History Main / ElementalSpeed

* ComicBook/GhostRider is associated with both fire (specifically hellfire) and speed, thanks to being a demon riding a CoolBike. The wheels of his motocycle are usually ablaze, and often leaves a trail of flame wherever he goes.

* ComicBook/{{Iceman}}: While speed is not specifically one of Bobby Drake's powers, using his abilities to create slippery platforms that he or others can use to slide around is one of the most recognizable and iconic abilities he possesses.

* '''[[DishingOutDirt Earth-based]]:''' Earth is the element ''least'' associated with speed, as rocks are slow and heavy, and the ground is stationary. However, Earth-based characters may use their weight to gain speed, such as using a RollingAttack or a GroundPound. That said, [[SandBlaster dust and/or sand]] can have greater emphasis on speed, as an alternative to water or snow (see below). If the character is extremely strong or good at digging, they might utilize FastTunnelling as well, giving them the option to shortcut by going through obstacles instead of maneuvering around it.

SubTrope and combinatin of SuperSpeed, ElementsOfNature and ElementalPowers.

This trope correlates a character's SuperSpeed or speed-based abilities with ElementsOfNature. There are several ways to do this: the element can be the ''source'' of their speed, they can ''travel through'' the element to build their speed, the element can be shown as the ''aftermath'' or ''byproduct'' of their speed, the element can be merely ''symbolic'' or ''thematic'', or it can dictate the ''type'' of speed they have as well. And, of course, combinations of each of the above are possible.

* '''[[GreenThumb Plant-based]]:''' Plant, like Earth, is an element not typically associated with speed as plants are usually rooted into the ground. However, as [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid_plant_movement Rapid plant movement]] has taught us, there are plant species that have evolved to have the ability to move rapidly, capable of moving in milliseconds, such as carnivorous plants to catch their prey and even flowers to release pollen. Characters with plant abilities may even surround themselves in or ''become'' clusters of flower petals to increase their speed.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles1'':
** One of the film's most memorable scenes occurs when Dash is accidentally chased out into the middle of the sea by the villains. At first, he panics, thinking that he's going to sink, but both he and the audience soon realize just how fast he really is when Dash is able to continue to [[WalkOnWater run across the water]] with no problem. Noticing this, Dash gives a confident laugh and runs even faster, leaving a high trail of waves in his wake.
** Frozone can use his powers to create ice ramps that he can skate and slide on to get around quickly.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'':
** Ruby Rose's speed Semblance, named Petal Burst, allows her to move faster than the eye can see, leaving a gust of wind and trailing rose petals in her wake. She later learns how to turn '''''into''''' clusters of rose petals and dash through the air.
** Neon Katt uses roller blades to dash around faster than most can see, leaving a rainbow trail behind her.
** Harriet Bree's speed Semblance allows her to run at superhuman speeds, generating electricity that arcs off of her as she runs.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'':

* ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'': Makoto Misaka is also known as "Railgun" due to her Electromaster ability's most unique technique: a localized railgun created from her own body that can fire any object at insane velocities. Due to her own body being relatively human aside from the electric current she produces, she can't hurl herself around at those speeds without risking ending up a stain on a wall.

* '''[[LightTheWay Light-based]] or [[CastingAShadow Darkness-based]]:''' Light is the fastest thing in the universe, and surpassing that speed has been one of the [[FasterThanLightTravel fondest dreams of fantasy and science-fiction]]. If something is associated with light, then you can expect that their speed scale is on the ''cosmic'' level, capable of {{teleport|ation}}ing anywhere on Earth in an instant, and not taking much time to travel through the stars, either. If the setting gives light an opposite number, then you can expect darkness to be just as fast--''if not even faster'' since, as the absence of light, darkness disappears at the same speed as light arrives and reappears as it fades. There's also the associations to [[UnrealisticBlackHole black holes]] and, by extension, [[GravityMaster gravity]]. In either case, these abilities are already pushing the limits of science, so characters can use them to do practically anything...up to and including RideTheRainbow, ThinkingUpPortals and TimeTravel.

* '''[[DishingOutDirt Earth-based]]:''' Earth is the element ''least'' associated with speed, as rocks are slow and heavy, and the ground is stationary. However, Earth-based characters may use their weight to gain speed, such as using a RollingAttack or a GroundPound. That said, [[SandBlaster dust and/or sand]] can have greater emphasis on speed, as an alternative to water or snow (see below). If the character is extremely strong or good at digging, they might utilize FastTunnelling as well.

