History Main / SubtleSuperpowering

* ''Fanfic/TriptychContinuum'': Talented Unicorns can suppress the horn glow that accompanies spellcasting to be discreet in their actions (although this suppression increases the chance of the spell backfiring).

* ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'': In the episode "[[Recap/SupermanTheAnimatedSeriesS2E11SolarPower Solar Power]]", Clark drops his pen while working at his desk. After carefully looking around to make sure no one is watching, he lifts the desk using SuperStrength. This scene also serves to foreshadow the villain's plan in that episode as he's only able to lift the desk for a few seconds before his strength gives out. A hint that his powers are being affected in some way.

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'':
** In "The Blind Bandit", when Aang tries to talk to Toph's parents about her secret FightClubbing, Toph discreetly smacks Aang using [[DishingOutDirt earthbending]].
** In "The Runaway", Toph subtly uses her earthbending to augment the impact of her hammer in a strength-testing game (in addition to using it for ParanormalGamblingAdvantage).
** In "The Serpent's Pass", while disguised as Earth Kingdom refugees, Iroh tries to subtly heat up his cold cup of tea using [[PlayingWithFire firebending]]. Unfortunately, this gets noticed by Jet.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'':
** Amon subtly uses [[spoiler:[[PeoplePuppets bloodbending]]]] during his fights to maneuver his opponents to his advantage. [[spoiler:This allows him to [[CultOfPersonality maintain his image as a Non-Bender crusader]].]]
** Kai secretly creates a [[BlowYouAway gust of wind]], which he uses as an excuse to pat someone down and pickpocket them.

Intentionally using overt superpowers in a downplayed manner so their use goes unnoticed by others around you. This could be because using superpowers is considered cheating, or in an effort to preserve a SecretIdentity or the {{Masquerade}} while still needing to use your powers in an emergency.

In more lighthearted scenarios, it might also just be a way for the super to prank someone while maintaining PlausibleDeniability, or accomplish some other MundaneUtility they think they can get away with quietly.

Note this requires there to be someone else present who might notice if the super isn't intentionally subtle (although other characters having a bit of a WeirdnessCensor can help pull it off). {{Thought Controlled Power}}s are ideal since that means you don't need to perform any incriminating MagicalGesture or MagicalIncantation to activate your abilities.

Compare CoverBlowingSuperpower, which is a scenario that is often resolved via subtle superpowering. Also compare SecretIdentityChangeTrick, for when characters just excuse themselves to use their powers as they normally would. Also compare PowerMisidentification.

* ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'': In one episode, Clark drops his pen while working at his desk. After carefully looking around to make sure no one is watching, he lifts the desk using SuperStrength. This scene also serves to foreshadow the villain's plan in that episode as he's only able to lift the desk for a few seconds before his strength gives out. A hint that his powers are being affected in some way.
* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice2010'': In season 3, [[spoiler: it's revealed that Zviad Baazov (the United Nations ambassador for Markovia) has minor Psychic powers that he can use to nudge peoples actions via touch. He first uses this to manipulate Prince George into banishing Brion from Markovia in the beginning of the season. In the season finale he instead manipulates Brion into killing his uncle and forcefully taking over Markovia as its new King. His future pretense continue to keep Geo-Force alienating himself from his family and friends on the Team, the Outsiders, and the Justice League. It also earned Zviad a seat as one of the leaders of the Light replacing Granny Goodness.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice2010'': [[spoiler: It's revealed that the United Nations ambassador for Markovia, Zviad Baazov, has minor Psychic powers and uses his subtle psionic influence to manipulate people, such as his manipulation of Prince Gregor into banishing Brion from Markovia once his metagene was activated in the beginning of Season 3. In the Season 3 finale, he uses his power to manipulate Brion into killing his uncle and forcefully taking over Markovia as its new King. His actions not only alienated Geo-Force from his family and friends on the Team, the Outsiders, and the Justice League, it also earned Zviad a seat as one of the leaders of the Light replacing Granny Goodness.]]

** In "The Runaway", Toph subtly uses her earthbending to augment the impact of her hammer in a strength-testing game. In addition to using it for ParanormalGamblingAdvantage.

* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeague'': In "Secret Society", Gorilla Grodd subtly agitates The League's infighting using PsychicPowers.

** In "The Blind Bandit", when Aang begins to talk to Toph's parents about her secret FightClubbing, Toph discreetly smacks Aang using [[DishingOutDirt earthbending]].
** In "The Runaway", Toph subtly uses her earthbending to augment the impact of her hammer in a strength-testing game.

