History Main / DestructiveSaviour

** It should probably be mentioned that the resource in question was a liquid that made a Transformer invincible to laser fire, to the point that even shots from Omega Supreme, a giant Autobot with a BFG for an arm, were totally ineffective. In addition, Beachcomber discovered the resource first but chose to hide his discovery from his comrades in the hopes of not turning the meadow into a battlefield. Understandable, but less forgivable is the fact that when the Decepticons discovered the resource independently and quickly used it to gain the advantage in battle, Beachcomber selfishly continued to keep quiet. It was only through the effort of other Autobots that they discovered the meadow and turned the tide. It apparently never occurred to Beachcomber that [[BigGood Optimus]] [[TheHero Prime]] would have rather taken steps to safeguard both the resource ''and'' the meadow. Because of this, there are a number of fans who look upon Beachcomber as a coward, hypocrite, and traitor for being willing to let his fellow Autobots die to preserve the meadow and being too stupid to realize that if the Decepticons won, the entire planet would be strip-mined.

* ''Franchise/StarCraft'': The Protoss ''allowed'' the Zerg infestations to get bad enough that a global torching was the only solution. Seems they weren't overly fond of the humans who also lived on those planets and were looking for a reason to toast them, too.

** At one point Natsu even states "The mages of Fairy Tail specialize in property damage!" shortly after this he hits a guy through a tower. Not through just a wall, from the tip of the structure to the base.

** And then there's Gildarts. The city the Fairy Tail guild is based in has to be ''moved out of the way'' whenever he shows up due to his Crash magic. In chapter 299, Gildarts saves a village from a monster only to accidentally destroy it whilst celebrating Cana's victory. All it took was for him to trip over.

Say a hideous monster is terrorizing the town. All seems lost until the heroes arrive. They beat down the monster and a significant chunk of the town in the process. No one was killed, but these people are barely better for the town than the monster; some saviors.

* ''Fanfic/AbraxasHrodvitnon'': True to ''Franchise/{{Godzilla}}'' franchise form, Godzilla and Mothra end up being this when they utilize their symbiosis — they defeat a terrible threat to the world, but they end up glassing a (fortunately uninhabited) city in the process and rendering the area too heavily irradiated for human re-habitation even with the Titans' {{terraform}}ing effects. This trope is notably averted by [[AdaptationalHeroism Monster X]], which goes more out of its way than other Tians do to try keeping Titan battles from spilling into human-populated areas.

* ''VideoGame/LEGOAdaptationGame'': the requirement to be a True Jedi/Adventurer/Hero/Whatever is to destroy every possible scenery prop to get enough Lego studs.

* This trope, or rather the lawsuits that resulted from this trope, is the reason for the "forced superhero retirement" at the beginning of ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles1''. In [[WesternAnimation/Incredibles2 the sequel]], an initiative designed to bring back the supers' better reputation sees Mr. Incredible passed over for Elastigirl to make a good first impression. The man explains without preamble that they like him but they don't want to test "Insurance will cover everything!" on the first day, at which everyone else in the room ''immediately'' gets it.
* ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'': As well-meaning as his intentions may be, Ralph is just programmed to wreck things.

* Addressed in ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012'', Nick Fury tells Spider-Man that he tends to cause too much collateral damage when fighting supervillains; Nick is trying to train the team to do less property damage in their fights.

At a simpler level, a character that realizes their destructive potential may simply start resorting to TakingTheFightOutside. Can't stop the threat without destroying what you're trying to save? Then just [[AvertedTrope avert]] that dilemma altogether by taking the fight to a place where nothing important is at risk. That way you can stop threat in question [[TheGlovesComeOff while going all out]].

At a simpler level, a character that [[GenreSavvy realizes their destructive potential]] may simply start resorting to TakingTheFightOutside. Can't stop the threat without destroying what you're trying to save? Then just [[AvertedTrope avert]] that dilemma altogether by taking the fight to a place where nothing important is at risk. That way you can stop threat in question [[TheGlovesComeOff while going all out]].

At a simpler level, a character that [[GenreSaavy realizes their destructive potential]] may simply start resorting to TakingTheFightOutside. Can't stop the threat without destroying what you're trying to save? Then just [[AvertedTrope avert]] that dilemma altogether by taking the fight to a place where nothing important is at risk. That way you can stop threat in question [[TheGlovesComeOff while going all out]].

