History Main / ReverseShrapnel

* ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'': Many danmaku barrages expand radially before converging on the player.

* In ''LightNovel/CrestOfTheStars'', the antimatter-filled mines used by the Abh can be utilized this way. Or they can simply be launched in a MacrossMissileMassacre.

* Similarly, the Earth Daggers spell from ''TabletopGame/{{Earthdawn}}'' summons a volley of pointy crystal daggers, which home in unerringly on the target.

* ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'': Neku has several pins that act similarly, like Creepy Weepy Barrier and Carcin.
* There's an enemy in ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight'' who ''is'' this trope. It's called Spectral Sword and is an evil sword ghost/spirit that possesses nearby weapons into a circle around itself to attack you.
* Joachim of ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaLamentOfInnocence Lament of Innocence]]'' picks up where it left off; he's [[MindOverMatter telekinetic]], and does a remarkable 'Weedwacker of Death' impression with his five swords.
* Razor Leaf works like this in ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'', but with leaves. They hover around the Pokémon before flinging. Same with Flame Wheel ([[IncendiaryExponent though with fire]]).
* Icicle Edge, Fire Lance, Dark Savior, Crystal Strike, and Nibelung Valesti all do this in ''VideoGame/ValkyrieProfile'' with different objects/elemental forces.
* The Hungry Friend spell of Jowy from ''VideoGame/SuikodenII'' does this with many, many, swords.

%%%%* Ice Bullets in the first ''VideoGame/ParasiteEve''
* The Crackle spell from ''VideoGame/GrandiaII'' is kind of like this. Thousands of little icicles shoot up from the ground into the enemy, then a pause, then one massive icicle pierces them through entirely. Not floating, but still lots of little things stabbing from all directions.
* ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic'' loves these. [[VideoGame/MegaMan5 Stone Man's Power Stone]] is a good example, as is any shield weapon, to an extent. They tend to be hard to aim.
** Also, [[VideoGame/MegaMan7 Junk Shield]] can be fired in multiple directions at once. The best example would be the [[VideoGame/MegaMan10 Water Shield]]; it creates ''eight'' water orbs which can then be fired out in a spiral pattern.
** The FinalBoss of ''VideoGame/MegaMan8'' has one of these attacks as well.
** ROMHack ''VideoGame/Rockman4MinusInfinity'' has the Hell Wheel, a buffed version of the Skull Barrier which [[SprintShoes propels Mega Man forward when it is activated]] and does not disappear after hitting an enemy.
** The first form of the final boss of ''VideoGame/MegaManLegends 2'' also does this. Except it [[StuffBlowingUp explodes]] on contact.
* Elly's Aerods attack from ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}'' is technically an EnergyWeapon, but otherwise fits this trope to a T.
* In ''VideoGame/CliveBarkersUndying'', the Skull Storm spell causes cackling, burning skulls to [[ClownCarGrave burst out of the ground]] one by one and hover in front of you until you let them all go flying off to explode on their target.
* ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}} II'' has two examples. The Assassin has the skill Blade Barrier, which creates a cloud of blades spinning around her and damaging all monsters that get close. The Necromancer has the skill Bone Armor, which encircles him in swirling bones that protect him from damage.
* ''VideoGame/{{Shantae}}'': The Pike Ball item has this effect. The Fireball item, which you find later in the game, does similar; it just does more damage. They also make defeating the FinalBoss MUCH easier.
* Many danmaku barrages in the ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' games expand radially before converging on the player.

** Nero in ''[=DMC4=]'' gains a similar ability after Yamato comes into his possession - the magical blades are fired at the enemy(ies) whenever Nero shoots with his gun Blue Rose.
* The Patras in ''VideoGame/{{The Legend of Zelda|I}}'' are giant winged eyes with a bunch of smaller winged eyes circling around.
** Ghirahim in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword Skyward Sword]]'' will occasionally summon rhomboid blades in a ring around himself, which then fly toward Link one at a time and must be deflected or dodged. Later, he creates a similar ring around Link himself, who must use the right kind of SpinAttack to take them all out or they'll simultaneously converge on him.
* ''VideoGame/MachineHunter'' has the Spiked Ball, a hovering... [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin ball of spikes]] that orbits around the player. It's capable of killing anything it touches - even giant alien grubs - in one hit. What's even better is that you gain this power-up rather regularly in the game.

