Superpowers are superhuman and supernatural abilities employed and explored in many works of fiction.
Overview
Superpowers are defined as powers and abilities that are beyond humans and nature, entailing capabilities that are fantastical, paranormal, and extraordinary. Superpowers are extremely diverse and all-encompassing, from the mundane to the almighty, there is no limit for what superpowers are.
In pop culture and mainstream media, superpowers usually don't stray too far from what is called 'stock superpowers', essentially superpowers that are extremely prevalent in any supernatural setting. These include, but are not limited to,flight,inhuman physical strength,mind reading and control,telekinesis,manipulating natural elements,transforming into animals or beasts, and basicallyany form of energy-based attacks.
As mentioned above, there is no real limit to what superpowers are and can do. They have limitless applications which are fundamentally based on aspects of humanity and existence, from individualistic attributes such as advanced skills, extraordinary senses, and enhanced intelligence, to humanity's creations, the natural world and beyond. Such superpowers can range fromcontrolling buildings, tomastering the art of business making, toaltering fiction and reality as one pleases. Superpowers are not solely based on abilities, any can include supernatural physical qualities and appearances, such asTiger Physiology andMetal Mimicry.
Some are more concrete and natural (i.e.Urban Manipulation,Wood Manipulation), some are more intrinsic and conceptual (i.e.Axiom Manipulation,Dimensional Manipulation). Some are more action-based (i.e.Attack Powers,Bullet Hell), some are more 'slice of life'-like (i.e.Charm Mode,Musical Mastery). Some are related to real life creatures (i.e.Dermal Armor,Claw Retraction), some are totally eldritch and alien (i.e.Organic Abomination,Alien Mind). Some are more scientific (i.e.Nano-Active Blood,Scalar Wave Manipulation), some are more fantastical (i.e.Will-O'-The-Wisp Physiology,Sands of Time Manipulation). Some are centered on a single object or theme (i.e.Door Manipulation,Martial Arts Manipulation), some are all-encompassing (i.e.Omni-Manipulation,Alpha Reality).
Other than superpowers, superhuman feats may also be achieved through advanced science and technology, phlebotinum (materials with supernatural properties), magic and spells, biological mutations, anomalous nature, supernatural entities, and many many more. Moreover, superpowers might not only be possessed by humans in a certain setting, and can be held by animals, robots, relics, clothing, weapons, etc.
The concept and theme of superpowers are present in pretty much any form of media, having been popularized to the point of spawning superpower-based tropes, stereotypes, and archetypes. The most common one is the 'superhero genre', where superheroes are superhumans that use their powers and abilities for the good of humanity while supervillains end up causing destruction. However, some superheroes don't need superpowers, and rather rely on fancy gadgets or advanced technology to perform superhuman feats. Superpowers are also present in the form of supernatural traits or divine powers in theologies, religious texts, folklore, and mythologies. Additionally, they can take the form of the mystical and esoteric, or purely anomalous and enigmatic.
All in all, superpowers are generally anything that is supernatural and superhuman, playing a wide variety of roles in storytelling, and encompass everything in existence, from the mundane and common, to the esoteric and almighty.
Abbreviated Category List
- Absorption (See for overviewAbsorption)
- Consumption (General overview page for this type of powers doesnt exist for now.)
- Adaptations (General overview page for this type of powers doesnt exist for now.)
- Appearance Alteration (See for overviewForm Manipulation)
- Forms (See for overviewTransformation)
- Modes (See for overviewMode Switching)
- Mimicry (See for overviewMimicry)
- Physiology (General overview page for this type of powers doesnt exist for now.)
- Self-Transmutation (See for overviewShapeshifting)
- Art (See for overviewArt Manipulation)
- Music (See for overviewMusic Manipulation)
- Cartoon (See for overviewAnimated Art Manipulation)
- Combat (See for overviewCombat Powers)
- Attack (See for overviewAttack Powers)
- Defense (See for overviewDefense Powers)
- Creation (See for overviewCreation)
- Constructs (See for overviewConstruct Creation)
- Solidifications (See for overviewSolidification)
- Infusion (See for overviewInfusion)
- Materializations (See for overviewMaterialization)
- Projection (General overview page for this type of powers doesnt exist for now.)
- Replication (See for overviewReplication)
- Transmutation (See for overviewTransmutation)
- Constructs (See for overviewConstruct Creation)
- Derivations (See for overviewDerivation)
- Reincarnation (See for overviewReincarnation)
- Destruction (See for overviewDestruction)
- Effect (See for overviewEffect Manipulation)
- Negation (See for overviewNegation)
- Inducement (See for overviewInducement)
- Enhancements (General overview page for this type of powers doesnt exist for now.)
- Augmentation (See for overviewAugmentation)
- Empowerments (See for OverviewEmpowering Affinity)
- Power Sources (See for overviewPower Source)
- Environment (See for overviewEnvironment Manipulation)
- Nature (See for overviewNature Manipulation)
- Esoterism (General overview page for this type of powers doesnt exist for now.)
- Chi (See for overviewChi Manipulation)
- Divinity (See for overviewDivinity)
- Magick (See for overviewMagic)
- Mysticism (See for overviewMysticism)
- Ninjutsu (See for overviewNinpo Arts)
- Psionics (See for overviewPsionics)
- Spiritualism (General overview page for this type of powers doesnt exist for now.)
- Zodiac (General overview page for this type of powers doesnt exist for now.)
- Intuition (See for overviewIntuitive Aptitude)
- Skills (General overview page for this type of powers doesnt exist for now.)
