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sorted section by alphabetical order
[[AC:''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'']]
* PlayedWith in ''Fanfic/VillainOfYourOwnStory'': In the [[RealityWarpingIsNotAToy new reality created by]] [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor Alya's Wish]], she finds the Butterfly Brooch instead. Though excited at the prospect of becoming a real-life superheroine, she's disappointed to learn that it specializes in SuperEmpowering -- she wanted a ''real'' power, a ''direct'' one rather than playing support! So she decides to [[AdaptationalVillainy become Hawk Moth]] in order to lure out heroes, intending to steal their Miraculi so she can get a 'better' TransformationTrinket and claim the glory she feels she rightly ''deserves''.
* PlayedWith in ''Fanfic/VillainOfYourOwnStory'': In the [[RealityWarpingIsNotAToy new reality created by]] [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor Alya's Wish]], she finds the Butterfly Brooch instead. Though excited at the prospect of becoming a real-life superheroine, she's disappointed to learn that it specializes in SuperEmpowering -- she wanted a ''real'' power, a ''direct'' one rather than playing support! So she decides to [[AdaptationalVillainy become Hawk Moth]] in order to lure out heroes, intending to steal their Miraculi so she can get a 'better' TransformationTrinket and claim the glory she feels she rightly ''deserves''.
Deleted line(s) 37,39 (click to see context) :
[[AC:''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'']]
* PlayedWith in ''Fanfic/VillainOfYourOwnStory'': In the [[RealityWarpingIsNotAToy new reality created by]] [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor Alya's Wish]], she finds the Butterfly Brooch instead. Though excited at the prospect of becoming a real-life superheroine, she's disappointed to learn that it specializes in SuperEmpowering -- she wanted a ''real'' power, a ''direct'' one rather than playing support! So she decides to [[AdaptationalVillainy become Hawk Moth]] in order to lure out heroes, intending to steal their Miraculi so she can get a 'better' TransformationTrinket and claim the glory she feels she rightly ''deserves''.
* PlayedWith in ''Fanfic/VillainOfYourOwnStory'': In the [[RealityWarpingIsNotAToy new reality created by]] [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor Alya's Wish]], she finds the Butterfly Brooch instead. Though excited at the prospect of becoming a real-life superheroine, she's disappointed to learn that it specializes in SuperEmpowering -- she wanted a ''real'' power, a ''direct'' one rather than playing support! So she decides to [[AdaptationalVillainy become Hawk Moth]] in order to lure out heroes, intending to steal their Miraculi so she can get a 'better' TransformationTrinket and claim the glory she feels she rightly ''deserves''.
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Updating Links
Changed line(s) 12 (click to see context) from:
* Both [[GravityMaster Xander]] and Franchise/TheFlash have a secondary power born from "having become one with an aspect of reality" in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5237318/1/Crush Crush]]'': the power to sense where breasts are with larger ones being easier to detect. When Batman questions why Flash never mentioned said power, he points out that having breast radar is [[UselessSuperpowers basically never useful]], even in search and rescue operations since it doesn't help him find men (or young girls). Though apparently both Flash and Xander can detect Powergirl anywhere on the planet.
to:
* Both [[GravityMaster Xander]] and Franchise/TheFlash ComicBook/TheFlash have a secondary power born from "having become one with an aspect of reality" in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5237318/1/Crush Crush]]'': the power to sense where breasts are with larger ones being easier to detect. When Batman questions why Flash never mentioned said power, he points out that having breast radar is [[UselessSuperpowers basically never useful]], even in search and rescue operations since it doesn't help him find men (or young girls). Though apparently both Flash and Xander can detect Powergirl anywhere on the planet.
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[[AC:''Franchise/{{Supergirl}}'']]
to:
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[[AC:''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'']]
to:
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Updating Link
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** [[Characters/XMenTheOriginalTeam Warren Worthington III a.k.a. Archangel]] uses the codename of his SuperpoweredEvilSide (Wisdom theorises that it's a response to his rejection by his family) and possesses deadly sharp metal wings, which are arguably even more dangerous than in canon -- they're made of some kind of supernatural/alien metal that means that Warren's speed is not exactly constrained by normal physics (he's seen comfortably breaking Mach 1, maybe even Mach 2, when he really gets going), low level superhuman physical abilities and a HealingFactor that would make Wolverine blink. He's essentially a LivingWeapon and is bitterly aware of it.
to:
** [[Characters/XMenTheOriginalTeam [[Characters/MarvelComicsAngel Warren Worthington III a.k.a. Archangel]] uses the codename of his SuperpoweredEvilSide (Wisdom theorises that it's a response to his rejection by his family) and possesses deadly sharp metal wings, which are arguably even more dangerous than in canon -- they're made of some kind of supernatural/alien metal that means that Warren's speed is not exactly constrained by normal physics (he's seen comfortably breaking Mach 1, maybe even Mach 2, when he really gets going), low level superhuman physical abilities and a HealingFactor that would make Wolverine blink. He's essentially a LivingWeapon and is bitterly aware of it.
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Boobs Of Steel has been disambiguated
Changed line(s) 12 (click to see context) from:
* Both [[GravityMaster Xander]] and Franchise/TheFlash have a secondary power born from "having become one with an aspect of reality" in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5237318/1/Crush Crush]]'': the power to sense where breasts are with larger ones being easier to detect. When Batman questions why Flash never mentioned said power, he points out that having breast radar is [[UselessSuperpowers basically never useful]], even in search and rescue operations since it doesn't help him find men (or young girls). Though apparently both Flash and Xander can detect [[BoobsOfSteel Powergirl]] anywhere on the planet.
to:
* Both [[GravityMaster Xander]] and Franchise/TheFlash have a secondary power born from "having become one with an aspect of reality" in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5237318/1/Crush Crush]]'': the power to sense where breasts are with larger ones being easier to detect. When Batman questions why Flash never mentioned said power, he points out that having breast radar is [[UselessSuperpowers basically never useful]], even in search and rescue operations since it doesn't help him find men (or young girls). Though apparently both Flash and Xander can detect [[BoobsOfSteel Powergirl]] Powergirl anywhere on the planet.
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None
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* ''Fanfic/MaulingSnarks'': [[spoiler: Jessica Yamada]] is a parahuman with a power that attempts to gauge other people's thoughts based on minute changes in skin color. Apparently, it [[CripplingOverspecialization overspecialized]] with the last group of hosts.
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[[AC:''ranchise/TolkiensLegendarium'']]
to:
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Resorted by source materials.
* Both [[GravityMaster Xander]] and Franchise/TheFlash have a secondary power born from "having become one with an aspect of reality" in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5237318/1/Crush Crush]]'': the power to sense where breasts are with larger ones being easier to detect. When Batman questions why Flash never mentioned said power, he points out that having breast radar is [[UselessSuperpowers basically never useful]], even in search and rescue operations since it doesn't help him find men (or young girls). Though apparently both Flash and Xander can detect [[BoobsOfSteel Powergirl]] anywhere on the planet.
* ''Fanfic/OriginStory'':
** Louise Fulford, Alex Harris's partner, is a mutant with the power to change her hair color at will. She can change it to any range of color she can imagine, and even can change it to a rainbow-like combination of colors. Alex at one point jokingly assigns her the superhero code name "Lady Clairol." Rather than be embarrassed by this, Louise actually calls herself Lady Clairol at one point as a matter of pride.
