How does Ultron appear to use "enhanced powers" when he shouldn't have any?

Question

In Korea, Black Widow chases after the truck carrying Ultron and Captain America on her on her motorbike. At one point, Ultron fends her off and forces her to break off pursuit by

lifting a large a chunk of the street mound of dirt in front of her.

How does Ultron manage to do this, since he is a machine with no other special powers?

I'm disappointed the spoiler tags don't contain How does Ultron "Gangnam Style?" — TZHX, May 01 '15 at 18:44
Um... he's a robot with the Iron Man suit as a prototype. Why wouldn't you expect him to be able to do all sorts of amazing things? — Smithers, May 07 '15 at 23:03
@Smithers Not that it matters, but his physical body was actually a HYDRA prototype, which he uploaded into after the Avengers destroyed his banged-up initial form. But either way, the point remains: super-high-tech robot. — Nerrolken, Jun 18 '15 at 16:41

score 15 · Answer 1 · answered May 02 '15 at 05:36

15

I believe he is shown to have some kind of super-magnet in the back of his hand. When they first encounter each other at Ulysses klaws shipyard, Ultron activates this magnet & pulls Tony towards him.
Also, these days several roads have a component of steel. If the super-magnet can pull the Iron Man suit like it were made of paper, not surprising that it could rip up a piece of pavement.

answered May 02 '15 at 05:36

Stark07

16,185
10
69
122

No downvote, but magnets don't glow. Then again, Captain America's gauntlet magnets appeared to light up blue when he called his shield, so who knows. – Omegacron May 04 '15 at 14:07
4

It's a movie mechanism to show that something is working. And whoever downvoted this please let me know why you don't think this answer is correct. – Stark07 May 04 '15 at 14:19
3

@Omegacron: “magnets don’t glow”. Au contraire! – Paul D. Waite May 04 '15 at 21:55
4

Well we do know Ultron also is a total showoff :P – Stark07 May 05 '15 at 06:58
4

@PaulD.Waite lol well technically in those cases, it's not the magnets glowing, but a substance or light ON the magnet. – Omegacron May 06 '15 at 14:16
4

@Omegacron: maybe Ultron has that on his magnets too. – Paul D. Waite May 06 '15 at 14:21

score 6 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 08 '20 at 07:39

6

Despite appearances, Ultron has a veritable cornucopia of powers available to him.

Although the movie version of Ultron only used limited powers while on-screen, it's definitely not accurate to say that Ultron has no "special powers". In the comics, he has had the following technology & abilities:

Superhuman strength *
Superhuman durability *
Superhuman speed
Genius intellect *
Self-repair/healing abilities *
An understanding of technology which surpasses that of Tony Stark *
Concussive blasts/repulsors *
Supersonic flight capability
Force field technology *
Limited telekinesis
Limited shape-shifting ability
Mind control
The ability to "hack" into any computer system *
The ability to upload his consciousness into any computer system *
The ability to change bodies as needed *

I've placed an asterisk beside the abilities we see on-screen in Age of Ultron.

The most likely method for moving any object would be telekinesis, but if that's the case it certainly could have been called out more. As it is, we are never told that the MCU Ultron has that ability. Rather, he makes a gesture, his hand glows, and the chunk of road is moved upward. This could simply be a clever use of force fields, but it could just as easily be a form of telekinesis. In fact, he used something similar

to pull Iron Man towards him during the confrontation at Klaw's mine.

In the image below, the comics version of Ultron utilizes both his shape-shifting AND telekinesis abilities to re-shape his form:

Image from the comics where Ultron utilizes both his shape-shifting AND telekinesis abilities to re-shape his form

edited Jun 08 '20 at 07:39

Mithical

38,898
17
178
229

answered May 01 '15 at 17:29

Omegacron

63,111
18
213
388

He has some sort of force field capability as well. It's where HYDRA got that tech. – May 01 '15 at 17:47
1

after watching the movie it also could have been some form of burst or shockwave sent from ultron into the ground that bounced the ground up . – Himarm May 01 '15 at 18:08
1

I think the film pretty firmly establishes that Ultron does not have all the powers of the comic, so this answer seems kind of irrelevant. – Doge The Explorer May 01 '15 at 20:11
2

@DogeTheExplorer : Actually, even though the powers are never explained on-screen, he is seen using most of these in the movie. – Omegacron May 01 '15 at 20:18
That's because most of those powers directly mirror what Stark's suit can do. He certainly never displays shape-shifting or mind control – Doge The Explorer May 01 '15 at 20:20
Feel free to downvote the answer if you don't agree, but as far as I'm concerned we see 3/4 of the listed powers on-screen in AoU. It's not much of a stretch to assume he has the others as well. – Omegacron May 01 '15 at 20:23
2

I feel the answer is too generic, and doesn't adhere quite to what is actually shown in the movie. Please have a look at my speculation in the answer below. – Stark07 May 02 '15 at 05:37

score -2 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 02 '16 at 04:45

-2

During the climax, Friday tells Iron Man that the city is being held together through artificial gravity. This means that Ultron learned how to manipulate gravity and this could be the answer. It could also explain why Vision can fly without any visible propulsion; he can manipulate gravity, too.

answered Sep 02 '16 at 04:45

Kevmiester

1

Mmmm. The artificial gravity is a function of the vibranium in the city (probably explained away through superconductivity or something), IIRC. That could certainly explain how Ultron could fly later, but I believe he flies before he has any Vibranium in his body. Either way, wouldn’t really explain how he lifts the street, which does not seem to have any vibranium. – Adamant Sep 02 '16 at 04:55

How does Ultron appear to use "enhanced powers" when he shouldn't have any?

3 Answers3

Linked