Line #8 Main/PowerOfTheGodHand


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7	[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/GodHand https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1_godhanddj0_webp.png]]]]
8	[[caption-width-right:350: ''"My arm, my arm, my arm, my arm, my arm! I summon up the power of the God Hand!"'']]
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12	God Hand (or Godhand, or God's Hand) is a popular name for a person, item, or skill, almost exclusively in Japanese media and usually related to melee combat.
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14	The appeal of the name is obvious. By comparing one's hands to those of a god, a fighter makes it seem like he can do impressive feats with them. For those who fight with their hands, obviously it's an appealing notion. Additionally, it evokes the idea of the [[TheHandIsGod "hand of God"]], while still being concise.
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16	The reason this is primarily a Japanese-media trope is that the Japanese tend to use "god" in their names [[ValuesDissonance without considering it as blasphemous as western audiences do]].
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18	Compare RedBaron, which this often gets used as when it's a title. When it's a weapon, it's usually a PowerFist (see StockWeaponNames). If the hand literally is God's hand, then TheHandIsGod.
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20	----
21	!!Examples:
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23	[[foldercontrol]]
24
25	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
26	* The [[BigBadDuumvirate Big Bads]] of ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' are called the Godhand. They are the five most powerful demons in the setting, so powerful they may very well be gods themselves, what with them manipulating the fate of everything in the world. [[spoiler:And later, they are revealed to represent the power of [[GodIsEvil the Idea of Evil]] and are manipulating reality to further its goal, finally explaining why they are also called Five Angels.]]
27	* Barely averted in ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'', with the MidSeasonUpgrade's primary attack being the God Finger, despite the fact that it's either a FacePalmOfDoom or a HandBlast. Averted entirely in the English dub, which changes it to [[{{Bowdlerise}} Burning Finger]].
28	* The titular surgeon from ''Manga/BlackJack'' is referred to as "The Surgeon with the Hands of God" for his ridiculous ability in the operating room.
29	* ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'': Though its Japanese name was "Heaven's Knuckle," Angemon's signature attack was called "Hand of Fate" in the English Dub. By any name it's a HandBlast which can overwhelm enemies who gave the ''entire team'' a lot of trouble. At least in season one; it's SoLastSeason in season two.
30	* Not a weapon or fighting technique, but it still counts: Go plays are called "hands", so in ''Manga/HikaruNoGo'' all of the high-level Go players (Sai in particular) are looking for the "hand of God".
31	* ''Manga/KenichiTheMightiestDisciple'', Akira Hongo of YAMI's One Shadow Nine Fists is known as God Fist.
32	* In ''Toys/MachineRobo: Revenge of Cronos'', the [[HumongousMecha Baikanfu]]'s FinishingMove is named God Hand Smash.
33	* The BigBad of ''Anime/SamuraiChamploo'' [[MasterSwordsman Kariya Kagetoki ]] is known as the Hand of God due to his skills.
34	* Parodied in ''Literature/HeavensMemoPad'', where Narumi is called "God Hand" by Souchirou's gang members because they are ''fantastically'' computer illiterate and he knows how to run a virus scan, so he inevitably has to fix their computer after they visit too many sketchy porn sites.
35	%%* ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' has some connotations to this concept.
36	* Kurogiri Satsuki from ''Literature/TheGardenOfSinners'' bears the title of "God's ''Word''" for his mastery of the [[LanguageOfMagic Divine Language]].
37	* Erina Nakiri of ''Manga/FoodWars'' has the "God's Tongue" thanks to her incredibly refined palate.
38	[[/folder]]
39
40	[[folder:Film]]
41	* ''Film/{{Twister}}''. In-universe, an F5 tornado is known as "The Finger of God".
42	[[/folder]]
43
44	[[folder:Literature]]
45	* Michael Carpenter in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' is known as "The Fist of God." Unlike most of the Japanese examples, this isn't just a boast; Carpenter is a Knight of the Cross and empowered by God to fight evil (his sword is made from a nail from ''the'' Cross).
46	[[/folder]]
47
48	[[folder:Live Action TV]]
49	* Used as the name of a LimitBreak in sentai series ''Series/HikariSentaiMaskman''. Unfortunately, its effectiveness didn't last very long and eventually a new LimitBreak is introduced.
50	** It comes back in ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'', where the new characters can transform into past heroes and use their abilities.
51	[[/folder]]
52
53	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
54	* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'': Not InUniverse, but used as {{fanspeak}}. A different definition of "hand" than most uses of this trope, but a "God Hand" is generally considered seven cards that, when drawn, will defeat an opponent in the first round. The exact definition of a God Hand can sometimes be a source of [[SeriousBusiness great contention]].
55	* In a post on the [=RolePlay=] Online site (rpol.net), a poster demonstrated the game-breaking potential of the Hulking Hurler ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' class by taking advantage of every possible loophole to create a monstrously powerful character, Urldred the Mountainthrower. His weapon was an eighteen-foot nickle-iron meteorite he called the Fist of Heaven.
56	[[/folder]]
57
58	[[folder:Video Games]]
59	* One of the guns Lance from ''VideoGame/EpicBattleFantasy'' can use is the God Hand, appropriately a Holy-elemental cannon that vaguely resembles a hand.
