History Main / RedemptionDemotion

** In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories'' and ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', Riku loses most of the independence and ambition that he had when he was on the Dark Side, and leaves all the hero work to Sora (though he does regain his cool at the very end of ''Kingdom Hearts II'', but still...) He also loses the ability to open Corridors of Darkness when he regains his normal form (after being stuck in the shape of Ansem, Seeker of Darkness), but does retain a number of his darkness powers.
** The same can be said about Roxas, as when he is fought as an enemy in the NoExportForYou version, he's far more powerful than when you played as him.
** [[spoiler:Terra and later Lingering Sentiment]] in ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep Birth By Sleep]]'' are missing most of the attacks that [[spoiler:Lingering Sentiment]] would fight Sora with 12 years later in ''Kingdom Hearts II''. (This goes both ways though as [[spoiler:Terra has some nifty darkness based powers LS doesn't have in ''Kingdom Hearts II'']].) The only move you do get to use is the Keyblade cannon which is admittedly their coolest move. Oddly [[spoiler:Terra can still transform his Keyblade into a vehicle mode to travel words but can't use it in battle, however Aqua and Ventus can use their Keyblade transports in battle making it an odd omission]]. Furthermore, when he fights Terranort in ''III'', the latter managed to not only overwhelm him but even destroy the armor, a far cry from 12 years ago when ''he'' is the one who emerged victorious.
** Aqua in ''III'', while possessed, nearly kills Riku and gives a boss fight to Sora. When she gets un-possessed, her biggest showing afterward is getting taken down by Vanitas in a rather anticlimactic manner.

** In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories'' and ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', Riku loses most of the independence and ambition that he had when he was on the Dark Side, and leaves all the hero work to Sora (though he does regain his cool at the very end of ''Kingdom Hearts II'', but still...)

* ''[[Series/TheFlash2014 The Flash]]'': Briefly played straight with Caitlin Snow/Killer Frost, but subsequently averted. At first, after pulling a HeelFaceTurn and rejoining Team Flash, Caitlin is weary of her SuperpoweredEvilSide and does her best to keep it tightly in check, acting as only the TeamNormal [[TheMedic medic]] of the team. She later embraces Frost when, through CharacterDevelopment and ThePowerOfFriendship with the rest of the team, she turns into more of a heroic SuperpoweredAlterEgo. As Frost grows as her own person separate from Caitlin's consciousness, the two start communicating and working together, with Caitlin lending control of the body for Frost to go do heroics, until she becomes a LiteralSplitPersonality. In this capacity, she's every bit as effective and as big an asset to Team Flash as she was to Savitar during her heel days.

* ''TabletopGame/Pathfinder'' allows tieflings (demonspawn) to practically be the demons they descended from (for example, Rakshasa-spawn will resemble Rakshasa and have their Detect Thoughts ability), just balanced for playability and levels.

** Onix in ''VideoGame/PokemonRedAndBlue'''s sole purpose was to be a difficult boss for people who picked Charmander or were playing ''[[UpdatedRerelease Yellow]]'', to the point that it was the exact reason Charmander was able to learn Metal Claw in the [[VideoGameRemake remakes]]. By the time the player is able to catch their own, they soon discover that its abysmal Attack stat, [[StoneWall massive Defense]] with [[OneHitPointWonder no HP to back it up]], and mediocre Speed makes it effectively useless. It isn't until it received an evolution in ''VideoGame/PokemonGoldAndSilver'' (and a [[SuperMode Mega Evolution]] in ''VideoGame/PokemonOmegaRubyAndAlphaSapphire'') that it became worthwhile.

* ''VideoGame/LunarEternalBlue'' has this with Leo... but averts it in that Leo appears to be LevelGrinding at the same rate as the protagonist, and when they duel one on one, Leo only has about 288 HP... around the same as he did when they teamed up. But the UsefulNotes/PlayStation version undoes this by giving Leo about 750 HP for the duel.

