History TookALevelInBadass / AnimeAndManga

* The spinoff series ''Manga/MyHeroAcademiaVigilantes'' takes this trend and goes Plus Ultra with the protagonist Koichi Haimawari/The Crawler. At the start of the series, he has zero combat ability and the power to slide around at the speed of a bike when he has three points touching the ground without being able to slow himself or stop. Over the course of the story, he learns how to increase his acceleration to the point where he outpaces speedsters like Ingenium, shift momentum on a dime, cling to any surface, kick off the air to functionally fly, and fire off blasts of air pressure that range from being "strong as a punch" to causing TorsoWithAView. By the time of [[spoiler: his final fight with [[SuperSpeed Num]][[HealingFactor ber]] [[ShapeShifting Si]][[BoomInTheHand x]]]] his skills and powers have reached the point where [[spoiler: he's subconsciously countering attacks faster than bullets, creating barriers of force to deflect attacks anywhere on his body or let him move normally no matter his condition, and unleashing multiple punches powerful enough to blow gaping holes in [[OneWingedAngel Six's building-sized plasma monster form]] in an instant.]] [[spoiler: All For One himself]] describes his quirk's evolution as "beyond the singularity," an utterly unprecedented occurrence in-universe that even [[spoiler: he hasn't seen in his 200 years]]. It says something that [[spoiler: Six, [[StoryBreakerPower a massive threat who could plausibly take down any hero not named All Might]], is continually outmatched throughout their battle and has to pull out not one but three [[OneWingedAngel transformations]] to keep Koichi backed into a corner.]]

* The spinoff series ''Manga/MyHeroAcademiaVigilantes'' takes this trend and goes Plus Ultra with the protagonist Koichi Haimawari/The Crawler. At the start of the series, he has zero combat ability and the power to slide around at the speed of a bike when he has three points touching the ground without being able to slow himself or stop. Over the course of the story, he learns how to increase his acceleration to the point where he outpaces speedsters like Ingenium, shift momentum on a dime, cling to any surface, kick off the air to functionally fly, and fire off blasts of air pressure that range from being "strong as a punch" to causing TorsoWithAView. By the time of [[spoiler: his final fight with [[SuperSpeed Num]][[HealingFactor ber]] [[ShapeShifting Si]][[BoomInTheHand x]]]] his skills and powers have reached the point where [[spoiler: he's subconsciously countering attacks faster than bullets, creating barriers of force to deflect attacks anywhere on his body or let him move normally no matter his condition, and unleashing multiple punches powerful enough to blow gaping holes in [[OneWingedAngel Six's building-sized plasma monster form]] in an instant.]] [[spoiler: All For One himself]] describes his quirk's evolution as "beyond the singularity," an utterly unprecedented occurrence in-universe that even [[spoiler: he hasn't seen in his 200 years]]. It says something that [[spoiler: Six, [[StoryBreakerPower a massive threat who could plausibly take down any hero not named All Might]], is continually outmatched throughout their fight and has to pull out not one but three [[OneWingedAngel transformations]] to keep Koichi backed into a corner.]]

* The spinoff series ''Manga/MyHeroAcademiaVigilantes'' takes this trend and goes Plus Ultra with the protagonist Koichi Haimawari/The Crawler. At the start of the series, he has zero combat ability and the power to slide around at the speed of a bike when he has three points touching the ground without being able to slow himself or stop. Over the course of the series, he learns how to increase his movement to the point where he outpaces speedsters like Ingenium, shift momentum on a dime, cling to any surface, kick off the air to functionally fly, and fire off blasts of air pressure that range from being "strong as a punch" to causing TorsoWithAView. By the time of [[spoiler: his final fight with [[SuperSpeed Num]][[HealingFactor ber]] [[ShapeShifting Si]][[BoomInTheHand x]]]] his skills and powers have reached the point where [[spoiler: he's subconsciously countering attacks faster than bullets, creating barriers of force to deflect attacks anywhere on his body or let him move normally no matter his condition, and unleashing multiple punches powerful enough to blow gaping holes in [[OneWingedAngel Six's building-sized plasma monster form]] in an instant.]] [[spoiler: All For One himself]] describes his quirk's evolution as "beyond the singularity," an utterly unprecedented occurrence in-universe that even [[spoiler: he hasn't seen in his 200 years]]. It says something that [[spoiler: Six, [[StoryBreakerPower a massive threat who could plausibly take down any hero not named All Might]], is continually outmatched throughout their fight and has to pull out not one but three [[OneWingedAngel transformations]] to keep Koichi backed into a corner.]]

* The spinoff series ''Manga/MyHeroAcademiaVigilantes'' takes this trend and goes Plus Ultra with the protagonist Koichi Haimawari/The Crawler. At the start of the series, he has zero combat ability and the power to slide around at the speed of a bike when he has three points touching the ground without being able to slow himself or stop. Over the course of the series, he figures out how to shift momentum on a dime, cling to any surface, kick off the air to functionally fly, and fire off blasts of air pressure that range from being "strong as a punch" to causing TorsoWithAView. By the time of [[spoiler: his final fight with [[SuperSpeed Num]][[HealingFactor ber]] [[ShapeShifting Si]][[BoomInTheHand x]]]] his skills and powers have reached the point where [[spoiler: he's subconsciously countering attacks faster than bullets, creating barriers of force to deflect attacks anywhere on his body or let him move normally no matter his condition, and unleashing multiple punches powerful enough to blow gaping holes in [[OneWingedAngel Six's building-sized plasma monster form]] in an instant.]] [[spoiler: All For One himself]] describes his quirk's evolution as "beyond the singularity," an utterly unprecedented occurrence in-universe that even [[spoiler: he hasn't seen in his 200 years]]. It says something that [[spoiler: Six, [[StoryBreakerPower a massive threat who could plausibly take down any hero not named All Might]], is continually outmatched throughout their fight and has to pull out not one but three [[OneWingedAngel transformations]] to keep Koichi backed into a corner.]]

* The spinoff series ''Manga/MyHeroAcademiaVigilantes'' takes this trend and goes Plus Ultra with the protagonist Koichi Haimawari/The Crawler. At the start of the series, he has zero combat ability and the ability to slide around at the speed of a bike when he has three points touching the ground without being able to slow himself or stop. Over the course of the series, he figures out how to shift momentum on a dime, slide on walls, kick off the air to functionally fly, and fire off blasts of air pressure that range from being "strong as a punch" to causing TorsoWithAView. By the time of [[spoiler: his final fight with [[SuperSpeed Num]][[HealingFactor ber]] [[ShapeShifting Si]][[BoomInTheHand x]]]] his skills and powers have reached the point where [[spoiler: he's subconsciously countering attacks faster than bullets, creating barriers of force to deflect attacks anywhere on his body or let him move normally no matter his condition, and unleashing multiple punches powerful enough to blow gaping holes in [[OneWingedAngel Six's building-sized plasma monster form]] in an instant.]] [[spoiler: All For One himself]] describes his quirk's evolution as "beyond the singularity," an utterly unprecedented occurrence in-universe that even [[spoiler: he hasn't seen in his 200 years]]. It says something that [[spoiler: Six, [[StoryBreakerPower a massive threat who could plausibly take down any hero not named All Might]], is continually outmatched throughout their fight and has to pull out not one but three [[OneWingedAngel transformations]] to keep Koichi backed into a corner.]]

* ''Manga/InuYasha'': [[NobleDemon Sesshoumaru]] spends most of the manga [[HandicappedBadass one-armed]]. He's still one of the most powerful characters in the entire story. When the GreaterScopeVillain is finally unleashed, however, even [[BadassInDistress Sesshoumaru]] is no match for it. Cue a NooneCouldSurviveThat moment leading to a CameBackStrong reveal where Sesshoumaru TookALevelInBadass and suddenly the worst {{youkai}} evil in history is [[ChainReactionDestruction no longer]] [[FantasticNuke any match]] for ''[[WeaponOfMassDestruction him]]''.

** Akira is introduced as a weak StreetUrchin and someone who could pretty much only hit a target without assistance by firing at NoRangeLikePointBlankRange, with him and his VirtualSidekick Alpha agreeing that losing contact with her in battle would lead to his swift death. But Akira has a talent for learning, and undergoes both trials by fire as well as TrainingFromHell by Alpha to make himself better, as well as perpetually getting an equipment MidSeasonUpgrade, with the biggest power boost being learning a BulletTime like ability called compressed time. Akira, as part of [[TrainingThePeacefulVillagers training Sheryl’s gang]], specifically practices one versus many in their AugmentedReality VirtualTrainingSimulation bouts. Eventually Akira gets trapped behind enemy lines and cut off from Alpha during the Inner Ruins Assault, being attacked by several different factions, and proves himself in multiple ways to be a OneManArmy on his own, with the achievement of [[spoiler:killing TheRival Katysuya despite being exhausted and [[AnArmAndALeg having lost one arm]] while Katsuya had backup.]] A while later Akira gets into a SniperDuel at his rifle’s maximum range that he wins without any aid from Alpha, too.
** Sheryl’s slum gang is originally deserted by all of its adult members after Akira slaughters many of them to MakeAnExampleOfThem for trying to kill Sheryl. So it’s a cadre of mostly StreetUrchin, and [[AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs when robbers raid]] their HomeBase, they face a CurbStompBattle while Akira deals with the enemy. Since that incident serves as a MisfitMobilizationMoment and causes Erio to make a HeroicVow to protect his girlfriend Alicia, they [[TrainingThePeacefulVillagers ask Akira to train them.]] The gang undergoes VirtualTrainingSimulation training via AugmentedReality, first under Alpha, and then under [[CorporateSponsoredSuperhero Akira’s corporate sponsor KIRYO]], where they practice fighting him in mock battles, as well as receiving good PoweredArmor from KIRYO. This pays off during TheSiege of their base, where they fight off a MegaCorp and other hunters despite being outnumbered, with Erio using Akira’s previous set of equipment and MissionControl from Shirou to deal with enemy armor as a OneManArmy (albeit exhausting him).

* ''LightNovel/RebuildWorld'': Akira is introduced as a weak StreetUrchin and someone who could pretty much only hit a target without assistance by firing at NoRangeLikePointBlankRange, with him and his VirtualSidekick Alpha agreeing that losing contact with her in battle would lead to his swift death. But Akira has a talent for learning, and undergoes both trials by fire as well as TrainingFromHell by Alpha to make himself better, as well as perpetually getting an equipment MidSeasonUpgrade, with the biggest power boost being learning a BulletTime like ability called compressed time. Akira, as part of [[TrainingThePeacefulVillagers training Sheryl’s gang]], specifically practices one versus many in their AugmentedReality VirtualTrainingSimulation bouts. Eventually Akira gets trapped behind enemy lines and cut off from Alpha during the Inner Ruins Assault, being attacked by several different factions, and proves himself in multiple ways to be a OneManArmy on his own, with the achievement of [[spoiler:killing TheRival Katysuya despite being exhausted and [[AnArmAndALeg having lost one arm]] while Katsuya had backup.]] A while later Akira gets into a SniperDuel at his rifle’s maximum range that he wins without any aid from Alpha, too.

* The title character of ''Anime/RingingBell'' takes a couple levels as a result of his TrainingFromHell.

** In [[Manga/GoldenWind part 5]] this happens to a MonsterOfTheWeek of all people. During the fight on the train, Pesci is introduced as an awkward CowardlyLion who is pretty much being babysat by his partner, Prosciutto. As the fight goes on, he gradually starts learning from his partner's advice and becomes more and more determined to win, eventually scoring a NearVillainVictory.

** The ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' anime:

* Youko Nakajima from ''LightNovel/TheTwelveKingdoms'' took SEVERAL levels in badass throught the series, from a extremely meek and insecure girl to THE FRIGGIN HIGH QUEEN (LadyOfWar included). Shoukei and Suzu deserve a mention too, as they go from a RoyalBrat and a ShrinkingViolet to quite awesome {{Action Survivor}}s.

* Tsukune from ''Manga/RosarioToVampire'' started the series as your typical loser harem lead, but then Moka injected him with vampire blood to save his life and he gained temporary vampire powers, which was repeated in later encounters with monsters. After a while, the constant injections turned him into a mindless ghoul, though he was saved by having that form sealed up. Since then, he has been able to call upon his ghoul powers at will, and with training from Moka, has undeniably become a full-time badass. And in the finale to the manga, he [[spoiler: becomes the absolute pinnacle of vampirism: a ''[[OurVampiresAreDifferent/AnimeAndManga shinso]]'', the only equal of Inner Moka]].

* ''Anime/ZombieLandSaga'': Junko Konno in episode 4 of ''Revenge''.

** [[spoiler:Realizing she needs to not only lead Franchouchou in place of their [[TheAce ace]], Ai, but also keep the latter from leaving the group, Junko doubles down on her duties of coordinating the opening act.
** In a short amount of time, she arranges and choreographs a powerful metal performance, with herself as the lead singer and guitarist, and is able to rally Ai into joining Franchouchou on stage for their final song.]]

** Then there's Wendy, the Sky Dragon Slayer. When she was first introduced, she was a very timid twelve-year-old ShrinkingViolet reluctant to show her full power. But as time passes, she gains the confidence to take several levels of badass along the way. In Edolas, she stands with the other Dragon Slayers Natsu and Gajeel to defeat the King of Edolas. By the Grand Magic Games, she is a PluckyGirl who demonstrates a streak of cleverness and determination that earns everyone's admiration. And by the time of the Alvarez invasion, she shows the ability and confidence to call out her full power at will to defend Fairy Tail, becoming LittleMissBadass. This is best seen in the stern, unwavering look on her face when she stares down Irene, one of the most powerful wizards in the world, unwilling to back down.

** Then there's Wendy, the Sky Dragon Slayer. When she was first introduced, she was a very timid twelve-year-old girl reluctant to show her full power. But as time passes, she gains the confidence to take several levels of badass along the way. In Edolas, she stands with the other Dragon Slayers Natsu and Gajeel to defeat the King of Edolas. By the Grand Magic Games, she demonstrates a streak of cleverness and determination that earns everyone's admiration. And by the time of the Alvarez invasion, she shows the ability and confidence to call out her full power at will to defend Fairy Tail. This is best seen in the stern, unwavering look on her face when she stares down Irene, one of the most powerful wizards in the world, unwilling to back down.

* Erstin Ho got this treatment in the anime-to-manga transposition of ''Anime/MaiOtome''. In the former, [[spoiler:she was TheMole for the Schwartz, who was too weak and gentle to actually fight, got hurt quite often and eventually died [[TearJerker in a very heart-breaking manner]].]] In the manga, however, while retaining her meek and gentle nature, she's shown as an extremely capable and powerful fighter, [[spoiler: almost defeating Arika of all people in the first volume (even if she was, at that point, [[BrainwashedAndCrazy under Shiho's mind control]]), and later, after a very close brush with death, receiving a Meister Robe just like Arika and Nina, and playing a vital role in defeating [[BigBad Evil Manga Sergei]].]] This is mainly due to manga Erstin being a master of [[ImprobableWeaponUser Boob Fu]], and has trained [[http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/3751/e4f81460bn2.png her breasts]] to be lethal weapons.

