- "It's a double-edged sword...The fighting technique could cost them their life."
- ― Brook on the Mink's Sulong Form (One Piece)
- "If this power of yours is truly absolute, then naturally, you too should be vulnerable to it..."
- ― Hachigen Ushōda (Bleach)
- "All magic comes with a price!"
- ― Rumpelstiltskin (Once Upon a Time)
The circumstance in which the user possesses great strength and ability at a cost. Not to be confused with Aversion.
Also Called[]
- Double-Edged Sword
- Faustian Powers
- Flesh for Bones
- Power at a Cost/Price
Capabilities[]
The user possesses great skill and power, but prolonged usage of it may come at a cost. Overuse or misuse of said power may result in, among other things, insanity and physical damage to the user's body.
Variations[]
- All-Out Force Charge
- Antithetical Force Manipulation
- Power Overdrive
- Power-Based Disability
- Sacrificial Protection
- Suicidal Attack
Associations[]
- Concept-Dependent Immortality
- Double-Edged Arts
- Feral Mind
- Higher Consciousness
- Life Conversion
- Power Manifestations
- Self-Harm Empowerment
- Singular Power Use
Limitations[]
- Some double-edged powers may affect people other than the user, including friends and allies.
- They may require something to keep their limits restrained.
- With enough training, they may be able to overcome their limitations.
- Overuse may result in critical injury, madness or death depending on the nature of the power.
Known Users[]
See Also: Power At A Price and Desperation Attack, Equivalent Exchange.
Anime/Manga/Manhwa[]
- Julie Sigtuna (Absolute Duo)
- Titan-Shifters (Attack on Titan); via Curse of Ymir
- Dark Schneider (Bastard!!); via Judas Pain
- Untrained Tao Users (Black Cat)
- Est Contractors (Bladedance of Elementalers)
- Baraggan Louisenbairn (Bleach)
- Bounts (Bleach); via Dolls
- Sajin Komamura (Bleach); via Humanization Technique
- Giriko Kutsuzawa (Bleach)
- Ichigo Kurosaki (Bleach); via being controlled by his Inner Hollow and Mugetsu
- Several Shinigami (Bleach); via Bankai
- Uryū Ishida (Bleach); via Quincy: Letzt Stil
- Hatsuna Wakabayashi (Brynhildr in the Darkness)
- Kanade Sakurada (Castle-Town Dandelion)
- Denji (Chainsaw Man); via his Chainsaw Devil form
- Shunsuke Otosaka (Charlotte)
- Yuu Otosaka (Charlotte)
- Claymores (Claymore)
- All Ability Users and Rare Kinds (Code:Breaker)
- Kurumi Tokisaki (Date A Live)
- Contractors except Hel (Darker than Black); they're required to perform a task in order to use their powers
- Death Note Users (Death Note)
- Humans who make a deal for Shinigami Eyes (Death Note)
- Frieza (Dragon Ball series); via 100% Full Power and Golden Frieza (initially)
- Guldo (Dragon Ball series)
- Saiyans (Dragon Ball series); via Great Ape Form and Super Saiyan 3
- Son Goku (Dragon Ball series); via Kaio-Ken and Ultra Instinct (initially)
- Future Trunks (Dragon Ball series); via Super Saiyan Third Grade
- Tienshinhan (Dragon Ball series); via Kikoho
- Ultimate Shenron (Dragon Ball GT)
- Granolah (Dragon Ball Super); after becoming the strongest in the universe
- Gas (Dragon Ball Super); after becoming the strongest in the universe
- Rebecca Bluegarden (Edens Zero); via overuse of Cat Leaper
- Users of Law (Fairy Tail)
- Acnologia (Fairy Tail); after ingesting the Time Rift
- August (Fairy Tail); via Ars Magia
- Users of Iced Shell and Lost Iced Shell (Fairy Tail)
- Kyouka (Fairy Tail)
- Natsu Dragneel (Fairy Tail); via eating etherion's ethernano and Fire Dragon King Mode
- Sherria Blendy (Fairy Tail); via Third Origin
- Ultear Milkovich (Fairy Tail); via Last Ages
- Practitioners of Hokuto Ryu Ken/Big Dipper Lapis Lazuli Fist (Fist of the North Star)
- Alchemists (Fullmetal Alchemist); via Human Transmutation
- Vessels of The Torch (Hero Killer)
- Issei Hyoudou (High School DxD); via Juggernaut Drive
- Seidou Goui Users (History's Strongest Disciple Kenichi)
- Toori Aoi (Horizon In The Middle of Nowhere); via getting sad/upset will cause death
- Sakuma Jirou (Inazuma Eleven); via Emperor Penguin no01 causes bone and muscle tissues to break down after 2nd use
- Genda Koujirou (Inazuma Eleven); via Beast Fang, causes bone and muscle tissues to break down after 2nd use
- Inuyasha (InuYasha); via becoming full demon
- Miroku (InuYasha); formerly via Wind Tunnel
- Eucliwood Hellscythe (Is This a Zombie?); when she heals someone, she feels the pain inflicted. Talking gives reality warping powers but headaches.
