Is Earth Pony magic the strongest type?

[AmberDust 1,116]

I'm re-watching Twilight's Kingdom, and something dawned on me.

Tirek targeted unicorns first, the Pegasi, then Earth Ponies before be was able to target Alicorns, then Discord.

Does this mean that Earth Pony magic (physical strength and the ability to control plants) is the strongest amongst the three main types? Or was it jut hard to steal because its the most passive form of magic?

 

Earth Pony magic is probably the most important, but do you think it's also, in some way, the most powerful?

Edited April 26, 2015 by AmberDust

[Xenomorphic 362]

Good question I ain't sure though I think earth ponies are physically strongest.

[AmberDust 1,116]

Good question I ain't sure though I think earth ponies are physically strongest.

Yes, but their natural strength is a form of magic, right?

I don't think physical strength is stronger than unicorn magic, but perhaps it takes more...raw magic? I don't know.

[Pastel 7,627]

That's an interesting question, I didn't understand why he started with the unicorns either.

 

Or was it jut hard to steal because its the most passive form of magic?

 

I'd go with this idea. Magic is maybe concentrated in unicorns' horns, so it's easier to still it from them.

[silvadel 1,393]

Earth Pony Magic is the magic type that is most tightly bound.

 

Unicorns are built to push magic beyond their forms -- hence it is the easiest to extract.

 

Pegasi project their magic around their forms.

 

Earth Pony magic is mostly within -- and hence hardest to extract.

[Xenomorphic 362]

Yes, but their natural strength is a form of magic, right?

I don't think physical strength is stronger than unicorn magic, but perhaps it takes more...raw magic? I don't know.

I heard that they may have a connection with nature like pinkies pinky sense like they sense what is happening to the earth

[Stardust Balance 7,716]

If that's the case, then it clearly shows more just how underrated and under-appreciated Earth Ponies really are. 

[Banul 3,831]

Maybe he just didn't bother with them till he got the others. I wouldn't read to much into it.

[Blaze Bronson 343]

I support the idea that it's harder to extract, and also less powerful.

[AmberDust 1,116]

If that's the case, then it clearly shows more just how underrated and under-appreciated Earth Ponies really are.

Amen to that. We need an episode that shows everyone just how much they're needed.

[RarityFan01 2,444]

Amen to that. We need an episode that shows everyone just how much they're needed.

That's exactly what I've been saying!

[Abia 258]

That's an interesting thought.

 

I think all the magic types are equal in raw strength, but execution power varies with the species. I'm going to agree with those who have said Earth pony magic is the hardest to extract, but I think its actual strength is equal to that of Unicorns and Pegasi.

 

Amen to that. We need an episode that shows everyone just how much they're needed.

 

I think their underappreciation is just within the fandom, and so it wouldn't make sense to have an Earth pony appreciation episode because they're already fully appreciated in Equestria.

Edited April 26, 2015 by Abia

[UnknownFry 169]

I believe Tirek went in that order to gain his strength before taking on the alicorns. So all other races magic are about on the same level save for a few exceptional unicorns, and Alicorn magic is in another class of its own as far as power and potency goes.

 

Interesting theory though.

Edited April 26, 2015 by UnknownFry

[Tao 6,706]

I have wondering if at times  Earth Ponies  might pull their magic in

the use of ley lines or the magnetic field of the earth?  Which would

explain in moments they need to pull on such a vast strength?  Also

do have a "earth sense?"  Like when knowing when to plant and

etc and farm?

[Castle Bleck 19,163]

Yep, it was just the hardest for Tirek to drain because it's the most passive.

Edited April 26, 2015 by A.V.

[Nature's Spell 526]

It's also possible that Unicorn magic, being more direct, is also more dangerous and thus more of a threat. He needed to stop the unicorns first. The other option is that Earth Pony magic is more deeply buried and harder to remove.

[Cwanky 17,445]

Aside from the obvious note that unicorn magic is far easier to directly absorb for someone like Tirek and hence nom nom. There's also the fact that he was incredibly weak:

 

 

Given the odds, it was far more profitable for Tirek to pursue a random unicorn with average magic that he could easily drain, and given their heavy reliance on magic, this makes it even easier. Pegasi while arguably weaker than earth ponies, are still fast and do often possess some physical strength of their own.

 

Facing an earth pony head on would be Russian roulette. In that frail state,facing an earth pony that could potentially buck a tree with ease would spell Tirek's end.

