History Main / CollectorOfForms

* ''Series/{{Tracker}}'': Cole has to model his new physical form on someone and decides on a handsome human male in an underwear advertisement. By contrast, the escaped prisoners he's hunting down are more inclined to take over human bodies by touching them.

* ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay'': The T-1000 can [[ShapeshifterWeapon shape its limbs into simple weapons]] without any kind of study, but in order to disguise itself as other organisms or inanimate objects, it needs to sample the target through physical contact first. In one case, it mimics a stretch of floor, then waits for a security guard to step on it so it can assume his form -- [[KillAndReplace and then kills the guard for good measure]]. [[spoiler:In the finale, getting frozen with liquid nitrogen and thawed out causes T-1000 to malfunction, [[PowerIncontinence resulting in it imitating anything it touches regardless of whether it wants to or not]].]]

* ''ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}'': The villain Dirtnap is a mutant shapeshifter who has to "absorb" someone before he can shapeshift into their likeness. Trying to absorb Logan didn't work, as Logan's healing factor easily outpaced the absorption process, and Dirtnap had to retreat.

* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'': The Omnitrix slowly acquires new alien species for Ben to transform into throughout the series by a variety of methods, but most commonly by scanning DNA from new species Ben meets.

In fiction, shapeshifting is a varied, complicated business. Some especially fortunate metamorphs have the ability to transform into just about anything, [[ImaginationBasedSuperpower taking on the necessary shape through imagination alone]]. Other shapeshifters don't have it so easy, and in order for them to gain a particular form, they actually have to go to a certain degree of effort.

* ''LightNovel/ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime'': Rimuru's Predator skill allows him to duplicate the forms of creatures he absorbs, along with their abilities, with his default human form resembling [[spoiler:Shizue Izawa]]. Additionally he can create fusions of aspects of these forms simultaneously, [[spoiler:such as when he creates his Doppelgänger when fighting Hinata Sakaguchi]]

* ''WesternAnimation/WildKratts'': Practically every episode, the Kratt brothers add one or two new options to their Creature Power Suits' slate of possible forms. Achieving each form requires a thorough observation of the species to be imitated, plus Aviva's work to produce new Power Discs.

** ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaChroniclesOfSorrow'': Implied to be the case with the boss known only as "Headhunter." She normally looks like a headless woman in [=17th=] century garb; however, by putting heads from her collection on her neck she can transform into different shapes. For example, putting the head of a lizard-like creature turns her into one and gives her the ability to climb walls. And she's vocally eager to add ''your'' head to her collection...

* ''Literature/{{Phantoms}}'': The [[EldritchAbomination Ancient Enemy] is capable of reshaping its liquid body into just about anything that it's devoured, unwittingly indicating that [[ShapeshifterLongevity it's been alive for millions of years when it manifests as a giant Carboniferous moth. However, it also absorbs the memories of its victims, so it can take on shapes that exist entirely within the human imagination -- hence the winged serpent that menaces the team at one point.
* ''Literature/RedDwarf: Last Human'': The Symbi-morphs can shapeshift in order to fit the desires of their masters, but only once they've been symbiotically bonded with them, so most of the shapes they can assume are essentially "learned" from the minds of those they've been bonded with. For example, Reketrebn initially has no human forms in its repertoire, manifesting only as a female dingotang and [[{{Objectshifting}} inanimate objects]]; however, once it bonds with Lister, it immediately gains the forms of Kochanski, Rimmer, Kryten, Lister himself, a whole host of human celebrities, and a horse -- all of which are put to use in amusing Lister or in helping him escape Cyberia.

* ''Series/InFromTheCold:'' Anya/Jenny can only shapeshift into people she's sampled by touch; once she has a sample, it remains perfectly preserved for decades on end, meaning that she can still take on the forms of people she encountered over thirty years ago.

** Upon finding yourself trapped in [[DreamLand the Fade]] during the "Lost In Dreams" quest, players of all origins can learn the ability to shapeshift in their dreams. As a result, you can take on the forms of a mouse, a burning man, a spirit, and even a golem at will, gaining unique powers in each body; unfortunately, all four shapes must first be learned from the lost souls trapped across the islands of the Fade, and ''they'' will only teach you these new forms if you can rescue them from the demons tormenting them.

* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'': Changelings have to see whatever they're trying to shapeshift into before they can do so, and even then, it takes a bit of practice. "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS03E02TheSearchPartII The Search Part 2]]" reveals that the Changelings used to travel at length in search of new shapes to mimic before the fear of persecution by "Solids" drove them into hiding; later, in "[[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS05E12TheBegotten The Begotten]]," the baby Changeling is presented with geometric shapes so it can learn the basics of shapeshifting, and Dr. Mora excitedly discusses the possibility of showing it simple plants and invertebrates as its powers develop.

Shapeshifters with this limitation need some form of contact with the person or creature they're mimicking: in the simplest variant of the trope, they need to get a good look at the potential form up close; more complicated variants require the shapeshifter to get a sampling of DNA in order to properly replicate their form, sometimes through violent or even lethal means; in extreme cases, they may even need to study the target at length just so they can understand the intricacies of their newest disguise... in which case, the form ''hopefully'' remains with them permanently once it's fully assimilated.

In some cases, this is just a chore that the shapeshifter has to perform in order to get to the good stuff, but others may regard the act of gathering new shapes as a hobby, or maybe even their mission in life. Additionally collecting more forms can mean that the ShapeDiesShifterSurvives, leaving the shapeshifter with more options to burn through before they really need to worry about death.

