Line #82 Main/NoSelfBuffs


1	->''"Fun fact about Voodoo, Larry: Can't conjure a thing for myself."''
2	-->-- '''Doctor Facilier''', ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog''
3
4	Strangely often, the magician, witch, wizard, [[ReligionIsMagic cleric]], EvilSorcerer, MadScientist, [[AnAdventurerIsYou support class]], etc. have the ability to bestow strange and amazing transformations, alterations, [[MagicAndPowers powers]] and [[MagicEnhancement enhancements]] on other people, for whichever reason, but are unable to use this ability to directly benefit themselves.
5
6	This is a plot device and a video game balancing mechanic: it means the enchanter, caster, [[VideoGame/CityOfHeroes Defender]] or whatever requires other people to move things along, and prevents him from [[GameBreaker making everything trivial]] [[StoryBreakerPower with his own power]]. Exceptions can result in a very powerful character.
7
8	The person receiving these buffs is the Sword in SwordAndSorcerer.
9
10	Compare TheCobblersChildrenHaveNoShoes.
11	----
12	!!Examples:
13
14	[[foldercontrol]]
15
16	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
17	* ''Manga/FairyTail'': Wendy's Sky Dragon Slayer Magic includes HealingHands as part of the package, but she can't heal herself directly. Particularly noticeable since she ''can'' use her own [[MagicEnhancement Enchantments]] on herself. Her God Slayer counterpart, Chellia, has no such restriction, putting her at an advantage over Wendy.
18	* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'':
19	** ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable Diamond is Unbreakable]]'':
20	*** Josuke has the power to [[HealingHands restore anything and everything to a previous state]]... except himself, [[PersonalityPowers fitting his selfless nature]]. It ''will'' work on matter separated from his body ([[spoiler:like [[BloodyMurder blood]]]]), so long as he doesn't make it part of his body again.
21	*** Yoshikage Kira gains a power called Bites the Dust, which will [[spoiler:automatically kill anyone who uncovers his real name]]. Since he's trying to hide from the heroes, it's extremely useful. However, the power must be "set" on someone, and since it requires removing Killer Queen from himself to set it, Kira can't make himself the focal point.
22	** ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStoneOcean Stone Ocean]]'': Gwess has the power to [[ShrinkRay shrink others]], but not herself, unlike [[IncredibleShrinkingMan Formaggio]] from ''[[Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind Golden Wind]]''.
23	** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureTheJoJoLands The JoJoLands]]'': Usagi's Stand can transform into anything; this includes very complex objects, like a working security camera that can play slightly changed live footage. The weakness of this power is that he can't get his Stand to transform into anything he wants. To get his Stand to trigger its ability, he has to rely on someone else by asking them what they want (or by [[LoopholeAbuse telling them to ask for something specific]]), and only then will Matte Kudasai change into whatever they asked for.
24	* At one point in ''Manga/SleepyPrincessInTheDemonCastle'', the princess tries casting a high-level sleep spell on herself. It knocks out everyone in the castle ''except'' her.
25	* ''Manga/UndeadUnluck'': One standard rule for Negators is that a power can either negate things happening to the user themselves or to outside targets, but never both. Andy's Undead (which negates his own death) is in the former category while Fuuko's Unluck (which negates the luck of other people) falls into the latter category, for example.
26	[[/folder]]
27
28	[[folder:Comic Books]]
29	* The deformed mutant Masque, from the ''Franchise/MarvelUniverse'', has the power to alter anyone's facial features, save for his own. This served to the irony that he couldn't fix his own deformed appearance, leading to [[FreudianExcuse bitterly and sadistically]] deforming other Morlocks to enforce loyalty. Later appearances avert this into full on VoluntaryShapeshifting territory.
30	* In ''ComicBook/GoldDigger'', Djinn cannot use their powers for their own benefit. For example, a Djinn could make themselves physically stronger, but only to defend someone else. Most were content with granting each other's wishes, but the ambitions of Madrid to try and bypass this limitation was a major focus of an earlier story arc.
31	[[/folder]]
32
33	[[folder:Fan Works]]
34	* ''Fanfic/{{Dangerverse}}'': If an Heir of Ravenclaw tries to use their [[HealingHands wandless healing]] powers on themselves it sets up a feedback loop that will burn out the power so completely that they can't even pass it down to their descendants.
