History Main / AmuletOfConcentratedAwesome

** The Infinity Gauntlet, also in the Marvel universe, offers similar levels of power once all six Infinity Stones are added to it. Typically associated with Thanos, who's a PhysicalGod without it.

* ''Franchise/MarvelUniserse'':

* Amy Winston's Amethyst gemstone from ''ComicBook/AmethystPrincessOfGemworld'' started out as being something along these lines. But she and her gem got pulled into the ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis'' and things got weird. [[spoiler:Like when she found out that her "real" dad was actually a magical entity inside the gem.]] Yeah, weird.
* Most Franchise/{{Green Lantern}}s (and all the other colors) are not extremely dangerous without their rings. There are exceptions in there, as they're various aliens with a variety of alien capabilities, but they're all greatly powered by their rings.
* ComicBook/DoctorStrange (see the page image) typically doesn't need these, but he will use one if the situation calls for it. He once used the Eye of Agamotto to temporarily stalemate an omnipotent Thanos.
** Dr. Strange actually has several such artifacts, all calling on the power of various supernatural beings. In the first issue of Infinity Watch after the Infinity Gauntlet event, he was able to use them all together to match Adam Warlock while he held the gauntlet complete. It was only for a few seconds, but long enough for Strange to convince Warlock he was drunk on his own power.
* ''ComicBook/XMen'':
** Cerebro for any number of telepaths. Professor X can already freeze a whole crowd. With it, what limits has he?
** On the other hand, his half-brother depended entirely on the Cyttorak gem to become Juggernaut.
* Doctor Occult's orb/talisman can [[spoiler: rip through numerous souls in Hell itself.]]
* The ''ComicBook/BlueBeetle'' scarab, the icon of the Beetles' legacy. Granted, its awesomeness only truly came to light when Jaime Reyes inherited it.

* ''ComicBook/DialHForHero'' is a long-running DC plot device: A magic telephone dial that can turn whoever uses it into a [[SuperpowerLottery completely random superhero]] for one hour at a time.
* Although not an Amulet of Awesome for [[ComicBook/TheSandman1989 its original owner]], the Dreamstone taken by Doctor Destiny allowed him to take on the Justice League... and torture and murder a large number of people before Morpheus finally defeats him.
* Without his ComicBook/IronMan armor, Tony Stark is merely obscenely rich and brilliant. A genius billionaire playboy philanthropist, to be precise.
* The Cosmic Cube in the Marvel Comics universe makes its holder omnipotent. It's been an Amulet of Concentrated Awesome for the Red Skull and the Super-Adaptoid, and maybe others. It also has a long history as a MacGuffin.
* The Infinity Gauntlet, also in the Marvel universe, offers similar levels of power once all six Infinity Stones are added to it. Typically associated with Thanos, who's a PhysicalGod without it.
* The BottleOfAwesome from the comic of the same name. Considering the bottle's last wielder is a homeless wino, the bottle probably exacts a very steep price.

* Ranger carries one on ''WebAnimation/{{Arenas}}'', which allows teleportation. It's created using the same technology the BigBad used for their teleporters.

* Ranger carries one on ''WebVideo/{{Arenas}}'', which allows teleportation. It's created using the same technology the BigBad used for their teleporters.

* ''WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteers'': Each of the titular Planeteers is gifted with a magical ring that grants them power over one of the four classical elements or Heart. Without the rings, or when Captain Planet is present, the teens are no more powerful than normal humans. BigBad Zarm had more powerful artifacts designed after iron guantlets, but they were also corruptive. Later in the series the eco-villains made EvilKnockoff s of the rings, though it's debatable how much Duke Nukem ([VideoGame/DukeNukem no, not that one]) benefits from "Super Radiation."

* In Terry Mancour's [[TheSpellmongerSeries Spellmonger Series]], most of the main character mages wear Irionite/Witchstone amulets around their neck. this incredibly rare form of amber has the power to amplify magical energy to a ridiculous degree. It is so powerful that just owning a piece basically makes you more powerful than every non-irionite owning mage on the planet.

** Sora can damage them with his wooden sword, he just does so little damage that the beast will always kill everything in the area before you can take even half the hp off the weakest enemy.

* The Lambda Driver from ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'' qualifies as this, though Sousuke is badass even without it. He tends to be screwed if a situation happens where he needs it and it won't work.

* Although not an Amulet of Awesome for [[ComicBook/TheSandman its original owner]], the Dreamstone taken by Doctor Destiny allowed him to take on the Justice League... and torture and murder a large number of people before Morpheus finally defeats him.

** In ''The Dungeons of Torgar'', Baron Shinzar with Ogg-kor-Kaggaz (a {{flaming|Sword}} [[AnAxeToGrind battleaxe]]) or the [[MagicKnight Ziran]] with a [[MagicStaff Powerstave]] -- in both cases only if you have the Sommerswerd.

