If you look up a list of powers for a hero, you'll start seeing a term that keeps popping up: energy manipulation. This blanket term describes the powers of many of your favorite heroes, as several of them process latent radiation or energies in one way or another to create devastating offensive or resilient defensive capabilities. More often than not, this translates into one of the greatest superhero powers: the energy blast. From a blast of pure energy, a shocking wave of lightning, or a solid beam of solar light so powerful that it can burn flesh, energy blasts have been the go-to power for some of the strongest attacks in comic books and beyond.

There are a number of factors that can determine the potency of an energy blast, and it's not just the raw power a hero possesses. The genius application of these abilities can take even the tamest of blasts and move it up into a devastating attack, while the most powerful solar attack can still just come across as a light sunburn if not properly applied. So strap on your containment suit and put on some sunglasses. Here are our official rankings of the 25 strongest superhero energy powers.

25 THE WASP'S STING

Socialite Janet Van Dyne got the rudest of awakenings when her father was killed by an alien. After turning to his colleague Hank Pym, Janet was injected with special Pym Particle cells that would allow her to sprout wings and antennae whenever she shrank and also donned a pair of devices that allowed her to generate her Wasp Stings. Alongside Pym as Ant-Man, Janet became the winsome Wasp, and the two became allies and found themselves in one of the most notable, troublesome relationships the Marvel Universe has ever seen. After a number of ordeals, Jan and Hank have been separated for a long time, and Jan has gone on to become one of the most respected Avengers.

Jan's Wasp Stings have become a trademark attack and have been surprisingly potent thanks to unique applications.

On their own, these bio-electric blasts may not sound like much, but they've been shown capable of cutting through solid objects much like a torch. While the Sting is potent enough to break skin or stun a superhuman being, using it in conjunction with her size-changing abilities makes it a truly formidable blast. Jan has toppled many giant Avengers foes by flying into their ear canal and applying a Sting to an eardrum or brain component in order to stun and disorient.

24 STATIC'S ELECTROKINESIS

The cornerstone of Milestone Comics' Dakotaverse, Static, was a surprise sensation. Created by Dwayne McDuffie, Derek T. Dingle, Denys Cowan and Michael Davis, high school student Virgil Hawkins was exposed to an experimental tear gas which grants him superpowers. Inspired by his new electrokinesis powers and his comic book heroes, Virgil adopted the identity of Static and ventured into comic book history with a long-running solo title, a beloved animated series and a spot on the Teen Titans.

Static's powers as a "Bang Baby" caused his body to generate electrical energy, which he could manipulate in a variety of ways. From detecting electromagnetic fields to hearing radio waves, Static was able to use his powers in unique manners thanks to a keen understanding of science. Static could also offensively use his powers by generating electromagnetic force bolts, which could be used to electrify objects or by throwing balls of condensed lightning which he lobbed at foes. Static had plenty of potential to become a much stronger hero, with his powers seemingly untapped as he was largely self-taught in the use of his powers. Since he has not been seen in the DC Universe for some time, there's no telling just how strong Static has become.

23 JUBILEE'S PLASMOIDS

Formerly something of a poster child for the X-Men titles, Jubilation Lee stowed away on the X-Men's base while they were hiding in Australia. After hiding out in their base unseen, Jubilee eventually rescued a crucified Wolverine and inadvertently become something of a sidekick to the grizzled X-Man. Jubilee would go on to become a long-serving member of the various core X-Men teams, as well as young mutant team Generation X. She would even return periodically after losing her powers during the events of M-Day.

Jubilee initially looks like she must be a joke of a member, but don't let her fool you.

Jubilee's mutant ability to fire energy plasmoids from her fingertips is deceptively potent. At their weakest setting, they are roughly approximate to fireworks, but they're able to power through solid metal at their most powerful. Later stories would imply that Jubilee hasn't met her full potential, with her Generation X instructor noting that she could potentially detonate her plasmoids on a sub-atomic level, creating the same amount of energy as a nuclear bomb. Jubilee could easily be the most dangerous X-Man ever if she just had the experience of her fellow teammates.

22 PENANCE'S HYPERKINETIC SHOCKWAVE

Irradiated by energy from another dimension, Robbie Baldwin gained the ability to bounce off objects once a strong enough impact was generated, thanks to a kinetic energy field. After adopting the moniker Speedball, he was briefly a solo hero and joined the New Warriors after he accidentally helped the team defeat Terrax, a former herald of Galactus. But Robbie's association with the New Warriors ended in tragedy when the town of Stamford was blown up while the New Warriors were chasing the villain Nitro. Robbie's powers kicked in at the last minute, saving him from the blast and making him a martyr during Marvel's Civil War.

