History Main / WonderTwinPowers

* In Creator/PeterFHamilton's sci-fi mystery novel ''Mindstar Rising'', the psi-boosted protagonist and his pre-cognitive partner are successfully ambushed when twin psychics are used to create a null-zone where their powers won't work.

Presumably, their in-built weakness is being ineffective unless they're together. Also presumably, they have at least one way around even that built-in weakness. [[MostCommonSuperpower Not truly related to a certain kind of "Wonder Twins."]]

** The show originally played with this trope by suggesting while Chibi-Usa's powers are mostly useless, using them with Usagi's similar ones results in something powerful. In the fourth season, this was taken further when they couldn't even transform or deliver a finishing attack without being together. Many fans cite this as a detriment to Usagi's role as the show's star, but also a plot device to handwave Chibi-Usa's increased screentime pushing out the main cast. Unlike ''Anime/FutariWaPrettyCure'' and ''Anime/FutariWaPrettyCureSplashStar'', the noticeable age difference in the two made for some acrobatics to make sure the two [[MustHaveLotsOfFreeTime just happened to be together at the time]].
** Also in ''Sailor Moon'', Cyprine and Ptilol's strongest power requires the two to work together: one of them absorbs any incoming magical attacks, the other reflects them. Naturally, the Senshi defeat them by tricking them into separating.
* Ho and Ban, the twin Bount from the filler arc in the ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' anime. Although they can control their more-or-less identical "dolls" separately, their real power comes from the dolls working in tandem. When one twin is knocked out, the other has to control both dolls at once and ends up overwhelmed.
* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'': This is the sole principle of [[spoiler:the Yeager brothers' plan: Eren has the Founding Titan but cannot use it because he doesn't have royal blood. His elder brother Zeke has royal blood but if he had the Founding Titan, he won't be able to use it because of King Fritz's vow of renouncing the war. To bypass the limitation, the brothers plan to turn into their Titan forms and have physical contact with each other to fully utilize the Founding Titan's power. This will enable them to control all Titans and Eldians and use that power to literally change the course of history.]]
* ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'':
** The titular creatures can Digivolve on their own, but this is a slow process (the Japanese names of Baby, Child, and Adult for the earlier Digivolution stages indicate that this is analogous to a living being's maturation). However, with ThePowerOfFriendship from their human partners, they can temporarily Digivolve to forms higher than their current natural state.
** A more traditional example is Nefertimon and Pegasusmon, who have an attack that requires both of them.
** ''Anime/DigimonFusion'' vacillates between this and FusionDance: some [=DigiXros=] combinations transform one character into a new form for the other to wield, such as Dorulumon turning into a cannon for Shoutmon to aim and fire.
* The [[DropTheHammer Goldion Crusher]] in ''Anime/GaoGaiGar FINAL'' requires the authorization of the GGG (from the key held by Chief Taiga) and the UN (the key held by Swan White). Plugging them both into a pair of circular consoles causes the consoles to form the kanji for "victory". There's also [[FusionDance Symmetrical Docking]]; an issue in the early series was deploying [=HyoRyu=] and [=EnRyu=], as the combiner [=ChoRyuJin=] was the only one who could operate the Eraser Head missile.
* Viola and Cesario from ''Anime/KiddyGrade''. Cesario's ability, "Driver", does nothing by itself, while Viola's power, "Calamity", can manipulate matter at the atomic level, but requires "Driver" as its energy source. (Tweedledee and Tweedledum also have an ability (Windstorm) that they can coordinate with each other, and in the last episode of season 1, [[spoiler:Eclair acts as a power source for Lumiere's Puppet ability]].
* Time travelers in ''Manga/NatsuNoArashi'' depend on being close to each other to jump through time. As Arashi points out on her second trip, without someone else, she has no way to return to the present.
* Also reversed in ''Manga/Cyborg009''. PsychoElectro 0010 turns out to be a pair of twins (+ and -) who ''die'' when forced to come into contact.
* The protagonists Black and White and the Dusk and Dawn brothers in ''Manga/{{Tekkonkinkreet}}''. Although its more of a spiritual connection than anything else.
* Kikumaru Eiji and Oishi Shuichirou in ''Manga/ThePrinceOfTennis'' are Seishun Gakuen's "Golden Pair" and later on in the series are able to perform [[spoiler:Synchronization, letting them move as one and basically becoming an unstoppable badass doubles team.]]
* Masao and Kazuo Tachibana in ''Manga/CaptainTsubasa'' with their Skylab combinations and Triangle Shoot. In the series, they are almost useless if they're not playing together.
* In ''Manga/TheLuciferAndBiscuitHammer'', Yuki and Subaru have to hold hands to use their Strongest Spear and Strongest Shield powers.
* The twins from ''Anime/HeroicAge'' were two of the strongest human telekinetics but they could only use their powers when together, though not necessarily in contact. [[spoiler:Whether the limitation still existed after the departure of the Silver Tribe or due to force of habit they still joined hands to use their powers even after receiving a massive power boost.]]
* Campachino and Brindo from a ''Manga/OnePiece'' filler arc. They use an ability called Combination Play, in which they [[SelectiveMagnetism magnetically attract and repel each other]] and say that they can do it because of their "[[PowerOfLove brotherly love]]".
* The ShockAndAwe twins No. 11 and No. 12 Hikari and Hibiki from ''Anime/{{Sekirei}}'', in which implied that one couldn't function without the other while using their abilities, or simply taking advantage of being a team. Even their LimitBreak requires the two in order to activate it.
* ''Anime/SpellboundMagicalPrincessLilPri'' the 3 girls must be together to transform into Lilpri, this forces them to get along.
* Rika and Satoko's finishing move in the MagicalGirl OVA episode of ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry''.

