History Main / HealingFactor

** ''Film/GodzillaVsBiollante'': [[Characters/{{Godzilla}} Biollante]] has arguably the best one in the entire series.

* Immortals from ''Film/{{Highlander}}'' have fast healing, recovering from non-fatal injuries just as fast as deadly ones. The only injuries they do not heal from are ones to the neck - this is why they can only be killed by cutting their heads off (according to ''Series/HighlanderTheRaven'', severing their spine by any other means also works and they can't regenerate limbs).

** It also does not help [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/DevilMayCry Vergil]] against [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Sephiroth]]]], since [[spoiler:Sephiroth had [[EarthShatteringKaboom Supernova]] as a means to overtax Vergil's extremely powerful healing factor.]]

-->-- ''WebVideo/ImAMarvelAndImADC'', "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-om2kuKS24 Wolverine and Watchmen]]"

** In ''Film/Godzilla2000'', the genetic origin of this (dubbed "Organizer G-1") is explicitly described as the ultimate source (in combination with its sheer mass) of Godzilla's [[NighInvulnerability apparent immunity to attacks]]. It's so powerful, in fact, that the invading aliens utilize it in order to give themselves physical form (though the plan backfires and causes them to revert to the powerful but nonsentient {{kaiju}} "Orga").

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': All living things possess Aura, a [[{{Mana}} soul-generated power]], but only Huntsmen are trained to to use and benefit from it, such as gaining automatic healing. If the injuries are too great for Aura to heal, or are sustained after an [[ManaMeter Aura has broken]], a person can suffer permanent scars, limb loss or death. For example, when Jaune's Aura is first unlocked by Pyrrha in Volume 1, it instantly heals a cut on his cheek. [[spoiler:When Adam severs Yang's arm in Volume 3, her Aura floods to the site of injury, glowing gold as it tries to stem the blood flow, but it cannot regenerate a lost limb. When Cinder fatally injures Weiss in Volume 5, Jaune's Semblance regenerates and amplifies her Aura, super-charging it enough to be able to heal the otherwise lethal wound.]]

* In ''Film/{{Warlock}}'', witch hunter Redferne stabs the Warlock to kill him, but finds that even the incomplete Grimoire gives the Warlock the power to recover from the wound almost immediately.

** Wolverine, and ''how''. By the end of ''Film/XMenTheLastStand'', his flesh is being torn from his body at an alarming rate only to regenerate just as quickly. (This is explained in the {{novelization}} as being accelerated and enhanced even further than normal by the energy that Jean is putting out.) He also survives a ''nuclear bomb'' in the opening of ''Film/TheWolverine'' and his body is left a charred and scalded mess from the affair. However, it seems like the film Wolverine's healing factor is not as absurd as the comic book Wolverine's healing factor, considering that decapitation is treated as a viable option in his solo films. [[spoiler:''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'' also presents drowning as an effective method, though he's fished out before it can take.]] In ''Film/TheWolverine'', he loses this when the Yashida Corporation supresses it through technological means, [[spoiler:at least until he figures out how they did it and rectifies the problem]].

* The titular character's healing factor in ''Film/{{Deadpool|2016}}'' gets used a lot in the film going from being shot in the hand, surviving a car crash without any long term injuries, regrowing his hand in less than a day after cutting it off, and even [[spoiler:waking up after being impaled by Ajax on a piece of rebar to trap him under the burning Weapon X building]].

* ''Film/XMenFilmSeries''
** Wolverine. And ''how''. By the end of ''Film/XMenTheLastStand'' his flesh is being torn from his body at an alarming rate only to regenerate just as quickly. (This was explained in the novelization as being accelerated and enhanced even further than normal by the energy Jean was putting out.) He also survives a ''nuclear bomb'' in the opening of ''Film/TheWolverine'' and his body is left a charred and scalded mess from the affair. However, it seems like the film Wolverine's healing factor is not as absurd as the comic book Wolverine's healing factor, considering that decapitation is treated as a viable option in his solo films. [[spoiler:''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'' also presents drowning as an effective method, though he was fished out before it could take.]]
** In ''Film/TheWolverine'', he loses this, which is suppressed by the Yashida Corporation, through technological means. [[spoiler:At least until he figures out how they did it and rectifies the problem.]]