*** Both Ash and Iris get one that needs to be said. At their introduction, they are novice trainers with little to no experience. Come in ''Journey'' and [[spoiler: both are Champions, Ash of Alola and Iris of Unova, and they are seriously strong]].

** Luffy just shows how much he trained during the battle against Doflamingo. [[spoiler: After Doflamingo shrugs off his Red Hawk, ''the move that flattened the previous two villains in one shot'', Luffy promptly goes Gear Fourth, and begins to toss ''Doflamingo'' around. To note, Doflamingo is ''the'' strongest Warlord, who to his record has taken down Jozu, one of Whitebeard's elites. Luffy's Gear Fourth was so devastating that Doflamingo was punched literally across the island in an instant, while Luffy gaining the ability to fly in this mode, and destroying the island with his finishing move alone.]]

** Nami and Brook as well, in Whole Cake Island Arc. [[spoiler: Nami was the [[DidYouJustPunchOutChtulhu first one to actually damage Big Mom]], that too in her [[SanitySlippage rampage mode]], a feat not even Luffy or Bege managed to achieve, while managing to capture ''one of her homies'' in a clever BatmanGambit, while also making him undergo a HeelFaceTurn as he now works with the Straw Hats. Yes you read that right, ''Nami'' managed to brainwash one of the Four Emperors' [[TheDragon dragons]] and make him become an ally. Meanwhile, Brook managed to turn around his capture by Big Mom, and managed to scam Big Mom by stealing ''all 3 poneglyphs'' literally under her nose with her none the wiser, and ''Brook'' was also the one who managed to damage Mother Carmel's painting, effectively rendering Big Mom suspectible to assassination[[note]]Too bad Big Mom's Haki is a storm of it's own[[/note]]. ]]

** Kurono is in interesting case since his natural survival instincts make him a serious badass right from the first time he puts on the suit- he debatably never "levels up" at least not with regards to his own skill. However his CharacterDevelopment into the Gantz team's leader turns the team from an assorted group of bewildered innocents who are mostly fodder into a hardcore combat unit who can cut their way through armies of enemies without losing a man. This makes him ''many times'' more badass.

* Akane Tsunemori from ''Anime/PsychoPass'' went from NaiveNewcomer to BadAssNormal after going through heaps of BreakTheCutie and a TraumaCongaLine. How badass did she get? She not only took out [[spoiler:BigBad {{Sociopath}} Makishima Shogo]], who had resident badass Kougami struggling against him, but also forces [[spoiler:the Sybil System]] to let her take the lead in recapturing him and makes it play by her terms.
* Pretty much sums up the CharacterDevelopment of Myojin Yahiko from ''Manga/RurouniKenshin''. He starts as a boy who wishes to defend his parents' honor on himself and sees the protagonist Himura Kenshin as a model to follow. While practicing swordmanship Yahiko fights thieves and yakuza that threaten innocent people. However, it's not until the Kyoto and the Jinchuu arcs that he turns into an AscendedFanboy as Kenshin requests his assistance when it comes to defend his friends. By the series' end, [[spoiler:Yahiko has grown into a famous swordsman who mastered the BareHandedBladeBlock (with two ''fingers'') and succeeds Kenshin's sword in order to surpass him.]]
** Yahiko aside, ''Rurouni Kenshin'' has two other instances of levelling in badass:
*** Sano undergoing the TrainingFromHell to learn his ultimate technique. His mentor even notes Sano's almost overnight maturity.
*** Kenshin learning ''his'' ultimate technique and taking his first steps towards coming to terms with himself.


* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':
** The ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' anime:
*** Ash Ketchum picked up one of these during the Hoenn and Battle Frontier arc, then again in the Sinnoh arc, really hitting his stride during the latter after his second battle with Fantina.
*** Also worth noting the transition from BW and XY. Ash proceeds [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome taking on (and successfully taming) a rampaging semi-legendary Pokemon with just only his Pikachu and Froakie]] in the second episode of the XY season.
*** Also, by the Battle Frontier season, May had become a really, ''really'' skilled Coordinator.
*** There's also Ash's Chimchar. At first it looked like a pretty weak Pokémon, but after Ash brought Chimchar to his team, its performance improved, especially starting at the Hearthome Gym and beyond. Then it evolved into Monferno, then into ''Infernape'', its final form. It seemed like a ButtMonkey at first, but due to its status as the DP era's [[TheWoobie woobie,]] it's grown to be one of the most powerful Pokémon on Ash's team. In fact, Chimchar won two rounds in every single gym battle starting at the Hearthome Gym.
*** In fact, all of Ash's Pokémon take a level in badass after evolving or learning a new move.
*** Amazingly, the Team Rocket trio of all people seem to have nailed this trope perfectly in the new ''Best Wishes'' series. They've gone from being the {{Butt Monkey}}s of the entire show to competent and intimidating villains who manage to escape with style every time a plan is foiled. Right on the 2nd episode of ''Best Wishes'', Jessie captures a Woobat off-screen. Later, they capture Pikachu and Iris's Axew, but Ash calls his new Pidove, to which Jessie calls Woobat. Cue NoHoldsBarredBeatdown. After Pikachu and Axew are freed, Jessie makes Woobat cheap-shot them while Pikachu is preparing a Thunderbolt. If it wasn't for Oshawott's BigDamnHeroes moment, they would have won, and instead of blasting off, they SmokeOut, leaving Pikachu and Axew all beat up and in dire need of medical care. I mean, ''damn''! As of the Kalos saga, they returned to their comical former selves, though still remain more resilient and NotSoHarmless than beforehand.
*** Meowth and Wobuffet spent most of the previous seasons as {{Non Action Guy}}s, being fairly ineffectual battlers and acting as brains or comic relief near exclusively. As of ''Best Wishes'' while still primarily in this function, they show more advanced skills and take physical part more often. Wobuffet can now counter even some of the most powerful of Ash's Pokemon, while Meowth's Fury Swipes have become more powerful and even versatile in different strategies (he once used them to ''block'' Hidden Attack). This is among the traits that has seemingly been kept even after the team became clownish again.
*** During the Sinnoh era, Jessie became a competent Pokemon coordinator and even won several contests without cheating (compared to Hoenn where she failed miserably). Similarly James and Meowth got their HiddenDepths expanded upon. It has been a recurring plot focussince then that the trio [[CutLexLuthorACheck are formidable in many areas that aren't villainy]], as proved in many episodes where they are pit against the heroes while [[GoKartingWithBowser off the clock.]]
*** Madame Muchmoney, who in her first appearance was a fat, spoiled rich snob. In her second appearance, she's been wandering the wilderness (in an attempt to find her missing Snubbull) and has gained incredible muscle and strength from it.
*** [[TheDitz Bianca.]] Before the Clubsplosion, she had lost five times without a single victory. However, she defeated Trip by [[HoistByHisOwnPetard using Emboar's Fling to throw Conkeldurr's stone pillars back at it,]] and defeated Georgia in round 2 before losing in the semifinals. She also obtained 8 badges and made it to the Vertress Conference, where she defeated her opponent in the preliminaries round.
*** Misty's Psyduck in the Kanto reunion episodes of ''Sun and Moon''. Before, Psyduck was a total idiot, only able to do a trickle with its Water Gun attack and its powerful Psychic moves only come about because of headaches. When she brings him out again, his Water Gun is a ''lot'' more powerful and he can use his Psychic powers with ease, though he's hit with a DelayedReaction (Misty told him to use Confusion, but only remembered it when he landed on his head... then it took him a little bit longer to remember the fall on his head.)
** In ''Manga/PokemonAdventures'', this and CharacterDevelopment is a given to all of the protagonists in their own respective arcs.
*** Special mention to [[FriendToAllLivingThings Yellow]] must be given. She initially just tries to run away from battles, endangers herself when trying to protect others, doesn't know her own Pokemon's move sets very well, doesn't know what evolution is, ''cries'' when her Rattata does so (initially thinking it was gone forever), etc, etc. By the end of the arc, she's fighting ''Lance'' (who is much of a [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard cheating bastard as his game counterpart]]) of all people all by herself, her first strategy involving surfing on ''lava'' to create a ''tornado'' to suck him into it, and when that fails and her arm gets broken, she tries even harder and ends up simply blowing him away (albeit with some backup) with a ''massive'' burst of energy.
*** Yellow is the poster girl for badass [[LevelGrinding Grinding]], and you'd be hard pressed to argue otherwise. If one counts backstory, however, Sapphire's the runner-up. [[spoiler:Even though he was a hard badass back then - born and raised by Norman, who wouldn't be? - Ruby locked away his inner badass after [[Awesome/PokemonAdventures repulsing a Salamence with three unevolved Pokemon]] and frightening the poor docile girl to tears, eventually going in the [[TookALevelInJerkass opposite direction]] for the next five years. As a result of his demonstration of masterwork and bravery, coupled with her own shame over her reaction and the injury he sustained as a result, she disappeared into the wild, ground herself into an ActionGirl, developed CharlesAtlasSuperpower and never looked back.]]
*** And now we have [[NeutralFemale White]] aiming for third. [[spoiler:After she repaired herself from the [[HeroicBSOD fatal error]] at the Nimbasa Ferris Wheel, it's safe to say she realized that not only is something ''much bigger'' than BW Rentals going on, but as long as she's traveling with Black she's going to be [[DistressedDamsel damsel bait]] for Team Plasma. As a result, she's taken a small squad of Pokemon (including a last-minute donation of Brav by Black) onto the Battle Subway for training, with plans to stay on the train until she feels she can handle the stress. If they are anywhere ''near'' the cheesiness [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard of the games counterpart]], then Team Plasma better hope the experience breaks her further or ''[[GeniusDitz Black]]'' will be the least of their worries... and if the two join forces after that and Ghetsis is still running the show, well, '''''HELL'''''.]]
* In ''Manga/TailOfTheMoon'', Usagi starts off the series as a bumbling ninja-in-training, unable to get her qualification. She didn't have many skills beyond medicine making. Then [[spoiler:the massacre of Iga happens...]] and she takes a HUGE level in badass.
* [[spoiler:Kouhei]] from ''[[Anime/TsukuyomiMoonPhase Moon Phase]]'', previously a [[spoiler:bumbling magic-less thick-head, suddenly becomes a powerful mage after taking some serious TrainingFromHell]] after the 20th episode.
* ''Manga/{{Ryuuroden}}'': At first a normal kid [[TrappedInAnotherWorld sent]] [[FishOutOfTemporalWater to the realm of]] ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms'' who barely manages to escape several kidnap attempts, to a badass martial arts expert. [[SincerityMode Well done, Shiro. Well done.]]
* ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'' lets almost every character get at least one of these. Most notably, [[spoiler: Shannon going from the blushing Moe maid in the 1st arc who's among the first to die to insanely awesome in the second, or George and Jessica's fights against Ronove and Gaap in the 4th arc... and most of the adults, including but not limited to Rudolf and Kyrie's fight (and VICTORY) against demonic stake-girls or Krauss showing off his mad boxing skills against a giant goat-headed butler.]] It's a guarantee that by the time this series ends there won't be a character left who hasn't become a total badass.
** Except Kanon, he will never be badass. For Kanon, it turns out [[spoiler: that he intentionally doesn't take any level in badass because [[BrilliantButLazy he's revealed to be rather lazy]] when it comes to battling no matter what the situation to counteract Shannon who always becomes the badass of the two.]]
** As of the 5th arc, Battler has them all beat. And it was awesome.
** Even Kanon gained a major one in Episode 6, with a BigDamnHeroes moment rivaling that of Episode 5.
* In the first season of ''LightNovel/ShakuganNoShana'', Hecate (an important member of the Evil Council) was portrayed as a cute, harmless girl who just prayed all the time and was doted on by another member. Even in the anime-original climax arc, the most she did was "[[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything synchronize]]". Her eventual reappearance in the second season quickly corrects this notion with ''liberal'' BeamSpam, [[SphereOfDestruction Spheres Of Destruction]], and a loaded "gun" to the face.
** Yuji of ''LightNovel/ShakuganNoShana'' fits the "super-powered girlfriends do the fighting for him" part, but eventually takes a level in badass near the end of the second season. Suddenly he's [[spoiler:impaling people with giant swords, blowing them up with balls of silver fire and '''''crushing necks''''']]. ''Wow''.
*** Oh he gets better as soon as [[spoiler: he makes his FaceHeelTurn as [[AGodAmI Snake of the Festival]].]]
*** The above deserves elaboration. After becoming the [[spoiler: BigBad]], the first thing he did was to march into Fuyuki City and utterly crush [[spoiler: Shana]] and her companions. It's almost terrifying how easily he does it, driving one into an AngstComa with nothing but words, trapping the rest in a giant ball of silver, and then straight up overpowering [[spoiler: Shana]] of all people in a flame-based BeamOWar.
* In ''{{Manga/Naruto}}'', all the main characters do this during the TimeSkip.
** Sakura was TheLoad for Team Seven, her only contribution in Part 1 being to delay the Sound Genin while her teammates were unconscious. After realizing she was always relying on her teammates, she resolved to become strong enough to support Naruto so the two of them could bring back Sasuke. After the time skip she learned Tsunade's super-strength and healing techniques, the latter of which made her invaluable, and at the end of the Fourth Ninja World War was able to fight on near-equal footing with her teammates.
** Hinata, the [[ShyBlueHairedGirl shy]], [[ShrinkingViolet insecure]] girl goes to face Pain, who had minutes earlier blown away ''the entire Konoha village''. Later, during the Fourth Ninja World War, she kept her Byakugan active ''for an entire night'', fighting evenly beside her cousin Neji against hordes of White Zetsu.
** Konohamaru, who was a petty kid pre-timeskip, saves his teacher and defeats one of Pain's bodies during the Pain's Invasion Arc.
** [[IdiotHero Naruto]], a brash loudmouthed kid pre-TimeSkip, takes ''[[UpToEleven several]]'' levels in badass over the course of the series. As early as Chapter 1, he learns the A-rank Jonin Level technique, [[MesACrowd Kage Bunshin no Jutsu]], which becomes one of his two signature techniques through the series. Later, he learns his other signature technique, [[OneHitKill Rasengan]]. He gains increasing levels of mastery over controlling the Kyuubi sealed inside him, which becomes his SuperMode. He also learns ''another'' SuperMode, the Sage Mode, and eventually manages to combine both. He gains the ability to summon frogs, and develops several variations and upgrades of all his techniques. Along the way, his maturity and battle strategies improve, eventually leading to him effectively leading the Shinobi Alliance's fight against Akatsuki during the Fourth Ninja World War.
** Kabuto, goes from being Orochimaru's minion to being TheDragon during the Fourth Ninja World War, when he resurrects an army of deceased ninja, soldiers, leaders, champions, assassins, etc., and forces the BigBad Tobi into forming an alliance. He also gains the Snake [[SuperMode Sage]] [[InHarmonyWithNature Mode]] and effortlessly deals with Itachi and Sasuke, catching ''them'' in a ''genjutsu''.
** Choji, creates chakra wings without using the special pills, and uses this new power to [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever beat down]] several resurrected ninjas, who by the nature of the resurrection were "immortal" with unlimited stamina and chakra. He then takes on the Gedo Mazo along with his dad, and ''staggers'' it with a single blow.
** [[BigBad Tobi]], whose true identity is [[spoiler:Uchiha Obito]], was once an IdiotHero, but goes on to become an ''utterly brilliant'' [[TheChessmaster manipulator]], gains the [[GreenThumb Wood Release ability]], learns several advanced techniques from his "mentor" GreaterScopeVillain [[spoiler:Uchiha Madara]], ability to control the Gedo Mazo and all the Bijuus sealed inside it. He then declares war on ''the entire world'' with only the aforesaid Gedo Mazo, and the Zetsus by his side. (Kabuto does join his side later, but he didn't know about that when he declared the war.) He then takes several ''more'' levels of badass in preparing for the war and then in the fight itself. To put it in perspective, his disguise is [[PaperThinDisguise incredibly thin]], due to [[spoiler:Tobi being Obito, with the kanji reversed]], and yet the readers were almost [[DidntSeeThatComing universally surprised]] by TheReveal, because it seemed outragepis that a wimp like him could take ''so many'' levels in badass.
** The ''entire cast'' becomes this trope during the Fourth Ninja World War, thanks to Naruto sharing chakra cloaks with everyone. In particular, Ino manages to continuously connect telepathically the entire battlefield in the middle of fighting, which even her father couldn't do without special equipment and efforts.
* ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'':
** Simon is a pretty crazy example. Starting the series as a digger living underground, he then got by as TheSoCalledCoward sidekick to the living incarnation of awesome, suffers a HeroicBSOD, but bounces back, ''hard'', taking new levels in badass so frequently that he maxes out. Then he takes [[SerialEscalation EVEN MORE LEVELS]].
*** Case in point. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFq9KvP_5kc This]] is what he was like at the begining of the series. ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCtPwHajElE This]]'' (skip to about 5:14) is what he grew into by the end of the first season. Then comes the seven year TimeSkip and he's pulling stunts like '''''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU5S5kORQtQ this]]'''''.
** Simon didn't multiclass into Badass. [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons It's his Prestige Class.]]
** [[spoiler:Viral]] in a total [[StupidEvil inversion]] of GoodIsDumb, makes a HeelFaceTurn that changes him from a heavily DiminishingVillainThreat and IneffectualSympatheticVillain, to a guy that who in his first fight along with Simon [[spoiler:''destroys a fleet of enemies by the sheer force of their combined awesomeness'']].
** Kittan! After failing to become the leader of the Gurren brigade, he became a really loud wall-flower, if not just a loud follower of Simon. But when the [[spoiler:Super Galaxy Dai-gurren was trapped in super dense space and was going to be crushed, he volunteered for a suicide mission, stole a kiss from Yoko, failed and died, but didn't and reappeared carrying a drill that broke off from the Gurren Lagann, and then in a spectacular display of badassery melded the drill to his robot's arm and performed his own version of the Giga Drill Breaker, saving the Super Galaxy Dai-gurren and paying the ultimate sacrifice.]] ''All within 3 minutes''.
*** And the time in the raw version where [[spoiler:Kittan died]] was the exact same time when [[spoiler:Kamina died]].
** Funnily enough, this even applies to Kamina; he gets his ass kicked the first time he tries to fight Viral in a mecha battle without the aid of Simon and the Lagann, but the next time they fight 1-on-1, he's able to easily hold his own with just the Gurren.
--->'''Viral:''' "What the? How did he get so good so fast?"
** In TheMovie, we even get Nia piloting her own Gunmen in the final battle, who normally tends to not be one of the fighting characters, more serving as TheChick than as an actual pilot.