- Mahoro Andou (Mahoromatic)
- Wamuu (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part II: Battle Tendency); via Final Mode: Atmospheric Rift
- Some Stand Users (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure); if the user doesn't have a fighting spirit
- Most Domain Expansion Users (Jujutsu Kaisen)
- Priestess Dance Users (Kingdom)
- Ohma Tokita (Kenganverse); via his "Advance" technique
- Various Demons (Konjiki no Gash Bell!); via casting certain spells
- Riou (Konjiki no Gash Bell!); via performing his family's curse.
- Megumin (Konosuba)
- Refal (Legend of the Legendary Heroes)
- Tigre Vorn (Madan no Ou to Vanadis); via The Black Bow
- Kōta Shibaki (Majmoji Rurumo); via Wish Tickets
- Darkness ÄRM users (Marchen Awakens Romance); via the side effects most Darkness ÄRMs have
- Ghost ÄRM users (Marchen Awakens Romance); via the life force that is drained every time a Ghost ÄRM is used
- Torch Vessels (Hero Killer); via Power Overload
- Various Quirk users (My Hero Academia)
- Users of "One For All"
- Yoite (Nabari no Ou); via the Kira Technique
- Creation Rebirth users (Naruto)
- Cursed Seal users (Naruto)
- Eight Gates users (Naruto)
- Akimichi Clan (Naruto); via Three Colored Pills
- Jinchuriki (Nauto); via their initial Jinchuriki forms
- Kakashi Hatake (Naruto); via his Sharingan (initially)
- Mizuki (Naruto); anime only
- Uchiha Clan (Naruto); via Izanagi and Izanami
- Itachi Uchiha (Naruto); via his Mangekyō Sharingan
- Sasuke Uchiha (Naruto); via the Cursed Seal of Heaven (formerly), his Mangekyō Sharingan, and his Rinnegan
- Naruto Uzumaki (Naruto); via his initial Jinchuriki forms and Baryon Mode
- Mitsuki (Naruto/Boruto: Naruto Next Generations); via continuous use of Sage Mode
- Isshiki Otsutsuki (Boruto: Naruto Next Generations); in Jigen’s body
- Eve Neuschwanstein (Needless); via Doppelganger's energy use
- Negi Springfield (Negima! Magister Negi Magi) via Magia Erebea
- Various Devil Fruit users (One Piece)
- Mansherry; via overuse of the Chiyu Chiyu no Mi restoration power
- Marco; via overuse of Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Phoenix healing power
- Marshall D. Teach/Blackbeard; more susceptible to pain via gravity-element drawback
- Monkey D. Luffy; via Gear Second & Gear Third (pre-timeskip), Gear Fourth - Boundman, Haoshoku Haki (pre-timeskip) and Gear Fifth
- Nico Robin
- Tony Tony Chopper; over-dosage of the Rumble Ball (pre-timeskip) and (post-timeskip) Rumble Ball only needed to use Monster Point; later additional side-effects after the improved Rumble Ball time limit
- Trafalgar D. Water Law; via overuse of Ope Ope no Mi
- Charlotte Linlin/Big Mom; via Soru Soru no Mi power-up
- Bartholomew Kuma (One Piece); via transference of pain/suffering with the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi
- Awakened Devil Fruit Users; via inexperience
- Lunarians (One Piece)
- Minks (One Piece); via Sulong transformation
- Tsumegeri Guards (One Piece); via Hero Water
- Boros (One Punch Man)
