History Main / ChallengingTheChief

[[folder: Anime And Manga ]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* The Sabbat of ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'' has this in place for certain positions in their power structure. In at least one book, the Storyteller was encouraged to add whatever arcane stipulations or requirements he saw fit, in order to emphasize how unorganized the Sabbat was (the sample: "You can't challenge the Archbishop now - it's not the third night after the new moon!").

* Can easily happen in ''{{TabletopGame/BattleTech}}'''s Clan society, where trial by combat is a common way for the ruling warrior caste to settle disputes and grudges already and even ''rank'' is generally determined by combat performance up until one reaches the highest levels. Seeking advancement or the removal of an incompetent-looking immediate superior by challenging them for their position is explicitly ''allowed'' as long as protocol is observed (and can often pass even if it's not, depending on circumstances).
* ''TabletopGame/ArsMagica'': One prerequisite for the title of [[TheArchmage Archmage]] is to defeat a sitting Archmage at a challenge of their own design -- sometimes a WizardDuel, sometimes a bizarre CookingDuel. The sitting Archmage isn't deposed, but after seven losses, they can't be challenged again and are widely seen as disgraced, so it's very bad form in MagicalSociety to challenge one who's suffered five or six losses.

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* Joked about in the sixth ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' game when CuteWitch Marisa asks NinjaMaid Sakuya whether the position of Chief Maid works like this. It doesn't.

* ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2: Mask of The Betrayer'' has frost giant jarls decided this way. The ex-jarl you meet notes that he was beat by a weak but clever giant who challenged him after he was fatigued from the last fight. One option for the quest to get rid of them is to become the Jarl (and get a +1 charisma bonus for free) of the (self) exiled giants by beating ALL of them in a king of the hill fight.

* In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind'', several factions require you to defeat the current leader in order to take their place, including the Fighters' Guild, the Mages' Guild, and Houses Redoran and Telvanni, although it is not the supposed usual approach for any of them but Telvanni (for whom, along with the Fighters', it is more of a KlingonPromotion) -- there is a peaceful way to become head of the Mages' Guild, but it is both harder to find out and, depending on interpretation, either leaves you co-head of the Guild along with an idiot, rather than sole head, or at least lets the idiot keep a prestigious title. Interestingly, the [[MurderInc Morag Tong]] ''inverts'' the usual approach to this trope. "Challenging the chief" is, per their rules, the standard way to become the leader. However, the current leader is perfectly fine stepping aside when it's time for you to take the reigns.
* The Gorons in ''Zelda'' series have a culture revolving nearly entirely around physical strength. The strongest and toughest Goron is the tribal chieftain, no exceptions. This comes into play in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'', wherein the Gorons will not allow you to enter their mines until you beat one of their elders in a sumo contest (which is actually impossible to win unless you cheat with the iron boots).
* In the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' verse, this is typically how regime changes happen on [[DeathWorld Tuchanka]]. Should he survive Mass Effect 1 and claim chieftain-ship over effectively all of Tuchanka, Wrex fully expects this to happen to him some time eventually. [[spoiler: And hopes it's Grunt who does it.]]
** In the first game, Wrex asks several squadmates about the possible outcome of a duel between them and [[TheHero Shepard]]. Kaidan protests that he can't fight his superior, making Wrex remark that this is precisely why Shepard would win. Tali instead [[LampshadeHanging asks a counter-question]] whether krogan always size up their superiors for a fight; his answer is a BluntYes [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy with a tone as if he was stating the most obvious thing in the world]].
* Brutes in ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' vie for power this way. One of the tie-in novels, ''Literature/HaloContactHarvest'', reveals that this is how Tartarus (TheDragon of ''VideoGame/{{Halo 2}}'') got his position. Specifically, the chief was [[{{Patricide}} his uncle]], and he was [[SoProudOfYou never prouder of Tartarus than when he killed him]].
* Subverted in the Franchise/{{Pokemon}} core games, in which you challenge the champion, and win, you are declared the new champion. Some Key NPC's treat you as such, and you are granted to Champion-only areas, but when you return to the Pokemon League, the old Champion is still there, often using the same lines as earlier. You aren't expected to stay there and defend the title, probably due to the idea being boring for the player. Played straight in ''Videogame/PokemonSunAndMoon'', in which after becoming Champion you can have Title Defense battles against various characters looking to supplant you.
* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', one possible way to get rid of a group of cultists is to craft a necklace they consider sacred and beat their leader in single combat, resulting in the cultists pledging their service to you. It helps that their leader was an asshole, so they're happy to follow someone more heroic.
* In ''Videogame/FalloutNewVegas'', according to Benny, this was how he became the chief of the Boot Riders raider gang (before they became the Chairmen). He challenged the then-chief to a knife fight and took advantage of the fact that he was naturally faster than him.
* In ''Videogame/StarcraftIILegacyOfTheVoid'' Alarak challenges Ma'lash, the leader of the Tal'darim to a psionic duel known as "Rak'shir", in which one must force the other into a pit. During the duel, while their allies can't directly attack the opponent, they can be bolstered psionically by nearby units, meaning that your goal is to escort Alarak and take out any enemy units helping out Ma'lash.

