Best wizard/mage/magic user in fiction

[Neonsilver]

I'm... Gonna have to go with...

Spoiler: Tom Marvolo Riddle.

In the first book, he's Voldemort. Your generic cookie-cutter dark wizard. Meh. But in the later books... He is fleshed out and becomes... Much more interesting. ESPECIALLY in the Half-blood Prince where they delve into his entire history. Where you learn how he grew up. How he handled and overcame so many situations through his cunning and power to get what he wanted. How he inspired and got others to follow him. How he kept them all in line and made his mark on history and in the minds of everyone he met... It's just so interesting to me to read and to think about. He may have been a demonic evil bastard who got what was coming to him but there is no denying... He was legendary.

I wouldn't consider him cunning. He is probably powerful, but he lacks common sense like many other people in the books and that shows in a few of his plans.

Spoiler: To add someone that wasn't mentioned yet, Auraya from the Age of the Five Trilogy.

At the conclusion of the story she is one of a handful of magic users who reached immortality with her own power, killed gods and could ascend to godhood if she wanted to.

 

[Fappy]

While the years of experience would give it to Belgarath, and many consider him the best of the best, his grandson Belgarion is leagues more powerful in raw Talent, and further still with the Orb. About the only thing past them is the Gods themselves in terms of what they can do with the Will and the Word.

All that said I think Polgara is my favorite of the three. She does the badass mother-figure shtick so well XD

EDIT:

-Snip-

Ninja'd

 

[Arnoxthe1]

I wouldn't consider him cunning. He is probably powerful, but he lacks common sense like many other people in the books and that shows in a few of his plans.

Could you give me some examples of what you're talking about exactly?

 

[Neonsilver]

During goblet of fire his plan to get Harry for his ritual is to force him to compete in a deadly tournament. Harry could have died during those tasks, that would have compromised his ritual, someone else could have reached the end of the third task before him, again that would have compromised his ritual. If Harry decided that he doesn't have to actually try to win the tournament, it would have jeopardized the plan as well. Harry could have just ignore the tournament and just not participate.
Here is an alternative, he could have left Harry in peace and have his follower just kidnap the brat when the ritual was ready. The tournament itself would have worked perfect as a distraction of that kidnapping, add some sabotage to create some chaos during those tasks and it would have been even better.
If I missed something that made Harrys participation necessary please tell me, I can't think of anything.

Another thing would have been his actions during the chamber of secret. If he had just laid low and waited until Ginny was dead, his resurrection probably would have succeeded in that book already. I ask myself what he would have done if the authorities had taken appropriate measures to find whoever has been attacking the students.

Another small thing that comes to mind would be the end of the order of the phoenix. He was hiding and preparing his own forces and then he starts a fight in the middle of the ministry?

Those are the biggest things that come to mind right now. Don't ask me about the 6. or 7. book, I know them in general but I lost interest in the series gradually after the fourth book.

 

[Chaos James]

While the years of experience would give it to Belgarath, and many consider him the best of the best, his grandson Belgarion is leagues more powerful in raw Talent, and further still with the Orb. About the only thing past them is the Gods themselves in terms of what they can do with the Will and the Word.

All that said I think Polgara is my favorite of the three. She does the badass mother-figure shtick so well XD

EDIT:

-Snip-

Ninja'd

Of course she does that shtick so well, years of practice ;D

XD That aside, I agree that Polgara is a great and interesting character, and she definitely is very gifted with the Talent and has a sharp and precise mind. Unfortunately I'd wager her father has her beat, though as the First Disciple and having a good head-start makes that natural. Belgarion is still likely the most powerful though.

She most certainly has Belgarath beat in Flying though, XD.

I will say, as fascinating and enjoyable Belgarath the Sorcerer was to read though, I find Polgara the Sorceress to be much more personal and good to read, perhaps because of the shorter timespan to recount and the more depth we're giving and emotion invested in her duty.

 

[Fappy]

While the years of experience would give it to Belgarath, and many consider him the best of the best, his grandson Belgarion is leagues more powerful in raw Talent, and further still with the Orb. About the only thing past them is the Gods themselves in terms of what they can do with the Will and the Word.

All that said I think Polgara is my favorite of the three. She does the badass mother-figure shtick so well XD

EDIT:

-Snip-

Ninja'd

Of course she does that shtick so well, years of practice ;D

XD That aside, I agree that Polgara is a great and interesting character, and she definitely is very gifted with the Talent and has a sharp and precise mind. Unfortunately I'd wager her father has her beat, though as the First Disciple and having a good head-start makes that natural. Belgarion is still likely the most powerful though.

She most certainly has Belgarath beat in Flying though, XD.

I will say, as fascinating and enjoyable Belgarath the Sorcerer was to read though, I find Polgara the Sorceress to be much more personal and good to read, perhaps because of the shorter timespan to recount and the more depth we're giving and emotion invested in her duty.

