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{{trope}}
[[File:
{{quote|''"The ability to give superpowers to characters is acceptable. Naming the character Captain Franchise is not."''|''#950 of '''a lot of''' [[Things Mr. Welch Is No Longer Allowed to Do In An RPG]]''}}
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# A character can turn another person into one of their own kind, powers and all. Usually it's a [[Viral Transformation]], be it a vampire or werewolf's bite, an [[Emergency Transformation]] spell, a [[Superhuman Transfusion|blood donation]] or a witch training an apprentice.
# [[Sufficiently Advanced Aliens]] can [[Lego Genetics|tinker with the gene structure]] to [[Touched by Vorlons|grant them abilities.]]
# Less advanced organizations can make similar attempts ([[Cyborg
It's uncommon but not unheard of for there to be a character for whom this is his ''only'' power. They tend to be a [[Living MacGuffin]] that must be protected, captured, or destroyed. They may be limited in their uses of this power by a [[Power Source]], commonly [[Cast
See also [[Status Buff]], [[Fusion Dance]] and [[Mental Fusion]]. Contrast [[Power Parasite]].
{{examples}}▼
▲{{examples}}
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==
* In ''[[Bleach]]'', Ichigo's powers are first activated at the beginning when Rukia decides to share with him a portion of hers, as a voluntary type 1. It ends up being more of a type 2, though, as Ichigo takes nearly all of it without either meaning to. Ichigo's uncontrollable flow of spirit energy later spills into Orihime and Chad, giving them their own unique powers through simple exposure. What's more, it also affects his [[Quirky Miniboss Squad|Quirky Minor Best Friends Squad]] Mizuiro, Keigo, and Tatsuki, since they saw them go to Hueco Mundo, among other things...
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** The Elder Kaioshin has the ability to take a person "far beyond their limits." The exact definition of this is vague, but [[Hard Work Hardly Works|it's enough to let Gohan outclass Super Buu with little effort]].
* {{spoiler|The first Reinforce}} does a Type 2 at the end of the ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]'''s {{spoiler|second}} season, passing her magic and {{spoiler|[[Psychic Link]] with the Wolkenritter}} over to {{spoiler|Hayate}} before she performs her [[Heroic Sacrifice]].
* Calumon, also known as the Catalyst from ''[[Digimon Tamers]]'' is a type 3, able to make other Digimon Digivolve with his Shining Digivolution ability. The Digi-Destined/Chosen Children in all of the seasons are also examples of type 3 to their Digimon partners.
* The protagonist of ''Tende Freeze'' is a type 3. The twist is that he's unaware of his ability.
* Wizards in ''[[Negima]]'' are Type 1, able to grant magical transformations or artifacts to others via Pactios.
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** The titular character is said to have empowered epsers like Koizumi through [[Reality Warper|altering the very structure of reality]]. Possibly a variant of Type 5 since the power granters own abilities remain unaffected.
* In the Anime adaptation of the ''[[Darkstalkers]]'' series, Anita has the ability to heal Donovan's wounds, as well as giving him a power boost that enabled him to destroy the previously unstoppable Pyron. She only does this when he's at the brink of death though, because it's activated by intense emotional stress.
* In ''[[Puella Magi Madoka Magica]],'' Kyubey's main goal in life seems to be creating [[Magical Girl
* Type 3 happens at the end of ''every single season/arc/movie'' of ''[[Saint Seiya]]'', usually with the titular character or [[Physical God|Athena herself]] receiving the [[Battle Aura|Cosmo]] of the remaining [[Five-Man Band|four Bronze Saints]] so he or she can deliver the final blow to their ultimate foe. In the Sanctuary arc, Athena would also lend her power to her Saints to overcome particularly troublesome enemies.
* Ajimu from ''[[Medaka Box]]'' has the ability to give her Abnormal powers to other people. It doesn't weaken her at all since she has over a ''quadrillion'' Abnormalities to spare. Of course, one of her superpowers is the ability to count that high.
** Her companion Hanten has the ability to create new powers from scratch and give them to others. He's only responsible for about a hundred of Ajimu's though.
* Moka does a type 4 to Tsukune in ''[[Rosario
== [[Comic Books]] ==
* The wizard Shazam granted teenage Billy Batson the ability to transform into [[Shazam|Captain Marvel]], an adult superhero (with Billy's mind in control) wielding the power of 2 gods, 2 demigods, a titan and a mortal with the wisdom of God, who had themselves given the Wizard their abilities to empower a champion to defend mankind.