[[folder: Web Comics ]]

* In ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', the title of HER IMPERIOUS CONDESCENSION is inherited this way. It's genetic; those with [[FantasticCasteSystem royal blood]] have to challenge the current IMPERIOUS CONDESCENSION upon reaching maturity. And those of royal blood are compelled to fight one another too.
* In ''Webcomic/{{Drowtales}}'', Sarv'swati Vel'Sharen expands her clan's armies by doing this. She challenges a [[TheHorde Black Sun]] chief. He's shown to be sexist by the standards of the universe, especially given that most of the drow societies are matriarchies, but he admits defeat once he is beaten and puts his troops under her command.

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* Parodied in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', with Fry challenging the leader of a post-apocalyptic society of children to what is essentially a skateboard race. [[spoiler:Fry wins, but the leader planned to just killed him anyway, and no one objected. His victory over a small child is denigrated further by the revelation that the society is in fact a LA creche.]]
* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'', Superman is transported to the distant future. After being attacked by a pack of mutant wolves, he challenges their alpha, and is next seen using the wolves like sled dogs and wearing the alpha's hide like a cape.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' episode "The Silent King", Finn becomes the new king of the goblins after driving off the old one.

[[folder: Real Life ]]

* ''[[ComicBook/TheTransformers Transformers]]'':
** Played with when Shockwave retains leadership of the Decepticons by kicking Megatron's ass; however, Shockwave clearly didn't want to fight, because he's all about logic (which to him is "whatever will achieve the best outcome") and the Decepticons were at the time under danger from the outnumbered and wounded Autobots.
** In later issues two bands of Autobots lead by Grimlock and Fortress Maximus meet up and Grimlock immediately challenges Fortress Maximus to a physical contest to determine who will lead the combined group. Autobots consider this to be an archaic, even ceremonial law but it remains valid and Fort Max goes through with it.
* In the ''Comicbook/BlackPanther'' comic books, there's an annual event where every citizen of Wakanda has the right to challenge T'Challa for both the Black Panther identity and leadership of the country. There's also an ancient tribal clause that grants the right to challenge Black Panther to one-on-one combat, and if the challenger wins, they become the new Black Panther.
* In ''Comicbook/{{Fables}}'', [[Literature/TheJungleBook Mowgli]] finds a wolf pack who might know where to find the missing Bigby. The wolves won't talk, so he challenges the alpha male for leadership. It works.
* The Wolfriders in ''ComicBook/ElfQuest'' are another example. Though their leadership is usually inherited, tribe members can also challenge the chief and take over. The Go-Backs, at least later on in the series, appear to have the same thing.

* ''Film/HellboyIITheGoldenArmy'' had the "challenge the leader to stop the army" version down to a pat.

