History Main / ElementalPunch

* ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'' had several element-based powersets. For melee classes, this included sets with ice, energy, stone, dark, or electric punches. (Fire Melee existed, but it used melee-range fire bursts and flaming sword attacks rather than punches) [[WhatMightHaveBeen The final Beta client]] also revealed a Radiation Melee set (involving lots of radioactive punches, though it was placeholder animation and the final version may or may not have used punches) was in the works.

* Coming from the Logia (elemental in the widest definition of the word) Devil Fruits in ''Manga/OnePiece'', users can change into/use Fire, Ice, Light, Electricity, Magma, and many more to add to their punches.
** Sanji can use friction-caused heat to imbue his leg with fire-elemental properties. [[SpinAttack By spinning in place with the leg outstretched.]]

* In ''Pegasus'', Nell has a fire punch, "Claws of the Fire Dragon".

This is a tactic that comes naturally to the MagicKnight and the [[SupernaturalMartialArts Supernatural Martial Artist]], and, understandably, usually requires FullContactMagic. In {{Video Game}}s, this trope is often employed to prevent non-magical fighters from being excluded from ElementalRockPaperScissors. This may be seen as a YinYangBomb, combining matter with energy. Compare the TrickArrow, the archer's answer to the elemental punch, and the ElementalWeapon for other similarly enhanced weapons. See also SwissArmyAppendage, ItemAmplifier, and PowerFist.

* Rurune of ''LightNovel/TheFruitOfEvolution'' is a KickChick who specializes in using magic to augment the striking power of her kicks with elemental properties. Considering she's actually an [[BigEater incredibly gluttonous]] ''donkey'' [[HumanityEnsues transformed into a human girl]] by the powers of the [[PowerUpFood evolution fruits]], that is technically the least weird thing about her.

* In ''Cold Days'', Book 14 of Literature/TheDresdenFiles, Harry unintentionally does this to [[TheNicknamer Sharkface]]. Of course, it helps that he's [[spoiler:[[AnIcePerson the Winter Knight]]]]

* Early in the ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'' anime, most physical attacks simply were physical attacks: Wing Attack was just a bird clobbering the enemy with its wing, Quick Attack was just a really fast dash attack, Horn Attack just meant ramming the opponent with a horn, and so forth. It appears that as the anime progressed, the animators grew more and more attached to the PowerGlows concept. Now, virtually every melee attack stronger than Tackle involves making the colliding part of the attacker's body glow.
* In ''[[Manga/RanmaOneHalf Ranma 1/2]]'', the ''Flying Dragon Ascension Blast'' or ''Hiryuu Shouten Ha'' is an uppercut that unleashes a devastating tornado. The ''Shark Fist'' blasts a torrent of water (in the shape of a shark, natch). The ''Flying Dragon Ice Breakthrough'' or ''Hiryuu Hyoutoppa'', a variant devised by Ranma himself, is a blast of icy wind that can instantly freeze and shatter even foes whose very presence melts rocks into lava.

* A number of spells in ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'', such as TechnicalPacifist Amelia's Visfarank, which wraps whatever part of her body she's attacking with in astral energy that allows her to harm otherworldy creatures and deflect magic with kicks and punches.

* '''{{Light|EmUp}}'''-elemental punches have the added benefit of [[PowerGlows easily indicating the power of the attack]]. Dark or shadow-elemental punches, naturally, are a common counterpart. These sorts of attacks tend to involve [[SuckingInLines lines being sucked into the glowy part/weapon]].

The Elemental punch is a melee attack that has an elemental or energy-based upgrade. These come in quite a few flavors:
* Fire is a very common attribute to add to a physical attack. Perhaps this is because of fire's sheer destructive power, or the hot headed nature of most fire users, or maybe just because an aura of flame enveloping a character's fist is [[IncendiaryExponent just plain cool]].
* Ice-based attacks are also fairly common, due to their tendency to freeze their targets on contact. Attacks of this type are generally encased in some sort of [[FreezeRay coldness energy]] rather than actual ice. Although boxing gloves made of ice are rather common.
* Wind adds an extra bit of force to the punch, allows you to send a hit from far away, or increases the speed of your attacks for RapidFireFisticuffs, or used in conjunction with other common wind style speed enhancement tropes. In some cases, a wind punch can [[RazorWind tear the target to shreds]].
* Earth adds mass and defense to the punch. In some cases, [[PowerFist the shell can be molded into a more effective weapon]] such as adding spikes to the fist. Destructive [[{{Vibroweapon}} vibrations]] and [[SandBlaster streams of sand]] or [[GemstoneAssault crystal shards]] aren't uncommon.
* Electricity has the benefit of turning the person's fist into a stun gun.
* Light-elemental punches have the added benefit of [[PowerGlows easily indicating the power of the attack]]. Dark or shadow-elemental punches, naturally, are a common counterpart. These sorts of attacks tend to involve [[SuckingInLines lines being sucked into the glowy part/weapon]].
* Another variation involves channeling PureEnergy or [[KiManipulation Ki]] into the attack, which generally has an empowering effect rather than adding an elemental attribute. This is typically indicated, once again, by having the fist [[PowerGlows glow]].

This is a tactic that comes naturally to the MagicKnight and the [[SupernaturalMartialArts Supernatural Martial Artist]], and, understandably, usually requires FullContactMagic. In {{Video Game}}s, this trope is often employed to prevent non-magical fighters from being excluded from ElementalRockPaperScissors. This may be seen as a YinYangBomb, combining matter with energy. Compare the TrickArrow, the archer's answer to the Elemental punch. See also SwissArmyAppendage, BlastingTime, ItemAmplifier and PowerFist.