History Main / ThePowerOfFriendship

[[UniversalTropes A major theme in all media.]] The [[LonersAreFreaks villain]] or IneffectualLoner mocks the idea of relying on others, insisting that friends make you weak and [[MachiavelliWasWrong only fear brings servitude]]. Then he discovers to his [[EvilCannotComprehendGood extreme shock and dismay]] that [[TrueCompanions the hero's friends]] really do stand up for him, and this really does enable the hero to kick the crap out of the bad guy. The [[AnAesop Aesop]]: Having friends makes you strong, [[LonersAreFreaks being alone]] [[LonelyAtTheTop makes you weak]]. Even WhatYouAreInTheDark can depend on your memory of your friends.

See also TeamSpirit, TrueCompanions, ThePowerOfLove, ThePowerOfFamily, PowerOfTrust, DefeatMeansFriendship, FireForgedFriends, DyingAlone, YouAreNotAlone. The risk of TastesLikeDiabetes or even {{Narm}} is present [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools if done poorly]]. TheGoodKing should be wary of this trope, it can turn into {{Nepotism}} (well, technically cronyism). If your protagonists are entirely reliant on their friends for any characterization or motivation, they will rapidly become {{Flat Character}}s.

[[quoteright:275:[[Webcomic/CluelessHero https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/power_of_friendship.png]]]]

* Played straight in ''VisualNovel/SilverCrisis''. The story goes out of it’s way time and time again to show how important it is to place your trust in others and not isolate yourself. [[spoiler: By the end of the story, the bond and trust Lucario and Lucas made with each other gives them the opportunity to make Silver lower his guard and defeat said Godlike being in the end.]]

[[quoteright:350:[[Webcomic/CluelessHero https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/power_of_friendship.png]]]]

%% Image moved to TeamSpirit per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1521588201039867500
%% Please start a new thread if you'd like to discuss a new image.

[[quoteright:350:[[Manga/OnePiece https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/maxresdefault_5318.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:As result, YouAreNotAlone]]

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!!Examples:

