One of the basic building blocks of plot, a Plot Twist is a sudden, unexpected change in the fortunes or situations of the characters, setting, or plot.

Plot Twists are usually based on the assumption that there is something going on that we, the readers/viewers/players, don't know about; if we had known about it, it would hardly be surprising. When it is [[TheReveal revealed]] to us, we are surprised and shocked. This includes hidden aspects of particular characters' backstories or their personalities ("I never would have thought Alice could kick Bob's head into the locker!")

Sometimes even when we ''do'' have all the information, the twist can come as a shock due to a sudden, unforeseen action by other actors in the plot, the setting or place it's occurring in. We could see an action that we'd long predicted but not all its ramifications, so the shock value is still there. Alternatively, while we've seen characters' emotions, we may not always be clued into the extent of their thoughts, so a particular action may still come as a shock.

A good Plot Twist relies on the viewer not to figure it out in advance. An obvious twist isn't much of a twist at all. When the viewer already knows the twist, due to being [[ItWasHisSled previously spoiled]], the twist might not be as satisfying, but the opposite can also be true -- you appreciate all the work that went into setting up the twist more once you know it. Of course, you can always have it both ways by avoiding spoilers the first time, then re-watching or re-reading the work. On the other end, if a plot twist is ''too'' obscure, it can leave the viewer feeling cheated -- how could anyone have guessed ''that''?

Note that Plot Twists refer to twists in the ''overall plot'', and generally have lasting effects. An individual scene, such as a fight scene, can have several reversals in the fates of the combatants, but none of them can be called a Plot Twist. If the twist is of minor significance to the overall plot, it does not fall into this category.

