Limits of Magic

Hermetic magic is subject to various limits that even the most powerful and most sophisticated spell can not overcome.

Limit of the Divine

This limit states that hermetic magic can never override the power of the Divine.

Limit of Essential Nature

This limit states that all things have an essential nature that can not be changed by hermetic magic.

Lesser Limits

There are lesser limits that, unlike the two fundamental limits above, may be overridden by powerful or sophisticated hermetic magic - at least temporarily, or to a lesser, incomplete degree.

The Limit of Aging
The Limit of Arcane Connections
The Limit of Creation
The Limit of Energy
The Limit of the Infernal
The Limit of Experience
The Limit of the Lunar Sphere
The Limit of the Soul
The Limit of Time
The Limit of True Feeling
The Limit of Vis
The Limit of Warping
The Limit of Magic Resistance

For the full text of the limits, see Ars Magica Definitive Edition, Chapter Seven: Hermetic Magic.

A Note on the Limits of Experience and Magic Resistance

The Limit of Experience and the Limit of Magic Resistance are not stated explicitly in the standard Fifth Edition core rulebook.

Houses of Hermes: Societates introduced the Limit of Experience: on page 68 it states that "...the creation [including transfer] of Abilities is currently beyond the limit of Hermetic understanding".

As explained by the Line Editor on several occasions, no tradition of magic should be able to grant universal Magic Resistance. This is the codified as the Limit of Magic Resistance in the Ars Magica Definitive Edition. Every tradition breaks a Lesser Limit in some way, and Hermetic Magic breaks it by allowing magic resistance against anything in the form of the Parma Magica, Aegis of the Hearth, and so on. Other Magical traditions should provide partial Magic Resistance at best. Note that non-Magical traditions, such as Divine or Infernal ones, may offer universal magic resistance.

Reference

ArM5, page 79

Legacy Page

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