We consider the asymptotic behaviour of the second discrete Painlevé equation in the limit as the independent variable becomes large. Using asymptotic power series, we find solutions that are asymptotically pole-free within some region of the complex plane. These asymptotic solutions exhibit Stokes phenomena, which is typically invisible to classical power series methods. We subsequently apply exponential asymptotic techniques to investigate such phenomena, and obtain mathematical descriptions of the rapid switching behaviour associated with Stokes curves. Through this analysis, we determine the regions of the complex plane in which the asymptotic behaviour is described by a power series expression, and find that the behaviour of these asymptotic solutions shares a number of features with the tronquée and tri-tronquée solutions of the second continuous Painlevé equation.

We consider the asymptotic behaviour of solutions of the first q-difference Painlevé equation in the limits |q| → 1 and n → ∞. Using asymptotic power series, we describe four families of solutions that contain free parameters hidden beyond-all-orders. These asymptotic solutions exhibit Stokes phenomena, which is typically invisible to classical power series methods. In order to investigate such phenomena we apply exponential asymptotic techniques to obtain mathematical descriptions of the rapid switching behaviour associated with Stokes curves. Through this analysis, we also determine the regions of the complex plane in which the asymptotic behaviour is described by a power series expression, and find that the Stokes curves are described by curves known as q-spirals.