History Main / AntimagicalFaction

* Othar of Webcomic/GirlGenius is this, all by himself (if by "mages" you mean "reality-warping mad-scientist Sparks"). His goal is to kill them all. And yes, he's aware of the irony that he himself is a Spark! [[spoiler:He plans to kill himself after killing off all of the other Sparks.]]

* One exists in the Whipper Kingdom in ''Literature/TrashOfTheCountsFamily''. Before the civil war, The Whipper Kingdom was a [[TheMagocracy Magocracy]] that [[FantasticRacism heavily discriminated against people who couldn't use magic]]. After the magic ruling class is kicked out, the kingdom itself is the Anti-Magical Faction. Their leader is one of many who can't use magic but also [[AntiMagic isn't affected by magic]].

* In ''VideoGame/DreamfallTheLongestJourney'', [[TheEmpire the Azadi Empire]] is of that variety with an added flavor of [[TheFundamentalist religious fervor]], [[FantasticRacism what with repressing and committing genocide against 'magicals']]. They put up a lot of various SteamPunk-esque machinery everywhere instead, the purpose of which is only revealed [[VideoGame/DreamfallChapters in the sequel]]. Despite their vehement persecution of magic, their Prophet seems to employ it and command magical creatures, and there are indications that they employ [[NotUsingTheZWord magic-by-any-other-name]] thaumaturgy, and that some of the things they use are [[{{Magitek}} relying on magic as well as technology]].
* ''VideoGame/FlowerKnightGirl'': {{Downplayed|Trope}} with Winter Rose. The nation as a whole isn't opposed to magic ''per-se'' (else there wouldn't be any Magic attribute Flower Knights featured in it), but rather they have a strict stance on anybody with incredibly strong magic and potentially lacks in control of it. Cattleya, a girl who was born with magic beyond any Flower Knight's capabilities, can easily attest that the people of Winter Rose will not compromise towards children, and had she'd not been [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment set into a mansion isolated far from civilization]], she could've been [[WouldHurtAChild killed off for the crime of her special gift.]] [[spoiler:This all stems from 700 years ago, when a group of assassins had gone mad, courtesy of some residual magic from a potent source influenced their mental state of mind. The resulting rampage had set the nation into a state of total collapse from all the death, injury, and destroyed buildings, with the law against strong magic being set in stone to preserve its future.]]

* The kingdoms of the Aldabreshin archipelago in [=Juliet E. McKenna=]'s ''Aldabreshin Compass'' tetralogy. The collected warlords ban magic on pain of [[FlayingAlive having your skin ripped off while still alive and then nailed to a post]]. [[FridgeLogic Since magical dragons and wizards exist on the mainland, it's a little unclear why]]. And of course Astrology is seen as perfectly okay and non-magical.
* In ''Literature/TheArtsOfDarkAndLight'', the [[TheRepublic Amorran Republic]] and TheChurch maintain a rigorous BanOnMagic, which is (rightly or not) feared as the exclusive tool of the dark powers. The ban is enforced by both religious and secular authorities, but in particular by a special order of Templar-like church knights, the Order of Saint Michael.
* In ''Literature/BornWicked'', the Brotherhood, who are in charge of everything, are anti-magic. They oppress women, and their strongest enemies are female witches, so they kill them wherever they can.
* In ''Literature/ChildrenOfTheBlackSun'', the whole nation of Ricalan (where the trilogy is set) is generally against all kinds of magic, believing it to be [[MagicIsEvil inherently evil]]. People with minor abilities are tolerated if they wear a [[PowerNullifier magic suppressor]], and very limited magic is tolerated for the purpose of detecting such people and constructing the suppressors, but that's it. However, Ricalan is currently being invaded by a country that routinely uses magic in war, causing the Ricalani monarch to hypocritically ally with an EvilSorcerer to counter that advantage. The protagonist, who is potentially even more powerful, later provides a non-evil alternative once people have reconsidered their hostility enough to trust her.
* In the ''Literature/{{Deryni}}'' works, the coalition of human spiritual and temporal lords who became regents for King Alroy Haldane installed one of their own as Primate of Gwynedd (at sword's point), passed [[BanOnMagic the Laws of Ramos]], and started persecutions of Deryni that lasted for over two centuries. This was a complete effort, with civil liabilities, [[KillItWithFire harsh punishments]], and a book of anti-Deryni propaganda authored by a cleric and promulgated throughout the kingdom.

