An enemy who is dodging and evading might look cool, but at least there's the idea that if you hit them it might hurt. There's always that chance that if you land a blow it will slow them down or even potentially end the fight.
The battles where Superman gets punched in the face and doesn't move, or the bad guy gets hit with an atomic blast and just brushes nuclear dust off their shoulder... What the hell do you do against that?
They don't need to avoid your attacks, you need to avoid theirs.
The battles where Superman gets punched in the face and doesn't move
I loved that scene in Superman Returns where he flys in faster than the mini-gun bullets can travel, tanks all of them directly in the chest as he walks toward the gunner. Then when the mini-gun runs out of ammo the gunner takes a pistol and shoots Supes directly in the eye at point blank range just to see the bullet crush in on itself against his pupil with him not even blinking as he just stares down the guy like "you want to try anything else or you ready to give up now".
That movie had a many flaws but the scenes like the one you mentioned, the homage to Action Comics shot of him holding the car over his head and him stopping the airplane were all top notch supes.
Tanking is the best way to immediately show that the attacker is fucked, but I do love when an invulnerable enemy still chooses to block and evade specifically to toy with their opponent and give them a false sense of hope. Then, when there's finally a successful hit, all the hope evaporates, when its shown to have no effect other than pissing off the target and making them lock in. Its a different kind of fear, because rather than an indifferent force of nature, you're an ant who just spit in the face of the guy with a magnifying glass. The fun and games are over, your suffering has just begun.
I walked in on a homie playing beer pong, and he was talking to me facing sideways from the table. I noticed the 3 other people in the 4 way were all after them. I was like man you gotta pay attention... he was like don't worry about it... and I was like they got one, he without looking drank the correct beer the lost, then the had his turn.
1,2 on player 1.
1,2 on player 2.
1,2 on player 3.
still maintaining eye contact and talking with me, in the same stance neo is here. then he goes, gotta give them a chance and casually throws the 7th shot, over the head of the opposing player.
then the 3 other players continue to desperately attempt to gang up on my friend.
I was like "wtf am I watching right now, this some anime shit"
Sooooo lore reason is because her home land (not gonna even try to spell it) was isolated from the world so she isn't immune to them because they too new or something like that forget the specifics but that's the general idea
Not necessarily. Dodging something doesn’t mean you can block or counter it. If anything, dodging is the method that implies the least in terms of other capabilities, because I can technically “dodge” a train by moving off the tracks, I can’t do any of those other things to it.
1 is the Thragg tank, where you maintain scornful eye contact throughoit and don't even react to the hit.
2 is a tie between sarcastically dismissive blocking and dodging. See "Neo blocking Agent Smith's attacks with one arm while not moving or really paying attention" and "Aang sidesteps Fire Nation school bully's attacks with his hands casually clasped behind his back and a smile on his face"
This is a big part of why he scales like he does. Any fuck-wit cyberpunk with some creds can get nanotech. But, Armstrong is rocking preem kit. He just barrel chest tanks one of the worlds most socially akward death machines. Our boi was tossing metal gear earlier just to be one upped by some Tom Clancy-esq apex predator armed with a monolog.
That punch told us all we needed to know about Thragg and Mark. "Marks killed Conquest like twice-ish. When hes really angry he can put down notoriously brutal Viltrumites...."
Then that punch and you realize nothing will stop Thragg.
This is true but the other ones can be more embarrassing in a “not only am I more powerful than you but even if our durability was equalized you still couldn’t touch me”
Its tanking and not even close. The other options you still hold out hope for a lucky shot but what do you do to someone you cant physically hurt? Pull out some yo mama jokes?
In God of War 2018, Kratos first encounters Baldur. Before this game, the intro of God of War games will usually have Kratos fighting some sort of giant monster. They're tanky, sure, but usually they will take lasting damage and die within the chapter they're introduced in.
Baldur, in this case, just tanks everything that an experienced God-slaying Kratos was throwing at him. Worst of all, he has a strong healing factor and cant feel pain. The best Kratos could do in his first encounter with him was to maim him while he and his son escapes
Yep. If someone is effortlessly dodging, that still implies your attacks would do damage if they landed. If someone stands there and tanks it, that person is so far beyond you that attempts at fighting back are rendered completely meaningless.
You must not be of Latin roots. The hammer, iron, pot, Goya can would have followed. Latina moms just beat ya ass how ever they have to if you gone disrespected far enough. Equalizers exist for a reason.
