Line #61 Main/IdenticallyPoweredTeam


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4	[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/webwarriors.jpg]]]]
5	[[caption-width-right:350:Doing whatever an ''[[AllianceOfAlternates army]]'' of spiders can.]]
6
7	A SuperTeam, FiveManBand, BadassCrew or BadassArmy where everyone on the team has the exact same powers or abilities, by and large. Often times, TheChosenMany will also be given similar abilities.
8
9	This can take several forms:
10
11	* Everyone on the team has the exact same abilities, in equal application and scale.
12	* Everyone on the team has the same powers or skills, but with some able to use them better, or in different ways, than others.
13	* Everyone on the team has the same BASIC ability (like SuperStrength) but with slight differences (one gets their strength from a HulkOut, another gets it from PoweredArmor, and another gets it as a CharlesAtlasSuperpower).
14	* The superpowers come from [[ClothesMakeTheSuperman a costume]], [[RingOfPower accessory]], BackgroundMagicField or other PlotDevice which bestows the same core abilities.
15
16	However, '''this does not include''':
17	* {{Stock Superpowers\|Index}} that are vastly different, but overlap in one specific ability. [[note]] For example, a team consisting of a BeastMan, a DoAnythingRobot, and someone with [[TheForceIsStrongWithThisOne Ki-Detection]], the fact that they all have SuperSenses as ''one'' of their ComboPlatterPowers would only qualify for this trope if being a SensorCharacter was the team's primary function or purpose.[[/note]]
18	* Teams where everyone is a {{Muggle}} or BadassNormal. This is ''specifically'' a trope for characters possessing extranormal powers and abilities.
19	* {{Ki\|Manipulation}} or [[BackgroundMagicField "The Force"]] only qualify if it grants the exact same powers with little to no variation or room to add different powers.
20
21	With some abilities, this makes it easy to have an AllYourPowersCombined moment, since all they need to do is focus their identical powers on the same target at the same time. On the other hand, this may lead to CripplingOverspecialization. Sometimes, this is done to make sure everyone on the team is equal, without relying upon a PlotTailoredToTheParty. It can also allow writers to focus on ''characterization'' to differentiate each teammate rather than rely on their powers to do it.
22
23	See IBelieveICanFly, for when every member of a team can fly. Compare SuperheroTeamUniform and contrast CastSpeciation and SuperheroSpeciation. Can easily overlap with AllianceOfAlternates, although it's also possible for members of such a group to be identical ''except'' for their powers.
24
25	----
26	!!Examples
27
28	[[foldercontrol]]
29
30	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
31	* ''Manga/{{Claymore}}'' warriors are usually created having the exact same powers as cadets and rookies, aside from the exceptionally gifted ones. However, as they gain more experience and control, they usually develop their own techniques and powers which rarely makes any two the same.
32	* ''Manga/{{Gantz}}'': All players partaking in the titular DeadlyGame get the same [[PowerArmor black suit]] [[ClothesMakeTheSuperman that grants the wearer]] SuperStrength and SuperToughness..
33	%%* In ''Franchise/DragonBall'', during the Buu Saga, the roster of active Z-Fighters exclusively includes Saiyans, and all of them share the power to [[SuperMode turn Super Saiyan]], which multiplies their power to incredible levels, as well as getting stronger from surviving severe injuries.
34	[[/folder]]
35
36	[[folder:Comic Books]]
37	* Many of the most iconic ''Creator/DCComics'' characters have their own 'family' of characters who've built up over time; thanks to the popularity of the KidSidekick, JuniorCounterpart, DistaffCounterpart and SpearCounterpart, and LegacyCharacter, there's many groups formed entirely around multiple characters with the same gimmick and power, but with vastly different personalities or ways of using it. Creator/MarvelComics have employed this too with some franchises, but it's a more recent trend, while DC have been doing it in some form since the Silver Age.
38	* ''ComicBook/{{Aquaman}}'': You have Aquaman, his wife Mera, the original Aqualad (now Tempest) Garth, Aquagirl Tula, Garth's wife Dolphin, and also [[BadassArmy the Atlantean Navy]] when needed.
39	* ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'': The Dark Knight tends to operate in Gotham City with a crew of vigilantes that, much like him, have no superpowers and tend to operate in a heroic ninja-like manner. His allies include [[Characters/RobinDamianWayne Robin]], [[ComicBook/Batgirl2011 Batgirl]], ComicBook/{{Nightwing}}, ComicBook/{{Batwoman}}, [[ComicBook/Batgirl2000 Orphan]], ComicBook/RedRobin, [[ComicBook/Batgirl2009 Spoiler]], ComicBook/{{Azrael}}, [[Characters/BatmanHuntress Huntress]], and [[Characters/BatmanJasonTodd Red Hood]].
