Line #163 Main/WonderTwinPowers


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7	[[quoteright:236:[[WesternAnimation/SuperFriends https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Wonder_Twin_Powers_Activate_5653.jpg]]]]
8	[[caption-width-right:236:Form of... [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway a bucket of water!]]]]
9
10	->'''Hakann:''' I'll never understand why we can only use these elemental powers together. Oh, lava spheres are alright, but it just doesn't compare. Think what I could do with the power of pure flame at my command.\
11	'''Avak:''' ...I have. It keeps me up at night.
12	-->-- ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}''
13
14	''Wonder Twin powers: activate!''
15
16	''[[JustForFun/DescribeTopicHere Form of... a TV Tropes description!]]''
17
18	A good [[ConservationOfCompetence leash]] to amazing powers is the need for two characters to work together to activate them. Sometimes this is a supervillain and superhero, other times it's a superhero duo. Most of the time, the characters even get to be twins because TwinsAreSpecial. Interestingly, their actual powers sometimes have nothing to do with their inherent twinness, unless their powers tap into [[CreepyTwins specific eerieness]].
19
20	Presumably, their in-built weakness is being ineffective unless they're together. Also presumably, they have at least one way around even that built-in weakness. Not truly related to [[MostCommonSuperpower a certain kind of "Wonder Twins"]].
21
22	SisterTrope to SuperiorTwinTeamwork, which covers twins working better together than separate and the teamwork between twins being better than the teamwork of non-twin teams and pairs. See also CombinationAttack, {{Synchronization}}, FusionDance, SiblingTeam and BashBrothers. Contrast with AllYourPowersCombined.
23
24	----
25	!!Examples:
26
27	[[foldercontrol]]
28
29	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
30	* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'': This is the sole principle of [[spoiler:the Yeager brothers' plan: Eren has the Founding Titan but cannot use it because he doesn't have royal blood. His elder brother Zeke has royal blood but if he had the Founding Titan, he won't be able to use it because of King Fritz's vow of renouncing the war. To bypass the limitation, the brothers plan to turn into their Titan forms and have physical contact with each other to fully utilize the Founding Titan's power. This will enable them to control all Titans and Eldians and use that power to literally change the course of history]].
31	* Ho and Ban, the twin Bount from the {{filler}} arc in the ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' anime. Although they can control their more-or-less identical "dolls" separately, their real power comes from the dolls working in tandem. When one twin is knocked out, the other has to control both dolls at once and ends up overwhelmed.
32	* Masao and Kazuo Tachibana in ''Manga/CaptainTsubasa'' with their Skylab combinations and Triangle Shoot. In the series, they are almost useless if they're not playing together.
33	* Reversed in ''Manga/Cyborg009''. PsychoElectro 0010 turns out to be a pair of twins (+ and -) who ''die'' when forced to come into contact.
34	* ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'':
35	** The titular creatures can Digivolve on their own, but this is a slow process (the Japanese names of Baby, Child, and Adult for the earlier Digivolution stages indicate that this is analogous to a living being's maturation). However, with ThePowerOfFriendship from their human partners, they can temporarily Digivolve to forms higher than their current natural state.
36	** A more traditional example is Nefertimon and Pegasusmon, who have an attack that requires both of them.
37	** ''Anime/DigimonFusion'' vacillates between this and FusionDance: some [=DigiXros=] combinations transform one character into a new form for the other to wield, such as Dorulumon turning into a cannon for Shoutmon to aim and fire.
38	* The Goldion Crusher in ''Anime/GaoGaiGarFINAL'' requires the authorization of the GGG (from the key held by Chief Taiga) and the UN (the key held by Swan White). Plugging them both into a pair of circular consoles causes the consoles to form the kanji for "victory". There's also [[FusionDance Symmetrical Docking]]; an issue in the early series was deploying [=HyoRyu=] and [=EnRyu=], as the combiner [=ChoRyuJin=] was the only one who could operate the Eraser Head missile.
39	* The twins from ''Anime/HeroicAge'' are two of the strongest human telekinetics, but they can only use their powers when together, though not necessarily in contact. [[spoiler:They still join hands to use their powers even after receiving a massive power boost, either because the limitation still exists after the departure of the Silver Tribe or due to force of habit.]]
40	* Rika and Satoko's finishing move in the MagicalGirl OVA episode of ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry''.
41	* Viola and Cesario from ''Anime/KiddyGrade''. Cesario's ability, "Driver", does nothing by itself, while Viola's power, "Calamity", can manipulate matter at the atomic level, but requires "Driver" as its energy source. (Tweedledee and Tweedledum also have an ability (Windstorm) that they can coordinate with each other, and in the last episode of season 1, [[spoiler:Eclair acts as a power source for Lumiere's Puppet ability]].
