Best wizard/mage/magic user in fiction

[likalaruku]

In America, Dumbledore, Merlin, & Gandalf.

In Japan, Lina Inverse & Orphen.

 

[Gatx]

Spoiler: The only right answer

Okay but for real Emiya Kiritsugu is pretty badass. He knows magic but is also practical and doesn't rely on it for everything.

Spoiler

 

[LaoJim]

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.

Having already had the Rincewind and the Faculty of the Unseen University mentioned, Sir Terry would have been rolling in his grave if Esme Weatherwax had not been mentioned. Her being overlooked would have been a criminal example of the kind of toxic masculinity that plagues the magic using community. It's about ethics in advanced thaumotological use![footnote]No, the fact that other posters have mentioned similarly skilled female identifying practitioners from other series is not relevant here, we're cherry-picking examples, dagnamit! Do keep up at the back.[/footnote]

Spoiler: Anyway, Pratchett has hinted that there is one who is even more powerful that Granny, but she's always been too clever to let Granny know it

 

[Davroth]

Spoiler: Anyway, Pratchett has hinted that there is one who is even more powerful that Granny, but she's always been too clever to let Granny know it

Well if we go by raw power, Coin would probably take the cake. Sourcery is hard to beat.

 

[LaoJim]

Spoiler: Anyway, Pratchett has hinted that there is one who is even more powerful that Granny, but she's always been too clever to let Granny know it

Well if we go by raw power, Coin would probably take the cake. Sourcery is hard to beat.

Fair point, although we both know if they ever went head to head, Coin would be bent over Granny knee/eating out Nanny's hand within two pages.

Why don't we define "best" to mean "most fun to be around"?

 

[Davroth]

Spoiler: Anyway, Pratchett has hinted that there is one who is even more powerful that Granny, but she's always been too clever to let Granny know it

Well if we go by raw power, Coin would probably take the cake. Sourcery is hard to beat.

Fair point, although we both know if they ever went head to head, Coin would be bent over Granny knee/eating out Nanny's hand within two pages.

Why don't we define "best" to mean "most fun to be around"?

For what it's worth, I think Granny Weatherwax is more fun to watch do her job then to be around. In this case, I define "best" as "the most awesome" rather then the most powerful.