Superpowers are superhuman and supernatural abilities, characteristics, and/or attributes employed and explored in many works of fiction and has become a common trope used in storytelling and for a wide range of other purposes.
Interestingly, they are present in many other settings and media unrelated to storytelling, such as almighty and divine powers in religions and mythologies, as well as folklore or fictional works on the Internet displaying entities with paranormal abilities or objects with supernatural properties.
They might even be present in real life in the form of extraordinary and exceptional talents possessed by people that border on the supernatural or machines and animals capable of performing feats far beyond that of any human.
All in all, the concept of superpowers is very widespread in our world today, having influenced thousands of people and will be continuing to do so for years to come. Whether it'd be to get more "wow"s in an intense fight scene, creating your own supernatural entity, writing the latest sci-fi, or even to craft a society of superheroes, superpowers will never be far behind.
Description
In essence, superpowers are defined as abilities, characteristics, and/or attributes that are supernatural and superhuman in nature. Fundamentally, they allow one to do things that normal humans can not, like fly without any equipment, lift buses with your bare hands, read minds, or being invulnerable to damage. Superpowers range from improving oneself way past peak human potential, to influencing and manipulating concepts on a universal scale. They cover pretty much everything under the sun, from human qualities, to how the world works, to faiths, to inventions, to animals, and to everything else and beyond. In the world of fiction, superpowers have a nearly inexhaustible number of uses, whether it be to fight other rogue superhumans, or to transcend the limits of their own body and world to ascend to a higher plane of existence.
Superpowers are most commonly possessed by superheroes and supervillains, but also can be present in divine or demonic entities in religions and mythologies, paranormal creatures in folklore or Internet creepypastas, extraterrestrial and bionic beings in sci-fi, or monsters and guardians in works of fantasy etc. Superpowers can also come from dozens of sources, whether it'd be a science experiment gone wrong, a genetic mutation, advanced physics-defying technology, being possessed by an entity that grants superhuman abilities, a gift from God, special training, mystical spells or enchantments, or an underlying concept that allows for supernatural abilities to be possessed by humans.
Superpowers are not strictly limited to fiction, as machines, animals or even other humans are capable of performing feats that ordinary humans would never hope to replicate. In fictional works, they are usually used to build the plot or enhance a character by giving them extraordinary abilities and traits. Some works have their world build around a central power system or around a race of superhuman entities. Naturally, they come with their tropes, some easier to spot than others, like superpowers manifesting around puberty or during an event that caused great trauma, superpowers growing stronger or being easier to control through training, superpowers reflecting the physical characteristics or personality of a character etc.
Note: This list doesn't include every power/ability that exists or is archived on this wiki. For browsing all powers/abilities that have been archived, click here.
Types of Powers
Despite their vast diversity, most powers fall into a handful of categories defining their core identity:
- Concept: powers centered on an idea, allowing essentially any effect related to it.
- Examples: Autopotence, Boundary Manipulation, Subjective Reality
- Function: powers centered on what they do, usually specialized on relatively specific fields.
- Examples: Creation, Destruction and most Manipulations
- Mechanism: powers centered on the manipulation of immanent laws of reality.
- Source: powers centered on their origin (usually supernatural) allowing a variety of applications.
- Examples: Divinity, Lordship Powers, Magic, Supernatural Dominion
- Unfathomable: powers without actual cause/mechanism, defined as beyond understanding.
- Examples: Author Authority, Logic Manipulation
Powers and Abilities
Superpower Interaction
This section refers to the ability to manipulate or otherwise interact with superpowers themselves, not "power" such as electrical power or gravitational power.
- Affinity
- Aversion
- Power Absorption
- Power Augmentation
- Power Bestowal
- Power Detection
- Power Erasure
- Power Negation
- Power Randomization
- Power Replication
- Power Restoration
- Powers Via Object
- Superpower Manipulation
Personal Physical Powers
Powers which affect an individual's body.
