History Main / AlmostLethalWeapons

See Also: ImprobableAimingSkills (kill in one shot, even at beyond limit range, or conversely never accidentally strike a mortal blow when not shooting to kill); ATeamFiring / ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy (can't hit the broad side of a mountain at point-blank range); MadeOfIron (Human Beings Without Special Powers surviving things they really, really shouldn't) and AsLethalAsItNeedsToBe (weapon switches between lethal and non lethal according to the plot).

* In ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|Reimagined}}'', [[spoiler:Sharon]] shoots [[spoiler: Adama]] twice in the chest at close range with her side arm, and he survives. Needed a long stay in the sick bay, though. Later, she shoots [[spoiler: the Cylon leader Natalie]] in the chest at short range with her side arm, and she dies within a minute.

* Also add to the mix any game that regularly uses swords, axes, lances, arrows, or some other sharp weapon, (or really heavy clubs for that matter)which of course would be a OneHitKO if used on a real person. Chances are, even a character in {{Stripperiffic}} armor would get less than half of their HP bar taken if they are a high enough level, and certain "low-level" weapons become quickly moot.

* Also add to the mix any game that regularly uses swords, axes, lances, or some other sharp weapon. Chances are, even a character in {{Stripperiffic}} armor would get less than half of their HP bar taken if they are a high enough level, and certain "low-level" weapons become quickly moot.

Usually not TruthInTelevision, for obvious reasons. Even a bullet wound to a non-vital area can cause massive infections, shattered organs and bones, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking terrible hospital food]]. Even "nonlethal" weapons such as tasers, pepper spray, tear gas, and beanbag guns can kill under the right circumstances, e.g. a taser being used on someone with preexisting health problems or heart disease (or simply being at too high of a voltage and crossing the line from near-electrocution to electrocution), a beanbag striking someone at close range, through the eye, or at the wrong spot on the chest, or pepper spray or tear gas being used on someone with breathing problems.[[note]] Which is why law enforcement personnel refer to these as [[InsistentTerminology "Less Lethal"]][[/note]]

* The ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'' doesn't know how lethal the damn pumpkin bombs are. In [[Film/SpiderMan the first movie]], they vaporized anything they came in contact with. In [[Film/SpiderMan3 the third movie]], pretty much they just ended up knocking people down. Peter and Harry are both hit with pumpkin bombs point blank to the face during the movies, and the latter is at most scarred by it, while the former acts more like he's been punched in the face than anything.
* In Franchise/StarWars, when Han shoots Greedo with a blaster, there is a small explosion, turning Greedo into a blackened, smoking corpse. In ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'', Luke was shot in his false hand, but it only burned off the skin. Range could be a factor; HanShotFirst at point blank range, while Luke was shot further away.

** Or if you play on Heroic (the way the games are meant to be played) or Legendary (which is what the books assume), in which case it's completely averted.

Usually not TruthInTelevision, for obvious reasons. Even a bullet wound to a non-vital area can cause massive infections, shattered organs and bones, and [[{{ArsonMurderAndJaywalking}} terrible hospital food]]. Even "nonlethal" weapons such as tasers, pepper spray, tear gas, and beanbag guns can kill under the right circumstances, e.g. a taser being used on someone with preexisting health problems or heart disease (or simply being at too high of a voltage and crossing the line from near-electrocution to electrocution), a beanbag striking someone at close range, through the eye, or at the wrong spot on the chest, or pepper spray or tear gas being used on someone with breathing problems.[[note]] Which is why law enforcement personnel refer to these as [[InsistentTerminology "Less Lethal"]][[/note]]

See Also: ImprobableAimingSkills (kill in one shot, even at beyond limit range, or conversely never accidentally strike a mortal blow when not shooting to kill); ATeamFiring / ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy (can't hit the broad side of a mountain at point-blank range); MadeOfIron (Human Beings Without Special Powers surviving things they really, really shouldn't)) and AsLethalAsItNeedsToBe (weapon switches between lethal and non lethal according to the plot).