* Vampires and Lycans all have an advanced form of this in the ''Film/Underworld2003'' series. While Silver rounds can kill Lycans, they can use their healing factor to push the rounds out and heal the damage. Vampires eventually get around this by using liquid rounds that release Silver Nitrate into the bloodstream, preventing the healing factor from working effectively. Hybrids have an even more advanced case of this. Taken UpToEleven with [[TheDragon Quint]] in ''Film/UnderworldAwakening'', who can heal from any wound almost instantly. [[spoiler:[[HoistByHisOwnPetard This screws him]] in the end, as Selene punches a hole in him, and leaves a grenade inside. The wound heals, trapping the grenade inside him]].

* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'': The Ice Crown grants this to its wearer, to the point where both wearers shown were able to ''survive nuclear war''. Marceline also seems to have this due to her demonic ancestry, although it isn't as powerful as the Crown's.

Slightly more plausible than having SuperToughness or {{Nigh Invulnerability}}, as it is a souped-up version of a power certain real life forms possess. When this ability is powerful enough (such as regenerating from being reduced to almost nothing), it actually becomes a form of NighInvulnerability, however. Rarely will a character need to worry about infection, as [[IdealIllnessImmunity a super immune system]] is most often [[RequiredSecondaryPowers packaged in]], but they may need to worry about setting broken bones.

Really powerful characters will be able to regenerate lost body parts. [[ComicBook/XMen Ridiculously powerful regenerators]] may be able to recover FromASingleCell in a stain on the floor. Most often, [[OffWithHisHead loss of the head]] or [[ChunkySalsaRule brain injury]] is [[DeaderThanDead the only permanent damage]], and even then they may come back just missing some memories or with an altered personality. Sometimes they appear to be dead for brief periods, but that's just the regeneration [[BackFromTheDead taking a while to deal with unusually severe damage]].

Note that if any real-world life form were able to recover this fast,[[note]]Which already would require us to do away with the second law of thermodynamics, seeing as there's ''no way'' the ultra-rapid cellular processes needed to convert raw material into a fully functional limb within seconds wouldn't generate enough waste heat to incinerate the life-form in question.[[/note]] they'd need a reserve of raw organic material to work from, and afterwards would be very hungry. The only way to justify always repairing [[ShapeShifterBaggage the exact amount of flesh damaged]] is if it uses the actual damaged flesh to do it. Writers who acknowledge this often at least have their regenerator out of commission for some time, resting and feeding... or [[AppendageAssimilation harvesting limbs]]. The effect may be compared to the rapid cell growth, differentiation and self-organization of human embryonic development if the writer is interested in any degree of scientific plausibility, but most don't bother with even that much HandWave; they just have the wounds close up and new tissues and organs appear. Depending on the strength of the regenerator, they may also be a practical PerpetualMotionMonster, able to go for months or years without food and water since their healing factor keeps their body alive... though this sort of ImmortalityHurts.

Reptilian and amphibian characters, taking a cue from real-world lizards that can shed and re-grow their tails and some salamanders that are capable of complete regeneration of limbs and many organs, are likely to possess at least a minor form of this. Dragons, werewolves, and vampires [[OurMonstersAreDifferent sometimes]] have it as well. Other ShapeShifting characters may have this packaged in with their powers, though it's often described as returning to their "default" form rather than regenerating. {{Nanomachines}} are a common justification for an acquired power by otherwise human characters in a [[CyberPunk technological setting]].

