How magical is Zecora?

[AmberDust 1,118]

 

In "Magic Duel", Twilight Sparkle goes to Zecora not only for advice, but for magic training.

We know that Twilight was already a really powerful Unicorn in Season three, so... just how powerful IS Zecora? What is she capable of, if she can teach magic to a genius unicorn like Twilight?

 

I know she's sometimes used as a zebra-ex-machina, but...it's hard to ignore her abilities. Is she capable of everything she was training Twilight to do in that episode? Do you think we'll ever see her actively use magic again?

 

In Magic Duel, we see her refill a cup with a wave of her hoof, and in Luna Eclipsed, she uses powder to aid her in creating illusions. She also makes potions and such, and has a definite witch-doctor motif, but is this something all zebras can do? Or do zebras have regular earth-pony magic, and Zecora is just a special case?

 

What do you think?

Edited June 4, 2015 by AmberDust

[Superstars111 79]

We have seen her actively use magic, at least once. When Twilight knocked over the cup, Zecora refilled it with a wave of her hand. But there was no glow or shine. It was very simple. She also said that it would be very sad indeed if someone bested [her], especially Trixie. Or something like that. While Trixie isn't necessarily the most powerful unicorn, she's still clearly more powerful than most, or they wouldn't have been mad at her for showing off. Zecora also said that Twilight would have to unlearn what she had learned. I suspect that Zecora has very strong magic, but that it's a different type of magic. Think on this. Discord uses magic all the time, but it's chaos-based magic, so we don't see a glow, and unicorns can't use it. Alicorn magic is also different from unicorn magic. Maybe similar, but we've seen that it is different, at least slightly. I suspect that there's also zebra magic. I don't know how specific this is to zebras, though. Maybe all zebras have it, or maybe it's something that anyone can learn, not just zebras, but they noramlly have no use for it.
It was also pointed out once that when Zecora said the potion would only respond to Alicorn magic, Twilight used dark magic on the potion. (Unless, of course, that's just what Alicorn magic looks like, and they normall have access to both Alicorn and unicorn magic.) So it could be that Zecora uses a controlled form of chaos-based magic. In which case, she would be very powerful indeed.

[JonasDarkmane 19,787]

 

In "Magic Duel", Twilight Sparkle goes to Zecora not only for advice, but for magic training.

We know that Twilight was already a really powerful Unicorn in Season three, so... just how powerful IS Zecora? What is she capable of?

 

I know she's sometimes used as a zebra-ex-machina, but...it's hard to ignore her abilities. Is she capable of everything she was training Twilight to do in that episode? Do you think we'll ever see her actively use magic?

She was kinda like Yoda training Luke Skywalker. I don't think that Zecora is all that magical, but yet understands it well and the users as well. I don't think she will be able to use unicorn-like magic, since she would need something to be able to perform that (unicorns having their horns). 

[P-Jay 1,987]

order-based magic. 

 

thats my headcannon.

[Jennabun 1,579]

 

 

I suspect that Zecora has very strong magic, but that it's a different type of magic.

 

I agree with this. I'm sure she has magical ability, but her abilities are not as widely-understood or as respected as unicorn/alicorn magic. This is probably due to the fact the zebras are minorities in Equestria and seem to face some variety of prejudice. I bet her abilities are more environmentally-based, which is why she prefers to live in the forest. She probably gets energy from nature and channels it into some sort of magic. Of course this is all speculation, but it makes sense in my head.

[The Awesome One 1,315]

I think that she has a vast amount of knowledge on the subject of magic but she can't actually perform any kind of spell as she is not a unicorn or an alicorn. She is pretty much a zebra who is an expert at herbal medicine.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

I think the difference is like that of wizards in Harry Potter and benders in Avatar. (Even if Katara emphatically points out bending is not "magic" let's not kid ourselves.)

 

The unicorns of Equestria's magic comes from spellcraft, study, experimentation, and innate specialization of their talent. So it would be fair to assume that, like much modern perception of "wizards" it comes from the same cultural niche as historical alchemists, hermeticism, the Enlightenment thinking of the Renaissance.

