History Main / RoarBeforeBeating

* Euryale in ''VideoGame/GodOfWar 2''.

In real life, an animal that roars is warning you away. It doesn't want to fight you; it wants you to leave. An animal that tries to sneak up on you is much more likely to harm you. Two animals engaging in a territorial fight with each other are more likely to start with roaring, and then get to the beating if neither of them backs down.

Contrast HissBeforeFleeing. Compare TransformationNameAnnouncement, ScreamingWarrior and InTheNameOfTheMoon, which are often the tropes you get when the hero does this. A similar trope for enemies capable of speech is SimultaneousWarningAndAction. If the crucial element of surprise is blown by this it may be a case of WithCatlikeTread. If the roar is a recurring roar and unique to the monster, it's a SignatureRoar. If you thought "beating" meant "defeat", you may be looking for PreMortemOneLiner.

* Used to [[NightmareFuel terrifying]] effect in the dinosaur hunting game ''VideoGame/{{Carnivores}}''. While all the other dangerous dinosaurs just run in and kill you without making much noise until it's too late, the T-rex has poor eyesight and must sniff the air to know if you're nearby. If one smells you, it immediately lets out a [[HellIsThatNoise horrifyingly loud roar]] and runs right for you. Seeing as their only weak spot is the eye (shoot anywhere else and you'll just piss them off), unless you somehow manage to shoot their eye as they're charging you, if you hear that roar [[OhCrap you're pretty much screwed.]]

* Averted in the first ''VideoGame/DeadSpace'' game in vaccuum areas, where monsters will gladly sneak up on Isaac from behind and attack without warning (the additional music cues are also muted until the monster can actually be seen). Please straight at all other times in the series, however.

* The feral ghouls from ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}''. Unfortunately for them, this is no [[TalkingIsAFreeAction free action]]; [[TalkToTheFist they still take normal damage while roaring instead of charging right away]], with often fatal results. Unless they're the [[GameBreakingBug infamously bugged Feral Ghoul Reavers]] in which case that roar is your 3 second head start to get going.

** The ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'', Fast Zombies stop and scream before they attack. Apparently this is a way of keeping them scary without making them too easy or too annoying.

* In ''Super VideoGame/MeatBoy'', fourth and fifth boss roar ingame and cutscene (and the third roars only in cutscene). Almost parodied with the fifth boss, whose cutscene has it roaring in ''three-part harmony'', and the third, who roars at you just before having the fight interrupted (and never actually gets around to fighting you).

* ''VideoGame/{{STALKER}}'': Bloodsuckers, snorks and dogs.

* Wyverns and Dragons in ''VideoGame/VagrantStory'' roar impressively as they attack; D'Tok, the first such enemy in the game, is a notable example. Also, a variety of bosses will even cause a small pause in the action and have their own mini-cutscene instants before they initiate their ultimate attack (including the FinalBoss,) relinquishing control to the player just in time to defend or flee.

* ''Webcomic/OffWhite'': The wolves are shown growling at a elk before killing it.

* The ''WesternAnimation/TomAndJerry'' short ''The Milky Waif'' has Jerry producing a lion-like roar before before giving Tom an epic thrashing for spanking Nibbles.

* Prey animals are much more likely to play this trope straight than predators, as some of them use a roar as one of their last "warnings" before attacking. Moose, in particular, have a growling roar that would not sound out of place coming from a bear that they will typically use when they are about to, or are in the process of, charging.

** Subverted in areas where humans have attempted to eradicate rattlesnakes, as the zero-tolerance kill-on-sight policy has resulted in the snakes evolving to not use their rattles at all, since there's no sense in giving a warning if the would-be predator won't listen to it. Ironically, this makes the areas ''more'' dangerous than they were before the snakes started being hunted.

** The Hyenas do this.
** Also Mufasa, prior to his BigDamnHeroes moment of [[spoiler: saving Simba from the hyenas]].

[[folder:Film]]

* ''Disney/TheLionKing'':
** Nala makes a lot of noise while chasing Pumbaa.
** The Hyenas do this.
** Also Mufasa, prior to his BigDamnHeroes moment of [[spoiler: saving Simba from the hyenas]].

