History Main / EleventhHourRanger

* ''ComicBook/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast'': After a short encounter in the rubble of the Dark Palace, Roam reappears in the final issue to help Link rescue Zelda and fight Ganon.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'': Frozone shows up to help take down The Omnidroid during the final battle. [[InvertedTrope He'd also spent some time working with Bob at the film's beginning]], when they were doing unsanctioned superheroics, before spending the bulk of the movie at home and unaware of events on Syndrome's island.

* In the [[NoExportForYou Japan-only]] [=PS3=] version of ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'', Flynn kind of takes this role. He joins your team at the end of each arc in the story (with maybe one or two bit exceptions) and doesn't permanently join until right before the final dungeon of the game.

* The Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse fic "[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/40945617/ Spider-Man: Finding Home]]" basically opens with Spider-Man acting as this for the events of ''Series/Hawkeye2021'', as he shows up during the final confrontation with the Tracksuit Mafia, helping Kate in her confrontation with the Kingpin.

* [[spoiler:Cobra]] in Chapter 329 of ''Anime/FairyTail'', after a request from Jellal for [[spoiler:him]] to be freed from prison to [[spoiler:help the other six Dragon Slayers fight against Future Rogue and his seven dragons]].
** An even better example would be [[spoiler:Anna Heartfilia, Lucy's ancestor from ''400 years ago'' who was revealed to have traveled to the present day seven years before the start of the story]] showing up late in the final StoryArc to help defeat Acnologia.

* In the ''Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries'', [[BadFuture Dark World]] has [[spoiler:Rainbow Dash, the Princesses, and Minty Pie]] arrive just in time to help in the FinalBattle [[spoiler:with Nightmare Paradox.]]

* In ''Film/JusticeLeague2017'', Franchise/{{Superman}} is absent from the team until the FinalBattle, having been dead for most the movie and suffering ResurrectionSickness for most of the second half. Then, in the League's DarkestHour, he [[HesBack returns]], and easily helps to turn the tide against Steppenwolf and save the world.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': : In "[[Recap/TheOwlHouseS3E1ThanksToThem Thanks to Them]]", [[Characters/TheOwlHouseCamilaNoceda Camila Noceda]] opts to travel with her daughter to the Boiling Isles in order to save them from Belos and the Collector as well as Camila doing so in order to try and help support her daughter's emotional wellbeing. "[[Recap/TheOwlHouseS3E2ForTheFuture For the Future]]" even shows her [[ActionMom getting active in combat situations alongside her daughter]].

** In ''Manga/StardustCrusaders'', Kakyoin is badly injured in a fight in the middle of the story, and is sent to a hospital for most of the second half of the part. He rejoins the team in just before entering DIO's mansion.
** Happens again in ''Manga/GoldenWind'' with [[spoiler:Jean-Pierre Polnareff]], who informs the main crew of the whereabouts of the Requiem Arrow, the main key to defeating The Boss. This example is particularly notable within the series in that [[spoiler:Polnareff]] did not appear prior to this within the part, making it a bit of a [[TheReveal surprise]] to fans of the series.
** Jotaro himself becomes this in ''Manga/StoneOcean''. Towards the beginning, his memories and Stand are stolen and put on compact discs, which puts him into a coma and is unable to wake up until his memory and Stand discs are retrieved. He is successfully revived and joins the team, just in time for the final fight.

[[folder: Comic Books]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TheBadGuys'': Diane Foxington takes on this role after the gang is arrested for a crime they didn't commit. Revealing herself to have once been [[spoiler:the legendary thief Crimson Paw]], she breaks the gang out of jail and helps them clear their names.

** ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'': Hawkeye is brainwashed by Loki at the start of the film, and [[BrainwashedAndCrazy is under his control]] for most of the movie, until Natasha frees him from it, and he subsequently helps the others battle Loki and the Chitauri.

* In ''Film/{{Justice League|2017}}'', Franchise/{{Superman}} is absent from the team until the FinalBattle, having been dead for most the movie and suffering ResurrectionSickness for most of the second half. Then, in the League's DarkestHour, he [[HesBack returns]], and easily helps to turn the tide against Steppenwolf and save the world.

** However, ''[=OG2=]'' also features [[spoiler:Einst Alfimi]] as an available party member, who literally joins your party for half of the last mission unless you get the BonusBoss fight, in which case she's available for that as well. In fact, several ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' games feature such characters -- ''Alpha Gaiden'', for instance, allows you to acquire Sanger just before the game's end, piloting the absurdly powerful Thrudgelmir, if the proper conditions are fulfilled. [[GameBreaker If the player has enough money on hand to upgrade it fully...]]

