Line #99 Main/ElementalShapeshifter


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7	[[quoteright:254:[[ComicBook/SpiderMan https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Hydro-Man_710.jpg]]]]
8	[[caption-width-right:254:''[-Hydro-Man, Hydro-Man, does whatever a hydro can...-]'']]
9
10	->''"FLAME ON!!"''
11	-->-- '''The Human Torch''', ''ComicBook/FantasticFour''
12
13	An Elemental Shapeshifter is a ShapeShifting character who can turn into one of the NaturalElements (typically air, earth, water, and fire, though this might vary according to the work). Depending on the story or situation, the character might be able to only partially change part of himself into the element involved, and may or may not retain his original shape after the change.
14
15	Often invokes ElementalBaggage. A subtrope of ElementalPowers and ShapeShifting. SuperSmoke (the ability to turn into air/smoke), RideTheLightning and BallOfLightTransformation are subtropes of this.
16
17	May overlap with BlobMonster, AnIcePerson, ChromeChampion, MakingASplash, SuperSmoke, TakenForGranite, WreathedInFlames, HarmlessLiquefaction and DishingOutDirt. Also see ElementalEmbodiment and MaterialMimicry.
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19	----
20	!!Examples:
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22	[[foldercontrol]]
23
24	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
25	* ''Manga/BusoRenkin'': The Flame Assimilation ability of [[GeneralRipper Warrior Chief Hiwatari's]] buso renkin, Blaze of Glory, allows him to convert his entire body into fire. While in this form he is able to [[PlayingWithFire control any fire he creates as if it was a part of his own body]] and becomes totally invulnerable to physical attacks but would die instantly if his fire is ever totally extinguished.
26	* ''Manga/FairyTail'':
27	** Juvia can transform her body into water at will, often using it to let physical or magical attacks pass through her or even to bodily restraint someone by encasing them in her water body through her Water Lock spell (though she's usually nice enough not to try and drown them, and she can technically use Water Lock simply by forming a sphere of water from her palm).
28	** Also, [[ExtraOreDinary Gajeel]] can turn his limbs into iron weapons through his Iron Dragon Slayer Magic.
29	** Both Mystogan and Laxus can transform themselves into mist and [[RideTheLightning lightning]], respectively, using it as a way to nullify harm to themselves as well as traveling purposes.
30	** There's some implication that Rogue's ShadowWalker ability goes beyond just "sinking into shadows" and is closer to this in practice given he's a Shadow Dragon Slayer. [[spoiler:The fact he has an actual LivingShadow dark side just muddies the water further]].
31	** [[SandBlaster Ajeel Raml]] can turn his body into sand at will, which allows him to travel through the ground at high speeds as well as ignore almost any attack that doesn't provide a LogicalWeakness (like wind or water) as it passes through his body or gets stuck. More insidiously, anything he touches will either crumble apart (if it's inanimate) or be rapidly sucked dry of moisture (if it's alive) at his discretion. His most powerful attack, Sand World, weaponizes this defensively by allowing Ajeel to appear ''anywhere'' within the city-spanning sandstorm it whips up while his opponents struggle to even see properly.
32	* Sloth in ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemist2003'' can convert any part of her body mass into water and back again at will, and control it. Greed has a downplayed version in both anime and manga: He can convert the outer layer of his skin (which consists of Carbon-containing cells) into diamond to become NighInvulnerable.
33	* ''Manga/MagicKnightRayearth'':
34	** [[spoiler:Innouva's]] true form is something like this. He turns into a [[CanisMajor white wolf]] that can control (and sometimes looks like) lightning.
35	** Hikaru becomes WreathedInFlames near the very end [[spoiler:when she briefly gains the power of the Pillar]].
36	* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'':
37	** Like Juvia, Suigetsu can also transform his body into water; it seems that his clan as a whole has this ability.
38	** [[spoiler:Kabuto can pull off something similar to Suigetsu's after examining it on his own]].
39	** Kakuzu can turn his [[ChromeChampion skin into metal]], and Konan, who can turn her entire body into ''{{paper\|Master}}.''
40	* In ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'', [[TheHero Negi]] has [[ShockAndAwe Raiten Taisou]] and Raiten Sousou, and [[PlayingWithFire Homura]] can transform into a fire spirit. [[spoiler:Quintum, the Averruncus of [[BlowYouAway Wind]] has an ability similar to Negi's transformation.]]