 

I'm not sure what the criteria for  "strongest" is here, but earth pony magic does add to their status as being the strongest of the 3 pony races. Otherwise Celestia herself would not directly mention their strength as a trait that Tirek stole from them.

[Honsou 399]

Earth ponies don't actually possess any magic in the literal or fantastical sense. 

 

Their power is their strength, which Tirek stole from them. 

[Buttonmash1973 1,024]

Their power is their strength

 

 

Remember how some stallions pulled a train to Appleloosa in Over a Barrel.

[The Awesome One 1,314]

Their magic is in their natural body strength. However, while they are in general, physically stronger than the other two races but I still think that Unicorns, especially the really powerful ones can do an infinite amount of spells. There would probably be one that gives them the strength of an Earth Pony too.

 

Your move, Earth ponies.

[AmberDust 1,116]

Earth ponies don't actually possess any magic in the literal or fantastical sense.

 

Their power is their strength, which Tirek stole from them.

They are also the only race capable of growing crops, which has been indicated as a sort of magic.

 

Their magic is in their natural body strength. However, while they are in general, physically stronger than the other two races but I still think that Unicorns, especially the really powerful ones can do an infinite amount of spells. There would probably be one that gives them the strength of an Earth Pony too.

 

Your move, Earth ponies.

Hay, don't diss the Earth Ponies! You know how much unicorn magic it would take to imitate Earth Pony power?

Me neither, but probably a lot! If there was an Earth pony with earth magic equal to Twilight's unicorn magic, her name would be Mother Nature.

Every form of magic has its variations in strength, unicorn magic is just the easiest to use, so we see it most often.

Edited May 12, 2015 by AmberDust

[Evilshy 5,089]

IMO he did the pony races in order of threat. He wanted to deal with unicorns first because they would be the most likely to present a problem. Best to take their power before anyone knew what was going on. Next was pegasi, less powerful, but flying and weather could still be problematic. Lastly, Earth ponies because what could they do, run up and kick him? Once he had all 3, he could take on the alicorns.

[Shanks 10,811]

Unicorns are generally implied to be the most physically weak of the pony races and your average unicorn dosen't tend to know many offensive spells so sneaking up on an unsuspecting unicorn as we have seen Tirek do was the easiest thing to do at least until he regained a bit more of his strength. Pegasi are much more difficult to sneak up on due to natural speed as well as flight but due to still not being as physically strong as earth ponies made sense to go after next.

 

 

Their magic is in their natural body strength. However, while they are in general, physically stronger than the other two races but I still think that Unicorns, especially the really powerful ones can do an infinite amount of spells. There would probably be one that gives them the strength of an Earth Pony too.

Spells to physically enhance unicorns probably can be done but such spells probably could not be utilized by your average unicorn due to the amount of raw magical power it would take to enhance physical abilities to such an extent especially if we are talking about earth ponies like Applejack as our measuring stick. We know most unicorns are capable of basic magic like levitating small objects for example but it takes years of practice even for the most talented and ambitious unicorns to learn such spells. 

[AmberDust 1,116]

Unicorns are generally implied to be the most physically weak of the pony races and your average unicorn dosen't tend to know many offensive spells so sneaking up on an unsuspecting unicorn as we have seen Tirek do was the easiest thing to do at least until he regained a bit more of his strength. Pegasi are much more difficult to sneak up on due to natural speed as well as flight but due to still not being as physically strong as earth ponies made sense to go after next.

 

 

Spells to physically enhance unicorns probably can be done but such spells probably could not be utilized by your average unicorn due to the amount of raw magical power it would take to enhance physical abilities to such an extent especially if we are talking about earth ponies like Applejack as our measuring stick. We know most unicorns are capable of basic magic like levitating small objects for example but it takes years of practice even for the most talented and ambitious unicorns to learn such spells.

Exactly!

I think of Unicorns like Wizards/sorcerers in D&D. At low levels, they are incredibly weak and don't do an awful lot, especially compared to low level fighters (in this case, Earth ponies). And since Equestria isn't a world at war, most of its inhabitants are "low level".

So, on average, I think its safe to assume that an Earth pony would be able to overpower a Unicorn or Pegasus, which only become strong (arguably overpowered) once they gain sufficient "levels".

 

I don't know what class a Pegasus would be in this comparison...a ranger, maybe. Idk.

Edited May 12, 2015 by AmberDust

[Nature's Spell 526]

I've always thought that unicorns as a group can be dangerous. For what it matters many of the Royal Guards are Unicorns.