History Main / PowersViaPossession

* The Entities in Franchise/TheDCU grant their hosts massive power related to the emotions they embody. Granted, with the more ObviouslyEvil Entities like Parallax, it's more akin to DemonicPossession since the host usually has little choice in the matter and the Entity is in the driver's seat. The only straight example of this seen so far is Ion the Willpower Entity--being respectful of the free will of others, it does not influence its hosts' thoughts or actions in any way.
** It's unclear how much control some of the others have. It's been suggested that the Predator's (Love Entity) status as StalkingIsLove is because it's attracted to "broken" hosts (since the Sapphires see their role as being to "fix" love), but then accepts the host's own severely flawed interpretation of what love is. Nicole Morrison, the host of the Hope Entity Adara, became calm, wise, and all-forgiving, but still seemed to be Nicole Morrison.

* ''Manga/ShamanKing'' initially treated this as the series' core premise, with Shamans fighting each other via letting themselves be possessed by their spirit partners. However, once the Shaman Fight, the event the story revolves around, actually starts, it's quickly abandoned and treated as an EarlyInstalmentWeirdness, being replaced with a technique - the Over Soul - involving fusing and materializing spirits through weapons and other mediums.

* ''Series/KamenRiderGhost'' has a version of this, with the Riders using [[TransformationTrinket Eyecons]], items that house the souls of legendary figures, which grants them skills or powers related to the hero they're channeling. For example, UsefulNotes/MiyamotoMusashi grants DualWielding skills, Myth/RobinHood grants [[ArcherArchetype archery]] skills, and UsefulNotes/ThomasEdison grants ShockAndAwe powers.

* ''Webcomic/TheCobraDays'' comic (about ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3'''s Cobra unit) expanded [[ISeeDeadPeople Sorrow's]] medium power into this: getting a Ninja to possess him to take out an enemy unit.

* Shen, AKA Hero, is a nerdy accountant-looking human who is possessed by Kami to fight in the 23rd WMA Tournament. He easily bests Yajirobe and Yamcha before losing to Piccolo.
* Happens twice to the [[AlwaysSecondBest always-getting-outmatched]] Vegeta. In ''Anime/DragonBallZ'', he allowed himself to be enthralled by the wizard Babidi so that he could gain the power boost that came with it. In ''Anime/DragonBallGT'', he gets possessed by the machine mutant Baby, taking him to a far higher, twisted level of power... [[GrandTheftMe unwillingly this time]].

* The force that creates ''Franchise/TheEvilDead'' can make its hosts hover, survive extensive mutilation, and even horrifically change shape.

* ''ComicBook/{{Robin|Series}}'' villain Johnny Warlock gained a very impressive group of powers after being possessed by the demon in an artifact he stole. He doesn't fully retain control though and his powers are charged by draining the life out of people nearby.

See Also: DemonicPossession, HeroicHost, PowersAsPrograms, PowersViaWeapon, OurGhostsAreDifferent, WillingChanneler and PossessionBurnout.

* Occurs twice in ''Franchise/DragonBall'', both times to the [[AlwaysSecondBest always-getting-outmatched]] Vegeta. In ''Anime/DragonBallZ'', he allowed himself to be enthralled by the wizard Babidi so that he could gain the power boost that came with it. In ''Anime/DragonBallGT'', he gets possessed by the machine mutant Baby, taking him to a far higher, twisted level of power... [[GrandTheftMe unwillingly this time]].

* The core premise of ''Manga/ShamanKing''--although the protagonists are only possessed by their spirit partners at the beginning. Once the tournament actually starts, it becomes clear that every shaman worth fighting merges their spirit with one of their weapons.

* ''Fanfic/DontGoBreakingMyHeart'': Geralt briefly takes control of Jaskier's body to channel fire to save Jaskier from freezing to death.