** A lot of the residents of the homeless camp at which Alex and Louise take shelter fall under this trope. Aaron's power is to see infrared light, Oz can shapeshift, but only to the four primary characters of ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' (Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman, and the Cowardly Lion), without actually gaining any of their abilities. Jan was a teenager with oversized jaw muscles and superhumanly strong teeth. And Debby's skin is translucent. The Avengers these people aren't.
* ''Fanfic/ThinkingInLittleGreenBoxes'': As it turns out, Harry ''does'' have a mutant superpower: hair regeneration. He'll never go gray or bald. Learning this is the in-fic explanation as to why [[ChromeDomePsi Professor X]] [[DisproportionateRetribution becomes Onslaught]].
* [[{{Animorphism}} Animagus]] potential is shown to be quite common (between 1/3 and 1/2 of all wizards and witches) in ''[[https://www.tthfanfic.org/Story-23251-19/BarefootXO+Time+and+Again.htm Time and Again]]'' but most don't bother to pursue it due to either the fact it takes a couple years to learn or the fact their form isn't terribly useful. [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Xander]] never bothered as his form is a spotted hyena and he [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes has some serious trauma]] related to the animal, while Harry Potter's form is a moth.
** Louise Fulford, Alex Harris's partner, is a mutant with the power to change her hair color at will. She can change it to any range of color she can imagine, and even can change it to a rainbow-like combination of colors. Alex at one point jokingly assigns her the superhero code name "Lady Clairol." Rather than be embarrassed by this, Louise actually calls herself Lady Clairol at one point as a matter of pride.
** A lot of the residents of the homeless camp at which Alex and Louise take shelter fall under this trope. Aaron's power is to see infrared light, Oz can shapeshift, but only to the four primary characters of ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' (Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman, and the Cowardly Lion), without actually gaining any of their abilities. Jan was a teenager with oversized jaw muscles and superhumanly strong teeth. And Debby's skin is translucent. The Avengers these people aren't.
* ''Fanfic/ThinkingInLittleGreenBoxes'': As it turns out, Harry ''does'' have a mutant superpower: hair regeneration. He'll never go gray or bald. Learning this is the in-fic explanation as to why [[ChromeDomePsi Professor X]] [[DisproportionateRetribution becomes Onslaught]].
* [[{{Animorphism}} Animagus]] potential is shown to be quite common (between 1/3 and 1/2 of all wizards and witches) in ''[[https://www.tthfanfic.org/Story-23251-19/BarefootXO+Time+and+Again.htm Time and Again]]'' but most don't bother to pursue it due to either the fact it takes a couple years to learn or the fact their form isn't terribly useful. [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Xander]] never bothered as his form is a spotted hyena and he [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes has some serious trauma]] related to the animal, while Harry Potter's form is a moth.
[[AC:''VideoGame/DieAnstalt'']]
* Kroko gets this in ''Fanfic/APosseAdEsse''. While his fellow inmates get things like emotion-controlled weather, limited gravity manipulation and [[spoiler:the ability to pause time for 30 seconds]], Kroko... can fly seven feet in the air. (Granted, he is 19cm tall, but still.) And he seems to have to constantly flap his arms to maintain this flight.
* Kroko gets this in ''Fanfic/APosseAdEsse''. While his fellow inmates get things like emotion-controlled weather, limited gravity manipulation and [[spoiler:the ability to pause time for 30 seconds]], Kroko... can fly seven feet in the air. (Granted, he is 19cm tall, but still.) And he seems to have to constantly flap his arms to maintain this flight.
[[AC:''Franchise/{{Homestuck}}'']]
* Rambar in ''Webcomic/TheMotleyTwo''. As a troll, he's got PsychicPowers, but rather than something useful, they just make him into a FourthWallObserver who can hear the mysterious voices that are the [[InteractiveComic readers' suggestions]] and argue with them.
* Rambar in ''Webcomic/TheMotleyTwo''. As a troll, he's got PsychicPowers, but rather than something useful, they just make him into a FourthWallObserver who can hear the mysterious voices that are the [[InteractiveComic readers' suggestions]] and argue with them.
Changed line(s) 23 (click to see context) from:
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* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13430275/13/Level-Up Level Up!]]'', some of the possible Feats members of Izuku's party can get are utterly worthless, such as "whistling" or "double strength bonus when opening jars".
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[[AC:''Franchise/Naruto'']]
to:
[[AC:''Franchise/OnePiece'']]
* ''Fanfic/ThisBites'': A Devil Fruit that allows you to turn into a human child would be pretty much useless for anyone. [[spoiler:Unless they happen to be an inanimate object, like a ship.]]
[[AC:''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'']]
* Jaune's father in ''Fanfic/ProfessorArc'' has a Semblance that tells him when it's going to rain.
* ''Fanfic/ThisBites'': A Devil Fruit that allows you to turn into a human child would be pretty much useless for anyone. [[spoiler:Unless they happen to be an inanimate object, like a ship.]]
[[AC:''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'']]
* Jaune's father in ''Fanfic/ProfessorArc'' has a Semblance that tells him when it's going to rain.
[[AC:''ComicBook/{{Shazam}}'']]
* In ''Fanfic/HereThereBeMonsters'', Mister Midnight and Midnight Maid are equipped with several blinding weapons. Ridiculous compared with the Marvel Family's incredible powers or Ibis' sorcery, but effective to disable a Flying Brick with no defense against them.
-->Mister Midnight and Midnight Maid reached in their belt-pouches and came up with weapons. Chuck's was the blackout device, Joyce held the Torch. She activated hers a second before his and blasted the Poet's eyes with a ray of intense brightness. A second later, Chuck's gimmick projected a cone of blackness, engulfing their foe.\\
"Confound it!" griped the Poet, floundering about. "They didn't give me a power to deal with this!"
* In ''Fanfic/HereThereBeMonsters'', Mister Midnight and Midnight Maid are equipped with several blinding weapons. Ridiculous compared with the Marvel Family's incredible powers or Ibis' sorcery, but effective to disable a Flying Brick with no defense against them.
-->Mister Midnight and Midnight Maid reached in their belt-pouches and came up with weapons. Chuck's was the blackout device, Joyce held the Torch. She activated hers a second before his and blasted the Poet's eyes with a ray of intense brightness. A second later, Chuck's gimmick projected a cone of blackness, engulfing their foe.\\
"Confound it!" griped the Poet, floundering about. "They didn't give me a power to deal with this!"
[[AC:''Franchise/{{Supergirl}}'']]
* In ''Fanfic/HellsisterTrilogy'', Supergirl uses super-hypnotism -one of her most undervalued powers- to mesmerize D'reema into speaking the Life Equation and so cancelling out [[Characters/NewGodsDarkseid Darkseid]]'s Anti-Life Equation.
[[AC:''ranchise/TolkiensLegendarium'']]
* In ''Fanfic/ABoyAGirlAndADogTheLeithianScript'', Orome -the God of Hunt- considers the Art of her sister Nessa -the Goddess of Dance- "is a frivolous waste of time". Then Luthien dances [[GodOfEvil Morgoth]] into unconsciousness, and Nessa proceeds to ''gloat'' a lot.
