In the realm of fantasy, magic systems are typically sorted into two main categories: soft and hard magic systems. A soft magic system is generally pretty loose about its rules, with the magic rarely having clear limitations. This type of magic system typically doesn’t have a lengthy explanation about how or why it works — it just does. On the flipside, hard magic systems are very structured and rife with rules. There are clear limits, and some even dive into the physics behind them.
These magic systems can be found across many forms of media, from books to movies, and even to television. Lots of fantasy TV shows have adopted some pretty complicated magic systems. This is especially true with shows that are based on novels, as the novels are able to detail their systems and relay the information in a way that the screen simply cannot. Though that hasn’t stopped them from trying. These are the best fantasy TV shows with hard magic systems, which are almost always complicated and difficult to grasp for new fans.
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‘Shadow and Bone’ (2021–2023)
Shadow and Bone is based on a novel series by Leigh Bardugo, who wrote an extensive literary universe known as the Grishaverse. The name “Grisha” is the name of the magic users in this universe. Grishas are gifted with magic from birth, meaning not everybody can learn how to harness the power of magic. Even then, Grishas are pretty limited in what they can and can’t do. They are divided into several clans, which are in turn divided into sub-clans based on their particular abilities or talents.
First, there are the Corporalki, who can manipulate the human body. These are divided into Heartrenders, who control the heart and organs, Healers, and Tailors, who alter DNA and physical appearance. Then there are the Etherealki, who command natural elements. These are separated into Squallers (wind), Inferni (fire), and Tidemakers (water), with some rarer individuals able to manipulate light or shadow. Lastly, there are the Materialki, the Fabrikators, who control physical objects. These Grishas consist of the Durasts, who manipulate wood, glass, and other materials, and the Alkemi, who control chemicals and poisons. However, each Grisha can only manipulate their environment and cannot conjure things out of thin air; they can typically only use their abilities when their element is present nearby. The magic is treated like a science, and even dives into the physics of things a little bit. It gets even more complicated than that though, which is surprising for a YA series.
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‘The Magicians’ (2015–2020)
The Magicians might be a low fantasy TV series, but it still does a good job of presenting an intricate and detailed system of magic. Originally based on the novels by Lev Grossman, the story concerns a man who enrolls at a university to study magic, only to discover that the world from his favorite childhood storybook is real, and more dangerous than he anticipated. This fantasy series is all about magic, so it’s important to make the magic system feel rigid, structured, and well-planned.
Spells have to be cast in a very exact way — one small slip-up, and it won’t work in the way the caster intends it to. First, the caster must perform a highly precise finger gesture paired with an incantation, usually in a dead language like Old Slavonic or Latin. This won’t work every single time, though. Each gesture and incantation must be adjusted for the variables in the environment, including weather, time of day, geographical position, and more. This means every magician is practically an advanced scientist, able to perform complex magical calculations of sorts. It’s not ideal, but with enough practice, any magician can become an expert at their craft. Though it works slightly differently in the show than it does in the books, it’s still pretty complicated.
Fullmetal Alchemist is a Japanese anime based on a manga series by Hiromu Arakawa. The show is a bit of a blend of fantasy and steampunk, which has helped it appeal to a broader audience both domestically and internationally. Though short-lived, the show did take a pretty long look at how magic actually works in its weird and wonderful world. As the title suggests, it is heavily related to the concept of alchemy, an ancient practice that served as a precursor to modern chemistry.
As such, most of the magic in the show is about the use of metals or chemicals. First, an alchemist must know the theory of what they’re doing so that they can understand what they’re doing and not cause a catastrophic explosion. Once this is done, the alchemist uses their gift to break down the material at a molecular level before reconstructing it into an entirely new material, object, or shape. Like most hard magic systems, though, there are limits. It closely follows the real laws of physics, such as the law of equivalent exchange. This means you cannot create something from nothing. It also follows conservation of mass, meaning matter cannot be truly destroyed. For any act of transmutation, it is crucial for the alchemist to transform something into an object that is closely related. This means you cannot turn a rock into fire. You would be better off turning it into a brick, since they have more in common. Should any of these rules be broken, the universe forces a “rebound,” giving the alchemist a heavy physical or psychological burden in return. This is just how it works at base level — it actually goes even deeper than that.
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‘The Wheel of Time’ (2021–2025)
The magic system in The Wheel of Time is meticulously detailed in the original novel series by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. It is rigidly structured and has clear and distinct rules. First, there is the matter of inherent power levels. This is a 72-point scale, with every magic user, called a Channeler, falling somewhere on that scale. Women can only access 66 of those points, meaning men are more powerful. However, women are also more likely to be able to Channel, whereas men are doomed to lose their minds eventually due to the Dark One tainting saidin, the male half of the One Power. The female half is known as saidar.
One’s power level determines the efficiency with which they can channel. Once the One Power is accessed, a Channeler must weave together magical threads of fire, earth, air, water, and spirit. These can be used as is, or combined to produce different effects, such as healing, coercion, or lightning. This process comes at a cost, however. Each time a Channeler uses their power, it drains a bit of their physical energy. This means excessive magic use can quickly exhaust a Channeler, and in some cases, even kill them. Thus, it is not something to be used lightly. The magic system is complicated enough as it is, but it’s made even more intricate by the fact that female Channelers, the Aes Sedai, divide themselves into seven different Ajahs, each focusing on different areas of strength in the power. For example, the Green Ajah is very competent with combative magic like lightning bolts and fireballs, whereas the Yellow Ajah leans more towards healing weaves. The show never got much of a chance to dive as deep into things as the books do — especially due to The Wheel of Time‘s unfortunate cancelation — but it’s still a lot to take in.
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‘The Legend of Vox Machina’ (2022–Present)
The Legend of Vox Machina comes from pretty humble beginnings. It initially began on a podcast called Critical Role, which is about custom campaigns for the popular tabletop role-playing game, Dungeons & Dragons. The podcast absolutely blew up, sparking a deal with Amazon Prime Video, which became the TV show that fans know and love today. What’s really cool is that the original actors from the podcast actually voice their in-game characters on the show, making it a treat for the fans who have been there since day one.
As for the magic system, because it’s based on Dungeons & Dragons, it uses the same system of magic that the tabletop RPG does. Every spell cast requires three specific elements: an incantation, a gesture, and a catalyst. Typically, the catalyst is a physical item or a consumable item used as a fuel source. This sounds simple at first, but it goes deeper than that. Mages also have to consistently level up their spells, which scale separately from their character. They also take up spell slots, meaning a mage must choose their arsenal of magic carefully. This magic system is actually fairly complicated, which fits considering its origins. Though fans of the original game or of the show will know it like the back of their hands, it can be a lot to digest for newcomers.
- Release Date
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January 27, 2022
- Network
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Prime Video
- Showrunner
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Brandon Auman
- Directors
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Young Heller, Eugene Lee, Alicia Chan
- Writers
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Eugene Son, Travis Willingham, Chris Wyatt, Kevin Burke, Suzanne Keilly, Mae Catt, Todd Casey, Ashly Burch, May Chan, Marc Bernardin