13+ Types of Magic in Fantasy (with Examples)
Magic is the lifeblood of fantasy—it’s the pulse that makes worlds feel alive. It shapes kingdoms, turns the ordinary into the extraordinary, and adds that spark of wonder readers can’t resist.
But it’s not just glitter and fireworks. Magic is the invisible thread holding your world together, shaping societies, driving conflict, and giving your characters power—or taking it away when they need it most.
But here’s the thing: writing magic isn’t always… well, magical. It’s tricky. How do you balance that sense of wonder without turning it into a plot-hole-riddled mess? How do you keep it fresh when wizards, elemental powers, and ancient prophecies have all been done a hundred times?
Whether you’re building your very first magic system or polishing one you’ve spent years dreaming up, understanding the types of magic in fantasy is where it all starts.
Let’s dig into the different ways magic can work in your story, how to use it effectively, and how to dodge some common pitfalls (because no one wants a magic system that falls apart at the first plot twist).
Topics covered in this post:
What exactly makes magic "work" in fantasy?
First things first: magic in fantasy isn’t just about flashy spells or glowing swords. The best fantasy magic types are deeply tied to the world and its characters. Before we dive into specific types of magic systems in fantasy, let’s break down what makes magic effective in a story:
Purpose: Why does your world have magic? Is it a natural force, a divine gift, or the result of ancient technology?
Cost: What does it take to use magic? Energy? Resources? Morality?
Rules vs. Mystery: Do you prefer hard, rule-based systems or softer, mystical ones? (Spoiler: Both can work, but the key is consistency within your chosen types of magic system.)
Impact: How does magic shape your society? Who has access to it? And how does it influence power dynamics?
With those questions in mind, let’s explore some of the most common types of magic in fantasy—and how you can wield them in your own writing.
The two major schools of magic: Hard vs. soft
Before we break down the magic powers list, let’s talk about the big divide in fantasy: hard magic systems and soft magic systems.
Hard magic systems (rules, rules, and more rules)
Hard magic is all about structure and logic. Think of it like a science: magic has clearly defined rules, limits, and consequences. Readers know exactly how it works, which can make it satisfying to see magic-users solve problems creatively within these constraints.
Examples of hard magic systems:
Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn: In this world, "Allomancy" is fueled by metals. Each metal has a specific effect (e.g., pewter enhances strength, tin heightens senses), and once the metal burns out, the power is gone.
Why choose hard magic?
If you love creating detailed systems.
If you want readers to engage with magic as a problem-solving tool.
If your plot depends on characters cleverly manipulating magic.
💡Quick tip: Hard magic works well with action-heavy plots, mysteries, and heists because its logic creates clear stakes and solutions.
Soft magic systems (mystery and wonder)
Soft magic, on the other hand, leans into the unknown. It’s the magic of myths and fairy tales—enchanting, awe-inspiring, but not always explained. With soft magic, readers focus on the emotional impact rather than the mechanics.
Examples of soft magic systems:
J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth: Gandalf’s abilities are rarely defined. He wields immense power, but we’re never told exactly how it works or its limits.
George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire: Magic exists in the world but is often elusive and unpredictable, from the reanimation of the dead to prophetic visions.
Why choose soft magic?
If your story thrives on mystery, atmosphere, and emotion.
If you want readers to feel wonder or fear without getting bogged down in logistics.
💡Quick tip: Soft magic shines in epic or dark fantasy, where the unknown can enhance the stakes or the setting’s mystique.
A closer look at different types of magic in fantasy
When crafting your fantasy world, you have a treasure trove of fantasy magic types to draw from. From elemental manipulation to reality-bending forces, each type offers unique storytelling possibilities.
Below is an ultimate list of magic elements, systems, and themes that you can mix, match, or reimagine to fit your world.
1. Elemental magic
Elemental magic remains a cornerstone of fantasy. This involves manipulating the classic elements—fire, water, earth, and air—or expanding to include sub-elements like ice, lightning, or even metal.
