History Main / BadassFingersnap

* Jessie in ''{{Franchise/Pokemon}}'' sometimes does this when ordering James and Meowth around. Put to good use when a CharacterOfTheDay called her out on lying about her age to get into a Contest:

** ''VideoGame/Persona5'': Joker uses items in battle by snapping his fingers.
** In ''VideoGame/Persona5Strikers'', Joker ends his All-out Attack with a finger snap. Near the end of the game, [[spoiler:the true villain, Kuon Ichinose, summons Shadows to fend off the Phantom Thieves by snapping her fingers, and she's a normal woman and not a Persona user.]]

** In ''VideoGame/Persona5Strikers'', Joker ends his All-out Attack with a finger snap.

* In ''Film/DArtagnanAndThreeMusketeers'' (a 1978 Soviet TV adaptation of ''Franchise/TheThreeMusketeers''), the Queen has a penchant for snapping her fingers, which hints at her Spanish heritage (finger-snapping is used in Flamenco dancing to accompany the music). This CharacterTic [[LostInImitation became so iconic among the series' fans]] that it made it even into the 2013 Russian film ''The Three Musketeers''.

* ''Fanfic/OversaturatedWorld'': ''Fanfic/{{Oversaturated}}'': Snapping his fingers is how Discord does his magic, such as teleporation:

* An episode of ''Manga/{{Bakugan}}'' had one of the baddies cause seemingly inexplicable combat events by snapping his fingers. [[spoiler: he was actually signaling his invisible ally.]]

* An episode of ''Manga/{{Bakugan}}'' had one of the baddies cause seemingly inexplicable combat events by snapping his fingers. [[spoiler: he was actually signaling his invisible ally.]]

* A very notable case in ''Fanfic/HarryPotterAndTheMethodsOfRationality'', where Harry snapping his fingers very quickly suffers from MemeticMutation to the point where most of the children believe he can do anything by snapping his fingers. He even uses a hand ready to snap its fingers as his coat of arms for his army.

* Roy Mustang from ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' can cause [[PlayingWithFire fiery explosions]] by snapping his fingers, [[JustifiedTrope using specially-made gloves to generate a spark]].
* ''[[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam G Gundam]]'''s Domon snaps his fingers in order to summon his Gundam.

* Cinque's introduction in ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'' has her [[FlechetteStorm throwing knives]] at the [[TheFederation Administration Bureau's]] shield generators and snapping her fingers to [[MadeOfExplodium detonate them]].
* In ''Anime/TigerAndBunny'', criminal NEXT Jake Martinez activates his [[spoiler: force field]] powers by snapping his fingers. The results vary but are almost always painful for whoever he targets.

* An early episode of ''Anime/CodeGeass'' has Zero unveiling a massive poison gas bomb behind him with a dramatic fingersnap... and instantly taking hostage hundreds of civilians who have no idea what the contraption behind him is. [[spoiler: It's not a chemical weapon, though; just a smoke bomb.]]

* In ''[[Literature/{{Slayers}} Slayers NEXT]]'', [[GreaterScopeVillain Hellmaster Phibrizzo]] demonstrates his powers by snapping his fingers and instantly killing someone. [[spoiler:That someone is [[BigBad Gaav, the Demon Dragon King]], although admittedly Gaav had been weakened due to being sealed in human form and having taken Lina's Ragna Blade spell on the chin.]]

* Jessie in ''{{Franchise/Pokemon}}'' sometimes does this when ordering James and Meowth around. Put to good use when a CharacterOfTheDay called her out on lying about her age to get into a Contest:
-->'''Jessie:''' ''[calmly snaps fingers]'' Take him away.\\
''[[[FunnyBackgroundEvent behind her, James and Meowth immediately grab the guy and drag him off-screen]]]''
** Giovanni in Anime/PokemonTheFirstMovie does this when he orders Mewtwo to attack.
* In ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'' Episode 68, Beerus does this and causes Bulma's new time machine to explode. From miles away. In a secret room.

