History Main / MagicEater

* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime': In the episode "Betty" the Anti-Magic creature, Bella Noche is capable of stealing the magical power of any magical being or object through its PowerNullifier but is physically weak.

* ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'': the third book of the Mage Wars Trilogy, '''The Silver Gryphon''', introduces a mutant strain of creatures called Wyrsa. Though smaller than their base line cousins, they're far more cooperative and, as Tadrith and Silverblade discover, eat magic. This is a particularly big problem for Tad as gryphons are magical in nature and require it for their bodily functions, especially since a large enough wyrsa pack only has to be in the general area to leech magic (as shown when the duo's magical fire starter and tent both fail). Even the arrival of Skandrannon and Amberdrake only serve to wet the creatures' appetites and Amberdrake points out that if the mutants aren't dealt with now, no magical creature will be safe. Fortunately the pack's voraciousness is used against them by planting magic bait under a rock slide and killing them all.

* ''TabletopGame/HunterTheVigil'': Agonizers are extradimensional insects that feed on magic. Their normal modus operandi is to enter a human body, burrow into the brain, and extend nerve fibers through the body [[PuppeteerParasite so as to puppet their host and use it to reach magic-reach areas]]; most, however, end up dying due to scarcity of magic-rich areas on Earth. Cheiron researchers have worked out that, if the agonizer's nerve fibers are trimmed and anchored to metal spikes and the whole thing is implanted in a hunter's arm, the host gains the benefits of magic draining without losing control of their body. The implanted magic bug feeds when the hunter extends the spikes out of her hands and uses them against magical beings, allowing the symbiote to feed in a process that's agonizing for the victim. However, agonizers are still capable of making their host's life very unpleasant if left to go hungry.

* ''Blog/CodexInversus'': Manticorats are rodents that have adapted to feed primarily on magic and magical creatures. Their normal food source are spellcasting insects, such as conjuring ants and illusionist butterflies, but they are a serious pest for wizards because they will happily gnaw on wands, eat reagents, drink potions, and chew through scrolls. Keeping them away is almost impossible, since they will simply nibble holes through shields and wards and lick off repulsive enchantments.

The Magic Eater is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: a character that feeds on {{Magic}} and/or magic users. If the main character(s) use magic, then the Magic Eater will present a clear threat to them. If PureMagicBeing exists, the Magic Eater may try to prey on them.

* ''WebOriginal/CodexInversus'': Manticorats are rodents that have adapted to feed primarily on magic and magical creatures. Their normal food source are spellcasting insects, such as conjuring ants and illusionist butterflies, but they are a serious pest for wizards because they will happily gnaw on wands, eat reagents, drink potions, and chew through scrolls. Keeping them away is almost impossible, since they will simply nibble holes through shields and wards and lick off repulsive enchantments.

* ''Literature/TalesFromVerania: The main villain of the second, third, and fourth books has the ability to consume a wizard's magic, a feat that kills the victim and is akin to devouring someone's life force.

Often, eating magic allows them to [[AntiMagic nullify spells]] or [[PowerCopying use them themselves]]. In some cases, a Magic Eater will from simply eating magical energies to being a full MageHuntingMonster. See also PhlebotinumMuncher, especially when it's Munching a SciFi element rather than magic.

* ''Series/KamenRiderWizard'': Kamen Rider Beast [[BondCreatures draws his power from the Chimera Phantom]] sealed inside his TransformationTrinket, and will die unless he keeps it fed on the {{Mana}} of Phantoms he defeats. Whereas Wizard's CatchPhrase when entering battle is "It's Show Time!", Beast's is "It's Lunch Time!". While this makes Beast less powerful than spellcasters with their own mana like Wizard, late in the series it allows him to act as a SpannerInTheWorks: [[spoiler:Since [[BigBad Wiseman]] can't use Beast as a mana battery for his RitualMagic, he captures the other wizards but simply beats up Beast and leaves him to die. Beast then ''[[HeroicSacrifice shatters]]'' his TransformationTrinket, freeing Chimera who proceeds to eat Wiseman's spell before it's complete.]]

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* ''Anime/LittleWitchAcademia2013'': The Briton Red Dragon is shown to be this, as it gains grows in strength and power by absorbing any magic, which becomes a problem after a bunch of students attempt to attack the dragon by using magic after it escaped, not realizing that they're only powering it up until it was too late. The only magic that is shown to be effective against the beast is the Shiny Rod's magic, which is how Akko was able to defeat it.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Ponyfinder}}'': The flutterponies descend from the flutters, insect-like fey that fed on magic and descended in swarms to devour any source of it that they could find, including living beings.

Often, eating magic allows them to [[AntiMagic nullify spells]] or [[PowerCopying use them themselves]]. Related to, but distinct from, MageKiller. See also PhlebotinumMuncher, especially when it's Munching a SciFi element rather than magic.

* ''TabletopGame/MageTheAwakening'': The Timori [[PrestigeClass Legacy]] have built BlackMagic into their own souls to feed on other mages. They start by stealing {{Mana}} to prolong their lives; the most powerful can DePower mages entirely to [[ImmortalityImmorality halt their aging]] or [[PowerParasite use their stolen power]]. Some even "farm" captive mages until [[FateWorseThanDeath their minds wear out from the strain]].

* ''Series/MahouSentaiMagiranger''/''Series/PowerRangersMysticForce'': The BigBad [[{{Cthulhumanoid}} N Ma/Octomus the Master]] can eat magic, making him a fitting threat for a mystical setting where magic is the source of the Rangers' powers. The heroes manage to defeat him [[GoingToGiveItMoreEnergy by firing an endless beam of magic down his throat, it being too much for his evil appetite]].