 

Zecora, meanwhile, is more along the lines of a Shaman. Although what she does is closer to alchemy in practice, e.g. mixing ingredients to create concoctions that produce specific effects, it comes a place of direct experience and living amongst the elements of her craft. So Zecora's magic comes more from Wiccan and Druidic thinking, along the lines of Romanticist thinkers.

 

Notice though, that Zecora doesn't teach Twilight to beat Trixie through some ancient technique or spell, but rather, teaches her to apply what she already had in a different way. Such wisdom would befit a great master of Kung Fu.

 

So in the end, I think the OP's question is the wrong question. "How magical is Zecora" denotes comparable "levels" like how Twilight and Trixie referred to one another, but Zecora is not a unicorn. She's not high or low "level" because she's not even on the scale. Her magic is different not in scope but in kind.

She was kinda like Yoda training Luke Skywalker. I don't think that Zecora is all that magical, but yet understands it well and the users as well. I don't think she will be able to use unicorn-like magic, since she would need something to be able to perform that (unicorns having their horns). 

 

Try watching the episode again, she moves her hoof over her cup and the water appears to have been refilled. Plus, on Nightmare Night, she was able to create illusions.

 

Sure, she might require preparation or some kind of regent, but I think it's clear Zecora has some kind of magical capability, it's just not the same kind of magic as unicorns. Just as pegasi and earth ponies have different magic.

[JonasDarkmane 19,787]

 

 

Try watching the episode again, she moves her hoof over her cup and the water appears to have been refilled. Plus, on Nightmare Night, she was able to create illusions.

 

 

I say those are illusions, tricks, nothing more. 

[Luna the Great of all the Russias 2,987]

I'm thinking Zecora is not magical at all but has a great understanding of it (spiritually disciplined?), and is skilled alchemist and illusionist.

Edited June 3, 2015 by Tsaritsa Luna

[Steel Accord 6,660]

 

I say those are illusions, tricks, nothing more. 

 

Yet Twilight was able to knock the cup over again and the effect was the same. The tea didn't stay in the cup, it spilled out like regular liquid.

 

Besides, if they are illusions, that doesn't make them unmagical. If they were produced with no technical help like lasers or spotlights, they are magic. Illusion magic, yes but magic nonetheless.

 

Why do you hold the position of Zecora being entirely without magic so fiercely?

I'm thinking Zecora is not magical at all but has a great understanding of it (spiritually disciplined?), and is skilled alchemist and illusionist.

 

Both of which can easily be considered magical skills. Just because someone isn't shooting fireballs or calling down lightning doesn't mean they aren't magical.

[Luna the Great of all the Russias 2,987]

Both of which can easily be considered magical skills. Just because someone isn't shooting fireballs or calling down lightning doesn't mean they aren't magical.

If it's magic then it seems to be different from that used by unicorns and alicorns.

Edited June 3, 2015 by Tsaritsa Luna

[Steel Accord 6,660]

If it's magic then it seems to be different from that used by unicorns and alicorns.

 

Exactly, see my first post in this thread.

[Luna the Great of all the Russias 2,987]

Exactly, see my first post in this thread.

Read it. Makes sense to me. Not much more I could add onto what you said.

Edited June 3, 2015 by Tsaritsa Luna

[Ziggy + Angel + Rain 11,302]

On the ZSoM (Zebra Scale of Magicalness), Zecora is a seven-point-two, B.  That converts, roughly, to 113-11 on the largely abandoned (there are still a few supporters in less enlightened parts of Equestria) Zebra Spell Affinity Test.

[JonasDarkmane 19,787]

Yet Twilight was able to knock the cup over again and the effect was the same. The tea didn't stay in the cup, it spilled out like regular liquid.   Besides, if they are illusions, that doesn't make them unmagical. If they were produced with no technical help like lasers or spotlights, they are magic. Illusion magic, yes but magic nonetheless.   Why do you hold the position of Zecora being entirely without magic so fiercely?

