Aura

**Aura** is the manifestation of one's soul in *RWBY* and can be used for a wide range of abilities. The specific abilities and their strengths differ from individual to individual and are dependent on a number of factors, such as experience, training and innate skill.

It is predominantly used for protection from harm. Some people develop an active power called a Semblance.

## Description

Aura is an ability that all those with a soul can use, at least with enough practice. Because Aura is the manifestation of the soul, it can appear very differently depending on who is using it. For example, the color of Aura differs from person to person: Ophelia Demoiselle's is lavender while Tanner Ackerman's is a light brown, among many others.

It is mentioned that anything with a soul has an Aura, including Humans, Faunus, and animals can generate an Aura. The Creatures of Grimm, being soulless, are the only known form of life that does not have Aura.

Skilled users of Aura can create their own barriers or even increase their own abilities in some way. Weapons and armor can also act as a conduit for Aura, allowing for an even wider range of offensive and defensive capabilities.

It has been shown that the strength of an Aura degrades with continual use. This limits the applications of Aura in combat as, with time or heavy use, a person's Aura will decay to the point where they are left weakened or even incapacitated. Aura being completely depleted is visually represented as a colored sheen glowing along the length of a person's body or with colored particles flying off the body, indicating that they can now be physically injured. Aura flickering means it is close to being depleted.

Aura can be recharged and the time it requires to recharge is varies between each person.

Aura also can vary between individuals in terms of innate quantity of energy that can be used. People such as Rosi Aimé are shown to have large quantities of aura while people such as Lillian Armfeldt have weaker reserves.

Similarly, one's Aura regeneration rate is dependent on the individual, varying per person.

## Abilities

Aura is a necessary energy source for all Huntsmen, being a powerful ally in battle. It is also required in order to trigger the use of Dust. Aura, as demonstrated by various characters, can be used in the following techniques.

* **Defense**
* **Offense**
* **Unlocking Aura**
* **Healing**

## Activation

It appears that Aura is able to manifest in different ways when in use and takes on the color of one's inner energy. It appears as a slight glow around the body.

It has been stated that the activation of an Aura requires training and willpower, though someone with considerable training can unlock the Aura of another person.

Some people unlock their aura in certain stressful situations or through physical exertion, such as Ophelia Demoiselle unlocking hers while sparring with Xerxes Jazayeri.

## Depletion

It has been shown that the strength of an Aura degrades with continual use. Extreme use of Aura, whether for offensive purposes, such as using a Semblance, or defensive purposes, like absorbing blows will eventually cause a person's Aura will decay to the point where they are left weakened or even incapacitated from exhaustion. When an aura is completely depleted, it is visually represented as a coloured sheen running through the body of the individual or with glowing particles flying off the body, indicating that they can now be mortally injured. In the case of individuals with Semblances, they will be unable to access their abilities. Some Semblances are so powerful that using them will quickly drain their Aura.

Aura flickering means it is close to being depleted or the absorbed strike was particularly strong.

## Trivia

* It can be compared to the real-life principle of Chi/Ki or Chakra, as used in other forms of media.