General
- Accelerated Rotation
- Additional Limbs
- Adoptive Muscle Memory
- Amalgamation
- Anatomical Liberation
- Body Part Substitution
- Bone Manipulation
- Camouflage
- Claw Retraction
- Deflection
- Fang Retraction
- Fat Manipulation
- Helicopter Propulsion
- Invisibility
- Immobility
- Immutability
- Invulnerability
- Jet Propulsion
- Matter Ingestion
- Mobile Invulnerability
- Muscle Manipulation
- Nail Manipulation
- Needle Projection
- Organic Constructs
- Prehensile Hair
- Prehensile Tail
- Prehensile Tongue
- Regenerative Healing Factor
- Replication
- Self-Detonation
- Sharp Tail
- Spike Protrusion
- Structure Weakening
- Tentacle Manifestation
- Vampire Physiology
- Wallcrawling
Emission
- Acid Generation
- Ash Generation
- Bubble Generation
- Dust Generation
- Echolocation
- Enhanced Breath
- Fire Breath
- Fire Generation
- Fog Generation
- Goo Generation
- Heat Generation
- Ink Generation
- Miasma Emission
- Oil Generation
- Pheromone Manipulation
- Poison Generation
- Scald Generation
- Smoke Generation
- Sonic Scream
- Stench Generation
- Water Generation
- Web Generation
Adaptation
- Aquatic Breathing
- Atmospheric Adaptation
- Environmental Adaptation
- Poison Immunity
- Reactive Adaptation
- Self-Sustenance
- Thermal Resistance
- Tracking Evasion
- Vacuum Adaptation
Enhanced Physical Skills
- Enhanced Accuracy
- Enhanced Agility
- Enhanced Combat
- Enhanced Condition
- Enhanced Crafting
- Enhanced Dexterity
- Enhanced Durability
- Enhanced Flexibility
- Enhanced Leap
- Enhanced Lung Capacity
- Enhanced Reflexes
- Enhanced Senses
- Enhanced Stamina
- Enhanced Strength
- Enhanced Swordsmanship
- Enhanced Thievery
- Enhanced Visibility
- Powerful Bite
Supernatural Physical Skills
- Supernatural Accuracy
- Supernatural Agility
- Supernatural Combat
- Supernatural Condition
- Supernatural Dexterity
- Supernatural Durability
- Supernatural Flexibility
- Supernatural Leap
- Supernatural Reflexes
- Supernatural Senses
- Supernatural Stamina
- Supernatural Strength
- Supernatural Swordsmanship
- Supernatural Thievery
Vision Faculty
- Enhanced Vision and Optic Blasts
- 360-Degree Vision
- Accelerated Vision
- Astral Vision
- Atomic Vision
- Augmented Reality Vision
- Aura Vision
- Blood-Flow Vision
- Caustic Vision
- Chaotic Vision
- Chemo Vision
- Chrono Vision
- Color Vision
- Dark Vision
- Death Vision
- Digital Vision
- Dimensional Vision
- DNA Vision
- Ectoplasmic Vision
- Electromagnetic Vision
- Emotion Vision
- Energy Vision
- Explosion Vision
- Fire Vision
- Freeze Vision
- Gamma Vision
- Graphic Vision
- Healing Vision
- Heat Vision
- Hypnotic Vision
- Illusion Vision
- Ionic Vision
- Infrared Vision
- Invisibility Vision
- Kinetic Vision
- Laser Vision
- Life Vision
- Light Vision
- Lightning Vision
- Lunar Vision
- Magic Vision
- Merging Vision
- Microscopic Vision
- Microwave Vision
- Movement Vision
- Multi-Directional Vision
- Multiple Vision
- Neon Vision
- Night Vision
- Oil Vision
- Organic Vision
- Photography Vision
- Plasma Vision
- Probability Vision
- Quantum Vision
- Radio Vision
- Radioactive Vision
- Scanner Vision
- Shared Vision
- Slime Vision
- Soundwave Vision
- Supercolor Vision
- Supernatural Vision
- Telekinetic Vision
- Telescopic Vision
- Timeline-Shared Vision
- Ultimate Vision
- Ultraviolet Vision
- Wind Vision
- X-Ray Vision
Mentality-based Powers
Powers which affect an individual's mind.
General
- 4th Wall Awareness
- Dual Mind
- Ecological Empathy
- Enhanced Intelligence
- Enhanced Memory
- Enhanced Wits
- Feral Mind
- Intuitive Aptitude
- Knowledge Replication
- Mentifery
- Omniscience
- Omnilingualism
- Psychic Navigation
- Psychic Shield
- Technology Manipulation
ESP
The abilities of extra-sensory perception (ESP) and communication.
- Astral Projection
- Claircognizance
- Clairvoyance
- Danger Intuition
- Dimensional Awareness
- Empathy
- Extrasensory Perception
- Mediumship
- Mendacity Detection
- Mental Projection
- Offspring Detection
- Precognition
- Psychometry
- Retrocognition
- Telepathy
Physical or Mental Domination
Powers that can control the will of others.
- Astral Trapping
- Dream Manipulation
- Emotion Manipulation
- Fear Inducement
- Hypnosis
- Memory Manipulation
- Mental Manipulation
- Mind Control
- Mindscape Transportation
- Possession
- Psionic Inundation
- Psychic Constructs
- Siren Song
- Social Cloaking
- Vertigo Inducement
- Vocal Mind Control
- Unconsciousness Inducement
- Yin & Yang Manipulation
Physics or Reality Manipulation
These powers may be manifested by various methods, including: With some method of molecular control; By access to, or partially or fully shifting to another dimension; manipulating the geometric dimensions of time or space; or using some other unnamed method.