Examples:
Avatar: The Last Airbender by Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino: The bending arts are tied to cultures, philosophies, and even personality traits, creating a rich elemental magic system.
Truthwitch by Susan Dennard: Elemental magic is central to the world, with characters like Tidewitches who control water and Windwitches who command air.
Ideas to make it unique:
Add rare or unexpected elements, like sound, void, or decay.
Tie elemental magic to a price—for instance, what if using fire magic burns away pieces of the user’s soul?
2. Blood magic
Dark and often taboo, blood magic requires sacrifice. This could mean using literal blood to power spells or taking a more symbolic approach, like tying magic to family bloodlines.
Examples:
The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska: A lush, gothic story where blood magic is tied to sacrifice, forbidden love, and moral dilemmas.
Heartless Hunter by Kristen Ciccarelli: A dark tale where blood magic is fueled by both the caster’s blood and the blood of others, raising the stakes with every spell and forcing characters to grapple with the moral consequences of their power.
Ideas to make it unique:
What if blood magic uses life experiences rather than physical blood—draining memories or emotional bonds instead?
Perhaps blood magic is misunderstood in your world, seen as evil but secretly the key to salvation.
3. Necromancy
Often overlapping with blood magic, necromancy focuses on raising or communicating with the dead. While traditionally associated with villains, modern stories have reimagined necromancers as heroes or morally complex antiheroes.
Examples:
The Old Kingdom series by Garth Nix: Necromancers use magical bells to control the dead, exploring themes of duty, mortality, and corruption.
The Dark Tide by Alicia Jasinska: A fresh take on necromancy, where sacrifices fuel a witch’s forbidden powers.
Ideas to make it unique:
Instead of raising bodies, necromancers could summon the memories or skills of the dead to aid them.
Explore the societal cost: What if necromancers are the only ones capable of maintaining order, but they’re feared and hated by everyone else?
4. Dream magic
Dream magic allows characters to enter, manipulate, or draw power from dreams and the subconscious.
Examples:
The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater: Ronan Lynch can pull objects from his dreams into reality, but this power comes with emotional and personal stakes.
The Sandman by Neil Gaiman: The Dream King, Morpheus, wields immense power tied to dreams, imagination, and storytelling.
Ideas to make it unique:
Perhaps dream magic only works on people who are experiencing nightmares, adding stakes and danger to its use.
What happens if dream magic spills into reality, creating a warped and surreal world?
5. Shadow magic
Shadow magic taps into darkness, stealth, and fear, often symbolizing corruption or power from forbidden places.
Examples:
The Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo: The Darkling wields shadow magic, summoning darkness and terrifying creatures.
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros: The MMC, Xaden Riorson, wields shadow magic. His ability to manipulate shadows is not just visually striking but also tied to his personal mystery, strength, and the deep, complex relationships he navigates.
Ideas to make it unique:
Maybe shadow magic can only be used in literal darkness, making users vulnerable during the day.
Explore the idea of shadows as sentient beings that betray their master when misused.
6. Nature magic
Nature magic draws power from the natural world—plants, animals, weather, or the land itself. It often symbolizes balance, growth, and the interconnectedness of life. This magic can range from healing and nurturing to wielding the destructive forces of nature.
Examples:
The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden: Vasilisa’s magic is tied to ancient nature spirits and the wilderness.
The Books of Pellinor by Alison Croggon: The Earthsong connects magic to the harmony of nature, allowing users to heal or manipulate the environment.
Ideas to make it unique:
Tie powers to the seasons—spring magic could heal and grow, while winter magic decays.
Require a bond with a specific animal or plant to access power.
Limit magic to thriving ecosystems—rendering it useless in barren or polluted areas.]
7. Alchemical magic
Alchemy blends magic and science. It often involves transmutation, creating potions, or transforming materials into something extraordinary.
Examples:
The Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski: Alchemy is essential for crafting potions, oils, and mutagens that enhance the abilities of Witchers.
Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson: Alchemy blends seamlessly with magical artifacts and a world full of enchanted grimoires.