Since their unintentional destruction is often the fuel of their conflict with others as well as motivation to improveme themselves, the NoHarmRequirement often serves as a DramaPreservingHandicap for them . Whether it's a HiddenPurposeTest, a desire to no longer [[InnocentBystander endanger the innocent]], a realization that their abilities are too dangerous for the situation, etc. a Destructive Savior will often be faced with a task that requires them to save day with more reserved and/or nonviolent means. Successfully completing such a task is often a SecretTestofCharacter and shows they potential to [[SubvertedTrope subvert]] this after all.

This trope usually exists on the cynical side of the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism.

Compare WhatTheHellHero (when the heroes get called out for ruining the town), PyrrhicVictory, ChemicalMessiah.

See also TerrifyingRescuer, DisasterDominoes, MikeNelsonDestroyerOfWorlds.

* This trope, or rather the lawsuits that resulted from this trope, is the reason for the "forced superhero retirement" at the beginning of ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles''. In [[WesternAnimation/Incredibles2 the sequel]], an initiative designed to bring back the supers' better reputation sees Mr. Incredible passed over for Elastigirl to make a good first impression. The man explains without preamble that they like him but they don't want to test "Insurance will cover everything!" on the first day, at which everyone else in the room ''immediately'' gets it.

* In ''{{Series/Batman|1966}}'', particularly in later episodes, the "bat-fights" would often demolish the surroundings.
* ''Series/TheBoys'':

* ''Series/{{Powerless 2017}}'': It's casually mentioned that the leading cause of death in a corporate environment is Superman crashing through a building during a big fight.

* Guts from ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' overlaps with this and WalkingDisasterArea, as most of the time, shit is already messed up by the time he gets to a town (the usual scenario is that [[TheUsualAdversaries an apostle]] is terrorizing the place). However, since Guts [[DemonSlaying hunts apostles]], he takes it upon himself to kill them, which should make him a hero... [[AntiHero but he does his deeds at the expense of everybody around him]] [[{{Revenge}} and for his own desires]] - [[ImplacableMan and he knows it.]] [[DeconstructedTrope Thus,]] Guts is pretty much [[HeroWithBadPublicity viewed as a villain]] by most who come across him.

* In ''LightNovel/{{Campione}}'', whenever there's a historical monument present in the area, you can be sure that Godou will use The Boar to destroy the landmark even if he really doesn't want it happening. His first battle in the original novel ended with him destroying the Colosseum, and it was just a ''sparring match''.

->''"The Magdalan Order is supposed to prevent the destruction caused by demons and the supernatural...not'' '''''cause''''' ''that destruction ourselves!"''

* Misaka Mikoto from ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'' and ''Manga/ACertainScientificRailgun'' often fights this way. Her special ability is attacks with [[ShockAndAwe electricity]], and if she gets into fierce fighting, can result in quite serious damage. Her most famous attack is using electricity to launch an arcade coin at supersonic speeds, with usually explosive results. Mikoto herself is aware of this, and some parts of the series show she is ''massively'' holding back most of the time... the true limits of her powers would be lethal to anything in the general area.

* The ''LightNovel/DirtyPair'' could give [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Samus Aran]] a run for her money, 'cuz they've destroyed just as many planets as she has, in the line of duty. Which is how they got their name. And no, [[BerserkButton they do NOT take kindly to being referred to as such, to their faces!]]

* ''LightNovel/{{Durarara}}'''s Shizuo Heiwajima eventually develops into this (as opposed to a PersonOfMassDestruction [[IAmAMonster resigned to his status as a monster]]) after a run-in with Saika makes him realize that, while he might never get complete control over his [[UnstoppableRage anger]] and [[SuperStrength power]], he can at least make some proactive use for it. Cue such feats such as kicking around cars, thugs, and ex-[[TheMafiya Mafiya]] to save a kidnapped child or making use of highway posts to punish scumbag gang leaders like Horada.

* Seiya from ''LightNovel/TheHeroIsOverpoweredButOverlyCautious''. His insistence on killing his opponent, vaporizing their remains, and then [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill vaporizing the crater that used to be their remains a few more times just to be safe]] has resulted in him burning the entire FirstTown to the ground with the collateral damage.

* ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'': Lina Inverse has a nasty habit of casting the [[FantasticNuke Dragon Slave]] in populated areas, especially when the series takes a turn for the funny. The most famous incident is the first episode of the anime, in which a village is being attacked by a dragon Lina accidentally set loose by slaughtering/robbing the gang of bandits that it belonged to. Lina first makes the village elder promise to pay her before lifting a finger to help, then destroys the whole village along with the dragon because the dragon insults her by ''not'' stepping on her. (She still expects to be paid.)

* In ''Anime/GaoGaiGar'', this trope bothers Koutarou Taiga so much he has the Dividing Driver built by episode 4. It creates a safe battlefield in any area by shifting the rest of the matter out of the way temporarily.

* ''ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}'' is a hero fully committed to saving lives. Unfortunately she's also powerful enough to level whole cities, so when she fights an enemy who can force her to fight seriously, they often wreck the battlefield.

** In the ''ComicBook/RedDaughterOfKrypton'' storyline, she and several [[Franchise/GreenLantern Red Lanterns]] tried to save planet Primeen's capital city. Unfortunately they almost burned it down when they fought Atrocitus, and Kara used her heat vision to stop a blood storm. Supergirl felt horribly guilty, and Blezz muttered she thought that they were supposed to be the good Red Lanterns.

* ''ComicBook/TheUltimates''

* ''VideoGame/StarCraft'': The Protoss ''allowed'' the Zerg infestations to get bad enough that a global torching was the only solution. Seems they weren't overly fond of the humans who also lived on those planets and were looking for a reason to toast them, too.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode [[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E6IdentityCrisis "Identity Crisis"]], Bizarro becomes this since he believes he's the real Franchise/{{Superman}} and attempts to prove it by performing acts of heroism. However, since he's a little… confused due to CloneDegeneration, his "heroic" acts involve attempting to save a building being lawfully demolished by simply grabbing the crane and throwing it across the city (where it almost literally [[StealthPun crashes a wedding]] before being caught by the real Superman) and fixing a movable bridge by welding it shut with his [[EyeBeams heat vision]]… just as a ship is about to come through (again, the real Superman saves the ship).

'''Village elder:''' ''[surveying the pile of rubble that used to be his village]'' ...And what village would that be?

* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'' regularly causes significant amounts of damage in fights due to A) being a kid, B) the Omnimatrix not coming with an instruction manual, and C) many of his alien forms having powers that are difficult to control.

* When Fry, Leela, and Bender become superheroes in one episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'', they adopt alter egos specifically so that none of the damage they cause while fighting crime can be traced back to them. Lampshaded by the thank you they receive from the mayor when they foil a museum heist:

-->"Nobody wrecks MY city! Uh... except me."
* ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'': Ladybug and Chat Noir are a somewhat [[DownplayedTrope downplayed]] example, the former's [[WorldHealingWave Miraculous Ladybug]] can set things right after they defeat each [[VillainPossessedBystander akumatized villain]], but they tend to cause massive amounts of property damage (including [[MonumentalDamage trashing the Eiffel Tower multiple times]]) to defeat the villain. Not helping matters is that Chat's [[MakeThemRot Cataclysm]] is only really useful for destroying things.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobot'': XJ-9 tends to destroy a lot of Tremorton’s property when trying to defend it, so much that in the episode “Labor Day”, she and her mother almost lost their house to pay for her damages.

* The ''WesternAnimation/QuackPack'' episode "Gator Aid" turned out this way and lampshaded it. After successfully foiling a villain who was trying to raid a Fort Knox-alike (through a scheme she [[NiceJobBreakingItHero accidentally gave him in the first place]] while masquerading as his assistant), Daisy declared "We did it! We saved the depository!" Pull back to show the crumbling remains of said depository, and Daisy adding "...Well... some of it." She did save the far-more-valuable gold it contained, though.
* ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' Its often used for comedic reasons. Rick has destroyed the earth once to help his grandson roofie his crush and couldn't have cared less. He doesn't even fix his destruction he just leaves that universe and goes to a new one where a version of him did fix it. Takes down the galactic government by changing the value of their currency. This leads chaos to ensue after the president of earth for the galactic federation commits suicide when Rick makes their currency worthless. In the same episode, he teleports the Citadel of Ricks into the Galactic Federation prison causing many Mortys and Ricks to be killed in the process. Morty destroys an entire police force to save a gas-based alien and then ends up killing it at the end of the episode when it says it will come back with more of its kind to destroy all carbon-based life. This means all that destruction was also meaningless. Rick also destroys an entire miniverse within a miniverse just so his car can stay powered. The entire series epitomizes this trope. The devil even says Rick is worse than him when it comes to destroying things.

