[[quoteright:300:http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/EscaC.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:I has the powr in my heart! You DON'T mess with me.]]


Diamonds are a MagicalGirl's best friend. They are also friends to {{Mons}}, space rangers, [[MagicKnight magical knights]], HumongousMecha, and regular old Robots. So if you want something to look highly advanced or [[PowerMakeover incredibly]] magically [[AmplifierArtifact powerful,]] just slap a MineralMacGuffin on it; just like a normal MacGuffin, it doesn't even have to ''do'' anything to be neat!

In a VideoGame, these gems are usually the {{Power Source}}s and [[ForMassiveDamage weak points]] of the robots containing them. Expect them to [[PowerGlows glow]] with occasional TronLines when the hero goes into a SuperMode, as well as serve as emitters for KiAttacks or FrickinLaserBeams. They also dim or crack when under a [[TheWorfBarrage heavy battering]], or sometimes even blink like a half-broken LCD display. Robots who are killed will frequently have their crystals [[LightsOffTheirEyes dim and go opaque.]]

Power Crystals may be faceted or completely round and smooth. Depends on the design aesthetic.

Choice spots to bling out your [[ClothesMakeTheSuperMan power armor]] are:
* Forehead, as a "third eye"
* Shoulders, as a military epaulet
* Center of the chest (rarely, over the heart), as with "IronMan"
* Below the navel, or as a "belt buckle"
* The back of the hand, as with "{{Lensman}}"
* The palm of the hand, as with IronMan's Repulsor Rays
* On the knees (but for some reason, never the top of the feet)

These may not always exactly be crystals or jewels. Oftentimes lenses and emitters also perform this duty, by virtue of their placement.

A SubTrope of EverythingsSparklyWithJewelry.

Compare CrystalSpiresAndTogas.

''[[TropeCo/PowerCrystal This item]] is available in the TropeCo/TropeCo catalog.''
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!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder: Anime and Manga ]]