* In ''Manga/BlackClover'', this is the true form of [[spoiler:Charmy Pappitson]], after awakening [[spoiler:her [[HalfHumanHybrid half-dwarf]] heritage]] and Food Magic. In this form, [[spoiler:her sheep familiar]] transforms into a wolf that can quite literally eat any magic in the area and transform its mana into SuperStrength for [[spoiler:Charmy]]'s own body.

* In ''Literature/TheCosmere'', there are a number of types of being that eat Investiture, the generic term for magical power across the worlds.

** ''Literature/{{Warbreaker}}'': The Returned are [[CameBackStrong sent back from death]] with idealized bodies and supernatural abilities, but need to consume investiture every week to survive. This poses a bit of a problem, since the only local source is part of the AnatomyOfTheSoul. [[spoiler:One Returned ends up on ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'''s planet Roshar instead, where investiture literally rains from the sky.]]

* ''Literature/CounselorsAndKings'': The laraken is a demonic monster which consumes any magical energy in its vicinity, making it impossible to defeat through magical means -- and as it lives in TheMagocracy of Halruaa, whose people almost never ''consider'' doing something without magic, it's fed quite well on the countless foolhardy adventurers who've thrown themselves at it over the centuries. [[spoiler: It's ultimately revealed to have been a creation of the legendary necromancer Akhlaur, who can drain stolen magic out of the laraken and use it to refuel his own powers at will - leaving the creature in a near perpetual state of starvation no matter how much it gorges itself. Akhlaur himself, of course, is immune to the laraken's powers]].
* ''Literature/EnchantedForestChronicles'': Discussed and averted. In ''Searching For Dragons'', someone destroys a large section of the Enchanted Forest, and [[OrgyOfEvidence left a few dragon scales at the scene to implicate the dragons]]. King Mendanbar notes that the [[BackgroundMagicField ambient magic]] in the area is also gone, and wonders if dragons eat magic. Some research shows they don't, proving the dragons weren't responsible. It turns out [[spoiler: the wizards, using magic-absorbing staves, are the cause]].

* In ''Series/MahouSentaiMagiranger''/''Series/PowerRangersMysticForce'', BigBad [[{{Cthulhumanoid}} N Ma/Octomus the Master]] had the ability to eat magic, making him a fitting threat for a mystical setting where magic is the source of the Rangers' powers. The heroes managed to defeat him [[GoingToGiveItMoreEnergy by firing an endless beam of magic down his throat, it being too much for his evil appetite]].
-->'''Octomus:''' I have...devoured...all...''I CAN!'' (''[[DefeatEqualsExplosion Explodes into nothing]]'')
* In ''Series/WizardsVsAliens,'' the Nekross have devoured the magic from the rest of the universe, and are now on Earth to finish the job. And of course, they'll just suck up any spells that you try and throw at them.

** Elder Dragons are assumed to consume magic, and are as old as it, resulting in some thinking magic to be [[https://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Draconic_enchanto-consumption_theory a limited resource]]. The fact that they do consume it is eventually confirmed, with WalkingSpoiler [[spoiler:[[GreenThumb Mordremoth]]]] being seen consuming magic from disrupted {{ley line}}s.
*** Living Worlds Season 3 reveals that typically the Elder Dragons each consume only the portion of magic in leylines attuned to their nature. When an Elder Dragon dies, the others can devour its essence and begin feeding on that portion of magic as well, becoming even more dangerous as a result.
** Skyscales are a species of lesser dragons born when [[spoiler:Kralkatorrik tore through the Mists]]. They also feed on magic, though to a far lesser degree.

** The Undead Destroyer in ''Warcraft III'' does this with its signature abilities, Absorb Mana and Devour Magic. Since the Destroyer can't regenerate mana naturally, it eats it from other units, with the former spell taking a friendly unit's mana and the latter dispelling all buffs and debuffs in an area and giving the Destroyer mana and health for each.

** Elves tend to be this generally, but {{Downplayed}}: The Highborne elves drank from the Well of Eternity, a massive source of magic in the world. When that source was destroyed and the elf cultures broke apart, each group found their own substitute because ''not'' consuming some form of magic would put them in withdrawal and turn them into mindless beasts. This fact is most obvious with the Blood Elves in ''Burning Crusade'' and the Highborne Elves in ''Legion''.

* In ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', there are interdimensional whale-like creatures who [[http://www.egscomics.com/comic/2013-01-23 feed on excess ambient magic]].
* ''Webcomic/ValAndIsaac'': These are briefly mentioned to exist. To deal with them, BlackMagic-wielding mercenary Space Dread simply stocks up [[LogicalWeakness non-magic weapons]] from a friend's family forge that specializes in such goods.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Fangbone}}'': In the episode "The Bill of Magic", [[EvilSorcerer Venomous Drool]] sends such a creature to attack Bill after he gains the ability to cast spells from exposure to the Toe's magic. Its a tiny white thing identified as a Voidsnarl, and while Fangbone initially laughs at the sight of it, it's shown to be no joke as it vacuums up magic through its orifices, and even Drool is so terrified of it that he cages it up using special restraints to release it.

** [[BasiliskAndCockatrice Basilisks]] are a [[NotSoExtinct supposedly extinct species]] that have the ability to drain the magic of witches and demons, though eating Luz's [[WildMagic glyphs]] causes them physical pain. [[spoiler:"Yesterday's Lie" reveals that the species was actually revived by the Emperor's Coven specifically to study this ability and that it merely fuels their other magical abilities like shapeshifting rather than being needed for sustenance. It's also shown that they're also able to get magic from enchanted objects (like Eda's discarded Hexas Hold'em deck).]]