Drama usually has a signal for the audience just before a big dramatic Fight Scene. Something that says "Pay Attention! Exciting battle ahead". Can prelude asskicking by either the Hero or by the Villain, although usually it's done for the Hero.
The following Tropes are methods of signaling this:
- Ambiguously Trained: A character is implied to have military training, but it's not clear if they do.
- Ass-Kicking Pose: Character poses in a way that makes it clear they're ready to fight.
- Attack Pattern Alpha
- Battle Strip: Character takes off some of their clothes before fighting.
- Being Watched
- Beware the Nice Ones: A nice character proves that they can be very violent if they want to be.
- Beware the Quiet Ones: If a person tends to be quiet, there's a good chance that they are dangerous.
- Beware the Silly Ones: A seemingly inept goofball of a villain proves that their silliness does not mean that they are harmless.
- Big Heroic Run
- Book Snap: Character snaps a book closed in order to deal with someone who needs to get their ass kicked.
- Bring It
- By the Power of Grayskull!: Character activates their powers by saying a specific word or phrase.
- Chew Bubblegum
- Circling Monologue
- *Click* Hello
- The Coats Are Off
- Combat Pragmatist: Character does whatever is necessary to win the fight, even if it means resorting to tactics that can be seen as unsporting.
- Dare to Be Badass
- Dramatic Gun Cock
- Empathic Environment
- False Innocence Trick
- Fisticuff-Provoking Comment
- The Glasses Come Off
- The Gloves Come Off
- He's Back: A character who has fallen into a depression recovers and gets back into the fight.
- I Am Your Opponent
- Imminent Danger Clue
- In the Name of the Moon
- Intimidation Demonstration
- It Has Been an Honor: Character informs their allies that they enjoyed working with them prior to entering a battle they may not survive.
- Kinetic Clicking
- Kirk Summation
- Knuckle Cracking
- Launcher Move
- Leave Him to Me
- Let's Fight Like Gentlemen
- Let's Get Dangerous!
- Lock-and-Load Montage
- Meditation Powerup
- My Name Is Inigo Montoya: Introducing yourself to the person you're about to fight so they know just who they are messing with.
- "No More Holding Back" Speech
- No-Sell: An attack has no effect whatsoever on the targeted opponent.
- One-Handed Shotgun Pump
- Pre-Asskicking One-Liner: A character says something badass before beating someone up.
- Punch! Punch! Punch! Uh Oh...: A character tries to beat someone up, only for their blows to do nothing to their opponent. Oh, Crap!
- The Rest Shall Pass
- Shut Up, Hannibal!: The villain makes fun of the hero for being idealistic and the hero replies with a rebuttal on why their idealism has merits.
- Shut Up, Kirk!: The hero shames the villain for being bad and the villain responds by saying that he doesn't care.
- A Storm Is Coming
- Theme Music Power-Up: Theme music plays during the hero's awesome moments.
- Throwing Down the Gauntlet
- Tired of Running
- Trench Coat Warfare
- *Twang* Hello
- Vagueness Is Coming
- You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Angry
