Here’s How Will Uses His Powers in STRANGER THINGS 5, Volume 2… For Good and Bad

In the first part of Stranger Things 5, Will Byers finally takes control, discovering he has powers. These powers actually come from Vecna, and Will accesses them through a connection called the Hive Mind. He’s able to do this by remembering happy moments and focusing on feelings of love – a really touching scene! While Will has a heroic moment in episode four, using these powers isn’t simple. Keep reading to find out how Will uses his abilities, what goes wrong, and how he grows stronger in the second part of Stranger Things 5. If you haven’t seen it yet, you might want to check out our spoiler-free review first.

Will Uses His Powers to Try to Kill Vecna Inside His Mind in Stranger Things 5, Volume 2

Now that Will has developed powers, it gives the group a significant advantage in their final battle against Vecna in Stranger Things 5, Volume 2. For the first time, Joyce fully embraces Will’s abilities, suggesting he use them to re-enter Vecna’s mental network and defeat him from within. She assures Will that no one will ever doubt his strength again.

First clip from ‘STRANGER THINGS’ Season 5 Vol. 2

Releasing December 25 on Netflix.

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) December 18, 2025

Lucas proposes a risky plan: revive a Demogorgon. His idea is that Will can use the connection to the Hive Mind through the Demogorgon to infiltrate Vecna and finally destroy Henry Creel. Lucas points out that, like they discovered when trapping Billy in Stranger Things 3, they can reactivate the Mind Flayer’s particles with energy – in this case, electricity from the power grid. The group, including Joyce, Murray, Erica, Mike, and Will, all agree to try it.

Will Succeeds in Using His Powers to Hurt Vecna, But Can’t Kill Him

Okay, so things got intense! The group actually managed to bring the Demogorgon back to life – safely, thankfully – and hooked it up to the radio tower. Once they got the electricity flowing around 50%, it worked! Will was able to connect back to the Hive Mind and get his powers back. It was crazy because he could suddenly see through Derek, just like Vecna was searching for Holly. But Vecna/Henry showed up right when he was about to kill Holly and Max in this mental prison he had them in, and he was actually choking Max in both the real world and inside his head! Thankfully, Will used the Hive Mind to take control of Vecna! It was incredible – he even broke Vecna’s leg with his powers in Stranger Things 5, Volume 2! Will saved Max’s life, and Vecna dropped her. Then, get this, Will spoke through Vecna, telling Max and Holly to run. It was such a wild moment!

However, the triumph doesn’t last. Vecna quickly retaliates and regains control, forcefully ejecting Will. This throws Will backwards in the real world, knocking him unconscious. Vecna then uses his abilities to mend his own injured leg.

Looking back, trying to use Vecna’s own powers against him from inside Will was a really risky move, and honestly, a bit naive. Vecna is a master of his abilities – they’re his to begin with, and he’s had way more practice. Plus, the guy still knows exactly how to mess with Will’s head, even now. It just felt like giving Vecna more control, if I’m being honest.

Will Is Trapped In a Trance Inside of Vecna’s Mind

When the Demogorgon reaches full power, dark particles emerge from its mouth, severing the team’s connection to Vecna and the Hive Mind—and potentially to Will. Even after the particles disappear, Will remains unconscious. Despite the Demogorgon being disconnected, Will doesn’t wake up, and Stranger Things 5, Volume 2 explains why. Max, Will, and Holly aren’t actually in comas; their bodies are physically unharmed, but their minds are trapped together in Vecna’s Mind Prison. They are in a trance, held captive within Vecna’s world.

Vecna Reveals Will Has Been Using His Powers Much Longer Than He Thought on Stranger Things, But To Be “A Spy” for Evil

Vecna is holding Will captive within his mind, and during a cruel taunt, he reveals Will has been connected to the Hive Mind’s powers for much longer than anyone realized – even before the events of Stranger Things 5. This connection began way back in Stranger Things 2, immediately after Will returned from the Upside Down. Vecna claims Will unknowingly served as a tool for him – a vessel, spy, and builder. He shockingly reveals that Will was actually responsible for creating the tunnels beneath Hawkins, unknowingly using his mental powers while asleep at Vecna’s command.

