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 known to be 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 :
- Function : powers centered on what they do, usually specialized on relatively specific fields.
- Examples : Creation, Destruction and most Manipulations
- Source : powers centered on its origin (usually supernatural) allowing a variety of applications.
- Examples : Magic, Supernatural Dominion, Lordship abilities
- Mechanism : powers centered of the manipulation of immanent laws of reality.
- Examples : Physics Manipulation, Virtual Warping, Causality Manipulation
- Concept : powers centered on an idea, allowing essentially any effect related to it.
- Examples : Boundary Manipulation, Subjective Reality, Absolute Existence
- 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 Manipulation
- Power Augmentation
- Power Bestowal
- Power Negation
- Power Erasure
- Power Morphing
- Power Replication
- Power Absorption
- Power Detection
- Power Randomization
- Powers Via Object
- Affinity/Aversion
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
- Duplication
- Invisibility
- Matter Ingestion
- Amalgamation
- Wallcrawling
- Invulnerability
- Mobile Invulnerability
- Immobility
- Dynamic Camouflage
- Bone Protrusion
- Self-Detonation
- Jet Propulsion
- Helicopter Propulsion
- Cyclone Spinning
- Prehensile Hair
- Prehensile Tongue
- Prehensile Nail
- Structure Weakening
- Claw Retraction
- Vampirism
- Fat Manipulation
- Muscle Manipulation
Emission
- Poison Generation
- Acid Generation
- Water Generation
- Bubble Generation
- Ink Generation
- Ash Generation
- Smoke Generation
- Stench Generation
- Miasma Emission
- Oil Secretion
- Pheromone Manipulation
- Sonic Scream
- Echolocation
- Hyper Breath
- Pyric Exhalation
- Scald Generation
Adaptation
- Vacuum Adaptation
- Atmospheric Adaptation
- Environmental Adaptation
- Aquatic Respiration
- Self-Sustenance
- Reactive Adaptation
- Poison Immunity
- Thermal Resistance
- Tracking Evasion
Enhanced Physical Skills
- Enhanced Strength
- Enhanced Condition
- Innate Combat
- Enhanced Agility
- Enhanced Jumping Skills
- Enhanced Jaw Strength
- Enhanced Durability
- Enhanced Dexterity
- Enhanced Reflexes
- Enhanced Flexibility
- Enhanced Lung Capacity
- Enhanced Senses
- Enhanced Marksmanship
- Enhanced Swordsmanship
- Enhanced Craftsmanship
- Enhanced Visibility
- Enhanced Thievery
Vision Faculty
- Enhanced Vision
- Night Vision
- Infrared Vision
- Ultraviolet Vision
- X-Ray Vision
- 360-Degree Vision
- Telescopic Vision
- Microscopic Vision
- Atomic Vision
- Heat Vision
- Astral Vision
- Aura Vision
- Chemo Vision
- Emotion Vision
- Energy Vision
- Multiple Vision
- Life Vision
- Microscopic Vision
- Probability Vision
- Death Vision
- Supercolor Vision
Mentality-based Powers
Powers which affect an individual's mind.
General
- Intuitive Aptitude
- Omnilingualism
- Faunal Communication
- Cyber Communication
- Extraterrestrial Communication
- Plant Communication
- Fungal Communication
- Ecological Empathy
- Enhanced Intelligence
- Psychic Navigation
- Ancestor Evocation
- Eidetic Memory
- Knowledge Replication
- Perspicuity
- Technopathy
- Feral Mind
- Dual Mind
- 4th Wall Awareness
ESP
The abilities of extra-sensory perception (ESP) and communication.
- Astral Projection
- Mental Projection
- Dimensional Awareness
- Empathy
- Mediumship
- Psychometry
- Telepathy
- Precognition
- Oneiromancy
- Premonition
- Astrological Divination
- Numerology
- Abacomancy
- Extrasensory Perception
- Claircognizance
- Retrocognition
- Danger Intuition
- Clairvoyance
- Mendacity Detection
- Offspring Detection
Physical or Mental Domination
Powers that can control the will of others.
- Astral Imprisonment
- Memory Manipulation
- Mental Manipulation
- Empathic Manipulation
- Mind Control
- Psychic Persuasion
- Possession
- Psionic Inundation
- Psionic Projection
- Mindscape Transportation
- Dream Manipulation
- Fear Inducement
- Yin & Yang Shift
- Furtive Assimilation
- Neurocognitive Deficit
- Psionic Equilibrium Distort
- 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
- Induced Ferity
- Cloaking
- Activation & Deactivation
- Access & Occlusion
- Dimensional Storage
- Psionic Imprinting
- Vitality 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
- Electric Manipulation
- Electromagnetic Manipulation
- Plant Manipulation
- 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.
- Concussion Beams
- Transitional Phasing Beam
- Microwave Emission
- Vibration Emission
- Volatile Constructs
- Pyrotechnic Plasma
- 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
Miscellaneous
The following powers could be manifested in any number of ways.
Flight
Ability to lift off the ground, to ride air currents or to fly self-propelled through the air.
Individualism
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
- 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.
Shapeshifting
Ability to change appearance or body structure.
