There are some really iconic one-shot abilities in video games. But it is not limited to just the player characters; sometimes it’s the bosses that can also one-shot the player characters. That’s not all, even players can acquire items sometimes that give them access to skills that can instant kill.
In the list below, we will be taking a look at some of these iconic one-shot abilities in video games.
One-Shot Abilities in Video Games That Are Iconic
Alatreon – Escaton Judgement (Monster Hunter)
Monster Hunter is one of the fun video games, but also one where you can spend thousands of hours and still find new things to do. It is created by Capcom and is a unique franchise that has yet to see a proper direct competitor.
That aside, it is also a game where you have to fend off really powerful monsters. Some hit really hard, and some hit hard enough to completely one-shot players. One such monster is Alatreon, a legendary dragon that has control over all the natural elements.
His most powerful attack, which can one-shot players and covers a large area of attack, is Escaton Judgement. The only way to avoid it is by withstanding the damage threshold through preparation time.
Darkeater Midir – Dark Beam (Dark Souls 3)
How can we follow up a discussion about a legendary dragon that one-shots players? Well, by talking about another legendary dragon that one-shots. This time, it is the Darkeater Midir from the Dark Souls 3 series.
Dark Souls needs an introduction; it is a franchise created by FromSoftware and has taken the world by storm. It created a whole new genre of action games that has been a staple in the industry, being coined as a very hard genre.
In Dark Souls 3, players can come across an optional boss dragon named Darkeater Midir. It is a very tough fight and requires a lot of preparation before going in. Even after that, players may not be ready because the boss will one-shot kill them using its dark beam ability.
Mario – Invincibility Star (Super Mario Bros.)
Mario is definitely one of the most recognizable Nintendo characters of all time. If we had to pick a move that can one-shot from the Super Mario Bros. series, then it has to be the most iconic one that everyone agrees with.
The invincibility star is an all-powerful item that is found throughout the history of Mario games. Once Mario gets a hold of it, he is granted absolute invincibility. But that’s just not all he can do; he can one-shot anything that comes his way.
Invincible Mario is definitely one of the earliest examples of a true one-hit ability gamers ever found in old home consoles.
All characters – Instant kill (Guilty Gear)
There are some fighting games out there that put a massive stress on enders. Mortal Kombat is known for its fatalities, which became one of the main selling points of the franchise. But players need to beat their opponents before they get the cue to perform a fatality.
This is not the case for a fighting game franchise like Guilty Gear. Yes, the latest entry in the franchise did away with instant kill, sadly, in order to make the game more honest. But the older entries in the franchise were not as forgiving. If a player knew how to play their character really well, they could instant kill their opponent in one single combo.
Instant kills in Guilty Gear require players to sacrifice their special gauge. This allows them access to one-shot kill abilities with beautiful cinematic effects. But missing the instant kill or getting blocked would result in players having to spend the rest of the round without meter.
Tonberry – Chef’s Knife (Final Fantasy)
The trope of cute and small enemies with really high-damaging abilities is not all that uncommon in video games. One such example can be seen with the Tonberries in the Final Fantasy franchise.
Final Fantasy is another series that does not require introductions. It is an important JRPG franchise in both Japan and all over the world. Most of the games in this series are revered as some of the best video games ever made.
Tonberries are infamous for being able to one-shot players using their chef’s knife ability. If these enemies get in close range to the player character, then it is game over once they pull out this skill.
E.M.M.I. – Grab (Metroid Dread)
Stalker enemies are some of the scariest tropes in horror games. These enemies are constantly chasing you throughout the map and levels. There are only a few methods to slow them down, but once they catch up to you, they are going to kill you in one shot.
Metroid Dread, which was released in 2021 was a lost Metroid game that was supposed to be made years ago, but it never happened. But the developers finally were able to realize their vision on the Nintendo Switch hardware.
This entry in the franchise is a horror game at heart and then a Metroidvania in genre. Out of all the obstacles that Samus comes across in this game, E.M.M.I.s have to be the scariest. These enemies have abilities to one-shot Samus, especially if they grab her. The only way to get out is to perform a precise counter to the move.
Akuma – Raging Demon (Street Fighter)
We kick this discussion off with one of the most iconic one-shot abilities among fighting games. At the same time, it may not be possible in the game itself, as this move is usually very nerfed. Akuma from Street Fighter can canonically one-shot his opponents using raging demon.
This is not the first time we are talking about the Street Fighter franchise, nor will it be the last time. It is one of the most important franchises in video games that revolutionized how people perceive player vs player games.
Akuma is a crucial character in the lore of the game. He is known to have embraced the satsui no hado for greater powers at the cost of murderous intent. Akuma used the raging demon to instantly one-shot his master, Gotetsu.
Elizabeth – Megidolaon (Persona 3)
The Persona franchise is one of the most prominent JRPG series out there in modern times. It was elevated further into mainstream appeal with the release of Persona 5 and the various collabs that followed.
These games are monster collectors originating from the umbrella franchise named Shin Megami Tensei. Aside from that, the games put a massive focus on regular characters.
One of them is the velvet room attendant, Elizabeth, who appears as a super boss in Persona 3. Her most dangerous ability is called ‘Megidolaon’. It is a high damage spell, but only the version of this spell that she specifically uses can absolutely one-shot.
Mike Tyson – Uppercut (Mike Tyson’s Punch Out)
Mike Tyson’s Punch Out is one of the most famous entries in the Punch Out arcade game series. This is especially because the game featured legendary Mike Tyson himself as one of the hardest bosses in the game.
This game follows a young boxer named Little Mac who has to slowly climb up the ranks in the boxing world by defeating several champions. The game is pretty much one of the earliest instances of boss-rush style games.
At the end of the line, Little Mac has to face Mike Tyson, and he is a tough one, just like the real-life boxer. If players are not aware and don’t pay attention, then Mike will pull out one of his most deadly abilities, the uppercut. This single move can completely one-shot the player if not careful.
King Allant – Soul Drain (Demon’s Souls)
He already talked about FromSoftware earlier in this list, about how they reshaped the action RPG landscape. Demon’s Souls was their first attempt at this type of game design, and while it may not have initially been a huge success. It slowly got its deserved fame once souls-like games became popular.
These games are usually set in a fantasy universe where major monstrous enemies are always hiding in the corner, ready to jump at the players. It does not slow down, and the more players progress, the more this game keeps throwing tougher challenges.
One such challenge is the very final boss of the game, King Allant. His soul drain is one of the most dangerous abilities that can quickly one-shot the player. For unprepared players, this move can immediately reduce the health bar to zero.
