Mythology of Teen Wolf

The mythology of the MTV supernatural action drama series Teen Wolf follows a teenager named Scott McCall (Tyler Posey), who is bitten by an Alpha werewolf and must cope with how it affects his life and the lives of those closest to him and Dylan O'Brien as "Stiles" Stilinski, Scott's best friend. Most mythological elements in Teen Wolf relate to supernatural creatures and draws heavily from Greek mythology, Norse mythology, Japanese mythology, Aztec mythology, Native American beliefs and Celtic herbalism. The show has created its own unique mythos centered around shapeshifters and their connections to one-another throughout the world.

Banshees

Banshees are human females that access the supernatural to predict the deaths of others. They are also known as the 'Wailing Woman'. They are harbingers of death: they can hear noises, voices in their heads that indicate, and are able to sense impending death. They are often lead to sights associated with death, murder scenes, graves, tombs. They sometimes write or draw messages from the voices subconsciously.

Banshees are not supernatural as in the manner as a shapeshifter. Chris and Gerard Argent explain in "Maid of Gevaudan" that banshees have a connection to the supernatural, they are able to access it but are not controlled by it. For example, Lydia can cross Mountain Ash barriers which no supernatural creature on the show can cross. Also because of this rule, they are immune to the supernatural phenomenon as Lydia was unaffected by kanima venom and the bite of an Alpha werewolf.

The known Banshees in the series are Lydia Martin, Meredith Walker, and Lorraine Martin.

Abilities

• Harbinger of death: Banshees can connect to a supernatural network that broadcasts messages about death and dying. Teen Wolf creator Jeff Davis says that this frequency is "the whispers of other banshees." Banshees on the show are able to sense when someone is about to die and this is accompanied by a trance-like state drawing them to those who are near death. With time and practice, banshees eventually become better aware of their actions whenever they are experiencing their premonitions. This was seen in "Motel California" when Lydia heard the voices of the people killed at the motel. In "Letharia Vulpina", Peter uses Lydia to listen to the whispers from his sister's claws. This frequency also allows a banshee to communicate with other banshees, to relay their own messages surrounding death to other banshees no matter the distance. They can even share this frequency with other harbingers of death, such as a hellhound. Lydia's banshee spirit has shown a supernatural and romantic connection with the hellhound spirit within Jordan Parrish.
• Sound Divination: Banshees can use sound vibrations to divine more information regarding those whose deaths they are foretelling. In "Riddled" Lydia heard Stiles' voice coming from a speaker and other whispers when she plucked the strings in his bedroom. Meredith Walker was able to divine Allison Argent's upcoming death from a disconnected phone and plucking piano strings in "Echo House" and "Insatiable."
• Banshee Scream: A banshee's most valuable talent is their banshee wail, which can be used to produce various effects. Peter says Lydia's scream is a means to an end, drowning out all other sounds so that she can focus on the voices only she can hear.

Lydia is also able to communicate with a fellow Banshee, Meredith Walker, to tell Stiles that she doesn't want to be found (see Insatiable). In Season 5, Meredith says they can use their scream as an offensive weapon as well. The scream is seen as a strong sound wave capable of throwing people and objects short distances. According to Dr. Valack, in "The Last Chimera", she could shatter a human skull with her voice as well. This is evidenced in Lie Ability as Valack, himself, meets this fate.

The Ghost Riders

Abilities

• Supernatural Strength:
• Memory Erasure:
• Teleportation:

Berserkers

Berserkers are men who wear the skins/bones of bears within the Teen Wolf Universe. According to Chris Argent, Berserkers don't just wear the bear parts to channel the animal's ferocity, they actually become animals themselves. Argent says their human side doesn't last long because they are not tempered by the moon.

Based on the two Berserker deaths shown: the body turns to dust at the moment of death suggesting they were no longer human.

Abilities

Berserkers are super strong, able to tear the human body apart. Their physical strength far surpasses that of the average werewolf. Characters who've encountered them say Berserkers are very fast, as demonstrated the first time we see one on screen and it is able to immediately catch up to two werewolves who had a head start.

The first reported Berserker death took hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Point-blank range explosions are also capable of killing Berserkers. Additionally, using his evolved power, Derek Hale was capable of killing a Berserker by ripping apart its skull mask.

The Berserkers also have a connection with werejaguars.

The Werejaguar Kate Argent is able to control and create Berserkers. Theo Raeken explains that werejaguars and Berserkers are connected to each other. This bond allows the werejaguar to sense berserkers and was demonstrated by Hayden Romero who was a chimera with werejaguar DNA.

