Heart-shaped Herb

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> Heart-Shaped Herb? What is that?"
> "It gives whoever takes it heightened abilities."
> "It's what makes T'Challa so strong.
>
> Everett Ross, Shuri and Nakia, Black Panther (film)

The **Heart-Shaped Herb** was a plant native to Wakanda that was traditionally consumed by the new ruler and the heir to the mantle of the Black Panther in order to obtain enhanced physical abilities, as well as entering the Ancestral Plane through a ritual process.

## History

### Creation

 File:BP - Bashenga and the Herb2.png

> A warrior shaman received a vision from the panther goddess Bast, who led him to the Heart-Shaped Herb, a plant that granted him superhuman strength, speed and instincts.
>
> N'Jobu, Black Panther (film)

Thousands of years ago, a large meteorite composed of Vibranium crashed into Africa, where it gave off massive amounts of radiation, affecting the plant life around it, including the herb. When several tribes began fighting over the Vibranium, the panther God Bast instructed a warrior to ingest the herb, transforming him into the first Black Panther, who united the tribes into the country of Wakanda.

### Usage Over the Years

 File:T'Challa Consumes Heart-Shaped Herb.png
The herb's powers are tied to the vibranium that has been present in the soil of Wakanda for millions of years. Each Black Panther throughout the generations has consumed the herb once they gain their title, in order to gain enhanced abilities. It's surrounded by ceremonies involving Zuri's children. Usage of the Heart-Shaped Herbs is seemingly limited to the royal family to allow them to better protect themselves and Wakanda. During the ritual combat in which any tribe or family member may challenge the heir for the throne, the heir must drink a serum to strip away the capabilities of the Heart-Shaped Herbs.

### Destruction

 File:Black Panther OCT17 Trailer 47.png

> My king, we cannot do that. This is Wakandan tradition for centuries."
> "When I tell you to do something, I mean that shit. Burn it all!
>
> Shaman and Erik Killmonger, Black Panther (film)

When Erik Killmonger became King of Wakanda and obtained the powers of the herbs, he ordered the herbs burned so no one could use their powers against him. However, Nakia was able to secretly steal one of the herbs before they were all burned.

### Current investigation

Since the Duel in the Great Mound and Erik Killmonger's death, Shuri has been looking for a way to synthesize the Heart-Shaped Herb, considering that stabilizing the effects of the herb by adding some vibranium into the mix, but she is currently unable to do so until she can study a sample of the original plant.

## Capabilities

 File:T'Challa Regains Superpowers.png

> Allow the Heart-Shaped Herb... to restore the powers of the Black Panther... and take you to the Ancestral Plane.
>
> Zuri, Black Panther (film)

The Heart-Shaped Herb granted enhanced strength, speed, stamina, durability, reflexes, agility, and instincts to those who consume it. For example, T'Chaka was able to effortlessly lift a person with one hand and even run as fast as a zebra as stated by T'Challa himself. There is a preparation able to negate the powers of the herbs, used to allow fair combat trials for the mantles of both Black Panther and King of Wakanda. When ingested, the herbs have the power to allow the user to temporarily commune with the dead in the Ancestral Plane.

## References

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1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 *Black Panther*
2. ↑ *The Wakanda Files: A Technological Exploration of the Avengers and Beyond*