* In the first ''{{Appleseed}}'' movie the cyborg assassins sent after Deunan ues their monomolecular whips on anything except living beings. They go to hand to hand combat with Briareos, a practical human tank, and get punched into pieces for their troubles, instead of doing the reasonable thing and slicing him up from the distance.
* Happened thrice in ''Manga/CityHunter''. The first time Ryo ''[[RatedMForManly shot through his own hand to slow down his bullet and avoid collateral damage]]'' without suffering permanent damage (it's mentioned that Ryo avoided hitting the bones exactly to prevent the crippling damage that would have happened to anyone without ImprobableAimingSkills). The second time Umibozu had been shot in the back with three .38 bullets, but he only needed to flex his muscles to expel them with little damage (Ryo immediately pointed out that nobody else could have done it). In the final istance Ryo managed to knock out a thug with a bullet from his ''.357 Magnum'' (again, it was a special circumstance: Ryo's ImprobableAimingSkills had allowed him to make the bullet pass near the head of the thug, knocking him out with the shock of it). Every other time it's averted: people actually hit by bullets will have the wounds cripple them for months if not for life

* Codified by John Woo's ''ABetterTomorrow 2.'' In the final scene, approximately 80 mooks are killed with every weapon imaginable. The heroes also suffer injuries, but appear to suffer no ill effects. At the end, they calmly sit in their blood-soaked clothes and wait for the cops to arrive. Interestingly, the only John Woo movies where the heroes suffer the same injuries as the villains are ''A Better Tomorrow (1)'' and, perhaps, ''The Killer.''
* The ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'' doesn't know how lethal the damn pumpkin bombs are. In the first movie, they vaporized anything they came in contact with. In the third movie, pretty much they just ended up knocking people down. Peter and Harry are both hit with pumpkin bombs point blank to the face during the movies, and the latter is at most scarred by it, while the former acts more like he's been punched in the face than anything.

* Tended to happen on ''Franchise/StarTrek'', especially ''[[Series/StarTrekVoyager Voyager]]'' and ''[[Series/StarTrekEnterprise Enterprise]]''. A single phaser shot would kill an enemy mook no problem, but anyone with their name in the credits rarely suffered more than shoulder and leg hits that were completely cured. If you didn't have your name in the credits, you usually aren't so lucky, particularly if you happen to be wearing a gold or red shirt at the time. Nog learn this the hard way, when he ''lost a leg''.

*** One of the best examples was in a Voyager episode. A nameless Gold-shirt was hit in the shoulder by a small pistol and instantly died, proving the weapons weren't on stun. Chakotay took a blast from a large rifle directly to his center mass... and woke up with a headache. It ''did'' do some nerve damage however that unless treated ''could'' eventually kill him, but the fact it didn't kill him outright is rather ridiculous.

** One episode of DeepSpaceNine dealt with this trope directly. Cardassian weapons only have stun and kill settings, but federation phasers have ''dozens''.

* The [[TabletopGames Tabletop Game]] ''TabletopGame/FengShui'' has this effect for ''all'' named characters, heroes and villains alike, reflecting how tough major characters in HeroicBloodshed movies tend to be in regards to bullets.

* MutantsAndMasterminds has had this mechanic from the beginning though its better defined in 2nd edition. Pretty much everyone aside from the important characters (good or bad) are knocked out after one good hit. In both this and the above case, they're deliberately mirroring the presence of this trope in their respective genres.
* In {{GURPS}}, most weapons in pistol or rifle sizes are unlikely to kill outright.
* SavageWorlds plays this to a T. If an unnamed character takes damage, they're either stunned or dead. Named characters can be stunned, wounded or incapacitated, only dying if they bleed out, or are finished off while incapacitated.

* Pick a FirstPersonShooter. Any FirstPersonShooter. Arguably this is for gameplay reasons, though.
** However, higher difficulties in these games avoid the use of this trope, allowing the player character to be killed by single (or very few) shots. Also, more 'realistic' tactical shooters such as ''VideoGame/RainbowSix'' and their ilk feature very fragile (by FPS standards) player characters, with injuries commonly sidelining characters for succeeding missions.
* Played straight and subverted by the ''VideoGame/MaxPayne'' video game series. In terms of gameplay, Max actually has fewer hitpoints than some of his later enemies, though he can regenerate with painkillers. Viewed in terms of realism, Max is peppered full of holes from desert eagles, assault rifles, and grenade shrapnel for several hours of gameplay and needs nothing more than aspirin to stay healthy.

