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Magic made words

Harry Potter Spells

Almost all the magic in the saga fits into one pseudo-Latin word and a flick of the wand. Here are the 30 spells that matter most to the story, from the Lumos anyone can learn to the three Unforgivable Curses.

Each entry says what the spell does, when it matters in the story and how hard it is, from one to five points.

Illustration of the spell Expelliarmus

Expelliarmus

Charm ●●○○○

Disarms the opponent, forcing their wand from their hand. Harry Potter's signature spell — used in his final duel with Voldemort. Often considered too gentle for war, but Harry refused to fight like Voldemort.

Illustration of the spell Lumos

Lumos

Charm ●○○○○

Produces a beam of light from the wand tip. Lumos Maxima creates a powerful burst illuminating a large area. One of the first spells most witches and wizards learn.

Illustration of the spell Expecto Patronum

Expecto Patronum

Charm ●●●●●

Conjures a Patronus to repel Dementors and Lethifolds. Requires thinking of a single, powerful happy memory. The corporeal Patronus — taking an animal form — is a sign of exceptional magical ability.

Illustration of the spell Alohomora

Alohomora

Charm ●○○○○

Unlocks doors and windows. One of the first spells Hermione Granger mastered — used to unlock the door to the corridor with the three-headed dog in their first year.

Illustration of the spell Wingardium Leviosa

Wingardium Leviosa

Charm ●●○○○

Levitates objects. The correct pronunciation — 'Levi-O-sa, not Levio-SA' — is among the most famous lines in wizarding history, courtesy of Hermione Granger correcting Ron Weasley.

Illustration of the spell Avada Kedavra

Avada Kedavra

Unforgivable Curse ●●●●●

The Killing Curse. Instantaneous death. No counter-curse exists. Its use carries a life sentence in Azkaban. Only Harry Potter has ever survived it — twice. A flash of green light.

Illustration of the spell Crucio

Crucio

Unforgivable Curse ●●●●●

The Cruciatus Curse. Inflicts unbearable, sustained pain. Requires genuine desire to cause suffering to work properly. The Longbottoms were tortured to permanent insanity by it.

Illustration of the spell Imperio

Imperio

Unforgivable Curse ●●●●●

Places the victim under the complete, blissful control of the caster. Many Death Eaters claimed at trial to have acted under it. Strong-willed wizards can resist — Harry did so in Year Four.

Illustration of the spell Stupefy

Stupefy

Jinx ●●○○○

Stuns the target, rendering them unconscious. The go-to combat spell of Dumbledore's Army and the Order of the Phoenix. Fires a flash of red light. Can be blocked by Protego.

Illustration of the spell Protego

Protego

Shield Charm ●●●○○

Creates an invisible magical shield that reflects minor to moderate jinxes. Protego Totalum protects entire areas. Protego Horribilis guards against Dark Magic specifically.

Illustration of the spell Accio

Accio

Summoning Charm ●●●○○

Summons objects to the caster from great distances. Harry used it to retrieve his Firebolt during the Triwizard Tournament's first task — a crucial improvisation against the Hungarian Horntail.

Illustration of the spell Obliviate

Obliviate

Memory Charm ●●●●○

Erases specific memories from the victim's mind. Hermione cast it on her own parents to protect them from Voldemort, sending them to Australia under false identities. She reversed it after the war.

Illustration of the spell Riddikulus

Riddikulus

Counter-Jinx ●●●○○

Forces a Boggart to take a humorous form, weakening and eventually destroying its power. Requires the caster to focus genuinely on something funny about their greatest fear.

Illustration of the spell Sectumsempra

Sectumsempra

Dark Spell ●●●●●

Causes deep, bleeding lacerations as if struck by an invisible sword. Invented by Severus Snape as a teenager. Harry used it against Draco in Year Six, nearly killing him, without knowing what it did.

