History Main / InstantExpert

** As best seen in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'', anyone willing to devote themselves to a lifetime of training can learn to use the [[RealityWarper reality warping]] language of the [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Dragons]], the [[LanguageOfMagic Thu'um]]. What makes those who are Dragonborn (like the PlayerCharacter) special is that they have an instinctive knowledge of the Thu'um and can learn its [[MakeMeWannaShout shouts]] very easily. (Mechanically, in-game, this means reading the word of power and [[YourSoulIsmine absorbing dragon souls]].) This is because the Dragonborn are mortals born with the immortal [[OurAngelsAreDifferent Aedric]] soul of a Dragon.

** [[AllThereInTheManual The back stories]] of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'' tell that Union AcePilot [[CharClone Graham Aker]] is also this: When he was test-piloting the Union Flag (then in its initial testing stages), he managed to make it transform at high speeds (normally something that should only be done while stationary due to intense G and aerodynamic forces inducing stress on the fuselage), after having read the instructions ''once''. Thus, the maneuver itself garnered the nickname "Graham Special" thanks to him.

** Saito gained this ability from being the Gandálfr familiar. He instantly understands how a given weapon works and how to use it, and also gains a considerable boost in [[SuperStrength strength]], [[SuperSpeed agility]], and [[SuperToughness endurance]] when using a weapon. There is just one condition that must be met: the weapon must have been created for combat. For example, a sword that was created as a decoration won't trigger Saito's powers [[note]]That's not the case in the LightNovels, where it can activate anyway[[note]]. Also, it can be any weapon, from a simple sword to a fighter plane or artillery cannon.

** Saito gained this ability from being the Gandálfr familiar. He instantly understands how a given weapon works and how to use it, and also gains a considerable boost in [[SuperStrength strength]], [[SuperSpeed agility]], and [[SuperToughness endurance]] when using a weapon. There is just one condition that must be met: the weapon must have been created for combat. For example, a sword that was created as a decoration won't trigger Saito's powers [[note]]That's not the case in the LightNovels, where it can activate anyway[[/note]]. Also, it can be any weapon, from a simple sword to a fighter plane or artillery cannon.

** Saito gained this ability from being the Gandálfr familiar. He instantly understands how a given weapon works and how to use it, and also gains a considerable boost in [[SuperStrength strength]], [[SuperSpeed agility]], and [[SuperToughness endurance]] when using a weapon. There is just one condition that must be met: the weapon must have been created for combat. For example, a sword that was created as a decoration won't trigger Saito's powers[[note]]That's not the case in the LightNovels, where it can activate anyway[[/note]]. Also, it can be any weapon, from a simple sword to a fighter plane or artillery cannon.

** Saito gained this ability from being the Gandálfr familiar. He instantly understands how a given weapon works and how to use it, and also gains a considerable boost in [[SuperStrength strength]], [[SuperSpeed agility]], and [[SuperToughness endurance]] when using a weapon. There is just one condition that must be met: the weapon must have been created for combat. For example, a sword that was created as a decoration won't trigger Saito's powers [[note]]That's not the case in the Light Novel, where it can activate anyway[[/note]]. Also, it can be any weapon, from a simple sword to a fighter plane or artillery cannon.

** Saito gained this as his power of a Gandalfr familiar. He instantly understands how a given weapon works and how to use it, and also gains a considerable boost in speed, endurance, and strength when using a weapon. There is just one condition that must be met: the weapon must have been created for combat. For example, a sword that was created as a decoration won't trigger Saito's powers. Also it can be any weapon, from a simple sword to a fighter plane or artillery cannon.
** Sheffield gained this as her power of a Myozunitonirun familiar. She can understand how to use any magical artifact and almost any spell.

* In ''Manga/GingaNagareboshiGin'', it supposedly takes years for the wolves to master a single [[SpecialAttack Battouga]]. This doesn't prevent the dogs from learning them by just seeing them used in battle (usually against themselves) and then using them just as effectively. Taken to extremes by Gin, who learns ''three'' of these moves this way, one from a battle ''he only watched from the sidelines''.

* ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'': The titular character can practically [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower osmose an entirely new martial art or technique in the span of a week]], mastering it so well that [[HardWorkHardlyWorks they can beat the rival of the week who may have spent a lifetime honing that skill]] in a CookingDuel. {{Handwave}}d in that Ranma is the heir of the "Anything Goes" School of Martial Arts, a school that focuses on incorporating moves from other martial arts.
* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'':
** Zig-zagged with the eponymous character, who despite being an [[IdiotHero idiot]] with little natural talent, can pick up highly advanced techniques in a very short time through a cloning technique. By creating a thousand or so clones of himself, he trains a thousand times faster. Even with that, most of his moves aren't perfected, he just gets better at working around the drawbacks caused by imperfection.
** That cloning technique is itself an advanced technique, and almost no one can use it on the same scale that Naruto does. He learned at the age of 12 by reading a scroll for a couple of hours. So much for not having natural talent.
** One perfect example of this at work was when he first [[spoiler:used the Kyuubi's purified chakra]]. He immediately sensed a hidden enemy, chased him down when he fled, and managed to land a devastating blow, all faster than could be perceived by trained shinobi. The only problem is he broke his leg in the process because he's not used to the power.
** Another perfect example? Well we have one genius in his twenties. He graduated the ninja academy before he was 10. He's incredibly strong, fast as sound, and throughout part I, is regarded as THE fastest character in the series. On the other hand, we have a 12-year-old brat who barely graduated the ninja academy after three straight failures. He is terrible at concentration, is known as a village prankster, and for a time was considered the "Dead last" of his team. So, the 24-year-old genius invents an awesome jutsu. The problem is, it takes him three-and-a-half years to fully create it. Years later, the 12-year-old idiot hears of the technique, and learns it in a week.
** Sasuke, and anyone else with the Sharingan, has instant learning of new techniques as a basic ability. An example of this in work is when he developed the Mangekyo Sharingan. In a single battle he managed to seamlessly combine its offensive and defensive ability into a single ability. Unfortunately for Sasuke, his overconfidence in his abilities nearly got him killed, and his overuse of them nearly left him blind.
** Immediately after [[spoiler:Obito's lingering will [[DeusExMachina gifts Kakashi with temporary Mangekyo Sharingan in both eyes]]]], Kakashi can [[spoiler:summon and control the Perfect Susano'o with apparent ease]].

* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'':
** Ichigo goes from rank novice to one of the strongest fighters in the story, able to go toe-to-toe with shinigami captains and take out lieutenants without even using his sword, after two TrainingFromHell sessions which collectively comprise about twelve days. He can take on any training to master any ability within a fraction of the time it takes normal Shinigami to learn anything. Even if it takes centuries to master something, Ichigo rarely needs more than a month.
** When the Stern Ritter steal Bankai, the Quincies can master the stolen Bankai well enough to defeat the Shinigami they stole them off. It leads to As Nodt defeating Byakuya in one of the most brutal, gory attacks in the story's history.
** It took both Yoruichi and Soifon years to master Shunkou. However, Yoruichi only recently taught Yūshirō Shunkou, so she's startled to see he's mastered it so quickly.
* Like with many other tropes, ''Anime/ExcelSaga'' parodies this when Excel's bowling training from [[Creator/ShinichiWatanabe Nabeshin]] is over in a matter of ''seconds'', leaving Excel capable of scoring strikes while simultaneously knocking her opponents' balls out of their alleys. Lampshaded when Nabeshin notes there's nothing more he can teach her, whereupon Excel complains, "That wasn't even five seconds!"
* Multiple examples from ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'':
** Whenever Shirou uses Projection to replicate a weapon, he will instantly gain all experience of battles the weapon itself has gone through, allowing him to wield it (or, depending on interpretation, for it to wield itself with his body following its lead) with ease as if he were a complete master. However, he is unable to copy Saber's swordmanship skills because of their different physiques.
** Projection itself. Not only is he an instant expert literally better than anyone at it in the ''entire world,'' he's even doing it in a form that should be ''more'' difficult. And he learns enough to project a perfect Noble Phantasm in less than two weeks. His projection is so good that some of it actually breaks the rules of magic and doesn't disappear, which is apparently almost one of the True Magics. Naturally, he's unconsciously cheating like crazy to do it but...
** The Saber and Rider classes have the passive Riding skill, which allows the user to ride any mount or vehicle (with limitations in the cases of some exotic or unique mounts--say, [[DragonRider dragons]]) with perfect mastery. This works even if they know literally nothing about a vehicle. Saber once mentions that she could fly a plane; she just needs to get on the saddle and take the reins.
** A more literal and weaponized example comes from the prequel ''Literature/FateZero''. The servant Berserker, the Black Knight, whose ability, Knight of Owner, can turn ''anything even remotely usable as a weapon'' into a Noble Phantasm and use them to their fullest extent, even better than Shirou and his Projection magic. [[spoiler: This ability brings to mind one of the tales with the figure he's based on (Sir Lancelot) winning a duel armed with only a twig of wood.]] Combined with his "Eternal Arms Mastery" (which allows him to keep all of his prodigious fighting skills even when under the effects of [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity Mad Enhancement]]) he turns out to be a nearly unstoppable combatant who only loses due to a sudden loss of mana supply -- ''and all this despite being insane the whole time''. Among other things, Berserker is shown picking up and kicking ass with a street lamp, the mythical weapons of other legendary heroes, [[CoolPlane an F-15 fighter jet]], and ''[[MoreDakka the gun from that same jet.]]''
* ''Anime/CodeGeass'':
** Downplayed with Lelouch's Geass; upon receiving it, he instantly knows that he can command people to do anything by looking them in the eye, but he finds out a couple of its limitations by accident, and then experiments at length to find out the others.

* Kintaro Oe of ''Manga/GoldenBoy'' can master complex skills overnight, through nothing more than insane determination.
* [[AloofOlderBrother Sesshomaru]], from ''Manga/InuYasha'', [[HandicappedBadass being Sesshomaru]], is stated in his official character profile to be able to use any weapon to its full potential as shown in the manga by his ability to understand weapon attacks even when he's not touching the weapon itself. He even uses [[BattleBoomerang Hiraikotsu]] perfectly on one occasion. The only sword he struggles to master is [[HealingShiv Tenseiga]] because mastering it requires compassion rather than sword skill. This is especially noticable when Tenseiga gains the Meidou Zangetsuha technique. He masters the control and activation of the attack instantly but struggles to increase the attack's strength and potential because doing so requires compassion not skill. [[spoiler:Then soon after regaining his original arm he also gains a new original sword [[InfinityPlusOneSword Bakusaiga]], a weapon that does the polar opposite of Tenseiga.]]
* ''Manga/OnePiece'':
** Kaku and Kalifa, two agents of [=CP9=] who were given their Devil Fruits hours (if that) before going into combat against the Straw Hats. While they should have had barely enough time to grasp the basics of their powers (Giraffe-transformation and strength sapping soap bubbles respectively), Kalifa in particular is shown to be quite proficient when she faces Sanji and Nami. Kaku flounders a bit more, though, coming up with ideas and attacks on the spot in the course of his fight with Zoro.
** Wavers, water scooters originating from sky islands, are usually so hard to master that even Skypiea native Conis is barely starting to get the hang of it after ten years of practice. Nami's navigational skills allow her to master using one within ''minutes''.
* ''Literature/TheFamiliarOfZero'':
** Saito gained this as his power of a Gandalfr familiar. He instantly understands how a given weapon works and how to use it, and also gains a considerable boost in speed, endurance, and strength when using a weapon. There is just one condition that must be met: the weapon must have been created for combat. For example, a sword that was created as a decoration won't trigger Saito's powers. Also it can be any weapon, from a simple sword to a fighter plane or artillery cannon.
** Sheffield gained this as her power of a Myozunitonirun familiar. She can understand how to use any magical artifact and almost any spell.
* ''Manga/{{Claymore}}'' has a disturbing subversion. Clare tries to learn the Quicksword skill and after several days is told she is mentally incapable of ever mastering it. But her teacher has nothing left to live for and cuts off her own arm so Clare can use it. In the final chapters, it is also shown that [[spoiler:Teresa of the Faint Smile can easily replicate other warriors' combat techniques simply by observing them in action, even if it took their creators years to perfect them.]]
* Adam Blade in ''Manga/{{Needless}}'' has the power to learn most Needless abilities simply by encountering them. {{Handwaved}} in that his power is the ability to memorize other powers. Adam Arclight takes it further and has surpassed Blade's Zero power, as he can copy ''anything''.

