History Main / PowerCrutch

* Notably subverted in ''TheLordOfTheRings'', where Théoden's advisor Grima ''thinks'' Gandalf's staff is a Power Crutch, and orders the doorwarden Hama to have Gandalf surrender it. (The consensus among Tolkien fandom is that the staves of the Five Wizards are just lengths of ordinary wood.)

* In the last book of the ''HarryPotter'' series, wandmaker Ollivander explains that wizards and witches can channel magic through just about anything to cast their spells such as an ordinary stick. Without such a crutch, a person's magic will have uncontrolled and unpredictable results -- a wand is needed to properly focus the magic into spells. To get the best results they need to use wands that are suited to them. Since a wand is to some extent an EmpathicWeapon, it will only work perfectly for someone it likes. The wand choosing ceremony in a wand shop makes sure that this is the case for the customer's wand. Since wands also like to be owned by the strongest wizard/witch possible, they will also switch their loyalties to people who claim them by defeating their previous owners in a contest of magic or strength. Hermione can't use Bellatrix's stolen wand very well because she never actually defeated her in such a contest; she remarks that it still feels like a piece of Bellatrix herself.

* In the ''{{Ravirn}}'' series of novels by Kelly [=McCullough=], webgoblins and trolls are usually required to perform spells. Some like the Fates and Eris can cast spells by humming or whistling tunes, but this is usually more difficult and slower than casting a spell through a webgoblin.

* Notably subverted in ''TheLordOfTheRings'', where Theoden's advisor Grima ''thinks'' Gandalf's staff is a Power Crutch, and orders the doorwarden Hama to have Gandalf surrender it. (The consensus among Tolkien fandom is that the staves of the Five Wizards are just lengths of ordinary wood.)

* Happens to [[spoiler:[[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Accel]][[CompleteMonster erator]]]] in ''ToAruMajutsuNoIndex'' after he suffers from brain damage and has to use a battery powered HiveMind to control his powers.

* In ''Mage'', Kevin Matchstick's baseball bat Excalibur is one of these. If Excalibur gets more than a few yards away from Kevin, his powers conk out.

* In the Ravirn series of novels by Kelly [=McCullough=], webgoblins and trolls are usually required to perform spells. Some like the Fates and Eris can cast spells by humming or whistling tunes, but this is usually more difficult and slower than casting a spell through a webgoblin.

** His paintings do become more focused while sober though. When he's sober he can actually focus on a certain person's future, such as Claire or Hiro. On heroin though, he has a tendency to paint the future totally at random.

* In ''{{Gargoyles}}'', people who use human magic tend to need a magical object or scrolls to cast spells. The Magus can do it without using one, but it hurts a lot and one too many spells kills him.

Without the Power Crutch, the character will find it difficult, if not impossible to use his or her powers. Characters who use Power Crutches can eventually learn to use their abilities without them. The power user, or sometimes others, may even mistake the Power Crutch for the ''source'' of his powers-- though it isn't.

* Lady Liberty from the Force of July in ''[[BatmanAndTheOutsiders TheOutsiders]]''. The Outsiders thought her energy blasts came from her torch and disarmed her. It turned out her power was internal and the torch just helped her focus it.

* Lady Liberty from the Force of July in ''TheOutsiders''. The Outsiders thought her energy blasts came from her torch and disarmed her. It turned out her power was internal and the torch just helped her focus it.

* In {{Gargoyles}} people who use human magic tend to need a magical object or scrolls to cast spells. The Magus can do it without using one, but it hurts a lot and one too many spells kills him.

* In the Ravirn series of novels by Kelly McCullough, webgoblins and trolls are usually required to perform spells. Some like the Fates and Eris can cast spells by humming or whistling tunes, but this is usually more difficult and slower than casting a spell through a webgoblin.

** His paintings do become more focused while sober though. When he's sober, he can actually focus on a certain person's future, such as Claire or Hiro. On heroin though, he has a tendency to pain the future totally at random.

* ''SystemShock 2'' has Psi Amp used the same way, though it has much more applications than just telepathy.

* In the {{X-COM}} series, the Psi-Amps work this way: the abilities of the human psychics are their inner abilities, but they need these devices to manifest them, unlike psychic aliens, who can mind-blast you without gadgetry.

* While [[TheDresdenFiles Harry Dresden]] by no means ''needs'' his blasting rod or wizard staff to pull off magic, he definitely prefers them for the added focus they lend him. Other characters use various items to channel their magic through as well, while some don't bother.

* Happens to [[spoiler:[[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Accel]][[CompleteMonster erator]]]] after he suffers from brain damage and has to use a battery powered HiveMind to control his powers.

* Happens to [[spoiler:[[SuperpowerLottery Accelerator]]]] after he suffers from brain damage and has to use a battery powered HiveMind to control his powers.

* Happens to [[Spoiler:[[SuperpowerLottery Accelerator]]]] after he suffers from brain damage and has to use a battery powered HiveMind to control his powers.

* Happens to [[Spoiler: [[SuperpowerLottery Accelerator]]]] after he suffers from brain damage and has to use a battery powered HiveMind to control his powers.

* While [[TheDresdenFiles Harry Dresden]] by no means ''needs'' his blasting rod or wizard staff to pull off magic, he definitely prefers them for the added focus they lend him. Other characters use various items to channel their magic through as well, while some don't bother.

[[AC: Comics]]
*In the comic ''Mage'', Kevin Matchstick's baseball bat Excalibur is one of these. If Excalibur gets more than a few yards away from Kevin, his powers conk out.

*Lady Liberty from the Force of July in The Outsiders. The Outsiders thought her energy blasts came from her torch and disarmed her. It turned out her power was internal and the torch just helped her focus it.

[[AC:Literature]]

[[AC: Television]]
*Issac Mendez, the psychic painter from ''{{Heroes}}'' originally needed to get high on heroin in order to use his precognitive abilities. Even after he learned to do without, it was still easier for him to see the future while high.