Shapeshifters

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**Shapeshifters**, or just **Shifters** for short, are a species of monster that can take the form of any human being.

## Characteristics

Shapeshifters have been encountered by hunters and by Sam and Dean Winchester. They are human-like creatures that start out human, but later learn how to change their form to look like anyone they want. When exactly they learn is not consistent, some can learn from infancy, while others do not learn until much later in their lives. Due to starting off as humans, shapeshifters can have human urges and vices, such as greed, lust, etc. They are also arguably the most human monsters there are. Due to having human impulses and desires, shapeshifters are not driven by an instinct like vampires and werewolves and commit their acts by choice.

When a shapeshifter takes the shape of the person they choose, they shed their skin, teeth and nails. When they change into the person's physical appearance, they access the thoughts of the person they are mimicking. Some shapeshifters are known to change their shape in a matter of seconds while others are known to take up to several hours. They can also take the forms of fictional characters or inhuman characteristics, such as vampire fangs or werewolf claws. They can also alter their eyes so they resemble their retinal flare. Some shapeshifters have displayed the ability to seamlessly shift into whoever they want without shedding their skin, similar to their Alpha. In videos and cameras, a shifter's eyes will be a glowing silver-gold color.

Unlike most other monster species, shapeshifters do not appear to be able to sense others of their kind, even when they know the shapeshifter in question. Mia Vallens was unable to tell that her ex-boyfriend Buddy, whom she was specifically trying to escape from, was impersonating one of her patients. Furthermore, even after she knew that he was, she could not identify which one he was for the Winchesters.

While some shapeshifters appear to simply cycle through appearances and never settle on one particular permanent appearance, others of the species appear to have a preferred appearance they use when they are not impersonating another person. Its unclear if this form is simply one they like or, since they are born naturally and grow up like humans, whether its their original appearance. Shapeshifters that are known to do this include the Lassiter Family, Olivia, Mia Vallens and Buddy. In Mia's case, her chosen form is not her original appearance as she stated she changed her face to avoid Buddy. In Buddy's case, he had his chosen form so long that Mia had a picture of him in it.

## History

### Early History

Shapeshifters are creations of a witch named Eve. The first shapeshifter in all existence was the Alpha Shapeshifter.

## Powers and Abilities

* **Shapeshifting** - Shapeshifters can take on a living or dead person's physical appearance by shedding their skin. When they shift, they literally *become* the person they're mimicking, gaining everything, including fingerprints and DNA; they can also mimic wounds, even very serious ones. Once a Shapeshifter transforms into that person, they can access the thoughts and memories of the person they are mimicking provided that the person is still alive. At least some Shapeshifters share their Alpha's ability to change shape without shedding as shown in *Bloodlines*, and *Twigs & Twine & Tasha Banes*. One shapeshifter show the ability to take the form of humanoid fictional monsters.
	+ **Regeneration** - As they change their form easily, Shapeshifters can heal non-fatal wounds, and even replace body parts such as ears or a big piece of skin.
	+ **Telepathy** - Shapeshifters have a telepathic link with the people they mimic, making them able to "download" the memory and thoughts of this person as long as she/he is alive, which explains why they keep their victims alive.
	+ **Voice Mimicry** - The shapeshifter Buddy was able to mimic Dean Winchester's voice without taking on his form as well. However, this was after Buddy had briefly assumed Dean's form.
* **Super Strength** - Even though they appear human, shapeshifters do possess amazing physical strength. They can easily overpower and kill human beings. One was able to rip a woman apart with his bare hands while in the form of a young child.
* **Invulnerability** - Shapeshifters are unaffected from most physical injuries, unless caused by silver. One recovered almost immediately after Dean punched him in the face and later after he kicked it.
* **Super Speed** - Shapeshifters seem to be able to run faster than humans; on several occasions, shapeshifters have managed to easily escape from pursuers. One was able to run faster than a gun could be aimed.
* **Super Agility** - They possess quicker reflexes than typical humans. One of them was able to dodge a bullet, jump out of a house without hurting itself, and left a bloody footprint on a telephone pole, indicating that Shapeshifters can climb.

## Weaknesses

* **Silver** - They can be killed by a silver bullet or silver blade to the heart. Injuries caused by silver are incredibly painful to them while contact with a silver object will burn a shapeshifter and can be used as a method of identification of one.
* **Retinal Flare** - They are identified by a retinal flare that shows when they are filmed or when light rays cross their
* **Iridium** - Capable of harming shapeshifters as discovered by Crowley during experiments to find a way to harm the Alpha Shapeshifter.
* **Vamptonite** - Edgar states that the Leviathan additive is engineered to kill shapeshifters in addition to vampires and ghouls.
* **Pepper Spray** - Jamie once used it against one to temporally blind him. However, he recovered from it faster than humans would.
* **Dogs** - Like certain supernatural phenomena, certain animals such as dogs can sense Shapeshifters regardless of the form they take. The sight of one turned one dog from harmless to vicious, while the Alpha Shapeshifter's presence caused multiple dogs to howl. This does not seem to apply on all shapeshifters though, as some were seen near dogs and those remained perfectly calm.
* **Decapitation** - Since decapitation can kill the Alpha, it is most likely that decapitating a shifter would kill it.
* **Heart Extraction** - Shapeshifters can be killed by having their hearts ripped out as demonstrated by Irv Sokolowski in *Bloodlines* when he killed Sal Lassiter by ripping his heart out, albeit with a homemade silver claw.
* **Explosions** - Garth Fitzgerald IV once blew up an entire monster fight club with C4, killing Cutty and almost all of them (about 58-60 monsters of many species), with only one survivor.