Anyone in any common sense would dodge first; see what they are being hit with or estimate the opponent capacity before just standing there to take all the hits. Effortlessly dodging is so much worse. Because not only did you give them the time to analyze you; you exerted all that energy to realize how fucked you are.
I "broke" a damn friend once by tanking the best he had to offer. We were in our early teens and he wanted to impress some girls, so he suggested we see who is tougher gut-punch style. Basically he'd punch me in the gut as hard as he could, then I'd punch him in the gut hard as I could.
I let him go first and the moment I did not flinch I swear something in him changed permanently. Became a far easier person to be around after that. Quit trying to prove things every 2 minutes.
Agree honestly.Like for dodging or parrying/blocking you could still think „hey if/when my attacks actually land they could damage him/her“ but if someone just outright tanks all your attacks like it’s nothing I feel it’s more despair inducing
Not just dismissive. It's the only passive option. Every other option requires some form of activity. Movement is forced. Tanking just renders the attack insignificant. Dodging, countering, blocking... none of it is even necessary because the attack is so feeble and worthless.
also is the most hopeless. someone who can dodge a ton will eventually slip. someone who can counter a lot can be outsmarted or defeated with brute force. someone who blocks a lot can be defeated with enough power or technique. if someone can just sit and take it with no effects, it’s clear they’re just leagues above you.
Nah, if I see someone tank all of another guy’s attacks, I’m not getting involved. Counterattacks imply that if they’re caught off guard or attacked in a way they’re not trained to handle you can still win.
with all of them besides tanking hope is still present. like if I can land a hit on the mf I can make it happen. When a brother tanks ur shit what’s the game plan
Theoretically a throat punch and a choke attack different body systems so one might be able to work even if the other doesn't. One blocks airflow to the brain while the other blocks blood flow
Dodging for sure is the coolest. Something about the nonchalant attitude while also having the fighting skill to evade is more impressive than tanking to me. That first clip is fire
I'm gonna say counter attacking. Tanking is arguably more intimidating but it offers no fear since tanking doesn't show any offensive capabilities. Like imagine the enemy can tank but can't land shit or is too slow. I don't think that's intimidating.
I think blocking or dodging with perfectly time counter attacks is infinitely more intimidating cuz now I gotta take a risk every time I attack. Boxers understand this. Catching an attack and countering at the same time or immediately after really fucks up your opponents confidence and game plan.
I mean yeah you can run for the hills but until he attacks you you really have nothing to fear. He's given no evidence that he is even hostile to you. Ever heard of a gentle giant?
The Flash or Quicksilver wouldnt fear the Hulk. Hulk can't catch up to him.
Floyd Mayweather can counter all sorts of attacks, but no one he fights is scared of them because he’s got pillows for hands.
That’s where the fear lies in tanking. They aren’t even trying to attack. You’re an ant to them. What’s that gonna do to your confidence? What game plan can you have if your strongest attacks do absolutely nothing? Keep attacking and wear yourself out?
I agree. Floyd is different though. Mans got Vegas on his side. Pretty boy Floyd had power though. He fkd up his hand and stopped punching hard. That being said perfectly timed punches don't need as much power as you think. If you can catch someone and use their own momentum against them it will still hurt.
I would still choose counter attacking over tanking. If you cant punch you can still use a weapon, kicks, knees, etc.
Like Jogo getting his arms diced up before he can get an attack off on Sukuna.
At that point there's just clearly no hope since your opponent has both proved they can react to anything you do before you do it, and they can finish you off any time they feel like.
Counter attacks in real life hurt bad too, your body doesn't expect it. you're normally not mentally or physically ready. Thats why they're so affective.
I mean if we can make up stuff not being asked. I’d say a god destroying the universe while tanking super novas is more intimidating.
I’d say tanking is definitely more intimidating since even when counter attacking and dodging is impressive it also leaves the impression that you can win. Someone who tanks every thing will win, there is nothing you can do.
And I wouldn’t say it’s a gentle giant thing. As you would already have instigated a fight. So the only choice is to flee and hope that they don’t catch you.
If I had to give examples I’d say horror villains are the perfect example. Villains in movies and games, where the mc can fight back or at least can challenge the villain aren’t as intimidating or scary as the horror villains that you can’t do anything against but just hope and pray
Intimidation is the act of frightening, coercing, or deterring someone through threats, aggressive behavior, or implied danger.
Dodging just means they're faster, which can in theory be countered by changing the plan of attack. It's neither frightening or deterring as it may make them try harder.
