Power Systems

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Just your average Quirks.

Superpowers within a setting that go by a universal term by the characters who are bestowed and use them.

Superpowers within a setting go by a universal term. They have the common trait of these powers granting unique abilities. Depending on the media, characters with one superpower or a combo platter of superpowers. When there are people with one superpower per person, then the one person they will only have that superpower. If they are lucky enough, some people can get a versatile one. A combo platter of powers can come into three possible forms. The first form is where the superpower grants different abilities. The second form is other powers within a setting that one person can gain rather than just one superpower. The third form is where a superpower gives passive abilities when a person has one. The trope can be found in most Eastern media such as anime, manga, and light novels while rarely seen in Western media.

Exclusivity in a power is usually a result of Superpower Lottery being very random at least in details, though it may also happen due to a person giving their power away to someone else. A milder case of exclusivity is powers naturally restricted to specific bloodlines, though even those may at least express differently, including occasional duds. See also Personality Powers.

Examples of Power Systems include:

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Anime and Manga

  • Nen, from Hunter X Hunter, is a technique to use one's aura in different applications. Depending on what Nen Category a person is born under, they can access diverse abilities.
  • 80% of the population is born with a Quirk in My Hero Academia, a superhuman power based on genetics. Quirks fall into three types: Emitter, Transformation, and Mutant, while one person has one superpower.
  • On the vast seas of One Piece, Devil Fruits gives specific powers to whatever eats it and falls into three types: Paramecia, Zoans, and Logia. A person can only consume one Devil Fruit or they disintegrate. There is also Haki, which is available to everyone.
    • There is also Haki, which is a mysterious power that every living being has in the world of One Piece. Haki falls into three types, which are Observation Haki, Armament Haki, and Conqueror's Haki. Everyone can awaken the first two, but few people are born with Conqueror's Haki.
  • Darwin's Game gives its players Sigils, supernatural powers granted by the titular app to its players. The app provides a unique yet randomized ability to a player. Each player of the game can only have one Sigil and fall into one of five types.
  • Stands, from Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, are humanoid beings or other forms with unique powers related to the user's personality.
  • Players are granted Embryos when they create their character in the VRMMO of Infinite Dendrogram. Embryos fall into one of 5 broad types based on personality plus evolve with their players, which may give other Skills and Types.
    • Skills are abilities that Tians, Masters, and monsters gain in the VRMMO. Tians and Masters can gain Skills from equipment and jobs, but Masters can also gain Skills from their Embryos.
  • In Naruto, ninjas do battle with Justu, supernatural arts they use in combat from their chakra. Jutsu comes into three categories: Taijutsu, Genjutsu, and Ninjutsu. Similar techniques to Ninjutsu also exist called Kekkei Genkai.
    • Kekkei Genkai are unique abilities based on the hereditary within ninja clans. Ninjas inherit one Kekkei Genkai and naturally develop these powers with age and experience.
  • From Psyren, PSI is the ability that Psychicers have that manipulate one's thoughts by over-clocking the brain into three basic types: Burst, Trance, and Rise.
  • Abnormalities are superhuman abilities possessed by a few humans and categorized as Abnormals in the world of Medaka Box. These superpowers are based on Abnormals' mental development and each Abnormal would only have one Abnormality.
    • Minuses are Abnormalities because of the mental negativity of the users. Unlike regular Abnormalities, these powers based on the mental environment involved in a person's development.
    • Styles are the manipulation of language for different effects and created to fight on par to Abnormalities.The superpowers are not exclusive like Abnormalities, and even an Abnormal can gain one.
  • Branches of Sin are powers involving blood manipulation that people called Deadmen in Deadman Wonderland. Each Deadman has one Branch of Sin that changes their blood into a particular weapon or attack.
