Molecular Immobilization

**Notice:** This **article** uses content directly taken from the Molecular Immobilization **article** at the Charmed Wiki, and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License.

***Credit to the Charmed wiki***

## Power information

### Effects

Slowing down molecules to the point where things and people "freeze" in place.

### Trigger

* Concentration
* Hand Gestures
* Fear or panic

### Category

Defensive Power

**Molecular Immobilization**, more commonly referred to as *freezing*, is the ability to slow down molecules to the point where they move so slowly that objects and people appear completely motionless, simulating the stoppage of time in a localized range.

## History

### Gaining Control

**Mark**: "*Scared?*"
**Piper**: "*Terrified. Trust me, that's a good thing.*"
— Piper utilizing her fear to activate her power[src]
Originally Piper could only freeze objects in the same room as her or that were in her direct line of sight within a certain range, regardless of what room they were in, and the freeze would only last for seconds at a time. Piper could not freeze anything if there was a solid barrier completely covering it. For example, she could not freeze a Wendigo because she was inside a closed phone booth at the time. Force fields were also able to block the effect of her power, presumably because of this principle.

When she was outdoors, it was unknown the range of effect that her powers had, but it can be noted that she was able to freeze a truck and a baby stroller moving on the other side of the street from her front doorstep, giving her a considerable range.

 File:Freeze6.gif  Over time, Piper was able to freeze people and objects on command. She was initially scared of her power, considering that she was a jumpy person and could accidentally freeze someone upon panicking, but as she grew more skilled at using her ability, she could freeze without needing panic as a trigger. She could freeze or unfreeze desired objects or parts of an enemy without affecting the rest of her surroundings. This power advanced for Piper so much that she was able to almost completely freeze two Triad members.

Unfreezing an object/person could be done by Piper in a similar manner to how she freezes. Other beings could also end the freeze without possessing Molecular Immobilization by physically manipulating the frozen subject without too much effort. Users of telekinesis could also unfreeze someone with said power without necessarily moving them (possibly by telekinetically stimulating the frozen target's molecules). The demon Bacarra unfroze a knife in midair by incanting "glacies imber," thereby causing the knife to resume its trajectory. The length of time in which a subject stayed frozen seemed to vary on occasion. Not too long after her powers were unbound, Piper could only keep Leo, Andy Trudeau and a bag of popcorn frozen for about 20–30 seconds.
Two years later, Piper managed to keep two Grimlocks frozen for a much longer duration, even when she had left the area and the time period for the majority of the time they were frozen.

If Piper were to be sufficiently harmed or lose her power, any frozen individual would unfreeze immediately after.

### Becoming More Advanced

 File:8x16MolecularImmobilization.gif  Aside from the obvious limits of range, the type of being that is to be frozen may also affect how well this power works. For example, initially, Piper was not able to freeze good wizard or upper-level demons. Still, over time and as her powers developed, she (almost) overcame one of these limitations. Piper was able to freeze Billie Jenkins, but possibly only because Billie had been weakened significantly by the U.S. government's virus.Piper also froze a member of Triad, whose powers surpassed many if not all upper-level demons.

Piper has used this power more offensively at times, usually in conjunction with her combustion power or demonic attacks. For example, while disguised as Wyatt, she froze an energy ball in mid-air and then blasted a demon into the frozen energy ball, which vanquished him. Later, she froze two Triad members and a fireball; however, Piper said that she couldn't freeze them for long and the Triad was clearly starting to unfreeze slightly, and after Paige orbed one in front of the fireball, she unfroze them, vanquishing one and allowing her to vanquish the second one with her Molecular Combustion power. As her powers developed, Piper was able to disrupt an object's momentum, as seen when she caused a dagger thrown at her to fall to the floor after she unfroze it instead of it resuming its original trajectory path.

### Selective Freezing

 File:Piper selective freezing 3x8.gif  This is an ability within Molecular Immobilization. This allows the user to unfreeze certain parts or things, within the frozen area. For example: Piper became able to unfreeze one person while keeping a room frozen; then in the following year, Piper learned that she could set a criteria for a freeze, such as freezing only innocents, then, later on, discovered that she could unfreeze a body part, such as a head, allowing her to talk to a demon while their body is still frozen (and not causing any physical harm or change in the demon). This ability also entitles the user to freeze another section of things; this would mean if other persons entered the room during the freeze, the user could freeze them without unfreezing the entire room, and freezing it again. For example, Piper was able to freeze Jack, and then when Jeff walked she was able to freeze him also, without unfreezing the room. Piper has also been shown to be able to freeze demons in mid-shimmer, for example, she did this to a possessor demon.

