Counter-Curses and Defensive Spells
This is a list of Counter-Curses and other Defensive Spells considered "A.O. Canon". For a full list of all A.O. Canon spells, see List of Spells.
Key
- Pronunciation: How the spell is pronounced (roughly) aloud.
- Appearance: What the spell looks like, including any accompanying wand motions.
- Description: What the spell does and how it works.
- Regulations and Skill Level:
- Regulation Levels:
- Legal: Performing this spell is not specifically prohibited by law.
- Controlled: This spell is either legal only in some cases, or legal, but not widely known.
- Illegal: Performing this spell is specifically against Wizarding law.
- Skill Levels:
- Beginner: A first-year student would be capable of performing this spell.
- Intermediate: A fourth-year student would be capable of performing this spell.
- Advanced: A fully-qualified wizard (17 or older) would be capable of performing this spell.
- Master: This spell requires greater experience or specialized knowledge, and is unlikely to be performed successfully by anyone under age 30.
- Regulation Levels:
- Etymology: The root language and meaning of the word(s) in the spell.
- Canon Reference: If the spell is canonical, this section notes at least one reference to it.
- Notes: Any other information about the spell.
Counter-Curses
See also: Healing Spells
Consisto (Steadying Counter-Curse)
- Pronunciation: cuhn-SISS-toh
- Appearance: A burst of sparks
- Description: Removes spells that affect a target’s ability to stand properly, such as the Jelly-Legs Jinx or the Tarantallegra Curse. Instantaneous.
- Regulations and Skill Level: Legal. Beginner.
- Etymology: Latin “to stand still”
Exonero Digi (Finger Jinx Counter)
- Pronunciation: EX-oh-neh-ro Dih-jee
- Appearance: Invisible, apart from its effects
- Description: Releases fused fingers due to the finger jinx.
- Regulations and Skill Level: Legal. Intermediate.
- Etymology: From Latin exonero, “to free, relieve” and digitus, “finger”
Expugno Maleficum (Fiendfyre Counter-Curse)
- Pronunciation: ex-PUHG-noh muh-LEH-fee-koom
- Appearance: Invisible, although the flames shrink, shriek, and diminish into the wand tip of the caster
- Description: Controls and dispels Fiendfyre. Takes anywhere from a few seconds to half a minute, depending on how extensively out of control the flames have gotten.
- Regulations and Skill Level: Legal. Advanced.
- Etymology: From Latin expugno, “to overcome, subdue”, and maleficus, “evil”
- Canon Reference: Not actually mentioned, but the existence of Fiendfyre and the fact that the wizarding world is not constantly engulfed in flame suggests that there is a way to make it stop.
Incido (Interrupting Jinx)
- Pronunciation: ihn-SEE-doh
- Appearance: Invisible
- Description: Causes someone using a spell to be knocked back and unable to complete the spell. Requires extreme speed, especially if countering a nonverbal spell, and thus is itself used almost exclusively nonverbally. Instantaneous.
- Regulations and Skill Level: Legal. Advanced.
- Etymology: Latin “I interrupt”
- Canon Reference: Used by Snape repeatedly on Harry during the Flight of the Prince.
Opressus Exonero (Constriction Curse Counter)
- Pronunciation: oh-PREH-suss ex-AH-ner-oh
- Appearance: A pale red glow over the target
- Description: Relieves the effects of the Constriction Curse. Other spells and potions can do this also, but the counter-curse is the fastest and easiest method.
- Also, when cast on the victim, relieves the effect of the Strangulation Hex without attacking the caster (and thus forcing him to change the aim of his wand). As it was not invented for this purpose, it is questionable whether anyone is aware of this side effect.
- Regulations and Skill Level: Controlled (known only to Jason MacDonell, who invented it, and his closest circle). Advanced.
- Etymology: From Latin oppressio, “pressing down, oppression”, and exonero, “to free, relieve”
Purgo Auris (Ear Curse Counter)
- Pronunciation: PUHR-go AUHR-is
- Appearance: Ears glow pale green for several seconds
- Description: Relieves the effects of spells that affect hearing for the majority of curses. Stabilizes hearing to natural levels without enhancing already impaired hearing due to physical injury or age.
- Regulations and Skill Level: Legal. Intermediate.
- Etymology: From Latin purgo, “to clean, cleanse, purify”, and auris, “the ear”
Purgo Oculus (Eye Curse Counter)
- Pronunciation: PUHR-go OC-u-lus
- Appearance: Eye sockets glow pale green for several seconds, obscuring person's vision
- Description: Relieves the effects of spells that affect sight for the majority of curses. Stabilizes sight to natural levels without enhancing already impaired sight due to physical injury or age.
