Frequently a case of Superhero Speciation and sometimes overlaps with Elite Four. Compare and contrast other elemental group tropes like Fire/Ice Duo, Fire, Water, Wind, Fire, Ice, Lightning, and Land, Sea, Sky. Super-Trope to Alchemic Elementals and The Four Gods. Because Light Is Good and an Ideal Hero is often an All-Loving Hero, this fifth character is very likely to be the hero and The Leader if the ensemble is a formal team and the work goes with the 'heart', 'life', 'light', etc. So a five person group in which 4 people align with water, fire, earth, and air, while the fifth has powers, personalities, and motifs (elemental or cosmic) linked to one of the above also counts. Life Essence: Life Energy, Soul Power, Heart Beat-Down, Biomanipulation.Cosmic Energy: Pure Energy, Infinity +1 Element.Heavens/Sky: Light 'em Up, Holy Hand Grenade, Star Power, The Power of the Sun, Lunacy.Void: Power of the Void, Casting a Shadow.This has been translated into the following natural elements (with the most common interpretations of that element attached): What this is exactly depends on which cultural interpretation you follow, but broadly speaking it was thought to be the substance that fills the space outside of the earth and from which the stars and other celestial bodies were created from. The second variation comes from the fact that though most takes on the classical elements have the usual suspects of fire, water, earth, and air, also include an Element No. Wood and metal are used instead, each with their own associated powers (typically Green Thumb and Extra-ore-dinary) and qualities.

The Chinese variation follows the Chinese version of the classical elements, which air is not a part of it. If the team is mixed gender, it is not unusual for fire to be a man and water to be a woman (often the sole woman), though this is by no means a strict rule.īesides the standard ensemble, there are two variations, both of which create a Five-Man Band.

That said, non-powered characters who just have Elemental Motifs are also acceptable.Įxpect each member to have Elemental Personalities and be color-coded in line with their elements, with Elemental Eye Colors and Elemental Hair Colors. Having the elemental association be to Elemental Powers specifically is one of the most common ways this trope is used. See Four-Temperament Ensemble, Fire/Water Juxtaposition, and Earth/Wind Juxtaposition for more on that. From a convenience standpoint, this trope sees a lot of usage because it also gives each member a distinct aesthetic, personality, and role, on top of having baked in interpersonal dynamics to explore. Thematically, because the classical elements were considered to be the root of creation and matter, having a group reflect it implies that this group is the most central, important, or most powerful out there. So the standard ensemble is a team of four with each person aligned with either fire, water, earth, or air. Before Quintessence came along, Will got the short end of the stick.Ī Classical Element Ensemble is a team or group of people in which each character is associated with one of the classical elements, the classical elements being a specific subset of the Natural Elements, typically composed of fire, water, earth, or air.

Four elements trainer earth kingdom