* In the ''Anime/ReadOrDie'' {{OAV}}, Wendy Earhart is just a goofy, [[CuteClumsyGirl clumsy]] comic relief secretary. Then in the sequel ''R.O.D. the TV'', [[spoiler:she's a cold uber-assistant; assassinating non-combatant scientists and ordering TheMenInBlack to conquer countries]].
* Itsuki Iba, the president of Astral in ''LightNovel/RentalMagica'', starts off as largely useless except for a magic eye that [[BlessedWithSuck frequently hurts him to use]], and is constantly rescued by the others. Eventually, he starts studying martial arts as a semi-magical discipline, and combines that with his magical sight to become fairly effective, at least in situations where hand-to-hand combat becomes necessary. Otherwise, he's still largely useless.
* In ''Anime/UFORoboGrendizer'', Duke Fleed's neighbor and best friend was the NaiveEverygirl Hikaru Makiba, who soon becomes a DistressedDamsel. She realizes this won't get her anywhere, so she's PutOnABus for some episodes and returns both wearing [[SheIsAllGrownUp sexier clothing]] (miniskirts, boots and denim > gowns and pretty hats) and with a tougher, yet still gentle attitude. By the end of the series, Hikaru has become one of Duke's more trusty sidekicks, along with Koji and Maria Grace.




* Aki in ''Anime/TekkamanBlade'' was TheChick in the first series, but in the second, takes at least '''two''' levels in Badass: Not only has she become the hard-nosed commander of the Space Knights in the intervening 10 years, but has also become a Tekkaman herself. This is revealed by her Tek Setting (with her own Pegas robot, even!) and ''slaughtering'' a squad of Radam Tekkamen that had been giving the heroes problems, just to show them how it's done.
* As ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' completed its [[GenreShift transformation]] into a fighting {{shounen}}, the ([[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters many]]) characters went and plundered the badass warehouse:
** The [[CastHerd Library Trio]] ([[ShrinkingViolet Nodoka]], [[ThePhilosopher Yue]], and [[TokenEvilTeammate Haruna]]) went from [[AdventurerArchaeologist adventurous]] [[HotLibrarian Cute Bookworms]] to {{Badass Bookworm}}s via, respectively, [[MinMaxing looting powerful artifact to multiply her combat usefulness]], becoming a full-blown {{Black|Mage}} [[BlackMagicianGirl Magician Girl]], and [[ArtInitiatesLife lucking out]] on the SuperpowerLottery.
*** Nodoka in particular gets one when she chooses to stand up to [[spoiler: one of Fate's companions, even though he just [[RewritingReality erased two of her friends from existence]] in front of her.]] And then, [[spoiler: she ''grabs his weapon out of his hands and runs away with it''.]]
*** [[spoiler: In ''Manga/UQHolder'', Yue and Nodoka have ascended even further to become Legend-Class Heroes, seemingly on par with [[WorldsStrongestMan Rakan]] and [[GravityMaster Albeiro Imma]], two of Nagi's most powerful companions. For those keeping score, Yue and Nodoka went from ordinary schoolgirls to warriors so feared the ''cast of immortal heroes'' in this story are '''afraid of them'''.]]
** Asuna has recovered from negative levels, remembering long-buried memories of past powers to become the kind of BarrierMaiden that [[ActionGirl can bloody the nose]] of any BigBad that tries to mess with her.
** Kuu Fei has gone from just knowing WaifFu to mountain-[[BrickBreak smashingly]] mastering it.
** Negi himself very quickly took one to stop being an IneptMage. Ever since, he's kept on growing more badass, especially since he's started using [[spoiler: BlackMagic]].
*** "More badass" you say? Looks more like he's sharing Prestige Class with Simon...
** And [[spoiler: Makie]], too! Ever since she got her artifact, she put that [[spoiler: gym ribbon]] of hers to impressively good use.
** Most terrifying of all, during the big Mahora vs. Cosmo Entelecheia fight, it was revealed that Negi's irresistibly inspirational {{Shounen}}-Let's-All-Do-Our-Best-Aura has affected even [[OurVampiresAreDifferent E]][[NobleDemon V]][[PersonOfMassDestruction A]]: she reveals a new spell she's been working on, designed for eliminating multiple top-tier opponent all at once, with the drawback of not particularly distinguishing friend from foe, as anyone teasing her about being inspired by Negi found out. Congratulations, Negi: Your example has lead one of the most powerful mages, an immortal vampire, to work harder. At being unspeakably dangerous. And now, we're all gonna die.
*** Actually, that spell only works on "puppets", as Evangeline put it. i.e. It only works on people created within Mundus Magicus, and has no effect on actual humans.

** Luffy just shows how much he trained during the battle against Doflamingo. [[spoiler: After Doflamingo shrugs off his Red Hawk, ''the move that flattened the previous 2 villains in one shot'', Luffy promptly goes Gear Fourth, and begins to toss ''Doflamingo'' around. To note, Doflamingo is ''the'' strongest Warlord, who to his record has taken down Jozu, one of Whitebeard's elites. Luffy's Gear Fourth was so devastating that Doflamingo was punched literally across the island in an instant, while Luffy gaining the ability to fly in this mode, and destroying the island with his finishing move alone.]]

* Given the historic background of ''Manga/VinlandSaga'', that useless girly crybaby Canute does eventually have to become King Canute the Great of [[TakeOverTheWorld Denmark, England, Norway, and Sweden]]. When he uses his guardian who always handled all interaction with other people for him, he grows giant balls of steel and within an hour has the three deadliest men in all of northern Europe in his service.
* Jomy from ''Manga/TowardTheTerra'', after the TimeSkip. Jomy goes from being an unwilling and sort of whiny kid to becoming an admirable leader of the Mu when we see him again after 12 years.
* Teana at the start of ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'': Immature rookie that almost caused a friendly fire incident and likely deserved the [[FingerpokeOfDoom little head cooling from Nanoha]] and [[GetAHoldOfYourselfMan punch to the face from Signum]]. Teana by the end of ''[=StrikerS=]'': SmartGirl that took down [[spoiler: [[QuirkyMinibossSquad three Number Cyborgs]] on her own. While crippled]]. Speaking in hard PowerLevels, she is a B-ranked mage who defeated one AAA-ranked and two AA-ranked combat cyborgs ''simultaneously''. ''Audioplay/StrikersSoundStageX'' sums up her progression in two words, [[spoiler:[[WaveMotionGun Starlight Breaker]].]]
** All of the Forwards advance by two PowerLevels on the mage ranking scale by the end of ''[=StrikerS=]'': Teana, Subaru, and Erio go from B to AA, and Caro, from C+ to A+. By ''[=ViVid=]'', Teana is ''[[TheAce S-Ranked]]''.
* Shiki from ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}'' is normally a laid back guy, but anger him enough so that he [[TheGlassesComeOff takes off his glasses]] and he'll instantly take like five or six levels in badass at the same time. Or, y'know, make him give in to [[spoiler:his [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Nanaya side]]]], and by the badassness alone you're screwed.
** After the original Visual Novel he's apparently even ''more'' badass without having to give in to his Nanaya side. [[AllThereInTheManual He's apparently killed three Dead Apostle Ancestors since then.]] [[spoiler:His Nanaya side is actually the thing that scares him the most because he's afraid it's merely an unstoppable murdering psychopath.]]
* ''Manga/VampireKnight'': Yuuki Cross is a straight example, going from something of a DistressedDamsel to an ''awesome'' ActionGirl after [[spoiler:Kaname transforms her back into a vampire]]. Chairman Cross is a subversion; he was a former [[spoiler:vampire hunter]] before the series, and returned to being badass later in the series.
* Yukiteru from ''[[Manga/FutureDiary Mirai Nikki]]'', after his father dies and he decides to start playing the game to win, not just to survive. He vanishes for five days, and when he returns mysteriously, he's gone from helpless [[TheWoobie woobie]] relying on his [[{{Yandere}} psychopathic girlfriend]] to survive into a badass secret agent type, with the girlfriend clinging to him like a Bond girl (symbolizing that he's the one in charge now).

* Kuwabara from ''Manga/YuYuHakusho'' was just an ordinary street punk who was only a mildly better fighter then the average street punk. Through his association with Yusuke and the spirit world police he became quite proficient and certainly helpful with his spirit awareness.
** Yusuke, being the main character, does a few major jumps in ability, but considering the SortingAlgorithmOfEvil his first fight remains as tough as the later fight. Kuwabara on the other hand, shows a marked improvement in dealing with the demons, while still not at the same level as Yusuke.
** Then there's Hiei, who went from being nearly killed by his ultimate technique to not only just gaining control of it in a few days, but also being able to go up a class rank (from C+ to mid B class) and being able to absorb said ultimate technique and become even more powerful, temporarily.
* Sylphiel Nels Lahda from ''{{LightNovel/Slayers}}''. Though she's a very competent [[WhiteMagic healer]] in her own right, her skill in [[BlackMagic offensive magic]] in the first season is extremely lacking, to the point where her attempts at casting Flare Arrow result in Flare ''Carrots'' appearing instead. However, by the time her appearance in the second season rolls around, [[spoiler:not only has she taught herself one of the most destructive spells ever devised, the Dragon Slave, in the interim, but she nearly manages takes out the season's big bad with it as well when she stacks it on top of Lina's.]]
* Shu in ''Anime/NowAndThenHereAndThere''. He spends the entire series being kind, idealistic, and an extreme pacifist. When [[spoiler: Nabuca dies]], Shu drops the cheerful disposition, becomes hard as stone (at least for the time being), and singlehandedly succeeds in freeing all the prisoners, rescuing the [[MysteriousWaif Magical Girl]], and beating the crap out of the BigBad.
* Youko Nakajima from ''LightNovel/TheTwelveKingdoms'' took SEVERAL levels in badass throught the series, from a extremely meek and insecure girl to THE FRIGGIN HIGH QUEEN (LadyOfWar included). Shoukei and Suzu deserve a mention too, as they go from a RoyalBrat and a ShrinkingViolet to quite awesome {{Action Survivor}}s.