Druid

Druids act as advisors, emissaries, to the werewolf packs. This connection formed in ancient Greece after King Lycaon and his sons were turned into wolves by the God Zeus. The Druids had shapeshifting abilities and, while they could not undo the curse, they taught Lycaon how to shift back and forth between human and wolf.

Darach

Whereas Druid means "Wise Oak" and indicates a dedication to philosophy and religion, Darach means "Dark Oak" and denotes a perversion of the Druid's beliefs.

Abilities

In addition to the standard abilities of a druid - including their power over mountain ash as well as their medicinal knowledge and herbalist lore - darachs possess stronger and more potent abilities from tapping into the laws of nature and living animal or human sacrifices which make them immensely strong and allows some degree of control over both their own appearance as well as access to overpowering strength and the ability to let off psychic blasts or influence the minds of others. Their powers are fueled by sacrificing lives to Nemetons in a specific order; warriors, philosophers, guardians, healers and virgins.

• Supernatural Strength: Darachs possess powerful strength capable of surpassing that of an Alpha Pack werewolves. Jennifer Blake was able to overpower Twin Alphas Aiden and Ethan, even physically "breaking" the part of their essence that made them Alphas - losing both their status as well as their power to merge. She was also able to fight off the Alpha Kali and subsequently kill her through telekinesis. The only Alphas powerful enough to overpower her was the Demon Wolf Alpha Deucalion as well as the True Alpha Scott McCall. Excessive use of her magics caused her to lose a portion of her strength momentarily.
• Psychic Blasts:

Werewolf

Werewolves are a species of shapeshifter and are the primary protagonists within the Teen Wolf universe as well as the occasional antagonists. Generally, werewolves are a prominent species of shifters spiritually descended from the Ancient Greek cannibal Lycaon and his sons after they were transformed into wolves by the god Zeus. They draw their power from the Full Moon and possess both the intelligence of men as well as the senses and strength of a wolf combined with the power and vitality afforded by Lycaon's curse or the power of rainwater drunken from the paw print of a wolf in earth.

Characteristics

A werewolf can be born to werewolf parents through genetic lycanthropy, or former humans turned into new werewolves by an Alpha's bite. Another confirmed method is drinking rain water from the paw print of a wolf (Sebastien Valet). Werewolves live in packs, following an Alpha, not only because of strength in numbers, but because they become more powerful, more mature, "better in every way". A pack can also be composed only of Alphas. Werewolves are bound to the full moon, it makes them want to transform and transform more easily. A werewolf's power is at its peak during the full moon. Newly bitten werewolves are at the mercy of the full moon, and under its sway, they can easily lose control and their homicidal tendencies increase. Born werewolves generally have an easier time controlling themselves simply because it is part of their nature. Werewolves lose all their power during the lunar eclipse.

Shapeshifting

They usually appear in human form and can shift to varying degrees into a bipedal wolf-like creature with increased body hair, fangs and glowing eyes. Jeff Davis has said there's a progression in the werewolf's transformation.

The most commonly seen werewolf transformation is a near-human shape that includes eye colour change, claws, elongated fangs, heightened brow, an alteration of facial hair including sideburns on their cheeks and a lengthening, sharpening of the ears.

When he was an Alpha, Peter Hale could transform into a large, grotesque wolf-beast that could stand upright, but ran on all fours. Deucalion, the Alpha Pack leader, could transform into a Wolf-Man with dark blue-gray skin and with more demonic-humanoid than wolf-like features.

Talia, Laura and Derek Hale could transform into normal looking wolves. This level of shapeshifting is rare amongst werewolves.

During Season 4, Scott began to undergo small changes to his werewolf transformation: first, his fangs became larger; then he gained more fangs along his bottom row of teeth, resulting in his upper canine fangs taking on a bisected appearance to make room for the lower fangs. Second, his claws became slightly longer and more curved, resembling the claws of Deucalion. The most shocking changes came near the end of Season 4, during a battle with a group of werewolf hunters. During the battle, Scott demonstrated an even greater endurance and stamina than any Alpha's previously seen, taking several gunshots to his body, seemingly, without pain. Then, as he began to violently attack one if the hunters, his werewolf form began to change, taking on an appearance that almost resembled the classic Wolf Man's shape, except Scott's facial hair remained the same as his normal werewolf shape, the whites of his eyes became pure black, and his facial features became pronounced to the point of his entire nose and mouth resembling the muzzle of a canine. However, when Scott saw the look of fear on the face of the hunter he was attacking, he hesitated from killing the hunter, causing the change to revert back to his normal werewolf form.