* Aurora and Northstar of ''ComicBook/AlphaFlight'' have {{Flight}} and SuperSpeed individually, but can emit bursts of light and heat when touching. This was later inverted when Aurora had her powers modified so she could use her light powers without touching her brother. Afterward, touching caused them both to lose their powers for a while.
* ''ComicBook/GreenLantern'':
** After being stripped of his Green Lantern status, all-around troublemaker Guy Gardner got his hands on the yellow power ring once worn by the Lanterns' arch-nemesis, Sinestro, and found that it came with a significant drawback: It drew power from other power rings, so to keep it fully charged, he had to periodically seek out and fight other Green Lanterns. Given that Guy is and was the biggest {{Jerkass}} in Franchise/TheDCU and lovin' every minute of it, this wasn't a huge problem. (At present, Sinestro's ring and others like it no longer suffer this drawback, instead drawing power from their own power source like the Lanterns'.)
** There's also a symbiotic relationship between the Green and Blue Lanterns: Blue Lantern energy gives Greens a significant power boost (since hope strengthens willpower), while Blues can only make constructs when around Greens (since hope is kind of weak without the will to act on it). It's later revealed that the Indigo Tribe (which represents compassion) can give a similar boost.
** In the ComicBook/DCRebirth series ''Green Lanterns'', rookie Lanterns Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz are given a shared Power Battery which will only work if they charge their Rings simultaneously, requiring them to work together.
* In Creator/MarvelComics, Andreas and Andrea von Strucker, the Fenris twins, have to be touching to fire energy bolts. Following Andrea's death, [[spoiler: Andreas became the new Swordsman, activating his powers by wielding a sword with her skin covering the hilt]]. When [[spoiler: Andrea was resurrected (it didn't last), Andreas flayed the skin off his arm to give to her.]] Because they're [[CreepyTwins creepy]].
* One of the main elements governing powers in ''ComicBook/QuantumAndWoody'' is their gauntlets, one for each of them. Due to the accident that gave them powers, they need to clang them together every 24 hours or they'll simply break up and vanish.
* Crimson Crusader and Imp of Marvel's ''ComicBook/ClanDestine'': Unlike the rest of their siblings, their powers emerged at puberty, not at adulthood. But that same odd "twin factor" that gave them their powers early, causes their powers (Crusader controls gravity, Imp can generate and control radiant energy) to fail if they're physically too far away from each other. It's still unclear whether they'll be able to use their powers independently once they reach the age when the Destine's powers normally manifest.
* One of the earliest examples (from the 1940s) of this was Creator/DCComics' superhero duo ''TNT and Dan the Dyna-Mite'', who had to touch their rings together (they had "positive" and "negative" charges) in order to activate their powers (superstrength and energy projection.) In ''The Young All-Stars'', the sequel series of the ''ComicBook/AllStarSquadron'', T.N.T. was killed, and Dyna-Mite thought he wouldn't be able to activate his powers without his partner, but he eventually found out that he could reactivate them by wearing both dyna-rings and pressing them together himself.
* The comic book series ''ComicBook/{{Capes}}'' features a duo of {{Punch Clock Hero}}es, Ed and Marshall, who can't be more than thirty feet away one one another or they'll weaken. [[PunnyName Claire Voyant]] [[TwinThreesomeFantasy immediately sees]] the PowerPerversionPotential. In the end, Marshall dies but the power still holds, forcing Ed to carry around Marshall's urn all the time. In the end, to defeat a BigBad, Ed ''swallows'' Marshall's ashes and is transformed into a new superhero who saves the day. (And then promptly leaves the planet.)
* At least one version of the alien "Blood Brothers" required them to be near each other in order to keep up their massive strength. ComicBook/IronMan once beat them by getting Comicbook/{{Daredevil}} to lure one away, so their individual strength dropped.
* ComicBook/{{Superman}} faces a husband and wife team called Sodom and Gomorrah. While touching, they can fire blasts that turn anything they hit into salt. Superman separates them and captures Sodom, but his wife escapes.
* Subverted in ''ComicBook/{{Irredeemable}}'': twins Scylla and Charybdis initially only had powers when they were in close proximity to each other but it was later revealed to be untrue. Charybdis was the one with powers and Scylla was only ever borrowing from him.