*** A more classic example from the same game: [[spoiler:Basilio and Flavia are introduced in the first few chapters and travel with your army for much of the game, but don't officially join as playable units until the end of Chapter 23 out of 26]].

** An even better example would be [[spoiler: Anna Heartfilia, Lucy's ancestor from ''400 years ago'' who was revealed to have traveled to the present day seven years before the start of the story]] showing up late in the final StoryArc to help defeat Acnologia.

** Happens again in ''Manga/GoldenWind'' with [[spoiler: Jean-Pierre Polnareff]], who informs the main crew of the whereabouts of the Requiem Arrow, the main key to defeating The Boss. This example is particularly notable within the series in that [[spoiler: Polnareff]] did not appear prior to this within the part, making it a bit of a [[TheReveal surprise]] to fans of the series.

* In ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED'', [[spoiler: Yzak Joule]] pulls this in both the original series and the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny sequel]]. The first time after being confronted by [[spoiler: Dearka]] earlier and witnessing the heroes' willingness to defend his homeland from annihilation. The second time after watching his own side fire [[spoiler: Requiem]] and exploiting what he saw as a loophole in protecting said homeland.
* Kaworu Nagisa in ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', coming from nowhere to be the last pilot two episodes before the last episode. [[spoiler: He turns out to be a SixthRangerTraitor.]]

** In ''Anime/DokiDokiPrecure'', [[spoiler: Regina]] joins the Cures in the last few episodes after spending much of the series in the HeelFaceRevolvingDoor.

** ''Anime/KiraKiraPrecureALaMode'' has Cure Pekorin and [[spoiler: Julio/Pikario]].

* In ''Anime/RoninWarriors'' the [[spoiler: Dark Warlords]] perform a HeelFaceTurn at the very end, serving this function.

* ''ComicBook/BlazeOfGlory'': The ComicBook/GhostRider is only mentioned in the DramatisPersonae until his appearance at the very end of Issue #3, though [[spoiler: he's not really a new ally so much as an old one in a new outfit.]] better examples are Gunhawk and Caleb Hammer, who join the party right before the final battle.

** The Shining Armor Arc has Gilda. Having left Equestria for Columbia after her falling out with Rainbow Dash, and having joined up with the military, her unit happens to join up with Shining during the BigBadassBattleSequence that marks the arc's climax. She then goes along with Shining's Misfit Actual squad into the FinalBattle with [[BigBad Makarov]] [[spoiler: and ends up being key to winning it]].

* ''Fanfic/LanternPrime'': In the middle of the final battle [[spoiler: Arcee finally chooses to be an Autobot. This enables her to become the first Blue Lantern, and assist the Green Lantern Corps in defeating Unicron.]]

* ''Fanfic/ThePiecesLieWhereTheyFell'': [[spoiler: While not a Bearer himself, the fifth arc ("Recovery") of six sees the group joined by Tizoc, the Prince-King of the Cuanmiztl Kingdom and Xvital's love interest, who does his best to aid them in their quest to activate the final Element and defeat their hidden enemy.]]

** ''Film/TransformersAgeOfExtinction'' has [[spoiler: the Dinobots]] join Optimus just in time for the final fight.

* In ''Literature/{{Oathbringer}}'', third book of ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'', Szeth, aka the infamous "Assassin in White" shows up to help the heroes out during the battle [[spoiler:of Thaylen field]]. Considering it's basically an ongoing disaster at that point, he doesn't really get a chance to explain that [[spoiler: he's sworn his third Oath as a Skybreaker to serve Dalinar]], but everyone is pretty happy for the help, although they do repeatedly note how odd it is that they somehow ended up fighting alongside "The Storming Assassin in White".

* Villainous example: in ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', [[spoiler: Mazrim Taim]], who'd been a recurring villain for much of the series, gets promoted to [[QuirkyMinibossSquad the Forsaken]] near the beginning of the last book; he's the ''only'' new member they get over the course of the series.

* ''Series/{{Angel}}'': Illyria becomes part of the team for the last six or seven episodes. As she's [[BodySnatcher replacing]] [[spoiler: Fred Burkle]], she is played by the same actress. Since she's very strong (due to being a [[DePower De-powered]] ElderGod), she is able to help out a lot in the final battles.

* The ''Podcast/InterstitialActualPlay'' party is joined by two additional members in the final few episodes. [[spoiler: Larxene completes her HeelFaceTurn to help them take down the Organization, and Roxanne's somebody Ennora is restored and joins them as well]].

** In the remake of ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIV'', a playable epilogue has [[spoiler: a revived and reformed Psaro, the BigBad of the main game's story]] join with the heroes and take on TheChessmaster who was the real mastermind behind the events of the main game's story.

