History Main / MuggleWithADegreeInMagic

* ''VideoGame/NiNoKuniIIRevenantKingdom'': Zip Vector is an inventor and engineer with no spellcasting talent, but enough intelligence to understand the theories and rules underlying magic. One of his first inventions was the Spellstick, a MagicWand that runs on MagicFromTechnology and can have spells pre-programmed into it for the benefit of non-magical beings.

* ''VideoGame/NiNoKuniIIRevenantKingdom'': Zip Vecotr is an inventor and engineer with no spellcasting talent, but enough intelligence to understand the theories and rules underlying magic. One of his first inventions was the Spellstick, a MagicWand that runs on MagicFromTechnology and can have spells pre-programmed into it for the benefit of non-magical beings.

They may act as MissionControl to [[UnskilledButStrong less brainy mages]], who can put all of this muggle's knowledge and theories into practice. As TheSmartGuy of a {{team}}, they may also be the one to solve ancient mystical riddles and give [[CombatCommentator play-by-plays]] of [[MrExposition what magic is being used and why]].

While many are content just to [[FantasticScience study and observe]], some are really longing to actually practice. If the fates are kind, they may just be a late bloomer who eventually develops the skill. If the fates are less kind but they're still determined, they might be able to build some {{Magitek}} that [[SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic functions mostly the same]]. While the applications of their inventions may be limited compared to TheArchmage, it still allows them to climb pretty high up the SuperWeight scale. Also, working twice as hard for half as much means they may discover a trick or two that conventional magic lacks the ingenuity to discover. It may be up to them to use their research and tools control magic run amok and kill dangerous creatures, or to restore the magic that has been [[LostTechnology lost to the ages]].

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Onward}}'': Barley Lightfoot can't use magic, but he has an encyclopedic knowledge of magic from tabletop games and card games that are based on historical events and can easily figure out how to make magical spells work. When his younger brother, Ian, turns out to have the gift of magic, Barley takes it upon himself to use his knowledge to mentor Ian.

* Princess Anne-Sophie from ''Literature/TheMagicalRevolutionOfTheReincarnatedPrincess'' is incapable of casting magic on her own, so instead she became the world's foremost researcher in developing magical technology that anyone can use.

* In ''WesternAnimation/PussInBootsTheLastWish,'' [[CorruptCorporateExecutive "Big" Jack Horner]] was annoyed how his nursery rhyme was so mundane and unappreciated, so he started collecting all the magic objects from more popular stories. By the events of the film, he has an arsenal large enough to make him a very effective villain.

* ZigZagged with Iroh from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. He's no Muggle, being a powerful [[PlayingWithFire firebender]]. But he's also become an expert at the other three elements, despite being unable to use them. He's even used what he's learned to develop new firebending techniques, like lightning redirection.
** In the sequel series ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', Zaheer ''was'' a nonbender expert on airbending, but when he first appears, he's just been granted airbending powers. Convenient to not have to spend years mastering them.

* Agent Fox Mulder of ''Series/TheXFiles'' seems versed in the mystical and arcane, including raising golems, voodoo curses, and dark magic blood sacrifices. He's paired with the science and medicine-minded Agent Dana Scully. Together, TheyFightCrime that's tinged with weirdness.

* ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'':

* Princess Anne-Sophie from ''LightNovel/TheMagicalRevolutionOfTheReincarnatedPrincessAndTheGeniusYoungLady'' is incapable of casting magic on her own, so instead she became the world's foremost researcher in developing magical technology that anyone can use.

* Franchise/{{Nasuverse}}: Waver Velvet, later known as Lord El-Melloi II, is a magus who has excellent knowledge of magical theory but is incapable of all but the simplest spells because of the way magic power is developed. Typically, a family passes down a Magic Crest that takes generations to develop, but Waver is only a third-generation mage and the first in his line who studied magic seriously. In ''LightNovel/FateZero'', as a student, he ''still'' manages to find Caster's base before anyone else -- [[BoringButPractical by collecting water samples from around town and performing the mana equivalent of a litmus test.]] As an adult, he's become one of the Clock Tower's most popular lecturers: while cranky, he's excellent at breaking down complex concepts so that they're easy to understand, and his background enables him to speak to students as equals.

* In ''[[LightNovel/Overlord2012 Overlord]]'', even though Climb has no talent for magic, he is informed he should still be familiar with it up to Tier 3 spells. That way, he would know what to expect and defend against them.

* In ''Literature/MyBrotherIsASuperhero,'' Luke is an eleven-year-old boy and a huge comic book nerd...which only makes it more annoying when his nerdy older brother, Zack, becomes a superhero instead of him. (Luke [[MissedTheCall was in the bathroom]] when TheChooserOfTheOne arrived.) Luke instead becomes Zack's heroic mentor and, inevitably, has to save the day when Zack is kidnapped/sick/etc.

* Common through ''Literature/TheCosmere''. Due to the MagicAIsMagicA nature of the setting, numerous people have in-depth understandings of their mechanics, even if they can't actually use them. All the books also include an "Ars Arcanum", short guides on the magic systems and other elements of TheVerse. These are portrayed as [[FictionalDocument in-universe documents]] compiled by the Invested scholar Khriss and her InexplicablyAwesome assistant Nazh. Khriss is probably the best example of Trope in the setting as well. She's not a muggle strictly speaking as she does have one minor power, but doesn't have access to the vast majority of powers she studies.

* The books of ''Literature/TheCosmere'' all include "Ars Arcanum", short guides on the magic systems and other elements of TheVerse. These are portrayed as [[FictionalDocument in-universe documents]] compiled by the Invested scholar Khriss and her InexplicablyAwesome assistant Nazh.

* The books of ''Literature/TheCosmere'' all include "Ars Arcanum", short guides on the magic systems and other elements of TheVerse. These are portrayed as [[FictionalDocument in-universe documents]] compiled by the InexplicablyAwesome scholar Khriss and her assistant Nazh.