History Main / SuperMode

* In the climax of ''Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters'', [[spoiler: Godzilla absorbs the radiation from the recently killed Mothra to become Burning Godzilla. In this form, he is covered by bright orange volcano-reminiscent lines and gets access to the nuclear pulse, along with a huge power boost. [[CurbStompBattle It's more than enough to defeat King Ghidorah]].]]

** ''Series/KamenRiderKuuga'' escalates this trope to ridiculous levels. When Kuuga gains his MidSeasonUpgrade Super Mode, his increase in power is so big, that the police had to evacuate part of the city as the resulting explosion of its FinishingMove could destroy an entire city block. His final form was implied to be able to detroy the entire planet.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}:

* In the Season 2 finale of ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'', [[spoiler:Anne unlocks the powers [[TouchedByVorlons given to her]] by the Calamity Box after watching Sprig get dropped from King Andrias's castle. She gains a blue [[BattleAura Battle Aura]], [[NotQuiteFlight Not Quite Flight]], [[SuperSpeed Super Speed]], partial [[ShockAndAwe Shock and Awe]] abilities and [[SuperStrength Super Strength]]. She immediately uses it to [[UnstoppableRage really lay the hurt on Andrias]].]]

** [[TheHero Twenty-Fifth Bam]] from gets a piece of the Thorn, a strange object that's supposed to be meant for [[spoiler: killing the GodEmperor]], which he can activate for a limited time. Then he gets more, as he kind of absorbs different powers as a special ability. [[ItMakesSenseInContext He can also stab himself with things to get even more powerful.]] By the end of the Hell Train arc, his combined Super Mode power is absolutely insane for someone of his level. After that, he keeps getting new components to it so fast he doesn't have occasions to try out his full potential power before getting more.

** [[TheHero Twenty-Fifth Bam]] from gets a piece of the Thorn, a strange object that's supposed to be meant for [[spoiler: killing the GodEmperor]], which he can activate for a limited time. Then he gets more, as he kind of absorbs different powers as a special ability. [[ItMakesSenseInContext He can also stab himself with things to get even more powerful.]] By the end of the Hell Train arc, his combined Super Mode power is absolutely insane for someone of his level.

* In ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'', Yang is able to enter one of these when she takes enough hits, as her Semblance lets her convert kinetic energy she's taken into kinetic energy she can deal right back to her foes. Usually, engaging this is accompanied by burst of glowing flames around her body. However, while this power is extremely potent, and helps Yang out of numerous situations, it is still dependent on Yang being able to take the hits and withstand them long enough to build up enough energy to strike back. Rapid, light hits that she can't effectively defend against don't let her build up enough energy to counter, and single, overwhelmingly powerful blows (like [[spoiler:the iaijutsu strike from Adam Taurus that took her arm, which was powered by his own Semblance]]) can take her down before she is able to use her Semblance at all. Yang eventually has to learn how to evade her opponents and go around a threat rather than take them head on.

** ''Series/KamenRiderStronger'' is the first to introduce this trope to the franchise in the Showa era, with his Charge Up form. This form comes with the drawback that he has to unleash its energy within one minute, or he'll explode himself.

* In the ''Franchise/KamenRider'' franchise:
** [[EleventhHourSuperpower In the last battle]] of ''Series/KamenRiderAmazon'', Amazon gains immense power by combining the [[TransformationTrinket GiGi Armlet]] with [=GaGa Armlet=].
** ''Series/KamenRiderStronger'' and all of the Heisei-era main Riders, plus several secondary ones, get more powerful temporary forms near the end of their series. Naturally, a lot of these include new merchandise (usually a large sword) to sell with them.
** For extra fun, ''Series/KamenRiderDecade'' Complete Form can summon copies of his nine predecessors' Super Modes to perform tandem versions of their {{Finishing Move}}s.
** Since ''Decade'', tie-in movies both near and after the end of the series usually undergo SerialEscalation, granting a Rider a Super-er Mode and even a Super-est Mode.

* ''Series/MadanSenkiRyukendo'''s eponymous hero has 9 different forms, including his default one. One of them is titled "God Ryukendo", and that's not even his most powerful form.

** Subverted with ''Series/PowerRangersSamurai''[='s=] Mega Mode; though more armored and visually impressive than the regular Ranger suits, they were only used when piloting the Megazords and were not established to grant any sort of advantage at all. Shogun Mode, which would otherwise be the Battlizer-style upgrade, was also largely Megazord-exclusive and only used in actual combat ''once'' in the finale. ''Series/PowerRangersDinoCharge'' and ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaSteel'' had similar Megazord-piloting armors, but they were explicitly not Super Modes as they gave a boost to the Megazords, not the Rangers.

