History Main / Immortality

* '''How to become immortal?''' - Methods by which a mortal character can actively cheat death. Key word being ''actively'', once the method is stopped or reversed, they become mortal again.

** This trope = TheAgeless + NighInvulnerability

** This trope = The Ageless + NighInvulnerability

One of the oldest of human desires is to counteract [[WeAreAsMayflies the fleeting nature of our short human existence]]. Eternal life is ingrained in the collective human consciousness, having been present in literature and myths for [[OlderThanDirt as long as they've been around]]. Literally. TheEpicOfGilgamesh (the oldest heroic epic known to the modern world) is, in large part, about the titular character's search for a way to live forever.

** BornAgainImmortality
** ResurrectiveImmortality

* '''Biological Immortality''' - A character is immune to the ravages of time, although usually still mortal to physical injury.
** TheAgeless

* '''Biological Immortality''' - A character is immune to the ravages of time, although usually still mortal to physical injury.
** TheAgeless

* '''Force of Will'''
** PurposeDrivenImmortality

* '''Biological Immortality''' - A character is immune to the ravages of time.

** This trope = TheAgeless + NighInvulnerability

** FromASingleCell

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These were formerly labeled as various Types, which many pages still refer to:

* Type I: CompleteImmortality, like certain gods, NighInvulnerability + TheAgeless.
** Type I-X: Eternal / TimeAbyss; more like {{God}}.
* Type II: TheAgeless
* Type III: Regenerative; FromASingleCell.
* Type IV: ResurrectiveImmortality, or like BodyBackupDrive
* Type V: TheUndead
* Type VI: AgeWithoutYouth
* Type VII: External, like SoulJar or ImmortalityTalisman
* Type VIII: LegacyImmortality
* Type IX: Parasitic, like BodySurf
* Type X: Vampiric, like LifeDrinker, BloodBath
* Type XI: Projected avatar, like FightingAShadow or BodyBackupDrive
* Type 0: [[PlotArmor Plot immortality]], [[LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt because the writers will never kill them off for good]], [[JokerImmunity like the Joker]].

-->-- '''Woody Allen'''

** BodySurf

*** GrandTheftMe

* '''CompleteImmortality''' - A character ''can't'' die.

One of the oldest of human desires is to counteract [[WeAreAsMayflies the fleeting nature of our short human existence]]. Eternal life is ingrained in the collective human consciousness, having been present in literature and myths for [[OlderThanDirt as long as they've been around]].

For the band, see [[Music/{{Immortal}} Music/Immortal]]. For the film, see [[Film/{{Immortal}} Film/Immortal]].

For the band, see [[Music/{{Immortal}} Music/Immortal]].

->I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it through not dying.

** This trope = TheAgeless + NighInvulnerability or FromASingleCell

** This trope = TheAgeless + MadeOfDiamond or FromASingleCell

* Type I: CompleteImmortality, like certain gods, NighInvulnerable + TheAgeless.

* Type X: Vampiric, like LifeDrinker

* Type I: CompleteImmortality, like God, NighInvulnerable + TheAgeless.
** Type I-X: Eternal / TimeAbyss; also like {{God}}, but moreso.

* Type 0: Plot immortality, because the writers will never kill them off for good, [[JokerImmunity like the Joker]].

* Type XI: projected avatar, like FightingAShadow or BodyBackupDrive
* Type 0: plot immortality, because the writers will never kill them off for good, [[JokerImmunity like the Joker]].

* Type VIII: not immortal, but a role and name are passed down

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** ImmortalityTalisman