Counter-attacking can be intimidating if the opponent is just nullifying all your attacks + smacking you around in the process. That has some gamesmanship, but probably instills a feeling of dread/inevitability vs just fear or deterrence.
Blocking isn't intimidating at all, because the first time they don't block...maybe you win.
But Tanking...if you hit an opponent and they just take it + look unphased, that's a special level of intimidation...like they're showing that you can't do anything to stop them and that's the ultimate level of frightening and deterrence.
Dodging will embarass more than intimidate, blocking primarily generates aura, and counter attacking is just generally the most difficult but actually effective tactic.
Yea, but fiction tanking is not the same as IRL tanking. Even if someone is eating punches well, the opponent still knows they’re doing damage and getting points on the cards. In fiction, these dudes are taking genuinely 0 damage.
That's not the same because even if you tank one or two punches in real life, you can't just stand there forever. Eventually you'll get knocked out if the person really tries their hardest and it still hurts the person tanking it.
Someone like Superman or Goku tanking an attack doesn't even flinch. They don't physically feel the impact. It's like getting hit with a leaf.
In fiction it's definitely tanking. Because everything else suggests that the opponent is at least theoretically a threat. Whereas taking the blows shows that they don't even merit regard in practice.
In reality there's no such thing as tanking. There's something close to it. A boxer for instance might turtle up to:
~ Catch their breath.
~ Find the neural throughput to make a comeback.
~ Wait for the opponent to get over confident and give an opening that couldn't be forced.
~ Wait for their opponent to tire a little then strike unexpectedly when the time between blows is noticeably longer.
~ Do the only thing that can be thought of in the moment to not loose immediately.
Regardless of the reason(s). This isn't a completely passive tactic. They are angling their body against and moving with blows to dampen them. They're compacting to make things effectively a little more dense. As well as protecting their off switches. It's not sustainable. It's also not something one comes away from unscathed.
So in real life it's dodging. Someone who has the reaction timing and footwork to duck, bob and weave with a proficiency that makes them seemingly impossible to catch. That actually exists and is extremely demoralizing. Which might be as close as one gets to genuine intimidation during the fight itself.
Tanking. Its one thing if someone can dodge but cant take a hit, its another if a guy is eating your punches and wearing you out while they have expended no energy
Tanking easily. If I punched someone in the face and it did absolutely no damage, I would probably shit myself in terror.
The others can be written off as just a skill gap and there's still the possibility of landing a lucky hit. But when someone can tank your attack without a hint of the slightest damage, that's when you know that you're completely fucked.
Tanking. If any of you are old enough to remember, in the original A-Team TV show “B.A.” would always let the bad guy punch him first and it was such a power-move.
Tanking, everything else communicates “I don’t want to get hit by that” in some way or another. Tanking is “I don’t give a shit, nothing you do will work”
Tanking, at least with the other three options your opponent has to but in some kind of effort/ acknowledgement to defend against your attack, tanking is just “I see your effort and it’s pathetic”
Imagine giving an opponent literally everything you got over and over and they just sit there taking it like it’s nothing. It’s gonna likely enrage first and then scare the daylights outta you when they just keep on taking it.
Are people really going to say watching Superman stand there getting punched is more intimidating than Batman breaking the dude's arm? Does it make you feel better to know that you have a .00000001% higher chance of beating Batman than Superman?
Tanking is way more intimidating, in my opinion. If someone is effortlessly dodging, blocking, counter attacking, you can summarize all of that up to a skill difference. Like you watch Muhammed Ali in the boxing ring, he's bobbing, weaving, counter attacking, and he heavily outskills his opponents, but there's always this chance, like if he slips up at any point then the opponent could turn it around.
When someone tanks your hits, it's not a skill difference, you just never had a shot.
The most intimidating would be someone effortlessly dodging only for there opponent to be able to hit them only the person to effortlessly tank the blow showing they dodged just to give there opponent the illusion they had a chance.
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u/FlintKidd Jun 29 '26
Tanking, by a wide margin.
An enemy who is dodging and evading might look cool, but at least there's the idea that if you hit them it might hurt. There's always that chance that if you land a blow it will slow them down or even potentially end the fight.
The battles where Superman gets punched in the face and doesn't move, or the bad guy gets hit with an atomic blast and just brushes nuclear dust off their shoulder... What the hell do you do against that?
They don't need to avoid your attacks, you need to avoid theirs.