* The ComicBook/New52 version of ''The Ravagers'' supporting characters Thunder and Lightning, in addition to their respective sonic blast and electric powers, can fly as long as they're touching each other. Interestingly, only one of them has to ''want'' to fly for it to work.
* In the French comic ''ComicBook/ZornEtDirna'', a mage captured Death in a mirror so the king could look into it and enjoy eternal life (that is, he doesn't get any older). Unfortunately, with Death no longer available, just-freed souls find themselves forced into the closest living body, usually whoever killed them. The mage brings a pregnant woman in to try and transfer Death into her child, but unfortunately she gives birth to twins- and they while they do inherit the power to let souls pass into the hereafter, both need to be present for it to work.
* Marvel's Hammer and Anvil are a variation on this theme. They are linked at the wrist by a piece of alien technology that affords them a set of powers. When Hammer was shot and killed by the Scourge of the Underworld, Anvil died moments later.
* Marvel's [[Characters/MilesMoralesSpiderMan Bombshell]] (Lana Baumgartner) and her mother (Lori Baumgartner, "[[IncrediblyLamePun Momshell]]") share the same HavingABlast powers, but need to be in each other's company in order to access them. Even after they're no longer connected, their powers are considerably weaker when the other isn't around. This is Lori's favorite way to [[AbusiveParents manipulate her daughter]] as Lana tries to [[HeelFaceTurn become a hero]].

* In ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'', the only way to enter the Portal to the Abyss where Takhisis lives is to have both an evil mage and a good cleric activate it. Raistlin [[spoiler:takes advantage of a cleric, Crysania and uses her for protection throughout the Abyss. Then, while she is dying, he abandons her, kills the pantheon of Krynn, and ascends to godhood. Caramon ends up going back in time to warn him about the after-effects, though.]]
* In ''Mindstar Rising'' (the sci-fi mystery novel by Creator/PeterFHamilton) the psi-boosted protagonist and his pre-cognitive partner are successfully ambushed when twin psychics are used to create a null-zone where their powers won't work.

* In ''Literature/{{Xanth}}'', after awhile, it's discovered that some groups thought to lack magic talents, such as [[{{Muggles}} Mundanes]], goblins and harpies, can sometimes have shared talents that can only be invoked when they're in contact with the person who shares their talent. However, none of these guys are twins. Some examples are [[HybridMonster Gloha Goblin-Harpy]]'s parents and a pair of Mundanes who have two different syndromes making one unusually short and the other unusually tall.
* In the young adult fantasy series ''Literature/TWitches'', main characters Camryn and Alex are powerful twin witches separated at birth whose powers become super-strong when they work together.
* The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgan_Llywelyn Morgan Llywelyn]] / Michael Scott novel ''Silverhand'' features a brother/sister villain team dubbed "The Duet", who are able to summon a WorldWreckingWave. For added {{squick}} value, in order to do this they [[{{Twincest}} have sex]].
* ''Literature/{{Middlegame}}'': {{Invoked|Trope}} by the BigBad with the ArtificialHuman protagonists Roger and Dodger. The Doctrine of Ethos is too powerful to be contained in a single host, so he created the twins to embody it, and they need to act in conjuction to unlock its true {{Reality Warp|er}}ing potential.

* Maya and Alejandro Herrera from ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' are playing with this trope - Maya's [[PowerIncontinence uncontrollable]] deadly poison emission is countered and neutralized by Alejandro's power, making them sort of like the Wonder Twins stuck on "Form of Mass Murder!" "Shape of {{Retcon}}!"
** In ''Series/HeroesReborn2015'', a new pair of Wonder Twins get introduced, and their power [[spoiler:involves human casualties too, of the tragic-yet-inexplicably-necessary human sacrifice type. Go figure. But at least they save the world.]]
* Shotaro Hidari and Phillip from ''Series/KamenRiderDouble'' have to transform at the same time to form the titular Rider. The psychic connection powers of their TransformationTrinket let them easily do this even from across town, but if Phillip is unconscious, being chased, or just has something better to do, then Shotaro is screwed. In addition, if it's ''Phillip'' who's in trouble, he can't transform unless he contacts Shotaro and has him put on the Double Driver. Other complications include loss of synchronization paralyzing Double, and the fact that the Double Driver can (and has) been disabled by blocking off one of the ports. Shotaro eventually gains the ability to transform solo into Kamen Rider Joker, but as a matter of preference only uses it when it's absolutely impossible to become Double, such as when the original TransformationTrinket has been disabled or [[spoiler: Phillip is dead]].
* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'':
** Among the freaks of the week are some CreepyTwins (though adults) who can generate [[BarrierWarrior force fields]] when their hands touch.
** The ''actual'' Wonder Twins have since turned up. Complete with "Powers, activate!"