35	* It's mentioned in the setting guide for ''FanFic/RainbowDoubleDashsLunaverse'' that voodoo practictioners can never be affected by their own powers, for good or ill. They can, however, work magic on each other. This is hinted to be because voodoo runs heavily on ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve (it's more effective on those who believe in it, for one thing), and obviously you can't truly fool yourself.
36	* In ''Fanfic/TheBridge'', the {{Kaiju}} in Equestria need benign magic in order to charge up and temporarily return to their original forms. But this magic has to be ''external'', like from one of the Mane Six; even the Kaiju whose new bodies can use magic can't charge themselves for some reason.
37	[[/folder]]
38
39	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
40	* ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'': The [[EvilSorcerer witch doctor]] Facilier, AKA [[RedBaron the Shadow Man]], mentions this as a reason he has to work his schemes through others. Despite being able to turn a man into a frog, summon shadowy demons to do his bidding, and contact his Friends on the Other Side, the Shadow Man can't use any of it on himself. While his LivingShadow can manipulate objects for him, and he can cast illusions that affect other people to further his own goals, this only works so long as it's what they think they want. To demonstrate, the Shadow Man puts on a magic talisman that caused Lawrence to look like Prince Naveen when it was worn by Lawrence. But around the Shadow Man's neck, the amulet does nothing at all, which he explicitly points out with a shrug.
41	* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'' and its sequels/spin-off TV series, the Genie's power is much greater when granting wishes for others than when doing things for himself. The former lets him wield "phenomenal cosmic power", while the latter only lets him use "semi-phenomenal nearly-cosmic power." One really powerful individual with chaos powers was described as a "genie who could grant his own wishes.", [[WrongContextMagic which scares the hell out of Genie]]. Since Genie is a free genie after the first movie, technically everything he does is for himself rather than granting the wishes of others, which explains why he is weaker.
42	* In ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'', the fairies Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather have incredibly powerful magic that "can only do good...to bring joy and happiness." Merryweather gripes that turning [[BigBad Maleficent]] into a "fat, old hop toad" would bring happiness to ''herself'', but Flora reminds her that such a spell is against the rules, suggesting that the fairies can't use their abilities for their own gain. In the climax, though, they use some LoopholeAbuse to use their powers to rescue and protect Philip, as they're making ''him'' (and, as a consequence, Aurora) happy by doing so.
43	[[/folder]]
44
45	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
46	* ''Film/{{Maleficent}}'', in contrast to her animated counterpart, can shapeshift other creatures but not herself.
47	* The Fairy Godmother in ''Film/TheSlipperAndTheRose'' can't use her magic to do things for herself.
48	[[/folder]]
49
50	[[folder:Literature]]
51	* In ''Literature/TheCandyShopWar'', magicians can't usually use their magic on themselves for a number of reasons. The most prominent is that magic works better on the young, and by the time you're old enough to understand magic, you're not a kid anymore. [[spoiler: The villain of the first book's plan is to gain access to water from the FountainOfYouth, allowing her to combine that youthful power with her knowledge of magic to become perhaps the most powerful magician ever]].
52	* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel ''Literature/{{Sourcery}}'', it was mentioned that the only thing the wizards couldn't magically improve- even after they started receiving power from [[RealityWarper the Sourcerer]]- was themselves (or at least, not for more than a few seconds).
53	* In the ''Spellsong Cycle'' by Creator/LEModesittJr, magicians cannot cast magic on themselves. They can, however, cast magic on ''each other''.
54	* In Creator/PatriciaCWrede's ''Literature/EnchantedForestChronicles'', Herbert (the grandson of the ''Enchanted Forest Chronicles'' version of Rumpelstiltskin) can spin straw into gold for other people, not himself.
55	* Zig-zagged in ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime''. Although [[MagicByAnyOtherName channelers]] can use some weaves of the One Power on themselves, it's impossible for them to target themselves with HealingHands, and some other weaves are difficult for them to use on themselves because they can't get a clear view of how they're applying their power.
