History Main / UselessAccessory

For example, a DiscreditedTrope from the DarkAge of American comic books was superhero costumes featuring a large number of pouch-covered belts and harnesses - which never actually seemed to be used.

* Yoh's headphones from ''{{Shaman King}}''. They're such an integral part of his character that seemingly every villain calls him "headphones" at one point or another, [[strike:but when do we actually get to see him using them?]] but he stops using them after the first few chapters.

* RobLiefeld is notorious for giving all of his characters costumes with dozens of tiny pouches, including pouch belts on their thighs, which never seem to be used.
* Used on-and-off by {{Deadpool}}, whose pouches are almost never used. When they ''are'' used, they have contained action figures (of himself), wallet, keys, and (on one occasion) a pancreas. Then again, he's ''Deadpool''. Logic doesn't work on him.

* When ''StarWars'' first came out, did anyone question why Chewbacca was wearing what looked like a clunky sash and nothing else? The Expanded Universe eventually established it was a bandolier containing various tips (explosive, armor piercing) for use with his bowcaster.

* Similar to the previous example, Jonah Matranga of Far, Onelinedrawing, and many other projects often performs with a scale model of [[StarWars R2-D2]], nicknamed "Are Too". However, it is somewhere in between this trope and GogglesDoSomethingUnusual because the model also houses a functioning drum machine complete with R2-D2 sound effects, and is used so prominently that tracks such as [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa0OuPCtKCQ "Smile"]] credit the drums to Are Too.

* Subverted by Prince Saiyan Mr. 450's scouter, which is a functional head light. That's usually useless in a lighted arena, [[ProperlyParanoid but you never know.]][[/folder]]

* In ''RuneScape'', among the myriad of armor and weapons, several pieces of equipment offer no stat bonuses whatsoever, such as the Brass Necklace and Cyclopean Helmet, relegated to only serving cosmetic purposes.
* Implemented, much to fans' chagrin, in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series with [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Ganondorf]]'s sword. Ganondorf likes to show off his sword after winning matches or taunting, but he never actually uses it. To quote Masahiro Sakurai, the lead developer of ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'': "What are you putting it away for? Use it! People tend to make fun of Ganondorf for this." Really, though, it seems the developers are making fun of the fans with it.
** A lesser example is how [[VideoGame/FZero Captain Falcon]] refrains from using his personal sidearm in the games as well. Doesn't stop him from using Ray Guns and Super Scopes, though.
* The Kongs of the [[DonkeyKong Donkey Kong]] franchise wear accessories such as neckties, hats, shirts, etc. that only exist so you can tell who's who.

* Bob Burden's FlamingCarrot wears flippers all the time, [[CloudCuckooLander in case he needs to swim.]]

** Shego's supervillain outfit has a leg pouch she's never been seen to use.

* [[CodenameSailorV Sailor V]]'s mask is this. Unlike SailorMoon's similar mask in the manga it has no point aside from obscuring her face. When she becomes Sailor Venus she continues to wear it offscreen for a bit and during her introduction (probably so viewers/readers know that she and Sailor V are the same person) ditches it once she joins the team and her identity is never revealed due to it.

* Ash of the Pokémon anime always wears fingerless gloves except when sleeping and sometimes when swimming.

* Implemented, much to fans chagrin, in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series with [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Ganondorf]]'s sword. Ganondorf likes to show off his sword after winning matches or taunting, but he never actually uses it. To quote Masahiro Sakurai, the lead developer of ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'': "What are you putting it away for? Use it! People tend to make fun of Ganondorf for this." Really, though, it seems the developers are making fun of the fans with it.

* Implemented, much to fans chagrin, in the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series with [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZelda Ganondorf]]'s sword. Ganondorf likes to show off his sword after winning matches or taunting, but he never actually uses it. To quote Masahiro Sakurai, the lead developer of ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'': "What are you putting it away for? Use it! People tend to make fun of Ganondorf for this." Really, though, it seems the developers are making fun of the fans with it.

