History Main / UpgradeVsPrototypeFight

One side has the latest technology at hand, which corrects past mistakes and improves their capabilities. It might even be [[AceCustom custom-made]] for certain people. The other side ends up with the older (at times the Mark I) version of the technology for various reasons (incapable of upgrading, being good enough, having attachment to it etc).

And they meet each other. Then comes the thing: the two will inevitably be compared with each other for accomplishing their generally similar tasks, often (but not always) by fighting each other.

Which will come out on top? It depends: the "prototype" side will likely theoretically be at a disadvantage due to having flaws and/or plain quantitatively underperforming (because it was made earlier, with less advanced technology) compared to the "upgrade" side. In practice, the "prototype" side almost always wins, either because [[TheManMakesTheWeapon the user's skill matters more]] (if the "prototype" user is [[WeakButSkilled more skillful and experienced]] compared to [[UnskilledButStrong the "upgrade" user]]) or the "upgrade" being actually worse (perhaps due to being manufactured in a less-than-ideal way, or having had too-costly features removed for mass production). The prototype winning in almost all cases is a bizarre manifestation of the OlderIsBetter trope. Part of it is simply that by nature, the prototype is the underdog, and UnderdogsNeverLose.

* ''Literature/TheRisingOfTheShieldHero'' has the Cardinal Weapons: Four potent artifacts [[TheChooserOfTheOne that select their Wielders]] from various worlds across TheMultiverse to use them to combat against the Waves of Calamity and can grow stronger based on the materials the Cardinal Heroes feed into them. Then there's the Holy Replica; an artifact designed long ago that is basically a MorphWeapon capable of assuming the shape of all four Cardinal Weapons but is only 1/4th as strong as the actual Weapons along with requiring a much-higher Mana Cost in order to utilize its' immense powers. Pope Balmus wields the Holy Replica in battle against the Cardinal Heroes: viewing the Three Heroes that their religion worships (The Spear, Sword, and Bow) as "False Heroes" because they think the world around them is just their favorite Videogame, all the while Naofumi Iwatani: the titular Shield Hero whom the Church regards as [[TheAntiChrist "The Devil Of The Shield"]] has proven himself competent time and again as an actual Hero in [[AlmightyJanitor cleaning up the messes that the other Three Heroes leave in their wake]] that it threatens the image of The Three Heroes Church. Pope Balmus is killed by Naofumi using one of his Shields' [[SuperPoweredEvilSide Curse Series]] abilities [[CastFromHitPoints Blood Sacrifice]] which also destroyed the Holy Replica.[[note]]Not helping matters is that the Pope intentionally refused to use the Holy Replicas' Shield Form in the first place.[[/note]]

** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans'' has the Gundam Bael, a closely guarded relic from the Calamity War in Gjallarhorn's home office, which [[spoiler: [=McGillis=]]] takes in a ploy to claim control of Gjallarhorn as their ancient traditions say the one able to pilot Bael is the rightful heir. The Gundam Kimaris, piloted by [[spoiler: the NotQuiteDead Gaelio]], is from the same era but redesigned to use the [[UnusualUserInterface Alaya Vijnana]] piloting interface [[WetwareCPU with modifications]] (called Type E) to push it to [[LimitBreak its full capacity]] without [[PowerAtAPrice the established downsides]]. Bael has the Alaya Vijnana too but just a traditional version, the pilot is [[AcePilot just good enough]] that it's a shockingly close battle.

** Later in ''VideoGame/{{Metal Gear Solid 4|GunsOfThePatriots}}'', the two face off inside Metal Gears, Snake in the original REX mecha, and Liquid Ocelot[[note]]Liquid Snake's personality in Revolver Ocelot's body - long story[[/note]] in the Metal Gear RAY designed by the United States with the express purpose to hunt down cheap knockoff REXs. Once again, the "inferior" prototype REX wins the fight.