42	* In ''Manga/TheLuciferAndBiscuitHammer'', Yuki and Subaru have to hold hands to use their Strongest Spear and Strongest Shield powers.
43	* ''Manga/MiracleGirls'' fits the name so well that it might have been the trope namer. Mika and Toni are identical twins (albeit with different hairstyles), who need to be in physical contact to teleport.
44	* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'':
45	** Kinkaku and Ginkaku, with the treasures they use, created by the Sage of Six Paths. Three of the five weapons play a specific role in sealing away an opponent. None of those three weapons can work without the other. When Kinkaku is sealed away with the 5th treasure, the Amber Pot, he still has the rope with him. Darui then comments that the gourd and sword are useless due to the fact, and can no longer seal anyone. The brothers share these weapons, and thus seem to have excellent teamwork.
46	** The Jinchuuriki are this in the Killer Bee: Rappuden {{Filler}} arc. Alone, they have little power because their tailed beasts' chakra has been stolen before the arc started. When all are together, their tailed beasts are capable of going full-size and firing Tailed Beast Bombs ''in unison''.
47	** Naruto and Sasuke are given this [[spoiler:by the Sage of the Six Paths in order to defeat Kaguya and undo the Infinite Tsukuyomi]]. The [[spoiler:sealing]] power only works when they use it together.
48	* Time travelers in ''Manga/NatsuNoArashi'' depend on being close to each other to jump through time. As Arashi points out on her second trip, without someone else, she has no way to return to the present.
49	* Campachino and Brindo from a ''Manga/OnePiece'' {{filler}} arc use an ability called Combination Play, in which they [[SelectiveMagnetism magnetically attract and repel each other]] and say that they can do it because of their "[[ThePowerOfLove brotherly love]]".
50	* The original versions of ''Anime/PrettyCure'' have individual powers of agility and strength, although nearly all of their magical attacks depended on contact with each other. It wasn't until ''Anime/YesPrecure5'' that the {{Magical Girl}}s could even transform by themselves. The concept resurfaced several seasons later in ''Anime/SuitePrettyCure'', disappeared again for a while, then reappeared again several more seasons later in ''Anime/MahoGirlsPrecure''. ''Anime/HugttoPrettyCure'' has this specifically for Cure Amour and Cure Ma Chérie, who can only transform together, unlike the other three in their team.
51	* Kikumaru Eiji and Oishi Shuichirou in ''Manga/ThePrinceOfTennis'' are Seishun Gakuen's "Golden Pair" and later on in the series are able to perform [[spoiler:Synchronization, letting them move as one and basically becoming an unstoppable badass doubles team]].
52	* ''Anime/SailorMoon'':
53	** The show originally played with this trope by suggesting while Chibi-Usa's powers are mostly useless, using them with Usagi's similar ones results in something powerful. In the fourth season, this was taken further when they couldn't even transform or deliver a finishing attack without being together. Many fans cite this as a detriment to Usagi's role as the show's star, but also a plot device to HandWave Chibi-Usa's increased screentime pushing out the main cast. Unlike ''Anime/FutariWaPrettyCure'' and ''Anime/FutariWaPrettyCureSplashStar'', the noticeable age difference in the two made for some acrobatics to make sure the two [[MustHaveLotsOfFreeTime just happened to be together at the time]].
54	** Cyprine and Ptilol's strongest power requires the two to work together: one of them absorbs any incoming magical attacks, the other reflects them. Naturally, the Senshi defeat them by tricking them into separating.
55	* The ShockAndAwe twins No. 11 and No. 12 Hikari and Hibiki from ''Anime/{{Sekirei}}''; it's implied that one can't function without the other while using their abilities, though they may be simply taking advantage of being a team. Even their LimitBreak requires the two in order to activate it.
56	* ''Anime/SpellboundMagicalPrincessLilPri'': The three girls must be together to transform into Lilpri, which forces them to get along.
57	* The protagonists Black and White and the Dusk and Dawn brothers in ''Manga/{{Tekkonkinkreet}}'', although it's more of a spiritual connection than anything else.
58	* ''Anime/TwinPrincessOfWonderPlanet'' has twin princesses Fine and Rein, who can only transform and unleash their most powerful finishing attack when they're together.
59	[[/folder]]
60
61	[[folder:Comic Books]]
62	* The Jade Dragons of ''ComicBook/AstroCity'' are a brother/sister martial arts team who can summon a giant dragon by lining their arms together.
