The official discord link if you wish to join the discord: https://discord.gg/j5RKwCvAFu
Support the wiki on our official Ko-Fi page or Patreon page!
Potential
Introduction
Potential refers to the latent abilities or capabilities a character possesses that can be unlocked or developed over time. It indicates the extent to which a character can grow, evolve, or improve in terms of power, intelligence, or skill.
Types of Potential
Names
- Type(s) of Potential:
- Limitless Potential
- Transcendent Potential
- Fixed Potential
- Growth Potential
- Adaptive Potential
- Transformative Potential
- Restricted Potential
- Theoretical Potential
- Inherited Potential
- Mutational Potential
- Dormant Potential/Latent Potential
- Capped Potential
- Unrealized Potential
- No Potential
Descriptions
- Limitless Potential
- Characters with limitless potential can grow indefinitely, with no defined maximum. They can constantly evolve, gain new abilities, and transcend previously established limits.
- Examples: Saitama, the character that broke his limiter entirely and has no limits imposed on him.
- Transcendent Potential
- Characters with transcendent potential have a defined limit, but they can continuously break through that limit. They surpass their own boundaries through extreme effort, training, or extraordinary circumstances, evolving beyond previously perceived constraints.
- Examples: Son Goku, who constantly surpasses his limits through training and combat experience.
- Fixed Potential
- Characters with fixed potential have a maximum limit that they can never surpass. Once they reach their peak, no further growth or development is possible.
- Examples: All characters from One-Punch Man have a limiter that fixes their potential, though through enough hard training they can reach into Transcendent Potential as they can surpass and break their limits.
- Growth Potential
- The character grows stronger through experience, training, or combat. This is a gradual and consistent form of development.
- Adaptive Potential
- The character has the ability to quickly adjust to threats, learn from experiences, and counter new abilities or opponents.
- Transformative Potential
- The character gains temporary or permanent boosts in strength through transformations, mutations, or ascensions.
- External Potential
- The character’s potential is heavily influenced by external sources, such as divine blessings, scientific enhancements, or magical artifacts.
- Restricted Potential
- The character has immense power, but it is sealed, suppressed, or limited due to external factors. Unlocking this power may come with drawbacks.
- Theoretical Potential
- The character’s future growth is implied but never explicitly realized within the story. This can include what-if scenarios or statements made by other characters.
- Inherited Potential
- The character possesses potential due to their lineage, often inheriting power from ancestors or destined bloodlines.
- Mutational Potential
- The character has the ability to mutate or evolve their powers, sometimes unpredictably.
- Dormant Potential/Latent Potential
- Characters with dormant potential have untapped abilities that can be unlocked through external means or specific events. This potential may be hidden or inactive for a period of time.
- Examples: Son Gohan with his natural hidden and dormant potential.
- Capped Potential
- A character’s growth has a defined limit. They cannot exceed a certain level of power, no matter how much they train or adapt.
- Unrealized Potential
- Characters with unrealized potential are unaware of their own latent capabilities. These abilities may only manifest under certain circumstances or be awakened by external influences.
- No Potential
- Characters with no potential have no capacity for growth, either due to biological limitations or story-based reasons.
Level of Potential
- Limitless
- Characters with limitless potential are capable of constantly growing, transcending their limits without ever reaching a defined ceiling.
- Transcendent
- Characters with transcendent potential can surpass their limits but still have a defined maximum potential, which they can break through through sheer will, training, or extraordinary circumstances.
- Artificial Potential
- The character’s growth is entirely dependent on external enhancements, such as technological augmentation, magical items, or scientific experiments.
- High Potential
- The character has the capacity to become one of the strongest in their respective region, but there may be theoretical limits they have yet to reach.
- Moderate Potential
- The character can grow significantly, but their growth is slower or capped compared to those with high or limitless potential.
- Fixed Potential
- Characters with fixed potential can only reach a specific limit, and no further growth or development is possible once they reach their peak.
- Dormant Potential
- Characters with dormant potential have significant abilities that remain untapped, only to be unlocked through specific events, external forces, or training.
- Restricted Potential
- The character’s true strength is sealed or otherwise inaccessible. Overcoming mental or physical barriers may unlock further growth.
- Low Potential
- The character has minimal room for growth. Even with training or external enhancements, their capabilities remain modest.
- Unrealized Potential
- Characters with unrealized potential are unaware of their full capabilities, and these powers may not emerge until the right conditions or events trigger their awakening.
- No Potential
- The character has no capacity for growth, either due to biological limitations or story-based reasons.