Abilities

• Canine Senses: Werewolves can see, hear and smell far more effectively than humans. Their sense of smell allows a werewolf to track people similar to a bloodhound. Derek Hale explains that a werewolf can pick up chemo signals, chemical signals that give off emotion, to learn what a person's emotional state is.
• Accelerated Healing: Werewolves possess considerable superficial regenerative abilities. Wounds from most objects, even bullets, may heal in seconds without causing too much discomfort. This ability is limited as they cannot regrow severed appendages or lost bones; though they can reattach them. Broken bones heal within minutes or hours depending on damage. Pain triggers and strengthens the healing process. Werewolves are also impervious to diseases and biological handicaps; any disease, even cancer, will disappear upon being Bitten, as will any crippling injury or physical disability. Even if a werewolf is impaired in human form, their faculties will temporarily return while in wolf form.
• Bestial Strength: Werewolves possess superior strength in comparison to humans. Even in human form, werewolves possess sufficient strength to overpower grown men with effort. Strength increases through shape-shifting, sufficient to lift objects several times their size and weight and strike with enough force to kill a man. Strength is related to anger; werewolves suffering from emotional trauma or mental disorders which cause increased rage possess more potent strength than others. Alphas and Betas draw their strength from the Pack; Omegas are generally the weakest as they have neither an Alpha or a Pack. Alphas are strongest; sufficient to overturn excavators easily.
• Wolf-like Mobility: Werewolves are faster and more agile than humans; able to cover several yards in mere minutes as well as perform difficult parkour feats with ease. Their reflexes are similarly heightened. Werewolves can appear and disappear within seconds with the power of their speed. Werewolves are fastest while in their shapeshifted form; able to catch up even to a speeding car and run several dozen miles per hour with great force and vigorous stamina. Werewolves can train and practice to further improve their speed; thus Pack werewolves are fastest while Omegas are slowest and thus easy prey to trained hunters or other supernatural creatures.
• Pain Transference: Werewolves can absorb and alleviate pain from others. In exceptional instances, this talent can allow a werewolf to fully heal an individual.
• Memory Transference: Werewolves can transfer memories with others by inserting their claws into another's neck. This ability can establish mind-to-mind communication and, with skill, allow for mind manipulation or memory erasure.

Types of Werewolves

There are three known types of werewolves in the Teen Wolf mythology.

• Omega Werewolf: an Omega Werewolf is the "lone wolf"; living without a pack and without an Alpha. They have all the werewolf abilities mentioned above but are considered weaker than others because they are not part of a pack. Werewolves can become Omegas by choice or be forced out of a pack by the Alpha werewolf or by circumstance.
• Beta Werewolf: Beta Werewolves are members of a pack and, because of this association, they are stronger, more mature than Omega Werewolves.
• Alpha Werewolf: Alphas are the strongest and most aggressive of the werewolf breed; described as apex predators. They are recognized by their red eyes; although an Alpha's eyes may differ from individual to individual depending on their respective shape-shifting abilities. Alphas are the only werewolves with the power of "the Bite"; the ability to change a human into a werewolf through bites. Alphas serve as leaders of Packs; drawing strength from their Betas and vise versa. A Beta or Omega Werewolf can become an Alpha Werewolf by killing their existing Alpha or by inheriting the power when their previous Alpha dies.
  • Beast Alpha: A Beast Alpha is regarded as one the most terrifying of Alphas alongside the Demon Wolf. A Beast Alpha is an Alpha whom has completely given in to their animalistic instincts; rage, hunger. lust and aggression. Within their transformed state, Beast Alphas are a monstrous amalgamation between man and wolf; around 8 or 9 feet tall, bipedal yet able to run on all-fours. Their transformation is violent and seemingly out of their control when angered. Those werewolves who become Beast Alphas are generally psychotic and power-hungry individuals; Peter Hale is the only example of such a Beast Alpha.
  • Wolf Alpha: A Wolf Alpha is regarded as a rare and precious Alpha and are held in exceptionally high regard as they embody what is believed to be the very essence of the werewolf's lupine nature due to their power to shapeshift into true wolves. Wolf Alphas are created from werewolves who possess great willpower and sense of purpose as well as enough compassion and humanity to keep from becoming Beast Alphas. Wolf Alphas are regarded as evolved werewolves and retain their power to become wolves even after losing their Alpha status. Talia and Derek Hale are the only evolved werewolves seen.
  • Demon Wolf Alpha: A Demon Wolf is similarly rare as a Wolf Alpha. However, similar to the Beast Alpha, a Demon Wolf Alpha is dominated by its animalistic instincts. The only known Demon Wolf Alpha, Deucalion, was a common Alpha before being blinded by Gerard Argent and subsequently slaughtering his own Pack out of rage and lust for power, taking their wolf essence into himself and discovering he could increase his power by doing so. This changed him into a demonic Alpha with vivid glowing eyes and a furrowed brow along with a much more intimidating transformed state while still maintaining humanoid shape.
  • True Alpha: A Beta werewolf can become an Alpha Werewolf through strength of character or sheer force of will alone. These are called "True Alpha Werewolf" and are very rare. Only a Beta Werewolf of a True Alpha Werewolf's own making can take the power of his/her True Alpha sire.

