History Main / CombatCompliment

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]

*** Despite losing godhood, Goku is still able to battle Beerus as a normal Super Saiyan. This makes Beerus give his respect to Goku, and even says that he somewhat regrets looking for the Super Saiyan God.

*** Jiren also respected Goku and Vegeta as warriors, despite dismissing them at first. When Goku's Ultra Instinct ran out and he suffered a crippling backlash, Jiren even lamented that he didn't want to win the fight this way (by taking advantage of the weakened Goku). Goku and Vegeta paid similar complements to Jiren.

** Akaza loves when a slayer gives him a good challenge, he was quick to praise Kyojuro for doing quite well against a demon as powerful as him, but Akaza doesn't see humans going too far against him no matter how strong they seem to be, so Akaza tries to convince Kyojuro to become a demon like him so both of them could fight each other for eternity so they could stronger forever, the ever diligent Kyojuro naturally refuses the offer, preferring to fight as a human to the end, [[spoiler:dying in the process]]. [[spoiler:When Akaza fights Tanjiro later in the story, he comes to accept Tanjiro as becoming strong too; after recovering his human dignity Akaza goes further with respecting Tanjiro's strength, forcing his demon body to just stop regenerating and accept Tanjiro's timely beheading him as just too good, he has to die from it]].

** Lucci, when he isn't being a SmugSuper, does compliments his opponents when they do especially well. When he learns Franky took out one of the [=CP9=] agents, he praises him for being super human. He also compliments Luffy's leadership skills and praises the crew when he learns that they beat all of his comrades.

* In ''Literature/{{Twig}}'', the viewpoint protagonist Sylvester, while undercover at a preparatory school, meets a [[KillAndReplace clone of a student]] named Mary, who successfully manipulates the other students into getting him alone with her before pulling a gun on him in order to interrogate him. He expresses sincere admiration for her cunning, and continues to do so over their next several confrontations, leading her to [[TurnedAgainstTheirMasters betray her creator]] when she comes to the conclusion that he left her to die in order to delay Sylvester.

** At the very end of ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4GunsOfThePatriots'', [[spoiler: As Ocelot is dying, he takes a moment to compliment Solid Snake with the same words that Naked Snake used to compliment Ocelot 60 years earlier: "You're...pretty good". It's impactful by revealing that, in spite his "possession" by Liquid Snake, Ocelot still recognizes Big Boss in Snake.]]

* Elizabeth in ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena'' is more than happy to get the crap kicked out of her, and has no problem telling you how well you're doing while you do it. Given that she's a CloudCuckoolander, and that she's never actually ''hurt'' by any of the fighting (her "defeated" pose has her laying on her book, look at you with a smirk, whereas everyone else is passed out from the beating they just took), her fights come across as more of a test than a true physical contest. Which isn't to say [[BewareTheSillyOnes she won't kill you if you let her win]].

** The most pronounced is probably Snake and Ocelot in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3'' -- at the beginning, Snake defeats Ocelot but compliments his ricochet shots and in later battles, Ocelot compliments Snake for good shots.
** At the very end of ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4'', [[spoiler: As Ocelot is dying, he takes a moment to compliment Solid Snake with the same words that Naked Snake used to compliment Ocelot 60 years earlier: "You're...pretty good". It's impactful by revealing that, in spite his "possession" by Liquid Snake, Ocelot still recognizes Big Boss in Snake.]]

* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'': When Guts first approaches the Count on his throne, he senses the Count's appendage about to burst up from beneath the stairs and stabs it with the Dragon Slayer. The Count says, "Nicely Countered." In their fight, Guts manages to hit the Count's only weak point -- his face -- but it turns out to only be a graze, and he gets struck down in response. The Count tells Guts that his loss was inevitable because of the difference in their power, but that he's a first-rate warrior, and ought to die proudly knowing that at least he managed to inflict one blow.

* In ''Marvel Comics Presents'' #53, Silver Sable and ComicBook/BlackWidow clash over custody of a French criminal named Yves Chevrier. Black Widow has been hired by several agencies to capture Chevier for gun-running, fraud, drug dealing and grand larceny. Silver Sable is after Chevrier for aiding a Nazi criminal named Heinrich Edelhardt [[ItsPersonal who later killed Silver's agents when they tried to apprehend him.]] The two end up in a brief scuffle in which they compliment each other's moves before turning their attention back to Chevrier who is trying to escape.