* In ''Film/ButchCassidyAndTheSundanceKid'', Butch had apparently stated prior to the events of the film that anyone who wanted to could challenge him for leadership. Butch set this rule because he thought nobody would ever take him up on it, but early in the film the biggest, meanest member of his gang does just that. Through a combination of [[GuileHero Guile]] and being willing to [[CombatPragmatist fight dirty]], Butch manages to win despite the fact that he shouldn't have had a chance in the fight. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPqhm36sjVE Enjoy it for yourself]]
* In ''Film/DawnOfThePlanetOfTheApes'' this is how [[spoiler: Caesar retakes his position as leader of the apes from Koba, after surviving Koba's false flag assassination attempt. The apes want to be ruled by "the strongest" so Caesar has to prove he is stronger than Koba.]].
* The Kingdom of Wakanda in ''Film/{{Black Panther|2018}}'' has a system in which during the coronation ceremony, nobles with royal blood from each of the five constituent tribes are given the opportunity to challenge the crown prince in a fight to the death/submission. The winner becomes the new king of Wakanda. By the time of the film, the challenge ritual seems to have becomes a minor point of formality kept for tradition's sake. When M'Baku ''actually'' challenges T'Challa for the throne, everyone is genuinely shocked.

* In ''Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus'', this is how the Amazons get their queens. This comes back to bite them when their Queen, who would side with the Romans (who happen to be led by her sister), is challenged by a Gaea-backed usurper who keeps on coming back to life whenever she is killed, who could win through simple attrition and learning from her mistakes each time. Fortunately, the condition causing the usurper to come back to life (namely, the god of death being taken captive) is corrected and she is eventually killed for good.
* In ''Literature/TheRiftwarCycle'' there is a mention of a moredhel chieftain who conquered another tribe (and assimilated it into his own) by killing their leader in a fair fight.
* Implied that most warrens in ''Literature/WatershipDown'' work this way.
* ''The War Games of Zelos'' by Richard Avery (Edmund Cooper), part of ''The Expendables'' series. The people of the planet Zelos have a regular competition to determine who is the greatest warrior. The winner may challenge the King to a duel to take his position. All of the fights are to the death.
* In Steve Perry's ''[[Literature/MatadorSeries Matador]]'' series, this is how succession in the Musashi Flex (a sort of ongoing loosely-organized martial arts tournament) works. Anyone in the top ten of the rankings can challenge the top-ranked person, and if they win, they automatically become number one, regardless of their previous ranking.

* Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian took over a pirate ship this way in "Literature/ThePoolOfTheBlackOne", as by the law of the Red Brotherhood, anyone who kills the captain of a ship becomes the new captain.
* In ''[[Literature/{{Conqueror}} Wolf of the Plains]]'', Temujin becomes khan of both the Olkhun'ut and Kiryat clans by killing their respective khans.
* R.A. Salvatore's ''[[Literature/TheIcewindDaleTrilogy The Crystal Shard]]'' sees Wulfgar challenging the leader of his native tribe so that he can lead the barbarians against the BigBad. In order to make the challenge in the first place, you must prove your right "by blood or by deed". He shows off the horns of an ancient white dragon he killed (with Drizzt's help) and gets a "by deed" chance.

* How the Minotaur Emperor in ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' gets and keeps his job- Minotaurs settle almost all disputes through ritual combat, so the logical extension of this is that any warrior who has earned high enough distinction can challenge the Emperor for the throne. As a side-effect, this ensures that, [[ProudWarriorRace as the Minotaurs feel it should]], AsskickingEqualsAuthority.

