History Main / MagicIsMental

* ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTensei'' games play with this. In the original Megami Tensei I and II, magic offense, defense and MP were all determined by the Intellect stat, though with Shin Megami Tensei Intellect was split into two stats -- Intelligence, which increased the effectiveness of status ailment inducing/instant-kill magic such as [[GameBreaker Marin Karin]] and greatly increased MP, and Magic, which corresponded more to a character's sixth sense and made offensive magic more efficient. Later games abandoned Intelligence, though the Magic stat still has some correlation with the character's mind.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'', "Magery" (the advantage that allows you to be a mage) is a mental advantage, which means that it stems from your mind rather than from your body (so it stays with you if you [[FreakyFriday switch bodies with someone]], etc.)

This trope is why we have SquishyWizard - magic requires a strong mind, not a strong body, and this is the handwave often used.

** Deliberately and consistently averted. In both TabletopGame/MageTheAscension and the later TabletopGame/MageTheAwakening, both a character's raw magical power and their capability with different sorts of magic were based on traits (Arete and Gnosis, respectively, for power and Spheres or Arcana for ability) completely separate from the mundane ones (including intelligence and the like). That means that mechanically speaking, nothing is preventing you from making a wizard who's anything from a borderline mental retard to a world-class genius - and nothing is preventing the former from being a far greater wizard than the latter. Rotes (highly specific magical effects with a higher chance of working, as opposed to the more commonly used "improvised" magic) are always based on a mundane skill and attribute in addition to a magical one, but those could just as easily be Stamina and Streetwise as Intelligence and Science.
** Played straight in the fanmade TabletopGame/GeniusTheTransgression, though: while the raw power of your Mad Science and your various capabilities within the field are determined by independent traits (Inspiration and Axioms), the actual process of creating Wonders always depends upon a mental attribute (intelligence if you're working methodically in a lab, wits if you're kitbashing on the spot), so a stupid Mad Scientist wouldn't last long. To prevent this, each Mad Scientist actually gets a bonus to either attribute during character creation - making sure that there wouldn't ''be'', by default, any stupid ones, that they'd be smarter than the average person on average, and that they would be far more likely to be literal geniuses rather than just Mad ones.
* Averted in ''TabletopGame/FengShui'', which has a separate Magic stat that has no connection to the mental statistics.
* In ''TabletopGame/TheDresdenFiles'', the three key magic skills -- for characters who have the appropriate powers to begin with -- are Lore (knowing what you're doing), Conviction (literally the strength of your beliefs), and Discipline (staying focussed). Physical traits don't enter the picture, although it's also worth noting that nothing prevents a wizard from being hopelessly ignorant in the fields of ''mundane'' higher knowledge (covered by the Scholarship skill).
* Some of the features in the ''TabletopGame/CriticalRoleTaldoreiCampaignSetting'' allow characters to break the rules of spellcasting are described as being the result of intense study, meditation, and focus.

* In ''VideoGame/OgreBattle'', Intelligence determines a magic attack's damage.

* In the ''VideoGame/{{Ultima}}'' games, one's spellcasting depends on either intelligence or wisdom.
* In the ''VideoGame/{{Wizardry}}'' series, spellcasters depend on either intelligence, senses, or piety.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}} III'', intelligence dictates a hero's mana and magical heroes' damage.
* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyII'', ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIII'', ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'', and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'', [[http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Intelligence intelligence]] dictates black magic damage while mind/spirit dictates white magic. In most other games of the series, Magic Power is its own stat or intelligence governs all types of magic.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Fable}}'', Magic falls under "Will".
* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', Willpower determines mana.
** Interesting subversion in that Cunning-- the stat that models the character's raw intellectual capacity, social acumen, cleverness and perceptiveness, does not aid magic in any way.
* In the ''VideoGame/{{Lufia}}'' games, Intelligence determines spellcasting power.
* Games based on or inspired by ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' do this:
** ''VideoGame/BaldursGate I and II'' and ''VideoGame/BaldursGateDarkAlliance''
** The ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights'' games
** ''VideoGame/TempleOfElementalEvil''

