History Main / SummonToHand

When a character has need of his signature weapon, or any other handheld item, he sometimes has the option of summoning it even if it's not nearby. This is usually an explicit power of the item itself, and is probably the most common power in magic weapons after [[AbsurdlySharpBlade absurd sharpness]]. Otherwise, it's something that particular character can do via [[MindOverMatter telekinesis]]. A mundane equivalent can be achieved by attaching a line to the item so that it can be reeled in.

The target object may teleport to its master's location instantaneously, but more often it will physically fly there, causing a delay between summons and appearance and potentially wreaking havoc to anything that happens to be in the way. The effective range varies.

Expect overlap with LoyalPhlebotinum and EmpathicWeapon, and maybe ClingyMacGuffin. Do not, however, confuse with HyperspaceArsenal. For a weapon that automatically returns when thrown, see BoomerangComeback. See also PrecisionGuidedBoomerang and its one-way equivalent, ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks.

If the weapon can fight as well as travel to it's owner then it's a FlyingWeapon.
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!! Examples with summoning as a property of the item:

[[AC: {{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]
* Goemon of ''LupinIII'' has been known to keep a hold on his katana with string.
* As has Jubei of ''NinjaScroll''.
* Vash the Stampede of ''{{Trigun}}'' has done the same with his gun on at least one occasion.
* {{Inuyasha}}'s blade, Tessaiga, at least once nearly comes to him in a time of need.
* This is parodied with Hinagiku summoning the Muramasa blade in ''Manga/HayateTheCombatButler''.

[[AC: {{Comics}}]]
* GreenLantern's power ring.
* ''TheMightyThor'' (see Mythology).
* The SilverSurfer often does this with his board along with the CatchPhrase, "To me, my board!".

[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* MichaelMoorcock's {{Elric of Melnibone}} stories. Elric can summon his sword Stormbringer to his hand from far away.
* In TheStormlightArchive, if a Shardbearer loses his [[SoulCuttingBlade Shardblade]], he can retrieve it by banishing it back to {{Hammerspace}} and re-summoning it. Shardblades disappear automatically when the owner drops them unless they will otherwise. They can't be banished from a distance once let go.
* In Katherine Kerr's ''{{Deverry}}'' books, the silver daggers that are a badge of a dishonoured warrior are enchanted to make them return to the "true owner" which just happens to be the rather tight-fisted dwarf that made them. The only exception is the one that belonged to Rhodry which follows him around due to a mistake made in removing the other spell on the dagger, which made it glow in the presence of elves.
* PercyJackson can do this with his sword Riptide.

* In ''HarryPotter'', a broomstick can be summoned into a wizard's hand by standing over it and saying "Up!" in a clear and commanding voice. There seems to be a knack for this, as most wizards are not able to do it, at least on the first try.
* In ''TheKaneChronicles'', Carter and Sadie can do this via their "locker" Duat which stores their weapons.
* Bahzell can do this with his sword in ''TheWarGods'' series. It is often how he proves he is a Champion of Tomanak.

[[AC: {{Mythology}}]]
* Mjollnir of NorseMythology is a PrecisionGuidedBoomerang and may have this power at a standstill as well, depending on your interpretation. The [[TheMightyThor comics]] and [[Film/{{Thor}} film]] have continued in this tradition.
* In Hindu mythological battle epics, the warriors can summon weapons by reciting a shloka. This is usually done under the breath because each weapon has a counter-weapon, and reciting the shloka out loud would put your cards on the table. Of particular note is a super-weapon called [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmastra Bhrama-Astra]] that can be obtained by penance. Once the warrior obtains it, he can create it by reciting a shloka.

[[AC:TabletopRPG]]

** Early editions had weapons with lines attached, allowing them to be retrieved after being thrown. They included the aklys (a short weighted club) and the harpoon.
** The adventure T1-4 ''Temple of Elemental Evil'', when the {{PC}}s rescue Prince Thrommel. If his broadsword Fragarach is within sight, he can simply speak and it will come to his hand.
** One of the ''{{Ravenloft}}'' villains has a cursed bloodthirsty sword that [[ClingyMacGuffin appears in his hand whenever fighting starts]]. He could get rid of it for good, but counts this as CursedWithAwesome, since he's strong enough to compensate for minor combat disadvantage from the curse and enjoys being in fact armed with a magical weapon even while "disarmed". And is just as bloodthirsty as the sword, for that matter.

