7 Underused Superpowers That We Should See More Of

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Superheroes are now a major force in popular culture. While Marvel and DC Comics have always had fans, they used to be mostly kids or dedicated comic book readers. But as movie special effects improved, superhero films became incredibly popular, and now they’re everywhere. We’ve seen all sorts of heroes and villains with amazing abilities. However, many characters share the same powers, which can sometimes make their stories feel repetitive.

It seems like most superheroes have the usual powers – super strength, flight, invulnerability, telepathy, or some kind of energy blast. But there are actually a lot of really cool and unique superpowers that don’t get explored very often, which is a shame. Here are seven of those less common abilities.

7) Probability Manipulation

The ability to manipulate probability is a powerful one, essentially granting someone increased luck. Characters like Domino and Longshot have powers that affect the likelihood of events, helping them dodge attacks or land critical hits. While their powers were mostly automatic, the Scarlet Witch’s abilities used probability control in a much more active and noticeable way. It’s a versatile power that can be subtle or dramatic, and it’s fitting for characters whose lives revolve around combat.

6) Precognition

The idea of seeing the future – known as precognition – has long been a popular trope in fiction. Comic books are full of characters with this ability, like Destiny, Madame Web, and Madame Xanadu, often featuring magic users. While these characters sometimes just observe events, precognition can be a powerful tool for storytelling, as seen with how Destiny’s visions dramatically shaped the recent Krakoa era in the X-Men comics. When written well, a precog character is surprisingly complex and offers more depth than a simple superpower.

5) Time Manipulation

Stories about time travel are everywhere, and many characters can jump through time. But a related power – manipulating time itself – is even more impressive and doesn’t get explored as often. Time manipulation lets someone speed up, slow down, stop, or even reverse time. Characters like Tempus and Zoom have demonstrated how powerful and versatile this ability can be, using it both to defend themselves and attack others. A character who can control time is instantly the most dangerous opponent, and skilled writers can create amazing scenarios with this power.

4) Chlorokinesis

Swamp Thing is a well-known comic book character famous for his incredible ability to control plants. This power, called chlorokinesis, lets him manipulate plant growth and battle almost any opponent. DC Comics established ‘the Green’ as the source of this power, which is also used by villains like Poison Ivy and Floronic Man. While Marvel Comics has fewer characters with this ability, it does exist – Genesis, the wife of Apocalypse, is one example. Chlorokinesis is a powerful and visually exciting ability, making it a great fit for the world of superhero comics.

3) Shrinking

The idea of characters shrinking in size has been around in comics for a long time, featuring heroes like Doll-Man and Ant-Man. However, it’s been a while since a character’s shrinking ability was actually central to their stories. These days, size-changing powers are mostly used for growing large, and even the original shrinking hero, Hank Pym, focuses more on growing. Shrinking characters seem to have lost some of their popularity, which is a shame. It’s a really cool power with the potential to create unique adventures, and it would be fantastic to see it used more often.

2) Hydrokinesis

Since the human body is largely water, the ability to control it – called hydrokinesis – is incredibly powerful. A hydrokinetic can mentally manipulate water, forming it into any shape and even removing it from living things or the atmosphere. While Mera, Aquaman’s wife, is the most famous example, Aquaman himself has recently gained this ability. On the villainous side, Spider-Man’s foe Hydro-Man is unique – his entire body is water. This power has many interesting possibilities, making it perfect for comic books, and it would be great to see more characters wielding it.

1) Chaos Magic

Scarlet Witch is a character who’s changed significantly over time, starting with powers that manipulated probability, then learning traditional magic, and eventually mastering a form called chaos magic. Later, her abilities were redefined as reality alteration, and it was revealed that ‘chaos magic’ wasn’t a distinct force. Since then, very few characters have used chaos magic. This type of magic is essentially raw, untamed power, letting users tap into the fundamental energies of the universe. It’s unpredictable and versatile, offering exciting possibilities. Bringing chaos magic back into comics could really elevate the magical side of things.

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2026-03-03 22:15