56	* Inverted with Feruchemists from ''Literature/{{Mistborn\|TheOriginalTrilogy}}''. Their EquivalentExchange-based powers only work on ''themselves'' - Feruchemy can't be used directly to alter someone else's abilities. Feruchemy's sister magic system Allomancy is similar, though it has some "external" powers that work on others, while the third system in the triad, [[BloodMagic Hemalurgy]] can power up ''anyone'' so long as the person actually performing it is willing to [[PoweredByAForsakenChild pay the price]].
57	* ''Literature/{{Ruinsong}}'': Corporeal mages are told not to perform self-magic, as magic requires [[MagicMusic getting the notes right]] to properly control the effects, and the sensations of a spell's effects on the body can be distracting. When Elene shrugs off Cadence's attack, Cadence assumes either her own magic was too weak or Elene received new magics from worshipping another goddess, but Remi argues that mages must have had blocking spells to fight in wars. Cadence's old mentor admits that they were ordered not to teach her self-defense magic, and gives her a book on defensive spells, though with the reminder that it's still dangerous and not recommended.
58	* ''Literature/TrappedOnDraconica'': Erowin can't use her healing power on herself. [[TheBrute Mordack takes note.]]
59	* This is the last obstacle to [[spoiler: becoming an orah]] in ''Literature/TheQuestOfTheUnaligned''. You can never take [[spoiler: light magic]] for yourself, only give it to someone else.
60	* ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'': As said in ''[[http://whateleyacademy.net/index.php/2nd-gen-canon/421-the-curse-of-the-dragon-queen The Curse of the Dragon Queen]]'', there's the Law of Balance that makes it so helping yourself leads to hurt yourself later, or something:
61	--> The Law of Balance, that ‘TANSTAAFL’ rule, says that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction, just like Newton’s Second Law. Or, as they put in the mystical biz, ‘For every boon there is a price’.\
62	the Law of Balance only kicks in when a working imposes change on the external world... [not if you] simply change the caster’s way of seeing the world
63	* ''The Castings Trilogy'' has a type of fortune-telling called Stonecasting. While it's not technically impossible to Stonecast for oneself, doing so is generally discouraged as the Stonecaster will likely be unable to properly determine what the stones are telling them (although this is at least as much about being unable to distance yourself from your own problems as it is an inherent part of the magic). Stonecasting for your whole group is fine, however.
64	* [[HealingHands Panacea]] from ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' cannot use her power on herself.
65	[[/folder]]
66
67	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
68	* In ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', Vengeance Demons can't grant wishes on their own behalf, so when Anya wants vengeance on Xander for [[spoiler:leaving her at the altar]], she has to go to everyone she knows and try to get ''them'' to wish vengeance on him.
69	* In ''Series/{{Charmed\|1998}}'', witches cannot use magic for personal gain. If they try, the world will twist it against them, or outright delete the results. This only applies to [[BeingGoodSucks good-aligned witches]], enforced by ThePowersThatBe. In the PostScriptSeason comic series, an incident renders humans magical and witches powerless and the empowered humans can freely use magic for any whim. Evil witches can do pretty much whatever they want, something the protagonists regularly lament, but they usually [[EvilIsSterile have to steal the power to do so from forces of good]].
70	* ''Series/LegendsOfTomorrow'': {{Fairy Godmother}}s have incredible power, but are cursed to only be able to act on the direct orders of who they are bonded to (or to defend them from immediate danger). Tabitha, the primary fairy godmother in the show, convinces [[spoiler:Nora Darhk]] to take her curse by leading her to believe it will help her heal a friend. Without the curse, Tabitha is significantly weaker, but still a powerful witch, and now free to do as she pleases.
71	[[/folder]]
72
73	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
74	* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'':
75	** In early editions some monsters (archdevils, efreeti and noble djinn) could grant another character's wishes, but not wish for things themselves.
76	** On the other hand, most "actual buffs" can be applied to anyone, including the caster. Many are even caster-only! This is part of why [[GameBreaker a well-built spellcaster can take the place of a full party]].
77	** A few bardic music abilities can only be used on other members of the party but not on the Bard himself, mostly because he's busy singing/playing/reciting to activate them and can't act otherwise at the same time. Other have lingering effects, however, and a Bard can thus use them on himself.
78	** Spells and abilities which impose disadvantage on a creature's attack rolls against the whole party don't usually extend that to attacks against the player that used the spell or ability. In many cases, however, this is because it is flavoured as [[DrawAggro Drawing Aggro]] (in a system which doesn't have a direct mechanic with which to do so).