* SailorMoon and Sailor Chibi-Moon's Power source and transformation devices are the Aptly named Silver Crystal. They care their respective versions in a brooch worn on the bow on their chests. The same crystal is also carried on Sailor Moon's wand during the first season after it's obained and the other girls get a crystal they transform with in the manga. Each senshi is said to have one known as a Sailor Crystal. (apperntly the the Sailor Starlights carry their Sailor Crystals in their brooches acorrding to the [[AllthereInTheManual Material's Collection]]
* ''VisionOfEscaflowne''
* Having more in common with SuperRobot than its MagicWarrior siblings, ''MagicalGirlLyricalNanoha'' puts a gem on every piece of technology there is; it usually displays what function the machine is using at the time.
* The titular [[MagicalGirl Otomes]] in ''{{Mai-Otome}}'' use gemstones as their {{Transformation Trinket}}s, worn as earrings (and standard rings for their Masters).
* ''GreatMazinger'' has a blue crystal as a "belt buckle".
* The Angels in ''NeonGenesisEvangelion'' have glowing crystal cores which cause the creature to shut down or explode as if their body was made of gelignite when damaged, depending on the needs of the plot. Evas [[spoiler: more sensibly hide theirs under several tons of armour.]]
* ''RahXephon''
* The Silver Crystal and its later upgraded forms on ''SailorMoon''.
* ''GaoGaiGar'' and the other entries in the Brave series frequently have this.
* The [[FateStayNight Tohsaka family]] specializes in a school of magic devoted to storing magical energy, typically in jewels. Rin does so by sprinkling her blood on her jewels every night, and uses them in battle by throwing them. The downside? Using the jewels generally destroys them, and those jewels are really expensive, so the Tohsaka family always has money problems.
* Jetfire in ''TransformersArmada'' has "Lensman" hand crystals, but has never been seen using them.
* Energon stars in ''Transformers: Energon'' (the sequel to the above series) were used by the Transformers to create energon weapons. However, the energon star would eventually run out of energy and vanish, along with the weapons generated by it. Energon stars (and weapons) were colour-coded by faction: red for Autobots and yellow for Decepticons.
* Halfway through ''{{Slayers}} Next'', Lina acquires a set of four Demon Blood Talismans from Xelloss, which she can use to amplify her magical power. She wears one on her collar, another on her belt, and the others on her wrists; they glow brightly when she channels their power. In addition, she also sports a pair of fake crystals in her shoulderpads, enchanted to explode when removed by a thief.
* Both the Rune Gods (while in [[HumongousMecha robot-like mode]]) and the Knights' [[EmpathicWeapon Escudo Weapons]] in ''MagicKnightRayearth'' have significant, color-coded crystals on them.
* Skuld in ''[[AhMyGoddess Oh! My Goddess]]'' has two on the backs of her hands, and two on top of her feet.
* {{Witchblade}} has a crystalline "eye" which is visible even in passive form (as a jewel on her "bracer") and glows red when [[strike:aroused]] going to kick some ass. [[http://www.witchblade.jp/english/ See?]]
* ''{{Dragon Ball}}'s'' Chi-chi has one of these in her helmet, used for lasering anything she doesn't like the look of.
* ''SD {{Gundam}}'' has crystals being used in various forms. Musha Gundam makes much of a 'Gundam Crystal', an artifact which is often split into separate parts and handed down to successive generations of heroes. Some versions of the series also have the Mushas house crystals on their torsos, inside of which are their '[=GunSouls=]'. Upon death these crystals exit the body to await reincarnation.
* The various Alternate Universe Gundam continuities love this trope.
** In ''GundamWing'', all three Wings and the Epyon have large green "search eye" cameras on their chests.
** In ''GundamX'', the green gem on the GX's chest was the receiver for the microwave power transmission system that powered up the satellite cannon.
** Most of the GN-powered mobile suits in ''{{Gundam 00}}'' have these, usually taking the form of one large crystal in the chest and at least one on each limb. They're supposed to be the storage units of the GN particles that make them go.
* In ''Dragon Warrior'' (Based on the ''DragonQuest'' games), the Red Stone and Blue Stone hold untold power that can only be unleashed by those chosen to guard them. Most importantly, the Red Stone has the power to set loose an all-powerful dragon, who can only be sealed up again by the Blue Stone. The Blue Stone is given to Abel, and while normally it's attached to his headgear, on one occasion he removes the stone and fixes it to a magic staff. Talia is given the Red Stone, which she wears on a necklace.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* ''IronMan'' has crystals in the palm of his hands as focusers for his repulsors. Also, there's a triangular crystal in his chest.
* Raven of ''TeenTitans'' has a red crystal "Third Eye".
* Brutally spoofed in ''AtomicRobo''. While fighting Dr. Dinosaur, Robo articulates several reasons why a time-traveling dinosaur scientist is flatly impossible. After Robo notes that Dr. Dinosaur would have had nothing but fronds and rocks with which to build a time machine, Dinosaur angrily attempts to HandWave it by saying "I had CRYSTALS!"
*''TheNinetyNine'' superhero powers come from magic stones.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Film ]]

* Parodied in ''NapoleonDynamite''; the crotch-frying "time machine" that Uncle Rico ordered online needed you to insert the most vital part: power crystals. Which probably were just pieces of quartz.
* In the ''{{Superman}}'' films, crystals activate the holographic systems in the Fortress of Solitude. They can also remove (and, in rare cases, restore) Kryptonian powers.
* In ''TheDarkCrystal,'' the titular crystal must be repaired by Gelfling hand to "set things right."
* In ''AtlantisTheLostEmpire'', the Atlanteans have small crystals with evident healing powers, [[spoiler: and a big huge one that's under the city that keeps the ecosystem down there going.]]
* Lightsabers in ''StarWars'' utilize special crystals that are required to make the 'blade' of the saber. The crystals are found in caves on the planet Ilum and then imbued with power using the force though meditation.
** According to {{Knights of the Old Republic}}, there are many planets where a potential Knight can get a crystal, and different types of crystal can affect the attributes of the lightsaber.
** [=IIRC=] you can use ''any'' type of crystal/gemstone (and then some) for a lightsaber, just that the Adegan crystals are the most convenient for the Jedi. The [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Rainbow_gem gemstone]] Tenel Ka used for her saber is actually a silicon-based lifeform.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Literature ]]