* ''KimPossible'': Kim and Ron's commando mission suits in "A Sitch In Time".

* Bender and many other robots in ''{{Futurama}}'' have antenna that serve no apparent purpose, which gets a LampshadeHanging several times. First when the thing turned out to be interfering with the satellite transmission in his new apartment, and Fry says he should just cut it off since it doesn't do anything, after which it's treated as a robot equivalent of his penis. Again when it's suggested he has a toilet somewhere in his body and pushing down on it flushes. {{Subverted}} again when Mom says most people think she puts antenna on her robots just to make them "more [[BuffySpeak science-fictiony]]" but they really let her take control of everything with a remote control.

* Stage dressing example: French musical duo Music/{{Justice}} perform on-stage behind [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Justice_%40_Rock_Werchter_2008.jpg a giant modular synthesizer setup named "Valentine"]], surrounded by a series of 18 Marshall Cabinets and [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic a giant lit cross]]. None of this equipment is functional
* Non wardrobe example: the one man band Atom & His Package had a gizmo with lights and buttons and levers but it did absolutely nothing. He had it on stage simply because it looked cool (all he used was a guitar and a cd of prerecorded backup music).

* Implemented, much to fans chagrin, in the ''SuperSmashBros'' series with Ganondorf's sword. Ganondorf likes to show off his sword after winning matches or taunting, but he never actually uses it. To quote Masahiro Sakurai, the lead developer of Super Smash Bros. Brawl: "What are you putting it away for? Use it! People tend to make fun of Ganondorf for this." Really, though, it seems the developers are making fun of the fans with it.
** A lesser example is how Captain Falcon refrains from using his personal sidearm in the games as well. Doesn't stop him from using Ray Guns and Super Scopes, though.

* [[CodenameSailorV Sailor V]]'s mask is this. Unlike SailorMoon's similar mask in the manga it has no point aside from obscuring her face. When she becomes Sailor Venus she continues to wear it offscreen for a bit and during her introduction (probably so viewers/readers know that she and Sailor V are the same person) ditches it once she joins the team and her identity is never revealed due it.

Compare with ChekovsGun (not to be confused with ChekhovsGun). Also related to CosmeticAward and BadassBandolier. A FullSetBonus can make such an item a subversion.

* With the exception of a few that confer a FullSetBonus, this is the purpose (or lack thereof) of all the {{Nice Hat}}s in ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2''.

%%Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1309408430039560100
%%Please do not change or remove without starting a new thread.

* This is the purpose (or lack thereof) of most {{Nice Hat}}s in ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2''.
** A select few hats do, however, give a FullSetBonus.

->''"What? Oh, those are pouches?! I thought they were wearing ballet skirts. I guess whatever they need to take with them into combat they need to take a whole lot of it in single-serving sizes."''
-->--'''''SomethingAwful''''', on utility belts

[[/folder]]

[[quoteright:290:[[PublicEnemy http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Flavor-Flav-Classy2_2267.jpg]]]]

* Stage dressing example: French musical duo {{Justice}} perform on-stage behind [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/70/Justice_%40_Rock_Werchter_2008.jpg a giant modular synthesizer setup named "Valentine"]], surrounded by a series of 18 Marshall Cabinets and [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotSymbolic a giant lit cross]]. None of this equipment is functional

Compare with ChekovsGun (not to be confused with ChekhovsGun). Also related to CosmeticAward and BadassBandolier.

* Yuuno's side-pouch in ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'', which we never see him use. [[http://ashitahadocchida.sakura.ne.jp/top.html Some]] FanWebComics (Omake (?)) [[http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/653/bangai07rm2.jpg have made speculations on what he places in there]].

** There's also the napalm grenades on the Pyro's bandolier and the frag grenades on the Soldier's belt. The former are always useless and the latter are only used in the Soldier's SuicideAttack taunt.

* This is the purpose (or lack thereof) of most {{Nice Hat}}s in ''TeamFortress2''.

An accessory characters never actually use but is noticeable enough they must consciously choose to wear it.