* In the "The One to Carry On" ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' [=OAV=], after suffering a disastrous defeat to the SiblingTeam of Natsume and Kurumi, both Ranma and Akane train very, very hard for a rematch -- Ranma trains specifically in female form to compensate for her inexperience with it, but Akane endures an even harder training regimen with Ryoga that improves her overall performance. The differences in her skills and demeanor surprise everyone who sees her.
* Tenma and Nina in ''{{Anime/Monster}}'', who are promptly de-{{woobie}}fied by their gun training and [[DarkerAndEdgier grim]] [[TheFettered determination]].
* In ''Manga/ZatchBell'', when the heroes are training in preparation for the battle with Clear Note, [[spoiler:Kanchome]] takes several levels in badass, moving up from being one of the weakest demons in the battle to [[spoiler:becoming the second strongest demon in the entire series, able to force Zatch to use Baou Zakeruga just to survive a fight against him, and completely demolishing Clear's [[TheDragon Dragon]], Gorm]].
** The MASSIVE level in badass Gash and Kiyomaro took in the Faudo arc after [[spoiler: Kiyomaro came back from the dead.]]. Zakeru, their first and weakest spell, managed to crush a Dioga level spell and its caster without batting an eye. Plus the [[spoiler: four, count them, four new spells they got just from Kiyomaro dying in the first place.]]
* In ''Manga/ShamanKing'', Bokuto no Ryu takes a few levels in Badass after being left behind at Yoh's house. He reappears as a shaman without losing a single preliminary fight.
* For ''Manga/SoulEater'', Black Star using the Nakatsukasas' demon blade mode ''properly'' after training in Japan is a major example. Arguably Maka with Demon Hunter considering her progress following the Clown chapters (compare how she handles Arachne and Gopher to the first couple of Black Blood incidents), although in her case she was competent already; Soul's assessment of the Clown's hallucinations allowed her to take that capability to the next level. Such is the progression of the storylines, Kid's Sanzu Lines was the next example.
* Nao from ''Manga/LiarGame'', who started out as a very naive, gullible girl who could only cry every time someone lied or tricked her, much to her dismay. Now, she's pulling a few strings of her own, carefully using her honesty nature to bluff and lie to others (though usually for their benefit, as she would give them her winnings afterwards to pay off their debts). She even [[BreakingSpeech talked down]] to Yokoya, cleverly using his pride to goad him into coming back for another round, so she could win back the money he had stole to pay back others' debts. And later on, she collaborated with [[spoiler: Fukunaga]] to trick her opponent and kept [[MagnificentBastard Akiyama]] in the dark the whole time about it.
* Shiro Kabuto in ''Anime/ShinMazinger'' is a meta example. In previous incarnations of ''Anime/MazingerZ'' and ''Anime/GreatMazinger'', he's typically a somewhat annoying, useless TagalongKid; in ''Anime/ShinMazinger'', he can easily escape being tied up and held captive... Later on he has the line "I'mma cutcha!", hangs out with Yakuza and a government operative, and in the FinalBattle is having quite a bit of fun pushing the plungers that trigger hidden bombs which in turn blow up Mechanical Beasts.
** In the manga, Shiro does a lot of BigDamnHeroes to Koji by flying the Pilder all by himself AND always suceed to deliver it sucessfuly and does some asskicking too before finally change place with Koji. By near the end of the manga, he have finaly learned how to fly the Pilder properly and killed one of the assasin that is targeting Koji.
** And furthermore, in ''Anime/MazingerZInfinity'', Shiro has evolved very much that he's part of the army piloting mass-produced Mazinger Z mechas. [[spoiler:He's personally handpicked in Kouji's overall plan by sneaking behind the titular Infinity and rescue Tetsuya (in other words, reversing his role in ''Anime/GreatMazinger'', where Tetsuya used to be the one rescuing Shiro) by pulling out Great Mazinger from there, and once the deed is done, he joins Tetsuya in launching a joint Thunder Break on Dr. Hell.]] In Tetsuya's words, Shiro has indeed matured well.
** Boss and his gang also recieve a level-up in ''Anime/ShinMazinger''. While most of the time they're there for the audience to have a laugh, he and his two lackies, Mucha and Nuke (who are revealed to know martial arts), rescue Kouji from Baron Ashura's clutches. In the final battle they help out in their mecha, Boss Borot, by catching a freaking ICBM, stopping Baron Ashura him/herself from flattening the heroes, and pulling Mazinger out of the rubble of the city, enabling Kouji to fight. Boss also becomes savvy by the end: "Don't worry about us, we're the comic-relief characters who get blown up but still live!"
*** Then there's Baron Ashura who goes for being a somewhat incompetent TheDragon to an extermely dangerous adversary who can battle Mazinger-Z by him/herself on foot and [[spoiler: actually graduates to MagnificentBastard by getting the last laugh over Kouji and friends.]]
** Hikaru Makiba from ''Anime/UFORoboGrendizer'' started the series like a farm girl. After the first season she got fed up with being a DamselInDistress and decided to become an ActionGirl. For the end she was piloting mechas and blowing up alien warships.

* In ''Yankee-kun to Megane-chan'' (''Manga/FlunkPunkRumble'' in the American release), the two geeks from computer club go from [[http://www.mangahere.com/manga/yankee_kun_to_megane_chan/v07/c057/3.html this]] to [[http://www.mangahere.com/manga/yankee_kun_to_megane_chan/v07/c058/10.html this]].

* In ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam'', generic mook Jerid Messa gains a level once [[spoiler: his first love interest]] dies, and keeps moving up through the series. Eventually, he's almost on equal footing with the Newtype hero. [[spoiler: He still bites the bullet, though.]]

* Although even putting the name [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Shinji Ikari]] and the word badass in one sentence may sound like the ultimate Oxymoron, the theatrical retelling ''Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion'', now at the third film (of a planned four) Evangelion 2.0 may be trying to paint a very different picture of Shinji to his original TV series self. During the climax of 2.0, Shinji takes on the angel Zeruel in a fashion much like the same battle in the original series. However, instead of going blank and having the Unit-01 become sentient on its own...Shinji himself reactivates the Unit-01 into berserker mode off of his sheer will to save Rei Ayanami, whose Unit-00 had been eaten by said angel previously, after a failed attempt to kamikaze the Angel like in the TV series. With red eyes and a nearly feral expression as well as a temperament of sheer anger and altruistic determination... this may be one of the most dramatic examples of having taken a level in badass that Japanese animation has ever seen when one considers the character. Unfortunately, the third film proceeds to deconstruct this with a nuke and leaves him in an AngstComa that makes his breakdown in the original series like a headache.
** "I want Rei. Give her back!" was delivered in TranquilFury mode. And he does weird stuff with his AT Field too.
** Although he's still generally the passive and despondent teen we all know and love(or hate), Shinji has also generally had a more forward and direct personality. [[spoiler: Being more forward in bringing Rei out of her shell, taking more chances in the battle against Ramiel, rampaging around the Geofront after the Unit-03 incident, and confronting his father in a more direct manner.]] So far anyways...
** Most of the Angels had their abilities amped up for ''Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion'', but none so much as Sahaquiel. In the original series, it was a goofy-looking winged eyeball thing that fell toward NERV, got stabbed in the face, and deflated like a balloon. In ''Rebuild''? It's about ten times larger, and is a completely alien EldritchAbomination in appearance that is continually warping light around itself to create bizarre color patterns across is body. When caught, it generates a twisted humanoid body to fight Unit-01 directly. And when Asuka in Unit-02 tries to stab its core, the core suddenly starts moving around all over the place at great speed, to the point of being impossible to hit until Rei in Unit-00 manually grabs it and holds it in place (which causes the core's heat and energy to badly burn 00's arms).
** And speaking of Ramiel, this time it can shapeshift, blow up mountains, and take ''two'' hits instead of one before perishing.
* In ''Anime/YuGiOh'', ''[[Anime/YuGiOhGX GX]]'' and ''[[Anime/YuGiOh5Ds 5D's]]'', several characters (mainly main characters) do this. Most notably, however, are Yugi (not Atem) and Jonouchi. Yugi winds up being able to defeat Atem, despite never actually getting to play in any of the more important duels. And Jonouchi... doesn't really need an explanation, but it is still provided: He starts out with no dueling skills at all, tries beating Yugi with a deck consisting of 40 Normal Monsters and nothing else, fails, gets a bit of advice, and manages to defeat Mai, Rex, Weevil, Mako, Esper Roba, one of Dartz' Motorcycle-riding Henchmen, and Odion (though this hardly counts as it wound up being "whoever get up first wins"). Also, Seto in Season 4: "If at first you don't succeed, blast it again with your BLUE-EYES WHITE DRAGON!"
** In GX, we have Manjyoume, after he returns to Duel Academy and has his black [[BadassLongcoat jacket]] and the Ojama deck. Also, Hell Kaiser Ryo.
*** Also, Hell Kaiser Ryou's little brother, who defeated an opponent Ryou couldn't beat, and whom Ryou himself said had surpassed him in skill and potential.
*** Judai himself does it in Season 4, after bonding with Yubel, dropping his jovial and frivilous personality and adopting a far more serious one. His physical appearance even changes slightly after the incident, as he looks older and more mature.
*** As far as villains go, there was the mercenary duelist Titan, who ''might'' count. In his first appearance, he was a charlatan who used hypnosis to fool his opponents into thinking he could create Shadow Duels. (In the dub, Judai found out eventually, and accused him of being "just an out-of-work carnie", which was ''exactly'' what he was). The duel with Judai turned into a real Shadow Duel due to the curse in the Abandoned Dorm, but that's not what changed him. When he returned as a member of the Seven Stars, he had been given ''real'' dark powers by [[BigBad Kagemaru]] and could create lethal Shadow Duels for real. This didn't make him ''that'' much more of a threat, however -- he still lost to Asuka.
** Rua who up until now was just Ruka's Moral Support, but recently badassed his way into [[spoiler:Signer status so hard the Crimson Dragon made up a new mark for him]].
*** Although Life Stream Dragon is shown as servant to the Crimson Dragon long before Black Feather Dragon is introduced (Episode 30, several Openings and Endings).
** Also in 5D's there's Carly who [[spoiler:In the Dark Signer Arc, dies, gets reborn, turns utterly evil and severely injures the guy who killed her, and almost beats the former King. And considering she was a ButtMonkey at the beginning of the arc, who lost after the second turn in her first duel that's a pretty big step]].
** Jonouchi's biggest level in badass isn't even described here... he duels Marik (that is, the evil side of Marik/Malik) to the point that, if he had managed to keep himself conscious for a few more seconds... he ''would have won''. To point out WHY this is badass, Marik had been using life point (and due to it being Marik, life force) draining cards the whole duel, up to an including the actually hot Lava Golem. Jonouchi still kept going and fighting back. Marik summons RA to deal with him. Jonouchi surivives that, then manages to summon his ace at the time, Gilford the Lightning... and then for the first time, we see Marik SCARED of someone, as he almost loses at that point, if not for the fact that Jonouchi finally couldn't take the strain and fell into a coma, his soul now on the line. And he still manages to break out of that coma in time to cheer Yugi on in the next duel. He also has an offscreen level, as at the end of the Battle City arc, he and Yugi have a duel to decide if he gets Red-Eyes back (Jonouchi's suggestion, Yugi is happy to just give it back but he wants to duel). Later, we see him using his Red-Eyes, which implies that Jonouchi BEAT YUGI in a duel.
* In ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'':
** [[spoiler: Madoka turned from a Crybaby into an extradimensional god that can retroactively kill witches with kindness.]]
** [[spoiler:Homura]] took ''many'' levels of badass. [[spoiler:According to her previous timelines shown in Episode 10. She went from [[LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya Mikuru-level moe]] to [[Franchise/{{Halo}} Master Chief-level badass]]; a ShrinkingViolet without combat magic to a LadyOfWar with missle launchers.]]
** As of the ''[[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagicaTheMovieRebellion Rebellion]]'' movie, [[spoiler: Homura has jacked away Madoka's god powers to become the devil. Sayaka also TookALevelInBadass during her fight scenes, and Mami has gone from badass with emotional issues to badass with Railway Cannon Tiro Finale.]]
* In ''Kami Kaze'', OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent [[AmnesiacGod Misao Mikogami]] was originally a helpless DamselInDistress, terrified and powerless when introduced to a world of demons, [[BloodKnight Blood Knights]], and [[OmnicidalManiac Omnicidal Maniacs]] whose [[ButForMeItWasTuesday idea of a fun evening is slaughtering all the occupants of a fairly well-populated high school]]. [[TimeSkip Skip to a couple of months later]] and she is a ''PhysicalGod'' who takes down some of the most badass [[SealedEvilInACan hell-spawn to ever be let out of their can]] -- things that even the most seasoned veterans can't make a scratch on -- with ''a literal flick of her wrist''. Not only that, she [[MagnificentBastard takes on the other deities at their own game]], [[ShutUpHannibal throws their rhetoric back in their faces]], and actually [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveSupernaturalPowers becomes far more powerful and influential]] than the leading male badass swordsman of the series (and this is a {{Seinen}} series we're talking about here). The only downside? Apparently taking that many levels in awesome leaves you emotionally unstable. There is a good reason why ''everyone'' [[GodzillaThreshold runs for cover when she gets mildly irritated by something]]. And [[BerserkButton God help you if you tell her that her boyfriend might be dead]] ([[FateWorseThanDeath very bad things happened to the last guy who said that]]).
* It's arguable that a number of characters from ''Anime/TenchiMuyo'' have these sorts of jumps, though some of them are kinda jarring:
** The first was the main character himself, Tenchi Masaki. He starts out as your normal 17-year-old with an UnwantedHarem. Then first BigBad Kagato comes around and nearly kills him. One divine rescue later and Tenchi ends up slicing Kagato in half (along with his ship) with his amazing power. That amazing power (which is later revealed to be the power of that universe's god) is amplified even more when the timeline is fixed at the end of the 3rd [=OVAs=].
** The next is Sasami. Initially, she's the CheerfulChild with the secret that she's also a PhysicalGod and afraid of telling everyone that lest they all shun her. She seems much more open after she reveals that secret, but that's not it. When we see her next in the 3rd OVA series, she reveals that she also has staff training and is able to take on a Galaxy Police elite and ''defeat her''. Oh, that staff? It's actually one of her hair bands that she keeps her ponytails in!
** The third? Seina Yamada of ''Anime/TenchiMuyoGXP'' (a continuation of the original [=OVAs=]). When we first see him, he's the franchise's biggest ButtMonkey due to his horrible bad luck (they even talk about it in the series' end theme!). He doesn't take the level until near the end when he's tossed into a machine that resembles {{Dual Zinv}} and, after he finds out that the pirates that were after him not only had TeamPet Fuku, but also forcibly made her reproduce other cabbits, he flipped out and tore apart the pirate fleet on his own.
* In the first half of ''Anime/TigerAndBunny'', Kaede Kaburagi is a normal little girl that just happens to unknowingly have a superhero for a father. Then the second half of the series rolls along and it turns out that Kotetsu/Wild Tiger's more impressive qualities [[spoiler:and superpowers]] are inheritable.
-->'''Kotetsu:''' "She's my little girl, all right!"
** Origami Cyclone spends the beginning of the series as a useless attention whore who only exists to advertise his sponsors and bemoans the fact that his NEXT power, [[spoiler: the ability to copy anyone's appearance,]] is useless in the ultra-theatrical line of heroics he's involved in. Then his character development episode comes, and he decides to start actually helping out, and by the last episode he's pulling off feats of awesome such as deflecting energy blasts with his swords and throwing the giant shuriken on his back and ''riding on it.''
* In ''[[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Zeta Gundam]]'' Kamille Bidan and his ArchEnemy Jerid Messa begin the series as an IdiotHero InsufferableGenius and an overconfident StarterVillain and JerkJock respectively. By the end, Kamille is being viewed as a [[PsychicPowers Newtype]] saviour figure, while Jerid has evolved into an incredibly dangerous AcePilot in a SuperPrototype.
** Likewise, Kai Shiden, who continues his CharacterDevelopment from the original ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' to the point of becoming an IntrepidReporter who happens to be the UC version of James Bond. Which is further explored in ''Manga/MobileSuitZetaGundamDayAfterTomorrow.''
* While Mio from ''Manga/TenYorimoHoshiYorimo'' doesn't reach proper ActionGirl status, her control over her [[MakingASplash hydrokinetic powers]] does noticeably grow. In the third volume, among other things she [[spoiler: puts down a whole building that's on fire via first telekinetically controlling the firemen's water hoses, then summoning enough rain to finish the job.]] In the seventh volume, [[spoiler: when the car she and Miyabi's father are in plummets into the ocean, she manages to create a protective bubble to pull the car out of the ocean, saving Mr. Fujiwara and herself.]] And in the eighth (and last) volume she [[spoiler: repeats the rain trick on a burning shrine and raises the nearby water to protect the people, before she and her love interest Shou die protecting everyone else.]]
** To put it on perspective: BigBad Tadaomi is ultra powerful because he's been training in his pyrokinetic abilities for years, [[spoiler: Shou]] controls [[spoiler: his]] wind "magic" fairly well too (though we're not sure of how long [[spoiler: he]]'s been working on them)... but after Mio finds out that she has water powers, ''[[ExtraordinarilyEmpoweredGirl she]] manages to control the basics in few days [[HowDoIShotWeb and with next-to-none proper training]].''
* Hatou from ''Manga/MurasakiiroNoQualia'', [[spoiler: from the moment she decides to find out more about Yukari's death]]
* ''Manga/TokyoGhoul'' uses this, as well as showing the consequences of seeking power.
** After the TimeSkip, Kaneki has gone from relatively weak to an incredibly powerful Ghoul. He's shown extensively studying and practicing different fighting techniques, as well as using [[BloodKnight Tsukiyama]] as his sparring partner. However, the trope is then deconstructed with the revelation of his less heroic means of becoming stronger: [[spoiler: cannibalizing other Ghouls in order to become [[InstantArmor a kakuja]]]]. Doing so takes an incredible toll on his already strained mind, and ends up costing him dearly.
** In the sequel, [[spoiler: Nishiki Nishio]] has become a powerful and infamous Ghoul known for antagonizing [[HunterOfMonsters CCG]] and other Ghouls, alike. The methods or reason for his power-up haven't been revealed.
** The sequel also sees [[spoiler: Seidou Takizawa]] gain a ''major'' increase in strength, in a case of FromNobodyToNightmare. [[spoiler: Once OvershadowedByAwesome, the experimentation performed on him by Aogiri Tree has transformed him into a powerful and brutal HalfHumanHybrid]].
* Amano from ''Manga/{{Yuureitou}}'' starts the series as an average guy, if asocial and a {{neet}}. He is cowardly and suffers from confidence issues but after hanging around Tetsuo trying to solve a mystery, and getting into other troubles, he becomes considerably more confident and able to handle things on his own. [[spoiler:He even kills Shinbanmushi.]]

