Manhwa With The Best Magic Systems

Over time, the concept of magic has proven to combine well with any medium of entertainment, movies, anime, and manga alike. Manhwa has also shown to be no exception to this rule, as the medium has gained a dedicated following for its fantasy genre and magical theme.

Often featuring a richly detailed world where magic is a central element and its use varied, magical systems in manhwas are typically characterized by their complexity, consistency, and an element of structure, which offers readers an immersive experience as regards the rules and limitations of the magical world. From elemental magic to enchantments, these manhwa creatively explore the possibilities of magic, creating a sense of wonder and excitement for readers. Below are some manhwa with the best magical systems.

Updated on January 5th, 2025, by Emedo Destiny: While the number of fantasy manhwa is increasing by the day, not all of them feature an expansive magic system. Like diamonds in the rough, these manhwa can be considered the crowning jewels of the magic subgenre of manhwa. From tales set in fantasy medieval times to stories told in modern society fused with the fantasy element of magic and all that comes with it. As such, here are some of the best manhwa with the best magic systems.

12

The Academy’s Undercover Professor

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.2 / 5

• Creator(s): Sayren, WAG
• Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Drama, Action
• No. of Chapters: 99 (Ongoing)

A story that is told from the perspective of a protagonist whose true identity is never revealed, having lived a prior life as an ordinary citizen of modern-day Korea. Other than the identity of those whom he steals, The Academy’s Undercover Professor follows the life of newly appointed Professor Cherish Ludger, only that the real Cherish Ludger loses his life aboard a train that terrorists attack.

The series employs a less than cohesive but simply effective magic system, where magic can only be used in three ways, mainly through spells, Mudras or hand signs as they are called, and a casting process. However, for Spells, magic is further divided into three classes: manifestation, summoning, and unique magic. While this is a general classification, the different classes are also manifested in various ways, including a mix of elemental magic. According to the series, the elements are numbered ten. These are Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Plants, Metal, Lightning, Ice, Darkness and Light elements.

11

Revenge of The Baskerville Hound

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.3 / 5

• Creator(s): Lego Babasseo, Seol Arang
• Genre: Action, Fantasy
• No. of Chapters: 92 (Ongoing)

In the Revenge of the Baskerville BloodHound series, reincarnation is molded into a sweet, cold tale of revenge as it follows the life of the central character, Vikir Van Baskerville. He finds himself betrayed by the family patriarch whom he served so faithfully in his initial life. Granted another chance and a new life, Vikir sets his sights on revenge on the Baskerville Household, starting with its patriarch, Hugo Le Baskerville.

As for power systems, the series employs multiple systems of power, using both a sword and magic system. In the series, magic power is measured through circles, as mages are ranked into seven circles. A mage’s circle number is directly proportionate to the amount of mana they are able to store within their bodies. Therefore, the more mana a mage can contain, the higher the rank in magic circles, with the highest achieved in the series being the seventh circle.

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10

My Blasted Reincarnated Life

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.2 / 5

• Creator(s): Park Jeongyeol, Mongma
• Genre: Action, Fantasy
• No. of Chapters: 81 (Ongoing)

Imagine being regarded as a near-unparalleled genius warrior, only to die and be reincarnated as the direct descendant of your most formidable rival, partner, and friend. Life should get really good again. This is the story of the warrior Hamel, who finds himself reincarnated as Eugene Lionheart, the direct descendant of his fellow warrior, the Great Vermouth. Like any other fantasy series, the series is complete with all the elements required, especially magic.

Interestingly, the series’ magic system is as simple as they come, with magic being quantified by mana and classified into four categories, namely, common magic (magic that anyone with the correct mana quantity can use), signature magic (specifically tailored magic unique to its caster), holy magic (magic only used by believers of the god of light) and contract magic (magic used by contracting with a spirit medium). While the categories obviously have different sub-divisions and branches, the series does an impressive job of adequately fitting any such deviations under the umbrella of these four magic types, making it an easily traceable system.