** Any bearer of the Power of Shazam can share their power with others, which is why there is a whole Marvel "family". Billy shared his powers with his sister Mary and his friend Freddy to turn them into Mary Marvel and Captain Marvel Junior respectively. Billy's [[Evil Counterpart]] Black Adam (who is empowered by a different set of deities) did the same thing with his brother-in-law Amon to turn him into Osiris.
* In ''[[Lucifer (
* In ''[[Superman]]: Emperor Joker'', the Joker tricks the near-[[The Omnipotent|omnipotent]] Mr. Mxyzptlyk into giving him most of his power.
* [[Marvel Comics]]' [[X-Men (Comic Book)|Sage]] has the ability to "jump-start" other mutants. Initially this was depicted as the ability to activate the latent mutations of mutants who hadn't yet manifested, but at this point it's more or less an excuse to do whatever the current writer wants to do to another mutant's powers (for example: turning Beast from apelike to lion-like, and curing Gambit's blindness).
** And one of the ever-diminishing supply of X-Men ex-Morlocks has the power to supercharge other people's powers by jumping into their bodies (gross). This character is in limbo.
** And of course, there's Sabra, the Israeli superheroine who can grant up to half of her own life-energy into someone else, enhancing their strength, speed, stamina, and occasionally giving them super-powers. She can also take that energy ''back''... at least once, killing the subject because they hadn't healed from the wounds that were the reason she gave them her life energy in the first place (It's okay; they turned out to be a bad guy).
** After losing his super-speed on M-Day, [[X-Factor (
** Gambit and Rogue pull a Type 2 when Gambit dies in various continuities. Rogue keeps Gambit's powers for awhile, either trading in her original or keeping both. They never stick permanently(powers and death).
** Apocalypse is fond of doing this for his four horsemen. He uses his Celestial tech to either supercharge their abilities(like when he made Gambit Death) or give them entirely new abilities (like when he made Angel into Death).
* Redbeard from the ''[[Savage Dragon]]'' line of comic books granted random powers, from the stupid to the insanely dangerous.
* The [[Big Bad]] of Seth Green's ''Freshmen'' has the ability to temporarily give others he touches superstrength and nigh invulnerability, but it has the same side-effects as taking mundane steroids.
* [[Green Lantern|Hal Jordan]]'s power ring has the ability to produce power rings. Kyle uses a copy of Hal's Ring to distribute rings to John Stewart and Jade. Later, Hal tries to give Clark Kent a power ring near the end of a year Clark had spent being powerless.
** When he loses his ring very early on in the comics, after saving the boy who'd found (and couldn't control) it we see him exchanging it for a created replica which did nothing but glow at will. For a young boy with friends, that's a different type of
* Also in DC Comics, the titular device in ''[[
* The shortlived DC series ''Touch'' (which focused on a world with superpowers but not superheroes) had as its main character a man who could give others superpowers.
* [[Galactus]] has the power to grant his Heralds the status equivalent of a [[Physical God]].
* [[The New Universe]] has the Star Brand; each user can pass the Brand on to anyone or anything else, while still retaining a portion of the power. (Passing it into an inanimate object is... not recommended.) And it is responsible for giving all the powers to all the Paranormals on Earth.
* [[Valiant Comics]]' Harbingers {{spoiler|were thought to be natural mutations. Turns out [[Reality Warper]] Solar is unconsciously responsible}}. And Sting and Harada both had the power to locate and activate latent Harbingers.
* John Byrne's ''[[Next Men]]'' has an unusual twist; [[Deus Sex Machina|having sex with]] the Next Men "triggers" a genetic superpower mutation. It's all [[Handwaved]] with [[Evolutionary Levels]]. As one character describes it, benevolent mutation is now an STD.
* [[Marvel Comics]]
** A company called the Power Broker sells superpowers. Generally those of a brick (superstrength, supertoughness).
** There's also a drug called Mutant Growth Hormone or MGH, extracted from superhumans (not just [[Mutants]]) that bestows various temporary powers.
** The "U-Men" group promises to provide its members with tissue and organ transplants that give them superpowers. The catch is, they have to go catch and kill mutants to get the samples. Yeah, the organisation that catches and kills mutants for power is offering to turn you into a mutant! That can't possibly go wrong...