** Zero from the ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' games is at his most powerful when he's fighting against the player: he even has access to moves that the playable Zero is never able to use. In ''X2'', [[spoiler:he was rebuilt with the ability to charge his saber and both busters]]. He remains this powerful throughout ''X3'', and [[spoiler:"loses" power in X4 in exchange for not, y'know, needing to charge his guns up every time he wants to fire]]. In ''X5'', [[spoiler:Zero is empowered by the Maverick Virus, as he is the original carrier of the virus and designed to be at his most powerful under its influence]]. The player finally gets to use Zero's boss moves after defeating OptionalBoss [[VideoGame/MegaManZero Omega]] (oh, [[BraggingRightsReward and clearing the game]]) in ''VideoGame/MegaManZX''.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{BattleTech}}'', Ciro Ramirez is a passionate, competent, but also arrogant and inexperienced Mech Jockey serving under Adam Steiner in the 1st Somerset Strikers. He experienced a reversed form of the trope after his FaceHeelTurn, {{justified|Trope}} in that the Clans have better technology, more experience, and presumably gave him the [[TrainingFromHell sort of training]] that the Clans are known for. [[note]] It is worth mentioning that for the Clans, {{Face Heel Turn}}s and {{Heel Face Turn}}s are perfectly acceptable under the right circumstances. Basically, you have to be captured after [[WorthyAdversary fighting honorably]]; in Ciro's case, he was defeated because he made a LastStand against a [[CurbStompBattle superior force]] of Clan Mechs to [[YouShallNotPass allow the rest of his squad and a group of civilians to escape]].[[/note]]

** All characters that join your party in ''VideoGame/BaldursGateIII'' are automatically replaced by a playable version when they do which is distinct from the {{NPC}} entity they were a moment before. The playable versions always start at level 1 and have stats automatically assigned that follow the "recommended" stats for their class, no matter how much it clashes with their NPC-variant stats. This is especially noticeable with Halsin and the Stone Lord, who go from having stats that represent [[TheBigGuy their physical size]] to [[GameplayAndStorySegregation ones that definitively do not]].

* Aki of ''Anime/YuGiOh5Ds'' suffers from this. When she first appears, she tended to utilize intelligent and tactical moves that allowed her to dominate most of her fights, took blows without flinching or breaking stride, and had enough psychic power to destroy city blocks. Even against [[InvincibleHero Yusei]], she manages to keep her matches almost frighteningly close. Then she gained control of her powers and turned good. Upon this, she spent most of her Duels struggling against opponents she would have decimated, screamed whenever she got hit or lost, and seemed all too content to sit on the sidelines. She also largely dropped the Token combos, Field Spell use, and Burn tactics that had once defined her strategy, in favor of simply [[WhenAllYouHaveIsAHammer using Black Rose Dragon as a beatstick.]] This [[DesignatedVictim wasn't helped]] by the decision to [[BroughtDownToNormal remove her powers outright]], nor by the general switch to a Dueling format which she (almost inexplicably) had no experience in.

# It lets you add more [[GrayingMorality shades of morality]] to the story while introducing a [[DarkerAndEdgier "darker, edgier"]] [[AntiHero hero]].

-->-- '''Black [=Gryph0n=]''', ''WebVideo/BroniesReact: [[https://youtu.be/xZ8KQEXC46I?t=2437 Season 6 Premiere]]''

** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'', Edea the Evil Uber-Hot Gothy Witch Queen is the BigBad of the first act -- and turns into a rather weak playable character thereafter (additionally no longer ruling the world). The reason she becomes good in the first place is that she loses all her sorceress powers which made her powerful (and brainwashed) to Rinoa, thus making her a normal human being. When Squall tries to physically stop the brainwashed Rinoa from leaving the lunar base, he gets launched into the nearest wall. However, when you get Rinoa back, she isn't one bit more powerful than before (except for having a new LimitBreak).