 

 

Since I don't think it was really real magic, but a way to learn how to control magic. 

 

I never said that illusions can't be magic.

 

I have never been in the position of Zecora being entirely without magic. I said that I don't think she is all that magical which does not say she is without it. I also said she wouldn't be able to perform unicorn-like magic :T. 

 

So those illusions wouldn't fit the definition of unicorn-like magic :T. 

[Ashen Pathfinder 16,161]

I always found Zecora's magic to be much or subtle; something akin to shamanistic or magic based on nature. As we see in her hut she has plenty of potions & such, and one has to assume a lot of those are based on natural recipes and whatever practices she learned elsewhere.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Since I don't think it was really real magic, but a way to learn how to control magic. 

 

I never said that illusions can't be magic.

 

I have never been in the position of Zecora being entirely without magic. I said that I don't think she is all that magical which does not say she is without it. I also said she wouldn't be able to perform unicorn-like magic :T. 

 

So those illusions wouldn't fit the definition of unicorn-like magic :T. 

 

See my first post on this thread. I agree. It's not unicorn magic at all. Doesn't mean it isn't magic.

[JonasDarkmane 19,787]

See my first post on this thread. I agree. It's not unicorn magic at all. Doesn't mean it isn't magic.

And again, my first post as well, I don't deny magic :T

[Steel Accord 6,660]

And again, my first post as well, I don't deny magic :T

 

Forgive me, the impression I got was "zero magic" not "different magic" from your words.

[AmberDust 1,118]

She definitely has a witch-doctor motif, but what I'm wondering is whether or not all zebras can do this.

[Steel Accord 6,660]

She definitely has a witch-doctor motif, but what I'm wondering is whether or not all zebras can do this.

 

Since she's the only evidence of her culture, we may never know. Then again, we just got a view of Griffonstone with heaps of world building so maybe the next episode will have Applejack and Fluttershy or something go south to visit Zecora's homeland.

 

My personal headcanon is that zebra alchemy is their "magic" similar to how earth ponies till the land, and Zecora is a particularly adept member of her people. That's just me guessing though.

[Jangocoolguy 433]

She definitely has a witch-doctor motif, but what I'm wondering is whether or not all zebras can do this.

She's even saving the most powerful of all voo-doo chants for emergencies.

 

 

"Ooh-eee-ooh-aah-ahh-ting-tang-walla-bing--bang!"

 

 

And my burning question is if they ALL went to the Dr. Seuss School of Rhyming, or if it's just her quirk....

[1111111111111111111111 58]

On 2015-06-03 at 4:08 PM, Superstars111 said:

We have seen her actively use magic, at least once. When Twilight knocked over the cup, Zecora refilled it with a wave of her hand. But there was no glow or shine. It was very simple. She also said that it would be very sad indeed if someone bested [her], especially Trixie. Or something like that. While Trixie isn't necessarily the most powerful unicorn, she's still clearly more powerful than most, or they wouldn't have been mad at her for showing off. Zecora also said that Twilight would have to unlearn what she had learned. I suspect that Zecora has very strong magic, but that it's a different type of magic. Think on this. Discord uses magic all the time, but it's chaos-based magic, so we don't see a glow, and unicorns can't use it. Alicorn magic is also different from unicorn magic. Maybe similar, but we've seen that it is different, at least slightly. I suspect that there's also zebra magic. I don't know how specific this is to zebras, though. Maybe all zebras have it, or maybe it's something that anyone can learn, not just zebras, but they noramlly have no use for it.
It was also pointed out once that when Zecora said the potion would only respond to Alicorn magic, Twilight used dark magic on the potion. (Unless, of course, that's just what Alicorn magic looks like, and they normall have access to both Alicorn and unicorn magic.) So it could be that Zecora uses a controlled form of chaos-based magic. In which case, she would be very powerful indeed.

In the season 10 comics, Zecora visits her home town where there are other zebras. It talked about how zebras can't use magic, but as a filly, Zecora learned about Mage Meadowbrook, an Earth pony and how she used magic. This is why Zecora moved to the Everfree forest.