* Justified in the ''{{Halo}}'' games. The best-equipped soldiers, both human and Covenant, have plasma shields. These prevent instant death most of the time, but a handful of weapons are still one-hit kills if properly aimed. In other cases -- especially with the plasma pistol -- your shields may be downed in a single shot, at which point you can be killed with realistic ease, like any {{Mook}}.

* Averted in ''FirstEncounterAssaultRecon'' - unless your armor and health are maxed out, if the enemy shoots you with a weapon that instagibs them, you will die instantly in turn.

<<|GunsAndGunplayTropes|>>

* The ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'' doesn't know how lethal the damn pumpkin bombs are. In the first movie, they vaporized anything they came in contact with. In the third movie, pretty much they just ended up knocking people down.

*** Since they were clearly different weapons, it seems as though the blast Chakotay took was not on a lethal setting.
** Another example is during the TNG episode "Enemy Mine", where Geordie and an annoying Starfleet officer get hit with the ''same'' weapon, ''seconds'' apart, in the ''exact'' same way. Next scene, Geordie's nursing a headache from the blast, while they're covering the other guy with a sheet.
*** This is because the annoying officer is pretty much drilled right in the heart on a kill setting (see below) and Geordi took a more glancing hit.
** Justified in most cases by the [[StunGuns stun setting]].

*** Energy weapons in Trek work differently to the above perception. There are lower levels ('stun' settings) that only incapacitate the target, though it is established that a point-blank heavy stun blast to the head would still be lethal. Medium levels ('kill' settings) tend to do actual damage ranging from burns to death. The higher settings are those that vapourise the target and can cut through rock or metal. Phasers on 'kill' do not vapourise the target (the maximum settings do), but have effects that are variable - much like (surprise surprise) most projectile weapons in reality. One hit will not be like another because it may hit a different place. It is often assumed that phasers have only a handful of settings but this is clearly not the case. It is likely more like 10.
*** One episode of DeepSpaceNine dealt with this directly. Cardassian weapons only have stun and kill settings, but federation phasers have ''dozens''.

* In Franchise/StarWars, when Han shoots Greedo with a blaster, there is a small explosion, turning Greedo into a blackened, smoking corpse. In ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'', Luke was shot in his false hand, but it only burned off the skin. Range could be a factor; HanShotFirst at point blank range, while Leia was basically sniped by a Stormtrooper.

* The ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'' doesn't know how lethal the damn pumpkin bombs are. In the first movie, they vaporized anything they came in contact with. In the third movie, pretty much they just ended up knocking people down - even when a villain ''not wearing any armor takes a direct hit''! Then, at the end of the film, [[spoiler:Venom]] gets hit by one and is again, vaporized.
** Partially justified by the possibility of different kinds of pumpkin bombs - the vaporization in the first film was ''definitely'' not a regular explosion.
*** Also, [[spoiler:Symbiotes are weak against sonic and fire. The metal beams supplied the sonic and the pumpkin bomb supplied the fire. According to Franchise/{{Pokemon}}, isn't that QuadDamage?]]
* In Franchise/StarWars, when Han shoots Greedo with a blaster, there is a small explosion, turning Greedo into a blackened, smoking corpse. In ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'', Leia takes a blaster hit in the shoulder with only a minor injury. Luke was shot in his false hand, but it only burned off the skin.
** Range could be a factor; HanShotFirst at point blank range, while Leia was basically sniped by a Stormtrooper.
*** As could size. Han's weapon seems more powerful that the tiny holdout weapon that the stormtrooper used on Leia. It's like shooting someone from 100 feet with a .22 rimfire. Yeah, it's gonna sting, but you can get up in a bit. Still follows the trope, though.
*** In the Star Wars Universe, Hans pistol, the DL-44, is one of the most powerful blaster pistols in the universe. Assuming the holdout weapon the stormtrooper used on Leia was a scout blaster, comparing the two would be similar to comparing a .44 Magnum to a .38 SPL. Also, their different goals: despite their names, the stormtroopers believed in taking prisoners, not disintegrating on sight. These troopers have "recapture alive" as a priority, along with "don't punch holes in the bulkheads we can't repair", so they'd be issued less-powerful weapons. On the other hand, Han is a smuggler who has only one thing he wants to do to any bounty hunter or pirate on his case: KILL. Thus he buys the most powerful blaster he can get in pistol size, and leaves it dialed up to "incinerate". While this may semi-justify this trope, this troper is amazed the stormtrooper actually hit a major character [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy considering the dominant trope in the series]].
*** '''IF''' one applies the gun mechanics from the games to the films, this is justified. Many blasters have different power levels, and heavy blaster pistols like Han's, in particular, can charge up to five charges into a single shot; this is, more often than not, enough for a single-hit-kill. In the movie, one would think Han had plenty of time to charge the shot while talking to Greedo - or maybe he holds a shot pre-charged.
*** Careful observation of where the blaster bolt hits shows it strikes the wall beside Leia. She was hit by the splash damage from the blaster bolt's impact and shrapnel from the wall.
*** Darth Vader stops Han's blaster with one hand, using the Force. The EU offers a couple of explanations, such as a Force power that allowed him to absorb energy on contact and use it to power other Force abilities, and the ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' game has Force Deflection, which allows the character in question to deflect blaster bolts with their bare hands.
**** Some sources put it down to Vader wearing gauntlets of mandalorian iron. M-iron can stop ligtsabers, so a few blaster shots don't present a problem. [[FridgeLogic It sure didn't stop Luke's lightsaber in Return of the Jedi however]]