[[AC:''Literature/{{Worm}}'']]
* In ''Fanfic/{{Atonement}}'', the Travellers have incredibly destructive or fairly useful powers... except for Oliver, who got the power to look attractive to anyone who sees him.
* ''FanFic/LearningToBeHuman'': In an omake later declared to be canon, a minor character has one of these. He [[TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening Triggered]] due to the stress of being Kaiser's nephew and overshadowed by his uncle, gaining the Stranger power to... have no one be able to remember his first name. Doesn't matter how he tells them or even if he writes it down, nobody retains that information. He's stuck as 'Probably-Francis' after someone decided that he looked like a Francis.
[[AC:''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'']]
* In ''Fanfic/RiskItAll'', some of Ren's less combat-ready skills are at least useful life skills like speaking multiple languages or driving. He struggles to come up with uses for some of the more esoteric skills like Barista, which just makes him an impeccable coffee brewer. The only thing he can come up with is starting a [=MeTube=] channel about brewing coffee for some Prestige.
* In ''Fanfic/HellsisterTrilogy'', Supergirl uses super-hypnotism -one of her most undervalued powers- to mesmerize D'reema into speaking the Life Equation and so cancelling out [[Characters/NewGodsDarkseid Darkseid]]'s Anti-Life Equation.
[[AC:''ranchise/TolkiensLegendarium'']]
* In ''Fanfic/ABoyAGirlAndADogTheLeithianScript'', Orome -the God of Hunt- considers the Art of her sister Nessa -the Goddess of Dance- "is a frivolous waste of time". Then Luthien dances [[GodOfEvil Morgoth]] into unconsciousness, and Nessa proceeds to ''gloat'' a lot.
[[AC:''Literature/{{Worm}}'']]
* In ''Fanfic/{{Atonement}}'', the Travellers have incredibly destructive or fairly useful powers... except for Oliver, who got the power to look attractive to anyone who sees him.
* ''FanFic/LearningToBeHuman'': In an omake later declared to be canon, a minor character has one of these. He [[TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening Triggered]] due to the stress of being Kaiser's nephew and overshadowed by his uncle, gaining the Stranger power to... have no one be able to remember his first name. Doesn't matter how he tells them or even if he writes it down, nobody retains that information. He's stuck as 'Probably-Francis' after someone decided that he looked like a Francis.
[[AC:''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'']]
* In ''Fanfic/RiskItAll'', some of Ren's less combat-ready skills are at least useful life skills like speaking multiple languages or driving. He struggles to come up with uses for some of the more esoteric skills like Barista, which just makes him an impeccable coffee brewer. The only thing he can come up with is starting a [=MeTube=] channel about brewing coffee for some Prestige.
Changed line(s) 46,72 (click to see context) from:
----
* Kroko gets this in ''Fanfic/APosseAdEsse''. While his fellow inmates get things like emotion-controlled weather, limited gravity manipulation and [[spoiler:the ability to pause time for 30 seconds]], Kroko... can fly seven feet in the air. (Granted, he is 19cm tall, but still.) And he seems to have to constantly flap his arms to maintain this flight.
* ''Fanfic/OriginStory'':
** Louise Fulford, Alex Harris's partner, is a mutant with the power to change her hair color at will. She can change it to any range of color she can imagine, and even can change it to a rainbow-like combination of colors. Alex at one point jokingly assigns her the superhero code name "Lady Clairol." Rather than be embarrassed by this, Louise actually calls herself Lady Clairol at one point as a matter of pride.
** A lot of the residents of the homeless camp at which Alex and Louise take shelter fall under this trope. Aaron's power is to see infrared light, Oz can shapeshift, but only to the four primary characters of ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' (Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman, and the Cowardly Lion), without actually gaining any of their abilities. Jan was a teenager with oversized jaw muscles and superhumanly strong teeth. And Debby's skin is translucent. The Avengers these people aren't.
* In ''Fanfic/RiskItAll'', some of Ren's less combat-ready skills are at least useful life skills like speaking multiple languages or driving. He struggles to come up with uses for some of the more esoteric skills like Barista, which just makes him an impeccable coffee brewer. The only thing he can come up with is starting a [=MeTube=] channel about brewing coffee for some Prestige.
* Rambar in ''Webcomic/TheMotleyTwo''. As a ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' troll, he's got PsychicPowers, but rather than something useful, they just make him into a FourthWallObserver who can hear the mysterious voices that are the [[InteractiveComic readers' suggestions]] and argue with them.
* Both [[GravityMaster Xander]] and Franchise/TheFlash have a secondary power born from "having become one with an aspect of reality" in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5237318/1/Crush Crush]]'': the power to sense where breasts are with larger ones being easier to detect. When Batman questions why Flash never mentioned said power, he points out that having breast radar is [[UselessSuperpowers basically never useful]], even in search and rescue operations since it doesn't help him find men (or young girls). Though apparently both Flash and Xander can detect [[BoobsOfSteel Powergirl]] anywhere on the planet.
* ''Fanfic/ThisBites'': A Devil Fruit that allows you to turn into a human child would be pretty much useless for anyone. [[spoiler:Unless they happen to be an inanimate object, like a ship.]]
* In ''Fanfic/{{Atonement}}'', the Travellers have incredibly destructive or fairly useful powers... except for Oliver, who got the power to look attractive to anyone who sees him.
* In ''Fanfic/HellsisterTrilogy'', ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} uses super-hypnotism -one of her most undervalued powers- to mesmerize D'reema into speaking the Life Equation and so cancelling out [[Characters/NewGodsDarkseid Darkseid]]'s Anti-Life Equation.
* In ''Fanfic/ABoyAGirlAndADogTheLeithianScript'', Orome -the God of Hunt- considers the Art of her sister Nessa -the Goddess of Dance- "is a frivolous waste of time". Then Luthien dances [[GodOfEvil Morgoth]] into unconsciousness, and Nessa proceeds to ''gloat'' a lot.
* [[{{Animorphism}} Animagus]] potential is shown to be quite common (between 1/3 and 1/2 of all wizards and witches) in ''[[https://www.tthfanfic.org/Story-23251-19/BarefootXO+Time+and+Again.htm Time and Again]]'' but most don't bother to pursue it due to either the fact it takes a couple years to learn or the fact their form isn't terribly useful. [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Xander]] never bothered as his form is a spotted hyena and he [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes has some serious trauma]] related to the animal, while Harry Potter's form is a moth.
* Jaune's father in ''Fanfic/ProfessorArc'' has a Semblance that tells him when it's going to rain.
* ''FanFic/LearningToBeHuman'': In an omake later declared to be canon, a minor character has one of these. He [[TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening Triggered]] due to the stress of being Kaiser's nephew and overshadowed by his uncle, gaining the Stranger power to... have no one be able to remember his first name. Doesn't matter how he tells them or even if he writes it down, nobody retains that information. He's stuck as 'Probably-Francis' after someone decided that he looked like a Francis.