* Sorcery in the ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' series is a scholarly pursuit studied and taught in prestigious schools, and is affected by the Intelligence stat, while divine Miracles are affected by the Faith stat. Pyromancy, seen as a primitive and unsavoury magic, gets no benefit from stats (and is a MinmaxersDelight because of it). By the second game, pyromancy has since lost this stigma and is now studied as a respected school of magic, and can now benefit from either Intelligence or Faith. There's also the introduction of Hexes, dark magic that requires levelling Intelligence and Faith equally.
* In the ''VideoGame/{{MOTHER}}'' series, the amount of PP is determined by IQ, and attacks that disrupt the opponent's senses render them unable to use PSI.
* ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTensei'' games play with this. In the original Megami Tensei I and II, magic offense, defense and MP were all determined by the Intellect stat, though with Shin Megami Tensei Intellect was split into two stats - Intelligence, which increased the effectiveness of status ailment inducing/instant-kill magic such as [[GameBreaker Marin Karin]] and greatly increased MP, and Magic, which corresponded more to a character's sixth sense and made offensive magic more efficient. Later games abandoned Intelligence, though the Magic stat still has some correlation with the character's mind.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{The Dragon Prince}}'': Very much the case for Dark Magic, where learning spells and rituals are practically an academic pursuit. Primal Magic, however, is decidedly less so, where a great deal of spirituality is required to connect to a Primal Source, and magic itself is a product of both mind ''and'' body (dancing, arm/hand movements, breathing, etc).
* {{Unicorn}} magic is shown to work this way in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' due to mage-in-training Twilight Sparkle being [[TheSmartGuy The Smart Girl]] among the Mane Six. In "Feeling Pinkie Keen", Twilight mentions while practicing with Spike that spell-casting requires complete focus and concentration. It's shown again in "Magic Duel", where Twilight is trained by Zecora to better her magic, and her stray thoughts of Trixie cause her magic to fail.
* [[ElementalPowers Bending]] in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' is partially mental, which is shown by how the various benders meditate to improve their abilities. Unlike other examples, bending is also partly physical, since the bending arts require intense physical movements. However, some Master benders are able to perform elaborate acts with minor amounts of bodily movement. [[spoiler:King Bumi]] is able to bend large amounts of rock with just his head, even when his body is bound by metal. Combustion Man, [[spoiler:Yakone, and Amon]] are uniquely capable of bending just by thinking, something referred to as "[[PsychicPowers psychic bending]]." It is a ''very'' rare skill.

A trope that is nearly omnipresent when magic is involved: Magic is a product of the mind, not the body. Magic requires study and concentration to use. The best mages are smart, wise, perceptive, and all-around great minds. It's even in the word "Wizard", which used to mean "Philosopher" and came from the word "Wise". The word magic itself descends from ''magos/magi'', meaning "one of the members of the learned and priestly class" AKA a GentlemanAndAScholar from ancient Persia. It's not accidental wordplay that forces you to learn basic spelling before you can study spellcasting.

* In ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'', espers rely on extremely complex mental equations to use their abilities, and as a result, they possess SuperIntelligence as a RequiredSecondaryPower. Accelerator, the [[WorldsStrongestMan world's strongest esper]], has a brain superior to the world's fastest supercomputers [[spoiler:and becomes significantly weaker after suffering brain damage]]. It's even possible for certain espers to boost their powers by [[PsychicLink linking their minds together]] to spread out the work.

A trope that is nearly omnipresent when magic is involved: Magic is a product of the mind, not the body. Magic requires study and concentration to use. The best mages are smart, wise, perceptive and are all around great minds. It's even in the word "Wizard", which used to mean "Philosopher" and came from the word "Wise". The word magic itself descends from ''magos/magi'', meaning "one of the members of the learned and priestly class" AKA a GentlemanAndAScholar from ancient Persia. It's not accidental wordplay that forces you to learn basic spelling before you can study spellcasting.

