History Main / StepIntoTheBlindingFight

* Dr. Mid-Nite of the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica and Dr. Midnight of ComicBook/InfinityInc both used blackout bombs to get a drop on their foes.

* ''ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica'': The blind hero Dr. Mid-Nite used blackout bombs to get a drop on his foes.

* An episode of ''Series/{{Batman}}'' involves an alchemist named Dr. Cassandra, who has invented invisibility pills. She gets all the major villains from the show together, then gives each of them a pill. This leads to a hilarious fight scene with Batman, Robin and Batgirl getting beat up by invisible foes. They manage to regroup and turn the fight around after Batman shoots out the lights with his Bat-laser.

* In ''StarWarsBattlefrontII2017'', Lando has a smoke grenade that blinds everyone in his vicinity, but the player can see enemies by turning on Lando's thermal goggles, which spotlight enemy heat signatures in the smoke.

TheHero cannot see due to the villain's use of magic or technology to shut off, put out, or destroy light sources, thus pitching an area in darkness. Sometimes a character literally [[CastingAShadow summons darkness]] [[WeatherManipulation or a mist or fog]] with magic or superpowers in order to invoke this. For the most disturbing applications, the hero's eyes are damaged, or worst yet: [[EyeScream removed.]] In any case, this trope is when one character cannot view another character as they fight. From one direction a punch flies and hits their left cheek. From another direction a kick slams into their right knee. Uppercut to the chin; knee to the gut; roundhouse kick to the back. The hero gets his ass kicked.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' naturally has both invisibility and darkness spells and creatures that can create either effect as a natural ability; dark elf warriors in particular are somewhat infamous for just dropping darkness on both themselves and their enemies in battle, knowing ''they'' have trained for that situation and their foes (especially surface dwellers) probably have not. In some older editions common first-level ''light'' spells could also be cast directly at a target's eyes to blind them, though this use was eventually phased out.

* In ''Manga/DragonballZ'', Babidi teleports everybody to the Planet of Darkness. Being a native of this planet, Yakkon can see in the dark. To Babidi and Yakkon's surprise, Goku still easily beats him up, as trained warriors can sense their opponents, and Goku can [[TheNoseKnows smell Yakkon as well]].

* In the climax of ''Theatre/WaitUntilDark'' a blind woman battles against a killer in her apartment; she destroys all the lamps so he is disoriented but she can react just fine.

[[folder: Anime/Manga ]]

* In ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' there's a fight scene in the dark that renders some of the heroes unable to fight very well. Gluttony solves the problem by using his sense of smell; Ling and [[spoiler: Lan Fan]] use the ability to sense homunculi that alkahestry provides.

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* ''ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}'' invokes this trope despite being [[HandicappedBadass blind]] himself. His [[SuperSenses superb hearing and "radar" senses]] allows him to "see" in the dark much to the disadvantage of the criminals who can actually see. While they're paranoid and distracted he's calm and controlled and kicks their asses.

* In ''Comicbook/{{Legion Of Super-Heroes}}'', Shadow Lass can manipulate darkness and see in the dark, and so often blinds enemies with darkness. Night Girl can also see in the dark, and carries smoke bombs and devices that can shut off lights both to blind enemies and allow her to use her SuperStrength that only works in the dark.

[[folder: Film ]]

* There's a scene in ''Film/TheChroniclesOfRiddick'' where Riddick is accosted by two soldiers, and responds by extinguishing the two candles in the room, plunging it into darkness. Riddick has the ability to see in the dark thanks to his 'eye-shine'. The soldiers don't, and get completely owned in the fight that follows.

* In one of the ''StarWars'' movies, Jedis train The Younglings to fight blind/using only the Force by using the special darkness helmets.
** Obi-Wan Kenobi had Luke do the same by having him wear a helmet with the blast shield down in ''A New Hope''.

[[folder: Literature ]]

[[folder: Live Action Television ]]

* Justified by the weeping angels in ''Series/DoctorWho''; they become 'quantum-locked' and completely incapable of moving when being observed by other living things, so they've developed abilities that let them drain power from light sources when in statue-form, making it easier to approach their prey.
* The ''Series/{{Highlander}}'' episode, "The Darkness", involved a Hunter who would lure Immortals to a room in his house with no light. He wore night-vision goggles, so he could see but the Immortal couldn't. When he tries this on Duncan, Duncan manages to light a match, blinding the man and allowing Duncan to see and kill him.
* An episode of ''Series/{{Batman}}'' involved an alchemist named Dr. Cassandra, who had invented invisibility pills. She got all the major villains from the show together, then gave each of them a pill. This led to a hilarious fight scene with Batman, Robin and Batgirl getting beat up by invisible foes. They manage to regroup and turn the fight around after Batman shot out the lights with his Bat-laser.
* The titular detective In an episode of ''Series/{{Monk}}'' fought a killer who struck during power outages with a pair of night-vision goggles. When the police came in and turned on the lights, he demanded the turn the lights back out because he was winning.
* In The ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode [[LowerDeckEpisode Lower Decks]], Worf offers Ensign Sito the opportunity to advance to a higher level in his martial arts class by completing a blindfolded combat challenge. [[DeconstructedTrope Worf proceeds to knock her on her butt in a series of unbroken victories.]] She calls him out on the unfairness of the challenge, and [[SecretTest is commended for passing it.]]
-->'''Worf''': But perhaps next time you are judged unfairly, it will not take so many bruises for you to protest.