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' plays with this to varying results.
** Eren, Mikasa, and Armin are noted to be such a potent team due to their friendship, which is later Invoked by a recap page as pivotal to humanity's chances of victory.
** Invoked with the Special Operations Squad, which are stated to be such incredible fighters due to the deep bonds they share. [[spoiler: But ultimately it ends up horribly subverted -- Petra's request that Eren trust in his comrades and believe in their friendship results in him fleeing while they cover his escape. As a direct result, the Female Titan slaughters the entire team. Eren ultimately concludes he should have believed in himself, rather than his friends]].
** It plays a vital role in the defeat of [[spoiler: all three Titan Shifters, as their attachment to the other cadets leads to them making huge mistakes]]. It even gets invoked by Jean and Connie, in an effort to talk down [[spoiler: Reiner and Bertolt]], appealing to the bonds of friendship formed between them all over the years.
* In a sense, ''{{Manga/Berserk}}'' does this as well, as a lot of the story revolves around the importance of camaraderie, with Guts, who had been solitary for most of his life, having to rely on his comrades and other people even if he doesn't want to, but forming bonds so strong that he'll go off on a [[RoaringRampageofRevenge rampage]] when that bond is broken, specifically when [[spoiler:his former charismatic leader/friend Griffith betrays the Band of the Hawk by making them sacrifices to the Godhand so that he could continue his selfish life dream, resulting in a nightmare-fueled [[KillEmAll bloodbath]] of [[MoralEventHorizon unforgivable proportions]].]]
* In ''Manga/BlackClover'', not only is friendship the catalyst for Noelle's CharacterDevelopment, but her friendship with one of the mages from the Underwater Temple moves her to finally become an attack mage, capable of the devastating spell Sea Dragon's Roar, that is capable of rivaling the Fire Spirit Salamander.
* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'':
%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample** [[spoiler: Orihime's 'six hearts beat as one' speech.]]
** Parodied in the Karakurizer fillers (anime episodes 213-214). Tessai sells the Karakurizer in episode 213 that they will defeat the hollows using the power of friendship, and they they actually do in episode 214.
** Played straight at the end of anime episode 340. Kon tells Nozomi that Ichigo and his friends would save her by teaching the BigBad Yushima "the power of friendship".
* ''Manga/BusoRenkin'': While defending his school from a homunculus army released by Doctor Butterfly, StockShonenHero Kazuki says that he's regaining strength by drawing on the spirits of his friends and classmates. [[spoiler:What he (and the audience at this point) don't know at the time is exactly how literal that statement is, as it is later revealed that he's begun to draw on the LifeEnergy of the people in the school and begun his transformation into a WalkingWasteland.]]
* ''Manga/{{Claymore}}'': While it is a bit of a disservice to simplify as such, this is the general over arching theme surrounding the world of ''Claymore''. The bonds and friendships that form between the characters highlight their humanity and the power of connecting with others, despite the Claymores themselves being half-monster.
* ''Anime/CodeGeass'': [[MagnificentBastard Lelouch]] salvages a potentially disastrous situation by successfully pulling off a speech about friendship and ThePowerOfLove. The most startling is probably when he [[spoiler: tells the Chinese Empress that she can marry for love, instead of being forced into a political marriage with one of his Black Knights]].
* While the girls of ''Manga/DeadlineSummonner'' are already pretty powerful by themselves, they can pretty much ''demolish'' anything that comes their way when Mamoru coordinates them with the help of his DesperationAttack.
* Each character in ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'' has a "crest" that ties them to a particular virtue; Most of the characters had some kind of crisis related to their crests, where they started to doubt their own virtues only to pick up an {{Aesop}} just in time for a BigDamnHeroes moment. For example, Tai tried to force a digivolution and traded courage for recklessness and hubris, then ended up with [[SuperpoweredEvilSide the rampaging SkullGreymon]], he learned to be somewhat less reckless before Agumon reached the true ultimate stage. Also, one of the Crests is the Crest of Friendship. so.. it's the power of friendship saving the day. The digimon CAN'T digivolve really without these kids...in a sense, these kids, the bond the [[{{Mon}} Digimon]] share with their human partners, lets them grow in power.
** In ''Anime/DigimonAdventure02'', the new team can "Armor Digivolve" their Digimon using digieggs with the crests of the original team on them. Davis, the new team leader, has the Digiegg of Friendship as one of the Digieggs he can use. Later, the team learns of the power of [[FusionDance DNA Digivolution]] which allows the two Digimon to fuse together when their human partners achieve a strong bond.
** In ''Anime/DigimonTamers'', Renamon was finally able to evolve after Ruki refused to leave her for dead. Later she explains that she was able to evolve because Ruki truly cared for her. Rika, Takato, Henry and [[spoiler: Ryo]] all later gain the power of [[FusionDance Biomerge Digivolution]], merging with their Digimon to achieve Mega form. This is very much the ultimate expression of the bond between tamer and Digimon.
** ''Anime/DigimonFrontier'', meanwhile, is essentially the story of five [[spoiler: (later six)]] lonely kids coming together as friends, and then their friendship saving the world [[spoiler: in the form of the Zeta Hybrids and later Susasnoomon.]] This plus the PowerOfLove also manages to [[spoiler: bring Kouichi back to life after his heroic sacrifice in the final battle.]]
* ''Franchise/DragonBall'':
** Generally averted, making it an UnbuiltTrope for {{shonen}} series later to come. Although supporting characters can delay or subdue the villain, ultimately Goku is TheOnlyOne who can defeat them for good.
** ''Anime/DragonBallZBattleOfGods'' both discusses ''and'' deconstructs this trope. [[spoiler:Goku is able to reach Super Saiyan God level by gaining the power of five other Saiyans and he's ''really'' thankful for that. However, Goku is a guy who trains constantly and the fact that he didn't gain this form on his own upsets him because he didn't do it on his own.]]
** In ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'', the Tournament of Power enforces this trope: Goku is part of a team of ten fighters ([[DefeatMeansFriendship most of whom are former enemies / rivals of his]]), and the tournament rules mean that good teamwork is critical to success. It takes Goku a while to really understand this, and even then his tendency to go it alone puts his team at a disadvantage at several points in the competition. This is ultimately epitomised in the final fight between Goku and Universe 11's Jiren. [[spoiler:Jiren is a being who became the WorldsStrongestMan, supposedly stronger than even a God of Destruction, by himself, and thus considers friendship or any bonds as pathetic due to his DarkAndTroubledPast and uses his teammates within the Pride Troopers as tools to help obtain greater power. Goku is a man constantly striving to go further and further past his bounds, and treats friend and foe alike with kindness even if they don't deserve it. This is what allows Goku to awaken and master Ultra Instinct, a form not even Jiren can reach. This is ultimately proven when, in the second to last episode, Jiren attempts to destroy the stands holding Goku's Universe 7 friends and allies in anger and spite to prove that his [[MightMakesRight ideal is the right one]]. Goku slaps away his attempt, tells him that what he just did [[ThisIsUnforgivable is unforgivable]], then beats Jiren into the ground, proving that friendship trumps his cynical views.]]
** A lesson that Jiren himself finally accepts and understands after the events of the final battle. [[spoiler: To eliminate Jiren an exhausted Goku works in perfect sync with Android 17 and Frieza of all people to win the Tournament of Power. The ability of two beings either modified specifically to, or obsessed with murdering Goku (the latter of whom is also a galactic tyrant who destroyed his race)to trust him and overcome Jiren's superior might at the cost of Goku and Frieza's chance at the wish cements the arc's theme of trusting in others to succeed. It's thanks to their sacrifice that 17 is able to restore the multiverse and prove to Zen'o that mortals are capable of selflessness. These actions in turn prompt Jiren to finally let go of his painful past and finally begin befriending his teammates, starting with Toppo.]]
* ''Anime/DuelMasters'', as mentioned above, used this a lot, with Shobu's friends constantly helping him build and rebuild his deck, and regain his dueling spirit, among other things. Shobu's not the only one to take advantage of this... Hakuoh, the aloof [[TheDragon Dragon]] of the first season, was subjected to DefeatMeansFriendship, breaking through his shell, and he manages to defeat Shobu in their next game.
* ''Manga/FairyTail'' weaponizes this trope. In a series where the strength of a wizard's magic is tied to [[EmotionalPowers the strength of their feelings]], the members of the titular guild gain a huge boost of magical adrenaline due to how strongly they feel about their TrueCompanions, namely [[BerserkButton seeing them getting hurt]]. This also comes in a slightly different flavor as a Unison Raid, a CombinationAttack where two wizards close enough to each other link their magic to each other to incredibly powerful effect.
* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'' equally worships the trope as much as ''Fairy Tail''. Seriously. This series is just Fairy Tail with a new coat of paint. Right down to the tropes commonly associated, with UA's constant team ups during the series, most notably in the anime.
* ''{{LightNovel/FateZero}}'': Rider's Noble Phantasm '''Ionioi Hetairoi: Army of the King''' is created by the ideals of Alexander the Great as collectively was cherished and experienced by the grand army of legendary heroes - his soldiers and comrades when he was alive - that is rallied to his call.
* ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' plays it straight in the final battle, where Kenshiro draws power from everyone he cares about, but it's used before that when Rei, preparing to attack Raoh, yells [[CombinedEnergyAttack "Everyone, lend me your strength!"]] before hurling himself at Raoh and using his DangerousForbiddenTechnique... [[spoiler:and Raoh not only point-blank counters it, but hits him with an attack that kills him over three agonizing days]].
* ''Anime/FlintTheTimeDetective'' has this in most if not all of the episodes with frienship not only being what is needed to void the effects of the Petra Stamp but also [[spoiler:make the Great Clock move again and save the world]].
%%Administrivia/ZeroContextExample* The climax and resolution of ''Manga/FruitsBasket'' revolves around this.
* A recurring theme in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' (manga and ''Brotherhood'' anime), though most beautifully portrayed at the very end when Edward [[spoiler:has his final confrontation with the Truth. He offers to exchange his ability to use alchemy in order to get his brother Alphonse's body back. When the Truth asks if he's sure he can manage without the ability, Ed replies that he knows he'll be okay because he has his friends to back him up. The Truth smiles, tells him that he's just given the right answer, and shows him how to get out with Al's body.]]
** Another noteworthy example is that it leads to the [[HeelFaceTurn redemption]] of [[spoiler:Greed, and his subsequent HeroicSacrifice which is instrumental in taking down [[BigBad Father]]. The only other Homunculus to reform is Pride, and this is only because he loses all his power and memories and is then raised as a human child completely unaware of who and what he used to be. Greed on the other hand realizes that for how he thought he was greedy for everything, including the whole world, what he really wanted all along was friends, and acknowledges Ed and Ling as such in his final moments.]]
* ''Manga/FushigiYuugi''. Specifically, Nakago scornfully mentioning it and declaiming that it won't defeat him. And then it does.
* ''Anime/GaoGaiGar''. Friendship + Courage + G-Stone = '''VICTORY.'''
* Likewise in the show's SpiritualSuccessor by the same writers, ''Anime/GuiltyCrown''. The main character, Shu, gets the ability to draw powerful weapons known as Voids [[AnimationBump (that always take full advantage of the show's seemingly limitless animation budget)]] from other people. Voids that Shu draws from his friends are usually more powerful than others. The page quote says it all:
-->'''Shu:''' The power to use my friends as weapons. This is the sinful crown I shall accept.
* ''Manga/HighSchoolOfTheDead'' has a subversion. Toshimi and Misuzu's bid for BFF survivors of the apocalypse -- complete with pinky promise -- lasts about as long as it takes one of them to kick the other down a flight of stairs.
* ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'':
** In the answer arcs, the protagonists believe the Power of Friendship to be the key to ScrewDestiny. In that light, the question arcs can be seen as examples of what happens when the [[TrueCompanions friends]] are broken up by suspicion and distrust.
** The answer arcs of Higurashi do show that the power of friendship can help overcome anything...especially if one of your friends is the heiress to a family of Yakuza, a couple others are moles for the conspiracy, and a few more are cops who are incredibly skilled at hand-to-hand combat.
** The tagline is even "Higurashi is a series about "friendship"! Friends help you move...Real friends help you move bodies!"
* ''[[Anime/TheIdolmaster THE iDOLM@STER]]'' - A good portion of the anime is about this.
* Early in ''Manga/InuYasha'', it's suggested that the [[EmpathicWeapon empathic sword]] Tessaiga's full power can only be unlocked if it's being used to protect a human. This quickly falls by the wayside as the plot progresses, in response to a general shift in the mindset of the title character from being only out for himself toward being more protective of others in general.
* The titular character of ''Manga/KenichiTheMightiestDisciple'' believes in this...which is odd, since in the beginning the closest thing he has to a friend is the blatantly self-serving Nijima. He's clearly aware of this too, since he uses Nijima's personality to make a point a few times.
-->'''Kenichi:''' Be grateful for your friends! ''[[OpinionFlipflop This]]'' [[OpinionFlipflop is the only friend I've got]]!
* ''Manga/{{Kinnikuman}}'':
** The penultimate arc dealt with the "theft" of the heroes' Friendship Power with a number of cursed dolls. This resulted in everyone abandoning our hero when he needed a partner for the tag-team TournamentArc. Thankfully, he manages to get some help from his unaffected mentor.
** The final arc returns to the issue. Kinnikuman, stripped of the Kajiba Kuso no Djikara, his HeroicResolve in a can, early on, is constantly shown unable to perform his old tried-and-true techniques simply because he's fighting at barely more than 1% power. His first major fight after losing the KKD is one he only starts winning when he taps into a similar, though inferior, force known as "Shin Yujo no Power", "Genuine Friendship Power."
** Played with when Kinnikuman Soldier enters the picture. At first, he appears to be a rather cool-headed and stoic leader who constantly insists "ThisIsSomethingHesGotToDoHimself" whenever he's told to rush to a teammate's aid. After being called out for this attitude in the match between Team Super Phoenix and Team Soldier yet again, Kinnikuman Soldier fires back that the Justice Choujin's friendship is a rather weak one: sure, they're all pals, but they've become far too dependent and protective of one another, and that such a friendship is more of a detriment than an advantage. While everyone is skeptical at first, it's proven true twice, first when Buffaloman immediately demands to tag in Soldier when he sees the terrifying power of Mammothman's tusks because he's injured, and then when all of Kinnikuman's team wants to rush to Buffaloman's aid despite being on opposing teams. Soldier then goes on to show them "Genuine Friendship Power" in action.
** The nature of Friendship Power becomes even more important in the 2012 reboot. Its emergence prompts the most elite of the Perfect Choujin, the Perfect Origin and the Perfect Large Numbers, to emerge and begin a purge of all "Inferior Choujin". Nearly every defeat or near-defeat the Perfect Choujin experience due to these battles is due to their opponent, be they Justice Choujin or Devil, channeling Friendship Power in some way, shape, or form. Even ''Akuma Shogun'' manages to tap into it ever so slightly in his fight with Choujin Enma, the one person aside from his brother that he was closest to. Almost immediately after this arc, another group, Omega Centauri's Six Spears, come to Earth and begin trying to discover how to utilize Friendship Power themselves.
* Downplayed in ''LightNovel/{{Konosuba}}''. While friendship isn't a major theme, it's obvious that despite the main quartet's constant bickering, their [[RPGMechanicsVerse hideously unbalanced stat and skill management]] (the male lead is an underpowered JackOfAllTrades while the three heroines are [[CripplingOverspecialization extremely skilled in one ultra-specific area and useless at everything else]]) means that working together is the only way for them to get ''anything'' done.
* ''Manga/TheLawOfUeki'' does this nearly as often as ''Anime/YuGiOh'', which gets pretty {{Anvilicious}} at times. At one point, the gang is fighting a team of soldiers, and the soldiers can't comprehend how helping each other out is so important--they even mention that a soldier should "follow orders and look out for himself." Which ''is'' what real-life soldiers are taught...plus one more thing: ''Watch your buddies' backs.''
* ''Franchise/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' is theorized to weaponize the Power of Friendship into [[WaveMotionGun giant energy beams]], particularly in the first season where her motive is not to ''defeat'' Fate but to become her friend.
* ''Manga/MagicKnightRayearth'' is built entirely on this trope, but Hikaru in particular has it really bad. The {{OAV}} is even more explicit.
* ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'':
** Taken literally, as [[spoiler: Negi's artifact allows him to use all of his partner's artifacts]], meaning that he gets stronger as he aquires more allies.
** It's also deconstructed a bit, as Negi constantly goes through TrainingFromHell so that he won't have to rely on the Power of Friendship, and by extension, won't endanger his [[TrueCompanions friends]] by forcing them to fight alongside him (not that it stops them). Makes [[spoiler: his abovementioned artifact]] much more ironic.
** Played straight when [[spoiler: Negi's BlackMagic causes his SuperpoweredEvilSide to manifest. It only stops because Chisame, Asakura, and Nodoka pull one of these.]]
** This is ultimately what stops Cosmo Entelecheia's plans during the Magical World Arc [[spoiler:when the whole of class 3-A (sans Eva and Chao) calls out to Asuna in order to separate her from the ritual destroying the Magical World.]]
* In ''Anime/MaiHime'', in the 25th special, Natsuki reflects on how she had once been a bitter loner, but meeting Shizuru, Mai and Mikoto enabled her to open up to others and realize that no one can live alone.
* Compared to shows who emphasizes in mecha battles, the ''Anime/MashinHeroWataruSeries'' focuses on the interactions between characters and how they overcome their differences to become friends with each other; their love and friendship with each other will bring miracles, and become the key elements to defeat evil.
* In ''Manga/MermaidMelodyPichiPichiPitch'', the PowerTrio sticks together through sadness via pep talks and cake sharing, making it through everything thrown at them. In the series finale, [[spoiler:Lucia and Seira reveal that, no matter what kind of pain Michal and Michel, respectively, have put them through, they still empathize with them and want to become their friends. The Power of Friendship is strong enough to actually make them waver, and Fuku panics and goes to try and take over their combined mind and body. He succeeds... but not for long, as the mermaids' friendship and forgiveness reach even him.]]
* ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'' has the Shuffle Alliance, five of the most powerful Gundam Fighters participating in the Gundam Fight. While they have to represent their individual nations during the tournament, they come together to fight the forces of the Devil Gundam. During the final battle, [[spoiler: they [[CombinationAttack combine their powers]] to defeat the [[AllYourPowersCombined Grand Master Gundam]], before Domon can take on the Devil Gundam himself]].
* The Evil General Durahan in the anime ''Anime/MonsterRancher'' specifically references this trope in an episode where the bad guys betrayed each other no less than four times in under an hour. Friendship has its benefits it seems.
** In a more straight use of this trope, the characters' courage, along with friendship, can be used to make themselves stronger. In the last episode Genki summoned the courage of every heroic character on the planet to use in a CombinedEnergyAttack. In contrast, when Moo goaded the heroes into hating him to make him stronger, the power of their hatred ''drove him insane''.
* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'':
** One can derive a considerable amount of strength from the mere fact that you're using it to protect someone important to you (chiefly Naruto himself, but there are others). This lesson is explained by one of the first villains in fact; a ninja's greatest strength comes when they are protecting someone they hold dear. (There are those in the Naruto fandom who call this phenomenon "Friendship no Jutsu" or an "Epic Battle of Friendship").
** The philosophical conflict between this and ThePowerOfHate leads to Sasuke's split with the village.
** In chapter 570, [[spoiler: Naruto finally befriends [[EldritchAbomination the Nine-Tails]] himself!]]
** In a twisted way, this is also the key to unlocking the potential of the Uchiha clan's Sharingan power. The upgraded Mangekyo Sharingan can only be achieved by losing someone with whom the user shares a close emotional bond (ie a best friend [[spoiler: or beloved sibling]]). It's particularly twisted by the fact that the traditional way for an Uchiha to do this is to ''murder their closest friend'', though that's not actually a requirement.
* ''Manga/OnePiece'':
** Not only does the entire series practically run on [[TrueCompanions friendship]], [[TheHero Luffy]] sets the stage early on with an epic speech to [[BigBad Arlong]] (while [[PunctuatedPounding beating the living daylights out of him]]), in which he includes all of the things his [[TrueCompanions friends]] can do that he can't:
--->'''Luffy:''' Of course I don't know how to use a sword! I don't know anything about navigation, either! I can't cook! I've never even told a lie! I know that I can't survive without people around me to help!\\
'''Arlong:''' And you call yourself a Captain!?" "What are you capable of?\\
'''Luffy:''' I can beat you to a pulp!
** But the best part is when all the Straw Hats declare '''war''' against the "World Government" (a.k.a. 170 united nations) just to prove their friendship to a [[DarkAndTroubledPast desperate]] [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech and]] [[DeathSeeker suicidal]] Robin and [[YouAreNotAlone save her from herself]].
* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'': All Pokémon companions. The various manga series will also often invoke this between the humans themselves, whether it's between trainers, rivals, gym leaders, and companions.
* The ''Anime/PrettyCure'' franchise has this as its ''premise''. The power of every Pretty Cure is formed by their bonds with the others; some, such as the first two sets, [[WonderTwinPowers can't even transform separately]]. Fans of the series' yuri subtext have popularized the notion of "the power of RomanticTwoGirlFriendship", which is sort of the same thing.
** There are moments where this is evident: TheMovie for ''Anime/FutariWaPrettyCureSplashStar'' has Saki and Mai arguing so much that it cancels out their transformation, Karen of ''Anime/YesPrettyCure5'' being unable to become a Cure the first time around because of her doubts, and the beginning portion of ''Anime/SuitePrettyCure'' focusing on Hibiki and Kanade trying to work together.
* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'':
** When Mami Tomoe gets hyped up on the Power of Friendship during the battle with Charlotte, [[spoiler:it causes her to fight recklessly against the witch, as opposed to the cool, careful and methodical style of witch killing that she used from the second episode. This results in Mami freezing up when Charlotte goes OneWingedAngel, immediately followed by one of the most nightmarish and [[CruelAndUnusualDeath horrific deaths of the entire series]] as Mami is ''EatenAlive'']].
** Episode 10, where it is revealed that [[spoiler:Homura's reason for going through [[GroundhogDayLoop many timelines' worth of witch fighting]] is because of her undying devotion to Madoka]].
* A spoiler-laden plot twist in ''Anime/ReadOrDie'' hinges on this. [[LesYay Maybe.]]
* Most of the major battles in ''Franchise/SailorMoon'' are won via the power of forgiveness, and the friendship of the protagonists is a major source of power. (Marketing for TheNineties Canadian dub of the [[Anime/SailorMoon anime]] emphasized this aspect of the series as much as it possibly could.) A VHS tape of the English dub has the words 'The Power of Friendship' on it.
* In Act 2 of ''Anime/SailorMoonCrystal,'' when {{Brainwashed}} shortly after making her first friend ever in Usagi, Ami's attachment to the [[MementoMacGuffin pen]] from their first outing is so strong it renders her oblivious to orders from the MonsterOfTheWeek as she tries to retrieve it from across a room. When Usagi's SecretIdentity Sailor Moon explicitly calls Ami "friend," she gradually shakes off the brainwashing just in time for her pen to be revealed as a TransformationTrinket.
* Although the series is more focused on individual empowerment, ''Manga/SaintSeiya'' often indulges in the Power of Friendship. More often than not, combining everyone's Cosmo through their friendship is the only way to overcome the current arc's BigBad.
* ''Manga/{{Saiyuki}}'''s Genjyo Sanzo, a mortal man with no supernatural powers beyond his religious rank, is several times shown able to stop the rampages of Son Goku in all-out Seiten Taisei God Mode - usually with his bare hands. How? Because of the depth of the friendship they shared in their previous lives.
** The villains aren't any weaker in this, because they actually tend to act much more like "conventional" TrueCompanions than Sanzo and company, save for them ''formally'' being on the side of evil. Probably the best example of this is when [[spoiler:Kougaiji]] is brainwashed by Nii Jienyi, and his friends pull off a feat typical for "conventional" hero teams: they refuse to leave his side, and instead start protecting him from Sanzo's team, which actually ''breaks his brainwashing''.
* Though subtle, the Power Of Friendship looks like the reason [[spoiler: all the main characters]] survive the last few episodes of ''Anime/SamuraiChamploo'' despite all odds.
* Mentioned in ''Manga/SatouKashiNoDanganWaUchinukenai'' (''A Lollipop or a Bullet''), where the NewTransferStudent and apparent CloudCuckoolander Umino states that she (who claims to be a mermaid), will die in one month's time unless she finds "true friendship", which supposedly will allow her to stay in human form.
* Likewise for the plot of the first ''Manga/SgtFrog'' [[TheMovie movie]]
* Yoh Asakura in ''Manga/ShamanKing'' manages to best the Tao family several times because they don't acknowledge The Power Of Friendship. Towards the end of the series, [[spoiler:The Power of Friendship brings Tao Ren back to life and allows him to defeat half of the QuirkyMinibossSquad]]
* ''Manga/SoulEater'':
** Parodied when Black Star and Soul are fighting Kid. Despite their friendship, Black Star can't even wield Soul.
--->'''Black Star:''' Now you'll get a taste of our Power of Friendship!\\
'''Soul:''' That's right! An unfathomable, endless power!
** This also demonstrates the fact that being friends is not enough on its own. If soul wavelengths don't match, you're stuck no matter how much you want to win. An exception to this seems to be the black blood, which allows the power of insanity to over-ride bad soul resonance (Maka and Soul in London), albeit by causing injury and hallucinations into the bargain.
** However, this trope does get played straight later on: [[spoiler: Crona's HeelFaceTurn]], [[CombinedEnergyAttack Chain Resonance]], etc.
** Black Star was for a time a Ineffectual Loner example. While he could beat teams in his class without Tsubaki, that tactic was getting him nowhere when it came to achieving what he actually wanted - to use the Nakatsukasa Purpose/fey blade mode. Typically for him, it took Kid beating him into the ground for the 'assassin' to see sense. In an uncharacteristic moment of reflection, Black Star acknowledges this when Spartoi set out to rescue the shinigami. Followed up on when he rescues Kid - the importance of the meister/Weapon relationship emphasized by the one who, [[CharacterDevelopment originally]], was least able to recognise it. Unfortunately, the relevance to Kid falls flat given that the majority of the arc has him separated from Liz and Patti, and that the end of the storyline involves not the trio but Kid and Black Star.
** While it takes him a while to recognise it, this has a lot to do with why [[MadScientist Stein]] didn't go completely [[TheCorruption mad]]. Stein ultimately tells [[MoralityChain Spirit]] that he, [[MoralityChain Marie]] and the [[TeamDad students]] are the reason why he's [[HeroicWillpower not]] about to give up.
** A big difference between the conclusions of the anime and the manga. The anime ends with Maka's 'punch of courage' that fitted the series themes from one angle. The manga goes for the broader, Power of Friendship approach by having Soul's [[MusicalAssassin 'musical']] skill invoke the power/courage/support of ''all'' the True Companions to allow [[spoiler: him and Maka to reach Crona within Asura's soul. Then Soul leaves a spot for Crona's 'note' to add to the tune.]]
* ''Anime/{{Tamagotchi}}'' already has friendship as a major theme near the beginning, but starting from Season 5 it becomes the source of a StoryArc where the Tama-Friends create and collect Tama-Hearts that form from their acts of true friendship and love. At the end of Season 6, the Tama-Hearts become integral in [[spoiler:saving everyone on Tamagotchi Planet, including the planet itself, from morphing into eggs devoid of any unique personality traits]].
* ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' demonstrates that with friends as [[HotBlooded determined as you]] to ScrewDestiny, anyone can destroy a force rivaling divinity...with a [[HumongousMecha machine as big as a galaxy.]]
** The Power of Friendship is also part of what is necessary for Gattai to work, although it is primarily Fighting Spirit. But then, as the great Kamina says, "a true combination isn't the combination of mecha. It's when the spirits of great men unite and become one! THAT'S A TRUE COMBINATION!"
* ''Anime/TigerAndBunny.'' Kotetsu tries to [[spoiler: cure Barnaby's amnesia]] with the power of friendship, begging him to remember what a good team they are. It's the EmbarrassingNickname that does the trick, but only true friends can tease each other.
* ''Manga/TisTimeForTorturePrincess'' features a villainous example; some of the "tortures" used by the Hell-Horde involve exploiting the FriendlessBackground of the eponymous [[WarriorPrince Princess]] by offering her the chance to play and hang out with her [[FriendlyEnemy "torturers"]], especially TricksterTwins Enki and Youki.
* In ''Manga/TokyoMewMew'', Ichigo's Power of Friendship with [[RobotBuddy Masha]] ups her Ribbon Stawberry Check to Ribbon Strawberry Surprise. More kickass sparkles, anyone?
* Wonderfully parodied along with many other {{Shounen}} tropes in the ''[[AllJustADream first episode]]'' of ''Anime/TheTowerOfDruaga'', where a [[OneWingedAngel Final Form]] Jil has been beaten by the Dark God Druaga... when the voice of a Goddess speaks in his ear, and ''every character shown so far, including the villains'' show up in spirit form to give support, including the RedShirt who died early on of Retirony. Sadly, our hero cannot remember his name, despite remembering the correct names of all the enemies and bit persons he has encountered on his travels.
* This is a major theme of the [[AMechByAnyOtherName Headmasters and Powermasters]] in ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}''. In the American continuity, the Transformers and his/her organic pilot must cooperate extremely closely in order to be an effective fighting unit. ''Anime/TransformersHeadmasters'' has a technique called Head Formation, which allows the Autobot Headmasters to share energy between themselves and power up. The first time it is used, the {{narrator}} helpfully notes that we're seeing the power of friendship in action. They can use 'the power of friendship' to fire a great big DEATH RAY.
* The greatest strength of Eita Touga's army in ''Manga/TwelveBeast'' is their impeccable coordination, complementing each others' strengths, and covering for the others' weaknesses. He also states that he "fights for his friends," and it's implied that his soldiers are so loyal to him because of honour or a sense of personal debt.
** Which helps, because Eita probably couldn't pay them the [[PerpetualPoverty going rate of any sensible mercenary as capable as his troops.]]
* The central plot of ''Manga/TwentiethCenturyBoys'' is more or less based on this trope.
* ''Manga/{{Unico}}'' is an almost literal example; it seems he can only use his magical powers to help out those he considers his friends. In ''Anime/TheFantasticAdventuresOfUnico'' when Unico turns Katy back to a cat, he can't turn her into a human again because he's mad at her for ditching the old lady she was helping out and generally being selfish.
* ''Anime/{{Vandread}}'' pits [[HumongousMecha giant killer robots from space]] against the Power of Friendship. You do the math. [[spoiler:It did help that the [[TrueCompanions friends]] included a SufficientlyAdvancedAlien]].
--> '''Jil''': Fatina! Neeba! Kalli! And... I can't remember his name, but he's definitely one of my friends!\\
'''Utu''': It's Utu!
* ''Anime/YesPrecure5'': Inverted when Rin and Karen were forced to work together to save the others. They were particularly effective because they ''really'' rubbed each other the wrong way, and neither one of them wanted to get shown up by the other. Speaking of the power of RomanticTwoGirlFriendship, that's how you "turn on" a ''Anime/{{Simoun}}''.
* The central theme of the ''Franchise/YuGiOh'' franchise (whose two main characters in [[Manga/YuGiOh the original series]] are [[MeaningfulName named after]] [[ShoehornedFirstLetter the word for "friendship"]]). Let's count off what friendship can do: magically solve an extremely difficult puzzle, restore HP in a live-action fighting game, repel mystical mind-reading artifacts, magically write a name none of the characters remember, fuse dragons together, keep your soul from getting stolen by a magic circle, and summon an Egyptian God.
** In fact, WordOfGod claims that this theme was originally supposed to be even more important than the card game that is used so much in the series. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out quite the way they planned it...
** Used rather amusingly in the Japanese version of Yusei's duel against Taro. Yusei uses a card effect to power up a monster to attack for the win, and Taro claims that the effect shouldn't work because Taro's monster negates monster effects, prompting Yusei to give a long-winded friendship speech about how it works because 'the power came from his friends' and 'the power of the bond of friendship can never be negated!' Actually it's just because the win effect was from a trap card, not a monster effect.
** Tea/Anzu displayed this so much (at one point even saying "the power of friendship") that it became a running gag in the [[WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries Abridged Series]]. Tea managed to brainwash Johnny Steps by delivering him the "biggest friendship speech of her life" (which went on for several hours) and later, Joey recovered from being ''struck by lightning'' because of friendship.
** Even when some of the spin-off series [[DeconstructedTrope deconstruct]] it, there will also be a {{Reconstruction}} featuring a tamed-down version where friendship has no magical powers, but [[TruthInTelevision a character having at least one person they can count on is important for them to understand that]] YouAreNotAlone [[TruthInTelevision and good friends provide each other with emotional support]]. Characters without friends generally aren't any weaker for it, [[LonersAreFreaks but they are less stable and emotionally healthy]].
* Happily defied by [[TheProtagonist Yuuji]] [[LonersAreFreaks Yugami]] in ''Manga/YugamiKunNiWaTomodachiGaInai.'' He neither wants nor needs friends and prides himself on being extremely [[IWorkAlone self-sufficient]]. Being TheAce of the baseball team, his [[SempaiKohai upperclassmen and underclassmen]] either find him a pain to deal with or are bossed around by him. Then there are Yugami's classmates, who ignore him after a few arguments (not that he cares). It's not until [[NiceGirl Chihiro]] [[IJustWantToHaveFriends Watanuki]] [[NewTransferStudent transfers]] into the class that it feels like someone is ''actually'' communicating with Yugami. Don't misunderstand, however, because Yugami and Chihiro will both [[FriendshipDenial deny being friends]].
* ''Manga/ZatchBell'' emphasizes this extremely strongly. Not only the good guys generally get stronger and find NewPowersAsThePlotDemands in themselves through desire to protect their friends, not only friendship serves as the main driving force for most of them, in the end of the manga [[spoiler: Power Of Friendship becomes the DeusExMachina that saves both worlds from the nearly unbeatable BigBad.]]
* In ''Anime/DotHackSign'', [[spoiler: Tsukasa is finally able to log out thanks only to the pushing, pulling, and eventual bonding of his/her in-game friends.]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* In ''ComicBook/{{Exiles}}'', when the Exiles are being curbstomped by King Hyperion in the Crystal Palace, Beak's appearance prompts Hyperion to mock him for not running because he wouldn't have tried to follow, and Beak responded by openly admitting how weak he was, saying his only power was being good at making friends. At which point two heroic Hyperions made their appearance.
* As for the ComicBook/FantasticFour themselves, this trope is the reason why, despite the fact that individually none of them are anywhere near the most powerful end of the spectrum of superheroes, ''they'' are the ones who everyone calls when faced with huge, world-destroying cosmic threats.
* In ''JLA/Titans: The Technis Imperative'', Cyborg/Victor Stone (who has become confused and crazy and turned into a giant machine who tries to eat the moon) gets talked down by Garfield Logan, his best friend, who tells him repeatedly that [[IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight they're still friends and he isn't buying the idea that Vic doesn't care about that.]] Incidentally, it's a shock of familiar friendship behavior that actually grabs Vic's attention: after several other Titans try reasoned pleas, Gar erupts with an irritated "Hey Rustbucket! ''Let go of the frickin' moon already!!''" before launching into his long list of explanations of why Vic's actions mean he is a colossal dumbass.
* Invoked a few times in ''ComicBook/NewAvengers'', overriding a number of ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies objections.
* ComicBook/{{Nightwing}}'s greatest weapon. Sure, natural acrobatics and Batman-trained skills in combat and sleuthing are nothing to sneeze at, but no other hero in the Franchise/DCUniverse boasts the sheer number of allies Nightwing has. Hell, the guy has had his ''villains'' team up with him against bigger or badder foes. Why? Basically because he asked nicely.
* ''ComicBook/RedRobin'': While Tim is never as easy going and widely liked as his older brother mentioned above his friendships and willingness to give other crimefighters Batman doesn't care for a chance give him a lot of friendly allies to call on when he needs a hand and is specifically pointed out by Jason in his narration as he wonders if he'd have turned out differently if he'd had a group of loyal friends like Tim his life would have turned out differently.
* While ComicBook/SpiderMan started out as a loner, he's become friends with a great deal of Marvel's other heroes (and even some of the less pleasant types like Loki and Deadpool are on good terms with the wallcrawler), especially the Comicbook/FantasticFour, who treat him like family, and he's been part of several incarnations of Franchise/TheAvengers, and as Peter Parker he has a big group of {{Muggle}} friends who he can count on. When Spidey's in trouble, a large portion of the Marvel Universe has his back. Thus, whenever Spidey disappears for long periods of time or acts incredibly off, people start questioning.
* The [[ComicBook/TeenTitans Titans]] and Comicbook/YoungJustice are all over this trope. They aren't the equals to the JLA or JSA in sheer power. It's their ability to work as a ''team'' and the fact that you mess with one, and expect ''any and all past and present members'' to show up looking to kick your butt that makes them frightening.
* ''Tintin in Tibet'' is a great example of this, both with regards to the ''ComicBook/{{Tintin}}'' going on an apparently insane quest to rescue his friend Chang as well as with Captain Haddock sticking with Tintin through ever more hazardous situations despite his misgivings about mountaineering and believing that there is no chance that Chang survived the airplane crash.
* In ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'', the Power of Friendship is apparently the only thing that can counter Rorschach's KnightTemplar attitude about everything. The only time we see him display a more-or-less human reaction (outside of flashbacks) is when Daniel bursts out and spells it out for him just how difficult exactly "being his friend" is.
* ''[[ComicBook/{{WITCH}} W.I.T.C.H.]]'' also relies on this: its tagline is "The Magic of Friendship". The heroines occasionally split up to tackle a problem, and don't always suffer for it, but are explicitly weakened when one of them actually quits.
* ''ComicBook/WorldWarHulk'' has a subversion. Several of Banner/Hulk's friends try to appeal to their history, their friendship, or his better nature. [[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption It never works]] because Hulk's own TrueCompanions contain the traitor who caused the problem for which he blames the Earth heroes.