* Andy and Lauren Strucker of ''Series/TheGifted2017'' each have powers of their own; he fires force blasts and she's a BarrierWarrior. But when they join hands, they gain the power to [[spoiler:perceive and destroy physical objects -- at least as large as buildings, possibly larger -- at a ''molecular level''. They are great-grandchildren of the ''ComicBook/XMen'' foe Andreas von Strucker, who with his sister Andrea formed the villainous Fenris. The powers of Fenris are stated in-series to have operated the same way.]]
* ''Series/TheFortyFourHundred'': In "Gone, Part I", siblings Duncan and Olivia Germaine, who disappeared in 1964, have the ability to manipulate water and create diffusion. However, it only works if they do it together.

* Rant and Rave of the ''TabletopGame/MutantsAndMasterminds'' Freedom City supplement, are a brother/sister pair with sonic and visual distortion powers respectively, but can deploy a disintegration attack when physically touching.
* In ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'', the ''Art of Magic'' third-party splat book, there is a spell temporarily binding the minds of the caster and another character. This allows them to both use the best natural roll they make for initiative, and also increase their spellcasting effectiveness if they cast spells at the same target.

* ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}''

-->'''VideoGame/AlanWake''': The sound changes the darkness, and the darkness changes the sound. They both changed what remained of Hartman. They all turned into something else: a Third Thing. The sound made darker. The darkness made louder.

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'' has Zorn and Thorn, twin jesters that give each other meteor and flare powers during one mini-boss sequence. The trick is to hit the jester who just received the power before he can use it. [[spoiler: Though it turns out they're actually one creature with two bodies.]]

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'': Two abilities called Plus and Minus. Each raises the Special Attack stat of a partner with the other by 50% -- but ONLY when both are present in a double battle. At first, Plus and Minus were exclusive to Plusle and Minun respectively, but starting with ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'', a handful of other {{Mon}}s also have access to them.

* Tweek and Craig's unlockable ultimate in ''[[VideoGame/{{SouthParkTheFracturedButWhole}} South Park: The Fractured but Whole]]'' involves them holding hands and using the power of yaoi to damage, shock and confuse their foes.

* In ''Webcomic/AliceAndTheNightmare'', it's revealed that Dee and Dum, who both have the same Suit (Heart) can only work as a team (normally Oneironaut teams consist of one of each Suit) because otherwise their powers are cut in half. [[spoiler:It's because Dee is secretly a Reversal, whose powers are opposite those of a regular Suit]].

* Parley and Smith Of ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'': both have powers that work individually (Teleportation and [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=385 creating order]]) but when the two are working together, Parley's teleportation is much [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=786 easier to control]].

* ''Webcomic/KillroyAndTina'' has the two main characters share super powers as long as they're within five kilometers of each other. They also suffer from {{Synchronization}}; if one dies, both die. This was actually done as ''punishment'', as a type of RestrainingBolt to keep an evil alien overlord tethered to an ordinary teenage girl, and therefore out of trouble. [[spoiler: Although it was also part of a scheme involving a StableTimeLoop, because the superhero who arranged this was actually a future version of Tina.]]
* ''Webcomic/TheNonadventuresOfWonderella'' parodies this with the Wonder-tweens:

* In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' book ''[[Recap/TheOrderOfTheStickStartOfDarkness Start of Darkness]]'', it is revealed that [[spoiler:the power of the Snarl gates can only be harnessed by a cleric and wizard working together. Though some people, such as Tsukiko, are both.]]

