History Main / LightEmUp

* In ''Film/HellraiserBloodline'' a MagicVersusScience version of this is employed. The iconic [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Pinhead]] is destroyed by a brilliant 22nd Century scientist who summons him to a space station that is designed to harness the PowerOfTheSun to create an intricate pattern of light that consumes even the ruler of {{Hell}}.

* Franchise/TolkiensLegendarium:
** ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'': This seems to be Gandalf's main attribute [[note]]more than in the books[[/note]]. He can conjure a shield of light, enhance the sunrise to disrupt the Uruk-hai, and use white light to drive away the Nazgûl.
** Further shown in ''Film/TheHobbit'' trilogy, particularly in [[spoiler:his battle with Sauron]], where he conjures protective light fields.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* ''Series/TheFortyFourHundred'': In "The New World", Philippa Bynes, who disappeared in 1994, has the ability to create light from her hands.
* ''Series/KamenRiderAgito'''s Shining Form, as the name suggests.
* ''Series/KamenRiderOOO'''s Lion Medal allows him to shine a blinding light.
* ''Series/KamenRiderSaber'' has Yuri, who is not only the Swordsman of Light, but is also the Sword of Light, Kougouken Saikou, which also doubles as his go-to Rider form.
* Lexa Pierce of ''Series/MutantX'' manipulates light to blind her foes, generate lasers, and become invisible.
* Rimmer from ''Series/RedDwarf'' while a {{Hologram}} only gets true Light Em Up powers in ''Recap/RedDwarfThePromisedLand'' thanks to upgrading to his ridiculously awesome [[SuperMode Diamond Light]] form aka “Mighty Light”. In this state Rimmer can use both soft and HardLight in “quantic harmony”, carry solid objects through walls, travel at incredible speeds as a ball of light and shoot lasers from his fingers although unfortunately like every good thing that happens to [[ButtMonkey Rimmer]] it doesn’t last long, due to draining his light bee. [[spoiler: Mighty Light however does return in the climax thanks to the power of the [[{{McGuffin}} Anbus Stone]] and [[BigDamnHeroes gloriously saves the day]]]].
* Castiel, an angel from ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'', generates white holy light to burn out his enemy's eyes (and brains).
* ''Series/{{Powers}}'': Zora has the ability to shape light, mainly by creating a number of purple-ish cubes. This also [[{{flight}} allows her to fly]] somehow.
* ''Series/TheGifted2017'': Marcos Diaz, aka Eclipse, has light powers that he uses to fire laser beams, emit lights so bright they can permanently blind people, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and make very small rooms darker]]. He treads the line with LightIsNotGood, as for much of his life he worked as an enforcer for drug cartels before reforming.
* As a Light Fairy like her mother, Stella from ''Series/FateTheWinxSaga'' has the ability to control light with which she can create and multiply spheres of pure light, create rainbows or northern lights in her hands or emit rays of light that can blind permanently. Later she becomes able to use light to make herself invisible.
* ''Series/ShadowAndBone'' has Alina Starkov, the legendary Sun Summoner, who can summon and manipulate light, a rare ability. She is destined to destroy the Shadow Fold which splits Ravka in two. She can manage quite a bit with it once she has a bit of training under her belt, including using it to blind (temporarily or perhaps permanently, in the case of the guard) opponents and create shields against [[spoiler: General Kirigan's shadows]].
[[/folder]]

* Kendra, from ''Literature/{{Fablehaven}}'', glows - blindingly - to most mythical creatures, after [[spoiler: becoming Fairykind]] in the third book. She also takes possession of a talisman of light, which casts a large umbrella of light around her and her friends as they go to do what they do best - fight evil.
* Sam from the ''Literature/{{Gone}}'' series seems to have the power of light. When not using it [[EnergyWeapon offensively]], he can use it to provide light. Bette was also able to make her hands glow, [[spoiler: until Orc killed her.]]
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'' gives us the Patronus Charm. Used to great effect in the movies. As well as the Lumos charm and subsequent derivations. The film version of the first book has Hermione casting a spell to replicate sunlight to drive off the Devil's Snare.

