Phasing

Phasing
D.L. walks through the wall of Niki's cell.
Originally held by:	D.L. Hawkins
Absorbed by:	Sylar (possible future), Peter
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 naturally have this ability.
• Peter Petrelli has absorbed this ability. (Lizards)
• 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. Phasing through Jessica's chest incapacitated her, while phasing through Linderman's head killed him instantly.

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). He has implied that he could use his power to leave another person merged with a wall or other object.

The phasing ability requires active concentration.

Selected Examples

• 
  D.L. first experiences his power escaping from handcuffs at a police station. He later escapes through a prisonwall.
  (Snapshots)
• 
  D.L. phases through the wall of Niki's house.
  (Hiros, Better Halves)
• 
  D.L. phases his arm into Jessica's chest, incapacitating her.
  (Better Halves)
• 
  D.L. phases through a car window to save a woman's life.
  (Collision)
• 
  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)
• 
  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...
• 
  ...and phases through Linderman's head with deadly results.
  (The Hard Part)
• 
  A captive Peter Petrelli, suffering from memory loss, phases through the ropes that bind him, much to his own shock.
  (Lizards)

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.