Ideas to make it unique:
Introduce rare ingredients that can only be harvested under specific circumstances, like moonlight or the first snow of winter.
What if failed alchemy creates sentient creatures or dangerous byproducts?
8. Technomancy
Technomancy is a blend of magic and technology, often found in fantasy worlds with a steampunk, sci-fi, or futuristic twist.
Examples:
Arcane (based on League of Legends): Hextech fuses magical crystals with advanced technology to power weapons and machines.
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman: This series merges mystical elements like Dust with advanced tools like the alethiometer, a device powered by metaphysical forces to reveal truth.
Ideas to make it unique:
Maybe technomancy is illegal, with traditional magic users waging a war against progress.
What if technomancy is powered by magic harvested from ancient, extinct magical creatures?
9. Wild magic
Wild magic is unpredictable and chaotic. It doesn’t follow a strict system and is prone to spiraling out of control.
Examples:
Dragonlance by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman: Wild magic is tied to the chaos of gods, resulting in both disastrous and miraculous outcomes.
Tortall series by Tamora Pierce: In The Immortals Quartet, Daine’s wild magic allows her to communicate with and transform into animals. Unlike more structured forms of magic, her abilities are deeply tied to instinct and emotion, making them powerful yet unpredictable.
Ideas to make it unique:
What if wild magic is tied to emotions, only activating during moments of intense fear, anger, or joy?
Maybe wild magic users are ostracized for being walking disasters, even though their magic has immense potential.
P.S. Wild magic is also a fan-favorite concept in Dungeons & Dragons, where it’s famously tied to the Wild Magic Sorcerer subclass and chaotic magic zones. If you want to learn more about wild magic in D&D, check out this guide to Wild Magic in D&D.
10. Divine magic
This magic is granted by gods, spirits, or celestial beings. Users might serve as priests, prophets, or conduits for divine power.
Examples:
The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang: Rin’s ability to channel the power of the gods, particularly the vengeful fire god, gives her destructive magic at the cost of her mental stability.
The Inheritance Trilogy by N.K. Jemisin: This trilogy revolves around a world ruled by gods, where divine magic influences nearly everything.
Ideas to make it unique:
Perhaps divine magic is granted sparingly, and gods require constant “worship energy” to maintain their gifts.
Introduce a world where divine magic is failing as gods grow weaker or die.
11. Mind/psychic magic
Mind magic involves telepathy, telekinesis, or manipulating thoughts and emotions. It’s an ideal magic type for stories involving spies, court intrigue, or morally gray characters.
Examples:
The Broken Earth trilogy by N.K. Jemisin: Magic users called orogenes can manipulate energy, including controlling others.
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas: Fae magic in the ACOTAR series includes strong mind-based abilities. Rhysand, the High Lord of the Night Court, uses telepathy to communicate silently and shield others’ minds from manipulation.
Ideas to make it unique:
What if using mind magic leaves the user vulnerable to being influenced themselves?
Maybe mind magic can only be used on people the caster has a strong emotional connection with.
12. Rune magic
Rune magic is tied to symbols, glyphs, or written language. It involves carving or drawing runes to channel magic, often requiring knowledge of a secret alphabet or ancient language.
Examples:
The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare: Shadowhunters use runes as physical marks that grant temporary powers or protections.
The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson: Glyphs and written symbols are tied to different kinds of magical abilities and bonds with spren.
Ideas to make it unique:
What if runes can only be activated under specific conditions, like during eclipses or in certain locations?
Explore how misuse of runes could lead to catastrophic consequences, like unleashing a curse instead of a blessing.
13. Illusion magic
Illusion magic revolves around deception. Users create mirages, manipulate senses, or bend reality to trick others. It can be powerful when paired with stealth, intrigue, or psychological manipulation.
Examples:
The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfuss: Sympathy, a form of illusion magic, creates believable tricks by understanding physical connections.
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern: Illusion magic is central to the mysterious competition between Celia and Marco. They use their abilities to create elaborate, magical illusions within the circus
Ideas to make it unique:
What if illusions can only be maintained by taking memories or emotions from others?