63	* The comic book series ''ComicBook/{{Capes}}'' features a duo of {{Punch Clock Hero}}es, Ed and Marshall, who can't be more than thirty feet away one one another or they'll weaken. [[PunnyName Claire Voyant]] immediately [[TwinThreesomeFantasy sees the]] PowerPerversionPotential. In the end, Marshall dies, but the power still holds, forcing Ed to carry around Marshall's urn all the time. In the end, to defeat a BigBad, Ed ''swallows'' Marshall's ashes and is transformed into a new superhero who saves the day (and then promptly leaves the planet).
64	* ''Franchise/TheDCU'':
65	** ''ComicBook/GreenLantern'':
66	*** After being stripped of his Green Lantern status, all-around troublemaker Guy Gardner got his hands on the yellow power ring once worn by the Lanterns' arch-nemesis, Sinestro, and found that it came with a significant drawback: It drew power from other power rings, so to keep it fully charged, he had to periodically seek out and fight other Green Lanterns. Given that Guy is and was the biggest {{Jerkass}} in Franchise/TheDCU and lovin' every minute of it, this wasn't a huge problem. (At present, Sinestro's ring and others like it no longer suffer this drawback, instead drawing power from their own power source like the Lanterns'.)
67	*** There's also a symbiotic relationship between the Green and Blue Lanterns: Blue Lantern energy gives Greens a significant power boost (since hope strengthens willpower), while Blues can only make constructs when around Greens (since hope is kind of weak without the will to act on it). It's later revealed that the Indigo Tribe (which represents compassion) can give a similar boost.
68	*** In the ''ComicBook/DCRebirth'' series ''Green Lanterns'', rookie Lanterns Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz are given a shared Power Battery which will only work if they charge their Rings simultaneously, requiring them to work together.
69	** ''ComicBook/TheRavagers'' supporting characters Thunder and Lightning, in addition to their respective sonic blast and electric powers, can fly as long as they're touching each other. Interestingly, only one of them has to ''want'' to fly for it to work.
70	** ComicBook/{{Superman}} faces a husband-and-wife team called Sodom and Gomorrah. While touching, they can fire blasts that turn anything they hit into salt. Superman separates them and captures Sodom, but his wife escapes.
71	** One of the earliest examples (from the 1940s) of this was the superhero duo TNT and Dan the Dyna-Mite, who have to touch their {{ring\|OfPower}}s together (they have "positive" and "negative" charges) in order to activate their powers (super-strength and energy projection). In ''The Young All-Stars'', the SequelSeries to ''ComicBook/AllStarSquadron'', T.N.T. is killed, and Dyna-Mite believes that he won't be able to activate his powers without his partner, but he eventually discovers that he can reactivate them by wearing both dyna-rings and pressing them together himself.
72	* ''ComicBook/{{Freshmen}}'': Brady and Renee only have telekinesis when their touching, and Brady can only push objects while Renee can only pull them.
73	* Subverted in ''ComicBook/{{Irredeemable}}'': twins Scylla and Charybdis initially only have powers when they're in close proximity to each other, but it's later revealed to be untrue. Charybdis is the one with powers, and Scylla is only ever borrowing from him.
74	* ''Franchise/MarvelUniverse'':
75	** Aurora and Northstar of ''ComicBook/AlphaFlight'' have {{Flight}} and SuperSpeed individually, but can emit bursts of light and heat when touching. This was later inverted when Aurora had her powers modified so she could use her light powers without touching her brother. Afterward, touching caused them both to lose their powers for a while.
76	** At least one version of the alien "Blood Brothers" needed to be near each other in order to keep up their massive strength. ComicBook/IronMan once beats them by getting Comicbook/{{Daredevil}} to lure one away, so their individual strength drops.
77	** Crimson Crusader and Imp of ''ComicBook/ClanDestine''. Unlike the rest of their siblings, their powers emerged at puberty, not at adulthood. But that same odd "twin factor" that gave them their powers early, causes their powers (Crusader controls gravity, Imp can generate and control radiant energy) to fail if they're physically too far away from each other. It's still unclear whether they'll be able to use their powers independently once they reach the age when the Destine's powers normally manifest.
78	** ''ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk'' villains Hammer and Anvil are a variation on this theme. They are linked at the wrist by a piece of alien technology that affords them a set of powers. When Hammer is shot and killed by the Scourge of the Underworld, Anvil dies moments later.
79	** Bombshell (Lana Baumgartner) and her mother (Lori Baumgartner, "[[{{Pun}} Momshell]]") from ''ComicBook/UltimateSpiderMan'' share the same HavingABlast powers, but need to be in each other's company in order to access them. Even after they're no longer connected, their powers are considerably weaker when the other isn't around. This is Lori's favorite way to [[AbusiveParents manipulate her daughter]] as Lana tries to [[HeelFaceTurn become a hero]].