* In ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'', a key tenet of the [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Andalite]] military is that any soldier can challenge any action their superior wishes to take, even down to the cadets (though a cadet needs a superior officer to support their challenge), which then results in a trial to determine the outcome. Frivolous challenges are kept in check, however, since losing means disgrace AND having your tail blade chopped off.
** This is also slowly cultivated as a bit of a conflict between ActionGirl Rachel and the team's leader, Jake. It's not too bad at first, but as Rachel slowly sinks into BloodKnight and later SociopathicSoldier territory, it becomes more and more of a defining point between them.
* In the ''Literature/JohnCarterOfMars'' series, Green Martians determine all their ranks by YouKillItYouBoughtIt, but for jeds (lords) or jeddaks (kings), the entire council of the lord in question must agree to the challenge for it to be valid. In the first book Tars Tarkas challenges his tribe's Jeddak and beheads him in a single sentence; the drama in the scene came from John Carter insulting Tal Hajus far enough that the council agreed to allow the challenge.
* In the second ''Raised By Wolves'' book by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Bryn is challenged for her Alpha position by [[spoiler: the refugee wolf she took in, who can't stand to serve under anyone.]] This, apparently, is a common procedure in werewolf society: Anyone in the pack can challenge the Alpha for their position and the Alpha must accept the challenge. The battle between the two should be a CurbStompBattle, since the challenger is a werewolf and Bryn is a human being, but since he's now a member of her pack, her position as Alpha allows her to essentially command him to die. Raises the question of how anyone ever wins these challenges.
* In ''Literature/GenerationKill'', Evan Wright discusses the emphasis that Marines place on physical fitness and combat skill. One of the Marines, Sergeant Rudy Reyes, is the undisputed martial artist master in his platoon, and as a result, is constantly being ambushed by his fellow marines, hoping to gauge their own skills against his (it is implied that their skills are measured in terms of how long it takes them to lose the fight they started). Then again, all of the Marines in the Force Recon platoon Evan Wright is shadowing are constantly ambushing each other in mock-combat to keep each other sharp.
* In the ''Literature/DredChronicles'', this is the normal way you get to be a gang boss on the PrisonShip Perdition. Dred, the protagonist, did it to her predecessor to take power, and people try to do it to her.

* In Creator/SergeyLukyanenko's ''Literature/LineOfDelirium'', it's stated that, if a Silicoid of a certain rank has a dissenting opinion with the Foot (their version of TheEmperor), the dispute is resolved by "entrusting it to the Balance", which boils down to this trope. It's mentioned that the current Foot descended to his position in this manner. However, when Kay wishes to entrust his fate to the Balance, the Foot chooses a champion to represent him instead.
* In ''[[Literature/TheDarkProfitSaga Orconomics]]'', after [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Chief Zuthraka]] of the Guz'Varda Tribe admonishes his son Char for mistakenly causing their guests to believe them to be prisoners, Char finally gets angry and challenges his father for leadership, claiming that true Orcs should be a [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Proud Warrior Race]] instead of the ProudMerchantRace Zuthraka is trying to turn them into. Zuthraka handily defeats his son. Then, instead of executing him on the spot, as per those same old ways that Char loves so much, he spares him, but cuts off his beard (sign of maturity) as punishment.

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', episode "Tacking Into The Wind", where the Klingon Chancellor Gowron is screwing things up during the Dominion War, mismanaging the Klingon battle efforts to humiliate and disgrace the popular General Martok (who he fears will challenge him for leadership). In truth, Martok is too honorable and loyal to the Empire to even consider trying to take control for himself. After some harsh truths from Dax about Klingon politics, Worf realizes that SOMEONE has to challenge Gowron on honorable grounds (such as calling him on intentionally mismanaging the war out of fear for losing his position). [[spoiler:Worf does challenge him, wins, becomes the next Chancellor, but almost immediately passes the torch to the most honorable and capable Klingon he knows (as well as his friend and mentor), General Martok]].

* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' story ''Ghost Light'', the villainous Josiah plans to murder Queen Victoria under the delusion that the British monarchy works like this.
* In ''Series/BabylonFive'', the Narn appear to use this, with G'Kar periodically having to fend off threats to his authority over the Narns on the station. The Minbari have their own version, with a twist: [[spoiler: the challenge is to stand in an increasingly lethal energy beam; the winner is the one who ''doesn't'' chicken out and leave the energy beam first. [[DoomedMoralVictor The position of the one who remained (and died) would be considered the superior one]]. However, when Delenn and Shakiri end up "battling" this way, Shakiri leaves the beam first. Shakiri's subordinate, Neroon, then wonders why Delenn doesn't leave the beam afterward, [[UnspokenPlanGuarantee as they'd apparently discussed in the previous episode off-camera]], only then learning that she meant to sacrifice herself ''for real''. Not wanting to see this happen, Neroon enters the beam himself, removing Delenn from danger and remaining there himself. Then, just before expiring, Neroon announces his conversion from the Warrior Caste to the Religious Caste, thus giving them the victory]].

** Garrosh ultimately becomes warchief, and is himself challenged by Cairne Bloodhoof. It is however a ploy - Cairne intended to lose in order to cement Garrosh's wildly unpopular leadership and save the Horde from civil war. Garrosh's weapon was poisoned, unbeknownst to him, and he ends up killing Cairne.