But Robbie wasn't just saved, he was changed...

Robbie's powers mutated to absorb energy from his surroundings and release a devastating wave of kinetic energy in an explosive form. But at first, he was only able to use these powers when he experienced pain. These new shockwave powers appeared to completely replace his kinetic "bubble field" abilities, but the devastating lance beams he could fire were undeniably powerful. The guilt-stricken Robbie was a terrifying member of Norman Osborn's Thunderbolts in his Penance identity. Although he returned to the Speedball identity that made him famous when his original powers began to return, he still hurts himself to charge his Penance abilities.

21 DAGGER'S LIGHTFORCE DAGGERS

When Tandy Bowen and Tyrone Johnson were teenagers, they were kidnapped and experimented on by a crime syndicate who were hoping to create a new designer drug. Though other victims died while the drug was being tested, it interacted with Tandy and Tyrone's underdeveloped mutant genes and developed a set of bizarre powers. Tyrone became a portal for the Darkforce Dimension but also gained a craving for absorbing the life force of others. Tandy became a generator for the counterpart Lightforce, which was actually able to satisfy Tyrone's cravings. The two became inextricably intertwined as the duo Cloak and Dagger, scouring the streets and saving other runaways from a fate similar to their own.

After becoming a Lightforce generator, Tandy gained the ability to manipulate the energy but toes a fine line. Using it too much could potentially kill her, but not using the stored power could overwhelm her, causing her to expel Lightforce unwillingly. As a chief form of offense, she uses trademark Lightforce Daggers. In addition to producing a luminance from the daggers that can cure Tyrone's hunger, these deceptively strong slivers of energy can be used in much the way as an actual dagger, by stabbing or throwing them. Upon contact with a target, the daggers inflict pain by actually draining a portion of her target's life force, up to potentially killing them.

20 DAZZLER'S CONVERTED SOUND BLAST

Introduced in the early 1980s, Alison Blaire is a unique example of Marvel's attempt at cross-promotion. Dazzler was meant to be a media powerhouse, first debuting in comics before releasing an album and appearing in a movie starring Bo Derek. However, the planned tie-ins never really saw fruition, and the Dazzler movie script was instead adapted into a Marvel Graphic Novel one-shot. Since then, Dazzler has been both an X-Man and, briefly, an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (though the latter was largely when Mystique was disguised as her), while appearing in many X-Men projects such as the 1992 Konami arcade game and the 1989 pilot episode "Pryde of the X-Men."

Dazzler's unique ability to redirect absorbed sound as focused blasts of light has proven beneficial in her day job as a musician.

However, her powers are not to be taken lightly. Dazzler's refocused light can range from a wide range, concussive blast to a focused laser which has shown to be capable of cutting through almost anything. These blasts are incredibly potent, but the energy absorbed must be from a reasonable source within a relative spectrum, meaning not all sound is enough to fuel her unique energy powers, and sounds she produces herself will not power up her abilities.

19 THE RAY'S LIGHT RAYS

Ray Terrill lived in the dark all his life, told that he had a deadly allergy to sunlight. But as his father lay dying, he told Ray that this was a lie. Ray had inherited the powers of his father, a hero formerly known as The Ray. With a host of superhuman abilities thanks to his body's natural ability to process and store absorbed light, Ray would begrudgingly accept his father's costumed identity, kickstarting a career that took him to the stars and saw him serve as a member of various Justice League incarnations, as well as alongside Uncle Sam and his Freedom Fighters.

The Ray's ability to manipulate light is, in many regards, on par with that of a Green Lantern, though he obviously does not need a ring to focus the energies, and he can recharge himself using sunlight. Ray's predominant form of attack would be his Light Rays, by far his easiest form of energy manipulation. While he is able to create hard light constructs or bend light to create illusions or even invisibility, the Light Rays are simple, projected bolts of light which can be used to hurt an opponent. While these simple light rays may not seem terribly impressive, the ease with which he is able to use them makes them a force to be reckoned with.

18 SHATTERSTAR'S SHOCKWAVE GENERATION

Shatterstar exists in a strange sub-section of X-Men history. The son of Longshot and Dazzler, and yet also the progenitor of Longshot, Shatterstar was raised in the future and trained to fight in Mojoworld, where he learned to fight in staged arenas for sport and eventually developed an insufferably prideful attitude. Eventually, he would go on to escape, becoming a long-standing member of Cable's X-Force team and an ally to Jamie Madrox's X-Factor Investigations. These days, Shatterstar is largely keeping to himself but the character's popularity remained strong enough for an appearance in Deadpool 2, though his trademark powers were never really shown off on screen.

