Line #47 Main/StuckItems


1	->''"ERROR: MUHAHAHA!!! You cannot unequip this item!"''
2	-->-- '''Message when attempting to remove Jhudoras Bewitched Ring''', ''Website/{{Neopets}}''
3
4	The game you're playing allows you to swap equipment in slots on party members. There're some slots the game won't allow players to empty. There are three categories of this trope:
5
6	* Defaults: A character comes with an item that can't be removed (sometimes because the character isn't allowed to equip other items on that particular slot); for example, a fisticuffs brawler may have their Weapon slot described as "Hard Fists" simply to keep that slot occupied and remind the player that they are not actually weaponless in battle.
7	* Un-Unequipables: You can equip the item but subsequently can't remove it (a common property of [[CursedItem cursed items]]).
8	* Swappables: You may reequip the slot with whatever you choose, but you do have to equip it with ''something''; you can't leave it empty.
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10	Some games with a GuestStarPartyMember have all their equipment fall under this trope to avert SoLongAndThanksForAllTheGear. If so, it will fall under "Defaults".
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12	Often related to ClingyCostume and ClingyMacGuffin.
13
14	----
15	!!Examples:
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17	[[foldercontrol]]
18
19	[[folder:Action Adventure Games]]
20	* In ''[[VideoGame/{{Dizzy}} Magicland Dizzy]]'', you pull Excalibur from the stone by [[spoiler:picking up some 'sticky stuff' that allows you to get a good enough grip]]. It's then permanently attached to your hand (taking up inventory space) for the remainder of the game.
21	* In the prologue of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTearsOfTheKingdom'', Link is equipped with the Master Sword, which at this stage can't break or run out of energy. He finds no other weapons, can't unequip the Master Sword, and isn't even allowed to open the Weapons page of his inventory until the prologue reaches its conclusion.
22	[[/folder]]
23
24	[[folder:Action RPG]]
25
26	* ''VideoGame/{{Darkstone}}'' has cursed weapons. They may have higher stats, but the player can't remove them. Mistress Irma can remove cursed items at steep price.
27	* ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsI'' plays this very subtly. It allows you to drop pretty much every piece of equipment, and the items may get lost again if you don't pick them up... except the Orange Charred Ring and the Covenant of Artorias ring, which are required to reach two of the four key bosses throughout the game, and are instead placed in the initially conspicuously empty chest at the Firelink Shrine in case you lose them. On the other hand, they are also the only equipment pieces not transferred to the NewGamePlus.
28	* ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'' gives you a bunch of items that remain bound to you during the whole game: the Augite of Souls (a glowy rock that frequently serves as your only source of light), Nexial Binding (a bangle you can use at any time to escape a level at the cost of all your souls/money), Blue Eye Stone (used to enter another player's world as an allied Blue Phantom), Black Eye Stone (used to invade another player's world and hunt them down as a Black Phantom), and after you fulfill the right conditions, the Red Eye Stone (used to enter a duel with another player).
29	* This happens in ''VideoGame/HeroesOfRuin'' for the 3DS. You can swap out your equipment, but once you put something onto your character, you can't remove it.
30	* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'':
31	** In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsI'' and ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', Sora and company cannot unequip their main weapons, although the Trio can change their weapon to another of the same type. Sora always has to have his Keyblade equipped; Donald and Goofy: their respective Stave and Shield, and any World Partner comes default with a weapon that can't even be switched out for another.
32	** The same goes for ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'', in which Terra, Ventus and Aqua can switch out Keyblades, but cannot unequip them leaving them with nothing. In the case of the keyblade wielders, this is {{justified\|Trope}}; the keyblade is usually the only weapon available to them, and their "weapon slot" is actually just a [[AmplifierArtifact keychain]] used to modify the keyblade's attributes. In a more meta sense, the Keyblades themselves are also [[ClingyMacGuffin Clingy MacGuffins]].
33	* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'' will let you run around with no armor whatsoever, but you're never allowed to be weaponless. You can go hunting without armor--you'll just be a GlassCannon at best--but there would be no point in having no weapons equipped.
34	* In ''VideoGame/RavenswordShadowlands'', every quest item you acquire remains in your inventory for the rest of the game and cannot be sold or dropped, even after they've long served their purpose.