* The Inquisitors of the Citadel in ''VideoGame/AdventureQuestWorlds'' are out to eradicate all magic. Only it turns out that they're actually sucking the magic out of people to create powerful Mana Vacuums because the Grand Inquisitor wants all that magic for himself so that he can summon a magic-devouring demon by the name of Belrot to hunt down and drain all magic from the land. So they're basically a mixed example.
* In ''[[VideoGame/AgeOfWonders Age of Wonders II: Shadow Magic]]'', the [[MeaningfulName aptly named Phobian]] [[TheEmpire Empire]] is on a crusade against magic... or so they say, since their commanders actively use magic, which makes it a hypocritical example.
* In ''VideoGame/ChoiceOfMagics'', TheChurch of Abraxas forbids the use of magic. [[spoiler:It's hypocritical. They just re-christen loyal mages as Saints and call their powers divine miracles.]]
* The Overseers of the Abbey of the Everyman from ''VideoGame/{{Dishonored}}'' are a ChurchMilitant not devoted to a deity, but rather formed to (as they see it) protect humanity against the [[EnigmaticEmpoweringEntity Outsider]], the only source of actual magic in the world and in their eyes a vile and demonic entity, but in truth a mostly neutral being who empowers mortals out of curiosity. They have developed MaybeMagicMaybeMundane music boxes that disrupt an individual's ability to use magic, and are known to treat even suspected witches with absolute ruthlessness.
* In ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSinII'', the Magisters are ''really'' determined to rub Source magic off the face of Rivellon. They blame the recent Voidwoken attacks on it. Mundane magic spells don't bother them though.

* ''{{Anime/Radiant}}'': The Inquisition whole shtick is a classical example, believing that the [[OurMagesAreDifferent infected]] are demons corrupted by [[BackgroundMagicField Fantasia]] related to the [[AnimalisticAbomination Nemesis]], keeping control over most of Pharenos and maintaining alive the fear to sorcery for many centuries, hunting down sorcerers and contributing to their oppression.

* ''Anime/{{Radiant}}'': This is the Inquisition whole shtick, believing that the [[OurMagesAreDifferent infected]] are demons corrupted by [[BackgroundMagicField Fantasia]] related to the [[AnimalisticAbomination Nemesis]], having held control over most of Pharenos and keeping alive the fear to sorcery centuries ago, hunting down sorcerers and contributing to their oppression.

* One exists in the Whipper Kingdom in ''Literature/TrashOfTheCountsFamily''. Before the civil war, The Whipper Kingdom was a [[TheMagocracy Magocracy]] that [[FantasticRacism heavily discriminated against people who couldn't use magic]]. After the magic ruling class is kicked out, the kingdom itself is the AntimagicalFaction. Their leader is one of many who can't use magic but also [[AntiMagic isn't affected by magic]].

* Galbatorix in ''[[Literature/TheInheritanceCycle Inheritance]]'' has the ultimate goal of restricting all magic use, though he doesn't wish to wipe it out entirely. He claims that magic is the great unfairness in the world, as someone either can or cannot use it; there is no learning to use magic.
* [[KnightTemplar Clan Righteous]] in ''The Fires of Merlin'' from Literature/TheLostYearsOfMerlin series, who use AntiMagic called Negatus Mysterium, which is found in magic-eating creatures called Kreelixes (though it didn't seem to phase the god of evil when he supercharged one, [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve probably because it only works if you believe in it]]).

