Illyria

Illyria (reborn 2004 in Los Angeles, California) is a fictional character created by Joss Whedon for the cult television program]] Angel. The character is portrayed by Amy Acker.

The full scope of Illyria's power is unknown. When Illyria takes over her new "shell", she has tremendous physical strength. Spike likens a blow from her to being hit by a Mack truck. Her strength, reflexes, and agility make her a formidable hand-to-hand combatant. She uses an ancient fighting style that Spike compares to Tae Kwon Do and "Brazilian Ninjitsu" (probably Capoeira). Although Spike's adaptability gives him an occasional advantage, Illyria generally dominates their sparring sessions. Her skin is a hardened shell, providing her body with a heavy armor capable of withstanding blows from forged weapons (e.g. swords or axes). She is aided in combat by her ability to selectively alter time, which allows her to easily dodge both attacks and bullets; she can accomplish a goal and leave an area before her opponent even realizes she has moved. She can also open interdimensional portals. In the episode titled "Underneath", Wesley comments on her not needing to sleep. She can alter her physical appereance on a basic level, and she is capable of recreating Fred's persona accurately enough to fool Fred's parents. She tells Knox that she can take any form she chooses. Her senses are enhanced, which enables her to recognize that Connor's body warms when he sees her, indicating his lust. She communicates with flora, often spending hours at a time communing with a plant. Illyria is also capable of distinguishing humans (or "primitives"), from demons, vampires and other half-breeds. For example, she perceives that Marcus Hamilton is neither human nor demon (referring to him as a "creature"). She also retains the insights from her experiences as an Old One, which enable her to effectively analyze the power dynamics, personal motivations, and emotions that influence those around her.