History Main / BlockingStopsAllDamage

* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED'' applies this trope in a climactic moment near the end of the show where Mwu uses the Strike Gundam's shield to block a battleship-grade antimatter cannon. While the Strike is destroyed in the attempt, it inexplicably prevents the ship he's protecting from taking any damage. Mwu returns in the sequel series, ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny'', where his new Akatsuki mobile suit applies the trope in full: its special armor can seemingly deflect anything with no damage as long as he blocks it, up to and including the same antimatter cannon that shot him down last time. In TheMovie the trope is exaggerated even further, as the Akatsuki adds being able to block [[spoiler:a planet-destroying superweapon]] to its list of feats.

* {{Justified}} in ''Manga/SaintSeiya'' with the [[LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe shields]] of the Dragon Cloth, the Scutum Cloth and the Libra Cloth: the Cloths are powerful armor suits built by the ancient alchemists of Mu on instructions of the goddess Athena, and [[AWizardDidIt are effectively magic artifacts]]. Also {{Subverted}} in that they ''do'' have limits, and applying enough force can break them, as happened to all three at least once.

* In ''VideoGame/RiseOfNightmares'', a UsefulNotes/{{Kinect}} game, you cause the {{Player Character}} Josh to block by crossing your arms over your chest, with Josh animated as doing the same. His forearms thus turn away punches, acid, blades and chainsaws.

* ''Manga/SevenDeadlySins'': Subverted during the battle between [[FallenAngel Estarossa]] and [[WorldsStrongestMan Escanor]]. Estarossa smugly blocks a punch from Escanor, believing humans to be inconsequential to him, before unexpectedly doubling over in pain anyway. Turns out that there ''are'' humans on his level, and his opponent even mocks him for it as he's hunched over.

* Many of the enemies in ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' can take a defensive stance or put up a forcefield to stop all your attacks. Especially difficult if it already takes a lot to take down. Thankfully, Soma can turn those abilities back at them.

* [[Creator/ElectronicArts EA Sports']] ''Fight Night 4'' and ''Fight Night Champion'' downplayed this trope for the first time in the series. Though holding the block button would prevent any damage from the first punch or two from an opponent, the longer the block button was held the less effective it became. The more punches the block absorbed, the more the boxer's stamina would drain, the weaker the boxer's defense would become, and the more punches (and damage) would get through. Holding block for too long rendered it worse than useless due to the damage taken and stamina drain. The trope could still be played straight, but required skilled stamina management and careful timing to drop the block and recharge its effectiveness whenever safe. Furthermore, leaning in the wrong direction while blocking made punches more likely to get through even at full strength.
** For previous games in the series, blocking stopped all damage, but was a guessing game for blocking high vs. low.

** Strangely, the BonusBoss ''does'' have an attack that can penetrate the shield, even though the FinalBoss doesn't.

** The unique defend command in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' negates all physical damage and half of the magical. Considering it's a GF ability, it can be considered partly magical, but seeing the BonusBoss do no damage with its most powerful attack it's still pretty striking.

* Various games in the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' franchise play this trope straight, but many attacks can pierce blocks, even if a blocked attack results in no damage. Blocking takes various forms between games, from simply holding up the keyblade to putting up a temporary force field, to mixtures of both. ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', however, even though it has blocking as well, is more accurately described as Reflega Stops All Damage. This is the final form of the reflect spell. It only does it reflect projectiles and stop all damage in all directions, it also explodes after a successful block or chain of blocks, dealing immense damage to the enemy, often resulting in a OneHitKO on weaker foes. It is considered by many to be the best legitimate way to defeat the [[BonusBoss Bonus Bosses]], since the it is the best way to simultaneously block attacks and deal damage.

* ''VideoGame/{{Onmyoji}}'': Seimei can cast a DeflectorShield over the entire team that blocks all incoming enemy damage (barring certain cases) until it shatters or after 2 of his turns have passed.

* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'': Not only do the blocking moves appear, it seems meeting any attack with another produces results. This has led to Flamethrowers being karate-chopped.

* Averted in ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' when Rangiku blocks Gin's extending sword with her own, but the sheer momentum appears to have injured her arms, which are later seen bandaged.
* Aversion from ''Anime/DragonballZ'': Tenshinhan blocks a punch from Nappa but the force rips his hand off.
* Averted in ''Kiss x Sis'' when Keita blocks a punch from his teacher with his writing hand. He suffers a minor injury that takes three days to recover from, hampering his studying ability. He later wonders why he just didn't dodge it instead.

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'': The moves Protect block any damage from the opponent's moves, except for a certain few moves. Detect achieves that same result by dodging. However, even these cannot fully protect against a [[LimitBreak damaging Z-Move]]. Sometimes it can be averted, with Protect, as the Pokémon "could not fully protect itself and was hurt".