* An odd example from ''LightNovel/{{Durarara}}'': [[spoiler:Anri]] is the current host of Saika, a demonic sword capable of possessing anyone it cuts, which can somehow exist "within" its current wielder. Saika grants its host a number of abilities, such as making them a HiveQueen to everyone who has been cut/possessed, as well as an InstantExpert in swordsmanship (specifically iaido, though this part is arguable; as Saika can communicate mentally with its host and said host specifically says the sword "taught" her how to fight, it's very possible it actually trained her itself). Given that there doesn't seem to be any reason the host couldn't just toss the sword into the ocean, she's keeping it of her own free will.
* In ''LightNovel/InvadersOfTheRokujyouma'', [[CuteGhostGirl Sanae]] initially starts possessing Koutarou [[SenseLossSadness so that she can taste food again]] by sharing his senses. Later, with their trust having deepened to the point where his body no longer rejects her, they realise that they can do this in reverse, with Sanae lending Koutarou her AuraVision powers and also allowing him to control his body the way a ghost does ([[SuperReflexes directly through thought, without the delay of sending signals through the nervous system]]). Interestingly, the relevant "spiritual circuitry" remains in Koutarou's body for a while afterwards, allowing him to tap into a lesser version of these powers by concentrating on how it felt to use them.
* This is how the main method of summoning works in ''LightNovel/TheUnexploredSummonBloodSign''. A summoner calls in a Material from another world and has it possess a vessel (which may be a human or animal). The vessel transforms into the Material, gaining SuperStrength, SuperSpeed and NighInvulnerability.

* ''Manga/{{Devilman}}'' kicks off with the main character Akira becoming possessed by Amon, the most powerful and evil demon in Hell. Amon's power allows Akira to become Devilman. As long as Akira can hold onto his ability to think rationally, Amon cannot take control of him, though Akira does become stronger and more aggressive after his possession. [[spoiler: When Akira loses his reason after his girlfriend is violently killed by an angry mob, Amon takes control of him and this becomes straight up DemonicPossession.]]

[[folder:Light Novels]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]

** The wraith prisoners of the Phantom Zone were able to use their powers when possessing people. Their host bodies seemed to gain RequiredSecondaryPowers ([[ILoveNuclearPower Baern's]] human host did not suffer from radiation poisoning when Baern was removed from him). The one exception was General Zod. He required a host who already had Kryptonian powers.

* ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'': Suzu discovers she can temporarily absorb unconscious ayakashi through her [[SelfDuplication omokage]], giving them some of their powers, [[LittleBitBeastly physical attributes]], and [[TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody personality traits]]. She first uses with power with Shirogane, becoming an [[SuperSpeed incredibly fast and agile]] CatGirl.

* ''Manga/{{Dandadan}}'': [[{{Yokai}} Turbo-Granny]]'s possession of Okarun allows him to go into a SuperpoweredEvilSide twice a day, with superhuman speed, strength, and reflexes. He needs Ayase to use her PsychicPowers to keep Turbo-Granny from taking over his body, though.

* The [[ComicBook/GhostRider Ghost Riders]] all get their powers through being possessed by Spirits of Vengeance. The original Ghost Rider made this full on DemonicPossession.

* ''[[ComicBook/RobinSeries Robin]]'' villain Johnny Warlock gained a very impressive group of powers after being possessed by the demon in an artifact he stole. He doesn't fully retain control though and his powers are charged by draining the life out of people nearby.

* In the ''Comicbook/XMen'' fic ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7730502/3/The_Wraith_Saga The Wraith Saga]]'', Jason "Mastermind" Wyngarde gets an upgrade from MasterOfIllusion to full-blown RealityWarper after he's possessed by the Phoenix Force's EvilCounterpart, a shadowy EldritchAbomination called "The Wraith".

* Shrine Maidens like Reimu from the ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' series are said to be able to do this, though it's only been seen in Silent Sinner in Blue, and with gods rather than spirits

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* The Dark Triad in ''Manga/BlackClover'' are the hosts of high-ranking devils, and gain their devils' magic on top of their innate magics: Gravity Magic for Dante, Spatial Magic for Zenon, and Curse-Warding Magic for Vanica. Their devils also enhance the power of their innate magic, with Dante's Body Magic boosted to the point he can instantaneously regenerate from would-be fatal wounds. [[spoiler:As it turns out, [[TheHero Asta]] himself benefits from this since his AntiMagic belongs to the devil within his grimoire, Liebe.]]

* In ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'':

* An odd example from ''LightNovel/{{Durarara}}'': [[spoiler: Sonohara Anri]] is the current host of Saika, a demonic sword capable of possessing anyone it cuts, which can somehow exist "within" its current wielder. Saika grants its host a number of abilities, such as making them a HiveQueen to everyone who has been cut/possessed, as well as an InstantExpert in swordsmanship (specifically iaido, though this part is arguable; as Saika can communicate mentally with its host and said host specifically says the sword "taught" her how to fight, it's very possible it actually trained her itself). Given that there doesn't seem to be any reason the host couldn't just toss the sword into the ocean, she's keeping it of her own free will.

