History Main / SoulPower

[[quoteright:254:[[TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/RemoveSoul_8618.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:254:Don't worry, having a soul is [[TheSoulless overrated]].]]

** In ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind'', [[spoiler:Chariot Requiem can manipulate the souls of all living beings within a large area, using this ability in such ways as [[FreakyFridayFlip swapping peoples bodies]], turning [[FightingSpirit Stand]] Users' own Stands against them, and, with enough time, [[BodyHorror transforming all living beings in the area into]] {{Humanoid Abomination}}s]].

** Suguru Geto's Cursed Technique allows him to absorb and later manipulate cursed spirits, forcing them to act as extensions of his will and fight on his behalf. He infamously orchestrated an event known as the NightParadeOfOneHundredDemons, in which [[ZergRush mongolian hordes of cursed spirits under his control attacked Shinjuku and Kyoto at the same time]], forcing Jujutsu HQ to summon every able-bodied sorcerer available to repel them.

* [[spoiler:Aang]] in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' learns to do this as a form of bending. It is implied that this is the purest form of bending, or the original form of it. It's likely that [[spoiler:entering the Spirit World]] and [[spoiler:entering the Avatar State (merging all the Avatar's souls into one body)]] were subconscious uses of this power.
** [[spoiler:Amon]] from ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'' can do more or less the same, though whether it's authentic is somewhat questionable. In the finale "Endgame" it's revealed [[spoiler:to be fake -- he's really using Bloodbending.]]
** [[spoiler:After being restored by Aang and the rest of her past lives, Korra can also Energybend.]]

* The Sorrow in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater''.

* The Sorrow in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3''.

* ''Manga/JujutsuKaisen'' provides an [[LovecraftianSuperpower supremely disturbing]] example in [[TheHeavy Mahito]]: His Cursed Technique, "Idle Transfiguration", allows him to touch the soul of either himself or his victim and alter its shape. Because [[TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody the shape of the body]] [[InvertedTrope is determined by the shape of the soul]] in this universe, Mahito can radically change a person's biology and physical make-up with just a touch. An ability he uses primarily to transform his unlucky victims into [[HumanArchitectureHorror art]].

* In ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'', half of the setting is this, since Nox Nyxtoires are powered by human souls. Also, the titular [[ArtifactOfDoom BlazBlue/Azure Grimoire]] is this in a nutshell.

[[folder:Visual Novel]]

[[folder:Web Animation]]
* In ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'', all the characters use Aura, the physical manifestation of a soul, for a variety of effects. For the most part, Aura is used as a shield to protect and/or heal the characters from blows that would kill an ordinary person, although it also allows them to enhance their physical prowess. You need to focus on your Aura to manifest a shield, and even then it can be shattered by sufficient force. Aura also fuels Semblances, [[OnePersonOnePower special powers unique to each character]]. Once Aura is broken, Semblances can no longer be used, but the level of damage Aura has taken doesn't affect Semblances, suggesting Aura acts as more of a conduit for them than anything.
[[/folder]]

* [[DarkMessiah Lucius Zogratis]] from ''Manga/BlackClover''. His innate magic is Soul Magic, transforming the soul, the source of human life, spirit, and magic, of anyone he [[TheMagicTouch touches]]. He uses it to transform himself and [[spoiler:Sister Lily]] into the angelic "true form of humanity".

* ''Manga/JujutsuKaisen'' provides an [[LovecraftianSuperpower supremely disturbing]] example in [[TheHeavy Mahito]]: His Cursed Technique, "Idle Transfiguration", allows him to touch the soul of either himself or his victim and alter it's shape. Because [[TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody the shape of the body]] [[InvertedTrope is determined by the shape of the soul]] in this universe, Mahito can radically change a person's biology and physical make-up with just a touch. An ability he uses primarily to transform his unlucky victims he into [[HumanArchitectureHorror art]].

* The Cancer saints in ''Manga/SaintSeiya'' have a [[SupernaturalMartialArts cosmo affinity]] and an [[KiManipulation attack spread]] based around summoning or banishing the dead. This means they routinely travel to the underworld, attack with the ghosts of the dead, and are pretty hard to kill. Even Thanatos, the [[TheGrimReaper god of Death]], had a handful and [[spoiler:got [[SealedEvilInACan shoved into a box]].]]

* Several characters in ''Manga/YuYuHakusho'' have variants of soul power. Yusuke, Genkai, Kuwabara [[spoiler: , and Sensui ]]all have attacks based on "reiki" or spirit energy. Kuwabara also has a [[SpiderSense heightened spirit awareness]]. Kaito [[spoiler: is able to remove souls from bodies by the application of his taboo power.]]
* ''Manga/SoulEater'' characters have Soul wavelength which they can use to resonate with others usually between Meister and Weapon.
** Black*Star and Stein can attack using their soul wavelength without a weapon.
%%* ''Manga/ShamanKing'' obviously

* Natsume of ''Manga/NatsumesBookOfFriends'' has it, which [[ISeeDeadPeople lets him see youkai]], [[MagneticMedium draws youkai to him]] and [[SupernaturallyDeliciousAndNutritious makes him taste good to them]], and [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu lets him punch youkai clear across a room]] even though he only has average strength.
* In ''LightNovel/{{Slayers}}'', the [[ElementNumberFive fifth branch]] of [[ElementalPowers Shamanism]] is Astral/Spirit Shamanism, which focuses on spells dealing directly with souls and the astral plane. Example spells include blasts of pure astral energy that can actually harm [[TheLegionsOfHell Mazoku]] (which are pretty much immune to other forms of shamanistic offense) and dispelling effects. The form of WhiteMagic has been hinted at by the author as being a specialist form of Astral Shamanism focusing on healing and exorcising.

* ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'':
** In ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders'', the D'Arby brothers each wield Stands with power over human souls. Daniel J. D'Arby's Stand Osiris can steal human souls when they admit they are defeated and store them in physical objects he can manipulate. His younger brother Telence D. D'Arby's Stand Atum has a broader range of soul powers: he can steal souls after they admit defeat, but can also act even when a soul falters to restrain them, and even read a person's soul to answer yes or no questions.
** In ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind'', [[spoiler:Chariot Requiem can manipulate the souls of all living beings within a large area, using this ability in such ways as [[FreakyFridayFlip swapping peoples bodies]], turning [[FightingSpirit Stand]] Users' own Stands against them, and, with enough time, [[BodyHorror transforming all living beings in the area into]] {{Humanoid Abomination}}s]].
* ''Manga/JujutsuKaisen'' provides an [[LovecraftianSuperpower supremely disturbing]] example in [[TheHeavy Mahito]]: His Cursed Technique, "Idle Transfiguration", allows him to touch the soul of either himself or his victim and alter it's shape. Because [[TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody the shape of the body]] [[InvertedTrope is determined by the shape of the soul]] in this universe, Mahito can radically change a person's biology and physical make-up with just a touch. An ability he uses primarily to transform his unlucky victims he into [[HumanArchitectureHorror art]].
* Despite it being explained in-universe as a scientific AppliedPhlebotinum, the Void Genome power in ''Anime/GuiltyCrown'' is referred to numerous times as this, as its user can [[YourSoulIsMine temporarily extract]] a [[EquippableAlly physical manifestation]] of a person's [[AnatomyOfTheSoul true, hidden personality.]]
* ''Webcomic/MobPsycho100'': Keiji Mogami can control the evil spirits he has absorbed over his lifetime. However, there is a limit to how many he can use at a time.
* [[DarkMessiah Lucius Zogratis]] from ''Manga/BlackClover''. His innate magic is Soul Magic, transforming the soul, the source of human life, spirit, and magic, of anyone he [[TheMagicTouch touches]]. He uses it to transform himself and [[spoiler:Sister Lily]] into the angelic "true form of humanity".

* Thanos from ''ComicBook/UltimateFantasticFour'' has power over souls, and may transfer the soul of someone into another body as a way to reward or punish. He has also shown the ability to project his own presence into the bodies of others, quickly burning them out in the process.

* Comicbook/KidEternity, due to temporarily winding up in Heaven too early, came back with the power to summon spirits of the dead for advice--and, for some reason, also people from mythology. He's a decidedly heroic version of this trope, though Comicbook/PostCrisis he's had a DarkerAndEdgier reboot.

* Hraesvelgr in ''LightNovel/UnlimitedFafnir'' can manifest its soul outside its body, giving it complete immunity to physical attacks. It can also do this to humans, which paralyses them and allows it to consume their souls.

* In ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' and its [[{{Prequel}} prequel]], ''LightNovel/FateZero'', the Holy Grail [[spoiler:and the true artifact powering it, Greater Grail]] is actually this. It recreates the souls of dead heroes throughout the ages [[spoiler:including from the future,]] and summons them as familiars called Servants. Even the way it grants wish, it materializes the desire inside the Holy Grail War winner's soul and turn it into reality. Makes sense, since the Holy Grail [[spoiler:is actually an attempt to recreate the [[RealityWarper Third True Magic]], whose domain is to materialize and manipulate soul.]]

** There has been a Ghost user in every generation except for Generation VI: Agatha, Morty, Phoebe, Fantina, Shauntal, Acerola, and Allister.

* This applies to every man, woman, faunus, and animal in ''Fanfic/RWBYSecondGeneration''. Just like in the main series, everyone has an aura that is a manifestation of their soul. The kicker? The manifestation is different for every individual.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': All living things on Remnant have a soul, which produces Aura. Once unlocked, Aura can be used passively to [[HealingFactor heal injuries]], act as a [[SuperToughness defensive shield]], and protect against harsh weather conditions. It can be used actively as an [[KiManipulation offensive power]], to manifest a unique [[PersonalityPowers individualised superpower]] known as Semblance, and to enhance [[AppliedPhlebotinum Dust-based weapons and technology]]. A Semblance or even raw Aura can also be combined with Dust to give the user ElementalPowers. Every use of Aura drains it until it shatters upon running out. A person who has lost their Aura must wait for it to [[RegeneratingMana recharge]] before they can use it again. The [[AnimalisticAbomination Creatures of Grimm]] do not possess Aura, which is regarded as proof that they're neither alive nor have a soul.

* In ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind'', [[spoiler:Chariot Requiem can manipulate the souls of all living beings within a large area, using this ability in such ways as [[FreakyFridayFlip swapping peoples bodies]], turning [[FightingSpirit Stand]] Users' own Stands against them, and, with enough time, [[BodyHorror transforming all living beings in the area into]] {{Humanoid Abomination}}s]].

* ''Fanfic/TheLUNAverse'': This is revealed to be Lucian's true semblance in "Blood Moon Rising", which allows him to manipulate aura and copy semblances.