Resurrection

Background

Resurrection is the ability to resurrect oneself or others after their death. Often, characters can do one or the other, not both, but others can play both. The limits of this ability vary from fiction to fiction and from character to character; some may only be able to resurrect those who have died, while others will be able to bring back to life those who have been dead for some time, even if they have nothing left.

The mechanisms also vary. When in the hands of a character who uses the resurrection on himself, giving him a certain degree of immortality, this ability often coexists with regeneration, although the process may take some time. This ability should not be confused with necromancy, the ability to resurrect the dead as undead, but it also covers reincarnation, characters who, upon death, end up to reincarnate own powers. In many cases, self-resurrection can take too long to be applicable, but it still exists. The ability has similar limits to regeneration, and one should not assume that because characters have never failed to resurrect, they can do it no matter how they was killed.

Applications

The applications for resurrection can categorized into two properties:

Direct use of Resurrection

• Self-Resurrection: This type of resurrection is for characters who can directly resurrect themselves instantly or over a large period of time.
  • Users: Mario (Super Mario Bros.), Frisk (Undertale), and Clark Kent (All Star)

• Resurrection on Singular Targets: This application is for those can resurrect a single target (or multiple targets one at a time) with their ability.
  • Users: Kabbu (Bug Fables), Thor (God of War), and Jack Frost (Shin Megami Tensei)

• Resurrection from Reincarnation: This level of resurrection is reserved for characters that are in a reincarnation cycle, unlike the standard state of resurrecting after being killed in battle, the user here reincarnates into a new body.
  • Users: Devils (Chainsaw Man)

• Resurrection of Multiple Targets: This level of resurrection is reversed for those who can resurrect multiple characters at once, and is generally seen as an upgrade to the previous type. The strongest users can resurrect entire cities worth of citizens.
  • Types: Palutena (Kid Icarus), Usagi Tsukino (Sailor Moon), and the Dark Dragon (MOTHER 3)

• Repeated Resurrection: This application of resurrection is unique from the others in that when one dies, they will come back multiple times after death. This can often be due to a curse, or some form of divine protection. More potent variants even allow the user to resurrect endlessly.
  • Users: Makima (Chainsaw Man), Scott Pilgrim (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game), and Mega Man (Mega Man)

Types of Resurrection

• Resurrection from Exhaustion: This application is typically for characters who can revive fallen allies or individuals of whom have collapsed in battle, but not been killed.
  • Users: Characters from Pokémon and Marle (Chrono Trigger)

• Resurrection of the Deceased: This level of resurrection is reserved for characters who can revive those who have been killed in battle. This usually applies to those whom have been directly stated to die, or appear as a spirit.
  • Users: Characters from MOTHER and MOTHER 2, Cuphead & Mugman (Cuphead), and Mario (Super Mario Bros.)

• Atemporal Resurrection: This level of resurrection is resurrection potent enough to revive those who have died across all of time and space, or characters who would be considered atemporal beings that don't follow causality.
  • Users: The Chrono Trigger (Chrono Trigger), Chara (Undertale)

Limitations

• Sometimes the resurrection might require a ritual or outside resources to perform.
• The process for resurrection might require a lot of time and energy to pull off successfully.