* In ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' has the priestess of the Fire God, though LightIsNotGood [[[[CrapsackWorld is in effect]]. Interestingly this is also the source of her [[CastingAShadow ability to birth shadow monsters]], [[FridgeLogic since shadows can't exist without light to cast them.]]

* Gandalf in ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'' claims at the bridge in Moria to be "servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the Flame of Anor." Anyone who's read the ''Silmarillion'' knows he's essentially saying "I'm an Angel of God. Mess with ''me'', and I'll drop ''sunfire'' on you."
* In ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'', it seemed to have been the main power of the Vala [[StarPower Varda]], and to a lesser extent shown by Morgoth (in his earlier days, his eyes emitted a light that drove Maiar insane). The two trees of Valinor emitted a strong light, and afterwards the Sun and Moon were made from what was left of them, which became property of [[ThePowerOfTheSun Ariën]] and [[{{Lunacy}} Tilion]], respectively. Part of their light was also encased in the titular Silmarils, giving them HolyBurnsEvil properties but also making them [[ArtifactOfAttraction Artifacts of Attraction]].
* ''Literature/LightAndDarkTheAwakeningOfTheMageknight'': This is Syndil's awakening. [[spoiler: Ironic in that he betrays the Order of the Light.]]
* Alice in ''Literature/TheMagicians'' specializes in phosphoromancy, a magical discipline focused around the manipulation of light. You know how kids will burn ants with a magnifying glass? She creates a magical "lens" a mile wide to focus sunlight into [[EnergyWeapon Frickin' Laser Beams]].
* ''Literature/ClockpunkAndTheVitalizer'' has Purple Quetzal, whose main power is light control/manipulation. It ends up not being displayed, however.
* ''Literature/RWBYFairyTalesOfRemnant'': In ''The Warrior in the Woods'', when the hero encounters the owl Grimm, he's grown into a young man. While he has a crudely made blade, he's not skilled with it and only manages to kill two of the three birds. Just before the bird can kill him, the clearing lights up with a brilliant white light that destroys the third owl. The light heralds the appearance of the Warrior, who is noted to possess silver eyes. Although the hero asks her what the light was, she refuses to answer him. [[spoiler:The reader recognises that the Warrior is a Silver-Eyed Warrior, a concept introduced in the [[WebAnimation/{{RWBY}} main show]] when the main character learns that possessing silver eyes gives her the power to weaponise the power of Light against the Creatures of Grimm.]]
* In ''Literature/SmokeAndShadows'', the heroes call upon "The Light of Yeramathia" to destroy the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Shadowlord]].
* In Literature/TheZombieKnight, Harper has the power of light alteration.
* In ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'', while only two of the ten Orders of Knights Radiant had power over literal light, all use the titular Stormlight as the fuel for their powers. The aforementioned two orders, Lightweavers and Truthwatchers, can use the Surge of Illumination to bend light, as well as a few other wavelengths such as sound, to create illusions.

* Everyone who lives in ''Literature/TheDivineComedy'''s Paradise can generate light relative to their proximity to God. It doesn't take long before the saints are so bright they resemble dancing fires and wheeling flames.
* Vienna Ritz-Carlton's main power in ''Literature/SuburbanSenshiRiseOfTheMagicalGirl'' is the ability to transform herself into a being of living light, allowing her to move across a room like a laser beam, fire blasts of light, among other things.
* Alina Starkov from ''Literature/TheGrishaTrilogy'' is the Sun Summoner, allowing her to create light and use it as a weapon. These powers also lead to her being worshipped as a saint.

* ''Webcomic/DanAndMabsFurryAdventures'' - Angels have an affinity for light magic. They're not actually divine, holy, or [[LightIsNotGood particularly good]].

* ''{{Website/Neopets}}''' elemental system includes light - light-based weapons, Light faeries, etc.

* ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' has a few characters who use weaponized light. Most of the members of New Wave have some form of light based abilities, as does Purity, [[LightIsNotGood a neo-nazi supervillain]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', light is more of a concept than an element, largely expressed in the form of [[SoulPower energybending]]. In the latter's Book 2, Raava, the spirit of light, is introduced - though she rarely displays actual photokinesis -, and in the finale [[spoiler:Jinora acquires light powers as well]]. Strangely, the villains, which supposedly stand for [[DarkIsEvil darkness]], can make use of light powers, Unalaq infusing water with light energy and Vaatu firing violet beams of light.

* The Gems in ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' are essentially light elementals, their bodies made of HardLight (sans GemHeart). They do frequently use their gems as flashlights and produce blinding flashes, but the most direct example are the [[LightIsNotGood Diamonds]], which can cause a blinding white light that [[spoiler:corrupts other Gems]].

[[caption-width-right:350:[[Literature/TheBible And]] [[OurFairiesAreDifferent the fairy]] [[Literature/TheBible said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.]]]]

* The Flash of Creator/TangentComics ([[Franchise/TheFlash no not that one]]) had the superpower of projecting light.
* {{ComicBook/The Ray}}s from Franchise/TheDCU can absorb, store, and process light, and use the energy to fly and create bursts of light. [[LegacyCharacter They're]] also capable of manipulating external light, allowing them to create illusions and solid light constructs, and to render themselves [[{{Invisibility}} invisible]].
* Dr. Light from Franchise/TheDCU can manipulate light, originally thanks to a suit he stole, but afterwards, said ability became natural to his body. While there is a good Dr. Light (a Japanese female scientist) in the comics, the original one was the ultimate form of LightIsNotGood, afterwards turning into a ''rapist''.
* Although ComicBook/CarolDanvers was not able to do it at first, after she was experimented on by the Brood, she became capable of absorbing energy and projecting it, as well. Nowadays, being able to use photon blasts is one of Carol's signature powers. Her SpearCounterpart, the original Captain Marvel, gained the ability in a similar fashion although he had volunteered for experiments from a helpful human scientist rather than being an unwilling test subject.
* ''ComicBook/{{Captain Marvel|MarvelComics}}''
** Monica Rambeau can generates generate and turns into any light on the magnetic spectrum, including that other humans cannot see.
** Moonstone, aka [[LegacyCharacter Lloyd Bloch and Karla Sofen]], have photon manipulation as one of the abilites granted to them by their [[HigherTechSpecies Kree]] gravity stones. They can light up dark rooms, blind people by shining really brightly and push around concentrated photons using their fists, with enough density and force to rend iron. The original Captain Marvel and his son and daughter were all Kree by birth and [[AntiClimax thus could shut off the gravity stones of their human opponents at will]]. Later Captain Marvel's of human origin like Monica Rambeau and Carol Danvers have considerably more trouble dealing with them.
* Radiance from ''ComicBook/{{The Invaders|MarvelComics}}'' can manipulate the light spectrum to create offensive blasts, as well as holograms and hard light constructs.
* Northstar and [[WonderTwinPowers his twin]], Aurora, from ''ComicBook/XMen'' and ''ComicBook/AlphaFlight'' are capable of flight and superspeed, and originally, if they came into contact with each other, they could generate bursts of light. Since then, their powers have been revamped so that the two are capable of doing so individually.

* Tandy Bowen (Dagger of ComicBook/CloakAndDagger) is capable of creating daggers made of light for offensive purposes and can even purge addictions from people. Dagger also uses these light daggers to satiate her partner Cloak's hunger for light when he uses his TeleportCloak.

* The whole Franchise/GreenLantern franchise is more or less based on this, with various factions being able to manipulate light of different colours of the emotional spectrum.

** There's the very creative use of short-distance time portals the indian villain Phir Sē does: two linked portals, one slightly further in the past than the other. Then he takes advantage of the paradox-free nature of his power to loop the same photons over and over, until he has what he calls a [[IncrediblyLamePun time bomb]] with light brightly streaming between the two portals in preparation for Behemoth's attack. Said attack, charged up for a few hours, was said to be able to level the whole indian subcontinent. He had to cancel a previous attempt because he was getting too tired, and such attack he charged up for THREE DAYS.