* ''Franchise/TouhouProject'' has Marisa and her Mini-Hakkero, a powerful magical artifact that Marisa is rarely seen without. Among other things, it's what she uses to power her [[SignatureMove Master Spark]].
** Likewise with Reimu's Yin-Yang Orb from the Hakurei shrine, which used to be her only means of damaging enemies in the early games and still remains as a primary motif in several of her spell cards. According to Marisa's Grimoire, Reimu can also bean you over the head with it in a pinch.
* As if taking a cue from ''Film/TheMask'' above, ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'' gives the villain (well, OK, a sad and lonely kid who gets in over his head) a haunted mask that gives him demonic powers, including trapping Link inside the body of a deku scrub and causing the FREAKING MOON to come crashing down!

Basically speaking the hero (or villain) has some sort of item (often a PowerCrystal, sometimes a MagicalAccessory or RingOfPower) that [[PowerSource makes him awesome]]. Just having it is enough for him [[TookALevelInBadass to take a level in badass]] and just tear shit up. It may be a lucky charm of some sort or be some sort of artifact or gadget that actually causes his insane upgrade. Watch out if the hero loses it however as he is undoubtedly screwed if he does (most definitely if the object has some sort of power, less so if it's a simple lucky charm) and it may make an unscrupulous bystander a HeroForADay.

* ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/29718888/chapters/73088673 Timeless Academia]]'' has a villainous example in how it interprets [=Caster!Gilles=]' Prelati's Spellbook. When Izuku summons Gilles, he arrives in his Saber form as opposed to his Caster self. However, in the following summoning chapter, the book is summoned as its own entity and manages to turn Saber!Gilles into his Caster form. However, when Cursed Arm destroys the book, it reverts Gilles back to his Saber self.

* The ring WesternAnimation/TheMightyHercules was given by Zeus, his father, gives him the strength of ten men which uses to right wrongs.

Contrast AmplifierArtifact, which augments existing powers.

'''Yugi:''' My puzzle? No way! Without it I can't pretend to be good at card games!

This trope has a common subversion in MagicFeather, in which the artifact does nothing and the concentrated awesome is all the character's own. Another related trope is ArtifactOfAttraction, in which the item is so appealing that multiple characters are fighting for possession of it. If the opposing side's response is to get a amulet of even more concentrated awesome, it results in BiggerStick.

* Bests in ''Anime/RollingGirls'' get their powers from heart shaped crystals that fall from the sky.

* Amy Winston's Amethyst gemstone from ''ComicBook/AmethystPrincessOfGemworld'' stated out as being something along these lines. But she and her gem got pulled into the ''ComicBook/InfiniteCrisis'' and things go weird. [[spoiler:Like when she found out that her "real" dad was actually a magical entity inside the gem.]] Yeah, weird.

* ''ComicBook/DialHForHero'' is a long-running DC plot-device: A magic telephone dial that can turn whoever uses it into a [[SuperpowerLottery completely random superhero]] for one hour at a time.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'' and his lamp. You know that singing dancing genie? Imagine the destruction you could cause by simply asking. Jafar ''does'' think about it -- granted, it was less "Cause wanton destruction" and more "Make ME able to cause wanton destruction", but still, he gets Genie to lift up the palace, raining rubble onto the citizenry. In the Disney version the Genie explicitly doesn't kill. Property damage, intimidation, and severe maiming should be OK.

* This is what the eponymous mask is from the movie, ''Film/TheMask''. Take an average wimpy banker and give him a several thousand year old mask belonging to one of the Norse gods... What do you get? A nigh unstoppable force that can do anything from pull a giant mallet out of his pocket, to cause a police force to break out into an elaborate song & dance routine... Or in the case of Dorian, make them an unstoppable force of Evil.

* Subverted in the movie ''Film/{{Krull}}'' with the ancient glaive weapon used by prince Colwyn. It is said to be an extremely powerful weapon which Colwyn will need to defeat the beast of the black fortress and rescue his princess. Once Colwyn has the glaive, he is told not to use it until he absolutely must. It remains unused until he breaks into the black fortress at the end of the movie, where [[spoiler: he uses the glaive only twice; first to cut open the prison trapping his bride, and second to attack the beast, where it stabs the beast in the chest which is not even enough to kill the monster. Colwyn ends up defeating the beast with ThePowerOfLove, manifested as a magic flamethrower from his hand.]]

** In ''The Dungeons of Torgar'', Baron Shinzar with Ogg-kor-Kaggaz (a {{flaming|Sword}} [[AnAxeToGrind battleaxe]]) or the [[MagicKnight Ziran]] with a [[MagicStaff Powerstave]] -- in both case only if you have the Sommerswerd.

** Warlord Magnaarn with the [[ArtifactOfDoom Nyras Sceptre]] in ''The Darke Crusade''; though here it is two-edged, since the Doomstone was also bringing him to the brink of undeath.

* In Terry Mancour's [[TheSpellmongerSeries Spellmonger Series]], most of the main character mages wear Irionite/Witchstone amulets around their neck. this incredibly rare form of amber has the power to amplify magical energy by a ridiculous degree. It is so powerful that just owning a piece basically makes you more powerful than every non-irionite owning mage on the planet.

