This article is about the creature. For the character, see Elias Finch.
Phoenixes were powerful monsters who appeared human and were very rare in existence, so rare that, much like dragons, they were believed to be mythical even by veteran hunters like Bobby Singer or Samuel Colt.
Characteristics[]
They have the power to burn anyone into ash with a simple touch of its hand. Even though a phoenix is immortal and powerful, it's still vulnerable to iron like many other supernatural creatures.
Like most monsters, a phoenix could be killed by being shot with the Colt. They would combust upon death and their ashes were able to kill Eve, the Mother of All.
History[]
Origins[]
The phoenix was born from the Mother of All Monsters, but it was toxic to her, like a cancer. She cast it out and it's hated by all monsters because it's poisonous to their mother. The phoenix has been on the run for thousands of years. Not wanting to hurt its mother, the phoenix uses a concoction of myrrh, frankincense, cinnamon, and muskroot oil to neutralize the ashes, which it then hides deep in a desert or atop a mountain.[1]
Throughout the Series[]
Sam and Dean Winchester traveled back in time to the year 1861 to retrieve the ashes from a phoenix that was to be shot by the famous hunter Samuel Colt. They arrived just as Elias Finch, the phoenix, was hanged and he "died" swearing vengeance on the sheriff, judge, and deputy. That night, Elias rose from his grave and incinerated the judge with his touch. The sheriff died soon after in the same fashion, despite shooting Elias several times with his gun. The next day, Elias found the deputy cowering in a jail cell, protected by Dean.[2]
Elias explained to Dean that he was framed for the murder of his wife. While the couple were visiting the town, the deputy had tried to rape Elias' wife and when Elias intervened, the deputy shot her and Elias. She died in his arms however, being a Phoenix, the gunshot didn't harm him. The deputy then conspired with the judge and sheriff and accused Elias of killing his wife. He was unable to escape as he was bound with iron shackles.[2]
The phoenix's ashes.
He was unable to get to the deputy due to the iron bars surrounding him, so he grabbed a gun and shot the deputy instead. Dean fled and ran into his brother, who had retrieved the Colt from Samuel. Dean and Elias faced off in a classic cowboy style shootout, resulting in Dean killing Elias. The shot from the Colt caused the phoenix to burst into flames before leaving a pile of ash, which the brothers needed. While they did not acquire the ashes before being brought back to 2011, Samuel Colt had arranged for a package containing the ashes to be delivered to Sam Winchester in 2011.[2]
Eve dies from the Phoenix's ashes.
Later, Dean packed the ashes of the phoenix into five shotgun cartridges. He also drank the contents of one with an ounce of whiskey. He then tricked Eve into biting him, causing her to ingest blood that was mixed with phoenix ash, poisoning her from the inside and killing her.[3]
Powers and Abilities[]
Phoenix's power.
Phoenixes are incredibly powerful monsters, among the strongest and most dangerous of all monsters as they were powerful enough to effortlessly incinerate almost anything and anyone to ash in seconds, and are almost impossible to kill.
- Immortality - A phoenix is immortal, being immune to death by natural causes and aging. Based on Elias's comments, it seems before the Colt, there was no known way to kill a phoenix, although the fact that they combust upon death implies there are other ways to kill them.
- Invulnerability - Phoenixes were nearly indestructible, and almost completely invulnerable to earthly weapons and physical harm, and could take repeated shots in the chest with a revolver with no reaction, although significant force, such as being hanged, could knock them out for a short time.
- Regeneration - Phoenixes could heal from most injuries, unless shot by the Colt.
- Superhuman Strength - Phoenixes were massively strong; much stronger than humans, lesser demons and most other monsters. One phoenix was strong enough to break out of its coffin after it had been strongly nailed down and buried over six feet under the ground and had over 1-ton of dirt and debris on top of the coffin. According to Dean, that same phoenix could have ripped off the door of a jail cell easily if it hadn't been made of iron. Phoenix are among the strongest monsters in existence.
- Super Speed - Phoenixes have the ability to move at incredible superhuman speeds, being able to appear and disappear almost instantaneously. When Elias killed the Judge, he was able to appear in the room akin to teleportation, and then disappear in seconds. Phenix are among the fastest monsters in existence.
- Pyrokinesis - Phoenixes could create and manipulate fire to an immense degree.
- Incineration Touch - A phoenix could incinerate virtually anyone or anything with a single touch; their ability was so powerful, they could reduce a whole man to ashes in seconds.
- Shapeshifting - Phoenixes can take on a human form to conceal their true form, which is bird-like.
- Self-Resurrection - Phoenixes can raise themselves from the dead, unless killed with the Colt.
- Flight (Possibly) - In lore books, phoenixes can fly using their giant wings.
Weaknesses[]
Dean kills the phoenix with the Colt.
- The Colt - Phoenixes were able to be killed by being shot with the Colt, which Dean Winchester did in 1861.
- Iron - Dean figured out that a phoenix could not touch iron, as like many creatures, it burned their flesh. It also could not escape iron handcuffs.
Known Phoenixes[]
- Elias Finch (deceased)
- Alpha Phoenix
- 1 Other Phoenix
Appearances[]
- Season 6
- You Can't Handle The Truth (referenced only)
- Frontierland
- Mommy Dearest (ashes)
- Season 7
- Meet the New Boss (soul form)
- Season Six The Official Companion Guide
- Bobby Singer's Guide to Hunting (non-canon, mentioned only)
Trivia[]
- While phoenixes are stated in mythology to appear bird-like, they appear as humans in Supernatural. Finch, however, is named after a bird.