As Max’sDune: Prophecycontinues to expand the world of theDunefranchise, several characters continue to display a wide array of superhuman abilities. While somecharacters in theDuneuniverse, like the Bene Gesserit, have displayed the ability to brainwash people and see through time, others have been known to change their bodily appearance in seconds.Dune: Prophecyeven introduced a unique characterwho can incinerate people with only a thought.
All the different superpowers thatDune’s characters have displayed only make it one of the richest, most distinctive sci-fi franchises in popular culture. Max and Warner Bros. have only begun to scratch the survival ofDune’s potential with Denis Villeneuve’s two films and theprequel showDune: Prophecy. At this point, so many unique powers have been presented in live-action, while many others are just waiting to be adapted from theDunenovels.
10Folding Space
Spice Connects The Dune Universe Through Space Travel
Thespice on Arrakis inDuneis importantto the prosperity of the Imperium, as it allows them to travel the cosmos by “folding space.” This means that members of the Spacing Guild are able to open doors to another dimension,allowing their Heighliner starships to travel through space and time faster than the speed of light. It is essentially theDunefranchise’s version of traveling through hyperspace inStar Wars.
However, folding space isn’t as simple as pressing a button on a dashboard. In the books,Spacing Guild Navigators must be physically transformed by consuming large amounts of spice, and they must live in spice-filled antigravity tanks in order to access fold space. While folding space is an essential and incredible feat of interstellar travel, it demands that its practitioners commit themselves to this singular purpose, turning themselves into fish-like mutants to wield their cosmic abilities.
9Other Memory
Some Can Unlock Their Ancestors' Memories In Dune
After drinking from the Water of Life,the Bene Gesserit can transmute this toxic substance and gain access to the memories hidden away in the genesinherited from their female ancestors. After accessing this"Other Memory",a Bene Gesserit can complete their ascension to the position of Reverend Mothers. As the Kwizatz Haderach, Paul Atreides can also drink the Water of Life and unlock his Other Memory the way that he did inDune: Part Two.However, he is able to gain even more knowledge by accessing the memories of both his male and female ancestors.
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The Sisterhood’s shared nightmare in Dune: Prophecy episode 4 “Twice Born” reveals harrowing truths about the impending Reckoning.
Using the Other Memory, one can gain access to memories dating back centuries, even information that has been all but forgotten. Considering the vastness of theDunetimeline and the amount of space between stories likeDune: Part OneandDune: Prophecy, such a power can be incredibly helpful. For instance,Paul and Jessica learn the long-lost secret of the latter being Baron Harkonnen’s daughterinDune: Part Two, establishing them both as members of House Harkonnen.
8The Weirding Way
Indeed, The Bene Gesserit’s Powers Are Very Unusual
Following intense physical and mental training,the Bene Gesserit can gain full mastery of every muscle and nerve in their body(a skill known in theDunenovels as"Prana-Bindu control"). Such martial arts training alone allowed characters to rival the Fremen in combat and endure the test of the Gom Jabbar. However, it also allows the Bene Gesserit to perform an even more unique style of fighting known as the"Weirding Way"to the Fremen.
The Weirding Way inDuneallows the Bene Gesserit to move at incredible speeds while fighting in close quarters. By altering the way they perceive reality through their nerve and muscle control,the user can move at such remarkable speeds that it would look like teleportation to the average spectator. They could also focus a remarkable amount of strength into delivering powerful physical attacks. Jessica displayed the skill on Arrakis, as she swiftly overpowered the Fremen leader Stilgar while she and Paul were cornered by the Fremen inDune: Part One.
7Face Dancing
Dune’s Shapeshifting Is A Powerful Skill That Can Backfire Greatly
First introduced in the novelDune Messiah,the Face Dancers are humans genetically engineered by the Bene Tleilaxto have greater control of their muscles and nerves. Thanks to this, they are also able to copy the appearance, voice, and personality of another human being.Dune: Prophecyseems to depict a Face Dancer for the first time inDune’s modern film/TV franchise, as Theodosia reveals herself to be a shapeshifter who then transforms into Griffin at Valya’s request.
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Sister Theo surprisingly reveals her ability to shapeshift in Dune: Prophecy episode 4 “Twice Born” which indicates that she could be a Face Dancer.
With this incredible form of shapeshifting, the Face Dancers have worked as spies hired to infiltrate other organizations and governments. The Bene Gesserit could initially detect Face Dancers based on their pheromones in theDunebooks. However,the Bene Tleilax eventually made the Dancers better able to hide themselves from the Bene Gesserit, even giving them the ability to absorb other people’s memories. Despite this, if a Face Dancer impersonates someone for too long, they risk losing their grip on reality and believing they are the person they’re impersonating.
6The Voice
The Bene Gesserit’s Words Speak Volumes in Dune
One of Bene Gesserit’s most notable abilities in theDuneuniverse is The Voice. By altering the tone of their speech,the user can take control of a person’s mind, including another Bene Gesserit, forcing them to bend to their will and perform any task.Dune: Prophecyepisode 1 revealed the Voice’s origins, having been pioneered by Valya Harkonnen and later taught to future generations of Bene Gesserit. However, Paul Atreides gained mastery of the Voice thanks to the teaching of his Bene Gesserit mother, Lady Jessica.
