Healing Factor: Difference between revisions

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On the down side, extreme regeneration often leads to the character getting targeted by [[The Worf Barrage]] so often, people go "[[Good Thing You Can Heal]]" because their [[Immortal Life Is Cheap]]. Also, regenerators are often more [[Made of Plasticine]] than the rest of the show's cast.

Note that if any real-world life form were able to recover this fast, they'd need a reserve of raw organic material to work from, and afterwards would be very hungry. The only way to justify always repairing [[~~Shape Shifter~~ Baggage|the exact amount of flesh damaged]] is if it uses the actual damaged flesh to do it. Writers who acknowledge this often at least have their regenerator out of commission for some time, resting and feeding... or [[Appendage Assimilation|harvesting limbs]]. The effect may be compared to the rapid cell growth, differentiation and self-organization of human embryonic development if the writer is interested in [[Mohs Scale of Sci Fi Hardness|any degree of scientific plausibility]], but most don't bother with even that much [[Hand Wave]]; they just have the wounds close up and new tissues and organs appear. Depending on the strength of the regenerator, they may also be a practical [[Perpetual Motion Monster]], able to go for months or years without food and water since their healing factor keeps their body alive... though this sort of [[Immortality Hurts]].

Note that if any real-world life form were able to recover this fast, they'd need a reserve of raw organic material to work from, and afterwards would be very hungry. The only way to justify always repairing [[Shapeshifter Baggage|the exact amount of flesh damaged]] is if it uses the actual damaged flesh to do it. Writers who acknowledge this often at least have their regenerator out of commission for some time, resting and feeding... or [[Appendage Assimilation|harvesting limbs]]. The effect may be compared to the rapid cell growth, differentiation and self-organization of human embryonic development if the writer is interested in [[Mohs Scale of Sci Fi Hardness|any degree of scientific plausibility]], but most don't bother with even that much [[Hand Wave]]; they just have the wounds close up and new tissues and organs appear. Depending on the strength of the regenerator, they may also be a practical [[Perpetual Motion Monster]], able to go for months or years without food and water since their healing factor keeps their body alive... though this sort of [[Immortality Hurts]].

Reptilian characters, taking a cue from real-world lizards that can shed and re-grow their tails, are likely to possess at least a minor form of this. <ref>These lizards suppress their immune system to allow their stem cells to respecialize, which would be very, very bad in a human and is why we can't do it.</ref> Dragons, werewolves, and vampires [[Our Monsters Are Different|sometimes]] have it as well. Other [[Shapeshifting]] characters may have this packaged in with their powers, though it's often described as returning to their "default" form rather than regenerating. [[Nanomachines]] are a common justification for an acquired power by otherwise human characters in a [[Cyberpunk|technological setting]].

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* Chirico Cuvie from ''[[Armored Trooper VOTOMS]]'' is called an "abnormal survivor," and has the capability to not only survive normally fatal physical injuries and illnesses, but to resist damage from certain types of injury, such as being burned alive by mecha fuel. However, as a negative side effect of this, he suffers extreme mental stress from all of the fatal injuries he has taken, to the point of being more or less outwardly emotionless. His early memories include being burned alive and shot through the heart.

* Manji from ''[[Blade of the Immortal]]''

* Subverted in some aspects in ''[[Naruto]]'': Tsunade and Naruto can regenerate from grievous injuries very quickly, but they do so via rapid cellular growth, which ages their bodies prematurely [[Cast From Lifespan|and shortens their lifespans]] ([~~http://en.~~wikipedia~~.org/wiki/Hayflick_limit~~ which actually happens]). Also, Naruto tends to pass out and become famished regenerating anything more than minor injuries. "No matter what the injury is, one night of sleep has always been enough."

* Subverted in some aspects in ''[[Naruto]]'': Tsunade and Naruto can regenerate from grievous injuries very quickly, but they do so via rapid cellular growth, which ages their bodies prematurely [[Cast From Lifespan|and shortens their lifespans]] ([[wikipedia:Hayflick limit|which actually happens]]). Also, Naruto tends to pass out and become famished regenerating anything more than minor injuries. "No matter what the injury is, one night of sleep has always been enough."