* The time machine in ''TheTimeMachine'' is made mostly of quartz carved into a mildly impossible shape.
* According to the ''Young Jedi Knights'' ''StarWars'' novels, lightsabers are powered by a simple battery, converter, and "focus crystal." Apparently just clarity and sparkliness is required of said crystals, Jedi can "sense" if it's good or not. (They don't even apparently need to be of any particular mineral.) If they're not sparkly enough, the lightsaber will explode.
** Other ExpandedUniverse sources expand on the idea. Lightsabers with multiple crystals can have more than one length setting. The crystal may be responsible for the color of the blade, though the colors of the crystal and blade need not match. Not all crystalline materials will work; in one case, Corran Horn constructed a blade with two length settings, but the extended length didn't work when he used a fake diamond.
*** In fact, it shorted out rather spectacularly, causing both Corran and his enemy to be extremely surprised...[[spoiler:and causing his enemy to drop the deadman switch he was holding.]]
*''{{Dinotopia}}'s'' sunstones serve as the power source for any and all LostTechnology found by the protagonists.
* David Eddings appears to be fond of this trope... both of his main universes - the ''{{Belgariad}}'' and ''Sparhawk'' settings - features a gemstone with enough power to give GODS a case of the shivers. Fortunately, these artifacts - the Orb of Aldur and the Bhelliom Blue-Rose, respectively - are in the hands of the heroes. The ''Malloreon'', however (a sequel to the ''Belgariad'') also features an equally-powerful but EVIL gemstone, the Sardion.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

* ''{{Ultraman}}'' uses this as an indicator as to how long his power supply has left.
* Some of the Megazords from ''PowerRangers''.
* The Phormo and Synchro combined forms from ''SuperhumanSamuraiSyberSquad.''
* ''StarTrek'' dilithium comes in crystals, and in the original series must remain in that form to work.
* ''LandOfTheLost'' had a lot of these, with varying effects from dimensional gateway controls to impromptu grenades.
* In both ''{{Stargate SG-1}}'' and ''StargateAtlantis'', virtually all technology from the SufficientlyAdvancedAliens has crystals at its most basic level. Goa'uld have rainbow-colored geometric ones, the Ancients' are clear flat rectangles.
** In both cases the crystals are mainly used for data storage, which is actually something that crystals can be used for in real life through holographic memory.
* An early episode of ''{{Angel}}'' featured a demon with a jewel in its head which had to be smashed in order to permanently kill it.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Real Life ]]

* Quartz. When under pressure it produces an electrical current.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Tabletop Games ]]

* The Craftworld Eldar of ''{{Warhammer 40000}}'' universally wear "Waystones," a gem worn over the heart which captures the soul of the Eldar upon death to prevent it from being painfully devoured by the Chaos god Slaanesh. These spirit stones allow the Eldar a peculiar kind of necromancy with Wraithguard and Wraithlords, battle constructs controlled by the spirit of a long-dead Eldar in a waystone. The Eldar also pimp out their vehicles and weapons with countless more mundane gems.
* ''DungeonsAndDragons'' are full of magic jewelry, both standalone and embedded in other items.
** ''[[DnD Dungeons & Dragons 3.5]]'' introduced a class over the internet, who's schtick involves embedding crystals into their skin. Precious gemstones specifically.
*** Years before DungeonsAndDragons 3rd Edition came out, the ''{{Earthdawn}}'' roleplaying game featured not only crystal plate mail and shields, but also ''living crystal'' armor (small columns) and so-called "blood pebbles" (hundreds of small magical gems) that can be implanted into a character's skin and grow by feeding on the magic of the character's blood until they provide a natural armor bonus on the whole body (except the head). Because the crystal is alive and part of the character's body, the character can feel and move with it as if the crystal was his skin.
** Many spells involved gems as component or focus (e.g. ''Gemjump'' - teleport to prepared gem). Sourcebooks on magic items and materials (like ''Volo's Guide to All Things Magical'') has lots of gem-related entries.
** Psionics has a particular affinity with crystal - most psionic items are made at least partially out of crystal, psions can acquire a "psicrystal" companion, and there are psionic powers that can summon shards of crystal to attack enemies with.
*** Not to mention "power-up" crystals embedded in armor and other items that make them quasi-magical.
* Hearthstones in ''{{Exalted}}'' are magical gems produced via geomancy that provide their user with energy and special abilities when attached to an attuned artifact (weapon, armor, amulet etc.)
* ''{{GURPS}}'' has "powerstones" (which are always made from gems) that are pretty much absolutely required to provide extra energy for casting any powerful spell as the only other alternative is horribly ironic death as the casting [[CastFromHitPoints rips your life force out of your body]].

