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Is That the Best You Can Do?

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Is That the Best You Can Do? (trope)

"After being abandoned by your alliance, several serious injuries, two separate mutt attacks, and near starvation and dehydration, never ask the Gamemakers if that's all they've got. They always, always, always have more."
Antigone, The Victors Project

Stock phrase: "Is that the best you can do?" or "Is that the best you got?" Optional responses include "Not even close" (if the first speaker's been beaten to a pulp), "I'm just getting warmed up" (usually just before a devastating attack or counterattack), or "Unfortunately, yes..." (if the first speaker doesn't even have their hair mussed).

Often said defiantly, only rarely despairingly. Usually said by a person that abides by The Law of Diminishing Defensive Effort. If it's followed up by Now It's My Turn, you better hope you have your legal affairs in order.

See also Punch! Punch! Punch! Uh Oh... and No-Sell for situations where this is most often said.


Examples

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    Anime and Manga 
  • Occurs frequently in Bleach, both from bad guys to good guys and good guys to bad guys: "Is that all you've got?" Generally indicates that the loser is in dire shape, but somehow they will still triumph in the end.
  • Happens a lot in Dragon Ball Z when the Saiyans aren't at the level of the moment's Big Bad...or vice versa, sometimes.
    Frieza: [after laying into Goku at full strength] Well, now! Satisfied?
    Super Saiyan Goku: [getting back on his feet] Is that the best you can do?
    Frieza: What?
    Goku: I said, is that the best you can do?
    Frieza: WATCH YOUR TONGUE! [charges at Goku... right into a punch that makes him spit blood]
  • Hajime no Ippo has Akira Shigeta, a right-handed boxer fighting in a southpaw stance, taunting Takeshi Sendo with a variant of this phrase. As a result, Sendo goes completely berserk and makes good use of his distance-closing dashes, pummeling Shigeta to the point where the latter gains punch-eye, a fear of hands reaching out to his face.
  • Sanosuke Sagara (Zanza) from Rurouni Kenshin, after being punched in the head with a dagger and being completely unharmed:
    "Is that the best you can do? Even with a dagger? Man, I sure picked a boring fight."
  • Jack in Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's makes this kind of statement when he believes he has won the duel against his opponent. This trope gets combined with Tempting Fate for him during his duel with Kiryu when he thinks he's won (to be fair, he just managed to wipe out Kiryu's Life Points to 0 at that point, which normally ends the duel... except, this time, Kiryu has a duel combo strategy that lets him continue to duel even with his Life Points reduced to 0).
  • YuYu Hakusho: Near the end of the episode that kickstarts the fight between Yusuke and Younger Toguro in the Dark Tournament's final, the former prepares a very big, powerful and destructive projectile made of spirit energy. He shoots it at Younger Toguro, who gets hit by it and goes through a prolonged knockback but does manage to suppress it. When he comes back to the stadium where the fight takes place, a completely unimpressed Younger Toguro asks Yusuke if that big projectile was the best he could do, which shocks everyone (Yusuke himself included).

    Comic Books 
  • In Judgment Day (Marvel Comics), when Uranos attacks Arakko.
    Narration: The Omega-One Pulse Rifle is the most powerful gun in Cable's arsenal. It fires bullets of ultra-dense solid light along a tunnel of hard radiation that can melt osmium. In the year 3877, it will be classed as a weapon of absolute destruction, and be banned from use in warfare. It weakens Uranos.
    Uranos: Is that all?
    Narration: That is all.
  • New Avengers (2015): When Moridun tries to take over Wiccan and use him to destroy all reality, Billy asks if nihilistic thoughts are really the best he can throw at someone who's already has to deal with depression. Billy then kicks his ass.
  • Le Petit Spirou has the village priest get roped into a prizefight, reassured by the carny that it's fixed: Langelusse just has to say "Hit me harder, you wimp, I didn't feel a thing!" and the carny will stop the fight. Unfortunately, he then gets distracted, leaving Langelusse to keep taunting the wrestler and getting several different kinds of crap beaten out of him.
  • In Sin City: The Hard Goodbye, Marv says it during his second fight with Kevin, while he takes a vicious beating waiting for Kevin to leave himself open. It's also his Last Words: "Is that the best you got, you pansies?" This is after the electric chair failed to kill him.
  • In The Superman Adventures, Superman has this to say to Lex Luthor after his nemesis has just tried to kill him again:
    "Today, you thought you saw me at the limit of my power. Sorry, Luthor... I was only at the limit of yours!"

