History Main / EquipmentSpoiler

* In ''VideoGame/BatenKaitosEternalWingsAndTheLostOcean'' you can find knuckle attacks before Savyna shows up.

* In ''VideoGame/BatenKaitos'' you can find knuckle attacks before Savyna shows up.

* ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'':
** There's a point in the game where your party seems to be killed off one by one. During that sequence, you find... a new weapon equippable only by one of the party members that already died. Spoils the moment a bit.
** You also find new equipment equippable only by two people, both of which are seemingly now the enemy.

* Playing ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'' and you're worried that you might not retrieve a certain character from the plot? [[FaceHeelTurn Did they turn evil?]] [[SacrificialLion Have they been sacrificed]]? [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Have they finally grown apart from the protagonist]]? Oh no wait, shops all around the world indicate the skills of party members not in your party at the moment on weapons you can buy or [[ItemCrafting Synthesize]], looks like you'll be picking them up later when the plot lets you. Oh well. There goes that tension.

* Referenced in ''Webcomic/{{Adventurers}}'' when TheHero panics on discovering a shop that sells a weapon no one in the party uses, deducing that they must have missed a secret character. They meet and recruit the user of said weapons later.

* In one ''Webcomic/NerfNow'' strip, TheDragon keeps the hero from attacking her boss by dumping a pile of rockets in his path. He immediately concludes that there's a rocket launcher he missed and goes back to search for it.

* 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 its favour at times because multiple characters can be the same class.

* Playing ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'' and you're worried that you might not retrieve a certain character from the plot? [[FaceHeelTurn Did they turn evil?]] [[SacrificialLionn Have they been sacrificed]]? [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Have they finally grown apart from the protagonist]]? Oh no wait, shops all around the world indicate the skills of party members not in your party at the moment on weapons you can buy or [[ItemCrafting Synthesize]], looks like you'll be picking them up later when the plot lets you. Oh well. There goes that tension.

* Subverted in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem'''s Book 2: You can get a few axes but never get an axe user; [[VendorTrash you're supposed to sell them for cash]]. The remake, which features playable axe users, replaces those bonus axes with simply getting bonus money.

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

** The greatest example among them is Axes. When you think you've recruited everyone and are nearing the end of the game, you won't have encountered an axe wielder. This is a big hint that you haven't found everyone yet, though it doesn't point directly towards [[spoiler: Hendrik, who has been an antagonist who uses swords up until then]].

** ''VideoGame/LufiaAndTheFortressOfDoom'' has an interesting example for a character who's ''already'' part of your party. The last town of the game has Zircon Swords for sale, and there's even a easily-found Zircon Sword in one of the last dungeons. [[spoiler:But by that point, you've already got the much-stronger [[SwordOfPlotAdvancement Dual Blade]]...and probably already know from this that [[TeasedWithAwesome you're going to lose it]].]]

** Some monsters in Chapter 2 drop weapons that are not usable by anyone. You can [[OldSaveBonus carry them over to the next chapter...]] only to discover that most of them are starting weapons for the new characters.

* In ''VideoGame/Persona3'', the police station sells a costume for Ken a few weeks before he joins the party. Weapons usually don't count for this trope in this game as the protagonist can use all of them. However, if you keep up with Elizabeth's requests, you'll see one that has a weapon type the protagonist ''can't'' use as its reward... and that fact that it's a bone (the JokeWeapon of that type), is a pretty big hint that the party member who uses it is [[spoiler:a dog.]]

** You also find new equipment equippable only by [[spoiler:two people, both of which are seemingly now the enemy]].
** Played more straight in ''VideoGame/TalesOfGraces''. A particular Dualize recipe spoils 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/XenobladeChronicles1'', if you go out of your way to kill certain high-leveled enemies ''long'' before what is reasonable, you may obtain a type of weapon and a unique class of armor that nobody in your party can equip. [[spoiler:What's more, the weapon type is similar to the weapons used by a certain party member who was killed...]]

* In ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 VideoGame/DawnOfWarII'' 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.

* An unusual example in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates''. The "End: Lost in the Waves" DLC has you control the second generation units in battle against the first generation fathers, who have CameBackWrong as Vallite zombies. They all use generic Silver-grade weaponry... except [[spoiler:Takumi]], who has his own personal weapon, the Skadi. This is a major hint that [[spoiler:he is resurrected as a Vallite zombie in the ''Conquest'' route and serves as the FinalBoss]].

* Averted in ''VideoGame/CosmicStarHeroine'': you get the ultimate weapon of a character who previously left your party right before [[spoiler:you kill her in a boss battle]].

** You will also find, eventually, that while maps are among the items you can give as presents to the others, none of your teammates particularly like them, implying the existence of another recruit who likes maps more than any other gift. [[spoiler:Admittedly, it doesn't imply that said recruit is ''Loghain''.]]