* ''Fanfic/ThinkingInLittleGreenBoxes'': As it turns out, Harry ''does'' have a mutant superpower: hair regeneration. He'll never go gray or bald. Learning this is the in-fic explanation as to why [[ChromeDomePsi Professor X]] [[DisproportionateRetribution becomes Onslaught]].
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13430275/13/Level-Up Level Up!]]'', some of the possible Feats members of Izuku's party can get are utterly worthless, such as "whistling" or "double strength bonus when opening jars".
* In ''ComicBook/{{Shazam}}'' fanfiction ''Fanfic/HereThereBeMonsters'', Mister Midnight and Midnight Maid are equipped with several blinding weapons. Ridiculous compared with the Marvel Family's incredible powers or Ibis' sorcery, but effective to disable a Flying Brick with no defense against them.
-->Mister Midnight and Midnight Maid reached in their belt-pouches and came up with weapons. Chuck's was the blackout device, Joyce held the Torch. She activated hers a second before his and blasted the Poet's eyes with a ray of intense brightness. A second later, Chuck's gimmick projected a cone of blackness, engulfing their foe.\\
"Confound it!" griped the Poet, floundering about. "They didn't give me a power to deal with this!"
* Kroko gets this in ''Fanfic/APosseAdEsse''. While his fellow inmates get things like emotion-controlled weather, limited gravity manipulation and [[spoiler:the ability to pause time for 30 seconds]], Kroko... can fly seven feet in the air. (Granted, he is 19cm tall, but still.) And he seems to have to constantly flap his arms to maintain this flight.
* ''Fanfic/OriginStory'':
** Louise Fulford, Alex Harris's partner, is a mutant with the power to change her hair color at will. She can change it to any range of color she can imagine, and even can change it to a rainbow-like combination of colors. Alex at one point jokingly assigns her the superhero code name "Lady Clairol." Rather than be embarrassed by this, Louise actually calls herself Lady Clairol at one point as a matter of pride.
** A lot of the residents of the homeless camp at which Alex and Louise take shelter fall under this trope. Aaron's power is to see infrared light, Oz can shapeshift, but only to the four primary characters of ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' (Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman, and the Cowardly Lion), without actually gaining any of their abilities. Jan was a teenager with oversized jaw muscles and superhumanly strong teeth. And Debby's skin is translucent. The Avengers these people aren't.
* In ''Fanfic/RiskItAll'', some of Ren's less combat-ready skills are at least useful life skills like speaking multiple languages or driving. He struggles to come up with uses for some of the more esoteric skills like Barista, which just makes him an impeccable coffee brewer. The only thing he can come up with is starting a [=MeTube=] channel about brewing coffee for some Prestige.
* Rambar in ''Webcomic/TheMotleyTwo''. As a ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' troll, he's got PsychicPowers, but rather than something useful, they just make him into a FourthWallObserver who can hear the mysterious voices that are the [[InteractiveComic readers' suggestions]] and argue with them.
* Both [[GravityMaster Xander]] and Franchise/TheFlash have a secondary power born from "having become one with an aspect of reality" in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5237318/1/Crush Crush]]'': the power to sense where breasts are with larger ones being easier to detect. When Batman questions why Flash never mentioned said power, he points out that having breast radar is [[UselessSuperpowers basically never useful]], even in search and rescue operations since it doesn't help him find men (or young girls). Though apparently both Flash and Xander can detect [[BoobsOfSteel Powergirl]] anywhere on the planet.
* ''Fanfic/ThisBites'': A Devil Fruit that allows you to turn into a human child would be pretty much useless for anyone. [[spoiler:Unless they happen to be an inanimate object, like a ship.]]
* In ''Fanfic/{{Atonement}}'', the Travellers have incredibly destructive or fairly useful powers... except for Oliver, who got the power to look attractive to anyone who sees him.
* In ''Fanfic/HellsisterTrilogy'', ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} uses super-hypnotism -one of her most undervalued powers- to mesmerize D'reema into speaking the Life Equation and so cancelling out [[Characters/NewGodsDarkseid Darkseid]]'s Anti-Life Equation.
* In ''Fanfic/ABoyAGirlAndADogTheLeithianScript'', Orome -the God of Hunt- considers the Art of her sister Nessa -the Goddess of Dance- "is a frivolous waste of time". Then Luthien dances [[GodOfEvil Morgoth]] into unconsciousness, and Nessa proceeds to ''gloat'' a lot.
* [[{{Animorphism}} Animagus]] potential is shown to be quite common (between 1/3 and 1/2 of all wizards and witches) in ''[[https://www.tthfanfic.org/Story-23251-19/BarefootXO+Time+and+Again.htm Time and Again]]'' but most don't bother to pursue it due to either the fact it takes a couple years to learn or the fact their form isn't terribly useful. [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Xander]] never bothered as his form is a spotted hyena and he [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes has some serious trauma]] related to the animal, while Harry Potter's form is a moth.
* Jaune's father in ''Fanfic/ProfessorArc'' has a Semblance that tells him when it's going to rain.
* ''FanFic/LearningToBeHuman'': In an omake later declared to be canon, a minor character has one of these. He [[TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening Triggered]] due to the stress of being Kaiser's nephew and overshadowed by his uncle, gaining the Stranger power to... have no one be able to remember his first name. Doesn't matter how he tells them or even if he writes it down, nobody retains that information. He's stuck as 'Probably-Francis' after someone decided that he looked like a Francis.
* ''Fanfic/ThinkingInLittleGreenBoxes'': As it turns out, Harry ''does'' have a mutant superpower: hair regeneration. He'll never go gray or bald. Learning this is the in-fic explanation as to why [[ChromeDomePsi Professor X]] [[DisproportionateRetribution becomes Onslaught]].
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13430275/13/Level-Up Level Up!]]'', some of the possible Feats members of Izuku's party can get are utterly worthless, such as "whistling" or "double strength bonus when opening jars".
* In ''ComicBook/{{Shazam}}'' fanfiction ''Fanfic/HereThereBeMonsters'', Mister Midnight and Midnight Maid are equipped with several blinding weapons. Ridiculous compared with the Marvel Family's incredible powers or Ibis' sorcery, but effective to disable a Flying Brick with no defense against them.
-->Mister Midnight and Midnight Maid reached in their belt-pouches and came up with weapons. Chuck's was the blackout device, Joyce held the Torch. She activated hers a second before his and blasted the Poet's eyes with a ray of intense brightness. A second later, Chuck's gimmick projected a cone of blackness, engulfing their foe.\\
"Confound it!" griped the Poet, floundering about. "They didn't give me a power to deal with this!"
to:
* Kroko gets this in ''Fanfic/APosseAdEsse''. While his fellow inmates get things like emotion-controlled weather, limited gravity manipulation and [[spoiler:the ability to pause time for 30 seconds]], Kroko... can fly seven feet in the air. (Granted, he is 19cm tall, but still.) And he seems to have to constantly flap his arms to maintain this flight.
* ''Fanfic/OriginStory'':
** Louise Fulford, Alex Harris's partner, is a mutant with the power to change her hair color at will. She can change it to any range of color she can imagine, and even can change it to a rainbow-like combination of colors. Alex at one point jokingly assigns her the superhero code name "Lady Clairol." Rather than be embarrassed by this, Louise actually calls herself Lady Clairol at one point as a matter of pride.