35	* {{Subverted}} in ''VideoGame/ValkyrieProfile''. Lenneth's Nibelungen Ring has all the usual signs that it can't be removed, but it really can be [[spoiler:and ''not'' wearing it at certain points in the game is necessary to get the best ending]].
36	[[/folder]]
37
38	[[folder:Eastern RPG]]
39	* In ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'', you cannot completely unequip any equipment slot on any character - they're all filled by default, and all you can do is swap them (with the slight exception of your time on the Blackbird, where the slots temporarily empty for everything except [[BareFistedMonk Ayla's]] weapon).
40	** The same applies to weapons and basic armor in ''VideoGame/ChronoCross'', but nothing else.
41	* In ''VideoGame/CognitiveDissonance'', several party members start with items that can't be unequipped.
42	* ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'':
43	** The series has cursed weapons that can only be removed with special methods once equipped. The moment you equip them, you'll hear an ominous tune play, which has become a sort of staple in the series.
44	** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIV'': Averted by Psaro as a party member. He is fully capable of using cursed weapons and armor with no penalty.
45	** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII'': Averted with the main character, who is immune to curses (because [[spoiler:he's under the effects of a curse already]]). This means he treats cursed equipment as though it weren't cursed.
46	* In ''VideoGame/EternalSonata'', you can't unequip the Weapons or Armor slot, only swap.
47	* Occurs in the later ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games.
48	** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'' you cannot have your weapon slot be empty, though you may change weapons around and run around "naked" except for your dagger/staff/racket/spear whatever.
49	** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'', and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'' you can't have either your Weapon or armor slot be empty.
50	** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'', each character only has one weapon, which can be upgraded (or downgraded), but can't be unequipped.
51	** in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' the weapon or tool you have equipped defines your character's class and you can't be "classless".
52	* ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'' has cursed weapons that are very powerful, but have the annoying side effect of causing paralysis when fighting. Once equipped, you can't take them off unless you visit a priest to remove the curse from the character. The weapon will still be cursed though.
53	** Though you can equip a special ring to remove the paralysis effect, making it a powerful weapon you probably won't want to remove anyway.
54	* In ''VideoGame/LiveALive'', the weapon/left hand slot of a character cannot be emptied once it has been filled.
55	* The ''VideoGame/{{Lufia}}'' series has cursed items, which after being equipped cannot be removed until you pay a priest to remove the item for you.
56	** ''VideoGame/LufiaCurseOfTheSinistrals'' brings the "swap only" plate to the table, with everybody coming with default equipment.
57	* Koromaru can't equip footwear in ''VideoGame/Persona3''. This is largely because he's a dog. His "shoes" equipment slot is permanently occupied by an unremovable "item" called "Bare Paws".
58	* In ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'', key items can't be tossed or sold once obtained. Trying to toss gets you a "That's too important to throw away", which is annoying in the early games, which limit your space severely, with items whose purpose has already been fulfilled, like the SS Anne ticket in Gen I after you finish with the ship.
59	** At least one slot in your party MUST be filled at all times. It can be any Pokemon, but if you try to deposit that last one in the PC, you'll get a "That's your last Pokemon" message and be stopped from doing it.
60	* ''VideoGame/RuinaFairyTaleOfTheForgottenRuins'': Some powerful pieces of equipment are cursed so that if the player tries to remove them from the wearer, an event is triggered after the player exits the menu, which causes the equipment to go back on the previous wearer. While Ada can remove most cursed equipment by destroying them, she cannot do so for the elemental gems that only the protagonist can equip. Those require the player to activate the fountain at the bottom of the Cemetery.
61	* Occurs several times in the ''VideoGame/{{SaGa\|RPG}}'' series:
62	** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyLegendII'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyLegendIII'', the equipment of {{Guest Star Party Member}}s is stuck, including [[SoLongAndThanksForAllTheGear any gear they equip in empty slots]].
63	*** In Final Fantasy Legend II, robots permanently have a 'O-Pa/Po' (Resistance to paralysis/poison) "equipped" that they cannot get rid of.
