Many forms of fiction feature characters attributed with superhuman, supernatural, or paranormal abilities, often referred to as "superpowers" (also spelled "super powers" and "super-powers") or "powers". This tradition is especially rich in the fictional universes of various comic book stories, movies, and video games. Below is a list of many of those powers that have been used. Some of these categories overlap.
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.
- Function: powers centered on what they do, usually specialized on relatively specific fields.
- Examples: Creation, Destruction and most Manipulations
- Mechanism: powers centered of the manipulation of immanent laws of reality.
- Source: powers centered on its origin (usually supernatural) allowing a variety of applications.
- Examples: Magic, Supernatural Dominion, Divinity, Lordship abilities
- Unfathomable: powers without actual cause/mechanism, defined as beyond understanding.
- Examples: Logic Manipulation, Metapotence, Author Authority
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.
- Power Augmentation
- Self-Power Augmentation
- Power Bestowal
- Power Negation
- Power Erasure
- Power Replication
- Power Absorption
- Power Detection
- Power Randomization
- Powers Via Object
- Affinity/Aversion
- Superpower Manipulation
Personal Physical Powers
Powers which affect an individual's body.
General
- Regenerative Healing Factor
- Adoptive Muscle Memory
- Body Part Substitution
- Anatomical Liberation
- Additional Limbs
- Organic Constructs
- Deflection
- Replication
- Invisibility
- Matter Ingestion
- Amalgamation
- Wallcrawling
- Invulnerability
- Mobile Invulnerability
- Needle Projection
- Immobility
- Camouflage
- Bone Manipulation
- Self-Detonation
- Jet Propulsion
- Helicopter Propulsion
- Cyclone Spinning
- Prehensile Hair
- Prehensile Tail
- Prehensile Tongue
- Nail Manipulation
- Sharp Tail
- Fang Retraction
- Spike Protrusion
- Structure Weakening
- Tentacle Extension
- Claw Retraction
- Vampire Physiology
- Fat Manipulation
- Muscle Manipulation
Emission
- Fire Generation
- Dust Generation
- Fog Generation
- Goo Generation
- Heat Generation
- Poison Generation
- Web Generation
- Acid Generation
- Water Generation
- Bubble Generation
- Ink Generation
- Ash Generation
- Smoke Generation
- Stench Generation
- Miasma Emission
- Oil Generation
- Pheromone Manipulation
- Sonic Scream
- Echolocation
- Enhanced Breath
- Fire Breath
- Scald Generation
Adaptation
- Vacuum Adaptation
- Atmospheric Adaptation
- Environmental Adaptation
- Aquatic Breathing
- Self-Sustenance
- Reactive Adaptation
- Poison Immunity
- Thermal Resistance
- Tracking Evasion
Enhanced Physical Skills
- Enhanced Strength
- Enhanced Condition
- Enhanced Combat
- Enhanced Agility
- Enhanced Leap
- Enhanced Durability
- Enhanced Stamina
- Enhanced Dexterity
- Enhanced Reflexes
- Enhanced Flexibility
- Enhanced Lung Capacity
- Enhanced Senses
- Enhanced Accuracy
- Enhanced Swordsmanship
- Enhanced Crafting
- Enhanced Visibility
- Enhanced Thievery
- Powerful Bite
Supernatural Physical Skills
- Supernatural Strength
- Supernatural Condition
- Supernatural Combat
- Supernatural Agility
- Supernatural Leap
- Supernatural Durability
- Supernatural Stamina
- Supernatural Dexterity
- Supernatural Reflexes
- Supernatural Flexibility
- Supernatural Senses
- Supernatural Accuracy
- 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
- Intuitive Aptitude
- Omnilingualism
- Botanical Communication
- Cyber Communication
- Extraterrestrial Communication
- Faunal Communication
- Fungal Communication
- Ecological Empathy
- Enhanced Intelligence
- Enhanced Wits
- Psychic Navigation
- Eidetic Memory
- Knowledge Replication
- Psychic Shield
- Technopathy
- Feral Mind
- Dual Mind
- 4th Wall Awareness
- Mentifery
- Omniscience
ESP
The abilities of extra-sensory perception (ESP) and communication.
