History Main / NoHarmRequirement

* In ''VideoGame/{{Dishonored}}'', in order for the player to get the good ending and/or get the "Clean Hands" achievement/trophy, they must go through the entire game without killing anyone, including their assassination targets, to keep the chaos level low. For the good ending, they can kill a few human enemies but not too much to rise the chaos level and possibly get the bad ending. Killing rats, river krusts, and wolfhounds are the only exception to the rule.

* In ''VideoGame/XCom2'' the spokesman will give you special guerrilla missions from time to time. Half of them require you to rescue a scientist or engineer. The other half require you to kidnap a VIP without killing him. To do so you can knock him out and carry him to the evacuation point, with the carrying soldier unable to do any thing besides running. If you think you are unable to take him alive you are allowed to shoot him, but this will greatly reduce your payout for the mission.

* One mission of ''VideoGame/DungeonsAndDragonsOnline'' has you being framed for a BankRobbery, and needing to turn off the alarm to escape. The optional objective is "Do not kill any city guard". ParodiedTrope, as if you get spotted but turn off the alarm anyways without killing the guards, the guards react by [[NotInMyContract claiming that they are paid to kill thieves in the bank]] [[ExactWords when the alarm is active]], and thus letting you go on these grounds.

* In higher difficulties in ''VideoGame/{{SWAT4}}'', or if you just plain want a perfect score, no one has to get hurt, and everyone who doesn't start the mission incapacitated/dead has to be arrested (just in case a suspect has the bright idea to disguise himself as an hostage, which never happens in game but couold happen in real life). Not you, not your SWATTeam, not the civilians, not the suspects. This is easier than it sounds as unlike in real life where they are '''Less Lethal Weapons''', beanbag shotguns, tasers, rifles that fire tear gas pellets, flashbangs, stingers, tear gas grenades and, in the ExpansionPack, your fists are entirely non lethal and you can shoot first with these. In fact, some civilians will require to get hit by one of those before they surrender.

A funny tactic sometimes used to get around this is StopHittingYourself where the character keeps their hands clean by getting the target to pound themselves. DefeatByModesty, [[TheParalyzer {{Paralysis}}]] ForcedSleep, and MindControl are other common means of pulling this off.

A funny tactic sometimes used to get around this is StopHittingYourself where the character keeps their hands clean by getting the target to pound themselves. DefeatByModesty, ForcedSleep, and MindControl are other common means of pulling this off.

* ''Film/ThirteenDays'': During the CubanMissileCrisis as the NavalBlockade around Cuba goes into effect, the destroyer USS ''Pierce'' is suddenly confronted by a Soviet submarine sent to escort the freighters past the blockade. The ''Pierce'' can't intercept the freighters without exposing itself to the sub. President Kennedy contacts the destroyer's skipper personally and asks if he can force the sun to the surface without damaging it, since they're trying to keep a war from starting. He responds they can get it to the surface, but whether it's damaged is up to the sub. Kennedy then orders him to force it up. But then the Soviets ships start stopping, and Kennedy cancels the order.

* In an old fable, a woman is having a hard time getting along with her husband ever since he came back from a war. He always seems to be in a bad mood and she thinks he is angry with her for some reason. She goes to see the village wise man who sets her the task of bringing him the whisker from a tiger. She must remove the whisker without killing or otherwise harming the tiger.

** Doctor Jukiba is sent to Earth to covertly retrieve his escaped prototype, who is masquerading as Lilo's dog. Though he wields a plasma gun, Jukiba advises Stitch to come quietly: "Don't make me shoot you; you were expensive." The covert part goes out the window in short order.
** Earlier, the Grand Councilwoman considers gassing the planet Experiment 626 landed on, until Agent Pleakley reminds her that Earth has been designated a wildlife reserve for an endangered species - the mosquito. When 626 is adopted by Lilo, Pleakley stops Jumba from shooting at him because the girl is "a part of the mosquito food chain." Jumba realizes that 626 is using Lilo as a HumanShield, declaring that "this is low even for you!" [[spoiler:Later, it's revealed that the whole "mosquitoes are endangered" bit was a ploy by Cobra Bubbles to save Earth from alien invasion.]]