General
- Access and Occlusion
- Activation & Deactivation
- Animation
- Cloaking
- Death Inducement
- Dehydration
- Deoxygenation
- Dimensional Storage
- Disintegration
- Emotion Manipulation
- Healing
- Intangibility
- Life-Force Absorption
- Melting
- Mind Exchange
- Paralysis Inducement
- Petrification
- Physical Restoration
- Projected Thermography
- Sedation Inducement
- Self-Spawn
Fundamental Forces
- Age Manipulation
- Aura Manipulation
- Biological Manipulation
- Cosmic Manipulation
- Darkness Manipulation
- Density Control
- Elemental Transmutation
- Fundamental Forces Manipulation
- Gravity Manipulation
- Jactitation
- Light Manipulation
- Lunar Manipulation
- Magnetism Manipulation
- Mass Manipulation
- Molecular Manipulation
- Nerve Manipulation
- Nothingness Manipulation
- Physics Manipulation
- Pressure Manipulation
- Probability Manipulation
- Reality Warping
- Reanimation
- Solar Manipulation
- Sound Manipulation
- Spatial Manipulation
- Telekinesis
- Temporal Manipulation
- Weight Manipulation
Other
- Circadian Manipulation
- Ink Manipulation
- Literary Manipulation
- Mirror Manipulation
- Oil Manipulation
- Season Manipulation
- Vector Manipulation
Classical Elements
Ability to control or manipulate the elements.
- Air Manipulation
- Animal Manipulation
- Ash Manipulation
- Dust Manipulation
- Earth Manipulation
- Electricity Manipulation
- Electromagnetism Manipulation
- Fire Manipulation
- Ice Manipulation
- Plant Manipulation (not an element but is considered one in various other fictional universes)
- Water Manipulation
- Weather Manipulation
Energy Manipulation
These powers deal with energy generation, conversion and manipulation. In addition to generic energy, versions of these powers exist that deal with such things as light, sound, electricity, nuclear energy, and the Darkforce dimension.
- Combustion Inducement
- Concussion Beams
- Energy Absorption
- Energy Constructs
- Energy Conversion
- Energy Emission
- Energy Negation
- Force-Field Generation
- Kinetic Energy Manipulation
- Life-Force Manipulation
- Light Generation
- Microwave Emission
- Radiation Manipulation
- Vibration Emission
- Volatile Constructs
Transportation or Travel
Powers that involve changing location of oneself or others.
- Beacon Emission
- Burrowing
- Cosmic Teleportation
- Dimensional Travel
- Electrical Transportation
- Escape Artistry
- Portal Creation
- Speed Swimming
- Summoning
- Super Speed
- Teleportation
- Time Travel
- Wormhole Creation
Flight
Ability to lift off the ground, to ride air currents or to fly self-propelled through the air.
Individualistic
Ability to use powers that will only affect the user.
- Absolute Immortality
- Autopotence
- Higher Consciousness
- Self Origin Manipulation
- Self-Detonation
- Self-Disintegration
- Self-Molecular Manipulation
- Self-Power Bestowal
- Self-Spawn
- Self-Sustenance
- Self-Transcendence
- Supernatural Self-Preservation
Illusion
Ability to alter or deceive the perceptions of another. Can be sensory, a light or sound-based effect, or an alteration of mental perceptions.
Mimicry
Shapeshifting
Ability to change appearance or body structure.