    Fan Fiction 
  • In The Keys Stand Alone: The Soft World, Spectrem angrily attacks Paul in an effort to force him to fight back. But the Nigh-Invulnerable, Actual Pacifist Paul isn't harmed in the slightest (though he's irked), and he says, “Right, if this is the best you can do, I rather doubt you'll be able to do anything to me. You can spend all day at this if you like, but nothing's gonna change, so you may as well quit now and save yourself a bit of frustration.”
  • Loved and Lost: Said by Commander Hildread to Shining Armor during their duel in the final battle.
    Hildread: Ignorant, pampered, lovesick colt! Is this the best you've got?
  • Shadows over Meridian:
    • After trading three evenly matched strikes with each other in Chapter 12, Frost asks Vathek if that's all. Despite sweating and his mace having visible slashes from Frost's Shadowkhan sword, Vathek replies it's not even close. Frost is happy to hear that because lack of struggle would spoil his fun.
    • Jade throws this taunt at rebel soldiers while high on Oni bloodlust during the battle at Snowpoint, and adds that even the Dark Hand Enforcers could put up a better fight.
    • As Tyrian effortlessly evades Quinn's attacks in Chapter 21, he mockingly says a soldier under Phobos and Jade can't be this unskilled.

    Films — Animated 
  • The Jungle Book (1967): When Mowgli attempts to climb a tree with a large trunk, Bagheera scoffs "Is that all the better you can climb?"
  • The Nightmare King from Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland says something similar as Nemo attempts to remember the incantation to activate the Royal Scepter, the only thing that can defeat him.
  • Madagascar 1:
    Gloria: Smiles, everyone. Let's get it together. Is that the best you can do, Melman?
    Melman: Oh, I'm not smiling. It's gas.
  • Meet the Robinsons: Franny during the food fight. "Surely that is not the best you can do."
  • Transformers One: When Orion Pax and his team get captured by the Cybertronian High Guard, D-16 challenges their leader Starscream to a fight and manages to overpower him. Starscream eggs the miner into beating him up some more with insults, including yelling "is that all you got?!" as D-16 strangles him. When D generates his iconic fusion arm cannon, Starscream begs him to stop.

