- "I have seen the night torn into thin darkling strips and woven into shapes too bleak for dreams."
- ― Crovax (Strands of Night, Magic: The Gathering)
- "The shadows betray you, because they already belong to me!"
- ― Bane (The Dark Knight Rises)
- "It shall begin soon... Darkness will pour forth from the doors of hell... a darkness to swallow all the world's light."
- ― Mard Geer Tartaros (Fairy Tail)
- "What's the matter!? Afraid of the dark!?"
- ― Raven (Teen Titans)
The power to manipulate darkness/shadows. Opposite to Light Manipulation.
Also Called
- Blackness Control/Manipulation
- Darkness/Shadow Element Control
- Darkness Control
- Erebokinesis
- Obtenebration
- Shadow Bending/Control/Manipulation
- Umbrakinesis
- Umbragenesis
Capabilities
User can create, shape and manipulate darkness and shadows. By itself, darkness is mostly used to cloud everything into total darkness, but by accessing a dimension of dark energy it can be channeled to a variety of effects, both as an absence of light and a solid substance: one can also control and manipulate the beings that exist there, create and dispel shields and areas of total darkness, create constructs and weapons, teleport one's self through massive distances via shadows, etc.
Applications
- Animated Shadow
- Create/generate darkness/shadow.
- Darkness Adaptation
- Darkness Attacks
- Darkness Solidification
- Create Tentacles/tendrils, chains and/or threads to attack or bind.
- Umbrakinetic Constructs
- Manipulate the properties of darkness/shadows.
- Move/lift darkness/shadows.
- Shadow Erasure
- Shadow Marionette
Techniques
- Dark Portal Creation/Umbrageous Teleportation using darkness/shadow by understanding the fundamental connection all shadows/darkness share.
- Dimensional Storage to store stuff into darkness/shadow.
- Dimensional Travel to enter their own pocket dimensional darkness/shadow.
- Darkness Aura
- Darkness Empowerment
- Darkness Healing
- Darkness Transmutation
- Shadow Mimicry
- Shadow Mutilation
- Shadow Stealth
- Shadow Swimming
- Umbrakinetic Combat
- Umbrakinetic Regeneration
Variations
- Dark Energy Manipulation
- Dark World Manipulation
- Diabolic Darkness Manipulation
- Conceptual Darkness Manipulation
- Esoteric Darkness Manipulation
- Grim Darkness Manipulation
- Life Darkness Manipulation
- Primordial Darkness Manipulation
- Psychic Darkness Manipulation
- Pure Darkness Manipulation
- Sacred Darkness Manipulation
- Spiritual Darkness Manipulation
- Shadow Magic
Associations
- Cosmic Space Manipulation
- Dark Element Manipulation by tapping into the dark aspect of the elements.
- Dark Form
- Darkness Embodiment
- Darkside View by manipulating the dark corners of one's mind and soul.
- Mental Manipulation by learning to control dark corners of mind and soul.
- Death Shadow
- Fear Inducement - Fear is often associated with darkness.
- Freezing as darkness is absence of light, so cold is the absence of heat.
- Ink Manipulation - black ink.
- Gravity Manipulation by using darkness in a way that it gains the power of a Black Hole.
- If user also has Light Manipulation, they could learn Twilight Manipulation.
- Light-Darkness Manipulation
- Lunar Manipulation
- Night Embodiment
- Twilight Manipulation when combined with Light Manipulation.
- Umbrakinetic Immunity
Limitations
- May be unable to create darkness/shadow, being limited to manipulating only from already existing sources.
- May have to be in sync with darkness, whether their own or the source of their power.
- May become affected/corrupted through extended exposure.
- Distance, mass, precision, etc. depend upon of the knowledge, skill, and strength of the user, and their power's natural limits.
- Light Manipulation and Light Generation are especially effective against this power.
- As shadow is a dark area produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface, light may strengthen shadow magic or may even be a requirement in some universes.
- Umbrakinetic Immunity.
