Power Classifications
Since parahumans began to appear in the 1980s and following the arrival of threats like the Endbringers, the Siberian and other villains, the need for a system of power classifications to be used by law enforcement, government and the media became clear. While initially used only for classifying Villains, this classification soon became used to gauge the parahuman capabilities of all capes - whether hero, Villain or Rogue.
When a new parahuman reveals their presence they are identified with one or more of twelve categories and a number in each one (usually between 1 and 10) to express the level of threat they offer to a PRT team. The scale does go beyond ten but that appears to be reserved for particularly dangerous or powerful threats. It should be clearly stated that ratings are subjective abstractions largely based on danger to the citizenry <ref name = "CM1">Private message by Wildbow, archived on SpaceBattles</ref>. Baring some objective measure from an ability, a individual para-humans rating may be, too low, too high or fail to account for other aspects of the para-human's abilities all together.
The categories are: Mover, Shaker, Brute, Breaker, Master, Tinker, Blaster, Thinker, Striker, Changer, Trump and Stranger.
Weld theorizes that the powers may have been named the way they were to facilitate memorization using the following rhyme: <poem> Mover, Shaker,
Brute, Breaker,
Blaster, Thinker,
Trump and Stranger.</poem>
Powers which are inextricably linked, such as Dauntless' ability to empower objects (Trump) by touching them (Striker), are indicated with a slash ("Striker/Trump")<ref name = "PM1">Private message by Wildbow, archived on SpaceBattles</ref>.
Mover
A mover has the ability to transport themselves and/or others to other locations, by means of enhanced speed, teleportation, flight, vehicles or the like. PRT typically appends the mover classification with the specific type of capability, eg Mover: Teleporter.<ref name="PRT">PRT Quest document</ref>
| Cape | Classification | Power Description |
|---|---|---|
| Acidbath | Breaker/Changer (Blaster, Striker, Mover)<ref name="list"/> | Acid manipulation: can turn into, sling, and move as acid |
| Aegis | Mover ?,<ref name="PRT"/> Brute ? | Flight, Extreme personal Biokinesis |
| Alexandria | Mover ?, Brute ?, Thinker 6 <ref name="14.y">14.y - Interlude: Alexandria</ref> | Extremely rapid flight, super strength, increased durability |
| Bambina | Mover/Shaker 6<ref name="23.2">Drone 23.2</ref> | Ricochets off hard surfaces at will, creating explosions at each point of contact. Can protect teammates from her own power. |
| Black Kaze | Mover/Striker<ref name="list"/> | Teleport/speedster hybrid, telefragged anyone in-between departure and arrival |
| Burnscar | Mover ?,<ref name="PRT"/> Blaster ? | Extreme pyrokinesis, Teleportation through open flames |
| Chariot | Tinker/Mover?<ref name="9.1">Sentinel 9.1</ref> | High speed flying suit |
| Damsel of Distress | Shaker ?, Mover ?<ref name="16.x"/> | Gravity blasts, high recoil |
| Glory Girl | Mover ?,<ref name="PRT"/> Brute ? | Flight, some invincibility, super strength, aura of awe (allies)/terror (enemies) |
| Jouster | Trump? | variable power effects |
| Lady Photon | Blaster 4, Mover 3, Shaker 3<ref name="WoG1">Edit by Wildbow</ref> | Flight, light blasts, forcefields |
| Laserdream | Mover ?,<ref name="PRT"/> Blaster ?, Shaker ? | Flight, light blasts, forcefields (light blasts are stronger than Lady Photon's, while forcefields are weaker) |
| Legend | Breaker ?,<ref name="I14.5">Interlude 14.5 (Bonus Interlude)</ref> Mover?,<ref name="PRT"/> Blaster ?[citation needed] | Flight. Capable of attaining relativistic speeds when traveling in a straight line at the expense of conscious thought. |
| Leonid | Thinker ?, Stranger ?, Mover ?<ref name="29.6">Venom 29.6</ref> |
Slow teleportation/phasing by becoming sound. |
| Oni Lee | Mover ?<ref name="PRT"/> | Duplication/Teleportation; teleports, duplicates are left behind, disintegrating in moments. |
| Purity | Blaster 8, Mover 4<ref name="9.6">Sentinel 9.6</ref> | Flight, absorb and emit light, fires destructive beams of light |
| Shadow Stalker | Breaker 3, Stranger 2, Mover 1<ref>Comment by Wildbow in Scourge 19.5</ref> | Shadow state, intangibility. |
| Shielder | Mover 3,<ref name="WoG1"/> Blaster ?, Shaker ? | Flight, same as Lady Photon, though with better forcefields |
| Squealer | Tinker 2, Mover 3<ref name="9.1"/> | Modified vehicles |
| Strider | Mover ?<ref name="PRT"/> | Mass teleportation |
| Trickster | Mover ?<ref name="PRT"/> | Teleportation. Can swap the locations of any two objects/people (including himself) within line-of-sight. The less similar in shape/mass/volume of the objects, the more difficult and slower the teleport. |
| Velocity | Mover ?,<ref name="PRT"/> Breaker ? | Superhuman speed inversely proportional to strength |
Shaker
A Shaker can affect a broader area, asserting some degree of control over the battlefield.<ref name="PRT"/>
Brute
A Brute classification typically indicates enhanced strength or durability.<ref name="PRT"/>
Breaker
Breakers have the ability to alter themselves to a different state in which they maintain different abilities.<ref name="PRT"/>
Master
A cape whose powers allow them control others or the minions they create (be they humans, parahumans, animals, or specific objects).<ref name="PRT"/>
Considered a "mental" power, and tends to arise from psychological stress rather than violence.<ref name="9.3">Sentinel 9.3</ref>
| Cape | Classification | Power description |
|---|---|---|
| August Prince | Master/Stranger 3<ref name="23.2"/> | Cannot be deliberately harmed by anyone within range of his power |
| Bitch | Master<ref name="I15"/> | Transforms dogs and wolves into strong monsters the size of vans, brain altered so she can naturally understand and communicate with dogs instead of with humans |
| Blasto | Tinker 6 (Master 5, Blaster 2, Changer 2, Brute 2)<ref name="19.y"/> | Botany/cloning tinker |
| Canary | Master 8<ref name="I6">Interlude 6</ref><ref name="28.2"/> | Voice lets her command humans |
| Cherish | Master ? | Emotional control. Can sense and control others' emotions on a city-wide range |
| Crusader | Master 6<ref name="9.1">Sentinel 9.1</ref> | Creates ghostly replicas of himself |
| Echidna | Master/Striker 10, Brute 8, Changer 2,<ref name="18.4">Queen 18.4</ref> Thinker<ref name="18.5">Queen 18.5</ref> | Clones living creatures for duration of physical contact. Copies are hostile, retain memories, possess similar variations on powers. |
| Edict | Master (low)<ref name="16.x">Interlude 16.x</ref> | |
| Felix Swoop | Master/Blaster | Controls birds, grants them fire powers |
| Glaistig Uaine | Master 10+, Trump 10+,[citation needed] | Can claim the powers of recently killed parahumans, then summon up to three "spirits" under her command, that are able to interact with the world and allow her to use their powers |
| Goddess | Trump, Master, unknown others<ref name="30.4">Speck 30.4</ref> | Similar to Canary's power, but presence-based rather than voice-based |
| Heartbreaker | Master ? | Emotional manipulation with potentially permanent effects |
| Mockshow | Master/Shaker 6<ref name="9.1">Sentinel 9.1</ref> | Animates inanimate objects into rhino-like constructs under her control. |
| Moord Nag | Master ? | Controls a giant shadow-monster that grows stronger by feeding on living things |
| Nilbog | Master<ref name="16.x">Interlude 16x (Donation Bonus)</ref> (>7)[citation needed] | Creates life, creations can reproduce and/or have other capabilities |
| Parian | Master 6<ref name="8.5"/> | Telekinesis with a cloth specialization. Uses powers to animate cloth minions. |
| Prism | Master ? Brute? | Creates duplicates of herself that can be condensed back into one, giving the remaining one (the original) a temporary surge of superhuman strength and speed |
| Regent | Master<ref name="I15">Interlude 15</ref> (>8) | Can manipulate nervous systems. Limited to humans. Only minor movements initially, but with time may gain complete motor control over a victim |
| Skitter | Master 5,<ref name="8.5">Extermination 8.5</ref> Thinker 1<ref name="16.2">Monarch 16.2</ref> (initial), Master 8, Thinker 1<ref name="22.1">Cell 22.1</ref> (later) | Arthropodokinesis, arthropodovoyance |
| Teacher | Master? Trump? | Bestows tinker and thinker talents on chosen volunteers at the expense of their free will. |
Tinker
Tinkers can intuitively create or alter many devices beyond the usual restrictions of knowledge, resources and physics. Tinkers are less dangerous when removed from their gear, but should not be assumed to be harmless.<ref name="PRT"/>
Blaster
A cape with ranged, offensive attacks of some form. Can include blasts, thrown or moved objects, grenades. Not always damaging, but generally deleterious.<ref name="PRT"/>
| Cape | Classification | Power Description |
|---|---|---|
| Acidbath | Breaker/Changer (Blaster, Striker, Mover)<ref name="list"/> | Could turn into, sling blasts of, & move as tidal wave of acid |
| Allfather | Blaster ?<ref name="list">Wildbow's Parahuman List</ref> | Created mid-air portals from which to launch volleys of weapons |
| Arbiter | Thinker, Blaster (low), Shaker (low)<ref name="23.2">Drone 23.2</ref> | Unknown |
| Blasto | Tinker 6 (Master 5, Blaster 2, Changer 2, Brute 2)<ref name="19.y"/> | Botany/cloning tinker |
| Codex | Blaster/Thinker[citation needed] | "steals" intelligence |
| Felix Swoop | Master/Blaster[citation needed] | Controls birds, grants them fire powers |
| Flechette | Striker, Blaster (low)<ref name="I14.5"/> | enhanced aim, imbues weapons so they penetrate anything |
| Geomancer | Blaster <ref name="list">Wildbow's Parahuman List</ref> | Created streams of rubble |
| Jouster | Blaster/Striker,<ref name="23.1">Drone 23.1</ref> Mover<ref name="PRT"/> | Lance lengthens, applies elemental power |
| Lady Photon | Blaster 4, Mover 3, Shaker 3<ref name="WoG1">Edit by Wildbow</ref> | Fires hard light blasts |
| Laserdream | Blaster ?, Mover 3, Shaker ? | Same as Lady Photon with more emphasis on offense |
| Legend | Breaker ?,<ref name="I14.5"/> Blaster ?, Mover ?[citation needed] | Shoots beams of light that he can bend and split, with variable effects of his choice, e.g. freezing |
| Lightstar | Blaster<ref name=":4">Edit by Wildbow</ref> | Creates slow moving projectiles (around half the speed of a thrown basketball) that he could detonate concussively at will.<ref name=":4" /> |
| Lung | Brute 4-9, Blaster 2-6 <ref name="I6">Interlude 6</ref> | Pyrokinetic. Becomes progressively more powerful as the fight goes on |
| Purity | Blaster 8, Mover 4<ref name="9.6">Sentinel 9.6</ref> | Fires beams of light |
| Scrub | Blaster 8+<ref name="18.5">Queen 18.5</ref> | Uncontrolled "matter-annihilation" bursts in his immediate vicinity |
| Shielder | Blaster ?, Mover 3, and Shaker ? | Same as Lady Photon with weaker blasts, more focus on shields. |
| Starlet | Blaster/Shaker 4<ref name="23.2"/> | "Darts" of light which explode, then implode. |
Thinker
Thinkers possess enhanced knowledge, skills and/or perceptions beyond any reasonable norm. Includes clairvoyance, precognition, skill acquisition, enhanced hearing and enhanced sight.<ref name="PRT"/>
Striker
A cape with the ability to apply some effect by touch or at point-blank range. Has a power that applies on physical contact. Often applies a changed state, like the breaker classification, but isn’t personal. Melee range, but not strength or durability, else it is classified as a Brute power.<ref name="PRT"/> The striker classification could include certain breaker effects if they applied to things other than the cape themselves. Other strikers included those who used energy weapons, and those with pyrokinesis or such that didn’t extend more than a foot around them.<ref name="I14.5"/>
Flechette believed that certain kinds of superstrength (those that weren't accompanied by durability) were considered Striker powers,<ref name="I14.5"/> but PRT files stated that strength should always be classed as a Brute ability.<ref name="PRT"/>
| Cape | Classification | Power Description |
|---|---|---|
| Acidbath | Breaker/Changer (Blaster, Striker, Mover)<ref name="list"/> | Could turn into, sling blasts of, & move as tidal wave of acid |
| Assault | Striker 7<ref name="I12½"/> | Absorption and redirection of kinetic energy, momentum and inertia on physical contact. |
| Black Kaze | Mover/Striker ?<ref name="list"/> | Teleport/speedster hybrid, telefragged anyone in-between departure and arrival |
| Brandish | Striker 5,<ref name="WoG2">Edit by Wildbow</ref> Changer 1<ref name="WoG2">Edit by Wildbow</ref><ref>Comment by Wildbow</ref> | Able to deal powerful strikes that can shear through steel |
| Clockblocker | Striker 7<ref name="9.1">Sentinel 9.1</ref> | Can freeze anything he touches in time; no control over duration of effect |
| Dauntless | Trump ?/Striker (?, low)<ref name="PM1" /> | Can slowly "charge" objects with different powers |
| Echidna | Master/Striker 10, Brute 8, Changer 2,<ref name="18.4">Queen 18.4</ref> Thinker<ref name="18.5">Queen 18.5</ref> | Copies parahumans she touches |
| Flechette | Striker, Blaster (low)<ref name="I14.5"/> | Imbues objects with breaker-like effects |
| Grace | Striker, unknown others<ref name="18.5"/> | Selective invulnerability & enhanced impacts for body parts |
| Jouster | Blaster/Striker,<ref name="23.1">Drone 23.1</ref> Mover,<ref name="PRT"/> | Bursts of superspeed |
| Licit | Striker (low)<ref name="16.x"/> | Creates forcefields |
| Madcap | Striker 7<ref name="I12½">Interlude 12½ (Donation Bonus)</ref> | point-blank kinetic manipulation |
| Watch | Striker, Mover, Thinker[citation needed] | Intangible hands used to cause internal injuries. |
Changer
Can alter their form, appearance, and/or natural abilities through some manipulation of their bodies. Does not include new powers beyond natural weapons, armor, or durability.<ref name="PRT"/>
| Cape | Classification | Power Description |
|---|---|---|
| Acidbath | Breaker/Changer (Blaster, Striker, Mover)<ref name="list"/> | Could turn into, sling blasts of, & move as tidal wave of acid |
| Biter | Changer<ref name="R2"/><ref name="list"/> | Can increase the size of body parts, clothing |
| Blasto | Tinker 6 (Master 5, Blaster 2, Changer 2, Brute 2)<ref name="19.y"/> | Botany/cloning tinker |
| Brandish | Striker 5,<ref name="WoG2">Edit by Wildbow</ref> Changer 1<ref name="WoG2">Edit by Wildbow</ref><ref>Comment by Wildbow</ref> | Can transform into an immobile ball of hard light<ref>Comment by Wildbow</ref> |
| Echidna | Master/Striker 10, Brute 8, Changer 2,<ref name="18.4">Queen 18.4</ref> Thinker<ref name="18.5">Queen 18.5</ref> | Grows larger/stronger/additional limbs by feeding |
| Fog | Changer 8, Stranger 3<ref name="9.1">Sentinel 9.1</ref><ref name="10.3C1">Comment by Wildbpw on Parasite 10.3</ref> | Transforms into a living mist with varying solidity that erodes living matter |
| Genesis | Changer 9 (misclassified)<ref name="9.3">Sentinel 9.3</ref> | Creates a single solid image that has powers of their own |
| Hookwolf | Changer 4, Brute 7<ref name="9.1">Sentinel 9.1</ref> | Transforms into a giant wolf made of whirling metal |
| Marquis | Shaker, Changer<ref name="cast">Cast Page</ref> | Reshapes bone very rapidly |
| Mush | Changer 4<ref name="9.1">Sentinel 9.1</ref> | Can change absorb loose matter to grow |
| Nilbog | Changer 7, Trump 4 (misclassified)<ref name="16.x"/> | Displayed different powers and shape in every appearance |
| Skinslip | Changer<ref name="26.5"> Sting 26.5</ref> | Regenerator, can manipulate his skin. Healing allows him to transplant flayed skin to himself, increasing his reach. |
| Weld | Brute, Changer <ref name="9.1" /> | Can change the shape of his body parts to form weapons |
Shifter
The Shifter classification was discontinued shortly before the start of the story<ref>Wildbow on Reddit</ref> and folded into Changer.<ref name="R1">Wildbow on Reddit</ref> However, it is still occasionally used by capes and outdated files<ref name="19.x">Interlude 19 (Donation Bonus 1)</ref><ref name="9.1"/><ref name="10.2"> Parasite 10.2</ref> as a synonym for "Changer".<ref name="R1"/>
Shifter referred to someone who could alter their appearance to look like another person or alter their human features, as opposed to a Changer, who could physically take on another form. Biter<ref name="R2">Wildbow on Reddit</ref> and Oliver would have been examples of a Shifter.
Trump
Trumps can manipulate powers in some capacity, altering, granting, strengthening, weakening or removing them entirely.<ref name="PRT"/> It also covers capes that can either acquire new powers on the fly, or have an interaction with other powers that can't be categorized.<ref name="21.1">Imago 21.1</ref>
Stranger
Stranger powers predominantly lend themselves to infiltration. The ability might bypass defenses, mislead, or help to avoid notice or otherwise affect a person's mind.<ref name="PRT"/>
Powers Not Classified Yet
Some Characters have been clearly stated as parahumans and their powers have been described, but have yet to be clearly classified.
If their classification is revealed in the story or stated elsewhere by Wildbow please remove them from here and put them where they belong.
| Cape | Possible Classification | Power |
|---|---|---|
| King | Brute, Striker ? | Superhuman strength, automatically transfers all damage received to everyone he has touched in the previous 24 hours |
| Newter | Striker ? | All bodily fluids contain hallucinogens, stuns at contact. |
| Panacea | Striker? Master? Trump? | Can manipulate biology of others with a touch. |
| Rune | Striker? Shaker? Master? | Touching an object lets her control it telekinetically |
| Faultline | Striker? Shaker? | Can "slice" through inorganic material |
| Flashbang | Blaster ? | Creates light grenades |
| Ballistic | Blaster ?, Striker ? | Can accelerate an object to a set, bullet-like speed with a touch |
| Gregor | Blaster? Shaker? | Can manipulate his body to produce various chemicals |
| Lustrum | Breaker? | Saps energy sources to form a hard light body which is unaffected by gravity |
| Satyrical | Changer? Master? Stranger? | Shapeshifting self-duplicator whose copies can also change shape |
| Butcher | Thinker?, Mover/Shaker?, Brute?, Trump? | Danger sense, sees circulatory systems through walls, explosive teleportation, super-strength; enhanced durability; healing factor; pain-negation; powers transfer on death |
| Butcher | Thinker?, Mover/Shaker?, Brute?, Trump? | Danger sense, sees circulatory systems through walls, explosive teleportation, super-strength; enhanced durability; healing factor; pain-negation; powers transfer on death |
| Rosary | Shaker ?, Mover ? | Deconstruction and reconstruction of matter in thin, leaf-like sheets |
| Battery | Mover, Breaker, Brute | Short intervals of extreme speed and strength. Must charge between intervals and must not personally move while charging. |
| Burnscar | Blaster ? | pyrokinesis |
| Shamrock | Thinker,<ref name="I18.4"> Interlude 18 (Donation Bonus #4)</ref><ref name="11c">Interlude 11c (Anniversary Bonus)</ref> Shaker | Very weak telekinetic and clairvoyant, creates effects that resemble 'luck' |
| Jack Slash | Thinker,<ref>Interlude 26b</ref> Trump, Master, Blaster | impossibly lucky/skilled with regard to capes, blade projection |
| Floret | Thinker ?, Shaker ? |
Create and manipulate crystalline "buds," enhanced awareness and processing ability regarding fine detail. |
| Glaistig Uaine | Master, Striker, Trump, Thinker | can resurrect twisted "ghosts" of dead capes, kill capes with a touch, sense details regarding powers |
Links
(Detailed power classification breakdown direct from Wildbow)
Parahuman List edited by Wildbow
References
<references/>