All The Lantern Corps Power Rings And How They're Different From Each Other

Known for harnessing willpower, the green power ring was developed by the Guardians of Oa. Worn by many famous Green Lanterns - including Alan Scott, Hal Jordan, Kyle Rayner, Sinestro, Guy Gardener, and John Stewart - it draws power from the central power battery on the planet Oa. The ring can do almost anything, but it is mostly known for creating constructs fueled by the willpower and imagination of the wielder. When a Green Lantern dies, their ring searches for another potential wielder who possesses great willpower. Older rings were unable to affect anything colored yellow (the color of fear), but that can be bypassed when the wearer learns to master their fear.

All current green power rings are based on the ring worn by Kyle Rayner, who was once the last of the Green Lanterns. 

When the Green Lantern Corps banished Sinestro after they discovered he was using his ring to control his homeworld, he went to the planet Qward in the Antimatter Universe. There, he met the Weaponers of Qward and convinced them to develop the yellow power ring, a weapon fueled by the power of fear and specifically designed to take advantage of the Green Lanterns' weakness of yellow energy.

Using these rings, Sinestro established the Sinestro Corps, an organization of beings capable of instilling great fear in others. Chosen by the yellow rings, they joined Sinestro and became connected to the yellow central power battery on Qward. The yellow rings have similar powers to their green counterparts; using the ring, the wearer can create constructs of yellow light as well as project energy blasts and force fields. A unique power of the ring is the ability to instill fear in others to the point where the victim becomes nearly paralyzed with terror. This effect can be disrupted by the presence of hope provided by the blue power ring.

Notable wielders of this ring are Sinestro, Mongul, Arkillo, Amon Sur, Superboy-Prime, the Anti-Monitor, and Cyborg-Superman. Batman and Lex Luthor also temporarily wielded yellow rings.   

After the Sinestro Corps War with the Green Lanterns, two of Oa's guardians created their own Lantern Corps. Together, they created the blue power rings based on the power of hope, which became the cornerstone of the Blue Lantern Corps. Of all the rings in the emotional spectrum, the blue rings have the biggest power draw. When charged, a blue power ring on its own allows its wearer a limited version of the powers bestowed by the green power rings, including flight, the creation of light constructs, and protection from the vacuum of space.

Blue power rings only reach their full potential, however, when they are in the vicinity of a Green Lantern. After all, hope cannot truly exist without the willpower to back it up. Blue Lanterns are able to supercharge green power rings, enhancing their abilities greatly. When fully powered, blue rings can generate advanced healing powers, break someone away from the Red Lantern Corps, and generally bestow hope to all around the ring.

Notable wielders include Barry Allen, Nicole Morrison, Hal Jordan, Brother Warth, and Brother Hymn. 

Red power rings are fairly similar to green power rings, except the Red Lanterns are fueled by pure rage. Atrocitus, a survivor of the Massacre of Sector 666, formed the red central power battery using blood magic rituals. He forged the red power rings from blood and the power of his rage hardened and crystallized them. Atrocitus sent the rings out into the world, where they sought those with great anger. But when a red power ring binds with the wearer, it replaces their heart. The ring brainwashes the wearer and consumes them with hatred and a need for revenge. Their blood also boils, spewing from their mouth continuously.

The red power rings grant several unique abilities to the wielder. A Red Lantern can vomit plasma corrosive enough to burn through anything it touches, including a Black Lantern. Their overwhelming rage can also severely hinder other rings on the emotional spectrum - with the exception of the blue rings. Red Lanterns are also uniquely resistant to Black Lantern attacks. Unfortunately, because the ring replaces the wearer's heart, it cannot be removed without killing them. If a Red Lantern falls in love, their rage falters and the ring leaves them, leading to their death.

Notable wielders include Atrocitus, Dez, Trevius, Krrk, and Dex-Starr the cat. 

