History Main / ThePowerOfFriendship

* While [[ComicBook/{{Spiderman}} Spider-Man]] 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 FantasticFour, who treat him like family, and he's been part of several incarnations of 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.

* ''[[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.
* This is the closest thing {{Nightwing}} has to an actual power (well, other than being trained by ''the freaking Batman''), and when your friends include Franchise/{{Superman}} and damn near every single person who is or ever has been in the JusticeLeague and ComicBook/TeenTitans it's the only one you'll ever need.
* 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.

* Subverted in ''WorldWarHulk'', where several of Banner/Hulk's friends try to appeal to their history, their friendship, or his better nature. [[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption It never works]]. Oh, and Hulk's own TrueCompanions contain the traitor who caused the problem for which he blames the Earth heroes.

* 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.

* ''Anime/GaoGaiGar''. Friendship + Courage + G-Stone = '''VICTORY.'''

* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'': All Pokémon companions.
* 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]]
* The central theme of the ''Franchise/YuGiOh'' franchise. 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...
** Tea/Anzu displayed this so much (at one point even saying "the power of friendship") that it became a running gag in the Abridged Series. Joey recovered from being ''struck by lightning'' because of friendship. [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Yeah.]]
* A spoiler-laden plot twist in ''Anime/ReadOrDie'' hinges on this. [[LesYay Maybe.]]
* Likewise for the plot of the first ''Manga/SgtFrog'' [[TheMovie movie]]
* The climax and resolution of ''Manga/FruitsBasket'' revolves around this.
* 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 the rampaging Skull Greymon, 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/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. Doubles as [[CrowningMomentofHeartwarming (Crowning Moment of Heartwarming)]]
* ''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 killing someone with whom the user shares a close emotional bond (ie a best friend [[spoiler: or beloved sibling]])
* 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.
* ''Anime/YesPrecure5'' also ''subverted'' this somewhat. 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. And speaking of the power of RomanticTwoGirlFriendship, that's how you "turn on" a ''{{Simoun}}''.
* Most of the major battles in ''Manga/SailorMoon'' are won via the power of forgiveness, and the friendship of the protagonists is a major source of power. (Marketing for the English dub of the anime emphasized this aspect of the series as much as it possibly could.)
** A VHS tape of the ''Manga/SailorMoon'' English dub has the words 'The Power of Friendship' on it.
* ''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.
* 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''.
* 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/{{Vandread}}'' pits [[HumongousMecha giant killer robots from space]] against ThePowerOfFriendship. You do the math. [[spoiler:It did help that the [[TrueCompanions friends]] included a SufficientlyAdvancedAlien]].
* 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.
--> '''Jil''': Fatina! Neeba! Kalli! And... I can't remember his name, but he's definitely one of my friends!\\
'''Utu''': It's Utu!
* ''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 [[SubvertedTrope point-blank counters it]], but hits him with an attack that kills him over three agonizing days]].
* 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.
* ''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 ObiWan.
** 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.

* Although the series is more focused on individual empowerment, ''Manga/SaintSeiya'' often indulges in ThePowerOfFriendship. More often than not, combining everyone's Cosmo through their friendship is the only way to overcome the current arc's BigBad.
* ''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]].
* 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.
* ''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 actually acknowledges this when Spartoi set out to rescue the shinigami. Followed up on when he actually 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, [[MoralityPet 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. And [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming then]] Soul leaves a spot for Crona's 'note' to add to the tune.]]
* ''Manga/FushigiYuugi''. Specifically, Nakago scornfully mentioning it and declaiming that it won't defeat him. And then it does.
* ''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 save her from herself.
* The second favorite trope of the namesake mage guild from ''Manga/FairyTail'', the first one being [[TrueCompanions friends]]. Not only the characters must rely on each other to win in this manga, hurting their friends pushes BerserkButton for more than one of them, resulting in UnstoppableRage, directed at the villain responsible. Asskicking for justice usually ensues. One could say that it's a theme prevalent throughout the entire series and is not just limited to the namesake guild.
* In ''Manga/TokyoMewMew'', Ichigo's Power of Friendship with [[RobotBuddy Masha]] ups her Ribbon Stawberry Check to Ribbon Strawberry Surprise. More kickass sparkles, anyone?
* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}''
** Subverted during [[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.

