History Main / EvilLearnsOfOutsideContext

* ''Fanfic/BoldoresandBoomsticks'': After learning about Pokémon and Earth, Salem manipulates Lusamine into allowing large numbers of Grimm to stay at Aether Paradise.

* The [[TropeNamer Trope Namer]] for the entire 'Outside Context' trope, the Iain M. Banks novel ''[[Literature/TheCulture Excession]]'', has this occur when the [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Affront]] learn about the titular entity and attempt to it exploit it for their own gain, with the help of a conspiracy within the Culture. They end up not only failing, but nearly dooming the galaxy in the process.

** ''Series/{{The Flash 2014}}'': Ramsey (a.k.a. Bloodwork) initially wants to turn everyone in the world into immortal zombies. But in attempting to zombify Barry, Ramsey learns that TheMultiverse exists, and decides ''all'' worlds need Ramsey's particular brand of "saving".

** ''Series/{{Crisis On Infinite Earths}}'': On ''Series/{{Supergirl 2015}}'', Lex Luthor's goals had been 1) TakeOverTheWorld, and 2) kill Superman (not necessarily in that order). When pulled into a battle to save TheMultiverse, Lex immediately revises their goals: 1) [[MultiversalConqueror Take Over The Multiverse]], 2) kill every version of Superman in all possible universes (again, not necessarily in that order).

** On ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', [[TheAssimilator the Borg]] began their mission of absorbing all sentient life in the universe long ago, but are largely limited to the further reaches of space and thus billions of miles away from our heroes (their premiere episode revealed that the nearest starbase to their current location is 2.5 ''years'' away at maximum warp). It isn't until the RealityWarper Q puts Picard through a SecretTestOfCharacter in the episode "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS2E16QWho Q Who]]" that the Borg become aware of the existence of the United Federation of Planets, and specifically Earth--and they immediately start gunning for it. Somewhat [[DownplayedTrope downplayed]] in that Picard realizes the Borg would have eventually learned about the Federation and humans regardless of Q's actions, although the sudden discovery does cause series-spanning problems for the heroes. (Presumably they'd have had more time to prepare if Q hadn't been [[TheGadfly such a jerk]]. Though Q's antics also gave the Federation advance notice of ''what'' they needed to prepare for.)

* ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'': When the party travel back in time and get defeated by the BigBad, said BigBad also [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt destroys]] the advanced {{Precursor|s}} society. These events allow [[TheStarscream Dalton]] to rise up and take control with his flying fortress, the Blackbird. In addition to this, he also takes control of the party's TimeMachine and outfits it with wings so that he can use it as his personal fighter jet. The party fights him to take it back, and Dalton winds up accidentally sealing himself inside of a portal. [[spoiler:In the UpdatedRerelease of the game, a new section is later added where the party fight Dalton in a Dimensional Vortex, where it's implied that he has learned of (and possibly mastered) TimeTravel, which he now plans to use to personally raise an army and take revenge on the three protagonists. Based on the events of ''Videogame/ChronoCross'', he appears to be successful.]]

* ''Videogame/FinalFantasyXIV'': As part of the [[BigBadEnsemble Ascians]] plan to rejoin TheMultiverse, they caused an apocalypse on a world called The First which then caused another apocalyptic event on The Source (the game's main setting). [[spoiler:Centuries into the future, a group of survivors led by the Crystal Exarch figured out how to send [[LandmarkOfLore The Crystal Tower]] back in time to the First, and then summoned the PlayerCharacter and their allies to SaveBothWorlds. The Ascian in charge of their plans on The First, Emet-Selch, was initially confused where this second Crystal Tower came from, but quickly pieced together the truth. However, though he knew ''what'' had been done, he still needed to know ''how'' it was done, and thus captures the Exarch at the end of the game planning to torture and experiment on him to learn the secrets of TimeTravel for the Ascians' own purposes.]]