I still haven't read beyond the main series. Eventually I will get around to reading The Malloreon and the other two books

 

[Super Cyborg]

I agree with a humble sir from a town called Awesometon. First that Wizards are for noobs, and that the greatest sorcerer of all time was Abraham Lincoln.

If I had to go with something else it would be Elize from both Tales of Xilia games. She is mostly a healer, but later she gets some devastating magical attacks. Factor in her less than threatening looks, you got a little girl who will kick your ass if you aren't careful.

 

[WhiteWolfe]

Harry Dresden, because he looks at weight classes and laughs in their fucking faces.

Seriously, most of the time it's like a high school kid going against Mike Tyson, George Foreman, and Macho Man Randy Savage in the ring at the same time and yet still coming out on top.

 

[carnex]

This little psycho

Should come with warning "handle with care, explodes easily, rips universe apart"

But I'm really partial to Pug from Riftwar Saga. Yes, he end up total OP but the trip is so great it doesn't matter

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

Vin. Vin from the Mistborn Trilogy...

Mistborn sees an interesting take on a magic system where certain people can 'burn' injested metals to give them powers. Most cannot burn, those that can nearly all can only burn 1 metal. Vin is a Mistborn... along with select few hidden about the world she can burn all of them... This is of course a traditional set up of a powerful character that we can follow... but it's not just that.

Vin's prowess and ability to learn with the metal not only makes her physically deadly, but also makes it a delight to read. The detail of her split second decision making... her learning as she does and her sure determination makes the action scenes in this book have all the finnesse of a modern martial arts film. Reading her movements as she shoots around the battlespace, killing chaotic creatures triple her size, and out manoeuvring the other Mistborns is awesome! It makes it even better when she has an ally, and you see how they differ. How clumsy they are with their power, relying more on brute force and starp flares of power which Vin had learnt her way past.

 

[Oinodaemon]

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.

Yeah...that guy. Also, Lina Inverse. She regularly blows up cities with her Dragon Slave and the Giga Slave spell is capable of tearing the Universe apart.

 

[ffronw]

I came here to see Harry Dresden, and you magnificent bastards did not disappoint.

The thing I love about Dresden is the dichotomy between the two worlds he inhabits. In the everyday world, he's a shabby guy who always wears a duster and can barely pay his rent. But in the magic world, he goes from practicing wizard to "guy who's taken out multiple world-destroying threats" in almost no time.

Plus, the way that Harry is always outclassed but never seems to give up is endearing, and he isn't the hero who goes into battle, beats everyone, and comes out unscathed. He gets beaten half to death on multiple occasions. In the end, it turns out he was working (and thinking) on multiple levels at once. He's a super complex character.

Really, no one else comes close.

 

[Yuuki]

Awww no mention of Archmage Khadgar from Warcraft/WoW?

Arcane, fire, frost, time stopping, conjuring, you name it

 

[Childe]

So many to choose from its hard to pick my favorite. Kvothe is up there without a doubt. Tris from the Necromancer Chronicles as well. But I think my favorite is Esrahaddon (probably close in spelling) from the Rhryria Chronicles (i spelled that wrong sorry). Dudes a 1,000 year old Wizard that had his hands chopped off and yet still pulls of the enigmatic wizard style

 

[Ihrgoth]

I would say Fizban however that would be cheating as Fizban is a god. Then I would say Raeslin, he is super powerful. Or Luthien, she defeated a god in a magic duel in The Silmarillion.

 

[Eddie the head]

Awww no mention of Archmage Khadgar from Warcraft/WoW?

Arcane, fire, frost, time stopping, conjuring, you name it

You mean that ass hole who was dismounting people in Stormwind for months? Fuck that guy.

 

[sageoftruth]

Doctor Orpheus! For a mere whisper from his lips can open your mind to a world of arcane tortures!

That's barely the tip of the iceberg for him. The best part about him is the fact that ominous music plays whenever he speaks.

 

[Scy Anide]

Gotta stick with a classic:

From his profile:

Spoiler

Crowley is said to have more than 100 runes on his body. His magical abilities far surpass anyone else known in the world. His abilities are clearly beyond Mazus, his rival, as well. He has never owned a True Rune and doesn't wish to own one, because his research is concentrated on achieving True Rune powers without the use of a True Rune. It is rumored that he has existed a lot longer than his age suggests.

From his duel with Mazus:

Spoiler

During a duel that took place over a hundred years ago, the force of their duel leveled three mountains and evaporated a lake, what remains of that duel is said to be the desolate Karakas Desert which covers 70% of the Senan Area.

 

[Davroth]

So due to recent events, I feel inclined to say it's this lady for me:

She's incredibly competent, she's arguably the smartest schemer in the Discworld, and an undeniable force for good to be reckoned with. And, maybe my favourite part, she only uses magic when she has to, even though her powers are tremendous when pushed to use them.

 

[Pete Oddly]

My main man, Harry Blackstone Copperfield "Stars and Stones" Dresden has been mentioned several times, so good on you guys.

Also; this ************ right here:

Summon a god parasite and attempt to kill it one-on-one simply to avenge your sister? Badass.