* The Crystal Gems in ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' are interested in protecting the ''Earth''. Individual buildings on it, not so much. On one occasion they shut off Beach City's power for more than a day while ''preparing'' for a battle, and don't particularly care. Steven, being TheHeart, does try and limit collateral damage where possible and tries to apologise and make up when it happens, at least.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode [[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E6IdentityCrisis "Identity Crisis"]], Bizarro becomes this since he believes he's the real Franchise/{{Superman}} and attempts to prove it by performing acts of heroism. However, since he's a little... confused due to CloneDegeneration, his "heroic" acts involve attempting to save a building being lawfully demolished by simply grabbing the crane and throwing it across the city (where it almost literally [[StealthPun crashes a wedding]] before being caught by the real Superman) and fixing a movable bridge by welding it shut with his [[EyeBeams heat vision]]... just as a ship is about to come through (again, the real Superman saves the ship).

** In ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansTroubleInTokyo'', Raven laments the fact that nobody in Japan drives [=SUV=]s... Never mind that all the people are probably lamenting the fact that their expensive cars are being used for FiveRoundsRapid.

** It should probably be mentioned that the resource in question was a liquid that made a Transformer invincible to laser fire, to the point that even shots from Omega Supreme, a giant Autobot with a BFG for an arm, were totally ineffective. In addition, Beachcomber discovered the resource first but chose to hide his discovery from his comrades in the hopes of not turning the meadow into a battlefield. Understandable, but less forgivable is the fact that when the Decepticons discovered the resource independently and quickly used it to gain the advantage in battle, Beachcomber selfishly continued to keep quiet. It was only through the effort of other Autobots that they discovered the meadow and turned the tide. It apparently never occurred to Beachcomber that [[BigGood Optimus]] [[TheHero Prime]] would have rather taken steps to safeguard both the resource ''and'' the meadow. Because of this, there are a number of fans who look upon Beachcomber as a coward, hypocrite, and traitor for being willing to let his fellow Autobots die to preserve the meadow and being too stupid to realise that if the Decepticons won, the entire planet would be strip-mined.

* There is a reason they make [[IdiotHero Luffy]] fight on the outer deck in the Baratie arc of ''Manga/OnePiece''. It of course gets smashed up, not in the least because Luffy declares he's going to fix everything by just sinking the goddamn ship and letting it be done with. [[spoiler:He doesn't really.]]

* ''Anime/Zambot3'': Yoshiyuki KillEmAll Tomino went to extreme lengths to show why it is not a good idea to get two HumongousMecha fighting in a populated area. Although the [[KidHero children]] piloting Zambot tries to stop the [[{{Robeast}} Mecha Burst]], they make just so much damage ([[UngratefulBastard which does nothing to convince the Earth folk who hate them that they are ON their side]]).

* The trope could well be renamed ''VideoGame/AngryBirds'', as the object isn't just to KillEmAll, but points are awarded based on how much is destroyed.

* Guts from ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' overlaps with this and WalkingDisasterArea, as most of the time, shit is already messed up by the time he gets to a town (the usual scenario is that [[TheUsualAdversaries an apostle]] is a terrorizing the place). However, since Guts [[DemonSlaying hunts apostles]], he takes it upon himself to kill them, which should make him a hero... [[AntiHero but he does his deeds at the expense of everybody around him]] [[{{Revenge}} and for his own desires]] - [[ImplacableMan and he knows it.]] [[DeconstructedTrope Thus,]] Guts is pretty much [[HeroWithBadPublicity viewed as a villain]] by most who come across him.

** In the beginning of ''Film/ThorLoveAndThor'', Thor repels an invasion at the cost of a whole temple complex made of delicate glass. The leader of the people he helped does not take this lightly, proceeding to call him "God of Destruction", and as a backhanded "reward" for his clumsy "heroics", "gifts" him with two annoying goats.