- Limiter Breakers (One Punch Man)
- Gene Starwind (Outlaw Star); via use of #4, #9, and #13 Caster Shells
- Aun Freya (Photon: The Idiot Adventures)
- Celebi (Pokémon Adventures); from forced time travel
- Niebel (Rave Master); via Last Moment
- Naofumi Iwatani (The Rising of the Shield Hero); via Blutopfer/Blood Sacrifice
- Tsukune Aono (Rosario + Vampire)
- Ruby Tojo (Rosario + Vampire); via Iron Maiden
- Yukishiro Enishi (Rurouni Kenshin)
- Kazuma (s-CRY-ed)
- Refined Alters (s-CRY-ed)
- Sailor Moon (Sailor Moon); via the Legendary Silver Crystal
- Sailor Saturn (Sailor Moon); using her full destructive and deathly powers also causes her to perish
- Ruki (Senyu)
- Maka Albarn and Soul Evans (Soul Eater) using the black blood can risk them falling into madness and becoming deranged at the cost of using its power.
- Adam (Shuumatsu no Valkyrie: Record of Ragnarok); via overusing "Eye of the Lords"
- Zeus (Shuumatsu no Valkyrie: Record of Ragnarok); via Adamas form
- Meliodas (The Seven Deadly Sins); via his Revenge Counter technique
- Ten Commandments (The Seven Deadly Sins); via their signature Commandments
- Escanor (The Seven Deadly Sins); as "The One Ultimate"
- Acqua of the Back (Toaru Majutsu no Index); via absorption half of Misha Kreutzev Telesma
- Shana (Shakugan No Shana); via Tenpa Josai
- Lina Inverse (Slayers); via Giga Slave
- Kumoko/Shiraori (So I'm a Spider, So What?)
- Wrath/Sasajima Kyouya (So I'm a Spider, So What?)
- Males of Cosmo's species (Sonic X); in Mover Mode transformation
- Hrotsvit Lesedrama (Swordsman of Magic Technique School and Summoned Vasreus)
- Users of the "Swan Song" (Symphogear)
- Half-Humans (Tokyo Ghoul)
- Kishou Amira
- Ching-Li Hsiaso
- Toriko (Toriko); via his Original Appetite Demon
- Masane Amaha (Witchblade)
- Moroha (Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon); via using Izayoi's makeup
- Byakko (Yu Yu Hakusho)
- Hiei (Yu Yu Hakusho); via using the Dragon of the Darkness Flame
- Younger Toguro (Yu Yu Hakusho)
- Lestion (Yumekui Merry); firing his gun
Cartoons/Comics[]
- Mozenrath (Aladdin: The Animated Series); via Gauntlet
- Anne Boonchuy (Amphibia); via her Calamity powers
- Sasha Waybright (Amphibia); via her Calamity powers
- Marcy Wu (Amphibia); via her Calamity powers
- Avatars (Avatar series); via the Avatar State
- Shredder (Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- Gwen Tennyson (Ben 10 series)
- Heat Jaws (Ben 10 series)
- Danny Fenton/Phantom (Danny Phantom); formerly
- Darkwing Duck (Darkwing Duck); via former use of Super Speed powers
- Bruce Wayne/Batman (DC Comics); via the Hellbat armor.
- Speedsters (DC Comics); via Speed Force
- Kid Psycho (DC Comics)
- Thaddeus Sivana (DC Comics)
- Clark Kent/Kal-El/Superman (DC Comics); via Solar Flare, later Kryptonite energy infusion
- Henry Clover Jr./Gotham (DC Comics)
- Claire Clover/Gotham Girl (DC Comics)
- Lord Commander (Final Space)
- Spark (Girl Genius); there's a reason it's called The madness place.