Though the Voice is a very powerful skill,one can be trained to resist its hypnotic effects. Characters likeDesmond Hart inDune: Prophecyhave shown immunity to the Voice, even when spoken by a Reverend Mother like Valya. Some forms of technology can also nullify the Voice’s effects, such as the Cone of Silence used by Baron Harkonnen inDune: Part One.
5Prescience
A Chosen Few Can See The Past And The Future In Dune
Thanks to his genetic breeding as the Kwizatz Haderach, Paul starts off inDunehaving dreams of the future, with his visions growing stronger after his exposure to the spice on Arrakis.He then gains the ability to see multiple possible futures at onceafter drinking from the Water of Life. With his knowledge of both the past and the future, Paul attempts to follow the"Golden Path"that will lead him to victory against the Imperium and avert humanity’s eventual destruction. As a result, he succeeds in defeating the Harkonnens, overthrowing House Corrino, and becoming Emperor of the Known Universe.
Though not depicted as a Kwizatz Haderach in the originalDunenovel,Feyd-Rautha displays the possibility of being one inDune: Part Two, having had visions of Lady Margot Fenring before meeting her. It is also implied that his ability to see the future allowed him to locate the Fremen’s Sietch Tabr, where Paul and Chani were hiding inDune: Part Two, allowing him to destroy it in a devastating attack and establishing himself as a formidable foe.
4Abomination
The Past Can Haunt People In Dune In A Unique Way
Though the Other Memory gifts one with incredible knowledge of the past, there can be a terrible downside to this ability. If a Bene Gesserit drinks the Water of Life while pregnant,the still-developing and vulnerable child risks being overwhelmed by their ancestor’s memoriesand going"Abomination.“What that means is that the child will be possessed by the genetic memory of one of their ancestors, making them dangerous in the eyes of the Bene Gesserit.
It’s a unique type of possession thatDune: Part Twoseems to have set up through Jessica and the still-unborn Alia, with Anya Taylor-Joy’s adult version of the latter possibly going Abomination in the future.
In the bookChildren of Dune,Jessica’s daughter Alia is taken over by the memories inherited from her grandfather, the evil Baron Harkonnen, years after Jessica drank the Water of Life while pregnant with her. This allows the dead villain to return once more in the story, in which he attempts to exact vengeance and rule over the Atreides Empire in the Regent Alia’s body. It’s a unique type of possession thatDune: Part Twoseems to have set up through Jessica and the still-unborn Alia, with Anya Taylor-Joy’s adult version of the latter possibly going Abomination in the future.
3Pryokinesis
A Certain Villain Displays A Frightening New Ability In Dune: Prophecy
After returning from Arrakis inDune: Prophecyepisode 1, Desmond Hart stated that he had gained supernatural abilities after being consumed by a sandworm and surviving. Most notably,Desmond reveals he can cause a person’s body to burn from the inside. He first uses this shocking new power to burn the nine-year-old Pruwet Richese, later using it to nearly kill the boy’s father, Duke Ferdinand, as well.
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After Dune: Prophecy’s most recent twist, it is clear that Desmond Hart is the show’s replacement for Paul Atreides in the Dune movies.
Desmond’s fiery abilities are incredibly terrifying, making him seem like an even more powerful “prophet” than Paul Atreides. However,using this deadly ability seems to harm Desmond as well. Whenever he tries to burn someone alive, he places his hand on the scarred portion of his face, appearing to experience pain as he focuses on unleashing his power. Thus, it is implied that Desmond could only use this ability so much before it burns him the most.
2Mentat Thinking
Dune’s Human Computers Are Vital Figures In A World Without AI
Following the banning of"thinking machines"after the Butlerian Jihad, the Imperium filled the void that sentient AI left behind by creating human computers known as"Mentats.“Similar to the Bene Gesserit,Mentats undergo intense psychological training and conditioningto think like computers, allowing them to perform complex calculations in mere seconds. This ability is displayed inDune: Part One, when Thifur Hawat quickly calculates the cost of Duke Leto’s meeting with the Judge of the Change on the planet Caladan.
However, Mentats aren’t just used as calculators.Their advanced level of thinking grants them incredible memory and insight, allowing them to store and analyze enormous amounts of data and draw logical conclusions with swift turnout. Due to these skills, the Great Houses employ Mentats as essential political advisors, with the Atreides having Thifur and the Harkonnens having Piter de Vries.
1Truthsense
Along with the Voice, the Bene Gesserit are sought after for their abilities as Truthsayers. In the world ofDune,the Bene Gesserit are trained to detect any physical signs that a person is lying, such as their speech and mannerisms. The skill makes them essential figures in the world of Dune, as the Imperium employs them to detect truth and lies in political discussions to help determine their tactics and better maintain order.
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The upcoming Dune prequel series promises to explore the canon further to explore the Bene Gesserit’s powers and where they come from.
The Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam first displayed this ability inDune: Part Two. She stood alongside Emperor Shaddam IV when he questioned the Harkonnens on Arrakis,giving hand signs that declared if what they said was true or false. However,Dune: Prophecygoes more in-depth into how truthsensing works, as it shows the Bene Gesserit training their students to detect lies by having them confront convicted criminals.