41	* Tessai, one of the Eight Devils of Kimon from ''Anime/NinjaScroll'', can turn his body to stone [[spoiler:except for his eyes]].
42	* ''Manga/OnePiece''
43	** The [[ElementalPowers Logia]] [[PowerUpFood Devil Fruit]] users are essentially this, since the ability to transform into their element is one of the three main attributes granted to them with Logia Devil Fruits. Their elemental forms can be toggled on or off, and they can either transform partially, or their entire body. However, most experienced users will have the ability to transform instantaneously by reflex, with one character being able to do so even while asleep. Interestingly enough, almost all users of Logia Devil Fruits choose to keep their outward appearances the same even when in elemental form, contrary to many western examples (although they can change this if they wish, as illustrated with Enel's Amaru transformation). When attacked, their bodies will disperse into their element, allowing most physical assaults to pass harmlessly through their fluid bodies (since their outward appearances give no hints of their Devil Fruit power, many enemies learn this the hard way). A rare counterexample is Kuzan, whose element is ice, and can't simply dissolve out of harm's way in a fluid manner like the other Logia users. He usually just tanks the attack and shatters into ice, only to reform his icy body moments later, unharmed. The only time non-Haki based attacks will affect a Logia user is [[ElementalRockPaperScissors when it's an element-specific weakness]] (such as water negating sand, rubber negating electricity [[spoiler:or magma negating fire]]).
44	** Subverted with at least one Logia fruit. The Dark-Dark Fruit ("Yami-Yami no Mi") does ''not'' give its consumer the ability to shapeshift into elemental matter, perhaps because its interpretation of "darkness" is "all-consuming black void". Indeed, its bearer, Marshall D. Teach, better known as "Blackbeard", claims it actually intensifies the pain of attacks launched against him.
45	** Charlotte Katakuri of the Big Mom Pirates is an interesting example, as his Mochi-Mochi Fruit ("Mochi Mochi no Mi") allows him to produce a nigh-infinite amount of mochi and turn himself into mochi, giving him the same "immune to physical attacks" properties as a Logia. Despite this, his Devil Fruit is classified as a "special Paramythia", likely because mochi is not actually an element (it's man-made foodstuff made from rice and sugar). Katakuri's ability to dodge attacks like a Logia is also not a property of the Devil Fruit itself, per se, but rather his mastery of the Devil Fruit on top of his borderline {{Precognition}} giving him CombatClairvoyance. While the Mochi-Mochi Fruit ''was'' initially described by Jimbei when he first started fighting, a point in Katakuri's battle with Luffy is Luffy realizing he ''isn't'' a Logia, and is as vulnerable to being hit as anyone else, provided he can get past Katakuri's ''other'' defenses to do so.
46	* Levia from ''Manga/PrincessLucia'' does this primarily to travel through water systems.
47	* Like Gajeel of ''Manga/FairyTail'', Diane from ''Manga/TheSevenDeadlySins'' can transform her body into metal.
48	* Takeshi, the hero of ''Anime/UFOWarriorDaiApolon'', controls his HumongousMecha by turning into electricity and combining with its circuitry. He had no other [[ShockAndAwe electricity-based powers,]] however.
49	[[/folder]]
50
51	[[folder:Comic Books]]
52	* The Franchise/{{Batman}} villain Clayface is a walking mountain of mud, and can use his powers for shapeshifting or brute strength. He's one of the few recurring villains Batman admits to being no physical match for. Amusingly, [[GreenThumb Poison Ivy]] once defeated him by planting a tree in his body.
53	** Unusually for a character with this power, Clayface is able to pull off more conventional {{Shapeshifting}}, which is justified by the fact his elemental body is made of clay, so he can reshape it and color it to imitate human flesh.
54	** He was once parodied in the ''ComicBook/{{Wanted}}'' comic with Shithead, a monster created by mingling the poo of history's 666 evillest people.
55	* Bill Willingham's ''ComicBook/{{Elementals}}'' had Fathom, who could shoot, control, turn into, or breathe water.
56	%%* The Top Cow comic ''ComicBook/{{Fathom}}'' is about a race of beings with similar powers.
57	* ''ComicBook/JusticeLeagueInternational'' has Bea da Costa who can transform into ''green'' fire.
58	* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'':
59	** Hydro-Man can transform all or part of his body into water.
60	** Similarly, Sandman has the ability to change his body into sand.
