History Main / HolyHandGrenade

An interesting and completely useless fact: A Holy Hand Grenade is ''also'' an attack in The ''Worms'' Series. It explodes ''really big'' when detonated.

** In ''Legion'' at least several Artifact Weapons the Adventurers could wield were in some way considered Holy Hand Grenades. Paladins could wield ''[[AbsurdlySharpBlade Oathseeker]] and [[LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe Truthguard]]''[[note]]Protection Paladin Artifact crafted by Titan Keepers capable of revealing the truth of their opponents, be it through GlamourFailure or MyGodWhatHaveIDone.[[/note]], ''[[DropTheHammer The Silver Hand]]'' [[note]]Holy Paladin Artifact created by the Titans for the Titan Keeper [[GreaterScopeParagon Tyr]] in the Titans' fight against [[EldritchAbomination The Old Gods]] and the Black Empire during the Ordering of Azeroth. The Silver Hand serves as the namesake for the Knights of The Silver Hand and Tyr himself serves as a testament to his HeroicSacrifice that all [[ThePaladin Paladin]] Organizations on Azeroth operate by.[[/note]], and ''[[FlamingSword The Ashbringer]]'' [[note]]Retribution Paladin Artifact created by [[ChurchMilitant The Knights Of The Silver Hand]] from a dark crystal once carried by an Orcish Warlock that was purified by The Light. The Crystal was used to create a sword [[HolyBurnsEvil capable of incinerating both Demons and The Undead when struck by it]], and was the very blade [[BeenThereShapedHistory used to defeat the Lich King Arthas Menethil]] during the events of ''Wrath of The Lich King''.[[/note]]

A SisterTrope to LightEmUp (and can overlap when LightIsGood), BoltOfDivineRetribution (for when {{God}} cuts out the middleman), HolyIsNotSafe (where holiness is inherently dangerous even when not weaponized), SmiteEvil (where a [[ThePaladin paladin]] or other holy individual channels holy power to destroy evil foes), and PrayerOfMalice (when someone asks God to do the smiting Himself). It is often associated with WhiteIsPure.

A SisterTrope to LightEmUp (and can overlap when LightIsGood), BoltOfDivineRetribution (for when {{God}} cuts out the middleman), HolyIsNotSafe (where holiness is inherently dangerous even when not weaponized), and PrayerOfMalice (when someone asks God to do the smiting Himself). It is often associated with WhiteIsPure.

** First it grants Bolt of Justice, a spell that sends down light from heaven to blast an enemy not unlike a divine KillSat. The spell deals holy damage, which pretty much nothing in the game resists. Even better, it actually deals ''more'' damage depending on how evil its target is. It deals the most damage against the strongest evil beings such as demon lords, evil dragons, and lords of the undead.

* The titular ''Fanfic/AllGuardsmenParty'', when faced with a Chaos-created shield that does not yield to lasfire or conventional explosives, decide to use faith. Specifically, they jury-rig a large bomb using all the plastic explosive they could scrounge up and a couple of less-than-legally appropriated barrels of fuel. They then have a priest bless the bomb and load it with every holy icon, relic and symbol they could find. Said items' owners were usually happy to give them up when finding out they would be used to turn heretics into [[ChunkySalsaRule chunky salsa.]]

* ''VideoGame/EldenRing'' has Holy as one of its damage types, which is mainly associated with [[TopGod Marika]]'s Golden Order Fundamentalists, and the worship of the [[WorldTree Erdtree]]. Said damage is particularly strong against the undead, and you can even craft ''literal'' holy bombs to have them on hand. [[spoiler: As it turns out, the source of holy power is a god-entity even above Marika called the Greater Will, who seeded the Lands Between with the Erdtree long ago and used Marika and her lineage to spread its influence on the world in a struggle against other Outer Gods.]]

** In ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'', if you have the Wild Wasteland trait you can actually find said item within Camp Searchlight. Use them sparingly, as there's [[TooAwesomeToUse only three]], and carefully, as they [[TheresNoKillLikeOverkill light off like mini-nukes]].

* ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' had the Spirit Bomb, a CombinedEnergyAttack fueled by LifeEnergy and ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve, taught to Goku by the god King Kai that could be used by OnlyThePureOfHeart. However, as a result it's ZigZagged by PureIsNotGood; [[UltimateLifeForm Perfect Cell]] claims to be able to use it through GeneticMemory (although he'd have no use for it since it only harms malicious people and could potentially harm him in the process), and the NonMaliciousMonster [[EldritchAbomination Kid Buu]] is briefly able to resist it before it incinerates him.

