Stuns

Stuns are brief periods during which a person or object loses the ability to act normally. The effect can involve impaired consciousness, disorientation, or motor incapacity, and it is typically short-lived. In fiction and gaming, stuns are a common mechanism used to create strategic openings or to convey dramatic moments.

In video games and tabletop games, a stun is a status effect that prevents movement or actions for a set duration. Some stuns also reduce accuracy, disable attacks, or leave the character vulnerable. The duration and strength of stuns vary by game rules, with some systems allowing resistances, cleanses, or temporary immunity after repeated applications.

In medical and everyday usage, “stunned” is an informal term describing a dazed or confused state after a blow, loud noise, or surprise. It is not a formal diagnostic term; more precise language includes concussion, delirium, stupor, syncope, or transient ischemic events depending on context.

Stun devices or grenades and similar equipment are designed to temporarily disorient or incapacitate a person, usually through intense light, noise, and/or electric shock. Their legality and safety requirements vary by jurisdiction, and improper use can cause injury. Discussions of stun devices and their regulation are accordingly governed by applicable laws and policy.