Biography
Myth and folklore are replete with dragons and other creatures spewing fire, corrosive venom, noxious gases, energy beams, lightning, and other exotic and catastrophic exhalations from their mouth. More modern media have applied the motif to fantastic beasties, Kaiju, creatures from alien worlds, mutants, zombies, and even the occasional robot, and expanded the effects to encompass blazing beams of coruscant annihilation. In other words, bright things coming from the mouths of big things that can destroy other things.
Classically a trait of creatures that are, at least physically, animalistic — no matter how erudite and noble they may be. When humanoids vomit destruction from their mouths, they almost always have at least a hint of corruption or, at best, atavism about them. According to anthropologist David D. Gilmore, this is because of the mouth's symbolism as the organ of predation, evoking one mankind's primal fears of what used to hunt them. Given that a human being's only experience with oral expulsions is usually spit or vomit (or in the case of certain snakes, venom), it may then follow that anything coming out of the mouth is unpleasant. Whatever the reason, it's right up there with Glowing Eyes of Doom as a surefire sign of inhumanity. Heroes will generally emit blasts of destruction from their palms or their eyes instead (though villains can do that too). This is also why, in Primate Versus Reptile stories, the reptile is more likely to have the Breath Weapon than the primate.
A number of Breath Weapons are especially common:
Acid: While not strictly a breath weapon per se, acidic spit is often included in lists of breath weapons. A more breath-based version also exists where a character breathes out a cloud of corrosive mist instead.
Darkness: Common among traditionally evil creatures like demons, this breath weapon usually manifests as semi-solid shadows, dark clouds of smoke, unnaturally colored fire, or, ironically, beams of dark-colored "light". In cases of corrupted creatures, expect to see them use variations of their natural breath weapons, but shaded in the designated "evil" colors of the setting.
Earth: The ability to launch sand or rock particulates with deadly force. Common for desert-dwelling or subterranean monsters. The blast can come in a large column that can crush or tear targets apart or a concentrated stream that carves through materials in its path. Rapid-fire sharpened crystal shards and metal "bullets" are common variations of the attack. Sometimes combines with fire to produce blasts of lava breath. Water can also mix to make sticky mud or quick drying concrete as is a common ability for swamp monsters.
Energy: Breathing vaguely-defined "energy" is common in more exotic or mystical creatures. While glowing beams or balls are most common, this breath is such an esoteric idea that it can take on many forms, including those of other breath weapons. However it looks, it will always be noted as unique from any other breath and has no obligation to behave as what its current shape would suggest. Examples include "fire" that doesn't burn or "lightning" that can bend to chase down a target. Often said to be related to lifeforce, spirit, ki energy, and/or magical energy in some manner.
Fire: The archetypal and most iconic breath weapon, fire is almost obligatory for dragons and related creatures, although anyone with well-developed fire powers may also demonstrate this ability. In particularly extreme cases, the breath may take the form of a beam or an explosive ball of plasma that is much more destructive than normal flame.
Ice: Another common breath weapon, ice is often included as a direct inversion of the popular fire breath. The most common form is a gale of icy air that freezes everything it touches, but volleys of icy shards are not unheard of. Beams of "coldness energy" that produce mass volumes of ice on contact are fairly common variations of these attacks.
Light: Light, when focused into a point or narrow beam, can be a very destructive force. Light-based breath weapons consequently manifest in the form of lasers, although more diffuse radiance can also prove effective against creatures that are Weakened by the Light.
Lightning: While also not a breath-based ability in the strictest sense, characters and creatures with strong enough ties to electricity are known to spit lightning bolts.
Poison: Like acid, which may or may not be treated as the same exact thing, poison-based breath weapons can come both as jets of toxic liquid and as clouds of noxious gases.
Radiation: Made famous by the King of the Monsters himself, this is the ability to launch blasts of focused high-intensity radiation or radioactive plasma. As radiation is often poorly understood by the general public beyond being seen as dangerous and does not conform to the traditional elements, this ability is usually reserved for monsters with a particular "otherness" to them. Most common with artificially created monsters (especially those mutated by exposure to radiation) and extraterrestrials.
Smoke: While often seen as a byproduct of fire breath, smoke can be an effective weapon in and of itself. As a support ability, smoke can be expelled in large volumes to obscure the target's vision or suffocate those who can't escape the area in time. Less commonly, smoke itself can be directly damaging: either by burning the target with suspended superheated ash, poisoning with toxic particulates, or somehow impacting with concussive force.
Sound: Some creatures and characters are capable of roaring, howling, shouting or otherwise vocalizing with sufficient volume to employ their voices as effective sonic weapons.
Water: An ability often suited to an aquatic creature; indeed, many Eastern dragons in particular will likely have one due to their association with water. It often takes the form of a water spray similar to that from a hose or a concentrated blast similar to a high-pressure water cutter. A variant may even combine this with fire to launch boiling water or superheated steam.
Wind: Making the "breath" part quite literal, this ability weaponizes exhalation. A creature need only take a deep breath before unleashing a gale-force blast of air that might as well be a localized tornado in form and destructive power. "Bullets" of compressed air or flurries of cutting wind blades are less extreme alternatives as is inhalation producing a consuming vortex.
Typically, any given character or creature only has one breath weapon. Multiple ones per person are very rare, and usually indicate that the user is special in some way. The primary exception are many-headed creatures; in these cases, it's common for each head to have a different breath weapon.
A particular type of Street Performer or member of The Freakshow — known variously as a "fire-breather" or a "fire-eater" — uses the magician's sleight-of-hand to appear to do this. Such examples can go on this page as well, since such tricks can be extremely dangerous for both performer and audience.
Compare Blow Gun, Booze Flamethrower, Eye Beams, Make Me Wanna Shout, Nasal Weapon, Super Spit, and Super Breath. See also Throat Light and Hand Blast.
Contrast Attack the Mouth.
