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[[quoteright:328:[[VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/DAOMorrigan.jpg]]]]

She's elegant, she's composed, and she's graceful. She's also packing enough magic to level half a city. The Lady of Black Magic is a character type found in fantasy who is primarily an [[BlackMage offensive magic user]].

Personality-wise, a Lady of Black Magic is elegant and more mature than TheHero. She may be an IceQueen.

In design, this character will almost always be wearing something feminine, usually a dress of some sort. Unlike the LadyOfWar, the Lady of Black Magic can be MsFanservice.

Physically, [[SquishyWizard she'll be weaker than the melee type fighters]], and will usually be equipped with a rod or ranged weapon. [[GuysSmashGirlsShoot Very rarely she will have a melee weapon]], but it will be weaker or less impressive than the hero's. Her primary combat role is to [[GlassCannon unleash destructive]] BlackMagic, although she will occasionally have secondary healing, buffing, or debuffing abilities, as well.

Ladies of Black Magic are AlwaysFemale (GentlemanWizard is the [[GenderFlipped male counterpart]]), unlike their counterparts BlackMagicianGirl and WhiteMagicianGirl. She is rarely a LoveInterest for TheHero, although if she is it will often be part of a DefrostingIceQueen plot. Instead, she's usually older than TheHero and fills the role of a bigger sister, often a CoolBigSis, or [[TeamMom maternal figure]].

Subtrope of BlackMage. Compare to BlackMagicianGirl, the other stock character type for offensive mages in fantasy. Contrast WhiteMage and WhiteMagicianGirl, to whom this character type is often a {{Foil}}, and BlackMagic.