* ''Manga/HunterXHunter''
** Kurapika invokes this by restricting some of his powers to work only on the Phantom Troupe and no one else or he will die as a consequence, and [[spoiler: Using his lifespan whenever Emperor Time is used, allowing him to use Nen techniques at 100%.]] This allows him to learn the basics of [[FunctionalMagic Nen]] in a few months, allowing him to go toe to toe with, and eventually kill [[MightyGlacier Ubogin]] and kidnap Chrollo, both very accomplished fighters and [[FunctionalMagic Nen]] users. As a consequence, if he'd been fighting anyone else of similar experience, he'd be disadvantaged since a few skills would be detrimental to use and this [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique takes a toll on his body]] that Wing advises Gon not to do the same thing.
** Gon and Killua are [[TheGift stated to be 1 in 10,000,000]] when it comes to mastering Nen with both rapidly learning Nen in just a few months and even more under Biscuit's tutelage. When it comes to battles, Gon learns pretty quickly as he has sharp instincts and he's actually [[SmarterThanTheyLook smarter than he looks]], and a few characters note he grows rapidly during a fight. Meanwhile, Killua is stated to be the most talented of the Zoldyck family as mastered advanced assassination techniques at a young age. His mastery of Nen counts as he shows during the dodgeball game, he was able to act as a lever and balance his Nen with only a 1% error rate. Biscuit noted how excellent his aura control is as it took her 25 years to reach that level.
** [[spoiler: Tserriednich Hui Guo Rou. If Gon and Killua are 1 in 10,000,000, he has a more astonishing talent than them as he mastered the Nen basics in '''just one week''' even when his teacher sabotages his learning. And as a Nen Specialist, he immediately develops CombatClairvoyance that allows him to change the future and develop a Nen Beast that's pretty much a SuperpowerLottery. This isn't a good thing since he's one of the vilest characters in the manga that even his own teacher dreads what will happen if he actually masters Nen.]]
* Played straight with Apollo of ''Anime/GenesisOfAquarion'' in the first episode.
* ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'': Ku Fei notes that in a mere few hours Negi reached a level of martial arts mastery that would take normal people months. He also learned instant movement after two separate training sessions. Not even training from hell. It ''is'' explicitly noted that his specialty is really rapid learning and improvising rather than extreme power, however. Another example is Asuna instantly grasping the [[YinYangBomb kanka]] technique while Takamichi had to work ''seriously'' hard at it. As in, spent years at it. [[spoiler:Asuna's kind of a special case though, as (when learning in the present) she had already done it before, and even in the past, she wasn't your average person. Also, she gave Takamichi tips on how to do it.]]
** Kurt Godel is another example in his backstory. As a teen he wanted to learn Shinmeiryu swordsmanship, but Eishin refused to teach him, so he simply learned the techniques by watching Eishin perform them at which point Eishin gave up and took Godel on as his student.
* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'':
** All Might didn't take long to get accustomed to One For All's full power, whereas his successor Deku is struggling with One For All's overwhelming power. Subverted when [[spoiler:it is revealed that All Might had mastered only the physical aspect of the Quirk and remained ignorant of its latent power. In contrast, Deku has an unusually strong affinity for One For All's esoteric aspect and is the first person to be able to unlock its secret powers. Still Deku is yet to master them.]]
** Averted in All For One's case. He can steal any Quirk he wants (except One For All), but cannot instantly master it. Which is why he prefers to steal strong and/or easy to use Quirks, especially strength enhancing Quirks, making him an example of UnskilledButStrong.
** Neito Monoma's Quirk allows him to copy most Quirks for short durations, although his skill in using them is limited compared to their original users.
* ''Manga/ThePrinceOfTennis'':
** The main character Ryoma Echizen is shown to be easily copying and mastering techniques such as the snake, Rising Shot, Zero-Shiki Drop Shot, etc., while constantly employing new techniques such as the single-footed split step. However, it's explained that this is because [[ExperiencedProtagonist he was trained at a very young age by his father]], not because of any natural talent.
** Played straight in the Prince of Billiards episode, where Ryoma somehow managed to not only copy everyone else's techniques, but also beat the resident billiards genius. All despite never having played billiards before and committing two fouls in his first two hits.

