History Main / MilitaryMage

** In preparation for what would later be called the Battle of the Blackwater, Tyrion Lannister employs a guild of pyromancers to create mass quantities of what they call "the Substance" and others call "wildfire" to be flung by catapult at Stannis' ships. From the audience' perspective it appears to be similar to GreekFire, which in RealLife is not, of course, magical, but the pyromancers report that "certain spells" have become "more efficacious" after TheMagicComesBack, so its creation is apparently magical in-universe.

[[caption-width-right:350:Colonel Mustang is about to dish out major pain.]]

* In ''Manga/FullMetalAlchemist'', Amestrian State Alchemists are desirable recruits, automatically granted the rank of Major and able to rise much higher. They tend to act as human artillery units in wartime and government-sponsored researchers (often bordering on MadScientist levels) in peacetime. In exchange, they gain access to branches of the National Central Library closed to the public, which hold a wealth of information about high-level alchemy. In addition, they are granted a generous salary that further facilitates their research. However, some independent alchemists hold contempt for their colleagues who sell out to the state, and civilians in the countryside with less favorable views of their government show disdain for state alchemists, who they compare to attack dogs leashed to the military. "Dogs of the Military" and "Human weapons" are both common insults for state alchemists.
* ''LightNovel/TheGreatestMagicmastersRetirementPlan'': Originally, magic was mainly used to support people's daily lives, but the Fiend invasion forced humanity to focus on military applications for magic. This also led to the establishment of academies to train prospective Magicmasters. Depending on the magic one specializes in, one can become suitable for specific roles, such as how wind magic can be used to survey an area and gather intelligence.
* Just about every military encountered in ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' seems to be composed exclusively of ninja, most of whom make liberal use of explicitly-magical ninjutsu powers. Most fall under the general umbrella of Special Forces and operate in small four-man cells, although the more powerful ones can act as artillery up to and including OneManArmy / PersonOfMassDestruction levels.

* In ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'', the Kushan military employs sorcerers as {{Mook Maker}}s for their ability to spawn fanatically loyal {{Super Soldier}}s from a special {{Magitek}} "Man-Made [[ArtifactOfDoom Behelit]]," and as ''de facto'' officers for their ability to possess animals (usually tigers, crocodiles, and elephants, but occasionally also whales and large pterodactyl-like creatures) and give them supernatural strength and loyalty. [[SorcerousOverlord Ganishka]], [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking the Kushan Emperor]], is himself a OneManArmy capable of assuming a NighInvulnerable mist form and wielding powerful lightning magic.
* In ''Anime/DogDays'', the Crest Magic used in Flognarde is simple enough that even [[TheHero Cinque]], an OrdinaryMiddleSchoolStudent, can use it after receiving some basic instruction, meaning basically any [[NominalImportance named character]] can be a MagicKnight. The Kingdom of Biscotti has a literal example of Artillery, where they combine Crest Magic with mortars for long-range bombardment. The Dutchy of Pastillage specializes in Crystal Magic and aerial cavalry, meaning their main force consists of [[{{Expy}} Totally-Not-]][[Franchise/FinalFantasy Chocobo]] riders using magical firearms; when they recruit Cinque's friend Rebecca as their Hero, she becomes a CuteWitch MagicalGirl flinging "Bullet Cards" down on her enemies while riding a FlyingBroomstick (and occasionally using a magic gun of her own).
* ''LightNovel/SagaOfTanyaTheEvil'', in alternate world Mage is a type of military unit. They have weaker firepower than artillery, their speed and altitude is lower than an aircraft. They can move more flexibly than a helicopter, yet are rare to supply troops. They are also known as the best type of military unit in urban guerrilla warfare and special operations. The main character, Tanya von Degurechaff is an Aerial Mage and an [[OneManArmy exception to description above]] as she is capable of taking down 1 VS 12 odds and bomber planes by herself.
* Most witches and wizards in ''Anime/HowlsMovingCastle'' because the [[WizardingSchool Royal Sorcery Academy]] makes them sign a contract. Most of them have to turn themselves into BirdPeople and if they survive combat, ShapeshifterModeLock has usually set in and they've forgotten they were ever human. They're led by a CourtMage called Suliman whose work includes erecting forcefields around the palace, making decoys of the king and depowering deserter mages.
* The Magical Girls in ''Manga/MagicalGirlSpecOpsAsuka'' are utilized as elite counter-terrorist operators.
* ''Manga/BlackClover'':
** The Clover Kingdom's Magic Knights are individually selected by squads' captains to serve as the country's military, whether it be handling local crimes or defending against invasions.
** The Diamond Kingdom is focused on strengthening its army due to the country's poor resources. Their military soldiers are called Mage Warriors who are led by the Eight Shining Generals, with Mage Scholars performing human experiments to create powerful soldiers for the country.
** Under the Dark Triad, the Spade Kingdom began using the power of devils to increase their military power, with the highest-ranked soldiers aside from the triad known as the Dark Disciples. They use said devil powers to invade the other kingdoms.