* Krum get's penalized for defying this in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire''. The first task in the Triwizard Tournament is to retrieve a golden egg that's been placed among a nesting dragon's clutch. Krum manages to get his egg, but loses points because his curse hit the dragon in the eye and caused it to stomp on its real eggs.

* While the White Witches in ''Film/HanselAndGretelWitchHunters'', the White Witches are perfectly permitted to use magic against the evil Black Witches, [[BeingGoodSucks they not allowed to hurt humans]] [[spoiler:even when they're being burned to death]]. Made all the more problematic by the fact that most humans in that world [[FantasticRacism despise all witches]].

As you can expect, this trope is the ire of any BloodKnight. After all, fighting is supposed to be a thrilling activity where one can cut loose and show how just how badass they are. Why does one have to restrain themselves against an enemy that's free to kill them if they wish? The PsychoForHire also tends to get put on the spot a lot when it comes to this. Sure he may have the skill set, finesse, (and often LackOfEmpathy), for easily dispatching of targets, but if he suddenly gets a request from a client to ''not'' kill, then it'll become one heck of a struggle for them hold themselves back.

Of course just how hard this actually proves to be depends on the fighters abilities and just what the target is. And a key thing to note overall is that the character doesn't have to be required by another to not inflict excessive harm. A self applied No Harm Requirement is as much a case as one dealt by another character.

This trope tends to be invoked by warrior archetypes which more averse to violence which include the ActualPacifist, BadassPacifist, TechnicalPacifist, MartialPacifist, and ReluctantWarrior.

Archetypes that tend to have this forced upon to their dismay include the BloodKnight, PsychoForHire, SociopathicHero, UnscrupulousHero, TokenEvilTeammate, the AxCrazy, and BadPowersGoodPeople.

Compare/Contrast EscortMission where one is assigned the task of escorting a character safely and ThouShallNotKill which is a whole philosophy around not killing. (Although non leathal violence tends to be permissible.) Also compare HeroMustSurvive, a video game trope where the player must keep the hero alive lest they want a GameOver, and the even more extreme NoDamageRun where the player can't take any damage at all.

[[caption-width-right:350: You can't hurt him Secret! Sure he's an ObviouslyEvil threat to society that must be stopped. But he's [[EndangeredSpecies endangered!]]]]

* In ''VideoGame/PathOfExile'', the Master Assassin's missions will usually impose these sorts of restrictions on you - such as killing a boss enemy while keeping at least one of their guards alive, killing the boss without killing ''any'' guards, or wiping out the boss's guards without killing the boss themselves. Note the "killing" part - you can bring them down to the very brink of CriticalExistenceFailure [[ExactWords without failing the mission]].

* Mayor Lionheart of Disney's ''Disney/{{Zootopia}}'' orders a cadre of timber wolves as EliteMooks to capture and contain the various predators that had been unknowingly dosed with [[PsychoSerum Nighthowler serum]] in an attempt find the cause of their sudden feral state. He keeps their condition and location a secret from the public to preserve his image since he himself is a lion. But aside from that, Lionheart's more or less a WellIntentionedExtremist because while he's holding citizens in an unlawful private prison, [[EvenEvilHasStandards he still keeps them unscathed and within relatively humane conditions]] with no intention of outright [[MoralEventHorizon killing them]].

