History Main / ImprobableAccessoryEffect

** Heck, all the way back in VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3 there was a leaf that gave you the tail and ears of a raccoon, allowing you to fly. (It's a reference to the tanuki-- not a raccoon-- which supposedly put a leaf on its head to transform into other creatures. They could also turn into statues, which the Tanuki Suit lets you do so in the game. Why tanuki-related effects allow you to fly, though, is a mystery for the ages.
** Don't forget mushrooms that make you grow giant and flowers that let you shoot fireballs. In fact, we should probably just put 'the Mario series' on the list and be done with it. (The mushrooms are in the vein of ''Literature/AliceInWonderland'', which had mushrooms that made Alice grow and shrink, and the flower is a pun on the Japanese word for fireworks, "hanabi", which literally means "fire flower".)

* ''{{Suikoden}} III'' has sets of armor and accessories that are divided up into things that particular characters can use based on their relative size/class; characters that can wear lightweight things generally can't wear heavyweight things, and so on. In particular there is the "Girl" class of items which generally can only be worn by women, which includes jewelry pieces-- but the first Squishy Wizard you can get in your party can equip Girl-class accessories despite being a man. The strategy guide advises buying him a pearl necklace (and taking him out to dinner).

* ''PlanescapeTorment'', being in large part a deconstruction of [=RPGs=], has no armor or shields, and precisely one sword somewhere late in the game (and one other that its user cannot let go of since it is actually shapeless matter formed by his force of will). What it ''does'' have is tattoo slots, earrings, equippable intestines, replaceable teeth, and an ''eyeball'' item slot. On the other hand... nothing would actually fall into this trope by virtue of the entire world being flat-out made out of magic and nothing else to begin with.

* The ''{{Pokemon}}'' series lets you make your team carry everything from claws to tails to rocks to ashes to scarves to bows to ribbons to berries to herbs to ''sweat'' and ''drool'' and even ''breath'' of other Pokémon to get stat boosts or other effects. You can make a Pokémon hold anything, but a large set of them actually grant a tangible benefit like +10% damage with a certain move type, a small stat boost, always going first, etc. There are also consumable items that the Pokémon will use automatically when hurt or affected with a status ailment.

* Stickers in ''SuperSmashBrosBrawl''. And the BunnyHood.

* ''SecretOfEvermore''. Every accessory in the entire game. Chocobo Egg gives you and your dog more HP? A ring gives you a run button? Some... jewelry-type things... increase your dodge ability? Okay!

* ''VideoGame/SailorMoonAnotherStory'', has the Sailor Senshi equip jewelery to increase their stats rather then any actual equipment. Earrings, Tiaras, and even a wrist watch. The best ones for each senshi use their particular thematic gemstone and for some reason, doesn't work on anyone else if they equip it. They are bought in regular stores run by muggles, (Though the character specific ones have to be found) so they can't even be magical.
* These things are everywhere in PhantasyStarOnline. Weapons can be anything from a frying pan or wok to a game magazine. Bunny ears, cat ears, and wedding dresses show up as types of armor. And, if you play your cards right, you can turn your MAG into most (if not all) of Sega's game consoles.

*** In that same vein, [[FinalFantasyXIII Snow's]] weapons are sigils sewn on the back of his longcoat. How these help him punch more effectively is beyond us.

* ''KingdomOfLoathing'', being a parody of computer [=RPG=]s, embraces this trope with all of its being. Some things make perfect sense, like the ordinary metal pail you can use as a helmet to absorb damage. Some things make a certain degree of sense, like the duct tape sword that increases your odds of looting items when you defeat monsters. Some things only make sense due to convoluted pop culture associations, like the arrrgyle socks (they have extra R's because they're dropped by pirates) which boost your mysticality as an offhand reference to The Pattern from ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfAmber''. However, there are also [[http://kol.coldfront.net/thekolwiki/index.php/Tiny_Plastic_Enchantments tiny plastic figurines]] you can carry, which inexplicably do anything from doubling your spell damage to raising the odds of monsters dropping candy.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[GreekChorus The point is, how would you block a horse wiener, dood?]]]]

* The TabletopGame/{{MUNCHKIN}} series is overflowing with examples of this.

** ''FinalFantasyVII'' gets in on the act with Red XIII and Cait Sith's "weapons", which are [[ImprobableWeaponUser hairclips and megaphones]] that act as {{Stat Stick}}s (they do not appear on their character models). How do they help them attack? Who knows!

* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' has a number of these, the most famous of which is the [[CommonplaceRare Ribbon]], which for some reason makes you immune to status effects. In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'', they're ''guarded'' by ''dinosaur zombies''. Ribbons are serious business.
** Later installments attempt to explain this by stating that ribbons are made from Malboros, enemies which are infamous for inflicting most, if not all, status effects with their Bad Breath attack.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' has the Cat Hood which doubles your money...cause cats are lucky?
*** It's a reference to the Japanese [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maneki_Neko Maneki Neko]], cat statues that supposedly brings good fortune. They are often put outside shops and other businesses to attract customers, and in that way also money.
** Gets a funny shout out in ''FinalFantasyTacticsA2'' where it's description is "A hood of made from fine white thread. You could make these without the ears, but nobody with any sense would wear them". Not to mention the Sage job. The first Sage you meet berates you for making fun of his hood.
* The badges in ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiSuperstarSaga Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga]]'' (and sequels) and ''VideoGame/PaperMario''. Why does a badge increase attack power, boost stats and make an Infinity Plus One Sword? God knows. It's probably just magic.
** Heck, all the way back in VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3 there was a leaf that gave you the tail and ears of a raccoon, allowing you to fly.
*** It's a reference to the tanuki (not a raccoon), which supposedly put a leaf on its head to transform into other creatures. They could also turn into statues, which the Tanuki Suit lets you do so in the game. Why tanuki-related effects allow you to fly, though, is a mystery for the ages.
** Don't forget mushrooms that make you grow giant and flowers that let you shoot fireballs. In fact, we should probably just put 'the Mario series' on the list and be done with it.
*** The mushrooms are in the vein of ''Literature/AliceInWonderland'', which had mushrooms that made Alice grow and shrink.
*** The flower is a pun on the Japanese word for fireworks, "hanabi", which literally means "fire flower".

* The SailorMoon RPG, Another Story, has the Sailor Senshi equip jewelery to increase their stats rather then any actual equipment. Earrings, Tiaras, and even a wrist watch. The best ones for each senshi use their particular thematic gemstone and for some reason, doesn't work on anyone else if they equip it. They are bought in regular stores run by muggles, (Though the character specific ones have to be found) so they can't even be magical.

* ''PlanescapeTorment'', being in large part a deconstruction of [=RPGs=], has no armor or shields, and precisely one sword somewhere late in the game (and one other that its user cannot let go of since it is actually shapeless matter formed by his force of will). What it ''does'' have is tattoo slots, earrings, equippable intestines, replaceable teeth, and an ''eyeball'' item slot.

* ''PlanescapeTorment'', being in large part a deconstruction of [=RPGs=], has no armor or shields, and precisely one sword somewhere late in the game. What it ''does'' have is tattoo slots, earrings, equippable intestines, replaceable teeth, and an ''eyeball'' item slot.

* ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea}}'' supplies the page image and the former TropeNamer, introducing the Horse Wiener, which you can in fact ''steal'' from the enemy zombie who has it equipped. Equipping the item in question grants 110 Attack, 30 Speed, and 30 Hit (before you enter it and level it up). Thankfully, the in-game picture is merely a [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything large exclamation point]].
** {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d with the Accelerator: ''false teeth'' that vastly increase movement range. The item description reads: "Why teeth?"[[note]]It's a ''{{Cyborg 009}}'' reference. The main character's Accelerator, which speeds up his reaction time to insane levels, was hidden in his back left molar, and was activated by a switch on it. It should be noted you get the item from Kurtis, who is himself a homage of Cyborg 002, from the same series.[[/note]]

** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] with the Accelerator: ''false teeth'' that vastly increase movement range. The item description reads: "Why teeth?"[[note]]It's a ''{{Cyborg 009}}'' reference. The main character's Accelerator, which speeds up his reaction time to insane levels, was hidden in his back left molar, and was activated by a switch on it. It should be noted you get the item from Kurtis, who is himself a homage of Cyborg 002, from the same series.[[/note]]

** Later installments attempt to explain this by stating that ribbons are made from Malboros, enemies which are infamous for inflicting most, if not all, status effects with their Bad Breath attack. Still, that's like being immune to snake venom because you're wearing snake leather boots.

** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] with the Accelerator: ''false teeth'' that vastly increase movement range. The item description reads: "Why teeth?"[[note]It's a ''{{Cyborg 009}}'' reference. The main character's Accelerator, which speeds up his reaction time to insane levels, was hidden in his back left molar, and was activated by a switch on it. It should be noted you get the item from Kurtis, who is himself a homage of Cyborg 002, from the same series.[[/note]]

** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] with the Accelerator: ''false teeth'' that vastly increase movement range. The item description reads: "Why teeth?"[[hottip:* :It's a ''{{Cyborg 009}}'' reference. The main character's Accelerator, which speeds up his reaction time to insane levels, was hidden in his back left molar, and was activated by a switch on it. It should be noted you get the item from Kurtis, who is himself a homage of Cyborg 002, from the same series.]]

** The Black Box: a rocket launcher that heals you whenever you whenever you shoot someone with it. At least the Blutsauger involves needles and blood.

** This is attempted to be explained in later instalments with ribbons being made from malboros, enemies which are known for inflicting many many status effects. Still, that's like being immune to snake venom because you're wearing snake leather boots.

[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/{{Disgaea}} http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/horsewiener.jpg]]]]

* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' has the Equalizer, a pickaxe that lets you run faster when you're low on HP.