History Main / TheAssimilator

* Laird Barron's works has the recurring [[AliensAreBastards alien villains]], the Children of the Old Leech, who most prominently appears in his novel ''Literature/TheCroning'' as well as the short stories, ''The Broadsword'', ''The Men from Porlock'', and ''Mysterium Tremendum''. The Children have long since stopped procreating conventionally, seeing how they have become immortal through their worship of [[EldritchAbomination the Old Leech]], and such the only purpose any young they might produce serves [[EatsBabies is to be eaten by their elders]]. Instead, when they occasionally need to strengthen their ranks, they do so by seeking out "worthy" individuals amongst the dominant species on the planets they have colonized and abducting them to turn them into one of them through a somewhat vague, but overall rather nasty process.

* ''VideoGame/{{Starcraft}}'': The Zerg want to use your genetic material for its evolutionary advantages and for raw material. The effects of this become more apparent in ''VideoGame/StarcraftII'', where the Queens take on a more human-like (or possibly [[HumanoidAliens protoss]]-like) appearance.

* ''Franchise/{{TheMatrix}}'': After being killed by Neo at the end of [[Film/{{TheMatrix}} the first film]], Agent Smith returns with [[CloneByConversion the ability to copy himself over other people?]], and spends the next two movies transforming the entire matrix into copies of himself.

* ''Akuma-She'' has [[SignificantGreeneyedRedhead Ki]][[LouisCypher ki]] apparently targeting [[ReallyGetsAround swingers]] to absorb the best physical qualities (real or ''surgical'') of women to become an even more appealing BitchInSheepsClothing. Yes, that means a/The Devil absorbed a blonde bimbo just for some implants and ForTheEvulz and yes, [[NightmareRetardant it's somehow supposed to be erotic horror.]]

* In ''Manga/{{Devilman}}'', the Demons in the series are super-ancient lifeforms that gain strength from fusing and taking over other living things and even inanimate objects.

* Franmalth, one of the Nine Demon Gates of Tartaros, is a demon with this power in ''Manga/FairyTail''. He can absorb people, body and soul, and claim their powers for himself. This renders him immune to magical attacks and direct contact physical attacks since he absorbs them too. His sole weakness is that he can't absorb something if it doesn't have a soul [[spoiler:so Natsu beats him to death with a really big rock.]]

* The Pillar Men in ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventure'' consume organic matter with a touch. At one point, one of them brushes up against an unlucky soldier and consumes ''[[HalfTheManHeUsedToBe half of his body]]''. The worst part is that the Pillar Man didn't even notice what happened. [[PunyEarthlings That is how little the Pillar Men think of humans]].

* ''LightNovel/{{Katanagatari}}'' has Maniwa Houou. He can learn other people's abilities by grafting part of their bodies to his own. He did this to Maniwa Kawauso's arm and it's implied that he did the same thing to Emonzaemon's face. It is also implied that he could potentially gain immortality by repeatedly replacing his body parts like this. Additionally Maniwa Kyouken, who's ability is to take over other people's bodies might qualify. Once she gets a new body, her old body disintegrates to dust. She also absorbs the memories and fighting abilities of the woman whose body she steals and has inhabited 2,000 different bodies.

* The Terror from ''ComicBook/TerrorInc'' is a living corpse whose body is continually rotting; he takes other people's body parts to rebuild himself, although these continue to decay. He gains their memories, skills, and sometimes even feelings; he has even been seen to give himself wings or a prehensile tail. He can even gain superpowers from the parts, although they have to be the parts that contain the powers (for example, he couldn't steal Cyclops' finger and gain optic blasts).

* The Brood from ''ComicBook/XMen'' reproduce this way, by injecting their eggs into unwilling hosts. This does not so much produce a juvenile hatchling as it does turn the unfortunate host ''into'' a Brood, which has all the memories and skills of its "parent".
** The X-Men also have/had the Phalanx, who infected targets with a techno-organic virus and brought them into their machine-like HiveMind.

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* In ''Manga/ChainedSolder'', the Thunder God Kuusetsu can devour humans and inherit their physical and personality tratis, as well as their superhuman abilities. This being the case, she abducts and plans to absorb several women so she can gain their beauty. [[spoiler: This plan fails, but she later absorbs the 2nd Unit Chief Mira.]]

