Shapeshifters are humans with abilities to change their form. They can be anything. If the shapeshifter is powerful enough, they can make themselves have the features of it. Example: A shapeshifter can turn green after a plant, or have an animal tail, and much more.
Shapeshifters, or just called shifters for short, are a race of creatures who can take the form of any human being.
Characteristics[]
Monsters Shapeshifters[]
Shapeshifters have been encountered by hunters. They are human-like creatures that start out human, but later learn how to change their form to look like anyone they want. When exactly they learn is not consistent, some can learn from infancy, while others do not learn until much later in their lives. Due to starting off as humans, shapeshifters can have human urges and vices, such as greed, lust, etc. They are also arguably the most human monsters there are. Due to having human impulses and desires, shapeshifters are not driven by an instinct like vampires and werewolves and commit their acts by choice.
When a shapeshifter takes the shape of the person they choose, they shed their skin, teeth and nails. When they change into the person's physical appearance, they access the thoughts of the person they are mimicking. Some shapeshifters are known to change their shape in a matter of seconds while others are known to take up to several hours. They can also take the forms of fictional characters or inhuman characteristics, such as vampire fangs or werewolf claws. They can also alter their eyes so they resemble their retinal flare. Some shapeshifters have displayed the ability to seamlessly shift into whoever they want without shedding their skin. In videos and cameras, a shifter's eyes will be a glowing silver-gold color.
Unlike most other monster species, shapeshifters do not appear to be able to sense others of their kind, even when they know the shapeshifter in question.
While some shapeshifters appear to simply cycle through appearances and never settle on one particular permanent appearance, others of the species appear to have a preferred appearance they use when they are not impersonating another person. Its unclear if this form is simply one they like or, since they are born naturally and grow up like humans, whether its their original appearance.
Humans Shapeshifters[]
Tommy's shifting to a pitbull
A shapeshifter has the ability to take the form of any being. To do so, the shifter must first mentally observe the animal's form in specific detail, a process known as imprinting. Apparently, a shifter needs to do this only once, and that animal's form can be assumed at will without the need to repeat the imprinting process.
Shifters typically find some animals easier to shift into than others. They usually have one particular animal that requires little effort or thought for shifting, which is known as a "go-to shift." Shifters tend to assume characteristics of their go-to shifts in their human form.
Shapeshifters generally keep their identities secret and fear exposure from the human public. Biologically and socially, they are practically indistinguishable from regular humans. They are not immortal, and their rate of aging and expected life span is the same as humans. They have the same needs and weaknesses as humans. One particular characteristic of shifters is the urge to run and play in open, isolated places with other shifters or animals while assuming animal form. As with all Weres, shapeshifting is hereditary. An individual must be born a shifter, inheriting his or her status from one or both parents. They are able to reproduce with humans and other Weres; the species of the offspring of these disparate couplings occurs randomly. Shapeshifters do not posses the ability to shift from birth; this generally occurs spontaneously at some point in their youth under the force of a full moon.
Tommy shifting from dog to bird (click for animation)
As with all Weres, shapeshifters can shift at will, except during the nights of the full moon, the force of which causes them to shift against their will, usually to their "go to shift". However, if they fall asleep, become unconscious in animal form or, on nights of the full moon, the full moon faze passes, they will shift back into human form. In the Were hierarchy, they are considered to be the more intelligent and humane than "vicious" Weres. They are however physically weaker than Werewolves with their strength being equivalent with regular humans.
Powers & Abilities[]
- Shapeshifting - Shapeshifters can take on a living or dead person's physical appearance by shedding their skin. When they shift, they literally become the person they're mimicking, gaining everything, including fingerprints and DNA; they can also mimic wounds, even very serious ones. Once a Shapeshifter transforms into that person, they can access the thoughts and memories of the person they are mimicking provided that the person is still alive. At least some Shapeshifters share their Alpha's ability to change shape without shedding as shown in Bloodlines, and Twigs & Twine & Tasha Banes. One shapeshifter show the ability to take the form of humanoid fictional monsters.
- Healing Factor - As they change their form easily, Shapeshifters can heal non-fatal wounds, and even replace body parts such as ears or a big piece of skin.
- Telepathy - Shapeshifters have a telepathic link with the people they mimic, making them able to "download" the memory and thoughts of this person as long as she/he is alive, which explains why they keep their victims alive.
- Voice Mimicry - The shapeshifter Buddy was able to mimic Dean Winchester's voice without taking on his form as well. However, this was after Buddy had briefly assumed Dean's form.
- Superhuman Strength - Even though they appear human, shapeshifters do possess amazing physical strength. They can easily overpower and kill human beings. One was able to rip a woman apart with his bare hands while in the form of a young child.
- Superhuman Durability - Shapeshifters are unaffected from most physical injuries, unless caused by silver. One recovered almost immediately after Dean punched him in the face and later after he kicked it.
- Superhuman Speed - Shapeshifters seem to be able to run faster than humans; on several occasions, shapeshifters have managed to easily escape from pursuers. One was able to run faster than a gun could be aimed.
- Superhuman Agility - They possess quicker reflexes than typical humans. One of them was able to dodge a bullet, jump out of a house without hurting itself, and left a bloody footprint on a telephone pole, indicating that Shapeshifters can climb.
Weaknesses[]
- Silver - They can be killed by a silver bullet or silver blade to the heart. Injuries caused by silver are incredibly painful to them while contact with a silver object will burn a shapeshifter and can be used as a method of identification of one.
- Retinal Flare - They are identified by a retinal flare that shows when they are filmed or when light rays cross their eyes.
- Iridium - Capable of harming shapeshifters.
- Vamptonite - Leviathan additive is engineered to kill shapeshifters in addition to vampires and ghouls.
- Pepper Spray - Jamie once used it against one to temporally blind him. However, he recovered from it faster than humans would.
- Dogs - Like certain supernatural phenomena, certain animals such as dogs can sense Shapeshifters regardless of the form they take. The sight of one turned one dog from harmless to vicious, while the Shapeshifter's presence caused multiple dogs to howl. This does not seem to apply on all shapeshifters though, as some were seen near dogs and those remained perfectly calm.
- Magic - Shapeshifters are susceptible to the powers of magic.
- Decapitation - Since decapitation can kill monsters, it is most likely that decapitating a shifter would kill it.
- Heart Extraction - Shapeshifters can be killed by having their hearts ripped.
- Explosions - Garth Fitzgerald IV once blew up an entire monster fight club with C4, killing Cutty and almost all of them (about 58-60 monsters of many species), with only one survivor.
Trivia[]
- Hunters usually shorten shapeshifter names to just "shifters."
Gallery[]