80	** ''ComicBook/XMen'' villains Andreas and Andrea von Strucker, the Fenris twins, have to be touching to fire energy bolts. Following Andrea's death in ''ComicBook/{{Thunderbolts}}'', [[spoiler:Andreas becomes the new Swordsman, activating his powers by wielding a sword with her skin covering the hilt]]. When [[spoiler:Andrea is resurrected (it doesn't last), Andreas flays the skin off his arm to give to her]]. They're {{creepy\|Twins}} that way.
81	* One of the main elements governing powers in ''ComicBook/QuantumAndWoody'' is their gauntlets, one for each of them. Due to the accident that gave them powers, they need to clang them together every 24 hours or they'll simply break up and vanish.
82	* In the French comic ''ComicBook/ZornEtDirna'', a mage captures Death in a mirror so that the king can look into it and enjoy eternal life (that is, he doesn't get any older). Unfortunately, with [[DeathTakesAHoliday Death no longer available]], just-freed souls find themselves forced into the closest living body, usually that of whoever killed them. The mage brings a pregnant woman in to try and transfer Death into her child, but unfortunately, she gives birth to twins -- and while they do inherit the power to let souls pass into the hereafter, both need to be present for it to work.
83	[[/folder]]
84
85	[[folder:Fan Works]]
86	* In ''Fanfic/TheBridgeMLP'', Princess Celestia and Princess Luna's powers increases in magnitudes when they are close to each other.
87	* In the ''Fanfic/SailormoonMillenniaTrilogy'', Sailoraries and Sailorpisces can only use their powers when they are together. In this case, they actually are twins.
88	* A form of this makes an important part of ''Fanfic/TheUltimateEvil'': the concept of an "Other" (an abbreviation to "Other half of one's self"). When someone touches their Other, they both react as if they're receiving a strong electric shock, and they're filled with raw power as their chis attempt to [[YinYangBomb balance each other out by merging together]]. The effects last only as long as the Others keep touching each other, but if they undergo a binding ritual [[spoiler:(as Shendu and Valerie do)]], they can draw power from their link and touch one another without a painful exchange of energy. When Shendu touches Valerie while [[DemonicPossession possessing Jade's vacant body]], the effect of their touch is distilled because he's not in his own body. The effect's stronger when Valerie touches him while [[SealedEvilInACan he's a statue]], though it's still a fraction of what their touch does when Shendu is in his true form. While he's sharing Valmont's body with the latter, however, his chi cannot combine with that of Valerie because Valmont's chi gets in their way.
89	[[/folder]]
90
91	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
92	* In ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButtHeadDoTheUniverse'', when the boys get MistakenForAliens and the government capture Beavis, they figure the duo must share a brain and only have the intelligence to accomplish interstellar travel when they're together.
93	[[/folder]]
94
95	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
96	* ''Film/DoubleDragon1994'' has this as the only way the two halves of the [[MacGuffin Dragon Medallion]] can be used without corrupting the user with its power, with Billy using one half and Jimmy using the second.
97	* Reversed in ''Film/{{Hancock}}'', where once a pair of superheroes (a man and a woman) that are made for each other are united, they start losing their powers, so they can live [[IJustWantToBeNormal normal lives.]]
98	* ''Film/YouDontMessWithTheZohan'': When an Israeli super-soldier and Palestinian super-terrorist learn to put aside their differences and work together, they sing some ancient song to unleash a devastating [[SuperScream sonic blast]] that takes out the villains (and a whole city block).
99	[[/folder]]
100
101	[[folder:Literature]]
102	* In ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'', the only way to enter the Portal to the Abyss where Takhisis lives is to have both an evil mage and a good cleric activate it. Raistlin [[spoiler:takes advantage of a cleric, Crysania and uses her for protection throughout the Abyss. Then, while she is dying, he abandons her, kills the pantheon of Krynn, and ascends to godhood. Caramon ends up going back in time to warn him about the after-effects, though]].
103	* ''Literature/{{Middlegame}}'': {{Invoked\|Trope}} by the BigBad with the ArtificialHuman protagonists Roger and Dodger. The Doctrine of Ethos is too powerful to be contained in a single host, so he created the twins to embody it, and they need to act in conjunction to unlock its true {{Reality Warp\|er}}ing potential.
104	* ''Literature/MindstarRising'': The psi-boosted protagonist and his pre-cognitive partner are successfully ambushed when twin psychics are used to create a null-zone where their powers won't work.
105	* The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morgan_Llywelyn Morgan Llywelyn]]/Michael Scott novel ''Silverhand'' features a brother/sister villain team dubbed "The Duet" who are able to summon a WorldWreckingWave. For added {{squick}} value, in order to do this, they [[{{Twincest}} have sex]].