64	** Mystics in ''VideoGame/{{SaGa Frontier}}'' all have some form of armor permanently equipped, usually "Mystic Mail", although Mesarthiim and Dr. Nusakan have a "Mellow Ring" and "Mystic Shirt" respectively. Depending on their body type, Mecs have one to four pieces of equipment that can't be unequipped, ranging from laser cannons to missile launchers to medkits.
65	** In ''VideoGame/{{SaGa Frontier 2}}'', some characters are stuck with unequippable weapons, the most notorious examples being Gustave always having his steel sword (though hopefully upgrades as the story goes on); Gustaf (who inherits Gustave's sword, which is pretty much an InfinityMinusOneSword at this point); and Firebrand (who wields a weaker sword). With both weapon slots occupied, Gustaf can't equip the InfinityPlusOneSword (or any other weapon for that matter) preventing him from achieving GameBreaker status.
66	** ''VideoGame/{{Romancing SaGa}}: Minstrel Song'' features this: certain recruitable characters have equipment that can't be removed. These include The Minstrel, Diana, Prince Niedhart and the various EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep "generic" mercenaries. This prevents the player from pulling a reverse SoLongAndThanksForAllTheGear on them, and can also hinder attempts to outfit them with the best equipment.
67	** ''VideoGame/{{Romancing SaGa 3}}'' also has a fair number of characters with unremoveable items: the assassin-type character can't remove his secondary weapon (although he gains an upgrade for it late in the game), the snowman can't remove the crystal that keeps him from melting outside of his homeworld, the vampire can't remove his cloak (although it's not like you'd want to because it's one of the best armors in the game and any armors that share its name are vastly weaker), the bard can't remove his lute, the crippled swordsman can't remove his prosthetic arm, and so forth.
68	** In ''VideoGame/UnlimitedSaga'', Kurt and Michelle have cursed gauntlets that can't be removed, only upgraded through the game's [[ScrappyMechanic distinctive]] CharacterCustomization.
69	* ''VideoGame/StarOcean1'' had accessories that couldn't be removed from Phia and Ioshua.
70	* In the ''VideoGame/{{Suikoden}}'' series, the True Runes can't be moved or removed from their bearers. The same goes for certain ''other'' characters with "special" Runes, whether or not said Runes are actually ''unique'' and plot-relevant.
71	** Furthermore, some characters actually have armor pieces which cannot be removed or upgraded, usually owing to the person's profession (such as Mina's Toe Shoes, as she's a dancer). However, these excuses aren't always justified: while Mina's example can be forgiven, [[SquishyWizard Luc's]] locked-in Guard Robe (one of the weakest armour pieces in a game with multiple stronger pieces of robed armour) is ''not'', especially given that it all but guarantees that he'll die if an enemy so much as breathes in his direction.
72	* ''VideoGame/SwordOfPaladin'': All equipment is locked except for Skill Gems and Ornaments, meaning each character really only gets two slots to customize. However, story progress will result in equipment upgrades or downgrades for the major party members. The unchangeable gear is designed to maintain relative power levels in a way that's consistent with the story. While Skill Gems, Ornaments, and leveling can help a weak character become stronger, the locked equipment means they CantCatchUp with canonically stronger characters.
73	* Happens in ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' with GuestStarPartyMember Asch. He comes pre-equipped with "Maestro" equipment, basically his uniform as God-General, that refused to be removed unless you use cheat devices. When you first get him, his equipment is top-notch and his accessory very useful, but the next time you can actually control him the rest of your party has clearly outclassed him.
74	* In ''VideoGame/TalesOfPhantasia'', Chester and Arche can't be stripped of any weapon they are currently in possession of. This is justified as Chester is an Archer ''not'' trained for melee combat and Arche uses {{flying broomstick}}s without which she wouldn't have much advantage in battle.
75	* In ''VideoGame/VirtualHydlide'', armor has the ability to be "cursed", making it unremovable without creative use of magical items.
76	* The ''VideoGame/WildArms'' games generally let you upgrade your characters [=ARMs=] (or change their ammunition), but the [=ARMs=] themselves are character-specific and can't be unequipped.
77	* Gear weapons in ''VideoGame/{{Xenogears}}''.
78	* Melia's starting hat in ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles1''. It can't be removed until after a certain story event unless you're on a NewGamePlus.