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Video Games ]]

* Pick a ''MegaMan'' game. Any game. Especially during/after ''[[MegaManX X]]''.
** Special mention goes to Zero's "booblights".
** Zero's PowerCrystal also has his [[BroughtToYouByTheLetterS "Z" insignia]] plus a little relevance. It ''might'' be his weakness, as [[spoiler:a {{flashback}} in ''X4'' shows that Sigma couldn't have defeated him if it weren't for Zero convulsing when it was flashing]].
** The red one in X's helmet has a couple of functions besides looking neat. If his health is low, it blinks on and off while he's standing still. In X3, the level maps you can access after acquiring the helmet upgrade appear to be projected from the gem like a hologram.
* [[{{Metroid}} Samus]] has a "Lensman" hand crystal on her non-cannon arm. In ''Zero Mission'', it corresponds to the Power Grip, and in ''Metroid Prime 3'', the Grapple Beam is fired from it.
* Some ''{{Pokemon}}'' have gems encrusted in them for show: Staryu and Starmie, Golduck, Persian, Espeon, Ampharos, Sableye, Vespiquen, etc. Suicune deserves special mention, as he has a ''big friggin' crystal'' encrusted in its head. There is also an attack called "Power gem".
** Pokedex entries for Staryu/Starmie claim that their crystal IS actually their eye.
*** Really? That's a major {{Squick}} to {{this troper}} then, because Starmie's gem has been [[EyeScream ''crushed'']] at least twice in the Anime. It was back soon after, of course, but still...
**** [[GoodThingYouCanHeal Good thing they can heal]] then, huh?
*** There are actually real starfish with calcite crystals all over their bodies, making them one big compound eye.
** Appropriately enough, Dialga and Palkia have a diamond and pearl on their bodies, respectively. The events of ''The Rise Of Darkrai'' are set off when Palkia's pearl is damaged.
** Emerald of the Manga has one on his forehead.
** The crystal in Deoxys' body is actually its brain. In fact, as long as that is intact, it's still alive, considering its HealingFactor allows it to [[FromASingleCell regenerate in the right conditions]].
* ''ZoneOfTheEnders''. The more of them your [[HumongousMecha Orbital Frame]] has, the stronger it's likely to be.
* The Savior from ''DevilMayCry 4'' had blue gems on his forehead, his chest, and both of his arms. For best results in order to save Nero, Dante has to destroy them all, though only damage to the gem on the chest counts as damage to the boss himself.
* The Jumi from ''{{Legend of Mana}}'' have gems as their hearts. It gives them unlimited life and lots of power, but if it's so much as scratched, never mind destroyed, bad things happen.
* In ''{{Starcraft}}'', Protoss technology relies on Khaydarin crystals, which can focus, store, and amplify their PsychicPowers. The pylons, [[ConstructAdditionalPylons the ones you need more of]], are basically giant floating chunks of the stuff. The "minerals" that are harvested by all three races are also some kind of crystal.
** Protoss units are also often adorned with power crystals. Starcraft 2 has some units, like the [[TeleportersAndTransporters Warp Prism]] and [[WaveMotionGun Void Ray]] which are built around them.
* ''SinsOfASolarEmpire'' has Crystal as one of it's three [[YouNeedMoreVespeneGas resources]] used by all of the 3 factions. The Advent are particularly fond of it.
* The all-important Spirit Gems that ''JeanneDArc'''s heroes wear on their armlets. Each Gem grants a new transformation (each character can wield between three and five, depending on the slots on their armlet) and two of them can be LostForever if the player doesn't have [[GuideDangIt sufficient warning]].
* The chaos emeralds from the ''SonicTheHedgehog'' games are the epitome of this trope. There are seven of them, and with even a single fake chaos emerald one can teleport. A single real one is all that it takes to essentially freeze time in a decently sized area. Two chaos emeralds are capable of opening a ''portal through time''. And when you get all seven, its pretty much the epitome of SuperMode.
** And then there's the Master Emerald, professional MacGuffin and the power source that keeps Angel Island a FloatingContinent.
* The Elemental Crystals from various ''FinalFantasy'' games. Their exact powers vary from game to game, but they're usually the main {{Cosmic Keystone}}s of the world, maintaining and controlling the four elements. In some games, their powers can be harnessed and amplified, and in a few, even a single shard of a broken Crystal has enough power in it for a person to transform into a hero.
** They also tend to keep the SealedEvilInACan... sealed.
* Amarr ships in ''EVEOnline'' primarily use lasers. Fitting different crystals to the laser turrets affects attributes such as optimal range, damage type, and even what color the laser is.
* Naaru {{Magitech}} in ''WorldOfWarcraft'' seems to rely on these, atleast judging from the amount of large crystals in the Tempest Keep instances. The Naaru themselves seems like sentient PowerCrystals/EnergyBeings.
** Un'goro Crater has PowerCrystals of various colours scattered around the zone, aswell as pylons that give various buffs when you bring crystals of correct colour to them. Several other magical crystals appear in the game too.
* Roland from ''LuminousArc2'' has a Lensman-style artificial crystal on the back of his hand. It turns witches into his magic-giving harem.
* Perhaps the first western example was in ''CrashBandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back''.
* Used in [=KoTOR=] 1 and 2. Crystals are used to focus lightsaber beams.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Web Animation ]]

