History Main / PowersViaPossession

* The villain Eclipso in the DCU. He was the God's first Spirit of Wrath until was trapped within the "Heart of Darkness", a black diamond that allow various power to his possessed like {{Flight}}, SuperStrength, {{Sizeshifter}}, magic powers and energy manipulation.

* The villain Eclipso in the DCU. He was the first God's Spirit of Wrath until was trapped within the "Heart of Darkness", a black diamond that allow various power to his possessed like {{Flight}}, SuperStrength, {{Sizeshifter}}, magic powers and energy manipulation.

* Riku in ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts''. First time you fight him (which is optional), he's BadassNormal and is mostly hard because he keeps jumping around and when you knock him down, flings back at you and it ''hurts''. The second time you fight him (which is ''not'' optional), he is [[spoiler:using the powers of darkness and puts up a fight before going down but isn't a hard opponent...partly because it's 3v1 in your favour]]. The ''third'' time you fight him, however, he becomes ThatOneBoss because he is possessed by [[spoiler:Xehanort's heartless]]. And it's not just because it's a DuelBoss...

* This is why Momohime has any ability in ''VideoGame/MuramasaTheDemonBlade'' - she spends most of the game possessed by a master swordsman.

** They return in the GaidenGame, ''Wayward Souls'', but you can also play as one member--Svala, the Cultist--who manages to control her demon (for the most part) without actively serving Uamuleth. Granted, she's still an AntiHero at best, but the other cultists (and demons) do ''not'' take kindly to her independence.

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

* The Ashen Cult in ''VideoGame/MageGauntlet'' runs on this, using tattoos, willpower, and alignment with [[BiggerBad 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]]

* In ''Manga/FairyTail'', [[SiblingTeam Mirajane, Elfman, and Lisanna]] specialize in the use Take Over magic, which works this way but with monster souls. Elfman uses Beast Soul, Lisanna uses Animal Soul, and Mirajane [[spoiler: uses [[DemonicPossession Satan (demon) Soul]]]].

** It turns out that [[spoiler:this is how the ''entire Quincy race'' works. They are possessed by pieces of the original Quincy's soul, which his can distribute at will and then reabsorb at will (or after their deaths) to gain all of their skills, memories, etc.]]

** "[[Recap/SupernturalS13E23LetTheGoodTimesRoll Let the Good Times Roll]]" has [[spoiler: Dean sharing his body with Alternate![[ArchangelMichael Michael]], for whom Dean is the true vessel for, in order to defeat Lucifer. The catch here is that "[Michael] is the engine, but [Dean] is behind the wheel". Which stops being the case once Dean kills Lucifer, with Michael [[MovingTheGoalposts fully taking over Dean afterwards]].]]

* In the ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' episode [[Recap/SupernaturalS09E01IThinkImGonnaLikeItHere "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here" (S09, Ep01)]], Sam is healed by having an angel possess him.

[[folder: Fan Works]]

* ''[[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons Dungeons & Dragons]]:''

* In ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes''', Peacebringers and Warshades get their powers from Kheldians (an alien energy-being) inhabiting their body--though this is more like a SymbioticPosession or MergerOfSouls, because the possession results in a fused personality and identity between the host and Kheldian.

* The Collector General [[spoiler: actually (just the channel for) a Reaper, Harbinger]] in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' will often take control of one of his flunkies, transforming it from a mild inconvenience into a burning, supercharged biotic monster who will constantly advance to blast you in the face. Worst of all, it doesn't seem to take much out of him. Kill one avatar and he'll possess any surviving Collector in short order. '''[[MemeticMutation ASSUMING DIRECT CONTROL.]]'''
** Also happens earlier, in ''Mass Effect 1'': You kill Saren, either by making him shoot himself in the ''head'', or shooting him to a pulp yourself. That should stop Sovereign/Nazara from using him any longer, right? ''Wrong''. Bastard gets right back up, the cybernetics in him taking over the body (which might not have been quite entirely dead, judging by [[NightmareFuel the screaming]]) and gives you another round of hell.

* Occurs twice in ''Franchise/DragonBall'', both times to the [[AlwaysSecondBest always-getting-outmatched]] Vegeta. In ''Anime/DragonBallZ'', he allowed himself to be possessed by the wizard Babidi, allowing him to transform prematurely into a Super Saiyan 2. 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]].

** Although in a few cases (such as the titular character and Killer B), the Tailed Beast inside can willingly co-operate with them and sometimes switch the dominant personality. Naruto and Kurama best exemplify this.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'', this is the basis of one archetype[[note]]essentially a variant class[[/note]] for the Oracle. It's called [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin the Possessed Oracle]], and its powers are flavored as being due to the Oracle [[WillingChanneler allowing spirits to cohabit their body]].

* Seen in the ''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.

* In the ''Onslaught Reborn'' storyline, the [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Human Torch]] was briefly possessed by ComicBook/{{Onslaught}}. During this time, he spontaneously developed "flame vision".

* In ObscurusLupa and {{Phelous}}' review of ''Witchcraft IX,'' the [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot ghost of a warlock]] possesses a HookerWithAHeartOfGold when she's being beaten up by her pimp. This doesn't give her magic or anything, yet allows her to beat the pimp up...somehow.

* In [[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Literature/Prolecto Prolecto]], this is a big thing that happens to anyone possessed by Azazel. If combined with a Succubus transformation, they get even MORE powerful. The main host pretty much gets the SuperPowerLottery.

* This is why Momohime has any ability in VideoGame/MuramasaTheDemonBlade - she spends most of the game possessed by a master swordsman.

* ''Webcomic/AvasDemon'' downplays this by making the possession a RequiredSecondaryPower. Simply being possessed doesn't give Ava any powers, but performing a FusionDance with the titular demon does and said FusionDance is only possible through demonic possession.

* ''Webcomic/AvasDemon'' Downplays this by making the possession a RequiredSecondaryPower. Simply being possessed doesn't give Ava any powers, but performing a FusionDance with the titular demon does and said FusionDance is only possible through demonic possession.