79	* Inverted in ''TabletopGame/MageTheAwakening'': casting a spell on oneself is always easier than casting it one someone else. For example casting a protective Mage Armor spell requires two points in any of the Arcana, but casting the same spell on someone else requires three points. This is done away with in 2e: Mages no longer require having a higher level arcanum to target others with their spells.
80	** ''TabletopGame/PrincessTheHopeful:'' {{Inverted}} with the [[ItsAllAboutMe Princesses of Mirrors]], who can apply their Invocation for free to any Charm they cast that targets themselves (which will, for obvious reasons, usually be buff spells). Similarly, several Bless Charms have an upgrade for each Court that grants a more powerful blessing, but restricts it to a specific subset of rolls where the base version can be used to boost anything. In every case, the Specchio version of these Charms grants the enhanced bonus to every roll, but can ''only'' be cast on the Princess herself.
81	* In ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'', the creatures nicknamed "lords" by the players buff all other creatures of a certain species/class but don't buff themselves. This was actually averted in the early days of Magic, but players kept forgetting that it applied to the lord, leading Wizards to change the design.
82	[[/folder]]
83
84	[[folder:Theatre]]
85	* In ''Theatre/JasperInDeadland'', because Jasper entered Deadland while still being alive, his presence inadvertently causes the dead citizens to begin remembering their time in the Living World. This doesn't affect him though, as he slowly loses his memories the same way that everyone else does, even triggering a ThirdPersonFlashback shortly after [[spoiler:forgetting ''all'' of his memories]].
86	[[/folder]]
87
88	[[folder:Video Games]]
89	* ''VideoGame/ThirteenSentinelsAegisRim'': Yuki doesn't get her WT halved by her Active Cooling Device, no matter how much it's upgraded.
90	* ''VideoGame/{{WarCraft}} III'':
91	** Holy Light and Death Coil are very powerful healing spells which can only be used on other units. (Though to compensate, the Paladin can become invulnerable and the Death Knight can absorb the health of a nearby friendly unit.) Some spells also don't work on the caster (but do if from another caster) like Invisibility and Anti-Magic Shell.
92	** Lightning Shield is an OrbitingParticleShield that [[NonIndicativeName doesn't increase the target's armor]] but does cause damage to nearby units (allied or enemy) and can be cast on allies or enemies. However, it can't be cast on the caster by the caster.
93	** The Shadow Hunter's Big Bad Voodoo makes all nearby allied units invulnerable... except, of course, himself.
94	* Mostly averted in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', any spell which can buff a target can buff the caster (indeed some default to buffing the caster if there is no target).
95	** A few exceptions exist where the caster can only cast a buff on someone else, but the effects of the buff also benefit the caster. One example would be [[http://www.wowhead.com/spell=54646 Focus Magic]], which increases the target's CriticalHit chance by 3%, and when they score one increases your own. A fairly common variant is a spell cast on the casters minion by default that directly or indirectly benefits the caster as well. And then there's the Paladin's Hand of Sacrifice, which transfers damage from someone else to the Paladin. Even when Glyphed to remove the "To the paladin" part or when used by Retribution Paladins for it's second effect of dispelling debuffs, it can't be cast on the Paladin themselves.
96	** With the introduction of Deathknights, Death Coil returns as a spell that can be used to damage enemies or heal friendly undead, most commonly the Deathknights Ghoul minion. However, they can temporarily become undead themselves and use this spell to heal themselves.
97	* ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'' naturally has the support powersets mainly only able to buff others, though some can also buff themselves; sometimes while debuffing or damaging enemies in the process, sometimes in a power that affects all of their teammates, including themselves. The reasons for this are obvious; even two buffers looking after each other can be a very effective team.
98	* The Medic from ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' can't heal or buff himself with his Medigun (barring the Kritzkrieg's taunt, which is deliberately too slow for practical use), but has slowly RegeneratingHealth to make up for it. Most of his possible [[LimitBreak Ubers]] make both him and his Uber target invulnerable or at least much more durable, but the Kritzkrieg's Uber [[CriticalHit crit-boosting]] is completely unusable by the Medic (as it only takes effect when the Kritzkrieg, which can't attack, is deployed).
