History Main / MagicTool

* Also the Mother Boxes from Jack Kirby' ''ComicBook/NewGods'' metaseries. Usually looking something like a cassette tape, each is basically what gods use in place of a smart phone [[note]] And their first appearance actually predates the first smart phone by almost half a century [[/note]]. The list of things they can do is mind-boggling: create a handy disguise, knock enemies out, open up a teleportation portal, change local gravity, heal injuries... also they're alive and sentient in their own right.

* ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'': the [[http://www.wowhead.com/item=40772 Gnomish Army Knife]] is a straight example of this trope. Created by high level engineers, this device give you the functionality of a blacksmithing hammer, skinning knife, [[strike: screwdriver]] Gyromatic Micro-Adjuster, Arclight Spanner, and a mining Pick. Also, has a function to bring a player back from the dead, if you are a skilled enough engineer. Originally had a option for flint and tinder in order to create camping fires, but the need for them was removed from the game entirely and from the item specifically.

* Although not strictly a tool [[http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/prestidigitation.htm prestidigitation]] has the most functions of any single spell.

* ''VideoGame/{{Homeworld}}'': The mysterious green beam, which fixes ships, is apparently the reverse operation of the mysterious ''red'' beam which gathers resources. In the sequel, harvesting is done by mechanical arms on the harvester, an apparent step back in technology. Probably taken from/inspired by ''Total Annihilation'' (see above), which predates ''Homeworld'' by a couple of years.
** Well, the red beam actually is a Phased Deconstructor Array, using plasma torches to break down raw materials...[[CherryTapping or enemy ships]]. It's AllThereInTheManual.

* ''WhateleyUniverse'': At the SuperHeroSchool Whateley Academy, Compiler has the power to control and animate nanites within five feet of herself. She has a nanotech MagicTool that she even calls a [[ShoutOut 'sonic screwdriver']]. We've seen it transform into a magic marker complete with working ink. It's nothing ''but'' nanites, so it doesn't work if it's not close to her.

* ''{{Starcraft}}'' has a more "realistic" depiction, for the Protoss and Zerg, since neither really builds or repairs their structures. Protoss teleport theirs from their homeworld, and the Zerg buildings are living organisms grown from the ground by converting a harvester unit into a cocoon.

* In ''StarWars'' Battlefront II, the engineer's fusion cutter can fix destructible objects, disarm mines, and cut into enemy tanks to hijack them, but not cut open an enemy.

* ''Savage'': There's no problem that can't be solved by hitting it with a sword.

* ''VideoGame/JaggedAlliance 2'' plays with the trope a bit. Instead of a repair tool, you have repair tool''kits'', a consumable item that apparently contains the necessary spare parts and equipment to patch up ''anything''; firearms, night-vision goggles, body armour and even (in the v1.13 expansion pack) holsters and other load-bearing equipment.
* ''Franchise/RedFaction: Armageddon'' has the nanoforge, which can recreate structures exactly as they were, project a shield, break though walls and kill enemies in several different ways.

** [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by the War Doctor, who is dumbfounded by Ten and Eleven pointing them like "magic wands."

Compare GreenRocks, DuctTapeForEverything, and GreenLanternRing. For one of these that can break things instead of fixing them, see SwissArmyWeapon. Not related to {{Ancient Artifact}}s of [[Manga/SoulEater tremendous power]] or {{Magic Wand}}s, which are usually magical.

[[folder:Film]]
* In ''Film/SixStringSamurai'' all that is needed to fix a car is a ratchet, cranked a few time on the dashboard. This may have been intentional, as the rest of the movie is pretty ridiculous, too.
* All mobile phones of Film/JamesBond. [[InstantSedation Taser]], remote control for your car and hacking/lockpicking skill of 5000. Magic! Averted in ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006'' and ''Film/QuantumOfSolace'', where the phones are just, well standard phones. ProductPlacement ensures we get a ''good long look'' at them.

* Batons in ''Film/TronLegacy'' can do many different things depending on how they are used. The first example is creating a [[CoolBike light cycle]] . They can also create [[CoolPlane light jets]], a LaserBlade or [[DualWielding Two]], a [[DoubleWeapon staff]] version of said blades, a [[GrapplingHookPistol Grappling hook]], and.... a parasol.

* The proposed [[http://www.kurzweilai.net/articles/art0220.html?printable=1 Utility Fog]] [[spoiler:Hob is [[AllThereInTheManual made from]] ]]in ''DresdenCodak''.

* Penny's "book" in ''InspectorGadget'' seems to be a complete electronic warfare system packed into a notebook computer.

A universal, mundane-looking, multi-purpose hand tool whose user can magically fix any machine or structure without raw materials or effort, simply by waving it at the target from close range. Surprisingly, it is often not much use as a weapon.

Carried by the universal {{Worker Unit}}s in RealTimeStrategy games, and the Engineer classes in team-based {{First Person Shooter}}s. If it ''really'' is magic, then it is likely {{magitek}}.

Compare GreenRocks, DuctTapeForEverything and GreenLanternRing. For one of these that can break things instead of fixing them, see SwissArmyWeapon. Not related to {{ancient artifact}}s of [[Manga/SoulEater tremendous power]] or {{Magic Wand}}s, which are usually magical.

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!!Examples

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* The omnicoms used by DC's ''Comicbook/{{Legion Of Super-Heroes}}'' resemble [=iPhones=] with all manner of scanning/sensing and computing capabilities, although they actually predate the [=iPhone=] (and the cell phone, and the laptop computer) by several decades.