** Played straighter with Orochimaru though, who has survived being cut in half amongst other things and shrugged it off. He can even shed his skin which regenerates himself, giving the appearance of vomiting out a fresh body. He also can soak up an insane amount of blunt force trauma, far more than any normal character in the story.

*** He can do so without fear of shortening his lifespan because he regularly commits [[Grand Theft Me]] on others. It does however mean he burns through weaker bodies in just the three years he has before his transfer form can survive another transplant.

* The primary effect of the "Cure virus" in ''[[Ever 17]]'' is to give the infected party a healing factor that makes it impossible for them to be killed.

* In ''[[Slayers]]'', trolls have such fast regeneration abilities that they are nearly impossible to kill. The main character, Lina Inverse, solves this issue by {{spoiler|casting a magic-reversal spell on all the trolls so that even the [[Scratch Damage|tiniest scratch]] results in [[Hoist By His Own Petard|nearly instant death-by-implosion]].}}

* The [[Ridiculously Human Robots|Wolkenritter]] of ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]''. They may have lost the [[Back From the Dead|Rejuvenation Program]], but they still have a [[Healing Factor]] that lets them recover a lot faster than a normal human. However, this has been getting weaker as time goes by, though thankfully for Vita, not so much that {{spoiler|[[Normally I Would Be Dead Now|her getting impaled in the chest]]}} could take her out permanently.

* The [[Ridiculously-Human Robots|Wolkenritter]] of ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]''. They may have lost the [[Back From the Dead|Rejuvenation Program]], but they still have a [[Healing Factor]] that lets them recover a lot faster than a normal human. However, this has been getting weaker as time goes by, though thankfully for Vita, not so much that {{spoiler|[[Normally I Would Be Dead Now|her getting impaled in the chest]]}} could take her out permanently.

** Two seasons later, and we're introduced to the Huckubein, who can regenerate even better than the Wolkenritter. [[Dual-Wielding|Cypha]] proves this by [[Just a Flesh Wound|regrowing an arm]] that Signum cut off. Oh, and they're also [[Made of Iron|pretty darn tough too.]]

** Also there's the fact that after said two seasons the Wolkenritter's [[Healing Factor]] has finally faded away.

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** And Krory, who can heal himself by drinking Akuma's blood.

* Yuki Nagato from ''[[Suzumiya Haruhi]]'' is able to regenerate using her [[Magic From Technology]], apart from being seemingly unaffected by physical injuries. The limits are unknown, but it does happen in an instant.

* The [[Artificial Human|Homunculi]] from ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' all have this power. The [[~~Shape Shifter~~ Baggage]] is somewhat justified by having the Homunculi powered by a Philosopher's Stone/a bunch of Red Stones (depends on the version), which converts energy into matter. When their stone runs out of juice, the Homunculi lose their powers & have to get it recharged (or run the risk of becoming [[Deader Than Dead]]).

* The [[Artificial Human|Homunculi]] from ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' all have this power. The [[Shapeshifter Baggage]] is somewhat justified by having the Homunculi powered by a Philosopher's Stone/a bunch of Red Stones (depends on the version), which converts energy into matter. When their stone runs out of juice, the Homunculi lose their powers & have to get it recharged (or run the risk of becoming [[Deader Than Dead]]).

* Ranma from ''[[Ranma One Half|Ranma ½]]'' recovers from injuries ''so fast'' some fans have [[Fanon|theorized]] he has a [[Healing Factor]]. Witness him shatter every bone in his body and recover to full fighting capacity only a few moments later, ''in the middle of a fight.''

** "Full fighting capacity"? Later in the fight, he was buried under several tons of ice, ''punched through'' said ice, leapt around like a flea on acid, and was ''still'' able to run from a vengeful Amazon that very night without ever stopping to rest, and all that in his "weaker" [[Gender Bender|female form]]. In the manga, anyway (where Shampoo's arrival took place immediately after the [[Martial Arts and Crafts|Ice Skating duel]].)