* In ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'', murder victims rarely require more than a single blow, stab, or shot to die. But if you're a major character like [[spoiler: Manfred von Karma, Franziska von Karma, or Shi-Long Lang]], a bullet is a mere inconvenience.
** The game does ''usually'' justify the lethal wounds, in that they tend to hit vital areas, and after the first game, death is rarely instantaneous. Bullets hit hearts (which is [[ImprobableAimingSkills another trope]]), necks are broken, victims live long enough to alter the crime scene...

**** Some sources put it down to Vader wearing gauntlets of mandalorian iron. M-iron can stop ligtsabers, so a few blaster shots don't present a problem.

*** If one applies the gun mechanics from the games to the films, this is justified. Many blasters have different power levels, and heavy blaster pistols like Han's, in particular, can charge up to five charges into a single shot; this is, more often than not, enough for a single-hit-kill. In the movie, one would think Han had plenty of time to charge the shot while talking to Greedo - or maybe he holds a shot pre-charged.

Weapons will [[{{Mooks}} reliably kill the bad guys in one hit]], and [[PlotArmor merely injure a hero]], who can hobble off and fully recover by next week.

See Also: ImprobableAimingSkills (kill in one shot, even at beyond limit range, or conversely never accidentally strike a mortal blow when not shooting to kill) ATeamFiring / ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy (can't hit the broad side of a mountain at point-blank range) / MadeOfIron (Human Beings Without Special Powers surviving things they really, really shouldn't)) and AsLethalAsItNeedsToBe (weapon switches between lethal and non lethal according to the plot).

Usually not TruthInTelevision, for obvious reasons. Even a bullet wound to a non-vital area can cause lead poisoning, massive infections, shattered organs and bones, and [[{{ArsonMurderAndJaywalking}} terrible hospital food]]. Even "nonlethal" weapons such as tasers, pepper spray, tear gas, and beanbag guns can kill under the right circumstances, e.g. a taser being used on someone with preexisting health problems or heart disease (or simply being at too high of a voltage and crossing the line from near-electrocution to electrocution), a beanbag striking someone at close range, through the eye, or at the wrong spot on the chest, or pepper spray or tear gas being used on someone with breathing problems.[[note]] Which is why law enforcement personnel refer to these as [[InsistentTerminology "Less Lethal"]][[/note]]

* In ''Film/{{Transporter}}2'', Jason Statham is in a fight scene, and kills 11, count em, ''eleven'' mooks, with a firehose. And that's without even turning it on.

*** [[FridgeLogic Fridge Logic]]: Chief's armor is powered by a fusion reactor on his back, meaning the chest area is the most heavily armored portion of his armor to prevent an accidental melt down during combat.