- Ace (Justice League Unlimited)
- Miraculous holders (Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir)
- Some Akumatized villains (Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir)
- Mar-Vell/Captain Marvel (Marvel Comics)
- Guido Carosella/Strong Guy (Marvel Comics)
- Wielders of the Ebony Blade (Marvel Comics)
- Zombie Spider-Man (Marvel Comics)
- Eda Clawthorne (The Owl House); via her curse
- Lilith Clawthorne (The Owl House); after sharing the curse with Eda
- Emperor Belos/Philip Wittebane (The Owl House)
- Mewman (Star vs. the Forces of Evil); via the Solarian Metamorphosis ritual
- Heavyman/Dr. Koenig (Static Shock)
- Eli Shane (Slugterra)
- Maul (WildStorm)
Folklore/Mythology[]
- King Midas (Greek Mythology)
Literature[]
- Dark Wizards (Harry Potter); especially when creating Horcruxes
- Mundanes (Shadowhunter Chronicles); via Lilith's blood
- Spirit Users (Vampire Academy/Bloodlines)
- Fanoxean (The Young Guardians)
- Witchers (The Witcher)
Movies[]
- Bagi (Bagi, the Monster of Mighty Nature)
- The Five Family Members (The Covenant)
- Chase Collins
- Caleb; after his ascension.
- Godzilla (Godzilla)
Live Television[]
- Griffin Grey (Arrowverse)
- Willow Rosenberg (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
- Cordelia Chase (Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel)
- Dr. Curtis Williamson (Charmed)
- Hiro Nakamura (Heroes)
- Peter Petrelli (Heroes)
- Sylar (Heroes)
- Magic Users (Once Upon A Time)
- Castiel (Supernatural)
- Users of the Mark of Cain (Supernatural)
- Sam Winchester (Supernatural); via Demon Blood
Video Games[]
- Asura (Asura's Wrath); via his Wrath Form
- ADAM users (BioShock)
- Ragna the Bloodedge (Blazblue)
- Non-Belmont users of the Vampire Killer (Castlevania)
- Power Within Users (Dark Souls)
- Centaur Warrunner (Dota 2)
- Blood Mages (Dragon Age)
- Crusader (Final Fantasy VI)
- Users of Para-Magic (Final Fantasy VIII)
- Users of the "Eyes of Etro" (Final Fantasy XIII-2)
- Azura (Fire Emblem Fates)
- Sora (Kingdom Hearts); via Anti-Form and Rage Form
- Donald Duck (Kingdom Hearts); via Zettaflare
- Raziel (Legacy of Kain)
- Secret Stone Users (The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom); by swallowing it to become a Dragon
- Mega Man (Mega Man); via Double Gear system.
- Users of Phazon-Enhancement Devices (Metroid Prime 3: Corruption)
- Samus Aran (Metroid); via Metroid DNA
- Metroid Suit (Metroid Dread)
- Fire God Liu Kang (Mortal Kombat); after regaining his power as Keeper of Time
- Pokémon that know "Perish Song" (Pokémon)
- Pokémon that know recoil inflicting attacks (Pokémon)
- Albert Wesker (Resident Evil)
- Zephyr (Resonance of Fate)
- Lord Genichiro (Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice)
- Metal Sonic (Sonic the Hedgehog); via V. Maximum Overdrive Attack
- Shadow the Hedgehog (Sonic the Hedgehog); without Inhibitor Rings
- Claudio Serafino (Tekken); via the Spear of Kephalos
- Sieg (TYPE-MOON/Fate/Apcrypha); via Dead Count Shapeshifter
- Shirou Emiya (TYPE-MOON); after fusing with Archer's arm
- Shiki Tohno (TYPE-MOON/Tsukihime)
- Infeliz (Valkyrie Crusade)
- Users of the Void (Warcraft series)
- Deathwing (World of Warcraft)
Web Comics[]
- Che Heart (Ordeal)
- Anton King (Ordeal)
- Garen (Skylark)
Known Objects[]
Anime/Manga/Manhwa
- The Berserker Armor (Berserk)
- Bakkōtō (Bleach)
- Enrakyōten (Bleach)
- Most Cursed Tools (C3: CubexCursedxCurious)
