Basic Trope: The ability to use magic is In the Blood of a certain species.
- Straight:
- Exaggerated:
- Only Nilthmaks with the gene for magic are able to use it.
- The Nilthmaks are so dependent on their magic that they have no technology.
- Downplayed:
- All species can use magic, but for the Nilthmaks, it's instinctive; all others have to learn it.
- Hybrids and descendants of Nilthmaks can also use magic.
- Justified: In the setting, different gods created different species and the Nilthmaks were created by god of magic.
- Inverted:
- The Nilthmaks are the only species unable to use magic.
- The Nilthmaks have innate Anti-Magic.
- Subverted: A human is shown using a magic spell.
- Double Subverted:
- The "human" was a Nilthmak in disguise.
- The "magic spell" was faked.
- Parodied: Any non-Nilthmak attempting to use magic is arrested.
- Zig Zagged:
- The Nilthmaks can use magic, but there are rules.
- Everyone can be taught ordinary wizardry, but only Nilthmaks can use their own sort of magic? which is actually inherited.
- Averted:
- The magic in the setting can be used by all species.
- There is no magic.
- Enforced: "Let's make this species special!"
- Lampshaded: "Why can't anyone else use our magic? It's unfair."
- Invoked: The Nilthmaks decide to keep their magic to themselves.
- Exploited: The human heroes Alice and Bob recruit a Nilthmak as a teammate.
- Defied: The Nilthmaks share their magic with the other species.
- Discussed: "No, magic isn't in our blood! Anyone can use it if they know how."
- Conversed: "So heroes' entire problem was that only Nilthmak could use magic - and they were the bad guys."
- Implied: It's never alluded to, but over the course of the story, the only people shown using magic are Nilthmak.
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