* Ui Hirasawa from ''Manga/KOn'' is implied to be one. Episode 12 of Season 1 revealed that she was the one that taught Yui how to read guitar sheets, implying that she learned to play the guitar so she could help her sister learn how to play the guitar, which she does very well when she pulled her TwinSwitch. In Season 2, when she, Azusa and Jun went to play at batting cages, she overhears a father give his son baseball tips... and hits a home-run immediately after.
* Haru Glory combines this with NewPowersAsThePlotDemands in ''Manga/RaveMaster.'' It's an explicitly stated gift of the Rave of Wisdom that it allows Haru to call upon and correctly use the different forms of his sword, [[MorphWeapon the Ten Commandments]], as the need arises.
* ''Literature/HaruhiSuzumiya'':
** Yuki Nagato is assumed to be one, since she has a direct link to something that is basically a god of knowledge and intellect.
--->'''Haruhi:''' Yuki was really good with that guitar! I wonder when she learned?\\
'''Kyon:''' ''[thinking]'' Probably the second you asked her...
** The espers are a variant. They all just woke up one morning with their powers, knowing how to use them, what to use them for, and that Haruhi Suzumiya was responsible. You can understand why some of them theorize that she might be God.
* ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'': Whenever a Digimon digivolves for the first time, they instantly know the name of their new form, as well as all of their new attacks, and have no problems getting to grips with them. [[HandWave Handwaved]] with the fact that Digimon are [[PowersAsPrograms programs]].
%%** In ''Frontier'', when the Digidestined ''become'' the Digimon, some of which aren't even humanoid, though it could also be explained as them becoming programs themselves.
* In episode 5 of ''Literature/ThePetGirlOfSakurasou'', local IdiotSavant Mashiro scores zeroes on all of her tests, including English, which Sorata wonders how that could have happened in the first place since she lived in Britain for most of her youth. Later she's given some study sheets, and [[PhotographicMemory instantly remembers all of the information on it]], which Sorata briefly tests her on. She laters scores all 100's when she takes the tests again.

* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'':
** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventurePhantomBlood Phantom Blood]]'': Jonathan masters Hamon in half-a-day when it would take a lifetime for anyone else.
** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureBattleTendency Battle Tendency]]'': The Pillar Men are the remnants of a race of superhumans who can learn new things very quickly. The first Pillar Man, Santana, can grasp the basics of modern language after overhearing a few conversations and immediately figures out how to disassemble a machine gun all after waking up from a 4,000 year hibernation. The other three Pillar Men are even stronger and smarter than Santana and can converse normally using modern language after overhearing a few words.
** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Stardust Crusaders]]'': Jotaro gains full control of Star Platinum once he engages Avdol during their brief encounter.
* In ''Anime/GirlsUndPanzer'', Team Anglerfish brings Mako into their tank during their first battle, and after Hana (who was initially their driver) passes out, Mako takes the controls and, after looking at the manual, learns how to drive better than Hana almost instantly. Interestingly enough, her quick learning causes her to have trouble trying to tutor others in driving, such as the volleyball team in the anime or Sodoko in the manga.
-->'''Sodoko:''' Don't screw with me! [[LampshadeHanging You think it's normal to know how to do it just after looking at the manual]]?
* ''Literature/{{Katanagatari}}'': [[spoiler:Nanami]] is an unparalleled prodigy capable of learning any technique after seeing it once, and mastering it after seeing it twice. She never learned the family fighting style because her father was too afraid of what she'd be like if she did (and then she learned it anyway). She goes from a powerless waif to the strongest in Japan after she kills her way across the country, gaining the powers of everyone she killed. Unfortunately, she's also a) an antagonist, meaning the hero has to fight her, and b) a DeathSeeker, meaning she's trying desperately to die in battle, but is so superhumanly tough that she can't lose a fight.
* Zigzagged in ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica''. Despite having no combat experience, Sayaka manages to be a capable swordfighter on her earliest missions, even [[ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks hurling her weapons]] with a surprising amount of accuracy (however, she's [[OvershadowedByAwesome still considered to be subpar by Puella Magi standards]]). Homura, on the other hand, remained physically weak and uncoordinated upon first contracting, being exhausted by less than a minute of physical activity.
* {{Downplayed}} in ''Anime/GaikingLegendOfDaikuMaryu''. When [[IdiotHero Daiya]] first takes control of [[HumongousMecha Gaiking]], he knows how to [[ImpossiblyGracefulGiant run, jump, and fight well enough, if a little roughly]], but he has to be taught how to use any of the robot's attacks.
* In ''VideoGame/InazumaEleven'', characters will often be able to pull off certain moves without much, or any, practise, and a lot of characters who have seemingly never played soccer before end up having a natural talent for it and become instantly great at it. The most obvious and glaring example is Tachimukai, who after just seeing Endou pull of God Hand once, was able to perfectly replicate the move. He's able to do the same for Majin The Hand, although it takes him a little while to actually master that one. In fact, this combined with the fact he was copying Endou's moves was so glaring a problem with Tachimukai's character that the third season actually ''addressed the fan hate'' for the character by having Tachimukai get depressed over being the very thing many fans accused him off being a copycat.

* In ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'', Ed [[PossessionImpliesMastery instinctively knows]] that he can do transmute without a circle, what with having seen the Truth and all. This fits in with how he was able to bond Al's soul to a suit of armor immediately after losing his leg when alchemists who had devoted years of research to it had far less luck with human transmutation.