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* Easily the strongest theme of ''FanFic/AdventCrossoverCrisis'' is how the heroes, combining their skills and willing to [[HeroicSacrifice put others ahead of themselves]], can best even the most powerful villains, who in turn have difficulty [[EvilCannotComprehendGood grasping this]].
* ''Fanfic/AdviceAndTrust'':
** The only reason Shinji and Asuka were able to [[spoiler: perform a joint synchronization with Unit-03 was because they were friends with Hikari and she had been absorbed during the previous angel attack. Said friendship also managed to get her out of the Eva when the battle was over.]]
** In a more mundane example, Rei found in her research that emotional support from friends and family is highly important when dealing with the psychological withdrawal symptoms of the drugs that Doctor Akagi had put her on. And since the only "family" she has is Gendo (the same person who had Ritsuko give her the drugs in the first place), she understandably asks Shinji and Asuka for help instead. [[spoiler: Her second detox, on the other hand, falls more under ThePowerOfLove.]]
* One of the central themes of ''[[Fanfic/{{Bird}} Bird]]'' is that people are more than their flaws. Taylor's perspective always hints at more under the surface, beyond any violent outbursts, or inability to talk. Her willingness to look past sometimes glaring difficulties and cultivate the good she sees is what gathers her the TrueCompanions her friends all become.
* ''Fanfic/TheBoltChronicles'': An important recurring theme in these stories, with several examples.
** In "The Seven," Bolt and his six puppy friends work as a team to survive their abandonment in a puppy mill and get adopted to loving homes.
** In "The Survivor," Mittens's friendship with Petey and his circle of pals allows her to survive many of the worst excesses of her abusive owners.
** Bolt, Mittens, and Rhino cement their friendship in the post-canon stories of this series, beginning with "The Blood Brother." It enhances their quality of life immensely and leads to Bolt and Mittens becoming a successful romantic couple.
** Bolt and Penny's continuation of their close master-and-dog bond in post-canon (shown most clearly in "The Walk," "The Imaginary Letters," and "The Car") contributes directly to their happiness. It allows Penny to cope with school and life challenges, helps them enjoy a long book signing tour, and results in Bolt finding the girl's soulmate.
* ''Fanfic/TheBridge'' naturally has this with the Equestrian side, where bonds like friendship and it's close cousin ThePowerOfLove can grant someone a massive boost in magical potential. But as long as the feelings and bonds are genuine, anyone, even non-native Equestrians in an Equestrian realm such as Equestria proper or the Equestria Girls realm can experience it. [[spoiler: ''Gigan'' manages to unknowingly tap into it when he throws everything he has at a rampaging Kaizer Ghidorah for the sake of his [[VillainousFriendship teammates]].]]
* ''AudioPlay/DoctorWhoovesAdventures'', being at its core ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' FanFiction. [[spoiler: One example includes a pony befriending the TARDIS and ''asking her to save the day'']]. Which she does.
* ''FanFic/DoctorWhoovesTheSeries'', a CrossOver of ''Series/DoctorWho'' and ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' treats Power of Friendship as MagicAIsMagicA - friendship ever powers the TARDIS in the equine universe!
* This, along with ThePowerOfLove, is what drives the good guys in the ''FanFic/ElementalChessTrilogy'', and is the reason that several characters survive what happens to them.
* Subverted in ''FanFic/EquestriaAHistoryRevealed''. You would think that an essay detailing the past of Equestrian history would have a large focus on friendship, but it seems as though the LemonyNarrator doesn't believe this at all, and actually takes the real world's message of the show as a part of [[TheConspiracy Celestia's "pro-friendship agenda"]]. This is problematic as most of the major conflicts in the show are solved by friendship. But she finds [[InsaneTrollLogic another way to interpret this instead]].
* ''FanFic/FallenKing'' examines and ultimately deconstructs this. While their friendship sustains them and helps them to never give up, Joey realizes that the villains can and will use it as a weapon, and ultimately decides that [[spoiler: he, Tristan, and Tea must ''stop'' being friends to save the world]].
* ''Fanfic/FalloutEquestria'': As a ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' fic, of course this comes up. Littlepip is an ActionSurvivor, but her real power is gaining even more powerful friends who help her. The Watcher also mentions that the failure of this was why the apocalypse happened. Luna tapped the Mane Six to help save Equestria, believing they could do anything together. And they could... but managing an entire country during a war required them to be ''separate'', which caused their flaws to magnify. Instead of working together, they just created more and more problems until everything fell apart.
* In ''FanFic/TheFifthAct'', Cloud unintentionally invokes this. Due to his [[PeggySue arrival]], he reaches out to help Genesis get cured of his horrible illness, acts as a rival for Sephiroth and as a mentor to Zack and Kunsel. This causes the Soldiers to become closer friends and prevent them from falling to the spiral of despair, death and madness most of them went through in canon.
* In the ''Webcomic/AxisPowersHetalia'' fanfic ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11886910/1/Gankona-Unnachgiebig-Unità Gankona, Unnachgiebig, Unità]]'', it was this that caused Germany and Japan to be so close to Italy in the first place and [[spoiler:want to fight over him as their feelings of friendship evolved into feelings of love.]]
* [[TrueCompanions The Warblers]] in ''FanFic/HuntingTheUnicorn'' are the main source of heartwarming, comedy, and [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs heartwarming comedy]] in an otherwise [[TearJerker soul-crushing]] {{Deconstruction}} about Kurt and Blaine.
* Without this, ''Fanfic/KyonBigDamnHero'' would likely be far less upbeat. [[spoiler: For a start, Tsuruya would likely be dead. Or illegally shipped to another country as a slave.]]
* A major facet of Taylor's powerset in ''FanFic/{{Liaison}}'' is building strong relationships between people, especially others and herself. The stronger her relationships, the less effort required for her power-buffing and debuffing.
* Used realistically yet to a devastating effect against ''Superman'' in ''Fanfic/LoxareHinder'' when he managed to corner [[AntiVillain Red Hood]], since the Hood goes out of his way to help kids and be nice to them. Consequences? A kiddie mob yelling at Superman he's a big bully who hurt their resident hero.
* {{Averted|Trope}} in ''Fanfic/MyBravePonyStarfleetMagic''. The [[Creator/DakariKingMykan author]] is not afraid to proclaim how much he hates the very idea of it.
** Doesn't stop him from having the main character's friendships be the only reason why he doesn't get his butt kicked by every MonsterOfTheWeek (although this is probably unintentional).
* ZigZaggedTrope again in ''FanFic/APikachuInLove''. Pikachu spends most of the fic questioning just how strong his bond with Ash really is, how long it would ''honestly'' last, and does consider leaving him at a few points to stay with Pichi, who he could have a full relationship with due to both of them being Pokemon. [[spoiler: Gets Reconstructed in that Pikachu eventually realizes just how much Ash and Co. really love him, and feels ashamed of himself for thinking Ash would forget about and leave him behind one day. It then gets deconstructed again in that it's his friendship with them that forces him to leave Pichi for a final time, and just after she had confessed her love for him in hopes he would stay with her...]]
* Done in a purely symbolic way in ''Power Rangers GPX''. By the penultimate chapter in Part 1, four of the Rangers have become a tight [[TrueCompanions friends]] even after [[spoiler: one Ranger split from the team. Actually, make that two, since he dragged his younger sister with him. Anyway, with said symbolic power, they were able to defeat the enemy general.]]
* In the ''[[Literature/TheHungerGames Hunger Games]]'' fanfiction ''Fanfic/SomeSemblanceOfMeaning'', this is how [[TheProtagonist Vale]] [[NiceGirl Whitaker]] makes it so far in her Games. She isn't a strong fighter by any means, nor is she at all ruthless, and she survives mainly by making friends instead of war. She has a lengthy list of allies--Kit, [[spoiler: [[BrotherSisterTeam Fen and Lark]], Phlox (though she quickly makes a FaceHeelTurn), and eventually [[PrivilegedRival Obsi]][[StarCrossedLovers dian]] ]]--and when she [[spoiler: [[TheHeroDies does die in the final confrontation]] ]], it is because she is [[spoiler: defying the Capitol]], not due to any betrayal. Both she and [[spoiler: Obsidian]] comment over the course of the story about how it's more important to stand for something and to forge bonds than it is to win by plowing through everyone in your way.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'' fanfic, ''Fanfic/TotalDramaGenesis'', Melissa provides an exaggerated example during the Virtual Reality challenge. In this fantasy role playing game, she can’t bring herself to fight any of the AlwaysChaoticEvil monsters she encounters, instead [[TalkingIsAFreeAction talking to them]] (aided by the game using TurnBasedCombat), befriending them and providing them with her signature baked goods. As a result, she’s still only Level 1 at the final battle, but quickly raises a formidable army merely by calling on her new friends.
* The heart of the ''Fanfic/TwiceUponAnAge'' series is the friendship between the Lord and Lady Inquisitor, supplemented by their friendships with the rest of the cast.
* ''WebVideo/UltraFastPony'' takes a middle-of-the-road approach to this one. On the one hand, it acknowledges how great it to have someone you can trust to be on your side in a fight. (Even if the friendship is very dysfunctional.) On the other hand, the series loves to mock the idea that friendship is a literal, supernatural power.
-->'''Apple Bloom:''' Well, isn't friendship magic?\\
'''Applejack:''' I don't know. Do ''you'' have friends?\\
'''Apple Bloom:''' Yeah...\\
'''Applejack:''' Are ''you'' magic?\\
'''Apple Bloom:''' No...\\
'''Applejack:''' Well, there you go then!
* ''Fanfic/WeasleyGirl'' is ''all'' over this trope, even though Ronnie mocks it a little in the first story.
-->'''Ronnie:''' That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!\\
'''Hermione:''' ''Ronnie!''\\
'''Ronnie:''' C'mon, Hermione, even you have to admit how completely ''pants'' it sounds! You-Know-Who couldn't touch Harry because we're ''friends?!'' Because we just ''love'' each other that much?\\
'''Dumbledore:''' Love is a very powerful force. It goes beyond any magic, and far beyond Voldemort's comprehension. You see, Voldemort loves and trusts no-one but himself. If he had known the true meaning of love, of sacrifice, he would not have been the Dark Lord he is.\\
'''Ronnie:''' Great, just great. So the next time we meet a Dark Lord we should just start ''snogging.''
* In ''Fanfic/WithStringsAttached'', the obvious love the four have for one another, despite their frequent quarrels and cranky moods, impresses the Hunter far more than any of their magic. After all, he's no stranger to power, but he doesn't have a single friend in the world. Ultimately, he is won over by this quality.
* The only reason Sailor Jupiter is able to defy history and transform through sheer force of will in ''Sailor Moon: Legends of Lightstorm''.
* In ''FanFic/WithThisRing'', this is Paragon!Orange Lantern's biggest strength. While he's a new superhero, he makes friends with mostly everyone he meets. This makes the Team more cooperative and cohesive than canon and unable to be torn apart by rumors of a mole. Orange Lantern is able to call many other heroes when he's in trouble due them wanting to lend a hand.
* ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'':
** Given its prevalence in the original show, this trope is spoofed every which way.
--->'''Yugi:''' Losing a children's card game has caused me to have an existential crisis!\\
'''Tea:''' I have prepared a friendship speech for such an occasion!\\
'''Yugi:''' [=NevermindI'mallbetternow.=]\\
'''Tea:''' ''[to a doctor]'' Go back to your leeches and your potions! Friendship is the only cure!
** One episode even had a drinking game for how many times friendship was mentioned. Though it also happens to be the one where Yugi and Joey have to duel each other to the death.
--->'''Yugi:''' I just wanted you to know how important your friendship is to me, Joey. It means even more to me than card games.

[[folder:Films — Animation]]
* Rhino the Hamster from Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{Bolt}}'' completely believes in this trope.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheCareBearsMovie'' actually has the CareBearStare fail at the end, while simply telling people about true friendship works.
* ''Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren'' : Cloud is chastised by Tifa for being an angsty loner. When he finally lightens up, his friends show up en mass to save the day with a spectacular and very symbolic action set piece.
* ''WesternAnimation/KronksNewGroove'': After spending the whole movie worrying about disappointing his father and not being a success, he realizes that the most important thing to him are the friends that he has.
* In ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Madeline}} Madeline: Lost in Paris]]'', "[[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic Togetherness Will Set Us Free]]" is built on this trope, with Madeline encouraging her new friends inside the sweetshop they are imprisoned in to work together for their freedom. This later leads to the girls to work together [[spoiler: to take out the BigBad and her [[{{TheDragon}} dragon]], with the help of Madeline's friends from the Old House in Paris]].
* Even in the spin-off feature film ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls'', [[spoiler:despite being in a human world, the same friendships Twilight developed in Equestria work here to magically defeat the demonic form of Sunset Shimmer.]]

[[folder:Films — Live-Action]]
* ''Film/DeepBlueSea'': lampshaded when Creator/SamuelLJackson gives a big speech about the Power of Teamwork, just before [[spoiler: being unceremoniously eaten by a shark.]]
* At the end of ''Film/ItsAWonderfulLife'', George Bailey ends up being saved by one of the more mundane versions of this trope: after he was falsely accused of stealing some money placed in his care that is now missing, all the people he's helped over the years come together and give him enough cash to replace the money that was stolen.
* ''Film/TheKingsSpeech'' focuses on the friendship between King George VI and his speech therapist and how it helped the former grow into a strong leader.
* In ''Film/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen,'' the group is ready to give up after one of the members betrays the group and they're almost killed. Tom Sawyer makes a dandy little speech about team unity and how they can win this fight because they have each other. Suddenly, and from that point on, everyone is [=BFFs=] and ready to fight.
** Thankfully, most of that scene was cut, indicating that the production team decided that giving any more screen time to an already insufferable [[TheScrappy token American character]] was a bad idea.
* Sam and Frodo's friendship in ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' can be summarised in eleven simple words: "I can't carry it for You, but I can carry You".
* A big theme of the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:
** Played with in ''Film/IronMan2''. [[spoiler:When Rhodes takes the Mk II, his BeamOWar with Tony produces a powerful blast, which is needed in the climax to defeat Whiplash after Rhodey makes up with Tony.]]
** ''Film/TheAvengers2012'': Tony Stark's kindness towards and acceptance of Bruce Banner/The Hulk, refusing to treat him like a ticking time bomb the way everyone else is, has drastic consequences later on, as not only does his insistence that the Hulk can be used for good get through to Bruce, [[ChangedMyMindKid who decides to come back to help during the final battle]], but the Hulk ''remembers'' Tony and winds up saving his life.
** ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'' has the [[IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight climactic fight]] between Steve and [[spoiler:ComicBook/{{Bucky| Barnes}}, the titular {{brainwashed| and crazy}} soldier. After the lives of 20 million people are no longer at stake, Steve drops his shield out of the Helicarrier and refuses to fight his best friend, which results in Bucky more-or-less overcoming his programming and saving Steve from certain death after he falls into the Potomac.]]
-->'''Steve:''' I'm not going to fight you. You're my friend.
-->'''[[spoiler:Bucky]]:''' You're my mission. [[PunctuatedPounding YOU'RE! MY! MISSION!]]
-->'''Steve:''' Then finish it, 'cause [[MeaningfulEcho I'm with you to the end of the line.]]
** The climax of ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'', as fitting for a space fantasy movie, features the power of friendship ''weaponized''. [[spoiler:When Peter manages to snatch the Infinity Stone away from the BigBad Ronan, the power bursting from it threatens to kill him. However, he's saved when his teammates, recalling a memory of several beings attempting to share its power, take each other's hands to divide the immense load. Thus the four (and a half) of them together are able to wield the Infinity Stone, letting them use its power to obliterate Ronan.]]
-->'''Ronan''': [[ThisCannotBe You're mortal! How?!]]
-->'''Peter''': You said it yourself, bitch. We're the Guardians of the Galaxy.
* ''Film/PacificRim'': Because [[{{Synchronization}} Drifting]] to pilot a Jaeger requires two people to be mentally linked so closely they'll be seeing each other's memories, they have to get along really well with no secrets; most pilot teams thus appear to involve close family or {{Battle Couple}}s.
* In the movie ''Film/ScottPilgrimVsTheWorld'', when Scott finally battles the BigBad [[spoiler:Gideon]], his only chance to win is when his friend Knives steps in and battles alongside him.
* There is probably no more powerful example than ''Film/TheShawshankRedemption''.
* ''Film/SmokeyAndTheBandit'' is all about this trope. Not only do Bandit and Snowman succeed by working with one another, but also by relying on assistance from all their CB radio friends.
* ''Franchise/StarTrek'':
** In ''Film/StarTrek2009'', Spock Prime cites this trope as the reason why Kirk and Spock ''must'' learn to work together; it is the only way the ''Enterprise'' can defeat Nero.
** In ''Film/StarTrekTheMotionPicture'', when Spock tells Kirk what he learned from mind-melding with V'Ger:
--->'''Spock:''' I saw V'Ger's planet, a planet populated by living machines. Unbelievable technology. V'Ger has knowledge that spans this universe. And, yet with all this pure logic, ...V'Ger is barren, cold, no mystery, no beauty. I should have known.\\
'''Kirk:''' Known? Known what? ...Spock, what should you have known?\\
'''Spock:''' ''[holds Kirk's hand]'' This simple feeling... is beyond V'Ger's comprehension. No meaning, no hope, and, Jim, no answers.
* ''Film/{{Spectre}}'': This is what enables Film/JamesBond to defeat the BigBad. [[spoiler:While Ernst Stavro Blofeld may have toadies that are kept in line with fear, 007 is always surrounded by close friends and TrueCompanions such as M, Q, Tanner and Moneypenny who are willing to help him even in dire situations.]]
* ''[[Film/ReturnOfTheJedi Star Wars: Return of the Jedi]]'': The Emperor thinks Luke is a fool for trusting his friends to destroy the greatest superweapon ever built. We all know how that turned out.
-->'''Luke Skywalker:''' Your overconfidence is your weakness.\\
'''Emperor Palpatine:''' Your faith in your friends is yours.