Note that if any real-world life form were able to recover this fast,[[note]]Which already would require us to do away with the second law of thermodynamics, seeing as there's ''no way'' the ultra-rapid cellular processes needed to convert raw material into a fully functional limb within seconds wouldn't generate enough waste heat to incinerate the life-form in question.[[/note]] they'd need a reserve of raw organic material to work from, and afterwards would be very hungry. The only way to justify always repairing [[ShapeShifterBaggage the exact amount of flesh damaged]] is if it uses the actual damaged flesh to do it. Writers who acknowledge this often at least have their regenerator out of commission for some time, resting and feeding... or [[AppendageAssimilation harvesting limbs]]. The effect may be compared to the rapid cell growth, differentiation and self-organization of human embryonic development if the writer is interested in [[MohsScaleOfSciFiHardness any degree of scientific plausibility]], but most don't bother with even that much HandWave; they just have the wounds close up and new tissues and organs appear. Depending on the strength of the regenerator, they may also be a practical PerpetualMotionMonster, able to go for months or years without food and water since their healing factor keeps their body alive... though this sort of ImmortalityHurts.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': All living things possess Aura, a [[{{Mana}} soul-generated power]], but most people don't know how to use it. Huntsmen have been intensively trained to master their Aura, giving them certain abilities, such as the automatic regeneration of injuries. If the injuries are too great for Aura to heal, or are sustained after an [[ManaMeter Aura has broken]], a person can be left with permanent scars, limb loss or die. For example, when Jaune's Aura is first unlocked by Pyrrha in Volume 1, it instantly heals a cut on his cheek. [[spoiler:When Adam severs Yang's arm in Volume 3, her Aura floods to the site of injury, glowing gold as it tries to stem the blood flow, but it cannot regenerate a lost limb. When Cinder fatally injures Weiss in Volume 5, Jaune's Semblance regenerates and amplifies her Aura, super-charging it enough to be able to heal the otherwise lethal wound.]]

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': All living things possess Aura, a [[{{Mana}} soul-generated power]], but most people don't know how to use it. Huntsmen have been intensively trained to master their Aura, giving them certain abilities, such as the automatic regeneration of injuries. If the injuries are too great for Aura to heal, or are sustained after an [[ManaMeter Aura has broken]], a person can be left with permanent scars, limb loss or die. For example, when Jaune's Aura is first unlocked by Pyrrha in Volume 1, it instantly heals a cut on his cheek. [[spoiler:When Adam severs Yang's arm in Volume 3, her Aura floods to the site of injury, glowing gold as it tries to stem the blood flow, but it cannot regenerate a lost limb. When Cinder fatally injures Weiss in Volume 5, Jaune's Semblance regenerates and amplifies her Aura, super-charging it enough to heal the lethal wound.]]

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': All living things possess Aura, a [[{{Mana}} soul-generated power]], but most people don't know how to use it. Huntsmen have been intensively trained to master their Aura, giving them certain abilities, such as the automatic regeneration of injuries. If the injuries are too great for Aura to heal, or are sustained after an [[ManaMeter Aura has broken]], a person can be left with permanent injuries, limb loss or die. For example, when Jaune's Aura is first unlocked by Pyrrha in Volume 1, it instantly heals a cut on his cheek. [[spoiler:When Adam severs Yang's arm in Volume 3, her Aura floods to the site of injury, glowing gold as it tries to stem the blood flow, but it cannot regenerate a lost limb. When Cinder fatally injures Weiss in Volume 5, Jaune's Semblance regenerates and amplifies her Aura, super-charging it enough to heal the lethal wound.]]

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': All living things possess Aura, a [[{{Mana}} soul-generated power]], but most people don't know how to use it. Huntsmen have been intensively trained to master their Aura, giving them certain abilities, such as the automatic regeneration of injuries. If the injuries are too great for Aura to heal, or are sustained after an [[ManaMeter Aura has broken]], a person can be left with permanent injuries, limb loss or die. [[spoiler:When Jaune's Aura is first unlocked by Pyrrha in Volume 1, it instantly heals a cut on his cheek; when Adam severs Yang's arm in Volume 3, her Aura floods to the site of injury, glowing gold as it tries to stem the blood flow; when Cinder fatally injures Weiss in Volume 5, Jaune's Semblance regenerates and amplifies her Aura, super-charging it enough to heal such a severe wound.]]

