Types of Spells in MLP

[Melior 52]

Magic is seen all over the show; it's in the title for Pete's sake! When Discord came around and used magic on a level above any we've seen like nobody's business I became curious what magic was capable of in the world of MLP:FiM. I decided to try and categorize the types of spells we've seen are possible.

 

How I think magic works in this show is based off these two forum posts. Magic manipulates a magical plane of existence separate from time and the other dimensions. When an entity capable of using magic expresses an emotion/desire to to preform a task with magic they manipulate this magical plane to alter/manipulate the world they live in. Read the two posts for more detail. Now on with the show!

 

Teleportation

Self-explanatory but also is used to teleport objects into the magical plane – Ex. Discord taking Dash's wings, Trixie deleting Pinkie's Mouth, Sombra removing AN ENTIRE EMPIRE. Teleportation is done either by sending the user to the magical plane and back or by dispersing their atoms and rearranging them at the targeted area. If the latter is true this could be used to phase through objects; demonstrated by Pumpkin Cake.

• Conjuration

  Creates objects out of seemingly nothing – Ex. Trixie conjuring scissors to cut her moustache, an ugly dress for Rarity, and pies to throw at Twilight, all in “Magic Duel”. These items come from the magical plane.

Transdimensional Control

The ability to go between and manipulate dimensions: length, width, height, time, and the magical plane. Because of the magical plane, teleportation could be transdimensional control. Can be used to go from three dimensions to only two: demonstrated by Discord when he rolls his eyes and appeared from his shadow in “Keep Calm And Flutter On” or as the stain glass window in “The Return of Harmony”. This magic also includes the manipulation fourth dimension, time. Was used in “It's About Time” by Twilight but I believe was also used by Discord in his first appearance when he showed Twilight him telling his riddle to the mane six and Celestia. It looks like they physically disappeared which indicates it was time travel on an even higher level since they were blue which signalled they could not interact with the world.

• Magical Plane Manipulation

  The use of magic strictly on the magical plane. For a barrier the magic needs to take a three dimensional, physical form but magical plane manipulation uses the magic as magic, never taking physical form. Examples would be Cadence using her magic to empower Shining's magic, and how Chrysalis eats emotions which are the force behind magic. My headcanon that gems emit magic (small in regular gems and large in Crystal Empire gems) would explain why Rarity can use magic to find gems, by using magic to interact with magic, but no pony has been seen using this principle to find other objects.

Magic Nullification

Reverts any magic in the regular world a.k.a it undoes spells This is what I assume was Twilight's fail proof spell when Discord first appeared. Since it works by removing the magical plane's influence this could also be seen as transdimensional control.

• Permissive Permeation

  A magic which only lets certain individual access/interact with what the spell was cast on/around. Used by Celestia to lock the EoH in Canterlot Tower, and to prevent Discord from taking the EoH in “Keep Calm And Flutter On”.

Telekinesis

Again self-explanatory but also is used to manipulate said object – Ex. making Spike into a ball in “Magic Duel” or simply turning pages of a book. Also able to raise the sun and moon / rotate the planet. Side note: Which one does Celestia and Luna do, raise or rotate?

 

Transmutation / Transformation

The power to change an objects properties.

Ex. Trixie making one of Dash's wings giant, Discord giving bunnies long legs, Twilight turning a frog into an orange, causing a plow to move on it's own, Discord making apples giant.

• Gravity Alteration

  Changes the properties of gravity to cause objects to float or completely lose gravity.

• Growth Manipulation

  Two examples are moustache growth and age reversion/progression.

• Barriers

  Giving physical form to magic which acts as a barrier. Can also give physical form to love, in the case of Cadence, which can be possibly extended to any emotion.

Wave Control

Essentially the control of energy, as they travel in waves. This could be via telekinesis or by a transmution of the waves properties or conjured by the user themselves or just wave control.

Headcanon: The magic beams used for combat, for example by the Twilight Gatling gun, and during the fight of Celestia and Chrysalis, are concentrated waves: possibly heat or electricity.

