Is there a difference between Alicorn Magic and Dark Magic?

[Winona the Dog 1,984]

We all know the scene where Zecora came and presented Twilight with a strange potion.  She then instructed Twilight to use Alicorn magic to unlock the potion's properties and see those flashbacks; however Twilight instead used Dark Magic to do so.

 

This confuses me as Dark Magic obviously isn't alicorn magic or is it?. Speaking of which; Alicorn magic seems to be considered a totally different category of magic as in other varieties of magic such as earth Pony Magic (If you can call it that), Pegasus magic, Unicorn Magic and Alicorn Magic as well as the well known Dark Magic that we've seen Celestia,Twilight, and Sombra all use (I suppose Luna is also capable of doing the same thing)

 

 

My only guess is that any type of magic Twilight gives off is automatically alicorn magic since she is one, though that still doesn't explain why she used dark magic. Perhaps Dark magic is the equivalent of alicorn magic? (And that would technically mean Sombra is an alicorn.)

 

What do you guys think? 

[Frith is Magick 1,471]

Dark Magic and Alicorn Magic may be the same thing. It is possible that it is simply a more powerful magic, and the difference lies not in the nature, but in how it is used.

[Zygen 6,066]

That honestly confused me to, it like totally destroyed like my entire headcannon on dark magic now, and left me quite confused.

 

Maybe its some kind of mistake? Or... idk...

 

Really it doesn't make sense at all frankly. Even more so because Twilight actually used this "Alicorn magic" or what was originally thought of as "dark magic" in the season 3 premier, which means that it makes even less sense if its actually "Alicorn magic" because Twilight was not an Alicorn then.

 

I'm a bit confused, but i still think its some kind of mistake and thats actually still dark magic, but really idk, that whole thing confused me ;p.

[Gay Bird 421]

Sombra was clearly a unicorn, not am alicorn, and unless the writers had a plot hole, Dark magic and alicorn magic are separate. (also zygen just mentioned Twilight used it as a unicorn) I don't really know why Twilight would've used Dark magic instead of "regular" magic, but we haven't seen Dark magic more than twice. I'm sure future episodes will provide some evidence.

Edited November 26, 2013 by Le Original Doge

[Confetti Nova 58]

The dark magic in the show is probably like a Sith vs Jedi thing in Star Wars. Both sides have the force or in this case magic, but they can decide whether to use it for good or evil. I honestly haven't seen the S3 finale since it actually aired, so correct me if my memory is fuzzy.

[LED Dasher 228]

The "dark magic" was likely a type of alicorn magic. You don't have to be an alicorn to use that type of magic. Try to recall the season three episode "Magic Duel." Trixie was corrupted by the alicorn amulet, and she could still use its magic even if she wasn't an alicorn. The term "Alicorn" can refer to a powerful being, and Alicorn magic is a type of magic that powerful beings can use.

[SharpWit 2,750]

I think that there are 2 types of Magic. Alicorn/Dark magic, and normal magic. Alicorns don't necessarily only use alicorn magic. They might just use normal magic but a LOT more of it, and alicorn magic for specific things. Or maybe alicorn magic isn't really alicorn magic. I have no evidence to back this claim, but what if it's called alicorn magic only because originally alicorns were the only ones thought to be able to use it until a particular unicorn came around, and proved powerful enough to use it.

[CT-1138 3,183]

I think the difference is the intent. Sao magic is when powerful magic (like Alicorn magic) is used for malicious intent like to enslave an entire race of ponies.

[~Luminiferous Ether~ 107]

I think the difference is the intent. Sao magic is when powerful magic (like Alicorn magic) is used for malicious intent like to enslave an entire race of ponies.

 

I concur, however I feel that you also must be conscious of the magic type of which you are using.

You may have the intent for evil, but use 'good' magic etc etc.

I believe it has to do with the spell, which you could argue is intent.

Maybe you had to use Dark Magic (Occult) to see into the past?

Maybe the Dark Arts aren't necessarily 'evil', they're just a different branch of magic entirely.

[RWB2 17]

Remember that Celestia's regular magic, and her sun-raising magic, are considered Unicorn magic.

 

Alicorn Magic might simply mean that the Dark Magic is something associated with Alicorns... or that Alicorns are just the most common ones to know it.

[Ianpiersonjdavis 513]

Maybe Zecora just called it 'Alicorn' magic because she (somehow) knew that black magic had been taught to Twilight by Celestia?

 

But, didn't tell that to her friends because they would be alarmed that it could corrupt her?

 

We've seen in the episode that they were pretty overprotective of her given her new status.

[Scootalove 10,689]

There are many variations of magic, that the writers could explain more of. Dark Magic is a corrupt variation of magic that can be used by alicorns and unicorns alike, and Dark magic can be used to corrupt the user or what King Sombra did in the Crystal Empire. As for alicorn magic, it is more of an experienced level of magic and can be used by alicorns or at least what Zecora calls it.

[Zoraxe 546]

Maybe it is a spell that you need to be an Alicorn to use and is also dark magic?

 

Like, there are dark magic spells, and there are apparently spells that only Alicorns can use, and this one spell is both, maybe.

