History Main / UpgradeVsPrototypeFight

* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam0083StardustMemory'', with the GP-02A "Physalis" Gundam versus the GP-01 "Zephyranthes" Gundam. The former is a new prototype version Gundam designed to deploy a nuclear warhead at close range, the later is a simple refinement of earlier Gundam designs. The Physalis is [[GrandTheftPrototype stolen in the first episode]], and the Zephyranthes is deployed as part of the hunt to reclaim it.

* One of the final battle of ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikers'' had [[TheLancer Fate]] facing against the [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Numbers]] {{Cyborg}}s [[TheDragon Tre]] and [[BattleBoomerang Sette]]. Fate was [[SuperPrototype the first successful]] [[spoiler:[[SuperSoldier Artificial Mage]]]], while the Numbers {{Cyborg}}s are enhanced versions of that, with Tre in particular being the most powerful of the cyborgs in combat.

* One of the final battle of ''Anime/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaStrikerS'' had [[TheLancer Fate]] facing against the [[QuirkyMinibossSquad Numbers]] {{Cyborg}}s [[TheDragon Tre]] and [[BattleBoomerang Sette]]. Fate was [[SuperPrototype the first successful]] [[spoiler:[[SuperSoldier Artificial Mage]]]], while the Numbers {{Cyborg}}s are enhanced versions of that, with Tre in particular being the most powerful of the cyborgs in combat.

* ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay'' is a classic example. With the good guys, you have the T-800: powerful, sturdy, and good with weapons. But for the bad guys there is the T-1000: just as strong, just as smart, and able to morph its body into almost anything. The two face each other directly at the end of the film, and only barely does the T-800 win.
** Later good T-800s similarly have had to face off against the T-1000000 (in ''T2-3D: Battle Across Time'') and the T-X (in ''Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines''). The former is a gigantic spider-bot made of liquid metal and the latter is a much more powerful, tough and better equipped (and fully armed) endoskeleton with a liquid metal cover for better infiltration.

* ''{{Franchise/Terminator}} 2: Judgment Day'' is a classic example. With the good guys, you have the T-800: powerful, sturdy, and good with weapons. But for the bad guys there is the T-1000: just as strong, just as smart, and able to morph its body into almost anything. The two face each other directly at the end of the film, and only barely does the T-800 win.

* ''Franchise/{{Robocop}} 2''. The OCP corporation decides to replace Robocop with Robocop 2, another robot with a human brain controlling it. At the climax of the movie, Robocop battles Robocop 2 to the death.

!!Examples

* On ''Knight Rider'', KITT (upgrade) vs. KARR (prototype).

[[AC:Webcomics]]
* The fight between Klik and Evil Klik in ''Webcomic/GoblinsLifeThroughTheirEyes'' is this trope to a t; with an older model facing off against a stronger, more violent, evil model. [[spoiler: The underdog doesn't win in this one, though.]]

* In ''[[Anime/GetterRobo Shin Getter Robo vs. Neo Getter Robo]], Shou and Gai end up piloting Neo Getter Robo against an army of Getter Prototypes piloted by members of the Dinosaur Empire. It's a massive curbstomp battle until Gou is able to reawaken Shin Getter Robo and has it absorb the prototypes' Getter Energy.

* There's a form of this with Film/TheIncredibleHulk versus the Abomination. The former is the meek scientist Bruce Banner with an inferior version of the Captain America formula. The latter is the veteran Marine Emile Blonsky with a more advanced version of the formula ''and'' the Hulk's blood. Consequently the Abomination is larger and stronger.

* The fight between Klik and Evil Klik in ''Webcomic/GoblinsLifeThroughTheirEyes'' is this trope to a t; with an older model facing off against a stronger, more violent, evil model. [[spoiler: The underdog doesn't win in this one, though.]]

* ''{{Bioshock2}}'': Whenever the player characters [[SuperPrototype Subject Delta or Subject Sigma]] battle with production model Big Daddies.

* ''{{Bioshock2}}'': Whenever the player character [[SuperPrototype Subject Delta]] battles with production model Big Daddies.

* ''Manga/FairyTail'': Despite Natsu and Gajeel being first generation dragon slayers, they show themselves capable of curb-stomping third generation ones (dragon slayers who are not only taught by dragons, but have lacrima implanted in them).

** ''Film/IronMan2'': Rhodey puts on the Mark II and faces off against Tony in his Mark III, but doesn't do too well initially because it's his first time using it and Tony's more experienced. However, he improves and they end up battling each other into a stalemate.

* In the ''ComicBook/IronMan'' comics, Tony Stark has had to face off occasionally against advanced versions of his armor using older models. Some examples include when he battled [[AIIsACrapshoot his own armor]] gone {{Yandere}} in the ''Sentient Armor'' arc, and later facing off against NormanOsborn, who was using his DarkAvengers "Iron Patriot" suit, with a suit (literally) [[MemeticMutation made in a cave, with a box of scraps]].