History Main / InvisibleMeansUndodgeable

Note that this trope only applies when there is a contrast between visible dodgeable attacks and abilities, and invisible undodgeable ones. If everything is undodgeable, then it doesn't count. For instance, in all of the tabletop games based on UsefulNotes/D20System, attacking while invisible completely negates the target's Dexterity defense bonus, and the same applies to invisible projectiles unless the target can see who's shooting and guess the trajectory.

* Played with with Comicbook/{{Darkseid}}'s Omega Beams. While they are visible, and technically dodgeable, he maintains conscious control of them after firing, which is rare for visible magic.
* In ''Comicbook/{{Hellblazer}}'' issue 250, the protagonist John Constantine went face to face with a demon which easily pummels him down. When John was in a chokehold, he gave a smile, and the demon spontaneously exploded. John later tells the reader he killed the demon with a spell.
* Averted when it comes to superheroes like Comicbook/SpiderMan and Comicbook/{{Daredevil}} who are usually pretty good at detecting and dodging invisible opponents due to their SuperSenses.

* Averted in the Literature/{{Dragaera}} novels, in which Vlad often Lampshades how he doesn't have any idea what his allies' or enemies' invisible sorcery is supposed to do, he just does his best to hide behind Spellbreaker and dodge any gestures directed towards him.

* [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] in one ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' boss fight. [[MasterOfIllusion Reisen Udongein Inaba]] can make her bullets invisible, but they can't actually hit you while invisible. But of course you still need to be careful since they still move and may reappear on top of you.
* [[VideoGame/GodzillaDestroyAllMonstersMelee Godzilla: Save the Earth]] zigzags this, with Space Godzilla. Some of his moves, such as his grab, play it straight, being invisible and undodgeable, while other invisible attacks are quite blockable and some visible attacks go through all guards.

* In ''VideoGame/MarvelsMidnightSuns'', one of the status conditions is Concealed which prevents the character from being targeted by attacks. Attacks that don't target such as area of effect ones will still hit.

* Him's Magic from ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls'' is full of this. The girls go toe to toe with him whenever he uses projectiles and beams. However, the moment he changes to his invisible ThoughtControlledPower, they're helpless.

* A variant in ''VideoGame/MegaManXCommandMission'': One of the StandardStatusEffects is Blind. Apparently, aside from lowering the affected foe's accuracy, this status effect will also lower their evasion rate ("you can't dodge what you can't see").

* Inverted in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'', in which a character or enemy rendered invisible by the [[StandardStatusEffect "Vanish" status]] becomes incapable of dodging (usually visible) magic spells, including OneHitKill spells that are normally {{Useless Useful Spell}}s due to a near-100% miss rate.

Sometimes overlaps with HitScan attacks. Also, compare with RuleOfPerception, ThoughtControlledPower, as well as AlwaysAccurateAttack. Contrast ProjectileSpell, for when magic spells behave more like projectiles (and can be potentially dodged) when it's better if they don't.

Note that this trope only applies when there is a contrast between visible dodgeable attacks and abilities, and invisible undodgeable ones.If everything is undodgeable, then it doesn't count. For instance, in all of the tabletop games based on UsefulNotes/D20System, attacking while invisible completely negates the target's Dexterity defense bonus, and the same applies to invisible projectiles unless the target can see who's shooting and guess the trajectory.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': In "See No Evil", Lloyd Ventrix uses stolen invisibility technology to put up a good fight against Batman. Once Batman outmaneuvers him by [[KillItWithWater poking holes in a water tower]] to cover the area in spray and reveal Ventrix's position, his superior fighting ability makes short work of the villain.

* The Force in ''Film/StarWars''. Lightsabers and dodging skills can evade all sorts of Force powers, such as Force Lightning. The moment someone starts a ForceChoke, though, it's over.

[[folder: Film]]
* The Force in ''Film/StarWars''. Lightsabers and dodging skills can evade all sorts of Force powers, such as Force Lightning. The moment someone starts a [[PsychicStrangle Force Choke]] though, it's over.

[[folder: Live Action TV]]

** All of the highly advanced alien races that use visible projectiles, such as the Daleks or Cybermen, are easily avoidable. However, the [[spoiler: Time Lords]] have a glove that absolutely destroys things from time. It's both invisible and undodgeable.
** In addition, [[spoiler: Rose Tyler, after seeing the heart of the TARDIS]] uses invisible undodgeable magic, as well as Sutekh.

[[folder: Tabletop RPG]]

[[folder: Video Games]]

[[folder: Western Animation]]
* Bloodbending in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' as well as its {{Sequel Series}}, ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', has only ever once been stopped, but never dodged. After all, it's pretty hard to stop someone from manipulating the water in your blood if they know how. [[BlowYouAway Airbending]] also had shades of this, since the transparent lines to show it were mostly for the audiences benefit, and it was not an easy element to counter without experience, in part why [[TheHero Aang]] and [[BombThrowingAnarchists Zaheer]] were such formidable opponents.

Note that this trope only applies when there is a contrast between visible dodgeable attacks and abilities, and invisible undodgeable ones. If everything is undodgeable, then it doesn't count.

* In the ''TabletopGame/D20System'' (and all game systems based on it), attacking while invisible completely negates the target's Dexterity defense bonus. The same applies to invisible projectiles unless the target can see who's shooting and guess the trajectory.

-->--'''Gen''', ''Videogame/StreetFighterIV''

* Played with in the FinalBoss in ''DoubleDragon 3'' has one attack that is an invisible energy wave -- you can't dodge it, but you ''can'' block it if your timing is good.

Sometimes overlaps with HitScan attacks. Also, compare with RuleOfPerception, ThoughtControlledPower, as well as AlwaysAccurateAttack.

* Variation in ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'': the Chozo Ghosts turn invisible then move elsewhere before turning visible again to attack Samus. You can't attack them in this intermediate invisible form until you get the X-Ray Visor, which lets you view them at any time.

** All of the highly advanced alien races that use visible projectiles, such as the Daleks or Cybermen, are easily avoidable. However, the [[spoiler: Time Lords]] have a glove that absolutely destroys things from time. And, of course, it's both invisible and undodgeable.