- Age Shifting
- Air Mimicry
- Animal Morphing
- Bionic Physiology
- Dermal Armor
- Elasticity
- Malleable Anatomy
- Monster Physiology
- Power Replication
- Reactive Adaptation
- Shapeshifting
- Size Manipulation
- Water Mimicry
Elemental Mimicry
- Air Mimicry
- Darkness Mimicry
- Metal Mimicry
- Inorganic Mimicry
- Fire Mimicry
- Magma Mimicry
- Sand Mimicry
- Ink Mimicry
- Elemental Mimicry
- Clay Mimicry
- Slime Mimicry
- Smoke Mimicry
- Electricity Mimicry
- Crystal Mimicry
- Diamond Mimicry
- Paper Mimicry
- Digital Form
- Tachyon Mimicry
- Electromagnetic Wave Physiology
- Ice Mimicry
- Stellar Physiology
- Spatial Mimicry
- Artificially Enhanced Physiology
- Energy Physiology
- Dust Mimicry
- Ash Mimicry
Organic Mimicry
- Animal Morphing
- Amphibian Physiology
- Arachnid Physiology
- Avian Physiology
- Fish Physiology
- Insect Physiology
- Cephalopod Physiology
- Cnidarian Physiology
- Crustacean Physiology
- Echinoderm Physiology
- Mammalian Physiology
- Bat Physiology
- Bovine Physiology
- Camelid Physiology
- Canine Physiology
- Cervid Physiology
- Cetacean Physiology
- Elephant Physiology
- Equid Physiology
- Feline Physiology
- Giraffe Physiology
- Hyena Physiology
- Lagomorph Physiology
- Marsupial Physiology
- Mongoose Physiology
- Monotreme Physiology
- Pinniped Physiology
- Primate Physiology
- Procyonid Physiology
- Prosimian Physiology
- Rhinoceros Physiology
- Rodent Physiology
- Sirenia Physiology
- Ursine Physiology
- Xenarthra Physiology
- Parasite Physiology
- Reptilian Physiology
- Chimerism
- Hybrid Soul
- Mythic Physiology
- Alien Physiology
- Angel Physiology
- Bakeneko Physiology
- Demon Physiology
- Elf Physiology
- Fairy Physiology
- Gargoyle Physiology
- Genie Physiology
- Ghost Physiology
- Giant Physiology
- Gorgon Physiology
- Griffin Physiology
- Grim Reaper Physiology
- Hellhound Physiology
- Kitsune Physiology
- Merfolk Physiology
- Minotaur Physiology
- Monster Physiology
- Naga Physiology
- Nephilim Physiology
- Oni Physiology
- Pegasus Physiology
- Phoenix Physiology
- Raiju Physiology
- Sasquatch Physiology
- Spirit Physiology
- Succubus Physiology
- Tengu Physiology
- Thunderbird Physiology
- Troll Physiology
- Undead Physiology
- Unicorn Physiology
- Vampire Physiology
- Wendigo Physiology
- Werewolf Physiology
- Plant Mimicry
- Unicellular Mimicry
- Transcendent Physiology
- Cosmic Entity Physiology
- Cthulhu Mythos Deity Physiology
- Mythic Physiology
- Aboriginal Deity Physiology
- African Deity Physiology
- Altaic Deity Physiology
- Arab Deity Physiology
- Armenian Deity Physiology
- Aztec Deity Physiology
- Canaanite Deity Physiology
- Celtic Deity Physiology
- Chinese Deity Physiology
- Egyptian Deity Physiology
- Finnish Deity Physiology
- Greek Deity Physiology
- Guarani Deity Physiology
- Hindu Deity Physiology
- Inca Deity Physiology
- Mayan Deity Physiology
- Mesopotamian Deity Physiology
- Native American Deity Physiology
- Norse Deity Physiology
- Oceanic Deity Physiology
- Orisha Physiology
- Philippine Deity Physiology
- Roman Deity Physiology
- Shinto Deity Physiology
- Siberian Deity Physiology
- Slavic Deity Physiology
- Vodou Deity Physiology
- Zoroastrian Deity Physiology
Other Mimicry
- Bionic Physiology
- Candy Mimicry
- Computer Virus Physiology
- Empathic Mimicry
- Flat Body
- Garbage Mimicry
- Power Inheritance
- Spring Form
- Storybook Mimicry
- Swamp Mimicry
Divine
Powers that are deemed extremely all-powerful.
- Antimatter Manipulation
- Chaos Manipulation
- Complete Arsenal
- Cosmic Telepathy
- Creation
- Dark Matter Manipulation
- Enigma Force
- Evolution
- Existential Plane Manipulation
- Hell-Fire Manipulation
- Holy Fire Manipulation
- Immortality
- Infinite Supply
- Life-Force Manipulation
- Logic Manipulation
- Magic
- Alchemy
- Art Magic
- Astrology
- Chaos Magic
- Craftsmanship Magic
- Creation Magic
- Curse Inducement
- Dark Arts
- Destruction Magic
- Divination
- Druidic Magic
- Elemental Magic
- Healing
- Illusionary Magic
- Jinx
- Life Magic
- Mysticism
- Occultism
- Necromancy
- Ritual Magic
- Shamanism
- Spell Casting
- Theurgy
- Transmutation
- Voodoo
- White Arts
- Mathematics Manipulation
- Matter Manipulation
- Molecular Manipulation
- Omnilock
- Omnipotence
- Omnipresence
- Omniscience
- Order Manipulation
- Paradox Inducement
- Pathifery
- Physics Manipulation
- Plasma Manipulation
- Power Mixture
- Quantum Manipulation
- Spatial Manipulation
- Spatial-Temporal Lock
- Summoning
- Superpower Manipulation
- Terrain Manipulation
- Twilight Manipulation
- Universal Irreversibility
- Vocifery