* In the comic ''ComicBook/{{Haunt}}'', The main character is possessed by the spirit of his dead brother, and gains super powers.
* The [[ComicBook/GhostRider Ghost Riders]] all get their powers through being possessed by Spirits of Vengeance. The original Ghost Rider made this full on DemonicPossession.
* In ''ComicBook/PS238'', one of the children is a medium who can see ghosts and allow them to possess her to gain their knowledge. If the person had superpowers in life, she can get access to those as well.
* ComicBook/XMen has possibly the most famous example of this in the form of the Phoenix Force, which takes mortal hosts (usually a psychic SignificantGreenEyedRedhead) to do a specific job in either rejuvenating a dying world, protecting it or if it's stagnant, destroying it. Then She leaves. However, this all gets a bit muddy with the precise details of the relationship between Jean Grey and the Phoenix, and she tends to stick around with favoured hosts like Jean and her daughter Rachel. In any case, hosts are granted vast telepathic and telekinetic powers, which often manifest in the form of the Phoenix raptor, making each host a borderline RealityWarper. They're also effectively impossible to kill, since even if they can be killed, they'll just immediately come back.

* The Entities in The DCU grant their hosts massive power related to the emotions they embody. Granted, with the more ObviouslyEvil Entities like Parallax, it's more akin to DemonicPossession since the host usually has little choice in the matter and the Entity is in the driver's seat. The only straight example of this seen so far is Ion the Willpower Entity--being respectful of the free will of others, it does not influence its hosts' thoughts or actions in any way.
** It's unclear how much control some of the others have. It's been suggested that the Predator's (Love Entity) status as StalkingIsLove is because it's attracted to "broken" hosts (since the Sapphires see their role as being to "fix" love), but then accepts the host's own severely flawed interpretation of what love is. Nicole Morrison, the host of the Hope Entity Adara, became calm, wise, and all-forgiving, but still seemed to be Nicole Morrison.
* ''[[ComicBook/RobinSeries Robin]]'' villain Johnny Warlock gained a very impressive group of powers after being possessed by the demon in an artifact he stole. He doesn't fully retain control though and his powers are charged by draining the life out of people nearby.
* In the ''ComicBook/OnslaughtReborn'' storyline, the [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Human Torch]] was briefly possessed by ComicBook/{{Onslaught}}. During this time, he spontaneously developed "flame vision".

* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': The Amazon known as Fury has impressive, if also horrifying and difficult to control powers, due to acting as a host for one of the Erinyes (also known as the Fuires).

[[folder:Film]]

* The force that creates ''Franchise/TheEvilDead'' can make its hosts hover, survive extensive mutilation, and even horrifically change shape.

* Mei in ''WesternAnimation/TurningRed'' gains the ability to become a giant red panda by hosting a red panda spirit, something that happens to all the women in her family.

* Kalinda in ''Literature/StarTrekNewFrontier'' has the ability to talk to and channel ghosts. In ''Treason'', her dead brother Si Cwan possesses her, aiding in the ''Excalibur'''s search for his and Robin's newborn son. While possessed, she gains all of his fighting prowess and intellect, while {{Squick}}ing Robin out (and Kalinda's other lover, Xyon). About the only person Cwan!Kally doesn't squick out is Tania Tobias, who's a little touched herself...and strikes up a relationship with Kalinda that lasts after the possession ends, to Xyon's utter dismay.
* This is how all sorcerers and [[WhiteMagic saints]] gain their powers in Lois [=McMaster=] Bujold's ''Literature/{{Chalion}}'' novels; possession by a demon makes one a sorcerer, while possession by a god makes one a saint. Unfortunately, both will make you BlessedWithSuck, since demonic possession usually leads to a SplitPersonalityTakeover, whereas possession by a god makes you a CosmicPlaything.

* Daichi has to rely on Crimson's powers in the ''[[Literature/RoTeO Ro.Te.O]]'' spinoff ''Crimson''. [[spoiler: However, he eventually gains some powers of his own.]]