* In ''Literature/FateZero'', Gilgamesh attacks any and all enemies with a Storm of Swords triggered by a finger snap.
* Exeve from ''Anime/TheBraveExpressMightGaine'' can set his men that failed him ablaze with a snap of his fingers, as both Six & Seven learned the hard way.
* ''Literature/TheIrregularAtMagicHighSchool'': Tatsuya Shiba uses this with [[BrownNote volume amplification]] to defeat [[spoiler:the Crimson Prince Masaki Ichijou at Monolith Code]].
* Izuku Midoriya in ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'' has his Delaware Smash, where he uses One For All at full power with a flick of his finger. He creates powerful shockwaves that can smash a large ice block and incapacitate several villains at once. It was breaking his fingers, though, until he got his support gloves and learned to better control it.

* ''Fanfic/BurningBlack'': Timmy does this at the end of Act IV in order to activate the spell that launches a Dark Spire into the air and destroys it.
* In the ''Fanfic/FacingTheFutureSeries'', whenever Sam uses her [[PlayingWithFire fire powers]], she usually unleashes her aura with a snap of her fingers.

* Akarui from ''Fanfic/KamenRiderKage'' tends to snap her fingers when the Akuma she just finished off explodes.
* ''Fanfic/ACertainMagicalFriendship'': In [[https://www.fimfiction.net/story/287615/3/a-certain-magical-friendship-context-shift/the-cover-of-darkness-bring-back-the-sun "The cover of darkness - BRING_back_the_SUN"]], How Nightmare Moon, as a human, casts her magic to remove the sun:
--> With those words, Nightmare Moon snapped her fingers.\\
And the Sun disappeared.

* Disney's ''Film/MaryPoppins''. During the "Spoonful of Sugar" segment the title character starts magically cleaning up the room by snapping her fingers, and then the children start doing it. Watch it [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L4qauTiCY4 here]].
* In ''Film/NightAtTheMuseum'', the protagonist Larry Daley is really fond of snapping his fingers, up to the point that he even invented the Snapper, an electric switch which is similar to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Clapper the Clapper]], [[FingerSnapLighter but responds to the sound of finger-snapping]].

* In ''Literature/APracticalGuideToEvil'', Cat uses one to rip Thief of Stars into pieces after the Revenant steals her staff. She mentally admits this was unnecessary, but wanted to keep the Heroes guessing at her capabilities.

* In ''VideoGame/ScarletNexus'', Hanabi (whose name means “fireworks”) controls flames with pyrokinesis, and borrowing her ability comes with a cut-in of her snapping her fingers to activate her power.
* Evie characters that specialize in scythes in ''VideoGame/{{Vindictus}}'' can learn two major skills that can take enemies out with one snap of their fingers. The first skill, Bloody Thread, surrounds up to four mobs with thread and when Evie snaps her fingers, the thread contracts for massive damage. The second skill, Mark of Death, has her marking up to four mobs, getting the soul from one, and when she snaps her fingers, the souls from the mobs marked are released from the body. Scythe Evies especially love using these skills as a way to finish off bosses.
* Shiva's LimitBreak from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX''. She encases her enemy in a solid block of ice, then shatters it by snapping her fingers. Arguably ''more'' impressive if you have the shortened summoning animations on as it cuts out everything before the finger snap, which makes it look like Shiva comes in, snaps her fingers and ''everyone explodes in ice''.
* Doctor Doom in ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom3''. He can snap his fingers to summon his CoolChair, or his [[CallingYourAttacks HIDDEN MISSILES!]] Both of these can happen on [[CrazyPrepared any stage]].
* ''VideoGame/TouhouSoccer'' gives us [[CuteGhostGirl Mima]] and her [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kofnEdB8Blc Twilight Spark]], which she fires with a snap of her fingers.

** [[BigBad Ghirahim]] in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' snaps his fingers whenever he uses powerful magic like creating barriers around the Sealed Grounds, bringing a boss to life, or creating a sword to fight Link with.