** Earlier, the Grand Councilwoman considers gassing the planet Experiment 626 landed on, until Agent Pleakley reminds her that Earth has been designated a wildlife reserve for an endangered species - the mosquito. When 626 is adopted by Lilo, Pleakley stops Jumba from shooting at him because the girl is "a part of the mosquito food chain." Jumba realizes that 626 is using Lilo as a HumanShield, declaring that "this is low even for you!" [[spoiler:Later, it's revealed that the whole "mosquitoes are endangered" bit was a ploy by Cobra Bubbles to save Earth from alien invasion.]]* In ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'', Mirage and Syndrome hire Mr. Incredible to recover a giant robot that has gone rogue on an island. Because of the large expenses that went into the robot, he is supposed to shut it down without destroying it. He ends up tricking the robot into taking itself down [[HoistByHisOwnPetard by getting inside it and getting it to stab itself out of commission]]. But unbeknownst to Mr. Incredible, [[spoiler:the real purpose of the mission was for the robot to kill Mr. Incredible]].

As you can expect, this trope is the ire of any BloodKnight. After all, fighting is supposed to be a thrilling activity where one can cut loose and show how just how {{Badass}} they are. Why does one have to restrain themselves against an enemy that's free to kill them if they wish? The PsychoForHire also tends to get put on the spot a lot when it comes to this. Sure he may have the skill set, finesse, (and often LackOfEmpathy), for easily dispatching of targets, but if he suddenly gets a request from a client to ''not'' kill, then it'll become one heck of a struggle for them hold themselves back.

* Disney's ''Disney/LiloAndStitch'' has Doctor Jukiba sent to Earth to covertly retrieve his escaped prototype, who is masquerading as Lilo's dog. Though he wields a plasma gun, Jukiba advises Stitch to come quietly: "Don't make me shoot you; you were expensive." The covert part goes out the window in short order.

* The ''Characters/TomAndJerry'' cartoon "The Missing Mouse", has Tom hear on the radio that a white mouse has escaped from a laboratory after ingesting an experimental HairTriggerExplosive. Jerry also hears this news flash and [[ExploitedTrope exploits]] this by painting himself white and making Tom bust his back to protect from the mouse from self-created harm.

* {{Berserk}}: A particularly depraved aristocrat [[IDidWhatIHadToDo (who'd slept with Griffith once in exchange for funding the Band of the Hawk)]] finds himself on opposing sides. When they meet, he tells Griffith his men were ordered not to harm him, and thinks it'll be enough for Griffith to submit then and there. Astoundingly enough, Griffith didn't feel the same for him, and kills him on the spot.

* British television's ''Series/ThePrisoner'', an unnamed British secret agent is kept in a kind of freestyle sanitarium called The Village, which is located on an unnamed island. There, the staff and residents play bizarre mind games with him to compel him to reveal why he suddenly resigned from the intelligence service. Though TheHero gets brainwashed routinely, he's rarely hurt and never injured.

* ''DungeonsAndDragons'' module [=UK1=] ''Beyond the Crystal Cave''. The {{PC}}s are sent by the governor of Sybarate Island on a mission to Porpherio's Garden to retrieve the governor's daughter and her lover. They are prohibited from harming anyone or anything within the garden on pain of losing the 10,000 gold piece reward. This will be a neat trick since both the daughter and her lover are under a charm effect and will resist being removed from the Garden.

** Earlier, the Grand Councilwoman considers gassing the planet Experiment 626 landed on, until Agent Pleakley reminds her that Earth has been designated a wildlife reserve for an endangered species - the mosquito. When 626 is adopted by Lilo, Pleakley stops Jumba from shooting at him because the girl is "a part of the mosquito food chain." Jumba realizes that 626 is using Lilo as a HumanShield, declaring that "this is low even for you!" [[spoiler:Later, it's revealed that the whole "mosquitoes are endangered" bit was a ploy by Cobra Bubbles to save Earth from alien invasion.]]* In ''Film/TheIncredibles'', Mirage and Syndrome hire Mr. Incredible to recover a giant robot that has gone rogue on an island. Because of the large expenses that went into the robot, he is supposed to shut it down without destroying it. He ends up tricking the robot into taking itself down [[HoistByHisOwnPetard by getting inside it and getting it to stab itself out of commission]]. But unbeknownst to Mr. Incredible, [[spoiler:the real purpose of the mission was for the robot to kill Mr. Incredible]].