    Films — Live-Action 
  • 300: Stelios shouts "IS THAT THE BEST YOU CAN DO?!" at the first wave of Persian footmen as they hopelessly try to break the Spartan phalanx.
  • In Attack of the Clones, Count Dooku taunts Obi-wan this way during their duel when it becomes clear that Obi-wan can't match Dooku's swordfighting skills.
    Count Dooku: Master Kenobi, you disappoint me. Yoda holds you in such high esteem. Surely you can do better.
  • In August Rush, said by Marshall while backing away as Louis continues pushing him.
    "That the best you got? Is that the best you got, man?"
  • In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Thor yells "IS THAT THE BEST YOU CAN DO?!" after a barrage of attacks by Ultron. The automaton chuckles and summons an entire legion of Ultron Sentries.
    Captain America: ...You had to ask.
    Ultron: This is the best I can do. This is exactly what I wanted, all of you against all of me. How can you possibly hope to stop me?
  • Wikus in District 9 during his Roaring Rampage of Revenge.
    "Is that all you got? Is that all you fokken got?"
  • Dragonheart: Draco says this word for word when Bowen throws a spear at him, seemingly impaling him.
    Draco: Is that the best you can do?
  • The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain:
    Betty: "I'll try?" Is that the best you can do?
  • In Fantastic Four (2005), when Johnny engulfs Dr. Doom in a huge fire cone that burns away his clothes and outer skin:
    Victor Von Doom: Is that the best you can do? A little heat?
  • The Incredible Hulk (2008): "Mere" Super-Soldier Emil Blonsky to the Incredible Hulk. Hulk responds by launching him into a tree with one kick, breaking most of his bones. After Blonsky becomes the Abomination, however, this is his reaction to the Hulk whaling on him with police-car-boxing gloves and punching him full-on in the face.
  • In The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, with the defenders holding Helm's Deep, Theoden asks "Is this it? Is this all you can conjure, Saruman?" Cut to some Uruks laying bombs in a drain in the wall, detonating them shortly after and successfully blowing a hole in the wall. In fairness, given the look on Theoden's face, he didn't seem to know gunpowder even existed.
  • Man of Steel: Played for Dramatic Irony when a flashback shows a gang of school bullies trying to provoke Clark Kent into fighting them, with the leader taunting, "Is that it? It that all you've got?" After they leave, we see Clark has bent a steel pole with the effort of not showing them even a fraction of what he's got.
  • Mary Poppins: Bert to Michael Banks while riding merry-go-round horses.
  • In The More the Merrier, while Carter and Dingle are reading a Dick Tracy comic strip:
    Constance 'Connie' Milligan: Is that the best you can do with your time?
  • In Outpost: Rise of the Spetsnaz, after Arkadi and Dolokhov beat the first zombie sent into their cell to death, they challenge Strasser to do better. Strasser agrees that a former cake decorator-turned-zombie might lack the appropriate aggressive attitude. "Send in the Child Killer." Cue Giant Mook zombie.
  • In Rocky III, Rocky says this at least once during his climactic fight with Clubber Lang, and much more than that.
  • Spider-Man 3: A symbiote-possessed Peter no-sells Harry's kick (which was enhanced by goblin serum), and responds with a "That all you got?" response before kicking Harry the exact same way, doing double the damage.
  • Tank Girl: Kesslee, after TG drops a bucket of water on his head.
  • In Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen, when Mikaela discovers Wheelie and captures him:
    Wheelie: Is that the best you got, huh? Is that the best you can do?
  • Said by Shark in Treed Murray: "Is that the best you got, Murray?"
  • The Truman Show: Truman responds this way when the TV crew whip up a giant artificial storm to sink his boat and prevent him escaping.
    Truman: Is that the best you can do? You're gonna have to kill me!
  • Vertigo: Said by Judy when she presents herself to Scottie in a new dress but his reaction remains underwhelming.
  • Wishmaster 2: Evil Never Dies:
    Tillover: How does a week in the hole sound?
    Djinn: A week, is that the best you got? I was once in a hole for 3000 years, this should be a breeze.

    Literature 
  • Gods and Warriors: Kreon makes this taunt at Hylas when the heavily armed warrior has the Outsider boy outmatched in the climax of Eye of the Falcon.
  • Iofur Ragnarson to Iorek Byrnison in His Dark Materials:
    Iofur: Is that all? Is that all?!
    [Iorek rips off Iofur's jaw]
    Iorek: Yes. That is all.
  • Saintess Summons Skeletons: Sofia smirks at the 'god of the abyss' not only failing to seize her with its tentacles, but having them crash into and damage each other.
    Sofia: You're going to have to try a lot harder than that if you want my bones, 'god'.
  • Q gets an epic one at the end of the Star Trek: The Next Generation Relaunch novel I, Q.
    Q: And if you think you can stop me just by ending the universe, then I'm here to tell you that you're going to have to do better than that!
  • The Work and the Glory: In response to Nathan getting upset and saying that Joshua isn't worth their mother praying for anymore, Joshua gives an ugly laugh and mocks him, "Is that it, Nathan? Is that your best shot?" He then has a man flog Nathan within an inch of his life.

