History Main / PowerHigh

See also AddictiveMagic, DrunkOnTheDarkSide, EvilFeelsGood, GoodFeelsGood, DrunkWithPower, OrgasmicCombat and PowerIsSexy.

* In ''WesternAnimation/BuzzLightyearOfStarCommand'' Mira has the power to [[{{Intangibility}} phase through objects.]] When she discovers she can phase through energy an absorbs some of that energy, she comments on how great she feels. Later, we learn that doing this is very addictive, and the episode becomes an analogy for drug usage, where Mira has to kick this dangerous habit.

See also DrunkOnTheDarkSide, {{Evil Feels Good}}, GoodFeelsGood, DrunkWithPower, OrgasmicCombat and PowerIsSexy.

* ''Franchise/StarWars''

* Leveling High in ''Literature/AnOutcastInAnotherWorld'' is an affliction that affects only Humans. When they Level up, their brains are magically drugged to want to Level more, which involves more killing, which creates an awful feedback loop.

For some, that is true in a very literal sense. When a character either gains superpowers (often coupled with PowersAsPrograms) or becomes more powerful they will feel pleasure sometimes expressed in a similar way to an orgasm. Thus it's often used as means of GettingCrapPastTheRadar.

* In ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders'', DIO explicitly compares rejuvenating himself with [[spoiler:Joseph]]'s blood to a high, while [[SelfMutilationDemonstration tearing at his own flesh with his fingernails to show off his enhanced regeneration]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/BuzzLightyearOfStarCommand'' Mira has the power to [[{{Intangibility}} phase through objects.]] When she discovers she can phase through energy an absorbs some of that energy she comments on how great she feels. Later we learn that doing this is very addictive, and the episode becomes an analogy for drug usage, where Mira has to kick this dangerous habit.

* Juri from ''Super VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'' after gaining ki based powers from the Feng Shui engine she proclaims: "Mmm...I like it. I can feel waves of ki energy surging through my whole body" in a very suggestive way. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVpCD7PPxTc This can be seen here]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheMask'' animated series, a gypsy woman steals the power of the mask and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu0lWPM4RwM&feature=player_detailpage#t=237s screams "yes yes yes!" while she does]].

* In ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders'', DIO explicitly compares rejuvenating himself with [[spoiler:Joseph]]'s blood to a high, while [[SelfMutilationDemonstration tearing at his own flesh with his fingernails to show off his enhanced regeneration]].

** The ''Anime/DragonBallKai'' version, while less memetic, has just as much ham.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQptInZJbXo She-Hulk]] in the old '90s ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibleHulk'' cartoon seems to really like transforming.

* In the ''[[Franchise/ShinMegamiTenseiPersona Persona]]'' franchise, the heroes of ''[[VideoGame/Persona3 3]]'', ''[[VideoGame/Persona4 4]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/Persona5 5]]'' are all [[SlasherSmile shown enjoying a taste of their new power]] when they first summon their [[FightingSpirit Persona]]. This carried over to the anime adaptations of ''3'' and ''4''. Interestingly, in ''VideoGame/PersonaQShadowOfTheLabyrinth'', Yosuke can sometimes be heard yelling "Give me power!" in a demanding voice when summoning his own Persona. This seems to mostly just be for flavor, as in none of these cases do the Power High aspects play a role in the plot or character development.

For some that is true in a very literal sense. When a character either gains superpowers (often coupled with PowersAsPrograms) or becomes more powerful they will feel pleasure sometimes expressed in a similar way to an orgasm. Thus it's often used as means of GettingCrapPastTheRadar.

** In the previous movie, Obadiah Stane pilots the Iron Monger suit in a last ditch effort to get rid of Tony. He later admits that he's ''really'' enjoying the power of the suit.

** When one of their Minor Magisters, already well-adapted to this, stole the reserve of power from a lot of ''huge'' aquariums. He remembers very little from the next few years, but managed to earn the monicker "Mad Fishmonger", among the mages half of whom were obviously batshit insane and the rest just dangerously obsessed. In the city which (according to himself, much later) everyone in right mind left in haste long ago on account of the civil war between these overpowered nutcases.

* In ''WesternAnimation/HarveyBirdmanAttorneyAtLaw'', Harvey, who gets his power from sunlight, discovers that suntan lotion can provide the same effect. He quickly becomes addicted to the rush, and starts spending all his money on lotion, until his friends are forced to stage an intervention.
* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQptInZJbXo She-Hulk]] in the old 90's ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibleHulk'' cartoon seems to really like transforming.

* In Disney's ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}'', Jafar wishes to become a genie. His wish is fulfilled and while gaining "phenomenal cosmic powers" he proclaims "The power, the absolute power! The universe is mine to command, to control!". His enjoyment falls short thanks to Aladdin's BatmanGambit. [[spoiler: He forgot about the "itty bitty living space" that comes with genie powers.]]

* ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' - After Piccolo absorbs / merges with Nail, he spends a good minute just standing there reveling in how awesome he feels. The infamous dubbed version is now known as "Motivational Piccolo".
--> "Wow... unreal... my gosh...! This is AMAZING! I feel INCREDIBLE~! YES! YES! YES! YES! I can win! I feel great! I! CAN! DO! THIS! AAUUUGH! [beat] Yes! I'm home! I'm alive! This is all a miracle! I'M AWAKE! I'M WIDE AWAKE!!"
* The ''Anime/DragonBallKai'' version, while less memetic, has just as much ham.
--> "This strength...this ''unimaginable STRENGTH!'' If I had known that merging with another being could result in this kind of power, I would have sought it out YEARS ago! I am INVINCIBLE! No-one can stop me now!"

[[quoteright:250:[[Manga/PuellaMagiKazumiMagica https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/power_high.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:250: She seems to be enjoying it a bit too much…]]

* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9632356/2/The-Taste-Of-Your-Magic The Taste Of Your Magic]]'', Bellatrix Lestrange describes breastfeeding Literature/HarryPotter as addictive, since doing so allows Bellatrix to increase her magical power. She even contemplates vanishing the milk in Harry's stomach, but figures that even if it did work, it would trap her in an eternal high until she wasted away.

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles Fool Moon'': the [[spoiler: FBI agents]] that are using the wolf belts seem progressively less stable as the story continues, until at the end they're little more than psychopaths looking for their next high. [[spoiler: When Harry uses the belt [[ChekovsGun he grabbed earlier]], he's ''immediately'' lost to the power and sensation, and the narration reflect that he's enjoying it far too much...until he almost kills [[LoveInterest Susan]], and tears the belt from his body, describing it as pulling off a layer of skin, and leaving him weak, tired, and with the nagging desire to immediately use it again.]]

* In ''VideoGame/Overwatch'', all of the heroes have an "I am unstoppable!" line for when Ana [[StatusBuff nanoboosts]] them. Especially noticeable with the [[LargeHam tanks]] (except Roadhog).

* Lilith already had this to some degree in ''Borderlands'', made more explicit in ''Borderlands 2'' ("This stuff is the tits!"). In ''FanFic/{{Fractured}}'', a ''MassEffect''[=/=]''StarWars''[=/=]''VideoGame/{{Borderlands}}'' [[MassiveMultiplayerCrossover crossover]], she goes off the deep end after [[FaceHeelTurn having a change in alignment]]. It's not just her powers, either--an actual PsychoSerum is also involved.

* Inverted in ''Anime/PrincessTutu''. Rue feels pain when she transforms.
* In ''Manga/PuellaMagiKazumiMagica'', [[spoiler:Airi after becoming Yuuri says "Haha this is great! …these powers are the best." All of this while licking her lips and looking very very pleased in a suggestive way.]] Kazumi also has a moment of this in chapter 1 in her first battle.
** ''Manga/PuellaMagiSuzuneMagica'' has a {{flashback}} where ShrinkingViolet Arisa crushes a bully's hand shortly after becoming a MagicalGirl. Afterwards, she proclaims that her new powers are awesome while sweating and giving a big smile. This results in Arisa becoming a {{Tomboy}} and borderline {{Delinquent}}.

* Pilots in ''Anime/GenesisOfAquarion'' react downright orgasmically when three Vectors [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything combine]] into the eponymous Aquarion. The moaning and facial expressions are probably just there for {{Fanservice}}.
** The sequel ''Anime/AquarionEvol'' handles it the same way. The next sequel, ''Anime/AquarionLogos'', has it show up much more rarely. It being unrelated to the previous two seasons may have had something to do with that.

* Masane in ''Anime/{{Witchblade}}'' enjoyed her combat form... [[OrgasmicCombat very much]], until she both got the hang of it and realized how taxing the transformation is. One of the first times, she briefly crouches high on the wall, murmurs "Amazing." and licks her lips, looking at incoming [[MacrossMissileMassacre rocket swarm]], before jumping. There's a lot of such scenes.
* ''Anime/SCryed'': While Kazuma may have a heroic motivation for gaining the power (fighting a KnightTemplar organization) but there's no denying the look on his face when using his Alter. [[spoiler:Particularly once he gets his first Alter upgrade.]]
-->"More power! And more! SHINE BRIGHTER!!"
* In ''Anime/TheBigO'', Alan Gabriel ''really'' enjoys [[spoiler:being wired directly into Big Duo.]]

* The rare DCU PsychoSerum Aramilla gives the user an incredible rush. In ''ComicBook/{{Robin|Series}}'' when Tim is slipped some he notes how fun it feels and he knows he's become dangerously detached from the violence he's doling out. His feeble attempts to control his attitude are all for naught until he ''actually kills someone''. They get better of course since his performing CPR slips ''them'' the drug.