*** Wulfgar of TheIcewindDaleTrilogy owned a war-hammer called Aegis-Fang. Simply by thinking about it, Wulfgar could recall the hammer to his hand so that he could strike his enemies with it even after he had thrown it at other enemies.

* ''{{Champions}}'' supplement ''The Circle and M.E.T.E.''. If separated from his bow, Kor Hunter can summon it to him by using his Instant Change ability.
* [[{{EmpathicWeapon}} Daemon weapons]] in DarkHeresy may have a rule that states that the weapon may be called into the owners hand at will. Unfortunatly, it also hurts the owner to keep his hands off it, and holding it for a long period of time may result in [[{{MindRape}} unpleasant consequences]].
* ''TabletopGame/InNomine'' has artifacts with the "summonable" feature.

[[AC: VideoGames]]
* The ancient ZX Spectrum game ''Kentilla'' allowed you to do this - saying "Kentilla" teleported the sword to your hand - very handy if you were captured.

[[AC: {{Webcomics}}]]
* After Quentyn accidentally makes his powerful sword Wildcard in ''TalesOfTheQuestor'', he is told the weapon is bonded to him and that in time he can learn to call it at need. This has not been seen yet though.

[[AC: WesternAnimation]]

* ''KimPossible'': Ron can literally whistle and go "Magic sword!" and his magic sword will leap into his hand from a distance.
* Jasmine in the ''WesternAnimation/ConanTheAdventurer'' cartoon series had magically enhanced shuriken that would return to her when called.

!!Examples of summoning as a power of the individual:

[[AC: {{Anime}} and {{Manga}}]]

[[AC: {{Film}}]]
* There's the iconic scene in ''StarWars:TheEmpireStrikesBack'' when Luke summons his lightsaber using TheForce when he is otherwise indisposed.
** Likewise Obi-Wan in the 1st prequel.
* In [[TheMatrix The Matrix: Reloaded]], Neo summons [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU3wPWYV6HQ&feature=related a pair of sai]] in this manner while pwning the Merovingian's [[{{Mook}} mooks]].

[[AC: {{Literature}}]]
* From ''HarryPotter'', the Summoning Charm "Accio."

[[AC: LiveActionTV]]
* In ''Series/{{Charmed}}'', Prue can make things come to her hand with her telekinetic abilities. Later, Paige has a similar ability, except that with her power, she holds out her hand, says the name of the object, and it teleports to her hand.

[[AC: TabletopRPG]]

** The 1st Edition legerdemain cantrip ''Present'' allowed the caster to summon a small object to his hand from up to 2 feet away.

[[AC: VideoGames]]

[[AC: VisualNovel]]
* The servants of The Archer class in ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' and ''FateZero'' ([[TheEpicOfGilgamesh Gilgamesh]] and [[spoiler:[[FutureBadass Heroic Spirit Emiya]]]]) as well as Shirou have this ability; Shirou and [[spoiler:Emiya]] have the ability to create them using magic energy; Gilgamesh takes it [[UpToEleven to the next level]] by having access to a whole PocketDimension that exists only to store almost every weapon that has ever existed.

[[AC: {{Webcomics}}]]

* This is parodied with Hinagiku summoning the Muramasa blade in ''HayateTheCombatButler''.

* The ''{{Thundercats}}''' Sword of Omens had this explicit power.

* ''GunnerkriggCourt'': The owner of a blinker stone can make it [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=511 teleport into their hand]] with a thought.

Expect overlap with LoyalPhlebotinum and EmpathicWeapon, and maybe ClingyMacGuffin. For a weapon that automatically returns when thrown, see BoomerangComeback. See also PrecisionGuidedBoomerang and its one-way equivalent, ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks.

* In ''{{Charmed}}'', Prue can make things come to her hand with her telekinetic abilities. Later, Paige has a similar ability, except that with her power, she holds out her hand, says the name of the object, and it teleports to her hand.

* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'' Abe either summoned or created objects like "modern garb", shield and variety weapons. Susan was given the ability to summon a limited magical replica of any item she put into a prepared container -- it's not very stable, but she can summon another copy. This power got rather hilarious side-effects with an object that itself was a spell effect.

* The servants of The Archer class in ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' and ''FateZero'' ([[TheEpicOfGilgamesh Gilgamesh]] and [[spoiler:[[FutureBadass Heroic Spirit Emiya]]]]) as well as [[TheExistentialist Shirou]] have this ability; Shirou and [[spoiler:Emiya]] have the ability to [[RealityMaker create them]] using only magic energy; Gilgamesh takes it [[UpToEleven to the next level]] by having access to a whole PocketDimension that exists only to store almost every weapon that has ever existed.