* Buchi from ''Mekko Rarekko'', takes a level in badass after seeing his best friend Taishou tortured a lot. We should note that Taishou along with Buchi were made into [[SexSlave sex slaves]] by Amanuma, who is basically a total {{Jerkass}}. Buchi tackles Amanuma out of anger knocking him down and when he sees his smartphone, he smashes it until it's destroyed.
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* Shinichi Izumi from ''Manga/{{Parasyte}}'' also qualifies for this. He is infested by a parasite called Migi. At the beginning of the anime, he is a shy, frightened boy, but over the course of the action he becomes a stronger fighter. The fact that he becomes superhumanly strong, fast, and resistant through Migi makes a difference.

* Being a series about a hero school, ''Manga/MyHeroAcademia'' is going to show the development of the students. This particular class also ends up getting thrown into unexpected battles that force them to toughen up fast, forcing the trope on them out of a simple need to survive against rising villainy. Keep in mind, this class still hasn't completed its first year yet. Midoriya, the main character, has the most prominent of these given he started school with a gifted quirk he didn't fully understand. His first major level-up was when he developed Full Cowl: the ability to use his quirk to enhance himself without breaking himself every time, allowing him to really stand with the rest of the class as an equal. The second was Full Cowl: Shoot Style, switching from punching attacks to kicking attacks to better develop both his power and an identity to call his own. Around the same time Midoriya develops Shoot Style, many of his classmates start developing Super Moves, and the end results really start to show during the licensing exam: Bakugo can shape his explosion into a penetrating beam, Jiro can project sound such that it can shatter the ground, Tokoyami can control his Dark Shadow as an extension of himself, Ashido can create protective sheets of acid, Kaminari gains the ability to shoot his electricity with precision, Hagakure can refract light passing through her invisible body into a blinding flash, and Asui can camouflage herself. The first reaction to rival schools on seeing this? "''This is NOT the class we saw at the Sports Festival.''"
* ''Anime/TheMysteriousCitiesOfGold'': Esteban starts out as a pretty helpless kid, but as the series proceeds he gets more independant and even combatative when necessary. Perhaps most notably, in episode 26 "The Swamp" the heroes confiscate Tetiola's bow and arrows when they capture the Doctor's party. When they get attacked by alligators Esteban uses the bow (which, let us remind you, was made for a man literally more than twice his height) to kick serious reptile ass! And in the second season (set in China), he gets to meet Shaolin monks and learn a trick or two...

* ''Manga/HajimeNoIppo'' pretty much has every major boxer go through this at least once throughout the plot. In particular, this is most apparent in series protagonist Ippo Makunouchi who started out as an ExtremeDoormat who was always getting beaten up daily by bullies but eventually becomes one of the best boxers in Japan.

* Akane Tsunemori from ''Anime/PsychoPass'' went from NaiveNewcomer to BadAssNormal after going through heaps of BreakTheCutie and a TraumaCongaLine. How badass did she get? She not only took out [[spoiler:BigBad {{Sociopath}} Makishima Shogo]], who had resident badass Kougami struggling against him, but also forces [[spoiler:the Sybil System]] to let her take the lead in recapturing him and makes it play by her terms.
* Pretty much sums up the CharacterDevelopment of Myojin Yahiko from ''Manga/RurouniKenshin''. He starts as a boy who wishes to defend his parents' honor on himself and sees the protagonist Himura Kenshin as a model to follow. While practicing swordmanship Yahiko fights thieves and yakuza that threaten innocent people. However, it's not until the Kyoto and the Jinchuu arcs that he turns into an AscendedFanboy as Kenshin requests his assistance when it comes to defend his friends. By the series' end, [[spoiler:Yahiko has grown into a famous swordsman who mastered the BareHandedBladeBlock (with two ''fingers'') and succeeds Kenshin's sword in order to surpass him.]]
** Yahiko aside, ''Rurouni Kenshin'' has two other instances of levelling in badass:
*** Sano undergoing the TrainingFromHell to learn his ultimate technique. His mentor even notes Sano's almost overnight maturity.
*** Kenshin learning ''his'' ultimate technique and taking his first steps towards coming to terms with himself.
* Certainly a part of this trope is Accelerator from ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex''. An example of this was when he [[spoiler:"awakens"]] during his fight against [[spoiler: Teitoku Kakine]] and immediately disposes of the enemy that was curbstomping him just prior to him [[spoiler:"awakening."]]

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':
** The ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' anime:
*** Ash Ketchum picked up one of these during the Hoenn and Battle Frontier arc, then again in the Sinnoh arc, really hitting his stride during the latter after his second battle with Fantina.
*** Also worth noting the transition from BW and XY. Ash proceeds [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome taking on (and successfully taming) a rampaging semi-legendary Pokemon with just only his Pikachu and Froakie]] in the second episode of the XY season.
*** Also, by the Battle Frontier season, May had become a really, ''really'' skilled Coordinator.
*** There's also Ash's Chimchar. At first it looked like a pretty weak Pokémon, but after Ash brought Chimchar to his team, its performance improved, especially starting at the Hearthome Gym and beyond. Then it evolved into Monferno, then into ''Infernape'', its final form. It seemed like a ButtMonkey at first, but due to its status as the DP era's [[TheWoobie woobie,]] it's grown to be one of the most powerful Pokémon on Ash's team. In fact, Chimchar won two rounds in every single gym battle starting at the Hearthome Gym.
*** In fact, all of Ash's Pokémon take a level in badass after evolving or learning a new move.
*** Amazingly, the Team Rocket trio of all people seem to have nailed this trope perfectly in the new ''Best Wishes'' series. They've gone from being the {{Butt Monkey}}s of the entire show to competent and intimidating villains who manage to escape with style every time a plan is foiled. Right on the 2nd episode of ''Best Wishes'', Jessie captures a Woobat off-screen. Later, they capture Pikachu and Iris's Axew, but Ash calls his new Pidove, to which Jessie calls Woobat. Cue NoHoldsBarredBeatdown. After Pikachu and Axew are freed, Jessie makes Woobat cheap-shot them while Pikachu is preparing a Thunderbolt. If it wasn't for Oshawott's BigDamnHeroes moment, they would have won, and instead of blasting off, they SmokeOut, leaving Pikachu and Axew all beat up and in dire need of medical care. I mean, ''damn''! As of the Kalos saga, they returned to their comical former selves, though still remain more resilient and NotSoHarmless than beforehand.
*** Meowth and Wobuffet spent most of the previous seasons as {{Non Action Guy}}s, being fairly ineffectual battlers and acting as brains or comic relief near exclusively. As of ''Best Wishes'' while still primarily in this function, they show more advanced skills and take physical part more often. Wobuffet can now counter even some of the most powerful of Ash's Pokemon, while Meowth's Fury Swipes have become more powerful and even versatile in different strategies (he once used them to ''block'' Hidden Attack). This is among the traits that has seemingly been kept even after the team became clownish again.
*** During the Sinnoh era, Jessie became a competent Pokemon coordinator and even won several contests without cheating (compared to Hoenn where she failed miserably). Similarly James and Meowth got their HiddenDepths expanded upon. It has been a recurring plot focussince then that the trio [[CutLexLuthorACheck are formidable in many areas that aren't villainy]], as proved in many episodes where they are pit against the heroes while [[GoKartingWithBowser off the clock.]]
*** Madame Muchmoney, who in her first appearance was a fat, spoiled rich snob. In her second appearance, she's been wandering the wilderness (in an attempt to find her missing Snubbull) and has gained incredible muscle and strength from it.
*** [[TheDitz Bianca.]] Before the Clubsplosion, she had lost five times without a single victory. However, she defeated Trip by [[HoistByHisOwnPetard using Emboar's Fling to throw Conkeldurr's stone pillars back at it,]] and defeated Georgia in round 2 before losing in the semifinals. She also obtained 8 badges and made it to the Vertress Conference, where she defeated her opponent in the preliminaries round.
*** Misty's Psyduck in the Kanto reunion episodes of ''Sun and Moon''. Before, Psyduck was a total idiot, only able to do a trickle with its Water Gun attack and its powerful Psychic moves only come about because of headaches. When she brings him out again, his Water Gun is a ''lot'' more powerful and he can use his Psychic powers with ease, though he's hit with a DelayedReaction (Misty told him to use Confusion, but only remembered it when he landed on his head... then it took him a little bit longer to remember the fall on his head.)
** In ''Manga/PokemonAdventures'', this and CharacterDevelopment is a given to all of the protagonists in their own respective arcs.
*** Special mention to [[FriendToAllLivingThings Yellow]] must be given. She initially just tries to run away from battles, endangers herself when trying to protect others, doesn't know her own Pokemon's move sets very well, doesn't know what evolution is, ''cries'' when her Rattata does so (initially thinking it was gone forever), etc, etc. By the end of the arc, she's fighting ''Lance'' (who is much of a [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard cheating bastard as his game counterpart]]) of all people all by herself, her first strategy involving surfing on ''lava'' to create a ''tornado'' to suck him into it, and when that fails and her arm gets broken, she tries even harder and ends up simply blowing him away (albeit with some backup) with a ''massive'' burst of energy.
*** Yellow is the poster girl for badass [[LevelGrinding Grinding]], and you'd be hard pressed to argue otherwise. If one counts backstory, however, Sapphire's the runner-up. [[spoiler:Even though he was a hard badass back then - born and raised by Norman, who wouldn't be? - Ruby locked away his inner badass after [[Awesome/PokemonAdventures repulsing a Salamence with three unevolved Pokemon]] and frightening the poor docile girl to tears, eventually going in the [[TookALevelInJerkass opposite direction]] for the next five years. As a result of his demonstration of masterwork and bravery, coupled with her own shame over her reaction and the injury he sustained as a result, she disappeared into the wild, ground herself into an ActionGirl, developed CharlesAtlasSuperpower and never looked back.]]
*** And now we have [[NeutralFemale White]] aiming for third. [[spoiler:After she repaired herself from the [[HeroicBSOD fatal error]] at the Nimbasa Ferris Wheel, it's safe to say she realized that not only is something ''much bigger'' than BW Rentals going on, but as long as she's traveling with Black she's going to be [[DistressedDamsel damsel bait]] for Team Plasma. As a result, she's taken a small squad of Pokemon (including a last-minute donation of Brav by Black) onto the Battle Subway for training, with plans to stay on the train until she feels she can handle the stress. If they are anywhere ''near'' the cheesiness [[TheComputerIsACheatingBastard of the games counterpart]], then Team Plasma better hope the experience breaks her further or ''[[GeniusDitz Black]]'' will be the least of their worries... and if the two join forces after that and Ghetsis is still running the show, well, '''''HELL'''''.]]
* Once Ellis from ''Anime/ElCazadorDeLaBruja'' gains dominance over her witch powers--meaning she can call them forth at will and control them--it's a whole new ballgame. Especially for fat formerly-transvestite bounty hunters.
* One particularly magnificent example is [[BadassAdorable Eve]] from ''Manga/BlackCat'', who begins the story as a {{Tykebomb}}-turned-[[DamselInDistress Damsel-In-Distress]] before joining the heroes as the TagalongKid. For the first few volumes it seems all she ever does is get captured or beaten by whatever villain the heroes are facing this chapter, but Eve resolves not to be TheLoad after the first time this happens... thus beginning a series-long tale of CharacterDevelopment and badass level-grinding, ending with Eve being one of the strongest and most versatile fighters in the whole series. Hot ''damn''.