• Light Control

  Used to cast light, duh! But since we see via light it can make illusions like during Rarity's fashion show in “Suited For Success” or Trixie's flashback during “Magic Duel”. Invisibility Spells were mentioned by Twilight in “It's About Time” and I imagine it using light control as well.

• Sound Control

  An example would be the laughter of the balloons around Pinkie during “The Return Of Harmony” and in the subsequent episode by Discord after the failed attempt to use the elements in which he is clapping with the sound of duck, dog, frog, camera, and more. Twilight's grass whistle lullaby in “Boast Busters” could also be sound but I think it more as weather manipulation (wind).

Mind Manipulation

The ability to alter, impose, or rearrange someone's thoughts and memories.

• Memory Magic

  Used to remove or lock away memories (ex. Sombra's spell on the crystal ponies), and to regain said memories.

• Mind Migration

  The ability to show your thoughts and see someone else's. Most notably used by Luna to dream-walk. Earth ponies have a very weak form of this magic allowing them to communicate on a surface level with animals. Fluttershy has a very strong form of it which makes her capable of having full conversations such as in “Hurricane Fluttershy” and with the beavers in “Keep Calm And Flutter On”.

• Hypnosis

  Used to impose new ideas onto others. Used by Discord to make beavers flood Sweet Apple Acres, and dis-harmonized the mane six.

Atmospheric Fluid Control a.k.a Pegasus Magic

Without thinking Pegasi use it. When they walk on clouds they manipulate the condensed water vapours that are clouds. Also when they fly they manipulate the air around them to give them the ability to fly: wings don't equal flight. I'd probably put this as a combination of telekinesis (altering the position/compaction of the air or cloud) and transmutation (changing the properties in clouds, etc.) If magic is powered by emotion this would explain why somepony with a lot of confidence with their flying, like Dash, flies very well while somepony not, like Fluttershy, isn't a good flier except when having a strong feeling. Clouds or pegasi have the ability to store things in clouds such as snowflakes, and electricity.

 

Was also said in this post that pegasi flew and manipulated clouds with telekinesis. It also says earth ponies hold objects with telekinesis limited to their forelimbs. He says a lot more to so give the post a read if you aren't already tired out by mine.

 

A compact list of spell types: transdimensional control, telekinesis, and transmutation.

Not-so compact list: transdimensional control, telekinesis, wave control, magic nullification, mind manipulation, teleportation, and transmutation.

 

Thank you for taking the time to read my long-winded post. Came across any areas I skipped over or any other mistake I may have made? Post them along with any questions or ideas of your own about magic. I would love to hear them even if they rip everything I wrote to shreds.

[ded 121]

I can't think of any other spell in MLP, except one. One that is very important...

Can't forget the best magic of all, friendship! xD

[Scootalove 10,689]

You basically summed up everything about magic, in one long post. But, I'll add my 2 bits in anyway. There are many different types of spells, spells that are very advanced while there are spells that are for beginners. The spells that unicorns use, are usually light magic that can be used for good when they are fighting enemies while there is dark magic that Celestia showed Twilight. Spells have many uses for unicorns for teleportation, transportation, levitation, and barriers. Basically, their spells can be used for anything.

[Serbon div 386]

I wouldn't agree with the magical dimension or magical plane, I would think of entities all around us that are in a different frequency of senses. And when these entities are present, they do things for the sorcerer. And telekinesis is more like using your own spiritual power. And I wouldn't say for the magic of Pegasi as a telekinesis, I'd think they have some passive magical properties, since they don't need any effort to use them. For standing on clouds it's more like they are capable of adjusting their spirit to stay were it is, making the body stay too. That magical rule may apply to clouds only, or maybe even help with flying.

EDIT: Fluttershy is a pegasus.

Edited August 11, 2013 by BronysaurusSRB

[Lateon 589]

You forgot about what I like to call the Destruction school.

 

Trixie attempted to use a Destruction spell on Rainbow Dash at the end of Magic Duel. It was supposed to make her "writhe in agony," yet all it did was tickle her. Twilight has also been seen using Destruction spells, mostly during A Canterlot Wedding, Part 2, when she was firing lazer beamz from her horn to shatter the crystals below Canterlot, and again to zap the living crud out of changelings (Twilight Gatling Gun, anyone?). Sombra also, in my opinion, used a Destruction spell on Shining Armor in S13 E1, when he cut off his ability to do magic.