* The [=USAgent=] first showed up in ''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'' and while he was not a full fledged BigBad, he was still an AntiHero with shades of SociopathicHero due to mental tampering. In this state, he was a stronger and more aggressive version of Captain America who had a great deal of trouble bringing him down. Once [=USAgent=] calmed down a little, joined Comicbook/TheAvengers, and became more of a standard hero, he was quickly turned into [[BadassDecay Captain America-lite]]. In one issue, Captain America was implied to be stronger despite [=USAgent=] having SuperStrength as opposed to Cap who is "simply" peak human.
* ''ComicBook/JusticeLeague'' villain Starro joined the Team Mystery spinoff of the League; as Starro is a GalacticConqueror most of the time, this has obvious problems. Therefore, in ''ComicBook/DarkNightsMetal'', which takes place right beforehand, he was shown to have been nearly-killed and currently regenerating, making him considerably smaller and weaker than [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever his usual proportions]], and being a lot younger, he's a fair bit less mature personality-wise. He did develop the ability to use PsychicPowers without sticking [[FaceHugger Starrophytes]] on people first, but it doesn't seem to be as strong as a connection, as the ComicBook/MartianManhunter can block it to some degree. On the plus side, [[SuddenlySpeaking he can speak telepathically now]].
* Namor the ComicBook/SubMariner was technically an AntiHero at first but once he was brought into UsefulNotes/{{the Silver Age|OfComicBooks}}, he was a villain for a few years. As a villain, he could single-handedly defeat the ComicBook/FantasticFour and was dangerous enough that ComicBook/TheAvengers would go out on patrols looking for him. As a hero, he often ends up in [[TheWorfEffect Worf Effect]] situations and is usually [[BadassDecay not as powerful]].

* In the original ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'' series, Alex was TheChessmaster, brilliantly playing his friends against their own parents as part of a plot to make him and his family rich and powerful. In ''ComicBook/PowerManAndIronFist'', he managed to play two gangs against each other. In ''ComicBook/RunawaysRainbowRowell'', he cons his way back onto the team... and mostly ends up babysitting Molly or attempting poorly-planned betrayals. Possibly justified in that most of Alex's talents require that he be in a position of leadership, whereas none of the other Runaways are willing to listen to him anymore.
* In ''ComicBook/MightyAvengers'' this happened to [[Characters/MarvelComicsOlympians Ares]]. As a villain, he'd been a major threat who'd killed more people than nearly the entire rest of the Avengers' foes combined. As an Avenger, despite being described as "like [[Characters/TheMightyThorThorOdinson Thor]] and Characters/{{Wolverine|JamesLoganHowlett}} combined," he never accomplished anything except to get [[TheWorfEffect embarrassingly beaten up]] by whatever the latest foe they were facing was, and he was ultimately KilledOffForReal as a means of showing that Characters/TheSentry had finally snapped and gone into full villain mode.

* Polnareff, in ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders'', demonstrates a number of powers in his brief run as a villain that rarely (if ever) show up again once he's become a good guy, including a ShedArmorGainSpeed ability, [[AbsurdlySharpBlade cutting through nonsolid objects,]] and moving fast enough to create [[SpeedEchoes indistinguishable afterimages]]. Kakyoin undergoes basically the same thing, never really getting to use Hierophant Green's puppeteering or painting abilities in favor of shooting around emeralds or being a RubberMan.
** Speedwagon in ''Manga/PhantomBlood'' is the CantCatchUp variant; he was a match for Jonathan and a clearly skilled fighter when he and Jonathan were both at BadassNormal level, but after Jonathan [[EmpoweredBadassNormal learns Hamon]] and Speedwagon doesn't, he spends the rest of the series as a CombatCommentator who can occasionally get in a hit on {{Mooks}}. Zigzagged, though, in that he turns out to be [[BigGood much more]] [[Fiction500 useful and competent]] [[HypercompetentSidekick as a supporter]] than as a thug.

* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'': Downplayed in that it was never a "villain", but Iris' Dragonite definitely qualifies; when Iris first caught it, its relationship with her was quite antagonistic and refused to follow her orders in battle. Despite this, it managed to score many victories, including Pokemon with type advantage such as Mamoswine or Beartic. However, the moment Iris was able to make Dragonite obey her, it would never win a single battle for the rest of the series.