* In ''Manga/TailOfTheMoon'', Usagi starts off the series as a bumbling ninja-in-training, unable to get her qualification. She didn't have many skills beyond medicine making. Then [[spoiler:the massacre of Iga happens...]] and she takes a HUGE level in badass.
* [[spoiler:Kouhei]] from ''[[Anime/TsukuyomiMoonPhase Moon Phase]]'', previously a [[spoiler:bumbling magic-less thick-head, suddenly becomes a powerful mage after taking some serious TrainingFromHell]] after the 20th episode.
* ''Manga/{{Ryuuroden}}'': At first a normal kid [[TrappedInAnotherWorld sent]] [[FishOutOfTemporalWater to the realm of]] ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms'' who barely manages to escape several kidnap attempts, to a badass martial arts expert. [[SincerityMode Well done, Shiro. Well done.]]
* Akasaka in ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'' definitely did some LevelGrinding in badass between his first fight against the Yamainu mid-first season and [[BigDamnHeroes the rematch]] against them by the end of the second one.
** And how about [[spoiler:Keiichi Maebara]] toward the end of the second season? Granted, he went the inspirational leader route rather than the ass-kicking one.
** What about Rika? In the Eye Opening arc, she quickly goes from a cute little girl to a person who would rather [[spoiler:stab herself in the neck ''seven times'' than allow Shion the pleasure of torturing her]].
*** [[http://oi49.tinypic.com/20uvat0.jpg Gentlemen.]] [[ClusterFBomb Yesh!]]
* ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'' lets almost every character get at least one of these. Most notably, [[spoiler: Shannon going from the blushing Moe maid in the 1st arc who's among the first to die to insanely awesome in the second, or George and Jessica's fights against Ronove and Gaap in the 4th arc... and most of the adults, including but not limited to Rudolf and Kyrie's fight (and VICTORY) against demonic stake-girls or Krauss showing off his mad boxing skills against a giant goat-headed butler.]] It's a guarantee that by the time this series ends there won't be a character left who hasn't become a total badass.
** Except Kanon, he will never be badass. For Kanon, it turns out [[spoiler: that he intentionally doesn't take any level in badass because [[BrilliantButLazy he's revealed to be rather lazy]] when it comes to battling no matter what the situation to counteract Shannon who always becomes the badass of the two.]]
** As of the 5th arc, Battler has them all beat. And it was awesome.
** Even Kanon gained a major one in Episode 6, with a BigDamnHeroes moment rivaling that of Episode 5.
* In the first season of ''LightNovel/ShakuganNoShana'', Hecate (an important member of the Evil Council) was portrayed as a cute, harmless girl who just prayed all the time and was doted on by another member. Even in the anime-original climax arc, the most she did was "[[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything synchronize]]". Her eventual reappearance in the second season quickly corrects this notion with ''liberal'' BeamSpam, [[SphereOfDestruction Spheres Of Destruction]], and a loaded "gun" to the face.
** Yuji of ''LightNovel/ShakuganNoShana'' fits the "super-powered girlfriends do the fighting for him" part, but eventually takes a level in badass near the end of the second season. Suddenly he's [[spoiler:impaling people with giant swords, blowing them up with balls of silver fire and '''''crushing necks''''']]. ''Wow''.
*** Oh he gets better as soon as [[spoiler: he makes his FaceHeelTurn as [[AGodAmI Snake of the Festival]].]]
*** The above deserves elaboration. After becoming the [[spoiler: BigBad]], the first thing he did was to march into Fuyuki City and utterly crush [[spoiler: Shana]] and her companions. It's almost terrifying how easily he does it, driving one into an AngstComa with nothing but words, trapping the rest in a giant ball of silver, and then straight up overpowering [[spoiler: Shana]] of all people in a flame-based BeamOWar.

* In ''{{Manga/Naruto}}'', all the main characters do this during the TimeSkip.
** Sakura was TheLoad for Team Seven, her only contribution in Part 1 being to delay the Sound Genin while her teammates were unconscious. After realizing she was always relying on her teammates, she resolved to become strong enough to support Naruto so the two of them could bring back Sasuke. After the time skip she learned Tsunade's super-strength and healing techniques, the latter of which made her invaluable, and at the end of the Fourth Ninja World War was able to fight on near-equal footing with her teammates.
** Hinata, the [[ShyBlueHairedGirl shy]], [[ShrinkingViolet insecure]] girl goes to face Pain, who had minutes earlier blown away ''the entire Konoha village''. Later, during the Fourth Ninja World War, she kept her Byakugan active ''for an entire night'', fighting evenly beside her cousin Neji against hordes of White Zetsu.
** Konohamaru, who was a petty kid pre-timeskip, saves his teacher and defeats one of Pain's bodies during the Pain's Invasion Arc.
** [[IdiotHero Naruto]], a brash loudmouthed kid pre-TimeSkip, takes ''[[UpToEleven several]]'' levels in badass over the course of the series. As early as Chapter 1, he learns the A-rank Jonin Level technique, [[MesACrowd Kage Bunshin no Jutsu]], which becomes one of his two signature techniques through the series. Later, he learns his other signature technique, [[OneHitKill Rasengan]]. He gains increasing levels of mastery over controlling the Kyuubi sealed inside him, which becomes his SuperMode. He also learns ''another'' SuperMode, the Sage Mode, and eventually manages to combine both. He gains the ability to summon frogs, and develops several variations and upgrades of all his techniques. Along the way, his maturity and battle strategies improve, eventually leading to him effectively leading the Shinobi Alliance's fight against Akatsuki during the Fourth Ninja World War.
** Kabuto, goes from being Orochimaru's minion to being TheDragon during the Fourth Ninja World War, when he resurrects an army of deceased ninja, soldiers, leaders, champions, assassins, etc., and forces the BigBad Tobi into forming an alliance. He also gains the Snake [[SuperMode Sage]] [[InHarmonyWithNature Mode]] and effortlessly deals with Itachi and Sasuke, catching ''them'' in a ''genjutsu''.
** Choji, creates chakra wings without using the special pills, and uses this new power to [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever beat down]] several resurrected ninjas, who by the nature of the resurrection were "immortal" with unlimited stamina and chakra. He then takes on the Gedo Mazo along with his dad, and ''staggers'' it with a single blow.
** [[BigBad Tobi]], whose true identity is [[spoiler:Uchiha Obito]], was once an IdiotHero, but goes on to become an ''utterly brilliant'' [[TheChessmaster manipulator]], gains the [[GreenThumb Wood Release ability]], learns several advanced techniques from his "mentor" GreaterScopeVillain [[spoiler:Uchiha Madara]], ability to control the Gedo Mazo and all the Bijuus sealed inside it. He then declares war on ''the entire world'' with only the aforesaid Gedo Mazo, and the Zetsus by his side. (Kabuto does join his side later, but he didn't know about that when he declared the war.) He then takes several ''more'' levels of badass in preparing for the war and then in the fight itself. To put it in perspective, his disguise is [[PaperThinDisguise incredibly thin]], due to [[spoiler:Tobi being Obito, with the kanji reversed]], and yet the readers were almost [[DidntSeeThatComing universally surprised]] by TheReveal, because it seemed outragepis that a wimp like him could take ''so many'' levels in badass.
** The ''entire cast'' becomes this trope during the Fourth Ninja World War, thanks to Naruto sharing chakra cloaks with everyone. In particular, Ino manages to continuously connect telepathically the entire battlefield in the middle of fighting, which even her father couldn't do without special equipment and efforts.
* In ''Animerica'' there's Makoto, who's been shown several times in both {{Canon}} and specials that he can kick ass even while being the PluckyComicRelief at the same time.
** There's also Takuya, who's first sign of badassery was shown when [[spoiler:he saved Mischa from Kiyone by finally being able to conjure up a powerful lightning bolt and aim it at him perfectly. The second was when he stood up against Thalin by cleverly making use of his special KillerYoYo and pwning him with it. It's because of these acts that he earns the heart of his LoveInterest. You see Takuya, you're not such a loser after all!]]
** Where to begin with Ron?! Well, he [[spoiler:''turns the BigBad good'' with a classic YouAreNotAlone speech, saves his girlfriend and her brother by beating up ''two of the major villains in a funny, yet awesome manner'', and finally turns into a BadassNormal when he fights and ''defeats'' Shiragane, an act which prompts Kiyone to say that he's even ''better'' than him in battle. Ron truly deserves his place as a RegularCharacter.]]
** [[spoiler:Janine...just Janine. She went from being TheChick to just ''plain'' awesome during her fight against [[DarkChick Malin]]. You heard me. '''JANINE. ACTUALLY. FIGHTS.''' After spending the last season being TheWoobie, she finally decides to stop playing the victim and shows the audience what shes capable of. "Im so ''sick'' of being the DamselInDistress, its time I showed everyone that I ''can'' fight!" Not only does she use the self-defense Kasuse taught her, she uses her powers ''offensively'' for the first time in a crazy, yet epic manner. Fans and haters of her character rejoiced as she had finally overcome her pacifistic nature and shows that she has gone through ''major'' CharacterDevelopment since Season 2. Plus her one-liner to Malin:]]
--->[[spoiler: '''Janine''':"I’m ''not'' here to play around! Hand over my boyfriend, or I will give you a makeover the world will ''not'' forget!"]]
* Takeru "TK" Takaishi went from cute TagalongKid in ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'' to a "veteran" Chosen who [[http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i320/mpcp13/TakeruDarkAmusement.jpg unflinchingly took the Digimon Kaiser/Emperor's whip strikes]] before beating the crap out of him in ''Anime/DigimonAdventure02''.
** Mimi Tachikawa took a level in this after she finished her TenMinuteRetirement in ''Anime/DigimonAdventure''. While initially a prissy valleygirl who was the most fearful of the...[[RoadApples unpleasent attacks]]... of some digimon she takes a level of this in episode 44 when she stares down a squad of some of these unpleasent attack digimon, ''[[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome grabs one of their projectiles and THROWS IT BACK!!]]''
** Beelzemon in ''Anime/DigimonTamers''; formerly known as Impmon, or "[[HarmlessVillain the guy who was unable to even harm a single one of the Tamers]]". His DespairEventHorizon lead to him [[spoiler:making a DealWithTheDevil and]] gaining so much power that when he fought those same Tamers, all at once, he utterly [[CurbStompBattle curb-stomped]] [[spoiler:and even [[HeroKiller killed one of]]]] them.

* ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'':
** Simon is a pretty crazy example. Starting the series as a digger living underground, he then got by as TheSoCalledCoward sidekick to the living incarnation of awesome, suffers a HeroicBSOD, but bounces back, ''hard'', taking new levels in badass so frequently that he maxes out. Then he takes [[SerialEscalation EVEN MORE LEVELS]].
*** Case in point. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFq9KvP_5kc This]] is what he was like at the begining of the series. ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCtPwHajElE This]]'' (skip to about 5:14) is what he grew into by the end of the first season. Then comes the seven year TimeSkip and he's pulling stunts like '''''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU5S5kORQtQ this]]'''''.
** Simon didn't multiclass into Badass. [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons It's his Prestige Class.]]
** [[spoiler:Viral]] in a total [[StupidEvil inversion]] of GoodIsDumb, makes a HeelFaceTurn that changes him from a heavily DiminishingVillainThreat and IneffectualSympatheticVillain, to a guy that who in his first fight along with Simon [[spoiler:''destroys a fleet of enemies by the sheer force of their combined awesomeness'']].
** Kittan! After failing to become the leader of the Gurren brigade, he became a really loud wall-flower, if not just a loud follower of Simon. But when the [[spoiler:Super Galaxy Dai-gurren was trapped in super dense space and was going to be crushed, he volunteered for a suicide mission, stole a kiss from Yoko, failed and died, but didn't and reappeared carrying a drill that broke off from the Gurren Lagann, and then in a spectacular display of badassery melded the drill to his robot's arm and performed his own version of the Giga Drill Breaker, saving the Super Galaxy Dai-gurren and paying the ultimate sacrifice.]] ''All within 3 minutes''.
*** And the time in the raw version where [[spoiler:Kittan died]] was the exact same time when [[spoiler:Kamina died]].
** Funnily enough, this even applies to Kamina; he gets his ass kicked the first time he tries to fight Viral in a mecha battle without the aid of Simon and the Lagann, but the next time they fight 1-on-1, he's able to easily hold his own with just the Gurren.
--->'''Viral:''' "What the? How did he get so good so fast?"
** In TheMovie, we even get Nia piloting her own Gunmen in the final battle, who normally tends to not be one of the fighting characters, more serving as TheChick than as an actual pilot.
* ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'': Shiro Emiya, the most pathetic mage in the Fifth Holy Grail War. He gets pretty badass by the end of the series. [[spoiler: [[FutureBadass Give him another couple of years]], and you get Archer, A! MAN! SO! EPIC!, they had to create the word [[strike:gar]] [++GAR!++] to describe people like him.]]
** Only in the original game, unfortunately. In the Fate route Shirou still seems rather pathetic at the end of the series despite changing that attitude about halfway through the story. In Unlimited Blade Works and Heaven's Feel, on the other hand, he racks up a laundry list of [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome Crowning Moments of Awesome]] and arguably becomes even more badass than Archer at his best thanks to his unstoppable {{Determinator}} status.
** Now that the Unlimited Blade Works was released we can see how Shirou becomes more badass especially in [[spoiler: his epic fight with the King of Heroes Gilgamesh.]]
** ''Literature/FateZero'': Master of Servant Rider, Waver Velvet. A resident Butt Monkey of the Magic Association London branch's Clock Tower, he gets kicked around for not having an established family. He's frail, maybe adept at best at magic, and is wholly focused on proving he's not a Butt Monkey. Cut to the end of the Holy Grail War, and [[spoiler: he stands up to Gilgamesh, the strongest Servant, and stands up for Rider, and lives to tell about it.]] And by the end of Stay/Night, [[spoiler: he has become one of the top teachers and most respected people in the Clock Tower, even taking his former tormentor's title.]]

