Unleashing the Unseen: 8 Extraordinary Abilities in The Wheel of Time Without Relying on the One Power

Warning: Spoilers for The Wheel of Time season 2, episode 6

Summary

Prime Video's adaptation of The Wheel of Time merely touches upon the extraordinary powers within Robert Jordan's world. While the show has introduced non-One Power abilities such as Treesinging and Aura Reading, there remain numerous untapped powers awaiting exploration.

In addition to channeling, the abilities of Wolfbrother, Dreaming, Dreamwalking, and Pattern Reading bring a unique and captivating dimension to the story of The Wheel of Time. While the One Power serves as the foundation of the narrative, there is an abundance of extraordinary powers featured in both the book and the show that exist independently from channeling. The vast and intricate lore created by Robert Jordan extends far beyond what has been portrayed so far in the adaptation by Prime Video. As the upcoming seasons progress, viewers can look forward to delving deeper into the fascinating aspects of Jordan's world-building.

8 Treesinging

One of the most intriguing aspects of Jordan's Wheel of Time books is the presence of abilities unrelated to the One Power. However, despite the show's efforts, these abilities have not yet been thoroughly explored. While a few concepts have been introduced, their full explanation remains pending. Furthermore, there exist several other abilities from the books that have not received any mention in The Wheel of Time series thus far. Although some non-One Power abilities are expected to make an appearance soon, there are already a few that have been showcased.

Treesinging is an extraordinary ability found within the expansive world of The Wheel of Time franchise. Prime Video's adaptation of The Wheel of Time, specifically in season 2, episode 6, introduces this remarkable skill when Loial, the dedicated Ogier, is compelled to exhibit his Treesinging prowess to his Seanchan captor, High Lady Suroth. By employing Treesinging, individuals possess the capacity to manipulate the growth of any living plant through the power of song. In the Age of Legends, those capable of Treesinging were revered as possessing the Voice, an awe-inspiring talent that allowed them to cultivate countless crops, eradicating hunger from the realm.

7 Aura Reading

In the Third Age, the time frame of The Wheel of Time, only a select few Ogier possess this extraordinary ability. Nonetheless, as depicted in the books, Rand eventually rediscovers this skill by merging his consciousness with Lews Therin's. Rand's mastery of the Voice is nothing short of astonishing, evident when he conjures an entire forest and employs it to deceive the Seanchan's Daughter of the Nine Moons into believing he can channel, despite being shielded from the One Power.

Aura Reading is a unique gift possessed by Min Farshaw, enabling her to perceive ethereal shapes or auras encircling an individual's head, thereby offering glimpses into their forthcoming destiny. In the second season of The Wheel of Time, Min experiences a captivating revelation, commonly known as a "viewing," wherein she witnesses Mat assaulting Rand. Nevertheless, it is important to note that this ability diverges slightly between the literary works and the television adaptation. In The Wheel of Time series, Min's extraordinary power grants her the extraordinary ability to tangibly witness future occurrences, whereas in the original books, her visions are predominantly symbolic and not always easily deciphered. Frequently, they manifest as solitary shapes, exemplifying regality or conflagration, such as a crown or a flame.

6 Wolfbrother Ability

5 Dreaming

In The Wheel of Time, Perrin is referred to as a wolfbrother, possessing extraordinary abilities. These powers enable him to establish telepathic connections with wolves, enhancing his sense of smell, sight, and hearing. Furthermore, being a wolfbrother grants him access to Tel'aran'rhiod, commonly known as the Wolf Dream. Elyas Machera, another wolfbrother introduced in season 2, assumes the task of instructing Perrin on harnessing these talents and preventing him from succumbing to his wolf-like instincts. The apprehension displayed by the Aes Sedai towards wolfbrothers, as pointed out by Elyas, indicates the rarity of individuals possessing such unique abilities who are not channelers.

Dreaming is a unique talent in The Wheel of Time that doesn't rely on the use of the One Power, although those who possess this ability often have the gift of channeling as well. It is a form of prophecy, where individuals experience vivid dreams that reveal glimpses of future events. These dreams are often filled with intricate symbolism and require interpretation, but the dreamer usually has an instinctive understanding of their meaning. Among the notable characters in The Wheel of Time who can Dream is Egwene al'Vere, but she is not alone in this power. Some of the Wise Ones among the Aiel also possess this gift.

4 Dreamwalking

Established as a distinct talent separate from Dreaming, Dreamwalking in The Wheel of Time refers to the ability to enter Tel'aran'rhiod at will. Similar to her role as a Dreamer, Egwene serves as the primary example of a Dreamwalker in the books, although Lanfear from The Wheel of Time is also believed to possess this ability. While it is not necessary to be a Dreamwalker to enter Tel'aran'rhiod, any channeler can access the World of Dreams using the appropriate ter'angreal. Nevertheless, Dreamwalkers are often regarded as the most formidable individuals within Tel'aran'rhiod. This talent is highly advantageous as Dreamwalkers have the power to enter and subtly manipulate the dreams of others.

3 Seeing "The Glow"

It's interesting how identifying a ta'veren doesn't always require the use of the One Power. Ta'veren are individuals who are at the center of the Pattern. Rand, Mat, and Perrin are all examples of ta'veren, and as a result, unusual events often occur around them. Those who have the ability to perceive ta'veren can see a mysterious "glow" surrounding the person in question. This ability was introduced in season 1 of the TV series when Logain was seen laughing at Rand. Season 2 later explained that Logain, like his counterpart in the book, had noticed a "glow" around Rand. It's worth noting that Logain had already been gentled at that point, meaning he couldn't have been using the One Power and must possess this unique ability.

However, there seems to have been a substantial change to the nature of this ability in the series. In the books, "the glow" pertains to individuals who are ta'veren, whereas the television adaptation of Logain suggests that the glow is emitted by men who possess the ability to channel. Since Logain didn't perceive a glow around Mat but did around Rand, it appears that this power has been significantly modified for the show.

2 Pattern Reading

Pattern Reading is a skill in The Wheel of Time that parallels Aura Reading. Through Pattern Reading, individuals can catch a glimpse of the Pattern of the Age. Amongst the Forsaken, Lanfear possesses this rare ability. It is worth noting that it was her perception of an unusual thinness in the Pattern that led to the creation of a bore into the Dark One's prison during the Age of Legends. Although it is difficult to ascertain with certainty whether her ability to sense this thinness in the Pattern is directly connected to her proficiency in Pattern Reading, it appears to be the most probable explanation for her remarkable feat.

1 Sniffing

The ability of sniffing in The Wheel of Time books has yet to make an appearance in Prime Video's adaptation of the series. Sniffing is the remarkable talent to detect violence through smell. In The Great Hunt, the second book of the series, Rand and his companions rely on a Shienaran Sniffer named Hurin to track down the Trollocs and Padan Fain, who have stolen the Horn of Valere from Fal Dara. It's possible that the TV show will combine this power with the wolfbrother ability, as Elyas was referred to as a "Sniffer," but there is still a possibility that sniffing might be introduced as a separate concept in future seasons.