- Regulations and Skill Level: Legal. Intermediate.
- Etymology: From Latin purgo, “to clean, cleanse, purify”, and oculus, “the eye”
Sanus (Clear-Mind Charm)
- Pronunciation: SAH-noos
- Appearance: Sparks from the wand
- Description: Removes minor mental incapacitations, such as the Babbling Jinx or the Confundus Charm. Specially trained wizards (such as Healers or some Aurors and Unspeakables) can use it to counter the Imperius Curse, though this usually requires Legilimency therapy, especially if badly performed or long-lasting. Instantaneous against weaker spells, though stronger ones may require repeated casting.
- Regulations and Skill Level: Legal. Advanced to Master.
- Etymology: Latin “of sound mind”
Vigilo (Nap Jinx Counter)
- Pronunciation: vih-JEE-loh
- Appearance: A bright flash in front of the target’s face
- Description: Counters the effects of the Nap Jinx. Instantaneous effect.
- Regulations and Skill Level: Legal, Intermediate to Advanced (in proportion to the attacker’s skill; an Intermediate defender against an Advanced attacker would be able to further delay the effects of the jinx, but not indefinitely).
- Etymology: Latin “to keep awake, to be vigilant”
Yehiy (Warding Charm)
- Pronunciation: yeh-HEE
- Appearance: Used with a candle (usually black). The candle will ignite. A steady flame indicates a strong ward, a flickering flame a weak or weakening ward. Wandless magic.
- Description: A shielding spell that maintains a semipermanent magical shield around the caster, similar to Protego, although it absorbs (instead of reflecting) most curses. The advantage is that, being wandless, it allows a well-trained caster to use his wand simultaneously to cast other spells. The caster can feel the strength of the ward.
- Regulations and Skill Level: Legal. Advanced to Master.
- Etymology: Hebrew “let there be light”
- Notes: Used mostly in the Jewish magical community.
The Seven Shield Spells
Called in full "the Seven Shield Spells of Pure Wand Magic" (to differentiate them from spells requiring objects, such as Yehiy, as well as other wandless defenses), the Seven Shield Spells are a branch of magical defense that counters attacks. The Seven Shields are:
- Adfirmo
- Aegis
- Declino
- Munio
- Obex
- Patrocinor
- Protego
Adfirmo Family (Flesh Fortifying Charms)
Description
The Flesh-Fortifying family of shield spells is one of the least developed, due to the physical risks associated with overuse. Wizards tend to use other charms to protect themselves, though research on safely toughening the human body is ongoing in the Department of Mysteries.
Base Spell
- Pronunciation: ad-FEER-moh
- Appearance: Skin of the target shines like the surface of a diamond for a few seconds
- Description: Strengthens the body against physical damage, such as blows, stabs, and slashes, as well as harsh weather. If cast beforehand, can also aid resistance to the Organ-Liquefying Curse, as internal organs are also strengthened. Over-frequent casting can cause muscle paroxysms and even paralysis, which makes it impractical as an everyday means of self-defense. Can aid resistance to pain, but has no effect against the Cruciatus Curse. Lasts a few hours, though being struck with multiple curses can cause it to weaken faster.
- Regulations and Skill Level: Controlled (widely known, but in order to keep constant cases of muscle damage out of St. Mungo’s, its use is discouraged by the Ministry). Advanced.
- Etymology: Latin “I strengthen”
Subsidiary Spells
In progress
Aegis Family (Shield Spells)
Description
The Aegis branch of defensive magic is the oldest and simplest; a form of Conjuration (and thus originally considered a type of Transfiguration, rather than Defensive magic), it produces a literal, physical shield which is held by the wizard casting the spell. Variations on the shield exist (diamond-hard, resistant to magic, etc.), but all were found insufficient to the task of safely defending wizards from mass projectiles or more powerful Dark magic, leading to the evolution of the Obex and Declino families, respectively.
Base Spell
- Pronunciation: EE-jiss
- Appearance: Invisible, other than the effects
- Description: Conjures a shining silver shield from midair, which is resistant to most spells, though the Killing Curse will destroy it like any other physical impediment.
- Regulations and Skill Level: Legal. Master.
- Etymology: From the Greek name of Zeus’s shield
- Canon Reference: Used by Voldemort during the duel with Dumbledore. The fact that it deflected a powerful attack from Dumbledore suggests it was a greater spell than simply conjuring a normal shield.