* Sheeta in [[Creator/HayaoMiyazaki Miyazaki]]'s ''[[Anime/CastleInTheSky Laputa: Castle in the Sky]]'', starts off the movie as a quiet damsel in distress. By the end of the film, [[spoiler:she's allowing the BigBad to shoot off her pigtails and reacting with only a wince]].
** She did rescue herself right in the opening of the movie by smacking a guard with a bottle and jumping out of the airship.
*** That would be [[spoiler:the Big Bad before he took his own level in Badass]].
* Maya in ''Anime/{{Fafner in the Azure|DeadAggressor}}''. Sat on the sidelines for the first two thirds of the series, finally got her chance to pilot... and turned out to be an absolutely awesome sniper.

* The robot Mic Sounders the 13th from ''Anime/GaoGaiGar'' actually seemed to be built around this theme. In his first appearance, he was little more than a gigantic little kid's toy with an annoying, childlike personality who can't even hope to scratch the MonsterOfTheWeek. (In fact, he gets flicked away as nothing more than a fly) However, then his restraints are deactivated, and he transforms into his "Boom Robo" mode, with a keytar and soundstage powerful enough to tear giant robots apart at the molecular level... and then levels back down after he's done fighting, into his lame toy-looking "Cosmo Mode" again. Apparently his fluctuating Badass level was on purpose: He could accidentally destroy the Earth otherwise.
** A more traditional example (and arguably a far more EPIC one) would be Mamoru. When the series starts, Mamoru is a grade school kid whose only claim to fame is his ability to fly and purify Zonder cores; he's very much the TagalongKid for the first few dozen episodes, as demonstrated in episode 4 when he tried to purify a Zonder on his own and almost got himself killed. Shortly after the Primevals make their appearance, however, Mamoru discovers that he's an alien (something we've known since the first episode) and gets a powerup from Galeon that allows him to purify Primeval cores as well as Zonder cores. Not long after that, the little tyke starts racking up [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome Crowning Moments Of Awesome]] almost as fast as Guy. This list includes, but is by no means limited to:
*** [[BigDamnHeroes Bursting through the floor of the Main Order Room]] while riding Galeon to save the 3G bridge crew from being mind controlled by the Ear and Nail Primevals, and then ''[[ThrowingDownTheGauntlet demanding]]'' that said Primevals fight him (these are the same Primevals that trade blows with 3G's giant robots every episode).
*** Saving Hana from the strongest Zonder Robo in the series.
*** ''Stalling'' the [[spoiler: Zonuda]], which even [[HumongousMecha GaoGaiGar]] almost didn't beat, long enough for Guy to show up.
*** Facing [[spoiler: Pei La Cain]] in single combat in FINAL and ''[[HolyHandGrenade vaporizing]]'' him with purification.

* Previously in ''Manga/{{Claymore}}'', [[spoiler:Raki who served as TheLoad and MoralityPet to the main character]] turns into a badass swordsman over the timeskip, using an ordinary blade to slay a Youma in two strokes. And then going "Pimpin!", all Dante-like.
** Clare herself also takes several levels in badass throughout the course of the series.
*** Not only Clare. All of the Sexy Seven have since discovered that by carefully managing their yoki flow while in hiding during the TimeSkip, they've achieved such mastery of it that e.g. a timid former Rank 40 (out of 47) can now effortlessly take down a whole team of modern Claymores without hurting them much. It is implied that had most Claymores actually survived for as long as the Sexy Seven have, they would have achieved such power, too... but that's exactly what [[OrganizationIndex The Organization]] doesn't want.
** Clarice, the new number 47, deserves to recognition BIG TIME. She was deemed a failure in the organization because her hair color remained unchanged after the transformation process and was only kept because the organization was low on warriors. Because of this, she was shunned and looked down upon by the other warriors, and she had an extremely timid personality. She had an eye opening experience when she was put in charge of controlling [[WildChild Miata]] and was assigned to assassinate Galatea [[spoiler: which failed]] in Rabona. By Chapter 108, she's not only single handedly killing yoma, ''but she's also ordering a bunch of human soldiers around.'' Way to go, girl!

* ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'''s Seras Victoria first takes a level in badass in the first chapter when Alucard turns her into a vampire, converting her from a shivering victim into someone who can hold her own, and occasionally more when she's driven into a BerserkerRage. Later, when she drinks the freely-offered blood and soul of Bernadette, she takes another level to the point where she has an entire platoon of hardened Nazi vampire soldiers quaking in their jackboots.

* Jeremiah Gottwald from ''Anime/CodeGeass'' starts off as a SmugSnake who quickly becomes the ButtMonkey and gets kicked around by everyone. Then he comes back in the first season finale as an AxCrazy cyborg who easily rips through the Black Knights. In the second season, his modifications are completed, restoring his sanity and making him even tougher...at which point he pulls a HeelFaceTurn out of loyalty to Lelouch's dead mother. Not for nothing do fans of the series consider him [[MemeticBadass the living embodiment of manliness and loyalty]].

* Chinami between Code-E and Mission-E. Although she still only qualifies for FauxActionGirl. Her sidekick does most of the fighting.
* Much of ''Manga/CorpsePrincess: Kuro'' is taken up with Ouri taking a level in badass. Six episodes in and he's capable of going toe to toe with the Seven Stars.

* This trope is practically defined by ''Manga/FlameOfRecca'''s Domon Ishijima. Being TheBigGuy in a series that seemed to [[FollowTheLeader copy]] ''Manga/YuYuHakusho'', people expected him to be the [[ButtMonkey comic relief guy]] that [[CantCatchUp couldn't catch up]]. He still provides comic relief, but along the way, he evolves from being the weakest of the team into potentially one of the most powerful team members ever. And his fighting record keeps getting better and better... His crowning moment of taking badass levels? Magensha shot him with a cannon that can shred people into pieces...and Domon simply ''punches'' it, deflecting it. ''Awesome''.
* Bat from ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'', where he went from a BrattyHalfPint in the first series who would wet his pants at the first sign of danger to a [[BadassNormal badass]] resistance leader capable of holding his own against the bad guys. Ken even notices this by telling Bat that he has "become a man". Coming from a guy that makes people explode by punching them, that's something special.
** Well, in his defense, most preteen boys aren't used to the sight of a hulking gang boss instantly exploding in a shower of blood and guts. He'd learn.
** The entire first arc is all about Kenshiro taking a level in badass. He is defeated with ease by [[EvilFormerFriend Shin]], who mocks him for his lack of ambition/tenacity, kidnaps his girlfriend Yuria, and gives Ken his trademark seven scars. Kenshiro takes Shin's advice to heart and proceeds to go on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge, slaughtering Shin's entire army and eventually defeating the man himself.

* In the manga adaptation of ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' (titled ''Manga/DragonQuestTheAdventureOfDai''), the title character Dai's meek sidekick Pop goes from a total loser to one of the most heroic characters in the series.

* Kamishiro Yuu from ''Manga/{{Holyland}}'' is a loner and weakling who constantly gets shoved around by bullies. But once he stumbles across a book that shows how to throw a proper punch, he practices punching a thousand times and begins beating up bullies and learning other martial arts moves. While that seems like a quick trip for taking a level in badass, it's actually a thousand times a day.
* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'':
** After Byakuya and Renji take Rukia back to Soul Society, Ichigo, Sado and Orihime [[TrainingFromHell train intensively]] with Urahara and Yoruichi to be able to go to Soul Society to rescue Rukia, while Uryuu puts himself through his own private TrainingFromHell to do the same. Within Soul Society, Orihime pushes herself to the limit to increase her abilities to be able to use them without chanting while Yoruichi puts Ichigo through another DieOrFly test to achieve Bankai. By the end of the Soul Society arc, Ichigo's group are viewed by the Soul Reapers as being, at minimum, Lieutenant-level, except for Uryuu who [[BroughtDownToBadass sacrifices his power]] to defeat Mayuri.
** Ichigo's development throughout the entire story is a journey of DieOrFly power-up sequences designed to bring him up to the level of the [[SlidingScaleOfVillainThreat latest threats]]. Fighting Ikkaku, Renji and Kenpachi powers him up until he's ready for Bankai training. Visored training powers him up to be able to fight in Hueco Mundo. Further power-ups in battle with Dordonni, Grimmjow and Ulquiorra lead to a massive power-up that allows him to perform Final Getsuga Tenshou against an [[VillainousBreakdown overwhelmed]] Aizen. BroughtDownToBadass by that fight, Ichigo then trains with the Fullbringers to gain a Fullbring power-up before being given a Soul Reaper power-up by the Gotei 13. In the Final Arc, he receives another power-up from the Royal Guard to enable him to fight the Vandenreich.
** An injuried Sado is almost killed by D-Roy, and realises he's [[CantCatchUp fallen far behind]] Ichigo's current level of power. He immediately goes to see Urahara to request [[TrainingFromHell intensive training]] to improve his abilities and be of more use to Ichigo. Urahara uses Renji's Bankai to achieve that new level of power, allowing Sado to infiltrate Hueco Mundo. Once in Hueco Mundo, Sado undergoes a further power-up that enables him to take on Privarron Espada and win.
** Uryuu uses Letzt Stil to defeat Mayuri, [[BroughtDownToBadass destroying his power]] in the process. His [[HeroicNeutral father]] chastises him for developing his power improperly, stating Uryuu should have been able to defeat a captain without resorting to Letzt Stil. He puts Uryuu through TrainingFromHell to restore Uryuu's power. As a result, Uryuu's new level of power allows him to join Ichigo in Hueco Mundo and defeat Privarron Espada in battle. In the Final Arc, he's put through another power-up by [[TheEmperor Yhwach]], who believes Uryuu possesses the ability to surpass even his [[AGodAmI level of power]].
** In the Soul Society arc, Renji uses the same Bankai training technique Yoruichi shows Ichigo to achieve Bankai and help Ichigo rescue Rukia. He later uses the Bankai to help improve Sado's power level. In the Final Arc, he receives training from the Royal Guard to gain the power required to fight the Vandenreich.
** In the Lost Agent Arc, Orihime reveals she has spent 17 months training hard to improve her power and resolve. As a result, she can now integrate Tsubaki into her shields, creating new shields that can both [[AttackReflector defend and attack]] at the same time.
** In the Final Arc, Byakuya is almost killed by the Vandenreich invasion. The Royal Guard put him through intensive training to vastly increase his power compared to previously, allowing him to fight the new enemies.
** In the Final Arc, Kenpachi is put through TrainingFromHell by his oldest [[WorthyOpponent adversary]], the Eleventh Division's first ever Kenpachi, Yachiru, to unlock his true power, which even he didn't know was hidden away. The Central 46 fears the unlocking of his potential, but the Gotei 13 believe they need his power to defeat the Vandenreich.
** In the Final Arc, Komamura petitions one of his clan elders for the secret family technique that will allow him to achieve his full power, which has been [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent locked away by a curse]]. He is granted the technique, but the power-up is only temporary and reduces him to the form of an [[BroughtDownToNormal ordinary, powerless wolf]] afterwards.

* Tetsuo Shima in ''Manga/{{Akira}}'' goes from an inferiority-complexed nube in a biker gang to an almost god-like psychic [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity psychopath]] in about an hour into the film, capable of exploding peoples' heads, leveling bridges, surviving a satellite laser canon (and destroying it in the vacuum of space), and damn near absorbing a city into himself. At the end he is implied to be God in a new universe of his creation. However, topping all that is he never manages to defeat his BadassNormal friend Kaneda.

* The main cast of ''Manga/TwentiethCenturyBoys'' take several levels in badass throughout the series, as the story follows them from their childhood school days, through their normal 20's and 30's, and finally sees them form LaResistance to combat the BigBad, Friend. However, the character who takes the most levels in badass is probably [[BadassLongcoat Otcho]], who is last seen by his friends as a timid salaryman. Cut to 10 years later? He's a goddamn freelance [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower ninja]] beating the crap out of thugs in Bangkok.

* Akira in ''Manga/CageOfEden'' goes from being the lecherous class clown to the leader of the most successful group of survivors. More prominent is the cabin attendant, Oomori. At first she breaks down quickly and is scared to death of a small and furry animal, but later she [[spoiler:takes a stab wound from Kouhei]] and tries to write it off as nothing.
* [[spoiler:Matsuda [[LetsGetDangerous shooting Light]]]] in the last episode of ''Manga/DeathNote'' deconstructs this trope ''[[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Evangelion]]''-style: the viewer is too stunned by how sad everything is to pay much attention to [[spoiler:how cool the resident ButtMonkey just became. Said ButtMonkey's skills were a ChekhovsGun: he once or twice did show that, despite not being on part with the others, he ''was'' a pretty decent shot.]] Too bad [[spoiler: [[BreakTheCutie he also had to be throughly broken]] to ever show them again.]]

*** As far as villains go, there was the mercenary duelist Titan, who ''might'' count. In his first appearance, he was a charlatan who used hypnosis to fool his opponents into thinking he could create Shadow Duels. (In the dub, Judai found out eventually, and accused him of being "just an out-of-work carnie", which was ''exactly'' what he was). The duel with Judai turned into a real Shadow Duel due to the curse in the Abandoned Dorm, but that's not what changed him. When he returned as a member of the Seven Stars, he had been given ''real'' dark powers by [[BigBad Kagemaru]] and could create lethal Shadow Duels for real. This didn't make him ''that'' much more of a threat, however--he still lost to Asuka.

* In ''Kami Kaze'', OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent [[AmnesiacGod Misao Mikogami]] was originally a helpless DamselInDistress, terrified and powerless when introduced to a world of demons, [[BloodKnight Blood Knights]], and [[OmnicidalManiac Omnicidal Maniacs]] whose [[ButForMeItWasTuesday idea of a fun evening is slaughtering all the occupants of a fairly well-populated high school]]. [[TimeSkip Skip to a couple of months later]] and she is a ''PhysicalGod'' who takes down some of the most badass [[SealedEvilInACan hell-spawn to ever be let out of their can]] - things that even the most seasoned veterans can't make a scratch on - with ''a literal flick of her wrist''. Not only that, she [[MagnificentBastard takes on the other deities at their own game]], [[ShutUpHannibal throws their rhetoric back in their faces]], and actually [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveSupernaturalPowers becomes far more powerful and influential]] than the leading male badass swordsman of the series (and this is a {{Seinen}} series we're talking about here). The only downside? Apparently taking that many levels in awesome leaves you emotionally unstable. There is a good reason why ''everyone'' [[GodzillaThreshold runs for cover when she gets mildly irritated by something]]. And [[BerserkButton God help you if you tell her that her boyfriend might be dead]] ([[FateWorseThanDeath very bad things happened to the last guy who said that]]).
* Quite a few people in ''Manga/BlackLagoon'' come under this: Rock, for instance, starts out as a low-level ButtMonkey employee of a Japanese megacorp... ends up as a MagnificentBastard who has all of [[WretchedHive Roanapur]] afraid of him.
** You also have Garcia Lovelace.
** [[spoiler: And, in one of the {{Omake}} episodes, Sgt. Boris of the ''Vysotniki''. He was apparently a skinny {{Shonen}} boy, who joined the Soviet Army to get tougher.]]