Through sheer force of will, Shatterstar channels these shockwaves through the blades of his swords.

Shatterstar's upbringing, both as the son of two powerful mutants and trained in Mojoworld, gifted him with incredible strength, dexterity, strength, speed, and endurance, as well as uniquely possessing hollow bones, which allow him to remain athletic and agile despite his bulky appearance. His primary mutant ability, however, is the power to generate intense shockwaves. Through sheer force of will, Shatterstar channels these shockwaves through the blades of his swords, sending opponents flying. However, he prefers to rely on his own combat abilities rather than his mutant power, as the shockwaves are incredibly taxing on Shatterstar, leaving him exhausted afterward.

17 BLACK LIGHTNING'S ELECTRO-BLAST

Jefferson Pierce beat the odds. He grew up poor, but thanks to a caring mother and a mentor in family friend Peter Gambi, he became an academic and athletic powerhouse, showing a particular fondness for the English language. Jefferson rose up from his upbringing to make it into the Olympics twice and graduate college with multiple degrees. Jefferson became a high school teacher, but also hid a big a secret: he was Black Lightning, the electrically charged protector of Suicide Slum who was able to manipulate and control the electricity his body produced with potentially deadly efficiency.

Jefferson's powers manifested in a variety of ways, including the ability to generate force fields or manipulate magnetic frequencies. The electricity in his body also kickstarted his already superhuman reflexes, allowing him to move so fast he could dodge gunfire. Naturally, he was also able to wield the electricity offensively, producing Electro-blasts that he would fire forth from his hands. These blasts (or, if he so desired, arcs of electricity) could potentially kill, either through sheer force or by disrupting normal cardiac functions, but Jefferson trained himself to have an incredibly precise control over the powers, and would typically use the blasts just to stun or knock back opponents.

16 STARFIRE'S STAR BOLTS

A long-standing member of the Teen Titans and a fan-favorite character, Starfire has long been a DC Comics icon. A disgraced Tamaran Princess, the Marv Wolfman and George Perez creation first turned up in the pages of DC Comics Presents before joining The New Teen Titans and starting a longstanding relationship with the team. She also had a relationship and marriage with team leader Dick Grayson, first in his Robin identity and later as Nightwing. Kory has been regarded in a similar light to Wonder Woman over the years, a statuesque beauty that can still take you down one-handed if you step out of line.

Like all Tamarans, Starfire gains her abilities by absorbing ultraviolet radiation.

While this means she does derive power from the sun, she can also draw power from other sources, such as when she drained the yellow sun energy from the cells of a group of Kryptonians during the "New Krypton" arc. This energy also powers up her iconic Starbolts. A result of experimentation in her youth, Starfire has the ability to channel the ultraviolet energy she absorbs into a destructive concussive force. These Starbolts, whether blasted as individual shots or long, continuous beams, are concentrated solar energy with devastating power, and can potentially generate heat on par with the sun if she so desired.

15 CYBORG'S SONIC CANNON

Victor Stone's life was changed forever when a Father Box exploded in his father's S.T.A.R. Labs office. Victor was horribly injured and much of his body was left irreparable. His father saved his life with a series of experimental prosthesis and nanites, that turned Victor into Cyborg. The creators of the components that made up Cyborg's prosthesis were a literal Who's Who of comic book characters, including  Will Magnus of the Metal Men, the evil Professor Ivo and the current Atom, Ryan Choi. The Father Box also changed Victor, allowing him access to the same functionality and data as the New Gods, which included the first concrete information on the conqueror Darkseid.

Thanks to the technology fused to his body, Cyborg possess a degree of techno-organic shapeshifting.

This allows his titular cyborg components to shift into whatever form he may need to accomplish a task. His most common offensive weapon is a powerful Sonic Disruptor, formed by shape-shifting one or both of his arms into a cannon shape and firing powerful blasts of sonic energy. This Disruptor is an entirely non-lethal form of attack, but coupled with Victor's exceptional intellect has proven incredibly useful, even allowing Victor to hold his own against Parademons.

14 HAVOK'S PLASMA BLAST

The brother of founding X-Man Cyclops, Alex Summers was separated from his brother at a young age due to the machinations of Mr. Sinister. Alex later discovered that he processed ambient cosmic radiation, which resulted in his body emanating devastating seismic waves. Much like his brother, Alex was incapable of controlling his powers, though he would eventually gain a measure of control thanks to the help from Professor Xavier and the X-Men, who provided Alex with uniforms that served as containment suits and energy monitors. Given the codename Havok, he went on to serve as a member of the X-Men and X-Factor for decades.

