-->''"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a completely ad-hoc plot device"''
-->-- '''[[http://www.infinityplus.co.uk/nonfiction/dlnw.htm David Langford]]''', as a corollary to Arthur C. Clarke's [[MagicFromTechnology third law]]

-->''"This is Lucrecia – Sephiroth’s mom. Due to her being injected with [[strike:Plot Device]] Jenova Cells, she’s become immortal or something."''
-->--'''The Dark Id''', LetsPlay FinalFantasyVII - [[http://lparchive.org/LetsPlay/Dirge%20of%20Cerberus/index.html Dirge of Cerberus]]

Phlebotinum is the magical substance that may be rubbed on almost anything to cause an effect needed by a plot. Some examples: nanotechnology, magic crystal emanations, pixie dust, a sonic screwdriver. Oh, and GreenRocks. In essence, it is the stuff that makes the plot go. Without it, the story would grind to an abrupt halt. It's science, it's magic, it's strange things unknown to science ''or magic'' - the reader does not know how Phlebotinum would work and the creators hope he doesn't care.

An example would be the Cylon technology featured in ''BattlestarGalactica'', such as the self-repairing Cylon "goo".

''{{CSI}}'' and its spinoffs come with phlebotinum by the liter. Their favorite kind appears to be Luminol, the substance that reveals traces of blood. Luminol is real, though it's not nearly as convenient as it is on TV.

According to JossWhedon, during the DVD commentary for the pilot episode of ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', the term "phlebotinum" originates from David Greenwalt's (a writer and director on ''Buffy'' and later co-creator of ''{{Angel}}'') sudden outburst, "Don't touch the phlebotinum!" apropos of nothing. [[hottip:*:Whether or not he had the etymological connection in mind, "phlebotomy" is the drawing of blood. Ironically appropriate in context.]]


A.K.A. Handwavium. Compare AWizardDidIt, HandWave, and DeusExMachina. Contrast the well-defined MinovskyParticle.
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[floatboxright:
Categories:
+ ForensicPhlebotinum
+ HyperspaceIndex
+ InsecuritySystem
+ MagicAndPowers
+ MagicalComputer
+ VehicleTropes
]
!!Tropes

* {{Aesoptinum}}
* AgonyBeam
* AmplifierArtifact
* AmuletOfConcentratedAwesome
* {{Antimatter}}
* ArtInitiatesLife
* AutomatedAutomobiles
* BadassBlink
* BambooTechnology
* BigRedButton
** ContextSensitiveButton
** HandyRemoteControl
* BioAugmentation
* BlackBox
* BlindJump
* BookOfShadows
* {{By the Power of Grayskull}}
* CaffeineBulletTime
* CarryingTheAntidote
* [[{{ptitletnnwhqnhdt9x}} Clarke's Third Law]]
* ClingyMacGuffin
* CloningBlues
* CollapsingLair
* CommLinks
* ContainmentField
* TheDarkSide
* DeflectorShields
* DepletedPhlebotinumShells
* DeusExNukina
* DisabilitySuperpower
* DoAnythingRobot
* DoomsdayDevice
* DuctTapeForEverything
* ElectricInstantGratification
* ElectricTorture
* ElementsDoNotWorkThatWay
* {{EMP}}
* EnergyAbsorption
* EveryCarIsAPinto
* EverythingSensor
* ExactTimeToFailure
* ExplosiveInstrumentation
* ExpositionBeam
* FailsafeFailure
* FasterThanLightTravel
* FertileFeet
* TheForce
* ForgottenPhlebotinum
* ForgottenSuperweapon
* FunctionalMagic
* GorgonGazing
* GrapplingHookPistol
* GravitySucks
* GreenLanternRing
* GreenRocks
* HardLight
* HealingPotion
* HelpingHands
* HiddenWire
* HoldingBackThePhlebotinum
* HulkingOut
* HumanPopsicle
* HypnoRay
* IKnowYourTrueName
* ImplausibleSynchrony
* ImportedAlienPhlebotinum
* IncrediblyObviousBug
* InertialDampening
* InfiniteSupplies
** OffscreenVillainDarkMatter
* InfraredXrayCamera
* InventionalWisdom
* InverseLawOfUtilityAndLethality
* InvisibilityCloak
* InvoluntaryShapeshifting
* ItRunsOnNonsensoleum
* JetPack
* LegoGenetics
* LeyLine
* LightningCanDoAnything
* LosingYourHead
* LostTechnology
* LovePotion
* MadeOfExplodium
* MadeOfIndestructium
* MadeOfPhlebotinum
* MagiBabble
* MagicallyBindingContract
* MagicAntidote
* MagicAIsMagicA
* MagicFromTechnology
* MagicMusic
* MagicPlasticSurgery
* {{Magic-Powered Pseudoscience}}
* MagicTool
* MatterReplicator
* MayContainEvil
* MedievalStasis
* MenstrualMenace
* MentalPictureProjector
* MildMace
* MindControlDevice
* MindProbe
* MinovskyParticle
* MisappliedPhlebotinum
* MobileSuitHuman
* MyCarHatesMe
* {{Nanomachines}}
* NoBloodForPhlebotinum
* NoWaterProofingInTheFuture
* TheNudifier
* ObfuscatedInterface
* PercussiveMaintenance
* PlotSensitiveItems
* PhlebotinumAnalogy
* PhlebotinumBomb
* PhlebotinumBreakdown
* PhlebotinumDuJour
* PhlebotinumInducedStupidity
* PhlebotinumKilledTheDinosaurs
* PhlebotinumMuncher
* PhlebotinumOverdose
* PhlebotinumRebel
* PityTheKidnapper
* PlacebotinumEffect
* PortalPicture
* PortalPool
* PoweredByAForsakenChild
* PowerSource
* PowerUpFood
* PressureSensitiveInterface
* ProfessorGuineaPig
* ProjectedMan
* PsychicNosebleed
* PublicDomainArtifact
* PureEnergy
** ExplosiveOverclocking
** OverclockingAttack
** PhlebotinumOverload
** WithinParameters
** OverrideCommand
* ReadingsAreOffTheScale
* ReinventingTheTelephone
* RestrainingBolt
* ReversePolarity
* RewritingReality
* ScrewLearningIHavePhlebotinum
* ScrewballSerum
* SecretProjectRefugeeFamily
* SelfDestructMechanism
* ShoePhone
* SinglePhlebotinumLimit
* {{Soul Fragment}}
* SpaceIsMagic
* SpySatellites
* SwirlyEnergyThingy
* TechnoBabble
* TheLittleDetecto
* ThirtySecondBlackout
* TimeStandsStill
* TimeTravel
* TimTaylorTechnology
* TooSpicyForYogSothoth
* ToxicPhlebotinum
* TrackingDevice
* TransformationRay
* TransformationTrinket
* TranslatorMicrobes
* TruthSerums
* {{Unobtainium}}
** MinovskyParticle
** {{Mithril}}
** NotOfThisEarth
* UpgradeArtifact
* UtilityBelt
* VirginPower
* VirginSacrifice
* VirtualGhost
* WeaponOfMassDestruction
* {{Weather Control Machine}}
* WeHaveForgottenThePhlebotinum
* WheelOfPain
* [[{{ptitled6nsrrg6p0n3}} When Things Spin, Science Happens]]
* WireDilemma
* WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity
* WordsCanBreakMyBones
* ZillionDollarBill

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AppliedPhlebotinum is among the TropesOfLegend.

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