What exactly is 'Black Magic'?

TeCoolMage··3 votes·1,048 views

Vayne's lore doesn't do much to describe what exactly she's is fighting other than folklore and superstitious beings, or old wiccan and pagan based creatures. There's no actual pattern other than, 'it has negative cultural connotations', it's not even necessarily evil as Frey used her magic for good. And it's definitely not related to darkness, things like therians are just shapeshifting people.

Is Ivern a black magic druid? Is Lux's Light magic black magic? Are the runes and hextech weapons vile and evil black magics?

7 Comments

Epicurus3 votes

I think the phrase "black magic" is just a product of Demacia's cultural mistrust, rather than any particular discipline of magic. So black magic is just any magic Vayne doesn't like.

Hextech might be an exception, as anyone can use hextech devices, not just mages.

GreenLore2 votes

But Frey herself described her magic as "dark",implying that its not just a demacian thing to differentiate between dark magic and regular one.

Rebonack2 votes

{quoted}

But Frey herself described her magic as "dark",implying that its not just a demacian thing to differentiate between dark magic and regular one.

It could be that she's calling it 'dark' just because she learned it from the nasty stuff the Ice Witch does. Guilt by association and all that.

The mage in Galio's story was tossing bolts of raw arcane power, that was called 'dark magic'. Annie's fire magic is 'dark'. Fiddling with memories is apparently 'dark magic'. So are enchantments. The distinction between 'dark magic' and any other magic seems to be a cultural and/or personal distinction.

GreenLore1 votes

Even then,she said that the ritual involved dark magic,which sounds a lot like the ritual consisted of other magic as well.

Also Galios description of the enemies spells sounds a bit more like it was some sort of extreme version of the cruciatus curse,as he describes how the people were lying on the ground,twisted into grotesque contortions,which does sound rather evil. Though there is also the fact that champs like Galio and Garen might not be able to differentiate between regular magic and dark magic anyway.

DragonShea1 votes

{quoted}

Even then,she said that the ritual involved dark magic,which sounds a lot like the ritual consisted of other magic as well.

Also Galios description of the enemies spells sounds a bit more like it was some sort of extreme version of the cruciatus curse,as he describes how the people were lying on the ground,twisted into grotesque contortions,which does sound rather evil. Though there is also the fact that champs like Galio and Garen might not be able to differentiate between regular magic and dark magic anyway.

Demacia is veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery Anti-magic considering that their ancestors were hunted by evil magi. It's hard to look past prejudice when it's part of your core identity. But in Galio's and Lux story. Galio can tell the difference but Garen is still so-so on the matter.

DragonShea1 votes

Dark Magic is often destructive and sometimes grotesque power that at best is equal in benevolence to light magic(which is very rare to see) or so bad it can ruin worlds. in general dark magic is bad because it can do more harm than good and often trying to use it for the good of others but it is possible. Most people that have dark magic often get it by accident and didn't make a decision prior to obtaining it.

Users of dark magic in Lol would be:

Ahri Annie Cassiopeia Chogath Elise Evelynn Fiddlesticks Kassadin Leblanc Lissandra Malzahar Maokai Mordekaiser Nocturne Swain Syndra TahmKench Thresh Varus Veigar Velkoz Vladimir Yorick

Of whom er good or not too evil would be: Ahri Annie Kassadin Maokai Yorick Varus Syndra (Syndra is so-so)

Oleandervine1 votes

Dark magic, or black magic, in most contexts is typically magic that is used or obtained through non-natural or malicious ways. Instances of this are things like necromancers, who commune with and control the energies of the dead; sorcerers who form pacts with demons to gain access to their magical properties; mages who actively destroy or consume the living or life forces of the world to produce their magic; and then there's a subset of dark magic in which an individual may use it due to a curse or exposure to the dark energy. This general concept still holds pretty true in this game.

A lot of Demacia considers magic in general to be dark magic. This is flawed logic on their part, because mages like Syndra or Lux are inherently born with intense magic power that is not derived from destructive forces nor is it by its nature malicious, such as Void magic or the life consuming magic employed by Vladimir. Also in the world are shamanistic characters such as Udyr or Ivern, who's magic is linked to nature, but is used to help and protect nature, and not drain it. These would not be dark magicians by normal standards, but most Demacians wouldn't care.

Vayne, by that line of thought, despises magic. As in a deep, triggering, hateful, loathing of magic. As in she is so entirely blinded by her vengeance and hatred that to her, there is nothing but black magic in the world.

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