* While not a "mage" in the usual sense, Bigby Wolf of ''ComicBook/{{Fables}}'' has been known to put his supernatural prowess (he can shapeshift from a human to a powerful giant wolf form and back at will, and has some wind-based powers as the son of the North Wind) at the service of his country during wartime, most recently in World War II. A FullEpisodeFlashback shows him leading a special forces detachment to infiltrate a German castle in which {{Ghostapo}} scientists are attempting to reverse-engineer Literature/{{Frankenstein}}'s monster.
* ''ComicBook/BlackMoonChronicles'': The army of the Black Moon contains entire units of military sorcerers casting spells at the enemy.

* In ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' fanfic, Creator/AAPessimal explores the idea of a major army having its own support corps of wizards, normally allocated as one per unit to seek and nullify magic users deployed by the enemy. Fun is had with the name: the RHEME, the Rimwards Howondaland Esoteric and Magical Echelon. (Note: The British Army has a support and logistics unit called the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, REME for short).
* In ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'', Asgard is alluded to have all of the various varieties in its armed forces. Specifically, Loki generally functions as an intelligence gatherer and special forces operative.

* In ''Fanfic/{{Emperor}}'', Harry begins as the One Man Army version in the British Army, while a few others act as Special Forces. After TheMasquerade is broken, mage soldiers begin to join in other roles.
* In the ''Anime/LittleWitchAcademia'' fanfic ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/17993579 What a decade brings]]'', Luna Nova fights an ApocalypseCult alongside Jegertroppen (the Hunter Squadron), a real-life Norwegian all-female squadron that in the fic employs witches. Subverted at the end, where UN treaties crack down on the use of magic in warfare.

** In the original trilogy, Dark Side Force-user Darth Vader mostly acts as an officer, "motivating" the admirals of the Imperial Fleet and commanding starships to hunt down the Rebels. Occasionally, he also takes the field himself and acts as an elite soldier, as when he pilots a TIE Advanced starfighter in the Battle of Yavin.
** On the Rebel side, Commander Luke Skywalker's nascent Force reflexes make him a natural AcePilot and are directly responsible for the destruction of the first Death Star in the Battle of Yavin. The power of having a Force-user on the field is demonstrated again in the Battle of Hoth, where he is able to take down a powerful AT-AT walker ''on foot'' using only a lightsaber and a thermal detonator. In ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' (formerly the ''Star Wars Expanded Universe'') he is eventually awarded the rank of general, but dislikes military command and devotes most of his energies to [[WizardingSchool founding and leading the new Jedi Order]].
** While he is largely preoccupied with being a SorcerousOverlord, Emperor Palpatine in the original trilogy uses his own Force powers largely for military intelligence, basing his military strategies on what he has foreseen with his Force clairvoyance. He's fully capable of [[AuthorityEqualsAsskicking throwing down]] when the need arises, it's just that it seldom does after he solidifies his political power.