 

The way I see the definition of Destruction is this: if it harms or impedes anyone directly, it is Destruction. Zapping them with lightning, or reducing their ability to fight by sapping their agility or stamina or ability to commune with the magical plane, it does not matter.

 

This "transdimensional control" as well as transmutation could fall into another category - simply Alteration. Mind manipulation, as well as sound manipulation (sort of) could fall into a school known as Illusion. The key difference between the two is that Alteration changes the world for everyone, whereas Illusion changes it for a select few. Illusion magic might be confused for Destruction if it is used to harm someone (i.e. mind controlling into doing something someone wouldn't otherwise do), they should be considered exclusive.

 

Yes, I just stole Elder Scrolls schools of magic. No, I don't feel bad, because they sum up everything in a nicely packed 6-part system. Pegasus magic could be its own special brand of Alteration magic.

 

Remaining on topic, have we actually seen straight up healing spells yet? I can't think of any at all.

[Melior 52]

The way I see the definition of Destruction is this: if it harms or impedes anyone directly, it is Destruction. Zapping them with lightning, or reducing their ability to fight by sapping their agility or stamina or ability to commune with the magical plane, it does not matter.

 

 

Remaining on topic, have we actually seen straight up healing spells yet? I can't think of any at all.

Your catagorization with schools I really like. Destruction spells I think are just concentrated waves (like lasers). The crystals on Shining's horn I believe were conjured by Sombra with the power to nullify magic.

On the subject of healing the only case I can think of is Cadence at the end of a Canterlot wedding. She and Shining put their horns together, and Cadence's mane is fixed, overall looking healthier, and same goes for Shining.

[Crazydud619dx 30]

You forgot to add Dark Magic to the list. Celestia uses it when she fired a light beam at the crystal she was showing Twilight, and Twilight uses it when she used it on a door to find the crystal heart.

 

Besides that, this list sums up all of the types of magic that has been used throughout out the show.

Edited August 11, 2013 by Crazydud619dx

[Melior 52]

You forgot to add Dark Magic to the list. Celestia uses it when she fired a light beam at the crystal she was showing Twilight, and Twilight uses it when she used it on a door to find the crystal heart.

 

Besides that, thislist sums up all of the types of magic that has been used throughout out the show.

I'm unsure what dark magic really is. It's been demonstrated to make crystals, shadows, mind control, and other miscellaneous things. Unlike other magic though it's aura around the horn isn't unique and it causes the user's eyes to glow green and emit purple smoke. Why?! The difference possibly is it runs on negative emotions but we've seen regular magic used with emotions ranging from frustration, to joy, to boastful but the magic aura didn't change in each instance. If anypony reading has an idea of what dark magic is I'd love to hear it.

[fishboyliam 28]

Wow, didn't think they showed that many different spells! Looks good!

 

I was just trying to make a unicorn oc, so I need to find some spells. I can work of this if needed!

[GhostPony750 959]

Don't forget that Rarity can detect gems buried under the ground.

So maybe elements detection could fit here, but it seems she's the only one who can do that.

[Melior 52]

Don't forget that Rarity can detect gems buried under the ground.

So maybe elements detection could fit here, but it seems she's the only one who can do that.

My headcanon that gems emit magic (small in regular gems and large in Crystal Empire gems) would explain why Rarity can use magic to find gems, by using magic to detect the magic in the gems. This would explain why no pony has been seen using this principle to find other objects. And remember that Twilight used Rarity's spell to find gems in "A Dog and Pony Show"

 

Wow, didn't think they showed that many different spells! Looks good!

 

I was just trying to make a unicorn oc, so I need to find some spells. I can work of this if needed!

Thank you! Also check out the wiki on unicorn magic for more specific examples on spells used in the show.

[fishboyliam 28]

Thank you! Also check out the wiki on unicorn magic for more specific examples on spells used in the show.