[[folder: Tabletop Games ]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* Rumia the youkai of darkness in ''{{VideoGame/Touhou}}'' can create spheres of darkness around herself so as to blind enemies. Too bad ''she'' can't see in the dark either...

[[folder: Webcomic ]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

[[AC:{{Anime}}/{{Manga}}]]
* ''Manga/OnePiece'': [[InvisibleJerkass Absalom]] uses this against Sanji while the latter tries to protect an unconscious Nami.
* In ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', one forbidden ninjutsu that the Second Hokage uses on the Third causes darkness that blinds the target.

[[AC: ComicBooks]]

[[AC:{{Film}}]]

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]

[[AC:LiveActionTelevision]]

[[AC:TabletopGames]]

[[AC:VideoGames]]

[[AC:{{Webcomic}}]]

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]

* [[EstablishingCharacterMoment In her debut episode]], [[LittleMissBadass Toph]] from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' fought against seven powerful Earthbenders all on her own. She took out several of them by conjuring up a huge cloud of dirt. Because of her DisabilitySuperpower that allows her to see by sensing vibrations in the ground, she could "see" them, but ''they'' couldn't see ''her''.

* In The ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode [[LowerDeckEpisode Lower Decks]], Worf offers Ensign Sito the opportunity to advance to a higher level in his martial arts class by completing a blindfolded combat challenge. [[DeconstructedTrope Worf proceeds to knock her on her butt in a series of unbroken victories.]] She calls him out on the unfairness of the challenge, and [[SecretTest commended for passing.]]

* In The ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode [[LowerDecksEpisode Lower Decks]], Worf offers Ensign Sito the opportunity to advance to a higher level in his martial arts class by completing a blindfolded combat challenge. [[DeconstructedTrope Worf proceeds to knock her on her butt in a series of unbroken victories.]] She calls him out on the unfairness of the challenge, and [[SecretTest commended for passing.]]

TheHero cannot see due to the villain's use of magic or technology to shut off, put out, or destroy light sources, thus pitching an area in darkness. Sometimes a character literally [[CastingAShadow summons darkness]] [[WeatherManipulation or a mist or fog]] with magic or superpowers in order to invoke this. For the most disturbing applications, the hero's eyes are damaged, or worst yet: [[EyeScream removed.]] In any case, this trope is when one character cannot view another character as they fight. From one direction a punch flies and hits their left cheek. From another direction a kick slams into their rightknee. Uppercut to the chin; knee to the gut; roundhouse kick to the back. The hero gets his ass kicked.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' naturally has both invisibility and darkness spells and creatures that can create either effect as a natural ability; dark elf warriors in particular are somewhat infamous for just dropping darkness on both themselves and their enemies in battle, knowing ''they'' have trained for that situation and their foes (especially surface dwellers) probably have not. In some older editions, common first-level ''light'' spells could also be cast directly at a target's eyes to blind them, though this use was eventually phased out.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' naturally has both invisibility and darkness spells and creatures that can create either effect as a natural ability; dark elf warriors in particular are somewhat infamous for just dropping darkness on both themselves and their enemies in battle, knowing ''they'' have trained for that situation and their foes (especially surface dwellers) probably have not. In some older editions, ''light'' spells could also be cast directly at a target's eyes to blind them, though this use was eventually phased out.

* Dr. Mid-Nite of the JusticeSocietyOfAmerica and Dr. Midnight of ComicBook/InfinityInc both used blackout bombs to get a drop on their foes.

* In the climax of ''Film/WaitUntilDark'' a blind woman battles against a killer in her apartment; she destroys all the lamps so he is disoriented but she can react just fine.

* In the climax of ''WaitUntilDark'' a blind woman battles against a killer in her apartment; she destroys all the lamps so he is disoriented but she can react just fine.
* ''TheSilenceOfTheLambs'': Jamie Gumb turns off the lights and stalks Agent Starling while wearing night-vision goggles.