* In ''Literature/ThePowderMageTrilogy'', the titular powder mages are a special division of the Adro military and serve as [[MageMarksman enhanced riflemen]]. They also serve as officers. For example, Tamas, one of the main characters and a powder mage, is Field marshal of the entire army. Knacked, another set of magic users, also serve in the military but are treated as normal soldiers.
* In the ''Webcomic/FeliciaSorceressOfKatara'' short story "The Magi Decree" (published in the anthology ''[[http://www.amazon.com/What-Happens-Next-M-C-Hogarth-ebook/dp/B00T0LYLTQ/ What Happens Next]]'') Felicia takes a general's commission in the Dogonian army. Though the Magi Council forbids her from using magic except to counter any used by the enemy, and given her history with them it takes a lot to convince them the enemy ''is'' using magic.
* In ''Literature/ShadowOps'', Latents don't really have a choice about this trope. Those who manifest powers are required to turn themselves in, and doing so almost invariably leads to either military service or a degrading suppression program. Those who do not (or those who manifest Prohibited forms of magic--no, you don't get to choose what you get) are labeled outlaw "Selfers" and either killed or effectively enslaved in secret bases. Those who do wind up in the military are treated as special forces, artillery or support, depending on their powers and strength.
* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'':
** Mance Rayder's wildling army uses [[TheBeastmaster wargs]], who are able to possess animals, for intelligence-gathering, scouting out enemy strength and positions from the bodies of birds. They also use animals such as wolves and bears as {{Attack Animal}}s in battle.
** As Stannis Baratheon's CourtMage, Melisandre uses her ability to see visions in fire to counsel him on military strategy. She tells him that if he marches on King's Landing his brother Renly will defeat him, but if he attacks Renly at Storm's End he will be victorious. [[spoiler: Both are true thanks to ProphecyTwist.]]
** In preparation for what would later be called the Battle of the Blackwater, Tyrion Lannister employs a guild of pyromancers to create mass quantities of what they call "the Substance" and others call "wildfire" to be flung by catapult at Stannis' ships. From the audience' perspective it appears to be similar to GreekFire, which in RealLife is not, of course, magical, but the pyromancers report that "certain spells" have become "more efficacious" after TheMagicComesBack, so its creation is apparently magical in-universe.
* In ''Literature/JonathanStrangeAndMrNorrell'', the magician Jonathan Strange is sent to help the British effort in the Iberian Peninsular during the Napoleonic wars, answering directly to Lord Wellington. However, he is firmly set against killing with magic, and instead serves primarily as Support. [[MundaneUtility He creates roads for the army to use,]] uses scrying to find out what the enemy are doing (though as he notes on several occasions, this is rather limited - it shows the subject easily enough, but doesn't say where they are), and illusions to confuse the enemy (including swapping an important captured officer for a golem). He later graduates to occasional WeatherManipulation and rearranging parts of the local countryside for strategic value. This graduates to a RunningGag, as later motives include escape (the city of Brussels is threatened? Move it to the Great Plains of North America), petty convenience (e.g. moving an entire city 10 miles rather than bothering to correct all the maps), and drunken bets. Later in the book, the Spanish government are mentioned as sending complaints about this habit.
** He also very unhappily delves into necromancy to gather intelligence.
* In ''Literature/TheGrishaTrilogy'', magic-users called Grisha are [[TheCorpsIsMother recruited into the military as soon as they are identified]] (which works because in the surrounding countries, Grisha are either [[BurnTheWitch burned as witches]] or [[TheyWouldCutYouUp vivisected for their organs]]), and serve in a separate, elite unit. They play a combination of support and combat roles depending on the nature of their powers. For example, some Grisha can heal, control the weather, or craft special fabrics and weapons. Others can shoot fire or kill people with their minds.
* The Istari (demigods or angels who take the form of [[WizardClassic Wizards Classic]]) in ''Literature/TolkiensLegendarium'' are [[DefiedTrope strictly forbidden]] from "dominating" the Free Peoples of Middle-Earth or "matching [[EvilOverlord Sauron's]] power with power." Some of them bend or break this rule, however:
** Saruman goes full SorcerousOverlord and raises and commands an army of [[TheHorde orc-human hybrids]] implied to be created or bred by magic. He also uses alchemy ([[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane or just scientific knowledge more advanced than is common in the setting]]) to create a gunpowder-like substance to attack the walls of Helm's Deep, and uses a CrystalBall for intelligence-gathering and communication with [[EvilOverlord Sauron]], whom he serves but [[TheStarscream plans to double-cross]].
** Gandalf largely limits himself to an advisory role to leaders like Denethor and Theoden, and seldom offers advice that couldn't have reasonably been given by any wise and learned adviser without special magical knowledge. The exceptions are just before and during the Battle of Minas Tirith. Just before, he performs a rearguard action to repel the Ringwraiths harrowing Faramir's unit's retreat into the city with what are clearly magical means, though the specifics are vague due to the point-of-view character observing from miles away. During the battle, with Denethor neglecting the defense of the city and his heir and chief captain Faramir indisposed, Gandalf takes ''de facto'' command of the city's defense. He relinquishes command to Aragorn at the first opportunity.
* In ''Literature/AnitaBlakeVampireHunter'', people with psychic or magic abilities (in this universe, acknowledged as the same, the only difference is if you need a ritual to use it) in the military, and also the police force, are called "wizards". They are normal soldiers or cops, but just have a 'special skill', the same as 'snipers' are normal soldiers, they just have sniper training that other soldiers don't. There isn't much information as to what they do in the military, but their primary purpose seems to be sensing enemy magic users or preternatural creatures and what they are doing with their magic, since magic in this universe is much more subtle than others (hurling lightning bolts is not a thing that most magic users can do). Some also have special talents to help them sense what others have experienced or if someone is telling the truth, which is helpful in investigation. Wizards are also expected to know more about preternatural creatures and magic users so they are the go-to person in their unit for information on how to deal with them.
* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' (formerly the ''Star Wars Expanded Universe''):
** ''Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy'' introduces the "battle meditation" Force power, a battlefield-covering aura affecting the combatants' mental state. The meditating Force-user's allies are filled with confidence and clarity, while especially powerful ones also assault their enemies with fear and confusion. Grand Admiral Thrawn measures the effect of battle meditation as giving nearly a 40% buff to every category of pilot performance. However, only a few Force-users are capable of effective battle meditation, and using it occupies their full attention. Overusing it can result in CripplingOverspecialization (it's speculated that the reason the Battle of Endor was lost so decisively after the Emperor's death is that he was using it to control the Imperial Fleet, throwing them into confusion when it was removed). Thrawn comes up with an innovative use for it: by stationing a cloaked ship on the inside of a planetary shield and having Joruus C'baoth use battle meditation to coordinate its fire with that of an uncloaked ship on the outside of the shield, he creates the illusion that turbolaser fire is passing right through the shield as though it weren't there.
* In ''Literature/TheIronTeeth'' web serial, mages are recruited by the various kingdoms to fight in their wars. These combat mages are trained by the mage guilds but then handed over to the army. They are valued assets, but ultimately expendable, and not considered to be true members of the guilds that trained them.
* Amikan and Bellegerin sorcerers in ''Literature/TheGreatGodsWar'' get drafted en masse into the army whenever it's time for another battle in the ForeverWar between the two kingdoms. Their use falls pretty squarely into the Artillery category, with sorcerers being placed high up over the battlefield behind the lines so that they can rain down destruction on the enemy.
* In the ''Literature/BarryTrotter'' trilogy, the Snape expy of all people joins the army after leaving [[WizardingSchool Hogwash]].
* The ''Literature/{{Commonweal}}'' requires mages to periodically serve in the military for a time, a tedious obligation for many. Their armies also use handy bits of magic like enchanted banners that raise morale and allow a commander's orders to be instantly relayed by telepathy.
* ''Literature/InheritanceCycle'' has both sides employ mages who can snuff out a company with a single word. The Empire's approach seems to be to conceal their mages among the ordinary soldiery and have them protect their fellows, while the Varden hunt down these mages, kill them, and move on to the army-killing.
* ''Literature/APracticalGuideToEvil'': The Dread Empire of Praes used to be quite well known for its use of off-the-wall sorcerous rituals. Following the [[PragmaticVillainy Reforms]] the Legions of Terror stamp out a basic mage who can heal, scry for communication and espionage and maybe ward against the same, throw a fireball and know just enough magic theory to not be caught totally off guard when the devils or the Fae show up. They're then incorporated into a specialist unit with ten mages and ten soldiers with large shields who protect the mages. A number of more learned or traditional sorcerers scoff at the half-trained, cookie-cutter Legion Mages, but having a consistent support ability and being able to concentrate firepower seems to be working out very well for the Legions so far.
%%* ''Literature/TheBlackCompany'': A number of these serve on both sides, willing [[MindManipulation or not]]. In most cases here they seem to be functionally artillery, with the most powerful (like Zedd) fitting into the OneManArmy role. Richard himself is a War Wizard, one who with both kinds of magic is the most capable among them.
* The Tervola are the mage class of Shinsan, the titular ''Literature/DreadEmpire'' and traditionally serve in military roles. Because Shinsan is both a [[TheMagocracy magocracy]] ''and'' a militocracy, the Tervola typically function as officers, with full Tervola serving as generals and military governors while Aspirants (who are in training to become Tervola) fill out much of the rest of the officer corps. Tervola can also fill most of the other described niches for military mages, depending on the needs of the moment and the individual Tervola's own skill set.
* In the ''Literature/TheBlackCompany'', wizards often play a very important role in battles, their spells often have a terrifying - and deadly - result for the simple foot soldiers.
* ''Literature/TheArtsOfDarkAndLight'': TheEmpire Savondir organizes its mages in a special royal corps, which effectively functions as its StateSec.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'': Every faction has a magic-using character of both hero and lord tier (excluding the Dwarfs, who cannot use traditional magic). In fact, the premier WizardingSchool of the setting, the Altdorf Colleges of Magic, were specifically founded to provide the Empire with Military Mages: the vast majority of wizards who graduate from it are simply the ones who don't mage, errr, ''make'' the cut as full-fledged Battle Wizards. Other factions may have a more or less strictly regimented relationship between their wizards and their armed forces, but every faction (again, excluding Dwarfs) have access to them. Most Lores have spells that allow wizards to fill several of the roles above, depending on which spells they have access to:

* ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'': The NOL Academy is both a MilitaryAcademy and WizardingSchool made for finding and teaching teens with potentials to become warriors of MagiTek to serve in the [[TheEmpire NOL's]] army. Some of them serves as PraetorianGuard, some as intel units, and a few (like Tsubaki) serves NOL's unofficial black ops unit.
* Knight-Enchanters in the ''Franchise/DragonAge'' series are mages who serve in the military (mainly the [[TheEmpire Orlesian]] armed forces), often without [[MageKiller Templar]] supervision. This is very rare, however, because mages are distrusted by the general population, and it takes a lot of dedication and effort to receive that rank for a mage. Vivienne, a companion in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', has received Knight-Enchanter training, although it is unknown where, if at all, she had served before. The Mage Circles are often used as artillery when necessary, and are kept in line by templars in the field as well, even if they aren't Knight-Enchanters.
* A standard part of ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft''. Both the Alliance and the Horde employ multiple forms of magic-users in their army. Being that both are essentially major continent-spanning superpowers [[AnachronismStew permanently stuck on the brink of the industrial revolution]], and almost routinely threatened by major threats, Mages (And all other adventurers) joining the army is practically ''expected'', and canonically happens during ''Wrath of the Lich King'' for the Player.
* Franchise/FinalFantasy:
** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyII'', the Emperor troops, like Soldiers and Sergeants, will often attack you in groups alongside proficient magic users, like Sorcerers and Wizards. Sometimes the latter actually end up being more annoying and harder to kill than the physical attackers.
** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'', TheEmpire uses {{Magitek}} to infuse soldiers and machines with magic, creating a magic-wielding army. Soldiers who can use magic directly rather than needing to pilot machines are called [[MagicKnight Magitek Knights]]. The most prominent named Magitek Knights are:

* In ''VideoGame/VandalHearts'', Clerics act as TheMedic and Mages as artillery, and the latter are [[TacticalRockPaperScissors particularly useful]] against Armor units, which have incredibly strong physical defenses but [[MagicallyIneptFighter are vulnerable to magical attacks]]. Monks, a subclass that can be accessed by both Clerics and Mages, are {{Magic Knight}}s and [[JackOfAllStats Jacks of All Stats]] with excellent movement speed, decent physical attack and defense, and [[RedMage enough skill with both magical offense and magical healing]] to be used as either TheMedic or an offensive mage in a pinch.
* In ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'', Bastila Shan has mastered a Force technique called battle meditation that raises the effectiveness of her allies; she works closely with the Republic Navy to coordinate fleets in battle.
* ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'' goes in to why this can be a bad idea. The Jedi that fought with the Republic against the Mandalorians were instrumental in turning the tide against the invaders. However the empathic nature of the Jedi's power worked against them: they were terribly affected by the stunning amount of suffering and loss of life. Some were driven mad and others turned to the darkside. Come the next war a lot of the Jedi were fighting on the other side against the remaining Jedi that hadn't fought in the last one. The whole cycle repeats and soon there are very little Jedi left in the galaxy.
* Crops up all over the place in ''VideoGame/TheSecretWorld'':
** All three main factions use the magically-empowered player characters as special forces, sending them into the field alone with only their powers and their wits to rely on. Of course, as Gaia's Chosen, players possess both ResurrectiveImmortality and immunity to the effects of the Filth, making them ideal candidates for dealing with situations too dangerous for ordinary mages ''and'' ordinary soldiers.
** Enemy forces commonly possessed of magic, including the mercenaries of the [[{{Oni}} Nine Houses]] and the [[MegaCorp Orochi]] Mitsubachi, tend to operate as special forces as well. In particular, the Mitsubachi were meant as an elite group right from the beginning - specifically formed to counteract ''the players.''
** Carter of Innsmouth Academy is being earmarked for this role by all three secret societies. As "Carter Unleashed" demonstrates, she's tough enough and versatile enough to serve as an effective one-man army. However, the real draw of her powers lies in artillery: she's the sorcerous equivalent of a ''battlefield nuke,'' and her magic could result in "thaumonuclear devastation" if misused.
** Theodore Wicker serves as both an Officer and Support during the Hell Dimensions dungeons, especially once he's forced to give up his plans of rebuilding Hell in favour of leading demonkind to war: having made himself effectively immortal through dark rituals, the wonky passage of time in hell has granted him several centuries to hone his skills to incredible extremes, until he's not only experienced enough to manage the strategic maneuverings of an entire revolution, but powerful enough to match [[{{Satan}} Eblis]] himself in a WizardDuel. Also, he proves to be a very effective healer and source of military when the players are forced to act in his stead, first by guiding you across the ruins via telepathy, then by healing your wounds in the final boss battle.
** Several [[OurGeniesAreDifferent Jinn]] in service to Eblis apparently serve as artillerymen, using their powers in conjunction with specially-modified demons to bombard the enemy with meteors - as you find out when you attack the artillery position.

