5b3fnwjvyyl8vrt23es
%% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.
%% Please do not add a second caption, the image already has one.
[[quoteright:330:[[ComicBook/{{Watchmen}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/badass-boast_watchmen-2_4357_1785.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:330:Rorschach clearing up a common misconception.]]

%% Do not change the quote. It was chosen by a Trope Talk thread and crowner: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=13895810840A75291600
%%
%% If you want to change the quote, bring it up in the General Quotes thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1327331003042025100
%%

->''"My armour is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!"''
-->-- '''Smaug''', ''Literature/TheHobbit''

Many characters like to boast about their achievements, but only a few can gasconade in style, rattling off a [[TryToFitThatOnABusinessCard string]] of {{t|heMagnificent}}itles and battle honours that impresses allies and intimidates enemies in a way which makes them sound mythic, [[SmallNameBigEgo not conceited]].

The character has got to be pretty impressive to be able to make this kind of boast convincingly, though sometimes a [[BoisterousWeakling weaker character]] will bluff like this. It helps when they are obviously in a situation where they may be called on to demonstrate; if not, they may insist that they can show you at once, to [[UnderestimatingBadassery prevent]] their appearing a MilesGloriosus. The usual subversion is for something to promptly undercut [[MilesGloriosus the boaster's pretensions]]. The CombatPragmatist in particular is given to unceremoniously [[ShutUpHannibal cutting off boasters in the middle of their speech]] with a [[TalkToTheFist punch to the face]]. A LargeHam is particularly given to these.

Self-granted titles are considerably less impressive than those bestowed by awestruck allies, while titles of grudging respect from the character's enemies rank highest of all, all else being equal. Naturally, more powerful beings count for more, when ranking titles or battle honours.

The smarter heroes and villains may use riddling talk when describing their accomplishments.

A Badass Boast can be used in a few different ways.

* Hero to Villain or vice versa — ThrowingDownTheGauntlet. If a hero does this routinely, it's InTheNameOfTheMoon or a BadassCreed. A particularly arrogant Villain might make a Badass Boast part of their "BreakThemByTalking" lecture or their [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech "Reason the Hero Sucks" Speech]].
* Hero to mooks or Villain to {{red shirt}}s — straightforward psychological warfare.
* Hero to [[TheRival rival hero]]; Villain to rival villain — jostling for dominance. Heroes settle these disputes fairly amicably; villains don't.
* Hero to redshirts, townsfolk, etc; Villain to new minions — establishing leadership. It's a way of saying "this is why you follow me". Alternatively, especially for heroes, reassurance: "I can protect you, and here's why."

This dates back to [[Literature/TheEpicOfGilgamesh Gilgamesh]], making it OlderThanDirt. [[note]] And even the old word for it, [[Literature/OrlandoFurioso "Rodomontade"]], refers to a work almost OlderThanPrint. [[/note]]

See also PreAsskickingOneLiner, IHaveManyNames, IAmTheNoun (which frequently is a component of these), HeroismMotiveSpeech, and NoMoreHoldingBackSpeech. If your boast is really your oft repeated credo that explains who you are to yourself, then it is your BadassCreed. If the things you're boasting about are things that happened on-screen earlier in the story, the trope is RememberWhenYouBlewUpASun. If your boasts are lies or intention rumors, it's probably part of a SelfMadeMyth. A Badass Boast often happens either during or immediately before a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome. May conclude with the observation that [[WhoWillBellTheCat some one person has to be the one to attack them first.]] May involve a NotHowImDyingDeclaration.

Compare BlasphemousBoast, FamedInStory, TheMunchausen. BlaseBoast is when this dresses up as ButForMeItWasTuesday. Contrast DespairSpeech.

Not to be confused with [[CoolBoat Badass Boats]].

----
!!Example subpages:

[[index]]
* BadassBoast/AnimeAndManga
* BadassBoast/ComicBooks
* BadassBoast/FanWorks
* [[BadassBoast/AnimatedFilms Films — Animated]]
* [[BadassBoast/LiveActionFilms Films — Live-Action]]
* BadassBoast/{{Literature}}
* BadassBoast/LiveActionTV
* BadassBoast/{{Music}}
* BadassBoast/ProfessionalWrestling
* BadassBoast/{{Sports}}
* BadassBoast/TabletopGames
* BadassBoast/VideoGames
* BadassBoast/{{Webcomics}}
* BadassBoast/WebOriginal
* BadassBoast/WesternAnimation
* BadassBoast/OtherMedia
* BadassBoast/RealLife
[[/index]]

----