### Channeling

 File:DeniseImmobilization.gif  This power is always channeled through the use of one's hands, usually by stretching forward one or both arms at the target and extending one's fingers. However, pointing only one finger also worked. When Piper's hands were bound, she was rendered powerless. This also applied to Patty when her hands were restrained by handcuffs. Piper was able to freeze two Grimlocks by channeling her power through a plastic wand. When The Source of All Evil stole Piper's powers he was able to use her freezing and blasting powers in unison with one hand, something Piper herself learned to do two years later, but with separate gestures.

Unfreezing was usually done by waving one's fingers inwards at the frozen subject as if physically pulling off the freeze. Other gestures used to unfreeze include simply pointing at the subject with all digits extended, flicking one's wrists or index finger, tapping one's fingers together and nodding one's head.

### Personal Gain

 File:2x16PiperFreezesGlasses.gif  Main article: Personal Gain

In a broad sense throughout the series, we see Piper attempt to use this power a number of times for personal gain. When at a beverage supply store, Josh takes the last bottle of Calera Jensen which Piper needs for a coq au vin recipe. She freezes him and is tempted to take it but then decides it's the wrong thing to do. Piper used the power to freeze a noisy restaurant when she was on a date with Leo.

She also froze a hallway full of people because they kept touching her stomach while she was pregnant, Paige even chastised her for it. Piper also uses the power to freeze regular humans a few times throughout the course of the series rather than for magical threats. She also uses this power for sexual purposes, having frozen Leo Wyatt several times during their first time together. Leo was later made aware of this and accepts it. Such abuses suffered little to no consequences probably because they would be considered minor infractions with little benefit.

## Immunity

 File:2x18PiperFreezesBusyRestuarant.gif  Wizards, normally good ones or morally ambiguous, are naturally immune to this power. Whenever Piper froze an area with wizards around, those wizards would find themselves unaffected while everything else was frozen. Bianca, a Phoenix wizard, was immune to this power despite being an enemy of the Charmed Ones. Half wizards are also immune to this power. It should also be noted that being's who naturally possess this power can't use it on themselves.

Wizards are immune to this power through their magic, meaning if they lost their magic or were severely weakened, they would not be able to withstand it. Wizard practitioners are also not immune. Being possessed could also take away a wizard's immunity, as seen when Phoebe was taken over by Mata Hari's karma and persona. This is not consistent, however. When Piper froze the wizard Aviva while she was possessed by the demon Kali, Aviva's immunity caused her to separate from Kali who was frozen.

Aside from wizards, numerous Upper-Level demons and supernatural beings are immune to this power. As Piper's powers advanced over the years, the less resistant some demons became.

It has been shown that wizards under the Window of Opportunity are immune to this power, presumably due to their indecision about joining good or evil. This immunity will probably become permanent if said wizards choose the path of good.

## List of beings who use(d) Molecular Immobilization

Original power* Melinda Warren
* Patty Halliwell
* Piper Halliwell

Through spell, potion, power stealing, etc.
* The Source of All Evil
* Matthew Tate
* Denise
* Zachary
* Pilar
* Penny Halliwell (*Casting the Freezing Spell*)
* Prue Halliwell
* Cryto
* Zahn (*Obtained through soul trading*)

## Developed Powers

### Advanced Molecular Immobilization

 File:MoralitybitesFREEZE.gif  When the 1999-Piper and Prue visited the future of 2009, they discovered that Piper's power had advanced. She was able to freeze an entire city block, including the birds high up in the air. Instead of a small group of people and objects, Piper was able to freeze "everything". This advanced version of the power was, however, still restricted by physical barriers, as a woman inside a nearby building was unaffected by the large-scale freeze.

Over time, Piper noticed her power advancing: being able to freeze some of the strongest known demons or at least slow them down. In time, Piper was able to freeze everything around her, including things in the natural environment; such as rainfall.

1. ↑ Evident by Piper trying to freeze Chris