[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' plays with this a lot but ultimately plays it straight. While some books seem to imply that the group's close interpersonal relationships cause conflict and makes them less effective as guerrillas, the overall message is that the group's loyalty gives them the advantage over the uncaring Yeerks.
* The backbone of ''Literature/AvalonWebOfMagic'', and stated outright by the author many times. No main character ever accomplishes anything without her friends backing her up.
* ''Literature/BattleRoyale'' where Shuya and Noriko feel that the power of friendship will get them through the program. Shogo disagrees and is proved right when [[spoiler: the rest of their classmates betray each other and play to win (and the ones that don't end up getting killed anyway). In fact in the end Shogo pretends to betray them (I'm sure more than one person thought he really did) in order to get the three of them out.]]
* In Creator/DanAbnett's TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} novel ''Literature/BrothersOfTheSnake'', the Space Marines in Damocles squad confess to Priad, their leader, that they have all pulled off [[YouthIsWastedOnTheDumb a forbidden stunt]]: diving into a sea trench. Although they knew he would feel disgraced by it, they hoped he would not risk his life at it. (It doesn't work.)
* Seen throughout Creator/LloydAlexander's ''Literature/ChroniclesOfPrydain''. "The companions," as Taran's friends are known, help him and each other repeatedly. It's particularly a theme in the third book of the series, ''The Castle of Llyr,'' in which they discover that Princess Eilonwy's magic trinket becomes more powerful when the holder thinks more of others than of themselves.
* While this trope is present in almost all of Creator/TamoraPierce's works, it's particularly notable in the ''Literature/CircleOfMagic'' series. Four children, from the most different backgrounds possible (a kind and caring noble-girl, a frumpy and snarky merchant daughter, an outcast trader girl and an egotistical street rat) become best friends and foster siblings, whose minds become mentally linked. On their own, they're formidable mages. Together? ''Run''.
* In the ''Literature/CodexAlera'' series, the BigBad [[spoiler:the Vord Queen]] calmly remarks to the hero that "Your bonds strengthen you. My daughter... will never understand that."
* In N. R. Eccles-Smith's HighFantasy series, ''Literature/{{DragonCalling}}'' This is a very strong theme throughout the series. Especially prevalent between the main cast; in essence, it’s the permeating element that brings success (or hope, during moments of failure) to all the endeavours undertaken by [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Laeka’Draeon]] and his companions.
* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' novels, a big running theme is, as powerful a wizard as Harry Dresden is, he is only able to defeat the bad guys (who are FAR more powerful than him) with the help of his friends.
** More literally, Harry's friendship with Michael allows him to indirectly call on the power behind the Knights of the Cross on several occasions.
** And direct association with people you feel strong positive emotions toward can render white court vampires incapable of touching or using their powers on you.
* During ''Literature/DrFranklinsIsland'' Miranda [[InvoluntaryTransformation becomes a bird]] and [[TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody gradually seems to lose her human mind]]. Her friend being in danger seems to pull her back, a little. Certainly for most of the book the friendship between Miranda and Semi is a great comfort to them both, and helps them in some very dark times.
* A recurring theme in the ''Literature/TheElenium'' trilogy by Creator/DavidEddings is that Sparhawk wouldn't manage to survive the epic quest he must undertake without the help of his best friend from childhood, his squire, his tutor, and the other knights who join them on the adventure. Sparhawk is TheChosenOne, but his friends are what enable him to achieve his destiny.
* In the ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' prequel novels, ''LightNovel/FateZero'', the servant Rider, who actually happens to be Alexander the Great, has actually weaponized the power of friendship with his Noble Phantasm, Ionian Hetairoi. Because of the tremendous bond of loyalty and friendship between him and his soldiers, they are actually able to answer his call, breaking the laws of time and space to recreate the land they once marched over and fight alongside him once again.
* In the Literature/GauntsGhosts novel ''Sabbat Martyr'', this is what saves [[spoiler: Rawne from being converted by Chaos.]]
* In Creator/VictoriaForester's ''Literature/TheGirlWhoCouldFly'', actually making friends makes Piper delighted with the institute.
* A very deep quote from [[Film/TheGodfather Don Vito]]
--> '''Vito Corleone''': Friendship is everything. Friendship is more than talent. It is more than government. It is almost the equal of family. Never forget that.
* In ''E. Aster Bunnymund and the Warrior Eggs at the Earth's Core!'', Book 2 of ''Literature/TheGuardiansOfChildhood'', it is said in the ending that the power of freindship is magical indeed and that they had done what good friends should do: save one another.
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
** A significant theme throughout the entire series; WordOfGod has even stated that Harry, Ron, and Hermione's bond is the chief reason for Harry's success and continued survival, and that they are a case of the whole being more than the sum of its parts.
** This is exemplified in every book: 1st book, Hermione's intellect and Ron's prowess with chess allow Harry to reach the last chamber of the gauntlet; 2nd book, Ron goes into the Forbidden Forest which he knows has spiders, [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes which he has a phobia about]] -- out of his loyalty to Harry and Hermione; 3rd book, Ron and Hermione put themselves between Harry and Sirius, telling him that he'll have to pass through them if he wants to reach Harry; 5th book, when Harry believes Sirius is at the Ministry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville and Luna go with their friend despite Harry repeteadly telling them to stay at Hogwarts; 6th book, Ron and Hermione state that they are going to go with Harry on his Horcrux-searching quest, no matter what; and 7th book, Ron and Hermione stay with Harry for a lot of time -- even Ron's leaving is useful as it allows him to gain information about what's going on everywhere else -- and each of them manages to destroy one Horcrux.
*** Also from the third book onwards whenever Harry needs to create a Patronus he uses thoughts of his friends or loved ones.
* In Ben Counter's TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} Literature/HorusHeresy novel ''Galaxy In Flames'', when Tarvitz is [[spoiler:trying to warn the betrayed Marines on Isstavan III]], he invokes the Power of Friendship to get Garro to [[IGaveMyWord believe his word]], because of their {{Fire Forged Friends}}hip.
-->'''Tarvitz:''' As my honor brother I ask you to trust me like you have never trusted me before. [[IGaveMyWord On my life I swear]] that I do not lie to you, Nathaniel.
* At the end of ''Iron Dawn'', Barra points out to the captive BigBad that he lost out because he only had slaves on his side, whereas she had friends to back her up.
* In Creator/EdgarRiceBurroughs's ''[[Literature/JohnCarterOfMars A Princess of Mars]]'', what Tars Tarkas learns from John Carter.
-->'''Tars:''' I would scarcely recognize you, John Carter, but there is no other mortal upon Barsoom who would have done what you have for me. I think I have learned that there is such a thing as friendship, my friend.
* [[Literature/TheJungleBook The Law of the Jungle:]]
--> Now is the Law of the Jungle -- as old and as true as the sky;\\
And the wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the wolf that shall break it must die.\\
As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk, the Law runneth forward and back --\\
For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack.''
* In the first ''Literature/TheKingdomKeepers'' book, [[FiveManBand the DHIs]] invoke this on the [[Ride/DisneyThemeParks "its a small world"]] ride. [[spoiler: They smile at the Audio-Animatronics, which stop attacking them and return to their posts]].
* ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'':
** The series emphasizes this trope, particularly with the friendship between Sam and Frodo. Frodo would not have been able to make it through Mordor without Sam's help.
** The Fellowship itself is really all about this trope. Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli running for days with very little food and rest to try and save Pippin and Merry from death and torture is one of the strongest examples.
** A non-fellowship example is Merry [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu attacking the effin Witch King]] to help Éowyn.
** Also, Gandalf's friendship and concern is what ultimately helps Bilbo give up the Ring of his own free will at the beginning of the story.
* A darker and more cynical version occurs in ''Literature/TheMentalState''. Zack, the central character, attempts to protect himself in prison by playing the perfect friend to the other inmates and winning their trust. His good deeds and attempts to improve their quality of life win him a great deal of support and earn him a large number of allies to protect him against his enemies.
* Mildly justified in the climactic fight of ''Of Two Minds''. The two main characters are fighting [[spoiler:an older, more experienced, [[FutureMeScaresMe eviller]] version of one of them]], and their ''only'' advantage is that it's two against one.
* In Rick Riordan's ''[[Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians The Last Olympian]]'', why the Ares's cabin campers followed [[spoiler:Sirena; they didn't guess it wasn't Clarisse because they wanted to go fight next to their friends.]]
* Invoked, played for drama, and deconstructed in ''Literature/{{Pharmakembru}}''.
* A large part of ''Literature/PrincessHolyAura'' is about five very different girls from different backgrounds becoming friends and becoming better people due to that.
* From ''Literature/SkulduggeryPleasant: Death Bringer'':
** According to Ghastly Bespoke, this is the main reason the good guys won the war against [[EvilOverlord Mevolent]].
--> "No, the reason we won was friendships like that. [...] Mevolent's lot? They wanted to bring the [[EldritchAbomination Faceless Ones]] back, but the main thing was that they wanted to ''be'' there when it happened. [...] So there were no sacrifices to save their friends, none of that. And that's one of the reasons they lost. It got to the point where they couldn't trust each other, because it was all about personal survival. Whereas with us... we were fighting, and dying, for each other."
* In the ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' [[Literature/StarTrekVoyagerRelaunch relaunch]] novel ''Acts of Contrition'', Tom Paris is forced into a custody battle for his and B'elanna's daughter, Miral, as well as their unborn child, with his mother, Julia. When it comes time for the presentation of character witnesses for him, the first is the husband of Samantha Wildman (a relatively minor character on the series, who was not there because she was sent away by Paris on an important mission.) The second is the Vulcan Lieutenant Vorik, whom Paris never expected to speak on his behalf, especially since they had had words earlier in the book. After this, the judge asks if there are any more witnesses and Tom's counsel, Shaw, replies that there are and requests a recess. The recess is granted and Tom, curious, asks who else is there to speak for him, as he didn't think he had that many friends. Shaw presents him with a long list, explaining that "...every person I asked gave me the names of two or three more who would be happy to speak for you, and ''all'' of them are here today. ... They all said the same thing: 'If Tom Paris needs me, I'm there.'"
* ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'':
** The series gives us a slightly lame scene wherein Jaina tries to save Zekk from TheDarkSide with the Power of Friendship. It manages not to be ''completely'' lame, but only just.
** When a Sith Lord's spirit (Exar Kun) tried to push the young Jedi students attacking him over the DespairEventHorizon by taunting them about their weaknesses, their friendship strengthened them and thwarted his mental attack. At this point, Exar's former-Jedi master appeared as a Force Ghost and said "Together, Jedi can overcome their weaknesses."
** ''Literature/FateOfTheJedi'' book series: DarkSide people (Nightsisters and Sith) with a technique called a 'control web'. It allows them to combine their powers, and 'weave' their control over a dozen Rancors, or weaken an EldritchAbomination.
* In Creator/AlexandreDumas's classic ''Literature/TheThreeMusketeers'': "One for All, All for One!"
* In Creator/GrahamMcNeill's ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' Literature/{{Ultramarines}} novel "The Killing Ground", Leodegarius tells Uriel that Pasnius has been fiercely loyal to him. Uriel tells him that Pasanius is his friend, and that's what friends do.
* In Lee Lightner's TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} novels:
** ''Sons of Fenris'': Ragnar arrives at the mess hall feeling demoralized and isolated; his old company is eating, and his fellow Wolfblade, Haegr, is sitting alone. When they realize that he is there, one raises a toast, and they all pounce to talk and commiserate so eager that Haegr comes to reclaim him. Ragnar proclaims that his old company are still his battle brothers.
** ''Wolf's Honour'': Ragnar goes to a cold and isolated spot on the Fang to think. Torin and Haegr track him down; Haegr deduces his location because whenever Ragnar is in a black mood, you can find him in the most unpleasant place where he could put himself. Ragnar admits to not telling where he was because they would have dragged him out of it as soon as they learned.
* In William King's ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' Literature/SpaceWolf novel ''Wolfblade'', Sven [[AFriendInNeed stays with Ragnar]] while his case is being considered by the Wolf Lords, and fumes about the injustice of its even being considered something to be tried, until Ranek shows up to send him away. Ranek admits the support does him credit, but the Wolf Lords will be angry with him if they discover it.
* In ''Literature/WarriorCats'', this is Firestar's main tactic when meeting new cats. It brings Yellowfang and Longtail around, to the point that they'll risk their lives for him, and although it fails, he even tries it on Tigerstar, Brokenstar, and Scourge.
%%* A major theme in many of the works of Creator/DeanKoontz.
%%* A major theme in many of the works of Creator/StephenKing, particularly ''Literature/{{IT}}''.
%%* A major theme in ''Literature/TheSecretGarden''.

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
!!!'''In General:'''
* On the subject of reality game shows, this trope does have its place in some reality game shows like ''Series/{{Survivor}}'' or ''Series/BigBrother''. In both games, there're one or two people who make friends and manage to make it further. Especially given these two games have people who proudly declare ImNotHereToMakeFriends. There's almost always one person who's evicted simply because they're at the bottom of the totem pole.
** In ''Big Brother'', if the other houseguests don't like you for whatever reason, you can expect to face the public vote. This often leads to an UnpopularPopularCharacter, adored by the audience but disliked by their fellow players.
** Several seasons of the American ''Series/{{Survivor}}'' show that this really can be an underestimated boon. In this game, you have to convince 7-9 players you most likely evicted to vote for you to win. If you wantonly bullied your way through the game and left a trail of angry and insulting jurors, you'll probably finish third or second, while someone who got in friendly with them will be seen as the lesser evil. This is even lampshaded by Jaison in ''Samoa'', which is perhaps the most clear-cut example of showing this trope in action. In ''Samoa'', one player called Russell Hantz carried his alliance through the game but was an ArrogantKungFuGuy. He clearly knew the game, yet apparently didn't know that the players he sent to the jury had to ''like'' him, or at least ''respect'' him. He sociopathically pushed his way through the game, and ended by bragging to the jury about how awesome he was, and was surprised when their response was, '''''"NO!"''''', and their votes almost all went for the girl who went around making friends with people.
* One of the central themes in Franchise/SuperSentai, along with love, courage, justice, and passion.
!!!'''By Series:'''
* Believe it or not, on ''Series/TwentyFour'', this is [[spoiler: what ultimately turns Jack Bauer back from the dark side in the final episode and prevents him from assassinating Russian president, Yuri Suvarov. When Chloe O'Brian comes for him to try to talk him down, he asks her why she came and she replies that she had to, she's his friend.]]
* Why ''Series/TheAmazingRace'' uses teams of two, and what differentiates the show from most other competitive Reality Shows.
* Series/{{Angel}}, like Buffy, tends to play it pretty straight (although it's generally more subdued), but lightly parodied it at least once:
-->'''Angel''': You may have the attitude, and you may have the power. But there's one thing you don't have and never will: friends. Four of 'em, standin' behind you with big, heavy things.
* ''Series/TheATeam''. So much so that in the beginning of Season 5, when Hannibal, Face, and B.A. are [[spoiler: finally captured and put on trial]] all three of them choose to [[spoiler: plead guilty for the infamous crime they didn't commit because the only way their lawyer can prove them innocent is by pinning the crime on Murdock.]] The team realizes that if that happens [[spoiler: Murdock will be sentenced to death.]] All three of them stand up and [[spoiler: plead guilty, knowing that they will face the firing squad.]] They were willing to [[spoiler: ''die'']] to protect Murdock.
* The basic premise of ''Series/BlackHoleHigh'' seems to be that, at least within the AppliedPhlebotinum field of the school, character flaws trump physics. In the second episode, it ''makes perfect logical sense'' that realizing that your friends care for you can cure invisibility.
* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
** It is specifically stated, both within the show and in interviews with writers, that the reason Buffy has lasted so long as a Slayer compared to her predecessors is that she has friends -- the so-called "Scooby Gang" -- who look out for her. This is why Faith fails; she's unable to trust people and form lasting friendships.
--->'''Spike:''' A slayer with family and friends. That sure as hell wasn't in the brochure.
** Played for darker twists when it's revealed that many Slayers end up dead, not because they make physical mistakes which lose battles, but because constantly fighting demons cuts away a Slayer's ties to the world until everything she fights to protect has either died or abandoned her. With nothing they appreciate in the normal world, these Slayers become {{Death Seeker}}s, and Buffy is forced to fight against her own suicidal feelings through seasons 5 and 6.
** In "[[Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS4E21Primeval Primeval]]", the Scoobies use a spell that combines all their powers into Buffy's body - becoming, in other words, the Power of Friendship given corporeal form. They proceed to demonstrate this power by curbstomping the previously unstoppable Adam.
* One of the themes in ''Series/BurnNotice''. Michael's a bad-ass spy who can handle anything...but even he needs the help of his friends and family to save the day. Moreover, Michael has acknowledged that he is NotSoDifferent from many of the villains his team have dealt with over the course of the series--particularly Larry ([[RunningGag yes]], [[MemeticMutation Dead Larry]]), and in the episode "Enemies Closer" he admits that what keeps him from crossing the MoralEventHorizon is his connection to his friends. Or maybe he was [[ThePowerOfLove only talking to Fi]].
* The "Power of Three" in ''Series/{{Charmed|1998}}'' relied on the Power of Friendship to work. At one point the sisters intentionally used their powers on each other in a heated argument, which immediately caused the loss of their powers.
* ''Series/{{Chuck}}'' Bartowski has lost his powers and nothing seems to work to restore them. And to make matters worse the bad guys capture him and his best friend (who has no idea of what he really does) and are about to execute them, with no help in sight. Chuck regains his powers.....with a simple buddy talk with Morgan.
** Near the end of Season 3, the BigBad Shaw has effectively destroyed Team Bartowski, by capturing Chuck, Sarah, Casey and Beckman. Little does he know that by now there's a second brigade to Team Bartowski - Ellie, Devon and Morgan. This second string's counterespionage credentials are practically nil -- but they'll do anything to rescue Chuck, Sarah and Casey.
** Throughout the series, any character who stubbornly holds to the belief that a proper spy should have no personal attachments is either shown to be at the very least wrong (Sarah& Casey, in early episodes), unlikeable (Corrina), or vulnerable to being turned (Shaw).
* The ''Series/{{Community}}'' universe seems to be fueled by this. The RagtagBunchOfMisfits work together to [[Recap/CommunityS2E04BasicRocketScience bring home a space simulator]], [[Recap/CommunityS2E14AdvancedDungeonsAndDragons make a bullied kid feel]] better with ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' and help [[Recap/CommunityS3E20DigitalEstatePlanning Pierce get his rightful inheritance in a video game]]
* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS3E10TheWarMachines "The War Machines"]]: The mind-controlled Polly clearly sees Ben escaping, and says nothing. When someone asks after him, she explains, but when he asks her why, she does not know, and after a moment, starts to remember that he had been her friend.
** In the [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E12TheSoundOfDrums series 3]] [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E13LastOfTheTimeLords finale]], [[spoiler:Martha escapes the Master's takeover of Earth and spends one year traveling the world telling everyone about the Doctor and how they're supposed to say (and [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve believe!]]) "Doctor" over and over during an onconming countdown. When said time arrives, everyone in the world doing this (even the Master's human followers and '''[[HeelFaceTurn his own]] [[InTheBack freaking wife]]''') gives the Doctor the strength he needs to overpower the Master and undo all his evil.]]
** All of the Doctor's previous companions have shown that they're quite willing to die (in some cases, repeatedly) to protect him. "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E13JourneysEnd Journey's End]]" has Davros that the Doctor basically turns everyone who loves him into living weapons for his cause.
** Rory makes a point of it too, in a somewhat different fashion, in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E6TheVampiresOfVenice "The Vampires of Venice"]] by pointing out that part of the reason the Doctor's so dangerous is because his overconfident behaviour and impulsive nature encourages others to risk their lives just to impress him. When Rory ''himself'' ends up [[HypocriticalHumour doing the exact same thing later in the episode]], in light of the previous guilt-tripping the Doctor is less-than-impressed.
** In the first half of the Series 8 finale, "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS34E11DarkWater Dark Water]]", Clara, distraught over the death of her lover, Danny Pink, tries to force the Doctor to change the events that caused his death, despite the Doctor warning her of the consequences. It turns out the Doctor anticipated her grief-stricken behavior, and took precautions, so what Clara thought was a life-or-death situation was actually a SecretTestOfCharacter, and one she failed. Then the Doctor tells her that while it won't be the way she suggested, he will help her.
--->'''Clara:''' You're going to help me?\\
'''The Doctor:''' Well, why wouldn't I help you?\\
'''Clara:''' Because of what I just did. I just...\\
'''The Doctor:''' [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech You betrayed me. You betrayed our trust, you betrayed our friendship, you betrayed everything that I've ever stood for.]] '''[[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech YOU LET ME DOWN.]]'''\\
'''Clara:''' Then why are you helping me?\\
'''The Doctor:''' Why? Do you think I care for you so little that betraying me would make a difference?
* ''Series/TheEqualizer''. In "Splinters", a KGB scientist informs Robert [=McCall=] that while he is a WorthyOpponent in their eyes, his loyalty to his friends is his one weakness. They then lock him in a room with a BrainwashedAndCrazy Mickey Kostmayer. Fortunately [=McCall=] is able to appeal to their {{Fire Forged Friend}}ship to [[IKnowYoureInThereSomewhereFight break through his conditioning]].
* This also works in ''Series/{{Firefly}}''. It's what Mal tries to beat into Jayne's head throughout the show, especially in "Ariel," and it's how the crew gets the better of Saffron twice.
-->'''Saffron:''' Everybody plays each other. That's all anybody ever does. We play parts.\\
'''Mal:''' You got all kinds a' learnin' and you made me look the fool without trying, yet here I am with a gun to your head. That's 'cause I got people with me, people who trust each other, who do for each other and ain't always looking for the advantage.
* Invoked in "Duet", the musical episode of ''Series/TheFlash2014'' with the song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UPun57MMoU "Super Friend"]], where the titular character and {{Series/Supergirl|2015}} sing about how, despite being deprived of their respective superpowers, they still have one: their friendship.
* ''Series/{{Friends}}'' obviously. Its pretty clear none of the characters would get through any of their problems, without the rest of the gang to support them. This was established from the minute the theme song played:
-->''I'll be there for you... When the rain starts to pour\\
I'll be there for you... Like I've been there before\\
I'll be there for you... 'Cause you're there for me too''
* On ''Series/GoodGirlsRevolt'' all the girls contribute money to help [[spoiler:Angie]] pay for her abortion so she can have a proper procedure and doesn't have to resort to drinking tansy tea.
* Parodied in an episode of ''Series/TheGoodLife'': "You know, Tom and Barbara are the only real friends we've got. Pity they don't have any money or power."
* Even though they're often at each other's throats for one reason or another, the "non-judging Breakfast Club" of ''Series/GossipGirl'' always band together when one of them is in trouble. As Gossip Girl herself puts it, "''With friends like these, who needs armies?''"
* The theme in season 5 of ''Series/HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys''. In the episode "Descent", Hercules defeats D'muzi simply by screaming out Iolaus' name.
* ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' also features a lot of this, but taken to almost {{anvilicious}} (but still enjoyable) levels concerning Hiro and Ando.
* This seems to be the main reason Sibuna keep winning in ''Series/HouseOfAnubis''. Fabian makes a speech about it in season 2, even, claiming that while the teachers have more of the advantages, they have the team, and they'd win because they wouldn't let each other fail.
* In ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'', Future!Ted is pretty clear to his kids that life will occasionally (or even frequently) suck really badly, but if you have friends to accompany you on your journey through it, it'll never be completely terrible.
** He also notes that the pull of friendship is more powerful than any number of problems, complications, and conflicts that might get in its way: "Friendship is an involuntary reflex; it just happens."
* ''Series/KamenRiderFourze'': The show is perhaps more focused on this trope than any of the other ''Franchise/KamenRider'' shows put together, as it stars a hero who wishes to make friends with nearly everyone, and lives up to the promise by creating the Kamen Rider Club, with contains him and six other TrueCompanions.
** All of Gentaro's States' form are only fully achieved when he reaffirmed/gain friendship[[note]]Elec for JK, Fire with Tomoko, Magnet with Kengo, Cosmic with the entire Rider club (+ Ryusei), Rocket from Nadeshiko[[/note]].
** The bond between them also powers his SuperMode, Cosmic States, which is so dependent on it that [[spoiler: the lost of JK's friendship, as well as the disappearance of Tomoko, made Gentaro lose the ability to turn into Cosmic States. It's only after [[TrainingFromHell training with Tachibana/Virgo]] that Gentaro learns to call upon his friendships [[YouAreNotAlone even when his friends are separated from him]]]].
*** Taken UpToEleven in TheMovie, where the Kamen Rider Club [[GondorCallsForAid enlists the aid of]] [[ContinuityCavalcade everyone they've helped over the course of the series]] to create the Fusion Switch, which lets him borrow [[SixthRanger Meteor]]'s powers.
--->'''Groundain:''' [[ThisCannotBe Impossible!]] Just because you two combined...\\
'''Fourze:''' It's not just us two! The feelings of everyone at Amanogawa, and [[SapientShip XVII]]...this is the power of all my friends combined! [[KirkSummation You gave up your humanity, so you can never beat our bonds!]]
* ''Series/{{Leverage}}'' features this heavily as the team is made up of individualistic thieves who had always worked alone. One they begin working together, they realize how much more effective they were than before.
* In the ''Series/RedDwarf'' episode "The Last Day" it's the Power of Friendship that encourages Kryten to stand against his built-in obsolescence. Although when he starts ''talking'' about "the human value you call ... friendship", Lister replies "Don't give me the ''Star Trek'' crap, it's too early in the morning."
* In one episode of [[Series/SpaceAboveAndBeyond]] the Chigs create a weapon that is literally powered by fear (it takes normal fears that the victim has and cranks them up to the level of crippling phobia). The Wildcards stumble upon this weapon and are only able to escape and survive due to their trust in each other being stronger than their feras.
* ''Franchise/StarTrek'' features a lot of this; especially in ''[[Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries The Original Series]]'' and in ''[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration The Next Generation]]''. Many episodes revolve around one of the crew being kidnapped, threatened, or otherwise in danger, and having the rest of the crew band together to save them.
* Parodied in the comedy show ''Series/{{Stella|US}}'', in which the three main characters use the power of friendship to create an invisible forcefield to trap a rival group of evil paperboys that have been bullying them throughout the episode. They then threaten to use the power of friendship to crush the bullies to death if they don't cut it out. Stella's Aesop is ALWAYS the power of friendship. ALWAYS.
* ''Series/UltramanMebius'': The writers took this to heart. This features Mirai making friends with people on spot, trying to teach the meaning of friendship to others, and even [[spoiler:being REVIVED FROM THE DEAD]] and gaining new powers from friendship.
* In the second episode of ''Series/YoungHercules'', Ares decides that Hercules's weakest point is his "pathetic mortal feelings", and sends Strife to attack Hercules through his best friend, Iolaus. In the end, it is Iolaus shouting Herc's name during Hercules and Strife's final showdown that distracts Strife long enough for Hercules to win the fight.

