Summary
Forbidden Magic ispresent in almost every fantasy tropeand anime is no exception to the rule. From resurrecting the dead to demonic summoning, these protagonists have looked at the bottom of the abyss and thrown away all morals in their search for power, or to protect their loved ones.
In many anime fantasy worlds, some secrets are best kept hidden, or magic taboos that should not be broken, and those walking the thin line between darkness and light are always one misstep from falling. This list includesanime characters that are far too gonein the use of the dark arts and others that still have a chance for redemption.
Edward Elric and his little brother, Alphonse, lost their mother at a young age. So an idea came up to Ed’s mind when their mother passed, and he decided to bring back Trisha Elric by using forbidden Human Transmutation Alchemy.
Things took a turn for the worse, and both Edward and Alphonse lost parts of their bodies, the latter being the most affected brother. Luckily, Edward managed to bind his brother’s soul to a full piece of armor. Their choicebrought them a great deal of suffering, but they managed to overcome grief and loss by sticking together, a true display of brotherhood.
Tatsuya enrolled in Magic University’s Affiliated High School to follow his sister Miyuki, and to keep a close eye on her. He was always deemed unfit to be the head of the Shiba family, though, under his seemingly tranquil demeanor, Tatsuya hides a ruthless and cold personality.
This protagonist’s Psionic and magical powersfar surpass most beings in his world, being able to use Decomposition, Elemental Sight, and Regrowth, unusual types of magic that are considered lost or forbidden.
Gray Fullbuster’s innate ability for casting Ice-Make magic was always high-grade, making him one of the strongest elemental mages in the anime. But his power level rose considerably after inheriting his father’s memento: Ice Devil Slayer Magic.
This powerful and dark magic is considered “taboo” by some, and upon activating it, Gray’s power rises and allows him to consume all Ice-type magic around him, much like what Natsu does with flames. Ice Devil Slayer Magic comes at a cost though, and every time Gray uses it, he risks losing control andturning in the very thing he was meant to destroy: a demon.
Shin Walford was adopted by a couple of Wise Mages, and educated to be a top-notch magician. Although he retained some of his memories from his past life, Shin didn’t preserve his"common sense" when reincarnating in another world. Curious by nature, Shin quickly began to experiment with creating his own spells.
So, after mixing his scientific knowledge with magic, he was able to create such a powerful and destructive spell that he was prohibited from using it ever again, since this magic erased the entire landscape around him.
Issei Hyoudou might be the strongest character in High School DxD, but Rias Gremory holds the title of the most powerful magic user in the series. So it is no surprise that she also dabbles in Dark Magic. The Destruction magic, a forbidden art thathas been passed down for generationsin the Gremory family, has such a fearsome power that even the Gods fear it.
But Rias is as smart as she is responsible for her powers, and she often uses Destruction magic as a last resort. She could destroy the entire world if it went out of control.
Kazuma Satō wassent to another world in the lamest of ways, and ever since, the ideal life he always dreamed of has been far from his reach. This has made him prone to having a dark mood, and throwing constant fits against his companion’s desires to go on adventures.
But Kazuma has even committed various acts of mischief himself. Among those, learning a forbidden Dark Magic called “Drain Touch.” Ever since he has used it without a speckle of remorse on various occasions, even to harass his own companions.
Cid Kagenou (AKA Shadow) has developed such a unique and powerful kind of magic, that he is capable of leveling entire cities at will. This dangerous and destructive power is called “I Am Atomic,” and Shadow has used it countless times in the anime, being his signature move.
Shadow’s mysterious motivation to gainthe enmity of all the peoplewho cross his path often ends up with him activating this forbidden and terrible magic and wiping out entire cities before vanishing into the night. The worst part is that casting this dangerous magic is like child’s play to him.
The mild fantasy world of Delicious in Dungeon hidesan obscure and insidious truththat lies deep beneath the stones that form the Dungeon where Laios, Marcille, Senshi, and Chilchuck delve to save Falin. Marcille believes that the ancient magic that gave form to the Dungeon is a piece of forgotten knowledge that her ancestors used to wield and now is covered in superstition and ignorance.
So when the time to resurrect Falin came, Marcille did not hesitate to use Ancient Magic to save her, though Chilchuck greatly opposed the idea, knowing the consequences it would bring upon them.
Lina Inverse is perhaps the most renowned Dark Magic user in the history of anime, and her exploits are known to every fan of the sword and sorcery genre. However, nobody could know that the magic that Lina uses is more dangerous than she could ever have imagined.
She kept on abusing this power untilit was too late to repent, and she discovered that her characteristic Dragon Slave (Dragon Slayer) magic was invoking the power of the Lord of Nightmares, the most dangerous being in the universe.
After Sung Jinwoo’s close encounter with death, he discovers a newfound power that grants him a chance to save his mother by ranking up and getting money for her medical expenses.
But soon after,the true nature of his Second Awakeningreveals itself as the power of Necromancy, a dark magic that allows him to resurrect the dead as shadow beings capable of keeping the same abilities as they did in life. Sung Jinwoo kept using his powers until he became a powerful Hunter, but the cost would be greater than what he thought.