** A lot of the residents of the homeless camp at which Alex and Louise take shelter fall under this trope. Aaron's power is to see infrared light, Oz can shapeshift, but only to the four primary characters of ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' (Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman, and the Cowardly Lion), without actually gaining any of their abilities. Jan was a teenager with oversized jaw muscles and superhumanly strong teeth. And Debby's skin is translucent. The Avengers these people aren't.
* In ''Fanfic/RiskItAll'', some of Ren's less combat-ready skills are at least useful life skills like speaking multiple languages or driving. He struggles to come up with uses for some of the more esoteric skills like Barista, which just makes him an impeccable coffee brewer. The only thing he can come up with is starting a [=MeTube=] channel about brewing coffee for some Prestige.
* Rambar in ''Webcomic/TheMotleyTwo''. As a ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' troll, he's got PsychicPowers, but rather than something useful, they just make him into a FourthWallObserver who can hear the mysterious voices that are the [[InteractiveComic readers' suggestions]] and argue with them.
* Both [[GravityMaster Xander]] and Franchise/TheFlash have a secondary power born from "having become one with an aspect of reality" in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5237318/1/Crush Crush]]'': the power to sense where breasts are with larger ones being easier to detect. When Batman questions why Flash never mentioned said power, he points out that having breast radar is [[UselessSuperpowers basically never useful]], even in search and rescue operations since it doesn't help him find men (or young girls). Though apparently both Flash and Xander can detect [[BoobsOfSteel Powergirl]] anywhere on the planet.
* ''Fanfic/ThisBites'': A Devil Fruit that allows you to turn into a human child would be pretty much useless for anyone. [[spoiler:Unless they happen to be an inanimate object, like a ship.]]
* In ''Fanfic/{{Atonement}}'', the Travellers have incredibly destructive or fairly useful powers... except for Oliver, who got the power to look attractive to anyone who sees him.
* In ''Fanfic/HellsisterTrilogy'', ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} uses super-hypnotism -one of her most undervalued powers- to mesmerize D'reema into speaking the Life Equation and so cancelling out [[Characters/NewGodsDarkseid Darkseid]]'s Anti-Life Equation.
* In ''Fanfic/ABoyAGirlAndADogTheLeithianScript'', Orome -the God of Hunt- considers the Art of her sister Nessa -the Goddess of Dance- "is a frivolous waste of time". Then Luthien dances [[GodOfEvil Morgoth]] into unconsciousness, and Nessa proceeds to ''gloat'' a lot.
* [[{{Animorphism}} Animagus]] potential is shown to be quite common (between 1/3 and 1/2 of all wizards and witches) in ''[[https://www.tthfanfic.org/Story-23251-19/BarefootXO+Time+and+Again.htm Time and Again]]'' but most don't bother to pursue it due to either the fact it takes a couple years to learn or the fact their form isn't terribly useful. [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Xander]] never bothered as his form is a spotted hyena and he [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes has some serious trauma]] related to the animal, while Harry Potter's form is a moth.
* Jaune's father in ''Fanfic/ProfessorArc'' has a Semblance that tells him when it's going to rain.
* ''FanFic/LearningToBeHuman'': In an omake later declared to be canon, a minor character has one of these. He [[TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening Triggered]] due to the stress of being Kaiser's nephew and overshadowed by his uncle, gaining the Stranger power to... have no one be able to remember his first name. Doesn't matter how he tells them or even if he writes it down, nobody retains that information. He's stuck as 'Probably-Francis' after someone decided that he looked like a Francis.
* ''Fanfic/ThinkingInLittleGreenBoxes'': As it turns out, Harry ''does'' have a mutant superpower: hair regeneration. He'll never go gray or bald. Learning this is the in-fic explanation as to why [[ChromeDomePsi Professor X]] [[DisproportionateRetribution becomes Onslaught]].
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13430275/13/Level-Up Level Up!]]'', some of the possible Feats members of Izuku's party can get are utterly worthless, such as "whistling" or "double strength bonus when opening jars".
* In ''ComicBook/{{Shazam}}'' fanfiction ''Fanfic/HereThereBeMonsters'', Mister Midnight and Midnight Maid are equipped with several blinding weapons. Ridiculous compared with the Marvel Family's incredible powers or Ibis' sorcery, but effective to disable a Flying Brick with no defense against them.
-->Mister Midnight and Midnight Maid reached in their belt-pouches and came up with weapons. Chuck's was the blackout device, Joyce held the Torch. She activated hers a second before his and blasted the Poet's eyes with a ray of intense brightness. A second later, Chuck's gimmick projected a cone of blackness, engulfing their foe.\\
"Confound it!" griped the Poet, floundering about. "They didn't give me a power to deal with this!"
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%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order. Thanks!
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[[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway Lame superpowers]] in FanWorks.
----
[[AC:{{Crossover}}s]]
* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' rehabilitates one or two people who have previously lame or underdeveloped powers.
** Sean Cassidy a.k.a. Banshee is mostly famous for screaming at people to knock them down or at the ground to (somehow) fly. The story delves into some of his lesser-known powers and the lesser-known properties of sound -- for instance, he's got a powerful CompellingVoice, he controls sound in a small area around him, so he can move in complete silence, he's got a form of superhearing that allows him to use his own footsteps as sonar and he can shatter anything if he hits its resonant frequency. This includes wands, bone and diamond. Fairly formidable, even before you take into account the fact that he's had nearly fifty years to get very, very good with his powers. He's also [[OlderThanTheyLook physically about thirty]] due to a NoodleIncident involving [[ShoutOut 'a living island,]] [[ComicBook/XMen name of Krakoa']] and a badass of note, who's prepared for his powers being nullified by training in hand to hand. Natasha notes that he's a particularly skilled practitioner of Aikido.
** [[Characters/XMenTheOriginalTeam Warren Worthington III a.k.a. Archangel]] uses the codename of his SuperpoweredEvilSide (Wisdom theorises that it's a response to his rejection by his family) and possesses deadly sharp metal wings, which are arguably even more dangerous than in canon -- they're made of some kind of supernatural/alien metal that means that Warren's speed is not exactly constrained by normal physics (he's seen comfortably breaking Mach 1, maybe even Mach 2, when he really gets going), low level superhuman physical abilities and a HealingFactor that would make Wolverine blink. He's essentially a LivingWeapon and is bitterly aware of it.
* In ''Fanfic/InfinityCrisis'', [[Characters/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyModern Peter Quill]] begins to ask ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} what kind of power talking to fish is, only for Aquaman to summon a tidal wave that includes a humpback whale squashing several of Thanos's forces.
* Downplayed in ''Fanfic/NeitherABirdNorAPlaneItsDeku''. Mashirao Ojiro's Metahuman power just gives him a muscular tail for attack, defense, and mobility. While it's a useful enough power to get him into the most prestigious Hero school in Japan, he complains that it isn't particularly flashy or powerful when compared to other Metahuman powers like Ochako's GravityMaster abilities or Kaminari's ShockAndAwe. It doesn't hold a candle to [[FlyingBrick Izuku's]] [[PowerMisidentification "Quirk"]] either.
