History Main / ConditionalPowers

* In ''manga/AttackOnTitan'', [[spoiler: All Titan Shifters inherit the Curse of Ymir, which means that they will only live 13 years after activating the power (since that's how long Ymir Fritz, the original Titan Shifter, lived after activating ''her'' power). Also, to use the powers of the Founding Titan correctly, one has to be Ymir Fritz's direct descendant.]]

* In ''Anime/AttackOnTitan'', [[spoiler: All Titan Shifters inherit the Curse of Ymir, which means that they will only live 13 years after activating the power (since that's how long Ymir Fritz, the original Titan Shifter, lived after activating ''her'' power). Also, to use the powers of the Founding Titan correctly, one has to be Ymir Fritz's direct descendant.]]

** The angel [[spoiler:Anna]] had the same powers, but also disobeyed. Instead of losing power gradually, they straight-up ripped their Grace out and fell to Earth, which was probably a better option than sticking around to get executed. Disobedience generally robs angels of their powers one way or another.

* In ''Manga/BananaNoNana'' those with powers have a condition they must follow, for example the protagonist, Nana, has to eat bananas still in their skin the day after she uses her power to manipulate bananas.

* In ''[[EnchantedForestChronicles Talking to Dragons]]'' Daystar accidentally makes Shiara's powers only work when she is polite. She does not like this one bit.

* In ''NanaOfBanana'' those with powers have a condition they must follow, for example the protagonist, Nana, has to eat bananas still in their skin the day after she uses her power to manipulate bananas.

A SuperTrope of VirginPower, where the something is not having sex. Compare NoManOfWomanBorn And SituationalSword. Contrast PentUpPowerPeril when, instead, you have to use your power regularly or else something bad will happen.

* SeventhSea has the ability Geas which is given to you by their equivalent of a gypsy. It grants the user an extra experience die, as long as they do not violate the rule that was given to them.

[[folder: Fanfiction]]

* ''Fanfic/SplitSecond'': Twilight's weapon of choice is the Justice Hammer, a [[ConditionalPowers Conditional Magic]] HardLight warhammer larger than her own body that grows stronger the more advantages she gives to her enemy, thus justifying [[ExplainingYourPowerToTheEnemy Explaining Her Power To The Enemy.]]

[[/folder]]

*** On the other hand, one of the infringements they punish Todd is accidental, thanks to a PoisonChaliceSwitcheroo. The others are stated to be mistakes on Todd's part, as he was unaware that gelato contains milk and eggs (something he was fully aware of in the comic) and that [[TooDumbToLive chicken is a meat]].

* A specific mechanic with Nen abilities in ''HunterXHunter'' is turning your power into this. By limiting the conditions in which you can use an ability and/or impose penalties for not using them within those conditions, a Nen user can multiply their Nen ability's power several times over, and the harder the conditions are to accomplish, the more powerful the technique becomes in turn.

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* A standard way to build power modifiers in ''{{GURPS}}'' is to take a Vow, then add the point value of the Vow to the power modifier, to reflect the fact that your power goes away if you break the Vow. Vows are disadvantages worth ''negative'' points, so your power becomes cheaper this way, to make up for it being harder to keep.

* In ''Literature/SuperPowereds'', the five protagonists are former Powereds (people with superpowers and PowerIncontinence), who have been given control over their abilities through an unspecified procedure, becoming full-fledged Supers. They typically have triggers that activate their powers, although only one was actually described and ends up being a plot point several times. In order to becoming his SuperpoweredAlterEgo Roy, Hershel has to drink whiskey (which is illegal since he's not 21 yet). He always carries a flask with whiskey on his person, just in case he needs Roy to come out. In ''Year 1'', when Hershel is kidnapped, the bad guys make sure to take away his flask, thus keeping him normal. [[spoiler:Nick shoots him (non-fatally) with a whiskey-coated bullet, thus delivering it directly into his bloodstream]].

* A specific mechanic with Nen abilities in ''HunterXHunter'' is turning your power into this. By limiting the conditions in which you can use an ability and/or impose penalties for not using them within those conditions, a Nen user can multiply their Nen ability's power several times over.

* In ScottPilgrim, being a Vegan gives you psychic powers by freeing up the remaining NinetyPercentOfYourBrain, as demonstrated by Todd Ingram, the third evil ex-boyfriend. [[spoiler:This bites him in the ass when he eats gelato shortly before the fight, and the Vegan Police remove them mid-battle.]]

* In ''Anime/MiraculousLadybug'', Marinette's earrings let her transform into the superhero Ladybug, but she has to use them to do good. It's not clear what happens if she doesn't.

* Puck from ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'' eventually has a geas laid on him that he can only use his magic to teach or protect Xanatos's infant son Alexander. Otherwise, he's just [[spoiler: Owen]].

* ''ThievesWorld'' stories. Each Adept of the Blue Star has a DarkSecret, and if an Adept's secret is spoken aloud, he[[note]]The Order does not accept women. It is not impossible, however, that there's an Adept whose Dark Secret is that he is SweetPollyOliver.[[/note]] will lose his powers.