Special Abilities

• An Alpha Werewolf's Bite can transform a human into a werewolf. The bite usually only has two outcomes - transformation or death although there are exceptions (Lydia Martin).
  • A scratch from an Alpha Werewolf, if it goes deep enough, can sometimes be transformative (Kate Argent).
• Alpha Werewolves have limited telepathy and mental control over the beta werewolves that they create and some other shapeshifters (Werecoyote).
• Bites, scratches and other wounds inflicted by an Alpha Werewolf will not heal as quickly as other injuries.
• Alpha Werewolves have additional vision capabilities over other werewolves. They are able to see infrared.
• Alpha Werewolves can heal the extremely ill with their pain transference ability but they give up part of the "spark" that makes them an Alpha Werewolf. This can result in a loss of Alpha status.
• Alpha Werewolves can, by killing their own beta werewolves, become stronger.

Lycaon

Lycaon was a Greek citizen who not only refused to honor the gods of Olympus, he challenged them. He invited Zeus to a banquet where he tried to serve him the flesh of a human being. Angered, Zeus blew the place apart with his lightning bolts and then punished Lycaon and his sons by turning them into wolves.

In the world and mythology of Teen Wolf, Lycaon and his offspring became the first werewolves.

Beast of Gevaudan

The Beast of Gevaudan, known as Sebastien Valet is unlike any other werewolf seen on the show so far. It is larger than even Peter Hale's monstrous form from Season 1 and, instead of shapeshifting, the Beast creates a body composed of what appears to be black smoke or shadows around itself.

Sebastien became a werewolf after drinking rainwater from the paw print of a wolf. While this piece of werewolf lore has been mentioned on the show before, this is the only example of it working.

According to Teen Wolf creator Jeff Davis, his Beast form and transformation comes from how evil, how psychopathic he already was before he became a werewolf. The beast does not fit into any of the previously known categories of werewolf and was extremely powerful without the benefit of a pack or Alpha Werewolf status.

Hellhound

Hellhounds are described as harbingers of death and guardians of the supernatural who accompany the Wild Hunt. Believed to be black spectral dogs with fiery glowing eyes, Hellhounds have shows to inhabit human bodies and live human lives with only a vague subconscious comprehension of what they truly are. Thus far, the only Hellhound seen in the series is Deputy Jordan Parrish. Hellhounds are drawn to Nemetons like all supernatural creatures and they tend to collect the bodies of supernatural dead - including pseudo-supernatural chimeras - to bury them at the roots of Nemetons to restore and strengthen the trees' power.

Characteristics

Hellhounds are humanoid in appearance when manifesting within a human body. They only reveal their true nature when exposed to direct fire; manifesting in elongated and sharper teeth including the upper and lower canines similar to those of a werewolf but with the lower canine teeth being noticeably more pronounced. It's fingernails elongate into blackened claws similar to those of a werewolf. It's eyes glow a fiery red-orange and fire erupts from it's body; leaving it unharmed by fire and capable of burning through mountain ash barriers or melting steel. Hellhounds are instinctively driven to guard the supernatural world.