Obtaining a mastery of his powers, Havok demonstrated the ability to produce devastating plasma blasts, radiating from his extremities in a series of concentric circles which would quickly become the character's trademark. Though they occasionally run unchecked as a result of his overall inability to control the shockwaves, he would learn to direct them through his arms and hands, allowing him to fire them as blasts of plasma. Unlike his brother's concussive optic blasts, Havok's blasts are white-hot plasma, which can cause objects to superheat and become brittle, before potentially shattering or even disintegrating.

13 VISION'S SOLAR ENERGY BEAMS

The android creation of Ultron, the Vision has more than a few abilities. Using the repurposed body of the android Human Torch, Ultron created a son with the intent of using him to kill The Avengers, changing his body and implanting him with the brain patterns of Wonder Man, himself a former villain turned Avenger. During this initial encounter with The Avengers, Vision would break free of his programming. Rebelling against Ultron, the Vision would go on to become a stalwart member of The Avengers, serving even after the legendary trinity of Captain America, Iron Man and Thor stepped down.

The Vision became a formidable combatant thanks to a host of abilities his android form granted him.

The modified android body of the Human Torch enabled him to control his density, allowing him to become as hard as diamond and acquire a seemingly impossible mass, or completely intangible and as light as a feather. Most notably, though, was his ability to absorb and process solar energy. With the focal point typically being the gem on his forehead (though on occasion he would also channel it through his eyes), the Vision is able to release a burst of solar energy with a temperature up to 30,000 degrees, capable of burning through most metals and proving to be a devastating beam when used as a weapon.

12 GREEN LANTERN CORPS' POWER RINGS

The modern interpretation of the Green Lantern Corps, first introduced as a concept way back in 1959's Showcase with the debut of Hal Jordan, has shifted from time to time between militaristic figure and intergalactic police force. Chosen by Power Rings which seem to be between artificial intelligent and sentient being, the Green Lanterns power their rings with energy from a Central Power Battery (decades later revealed to be the housing for the Ion entity, as well as the prison for the Parallax entity), which allows them to channel that energy through the force of sheer willpower.

Willpower has become the driving force behind the Green Lantern Corps from the beginning and has since been revealed to be the central component of a broad spectrum of emotionally charged powers. Though others can use their power rings in similar ways, the Green Lanterns are special. The energy blasts they create are devastating, capable of blasting through solid objects and give even Superman a run for the money (something accentuated even great by their ability to replicate Kryptonite). What makes these truly spectacular is just that these rings can be used at all. Whenever a non-Green Lantern has had the opportunity to wield the ring, they've found themselves, at best, unable to use the ring or so drained afterward that they barely got one shot off.

11 SUNFIRE'S SOLAR MANIPULATION

Briefly joining the X-Men on their rescue mission to Krakoa in the classic Giant Size X-Men #1, Shiro Yoshida quickly became a fan favorite during his early appearances. He left the X-Men upon their return from Krakoa but would reappear as a recurring X-Men character over the decades, as well as a premiere Japanese hero and member of the team Big Hero 6. Over the years, his powers would undergo a number of changes, including a brief period where his powers raged out of control, and for several years while he was a Horseman of the evil Apocalypse.

Sunfire's mutant ability allows him to control solar flares by absorbing solar radiation.

By processing the solar radiation into a superheated plasma state, he's able to generate a flame that rivals, if not surpasses, the Human Torch's powers, and clocks in at roughly 1,000,000 degrees. It also grants him flight and abilities such as being able to fire off blasts of white-hot flame which burns opponents. Sunfire also has an incredible degree of control over his blasts, ranging from giving someone a light sunburn to flat out disintegrating anyone unfortunate enough to cross his path.

10 GHOST RIDER'S HELLFIRE PROJECTION

When Johnny Blaze learned his mentor "Crash" Simpson was dying of cancer, the brash young man did the unthinkable: he made a deal with the devil, Mephisto. As with most deals with the devil, Johnny was betrayed. Mephisto spared Simpson of his cancer, but he died the next night in a gruesome accident. Johnny was bonded with the spirit of the Ghost Rider and wandered the country for years. As a hellish bounty hunter, a hero for the living world and a tortured and forgotten son, Johnny Blaze lived a tormented life, and even brief respites where he was freed of his bond with the Rider didn't last long.

