History Main / KillerYoyo

* ''Manga/MagicalGirlSite'': [[spoiler:Sarina]] has one, and in this case, the "killer" part is taken UpToEleven. To elaborate, the yoyo has an AbsurdlySharpBlade that is capable of cutting just about anything it comes in contact with; at one point, it's used to ''[[spoiler:cut a man [[HalfTheManHeUsedToBe in half]] vertically.]]'' Ouch.

According to legend, the ancient, simple child's toy known as the yo-yo took on use as a deadly weapon in the hands of Filipino tribesmen centuries ago.[[note]]There is no historical evidence of this. Historians attribute the legend to Filipino hero Jose Rizal, who claimed it either as a joke or a fun, creative story -- he used to carve and play with yo-yos while traveling on ships, and founded a massively successful company the produced and sold yo-yos in the US, which generated a mass yo-yo craze that lasted even throughout UsefulNotes/TheGreatDepression.[[/note]] Whether it's true or not, if you see a yo-yo in a series with combat, particularly in an anime or video game and particularly in the hands of a young child, it's a safe bet that it will be slung with deadly intent and accuracy.

According to legend, the ancient, simple child's toy known as the yo-yo took on use as a deadly weapon in the hands of Filipino tribesmen centuries ago.[[note]]There is no historical evidence of this. Historians attribute the legend to Filipino hero Jose Rizal, who claimed it either as a joke or a fun, creative story -- he used to carve and play with yo-yos while traveling on ships, and founded a massively successful company the produced and sold yo-yos in the US, which generated a mass yo-yo craze that lasted even throughout the UsefulNotes/GreatDepression.[[/note]] Whether it's true or not, if you see a yo-yo in a series with combat, particularly in an anime or video game and particularly in the hands of a young child, it's a safe bet that it will be slung with deadly intent and accuracy.

According to legend, the ancient, simple child's toy known as the yo-yo took on use as a deadly weapon in the hands of Filipino tribesmen centuries ago.[[note]]There is no historical evidence of this. Historians attribute the legend to Filipino hero Jose Rizal, who claimed it either as a joke or a fun, creative story -- he used to carve and play with yo-yos while traveling on ships, and founded a massively successful company the produced and sold yo-yos in the US, which generated a mass yo-yo craze that lasted even throughout the Great Depression.[[/note]] Whether it's true or not, if you see a yo-yo in a series with combat, particularly in an anime or video game and particularly in the hands of a young child, it's a safe bet that it will be slung with deadly intent and accuracy.

* We have, well, ''Yo-Yo Man''.

* ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear XX'': Bridget wields a standard yo-yo as a weapon; this is likely part of the joke, as it goes nicely with the nun habit, in-line skates, and teddy bear. And giant handcuff belt-hula hoop thing.

According to legend, the ancient, simple child's toy known as the yo-yo took on use as a deadly weapon in the hands of Filipino tribesmen centuries ago.[[note]]There is no historical evidence of this. Historians attribute the legend to Filipino hero Jose Rizal, who claimed it either as a joke or a fun, creative story -- he used to carve and play with yo-yos while traveling on ships, and founded a massively successful company the produced and sold yo-yo's in the US, which generated a mass yo-yo craze that lasted even throughout the Great Depression.[[/note]] Whether it's true or not, if you see a yo-yo in a series with combat, particularly in an anime or video game and particularly in the hands of a young child, it's a safe bet that it will be slung with deadly intent and accuracy.

The legend may stem partially from the fact that as a weapon, the yo-yo bears a resemblance to a few hunting tools and weapons such as the Chinese meteor-hammer, the Argentinian bolas, and the maritime slungshot. The mundane yo-yo makes a cute and fancy stand-in for these types of weapons. It's also no joke that some yo-yo toys, from the traditional Chinese yo-yo to modern metal, weighted ones, can cause serious injuries purely by accident. Even the small plastic modern yo-yo's, in the hands of a small child, can, and sometimes will, cause major harm to anyone and anything in the yo-yo's vicinity without the need of any magic or special training at all.

* While not identical in style to a yo-yo, the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boleadoras boleadoras]] used in the Argentinian pampas, and a type of weapon known as the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slungshot Slungshot]], are certainly reminiscent of Killer Yo-yo's.

* ''VideoGame/TheGoonies II'': Mikey's primary weapon is a yo-yo, something never seen in ''[[ the original film Film/TheGoonies]]''.

