History Main / MilitaryMage

* '''OneManArmy''': The most powerful of military wizards don't even need the rest of the army to back them up. They're the ones you send in when nobody else can get it done, and the {{Muggles}} are sent against lower-priority targets or relegated to mop-up duty. The only possible counters to such a powerful spell-slinger are an entire army full of {{Muggles}} (and even that might not work, certainly not without [[WeHaveReserves heavy losses]]), an elite squad of {{Mage Killer}}s, or [[BeatThemAtTheirOwnGame an equally powerful wizard]].

* '''{{Support|PartyMember}}''': Support mages tend to stay out of the fighting proper. Instead, they make the {{Muggle}} soldiers around them ''better''. {{White Mage}}s may act as [[TheMedic medics]] to get the wounded back in fighting shape more quickly than conventional medicine could, often back on the field before the battle has even ended. They may cast {{Status Buff}}s or beneficial auras that make their allies faster, stronger, and more resilient. [[UltimateBlacksmith Magical artificers]] may keep an entire army supplied with enchanted arms and armor. Other mages work strictly in [[EasyLogistics logistics]], magically facilitating easy communication between units through {{Telepathy}}, obviating the need for supply lines [[{{Teleportation}} by teleporting in food and supplies, or even transporting whole armies where they need to be]].

Compare SuperSoldier, which is someone specifically augmented by the military to make them a better soldier, ChurchMilitant, which may employ these if ReligionIsMagic. Compare MagicKnight and MageMarksman, which involve magic-users also adept with conventional weaponry but who may or may not be a formal part of an organized military. When a conflict consists entirely or almost entirely of wizards throwing magic at one another, then you've got a WizardsWar.

* ''Anime/IzettaTheLastWitch'': Izetta is a witch fighting on the front lines of a FantasyConflictCounterpart to World War II, assisting the defense of the tiny Alpine nation of Eylstadt against the invading Germanian Empire (occasionally aiding resistance forces in occupied countries). She's not officially part of the military, but she's personally loyal to Eylstadt's archduchess, and is heavily propagandized as a sort of living superweapon capable of routing the invincible Germanian army. Which she kind of is. A PersonOfMassDestruction, it eventually becomes clear that [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatOpposition her power is so great it's viewed as a threat even by the Allies.]]

* ''Anime/IzettaTheLastWitch'': Izetta is a witch fighting on the front lines of a FantasyCounterpartConflict to World War II, assisting the defense of the tiny Alpine nation of Eylstadt against the invading Germanian Empire (occasionally aiding resistance forces in occupied countries). She's not officially part of the military, but she's personally loyal to Eylstadt's archduchess, and is heavily propagandized as a sort of living superweapon capable of routing the invincible Germanian army. Which she kind of is. A PersonOfMassDestruction, it eventually becomes clear that [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatOpposition her power is viewed as a threat]] even by the Allies.

** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' Students of Military Academy cum Mercenary Organisation Balamb Garden learn to use magic in a process called Para-Magic, similar to the Materia from the previous entry above; of all the Gardens Balamb is the only one that follows this practice. Once they graduate it is common for these Students to move onto Military postings. Due to the variety of magic on offer they can fulfill several roles; Artillery (elemental Black Magic), Support (White Magic for healing and buffs, some Black Magic for debuffs) and Intelligence (Scan to decipher enemy strengths and weaknesses). Also good enough to qualify for the Special Forces category given some of the Black Ops work they sometimes get.

Compare SuperSoldier, which is someone specifically augmented by the military to make them a better soldier, ChurchMilitant, which may employ these if ReligionIsMagic. Compare MagicKnight and MageMarksman, which involve magic-users also adept with conventional weaponry but who may or may not be a formal part of an organized military.

** While he is largely preoccupied with being a SorcerousOverlord, Emperor Palpatine uses his own Force powers largely for military intelligence, basing his military strategies on what he has foreseen with his Force clairvoyance. He's fully capable of [[RankScalesWithAsskicking throwing down]] when the need arises, it's just that it seldom does after he solidifies his political power. In ''Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy'' Thrawn also believes that he subtly controlled Imperial personnel without them knowing it, making them more effective during battle (not always, but with battles Palpatine personally oversaw). Thrawn claims that after he died at the [[Film/ReturnOfTheJedi Battle of Endor]] this influence disappearing meant the Imperial fleet there fell into disarray and were defeated, despite superior numbers.

** While he is largely preoccupied with being a SorcerousOverlord, Emperor Palpatine uses his own Force powers largely for military intelligence, basing his military strategies on what he has foreseen with his Force clairvoyance. He's fully capable of [[RankScalesWithAsskicking throwing down]] when the need arises, it's just that it seldom does after he solidifies his political power.

* ''Franchise/FireEmblem'': The armies featured often have magic users among their ranks as ranged attackers or using very powerful artillery spells that can be used from across the game map. ''VideoGame/FireEmblemElibe'' is particularly notable for having one of the highest military positions in the kingdom of Etruria being that of the Mage General.