%%* It's common courtesy in {{First Person Shooters}} to compliment an opponent on a particularly good kill. Even/especially if the one killed was you.

* All of the fighters at the Dojo in ''VideoGame/PaperMario64''.

* ''Franchise/{{Zorro}}'', ''Film/TheMaskOfZorro'': When Captain Love was fighting Alejandro (Zorro), he compliments him by saying "you're doing well, your brother would've shot himself by now."

Contrast YouFightLikeACow, where the characters' battle is as much verbal as physical (though it may still be somewhat friendly).

* ''LightNovel/RebuildWorld'': A NobleDemon black forces operative Akira ends up fighting, Erde, commends him on shooting the blast that kills him, before uttering his LastWords apologizing to the subordinates who were sent after Akira and killed just prior to their battle.

* ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'': Jack tends to do this whenever he runs up against truly formidable opponents, such as the Guardian or the Minions of Set, although this is usually less for the purpose of complementing his enemies and more for the purpose of [[Exposition letting the audience know]] that he's in serious trouble.

*** In the first part of Goku's fight with Frieza, they compliment each other several times when they pull a fast one on each other or when they demonstrate their power. This quickly drops after Frieza uses half of his power and plummets Goku.

*** Goku praise Kid Buu for being so powerful, even when he's about to kill him.

*** After disseminating Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan Vegeta, Hit notes that Vegeta was the first to take so many blows to his vitals.

*** While he looks down on all mortals, [[spoiler: Goku Black]] has real respect towards Goku. During their first bout, he calls Goku the strongest of the proud warrior race and compliments Goku's on his strength. When he sees Vegeta turns into Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan, he claps, saying how magnificent it is to see the warrior race clad in godly garbs.

* In ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'':

->'''Inigo Montoya:''' You are wonderful!
->'''Man in Black:''' Thank you. I've worked hard to become so.
-->-- '''Film/ThePrincessBride'''

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'': When Guts first approaches the Count on his throne, he senses the Count's appendage about to burst up from beneath the stairs and stabs it with the Dragon Slayer. The Count says, "Nicely Countered." In their fight, Guts manages to hit the Count's only weak point--his face--but it turns out to only be a graze, and he gets struck down in response. The Count tells Guts that his loss was inevitable because of the difference in their power, but that he's a first-rate warrior, and ought to die proudly knowing that at least he managed to inflict one blow.

--->'''Signum''': "Testarossa, you got really strong, you and Bardiche."
--->'''Bardiche''': "''[[GratuitousEnglish Thank you.]]''"
--->'''Fate''': "You're strong, too, Laevatine and Signum."
--->'''Laevatine''': "''[[GratuitousGerman Danke.]]''"

* ''Anime/DragonBallGT'': When Goku fights Uub. His entire purpose in the fight is to gauge Uub's strength, and he is pleasantly surprised.
* ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'':
** Despite losing godhood, Goku is still able to battle Beerus as a normal Super Saiyan. This makes Beerus give his respect to Goku, and even says that he somewhat regrets looking for the Super Saiyan God.
** Frieza actually gives a bow of respect when he hears that Goku has become a god among the Saiyans.
** After disseminating Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan Vegeta, Hit notes that Vegeta was the first to take so many blows to his vitals.
** Although Goku didn't speak these words out loud, he praises the entire U6 team for giving such fantastic battles. He even muses that he gets to fight the strongest of them in Hit. When Future Trunks returns, he praises him for reaching Super Saiyan 2 and becoming so powerful.
** Trunks is left speechless for several seconds when he sees Super Saiyan 3 Goku. He also compliments Goku for becoming so strong since the last time he saw him.
** Vegeta gives Future Trunks a mock grade for almost hitting him by tricking him into charging blindly since Trunks was using the obsolete Ultra Super Saiyan form, which is known for being extremely slow.
** While he looks down on all mortals, [[spoiler: Goku Black]] has real respect towards Goku. During their first bout, he calls Goku the strongest of the proud warrior race and compliments Goku's on his strength. When he sees Vegeta turns into Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan, he claps, saying how magnificent it is to see the warrior race clad in godly garbs.
* ''Anime/DragonBallZ''
** In the first part of Goku's fight with Frieza, they compliment each other several times when they pull a fast one on each other or when they demonstrate their power. This quickly drops after Frieza uses half of his power and plummets Goku.
** Cell compliments Goku several times during their fight, saying that he's everything he expected. He was designed to kill him.
** Goku praise Kid Buu for being so powerful, even when he's about to kill him.
** As far back as a kid, Goku always compliments his opponents for being strong, whether he's winning or losing.
** A ''very'' rare compliment came from Vegeta to Goku. During their second match, Vegeta says that Goku has become much stronger, more than he expected.

