Ability development

Ability development
Matt's telepathy allows him to use precognition.
Ability to:	Unlock further potentials of ones ability.

Many evolved humans have shown that, over time and through experience, their abilities can develop and become more powerful.

Examples of Ability Development

Accelerated probability

Both Edward and Santiago are able to predict probabilities and move at super speeds (Destiny, Part 1), but Edward was able to develop his ability over the years to produce a ball of electricity with it (Destiny, Part 4).

Ability supercharging

When he first used his synthetic ability, Ando could only supercharge another's ability through touch (Dual). Ando has since been able to develop his ability and can now generate a concussive energy burst with his power (first seen in The Second Coming by his future self but was first shown in the present timeline in Cold Snap). Hiro describes Ando's ability as 'red lightning' (Baby Power).

Clairsentience

When she first discovered her ability, Bridget Bailey was having trouble controlling it. She would get a memory of any object she touched. After gaining control of her visions, became able to scan the "surface memories" of an object.

Sylar has been shown to be able to 'see' experiences and emotions of people (Angels and Monsters) and has implied that he can absorb the memories of a conscious person (An Invisible Thread).

Electric manipulation

Both Elle and a Homeland Security agent could generate electrical arcs (Four Months Ago..., Walls, Part 1). In the Explosion future timeline, the DHS agent had developed his ability and could levitate using it (Walls, Part 1).

Electronic communication

When they were alive, both Richard Drucker (Assignment Tracker 2.0) and Hana Gitelman (Wireless, Part 2) were able to manipulate, generate and interpret electronic/digital communications. After the death of their physical bodies, they then transferred their consciousness' into the digital medium (The Death of Hana Gitelman, Part 2).

Empathic mimicry

When Peter Petrelli first discovered his original ability, he could only mimic the abilities of those in his presence (Genesis). Later, his ability developed and he was able to recall absorbed abilities outside of the source's presence by remembering how they made him feel (Distractions). Also, while suffering form amnesia, Peter was still able to use his absorbed abilities (Four Months Later...). Before his father took his abilities (Dying of the Light), Peter had access to fifteen absorbed abilities.

Freezing/Water manipulation

Originally, Tracy could only freeze objects through touch (The Butterfly Effect). However, after being held captive for some time she was able to build up a 'cold snap'. This 'cold snap', when unleashed, was able to freeze solid everything in a parking garage, even Tracy herself (although she was covered in water at the time) (Cold Snap). Tracy's frozen, shattered body was also able to wink at Noah, foreshadowing her return (Cold Snap). As shown in An Invisible Thread, Tracy's ability has evolved past just freezing things. She can now mimic and control water.

Induced radioactivity

Ted Sprague was initially only able to "burn hot," heating his environment, explosively at times and passively emit radiation (Nothing to Hide). He was later able to "burn bright" and produce an electro-magnetic pulse with his ability to knock out the security systems in a Primatech holding facility, causing no apparent heat or radiation damage to the facility or the person near him (.07%).

Intuitive aptitude

Sylar was first only able to use his power to quickly diagnose failures in mechanical watches, making him a very successful watch repair man. After a visit from Chandra Suresh and talking about his research, Sylar surmised that he could use his ability to acquire abilities by studying his victim's brain (Six Months Ago). However, with the aid of Arthur Petrelli, Sylar discovered he could also obtain the ability of another evolved human by means of an empathic connection with the person (similar to empathic mimicry but not as passive) (It's Coming).

Poison emission

When she first discovered her ability, Maya needed Alejandro to deactivate her ability for her (Four Months Ago...). Later, with the help of Sylar, she becomes able to deactivate her ability at will (Truth & Consequences).

Precognitive dreaming

Both Angela and Peter have shown that this ability is mainly dreaming the future (Fallout). However, she was able to appear in Sylar's dream to convince him to wake up and escape from Level 5 (Eris Quod Sum) and Peter was able to interact with his dreams - by talking to someone in one (How to Stop an Exploding Man) and obtaining an object from another (Truth & Consequences).

Pyrokinesis

A normal pyrokinetic is only able to produce an orange flame. (The Fix) However, after working hard to improve his ability, Flint Gordon, Jr was able to increase the intensity of his pyrokinesis. His flames now burn blue (Playing with Fire).

Shape shifting

For inexperienced shape shifters, taking the form of another person was very painful and required a couple of minutes to complete the transformation. Also, the clothes of the person did not change (Into Asylum). As Sylar became more adept at using the ability, he was able to shift appearances quickly and painlessly, as well as shift his clothes (I Am Sylar). Also, he was able to shift the "sweet spot" in his brain so brain penetration would not kill him (I Am Sylar, An Invisible Thread).

