History Main / NoSneakAttacks

* ''VideoGame/TheEndTimesVermintide'' and ''VideoGame/VermintideII'' are thoroughly SoundCodedForYourConvenience: an enemy winding up to attack from behind makes enough noise for a split-second warning, and each special unit moves with a distinctive sound -- even the Gutter Runner, ostensibly an elite assassin, loudly whispers to itself before it pounces.

This is especially near-universal in video games, [[RuleOfFun because it wouldn't be very fun]] if enemy ambushes gave players ''no'' chance of defending themselves.

[[folder:LiveActionTV]]

[[folder:TabletopGames]]
* This is a good idea in tabletop {{RPG}}s in general, since few players like to hear "oops, looks like you weren't paranoid enough and now your character is dead". It can, however, come back to bite the GameMaster if the players ever get it into their heads that the same underhanded tactics this trope bars {{NPC}}s from employing should of course be a-ok for ''[[MoralMyopia their]]'' characters.

[[folder:VideoGames]]

* In ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' and other related works, this is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] when it comes to the Assassin class of Servants. Being in an RPGMechanicsVerse, Assassins have a trait known as Presence Concealment, which prevents others from detecting their mana signature, allowing them to sneak around and scout in enemy territory. However, the efficiency of Presence Concealment usually plummets whenever the Assassin prepares to go for a sneak attack, allowing the target to deflect or avoid the attack quickly enough. It isn't much of a problem against normal humans, given how Servants have SuperSpeed and can kill them the moment they register that they're being attacked, but this also makes performing sneak attacks against other Servants practically worthless. Since the Masters of the Grail War often like to keep their Servants by their side as an invisible GuardianEntity, it's not easy at all for an Assassin to get the drop on other Masters.

* Actions such as stealing Yugi's puzzle while he's asleep are regularly suggested by the OnlySaneMan on the Evil Council on ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries''. Then they are shot down by Marik who can't abide by any plan that doesn't involve playing a children's card game first [[note]] This neglects the fact that simply stealing the puzzle wouldn't make it work for them [[/note]].

[[folder:Film]]

* In the ''Literature/{{Dragaera}}'' novels, one of the rules the Jhereg follow is that you cannot assassinate a target in their home. If they step one foot outside the front door? Fine. One step inside the threshold? Safe.
* In ''Literature/LadyOfTheLake'', the last of the Witcher novels, psychopathic BountyHunter Leo Bonhart tries to attack his ArchEnemy Ciri from behind, letting loose a shriek of rage when he's inches away, for her [[IWasBeatenByAGirl beating]] and [[NotWorthKilling humiliating him]] in their duel moments before. With that warning, Ciri easily dodges Bonhart's attack, and then [[SlashedThroat opens his throat from ear to ear]].

* [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'': Rita could only get rid of the Rangers if she killed them while they were morphed; otherwise their powers could just be given to another person. Lothor would later invoke the same rule in ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaStorm''.

* Encouraged as protocol for the [[GameMaster Keeper]] in the TabletopGame/CallOfCthulhu core rulebook. As the [[PlayerCharacter Investigators]] tend to be mere PunyEarthlings, devouring them in their sleep or when they otherwise can't fight back tends to be boring and anticlimactic. Individual pre-written adventure modules may play this straight or avert it, as the Keeper wants.
* Subverted in the ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'' setting, where [[Literature/TheIcewindDaleTrilogy the assassin Entreri]] often does kill people by sneak attacks, and on one occasion when he does cry out when attacking someone from behind, it's because he intends for his opponent to kill him.

* The various Warhammer 40,000 [=RPGs=] (''TabletopGame/DarkHeresy'', ''TabletopGame/RogueTrader'', ''TabletopGame/{{Deathwatch}}'', ''TabletopGame/BlackCrusade'' and ''TabletopGame/OnlyWar'') seem to regard this rule as entirely optional, given that there are numerous Talents players can take to protect themselves from this (notably, the Light Sleeper talent lets you make Awareness checks as if awake while asleep; there's a whole raft of others devoted to making you better able to deal with being surprised).

* ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind'''s ''Tribunal'' expansion kicks off when you are attacked by [[MurderInc Dark]] [[PsychoForHire Brotherhood]] assassins in your sleep. However, for whatever reason, they wake you up before attacking, giving you a chance to fight back. Considering these assassins are supposed to be among the best (and most amoral) killers in the region, their making a noise when attempting to kill you - ''every single time'' - seems quite odd.
* Subverted in ''VideoGame/CallOfCthulhuDarkCornersOfTheEarth'', where if the player uses the action button on the bed to sleep before bolting all the doors, they don't get to wake up, they merely get a game over.
** A bit of FridgeLogic sets in when you notice that the player character wakes up before getting attacked only if you bolt the doors.
* In ''[[VideoGame/ArcanumOfSteamworksAndMagickObscura Arcanum]]'' assassins will not only stand and announce them selfs, but converse with the player before attacking
** Lampshaded after you learn more about the assassins, their history and their "code of conduct".
** Likewise, several people who hang around in the bars may randomly turn out to be assassins - but it will only be determined if you choose to talk to them.

* In the second ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'' expansion, a reversal of this occurs if you agree to aid a group of formians (intelligent centaur-like ants) in wiping out a drow base. The game will take control of your character and have a cutscene where you just stroll in through the door and call attention to yourself. Not very wise if you're playing a less-than-direct-assault character.

* Subverted in ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario''. TheDragon teleports in and offs the whole party during an exposition session halfway through the game. [[spoiler: It turns out to be a BatmanGambit on [[DragonWithAnAgenda his part]] to help the heroes gather all the {{Plot Coupon}}s.]]
* Subverted in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' when [[spoiler:Sephiroth kills Aeris from a sneak-attack, with no warning.]]
* Played with in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2''. In the opening cinematic, the Normandy SR-1 detects the Collector ship, but does so too late. Played straight again with attempts to destroy Shepard's body to prevent the Lazarus project and again when [[spoiler:the Reaper IFF beams the SR-2's position, leading to another Collector surprise attack]]. Played straight in the Arrival DLC - [[spoiler:indoctrinated humans subdue Shepard, then keep them alive (but sedated) until the Reapers arrive. Shepard's cyborg body adjusts before the Reapers get there, allowing them to delay the arrival until the third game.]]
* The second version has appeared in relation--oddly enough--to the Spy from ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2''. In particular, the Sniper in "Meet the Spy" hears him approaching and moves to retaliate (not that it stops him from being bested and stabbed in the back anyway). Additionally, the decloaking sound was recently made much louder, which means that particularly aware foes can hear him before he strikes and fight back.
* {{Mooks}} in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' will actually say "Behind you, you idiot!" as they are about to attack. Admittedly [[BilingualBonus they say it in Spanish]], but still.
* Averted in ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'': Mephiles's original plan was to trick Silver into killing Sonic. When that didn't work Mephiles simply teleported behind him and [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice stabbed him through the chest with a giant energy lance]].
* For the most part, the ''VideoGame/MegamanBattleNetwork'' series follows this trope until it is subverted in the fifth and sixth games when some of the enemies finally get smarter and begin targeting Lan and Megaman (mostly Megaman) when their guard is down.
* The Sleep spell in ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII'' puts an enemy to sleep, but attacking it will wake it up. Its main use is to interrupt channeling spells or remove a powerful unit from action for a while.
* In ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedRevelations'', enemies finally appear who use the same tactics as Ezio, with one exception. When they appear out of nowhere, they yell something like, "Die, Assassin!" before stabbing him. This, naturally, gives the player a chance to dodge the sneak attack. That, and the ScareChord just before they strike. It's possibly justified by Ezio's supernaturally heightened senses.

* Typically played straight in ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes'' (and all of Travis's other games), but in the first game, one of Travis's enemies has the idea to attack him as he's taking a toilet break. Travis has no real defense to this, and it requires [[spoiler:Henry to come by and rescue him.]]

