Elizabeth Braddock

Elizabeth "Betsy" Braddock, also known as Psylocke, is a class 4 mutant who can telekinetically generate and manipulate constructs comprised of pure energy.

Betsy is the former enforcer of Caliban, before becoming Pestilence, the second of the Four Horsemen of Apocalypse.

After En Sabah Nur's death, Betsy's whereabouts are unknown.

Biography

X-Men: Apocalypse

For an unknown length of time, Psylocke was the assistant of Caliban, a mutant who could locate other mutants. The two would eventually get approached by Apocalypse and Storm, who were in search of new members to recruit to their cause. However, after the two threatened Caliban, Psylocke held both mutants at knifepoint with her blades. Amused, Apocalypse convinced her to join them before giving the mutant more power and a new uniform. Psylocke would then accompany the two as they recruited Angel and Magneto.

Upon capturing Charles Xavier and seizing control of Cairo, Apocalypse prepares to transfer his consciousness into the mutant while ordering his followers to protect him. When a group of mutants led by Mystique arrive aboard an astral plane, Psylocke gets into a fight with Beast which ultimately culminates in her getting thrown onto a rooftop.

Later, as the mutants rescue Xavier and attempt to flee, Angel and Psylocke manage to get onto the astral plane as it takes off. However, thanks to Nightcrawler's ability to teleport, the heroes escape, leaving the two mutants behind on an aircraft heading towards the ground. Although Psylocke manages to get blown off, Angel is unable to escape as the astral plane crashes and explodes, killing him instantly.

Following Apocalypse's demise at the hands of Jean Grey, Cyclops, Storm and Magneto, Psylocke leaves the area.

Character traits

Betsy appears to be a follower whose loyalty is only limited to those who can give a her a more interesting offer. This is demonstrated when she abandons her boss, Caliban for En Sabah Nur. She abandons En Sabah Nur when he disregards the possibly deceased Warren Worthington III as useless and is overwhelmed by the combined effort of the X-Men, although her pausing to glare at them indicates she holds a grudge against them. She appears to enjoy killing or at least a challenging fight; as she rarely uses her telepathy and often uses her psionic energy for weaponry construction, thus; this limitation allows her to fight more gracefully which she appears to enjoy.

Betsy possesses a killer instinct as she does not hesitate to hold En Sabah Nur and Ororo Munroe at sword point when confront Caliban and she sadistically attempts to strangle Hank McCoy. Notably, when En Sabah Nur takes the Horsemen to the Auschwitz concentration camp, she along with her teammates seem to view their surroundings with surprise and also disgust, indicating that, for all her loyalty to Apocalypse, she seemed displeased being at the site of a prior genocide.

Betsy appears to be on friendly or at least civil terms with Warren as she suggests En Sabah Nur recruits him, although she is clearly surprised at Warren's injury and profane rejection, she does not seem pleased to see Warren in his depressed state and appears slightly horrified at his agonizing transformation, but is also extremely impressed by Warren's demonstration of his new powers, she and Warren are also the only Horsemen to performer any form of teamwork whilst fighting the X-Men.

Unlike Ororo and Erik Lehnsherr, she does not join the X-Men or become their ally. Instead, she goes her own way and possibly takes Warren (if the latter is survived his ordeal as a Horseman) with her.

According to Caliban, Betsy is somewhat envious of Raven Darkholme's legacy.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

Mutant Physiology: Psylocke is an extremely powerful mutant who possesses several telekinetic powers; such as generate, create, project and manipulate constructs comprised of pure energy.
- Telepathy: Psylocke can read the minds of other individuals. She used her telepathy to find out what was happening around her; after she regained consciousness.
- Ergogenesis: Psylocke can generate, create and project several different types of energy, particularly bright purple psychic energy from both of her hands or her entire body.
- Ergokinesis: Psylocke can manipulate several different types of energy, particularly psychic energy. Her psychic energy can take the forms of blades, katanas, whips, a chain sickle, a katari and an urumi; for example, Psylocke was able to cut a car in half with her psionic katana relatively easily.
- Superhuman Agility: Psylocke is far more agile than normal humans and most other mutants. She is able to perform acrobatic and gymnastic stunts; such as flips, rolls and springs.

Abilities

Master Acrobat: Due to Psylocke's superhuman agility, she is an excellent acrobat and gymnast; as she is skilled in all kinds of acrobatics and gymnastics.
Expert Hand-To-Hand Combatant/Martial Artist: Psylocke is a highly skilled hand-to-hand combatant and martial artist. She was able to go head-on against and almost bested Beast, the latter who is a master hand-to-hand combatant and martial artist in his own right. Psylocke's combat skills combined with her telekinetic powers and superhuman physical attributes; makes her a formidable opponent alone in single combat.
Expert Swordswoman: Psylocke is a highly skilled swordswoman. She was able to hold both Apocalypse and Storm simultaneously at sword point before they could react in time. Although it should be noted that Apocalypse allowed Psylocke to draw her katana from it's scabbard, as he was testing her; regarding whether or not she is worthy of becoming one of his Horsemen, thus; he could have stopped Psylocke at any time he wanted.

Equipment

Katana: Psylocke can proficiently wield a katana.

Relationships

Caliban - Ex-boss.
Four Horsemen of Apocalypse
- En Sabah Nur/Apocalypse - Ally and team leader; deceased.
- Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto/War - Ally and teammate.
- Warren Worthington III/Angel/Archangel/Death - Ally and teammate.
- Ororo Munroe/Storm/Famine - Ally and teammate.

Appearances/Actresses

Revised Earth-10005 (1 film)
- X-Men: Apocalypse (First appearance) - Olivia Munn

Behind the scenes

Before Olivia Munn was cast, Jamie Chung was interested in portraying Psylocke.
Olivia Munn practiced swordfighting in preparation for her role.

Trivia

In the comics, Psylocke's teleporting ability was temporarily granted to her by the Crimson Dawn and is not one of her mutant powers.
Olivia Munn was originally in the running to play Vanessa Carlysle in Deadpool.