[[folder:Web Original]]

* Parodied on one episode of ''WesternAnimation/CampLazlo''. When Chip and Skip, the dung beetles, join hands and shout "Scum twin powers, activate!" they can call all the grime in camp to the area.
* In ''WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteers'', the Planeteers all have rings with individual powers but [[AllYourPowersCombined only when all five of them use them together can they summon Captain Planet.]] Actually the only Planeteer who is ''absolutely'' necessary to form Captain Planet is Ma-Ti, with the power of Heart. There's an episode where Linka and Wheeler are abducted by aliens that collect endangered species to house in a sanctuary on their home planet. The remaining Planeteers are still able to create Captain Planet (admittedly he can't fly without Linka's power of Wind but they do manage to create him). In another episode Ma-Ti is knocked unconscious ''in the middle of the summoning'', and Gaia solves the trouble via temporarily handing the Heart Ring to a Native American boy that [[HeroicBystander had helped the Planeteers before]].
* In ''WesternAnimation/DrakPack'' by Creator/HannaBarbera, the three main characters can only shift from their human to their monstrous [[CursedWithAwesome (and super-powered)]] forms by touching each other... [[ByThePowerOfGrayskull and shouting]] "[[TotallyRadical Whacko!]]"
* Magnokor of ''WesternAnimation/{{Inhumanoids}}'' is a borderline case, as he/they get referred to as a singular creature, but actually demonstrate two separate identities that argue with one another, even when merged as a two-headed monster. Only when split into two bodies can he/they trap Metlar in a magnetic field, and hence qualify for this trope.
* ''Franchise/MastersOfTheUniverse'';

** Played with in ''[[WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse2021 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe]]'' (2021) where the Masters originally think they can only transform with Adam, then later realize they can change on their own. Though if He-Man loses his sword, they'll all turn back.
* Despite being sentient themselves, the HumongousMecha in ''WesternAnimation/{{Robotix}}'' could only activate their [[TransformingMecha transforming powers]] when they had human pilots.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Shazzan}}'', Chuck and Nancy each wore half of the ring. To summon Shazzan, they put the ring together and said "Shazzan!"

* The TropeNamers are the shape-shifting Wonder Twins Zan and Jayna from ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}} The All-New Superfriends Hour]]''. When they [[HandshakeSubstitute bump fists]] to activate their powers, Zan can change into various forms of [[MakingASplash water]]/[[AnIcePerson ice]], while Jayna can transform into animals. Sadly the writers were either unable or forbidden to come up with [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway actual, useful applications for their powers]]. Their counterparts from the ''Superfriends'' comics of the time were much better with their powers. On the other hand, if a large enough creature passes between them, they need only to put their fists into that creature's form simultaneously and their weakness is promptly nullified.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Teen Titans|2003}}'': The twin brothers Más y Menos gain SuperSpeed while they remain in physical contact with each other, usually by pressing their palms together or holding an electrical conductor between them. They're derived from the Tornado Twins of Creator/DCComics (who did not have this limitation).
* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'': Jetfire and Jetstorm combine to make "Safeguard". In fact all CombiningMecha have a bit of this, in that they're devastating in a FiveManBand, but nothing to write home about individually. Though, they've got PlayingWithFire and BlowYouAway going for them, respectively. They're not overly reliant on Safeguard mode.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheTwinsOfDestiny'' is a French production in which the main characters, Jules and Julie, would hold hands and say "We call upon the (number) Power of the Seven Powers..." and then fill that last part in with whatever they needed the power to do.
* An episode of ''ComicBook/WalterMelon'' and Bitterbug join the [[Franchise/PowerRangers Flower Power Rangers]] who are short two members and need all five to transform.

* In the Fanfic/SailormoonMillenniaTrilogy, Sailoraries and Sailorpisces can only use their powers when they are together. In this case, they actually are twins.
* In ''Fanfic/TheBridge'', Princess Celestia and Princess Luna's powers increases in magnitudes when they are close to each other.
* A form of this makes an important part of the ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'' fanfic ''Fanfic/TheUltimateEvil'': the concept of an "Other" (an abbreviation to "Other half of one's self"). When someone touches their Other, they both react as if they're receiving a strong electric shock, and they're filled with raw power as their chis attempt to [[YinYangBomb balance each other out by merging together]]. The effects last only as long as the Others keep touching each other, but if they undergo a binding ritual [[spoiler:(as Shendu and Valerie do)]], they can draw power from their link and touch one another without a painful exchange of energy. When Shendu touches Valerie while [[DemonicPossession possessing Jade's vacant body]], the effect of their touch is distilled because he's not in his own body. The effect's stronger when Valerie touches him while [[SealedEvilInACan he's a statue]], though it's still a fraction of what their touch does when Shendu is in his true form. While he's sharing Valmont's body with the latter, however, his chi cannot combine with that of Valerie because Valmont's chi gets in their way.

* In ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtheadDoTheUniverse'', when the boys get MistakenForAliens and the government capture Beavis, they figure the duo must share a brain and only have the intelligence to accomplish interstellar travel when they're together.

* The ''Film/DoubleDragon1994'' movie has this as the only way the two halves of the [[MacGuffin Dragon Medallion]] can be used without corrupting the user with its power, with Billy using one half and Jimmy using the second.