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** Finally, any of the monsters created by Chronos could have damage regenerated by spending some time in a giant test tube.

* ''[[Shikabane Hime]]'' in the show of the same name normally heal faster than humans, and can regenerate limbs given enough time. They can also have most wounds healed instantaneously by their contracted monk.

* Immortals in ''[[Baccano (Light Novel)|Baccano]]!'' get this standard with their [[Immortality]]. They also avert the [[~~Shape Shifter~~ Baggage|Regenerative Baggage]] issue by using the damaged or spilled flesh and blood to patch up the wounds. Yes, even if their remains are splattered across the room, thrown off a speeding train, or (in the novels) [[Kill It With Fire|burned into smoke]]. A special version of the elixir was made by Szilard and given to Dallas and his cronies which gives them just the [[Healing Factor]] but they still age.

* Immortals in ''[[Baccano (Light Novel)|Baccano]]!'' get this standard with their [[Immortality]]. They also avert the [[Shapeshifter Baggage|Regenerative Baggage]] issue by using the damaged or spilled flesh and blood to patch up the wounds. Yes, even if their remains are splattered across the room, thrown off a speeding train, or (in the novels) [[Kill It With Fire|burned into smoke]]. A special version of the elixir was made by Szilard and given to Dallas and his cronies which gives them just the [[Healing Factor]] but they still age.

* Ulquiorra Schiffer of ''[[Bleach]]'' reveals that this is his special ability during the final stage of his fight with Ichigo. {{spoiler|It doesn't help.}}

** It is actually an ability of many hollows to self-regenerate. Ulquiorria mentions that most of the Arrancar gave up this ability to become more powerful.

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* [[Deadly Doctor|Minoru "Doctor" Kamiya]] in ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]'' can nullify his ability to feel pain and reattach his own limbs.

** Not to forget the older Toguro brother, who can both regenerate and restructure his body at will, and will apparently survive any and all injuries as long as even a single cell of him is still alive. {{spoiler|So Kuraa ultimately traps him in a [[Fate Worse Than Death]].}}

* In ''[[Durarara]]'', [[Half-Human Hybrid|Quarter]]-[[Headless Horseman|Dullahan]] {{spoiler|Ruri Hirijibe}} has this ability. A comment made by [[Back Alley Doctor|Shinra]] while treating her wounds suggests that not only does (the entirely human. [[Wild Mass Guessing|Supposedly]]) [[Charles Atlas Superpower|Shizuo Heiwajima]] have this as well, but that his [[Healing Factor]] is ''greater''. If nothing else, it would explain how he's [[Hollywood Healing|recovered completely from things like shattering his spine and pelvis]] or {{spoiler|getting shot}}.

* In ''[[Durarara]]'', [[Half-Human Hybrid|Quarter]]-[[Headless Horseman|Dullahan]] {{spoiler|Ruri Hirijibe}} has this ability. A comment made by [[Back-Alley Doctor|Shinra]] while treating her wounds suggests that not only does (the entirely human. [[Wild Mass Guessing|Supposedly]]) [[Charles Atlas Superpower|Shizuo Heiwajima]] have this as well, but that his [[Healing Factor]] is ''greater''. If nothing else, it would explain how he's [[Hollywood Healing|recovered completely from things like shattering his spine and pelvis]] or {{spoiler|getting shot}}.

* ''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]'' - Viral undergoes some form of bioengineering that causes him to stop aging and gives him a [[Healing Factor]], making him effectively immortal.

** This was given to him by Lordgenome, who achieves immortality by putting cells into biological stasis. He applied this to himself {{spoiler|hundreds, possibly thousands of years before episode 1 takes place.}}

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* The {{spoiler|Father of Titans}} from the ''[[Warhammer 40000]] [[Grey Knights (Literature)|Grey Knights]]'' novel ''Dark Adeptus'' has one that allows for real-time regeneration of fairly severe damage, {{spoiler|though not direct, explosive core sabotage}}. The Grey Knights themselves, as [[Super Soldier|Super Soldiers]], have a better-than-human regeneration, though they still need an apothecary for severe stuff.

