History Main / AbilityDepletionPenalty

* Both the minigun in ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'' and the .50 BMG machine gun in [[VideoGame/Left4Dead2 the sequel]] could [[{{Overheating}} overheat]] and would become inoperable for a long period of time if you overheated it completely. In addition, the shotguns can be reloaded one shell at a time, but completely emptying the magazine means you have to cock the weapon again to put a round in the chamber after reloading; in ''VideoGame/Left4Dead2'', this was removed from the shotguns but added to the pistols.

* Both the minigun in ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'' and the .50 BMG machine gun in [[VideoGame/Left4Dead2 the sequel]] could [[{{Overheating}} overheat]] and would become inoperable for a long period of time if you overheated it completely. In addition, the autoshotgun can be reloaded one shell at a time, but completely emptying the magazine means you have to "prime" the weapon again after reloading.

* '' VideoGame/TeamFortress2'': If the Spy lets the cloak meter of his invisiwatch run out instead of decloaking manually the sound will be louder, making it easier for the enemy team to notice him.

Compare with {{Cooldown}} where the ability is always locked out after use. Often overlaps with {{Overheating}} where the character, ability, whatever is weakened or even incapacitated if you exceed the limit. See BreakMeter when the point is to deplete a meter on an enemy in order to inflict a penalty against them. CastFromHitPoints may count, although everyone knows [[YetAnotherStupidDeath what happens if you deplete the meter that those abilities cast from]]. If the weapon or tool simply has a limited number of uses before breaking, that's BreakableWeapons though one of the penalties of this trope could be the item in question wearing down faster than usual.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV'' also has a stamina meter, sprinting too much and completely draining it will cause Noctis to walk slower than normal until it fully recharges.

* ''VideoGame/BlasterMasterZero2'': Running out of energy gauge with the G-Sophia puts it on a forced recharge state, which disables your secondary weapons and makes your primary weapons weaker. ''[[VideoGame/BlasterMasterZero3 Zero 3]]'' splits the energy meter into two separate meters for weapons and specials.

* ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'': Running out of stamina makes you unable to do any actions that require it (sprinting, rolling, attacking, etc.) until you're regenerated enough. If your stamina is depleted while you're blocking, you will be Guard Broken, causing you to take more damage during the recoil animation, as well as leaving you vulnerable to a well-timed [[CriticalHit riposte]].

** In the first three games, each of the player's swords has its own heat meter. When the player uses attacks or blocks enemy attacks, the heat meter will increase based on the power of the relevant move, and in the case of player's attack, whether it landed or was blocked, before depleting when the player takes a moment to avoid using the sword. If the heat meter ends up reaching full, one segment of it will be removed, limited the amount of attacks that can be done or blocked in quick succession. If all segments are removed, then the sword will break, leaving the player with what effectively amounts to a blunt knife. Enemy weapons also have their own invisible heat meters, so a defensive player can trick them into breaking their own weapons.

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* ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'': Creatures have a continuously regenerating Fatigue score that's drained by activities like jumping and attacking. This normally only penalizes the damage from their attacks, but, if they hit negative Fatigue, they collapse on the ground until it rises back above zero.

* ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'': Running out of stamina will make you unable to do any actions that require it (sprinting, rolling, attacking, etc.) until you're regenerated enough. If your stamina is depleted while you're blocking, you will be Guard Broken, causing you to take more damage during the recoil animation, as well as leaving you vulnerable to a well-timed [[CriticalHit riposte]].

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* ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'' has a more Downplayed example, the ManaMeter regenerates over time, the speed of which is relative to how full it is. The Mana Regeneration potion grants a buff that always regenerates mana at maximum speed.

* The ''VideoGame/WayOfTheSamurai'' series has the heat meter, individual to each sword the player gets. When the player uses attacks or blocks enemy attacks, the heat meter will increase based on the power of the relevant move, and in the case of player's attack, whether it landed or was blocked, before depleting when the player takes a moment to avoid using the sword. If the heat meter ends up reaching full, one segment of it will be removed, limited the amount of attacks that can be done or blocked in quick succession. If all segments are removed, then the sword will break, leaving the player with what effectively amounts to a blunt knife. Notably, enemy weapons also have their own invisible heat meters, so a defensive player can trick them into breaking their own weapons.
** ''VideoGame/WayOfTheSamurai4'' removes the heat meter, giving weapons a more basic durability meter, but it adds the stamina meter, which depletes as the player performs their attacks. It also governs their RegeneratingHealth. As such, it is best for the player to keep items to restore stamina on hand, as if the meter ends up completely empty, their attacks will become sluggish, and their health will not regenerate. An empty stamina meter is also bad news if the player is caught committing a crime, as if attacked by an alert cop when the meter is empty, they will arrest the player. Like the heat meter of previous entries, enemies have their own stamina meter, which is visible. Depleting an enemy's stamina can be helpful in weakening them, or even sparing them if the player wants to be merciful, which is sometimes required for sidequests and opening a couple plot branches.

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** 3.5 Edition:

*** All psionic characters gain a perk called Psionic Focus, which at its basic can help with concentration checks, and furthermore with many psionic feats depending on keeping or expending your Psionic Focus. However, such characters need to keep at least 1 power point in their reserve to benefit of the Psionic Focus; if this last point absolutely needs to be spent, the Psionic Focus is offline until they can rest.

** 5[[superscript:th]] Edition: Many {{Magic Wand}}s' powers draw on a pool of charges that regenerates over time. However, whenever the charges are completely emptied, there's a small chance that the item will be permanently ruined.

