| “ | You know, my family has done this for a long time-- long enough to learn that a certain level of electric current can keep you from transforming. At another level, you can't heal. A few amps higher, and no heightened strength. That kind of scientific accuracy makes you wonder where the line between the natural and the supernatural really exists. It's when lines like that blur... you sometimes find yourself surprised by which side you end up on." | ” |
Electricity is known as a set of natural phenomena caused by the presence of electrical charge, which is recognized as an aspect of electromagnetism. It can manifest naturally in the form of lightning and can be harnessed as a source of power for electronics or as a weapon for humans against other humans, as well as supernatural shapeshifters such as Werewolves, who are especially vulnerable to its effects.
Additionally, some creatures (such as Thunder and Celestial Kitsune or Chimeras such as Josh Diaz) have the supernatural power of electrokinesis or electromagnetokinesis and, as such, can manipulate electricity or electromagnetic energy through sheer force of will, such as by siphoning it from a power source or by creating it from their own energy; a byproduct of this ability is an immunity to the side effects of being electrocuted, as they can simply absorb the electrical energy through their body harmlessly.
Effect on Supernatural Creatures[]
Electricity can either kill, paralyze or simply prevent transformations of Werewolves and their shapeshifting cousins, such as Werecoyotes, depending on how many volts are being used. As a result, Hunters will use weapons that utilize electricity, such as taser wands and/or guns, or will hook up their captured shapeshifters to car batteries in order to torture them for information through electrocution. ("Formality"), ("Raving"), ("Master Plan"), ("More Bad Than Good"), ("The Dark Moon")
The lower range of voltage will prevent transformations and halt their accelerated healing process, while higher voltages disable their superhuman strength and can even kill them at the highest levels. ("Master Plan") It is unknown if other shapeshifters, such as Werejaguars, Wendigos, and Berserkers, have this vulnerability to electricity as well. It appears that at least some Chimeras are vulnerable to electricity, as Tracy Stewart, a Werewolf-Kanima Chimera, was adversely affected to the electromagnetic energy produced by fellow Chimera Josh Diaz. ("Damnatio Memoriae")
Augmented Alpha Werewolves are capable of resisting the depowering effects of electricity better than Betas and Omegas as well as regular Alphas due to their especially enhanced durability, as Kali recovered much faster than Vernon Boyd and Derek Hale after the latter's apartment was turned into an electric trap. ("Currents") It is possible for an Alpha of incredible willpower to overcome this vulnerability as well, as Scott McCall, a True Alpha, was able to break through the electrified shackles put on him by the Calavera Family of Hunters despite the power being turned up as far as it can go, a level that should have disabled his superhuman strength ("The Dark Moon"); he demonstrated this ability again during a battle against guards armed with high-powered taser wands at Eichen House when he saw his Beta, Liam Dunbar, being viciously attacked and fought through the electrical currents in order to overpower his opponents. ("Amplification")
Other supernatural creatures are immune to electricity, such as Kitsune, and certain types of Kitsune can even absorb, create, release, and otherwise manipulate electricity (a power known as Electrokinesis) as well, such as Thunder Kitsune like Kira Yukimura, who can control both electricity and foxfire and use it defensively and offensively, and Celestial Kitsune like Noshiko Yukimura, who at the very least can generate sparks of foxfire from their fingertips. ("Galvanize"), ("Riddled") Josh Diaz, a Chimera made up of two unknown supernatural species, is also immune to electricity and electromagnetic energy, and can control these forces, though he must absorb electricity or electromagnetic energy from a source, such as a car battery or generator, before he can produce it himself, a limitation that Kitsune don't seem to possess. ("Required Reading") After Theo Raeken killed Josh, he inherited his powers to control electromagneticism so that he could put on the Dread Doctor Mask, but he ultimately lost this power during his time imprisoned underground. ("The Beast of Beacon Hills"), ("Ghosted")
The Dread Doctors were also able to control electromagnetic forces to an extent, though, like the Chimeras, this power was gained through unnatural means instead of supernatural ones. ("Creatures of the Night"), ("A Novel Approach"), ("The Beast of Beacon Hills") The Ghost Riders also had a very limited form of this power through Atmokinesis, giving them the ability to summon lightning and ride it to get wherever they need to go. ("Creatures of the Night"), ("Memory Lost"), ("Sundowning")
Additionally, humans, lacking the supernatural durability and accelerated healing factor of shapeshifters, are also quite vulnerable to the effects of electricity themselves. For example, both Stiles Stilinski and Malia Tate were immediately incapacitated after Oliver electrocuted him with the taser he had stolen from head orderly Brunski, indicating that while humans lack a shapeshifter's ability to quickly recover from such attacks, they are still as susceptible to the effects as a supernatural being. ("Echo House")
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