106	* In ''Son of Literature/{{Spellsinger}}'', Jon-Tom's son and Mudge's kids have to perform together as a band to gain the full benefits of spellsinging magic. They're a trio, not a duo, but same idea. This is because while Jon-Tom's son, Bunkin, is technically able to spellsing on his own, his singing is so terrible that attempting to do so means that his magic will be so uncontrolled that it poses a larger threat to himself than to any enemies. Having Squill and Nena handle the singing adds a limited measure of control.
107	* Camryn and Alex, the main characters of ''Literature/TWitches'', are powerful twin witches separated at birth whose powers become super-strong when they work together.
108	* In ''Literature/{{Xanth}}'', after a while, it's discovered that some groups thought to lack magic talents, such as [[{{Muggles}} Mundanes]], goblins and harpies, can sometimes have shared talents that can only be invoked when they're in contact with the person who shares their talent. However, none of these guys are twins. Some examples are [[HybridMonster Gloha Goblin-Harpy]]'s parents and a pair of Mundanes who have two different syndromes making one unusually short and the other unusually tall.
109	[[/folder]]
110
111	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
112	* ''Series/TheFortyFourHundred'': In "Gone, Part I", siblings Duncan and Olivia Germaine, who disappeared in 1964, have the ability to manipulate water and create diffusion. However, it only works if they do it together.
113	* In ''Series/Charmed1998'', all of the Halliwell sisters have their own powers, but the powers are connected; three of them doing a spell together makes it a "Power of Three" spell, which is necessary to defeat certain demons. There's [[PlotHole very little]] [[NewRulesAsThePlotDemands consistency]] about how magic works throughout the whole show, but sometimes, their powers will weaken or vanish when they have a falling out, use them against each other, etc.
114	* Andy and Lauren Strucker of ''Series/TheGifted2017'' each have powers of their own; he fires force blasts and she's a BarrierWarrior. But when they join hands, they gain the power to [[spoiler:perceive and destroy physical objects -- at least as large as buildings, possibly larger -- at a ''molecular level''. They are great-grandchildren of the ''ComicBook/XMen'' foe Andreas von Strucker, who with his sister Andrea formed the villainous Fenris. The powers of Fenris are stated in-series to have operated the same way]].
115	* Played with in ''Series/{{Heroes}}'' regarding Maya and Alejandro Herrera -- Maya's [[PowerIncontinence uncontrollable]] deadly poison emission is countered and neutralized by Alejandro's power, making them sort of like the Wonder Twins stuck on "Form of Mass Murder!" "Shape of {{Retcon}}!"
116	* In ''Series/HeroesReborn2015'', a new pair of Wonder Twins are introduced, and their power [[spoiler:involves human casualties too, of the tragic-yet-inexplicably-necessary human sacrifice type. Go figure. At least they save the world]].
117	* Shotaro Hidari and Phillip from ''Series/KamenRiderDouble'' have to transform at the same time to form the titular Rider. The psychic connection powers of their TransformationTrinket let them easily do this even from across town, but if Phillip is unconscious, being chased, or just has something better to do, then Shotaro is screwed. In addition, if it's ''Phillip'' who's in trouble, he can't transform unless he contacts Shotaro and has him put on the Double Driver. Other complications include loss of synchronization paralyzing Double, and the fact that the Double Driver can (and has) been disabled by blocking off one of the ports. Shotaro eventually gains the ability to transform solo into Kamen Rider Joker, but as a matter of preference only uses it when it's absolutely impossible to become Double, such as when the original TransformationTrinket has been disabled or [[spoiler:Phillip is dead]].
118	* ''Series/OctoberFaction'': Viv and Geoff each have their own warlock powers, but together, their blood magic is truly exceptional, busting through the Power Nullifier drug like it isn't there.
119	* ''Series/{{Smallville}}'':
120	** Among the freaks of the week are some CreepyTwins (though adults) who can generate [[BarrierWarrior force fields]] when their hands touch.
121	** The ''actual'' Wonder Twins have since turned up, complete with "Powers, activate!"
122	[[/folder]]
123
124	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
125	* One ''Magazine/DragonMagazine'' article introduced the Dvati, a race in which each individual member is actually a pair of twins who share a soul, to ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''. They have to act in unison to cast any spell, but several spells that would affect only one person can affect them both. They can also use their voices in unison to confuse a foe.
126	* In ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'', the Kenrith twins, Will and Rowan, are unusual among planeswalkers in that they share a single Spark, meaning that they're only capable of planeswalking together.
