History Main / MagicEater

Subtrope of AbstractEater.

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.

* In ''Literature/GuardsGuards'', the noble dragon is seen absorbing magic from Unseen University library, which Vimes says makes sense as literally everything about it is impossible.
-->'''Lady Sybil''': But it looks real enough. I mean, you'd expect a magical creature to be, well, gauzy.
-->'''Vimes''': Oh, it's real. It's real all right. But supposing it needs magic like we need ... sunlight? Or food?
-->'''Lady Sybil''': It's a thaumivore, you mean?
-->'''Vimes''': [[ExpospeakGag I just think it eats magic, that's all]].
* The laraken in ''Literature/CounselorsAndKings'' is 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]].
* Discussed and averted in the ''Literature/EnchantedForestChronicles''. In ''Searching For Dragons'', someone has destroyed 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]].
* [[OurGhostsAreDifferent Ghosts]] in the ''Literature/RiversOfLondon'' series feed on magic, becoming more solid and apparently feeling better when they're near a source of it. In ''The Furthest Station'', Peter and Nightingale fill a stone with magic which acts as a sort of ghostly soup kitchen, and the spirits are described as streching their arms to it as though warming them on a fire. It's also been suggested that {{Life Drinker}}s may actually be eating magic, since they're ''kind of'' the same thing.

** In the ''TabletopGame/{{Planescape}}'' setting, Incantifers are former members of the Incanterium faction who have become beings of pure magic and must feed on energy from spells and magic items in order to survive.
** A monster called a xaren eats enchanted metal.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Guild Wars 2}}'', 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.
* The Undead Destroyer in ''VideoGame/{{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.

** The Elves in the Warcraft universe 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 order to exist in corporeal form, the Primals in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' continuously syphon aether from the world around them. Because everything is comprised of aether, this continuous drain on the land destabilizes it, making Primals into {{Walking Wasteland}}s.
* The Corruptor demon from ''VideoGame/NexusClash'' has Magic Eater powers as their signature trait. So great is the Corruptor's magic-absorbing ability that aiming a magical gun at one and ''missing'' is sometimes enough to forfeit the gun's magical attributes to the demon.
* Belrot the Fiend is a demon summoned by the Grand Inquisitor in the Citadel questline from ''VideoGame/AdventureQuestWorlds'' for the purpose of draining and devouring the magic of the land, [[DoesNotLikeMagic which he utterly hates]].

* In ''WebAnimation/NomadOfNowhere'', [[spoiler:the crown of El Rey eats magic users to sustain its own power]].

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* It's briefly mentioned in ScienceFantasy world of ''Webcomic/ValAndIsaac'' that these exist. So BlackMagic wielding mercenary Space Dread simply stock's up [[LogicalWeakness non-magic weapons]] from a friend's family forge that specialise in such goods.

[[folder:Web Original]]
* Gnomes from ''Literature/MageLife'' are this. Small and not especially sapient, they pose a threat to the magical society wherein the story takes place.
* Desipis dragons from ''Website/DragonCave'' are this combined with MindRape.
[[/folder]]

* Lord Tirek in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' can drain and consume magic [[PowerCopying and gain its effects]]. Considering all ponies' abilities in this setting are magical in some way (at one point he drains an entire squad of Pegasi and they lose their ability to fly), this makes him a ''very'' serious threat once he drains enough, especially since he's even able to drain the magic of Discord, a RealityWarper PhysicalGod. A later appearance has him reveal he can only consume the magic of ''living'' things, however, which presents an issue since he can't just drain the energy maintaining a forcefield around a {{MacGuffin}} and so he needs to "borrow" the magic of one his allies to get strong enough and brute-force it open. He also reveal he can give back magic he's eaten, which is visually represented by him throwing it up.

* ''Manga/FairyTail'' has [[spoiler: Acnologia]] one of the most dangerous beings in the setting. [[spoiler: Acnologia is a Dragon Slayer, a mage who can empower themselves by eating a certain element. Acnologia's "element" is magic, which makes him all-powerful in a setting where society has built itself upon magic and its use.]]

* In ''Discworld/GuardsGuards'', the noble dragon is seen absorbing magic from Unseen University library, which Vimes says makes sense as literally everything about it is impossible.

* 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 BigBadassWolf that can quite literally eat any magic in the area and transform its mana into SuperStrength for [[spoiler:Charmy]]'s own body.

* Lord Tirek in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' can drain and consume any form of magic [[PowerCopying and gain its effects]]. Considering all ponies' abilities in this setting are magical in some way (at one point he drains an entire squad of Pegasi and they lose their ability to fly), this makes him a ''very'' serious threat once he drains enough, especially since he's even able to drain the magic of Discord, a RealityWarper PhysicalGod.