Powered by greed, the orange power rings were discovered by a group known as the Controllers, who opposed the Guardians of Oa. They discovered the orange light on the planet Okaara, which they believed would create a force great enough to destroy the Green Lanterns. Unfortunately, they were all slaughtered by Larfleeze and the Orange Lantern Corps, who had gained control of the orange light long before the Controllers showed up. Some time later, Larfleeze encountered Hal Jordan and immediately wanted his power rings. Though Larfleeze's power was overwhelming, Jordan's blue power ring quelled his avarice and allowed the Green Lanterns to make a deal to leave Larfleeze alone.

The orange power ring itself might actually have the most raw power of all the rings; it has the ability to reach a charge which far exceeds the others. They also have the ability to absorb the constructs of other ring wielders. The problem with these rings is they consume their wielder with greed. They are also vulnerable to the blue and violet energy of the Blue Lantern Corps and the Star Sapphires. 

When the Zamarons left Oa, they found a planet they called Zamaron. There, they found the corpses of a man and a woman with a powerful crystal between them. Called the Star Sapphire, what the Zamarons thought was the truest form of love was actually a parasite that fed off intense feelings of love. Realizing their mistake, the Zamarons created the violet power battery and the Star Sapphire rings. The rings then ventured out into the cosmos to find those who had loved deeply and lost those close to them. The Corps is all female, with some small temporary exceptions.

In addition to energy constructs and the usual assortment of powers, the violet rings have a limited healing capacity. They also have the ability to light the truest desires in others and can sense when a true love is in trouble. Star Sapphires are immune to the orange light of avarice.

Notable Star Sapphires are Carol Ferris, Miri Riam, and the converted Sinestro Corps Lantern Fatality of Sector 1313.

The Indigo Tribe harnesses the power of compassion, discovered after Abin Sur liberated the people of Nok with the indigo light that originated on the planet. The people of the planet forged weapons from the light, which filled their enemies with remorse. Abin Sur helped them forge the first indigo power ring. The Indigo Tribe devoted themselves to compassion in preparation for the Blackest Night, taking on a simple existence spreading goodwill throughout the universe.

The Indigo Tribe uses rings along with staffs. They can emulate the powers and energies of other rings - with the exception of black or white - which gives them a multitude of abilities depending on which Corps is present. Through the power of compassion, they can heal others and elude skilled trackers.

Notable Indigo Ring wearers include Indigo-1, Slorg the Slayer, and John Stewart. 

Before the birth of the universe, darkness reigned over all. Though the white light eventually banished it, the darkness was prophesied to return one day. Green Lanterns Sinestro and Hal Jordan tried to stop the future Red Lantern Atrocitus from claiming the power of the black from William Hand. Though they stopped him, Hand stole a device from Atrocitus that led him down the path to becoming the Black Hand. After the Sinestro Corps War, the Anti-Monitor was flung into space, where it crashed on a planet housing the black central battery.

Little did anyone know that the Anti-Monitor was tied to a female Guardian of Oa, who was slowly poisoned by black energy and eventually led Black Hand to commit suicide. His death unlocked the power of the black, allowing rings to be released throughout the galaxy. He and anyone who had died could be reanimated as a Black Lantern.

Black Lanterns can create energy constructs, but they rarely do so. Instead they attack with sheer numbers because they can regenerate lost limbs. They attack living beings by removing hearts, which they use to charge the black central battery. Though they represent an overwhelming threat, they cannot stand up to the power of life commanded by the White Lanterns.

Notable wearers include: The Flying Graysons, Abin Sur, Jonah Hex, Superman of Earth-Two, Black Hand, and a clone of Batman. 

At the apex of the Blackest Night, Sinestro bonded with the Life Entity, which Hal Jordan, in turn, used to resurrect a large stable of dead superheroes as White Lanterns. Together as the White Lantern Corps, they defeated the power of the black and were subsequently discharged from the Corps. Eventually, the sole remaining lantern became Kyle Rayner, after he mastered the emotional spectrum.

White Ring wearers have access to every color of the emotional spectrum, allowing them to use any power accessible to every Lantern Corps. It can also render the wearer invisible and connects them with all life in existence.