* The Chinese yo-yo (aka the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diavolo diavolo]]) , while not an actual weapon, can be spun to dangerous speeds that can result in the loss of teeth or eye(s) if the wielder loses control of it.

* ''Film/WinnerTakesAll'', a 1982 martial arts spoof film, have the hero being ambushed by various ninjas near the finale. The hero whips out a pair of yo-yos and wipes out ''all'' the ninjas in one fight scene. There's even a moment where the lead ninja, [[PlayingWithChucks who uses dual nunchucks]] goes into a weapon-posing contest with the hero.

* ''Anime/SenkiZesshouSymphogear'': Shirabe adds these to her gear’s repertoire in season 3. They have lasers for strings and, like most of her arsenal, can turn into giant circular saws at will.

* In his origin story, a young ComicBook/{{Bullseye}} was shown throwing a yo-yo and killing a bird with it.

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* ''Webcomic/{{Bug|Martini}}'', while doesn't weaponize it, explores the [[http://www.bugcomic.com/comics/yo-yo-injuries-common/ injury]] [[http://www.bugcomic.com/comics/yo-yo-injuries-uncommon/ potential]] of yo-yo.
* In ''Webcomic/CommanderKitty'', [[http://www.commanderkitty.com/2010/08/08/rewind/ Fluffy disarms Zenith with a yo-yo.]]
* ''Webcomic/MagIsa'' -- [[http://mag-isa.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/119773 Alice]] uses a weapon like this.
[[/folder]]

* The Smurflings used yo-yos against Gargamel in ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'' episode "Have You Smurfed Your Pet Today?"

* ''Manga/RosarioToVampire'': Akashiya Moka flings a yo-yo at a Tengu-masked thug during their field trip to the human world in season 2. The yo-yo cracks the mask in half to reveal a face that is nearly identical.

* ''VideoGame/CaptainRainbow'': The titular washed-up superhero duel wields yo-yos. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-RuY5twLgY No, really]].

* ''Winner Takes All'', a 1992 martial arts spoof film, have the hero being ambushed by various ninjas near the finale. The hero whips out a pair of yo-yos and wipes out ''all'' the ninjas in one fight scene. There's even a moment where the lead ninja, [[PlayingWithChucks who uses dual nunchucks]] goes into a weapon-posing contest with the hero.

* ''Anime/PowerpuffGirlsZ'': Momoko "Blossom" Akatsutsumi.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

The legend may stem partially from the fact that as a weapon, the yo-yo bears a resemblance to a few hunting tools and weapons such as the Chinese meteor-hammer, the Argentinian bolas, and the maritime slugshot. The mundane yo-yo makes a cute and fancy stand-in for these types of weapons. It's also no joke that some yo-yo toys, from the traditional Chinese yo-yo to modern metal, weighted ones, can cause serious injuries purely by accident. Even the small plastic modern yo-yo's, in the hands of a small child, can, and sometimes will, cause major harm to anyone and anything in the yo-yo's vicinity without the need of any magic or special training at all.

* In ''VideoGame/TheAdventuresOfWillyBeamish'', a yo-yo is the weapon you finally beat the BigBad with. Since you begin the game with it and only get to use it at the end, if also serves as a ChekhovsGun.
* Another discus-style weapon wielder is Bunny from ''VideoGame/BunnyMustDie''.
* The washed up superhero ''VideoGame/CaptainRainbow'' duel wields yo-yos. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-RuY5twLgY No, really]].
* A much more serious-looking variant occurs in the ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' series, where multiple titles feature animated suits of armor that wield large spinning spiked discs, usually known as "disc armor" or "discus armor".
* One of [[RobotBuddy Browny's]] weapons in ''VideoGame/ContraHardCorps'' is the "Super Electromagnetic Yo-yo". It's surprisingly powerful and one of the best weapons in the game, dealing heavy continuous damage on contact with enemies as well as homing in on them.
* One of the ranged weapons in ''VideoGame/EarthBound'' is a yo-yo. It's practically useless, but ''all'' ranged weapons (except Jeff's best ones) suck in this game. Strangely enough, in his appearances in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series, his yo-yo attacks are much more useful: in the first game, they do massive damage, and in ''Melee'', can be used in a Ness-only glitch to make him virtually-untouchable.