- Ros-series Heart Hybrid Gears (Hybrid × Heart Magias Academy Ataraxia)
- Locacaca Fruits (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part VIII: Jojolion)
- Wish Tickets (Majimoji Rurumo)
- Darkness ÄRMs (Marchen Awakens Romance)
- Ghost ÄRMs (Marchen Awakens Romance)
- Mobile Suits equipped with Trans-Am (Mobile Suit Gundam 00)
- Akimichi Three-Colored Pills (Naruto)
- Hero Water (Naruto)
- Devil Fruits (One Piece)
- Energy Steroids (One Piece)
- Hero Water (One Piece)
- Reject Dials (One Piece)
- Rumble Balls (One Piece)
- Curse Series of the Legendary Hero Weapons (Rising of the Shield Hero)
- Cybernetics (Cyberpunk: Edgerunners)
- Silver Crystal (Sailor Moon)
- Black Blood ("Soul Eater")
- Crown Series Gollems (In Another World with my Smartphone)
Cartoons
- Mozenrath's Gauntlet (Aladdin: The Animated Series)
- Telecephaloscope (Blake and Mortimer - The Yellow "M")
- The Red Sweater of Courage (Dave the Barbarian)
- The Memory Gun (Gravity Falls)
- Miraculouses (Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir)
- Alicorn Amulet and Inspiration Manifestation spell book (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic)
- The Sword of Tengu (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003 TV series)
- Sonic's Mech Suit (Sonic Boom)
Comics
- Ebony Blade (Marvel Comics)
Literature
- Soulcutter (Book of Swords)
- One Ring (The Lord of the Rings)
Live Television/Movies
- Infinity Gauntlet (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
- Darkhold (Marvel Cinematic Universe), prolonged use of the Dark Magic in this book causes profound corruption in the soul of the user.
- All-Black the Necrosword (Marvel Cinematic Universe)
- The Mark of Cain (Supernatural)
- Equalizer/Hammurabi (Supernatural)
- Hazard Trigger (Kamen Rider Build)
- GeizRevive Ridewatch (Kamen Rider Zi-O)
Video Games/Visual Novels
- Beast Spear (Breath of Fire III)
- Red Lyrium (Dragon Age)
- Boots of Blinding Speed (The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind)
- Kōkai Gyoku (Flame of Recca)
- Secret Stones (The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom)
- Double Gear System (Mega Man 11)
- Phazon Enhancement Device (Metroid Prime 3: Corruption)
- Rejuvenating Waters (Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice)
- Vulture's Artificial Wings (Spider-Man PS4)
- Archer's Arm (TYPE-MOON/Fate/stay Night)
- Dead Count Shapeshifter (TYPE-MOON/FateApcrypha)
Web Animation/Comic/Series/Original
- SCP-427 - Lovecraftian Locket (SCP Foundation)
- SCP-596 - Cursed Regeneration Statue (SCP Foundation)
- SCP-1015 - Poor Man's Midas (SCP Foundation)
Known Powers[]
- Project Daycare (American Dad!)
- Quincy: Letzt Stil (Bleach)
- Various Bankai (Bleach)
- Valhalla's Gate (Cautious Hero)
- Demon Slayer Mark (Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba)
- Magic (Disney: Twisted-Wonderland); via Blot
- Kaioken (Dragon Ball series)
- Lucid Gadget (Dream Eater Merry); when used in reality.
- Dark Magic (Marvel Cinematic Universe), via the Darkhold
- Angel Zafkiel (Date A Live)
- Law (Fairy Tail)
- Third Origin (Fairy Tail)
- Tao (Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku)
- Priestess Dance (Kingdom)
- Mangekyō Sharingan (Naruto)
- Last Moment (Rave Master)
- Sunshine (The Seven Deadly Sins)
- Blastor Mode (Tekkaman)
- Magic (Skylark)
- Bloodlust (Skylark)
- The Void (Warcraft series)
- Cyber corruption (Sonic the Hedgehog)