In recent years, the rise of intricate, well-defined magic systems—exemplified by Brandon Sanderson’s work—has led many aspiring authors to believe that a detailed set of rules governing magical abilities is essential for crafting compelling fantasy. While Sanderson’s approach to magic has proven highly successful, not every fantasy story benefits from such a framework.
In fact, magic that retains an air of mystery, as seen in the works of authors like Robert E. Howard and J.R.R. Tolkien, can be equally, if not more, effective in certain kinds of tales. Let’s explore why not every fantasy story needs a magic system and examine which kinds of stories systematized magic helps and hinders.
Brandon Sanderson is often credited with popularizing magic systems that resemble science with clearly established rules, limitations, and mechanics. In Mistborn, for example, the magic of Allomancy operates on a strict set of principles: Ingest metals, burn them for specific powers, and be limited by the kind and quantity of metal consumed. This transparency allows readers to anticipate outcomes, creating a puzzle of sorts that rewards careful attention.
So systematized magic can offer advantages. It empowers characters within the milieu of the story, ensuring that magic use feels logical and consistent. Readers who enjoy problem-solving or technical world building are often drawn to these systems, which allow magic to function like technology. In other words, each spell is subject to clear cause-and-effect relationships.
And such a structure can heighten tension during conflicts, since both protagonists and antagonists must work within the same constraints, making victory a matter of strategy as much as power. This approach works especially well in stories focused on conflict resolution, intrigue, or heists. Because the balance of power is crucial, and understanding the system can make the difference between life and death, it’s ideal for fantasy that thrives on manipulation of the environment and tight world building.
Related: How Does Your Magic Work?
Contrast the systematic approach with the worlds of Robert E. Howard and J.R.R. Tolkien. In the Hyborian Age and Middle-earth, magic is a less defined expression of the unknown, the mystical, or even the divine. Magic in Tolkien’s legendarium is rarely explained in-depth. Gandalf, for example, performs miraculous acts with no real explanation of the mechanics behind them. Likewise, Conan often encounters sorcerers whose power seems vast and unknowable–evoking the fear and awe of the unknown.
This more ambiguous form of magic serves a different storytelling purpose. By not providing all the answers, authors can maintain an atmosphere of unpredictability and wonder. Magic in these settings feels elemental, tied to forces beyond human understanding. And as such, it can add depth and a sense of timelessness to the world.
Mysterious magic works particularly well in epic tales, mythologies, or stories that emphasize the vastness and danger of the world. The pervasive mystery thickens the atmosphere by suggesting there are greater powers at work that even the most powerful characters do not fully grasp. It also serves to underline themes of fate, destiny, or the will of the gods, which highlights mankind’s smallness in the face of cosmic forces.
In these stories, magic is not a mere tool. It is a primeval manifestation or a theophany. Characters may tap into these forces, but they can never truly control them.
Related: Sanderson v Tolkien–Magic v Sacrament
So how do you, the author, decide which kind of magic to use in your fantasy world?
Let’s go over a few criteria:
Consider your story’s focus
If your tale is driven by a plot that involves intricate power dynamics, puzzles, or problem-solving, a systematized magic approach might suit it best. Sanderson’s style allows for characters to outmaneuver each other by exploiting the rules of magic, which can foster tightly controlled yet satisfying resolutions.
On the other hand, if your story leans toward the mythic or the epic, mysterious magic can add gravity to the proceedings. The mystical approach lends itself to tales in which the world’s forces are even bigger than your larger-than-life characters, preserving a sense of scale and wonder that rigid systems might diminish.
Think about your themes
Systematized magic best complements stories that revolve around knowledge, control, and mastery. If your themes hinge on realizing human potential, making scientific progress (Big Nerds With Wands), or working around limitations, consider magic-as-tech.
By contrast, mysterious magic better suits stories about faith, fate, and foreboding. If your themes include the limitations of human knowledge or divine or unknowable powers, then mystical magic will better support them.
What tone are you setting?
A well-defined magic system often sets a tone that appeals to readers’ intellects. They will try to figure out how your magic works and derive joy from watching characters exploit the system to overcome obstacles. Hence why systematized magic is a good fit for stories with a more grounded tone in worlds where the rules are meant to be understood.
Now, if your goal is to evoke wonder, awe, or even fear, a mysterious magic system will amplify those feelings. By leaving much unexplained, you generate an atmosphere in which magic feels otherworldly and potentially dangerous.
While systematized magic has gained popularity for its clarity and logical consistency, it’s important to remember that not every fantasy story requires that level of detail. Mysterious, unpredictable magic can be just as powerful a storytelling tool, especially in narratives focused on myth, destiny, or the awe-inspiring nature of the unknown.
Not every fantasy story needs a magic system. Ultimately, the type of magic you choose should serve your story’s focus, themes, and tone. And whether it operates like science or, well, magic; your magic should always serve the story you want to tell.
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