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* The world of ''WebComic/StandStillStaySilent'' has two things: a disease that changes a small portion of its victims, both human and animal, into extremely dangerous monsters and an unexplained TheMagicComesBack episode. The armies of the nations that survived the initial outbreak are hence very interested in having a few spellcasters to help fight the monsters in question. Actual ones are seen in the form of Onni and Lalli, though the latter is a night scout by profession.

* In ''Franchise/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' , benders, possessing [[ElementalPowers elementary powers]], are an important part of every army. Not only are they often at the forefront in every battle, but they perform important support tasks: waterbenders can heal wounded, earthbenders quickly build walls, trenches and fortifications, and firebenders drive much of the technology of the fire nation , like its steam tanks.
* Like the Jedi and Sith ''Star Wars'' example above, Inquisitors in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'', Dark Side users trained by Darth Vader, whose job is to hunt and kill Jedi who escaped [[ThePurge Order 66]], as well as track Force-sensitive infants . They seem to be a combo of Officers (Nobody but Vader and Palpatine seems to outrank them) and Special Forces (usually go alone or in small groups of two or three). Kanan and Ezra could be considered as this when they join the larger Rebel Alliance, as Special Forces.

* In ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'', every faction has a magic-using character of both hero and lord tier (excluding the Dwarfs, who cannot use traditional magic). In fact the premier WizardingSchool of the setting, the Altdorf Colleges of Magic, were ''founded'' to provide the Empire with Military Mages: The vast majority of wizards who graduate from it are simply the ones who don't mage, errr, ''make'' the cut as full-fledged War Wizards. Other factions may have a more or less strictly regimented relationship between their wizards and their armed forces, but every faction (again, excluding Dwarfs) have access to them. Most Lores have spells that allow wizards to fill several of the roles above, depending on which spells they have access to.
* In ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' psykers usually fill in for mages. In the Imperial Guard Sanctioned Psykers usually act as artillery, while astropaths provide intelligence, sending and receiving telepathic messages across interstellar distances.

* ''LightNovel/YoujoSenki'', in alternate world Mage is a type of military unit. They have weaker firepower than artillery, their speed and altitude is lower than an aircraft. They can move more flexibly than a helicopter, yet are rare to supply troops. They are also known as the best type of military unit in urban guerrilla warfare and special operations. The main character, Tanya von Degurechaff is an Aerial Mage and an [[OneManArmy exception to description above]] as she is capable of taking down 1 VS 12 odds and bomber planes by herself.

