A guide to magic and its applications in SW-verse (last updated 2 December 2010)

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Magic Witches ①Inherent abilities
▸Combination of inherent abilities ②Familiars
③Armaments for military Witches Striker Units ①

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WITCHES

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Magic-users, young females "in general" (while the possibility of male magic-users exists, there are none depicted in canon at the time of this writing). Witches' abilities usually hit a peak during their teenage years, after which they gradually weaken and are lost. As a result, there is a lack of systematic development in the field of magic as a whole. However, Witches are active in areas like healing and the natural sciences.

Military flight witches are also referred to as mechanized air infantrymen (the original term, 機械化航空歩兵, is gender-neutral). The extremely famous are also known by nicknames, which are either their archetypes' nicknames, such as "Star of Africa" Marseille; a genderflipped version thereof, such as "Lady of Libau" Takei; or a reference of some kind, such as "Glamorous Shirley".

Exceptions such as Anna Ferrara or the elder Miyafujis, who can still use magic despite their age, are considered rare.

INHERENT ABILITIES

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Aside from the typical uses of magic as detailed above, some Witches can also use special abilities which are often unique to themselves. Inherent abilities fall under three broad classifications, namely telekinesis, perception, and offensive magic. There is a likelihood of a Witch's ability being related to her personality in some way, if mentions to it in-universe and by Shimada Humikane himself are any indication.

Telekinesis refers to magic which has an effect on other entities. This can be the Witch herself, or another person or object the magic is used on. Examples of telekinesis-type include Shirley's superspeed, Barkhorn's extraordinary strength, Lynette's ballistic stabilization, and Yoshika's healing.

Perception refers to magic which lets the user have a stronger grasp on the surroundings around her. Examples of perception-type include Eila's future premonition, Sakamoto's magic eye, Minna's three-dimensional spatial awareness, and Sanya's control of radio waves for wide-area searches.

Offensive magic is more or less what

COMBINATION OF INHERENT ABILITIES

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Certain inherent abilities can be used in tandem with each other to great effect, though depictions of these in canon have been restricted to combat situations.

Minna's ability (three-dimensional spatial awareness), for instance, can be reinforced by other perception-type abilities if she has physical contact with the other Witch, as shown in Season 1 with Sakamoto and Kimi to Tsunagara Sora with Heidemarie.

FAMILIARS

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In order to have support in strengthening and controlling their magic, the majority of Witches form pacts with animal spirits. When these Witches use their magic, the physical characteristics of their familiars manifest as ears and tails.

According to Shimada Humikane, "Only the Hartmann twins have a change in hair colour rather than growing animals' ears. This is to portray their uniqueness."

ARMAMENTS FOR MILITARY WITCHES

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Weaponry for Witches has been specially treated, allowing magic to be charged upon firearms/blades/bullets/etc. in attacks.

Making such special weapons is not easy, so in the case of dispensable rounds, they are used in moderation. For example, the ammunition for Lynette's anti-tank rifle comprises entirely of magic bullets, but when it comes to machine guns, only one out of multiple bullets is magical.