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Alex Mercer regen (mid-high)
Low-High: The ability to regenerate from having no solid parts of the body remaining. This can range from a puddle or drop of blood to even a single cell. For robots and machines, this can also include regenerating from a liquid state.
Mid-High: The ability to regenerate from having all biology completely incinerated. This includes being reduced to ash, dust, smoke, vapor, or plasma.
High: The ability to regenerate from a few scattered or lone molecules, atoms, or sub-atomic particles.
Let’s start with the properties of the Blacklight Virus.
This is the virus. A lab-created handful of biological material. It’s very first feat is going into Alex Mercer’s corpse and reconstructing it entirely, on the genetic level. This little amount of substance was capable of transforming a human corpse into a being capable of tanking a rocket, breaking through two feet of steel, tanking missiles, and being able to carry a helicopter up a building upon waking up.
This should count as the virus’s first regeneration feat, as while it didn’t create an entire body from basically scratch, it rebuilt every single DNA molecule in the body, which would serve as the virus’s first host, thus giving it a biological memory of what to rebuild itself from. All of these ideas are supported by Doctor McMcullen, Gentek Director and Captain Cross/Supreme Hunter:
One thing that gets repeated a lot, is that Blacklight transforms on the genetic level. This very clearly pertains to his ability to shapeshift, which the context of McMullen’s statement tells us verbatim. “...rebuilds on a cellular level — a shapeshifter”. The dashes in this quote serves as a way for the latter clause to amplify or explain the former, since it connects two identical ideas. Everybody knows that basic biology tells us genes come from DNA, which is a molecule, and this molecule contains genetic instructions for almost all living organisms. Gene expression takes place through the expression of proteins which are large molecules responsible for most cellular functions. All cellular activity is coded within the cell’s DNA. Cells reproduce by dividing into two, and each new cell requires a complete set of DNA, therefore the DNA must replicate itself during cell division. DNA can also replicate in vitro, or outside of a cell. So while it is true Mercer transforms on the cellular level (his shape shifting abilities), it is also equally true that the Blacklight virus fundamentally rewrites the host’s entire genome over time.
Further evidence that Mercer's genetic manipulation on the cellular level is in direct reference to shapeshifting only is the following scans. They say he can manipulate his entire body on the genetic level, and each scan shows a different shapeshifting ability of Mercer as these statements are mentioned.
Prototype 2 confirms Alex having control over every molecule of Blacklight in existence, proving he has active control over his own (and his external) DNA. We saw this with Elizabeth Greene’s control over the infected she created, who Mercer consumed. Controlling every drop of white light in existence down to the molecular level is the same as saying Mercer can control all DNA in existence that is his own. We already see evidence of that in the experiment above. James Heller utilizes a similar ability through Pack Leader, where he can summon Brawlers and make them spontaneously explode on command.
So the first big on-screen regeneration feat is the Supreme Hunter regenerating its entire body from a small puddle of its own biomass, an easy low-high feat, and note: the Supreme Hunter was created as a cure (another virus / anti-virus)from Mercer’s own DNA. This means Mercer is directly capable of replicating the same feat, as it was his biology that the Supreme Hunter was based on. It also disproves the common myth that Mercer needed the crow to regenerate in the final scene of the game, because Supreme Hunter demonstrates self-replication without an external source, and limited biomass.
This demonstrates among many things, that Mercer has passive regeneration as part of his biology. We know it’s passive, because per McMullen’s statement, Mercer manipulating and transforming his body is only in direct reference to his shape shifting abilities, and also because after Mercer was injected with the cure, his shape shifting abilities were the only abilities of his locked, showing his cellular abilities were nullified, but his physical attributes and regeneration remained functional, which are integral to his DNA, not his cells. We see this when Alex states he can no longer transform, while he's actively regenerating from the bullet holes that are being put in him while he's reaching for his back.
Part of his in-game abilities is regenerating outside of combat up to a certain point, where his active regeneration through consumption, refills his health and even gives him critical mass, which is excess biomass. In Prototype 2, James Heller can regenerate while in combat and regenerate full health outside of combat, which likely scales to Mercer as well being he’s the one that infected Heller, and that being a shared ability between the two.
