Shape shifting
| Shape shifting | |
|---|---|
 Sylar shifts to his original appearance. | |
| Originally held by: | James Martin |
| Absorbed by: | Sylar |
| Ability to: | Shift one's physical characteristics to match another's. |
| Examples of shape shifting | |
Shape shifting is the ability to alter one's own appearance to match another's.
Characters
- James Martin is the first character to use this ability on-screen.
- Sylar has acquired this ability from Martin.
Limits
This ability allows the shapeshifter to alter his or her body to match that of another person. It is not yet clear how much of a size change (or apparent size change) is possible using this ability. The act of shapeshifting is painful and requires at least a few seconds to complete. A form taken using this ability is not an illusion, and the user does not revert to his or her original shape if killed or knocked unconscious.
While it appeared at first that the shapeshifter needs to touch the person he wants to impersonate, Martin was able to impersonate Sylar without prior physical contact.
Martin was the first character to demonstrate this ability (Into Asylum). He used it to impersonate one of Danko's agents after he ambushed the team sent to capture him. While impersonating the agent, he was able to infiltrate the Homeland Security headquarters to get more information about the people hunting him. When his cover was blown, he changed his form to that of a man he encountered in the parking garage while fleeing; completing this transformation took nearly a minute. The change apparently altered his height and weight as well as his facial appearance, including removing much of his hair and adding a beard. Martin later impersonated Danko and then Sylar at a nightclub. While impersonating Sylar, he was killed; his body continued to look like Sylar.
Sylar acquired this ability from Martin(the same way he acquired Electric manipulation), first using it to impersonate a female agent collecting evidence at the seen of Martin's death (Into Asylum). Sylar is able to transform more quickly than Martin, completing the change from the female agent's form to his natural form in just a few seconds. It is not yet known if Sylar can use his other abilities while using a different form.
Examples
-
-
As Jenkins, James infiltrates Danko's team... -
..shakes hands with Danko... -
...and later pretends to be him.
(Into Asylum) -
James touches a janitor's arm and shifts into a painful transformation... -
...and successfully copies the host's physical appearance.
(Into Asylum) -
-
Sylar, after acquiring the ability, enjoys using it.
(Into Asylum)
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Please refer to the following link for fan-created theories and other speculation.
See also
- For a similar ability that can alter one's appearance, see illusion.
- For the ability to change others' appearances, see Appearance alteration.
- For other uses of shifting, see shifting (disambig)