In real life, an animal that roars is warning you away. It doesn't want to fight you; it wants you to leave. An animal that tries to sneak up on you is much more likely to harm you.

Subtrope of NoisyNature, assuming it's a RealLife animal. See also DeathRattle.

Subtrope of NoisyNature, assuming it's a RealLife animal.

* Most of the Skag types in VideoGame/{{Borderlands}} open up their three jaws to screech at you before charging...which is [[TacticalSuicideBoss incredibly stupid]]. Some of the most dangerous boss Skags can be shot dead before they even start fighting you thanks to this trope and an emptied magazine.

* In the ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'' games, Elites will roar when their shield breaks, giving ample opportunity to blow their heads off.

** The ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'' Fast Zombies stop and scream before they attack. Apparently this is a way of keeping them scary without making them too easy or too annoying.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Starcraft II}}'' cinematics, the hydralisks roar before attacking General Warfield (and subsequently one of them get punched in the face).
* The Lord of Change at the end of the Warhammer Online Cinematic.
* All Franchise/{{Pokemon}} will roar when they enter a battle. Wild, trained, or legendary, stupid or super-genius, it doesn't matter. They'll do it.
** Pokemon will give an echoed roar upon finishing [[SuperMode Mega Evolution]]. Mega Pokemon often surpass OlympusMons in power, so a beating is almost certain to follow.
** Averted with the actual "Roar" attack, however; it will cause the opposing Pokemon to flee, either instantly ending the battle (if used in a wild Pokemon battle) or causing them to switch out with a random Pokemon in the opposing party (in a trainer battle).
* Used to [[NightmareFuel terrifying]] effect in the dinosaur hunting game ''VideoGame/{{Carnivores}}''. While all the other dangerous dinosaurs just run in and kill you without making much noise until it's too late, the T-rex has poor eyesight and must sniff the air to know if you're nearby. If one smells you, it immediately lets out a [[HellIsThatNoise horrifyingly loud roar]] and runs right for you. Seeing as their only weak spot is the eye (shoot anywhere else and you'll just piss them off), unless you somehow manage to shoot their eye as they're charging you, if you hear that roar [[OhCrap you're pretty much screwed.]]
* A lot of the creatures in ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'' roar when they see you [[TurnsRed (Or when they get ticked off)]], but it's not always the kind of roar that leaves you stuck covering your ears. The mook and boss raptors (-Preys and -Dromes) take a noticeable amount of time roaring, so a quick-witted hunter can easily get the first hit on them. On the other hand, wyverns and any other large boss-sized monster can deafen you with roars, stunning you briefly (Unless you have the Earplugs ability). The Zinogre does roar as well, but if you don't deal significant damage within the first few seconds of encountering it, it will [[KnuckleCracking roll its neck]] before doing anything else. A few monsters like the Tigrex and Akantor even [[MakeMeWannaShout roar loudly enough to injure you and send you flying if you're too close.]]
* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', the Grey Warden is tasked with reaching the top of the darkspawn-infested Tower of Ishal to light a beacon. [[OurOgresAreHungrier An ogre]] is hunched over in front of the beacon, gnawing on something. When it notices you, it lets out a massive roar before attacking.
** Another ogre does the same thing to [[spoiler:King Cailan before killing him.]]
* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', Flemeth roars at the horde of darkspawn before slaughtering them, thus saving the lives of Hawke and his companions.
** At the climax of the Bone Pit quest, a dragon comes flying out of the sky and roars at Hawke before attacking.
*** A [[OurDragonsAreDifferent wyvern]] also lets out a roar before attacking you in the Mark of the Assassin DLC.
* Many ''VideoGame/{{Metroid}}'' bosses.
* All ''[[VideoGame/MetalGear Metal Gears]]'' roar in their pre-battle cutscenes ([[RuleOfCool despite being vehicular weapons of war without much logical reason to do so]]).
* In ''Super VideoGame/MeatBoy'', fourth and fifth boss roar ingame and cutscene (and the third roars only in cutscene). Almost parodied with the fifth boss, whose cutscene has it roaring in ''three-part harmony'', and the third, who roars at you just before having the fight interrupted (and never actually gets around to fighting you).
* All the bosses in ''VideoGame/{{Patapon}}'' roar if you attack them while they're resting, or get close enough
* In ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'', Orochi lets out a particularly badass roar whenever he makes a major appearance.
* The [[BigfootSasquatchAndYeti Abominable Snowbug]] from ''VideoGame/{{Bug}}!'' does this as soon as it breaks free from the ice it was trapped in.
* The Fleshpound in ''VideoGame/KillingFloor'' stops for a moment to roar when it TurnsRed.
* Averted in the first ''VideoGame/DeadSpace'' game in vaccuum areas, where monsters will gladly sneak up on Isaac from behind and attack without warning (the additional music cues are also muted until the monster can actually be seen). Please straight at all other times in the series, however.
* The final boss of ''VideoGame/ChimeraBeast'' does this when you see it flash across the screen.
* ''VideoGame/{{STALKER}}'': Bloodsuckers, snorks and dogs.
* Big Daddies in ''VideoGame/BioShock'' usually let out their distinctive roar before [[BullfightBoss a charge]]. This is carried over into their appearance in ''VideoGame/PlaystationAllStarsBattleRoyale''.