    Live-Action TV 
  • Tyr in the Andromeda episode "The Dark Backward":
    "If you want to kill me, I'd prefer you give it some real effort and stop wasting my time."
  • In the Beverly Hills, 90210 episode "Scared Very Straight", concerning a bag full of drugs:
    David Silver: I was thinking we could take it down to the beach somewhere and bury it.
    Dylan McKay: It that the best you can do?
  • Saying this line is often Tempting Fate in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
  • Deadliest Catch:
    Cornelia Marie Crewmember: Is that all you got?
    [A few minutes later, a rogue wave washes over the aforementioned boat's deck]
    Mike Rowe: It's not wise to taunt the Bering Sea.
  • Farscape: Used for comedy in "Revenging Angel" when Aeryn finds herself in Crichton's imagination as a cartoon character in a revealing nightrobe. His response to this trope is to redraw her as Jessica Rabbit, which she doesn't find impressive either.
  • In the Johnny Ringo episode "The Assassins" (1960):
    Johnny Ringo: Go ahead, Chet. Go ahead and draw!
    Chet Tomstedter: Sure. I shoot an unarmed man and you and that fancy shot kid gun me down for murder legal. Is that the best you can do, Ringo?
  • Accidental subversion: Christopher Lee appeared on the 1950s live BBC show Kaleidoscope as a police officer scolding an underling for not handling an investigation well. Unfortunately, the poor actor playing the underling had just let loose a very audible fart on scene, making the line "Is that the best you can do?" unintentionally hilarious — especially since, as it turned out, it wasn't. To quote Sir Christopher, "He must have been filled with the four winds of heaven."
  • Married... with Children: Said in "Buck the Stud" by Peggy Bundy off-screen, while implying that they're having sex.
    "Come on, Al. Is that the best you can do?"
  • In the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers episode "Changing of the Zords":
    Tommy: Is that the best you can do?
    Lord Zedd: You're going to be sorry you said that!
  • In the Monk episode "Mr. Monk Fights City Hall":
    Adrian Monk: Okay, fine. His name is Doctor... Door.
    Harold Krenshaw: Doctor Door? Is that the best you can do? I suppose if we were standing by that alarm, you would've said Doctor Bell.note 
  • Kensi Blye in the NCIS: Los Angeles episode "Hand-to-Hand":
    "Crashing in the spare bedroom, is that the best you can do? You were lucky I didn't shoot you."
  • Doggie Cruger in Power Rangers S.P.D., after he cuts his way through more than half of a 100-mook army without breaking a sweat. "Is this all you've got, Benaag?"
  • In the Red Dwarf episode "Thanks for the Memory":
    Lister: What time is it?
    Rimmer: [drunkenly crawls over to the alarm clock] Saturday.
    Lister: Is that the best you can do?
    Rimmer: There are some numbers next to it but they could be anything.
  • Sharpe: From "Sharpe's Sword":
    Patrick Harper: There must be something you can do for him, Father!
    Father Curtis: I'm a priest. I pray for him.
    Patrick Harper: Is that the best you can do for him?
  • The Smallville episode "Exposed" has the "Is that the best you got?" variant from Jonathan Kent.
  • In the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The High Ground":
    Kyril Finn: You haven't tasted real fear yet, Doctor.
    Doctor Beverly Crusher: Is that the best you can do? Is fear the only weapon you have?

    Music 
  • The Protomen song "Vengeance" has Mega Man give the "Is this the best you've got?" version when making his way through Wily's hoards.

    Roleplay 
  • Destroy the Godmodder:
    • The godmodder does this a lot. What makes it worse is that it often ends up being justified.
    • Other entities with plot-significant roles will do this too when players try to insta-kill them.