- Shapeshifting
- Malleable Anatomy
- Animal Morphing
- Size Shifting
- Age Shifting
- Elasticity
- Sublimation
- Liquification
- Dermal Armor
- Bionic Physiology
- Monster Mutation
- Reactive Adaptation
- Power Replication
Mimicry
Elemental Mimicry
- Metal Mimicry
- Inorganic Mimicry
- Pyric Mimicry
- Magma Mimicry
- Self-Liquefaction
- Sublimation
- Sand Mimicry
- Ink Mimicry
- Substance Mimicry
- Clay Mimicry
- Slime Mimicry
- Smoke Mimicry
- Shadow Mimicry
- Electric Mimicry
- Crystal Mimicry
- Diamond Mimicry
- Paper Mimicry
- Digital Form
- Tachyon Mimicry
- EM Waves Mimicry
- Ice Mimicry
- Nova Mimicry
- Spatial Mimicry
- Artificially-Enhanced Mimicry
- Energy Mimicry
Organic Mimicry
- Animal Morphing
- Avian Mimicry
- Corvid Mimicry
- Strigiform Mimicry
- Psittaciforme Mimicry
- Arachnidan Mimicry
- Scorpion Mimicry
- Spider Mimicry
- Insect Mimicry
- Ichthyoid Mimicry
- Shark Mimicry
- Amphibian Mimicry
- Cephalopod Mimicry
- Cnidarian Mimicry
- Crustacean Mimicry
- Parasite Mimicry
- Reptilian Mimicry
- Turtle Mimicry
- Tortoise Mimicry
- Dinosaur Mimicry
- Pterosaur Mimicry
- Snake Mimicry
- Dragon Mimicry
- Mammal Mimicry
- Canine Mimicry
- Feline Mimicry
- Simian Mimicry
- Pro-Simian Mimicry
- Bat Mimicry
- Ursid Mimicry
- Giraffid Mimicry
- Camalid Mimicry
- Pachyderm Mimicry
- Elephantide Mimicry
- Equine Mimicry
- Leporid Mimicry
- Cervid Mimicry
- Rodent Mimicry
- Cetacean Mimicry
- Bovine Mimicry
- Hyena Mimicry
- Marsupial Mimicry
- Pinniped Mimicry
- Sirenia Mimicry
- Xenarthra Mimicry
- Monotreme Mimicry
- Herpestid Mimicry
- Viverrid Mimicry
- Procyonid Mimicry
- Avian Mimicry
- Plant Mimicry
- Wood Mimicry
- Floral Mimicry
- Fructo Mimicry
- Fungal Mimicry
- Cellular Mimicry
- Mythological Mimicry
- Alien Mimicry
- Deity Mimicry
- Angelic Mimicry
- Fairy Mimicry
- Demonic Mimicry
- Monster Mimicry
- Ghost Mimicry
- Zombie Mimicry
- Vampire Mimicry
- Werewolf Physiology
- Gorgon Mimicry
- Phoenix Mimicry
- Kitsune Mimicry
- Raiju Mimicry
- Thunderbird Mimicry
- Unicorn Mimicry
- Troll Mimicry
- Pegasus Mimicry
- Griffin Mimicry
- Satyroi Mimicry
- Naga Mimicry
- Genie Mimicry
- Wendigo Mimicry
- Minotaur Mimicry
- Oni Mimicry
- Tengu Mimicry
- Monster Mimicry
- Nephilim Mimicry
- Elven Mimicry
- Bakeneko Mimicry
- Grim Reaper Mimicry
- Merfolk Mimicry
- Gargoyle Mimicry
- Succubi Mimicry
- Undead Mimicry
- Spirit Mimicry
- Cyclops Mimicry
- Sasquatch Mimicry
- Divine Mimicry
- Hellhound Mimicry
- Transcendent Mimicry
- Cthulhu Mythos Deity Physiology
- Cosmic Entity Physiology
- Mythical Mimicry
- 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
- Hybridism
Other Mimicry
- Candy Mimicry
- Garbage Mimicry
- 2D Mimicry
- Swamp Mimicry
- Spring Mimicry
- Parental Mimicry
- Computer Virus Mimicry
- Bionic Mimicry
- Roboticization
- Storybook Mimicry
- Empathic Mimicry
Divine
Powers that are deemed all-powerful.
- Immortality
- Creation
- Omniscience
- Omnipresence
- Omnipotence
- Omnipathy
- Omnilock
- Magic
- Alchemy
- Astrology
- Chaos Magic
- Creation Magic
- Dark Arts
- Destruction Magic
- Divination
- Dowsing
- Druidic Magic
- Elemental Magic
- Enchanted Artistry
- Healing
- Illusion-Casting
- Life Magic
- Mysticism
- Necromancy
- Shamanism
- Spell Casting
- Transmogrification
- Wish Granting
- Voodoo
- Craft Magic
- Art Magic
- Bardic Magic
- Sorcery
- Occultism
- Gnosticism
- Ceremonialism
- Ritualism
- Witchcraft
- Witchery
- Wizardry
- Cures
- Charms
- Hexes
- Jinxes
- Tantra
- Theurgy
- Thaumaturgy
- Purification Capabilities
- Universal Irreversibility
- Plasma Manipulation
- Chronolock
- Spatial Manipulation
- 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
- Multi-Power
- Order Manipulation
- Paradox Inducement
- Pathifery
- Physics Manipulation
- Mathematics Manipulation
- Quantum Manipulation
- Summoning
- Superpower Manipulation
- Terrain Manipulation
- Twilight Force
- Twilight Manipulation
- Vocifery