Usually not TruthInTelevision, for obvious reasons. Even a bullet wound to a non-vital area can cause lead poisoning, massive infections, shattered organs and bones, and [[{{ArsonMurderAndJaywalking}} terrible hospital food]]. Even "nonlethal" weapons such as tasers, pepper spray, tear gas, and beanbag guns can kill under the right circumstances, e.g. a taser being used on someone with preexisting health problems or heart disease, a beanbag striking someone at close range, through the eye, or at the wrong spot on the chest, or pepper spray or tear gas being used on someone with breathing problems.[[note]] Which is why law enforcement personnel refer to these as [[InsistentTerminology "Less Lethal"]][[/note]]

Usually not TruthInTelevision, for obvious reasons. Even a bullet wound to a non-vital area can cause lead poisoning, massive infections, shattered organs and bones, and [[{{ArsonMurderAndJaywalking}}terrible hospital food]]. Even "nonlethal" weapons such as tasers, pepper spray, tear gas, and beanbag guns can kill under the right circumstances, e.g. a taser being used on someone with preexisting health problems or heart disease, a beanbag striking someone at close range, through the eye, or at the wrong spot on the chest, or pepper spray or tear gas being used on someone with breathing problems.[[note]] Which is why law enforcement personnel refer to these as [[InsistentTerminology "Less Lethal"]][[/note]]

Usually not TruthInTelevision, for obvious reasons. Even a bullet wound to a non-vital area can cause lead poisoning, massive infections, shattered organs and bones, and terrible hospital food. Even "nonlethal" weapons such as tasers, pepper spray, tear gas, and beanbag guns can kill under the right circumstances, e.g. a taser being used on someone with preexisting health problems or heart disease, a beanbag striking someone at close range, through the eye, or at the wrong spot on the chest, or pepper spray or tear gas being used on someone with breathing problems.[[note]] Which is why law enforcement personnel refer to these as [[InsistentTerminology "Less Lethal"]][[/note]]

Definitely not {{Truth in Television}}. In {{Real Life}}, the chances of you receiving such minor injuries (or no injuries at all) after falling victim to such things are extremely slim, unless you've got some kind of miraculous luck. Almost invariably, you would be either killed, or scarred or crippled for life. Or in the case of ingesting some deadly poison, there's a good chance you'd suffer permanent brain damage. Definitely [[DontTryThisAtHome Don't Try This At Home]], folks. As an example, In 1384, Perrin Le Roux was accidentally killed by a wad of ''paper'' fired from a cannon (used as a prop in a play) which struck him. The velocity of the projectile, Le Roux standing closer to the cannon than was allowed, and the fact the projectile hit him in the eye led to his death a few days later, in spite of the seemingly innocuous object that struck him.

Even "nonlethal" weapons such as tasers, pepper spray, tear gas, and beanbag guns can kill under the right circumstances, e.g. a taser being used on someone with preexisting health problems or heart disease, a beanbag striking someone at close range, through the eye, or at the wrong spot on the chest, or pepper spray or tear gas being used on someone with breathing problems.[[note]] Which is why law enforcement personnel refer to these as [[InsistentTerminology "Less Lethal"]][[/note]]

Even "nonlethal" weapons such as tasers, pepper spray, tear gas, and beanbag guns can kill under the right circumstances, e.g. a taser being used on someone with preexisting health problems or heart disease, or pepper spray or tear gas being used on someone with breathing problems.[[note]] Which is why law enforcement personnel refer to these as [[InsistentTerminology "Less Lethal"]][[/note]]

Even "nonlethal" weapons such as tasers, pepper spray, tear gas, and beanbag guns can kill under the right circumstances, e.g. a taser being used on someone with preexisting health problems or heart disease, or pepper spray or tear gas being used on someone with breathing problems.[[note] Which is why law enforcement personnel refer to these as [[InsistentTerminology "Less Lethal"]][[/note]

Even "nonlethal" weapons such as tasers, pepper spray, tear gas, and beanbag guns can kill under the right circumstances, e.g. a taser being used on someone with preexisting health problems or heart disease, or pepper spray or tear gas being used on someone with breathing problems.[[hottip:*: Which is why law enforcement personnel refer to these as [[InsistentTerminology "Less Lethal"]]