* This is how the main method of summoning works in ''LightNovel/TheUnexploredSummonBloodSign''. A summoner calls in a Material from another world and has it possess a vessel (which may be a human or animal). The vessel transforms into the Material, gaining SuperStrength, SuperSpeed and NighInvulnerability.
* In ''LightNovel/InvadersOfTheRokujyouma'', [[CuteGhostGirl Sanae]] initially starts possessing Koutarou [[SenseLossSadness so that she can taste food again]] by sharing his senses. Later, with their trust having deepened to the point where his body no longer rejects her, they realise that they can do this in reverse, with Sanae lending Koutarou her AuraVision powers and also allowing him to control his body the way a ghost does ([[SuperReflexes directly through thought, without the delay of sending signals through the nervous system]]). Interestingly, the relevant "spiritual circuitry" remains in Koutarou's body for a while afterwards, allowing him to tap into a lesser version of these powers by concentrating on how it felt to use them.
* In the ''Literature/{{Ravenor}}'' trilogy, [[spoiler:Carl Thonius]] gains various supernatural abilities after being possessed by the daemon Slyte. These include superhuman durability, telekinesis, mind control, and the ability to cure cancer, amongst other things.
* In ''Literature/{{Pale}}'', this is known as the Halflight Practice, hosting friendly spirits and wraiths within your own body to gain beneficial effects. Verona Hayward approaches Halflight by using the an alchemical tonic called the sixberry admixture, which softens key portions of her soul and wears away others to open up space for a friendly guest. Her first such pact is with the spirit Long, who lengthens her thoughts and body.

* ''Series/SiempreBruja'': Amanda gets the powers of a lineage witch when she is possessed by an evil witch's spirit.

* The main premise of ''TabletopGame/GeistTheSinEaters'', though honestly, [[SharingABody it's a little more ]][[FusionDance complicated than that.]]
* In ''TabletopGame/HunterTheVigil'', there's an entire Conspiracy of hunters who are {{Willing Channeler}}s called Les Mysteres. This gives them magical powers, but means they are typically little more than dupes of the spirits--this means they have a huge vendetta against [[TabletopGame/WerewolfTheForsaken werewolves]] because they don't understand that managing and controlling the spirits is ''necessary'' to avoid them turning the mortal world into one giant DarkWorld.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'', some [[EvilCounterpart Chaos]] [[SuperSoldier Space Marines]] voluntarily undergo DemonicPossession in exchange for power, while some of the more radical Inquisitors create Daemonhosts by binding a daemon inside a poor sap's body.
** For the Eldar, as if losing all their personality to an aspect warrior persona (artificially created personality filled only with rage and hatred) wasn't bad enough, to protect the Craftworld infinity circuit from corruption, exarchs don armour with incorporated autonomous infinity circuit of its own. This armor hosts personalities of every exarch that wore this armor before making his body being effectively possessed by this hive mind. Even more so more ancient Phoenix Lords armor that are similar in design but also host the souls of ancient eldar heroes. Being more powerful by the order of magnitudes than an ordinary exarch they effectively take full control of the body, download all his memories and use his soul as an extra psychic power battery. Baring some monstrous psykers, exarchs and Phoenix Lords are the strongest fighters Eldar can field.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'':

* ''VideoGame/MiddleEarthShadowOfMordor'' is a great example. [[PlayerCharacter Talion]] is CursedWithAwesome and has his soul bound to Earth, giving him [[ResurrectiveImmortality the ability to return from death.]] However, his soul is also bound to an [[OurGhostsAreDifferent Elven Wraith, Celebrimbor]], who has several amazing powers he can use- but only through Talion, who is given Celebrimbor's powers to use in his RoaringRampageOfRevenge.

* This happens to Pietro's father in ''VideoGame/{{Popolocrois}}'', making him into the Dark Lion King.
* In the ''Franchise/DragonAge'' series, at least two characters gain power by allowing possession by (benevolent) spirits: [[spoiler:Wynne]] in ''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins Origins]]'' was possessed by a Spirit of Faith while near death, saving her life, while [[spoiler:Anders]] allows (Spirit of) Justice to possess him between ''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening Awakening]]'' and ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII''. Other possessed mages you meet are mostly horribly-deformed abominations, since most possessions involve malevolent spirits, a.k.a. demons.
* The Ashen Cult in ''VideoGame/MageGauntlet'' runs on this, using tattoos, willpower, and alignment with Uamuleth to avoid total loss of control... usually.[[note]]The UndergroundMonkey versions of the cultist enemies lose control when they first take damage, and [[spoiler:the one keeping a journal lapses in and out of control]].[[/note]]