61	** At one point the two got mushed together into a monster called Mud Man.
62	* Then there's the GoldenAge super-hero Hydroman, created by Bill Everett for Eastern Color Printing. He could transform any part of his body into water and control its form and movement.
63	* Franchise/TheDCU villainess New Wave can transform her body into any form of water, including steam and acid rain.
64	* Stone Boy of the ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'' is a Substitute Legionnaire who can turn into an immobile statue. However, he manages to use this power effectively anyway.
65	* The Franchise/DCUniverse character ComicBook/{{Metamorpho}} [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin The Element Man]] can transform into [[AllYourPowersCombined all]] chemical elements, including the ones that make up air, water and dirt. He can't directly turn into fire, but he can shift into a highly flammable element.
66	* [[MagmaMan Volcana]], who originated in ComicBook/SecretWars1984 then became the [[IneffectualSympatheticVillain Molecule Man]]'s girlfriend originally only had a fire form, but then gained a rock form and an ash form which was remarkably like sand.
67	* The kelpies in season 10 of ''ComicBook/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagicIDW'' look like zebras made of water, and have control over water as well. Medley Brook is constantly flowing like liquid, while Crystal is solid like ice. When the latter overexerts her powers in the desert, she dries out.
68	* Cinder from ''Titans: Villains for Hire'' has the ability to transform her body into flame, and has enough control to only transform certain parts. In a somewhat infamous moment, she's introduced in the comic [[OutWithABang setting a child molester on fire with her vagina]].
69	* One-story ComicBook/{{Superboy}} guest character Fluid Man used "a formula of his own creation" to grant himself this "truly bizarre" power.
70	* The ''ComicBook/XMen'' have a decent number:
71	** Magma can transform into magma and rocks.
72	** The original X-Man [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Iceman]] originally could only cover his body with snow or ice, but he eventually learned to turn his entire body into organic ice.
73	** Colossus can turn into metal.
74	** Dust can turn herself into a sandstorm.
75	** Rockslide and Onyxx are big guys made of rocks.
76	*** In the case of Rockslide, he is actually a psionic entity and is theoretically able to form his golem-like form using any earthen matter, such as rocks, lava, etc.
77	** Husk can turn into any solid substance, though alternate versions had her able to become liquid as well.
78	** ComicBook/EmmaFrost can turn her skin to diamond.
79	[[/folder]]
80
81	[[folder:Fan Works]]
82	* In ''Fanfic/KeepersOfTheElements'', the Keepers have this ability, as they can all turn into their Element.
83	* John in ''Fanfic/WithStringsAttached'' can turn himself into water, except it traumatizes him to do so, and he changes back as soon as possible. What sort of control he has over himself and water during this time is unknown.
84	* In the Negima fic ''[[Fanfic/StillWatersSeries Still Waters Book 1]]'', [[spoiler:Okochi Akira]] becomes this in the late chapters as a high powered water elemental.
85	* In ''Fanfic/DreamingOfSunshine'', [[spoiler:Shikako]] can now change into [[spoiler:shadow, via her Gelel stone.]]
86	* Kianna Takashi in ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/25550158/chapters/61997710 My Hero Academia: The Story of Convertance]]'' can transform into any solid, liquid, gas, or plasma. Though changing into these states of matter she gains all that comes with it. Changing her body into a very solid material like iron she gains everything that comes with it, including extreme weight and the inability to float. And changing her body into liquid or gaseous state she must concentrate in keeping her body in one place and move efficiently while not completely falling apart or scattering.
87	* In ''Fanfic/{{Raindancer}}'', Izuku's Quirk, "Liquid Body", allows him to becoming living freshwater and produce a seemingly endless amount of it. He can also fly by manipulating his body in liquid form and turn his body into ice to intercept oncoming attacks.
88	[[/folder]]
89
90	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
91	* The titular villain from ''Film/OilyManiac'' is a monster made from ''crude oil''. He can change himself from an oily BlobMonster and a human at will, but he needs to replenish his energy by drinking petrol.
92	[[/folder]]
93
94	[[folder:Gamebooks]]
95	* Balthazar Sturm, the main villain of ''Literature/{{Stormslayer}}'', is a weather-mage who can shape-shift himself into various elemental forms as he likes, turning into different elementals to fight the hero. His forms can be suppressed by collecting various neutral or heroic elementals, but he's still a BossRush in a single person.