* Played with in ''Literature/{{Slayers}}'': Divine Magic draws its power from the gods of the Slayers universe (as opposed to Demonic Magic and lesser BlackMagic, which is powered by demons), but it was lost a thousand years ago and the few characters who use it (dragons and their associates, like Lina's sister, etc.) are generally not inclined to. Sample spells? Chaotic Disintegrate and Flame Breath. The lesser form, WhiteMagic is supposed to be entirely made of healing, protection or at least exorcism spells, and dismissed outright as a possible weapon by more sane mages like Lina and Zelgadis, but cranky MartialPacifist characters still manage to use it against AlwaysChaoticEvil foes (GoodHurtsEvil) in what Zelgadis called "oxymoronic attacks":

* ''Anime/SmilePrecure'' has the team's leader, Cure Happy. She wields the power of holy light and can unleash destruction levels akin to what's seen on [[Franchise/DragonBall DragonBall Z]].

* In ''StormwolfAdventures'', this is how [[spoiler:Finn finally beats his very tough foe Astaroth. He was given only one for when he would truly need it, and when he did use it, the near-unbeatable Archdemon he faced had his face blown off.]]

* Film/{{Tron}}'s DeadlyDisc became one of these after some upgrades from Alan. Seeing as Users ''are'' considered the equivalent of Gods to the Programs inhabiting {{cyberspace}}...

* In ''[[Creator/StephenKing Under the Dome]]'', Chef Bushey has an AK-47 with the words "God's Warrior" painted on the side. He believes that protecting his meth lab is the will of God, and he is willing to go to any extreme to do it.
* And, of course, there is the one in Literature/{{Discworld}}. A preacher who walks across Uberwald with Forgiveness in his hands. [[spoiler: Forgiveness is a battle axe.]]

* ''Literature/FightingFantasy''

** And this wargear option for Black Templar characters from the same setting, [[ShoutOut Holy Orbs of Antioch]]. They are lethal weapons against the impure and wicked filled in equal measure with high explosives and sacred unguents. It's from Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOrgLj9lOwk click here to see it in action]]

** Age of Wonders 3 brings us the Theocrat leader class which specializes in dealing holy damage. The combat spell "Smite" deals a large amount of holy damage, while their ultimate unit, the "Shrine of Smiting", does large amounts of holy and fire damage. Even better, the Shrine of Smiting does more damage the more Devout units you have on the field.

** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar'' features the Book of Naga, wieldable only by those who carries Major blood of its namesake Divine Dragon [[spoiler:and is instrumental in defeating Loptous]].

* The {{miko}}s of ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' do this quite a bit. In fact, even the goddesses they worship themselves aren't averse to rolling up their sleeves and getting into brawls using their "miracle" power to level massive destruction at whatever random Gensokyo resident they feel like fighting with at the time. ''Inaba of the Moon & Inaba of the Earth'' gives the {{ShoutOut}}s to Creator/MontyPython and VideoGame/{{Wizardry}} by mentioning the HHG of Aunty Ock. Another specific example are the Celestials, whose very body is anathematic to the {{Youkai}}. Too bad the only playable Celestial is a colossal JerkAss.

** All of the Church Executors (among which Ciel is a member of the elite Burial Agency) in the {{Franchise/Nasuverse}} are capable of using weapons powered by faith, the most widespread of which are the Keys of Providence, who have the ability to impose natural laws on their targets (for a vampire this means their body is forcibly brought back to human. ''Dead'' human, with the additional effect of falling to dust if the vampire is old enough) and, in case of the blade-like Black Keys (the most seen type of Key of Providence), stopping them cold if they hit their shadows. Prime example: While [[VisualNovel/FateStayNight Kotomine Kirei]] usually seems to be an admittedly-inept mage who succeeds through his BadassNormal fighting skills and strength, the moment he is put against [[spoiler:Matou Zouken]] (an ''incredibly'' corrupted [[{{Lich}} lich-like]] ex-human made of demonic worms possessing bodies) he is able to use the full extent of his holy magic through a "baptismal rite". [[CurbStompBattle There’s nothing left]].

** ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'' has this very grenade in its mobile/3DS versions, 100% inspired on its Worms origins, from its appearance, to the "Hallelujah!" choir, and down to its insanely destructive power and blast radius, which makes it the most powerful single-damaging item of all versions of this game.

** combining specific cards with summoning card allows you to summon Marduk, Gemma and lesser mythological or legendary figures to attack your enemy or Kyra to heal the target and [[ReviveKillsZombie damage the undead enemies]]. Dogo's primary card -- Joker -- gives you random summon.

* VideoGame/BoardGameOnline has a literal Holy Hand Grenade, attainable by combining Holy Water with a mundane grenade. They are noticeably more potent than their mundane cousins, with higher knockback and a bigger kill radius.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* In WesternAnimation/TransformersTheMovie, the Autobot Matrix of Leadership, when opened, releases energy that destroys the evil monster planet-transformer [[MechanicalAbomination Unicron]], leaving only his head floating around Cybertron like a moon.

* In ''VideoGame/ShadowHearts'', Alice has Blessed Light and Advent as her only attacks, with Advent being the most powerful elemental attack in the series. Yuri's Light-based fusions and several Light-based enemies also have fairly powerful Light attacks.
** In the sequel, [[LightIsNotGood Nicolai]] also has powerful Light elemental attacks. ''VideoGame/DiabloII''[='=]s Paladin class has a few abilities like this, most notably Holy Bolt and [[BoltOfDivineRetribution Fist of the Heavens]]. The Crusader class in ''VideoGame/DiabloIII'' also has Fist of the Heavens--but, counter to the trope, that is now primarily a Lightning ability. The Crusader does have several other Holy abilities to make up for it, though, some of which are based off the Paladin abilities in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft''.

A SisterTrope to LightEmUp (and can overlap when LightIsGood), BoltOfDivineRetribution (for when {{God}} cuts out the middleman), HolyIsNotSafe (where holiness is inherently dangerous even when not weaponized), and PrayerOfMalice (when someone asks God to do the smiting Himself).

* Played with in ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'': Divine Magic draws its power from the gods of the Slayers universe (as opposed to Demonic Magic and lesser BlackMagic, which is powered by demons), but it was lost a thousand years ago and the few characters who use it (dragons and their associates, like Lina's sister, etc.) are generally not inclined to. Sample spells? Chaotic Disintegrate and Flame Breath. The lesser form, WhiteMagic is supposed to be entirely made of healing, protection or at least exorcism spells, and dismissed outright as a possible weapon by more sane mages like Lina and Zelgadis, but cranky MartialPacifist characters still manage to use it against AlwaysChaoticEvil foes (GoodHurtsEvil) in what Zelgadis called "oxymoronic attacks":
--> "[[CallingYourAttacks Pacifist Crush! Kindness to All Creatures Kick! Good Will Towards Men Smash!]]"

* In ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'', all of God's Right Seat possess a power of some sort which relates to this trope:

* ''LightNovel/ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime'', this is the purpose of Holy Magic, which doesn't rely on magicules or a contract with spirits but rather absolute faith in a higher being (not necessarily a god [[spoiler:as even the god "Luminous" worshipped by the Church is in fact the True Demon Lord [[VampireMonarch Ruminas Valentine]]]] and several of Rimuru's followers are able to use it channeling their faith in him), which means it can actually ignore most AntiMagic effects. The two highest-tier Holy magic spells are Disintegration, [[FantasticNuke which uses a massive blast of holy light that can destroy a mountain]], and Melt Slash, [[SwordBeam which focuses the destructive light of Disintegration into a sword]]. Also, both of these are intense enough to [[DeaderThanDead destroy a target down to the molecular level and kill the soul]].

* The titular ''Fanfic/AllGuardsmenParty'', when faced with a Chaos-created shield that does not yield to lasfire or conventional explosives, decide to jury-rig one from all the plastic explosive they could scrounge up and get blessed, a couple of less-than-legally appropriated barrels of fuel, and every holy icon, relic and symbol they could find. Said items' owners were usually happy to give them up when finding out they would be used to turn heretics into [[ChunkySalsaRule chunky salsa.]]

* ''Anime/SmilePrettyCure'' has the team's leader, Cure Happy. She wields the power of holy light and can unleash destruction levels akin to what's seen on [[Franchise/DragonBall DragonBall Z]].