* Endermen from VideoGame/{{Minecraft}} make a rather disturbing noise (at 0:35 in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYrv3Dl3c84 this video]]) should the player provoke them by "staring" at them (moving the crosshairs directly over their torsos or heads). Then they usually teleport directly behind the player.
* The animatronics in ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' notoriously utter a loud mechanical shriek when they catch you.
* The Fire Crabs in ''VideoGame/HarryPotter and The Chamber of Secrets'' do this, though they begin to stop and immediately attack about halfway through the game.
* Almost all enemies in the ''VideoGame/{{Gothic}}'' series do this the general rule is that, if you walk into an enemy monster's aggro radius, they will first give you three warning roars before attacking, and if you leave before the third roar is up, they won't attack.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Dota 2}}'', two or three of Ursa's skills are accompanied with roars. This makes him damage more and be more durable, and he's capable of killing someone in a span of seconds with this, so usually if he roars, it's a sign that he's going to beat you to death.
* [[AnimalisticAbomination Rek'Sai]] of ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' has a [[http://images.wikia.com/leagueoflegends/images/b/b1/RekSai.R1.ogg very distinct one]] to announce that she is about to [[DynamicEntry emerge from the shadows and ruin your day.]]
* Almost every single final boss in every single dungeon in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' does this, even when it wouldn't make a lot of sense. A Chimera? Fine. A plant monster? Not so much... Although because of this tropes prevalence when its averted the impact is a lot stronger. For example Bahamut, who is the very final boss of the base game, doesn't roar or bluster. He just floats down and proceed to murder you.
* Multiple Infernal Demons in ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}''.
* ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'': Winston the intelligent ape can transform into a giant, rage-fueled monster ape as his Ultimate. During his transformation, he roars as his Ultimate call-out.

* All ''[[Franchise/MetalGear Metal Gears]]'' roar in their pre-battle cutscenes ([[RuleOfCool despite being vehicular weapons of war without much logical reason to do so]]).

* ''Film/JurassicPark'' does this pretty constantly, with the ''T. rex'', the raptors, the ''[[Film/JurassicPark3 Spinosaurus]]'' and the ''[[Film/JurassicWorld Indominus rex]]'' vocalizing a lot when attacking humans.

* Happens twice in a row in ''Film/StarTrek''.
* All ''Film/{{Predator}}'' movies have the title alien doing this after unmasking.

* The [[HunterOfHisOwnKind Rogue Titan]] from ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' starts off every major battle (usually involving tearing every other [[HumanoidAbomination Titan]] in its vicinity to shreds) with a terrifying roar. [[spoiler:Justified in that Eren is usually in the throes of UnstoppableRage whenever he's in this form]].