* ''VideoGame/Borderlands3'': Tyreen gains [[VillainTeleportation teleportation powers]] early in the game. While she does constantly use them to throw {{Mooks}} at you, she only ever seems to do it a dozen or so at a time, rather than teleporting her entire army (said to number in the billions) and overwhelming the heroes. At one point she also uses her power to abduct Tannis -No explanation is given as to why she couldn't pick the heroes off one a time this way, or how they could possibly defend against it if she did.
* Played with in ''VideoGame/Diablo3'', when the demon lord Azmodan attempts a sneak attack on a keep by ordering his forces to burrow into its foundations and attack it from below... then sends the keep's defenders a [[IShallTauntYou telepathic message gloating about his impending victory]], giving them chance to rally and prepare for the attack just before it hits.
* An Enforced Trope in ''VideoGame/{{Civilization}} VI'' when Canada is involved -- surprise wars (wars which are declared without a preceding denouncement to represent a worsening of diplomatic relations) cannot be declared on Canada for any reason, and vice versa.
* Averted in ''VideoGame/AtDeadOfNight'' - Jimmy ''prefers'' to get the jump on you, hiding around corners and behind walls. There's a recurring mechanic where you can hide from him in a wardrobe; he'll search the room, and then leave. [[spoiler:If you didn't hear the door closing, he's ''faked'' his leaving and is actually in the bathroom, waiting to spring out and nail you if you leave the wardrobe.]]

* ''Webcomic/{{Drowtales}}'': Syphille falls hard into this trope when she attempts to attack [[spoiler:Quain'tana]], and it [[spoiler:gets her killed]]. It's averted elsewhere in the setting with the [[{{Ninja}} Fallen Legion]], who excel at sneaky combat, and [[BastardBastard Kalki]], who twice now has used this type of attack to kill someone.

* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': Nale averts it a few times, stabbing Elan from behind in their first encounter and killing the chief of police without [[CallingYourAttacks calling his sneak attack]] in Cliffport. He sarcastically and smugly apologizes for the breach of protocol afterwards.
* Averted to no end in ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}''. [[spoiler: Bec Noir has implemented his teleportation powers for the purpose of killing characters more than once.]]

Compare WhyDontYouJustShootHim and FinalBossPreview. Contrast the CombatPragmatist, who'd strike InTheBack gleefully.

* Averted, at least for the most part, in ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure''. If the bad guys' goal is to kill the heroes, rarely do they actually make their presence known before they start attacking. If they can off their targets without a fight, they ''will'' take that option. The heroes have to stay on high alert at all times, as they could be attacked at any time and in ways they can barely even imagine. For instance, Part 5 has someone who can emit an odorless poison gas that induces RapidAging. Knowing the heroes are on a train but unsure of where, he boards the train and quietly emits the gas over the entire train, knowing the gas will fill every gap and reach them no matter where they are.

* ''Anime/CodeGeass''

* Averted at the beginning of the "Magical World" arc in ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'': Negi and his group arrive at a Gateport coincidentally at exactly the same time Fate Averruncus and his group do. Fate is initially willing to let Negi leave without noticing him, but when Negi begins to detect his presence, he [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice impales Negi out of nowhere with a giant stone spear]]. Only by the timely actions of the other heroes does Negi barely escape death.

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}} 2'' is a subversion in that you can involve yourself in the affairs of the bad guys in quite a few ways before the final confrontation, including prank calling them, giving them a chance to build some kind of profile about you. The only person who is assured to care about you in the end is the last boss.

* Franchise/FireEmblem:

* Played with in ''Videogame/Diablo3'', when the demon lord Azmodan attempts a sneak attack on a keep by ordering his forces to burrow into its foundations and attack it from below... then sends the keep's defenders a [[IShallTauntYou telepathic message gloating about his impending victory]], giving them chance to rally and prepare for the attack just before it hits.

* Averted to no end in ''{{Webcomic/Homestuck}}''. [[spoiler: Bec Noir has implemented his teleportation powers for the purpose of killing characters more than once.]]

