Seven Unique Magic Systems to Inspire Your Own

Unique magic systems are a great way to hook readers. Plus, they’re so much fun to create. Whether magic has detailed rules or its source is a mystery, understanding the way it impacts your story will enrich your worldbuilding. Here are seven stories with fascinating magic systems:

1. Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

When it comes to magic systems, Brandon Sanderson knows what’s what. In his Mistborn series, allomancy involves the “burning” of metals by ingesting them and using them to fuel various abilities. Iron allows you to pull on nearby sources of metal, pewter increases your strength and speed, zinc lets you feel others’ emotions, and so on. The magic system is revealed to be more intricate as the series progresses, and it fuels some fascinating fight scenes.

2. Fullmetal Alchemist

In this anime, magic sits under the guise of science. Alchemists understand matter’s structure and can manipulate it by transmuting an object into something else. Altering matter has rules, such as this one: “In order to obtain or create something, something of equal value must be lost or destroyed.” Problems arise when two boys try to bring their mom back from the dead, but have nothing equivalent to offer for the return of her soul.