** The Gerudo Champion Urbosa in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' can call down lightning strikes with a snap of her fingers as her signature ability. [[spoiler:Link gets the same ability after freeing the Divine Beast Vah Naboris, though the only time he snaps his fingers to do it is during the cutscene where he receives the power.]]

* Manfred von Karma from ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'' often snaps his fingers for dramatic emphasis. His finger snaps are so badass that they make a metallic noise.
** {{Exaggerated|Trope}} in the [[Anime/AceAttorney2016 anime adaptation]], where his finger snaps can cause [[BlowYouAway gale-force winds]].
** [[VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney Klavier Gavin]] has a rhythmic fingersnapping he employs as a musician. Unfortunately he'll often employ it when he's condescendingly lecturing you on why you are wrong, Herr Forehead.

* In ''VideoGame/DevilSurvivor2'', the Anguished One's [[EstablishingCharacterMoment debut scene]] has him shatter one of the resident {{Eldritch Abomination}}s[[spoiler:[[MookMaker ' spawned]] {{Mooks}}]] to pieces by snapping his fingers.
* As long as he is not moving, Dante in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'' will make a gesture upon changing [[StanceSystem styles]]. If he changes to Gunslinger, he will raise both hands and snap his fingers.
** Arius in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry2'' likes this gesture. When Dante first meets him he summons Furiataurus to fight Dante with but a single snap of his fingers, and during his own boss battles he accompanies his attacks or summoning more demons to his aid with more finger snap.
* Some additional abilities (like [[DoppelgangerAttack creating clones]]) in ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'' are activated by finger snap.
* ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsZ series'': Genion GAI creates explosions with this during Nibelung Annihilation, akin to Zeorymer causing explosions.
* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'':
** Master Hand in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU'' has one. It's a weak attack by itself, but if you don't guard it on the ground, you ''will'' be [[CirclingBirdies dazed]].
** In ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'', [[VideoGame/Persona5 Joker]] casts his Eiha and Eigaon spells by snapping his fingers with a cool pose. Additionally, [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Sephiroth]] casts both Shadow Flare and his Neutral Air Attack with a snap of his fingers.
* ''VideoGame/{{Bioshock}}'': [[PlayingWithFire Incinerate]] is cast in this manner: the fact one can do this is actually used as in-game advertisement for the plasmid. Considering Subject Delta in [[VideoGame/Bioshock2 the sequel]] can use it with a simple wave of his hand, this hints that the trope is actually exploited for RuleOfCool InUniverse.
* A few of ''VideoGame/GranblueFantasy'''s characters will do this for their [[LimitBreak Charge Attacks]] or regular attacks. For instance, if the PlayerCharacter is equipped with their racing skin, they will call their ride with a finger snap as a Charge Attack; Cagliostro, [[BreakoutCharacter one of the game's most popular characters]], will often accompany her skill casting and regular attacking with an initial finger snap.
* Musse Egret in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel III'' snaps her fingers and ice explodes at the end of her [[LimitBreak S-Craft, Brilliant Shot.]]
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' examples:
** The Primal Shiva casts her Diamond Dust spell by snapping her fingers to freeze her enemies and much of the stage in ice. She then [[FinishingStomp stamps her heel down with a loud clack]] to shatter the ice.
** The Phantom Thief of Many Faces, when out in the open, causes a number of things to happen by snapping his fingers like a showman.
** The Ascian Emet-Selch often works his magic with a simple snap of his fingers. [[spoiler:Even as [[OneWingedAngel Hades]], some of his heavy hitting attacks are cued by the sound of his snapping fingers]]. [[spoiler:This is one of the two biggest hints to the identity of the Ancient that saves your party during the Seat of Sacrifice in 5.3]] Also in ''Endwalker'' [[spoiler: the [=WoL's=] journey to the distant past reveals that even before the Sundering, Emet-Selch had this particular quirk]].
* Utilized by the God of Thunder, Thor in ''VideoGame/GodOfWarRagnarok'' to summon his weapon, the great hammer Mjolnir. In much the same vein as Kratos does with his Leviathan Axe, when summoned it can travel great distances and only stops once it reaches its master's hand.
* ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'': In ''VideoGame/DragonQuestMonsterBattleRoadVictory'', the Dragonlord from ''VideoGame/DragonQuestI'' receives a decidedly classy glow-up for his humanoid form, of which this is part: he both manifests his throne and unleashes his Sizzle in the form of a tremendous explosion mutually by means of a cocky offhand snap of the fingers.
* ''VideoGame/LibraryOfRuina'': Pluto, also known by his title as Yesterday’s Promise, is a skeletal [[WasOnceAMan Distortion]] who serves as one of [[TheDreaded Argalia’s]] right-hands. His powerful abilities are often accompanied with the snap of his fingers, from summoning his namesake contracts with unconscionable fine print or glowing skeletal hands to assail his foes.
* ''VideoGame/Destiny2'': With the Solar 3.0 update, the Warlock class gained the Incinerator Snap melee ability that flicks out several firebolts at the snap of a finger.
* ''VideoGame/Persona5'': Joker uses items in battle by snapping his fingers.
** In ''VideoGame/Persona5Strikers'', Joker ends his All-out Attack with a finger snap.
* ''VideoGame/MortalKombat1'': Liu Kang's second Fatality has him drag his opponent through a portal into space before snapping his fingers and summoning a black hole to suck up their skin, innards, and bones. This is single-handedly the most brutal and over-the-top Fatality in the series.

* ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'''s Season 3 episode "The Ricklantis Mix-up" has a villainous one: [[spoiler:Evil Morty has just become the new President of the Citadel of Ricks, but the [[TheIlluminati Shadow]] [[ManBehindTheMan Council]] of Ricks makes it clear to him that they intend to be the ones who are truly in charge while he acts as their PuppetKing. President Morty just calmly asks all the Ricks who feel this way to raise their hands (and most of them do, with two exceptions)...and then wordlessly snaps his fingers, at which point these Ricks are gunned down by others who are loyal to their new President]].

* "Snapper" Carr, sidekick of the ''Franchise/JusticeLeagueOfAmerica'', eventually developed the power to teleport, but only when he snapped his fingers. (Thus being temporarily depowered when his hands were cut off.)
* ''Franchise/TheFlash'': ''[[Characters/TheFlashHunterZolomon Hunter Zolomon]]'', the second Zoom, used his "speed" powers to create deadly sonic booms, which he activated by a simple snap.
* Thanos, at the peak of his godlike powers in ''ComicBook/TheInfinityGauntlet'', killed off half the population of the Universe at the behest of Death. (Naturally, that state of affairs [[ResetButton didn't last]].) He did so with a finger snap.
* ''ComicBook/PS238'': [[http://ps238.nodwick.com/comic/01202012/ How]] Ultimate Powers changes his clothes, and also [[http://ps238.nodwick.com/comic/02132012/ sometimes]] how he uses his powers.
* The gods of ''ComicBook/TheWickedAndTheDivine'' usually activate their powers this way.
* In ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' storyline ''ComicBook/GoDownSwinging'', Norman Osborn uses one to activate the shards of the Carnage symbiote he left in the victims of his previous attacks, killing them all in unbearable agony all at the same time. It fails due to Flash Thompson running interference with his Agent Anti-Venom powers.
* In ''[[ComicBook/SupergirlRebirth 2017]]'' storyline ''ComicBook/EscapeFromThePhantomZone'', ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} defeats Magog by causing a shockwave which knocks him down with a snap of her fingers.

** Comicbook/ImmortalHulk uses this, ''with his severed hand''. to shatter the glass jars his different body parts were kept.

** {{Exaggerated|Trope}} in the [[Anime/AceAttorney anime adaptation]], where his finger snaps can cause [[BlowYouAway gale-force winds]].