History Main / LimitedUseMagicalDevice

* In most installments of the ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'' series prior to ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'', most spellbooks function like [[BreakableWeapons any other weapon]] in that can only be used for a set amount of times before breaking. There are a few exceptions, though.
** The aforementioned title, as well as VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage exclude durability for all weapons, including tomes (and scrolls in the former).
** VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden and its remake, ''Echoes'', also exclude weapon durability for physical weapons, but both Black Magic (except Nosferatu) and White Magic drain the caster's HP. The HP drain can be somewhat mitigated through usable self-healing items, heal tiles, and another ally using White Magic on them, but can't be disabled by the player entirely. However, exclusive to ''Shadows of Valentia'', Jedah can cast magic without depleting his HP.
*** Additionally, ''Sacred Echoes'', the GBA demake of the latter, uses this magic system as an intentional feature to remain faithful to the 3DS game, as the creator had intended.
** VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses returns to weapon durability, including low durability for spells (except for certain classes that have abilities to grant higher spell uses for specific magic types). Spells can't be replenished in the map once out of uses, but return to their original number of uses after the map is over.

** VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden and its remake, ''Echoes'', also exclude weapon durability for physical weapons, but both Black Magic (except Nosferatu) and White Magic drain the caster's HP. The HP drain can be somewhat mitigated through usable self-healing items, heal tiles, and another ally using White Magic on them, but can't be disabled by the player entirely. However, Jedah has an exclusive ring that allows him to cast magic without depleting his HP.

* In most installments of the ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'' series prior to ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'', most spellbooks function like [[BreakableWeapons any other weapon]] in that can only be used for a set amount of times before breaking. The only exceptions, along with the aforementioned, are VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden and its remake, VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses, and VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage. Fates and Engage exclude durability for all weapons, including tomes (and scrolls in the former). Gaiden and Echoes also exclude weapon durability for physical weapons, but both Black Magic (except Nosferatu) and White Magic drain the caster's HP; the HP drain can be somewhat mitigated through usable self-healing items, heal tiles, and another ally using White Magic on them, but can't be disabled entirely. Three Houses returns to weapon durability, including low durability for spells (except for certain classes that have abilities to grant higher spell uses for specific magic types); spells can't be replenished in the map once out of uses, but return to their original number of uses after the map is over.

* In most installments of the ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'' series prior to ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'', most spellbooks function like [[BreakableWeapons any other weapon]] in that can only be used for a set amount of times before breaking. The only exceptions, along with the aforementioned, are VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden and its remake, VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses, and VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage. Fates and Engage exclude durability for all weapons, including tomes (and scrolls in the former). Gaiden and Echoes also exclude weapon durability for physical weapons, but both Black Magic (except Nosferatu) and White Magic drain the caster's HP; the HP drain can be mitigated through usable self-healing items, heal tiles, and another ally using White Magic on them. Three Houses returns to weapon durability, including low durability for spells (except for certain classes that have abilities to grant higher spell uses for specific magic types); spells can't be replenished in the map once out of uses, but return to their original number of uses after the map is over.

* In most installments of the ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'' series prior to ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'', most spellbooks function like [[BreakableWeapons any other weapon]] in that can only be used for a set amount of times before breaking. The only exceptions, along with the aforementioned, are VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden and its remake, VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses, and VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage. Fates and Engage exclude durability for all weapons, including tomes (and scrolls in the former). Gaiden and Echoes also exclude weapon durability for physical weapons, but both Black Magic and White Magic (except Nosferatu) drain the caster's HP; the HP drain can be mitigated through usable self-healing items, heal tiles, and another ally using White Magic on them. Three Houses returns to weapon durability, including low durability for spells (except for certain classes that have abilities to grant higher spell uses for specific magic types); spells can't be replenished in the map once out of uses, but return to their original number of uses after the map is over.

* In most installments of the ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'' series prior to ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'', most spellbooks function like [[BreakableWeapons any other weapon]] in that can only be used for a set amount of times before breaking. The only exceptions, along with the aforementioned, are VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden and its remake, VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses, and VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage. Fates and Engage exclude durability for all weapons, including tomes (and scrolls in the former). Gaiden and Echoes also exclude weapon durability for physical weapons, but both Black Magic and White Magic drain the caster's HP; the HP drain can be mitigated through usable self-healing items, heal tiles, and another ally using White Magic on them. Three Houses returns to weapon durability, including low durability for spells (except for certain classes that have abilities to grant higher spell uses for specific magic types); spells can't be replenished in the map once out of uses, but return to their original number of uses after the map is over.

* In most installments of the ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'' series prior to ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'', most spellbooks function like [[BreakableWeapons any other weapon]] in that can only be used for a set amount of times before breaking.

