History Main / YouWillKnowWhatToDo

* ''Literature/{{Metro2033}}'': Artyom is sent out by the Brahmins (who he's never met) to the Lenin Library (where he's never been) to find a lost book of prophecies (which he's never seen). They totally guarantee that he'll know where it is, though.

* In the ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' episode "[[Recap/SupernaturalS06E11AppointmentInSamarra Appointment in Samarra]]", Death instructs Dean to keep researching the souls, and says that he will understand when he needs to.

* In ''Lovely Assistant'' (by Geoph Essex), when Jenny ''finally'' gets the chance to take a lesson in [[spoiler: [[TheGrimReaper Grim Reaping]]]] from [[TheObiWan Caravel]], Caravel essentially says "YouWillKnowWhatToDo" when it comes to [[spoiler: using the sword and guiding people to the afterlife]]. As it turns out, it's literally true: Jenny instinctively knows what to do when she gets there, and is pretty surprised by that fact herself. (The implication that the experience is better than drugs or sex for [[spoiler: [[TheGrimReaper Grim Reapers]]]] suggests that it's just a "natural" thing for them to do, like fish swimming or birds flying.)

* Done several times in the SwordOfTruth. Prophecies given 3000+ years ago can be pretty nonspecific, you know? Additionally, the irrational use of this trope is lampshaded by Richard himself, who, as Seeker, is somehow expected to know how to solve everyone's problems. He actually ends up subverting his own lampshade by being an unusually bright and logical protagonist, and its revealed that one of the primary characteristics of a true Seeker is that they have this trope or the ability to invoke it ''before'' they get the sword.

* In ''RatchetAndClank Future'', after a slight Fourth Wall breaking moment, recurring character "The Plumber" gives the protagonists a "3 3/4 Centicubit Hexagonal Washer" claiming it will "[[ItMayHelpYouOnYourQuest come in handy]]". Sure enough [[spoiler:it helps them escape from a collapsing alternate dimension at the end of the game.]]

* Done several times in the SwordOfTruth. Prophecies given 3000+ years ago can be pretty nonspecific, you know? Additionally, the irrational use of this trope is lampshaded by Richard himself, who, as Seeker, is somehow expected to know how to solve everyones' problems. He actually ends up subverting his own lampshade by being an unusually bright and logical protagonist, and its revealed that one of the primary characteristics of a true Seeker is that they have this trope or the ability to invoke it ''before'' they get the sword.

* In ''[[ThePowerOfFive Evil Star]]'', the Incas give Richard a Tumi (sacrifical knife), warning him that he will regret ever having been given it. [[spoiler: In the final book ''Oblivion'', Richard uses the knife to kill Matt, sparing him from further pain and torture, and allowing past Matt to be summoned to the present.]]

* In ''RaveMaster'', Haru Glory, wielder of the Ten Commandments sword, initially can only create the "Explosion Sword." Eventually, he is given the Rave of Wisdom, which gives him knowledge which is only gradually unlocked and told "YouWillKnowWhatToDo." From then on, he's able to [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands whip out new forms of his sword as the plot demands.]] This comes with understanding of ''how'' the powers work, so he can from then on also call them forth at will.

** In ''[[ThePowerOfFive Evil Star]]'', the Incas give Richard a Tumi (sacrifical knife), warning him that he will regret ever having been given it. [[spoiler: In the final book ''Oblivion'', Richard uses the knife to kill Matt, sparing him from further pain and torture, and allowing past Matt to be summoned to the present.]]

* In PerryMoore's superhero novel ''Literature/{{Hero}}'', the protagonist's mother gives him [[spoiler:a thinly-disguised Kryptonite ring]] with this instruction. Why she doesn't use it herself is less than clear.

* In ''TheLordOfTheRings'', Galadrial gives Sam a phial of water from her fountain, saying "May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out". While this has an obvious literal meaning, it takes on a new significance when [[spoiler:Sam is fighting Shelob and it turns out that the light from a Silmaril is a more potent weapon against the daughter of [[EldritchAbomination Ungoliant]] than the sharpest of swords could ever be]].

