Magic and sorcery are the basis of mystical powers.[1] Magic can be considered a substance and sorcery the manipulation of that substance.[2]
Sorcery[]
Sorcery requires training and practice.[3][4] Genetic and personal affinity for sorcery are also helpful;[5] a human does not need to be Homo magi to use magic, but it is very helpful, especially to perform at a high level.[6] The use of magic also requires energy, usually provided by the user.[4] As Khalid Nassour explains, there is a cost to magic and it can drain the user's vim vitae, or life force.[7] Magic users can also tap into the Earth's ley lines or other sources of mystic power; for example, Zatanna's protégées pooled their energies into her and Mary Bromfield was able to forcibly absorb some of Klarion's power.[8]
According to Superboy, Zatanna's spells always leave behind a microscopic magical residue that looks slightly different than say Doctor Fate's or Thirteen's. Each magic user's residue is like a signature and Martian magic is basically a signature in different language.[9]
Magic can be channeled in a variety of ways:
- Spoken words are a common method. A variety of languages are used, though an individual sorcerer will typically use a single language almost exclusively; for example Wotan and Kent Nelson use Latin,[1][10] while Zatara and Zatanna use English spoken backwards.[10][4] This method is referred to as "baby-magic" by a more powerful sorcerer, Klarion. This indicates that it may be the simplest way to channel magic.[11]
- Magical objects can be used to enhance and/or channel the user's magical powers; examples include Water-Bearers,[12] Kent Nelson's cane[1] and the Sword of Beowulf.[13] Objects can also be used as a vessel to carry spells, such as Zatanna's Glamour Charm.[14]
- Atlantean students at the Conservatory of Sorcery are given skin icons to enhance their powers.[1] These tattoos glow when magic is used.[12] Users may use spoken words when invoking their powers,[3] but more often do not.[12]
- Particularly powerful sorcerers, such as Doctor Fate and Klarion, are capable of using magic seemingly at will, without the use of spells or objects.[1]
Known users[]
- Aquagirl
- Arion
- Arion (clone)
- Beluga
- Black Adam
- Black Mary
- Blackbriar Thorn
- Blubber
- Blue Devil
- Chian
- Child
- Coral
- Danuuth
- Doctor Fate
- Etrigan the Demon
- Felix Faust
- Flaw
- Isis
- Isis (deity)
- Jane Nassour
- Kaldur'ahm
- Khalid Nassour
- Klarion
- La'gaan
- Lori Lemaris
- M'Chiste
- Madame Xanadu
- Mera Nereus
- Nanaue Sha'ark
- Ocean-Master
- Ocean-Master (clone)
- Phantom Stranger
- Ronal
- S'yraa S'mitt
- Shazam
- Tempest
- Thirteen
- Topo
- Wizard
- Wotan
- Wyynde
- Zatanna
- Zatara