* ''ComicBook/AntMan2022:'' Issue 2, set during the days of ''Irredeemable Ant-Man'', have Skrull infiltrator Criti Noll attacking Eric O'Grady in the prototype G.I.Ant Man suit, while Eric's in the finalized version, which he stole and has absolutely no idea how to really work. Criti wins, and has no intention of actually letting Eric living, thinking (incorrectly) that HeKnowsTooMuch. Eric's only saved by being dragged off by a time machine.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

-->"You may be a newer model, but you can't defeat me in physical combat."

* In ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueGodsAndMonsters'', Kirk Langstrom (this universe's Batman), who has gained enhanced strength and speed by an experimental treatment, goes up against [[spoiler:Will Magnus]], who has enhanced himself with a more developed version of the treatment.

* The ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'' episode "Karen 2.0" involves Plankton's wife Karen being replaced with the titular upgraded model, resulting in some arguing and a little violence from the former.

** The finale beween ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamTheWitchFromMercury'' features the duel between the Aerial Rebuild, a twice-upgraded version of what was the most advanced GUND-ARM mech at the height of the technology's development, and the Calibarn, a FlawedPrototype that was nicknamed "the monster" due to its poorly-designed implementation of GUND-ARM tending to kill its own pilots.

* ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets'': The entire Slytherin Quidditch team gets top-of-the-line Nimbus 2001 broomsticks thanks to Lucius Malfoy's money, outclassing everything the other teams have, including Harry's Nimbus 2000. In the book, Harry wins somewhat anti-climactically by catching the GoldenSnitch while Malfoy is too busy bragging to notice it. The [[Film/HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets movie version]] at least makes the point of showing off Harry and Draco going head to head with their broomsticks, and the Nimbus 2001's greater speed is turned against it when the snitch flies under the stadium where the many wooden support beams, where Draco eventually crashes.

* ''VideoGame/MegaMan3'' has Mega Man face off against his "older brother" Proto Man (a.k.a. Break Man) a few times. ''VideoGame/MegaMan7'' repeats this as a BonusBoss.

* ''Film/TransformersAgeOfExtinction'': KSI and Cemetery Wind design their own man-made Transformers [[spoiler:made from dead Autobots and Decepticons]], continually boasting their superiority over actual Transformers. For the record, when in battle, two Autobots alone were able to survive an army, taking out at least a dozen. When the other three arrive, with the four Dinobots, they destroy almost the entire army with relative ease. Not a single real Transformer is destroyed.
** Bumblebee in-particular takes immense delight in destroying the KSI Stinger: designed to be "Like Bumblebee, But Better in Every Way."

** Later in ''VideoGame/{{Metal Gear Solid 4|GunsOfThePatriots}}'', the two face off inside Metal Gears, Snake in the original REX mecha, and Liquid Ocelot[[note]]Liquid Snake's personality in Revolver Ocelot's body - long story[[/note]] in the RAY mecha designed to hunt down REX. Once again, the "inferior" prototype REX wins the fight.

* ''Film/RealSteel'''s climax has Zeus, a state-of-the-art boxing robot with artificial intelligence facing off against Atom, an old scrapped boxing robot/training dummy, mimicking the protagonist's moves. However, said protagonist was a professional boxer allowing Atom to mimick his skills and exploit Zeus' weakness of relying on power rather than endurance. Zeus wins after a long fight (where he normally wins on a KO in the first round), but Atom gains the moral victory and tarnishes the reputation of Zeus' company.

* ''Film/RealSteel'''s climax has Zeus, a state-of-the-art boxing robot with artificial intelligence facing off against Atom, an old scrapped boxing robot/training dummy, mimicking the protagonist's moves. However, said protagonist was a professional boxer allowing Atom to mimick his skills and exploit Zeus' weakness of relying on power rather than endurance. Zeus wins after a long fight, but Atom gains the moral victory and tarnishes the reputation of Zeus' company.

** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans'' has the Gundam Bael, a closely guarded relic from the Calamity War in Gjallerhorn's home office, which [[spoiler: [=McGillis=]]] takes in a ploy to claim control of Gjallerhorn as their ancient traditions say the one able to pilot Bael is the rightful heir. The Gundam Kimaris, piloted by [[spoiler: the NotQuiteDead Gaelio]], is from the same era but redesigned to use the [[UnusualUserInterface Alaya Vijnana]] piloting interface [[WetwareCPU with modifications]] (called Type E) to push it to [[LimitBreak its full capacity]] without [[PowerAtAPrice the established downsides]]. Bael has the Alaya Vijnana too but just a traditional version, the pilot is [[AcePilot just good enough]] that it's a shockingly close battle.

** The episode "Robo-Dexo 3000" has Dexter replace his HumongousMecha Robo-Dexo 2000 with the new-and-improved Robo-Dexo 3000. However, when the RD 3000 dismisses Dexter's plan to deal with an [[VampiricDraining alien energy thief]] and ejects him, Dexter takes back the RD 2000. It's ultimately a DefiedTrope, however: by the time Dexter arrives on the scene, the energy thief has sucked the Robo-Dexo 3000 dry.

* As well, [[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk Hulk]] and Rulk (and Ultimates Hulk vs. Ultimate Abomination): Rulk and Ultimate Abomination are supposed to be 'improved' versions of The Hulk (among other things because they retain their full personality while Hulk is his typical "Hulk Smash!" self). Unfortunately, all of those improvements cannot really factor in that Hulk is just going to get madder and more dogged to win such a situation... and eventually he's gonna get mad enough to be able to smash them flat, superior intelligence, battle tactics and powers be damned.

* Near the end of ''VideoGame/DeusEx'', [[PlayerCharacter JC Denton]] has to fight [[spoiler:[[TheSociopath Walton Simons]], one of the heads of the Majestic-12 conspiracy. JC Denton was a field testbed of [[{{Nanotechnology}} nanotech augmentations]] (the ''second'' one, in fact), and was written off as [[PhlebotinumRebel going rogue]] by the conspiracy (just like the ''first'' one, JC's "brother" Paul). Walton Simons claims to have a more refined nanotech aug architecture when the two clash.]] Their pre-fight verbal exchange serves as the trope quote.

* ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'':
** In MGS I, Solid Snake and Liquid Snake are both born from an experiment to create clones of Big Boss, one clone superior and the other inferior. Solid, the supposedly inferior clone, wins when they fight. However, Liquid believed ''he'' was the inferior clone, so probably had confidence issues.
** Later in MGS IV, the two face off inside Metal Gears, Snake in the original REX mecha, and Liquid Ocelot[[note]]Liquid Snake's personality in Revolver Ocelot's body - long story[[/note]] in the RAY mecha designed to hunt down REX. Once again, the "inferior" prototype REX wins the fight.

** ''VideoGame/Halo3'''s Terminals reveal that [[{{Precursors}} the Forerunners]] built an AI called Mendicant Bias to defeat [[EldritchAbomination the Flood]], but [[AIIsACrapshoot it went rogue]]. To counter it, they built Offensive Bias, a successor AI designed to be less creative and independent, but more loyal and methodical. In the final fleet battle of the war, Offensive wins, [[spoiler:but only because it was stalling to allow the Forerunners to enact their real plan; firing the Halos to destroy every organic being left in the galaxy, including those already infected by the Flood, thus robbing Mendicant's fleet of its crew. Offensive Bias lost all its crew as well, but anticipating this moment easily switched to direct control of its warships, and utterly dismantled Mendicant Bias’s (far larger) fleet within three minutes]].

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[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hk_51_vs_hk_47.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:350:PassThePopcorn.]]

* Almost happened in ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'' with HK-47 and the serial HK-50 models. However, time constraints forced the developers to cut the content, meaning your character won't fight any more HK-[=50s=] after reactivating HK-47. Played straighter in the sequel MMORPG ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'', should you take your companion HK-51 to your encounter with HK-47, his predecessor. [[SugarWiki/FunnyMoments They'll also get into an argument over which series was superior]].