Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny/Magic

Reagents and apothecary shops
The following abbreviations will be used in this page:
 * ash: sulphur ash
 * gin.: ginseng
 * gar.: garlic
 * sil.: spider silk
 * prl.: black pearl
 * mos.: blood moss
 * nig.: nightshade fungus
 * man.: mandrake root

All the prices are per unit, and refer to Karma level equal to 99. Best deals are highlighted.

Spells
There's a total of 48 spells in the video game. There are eight levels of magic, and each of them includes six spells.

A * near the price means that the reagents include Nightshade fungus; a + near the price means that the reagents include Mandrake root; both these reagents can be obtained for free.

There is an error in the manual: the "summon clone" spell does not require nightshade fungus.

Healing spells
These spells cure health and status of the Companions.


 * L1 An Nox: cures poison; it's one of the most important spells, because whenever you open a chest there's a chace to get poisoned by a trap; at game start, you have just the right reagents to mix a few portions of this spell.
 * L1 Mani: cures some health points; useful to save a companion in battle.
 * L2 In Xen Mani: creates food, and food allows to restore HP when you camp in the wild; it's actually not very convenient, but it will become more effective in later episodes of Ultima.
 * L5 Vas Mani: cures health points fully, but it cannot be cast in battle.
 * L8 In Mani Corp: restores a dead ally to life; it cannot be cast in battle.

Field spells
These spells are used mainly outside battle, to move faster or remove obstacles.

Orientation:
 * L1 In Lor: light; useful in dungeons and in the underworld; plenty of torches can be found for free, so this spell usefulness is limited.
 * L2 In Wis: locate; it tells the latitude and longitude coordinates; it also works where the sextant does not.
 * L3 Vas Lor: great light; it's the upgrade of the above "In Lor" spell, and it lasts longer; two torches found for free will do the job.
 * L6 Wis An Ylem: x-ray; it allows to see through walls as long as you stand still.
 * L7 In Quas Wis: peer map; it shows a large map of the surroundings; useful to... complete this same guide!

Movement:
 * L2 Rel Hur: wind change; it's only useful to travel faster on a frigate.
 * L3 In Por: blink; it teleports the party in a straight line, but it works only if the destination tile is green grass; it is necessary in the underworld of Dungeon Hythloth.
 * L4 Des Por: move downwards one level in dungeons; many playsers see this as a half-cheat.
 * L4 Uus Por: move upwards one level in dungeons; many playsers see this as a half-cheat.
 * L8 Vas Rel Por: gate travel; it teleports instantly to the moongate corresponding to the selected moon phase.

Obstacle removal:
 * L1 An Ylem: vanish; it can remove an item that blocks your way to a door or a secret passage; the item will reappear if you leave and re-enter the area; in later episodes of Ultima, it will become more useful as it can be paired with a spell that make things reappear at will.
 * L2 An Sanct: unlock doors; it works the same as the key, that can be found for free after battles; anyway, there is one instance where you can lose your keys, so this spell will come in handy.
 * L4 An Grav: dispel field; absolutely necesary to reach several areas.
 * L5 In Ex Por: magic unlock; it opens magically locked doors, but the Skull Keys do the same, and they can be obtained for free.
 * L5 An Ex Por: magic lock; (I couldn't find any use for this spell.)

Support spells
These spells temporarily improve the abilities of the Companions, remove status ailments, or summon more allies

Status restoration:
 * L1 An Zu: awaken; useful against some spellcasting enemies, especially if they come in large groups; the spell becomes obsolete when you find the Magic Crown, that prevents the enemies to cast sleep spells.
 * L6 An Xen Ex: cure charm or cause charm; as a support spell, it's useful until you find the Magic Crown; as a debuff spells, it may fail against the most palatable (stronger) targets.

Status improvement:
 * L4 In Sanct: protection; it increases the armor value of all the company.
 * L5 Rel Tym: quickness; it roughly doubles the number of attacks of all the companions.
 * L7 Sanct Lor: invisibility; the enemies will not attack the companions.

Summon ally:
 * L2 Kal Xen: summon animal (giant rat)
 * L4 In Sanct Grav: protection field; strong enemies can remove these fields.
 * L5 In Bet Xen: summon insect swarm
 * L7 In Quas Xen: summon clone; the damage suffered by the clone is actually suffered by the original.
 * L8 Kal Xen Corp: summon demon

The summoned allies are generally weaker than their hosile counterparts.

Debuff spells
These spells disable the enemies, and are especially useful against monsters that can deal lots of damage before being defeated.


 * L2 An Xen Corp: repel undead; affected enemies run away.
 * L3 In Zu Grav: wall of sleep; targets a single tile.
 * L4 Wis Quas: dispel invisibility.
 * L5 In Zu: sleep wind; targets a conic area.
 * L6 Quas An Wis: confuse; target enemy will not act.
 * L6 Rel Xen Bet: transform (into a weak monster)
 * L7 In Quas Corp: fear; affected enemies run away.
 * L7 In An: negate magic; neither enemies nor companions can use magic; obsolete when you find the Magic Crown.
 * L8 An Tym: time stop; no enemy can move nor defend for a few turns.

Wall of sleep and Sleep wind are particularly useful against groups of dragons, that can spit fireballs even if magic is negated:''' e.g. by the Crown.

Attack spells
Spells that damage the enemies directly.

Single target spells are generally less reliable than ranged weapons.

Except for Tremor, multiple target spells will damage any companion in the way.

Single target:
 * L1 Grav Por: magic missile
 * L3 Vas Flam: fireball
 * L3 In Nox Grav: wall of poison
 * L3 In Flam Grav: wall of flames
 * L7 Xen Corp: kill (instant-defeat)

Multiple targets:
 * L6 In Vas Por Ylem: tremor
 * L7 In Nox Hur: poison wind
 * L8 In Flam Hur: flame wind
 * L8 In Vas Grav Corp: cone of energy

Spells versus items
Many items have effects similar to specific spells.

Potions and scrolls
Potions and scrolls are single-use items with one spell embedded in them. They can be found in chests and after defeating enemies. Any of them becomes less useful as soon as two or more companions reach the necessary level to cast the corresponding spell.