[[folder:ComicBooks]]

* ''VideoGame/AceCombat Zero'', where [[spoiler:Solo Wing Pixy's]] ADFX-02 Morgan has all three special weapons equipped without needing to RTB to change, albeit in phases, and has a far more potent ECM system than Cipher's ADFX-01 copy has. Also ''Ace Combat 6'', where Ilya Pasternak's usage of the CFA-44 Nosferatu comes with a bunch of attendant drones, whereas Talisman's doesn't. In ''X'', the playable Fenrir lacks the High Powered Microwave Cannon and Digital Optic Stealth of the enemy versions, though there's a throwaway line or two about being incomplete.

* In ''VideoGame/ArcTheLad: Twilight of the Spirits'', Tatjana as well as many of Darc's allies have this to some extent, but many of them have just had no real affiliation with the villains before meeting Darc, and Tatjana had merely been betrayed as a wake-up call. Tatjana is seen as one of Dilzweld's commanders and is capable of mutating a deimos into a state where it is completely unrecognizable. She is also fought as an enemy on Darc's side, but it is revealed that a lot of her power comes from having her advanced science (that is not portable) and from being able to command soldiers, since when she is a guest-party member in Kharg's group at first she is easily picked off by the boss monsters unless saved.
* Justified by [[spoiler:Sarevok]] in ''VideoGame/BaldursGateIIThroneOfBhaal''. When he finally ''does'' join your party after having previously opposed you he has lost all of his Bhaalspawn gifts and equipment in the meantime ([[spoiler:being dead will do that to you)]], not to mention that his experience has been static ever since and allowed you to close the level gap between you as well. He is still the best fighter NPC in the game despite this.

* ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea}}'':

* ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'':

** An extremely egregious example in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'': when you fight the summon Carbuncle, he is a huge gorilla-like beast with terrible fangs, deadly attacks and a vicious temper. You beat him, gain the power to summon him, and when you're ready to use him to thrash over your enemies... you discover that he's turned into a tiny green mouthless squirrel thing that can only cast support magic. And he will continue like that for the rest of the series.

* In ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory'', this happens in the middle of the game. Bowser, who you had previously been controlling, fights the Mario Bros as a boss. He has increased HP, increased Attack, and the ability to target both brothers with a move which normally targets one opponent.

** Zero from the ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' games is at his most powerful when he's fighting against the player: he even has access to moves that the playable Zero is never able to use. In ''X2'', [[spoiler:he was rebuilt with the ability to charge his saber and both busters]]. He remains this powerful throughout ''X3'', and [[spoiler:"loses" power in X4 in exchange for not, y'know, needing to charge his guns up every time he wants to fire]]. In ''X5'', [[spoiler:Zero is empowered by the Maverick Virus, as he is the original carrier of the virus and designed to be at his most powerful under its influence]]. The player finally gets to use Zero's boss moves after defeating OptionalBoss [[VideoGame/MegaManZero Omega]] (oh, [[BraggingRightsReward and clearing the game]]) in ''VideoGame/MegaManZX''. It is GLORIOUS.

** ''VideoGame/MegaManUnlimited'' has this very noticeably with the final boss, the Z-Prototype. When you fight him as Mega Man, it's as a HopelessBossFight where none of your attacks do any damage and you can basically do nothing except let him gradually whittle your HP down to 1. Later updates added an extra mode where you can play as this character, and not only is he not invincible, he actually loses HP every time he misses an attack!

* ''VideoGame/SuperPaperMario'': Played with. Bowser counts as a spiky enemy in this game, so if you jump on him, you take damage and he doesn't. After the first fight with him, Bowser joins your party. Although a.) This isn't a true HeelFaceTurn [[spoiler:until the end of Chapter 8-1]], and b.) His attack power is twice as strong as the other characters' and he is a force to be reckoned with when combined with Thudley, as well as his ability to breathe fire being extremely useful, there is one thing he loses for as long as he is in your party: His Spiky status. Enemies or bosses who jump or fall on Bowser from above will inflict damage while taking none themselves.

* ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}''. When you first meet Rico, you have to fight him in the arena and he does 5 digit damage to you per attack (an instant kill a hundred times over). When he joins you, he turns out to be pretty pedestrian.

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