Often, Asian works follow the trope less rigorously, with magic being shown as a product of both mind and body. Thus seeing characters study, train and [[KungFuWizard combine magic with martial arts is not rare]].

* In the ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'' franchise, magic requires an understanding of [[FormulaicMagic advanced mathematics]] to use. Part of the reason Fate and Nanoha are so talented at magic is because they're both [[GoodWithNumbers math prodigies]].

*** Post-''ComicBook/SecretWars2015'', the Franchise/MarvelUniverse has had a number of previously purely scientist heroes dabbling in magic in the present or possible futures. A time displaced Beast from the past and an alternate future Iron Man both became sorcerers, the latter becoming Sorcerer Supreme. In one event starring Doctor Strange and other Sorcerers Supreme, Isaac Newton is recruited along with other wizards for a magic crisis.

* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' has magic primarily derived from ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' and ''Literature/HarryPotter'', and while physical training is recommended, isn't necessary. If you're in better shape, you tend to have more stamina and more capacity for handling power (plus, being able to handle yourself in close combat can be a crucial advantage), yes, but most magic is about mental focus and studying to control it. The better you understand magic, the more you can do with less power: as Harry Dresden points out, he's in roughly the same weight class as Doctor Strange for raw power. However, Strange's vast knowledge and experience means that he knows exactly how to apply it for maximum effect. For instance, both of them can summon lightning bolts, but it takes far less energy to split an atom and while Dresden can't split an atom, Strange definitely can.

* In ''Franchise/StarWars'', [[MagicByAnyOtherName the Force]] operates this way. Thus, Jedi utilize various [[MeditationPowerup meditation techniques]] to calm themselves and clear their minds for the better use of their Force ability. The body is irrelevant -- Yoda, a diminutive being, is one of the most powerful Force users we see. If the Force user does not believe they can do something (as shown in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack''), [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve it doesn't work]]. Mental states like emotions thus have a huge effect in not only focusing their Force ability but also shaping the user. Negative emotions like anger, fear and hate will affect them negatively too. Indeed, [[TheDarkSide they're actively addictive and corrupting]].

* In the ''Literature/ImagerPortfolio'' series by L. E. Modesitt, Imagers use their 'magic' completely with their minds, by seeing/imagining them in their heads, but they have to have a complete mental picture and understanding of its elemental and chemical make up or they can do things like blow themselves up by mixing chemicals which react explosively with each other. They also can image in their sleep as they dream, so they have to sleep in protected, lead shielded rooms, alone, even if they are married (or they could accidentally kill their spouses).
* This is how (human) magic works in ''Literature/RiversOfLondon'' books. You have to learn the mental forms in order to do magic, and practice visualising the concepts or it doesn't work. To make things harder, thanks to UsefulNotes/IsaacNewton, all the names of the forms are in Latin. And the forms have to stack in order to work. To throw a fireball, you have to learn how to visualise the fire, then how to visualise it moving, then have to visualise how to make it track a target... And after that your brain trickles out your ears (if you've done it wrong).

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' magic stems from life and emotions, but concentration and willpower are what allows one to use magic to achieve anything.

** The arguably best example is the Archive -- superlative spell-casting ability (thanks to being the hereditary repository of all written human knowledge) in the body of a ''child'' when Harry meets her for the first time. In her next apperance, even when effectively crippled, she goes toe to toe with a dozen Fallen Angels and is winning handily before [[spoiler: it turns out that they were cheating and using gas that would affect her far quicker than them, thanks to a lack of body mass]].

* In ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'', espers rely on extremely complex mental equations to use their abilities, and as a result they possess SuperIntelligence as a RequiredSecondaryPower. Accelerator, the [[WorldsStrongestMan world's strongest esper]], has a brain superior to the world's fastest supercomputers [[spoiler:and becomes significantly weaker after suffering brain damage]]. It's even possible for certain espers to boost their powers by [[PsychicLink linking their minds together]] to spread out the work.