*** The game spices this up with a handful of powerful endgame units through Spotpass with several stat focuses: [[spoiler: Gangrel, whose main advantage is speed and luck, Walhart, with a high balance yet a focus on strength, Emmeryn, with a focus on magic, Yen'fay, with a focus on skill and speed, Aversa, who's entirely balanced but has access to dark magic, and Priam, who has a focus on possessing high strength and skill coupled with five very useful abilities.]] Morgan also counts, since [[spoiler: s/he can possess infinite potential and have his/her parents be anyone in the entire game.]]
*** A more classic example from the same game: [[spoiler: Basilio and Flavia are introduced in the first few chapters and travel with your army for much of the game, but don't officially join as playable units until the end of Chapter 23 out of 26]].

* ''VideoGame/RadiataStories'' has over one-hundred-and-fifty recruitable characters, but the most powerful and competent fighters cannot be recruited until late in the game: [[spoiler:[[DaChief Elwen]], [[CrystalDragonJesus Kain]], [[TheDon Curtis]], [[TheSyndicate Nyx]] and [[LadyOfWar Natalie]] for the humans and [[BloodKnight Galvados]], [[OurOrcsAreDifferent JJ]] and [[TheLeader Gruel]] for nonhumans.]]
* In ''VideoGame/RecordOfAgarestWar'' [[spoiler: every single protagonist and their respective women from the previous four generations come back to you and will help you kick the asses of six gods.]]

** ''2nd OG'' isn't too bad with this as even usual late joiners like Axel and Shu (who doesn't betray you this time) are permanently part of the team by at least prior to the homestretch of the game. Of course there are a few like [[spoiler: Alfimi]]. Touma is an interesting case. He gets Raioh on stage 49 giving you about 13 to 14 stages to use him, which is a decent amount. But he still joins unusually late for a character on the cover and intro of the game, and who was advertised significantly.
** In ''Dark Prison'', Shu, ''the protagonist'' still gets to be the Eleventh Hour Ranger and combines with EleventhHourSuperpower as he unlocks the Neo Granzon. He's joined alongside [[Characters/MasouKishin Monica and Saphine]], though this is justified because they just [[spoiler: defeated the TrueFinalBoss of ''2nd OG''.]] And five turns before they appear, it would be [[spoiler: [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsClassic Justine, Zebris and Grofis]], aka the Guest generals. Since they never formally join your party, each could also be considered a GuestStarPartyMember]].
** It's actually common in a number of games to get last-minute reinforcements, starting with [[spoiler: Ingram]] in Super Robot Wars Alpha. Other notable ones include Schwartz, Julia, Zechs (if you unlocked Heero), and Heinel (if you unlocked him) in VideoGame/{{Shin|SuperRobotWars}}, [[spoiler: Irui Ganeden]] in Alpha 3, [[spoiler: Al-Van Ranks]] in J, [[spoiler: Applicant]] in W, [[spoiler: Xine and Asakim, although Asakim's exclusive to the Rand-route]] in Z, and [[spoiler: Margaret Reeds]] in Z2-1.
** [[spoiler: [[VisualNovel/{{Demonbane}} Master Therion]]]] is the most powerful secret character in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsUX''. He has the best default stat in the game (higher than Kuro) as well as the same skill set as when he was an enemy. The [[spoiler: Liber Legis]] also has a default S rank in every terrain too. It's bonus is +300 attack power for both Melee and range weapon, immune to status change and a 35% special evasion. And the most important thing is that he has the "Soul" Spirit Command.

** In ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsX'', [[spoiler:the titular Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann happens 1 stage before the end but Kouji inside Mazinger ZERO only happens at the final stage.]]

* ''VisualNovel/MajikoiLoveMeSeriously'' has [[spoiler: Gen-san]] in the Ryuuzetsuran route.

* ''Literature/NESGodzillaCreepypasta'': in the last level of the game, Zachary suddenly has a fifth playable character. However, when he tries to select him, [[BigBad Red]] outright says "No" and locks him in an unaccesible part of the map. [[spoiler: It's not until the final battle, after all the other characters have been killed and the game is at a stalemate, that Red breaks the rules by outright trying to stop Zachary's heart. This allows [[OurAngelsAreDifferent Melissa]] to intervene and finally unlock Acacius, whose skills are the only thing that can finally defeat Red]].

* And then in ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' Book 1 we have [[spoiler: Zuko's grandson General Iroh, who assists Team Avatar in the season finale]].

* Gandar in ''VideoGame/ValkyrieProfile'' is unavailable until the final period, and can't be sent up to Valhalla. Suo and Lyseria may also count, being only available as the last einherjar you're gonna to meet.