* Sunny Milk, from the ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' official manga ''Eastern and Little Nature Deity'', has the ability to control the refraction of light. Being a [[OurFairiesAreDifferent fairy]], this is used mostly as a [[InvisibilityCloak cloaking device]] in her trio's pranks.

-->'''Raven''': Remember me?
-->'''Dr. Light''': (''weakly'') I'd like to go to jail now, please...

* The MagicKnight, dwarven, noble protagonist in ''Fanfic/DragonAgeTheCrownOfThorns''. While he is a GuileHero, he fulfills the necessary good/heroic requisites. The fact that he can cast a white battle aura which can get bright enough to illuminate corridors perfectly is just a side effect of the fact that [[spoiler:he can never really control the tear in the Veil he has anchored in his body, with said light being just extra magical power that automatically takes the shape of the Spirit of Honor, the DN's not-spirit-advisor, when he uses magic to perform extra-badass feats.]]
* Thanks to a light spell he learned early on, Paul in ''Fanfic/WithStringsAttached'' and ''Fanfic/TheKeysStandAlone: The Soft World'' can make part or all of his body glow via his hair, teeth, and nails. This proves to be extremely useful and is the power he uses the most after his invulnerability. Once, in a rage, he generated some kind of laser blast from his fingernails. When [[DeadlyUpgrade at high strength]], he can pump extra power into the light, to the point where he explodes. (In ''Keys'' he discovered that he could also do this at "low" strength and generate a lot of heat, though he didn't explode.)

* The party's resident [[TheMedic priest]] in ''Fanfic/WarriorsOfTheWorldSoldiersOfFortune'' proceeds to do this with a powerful healing spell that simultaneously hurts anything demonic during the Geffen Ten Guilds Raid. He repeats this with an exorcism spell, though it also has the unfortunate side effect of destroying anything desecrated - including unholy ground beneath their feet.
* ''Sailor Moon: Legends of Lightstorm'': Sailor Mercury suspects that Lightstorm was like this before he lost his powers. Assuming his name is more literal than metaphorical, this would seemingly indicate a light-based powerset. Lightstorm himself refuses to confirm or deny this speculation.

* ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' - this seems to be Gandalf's main attribute [[note]]more than in the books[[/note]]. He can conjure a shield of light, enhance the sunrise to disrupt the Uruk-hai, and use white light to drive away the Nazgûl.
** Further shown in ''Film/TheHobbit'' trilogy, particularly in [[spoiler:his battle with Sauron]], where he conjures protective light fields.
* ''Film/{{Stardust}}'''s anthropomorphic star can shine. Quite useful when [[spoiler:lit up to full power in the witch's abode]].

* In ''Film/HellraiserBloodline'' a MagicVersusScience version of this is employed. The iconic [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Pinhead]] is destroyed by a brilliant 22nd Century scientist who summons him to a space station that is designed to harness the PowerOfTheSun to create an intricate pattern of light that consumes even the ruler of {{Hell}}.
* In ''Film/TheLastWitchHunter'', light seems to be general anathema to Dark Magic, as the Witch Queen dwells in darkness and is physically repulsed by light, while Belial's teleporters work only in shadows. Kaulder exploits this in his final fight against the Queen.

* Starlight from ''ComicBook/TheBoys'',usually manifested as blinding flashes.

* Starlight from ''Comicbook/TheBoys'',usually manifested as blinding flashes.

** ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'': Groot is capable of releasing spores and flowers glowing in a bright golden light, which he uses to illuminate the darkness.

* Literature/LightAndDarkTheAwakeningOfTheMageknight: This is Syndil's awakening. [[spoiler: Ironic in that he betrays the Order of the Light.]]

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* [[AsskickingEqualsAuthority Admiral]] Kizaru from ''Manga/OnePiece'' is a light [[ElementalShapeshifter Logia]], which means he can turn into light to avoid damage, travel at the speed of light, as well as using it offensively in the form of [[EnergyWeapon giant ass building destroying lasers]].

* Angemon and Angewomon of ''Anime/DigimonAdventure''. Angemon's "Hand of Fate" is his hand glowing with divine light which he proceeds to punch at the enemy. Angewomon has "Heaven's Charm" which works very much the same way.

