In the Marvel series Loki, pruning refers to the process of removing a timeline or a person from existence. The Time Variance Authority (TVA) uses disintegrating sticks or glowing batons to prune timelines or people who deviate from the "sacred timeline". When a timeline is pruned, it is completely obliterated, and the person who is pruned is erased from existence. However, in episode 4, it is revealed that pruning may not be what it initially appeared to be. Loki and Mobius are pruned by Ravonna Renslayer, but Loki wakes up in a new place surrounded by other Loki variants. This suggests that pruning may not lead to death but instead drops people into a prison world that is specific to Loki. The TVA has two different ways to prune timelines or people in Loki. The most common is when a Nexus event occurs and the resulting splinter timeline requires dealing with. In this instance, the Minutemen will leave behind a grenade-like reset charge which, based on what has been shown thus far, completely obliterates that deviating timeline.