* ''Videogame/HalfLife2'':

* ''Videogame/MassEffectAndromeda'': In his war to conquer the angara, the [[BigBad Archon]], leader of the kett, has spent years trying to access and master the technology of the [[{{Precursors}} Remnant]], but has failed to figure out a way. After human Pathfinder Alec Ryder and his team arrive in the Andromeda Galaxy, they manage to instantly do it in seconds. This makes the Archon obsessed with finding his successor (Ryder, the PlayerCharacter) to learn what makes the human species able to do what the kett have failed to. [[spoiler:When he finds out that it's because the Ryders have their brains connected to an A.I., he captures Ryder's twin and uses them to take control of the Remnant and thus finally have the means to destroy entire planets.]]

* ''Videogame/UltimaII'': After [[PlayerCharacter The Stranger]] arrived on Sosaria in the previous game and thwarted her master/lover's plans, the sorceress Minax learns all she can about him and the world he comes from: Earth. She then uses time magic to raise an army and conquer that world in addition to Sosaria.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'': When the Teen Titans appear to help the Doom Patrol face off against the Brotherhood of Evil, this makes the Brotherhood's leader (the Brain) aware of the Titans, as well as other {{Kid Hero}}es, whom he now sees as threats equal to that of the Doom Patrol.

* This gets Invoked in ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'' by the Light, who let the galaxy know about Earth and its metahuman population by [[spoiler:mind-controlling six members of the Justice League and sending them on a rampage on another planet]]. This brings both the Kroloteans and the Reach to Earth, who want to exploit the super-powered potentials of humans.

* ''Fanfic/DungeonKeeperAmi''; Queen Beryl of the Dark Kingdom eventually learns that Sailor Mercury was sent to another inhabited world, and launches an expedition to reach and conquer it, since there are presumably fewer- Sailor Senshi there to stand in her way. [[spoiler:The dark gods take exception to her intrusion, though, and counter-invade.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueCrisisOnTwoEarths'': The Crime Syndicate learns about TheMultiverse when the heroic Lex Luthor uses a device to warp to another universe. Superwoman is ecstatic about the possibilities and tells her lover, Owlman, that there is an endless number of Earths out there for them to conquer. However, he rejects her proposal, having become nihilistic upon reflecting about how insignificant his actions are in the grand scheme of things, and decides to destroy all worlds instead.

* ''Film/AvengersEndgame'': Late in the movie, the past versions of Thanos and Nebula figure out that the Avengers have discovered time travel and are using it to collect the Infinity Stones. Thanos' forces quickly figure out how to replicate the Avengers' method of time travel and use it to come to the present so Thanos can take the Stones for himself. It also tips Thanos off to a potential flaw in his original plan, giving him reason to expand his goals into becoming a god and then subjugating the Earth, which has been a frequent thorn in his side.

* In ''Fanfic/CodePrime'' when Mao approaches Megatron to offer him a deal, he reveals the existence of Geass to him. When Mao fails to keep his end of the bargain, Megatron has Shockwave experiment on Mao to learn more about Geass. [[spoiler:Eventually, after V.V. reveals himself to still be alive to Megatron, as well as finding a deposit of Dark Energon, Megatron is able to give himself a Geass using the data that Shockwave had collected from Mao and V.V., along with combining their energy with Dark Energon.]]

** ''Series/{{Crisis On Infinite Earths}}: Lex Luthor's previous goals were 1) TakeOverTheWorld, and 2) kill Superman (not necessarily in that order). When pulled into a battle to save TheMultiverse, Lex immediately revises their goals: 1) [[MultiversalConqueror Take Over The Multiverse]], 2) kill every version of Superman in all possible universes (again, not necessarily in that order).

** ''Series/{{The Flash 2014}}'': Ramsey (a.k.a. Bloodwork) initially wants to turn everyone in the world into immortal zombies. But in attempting to zombify Barry, Ramsey learns that TheMultiverse exists, and decides ''all'' world's need Ramsey's particular brand of "saving".