History Main / AddictiveMagic

* Willow's subplot in season six of ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. It started with her overusing MundaneUtility and ended with her visiting an actual "pusher" who provided his customers with weird hallucinations. It was later subject to an AuthorsSavingThrow that denied that magic itself is addictive.

* Willow's magic in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. It was later subject to an AuthorsSavingThrow that denied that magic itself is addictive.

* Skill-users RobinHobb's ''Literature/RealmOfTheElderlings'' books suffer from an addiction to Skilling that can cause truly terrible physical pain and mental distraction. Fitz suffers especially from this addiction.

* In the ''{{Dragonlance}}'' series of novels, it is said that High Sorcery can be like this for some people. Raistlin Majere was one such person for whom using magic felt good. It is described as something the high sorcerer can feel all throughout his body when he casts a spell.

* Subverted in the second ''{{Mistborn}}'' novel. Straff Venture assumes that using the mystical metal atium to fuel their powers is addictive to Mistborn, and uses carefully controlled rations of it to control his [[TheDragon Dragon]] [[spoiler: and bastard son]] Zane. Atium, however, is ''not'' addictive (at least, no more addictive than anything that grants power), and Zane mentally derides Straff for thinking so- he hangs around him mostly because he doesn't have anywhere else to go.
* The One Ring of ''Literature/LordOfTheRings'' gives its user power, but at the same time creates an addiction to it, to the point where the user couldn't give it to anyone else, thus making him the only one powered by it.

* Warlocks in the ''{{Ethshar}}'' series qualify — the more they use their magic, the easier and more pleasurable it gets. But the power's drawn from an external source, and a warlock who uses too much ends up being irresistibly summoned to that source.

* BlackAdam in the ''CaptainMarvel'' storylines.

* Black Adam in the ''CaptainMarvel'' storylines.

* Subverted in the second ''{{Mistborn}}'' novel. [[AristocratsAreEvil Straff Venture]] assumes that using the mystical metal atium to fuel their powers is addictive to Mistborn, and uses carefully controlled rations of it to control his [[TheDragon Dragon]] [[spoiler: and bastard son]] Zane. Atium, however, is ''not'' addictive (at least, no more addictive than anything that grants power), and Zane mentally derides Straff for thinking so- he hangs around him mostly because he doesn't have anywhere else to go.

Compare TheDarkSide, where evil is addictive.

* Channelers in ''TheWheelOfTime'' must be careful not to hold on to the One Power too regularly. Doing so can encourage a person to draw in more and more. Left unchecked, a channeler can overtax his abilities and burn out his ability to channel or even kill himself. Fortunately, a slight exercise of will can control the desire to channel excessively.

* In ''TheDresdenFiles'', this applies to black magic, which is why the White Council kills anyone who uses it even once.

* Willow's magic in ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. It was later subject to an AuthorsSavingThrow that denied that magic itself is addictive.

* The Blood Elves in ''WorldOfWarcraft'' became addicted to {{Mana}}. As [[OurElvesAreDifferent High Elves]] they were able to draw on the energies of the Sunwell to sate their addiction, but it was defiled and tainted by the Scourge. The main schism between High and Blood Elves arose because they disagreed over the best way to cope with their condition. High Elves prefer to meditate and master their cravings and Blood Elves started finding other sources on which to feed - including demonic energy. Some of them were able to control that addiction; some of them were transformed into wasted, addicted beings called the Wretched.

* Skill-users RobinHobb's ''Literature/{{Realm of the Elderlings}}'' books suffer from an addiction to Skilling that can cause truly terrible physical pain and mental distraction. Fitz suffers especially from this addiction.

* Subverted in the second ''{{Mistborn}}'' novel. [[AristocratsAreEvil Straff Venture]] assumes that using the mystical metal atium to fuel their powers is addictive to Mistborn, and uses carefully controlled rations of it to control his [[TheDragon Dragon]] [[spoiler: and bastard son]] Zane. Atium, however, is ''not'' addictive (at least, no more addictive than anything that grants power), and Zane mentally derides Straff for thinking so- he hangs around him mostly because he doesn't have anywhere else to go.

* In TheCovenant, the Sons' magic is not merely highly addictive, but drains their vitality and prematurely ages them the more they use.

* The Third Edition ''{{Shadowrun}}'' supplement "Magic in the Shadows" introduced "focus addiction". If mages used foci too often there was a risk of their becoming addicted to and dependent upon them. This could cause them to become unable to use magic without a focus or even lose their magical abilities altogether.

** Strictly speaking, all mortals can become addicted to arcane magic in the {{Warcraft}} setting. The effects of casting an arcane spell are described in terms that make it sound a lot like real-world drugs and mages may feel the urge to cast the spell again for the thrill it causes. The MMO even makes a joking reference to real life anti-drugs campaigns with this in-game book: [[http://www.wowhead.com/object=192868]] (contents are posted in the comments).
** Even more dangerous is [[BlackMagic fel magic]] - that is, demonic energy - which is even more addictive and MUCH more corrupting.

* Skill-users RobinHobb's ''Realm of the Elderlings'' books suffer from an addiction to Skilling that can cause truly terrible physical pain and mental distraction. Fitz suffers especially from this addiction.

