- "She can read you. Your body. That's why she understands what you're saying when she doesn't know the words. It's combat, she knows what you're going to do before you do it."
- ― Bruce Wayne/Batman describing Cassandra Cain's abilities to Barbara Gordon (DC Comics)
The power to intuitively read others' body language and anticipate their actions.
Also Called
- Body Reading Ability
- Movement Study
- NVC/Nonverbal Communication
- Reflex Analysis
Capabilities
The user can intuitively read others' body language and expression, allowing them to anticipate their actions and respond accordingly, often allowing the user to predict opponent's attacks.
Applications
Associations
- Adoptive Muscle Memory
- Danger Intuition
- Detail Intuition
- Enhanced Combat
- Enhanced Reflexes
- Flash Precognition
- Psychological Intuition
- Reactive Adaptation
Limitations
- May not work on species different from the user, till users can train or be trained to understand that species behavior.
- If opponent knows of users power may be able to use against them via misleading movements.
- Opponents with erratic and unpredictable behavior are immune to this power.
- As such, the user could get confused if there's too much movement to keep track.
- Even though the user can predict their movements, they'll have trouble following them depending on their own speed and reflexes.
- While the user can predict movement and body language, unless it is precognitive, they can't predict the outcome or the effects of certain powers, such as Telekinesis, Teleportation, Mental Manipulation, Telepathy, or Flight.
- It may also not work aganise someone who can use Invisibility/Camouflage as it might require eye contact.
- Mental Manipulation or Illusion Manipulation might disturb the user's concentration/sight/perception.
Known Users
- Kakeru Satsuki (11eyes); via Eye of Aeon
- Apollo Justice (Ace Attorney Series); via Justice Bracelet
- Cognitive Interpreter (Alphas)
- Translator Alphas (Alphas)
- Anna (Alphas)
- Eric Letrobe (Alphas)
- Vanessa Brewer (Angel)
- Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad (Assassin's Creed)
- Ezio Auditore da Firenze (Assassin's Creed)
- Desmond Miles (Assassin's Creed)
- Gen Fudo (Aquarion)
- Spike (Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel)
- Cordelia Chase (Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel)
- Cassandra Cain (DC Comics)
- Clock King (DC Comics)
- Batman (DC Comics)
- Goku (Dragon Ball series)
- Super 17 (Dragon Ball GT)
- Janemba (Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn)
- Bene Gesserit (Dune)
- King Bradley (Fullmetal Alchemist)
- Pakunoad (Hunter X Hunter)
- Kurapika (Hunter X Hunter)
- Kaneda Suekichi (Kengan Ashura)
- Seijūrō Akashi (Kuroko no Basuke)
- Kuroko Tetsuya (Kuroko no Basuke)
- Dark Link (The Legend of Zelda)
- Ghirahim (The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword)
- Dr. Cal Lightman (Lie to Me)
- Takeshi Nanase (Mahou Sensou)
- Fantomex (Marvel Comics)
- Cypher (Marvel Comics)
- Captain America (Marvel Comics)
- Taskmaster (Marvel Comics)
- Eye-Boy (Marvel Comics)
- Yahg (Mass Effect)
- Shadow Broker (Mass Effect 2)
- Patrick Jane (The Mentalist)
- Vamp (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty)
- Might Guy (Naruto)
- Sharingan users (Naruto)
- Sora (No Game No Life)
- Garo/Garou (One-Punch Man)
- Dracule Mihawk (One Piece)
- Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece)
- Percy Jackson (Percy Jackson & the Olympians)
- Kenshin Himura (Rurouni Kenshin)
- Emerl (Sonic the Hedgehog)
- Predicto (Sonic the Comic)
- Justin Law (Soul Eater)
- Laura Sanz (The Subject No. 1)
- Matt (The Subject No. 1)
- Luz (The Subject No. 1)
- Turtlebot (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
- Ian Archer (Tower Prep)
- CJ Ward (Tower Prep)
- Mark Halloway (UN Comics)
- Ozymandias (Watchmen)
- Midnighter (Wildstorm)
- Tattletale (Worm)
- Envoys (Altered Carbon)
- Takeshi Kovacs
Gallery
Anime/Manga/Manhwa
Sasuke Uchiha (Naruto) using his freshly awakened Sharingan to read and counter Orochimaru's attacks...
...and a skilled user like Kakashi can easily read another person’s lips.
Monkey D. Luffy (One Piece) can predict movements and attacks with ease,...
...a skill that has improved even further thanks to his mastery of Kenbunshoku/Observation Haki.
Justin Law (Soul Eater) can read another's lips, allowing him to communicate without having to remove his earbuds.
Kuroko's (Kuroko no Basuke) Quasi-Emperor Eye can only predict his teammate's movement, but in terms of how far into the future, he can see further than Emperor Eye from Akashi and Kise.
Add a photo to this galleryCartoons/Comics
Cassandra Cain (DC Comics) can read others' body language.
Fantomex (Marvel Comics)
Midnighter (Wildstorm/DC Comics)
Turtlebot (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles)
Literature
Thanks to his ADHD, Percy Jackson (Percy Jackson & the Olympians) can extrapolate where his enemies will strike simply based on how their muscles tense.
Live Television/Movies
Vanessa Brewer (Angel) is able to sense motion sources around her, such as body moves, and respond accordingly.
_truthsayer.jpeg "Bene Gesserit (Dune) truthsayer.jpeg (17 KB)")
Bene Gesserit (Dune) truthsayers can detect lies by analyzing body language.
Patrick Jane (The Mentalist) uses his keen powers of observation, deduction, and knowledge of social engineering coupled with his genius to help lead investigations.
CJ Ward (Tower Prep)
Ian Archer (Tower Prep)
Video Games
Vamp (Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty) can predict others' body movements by watching their muscles.
Emerl (Sonic the Hedgehog)
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