History Main / UtilityWeapon

* In ''{{Glider}} PRO'', rubber bands can be used to trip switches; they're more useful for this purpose than killing enemies, which give out nothing and respawn quickly.

* In ''CliveBarkersUndying'', dynamite can be used to blow open certain walls.

* The ''UnrealTournament'' series has the teleporter gun, which shoots a projectile and allows to the user to teleport to it.

* All [[GameEngine Build Engine]] games (''VideoGame/DukeNukem3D'', ''ShadowWarrior'', ''{{Blood}}'', ''RedneckRampage'') have cracks in the walls that can be blown open with explosives. Explosives come in two varieties in these: a "rocket launcher" weapon a la Doom, and a ballistic thrown "grenade" or "dynamite" (ShadowWarrior has a grenade launcher instead).

Compare SwordOfPlotAdvancement for when a weapon has a non-combat use in the plot rather than gameplay. Unintended examples of this trope (for example using the recoil on a weapon to jump higher) may lead to SequenceBreaking. Within the story of the game itself, the weapon might be an ImprovisedWeapon (if it's a tool which could normally be used to bypass the puzzles which the game allows the player to use as a weapon) or an example of MundaneUtility (if it's something made as a weapon which just happens to be useful for solving the game's puzzles). Also related to the InverseLawOfUtilityAndLethality (where abilities and weapons are more useful when they're less effective at dealing out damage). This may also function as one of the StandardFPSGuns.

* Since every dungeon in ''TheLegendOfZelda'' series contains one new piece of equipment (which will be needed to kill the boss and progress further) you can bet your last rupee that it'll have a use in both puzzle solving and combat (unless you end up against a PuzzleBoss, of course).

This is a video game gameplay trope where a weapon in the game can be used for something other than fighting enemies; typically by bypassing obstacles or being used to solve puzzles. This could be as simple as explosives (dynamite's a popular one) which can destroy specific barriers other weapons can't touch, however on the other end of the spectrum, {{Metroidvania}} style games often give the player equipment which allows them to bypass a given obstacle but also comes in handy against the various enemies the game throws at them (for example, a jump attack which allows them to both get over large gaps and to attack flying {{mook}}s). Another popular variant is to have the player's melee weapon be an ImprovisedWeapon which can also be used as originally intended (e.g. repairing things, cutting through barriers, digging etc).

* The Apple II game Aztec (1982). The dynamite you found could be used to blow up enemies. It could also be used to blow holes in the floor, which could not only prevent enemies from reaching you but could also allow you to drop down to lower levels.

* In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'', Mining picks (and other tools) are needed to carry out certain actions, but can also be equipped as weapons (indeed, some NPCs will use them as an ImprovisedWeapon).

Compare SwordOfPlotAdvancement for when a weapon has a non-combat use in the plot rather than gameplay. Unintended examples of this trope (for example using the recoil on a weapon to jump higher) may lead to SequenceBreaking. Within the story of the game itself, the weapon might be an ImprovisedWeapon (if it's a tool which could normally be used to bypass the puzzles which the game allows the player to use as a weapon) or an example of MundaneUtility (if it's something made as a weapon which just happens to be useful for solving the game's puzzles). Also related to the InverseLawOfUtilityAndLethality (where abilities and weapons are more useful when they're less effective at dealing out damage). This may also function as the StandardFPSGuns.

Compare SwordOfPlotAdvancement for when a weapon has a non-combat use in the plot rather than gameplay. Unintended examples of this trope (for example using the recoil on a weapon to jump higher) may lead to SequenceBreaking. Within the story of the game itself, the weapon might be an ImprovisedWeapon (if it's a tool which could normally be used to bypass the puzzles which the game allows the player to use as a weapon) or an example of MundaneUtility (if it's something made as a weapon which just happens to be useful for solving the game's puzzles). Also related to the InverseLawOfUtilityAndLethality (where abilities and weapons are more useful when they're less effective at dealing out damage).

** Your pistol's bullets could not only kill enemy soldiers but shoot open lockeddoors (very useful if you don't have any keys) and speed up the unlocking of chests (better hope the chest isn't full of explosives like bullets or grenades).