40	* ''ComicBook/TheBoys'':
41	** Compound V is responsible for humans gaining superpowers, but the Boys are only injected with enough to have SuperStrength and super endurance (so when they get in a fistfight with supers, they end up with bruises and cuts rather than decapitation).
42	** ''Dear Becky'' has a half-dozen vaguely Thor-like goons, although they seem to only have physical strength rather than electrical powers.
43	* ''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'': The Serpent Society, who all have snake-themed powers.
44	* ''ComicBook/{{Darkstars}}'': The Darkstars wear advanced super suits which all have the same abilities, basically making them a FlyingBrick with energy blasts.
45	* ''ComicBook/{{Deadpool}}'': The ComicBook/DeadpoolCorps, made up of various AlternateUniverse counterparts of the merc with a mouth. Dogpool and Headpool, being a dog and a zombie respectively, are probably the biggest outliers.
46	* ''ComicBook/TheFlash'':
47	** The Flash Family, originally formed in the Silver Age in ''ComicBook/TheFlash1959'' by grouping up the Golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick, with the Silver Age Flash, Barry Allen, his KidSidekick Kid Flash, Wally West, with several reprint specials also including unrelated character Johnny Quick/Jack Chambers as part of it.
48	*** When Wally West became the Flash in ''ComicBook/TheFlash1987'', the concept was revived and expanded on, including himself, Jay Garrick, another Golden Age SuperSpeed hero Max Mercury (originally named Quicksilver), as well as new characters [[DistaffCounterpart Johnny's daughter, Jesse Chambers, AKA Jesse Quick]], and BrattyHalfPint KidFromTheFuture Bart Allen, AKA Impulse. For some stories, they were also joined by Bart's cousin Jenni 'XS' Ognats. Much later, after Wally and his wife Linda Park had twins, Jai and Irey, they too joined the line-up.
49	*** After Barry Allen was revived, the Flash Family were briefly featured in ''ComicBook/TheFlashRebirth'', but all of them outside of Barry were quickly pushed to the wayside and ExiledFromContinuity because ExecutiveMeddling from those RunningTheAsylum believed that the Flash Family induced UniquenessDecay and made Barry Allen less special. However, the popularity of these characters lead to them eventually being reintroduced, but not until after a ''new'' Flash Family had formed with the new Kid Flash, Wallace West (the original's cousin, created during the time he was exiled from continuity to 'replace' him), as well as The Flash of China, Avery Ho, and EvilFormerFriend turned AntiHeroSubstitute August Heart, Godspeed. When the previous Flash Family were brought back, the two groups merged into one big happy family.
50	* ''ComicBook/GreenLantern'':
51	** The Green Lantern Corps, except for a few outliers, all have the same ImaginationBasedSuperpower. They all vary in control and application, however, since it's fueled by willpower.
52	** The other Corps also apply--but their abilities differ from color to color. The Orange Lanterns fit this best of all, because they are all ring constructs created by the one ''actual'' Orange Lantern, Larfleeze.
53	** The creators of the Lanterns, the Guardians, all have the same powers as well. Of course, when that power is technically {{Reality Warp\|er}}ing, you really don't need anything else.
54	** The Manhunters, another group of space police created by the Guardians, are all androids with a uniform set of powers and abilities.
55	* ''ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}}'': The C-List supervillain team the Death Throws, a team comprised solely of evil ''jugglers''!
56	* ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'': In ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulks'', the Hulk forms a team that includes ComicBook/SheHulk, A-Bomb, Red She-Hulk, Skaar, and Korg. While each of these abilities differ in scale and application, they are each a PersonOfMassDestruction with SuperStrength as their core ability.
57	* ''ComicBook/{{Invincible}}'': The Lizard League are Expies of the Serpent Society and thus have similar powers.
58	* ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'': Often {{Defied\| Trope}} with the Legion. They won't let in new members if they have powers that are similar to any current members. The Legion of Substitute Heroes may take them, though.
59	* ''ComicBook/MetalMen'': The Metal Men are a team of [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin metal robot people]] who all have shape-shifting powers. The variance comes from the fact that they're all made up of different metals, which all have different properties. For example, Gold is an excellent energy conductor and very malleable, while Lead is more of an insulator and much heavier.
60	* ''ComicBook/{{Nova}}'': The Nova Corps are pretty much the same as the Darkstars, with the exception of [[RankScalesWithAsskicking Nova Prime]], who not only has greater power than the others, but various extra abilities.