* [[spoiler: Professor Heisen]] in ''VideoGame/DieReiseInsAll'' gains some powers from a [[spoiler: ghost hidden inside of a martian artifact]]. Very useful, as long as he is on your side, very hard, when he turns evil.
* This is why Momohime has any ability in ''VideoGame/MuramasaTheDemonBlade'' - she spends most of the game possessed by a MasterSwordsman [[spoiler:and in one of the endings, said swordsman's soul [[FusionDance fuses with hers]] to save her life and give her all his skills, at the cost of his own existence and her memories]].

* Played with in ''Webcomic/MobPsycho100''. [[spoiler:Ritsu gains his PsychicPowers when Dimple possesses him, but the powers were always his own. Dimple only lets him unlock and develop them, afterwards, Ritsu remains able to use PsychicPowers without him.]]
* Used in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' story arc where Vaarsuvius makes a DealWithTheDevil to get "ultimate arcane power". This is accomplished by splicing the souls of three deceased epic wizards to V's own, giving them access to their full selection of spells for as long as V can maintain the necessary concentration.

* ''Webcomic/{{Nodwick}}'' once was overrun by three [[EmpathicWeapon intelligent weapons]] at once. [[TheBerserker Great carnage]] [[HilarityEnsues ensues]].
* ''Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt'' had Jack Hyland, a student [[GadgeteerGenius good enough]] at things like bypassing security measures. Possession by an [[RealityWarper imaginary]] spider quickly made him a MadScientist with understanding of "[[{{Magitek}} ethereal sciences]]" on par with adult specialists in this area. And gave him stock powers growing from [[InvisibleToNormals ethereal vision]] to {{flight}}. On the down side, he acted as if on heavy psychostimulants--excitable, nasty mood whiplashes, ''[[TheInsomniac no sleep]]''--and thus barely survived a few months of this "fun". [[spoiler:Once he got rid of the spider, [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=797 "great ideas" are gone]]. However, he's still rather brilliant on his own and this misadventure seems to either [[TouchedByVorlons give]] or awaken at least some magical talent.]]

* ''Webcomic/AvasDemon'' downplays this by making the possession a {{Required Secondary Power|s}}. Simply being possessed doesn't give Ava any powers, but performing a FusionDance with the titular demon does and said FusionDance [[MagicPrerequisite is only possible through demonic possession.]]
* Masako in ''Webcomic/BeneathTheClouds'' is a medium who allows herself to be possessed by angry ghosts as part of the exorcism ceremonies. While she's hosting a spirit, her eyes glow and she is capable of inhumanly fast reactions. As the ghosts are often angry, bitter and disorientated, it's more of a liability than a help, and the effect only lasts for a short time anyway.

* ''Webcomic/ImTheGrimReaper'': This is where a reaper's power is drawn from. A reaper is basically a human soul and a demon soul inside of a puppet body. The demon is just an animal driven by emotion. The human soul is in charge most of the time, but if they start losing control of their emotions, the demon starts taking over. Brook has his demon in a complete stranglehold, while Scarlet's humanity is [[spoiler: tethered to Chase; if she starts losing control, he's the only thing that can bring her back.]]

* Seen in the ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse''; the mutant "avatar" trait is all ''about'' being able to host a spirit in the mutant's body and derive power from that union. It's not even all that uncommon--the school has quite a few examples, and one of the world's premier heroes is the host of the so-called "Champion Force", an amalgamation of ''multiple'' spirits collected by a predecessor.
* WebVideo/TheNostalgiaChick's best friend [[ManChild Nella]] gets these when she's taken over by a [[CosmicHorror quasi-demonic, intergalactic force of evil]] and becomes [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Dark Nella]].

* Used in ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' story arc where Vaarsuvius makes a DealWithTheDevil to get "ultimate arcane power". This is accomplished by splicing the souls of three deceased epic wizards to his own, giving him access to their full selection of spells for as long as he can maintain the necessary concentration.

* Played with in ''Manga/MobPsycho100''. [[spoiler:Ritsu gains his PsychicPowers when Dimple possesses him, but the powers were always his own. Dimple only lets him unlock and develop them, afterwards, Ritsu remains able to use PsychicPowers without him.]]