Then there’s the feat of Mercer’s body being almost half burned away by the fireball of a nuke that didn’t even directly touch his body yet. We can additionally see he reached internal combustion as the inside of his mouth and eyes are white-hot with fire, and there is visible vapor on the left side of his body. He was no doubt entirely annihilated when the fireball entirely consumed him, as he was only a few hundred meters away from the epicenter at best, and in-game credits put the nuke several miles off the coast of Manhattan, and nearly half of Manhattan is destroyed and ravaged by nuclear flames in the Prototype 2 game map. When the blast settles some unknown time period later, Mercer is seen as a few moving drops of biomass, until he speeds up his recovery by consuming a crow, which helped reform his entire body.
Another piece of supporting evidence not from the game storyline but from the game itself, when you fail the final fight against the Supreme Hunter on the ship above the nuke, the nuke explodes directly under the player’s feet, but it doesn’t say Alex is dead as it would if you failed any other mission, it just says mission failed.
This is potentially supported by the Supreme Hunter saying when the nuke detonates and they think the infection is cleansed, they won’t be looking for him. He follows this statement by saying after he consumes Mercer, he’ll be able to withstand it.
This could mean durability, and it could mean regeneration. I’m sure it means both, as Heller consuming Mercer produced the biggest visible power boost in the series, but from a regeneration standpoint regardless of the context, the Supreme Hunter planned to live after the nuke went off, even though by consuming Mercer, he should know the code to deactivate the nuke since Mercer consumed General Randall, who knew the code. There was also an old developer interaction from years ago with one of the staff writers of the series that confirmed this would indeed be a regeneration feat, but it has been lost.
Known PIS:
Supreme Hunter regenerates from a puddle of biomass in the first fight, dies from decapitation in the second fight
Alex is unable to regenerate after only losing his arms from the elbow down 3 times while being massively amped, regenerates from drops of biomass in the first game.
Low-High: The ability to regenerate from having no solid parts of the body remaining. This can range from a puddle or drop of blood to even a single cell. For robots and machines, this can also include regenerating from a liquid state.
Mid-High: The ability to regenerate from having all biology completely incinerated. This includes being reduced to ash, dust, smoke, vapor, or plasma.
High: The ability to regenerate from a few scattered or lone molecules, atoms, or sub-atomic particles.
Let’s start with the properties of the Blacklight Virus.
This is the virus. A lab-created handful of biological material. It’s very first feat is going into Alex Mercer’s corpse and reconstructing it entirely, on the genetic level. This little amount of substance was capable of transforming a human corpse into a being capable of tanking a rocket, breaking through two feet of steel, tanking missiles, and being able to carry a helicopter up a building upon waking up.
This should count as the virus’s first regeneration feat, as while it didn’t create an entire body from basically scratch, it rebuilt every single DNA molecule in the body, which would serve as the virus’s first host, thus giving it a biological memory of what to rebuild itself from. All of these ideas are supported by Doctor McMcullen, Gentek Director and Captain Cross/Supreme Hunter:
- Both people saying “Mercer” is the virus
- We’re told how the virus works from McMullen and Mercer himself. The virus rebuilds on the genetic level, copying the host’s DNA while actively repurposing it, evolving it, to transform it. This is basic biology, a virus cannot reproduce without a host, which is why the virus inside of the vial did nothing until it found Mercer.
- And we’re also shown that even one single Blacklight virion is capable of explosively replicating itself several times through a single cell
One thing that gets repeated a lot, is that Blacklight transforms on the genetic level. This very clearly pertains to his ability to shapeshift, which the context of McMullen’s statement tells us verbatim. “...rebuilds on a cellular level — a shapeshifter”. The dashes in this quote serves as a way for the latter clause to amplify or explain the former, since it connects two identical ideas. Everybody knows that basic biology tells us genes come from DNA, which is a molecule, and this molecule contains genetic instructions for almost all living organisms. Gene expression takes place through the expression of proteins which are large molecules responsible for most cellular functions. All cellular activity is coded within the cell’s DNA. Cells reproduce by dividing into two, and each new cell requires a complete set of DNA, therefore the DNA must replicate itself during cell division. DNA can also replicate in vitro, or outside of a cell. So while it is true Mercer transforms on the cellular level (his shape shifting abilities), it is also equally true that the Blacklight virus fundamentally rewrites the host’s entire genome over time.