60	* Obviously the game ''VideoGame/GodHand'', where the title refers to a legendary warrior's actual arm. The trope name comes from a line from the game's ending theme song, which is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhTL3sOINKY hilarious]].
61	* Kun Lan, BigBad of the game ''VideoGame/Killer7'' has the title "God Hand." At one point he catches a bullet shot at his hand and uses its momentum to fly away.
62	* A recurring [[PowerFist Fist-type]] weapon in the ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' series is called the Godhand (God's Hand in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII''). It tends to be among the most powerful weapons of its type, and often has a Holy attribute.
63	* Another Squaresoft game, ''VideoGame/{{Ehrgeiz}}'', has a protagonist nicknamed Godhand.
64	* The best Fist-type weapon in ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline'' is called "God Hand." It's actually popular since it provides a [[StatStick slight boost to all stats]] while still keeping the unarmed animation, which for some Casters is the fastest.
65	* The second-strongest Fist-type weapon in ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'' is called "God's Hand".
66	* The most powerful Strike attack in ''VideoGame/Persona3'' is called God's Hand. This is more literal than most, as it involves a giant golden hand striking from above!
67	** The skill returns in ''VideoGame/Persona4'' as the second strongest single-target physical attack.
68	** Shows up again as one of [[KickChick Chie Satonaka's]] supers in ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena''. ''VideoGame/Persona4ArenaUltimax'' also gives this move to Margaret, albeit as a special attack.
69	** It returns in ''VideoGame/Persona5'' in a three-way tie for being the strongest single-target physical attack.
70	* One of three [[PrestigeClass Advanced classes]] in ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVII'' is called the Godhand.
71	* ''VideoGame/ShadowHeartsCovenant'': [[MinionWithAnFInEvil Lenny]] makes a pact with a demon known as "Godhand". It gives Lenny an OneWingedAngel form that has a ''massive'' claw larger than his entire body. [[spoiler:In ''[[VideoGame/ShadowHeartsFromTheNewWorld From the New World]]'' Johnny can [[CallOnMe call Lenny for help]] as his ultimate "Handy Tools" attack. It's consists of Lenny delivering a blow with Godhand's claw ''from anywhere in the world''.]]
72	* Mamoru Endō, main character in soccer RPG ''VideoGame/InazumaEleven'' has a special technique known as "God Hand" which creates a giant hand out of his energy. Naturally, he primarily plays as goaltender, the one position allowed to use their hands.
73	* While the exact name isn't used, the Force Mage's "Fist of the [[CrystalDragonJesus Maker]]" spell in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' is similarly evocative.
74	* One of the new power-ups in ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX''[='=]s Test Your Luck mode is called "God Fists". Whoever picks it up gets powerful enough to give the opponent a OneHitKO.
75	* God-Hand is an available character class in ''VideoGame/SeventhDragon III: code VFD''. They specialize in jabbing enemies to build up "God Depth", and then inflicting burst-damage attacks on the afflicted target.
76	* In ''VideoGame/TalesOfLegendia'', Grune's ultimate spell is God's Press, which calls a glowing golden hand to slap the designated area. The English version incorrectly refers to it as the recurring Judgement spell.
77	* ''VideoGame/Yakuza0'' has "God Hands" Wen Hai Lee, a former assassin turned acupuncturist and masseur.
78	[[/folder]]
79
80	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
81	* In ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'', God Hand is the name of [[TheBerserker Berserker]]'s passive ability which negates any attack below a certain rank[[note]]Meaning that in most cases he can only be hurt by a LimitBreak or FinishingMove, regardless of how strong the attacker is.[[/note]] and [[ResurrectiveImmortality grants him a total of twelve lives]], [[spoiler:[[Myth/GreekMythology one for each of the twelve labors Heracles realized in his life]]]]. Combined with the fact he's [[spoiler:a demigod]] with [[LightningBruiser inherently high strength, speed and toughness]], enhanced even more by the Berserker class, this makes him one of the more dangerous servants of the war... [[WorfEffect except when it doesn't]].
82	[[/folder]]
83
84	[[folder:Real Life]]
85	* Mas Oyama, Korean-born ([[UsefulNotes/KoreansInJapan but spent most of his life in Japan]]) Karateka was nicknamed "Godhand."
86	* Hirohito Furui, the keyboard player from the J-Rock band GARNET CROW, is nicknamed "Godhand" for his playing skill.
87	* A rare subversion in Argentinian [[UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball soccer player]] Diego Maradona. He was nicknamed The God's Hand not because of his ability as a soccer player (of course, soccer is played with ''feet''), but by the fact that he managed to score a goal by tapping the ball with his hand (the most obvious possible infraction) over English keeper Peter Shilton's head, during their 1986 World Cup quarter finals match. The referee didn't see it, and that goal gave Argentina the advantage in the match, which they would eventually win 2-1. In other words, his God's Hand was his ability to cheat with that hand without getting caught, or that the score was really thanks to [[DivineIntervention the Lord Himself hitting the ball]]. It's a disparaging nickname to his detractors (English coach Bobby Robson called it "the Hand of a Rascal"), but his fans [[ItMakesSenseInContext and worshipers]] use it in a complimentary and only partially-ironic fashion.
88	** He would do it again in the next World Cup, during a group stage match against USSR; from a corner set play, he swiped the ball away before the Soviets could open the score sheet. Argentina ended up winning that one 2-0.
89	[[/folder]]

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