History Main / EquipmentSpoiler

** Averted at one point early in the game where you can find Cait Sith's [[InfinityPlusOneSword ultimate weapon]], but Cloud leaves it be because no one in your party has any use for a megaphone at that point and he doesn't even think anyone ''could'' use one as a weapon (unlike Yuffie and Vincent's gear).

[[folder: Videogames ]]

[[folder: Non-videogame examples ]]

** In ''Videogame/FinalFantasyIII'', you can find job-specific equipment (books for Scholars, bells for Geomancers, etc.) before the corresponding jobs are unlocked.
** In ''Videogame/FinalFantasyIV'', you can find throwing stars for Edge in Eblan Cave before he joins the party at the end, and buy Paladin equipment before Cecil changes class.
** In ''Videogame/FinalFantasyV'' you can purchase spells for Time Mages and Summoners in Walz, shortly before acquiring those job classes.
** In ''Videogame/FinalFantasyVI'', you can find shops that sell ninja scrolls and weapons in areas where Shadow can join the party.
** In ''Videogame/FinalFantasyVII'', you may find a weapon for Vincent way before you can recruit him. And even then he and Yuffie are {{Hidden Character}}s, so you'll be encountering better and better weapons for them even if you miss them.

** In ''Videogame/FinalFantasyVIII'', a Weapons Monthly issue describing Rinoa and Irvine's weapons can be found before either of them is introduced (Rinoa does appear, but you don't learn who she is at that point).

* In ''Videogame/PlanescapeTorment'' oculars "usable by Modrons" drop from enemies all around the maze where you can find a HiddenCharacter of that race if you look hard enough.

* ''Videogame/MassEffect'':
** In [[Videogame/MassEffect1 the first game]], you can buy krogan, turian, and quarian armor before you meet Wrex, Garrus, or Tali.
** In [[Videogame/MassEffect2 the second game]], you can acquire an upgrade for the "squadmates with geth shield technology" during Tali's loyalty mission, before you meet up with Legion.

* Pretty much the case for every game in the ''Videogame/{{Shining}}'' series which generally has multiple character classes and LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters. However this can work in it's favour at times because multiple characters can be the same class.
** In the ''Videogame/ShiningTheHolyArk'' later weapon shops end up selling claw-type weapons. They belong the GuideDangIt hidden character Doyle.
** ''Videogame/ShiningForceIII'' almost always ruins the surprise of a new character as weapon shops suddenly have new types of weapons just before a new character shows up. Most notably with Irene; but as she can die before you recruit her you know there is going to be another character shortly that can use her gloves...and sure enough Kahn appears shortly afterwards.
** Subverted however in ''Videogame/ShiningForce II'', where Talos can drop his sword, which can only be used by the Giant class. No Giant ever joins the team.
* ''Videogame/MOTHER1'' has this in Magicant, where a present containing a Sword can be found. At this point, all the player has in their party is Ninten; the Sword goes on the final member of the party, Teddy, and it just so happens to be his InfinityMinusOneSword as well.

* Subverted in ''FireEmblem: Mystery of the Emblem'''s Book 2: You can get a few axes but never get an axe user; you're supposed to sell them for cash. Averted in the remake, which features playable axe users and replaces those bonus axes with simply getting bonus money.

** In [[Videogame/MassEffect1 the first game]], you can buy krogan, quarian, and turian armor before you meet Wrex, Garrus, or Tali.

* ''FinalFantasyIX'' has claws and forks for Amarant and Quina in the shops way before you even meet them.

* Subverted in ''BetrayalAtKrondor'', though it's not quite as obvious as some examples. All swords and armor have a "racial mod" of either human, elven, or dwarven, granting a modest effectiveness bonus for the corresponding race. While you do have control of an elf and several humans throughout the game, you never get a single dwarf. The items are still perfectly ''usable'', but the dwarven racial bonus on will never benefit you.

** Played more straight in ''VideoGame/TalesOfGraces''. A particular Dualize recipe spoil the fact that [[spoiler:Richard will rejoin your party,]] because the Darkshine Crystal can only be dualized with his weapon, and can only be found after [[spoiler: he leaves.]]

** In ''Videogame/FinalFantasyIV'', you can find throwing stars for Edge in Eblan Cave before he joins the party at the end.

** In the ''Videogame/ShiningTheHolyArk'' later weapon shops end up selling claw-type weapons. They beyond the GuideDangIt hidden character Doyle.
** ''Videogame/ShiningForceIII'' almost always ruins the surprise of a new character as weapon shops suddenly have new types of weapons just before a new character shows up. Most notably with Irene by as she can die before you recruit her you know there is going to be another character shortly that can use her gloves...and sure enough Kahn appears shortly afterwards.

* Subverted however in ''Videogame/ShiningForce II'', where Talos can drop his sword, which can only be used by the Giant class. No Giant ever joins the team.

* Subverted in ''Videogame/ShiningForce II'', where Talos can drop his sword, which can only be used by the Giant class. No Giant ever joins the team.

* In ''FinalFantasyIV'', you can find throwing stars for Edge in Eblan Cave before he joins the party at the end.
** Similarly, in ''FinalFantasyVI'', you can find shops that sell ninja scrolls and weapons in areas where Shadow can join the party.
* In ''FinalFantasyVII'', you may find a weapon for Vincent way before you can recruit him. And even then he and Yuffie are {{Hidden Character}}s, so you'll be encountering better and better weapons for them even if you miss them.

* In ''FinalFantasyVIII'', a Weapons Monthly issue describing Rinoa and Irvine's weapons can be found before either of them is introduced (Rinoa does appear, but you don't learn who she is at that point).

* In ''PlanescapeTorment'' oculars "usable by Modrons" drop from enemies all around the maze where you can find a HiddenCharacter of that race if you look hard enough.
* Used in ''{{MARDEK}}'' in an interesting way:

* In ''{{Warhammer 40000}} DawnOfWar 2'' you can find pieces of armour for the Dreadnought way before you get one. Not enough information to guess that [[spoiler:Captain Davian Thule dies]] but once that happens, if you are familiar with the Warhammer 40k lore enough to know what exactly dreadnoughts are, you already know who will be piloting the one in your party.

* ''MassEffect'':
** In [[MassEffect1 the first game]], you can buy krogan, quarian, and turian armor before you meet Wrex, Garrus, or Tali.
** In [[MassEffect2 the second game]], you can acquire an upgrade for the "squadmates with geth shield technology" during Tali's loyalty mission, before you meet up with Legion.

* Subverted in ShiningForce II, where Talos can drop his sword, which can only be used by the Giant class. No Giant ever joins the team.

* ''ChronoTrigger'' has a merchant selling you scythes shortly before [[spoiler:Magus joins up]].

** Averted at one point early in the game where you can find Cait Sith's [[InfinityPlusOneSword ultimate weapon]], but Cloud leaves it be because no one in your party has any use for a megaphone at that point.

* An interesting one in ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia''. There's a point in the game where your party seems to be killed off. Shortly after that sequence, you find... a new weapon equippable only by one of those party members. Spoils the moment a bit.

* An interesting one in TalesOfSymphonia. There's a point in the game where your party seems to be killed off. Shortly after that sequence, you find... a new weapon equippable only by one of those party members. Spoils the moment a bit.

* In ''LastScenario'', you will sometimes find weapons of a type that isn't used by any of your characters yet at a hex trading post. {{Lampshaded}} in Keltena's LetsPlay:

[[AC:Videogames]]

[[AC: Non-videogame examples]]

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