Theory:Ability replication

Main Article Theories about Ability replication Main Discussion

The following fan theories are about Ability replication.

For help on adding theories, see the help section.

Theories

Theory	Citations	Notes
Peter's ability replication is only temporary; were Ando to supercharge him enough, his empathic mimicry would be restored.	None.	+ Peter's ability has been an enduring part of his character; to replace it with a lesser ability that is more unlike his personality seems to be an unwise plotting choice by the writers. As such, they are going to restore his original abilities. - It's possible Ando's ability supercharges only for as long as Ando is in physical contact with an evolved human. + Maybe Peter can replicate Ando's ability and then constantly supercharge himself. • Assuming it's not an example of ability immunity. • In the future, Ando super charges Hiro with an energy bolt, perhaps this makes the charge last longer. (The Second Coming) - Daphne could only travel through time as long as Ando was touching her. (Dual) • The writers stated themselves that they are trying to limit Peter's powers.
Peter's original powers could return if he copies Sylar's ability.	None.	+ Sylar was able to acquire abilities empathically. ("It's Coming") - Peter doesn't know of Sylar's ability to copy powers empathically, and Sylar has many abilities. Peter will most definitely absorb telekinesis or intuitive aptitude. - Sylar's main power is intuitive aptitude, so Peter would gain that power. + Sylar could acquire powers empathically, and since Peter is much more likely to connect with people, he might be able to use that aspect of the ability better than Sylar ever did. • Peter may absorb whichever power Sylar is currently using - and thus is "on top" - rather than his base one of intuitive aptitude.
Peter's old abilities will manifest in the same way that Matt Parkman's use of precognitive drawing despite it not being his own power.	None.	+ Matt Parkman's use of an ability that's not his own, and wasn't explicitly granted to him, suggests this may be possible. - According to a Behind the Eclipse, Matt's precognition is a result of him being able to access the state of conciousness that precog's can enter due to Usutu's spirit walk opening his mind to that state combined with him being a telepath.
Ability replication is actually Peter's old ability, and will eventually evolve into empathic mimicry after enough time, similar to how Matt gained the ability to insert thoughts in other people's head.	None.	+ Peter developed. He is now unable to feel empathy like in previous seasons. Instead he is leery of other people and eventually hates them (Nathan). Someone can't feel hate as well as empathy. • Why can't someone feel hate as well as empathy? • If ability replication is indeed part of empathic mimicry Peter should be able to gain some abilities permanently (e.g. Claire's). Claire has never betrayed him so that it may be that Peter can feel empathy for her. • Future Claire did. • But Future Claire is not present day Claire. • Could have had an effect on him the same way. • It has not shown Peter absorbing a passive ability. We don't know what happens when he absorbs Claire's powers; he might keep them without empathy. + Sylar can absorb powers through empathy, but with an emotional effort. Maybe Peter's problem is that his empathy is gone or weakened. + It may be the case that Peter in Season 1 required touch in his very early stages. He never picked up an ability without touch until at least Matt Parkman's (he touched Angela, Nathan, and Claire). Although he learns to access them remotely and he learns to access several at once, this is after much training, effort, and adrenaline. • Although Peter did have several occasions of physical contact with his family prior to gaining their abilities, it was not implied to be neccessary for copying powers. • Much emphasis is placed on Peter's hand-to-hand contact with Nathan in the first episode, just before he flies. • Peter had little to no physical contact with Isaac - especially skin-on-skin contact - and yet was able to draw the future only hours after being exposed to the power. (Don't Look Back) • They may have shaken hands to greet each other, or Peter's power was trained enough to absorb it without touch. + Tracy's freezing was shown to move from a touch-based ability to a radial ability. Similarly, ability replication may acquire the ability to work at a distance, like empathic mimicry. + Hiro seems to have the same ability that he had before, only weakened. Since Peter lost his powers in the same way, his case may be similar.
