History Main / InstantArmor

* ComicBook/BlackPanther's suit eventually gained this ability in TheNineties. A memorable scene from the first issue of Creator/{{Christopher Priest|Comics}}'s run had T'Challa change from a business suit into his Panther gear in the time it took from him to cross from underneath one streetlight to another.
* The latest ComicBook/BlueBeetle, Jaime Reyes, has this power thanks to the Scarab, an incredibly powerful piece of alien wartech that implanted itself in his body. [[{{Squick}} Just don't ask where the mass of the suit comes from.]] Dan Garrett, the first Blue Beetle, could also use the Scarab to call up a suit of armor (although since the Scarab was damaged at the time, it was nowhere near what it could do for Jaime).
* Samantha of ''ComicBook/ClanDestine'' can generate "ectoplasmic" armor and swords which are impervious to anything short of Wolverine's claws, do not disappear until she actively dispels them, and also [[RuleOfCool look very cool]]. The one downside is that generating the armor inevitably [[ClothingDamage shreds her clothes]]. Each time Sam armors up, it looks a little different, with the suggestion that she's doing this on purpose -- which makes sense; Sam's an artist in her day job.

* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'' [[spoiler: Eric]] has the good fortune for his mana-mutated form to be a large humanoid with metal skin. [[VoluntaryShapeshifting Shifting into his new true form]] is a lot like putting on full-body plate mail.

** Samus can put her armor on or off through a mental trigger. WordOfGod states that instead of willing it on or off, Samus must constantly concentrate just to maintain the armor. To take it off, she simply stops concentrating. Note this only started in ''VideoGame/MetroidOtherM''. ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime3'' and ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion'' show that the armor stays on her when unconscious.

* ''Webcomic/TheCyantianChronicles'': Lifts are often stored in a HyperspaceArsenal and can be summoned at a moments notice. If they're not the size of a small house.
* In ''Webcomic/FlakyPastry'', GadgeteerGenius Nitrine has a suit of Mega Man-ish powered armor that collapses into the form of a belt-buckle. Usually works as a SuperMode with a 30-second time-limit due to enormous power-consumption, but if she gets her hands on an infinite power source... watch out.

* In ''Webcomic/{{Pulse}}'', SuperheroSchool students Pulse and Bolt use their natural electrical powers to run flying PoweredArmor that can in a flash of light, collapse down into a ring they wear on their fingers.
* ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'' has self-assembling PowerArmor called "fragsuits" appear in later arcs. It can be called to the operator from light-minutes away and has the ability to fly to the operator and assemble around them using gravitics. Actual assembly time depends on how far the fragsuit is from the operator, but given that most users use its fragmented form as a swarm of {{Attack Drone}}s when the extra protection isn't needed, it's usually counted in seconds if a severe threat shows up.

** Instant Armor is Erza's specialty, being an ActionFashionista who has over [[UnlimitedWardrobe 100 different types of outfits]] that she keeps stored in {{Hammerspace}}, from {{Powered Armor}} to [[MundaneUtility normal clothing]] that she can instantly equip. Best exemplified during the "Phantom Lord" arc, where Erza's ShowerOfAngst is {{Interrupted|bath}} by an attack on the guild, and she rushes out in a ModestyTowel. When she catches sight of the villain responsible she rushes into combat while [[FlungClothing flinging away the towel]] and instantly conjuring some combat armor into her body from nothing.

* The titular armor from ''Literature/InfiniteStratos'' are [[PoweredArmor powered exoskeletons]] that teleport onto/around the user, summoned via wrist band (though it can be stored in pretty much any accessory; Cecilia's is stored in her earrings, Charlotte has a necklace, and Laura has it in a holster strapped to her thigh). The user has the option of just summoning the arm of their machine, used mostly as a HyperspaceMallet gag (and in one episode, Cecilia summons an AttackDrone to help with "[[LethalChef cooking]]". [[StuffBlowingUp It goes about as well as you'd expect]].
** Notably, only the [[AceCustom 'personalized' IS-units]] have this function. The mass-produced RedShirt models are just run-off-the-mill PoweredArmor.

* ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'':
** Jack Rakan can summon arm and leg armor via his artifact. And seemingly move it telekinetically, as [[spoiler:he has lost his arms and legs before that]].
** After becoming an Ariadne Knight, Yue can summon a set of full armor, too.