* Kei in ''Manga/{{Pretear}}'' is the knight of light. Also, Himeno, when she Prets with him, becomes, of course, Light Pretear. Her weapon is called Light Chackram.

* Sunny Milk, from the ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' official manga ''Eastern and Little Nature Deity'', has the ability to control the refraction of light. Of course, being a [[OurFairiesAreDifferent fairy]], this is used mostly as a [[InvisibilityCloak cloaking device]] in her trio's pranks.

* Dr. Light from Franchise/TheDCU can manipulate light, originally thanks to a suit he stole, but afterwards, said ability became natural to his body. Mind you, while there is a good Dr. Light (a Japanese female scientist) in the comics, the original one was the ultimate form of LightIsNotGood, afterwards turning into a ''rapist''.

* On that note, ''ComicBook/BigBangComics'' features the Beacons, CaptainErsatz versions of the Green Lanterns whose powers are even more directly light-based -- different colored beams of light from their prisms have different effects. The Golden Age Beacon had his prism in a mining cap, even.

* Thanks to a light spell he learned early on, Paul in ''Fanfic/WithStringsAttached'' and ''Fanfic/TheKeysStandAlone: The Soft World'' can make part or all of his body glow via his hair, teeth, and nails. This proves to be extremely useful and is the power he uses the most after his invulnerability. Once, in a rage, he generated some kind of laser blast from his fingernails. When [[DeadlyUpgrade at high strength]], he can pump extra power into the light, to the point where he literally explodes. (In ''Keys'' he discovered that he could also do this at "low" strength and generate a lot of heat, though he didn't explode.)

** ''Film/CaptainMarvel2019'': Carol Danvers' powers are centered on photon manipulation, usually into her iconic photon blasts. In her binary mode she is completely enveloped in golden light, and is basically a PhysicalGod.

* Creator/StephenKing's universe has a spell called Dead Lights, which is basically summoning intense orange light from the macroverse. This light is [[LightIsNotGood an evil spell]], capable of causing insanity and death in the victim if it stares at it. They are used by the [[EvilSorcerer Crimson King]] in ''Literature/TheDarkTower'' [[spoiler:and are the true form of [[Literature/{{It}} Pennywise]]]].

* In ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' has the priestess of the Fire God, though [[CrapsackWorld of course]] LightIsNotGood is very much in effect. Interestingly this is also the source of her [[CastingAShadow ability to birth shadow monsters]], [[FridgeLogic since shadows can't exist without light to cast them.]]

* In ''Literature/TheTraitorSonCycle'', the ''Fiat Lux'' spell is basically a weaponized light burst, and is an almost SignatureMove of the main character.

** Red also has a few spells that involve using light beams, such as the iconic [[https://scryfall.com/card/cma/78/cleansing-beam Cleansing Beam]]. Like most Red spells, they are extremely aggressive in nature, their purpose being to burn the enemies. White, [[LightIsNotGood of course]], still has similar spells, but they usually [[ThePowerOfTheVoid erase the victim completely]] instead of simply burning it alive. [[https://scryfall.com/card/eve/60/puncture-blast Puncture Blast]] in particular is interesting because flavorwise it seems to illustrate the "corrupted light" concept mentioned previously (the mechanic "wither" is basically flavored as, well, withering).

** More literally, there are two Adamant Circle spells; ''Cleansing Solar Flames'', which burns every "creature of darkness" within several miles, and ''Light of Solar Cleansing'', which restores Shadowlands to normality by severing their connection to the Underworld.

* ''Webcomic/DanAndMabsFurryAdventures'' - Angels have an affinity for light magic. They're not actually divine, holy, or [[LightIsNotGood particularly good]], mind.

* In ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', light is more of a concept than an element, largely expressed in the form of [[SoulPower energybending]]. In the latter's Book 2, Raava, the spirit of light, is introduced - though she rarely displays actual photokinesis -, and in the finale [[spoiler:Jinora acquires light powers as well]]. Strangely, the villains, which supposedly stand for [[DarkIsEvil darkness]], can make use of light powers, Unalaq basically infusing water with light energy and Vaatu firing violet beams of light.