61	* ''ComicBook/SecretWars2015'': The police force of Battleworld was the Thor Corps, comprising various people who, in their reality, were worthy to bear the hammer of Thor.
62	* ''ComicBook/{{Shazam}}'': Captain Marvel and the Marvel Family. They're basically people who not only have the same powers, but usually get them from the same source (or another mythological equivalent).
63	* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': Spider-Man has [[ComicBook/ScarletSpider clones]], alternate universe counterparts (''ComicBook/SpiderMan2099'', ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'', ''Videogame/SpiderManShatteredDimensions''), [[ComicBook/SpiderWoman distaff counterparts]], [[ComicBook/SpiderGirl future children]], [[ComicBook/{{Venom}} symbiotes]], [[ComicBook/MaximumCarnage symbiote spawn]], and magical doppelgangers that have his core set of spider powers. They have teamed up, in various combinations, in many, ''many'' stories. ''ComicBook/SpiderVerse'', in fact, was ''built around'' this trope.
64	* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'':
65	** The Man of Steel is often paired up with other Kryptonians like ComicBook/{{Supergirl}}, ComicBook/PowerGirl, ComicBook/{{Superboy}}, Krypto, as well as Daxamites like Mon-El. Each of them (barring the occasional bizarre retcon) are basically {{Flying Brick}}s.
66	** Likewise, the Phantom Zone criminals are all Kryptonians with the same set of powers.
67	** The Superman Emergency Squad was made up of Kandorians (Kryptonians from the bottle city of Kandor). Inside Kandor they have no powers, but outside, as Kryptonians they have the same powers as Superman.
68	** The ''Hypertension'' storyarc in ComicBook/{{Superboy}}'s own book featured him leading an army of his alternate counterparts against another counterpart that had gone rogue.
69	* ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'': Each of the TMNT, by virtue of all being turtles, have the same extranormal abilities (swimming, limb retraction, etc.). Downplayed since these "powers" aren't very extensive and the focus is more on the turtles' different skills.
70	* ''ComicBook/WhatIf'': One issue had four stories in which the members of the ''ComicBook/FantasticFour'' all got the "same" powerset rather than four different ones. All flame-users like the Human Torch, all monsters like the Thing, etc. The invisibility chapter "cheated" as each member got a different power ''related'' to invisibility.
71	* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman'': Besides Wonder Woman herself, the two ComicBook/WonderGirl legacies, Donna Troy and Cassie Sandsmark, along with AntiHeroSubstitute Artemis, and the ''rest'' of the Amazons fulfil this. Strangely there's less effort to push them as a team compared to the Green Lanterns, Super-Family and Bat-Family.
72	* Comic book writer Creator/DwayneMcDuffie once [[http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2008/01/17/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-138/ satirically pitched]] a team called "Teenage Negro Ninja Thrashers" due to the prevalence of black skateboarding heroes in the Marvel Universe.
73	[[/folder]]
74
75	[[folder:Fan Works]]
76	* ''Fanfic/WithThisRing'': When the Justice League recognizes that they need a more structured expansion plan than just "recruit superheroes we all personally know," Paul proposes several options, of which his favourite (but one he knows they won't pick) is to use Earth's various bits of super science to make their own heroes with standardized powers.
77	--> '''Paul:''' I mean find people --ex-military, police, or just people who have the right attitude-- put them through a training program and if they pass give them super powers. Both the Danner and Garrick Formulae are easily mass produced. Power armour, perfectly mass producible as both the Russian government and [=LexCorp=] are proving. Cold guns, mass producible. Orichalcum, not ''currently'' mass producible but we're working on it. Kinetic belt, mass producible…
78	[[/folder]]
79
80	[[folder:Literature]]
81	* In ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'', everyone on the team can morph into an animal after acquiring its DNA via contact, but only rarely do they all morph into the exact same animal. One notable exception was the time they all turned into polar bears, and this almost ended up being their downfall.
82	* The [[{{Nephilim}} shadowhunters]] from ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments'' qualify for this. They are all [[SuperStrength superhumanly strong]], fast and resilient, and have the ability to use angelic magic. Mostly runes, but they can also use weapons made by angels. Interestingly, this is inverted by the main protagonists' team, because among them is a vampire and a [[MageSpecies warlock]], and among the minor protagonists is also a werewolf.
83	** In ''Literature/TheDarkArtifices'', the main protagonists are all nephilim, [[UnevenHybrid but one of them is also a half-fairy]], and has some [[TheFairFolk fairie]] powers, which is why it is an "Almost Identically Powered Team".
84	** The same is true for groups of werewolves who band together to hunt demons together.