9

Kubera

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.0 / 5

• Creator(s): Currygom
• Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy, Drama, Romance
• No. of Chapters: 635 (Ongoing)

Kubera presents a tale defined by the transcendent powers of immortal gods and otherworldly entities called Suras, as well as the helpless race of humans caught in the constant power struggles between these two factions of extraordinary entities. As for the magic system deployed in the series, the ability to use magic applies only to humans, as the gods and suras do not need such. Unlike them, humans are able to manifest magic by borrowing powers from either a god or suras, specifically, beings called nastikas.

This brings the series’ magic classification to two major classes: Divine magic (borrowed powers from a god) and Fiendish magic (powers borrowed from a nastika). The classes are further subdivided, with divine magic sub-classified into five categories: Hoti, Bhavati, Idha Etu, Fusion, and Silent Magic. Fiendish magic, on the other hand, is sub-divided into two classes: Sanyoga and Sanvega magic. While most of the terms are unconventional, the series’s magic system is relatively easy to follow, making the story an easy but equally intense and entertaining read.

8

The Infinite Mage

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.2 / 5

• Creator(s): Themis, Kim Chiwoo
• Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
• No. of Chapters: 79 (Ongoing)

The Infinite Mage series employs a rather simple but simultaneously complex magic system. The series follows the protagonist’s life, Arian Shirone after he is abandoned as a baby in a stable. Found by a family of hunters, Shirone is raised as one of their own, and through his childhood, Shirone nurtures an obsession for books, particularly ones about magic and its history. Thus, beginning his venture into the world of magic.

In the series, magic can only be performed through the concept of a Spirit Zone, which is the domain of the magic user, where in which the user is more or less a god and can manipulate his domain according to his abilities. The size of a mage’s domain zone reflects the mage’s power, and it is measured in diameter and density. Further, magic used for combat and for swordsmen and knights is classified as Schema, which is essentially a way to enhance the user’s physical abilities and can go up from one schema to the sixth schema.

7

Lout of the Count’s Family

Anime-Planet Rating: 4. 3 / 5

• Creator(s): Yu Ryeo Han, PAN4
• Genre: Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Comedy
• No. of Chapters: 133 (Ongoing)

Magic meets reincarnation in the Lout of the Count’s Family series, as the story’s protagonist, Kim Roksu’s life is forever altered when he is reincarnated into the novel The Birth of a Hero, a book he fell asleep reading. Now reborn as the minor villain, Cale Henituse, Kim Roksu is desperate to avoid his looming fate as a villain. As a fantasy series, the series employs the concept of magic in a fascinating and organized fashion, as it uses a magic system, albeit simplistic, but also rather comprehensive.

Classified as mana in the series, there are two types: normal mana and dead mana. Dead mana can only be used by races with the attribute of darkness, and they are a natural enemy to the races using normal mana. Mana users in the series are classified further into ranks that indicate their varied power levels, which are the low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, and grand-grade tiers. Leaving aside its easy-to-comprehend magical power systems, the series does a good job of its overall application of magic.

6

Trump

Anime-Planet Rating: 3.8 / 5

• Creator(s): Lee Chaaeun
• Genre: Drama, Fantasy
• No. of Chapters: 400

The Trump series employs a rather convoluted use of magic, but it is nonetheless practical. The series follows the life of the central character, Hiasen, a child who can manipulate objects from reality in his dreams in a world where magic is commonplace. Having lived without his father, Hiasen has his wish granted during Melly Day, when all children under 14 have their wishes granted.

However, with this wish, Hiasen sees his reality change forever. The series introduces magic through mana, specifically stated to be a blessing from the Creator that allows people to manifest magic. Mana is categorized into three: science, miracle, and arche. Each category is further declassified into other types. While there are categories, mana has two forms: natural and innate. Leaving the forms, mana is also graded in eleven grades, from 0-10, and it is measured in three ways: Absoluteness, Realization, and Stability. So, while the series’ magical system proves complex, this complexity gives the story a thrilling edge.

