Jack uses the Shadow of Fear Shen Gong Wu to bring the monks' greatest nightmares to life.
Tropes:
- Absurd Phobia: Played With. While Omi's fear of squirrels is treated like this, it's not so ridiculous as squirrels can be feral, and the squirrels Omi's encountered have ended up being quite vicious. Jack's fear of getting flushed down the toilet on the other hand...
- Acrofatic: After getting magically fattened up for the sumo wrestling showdown, the Monks are still pretty nimble.
- An Aesop: To paraphrase what Master Fung says, "The bravest person isn't the one who fears nothing, but the one who's willing to face what they fear."
- Artistic License – Biology: After becoming chubby, Kimiko is able to bounce high into the air by landing on her belly. In real life, fat people don’t bounce like rubber balls.
- Creepy Doll: Kimiko's worst fear is Mochika, a monstrous mangled doll.
- The Drag-Along: When the monks were preparing to go to Jack's mansion to get back the Wu he stole, Omi, knowing what they'd be in for, was reluctant, and end up getting hauled by the others.
- Dream Walker: Apart from bringing people’s worst fears to life, the Shadow of Fear also allows its user to go inside people’s dreams while they’re asleep and turn them into nightmares. First, Jack goes into each of the monks’ dreams and turns them into nightmares, then in the end, the monks give him a taste of his own medicine.
- Epic Fail: Two. First, after getting turned into a sumo wrestler, Kimiko tries to hide using the Shroud of Shadows, only to discover that it doesn’t cover much of her chubby body. Later, Wuya is not happy with Jack after he manages to lose nine Shen Gong Wu in one showdownnote , even though he wasn't the one participating in it.
- Evil Old Folks: The manifestation of Clay's grandmother is rather monstrous, but it's likely the real deal isn't nearly so frightening.
- Expressive Accessory: After tripping while sneaking into the temple, Jack's goggles temporarily show Xs while he's screaming in pain, and then exclamation marks when he shuts himself up.
- The Fat Episode: Briefly thanks to the monks being fattened up for the sumo wrestling match.
- Fun with Flushing: More like "Funny" as it turns out Jack Spicer is afraid of ending up getting flushed down a giant toilet.
- Gendered Outfit: When the monks get turned into sumo wrestlers, Kimiko has a midriff-baring tank top while the boys are also shirtless. Also, her sash has a flap in the front and another in the back, while the boys’ sashes don’t.
- Hypocritical Humor: Jack making fun of Omi's fear of squirrels ends up being this when it turns out Jack has a fear that's even more ridiculous: being flushed down the toilet.
- I Know What You Fear: The Shadow of Fear in a nutshell.
- Killer Rabbit: The vicious, giant squirrel from Omi's mind.
- Lampshade Hanging: As Kimiko says, "It's funny how things so small can seem so large in our minds."
- Laser-Guided Karma: After Jack uses the Shadow of Fear to turn the monks’ dreams into nightmares and torment them with their worst fears, the monks get their hands on the Shen Gong Wu and use it to make Jack have his own worst nightmare.
- Logical Weakness: The Shroud of Shadows has the power to turn anyone who wears it invisible. However, it only extends to the surface area covered by its fabric, so when a magically-enlarged Kimiko tries to use it in the episode's Showdown, it barely covers her midriff and thus doesn't help at all.
- Once an Episode: The "Face Your Fears Sumo Wrestling" 4-on-4 Xiaolin Showdown pitting all four monks versus their respective fears in sumo wrestling attire, where the winners are the ones who force all four of their foes out of the ring, with the monks' Silk Spitter (for Raimundo), Two-Ton Tunic (for Omi), Shroud of Shadows (for Kimiko) and Lotus Twister (for Clay) versus the Fears' Fist of Tebigong (for Clay's fear), Eye of Dashi (for Kimiko's fear), Serpent's Tail (for Omi's fear), and Third Arm Sash (for Raimundo's fear); the monks win.
- Opponent Switch: The monks initially handle their fears by switching which fear they face, to great effect. However, Jack prevents this in the showdown by specifically saying in the rules that each monk must face their own personal fear.
- Ridiculously Cute Critter: After Omi faces his fear and knocks the monstrous squirrel out of the ring, it ends up turning into a normal, adorable squirrel.
- Screwball Squirrel: Omi feels they're more scary than screwy, especially in regards to the giant monstrous version from his mind.
- Shout-Out: Omi seeing Master Fung's image while remembering his words on facing one's fear is quite similar to Obi-Wan Kenobi.
- Sumo Wrestling: The warriors are made to face their greatest fears in one-on-one sumo matches—they're magically fattened up for this. Notably, this includes Kimiko, providing a Rare Female Example.
- Temporary Bulk Change: The participants of the sumo wrestling match have their bodies magically bulked up to the appropriate size for the match. Once it's over, they slim down to normal size again.
- That Came Out Wrong: Happens to Jack when he taunts Omi over his fear.Jack: This is your worst nightmare?! You're more pathetic than me! (laughs for a bit before pausing at what he just said)
- Token Human: Clay's grandmother is the only human among the monks' worst fears, albeit a large, ugly, monstrous human.
- Trampoline Tummy: As a sumo wrestler, Kimiko dodges an attack by doing a bellyflop and bouncing high into the air.
- "What Do They Fear?" Episode: Duh!
- Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?:
- Omi has a fear of squirrels.
- Kimiko's scared of a half-melted doll called "Mochika."
- Raimundo's scared of jellyfish.
- Clay's scared of his grandmother—or, more specifically, his grandmother pinching his cheek and kissing him.
- Jack apparently has a fear of getting flushed down the toilet—the monks laugh at how pathetic this fear is.
- With Catlike Tread: Jack sneaks into the monks' sleeping quarters to summon their darkest fears. He of course must be sure not to wake them in the process. He nearly botches the attempt after tripping over a plant, but the monks fail to awaken from their slumber.Jack Spicer: When hunting the elusive Wu, you have to be as quiet as a cat. [trips over a potted plant] OW! OW! OW! OOH THAT HURT!
