Billy Butcher, played by Karl Urban, gained new powers in the Boys Season 4 finale that marked a significant change from his prior talents. Billy Butcher is slowly dying throughout the whole fourth season of The Boys because he took Temp V in the third season, which caused a black mass to start forming on his brain.

Apart from his imminent demise, Butcher also desired Ryan, his stepson, to come back to him after frightening him away from Homelander at the conclusion of Season 3. Furthermore, Butcher’s objective has been to eliminate Homelander and the majority of superhumans on Earth since Season 1.

This season, a virus that could 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 superpowered beings was the key to super devastation. It was first discovered in Gen V. Watchers of all of Season 4 know, though, that that plot was foiled, and Butcher was forced to once more transform into the thing he despises most: a supe.

Billy Butcher’s New Powers Explained

As The Boys Season 4 came to a close, Hughie brought in Victoria Neuman, who was seeking to swap sides after Homelander exposed her as a supe.

But Billy Butcher arrives on the scene with a different agenda. His entrance alarmed the audience because he had been spotted in a hospital, close to death.

Hughie asks Butcher to trust him and proceed with working with Neuman, but instead, he pushes him to the side and unleashes several tentacles from his chest, using them to wrap around Neuman.

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His intent quickly becomes lethal as he wisely covers her eyes to prevent the supe from using her head-popping abilities and pulls her apart into two halves.

His new powers are so strong he is able to attack her (supe) daughter Zoe and the security guard while keeping Kimiko and Starlight away from stopping him.

This display of his power marks the first time viewers witness Butcher’s true capabilities, showcasing a previously hidden ability that adds a new dimension to his character.

Fans will remember back in Episode 4 Butcher 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed Ezekiel, but audiences were not shown the scene and he blacked out during the bloody attack.

The question every fan was asking themselves was, “How did Butcher get these new powers?”

The final scene of Butcher this season shows him driving away with the hallucination of Joe Kessler giving him an approving nod. It also reveals a blue vial of what fans can assume is Compound V that Butcher shot himself off with in between the hospital and the surprise attack on Neuman.

Butcher’s power evolution appears linked to his history with Temp V and the new dose of Compound V, possibly fighting back against the fatal tumor.

His Temp V powers in Season 3 were similar to Homelander with super strength and the ability to shoot lasers from his eyes. It’s unclear if he still has those capabilities on top of the new tentacles headed into Season 5.

How Will These New Abilities Factor into Season 5?

The dystopian Season 5 of The Boys was hinted to in the season’s finale, where Butcher would turn into a murderous nemesis. His capricious behavior, which includes 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ing several people and stealing the virus that 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s supremacists, portends a tenacious hunt for Homelander’s death.

It’s difficult to determine if this super-Butcher could defeat Homelander in a one-on-one match, but it appears likely given that he defeated Neuman in a matter of seconds. In the meantime, Season 5 promises more mystery thanks to Sage’s enigmatic plan, which advances to “Phase Two” after influencing Martial Law.

Along with exposing Frenchie’s brainwashing, Season 5 must also deal with the locations of Ryan, the son of Homelander, and A-Train, who were not shown in the Season 4 conclusion. The biggest advantage The Boys have now that they’re all apart is Butcher’s newly acquired deadly s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s.