[[/folder]]//

-->--'''Lex Luthor''', ''Series/LoisAndClark'' ("The Phoenix")

* In ''Film/ButchCassidyAndTheSundanceKid'', Butch had apparently stated prior to the events of the film that anyone who wanted to could challenge him for leadership. Butch set this rule because he thought nobody would ever take him up on it, but early in the film the biggest, meanest member of his gang does just that. Through a combination of [[GuileHero Guile]] and being willing to [[FightingDirty Fight Dirty]], Butch manages to win despite the fact that he shouldn't have had a chance in the fight. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPqhm36sjVE Enjoy it for yourself]]

* In ''Series/BabylonFive'', the Narn appear to use this, with G'Kar periodically having to fend off threats to his authority over the Narns on the station. The Minbari have their own version, with a twist: [[spoiler: the challenge is to stand in an increasingly lethal energy beam; the winner is the one who doesn't chicken out and leave the energy beam first. The winner dies, but his faction's position is deemed superior. However, when Delenn and Neroon end up "battling" this way, Neroon leaves the beam first. As Delenn is about to die, Neroon has a WhatHaveIDone moment and jumps back in to push Delenn out. Then, just before expiring, he announces his conversion from the Warrior Caste to the Religious Caste, thus giving them the victory]].
[[/folder]]

* The Kingdom of Wakanda in ''Film/BlackPanther'' has a system in which during the coronation ceremony, nobles with royal blood from each of the five constituent tribes are given the opportunity to challenge the crown prince in a fight to the death/submission. The winner becomes the new king of Wakanda. By the time of the film, the challenge ritual seems to have becomes a minor point of formality kept for tradition's sake. When M'Baku ''actually'' challenges T'Challa for the throne, everyone is genuinely shocked.

* In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind'', several factions require you to defeat the current leader in order to take their place, including the Fighters' Guild, the Mages' Guild, and Houses Redoran and Telvanni. (In the case of the Telvanni, it's more of a KlingonPromotion.) (There is a peaceful way to become head of the Mages' Guild, but it is both harder to find out and leaves you co-head of the Guild along with an idiot, rather than sole head.) Interestingly, the [[MurderInc Morag Tong]] ''inverts'' this trope. "Challenging the chief" is, per their rules, the standard way to become the leader. However, the current leader is perfectly fine stepping aside when it's time for you to take the reigns.

* The Kingdom of Wakanda in ''Film/BlackPanther'' has a system in which immediately before the coronation ceremony, nobles with royal blood from each of the five constituent tribes are given the opportunity to challenge the crown prince in a fight to the death/submission. The winner becomes the new king of Wakanda. By the time of the film, the challenge ritual seems to have becomes a minor point of formality kept for tradition's sake. When M'Baku ''actually'' challenges T'Challa for the throne, everyone is genuinely shocked.

* In ''DawnOfThePlanetOfTheApes'' this is how [[spoiler: Caesar retakes his position as leader of the apes from Koba, after surviving Koba's false flag assassination attempt. The apes want to be ruled by "the strongest" so Caesar has to prove he is stronger than Koba.]].

There can be variations on how ritualized the challenge is. Sometimes a spontaneous fight could occur and then everybody makes sure everybody else hangs back to let the two [[{{Pun}} duke]] it out. On other occasions, the right to challenge may need to be specifically invoked, maybe with a particular phrase. In such a case you can very well expect the crowd to make a collective intake of breath and you get double points in the TVTropesDrinkingGame if the challenged chief was walking away but then stops and slowly turns around. There also may or may not be a strict rule that the loser has to die. If there is, you may get TheHero in an ethical quandary if they believe ThouShaltNotKill.

* In ''Series/BabylonFive'', the Narn appear to use this, with G'Kar periodically having to fend off threats to his authority over the Narns on the station. The Minbari have their own version, with a twist: [[spoiler: the challenge is to stand in an increasingly lethal energy beam; the winner is the one who doesn't chicken out and leave the energy beam first. The winner dies, but his faction's position is deemed superior]].

