Peters Power, How Does It Work?

OK, he can copy other peoples power, but how does it really work??? does he have to see other people using it, or just by pasing near them he can copy that power???

if he needs to see people use his power to copy them, how did he copy Claires power??? when he sees her she has already healed completelly. but if he just needs to be near people with powers... does that mean that Peter already haves all of Sylars powers???

Vich, Peters powers and Sylars powers are quite similar, but there is the difference you mentioned it.

Sylar has to actually see the power working, it is like he can see the flow of energy and can understand how it works. If a super guy does not use his power, then he can't get anything. (if something is not working he can't see how it works). A perfect example is Claire's attempt of murder... He got the wrong girl and didn't know who was really the target, that means he didn't "feel" any power from any of them... well that opens a little controversy that's why I opened a new Topic.

Peter is just like sponge, whoever is near him, passing by, he just gets it. When he is near someone he just reflects their powers, just like a reflex... even if they are not using it.
That's why he doesn't know how to use it, he knows he just got it but don't know how does it work... yet.
That's why the "Invisible man" is so important in his life since he teaches him to focus on the experiences he had and to reproduce all the powers he got, to learn how to control it.

So at first sight might be almost the same, since they can get powers from others... but a fine analysis you can see that Peter is actually who has much more potentials and an great advantage on Sylar.
As I said before, If Peter and Sylar are together and if peter doesn't use any of his powers, Peter will get ALL Sylars powers at once while Sylar will get nothing, until Peter start using them.
Even in the case that Peter uses his powers, Sylar would learn each power one by one.

I hope the producers of the show will realize of this little detail...

[Jasonillsley]

Peter absorbs the abilities from others while sylar's power is knowing how things work - this is probably why Sylar can control his powers better than peter but I think sylar does something with their brains

[Omni314]

Peter does need to know he has absobed the power to try and use it unless the power he absorbs is a reflex power such as clair's regeneration

[Piemaster]

Originally Posted by toronja

As I said before, If Peter and Sylar are together and if peter doesn't use any of his powers, Peter will get ALL Sylars powers at once while Sylar will get nothing, until Peter start using them.
Even in the case that Peter uses his powers, Sylar would learn each power one by one.

I hope the producers of the show will realize of this little detail...

But Peter has already met Sylar prior to the season finale. When he is in Mohinder's place and M is pinned to the celing. At that point he should have absorbed all of Sylar's powers, but we never see him using any of them, or any evidence that he has them.

[Jasonillsley]

peter should be able to do anything that sylar does as he should have absorbed his powers when they have met a few times.

we do see peter using the telekenesis power which is from sylar all the time

I dont think he has to see other people using their powers because of when he met ted sprague and started burning up straight away

[Bladeuk93]

When Peter is punching Sylar while he's on the floor is he using Niki's Enhanced Strength power?

[ClassicSmash567]

he absorbs others powers

[ClassicSmash567]

so like Sylar, they aren't naturally his

[I_Remember_U_Your_Like_Me]

Peter Mimics Powers and Sylar studies Powers.

If Peter has all of Sylar's powers then they could be revealed as reactionary saving his life or someone eles and not having them all could also be explained away quite easily.

I think it is a great plot device in not alluding to it, certainly has people talking