!!Examples

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* ''ComicBook/XMen'': A minor character is a mutant whose power is related to the tattoos he has on his body. Each one grants a power that the tattoo symbolically represents, such as flight from wings or telepathy from lightning bolts on his head (referencing the silver age depiction of Xavier's telepathy). It's revealed that that guy is not a mutant - rather, his tattoo artist is the real mutant and each tattoo he makes saps his willpower until he ends up in a coma attempting to emulate the Phoenix Force.

[[folder:Fanfic]]

* The [[HomosexualReproduction "Most Special Spell"]] from the ''Fanfic/TriptychContinuum'' usually comes as one of these, as fleshed out in ''Fanfic/AnchorFoalII'', [[https://www.fimfiction.net/story/520330/9/anchor-foal-ii-return-of-the-cringe/their-birthdays-are-scheduled-as-celebrate-celebrate-celebrate-gallop-for-your-lives chapter 9]].

[[folder:Film]]
* ''Film/{{Munchhausen}}'': Cagliostro gives Baron Munchhausen a ring that will make the wearer invisible...but only once, for ten minutes, after which the magic ring becomes an inert ordinary ring. Munchhausen uses his ring to rescue Isabella from the sultan's harem.

** D&D is the TropeCodifier; its scrolls allow spellcasters to cast the contained spell once without using a spell slot, after which the writing on the scroll is erased and the scroll becomes magically inert. Unlike many later examples, the caster must still be able to cast spells of the proper type ([[MutuallyExclusiveMagic arcane or divine]]); a MagicallyIneptFighter can't use a scroll to cast fireballs[[note]]Some editions have the Use Magic Device skill, which anyone can use, that can allow faking spellcasting ability long enough to use a scroll, wand, etc.[[/note]]. Also, many scrolls contain more than one spell (even the weakest can hold up to three).
** In early editions of AD&D magic-users/wizards can only cast spells that they have prepared beforehand by expending a spell slot, not by reading them directly from their spellbooks. However, in the AD&D 1st Edition ''Unearthed Arcana'' supplement Gary Gygax changed the official rules to allow magic users to read spells from their spellbooks as if they were scrolls in an emergency situation. Doing so destroys the spell in the spellbook (essentially "unlearning" the spell), has a 1% chance per spell level of destroying the two adjacent spells in the spellbook, and a 1% chance of destroying the whole spellbook.

* Referenced in ''Webcomic/EightBitTheater'', which is based on a mix of Final Fantasy and D&D. The "Light Warriors" come across Chancellor Usurper while he's monologuing and he attempts to defend his actions by claiming he was reading from a letter that disappeared like a scroll. To which Black Mage states that scrolls don't disappear, just the writing on them.

* ''VideoGame/MinecraftDungeons'' averts this by having every artifact in the game be infinitely reusable, with the only caveat being that you need to wait for cooldown to expire before the item can be used again.

The limited-serving, FunSize version of a SpellBook, a Limited Use Magical Device generally contains a [[VancianMagic single spell]] or a handful of spells or "uses" of a single spell, that is cast instantly on being activated, after which the item either becomes inert or is [[NoOntologicalInertia destroyed]]. They most often take the form of a scroll, but are not necessarily limited to them.

* In the world of ''Franchise/{{Naruto}}'', people are capable of using single-use Ninja Scrolls to inscribe elemental jutsus onto them for various reasons. This ranges from [[MakingASplash Water Style]], to even [[SummonMagic Summoning Jutsus]]. Due to this, a ninja can use a element they normally do not have, provided they have a moment to open and use it.

* ''Literature/DragonAndDamsel'': Shed dragon scales have residues of magic in them, enough for a handful of spells to be powered by them. Even humans who don't have any magic of their own can cast spells with them, if they know the words to the spell. [[spoiler: Bernadette uses a dragon scale to cast two different spells—one that lets her become a shadow, and another that heals Azrael.]]

* ''Literature/JillKismet'': Among Jill's weapons is a "sunsword" that is very good for killing creatures on the nightside, but has to be charged in the sun during the daytime. At the climax of the first book she manages to drain so much energy out of it killing a hellbreed prince that it's rendered inert for the rest of the series, and she frequently wishes it still worked.

* In ''Series/TheSchoolNurseFiles'', Eun-young can only swing her magical sword and fire her magic BB pistol a limited number of times a day. She can recharge here magic by touching In-pyo.