[[caption-width-right:301:[[UnderestimatingBadassery "Hmm, what a useless transformation. You've changed your hair. So what?"]]]]

* In ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'', any time where Kyril eats a Beast Blood Pellet turns him into a LightningBruiser cranked UpToEleven. As his [[MythologyGag blood sings and boils]], so does his beast-like ferocity. [[AndShowItToYou Visceral attacks]] are used more often, and [[PistolWhipping a swipe from the butt of his gun]] is enough to shatter a man's face. Of course, [[spoiler:this is not even his [[EldritchAbomination final form]].]]

%%* Super Hottie Goddess from ''Fanfic/Hottie3TheBestFanFicInTheWorld''.

* In ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'', any time where Kyril eats a Beast Blood Pellet turns him into a LightningBruiser cranked UpToEleven. As his [[MythologyGag blood sings and boils]], so does his beast-like ferocity. [[AndShowItToYou Visceral attacks]] are used more often, and [[PistolWhipping a swipe from the butt of his gun]] is enough to shatter a man's face.
** Of course, [[spoiler:this is not even his [[EldritchAbomination final form]].]]

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Kim Possible}}: In the {{GrandFinale}}: Graduation, Ron taps into the Mystical Monkey Power to defeat Warhok and Warmonga. He sends them flying into their Spaceship which ultimately kills both of them.

* ''Webcomic/TheBikiniBottomHorror'': Amidst the war against the Tortured One's Patrick's, Mr. Krabs transforms into an actual, giant crab in self-defence, Squidward transforms into a giant, frankly hot squid version of himself, and [[spoiler:[=SpongeBob=]]] transforms into the {{Kaiju}}-sized Porifera.

!!Example Sub-pages:

!!Examples

[[folder:Fanfiction]]
%%* Super Hottie Goddess from ''Fanfic/Hottie3TheBestFanFicInTheWorld''.

[[quoteright:301:[[Anime/DragonBallZ https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/628b01d920aadc7e55f621deca0939f3.JPG]]]]

[[caption-width-right:301:[[WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged Don't make him hungry. You wouldn't like him when he's hungry.]]]]

* The most famous example in western comics is probably ComicBook/JeanGrey's Phoenix persona, coming from the Phoenix force. The origin of said persona has gone back and forth (was she possessed by the Phoenix? Did it replace her? Did it copy her and genuinely believe it was her? All these explanations have been offered at various points). Originally, though, on a mission in space she was exposed to a solar flare that ended up unlocking her full potential as a psychic. This ended up leading to the ''ComicBook/TheDarkPhoenixSaga'' (though as most forget, it wasn't inevitable - Jean/the Phoenix was just fine, if a bit HotBlooded, until Mastermind spent a long time messing with her head). Afterwards, Jean returned, having been left by the Phoenix in a healing cocoon on the bottom of Jamaica Bay, and the Phoenix Force has since come back and merged with her on several occasions, bringing her back to life if she dies, and giving her the ability to do anything from destroy stars to manipulate ''entire galaxies'' as the White Phoenix of the Crown.
** Her daughter, ComicBook/RachelSummers, spent much longer as the Phoenix than her mother did,

* In the climax of ''Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters'', [[spoiler: Godzilla absorbs the radiation from the recently killed Mothra to become Burning Godzilla. In this form, he is covered by bright orange volcano-reminiscent lines and gets access to the nuclear pulse, along with a huge power boost. [[CurbStompBattle It's more than enough to defeat King Ghidorah]].]]

** In the season four finale of ''Buffy'', the Enjoining Spell combines the Scooby Gang's various attributes into a reality-warping force of nature inhabiting Buffy's body. The drawback is that it taps into the spirit of the First Slayer, who spends the following episode trying to kill them in their dreams.

* ''Series/RedDwarf'': In "The Promised Land", Rimmer gets his light bee upgraded to Diamond Light mode, which allows him to not only switch between hard and soft light an instant, but can also manipulate other objects into doing so and can move at super speed. Unfortunately, this burns out his battery and forces him to plug his light bee into a wall socket, leaving him dependant on extension leads until [[spoiler: Lister charges him up with the Anubis stone.]] This mode gives him newfound confidence [[spoiler: until he's forced to sacrifice his new found powers to save Kryten.]]