* In ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'', both [[NiceGuy Eijiro Kirishima]] and [[ExtraOreDinary Tetsutetsu Tetsutetsu]] have this as the major power of their Quirks, hardening their bodies or turning it into steel respectively at will. Tetsutetsu needs to include a lot of iron in his diet to sustain it, but Kirishima doesn’t have prerequisites. He later creates a SuperMode that just involves him making his body ''extra'' hard. Inspired by Kirishima, acid-secreting [[NiceGirl Mina Ashido]] develops a version of her own, which covers her in a BlobMonster of acid.

-->-- '''Shuri''', ''Film/BlackPanther''

* One of the Black Phantom villains in ''Manga/PsychicSquad' has the ability to spontaneously create HumongousMecha suits for himself, by using a combination of telekinesis and illusions. The suits are ACTUALLY just a number of handy vehicles and random bits of scenery suspended in the air and moved with TK, but his illusion-projection abilities makes it look -- and act -- like a classic mecha.

* ''Anime/SCryed'':

* In ''Anime/MarvelAnimeXMen'', Armor has a highly colorful version of this as her power.

* The Engineer (of ''[[ComicBook/TheAuthority Authority]]'' fame) replaced her blood with nine pints of polymorphic metal. She generally extrudes enough of it to make a gleaming silver bodysuit.
* ''ComicBook/RobinSeries'': When the Dark Rider takes over Stan it conjures up a partial suit of black plate armor, including greaves, poleyns, cuisses and pauldrons as well a a black hooded cloak. The ensemble fades with the rising sun and poor Stan doesn't much appreciate it since he has no recollection of anything that happens while the Dark Rider is in the drivers seat.
* For a time, ComicBook/{{Cyborg}} from the ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'' had a cloned body with a piece of shape-shifting alien tech implanted inside. This allowed him to switch between a human appearance and his classic, armored form at will.

** ComicBook/{{Magneto}} of the Marvel Universe has been known to do this, from time to time, using his metal-control. Ranging from reconstructing his own broken armor from nearby junk, to forging himself into a gigantic steel titan! At one point, he disassembled his suit, sitting on a chair nearby, into sand-sized grains and re-formed it around himself, in seconds.
** [[Characters/XMen2000sMembers Armor]] can create magic armor around her body. (Well, DUH...) She would mockingly acknowledge the "duh" factor by wondering what if she called Wolverine, well, "Claw"... or "Stench"...
** ComicBook/{{Colossus}}, who can at anytime turn his entire body into organic steel. Likewise, ComicBook/EmmaFrost can transform into a diamond form.

* In ''Film/{{Batman|1989}}'' a push of a button on the [[{{Thememobile}} Batmobile]] covers it in armor, which acts to protect it from bullets and acts to keep it from being stolen. This becomes a plot point in ''Film/BatmanReturns'', where as part of a plot to frame him and ruin his reputation, the Penguin has his people disable the armor so that they can plant a beacon into the vehicle that allows Penguin to control it remotely.

** ''Film/IronMan'':

*** As part of Stark's continuing upgrades to his armor, this type shows up in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' -- except that not only can it be stored in a cupboard, it is fully capable of ''flying itself to him'' and assembling itself around him autonomously. How long does this take, you might ask? [[DestinationDefenestration Less time than it takes to hit the ground falling off of Stark Tower]] ([[NotTheFallThatKillsYou barely]]).

** In ''Film/{{Black Panther|2018}}'', ComicBook/{{Shuri}} makes T'Challa a new Panther suit that uses nano-technology to keep it stored inside a necklace and will instantaneously suit him up when needed. She lampshades the notion of heroes fumbling around trying to put on an outfit as the reasoning for the upgrade.

* ''Film/{{Wonder Woman|2017}}'': In the final battle scene, Ares creates an armor reminiscent of his comic book appearance from metal and steel scrap lying around. He does this by telekinetically molding an armor around his body and melting eyeholes onto the helmet.
* In ''Film/BlackAdam2022'', Hawkman has [[https://twitter.com/rsadovski/status/1623728799815815169 a collapsible helmet seemingly made out of nanites.]]

* Three ''Series/{{Arrowverse}}'' superheroes (Series/{{the Flash|2014}}, Series/{{Supergirl}}, and Series/BlackLightning) now have nanotech suits that form around them in seconds, all from different sources. Barry's was made by Cisco and allows him to "dissolve" his cowl by tapping on the lightning bolt symbol on his ear. Kara's suit (now with pants) appears whenever she removes her glasses in a certain way and was developed by Brainy. Jefferson's suit is stored in a watch given to him by the ASA and is activated by hitting the watch with 5 Volts.