* In ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtheadDoTheUniverse'', when the boys get [[MistakenForAliens Mistaken For Aliens]] and the government capture Beavis, they figure the duo must share a brain and only have the intelligence to accomplish interstellar travel when theyre together.

* Played with in ''ComicBook/{{Irredeemable}}'': twins Scylla and Charybdis initially only had powers when they were in close proximity to each other but it was later revealed to be untrue. Charybdis was the one with powers and Scylla was only ever borrowing from him.

* In ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtheadDoTheUniverse'' when the boys get [[MistakenForAliens Mistaken For Aliens]] and the government capture Beavis, they figure the duo must share a brain and only have the intelligence to accomplish interstellar travel when theyre together.

* ''VideoGame/Control'': An odd case occurs with The Third Thing, the primary antagonist of the ''AWE'' DLC. The Hiss and the Dark Presence can't possess one another. Rather, their powers ''amplify'' each other when they interact, so when the Hiss tried to possess an already-Taken Hartman, it resulted in something which possesses the strengths of both. Thankfully, the two are too busy fighting for control of Hartman to actively exploit this.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles|2003}}'', assassin duo Mr. Touch and Mr. Go need to bump fists in order to (temporarily) access their powers: super-strength for Mr. Touch, super-speed for Mr. Go. Given that these fade in a matter of minutes, they're always together.
* Más y Menos from ''WesternAnimation/{{Teen Titans|2003}}'' whose powers depend on physical contact with each other, usually by pressing their palms together or holding an electrical conductor between them. They themselves derive from the Tornado Twins of Creator/DCComics (who did not have this limitation).

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

** Played with in ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse2021'' where the Masters originally think they can only transform with Adam then later realize they can change on their own though if He-Man loses his sword, they'll all turn back.

* The TropeNamers are the shape-shifting Wonder Twins Zan and Jayna from ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}} The All-New Superfriends Hour]]''. When they [[HandshakeSubstitute bumped fists]] to activate their powers, Zan could change into various forms of [[MakingASplash water]]/[[AnIcePerson ice]], while Jayna could transform into animals. Sadly the writers were either unable or forbidden to come up with [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway actual, useful applications for their powers]]. Their counterparts from the ''Superfriends'' comics of the time were much better with their powers. On the other hand, if a large enough creature passed between them, they needed only to put their fists into that creature's form simultaneously and their weakness was promptly nullified.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003'', assassin duo Mr. Touch and Mr. Go need to bump fists in order to (temporarily) access their powers: super-strength for Mr. Touch, super-speed for Mr. Go. Given that these fade in a matter of minutes, they're always together.
* Más y Menos from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'' whose powers depend on physical contact with each other, usually by pressing their palms together or holding an electrical conductor between them. They themselves derive from the Tornado Twins of Creator/DCComics (who did not have this limitation).

* ''WesternAnimation/TheTwinsOfDestiny'' was a French production in which the main characters, Jules and Julie, would hold hands and say "We call upon the (number) Power of the Seven Powers..." and then fill that last part in with whatever they needed the power to do.

** In ''Series/HeroesReborn'', a new pair of Wonder Twins get introduced, and their power [[spoiler:involves human casualties too, of the tragic-yet-inexplicably-necessary human sacrifice type. Go figure. But at least they save the world.]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtheadDoTheUniverse'' when the boys get [[MistakenForAliens Mistaken For Aliens]] and the government capture Beavis, they figure the duo must share a brain and only have the intelligence to accomplish interstellar travel when theyre together.
[[/folder]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtheadDoTheUniverse'' when the boys get [[MistakenForAlien Mistaken For Aliens]] and the government capture Beavis, they figure the duo must share a brain and only have the intelligence to accomplish interstellar travel when theyre together.

* ''Film/YouDontMessWithTheZohan'': When an Israeli super-soldier and Palestinian super-terrorist learn to put aside their differences and work together, they sing some ancient song to unleash a devastating [[MakeMeWannaShout sonic blast]] that takes out the villains (and a whole city block).

-->'''Dan:''' Form of matter!
-->'''Daisy:''' Form of anti-matter!
-->'''Planet Earth:''' ''(explodes)''
* In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' book ''Recap/StartOfDarkness'', it is revealed that [[spoiler:the power of the Snarl gates can only be harnessed by a cleric and wizard working together. Though some people, such as Tsukiko, are both.]]

