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Something that you have to know about me, Pandas, is that I’m a geek, through and through. From books, movies, and TV shows to anime, manga, tabletop top games, and video games, I’m a fan of it all. I love exploring new worlds and immersing myself in adventures. Video games, especially, have been an important part of my life since I was a kid, helping spark my interest in storytelling and the fantasy genre as a whole. For me, they were—and always will be—gateways into someone else’s imagination that help expand my own. So when it comes to discussing games and anything related, I know a little something.

One of the most satisfying things that you can encounter in any video game is the sense of wonder and shock you get when the situation takes an unexpected turn. Say you just defeated a really difficult boss after having seen the GAME OVER screen flash at you a dozen times. You’re euphoric. You punch the air. You’re the best! That’s when your smile fades, as you realize, the boss is getting back up and has another health bar. Cue some epic music, the fight’s far from over.

This is where the r/2healthbars subreddit comes in. An online community of nearly half a million members, the online community documents bizarre, funny, and odd examples of the so-called ‘2 health bars’ phenomenon. It occurs when you think you’ve defeated a video game boss only for it to start a new phase with another health bar. Scroll down for some of the sub’s best pics, upvote your fave ones, and remember—don’t you dare go hollow, dear Pandas.

Bored Panda reached out to pop culture, entertainment, and lifestyle expert Mike Sington, from Hollywood, to hear his thoughts about why certain photos and posts go viral online while others get left by the digital wayside. "In my experience, there are three main reasons why a photo goes viral: uniqueness, humor, or cuteness. But even with one, or more than one of those qualities, luck and timing are still required to drive a photo across the internet," he explained to me. Read on for some more great insights from Mike, including how there's only one way to be truly original on social media.

More info: Reddit | Wiki

#1

Fish Mascot Has More Layers Than It Seems

Fish Mascot Has More Layers Than It Seems

TharamanXav Report

In Mike's opinion, bizarre photos can make us stop our scrolling and do a double-take. "Weirdness, or uniqueness, is one of the driving forces behind internet popularity," he told Bored Panda.

He noted that there's an over-saturation of content online and many of us can feel like there's nothing new to be seen or experienced on the internet. "In a 'seen it all' world, seeing something you’ve never seen before, tends to really pop and grab attention," Mike said.

According to Mike, if we want to be original, we can't pander to anyone else, which is thoroughly exhausting. Instead, we must focus on who and what we're truly like. "There’s only one way to truly be original on social media, and that’s to be authentic and just be yourself. Be confident in knowing there’s only one you, let your own original content speak for itself," the LA-based expert shared with Bored Panda.

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"Trying to outcompete the competition and chase internet popularity, is just going to lead to frustration and burnout. If you’re not having fun while you’re posting, and your content seems inauthentic, you’ll lessen your chances of going viral. 'Do you,' and let luck and timing control the rest."

#4

Chain Link Icicles

Chain Link Icicles

djSanta1 Report

#5

This Man Was Born For This Job

This Man Was Born For This Job

Deep_Glue_Sea Report

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Andy Acceber
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love it when people's names match their jobs. I had an English teacher named Mr. England and knew a choir teacher named Mr. Singmaster.

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#6

A Ship Shipping Ship Shipping Shipping Ships

A Ship Shipping Ship Shipping Shipping Ships

ThatYodaGuy Report

Though things might seem clear and simple, r/2healthbars isn’t focused on content that is simply a photo of two identical or very similar things next to each other. The subreddit’s mods explain that at the core of the subreddit lies the idea of transformation.

“We are about one thing that exists, that thing gets defeated, that thing has a physical or perceived transformation, and that thing, after this reveal/transformation, reveals a second layer of life (a new health bar),” they explain. Or, as they summed things up: “One item, four steps.”

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Currently, the subreddit is home to just over 494k members. The community has grown to such a size in just over 4 years, since having been founded in late March, 2017.