* Averted in ''VideoGame/VampireTheMasqueradeBloodlines'', where, after you destroyed one of their hideout, [[ReligionOfEvil the Sabbat]] strikes back at you by merely ambushing you as you arrive Downtown and knock you out from behind with a baseball bat. While they do not immediately kill you while you're unconcious (because they intend to torture you first), they do prove smart enough to incapacitate you, and you are only saved by a BigDamnHero from Niles.

** [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTellius Path of Radiance]]''. At one point, [[BigBad King Ashnard]] and the BlackKnight are conspiring to kidnap the heron princess Leanne. Ashnard asks why the Black Knight doesn't just use his [[VillainTeleportation Warp Powder]] to teleport in and grab her. The Knight explains that using the powder drains his strength, so he can't use it in situations that would leave him vulnerable (presumably this also prevents him from using it to launch a sneak attack on the heroes' camp in the middle of the night). But played straight in ''Radiant Dawn'', when the Begnion Senate creates a Rewarp Staff that does the same thing with no drawbacks. They don't seem to realize the advantage this gives them and the most they use it for is to drop by Daein Castle for some EvilGloating.

''Killing the hero when he's asleep is dishonorable'' -- A villain would never have the common sense to simply sneak (or teleport) up to the hero while he's asleep. Common sense would tell you that a villain could easily win by waiting until the hero is asleep and then killing him.

Compare WhyDontYaJustShootHim and FinalBossPreview. Contrast CombatPragmatist, who'd strike InTheBack gleefully.

* The 1999 ''VideoGame/AlienVsPredator'' makes the AI-controlled Aliens much noisier than usual, constantly shrieking and hissing as they close in on you. Given [[LightningBruiser how fast they move and how highly damaging their attacks are]], them audibly warning you of their presence was about the only way the [[NintendoHard Marine's campaign]] could've been playable at all.

* In ''Series/{{Charmed}}'', demons have the ability to teleport in and try to kill the Charmed Ones, seemingly at will. While they do take advantage of this, they always do it when they're awake, usually in the same room, and not occupied with anything else. The idea of doing it while they're asleep doesn't seem to occur.

* Played with in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick''.
** ThePaladin Miko appears to put HonorBeforeReason when she finds a gang of sleeping ogres, insisting on waking them, gathering them together, and challenging them to honorable combat. Then, [[spoiler:once they're all in one spot, she has the team wizard fireball the lot of them and dives out of the blast area in the nick of time]].
** Nale averts it a few times, stabbing Elan from behind in their first encounter and killing the chief of police without calling his sneak attack in Cliffport. He sarcastically and smugly apologizes for the breach of protocol afterwards.

** Rogues yell out "Sneak Attack!" whenever they perform a sneak attack. The Thieves Guild berates their fighter for yelling out "Power Attack!" when he uses that feat.

Related to MookChivalry, except it applies to all villains. The villains will never go for a sneak attack that is really any good. Some things include:

Compare WhyDontYaJustShootHim and FinalBossPreview, contrast CombatPragmatist, who'd strike InTheBack gleefully.

* Happens twice in ''Anime/CodeGeass'': both when [[PsychoLesbian Nina]] tries (repeatedly) to kill Zero (yelling [[spoiler: "''Euphemia's revenge!!''"]] incessantly), and when some Britannian soldier tries to assassinate [[KnightInShiningArmour Suzaku]], the latter of which would have worked if it weren't for Suzaku's [[spoiler:"Live on!"]]
** Also, Suzaku's attempt to kill [[spoiler:Charles]], which involves charging in like an idiot and making a long speech about crimes and despair and whatnot. There's some sadly unexplored hilarity in the fact that [[spoiler:Charles was ''invulnerable'' by that point]].

* In ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' and other related works, this is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] when it comes to the Assassin class of Servants. Being in an RPGMechanicsVerse, Assassins have a trait known as Presence Concealment, which allows their mana signature to become undetectable even to other Servants, allowing them to sneak around and scout in enemy territory. However, the efficiency of Presence Concealment almost always plummets whenever the Assassin prepares to go for a sneak attack, allowing the target to deflect or avoid the attack quickly enough. It isn't much of a problem against normal humans, given how Servants have SuperSpeed and can kill them the moment they register that they're being attacked, but this also makes performing sneak attacks against other Servants practically worthless. And since the Masters of the Grail War often like to keep their Servants by their side as an invisible GuardianEntity, it's not easy at all for an Assassin to get the drop on other Masters.