* "Yoyo Yoko" Koshibojin from the fighting game ''VideoGame/{{Ehrgeiz}}'' uses one in most of her attacks; hence the nickname.
* Gustav, the third boss of ''VideoGame/{{Einhander}}'' has spinning disks connected by a chain on each shoulder that he can send out. They act like deadly razor yo-yos.
* One of the weapon sets available to Acrobats in ''VideoGame/FlyFF'' is a yo-yo.

* In ''VideoGame/TheGoonies II'', Mikey's primary weapon is a yo-yo, which isn't found in the movie to which the game is an unofficial sequel.
* ''VideoGame/GotchaForce'''s Spinner Girl uses a spiked yo-yo.
* Bridget from ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear XX'' wields a standard yo-yo as a weapon; this is likely part of the joke, as it goes nicely with the nun habit, in-line skates and teddy bear.
** And giant handcuff belt-hula hoop thing.
*** Which according to one of his win animations, also doubles as a yo-yo holster.
*** (Yes. [[UnsettlingGenderReveal His]]. Likely part of the same joke, at least via culture context).
* * In Creator/DataEast's arcade FightingGame ''VideoGame/{{Hippodrome}}'', the FinalBoss is a giant taking up half the screen wielding a Killer Yo-Yo of Doom simply called "[[TheUnpronounceable !@#$%!@!]]".
* Enough yo-yo weapons were implemented in ''VideoGame/KingdomOfLoathing'' to make its own weapon type. Examples range from the yo (a primitive yo-yo which does half damage) to the yohohoyo, a multi-elemental weapon wielded by the wacky pirate.
* Malin from ''VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters''.

* Candi Roll from ''VideoGame/KungFuChaos'' wields twin yoyos.
* In the SNES game ''[[VideoGame/GanbareGoemon Legend of the Mystical Ninja]],'' the best weapon is the bladed "Yokohama Yo Yo." This yo-yo is not seen in any other ''Ganbare Goemon'' games, though the chain pipe serves a similar purpose as a long-range weapon.
* One of the two styles of melee weapon available to Dawn in ''VideoGame/{{Lemegeton}}'', the "rotary knife" (actually more like a meteor hammer with blades attached), has yo-yo-like animations during some of its attacks.
* Yo-Yo is a chip starting from ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork 2''. It deploys spinning blades from the disk as it's fired 3 panels ahead and deals double damage to any enemy in its way and triple damage to the enemy on the third panel and stuns the enemy instead of making them flinch allowing Mega Man to attack again. They also count as sword chips, making them useful against the Shadow viruses.

* Yo-yo Man's weapon in ''VideoGame/MegaManUnlimited'', the Yo-yo Cutter. When obtained by Mega Man, it fires out a yo-yo that can be aimed and can also move along the floor and walls before returning to him.

* The "Yo-yo of Death" from ''{{Website/Neopets}}'' is a powerful battledome item. How powerful? It's sold in the '''Hidden Tower'''.
* The ancient terrifying Disney game ''VideoGame/NightmareNed''.
* ''VideoGame/RogueGalaxy'': One of Jupis Tooki McGanel's special attacks is Yo-Yo Shock, where he swings an electrified yo-yo in a circular arc to damage all enemies.
* Megumi Taktsuki from ''Rumble! @ the Campus''.
** One of the prototypes show Kiyo wielding one.
* A massive, bladed yo-yo called a "Diskarmer" is the signature weapon of the ''VideoGame/{{Rygar}}'' series.
* ''VideoGame/SamuraiWarriors 3'' - Hanbei Takenaka wields a giant bladed yo-yo that he also uses as a one-man ''helicopter''.

* In ''Videogame/SengokuBasara'', Sarutobi Sasuke uses two of these as his weapons. Kasuga and Kotaro originally used these due to being character clones, but were later given weapons of their own.
* The Yobobot in ''VideoGame/{{Shatterhand}}'' flings a large white ball around itself.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Superfrog}}'', the titular character fights enemies with a yo-yo, but sadly, it has use only against flying enemies.
* Meru's primary weapons in ''VideoGame/SuperHeroineChronicle'' include yo-yos.
* In the ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' games, the term "Hammer Bro" originally referred to an elite group of [[{{Mook}} Koopa Troopas]] that specialized in throwing [[DropTheHammer hammers]], but their ranks have since expanded to include Troopas with other weapon specialties. One such specialty, seen in ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiSuperstarSaga'', is the yo-yo, wielded by a species called "Yo Bro".
* In ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars,'' the R-2 wields a [[LaserBlade Beam]] Chakram attached to a cable. The Huckebein Mk II also has an exploding one as a weapon.
* Rita from ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'' gets a yoyo as a weapon.