* ''Fanfic/WithStringsAttached'': In the Second Movement, when the other three get magic, it makes them so high that it takes them ''weeks'' to notice that Paul didn't get any.
* While all of the four experienced Power Highs in ''Fanfic/WithStringsAttached'', by ''Fanfic/TheKeysStandAlone'' only Paul and Ringo still do in significant ways. Paul gets high off the “background noise” of his magic, which is like a “triumphant thundering symphony,” and uses it both to pass the time at night ([[TheSleepless he hardly sleeps]]) and to calm himself down when he's getting agitated, which proves useful on numerous occasions. He is not, however, addicted to it. Ringo, on the other hand, is so thoroughly addicted to his mindsight that he goes into withdrawal when he's blocked and thinks he'll kill himself if he has to go back to Earth without it again.
** Paul also discovers that absorbing energy gives him a rush as well—and, when he was hit by two lightning bolts in rapid succession, he also got drunk and had an orgasm.

* In ''Fanfic/{{Raindancer}}'', Izuku's Quirk, "[[ElementalShapeshifter Liquid Body]]", allows him to completely turn his body into water. Because of this, he's literally in his element when he's raining, causing him to forgo an umbrella to savor the euphoric feeling of being surrounded by so much water. He also gets a similar effect when he's basking in moonlight, particularly when the full moon is out. During this time, he can act as though he's loopy, on an adrenaline high, or even drunk. Both conditions increase the potency of his already [[PersonOfMassDestruction devastating control over water]], warning his friends to yank him out of it if he starts acting weird.

* ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanAtWorldsEnd'': When [[spoiler:Tia Dalma]] is released from her human form and regains her godly powers by becoming Calypso, she makes a familiar expression that makes her enjoyment very evident.

* An inversion is evidenced in ''Film/XMen1''.
-->'''Rogue''': "Does it hurt when [your claws] come out?"
-->'''Wolverine''': "Every time."

* Spoofed in ''Series/TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'', where Carlton has this reaction...to Will handing over his little black book. Complete with [[PowerGlows a golden glow suffusing his body]].

* ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'': People channeling the One Power gain such [[SuperSenses acute senses]] and feel so much more ''alive'' that they have to discipline themselves to let go of the Power afterwards. It's so addictive that most channelers who [[DePower lose the ability to channel]] die of despair within a year or two. The True Power, the Power supplied by [[{{Satan}} the Dark One]] to his favoured minions, is [[ThisIsYourBrainOnEvil even more addictive]].

* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': Breathing in the magical mist known as "Fog" will cause a rush of power directly to the user's soul. It's described as a "heady experience" and people get addicted to it. Those that capitalize on this are analogous to drug dealers.

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* ''[[Literature/TheChroniclesOfAmber Amber]] Diceless Role-Playing''. In the section on the character Merlin, it says that the magical powers possessed by Amberites make the user feel so good that they can become addictive.

* In the ''[[Franchise/ShinMegamiTenseiPersona Persona]]'' franchise, the heroes of ''[[VideoGame/{{Persona 3}} 3]]'', ''[[VideoGame/{{Persona 4}} 4]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/{{Persona 5}} 5]]'' are all [[SlasherSmile shown enjoying a taste of their new power]] when they first summon their [[FightingSpirit Persona]]. This carried over to the anime adaptations of ''3'' and ''4''. Interestingly, in ''VideoGame/PersonaQShadowOfTheLabyrinth'', Yosuke can sometimes be heard yelling "Give me power!" in a demanding voice when summoning his own Persona. This seems to mostly just be for flavor, as in none of these cases do the Power High aspects play a role in the plot or character development.

* The more Anarchy stacks [[GadgeteerGenius Gaige]] gets in ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands 2}}'', the more she tends to invoke this. This includes yelling, "I'm getting a god complex and I LIKE IT!" and it all goes downhill from there.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Portal 2}}'', [[spoiler:Wheatley]], when placed into a position of complete power over Aperture, immediately begins to show symptoms of a power high, commenting on how small and insignificant [[HeroicMime Chell]] is. Unfortunately, this ultimately leads to his FaceHeelTurn.
-->'''[[spoiler: Wheatley]]''' Do you have ''any'' idea how good this feels?
* In ''VideoGame/Overwatch'', all of the heroes have an "I am unstoppable!" line for when Ana [[StatusBuff nanoboosts]] them. Especially noticeable with the [[LargeHam tanks]] (except Roadhog).

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQptInZJbXo She-Hulk]] in the old 90's [[WesternAnimation/TheIncredibleHulk Hulk]] cartoon seems to really like transforming.

* In ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'', this trope is one of the features of [[FusionDance gem fusion]]. Fusions are a good deal more powerful than the sum of their parts, and forming one feels ''good''. True to the nature of the trope, though, this is not without its cons. [[TheBrute Sugilite]] is so caught up in her own raw power that she refuses to unfuse back into Amethyst and Garnet. Pearl so deeply enjoys the strength and confidence she experiences as [[FunPersonified Sardonyx]] that she [[spoiler: starts pulling off a series of one-gem [[FalseFlagOperation False Flag Operations]] in secret, just to create an excuse to fuse with Garnet again. When Jasper takes control of her and Lapis' fusion Malachite, it's clear she's having the time of her life with the sheer power she now possesses. When she reappears later, she's completely obsessed with fusing with Lapis again.]]