History Main / FeedItWithFire

* ''Fanfic/DungeonKeeperAmi'' ultimately just keeps getting stronger when her enemies attack her, albeit with plenty of difficult fights along the way.

* Speaking of biology, this trope is one of the many reasons the brain-eating amoeba ''Naegleria fowleri'' is so dangerous. See, one of the strongest weapons a human's immune system has to fight invading pathogens is fever, which works since most pathogens are not tolerant to excessive heat. However, ''N. fowleri'' is thermophilic, meaning that it actually ''thrives'' in hot environment[[note]]To give you an idea, scientists have occasionally found ''N. fowleri'' chilling in ''hot springs''[[/note]], meaning that instead of debilitating them, fever instead makes them more active, thus quickly overwhelming the immune system and pretty much guarantees death.

-->Try water magic! That might hurt it!

* In ''Manga/FairyTail'', all of the Dragon Slayers can eat their element (so long as they didn't directly make it [[spoiler:and it wasn't created by Godslayer magic]]) to heal themselves and boost their attacking power. This results in a literal example of this trope's name: the main male lead, as a Fire Dragon Slayer, ''eats fire''. He can eat other types of magic too, but it [[HeroicRROD gives him indigestion.]] Of specific note is the BigBad Acnologia, a Dragon Slayer who is now a dragon. His slaying magic has no specific attribute -- [[spoiler:rather, it's ''magic'' itself that he feeds off of. That's why he's so powerful in the present day, and why literally nothing the protagonists throw at him can affect him in any way]].

* ''Webcomic/ChampionsOfFaraus'': An almost literal example word for word, Rom tries attacking [[spoiler:Faunza]] with fire magic when Catharine has trouble fighting her off, but since [[spoiler:Faunza]] is a [[ShapeShifter monstrov]] with fire as one of her two power sets, [[ElementalAbsorption it just gives her an energy/mana boost.]]

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''. Some monsters benefit from certain attack modes.

** Cutting off one of a Lernean hydra's heads causes two to grow in its place, increasing its HitPoints and number of attacks.

* Some ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' cards get more powerful in this manner, such as the old Fungusaur, which got permanently slightly bigger every time it survived damage and the Phytohydra from Ravnica which transforms damage directly into power.
** This can sometimes apply to players as well. [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=29513 Hallow]] and [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=140214 Purity]] can convert damage spells directly into health. Coincidentally, an awful lot of damage spells are fire-based.
* ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasy''
** The dragon ogres gain much of their power (and immortality) from lightning. Casting lightning bolt on them is a bad idea.
** One dragon ogre character has the special rule "Lightning Rod". Any lightning-based attack used within a certain radius will automatically redirect to him, and it grants him power just the same as his weaker relatives.
* Very common in games of ''TabletopGame/TheAwfulGreenThingsFromOuterSpace'' until the crew work out what weapons will kill the things and which will make them grow larger.

** Electricity and lightning cause Shambling Mounds to increase in size and HitPoints.
** Hitting an iron golem with magical fire restores lost HitPoints - apparently, it's because it softens them up, allowing them to reforge themselves. Many golems, particularly those with the "immunity to magic" trait, behave in a similar manner, like clay golems absorbing acid and flesh golems absorbing electricity (for the ''Film/{{Frankenstein}}'' connection).

The MonsterOfTheWeek is apparently ImmuneToBullets, but not only that, it's getting stronger too! Maybe you shot it with an Energy Weapon, maybe you intervened in a situation and [[ReedRichardsIsUseless caused a worse problem to appear]], or maybe you just hit its BerserkButton, but it didn't die, and now it's stronger than ever. this is the process by which attempting to [[KillItWithFire kill or destroy]] something ends up making it grow, [[AdaptiveAbility become more powerful]], or otherwise [[InfernalRetaliation help it out.]]

** Adam Taurus's Semblance allows him to absorb any impact his sword takes and convert that energy into a powerful blow, much like Yang (who's kinda jealous when she learns that Adam doesn't have to feel the hits to use them).[[spoiler: But ''unlike'' Yang, who channels her semblance through her body, Adam ''needs'' a sword to make use of his semblance. When Yang is able to disarm him, he is rendered essentially powerless.]]

* In ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':

** Nora's Semblance lets her channel electrical energy to her muscles. A prolonged shock form a cattle prod lets her smash her opponent ''through'' a boulder. Getting struck by lightning lets her OneHitKO an entire opposing team.

* In terms of groups in societies, attacking another community or tribe would often result in the survivors or their descendants eventually coming for revenge. Hence why a number of early societies emphasized the need to exterminate every member of an enemy group, often including children, in order to ensure there would be no-one left to carry out the CycleOfRevenge.

* Attempting to persecute Religions often makes SelfFulfillingProphecies come true, and gives the religion Martyrs, helping them to grow in number and influence.
** Also applies to non-religious groups, as attacking another community or tribe would often result in the survivors or their descendants eventually coming for revenge. Hence why a number of early societies emphasised the need to exterminate every member of an enemy group, often including children, in order to ensure there would be no-one left to carry out the CycleOfRevenge.

** Yang Xiao Long's Semblance allows her strength, speed, etc. to increase each time she is struck. The more powerful the blow, the more powerful she becomes. However, she can still feel pain and get injured, so she isn't invincible. In her Volume Two fight against Yang, for example, Neo avoids unnecessary strikes, dodging and redirecting Yang's own blows until she can go for a KO.
** Nora's Semblance lets her channel electrical energy to her muscles. A prolonged shock form a cattle prod lets her smash her opponent ''through'' a boulder. Getting struck by lightning lets her OneHitKO an entire opposing team.
** Adam Taurus's Semblance allows him to absorb any impact his sword takes and convert that energy into a powerful blow. [[spoiler:Unlike Yang, he ''needs'' a sword to use his ability, so when Yang manages to disarm him, he is rendered helpless.]]

* Sebastian Shaw of the Hellfire Club in ''ComicBook/XMen'' has powers that work like this. He absorbs the energy from attacks, so punching him makes him stronger.