* ''Franchise/{{TheMatrix}}'' After being killed by Neo at the end of [[Film/{{TheMatrix}} the first film]], Agent Smith returns with [[CloneByConversion the ability to copy himself over other people?]], and spends the next two movies transforming the entire matrix into copies of himself.

* Like the above [[TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} Tyranids]], the [[VideoGame/StarCraft Zerg]] ''also'' want to use your genetic material for its evolutionary advantages and for raw material. The effects of this become more apparent in ''VideoGame/StarcraftII'', where the Queens take on a more human-like (or possibly [[HumanoidAliens protoss]]-like) appearance.

* The Aparoids in ''[[VideoGame/StarFox Star Fox: Assault]]'' are a particularly nasty example, as they can assimilate both organics and machinery. Worse yet, they can even fuse organics and machines ''together,'' creating some of the most nightmarish monstrosities in the series. [[spoiler: Pigma Dengar ends up fused with a mining station, and General Pepper is found slowly becoming one with his own flagship. The Star Fox team end up having to kill Pigma, while they barely manage to save Pepper.]] The [[HiveQueen Aparoid Queen]] birthed this race of nano-machines in [[EvilutionaryBiologist a cataclysmic bid to surpass all evolution in the galaxy.]]

* ''VideoGame/BallpointUniverseInfinite'': The Logicians are doodles that work on pure logic. Because they are so efficient, in trying to fight them, enemies usually also become Logicians.
* The Bydo in ''VideoGame/RType'' have the ability to possess and/or transform other creatures into more Bydo. They only tend to do this to really powerful individuals or weapons, though: most of the time they'll just kill you.
* The Bacterians in ''VideoGame/{{Gradius}}'' show the ability to assimilate, leading to entire planets' biospheres being transformed into more Bacterian flesh. Several of their {{Hive Queen}}s are even assimilated beings from other races, with the minds intact.
* In ''Videogame/EndlessSpace2'', [[CloneArmy the Horatio]] gain a certain element of this. They're able to splice another alien population's genes into themselves, thus gaining their improvements and boons and rising above what they were before, improving their "perfection" even more. Do note that the process is ''not'' innate; Horatios start out as more or less baseline, if mutated humans cloned from a single guy. The assimilation is done [[GeneticEngineeringIsTheNewNuke the old-fashioned way]], and judging by [[HumanResources the casualty rate among the aliens in question]] the process is more than a little messy.
* In ''Videogame/{{Stellaris}}'', "Driven Assimilator" is a dedicated archetype you can play — a race of machines and cyborgs whose goal is assimilation by way of forcible cyborgization of all organic species in the galaxy. While this is usually done through conquest and conversion of individuals, they eventually gain an superweapon capable of instantly transforming all organics on a planet into loyal cyborgs. Hiveminds can also be played in this fashion if you're not playing a genocidal variant — sufficient mastery over the genome allows non-hiveminded species on conquered planets to be linked into the swarm.
* In ''Videogame/CivilizationV'', Austria's unique ability called [[AltarDiplomacy "Diplomatic Marriage"]] implies this. It allows to make satellites or directly annex those city-states that have been in an alliance with Austria for a long time. Of course, [[DownplayedTrope this does not mean literal absorption]], but non-violent integration with the subsequent gradual replacement of the cultural and national identity with the Austrian one.
* In ''VideoGame/PokemonUranium'', people who fail to make it through the Anthell (the largest bug nest in West Tandor) are assimilated into the hive to serve Seikamater, a legendary bug pokemon.

