How powerful is Twilight Sparkle?

[Fhaolan 4,483]

'Power' is a rather odd scale when applied to fictional characters. There are several limitations:

 

1) Their power varies by the needs of the plot.

2) Their power varies by the skill of the writer of that particular story.

3) Their power isn't necessarily linear.

4) Their power is limited by the character's own understanding of that power.

5) Their power could vary over time due to factors we're not aware of. (Phase of the moon, local mana levels, etc.)

6) Their power can appear different depending on the leverage they can apply.

 

It's the last two that get you. For example, in a particular system of magic you may have several options for causing a glass to hover four feet off the ground:

 

1) Use telekinesis

2) Create an invisible platform out of nothingness.

3) Summon a platform of the correct size, and make it invisible.

4) 'Harden' the air beneath the glass.

5) Make the glass the same density as the air, to make it float at that location.

6) Let the glass drop, and create an illusion of the glass hovering in the air.

7) Convince the glass that it is already sitting on the ground, so there is no need to fall further.

8) Cancel or counteract gravity's effects on the glass.

 

Each one of these has a different energy expenditure, and depending on the system which one is cheaper, or more expensive, might change. It might even change based on the time of day, or where the character happens to be standing at that time.

 

So sometimes, when Twilight is straining to do a feat that we swear she's done before, it's likely the strain is because she's using a far more difficult *method* than she had done before. Either because there's some factor we're not aware of, or she's simply experimenting to see if there's anything to be gained or learned from using this other method.

[Lambda Lumis 23]

I would say shes the weakest alicorn because shes the newest and not as old and wise as Celestia and Luna. However she probably has untapped power so might have the biggest potential for being the most powerful pony.

[MLPFanatic34 3,234]

How powerful is Celestia anyway? I only ask because Queen Chrysalis kicked her butt.

[JH24 385]

How powerful is Celestia anyway? I only ask because Queen Chrysalis kicked her butt.

 

That was because Chrysalis had "absorbed" Shining Armor's feelings for Cadence into herself, making her a lot more powerful. At the start of the fight Celestia began overpowering her and she would have likely lost without this power-up.

Edited May 8, 2016 by JH24

[MLPFanatic34 3,234]

That was because Chrysalis had "absorbed" Shining Armor's feelings for Cadence into herself, making her a lot more powerful. At the start of the fight Celestia began overpowering her and she would have likely lost without this power-up.

Ah you're right so then would Celestia overpower Twilight?

[JH24 385]

Ah you're right so then would Celestia overpower Twilight?

 

Personally I say there's a large gap between Celestia and Twilight right now. And that's only natural, considering Celestia is at least thousand years old. In those years she gained experience, wisdom and likely developed her powers even more. 

 

If Twilight can live for another thousand years she would be at least as powerful as Celestia and probably way beyond that. Considering her talent is magic her powers might develop and grow much faster over time.

Edited May 9, 2016 by JH24

[Luminance 2,186]

She's powerful enough to contain her very own Alicorn magic and also to control the magic of older 3 Alicorns.

 

It's measured on whether or not she can use it (definitely she can!) but her ability to control the magic and to focus the energy. Her Potential magic is very high.

[user1342342 143]

As powerful as whoever writes her. This show isn't really consistent on that front, they can just add whatever power they want to her because "special". So that makes trying to measure it pointless.

[Castle Bleck 19,361]

considering how rarely I've seen her in action, Celestia's magic is kind of a mystery too.

 

A couple of noteworthy feats include: (1) instantly breaking Twilight's "Want It, Need It" spell at the end of Lesson Zero and (2) preemptively casting a backup ward preventing Discord from just teleporting the Elements away ever again in Keep Calm And Flutter On.

 

It would be nice to see a bit more of that Celestia in action, IMO.

Edited May 15, 2016 by A.V.

[takai 1,060]

Maybe one day Twilight will be stronger than Celestia and Luna, but I still think one on one she could beat anyone else, including Starlight and Shining Armor