    Sports 

    Video Games 

    Webcomics 
  • A Miracle of Science gives us a more nuanced answer: "Yes, this is the best I can do, but..." Two pages of exposition/intimidation later, the villain surrenders.
  • Naru-Hina Chronicles:
    • During the fight between Hotaru and Arata in Chapter 145, we have the following exchange:
      Arata: Is that all you have, Hotaru? Throwing things at me?
      Hotaru: Don't play cool. I made you sweat there. And no, that's not all I have.
    • Later in that same fight, it's Hotaru's turn to ask that question, all while being wounded:
      Hotaru: [smirking to Arata while being in pain] Is... Is that all you got? Poking at a wound? How pathetic!

    Web Videos 
  • Dragon Ball Z Abridged: In the Cooler 2 special, this is Played for Laughs when Cooler is choking Goku.
    Cooler: My god, you take an eternity to choke.
    Goku: [strangling] Is... that all you've got?
    Cooler: As a matter of fact... [chokes him harder]
    Goku: Regret, regret!

    Western Animation 
  • In the Ben 10 episode "Last Laugh", Frightwig asks Ben "Is that all you've got?" — never a good question to ask a superhero.
  • Wheeler in the Captain Planet and the Planeteers episode "A Creep from the Deep":
    "We're gonna try to tickle the clam open? Is that the best you can do?"
  • Said by a Brainwashed Johnny Storm in the Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes episode "Johnny Storm and the Potion of Fire".
  • Gargoyles: Most episodes with Macbeth.
    "You'll have to do better than that!"
  • The Heckle and Jeckle cartoon "Log Rollers" has Heckle taunting Powerful Pierre:
    Heckle: You're not so tough, chum. You're muscle-bound. Why you couldn't punch your way out of a paper bag. [Pierre punches Heckle in the face] Ha-ha! What'd I tell ya? I didn't even feel it! [suddenly goes catatonic and falls unconscious]
  • Justice League: From the first big battle in "Hereafter":
    Kalibak: [knocks batarang out of the air] That all you've got?
    Batman: Not quite.
  • The Legend of Korra: This happens at the beginning of Book 4 where Korra asks an earthbender she's fighting with if throwing a few rocks in her general direction is all she's got. Cue Korra getting her ass kicked.
  • In Martin Mystery, when the gang is fighting a really evil baddie, Martin dodges a really nasty fireball.
    Martin: Is that the best you've got?! [quietly] Because that was pretty good.
  • The Penguins of Madagascar: In the episode "Crown Fools":
    King Rat: That's the best you got? Bird, that is some weak sauce!
  • An early Popeye cartoon shows Popeye enticing a ruffian into socking him in the chin several times. Popeye never falters.
  • The Simpsons: Spoofed in the "Treehouse of Horror V" segment "The Shinning" when Groundskeeper Willie comes running into the house after Homer goes crazy.
    Groundskeeper Willie: Alright, loony! Show me what you've got! [Homer sneaks up behind him and axes him in the back] Ach! Is that the best you can do? [dies]
  • Static Shock
    • In the two-part "A League of their Own" crossover with Justice League, in which Brainiac uses mind-control circuity on the League, Static faces off against a Brainiac-controlled Green Lantern (who's the last of the Leaguers yet to be freed) and just tosses all he has at GL, who has his energy shields up:
      Green Lantern: That all you got, kid?!
      Static: [nervously] Unfortunately... Yes!
    • ...Thankfully, the freed Leaguers get a Big Damn Heroes moment afterwards, and GL is felled by Hawkgirl's mace.
      Hawkgirl: You can remove the circuitry now, kid.
      Static: [undoes the circuitry] Is he okay? [GL groans as he comes to]
      Hawkgirl: Yeah, that was just a tap.
  • Teen Titans (2003): "Robin, is that the best you can do?"
  • In the Transformers: Animated episode "Mission Accomplished":
    Megatron: Is that the best you could do, Starscream? And to think, you actually believed you could take over as leader of the Decepticons. [powers up fusion cannon] You couldn't lead a parade. [va-voom]

 
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