For any fresh-faced redditors who are thinking of joining r/2healthbars, you should definitely have a thorough read through all of their rules. The moderators have even typed up a handy wiki with various clarifications. It’s detailed and will most likely help you get settled in quicker.

#7

Today My Boyfriend Accidentally Broke The Ear Off Of His Dog Statue, Which He’s Had For Twelve Years, And Discovered Another Smaller Dog Inside… I Have So Many Questions

Today My Boyfriend Accidentally Broke The Ear Off Of His Dog Statue, Which He’s Had For Twelve Years, And Discovered Another Smaller Dog Inside… I Have So Many Questions

TheLawsy Report

#8

It's A Me

It's A Me

PM_ME_YOUR_PETS___ Report

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Otter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, I can see why he got the job of Mario impersonator...

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Naturally, all the content that you share on r/2healthbars has to be relevant to the subreddit. However, there might be some confusion about where exactly the line lies between photos that fit the spirit of the community and images that, for whatever reason, fall short of this.

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The moderators stress the fact that all of the photos need to have a “physical or perceived transformation” that then reveals a second layer, aka “a new health bar.” Duplicates of the same thing don’t technically count as being in line with r/2healthbars.

#10

Clock

Clock

XilamBalam Report

#11

This Tree Has Been Adding Layers Of Another Tree Every Year

This Tree Has Been Adding Layers Of Another Tree Every Year

saurabhred Report

#12

The People Of Walmart

The People Of Walmart

solapurkar Report

What you need to focus on is a single thing, one item that transforms, not two items that are independent of each other. “One layer of life can't exist at the same time as the other, one has to be defeated,” the mods explain.

Even though something might be ironic, like two coffee shops of the same brand being next to each other, it doesn’t automatically mean that it’s worthy of r/2healthbars. The subreddit has a neat list of things that might sound like they fit the spirit of the sub but should be avoided.

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#15

How Are They Already On The Textbook If They Are Posing For It

How Are They Already On The Textbook If They Are Posing For It

ricbah Report

Things that should be avoided include: someone or something holding a thing that is holding a thing; two people wearing the same thing, pictures of a thing next to itself, a sticker under a sticker, a mask under an identical mask, or a camera attached to a camera. Unfortunately, doors behind doors also don’t count!

As the subreddit has grown to quite a size, the moderators have started taking a different approach to what kind of content they let through and which posts they remove. Currently, they’re focusing on increasing the number of high-quality photos and filtering out low-effort and/or low-quality content.

#16

Someone Tried To Break Into An Auto Parts Store Near My House

Someone Tried To Break Into An Auto Parts Store Near My House

cyborgwaffle Report

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80 Van
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Joke’s on you! We don’t let our employees experience natural daylight!

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#18

4 Health Bars: The Abyss Watchers

4 Health Bars: The Abyss Watchers

Crashman2004 Report

“Content posted on our subreddit should resemble something new and original. It's low effort when you have posted something that is comparable to, but is not as good as, already existing content on the subreddit,” they explain.

If something looks dull, unappealing, or generally brings the quality of the community down, the mods have the power to remove it. “In this past year, this sub has grown in size. No longer are the days when literally all the posts were about ‘seeing double’ of something. In fact, we are trying to move forward from that kind of content. In the past, we didn't remove low-quality content because that would ultimately kill the sub. Now is the time for change,” they explain their reasoning.

#19

Japanese Mascot Kumamon Putting His Face Through His Own Cutout

Japanese Mascot Kumamon Putting His Face Through His Own Cutout

reddit.com Report

#20

This Candle Which Makes A New Candle From Its Melted Wax

This Candle Which Makes A New Candle From Its Melted Wax

blueraider615 Report

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#21

He’s My Step Son

He’s My Step Son

meemee-man Report

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80 Van
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Clearly they added a new staircase that meet modern steepness requirements. I’m frankly glad they didn’t bother with the expense of tearing out the old stairs just for aesthetic purposes.

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Some examples of low-effort posts include: double-labeled items, boxes in boxes, packages in packages, glasses over glasses, double notebook covers, smaller versions of fruits and vegetables inside one another (alas, a favorite of mine), and anything food or drink-related. Screenshots of any kind also don’t count.