* In ''Literature/TheIronTeeth'', amulets are made to hold particularly fine [[PowerCrystal magic crystals]], and seem to allow multiple uses of those crystals somehow.
* In ''Literature/TheGirlFromTheMiraclesDistrict'', Robin's deer head pedant is actually a powerful amulet synched with his magic aura. It lets him pass through magical defences like hot knife through butter, provides a DeflectorShield of its own, and protects Robin from mind-influencing magic to some extent.

* The Goa'uld from ''Series/StargateSG1'' get most of their godly powers from a fancy hand device, and the rest from other tech. But the hand device does the flashy, intimidating stuff.

** Simple weapons like the Nine Lives Stealer, Vorpal Sword and Oathbow ensures that martial classes can get in on the awesome as well.
** As for artifacts, the most infamous may be the Hand and Eye of Vecna, the remaining hand and eye of an evil god, which grants awesome power, but comes with the risk that Vecna himself might take notice.

* Consistently subverted in the ''VideoGame/{{Suikoden}}'' games. The True Runes have world-shattering powers, sure, and everyone who wants power wants at least one...but what makes our True Rune-wielding heroes into ''heroes'' is their [[ThePowerOfFriendship ability to draw people together]]. (They ain't bad in a straight fight, either). The ''legends'' of True Rune users frequently surpasses their powers.

* Subverted in ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire''. The amulet seems to be that, and you have to gather the pieces of it and set them with gems to acquire powers. Until [[spoiler: you die]] and it turns out to merely be an AmplifierArtifact for you, but played straight for the villain.

** The series' [[ItemCrafting Enchanting]] system allows you to create magical amulets/necklaces with customized enchantments. When using certain exploits, these amulets can reach GameBreaker status. One particularly notable example is a custom enchanted "Cast When Used" Exquisite Amulet from ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]''. (The same enchantment can also be put into an [[RingOfPower Exquisite Ring]].) Queue up a powerful [[YourSoulIsMine Soul Gem]], keep selecting powerful damaging spells until it has reached it's enchantment limit, and spend some of your [[MoneyForNothing plentiful money]] to buy the enchantment. Since a "Cast When Used" enchanted item skips the standard spellcasting animation and cannot fail (as long as there is adequate enchantment charge), you can BeamSpam deadly spells as quickly as you can click the button. (Just beware of using it on foes with [[AttackReflector Spell Reflection]]...)

* ''VideoGame/EarthwormJim'' is a prime example because without his supersuit, Jim is just a giant worm.

* Completely inverted in ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'' with Agatha's locket [[spoiler: before it's used to shut down Lucrezia.]] ''With'' it, she's an ordinary girl that can't build a [[DoAnythingRobot clank]] to save her life. ''Without'' it she's [[spoiler: one of the most powerful [[MadScientist sparks]] in the entire world.]]

** The second is the star pendant which "clears their minds", it's function is to [[UpgradeArtifact improve their magic]] and it also gives them their HolyHalo.

* The Rainbow Of Light - a heart shaped locket containing a powerful piece of rainbow in the ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' movies.

* The Amulet of Daylight (also known as the Amulet of Merlin) from ''WesternAnimation/{{Trollhunters}}'' is a magical artifact that - if one is chosen to wield it - is granted the title of "Trollhunter", becoming troll-kind's protector int he process. It magically conjures a suit of armor and a sword made of pure daylight. Should one add magic gems to it, it allows a variety of new weapons and abilities to be used by the wielder, including boomerang daggers, a shield and so on.

[[quoteright:220:[[Comicbook/DoctorStrange https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/doctor-strange_super_3415.jpg]]]]

* Comicbook/DoctorStrange (see the page image) typically doesn't need these, but he will use one if the situation calls for it. He once used the Eye of Agamotto to temporarily stalemate an omnipotent Thanos.
* ''Comicbook/XMen'':

* ''Comicbook/DialHForHero'' is a long-running DC plot-device: A magic telephone dial that can turn whoever uses it into a [[SuperpowerLottery completely random superhero]] for one hour at a time.
* Although not an Amulet of Awesome for [[Comicbook/TheSandman its original owner]], the Dreamstone taken by Doctor Destiny allowed him to take on the Justice League... and torture and murder a large number of people before Morpheus finally defeats him.

* "Amulet of Justice" by ''Music/{{Gloryhammer}}'' is about the quest to acquire said artifact, said to "set the spellbound free", and is the last item Angus {{McFife}} retrieves before rescuing the princess (who happens to be imprisoned in a shroud of ice) from the evil sorceror.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* [[WesternAnimation/{{Ben 10}} Ben]] [[WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce Tennyson]] has the [[SuperpowerLottery Omnitrix]].

* The Rainbow Of Light - a heart shaped locket containing a powerful piece of rainbow in the ''MyLittlePony'' movies.

** The Elements of Harmony grant incredible magic power to their chosen wielders. Our heroines mostly use them to seal away this week's BigBad.

* [[Literature/TheElricSaga Elric of Melniboné]], without the sword Stormbringer, is a sickly albino prince trapped in a DeadlyDecadentCourt.