Add stakes: If someone sees through an illusion, it physically backfires on the user.
14. Time magic
Time magic involves manipulating the past, present, or future. It’s rare in fantasy due to its complexity, but when done well, it adds depth and tension to a story.
Examples:
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow: Magical doorways in this story allow travel across worlds and time, blending wonder with the mystery of exploring new realities.
The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson: Time is central to this series, with the concept of the Wheel weaving past, present, and future together.
Ideas to make it unique:
What if time magic comes at a price, like aging the user rapidly or fracturing the timeline?
Explore a character who can only pause time for a single moment but must make critical decisions in that frozen moment.
Actionable tips for crafting your magic system
Whether you prefer a hard system, a soft system, or a mix, here are some tips to make your magic feel integral to your story:
Tie it to the worldbuilding: Magic shouldn’t feel tacked on. Make it a natural extension of your world’s culture, history, and economy. If you need help with worldbuilding, read this 🌍 Ultimate Fantasy Worldbuilding Guide.
Think about the user experience: How does it feel to wield magic? Does it hurt? Is it addictive? These sensory details bring your magic system to life.
Play with limits and costs: Limitations often make magic more interesting. In any type of magic system, consider what happens when someone overuses their power—does it harm them, others, or the world itself?
Think about ripple effects in society: How does magic affect everyday life for people who don’t wield it? Does it make labor easier? Is it heavily taxed, controlled by an elite class, or even outlawed? Does it create envy, fear, or superstition among those without magic? Considering how magic impacts the broader world—beyond just the protagonists—can add realism and depth to your story.
Make magic a force with agency: What if magic isn’t just a tool to be controlled but a sentient or semi-sentient force with its own will or intentions? This adds layers of tension and complexity to your story. For instance, what if magic chooses its user, favors certain people or goals, or even resists being wielded? Imagine a character desperately trying to use magic, only to find that it "refuses" them unless they meet some unspoken condition.
For an in-depth guide to building your own unique magic system, check out our downloadable Magic Systems and Artifacts Workbook (below ⬇️) —perfect for refining your ideas.
Key takeaways
Magic in fantasy can be soft (mysterious) or hard (rule-based)—both can work as long as they’re consistent.
Popular types of magic in fantasy include elemental, blood, shadow, nature, necromancy, and more. Mix and match to create something unique!
Tie your magic system to your world’s culture, history, and power dynamics for a more immersive experience.
Always consider the cost and limitations of magic—this makes it more compelling and raises the stakes for your characters.
Add unique twists to familiar magic types by introducing unexpected rules, effects, or consequences.
For more guidance on building your magic system, check out this digital Magic Systems and Artifacts Workbook to refine your ideas.
Frequently asked questions about types of magic in fantasy (FAQ)
How do I decide who has access to magic in my world?
Think about the balance of power in your story. Is magic a rare gift, inherited through bloodlines or bestowed by divine forces? Or is it a learned skill anyone can master with enough training and resources? Limiting access can create tension—like magic being restricted to an elite class—while making it more widely available can lead to fascinating societal dynamics. Either way, consider how accessibility shapes your world and its conflicts.
What’s the best way to make my magic system feel original?
Start by looking at your world’s culture, history, and environment. Is there a unique aspect of your world—like a harsh desert climate, ancient ruins, or a specific philosophy—that could influence how magic works? Also, think about combining unexpected ideas. For example, what happens when necromancy is used for farming, or when illusion magic becomes a core part of your world’s economy? Push yourself to find twists on familiar tropes.
How much should I explain my magic to the reader?
This depends on your story and the type of magic system you’ve created. For a hard magic system, where rules and limitations are key, it’s often best to explain enough so readers understand how magic affects the plot. For a soft magic system, focus on the emotional impact and let some mystery linger—it’s okay for magic to feel unknowable in the right context. A good rule of thumb: reveal only as much as your story needs to keep the reader hooked.