#24

My Aging Shift Knob And A Perfectly Good One Lurking Underneath !

My Aging Shift Knob And A Perfectly Good One Lurking Underneath !

ripyurballsoff Report

Which of these photos did you enjoy the most, dear Readers? Have you seen anything recently that would be a perfect fit for r/2healthbars? What’s the most surprising video game boss fight that you’ve ever encountered? Share your thoughts below. Oh, and if you’re curious (and a small spoiler warning here), I’m a huge fan of what happens with the Guardian Ape boss in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. I think there’s hardly a better example of a boss that’d fit the r/2healthbars sub!

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#26

When An Enemy Splits Into Several Small Enemies Instead Of Dying

When An Enemy Splits Into Several Small Enemies Instead Of Dying

gubenlo Report

#27

Ready For Some Serious Walking

Ready For Some Serious Walking

jpterodactyl Report

#29

Found This Hammer In The Airbnb I'm Staying In. I Was Intrigued To Discover It Rattled. Then I Discovered The Extra Health Bars!

Found This Hammer In The Airbnb I'm Staying In. I Was Intrigued To Discover It Rattled. Then I Discovered The Extra Health Bars!

hairyfacedhooman Report

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#31

Apple-Ception

Apple-Ception

Scaulbylausis Report

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Brunettechameleon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If I received that gift my hopes would be going up and down and it would be an emotional roller coaster

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#32

This Apple Has An Apple On It

This Apple Has An Apple On It

EvilLemons01 Report

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Chinmayee Kalghatgi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

An apple developed by the Apple company. Must’ve cost a fortune since apple products are expensive

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#33

This Mouse Gave Birth

This Mouse Gave Birth

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mcborge1
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nice, combining a travel mouse for your laptop bag and a full size mouse for your desktop.

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#35

Hard Boiled Rock

Hard Boiled Rock

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Mazer
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Called Inclusions. These are rounded to angular masses of solid material enclosed within a rock of recognizably different composition or texture. Those consisting of older material not directly related to that of their host are known as xenoliths, and those representing broken-up and detached older parts. We live on a dynamic planet geologically speaking

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#38

Though This Place Was Closing But It Was Just Entering Phase 2

Though This Place Was Closing But It Was Just Entering Phase 2

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#39

This Tree Has A Second Later Of Different Bark

This Tree Has A Second Later Of Different Bark

MrAdjunctPanda Report

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Pixie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's interesting, does someone know why? Is this normal for this kind of tree?

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#42

Bottle Of Rum Within A Bottle Of Vodka

Bottle Of Rum Within A Bottle Of Vodka

yoonrihan Report

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Andy Acceber
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What a nifty container. I think I'd reuse it for olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

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#43

Thy Lover Is Thyself

Thy Lover Is Thyself

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Andy Acceber
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's great. Love yourself at both your highs and your lows. Good self-esteem.

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#44

Pulling Up The The Flooring In My Porch To Reveal More Flooring

Pulling Up The The Flooring In My Porch To Reveal More Flooring

reddit.com Report

#45

The Room Before The Final Boss Where The Game Lets You Stock Up

The Room Before The Final Boss Where The Game Lets You Stock Up

titusmoley Report

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Brunettechameleon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is what ppl wanted in their bathrooms during the pandemic. That’s why they hoarded paper items and soap.

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#46

My Headphones With An Adapter Actually Already Had The Correct Piece Screwed Under The End

My Headphones With An Adapter Actually Already Had The Correct Piece Screwed Under The End

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#49

Looks Don't Matter, It's What On The Inside

Looks Don't Matter, It's What On The Inside

__vs__ Report

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Brunettechameleon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

🎶I’m a piece of garbage🎶 Does anyone even know the song I’m talking about lol

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#50

A Case For The Case

A Case For The Case

Hampusfredrik Report

Note: this post originally had 81 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.