Contrast DramaticIrony, which is where the ''audience'' knows something that one or more ''characters'' do not. A common form of {{Shocking Moment|s}}.
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!!Tropes:
[[index]]
[floatboxright:
'''Categories:'''
+ BetrayalTropes
+ FamilyTwistsIndex
+ IndexAllAlong
+ MovieTwistList
+ TwistEnding
]
* AccidentalPublicConfession
* ActuallyADoombot: The villain the hero was fighting turns out to be a robot double or clone of the real villain.
* AllJustAPrank: A major plot ends up to be a practical joke.
* AssPull: An explanation or solution that comes out of nowhere and disregards what has already been established by the story, named from the idea that the writer just pulled an answer from their ass in desperation for a quick and convenient way to resolve the conflict.
* BackstabBackfire
* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: A character makes a wish. Once the wish is granted, they learn the hard way that there are downsides to what they wanted.
* TheBigBadShuffle
* BookedFullOfMooks: A character in a public space discovers that all the bystanders around them are actually another character's employees or co-conspirators.
* TheCakeIsALie
* CanonCharacterAllAlong: The adaptation features a character who initially appears to be [[CanonForeigner a completely new character created for the adaptation]], but it later turns out that the character is really the adaptation's interpretation of an already established character.
* CareerEndingInjury
* CaptainObviousReveal: A twist that is too easy to figure out before it's revealed.
* ChairReveal
* ConfirmBeforeReveal: A character asks a quick question about something they're about to reveal before revealing it.
* CosmicHorrorReveal: A work that starts out as a different genre before being revealed to be a CosmicHorrorStory midway through.
* DaydreamSurprise: A brief scene is immediately shown to only be a daydream one of the characters is having.
* DecoyProtagonist: For when it turns out ''someone else'' was the main character.
* DeusExMachina: Something comes out of nowhere and solves the conflict.
* DiabolusExMachina: Something comes out of nowhere to create a new conflict
* DidntSeeThatComing
* DiedInIgnorance: A death occurs before an important revelation that may completely change the context of a scene.
* TheDogBitesBack: Someone gets back at those tormenting them.
* DoomAsTestPrize
* EarthAllAlong: What was thought to be an alien planet turns out to really be Earth.
* EasilyOverheardConversation
* EdibleTreasure
* EveryoneIsATomato
* FamilyRelationshipSwitcheroo: A person finds out that their relative was actually related to them in a different way than they originally believed.
* FakeMystery: The crime turns out to be staged/faked.
* FakeOutTwist: A twist that is immediately twisted by another twist.
* FirstEpisodeTwist: Tends to be a central part of the premise, even if it was hidden from the audience at first.
* FantasyAllAlong: It turns out the events were all just part of someone's delusion.
* FormulaWithATwist
* GameChanger
* GenuineImposter
* HalfwayPlotSwitch
* HiddenPurposeTest
* HijackedByGanon: An entry in a series with a new villian has an iconic pre-established villian take over as the main antagonist.
* HumanAlienDiscovery
* HybridAllAlong
* IAmNotYourFather: A father reveals to his child that they were adopted.
* IAmWho
* IMadeCopies: A character tears up a contract only to be told copies were made.
* InsanityEstablishmentScene: When a character is revealed to be crazy later instead of from the start.
* InternalReveal: TheReveal in-universe.
* ItWasWithYouAllAlong
* LeftForDead
* LukeIAmYourFather
* TheManBehindTheCurtain: An influential and previously unseen BigBad is revealed to be pathetically weak.
* MemoryRestoringMelody: A crucial plot point is revealed when a character who previously forgot or suppressed it listens to a certain song.
* MidSeasonTwist
* MonsterSuit
* NestedStoryReveal
* NeverTheObviousSuspect
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: The hero tries to save the day, but their efforts end up making things worse.
* NonHumanLoverReveal
* NothingIsTheSameAnymore
* NotQuiteDead: Someone thought to be dead turns out to be still alive.
* NotSoEpisodic: Early episodes turn out to be connected.
* NotSoRemote: A person thinks they're far from civilization, but ends up discovering they're closer to home than they thought.
* NotTooDeadToSaveTheDay
* OminousAdversarialAmusement
* ThePictureCameWithTheFrame
* PhotoDoodleRecognition: Recognizing someone by drawing their disguise or distinguishing features on a photograph where they don't have them.
* PoorlyTimedConfession
* PostMortemComeback
* ProphecyTwist
* PropheticFallacy
* ProppingUpTheirPatsy: A culprit proclaims the innocence of another suspect to conceal their own culpability or further their own agenda.
* ProsceniumReveal
* ReallyRoyaltyReveal: Someone who believed themselves to be a peasant or commoner discovers they're actually royalty.
* RedeemingReplacement: A villain gets a heroic successor who aims to do good in order to make up for their predecessor's crimes.
* ReleasedToElsewhere: People are executed and the authorities lie that they were simply relocated to new places.
* ResemblanceReveal
* TheReveal: The story reveals something to the audience that wasn't known before.
* TheRevealPromptsRomance
* ReverseRelationshipReveal
* RoboticReveal: A supposedly organic being turns out to really be a robot.
* RoleReversalBoss: In a game, the player unexpectedly finds themselves controlling a boss character.
* SaveTheWorldClimax
* SecretlyDying
* SecretTest
* SecretTestOfCharacter
* StalkerShot
* StopTheHeroTwist
* StormInATeacup: Failing to get a task done in time. It turns out, it wasn't necessary.
* StrangerBehindTheMask
* TheStoryThatNeverWas
* SuperweaponSurprise
* SurprisinglyMundaneReason: The characters believe that another characters actions are for some outlandish/profound reason, only for it to be revealed that they were actually doing as they did for mundane reason.
* SurvivalThroughSelfSacrifice: A character chooses to sacrifice his or her life, and is spared for doing so.
* TakeAThirdOption: When someone has to decide between two choices, they work around and pick a third choice.
* TomatoInTheMirror: A character discovers that they are not what they think they are.
* TomatoSurprise: Something is known to the characters in-universe, but is revealed to the audience as a twist.
* TwoAliasesOneCharacter
* TwistingTheProphecy: Knowingly fulfilling a prophecy in a way that creates a favourable outcome.
* UndercoverCopReveal: A person turns out to be an undercover cop.
* TheUnreveal: Even when it looks like the big secret will be revealed, it never is.
* TheUntwist: Deliberately setting up a CaptainObviousReveal while also hinting at a RedHerring, so that the audience is surprised when it's played straight.
* TheVillainKnowsMoment
** VillainRevealsTheSecret
* UnexpectedCharacter: The work features a character in the franchise that audiences did not anticipate to be involved.
* UnreliableNarrator: It is hinted that the narrator may be exaggerating or glossing over parts of the story, if they weren't just outright lying.
* VillainousLegacy: The villain continues to inspire bad deeds long after they have died.
* WakingUpElsewhere
* WhamEpisode: An episode that suddenly changes the series' tone from then on.
* WhamLine: The mood of the work changes abruptly all because of a single line of dialogue.
* WhamShot: A single scene changes everything.
* WontDoYourDirtyWork: The hero/villain is told to solve his own problems.
* WorthlessTreasureTwist
* YankTheDogsChain: Right when it looks like this unfortunate person will finally have better luck, their chances at happiness are ruined at the last minute.
[[/index]]
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