Known Users
See Also: Casting a Shadow.
Darkness
Comics
- Darklight (DC Comics)
- The Shade (DC Comics)
- Cloak (Marvel Comics)
- Gorr the God Butcher (Marvel Comics)
- Jordan Lewis (Marvel Comics)
- Dark Neo the Hedgehog (The Inseparable Friends)
- Fay (Lettix Club)
- Sophia (Lettix Club)
- Elina (Lettix Club)
- Maya (Lettix Club)
- Mara (Lettix Club)
Literature
- Ungoliant (The Silmarillion)
- Thantos (Twitches)
- The Darkling/Aleksander Morozova (The Grisha Triology)
- Moonchild (Wild Cards)
- Brian Laborn/Grue (Worm)
Manga/Anime
- The Dark (Cardcaptor Sakura)
- Koichi Kimura (Digimon Frontier); via Spirits of Darkness
- Brain/Zero (Fairy Tail)
- Jellal Fernandes (Fairy Tail)
- Jose Porla (Fairy Tail)
- Simon (Fairy Tail)
- Macbeth (Fairy Tail)
- Freed Justine (Fairy Tail)
- Mirajane Strauss (Fairy Tail); via Satan Soul
- Izraf (Nanatsu no Taizai)
- Demon Clan (Nanatsu no Taizai)
- Ajimu Najimi (Medaka Box); Via Dark Elbow (Magic Skill)
- Marshall D. Teach (One Piece); via the Yami Yami no Mi
- Abzu (Saint Seiya Omega)
- Pisces Amor (Saint Seiya Omega)
- Pegasus Kouga (Saint Seiya Omega)
- Mars (Saint Seiya Omega)
- Hornet Sonia (Saint Seiya Omega)
- Rood Chrishi (Black Haze)
- Beatrice (Re: Zero)
- Alucard (Hellsing)
Folklore/Mythology
- Satan/Lucifer (Christianity)
Video Games
- Mr. Scratch (Alan Wake)
- The Shadow (Amnesia: Dark Descent)
- Malefor (Skylanders)
- The Darkness (Skylanders)
- Dark Skylanders (Skylanders)
- Ragna the Bloodedge (BlazBlue)
- Oryx (Destiny)
- Duskmon (Digimon)
- JagerLoweemon (Digimon)
- Loweemon (Digimon)
- Velgemon (Digimon)
- Nero the Sable (Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII)
- Cloud of Darkness (Final Fantasy III/Dissidia)
- Henry (Fire Emblem Awakening)
- Ansem, Seeker of Darkness (Kingdom Hearts)
- Riku (Kingdom Hearts)
- Terra (Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep)
- Vanitas (Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep)
- Master Xehanort (Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep)
- Ganondorf (Legend of Zelda)
- Sho Minazuki (Persona 4 Arena Ultimax)
- Dark Gaia (Sonic the Hedgehog)
- Mephiles the Dark (Sonic the Hedgehog)
- Rumia (Touhou Project)
- Dark Mystic (Valkyrie Crusade)
- Polar Night (Valkyrie Crusade)
- Maxwell (Don't Starve); via Codex Umbra
Cartoons
- Users of the Spell of Absolute Darkness (Kaijudo: Rise/Clash of the Duel Masters)
- Vaatu (The Legend of Korra)
- Nightingale (Static Shock)
- Darcy (Winx Club)
- Black Velvet (Loonatics Unleashed)
Web Animation
- Kage (TF2 Freak)
- Dr. Robograden (TF2 Freak)
Shadow
Comics/Webcomics
- Analay (Avatar Comic - New Recruits)
- Trigon (DC Comics)
- Raven (DC Comics); New 52
- Obsidian (DC Comics)
- Shadow Walker (DC Comics)
- Mandarin (Marvel Comics)
- Reflejo (Tower of God)
Films
- Jadoo (Krrish series)
- Dr. Facilier (The Princess and the Frog)
Literature
- Mrs. O'Leary (Percy Jackson and The Olympians)
- Nico di Angelo (Percy Jackson and The Olympians)