* Strong Bad of ''HomestarRunner'' has a "blue diamond kinda thing" on his forehead which gives him the power to pop caps off of things.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Webcomics ]]

*In ''GunnerkriggCourt'', many of the Robot prototypes have large blue crystals (or possibly just panels of glass) set in their chests. For whatever reason, the production run of the Robots follow a less ornate design and lack the crystals.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Web Original ]]

* The cybaspheres from the web fiction serial ''DimensionHeroes'' prove to be invaluable trinkets that give the Dimensional Guardians the power they need to defeat the more powerful opponents they face.

[[/folder]]

[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* From the end of ''BeastWars'' up to the end of ''Beast Machines'', Transformers toys had 'spark crystals', which were translucent plastic gems that had the faction symbol of the character in them. The Transmetal II Blackarachnia toy was special, since it had a spark crystal which could be flipped to display one of the two main faction symbols, reflecting the character switching sides in the cartoon.
* ''StormHawks'' features a world where everything is powered by crystals, and there's a crystal for every effect imaginable: hypnosis, explosions, "nitro-boosting" carriers, powering energy swords and boomerangs.
* You can do a lot of things with Allspark fragments in ''TransformersAnimated''. Overload factory equipment, turn regular vehicles into Transformers, [[spoiler: bring Transformers back from the dead]], power bombs, and putting your ForgottenSuperweapon back online is a snap!
* In''BarbieAndTheDiamondCastle'', the castle itself is covered with diamonds ([[CaptainObvious hence the name]]), with a new one added each time a new song is sung. These diamonds also have the power to ward off [[BlackMagic evil spells]].

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