** Magic in general is treated as a school topic. It's something you study, read, do written homework about. There's the implication of some element of physical skill (Wand flicks, and potions in particular may require a steady hand and good timing) and thus practice involved, but in general magic as taught at Hogwarts is more akin to a combination of theoretical and lab courses like chemistry than say, physical education (of course, you still need magical ability from birth, as Petunia found out).

* Most depictions of ''Myth/{{Merlin}}'' fit this. He's a wise adviser, and a powerful wizard.

* In ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', wizards used their intelligence as the stat governing their magic. Clerics used wisdom. In later edition, some classes used charisma. Generally, "Learned" arcane magic was tied to intelligence, divine and natural magic to wisdom, and [[InTheBlood inborn magic]] to charisma.
** 4th edition both inverts the trope, and plays it straight. Wizards and sorcerers use Intelligence and Charisma respectively, but a sorcerer's secondary attributes key off his Strength and Dexterity, while some Wizard builds use Dexterity or Constitution as opposed to Wisdom or Charisma. Warlocks can use Charisma or Constitution as their primary stat, and Battleminds (psychic warriors) use Constitution.
** ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' averts this for the Scarred Witch Doctor (a Witch archetype exclusive to [[DumbMuscle Orcs]]) and the [[FullContactMagic Kineticist]] (a occult [[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender Bender]]), both of which use [[MadeOfIron Constitution]] as casting stat, with the Kineticist also using Dexterity for secondary effects.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'', Magic is its own attribute, but only the mental attributes (Willpower, Intuition and Charisma) can be used to resist drain, the strain of using magic. Thus having higher attributes allows one to cast more spells.

** Deliberately and consistently averted. In both TabletopGame/MageTheAscension and the later TabletopGame/MageTheAwakening, both a character's raw magical power and their capability with different sorts of magic were based on traits (Arete and Gnosis, respectively, for power and Spheres or Arcana for ability) completely separate from the mundane ones (including intelligence and the like). That means that mechanically speaking, nothing is preventing you from making a wizard who's anything from a borderline mental retard to a world-class genius - and nothing is preventing the former from being a far greater wizard than the later. Rotes (highly specific magical effects with a higher chance of working, as opposed to the more commonly used "improvised" magic) are always based on a mundane skill and attribute in addition to a magical one, but those could just as easily be Stamina and Streetwise as Intelligence and Science.

* In the ''VideoGame/{{Wizardry}}'' series, spellcasters depend on either intelligence, senses or piety.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}} III'', intelligence dictates a hero's mana, and magical heroes' damage.

* In the ''VideoGame/{{MOTHER}}'' series, the amount of PP is determined by IQ, and attacks that disrupt the opponent's senses renders them unable to use PSI.

* [[ElementalPowers Bending]] in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' is partially mental, which is shown by how the various benders meditate to improve their abilities. Unlike other examples, bending is also partly physical, since the bending arts require intense physical movements. However, some Master benders are able to perform elaborate acts with minor amounts of bodily movement. [[spoiler:King Bumi]] is able to bend large amounts of rock with just his head, even when his body is bound by metal. Combustion Man, [[spoiler:Yakone, and Amon]] are uniquely capable of bending just by thinking, something referred to a "[[PsychicPowers psychic bending]]." It is a ''very'' rare skill.

Related to EnlightenmentSuperpowers. PsychicPowers may be the modern equivalent. See also RitualMagic, which may involve a lot of memorization and concentration. Not to be confused with (but might coexist with) PowerBornOfMadness. Compare EmotionalPowers.

* ''Film/DoctorStrange2016'' plays with this: while the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj are encouraged to undergo physical training, seemingly in order to subvert SquishyWizard, it is emphasized that casting spells has no physical requirements. Strange believes that he can't do it because his hands are damaged -- but then he's shown someone who can cast spells without having a hand at all. The first magic user that Strange encounters actually had spinal damage and was a quadriplegic. He uses magic as a patch to his nervous system, allowing him to function as a normal human being. The way the man talks, if he'd chosen not to do so, he could have continued to learn even stronger forms of magic and become a proper sorcerer, which would've be very [[{{Pun}} strange]] to see.