Abilities

• Supernatural Strength: Hellhounds possess preternatural strength rivaling that of a transformed Beast Alpha; sufficient to either overturn a jeep without effort or to do direct hand-to-hand battle with the Beast of Gevaudan. Hellhounds are unafraid when facing against any supernatural opponent. Humans are effectively powerless against Hellhounds in regards to physical prowess; Alphas with their Packs as well as Packs of chimeras may be able to hold off a Hellhound for a time. As Hellhounds have not yet been seen in their full lupine form, the true extent of their strength and ferocity remains undetermined; far surpassing that of Alphas.
• Accelerated Healing: Hellhounds possess the same resistance to injury and regenerative capabilities as other shapeshifters; most wounds heal within seconds without scars or lasting discomfort. They possess a high tolerance for pain as they can endure fatal injuries such as gunshots or walk through the force of extreme temperatures without dilapidating discomfort or permanent damage. Even metaphysical attacks such as the scream of a banshee cannot cause a Hellhound injury. Hellhounds also possess a similarly extended lifespan due to their healing slowing down the aging process; they are also immune to all diseases and poisons with the possible exception of kanima venom.

Kitsune

Abilities

• Longevity: A Kitsune's natural lifespan is measured in hundreds of years. The eldest living Kitsune was over 900 years of age while still maintaining her relatively middle-aged appearance and vitality. Kitsune age at a human rate from birth until they reach maturity, at which point their aging slows considerably and adapts to the aging cycle of a mature Kitsune. The exact age limit of a Kitsune is unknown as the eldest one seen thus far was a Nogitsune of over 1,000 years of age while still maintaining its power and supernatural strength despite being disembodied and requiring a human vessel.
• Enhanced Strength: While not as strong as Pack werewolves, Kitsune possess enhanced strength sufficient to give them the advantage in direct combat with a human opponent. As Kitsune are warriors and tricksters by nature, their strength allows them to overpower and dominate lesser supernatural creatures such as Omega werewolves or untrained Kitsune. Kitsune strike with superhuman force while wielding katanas and when infused with their element; enough to cause considerable injury to werewolves or other supernatural creatures; resulting in their healing abilities to be impaired by the force of their strength and supernatural element. Trained and experienced adult Kitsune are the strongest.
• Superior Reflexes:
• Accelerated Healing:

Types of Kitsune

• Thunder Kitsune:
• Nogitsune: A Nogitsune is a dark Kitsune which feeds upon pain and chaotic destruction. The Nogitsune possesses many of the same physical strengths as a normal Kitsune with the exception that it does not possess its own physical body and must possess the body of one who is psychically vulnerable. Nogitsune coexists within the soul of the vessel while it is possessed; suppressing the consciousness. The Nogitsune takes the form of a fly when disembodied. A Nogitsune's vessel can only be vanquished with the use of a magical katana or being supernaturally changed such as being Bitten by an Alpha werewolf.

Oni

Characteristics

The Oni are shadowy samurai warriors who serve the Kitsune. Their purpose is to hunt and slay any rogue Nogitsune. The Oni draw their power from magical fireflies within their chests and manifest through shadows and smoke. If the firefly is crushed or if the Oni is injured with a silver weapon, the Oni is vanquished. If the Kitsune which the Oni serve sacrifices their tail-swords, the Oni will gradually grow physically stronger and more aggressive. Oni are silent as they are creatures of pure shadow and absolute darkness and are thus invulnerable to any earthly weapons or injury.

Abilities

• Invulnerability: While not indestructible, the Oni are effectively invulnerable in that no earthly weapon short of pure silver or the destruction of their firefly core can destroy them. Chris Argent shot an Oni directly in the face and kept the shattered pieces of its mask while the Oni himself was unfazed. It is unknown exactly what amount of injury or trauma is necessary to destroy an Oni's physical form other than the destruction of their firefly core or silver arrows to the chest as they can easily withstand swords as well as gunfire and remain unfazed. Increasing their strength heightens durability.
• Supernatural Strength: The average Oni possess strength sufficient to overpower an un-transformed Beta werewolf. Their strength is connected to the Kitsune which they serve; the more tail-swords the Kitsune sacrifice, the physically stronger and more aggressive the Oni will become. In this regard, their strength is still limited. After having received the full strength of their Kitsune master, the Oni are powerful enough to kill a transformed Omega werewolf as well as former Alphas. Their strength is in numbers, and only in numbers can they stand against the combined might of a transformed True Alpha werewolf and Thunder Kitsune warrior.
• Soul Searching: The Oni possess the ability to see into the essence of those within their presence by looking into their eyes. They utilize this powerful ability to hunt for possessing spirits or malicious spiritual beings such as the Nogitsune to determine if the vessel is possessed by the force they are searching for. This power affects both humans as well as werewolves and other shapeshifters; including Kitsune. If an individual is only possessed of its native essence - its self, or soul - the Oni supernaturally mark the vessel behind the ear with a symbol reminiscent of the number "5" which represents self.
• Teleportation:

References