* Licht from ''Manga/BlackClover'' uses Light Magic. He can use it for many uses, such as shooting HardLight projectiles, creating a whip that can destroy an entire cave, and healing himself if he needs to. It was also the magic of the First Wizard King, [[MeaningfulName Lumiere]] Silvamillion Clover.

* The closest to genuine light powers exhibited in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' (not counting [[spoiler:Father's acquired [[ThePowerOfTheSun solar powers]] when he literally ate God]]) are the ones shown by Solf J. Kimblee, the psychopathic, AxCrazy Red Lotus Alchemist. His powers are explosions of intense, white light generated by the energy of combining the symbols he has tattooed on his hands, one standing for the Sun, fire, and gold and another standing for the Moon, water, and silver. In practice, it's more like throwing around [[StuffBlowingUp magnesium on fire]] than firing lasers, but works just as lethally.

* {{ComicBook/The Ray}}s from Franchise/TheDCU can absorb, store, and process light, and use the energy to fly and create bursts of light. [[LegacyCharacter They're]] also capable of manipulating external light, allowing them to create illusions and even solid light constructs, and to render themselves [[{{Invisibility}} invisible]].

* Lexa Pierce of ''Series/MutantX'' manipulates light to blind her foes, generate lasers, and even become invisible.

* Pretty much ''everyone'' according to UsefulNotes/{{Gnosticism}}; humans are shards of light trapped in human flesh that can reach their powers via enlightment, the Aeons live in greater realms of light, and even the [[GodIsEvil Yaldabaoth]] and his servants, in spite of traditional metaphors as "darkness", appearently are still capable of light powers, with the [[OurAngelsAreDifferent Archons]] Iao and Adonaios being associated with the Sun and Jupiter and the archon Horaios having a name that means "light".

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': On [[DeathWorld Remnant]], there's a legend about [[MagicalEye silver-eyed warriors]] that's so ancient, almost no-one has heard it and even fewer believe it. It is said that these warriors were the [[TheAce best of the best]], born to fight and capable of defeating the [[AnimalisticAbomination Creatures of Grimm]] with merely a glance. Legend states their eyes shone like mirrors, reflecting the light of the world onto darkness. [[spoiler:Ruby first learns the significance of having silver eyes after light bursts from her eyes at the end of Volume 3 and freezes a [[OurWyvernsAreDifferent Wyvern]] to stone. She inherited this power from her mother, who died in mysterious circumstances. She learns nothing more until she meets Maria in Volume 6, an [[CoolOldLady elderly woman]] who was also born with silver eyes but was blinded when [[HeroOfAnotherStory hunted down]] by a mysterious enemy that wanted the power of her eyes destroyed. Maria teaches Ruby that their Light is triggered by the need to protect life from the Grimm and that it appears to have come from the [[OurGodsAreDifferent God of Light]], something they learn when shown a vision of the [[AwfulTruth secret history]] of Remnant's ancient past.]]

** In the 2003 anime version ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemist'', Hohenheim was able to transmute light, creating HardLight things.

TheHero is likely to use this, and if so, is likely to be [[PersonalityPowers a saint]]. The hero is likely to learn this from the BigGood or the TheMentor, who will be the master of this. Alternately, a work may instead use LightIsNotGood, in which case, this may be used by [[GoodPowersBadPeople the villain]]. In that case, similar to how TheSacredDarkness illustrates a way to portray CastingAShadow in a pure and holy fashion, a villanous or "corrupt" form of light may involve such lovely things as light so bright that it burns out the victim's eyes, causes his flesh to be brutally melted off, or making his light come with [[ILoveNuclearPower other harmful radiations]] etc.

[[quoteright:330:[[TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mtg_wrath_of_god_by_kev_walker_7924.jpg]] ]]
[[caption-width-right:330:''[[http://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/card/details.aspx?name=Lightning%20Blast Those who fear the darkness have never seen what the light can do.]]'']]