History Main / CannotCrossRunningWater

Symbolically, it makes sense for water to work as a barrier against certain monsters. Water is the source of life and so naturally works against the undead. On a practical level, it can also deter predatory creatures that hunt by smell, as water can misdirect or dampen scent trails.

* This, as a weakness of vampires, was a plot point in ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'' ep "No One Comes to Lupusville", which dealt with a feud between a clan of werewolves and another of vampires.

* In ''TheOldKingdom'', the Dead and most Free Magic creatures can't cross running water (unless it's bridged with boxes of grave dirt), and at least some of them are harmed by rain.

* In ''TheLordOfTheRings'', when the Ringwraiths attempt to pursue Frodo across the river Bruinen toward Rivendell, the waters rise up and overcome them. This is because they are under the command of Elrond, who wishes to bar the Nazgul entrance to Rivendell. In the film adaptation, Arwen achieves the same effect by invoking Ulmo, the [[PhysicalGod Valar]] who dwells in water.
** Moreover, in ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'', it is noted that the creatures of [[{{Satan}} Morgoth]] fear water, because of the presence of Ulmo, the one Valar who remains in middle-earth.

* According to WordOfGod, this belief is the reason HarryPotter's adoptive relatives took him to a shack in the middle of the sea in order to escape the letters he was receiving. Unfortunately for them, there is no such rule in this setting.

* On the ''{{Discworld}}'', this principle is known, and mentioned occasionally by certain witches and wizards, but doesn't seem to have any real effect.

* Remilia and Flandre Scarlet from ''{{Touhou}}'' have this among their weaknesses.

* In TheOldKingdom, the Dead and most Free Magic creatures can't cross running water (unless it's bridged with boxes of grave dirt), and at least some of them are harmed by rain.
* Averted but discussed in ''TheMerlinTrilogy''. Merlin frequently gets seasick, and it is completely mundane, the way lots of people get seasick. However, he considers it embarassing, so when someone mentions it he tells them that wizards have difficulty crossing water.

* Once, in the NorthlandSeries, Mikki can't cross water, despite not being a wizard, because the superstitious ferryman ''thinks'' he's a wizard and won't let him on the boat.

* Meta case: the frequency of vampire myths in local folklore drops and thins out as you travel further West in Europe. In fact the majority of European vampire stories, geographically speaking, are to be found in the land lying between two major rivers; the Danube in the West and the Dnieper in the East.(Which covers Transylvania of myth and folklore, among other places) Famously, there is only a twenty mile gap in central Europe between the Danube to the south and east and the Rhine-Rhone system to the north and west. Effectively, these two major river systems cut Europe in two, leaving only a very small gap in between them for vampires to safely pass. France and Spain have some vampire myths but are more of a "werewolf economy". To cross to the British Isles involves crossing running water with a vengeance - the English Channel. Britain has next to no vampire myths. Ireland, another running water sea away, has fewer.

* ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'' has a variation on this. The Annan Waters (between [[TheMagicVersusTechnologyWar the Court and Gillitie Wood]]) are stated to be an impassible obstacle for magical creatures, but we eventually learn it's not the river itself that's impassible. [[spoiler:There's a ghost haunting the banks who attacks anything that tries to pass. Notably, this ghost has no difficulty crossing the river, but she is bound to its shores.]]

-->--Disney/TheAdventuresOfIchabodAndMrToad.

* ''GunnerkriggCourt'' has a variation on this. The Annan Waters (between [[TheMagicVersusTechnologyWar the Court and Gillitie Wood]]) are stated to be an impassible obstacle for magical creatures, but we eventually learn it's not the river itself that's impassible. [[spoiler:There's a ghost haunting the banks who attacks anything that tries to pass. Notably, this ghost has no difficulty crossing the river, but she is bound to its shores.]]

-->''Cause once you cross the bridge my frieds''

* In ''TheLordOfTheRings'', when the Ringwraiths attempt to pursue Frodo across the river Bruinen toward Rivendell, the waters rise up and overcome them. This is because they are under the command of Elrond, who wishes to bar the Nazgul entrance to Rivendell.

* In ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'', Alucard at one point shows his considerable power as a vampire by crossing the sea (on a private jet), while drinking wine, in daylight.

-->''But I made for the bridge that spans the brook.
-->''Cause once you cross the bridge my frieds

-->--''Disney/TheAdventuresOfIchabodAndMrToad.''

* In ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', water is one of the most powerful magical anti-agents, and running water can cancel out spells easily. In one book, a villain is able to completely disable Harry by suspending him under a sprinkler.

* In ''CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight'', Alucard needs a special artifact to go into water unhurt.
* Endermen from ''{{Minecraft}}'' take damage if they step in water or get rained on.
* In ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersia: Warrior Within'', the [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Dahaka]] cannot cross water.

* In ''TheLordOfTheRings'', when the Ringwraiths attempt to pursue Frodo across the river Bruinen toward Rivendell, the waters rise up and overcome them. This is because the waters are imbued with the spirit of [[PhysicalGod Ulmo]], who is less than fond of the Nazgûl.

If water is actually harmful to these creatures, you can KillItWithWater. See also HealingSpring. For potential contrast, see WalkOnWater, SuperNotDrowningSkills.

* Remilia and Flandre Scarlet from ''{{Touhou}}'' has this as one of their weaknesses.

* This, as a weakness of vampires, was a plot point in ''The Real Ghostbusters'' ep "No One Comes to Lupusville", which dealt with a feud between a clan of werewolves and another of vampires.

If water is actually harmful to these creatures, you can KillItWithWater. See also HealingSpring.

''[[TheVampireChronicles Interview with the Vampire]]'' addressed this matter by saying that vampires don't cross running water because they're territorial and streams often serve as natural boundaries for hunting territory.