79	** Shulk is also stuck with the Monado for the duration of the game and can't equip any other swords, though at least the Monado gets upgraded throughout the game to keep its damage viable. Very late in the game, due to story events, you do get the ability to craft imitation Monados which he is free to change between. Most of which however require items dropped from Post-Game level enemies.
80	[[/folder]]
81
82	[[folder:First-Person Shooter]]
83	* The original ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' and its expansion have a form of this - pistols are considered separate from the normal two-weapon limit, and like with the other two weapon slots you can't drop one unless you find a different one to replace it with. However, after the first game's American campaign, you don't always have one to start with (this combined with [[EmergencyWeapon their general low damage]] past point-blank range is probably why ''[=CoD2=]'' and later dropped the dedicated pistol slot).
84	** The ''Film/JamesBond'' video games published by Activision, the same publisher behind ''[=CoD=]'', have kept this idea going: Bond usually has the [=CoD=]-style two-weapon limit, but also a third slot dedicated to, if not pistols in general, just his trademark Walther P99.
85	* In ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'', server mods aside, your [[EmergencyWeapon secondary weapon slot]] will always be filled. You start with a pistol with infinite ammo, and you can get a [[DualWielding second pistol]], a [[HandCannon magnum]], or a melee weapon, but you'll always have at least one weapon on hand. Some campaigns even force you to progress with just the secondary for a while before you find any primaries.
86	* ''VideoGame/PAYDAYTheHeist'' allows you to carry a primary weapon (rifles, a shotgun, and a grenade launcher), a secondary weapon (submachine guns and a compact shotgun), and a sidearm. You cannot swap any of your weapons out for one dropped by an enemy.
87	** ''VideoGame/PAYDAY2'' uses the same formula, but players can instead only use a primary gun (usually assault rifles or other heavy weaponry) and a secondary gun (pistols and submachine guns). You can never play without one of the two.
88	[[/folder]]
89
90	[[folder:MMORPG]]
91	* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', you cannot un-equip the backpack you start with, ever. Which is annoying, as there are a few easily attainable alternatives readily available with 4-6 slots more.[[note]]Blizzard has stubbornly claimed this to be a protection against any player accidentally finding some bug that would allow them to remove all their bags, thus leaving them with no inventory and no way to restore it. This doesn't explain why they wouldn't even consider making the default backpack automatically expandable under certain conditions in the same way the defunct Keyring automatically grew in size.[[/note]]
92	* in ''VideoGame/LostSoulsMUD'', some cursed items display sticky behavior. Hijinks ensue when players decide it is more cost effective to have their buddy hack off the hand with the cursed ring on it, then reattach the limb, than to get a remove curse spell cast on them.
93	[[/folder]]
94
95	[[folder:Roguelike]]
96	* Hilariously, in ''VideoGame/AncientDomainsOfMystery'' for some time it was possible for gold coins to be cursed. So if you decided to fool around and equip a coin as a weapon... you might have found out it was impossible to un-equip, and you were forced to walk around [[MoneyMauling beating up monsters with a single coin]].
97	* ''VideoGame/NetHack'', ''VideoGame/{{Angband}}'' and many other {{Roguelike}}s use the same mechanic; you can't remove a cursed item once equipped without removing the curse first. This is especially bad if the item in question is a two-handed weapon (leaving no hands available to use other items) or an [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Amulet of Strangulation]].
98	[[/folder]]
99
100	[[folder:Real Time Strategy]]
101	* Justified in ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}} 3'' which has several (plot-important) items that can't be dropped; if you could drop them, you would lose them for the rest of the game.
102	[[/folder]]
103
104	[[folder:Simulation Game]]
105	* Some ''VideoGame/HarvestMoon'' games have cursed tools that can't be removed when held. Very annoying if you accidentally equip them with the switch tools button shortcut.
106	[[/folder]]
107
108	[[folder:Strategy]]
109	* ''[[VideoGame/{{Civilization}} Civilization V]]'': Capital cities cannot be razed. Even if the original owner is defeated entirely, the city is there to stay for the entire game. This includes city state cities, and serves some purpose in that this allows players to liberate both major civs and city states, which is especially useful for a diplomatic victory. On the other hand, its impossible to get rid of such cities if you wanted to build another one in a better location nearby.
