Defense Nullification

Abilities related to Nullification
Related Abilities	Power Nullification - Attack Nullification - Defense Nullification - Status Nullification - Regeneration Negation - Immortality Negation - Resurrection Negation - Physiology Nullification

Lavos' Demon Star halves a target's HP regardless of their defense

Background

Defense Nullification or Durability Negation is the ability that enables users to damage a target regardless of its durability. This ability allows inflicting significant damage to even the most powerful opponents, bypassing their physical, mental, or spiritual defenses. In particular, it can allow users to deal serious damage even without possessing overwhelming attack power. A good example of ignoring force would be a laser with negligible attack power that easily cuts through thick steel sheets.

Applications and Methods of Bypassing Defense

• Laser Cutting: A laser with minimal attack power can cut through thick steel despite the steel’s high durability. In this case, the laser doesn’t need astronomical power; its efficiency lies in bypassing the material's resistance through a specific form of energy that the steel can’t resist. This is a common example of lower-tier defense nullification where the force used is not inherently strong, but the attack bypasses physical durability.

• Targeting Vulnerable Areas: Users can attack a target’s weak points, such as internal organs or vital spots like the heart or brain, bypassing the need for overpowering strength. Even a physically invulnerable target may be harmed if the strike hits a crucial area. This can be seen in martial arts, where precise strikes can incapacitate a more durable opponent.

• Phasing (Intangibility): A user who can phase through physical matter can bypass a target's physical defense by moving through their body to attack internal organs directly. The target may be able to withstand physical blows, but a phased attack would strike through their defenses.

• Matter Manipulation: Manipulating or altering the structure of the target can bypass their defenses entirely. A user who can change the molecular composition of their opponent’s body, or even transform their body into something fragile, can cause harm without needing to overpower the target's durability.

• Mind Manipulation: By targeting a target’s mind, users can bypass their physical durability entirely. An opponent who is mentally strong or physically indestructible may still be vulnerable to psychological attacks, illusions, or direct manipulation of their thoughts and will.

• Soul Manipulation: Similar to mind manipulation, attacking or manipulating the soul bypasses the physical defense entirely. An opponent may be resistant to physical damage but still vulnerable to attacks aimed at their spiritual essence.

• Certain Energy-Based Attacks: Certain energy-based abilities, such as chi or magical energy, can bypass physical durability by affecting the target's internal structure or by focusing energy on specific points of weakness. For instance, a strong energy blast might not need overwhelming attack power if it’s designed to exploit the target’s vulnerabilities.

• Space-Time Manipulation: Manipulating the fabric of space and time allows a user to bypass any conventional defense. A space-time manipulation user could create a time paradox, erase an opponent from existence, or distort the space around them in a way that makes their defenses ineffective.

• Reality Warping: Users of reality-warping abilities can alter the fundamental laws of existence itself, making any form of durability or defense irrelevant. This could include rewriting the rules that govern a target’s resistance to damage, rendering any defensive power useless.

• Conceptual Manipulation: At the highest tiers, users can target the very concepts that define a target's existence or resistance. This could involve nullifying the target’s concept of invulnerability or resistance to harm, thus allowing the user to deal damage regardless of the target’s strength or defenses.

Possible Limitations

• Physiology: A character's physiology can limit the effectiveness of defense nullification. For instance, a character without physical organs may not be affected by attacks targeting specific organs.
• Energy Supply or Power Limitation: The user's defense nullification may require a specific source of energy or may have limits based on their power reserves or skill.
• Range or Precision: Some methods of defense nullification, like energy manipulation or phasing, may require precise targeting or have limited range.

Users

Sans (Undertale): Sans using the KR effect allows him to essentially negate defense as it stops Frisk's invincibility frames altogether. Mera Salamin (Epithet Erased): Mera's ability allows one to reduce to their breaking point regardless of the strength difference from her.