History Main / DespairGambit

* [[{{Monster}} Johan Liebert]] seemed to be attempting this with Doctor Tenma.

[[AC:Live-ActionTV]]

** Kingpin tries to do the very same thing and much like the above example, it backfires ''horribly''. With everything taken away from him, Daredevil [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge no longer has anything holding him back]], thus truly becoming a "man without fear."

** Kingpin tries to do the very same thing, but in his case it backfires ''horribly''. With everything taken away from him, Daredevil [[RoaringRampageOfRevenge no longer has anything holding him back]], thus truly becoming a "man without fear."

* A pair of pages of ''SuperStupor'' lampshades the danger of this: The villain apparently didn't anticipate that "proving" to a superhero that killing is A-OK ''by killing his girlfriend'' is only a good idea when you're ready to sacrifice your own life in the name of your political statement.

* In ''HarryPotter'', the Death Eaters use this at least as a supplemental strategy, striking randomly at civilian targets to foster fear among the populace. (In theory, they're targeting those who they deem impure, but by their standards that's pretty much everyone)

* [[YouShouldKnowThisAlready Ozymandias]] convinces Doctor Manhattan that he's giving his acquaintances cancer in ''{{Watchmen}}'', basically for this purpose.

* This is the Anti-Spiral ''modus operandi'' in ''TengenToppaGurrenLagann'', arranging [[ManchurianAgent Manchurian Agents]], [[ColonyDrop Colony Drops]] and [[HopeSpot Hope Spots]] because the Power of the Spiral can't be defeated through main force. Although this is effective on some characters, it ultimately backfires, leading Team Gurren to the Anti-Spirals' home dimension and giving them a plethora of Lagann-type mechs with which to take them down.

* The "Revenge Arc" of ''RurouniKenshin'' deals with Enishi's attempt to reduce Kenshin to a pathetic homeless wreck by destroying everything Kenshin holds dear, in revenge for Kenshin's (accidental) killing of Enishi's sister. [[spoiler: it actually works for a while, after Enishi convinces Kenshin that he (Enishi) had murdered Kaoru.]]

* TheJoker has done this several times, such as in ''TheKillingJoke'' and the film partially based on it, ''Film/TheDarkKnight''. He does it either [[MotivelessMalignity because that's the way he is]] or because he secretly, desperately wants to prove that everyone else is really as hopeless as he is.

** TheJoker in ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' also uses this tactic, but by simply killing innocent people and cops until it's the people of Gotham who despair and turn on Batman for not giving up and turning himself in.

* It eventually becomes clear that this is one of the Dark One's main goals in ''TheWheelOfTime'': hurt the Dragon personally until he [[FaceHeelTurn turns]] or [[DrivenToSuicide takes himself out]]. In ''The Gathering Storm'', [[spoiler: he succeeds, and Rand almost tries to unmake the world before he snaps out of it]].

* ''{{Warhammer}}'' and ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' both feature Nurgle, the [[UltimateEvil Chaos God]] [[PlagueMaster of Pestilence and Despair]]. When mortals watch their loved ones wither from disease, or despair as their bodies bloat and decay from a hideous plague, they turn to Nurgle to escape the terror of their imminent death. Rather than cure them, Nurgle's blessings allow his followers to [[BeneficialDisease survive his disgusting attentions]] [[FeelNoPain free of pain or fear]], [[DealWithTheDevil trading their immortal souls to preserve]] [[BodyHorror their disfigured and corrupted flesh]]. The process leaves Nurgle's followers with a morbid sense of good humor and eager to lead others into "[[AffablyEvil Grandfather Nurgle's]]" scabrous embrace.

** TheJoker in ''TheDarkKnight'' also uses this tactic, but by simply killing innocent people and cops until it's the people of Gotham who despair and turn on Batman for not giving up and turning himself in.