110	* In ''VideoGame/JaggedAlliance'' the biker mercenary Nails refuses to take off his leather jacket in favor of proper body armor, which makes him something of a JokeCharacter[[note]]the armor stat penalty this imposes is ''huge'' by mid-game and his other stats don't really make up for it[[/note]], but he ''can'' be persuaded to upgrade it for another leather jacket with Kevlar reinforcement if you can prevent him from getting shot full of holes first. He also doesn't seem to mind shoving a trauma plate underneath it, at least in the V1.13 GameMod, which helps slightly.
111	[[/folder]]
112
113	[[folder:Survival Horror]]
114	* The cellphone in ''VideoGame/CryOfFear'' is one of your two starting items. It cannot be dropped, as it is a plot-essential item for most of the game. After a train crash in the last quarter of the game, you lose the cellphone.
115	* Several of the classic ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' titles had an extra inventory space to accommodate a "personal" item for the character to help make progress; usually a cigarette lighter for the male character and a lockpick for the female. The space could not be used to stash regular inventory, but would sometimes temporarily hold another item for plot-critical reasons. The knives your characters pack in newer games fit more under EmergencyWeapon, since they don't appear in the inventory to take up space to begin with.
116	* In ''VideoGame/ZombiU'', your starting weapons (Cricket Bat and Browning Hi-Power pistol) are permanent fixtures in your very limited inventory space. This often means that superior weapons, such as the two melee weapons added in the [=PS4=], Xbox One, and [=PC=] UpdatedRerelease, and a suppressed SIG-Sauer [=P226=] pistol you can find early on (and can share ammo with the Browning HP), are themselves effectively permanent fixtures of your hideout's stash inventory.
117	[[/folder]]
118
119	[[folder:Tabletop Game]]
120	* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' features cursed magical items that once equipped, will re-appear in the relevant slot and force the user to use it even if it has been physically destroyed. Usually requires a specific spell or combination of spells just to allow the item to be unequipped and thrown away. Probably the TropeCodifier.
121	* In TabletopGame/CardfightVanguard, you start with a grade 0 vanguard, and must always have one for the duration of the game. Since not having one would be a GameBreakingBug (you couldn't take any more damage, for one), in the unlikely event that you don't have one, there is a series of steps you must go through, ending with game loss if there is absolutely no card you can use.
122	[[/folder]]
123
124	[[folder:Third-Person Shooter]]
125	* ''VideoGame/RedFactionGuerrilla'': Mason's sledgehammer is a default that can't be exchanged for a another weapon. On the other hand, it's the single most versatile weapon in the game.
126	[[/folder]]
127
128	[[folder:Turn Based Strategy]]
129	* Certain items in the ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' series cannot be removed from their bearers' inventories.
130	** In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight'', ''VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem'', and their remakes, Marth cannot remove the Fire Emblem/Binding Shield from his inventory after he acquires it.
131	** In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar'', you can never sell off the Crusader Weapons. For the most part there's no reason you would want to, but this does force you to use a glitch if you want to transfer the Balmung from Shanan to a Chulainn-fathered Larcei or Ulster.
132	** Done quite a lot in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn''.
133	*** Ike's Ragnell, Elincia's Amiti[[note]]This prevents Renning, who is programmed to be able to wield Amiti, from actually getting it in legitimate gameplay[[/note]], Sanaki's Rudol Gem, and all laguz weapons are locked to their wielder's inventories.
134	*** [[spoiler:Alondite]] is a subversion; it is locked to [[spoiler:the Black Knight]] during his time as a GuestStarPartyMember, but you eventually get the item back late in the game and it can be given to any suitable wielder.
135	*** Many bosses have their weapons locked to their inventories to prevent you from using the Disarm skill and a thief to steal them and leave them helpless.
136	** In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'', Ganglari is stuck with Corrin while it is in your possession, and Draconic Rage is stuck with Corrin during their RoaringRampageOfRevenge in chapter 5. In addition, the four amiibo units cannot trade away their respective weapons.
137	* ''VideoGame/TheLastRemnant'' gives a little control over party member equipment. You can get them to request certain pieces if it matches their equipment focus and will upgrade their weapons over time, but there is no way to manually change their stuff.