* ''Series/RedDwarf'': In ''[[Recap/RedDwarfThePromisedLand The Promised Land]]'', a third holographic mode known as diamond-light is discovered, which is said to be able to turn [[VirtualGhost holograms]] into superheroes. The hologram Rimmer insists on being upgraded, which lets him be NighInvulnerable, convert solid matter into light and move it through walls, and to turn into a glowing orb. However, it consumes a ''lot'' of power, spending a few minutes in diamond-light practically cripples Rimmer for the rest of the special [[spoiler:until he uses the Anubis Stone to boost himself back to diamond-light]].

* In the final two episodes of season one of ''Series/TheUmbrellaAcademy'', after being locked up and experiencing a fair amount of trauma, [[spoiler: Vanya enters a state where she has perfect control over her newly-unleashed powers, and is capable of casually destroying buildings, flipping a car, and ending the world. This state is visibly marked by glowing white eyes, and her powers also bleach her clothing and skin.]] In season two, [[spoiler: she briefly enters this state again after being tortured by the FBI]].

* Game mechanic of Creator/PrivateerPress's ''TabletopGame/{{Monsterpocalypse}}''. Here called Hyper Mode (and with Ultra, Mega, and Quantum variants, depending on rarity), you attempt to accumulate Power Dice by securing (or crushing) buildings, holding power zones, destroying units, etc. When you have enough, your monster can go Hyper, gaining different stats. Generally, these are improved, though some have lower defense or health and drastically altered powers, resulting less in a power up and more in a significant strategy change. You can be dropped out of Hyper Mode by certain attacks (including a [[TapOnTheHead Headbutt]]) or drop out willingly (useful if your Alpha has higher defense). You also enter Hyper Mode automatically when your Alpha mode is depleted of health, resulting in something like TurnsRed.
* Various groups in ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' can do this. Among the most prominent are Lunars using the Deadly Beastman Transformation Knack and Infernals using Shintai Charms.
* This is why ''TabletopGame/BigEyesSmallMouth'' has the Alternate Form power. It's not hugely powerful - without modifiers you spend nine points on something to give you +10 points - and it's required that there's some drawback (even if it's only social) to prevent you from simply morphing into Omnikill Form and spending the rest of your life there.
* In ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'', the [[MechanicalLifeform Necron]] {{Astrologer}} Orikan the Diviner becomes enhanced by powerful celestial energies when the stars are in the right alignment and his ultimate goal is to manipulate events so that this state becomes permanent. In-game this is represented by the 'The Stars are Right' ability that, in all editions, boosts his characteristics to the equivalent of a [[PhysicalGod C'tan Shard]].
* ''TabletopGame/PrincessTheHopeful:'' In addition to the mundane and Transformed forms all Princesses have, each Court grants an "Avatar Charm" which allows a Princess to undergo a "second Transformation" and become a living embodiment of her Queen's powers and philosophy. The exact powers this grants varies, but these are all among the most powerful Charms in the game.

* Jagganoth from ''WebComic/KillSixBillionDemons'' is normally a gigantic, fairly plain-looking humanoid PhysicalGod who can fight off all the other [[DimensionLord Demiurges]] by himself. When he actually gets serious, he turns into [[spoiler: "Chakravartin Jagganoth", not so much gigantic as mountainous, with a ''[[MultiArmedAndDangerous lot]]'' of arms (possibly 500) with a [[MultiWielding weapon in each]], red skin, a fiery aura, a skull-head with numerous faces, and some nice pants with floral decorations. ''Kill Six Billion Demons'' is known for its huge {{Splash Panel}}s that show so much detail of, say, a cityscape that the comic page offers the opportunity to view a larger-resolution version of the image to look at all that detail; Chakravartin Jagganoth is so humongous he gets a page like that all to himself more than once. Aside from just being bigger, one obvious effect the transformation has is that he can use those arms to make some serious combo attacks. And he gets a BreathWeapon too.]]