127	* Rant and Rave of the ''TabletopGame/MutantsAndMasterminds'' Freedom City supplement are a brother/sister pair with sonic and visual distortion powers respectively, but can deploy a disintegration attack when physically touching.
128	* In the ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' third-party splat book ''Art of Magic'', there is a spell temporarily binding the minds of the caster and another character. This allows them to both use the best natural roll they make for initiative, and also increase their spellcasting effectiveness if they cast spells at the same target.
129	[[/folder]]
130
131	[[folder:Toys]]
132	* ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'':
133	** The two Bahrag individually have all of the powers of the Bohrok, but they also become more powerful the closer they are to each other, and when they are next to each other they are completely invulnerable.
134	** The Skakdi race have been granted ElementalPowers, but they can only be used in tandem. This is a safety measure -- since the Skakdi are AlwaysChaoticEvil but all hate each other, the prospect of having to work together is sometimes enough to keep them from tapping into the elements. Unfortunately, they also won the SuperPowerLottery, so being unwilling to use elemental powers is hardly a hindrance to them.
135	[[/folder]]
136
137	[[folder:Video Games]]
138	* In ''[[VideoGame/BackyardSports Backyard Baseball]]'', Ashley and Sidney Webber play much better when they are on the same team. They become the best pitchers in the game.
139	* ''VideoGame/{{Control}}'': An odd case occurs with The Third Thing, the primary antagonist of the ''AWE'' DLC. The Hiss and the Dark Presence can't possess one another. Rather, their powers ''amplify'' each other when they interact, so when the Hiss tried to possess an already-Taken Hartman, it resulted in something which possesses the strengths of both. Thankfully, the two are too busy fighting for control of Hartman to actively exploit this.
140	-->'''VideoGame/AlanWake:''' The sound changes the darkness, and the darkness changes the sound. They both changed what remained of Hartman. They all turned into something else: a Third Thing. The sound made darker. The darkness made louder.
141	* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':
142	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'':
143	*** Palom and Porom have the ability to cast spells together in order to produce miniature versions of two of the most powerful abilities in the game: Megaflare, Bahamut's ability, and Meteor, the ultimate Black Magic. However, these abilities were toned down in power significantly. Ironically, their high MP cost to both twins and long casting time made them very inefficient, such that given the twins' fast learning rate, they both become '''more''' powerful individually than together if you take time to level them up.
144	*** As an Augment, Twincast allows the final party to raise all their HP caps, buff physical and magic attack power, and cast a devastating White Magic spell. The same flaws still apply, so your mileage may vary, but it's Rosa's only other magic offense besides Holy.
145	** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'' has Zorn and Thorn, twin jesters that give each other meteor and flare powers during one mini-boss sequence. The trick is to hit the jester who just received the power before he can use it. [[spoiler:It turns out that they're actually one creature with two bodies.]]
146	* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemEngage'': Played with for Nel and Nil. As Fell Dragons, they have a Dragonstone that they need in order to transform into dragons. Most Fell Dragons can activate the stone, thus their transformation, on their own. However, Nil doesn’t have a stone. That is why Nel gave her stone to him. This means that, in order for Nel to activate her dragon form, Nil needs use the Dragonstone.
147	* ''VideoGame/FoodFantasy'': Some skills can be used when two (or more) Food Souls are in a team together, such as Black Tea and Milk, Coffee and Chocolate, Cloud Tea and Sweet & Sour Fish, Wonton and Tortoise Jelly, and many others. Most of the linked skills between the Food Souls focus on their connected lore with each other. A few cases do involve twins, such as Sweet Tofu and Salty Tofu, who unlock each other's linked skill.
148	* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'': Two abilities called Plus and Minus. Each raises the Special Attack stat of a partner with the other by 50% -- but ''only'' when both are present in a double battle. At first, Plus and Minus were exclusive to Plusle and Minun, respectively, but starting with ''VideoGame/PokemonBlackAndWhite'', a handful of other {{Mon}}s also have access to them.
149	* ''VideoGame/PuyoPuyoTetris2'' reveals that Jay and Elle have the ability to locate anything they want by being in contact with each other, even if that "something" is on a different world (Tee), or if they don't know the specific details [[spoiler:(such as when, trying to find the source of Marle's corrupting powers, they discover someone is controlling her)]].
150	* Tweek and Craig's unlockable ultimate in ''VideoGame/SouthParkTheFracturedButWhole'' involves them holding hands and using the power of yaoi to damage, shock and confuse their foes.
151	* In ''VideoGame/Spyro2RiptosRage'', in Scorch, the exiting cutscene shows siblings (twins? They don't say) Handel and Greta surrounded by armed soldiers in a castle. As the bad guys approach, Handel and Greta slowly move their hands together and when they join hands, their eyes turn red and they cast some sort of spell that knocks their enemies off the castle.