* ''Franchise/{{Avatar|TheLastAirbender}}'':
** ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'':
*** In "The Blind Bandit", when Aang begins to talk to Toph's parents about her secret FightClubbing, Toph discreetly smacks Aang using [[DishingOutDirt earthbending]].
*** In "The Runaway", Toph subtly uses her earthbending to augment the impact of her hammer in a strength-testing game.
*** In "The Serpent's Pass", while disguised as Earth Kingdom refugees, Iroh tries to subtly heat up his cold cup of tea using [[PlayingWithFire firebending]]. Unfortunately, this gets noticed by Jet.
** ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'':
*** Amon subtly uses [[spoiler:[[PeoplePuppets bloodbending]]]] during his fights to maneuver his opponents to his advantage. [[spoiler:This allows him to [[CultOfPersonality maintain his image as a Non-Bender crusader]].]]
*** Kai secretly creates a [[BlowYouAway gust of wind]], which he uses as an excuse to pat someone down and pickpocket them.

* ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'': In one episode, Clark drops his pen while working at his desk. After carefully looking around to make sure no one is watching, he lifts the desk using SuperStrength.
* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice2010'': Zviad Baazov is the United Nations ambassador for Markovia and uses his subtle psionic influence to manipulate people. [[spoiler:He uses this to nudges Brion towards committing regicide against his uncle]].

** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind Golden Wind]]:'' Early on, Giorno uses the abilities of his Stand, Golden Wind, in ways ranging from turning bank notes from someone's wallet into butterflies so he can steal them to turning one of his teeth into a jellyfish [[ItMakesSenseInContext so he doesn't drink some tea a fellow member of the gang just urinated in]].

* In one ''ComicBook/{{Avengers}}''/''ComicBook/{{Thunderbolts}}'' crossover, it was revealed that Songbird was using her subsonic abilities to subtly influence romantic interests in a member of the Avengers.
* In ''ComicBook/GreenLanternLegacy'', Kim Pham made lots of enemies with intergalactic criminals during his time as a Green Lantern. So when the ship she's riding with her husband runs into stormy waters, she hides her use of her power ring by creating giant hands beneath the waves to help keep the ship steady while avoiding attention.

* ''VideoGame/MegaManStarForce'': At the SchoolPlay, Geo briefly transforms into Mega Man during his cue to make his entrance more dynamic to the audience. Before Luna could recognize him, a momentarily blackout gives the opportunity for him to switch back into the prop costume.

*** Kai secretly create a [[BlowYouAway gust of wind]], which he uses as an excuse to pat someone down and pickpocket them.

* In ''TabletopGame/MageTheAscension'', this is called coincidentality, i.e. using magic in such a way that it can pass as a coincidence. For most mages, this is the preferred way of magic use, because overt magic causes Paradox: reality itself rebounds to fix such a violation of common sense.

Intentionally using your superpowers in a downplayed manner so their use goes unnoticed by others around you. This could be because using superpowers is considered cheating, or in an effort to preserve a SecretIdentity or the {{Masquerade}} while still needing to use your powers in an emergency.

** ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable Diamond is Unbreakable]]'': When Josuke, Okuyasu, and Shigechi are about to be caught with a lottery ticket that Shigechi stole, Josuke uses the (invisible) Crazy Diamond to 'fix' the signature on the ticket so that it no longer reads as the correct name.

* ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable:'' When Josuke, Okuyasu, and Shigechi are about to be caught with a lottery ticket that Shigechi stole, Josuke uses the (invisible) Crazy Diamond to 'fix' the signature on the ticket so that it no longer reads as the correct name.
* ''Manga/TheJOJOLANDS'': Paco Laburantes's Stand, THE Hustle, essentially gives him perfect control over his muscles and allows him to flex them in ways that normally wouldn't be possible; his EstablishingCharacterMoment shows him using this to pickpocket people using his back muscles and triceps.
* ''Anime/{{Naruto}}'': {{Invoked|Trope}} during the Chūnin Exams. The ninja exam includes a written test portion that is designed to be impossible for the students to pass fairly. [[HiddenPurposeTest What this exam is ''actually'' testing]] is if the participants can subtly use their various abilities to cheat the answers without being noticed by the facilitators.
* ''Anime/SpyXFamily'': Anya is terrified of her adoptive parents finding out about her telepathic powers and sending her back to the lab that created her so she always tries to be subtle when she uses her powers. Of course, because she is six [[VagueAge or possibly younger]] she isn't always as subtle as she thinks she is but she has so far escaped discovery.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheIncredibles'': Dash, having SuperSpeed powers, often does this to not get caught out.

* ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'': After discovering that Anakin is immensely strong in The Force, the Jedi Qui-Gon Jinn attempts to barter with the slaveowner Watto for the enslaved Anakin and his mother. Since what Qui-Gon is offering is only worth one slave and Watto is big into gambling, he rolls a die to determine which slave Qui-Gon will get. Qui-Gon subtly uses [[MindOverMatter Force manipulation]] to make the die land on a side that will get him Anakin. Notably, before this exchange, Qui-Gon attempted a less-subtle JediMindTrick but Watto, being a [[SpaceJews Toydarian]], was [[{{Greed}} too greedy]] to fall for it.