* Mid-90s third-person fighter/shooter ''VideoGame/TimeCommando'' had a weaponized yoyo in the 'future' levels.
* In ''VideoGame/TomatoAdventure'', the first weapon the player character [=DeMille=] receives is a mechanized yoyo with a gear where the yoyo would be, simply called the "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Gear Yoyo]]".
* The ''VideoGame/ToyStory'' game fills Sid's room with spiked yo-yos hanging from the ceiling.
* Captain Blue Jr. from ''VideoGame/ViewtifulJoe.''
* In ''Videogame/WatchDogs2'' the protagonist's melee weapon of choice is an 8-Ball attached to a rope that he uses in a fashion similar to this.
* Domino's Pizza's commercials had a character called the Pizza Noid, who had a couple of his own ''VideoGame/YoNoid'' video games. In one of them he was the protagonist and his primary weapon was a yo-yo.

* Parodied in the anime series ''Anime/BakuenCampusGuardress'': one of the characters fights with a kendama.
* Nanaho Kinjo of ''Anime/BestStudentCouncil''.
* [[PsychoForHire Nofix]] uses this as a weapon in ''Manga/BIchi''. His power as the King of Spin allows him to accelerate its rotation, making it all the more deadly.
* Cirucci Thunderwitch in ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' wields a huge yoyo-like weapon in its unreleased shape.
* One of the first and most well-known examples in anime is the Choudenji Yoyo (Super Electromagnetic Yo-Yo), the signature weapon of the SuperRobot ''Anime/CombattlerV''.
* Mamiya in ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' uses a yo-yo that suddenly produces blades in mid-air, which makes her a competent normal human fighter, but still nowhere near as strong as martial arts practitioners.
* The Ryuuseisui-wielding Suboshi is ''Manga/FushigiYuugi'''s resident Psycho Yoyo Boy. He doesn't use an actual yoyo, but it counts.
* Carmen 99 uses a bladed yo-yo in ''Anime/GunXSword''.
* ''Manga/HunterXHunter'', has Killua occasionally using super-yo-yos on wires as his preferred weapon, on those occasions he uses any weapon at all -- he's shown knocking chunks out of ''trees'' with them (he's super-strong, and the things weigh ''40 kilograms each'').
* From the anime ''Toys/MachineRobo Rescue'', [[ShowWithinAShow Ninja Mama]] is a CaptainErsatz of the [=Saki/Yoko=] archetype, complete with Killer Yoyo.
* [[spoiler:Sarina]] from ''Manga/MagicalGirlSite'' has one, and in this case, the "killer" part is taken UpToEleven. To elaborate, the yoyo has an AbsurdlySharpBlade that is capable of cutting just about anything it comes in contact with; at one point, it's used to ''[[spoiler:cut a man [[HalfTheManHeUsedToBe in half]] vertically.]]'' Ouch.
* Sylvain Clark from ''Anime/MarginalPrince'' uses a yoyo to fight off bad guys during the last episode. He tends to fanboy over it in an earlier episode, as it is some merchandise from his [[ShowWithinAShow favourite anime]].

* Momoko "Blossom" Akatsutsumi in ''Anime/PowerpuffGirlsZ''.
* Chikusa Kakimoto of ''Manga/Reborn2004'' wields a pair of metal yo-yos that shoot poisonous needles.
* Akashiya Moka flings a yo-yo at a Tengu-masked thug during their field trip to the human world in ''Manga/RosarioToVampire'' season 2. The yo-yo cracks the mask in half to reveal a face that is nearly identical.
* Princess Sparkle from ''Anime/SpiderRiders'' liturally kicked Grasshop's but with hers, several dozen times.
* Jun from ''Anime/ScienceNinjaTeamGatchaman''. Of course, hers ''explode'', so their effectiveness as a weapon is never in doubt.
* Shirabe adds these to her gear’s repertoire in season 3 of ''Anime/SenkiZesshouSymphogear''. They have lasers for strings and, like most of her arsenal, can turn into giant circular saws at will.
* Saki Asamiya in ''Manga/SukebanDeka'' was armed with a special metal yo-yo, which became her signature weapon -- so much so that it's an integral element in the logo for the 2006 LiveActionAdaptation (now available in the United States under the title ''Yo-Yo Girl Cop'').
* Employed by ''Anime/SuperDollLiccaChan'' in one of her forms.
* Genis of ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' uses a kendama as a weapon seriously. Understandably, he's a [[SquishyWizard magic-user]], but still...

