History Main / ImprovisedLightningRod

* In ''LightNovel/VampireHunterD: Bloodlust'', Leila gets attacked by the ElementalShapeshifter Caroline. Leila throws a knife into Caroline's forehead, which doesn't do much since she's merged with a tree at the time, but a bolt of lightning from the storm they're fighting under gets attracted to the steel, and obliterates Caroline and the tree.

* Generation III of the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games introduced an ability literally called "Lightningrod" that causes single-target electric-type attacks to automatically target the Pokemon with the ability. Most such Pokemon are already electric-type (which resist such attacks) or ground-type (which are completely immune). Generation V would add an immunity as well as an increase in Special Attack for every time the Pokemon is hit with an Electric attack. Appropriately, other Pokémon gained access to this ability and benefit from the immunity, such as Seaking, Mega Sceptile and Alolan Marowak.

* Used in the TearJerker ending of Movement 1 in the [[AuthorExistenceFailure unfinished]] ''Legend of the Forest'' by Creator/OsamuTezuka.

* In the French comic ''ComicBook/{{Rahan}}'', the eponymous caveman once defeats a ''TyrannosaurusRex'' throwback by planting an iron spear into the dinosaur's head during a thunderstorm, thus attracting lightning and frying the ''T. rex''. This scene is also present in the AnimatedAdaptation, including the opening credits.

See also UmbrellasAreLightningRods and StabTheStorm.

See also UmbrellasAreLightningRods.

* In ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', Thor uses [[WeaponizedLandmark the Chrysler building]] as a makeshift lightning rod to attack the Chitauri aliens and Leviathians.

* In Terry Pratchett's ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel ''Discworld/{{Pyramids}}'', Pteppicymon the Twenty-Third, last Pharaoh of Djelibeybi, climbs the malfunctioning Great Pyramid whose power has awoken several thousand deceased monarchs and allowed the gods to walk the earth. Using an Assassin throwing knife as a desperate lightning conductor, he earths the cosmic forces that have run rampant and allowed all this chaos to happen. He inhumes the full Set, as it were.

* In ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', {{Film/Thor}} uses [[WeaponizedLandmark the Chrysler building]] as a makeshift lightning rod to attack the Chitauri aliens and Leviathians.

* In ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'', Gandalf uses a lightning strike to charge up his sword before stabbing the Balrog with it during their duel on the mountaintop.

* ''WesternAnimation/DastardlyAndMuttleyInTheirFlyingMachines'': In "Hi Spy" (Gold Key ''Hanna-Barbera Fun-In'' #3) has Dick Dastardly sending Muttley on a mission to see what sends fear into Yankee Doodle Pigeon. Muttley reports back that the pigeon is afraid of lightning, so the Vulture Squadron gathers up storm clouds as a weapon. However, the pigeon's flight helmet is kitted with a lightning rod, rendering him safe while the lightning trashes the Squadron's planes. Cue Muttley being relieved of his medals.

* ''LightNovel/KnightsAndMagic'': in the anime, Ernesti defeats the [[{{Kaiju}} Demon Beast Behemoth]] by using an electric attack on a sword impaled in its eye, which goes through its nerves and eventually to its brain.

* In IDW's ''Infestation series'', a group of Autobots and humans, including UsefulNotes/NikolaTesla, attempt to revive Optimus Prime using a kite and a lightning storm.

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* In ''Film/BackToTheFuture'' Doc Brown uses the Clock Tower as a lightning rod to gain the 1.21 gigawatts of electricity the [=DeLorean=] needs to get back to the future.

* In ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'', {{Film/Thor}} uses [[WeaponizedLandmark the Chrysler building]] as a makeshift lightning rod to attack the Chitauri aliens and Leviathians.
* In ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'', Gandalf uses a lightning strike to charge up his sword before stabbing the Balrog with it during their duel on the mountaintop.

* In the ''Series/StargateSG1'' episode [[Recap/StargateSG1S1E10TheTormentOfTantalus "The Torment of Tantalus"]], SG-1 ends up trapped in an alien castle with a broken dialing device, rendering them unable to get home. [[spoiler:They end up sticking a metal diving helmet on the roof and wiring it to the gate, drawing lightning into the gate and allowing them to dial out by rotating the ring manually.]]