* The Mushi of ''LightNovel/MushiUta'' are mostly {{Mon}}s, but the one belonging to the main character Kakkouisa "fusion" type. In the beginning, it just merges with his arm and HandCannon to form an ArmCannon, but with time, it grows bigger and covers more -- at the end, it's basically a suit of Chitinous armor that he can call up at any time. (Unfortunately, it sort of looks -- and acts -- like ''TabletopGame/CthulhuTech''...)

* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'': There's a [[FightingSpirit Stand]] form type called 'Armor'. However, the category applies to any Stand that manifests a form that can be worn; as such. In ''Manga/GoldenWind'', Ghiaccio's [[AnIcePerson White Album]] and Secco's [[SandIsWater Oasis]] apply to this. In ''Manga/SteelBallRun'', Blackmore's [[MakingASplash Catch The Rainbow]] manifests as a mask that only covers his face.

* The mysterious HenshinHero, Brave, of ''LightNovel/DemonKingDaimao'', is empowered by a rather sleek suit of MagiTek PoweredArmor, which he can summon from another dimension with his TransformationTrinket wristband.

* Saber and Gilgamesh/Archer in ''Anime/FateStayNight'' and ''LightNovel/FateZero'' are both capable of this. Saber's is essentially made entirely of her magic energy. Gilgamesh presumably either does the same or simply pulls it through Gate of Babylon.

* The titular armor from ''LightNovel/InfiniteStratos'' are [[PoweredArmor powered exoskeletons]] that teleport onto/around the user, summoned via wrist band (though it can be stored in pretty much any accessory; Cecilia's is stored in her earrings, Charlotte has a necklace, and Laura has it in a holster strapped to her thigh). The user has the option of just summoning the arm of their machine, used mostly as a HyperspaceMallet gag (and in one episode, Cecilia summons an AttackDrone to help with "[[LethalChef cooking]]". [[StuffBlowingUp It goes about as well as you'd expect]].

** [[SmugSnake Mr. 3]] can create a suit of wax armor for himself that's harder than steel but melts when exposed to fire.

** Also, [[OldMaster Rayleigh]] describes Color of Armaments [[KiManipulation Haki]] as this, only [[InvisibleToNormals invisible]].

* Jinchuriki gain this via their Chakra Cloaks in ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', with Naruto taking it a step further with his [[GoldenSuperMode Biju Mode]] using Kurama's own tails as giant shields, all nine together are [[spoiler: strong enough to take a direct beam Bijudama from the fricken ''[[EldritchAbomination Ten-Tails]]'' without any damage]]. Uchiha such as Sasuke Uchiha, Madara Uchiha, and Itachi Uchiha gain instant armor with their [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique Mangekyo Sharingan]], called Susano'o. Finally the Hyuga can make an instant armor dome called Kaiten by charging chakra from every pour from their body and spinning at high speed.

** In ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Brawl'', Zero Suit Samus can use a Smash Ball to instantly assemble her PoweredArmor, damaging any nearby brawlers.

* In ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' and subsequently in ''Smash Brothers'', the metal cap/green block gives Mario/any smasher a metal skin that makes them heavy, but also damage-resistant.
* In ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros4'' onwards, Bowser Jr. can launch out of his Clown Car and magically gain another one (Because... [[AWizardDidIt a Magikoopa did it?]])
** Smash-like game ''VideoGame/RivalsOfAether'' has the same occur with mech user Elliana, although there's not really any in-universe justification to be drawn from there.

* ''TabletopGame/D20Future'' has the gadget "Digital Armor", where your armor is stored as a data pattern on a tiny piece of {{technobabble}} and can be summoned immediately from anywhere. You don't even need to don it. It's a PL9 gadget, though, so you are REALLY unlikely of ever seeing it. PL9 is practically CrystalSpiresAndTogas.

** In ''Literature/RhythmOfWar'', we finally get to see this done on-screen. Shardplate is [[spoiler:made up of lesser, non-sapient [[NatureSpirit spren]], such as windspren for Windrunners, and they can manifest in the Physical Realm as armor]]. Interestingly, it's portrayed as the Knight ''always'' wearing their armor, it just being invisible and intangible until needed.

** The [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragonsThirdEdition 3.5E]] supplement ''Magic Item Compendium'' has the ''called'' armor property, allowing you to not only remove the lengthy times for putting it on, but leave it anywhere on the same plane to be called when needed (unless another creature seizes and wears it).