Sound manipulation

At first, Echo DeMille was only able to produce sonic screams with his ability. (Webisode:Going Postal, Part 1) Later he was shown to be able to:

• Mimic song melodies.
• Produce infrasounds.
• Mimic bird calls.
• Convert other forms of energy (eg. electricity) to sound. (Graphic Novel:Going Postal)

Telekinesis

A weak telekinetic, like Brian Davis, is only able to move small things with their mind (Six Months Ago). Sylar has developed his telekinesis, which grants him:

• Enhanced strength - Sylar is able to pin people onto walls and ceilings, far beyond the capabilities of normal person. (Don't Look Back)
• An effect similar to Puppet master - Sylar can control a persons actions using his telekinesis. (One Giant Leap)
• Near invulnerability - Sylar is able to use his telekinesis to lessen physical impacts; like being shot or falling off a roof. (One Giant Leap)
• Limited self-levitation - Sylar is able to levitate himself to some extent. He has used so to perform high-jumps (One Giant Leap, Road Kill) and sneak up on victims (Unexpected, The Second Coming).

Telekinetics can also use it like a knife. Sylar is able to gain acess to the brains of his victims this way (Homecoming). Samson Gray also used this aspect of telekinesis, in order to kill his wife (Exposed).

Telepathy

Matt Parkman was initially only able to read minds (Don't Look Back). With practice and coaching, his ability developed and he was able to perform more actions.

Well developed telepaths can perform the effects of the following abilities:

• Illusion - Matt is able to implant scenarios into the heads of others and make them believe it is real. His father was the first to show this aspect of telepathy. (Fight or Flight)
• Persuasion - Matt is able to put a thought into a person's head and effectively make them do something (Fight or Flight). This differs from Eden's ability as she has to voice a command.
• Precognition - By using his telepathy to reach the state of consciousness akin to other precogs, Matt can paint prophetic images. (A Clear and Present Danger)
• Mental manipulation - Arthur Petrelli had used his telepathy to erase some of his wife's memories. (Villains) Matt has also used this to erase Heather's memories of him Almost Famous.
• A type of body insertion - After erasing all of Sylar's memories, Matt was able to insert Nathan's memories into his body; essentially inserting Nathan into Sylar's body (An Invisible Thread).

Water mimicry

Other water mimics can only turn themselves and whatever they are holding into water. Donald Essex has shown that he is also able to create torrents of water using his ability. (Under the Bridge, Part 2)

Ability Modification

Some abilities seem to become modified or altered in certain ways. This occurs when an ability's effects are limited or expanded from the evolved human's original capacity. This change can happen as a result of previous ability loss and reintroduction through various methods, or as a result of special manifestations brought on by spirit walks.

• Originally, Mohinder injected himself with an imperfect version of the formula, which granted him bug-like characteristics. Later, he was bathed in a pool of the correct formula, which promptly reversed the negative affects of his incomplete formula (Dual). After being exposed to the correct formula, he simply manifested enhanced strength, with no adverse effects (A Clear and Present Danger).
• Before losing his power, Peter had the power of empathic mimicry, and could mimic the powers of others, and retain as many abilities as he gained. He injected himself with a sample of the formula; following Peter's injection, Peter touched Nathan and was able to fly (Dual). Subsequently, he found he was able to replicate one ability at a time, only after touching another evolved human (A Clear and Present Danger).
• Originally, Hiro had the power of space-time manipulation: he could stop time, teleport, and time travel. Arthur Petrelli stole this ability from Hiro (Our Father). Later, Matt Parkman, Jr. touched Hiro and activated his power, granting him the ability to stop time, but not to teleport (Cold Snap).

Notes

• There are 3 main examples of undevelopable abilities: rapid cell regeneration, space-time manipulation and flight.
  • Rapid cell regeneration is passive and the possessor has no mental control over its workings.
  • Space-time manipulation is already extremely powerful.
  • Flight is the only thing the possessor can achieve.

Gallery

• 
  Edward genertates electricity. (Destiny, Part 4)
• 
  Ando discovers that he can create concussive blasts with his ability. (Cold Snap)
• 
  A DHS agent levitates. (Walls, Part 1)
• 
  Hana and Drucker exist in digital forms. (The End of Hana and Drucker)
• 
  Peter first recalls regeneration...
• 
  then invisibility...
• 
  telepathy...
• 
  and precognition for the first time outside the sources' presence. (Distractions)
• 
  Tracy unleashes her cold snap. (Cold Snap)
• 
  Tracy's frozen, shattered face somehow winks. (Cold Snap)
• 
  Ted generates an EMP. (.07%)
• 
  Sylar absorbs Elle's ability without killing her (It's Coming)
• 
  Maya deactivates her ability without Alejandro. (Truth & Consequences)
• 
  Flint can create blue flames. (The Second Coming)
• 
  Echo converts electricity...
• 
  to sound. (Going Postal)
• 
  Sylar telekinetically pins Mohinder and Peter. (Parasite)
• 
  Sylar controls Audrey's actions. (One Giant Leap)
• 
  Sylar uses telekinesis to lessen the impacts of Noah's bullets. (Road Kill)
• 
  Maury produces a telepathic illusion of Linderman. (Angels and Monsters)
• 
  Matt implants a thought. (Trust and Blood)
• 
  Arthur telepathically erases Angela's memories. (Villains)
• 
  Donald Essex produces a torrent of water. (Under the Bridge, Part 2)

Fan Theories

Please refer to Theory:Ability development for fan-created theories and other speculation.

Evolved Human Abilities edit
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