138	* VideoGame/{{Mewgenics}}: Along with CursedItems, your cats can also be infected by parasites: they take up an inventory slot stopping you from equipping anything there, and offer a minor bonus along with a major disadvantage (like reducing maximum health, but spawing allied maggots when you get hit.) They can be obtained by performing unhygenic actions like eating poop and participating in a cat orgy.
139	* ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown'' has this at the end: [[spoiler:The Volunteer is unable to take the Psi Armor off]].
140	[[/folder]]
141
142	[[folder:Web Game]]
143	* ''Website/{{Neopets}}'': [[https://items.jellyneo.net/item/7266/ Jhudoras Bewitched Ring]] is a weapon with the description "This ring may never come off your finger!", and... you can't say it didn't warn you. Trying to unequip it will take you to a unique error page that laughs at you. There is still ''a'' way to remove it involving an exploit[[note]]Initiating a user-to-user pet transfer through the Pound will force-unequip all weapons and other battledome items, including the Bewitched Ring. This is a measure implemented to prevent either [[SoLongAndThanksForAllTheGear forgetting]] or [[NoFairCheating smuggling]] rare items while trading pets[[/note]], but it ''is'' [[NotTheIntendedUse an exploit]].
144	[[/folder]]
145
146	[[folder:Western RPG]]
147	* ''VideoGame/{{Albion}}'' applies this for all plot-important items. Unfortunately the dev team neglected to consider that "King Tharnos's Permit" allows you to deal with a BrokenBridge either through directly using it, or through selecting a relevant conversational option. Only if you use it directly will it be removed from your inventory--otherwise, it stays with you forever. At least it doesn't weigh much. Albion also features the conventional cursed items, which reduce one of your stats and can't be unequipped (except by paying a healer to remove the curse, which destroys the cursed item).
148	* Used for flavor in ''VideoGame/BaldursGate'': Minsc won't allow Boo to be removed from one of his potion slots.
149	** Imoen also starts ''Baldur's Gate 2'' with a belt which cannot be removed and has flavor text saying she's been stuck with it as long as she's been in the dungeon. It provides a few [[OneHitKill hidden immunities]] to ensure she [[StoryDrivenInvulnerability survives to reach the exit and trigger the plot]], and it's gone when you get her back later.
150	** And Edwin has a non-removable amulet that's there because the devs wanted him to be ''really'' good at spellcasting but the engine doesn't allow for someone to just be given extra spell slots.
151	** Nalia has a ring that cannot be removed from her right hand. This ring gives her resistance to fire, a boost to her saves, and a boost to her armor class.
152	** The games also include a handful of "cursed" items, that are of the "un-unequipable" variety.
153	* ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSinII'': {{Justified\|Trope}} with the PowerNullifier collars that the Divine Order uses on its prisoners. The PlayerCharacter starts the game with one, as does every other Sourcerer on the penal colony, and can only get it removed by completing certain {{Sidequest}}s or completing Act I.
154	* ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' won't allow you to drop quest items. This is to prevent you from making a quest {{Unwinnable}} by losing quest-essential items. Also, said items are weightless. Unfortunately many items will not properly have the "undroppable" tag removed long after they are no longer needed and at least once (Molag Bal's quest) [[UnintentionallyUnwinnable an item that needs to be dropped to complete a quest may get flagged as undroppable]]. Most of these are unfixed as of the last official patch, requiring fan-made patches to fix (and if you are on a console, well, sucks to be you).
155	* ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'' also has quest items that cannot be dropped short of a console command. However, sometimes these items are common ones that you can accumulate many of. This can easily lead to a player with 200 Giant Toes clogging up their inventory and no way to get rid of them without [[GuideDangIt looking up the completely irrelevant quest that flagged it in the first place]] Thankfully, the flag that makes an item undroppable also makes it weightless, even if it has an advertised weight.
156	* ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'': There is a side quest to photograph some landmarks, and you are given a camera. A bug means that you cannot drop the camera when the quest is completed.
157	* ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'': Mandalore's armor cannot be unequipped, though it can be upgraded. This is justified in-story as his armor includes life-support systems - Mandalorians may be tough, but a lifetime of fighting still takes its toll, and the guy's [[OldSoldier pushing sixty]] at this point.