** There's also Grumblemon from ''Anime/DigimonFrontier'', the human spirit Warrior of Earth, who's primary tactic is to dive underground and swiftly confuse his opponents before bashing them with his hammer.

* ComicBook/MonicaRambeau has light-based powers and has used thematic codenames like Photon and Spectrum. She is capable of shifting into a body of pure light, whereupon she moves at lightspeed and the entire world comes to a complete stop.

** Ruby Rose's speed Semblance allows her to move faster than the eye can see, leaving a gust of wind and trailing rose petals in her wake. She later learns how to turn '''''into''''' clusters of rose petals and dash through the air.

* '''[[LightTheWay Light-based]] or [[CastingAShadow Darkness-based]]:''' Light is the fastest thing in the universe, and surpassing that speed has been one of the [[FasterThanLightTravel fondest dreams of fantasy and science-fiction]]. If something is associated with light, then you can expect that their speed scale is on the ''cosmic'' level, capable of {{teleport|ation}}ing anywhere on Earth in an instant, and not taking much time to travel through the stars, either. If the setting gives light an opposite number, then you can expect darkness to be just as fast--''[[UpToEleven if not even faster]]'' since, as the absence of light, darkness disappears at the same speed as light arrives and reappears as it fades. There's also the associations to [[UnrealisticBlackHole black holes]] and, by extension, [[GravityMaster gravity]]. In either case, these abilities are already pushing the limits of science, so characters can use them to do practically anything...up to and including RideTheRainbow, ThinkingUpPortals and TimeTravel.

** While Luigi is not usually considered a speedy character, he does possess an ability called Green Missile, which causes him to propel himself horizontally while generating small flames for speed. This is taken UpToEleven if the ability misfires, as he is then shot forward with even greater speed and momentum, and stronger flames.

* In ''Anime/OnePiece'' most devil fruit users, particularly of the Logia (elemental) type, seem to figure out how to use their powers to move faster than they otherwise would. Examples include characters like [[LightEmUp Kizaru]] and [[ShockAndAwe Eneru]] who can transform into bolts of light and lightning respectively, as well as [[DishingOutDirt Pica]] who can merge his body with the earth beneath his feet and move it to another location.

* ''Videogame/BloodstainedRitualOfTheNight'': Bathin returns in this game, although his abiltiies are associated with light, allowing him to teleport across the room and reflect off of smooth, mirror-like surfaces. After Miriam absorbs his shard, she [[PowerCopying gets the same ability]].

* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'': One of the film's most memorable scenes occurs when Dash is accidentally chased out into the middle of the sea by the villains. At first, he panics, thinking that he's going to sink, but both he and the audience soon realize just how fast he really is when Dash is able to continue to [[WalkOnWater run across the water]] with no problem. Noticing this, Dash gives a confident laugh and runs even faster, leaving a high trail of waves in his wake.

[[caption-width-right:350:Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, [[WesternAnimaion/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteers Hea]]--er, Light and Lightning. By their powers combined, we'd get an awesome race![[note]]L-R, top-to-bottom: WesternAnimation/BugsBunny, [[ComicBook/FantasticFour the Human Torch]], [[ComicBook/XMen Storm]], [[ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} Aquaman & Mera]], ComicBook/GreenLantern, [[Film/SonicTheHedgehog2020 Sonic the Hedgehog]][[/note]]]]

[[caption-width-right:350:Earth, Fire, Wind, Water, Hea--er, Light and Lightning. By their powers combined, we'd get an awesome race![[note]]L-R, top-to-bottom: WesternAnimation/BugsBunny, [[ComicBook/FantasticFour the Human Torch]], [[ComicBook/XMen Storm]], [[ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} Aquaman & Mera]], ComicBook/GreenLantern, [[Film/SonicTheHedgehog2020 Sonic the Hedgehog]][[/note]]]]

* ''Webcomic/{{Vibe}}'': When Baron is bonded with Jean, he can use his ice powers to skate around at high speed.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'': One of the film's most memorable scenes occurs when Dash is accidentally chased out into the middle of the sea by the villains. At first, he panics, thinking that he's going to sink, but both he and the audience soon realize just how fast he really is when Dash is able to continue [[WalkOnWater run across the water]] with no problem. Noticing this, Dash gives a confident laugh and runs even faster, leaving a high trail of waves in his wake.

* '''[[GreenThumb Flower-based]]:''' Flowers are not ''typically'' associated with speed, although flower petals flying through the wind does evoke that sense of quickness. Also, flowers have been associated with speed due to their short and ''quick'' lifespans with CherryBlossoms in particular standing out thanks to their blooming period being about two weeks.