- Immunities (See for overviewImmunity)
- Resistances (General overview page for this type of powers doesnt exist for now.)
- Life (See for overviewLife Manipulation)
- Entity (See for overviewEntity Manipulation)
- Manipulations (General overview page for this type of powers doesnt exist for now.)
- Distortion (See for overviewDistortion)
- Telekinesis (See for overviewTelekinesis)
- Telepathy (See for overviewTelepathy)
- Reality (See for overviewReality Warping)
- Existence (See for overviewExistence Manipulation)
- Restoration (See for overviewRestoration)
- Resurrection (See for overviewResurrection)
- Regeneration (See for overviewRegenerative Healing Factor)
- Science (See for overviewSuper Science)
- Dimension (See for overviewDimensional Manipulation)
- Energy (See for overviewEnergy Manipulation)
- Matter (See for overviewMatter Manipulation)
- Technology (See for overviewTechnology Manipulation)
- Support (See for overviewSupport Powers)
- Transportation (See for overviewTransportation Powers)
- Flight (See for overviewFlight)
- Walking (General overview page for this type of powers doesnt exist for now.)
- Teleportation (See for overviewTeleportation)
Abbreviated Power List
Superpowers can be generally divided into two over-arching groups: superpowers that have to do with oneself and superpowers that have to do with everything else.
Note: This doesn't include every power/ability that exists or is archived on this wiki. For browsing all powers/abilities thathave been archived, clickhere. For browsing non-mainspace powers/abilities and other superpower-related projects, clickhere.
Self Superpowers
These are the superpowers that generally affect and are centered around oneself.
Physical Capabilities
- Enhanced Agility
- Enhanced Dexterity
- Enhanced Durability
- Enhanced Flexibility
- Enhanced Speed
- Enhanced Stamina
- Enhanced Strength
- Flight
Bodily Aspects
Physiological
- Biological Manipulation
- Blood Manipulation
- Body Function Manipulation
- Bone Manipulation
- DNA Manipulation
- Elasticity
- Enhanced Bite
- Enhanced Body Temperature
- Enhanced Lung Capacity
- Enhanced Metabolism
- Enhanced Recovery
- Hair Manipulation
- Immutability
- Invulnerability
- Limb Manipulation
- Organ Manipulation
- Skin Manipulation
- Supernatural Blood
Senses
- Enhanced Vision
- Enhanced Smell
- Enhanced Hearing
- Enhanced Touch
- Enhanced Taste
- Extrasensory Perception
- Hyper Awareness
Appearance
Mimicry & Transformations
Condition & State
- Authority Manipulation
- Comfort Manipulation
- Condition Manipulation
- Enhanced Charisma
- Immortality
- Intangibility
- Personal Mastery
- Reactive Adaptation
- Status Manipulation
- Teleportation
Health & Welfare
- Antibiotic System
- Aversion Manipulation
- Contaminant Immunity
- Curing
- Damage Removal
- Health Manipulation
- High Resistance
- Internal Bodily Cleansing
- Regenerative Healing Factor
- Self-Resurrection
- Self-Restoration
- Self-Sustenance
Cognition & Psyche
- Accelerated Thought Process
- Clear Mind
- Enhanced Intelligence
- Hypercognition
- Indomitable Will
- Meta-Learning
- Multitasking
- Panmnesia
- State of Mind
- Tactical Analysis
- Tranquil State
Soul & Spirit
Personality & Behavior
- Action Manipulation
- Anima Manipulation
- Behavior Manipulation
- Persona Manipulation
- Personality Manipulation
Combat & Sports
- Attack Powers
- Enhanced Combat Mastery
- Sport Mastery
- Weapon Proficiency
Other Superpowers
Nature & Elements
Biomes & Environment
- Arctic Manipulation
- Coast Manipulation
- Desert Manipulation
- Forest Manipulation
- Ocean Manipulation
- Volcanic Fields Manipulation
Universe & Cosmology
- Cosmic Manipulation
- Dimension Manipulation
- Dimensional Manipulation
- Galaxy Manipulation
- Gravity Manipulation
- Multiversal Manipulation
- Omniverse Manipulation
- Spatial Manipulation
- Stellar Manipulation
- Time Manipulation
- Universal Manipulation
- World Manipulation
Objects & Technology
- Bell Manipulation
- Chain Manipulation
- Cloth Manipulation
- Door Manipulation
- Furniture Manipulation
- Magnet Manipulation
- Musical Instrument Manipulation
- Technology Manipulation
- Telekinesis
- Thread Manipulation
- Vehicle Manipulation
- Weapon Manipulation
- Window Manipulation
Psionics
Arts & Media
Sciences
- Science Manipulation
Magic & The Supernatural/Paranormal
- Alchemy
- Anti-Magic
- Astrology
- Psionics
- Dark Arts
- Divination
- Exorcism
- Magic
- Necromancy
- Occultism
- Sorcery
- Spell Casting
- Supernatural Manipulation
- White Arts
- Witchcraft
Concepts & Abstractions
- Concept Manipulation
- Apex Manipulation
- Axiom Manipulation
- Balance Manipulation
- Boundary Manipulation
- Causality Manipulation
- Constant Manipulation
- Definition Manipulation
- Fact Manipulation
- Immanence Manipulation
- Inside Manipulation
- Liminality Manipulation
- Limit Manipulation
- Meta Manipulation
- Nadir Manipulation
- Outside Manipulation
- Origin Manipulation
- Paradox Manipulation
Almighty & Ineffable
Note: These are not, strictly speaking, superpowers, butstates of being.