History Main / PowerUpgradingDeformation

[[caption-width-right:350:[[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=2819 This]] [[HurricaneOfPuns fairy's tale just got very point-nant.]]]]

* In ''[[FanFic/SovereignGFCOrigins Origins]]'', a ''Franchise/MassEffect''[=/=]''Franchise/StarWars''[[spoiler:[=/=]''[=Borderlands=]''[=/=]''[=Halo=]'']] MassiveMultiplayerCrossover, this is discussed by an ex-Cerberus Phantom. The cybernetics process turns skin blue, leaves hardware sticking out, blood tends to seep out and cake in places, etc. In exchange, her weak biotics are massively enhanced (the Systems Alliance believed making such minimal talents military-grade to be excessively risky). Implied to apply to all Cerberus troops to some extent, as her engineer friend is just as ugly as she is.

** ''ComicBook/UltimateXMen'': While taking the drug Banshee he manifested a more avian physiology, becoming a humanoid eagle creature.

** Fused Zamasu initially averts this, but soon his HealingFactor can't cope with his [[TwoBeingsOneBody Semi-Immortal body]] [[EvilMakesYouUgly and his face melts]].

** The Cursed Seal Transformations (courtesy of Orochimaru) it grants the likes The Sound Four, Kimimaro and Sasuke an immense power boost, but it also changes users into [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/naruto/images/7/72/Curse_Seal.png/revision/latest?cb=20140421150228 fleshy horned dark-skinned monstrosities]]. Only Tayuya somewhat averts looking like a CuteMonsterGirl compared to the males.

* The ComicBook/UltimateMarvel Reed Richards, in his identity as The Maker, [[https://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11/114265/2282692-urr__3_.jpg distorted his skull]] into an odd shape to better reconfigure his neural structure. Similarly, Rhona Burchill, the Ultimate version of The Mad Thinker, has a deformed skull from transplanting extra brain matter [[spoiler:from her brother]] into it.

** Fused Zamsu initially averts this, but soon his HealingFactor can't cope with his [[TwoBeingsOneBody Semi-Immortal body]] [[EvilMakesYouUgly and his face melts]].
* ''LightNovel/HighSchoolDxD'': After Issei he sacrifices an arm to temporarily gain [[SuperMode Balance Breaker]]. This sacrifice is not actually losing the arm, its that whenever the energy in the arm builds up too much it begins to look like a dragon's rather than human. Played even straighter later on. After being [[spoiler: being resurrected using the power of Ophis and Great Red]] Issei's true form is that of a [[spoiler:humanoid dragon]]. Normally Issei subconsciously uses his devil powers to shapeshift so that his appearance seems unaltered but on the rare occasions that this is blocked or dispelled the results are startling.

** In ''Manga/VigilanteMyHeroAcademiaIllegals'', the Villain Factory kidnaps people and performs numerous surgeries that mutate them and make their Quirks permanently active. They're powered up as a result, but can't ever return to their previous human appearance.

** The J'avo from ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil6'' look almost entirely human, save for having a few extra eyes where eyes should not be, but have a nasty habit of sprouting big nasty insect-like body parts to replace their existing body parts if injured. Some even seem to be able to spontaneously trigger the mutation.

** Frieza's transformations progress down this line, most notably his third form which gives him a hunched back, huge horns [[Franchise/{{Alien}} and a massively elongated skull]]. This gets [[InvertedTrope inverted]] with his final transformation, where he crosses the BishonenLine and becomes more basic and appealing than his first appearance (which arguably makes him ''more'' terrifying). His transformations overall are another kind of inversion: he's actually ''suppressing'' his full power, and the transformations are to restrain it.

** Manuela Hidalgo from ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilTheDarkSideChronicles'' also averts this despite being infected with the T-Virus [[MadScientistBeautifulDaughter she still looks beautiful]], and the only drawback is that Manuela’s blood burns when exposed to oxygen but she can also FeelNoPain to compensate.

** Manuela Hidalgo from ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil TheDarkSideChronicles'' also averts this despite being infected with the T-Virus [[MadScientistdBeautifulDaughter she still looks beautiful]], and the only drawback is that Manuela’s blood burns when exposed to oxygen but she can also FeelNoPain to compensate.