[[folder:Music]]
* "[[http://www.metrolyrics.com/lean-on-me-lyrics-bill-withers.html Lean on Me]]" by Bill Withers, one of the best-known classics of the Soul genre, is centered upon this trope.
-->''You just call on me brother, when you need a hand''\\
''We all need somebody to lean on''
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Mythology and Religion]]
* The Arabian god [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wadd Wadd]] was the deity of friendship, besides being also a moon and snake god.
* The tyrant of Syracuse was so impressed by the friendship between Damon, who volunteered to be a hostage for Pythias's return and be executed if he did not, and Pythias, who not only returned to his execution to spare Damon but did so in spite of being captured by bandits and BreakingTheBonds to escape, that he pardoned Pythias for conspiring against him. Thus this is OlderThanFeudalism.
* Some interpretations of ''Literature/TheEpicOfGilgamesh'' hold that the friendship between King Gilgamesh and [[RaisedByWolves the wild-man Enkidu]] had the effect of taming ''both'' of them, as Gilgamesh's tyrannical rule was mellowed at the same time he was civilizing Enkidu. Furthermore, during their epic battle with the monster Humbaba, each took turns encouraging the other to continue. If this really was the intended reading of these two parts of the story, then it makes this OlderThanDirt.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
* Wrestling/{{Kane}} and Wrestling/DanielBryan (Hell No) do this, albeit partially zigzagged (I AM THE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS, etc.)
* Interestingly, having a large group of friends means something entirely different in professional wrestling. Factions comprised of more than 2-3 wrestlers are typically called "stables", and their primary function in story telling is usually to have members of the stable assist other members in their matches and post-match beatdowns... which is dirty play and against the rules. As a result, the aesops associated with this trope are usually averted: the heroes are loners who fight alone against the odds, the villains are cowards who come down to the ring with all of their friends in tow.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* A common theme in many roleplaying groups, especially long-standing groups of close friends. Many adventuring parties are often made of a combination of various different personalities, who must learn to work together to beat their adversaries. In fact, many a GM will use a villain late in a story to test the strength of the group, with varying success, depending on the players in question.
* ''Byron Falls'' from John Wick's ''[[http://johnwickpresents.com/big-book-of-little-games/ Big Book Of Little Games]]'' utilizes it in mechanics -- players divide points between their friends, and the more points assigned to a person, the stronger your relationship with them. When you help one of those friends, you use number of dices equal to how many points you spend on them. However, it also [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructs the trope]] - you cannot asign the same number of points to two different friends, and if any of them betrays you, they use number of dice equal points you spend on them for all actions against you.
* ''TabletopGame/ChuubosMarvelousWishGrantingEngine'' runs on this and ComingOfAgeStory, with one character achieving something impossible - [[spoiler:since [[EldritchAbomination Actuals]] can't have souls]] - because Chuubo wished for a friend. For Nightmares' Angel/Leonardo/Dulcinea, however, it's actually ''inverted'' - one of the character's Empowered Wounds is about ''rejecting'' friendship. This isn't to say that deep down they don't ''want'' it - as [[http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?693038-Chuubo-s-Marvelous-Wish-Granting-Engine-Kickstarter-thread-Double-Plus-Good-Edition&p=16969778#post16969778 one rpgnet poster]] put it: "Yes, she definitely has the I Have No Friends thing, it's even on her character sheet. But, well... it wouldn't be there if she didn't ''care'' about having friends. She doesn't have I Don't Own A Walrus as a source of power, after all." However Leonardo/Dulcinea's unique stew of megalomania and emotional damage means that they're really bad at acting on or expressing it, and as such draw power from loneliness instead.
* The indie RPG ''[[http://misspentyouthgame.com/ Misspent Youth]]'' by Robert Bohl is all about this. Characters are required to be one another's friends by design, you ask questions about your friendship at the start of every session, all conflicts are between The Authority and the friends, the stakes of all conflicts are agreed-upon by all of the players at the table, and usually when a conflict is won it's with a friend's character's abilities.
* ''TabletopGame/NightsBlackAgents'' has Trust, which can be spent to help out the trusted ally. Of course, since NBA is a dark game of burned spies hunting vampires, it can be flipped to Betrayal if you want to elaborately backstab said ally. Betrayal can only be spent once, however, and even if you patch up your relationship you will never be able to get Trust off the betrayed character again; even [[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender helping them find their mother's killer]] will, at most, mean they're willing to give you real bullets for your gun, and you're still on point for the rest of your life.
* Absolutely included in ''TabletopGame/PoniesAndParasprites'' due to [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic the source material]]. In this game, the positive emotions that one feels when one is self-confident and/or surrounded by their friends is quantified by their ''Love'' score, which starts at 1 at character creation and goes up and down as play progresses. When a party is formed, their individual Love scores are summed up and used by every character in the group. Love is added to the total score of ''any'' die roll the character makes, meaning a character with quite a bit of Love associated with them can achieve feats they wouldn't be able to alone.
** Likewise an actual mechanic in ''My Little Pony: The Storytelling Game'', the pen-and-paper role-playing game based on ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''. There's a pool of "friendship tokens" that can be used for important circumstances. It spills over into the real side of things: the more players at each session (that is, the more ''friends'' who came to play), the larger the pool is.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* Choose a video-game where players are put in teams and have to play against one another. Any game. Even if one team has better players, if they're not working together or supporting one another, and the other team is, the other team is almost certainly going to win.
* ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'': The Assassin order is called the "brotherhood" for a reason. The friendships between the Assassins and their non-assassin allies help them accomplish their missions and preserve in the face of Templar power.
** ''Videogame/AssassinsCreed'': Altair can befriend vigilantes by rescuing their family members and they in turn help him fight/escape from guards and prevent his targets from escaping. Then there's his friendship with Malik [[spoiler: which saves him from a ZergRush in the final level]].
** ''Videogame/AssassinsCreed2'': Ezio is aided by many people over the course of his RoaringRampageOfRevenge, from his [[PlatonicLifePartners Platonic Life Partner]], Leonardo, to the thief guilds he meets in Florence and Venice. This culminates in [[spoiler: All of his friends coming to his aid, TheCavalry-style, and then inducting him into the Assassin Brotherhood.]]
** ''Videogame/AssassinsCreedBrotherhood'': Ezio can recruit civilians to become Assassins by helping them. Part of ''Brotherhood'' is explicitly about him making so many friends that he has enough power to liberate Rome from the Borgia Templars.
* In ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireII'' you're told that the only way to get the final dragon form to beat the BigBad is for one of your friends to give their life. They're varying degrees of willing. It turns out that the '''real''' way to unlock it is [[spoiler:to ignore the requirement and refuse to choose a friend, [[MoreHeroThanThou choosing to sacrifice yourself rather than others]]]].
* ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireIV'': Subverted in the "bad" ending in which [[spoiler:the main character was absorbed by the villain who then proceeded to summon an enormous dragon to fight the remainder of the party. Said party spouted something about friendship, but it was quickly snuffed out by the fact that the dragon had infinite HP, which regenerated every turn, counterattacks that did thousands of damage, an attack that reduced everybody to 1 HP, and was controlled ''by the player''. The game then proceeded to end with all of humanity being destroyed.]]
* In'' VideoGame/BubbleBobble'', it's this that breaks whatever curse Bub and Bob are under. So much that if you beat the game without your friend i.e. player 2, you won't get the TrueEnding.
* ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'':
** Death's true ending in ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaJudgment'' implicated that even beings of ultimate evil like Death and Dracula are not exempt from this trope. [[spoiler:In fact, it's what primarily keeps them together.]]
** In ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaPortraitOfRuin'' Death even manages to pull off a BigDamnHeroes for Dracula.
* ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'':
** In ''VideoGame/Disgaea3AbsenceOfJustice'', during the final battle, this is a DiscussedTrope. While idealistic hero Almaz calls it this, Mao categorically denies that it has anything to do with friendship, claiming it's some sort of cosmic energy he was hiding in his body.
** Playing the trope straight, Valvatorez of ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 4|A Promise Unforgotten}}'' strongly believes in the power of friendship, and utters the following line in the last battle:
--->'''Valvatorez:''' Do you see now, [[spoiler:God]]!? This is the power of demons, angels, and humans! A power that's much stronger than yours, the ties of our camaraderie!
* A recurring theme in ''Franchise/DragonAge'':
** Depending on how you play the Warden, ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' has some very powerful examples of this. A female Warden who befriends Morrigan can induce her to admit that she has never had or even wanted a friend before, but has come to view the Warden almost as a sister. A number of the other companions have similar trust issues, but with thoughtful gifts and compassionate dialogue choices, you can get them to make similar confessions regardless of the Warden's gender. This translates in gameplay as stat boosts.
** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', the mechanic returns, allowing you to build up Friendship by making choices your [[ArbitraryHeadcountLimit current two companions]] agree with... As well as building up [[InvertedTrope Rivalry, which makes them fight just as hard to either sway you to their reasoning, prove you wrong, or just out of spite]]. Ultimately, however, both the Power of Friendship and the [[TheRival Power of Rivalry]] lead to UndyingLoyalty if you spend enough time with a character.
* The power of friendship allows everyone to survive their DuelBoss fights in the last route of ''VideoGame/DuelSaviorDestiny''. Otherwise, they'd all have died either before the fight or right after it.
* The Ebony Blade as seen in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'' is a sword that technically runs off the Power of Friendship... by which we mean the sword gets stronger if you use it to ''murder characters you have become close friends with''. The Ebony Blade as seen in previous ''Elder Scrolls'' games did not have this ability.
* Used ''against the player'' in ''VideoGame/EXceed 3rd'': the third boss, Giee, uses SummonMagic, and claims that the love and trust between herself and her summons grants her incredible power (since she's just the Stage 3 boss, she goes down hard).
* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'' (II in its ''first'' western release):
*** The player's party is about to be wiped out right before the final battle, when the camera switches back to Earth, to show people sending "their prayers" to the characters. After that, several of the protagonist's friends (some dead ones too!) materialize briefly by his side with words of encouragement. Each such speech heals the members a bit, until they're at full strength again.
*** The same game also turns it against you with the Archfiends. After taking down the final Fiend, Rubicante, he realizes that you beat him because your party fought him as a team (he realized this sooner when you defeated him in his solo boss fight).
** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'', upon reaching the FinalBoss, the party responds to his nihilistic revelations by talking about all of the individual bonds they've made with one another, what they've learned throughout their individual experience, and why real love is worth risking their lives and fighting to preserve. The villain's response? "This is sickening. You sound like chapters from a self help booklet!" Kefka is ''wrong.'' He is ''stopped.'' It's also worth noting that in a game where one of the central themes is "human connection makes you a person," Kefka, the villain, is alone in absolutely every way.
** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'', after a particularly distressing [[TheReveal revelation]], Zidane turns into a zombie-like {{Jerkass}} [[note]] Zidane's jerkass phase was caused by Garland apparently [[MindScrew ripping out his soul]]. Before that, while he was a bit freaked out, he instantly proclaimed his allegiance to Gaia and his friends and tried to turn on his creator. [[/note]] and tries to go it alone. His friends gather around him and convince him that they need each other, helping him turn back into a nice guy.
*** This is used more literally during the ending; after the party is [[spoiler:completely wiped out by Kuja's Ultima and helpless when Necron appears]], the four party members not participating in the final battle hand their power over to the four others, fully healing them and giving a few encouraging words as they do so.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'' pulled this one twice: once when the main cast is getting ready to fly off to destroy the source of the game's AppliedPhlebotinum, and again when they're just getting ready to fight the BigBad.
** ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'' almost as much as ''Franchise/KingdomHearts''. The initial idea for the game was to make it a ''Kingdom Hearts'' game, which is telling.
* ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'':
** In the later games, units that spend significant time battling near each other can have what are called "Support Conversations" wherein they develop their relationships, causing them to have a boost to their offensive or defensive ability when within a short distance of each other. You heard that right: {{Shipping}} provides a strategic advantage. This is justified, as all of your characters are soldiers or fighters of some degree. The support levels are gained by having the units fight near each other, so the game is recognizing that people who fight as a team tend to get better at it over time. This is even referenced in ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', with Ike's famous line "I fight for my friends."
** Near the end of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'', [[spoiler: it is revealed that the Avatar can destroy Grima for good, although doing so would erase him/her from existence. It's mentioned it is possible, although very unlikely, for him/her to be brought back if the bonds s/he formed with other people was strong enough. It works.]]
* ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'' of all things heavily employs this trope, particularly in the GoldenEnding. [[spoiler:Rather than kill his two friends and mentor figures at the behest of [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Devin Weston]] and the FIB, Franklin instead opts to get Michael and Trevor together to take down everyone who wants them dead, despite the latter two's ongoing feud. In the end, the protagonists eliminate all their enemies, deal with their inner demons, strengthen their bonds, and [[EarnYourHappyEnding earn their happy endings]]]]. The other endings where [[spoiler:Franklin betrays one of the two]] are much bleaker.
* In ''VideoGame/ImprobableIsland'', there are some situations, especially when there is threat level 1 in every outpost, it simply is not feasible to continue normally, as the cost of healing will outweigh the payouts of hunting. However, in you are part of a large guild, especially one with maxed out buffs, a competent player can become nearly invincible to all level-appropriate encounters, as the enemies will barely be able to [[ScratchDamage overcome your damage resistance]], let alone your regen.
* In ''Manga/InuYasha: Secret of the Cursed Mask'', depending on which character you spend your rest days with, you gain more powerful combination attacks with said character as your in-game friendship grows (and character-specific endings, but they just follow similar formats).
* In the final battle of ''Videogame/JadeEmpire'', your allies weaken the enemies that the BigBad sends at you before you face him. The game's KarmaMeter system makes this a Downplayed version. The only difference between being an AllLovingHero who believes in the power of friendship (Open Palm), and a tyrant who just killed all the followers who disagreed with him (Closed Fist), is you have to fight a few more enemies.
* Crucial to the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' series. Sora's Keyblade, and indeed all keyblades, seem drawn to individuals with strong hearts and emotions, including -- and especially -- friendship. But magic and normal combat also seems to operate under this trope; WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck and WesternAnimation/{{Goofy}} and all of Sora's various friends triumph repeatedly through their bonds with each other.
** ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'' states that the Power of Friendship is practically a superpower. [[spoiler:It also allows Aqua to smash the Keyblade equivalent of Excalibur by turning her own into a lightsaber of friendship. It gives Ven the power to leech Vanitas's abilities off of him and use them to defeat Vanitas, and it gives Terra the ability to control his own armor even after his heart and body have been taken by the big bad. Finally, it allows Ven (who's currently comatose) and Terra (who's currently trapped in his own body while another controls it) to magically transport their Keyblades to the realm of darkness to one-shot Darksides and save Aqua while also giving her the will to live again.]]
** Gameplay-wise, D-Links are basically the invoking of The Power Of Friendship, in which characters tap into the powers of characters they've interacted with. Most of these actually involve friendship ([[WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitch Experiment 626]], [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Zack]] and Mickey) while others a bit less so (the Franchise/{{Disney Princess}}es and in [[UnwittingPawn Terra's]] case, [[WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty Maleficent]]).
** ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsCoded coded]]'' keeps up the trend; the connections and friendship that data Sora has built with Mickey, Donald, and Goofy [[spoiler: allow Data Sora to summon a Keyblade, and may have actually created a heart for him.]]
** The Power of Friendship is the central theme of ''358/2 Days'' too, centering around the friendship of Roxas, Axel and Xion
** Played with in ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts3DDreamDropDistance''. The villains [[spoiler: use Sora's reliance of the power of friendship to lure him into a trap, and Xigbar attempts to deconstruct the trope by pointing out that if Sora's power comes from his friends, [[TheUnchosenOne then he doesn't have any of his own.]] Sora completely ignores the attempt to send him into a HeroicBSOD and [[DeconReconSwitch reconstructs it on the spot]], saying that makes him part of something bigger than himself and he's totally cool with that.]]
* ''VideoGame/KirbyStarAllies'' is entirely powered by this trope: Kirby has to use hearts to turn his foes into his friends so they can all team up together to save the universe. The game actually is heavily turned towards a multiplayer gameplay, so it would take this trope right to the people playing it!
** Unlike every other enemy in the game, you can hurt the final boss by throwing friendship hearts at him. In other words, Kirby can destroy an EldritchAbomination by repeatedly asking him to become friends!
* Done in ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'' as game mechanic. Going Rambo and your chance to die is [[strike:100%]] 99.[[RuleOfThree 999]]% (solo runs are being attempted, but no one yet seems to have bagged 'em all) from Smoker and Hunter. Only your friends can help you out of that.
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel'':
** The ARCUS system weaponizes this through the Tactical Link feature. Forging a strong link provides all sorts of benefits, such as the chance to automatically heal an ally when attacked, covering for another ally for reduced damage, or executing a finishing blow. However, characters that are feuding won't be able to form a link. It only works if they're friends, or at least are able to put aside their differences and find common ground.
* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
** An argument could be made for this trope's inclusion in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess.'' Link and the imp Midna increasingly learn to trust and rely upon one another; there's even a screencap after one battle they fight together where they look like they're posing for some kind of friendship poster. Additionally, the first item Link receives in the game is a fishing pole handcrafted by his young friend Colin; if Link pulls the fishing pole out during his final fight with the BigBad, his enemy actually stops moving and ''stares'' at it, giving Link the opportunity to get in some hits without retaliation.
** Since this trope is part of the premise of the gameplay of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks'', Zelda develops a habit of randomly turning into Tea from ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'' and delivering Friendship-speeches. Aside from these speeches, however, the concept works incredibly well for a game series where TheHero usually fights all alone and leads to many heartwarming scenes. The cheesiness of this is rather hilariously [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]]: after they fight together to beat [[spoiler:Byrne]] they have a huge celebration for their teamwork...then notice with a DoubleTake that the boss took the opportunity to hobble away in the meantime.
* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendaryStarfy'', [[spoiler:[[FinalBoss Mashtooth]] starts as invincible and defeats Starfy in battle. Luckily, Bunston and Moe are here to invoke "THE POWER OF FRIENDS!" to get Starfy back on track and dissolve Mashtooth's barrier.]]
* In ''VideoGame/MarioSuperstarBaseball'' and its sequel, ''VideoGame/MarioSuperSluggers'', some characters have good chemistry with other players. Moves involving two players (e.g. one throws the ball to the other) are improved if those players have good chemistry with each other. This kind of friendship is represented visually by music notes.
* While [[MagneticHero Commander Shepard's]] skill to inspire UndyingLoyalty in his/her crew is a recurring motif in the ''Franchise/MassEffect'' series, the aesop of how important it is to have loyal friends covering your back is [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped pretty much hammered home with a sledge]] in the "Citadel" DLC campaign for ''VideoGame/MassEffect3''. Its entire plotline is basically as a series of situations where the Power of friendship ensures the continuous survival, sanity, and success of the entire party.
* In ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork'':
** Mega Man gains power by fusing with the "souls" of his friends, and some powerful items are only available by playing link games with other players (ostensibly, friends). The game focuses more on the bond between family members though.
** The main character of Battle Network would go on to create the foundation of the world of Star Force, making him the most successful protagonist ever.
* ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce'':
** The game harps on the importance of relationships frequently. In fairness, the "Brother Band" system that underpins this emphasis on relationships also confers very practical benefits. Brother Banding with {{NPC}}s (or actual humans over WiFi) gives the player (or both players) bonus HP and the option to share their "favorite cards" for use in battle. This doesn't stop the game from also using it in other contexts, including when the main character is Lost in Space and his friends direct him back to earth using the awesome power of friendship. Not all of them are even really Brothers with him. The Power of Friendship can also apparently [[spoiler:bring the dead back to life!]]
** Solo praises the civilization of Mu... which went down solely because its inhabitants didn't trust each other. Meanwhile, ingame the Rogue powers that can be gained are far inferior to what Geo can get from the standard Brother features, and the SuperMode (which, amusingly enough, is a symbol of what Mu could have been if the people worked together) is only accessible if you have a Brother from an opposite game ([[BribingYourWayToVictory Or a Wave Command Card]]). In fact, by the next game Solo ditches the whole "alone" aspect by teaming up with an ancient Mu relic. This doesn't stop him from constantly talking down to Geo, no matter how many times Geo beats his face in or how many "battle of ideals" Solo loses. There's a reason most people don't take Solo seriously.
** Worth noting that Solo ''does'' believe in the power of friendship... but he sees it as an ''evil'' power. This is because Solo has a tendency to creep people out, so they run from him... then they come back with their friends, and beat up the alleged threat.
** Ironically enough, FM-ian invaders grant power to those who are ''incredibly lonely'', and even though most of that ends up resembling DemonicPossession, Geo/Omega Xiz [[spoiler:although Omega is actually from Planet AM]] and Sonia/Harp end up forming good working relationships which ''then'' draw power from friendship. So having friends all along is bad, but starting out the most reclusive and lonely person on the planet, meeting an alien who gives you super powers, and ''then'' making friends, is the path to ultimate power!
* ''VideoGame/MinecraftStoryMode'': After Jesse makes a comment about losing/winning against Lukas, Petra suggests befriending him in case they need his help later on. Jesse can agree or disagree, but will always grumble about being lectured on "the power of collaboration".
* ''VideoGame/{{MOTHER}}'':
** Done at the end of ''VideoGame/{{Earthbound}}'' in possibly the most heartwrenching, most powerful, most incredibly meta way ever. [[spoiler:Giygas is defeated by all the prayers of the friends the Chosen Four make over the course of the game, including the player.]]
** The song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyxtKzhc00c "Bein' Friends"]] from ''VideoGame/{{MOTHER|1}}'' could fit as well.
** This one of the main themes of the series, really. By themselves, all of the series' party members are both good people and more-than-decent fighters, but once they all have each other, they can achieve practically anything. [[VideoGame/{{Mother 3}} You will believe a halitosis-ridden cripple, a potty-mouthed teenager, a PTSD-stricken shepherd boy, and a dog can single-handedly save the world]] thanks to the Power Of Friendship.
* In ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2's'' endgame [[TheDragon Black Garius]] uses your tiefling companion Neeshka's devil blood to put a {{geas}} on her. If your [[RelationshipValues Influence]] with her is strong enough, she'll break the geas, refusing to attack the only person who's ever been nice to her.