96	[[/folder]]
97
98	[[folder:Literature]]
99	* The ''Amos Daragon'' books also feature this, as the main character is able to become water. At one point a maid unknowingly washed the floor with him.
100	* All the sylphs from ''Let The Sky Fall''.
101	* Swim Swim from ''Literature/MagicalGirlRaisingProject'' has the ability to turn into liquid form.
102	* ''Literature/TheNewHumans'' has Maelstrom and his mother, who can turn into water in all its states.
103	* ''Literature/OctoberDaye'': Undines are literally made of living water.
104	* The Earth-Masters [[spoiler:and Morgon]] in Literature/TheRiddleMasterTrilogy.
105	* Loki from ''Literature/{{Runemarks}}'' can change himself into fire.
106	* In ''Literature/Touch2017'', we have both the main character, James, and his grandfather, Hideyoshi; of the MadeOfAir and WreathedInFlames variants respectively.
107	[[/folder]]
108
109	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
110	* An episode of ''Series/SabrinaTheTeenageWitch'' has Sabrina struggling with trying to learn this technique; it finally clicks for her by the end of the episode in a moment of anger and frustration, and she easily turns into fire, air, water, and earth.
111	[[/folder]]
112
113	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
114	* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'':
115	** 4th Edition mercury dragons can transform into a blob of quicksilver to scale surfaces, squeeze through narrow gaps, or move past other creatures without provoking attacks of opportunity.
116	** Sand dragons can turn themselves into animated clouds of sand, while storm and air drakes can turns into gaseous clouds.
117	** Sunwyrms can transform either individual body parts -- their fangs and claws, specifically -- or their whole bodies into light. These are treated as distinct in-game effects; the partial kind turns their affected parts into damage-dealing brilliant energy, while the full-body transformation makes the creature completely intangible.
118	** Druids, at high enough levels, can shapeshift into elementals instead of animals.
119	** Among elemental grues, harginn can change into fire and varrdig can change into water.
120	** Among genies, djinni -- air genies -- can change into gaseous form, while marids -- water genies -- can change into liquid form.
121	** ''TabletopGame/LaNotteEterna'': At 17th level, Chosen of Darkness can turn themselves into intangible shadows as long as they stay within the darkness.
122	* ''Franchise/TheWorldOfDarkness'':
123	** ''TabletopGame/ChangelingTheLost'': Elementals have access to a [[FunctionalMagic Contract]] that allows them to control an element (surprisingly enough). The highest clause of the Contract allows them to transmute into said element, with certain benefits -- insubstantial elements (such as fire, air, and lightning) can only be harmed by certain kinds of damage, whereas substantial elements (such as stone or metal) grant heavy armor and physical bonuses.
124	** ''TabletopGame/MageTheAwakening'': This is doable in a number of ways through adding additional Arcana to the normal Life-based shapeshifting spell. Forces allows the mage to turn into living fire, Death allows turning into LivingShadow, and Matter allows turning to stone or almost any other physical substance.
125	** ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'': The Gangrel's Protean discipline includes turning into earth and mist.
126	[[/folder]]
127
128	[[folder:Video Games]]
129	* ''VideoGame/{{Arcanum}}'': The final spell of all the elemental colleges turns the caster into an elemental. However, it drains mana ''very'' fast.
130	* Ashka from ''VideoGame/{{Battlerite}}'' can turn into flames when using ''Searing Flight'', ''Molten Fist'', or his Ultimate ''Infernal Scorch''.
131	* in ''VideoGame/Dota2'', [[BlobMonster Morphling]] can create copies of other heroes and replace them immediately. With [[UpgradeArtifact Aghanim's Scepter]], Morphling can transform into an allied hero and use all of their abilities excluding their ultimate ability.
132	* In ''VideoGame/KameoElementsOfPower'', several of Kameo's elemental warrior forms fall under this trope, most notably Rubble (a pile of sentient magnetic rocks) and 40 Below (an ice-man).
133	* Lampshaded in ''VideoGame/LegacyOfKainDefiance''. [[PlayerNudge Maybe.]]
134	-->'''Kain:''' These statues were [[SesquipedalianLoquaciousness singularly inanimate]]. I knew better than to assume they would always remain so.
135	* Toxic Seahorse in ''VideoGame/MegaManX3'' can turn into acid. According to background info, his body is made of a liquid metal-like substance, which allows him to do this.
136	** Similarly, Heat Man in ''VideoGame/MegaMan2'' also becomes a blazing fireball as he charges you.