152	* DualBoss Mona and Lisa in ''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage 3'' have several abilities that they can perform if they do it together. When you kill one of the twins, the remaining twin's abilities will weaken due to being alone.
153	* ''VideoGame/{{Suikoden}}'' plays this with characters with look-alikes. Each pair can perform combinations when they're in the same team. ''VideoGame/SuikodenV'' has [[TheHero the Prince]] and Roy. ''[[VideoGame/SuikodenTierkreis Tierkreis]]'' has Marica and Another Marica.
154	[[/folder]]
155
156	[[folder:Webcomics]]
157	* In ''Webcomic/AliceAndTheNightmare'', it's revealed that Dee and Dum, who both have the same Suit (Heart) can only work as a team (normally Oneironaut teams consist of one of each Suit) because otherwise their powers are cut in half. [[spoiler:It's because Dee is secretly a Reversal, whose powers are opposite those of a regular Suit.]]
158	* ''Webcomic/BallAndChain'' is about a married couple whose powers only work when they're together and are triggered by their physical contact. The problem: they were splitting up when they got said powers and have a lot of trouble cooperating. Secondary problem: Neither of them is aware of this caveat for a while, meaning that when Edgar ("Ball") gets ambushed by bad guys, he thinks he is going at them with superpowers that are waning rapidly.
159	* Dimitri and Alina Tokamak of ''Webcomic/DresdenCodak'' have superpowers activated by contact based around physics.
160	* Parley and Smith of ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'': both have powers that work individually (Teleportation and [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=385 creating order]]) but when the two are working together, Parley's teleportation is much [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=786 easier to control]].
161	* In ''Webcomic/JupiterMen'', Quintin and Jackie possess Jupiter-Man's ability to remove the cosmic energy that mutates Star Struck creatures into monsters, but only while they're both touching it. Nathan needs both twins on board with becoming superheroes because of this, as there's no other way to permanently neutralize a Star Struck monster.
162	* ''Webcomic/KillroyAndTina'' has the two main characters share superpowers as long as they're within five kilometers of each other. They also suffer from {{Synchronization}}; if one dies, both die. This was actually done as ''punishment'', as a type of RestrainingBolt to keep an evil alien overlord tethered to an ordinary teenage girl, and therefore out of trouble. [[spoiler:It's also part of a scheme involving a StableTimeLoop, because the superhero who arranged this was actually a future version of Tina.]]
163	* ''Webcomic/TheNonAdventuresOfWonderella'' parodies this with the Wonder-tweens:
164	-->'''Dan:''' Form of matter!\
165	'''Daisy:''' Form of anti-matter!\
166	''[Planet Earth explodes]''
167	* ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'': In ''[[Recap/TheOrderOfTheStickStartOfDarkness Start of Darkness]]'', it is revealed that [[spoiler:the power of the Snarl gates can only be harnessed by a cleric and wizard working together. Though some people, such as Tsukiko, are both]].
168	[[/folder]]
169
170	[[folder:Web Originals]]
171	* Torchlight, Billy's character in Podcast/{{Fandible}}'s ''[[http://paradigmconcepts.com/rotted-capes/ Rotted Capes]]'' game. Used to be part of a pair of power twins, until his sister got bitten by zombies. Now, she wants to bite him, so they can ''both'' be super zombies, and restore their twin powers. His fire powers are [[BoozeBasedBuff fueled by alcohol]]. [[TheAlcoholic He's got it under control, honestly!]]
172	* ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'':
173	** The supervillains The Twin Terrors get stronger as they get closer together, with energy powers when they are next to each other. At a distance, they seem to be ordinary Exemplars. Next to each other, they out-powered Lancer.
174	** Phobos and Deimos, the Fury Twins, have a fear aura. The closer together they get, the worse it grows. When they get too close, they can accidentally merge into a two-headed monstrosity with a fear aura so powerful [[RealityWarper it warps reality around them]]. They hate it.
175	[[/folder]]
176
177	[[folder:Western Animation]]
178	* Parodied in one episode of ''WesternAnimation/CampLazlo''. When the dung beetles Chip and Skip join hands and shout "Scum twin powers, activate!", they can call all the grime in camp to the area.
179	* In ''WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteers'', the Planeteers all have [[RingOfPower rings with individual powers]], but [[AllYourPowersCombined only when all five of them use them together do they summon Captain Planet]]. However, the only Planeteer who is ''absolutely'' necessary to form Captain Planet is Ma-Ti, with the power of Heart. In one episode, Linka and Wheeler are abducted by aliens who collect endangered species to house in a sanctuary on their home planet. The remaining Planeteers are still able to create Captain Planet (admittedly, he can't fly without Linka's power of Wind, but they do manage to create him). In another episode, Ma-Ti is knocked unconscious ''in the middle of the summoning'', and Gaia solves the trouble via temporarily handing the Heart Ring to a Native American boy who [[HeroicBystander had helped the Planeteers before]].