* The central plot of ''Manga/TwentiethCenturyBoys'' is more or less based on this trope.
* ''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!"
* ''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.''
* ''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: PowerOfFriendship becomes the DeusExMachina that saves both worlds from the nearly unbeatable BigBad.]]
* Subverted in ''Manga/BusouRenkin''. 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.]]
* 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.
* 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]]!
* 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.]]
* 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]].]]
* ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'':
** Subverted viciously in the third episode. 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'']].
** Played straight (as much as it can be in this particular series) in Episode 10, where it is revealed that [[spoiler:Homura's reason for going through [[GroundhogDayLoop many timelines' worth of utter hell]] is because of her undying devotion to Madoka]].
* ''Manga/{{Unico}}'' is an almost literal example; it seems he can only use his magical powers to help out those he considers his friends. 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.
* Though subtle, the PowerOfFriendship looks like the reason [[spoiler: all the main characters]] survive the last few episodes of ''Anime/SamuraiChamploo'' despite all odds. It is [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming beautiful.]]

* 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.]]
* ''[[Anime/TheIdolmaster THE iDOLM@STER]]'' - A good portion of the anime is about this.
* Subverted by a pair of tertiary characters in ''Manga/HighSchoolOfTheDead''. 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.
* ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' is theorized to weaponize ThePowerOfFriendship into [[WaveMotionGun giant energy beams]], particularly in the first season where her motive is not to ''defeat'' Fate but to become her friend.
* Subverted in ''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. Turns out friendship isn't half as powerful as an EmbarrassingNickname.
* Completely ''destroyed'' in the Lighthouse Scene in ''Manga/BattleRoyale''.

* 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.

* Completely, utterly horrifyingly subverted in ''Manga/AttackOnTitan''. During the battle against the Female Titan, Eren watches helplessly as one comrade after another is slaughtered during her onslaught. He essentially had two options: [[spoiler:Shift into Titan form himself]], charge in recklessly, possibly defeat her, albeit at the cost of compromising Erwin Smith's plan to capture her alive; or put his faith in his comrades, let the elites do what they do best, and believe in Smith and Levi and that their plan will work. End result? [[spoiler:Levi's elites are killed off, dozens of other redshirts pile up, Eren's anger gets the better of him and he gets his ass kicked (and capture), Levi gets badly injured, and lastly the Titan escapes as Smith has no choice but to retreat.]] Lesson of the day? ''Attack on Titan's'' world is so beyond [[CrapsackWorld crapsack]] that anything but the most absolute pragmatic, ruthless and efficient courses of action will get pretty much everyone killed, no matter how romantic or righteous the alternatives are.

* ''FanFic/FallenKing'' examines and ultimately deconstructed. 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]].

* 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, arguably 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.

** Near the end of Season 3, the BigBad Shaw (arguably the series' most effective and dangerous villain) 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.

** This is arguably the main theme (just look at at least half the CMOHs listed on that page!), and it doesn't just apply to the friendship of the four main characters. Does anyone have the relevant Andrew Hussie quote?

** 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), vulnerable to being turned (Shaw), or irredeemably evil (Roark).

* ''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. In one of the series greatest moments, Chuck's regains his powers.....with a simple buddy talk with Morgan.
** Near the end of Season 3, the BigBad Shaw (arguably the series' most effective and dangerous villain) 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. Their own counterespionage credentials are practically nil -- but they'll do anything to rescue Chuck,Sarah and Casey.

** Near the end of Season 3, the BigBad Shaw (arguably the series' most effective and dangerous villain) 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. Their own counterespionage credentials are practically nil -- but they'll to anything to rescue Chuck,Sarah and Casey.

* Seen throughout LloydAlexander's ''Literature/PrydainChronicles''. "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.

* ''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.

* Completely ''destroyed' in the Lighthouse Scene in ''Manga/BattleRoyale''.

** This is subverted in the FateoftheJedi book series, by having only DarkSide people (Nightsisters and Sith) with a technique called a 'control web'. It allows them to combine their powers, and 'weave' their control over [[OhCrap a dozen Rancors]], or weaken an EldritchAbomination.

* 'Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'':

* Easily the strongest theme of 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]].

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, [[FriendlessBackground being alone]] [[LonelyAtTheTop makes you weak]]. Even WhatYouAreInTheDark can depend on your memory of your friends.

->''"Two are better than one: they get a good wage for their labor. If the one falls, the other will lift up his companion. Woe to the solitary man! For if he should fall, he has no one to lift him up. So also, if two sleep together, they keep each other warm. How can one alone keep warm? Where a lone man may be overcome, two together can resist. A three-ply cord is not easily broken."''
--> -- '''[[Literature/TheBible Ecclesiastes 4:9-12]]'''

%% One quote is enough; take additional quotes to the quotes tab.

* ''Film/StarWars'': 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.

'''Emperor Palpatine:''' Your faith in your friends is yours.\\
* ''AdventChildren'' : 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.