7 Best New Power-Ups Introduced in DC K.O.

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DC Comics’ biggest event this year is DC K.O., a high-stakes tournament where heroes and villains battle for the fate of the multiverse. The current round, called “All Fight Month,” features a series of one-on-one fights. What makes these battles special is that each fighter can transform into different versions of themselves from any point in time—past or future—gaining incredible new abilities. This allows DC Comics to celebrate classic character designs while also introducing exciting, never-before-seen forms.

As a critic, I’ve been diving deep into the DC K.O. tournament, and what’s fascinating is how most fighters fall back on familiar versions of themselves – like pulling Kingdom Come Wonder Woman or Warrior Guy Gardner into the arena. But the real stars are those who think outside the box! I’m here to spotlight the most powerful and interesting power-ups that really made the DC K.O. event legendary.

7) Horus’ Avatar Hawkman

Okay, so Hawkman’s backstory is already pretty epic – he’s basically an ancient Egyptian pharaoh reborn! But his fight with Aquaman is where things really get wild. During the match, he gets a visit from Horus, the Egyptian God of the Sky and War, and Horus offers to make him his earthly vessel. Hawkman jumps at the chance, and suddenly gets a massive power-up! It totally catches Aquaman off guard for a bit. Honestly, even with a god basically possessing him, it wasn’t enough. Aquaman’s water-bending powers were just too strong, and Hawkman ended up losing the fight.

6) Magician Harley Quinn

The fight between Zatanna and Harley Quinn appeared uneven from the start, as Zatanna is a powerful sorceress and Harley has no inherent powers. Recognizing this disadvantage, Harley decided to level the playing field in the third round. Instead of relying on her own abilities, she took magic from Zatanna, giving herself similar powers. With these newfound abilities, Harley could create things like energy chains, hands, and even guns. However, she wasn’t as strong or experienced as Zatanna, and once the sorceress fully unleashed her power, she defeated Harley. Harley knew she couldn’t win, but she fought bravely to push Zatanna to her limits and prove she couldn’t hold back in this dangerous competition.

5) Speed Force Jay Garrick

Like other fast heroes in DC Comics, Jay Garrick, the very first Flash, gets his powers from the Speed Force – a powerful cosmic energy that’s the source of all movement. During his second fight against Guy Gardner, Jay completely became the Speed Force. This transformed him into an invisible, all-powerful being able to attack Guy with lightning from anywhere. He could even feel when his fellow speedster, Wally West, was in trouble, giving him extra drive to win. In this form, Jay defeats Guy by essentially breaking him down into atoms. Though Jay eventually loses in the next round, this Speed Force version is the most powerful we’ve ever seen of the Golden Age Flash.

4) Etrigan Lex Luthor

Lex Luthor, who usually depends on science and technology, found himself in a desperate situation when fighting the demon Etrigan. Their final battle took place in Hell, where Lex did something shocking: he used magic. He carved runes into his skin and chanted a powerful spell, successfully separating Etrigan from his human host, Jason Blood. But instead of destroying Etrigan, Lex absorbed the demon’s power, becoming its new host. In a brutal move, Lex then killed the now powerless Jason Blood and finally destroyed Etrigan. This willingness to use magic—something completely out of character for Lex—highlights just how far he’ll go to achieve victory, even if it means jeopardizing his own soul.

3) Amalgam Captain Atom

Okay, so Captain Atom really pulled out all the stops in his battle with Superman! I mean, we’re talking all of them. He didn’t just go super saiyan, he combined every single version of himself from DC Comics history into one unbelievably powerful being. It was a really clever visual – the story showed him literally ripping panels from his own comic book past and throwing them at Superman as weapons. It was a desperate move, sacrificing his entire history for a shot at winning the DC K.O. tournament and forging a new destiny. But, honestly, even with all that, it wasn’t quite enough. Superman is Superman, and ultimately, Captain Atom just couldn’t overcome that power.

2) Captain Atom Superman

Just when it appeared Captain Atom had won the third round, Superman surprised everyone by revealing a completely new ability. He’d essentially rewritten Captain Atom’s history, absorbing the powerful Quantum Field that gave Captain Atom his powers and transforming himself into pure energy. Using this new control over all forms of energy, Superman drained Captain Atom of his power and destroyed his containment suit, resulting in the hero’s death and securing Superman’s victory. This Captain Atom-infused form is considered one of Superman’s most powerful transformations, combining the strengths of two of DC’s strongest characters.

1) Titanic Cyborg

The final battle between Cyborg and Swamp Thing saw Cyborg unleash his most impressive armor yet – a suit built to represent his past and greatest abilities. This incredible suit combined the powers of all the Titans: Starfire’s energy blasts, Beast Boy’s animal claws, Raven’s magic, Nightwing’s fighting sticks, and Arsenal’s arrows. Using these combined powers, Cyborg defeated a massive army of Swamp Things, even with a little help from Swamp Thing himself! Seeing that Cyborg had discovered his inner strength, Swamp Thing allowed him to win. While not necessarily Cyborg’s most powerful form in DC K.O., the Titanic suit was the most meaningful, highlighting how Cyborg gains strength from his friends – his chosen family.

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2025-12-30 20:16