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@Riot, Is magic addictive in Universe of Runeterra?

Fasmodey··1 votes·2,194 views

While we don't even know how magic works in Universe of Runeterra and what it is, I just want to receive answer of a question, is magic addictive? I know you guys want to explain magic in a whole different level of depth but It still would be cool to know a pretty non-spoiler answer.

When I think about it, my brain brings sub questions like ''is magic innate''? Because they're related. If magic is innate for everyone, something innate cannot be addictive. It is like asking is breathing addictive. But what if magic is not innate for every magic user? We have mortal champions that are born with innate magic, like Syndra, Lux, Taliyah, Annie. But there are mages like Xerath too, who obtained magic as I see. He doesn't seem innate. If he is not innate, magic shows addiction for at least Xerath. And I should point, this addiction has been brought undeniable desire for the dark magic on Xerath. He literally got obsessed with magic after his discover. Not sure if it is only specific for Xerath or not, but magic seems like addictive for obtainers. This is TOTALLY my opinion though.

Actually, I'm not even sure if Xerath just obtained magic, or he just discovered his innate magic. But if It is second option, he surely discovered his innate magic super late compare to Syndra, Annie, Taliyah, Lux. Which is way I think first option is more possible.

Also, I seperate mages of Runeterra to 2 categories in my head canon, sorcerers/sorceresses and wizards/warlocks.

Sorcerers are born with magic, they use their innate magic. Wizards/Warlocks obtain magic in some way.

Sorcerers can use only their innate magic and usually can cast only one magic type, like how Taliyah can only use earth magic, Annie fire magic, Lux light magic and Syndra dark magic. But Wizards/Warlocks seem like can use a lot magic types. Xerath and Ryze look like 2 of them.

Magic is a important part of Runeterra and It should be explained before it gets complicated to explain. Because without thinking on magic, story can be inconstent, which is bad for both side, writers and readers.

7 Comments

RiotRiotJaredan5 votes

Some magic can be. Just ask Ryze.

Overlord Forte1 votes

PIggybacking off this as this is basically what I was going to say ...

So far it looks like it depends on the magic as much as the person utilizing it. Someone like Vladimir poses an interesting proposition: blood magic can be healing as much as destructive, but he himself is concerned with expanding his own power. So, it tends to feed into his habit of pursuing blood magic destructively (versus say, Soraka, if she was a blood mage).

Xerath and Syndra are polar opposites in many ways, especially how their magic is concerned. Xerath studied, learned, and adopted magic for the pursuit of his goals, often finding the power it gave him the only answer to his problems. Syndra, innately born with magic, doesn't chase after it so much as it is already 'apart of her'. There's no feedback loop for her, as she and magic are arguably one entity together, where as 'Xerath and his magic' tend to represent two entities. This is especially notable as much of Xerath's greater power came from stealing the Ascension Ritual, ontop of his native capability.

So, Xerath may have a compulsion to acquire more power, but Syndra's is akin to exercising her being as one would their arms or legs.

Ultimately, though, I don't like the idea of magic (as a whole) being a whole entity of itself that can 'compel' people. It removes a lot of character agency, devaluing their goals, morals, and personality because you have a hard time telling of 'how much is the person, and how much is the person the magic is compelling?'. Notable kinds of magic may fulfill this category, but approaching all of it in that lens is damaging to the fantasies it could bring.

Solideus1 votes

Is magic indeed closely correlated with madness and sadness?

Zezockary1 votes

Actually, lux has the ability to copy and magic she sees. From her bio, "Somehow, she was able to reverse engineer arcane magical spells after seeing them cast only once." This seems to imply that she can use other types of magic and either just prefers or is better with light magic. This would contradict your definition of a sorcerer.

People having the innate ability to use magic in Runeterra is very rare, so a lot of the magic used is harnessed in some other form, such as hextech equipment. There may be some form of harnessing magic that is addictive, such as some "magic injection" or something, however I haven't seen any indication of anything like that this far.

Fasmodey1 votes

{quoted}

Actually, lux has the ability to copy and magic she sees. From her bio, "Somehow, she was able to reverse engineer arcane magical spells after seeing them cast only once." This seems to imply that she can use other types of magic and either just prefers or is better with light magic. This would contradict your definition of a sorcerer.

People having the innate ability to use magic in Runeterra is very rare, so a lot of the magic used is harnessed in some other form, such as hextech equipment. There may be some form of harnessing magic that is addictive, such as some "magic injection" or something, however I haven't seen any indication of anything like that this far.

I see. Then Lux is not a sorcerer but a wizard? I was not sure on Lux anyway, we don't even know if she discovered his innate magic as a kid or not.

I also see Lux lore as outdated, I think they can change his magical use pretty easily.

Zezockary2 votes

By your description she would be a sorceror. She was born with magic, but she can use different kinds. I think your descriptions are very flawed. We should probably follow the actual ones in the lores. I like to use mages, techmaturgists, and arcanists. Lux's lore says it was discovered "as she matured", which seems to indicate that she discovered them during her teenage years.

Mages are born with magic, some are tied to a specific kind like Taliyah, and some are not like Lux.

Techmaturgists use magic tools, like hextech equipment. Heimerdinger and Viktor would fall into this category. Idk if Ezreal's glove would count as this, as he was born with innate magic and it just draws it out without him having to learn how.

Arcanists obtained magic in some way, like Twisted Fate. Ryze's magic is descrived as "arcane", however he himself is described as an "archmage". I don't think his lore ever specifies whether he was born with magic or if he obtained it in some way, however it does say that he does not use the world runes which means he did not obtain magic through them.

Honestly though, we don't have enough information to clearly describe the different kinds of magic besides what has been given to us.

Fasmodey1 votes

{quoted}

By your description she would be a sorceror. She was born with magic, but she can use different kinds. I think your descriptions are very flawed. We should probably follow the actual ones in the lores. I like to use mages, techmaturgists, and arcanists. Lux's lore says it was discovered "as she matured", which seems to indicate that she discovered them during her teenage years.

Mages are born with magic, some are tied to a specific kind like Taliyah, and some are not like Lux.

Techmaturgists use magic tools, like hextech equipment. Heimerdinger and Viktor would fall into this category. Idk if Ezreal's glove would count as this, as he was born with innate magic and it just draws it out without him having to learn how.

Arcanists obtained magic in some way, like Twisted Fate. Ryze's magic is descrived as "arcane", however he himself is described as an "archmage". I don't think his lore ever specifies whether he was born with magic or if he obtained it in some way, however it does say that he does not use the world runes which means he did not obtain magic through them.

Honestly though, we don't have enough information to clearly describe the different kinds of magic besides what has been given to us.

Yes, my descriptions are pretty bad.

Viktor has no hextech though. That's why he sent his ''patients'' or what so ever to Jayce's lab, so they can discover if Jayce has another hextech or not for Viktor to use. His lore says he had supplanted the majority of his anatomy with mechanical augmentations, even though he dreams hextech augmentations.

Ezreal in the other hand, does not have innate magic anymore. It was removed with his new lore. His entire power is now related and possible with his ancient artifact.

Ryze uses rune magic, I don't if it is related with world runes or not but he seems like he discovered his magic after runes he encountered. Otherwise, why do you call it rune magic? Does not make sense.

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