* Referenced in ''Webcomic/{{Adventurers}}'' when TheHero panics on discovering a shop that sells a weapon no one in the party uses, deducing that they must have missed a secret character. [[spoiler:They meet and recruit the user of said weapons later]].
* In one ''Webcomic/NerfNow'' strip, the [[BigBad Big Bad's]] [[TheDragon Dragon]] keeps the hero from attacking her boss by dumping a pile of rockets in his path. He immediately concludes that there's a rocket launcher he missed and goes back to search for it.
* In chapter 18 of ''FanFic/PaperMarioX 2'', [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Link]] finds [[spoiler:a pair of Super Shoes]] instead of an upgrade for himself, and instantly knows that the upgrade belongs to [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic]]]].

* In ''VideoGame/Persona3'', the police station sells a costume for Ken a few weeks before he joins the party. Weapons usually don't count for this trope in this game as the protagonist can use all of them. However, if you keep up with Elizabeth's requests, you'll see one that has a weapon type the protagonist ''can't'' use as its reward... and that fact that it's a bone (the JokeWeapon of that type), is a pretty big hint that the party member who uses it is [[spoiler: a dog.]]

* An interesting one in ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia''. There's a point in the game where your party seems to be killed off one by one. During that sequence, you find... a new weapon equippable only by one of the party members that already died. Spoils the moment a bit.
** You also find new equipment equippable only by [[spoiler: two people, both of which are seemingly now the enemy]].

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} Videogame/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.

* ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' has a merchant selling you scythes shortly before [[spoiler:Magus joins up]].* Surprisingly subverted in ''VideoGame/DiverDown''--the very first shop sells an expensive suit of armor that no character will ever be able to equip (and this is a game that does ''not'' give MoneyForNothing, so you will definitely regret purchasing it.)

-->[[http://screencappery.livejournal.com/193382.html I am happy beyond belief to finally have access to a Hex trading post. Although I'm not sure why they think we'd be interest

ed in throwing knives.]]

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

* ''VideoGame/EarthBoundBeginnings'' 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.

* Surprisingly subverted in ''VideoGame/DiverDown''--the very first shop sells an expensive suit of armor that no character will ever be able to equip (and this is a game that does ''not'' give MoneyForNothing, so you will definitely regret purchasing it.)
* In ''VideoGame/LastScenario'', you will sometimes find weapons of a type that isn't used by any of your characters yet at a [[MiniGame hex tile]] trading post. {{Lampshaded}} in Keltena's LetsPlay:
-->[[http://screencappery.livejournal.com/193382.html I am happy beyond belief to finally have access to a Hex trading post. Although I'm not sure why they think we'd be interested in throwing knives.]]
* Used in ''Videogame/{{MARDEK}}'' in an interesting way:
** Some monsters in Chapter 2 drop weapons that are not usable by anyone. You can [[OldSaveBonus carry them over to the next chapter...]] only to discover that most of them are starting weapons for the new characters.
** In Chapter 3 you can buy a weapon usable only by a character that's considered missing-in-action as of second chapter's ending. It sprouted [[EpilepticTrees fan speculations]] about [[HesJustHiding the character returning]] in a future installment.

* Averted in ''VideoGame/CosmicStarHeroine'': you get the ultimate weapon of a character who previously left your party right before [[spoiler:you kill her in a boss battle]].

* In chapter 18 of ''FanFic/PaperMarioX 2'', [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Link]] finds [[spoiler:a pair of Super Shoes]] instead of an upgrade for himself, and instantly knows that the upgrade belongs to [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic]]]].

** 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/{{Xenoblade}}'', if you go out of your way to kill certain high-leveled enemies ''long'' before what is reasonable, you may obtain a type of weapon and a unique class of armor that nobody in your party can equip. [[spoiler:What's more, the weapon type is similar to the weapons used by a certain party member who was killed...]]

* In ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'', Samus' Notes on the Phazon Suit obtained from defeating the Omega Pirate state that it will protect you from taking damage from blue phazon. Up to this point, all of the phazon you've encountered is blue and there is no indication that other colors even exist until you reach the [[VeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon Impact Crater]], which is brimming with ''[[BlueAndOrangeContrast orange]]'' phazon that nothing in the game will protect you from.

** [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyX Besaid]] temple's destruction sphere treasure is a staff for Yuna. Tidus hasn't met her at that point, but the inventory screen says her name, albeit in grey text. Though you do see Yuna before this, as most of the game is a {{Flashback}} in the form of Tidus telling his story.

* In chapter 18 of ''FanFic/PaperMarioX 2'', [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Link]] finds [[spoiler:a pair of Super Shoes]] instead of an upgrade for himself, and instantly knows that the upgrade belongs to [[spoiler:[[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Sonic]]]].

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

** 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/MOTHER|1}}'' 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.

* 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.

* In ''VideoGame/MetroidZeroMission'', Samus can pick up powerups which are incompatible with her Power Suit. The fact that you don't get the fix that by the time you face Mother Brain, the FinalBoss of the [[VideoGame/Metroid1 original game]], tells you your adventure isn't over just yet...

** 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.

** [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyX Besaid]] temple's destruction sphere treasure is a staff for Yuna. Tidus hasn't met her at that point, but the inventory screen says her name, albeit in grey text.

** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyV'' you can purchase spells for Time Mages and Summoners in Walz, shortly before acquiring those job classes.