History Main / OnlytheChosenMayWield

** [[InfinityPlusOneSword The Sword of Zariel]] in ''TabletopGame/BaldursGateDescentIntoAvernus'' is a sentient longsword that belonged to Zariel before she fell from grace and became an archdevil. If the sword deems you worthy of its power, then you not only get a +3 weapon, but one that gives you several perks; you get resistance to radiant and necrotic damage, learn the Celestial language, your charisma is increased to 20 if it's not already that high, you can fly, and you get TrueSight. The sword itself has two random minor beneficial properties, gives advantage on all insight checks, can give off light that gives fiends a disadvantage on attack rolls, and deals extra radiant damage that can potentially blind your target with every hit. However, [[AngelicTransformation you're transformed into an angel in all but name]], which changes your alignment to lawful good and overwrites your personality to a degree, the transformation is irreversible, and you potentially have to give the sword back to Zariel to redeem her.

** ''VideoGame/FateSamuraiRemnant'': Saber, [[spoiler:Yamato Takeru]], wields the sword Amenomurakumo-no-Tsurugi, the original form of Kusanagi, because they were given the sword and wielded it in life. It was renamed Kusanagi-no-Tachi sometime after their death.

* In the [[HGame H-RPG]] Roundscape Adorevia, the "Aetherius" sword has its blade stuck in a large rock and no selfish heart can dislodge it. Only those that have proven themselves to be truly just with at least 50 Honor in his/her stats can pull the sword free, and offers incredibly vast power to those it deems worthy.

** When Shirou sends everyone into [[MentalWorld Unlimited Blade Works]], Kurome curiously tries to examine the sword Balmung, but it burns her hand. Several of Esdeath's forces are similarly rejected by the Noble Phantasms.

* Subverted in Creator/TerryPratchett's ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': It's mentioned that pulling a sword from a stone is not all that difficult, but someone who can put the sword through stone in the first place, now there's someone special. And of course, Carrot does just that at one point. The characters also theorize that the original example was a setup. Someone decided ahead of time who the rightful king was and had a dwarf inside the stone holding onto it with pliers. When the right bloke comes along, he pulls the sword and all the peasants are suitably impressed.

A SisterTrope to OnlyTheWorthyMayPass. Compare SituationalSword, FindersRulers (which this trope can result in). See also OnlyTheChosenMayRide.

* In ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'', it is stated that the Pokemon will only obey the original person that caught, trained, and raised it (and only if it considers him/her worthy). So care must be taken when loaning other people your Pokemon, or gifting them to others, or trading them to instruct the creature to "do whatever so-and-so tells you to do." The best example of this being Ash's Charmander, which becomes rebellious when it evolves to a Charmeleon/Charizard, as it belonged to another trainer before joining him. Charizard only starts obeying him when he saves it from being frozen in ice.

--->'''Miguel''': "Oh, you don't like the job I'm doing? Fine." (Sets Mjolnir down) "Pick up ''that'', and the job's yours.

* ''Film/Aquaman2018'': When Arthur Curry/Aquaman attempts to claim the Trident of Atlan, its guardian, Karathen, warns him that if he isn't the true heir of Atlan, he won't be able to lift it. Fortunately, he qualifies.

[[folder: Real Life]]

*** Erice Utsumi has Ame-no-Sakahoko, a replica of the goddess Izanami's spear Ame-no-Nuboko with most of the same powers. A few characters are confused at how she is able to wield it. ''Fate/Requiem'' eventually reveals that [[spoiler:Erice is Izanami's daughter.]] Sakamoto Ryouma can wield Ame-no-Sakahoko as well because in his backstory, he discovered the dragon Oryou sealed by being pierced by the spear, and he was effortlessly able to remove it. Indeed, his Lancer version wields it, but when he is indisposed, his Rider version steals it and is able to use it.

* ''Film/{{Dredd}}'': The [[CoolGun Lawgivers]] are biometrically locked to the judges they are assigned to, and any unauthorized attempt at using a Lawgiver will result in the weapon blowing up [[spoiler:as Kay finds out the hard way when he tried to use Anderson's Lawgiver to shoot her]].

* The Staff of Ages from ''VideoGame/{{Shadowgate}}'' can only be used by the bloodline of kings, starting with Lord Jair, the hero of the original game. [[spoiler:This comes up later in ''Shadowgate 64'', where civilian Del Cottonwood must wear a ring owned by said bloodline in order to even carry the Staff safely. And when the time comes to defeat the Warlock Lord with it, he has to give the Staff to a ''statue'' of Lord Jair, then put the ring on it, whereupon it comes to life and kills the Warlock Lord.]]

* The Arisian-built Lenses in the ''Literature/{{Lensman}}'' series are each specifically created for an intended Lensman, and will not only fail to work if someone else tries to use it, but will kill someone touching with bare skin it if it's not being worn by its user. This even extends to other Lensmen. When Clarissa receives her Lens, Kinnison takes it out of its shipping container by using an insulated cloth to not touch it directly, while Virgil Samms has the dangers demonstrated to him on Arisia by being invited to touch Roderick Kinnison's Lens very delicately and carefully. It still causes him quite a lot of pain.

