About this video

• Video Title: Ranking Superpowers By How Hard They Are To Write
• Channel: Empathy Machines
• Speakers: Tim
• Duration: 00:13:20

Overview

This video by Tim from Empathy Machines explores superpowers not by their strength, but by their narrative potential and how they impact the storytelling possibilities within a narrative. He ranks various superpowers into tiers (S, A, B, C, D, F) based on how much they open up or hinder the creation of compelling stories.

Key takeaways

• Ranking Criteria: Superpowers are ranked based on their narrative potential, meaning how effectively they can be used to create interesting stories, rather than their raw power.
• Tier System: Powers are categorized into tiers: S (compelling on their own), A (always helpful to narrative), B (open up the story), C (net-neutral, neither helping nor hindering significantly), D (make storytelling harder), and F (narratively toxic, almost impossible to use effectively).
• C Tier Examples: Powers like laser beams, flight, becoming insubstantial, and armor are considered C tier because they are often net-neutral, can lower stakes, or don't offer much creative expression beyond their basic function.
• B Tier Examples: Super strength, stretchiness, telekinesis, and teleportation are in the B tier as they open up narrative avenues and allow for creative expression without being overly problematic.
• A Tier Examples: Shapeshifting, mind reading, and healing factors are A tier because they consistently enhance the narrative, offering opportunities for comedy, tension, drama, and clever advantages without completely removing stakes.
• D Tier Examples: Super speed and invisibility are D tier. Super speed can be world-breaking or merely functional, while invisibility is hard to visualize and often used reactively rather than proactively.
• F Tier Examples: Invincibility and mind control are F tier, considered narratively toxic due to their ability to eliminate conflict or triviality.
• S Tier Examples: Immortality/long life and special weapons/unique items are S tier, offering rich storytelling potential, character depth, and metaphorical significance. Having no powers is also considered S tier for its relatability and emphasis on the character's internal strength.
• Power Combinations and Archetypes: The video notes how certain combinations or single powers can define iconic characters, such as Superman's C-tier heavy powers making him hard to write for, and Wolverine's immortality and healing factor making him a consistent fan favorite.

The superpowers considered "narratively toxic" are Invincibility and Mind Control.

• Invincibility: This power is seen as toxic because it significantly lowers the stakes of any conflict, making the hero impervious to harm. This trivializes any abilities the villain might have and closes off storytelling avenues rather than opening them. The speaker notes that these powers often come with an "off switch," which then negates the power's impact entirely.
• Mind Control: This power is considered too potent, as it can eliminate the core element of conflict between individuals. If one character can simply change another's will, there is no struggle, and thus, no compelling story to tell without exceptional writing to navigate these issues.