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!!Examples

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
%%* Urd from ''Manga/AhMyGoddess''.
* WordsWorth: Maria is a stately example, garbed in an elegant white robe (though it has split seams, [[ShesGotLegs showing plenty of leg]]), a sea green cloak, and sandals.
* Both Miyu and Reiha from ''VampirePrincessMiyu'', as they both are very elegant and reserved as they attack their enemies with [[PlayingWithFire fire]] (Miyu) or [[KillItWithIce ice]] (Reiha)
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
%%* Sistah Spooky from ''Comicbook/{{Empowered}}''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Film]]
* [[MsFanservice Luster]] in ''TheGamers: Dorkness Rising'' seems to be an attempt at this archetype, but her player isn't very good at the whole "dignity" aspect.
%%* Claudia's mother in ''Film/SnowWhiteATaleofTerror'' is implied to have been one.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* In the 1998 ''[[Series/{{Merlin-1998}} Merlin]]'' series, Mab fills this role, as well as being the series' BigBad.
* In the BBC ''{{Series/Merlin}}'', it was Morgause, until she died and Morgana stepped up to the plate. WordOfGod says she's at least as powerful as Merlin now.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* Nicci of the ''SwordOfTruth'', a former Sister of the Dark who functions as one of Richard's primary magic experts, and is also the team expert on [[BlackMagic Subtractive Magic]].
* {{Dragaera}}'s Sethra Lavode is a [[TimeAbyss 250,000+ year-old]] undead sorceress, and contrary to the trope description she couldn't just level ''half'' a city-- she [[PersonOfMassDestruction could probably cause]] TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt.
* Melissandre the Red from ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' fits the personality aspect ([[spoiler:and becomes something of a mentor to Jon Snow during ''A Dance With Dragons'']]), but as part of a low-magic setting she's limited to soothsaying and summoning creepy shadows. Given that she's one of a handful of people to show outright supernatural abilities at ''all'', however, that says something.
%%* Matilda in ''Literature/TheMonk''. She's a woman of many talents.
%%* Medea from ''TheIcemarkChronicles''.
* Skuld, the half-elven sorceress from the 13th century ''Literature/SagaOfHrolfKraki'', the title hero's treacherous half-sister and eventual architect of his downfall. In the Battle of Hleidragard, she summons a giant demon-boar and makes her fallen warriors come to life again, so they continue fighting as zombies.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
%%* Liliana Vess of ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' is very much the Lady of Black Magic.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':
** Though she started out as a BlackMagicianGirl, [[FinalFantasyIV Rydia]]'s PlotRelevantAgeUp turned her into one of the original video game Ladies of Black Magic.
** While she may not match most examples in height, she more then substitutes with pure might. With ladylike grace and magical fire, [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI Shantotto]] is to what this trope aspires! [[NobleWomansLaugh Oh Hohohoho]]!
** Lulu from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'', of the IceQueen variety. Also somewhat {{goth}}y. She is the most composed of the party members, and figures as a bit of a mother or sister figure to the protagonist, Yuna. She's quiet, fashionable, and of course uses offensive magic.
%%** Edea, Ultimecia, Adel, and some other unnamed Sorceresses from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII''.
%%* [[IceQueen Fatima]], the antagonist Witch of ''LuminousArc2'', adequately mirrors the [[HotBlooded cheerful]] [[PlayingWithFire Althea]]. Arguably the most powerful Witch, her ability to mercilessly wreak havoc with [[EvilIsDeathlyCold Shadow]][[AnIcePerson Frost]] magic is only equalled by another [[AbsoluteCleavage spectacular]] [[ThongOfShielding demonstration]] of her "power".
%%* Celine from ''VideoGame/StarOceanTheSecondStory''.
* Mitsuru Kirijou in ''{{Persona 3}}'', who is one of the best magical attackers in the game. Likewise, ''{{Persona 4}}'s'' Yukiko Amagi, but she also crosses this with WhiteMagicianGirl.
* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' has Morrigan, a shapeshifter who is well-spoken and cutting--and evil. In the ''Franchise/DragonAge'' toolset, she's also listed as one of the few characters with "High" intelligence, and her biography notes that she favors a look of wild elegance. She's the most evil member of the party, and [=NPCs=] often comment she's very beautiful. However, romancing her will [[DefrostingIceQueen reveal a sweeter side.]]
* Jessica from ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII''. Although she's a little more [[FieryRedhead fiery]] than this trope typically is, she has a rich upbringing, possesses a sharp tongue backed by a British accent, and generally has an overall bearing that's more lady than [[GenkiGirl genki]]. Also her [[MsFanservice penchant for fanservice]] is an actual game mechanic.
* Millenia from ''GrandiaII''. The twist being, she's [[spoiler: the SuperpoweredEvilSide of the WhiteMagicianGirl, Elena.]]
* FemmeFatale [[ReligionOfEvil Evil Cleric]] {{Defector from Decadence}} Viconia from ''BaldursGateII''.
