History Main / CloakOfDefense

Capes or cloaks are a good way to make your character look imposing, threatening, or regal. Some media give them a more practical purpose by having them be used as a defense against attacks. This clothing will usually be made of a particularly durable (often fictional) material, be doused in a certain chemical, or have some kind of enchantment that grants it protection.

* ''Literature/RebuildWorld'': Akira’s third and fourth sets of PoweredArmor come with a cloak that has DeflectorShields. This has a separate power source from his suits, which comes in handy when the suit needs taken offline for reprogramming by his VirtualSidekick mid-battle.

* ''Film/BatmanForever'': During one of his battles with ComicBook/TwoFace, Batman uses his cape to shield himself from an explosion caused by the villain.

* ''LightNovel/ReZero'': When she was hired by Roswaal L. Mathers, the assassin Elsa Granheirt was given an enchanted cloak that could protect its wearer from any offensive magical attack. However, the cloak had two drawbacks; Firstly, it only worked once and would dissipate after negating an attack; secondly, it only worked against spells intended to harm her physically and could be bypassed by indirect Shamak magic.

* ''[[Creator/DaleBrown The Tin Man]]'': The Tin Man suit has a bulletproof cape made from similar material to Batman's cape in ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy''.

* ''Series/Stargirl2020'': In "The Monsters" [[TheSmartGuy Beth]] activates suit's defense features when fighting against Cameron's [[AnIcePerson grandparents]]. Said features include a cape that acts as a shield.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'': Robin's cape is made of a special polymer ten times stronger than steel. He sometimes uses it to shield himself against enemy attacks. In "Winner Take All", it proved strong enough to protect Robin from Hot Spot's fire blasts.

* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'':

** ''ComicBook/RobinSeries'': Tim's cape is resistant to fire and slashing damage, though it's most impressive customization is his ability to detach it and run an electric current through it that makes it wrap tightly around whomever has grabbed it.

* You must find and equip a cloak in ''VideoGame/Shadowgate'' to protect against the intense heat in a particularly fiery room.

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[[folder:Literature]]

* ''LightNovel/RebuildWorld'': Akira’s third and fourth sets of PoweredArmor come with a cloak that has DeflectorShields. This has a separate power source from his suits, which comes in handy when the suit needs taken offline for reprogramming by his VirtualSidekick mid-battle.

Even in a non-magical setting, a sturdy cloak offers some protection against blades and a heavy quilted vest (a gambeson) may even offer some protection against modestly-powered firearm projectiles.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/capo_ferro_cloak.jpg]]

* In ''FanFic/TheApprenticeTheStudentAndTheCharlatan'', the Night Apprentice, Faithful Student, Night Master, and Prime Magus each had cloaks that were symbols of their station and carried a number of useful enchantments, such as invisibility or teleportation. Given the in-universe First Fundamental Law of Magic that [[LikeCannotCutLike magic cannot pierce magic, no matter how powerful one Source is compared to the other]], this makes magically-impregnated clothing defensive against magical attacks by default, something Nova Shine uses on several occasions.

* ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince'': One of the products the Weasley twins sell through their company is a Shield Cloak. As the name implies, it is a cloak enchanted with a Shield Charm that makes the wearer immune to weak-to-moderate-strength jinxes and hexes.

** ''Series/KamenRiderRyuki'': Ren Akiyama[=/=]Kamen Rider Knight's Guard Vent utilizes Wingwall, a cape that is able to protect him from attacks.

* ''Series/MoonKnight2022'': In the third episode, Moon Knight using his cloak to protect Layla from a barrage of gunfire. He then uses it [[CatchAndReturn to launch the bullets right back at their attackers]].

* Myth/ClassicalMythology: Some depictions of Heracles have him wearing the [[NemeanSkinning Nemean Lion pelt]] as a cloak instead of as a full leather armor.

* ''Manga/{{Inuyasha}}'': Inuyasha's [[RedIsHeroic red]] robe is called the Robe of the Fire-Rat. It was made from the fur of a rat {{Youkai}} that was ImmuneToFire. The robe retains the Youkai's fire immunity and grants this protection to anyone who wears it.