Further evidence that Mercer's genetic manipulation on the cellular level is in direct reference to shapeshifting only is the following scans. They say he can manipulate his entire body on the genetic level, and each scan shows a different shapeshifting ability of Mercer as these statements are mentioned.
Prototype 2 confirms Alex having control over every molecule of Blacklight in existence, proving he has active control over his own (and his external) DNA. We saw this with Elizabeth Greene’s control over the infected she created, who Mercer consumed. Controlling every drop of white light in existence down to the molecular level is the same as saying Mercer can control all DNA in existence that is his own. We already see evidence of that in the experiment above. James Heller utilizes a similar ability through Pack Leader, where he can summon Brawlers and make them spontaneously explode on command.
So the first big on-screen regeneration feat is the Supreme Hunter regenerating its entire body from a small puddle of its own biomass, an easy low-high feat, and note: the Supreme Hunter was created as a cure (another virus / anti-virus)from Mercer’s own DNA. This means Mercer is directly capable of replicating the same feat, as it was his biology that the Supreme Hunter was based on. It also disproves the common myth that Mercer needed the crow to regenerate in the final scene of the game, because Supreme Hunter demonstrates self-replication without an external source, and limited biomass.
This demonstrates among many things, that Mercer has passive regeneration as part of his biology. We know it’s passive, because per McMullen’s statement, Mercer manipulating and transforming his body is only in direct reference to his shape shifting abilities, and also because after Mercer was injected with the cure, his shape shifting abilities were the only abilities of his locked, showing his cellular abilities were nullified, but his physical attributes and regeneration remained functional, which are integral to his DNA, not his cells. We see this when Alex states he can no longer transform, while he's actively regenerating from the bullet holes that are being put in him while he's reaching for his back.
Part of his in-game abilities is regenerating outside of combat up to a certain point, where his active regeneration through consumption, refills his health and even gives him critical mass, which is excess biomass. In Prototype 2, James Heller can regenerate while in combat and regenerate full health outside of combat, which likely scales to Mercer as well being he’s the one that infected Heller, and that being a shared ability between the two.
Then there’s the feat of Mercer’s body being almost half burned away by the fireball of a nuke that didn’t even directly touch his body yet. We can additionally see he reached internal combustion as the inside of his mouth and eyes are white-hot with fire, and there is visible vapor on the left side of his body. He was no doubt entirely annihilated when the fireball entirely consumed him, as he was only a few hundred meters away from the epicenter at best, and in-game credits put the nuke several miles off the coast of Manhattan, and nearly half of Manhattan is destroyed and ravaged by nuclear flames in the Prototype 2 game map. When the blast settles some unknown time period later, Mercer is seen as a few moving drops of biomass, until he speeds up his recovery by consuming a crow, which helped reform his entire body.
Another piece of supporting evidence not from the game storyline but from the game itself, when you fail the final fight against the Supreme Hunter on the ship above the nuke, the nuke explodes directly under the player’s feet, but it doesn’t say Alex is dead as it would if you failed any other mission, it just says mission failed.
This is potentially supported by the Supreme Hunter saying when the nuke detonates and they think the infection is cleansed, they won’t be looking for him. He follows this statement by saying after he consumes Mercer, he’ll be able to withstand it.
This could mean durability, and it could mean regeneration. I’m sure it means both, as Heller consuming Mercer produced the biggest visible power boost in the series, but from a regeneration standpoint regardless of the context, the Supreme Hunter planned to live after the nuke went off, even though by consuming Mercer, he should know the code to deactivate the nuke since Mercer consumed General Randall, who knew the code. There was also an old developer interaction from years ago with one of the staff writers of the series that confirmed this would indeed be a regeneration feat, but it has been lost.
Known PIS:
Supreme Hunter regenerates from a puddle of biomass in the first fight, dies from decapitation in the second fight
Alex is unable to regenerate after only losing his arms from the elbow down 3 times while being massively amped, regenerates from drops of biomass in the first game.
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