* In ''VideoGame/FableII'', the Magic Swords spell works like this: when cast, it summons blades that either individually stab the nearest targets, or all home in on one target.
* [[TheDragon Ruru's]] super move in ''VideoGame/MagicalBattleArena'', where she creates a protective ring of giant [[ThisIsADrill drill]] [[MacrossMissileMassacre missles]] around her before launching them in every direction.
* "Razor Cloak" spell in ''VideoGame/{{Wizardry}} VIII'' - cuts those who attempts melee attack vs. protected creature (even with 10' pole).

%%%* The spell Halo of Earth in ''VideoGame/{{Sacrifice}}''.
%%%* The "Bullet Shield" weapon in ''VideoGame/TheGuardianLegend''.
* Zuo Ci's musou attack in any ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'' game he is featured in functions like this: A protective ring of razor sharp paper charms.
* In ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2'' the Sword of Gith pretty much lets you do this, with many of its abilities involving breaking into tiny, flying, silver shards that tear your enemies apart.
* The [[VideoGame/ViewtifulJoe Dark Emperor]] has up to 3 floating things around him offensively.
* Kohr-Ah Marauders in ''VideoGame/StarControl'' send out rotating blades that can do this--but it takes some skill to position them well.
* [[VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog Black Doom]] does this. Even combined with flame breath and beam shooters, it's not enough to stop Shadow.
* ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'': Archer is, of course, the master of the technique.
** Both Archers, really. Seeing as Gil's is made of real swords and Archer's is all projected.
* [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV Golbez's]] 'Genesis Rock' attack works like this using ''[[RocksFallEveryoneDies boulders]]'' in ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy''.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'' gives us Spikes, as in Blazespikes, for instance.
* [[RobotBuddy Browny]] from ''[[VideoGame/{{Contra}} Contra: Hard Corps]]'' uses this as one of his four weapons.
* Many mini-bosses in ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'' use swords like this.
* The Shotgun used by mechs in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' games has this for its animation.
* The DeflectorShields in ''VideoGame/BioMetal'' can be used like this, for massive damage to your enemies.

%%%* The "Orbit" spell in ''VideoGame/{{Caster}}''
* VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}} can create a ring of spinning feathers around her after transforming into her raven form and keep the feathers when she switches back to human form unless she gets attacked.
* ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' has Mordekaiser's Creeping Death, which creates a cloud of metallic shrapnel around a target ally, both to increase their durability and to shred any enemies that come near them. The Sunfire Cape provides protection and causes the user to be bathed in flames that harm nearby enemies.

* A few enemies from ''VideoGame/{{Snailiad}}'', such as the Angel Blob, do this.
* The Big Fire weapon in ''VideoGame/WonderBoyIIIMonsterLair'' surrounds the player character with [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a ring of large fireballs]]. One of the later bosses can do the same.
* In the ''VideoGame/RogueSquadron'' games, Cluster Missiles act like this once the homing technology is picked up. Since each submissile can track a different target, these become ideal for taking out entire fighter squadrons in a single shot.

* [[OurAngelsAreDifferent Seraphim]] from ''VideoGame/NexusClash'' can surround themselves with a cloud of hovering ClockPunk robots that pummel the stuffing out of anyone who attacks them. Seraphim are TheDeterminator of the series, so anyone attacking them is going to have to brave the cloud a ''lot''.

* ''VideoGame/PathOfExile'' added the Blade Vortex spell in version 2.1. Each casting creates an ethereal blade that orbits the caster for five seconds and damages any enemies it passes through. With enough bonuses to casting speed and effect duration one can have up to fifty blades at a time, shredding anything that comes close.