** In early editions of AD&D magic-users/wizards can only cast spells that they have prepared beforehand by expending a spell slot, not by reading them directly from their spellbooks. However, in the AD&D 1st Edition ''Unearthed Arcana'' supplement Gary Gygax changed the official rules to allow magic-users to read spells from their spellbooks as if they were scrolls in an emergency situation. Doing so destroys the spell in the spellbook (essentially "unlearning" the spell), has a 1% chance per spell level of destroying the two adjacent spells in the spellbook, and a 1% chance of destroying the whole spellbook.
** Many magical items such as wands, staffs and rings have a limited number of "charges", some of which are consumed every time the spell within the item is cast. Once the charges are consumed the item becomes useless. This is downplayed in later editions, where these items can "recharge" and regain a random number of charges overnight, but if all are used up at once have a chance to crumble into dust or otherwise turn inert.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Numenera}}'' has the eponymous artifacts left behind by the precursor civilizations. The most common type of numenera, the cyphers, are one-shot items the game encourages you to expend as an AntiHoarding measure. Artifacts, on the other hand, are much more durable, although most have the "Depletion" stat, given in standard UsefulNotes/{{dice}} notation, which means that every time you use an artifact, you have to roll those dice and if the result is below the given threshold, the items goes inert and useless.

* In ''VideoGame/PillarsOfEternity'', anyone with a high Lore skill can cast spells from scrolls, which is usually a good option if you need an additional caster or want to spam a particular spell without expending the caster's spell slots (since scrolls can be [[ItemCrafting crafted]] in ridiculous quantities by the endgame). There are also Rites--a special non-craftable, non-purchaseable kind of scrolls that boost the entire party's skills for a long period of time.

* ''VideoGame/PathOfExile'' follows the ''VideoGame/DiabloII'' model and has only two types of scrolls, Scroll of Wisdom (Identify) and Portal Scroll, but with a few twists. First, both types serve as PracticalCurrency, since in-game vendors don't accept gold as payment. Secondly, early game enemies rarely drop whole Scrolls of Wisdom, so you'll have to put them together from five Scroll Fragments. Lastly, you can skip Portal Scrolls entirely if you find the colorless Portal gem, which takes up one active skill slot but frees up some inventory space.
** The game has a wide variety of orbs, stones, scraps that can be used to improve, adjust and customize your equipment; upgrading items to magic or rare status, rerolling enchantments, adding enchantments, adding/recoloring/linking skill gem slots, and more. Like the aformentioned scrolls, all are consumed on use, and the game refers to them colloquially as "currency" due to their importance in bartering.

** There are single use crystals that can be used to cast spells the characters don't know yet, and to save on magic afterwards.

* ''VideoGame/PixelDungeon'' (and its mods) contain scrolls which allow you to cast a special non-wand spell once per scroll, allowing you to do everything from damaging your enemies to escaping from them.

* ''Webcomic/{{Erfworld}}'': Its scrolls appears to be single use. It's [[https://wiki.erfworld.com/TBFGK_17 here]] in the caster's hands, then [[https://wiki.erfworld.com/TBFGK_18 it's gone]].

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]

->'''Blinky:''' Ah! Powers of this device are limited to three rules. According to the inscription, if my Salickacious is correct, the first is that only one person can step outside of time.\\
'''Toby:''' Oh.\\
'''Blinky:''' Secondly, the time-stopping effect lasts for precisely 43 minutes and 9 seconds. \\
'''Claire:''' And the third? \\
'''Blinky:''' You can only use it, uh… three times. Well! Now, we know the rules!\\

** The eponymous Elder Scrolls themselves are an {{aversion}}, being ridiculously powerful [[TomeOfEldritchLore cosmic artifacts]] that, when they can be (meaningfully) read at all (it takes either years of training or special LostTechnology), do not disappear.

* ''TabletopGame/ArsMagica'' 5[[superscript:th]] Edition has "charged items" that are {{Item Craft}}ed with a limited number of "castings" of a spell effect and a preset trigger. In exchange, they're much cheaper to create than permanent item enchantments. They were added to the game as a generic alternative to 4[[superscript:th]] Edition's {{Magic Potion}}s.

Compare and contrast SpellBook, which is usually non-consumable and permanently teaches the reader one or more spells. Compare BreakableWeapons for physical weapons with this trait. See also ItOnlyWorksOnce, a similar trope about a device or a tactic that can only be used one time.

** Many magical items such as wands or rings have a limited number of "charges", some of which are consumed every time the spell within the item is cast. Once the charges are consumed the item becomes useless.

Compare and contrast SpellBook, which is usually non-consumable and permanently teaches the reader one or more spells. Compare BreakableWeapons for physical weapons with this trait.

* ''VideoGame/SkiesOfArcadia'' has single use crystals that can be used to cast spells the characters don't know yet, and to save on magic afterwards.

* The Kairosect from ''WesternAnimation/{{Trollhunters}}'' was a magical device kept within Gatto's keep that gives the user [[TimeStandsStill the ability to freeze time around them]]. Unfortunately, it only lasts less than an hour at a time and can only be used three times before becoming completely useless.