85	** A villainous example can be found in ''Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy''. In the past, the shadowhunters were far from being really good, [[VanHelsingHateCrimes killing completely innocent downwolders]]. For this reason, several warlocks have teamed up to fight the shadowhunters.
86	* ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'': Zigzagged with [[DivineParentage demigods]]. They all have the same basic powers, but depending on the particular divine parent, a demigod can also have extra powers that other demigods do not have. However, most protagonist teams in the series are made of demigods with different parentages.
87	** In the camp of the demigods, however, the respective cabins compete against each other in different competitions (in one cabin each, the children are from an Olympic god). In these competitions, this trope is played straight.
88	** It is also played with the [[AmazonBrigade hunters of Artemis]]. The goddess Artemis welcomes girls who are virgins and makes them [[TheAgeless immortal]]. In addition they get still some further forces, which are however always the same.
89	* In ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'', there are ten orders of Knights Radiant, and two members of the same order will have the same Surgebinding abilities (which they also share with one of the ten [[PhysicalGod Heralds]]). Each of their two Surges are also shared with one of the other orders, and all ten have some basic abilities in common.
90	* In ''Literature/{{Worm}}'', the Chinese Yangban are built around a pair of Parahumans: Null can spread a single power amongst a group at the cost of proportionally reducing its power, and Two can enhance powers which counteracts Null's downside. The end result is that every member has every power at about two-thirds of the original strength. They're extremely hard to fight, because they're also trained to attack in concert, and they usually bring a power that lets them resurrect dead teammates.
91	[[/folder]]
92
93	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
94	* In ''Film/TheLastAirbender'', there are entire ''nations'' of people with similar bending abilities, and it often takes multiple benders to perform a feat.
95	[[/folder]]
96
97	[[folder:Live Action TV]]
98	* ''Franchise/KamenRider'': Shows up sometimes in series with a GottaCatchThemAll element, where the central [[PlotCouponThatDoesSomething Plot Coupons That Do Something]] can be used by multiple characters (albeit said characters aren't always on the same side).
99	** ''Series/KamenRiderGaim'': Every Armored Rider transforms by inserting a [[GreenRocks Lockseed]] into a [[TransformationTrinket Sengoku Driver]] (or later a [[MidSeasonUpgrade Genesis Driver]]), providing [[MultiformBalance different armor and powersets depending on the seed used]]. While there is some minor variation between Drivers (e.g. different undersuit designs, higher or lower power output, or coming with a sword), most types of Lockseed exist in large numbers and can be passed between users freely, as can the Drivers themselves. Characters only begin to display exclusive powers towards the end of the series, due to [[spoiler:some of them [[FaceMonsterTurn mutating into Overlords]]]].
100	** ''Series/KamenRiderGhost'': Ghost, Spectre and Necrom all transform by equipping the Eyecons of historical figures, and indeed Ghost and Spectres' {{Transformation Trinket}}s are identical apart from coming with different weapons. Each also has a unique Eyecon which serves as their base form, but these can still be passed around if needed. Even when Ghost unlocks three character-exclusive {{Super Mode}}s, Spectre receives PaletteSwap versions of two of them. Originally Necrom's suit was set apart by its ExplosiveOverclocking function and the ability to absorb other Ganma to recover energy, but the former is never used and [[RedemptionDemotion he loses the latter after joining the heroes]], presumably because [[StoryBreakerPower it would be overpowered]].
101	* Most ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' teams fit this, barring the SixthRanger. Their insignificant differences typically encompass their weapons[=/=]fighting styles, HumongousMecha, and [[ColorCodedCharacters color schemes]], but their abilities are usually uniform.
102	* The US adaptation ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' mostly follows suit, but has a tendency in later seasons to give each member a different stock superpower that they can use without transforming, as well as for the Red Ranger to gain an exclusive SuperMode. The latter would eventually pass back into ''Super Sentai'', but usually in the form of an UpgradeArtifact that other team members can borrow when Red is unavailable.
103	[[/folder]]
104
105	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
106	* In most ''TabletopGame/OldWorldOfDarkness'' and ''TabletopGame/NewWorldOfDarkness'' games, the player characters will play a group all from the same supernatural type: vampires, werewolves, fae, mages, wraiths, or whatever.
107	* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': The Eldar specialize in this, with each of their units being a specialist in some form of combat. However, it is expected that each Eldar try to maintain some flexibility, so their units' leaders are referred to as "having lost themselves on the Path" they were following.
108	* Blog/ThingsMrWelchIsNoLongerAllowedToDoInAnRPG:
109	--> 2157. Doesn't matter if we all have different costumes and names, the group is vetoed if it's clear we're all [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]].