** The [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragonsThirdEdition 3.5E]] supplement ''Magic Item Compendium'' has the ''called'' armor property, allowing you to not only remove the lengthy times for putting it on, but leave it anywhere on the same plane.
** The ''Arms and Equipement Guide'' features an extra (non-magical) property for armors: quick-escape. It doesn't help the quick equiping of the armor, but instead its quick ''removal'' (in cases of emergency where an armor is bad) thanks to a special lock on the shield-side hip which realeases makes the whole armor fall away. Putting on a quick-escape armor, on the other hand, takes twice as long as normal (which makes it a very tempting candidate for the ''called'' magical property).
** Rilmani are creatures embodying the TrueNeutral alignment, and their leader caste, the aurumachs, have magical golden armor that appears around their bodies just in time to deflect a blow befoe vanishing again. The upside of this is that it lets aurumachs move about unencumbered by a suit of full plate while still enjoying its protection, the downside is that in an AntiMagic field, they're effectively naked. %%in-universe

* One of the powers available to Celestial Circle sorcerers in the tabletop RPG ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'', is to create a huge suit of magical armor, called a Warstrider, and then pilot it from the chest. Seen in action [[http://keychain.patternspider.net/archive/koc0166.html here]], in ''Webcomic/KeychainOfCreation'', an ''Exalted'' webcomic.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

** The [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragonsThirdEdition 3.5E]] supplement ''Magic Item Compendium'' has the ''called'' armor property, allowing you to not only remove the lengthy times for putting it on, but leave it anywhere on the same plane.

* Averted in most cases as heroes in ''Anime/TigerAndBunny'' had to put on their suits like normal clothing, but is later played straight for Wild Tiger and Barnaby in the second season as their Style 3 suits are summoned via Main/TransformationTrinket.

* Averted in most cases as heroes in ''Anime/TigerAndBunny'' had to put on their suits like normal clothing. Played straight, however, for Wild Tiger and Barnaby in the second season as their Style 3 suits are summoned via Main/TransformationTrinket.

* Averted in most cases as heroes in ''Anime/TigerAndBunny'' had to put on their suits like normal clothing. Played straight for Wild Tiger and Barnaby in the second season as their Style 3 suits are summoned via Main/TransformationTrinket.

* Averted in most cases as heroes in ''Anime/TigerAndBunny'' had to put on their suits like normal clothing. Played straight for Wild Tiger and Barnaby in the second season as their Style 3 suits are summoned via ''Main/TransformationTrinket''.

[[folder:Asian Animation]]
* ''Animation/{{Mechamato}}'': With the push of a button on the Mechaniser, Amato can make [=MechaBot=] form a red set of mechanised armor around himself over his normal clothes.
[[/folder]]

** In ''Film/{{Black Panther|2018}}'', Comicbook/{{Shuri}} makes T'Challa a new Panther suit that uses nano-technology to keep it stored inside a necklace and will instantaneously suit him up when needed. She lampshades the notion of heroes fumbling around trying to put on an outfit as the reasoning for the upgrade.

** The Bleeding Edge (or Mark 50) Iron Man suit in ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' represents an even further advancement of the technology, as it is capable of unwrapping itself from a holder on Tony's chest roughly where his Arc Reactor used to be, ensuring that Tony is never without protection. The Iron Spider suit is implied to be likewise instantaneous as it is made using the same nano-technology that the Mark 50 uses. The far more advanced Mark 85 from ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' also falls into this category. Curiously, however, despite being implied to have been constructed at the same time as the Mark 85, [[spoiler: Pepper's Rescue Armor]], like the War Machine series, is not nanotech, but neither does it seem to be like the above mentioned Mark 42.
** ''Film/AvengersEndgame'': The quantum realm suits that the Avengers don to travel in time are all made from nanotech, allowing them to appear and disappear in a moment.
* ''Film/WonderWoman2017''
** In the said film, in the final battle scene, Ares created an armor reminiscent of his comic book appearance from metal and steel scrap lying around. He does this by telekinetically molding an armor around his body and melting eyeholes onto the helmet.

* ''Franchise/{{Nasuverse}}'': Heroic Spirits can nigh-instantly change into their combat clothing (including armor) since it's technically just all constructed {{Mana}}. [[VideoGame/FateGrandOrder Mysterious Heroine XX]] brings this UpToEleven by how her Aahvalon armor can materialize around herself in ''negative one'' seconds. In other words, the armor will actually turn back time by one second to be equipped, meaning it should be impossible to catch her off-guard.