- Astral Projection
- Mental Projection
- Dimensional Awareness
- Empathy
- Mediumship
- Psychometry
- Telepathy
- Precognition
- Extrasensory Perception
- Claircognizance
- Retrocognition
- Danger Intuition
- Clairvoyance
- Mendacity Detection
- Offspring Detection
Physical or Mental Domination
Powers that can control the will of others.
- Astral Trapping
- Hypnosis
- Memory Manipulation
- Mental Manipulation
- Emotion Manipulation
- Mind Control
- Persuasion
- Possession
- Psionic Inundation
- Psionic Projection
- Mindscape Transportation
- Dream Manipulation
- Fear Inducement
- Yin & Yang Shift
- Furtive Assimilation
- Neurocognitive Deficit
- Psionic Equilibrium Distortion
- Siren Song
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
- Intangibility
- Self-Spawn
- Animation
- Disintegration
- Melting
- Dehydration
- Petrification
- Deoxygenation
- Induced Healing
- Physical Restoration
- Induced Sedation
- Induced Paralysis
- Death Inducement
- Mind Exchange
- Emotion Manipulation
- Cloaking
- Activation & Deactivation
- Access and Occlusion
- Dimensional Storage
- Psionic Imprinting
- Life-Force Absorption
Fundamental Forces
- Telekinesis
- Physics Manipulation
- Light Manipulation
- Darkness Manipulation
- Nothingness Manipulation
- Density Control
- Mass Manipulation
- Weight Manipulation
- Elemental Transmutation
- Gravitational Manipulation
- Pressure Manipulation
- Magnetism Manipulation
- Molecular Manipulation
- Solar Manipulation
- Cosmic Manipulation
- Lunar Manipulation
- Aura Manipulation
- Probability Manipulation
- Reality Warping
- Sound Manipulation
- Temporal Manipulation
- Spatial Manipulation
- Biological Manipulation
- Age Manipulation
- Corpse Manipulation
- Nerve Manipulation
- Jactitation
- Fundamental Forces Manipulation
Other
- Literary Manipulation
- Mirror Manipulation
- Ink Manipulation
- Oil Manipulation
- Season Manipulation
- Circadian Control
- Vector Manipulation
Classical Elements
Ability to control or manipulate the elements.
- Air Manipulation
- Earth Manipulation
- Fire Manipulation
- Water Manipulation
- Ice Manipulation
- Electricity Manipulation
- Electromagnetic Manipulation
- Plant Manipulation (not a element but is considered as one in various other fictional universes)
- Animal Manipulation
- Weather Manipulation
- Dust Manipulation
- Ash 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.
- Energy Absorption
- Energy Emission
- Concussion Beams
- Microwave Emission
- Vibration Emission
- Volatile Constructs
- Light Generation
- Life-Force Manipulation
- Radiation Manipulation
- Kinetic-Energy Manipulation
- Energy Conversion
- Energy Constructs
- Force-Field Generation
- Induced Combustion
- Energy Negation
Transportation or Travel
Powers that involve changing location of oneself or others.
- Dimensional Transportation
- Electrical Transportation
- Portal Creation
- Summoning
- Beacon Emission
- Super Speed
- Teleportation
- Time Travel
- Escape Artistry
- Burrowing
- Speed Swimming
- Cosmic Teleportation
- 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.
- Self-Detonation
- Self-Ability Bestowal
- Self-Disintegration
- Self-Molecular Manipulation
- Self-Sustenance
- Supernatural Self-Preservation
- Self-Spawn
- Self-Existence
- Self-Immortality
- Self Origin Manipulation
- Higher Consciousness
- Self-Transcendence
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.