The Ghost Rider possessed a host of strange and terrifying abilities, made all the more potent by his mastery of the Hellfire which emanated freely from his body. The Rider is able to manipulate this Hellfire in a variety of ways, most notably projecting it in a devastating blast of fire which he can direct through his mouth or eyes, or extremities like his hands, or through an object such as a shotgun. These blasts at their upper level have proven strong enough to stop even the Hulk in his tracks. This is thanks to the Rider's supernatural presence but also limited by Johnny's human presence, with Doctor Strange noting that when Johnny allows the Rider to take full control his power is on level with that of a god.

9 SPARTAN'S BIO-MOLECULAR BLAST

Originally a member of a race of space-faring alien adventurers, the alien Yohn Kohl assumed the human identity of John Colt and served as a soldier. There was nothing particularly special about him, as his alien physiology really only gave him slightly above-average human abilities. But when it looked like John had died in battle, everything changed. Several years after his death, John's compatriot Emp downloaded the memories and personality of his fallen ally into a prototype Spartan android, giving him a new lease on life. John would become known as Spartan and would serve as the leader of the WildC.A.T.S., a team that somehow juxtaposed the idea of being covert with also being an action team.

Spartan's android body provided him with a number of advantages, including superior strength and durability that allows him to go toe-to-toe with the strongest fighters in the universe. He also gained the ability to create powerful bio-molecular blasts, expelling bolts of bio-plasma from his hands and eyes with explosive results. These blasts have proven astoundingly powerful over the years, and at their max capability can release a force upwards of 90 tons, putting Spartan in a surprising upper tier that most wouldn't expect to find him in.

8 THE ION ENTITY

Hal Jordan became the broken psychopath Parallax after suffering a mental breakdown, but in the event series The Final Night, Hal redeemed himself when he died reigniting the sun. This act left a piece of Hal's remaining power in the sun, which would eventually be claimed by Kyle Rayner, the then-current Green Lantern. After absorbing the power, Kyle dubbed himself Ion. Under the influence of the Ion powers, Kyle became more than human, bordering on the verge of a god, and the powers pushed him to his limit until Superman reminded him of the importance of letting humanity find its way.

Kyle was always a step above your standard Green Lantern.

This isn't just because he had the only Power Ring in the universe and only needed to recharge when his ring's power had been exhausted. The Ion Entity, however, moved him to a step above. Much like a Green Lantern, Kyle's Ion powerset allowed him to generate energy blasts composed of pure Willpower, which could be used to create hard light constructs or to generate a devastating energy blast. Despite this, Kyle would eventually accept that the Ion entity was too much for him to wield, sacrificing the powers to repower a new Central Power Battery for a reborn Green Lantern Corps.

7 SUPERMAN'S HEAT VISION

You'd be hard-pressed to find a power more iconic than Superman's heat vision. While all powered Kryptonians eventually discover that powerset, Kal-El may be the most effective at wielding this impressively terrifying power. Focused through his eyes, Superman fires off blasts of intense heat, sometimes as visible red beams and in other interpretations as invisible, infra-red rays of heat. Though initially portrayed as a terrifying, out of control power, it is typically something that is shown to be highly effective in any situation, with Superman demonstrating a high level of control ranging from pinpoint accurate beams to wide, sweeping waves of energy.

The beams have proven useful for a number of tactics. Superman has found several typically pacifist ways to use his heat vision, from welding to cauterizing wounds. But in combat, the heat vision is devastatingly powerful, with only the likes of Doomsday or other Kryptonians taking it at full force without missing a beat, and even they tend to yield. This power does come at a cost though, as some iterations of the power (such as The CW's Supergirl) have demonstrated that using the heat vision at too high an intensity can lead to a Kryptonian draining the solar power from their cells.

6 GOKU'S KAMEHAMEHA WAVE

You'd be remiss to talk about energy blasts without bringing up one of the most prominent fighters and cultural sensations in all of media. To say that Son Goku, the protagonist of the wildly popular Dragon Ball franchise is a master fighter would be the understatement of a lifetime. As a member of the near-extinct Saiyan race, Goku has a preternatural sense of fighting skills, including the ability to mimic a fighting style after watching it be used briefly. Coupled with his alien endurance and toughness, it's no surprise that he was also able to manipulate his Ki in ways that few others in the world of Dragon Ball could.

Chief among these is his signature attack, the Kamehameha Wave. By focusing his Ki energy to a point in cupped hands, Goku can prepare an incredible ball of energy that he can then erupt forward in a devastating wave of energy. The blast's power is limited by Goku's ability and control, and his freakish ability to get stronger means the attack rangers from knocking a common fighter on their butt to nearly blowing a planet in half. Supplemented by further abilities, such as Goku's Kaio-ken technique or any of a plethora of Super Saiyan forms, the Kamehameha Wave ranks up there with the strongest attacks ever conceived in fiction.