* In ''Fanfic/VoyagesOfTheWildSeaHorse'', whilst pursuing [[spoiler:Shampoo]], who has eaten a Zoan Devil Fruit that lets her turn into a rabbit, several marines comment on how lame a power that sounds. She thinks she's gotten [[HeartIsAnAwesomePower a pretty good deal]], however, as it nullifies both one of her biggest weaknesses and one of the things that most interferes in her pursuit of Ranma.
[[AC:''Franchise/HarryPotter'']]
* ''WebVideo/PotterPuppetPals'' in the live show at least. Dumbledore describes the awesome power of:
-->'''Dumbledore:''' ... The spell we know as love.\\
'''Harry:''' ''Lame!''
[[AC:''Franchise/MyHeroAcademia'']]
* In ''Fanfic/{{Juxtapose}}'', this is Izuku's opinion of his own Quirk, Minor Banishment. He's able to [[PortalCut banish anything from existence]]... but no more than 10 grams at a time. He also has to be touching whatever he wants to banish and he has to have a solid image of the structure of whatever he's banishing in his head. These highly specific conditions made Izuku the laughingstock of his peers and even All Might initially doubts Izuku's prospects of becoming a hero. But [[SubvertedTrope he discovers more and more applications for it]] while attending Yuuei as a general education student, which manages to get him into the Sports Festival after more than a year of TrainingFromHell to prepare. [[spoiler:By the end, he and [[BadPowersGoodPeople Hitoshi Shinsou]] end up winning it despite the presence of powerhouses like [[SuperpowerLottery Shouto Todoroki.]]]]
[[AC:''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'']]
* PlayedWith in ''Fanfic/VillainOfYourOwnStory'': In the [[RealityWarpingIsNotAToy new reality created by]] [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor Alya's Wish]], she finds the Butterfly Brooch instead. Though excited at the prospect of becoming a real-life superheroine, she's disappointed to learn that it specializes in SuperEmpowering -- she wanted a ''real'' power, a ''direct'' one rather than playing support! So she decides to [[AdaptationalVillainy become Hawk Moth]] in order to lure out heroes, intending to steal their Miraculi so she can get a 'better' TransformationTrinket and claim the glory she feels she rightly ''deserves''.
[[AC:''Franchise/Naruto'']]
* In ''FanFic/TheEyesHaveIt'', Kurenai Yuuhi has a doujutsu that let's her slightly (1.5x) magnify objects she's looking at. According to her, it's mostly useful for reading fine print.
* ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6302431/1/Just-Check-Both Just Check Both]]'':
** Naruto has inherited a kekkei genkai from his father that causes him to [[GenderBender change genders at semi-random intervals]]. [[WholesomeCrossdresser Haku]] is severely creeped out by the idea of someone who changes genders having a crush on him.
** Gaara from the same story has the power to set his hair on fire.
[[AC:''Franchise/SailorMoon'']]
* [[TheLoad Sailor Mercury]] from ''WebVideo/SailorMoonAbridged'' is not only utterly useless, in one episode [[spoiler:she even causes the people to die by using her powers, hence blocking their views and prevent them from fleeing the scenery]].
[[AC:''Franchise/SpongebobSquarepants'']]
* Discussed in ''Fanfic/MortalMan'' when Barnacle Boy asks [=SpongeBob=] to be his sidekick due to his people skills:
-->"You make people happy. That's your superpower."\\
"Really? Gosh. That seems kind of cheesy," laughed [=SpongeBob=].\\
"What do you mean?" scowled Barnacle Boy, standing up straight and placing his hands on his hips indignantly. "I thought you of all people appreciated the power of friendship."\\
"Oh, I do," assured [=SpongeBob=], "It's just... that's not a real superpower. I can't make water balls or assemble the creatures of the deep."
[[AC:''Franchise/YuGiOh'']]
* Marik from ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'' can use his [[ArtifactOfDoom Millennium Rod]] to control minds. Unfortunately, it only works on people called Steve. Although having people's names legally changed makes them susceptible, as Joey and Tea find out. This also applies to people whose middle names are Steve, as Marik was able to control Bandit Keith because his middle name was Steve, and presumably people whose last names are Steve. He also pointed out that, if he felt like it, he could have Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin kick your ass.
----
* Kroko gets this in ''Fanfic/APosseAdEsse''. While his fellow inmates get things like emotion-controlled weather, limited gravity manipulation and [[spoiler:the ability to pause time for 30 seconds]], Kroko... can fly seven feet in the air. (Granted, he is 19cm tall, but still.) And he seems to have to constantly flap his arms to maintain this flight.
* ''Fanfic/OriginStory'':
** Louise Fulford, Alex Harris's partner, is a mutant with the power to change her hair color at will. She can change it to any range of color she can imagine, and even can change it to a rainbow-like combination of colors. Alex at one point jokingly assigns her the superhero code name "Lady Clairol." Rather than be embarrassed by this, Louise actually calls herself Lady Clairol at one point as a matter of pride.
** A lot of the residents of the homeless camp at which Alex and Louise take shelter fall under this trope. Aaron's power is to see infrared light, Oz can shapeshift, but only to the four primary characters of ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' (Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman, and the Cowardly Lion), without actually gaining any of their abilities. Jan was a teenager with oversized jaw muscles and superhumanly strong teeth. And Debby's skin is translucent. The Avengers these people aren't.
* In ''Fanfic/RiskItAll'', some of Ren's less combat-ready skills are at least useful life skills like speaking multiple languages or driving. He struggles to come up with uses for some of the more esoteric skills like Barista, which just makes him an impeccable coffee brewer. The only thing he can come up with is starting a [=MeTube=] channel about brewing coffee for some Prestige.
* Rambar in ''Webcomic/TheMotleyTwo''. As a ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' troll, he's got PsychicPowers, but rather than something useful, they just make him into a FourthWallObserver who can hear the mysterious voices that are the [[InteractiveComic readers' suggestions]] and argue with them.
* Both [[GravityMaster Xander]] and Franchise/TheFlash have a secondary power born from "having become one with an aspect of reality" in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5237318/1/Crush Crush]]'': the power to sense where breasts are with larger ones being easier to detect. When Batman questions why Flash never mentioned said power, he points out that having breast radar is [[UselessSuperpowers basically never useful]], even in search and rescue operations since it doesn't help him find men (or young girls). Though apparently both Flash and Xander can detect [[BoobsOfSteel Powergirl]] anywhere on the planet.
* ''Fanfic/ThisBites'': A Devil Fruit that allows you to turn into a human child would be pretty much useless for anyone. [[spoiler:Unless they happen to be an inanimate object, like a ship.]]
* In ''Fanfic/{{Atonement}}'', the Travellers have incredibly destructive or fairly useful powers... except for Oliver, who got the power to look attractive to anyone who sees him.
* In ''Fanfic/HellsisterTrilogy'', ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} uses super-hypnotism -one of her most undervalued powers- to mesmerize D'reema into speaking the Life Equation and so cancelling out [[Characters/NewGodsDarkseid Darkseid]]'s Anti-Life Equation.
* In ''Fanfic/ABoyAGirlAndADogTheLeithianScript'', Orome -the God of Hunt- considers the Art of her sister Nessa -the Goddess of Dance- "is a frivolous waste of time". Then Luthien dances [[GodOfEvil Morgoth]] into unconsciousness, and Nessa proceeds to ''gloat'' a lot.