* In ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'', Greed is easily taken down by [[spoiler:Wrath/King Bradley]]. However, [[spoiler:once he's resurrected in Ling's body, he's able to (somewhat) hold his own against Wrath, presumably by at least partially drawing on Ling's combat skills]].
** Al starts off the series mostly passive, following the lead of his brother. Then about 1/3 of the series he stands up to the Homunculus Lust, throwing his body between her and the [[HeroicBSOD BSODing]] Hawkeye despite both of them telling him to run away. By the end of the series, he's capable of singlehandedly going toe to toe with the most powerful Homunculus.
*** More specifically, half-way through the story, he [[spoiler: remembers seeing the Truth and gains the ability to transmute without a circle.]]
** Falman gets one as well. He starts out as a bumbling and mostly incompetent member of Roy's team. When the team is split up, he gets shipped off to the cold northern fortress of Briggs. When he returns as part of the Briggs assault on Central, he's able to take command of a squad and hold off the advancing Central counterattack. Also, he manages to stare down Bradley, who'd just single handedly taken out a squad of tough Briggs soldiers, his tough as nails commanding officer, and a tank. When ordered to step away from the gate, he refuses despite knowing that Bradley could easily kill him.
** Even Yoki goes from formerly [[CorruptBureaucrat corrupt comedy villain]]/ButtMonkey to [[ConvenientlyTimedAttackFromBehind dramatic rescuer]], though it's more like he only took 1/4 level.
** Dr. Marcoh takes one when he takes on Envy by using his knowledge of Philosopher Stones and a transmutation circle on his palm to destroy Envy's Philosopher Stones and reduce Envy from a huge monster to a small slug.

* ''Anime/GuiltyCrown'': Watch the first episode. Yeah. [[spoiler: He did just rush at a '''mech''' and slice off its arm. As himself. With just a sword. After essentially pissing himself in a corner when that girl is taken away by the local government thugs halfway through the episode.]]
* ''Anime/BlueSeed'': Yoshiki Yaegashi starts out as the cowardly rookie computer nerd. He gets mostly ignored by the other TAC members and is teased and slightly bullied by Koume Sawaguchi. He's attracted to Momiji at first and enrolls her into a talent contest without her knowledge. After he realizes her attraction to Kusanagi, he lets her go and becomes attracted to Komue whom violently rejects him at first. However, by the end of the series, when everyone else is afraid to fight Susano-Oh, Yoshiki is the only one who stands tall ready to meet the challenge, much to Koume's surprise. [[spoiler: Koume falls in love with him afterwards.]]
* ''Manga/HunterXHunter'': Leorio was pretty cool already but he was definitely on the lower side of the power scale. [[spoiler: At the Phantom Troupe arc he has barely learned Nen, the power which the guys with high PowerLevels use to fight. After the arc he was PutOnABus until later. Suddenly in the most recent arc [[TheBusCameBack he returns]] and how: He publicly calls out Ging for refusing to visit his hospitalized son. Words don't seem to have an effect, [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu so he flips him off and sends him flying with an uppercut, courtesy of his brand new Nen ability.]] In-universe it's acknowledged as awesome enough for a standing ovation and enough votes for him to take over as hunter chairman to rocket him from an unknown to third place.]]
* ''Manga/InuYasha'': [[NobleDemon Sesshoumaru]] spends most of the manga [[HandicappedBadass one-armed]]. He's still one of the most powerful characters in the entire story. When the GreaterScopeVillain is finally unleashed, however, even [[BadassInDistress Sesshoumaru]] is no match for it. Cue a NooneCouldSurviveThat moment leading to a CameBackStrong reveal where Sesshoumaru TookALevelInBadass and suddenly the worst {{youkai}} evil in history is [[ChainReactionDestruction no longer]] [[FantasticNuke any match]] for ''[[WeaponOfMassDestruction him]]''.
** Even more notable however is Kagome Higurashi, who starts out the series as an ordinary if somewhat spunky schoolgirl who doesn't even believe in the supernatural [[TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive until she gets yanked down a magic well on her family's property]]. From there, in subsequent ''early'' chapters, it's revealed she has spiritual (psychic) powers and is the reincarnation of a great priestess, which initially gives other characters hope she might be of excellent use...but then she almost immediately shows she's completely inexperienced with archery and [[TruthInTelevision therefore sucks at hitting absolutely anything with it]] (at least [[TakeTheThirdOption without cheating a little]]). Archery being an important sacred skill for a priestess, who should be able to channel her power through the arrows, this would seem to make her useless for anything except detecting the shards of the Jewel. Which, thanks to said archery "skills", it's even accidentally [[NiceJobBreakingItHero her fault it shattered in the first place]]! Except...flash forward a bit to ''later'' chapters, and she shows a marked improvement. By the end of the series she's got incredibly good handles on both her archery ''and'' her spiritual powers, is capable of some very insightful strategy, and is overall an extremely useful member of the team. In fact, her skills are such that she's by that point able to fire sacred arrows ''accurately'' while literally [[BattleCouple riding on Inuyasha's back as he jumps around the battlefield]].
** Inuyasha himself, naturally and as a shounen protagonist, also takes quite a few Levels in Badass, especially after he gains and starts working with his father's sword, which can absorb abilities of the things it destroys/kills. He even manages to slay the same giant dragon that is outright said to have given his father the wounds that killed him...and for some perspective? His father was referred to as the "Inu no Taishou" (generally translated to "Dog General", though it could translate to "Boss Dog" too) to begin with and [[CanisMajor was the size]] of a ''castle'' in his True Form. Inuyasha, however, is very much human-sized, and was pretty much told he was going to get himself killed if he fought the thing while it was awake and un-sealed. He does take a beating, but then proceeds to defeat the enemy in question by [[HoistByHisOwnPetard reflecting his own power back at him]] ''on pure instinct'' - something his father never achieved. And that was nowhere near the end of the series; he takes several ''more'' Levels in Badass before the end of it as well.
* Tsubomi Hanasaki of ''Anime/HeartCatchPrettyCure''. When we're first introduced to her, she's an extremely shy and introverted girl who, upon becoming Cure Blossom for the first time, ''freaked out and tried to run.'' Because of it, she was given the derogatory term "The Weakest Precure in History". By the end of the series, she realizes that she does lean on her friends for support, but that's her greatest strength - and she uses it to great effect when she and her teammates become something of a Physical God and OneHitKO the series' BigBad. When we see her next in ''Anime/PrettyCureAllStars DX 3'', she's leading the other pink-type Cures after they're all separated.
** Speaking of ''DX 3'' all the teams there take a good level by taking down their movie-only foes with their normal powers and attacks when the last time they fast any of them, they were forced to take up movie-only {{Super Mode}}s.

* Tohru Honda of ''Manga/FruitsBasket'' undergoes a more subtle example of this trope. She starts off as a PluckyGirl, but with a tendency to overwork herself to sickness and be overly obsessed with the memory of her late mother. By the end of the series, she grows much stronger emotionally, able to move forward in life without clinging to her mother's ghost [[spoiler:and talking down a crazy Akito, who wanted to stab her.]]
* Shuuya Nanahara and Noriko Nakagawa in ''Manga/BattleRoyale''. They start out as fairly-normal Japanese schoolkids...but you grow up ''fast'' in the Program, if you survive at all. [[spoiler: And Shogo Kawada was a normal, if smart and cynical, boy... before the Program ''changed'' him. By his second go-round, he's well able to deal with anything the Program throws at him.]]

* ''Anime/GirlsUndPanzer'': The girls from Oarai High School start out as novices in the demanding sport of Tankery... and, thanks to [[AFatherToHisMen their team captain,]] ThePowerOfFriendship, and sheer grit, become badass enough to pull off victories even against much more experienced, better-equipped teams.
* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'':
** [[TheHero Jonathan Joestar]] from [[Manga/PhantomBlood part 1]] starts off as a SpoiledSweet kid getting constantly overshadowed by his recently adopted brother [[BigBad Dio Brando]] in every way possible. At one point, Dio goes too far in his [[KickTheDog dog-kicking]] and pulls [=JoJo=]'s heroic trigger. Not only he knocks down Dio in a very satisfying fashion, the boy grows up 7 years later and becomes very masculine, and eventually the only person strong enough to challenge his arch-enemy, who has been turned into an extremely powerful vampire.
** At the start of [[Manga/DiamondIsUnbreakable part 4]], Koichi was just a [[TagalongKid meek fifteen year old kid without any superpowers]]. In the narrative he himself states, that readers don't need to remember his name, because he isn't important. However, this changes after he gets his Stand. He keeps his timid personality most of the time, but whenever someone manages to really piss him off, [[LetsGetDangerous he goes full badass]] and proceeds to beat his opponent - and since it's part 4, he usually beats them both physically and [[DefeatMeansFriendship psychologically]]. On top of that,[[spoiler:his Stand evolves, each time becoming faster and gaining new abilities]].
** In [[Manga/GoldenWind part 5]] this happens to a MonsterOfTheWeek of all people. During the fight on the train, Pesci is introduced as an awkward CowardlyLion who is pretty much being babysat by his partner, Prosciutto. As the fight goes on, he gradually starts learning from his partner's advice and becomes more and more determined to win, eventually scoring a NearVillainVictory.
** Emporio Alnino in [[Manga/StoneOcean part 6]] doesn't have much in the way of combat ability, or anything real impressive. But in the climax of the final battle, [[spoiler:he gains Weather Report as a Stand, and is the one to kill [[BigBad Enrico Pucci]], which Jotaro (resident badass of the series who can ''stop time'') and Jolyne (daughter of said resident badass) couldn't do.]]
** Johnny Joestar, Jonathan's counterpart following the ContinuityReboot in [[Manga/SteelBallRun part 7]], gets hit with it even more than his predecessor - at the start of the story he is a sad and pathetic shadow of his former self, bound to a wheelchair and [[ParentalNeglect abandoned by his father]]. Over the course of the story, he grows from a whiny spoiled brat to a badass who can hold his own against tough opponents, gets [[HeartIsAnAwesomePower the power to shoot his fingernails]], [[spoiler:which later evolves into creating portals into pocket dimension, and then into spinning every cell in enemy's body until both their body and soul is completely destroyed]], gets his legs to work again and even [[spoiler:gains his father's respect.]]

* ''Manga/FairyTail'': Strangely averted for Lucy, one of (if not ''the'') main character. She is getting better with her celestial spirits, but she's still not at the same level as Natsu, Gray, or Erza. Then again, those three are pretty damn powerful.
** Lucy officially takes a few levels after [[spoiler: unlocking her Second Origin. She can now summon multiple spirits at once, combine their attacks, and double her magic power with Gemini to cast [[WaveMotionGun Urano Metria]] on her own.]]
** Unfortunately, [[spoiler: that didn't stop her from getting beaten silly twice, whilst battling against Flare and Minerva (granted, she would've won against Flare, if it weren't for her cheating).]]
** [[spoiler: Played straight after the one year time skip thanks to her Star Dresses. While she admits that she's not on Natsu's level if he decided to go all out, she could still give him a good sparring session. She actually becomes strong enough to take out several mooks with one hit, and is willing to stand up to the PraetorianGuard of the BigBad.]]
* Marika's CharacterDevelopment from ''Manga/BokuraNoHentai'' has her go from a soft and sensitive girl at the start to someone much more confident who even told out TheBully.

* In ''LightNovel/IsItWrongToTryToPickUpGirlsInADungeon?'' there is the [[IncorruptiblePurePureness pure hero]] Bell Cranel, which becomes much more powerful in the course of the plot. In the first episode, he had to be rescued from a medium-strong monster, in the final episode, he was involved in destroying one of the dungeon's most powerful monsters.

* ''Manga/AkameGaKill'' has Tatsumi. Granted, he was not a weakling at the beginning of the story. But after he got a magical armor as an Imperial weapon, he became much stronger. Leone later notes that he's almost [[EmpoweredBadassNormal on the level of Bulat]].
* Kai from ''Anime/BloodPlus'' is turned from a naughty and cheeky teenager to a [[BadassNormal badass normal]] vampire hunter.

* Noelle Silva from ''Manga/BlackClover'' starts off as a royal unable to control her magic, leading her to be mocked by her siblings all her life. She later becomes a defensive mage with her Sea Dragon's Lair to save a group of villagers from being killed. She gains the attack spell Sea Dragon's Roar when she overcomes her mental block to not harm others to save her friends from [[ArcVillain Vetto]], ripping off his arm. Later, to protect her siblings against a reincarnated elf, she develops a new spell called Valkyrie Armor, which gives Noelle control over the mana touching her armor and improves her ability to fight in close combat.

** [[IdiotHero Naruto]], a brash loudmouthed kid pre-timeskip, takes ''[[UpToEleven several]]'' levels in badass over the course of the series. As early as Chapter 1, he learns the A-rank Jonin Level technique, [[MesACrowd Kage Bunshin no Jutsu]], which becomes one of his two signature techniques through the series. Later, he learns his other signature technique, [[OneHitKill Rasengan]]. He gains increasing levels of mastery over controlling the Kyuubi sealed inside him, which becomes his SuperMode. He also learns ''another'' SuperMode, the Sage Mode, and eventually manages to combine both. He gains the ability to summon frogs, and develops several variations and upgrades of all his techniques. Along the way, his maturity and battle strategies improve, eventually leading to him effectively leading the Shinobi Alliance's fight against Akatsuki during the Fourth Ninja World War.

** [[BigBad Tobi]], whose true identity is [[spoiler: Uchiha Obito]], was once an IdiotHero, but goes on to become an ''utterly brilliant'' [[TheChessmaster manipulator]], gains the Wood Release ability, learns several advanced techniques from his "mentor" GreaterScopeVillain [[spoiler: Uchiha Madara]], ability to control the Gedo Mazo and all the Bijuus sealed inside it. He then declares war on ''the entire world'' with only the aforesaid Gedo Mazo, and the Zetsus by his side. (Kabuto does join his side later, but he didn't know about that when he declared the war.) He then takes several ''more'' levels of badass in preparing for the war and then in the fight itself. To put it in perspective, his disguise is [[PaperThinDisguise incredibly thin]], due to [[spoiler: Tobi being Obito, with the kanji reversed]], and yet the readers were almost [[DidntSeeThatComing universally surprised]] by TheReveal, because it seemed outragepis that a wimp like him could take ''so many'' levels in badass.

*** Not only did Gohan reobtain his Ultimate Form, he also made it powerful enough to go toe-to-toe with Super Saiyan Blue