* In ''Franchise/StarWars'', the Force (a JustForFun/SciFiCounterpart of magic, essentially) operates this way. Thus Jedi utilize various meditation techniques to calm themselves and clear their minds for the better use of their Force ability. The body is irrelevant-Yoda, a diminutive being, is one of the most powerful Force users we see. If the Force user does not believe they can do something (as shown in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack''), [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve it doesn't work]]. Mental states like emotions thus have a huge effect in not only focusing their Force ability but also shaping the user. Negative emotions like anger, fear and hate will affect them negatively too. Indeed they're actively addictive and corrupting.
* The film version of {{Film/Doctor Strange}} plays with this: while the sorcerers of Kamar-Taj are encouraged to undergo physical training, seemingly in order to subvert SquishyWizard, it is emphasized that casting spells has no physical requirements. Strange believes that he can't do it because his hands are damaged- but then he's shown someone who can cast spells without having a hand at all. The first magic user Strange encounters actually had spinal damage and was a quadriplegic. He uses magic as a patch to his nervous system, allowing him to function as a normal human being. The way the man talks, if he'd chosen not to do so, he could have continued to learn even stronger forms of magic and become a proper sorcerer, which would've be very [[JustForPun strange]] to see.

[[folder: Fan Works]]

* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' has magic primarily derived from ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' and ''Literature/HarryPotter'', and while physical training is recommended, isn't necessary. If you're in better shape, you tend to have more stamina and more capacity for handling power (plus, being able to handle yourself in close combat can be a crucial advantage), yes, but most magic is about mental focus and studying to control it. The better you understand magic, the more you can do with less power: as Harry Dresden points out, he's in roughly the same weight class as Doctor Strange for raw power. However, Strange's vast knowledge and experience means that he knows exactly how to apply it for maximum effect. For instance, both of them can summon lightning bolts, but it takes far less energy to split an atom and while Dresden can't split an atom, Strange definitely can.
* Averted in ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged''. The [[PsychicPowers Kanassans]] are incredibly stupid. They don't even run or prepare for Bardock and his crew invading their planet, even though they can see the future.

[[/folder]]

* Apart from deep study about the occultist subjects, in the works of ''Creator/HPLovecraft'', "magic" is heavily linked to the mind -and brain- and depends on things as intelligence, knowledge, and willpower. For example, the highly intelligent [[Literature/TheCaseOfCharlesDexterWard Charles Dexter Ward]] made an intense research about summoning the dead, and although his mental abilities were more than enough to achieve his goal, his very young and susceptible mind backfired him as he was swapped by his much more powerful [[IdenticalGrandson identical great-great-grandparent]]. Also in one story it is made clear that male witches are stronger than female ones because [[ValuesDissonance their brains are just more complex.]]

[[folder: Oral Tradition]]

->"Don't look at me like I'm going to shoot lightning from my fingers or summon the Devil. Or worse, like I think I can. Magic is a psychological discipline."
-->-- Alan Crowe, magician, ''ComicBook/GlobalFrequency'' #5

* Comic book characters using magic (especially the wizard kind) often are intellectuals. Notably, Creator/DCComics' ComicBook/DoctorFate and Marvel's Comicbook/DoctorStrange are two spellcasters with the title of "Doctor", which itself implies a level of education (e.g. Doctor Strange was a [[NotThatKindOfDoctor neurosurgeon]] and his successor, Doctor Voodoo, was a psychologist).