* In ''[[Literature/TheDarkProfitSaga Orconomics]]'', after [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Chief Zuthraka]] of the Guz'Varda Tribe admonishes his son Char for mistakenly causing their guests to believe them to be prisoners, Char finally gets angry and challenges his father for leadership, claiming that true Orcs should be a [[Proud Warrior Race Guy Proud Warrior Race]] instead of the ProudMerchantRace Zuthraka is trying to turn them into. Zuthraka handily defeats his son. Then, instead of executing him on the spot, as per those same old ways that Char loves so much, he spares him, but cuts off his beard (sign of maturity) as punishment.

* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', one possible way to get rid of a group of cultists is to craft a necklace they consider sacred and beat their leader in single combat, resulting in the cultists pledging their service to you.

* ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' also has this, particularly for the Orcs and the Horde in general.
** This is called a Mak'Gora, an old orcish ritual, that has been seen by the players three times, all of them involving the HotBlooded Garrosh Hellscream. Two of the fights were challenges made on the fly and the duel did not follow the formal rules, but has been seen in detail once, done the old way:
*** Both participants are allowed one weapon of choice. The weapon is to be blessed by a shaman in full view of the audience and both participants, to prevent cheating. No armour is allowed. The fight is to the death.

* In Steve Perry's ''[[MatadorSeries Matador]]'' series, this is how succession in the Musashi Flex (a sort of ongoing loosely-organized martial arts tournament) works. Anyone in the top ten of the rankings can challenge the top-ranked person, and if they win, they automatically become number one, regardless of their previous ranking.

* Parodied in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', with Fry challenging the leader of a post-apocalyptic society of children to what is essentially a skateboard race. [[spoiler: His victory over a small child is denigrated further by the revelation that the society is in fact a LA creche.]]
* Happens in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' where Superman is transported to the distant future. After being attacked by a pack of mutant wolves, he challenges their alpha, and is next seen using the wolves like sled dogs and wearing the alpha's hide like a cape.

* In ''WesternAnimation/HeavyMetal2000'', the BigBad Tyler kills the king of a tribe of lizard people and takes his place as their leader.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'' becomes a pirate king after this trope happens. Another pirate tries to oust him by using an EliteMook as a stand in, citing the pirate code as allowing this. Archer accepts the challenge, [[WhyDontYouJustShootHim and shoots him]].

* King Bucko Bigbones has a standing offer for anyone to take his office in ''[[Literature/{{Redwall}} Lord Brocktree]]''... if they beat him in a fight. Dotti does so in order to blackmail him into assistance, but [[spoiler:she probably didn't need to - he has a longstanding grudge against Ungatt Trunn, so he likely would have helped anyway]].

* Played with in the Marvel ''[[ComicBook/TheTransformers Transformers]]'' comic. Shockwave retains leadership of the Decepticons by kicking Megatron's ass; however, Shockwave clearly didn't want to fight, because he's all about logic (which to him is "whatever will achieve the best outcome") and the Decepticons were at the time under danger from the outnumbered and wounded Autobots.
** In later issues two bands of Autobots lead by Grimlock and Fortress Maximus meet up and Grimlock immediately challenges Fortress Maximus to a physical contest to determine who will lead the combined group. Autobots consider this to be an archaic, even ceremonial law but it remains valid and FortMax goes through with it.

* In ''Videogame/StarcraftIILegacyofTheVoid'' Alarak challenges Ma'lash, the leader of the Tal'darim to a psionic duel known as "Rak'shir", in which one must force the other into a pit. During the duel, while their allies can't directly attack the opponent, they can be bolstered psionically by nearby units, meaning that your goal is to escort Alarak and take out any enemy units helping out Ma'lash.

* Subverted in the Franchise/{{Pokemon}} core games, in which you challenge the champion, and win, you are declared the new champion. Some Key NPC's treat you as such, and you are granted to Champion-only areas, but when you return to the Pokemon League, the old Champion is still there, often using the same lines as earlier. You aren't expected to stay there and defend the title, probably due to the idea being boring for the player. Played straight in ''Videogame/PokemonSunAndMoon'', in which after becoming Champion you can have Champion Defense duels against various characters looking to supplant you.