* In Octavia Butler's ''Fledgling'', the [[Our Vampires Are Different|protagonist]] recovers from being caught in a burning building--it's implied that she had severe head injuries and was ''blind'' at the start. At the end of the process, she's fine except for the amnesia, but she needs fresh meat as soon as possible, and is too hungry to notice where it comes from. {{spoiler|It's one of her brother's human friends, who was there trying to find and rescue her.}}

* As the [[Doctor Who Expanded Universe]] [[Eighth Doctor Adventures]] are a bit [[Bloodier and Gorier]] than the ''[[~~Doctor Who (TV)|~~Doctor Who]]'' TV series, it's much more evident that the Doctor has a certain degree of this ability in the novels than it is on TV. The Doctor regrows a tooth at one point. He walks on a severely broken leg, is severely stabbed, gets shot full of buckshot, has [[Heart Trauma|one of his hearts]] [[Made of Plasticine|ripped out]], [[Real Men Get Shot|etc.,]] and always gets better with a minimum of fuss and no medical attention.

* As the [[Doctor Who Expanded Universe]] [[Eighth Doctor Adventures]] are a bit [[Bloodier and Gorier]] than the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' TV series, it's much more evident that the Doctor has a certain degree of this ability in the novels than it is on TV. The Doctor regrows a tooth at one point. He walks on a severely broken leg, is severely stabbed, gets shot full of buckshot, has [[Heart Trauma|one of his hearts]] [[Made of Plasticine|ripped out]], [[Real Men Get Shot|etc.,]] and always gets better with a minimum of fuss and no medical attention.

* Tempus from [[Thieves World]] has a healing factor that was given to him by his patron god Vashanka. However, as this is [[Thieves World]] and Vashanka is the {{spoiler|sister-raping, brother-killing, mage-hating,}} generally nasty Rankan war-god, there's [[Blessed With Suck|obviously going to be a catch]]. In this case, Tempus heals from anything that doesn't kill him ''at about the normal human healing rate''. This is particularly crap when {{spoiler|he gets all his limbs and his tongue cut off by a serial killer who doesn't realise he's damn near immortal.}}

* In the ''[[Parrish Plessis]]'' series, one of the abilities granted by [[The Corruption]] is enhanced healing. The effects aren't too extreme; the infected can still be killed by mundane means, and still need a while to recover from severe injuries like broken bones. It is, however, quite good at dealing with toxins, which lead some well-intentioned people to start spreading it around as a cure for the pervasive heavy metal poisoning in their slum. [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero|Then the others side-effects of infection began to appear...]]

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** This regenerating thing of his is however not because of a natural, biological healing factor. Poor sod became {{spoiler|a universal constant in the parent series when Rose fixed the past a bit sloppily in her god mode. This peculiar being of his makes him too weird for the time sensitive Doctor.}}

** He loses his healing factor in ''[[Torchwood Miracle Day (TV)|Miracle Day]]'', and after the Miracle (which stops ''everyone'' on Earth from dying, no matter how badly they're injured) there is speculation that he many now be the only person on the planet who can die. {{spoiler|Once "the Blessing" is given some of his blood from when he was immortal, he regains it, along with associate Rex Matheson}}.

* Adric from ''[[~~Doctor Who (TV)|~~Doctor Who]]'' has this ability, thanks to [[Human Aliens|his species']] capacity for incredibly rapid adaptation. It only gets mentioned in two of his stories, though.

* Adric from ''[[Doctor Who]]'' has this ability, thanks to [[Human Aliens|his species']] capacity for incredibly rapid adaptation. It only gets mentioned in two of his stories, though.

** The [[DVD Commentary|Info-Text]] for ''State of Decay'' uses this to poke fun at a continuity error regarding a mysteriously disappearing patch and rip in Adric's trousers where he skinned his knee in ''Full Circle'', saying that apparently "Alzarian trousers heal as fast as their owners."