* In ''Manga/MoriartyThePatriot'', after pinning Colonel Moran to the ground while he's distracted worrying about Fred, Sherlock compliments him on his defense, saying that as expected of someone William trusts so much, Moran had no openings to take advantage of while in combat with Louis.

[[folder:Film]]
* ''Film/IronMan1'': In the climactic fight, Stark's opponent is constantly praising Tony's technical genius and tactical cunning.

* ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'': At the end, Vader does it to Luke to try and encourage him to unleash his dark side, and then the Emperor does the same at the end of ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi''.
--> "Impressive. Most impressive. Obi-Wan has taught you well."
* In ''Film/JohnWickChapter3Parabellum'', [[TheKnightsWhoSaySquee Zero]] and his henchmen regularly compliment the protagonist both during their fight [[spoiler:in the New York Continental]] and during pauses. Zero explicitly says that [[ContractOnTheHitman his target]] does not disappoint. [[spoiler:John eventually concedes that it was a good fight when he manages to kill Zero near the end.]]

* ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl'': Jack Sparrow complimenting Will's form during their first duel.
-->'''Jack''': You know what you're doing, I'll give you that. But how's your footwork? If I step here... *swash swash buckle buckle*... Very good!

* ''Film/TheMaskOfZorro'': When Captain Love was fighting Alejandro (Zorro), he compliments him by saying "you're doing well, your brother would've shot himself by now."

* ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' is full of this. The bosses in the game often compliment Snake's ability. The most pronounced is probably Snake and Ocelot in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3'' -- at the beginning, Snake defeats Ocelot but compliments his ricochet shots and in later battles, Ocelot compliments Snake for good shots.

* It's common courtesy in {{First Person Shooters}} to compliment an opponent on a particularly good kill. Even/especially if the one killed was you.
* In ''VideoGame/MegaMan8'', Sword Man's death quote is simply "Nice shot."

* Whenever you destroy powerful enemies in ''VideoGame/RazingStorm'', or play well in general. "Alpha 1! Awesome!" "Crazy skills, Alpha 1!"
* In ''VideoGame/DragonBallXenoverse'', several characters have race-specific taunts and insults depending on which of the StandardFantasyRaces you're using. The final boss of ''[[VideoGame/DragonBallXenoverse2 Xenoverse 2]]'', [[spoiler:Final Form Mira]], has race-specific compliments where he praises your power and says that he respects you; he calls Saiyans "endless wellsprings of power", says that Frieza's Race truly are the rulers of the galaxy, and remarks on how Namekians can produce incredible warriors despite their peaceful nature.
* ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'':
** Tsun, the old [[HornyVikings Nordic]] god of "trials against adversity" and [[BodyguardingABadass shield-thane]] of [[TopGod Shor]] is [[spoiler:met in [[WarriorHeaven Sovngarde]] and must be [[DuelBoss bested in single combat]] in order to prove your worthiness to enter Shor's Hall of Valor]]. Throughout the fight, he compliments the PlayerCharacter and almost seems to become giddy as you dish it out.
--->''"I have long awaited such a worthy adversary!"''
** After initially defeating [[BigBad Alduin]] at [[spoiler:the Throat of the World]], he admits that the [[PlayerCharacter Dragonborn]] has become extremely powerful.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' fights often contain this as part of the BossBanter. For an early example, if you do Ifrit's mechanics properly and get the non-OneHitKill version of Hellfire, he declares "Thou art strong, mortals!"

* Elizabeth in ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena'' is more than happy to get the crap kicked out of her, and has no problem telling you how well you're doing while you do it. Given that she's a CloudCuckoolander, and that she's never actually ''hurt'' by any of the fighting (her "defeated" pose has her laying on her book, look at you with a smirk, whereas everyone else is passed out from the beating they just took), her fights come across as more of a test than a true physical contest. Which isn't to say [[BewareTheSillyOnes she won't kill you if you let her win]].

[[folder:Webcomics]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* ''Roleplay/DestroyTheGodmodder'': Doc Scratch does this very frequently.
[[/folder]]