History Main / InstantExpert

** Justified in all three generations of Anime/MobileSuitGundamAge. Flit himself created the Gundam, so he's more than capable of piloting it when the time comes. His son, Asemu, was not only in training at a millitary academy, but a member of the school's club for Mobile Suit enthusiasts, and a prodigy on top of that. Flit then started training Asemu's son, Kio, from a very young age by bringing him what Kio then believed to be elaborate arcade games that turned out to be based off of the Gundam's operating system.

* Kurapika from ''HunterXHunter'' learns the basics of [[FunctionalMagic Nen]] in a few months, and is then able to go toe to toe with, and eventually kill [[MightyGlacier Ubogin]] and later kidnaps Chrollo. Both are members are the [[QuirkyMiniBossSquad Genei Ryodan]], and very accomplished fighters and [[FunctionalMagic Nen]] users. Justified, in that Kurapika's designed some of his powers to work strictly on Genei Ryodan and no one else, on pain of his own death. If he'd been fighting anyone else of similar experience, he would have gotten his tail kicked. Even with fighting Genei Ryodan, [[DangerousForbiddenTechnique it still takes a toll on his body]].

* Ku Fei in ''MahouSenseiNegima'' 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 kanka technique while Takamichi had to work ''seriously'' hard at it. As in, spent years at it. [[spoiler:Which is actually completely justified due to how psychologically and emotionally empty she was when she started learning it while Takamichi was just some guy back then. 'Nothingness' is apparently a necessary attitude to take when learning it.]]

** Justified by the fact that ninjitsu had essentially become a comically bottom of the barrel fad franchise by this point and the ninja in these comics couldn't do many of the things ninja are normally shown doing, even when they thought they could.

* Invoked in ''ComicBook/SteelgripStarkeyAndTheAllPurposePowerTool''. The tool can be programmed to perform any construction task, using [[MagicPoweredPseudoscience "technalchemy"]] to instantly form and synthesize new components out of thin air, yet Steelgrip can control all of its features with the precision and skill of an expert. Justified in that the tool has an unspecified mental link to its operator, and the controls and instruments it creates are in construction forms that Starkey would be familiar with.

* Many characters in various ''StarWars'' media. This is usually justified by explaining that the reason they're so good is due to their Force-sensitivity.

** Beauty and hunting skills are justified in that they seem to come along with the standard vampire package in that universe (hunting skills seem to be based purely on vampire instincts), but having no blood lust is mentioned as being exceptional

* Kellhus from ''SecondApocalypse'' does this a lot, but it is justified by him being a super-intelligent result of a breeding program. That's why he can do things like become fluent in a foreign language in a matter of ''days''.

* The heroes of the PiersAnthony fantasy novel ''[[Literature/{{Xanth}} Centaur Aisle]]'' end up in possession of a magical sword which turns anyone who wields it into an example of this trope.
** Though the sword doesn't really teach you how to fight, it just moves itself for you. This becomes important in a later book when someone wielding the sword has an object thrown at them (a metal-destroying sphere I think) that would be completely harmless if they just let it hit them, but because the sword is enchanted to block everything, ends up disarming them.
* In the ''HeraldsOfValdemar'' series, this is usually averted (mastering magic and mind-magic powers usually takes years and a lot of practice). When played straight, it is justified, usually through the agency of Need, a [[SoulJar possessed blade]] which can take over a user and work through him/her with consent.
* Averted in {{Metamorphosis}}, turning into a cockroach doesn't mean you know how to move like one.
* The wielders of the famous {{BFS}} in the {{Redwall}} series can all pretty much do it instantly, even though they're mostly aged about twelve and may not ever have picked up a sword before. Possibly partly justified because it's heavily implied that they're the reincarnations of the Sword's first bearer, Martin, and the skills carry over between lifetimes.

* As the carrier of the latest version of the [[OmniscientDatabase Intersect]], Series/{{Chuck}} can do about anything that a World Class Spy can do, and then some. Justified as that is what the Intersect was designed to do.