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'':
** Theoretically, every Huntsman or Huntress trained to use their [[SoulPower aura]] can use it to regenerate wounds extremely quickly, though aura is also used to shield against attacks so this is used rarely. In Volume 1, Jaune uses it to heal up a minor gash on his cheek from a branch whacking him. In Volume 5, [[spoiler:after Weiss is impaled through the back by Cinder, Jaune transfers his own aura into her with his Semblance, allowing her to heal herself; within two episodes, a girl who before was bleeding to death is not only back on her own feet but has summoned the Queen Lancer, floored TheBrute who previously overpowered Qrow and can hold her own against Emerald and Mercury]].
* Salem has this due to [[spoiler:being cursed with immortality]]. She can even regenerate from being reduced to ashes, and the longest she's ever been out of commission is a few hours.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{TeenTitans|2003}}'':

* ''Film/{{Spawn}}'': Spawn got the ability to heal wounds as part of his deal with Hell. He notes this with satisfaction when Jessica pumps him full of lead.

* ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'':
** As a zombie in Season 4, [[Characters/AnimatedTeenTitansVillains Slade]] has a gruesome one which allows him to contort and snap his joints back into place.

Reptilian and amphibian characters, taking a cue from real-world lizards that can shed and re-grow their tails, and some salamanders that are capable of complete regeneration of limbs and many organs, are likely to possess at least a minor form of this. Dragons, werewolves, and vampires [[OurMonstersAreDifferent sometimes]] have it as well. Other ShapeShifting characters may have this packaged in with their powers, though it's often described as returning to their "default" form rather than regenerating. {{Nanomachines}} are a common justification for an acquired power by otherwise human characters in a [[CyberPunk technological setting]].

Reptilian characters, taking a cue from real-world lizards that can shed and re-grow their tails, are likely to possess at least a minor form of this. Dragons, werewolves, and vampires [[OurMonstersAreDifferent sometimes]] have it as well. Other ShapeShifting characters may have this packaged in with their powers, though it's often described as returning to their "default" form rather than regenerating. {{Nanomachines}} are a common justification for an acquired power by otherwise human characters in a [[CyberPunk technological setting]].

Reptilian characters, taking a cue from real-world lizards that can shed and re-grow their tails, are likely to possess at least a minor form of this. [[note]]These lizards suppress their immune system to allow their stem cells to respecialize, which would be very, very bad in a human and is why we can't do it.[[/note]] Dragons, werewolves, and vampires [[OurMonstersAreDifferent sometimes]] have it as well. Other ShapeShifting characters may have this packaged in with their powers, though it's often described as returning to their "default" form rather than regenerating. {{Nanomachines}} are a common justification for an acquired power by otherwise human characters in a [[CyberPunk technological setting]].

** Starscream gets this in ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' from an Allspark fragment in his head. Which is based on how G1 Starscream was {{Ret Con}}ned into having one to explain how he came BackFromTheDead. But that was only his spark (soul) which was immortal, he didn't have a body, regenerating or otherwise. Which lead to him floating around like a ghost for quite some time until he could scam himself a new shell (or steal someone else's).
** Transmetal 2s in ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}: WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' have the ability to heal mild to moderate damage near-instantaneously using energy from their spark. Rampage also has one, as he was created by an experiment to duplicate Starscream's spark.

An in-universe, as opposed to plot-based, version of HollywoodHealing. Doing this to others is HealingHands or using a HealingPotion.

[[folder:Gamebooks]]
* In the ''Literature/LoneWolf'' gamebook series, the various Healing disciplines. Most of the time they are just granting GradualRegeneration, but there are instances when they can explicitly save the protagonist's life from grievous injuries, poisoning, or diseases. Especially with Curing by the rank of Archmaster, or the Grandmaster discipline of Deliverance, which can heal 20 [[HitPoints Endurance Points]] even in the middle of a fight if the total falls too low, though only once per adventure.
[[/folder]]