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* Vartox can infuse people with a portion of his energy, giving them temporary powers like his.
== [[Fan Works]] ==▼
* In ''[[With Strings Attached]]'', Paul gets his magic seemingly through the incompetence of As'taris, who tried to change him back to normal after he was turned into a diamond statue. Paul instead explodes and reforms with [[Super Strength]] and [[Nigh Invulnerable|Nigh Invulnerability]] (and a few other things that pop up during the book). From what the Fans say, it was actually the meddling of the C'hovite gods that bestowed this power on Paul. {{spoiler|But we later find out that Paul was the creation of Jeft, who used him to “test out some theories I had” and who got “a little overenthusiastic” with him.}}
▲== Fan Works ==
* Doug Sangnoir of ''[[Drunkard's Walk]]'' can do this, at least on a temporary basis, with the right song. He uses "Invisible Touch" by [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]] to give [[Bubblegum Crisis|Lisa Vanette]] [[Mind Over Matter|telekinesis]] in ''Drunkard's Walk II'', {{spoiler|unknowingly priming the awakening of her latent mage gift after he leaves that universe}}.
▲* In ''[[With Strings Attached]]'', Paul gets his magic seemingly through the incompetence of As'taris, who tried to change him back to normal after he was turned into a diamond statue. Paul instead explodes and reforms with [[Super Strength]] and [[Nigh Invulnerable|Nigh Invulnerability]] (and a few other things that pop up during the book). From what the Fans say, it was actually the meddling of the C'hovite gods that bestowed this power on Paul. {{spoiler|But we later find out that Paul was the creation of Jeft, who used him to “test out some theories I had” and who got “a little overenthusiastic” with him.}}
** In ''Drunkard's Walk S: Heart of Steel'' he uses [[Daft Punk]]'s "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" to permanently improve all of [[Sailor Moon|Usagi Tsukino's]] ''untransformed'' physical traits to absolute human maximum -- essentially doing a [[Captain America (comics)|"Captain America"]] on her in order to give her a ''much'' higher baseline for her transformation into Sailor Moon. He later does the same for Ami Mizuno and Luna's human form.
== [[Film]] ==
* In Disney's ''[[Aladdin (Disney film)|Aladdin]]'', Genie grants Jafar's second wish, to be a powerful sorcerer, but Jafar is tricked by Aladdin into making a third wish, which is to be a genie himself, which results in him getting sucked into a lamp and then thrown into the Cave of Wonders to "chill him out."
*
== [[Literature]] ==
* Ivy from ''[[Xanth]]'' had the ability that could selectively supercharge people's properties, including their magical talents.
** Her husband can do the same thing by canceling out magical properties, when they're turned back on the built up energy causes the powers to come back by multiple times.
* The blue box in ''[[Animorphs]]'' is basically
* ''[[Wild Cards]]'':
** Croid "Sleeper" temporarily spread the Wild Card Virus; his strain is different from the original as it can reinfect the already infected and affected, although keeping the original 90 dead / 9 jokers / 1 ace distribution. Among a few lucky individuals, Typhoid Croid turned the joker Snotman into the ace Reflector. {{spoiler|Croid also infected Tachyon, who is now a latent carrier.}}
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** Damsel, a Type 3 female Ace. She can boost the powers of her designated "champion" (such as turning a levitator into a bona-fide human jet).
** Cameo has this trope as her power's side effect. She can channel the memories of the dead from items they owned, and for items owned by an Ace with mind-driven powers, e.g. telekinetics, she also channels the power. The catch comes with telepatic Aces, as Cameo also channels their personality.
* The ''Cyborg and the Sorcerers'' series by [[
** In the Ethshar series by the same author, this is also how the (psychic-type) magic of a warlock is passed on; the other dozen or so forms of magic are either inborn or trained for.
* In Nina Kiriki Hoffman's book ''A Red Heart of Memories'' and its sequel, three of the characters were turned into powerful witches by a ghost who cursed them when they invaded the house he was haunting. However, the ghost was only able to do so because it was Halloween and the house itself(which is sentient and magical) wanted to welcome them and give them magical power.