Ability replication is just another use of the power absorption. Peter will find out he can steal powers from others, and this is the only way to cumulate them, like Arthur did.	None.	+ Arthur killed Adam, while this one could be a pretty useful ally, as Angela dreamed it. Moreover, he was using Maury, he probably would have used Adam too if he could. ("Dying of the Light") + Arthur doesn't show any difference after taking both Sylar and Peter's way of taking powers, maybe because he chooses what way he wants to use. - Arthur never took Sylar's ability. He did steal Peter's after he mimicked Sylar's intuitive aptitude, but it has been confirmed by BTE interviews that Arthur doesn't feel the hunger because he never used that ability. • Part of Arthur's ability is to gain complete control over the abilities he absorbed so that he was able to suppress the hunger. - That was never stated anywhere, it's never been confirmed as something inherent of the ability. • They didn't say that exactly in the BTE, but Arthur understood Sylar's power, and understood the hunger, as he explained him that it was only a "need of powers" and "not of murders", so we can assume Arthur just fed it, because he already have most powers than anyone else. He's "better", it's not a belief, it's "a fact". Moreover, Arthur was able to use powers that Peter had without even knowing it, so that proves his power is more efficient on the knowing of abilities. He didn't absorb Mohinder nor Maya with empathic mimicry, which Peter was never able to turn off. • Arthur had telepathy, it's been confirmed that that's how he learned that Angela was manipulating Sylar into believing he was her son, he could have easily read Sylar's mind to see what he was dealing with and deduct how to act. He also has the edge of experience, being one of the Company founders, he has had his share of evolved human problems. It's also possible that because Peter's ability was taken via his ability, it is not always on, as it's not naturally his. - Peter could theoretically just steal all villains powers (f.x. Sylars), leaving Heroes with no plot. • We can't say there are that many "specials" villains left, apart from Sylar, so Peter would be limited, but not his power. • There are however, an increasing amount of known specials, who's to say Peter wouldn't take some of the more villainous individual's abilities? + Peter wouldn't steal the good guys, and would be forced to find some villains for that, in that way, he will be limited, as writers wants, but without making him as weak as he is right now.
Peter was granted this ability instead of his original one due to damage done to his genes when Arthur stole his ability.	None.	+ The two abilities are similar. It would not be unfeasible for the ability to have been the product of some slight genetic change that may have occurred when Arthur took away Peter's empathic mimicry. • Synthetic abilities might just not work as well as natural abilities. • Nathan's flight is more powerful than West's, Tracy's freezing is just as powerful as Sylar's was, Niki's super strength also seemed just as powerful as natural abilities. • Synthetic abilities are so far indistinguishable from natural ones, they can be blocked by the Haitian and removed by an eclipse. - The powers are reflective of their personalities, according to Tim Kring. Peter has become jaded after all he's been through, and now has a hard time connecting to people. Thus he can no longer access empathic mimicry. However, this does not mean he's lost it completely.
Peter gained his new ability because his DNA changed from when his his old power manifested.	Mohinder said that when Peter copied abilities it caused a change is his DNA; the formula gives abilities based on the DNA of the person at the time of the injection.	+ This completely explains why his old ability vanished, but he still should be able to access his old abilities. - Peter's DNA never actually changed. It always remained in it's original state, unless reformulating itself to mimic an ability. He never added or removed pieces of DNA, therefore never changing it.
Peter would regain his original ability if he replicated Claire's ability.	None.	+ It's possible that Peter didn't get his original ability when he injected himself with the formula was because Arthur's ability damaged his DNA when he stole it. Claire's power could heal that damage. - DNA can't be healed. + Peter was able to repair his damaged memory, therefore, it is likely he can repair his DNA. - Memory is recorded in neurones, not DNA. + Peter's body may recognize his current ability as synthetic and try to repair the damage. + If it couldn't, Claire would have several tumors from when she was exposed to Ted's radiation, which is known to alter DNA. - So would Noah, Sandra, Lyle, Matt, Thompson and the Haitian. Especially without ability to regenerate. • There are drugs that lessen the effects of radiation if taken in time, Matt and Audrey were shown taking it. + Claire survived Sylar going Nuclear in Costa Verde without radiations ill effects. • Baby Matt used his powers to start Hiro's up again. Since Hiro's powers were removed in the same way as Peter's, it can be assumed that the damage to the DNA can be retracted. (Cold Snap)
Peter immediately has extreme control and power over his replicated abilities.	Peter was able to freeze a very large part of the plane.	+ Peter was able to carry Matt whilst flying, something that Nathan had found difficult. - Peter couldn't control his freezing, and even Tracy completely froze a man on her first try. (The Butterfly Effect) + Peter didn't know Tracy had freezing, maybe his control relies on him knowing which ability he replicates, he had no trouble with telepathy and flight. + Peter was able to use telepathic commands on the two guards during "Exposed" when it took Matt a long time to learn. • He just remembers how to use them. He had all abilities he replicated before, except freezing. - Peter froze the plane's side accidentally, which indicates a low-level of control of that ability. + And he has since developed enough control over which ability he replicates and is able to use them effectively. • When Peter absorbed Tracy's freezing he was under the impression that she was Niki, and that he would receive enhanced strength again. • Nope, he already had enhanced strength from Mohinder. He knew it was Tracy and most likely knew what her ability was. - Peter only met Tracy once, right after he had his abilities stolen, there were no conversations about powers between Peter and Tracy, nothing suggests he knew what her ability was.