* ''Series/DoctorWho'': The Doctor uses ''himself'' as an improvised lightning rod for a lightning and cosmic ray strike in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E5EvolutionOfTheDaleks "Evolution of the Daleks"]].

* Generation III of the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games introduced an ability literally called "Lightningrod" that causes single-target electric-type attacks to automatically target the Pokemon with the ability. Most such Pokemon are already electric-type (which resist such attacks) or ground-type (which are completely immune). Generation V would add an immunity as well as an increase in Special Attack for every time the Pokemon is hit with an Electric attack. Appropriately, other Pokémon gained access to this ability and benefit from the immunity, such as Seaking, Mega Sceptile and Alolan Marowak.

* In ''[[VideoGame/{{Deponia}} Chaos on Deponia]]'', Rufus uses Goal as one so that lightning will strike her instead of him as he climbs a tower. Lightning does strike her, but she escapes unharmed.
* ''Videogame/AzureStrikerGunvolt'': It's a core to Gunvolt's gameplay; his gun is a special gun that fires small darts that deal weak damage, but their real purpose is to act as lightning rods for his [[ShockAndAwe lightning powers]].
* ''Videogame/MegaManX4:'' One of Colonel's attacks is him pointing his sword to the sky, causing it to be struck by lightning; then he does a SwordPlant that spreads the electricity across the ground.
* ''Videogame/MegaManX8:'' The Crystal Wall weapon is effective against [[ElectricJellyfish Gigavolt Man-o-war]] not just because it deals high damage to him, but it can also act as this to avoid his DesperationAttack - raining volleys of powerful lightning from above; set up one wall and his lightning will strike only the wall.

* Generation III of the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games introduced an ability literally called "Lightningrod" that causes single-target electric-type attacks to automatically target the Pokemon with the ability. Most such Pokemon are already electric-type (which resist such attacks) or ground-type (which are completely immune). Generation V would add an immunity as well as an increase in Special Attack for every time the Pokemon is hit with an Electric attack.

* In the ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'', to effectively fight [[spoiler: Demise, you need to use the Master Sword as a lightning rod.]]

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'': During a thunderstorm, lightning becomes attracted to metal. Wear a metal suit of armor? Link will (eventually) have sparks shooting off of his armor and get struck by lightning, taking damage. However, this also applies to metal weaponry. Since you get a few seconds of prep time before getting struck, a smart player may decide to whip out a metal weapon, use it long enough for lightning to try to strike it, and then toss it towards an enemy setting the unfortunate sap to be electrocuted. [[spoiler:There's also a hidden shrine that requires Link to get lightning to zap the rock it's buried under to access.]]

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* In the French comic ''ComicBook/{{Rahan}}'', the eponymous caveman once defeats a ''TyrannosaurusRex'' throwback by planting an iron spear into the dinosaur's head during a thunderstorm, thus attracting lightning and frying the ''T. rex''.
** This scene is also present in the AnimatedAdaptation, including the opening credits.

[[folder: Film ]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* ''{{Series/Highlander}}'' uses the Eiffel Tower as one, with Duncan figuring out that he can kill his opponent and the Quickening will travel through the tower to fry the villain's computer before it releases the info on the immortals the villain was using to try to force Duncan to surrender.

[[folder: Video Games ]]

[[folder: Web Original ]]

* During the fight with Behemoth in WebSerial/{{Worm}}, Golem formed giant metal hands to redirect Behemoth's lightning bolts. This is only partially effective, since Behemoth can alter electrical conductivity.

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'': During a thunderstorm, lightning becomes attracted to metal. Wear a metal suit of armor? Link will (eventually) have sparks shooting off of his armor and get struck by lightning, taking damage. However, this also applies to metal weaponry. Since you get a few seconds of prep time before getting struck, a smart player may decide to whip out a metal weapon, use it long enough for lightning to try to strike it, and then toss it towards an enemy setting the unfortunate sap to be electrocuted.

* Benjamin Franklin allegedly did this to ''himself'', what with the kite and the key.

* In the ''Series/StargateSG1'' episode [[Recap/StargateSG1S1E10TheTormentOfTantalus "The Torment of Tantalus"]], SG-1 ends up trapped in an alien castle with a broken dialing device, rendering them unable to get home. [[spoiler:They end up sticking a metal frogman's helmet on the roof and wiring it to the gate, drawing lightning into the gate and allowing them to dial out by rotating the ring manually.]]