** Devil Fruit Users certainly can go through this as the SuperPowerLottery can distort the user body into all kinds of crazy shapes, though most users can shift back to normal. Nami and others in East Blue were very freaked out at seeing Devil Fruit Users for first time.

* The monsters of ''VideoGame/SoulSacrifice'' suffer this regularly. From tragic figures, unfortunate victims, to [[CompleteMonster Complete Monsters]] from the get-go, there is no shortage of humans that are transformed into horrific, gut-churning, nightmare-inducing monsters, just enough human traits left for you to know what they once were. The sorcerers who exterminate them for a living are not spared, either, as their right arms can gradually grow more corrupted and inhuman because of the magic they use, and this is not even going into the Black Rites which totally sacrifice a body part like their ''skin'' for great power.

** Whenever Dante and Vergil tap into their demon blood aka activate [[SuperMode Devil Tiggers]] they turn into [[https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a3/2e/ea/a32eeae70b596f607535627ba0313270.jpg armored insectoid humanoid demons]]. Dante, in particular, gets more a variety of monstrous Devil Triggers in the later titles. Even Lucia from the [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry2 second game]] becomes much less attractive in her DT.
** Arkham got this twice over [[spoiler: first when he sacrificed his wife to become a demon but messed the ritual up and became a MonsterClown, then in the FinalBattle he gets the power of Sparda through [[CoolSword Force Edge]] but soon dissolves into a hideous, amorphous blob. Dante lampshades it saying Arkham looks nothing like his father Sparda, [[ProudBeauty using himself]] as proof]].

** Whenever Dante and Vergil tap into their demon blood aka activate [[SuperMode Devil Tiggers]] they turn into [[https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a3/2e/ea/a32eeae70b596f607535627ba0313270.jpg armored insectoid demon humanoids]]. Dante, in particular, gets more a variety of monstrous Devil Triggers in the later titles. Even Lucia from the [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry2 second game]] becomes much less attractive in her DT.

** Averted with Jill and Sherry, who were infected with T-Virus and C-Virus respectively but thanks to some BioAugmentation developed antibodies to their infection and remained human, Jill even got superhuman powers and Sherry a HealingFactor.

** Devil Fruit Users certainly can go through this as the SuperPowerLottery can distort the user body into all kinds of crazy shapes, though most users can shift back to normal. Nami and others in East Blue were very freaked out at Devil Fruit Users for first time.

* In ''Literature/TheElricSaga'', human soldiers pledging alliegence to Chaos gradually turn into monstrosities who are part-man, part animal. This makes them harder fighters but at the expense of human intellect and intelligence. Creator/MichaelMoorcock returns to this theme in the ''[[Literature/TheHistoryOfTheRunestaff Hawkmoon]]'' books, where the élite legions of [=GranBretan=] are human in form but wear realistic beast-masks according to their animal totem. And behave accordingly. Here, the degradation is more symbolic and internalised. And just as terrible.

* The reason that steroids are so dangerous is the litany of side effects that comes with abusing them. Yes, steroids increase your muscles and your strength, but it comes with very bad acne, allergic reactions, discolored skin and infections. It also essentially makes you a ClippedWingAngel version of yourself, weakening the bones, ligaments and tendons in your body, which makes debilitating injury much more likely.

* ''LightNovel/HighSchoolDXD'': After Issei he sacrifices an arm to temporarily gain [[SuperMode Balance Breaker]]. This sacrifice is not actually losing the arm, its that whenever the energy in the arm builds up too much it begins to look like a dragon's rather than human. Played even straighter later on. After being [[spoiler: being resurrected using the power of Ophis and Great Red]] Issei's true form is that of a [[spoiler:humanoid dragon]]. Normally Issei subconsciously uses his devil powers to shapeshift so that his appearance seems unaltered but on the rare occasions that this is blocked or dispelled the results are startling.

* ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'': Rider has one ability that she never uses throughout the series: "Monstrous Strength". If she used it, she could amplify her already superhuman strength multiple times over, which would naturally be very helpful in battle. However, if she used that ability, it would also transform her into a hideous, monstrous form, implied permanently. Rider is shown to prefer ''death'' to actually using this ability, given what happened to her in her past life regarding her looks (her real name? [[spoiler:Medusa]]).