* ''Literature/{{Hagwood}}'': The Werelings can transform into animals, but, in order to actually get the power to work, they need to have some understanding of how the animal in question actually works -- meaning that they need to observe the creature in action. They ''also'' need a sample of fur or feathers from the target animal, which is to be kept in a pouch that must remain on their person at all times... and it's best not to get the samples mixed up. [[spoiler: Gamaliel Tumpin gets his collection of samples muddled while trying to escape the villains at the end of ''Thorn Ogres of Hagwood'', turning himself into a ShapeshifterMashup -- and accidentally saving his life in the process.]]
* ''Franchise/HarryPotter'': Polyjuice potion requires something (most commonly a lock of hair) from whoever you want to disguise yourself as. While the potion itself takes several months to brew, the hair can be added at the last minute if you don't have much time to pick your target. Unfortunately, this leads to a rather amusing misfire in the ''Chamber Of Secrets'' when Hermione uses a hair she got from Millicent Bullstrode's robes... only to find too late that it was from Millicent's cat instead.

* ''Literature/KronikiDrugiegoKregu'': Dragons need a "pattern" of whatever they're changing into. Also a [[ShapeshifterBaggage lot of food beforehand]] (or they start "eating up" any surrounding matter).

* ''Literature/{{Phantoms}}'': The Ancient Enemy is capable of reshaping its liquid body into just about anything that it's devoured, unwittingly indicating that it's been alive for millions of years when it manifests as a giant Carboniferous moth. However, it also absorbs the memories of its victims, so it can take on shapes that exist entirely within the human imagination -- hence the winged serpent that menaces the team at one point.

* ''VideoGame/{{Aquaria}},'' being a {{Metroidvania}}, involves the player gathering new abilities along the way -- in this case via the learning of new songs. And in many cases, these songs don't simply enact some transitory effect, but instead transform the player, thus granting them new powers or properties. Thus the player's collection of songs, growing as they advance through the game, becomes in large part a collection of forms.

* ''VideoGame/DestroyAllHumans1'': Crypto can disguise himself as a human being via the Holobob, but for this to work, he actually has to copy the form of a human NPC; what makes this a little chancy is the fact that you need to be close enough to see said NPC before making the copy, meaning that they might be able to see you as well -- endangering your disguise unless you can eliminate them quickly. Plus, unless you continuously buff your power meter through thought-reading, you will lose your disguise and you'll have to copy another one.

** Upon finding yourself trapped in [[DreamLand the Fade]] during the "Lost In Dreams" quest, players of all origins can learn the ability to shapeshift in their dreams. As a result, you can take on the forms of a mouse, a burning man, a spirit, and even a golem at will, gaining unique powers in each body; unfortunately, all four shapes must first be learned from the lost souls trapped across the islands of the Fade.

* ''LightNovel/ThatTimeIGotReincarnatedAsASlime'': Rimuru's Predator skill allows him to duplicate the forms of creatures he absorbs along with their abilities, with his default human form resembling [[spoiler: Shizue Izawa]]. Additionally he can create fusions of aspects of these forms simultaneously, [[spoiler: uch as when he creates his Doppelgänger when fighting Hinata Sakaguchi]]

Shapeshifters with this limitation need some form of contact with the person or creature they're mimicking: in the simplest form, they need to get a good look at the potential form up close; more complicated variants require the shapeshifter to get a sampling of DNA in order to properly replicate their form, sometimes through violent or even lethal means; in extreme cases, they may even need to study the target at length just so they can understand the intricacies of their newest disguise... in which case, the form ''hopefully'' remains with them permanently once it's fully assimilated.

In some cases, this is just a chore that the shapeshifter has to perform in order to get to the good stuff, but others may regard the act of gathering new shapes as a hobby, or maybe even their mission in life. Additionally collecting more forms can mean that the ShapeDiesShifterSurvives has more options to burn through before the shifter really needs to worry about death.

* ''Film/{{Inception}}'': Eames can shapeshift in dreams; however, he indicates that he needs to examine a target closely first before he can accurately assume their form. When preparing for the mission, he sneaks himself into the offices of Fischer Morrow in order to study Christopher Browning up close and learn his mannerisms so he can later pose as him. Because this ability is dependent on memory and [[MasterActor acting ability]], Eames can't impersonate any of the projections sent after the team, but he ''does'' have a few shapes he can recall from past jobs, allowing him to become "a lovely young lady I've used before" while stealing Fischer's wallet in the second level.

* ''Literature/{{Phantoms}}'': The Ancient Enemy is capable of reshaping its liquid body into just about anything that it's devoured throughout its lifespan, unwittingly indicating that it's been alive for millions of years when it manifests as a giant Carboniferous moth. However, it also absorbs the memories of its victims, so it can take on shapes that exist entirely within the human imagination -- hence the winged serpent that menaces the team at one point.

* ''VideoGame/DestroyAllHumans1'': Crypto can disguise himself as a human being via the Holobob, but for this to work, he actually has to copy the form of a human NPC; what makes this a little chancy is the fact that you need to be close enough to see said NPC before making the copy, meaning that they can see you as well -- endangering your disguise unless you can eliminate them quickly. Plus, unless you continuously buff your power meter through thought-reading, you will lose your disguise and you'll have to copy another one.

* In the ''Literature/LicaniusTrilogy'', shapeshifters can only assume the shapes of people they have personally killed.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Chaotic}}'': One way to obtain a creature card (which allows a player to transform into that creature during battles) is by scanning that creature in Perim, which usually isn't easy, as many creatures don't like being scanned by humans. Notably, scanning captures the creature in their current condition, which can affect their cards when used in battle, such as when Tom scans a weakened Maxxor.

* ''VideoGame/TheShapeshiftingDetective'': The titular detective can only transform into people they encounter.