* In ''Anime/ReCreators'' the fictional characters that come from fantasy/sci-fi universes into the real world are this. One of them is shown to be instantly able to drive a car, in the middle of traffic no less. She justifies it by being a mecha pilot in her work of origin and saying that a car's controls are much less complex than her mecha's; that said, while she takes to making a car move surprisingly quickly, [[DrivesLikeCrazy her technique still needs a lot of work]], and it's rare that a car she gets behind the wheel of remains in working order by the time she's done with it. They also get the hang of smartphones and video games surprisingly fast. Averted with the other fictional characters that come from fictional representations of the real world, since they're already supposed to know how stuff works.
* Downplayed in ''Manga/MissKobayashisDragonMaid''. Elma is completely unable to figure out how to work a computer at first, [[MedievalStasis due to the technological level of her world,]] but thanks to Kobayashi's guidance, she manages to become a fairly competent coder not long after. Kobayashi lampshades this by calling dragons "high spec". A justification is given later on when it's revealed that the company's programming dialect was designed by wizards who emmigrated from her world and modeled after their magic system (something she'd already have at least passing knowledge of).
* In ''Anime/TheMysteriousCitiesOfGold'', blocks of orichalcum can be manipulated by somebody wearing a Heva crown. Zia instantly and effortlessly starts making geometric shapes with hundred of cubes whereas Pedro and Sancho can't even levitate a single block, no matter how hard they try.
* During the final arc of ''Manga/GetterRobo'', we are introduced to Takuma Nagare, son of the legendary Getter pilot Ryoma Nagare. For Takuma, piloting the Getter is literally InTheBlood: Ryoma was exposed to such a massive amount of Getter Rays that they're part of Takuma's biology, allowing him to just climb into the cockpit of a Getter and instantly be capable of piloting it perfectly.
* ''Manga/DrStone'': Kaseki has such skill as a craftsman that he can craft suitable glass jars immediately after seeing molten glass for the first time (and [[CorrectionBait watching Senku and Chrome fail miserably]]). He's also just as good as Senku in creating the gas masks.
* In ''Manga/JujutsuKaisen'', it's pointed out several times that Yuji is an extremely fast learner, getting a basic grasp of his ability to control Curse Energy within days of being given an exercise by Gojo. His brawling skills grow by leaps and bounds after Todo starts giving him advice, and he performs the highly advanced Black Flash just minutes after being given a basic explanation, and matching the record for most Black Flashes in a row in the ensuing fight.
* Kaguya from ''Manga/KaguyaSamaLoveIsWar'' tends to pick up on new skills very quickly thanks to a combination of her excellent memory and her wealthy background giving her a wide variety of other skills to cross reference from. [[spoiler:Ironically, once she decides that she wants to pursue photography as a career, she discovers that it's the one thing that she has zero natural talent for. This leaves her at a complete loss since it's the first time in her life that she didn't pick something up immediately, but at the same time shows her passion for the art given that she sticks with it rather than switch to something easier.]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'', Vanellope picks up racing very quickly for someone who never drove a cart before. [[spoiler: This was because she was coded to be a racer but was forced to forget how. When she repeatedly says "racing is in my code", she was right]].

* ''TabletopGame/InNomine'': Israfel, the Angel of Music, has such a thorough understanding of music that she can pick up any instrument that she has no experience with yet and play it proficiently within half an hour, and expertly within a day.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'': Training in favoured or caste abilities takes no time. Spend the XP, and presto -- instant competence.
** Many Exalted (especially Solars) can also learn Charms that allow them to instruct others in record time.
** One notorious goof in the first edition Autochthonian book's widely hated Locust War chapter had the Autochthonian invasion force become masters of ship-to-ship combat who neatly pwned the Realm Navy, despite it being only a few months since the first time they encountered a military fleet (there are oceans of oil in Autochthonia, but there are no navies).
* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'':
** Since its creation, it has allowed characters to instantly gain new skills, languages and even entire classes at level up. A period of training is implied to be needed to gain these abilities, but it never was clearly stated in the rules, making it commonly ignored unless the GM enforces it.
** The Warblade class has this as a natural feature, called Weapon Aptitude. Essentially, it allows them to transfer their feats that are meant to work with one weapon to work with another by practicing with that weapon for an hour. (Essentially, it's meant so that if you spend your feats in greatsword focus and then find a really cool magic spear, you can use the spear without having wasted half your build.) This can even apply to things like Exotic Weapon Proficiency, meaning a Warblade can become an expert with a weapon that they couldn't even wield without taking penalties an hour ago.

* In ''TabletopGame/ChangelingTheLost'', the titular changelings can use pledges to raise some types of skills or gain new ones at will, albeit temporarily. They can even use pledges to give other people those skills, and if the other person is a normal human, they can achieve even greater levels of expertise, up to a rating of five on a five-point scale; supernaturals can only gain ratings up to three.
* Members of VASCU in ''TabletopGame/HunterTheVigil'' have a high-level power that enables them to temporarily become expert in a skill (or competent at a group of skills).
* The main rule for fighting Caine the Original Vampire in ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'' is "You lose", but some material goes on to explain that Caine's stats basically go beyond what the GameSystem can represent, he has long mastered all known vampiric Disciplines, can master the obscure ones within seconds, and, in fact, can invent new Disciplines on the fly as he needs them.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Aberrant}}'', Mega-Intelligent Novas can take the "Mental Prodigy" enhancement, which makes them an instant expert in a particular intellectual field (be it science, engineering, medicine, investigation, finance, or something else), usually better at it than those who have trained in it all their lives. The sourcebook ''Brainwaves'', which was only released unofficially after the line had already been cancelled, would have added the "Fast Learner" enhancement, which would have allowed the Mega-Intelligent to learn new skills faster (i.e., with less ExperiencePoint expenditure) than other people.

* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':
** Celes from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' is somehow able to not only pick up the ability to learn opera but is also able to memorize an entire musical score in the space of an ''afternoon''. She does it well enough to be a convincing facsimile of the famous opera singer she resembles, to boot. But damned if singing her {{Leitmotif}} isn't [[RuleOfCool nifty]].
** [[spoiler: Cloud Strife]] in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' can swordfight, spellcast and perform gymnastics on the level of an elite supersoldier, despite how before gaining his SuperStrength he was only trained to use guns and had little combat aptitude beyond [[TheDeterminator guts]]. This is partially explained as being a combination of FakeMemories and PlaceboEffect.
** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'', when the plot requires that they do, Quistis, Selphie, Irvine, and Zell are each able to play any one of eight different musical instruments to concert level. The instruments themselves include orchestral, folk and pop instruments, encompass multiple instrument families, and one 'instrument' is tap dancing. They are all students/graduates of an extremely prestigious school, but there was no indication that music was even on the curriculum at all.
** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'', [[TheHero the Warrior of Light]] can pick up practically any craft ridiculously quickly. The Machinist questline begins with the Warrior outshooting their own marksmanship teacher after having a gun placed in their hands a scant few hours ago. It takes them just ''two'' practice sessions to be mistaken for a piano virtuoso. They can also flawlessly imitate dances they've seen just once, performing the Sunlift Dance as well as the Gundu's most seasoned warriors and performing the Moonlift Dance in perfect sync with Linu Vali after watching her for a few moments.