Subsidiary Spells
In progress
Declino Family (Deflection Spells)
Description
When Aegis-inspired shields proved unsuitable to repelling heavy magic, and the Obex family proved unable to repel magic at all, wizards developed the Deflecting Family of shield spells. All spells in this discipline directly engage and divert curses in order to protect the caster. Weaknesses of the Deflection Family against extremely powerful Dark Magic (such as the Unforgivable Curses), as well as the limited success of the Declino Protegus spell, led to the development of the Protego family.
Though weaker than its Protego cousin, Declino is still favored by many duelists because it is easier magic and easier to perform nonverbally.
Base Spell
- Pronunciation: day-KLEE-noh
- Appearance: Invisible, but accompanied with a slash of the wand in the direction the curse is to be deflected
- Description: Deflects most curses. Unlike the Shield Charm, it is strict deflection, rather than reflection. Instantaneous.
- Regulations and Skill Level: Legal. Intermediate.
- Etymology: Latin “I deflect”
- Canon Reference: “Moody” tested his 4th year DADA class on Hex Deflection.
Subsidiary Spells
In progress
Munio Family (Object-Fortifying Spells)
Description
Evolving apart from the combat conditions that gave rise to the Aegis, Obex, Declino, and Protego branches (though some of its variants are occasionally used as a last-ditch defense in a duel), the Munio family focuses on increasing the natural toughness of a physical, nonliving object, to make it more resistant to physical damage, magic, or both.
Base Spell
- Pronunciation: MOO-nee-oh
- Appearance: Brief sparkles on the enchanted object
- Description: Causes the charmed object to become more resistant to physical and magical damage (relative to what it was originally). Can be used by wizards in a duel to make objects they are hiding behind stronger and able to absorb spells briefly. Lasts until it has taken sufficient damage, or for an hour or two if unassailed.
- Regulations and Skill Level: Legal. Intermediate to cast at all, Advanced with any real power.
- Etymology: Latin “to fortify, defend, protect”
- Notes: Though moderately effective at stopping jinxes and hexes, the Object-Fortifying Charm has less resistance to curses targeting the object itself, rather than simply trying to smash through, such as the two Blasting Curses (Confringo and Expulso).
Subsidiary Spells
Munium Muri Ilii (Wall Fortifying Charm)
- Pronunciation: MOO-nee-um MER-ee ILL-ee-i
- Appearance: A brief golden sheen over the enchanted surface
- Description: A substantially more difficult and powerful version of the spell Munio. Protects permanent structures against substantial magical or physical bombardment, and is thus usually cast on exterior building walls. Lasts indefinitely, or until having taken extreme magical or physical damage. Casting by a very powerful wizard (or a group of wizards working in concert) will be more effective.
- Regulations and Skill Level: Legal. Master.
- Etymology: From Latin munio, “to fortify, defend, protect”, muri, “walls”, and Ilios, the Latin name for Troy (the walls of Troy were said to be impregnable by direct assault)
Obex Family (Barrier Spells)
Description
The barrier spells evolved when wizards found themselves facing physical projectiles (such as arrows) in battle, rather than magic. All spells in the family create magical barriers against physical objects, but offer little to no protection against magic spells.
Base Spell
- Pronunciation: OH-bex
- Appearance: Invisible, though the air seems to shimmer (like a heat mirage)
- Description: Creates a magical barrier that stops physical objects, but not magic. Used, for example, by wizards to protect themselves against gunshots or other projectile weapons. Enchanted projectiles may pass the barrier, but will usually slow. Physical objects with wills of their own (such as people trying to pass the barrier) may be able to struggle through eventually.
- Regulations and Skill Level: Legal. Advanced.
- Etymology: Latin "barrier, barricade"
Subsidiary Spells
Obexus Morsmordrem (Dark Mark barrier)
- Pronunciation: oh-BEX-us mors-MOR-druhm
- Appearance: A brief flickering image of the Dark Mark over the barriered area
- Description: Creates a magical barrier which can be passed only by someone branded with the Dark Mark. Anyone without a Dark Mark who attempts to pass will be hurled backwards. Semi-permanent.
- Regulations and Skill Level: Controlled (known only to Death Eaters). Not illegal per se, although being a Death Eater is.