** Talon, the local KnifeNut has this as his ultimate ability. He sends out a ring of shurikens that stay in position independent of Talon's movement. After a few seconds, they home back in on Talon himself or into a single target he damaged with an auto attack or Noxian Diplomacy (his Q skill), slicing anyone in between them to ribbons.

** Captain Byakuya's shikai technique can be interpreted as a LITERALLY reverse shrapnel: his sword breaks down into flecks of metal which may surround his opponent and cut him to death with millions of tiny pink bits of sword. (His Bankai turns it UpToEleven, conjuring a couple dozen giant swords that '''each''' shatter into millions of tiny blades.)

* ''VideoGame/{{Shantae}}'': The Spike Ball item has this effect. The Fireball item, which you find later in the game, does similar; it just does more damage. They also make defeating the FinalBoss MUCH easier.

** ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes'': The Dark Beam this effect on targets when charged, looking like ice sharpnels (it makes sense, since the beam was programmed with the Ice Beam from the first ''Prime'' as a basis).

** Joachim of ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaLamentOfInnocence Lament of Innocence]]'' picks up where it left off; he's [[MindOverMatter telekinetic]], and does a remarkable 'Weedwacker of Death' impression with his five swords.
* Razor Leaf works like this in ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'', but with leaves. They hover around the Pokémon before flinging.
** Same with Flame Wheel ([[IncendiaryExponent though with fire]]).

* Ice missiles in ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption'' act like this, when they freeze something sharp ice crystals from in a sphere then snap onto the target.
** In ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes'', the Dark Beam had a similar effect on targets when charged.
** ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' series would be the Power Bomb combos. Charging a single beam and then switching to morph ball with power bombs highlighted would result in one of these for each beam. Ice Beam has four iceballs circling Samus, while Plasma and Wave shoot to the corners of the screen and come back, and Spazer makes it rain lasers.

* The Spike Ball item in ''VideoGame/{{Shantae}}'' has this effect. The Fireball item, which you find later in the game, does similar; it just does more damage. They also make defeating the FinalBoss MUCH easier.

* ''VideoGame/MegaMan'' loves these. Stone Man's Power Stone is a good example, as is any shield weapon, to an extent. They tend to be hard to aim.
** Also, Junk Shield can be fired in multiple directions at once. The best example would be the [[KillItWithWater Water Shield]]; it creates ''eight'' water orbs which can then be fired out in a spiral pattern.

* In ''Anime/DragonBallZ'', Piccolo uses this against [[ArtificialHuman Cyborg 17]], firing off several ki blasts until he has the cyborg trapped in the ki-ball variant of a minefield. He then controls the ki blasts to converge onto 17 all at once.

** The Bount Gō Koga has an EmpathicWeapon named Dalk which of a metal, insect-like creature. It can separate into hundreds of small spheres and levitate through the air to home in on the opponent.

** Captain Kaname Tosen's zanpakuto had this as its shikai attack. He used against Captain Kenpachi Zaraki during the Soul Society arc.

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** Joachim of ''Lament of Innocence'' picks up where it left off; he's [[MindOverMatter telekinetic]], and does a remarkable 'Weedwacker of Death' impression with his five swords.
* Razor Leaf works like this in ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'', but with leaves. They hover around the pokemon before flinging.
** Same with Flame Wheel ([[IncendiaryExponent though with fire]])

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** Talon, the local KnifeNut has this as his ultimate ability. He sends out a ring of shurikens that stay in position independent of Talon's movement. After a few seconds, they home back in on Talon himself, slicing anyone in between them to ribbons.

* ''VideoGame/SeikenDensetsu3'' has the basic earth element spell Diamond Missile which causes shards of diamond to rip out of the ground and spin around for a few seconds before homing in on, and impaling, the target. If cast on multiple targets, instead of shards appearing out of the ground, huge diamonds will appear above each target and be shattered by a shockwave before impaling their respective targets.