Basic Trope: A piece of Applied Phlebotinum has a way of protecting itself such as it producing a forcefield or causing people pain when they attempt to touch it.
- Straight:
- Bob tries to wield the Sword of Plot Advancement but it electrocutes him.
- Or an invisible shield forms around it
- Exaggerated: The Sword of Plot Advancement won't let anything touch. The invisible forcefield that surrounds it suspends it several feet from off of the ground.
- Downplayed: The Sword of Plot Advancement causes your hand to itch.
- Justified: The wizard who forged the Sword of Plot Advancement only wants good people to use it, so if evil people try to touch, it slides away from their grasp.
- Inverted: Once the Sword of Plot Advancement falls into someone hands, it won't let you release it!
- Subverted: The hilt of the Sword of Plot Advancement catches fire whenever someone tries to touch it, so Bob wears an oven-mitt.
- Double Subverted: But the fire burns white-hot and eats right through the glove.
- Parodied: Bob reaches for the Sword of Plot Advancement, it grows arms and smacks his hand away.
- Zig Zagged: The sword has a mind of its own; only those it dislikes receive pain.
- Averted: Anyone can touch the Sword of Plot Advancement.
- Enforced: The author needed a reason the villain can't just steal the Sword of Plot Advancement.
- Lampshaded:Bob: "It appears that the Sword of Plot Advancement surrounds itself with the forcefield of filler episodes."
- Invoked: As a security measure, the wizard who forged the Sword of Plot Advancement castes a spell on it that causes those unworthy of its power to be electrocuted.
- Exploited: Bob tricks his enemy, into trying to use the Sword of Plot Advancement knowing that it will disintegrate them.
- Defied: The Sword of Plot Advancement causes intense pain in whoever touches it, but Bob bears it and kills the villain.
- Discussed: "You mean whoever touches the Sword of Plot Advancement will die?"
- Conversed: "On the show no one can touch the Sword of Plot Advancement because it protects itself with a forcefield."
What are you waiting for? The Self-Guarding Phlebotinum isn't stopping you from going to it.