* ''VideoGame/{{Planet Side}}2'' features the Engineer class's handheld Nano Armor Kit, a pistol-sized tool capable of repairing any damage to faction specific machinery through the power of white [[NanoTechnology nanite]] beams, which have no limit aside from OverHeating. Averted by the Nano Dispenser (also known as a [[FanNickname Glue Gun]]) and the Body Armor Nano Kit in the first game, which repaired vehicles and armor (respectively) using cartridges of nanites loaded into the tools, which needed to be reloaded on a semi-regular basis when repairing lots of items.

* ''VideoGame/{{PlanetSide}}2'' features the Engineer class's handheld Nano Armor Kit, a pistol-sized tool capable of repairing any damage to faction specific machinery through the power of white [[NanoTechnology nanite]] beams, which have no limit aside from OverHeating. Averted by the Nano Dispenser (also known as a [[FanNickname Glue Gun]]) and the Body Armor Nano Kit in the first game, which repaired vehicles and armor (respectively) using cartridges of nanites loaded into the tools, which needed to be reloaded on a semi-regular basis when repairing lots of items.

* ''VideoGame/PlanetSide 2'' features the Engineer class's handheld Nano Armor Kit, a pistol-sized tool capable of repairing any damage to faction specific machinery through the power of white [[NanoTechnology nanite]] beams, which have no limit aside from OverHeating. Averted by the Nano Dispenser (also known as a [[FanNickname Glue Gun]]) and the Body Armor Nano Kit in the first game, which repaired vehicles and armor (respectively) using cartridges of nanites loaded into the tools, which needed to be reloaded on a semi-regular basis when repairing lots of items.

* ''VideoGame/{{Half-Life 2}}'' series

* Construction units and Commanders in ''TotalAnnihilation'' had nanolathes, which could create buildings and units, absorb terrain objects and wrecks for resources, repair damaged units, restore wrecked units and structures to full combat readiness, and even capture enemy units.
* In ''[[FarCry Far Cry 2]]'', any kind of damage to any vehicle (short of complete destruction, natch) can be fixed by taking a few moments to tighten a bolt somewhere under the hood with your ratchet of awesome.

* In ''SinsOfASolarEmpire'', the construction ships can build any structure. ''With a blowtorch''

* ''DesertStrike'' features "Armor Repair" Toolboxes scattered about each level, pick one up and it inexplicably repairs your chopper to full strength.

Compare GreenRocks, DuctTapeForEverything and GreenLanternRing. For one of these that can break things instead of fixing them, see SwissArmyWeapon. Not related to {{ancient artifact}}s of [[SoulEater tremendous power]] or {{Magic Wand}}s, which are usually magical.

Carried by the universal {{Worker Unit}}s in RealTimeStrategy games, and the Engineer classes in team-based {{First Person Shooter}}s.

Compare GreenRocks, DuctTapeForEverything and GreenLanternRing. For one of these that can break things instead of fixing them, see SwissArmyWeapon. Not related to [[SoulEater ancient artifacts of tremendous power]].

Usually DoesntWorkOnWood would crop up so as to prevent the characters from using it as DeusExMachina.

Usually DoesntWorkOnWood would crop up so as to prevent the characters from using it as DeuxExMachina.

[[folder:Comics]]

* ''SteelgripStarkeyAndTheAllPurposePowerTool'' was centered around this trope. It's the size of a toolbox, but can be programmed to perform any task, from raising a skyscraper to clearing a polluted gulf. It runs on no visible power source, synthesizes new components and materials out of thin air, and is apparently indestructible.

* ''PlanetSide 2'' features the Engineer class's handheld Nano Armor Kit, a pistol-sized tool capable of repairing any damage to faction specific machinery through the power of white [[NanoTechnology nanite]] beams, which have no limit aside from OverHeating. Averted by the Nano Dispenser (also known as a [[FanNickname Glue Gun]]) and the Body Armor Nano Kit in the first game, which repaired vehicles and armor (respectively) using cartridges of nanites loaded into the tools, which needed to be reloaded on a semi-regular basis when repairing lots of items.

* All mobile phones of Film/JamesBond. [[InstantSedation Taser]], remote control for your car and hacking/lockpicking skill of 5000. Magic! Averted in ''Film/CasinoRoyale'' and ''Film/QuantumOfSolace'', where the phones are just, well standard phones. ProductPlacement ensures we get a ''good long look'' at them.

* ''LegoIndianaJones'' and other Lego games feature Lego hammers and/or wrenches which are used to fix broken machinery. Often this will require recruiting someone with a tool or finding the tool yourself. ''LegoStarWars'' and its sequels dispense with tools and have broken machines fixed with TheForce.
** ''Lego HarryPotter'' has Arthur Weasley and his magic wrench. Of course in this case, [[AWizardDidIt it being magical is justified.]]

* For [[GameMod cross]][[{{Minecraft}} -mod]] compatibility, you can use the BuildCraft wrench on almost any tech mod's machines.

* ''JaggedAlliance 2'' plays with the trope a bit. Instead of a repair tool, you have repair tool''kits'', a consumable item that apparently contains the necessary spare parts and equipment to patch up ''anything''; firearms, night-vision goggles, body armour and even (in the v1.13 expansion pack) holsters and other load-bearing equipment.