137	** Mercury in ''VideoGame/MegaManV'' can turn into liquid metal.
138	* Arceus in ''VideoGame/PokemonDiamondAndPearl'' and subsequent games can change its element to any of the seventeen (eighteen from [[VideoGame/PokemonXAndY Gen 6]] onward) types in the game. Granted, Arceus is the god of the Pokémon world...
139	** Also, some Pokemon in all the games, such as Vaporeon and Grimer and Muk, can learn Acid Armor, in which the user melts in order to raise its defense.
140	* In ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'', ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DLand'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMario3DWorld'' and [[VideoGame/BowsersFury its spinoff]], Mario could turn into a stone statue with the Tanooki suit in the former two games and a gold Lucky Cat Statue in the latter two games. It turned him invincible, and he could kill nearly anything by falling on it. Moreover, the use of the Lucky Bell causes him to earn coins while performing a ground pound.
141	* ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII's'' Pandaran's "Storm, Earth, and Fire" ability splits the hero into three different beings, each themed after the particular element. Once their timer is up and if at least one is alive (and Storm can turn invisible...), the Pandaren reforms.
142	* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft Mists of Pandaria'', Shamans are gaining the ability to become an Ascendant for a short time. Ascendants are living humanoid elementals that were previously restricted to the Twilight's Hammer cultists.
143	[[/folder]]
144
145	[[folder:Webcomics]]
146	* ''[[Webcomic/HeroesUnite Heroes Unite/Heroes Alliance]]'' has ''Tazer'' who transforms into electricity.
147	* [[spoiler:John]] pulls this off in a duel in ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'', [[NewPowersAsThePlotDemands just in time to avoid getting killed]].
148	* In ''Webcomic/JupiterMen'', Quintin has the ability to turn his clothes and any part of his body into a green slime that can either be viscous or slippery. He can freely extend his limbs to greatly extend his reach and grapple himself anywhere he can stick his hands. Conversely, he can reel things toward him like a fishing rod. He can also fling chunks of slime thick enough to stop bullets as projectiles.
149	[[/folder]]
150
151	[[folder:Web Original]]
152	* In TabletopGame/NewVindicators, the fourth Vindicators team was a group somewhat similar to the ComicBook/FantasticFour, composed of one guy who covered himself in fire and three shifters-Coach Crag made of rock, Miss Mist (made of air), and Professor Splash (made of water). There are other characters, such as Fathom, who can also turn into water.
153	* There was an Website/{{SCP\|Foundation}} that could do this with all five (wind and lightning being separate) before it was destroyed.
154	* ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' has Acidbath, a supervillain who can turn his body into acid.
155	[[/folder]]
156
157	[[folder:Western Animation]]
158	* ''WesternAnimation/Birdman1967'' episode "Skon of Space". The title villain is a triple threat version of this. He can change himself into fire, water and stone.
159	* On various occasions, WesternAnimation/{{Captain Planet\|AndThePlaneteers}} has been seen transforming into water, a flame, and a ''tree''.
160	* In Hanna Barbera's ''WesternAnimation/TheImpossibles'', Fluid Man could change into regular water or vaporize himself into a cloud or a storm.
161	* Zan's ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'' {{expy}}, Downpour can turn into any form water can hold, from a puddle to a whirlpool. He tries to take on Aquaman, trident and all.
162	* Tipi in ''WesternAnimation/KulipariDreamWalker'' can turn her body to stone, but still allowing herself mobility. This makes her impervious to damage.
163	* ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'': Anyone who wields the Dragon [[TransformationTrinket Miraculous]] is able to transform into wind, water, or lightning (although only once each per use of the Miraculous, unless you're old enough to channel its full power).
164	* Zan from ''WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}}'' can transform into various forms of water and ice.
165	* Livewire in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' could turn into electricity, and true to name, travel through powerlines.
166	* ''WesternAnimation/ThundarrTheBarbarian'': In "Prophecy of Peril", Queen Maya takes this to the logical extreme; she can take the form of ''any'' scientific element, solid, liquid, or gas.
167	* In the finale of ''WesternAnimation/{{WITCH}}'', the Guardians learn how to transform into each of their respective elements of earth, air, fire, water and lightning. Unfortunately they almost lose themselves to the process and are nearly unable to change back.
168	[[/folder]]

Context Main / ElementalShapeshifter