- Shapeshifting
- Malleable Anatomy
- Animal Morphing
- Size Manipulation
- Age Shifting
- Elasticity
- Air Mimicry
- Water Mimicry
- Dermal Armor
- Bionic Physiology
- Monster Physiology
- Reactive Adaptation
- Power Replication
Elemental Mimicry
- Darkness Mimicry
- Metal Mimicry
- Inorganic Mimicry
- Fire Mimicry
- Magma Mimicry
- Air 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
- Avian Physiology
- Arachnid Physiology
- Insect Physiology
- Fish Physiology
- Amphibian Physiology
- Cephalopod Physiology
- Cnidarian Physiology
- Crustacean Physiology
- Echinoderm Physiology
- Parasite Physiology
- Reptilian Physiology
- Mammalian Physiology
- Canine Physiology
- Feline Physiology
- Pro-Simian Mimicry
- Bat Physiology
- Ursine Physiology
- Giraffe Physiology
- Camelid Physiology
- Rhinoceros Physiology
- Elephant Physiology
- Equid Physiology
- Lagomorph Physiology
- Cervid Physiology
- Rodent Physiology
- Cetacean Physiology
- Bovine Physiology
- Hyena Physiology
- Marsupial Physiology
- Pinniped Physiology
- Primate Physiology
- Sirenia Physiology
- Xenarthra Physiology
- Monotreme Physiology
- Mongoose Physiology
- Viverrid Mimicry
- Procyonid Physiology
- Plant Mimicry
- Wood Mimicry
- Floral Mimicry
- Fructo Mimicry
- Fungal Mimicry
- Unicellular Mimicry
- Mythic Physiology
- Alien Physiology
- Angel Physiology
- Fairy Physiology
- Demon Physiology
- Ghost Physiology
- Vampire Physiology
- Werewolf Physiology
- Gorgon Physiology
- Phoenix Physiology
- Kitsune Physiology
- Raiju Physiology
- Thunderbird Physiology
- Unicorn Physiology
- Troll Physiology
- Pegasus Physiology
- Griffin Physiology
- Naga Physiology
- Genie Physiology
- Wendigo Physiology
- Minotaur Physiology
- Oni Physiology
- Tengu Physiology
- Monster Physiology
- Nephilim Physiology
- Elf Physiology
- Bakeneko Physiology
- Grim Reaper Physiology
- Merfolk Physiology
- Gargoyle Physiology
- Succubus Physiology
- Undead Physiology
- Spirit Physiology
- Giant Physiology
- Sasquatch Physiology
- Transcendent Physiology
- Hellhound Physiology
- Transcendent Physiology
- Cthulhu Mythos Deity Physiology
- Cosmic Entity Physiology
- Mythic Physiology
- Aboriginal Deity Physiology
- African Deity Physiology
- Altaic Deity Physiology
- Armenian Deity Physiology
- Arab 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
- Chimerism
- Hybrid Soul
Other Mimicry
- Candy Mimicry
- Garbage Mimicry
- Flat Body
- Swamp Mimicry
- Spring Form
- Power Inheritance
- Computer Virus Physiology
- Bionic Physiology
- Storybook Mimicry
- Empathic Mimicry
Divine
Powers that are deemed extremely all-powerful.
- Immortality
- Creation
- Cosmic Telepathy
- Omniscience
- Omnipresence
- Omnipotence
- Omnilock
- Magic
- Alchemy
- Art Magic
- Astrology
- Chaos Magic
- Creation Magic
- Dark Arts
- Destruction Magic
- Divination
- Druidic Magic
- Elemental Magic
- Healing
- Illusionary Magic
- Life Magic
- Mysticism
- Occultism
- Necromancy
- Shamanism
- Spell Casting
- Theurgy
- Transmutation
- Voodoo
- White Arts
- Craft Magic
- Bardic Magic
- Sorcery
- Gnosticism
- Ceremonialism
- Ritualism
- Witchcraft
- Witchery
- Wizardry
- Cures
- Charms
- Hexes
- Jinxes
- Tantra
- Thaumaturgy
- Universal Irreversibility
- Plasma Manipulation
- Spatial Manipulation
- Spatial-Temporal Lock
- Dark Matter Manipulation
- Antimatter Manipulation
- Alchemy
- Complete Arsenal
- Chaos Manipulation
- Enigma Force
- Evolution
- Hell-Fire Manipulation
- Infinite Supply
- Life-Force Manipulation
- Logic Manipulation
- Matter Manipulation
- Molecular Manipulation
- Power Mixture
- Order Manipulation
- Paradox Inducement
- Pathifery
- Physics Manipulation
- Mathematics Manipulation
- Quantum Manipulation
- Summoning
- Superpower Manipulation
- Terrain Manipulation
- Existential Plane Manipulation
- Twilight Manipulation
- Vocifery