History Main / DramaticHighPerching

* VideoGame/{{NiGHTS into Dreams}}: The most famous pose from the titular protagonist is to stand on the top of a clock tower by one feet,playing a invisible flute.

* The MysteriousWatcher "[[FanNickname Superhoodie]]" in ''Series/{{Misfits}}'' is fond of surveying things dramatically from rooftops.

* Occurs in ''Anime/{{Nisemonogatari}}'': Yozuru Kagenui is constantly standing atop some object or another. This includes sculptures, mailboxes, and even her humanoid familiar when nothing else is available. In fact, she refuses to stand on the ground at all. We eventually learn that the reason for this is because [[spoiler: she and her colleague are subject to a curse, though the details are not explained]]. This devotion to keeping the high ground is made all the more impressive when you consider she's doing it in heels.

* In ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind'', [[spoiler:Polnareff]] shouts this towards Diavolo, telling him he has the advantage at top of the stairs. Of course, he knew [[spoiler:being in a wheelchair]] wasn't a helpful tactic.
-->'''[[spoiler:Polnareff]]:''' Walk up those steps and see what happens asshole! I have the high ground while you're stuck way down there!

* ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'': Subverted when Luke hops onto a catwalk to avoid fighting Vader. He calls Vader out for not willing to fight him, only for Vader to not take the bait and instead throw his lightsaber at the catwalk and force Luke to crash.

* In ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureVentoAureo'', [[spoiler:Polnareff]] shouts this towards Diavolo, telling him he has the advantage at top of the stairs. Of course, he knew [[spoiler:being in a wheelchair]] wasn't a helpful tactic.

* Used in a couple of Angel battles in ''Anime/AngelicLayer''.

* The ''Film/CrouchingTigerHiddenDragon'' scene is spoofed in a second ''ComicBook/{{Asterix}}'' movie.

* Used in a couple of Angel battles in ''Anime/KidouTenshiAngelicLayer''.

* Evangeline of ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'' does this when trying to look scary. It usually works.
* Used constantly by Nagi in ''Anime/MaiHime'', with LampshadeHanging. Nagi (who is ''fond'' of having the high ground, to say the least) appears on top of Fuuka Gakuen's clock tower in a very cool and dramatic manner and starts delivering an important message to the main characters, and Midori tells him to step down because standing that high is dangerous. Nagi also ''falls'' from his high ground a time or two.

* Obi of ''Manga/AkagamiNoShirayukihime'' prefers to enter fights from the trees or buildings above his opponents. In this case part of the reason for his approach is because he'd prefer not to be seen straight away since he's usually on his own fighting multiple opponents. In at least one case he used his altitude and position in a tree above them to try and intimidate a couple of thieves into giving up since he saw they were just kids once he'd caught up.

* Jeanne of ''Manga/KamikazeKaitouJeanne'' almost always begins her transformation sequence by jumping off a building, tower, etc. She enjoys attacking her adversaries this way as well.

** Also done in the [[Manga/YuGiOhGX manga]] of the same series, this time with young Jaden's Flame Wingman attacking one of Kyou Hibiki's Elemental Heroes.

** In the first episode of ''Anime/YuGiOhGX'', Flame Wingman does this after the Skyscraper card is activated, glaring down at Ancient Gear Golem from one of the taller 'scrapers, despite being quite visibly capable of flight. It does [[RuleOfCool look cool]], though. The same happens later in the series, just before Jaden defeats another student who had stolen Yugi's deck and was imitating him.

The TropeNamer is Obi-Wan Kenobi in ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'', although [[ThisIndexIsNotAnExample this is not actually an example of the trope]]; when [[WebVideo/BackstrokeOfTheWest the geography that you stands compares you superior]], you are playing with GeoEffects. See also SittingOnTheRoof.

** In ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Gundam 00]]'' season 2, [[strike:Graham]] [[CharClone Mister Bushido]] tops the aforementioned two, at least in altitude, by posing his Masurao on top of an ''asteroid''.

* VideoGame/AgeOfEmpires gives attack bonuses to ranged united who fire from a hill on an enemy at a lower level and to units firing from up a cliff.
* Inverted in ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'', where it's easier to hit in melee if your opponent is higher than you are (your attacks come from nearer the top of your hitbox with a spherical range). Played straight in ranged combat, as it's easier to hit a target with an arrow or potion from far above than far below.

* In ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown'', units will gain additional Aim when they are against enemies at lower elevation or while they are flying. Sniper class has the "Damn Good Ground" ability which further improves their Aim as well as granting them additional Defense.

'''[[CrazyAwesome Lelouch:]]''' [[GilliganCut HOW DID I GET UP HERE?!]]

* ''WebVideo/YuyuHakushoAbridged'' takes Hiei's tendency to perch on tree tops, and Kurabawa's strength building exercise of punching down trees to it's logical conclusion. The two then bicker over who's behavior was more ridiculous (and thus was at fault).

* Occurs constantly in ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', related to the ninja's ability to channel [[KiAttacks chakra]] into their feet. Also used in the WalkOnWater combination with logs that balanced on the surface of a lake in a pivotal point during the climactic Naruto vs. Sasuke battle.

* Happens occasionally in ''Manga/BusouRenkin''. At one point, Papillon and and Moonface have a conversation while standing on electric posts.

* Based on the dialog between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker atop of this page, this trope was tested on ''Series/{{Mythbusters}}'' to determine if Obi-Wan really did have an advantage. [[spoiler:Busted. Out of 50 "first hit wins" matches, the combatant on the higher ground won 26 times -- just barely above half. That said, it was Adam and Jamie leaping at each other rather than two Jedi Knights, one of whom was hopped to the gills on the Dark Side.]]

* Based on the dialog between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker atop of this page, this trope was tested on ''Series/{{Mythbusters}}'' to determine if Obi-Wan really did have an advantage. [[spoiler:Busted. Out of 50 "first hit wins" matches, the combatant on the higher ground won 26 times -- just barely above half.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'' parodies the ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'' above by having Obi-Wan constantly reiterate that he's on the high ground and use it as an excuse for everything, including stealing Anakin's lightsaber.

* In ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'', Obi-Wan declares this to Anakin, the former being on solid ground while the latter is on a hovering platform above lava. Anakin decides to test his luck anyway, leading to the loss of several limbs.