Inherent Understanding and Adaptability In this interview with Bryan Fuller Already cited on Sylar s page he says that Sylar s power is an inherent understing and adaptability and he was able to use his powers in the cell to kill Eden because he was playing possum The Sylar part of the interview starts at about the 42 minute mark Given that description I think that his original ability is comprised of two seperate comic book superpowers Superhuman Intelligence Sylar has inherent understanding of how things work Reactive adaption Evolution Sylar can adapt his own body to various conditions It s on a much more subtle scale then in comic books granted but it s pretty close Thoughts