Fantasy Wizards: A Popular Cornerstone of the Genre

Another lifestyle wizards have is a deep thirst for knowledge. They read books all the time to learn new spells or unlock new abilities or skills that might prove useful down the road. They constantly scour the world, searching for books lost to the passage of time that might help them gain the knowledge they’ve been yearning for or to retrieve them before they wind up falling in the wrong hands.

In some worlds, socialization is key to success for fantasy wizards. They interact with people on a daily basis — think of the Harry Potter series where the people of that world converse with other magical folk or the muggles — and these interactions affect how the story unfolds. They develop friendships that pay off down the road, especially when the world faces an existential threat from the forces of darkness.

In other worlds, wizards are major players on the stage. While not representing a country officially, they have their own goals and plot their moves accordingly. Every single decision they make whether it is speaking with a nation’s leader or authorizing a clandestine mission to retrieve a powerful artifact is strategic. Gandalf and Dumbledore are prime examples of this since they’re playing the long game, knowing that it is just a matter of time before Sauron and Voldemort returns, and they work overtime to maximize their moves while minimizing that of their enemies.

Due to them holding influential positions in the world, wizards are seen as leaders, even if they are independent agents. The everyday folk look to them for guidance and counsel and even the mightiest king seeks out their wisdom. They provide them with sage advice — even if they don’t want to hear it — as well as advise them on how to proceed if they are full of doubt.

All fantasy wizards have their own agenda. Some consider themselves mere servants of a higher power whereas others are more ambitious, seeking greater glory for themselves. The former works to implement their superior’s will like Gandalf the White, a stark contrast to the latter where they want the power to rule over all. They all use their own skills to their advantage in order to advance their agenda at the expense of that of their enemies.

Wizards come with all types of powers that they use to devastating effect. For instance, fire wizards can rain fire upon the battlefield whereas their malevolent counterparts use black magic to instantly pulverize their enemies. Their powers enable them to dramatically shift the tide of a battle in one direction or another. The destruction they generate on the battlefield can have some lasting effects that persist for a long time.