[Frith is Magick 1,471]

I said previously that Alicorn magic and dark magic may be differentiated only by intent; I would like to build on that. Power has the ability to corrupt the mind, psychology has proven that to us, so there is a possibility that the difference between the magics lies not in intent, but in willpower or some other attribute. We must operate on the assumption that Alicorn magic is merely a more powerful magic than Unicorn Magic and not unique to Alicorns, otherwise Sombra would not have been able to become so proficient in it. There are two possibilities from here:

 

The first is the psychological effect of power corrupting the user. Sombra may have been corrupted by a new-found ability, becoming a tyrant in the process. The use of of this powerful magic may require a high degree of self control, the user must have a clear intent and be able to resist the prospect of becoming much more powerful. Celestia and Twilight (perhaps even Luna, although it is not canon) were able to retain self control because they used the magic for the benefit of others. It may simply go unused so as to ward off the temptation.

 

The second possibility is that a certain magical ability is required to use Alicorn magic safely. If the use of Alicorn magic overwhelms the users existing ability, then the magic will overwhelm and corrupt them. It may take the raw magical power of an Alicorn to use it safely. This explains why Twilight was able to safely use it once as a Unicorn, she was powerful, and did not use enough to overwhelm her. On the other hand, Sombra's use would have corrupted him, turning him into a villain. This explains why Celestia does not use it, her tolerance may be higher, but she could still become corrupted. A possible headcanon that stems from this is that Luna may have been corrupted as  young Alicorn while trying to learn to control the magic.

 

Alicorn magic may be the next level of Unicorn magic or a unique power. It is also possible that Dark magic is a branch of Alicorn magic used by the corrupted. This ties back to intent, Dark magic is possibly a harmful branch of Alicorn magic. Twilight and Celestia were able to use this form of magic without causing harm because of the way it is used.

 

Random headcanon (slightly related): Magics may have a unique signature. The reason Twilight Sparkle may have been transported to a nightmare when she activated the door in Sombra's palace was that the signature was wrong, triggering a defense mechanism rather than opening the door. If Twilight didn't use the right type of Alicorn magic, the door may have rejected her. This means that it is possible to have magical locks that respond only to a specific signature.

[FNGRpony 658]

if i may,

the whole point of evil magic, is to find short cuts instead of putting in the proper work you'd have to do in real magic.

 

feeding of love, sacraficing your humanitiy (or what ever the hell ponies have),

summoning Cthulu, juicing a baby (lol don't ask, old vampire masquered joke),

 

you know, short cuts that allow evil people to cast super powerful normal magic.

[Zoraxe 546]

So, is this spells existence pointing towards the idea that there have been Alicorns before Luna and Celestia? Like how would Zecora know a potion needs Alicorn magic unless there were Alicorns before that could do such a thing and it was recorded that they could?

[Riddle 102]

I think one thing that is not explored

is if magic or say Dark.Occult can or

has been seen to corruption in some ways

but it also might depend on the user like as

in:  Alicorn Amulet, and Trixie.   It did seem

that the Amulet does effect the user on

a very mental level but was it also  aiming

at the darkness in Trixie's soul and such and

feeding off it? 

 

Was it just feeding off that or was it 

something to do with Dark Magic and could

there other objects of power that can do such

things but were did they come from?   Personal I would

like to see more of those explored.....

 

When thing I would like to say in magic is 

well we have not seen any well natural laws

to the magic at all.  It can be summed that if

a unicorn uses to much magic it could drain them

and such in but if Magic is part of the natrual world

than there should be some given natural laws it has to

follow like when major spells are done and sadly we

have not seen to much of that when it comes to say Twilight when

she has cast any magic,  maybe some feed back due to her lack

of control but lets say when she did a transformation spell as

she did on Rare:  was a price paid in some ways to balance out

the effect of the spell?  Not that i could see....

 

That is the one flaw i can  see in the magic of the unicorns and such

is they seem not to have a balance to the magic they use or

say if dark magic slowly can cast  corruption on the soul of the user

and if it comes to dark magic,  if other ponies use it will it have

the same effect?  Who knows!

[NevaxTsumori 3]

I actually  have a theory that alicorns actually started out as really dark creatures. I mean, the tree of harmony lays in the everfree forest, it keeps it from growing, the sisters lived in there before their reign over equestria. And the main thing to back up my theory is nightmare moon. The "dark" magic being used by twilight is actually alicorn magic. Had we not known about nightmare moon, the thought of this would be impossible. So sombra could have been an alicorn, and celestia wanted to hide that fact(believing that mayve it woudl disrupt things), and because of the alicorn magics destructive properties, they would have labeled it as dark magic. And the fact that twilight was able to use it in season 3 during hte fight with sombra, was nothing more than her proving she was meant to be an alicorn. (I will attempt to post more, the more I think about this.)

[Mandizeen 21]

They are both powerful, but I don't think the that alicorn magic is more powerful than dark magic, or dark magic is more powerful than alicorn magic. But there is a difference. Sombra used dark magic, and he was an unicorn.

[Fhaolan 4,484]

Technically, it's never explicitly called 'Dark Magic' in the show. Celestia first uses this other magic when talking about fear and hatred, it's associated with Sombra, and it uses dark tones in the visual effect. But nobody in show actually calls it 'Dark Magic'. Everything else is fanon.

[TwilightDreamer 69]

It all depends by not the nature of the magic but ultimately, HOW alicorn magic is used and I agree with Firth is Magik on that subject because it all depends of the use of the magic, not the nature of it.

 

Alicorn magic, if handled with great care and by not using it to fulfill any stupid and reckless deeds anypony could ever commit, can be considered as good and something that can be revered with great praise. But if a pony uses Alicorn magic for selfish desires, to bring havoc and ruins to all of Equestria, if not, the whole world and to unleash great power upon anypony that wouldn't even dare try to take on, then it can be considered "dark magic".