Illustration of the spell Levicorpus

Levicorpus

Jinx ●●●●○

Hangs the victim upside down by their ankle. Invented by Snape as a student — and used against him by James Potter in one of Harry's most painful inherited memories.

Illustration of the spell Muffliato

Muffliato

Charm ●●●○○

Fills the ears of nearby people with an unidentifiable buzzing sound, preventing eavesdropping. Invented by Severus Snape as a teenager. The trio used it constantly during the Horcrux hunt.

Illustration of the spell Incendio

Incendio

Charm ●●○○○

Produces fire from the wand tip. Used to set things alight and by Hermione to destroy the Devil's Snare strangling Harry and Ron in Year One.

Illustration of the spell Aguamenti

Aguamenti

Charm ●●○○○

Conjures a jet of water from the wand. Dumbledore used it to douse the fire surrounding him and Harry in the Horcrux cave — and Harry attempted it, failing, to revive a collapsed Dumbledore.

Illustration of the spell Reparo

Reparo

Charm ●●○○○

Repairs broken objects to their original state. Cannot repair living things. Hermione used it constantly throughout their travels — mending everything from spectacles to tent poles.

Illustration of the spell Episkey

Episkey

Healing Spell ●●○○○

Heals minor injuries such as broken noses and split lips. Tonks used it on Harry after Draco broke his nose aboard the Hogwarts Express in Year Six.

Illustration of the spell Fidelius Charm

Fidelius Charm

Ancient Charm ●●●●●

Conceals a secret within a living person — the Secret Keeper. Only that person can reveal the information. Used to hide the Potters at Godric's Hollow. Peter Pettigrew was their Secret Keeper — not Sirius.

Illustration of the spell Apparition

Apparition

Transportation Magic ●●●●○

Wizarding teleportation. Requires Destination, Determination, and Deliberation. Splinching — leaving part of yourself behind — is a dangerous common error. Cannot be used inside Hogwarts.

Illustration of the spell Undetectable Extension Charm

Undetectable Extension Charm

Charm ●●●●●

Extends the interior of a container far beyond its exterior dimensions. Hermione applied it to her beaded bag, which contained camping supplies, books, Potions ingredients, and the Sword of Gryffindor.

Illustration of the spell Priori Incantatem

Priori Incantatem

Magical Effect ●●●●●

When two wands sharing a core are forced to duel, one reverses its spells — producing echoes of the last spells cast. Harry and Voldemort's wands produced this, forcing echoes of Voldemort's victims to appear.

Illustration of the spell Confundo

Confundo

Charm ●●●○○

Causes the target to become confused and act erratically. Hermione cast it on a Quidditch player in Year Six. Barty Crouch Jr. used it on the Goblet of Fire to ensure Harry's selection.

Illustration of the spell Petrificus Totalus

Petrificus Totalus

Jinx ●●●○○

The Full Body-Bind Curse — causes the victim's body to snap to attention and freeze completely. Hermione used it on Neville in Year One when he tried to stop them. Neville was still awarded 10 points for courage.

Illustration of the spell Nox

Nox

Charm ●○○○○

Extinguishes the light produced by Lumos or Lumos Maxima. The counter-charm to all light-producing spells. Simple but essential — particularly useful for avoiding detection in darkness.

Illustration of the spell Legilimens

Legilimens

Dark Art ●●●●●

Allows the caster to extract memories, feelings, and thoughts from another mind. Snape used it on Harry during their Occlumency lessons. Voldemort was naturally one of the greatest Legilimens in history.

Illustration of the spell Occlumency

Occlumency

Mental Defense ●●●●●

The magical defense of the mind against external penetration. The counter to Legilimency. Snape taught it to Harry — badly, or perhaps deliberately. Draco demonstrated natural ability, deceiving Snape himself.

Illustration of the spell Morsmordre

Morsmordre

Dark Mark ●●●●●

Conjures the Dark Mark — a skull with a serpent tongue — in the sky, signaling that Voldemort or his Death Eaters have struck. Its appearance above a location announces death and terror.

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