History Main / ChargedAttack

[[caption-width-right:225:[[RuleOfCool Let's just ignore]] how the ship fired [[WaveMotionGun a beam that many times bigger than itself.]]]]

* 'Hold' type charge attacks require holding a controller button (or direction) for a set amount of time and then releasing it (or performing a final combination of button presses) to actually launch the attack. The button to be held is often the attack button, leaving the player defenseless while preparing it, requiring strategy on the part of the player as to whether the attack's strength is worth the time it takes to charge it — doubly so if charging the attack leaves the player unable to ''move'' or evade enemy attacks in the meantime. See ChargeInputSpecial for more

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXVI'': The abilities Windup, Upheaval and Brimstone can be charged up, filling up a gauge, and are most powerful if unleashed on the red part of the gauge.
* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyCrystalChronicles'', players can use a Focus Attack with their weapons this way. Magic is also cast in a similar charge-up fashion.

* ''VideoGame/{{Quarantine}}'' has the Fusion Boy gun which can be charged up by holding the fire button to deal major damage to vehicular {{Mook}}s, and certain vehicles can be destroyed in one hit from a fully charged blast. The drawback is that it uses up 3 energy cells for the charged attack, and it is next to useless during the boss fights, because it is too slow to be used effectively. The weapon will not be available in arms dealer stop-and-shops [[spoiler: until the second level.]]

* ''VideoGame/Shantae2002'': Buying the Cuff gives Shantae the ability to perform an elbow dash move that is activated by holding down the attack button.

* ''WebOriginal/AcademyOfSuperheroes'': Arc charges up her superstrength and speed by absorbing kinetic energy -- including her own.

* ''VideoGame/MinecraftDungeons'': Holding attack with ranged weapons allows you to charge your attack and deal more damage, but only when using bows.

* ''Literature/{{Temeraire}}'': Celestial dragons' MakeMeWannaShout power can shatter stone by default, but by roaring repeatedly and building up constructive interference, they can unleash a final attack powerful enough to raise a wave that sinks an entire fleet of ships.

* ''VideoGame/MagicalBattleArena'' has these for most of the characters' Special Attacks. Some, like the attacks of OriginalGeneration characters and most of the ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'' cast, can be fired immediately but have the option of being charged first for a more powerful attack. Others however, like [[Manga/CardCaptorSakura Sakura]], the ''{{LightNovel/Slayers}}'' sorceresses, and [[Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaAs Hayate]], have spells that can only be launched after they are charged, otherwise they will piffle out if you fire them prematurely.

* ''VideoGame/Ashes2063'': Fuly upgrading the [[SniperRifle Junker Musket]] puts [[MagneticWeapons an experimental magnetic acceleration system on the barrel]], turning it into the Junker Driver. The Musket's .70 cal slugs are already powerful, and the Driver can charge them up for ''devastating'' damage -- very few things in the game can survive one charged shot, and only bosses can take two and remain standing.

* ''VideoGame/RType'' was pretty much the trope maker for shooters with its charge-up Wave Cannon, an extremely powerful weapon designed to give the player a better chance than the standard popgun when they lose their powerups on death.

** In all games where it's available, Dante's Royalguard Style comes with a Rage Meter or Royal Gauge that is filled by blocking hits from enemies. He can then perform an attack called "Release" where he releases all of the meter stored for a single powerful attack. Depending on the game, the meter can also be consumed to perform additional skills, such as the "Ultimate" in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening'' that lets you HealThyself with the meter, the "Dreadnaught" form in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'' that turns Dante into an invulnerable StoneWall, or the "Royal Revenge" in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'' that lets you perform an automatic CounterAttack at a cost of a Royal Gauge stock.

* ''VideoGame/AndrosDunos'' allows the player to release a powerful blue blast by holding down the firing button.

* ''VideoGame/{{Splatoon}}'':