History Main / VictorGainsLosersPowers

* Every single ''Franchise/MegaMan'' except ''[[VideoGame/MegaManLegends Trigger]]'' follows this trope to certain extents, some in unique ways. The series was also the former TropeNamer for PowerCopying.

Subtrope of PowerCopying and by extension MetaPower. Compare with TheAssimilator, where no defeat is needed because the enemy is made part of the character directly, PowerParasite, where getting the power involves the original user not being able to use it anymore, and YouKillItYouBoughtIt. See YourSoulIsMine for one way this kind of thing can come about. See also CannibalismSuperpower. For when one grows stronger by just battling their opponent, see ExperiencePoints. Can overlap with NewSkillAsReward.

Subtrope of PowerCopying and by extension MetaPower. Compare with YouWillBeAssimilated, where no defeat is needed because the enemy is made part of the character directly, PowerParasite, where getting the power involves the original user not being able to use it anymore, and YouKillItYouBoughtIt. See YourSoulIsMine for one way this kind of thing can come about. See also CannibalismSuperpower. For when one grows stronger by just battling their opponent, see ExperiencePoints. Can overlap with NewSkillAsReward.

* ''Literature/NowhereStars'': When a [[MagicalGirl Keeper]] kills a [[EldritchAbomination Harbinger]], they can absorb its "heart" for an increase in power, which tends to also include giving them new magical abilities based on the Harbinger's own. Killing [[{{Plaugemaster}} Yurfaln]] gave Liadain a power-boost every time she's near to death, and killing [[SensoryOverload Irrakia]] gave her the power to see through her tarot cards as a form of EyeSpy.

** From Naruto too, Bee has acquired [[EmpathicWeapon Samehada]] after his previous owner was killed.

** In the Thriller Bark arc, Zoro did battle against the samurai zombie Ryuuma in order to claim his sword, one of a select number of NamedWeapons, for himself.

* This is the entire premise of ''LightNovel/{{Campione}}'' When a human [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu kills a heretic god]] it triggers a ritual enacted by [[BigGood Pandora and Epimetheus]], granting the victor at least one of the god's Authorities.

* The character has an ability that lets him copy the powers of anyone he defeats. He doesn't need to kill his opponent (though that's what usually happens); just defeating his enemy will grant him any power his opponent had. He doesn't [[PowerParasite steal the power]] outright; he merely copies it.

* The Assyrians can do this in ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}}'' V, as their unique ability lets them gain a random technology known by their opponent the first time they conquer any enemy city.

* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' has been an embodiment of this trope in the [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening third]] and [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry4 fourth]] games. Dante [[spoiler:and Vergil)]] can claim the powers of slain boss enemies after the fight. Whereas in ''[=DMC3=]'', it seems to happen almost as an afterthought or said boss [[WorthyOpponent willingly offering their power to the victor]] in Dante's case [[spoiler:(Vergil does it intentionally after killing Beowulf)]], in ''[=DMC4=]'', Nero is shown intentionally 'harvesting' these powers after every boss he defeats, since he could ostensibly leave the shiny orbs on their pedestals (or not, as [[ButThouMust you HAVE to have the things on the pedestals to advance]]).

** Most bosses drop souls that can be crafted into weapons and/or spells. In some cases, the weapons and spells are copies of those used by the bosses. In other cases, the weapons look like they were made out of the bosses' remains. Some of the boss weapons allow players to use the same special attacks the bosses used. This is true of ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'' as well.

* The character learns an ability or special move (normally one exact to one his opponent had) after the match, or he may get an object that lets him use or learn the technique.

Subtrope of PowerCopying and by extension MetaPower. Compare with YouWillBeAssimilated, where no defeat is needed because the enemy is made part of the character directly, PowerParasite, where the power getting involves the original user not being able to use them anymore, and YouKillItYouBoughtIt. See YourSoulIsMine for one way this kind of thing can come about. See also CannibalismSuperpower. For when one grows stronger by just battling their opponent, see ExperiencePoints. Can overlap with NewSkillAsReward.

* Soma Cruz from ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}:'' ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaChroniclesOfSorrow Aria Of Sorrow]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaChroniclesOfSorrow Dawn of Sorrow]]'' can equip the abilities of monsters by defeating them and absorbing their souls. It is revealed in the former that [[spoiler:he gained this ability by being the reincarnation of series BigBad Dracula]]. Now, [[spoiler:Dracula himself]] never displayed this ability until it was retconned in by [[spoiler:Dracula absorbing Death]] in ''[[VideoGame/CastlevaniaPortraitOfRuin Portrait of Ruin]]'', but it's been described as a variation of [[spoiler:Dracula's greatest power -- to command all the monsters in his castle]].

* Quistis Trepe from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' can learn the abilities of some enemies by using a special object they drop after they're defeated.

* In the ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' series, Blue Mages gain the use of any spell that hits them in a battle that they subsequently survive. A sort of shorter-term variation on this trope, as surviving the spell they're absorbing is more a one-round demonstration of superiority than the final defeat of their opponent.
* In ''VideoGame/BravelyDefault'', all [[ClassAndLevelSystem job classes]] aside from Freelancer are obtained by defeating bosses of those respective positions. You also may pick one of the skills you were using before to carry over. Interestingly, this is also a case of PowersAsPrograms as the object that allows you to take the new job is called a job asterisk.

* In the sixth season of ''[[Machinima/RedVsBlueTheRecollection Red vs. Blue: Reconstruction]]'', the new BigBad known as [[TheJuggernaut the Meta]] steals [=AI=] and Armor Enhancements from the bodies of [[SuperSoldier Freelancers]] that he's killed.

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