* The servants of The Archer class in [[TypeMoon Fate]] [[FateStayNight Stay Nigh]]/[[FateZero Zero]] ([[spoiler: [[TheEpicOfGilgamesh Gilgamesh]] and [[FutureBadass Future!]][[IHatePastMe Shirou]]]]) as well as [[TheExistentialist Shirou]] have this ability; Shirou has the ability to [[RealityMaker create them]] using only magic energy, however the servants take it [[UpToEleven to the next level]] by having access to whole {{Pocket Dimension}}s that exist only to store almost every weapon that has ever existed for their use.

* ''InNomine'' has artifacts with the "summonable" feature.

[[AC: Mythology]]

** In 4E, Swordmages can do this with their bonded weapon.

* The Keyblade in ''KingdomHearts'' teleports back to the wielder if they hold their hand out for it. Possibly via {{Hammerspace}}, as that is where it spends a lot of its time and the method for getting it from there is identical. Sora actually uses this to his advantage in the second game where he agreed to give his Keyblade to [[PiratesOfTheCaribbean Jack Sparrow]] in exchange for his help.

* The Keyblade in ''KingdomHearts'' teleports back to the wielder if they hold their hand out for it. Possibly via {{Hammerspace}}, as that is where it spends a lot of its time and the method for getting it from there is identical.

Excpect overlap with LoyalPhlebotinum and EmpathicWeapon, and maybe ClingyMacGuffin. For a weapon that automatically returns when thrown, see BoomerangComeback. See also PrecisionGuidedBoomerang and its one-way equivalent, ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks.

* The manifested Zankpaktou summoned by Muramasa could summon their shikai forms at will.

* Inverted in ''{{X1999}}'', Arashi's sword is summoned ''out'' of her open palm when needed.

* Bahzell can do this with his sword in the ''WarGod'' series. It is often how he proves he is a Champion of Tomanak.

* The Keyblade in KingdomHearts teleports back to the wielder if they hold their hand out for it. Possibly via {{Hammerspace}}, as that is where it spends a lot of its time and the method for getting it from there is identical.

* ''DungeonsAndDragons'' classic spell "[[{{Greyhawk}} Drawmij]]'s Instant Summons", preparing an item to teleport from almost anywhere into the caster's hand at any moment later.

** Spell "Hither" by [[ForgottenRealms Ed Greenwood]], from DragonMagazine, is Instant Summons Lite: 1-level and no components, but limited to non-magical items already on the caster's person (e.g. in backpack).

* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'' Abe either summoned or created objects like "modern garb", shield and variety weapons. Susan can summon a magical replica of an item she put into a prepared container -- it's not very stable, but she can re-summon another copy; doing this with an item that itself was a spell effect has rather hilarious side-effects.

* Before 4e, ''DungeonsAndDragons'' had the spell Drawmij's Instant Summons, which was used for summoning a specially prepared object from a secret place to caster's hand.
** In 4E, Swordmages can do this with their bonded weapon.

* The servants of The Archer class in [[TypeMoon Fate]] [[FateStayNight Stay Nigh]]/[[FateZero Zero]] ([[spoiler: [[TheEpicOfGilgamesh Gilgamesh]] and [[FutureBadass Future!]][[IHatePastMe Shirou]]]]) as well as [[TheExistentialist Shirou]] have this ability; Shirou has the ability to [[RealityMaker create them]] using only magic energy, however the servants take it [[UpToEleven to the next level]] by having access to whole {{Pocket Dimension}}s that exist only to store almost every weapon that has ever existed for their use.

* Wulfgar of TheIcewindDaleTrilogy owned a war-hammer called Aegis-Fang. Simply by thinking about it, Wulfgar could recall the hammer to his hand so that he could strike his enemies with it even after he had thrown it at other enemies.

* Early editions of ''DungeonsAndDragons'' had weapons with lines attached, allowing them to be retrieved after being thrown. They included the aklys (a short weighted club) and the harpoon.

** A ''ForgottenRealms'' example: "darkswords" in ''Return of the Archwizards'' trilogy. They are designed as ancestral weapons and anyone who has a right to wield one [[ClingyMacGuffin can call it into the hand at will]]. Of course, the wielders abused this property by throwing swords all the time.

* ''GunnerkriggCourt'': The owner of a blinker stone can make it [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=511 teleport into their hand]] with a thought.