99	* In ''VideoGame/ShadowHeartsCovenant'', Lucia's oils will affect the three other party members but not her. In ''VideoGame/ShadowHeartsFromTheNewWorld'', Ricardo's songs work the same way.
100	* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':
101	** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'', Sabin can use his "Mantra" and "Spiraler" Blitzes to heal his teammates, but not himself (using Spiraler actually kills him).
102	** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' most buffs are usable on any party member (and some even on people outside the party), but there are a few exceptions. The Arcanist skill Eye for an Eye for example can only be cast on another, although Scholars can subvert this by spreading the buff to everyone in range with Deployment Tactics. Similarly, the Astrologian ability Time Dilation, which increases the duration of Astrologian-cast buffs, cannot be cast on the user.
103	** Two of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsA2'''s [[PowerCopying Blue Magic]] spells are this. The first is White Wind, an area-of-effect spell that heals all other targets equal to the caster's current HP. The second is Angel Whisper, an AutoRevive spell. In both cases, it's a nerf meant to keep them from being as overpowered as they are in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance''.
104	* ''VideoGame/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness'':
105	** Flonne has a skill named "[[LoveFreak Power of Love]]", which recovers the HP of her allies, but not her own.
106	** Other spells in the game can be cast on anyone of the player's choosing, including damaging spells and debuffs. You and your allies are most definitely NOT FriendlyFireproof.
107	* ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'' introduces Heal Pulse, which heals a target other than the user. It's made for double battles. Which does nothing to abate the guilt when a wild Audino spams it on you while you're [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential beating the crap out of the poor thing for precious EXP]].
108	* In ''VideoGame/MiniRobotWars'', the [[TheMedic Fixer Bot]] can heal all minirobot units around her, but not herself.
109	* In ''[[Website/GaiaOnline zOMG!]]'', the strongest and most stamina-effective heal is Wish... which can't be used on the user. Previously, this was also the case with Rock Armor, which has since been changed.
110	* The Medkit of ''VideoGame/XCOMUFODefense'' is a remarkable device. It allows a medical novice to diagnose and treat any injury. Oddly, though it isn't possible to point this medical marvel at your own leg, only at other people.
111	* ''Franchise/FireEmblem'':
112	** As a general rule, staves can't heal the user. ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade'' and ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones'', for example, contain staves that heal ''everyone else'' on the battlefield ''except'' the user. There are a few exceptions though.
113	** Rally skills, which give a bonus to one or multiple stats for a single turn, cannot be used on the user.
114	** This is a NecessaryDrawback in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden'' and the remake ''VideoGame/FireEmblemEchoesShadowsOfValentia'', because healing magic in those games is CastFromHitPoints instead of consumable staves. A healer who ''could'' heal themselves would basically have [[GameBreaker unlimited magic.]] That said, it's common to have two healers "scratch each other's backs" to the same effect, especially once they learn healing spells that affect more than one unit like Fortify. They also get the [[LifeDrain Nosferatu]] spell, which lets them refuel on enemy HP instead.
115	** In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'', Staves are automatically equipped after use, and each one bestows an effect on the user. Some of them heal, and equipping a Restore staff ''will'' cure the user of status between turns. (Very useful when dealing with Silence)
116	** The Balmwood Staff from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'', which has to be used as an item to do so.
117	** ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]'' averts staffs not healing the user with a skill from the [[BattleButler Butler]][=/=][[NinjaMaid Maid]] called "Live To Serve" which restores the healer's HP based on the amount of HP restored to the recipient. And with reclassing, healers that can get the class can regain lost HP. This is also the extent of [[AsianFoxSpirit Kaden]]'s personal skill which recover half HP to the healer.
118	** Mercedes in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'' has "Live to Serve" as her personal skill, and it works the same way, giving her even more reason to use her specialty in Faith magic.
119	** In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage'', a unit in the High Priest class can learn a skill called Self-Healing, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin which allows them to use healing staves on themselves]].
120	* In ''VideoGame/EternalSonata'', Claves' only healing move, Unicorn Horn, cannot target herself. (By contrast, Polka starts with a move that ''can'' target herself if there's no party member in the vicinity who needs it more. She later learns Earth Heal, which cannot target her, but it only takes a Light Special Move slot if you choose to put it there. Most other healing move don't have this limitation... particularly the ones that heal all.)