* The [[NoNameGiven mysterious]] [[EvilSorcerer mage]] of ''TheQuestportChronicles'', becomes increasingly reliant on the essence of Aether to counteract his AmplifierArtifact, leading to [[HoistByHisOwnPetard a rather unfortunate end]].

* Willow's magic in ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. It was later subject to an AuthorsSavingThrow that denied that magic itself is addictive.
* Black Adam in the ''CaptainMarvel'' storylines.
* The Blood Elves in ''WorldOfWarcraft'' became addicted to {{Mana}}. As [[OurElvesAreDifferent High Elves]] they were able to draw on the energies of the Sunwell to sate their addiction, but it was defiled and tainted by the Scourge. The main schism between High and Blood Elves arose because they disagreed over the best way to cope with their condition. High Elves prefer to meditate and master their cravings and Blood Elves started finding other sources on which to feed - including demonic energy. Some of them were able to control that addiction; some of them were transformed into wasted, addicted beings called the Wretched.
** Notably, becoming addicted to magic is the only way a male Blood Elf (or female for that matter) can go bald - making it a literal BaldOfEvil.
** Strictly speaking, all mortals can become addicted to arcane magic in the {{Warcraft}} setting. The effects of casting an arcane spell are described in terms that make it sound a lot like real-world drugs and mages may feel the urge to cast the spell again for the thrill it causes. The MMO even makes a joking reference to real life anti-drugs campaigns with this in-game book: [[http://www.wowhead.com/object=192868]] (contents are posted in the comments).
** Even more dangerous is [[BlackMagic fel magic]] - that is, demonic energy - which is even more addictive and MUCH more corrupting.

* The Third Edition ''{{Shadowrun}}'' supplement "Magic in the Shadows" introduced "focus addiction". If mages used foci too often there was a risk of their becoming addicted to and dependent upon them. This could cause them to become unable to use magic without a focus or even lose their magical abilities altogether.

* A recurring theme in the {{Shannara}} series, though more for some magics than others. The Sword of Leah is perhaps the most consistently addictive.

* In Neal Shusterman's novel ''TheEyesOfKidMidas'', the protagonist becomes increasingly reliant on the power of his magical sunglasses. [[ClingyMacGuffin The sunglasses aren't in any hurry to go away either.]]

* The Blood Elves in ''WorldOfWarcraft'' became addicted to {{Mana}}. Some of them overcame that addiction; some of them were transformed into wasted, addicted beings called the Wretched.

* The magic orb in ''TheSmurfs'' episode "The Lure Of The Orb".

Sometimes magic is not just something someone can do, it is also something that is physiologically and mentally addictive. People who use Addictive Magic always want to use it as much as possible because it feels pleasurable to them in some way. Sometimes there is a risk to the user if he uses his magic powers too much, and so he must be careful about using their powers too often, lest they consume him.

Sometimes magic is not just something someone can do, it is also something that is physiologically and mentally addictive. People who use Addictive Magic always want to use it as much as possible because it feels pleasurable to them in some way. Sometimes there is a risk to the user if they use their magic powers too much, and so they must be careful about using their powers too often lest they consume them.

* Channelers in TheWheelOfTime must be careful not to hold on to the One Power too regularly. Doing so can encourage a person to draw in more and more. Left unchecked, a channeler can overtax their abilities and burn out their ability to channel or even kill themselves. Fortunately, a slight exercise of will can keep the desire to channel excessively in check.
** Using the True Power is even more addictive, using any noteworthy amount of it nearly guarantees a person will eventually overdraw and die even more messily than if they had done so with the One Power.
* In the {{Dragonlance}} series of novels, it is said in some novels that High Sorcery can be like this for some people. Raistlin Majere was one such person who using magic felt good for. It is described as something they can feel all throughout their body when they cast a spell.
* Willow's magic in BuffyTheVampireSlayer. Later subject to an Authors Saving Throw that denied that magic itself is addictive.
* Black Adam in the CaptainMarvel storylines.
* The Blood Elves in WorldOfWarcraft became addicted to {{Mana}}. Some of them overcame that addiction; some of them were transformed into wasted, addicted beings called the Wretched.
* In TheDresdenFiles, this applies to black magic, which is why the White Council kills anyone who uses it even once.
* The 3rd Edition {{Shadowrun}} supplement Magic in the Shadows introduced "focus addiction". If mages used foci too often there was a risk of their becoming addicted to and dependent upon them. This could cause them to become unable to use magic without a focus or even lose their magical abilities altogether.
* In Neal Shusterman's novel TheEyesOfKidMidas, the protagonist becomes increasingly reliant on the power of his magical sunglasses. [[ClingyMacGuffin The sunglasses aren't in any hurry to go away either.]]
* Warlocks in the ''{{Ethshar}}'' series -- the more they use their magic, the easier and more pleasurable it gets. But the power's drawn from an external source, and a warlock who uses too much ends up being irresistibly summoned to that source.

* In Neal Shusterman's novel TheEyesOfKidMidas, the protagonist becomes increasingly reliant on the power of his magical sunglasses. [[ClingyMacGuffin The sunglasses aren't in any hurry to go away either.]]