* [[{{Animorphism}} Animagus]] potential is shown to be quite common (between 1/3 and 1/2 of all wizards and witches) in ''[[https://www.tthfanfic.org/Story-23251-19/BarefootXO+Time+and+Again.htm Time and Again]]'' but most don't bother to pursue it due to either the fact it takes a couple years to learn or the fact their form isn't terribly useful. [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Xander]] never bothered as his form is a spotted hyena and he [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes has some serious trauma]] related to the animal, while Harry Potter's form is a moth.
* Jaune's father in ''Fanfic/ProfessorArc'' has a Semblance that tells him when it's going to rain.
* ''FanFic/LearningToBeHuman'': In an omake later declared to be canon, a minor character has one of these. He [[TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening Triggered]] due to the stress of being Kaiser's nephew and overshadowed by his uncle, gaining the Stranger power to... have no one be able to remember his first name. Doesn't matter how he tells them or even if he writes it down, nobody retains that information. He's stuck as 'Probably-Francis' after someone decided that he looked like a Francis.
* ''Fanfic/ThinkingInLittleGreenBoxes'': As it turns out, Harry ''does'' have a mutant superpower: hair regeneration. He'll never go gray or bald. Learning this is the in-fic explanation as to why [[ChromeDomePsi Professor X]] [[DisproportionateRetribution becomes Onslaught]].
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13430275/13/Level-Up Level Up!]]'', some of the possible Feats members of Izuku's party can get are utterly worthless, such as "whistling" or "double strength bonus when opening jars".
* In ''ComicBook/{{Shazam}}'' fanfiction ''Fanfic/HereThereBeMonsters'', Mister Midnight and Midnight Maid are equipped with several blinding weapons. Ridiculous compared with the Marvel Family's incredible powers or Ibis' sorcery, but effective to disable a Flying Brick with no defense against them.
-->Mister Midnight and Midnight Maid reached in their belt-pouches and came up with weapons. Chuck's was the blackout device, Joyce held the Torch. She activated hers a second before his and blasted the Poet's eyes with a ray of intense brightness. A second later, Chuck's gimmick projected a cone of blackness, engulfing their foe.\\
"Confound it!" griped the Poet, floundering about. "They didn't give me a power to deal with this!"
%%
%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order. Thanks!
%%
%%%
[[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway Lame superpowers]] in FanWorks.
----
[[AC:{{Crossover}}s]]
* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' rehabilitates one or two people who have previously lame or underdeveloped powers.
** Sean Cassidy a.k.a. Banshee is mostly famous for screaming at people to knock them down or at the ground to (somehow) fly. The story delves into some of his lesser-known powers and the lesser-known properties of sound -- for instance, he's got a powerful CompellingVoice, he controls sound in a small area around him, so he can move in complete silence, he's got a form of superhearing that allows him to use his own footsteps as sonar and he can shatter anything if he hits its resonant frequency. This includes wands, bone and diamond. Fairly formidable, even before you take into account the fact that he's had nearly fifty years to get very, very good with his powers. He's also [[OlderThanTheyLook physically about thirty]] due to a NoodleIncident involving [[ShoutOut 'a living island,]] [[ComicBook/XMen name of Krakoa']] and a badass of note, who's prepared for his powers being nullified by training in hand to hand. Natasha notes that he's a particularly skilled practitioner of Aikido.
** [[Characters/XMenTheOriginalTeam Warren Worthington III a.k.a. Archangel]] uses the codename of his SuperpoweredEvilSide (Wisdom theorises that it's a response to his rejection by his family) and possesses deadly sharp metal wings, which are arguably even more dangerous than in canon -- they're made of some kind of supernatural/alien metal that means that Warren's speed is not exactly constrained by normal physics (he's seen comfortably breaking Mach 1, maybe even Mach 2, when he really gets going), low level superhuman physical abilities and a HealingFactor that would make Wolverine blink. He's essentially a LivingWeapon and is bitterly aware of it.
* In ''Fanfic/InfinityCrisis'', [[Characters/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyModern Peter Quill]] begins to ask ComicBook/{{Aquaman}} what kind of power talking to fish is, only for Aquaman to summon a tidal wave that includes a humpback whale squashing several of Thanos's forces.
* Downplayed in ''Fanfic/NeitherABirdNorAPlaneItsDeku''. Mashirao Ojiro's Metahuman power just gives him a muscular tail for attack, defense, and mobility. While it's a useful enough power to get him into the most prestigious Hero school in Japan, he complains that it isn't particularly flashy or powerful when compared to other Metahuman powers like Ochako's GravityMaster abilities or Kaminari's ShockAndAwe. It doesn't hold a candle to [[FlyingBrick Izuku's]] [[PowerMisidentification "Quirk"]] either.
* In ''Fanfic/VoyagesOfTheWildSeaHorse'', whilst pursuing [[spoiler:Shampoo]], who has eaten a Zoan Devil Fruit that lets her turn into a rabbit, several marines comment on how lame a power that sounds. She thinks she's gotten [[HeartIsAnAwesomePower a pretty good deal]], however, as it nullifies both one of her biggest weaknesses and one of the things that most interferes in her pursuit of Ranma.
[[AC:''Franchise/HarryPotter'']]
* ''WebVideo/PotterPuppetPals'' in the live show at least. Dumbledore describes the awesome power of:
-->'''Dumbledore:''' ... The spell we know as love.\\
'''Harry:''' ''Lame!''
[[AC:''Franchise/MyHeroAcademia'']]
* In ''Fanfic/{{Juxtapose}}'', this is Izuku's opinion of his own Quirk, Minor Banishment. He's able to [[PortalCut banish anything from existence]]... but no more than 10 grams at a time. He also has to be touching whatever he wants to banish and he has to have a solid image of the structure of whatever he's banishing in his head. These highly specific conditions made Izuku the laughingstock of his peers and even All Might initially doubts Izuku's prospects of becoming a hero. But [[SubvertedTrope he discovers more and more applications for it]] while attending Yuuei as a general education student, which manages to get him into the Sports Festival after more than a year of TrainingFromHell to prepare. [[spoiler:By the end, he and [[BadPowersGoodPeople Hitoshi Shinsou]] end up winning it despite the presence of powerhouses like [[SuperpowerLottery Shouto Todoroki.]]]]
[[AC:''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'']]
* PlayedWith in ''Fanfic/VillainOfYourOwnStory'': In the [[RealityWarpingIsNotAToy new reality created by]] [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor Alya's Wish]], she finds the Butterfly Brooch instead. Though excited at the prospect of becoming a real-life superheroine, she's disappointed to learn that it specializes in SuperEmpowering -- she wanted a ''real'' power, a ''direct'' one rather than playing support! So she decides to [[AdaptationalVillainy become Hawk Moth]] in order to lure out heroes, intending to steal their Miraculi so she can get a 'better' TransformationTrinket and claim the glory she feels she rightly ''deserves''.
[[AC:''Franchise/Naruto'']]
* In ''FanFic/TheEyesHaveIt'', Kurenai Yuuhi has a doujutsu that let's her slightly (1.5x) magnify objects she's looking at. According to her, it's mostly useful for reading fine print.
* ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6302431/1/Just-Check-Both Just Check Both]]'':
** Naruto has inherited a kekkei genkai from his father that causes him to [[GenderBender change genders at semi-random intervals]]. [[WholesomeCrossdresser Haku]] is severely creeped out by the idea of someone who changes genders having a crush on him.
** Gaara from the same story has the power to set his hair on fire.
[[AC:''Franchise/SailorMoon'']]
* [[TheLoad Sailor Mercury]] from ''WebVideo/SailorMoonAbridged'' is not only utterly useless, in one episode [[spoiler:she even causes the people to die by using her powers, hence blocking their views and prevent them from fleeing the scenery]].
[[AC:''Franchise/SpongebobSquarepants'']]
* Discussed in ''Fanfic/MortalMan'' when Barnacle Boy asks [=SpongeBob=] to be his sidekick due to his people skills:
-->"You make people happy. That's your superpower."\\
"Really? Gosh. That seems kind of cheesy," laughed [=SpongeBob=].\\
"What do you mean?" scowled Barnacle Boy, standing up straight and placing his hands on his hips indignantly. "I thought you of all people appreciated the power of friendship."\\
"Oh, I do," assured [=SpongeBob=], "It's just... that's not a real superpower. I can't make water balls or assemble the creatures of the deep."
[[AC:''Franchise/YuGiOh'']]
* Marik from ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'' can use his [[ArtifactOfDoom Millennium Rod]] to control minds. Unfortunately, it only works on people called Steve. Although having people's names legally changed makes them susceptible, as Joey and Tea find out. This also applies to people whose middle names are Steve, as Marik was able to control Bandit Keith because his middle name was Steve, and presumably people whose last names are Steve. He also pointed out that, if he felt like it, he could have Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin kick your ass.
----
* Kroko gets this in ''Fanfic/APosseAdEsse''. While his fellow inmates get things like emotion-controlled weather, limited gravity manipulation and [[spoiler:the ability to pause time for 30 seconds]], Kroko... can fly seven feet in the air. (Granted, he is 19cm tall, but still.) And he seems to have to constantly flap his arms to maintain this flight.
* ''Fanfic/OriginStory'':
** Louise Fulford, Alex Harris's partner, is a mutant with the power to change her hair color at will. She can change it to any range of color she can imagine, and even can change it to a rainbow-like combination of colors. Alex at one point jokingly assigns her the superhero code name "Lady Clairol." Rather than be embarrassed by this, Louise actually calls herself Lady Clairol at one point as a matter of pride.
** A lot of the residents of the homeless camp at which Alex and Louise take shelter fall under this trope. Aaron's power is to see infrared light, Oz can shapeshift, but only to the four primary characters of ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' (Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman, and the Cowardly Lion), without actually gaining any of their abilities. Jan was a teenager with oversized jaw muscles and superhumanly strong teeth. And Debby's skin is translucent. The Avengers these people aren't.
* In ''Fanfic/RiskItAll'', some of Ren's less combat-ready skills are at least useful life skills like speaking multiple languages or driving. He struggles to come up with uses for some of the more esoteric skills like Barista, which just makes him an impeccable coffee brewer. The only thing he can come up with is starting a [=MeTube=] channel about brewing coffee for some Prestige.
* Rambar in ''Webcomic/TheMotleyTwo''. As a ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' troll, he's got PsychicPowers, but rather than something useful, they just make him into a FourthWallObserver who can hear the mysterious voices that are the [[InteractiveComic readers' suggestions]] and argue with them.
* Both [[GravityMaster Xander]] and Franchise/TheFlash have a secondary power born from "having become one with an aspect of reality" in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/5237318/1/Crush Crush]]'': the power to sense where breasts are with larger ones being easier to detect. When Batman questions why Flash never mentioned said power, he points out that having breast radar is [[UselessSuperpowers basically never useful]], even in search and rescue operations since it doesn't help him find men (or young girls). Though apparently both Flash and Xander can detect [[BoobsOfSteel Powergirl]] anywhere on the planet.
* ''Fanfic/ThisBites'': A Devil Fruit that allows you to turn into a human child would be pretty much useless for anyone. [[spoiler:Unless they happen to be an inanimate object, like a ship.]]
* In ''Fanfic/{{Atonement}}'', the Travellers have incredibly destructive or fairly useful powers... except for Oliver, who got the power to look attractive to anyone who sees him.
* In ''Fanfic/HellsisterTrilogy'', ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} uses super-hypnotism -one of her most undervalued powers- to mesmerize D'reema into speaking the Life Equation and so cancelling out [[Characters/NewGodsDarkseid Darkseid]]'s Anti-Life Equation.
* In ''Fanfic/ABoyAGirlAndADogTheLeithianScript'', Orome -the God of Hunt- considers the Art of her sister Nessa -the Goddess of Dance- "is a frivolous waste of time". Then Luthien dances [[GodOfEvil Morgoth]] into unconsciousness, and Nessa proceeds to ''gloat'' a lot.
* [[{{Animorphism}} Animagus]] potential is shown to be quite common (between 1/3 and 1/2 of all wizards and witches) in ''[[https://www.tthfanfic.org/Story-23251-19/BarefootXO+Time+and+Again.htm Time and Again]]'' but most don't bother to pursue it due to either the fact it takes a couple years to learn or the fact their form isn't terribly useful. [[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Xander]] never bothered as his form is a spotted hyena and he [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes has some serious trauma]] related to the animal, while Harry Potter's form is a moth.
* Jaune's father in ''Fanfic/ProfessorArc'' has a Semblance that tells him when it's going to rain.
* ''FanFic/LearningToBeHuman'': In an omake later declared to be canon, a minor character has one of these. He [[TraumaticSuperpowerAwakening Triggered]] due to the stress of being Kaiser's nephew and overshadowed by his uncle, gaining the Stranger power to... have no one be able to remember his first name. Doesn't matter how he tells them or even if he writes it down, nobody retains that information. He's stuck as 'Probably-Francis' after someone decided that he looked like a Francis.
* ''Fanfic/ThinkingInLittleGreenBoxes'': As it turns out, Harry ''does'' have a mutant superpower: hair regeneration. He'll never go gray or bald. Learning this is the in-fic explanation as to why [[ChromeDomePsi Professor X]] [[DisproportionateRetribution becomes Onslaught]].
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13430275/13/Level-Up Level Up!]]'', some of the possible Feats members of Izuku's party can get are utterly worthless, such as "whistling" or "double strength bonus when opening jars".
* In ''ComicBook/{{Shazam}}'' fanfiction ''Fanfic/HereThereBeMonsters'', Mister Midnight and Midnight Maid are equipped with several blinding weapons. Ridiculous compared with the Marvel Family's incredible powers or Ibis' sorcery, but effective to disable a Flying Brick with no defense against them.
-->Mister Midnight and Midnight Maid reached in their belt-pouches and came up with weapons. Chuck's was the blackout device, Joyce held the Torch. She activated hers a second before his and blasted the Poet's eyes with a ray of intense brightness. A second later, Chuck's gimmick projected a cone of blackness, engulfing their foe.\\
"Confound it!" griped the Poet, floundering about. "They didn't give me a power to deal with this!"
