Ability theft

Ability theft
Gabriel Gray demonstrates his newly-acquired telekinetic ability for Dr. Suresh.
First occurrence:	Six Months Ago

Sylar has shown that he can take the powers of other evolved humans. Much is unknown about the actual process and mechanisms Sylar uses in order to take these powers. However, it is clear that removing brains has something to do with acquiring new powers.

About

Six Months Ago

When Gabriel Gray goes to Chandra's apartment, Chandra eventually turns him away since Gabriel has no discernible power. Later, Gabriel encounters Brian Davis, an evolved human with telekinetic powers. He introduces himself as Sylar. After killing Brian, Sylar goes back to see Chandra. This time, he has a newfound power — telekinesis.

Fallout

At Primatech Paper Co., Mr. Bennet tells Sylar that his organization is interested in Sylar because he has multiple powers; all the other evolved humans that have been encountered have had just one power each. Sylar tells his captor that this is what makes him special. Mr. Bennet further theorizes that Sylar's infusing so many changes to his DNA to absorb these powers has driven him insane. Sylar counters that he has one more power to collect — Claire's.

Later, Mr. Bennet again enters the room just outside Sylar's cell. Sylar claims that they are actually alike, because they both collect. Sylar believes Mr. Bennet abducts people with powers because it makes him feel powerful. Mr. Bennet tells him that they're going to take him apart like a watch and find out what makes him tick.

Eden comes to Sylar's cell with a gun, in an attempt to make Sylar kill himself. Sylar is awed at her power of suggestion. He tells Eden that he is going to consume her power. However, his plan fails, and Eden kills herself. Sylar is visibly upset.

Godsend

Hank and Mr. Bennet have determined that Sylar has multiple powers. Other than telekinesis, they have been unable to identify what those other powers are.

Run!

Sylar meets Zane Taylor at Zane's home, where Zane shows him his power. Later when Mohinder shows for his appointment, Sylar (posing as Zane) shows Mohinder that he can melt objects. Zane lies dead in the kitchen.

Graphic Novel:Road Kill

Sylar says he seems to be able to remember things after meeting a waitress from the Burnt Toast Diner. He then travels to Virginia Beach to steal a power from Zane Taylor.

Unexpected

Sylar, posing as Zane Taylor, meets Dale Smither with Mohinder. After learning of her ability, he becomes excited. Dale notices a change in his heartbeat. Later that night, Sylar returns. Dale notes that she couldn't hear his footsteps. He tells her that there weren't any. After killing her, he leaves her suspended under a car she was working on for Mohinder to find her.

.07%

Sylar visits Isaac Mendez's apartment, stakes Isaac to the floor with paintbrushes, and removes his brain. Sylar immediately thereafter begins a crude painting with his newly acquired ability.

Graphic Novel:String Theory

Future Hiro remembers stabbing Sylar, but being unable to kill him because he stole Claire Bennet's ability to regenerate.

Five Years Gone

In addition to the list of powers he has already stolen, Future Sylar demonstrates phasing (which he presumedly stole from the late D.L. Hawkins), illusion (which he took from Candace Willmer), and flight (which he took from Nathan Petrelli before assuming his identity). At the Petrelli mansion, he kills Claire, seems to remove her brain, and take her power of regeneration.

Landslide

After calling in the FBI to capture Ted, Sylar finds the FBI truck holding Ted and flips it. After finding Ted restrained, Sylar opens up Ted and steals his ability.

Powers Stolen

• Sylar is known to have stolen the following powers:
  • Telekinesis from Brian Davis (Six Months Ago)
  • Cryokinesis from an unknown victim (used in Don't Look Back, Road Kill, Five Years Gone, and The Hard Part)
  • Enhanced memory from Charlie Andrews (Seven Minutes to Midnight) (used in Road Kill)
  • Liquefaction from Zane Taylor (Run!)
  • Enhanced hearing from Dale Smither (Unexpected)
  • Precognition from Isaac Mendez (.07%)
  • Induced radioactivity from Ted Sprague (Landslide)
• Mohinder told the FBI that six people from Chandra's list have been murdered by Sylar (Fallout). Since he has murdered at least three evolved humans since then, it is likely that Sylar has at least ten acquired powers.
• In a possible future timeline, Sylar has also stolen the following powers:
  • Phasing from D.L. Hawkins (Five Years Gone)
  • Illusion from Candice Willmer (Five Years Gone)
  • Flight from Nathan Petrelli (Five Years Gone)
  • Rapid cell regeneration from Claire Bennet (Five Years Gone)

Memorable Quotes

"Everyone else we've met has had only one ability. You've taken on several."

"I guess that's what makes me special."

"That's important to you isn't it — being special?"

"It's important to everyone."

"I think you’re insane. I think the infusion of so many alterations to your DNA has corrupted your mind. All this power is degrading you."

"And yet here I am, alive and well, and as soon as I get out, I’m gonna collect one more ability from your daughter."

- Mr. Bennet, Sylar (Fallout)

Notes

• Power theft should not be confused with power mimicry, Peter's power to duplicate or acquire the abilities of other evolved humans.
• In an interview, Tim Kring elaborated on the similarities and differences between Peter and Sylar's powers, calling them "two halves of a similar coin".

  "Both are able to absorb people’s powers, but in two very different ways. Peter’s is based on his empathy and his ability to connect with people and when he’s around them. Sylar actually has to take your brain and do something with it."

• Since Sylar has only removed the brains of evolved humans (or those he mistook for evolved humans) so far, it is presumed that removing brains has something to do with absorbing powers. Indeed, Sylar learns many things from Dr. Suresh and his book.
• Chandra tells Sylar that the brain controls every action. It appears that if the brain is involved in power absorption, the brain must be intact, but not necessarily living.
  • Eden kills herself by shooting herself in the brain, intending to prevent Sylar from gaining her power of suggestion. Indeed, in Fathers & Daughters, Mr. Bennet confirms that Eden stopped Sylar from taking her "gift".
  • James Walker was frozen in mid-bite, and his brain seems to have been removed after his death.
• It is unclear whether or not Brian Davis ever had his brain removed. Sylar (as Gabriel Gray/Gabriel Sylar) killed him, and shortly thereafter acquired the same powers as Brian. It's presently unknown how this was accomplished.
• In an interview, Zachary Quinto said, concerning how Sylar absorbs the powers of others, "They haven't told me. The impression I was operating under was he actually ingested them, but I don't know."
• In an interview, Aron Coleite and Joe Pokaski explain that, although unusual vocal effects were used for both Sylar (Distractions) and Peter Petrelli (Unexpected), both were for "coolness factor", and were not an indication that either was using persuasion. They later reiterated the point in reference to Sylar's voice in .07%.