* The Orc king Obould Many-Arrows from the ''[[Forgotten Realms]]'' was blessed by the Orc god Gruumsh One-Eye through an ancient ritual that focused his entire tribe's prayers on him. Already a strong and cunning orc, Obould became a mighty warrior capable of defeating the ''frost giantess queen'' in single combat. Fortunately for the Realms, Obould ultimately became a [[Pragmatic Villainy|Pragmatic]] [[Visionary Villain]] more interested in founding a stable kingdom than in violent conquest.
* In
* Witches in ''[[Septimus Heap]]'' have the power of
* In ''[[Labyrinths of Echo]]'' Order Grand Magisters commonly shared their power among the order. Max also resurrects the tradition to share luck.
▲== [[Live Action TV]] ==
* In ''[[Angel]]'', the Visions can be transferred through [[Unusual Euphemism|intimate touch]].
* In ''[[Heroes (TV series)|Heroes]]'', {{spoiler|Ando's}} power is version 3.
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** Bites him in the ass at least once.
*** Especially in one of the [[Expanded Universe]] books, when he gives Lwaxana Troi the power of the Q. The result involves multiple [[Crowning Moment of Funny|Crowning Moments Of Funny]].
** Trill symbionts don't grant superpowers, other than allowing a person's memories to live on past their death.
* The Tok'ra in ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' grant their hosts a highly extended lifespan, perfect health, and access to their own memories, as well as letting them operate Goa'uld tech and [[Detect Evil|sense the presence of Goa'uld]] in others. This "blending" is also voluntary, and the human is allowed to remain in the driver's seat, as opposed to the [[Grand Theft Me]] nature of the Goa'uld. Jacob Carter ([[The Smart Guy|Sam's]] dad) was cured of terminal cancer this way.
** ''Stargate Atlantis'' had a type 5 occur to Rodney and Weir.
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* Seth from ''[[Misfits]]'' is an unusual example. He can grant powers to others, but only if he absorbs that power from another first.
▲== [[Tabletop RPG]] ==
* The ''[[GURPS]]'' advantage Affliction with the Advantage special enhancement gives the ability to temporarily give people powers, depending on the advantage in question.
** And later supplements included the rules to remove the "temporary" part.
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** Furthermore, almost all forms of supernatural can learn charms to perform this role themselves, such as the Solars' 'Power Awarding Prana', which allows the target to use essence and Solar charms for as long as the Solar maintains the charm.
** The Lunars can do similar thing. The recipient(s) eats a small Essence-filled chunk of the Lunar's flesh, and gains Awakened Essence mutation that allows them to learn and cast Sorcery, for as long as the Essence is committed. Given the sheer scope of things possible through Sorcery and the relatively cheap cost of committed Essence, a Lunar can potentially raise an army of mortal superheroes all by his or her own.
* Though it depends on the setting, divine spellcasters in ''[[Dungeons
** Similarly, Warlocks gain their powers from consorting with strange otherworldly powers.
** In Fourth Edition, Primal classes gain their powers from nature spirits.
** Clerics can learn a spell known as Imbue With Spell Ability, enabling them to donate some of their other spells to the target, who can cast them at his own discretion. Necromancers in ''[[Forgotten Realms]]'' sometimes use similar 'Imbue Undead With Spell Ability' spell.
** The Wish and Miracle spells can also enhance basic attributes by up to 5 points (which is quite a bit).
** ''Planescape'' and ''[[Forgotten Realms]]'' as divine-heavy settings introduced special forms of empowering. Proxy is agent of a deity granted extra power and imbued with the divine will, that is not fully free-willed, but driven toward their god's
*** It was indicated that the reason Mystra had so many Chosen running around was that she was so powerful that Ao told her she had to take measures to keep herself 'merely' a Greater God. Her solution was to put so many fragments of her power into various mortals that it made a significant dent in her power.
*** It has been suggested that sorcerers can be created by being at the right place at the right time...or [[Blood Bath|being bathed in dragon blood]] as an infant.
* In ''[[Witchcraft]]'', there are various powers (including [[Functional Magic|Incantations and Necromancy powers]]) that can be gained by divine patrons. They usually demand you work in their interests, and/or conduct sacrifices.