* ''Franchise/MegaMan'':
** [[PowerCopying An explicit power]] of [[VideoGame/MegaManClassic Mega Man]], Bass, VideoGame/MegaManX, and sometimes Proto Man, in their games. Falls under PowersAsPrograms.
** All Navis in the ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork'' series, in which powers really ''are'' programs.
* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
** Link displays this to the degree that fans argue that it might be a side-effect of the Triforce of Courage. No matter how odd a new item is, he instantly acquires the knowledge of how to use them when he picks them up, although he usually starts the games living a fairly normal life. It's more believable in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'', where he had Epona for a while and had a mentor teaching him a thing or two. Then again, the game also had some of the weirdest items in the series such as the Spinner (an apparently magical cog that can be used to ride on rails).
** However, it is questionable if this is because of the Triforce: In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'', where he starts without the Triforce of Courage (unlike most versions of Link, he's TheUnchosenOne), Orca gives him his very first sword-lesson ever, because he reached the age of twelve - and comments on how ''amazingly'' good he already is for a beginner.
** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'' he demonstrates that he can also master new bodies. For instance, after getting a Goron body, he succeeds where the Goron hero Darmani failed, rescues all the Gorons, wins their races, and gets himself nominated as their new leader. However, this is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] due to Link gaining some of Darmani's memories upon transforming into him, as demonstrated when he gains the ability to read Goron script despite having never seen it before.
* In many {{MMORPG}}s, learning a new spell or ability is usually just a matter of shelling out the appropriate amount of cash.
* There is a HandWave in ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'', in that you gain immediate benefits from leveling (increased HP), but to get new skills, you have to visit a trainer.
* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'':
** In ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'', the main character picks up Jedi proficiency with a lightsaber and Force powers in a matter of weeks, where most Jedi apprentices take years. In this case [[spoiler:the main character actually ''was'' a Jedi for years, then had his memories wiped as part of a brainwashing program. So the training really only had to reconnect the main character with their former powers]].
** ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'' actually makes this a plot point. You spend much of the game seeking out Jedi masters who teach you new force forms or lightsabers techniques, afterwards remarking in amazement that you're able to learn highly advanced techniques that should take you years to perfect in a matter of minutes. If you choose to attack the Jedi you find instead of gathering them, you go one better and can actually learn their techniques by ''watching their technique as you're in the process of killing them'', which horrifies them. This is because [[spoiler: Your real power is actually making connections with others and using their skills and powers for yourself. In fact, you never regained your Jedi abilities after they were stripped of you. You're instead using the sometimes latent Jedi talents and powers of your companions.]] Played straight with one sidequest if you choose to save up skill points, however; when Kreia tasks you to train your worst skill up, you can grab the Class Skill feat for that one (or use an actual class skill you hadn't put points into), drop all the stockpiled points into that skill, and suddenly have 19 ranks in it ex nihilo.
* ''VideoGame/HalfLife'':
** Gordon Freeman, a [[BadassBookworm theoretical physicist from MIT]], came to work one day, and the place swarmed with aliens. Ever since he picked up a crowbar, he started [[OneManArmy kicking unfathomable amounts of ass]], including use of every weapon he ever finds without even the slightest hint of natural inaccuracy. This is the guy who can hold and ''use'' a rocket launcher with ''both hands'' while ''climbing a ladder.''
** This is even lampshaded in one of Dr. Breen's broadcasts in ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'', chewing out the Combine Overwatch for their inability to capture or kill Gordon despite his lack of weapons or tactical training.
** Adrian Shephard from the ''Opposing Force'' expansion, as not even career soldiers receive training on operating a symbiotic insect that fires electricity or a larval alien used to launch spores.
* ''VideoGame/VagrantStory'' takes this trope and runs with it. Ashley Riot spends most of the game recovering techniques he [[RepressedMemories once knew,]] most of the characters who come to Lea Monde develop some new form of magic power that they can fully control (once they realize what they're doing), and Tomes, the game's approach to spellbooks, are an [[GameplayAndStoryIntegration in-universe type of magical artifact]] that grants the ability to use magic just by reading them. [[spoiler: Which is the explanation for the rest of it: Lea Monde, with its bizarre ancient carvings in every wall, is just one gigantic Tome that teaches the spell to control the Dark. Anyone who spends time there is naturally going to develop their latent magic talents just by being within its walls.]]
* In ''VideoGame/{{Prototype}}'', Alex Mercer gains the knowledge of those he [[CannibalismSuperpower devours]], giving him an easy two-step process to becoming an instant expert: 1) find an expert who's spent the requisite years and years of training and practice, and 2) eat him. He uses it to learn how to use firearms, operate helicopters, and lots of other stuff a biologist wouldn't otherwise be able to do so well, [[spoiler:and that a virus couldn't usually do at all]].
* In ''Franchise/StarWars: VideoGame/JediKnightDarkForcesII'', the protagonist (who had previously just been a first-person shooter hero for a game and three levels) is instantly and completely proficient with a lightsaber, having the exact skill level as he does at the end of the game, arguably better than all seven bosses at dueling. Then he goes on to gain powers at the Jedi Master (later "Jedi Lord") skill level after a few days or weeks at the most.
* In RealLife, changing from one aircraft type to another requires at least some cross-training. In ''VideoGame/AceCombat'', ''VideoGame/AirForceDelta'', ''VideoGame/{{HAWX}}'' and other flight sim-shooters, the player characters can jump between aircraft from any country in the world and have no problem [[strike:controlling it]] flying it to its maximum capability and leaving a trail of smoking aircraft wreckage. Of course, this is partly excusable by RuleOfFun; Anyone remember [[ThatOneLevel flying school]] from ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto [[VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoSanAndreas San Andreas]]''?
* This trope is almost ubiquitous in {{RPG}}s. You can rest assured that within the handful of days or weeks or months that make up the game's plotline, your utter weakling character who [[WithThisHerring sets out to save the world with the clothes on his back and a pointy stick]] will reach the end as a nearly unstoppable engine of pain and death armed with an InfinityPlusOneSword and [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu capable of going toe-to-toe with nigh-Godlike entities]]. {{NPC}}s with many decades - or possibly centuries/millennia - more experience than you simply can't compete.