Peter absorbed someone elses ability after absorbing Nathan's ability in Dual and before absorbing Mohinder's ability in A Clear and Present Danger.	None.	+ Peter knew to touch Mohinder on the plane even though he claimed he didn't take any other abilities after Nathan's and with his old ability, he could've had Mohinder's ability by just being near him. - Peter can't absorb abilities by being close to someone anymore, he needs to physically touch them. • This theory suggests that Peter took somebody's ability prior to Mohinder. + Peter asked Nathan what was the last ability he saw him perform, which hints at him having other powers before that conversation.
Peter will gain mastery over his ability and be able to replicate more than one ability at once, through empathy.	None.	+ Being able to have more than one ability is Peter's niche. It's his "thing". It's been his whole character since Season 1. + Assuming that natural and synthetic abilities share a common source; unique genetic markers, it is unlikely that the nature of the ability would change within the same person. Mohinder stated that the manifestation of abilities can trigger with the release of adrenaline during times of emotional stress. It is therefore possible that Peter and Hiro's current abilities are limited due to mental blocks brought on by mental and emotional trauma. It would be reasonable to assume that given the right stressful circumstances, both Hiro and Peter could display some uncontrolled aspects of their previous powers. This would allow the writers to allow characters to use their original powers in limited times during specific plot points, without making them too powerful in most cases and retain their original powers.
Peter will be able to take more than one ability at a time if he comes into contact with baby Matt.	None.	+ Matt Jr restored part of Hiro's ability and he didn't even need the formula, it makes sense he could advance an already manifested ability to the next level. - Baby Matt can activate dormant ability cells as proven with Hiro in Cold Snap. Peter's powers are no longer dormant. As Baby Matt has yet to use his powers to enhance something already active, we do not know if he can aid Peter in this way. • Baby Matt's ability appears to be activating or deactivate energy based phenomena, (like cars, trucks, TVs or toys whether batteries are in or not), Arthur said he takes everything but i doubt he could completely drain all traces of an ability. Baby Matt might be activating or charging trace amounts of the energy that is involved in the use of an ability. Since being activated Hiro doesn't need to touch the baby any more to freeze time. In a person with active abilities the baby might be able to activate or deactivate them but i doubt he could deactivate Peter's current one then reactivate the original unless Ando supercharged the baby and the baby developed some sort of intelligent awareness of what he was doing.
If Peter were to touch two people at the same time and use his power, he could have two abilities at a time.	None.	+ Peter has only demonstrated to acquiring one ability.
Peter could gain his old ability from his past self.	None.	+ With Hiro making a power comeback Peter may get the chance to go back in time and replicate his old ability from his past self in the event Hiro regains time travel. - True, but there will be no more time travels.