* Done in a very meta sense for the TrueFinalBoss of ''VideoGame/NierAutomata''. [[spoiler: Framed as Pod 042 risking his life to recover 2B, 9S and A2's data after their deaths, the final boss of Ending E is a BulletHell shmup battle against the end credits. Said fight is ''extremely'' difficult, to the point of nearly the entire screen being covered in bullets, but every time you die you get an increasing number of encouraging messages from other players, and after enough deaths you're able to call upon their help directly in the form of multiple ships donated by other players, which give the player extra firepower and form a shield around them. After the ending is over, the player is then encouraged to sacrifice their save data in order to encourage and help other players.]]
* The ''VideoGame/PaperMario'' series has this, and not just because switching between your immediate partners is what allows you to overcome the obstacles along the way. In each game, the climactic battle with the BigBad begins with you getting in a few hits before he makes himself invincible somehow. Then the wishes or prayers or feelings of the friends you've made in all the places you've been enable the breaking of the barrier, so the fight can begin in earnest. The whole "power of friendship" scene is extremely long in the second game against [[spoiler: The Shadow Queen]] compared to the ones against Bowser and [[spoiler: Super Dimentio]].
* ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'':
** In ''VideoGame/Persona3'', the strength of your fused Personas are dictated by how strong your relationships with other people are. These relationships are usually platonic, but five of them are romantic, and several are of the surrogate family variety. During the ultimate confrontation with the BigBad, the combined strength of all of the protagonist's relationships [[spoiler:creates the Universe Arcana and sustains the protagonist during the final battle, providing the power to create the Great Seal, which]] prevents TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt.
** The Social Link system returns in ''VideoGame/Persona4''. Many of your social links are with party members, and having a stronger social bond with them will improve their combat abilities to the point where their Personae are upgraded to an improved form. During the game's TrueFinalBoss fight [[spoiler:Izanami-no-Ookami attempts to use One Thousand Curses on the protagonist, only to be blocked by each active party member in turn. When the Protagonist is finally hit with the attack, every completed social link appears before him, telling him about the impact he's had on their lives and offering their support. The power of all these social links transforms your starter Persona into Izanagi-no-Ookami, allowing you to break free from the attack and lift the fog of deceit once and for all.]]
** Somewhat downplayed with ''VideoGame/Persona5''[='s=] "Confidant" system, where every character you get to know over your year in Tokyo gives you various gameplay bonuses as your relationship with them advances, such as cheaper rates at shops, new items, or new abilities in battle, along with the standard ability from previous ''Persona'' games to fuse stronger {{Guardian Entit|y}}ies. However unlike the previous ''Personas'', there isn't any moment where your confidants magically support you in the endgame. Their help is much more mundane and down-to-earth, such as near the end of the game when [[spoiler:the protagonist's teammates and max-ranked Confidants all work to clear his name and set him free when he's locked up in juvie]].
** ''VideoGame/PersonaQ2NewCinemaLabyrinth'' is one of the few cases where this trope is played in a perverse fashion. The second movie known as ''Junessic Land'' features a pack of Herbivore Dinosaurs running away from mighty Carnivore Dinosaurs into an "ancient paradise" where supposedly no Carnivore can reach. However, the group of Herbivores abuse their roles as friends with each other to silence any of their critics who suggested ideas different from those of the entire pack. [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] at the end when the movie's script is changed, as the Herbivores genuinely worked with each other and are able to have differing opinions.
*** In fact, the pervese portrayal of this trope there is [[InvokedTrope deliberate]], since the Dinosaurs [[spoiler:directly embody one of OC character Hikari's traumas where she tried to help and befriend a bullied student but got bullied as the bullies also target anyone who befriends their victims. When she tried to prevent the bullied student from being lynched by her other friends, she got the boot instead. She also invited the bullied student out for a movie, which is exactly about Herbivore Dinosaurs saving their friends from Carnviores by gathering their power.]]
* ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'':
** This trope is, thankfully, subtly, invoked, and called 'trust' by Detective Gumshoe. In the first game (especially the DS-exclusive 5th case) Phoenix unintentionally shows this to Edgeworth. When Edgeworth returns in the 4th case of the second, he either reminds Phoenix of this or shows it to him directly. Through the combined efforts of Wright, Edgeworth and Von Karma, [[spoiler: Engarde]] is found guilty, which is called a 'miracle' in the end.
** Mia also mentions in the 2nd game that friendship is "the strongest weapon in the world and you have it in abundance". Mostly to cheer Wright up though.
** ''[[VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyDualDestinies Dual Destinies]]'' has the trio of Hugh O'Conner, Robin Newman, and Juniper Woods. Although nothing magical happens, their unity helps redirect the case in the right direction.
* ''VideoGame/PocketArcadeStory'' actually uses this as a gameplay mechanic. You need to form bonds between the various patrons to your arcade by holding events and participating in high score tournaments to unlock new game machines, vendors, vending machines and deco for your arcade.
* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}''
** One of the major themes in the franchise is the relationship between trainers and their Pokémon. Regardless of the forms they take or abilities they have, all can be befriended and made into potential allies. Another theme is the relationship between trainers themselves, both in-game and the players since it's impossible to collect all Pokémon within a single game and trading between players is vital.
** The move Return, which grows stronger the higher the user's happiness value is. Inverted with its opposite counterpart [[ThePowerOfHate Frustration]], which is stronger the ''less'' happy the user is.
*** It's worth mentioning that in the games themselves, due to how friendship and happiness is calculated, it's difficult to the point of practically impossible for Frustration to be as strong as Return. Or, to put it another way, [[FridgeBrilliance hatred will never be as strong as friendship]].
** Some Pokémon can only evolve when their happiness level is very high.
** The Pokémon-Amie feature in ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'' and its successor Pokémon Refresh allow you to interact with your Pokémon and increase their affection toward you. Pokémon with high Affection get a number of bonuses like an increased critical hit rate, gaining experience faster, a chance to shrug off status effects or stat-lowering moves like Leer, or even ''survive attacks that would have knocked them out'' through sheer force of will.
** Mega Evolution, a new game mechanic also introduced in ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'', seemingly relies on this too; Trainers can only make their Pokémon Mega Evolve if they trust and are loyal to each other, not unlike how certain Pokémon (such as Golbat) need to completely trust their trainer and consider them a loyal friend to evolve. [[GameplayAndStorySegregation In-game however, the process is instantaneous and doesn't actually require you to spend any time with your Pokémon.]]
** In ''VideoGame/PokemonColosseum'' and [[VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness its sequel]], Shadow Pokémon are Pokémon that have been subjected to a process that strips them of their emotions, leaving behind mindless killing machines. Sure, the shadow Pokémon are more powerful than the normal ones, but such power comes at a price: they can't level up, they can't have their moves replaced, they are sometimes known to disobey/attack their trainers and their corrupted state turns them into mindless weapons. How do you undo this corruption? Simply by spending time with the Pokémon and caring for them.
** In the ''VideoGame/PokemonRanger'' spinoff games, this also plays a major role; you temporarily recruit Pokémon to help you clear obstacles by using your Capture Styler to "convey your feelings of friendship and befriend them".
** This trope is what drives the plot of ''VideoGame/PokeParkWii'', because friendship powers a crystal that keeps a floating island from falling and crushing the park.
* Given a very bittersweet nod in ''VideoGame/ProfessorLaytonAndTheUnwoundFuture''. It's revealed during the course of the gameplay that [[spoiler:Luke, the Prof's devoted apprentice, is going to be moving overseas with his parents (and his father is also one of Layton's closest friends). Layton points out a statue depicting the friendship between a different adult and child, and promises Luke that no matter where they are in the world, they will always be friends.]]
* Friendship equals literal psychic power in ''VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}}''--while absolutely no one will [[AllUpToYou help you save the world]], when you save someone's brain, they thank you by adding their psychic energies to yours, making you stronger. ([[HeartContainer Which in this case means more health.]]) If you reach a certain level, all of your friends start focusing their positive energies on you to cheer you to victory, and you [[WalkItOff slowly heal as you go.]]
* ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil'', when playing as Jill, has this with a recurring theme in order to get the good ending [[spoiler:where Barry survives. Frequently Barry will either tell you to let him do things for you, like get a rope to pull you from a pit, or will ask you if you want him to go with you. Trusting him by waiting for the rope and going with him, and taking the selfless options like going first, are the choices you need to do to keep him alive. Not trusting him or being a selfish bastard, while apparently the smart choice as he begins acting very suspicious, will result in his death in a myriad of ways. The 2002 UsefulNotes/GameCube remake kept this, although it condensed it into a single yes or no choice: do you trust your friend enough to give him back his gun after he betrayed you so he can fight [[HumanoidAbomination Lisa Trevor]]?]]
* ''VideoGame/RivalSchools'' thrives on this. The students (and teachers) in this game usually gain their strength from their bonds with their friends, and are able to triumph over loner villains in each game. It's so powerful that in each game, a [[TheMole mole]] sent by the villain ([[spoiler:Kyosuke]] in ''United By Fate'' and [[spoiler:Yurika]] in ''Project Justice'') ends up [[BecomingTheMask switching over to the good guys]] because of the friendships they've developed.
* Parodied in the season finale of ''VideoGame/SamAndMaxFreelancePolice'' season 2 when Sam tells Satan that he managed to escape his own eternal punishment through the power of friendship and cooperation. Max then adds that he mauled the demon guard and ripped out his kidneys.
* ''VideoGame/SamuraiWarriors'': The personal philosophy of Kanetsugu Naoe (well, that and Justice). Everyone else is annoyed by his constant speechifying and tells him to shut up.
* Part of the plot of the ''[[VideoGame/{{Touhou}} Touhou Project]]'' fangame ''Sengoku Gensokyo'' deals with Reimu being incredibly thick-skulled when it comes to this trope. Eiki Shiki, [[spoiler: Suika and Yukari]] are all heavily invested in helping Reimu realize that yes, this trope ''is'' a thing, and no, allies are not just there for the sake of convenience. Also, interacting with your team's characters often enough will result in bonuses to selected stats.
* This is a gameplay mechanic in ''VideoGame/ShiningForceIII''. If two characters work together to defeat an enemy unit or heal each other they can gain relationship point,to increase the level of their relationship Ally-Partner-Friend-Trusted-[[ThePowerOfLove Soulmate]]. When two characters with a relationship level stand near each other, they get a stat boost.
* In ''[[VideoGame/{{Shantae}} Shantae Half Genie Hero]]'', when [[spoiler:Shantae is corrupted by dark magic]], it seems like all hope is lose...until Bolo, Sky, and Rottytops remind Shantae about who she is. Sure enough, she is able to overpower the dark magic with her friend's words. ''Friends To The End'' takes this even farther, showing the trio fighting through Shantae's memories to save her.
* In a nonstandard approach in the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' series, the Bonds Route of ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIVApocalypse'' is all about this. In fact, it's capable of [[spoiler:exposing the GreaterScopeVillain YHVH as a mere demon and destroying him ''completely!'']]
* This is what Red of ''VideoGame/{{Solatorobo}}'' says keeps him going even when things get rough. [[spoiler:Also the reason he claims the Caninu and Felineko will not dissolve into war like the humans did, since humans only began to war on a global scale when they stopped helping each other get better.]]
* The ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'' series seems keen on the theme of friendship.
** In ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'', the power of friendship restored the Chaos Emeralds' power after they've been drained by Perfect Chaos, giving Sonic the means to go [[SuperMode Super]] in order to stop the rampaging beast from destroying the world. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that the Emeralds' powers are activated and fueled by emotions (be it positive or [[ThePowerOfHate negative]]), so Sonic and his friends opted to "channel" their positive emotions to restore them.
%% ** The general theme of ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'' deals with teamwork and friendship.
** The general theme of ''[[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries Sonic Rush]]'', where the power of friendship allows Blaze to access the power of the Sol Emeralds and go Super to stop the Eggmen from taking over the world.
** Displayed in ''VideoGame/SonicForces''. When Eggman is shocked that Sonic and the [[CharacterCustomization Avatar character]] got out of Null Space, Sonic explains that he had help from said Avatar. In the second instance, Infinite scorns the idea of friendship, but Sonic [[ShutUpHannibal shuts him up]] by telling him the help of his friends has brought him this far to stop him and that his power influenced by the Phantom Ruby is the real illusion.
* ''VideoGame/SpiritsOfAnglerwoodForest'': This is how the final boss is defeated. In the first phase, Edgar's friends provide extra salt to protect him. In the second phase, [[spoiler: Edgar places the branches of his tree-ified friends and family into Ezra's tree, uncorrupting his spirit]].
* The main character, Edge, of ''VideoGame/StarOceanTheLastHope'' will repeat the same sappy, sugary lines about the power of friendship until the player gets diabetes.
* ''VideoGame/StarWarsRepublicCommando''. "We'll beat them, Delta Squad!"
* Not only do characters in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' get bonuses when they're next to a friend (Or [[TheRival rival]] or [[ThePowerOfLove romantic interest]]), but two of the abilities a pilot can have, Trust and Faith, replenish an ally's HP - That's right, you're repairing physical damage to a HumongousMecha through the Power of Friendship.
** A similar system applies to Jump Ultimate Stars. If you place friends next to your playable characters in your deck, the friend will give the playable character a boost to their maximum HP.
* ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'':
** The ''Tales'' series as a whole began using this from ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'' onwards; focusing its storylines around how friendship can fix anything ([[VideoGame/TalesOfGraces even a]] HeelFaceTurn via DemonicPossession [[ProtagonistCenteredMorality can be fixed by believing in friendship enough]]). Considering that their stories ''used'' to deal with more "mature" issues like [[VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia free will]], [[VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss cloning]] and [[VideoGame/TalesOfLegendia rac]][[VideoGame/TalesOfRebirth ism]]. To clarify: while previous games in the series ''did'' use the Power of Friendship, it was only ever brought up as part of the obligatory speeches; not ''the'' core plot element.
** ''VideoGame/TalesOfHearts'' uses this ''constantly'' in its themes. Then it starts [[RelationshipValues measuring it]] about a third into the game. Then, your characters start sharing abilities when their Soma Link gets high enough. And then you [[GuideDangIt find out]] that one of the {{Limit Break}}s has an extension which is unlocked when the character's total bond is high enough. All while never forgetting to bring it up in every other line of dialogue.
** ''VideoGame/TalesOfGraces'':
*** There's a joke that the "f" added to ''VideoGame/TalesOfGraces'' for its UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 UpdatedRerelease stands for "friendship" because this trope is pretty much the key theme of the game.
*** Try to count how many times Asbel says the word "protect" or "friends" in ''VideoGame/TalesOfGraces.'' But don't make this into a drinking game. If you did, you would die. You would die horribly. The frequency of friend-protection [[VideoGame/TalesOfRebirth rivals that of]] [[MemeticMutation KUREAAAA]].
* [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]] in ''VideoGame/ThiefIITheMetalAge''. One of the epigraphs that preceed the cinematic sequences before each level is from the Keepers' Book of Secrets: "Reliance on others is strength for the weak, but weakness for the strong. Wisdom lies in knowing one's own nature over time." [[AntiHero Garrett]] has always been a (effectual) loner, but winds up needing to [[EnemyMine make allies]] to solve the problems he faces in the game. If the epigraph is correct, this means Garrett used to be strong but now has become weak.
* A major theme in ''VideoGame/ThomasWasAlone.''
* ''VideoGame/ValkyrieProfileCovenantOfThePlume'' deconstructs this trope. The main character carries a cursed artifact, the Destiny Plume, which makes the target super-strong for one battle [[DeadlyUpgrade but kills them at the end of the fight]]. It only works on people who trust him and consider him a friend, and none of them realize he's the one who's cutting them down. Frequent use of it makes you more powerful, but as you can imagine, it's not exactly healthy for your KarmaMeter. As it's mentioned, "The closer the better". This also turns it into a form of GameplayAndStoryIntegration, since you can't sacrifice "guest" characters (partly because they're important to the plot of that story arc) as they haven't actually considered Wyl their friend yet.
* This theme is prominent in ''VideoGame/TheWitcher'' if you choose to work with the Order or, more accurately, with the knight Siegfried. From the very start, Geralt muses that he prefers to work alone but fighting monsters [[BackToBackBadasses back-to-back with Siegfried]] has unexpected advantages. Throughout the game, the two men can develop a friendship that is awkward at first (since they come from very different backgrounds and neither is particularly good at being friends) but becomes one of unconditional trust towards the end.
* Part of the point behind ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'' is getting IneffectualLoner Neku to open up and cooperate with his teammates in order to survive "The Game" being played around Shibuya. Keeping close ties (or, in game terms, a high "Sync" ratio) with them increases their fighting effectiveness, since [[TheHeartless the Noise]] also fight in tandem.
* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' defeating both raid bosses and the opposing faction requires effective communication, teamwork, and persistence. This is why guilds are more successful than pick-up groups.
* In ''VideoGame/YuGiOhReshefOfDestruction'', a recurring theme is the connection between duelists and friends.
* ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles'', though strangely more prevalent in gameplay than in the story. Shulk's ability to [[MagneticHero befriend anyone]] notwithstanding, the affinity system controls how effective the party is at working together, based on character relationships. Members of the party who have higher affinity with each other can use longer and more damaging chain attacks... [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking As well as craft higher quality gems. ]]
* ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2'' may as well live ''way'' more on this trope so much that the player will be annoyed whenever Rex spouts the trope word-for-word every battle.
* ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' could be called "The Power of Friendship: TheMovie". Throughout the game, you have to either kill monsters in your way, or "spare" them, which often requires befriending them through dialogue during the battle beforehand. In fact, [[spoiler: the game is so dependent on this trope that the end of the game changes significantly depending on wether you were a friend to the monsters or not]]. [[spoiler: The true ending of the game]] is actually unavailable unless you manage to befriend everyone in the Underground. Even worse, should you do [[spoiler: a Genocide playthrough, in which you kill anything, including friends, you'll do irreversible damage to the game and the Pacifist Playthrough.]]
** [[spoiler: The final boss of the Neutral Route consists of you joining forces with the lost humans souls, who heal you when you call for help, lower Flowey's defense to 0 and remove his powers.]]
** [[spoiler: During the True Pacifist Run, you beat the final boss by calling out to your friends and reminding them of the times you spent together.]]
** [[spoiler: In an interesting [[InvertedTrope inversion]], in a Genocide route, Undyne believes that ''she's'' using the power of friendship to stop you from progressing into Hotland, which is why she survives the lethal blow you dish out to her. Due to her having a similar death animation as the amalgamates in the True Lab, some fans believe that she's actually using [[GodzillaThreshold determination]] to survive your attacks.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Visual Novels]]
* Played straight in ''VisualNovel/SilverCrisis''. The story goes out of it’s way time and time again to show how important it is to place your trust in others and not isolate yourself. [[spoiler: By the end of the story, the bond and trust Lucario and Lucas made with each other gives them the opportunity to make Silver lower his guard and defeat said Godlike being in the end.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* A major theme in ''WebAnimation/{{TOME}}: Terrain of Magical Expertise.'' Because the entire show takes place in a Video Game, the idea that relationships can blossom and come to life over cyberspace is an extremely important concept. Through their adventures and their experiences together, the five man band become close friends despite not being able to see each other in person [[spoiler: until the GrandFinale]].
* In ''WebAnimation/DeathBattle'', this was explored in the season two finale between [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Red and Charizard]] and [[Franchise/{{Digimon}} Tai and Agumon]]. While both young heroes have major bonds between their fire-breathing lizard companions, Wiz and Boomstick ultimately decide that what Red and Charizard has is probably more akin to Master and Slave at worst, and Master and Pet at best, where Tai and Agumon's bond is that of true friendship. This is easily shown when Tai runs up and delivers a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown on Red, upset that Mega Charizard X is essentially being a bully to [=WarGreymon=], demanding he call off Charizard.
** That being said, host Boomstick absolutely detests this trope, his voice dripping in sarcasm and/or disdain when the trope comes up. Being a walking stereotype of the [[GunNut gun-loving]], [[TheAlcoholic beer-guzzling]], [[BloodKnight violence-loving]] Southern Redneck, it makes sense.
* ''WebAnimation/{{Dreamscape}}'': The friendships between the characters is given a big foucs in this.
* ''WebAnimation/DSBTInsaniT'': This is one of the "messages" of this web series. Its not given a huge focus, but its definitely there.
* ''Machinima/RedVsBlue'':
** Once the series starts moving away from pure shenanigans and starts providing a framework to understand their universe, the odds stacked against the Blood Gulch Crew are absurd - the only way they can even survive is by increasingly relying on each other, working past their faults and shortcomings, even as they relentlessly needle each other for those faults. Of note are three instances in the later seasons:
** The crew's combined efforts allow them to take down [[spoiler:the Meta, who had spent all of seasons 6-8 being a [[HeroKiller ruthless]], [[TheDreaded terrifying]] [[TheJuggernaut juggernaut]].]] The only way they accomplished this, according to WordOfGod, is by the power of friendship.
** When Agent Carolina and Epsilon are on their last legs, [[spoiler:the Blood Gulch crew arrives [[BigDamnHeroes in style]] ]]to help her fend off a seemingly endless wave of books.
** During the last two episodes of season 13, the Blood Gulch Crew are up against [[spoiler:Felix]], a professional [[HiredGuns Hired Gun]] who is also a veteran of the Great War and strong enough to fight Freelancers. After being mocked by him for the last season-and-a-half, and having no backup from their Freelancer friends, the Crew stick together and [[CurbStompBattle completely humiliate him in a one-sided fight]] before [[spoiler:[[DisneyDeath sending him over the edge of a tower to his death.]]]] Then when they infiltrate the headship of [[spoiler:Chairman Hargrove, they are trapped in his trophy room with his forces about to breach the door, so they gather up all the weapons they have around them in the room, including the Meta's improved armor, and [[LastStand stand together, saying their goodbyes to each other while waiting for the enemy.]]]] Epsilon gets special mention in this moment for [[spoiler:[[HeroicSacrifice sacrificing himself by deconstructing himself]] so he can run Meta's armor and give his friends a chance of making it out alive, even if he'll never know if it worked.]]
* In ''WebAnimation/XRayAndVav'', Hilda uses this to free her robotic friend ORF from The Mad King. The Mad King responds to this with "What is this Disney bullshit?!"
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/DragonMango'':
** [[http://dragon-mango.com/comic/chapter07/dm07-49.htm Peaches sturdily defends treating her animals as friends, not subjects.]]
** [[http://dragon-mango.com/comic/chapter07/dm07-63.htm Later, she has to]] [[http://dragon-mango.com/comic/chapter07/dm07-64.htm escalate the matter.]]
* ''Webcomic/TheDreamlandChronicles'': [[http://www.thedreamlandchronicles.com/the-dreamland-chronicles/page-966/ can bring you back from death's door]]
* ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'': [[http://www.egscomics.com/?date=2012-09-25 Grace explains]] that the Power of Friendship is greater than the suckiness of the altered versions of the original StarWars movies.
* In ''Webcomic/FauxPas'', [[http://www.ozfoxes.net/cgi/pl-fp1.cgi?590 Toast is deeply moved when Cindy calls him a friend.]]
* In ''Webcomic/{{Flipside}}'', this is BlitheSpirit Maytag's entire modus operandi. She can defeat otherwise implacable villains by refusing to treat them ''as'' villains. To truly understand this, she manages to befriend a NighInvulnerable, [[HorrorHunger cursed]] monster girl while that girl is [[spoiler:''[[ImAHumanitarian eating her]]'']].
* ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'':
** This is the main theme, and it doesn't just apply to the friendship of the four main characters. Does anyone have the relevant Andrew Hussie quote?
** [[http://www.formspring.me/andrewhussie/q/400269965 "as always, friendship prevails."]]
** This is even more evident in the [[http://homestuck.bandcamp.com/album/squiddles Squiddles]]. In fact, a line from their theme song is "''The power of friendship and ThePowerOfLove...''"
---> "I think I'm having a friendship aneurysm!"