121	* In ''VideoGame/PlantsVsZombies2ItsAboutTime'', the Glitter Zombie's rainbow trails will affect all zombies that aren't herself or other Glitter Zombies. A damn good thing too, as said rainbow trails make all zombies within ''completely damn [[NighInvulnerability invulnerable to damage]] and slowing/stunning effects''.
122	* A similar instance in ''VideoGame/IronBrigade'', where the Jacobs Tubes can shield all nearby grounded [[{{Mooks}} Tubes]] around it to make them NighInvulnerable, but thankfully can't shield themselves or other Jacobs.
123	* ''VideoGame/StarCraftI'': the Arbiter passively cloaks nearby friendly units, but remains visible itself, even two Arbiters won't work.
124	* ''VideoGame/EmpireEarth'': Both types of hero unit have an ability that only works on other units and not themselves: the Warrior hero causes friendly units to take half damage, while the Strategist heals them. However, they are immune to their and each other's effects, though they have very high health, regeneration and can still be healed at a hospital to make up for it.
125	* In ''VideoGame/PAYDAYTheHeist'', players can equip "crew bonuses" to, well, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin provide bonuses to their crew]] -- things like increased health, damage, ammo capacity, et cetera. Since these bonuses only apply to the player's crewmates and not the player himself, the meta is for a full four-man crew to have two players equip one bonus and the other two equip another, so the full crew can benefit from both bonuses.
126	* ''VideoGame/Psychonauts2'': The Enablers are unable to render themselves invulnerable.
127	* The [[OurAngelsAreDifferent Advocate]] from ''VideoGame/NexusClash'' can grant enormous bonuses to other characters at the price of most of their [[PointBuildSystem Character Points]], but doesn't benefit from any of these buffs itself. There is ''no'' upper limit to the number of other characters who can get buffs, making a sufficiently well-developed Advocate a case of sacrificing personal power for the power to [[HeartIsAnAwesomePower alter the course of the whole war]].
128	* ''Videogame/{{Overwatch}}'' has Mercy, a Swiss medic with an angel motif and a staff that can either heal her teammates or give them a damage buff, but not herself. Her suit can heal her, but it only activates after she hasn’t been hit for a couple seconds. Something that is slightly difficult when [[ShootTheMedicFirst you’re a Support character]]
129	* The APC from ''VideoGame/AdvanceWars'' can resupply adjacent units (including a fighter jet or a battleship) at the beginning of each turn and after its movement but somehow if it runs out of fuel, it can still resupply others as usual (even other APCs) but still can't resupply himself and so can't move.
130	* Inverted in ''VideoGame/MonsterLegends'' with self-sustaining monsters such as Alex Bone and Faugnar. These two examples in particular, for example, have several ways to apply Evasion (which makes the monster immune to all damage) to themselves, but can't do a thing for their allies.
131	* In ''VideoGame/{{Paladins}}'', Support Champions whose main Healing ability is their alt-fire (right click) tend to fall into this trope. Those who heal with their Ability 2 (Q) avoid this trope, but have a longer cooldown to prevent them from constantly healing themselves and becoming almost invincible. Those who fall under this trope usually have Cards they can equip to grant them a bit of healing when they heal an ally, but they still can't target themselves directly with their ability.
132	[[/folder]]
133
134	[[folder:Western Animation]]
135	* ''WesternAnimation/ShimmerAndShine'': Wish magic is the most powerful magic a genie can use but no one can use it to grant one's own wishes.
136	* ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'':
137	** The Butterfly Miraculous has the power to [[SuperEmpowering grant people superpowers]], but it can't be used on the Miraculous's own holder. However, there are [[LoopholeAbuse certain loopholes]] that [[BigBad Hawk Moth]] has been able to exploit to circumvent this restriction. [[spoiler:The first time, he akumatizes himself by temporarily renouncing the Miraculous before having a previously created akuma merge with him, fooling even Master Fu, who is aware of the Butterfly's limitations. The second, he empowers a willing accomplice with the ability to amplify the powers of others, who in turn uses that power on him, allowing him to make as many akumas as he wants at a time.]]
138	** Averted with the Peacock Miraculous, whose wielder can use its power of amokization on themselves and create a sentimonster from their own emotions.
139	[[/folder]]

Context Main / NoSelfBuffs