* The Borg from ''Franchise/StarTrek'' are the {{Trope Codifier}}s, and the former {{Trope Namer|s}}.
** Their standard hail includes the phrases, "You will be assimilated", "your culture will adapt to service us" and "we will add your technological and biological distinctiveness to our own".
** In their first episode, "Q who", Q talks about how relentless the Borg are in adding to their collective.
** Dialogue between Locutus and Worf in ''[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS3E26S4E1TheBestOfBothWorlds Best of Both Worlds Part II]]'' indicates that the Borg intend to assimilate entire races.
--->'''Locutus''': Worf, Klingon species, [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy a warrior race]]. You too will be assimilated.\\
'''Worf''': The Klingon Empire will never yield.\\
'''Locutus''': Why do you resist? We only wish to raise quality of life for all species.\\
'''Worf''': I like my ''species'' the way it is!\\
'''Locutus''': A narrow vision. You will become one with the Borg.
** In ''[[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space Nine]]'', it's shown that this is how some view the Federation. From their perspective, all they see is a bunch of ScaryDogmaticAliens who travel the Galaxy, seeking out new life and new civilizations with the sole intention of eventually absorbing these new cultures into their own. After all, who ''wouldn't'' want to join the "glorious" Federation?
--->'''Michael Eddington:''' You know, in some ways, you're even worse than the Borg. At least they tell you about their plans for assimilation. You're more insidious, you assimilate people--and they don't even know it.
*** Quark demonstrates this view of the Federation to Garak as only he knows how--analogy by way of a glass of root beer.

'''Quark:''' [[IronicEcho Just like the Federation.]]

* From TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}, the [[HordeOfAlienLocusts Tyranids]] main goal, driven by perpetual hunger, is to eat everything they com into contact with. They would use your genetic material for its evolutionary advantages, and your flesh, and that of dead Tyranids, for the raw materials for creating more Tyranid life forms.

** But for an example that's ''truly'' villainous, look to ''VideoGame/KirbyAndTheForgottenLand''. [[spoiler: The BigBad, Fecto Forgo, planned the game's events to reunite with its good half, Elfilin. It does succeed eventually, but not before assimilating [[KingOfBeasts Leongar]] and various other memebers of the Beast Pack to form itself a temporary BlobMonster body.]] Ironically, in the post-game, [[spoiler: Fecto itself is assimilated by [[{{Psychopomp}} Morpho Knight]], which eventually [[AssimilationBackfire works to its advantage]] by using Morpho's power to become [[TrueFinalBoss Chaos Elfilis]].]]

This trope is about the character, the article about the plot is AssimilationPlot, oddly enough. Sometimes overlaps with TheVirus and/or AllYourPowersCombined. Distinct from PowerCopying as it requires death or injury to the other party. A form of HumanResources, assuming the victims started as human. Compare CannibalismSuperpower, YouAreWhoYouEat and UnwillingRoboticisation which describes methods for acomplishing this trope. The replacement by assimilation may be part of a plan to make things over InTheirOwnImage.

* Szilard Quates of ''LightNovel/{{Baccano}}'' routinely absorbs other [[{{Immortality}} immortals]] to gain scientific knowledge, and just 'cause he's off his rocker. All immortals have [[IdentityAbsorption this ability]], supposedly so that [[WhoWantsToLiveForever immortals who have grown tired of living]] have a way to commit suicide, but Szilard's the only one who uses it without consent in anything other than the most desperate of circumstances, even going so far as to ''make'' people immortal just so that he can absorb them in this manner.

* ''LightNovel/ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime''

* [[https://rpcauthority.wikidot.com/rpc-076 RPC-076]] from the ''Wiki/RPCAuthority'' is a colony of vampire crabs who act unlike their species normally does, they can shed and re-attach segments of their limbs. RPC-076 will collect body parts from their own kind and use them to enhance themselves, wheter those body parts where giving by will or force doesn't matter.

* [[https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-426 SCP-426]] from the ''Website/SCPFoundation'' is a toaster that causes people to refer to it in the first person. Its secondary effect is a mental version of this. Anyone left with the toaster for long enough will identify as a toaster and attempt to emulate its functions, with disastrous results.

* [[https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-426 SCP-426]] from the ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'' is a toaster that causes people to refer to it in the first person. Its secondary effect is a mental version of this. Anyone left with the toaster for long enough will identify as a toaster and attempt to emulate its functions, with disastrous results.

