History Main / PowersViaPossession

* In ''Webcomic/Aurora (2019)'' there is an involuntary example in that Alinua is more powerful because of the Chimeric Plague which turns out to [[spoiler: actually be being Life's vessel]][[spoiler: Also when Erin is being possessed by the Void Dragon in order to use his Elemental Magus abilities to free the Void Dragon from his adamantine prison. But when the Void Dragon gets desperate and is trying to convince him he claims that Erin might be able to one day control Void magic too.]]
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A superpowers trope. The character gets superpowers by allowing themselves to be possessed or by channeling spirits (usually ghosts) through them, by which they can access the skills and abilities the ghosts had in life or new powers that the ghost possesses by dint of, well, being a ghost such as unearthly wailing, freezing touch, moving things around like a poltergeist.

* ''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 [[StockSuperpowers 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.]]

A StockSuperpowers trope. The character gets superpowers by allowing themselves to be possessed or by channeling spirits (usually ghosts) through them, by which they can access the skills and abilities the ghosts had in life or new powers that the ghost possesses by dint of, well, being a ghost such as unearthly wailing, freezing touch, moving things around like a poltergeist.

* ''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 [[MagicPrerequisite is only possible through demonic possession.]]

* 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.

** This is how the Visored's MaskOfPower functions. The Visored have all been Hollowified (meaning that they have had a Hollow's soul inserted into their own, or an Inner Hollow has formed within them). By donning the Hollow's mask, they gain access to that Hollow's powers.

** [=DiMaria=] Yesta of Alvarez takes this to the extreme in that her Take Over [[spoiler:is [[AGodAmI God Soul]]]].

* The main premise of ''Fanfic/JauneArcLordOfHunger'' is that Jaune becomes Force-sensitive after being possessed by the spirit of Darth Nihilus. [[spoiler:Subverted when it turns out that Nihilus lies and used a form of SuperEmpowering instead. He tricked Jaune into thinking that this trope was the case in order to make him a WillingChanneler for his soul.]]

* In ''Manga/SaikinImoutoNoYousuGaChottoOkashiindaGa'', Mitsuki Kanzaki has no sports experience, runs really slow, and tires easily. When the ghost Hiyori Kotobuki, who was apparently an athlete in life, possesses her, she becomes an incredible athlete.

* In ''LightNovel/RokujyoumaNoShinryakusha'', [[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.

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

** It's shown later that this is all a matter of willpower; SecondRider Yuto Sakurai[=/=]Zeronos and all the movie villain Riders have sufficiently strong will that they can transform into combat-worthy forms without needing an Imagin's help. Later in the series, after Ryotaro has [[TookALevelInBadass taken a level in badass]], he has the will to manifest his own SuperMode, Liner Form.

[[folder:Comics]]

* 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.]]

* Ghostkeeper, a Canadian hero active in the ''Roleplay/GlobalGuardiansPBEMUniverse'' gains the accumulated strengths and skills of his ancestors by letting their spirits possess him. Maahes and Minhit are a pair of Egyptian supervillains who both get their power from an ancient lion-spirit of bloodshed.
** Uncle Sam, from the same setting, is the incarnated Spirit of America.

* The villain Eclipso in the DCU. He was 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.

* Downplayed in ''Webcomic/StandStillStaySilent''. When Lalli winds up in Emil's mind, this gives Emil the ability to see and hear troll spirits that is usually a mage-exclusive ability. Unfortunately, since Emil is not a mage, he has no [[RequiredSecondaryPowers way to protect himself from the trolls' commands]], so Lalli is forced to incapacitate him whenever they attempt to use CompellingVoice on him. The problem is solved when Lalli finally gets out.

* Subverted in ''Webcomic/StandStillStaySilent''. When Lalli winds up in Emil's mind, this gives Emil the ability to hear trolls speak. Unfortunately, since Emil is not a mage, he has no protection from the trolls' commands, so Lalli is forced to incapacitate him whenever it happens. The problem is solved when Lalli finally gets out.