Summary
Universal Energy Systems are a fairly common element in fictional stories possessed by certain characters to display incredible feats and powers, often being born out of fantastical or otherwise otherworldly elements such as Magic, Chakra, Chi and a myriad of other possible energy systems. Often the argument is made for a character’s specific powers to scale linearly to their physical statistics and other supernatural abilities in their arsenal, oftentimes being matched by an opposing view that these powers should be their own matter entirely.
The purpose of this page is to issue some guidelines for ease of determining what is and isn't assumed to scale to one another. For that purpose we are differentiating between three kinds of power systems:
- Universal Energy System: Universal Energy Systems (alternatively called a Universal Power System or a Connective Energy System) are systems in which a feat, whether it is one of physical statistics (Striking Strength or Durability) or of supernatural powers (e.g. energy beams), would also scale to all other statistics. That means if such a character for instance demonstrates a Building level fireball spell, they would be assumed to have at least Building level Striking Strength, Attack Potency and Durability. If they have other spells, like for example water blades, they would be assumed to be able to output similar attack power with those spells.
- Non-physical Energy System: A Non-physical Energy System is one where supernatural or other feats, that are not based on the characters' body strengths, do not scale to physical statistics, but still scale to all other applications of non-physical powers the character may have. That means if such a character for instance demonstrates a Building level fireball spell, they would not automatically be assumed to have Building level Striking Strength or Durability. However, if they have other spells, like for example water blades, they would be assumed to be able to output similar attack power with those spells.
- Limited Energy System: A Limited Energy System is a system in which supernatural or other feats, that are not based on the characters' body strengths, neither scale to physical statistics nor to all other non-physical powers the characters possess. However, certain sets of abilities still scale to each other due to being part of the same system. An example of that might be a character that uses both Chi and Magic to fight, in which case a fireball spell may neither scale to Striking Strength or Durability nor to the strength of Chi blasts that the opponent fires. However, the strength of the fireball spell might still be scaleable to other magic, such as the strength of water spells.
Criteria
Limited Energy Systems
In order to qualify for a Limited Energy System and do scaling according to it, a character or the system they are using must have explanations or showings that indicate that the powers which should scale to each other draw from the same source of power (or can convert between the different kinds of power) and use up a similar amount of power to each other. Alternatively, it would also suffice to show that the user can invest similar amounts of power into any given technique, should they want to.
For the sake of scaling it would also suffice if powers are shown to use a larger amount of the common power than the technique which produced the feat in question did, although in that case one wouldn't talk about a Limited Energy System as the inverse doesn't hold. (i.e. feats of those techniques that need more power wouldn't scale to the techniques that need notably less)
Non-physical Energy Systems
In order to qualify for a Non-physical Energy System and do scaling according to it, a character or the system they are using needs to fulfill all criteria for a Limited Energy System, but for all techniques. Additionally, they have to demonstrate or have reliable statements that all their supernatural or otherwise non-physical powers scale to each other in Attack Potency. Hence an increase in power / energy should correspond to a proportional increase in the potency of their powers and abilities.
That means in particular that either the user makes use of only one system of power (e.g. magic powered by mana) or that the user uses several different ones (e.g. magic and chi) but they draw from the same underlying power source or can convert their power between the different kinds of power sources.
Universal Energy Systems
In order to qualify for a Universal Energy System and do scaling according to it, a character or the system they are using needs to fulfill all criteria for a Non-physical Energy System. Additionally, they have to demonstrate that they can channel their power through their own bodies in a way that quantifiably enhances them or otherwise allows scaling of their supernatural powers through their physicals. Hence there should be evidence that an increase in power / energy should correspond to a proportional increase in the potency of their physical statistics. In the rare case that it is relevant for scaling the reverse should also be demonstrated: That a feat of non-empowered physical strength applies to the amount of supernatural power. Visual evidence of amplification is not considered necessary.
If the power source or universal energy system should be removed from a user by some means that should result in a notable loss in physical strength or alternatively even in physical harm or death. That doesn't necessarily mean that they should be reduced to the level of regular humans, though. Note that removal of energy sources can also have detrimental effects if they are not universal and as such negative effects of removal do not necessarily imply universalness.
It should be noted that systems don't need to be continously active. Some systems might only enhance statistics while the character physically channels energy though their body, while other systems do so passively as long as energy is available.
Examples
Universal Energy System Examples
- The Force (Star Wars)
- Chakra (Naruto)
- Ki (Dragon Ball)
- Haki (One Piece)
- Reiatsu (Bleach)
- Chaos Energy (Archie Sonic Comics)
- Reiki (Yu Yu Hakusho)
- Wireless Energy Lattice (Assassin's Creed)
- Demonic Energy (Devil May Cry)
- Magic (God of War)
- Ether (Xenoblade)
- Mana (Ben 10)
- Ghost Energy (Danny Phantom)
- The Weave (Dungeons and Dragons)
Non-Physical Energy System Examples
- Quirks (My Hero Academia)
- The Avatar's Chi (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
- Magic (The Inheritance Cycle)
Limited Energy System examples
- Alchemy (Fullmetal Alchemist)
- Chi from Non-Avatar Benders (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
- Magic (Harry Potter)
Weapons and Other External Power Sources
In the case of characters using the energy of an external source, as long as the character shows feats in proportion with a certain amount of energy used out of an external source like magical weapon/artifact, the feat will usually be attributed to the weapon alone, but can be considered an (universal/non-physical/limited) energy system for a Character + Weapon pair, if the character is capable of tapping into that power source to power such a system. This may need to be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Note that this does not necessarily mean that the characters themselves have been amplified to the weapon's level of power if they are without the weapon at hand, unless it is said that the boost was permanent or there otherwise is evidence that the level of power remained after the removal of the weapon.
Notes
- As usual Outliers and other Inconsistencies are considered evidence against the existence and scaling of Energy Systems.
- See the Powerscaling page for more information on how to scale said feats performed with a universal energy system.
- See the Resistance and Hax pages for more information regarding scaling hax potency and resistance to hax in instances involving energy system. Note that they usually do not scale.
- In many verses, there are multitudes of power sources/power systems amplifying several characters separately. However, just because one of them fits all the above criteria, doesn't mean that all of the other power sources/power systems automatically act the same way, and would thus have to be proven separately to show that they also qualify for the above criteria. This would also apply to their resistances generated by said energy sources/systems.
- For example, in Marvel Comics, the Odin-Force fitting the qualifying criteria or not has no effect on the magic used by the likes of Doctor Strange or Scarlet Witch; those would need to be evaluated on their own.
Discussions
| Discussion threads involving Universal Energy Systems |