The Powers That Be (or the Powers) were the first beings to co-exist in the Earth dimension with the Old Ones in the Buffy Universe. These beings watched over mankind and guided the forces of good.
They are an extremely powerful race that were forged in the "inferno of creation". They possess a low form of omnipotence, immortality and Evolution Inducement: they can direct or enhance or accelerate the evolutionary process through their supernatural powers.