Best wizard/mage/magic user in fiction

[Fox12]

A while ago I did a thread on the best fictional swordsman, but even then I had a followup thread I wanted to create. Whose the best fictional magic user?

I was sorely tempted to choose Gandalf. He wrestled a Balrog, comforted those in need, and generally behaved like a badass at all time. However, after some thought I have decided that there is one far greater.

Spoiler

What she lacks in power she more then makes up for in courage and heart, and she's swiftly become one of my favorite characters of all time. She brings a new perspective to the often bleak world of Berserk, and her friendship with Guts is endlessly fascinating, as her sheltered naivete meshes well with his stark cynicism.

Spoiler

Who is your favorite magic user in fiction?

 

[Casual Shinji]

Who are you kidding..? You're just making these threads so you can talk about Berserk so more.

What's next, 'Best Skeletal Themed Horseman in Fiction'?

 

[The Lunatic]

Spoiler: I think the answer is really quite obvious if you think about it.

Though, I'm not terribly sure if I'd describe him as a "Magic User" magic just seems to occasionally use him, whenever the mood takes it.

 

[Fox12]

Who are you kidding..? You're just making these threads so you can talk about Berserk so more.

What's next, 'Best Skeletal Themed Horsemen in Fiction'?

...

No

Best blue haired mercenary leaders who sold their soul to the human subconscious idea of evil in return for fame and success. I was gonna give it to this thing.

Spoiler

To be fair, I was actually being serious when I made this thread. I can't help it if Berserk knocks it out of the park in every category. Gandalf's still pretty cool. I mean, he's not schierke, but then again, who is?

 

[Chessrook44]

Well see, that all depends on what you count as "Best". Do you mean the mage with the most power? The mage with the most skill? The mage with the most intelligence and knowledge of how to use his power? The mage with the most discipline? The mage with the widest variety of abilities? The mage with the highest morals?

 

[Fox12]

Well see, that all depends on what you count as "Best". Do you mean the mage with the most power? The mage with the most skill? The mage with the most intelligence and knowledge of how to use his power? The mage with the most discipline? The mage with the widest variety of abilities? The mage with the highest morals?

In this case, I think it just comes down to whose your favorite. In terms of power, I'd probably say Gandalf, since he's essentially an angel (even if he is a neutered one). Obi-Wan probably wins for best mentor. Big Hat Logan probably takes the category for most pimpin' headware.

 

[kris40k]

No Raistlin yet, really?

Physically crippled guy goes through all kinds of crap in life, including various adventures saving the world, manages to achieve the power to kill all the gods, and then changes his mind saves everyone, again.

Best Bros

Spoiler

 

[Starbird]

Before the wanky reboot. One of the best characters ever made and longest running series that never became awful.

 

[FalloutJack]

Before the wanky reboot. One of the best characters ever made and longest running series that never became awful.

Oh, that's good pick. He may not always have all the greatest skills or even the best ideas or necessarily all the materials he may need on a daily basis (runs out of cigs), but he's definitely good at adapting on the fly, hitting the ground running, and coming out on top in the world of magic. And John's DEFINITELY aces for personality.

 

[Eddie the head]

The only two that come to mind are Lews Therin form wheel of time and Gandalf. I'm going with Gandalf at least he didn't go insane and kill everyone he knew.

 

[Objectable]

There are only three words that need to be said here
Harry.
http://www.agentsofguard.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/dresden_sketch_3.jpg
Motherfucking.
http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/1/10837/1691069-dresden_wttj_excerpt_page_1.jpg
Dresden
http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1248964599329.jpg

 

[DocJ]

I don't know if they specifically count but...Yeah, they probably do. Alicia Melchiott and Selvaria Bles from Valkyria Chronicles. Anyone who has seen the anime or played the games will know what kind of power the 'Valkyrians' wield. Out of the two of these I have to go with Selvaria, because she can control her power and has honed it more.
To give examples, Selvaria has managed to split an incoming bullet in two with naught but an ordinary sword. She also deflected and shrugged off Anti-Tank rounds like they were spitballs.

 

[Fox12]

Gota go with steven strange sorcerer supreme, title says it all realy. In respone to OP but slight off topicness berserk for me got realy dull when guts put on the black armor, he has every reason to remove it aswell but for some stupid reason wont, man that piss's me off no end.

I think, at this point, he really needs it. He's certainly stronger (maybe a little too strong for my liking), and he needs that if he wants to win.

At a certain point, you're either invested in Guts, casca, and schierke, and you keep reading, or you're not. For me it got boring when Guts and friends got on a boat, and they never got off. It's been years, I mean really.

 

[Seishisha]

I think, at this point, he really needs it. He's certainly stronger (maybe a little too strong for my liking), and he needs that if he wants to win.

At a certain point, you're either invested in Guts, casca, and schierke, and you keep reading, or you're not. For me it got boring when Guts and friends got on a boat, and they never got off. It's been years, I mean really.

Yeah i get what your saying but the armor stinks of lazy writing and goes against pretty much everything the character has done or been through in the past, seriously gut's never relied on anything other than his skill and his commrades before even when he was a teenage mercenary, to suddenly change his character like than and give him the armor dependancy is pretty lame.

The boat saga, yeah its long and im still waiting for the obvious reveal that puck IS the fairy king or the kings son or somthing.

 

[spartan231490]

Rand al Thor is the only one I know of who rewrote the fabric of reality, and in so doing defeated the devil, so I'll go with him.

I'm also disappointed to see Gandalf in the running. Sure, he was a psuedo angel, but the extent of his magical abilities are talking to animals, creating napalm pinecones, and shooting rays of light. Not one of these is beyond the power of a 9th level druid in dnd.

That isn't his fault, Gandalf is awesome, but LoTR was very low magic fantasy, and Gandalf suffered for that.

 

[DoPo]

There are only three words that need to be said here
Harry.

Motherfucking.

Dresden

YEAH! I second this. I still maintain that the most awesome scene was when he caused a frozen turkey to fall from the sky and kill a vampire[footnote]Not entirely his plan, but still.[/footnote]. In the middle of a fight amongst vampires. This was shocking enough for everybody to stop and stare at the turkey. How did Harry capitalise on that moment? By saying "For my next trick: anvils.".

 

[DoPo]

Gota go with steven strange sorcerer supreme, title says it all realy. In respone to OP but slight off topicness berserk for me got realy dull when guts put on the black armor, he has every reason to remove it aswell but for some stupid reason wont, man that piss's me off no end.

You! Why did you time travel until after I posted? Wait

[sub][sub][sub]I know it's due to daylight savings, but I thought it'd be funny. Because we're in a thread about wizards, you know[/sub][/sub][/sub]

 

[Seishisha]

You! Why did you time travel until after I posted? Wait
-snip-

[sub][sub][sub]I know it's due to daylight savings, but I thought it'd be funny. Because we're in a thread about wizards, you know[/sub][/sub][/sub]

Time is warped and space in bendable, the laws of pyshics got nothing on me.

*Edit bad spelling however nothing i can do about that.

 

[DoPo]

bad spelling however nothing i can do about that.

You mean you cast bad spells? No wonder you're back to the present suddenly. If I was a wizard, I'd totally be next Thursday by now.

 

[Seishisha]

Gota go with steven strange sorcerer supreme, title says it all realy. In respone to OP but slight off topicness berserk for me got realy dull when guts put on the black armor, he has every reason to remove it aswell but for some stupid reason wont, man that piss's me off no end.