Potential in Practice
In practical terms, a character's potential is often a key factor in how their journey, growth, and development unfold. It can influence their role in the story, how they relate to other characters, and the obstacles they face along the way. Some characters with great potential may struggle to realize it due to lack of training or external constraints, while others may rapidly tap into their potential and achieve incredible feats. The potential of a character can be influenced by their circumstances, inner strength, external allies, or even cosmic or mystical forces.
Do not also one's potential type and potential level can both be different in some cases. The Potential Type registers the type of potential they can fall under while the potential level is the one they showcase in the series. For example, I make a character called Adam who has limitless potential, but due to his closed mind he believes his potential to be capped thus his potential level is fixed due to this. Mindset is a very important factor to one's potential as lack of belief in oneself can greatly mess with how far they can take their potential and growth.
Factors That Influence Potential
Several factors can influence the unlocking and growth of a character's potential:
- Training: A character's potential can be realized or developed through rigorous training, often facilitated by mentors or external influences.
- External Forces: Environmental factors or outside forces (like magical enhancements or cosmic events) may activate dormant or unrealized potential in a character.
- Emotional State: Emotional breakthroughs can help a character tap into new aspects of their potential, especially in moments of intense stress or when faced with extreme challenges.
- External Allies or Mentors: Sometimes, potential is unlocked through the help of other powerful characters who guide the protagonist and help them understand or unlock hidden capabilities.
- Experiences: A character’s experiences shape their development and can be a catalyst for realizing their true potential.
- Inherited: The character’s potential is tied to their lineage or species. While they may achieve greatness, their progress is defined by what they inherited.
Potential vs. Power
Potential refers to what a character could become, while power refers to what a character has currently achieved. For example, a character with high potential may be underpowered initially but has the potential to surpass others once they unlock their latent abilities. On the other hand, a character who has fully realized their power may not have the same growth capacity, marking the difference between potential and currently wielded power.
Potential and Story Impact
A character’s potential is often a driving force in their narrative. It can affect the pacing of their development, determine the challenges they face, and shape their ultimate role in the story. Characters with high potential can influence the course of events in significant ways, either by becoming major threats, heroes, or by unlocking their hidden potential at key moments in the narrative.
Trivia
- A character's potential is often linked to their mentor or training process. For instance, Goku's potential was unlocked through his masters like Grandpa Gohan, Master Roshi, Korin, Mr. Popo, King Kai, and Whis.
- Characters with unrealized potential can often face significant moments of growth, with their true abilities coming to light when needed most.
- Dormant potential can be considered a plot device, as characters must discover and unlock their own abilities in certain stories.
Application Format
When applying the concept of potential to a character's page, follow this format:
- Type(s) of Potential: List the types of potential relevant to the character.
- Level of Potential: State the character’s level of potential, with explanations based on the story.
- Description: Provide a brief overview of the character’s potential, including its nature, how it has been demonstrated, and any contextual information from the story. Include examples from the story that justify the character's potential. Provide direct references or quotes when applicable.
- Limitations: Explain any restrictions, conditions, or risks associated with the character’s potential. If it has a cap, note how or why they cannot grow further.
Examples of Potential in Characters
- Son Goku (Dragon Ball)
- Potential Type: Transcendent Potential
- Potential Level: Transcendent
- Description: Goku is well-known for constantly surpassing his limits, even breaking through previously unattainable barriers, Vegeta makes reference that he and Goku will keep breaking their limits the more they fight. Though he has a maximum power level, his ability to continually transcend it makes his potential nearly limitless.
- Limitations: Goku cannot constantly transcend his limits and will have points where he is not strong enough to deal with the threat. Some examples include his fight against Cell where he knew he wasn't strong enough to beat him and opted for his son Son Gohan to defeat Cell. Another example is his fight against Beerus where even though he broke his limits a couple of times, he at the end could not overcome Beerus' power.
- Link (Ocarina of Time)
- Potential Type: Dormant Potential
- Potential Level: Unrealized
- Description: Link's potential is initially dormant, with many of his abilities only awakening or becoming apparent through events in the game. He does not fully realize the scope of his potential until he has reached the correct age to become the Hero of Time.
- Limitations: Link requires specific actions to awaken to his true potential, with the Ocarina of Time one specifically needing to wait to reach a certain age to truly awaken his spirit as the Hero of Time.
Saitama (One-Punch Man)
- Potential Type: Limitless Potential
- Potential Level: Limitless
- Description: Saitama broke his limiter and continuously grows stronger every day to where the him of today can defeat the him of tomorrow in a single punch.
- Limitations: Nothing notable.