* Kiyone Makibi from ''Anime/TenchiMuyo''.
* A storyline in the ''Manga/YuGiOh'' manga (and the first series of the ''Yu-Gi-Oh'' anime) features an entire ''gang'' of yo-yo thugs, lead by one of Jounouchi's/Joey's middle school rivals. Yami Yugi is so good with it he ''brought down the roof'' of a shed!

** While under the Top's [[{{brainwashed}} influence]], his near obsessive use of the yo-yo (commented on by one of the G-men) is probably also a tell for the normally playful James being buried under the stern, serious Agent Jesse, possibly as a bit of a slip in Top's mind screw.

The legend may stem partially from the fact that as a weapon, the yo-yo bears a resemblance to a few hunting tools and weapons such as the Chinese meteor-hammer, the Argeninian bolas, and the maritime slugshot. The mundane yo-yo makes a cute and fancy stand-in for these types of weapons. It's also no joke that some yo-yo toys, from the traditional Chinese yo-yo to modern metal, weighted ones, can cause serious injuries purely by accident. Even the small plastic modern yo-yo's, in the hands of a small child, can, and sometimes will, cause major harm to anyone and anything in the yo-yo's vicinity without the need of any magic or special training at all.

--> [[BondOneLiner Awww... sleeper.]]

* Momoko "Blossom" Akatsutsumi in ''Anime/DemashitaPowerpuffGirlsZ''.

%% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1345693294017020100
%% Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.

* A much more serious-looking variant occurs in the ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' series, where multiple titles feature animated suits of armor that wield large spinning spiked discs, usually known as "disc armor" or "discus armor".
* Another discus-style weapon wielder is Bunny from ''VideoGame/BunnyMustDie''.
* Candi Roll from ''VideoGame/KungFuChaos'' wields twin yoyos.
* ''VideoGame/{{Spinmaster}}'' had yo-yos as the player characters' main weapon.
* The Yobobot in ''VideoGame/{{Shatterhand}}'' flings a large white ball around itself.
* One of the two styles of melee weapon available to Dawn in ''VideoGame/{{Lemegeton}}'', the "rotary knife" (actually more like a meteor hammer with blades attached), has yo-yo-like animations during some of its attacks.
* ''Frak!'' for the UsefulNotes/BBCMicro starred a caveman armed with a yo-yo.
* Domino's Pizza's commercials had a character called the Pizza Noid, who had a couple of his own [[VideoGame/YoNoid video games]]. In one of them he was the protagonist and his primary weapon was a yo-yo.
* Yo-yo Man's weapon in ''VideoGame/MegaManUnlimited'', the Yo-yo Cutter. When obtained by Mega Man, it fires out a yo-yo that can be aimed and can also move along the floor and walls before returning to him.
* Gustav, the third boss of ''VideoGame/{{Einhander}}'' has spinning disks connected by a chain on each shoulder that he can send out. They act like deadly razor yo-yos.
* ''VideoGame/{{Terraria}}'' introduces yo-yos as a melee weapon type. They can be thrown out to attack, follow the mouse for a set period of time, then retract. They do continuous damage as long as they make contact with an enemy. They can be difficult to master, but the fact that they follow the mouse allows the player to attack from behind cover. They also have accessories that can increase their length, create a counterweight, and even send out a second yo-yo.
* Meru's primary weapons in ''VideoGame/SuperHeroineChronicle'' include yo-yos.
* One of [[RobotBuddy Browny's]] weapons in ''VideoGame/ContraHardCorps'' is the "Super Electromagnetic Yo-yo". It's surprisingly powerful and one of the best weapons in the game, dealing heavy continuous damage on contact with enemies as well as homing in on them.
* In ''VideoGame/TomatoAdventure'', the first weapon the player character [=DeMille=] receives is a mechanized yoyo with a gear where the yoyo would be, simply called the "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Gear Yoyo]]".

* ''VideoGame/YoNoid'': This is The Noid's weapon of choice.

* ''Webcomic/MagIsa'' -- [[http://mag-isa.thecomicseries.com/comics/pl/119773 Alice]] uses a weapon like this.