  • In Book of Bantorra, Magical Rights are individual magic that a person can possess, and one person has one Magical Right except for Book Eaters.
  • The Demon Slaying Corp uses forms of swordsmanship called Breath Styles to slay Demons during post-World War Japan in Demon Slayer Yaiba. The swordsmanship use specific and concentrated breath patterns that increase oxygen in the blood for a unique physical superhuman ability but with drawbacks.
    • Demon Slayer Marks are markings that can be unlocked by a strong Demon Slayer's body. Demon Slayer Marks can give different abilities such as enhanced physical capabilities and breathing techniques compared to average Breath Style users.
    • Blood Demon Arts are spells that Demons can use and are unique to each one. Most of these monsters have one Blood Demon Art, but there are some with more than one.
  • Powers are mysterious abilities based on their will, beliefs, and experience that people can awaken in the world of The Seven Deadly Sins. Each person has one superpower but can develop different techniques from them.
    • Spells are another magical power that can be used inherently or by the use of Incantation Orbs. Unlike Powers, Spells have various effects based on different factors, such as their type.
    • Commandments are ten curses created by the Demon King and bestowed onto elite warriors. They have an absolute function based on a rule that can affect anyone who breaks it, even its user. There is also how a warrior with a Commandment gains demonic abilities
    • Commandments are ten curses with an absolute function based on a rule that can affect anyone who breaks it, even its user. There is also how a warrior with a Commandment gains demonic abilities.
    • Graces are four blessings made by the Supreme Deity of the Goddess Clan. These powers give their user a unique ability while also passively augmenting their magical and physical strength.
  • In the galaxy of Edens Zero, some people have Ether Gears, superpowers that use Ether flowing through their bodies and rearranges it into an individualistic ability.
  • In Mondaiji, people in the world of Little Garden have Gifts that are special abilities to participate in Gift Games. A person can gain an unlimited number of them.
  • From Yu Yu Hakusho, Territories are supernatural powers that some humans have due to being in the Demon's Door's vicinity and are used within a specific range.
  • Aliens have Space Pheromones or SPH, natural chemicals secreted by aliens in ēlDLIVE. Space Pheromones grant different abilities based on the species.
  • Minimums, from Hamatora, are unique abilities that a small percentage of the population has called Minimum Holders. The Minimum Holder's ego determines their superpower and can only hold one Minimum.
  • The world of Black God has Exceeds, abilities that Tera Guardians if they have a contract with a human. Each Exceed is unique to a Tera Guardian and each guardian has one.
  • In Fire Force, Ignition Abilities allow Third Generations to make fire from their body parts. Some Ignition Abilities can even make plasma, electricity, and electromagnetism.
    • Adolla Burst is another ability that certain Third Generation can awaken to by creating a connection with a being from Adolla. Adolla Bursts involves aspects that do not conform to the universe's physical laws, which upgrades Ignition Abilities to an extra-dimensional level.
  • In Gate Keepers, Gates are doors that give extra-dimensional energy to a person and manifest as a unique superpower.
  • Authorities are divine powers of Gods, Heretic Gods, and Campiones. Gods can hold multiple Authorities but Campiones would need to slay different Heretic Gods to have more than one.
  • Yokai has the supernatural ability of Osore, unique skills and traits based on fear within the world of Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan.
  • Each King in K grants an Aura to their Clan for incredible powers. Depending on the King, Aura can manifest different abilities.
  • Norito, from Sekirei, are extraordinary powers that women known as Sekirei activate through a kiss from a specific person. It is implied that a Sekirei can have more than one Norito.
  • People on the scattered islands of Esprit have Jinxes, special abilities brought out by a person's faith. One person can have only one Jinx.
  • Needless have Fragment, which are exclusive superpowers of people known as Needless and the source of their powers. One Needless have one Fragment but also passive physical superpowers.
  • From Re:Zero, Authorities are supernatural abilities wielded by Witches of Sin and Sin Archbishops. A host's desire and sin shape the powers.