* Golyat in ''[[VideoGame/TearsToTiara2 Tears to Tiara 2]]'' first show up commanding his legions to crush Hispania's rebellion. As he retreats, Hamil offers him land grants for his veterans if he switch sides, something TheEmpire did in its heyday. He admits the offer is very enticing but it's too late and they'll loose. Fast forward to the final approach on Alba Longa, as the Party wonder if any of TheEmpire's legions will switch sides, they find him having already put the city under siege and is waiting for them.

** In ''Dark Prison'', Shu, ''the protagonist'' still gets to be the Eleventh Hour Ranger and combines with EleventhHourSuperpower as he unlocks the Neo Granzon. He's joined alongside [[Characters/MasouKishin Monica and Saphine]], though this is justified because they just [[spoiler: defeated the TrueFinalBoss of ''2nd OG''.]] And five turns before they appear, it would be [[spoiler: [[Characters/SuperRobotWarsClassic Justine, Zebris and Grofis]], aka the Guest generals. Since they never formally join your party, they could also be some sort of GuestStarPartyMember Star Party Members]].

* In ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'', the Sith Inquisitor gets their final companion Xalek just before Corellia, the final planet before the endgame for all storylines. As such, he's pretty much superfluous to the storyline since he appears too late to contribute anything to the Inquisitor's plans aside from being around to legitimize your political power. He's never present in group conversations, and none of the other companions ever acknowledge his existance.

* ''VideoGame/MassEffect1:'' Liara, conditionally, if the player choses to avoid going to recruit her until after doing all the other storyline worlds. Doing so means she can't be romanced, and changes the dialogue of her introductory scenes, including complaining about how Shepard has effectively done her life's work for her.

* ''Film/TheHobbit'': [[Characters/MiddleEarthFilmDwarves Dáin Ironfoot]] refuses to lend support to Thorin's quest quest in the first movie; then in the third movie, he arrives to back Thorin's claim on the Lonely Mountain after Smaug's death ''just'' when Thorin was seemingly seconds away from acquiescing to the Lakemen's and Thranduil's demands -- a somewhat antagonistic instance in this case, since Thorin is deep in the throes of GoldFever at this point, and Thranduil and the Lakemen (the latter especially) are ''more than'' within their rights to demand Thorin honor his word to the Lakemen in their time of need. However, Dáin and his army being on the scene ends up being very fortunate for the Free Peoples once Azog's army attacks and the [[FinalBattle Battle of the Five Armies]] begins.

* ''Film/{{Eliminators}}'': Kuji, the GratuitousNinja member of the team, doesn't appears (and is recruited) until the fifty-minute mark of the hour-and-a-half-long film.

* In ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'', the ClimaxBoss section of the game where you obtain the [[OlympusMons legendary Pokémon]] on the cover of the game is moved to the very end, with the game forcing you to catch [[SealedGoodInACan Reshiram or Zekrom]], which are set up by the plot to be the Pokémon you need to defeat N's opposite dragon. You are allowed to switch the legendary onto your team and use it for what is left of the main game; the final fights with N and Ghetsis.

** ''Series/PowerRangersSPD'' has the Nova Ranger, an ally of the FutureBadass person, who arrives in the middle ''of the final battle'' while searching the timestream for the time-lost Omega Ranger.

** The third to last episode of ''Anime/SmilePrettyCure'' has fairy {{mascot}} Candy transform into [[EleventhHourSuperpower Royale Candy]].

* In the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' fanfic "[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/3571753/1/The-World-As-We-Knew-It The World As We Knew It]]", Harry and his few remaining allies are stuck in an alternate reality where Voldemort never fell from power and their only option is to go back home. They have fled all the way to Beauxbatons, where even the still-alive Nicholas Flamel is having trouble with the necessary magical equations… and then the alternate Hermione is revealed to be attending the school, providing the perfect ally to crack the remaining troublesome details of the ritual.

* ''Franchise/FireEmblem'''s tendency for this trope is parodied in ''WebAnimation/SoThisIsBasically'', where one of the recruitable characters is the "11th-hour old man". Naturally, he’s a TierInducedScrappy who CantCatchUp. He’s also the GayOption, in a borderline example of DiscountLesbians. "[[FanDisservice Blow on me to increase my affinity!]]"

** ''PrettyCureAllStars Pretty Cure All Stars New Stage 3'' had an example of this combined with EarlyBirdCameo: During the climatic battle towards the end of the film, Cure Honey suddenly appears to help Cure Lovely and Princess before disappearing after the battle.

** ''[[Anime/PrettyCureAllStars Pretty Cure All Stars New Stage 3]]'' had an example of this combined with EarlyBirdCameo: During the climatic battle towards the end of the film, Cure Honey suddenly appears to help Cure Lovely and Princess before disappearing after the battle.