158	* In ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'', The Nameless One can equip and unequip armor normally, and the body armour of everyone other than the Nameless One, Annah and Grace is stuck. Some characters have items that can't be replaced, like Dak'kon's Zerth Blade, Vhailor's helm, and Fall From Grace's journal. Other characters have equipment slots that can't be emptied, but can have other items swapped into them, like Annah's daggers, Nordom's crossbows, The Nameless One's Eye and Morte's teeth and Annah and Grace's body armour. Most even have voiced lines if you attempt to try.
159	* The player character receives StarterEquipment in ''VideoGame/AdventureQuest'' that can be switched out but not removed, whereas the player can buy/sell all other equipment in the inventory. For Adventurers, their "no-drop" equipment is lacking and takes up precious inventory space, while Guardians can customize their equipment to be more useful.
160	* ''VideoGame/FableI'': Inventory items can't be dropped, only sold or otherwise used, so the player character is stuck with some non-consumable and non-salable items, like his [[StarterEquipment first weapon]] (a stick). Fortunately, it's a bottomless HyperspaceArsenal with no encumbrance penalties.
161	* ''VideoGame/{{LISA}}'': Certain party members will have an equipment slot permanently filled with an item, with it varying from party member to party member. For example, [[MadArtist Garth]] has [[ThePenIsMightier his pencil]] take up his weapon slot, [[ProWrestlingIsReal Sonny]] has [[NemeanSkinning his dead dog Harvey]] as a permanent helmet, and Buckets’s helmet slot is always taken by his bucket. [[spoiler: If Brad chooses [[AnArmAndALeg to let Buzzo cut both of his arms off]], his weapon slot is also locked to have nothing inside it]]. That being said, if a party member with a locked slot gets hit with a [[{{Permadeath}} fatal attack]], the locked gear is still given to you after their passing.
162	* ''VideoGame/PathfinderKingmaker'': Amiri's fourth weapon slot is permanently filled by her [[{{BFS}} Ginormous Sword]], but she can equip and use other weapons in the other three slots. Being her IconicItem she will refuse to put the sword away and will yell at the player if you try.
163	** Linzi has one of her two ring slots dedicated to Shelyn's Embrace, a unique ring that [[{{Teleportation}} teleports]] her back to the safety of your capital [[PlotArmor if she were about to die.]]
164	* ''VideoGame/PathfinderWrathOfTheRighteous'': Camellia Gwerm has a necklace that cannot be removed from her inventory. It hides her [[CharacterAlignment alignment]], but Camellia's [[ChaoticEvil true nature]] becomes an immediate [[InterfaceSpoiler interface spoiler]] upon trying to use any alignment-restricted equipment with her or attempting to level her up in a conflicting alignment-locked class.
165	* ''VideoGame/{{Shadowrun}} SEGA: Runners who have the shaman class always have one of their inventory slots taken by a totem of their spirit animal.
166	[[/folder]]
167
168	[[folder:Non-Game Examples]]
169	* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'':
170	** In the episode "My Two Favorite People", Lady Rainicorn flies Finn and Jake to see the Forest Wizard, who's giving away cool [[RingOfPower Power Rings]]. Unfortunately, Jake falls off before they get there, and by the time he reaches them, the Forest Wizard is out of rings. Finn offers to share some of the rings he got, but then learns they're stuck and can't be unequipped (he inexplicably has the rings off in the next scene).
171	** The Grass Sword, first introduced in the episode "Blade of Grass", is cursed to be forever bound to whoever equips it. Finn spends the episode trying to get rid of it, but it keeps coming back to him. In the end, he accepts that he's CursedWithAwesome, as the sword is actually pretty powerful, and this acceptance lets Finn control it better, turning it into a bracelet that can be transformed back into a sword at will. The Grass Sword ends up becoming part of Finn's body, even [[spoiler:transforming into a new limb when Finn [[AnArmAndALeg loses an arm]]]].
172	* There's a Music/{{Vocaloid}} [[http://www.animelyrics.com/doujin/vocaloid/noroinomegane.htm song]] about the singer being stuck with "cursed glasses" she can't unequip, which is a problem because she has 20/20 vision normally and with the glasses on she can't see.
173	[[/folder]]
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Context Main / StuckItems