Comic Books

  • Miracles, from the manfra,[1] Radiant, are powers that do not use Fantasia but stem from a different source. Each person has one Miracle, but all of them are versatile in combat, especially against magic
  • The Dom, from Monster Allergy, are special powers used by Tamers and are inherited from parent to child and go into five abilities. These five Dom Powers which gives a Tamer various powers.

Fan Works

Film

Literature

Music

New Media

Newspaper Comics

Oral Tradition, Folklore, Myths and Legends

Pinball

Podcasts

Professional Wrestling

Puppet Shows

Radio

Recorded and Stand Up Comedy

Tabletop Games

Theatre

Video Games

  • Drives, from Blazblue series, are the manifestation of a soul's power using a force known as Blue that comes from another dimension.
  • Atma, from Digital Devil Saga, is a virus that can affect humans and allow them to transform into an Atma Avatar, a monstrous form with magical powers.
  • Persona, from the Persona series, are manifestations of a person's personality as a "mask" to help face difficulties in life. Personas come from the Collective Unconscious and are based on mythological archetypes. Personas grant unique powers plus influence their users' physical and mental attributes.
  • Evilities, from the Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice series, passive abilities where a character can equip two at a time. There are two kinds which are Unique and Generic. Unique Evilities depend on the classes while anyone can access Generic Evilities.
  • Fighting Spirits, from Inazuma Eleven GO, are users' spirits manifested in a physical form. Fightings Spirits are used to perform powerful Special Moves and fight other Fighting Spirits.
    • Mix n' Match is a technique to fuse a person's aura to another individual. Mix n' Matches activation causes a person's appearance changes while also gaining their physical attributes plus a new Special Move.
    • Totems introduced in GO Galaxy is an ability that allows a user to transform into an animal. The transformation is temporary and gain another Special Move plus particular Totems also grants a Soul Strike, techniques similar to Special Moves but more potent.
  • EXS Abilities, from Under Night In-Birth, are powers that allow In-Births to manifest EXS (a form of energy found in all earthly matter) as a unique ability. The use of these abilities also gives superhuman physical abilities.
  • Runes, from Suikoden, are used to summon magical spells and come into four types: Common Runes, Unique Runes, True Runes, and a fourth class that doesn't fit in the others.
  • Septima, from the Azure Striker Gunvolt series, is a kind of ESP that humans known as Adepts can use. They are much like normal humans physically and mentally but wields different superpowers. Some Adepts have common Septima, but others may have more varied powers.

Visual Novels

  • Noble Phantasms, from the Fate series, can come in the form of powers based on the legend related to the Servant along with their summoned class.

Web Animation

  • From RWBY, Aura is the manifestation of one's soul that allows for different abilities. The use of Aura differs from each individual due to factors like experience and skill. One particular form of Aura is called Semblance.
    • Semblances are a manifestation of a person's innate and personal power, which is unique but others are similar. For example, Harriet of the Ace Ops in V7 makes it clear she's met other people besides Ruby with a Super Speed Semblance like her own, and that there's something different about Ruby's speed. A person can have one Semblance but most have versatile applications. In combination with what Aura can do, a person can have a mix of powers.
  • Epithets from Epithet Erased are powers that people called Inscribed have attached to their souls. An Epithet comes from a single word which grants their ability but can show versatility with imagination and training.

Web Comics

  • Abilities in The Gamer webtoon are powers in the setting that comes in two types of Abilities, Natural and Acquired:
    • Natural Abilities bestowed by Gaia based on the person's most traumatizing experience. The main protagonist has the titular ability due to his gaming obsession.
    • Acquired Abilities are magic and martial arts developed by groups in the Abyss. Anyone can gain these abilities through training and study. Natural Abilities are exclusive to those that Gaia has granted while anyone can learn Acquired Abilities, even Natural Ability users.
  • From Hardcore Leveling Warrior, Personal Attributes are in-game skills randomly gained when a player creates a character in the VRMMO, Lucid Adventure. Each player has one of these skills and they fall into five types.
  • From Kubera, Transcendental Skills are divine ability only used by Gods, Sura, and Halfs(human-sura hybrids). There are two types of Transcendental Skill: General and Unique. The three races can use General Types, but Unique types are exclusive to Gods.
  • Borrowed Powers in God of Highschool, is a power from supernatural entities that made a contract with a person. The paranormal entities could be a monster, god, or historical figure. A person that uses a Borrowed Power can create a unique power through their imagination and the entity plus fall into six classes.
  • Ripples, from Awaken, are the movement of Flux (The flow of consciousness penetrates from living organisms). Ripples are manifestations of Flux through a person's Field of Awareness. Ripples are classified into four types, and two types can combine into different sub-types.
  • From Scoob and Shag, Ballyhoos are powers made from channeled fandom for cartoon characters that create an alien race's unique abilities. Each alien has one Ballyhoo and is named after a broadcasting or animation term. They also come into two types, Physical (Ballyhoos that have physical effects) and Energy (metaphysical Ballyhoos with semantic effects).
  • Passive Skills in the Zero Game, are abilities that players gain once they participate in this game. Each player has one Passive Skill but also can have an Ability.
    • Abilities are powers bought from the Ability Shop and each player can have one Ability at a time. Even though they have one Ability, the combination of a Passive Skill gives a player a power combination.
  • Shinsu Quality, from Tower of God, is Shinsu that carries unique qualities that can be controlled by few people. Once a person finds a Shinsu Quality that suits them, the user can manifest into a power; either elements or non-elemental characteristics.

Web Originals

Western Animation


  1. Manfra are French comic books inspired by and styled after Manga.