** In the 2005 episode "The Christmas Invasion", the Doctor is shown to be able to quickly regrow severed limbs for up to 24 hours after regenerating, using leftover regeneration energy.

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* Kyouya from ''[[Diabolo]]'', despite his terminal illness, claims to heal in his sleep (and considering after a night's rest some scratches on his face disappeared, this may not have been a bluff).

* ''[[Mega Man X]]'' gets it in the third game when he gets either the enhanced helmet or the [[Infinity+1 Sword|Golden Armor]].

* ''[[Team Fortress 2 (Video Game)|Team Fortress 2]]'' has the Medic class. Although a class designed to heal others, the Medic can also heal from any damage back to full health, which is good when you consider that he can't turn his medigun on himself. If the Medic goes a certain amount of time without getting hurt again, he regenerates faster. In total, it takes less than half a minute to regenerate to full health, even from the last hitpoint. Equipping the [[Life Drain|Blutsauger]] reduces his regeneration speed, while equipping the [[Selectively Lethal Weapon|Crusader's]] [[Healing Shiv|Crossbow]] and Amputator will increase his regeneration speed instead.

* ''[[Team Fortress 2 (Video Game)|Team Fortress 2]]'' has the Medic class. Although a class designed to heal others, the Medic can also heal from any damage back to full health, which is good when you consider that he can't turn his medigun on himself. If the Medic goes a certain amount of time without getting hurt again, he regenerates faster. In total, it takes less than half a minute to regenerate to full health, even from the last hitpoint. Equipping the [[Life Drain|Blutsauger]] reduces his regeneration speed, while equipping the [[Selectively-Lethal Weapon|Crusader's]] [[Healing Shiv|Crossbow]] and Amputator will increase his regeneration speed instead.

* Trolls in the ''[[War Craft]]'' universe have a healing factor known as Troll Regeneration. They can regenerate limbs unless fire, magic is used or if they angered their loa gods. In-game, this translates to regaining lost HP points without the aid of healers or potions. (in World of Warcraft ''everyone'' regains HP in this manner, but Trolls do it ''faster'') and are the only ones tha can do it while in combat.

** It's also very, very weak and the butt of several jokes about its insignificance. In a game where characters have tens of thousands of [[Hit Points]]: "I'm regenerating 5 health per second and there's nothing you can do about it!"

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* In ''[[Valkyria Chronicles]]'', Alicia has a potential called "Mysterious Body." Apparently, ever since she was a little girl, her wounds were always very quick to heal. This comes from her power as a Valkyria, but is never explained from a practical standpoint. However, despite her gunshot wounds healing rapidly, she needs Welkin's knowlegde of herbs for a sprained ankle.

* ''[[Rogue Squadron]]'': Ships equipped with an astromech droid will gradually regain health as the droid makes repairs. However, if your droid is destroyed you lose this ability.

* An incredibly disgusting version is used by {{spoiler|the Hunter}} in ''[[Dead Space (Video Game)|Dead Space]]'' who {{spoiler|regrows entire limbs}} while flailing and oozing. Where it gets the extra tissue required is [[~~Shape Shifter~~ Baggage|unknown.]]

* An incredibly disgusting version is used by {{spoiler|the Hunter}} in ''[[Dead Space (Video Game)|Dead Space]]'' who {{spoiler|regrows entire limbs}} while flailing and oozing. Where it gets the extra tissue required is [[Shapeshifter Baggage|unknown.]]

* ''[[Starcraft]]'''s Zerg have a healing factor, which shows up in-game as their units (and [[Organic Technology|buildings]]) being the only ones to regenerate [[Hit Points]] over time. Roaches in particular can go from near-death to full within seconds when burrowed.

* In ''[[Ghost Trick]]'', {{spoiler|Yomiel has a fragment of the Temsik meteor lodged in his body that constantly restores his body to how it was just before his death.}}

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[[Category:Older Than Feudalism]]

[[Category:Healing Factor]]

[[Category:Trope]]