History Main / ThinkingUpPortals

In ''Literature/{{Borderlands}}'' (not the video game but a series of russian novels set in a completely different universe) theoretically anyone is capable of opening a portal to a world called Centrum baring the natives of the Centrum themselves. But it's not easy and most people may not even learn of this capability. It requires the person to be in some specific mental state which is unique for each individual. Some people need to become sad, angry or scared. Some need to get drunk or aroused. Some need to sing or meditate. Then there are some who need to feel an [[squick urge to urinate]]. It also only works at certain locations. Even then it might not yield the desired results as the portal may be too small or last too short.
** On the other hand some people don't have to meet the "certain mental state requirement" but the other drawbacks still do apply. These are called "universal conductors".

** Magik from ''Franchise/XMen'' can create portals as her mutant power. It kind of blurs the line between scientific and mystical since her power is connected to a Hell dimension of which she is DomainHolder and DependingOnTheArtist her portals are drawn as [[InstantRunes fiery pentacles]].
** Another portal creating mutant is ComicBook/{{Blink}}:

** Shatterstar from ''Comicbook/XFactor'' can create X-shaped portals by channeling his powers through his swords.

* D-lister ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' villain Johnny Ohwn, aka "The Spot", is a living avatar for (or DimensionLord of) an interstitial dimension that functions like a PortalNetwork. He has the ability to create an infinite array of black dots that function as {{Portable Hole}}s, with each "paired" set of portals linking whichever two points in space that the Spot desires. He relies heavily on WeaponizedTeleportation and ConfusionFu when fighting.

* ''Literature/APieceInTheGameOfGods'': One of the powers that being a "champion of Emnyle, [...] goddess of memory and gates", provides. Implying they're a manifestation of the power of "gates" in question.

* Eden Fesi aka Manifold from ''ComicBook/SecretWarriors'' can open up tears in space and time, allowing him to teleport to just about anywhere in the universe. Unlike most teleporters, Eden does not have to know where he is going as his powers compensate and prevents him from materializing inside of an object. His portals remain open until he chooses to close them. His one weakness is that his abilities only work in his own native reality.

* In ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'', sparkling, round portals were popular for traveling to distant locations and other dimensions. Individual characters like Skeletor were shown to be able to {{teleport|ation}} normally, but portals were favored, especially when bringing multiple people from place to place.

* ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'': [[RealityWarper Yukari Yakumo]] is known for her "gaps", and actually ''sits'' on one in her portrait.
* Teleportation spells in ''VideoGame/TheWitcher'' appear to work in this fashion.
* Amidatelion of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyCrystalChroniclesTheCrystalBearers'' has the power of SummonMagic, which manifests this way.
* ''VideoGame/DungeonCrawlStoneSoup'' has the Passage of Golubria spell, which creates two temporary portals, one at a targeted point and one near the caster. Stepping into one warps you to the other, though each portal collapses as you walk through it. While blinking is a more convenient way to jump to a different spot, this spell is still usable by characters wearing an [[TeleportInterdiction amulet of stasis]].

* Elizabeth from ''VideoGame/BioShockInfinite'' has the power to open "tears" into other realities. Initially, her control over them is haphazard, but as the game progresses and she gets further from the [[PowerLimiter siphon]] in her tower, she's able to conjure supplies, cover and allies for the player, or even enter {{Alternate Universe}}s. [[spoiler: By the end of the game this has extended to the point where she's basically a god, moving herself and whatever she wants freely through universes, space, and time.]]
* The boss "[[MeaningfulName Dimension Diver]]" from ''[[VideoGame/{{Darius}} G-Darius]]'' uses this, allowing him to attack from the [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/darius/images/7/7f/DDiver5.gif/revision/latest?cb=20100118104812 background and the foreground]].
* After reaching a certain level, mages in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' are able to conjure portals to transport themselves and party members to the major cities in their respective factions.
* In the first ''VideoGame/BlackAndWhite'' game, the player-controlled [[AGodIsYou deity]] can learn to create stable portals for their villagers to use. This can be expanded into a full PortalNetwork, as long as they have the {{Mana}} flow to keep them all open.
* In ''VideoGame/Injustice2'' Darkseid conjures up a [[OurWormholesAreDifferent Boom Tube]] without a Mother Box and uses one in his LimitBreak, throwing his full-sized hand to crush the minuscule opponent before tossing them back onto the stage.

* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':
** Hoopa is a Pokemon that is capable of using its rings as portals. They apparently link to other dimensions. At least one of these holds a pocket dimension that can fit ''entire islands''. It is even implied to be the one who moves the mirage islands around in ''[[VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire]]''.
** [[VideoGame/PokemonSunAndMoon Solgaleo and Lunala]] [[spoiler:and their pre-evolved forms Cosmog and Cosmoem]] are capable of opening Ultra Wormholes, which lead to Ultra Space. [[spoiler: This ability is actually dangerous for Cosmog]].
* Zander's portal is one of his most important abilities in ''VideoGame/{{Battlerite}}''. Any teammate who enters it can choose where to teleport to and are removed from the fight, making them invincible. With the right Battlerites, they also might gain extra effects when exiting the portal, such as a shield or speed boost.
* In ''VideoGame/GuildWars2 Path of Fire'' the Elder Dragon Kralkatorrik gains the ability to open rifts to the Mists after consuming [[spoiler:Balthazar]]'s magic. This allows the Branded to attack anywhere on Tyria without warning and for Kralkatorrik himself to begin gorging on the magic of the Mists.