* ''[[New World of Darkness]]''
** The ''[[Changeling: The Lost]]'' and ''[[Vampire: The Masquerade]]'' gamelines have this happen to human PC's. In ''Changeling'', humans who spend enough time in Arcadia become changelings either through eating the food there, surviving the abusive tasks of their keeper, or their keepers' magic changing them. They can also bestow minor blessing and sometimes even abilities to mortals through [[Functional Magic|Pledges.]] ''Vampires'' do the whole embracing thing, as well as ghouling mortals with vampire blood. It doesn't kill them, but it does addict them and give them a small access to vampire powers and agelessness.
** There are also a few groups in ''[[Mage: The Awakening]]'' dedicated to doing this. One [[Prestige Class|Legacy]], the Blank Badges, has a top-tier Attainment that allows them to [[Weirdness Censor|literally explain Paradox away, even by just saying, "I'm doing magic."]] If they're really successful in doing it, not only does the witness buy it, but there's a chance they might Awaken in the future.
* The Chaos gods from ''[[Warhammer
== [[Video Games]] ==
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** The "Plus" and "Minus" abilities also do this, empowering each other. However, said abilities are only available on Pikachu [[Expy|expies]] Plusle and Minun, respectively.
** There are whole [[Metagame]] strategies that center around setting up powerful buffs, then passing them on to another party member using Baton Pass. Moves like Wish and Light Screen/Reflect also remain in play after the Pokemon that used them switches out.
* In their [[Emergency Transformation
* The Naaru in the ''[[Warcraft]]'' universe can bestow the powers of the Light on mortals. And they can also be taken from them, forcefully, as the Blood Elves did.
** As it's been revealed that was a plan on the Naaru's part to give the Blood Elves more of a connection to the Light than their offworld leaders desired, we're no longer positive about the latter.
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* ''[[Persona 2]]'': Both [[Big Good|Philemon]] and [[Bigger Bad|Nyarlathotep]] empowers humans they like with the power of Persona. The result... isn't pretty.
* ''[[Persona 4]]'': Izanami-no-Mikoto empowers the main character and certain two others with a more flexible form of Persona. The result... isn't pretty.
* ''[[Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne]]'': Lucifer empowers the main character with demonic essence, allowing him to use Magatama and command de[[
* ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics]]'': The Zodiac Stones empower people who possess strong wish. Unfortunately, more often than not this turn those people into Lucavi demons.
* ''[[Final Fantasy VIII]]'': The main characters admit that they will be too puny to fight were it not for their Guardian Forces, which allow them to use Magic and fight on par with the Sorceresses. The price of this power isn't exactly cheap.
* ''[[Final Fantasy XIII]]'': The fal'cie is a particularly malevolent version of a
* ''[[Valkyrie Profile]]'' allows you to be the one doing the empowering. [[Valkyries|Due to the nature of your power]], it usually works after a great tragedy befall the to-be-empowered. Namely, their death.
** In ''[[Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume]]'', the main character do the same in [[Everybody Hates Hades|Hel]]'s name, to exact revenge against the Valkyries.
* The second [[Knights of the Old Republic]] is almost built around this and a [[Deconstructor Fleet]] of the [[Star Wars]] universe. As the de-powered Exile, you are "re-awakened" by [[Evil Mentor|Kreia]]. Then, as you gather party members, they can often teach you skills or status buffs. Topping that, most of your party turns out to be untrained Force Sensitives. Gather enough influence with them, and the Exile can "awaken" then into Jedi (or Sith).
== [[Web Comics]] ==
* Lady Lillith in ''[[Cat Legend]]'' is the first type. Other powerful faeries are probably capable of the same.
* In the Exalted-themed ''[[Keychain of Creation]]'', The [[Mad Scientist|Elegant Nova Of Progression]] is trying to figure out how to do this, and has had some successes (though not without setbacks).
* In the RPG-themed ''[[Adventurers!]]'', Karn gains a [[Super Mode]] near the end of the "game", giving him several new moves. One of these moves is Truth Buster, which enables him to give his other party members their own super forms.
* In ''[[El Goonish Shive]]'', Immortals can give people magical abilities.
* [[Author Avatar|Chris-Chan]] from ''[[Sonichu]]'' can do this.
== [[Web Original]] ==
* In the [[Whateley Universe]], Bill Wilson becomes Super Empowered when a millennia-old spirit gives him its powers, turning him into Tennyo.
== [[Western Animation]] ==
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[[Category:Transformation Causes]]
[[Category:Superhero Tropes]]
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[[Category:Super Title Index]]
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