What Powers Do The Dragons Have In 'Wings Of Fire'?

Within the story 'Wings of Fire', the dragons of each tribe have various special abilities, all of them spectacular in their own way. The fire-breathing SkyWings are the only dragons that can fly and are able to reach such high speeds that their fire can melt boulders. They are able to perform so many sharp turns in the air that it looks like they are made of jagged edges. In reality, their scales are as hard as copper and their sharp talons are able to dig into rocks. On the opposite end of the scale are the stealthy and very agile RainWings. They have the ability to change color and in some cases even shape shift. In the RainWings' case, their color-changing ability is a language in which the brightest colors mean happiness while the dark colors mean warning or danger. Additionally, the RainWings have very deadly and subtle venom that paralyzes their prey within seconds.

On the other hand, the SeaWings, as the marine-going dragons, have bioluminescent scales. They can use these to communicate and to form epistles in the dark depths of the ocean by flashing out in Morse code. The SeaWings are able to hold their breath for hours at a time, allowing them to be fierce predators in the ocean. As for the NightWings, they have a rare ability. Some of them can read the minds of other creatures, and some are able to see into the future in the form of prophecies. However, their ability is not always reliable. The visions they see can be extremely clear or completely hazy, depending on the position of the moon. Unlike the other tribes of dragons, the MudWings do not have any extraordinary physical abilities. However, they are extremely resilient creatures. Their thick skin can withstand a lot of force, and, when in a rage due to loyalty, they can become fierce beasts in battle. The SandWings are made up of desert-dwelling dragons with venomous tail barbs and the ability to control heat. And, last but not least, the IceWings are a group of fierce and cold creatures that are able to blow frosty breath and have scales that are almost impenetrable.

What is amazing to me about this series is that each of the dragon tribes has abilities related to their environment and to their culture. So the SkyWings are all about fire and war and forging, because that is what they do with fire. The RainWings are a very relaxed, non-confrontational tribe because of their venom. The NightWings are all about prophecies and politics. The SeaWings are all about the ocean and about the aquatic environment in which they live. And the hybrids? Well, it seems that hybrid dragons can have all sorts of abilities. For example, Glory is a RainWing-NightWing hybrid, and so she has the ability to use venom as well as to read minds. (In addition to being a pretty ferocious dragon, Glory is also kind of cool.) Each of the dragon tribes has their own set of abilities, which are sometimes great and sometimes limiting. So, for example, NightWings can get terrible migraines from overusing their telepathy, and IceWings are unable to function in very hot temperatures. And then there is the animus magic, which allows some dragons to be able to enchant objects. This is a rare ability, and one that can be very powerful indeed. However, it can also be corrupting, and that is a pretty big deal. All of the abilities in the Wings of Fire series are very deeply thought out, which is probably why I love this series so much. Every time I re-read a book, I find out even more about the way in which power relates to identity and to survival.

So, the IceWing tribe has a ranking system within the Circle, based upon the IceWing’s famous animus wall. Where you stand in the Circle hierarchy determines how much you are worth to the tribe. So, the tribe’s ‘power’ is actually based upon this rigid social hierarchy that controls every aspect of their lives. It’s a limitation that is created by the IceWings themselves, and is almost as powerful as their famous frostbreath. However, it is something that can be changed with great power – the power to be different from what everyone else believes, the power to be difficult and to challenge tradition.

I had always thought that the NightWings would find the psychic abilities of their ancestors overpowering. Being forced to constantly hear the thoughts of every person around you would get old very fast. Most likely the NightWings would find it to be a psychological prison. Later in the series it is mentioned that there are “silver linings” or thoughts shielded by silver. This is a clever limitation to true power. Often power this great is not usable because of the potential for abuse, and many NightWings have found this to be the case.

The SeaWings are more than just gills and shiny scales. They have an aquatic language made of bioluminescence – that is a power of communication and a social bond. Also the palace of the SeaWings’ animus-touched King is growing with the kingdom. That means power can be not only biologically given but also historically created and traditional maintained.