Vecna tells Will he possesses great strength, but clarifies that the abilities Will displays in Stranger Things 5 actually come from Vecna himself. Will can’t overcome Vecna using these borrowed powers, as Vecna is currently more powerful.

Vecna Uses His Connection with Will to Find Max in the Real World

In the final volume of Stranger Things 5, Vecna manipulates Will’s powers, allowing him to briefly access the Hive Mind. Vecna uses this connection to locate Max’s physical body, essentially forcing Will to act as a spy one last time – a process that painfully affects him. Once he finds Max at the hospital, Vecna dispatches demogorgons to go after her.

As a huge fan of Stranger Things, I was on the edge of my seat during Volume 2! It’s incredible to see how powerful Will is becoming, but it’s a bit scary because his connection to the Upside Down seems to work both ways. Thankfully, things turned around for Max – Lucas, along with Robin, Vickie, and even Karen Wheeler, managed to save her from Vecna just in time. And finally, Eleven found Will trapped inside Vecna’s mindscape and broke him free, which was such a relief – he finally woke up! It was a truly intense and satisfying conclusion.

Despite His Heroic Moment with His Powers, Will Blames Himself For Vecna Using Their Connection on Stranger Things 5, Volume 2

In the first part of Stranger Things 5, Will’s ability to connect with the hive mind and use his powers was crucial to saving Mike, Joyce, Robin, Murray, and Lucas. He used his powers again in the second part to injure Vecna and rescue Max. However, being accused of being a spy has deeply affected Will, and he carries a lot of guilt. He blames himself for creating the tunnels in Stranger Things 2 using Vecna’s powers, believing this allowed the Upside Down to expand and devastate Hawkins. He feels responsible for every death caused by those tunnels and believes Vecna targeted the children because he didn’t act quickly enough.

In the final volume of Stranger Things 5, Will comes to understand that defeating Vecna isn’t about using special powers, but about finding inner strength.

Powers or Not, Will Is Strong and Brave in Stranger Things 5, Volume 2

As seen in Stranger Things 5, Volume 1, Will’s strength doesn’t come from his abilities, but from accepting who he is and embracing his inner courage. Before the final showdown in Volume 2, Will finds the strength to be brave again, not through his powers, but by confronting and releasing his deepest fears – realizing that’s the key to defeating Vecna.

Vecna exploits Will’s deepest fears and secrets to gain control over him. While trapped in Vecna’s mental realm, Will experiences a disturbing vision: a future where he reveals his true self to loved ones, only to face a mix of worry and rejection, ultimately leaving him isolated. This vision deeply frightens Will, but it’s this fear itself that’s hindering his ability to fight Vecna and unlock his full potential. Consequently, in the second volume of Stranger Things 5, Will finally confides in his mother and friends about who he truly is.

In a heartfelt and tearful speech, Will shared something deeply personal with his friends and family. He explained that, like them, he experiences attraction, but specifically to girls. This vulnerable revelation allowed everyone – Joyce, Jonathan, Mike, Max, Lucas, Dustin, Eleven, Robin, and all those present – to fully understand him, and they responded with incredible support. Knowing he wasn’t alone in who he was, Will felt a weight lift, and he’s now ready to stand alongside Eleven, Max, and Kali in their battle against Vecna.

Will Believing in Himself Will Supercharge His Powers on Stranger Things 5

In the first part of Stranger Things 5, Will learns to harness his abilities by embracing who he is. The second part will likely show his powers growing even stronger as he continues to be brave and open with the people he cares about. He’s overcome his fear and is now prepared for a fight. Fans are eager to see the full extent of Will’s powers in the third part of the season.

The final season of Stranger Things is now available on Netflix. Volumes 1 and 2 are streaming now, and the concluding volume, titled either Volume 3 or The Finale, will be released on December 31st at 5 PM Pacific Time / 8 PM Eastern Time.

Rotem Rusak, the Editor-in-Chief of TopMob, loves seeing LGBTQ+ characters with superpowers and strong chosen families – she gives a shout-out to Stranger Things for doing just that.

2025-12-26 10:39