*** Post the 2015 Secret Wars Marvel has had a number of previously purely scientist heroes dabbling in magic in the present or possible futures. A time displaced Beast from the past and an alternate future Iron Man both became sorcerers, the latter becoming Sorcerer Supreme. In one event starring Doctor Strange and other Sorcerers Supreme, Isaac Newton is recruited along with other wizards for a magic crisis.
* One Fantastic Four story introduced heroes from the BadFuture of Old Man Logan. One of them was Bruce Banner's son, in permanent Hulk form but also raised on science by Reed Richards. When his gamma mutation is neutralized, it's apparent that it was also a mental handicap and he suddenly becomes intelligent enough to decipher and cast spells from an ancient grimoire no one else could.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Shadowrun}}'', Magic is it's own attribute, but only the mental attributes (Willpower, Intuition and Charisma) can be used to resist drain, the strain of using magic. Thus having higher attributes allows one to cast more spells.

** The arguably best example is the Archive -- superlative spellcasting ability (thanks to being the hereditary repository of all written human knowledge) in the body of a ''child'' when Harry meets her for the first time.

* ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' has this with standard sorcery, as intelligence raises your ability to use sorcery catalysts and allows you to learn higher level spells.

* In ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'', wizard-magic is based on knowledge (the three known wizarding universities are the Disc's centres of pure learning, compared with the vocational schools run by the guilds), and witch-magic is based on force of personality. (In D&D terms, Intelligence and Charisma.)

** Magic in general is treated as a school topic. It's something you study, read, do written homework about. There's the implication of some element of physical skill (Wand flicks, and potions in particular may require a steady hand and good timing) and thus practice involved, but in general magic as taught at Hogwarts is more akin to a combination of theoretical and lab courses like chemistry than say, physical education.

* ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'' has this in the form of psynergy, short for psychic energy.

A trope that is nearly omnipresent when magic is involved: Magic is a product of the mind, not the body. Magic requires study and concentration to use. The best mages are smart, wise, perceptive and are all around great minds. It's even in the word "Wizard", which used to mean "Philosopher" and came from the word "Wise". The word magic itself descends from ''magos'', meaning "one of the members of the learned and priestly class" from ancient Persia. It's not accidental wordplay that forces you to learn basic spelling before you can study spellcasting.

* This is how (human) magic works in ''Litarature/RiversOfLondon'' books. You have to learn the mental forms in order to do magic, and practice visualising the concepts or it doesn't work. To make things harder, thanks to UsefulNotes/IsaacNewton, all the names of the forms are in Latin. And the forms have to stack in order to work. To throw a fireball, you have to learn how to visualise the fire, then how to visualise it moving, then have to visualise how to make it track a target... And after that your brain trickles out your ears (if you've done it wrong).

* This is how (human) magic works in ''RiversOfLondon'' books. You have to learn the mental forms in order to do magic, and practice visualising the concepts or it doesn't work. To make things harder, thanks to UsefulNotes/IsaacNewton, all the names of the forms are in Latin. And the forms have to stack in order to work. To throw a fireball, you have to learn how to visualise the fire, then how to visualise it moving, then have to visualise how to make it track a target... And after that your brain trickles out your ears (if you've done it wrong).

* In ''Franchise/StarWars'', the Force (a SciFiCounterpart of magic, essentially) operates this way. Thus Jedi utilize various meditation techniques to calm themselves and clear their minds for the better use of their Force ability. The body is irrelevant-Yoda, a diminutive being, is one of the most powerful Force users we see. If the Force user does not believe they can do something (as shown in ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack''), [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve it doesn't work]]. Mental states like emotions thus have a huge effect in not only focusing their Force ability but also shaping the user. Negative emotions like anger, fear and hate will affect them negatively too. Indeed they're actively addictive and corrupting.

* In ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' games, Intelligence determines one's magicka, thus how many spells they can cast in a short amount of time. Intelligence also governs a lot of the magical skills. Those that don't fall under it fall under Willpower or Personality. Willpower is also used to determine how quickly your magicka regenerates.
** In each of the games, the Mages Guild (or local equivalent) essentially doubles as the guild for scholars as well. In ''[[Videogame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'', it is even called a ''college''.
** The notion of soul gems also feeds into this. With very few exceptions (usually related to immortal magic), all of the enchanted objects in the setting are powered by living souls whose energy is trapped in physical gems. The implication, of course, is that objects need the power of a mind in order to have magical ability.