* The {{Trope Namer}}s are the shape-shifting Wonder Twins Zan and Jayna from ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}} The All-New Superfriends Hour]]''. When they [[HandshakeSubstitute bumped fists]] to activate their powers, Zan could change into various forms of [[MakingASplash water]]/[[AnIcePerson ice]], while Jayna could transform into animals. Sadly the writers were either unable or forbidden to come up with [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway actual, useful applications for their powers]]. Their counterparts from the ''Superfriends'' comics of the time were much better with their powers. On the other hand, if a large enough creature passed between them, they needed only to put their fists into that creature's form simultaneously and their weakness was promptly nullified.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles|2003}}'' (2003), assassin duo Mr. Touch and Mr. Go need to bump fists in order to (temporarily) access their powers: super-strength for Mr. Touch, super-speed for Mr. Go. Given that these fade in a matter of minutes, they're always together.

->'''Hakann''': I'll never understand why we can only use these elemental powers together. Oh, lava spheres are alright, but it just doesn't compare. Think what I could do with the power of pure flame at my command.\\
'''Avak''': ...I have. It keeps me up at night.

* On ''Series/{{Charmed|1998}},'' all of the Halliwell sisters have their own powers, but the powers are connected; three of them doing a spell together makes it a "Power of Three" spell, which is necessary to defeat certain demons. There's [[PlotHole very little]] [[NewRulesAsThePlotDemands consistency]] about how magic works throughout the whole show, but sometimes, their powers will weaken or vanish when they have a falling out, use them against each other, etc.
* Andy and Lauren Strucker of ''Series/TheGifted'' each have powers of their own; he fires force blasts and she's a BarrierWarrior. But when they join hands, they gain the power to [[spoiler: perceive and destroy physical objects -- at least as large as buildings, possibly larger -- at a ''molecular level''. They are great-grandchildren of the Franchise/XMen foe Andreas von Strucker, who with his sister Andrea formed the villainous Fenris. The powers of Fenris are stated in-series to have operated the same way.]]

* Rant and Rave of the ''TabletopGame/MutantsAndMasterminds'' Freedom City supplement, are a brother/sister pair with sonic and visual distortion powers respectively, but can deploy a disintegration attack when physically touching.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'', the ''Art of Magic'' third-party splat book, there is a spell temporarily binding the minds of the caster and another character. This allows them to both use the best natural roll they make for initiative, and also increase their spellcasting effectiveness if they cast spells at the same target.

* In ''VideoGame/Spyro2RiptosRage'', in Scorch, the exiting cutscene shows siblings (twins? They don't say) Handel and Greta surrounded by armed soldiers in a castle. As the bad guys approach, Handel and Greta slowly move their hands together and when they join hands, their eyes turn red and they cast some sort of spell that knocks their enemies off the castle.
* Tweek and Craig's unlockable ultimate in ''[[VideoGame/{{SouthParkTheFracturedButWhole}} South Park: The Fractured but Whole]] involves them holding hands and using the power of yaoi to damage, shock and confuse their foes.

* In ''[[VideoGame/BackyardSports Backyard Baseball]]'', Ashley and Sidney Webber play much better when they are on the same team. They become the best pitchers in the game.
* ''VideoGame/{{Suikoden}}'' plays this with characters with look-alikes. Each pair can perform combinations when they're in the same team. ''VideoGame/SuikodenV'' has [[TheHero the Prince]] and Roy. ''[[VideoGame/SuikodenTierkreis Tierkreis]]'' has Marica and Another Marica.
* DualBoss Mona and Lisa in ''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage 3'' have several abilities that they can perform if they do it together. When you kill one of the twins, the remaining twin's abilities will weaken due to being alone.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* In ''Webcomic/JupiterMen'', Quintin and Jackie possess Jupiter-Man's ability to remove the cosmic energy that mutates Star Struck creatures into monsters, but only while they're both touching it. Watch-Dog needs both twins on board with becoming superheroes because of this, as there's no other way to permanently neutralize a Star Struck monster.

* The {{Trope Namer}}s are the shape-shifting Wonder Twins Zan and Jayna from ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}} The All-New Superfriends Hour]]''. When they [[HandshakeSubstitute bumped fists]] to activate their powers, Zan could change into various forms of [[MakingASplash water]]/[[AnIcePerson ice]], while Jayna could transform into animals. Sadly the writers were either unable or forbidden to come up with [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway actual, useful applications for their powers]]. Their counterparts from the ''Superfriends'' comics of the time were much better with their powers. On the other hand, if a large enough creature passed between them, they needed only to put their fists into that creature's form simultaneously and their weakness was promptly nullified.
* Más y Menos from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'' whose powers depend on physical contact with each other, usually by pressing their palms together or holding an electrical conductor between them. They themselves derive from the Tornado Twins of Creator/DCComics (who did not have this limitation).
* Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy of ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' are a parody of this, with them yelling "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy Unite!" before activating their powers.
* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'': Jetfire and Jetstorm combine to make "Safeguard". In fact all CombiningMecha have a bit of this, in that they're devastating in a FiveManBand, but nothing to write home about individually. Though, they've got PlayingWithFire and BlowYouAway going for them, respectively. They're not overly reliant on Safeguard mode.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles|2003}}'' (2003), assassin duo Mr. Touch and Mr. Go need to bump fists in order to (temporarily) access their powers: super-strength for Mr. Touch, super-speed for Mr. Go. Given that these fade in a matter of minutes, they're always together.
* The [=WooFoo=] Aura attack from ''WesternAnimation/YinYangYo'' requires the twins to quit fighting and work together in mutual concentration.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheTwinsOfDestiny'' was a French production in which the main characters, Jules and Julie, would hold hands and say "We call upon the (number) Power of the Seven Powers..." and then fill that last part in with whatever they needed the power to do.