** TheJoker in ''TheDarkKnight'' also uses this tactice, but by simply killing innocent people until it's the people of Gotham who despair and turn on Batman for not giving up and turning himself in.

* TheJoker has done this several times, such as in ''TheKillingJoke'' and the film partially based on it, ''TheDarkKnight''. He does it either [[MotivelessMalignity because that's the way he is]] or because he secretly, desperately wants to prove that everyone else is really as hopeless as he is.

* Frankly, the elaborate revenge undertaken by TheCountOfMonteCristo consists of his putting his enemies through one of these.
* In ''TheDresdenFiles'', [[spoiler: a fallen angel did this to Harry, convincing him to kill himself.]]

What's a villain to do when the hero is [[BoringInvincibleHero invincible]], or at least too strong to attack head on? Whether because of tactics, defense, [[ThePowerOfLove the power of love]], [[TheDeterminator will]], or because he won the SuperpowerLottery, the conventional tactics just aren't going to do the trick. By contrast, perhaps the villain himself is so weak that physical attack is impractical, or stands to gain if his enemies are not merely killed but admit utter defeat. In such a case, a good alternative strategy is often to attack the hero's resolve, and make him give up the fight.

* ''{{Warhammer}}'' and ''{{Warhammer 40000}}'' both feature Nurgle, the [[UltimateEvil Chaos God]] [[PlagueMaster of Pestilence and Despair]]. When mortals watch their loved ones wither from disease, or despair as their bodies bloat and decay from a hideous plague, they turn to Nurgle to escape the terror of their imminent death. Rather than cure them, Nurgle's blessings allow his followers to [[BeneficialDisease survive his disgusting attentions]] [[FeelNoPain free of pain or fear]], [[DealWithTheDevil trading their immortal souls to preserve]] [[BodyHorror their disfigured and corrupted flesh]]. The process leaves Nurgle's followers with a morbid sense of good humor and eager to lead others into "[[AffablyEvil Grandfather Nurgle's]]" scabrous embrace.

* In ''KnightsOfTheOldRepublic 2'', the ''protagonist'' actually uses this to defeat [[TheDragon Darth Sion.]] His connection to the Force basically makes him invincible, so in order to kill him for good, the player has to convince him to give up that connection willingly and die.

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* In [[DotHackSign .hack//SIGN]] the plot of the main villain involves a whole lot of this.

* Lex Luthor defeats Superman in ''SupermanRedSon'' in this way: After every attempt to take out Superman by brute force fails, he attacks Superman's psyche instead with an ArmorPiercingQuestion.

* In the novel Superman: Miracle Monday, TheDevil's agent on Earth tries this on Superman (by trying to trick him into killing an innocent person) hoping to break his spirit (and in turn, the inspiration he provides humanity.) It fails because Superman [[TookAThirdOption just won't do it]].

* In [[KnightsOfTheOldRepublic Knights of the Old Republic 2]], the ''protagonist'' actually uses this to defeat [[TheDragon Darth Sion.]] His connection to the Force basically makes him invincible, so in order to kill him for good, the player has to convince him to give up that connection willingly and die.

* A pair of pages of ''SuperStupor'' lampshades the danger of this: The villain apparently didn't anticipate that "proving" to a superhero that killing is A-OK ''by killing his girlfriend'' is only a good idea when you're ready to sacrifice your own life in the name of your political statement; if you intend to survive, it suddenly becomes a [[{{Understatement}} somewhat less good idea]].

See also VillainBall, DrivenToSuicide, DespairEventHorizon.

What's a villain to do when the hero is [[BoringInvincibleHero invincible]], or at least too strong to attack head on? Whether because of tactics, defense, [[ThePowerOfLove the power of love]], [[TheDeterminator will]], or because he won the SuperpowerLottery, the conventional tactics just aren't going to do the trick. In such a case, a good alternative strategy is often to attack the hero's resolve, and make him give up the fight.

See also VillainBall, DrivenToSuicide, DespairEventHorizon