** Naturally, something like this can't just be left lying around after the wearer's death, so the Arisians have arranged that a Lens disintegrates very shortly after the passing of its wearer.

* The Arisian-built Lenses in the ''Literature/{{Lensman}}'' series are each specifically created for an intended Lensman, and will not only fail to work if someone else tries to use it, but will kill someone touching with bare skin it if it's not being worn by its user. This even extends to other Lensmen. When Clarissa received her Lens, Kinnison takes it out of its shipping container by using an insulated cloth to not touch it directly.

** On the other side, there are the thirty siver Denarii and their power. Each Denarius houses in it a FallenAngel, one of Lucifer's top forces who joined with him against God or otherwise betrayed God[[note]]Lucifer chose them not just for their power but out of concern they would work to overthrow him one day. Better to send them away to cause problems elsewhere.[[/note]]. If the Coin lacks a host, then when a person's skin touches the coin a shadow of the Fallen imprints itself into the mind of the person. It is at this moment what "worthy" means comes into play. If the Fallen sees the mortal as a weaking in spirit, mind, or body, they will break the mortal's spirit and subsume their will to the Fallens. The mortal then becomes a puppet and the Fallen will control the body but not have as much power as in other situations. If the mortal has a strong spirit, the Fallen will work to make their goals similar to the mortal so they will work in concert, granting the mortal more power and the Fallen more freedoms. As each Fallen has different values and goals, what might make one a worthwhile partnership to Lasciel the Webweaver would not Ursiel the brute.

** On the other side, there are the thirty siver Denarius and their power. Each Denarius houses in it a FallenAngel, one of Lucifer's top forces who joined with him against God or otherwise betrayed God. If the Coin lacks a host, then when a person's skin touches the coin a shadow of the Fallen imprints itself into the mind of the person. It is at this moment what "worthy" means comes into play. If the Fallen sees the mortal as a weaking in spirit, mind, or body, they will break the mortal's spirit and subsume their will to the Fallens. The mortal then becomes a puppet and the Fallen will control the body but not have as much power as in other situations. If the mortal has a strong spirit, the Fallen will work to make their goals similar to the mortal so they will work in concert, granting the mortal more power and the Fallen more freedoms. As each Fallen has different values and goals, what might make one a worthwhile partnership to Lasciel the Webweaver would not Ursiel the brute.

** The three holy Swords used by Knights of the Cross are named ''Fidelacchius'', ''Esperacchius,'' and ''Amoracchius''.[[note]]In ''Ghost Story'' reveals their other historical monikers to be [[spoiler:Kusanagi, Durandal and Excalibur]].[[/note]] Each Sword responds strongly to powerful faith, hope, and love, respectively. Holding to that ideal is key in allowing the Sword to draw out its full strength on behalf of the bearer.[[note]]Note that none of these feelings need be towards God, just focusing on the base feeling. A man who believes in right overcoming wrong, that one person can make a difference, can wield the Sword of Faith, while a supernatural-monster mother defending her daughter from the forces of evil can draw out the Sword of Love's power even if she is tainted by evil herself. Sanya, Knight of Hope, doesn't even believe in God, taking an agnostic view, but has never had trouble drawing out his Sword's power[[/note]]. Further, it's revealed in ''Small Favor'' that several of the most recent Knights have royalty in their ancestry[[note]]Shiro was descended from the last king of Okinawa, Michael is descended from Charlemagne, and Sanya's ancestry links him to Saladin, [[spoiler: which strongly implies that Butters has royal ancestry as well]][[/note]]. It is also important to note not every wielder is meant to be a life-long Knight. Many Knights are one-timers, who take up the Sword during some crisis, wield it to victory, and leave it aside once the danger has past. Note that unworthy mortals can still ''pick up'' and fight with the Swords, but the weapons don't provide them with any particular advantage over plain steel. Moreover, if a treacherous person is given authority over the blade, say the Knight gives a thief the Sword to defend himself when the Knight is out of commission, wielding a Sword in a treacherous or unjust manner renders the holy blade vulnerable to destruction, either physical or (if used to kill an innocent) spiritual.

** Only Gryffindors can draw Gryffindor's sword from the Sorting Hat. Or more precisely, someone with Gryffindor "qualities" such as bravery and valor. It has to be a ''true'' Gryffindor to summon the Sword through the hat, however. Not just someone who got Sorted into the house, but someone who truly upholds the ''ideals'' that Godric himself prized. In all the series, only Harry and Neville were confirmed to be able to summon the blade to their side. They needed to uphold these ideals and, in addition, still have the humility to ask the Hat for help.

*** Sita was never a warrior in life, but as an Archer, she wields the bow Haradhanu Janaka, which belongs to her husband Rama, because Rama granted her his powers and permission.

* Braces have to be custom-made to fit the patients' teeth (which is part of why they are so expensive). As such, if a person managed to remove their braces no one else would be able to wear them, unless they were an identical twin or the like.