* Despite being sentient themselves, the HumongousMecha in ''WesternAnimation/{{Robotix}}'' could only activate their [[TransformingMecha transforming powers]] when they had human pilots.

* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Shazzan}}'', Chuck and Nancy each wore half of the ring. To summon Shazzan, they put the ring together and said "Shazzan!"
* An episode of ''ComicBook/WalterMelon'' and Bitterbug join the [[Franchise/PowerRangers Flower Power Rangers]] who are short two members and need all five to transform.

SisterTrope to SuperiorTwinTeamwork, which covers twins working better together than separate and the teamwork between twins being better than the teamwork of non-twin teams and pairs. See also {{Synchronization}}, FusionDance, SiblingTeam and BashBrothers. Contrast with AllYourPowersCombined.

* The protagonists Black and White and the Dusk and Dawn brothers in ''Anime/TekkonKinkreet''. Although its more of a spiritual connection than anything else.

* A form of this makes an important part of a ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures'' fanfic ''Fanfic/TheUltimateEvil'': the concept of an "Other" (an abbreviation to "Other half of one's self"). While no specifics are given as to what the other half of someone can really do, it's explained vaguely that when someone finds their Other, they have found the half that makes them whole, conflicting yet combining with one's own strengths and weaknesses. The bond between two halves can vary from that between [[OppositesAttract lovers]], rivals, [[SiblingYinYang siblings]] or simple companions, and it's extremely rare for anyone to find their Other half, as they only come once. Should the [[DemonLordsAndArchDevils Demon Sorcerers]] find their Other, they can be given extreme power as their dark chi melds with the good chi in their Other, making them [[YinYangBomb able to have both good and bad chi which allows them to do any and all forms of magic]]. It is implied that should a Demon Sorcerer find and be bound to his/her Other, they will have unlimited power. It is not made clear as of yet what the effects will be on the partner. Also, if one is possessing a body of someone else while touching their Other, the effect of power-boost is distilled. If there is another soul in the body at the time, the chi of that soul prevents that of the two Others from connecting.

* ''Webcomic/KillroyAndTina'' has the two main characters share super powers as long as they're within five kilometers of each other. They also suffer from {{Synchronization}}; if one dies, both die. This was actually done as ''punishment'', as a type of RestrainingBolt to keep an evil alien overlord tethered to an ordinary teenage girl, and therefore out of trouble. [[spoiler: Although it was also part of a scheme involving a StableTimeLoop, because the superhero who arranged this was actually a future version of Tina.]]
* Dimitri and Alina Tokamak of ''Webcomic/DresdenCodak'' have superpowers activated by contact based around physics.
* Parley and Smith Of ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'': both have powers that work individually (Teleportation and [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=385 creating order]]) but when the two are working together, Parley's teleportation is much [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=786 easier to control]].
* ''Webcomic/BallAndChain'' is about a married couple whose powers only work when they're together and are triggered by their physical contact. The problem: they were splitting up when they got said powers and have a lot of trouble cooperating. Secondary problem: Neither of them is aware of this caveat for a while, meaning that when Edgar ("Ball") gets ambushed by bad guys, he thinks he is going at them with superpowers that are waning rapidly.

* The ''Film/DoubleDragon'' movie has this as the only way the two halves of the [[MacGuffin Dragon Medallion]] can be used without corrupting the user with its power, with Billy using one half and Jimmy using the second.

* Marvel's Hammer and Anvil are a variation on this theme. They are linked at the wrist by a piece of alien technology that affords them a set of powers. When one of them was shot and killed by the Scourge of the Underworld, the other died moments later.

* Marvel's Hammer and Anvil are a variation on this theme. They are linked at the wrist by a piece of alien technology that affords them a set of powers.

* Crimson Crusader and Imp of Marvel's ''ComicBook/ClanDestine'': Unlike the rest of their siblings, their powers emerged at puberty, not at adulthood. But that same odd "twin factor" that gave them their powers early, causes their powers (Crusader controls gravity, Imp can generate and control radiant energy) to fail if they're physically too far away from each other.