** Karkat, the grouchy hate-spigot who once claimed that friendship counts as a disease for his species, seems to be friends of some closeness or another with all but one or two of the other trolls, and ends up being the glue that holds them together as a team (which one of the other trolls theorizes actually screwed them over because ''normally'' trolls are so combative that hatred is a form of romance which plays a key part in breeding, and they have a whole extra form of romance just to prevent regular hate from mutating into an adulterous breeding-hate). On top of that, he's the direct descendant of what amounts to troll Jesus, who actively preached that trolls could become a great species if they would only adopt a philosophy of friendship and love (it didn't work).
** Notably at one point, Karkat settles down a rampaging troll by shooshing him and papping his face, when everybody else was gunning to kill him. Although mind you, this counts as a form of romance to trolls as well.
* Ruthlessly {{parodied}} in [[http://oglaf.com/hefty-grogol/ this strip]] of ''WebComic/{{Oglaf}}''. A heroine has taken up the challenge of defeating [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Grogol the Vast]]. She asks guidance from her weapon, [[TalkingWeapon Sword of Friendship]], and the Sword reminds her that "[[InvokedTrope nothing is stronger than friendship!]]" The heroine doesn't believe this, which leads the Sword to ask if she could ''pretend'' to believe... for friendship's sake. The heroine agrees and when she faces Grogol, the Sword [[PowerGlows shines brightly]], and Grogol does a HeelFaceTurn, becoming their friend. This is when the Sword says: "[[MoodWhiplash Now stab the cunt]]", and in the next panel we see the heroine standing on Grogol's corpse yelling triumphantly: "[[BrokenAesop Don't mess with friendship, bitches!]]" Believe it or not, this trope gets deconstructed ''even further'' in the AltText:
-->The gauntlets of hang-on-you're-a-dick could have saved him.
* ''Webcomic/OurLittleAdventure'': The power of friendship apparently [[http://danielscreations.com/ola/comics/ep0005.html cures light wounds.]]
* ''Webcomic/{{Paranatural}}'': Isaac is a very blatant {{Shounen}} archetype (he's got BishieSparkle, dramatic poses, and the thanks of grateful supernatural beings) but because of the [[PowersViaPossession dangerous misanthropic thunder-creature inside him]] he [[LockedOutOfTheLoop can't really be part of the group]] and he's getting quite tired of it:
-->'''Isaac:''' Are you my friend or not?! I answered your questions, I showed you my secret shortcut... You OWE me! You--\\
'''Max:''' Yeah OK I'm stopping you there. If that's how you're framing things I'm gonna need you to back up and try again, because that's not how being my friend or ''anyone's'' friend ''works''.
* ''Webcomic/{{PREQUEL}}'' painfully subverts this. [[spoiler: Katia is in one of her nightmares where she's being pursued by an [[EldritchAbomination evil King]]. She dreams up her friend Quill-Weave, holds her hand for courage...and then the King promptly eviscerates Quill-Weave.]] It's called [[EitherOrTitle Making A Cat Cry:]] [[YankTheDogsChain The Adventure]] for a reason.
* In ''Webcomic/RPGWorld'', the main character Hero's power is derived from his bond with his friends. Or at least, the two main female characters.
* Seems to be a reoccurring theme in ''Webcomic/SamuraiPrincess''.
* ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'' runs on it, in a twisted way. The mercenaries are amoral and violent, have to be wary of every government body, and have to treat the concept of "allies" with dubious detachment at best. But they can damn sure rely on their friends and no mistake.
* In ''Webcomic/{{Sinfest}}'', [[http://www.sinfest.net/view.php?date=2012-08-24 Lily and Tangerine love it so much they do the Friendship Dance.]]
* This is probably the chief reason that Davan from ''Webcomic/SomethingPositive'' is still hanging in there. Granted, in this case it's the power of ''dysfunctional'' friendship, but they're nevertheless the strongest force in his life.
* ''Webcomic/TerrorIsland'', of all comics, had this: the entire plot revolved around roommates Sid and Stephen trying to make the other buy the groceries. [[spoiler: At the end, they report having found a grocery store. When asked which of them bought the groceries first, they say that they both did. They're asked how that's possible, and they respond "friendship".]]
* ''Webcomic/TwoKinds'': when Master General Alaric turns the system of his homeland on it's head, exploits every loophole in the system, and faces his own death with a steadfast determination, [[MyGreatestFailure just to do right]] [[http://twokinds.keenspot.com/archive.php?p=583 by his best friend.]]
* ''Webcomic/{{Unordinary}}'': Part of Blyke's season two level-up plays into this. During his first vigilante mission, Blyke looks like he's struggling against multiple villains, but his desire to get stronger in order to protect his friends, such as Remi and Isen, leads to his ability going through a change that knocks all the villains back. It can be assumed that this was the moment his Energy Beam upgraded to Energy Discharge.
* One of ''Webcomic/WeakHero'''s major themes is Gray slowly befriending Ben and his gang, and coming to realise that he's more powerful with them at his side rather than without. Gray withdrew into himself after his first friend was hospitalised by bullies, but the constant show of camaraderie and loyalty by the gang are able to draw him back out of his shell.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall'': Subverted by Linkara at the end of his Mechakara saga.
-->"You're not just a tool, you're my friend! And you're also well paid!"
%%*[[http://www.sir-toby.com/extend-a-story/story-2/code/read.php?episode=3747 The Black Void]]
* Wyn from the web fiction serial ''Literature/DimensionHeroes'' refuses to team up with the other Dimensional Guardians until he falls under the control of a monster and is subsequently freed by them, realizing that the only way he'll be able to defeat the forces of darkness is to team up with them.
* An episode of ''WebVideo/GameGrumps'' playthrough of Mario Party 8 has a moment where Jon says "Jon and Arin Win! They realize friendship's more important!" Followed by a great moment of Barry's editing. For many, it cemented Game Grumps as a show made two incredibly close friends, which has only been expanded upon with more of their friends and family becoming a part of the "Grump Family".
* According to the 11/26 uStream, this along with the fanbase are what's keeping the cast of ''WebVideo/EverymanHYBRID'' sane. Compare it to many other [[Franchise/TheSlenderManMythos Slender Man Mythos]] stories where, for the most part, the protagonists are alone against him.
* This is the primary 'weapon' utilized by members of the ''Blog/KnightsOfFandom''.
* In her review of ''Film/SpiceWorld'', the only plus WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick can give the Spice Girls is at least they were marketed as being friends. But they screwed that up in their reunion video when they weren't even looking at each other.
* LetsPlay/TheRunawayGuys, when not at each other's throats, manage to pull of impressive feats of gaming with their teamwork. [[{{LetsPlay/Chuggaaconroy}} Chugga]] in particular inspires his teammates through his [[RousingSpeech friendship speeches]].
* ''Literature/SailorNothing'':
** Played darkly straight. The usual tone of this trope's use in Sailor Nothing: Himei wakes up everyday and [[spoiler:stops herself from slitting her wrists open by reminding herself that she has friends to live for.]]
** When Himei is ready to [[spoiler:[[DespairEventHorizon lie down and die]] at the hands of [[ADarkerMe her own Yamiko,]] Aki gets her up by saying, "Himei! If you die, you can't go on your date tomorrow!"]]
* ''Roleplay/SurvivalOfTheFittest'' plays this for drama, and also tragedy. In a story where the goal is to the the last one left standing and the main moral appears to be "don't trust anybody", friendship has no place and SOTF has no qualms with showing the reader exactly why. Version 0 ends with Sydney Morvran and his friends hiding in the school building. [[spoiler:An accidentally dropped flashbang causes them all to go insane with paranoia and butcher each other, Syd using one of them as a human shield.]] Groups and friendships both tend to collapse in a dramatic fashion, especially once suspicion of killers starts to go around, and people often end up being slaughtered by others who were their closest colleagues before the game. Battle Royale, which SOTF is based on, used this trope.
* In ''ARG/TheWallWillFall'' AlternateRealityGame, this was an integral part of defeating Cthulhu. Yes, ''that'' [[{{Necronomicon}} Cthulhu]]. The final battle involved players writing stories and songs around the theme of teamwork after selecting [[HeroicSacrifice one of their own]] to challenge the Elder God directly. According to WordOfGod, the players hit the required amount of writing within ''two days'' of the announcement. This, plus their concern for the player being sent on what was effectively a SuicideMission lead to the end of the game being changed in order to save them.
* Discussed in the ''Website/{{Cracked}}'' article, [[http://www.cracked.com/blog/so-youve-discovered-youre-scooby-doo-villain/?wa_user1=4&wa_user2=Weird+World&wa_user3=blog&wa_user4=feature_module "So You've Discovered You're a Scooby Doo Villain"]]
-->'''Chris Bucholz:''' OK, so they all have rings of fire. That makes sense, actually.\\
'''Francise/ScoobyDoo Villain:''' Isn't that cheating, all of them having the best power?\\
'''Chris Bucholz:''' Technically their best power is probably friendship, but yes, all of them having fire rings is also pretty devastating.\\
'''Scooby Doo Villain:''' How did they get the rings?\\
'''Chris Bucholz:''' Have you angered any wizards lately?\\
'''Scooby Doo Villain:''' Maybe?\\
'''Chris Bucholz:''' Well, what about the government? How on board do you think they are with your little operation?\\
'''Scooby Doo Villain:''' Not very.\\
'''Chris Bucholz:''' Right. What I think has happened here is the government has developed powerful magic rings and given them to these teens, to harness their natural anti-smuggling powers.\\
'''Scooby Doo Villain:''' You think that's more effective than sending the FBI or the DEA or a highly-trained team of military operators after me?\\
'''Chris Bucholz:''' None of those have the power of friendship.\\
'''Highly Trained Secret Agent:''' Breach on my signal. Remember to cooperate, share, and above all else, ''have fun in there''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Mandell was a little more subtle about it with the ''[[WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGalaxyRangers Galaxy Rangers]]'', but their "pool the badges" tactic is built on this. It also featured prominently in "Mindnet," where the other three go out of their way to clear Shane's name, and Shane overtly chooses his friends over his Supertrooper "family." It also was played wonderfully in "Psychocrypt" when Doc, Niko, and Shane decide to help Zach.
* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'', Gumball bursts out of a cement prison after seeing the possible outcome of his friendship if he weren't to get to someone's house in time whilst saying the trope name in the process.
* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'':
** It's the only thing that can [[CooldownHug cool down]] Aang's UnstoppableRage. Azula's VillainousBreakdown is largely due to her inability to inspire loyalty through trust and friendship instead of fear. It was also implied that friendship can withstand generations--as in, they last lifetimes through {{reincarnation}}.
** Avatar Roku tried to use the Power of Friendship to restrain Fire Lord Sozin, and it worked initially. [[spoiler: When Roku tried to stop a volcano from destroying his village, Sozin helped him, and this was ''after'' Roku put the veto on Sozin's expansion plans. Then Roku fell into a vulnerable position and Sozin left him for dead. When he was older, he immensely regretted it.]]
** Zuko becoming friends with the rest of Team Avatar is a lot of what causes his HeelFaceTurn. His mother even tells him once they find her in the comics that he’s lucky to have such a good group of friends.
* The whole point of ''WesternAnimation/BarbieAndTheDiamondCastle''.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheBoondocks'' makes a SpoofAesop out of this, with Flonominal and Thugnificent stating that the only reason to ever have friends is so that you never have to deal with your own problems like a man, instead relying on other people to take care of your problems for you.
* ''WesternAnimation/CaveKids'' has this trope as the central aesop of every episode.
* The ''WesternAnimation/CareBears'' do this a lot, often by using the CareBearStare, or actually telling people about true friendship.
* ''Animation/CubixRobotsForEveryone'' runs on this. If Connor refuses to give up on him, then he's coming back, even if everyone else in the show agrees he shouldn't be able to. This is how Connor fixes him in the first episode, before the two of them have even technically 'met'.
* This is a recurring theme with Lena's character arc in ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017''.
** In the episode "Jaw$!", Webby claims that "friendship is the greatest magic of all", and wants to use her friendship with Lena to stop a rampaging magical gold shark. [[spoiler: It works when Lena finishes the spell.]]
** In the later episode "Friendship Hates Magic!", [[spoiler:Lena and Violet do something similar to save Webby from shadow realm monsters. Immediately afterwards, the three joining hands inadvertently taps into Webby's friendship bracelet and brings Lena back to the physical world.]]
** "A Nightmare on Killmotor Hill!" has [[spoiler:all the kids form a ChainOfPeople to keep Lena from getting pulled through a mirror by Magica, with the shot drawing attention to the friendship bracelets Lena had given all of them earlier in the night (save for Webby, whose bracelet was introduced in "Jaw$!").]]
** In "The Phantom and The Sorceress!", [[spoiler:it's revealed that Lena's personal magic is literally fueled by her feelings of friendship towards Webby, explaining why it turns a soft blue during those moments as opposed to the purple magic when she uses Magica's amulet.]]
* The second season of ''WesternAnimation/{{Ewoks}}'' has this as its basic premise - the four main characters are the best friends.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'', this is lampshaded in the ShowWithinAShow Dinobonoids where one character boldly exclaims how useful their friendship was to destroying their enemies.
* The titular character's catchphrase in ''WesternAnimation/JuliusJr'' is "The best inventions are the ones that help your friends". That must say lots about the show.
* In ''WesternAnimation/KaijudoRiseOfTheDuelMasters'', [[TheHero Ray]] sets himself apart from most other Duel Masters by going out of his way to treat the monsters he summons as his friends as opposed to living weapons. This ends up having a rare practical application in the season 2 finale when he turns the tide against [[BigBad the Choten]] by summoning another ''five'' creatures to aid him. When the Choten points out that that many creatures can't be controlled all at once, Ray responds, [[ShutUpHannibal "I don't need to control them. They are my friends"]].
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyAndFriends'' features this in the episode "The Magic Coins". Niblick, creator of the coins, refuses to help Megan and company undo the damage [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor the ponies' poorly though-out wishes on the coins]] have caused unless they bring him a treasure of greater or equal value than the coins. After three failed attempts, Megan finally gets the idea to use the last of the coins to wish for a friend for Niblick, which even the crotchety troll comes to agree is a better treasure than anything he could think up.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''.
** Specifically, the titular "Magic of Friendship", backed by the [[AmplifierArtifact Elements of Harmony]], can fire a rainbow-coloured nigh-omnipotent WaveMotionGun that can either [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu punch out]] [[{{Eldritch Abomination}} Lovecraftian Chaos Gods]] or reform villains into forces of good. Then again, what else could you possibly expect from something with [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a title like that]]?
** "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS2E26ACanterlotWeddingPart2 A Canterlot Wedding]]" has the Changeling Army, creatures that [[EmotionEater feed on love]], who ''aren't'' defeated by the Power of Friendship. Instead, they suffer [[ThePowerOfLove a nasty backstab from their evening meal (and friendship's close cousin)]].
** "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS3E11KeepCalmAndFlutterOn Keep Calm and Flutter On]]" is one of the most noteworthy examples in the show, by having Fluttershy reform [[MadGod Dis]][[GodOfEvil cord]] simply by trying to be the first friend he ever had. When Discord [[BatmanGambit tries taking advantage of this]] in a gambit to keep her from using her Element of Harmony against him so he can run rampant, she agrees to it--[[OutGambitted she'll just stop being his friend if he continues to misbehave]]. Discord, it turns out, would rather have fun together with someone than no one at all.
** "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS4E26TwilightsKingdomPart2 Twlight's Kingdom]]" invokes this trope literally. The two-parter has BigBad Tirek absorb ''all of the magic powers'' of the ponies in Equestria -- including the four near-immortal alicorn goddesses as well as the previously mentioned God of Chaos. He can only be defeated with Pure Friendship from the Tree of Harmony... aka the main characters undergoing [[Anime/DragonBallZ Super Saiyan-esque]] transformations and hitting him with a six-part WaveMotionGun that covers the entire continent.
** "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E26TheCutieRemarkPart2 The Cutie Remark]]" firmly establishes that the [[ProjectileSpell Projectile Spells]] all come down to the bonds forged by ponies extending their hooves in friendship. Shattered relationships make the whole power weaker and the best way to make it stronger is to not only reforge those bonds, but to also make new ones along the way. Thus, friendship really ''is'' magic in this world.
** "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS8E26SchoolRazePart2 School Raze]]" is essentially what happens when someone only reads the "can fire a rainbow-coloured nigh-omnipotent WaveMotionGun that punches-out [[{{Eldritch Abomination}} Lovecraftian Chaos Gods]]" part of the above description and forgets the actual ''friendship'' part. Twilight explains how she missed the point:
--->'''Twilight''': But I still don't understand. Why?\\
'''[[spoiler:Cozy Glow]]''': Why? Friendship is power! You might be the Princess of Friendship, but as Headmare of this school, I can collect even more friends than you!\\
'''Twilight''': ''You're'' the one who doesn't get it, [[spoiler:Cozy]]. Friendship ''is'' powerful, but power isn't why you make friends.
** Grogar tries to evoke a VillainousFriendship variant of this after explaining to Lord Tirek, Cozy Glow, Queen Chrysalis, and King Sombra that the reason they've all been repeatedly defeated by Twilight Sparkle and her friends is because the ponies ''work together'', and that if they pool their resources they'll have no trouble overpowering the ponies. Cozy Glow is thoroughly enthused about the idea, while the rest are more skeptical... until King Sombra tries to go it alone and gets KilledOffForReal by The Power Of Friendship ''alone''... which scares Tirek and Chrysalis into falling in line as well.
---> '''Cozy Glow:''' Now I'll say something nice about centaurs. Tirek, you say something nice about changelings. And Chrysalis, you say something nice about ponies!
---> '''Queen Chrysalis:''' [[BigNo Never!]]
** Throughout the series, the Mane 6 each learn how the magic of friendship effect their everyday life, then use their talents to teach all ponies, and later all creatures, the concept. In the [[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS9E25TheEndingOfTheEndPart2 penultimate episode]], this culminates in [[spoiler:''everyone in Equestria'' joining them to take down Cozy, Tirek and Chrysalis, ending with the Pillars, the Mane Six, and the Student Six channeling the Power of Friendship into Twilight to send a massive WaveMotionGun to the villains' faces.]]
* The major theme in ''WesternAnimation/OnceUponAForest''.
* ZigZaggingTrope in ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'' when Private builds a robot suit to hug a deadly poisonous frog who has taken over the zoo with threats.
-->"I'd be a grumpy gus too if no-one ever hugged me."\\
"Hey, you know what? I never have been hugged. Maybe this is what I needed. Or maybe I'm just a jerk who enjoys bullying other animals."\\
"Oh. Well, in that case I can just squeeze you until you pop like a grape."\\
"No, no, hugging's good! ... Actually I'm liking the hug."
* ''WesternAnimation/PrincessGwenevereAndTheJewelRiders'' is built on this trope. The Riders and their jewels are even bound in a ceremony called the Circle of Friendship.
* ''WesternAnimation/RocketPower'': Part of Reggie Rocket's pep talk in the later part of "Race Across New Zealand": "We're not just another team out here. We're friends. And that's what makes us better."
* The GrandFinale to ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated'' has the gang apply this in order to [[spoiler:defeat the EldritchAbomination that's served as the true BigBad the whole time.]]
* Definitely a theme of ''WesternAnimation/SofiaTheFirst'', in which the title characters ability to make friends and see the good in everybody is revolutionizing things in the castle that she moved to after she became royalty.
* Deconstructed in ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'', where the titular character tried to invoke this to force Mr. Krabs and Plankton to work together in ''The Other Patty''. In fact, this plan was to support his own "goofball scheme" as Mr. Krabs in fact. So in the end, they try to give Spongbob a piece of their mind while he flees from them.
* ''WesternAnimation/StrawberryShortcake'' is big on this and large portions of the 2003 series in particular operate on it. The ultimate expression of it is the songs "Back Together" (from "A Horse of a Different Color") and "The Gift of Friendship" (from "A Berry Merry Christmas.")
* A central theme in ''WesternAnimation/SuperNoobs'' focuses specifically on friendship. The six main characters constantly have to learn to work together and have to go through tons of hurdles that test their friendship to the extreme in order to beat the virus and fond its creators.
* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'':
** In the fourth season, Raven, after becoming her father's portal to Earth and being transformed into a powerless, younger version of herself, is able to [[DeusExMachina regain all of her powers by drawing on The Power of Friendship]] and cause a complete SnapBack of the [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt global destruction]] Trigon caused.
** With the Robin/Slade dynamic, Robin's friendship with the rest of the team, by Robin's own words, serves the same purpose that Franchise/{{Batman}}'s [[ThouShaltNotKill code against killing]] does: it's the brake preventing him from crossing the line and [[HeWhoFightsMonsters becoming what he fights]]. Robin even explicitly states that this thing is what separates him from Slade, despite the fact that both are zealous and determined.
** Usually [[AnAesop the aesop]] of ''Teen Titans'' involves this trope.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Trollz}}'', the Magic of the Five runs off of this. If the girls used spells by themselves, or if one of them were missing, they usually weren't able to defeat Simon.
* ''WesternAnimation/WonderPets'': What's gonna work? TEAMWORK!!
* Disney seems to like this trope a lot:
** The theme of friendship and teamwork as key to the heroes' success underlies many of the plots in ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible''. In fact, in the first movie "A Sitch in Time," [[spoiler: Shego mentions [[EvilCannotComprehendGood not understanding this phenomenon between Kim and Ron]], but acknowledges it, and specifically made efforts to separate the two of them in order to counter it.]]
** ''WesternAnimation/{{Recess}}'' often plays this trope straight as the main cast works together to resolve whatever problem they face. Then there's this weird episode.
** When playing kickball against a team of weirdly similar kids from a neighboring school, T.J. tells his friends they can beat their {{doppelganger}}s because they have the Power of Friendship... and the camera cuts to his counterpart ''telling her team the same thing''. Both groups are friends internally, but competing against each other.
* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo''. Rose Wilson is [[ActionGirl too]] [[EyepatchOfPower cool]] for the Titans to take in a fight, defeating them in their first confrontation [[WordsCanBreakMyBones with sarcastic insults]]. Ashamed by how uncool they are, the Titans go to [[RuleOfCool Cool]] School to become cooler for their rematch... only for Rose to ''still'' overpower them with her coolness. What ultimately defeats Rose? The Titans start telling their teammates [[AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther how they feel about each other]]. The [[VomitIndiscretionShot sickening]] display of sincere, unironic emotions proves [[SuckinessIsPainful too much]] for Rose, and she's taken back to jail.
* The key theme of ''WesternAnimation/WanderOverYonder'', embodied in [[PlatonicLifePartners the relationship between Wander and Sylvia]] and in Wander's attempts to reform the villainous Lord Hater by befriending him. [[spoiler: Friendship with [[AllLovingHero Wander]] has resulted in many a HeelFaceTurn.]]
* Invoked and lampshaded in one episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSmoggies''; when Polluto's beloved pet bird Ralph accidentally falls into the tar-bubble blowing machinery and is trapped inside one of the bubbles, Polluto goes charging off to try and save him. In doing so, he smashes ''through'' the gunwale of the ship, hits the ocean, and starts swimming at a very impressive speed toward Coral Island -- which prompts a flabbergasted Captain Clarence to point out that Polluto actually doesn't know ''how'' to swim.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]
* Dennis Rodman seems to be trying to invoke this with his visit with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, telling him that he has a "friend for life." It is Rodman's hope that his visit may help, if even in some little way, to cool the hostility of the North Korean government towards the United States.
* Hoplites in battle, whose main strength was in trusting that they could depend on each other.
** Also done by any successful army: when they trust their companions their teamwork make them stronger, but if they don't they're liable to break up at the first trouble even when they should have a crushing advantage against the enemy.
* Invoked by the US military after a massive earthquake and tsunami struck Japan on the 11th of March 2011. The aid mission that they launched on the 12th was called "Operation Tomodachi" (Japanese for friend).
* The most successful animals in nature tend to be those who cooperate with others, either of their own species or not.
* Truth in music? Queen wrote an awesome song about the Power of Friendship, the aptly titled [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuxS-9t3tnY Friends will be Friends]]
* The reason why the Human species has become the dominant species of Earth, along with great creativity, the ability of think out strategies and [[BreadEggsMilkSquick unlimited ruthlessness.]]
** Some anthropologists also suggest that the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toba_catastrophe_theory Toba Event]] forced the early humans of Eastern Africa to learn to work together or face extinction.
** Not just Humans, Mammals in general tend towards being social animals, and it's a large reason to why they're so successful. Orcas, Wolves, and Chimps also have complicated strategies relying on teamwork to take down prey.
* The relationship between UsefulNotes/FranklinDRoosevelt and UsefulNotes/WinstonChurchill helped save Britain and the world from UsefulNotes/NaziGermany.
** There was an attempt to arrange a dialogue in Munich between Hitler and Churchill in November 1932, when both struggled for power. [[WhatCouldHaveBeen Hitler declined]].
* This is the reason Creator/JasonMewes is still alive. Creator/KevinSmith told him that he couldn't watch Mewes throw his life away using drugs, and that if Mewes wanted to keep being friends, he had to stop using drugs. It worked, and now he's HappilyMarried and a father.
* The Gatsby Sandwich, which is a local favourite of Cape Town, is rumored to taste better when shared among friends. There is a grain of truth to this as it was originally invented by factory workers who would share their lunches together into a single sandwich, as they each had little. Thus every other person who joined in added a bit more to a sandwich that would become far greater than the sum of its parts.
[[/folder]]