180	* In ''WesternAnimation/DrakPack'', the three main characters can only shift from their human to their monstrous [[CursedWithAwesome (and super-powered)]] forms by touching each other... [[ByThePowerOfGrayskull and shouting]] "[[TotallyRadical Whacko!]]"
181	* Magnokor of ''WesternAnimation/{{Inhumanoids}}'' is a borderline case, as he/they is referred to as a singular creature, but actually demonstrates two separate identities that argue with one another, even when merged as a two-headed monster. Only when split into two bodies can he/they trap Metlar in a magnetic field, and hence qualify for this trope.
182	* ''Franchise/MastersOfTheUniverse'':
183	** Cringer usually can't turn into Battle-Cat unless he's there when Prince Adam is transforming into He-Man.
184	** Played with in ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse2021''; the Masters originally think they can only transform with Adam, then later realize that they can change on their own. Though if He-Man loses his sword, they'll all turn back.
185	* Despite being sentient themselves, the HumongousMecha in ''WesternAnimation/{{Robotix}}'' can only activate their [[TransformingMecha transforming powers]] when they have human pilots.
186	* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Shazzan}}'', Chuck and Nancy each wear half of the RingOfPower. To summon Shazzan, they put the ring together and say "Shazzan!"
187	* Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy of ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' are a parody of this, with them yelling "Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy Unite!" before activating their powers.
188	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Superfriends}}'': The TropeNamers are the shape-shifting Wonder Twins Zan and Jayna from ''The All-New Superfriends Hour''. When they [[HandshakeSubstitute bump fists]] to activate their powers, Zan can change into various forms of [[MakingASplash water]]/[[AnIcePerson ice]], while Jayna can transform into animals. Sadly, the writers were either unable or forbidden to come up with [[WhatKindOfLamePowerIsHeartAnyway actual, useful applications for their powers]]. Their counterparts from the ''Superfriends'' comics of the time were much better with their powers. On the other hand, if a large enough creature passes between them, they need only to put their fists into that creature's form simultaneously and their weakness is promptly nullified.
189	* In ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2003'', assassin duo Mr. Touch and Mr. Go need to bump fists in order to (temporarily) access their powers: super-strength for Mr. Touch, super-speed for Mr. Go. Given that these fade in a matter of minutes, they're always together.
190	* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'': The twin brothers Más y Menos gain SuperSpeed while they remain in physical contact with each other, usually by pressing their palms together or holding an electrical conductor between them. They're derived from the Tornado Twins of Creator/DCComics (who did not have this limitation).
191	* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'': Jetfire and Jetstorm combine to make "Safeguard". In fact, all CombiningMecha have a bit of this, in that they're devastating in a FiveManBand, but nothing to write home about individually. However, they've got PlayingWithFire and BlowYouAway going for them, respectively. They're not overly reliant on Safeguard mode.
192	* ''WesternAnimation/TheTwinsOfDestiny'' is a French production in which the main characters, Jules and Julie, hold hands and say "We call upon the (number) Power of the Seven Powers..." and then fill that last part in with whatever they need the power to do.
193	* ''ComicBook/WalterMelon'': In one episode, Walter Melon and Bitterbug join the [[Franchise/PowerRangers Flower Power Rangers]], who are short two members and need all five to transform.
194	* The [=WooFoo=] Aura attack from ''WesternAnimation/YinYangYo'' requires the twins to quit fighting and work together in mutual concentration.
195	[[/folder]]
196
197	[[folder:Real Life]]
198	* Related to this is the real-life [[TwoKeyedLock "dual key" system]] for nuclear weapons- American nuclear weapons require two people (at least) to launch them. This is basically a more extreme version of the ubiquitous safety trigger, in which two buttons must be depressed simultaneously in order to activate something dangerous, such as a taser or circular saw.
199	* Valuable assets are sometimes protected by requiring more than one person to open a safe, sign a check, etc, so that any illicit access will require a conspiracy rather than just one person.
200	* Neodymium and praseodymium, as the name implies[[note]] Literally: "new twin" and "leek-green twin"[[/note]], are two elements often found together, and are difficult to separate. They have a variety of applications, one of them being with each other into a material called "didymium" (which was thought to be a single element before both were separated). It can be used to make safety glasses for blacksmithing.
201	[[/folder]]

Context Main / WonderTwinPowers