** At least some [[JustifiedTrope justification]] in that JC already took extensive training in those skills at the UNATCO academy. And that in normal gameplay, he's practicing those skills ''all the time''.

* Dante from ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' seems to be able to use a new type of weapon just by picking it up, as well as gaining new moves just by paying for them. Some cases, however, can be partially Justified as an extension of normal abilities, like the [[ImprobableWeaponUser bat-conjuring electric guitar/scythe Nevan]], and the move-acquisition is handwaved by the existence of the Time God, who grants "the power of the ancient magic clans."

* In ''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 it's almost entirely justified, as [[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]].

* Generally averted in ''Franchise/FireEmblem'', characters sometimes get access to new weapon types upon changing classes, and generally start at a low skill rank with the new weapon types. There are a few occasions where it's played straight though. When Ike promotes to Vanguard in ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius Radiant Dawn]]'' he gains axes and immediately starts at rank A (this is justified by gameplay if not story, since by that point Ike already has the InfinityPlusOneSword and there's be no point in using axes at all if he couldn't use the good ones right off the bat).

* Used in ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' when Bender temporarily becomes captain of the Planet Express, much to Fry's annoyance. When Fry lambastes him and accuses him of not knowing the first thing about being a captain, Bender instantly reads the entire manual and then uses the info to chastise Fry. Justified by the fact that he's a robot.

* Nanoha and Hayate of ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha''.
** Subverted with the former. In [[AllThereInTheManual supplementaries]] it is revealed that Nanoha actually goes through TrainingFromHell to be as good as she is. Justified with Hayate, however, who has absorbed the knowledge of the Book of Darkness/Night Sky.
** Hayate also subverts this because despite having the knowledge of how to cast powerful spells, lacks the skills to aim and properly control them. In order to even aim her spells properly, she needs to be [[FusionDance in unison]] with Rein, and if the former is absent, employs a full unit of BridgeBunnies to help her.
** Nanoha in the 1st movie counts, though. She newly gets a magic device from Yuuno then she learns how to fly and use super long range attack to destroy very small targets after a few minutes.
*** Handwaved by the fact that Raising Heart is an artificially intelligent weapon, and the series has shown that they are capable of independent action if necessary. Nanoha was probably running mostly on "autopilot" for that first battle.
*** This is seen in the series at several points as well: whenever Nanoha goes into battle with an upgraded Raising Heart she hasn't trained with, Raising Heart itself will be giving advice and suggesting tactics throughout the battle, guiding Nanoha in how to use its new abilities.
** Subaru and Erio both could qualify, as they pick up new powers and techniques far faster than either Teana or Caro do.
** Played straight by Touma in MagicalRecordLyricalNanohaForce.

*** Party justified: when Luffy ate his fruit, he was seven years old. Kaku and Kalifa were already [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower superhuman]], and elite government agents, so it is natural to assume they would grasp new tecniques much quicker than a rather [[IdiotHero dim]] child.

** The Ancient Language itself is an interesting case. On the one hand, it does seem that Eragon learns it awefully fast. On the other hand, it is a magical language. In the third book, a Muggle who doesn't know the language and by all rights should hear nothing more than gibberish, complains that the words ring in his ears longer than they should. And understands his true name when it is spoken to his face. The magical nature of the Ancient Language might cause the words to stick in a person's mind easier.

* Lampooned mercilessly in the [[TrainingMontage "We Need A Montage"]] sequenced of the film ''TeamAmericaWorldPolice'', where the protagonist Gary goes from being a talented actor to a talented actor capable of performing at Special Forces levels with any or all weapons and his bare hands... in about ten minutes of real time. But hey, he had a ''really'' cool montage sequence, complete with 80s-style power ballad, so why not?

* ''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, chewing out the Combine Overwatch for their inability to capture or kill Gordon despite his lack of weapons or tactical training.