* Dash of the Literature/WhateleyUniverse can use his Energizer power to make himself much, much faster and stronger. For ten minutes. And it takes him about ten minutes to crank himself up first. And he can only do it a couple times a day without completely exhausting himself.
* In the web serial Worm the hero Battery's powers work like this, by standing still and concentrating she powers up, giving her a boost to speed and a smaller boost to strength as well as limited electromagnetic powers, the longer she stands still for the more powerful / longer she can keep it up for.
* The Sonic fan animation ''WebAnimation/NazoUnleashed'' has massive use of this, from Super Sonic and Shadow, [[Anime/SonicX Dark Super Sonic]], to giving the Big Bad Nazo a Perfect form to [[spoiler:Hyper Sonic and Shadow, who fuse to become Shadic, then Hyper Nazo, then Hyper Knuckles and Super Tails]].
* In ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'', Yang is able to enter one of these when she takes enough hits, as her Semblance lets her convert kinetic energy she's taken into kinetic energy she can deal right back to her foes. Usually, engaging this is accompanied by burst of glowing flames around her body. However, while this power is extremely potent, and helps Yang out of numerous situations, it is still dependent on Yang being able to take the hits and withstand them long enough to build up enough energy to strike back. Rapid, light hits that she can't effectively defend against don't let her build up enough energy to counter, and single, overwhelmingly powerful blows (like [[spoiler:the iaijutsu strike from Adam Taurus that took her arm, which was powered by his own Semblance]]) can take her down before she is able to use her Semblance at all. Yang eventually has to learn how to evade her opponents and go around a threat rather than take them head on.

* In the season 2 finale of ''WesternAnimation/{{Amphibia}}'', [[spoiler:Anne unlocks the powers [[TouchedByVorlons given to her]] by the Calamity Box after watching Sprig get dropped from King Andrias's castle. She gains a blue [[BattleAura Battle Aura]], [[NotQuiteFlight Not Quite Flight]], [[SuperSpeed Super Speed]], partial [[ShockAndAwe Shock and Awe]] abilities and [[SuperStrength Super Strength]]. She immediately uses it to [[UnstoppableRage really lay the hurt on Andrias]].]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', Aang can enter the "Avatar State", during which he acquires the combined warrior skills of his previous lives, turning him into [[PersonOfMassDestruction a god of destruction.]] The drawback is that if the Avatar is killed in this state, he [[DeaderThanDead will not reincarnate]] and will thus [[DeaderThanDead cease to exist]], which almost happened in the season 2 finale thanks to Azula. The only reason he survived being trapped in an iceberg for a century was that he was in the Avatar State the entire time. Aang is pretty much on auto-pilot in the Avatar State and will attack anything perceived as a threat with maximum force. Avatars who achieve willful control over the Avatar State through spiritual mastery and experience are considered "fully realized," [[PhysicalGod and are usually nigh unstoppable]]. In the SequelSeries, ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', the Red Lotus's plan is to poison Korra so she goes into it on instinct so they can kill her. The problem is that they underestimated the raw power she wields and it goes about as well as can be [[CurbStompBattle expected]]. Fully realized Avatars have done things like stop erupting volcanoes, split a peninsula off from the mainland as an island, tank and bend the energy of the equivalent of a FantasticNuke, and create spirit seals that last for ten thousand years.

* Butt-Kicking Mode in ''WesternAnimation/ButtUglyMartians''; the three Martians are able to become huge and powerful. Later, they soon possess in the incredibly powerful "Ultra Mode" - their enlarged size feels reduced slighty in this mode, but this mode surpasses "Butt-Kicking Mode" in strength and power.
* The space dinosaurs of ''WesternAnimation/{{Dinosaucers}}'' could 'Dinovolve' and become big, strong primal versions of themselves-but not without intelligence like when the Tyrannos did it.

** Kipo's typical usage of her powers as {{partial transformation}} of her body parts into those of a jaguar; usually her arms into giant paws for super-strength and her eyes for enhanced vision. Later in season two, she gains the ability to completely transform into a giant jaguar. [[spoiler:Then the season two finale reveals that she can transform even further into a much larger and powerful Mega-Jaguar.]]

** Also in the show, Lloyd has a Super Mode, but it works differently than the other Ninja - since he's TheChosenOne, [[spoiler: his Super Mode takes the form of [[GoldenSuperMode his Golden Ninja form]], which he activates during his climactic battle with the Overlord in Season 2. He's later nerfed when the Golden Master steals this Golden Power from him in the next season, but Lloyd still isn't powerless without it, as shown in later seasons. Dialogue by Garmadon suggests that Lloyd may yet have a traditional True Potential like the other Ninja, but as of Season 7 it has yet to be unlocked.]]

* "Locusts" are actually the Super Mode version of certain grasshopper species. Under the right conditions, those grasshoppers can undergo biological and behavior changes (becoming powerful flyers and [[ExplosiveBreeder breeders]]) en masse to form perhaps the most infamous real-life appearance of TheSwarm.