* Toyman utterly owns Killer Frost with one of these in the penultimate episode of ''[[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague Justice League Unlimited]]''.
--> [[BondOneLiner Awww... sleeper.]]
* Velma's yo-yo in ''WesternAnimation/APupNamedScoobyDoo''. Although it's not a killer, it's extremely helpful, as she used it to hold on trees, tangle villains, gain speed in their Mystery Skate...

* In ''WesternAnimation/GadgetBoyAndHeather'', Gadget Boy uses a yo-yo to tie up the villains in the show's opening.
* In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold'', Arnold's yo-yo proves fatal to Eugene's goldfish when it breaks from its string, falls into the goldfish bowl, and knocks over the toy knight, killing the fish.
* The Smurflings used yo-yos against Gargamel in ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs'' episode "Have You Smurfed Your Pet Today?"

* ''WesternAnimation/BlazingTeam'' is an entire series built on this.
* The main weapon of Ladybug in ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug''. She mainly uses it for [[Franchise/SpiderMan Spidey]]-style {{Building Swing}}ing. The string is [[VariableLengthChain as long as she wills it to be]], she can SpinToDeflectStuff with it, the whole thing is indestructible by mundane means, ''and'' she use it as a video phone. It's [[AWizardDidIt explicitly the product of the magical artifact that provides her powers]].

* The ''Literature/TheBaroqueCycle'' by Creator/NealStephenson claims the Filipinos had ''bladed'' yo-yos, and gives one to the enigmatic Enoch Root.

* A brief passage in the final book of ''Literature/TheDemonata'' describes a small girl using a yo-yo to fight off demons. No, really.
* Subverted in the first ''Literature/AlexRider'' book: one of Alex's "gadgets" is a modified yo-yo. He expects it to be weaponised somehow, but instead it has [[GrapplingHookPistol an extendable and extremely strong cord.]]
* In ''Elven Star'', the second book of ''Literature/TheDeathGateCycle'', a character uses a weapon called a "raztar" that appears to be a yo-yo with extendable razor blades.
* In ''Literature/AnnoDracula 1999: Daikaiju'', the police in the Bund, Tokyo's vampire FantasticGhetto, consists of girls in PoweredArmor armed with monofiliment yo-yos, presumably in reference to the anime examples. (It is later mentioned that they are all named [[Manga/SukebanDeka Saki]].)

* In ''Series/KamenRiderRyuki'', Kamen Rider Verde wields a yo-yo.
* ''Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder'' has Conner and his Battlizer armor, the main weapon of which is the Dragon Yo-Yo. A killer yo-yo made of fire. Silly, but it works.

* [[http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/17889/1001-Science-Fiction-Weapons-%28Revised%29?it=1 1001 Science Fiction Weapons]] has a chapter on combat yo-yos. There is a complaint it's uncommon outside anime.

* Bridget from ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear XX'' wields a standard yo-yo as a weapon; this is likely part of the joke, as it goes nicely with the nun habit, in-line skates and teddy bear.
** And giant handcuff belt-hula hoop thing.
*** Which according to one of his win animations, also doubles as a yo-yo holster.
*** (Yes. [[UnsettlingGenderReveal His]]. Likely part of the same joke, at least via culture context).

* Mike Jones' primary weapon in ''VideoGame/StarTropics'' is a yo-yo. You upgrade the weapon as the game progresses.
** There's also a bola weapon.
* "Yoyo Yoko" Koshibojin from the fighting game ''VideoGame/{{Ehrgeiz}}'' uses one in most of her attacks; hence the nickname.
* In ''VideoGame/TheGoonies II'', Mikey's primary weapon is a yo-yo, which isn't found in the movie to which the game is an unofficial sequel.

* ''VideoGame/{{Mother 3}}'' has the "Friend's Yoyo" as an optional weapon. It's actually quite powerful, raises speed, and can be given to any of the party members except for Boney. [[spoiler: It's all but stated that the Friend's Yoyo used to belong to Ness, and Porky keeps it well guarded. [[AntagonistInMourning Hmmm....]]]] And then on Tanetane Island, you can buy a Spiky Weapon, which is basically a yo-yo, [[RecycledInSpace with spikes.]]
* In ''VideoGame/KirbySuperStar'' and ''VideoGame/KirbyStarAllies'', one of VideoGame/{{Kirby}}'s exclusive copy abilities is Yo-Yo, taken from the Gim enemy. It consists of [[DanceBattler breakdancing]] with a yo-yo ([[ShoutOut and a backward]] [[VideoGame/EarthBound baseball cap]]).