* Chaka in the WhateleyUniverse has the power to [[SupernaturalMartialArts manipulate chi]] instinctively without the sort of training that anyone else requires. When her powers manifest, she does the sort of thing that takes a master fifty years to learn ''by accident'', in her ''judo class''. In the ninja fight, she watches the leader do a really complicated chi technique that is supposed to allow a paralyzing strike, then [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome blocks it and does it back to him, perfectly, the first time]]. Oh, and she paraphrases his [[CallingYourAttacks attack name]] (Coiling Viper Fang Strike) as [[CrowningMomentOfFunny "Something something strike!"]]
** Despite all this, she still needs to keep working on basics -- so in a sense, she has to learn ''backwards''.

* In the two recent MilestoneCelebration {{Tokusatsu}} shows (''KamenRiderDecade'' and ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger''), the protagonists have the ability to [[PowerCopying copy the forms and abilities]] of their precursors. Apparently knowledge comes with this as well; when the Gokaigers transform into the [[GoseiSentaiDairanger Dairangers]] or [[JuukenSentaiGekiranger Gekirangers]], for example, they bust out the super-powered Kung Fu for which those two teams are known.

* As the carrier of the latest version of the [[MagicalDatabase Intersect]], Series/{{Chuck}} can do about anything that a World Class Spy can do, and then some. Justified as that is what the Intersect was designed to do.

* Like with many other tropes, ''Anime/ExcelSaga'' parodies this when Excel's bowling training from [[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!"

* One FullFrontalNerdity has the guys decide to try averting this trope in a superhero RPG- they play characters who start with their powers at maximum strength but have no control. HilarityInsues.

* [[RanmaOneHalf Ranma]] (and to a lesser extent his WorthyOpponent Ryoga) 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}} Handwaved]] 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. Ryoga, almost entirely self-trained, is quite proficient at picking up new moves through observation.

* {{Batman}} does this, occasionally in-frame, but constantly by implication. Advanced use of computers, forensic chemistry, multiple martial arts disciplines, stunt driving, acrobatics, marksmanship with a variety of ranged weapons (firearm, thrown and otherwise)... all these are barely scratching the surface of the immense collection of formal training and acquired skills Mr Wayne apparently acquired by the time he was 30. Consider that he didn't even start seriously training for anything except CEO-hood until after his parents were killed when he was 8, and that some of the skills he's obtained would normally take even an exceptionally talented real-world student more than 20 years of dedicated training to learn, ''individually'', to Batman's degree of proficiency. And don't forget that, the entire time he was doing all this learning, his training had to compete for his time with nocturnal crimefighting, running a major corporation, cooking the books so that anyone receiving a Wayne Enterprises stock report wouldn't immediately know his secret identity, designing tons of cool, but distinctively branded, toys, jumping through hoops to purchase such toys in ways that wouldn't immediately give away the identity of the purchaser of the world's entire supply of Batarangs, and all of this while maintaining enough of a carefree social life to maintain his cover identity.

* In ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'', Hannelore learns to play the drums very well nearly instantly due to her obsessive-compulsive disorder seeing it as "[[TheRainman counting with my whole body]]".

* HarryPotter is an instant expert at flying the first time he rides a broom [[HarryPotter/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone the first book]], [[spoiler: because it wasn't the first time. He'd been given a toy broomstick on his first birthday.]].

** Once. The rematch was far more humiliating... and that was while it still was a hand-to-hand fight, before Prometheus pulled a gun and then Batman triggered the logic bomb he'd hidden in Prometheus' helmet software: [[spoiler:he replaces Prometheus's nervous and muscular systems with the physical characteristics of one man: Stephen Hawking.]] [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome So awesome.]]

* Zoey Redbird of ''Literature/TheHouseOfNight'' has super-special ElementalPowers that she doesn't even need to practice to use without breaking a sweat. All she needs to do is to wait until her goddess-given sixth sense tells her exactly what she needs to do, and she can turn invisible, fly over walls, blow opponents off their feet, hurl fireballs, regain the memories the BigBad wiped from her mind, restore the humanity of bloodthirsty vampyres, [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands and much more]] without any beforehand practice whatsoever.

* Ichigo's very transformation into a Shinigami (or Soul Reaper) is a perfect example of this. He becomes a shinigami in one quick instance, and immediately knows how to wield, summon, and swing his huge Zangpakuto.