* Actions such as stealing Yugi's puzzle while he's asleep are regularly suggested by the OnlySaneMan on the Evil Council on ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries''. And then shot down by Marik who can't abide by any plan that doesn't involve playing a children's card game first.

* In ''Film/TheCabinetOfDrCaligari'', violating this trope is Cesare's job. And if you think it's unfair that he kills you in your sleep, don't worry: he kills you in ''his'' sleep, too.

* Averted in ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', when Sauron does send his Ring Wraiths to attack the heroes while they sleep in the town of Bree. For most of the rest of the story, our heroes are either traveling under Sauron's radar, shacking up in well-fortified areas he can't sneak into, or pulling off elaborate distractions to keep him from zeroing in on where the ring is so he can't try this again.

* Encouraged as protocol for the [[GameMaster Keeper]] in the TabletopGame/CallOfCthulhu core rulebook. As the [[PlayerCharacter Investigators]] tend to be mere PunyEarthlings, devouring them in their sleep or when they otherwise can't fight back tends to be boring and anticlimactic. Individual pre-written adventure modules may play this straight or avert it, however.

* This is a good idea in tabletop {{RPG}}s in general, since few players like to hear "oops, looks like you weren't paranoid enough and now your character is dead". Can, however, come back to bite the GameMaster if the players ever get it into their heads that the same underhanded tactics this trope bars {{NPC}}s from employing should of course be a-ok for ''[[MoralMyopia their]]'' characters...

* In ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedRevelations'', enemies finally appear who use the same tactics as Ezio, with one exception. When they appear out of nowhere, they yell something like, "Die, Assassin!" before stabbing him. This, naturally, gives the player a chance to dodge the sneak attack. That, and the ScareChord just before they strike. Possibly justified by Ezio's supernaturally heightened senses.

* ''Webcomic/{{Drowtales}}'': Syphille falls hard into this trope when she attempts to attack [[spoiler:Quain'tana]], to the point where she could be the page the picture, and it [[spoiler:gets her killed]]. Averted elsewhere in the setting with the [[{{Ninja}} Fallen Legion]], who excel at this type of combat, and [[BastardBastard Kalki]], who twice now has used this type of attack to kill someone.

* Played with in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick''. Rogues yell out "Sneak Attack!" whenever they perform a sneak attack. The Thieves Guild berates their fighter for yelling out "Power Attack!" when he uses that feat.

* The 1999 ''VideoGame/AlienVersusPredator'' makes the Aliens much noisier than usual, constantly shrieking and hissing as they close in on you. Given [[LightningBruiser how fast they move and how highly damaging their attacks are]], them warning you of their presence was about the only way the [[NintendoHard Marine's campaign]] could've been playable at all.

* In the Tribunal expansion pack to ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind'' your character will be targeted by a [[PsychoForHire secret group of assassins]] who only attack you once you've bedded down for the night. Fortunately, they have the courtesy to yell at you and wake you up before they attack.
** You get some sweet armor from the deal, too. (which unfortunately borders on being a {{Game Breaker}} being some of the best light armor in the game)
** Considering these assassins are supposed to be among the best (and most amoral) killers in the region, their making a noise when attempting to kill you - ''every single time'' - seems quite odd.
** It's also odd in another way because the way the game is coded, assassins might start attacking you at low levels for no real reasons. Fortunately there are mods to tie this to after certain flags in the plot/quests events have been met (essentially making it so the player won't encounter assassins until they have done something to attract their leader's attention). Another mod will make them quieter (but still wake the player up to fight them).
** Morrowind (and other Elder Scrolls) also has a variety of wildlife that you might hear before they are spotted. Cliff Racers are particularly noisy when they're in the area even if they haven't yet spotted and attacked the player.

* {{Franchise/FireEmblem}}: