Phasing

Phasing
D.L. walks through the wall of Niki's cell.
Held by:	D.L. Hawkins
Ability to:	Move through solid matter
Examples of phasing

Phasing is the ability to move through solid matter.

Characters

• D.L. Hawkins is the only character known to have this ability.
• In a possible future, Sylar has stolen this ability.

Limits

D.L. can use this ability selectively, passing all or part of his body through a solid object. He can reach through a solid barrier and manipulate something on the other side (like a door handle, for example).

When D.L. phases through something, the surface of the object distorts, as if liquified. The part of D.L.'s body and the rest of the object that is not being phased remain solid.

It is unclear whether phasing changes D.L.'s body or the object he is passing through.

D.L. can use this power to put his hand into another human being. This can be harmful to the other person. It is unknown whether the interaction itself is harmful or if D.L. does something inside the other's body.

D.L. can phase other material besides himself. For example, his clothes stay with him when he passes through walls and other materials. He has demonstrated the ability to phase at least one other person when moving through solid materials (The Hard Part).

The phasing ability requires active concentration.

Examples

• D.L. first experiences his power escaping from a pair of handcuffs at a police station. He later walks through the wall of a prison in order to escape. (Snapshots)
• D.L. phases through the wall of Niki's house. (Hiros, Better Halves)
• D.L. opens a door that was locked; this is probably accomplished through phasing. (Better Halves)
• D.L. phases his arm into Jessica's chest, incapacitating her. (Better Halves)
• D.L. puts his hand through a closed car window to unlock the door. (Nothing to Hide)
• After being shot in the arm, D.L. phases a bullet through his head to avoid death. (Fallout)
• D.L. reaches through a cabin door to unlock it from the inside. (Fallout)
• While speaking to an imprisoned Niki, D.L. reaches through the glass to hold her hand. (Godsend)
• D.L. walks through the walls of a secure, padded room to visit Niki. (The Fix)
• In 2011, "Nathan" phases through a wall and encounters Peter, and is forced to reveal himself as Sylar when Peter remarks, "My brother can't walk through walls". (Five Years Gone)
• D.L. phases both himself and Jessica through the wall of Linderman's archives. (The Hard Part)

Notes

• An NBC "Exclusive Video" calls D.L. a "shape-shifter". While this might be an awkward way of describing D.L.'s power, it's more likely an error.
• According to NBC.com's interactive map, Felipe Acerra also possesses phasing as a power.

Gallery

• 
  D.L.'s first manifestation of his power came quite by surprise.
• 
  With his family on his mind, D.L. practices phasing.
• 
  D.L. escapes the Nevada State Penitentiary by phasing through its walls.
• 
  D.L. phases out of a wall in the The Sanderses' home to attack Jessica.
• 
  D.L. phases through Jessica's body.
• 
  D.L. reaches through a car's window glass...
• 
  ... and open's the door to rescue a woman trapped inside.
• 
  As Jessica aims, D.L. phases to save his life.
• 
  D.L. phases to get into a cabin.
• 
  Prisons have never proved an obstacle for D.L.
• 
  D.L. phases into Niki's padded room for an unauthorized visit.