* The Heresy of Galla in V. Panov's ''Secret City''. Their battle cry goes "[[{{God}} The Sleeper]] wasn't a mage!". Galla's Heresy mostly takes male Lyud' [[GenderRestrictedAbility who are generally incapable of magic]], but also has a significant fraction of Chud', as the Chud' society carries a strong bias against those unable to live up to the MagicKnight ideal. Mages will forfeit their and their children's magic upon joining the Heresy, and the Heresy's temples serve as {{Power Nullifier}}s.

* In the ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'' novel ''Literature/TheTruceAtBakura'', the primary religion of the planet Bakura known as the "Cosmic Balance" looks down on Force-users, claiming that by making themselves stronger in the Force they weakened others and blaming the decline of the Republic solely on [[TheOrder the Jedi Order]]. Luke Skywalker's short-term LoveInterest Senator Gaeriel Captison was a staunch adherent and was horrified to learn that TheEmperor was a Sith Lord all along.
* The Blood of the Fold in Terry Goodkind's ''Literature/TheSwordOfTruth'' is a classical example ([[{{Hypocrite}} though its leader makes use of his sister's magic against other users']]), while the Imperial Order from the [[ExpansionPackWorld Old World]] is a hypocritical example. Ultra-powerful wizards and various magical weapons are used for the Order's cause of Magic Is Bad (one wizard in the Order even says when questioned on his hypocrisy that yes, eventually he will be killed too after they succeed in destroying all magic). At the same time, the Order's leaders are conferring {{Immortality}} upon themselves with it. One Imperial Order member later explains they use magic to eliminate it.

* Karse in the ''Literature/{{Valdemar}}'' series has a habit of killing magic users when and where it finds them, although as it turns out if the magic-user is caught young enough they're actually recruited into the priesthood, so they're a hypocritical example.

[[folder: Web Original]]

[[folder: Western Animation]]
* In the TV series ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDragonJakeLong'', the Huntsclan seek to find and destroy all magical creatures, believing them to be unnatural.

* ''Comicbook/DoctorStrange'':

* When Thunder, a far-future member of the Comicbook/{{Shazam}} family, joined the reboot ''Comicbook/LegionOfSuperHeroes'', her first enemy was a guy named Dr Savant, leader of the Objective Order, fanatical scientists who destroyed the Rock of Eternity because magic "just doesn't make sense".

* The [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Anti-Magic Faction]], the BigBad of ''WebOriginal/UniversalLadyJusticeAya'', is Classical example that hunts magic users with AntiMagic infused with advanced weaponry.

A specific kind of [[TheEmpire empire]] or organization set in a world where magic is possible and/or the supernatural exists, whose agenda is against said magic and supernatural things. It forbids practicing magic, prosecutes mages and supernatural creatures, and so on.

* '''Classical:''' This version is a WellIntentionedExtremist faction trying to [[ThePurge cleanse the world]] of "dangerous and unstable" magic [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans for the greater good of all]]; [[MagicVersusTechnology it often employs technology instead]]; or [[UnequalRites if the setting has a divide between "arcane" and "divine" magic, the faction may wield "divine" magic instead while trying to stamp out "arcane" magic]] (especially common if the faction is some kind of religious sect or organization). This faction is genuinely against magic and the supernatural.
* '''[[StrawHypocrite Hypocritical]]:''' This version pretends to be the classical version, but has a more sinister hidden goal--that being not to cleanse the world of magic, but to ensure that ''only'' the faction in question is allowed to wield it, hypocritically gathering it all in its hands. In this case, the magic is restricted to its [[EliteMook elite followers]] or just the leaders.

May also be combined with MugglePower and overlap with CapeBusters. Also tends to overlap with TheFundamentalist and CorruptChurch, especially in more modern works.

* '''Hypocritical:''' This version pretends to be the classical version, but has a more sinister hidden goal--that being not to cleanse the world of magic, but to ensure that ''only'' the faction in question is allowed to wield it, hypocritically gathering it all in its hands. In this case, the magic is restricted to its [[EliteMook elite followers]] or just the leaders.