History Main / InvulnerableAttack

* [[SpyroTheDragon Spyro]]'s headbash attack doesn't exactly "charge up," but while he's doing the sort of warm up to it (a flip in midair) he's invincible.

There are two kinds of Invulnerable Attack; the first happens in games that have a ChargedAttack mechanic, and while it's charging the player is invulnerable to enemy attacks (though he might still suffer knockback). The second is when the charged attack executes, so while the overly long CGI plays out the player can take a nuke to the face [[ImmuneToFlinching without flinching.]]

* In ''{{VideoGame/MUGEN}}'', this is known as "Infinite Priority", meaning that a character has an attack hitbox but ''no'' collision hitbox when attacking, and is therefore immune to attacks. Obviously, this is one of the aspects that makes a character a GameBreaker.

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' has a variety of moves ("Dig", "Fly", "Dive", and "Bounce") that provide one turn of invulnerability to most attacks before striking the opponent on the next turn. This is moderately useful in single player, but less so in competitive multiplayer where a GenreSavvy opponent knows how to quickly counter or defend against the incoming strike.

* In {{MUGEN}}, this is known as "Infinite Priority", meaning that a character has an attack hitbox but ''no'' collision hitbox when attacking, and is therefore immune to attacks. Obviously, this is one of the aspects that makes a character a GameBreaker.

* Non-videogame example: MarvelComics' [[ComicBook/{{X-Men}} Cannonball]] is invulnerable when using his power.

** ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep Birth by Sleep]]'' includes a number of high-level attacks with invincibility frames. Almost all of them returned in ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsDreamDropDistance Dream Drop Distance]]'', but [[{{Nerf}} without the invincibility]].

** ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep Birth by Sleep]]'' includes a number of high-level attacks with invincibility frames. Almost all of them returned in ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsDreamDropDistance Dream Drop Distance'', but [[{{Nerf}} without the invincibility]].

* In the PS2 3D BeatEmUp ''VideoGame/UrbanReign'', each character has 3 invulnerable attacks, though they require some of your power gauge.

* Causing an opponent to crash in ''[[{{Burnout}} Burnout Paradise]]'' or ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeed Hot Pursuit'' causes the camera to pan to the disintegrating vehicle. During this time, your own car will drive itself and will be invulnerable to damage. It will even clip right through ''police roadblocks'' and get through the sharpest hairpin at any speed.

* ''SilentHill4'' gives Henry the charged attack. This mechanic is counterbalanced by making the charge time directly proportionate to the weight of the weapon being used.

* ''{{Pokemon}}'' has a variety of moves ("Dig", "Fly", "Dive", and "Bounce") that provide one turn of invulnerability to most attacks before striking the opponent on the next turn. This is moderately useful in single player, but less so in competitive multiplayer where a GenreSavvy opponent knows how to quickly counter or defend against the incoming strike.

* In ''SuperSmashBros Brawl'', characters are invincible while using their Final Smash. Interestingly, a couple of characters have another attack that provides a brief period of invincibility during execution, but these attacks aren't nearly so spectacular; in Captain Olimar's case, it's his ''whistle''.

There are two kinds of Invulnerable Attack; the first happens in games that have a ChargedAttack mechanic, and while it's charging the player is invulnerable to enemy attacks (though he might still suffer knockback). The second is when the charged attack executes, so while the overly long CGI plays out the player can take a nuke to the face without flinching.

* Yukiko from ''Persona4Arena'' has her Furious Action, Dia, which provides immunity to projectiles in a manner similar to Tager. However, instead of filling a gauge, it gradually restores her health.

* ''Persona4Arena'' gives Shadow Labrys (and to a lesser extent, Labrys herself) a few actions that provide immunity upon being executed. However, all of them have a drawback if they don't connect, exposing you completely if you didn't set an attack with Asterius as Shadow Labrys beforehand.

* Causing an opponent to crash in ''[[{{Burnout}} Burnout Paradise]]'' or ''NeedForSpeed Hot Pursuit'' causes the camera to pan to the disintegrating vehicle. During this time, your own car will drive itself and will be invulnerable to damage. It will even clip right through ''police roadblocks'' and get through the sharpest hairpin at any speed.

* Franchise/{{Kirby}} often has these in his [[MegaManning Copy Abilities]], particularly the [[TakenForGranite Stone ability]] and moves that involve grabbing and throwing an enemy. These attacks are often utilized against larger bosses, who are easy targets but are often difficult to hit without hurting Kirby as well.

** Notably, even though final smashes makes you invincible/unflinching, you can get damaged if the attack is ''countered''. Only a few characters can counter: Ike, Marth, Lucario, Fox, Falco and Wolf. If they get hit while doing the brief "counter" pose, all damage they would take is negated and the attacker gets hurt instead, unlike a normal shield, where only damage is negated. Most Final Smashes such as Mario's fireballs or the Star Fox characters' Landmaster summon can't be countered, but direct melee attacks like Ike's Great Aether ''can''. It's extremely humiliating to get your presumably invincible instant-kill technique slapped right back in your face.

* {{Kirby}} often has these in his [[MegaManning Copy Abilities]], particularly the [[TakenForGranite Stone ability]] and moves that involve grabbing and throwing an enemy. These attacks are often utilized against larger bosses, who are easy targets but are often difficult to hit without hurting Kirby as well.

*** On the flipside, ''TheKingOfFighters'' inverts this by having the startup frames of many supers be able to be snuffed by weak attacks such as jabs. Of course, once they get going for a while, the supers are death on wheels.

* In ''NoMoreHeroes'', Travis is invulnerable while executing a charged attack. It's mostly useless throughout the game, because none of the charged attacks last very long, and they're a ''huge'' drain on your weapon's power...until you get the InfinityPlusOneSword and its power upgrades. It comes with a charged ''combo'' and the upgrades give it infinite energy, making it pretty much a GameBreaker, especially in subsequent playthroughs.
* Invulnerable attacks are a staple of BeatEmUp games like FinalFight & StreetsOfRage, where they're usually CastFromHP type moves, often used to bail yourself out of a tight situation.

* In ''NinjaGaiden'' for the Xbox, Ryu can avoid most attacks by charging up his Nin-po, helpful for avoiding otherwise fatal blows. This also applies to Ultimate Techniques, throws - though not the initiating or recovery frames, so be careful - and off-the-wall attacks. [[NintendoHard You will need every last invincibility frame you can milk.]]

* In the PS2 3D BeatEmUp UrbanReign, each character has 3 invulnerable attacks, though they require some of your power gauge.
* In ''ViewtifulJoe'', you are completely invincible during a spin kick.

** Most of the non-Final Smash attacks don't render the character invincible; rather, it makes the attacker un''flinch''able, so that no matter how much damage they take, their attack won't be interrupted and the attacker won't be sent flying.

* I-No's Megalomania attack does this to her when you fight her as the final boss of ''GuiltyGear X2.''

* ''GodHand'' has a glitch that makes the player invulnerable during a charged attack, and only during a charged attack.

* Invulnerable attacks are a staple of BeatEmUp games like FinalFight & StreetsOfRage, where they're usually CastFromHp type moves, often used to bail yourself out of a tight situation.

* In the PS2 3D BeatEmUp UrbanReign, each character has 3 invulnerable attacks, though they require some meter from your power gauge.

* Invulnerable attacks are a staple of BeatEmUp games like FinalFight & StreetsOfRage, where they're usually CastFromHp type moves, usually used to bail yourself out of a tight situation.

* 3D BeatEmUp UrbanReign has 3 invulnerable attacks for each character, but these use up your power meter.