* Brainiac in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' had a similar motive to the Brains, but once fused with ComicBook/LexLuthor, it/he/they decided to go full AGodAmI and replace everything InTheirOwnImage in one master stroke.
* Alpha from ''WesternAnimation/MenInBlackTheSeries'' was the original head of MIB but now hunts aliens for body parts to make himself more powerful. The first time we see him, he's still humanoid but has a small arsenal of CombatTentacles concealed in his body, and he only gets freakier from there. Interestingly, he moves away from this trope during the last season, modifying himself using [[spoiler:''robot'' parts]] instead.
* The EldritchAbomination antagonist of ''WesternAnimation/{{Pibby}}'' is suggested to be one of these in the series' trailer. In addition to consuming several different characters and occasionally wearing their faces on its body, one scene near the end shows Pibby and company facing a horde of victims that are fighting on the abomination's side and share its OminousVisualGlitch-laden aesthetic.
* The Bugs from ''WesternAnimation/RoughnecksStarshipTroopersChronicles'' do this to the most badass lifeforms on each planet they conquer.
* In ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', White Diamond has the ability to drain the color from Gems and turn them into her puppets. They speak in unison (in her voice) and follow her movements when she isn't directly controlling them. She either can't or doesn't want to escalate it to a full AssimilationPlot, and so saves this power for the few gems that don't [[ControlFreak already do whatever she says]].

* The Game Master from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'' wanted to assimilate the gathered heroes' various powers. He manages to absorb all but Robin; who ironically has [[BadassNormal absolutely no powers]] and thus nothing to give him. He then proceeds to have his butt handed to him on a platter.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'', Lockdown, a bounty hunter who [[OrganTheft takes a "prize" from each of his targets]] (and, quite often, whoever stands between him and his targets), is the HumongousMecha version of Alpha.

* The [[YourSoulIsMine Spirit]] [[EldritchAbomination Drinker]] in ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'' seems to be this, though it's a hungry beast, and once the souls are fully consumed, they're just gone. The Phalanx, on the other hand, do assimilate people. In fact, they ''actually say'' "Resistance is futile; you will be assimilated."

* America becomes a mundane example in {{Literature/Separated At Birth America And Drakia}}, trying to assimilate every culture it comes into contact to into Anglo-American culture. Drakia, of course, tries to enslave everyone instead.

** [[WesternAnimation/Ben10 Original Series]]: We have [[spoiler:Dr. Victor]], who can take control of technology under certain circumstances (justified in WordOfGod info, as he is revealed to come from a Frankenstein monster-like race).
** ''[[WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce Alien Force]]'': The BigBad Vilgax goes on an assimilation spree, taking over planets and absorbing the abilities of their greatest heroes, all so he would be powerful enough to take on Ben again.

* Seems to be Ride/DisneyParks's role when it comes to Ride/UniversalStudios. First Disney bought out Creator/{{Marvel}}, with whom Universal has a licensing agreement for their Orlando parks. Then, in 2018, Disney also bought Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox, meaning that Universal attractions such at Ride/TheSimpsonsRide, The Adventures of Conan, and Series/AmericanHorrorStory at Ride/HalloweenHorrorNights are now using licensing with Universal's primary theme park competitor, Disney.

** When Aizen was going through a series of level ups, he informed Ichigo that he was letting him live because he intended to return later on and devour him. [[spoiler: Ichigo made sure that wasn't possible.]]

* The ELS aliens in ''Anime/Gundam00AWakeningOfTheTrailblazer'', though with a twist: [[spoiler:they're not malicious, and near the end of the film, when they realize humans don't WANT to be assimilated, they stop trying and back off]].

* Music/{{Yes}} had a weird (but not evil) variant in all the bands it absorbed along the way, incorporating their musical styles as well. Yes absorbed [[NewWaveMusic New Wave]] band Music/TheBuggles, then "Cinema" (which was originally supposed to be a new band with Trevor Rabin as frontman), and then "Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe", the last one being particularly notable as it was made up of former members of Yes ''[[UpToEleven being assimilated back into their former band.]]''

* Naraku from ''Manga/{{Inuyasha}}'' absorbs other demons into himself to gain power. He tried it on both Sesshomaru and Koga, as well, but it didn't go so well. Minor demons like the generic snake thingies, on the other hand, get sucked up like spaghetti. It gets to the point where he actually has to ''start cutting some loose'' because some take up space without adding much to his strength.