- Hades (Percy Jackson and The Olympians)
- Necromancers (Skulduggery Pleasant)
- Shadowbinders (A Song of Ice and Fire)
Live Action TV
- Woogyman (Charmed)
- Vashta Nerada (Doctor Who)
Manga/Anime
- The Shadow (Cardcaptor Sakura)
- Rui Hachiouji (Code: Breaker)
- Saechika Hachiouji (Code: Breaker)
- Kurumi Tokisaki (Date a Live)
- Rogue Cheney (Fairy Tail)
- Kageyama (Fairy Tail)
- Shade (Fairy Tail)
- Father (Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood)
- Pride (Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood)
- Ajimu Najimi (Medaka Box); Via Shadow Step
- Nara Clan (Naruto)
- Gekko Moriah (One Piece) via the Kage Kage no Mi
- Yuzuki Mikage (Jigoku Shoujo: Mitsuganae)
- Nagi Arisuin (Rakudai Kishi No Eiyuutan)
- Makora (Samurai Deeper Kyo)
- Sir Isaac Ray Pelham Westcott (Date A Live)
- Beatrice (Re: Zero)
- Betelguese Romanee-Conti (Re: Zero)
- Natsuki Subaru (Re: Zero)
- Tokoyami (My Hero Academia)
Video Games
- Dawn (Contrast)
- Anna Schwagerin (Dies Irae)
- Zato-1 (Guilty Gear); Via Forbidden Beast, Eddie
- Zor (Sonic The Hedgehog)
- Shadow (Valkyrie Crusade)
- Shadow Magician (Valkyrie Crusade)
- Zed (League of Legends)
Cartoons
- Farabu the Caretaker (Aladdin: the Animated Series)
- Mirage (Aladdin: The Animated Series)
- The Makuta species (Bionicle)
- Shadow Matoran (Bionicle)
- Takanuva (temporarily) (Bionicle)
- Fang (BoboiBoy)
- Lord Garmadon (Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu)
- Shade (Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu)
- The Miller sisters (Moonbeam City)
- Pizzaz Miller
- King Sombra (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic)
- Stygian/Pony of Shadows (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic)
- Ebon (Static Shock)
Both
Cartoons
- Bill Cipher (Gravity Falls)
- Toa of Shadow (BIONICLE)
- The Overlord (Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu)
- Unicron (Transformers)
- Lord Darkar (Winx Club)
Comics
- The Darkness (Top Cow/Image Comics)
- Jackie Estacado (Top Cow/Image Comics)
Films
- Pitch Black/The Boogeyman (Rise of the Guardians)
- The Rider/The Dark (The Seeker)
Folklore/Mythology
- Erebus (Greek Mythology)
- Nyx/Nox (Greco-Roman Mythology)
- Hades/Pluto (Greco-Roman Mythology)
Literature
- Children of Hades (Percy Jackson and The Olympians/Heroes of Olympus)
- Bianca di Angelo
- Nico di Angelo
- Nightwielder (The Reckoners)
- Necromancers (Skulduggery Pleasant)
- Valkyrie Cain
- Lord Vile/Skulduggery Pleasant
- Solomon Wreath
- Shaidar Haran (The Wheel of Time)
- Cynthia Andrews (The Young Guardians)
- Grace McKnight (The Eidolon Saga)
Live Action TV
- Phoebe Frady (Heroes Reborn: Dark Matters)
- Some Chromatics (Mutant X)
Manga/Anime
- Darkus Bakugan (Bakugan)
- Fumikage Tokoyami (My Hero Academia)
- Ai Enma (Hell Girl)
- Alucard (Hellsing/Hellsing Ultimate)
- Ajimu Najimi (Medaka Box); Via Dark Elbow And Shadow Step
- Zaruchim and Raushin Mo (Zatch Bell!)
