Reactive Adaptation

The ability to develop adaptations, powers, or skills in response to immediate threats.

Also Called

• Instant Adaptation
• Instant Evolution
• Nemesis
• Reactive Evolution
• Spontaneous Adaptation

Capabilities

Users can either instantly develop powers or abilities to deal with threats or their bodies dynamically learn from experience. Depending on the user's control of the power or genetic structure, the reactive effects can be permanent or temporary.

For example, after a certain situation, the user's skin may become tougher. They may display increased IQ after a difficult test or fortified emotions after a personal argument. The user may be able to read different languages after moments of looking them up or be able to withstand a constant bombardment of radiation. Some users may develop Enhanced Speed after being shot, or grow Dermal Armor, or gain the opposite power of their opponent.

In some instances, a magical object may express similar powers.

Applications

• Adaptive Appearance
• Adaptive Augmentation
• Limitation Transcendence
• Power Opposition/Meta Power Opposition
• Reactive Invulnerability
• Reactionary Immunity
• Reactionary Replication
• Skill Adaptation

Variations

• Adaptive Attacks: The users' attacks/techniques are capable of adapting.
• Biological Manipulation: Users reactively enhance their bodies in multiple ways usually encompassing one of the personal enhancements.
• Damage Memorization: Users memorize the damage their bodies take, thus rendering themselves immune to the same attack or move twice.
• Dermal Adaptation: Users reactively change the texture, color, and density of their skin to suit the situation.
• Environmental Adaptation: Users reactively alter or shift their bodies in order to survive in their surroundings.
• Mental Manipulation: Users reactively alter their own minds and control their positive or negative effects, perhaps even turning on other Mental Abilities.
• Reactive Attribute Enhancement: Users reactively develop enhancements for situations, combat or tasks.
• Self-Adaptive Power: Users abilities are able to adapt themselves.
• Situational Strength: User is literally as powerful as they need to be at any given moment.
• Society Adaptation: Adapt to different societies.
• Strategy Adaptation: User can adapt to different strategies and tricks.
• Superior Adaptation: Adapt anything and everything.

Examples

• Aquatic Respiration after being submerged in water.
• Atmospheric Adaptation to changing gases.
• Damage Memorization to render oneself immune to certain types of attacks, such as limb severing.
• Elasticity to fit through small openings.
• Enhanced Durability before being hit by a semi.
• Enhanced Intelligence in against mentally incomprehensible threats.
• Enhanced Strength when being attacked by foes of great numbers.
• Fire Immunity when exposed to flames.
• Flight when falling off of a cliff.
• Night Vision after being in the dark for a few seconds.
• Omnilingualism when attempting to read or listening to a different language.
• Teleportation if confronted by a force much stronger than oneself.
• Being able to survive without oxygen and being able to withstand the vacuum of space.
• Becoming pure energy.

Associations

• Adaptation Manipulation
• Adaptive Armor
• Adaptive Regeneration
• Adaptive Shield Construction
• Adaptive Weaponry
• Immortality
• Invulnerability
• Shapeshifting
• May eventually grow into Evolution allowing users to add more and more adaptations to their form. This ability may allow users to learn nearly any other enhancement including Regenerative Healing Factor, Enhanced Speed, or Enhanced Intelligence.
• If combined with Self-Resurrection, one may gain Adaptive Resurrection.
• If combined with Precognition, one may gain Preemptive Adaptation.

Limitations

• Adaptations may only be temporary.
• Users may or may not be able to control adaptations.
• New adaptations may grow naturally or be produced as a monstrosity.
• Usually dependent upon a direct threat to the person, resulting in responsive action.
• Learning some adaptations may negate other adaptations (e.g. learning to breathe water may prevent breathing air).
• Some adaptations may be in conjunction with weaknesses.
• Some threats are impossible to adapt to.
• Some reactions may have a delayed response.
• Certain hidden threats may not be reacted to.

Known Users

Gallery

Valeria (Ángel o Demonio) as a Malak, can only use this power when she needs to.

Amazo (DC Comics)

Doomsday's (DC Comics) body can adapt to the immediate damage it takes from opponents.

The OMACs (DC Comics) all have special countermeasures to battle different metahumans.

Amazo (DCAU) after adapting to be able to effectively combat the entire Justice League.

Cyborg's (DC Extended Universe) body is in a constant state of self-modification...

...leading to him developing new abilities such as Flight.

As a Saiyan, Gohan (Dragon Ball) possesses the Zenkai ability, allowing him to continually increase his performance against adversity, either by recovering from a near death experience, or by fighting a strong opponent.

Hit's (Dragon Ball Super) Pure Progress ability allows him to adapt when faced with a foe he cannot overcome.

The Meta-Coolers (Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler) rapidly repair any and all bodily damage, and any flaws that allowed said damage are corrected, rendering them unable to be harmed the same way twice.

The more Goku (Dragon Ball) fights, the stronger, faster and sharper he gets via Ultra Instinct Mode.

Sachiel (Evangelion) displays the ability to learn and upgrade on the battlefield.

The Omnidroids (The Incredibles) can adapt to their opponents' tactics and powers.

"Shirley" (The Jimmy Timmy Power Hour) can adapt to any situation that his circuitry deems negative...

...which he demonstrates by adapting special bracelets to deflect laser fire.

Darwin (Marvel Comics) adapting to survive in the vacuum of space.

Endgame (Marvel Comics) personality of Legion, can adapt by changing its physical composition...

... for example to Magneto's powers.

Depending on his anger levels, the Hulk (Marvel Comics) can adapt to survive various environments, such as the vacuum of space...

...and under water.

Ultimate Wolverine (Marvel Comics) has some degree of adaptation, gaining the power to breathe through his skin after his head was severed from his body, and his brain going into stasis when his head was placed in an airless room.

Lifeguard (Marvel Comics)

SCP-682 (SCP-Foundation)

Emerl (Sonic the Hedgehog)

The Footbots (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2012) can learn from and quickly adapt to their foes' own martial arts moves and combat techniques in a matter of seconds, enabling them to quickly overwhelm an unsuspecting enemy.

Allen the Alien (Image Comics)

Anubis (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure)

E.V.E. (Archie's Sonic the Hedgehog)

Every time Priscilla (Claymore) is injured, she can adapt and regenerate to gain a more powerful body.

After becoming the Ultimate Life Form, Kars (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure) can adapt his body to various conditions...

...such as submersion in lava...

...and the vacuum of space.

Gamera (Gamera) can manipulate his own genetic structure to adapt to his environments...

...his appearance changing as his body evolves for combat.

During his battle with the Nanochip Queen, Nanomech (Ben 10) adapts to acquire energy tentacles.

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