* While the White Witches in Film/HanselAndGretelWitchHunters, the White Witches are perfectly permitted to use magic against the evil Black Witches, [[BeingGoodSucks they not allowed to hurt humans]] [[spoiler:even when they're being burned to death]]. Made all the more problematic by the fact that most humans in that world [[FantasticRacism despise all witches]].

* Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack has Darth Vader convene a cadre of bounty hunters to capture TheHeroes. "There will be a substantial reward for the one who finds the Millennium Falcon. You are free to use any methods necessary, but I want them alive. No disintegrations."

[[folder: Film]]

** Earlier, the Grand Councilwoman considers gassing the planet Experiment 626 landed on, until Agent Pleakley reminds her that Earth has been designated a wildlife reserve for an endangered species - the mosquito. When 626 is adopted by Lilo, Pleakley stops Jumba from shooting at him because the girl is "a part of the mosquito food chain." Jumba realizes that 626 is using Lilo as a HumanShield, declaring that "this is low even for you!" [[spoiler:Later, it's revealed that the whole "mosquitoes are endangered" bit was a ploy by Cobra Bubbles to save Earth from alien invasion.]]
* While the White Witches in Film/HanselAndGretelWitchHunters, the White Witches are perfectly permitted to use magic against the evil Black Witches, [[BeingGoodSucks they not allowed to hurt humans]] [[spoiler:even when they're being burned to death]]. Made all the more problematic by the fact that most humans in that world [[FantasticRacism despise all witches]].
* In ''Film/TheIncredibles'', Mirage and Syndrome hire Mr. Incredible to recover a giant robot that has gone rogue on an island. Because of the large expenses that went into the robot, he is supposed to shut it down without destroying it. He ends up tricking the robot into taking itself down [[HoistByHisOwnPetard by getting inside it and getting it to stab itself out of commission]]. But unbeknownst to Mr. Incredible, [[spoiler:the real purpose of the mission was for the robot to kill Mr. Incredible]].
* ''Film/ThirteenDays'': During the CubanMissileCrisis as the NavalBlockade around Cuba goes into effect, the destroyer USS ''Pierce'' is suddenly confronted by a Soviet submarine sent to escort the freighters past the blockade. The ''Pierce'' can't intercept the freighters without exposing itself to the sub. President Kennedy contacts the destroyer's skipper personally and asks if he can force the sun to the surface without damaging it, since they're trying to keep a war from starting. He responds they can get it to the surface, but whether it's damaged is up to the sub. Kennedy then orders him to force it up. But then the Soviets ships start stopping, and Kennedy cancels the order.

* Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack has Darth Vader convene a cadre of bounty hunters to capture TheHeroes. "There will be a substantial reward for the one who finds the Millennium Falcon. You are free to use any methods necessary, but I want them alive. No disintegrations."

** "The Millionaire Cat" has Tom inherit a fortune, with the caveat that [[OnOneCondition he will lose it all if he harms another living thing]], "EVEN A MOUSE". Jerry, again, uses this to his advantage and live off Tom's fortune, producing the telegram with the "EVEN A MOUSE" warning in bold letters to remind Tom not to hurt him.

** "The Millionaire Cat" has Tom inherit a fortune, with the caveat that he will lose it all if he harms another living thing, "EVEN A MOUSE". Jerry, again, uses this to his advantage and live off Tom's fortune, producing the telegram with the "EVEN A MOUSE" warning in bold letters to remind Tom not to hurt him.

Compare/Contrast EscortMission where one is assigned the task of escorting a character safely and ThouShallNotKill which is a whole philosophy around not killing. (Although non leathal violence tends to be permissible.) Also compare HeroMustSurvive, a video game trope where the player must keep the hero alive lest they want a GameOver.

'''''Indexes to add to: PragmatismTropes, MoralityTropes, PeaceTropes, SuperTrope'''''