** Your pistol's bullets could not only kill enemy soldiers but shoot open doors (very useful if you don't have any keys) and speed up the unlocking of chests (better hope the chest isn't full of explosives like bullets or grenades).
** Grenades can be used to destroy dangerous enemies such as SS troops. They can also be used to blow open doors and destroy interior walls and chests to make it easier to get around.

** Grenades can be used to destroy dangerous enemies such as SS troops. They can also be used to blow open doors and destroy interior walls to make it easier to get around.

* The Apple II game Aztec (1982). The dynamite you found could be used to blow up enemies. It could also be used to blow holes in the floor, which could not only prevent enemies fro reaching you but could also allow you to drop down to lower levels.

** A [[WhipItGood bullwhip]] can be used to pick an up off the ground if your floating or riding and animal, to fish on item out of a pool of water, or can wrap around a large object and pull you out of a pit.

!!Examples;
''Sorted by game genre.''

[[folder: Action/Adventure ]]

* ''VideoGame/DukeNukemII'''s flamethrower can be used to boost yourself up, like a jetpack.

[[/folder]]

* While RealLife tends to be devoid of (deliberatly designed) puzzles like the ones you'd find in games, certain objects which might be used as weapons (knives, small axes, entrenching tools) tend to be useful for more peaceful purposes.

* ''WorldWarZ'' gives us an axe that's also a shovel. So you can fortify your position and then kill the shit out of zombies.

[[AC: Action/Adventure]]

[[AC: FirstPersonShooter]]

[[AC: Platformer]]

[[AC: Puzzle]]

[[AC: RolePlayingGame]]

[[AC: WideOpenSandbox]]

[[AC: Non-VideoGame Examples]]

* ''WorldWarZ'' gives us an axe that's also a shovel. So you can fortify your position and then kill the shit out of zombies.

'''Examples;'''

* In ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'', the Engineer's wrench melee weapon also repairs/upgrades his machines. In addition, several unlockable weapons can have other utility effects, such as;
** The Pyro's "Homewrecker" allows him to remove Spy saps from the Engineer's buildings
** The Scout's Force 'a Nature and Atomizer allows him to jump for a [[DoubleJump third time]] with the recoil.
* In ''DestroyAllHumans'', the {{Anal Prob|ing}}e can (if used on a human when fully charged) cause the target's brain to pop out, allowing you to extract the DNA and use it to buy upgrades.
* ''VideoGame/{{Half-Life 2}}'''s [[WreakingHavok gravity gun]] can be used to lift objects around (as well as punt them into enemies, of course).

* In ''CliveBarkersUndying'', dynamite can be used to blow open certain walls.

* In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'', Mining picks (and other tools) are needed to carry out certain actions, but can also be equipped as weapons (indeed, some NPCs will use them as an ImprovisedWeapon).

* ''WorldWarZ'' gives us an axe that's also a shovel. So you can fortify your position and then kill the shit out of zombies.
* All [[GameEngine Build Engine]] games (''VideoGame/DukeNukem3D'', ''ShadowWarrior'', ''{{Blood}}'', ''RedneckRampage'') have cracks in the walls that can be blown open with explosives. Explosives come in two varieties in these: a "rocket launcher" weapon a la Doom, and a ballistic thrown "grenade" or "dynamite" (ShadowWarrior has a grenade launcher instead).
* ''RocksNDiamonds'' has a downloadable Zelda Level which has bombs destroy certain walls and objects
* The ''LEGO'' series of games is full of these, practically every weapon in ''[[VideoGame/LEGOAdaptationGame LEGO Indiana Jones]]'' is useful for something else (the wrench for repairs, the shovel for hidden items).
* In ''VideoGame/{{Okami}}'', Amaterasu's brush is used both as a weapon as well as pretty much everything else.
* As with the Okami example, the brush in ''VideoGame/EpicMickey'' serves as both a weapon and a tool (this time because of the ink based environment).
* The Hookblade from ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedRevelations'' is used for getting around the city and cutting folk up.
* ''VideoGame/DukeNukemII'''s flamethrower can be used to boost yourself up, like a jetpack.