110	[[/folder]]
111
112	[[folder:Video Games]]
113	* ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII'':
114	** Night Elf females have the Shadowmeld ability, which makes them invisible at night when immobile. As two of their starting heroes and their basic units have it, early games Night Elves can apply this trope for effective ambushes and night attacks, with no unit being targeted more than the others.
115	** While the standard game doesn't allow having two of the same hero type, team matches can use do this to very good effect (the paladin is a good tank with a big healing spell, but can't cast it on himself. ''Two'' paladins, on the other hand...).
116	* ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIX'' zigzags this: Unlike VI, spells are not kept when switching classes, but the huge stat boosts that can be acquired during that class are, helping to avert SquishyWizard. In addition, the combo system makes a party composed entirely of a single class not unattractive, as casting the same spell or ability repeatedly (including a standard attack) increases the damage done.
117	* Averted in ''VideoGame/GoldenSun''. It's possible to switch Djinn around until your entire party has the same spell loadout, but doing so greatly decreases your stats and makes using SummonMagic tricky (since the Djinn you use to summon also govern what type of magic you have).
118	* Doable in several of the ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games, particularly in ones where you can freely choose classes.
119	** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyI'', for instance, a player can start the game with a party all of the same class, which ranges from the frightfully easy -- Black Belts in particular require no equipment and turn into hideously destructive killbots down the line -- to crazy hard -- a party of four White Mages will have a lot of trouble doing damage.
120	** This was a criticism of certain games in the series, notably ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'', ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'', where the game systems effectively encouraged the characters to all develop the same skills, making them essentially interchangeable.
121	** It's not for the whole game, but a couple of the early tutorial battles in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'' are fought by Zidane alongside his Tantalus compadres -- all thieves.
122	[[/folder]]
123
124	[[folder:Web Comics]]
125	* ''Webcomic/LeagueOfSuperRedundantHeroes'': The multiverse turns out to have [[http://superredundant.com/?comic=074-regrets an entire team of heroes]] with Lazer Pony's powers (firing [[EyeBeam energy beams]] from [[EyeScream behind their eyes]], whose masks have handlebars so teammates can aim them). While Lazer Pony is a {{Super Zero\|es}}, his counterparts (the Lazer ''Stallions'') are highly capable despite being blind (and one is in a wheelchair).
126	[[/folder]]
127
128	[[folder:Western Animation]]
129	* The commonality of this trope in the world of ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' is why the Avatar is special. Different nations and groups of people can bend earth, wind, fire and water, and indeed teams with different abilities (like [[ClassicalElementsEnsemble our heroes]]) are an ''exception''. The Avatar is, himself, a walking OneManArmy capable of bending every element on a scale equal to entire armies, especially in [[SuperMode the Avatar State]].
130	* ''WesternAnimation/HulkAndTheAgentsOfSmash'': All five members of S.M.A.S.H., Hulk, She-Hulk, A-Bomb, Red Hulk and Skarr are gamma powered mutants with super strength. There are a few abilities unique to certain characters, but for the most part they have the same power set.
131	* ''Franchise/ThePowerpuffGirls'' all have identical powers, which included flight, super strength, and laser vision. Among others. Later, however, they each started gaining new superpowers; for example, one story dealt with Blossom gaining [[BreathWeapon frost breath]]. Said episode also explains that each of the girls has one ability unique to themselves. For example, Bubbles is apparently an innate omniglot.
132	* Parodied in a ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'' Halloween episode where we discover the band Music/{{Korn}} all have the ability to turn into various forms of corn.
133	-->''Korn Powers Activate!''
134	* The Crystal Gems of ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' do have unique powers (Pearl can make HardLight [[DoppelgangerAttack copies of herself]], [[{{Seers}} Garnet can predict the future]]), but they tend to be situational, inappropriate for combat, or [[ForgotAboutHisPowers curiously underutilized]]. The vast majority of their fighting is done with the powers inherent to all gems ([[OlderIsBetter made before a certain period]]): SuperStrength, SuperToughness, [[SpontaneousWeaponCreation creating an individual-specific weapon]], regenerating from a HeartDrive if their body is damaged, and creating a ContainmentField to keep other gems from regenerating. Theoretically, they can all [[VoluntaryShapeshifting shapeshift]], but their aptitude with it varies. Outside the main team, there are gems whose primary ability is more different than a weapon (like [[MakingASplash Lapis Lazuli]], [[RubberMan Bismuth]], and, eventually, [[spoiler:[[ExtraOreDinary Peridot]]]]) and some newer gems use non-summoned weapons to compensate for physical weakness.

Context Main / IdenticallyPoweredTeam