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** Since ''4'', any rapid fire weapon such as the Rotary Autocannon or the Clan Hyper-Assault Gauss rifles in ''Living Legends'', for example, will temporarily jam if they are fired for too long.[[note]]The HAG jam is a translation of tabletop mechanics where the number denotes the amount of slugs fired before the capacitor has to recharge.[[/note]]

*** All psionic characters gains a perk called Psionic Focus, which at its basic can help with concentration checks, and furthermore with many psionic feats depending on keeping or expending your Psionic Focus. However, such characters need to keep at least 1 power point in their reserve to benefit of the Psionic Focus; if this last point absolutely needs to be spent, the Psionic Focus is offline until they can rest.

** 3.5 Edition: "Reserve [[SkillScoresAndPerks Feats]]" grant a character a supernatural ability that's usable at will, so long as they have a spell of a specific type and [[SpellLevels minimum level]] available to cast. If they exhaust all their [[VancianMagic spell slots or castings of that spell]], the ability goes offline until they're replenished.

* In a closed-bolt firearm fed by a detachable magazine, reloading while there are still cartridges in the magazine means that there is still a round in the chamber. As such, the gun is ready to fire simply by inserting the new magazine. If you empty all rounds and then reload you will need to manually [[DramaticGunCock rechamber a new round]] to begin firing, which is slightly longer. This mechanic is sometimes present in shooter games that [[ShownTheirWork show their work]].

* This penalty is turned UpToEleven in ''VideoGame/SwordOfTheStars: The Pit''. The Lich will ''outright die'' if his ManaMeter runs out completely.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV'' also has a stamina meter, sprinting too much and completely draining it will cause Noctis to walk slower than normal until it fully recharges

* ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear Strive'': Nagoriyuki's Blood Gauge is this in reverse. Using his specials fills up the gauge, and when it maxes out, he enters Blood Rage. While his normals become more powerful and he can one a new super move, it disables his specials and drains a ''massive'' amount of health over time in this state, plus he can be punished during the animation where he enters this state. The Blood Gauge lowers as he lands normal attacks or uses his command grab.

* ''VideoGame/BlasterMasterZero2'': Running out of energy gauge with the G-Sophia not puts it on a forced recharge state, which disables your secondary weapons and makes your primary weapons weaker.

* ''VideoGame/ViewtifulJoe'' and its sequel have a VFX meter that limits your super power use. Deplete it entirely and the player character will lose their superhero transformation until the first (and longest) bar has refilled.

* ''TabletopGame/ChroniclesOfDarkness'': [[OurSpiritsAreDifferent Spirits]] have a pool of [[{{Mana}} Essence]] points that they spend to fuel their supernatural abilities. If they run out completely, they fall into slumber until they somehow regain a point. A spirit at zero Essence also suffers FinalDeath if its HitPoints are exhausted.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' 5[[superscript:th]] Edition: Many {{Magic Wand}}s' powers draw on a pool of charges that regenerates over time. However, whenever the charges are completely emptied, there's a small chance that the item will be permanently ruined.

[[AC:FightingGames]]

* The VideoGame/WayOfTheSamurai series has the heat meter, individual to each sword the player gets. When the player uses attacks or blocks enemy attacks, the heat meter will increase based on the power of the relevant move, and in the case of player's attack, whether it landed or was blocked, before depleting when the player takes a moment to avoid using the sword. If the heat meter ends up reaching full, one segment of it will be removed, limited the amount of attacks that can be done or blocked in quick succession. If all segments are removed, then the sword will break, leaving the player with what effectively amounts to a blunt knife. Notably, enemy weapons also have their own invisible heat meters, so a defensive player can trick them into breaking their own weapons.
** VideoGame/WayOfTheSamurai4 removes the heat meter, giving weapons a more basic durability meter, but it adds the stamina meter, which depletes as the player performs their attacks. It also governs their RegeneratingHealth. As such, it is best for the player to keep items to restore stamina on hand, as if the meter ends up completely empty, their attacks will become sluggish, and their health will not regenerate. An empty stamina meter is also bad news if the player is caught committing a crime, as if attacked by an alert cop when the meter is empty, they will arrest the player. Like the heat meter of previous entries, enemies have their own stamina meter, which is visible. Depleting an enemy's stamina can be helpful in weakening them, or even sparing them if the player wants to be merciful, which is sometimes required for sidequests and opening a couple plot branches.

* Classic ''TabletopGame/{{Traveller}}'' Book 4 ''Mercenaries''. Certain weapons with automatic fire capacity (e.g. light machine gun and very rapid fire gauss gun) have a maximum number of bursts they can fire safely in a single combat round. If they exceed that limit, each additional burst fired increases the chance that the weapon will overheat and jam. If this happens, the jam has to be cleared before the weapon can fire again.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV'' also has a stamina meter, sprinting too much and compltetly draining it will cause Noctis to walk slower than normal until it fully recharges

In games that include [[PowerupMount Epona]], pressing the A button spurs her to a full gallop, which is regulated by a line of carrots (implying that feeding her carrots acts as an organic NitroBoost) or spur icons. The meter will refill gradually when partially depleted, or all at once if fully depleted, but only after Epona slows noticeably for several seconds, which is enough to lose you the {{Racing Minigame}}s in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask Majora's Mask]]''. The recommended technique for maintaining a high speed is to keep at least one carrot on screen at all times.

[[AC:{{ActionAdventure]]

* Both the minigun in ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'' and the .50 BMG machine gun in [[VideoGame/Left4Dead2 the sequel]] could [[{{Overheating}} overheat]] and would become inoperable for a long period of time if you overheated it completely.