Enhanced strength

Enhanced strength
Jessica Sanders pins her father on a wall.
Originally held by:	Niki/Jessica Sanders (synthetic), Knox, Michael Fitzgerald, Scott (synthetic) As part of another ability Mohinder
Absorbed by:	Peter Petrelli (lost)
Ability to:	Exert greater than normal physical force
Examples of enhanced strength

Enhanced strength is the ability to exert greater than normal physical force.

Characters

• Niki Sanders (and by extension Jessica) was granted this ability synthetically.
  • Peter Petrelli absorbed this ability from Niki (How to Stop an Exploding Man), but lost it to his father (Dying of the Light).
• Knox can convert ambient emotions into enhanced strength. (The Butterfly Effect)
• Mohinder, is gained enhanced strength through his ability.
• Michael Fitzgerald possesses this ability. (Viewpoints)
• Scott, a Marine recruited by Pinehearst, is given the ability synthetically. (Our Father)

Limits

Jessica Sanders

Jessica had superhuman physical strength sufficient to tear the door off an office safe with her bare hands. In addition to being able to exert such force, she had the ability to resist the forces she applies, so she was not injured when she performs superhuman feats of strength. There was no evidence that she had unusual resistance to other sources of injury. Her strength wasn't limited to her upper body, as she was able to send D.L. flying with a kick. (Fallout)

Niki Sanders

Niki was unable to access this power for most of Season One, first using it on her own in How to Stop an Exploding Man. As she was physically the same person, she presumably had the same limits as Jessica.

Peter Petrelli

Peter absorbed this ability from Niki in How to Stop an Exploding Man, and used it to effectively bloody Sylar's face. Later when Peter used this ability, he demonstrated enough concentrated strength to throw a man against a wall by punching him at the chest (Lizards). After returning from the future, he is strong enough to easily hold Sylar against a wall with one hand. With a single punch he completely broke Sylar's neck (Angels and Monsters).

Mohinder

An aspect of Mohinder's ability is enhanced strength. He was able to crush a gun with his bare hands and toss a man several meters into the air (The Second Coming). He was also able to hurl a table across the room at Nathan and Tracy (Dying of the Light), and, with apparent ease, physically dominate Mark Spatney (I Am Become Death), a drug dealer (Angels and Monsters), and Sylar (Eris Quod Sum).

Knox

Knox states that he can increase his strength by absorbing the fear of others who are around him. His assignment tracker profile says he can convert ambient emotions into enhanced strength. These claims are supported by Knox's ability to detect fear in other people. Enhanced by the fear of numerous hostages, he was able to punch through the body of the German and make a hole in the metal locker behind him (One of Us, One of Them). In a possible future, Knox tells Claire that he can "smell" her fear while being unable to smell any fear from Daphne. After the accidental death of Noah Gray, his source of fear, his strength disappears immediately when Sylar strikes back, leaving him vulnerable (I Am Become Death).

Knox seems to inhale deeply before utilizing his strength (I Am Become Death). He also trembles violently with great amounts of fear (Eris Quod Sum).

Michael Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald's ability is, according to Sylar, enhanced strength and "durability". Despite this, Sylar is able to bypass Michael's durability by telekinetically closing his windpipe. It is unknown if other characters with enhanced strength also have "enhanced durability". (Viewpoints)

His eyes and the tattoos on his body appear to glow when his ability is in use. The reason for this is unknown.

Scott

After the formula was finally perfected, Scott was injected with it and was given enhanced strength as a result. He has demonstrated his ability by breaking free of his cuffs in the Pinehearst laboratory, unbolting his chair from the ground, and throwing it with enough force through a glass window at a brick wall to lodge it securely in the wall.

Selected Examples

• 
  Jessica rips the bodies of Linderman's thugs completely in half, as recorded on Niki's tape.
  (Genesis)
• 
  Jessica throws D.L. a distance of over 10 feet, on multiple occasions, with ease.
  (Better Halves)
• 
  During the first two weeks of her incarceration, Niki snaps a prison guard's baton in half.
  (Godsend)
• 
  Jessica breaks free from cuffs that "could keep an elephant" restrained.
  (Distractions)
• 
  Jessica throws Matt Parkman out a window.
  (Run!)
• 
  Niki throws Candice across a room with one punch.
  (How to Stop an Exploding Man)
• 
  In a horrific dream, Angela witnesses Claire being decapitated by Knox.
  (The Butterfly Effect)
• 
  Strengthened by the fear of his hostages, Knox punches a hole straight through the German's abdomen and the metal wall behind him.
  (One of Us, One of Them)

Notes

• It is unclear whether it's Jessica or Niki who snaps the prison guard's baton in two. If it were actually Niki, this would be her first demonstration of super strength. (Godsend)
• In 2007, Niki is locked up in a cell from which she cannot escape using her brute strength. It is unclear what it is that stops her.
• Though Peter was exposed to Knox in The Butterfly Effect, it is unclear whether or not he absorbed Knox's ability, and whether or not this adds to the strength he absorbed from Niki. Additionally, it is unclear whether or not he now has the ability to sense fear in others.