* Legendarily, the Daleks in ''Series/DoctorWho'' always waste time shouting "[[AC:Exterminate!]]" before opening fire, giving the Doctor time to escape. Lampshaded in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS27E13ThePartingOfTheWays "The Parting of the Ways"]], where a Dalek gets in a firefight with a robot that's designed to spout a catchphrase before firing its disintegrator ray (the Dalek wins because, unlike the android, it ''can'' just fire without shouting first if it really wants to).
** Justified as of "The Witch's Familiar", which established that saying "Exterminate!" is the usual way for them to ''trigger'' their weapons, by concentrating their own hostility. They ''can'' fire without speaking, but it's easier if they shout first.
* ''Series/TheXFiles'': Occurs in some Monster Of The Week episodes, e.g. 1x02 Squeeze, 6x16 Alpha, 8x04 Patience.
* On ''Series/{{The 100}}'', the [[NuclearNasty mutated]] KillerGorilla always lets out a roar before, during, and after attacking.

* [[TheIncredibleHulk HULK! SMASH!]]

* [[AngryGuardDogs Guard dogs]] will often bark while charging at the person they are attacking.

** The second titan that the Rogue Titan fights onscreen [[BullyingADragon attempts this]], but before it can get to the "beating" part of the trope, the Rogue Titan [[MomentOfAwesome punches it so hard both his hand and its head go flying into the air, with the head landing in a church steeple halfway across the city.]]

** Same with rattlesnakes. They're infamous for their warnings before attacking, unless they're hunting for food, when they stay quiet.
** Prey animals are much more likely to play this trope straight than predators, as some of them use a roar as one of their last "warnings" before attacking. Moose, in particular, have a growling roar that would not sound out of place coming from a bear that they will typically use when they are about to, or are in the process of, charging.
* Soldiers would often roar while charging with spears and later bayonets. May originate with the behavior of certain animals among themselves in territorial disputes, or fighting over a mate. Especially in premodern conflicts, intimidating battle cries were great for making the enemy break ranks and run to prevent a full on fight. Creator/SunTzu advised generals to leave the enemy an avenue of escape because an enemy fighting to the death is far more dangerous than an enemy running away.
** Yelling your head off is also a good way to get your ''own'' adrenaline levels to spike, which could give hand-to-hand combatants a bit more of an advantage against less hyped-up opponents.
** The Roman legions' aversion of this trope was said to be disconcerting to the unorganized tribesmen they fought throughout their history. The barbarians would make a big show of screaming and beating their chests. The Romans lined up in their maniples, centurions barked commands, and the disciplined ranks marched down and cut you to pieces in relative silence.
* The general idea is that animals make noise when they want to intimidate, but they shut up when they want to hunt something.
** Exceptions are animals that use sound as a weapon (like pistol shrimp), use echolocation (like bats), communicate with pack members (like wolves), or a combination of the above (like dolphins).

* The large trigens from ''FarCry''.

* All {{Pokemon}} will roar when they enter a battle. Wild, trained, or legendary, stupid or super-genius, it doesn't matter. They'll do it.

* ''Film/JurassicPark'' does this pretty constantly.

* The final boss of ''ChimeraBeast'' does this when you see it flash across the screen.
* VideoGame/{{STALKER}} Bloodsuckers, snorks and dogs.

* Almost all enemies in the ''VideoGame/{{Gothic}}'' series do this; the general rule is that, if you walk into an enemy monster's aggro radius, they will first give you three warning roars before attacking, and if you leave before the third roar is up, they won't attack.

* ''OffWhite'': The wolves are shown growling at a elk before killing it.

* Wyverns and Dragons in ''VagrantStory'' roar impressively as they attack; D'Tok, the first such enemy in the game, is a notable example. Also, a variety of bosses will even cause a small pause in the action and have their own mini-cutscene instants before they initiate their ultimate attack (including the FinalBoss,) relinquishing control to the player just in time to defend or flee.

* The [[HunterOfHisOwnKind Rogue Titan]] from ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' starts off every major battle (usually involving tearing every other [[HumanoidAbomination Titan]] in its vicinity a new asshole) with a terrifying roar. [[spoiler:Justified in that Eren is usually in the throes of UnstoppableRage whenever he's in this form]].