* Yo-Yo is a chip starting from ''VideoGame/MegaManBattleNetwork 2''. It deploys spinning blades from the disk as it's fired 3 panels ahead and deals double damage to any enemy in its way and triple damage to the enemy on the third panel and stuns the enemy instead of making them flinch allowing Mega Man to attack again. They also count as sword chips, making them useful against the Shadow viruses.
** The Spinning Blade from ''[[VideoGame/MegaManX Mega Man X3]]'' becomes this when charged.

* In Creator/DataEast's arcade FightingGame ''Hippodrome'', the FinalBoss is a giant taking up half the screen wielding a Killer Yo-Yo of Doom simply called "[[TheUnpronounceable !@#$%!@!]]".
* Captain Blue Jr. from ''VideoGame/ViewtifulJoe.''
* The ancient terrifying Disney game ''VideoGame/NightmareNed''.

* In the SNES game ''[[VideoGame/GanbareGoemon Legend of the Mystical Ninja]],'' the best weapon is the bladed "Yokohama Yo Yo." This yo-yo is not seen in any other ''Ganbare Goemon'' games, though the chain pipe serves a similar purpose as a long-range weapon.
* Enough yo-yo weapons were implemented in ''VideoGame/KingdomOfLoathing'' to make its own weapon type. Examples range from the yo (a primitive yo-yo which does half damage) to the yohohoyo, a multi-elemental weapon wielded by the wacky pirate.
* The ''VideoGame/ToyStory'' game fills Sid's room with spiked yo-yos hanging from the ceiling.
* Rita from ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'' gets a yoyo as a weapon.

* ''VideoGame/GotchaForce'''s Spinner Girl uses a spiked yo-yo.
* The "Yo-yo of Death" from ''{{Website/Neopets}}'' is a powerful battledome item. How powerful? It's sold in the '''Hidden Tower'''.

* The washed up superhero ''VideoGame/CaptainRainbow'' duel wields yo-yos. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-RuY5twLgY No, really]].
* One of [[VideoGame/RogueGalaxy Jupis Tooki McGanel's]] special attacks is Yo-Yo Shock, where he swings an electrified yo-yo in a circular arc to damage all enemies.
* One of the weapons in the game adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/TaleSpin'' was a yo-yo.
* ''VideoGame/SamuraiWarriors 3'' - Hanbei Takenaka wields a giant bladed yo-yo that he also uses as a one-man ''helicopter''.
** Similarly, [[PluckyGirl Bao Sanniang]] from ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors 7''.
* In ''Videogame/SengokuBasara'', Sarutobi Sasuke uses two of these as his weapons. Kasuga and Kotaro originally used these due to being character clones, but were later given weapons of their own.

* Saki Asamiya in ''Manga/SukebanDeka'' was armed with a special metal yo-yo, which became her signature weapon -- so much so that it's an integral element in the logo for the 2006 LiveActionAdaptation (now available in the United States under the title ''Yo-Yo Girl Cop'').
* Akashiya Moka flings a yo-yo at a Tengu-masked thug during their field trip to the human world in ''Manga/RosarioToVampire'' season 2. The yo-yo cracks the mask in half to reveal a face that is nearly identical.
* Princess Sparkle from ''Anime/SpiderRiders'' liturally kicked Grasshop's but with hers, several dozen times.

* One of the first and most well-known examples in anime is the Choudenji Yoyo (Super Electromagnetic Yo-Yo), the signature weapon of the SuperRobot Anime/CombattlerV.

* Parodied in the anime series ''Anime/BakuenCampusGuardress'': one of the characters fights with a kendama.
** Genis of ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' does this seriously. Understandably, he's a [[SquishyWizard magic-user]], but still...
*** To be fair, there's a series of skits dedicated to just how improbable it is.