The name is [[TropeNamers derived from]] the "Thinking with Portals" {{tagline}} of the ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'' video games. [[note]]''Portal'' does ''not'' fill this trope, however; [[HeroicMime Our Heroine]] uses a portal ''gun'' instead of any innate abilities.[[/note]]

** In ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'', ''ComicBook/GhostRider'' can open portals to Hell by swinging his chain.

* ''ComicBook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'': In ''ComicBook/TheGreatDarknessSaga'', the [[ComicBook/{{Darkseid}} Master of Darkness]] creates space warps to move his minions through the galaxy. They come to life in midair, and stars and barren planets can be seen on the other side of the rift.

* Miss ComicBook/AmericaChavez from ''ComicBook/YoungAvengers'' can kick star-shaped portals between universes.

* Soundwave of ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'' is directly connected to the Decepticon systems, which enables him to open space bridge portals anywhere he wants. Summoning a portal to remove threats rapidly becomes his SignatureMove as the series goes on. [[spoiler:And eventually proves [[HoistByHisOwnPetard his undoing]] when the heroes anticipate this tactic and open their ''own'' portal next to it, the interaction sending Soundwave to the Shadowzone.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'' has Soundwave ZigZag it. He's directly linked to the Decepticon [[PortalNetwork space bridge]], allowing him to create [[CoolGate space bridge portals]] at a moment's notice with nothing but his mind. Despite this, it's not an innate power of his, and if the space bridge is destroyed or disabled, this ability is likewise disabled.

* One of ''Anime/{{Doraemon}}'''s gadgets is the [[{{Pun}} Short-Cutter]] which, as its name suggests, is a cutter that cuts spacetime, creating a portal linking two locations together. Another of his gadgets is the "Anywhere Door", a door that anyone can use to go to other places; whenever the door is "opened" to another place, the door will physically appear in said other place as well.

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* Desdemona in ''Webcomic/EvilInc'' can manifest portals for traveling through - completely or partly, or simply for slipping other things through (and even holding them open while ropes pushed through are manipulated on the other side).
* Drake in ''Webcomic/GoldCoinComics'' has the power to [[http://www.goldcoincomics.com/?id=124 conjure a teleportation portal]].
* In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'':

%%* ''Beam'' from ''[[Webcomic/HeroesUnite The New Guard]]''.
* Anpu of ''Webcomic/{{Godslave}}'' can teleport himself and Edith over short distances when the need arises.
* Mysterious Monocle Man from ''Webcomic/TheFreeWillies'' is able to create portals from his realm to the human realm (usually, with a snap of his fingers or a clap). The Jamnitor can also do this, but he does it with less pizzazz.

* The Comicbook/NewGods, the ones from Apokolips and New Genesis alike, can use Boom Tubes to teleport across interstellar distances. This is not an inherent ability, however; they use devices called Mother Boxes to make them.

* The Comicbook/NewGods, the ones from Apokolips and New Genesis alike, can use Boom Tubes to teleport across interstellar distances.

Compare ExtradimensionalShortcut, where teleportation is achieved by moving through a different "space" (see also VoidBetweenTheWorlds), and CoolGate, where teleportation is via moving through some device, like a standing portal installation.

* Eden Fesi aka Manifold from ''ComicBook/SecretWarriors can open up tears in space and time, allowing him to teleport to just about anywhere in the universe. Unlike most teleporters, Eden does not have to know where he is going as his powers compensate and prevents him from materializing inside of an object. His portals remain open until he chooses to close them. His one weakness is that his abilities only work in his own native reality.

** Shatterstar from ''Comicbook/XFactor'' can create portals by channeling his powers through his swords.

* Magik from ''Franchise/XMen'' can create portals as her mutant power. It kind of blurs the line between scientific and mystical since her power is connected to a Hell dimension of which she is DomainHolder and DependingOnTheArtist her portals are drawn as [[InstantRunes fiery pentacles]].
* Shatterstar from ''Comicbook/XFactor'' can create portals by channeling his powers through his swords.

* Another portal creating mutant is ComicBook/{{Blink}}:
** The first Blink is the one from Earth-616 who most mutants thought died during an alien invasion by using her "blink wave" but ended up getting stuck in another dimension until Selene freed her. It wasn't known what her true power was at first; she shredded things apart by 'blinking' them to pieces with a visual effect that would only work in a comic book. Eventually revealed that she'd basically done a PortalCut without knowing it. Eventually we'd meet a version of her that had mastered it, specifically:
** The second Blink is the one from the famous X-Men story, ''Comicbook/AgeOfApocalypse'', who becomes the leader of ''Comicbook/{{Exiles}}''. In addition to portals to anywhere, she can create solid-looking javelin-like energy projections that when thrown, will teleport the target to a place of Blink's choosing. She ''can'' PortalCut you if need be, but is TheCape enough to not actually do it.

The name is derived from the "Thinking with Portals" {{tagline}} of the ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'' video games. [[note]]''Portal'' does ''not'' fill this trope, however; [[HeroicMime Our Heroine]] uses a portal ''gun'' instead of any innate abilities.[[/note]]