* In the ''Anime/LittleWitchAcademia'' fanfic ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/17993579 What a decade brings]]'', Luna Nova fights an ApocalypseCult alongside Jegertroppen (the Hunter Squadron), a real-life Norwegian all-female squadron that in the fic employs witches.

* In the ''Anime/LittleWitchAcademia'' fanfic ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/17993579 What a decade brings]]'', Luna Nova fights a DoomsdayCult alongside Jegertroppen (the Hunter Squadron), a real-life Norwegian all-female squadron that in the fic employs witches.

* In ''Manga/FullMetalAlchemist'', Amestrian State Alchemists are desirable recruits, automatically granted the rank of Major and able to rise much higher. They tend to act as human artillery units in wartime and government-sponsored researchers (often bordering on MadScientist levels) in peacetime. In exchange, they gain access to branches of the National Central Library closed to the public, which hold a wealth of information about high-level alchemy. In addition, they are granted a generous salary that further facilitates their research. However, some independent alchemists hold contempt for their colleagues who sell out to the state, and civilians in the countryside with less favorable views of their government show disdain for state alchemists, who they compare to attack dogs leashed to the military.

** The Clover Kingdom's Magic Knights are this, individually selected by squads' captains to serve as the country's military, whether it be handling local crimes or defending against invasions.

* Most factions in ''Literature/TheArtsOfDarkAndLight'' have some sort of these, though the elf-kingdom Elebrion is particularly magic-heavy (elves being an innately magical race). TheEmpire Savondir stands out for organizing its mages in a special royal corps, which effectively functions as its StateSec. Averted by TheRepublic Amorr, however, which [[BanOnMagic bans all magic]] for religious reasons.

** Several of the WitchSpecies races, such as the [[OurElvesAreBetter Altmer (High Elves)]] and Bretons (mostly human {{Uneven Hybrid}}s), employ rank-and-file soldiers who are naturally gifted in the skills of magic and use spells to supplement their more standard combat abilities.

* In ''Anime/DogDays'', the Crest Magic used in Flognarde is simple enough that even [[TheHero Cinque]], an OrdinaryMiddleSchoolStudent, can use it after receiving some basic instruction, meaning basically any [[NominalImportance named character]] can be a MagicKnight. The Kingdom of Biscotti has a literal example of Artillery, where they combine Crest Magic with mortars for long-range bombardment. The Dutchy of Pastillage specializes in Crystal Magic and aerial cavalry, meaning their main force consists of [[{{Expy}} Totally-Not-]][[Franichse/FinalFantasy Chocobo]] riders using magical firearms; when they recruit Cinque's friend Rebecca as their Hero, she becomes a CuteWitch MagicalGirl flinging "Bullet Cards" down on her enemies while riding a FlyingBroomstick (and occasionally using a magic gun of her own).

[[caption-width-right:350:Colonel Mage is about to dish out major pain.]]

%%* ''Literature/SwordOfTruth'': A number of these serve on both sides, willing [[MindManipulation or not]]. In most cases here they seem to be functionally artillery, with the most powerful (like Zedd) fitting into the OneManArmy role. Richard himself is a War Wizard, one who with both kinds of magic is the most capable among them.

* In ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'', all field operatives in the TSAB are mages by default since mass-based weaponry is illegal. Nanoha herself holds the rank of 1st Captain.

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[[quoteright:350:[[Manga/FullmetalAlchemist https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1military_mage.jpg]]]]

* '''[[SupportPartyMember Support]]''': Support mages tend to stay out of the fighting proper. Instead, they make the {{Muggle}} soldiers around them ''better''. {{White Mage}}s may act as [[TheMedic medics]] to get the wounded back in fighting shape more quickly than conventional medicine could, often back on the field before the battle has even ended. They may cast {{Status Buff}}s or beneficial auras that make their allies faster, stronger, and more resilient. [[UltimateBlacksmith Magical artificers]] may keep an entire army supplied with enchanted arms and armor. Other mages work strictly in [[EasyLogistics logistics]], magically facilitating easy communication between units through {{Telepathy}}, obviating the need for supply lines [[{{Teleportation}} by teleporting in food and supplies, or even transporting whole armies where they need to be]].