* ''Manga/HunterXHunter'', has Killua occasionally using super-yo-yos on wires as his preferred weapon, on those occasions he uses any weapon at all -- he's shown knocking chunks out of ''trees'' with them (he's super-strong, and the things weigh ''40 kilograms each'').
* Employed by ''Anime/SuperDollLiccaChan'' in one of her forms.
* Cirucci Thunderwitch in ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' wields a huge yoyo-like weapon in its unreleased shape.
* Mamiya in ''Manga/FistOfTheNorthStar'' uses a yo-yo that suddenly produces blades in mid-air, which makes her a competent normal human fighter, but still nowhere near as strong as martial arts practitioners.
* Chikusa Kakimoto of ''Manga/Reborn2004'' wields a pair of metal yo-yos that shoot poisonous needles.
* Nanaho Kinjo of ''Anime/BestStudentCouncil''.
* Carmen 99 uses a bladed yo-yo in ''Anime/GunXSword''.
* From the anime ''Toys/MachineRobo Rescue'', [[ShowWithinAShow Ninja Mama]] is a CaptainErsatz of the [=Saki/Yoko=] archetype, complete with Killer Yoyo.
* The Ryuuseisui-wielding Suboshi is ''Manga/FushigiYuugi'''s resident Psycho Yoyo Boy. He doesn't use an actual yoyo, but it counts.
* ''Manga/MobileSuitCrossboneGundam'' has the Quavarze, which uses a [[LaserBlade beam saw]] mounted on the end of a "chain" of whip-like segments; again, not exactly a yoyo, but close enough.
* Sylvain Clark from ''Anime/MarginalPrince'' uses a yoyo to fight off bad guys during the last episode. He tends to fanboy over it in an earlier episode, as it is some merchandise from his [[ShowWithinAShow favourite anime]].
* [[PsychoForHire Nofix]] uses this as a weapon in ''Manga/BIchi''. His power as the King of Spin allows him to accelerate its rotation, making it all the more deadly.
* [[spoiler:Sarina]] from ''Manga/MagicalGirlSite'' has one, and in this case, the "killer" part is taken UpToEleven. To elaborate, the yoyo has an AbsurdlySharpBlade that is capable of cutting just about anything it comes in contact with; at one point, it's used to ''[[spoiler:cut a man [[HalfTheManHeUsedToBe in half]] vertically.]]'' Ouch.
* Shirabe adds these to her gear’s repertoire in season 3 of ''Anime/SenkiZesshouSymphogear''. They have lasers for strings and, like most of her arsenal, can turn into giant circular saws at will.

* Comic book example: Frank Einstein, the titular ''Comicbook/{{Madman}}'', uses a lead weighted yo-yo among other toy-based weapons.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' [[ComicBook/TheSimpsons Comics]] #131 featured a manga-styled segment. Lisa appears at the end, wielding two yo-yos and sporting understandably [[Manga/DragonBall Super Saiyan]]-like hair. Pretty much a general ShoutOut to Sukeban Deka.

* Comics example: In the Franchise/MarvelUniverse, Comicbook/{{Daredevil}} foe the Jester wields a weighted yo-yo as a weapon.
* In the Norwegian fantasy series ''ComicBook/{{Miranda}}'', the eponymous heroine wields a so-called "coil" with great success -- it is easily hidden, and nobody expects it from such a pretty girl.

* Showed up in a special issue of ''ComicBook/ThePunisher'', where the villain wielded one and made a reference to the aforementioned Filipino arts.
* In his origin story, a young ComicBook/{{Bullseye}} was shown throwing a yo-yo and killing a bird with it.

* In ''Comicbook/{{Flashpoint}}'', the AlternateUniverse Joker's sidekick, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Yo-Yo]], uses a pair of these when fighting against Batman. In [[WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueTheFlashpointParadox the animated adaptation]], her yoyos glow yellow and pink.
* The ''ComicBook/AstroCity'' sidekick Bravo wielded bolas in combat, using them as both melee and thrown weapons.

* Obviously, ''Yo-Yo Girl Cop'' is based on this trope.
* Egor in the ''Film/DayWatch'' movie is seen playing with a [=YoYo=] like object. It turns out to be a magical weapon. The user flings it like a [=YoYo=] but upon impact, the object shatters into hundreds of pellets that continue attacking the target, do not suffer any loss of momentum and can multiply themselves by shattering as well. Needless to say it goes out of control and eventually wipes out Moscow.
* ''Film/DuelWithTheDevils'' has the protagonist fighting a katana-wielding enemy with a yoyo. And winning. To be fair, the yoyo in question is made of RazorFloss.
* ''Film/MasterOfTheFlyingGuillotine'' features a yoyo/hat-like device attached to a string that, as you can imagine, acts like a guillotine when it lands.
* A character is attacked with a yo-yo, among other things, in ''Film/ChildsPlay3''.
* The bladed lug wrench is upgraded to this when some rope is attached to it at the end of ''Film/SororityRow''.
* In ''Film/AvengersGrimm'', Rapunzel has turned her ridiculously long hair into a meteor hammer by braiding it and tying a steel ball to the end.