* ''VideoGame/RadiantHistoria'' has Eruca, a reserved literal RebelliousPrincess who packs some of the most powerful offensive magic in the game. Raynie is a partial example, having the grace in battle and offensive power of a Lady, but being slightly more rough around the edges than is typical for this trope.
%%* Jaina Proudmoore from the ''{{Warcraft}}'' franchise.
* Not yet playable, but Nine/Konoe A. Mercury from ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'' is a very much one. Although she subverts it by having quite the fiery temper for personality.
* From ''CityOfHeroes'' the Lady Grey, supreme commander of Vanguard. Easily the most powerful wizard in the whole game, ever composed, ever graceful and one wicked [[DarkIsNotEvil Dark Defender]]
* Many female anima/dark/light magic users from the ''FireEmblem'' sagas:
** Seisen no Keifu: Hilda (villainous example, handles Fire Magic due to being of the Fala bloodline), Ishtar (Hilda's daughter alias the "Goddess of Thunder" for having major Tordo blood and thus handling the VERY strong Mjolnir tome). Possibly Aida, too; her class is MagicKnight.
** ''Thracia 776'': Miranda (though she's more HotBlooded than the standard), Olwen (who uses Thunder Magic and swords),.
** ''Fuuin no Tsurugi'': Niime, Druid!Sophia (Dark Magic), Princess Guinevere when you unlock her (Anima Maigc). Maybe Cecilia and Valkyrie!Clarine. Sage!Lilina has the skills, but attitude-wise she's more of TheMessiah. Bruhnya is an {{Anti Villain}}ous version.
** ''Rekka no Ken'': Sonia and Ursula, both villainous examples. Arguably, Valkyrie!Priscilla and Sage!Nino are two on your side. In the BackStory, Saint Elimine was said to be one.
** ''Sacred Stones'': Lute, specially if a Sage. Also the promoted L'Arachel, though she's more... [[LargeHam expressive]] than others. Selena follows it wholeheartedly.
** ''Path of Radiance'' - ''Radiant Dawn'': Sanaki, for some. Also a well-trained Ilyana.
** ''Awakening'': Tharja, a CuteAndPsycho Dark Mage who enjoys practicing curses and is a Yandere towards the Avatar. She also happens to be a MsFanservice.
* ''{{Rift}}'' has Asha Catari.
%%* Servant Caster from ''FateStayNight'' to a T.
%%* Aqua from ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'' is a [[MagicKnight hybrid]] between this and LadyOfWar. She's still a talented Keyblade wielder, but she is the SquishyWizard to Ventus's FragileSpeedster and Terra's MightyGlacier.
* ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' has Mima and Byakuren. Byakuren is a [[TheMessiah major subversion]], though.
* Miranda from ''MassEffect2'' is the sci-fi equivalent, a powerful [[MindOverMatter biotic]], a LadyOfWar and the Illusive Man's top [[TheDragon Operative]].
** Jack also qualifies, since she's even more destructive ([[spoiler:[[WordOfGod Her dossier]] says she's the most powerful human biotic]]), and her face considered by some fans as most beautiful face model in ''MassEffect2''. However, [[TheLadette she's also one of]] [[ClusterFBomb the least lady-like]] [[AxCrazy characters in the game]].
* Rose from ''StreetFighter'' is among the closest to this trope that you'll find in fighting games. She fights with her unique [[PsychicPowers Soul Power]], which gives her one of the most elegant fighting styles in the series and always fights with an air of elegance and grace.
* From ''LeagueOfLegends'' we have [=LeBlanc=] [[MasterOfIllusion the Deceiver]], Morgana the FallenAngel and possibly Ahri the [[{{Kitsune}} Nine-Tailed Fox]], although Ahri is more of a supernatural creature than a practiced sorceress.
* [[spoiler: Katrina]] of ''QuestForGloryIV'': Stunningly beautiful, [[FemmeFatale seductive]], and without question one of the most powerful characters to appear in the series. Even ''BabaYaga'' fears getting on her bad side, she absolutely kicked [[SmugSnake Ad Avis's]] ass in a magical duel some century before the game is set, and in ''QuestForGloryV'' her magic will [[GameBreaker tear the Dragon of Doom to shreds]]. She can have a ''real'' temper if you [[BerserkButton piss her off]], but normally presents a very polite and friendly demeanor.
* Chizuru Kagura from TheKingOfFighters is an odd blend of this and LadyOfWar. She relays a lot in her MasterOfIllusion powers, but also on her DanceBattler hand-to-hand fighting style.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* Rose Lalonde, from ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' becomes this after upgrading her weapons with [[EldritchAbomination Eldritch Powers]]. Made even more obvious in her Alpha universe counterpart, who's an adult.
* Miranda Io from ''Webcomic/NoSongsForTheDead'' has great potential in {{Black Magic}}, which she genetically inherited from her mother Lilith.
* ''Webcomic/{{Erfworld}}'''s Wanda Firebaugh is this to a tee. Interestingly, because of how Erfworld operates, she started life seeing her physical form as a LadyOfBlackMagic, something she felt she had to live up to.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* Raven from ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans'', despite being younger than average for this trope, is WiseBeyondHerYears, and her aloof personality is more in line with this trope than BlackMagicianGirl.
[[/folder]]

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