Highlights
- Isekai anime thrives on magic systems that enhance the protagonist’s journey and plot development in fantastical worlds.
- Unique magical elements like role-playing game mechanisms and witch factors add depth to the isekai genre.
- The magic in each isekai world, be it elemental or tied to legendary weapons, shapes the hero’s abilities and their quest for survival.
It is almost rare to find isekai anime without some form of magic because the whole point of isekai is to take the protagonist away from the mundane world to a fantastical one, introducing them to all sorts of adventure, powers, and, more importantly, life with magic. It is no surprise that this genre has managed to captivate the minds of most anime fans, as they are sure to be enthralled by the lives of the protagonists.
Each isekai world has a system that governs the use of magic in the fantastical world, and it is very crucial for the protagonist’s journey and the plot of the anime.
1 No Game, No Life
Everything On Disboard Revolves Around The Ten Pledges
No Game, No Life follows the story of two shut-in NEET siblings who are obsessed with playing video games. These two siblings, Sora and Shiro, put the team in teamwork, as their success as online gamers can be attributed to the fact that they work together, complementing each other’s strengths and leaving no space for any sort of weakness. Not impressed by their normal world, they get an invitation to play a game of chess, and this invitation changes the trajectory of their lives as they find themselves in the world of Disboard.
Disboard looks like the world they see in the games they plan online, which makes them very excited. As soon as they find themselves in this world, they become familiar with the rules taught by Tet, the god. In Disboard, magic exists, and the use of and every activity carried out in this world is guided by the Ten Pledges. Conflicts are resolved through games, and these games are guided by the Ten Pledges of Discord.
2 Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation
Incantations And Chantless Magic
When an unnamed Japanese NEET was chased out of his room, he jumped in front of a moving truck to save some high schoolers, but unfortunately for him, he suffered a tragic fate and died. However, he reincarnated as Rudeus Grayrat in a world where magic exists. With his memories from his previous life, Rudeus is determined to make an impact and not be the useless bum he was in his previous life.
In this world, magic revolves around the basic elements: water, air, fire, and earth. Most spells require the user to recite incantations before they can work, but Rudeus unknowingly broke this requirement and was able to cast spells without chanting the incantations. There are levels to magic mastery, and going from one level to another represents growth.
3 KonoSuba: God’s Blessings On This Wonderful World!
Complete Quests To Get Points And Level Up
When given a chance to reincarnate in a parallel world, Kazuma, an avid gamer, takes the opportunity because he wants to experience all the cool features he sees in his video games, like leveling up, using magic, gathering cool weapons, and all that.
In the parallel world of KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World!, the magic system follows that of a role-playing game (RPG) mechanism where the characters have to take on roles either as an adventurer, arch wizard, crusader, crimson demon, lich, etc. to fight monsters and complete quests. For every quest they complete, depending on the difficulty, they move multiple levels up and gain points. It is with these points that they acquire skills and abilities. For instance, Kazuma had no skills or magical abilities when he first got to the world, but because he had been able to rack up points, he now has skills like steal, enemy detection, create water, drain touch, and so much more.
4 The Saga Of Tanya The Evil
Traditional Magic Meets Military Equipment
After a rude encounter with God, an unnamed Japanese salaryman is reborn as Tanya Degurechaff, a nine-year-old girl who later becomes a ruthless soldier. Reborn in a world closely related to Imperial Germany during World War I, Tanya joins the Empire’s army, but there is a twist: magic exists in this world.
Magic in this world is used for military purposes like flying at high speeds, enhancing weapons, and casting offensive and defensive spells through the use of magical devices like the Type-95 operation orb that Tanya uses.
5 Re: Zero: Starting Life In Another World
Witch Factor
When Subaru was abruptly transported to a fantasy world, he did not expect to enter a cycle of death. When isekai protagonists are transported, summoned, or reincarnated, they are sometimes given an array of powers, abilities, or skills upon arrival to help them in the new world. However, things were different with Subaru, as he had the ‘“Return by Death” ability that allowed him to go back in time anytime he died with his memories intact.
The magic system in this world is elemental, that is, water, wind, fire, earth, and shadow elements. All these elements can be manipulated by magic users, also known as mages, to carry out specific activities like healing, combat, and so on. Magic in this world is powered by mana, a form of magical energy, and without it, magic cannot be performed. The most unique part of this magic system is the idea of “Witch Factors,” as they can alter time, memory, and reality. The “Return by Death” ability that Subaru has was given to him by the witch of envy.
6 The Rising Of The Shield Hero
Magic Tied Around Legendary Weapons
A trip to the library takes Naofumi to a parallel world to be part of the cardinal heroes as the shield hero. Naofumi arrives at this new world, excited and ready to fulfill his role, but an unfortunate encounter with the princess of Melmorac, Malty, drains his happiness and cheerful spirit. Naofumi becomes guarded and wary of people around him as he tries to carry out his heroic duties.
The magic in this world is tied to the weapons the cardinal heroes possess, and they have abilities based on their weapons. For instance, Naofumi is the shield hero because he possesses the shield, and as such, he has defense and support abilities, unlike the other heroes, who have offensive abilities because they possess the sword, spear, and bow, respectively. Aside from this, there is also elemental magic.