* The ''Anime/PrettyCure'' franchise has this as its ''premise''. The power of every Pretty Cure is formed by their bonds with the others; some, such as the first two sets, [[WonderTwinPowers can't even transform separately]]. Fans of the series' [[HoYay/PrettyCure yuri subtext]] have popularized the notion of "the power of RomanticTwoGirlFriendship", which is sort of the same thing.

* The ''Anime/PrettyCure'' franchise has this as its ''premise''. The power of every Precure is formed by their bonds with the others; the first two sets can't even transform separately. The [[{{Shipping}} yuri fanboys]] for that series have popularized the notion of "the power of RomanticTwoGirlFriendship", which is sort of the same thing.
** There are moments where this is evident: TheMovie for ''Anime/FutariWaPrettyCureSplashStar'' has Saki and Mai arguing so much that it cancels out their transformation, Karen of ''Anime/YesPrettyCure5'' being unable to become a Cure the first time around because of her doubts and a good portion of ''Anime/SuitePrettyCure'''s opening series showing Hibiki and Kanade trying to work together.

** In "Anime/DigimonTamers", Renamon was finally able to evolve after Ruki refused to leave her for dead. Later she explains that she was able to evolve because Ruki truly cared for her. Rika, Takato, Henry and [[spoiler: Ryo]] all later gain the power of [[FusionDance Biomerge Digivolution]], merging with their Digimon to achieve Mega form. This is very much the ultimate expression of the bond between tamer and Digimon.
** Anime/DigimonFrontier, meanwhile, is essentially the story of five [[spoiler: (later six)]] lonely kids coming together as friends, and then their friendship saving the world [[spoiler: in the form of the Zeta Hybrids and later Susasnoomon.]] This plus the PowerOfLove also manages to [[spoiler: bring Kouichi back to life after his heroic sacrifice in the final battle.]]

* ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'' equally worships the trope as much as Fairy Tail. Seriously. This series is just Fairy Tail with a new coat of paint. Right down to the tropes commonly associated, with UA's constant team ups during the series, most notably in the anime.

* In VideoGame/BubbleBobble, it's this that breaks whatever curse Bub and Bob are under. So much that if you beat the game without your friend i.e. player 2, you won't get the TrueEnding.

*** The same game also turns it against you with the Four Fiends. After taking down the final Fiend, Rubicant, he realizes that you beat him because your party fought him as a team.

* In ''Mario Baseball'', some characters have good chemistry with other players. Moves involving two players (e.g. one throws the ball to the other) are improved if those players have good chemistry with each other. This kind of friendship is represented visually by music notes.

** In ''VideoGame/PokemonColosseum'' and [[VideoGame/PokemonXDGaleOfDarkness its sequel]], Shadow Pokémon are Pokémon that have been subjected to a process that strips them of their emotions, leaving behind mindless killing machines. Sure, the shadow pokemon are more powerful than the normal ones, but it comes at a price: they can't level up, they can't have their moves replaced, they are sometimes known to disobey/attack their trainers and their corrupted state turns them into mindless weapons. How do you undo this corruption? Simply by spending time with the Pokémon and caring for them.

* Part of the plot of the [[VideoGame/{{Touhou}} Touhou Project]] fangame ''Sengoku Gensokyo'' deals with Reimu being incredibly thick-skulled when it comes to this trope. Eiki Shiki, [[spoiler: Suika and Yukari]] are all heavily invested in helping Reimu realize that yes, this trope ''is'' a thing, and no, allies are not just there for the sake of convenience. Also, interacting with your team's characters often enough will result in bonuses to selected stats.

* ''VideoGame/{{Xenoblade}}'', though strangely more prevalent in gameplay than in the story. Shulk's ability to [[MagneticHero befriend anyone]] notwithstanding, the affinity system controls how effective the party is at working together, based on character relationships. Members of the party who have higher affinity with each other can use longer and more damaging chain attacks... [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking As well as craft higher quality gems. ]]

* In ''[[VideoGame/{{Shantae}} Shantae Half Genie Hero]]'', when [[spoiler:Shantae is corrupted by dark magic]], it seems like all hope is lose...until Bolo, Sky, and Rottytops remind Shantae about who she is. Sure enough, she is able to overpower the dark magic with her friend's words. ''Friends To The End'' takes this even farther, showing the trio fighting through Shantae's memories to save her.
* Choose a video-game where players are put in teams and have to play against one another. Any game. Even if one team has better players, if they're not working together or supporting one another, and the other team is, the other team is almost certainly going to win.
* The Ebony Blade as seen in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'' is a sword that technically runs off the Power of Friendship... by which we mean the sword gets stronger if you use it to ''murder characters you have become close friends with''. The Ebony Blade as seen in previous ''Elder Scrolls'' games did not have this ability.

'''Twilight''': You're the one who doesn't get it, [[spoiler:Cozy]]. Friendship is powerful, but power isn't why you make friends.

* ''Manga/BusoRenkin''. Kazuki, while defending his school from a homunculus army released by Doctor Butterfly, says that he's regaining strength by drawing on the spirits of his friends and classmates. [[spoiler: What he (and the audience at this point) don't know at the time is exactly how ''literal'' that statement is - he's begun to draw on the life force of the people in the school, signaling that the Black Kakugane in him is beginning to awaken.]]

** The ''Tales'' series as a whole began using this from ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'' onwards; focusing its storylines around how friendship can fix anything ([[VideoGame/TalesOfGraces even a]] HeelFaceTurn via DemonicPossession [[ProtagonistCenteredMorality can be fixed by believing in friendship enough]]). Considering that their stories ''used'' to deal with more "mature" issues like [[VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia free will]], [[VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss cloning]] and [[VideoGame/TalesOfLegendia rac]][[VideoGame/TalesOfRebirth ism]]. To clarify: while previous games in the series ''did'' use the Power of Friendship, it was only ever brought up as part of the obligatory {{World Of Cardboard Speech}}es; not ''the'' core plot element.

** "[[Recap/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicS5E26TheCutieRemarkPart2 The Cutie Remark]]" firmly establishes that the FrickinLaserBeams all come down to the bonds forged by ponies extending their hooves in friendship. Shattered relationships make the whole power weaker and the best way to make it stronger is to not only reforge those bonds, but to also make new ones along the way. Thus, friendship really ''is'' magic in this world.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'' episode "Jaw$", Webby claims that "friendship is the greatest magic of all", and wants to use her friendship with Lena to stop a rampaging magical gold shark. [[spoiler: It works when Lena finishes the spell.]]

** In "The Phantom and The Sorceress", [[spoiler:it's revealed that Lena's personal magic is literally fueled by her feelings of friendship towards Webby, explaining why it turns a soft blue during those moments as opposed to the purple magic when she uses Magica's amulet.]]

[[caption-width-right:350:As result, YoureNotAlone]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheCareBearsMovie'' actually has the CareBearStare fail at the end, while simply telling people about true friendship works.

* ''Fanfic/TheBoltChronicles'': A recurring theme in these stories, with several examples.

* [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]] in ''VideoGame/ThiefIITheMetalAge''. One of the epigraphs that preceed the cinematic sequences before each level is from the Keepers' Book of Secrets: "Reliance on others is strength for the weak, but weakness for the strong. Wisdom lies in knowing one's own nature over time." [[AntiHero Garrett]] has always been a (effectual) loner, but winds up needing to [[EnemyMine make allies]] to solve the problems he faces in the game. If the epigraph is correct, [[FamilyUnfriendlyAesop this means]] Garrett [[BadassDecay used to be strong but now has become weak]].

** ''Videogame/AssassinsCreed2'': Ezio is aided by many people over the course of his RoaringRampageOfRevenge, from his [[PlatonicLifePartners PlatonicLifePartner]], Leonardo, to the thief guilds he meets in Florence and Venice. This culminates in [[spoiler: All of his friends coming to his aid, TheCavalry-style, and then inducting him into the Assassin Brotherhood.]]

See also TeamSpirit, TrueCompanions, ThePowerOfLove, PowerOfTrust, DefeatMeansFriendship, FireForgedFriends, DyingAlone, YouAreNotAlone. The risk of TastesLikeDiabetes or even {{Narm}} is present [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools if done poorly]]. TheGoodKing should be wary of this trope, it can turn into {{Nepotism}} (well, technically cronyism). If your protagonists are entirely reliant on their friends for any characterization or motivation, they will rapidly become {{Flat Character}}s.