[[folder:Film]]
* The main character of the movie ''{{Paycheck}}'' gets ''twenty'' of these in a NoteToSelf, but this is more {{justified|Trope}} than most examples of this trope, as well as more skillfully executed. (It's pulled off with even ''more'' flair in the original short story.)
* In the second ''PiratesOfTheCaribbean'' film: "I gotta [[ItMayHelpYouOnYourQuest Jar o' Diiirt]]!" Subverted somewhat in that it [[spoiler:really does turn out to be useless. The useful stuff was taken out beforehand.]]
* The Autobox Matrix of Ass-Kicking in ''TransformersTheMovie''. Nicely handled when, halfway through the movie, someone tries to use it and can't - it's not ''bad enough'' for the heroes yet.

* [[Film/{{Patton}} "When you put your hand into a bunch of goo that a moment before was your best friend's face, you'll know what to do."]]

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[[folder:Videogames]]

* This was sort of the case in ''Anime/YuGiOh'' where Kaiba gave Yugi his copy of Fiend's Sanctuary before the FinalBattle with Marik in Battle City. Kaiba knew it was an effective weapon against the Winged Dragon of Ra, but he just told Yugi to take it and nothing else, figuring that if Yugi was capable of winning at all, he could figure out how to use it on his own. (Fortunately, he did.)

* Episode 52 of ''ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated'': The Annunuki, in the host body of Nova (Brad and Judy's Cocker Spaniel), tells Scooby this during the final battle with the Nibiru Entity. She already did so once before in the previous episode, but that time Scooby was very frustrated and told her to ''just tell him'' what to do since they wee in such danger.

* Episode 52 of ''ScoobyDooMysteryIncorporated'': The Annunuki, in the host body of Nova (Brad and Judy's Cocker Spaniel), tells Scooby this during the final battle with the Nibiru Entity.

* In the "Fate" story path of ''Fate/Stay Night'', Archer takes time [[spoiler:before his HeroicSacrifice]] to tell Shiro that he is a "maker" not a "fighter", and that this will save him. Of course, Archer is [[spoiler:speaking from personal experience, as he's Shiro's older self]].

* Parodied by [[Website/TheBestPageInTheUniverse Maddox]] in [[http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=matrix3 his review]] of ''Film/TheMatrixRevolutions'', which he hated. He particularely critizes the {{Cryptic Conversation}}s between Neo and the Oracle.

It has never been revealed what would have happened if they ''didn't'' know what to do with it...

* ''HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows'': [[PowerTrio Each child]] gets a pleasant but [[ItMayHelpYouOnYourQuest seemingly useless gift]] from Dumbledore [[spoiler:by his estate's executor]] with cryptic hints. [[TheChessmaster Each proves critical to their quest]]. Justified because [[spoiler: Dumbledore is dead and since the aforementioned executor takes anything he deems "suspicious"]] he can't outright ''tell'' them.

* Parodied by [[Website/TheBestPageInTheUniverse Maddox]] in [[http://www.thebestpageintheuniverse.net/c.cgi?u=matrix3 his review]] of ''TheMatrixRevolutions'', which he hated. He particularely critizes the {{Cryptic Conversation}}s between Neo and the Oracle.

* Zigzagged in the first season of ''Anime/YuGiOhGX''. After Judai defeats Daitokuji-sensei, he gives Judai the [[TomeOfEldrichLore Emerald Tablet]] before his physical body dies. Later, before he duels [[BigBad Kagemaru]], Judai finds a card called Sabatiel - The Philosopher's Stone in the book, and figures he should add it to his deck. Just as he's at the end of his rope, he draws the card, but still has no idea how to use it. Daitokuji's spirit appears, and is about to tell him ''exactly'' how to use it, but then he's [[ItMakesSenseInContext swallowed by his cat Pharaoh]] before he can tell Judai the complete effect. Fortunately, Judai is able to figure that out on his own.

* In ''Lovely Assistant'' (by Geoph Essex), when Jenny ''finally'' gets the chance to take a lesson in [[spoiler: [[TheGrimReaper Grim Reaping]] ]] from [[TheObiWan Caravel]], Caravel essentially says "YouWillKnowWhatToDo" when it comes to [[spoiler: using the sword and guiding people to the afterlife]]. As it turns out, it's literally true: Jenny instinctively knows what to do when she gets there, and is pretty surprised by that fact herself. (The implication that the experience is better than drugs or sex for [[spoiler: [[TheGrimReaper Grim Reapers]]]] suggests that it's just a "natural" thing for them to do, like fish swimming or birds flying.)