* Averted in the second ''VideoGame/MasterOfOrion'' game, where only telepathic races can immediately use captured ships.
* This is part of the plot in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'':
** The main character (Desmond Miles) is put in a machine called the Animus to relive the [[GeneticMemory genetic memories]] of his assassin ancestor, Ezio, in the hopes that he'll gain Ezio's skills in a few days rather than years. The Animus and the Bleeding Effect allow him to pick up on lifetimes' worth of skills in a few days or weeks, but [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity at the cost]] of a [[SanitySlippage deteriorating mental state]] that is already causing hallucinations and may eventually leave Desmond [[MindHive entirely unable to differentiate himself from his ancestors]]. The strain (and the emotional trauma of [[spoiler:killing a friend]]) eventually cause him [[spoiler:to fall into a coma]].
** With Ezio himself it is used straight. The various kinds of weapon-fighting ''might'' have been taught to him in the past, and the training under Paola and Mario is given the flavour of a TrainingMontage - made explicit in semi-novelisation ''Renaissance'' - but he takes to the Hidden Blade incredibly fast with no apparent reason for it.
* ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' (and its spinoffs). Mario doesn't apparently even need to train to suddenly learn new abilities once per game, master new power-ups and items per game, and be good at every single sport he's tried in some way. In the RPG games like ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' and ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigi Mario & Luigi]]'', he can literally get a new item or ability one minute and have apparently completed mastered it the next.
** Double subverted with the Bros. Attacks in Superstar Saga in that the powered up Advanced versions can only be learned after using the original a bunch of times (and a cutscene when they are unlocked where Mario thinks of the technique), but both the original and the Advanced are instantly mastered (provided you know the button combos) upon unlocking them.
* ''VideoGame/{{Kirby}}''. Despite just having copied a creature's ability, he's able to use it instantly without problems (unless certain abilities are problems themselves... we're looking at you, Sleep Kirby). Plus, at least by [[Anime/KirbyRightBackAtYa anime]] {{canon}}, Kirby is only an infant (which isn't farfetched, seeing him in-game).
** This even extends to things that aren't abilities. For example, Kirby seems to be a tech whiz, capable of expertly piloting a MiniMecha as soon as he gets into it.
* ''VideoGame/CompanyOfHeroes'':
** Even though a battle-hardened American Riflesquad can crew a German Pak-38 and [[PossessionImpliesMastery know exactly how to use it]], any combat experience they have as Riflemen is lost and must be regained as an AT Crew.
** The American Veterancy System. For example, a Riflesquad takes about 18 kills to gain Vet 3 (the highest). A Vet 3 Riflesquad can outfight an Elite Stormtrooper squad fairly easily. So that's 3 kills per person, and suddenly they're more skilled than Germany's best. Even more so as veterancy is not diluted by replacements, so five green-as-grass recruits can outshoot those stormtroopers as long as they have a veteran to give them some pointers on the way back to the front line.

* Travis Touchdown from ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes'', who won a beam katana in an online auction and entered the assassination scene, becoming part of the country's top 11 with little training in between.
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'':
** Downplayed throughout the series in that you can generally equip any type of weapon or armor as soon as you find it, however, if you don't have the skills (and later, perks) to use it properly, you'll find it difficult to actually hit/damage enemies with said weapons and you'll receive far less protection from said armor. The way to become better with them is to actually ''use'' them. (This also applies to spells.)
** ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'' plays it straight by offering unlimited Training per level. As long as you have the gold to pay for the training, it is possible to be trained from a complete novice to matching your trainer's level of expertise in only a few in-game days. (Each training session takes two in-game hours. If you find a Master trainer who can train your skill to the max, you can go from the minimum skill level of 5 to 100 in 190 in-game hours.) ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]'' and ''Skyrim'' would limit training to 5 sessions per level (with 10 skill level increases still required to level up), taking it back to being downplayed for the series.
** As best seen in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'', anyone willing to devote themselves to a lifetime of training can learn to use the [[RealityWarper reality warping]] language of the [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Dragons]], the [[LanguageOfMagic Thu'um]]. What makes those who are Dragonborn (like the PlayerCharacter) special is that they have an instinctive knowledge of the Thu'um and can learn its [[MakeMeWannaShout shouts]] very easily. (Mechanically, in-game, this means reading the word of power and [[YourSoulIsmine absorbing dragon souls]].) This is because the Dragonborn are mortals born with the immortal [[OurAngelsAreDifferent Aedric]] soul of a Dragon.

* ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriorsOnline'' has each weapon contain the move-set of a character. The trope comes into play that one can copy that weapon's moveset from the original holder the moment they touch it, so they could go from welding a spike ball as big as them to knock enemies 50 feet in the air to using a fan with such grace they glide through enemies. While they do have practice it's very optional, but it is fun to do so you might not avoid it altogether. The only real change his first charge attack in the combo and the 6th, but those vary from individual weapon to individual weapon, so two flutes might have a slightly different combo.
* Both played straight and averted in ''VideoGame/BattlestarGalacticaOnline''. On the one hand, once you pass a certain level you can immediately upgrade to a new starship type without having to go for special training. You also don't need special training to switch between ship models. On the other, the skills that you can train in-game to improve your performance take a clear amount of time to complete, which gets increasingly long as you go up.
* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', learning a new skill, or upgrading it, or learning a recipe or formula from a trainer is easy; pay him the fee, and he casts a quick spell that teaches your player. Also, you can learn a new recipe or plan from a scroll in a few seconds, assuming you have the right skill.
* ''[[VideoGame/AdvancedVariableGeo Advanced V.G. II]]'': Despite having no prior training, Tamao won her very first tournament by defeating several of [[TheProtagonist Yuka's]] old rivals and, eventually, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtOpXTVMhbY defeated Yuka, herself]] - simply [[MovesetClone by emulating her fighting style.]] [[ImprobableAge At age 14.]]
* The single-player campaign in ''VideoGame/OperationFlashpoint'' averts this by having you shift between four different playable characters who each have missions falling within their own specialization: an army corporal does frontline fighting, an air force pilot and a tank commander do the obvious, and a special forces operative handles scouting and sabotage behind enemy lines.
* ''VideoGame/RealityMinds'': Astrake and Silvana are capable of using each other's combat movesets without any difficulty, despite the former being a swordsman with healing magic and the latter being an offensive mage. Subverted in the story, where other characters note that Silvana's swordplay is amateurish and Astrake cannot use custom spells that Silvana developed.
* In the ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil'' series, it doesn't matter if you're an elite STARS agent, a university student, or a subway station employee, you ''will'' know how to expertly and safely use the handgun, assault rifle, flamethrower, or experimental prototype mine launcher the second you pick it up. The remake of the original subverts it a bit with Jill not being as skilled with firearms as Chris: When she picks up a new weapon she's not ''quite'' the expert with it that Chris would be, with slightly worse aim or slower firing and reload time, and she never gets competent enough with them to fire the shotgun from the hip or fire [[HandCannon the magnum]] without stumbling back.
* During ''VideoGame/TheMatrixPathOfNeo'' you find out that Neo's instant expert training scene from the movie, to him, isn't quite instant as it's a series of virtual training levels.
* At the end of ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'', Raiden was able to master the high-frequency blade with just a couple of minutes of training upon his first time using it.
* Explained in the remake ''VideoGame/Persona2'', where Tatsuya muses that he can use a sword like a master within minutes of buying one because having a Persona allows him to tap into the collective unconscious and take on an archetype of a skilled swordsman.
* Right after acquiring guns, the heroes of ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI'' and ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIV'' can kill demons with them despite the former living in a country with strict gun laws and the latter not even knowing what a gun is.
* Zigzagged in the ''Franchise/SlyCooper'' series. On one hand, Sly is able to ''instantly'' master techniques he learns from recovering the Thievius Raccoonus in [[VideoGame/SlyCooperAndTheThieviusRaccoonus the first game]], and also proves to be a competent dancer, presumably owing to his natural propensity to thieving and elegant movement. Other characters however need time and practice: Murray studies a book on logging in [[VideoGame/Sly2BandOfThieves the second game]] to compete in a lumberjack competition but Bentley makes plans to cheat as he knows ''none'' of them are skilled enough to beat a seasoned lumberjack like Jean Bison at his own game, Murray spends ''years'' training under The Guru but doesn't come even close to reaching the level of expertise The Guru has with Dreamtime by the time the [[VideoGame/Sly3HonorAmongThieves third game]] rolls around, and Bentley's attempts at driving the Cooper Van are, to put it generously, [[DrivesLikeCrazy "passable"]] at best.

* Justified in ''VideoGame/SystemShock2'' - The Soldier can learn in a few hours more skills than in the 3 years of academy, but he's using incredibly rare and expensive hardware, and it's mentioned that skills gained with Cyber Modules tend to not stick.

* George Malley, Creator/JohnTravolta's character in ''Film/{{Phenomenon}}'', develops the ability to do this as a result of his unexplained encounter. It's most blatant when the town needs a translator, and he learns a significant portion of the Portuguese language in ''twenty minutes''. (''Slightly'' justified in that he was already fluent in Spanish, which is sufficiently similar to Portuguese that he didn't have to learn the language from scratch.)

** In ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'', Allenby is somehow able to perfectly copy [[TheHero Domon]]'s FinishingMove, the Exploding God Finger, despite Domon never teaching her anything about it and ''her Gundam not being equipped to perform it''. But since ''G Gundam'' is a SuperRobot show, RuleOfCool justifies everything.

** Kaku and Kalifa, two agents of [=CP9=] who were given their Devil Fruits hours (if that) before going into combat against the Straw Hats. Kalifa in particular, while they should have had barely enough time to grasp the basics of their powers (Giraffe-transformation and strength sapping soap bubbles respectively), is shown to be quite proficient when she faces Sanji and Nami. Kaku flounders a bit more, though, coming up with ideas and attacks on the spot in the course of his fight with Zoro.
** Averted otherwise, where Devil Fruit users often have at least some difficulty figuring out what their powers are, and often take a great deal of time figuring out how to use them to full effect. After over ten years for Luffy and over twenty for Robin, the both of them are still learning new ways to utilize their abilities. In Luffy's case, it took him a while to even manage to throw a punch properly after eating his Devil Fruit.

* ComicBook/{{Taskmaster}}, in the MarvelUniverse, can instantly learn how to do any physical skill or martial arts maneuver his body is physiologically capable of surviving simply by watching anyone else do it once, either live or via recorded media. {{Handwave}}d away by explicitly giving him the superpower of "photographic reflexes," or the ability to instantly learn by watching. His most recent mini-series also gave him the more conventional form of photographic memory in addition to his superpower, further enhancing his rapid learning abilities. He also has AwesomenessByAnalysis in that he understands what he learns so thoroughly that he can ''teach other people how to do it''. The whole thing worked against him, however, when he tried to use it on ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}, who is just [[ConfusionFu too unpredictable]]. He even started dancing partway through the fight with Taskmaster, just because.