5

I am the Sorcerer King

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.0 / 5

• Creator(s): Decaspell, Miro
• Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
• No. of Chapters: 143

I am The Sorcerer King presents a hierarchical system of magic in its premise as it follows the unfortunate but thrilling life of the protagonist, Lee Sunghoon, who is nothing but a victim of the vastly changing times. Powerless to an alien invasion that threatens to destroy Earth, Sunghoon is only concerned about his mother’s failing health, forcing him to take on the dangerous job of being used as bait to hunt monsters.

Only when he is on the brink of death does he realize the truth of his existence. The series presents a rather coherent and simplistic magical system through the use of mana. In the series, mana users are categorized into ranks, from 1 through to 10, with a mana user being at rank 10, basically classifying as a Wizard God as they’d have to possess infinite mana.

4

The Swordmaster’s Youngest Son

Anime-Planet Rating: 4. 2 / 5

• Creator(s): Hwangje Penguin, Lee Jewon
• Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
• No. of Chapters: 118 (Ongoing)

The Swordmaster’s Youngest Son premises a relatively convenient overall combat system, including swordsmanship and magic. The story revolves around the central character, Jin Runcandel, who is given the opportunity of another life after living an unfortunate first one that sees him get banished from the Runcandel household and ultimately murdered by a vengeful older brother.

The series, as earlier stated, employs a convenient combat system that includes magic. According to the story, magic is only manifested through mana and the more mana a character has, the higher the rank for such a character, and the ranking system is classified in stars. The range is from 1-Star to 8-Stars, with the series’ most powerful magician being the head of the Zipple family, another prestigious household in opposition to the Runcandel family.

3

Return of the 8th Class Magician

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.1 / 5

• Creator(s): Ryu Song, Tess
• Genre: Action, Fantasy
• No. of Chapters: 81 (Ongoing)

Like others, Return of the 8th Class Magician employs a simple but hierarchical magical power system. The series revolves around the central character, Ian Paige, the empire’s most powerful and only 8th Class Magician, who lives in service of the Emperor and his close friend, Emperor Ragnar. However, despite their friendship, Ian is poisoned by the emperor, and on the verge of death, using time magic, Ian returns thirty years to the past. Now, a young mage again, Ian sets his heart on revenge at any cost.

The mage ranking system in the series is based on class, as the minimum requirement is to be a first-class mage, which means having a mage ring. The class system ranks First to Eighth, with the only known eighth class being Ian Paige, the story’s protagonist.

2

A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.1 / 5

• Creator(s): Yu So-Ran
• Genre: Action, Fantasy
• No. of Chapters: 269

Time travel collides with magical fantasies in A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special, as the series follows the central character, Desir Harmann, who has seen nothing but the evils of the Shadow Labyrinth for the past decade alongside his party of heroes. With the destruction of humanity all but guaranteed, Desir, on the verge of death, is sent back thirteen years to the past in a bid to save humanity from its impending doom.

In its employment of the concept of magic, uses mana and a ranking system of Circle Tiers ranging from Tier 1 – 7. Typically, the Circle Tier of a magician represents the levels of their spells and overall skills. The series also premises a different classification of the magic system, which works in tandem with its ranking system, some of which are the Attack, Defence, Body, and Dragon Tongue systems.

1

The Great Mage Returns After 4000 Years

Anime-Planet Rating: 4.1 / 5

• Creator(s): Nakhasan, Kim Deok-Yong
• Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
• No. of Chapters: 189 (Ongoing)

The Archmage Returns After 4000 Years is premised on a tale of revenge of a rather unimaginable magnitude, as the story follows the central character, Lucas Traumen, humanity’s only 9-Star mage who makes it his life’s mission to exterminate the demigods. However, after his initial failure, Lucas is imprisoned for four millennia in the underworld until he is accidentally reincarnated into the body of a dying boy, Frey Blake.

In the series, magic is represented as mana, and similar to water, mana is the bedrock of the story’s civilization. The series also presents a simplistic and hierarchical magic system in which the mages are ranked on a number-star system. The ranks range from 1-Star to 9-Stars, with the only official 9-Star mage of the series being the protagonist in both his past and present life as Frey Blake.