[[folder: Anime & Manga]]

[[folder: Comic Books]]

[[folder: Live-Action TV]]

[[folder: Tabletop Games]]

[[folder: Video Games]]

[[folder: Web Original]]
* Gnomes from ''Literature/MageLife'' are this. Small and not especially sapient, they pose a threat to the magical society wherein the story takes place.
* Desipis dragons from ''Website/DragonCave'' are this combined with MindRape.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Western Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AladdinTheSeries'': In his debut episode, Mozenrath summons a magic eater from AnotherDimension, the Thirdac, to Earth with the intent of using it to conquer the world by weakening any and all magical defenses he encounters. To prevent the creature from attacking him, he kidnaps Genie and forces Aladdin and co. to help him place a [[RestrainingBolt control collar]] on the Thirdac to save Genie's life. Naturally, Aladdin turns the tables on Mozenrath and sets the Thirdac on him, forcing him to send it back to its world to avoid being eaten himself. It's also shown that the Thirdac is no threat to non-magical beings, as Aladdin beats it into the ground with his bare hands.
* Lord Tirek in ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' can drain and consume any form of magic [[PowerCopying and gain its effects]]. Considering all ponies' abilities in this setting are magical in some way (at one point he drains an entire squad of Pegasi and they lose their ability to fly), this makes him a ''very'' serious threat once he drains enough, especially since he's even able to drain the magic of Discord, a RealityWarper PhysicalGod.

-->-- '''Mozenrath''' on the Thirdac, ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}''

** The Elves in the Franchise/{{Warcraft}} universe 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 order to exist in corporeal form, the Primals in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' continuously syphon aether from the world around them. Because everything is comprised of aether, this continuous drain on the land destabilizes it, making Primals into [[WalkingWasteland Walking Wastelands]].

* Belrot the Fiend is a demon summoned by the Grand Inquisitor in the Citadel questline from ''VideoGame/AdventureQuestWorlds'' for the purpose of draining and devouring the magic of the land, [[AntiMagicalFaction which he utterly hates]].

* ''[[Disney/{{Aladdin}} Aladdin: The Animated Series]]:'' In his debut episode, Mozenrath summons a magic eater from AnotherDimension, the Thirdac, to Earth with the intent of using it to conquer the world by weakening any and all magical defenses he encounters. To prevent the creature from attacking him, he kidnaps Genie and forces Aladdin and co. to help him place a [[RestrainingBolt control collar]] on the Thirdac to save Genie's life. Naturally, Aladdin turns the tables on Mozenrath and sets the Thirdac on him, forcing him to send it back to its world to avoid being eaten himself. It's also shown that the Thirdac is no threat to non-magical beings, as Aladdin beats it into the ground with his bare hands.

Often, eating magic allows them to [[AntiMagic nullify spells]] or [[PowerCopying use them themselves]]. Related to, but distinct from, MageKiller.

Often, eating magic allows them to [[AntiMagic nullify spells]] or [[PowerCopying use them themself]]. Related to, but distinct from, MageKiller.

Has shades of AntiMagic and PowerCopying. Related to, but distinct from, MageKiller.

** ''Literature/{{Warbreaker}}'': The Returned are [[CameBackStrong sent back from death]] with idealized bodies and supernatural abilities, but need to consume investiture every day 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.]]

[[/folder]]

* In TheCosmere there are a number of types of being that eat Investiture, the term for generic magical power across the worlds. This is most notable with [[Literature/{{Elantris}} Elantrians]], who eat it instead of food, and the spirits of objects [[SubspaceOrHyperspace in the Cognitive Realm]] who need it to sustain themselves when far from their physical bodies.

** In the Planescape setting, Incantifers are former members of the Incanterium faction who have become beings of pure magic and must feed on energy from spells and magic items in order to survive.

* In ''{{Discworld}}/GuardsGuards'', the noble dragon is seen absorbing magic from Unseen University library, which Vimes says makes sense as literally everything about it is impossible.

-->'''Vimes''': [[ExospeakGag I just think it eats magic, that's all]].

* In a ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' book, there's a creature described as one of these. Or rather, Ponder Stibbons asks if it is "a thaumivore" and gets the reply, "Dunno about that, I just know [[ExpospeakGag it eats magic]]."

* The Corruptor demon from ''[[NexusWar Nexus Clash]]'' has Magic Eater powers as their signature trait. So great is the Corruptor's magic-absorbing ability that aiming a magical gun at one and ''missing'' is sometimes enough to forfeit the gun's magical attributes to the demon.

* In TheCosmere there are a number of types of being that eat Investiture, the term for generic magical power across the worlds. This is most notable with [[{{Elantris}} Elantrians]], who eat it instead of food, and the spirits of objects [[SubspaceOrHyperspace in the Cognitive Realm]] who need it to sustain themselves when far from their physical bodies.

* Belrot the Fiend is a demon summoned by the Grand Inquisitor in the Citadel line of quests from ''VideoGame/AdventureQuestWorlds'' for the purpose of draining and devouring the magic of the land, [[AntiMagicalFaction which he utterly hates]].