Quick question, what about magic with other creatures? Like spike, and his abylity to transport paper (remember ticket master? He did the tickets too!)? And celectia can send them back. Or the coakatrise petrifying gaze.

[Melior 52]

Quick question, what about magic with other creatures? Like spike, and his abylity to transport paper (remember ticket master? He did the tickets too!)? And celectia can send them back. Or the coakatrise petrifying gaze.

Many creatures can preform magic other than ponies. Even plants can preform magic (poison joke from "Bridle Gossip")! These animals and plants can use either one spell (like the Pheonix emitting light) or lots of spells (Discord).

A cockatrice uses transmutation to turn anything that stares at it into stone. How the magic senses whether something is staring at it, I don't know. I'm not sure how Spike's magic work. Where does it go and why can only Celestia and Spike access it?

If you're creating your own creatures they can have very limited or unlimited abilities in magic. Not only unicorns can do magic.

 

I'm going away for an hour or two but if you have any more questions I'd love to anwser them once I get back.

[Winona the Dog 1,984]

Twilight mentioned something about a "Rehabilitation" spell to use on Discord in Keep Calm And Flutter On" I'm not sure if that would've been a mental manipulation spell.

[RrVPfX9cPtw59FpC 1,304]

You got them all, except for friendship. I suppose that could be considered some type of manipulation energy, with emotions becoming rainbows of death, but other than that you got them all.

[The Awesome One 1,315]

What about Chrysalis's mind control magic? Does that also count as hypnosis? Or is it more of a love potion type spell that only changelings can use?

[Preeminent Pisces 100]

Well, explain this to me. Pinkie Pie's abilities to teleport, predict the future, and disguise. She teleports inside the bell and disguises as it on "Party of One" when she's chasing Rainbow Dash.

[Melior 52]

What about Chrysalis's mind control magic? Does that also count as hypnosis? Or is it more of a love potion type spell that only changelings can use?

Probably just hypnosis. It does seem unique to changleings though. Maybe even only unique to Chrysalis thus adding to the reason she is queen.

 

Well, explain this to me. Pinkie Pie's abilities to teleport, predict the future, and disguise. She teleports inside the bell and disguises as it on "Party of One" when she's chasing Rainbow Dash.

Pinkie NEVER makes sense, silly. But if I try to make sense out of it it can be simply said that she can use magic. She can seemingly teleport, conjure up objects, stretch her body via transmutation/transformation. Her Pinkie sense manipluates time to detect a specific change in the short future. Also maybe the disguising is just like her playing ten instruments. That isn't magic; it was just Pinkie.

[Preeminent Pisces 100]

Probably just hypnosis. It does seem unique to changleings though. Maybe even only unique to Chrysalis thus adding to the reason she is queen.

 

Pinkie NEVER makes sense, silly. But if I try to make sense out of it it can be simply said that she can use magic. She can seemingly teleport, conjure up objects, stretch her body via transmutation/transformation. Her Pinkie sense manipluates time to detect a specific change in the short future. Also maybe the disguising is just like her playing ten instruments. That isn't magic; it was just Pinkie.

Good point. If I had to sum her up in one word, well, there is only one word. PINKIE! She's one of my favorite characters, so thanks for straightening that out for me

[ded 121]

During the musical This Day Aria in A Canterlot Wedding, Chrysalis is shown using some form of magic to inflate, then burn and incinerate a hat. Which type of magic does that fall under, if any magic at all?

Would it be some sort of destruction spell? If it was burned, does that mean that Chrysalis increased the temperature of the surface using magic, causing the fire?

Edited September 4, 2013 by SolarKnight

[Melior 52]

During the musical This Day Aria in A Canterlot Wedding, Chrysalis is shown using some form of magic to inflate, then burn and incinerate a hat. Which type of magic does that fall under, if any magic at all?

Would it be some sort of destruction spell? If it was burned, does that mean that Chrysalis increased the temperature of the surface using magic, causing the fire?

I think you've got the right idea catagorizing it as a temperature (wave control) spell. It inflating is moreso an animation choice to exaggerate that it is being warmed up in my opinion.