Video Games
- Wilfre (Drawn to Life)
- Arlon the Serene (Kid Icarus Uprising)
- Hades (Kid Icarus Uprising)
- Medusa (Kid Icarus Uprising)
- Pandora (Kid Icarus Uprising)
- Noob Saibot (Mortal Kombat)
- Most Dark-type Pokémon (Pokémon)
- Pandora (Valkyrie Crusade)
- Nox (Smite)
- Zed (League of Legends)
- Emily Kaldwin (Dishonored 2); via Shadow Walk, Doppelgänger and Far Reach.
Known Objects
- Night Reflection (Highschool DxD)
- Beelzebub (Date A Live)
- The Kanohi Kraahkan (BIONICLE); the Great Mask of Shadows
- Kage Kage no Mi (One Piece)
- Yami Yami no Mi (One Piece)
Gallery
Comics
Todd Rice/Obsidian (DC Comics) can manipulate shadows and darkness to his will.
Shadow Walker (DC Comics) can create and manipulate darkness.
Jackie Estacado (Top Cow/Image Comics) wearing The Darkness as armor.
Literature
Ungoliant (Tolkien) the Gloomweaver.
Manga/Anime
The Dark Card (Cardcaptor Sakura)
The Shadow Card (Cardcaptor Sakura)
Rui Hachiouji (Code: Breaker) can manipulate her shadow.
Saechika Hachiouji (Code: Breaker) can manipulate his shadow.
Rogue Cheney (Fairy Tail) the Shadow Dragon Slayer.
Mirajane (Fairy Tail) is a powerful user of this ability.
Zero (Fairy Tail) is a master of Darkness magic.
Pride (Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood) controls dark like constructs.
Shikamaru Nara (Naruto) uses the Shadow Sewing Technique to bind his opponents with materialized shadows.
Gekko Moriah (One Piece) can manipulate shadows (including his own) in a variety of ways via the Kage Kage no Mi
Having eaten the Yami Yami no Mi, Marshall D. Teach/Blackbeard (One Piece) can control darkness, giving to control gravity, create pocket dimensions, nullify one's power, and absorb the area around him.
Makora's (Samurai Deeper Kyo) Shadow Techniques are manipulating dimensional energy to create pockets of space for a variety of feats.
Television
Phoebe Frady (Heroes: Reborn) using this power to play with her shadow ...
... and to create some kind of black hole.
Video Games
Cloud of Darkness (Final Fantasy III/Dissidia)
Zato-1 (Guilty Gear) can manipulate his own shadow Eddie, a Forbidden Beast.
Dark Gaia (Sonic the Hedgehog) is the incarnation of darkness, night and destruction. As such, it possesses power over darkness and dark energy on a global scale, able to create an army of supernatural monsters and cover the world in darkness.
Mephiles the Dark (Sonic the Hedgehog) is the malevolent conscience, mind, and will of the sun god Solaris. Being composed of living dark power, he is able absorb anyone's shadow's, use darkness create an army of clones and manipulate the area around him, and control dark energy forces.
Zor (Sonic the Hedgehog) is a Zeti that control dark forbidden powers, able to cover an area in darkness and create minions and clones of shadows.
Dark Mystic (Valkyrie Crusade)
Pandora (Valkyrie Crusade) the goddess of calamity,darkness and disorder.
Polar Night (Valkyrie Crusade) the maiden of eternal darkness.
Shadow (Valkyrie Crusade)
Shadow Magician (Valkyrie Crusade)
Cartoons
Chirox (BIONICLE) creating a giant fist out of shadow energy.
Stygian/The Pony of Shadows (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic) is known for this power.
Teridax (BIONICLE) uses his shadow powers to take over the island of Metru Nui.
Lord Garmadon (Lego Ninjago), Lord of the Underworld and Darkness.
When angry enough, Pizzaz Miller (Moonbeam City) inexplicably forms shadows of Venetian blinds across her face, despite being in a room without blinds.
Darcy (Winx Club) is able to control darkness, illusions, etc.