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''A special weakness that can be exploited to cause defeats easier than can be done by using the other means available.''

This pattern is a still a stub.

Many of the more difficult enemies in games can more easily, or in some cases only, be defeated by a special form of attack. These kinds of enemies have an Achilles Heel, a special weakness that players can use to their advantage if they can locate it or gain knowledge about it.

=== Examples ===
The final boss monster in [[Half-Life]] can only be killed by first destroyed a number of crystals in the environment and then hitting a small gem inside its head. In [[The Legend of Zelda series]] and the [[Super Mario series]], boss monsters (and some enemies) can usually only be defeated by special actions, such as grabbing hold of the enemies' tail and spinning around rapidly or hitting the enemies' so that it shows a vulnerable spot and then hitting that spot.

The [[Mansions of Madness]]

== Using the pattern ==
Achilles' Heels are most commonly used to make Boss Monsters easier to Overcome. The two main design choices regarding Achilles' Heels are their effects related to normal attacks, what is required to attack the weak point, and how players become aware of the Achilles' Heels.

Three main ways that attacks against Achilles' Heels can affect enemies are: through simply modifying the Damage, through having a special effect (for example stunning or confusing), or through being the only way to cause Damage at all. The two latter can be seen as forms of Privileged Actions. When anyone can attack the Achilles Heel, the only thing required is information about the Achilles Heel, while, if only some players can attack it, the weak point can create the need to fulfill Gain Competence goals or acquire the right Tools. Players can gain awareness of Achilles' Heels through the development of the Narrative Structure, through Clues and Traces in the area the enemy inhabits, or through Experimenting when fighting the enemy. Gaining this information can be a Gain Information goal and Supporting Goal when part of the Narrative Structure, which may in turn require other Supporting Goals to actually be able to use the information, if the Achilles Heel requires a specific form of Tool. Public Information about Achilles' Heels can be used to set the Right Level of Difficulty to a lower level.

=== Can Be Instantiated By ===
[[Invulnerabilities]] together with [[Vulnerabilities]]

=== Can Be Modulated By ===
[[Clues]], 
[[Cutscenes]], 
[[Diegetically Outstanding Features]], 
[[Tools]]

The design of [[Achilles' Heels]] requires the presence of a complete [[Invulnerabilities|Invulnerability]] but then makes this incomplete by inserting a [[Vulnerabilities|Vulnerability]] - for this reason [[Achilles' Heels]] both modulates and is in conflict with [[Invulnerabilities]].

=== Diegetic Aspects ===

=== Interface Aspects ===

=== Narrative Aspects ===

== Consequences ==
The presence of Achilles' Heels is a form of Strategic Knowledge that players can use in Combat. This can be used to provide the Right Level of Difficulty and can motivate Gain Information and Puzzle Solving if the Achilles Heel is not Public Information. As Achilles Heels often require unique forms of attack or more specific uses of ordinary actions, having to perform them gives Varied Gameplay.

The consequences of [[Achilles' Heels]] depend greatly one if they belong to an [[Avatars|Avatar]] or [[Characters|Character]] under a player's control or to his or her [[Enemies]]. One of the effect that does however ''not'' depend on who has the them is that secret [[Achilles' Heels]], or those that cannot be exploited due to missing [[Powers]] or [[Weapons]], are likely to lead to [[Repeat Domination]]. 

In the case of [[Enemies]] that have [[Achilles' Heels]], these provide [[Challenging Gameplay]] in that they require players to identify a specific [[Vulnerabilities|Vulnerability]] in otherwise invulnerable opponents. Trying to identify the exact nature of the [[Achilles' Heels]] is likely to be done through [[Experimenting]] or [[Puzzle Solving]].

==== with [[Powers]] or [[Weapons]] ====
[[Strategic Knowledge]], 
[[Strategic Planning]], 
[[Tactical Planning]]

=== Can Modulate ===
[[Avatars]], 
[[Boss Monsters]], 
[[Characters]], 
[[Combat]], 
[[Damage]], 
[[Enemies]], 
[[Powers]], 
[[Weapons]]


== Relations ==
=== Can Instantiate ===
[[Repeat Domination]]

==== with [[Enemies]] ====
[[Challenging Gameplay]], 
[[Experimenting]], 
[[Puzzle Solving]]

==== with [[Powers]] or [[Weapons]] ====
[[Strategic Knowledge]], 
[[Strategic Planning]], 
[[Tactical Planning]]

=== Can Modulate ===
[[Avatars]], 
[[Boss Monsters]], 
[[Characters]], 
[[Combat]], 
[[Damage]], 
[[Enemies]], 
[[Invulnerabilities]], 
[[Powers]], 
[[Weapons]]

=== Can Be Instantiated By ===
[[Invulnerabilities]] together with [[Vulnerabilities]]

=== Can Be Modulated By ===
[[Clues]], 
[[Cutscenes]], 
[[Diegetically Outstanding Features]], 
[[Tools]]

=== Possible Closure Effects ===
-

=== Potentially Conflicting With ===
[[Invulnerabilities]]

== History ==
An updated version of the pattern ''Achilles' Heels'' that was part of the original collection in the book ''Patterns in Game Design''<ref name="Bjork & Holopainen 2004"/>.

== References ==
<references>
<ref name="Bjork & Holopainen 2004">Björk, S. & Holopainen, J. (2004) ''Patterns in Game Design''. Charles River Media. ISBN1-58450-354-8.</ref>
</references>

== Acknowledgements ==
-