* In the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "The Price" we meet Devinoni Ral, a negotiator who has been hired to represent the Chrysalians during the negotiation for the Barzan wormhole. He has a reputation for closing deals in his favor. While presenting himself as human he's really one-quarter Betazoid, using his empathic powers as a secret weapon. He gets away with it because it could pass for just being an expert in reading body language or thinking like his opponent.

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'':
** In "The Blind Bandit", when Aang begins to talk to Toph's parents about her secret FightClubbing, Toph discreetly smacks Aang using [[DishingOutDirt earthbending]].
** In "The Runaway", Toph subtly uses her earthbending to augment the impact of her hammer in a strength-testing game.
** In "The Serpent's Pass", while disguised as Earth Kingdom refugees, Iroh tries to subtly heat up his cold cup of tea using [[PlayingWithFire firebending]]. Unfortunately, this gets noticed by Jet.
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'':
** Amon subtly uses [[spoiler:[[PeoplePuppets bloodbending]]]] during his fights to maneuver his opponents to his advantage. [[spoiler:This allows him to [[CultOfPersonality maintain his image as a Non-Bender crusader]].]]
** Kai secretly create a [[BlowYouAway gust of wind]], which he uses as an excuse to pat someone down and pickpocket them.

* ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'': In "Jack Vs Aku" when both Jack and Aku agree to disempower themselves, Aku continues to sneakily try to use his powers during their fight.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'': In "[[Recap/StarWarsTheCloneWarsS4E15Deception Deception]]," Obi-Wan Kenobi is breaking out of prison while disguised as Rako Hardeen and he comes across a locked door. He asks Cad Bane and Moralo Eval to stand guard at the ends of the hallway while he rewires the control panel. This is so they won't notice him using the Force to open the door, an ability that Rako Hardeen doesn't have.

* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'': Zviad Baazov is the United Nations ambassador for Markovia and uses his subtle psionic influence to manipulate people. [[spoiler:He uses this to nudges Brion towards committing regicide against his uncle]].

** Kai uses his [[BlowYouAway airbending]] to secretly create a gust of wind, which he uses as an excuse to pat someone down and pickpocket them.

!!Examples

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Supertrope of ParanormalGamblingAdvantage. Inverse of ShowingOffYourPowers.

Supertrope of ParanormalGamblingAdvantage.

Inverse of ShowingOffYourPowers.

If they ''weren't'' subtle but are playing it off as if they were, that's BlatantLies. Sometimes results in the invoked form of MaybeMagicMaybeMundane.

Note this requires there to be someone else present who might notice if the super isn't intentionally subtle (although other characters having a bit of a WeirdnessCensor can help pull it off). {{Thought Controlled Power}}s are ideal, since that means you don't need to perform any incriminating MagicalGesture or MagicalIncantation to activate your abilities.

If the character ''themselves'' didn't notice they used their power, they might be experiencing a variation of PowerIncontinence instead. If the super is just ''holding back'' their power's true strength, that's WillfullyWeak.

* ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable:'' When Josuke, Okuyasu and Shigechi are about to be caught with a lottery ticket that Shigechi stole, Josuke uses the (invisible) Crazy Diamond to 'fix' the signature on the ticket so that it no longer reads as the correct name.

* ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'': One of Cyborg's flashbacks depicting him as a good man sees him using his powers to hack into an ATM machine to help a StrugglingSingleMother recently evicted from her apartment, making it look like she won a million dollars from an out-of-nowhere lottery.

* In the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "The Price" we meet Devinoni Ral, a negotiator who has been hired to represent the Chrysalians during the negotiation for the Barzan wormhole. He has a reputation of closing deals in his favor. While presenting himself as human he's really one-quarter Betazoid, using his empathic powers as a secret weapon. He gets away with it because it could pass for just being an expert in reading body language or thinking like his opponent.

** [[spoiler:Agatha]] hides her usage of magic while making things go wrong around town, as shown in [[spoiler:"Agatha All Along"]]. She used a small jinx to brainwash Herb, used small hand motions to mess with Vision's magic show, and did everything else BehindTheBlack, where by sitcom logic, nobody could see it.

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'': In "[[Recap/StarWarsTheCloneWarsS4E15Deception Deception]]," Obi-Wan Kenobi is breaking out of prison while disguised as Rako Hardeen and he comes across a locked door. He asks Cad Bane and Moralo Eval to stand guard at the ends of the hallway while he rewires the control panel. This is so they won't notice him using the Force to open the door, an ability which Rako Hardeen doesn't have.

* ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'': Zviad Baazov is the United Nations ambassador for Markovia, and uses his subtle psionic influence to manipulate people. [[spoiler:He uses this to nudges Brion towards committing regicide against his uncle]].

If they ''weren't'' subtle but are playing it off as if they were, that's BlatantLies.

%% This trope does not include powers which are inherently subtle, such as {{Invisibility}} or MasterOfDisguise. This also applies to "passive" powers like SpiderSense or SuperHearing which are always activated. Also compare InvisibleToNormals.