- Etymology: Latin obex, "barrier, barricade", and Morsmordre, the incantation of the Dark Mark spell
- Canon: Cast by the Death Eaters on the stairs to the Astronomy Tower in Half-Blood Prince to prevent the Order of the Phoenix from assisting Dumbledore. An even more complicated variant was possibly used on the gates of Malfoy Manor in Deathly Hallows; Snape and Yaxley passed through the apparently solid gate simply by raising their left arms.
Patrocinor Family (Guardian Spells)
Description
The development of the Patrocinor family dates back to the most ancient times, when wizards attempted to magically replicate the presence of their animal familiars. Many early attempts to make a generally applicable spell failed, and several sub-branches developed, resulting in a great variety of applications. The universally acknowledged culmination of the discipline, however, is the Patronus Charm, which creates a magical guardian. The Patronus is the only known spell which can drive off a Dementor or Lethifold. Given the enormous and unprecedented success of the Patronus Charm, development of the Patrocinor family has been almost nonexistent since, and attempts to extend the Patronus's effects to other Dark creatures have been unsuccessful.
Base Spell
In progress
Subsidiary Spells
Expecto Patronum (The Patronus Charm)
Canon.
Protego Family (Reflection Spells)
Description
Considered by many the culmination of personal defensive magic, the Protego branch of spells are an evolution of the Declino family in that they not only defend a wizard from magical attack, but often actually reflect the attack back on its source. The Protego spells have also proven able to repel even the most powerful curses, with the single exception of the all-powerful Avada Kedavra, though against powerful Dark magic the Protego branch may only create a barrier, rather than reflecting the spell back.
Base Spell
Protego - Canon
Subsidiary Spells
Protego Durus (Hard Shield)
- Pronunciation: proh-TEG-oh dur-us
- Appearance: Shimmer of the air during spell duration, stretching from the wand tip.
- Description: Creates a hard magical barrier, which reflects back the spell directed at it to the attacker. Caster feels resistance and force from the attack and may be forced backwards. May fail under extreme attack.
- Regulations and Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced, taught at OWL level.
- Etymology: Latin protego, "to protect", and durus, "hard, harsh, tough, strong, enduring"
Protego Totalum (Wide Shield)
- Pronunciation: proh-TEG-oh Toh-TA-lum
- Appearance: Shimmer of the air during spell duration, wide reach of several metres either side of caster.
- Description: Creates a hard magical barrier, which reflects back the spell directed at it to the attacker. Will protect more than just the caster. Caster feels resistance and force from the attack and may be forced backwards. May fail under extreme attack. Inefficient spell to hold for any length of time.
- Regulations and Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced, taught at OWL level.
- Etymology: Latin protego, "to protect", and totalum, from totus meaning "whole, entire, complete, all."
Psalmatic Spells of Protection
Used almost exclusively by Jewish practitioners of priestly and Kabbalistic magic, the recitation of key words, phrases, or the psalms in their entirety can be used to protect the casters from offensive Dark magic. The quoted psalms are 61, 91, or 121 and are sometimes, though not always, prefaced by addressing Higher Powers. The faith-based practise of Psalmatic spells is often discredited by agnostics and is academically is more commonly thought to function in a similar manner to the Patronus charm, which relies wholly on the spellcaster's ability to focus and gather is resolution and courage.
Popular phrases
Mahseh (Encompassing Shield)
- Pronunciation: maw-SEH
- Appearance: Shimmer of the air during pronunciation; otherwise invisible
- Description: Creates a hard magical barrier around the caster, which absorbs hexes or curses directed at caster. With difficulty, it can be extended to another individual by making intentional physical contact with other individuals. The most common form is hand-holding. Appeals to G-d, "Elimahseh," or "Mahseh, shaddon/eliyon/elohim," are also common among more traditional casters.
- Regulations and Skill Level: Specialized/obscure education; the spell can be cast at many levels, but is truly effective at the Master level. Cannot be extended to other individuals unless at Master level.
- Etymology: from the Hebrew verb, "hasa", to seek protection. Therefore, translated, it means roughly, refuge.
Satar (Obscuring Shield)
- Pronunciation: saw-TAR
- Appearance: depending on the strength of the caster's abilities, could lead to the blurring or entire invisibility of the desired object to be protected. Minor warding inherent in the spell as well, though not sufficient to completely block.
- Description: A minor, protective invisibility spell. Due to its extreme inviability (one must need to be at a Mastery level in order to confidently conceal themselves), it is seldom used. As with Mahseh, there is often an appeal to deity.
- Regulations and Skill Level: Intermediate; specialized education
- Etymology: Hebrew for to hide, to conceal