Peter could mix two powers together and acquire a whole new power thanks to his ability.	None.	+ If Peter were to touch two special people, and took their abilities at the same time, maybe his DNA would fuse, and give a mix of those two powers. For example, if he touched D.L. and Niki, he would have had Micah's ability. - He was already exposed to D.L. and Niki, and also to Micah and Molly in How to Stop an Exploding Man. He only used enhanced strength and phasing, without his DNA being fused. - In One of Us, One of Them Peter was exposed to three evolved humans at once: Jesse Murphy, Knox and Flint. Yet he later used pyrokinesis, without his DNA being fused. + Peter was able to take multiple powers at that time, his DNA didn't need to fuse to take three at the time. - When Peter apprehended Sylar he said something along the lines of "Bet you didn't think I took that one from you?", indicating that even though being exposed to multiple abilities when touching Sylar he had to decide which ability to replicate. + He needed shape shifting, why would he have mixed anything? As he has total control on his power, mixing could be controled too. Forcing is DNA to change while basing itself on two powers at the time, the Sylar case is much more complicated than we might know because he has the same DNA with multiple powers (so there aren't two DNA to fuse). Taking empathic mimicry from Sylar was obviously a more interesting choice than shape shifting, and Nathan's plan was that Peter took all of Sylar's abilities. It did not happen, that's why he had to flew Sylar out, otherwise he would have killed Peter. Because Peter didn't even know that power before so it's hard to tell how he could have decide what to mimick, since shape shifting is not the last power Sylar absorbed. - Nathan said Peter could do what Sylar did, he never said taking all of his abilities, he could be meaning shape shifting and that only. + He said "whatever Sylar can do", they DID say they wanted to take care of Sylar by themselves, and to "cut that son of a bitch in two", shape shifting can't be consider any second as something useful, since if Nathan didn't decide to save Peter by flying Sylar out, they would both have died. - Peter wanted shape shifting so he could pose as the President and fool Sylar, they weren't planning to take Sylar out there. • That would make Nathan and Peter the stupidest heroes ever. Not sure "take him low, I take him high, let's cut that son of a bitch in two" meant "Ok so we just go there hoping that our flights will be enough against a guy who is immortal, who masters lighting, telekinesis, sound manipulation, and who can desintegrate us with his fingers, then I take his dangerous shape shifting while you go to a certain death, I try to meet the president just in time, I also have to learn in 5 minutes how to master that power, but that should be allright." That doesn't make any sense. Peter didn't even know there was a tranquilizer for Sylar until he met Noah later. So even meeting Sylar as the President would have been useless, as he didn't know he could stop Sylar with something else than "super powers" (and without Noah, he didn't have access to that neither). Nathan flying out Sylar wasn't part of the plan at all. That's why Peter is looking for him right after that. Nathan did that because Peter was getting killed. Nathan didn't think Peter would have the chance to die, which would have happened eventually if he took shape shifting. And just before their fight, they clearly said (to Liam) they were going to care of him, that they needed five minutes. So obviously, if they weren't planning to take down Sylar, there is a huge problem with their logic, because it's not hard to figure out what would have happened with such non offensive powers. • Trying to take all of Sylar's abilities is something that was too predictable, which would make it poor writing, by doing something that isn't predictable, it's good writing, Heroes is a show that it's supposed to sell. - Peter knew Sylar could shape shift, he was there in Coyote Sands during the press conference, while watching Noah said Sylar was a shape shifter. Peter knew. - Nothing indicates Peter can mix abilities. - Nothing indicates abilities can even be mixed.
Peter can only take abilities from people who don't know he is taking their ability or don't want him to take it.	None.	+ In A Clear and Present Danger, Tracy and Mohinder were unconscious while their powers were taken. + In Trust and Blood and Exposed Peter tricked Nathan into letting him touch him. + In Exposed Matt was surprised when Peter borrowed his power. + In An Invisible Thread, Sylar did not know that Peter had a new power or that he took shape shifting. - It makes little to no sense for Peter's ability to have that limitation. + Knox's ability had a similar limitation, but in this case his power was activated by fear. - It's much more logical for an ability to be powered by an emotion than by lack of knowledge. + How so? Both are powered by something inside some one else's mind. If anything, this is more logical because the "something" needs to exist inside the mind of the person the ability is being used on, rather than someone in the general vicinity. + It is possible that rather than being powered by lack of knowledge, the ability is deactivated by the target's consent.
Peter can take only one power from Sylar or any other evolved human with multiple abilities, because Peter's ability cannot keep more than one power.	In An Invisible Thread Peter demonstrated only shapeshifting.	+ Peter loses a previously absorbed ability when he takes a new one. + Ability replication is very different from empathic mimicry. - How could a guy with shapeshifting and Nathan hope to last more than a few seconds against Sylar?