The Big Book of British Spells

We go through every one of the spells cast in Harry Potter, ranked by year and difficulty.

As we know, Wizardkind are some of the most powerful beings on Earth. The power behind Wizardkind is that of magic. And the power of magic is harnessed through the use of spells.

Spells in the Harry Potter series are some of the most important bits of of the wizarding world that their are. every piece of magic they do requires a spell, either spoke, or unspoken. The entire point of Hogwarts’ creation, and the International Association of Wizarding Academies that it is part of, is the regulation and standardization of these spells and their uses.

Spells are also utterly delightful. Every spell in Rowling’s word is a joke of some sort, or a literary reference, or just an efficient way to teach 11-year-olds basic Latin phrases. (Who says Harry Potter isn’t educational!?) Those basic Latin phrases become more complex as we move through the series and the students at Hogwarts learn more complex spells.

So what are all these spells? And which are the easiest to learn and which are more difficult? if you follow along through the series, you’ll see that every year students at Hogwarts take the basic building blocks from the first books and build upon them as the series goes along. We went through the books and pulled every spell and listed it from easiest to hard, based on when a student learns it and how hard it seems to be to conquer.

The resulting document is what we like to call the official “Big Book of British Spells.” Check out how the spells rank.

Next: First Year Spells, Autumn Term

First Year Spells, Autumn Term

These spells are the simplest. When Harry first meets fellow students on the Hogwarts Express on his way to school, some of them (Hermione!) have already mastered these basics, while others seem to have gotten them down before the Christmas holiday. They include, in order of difficulty:

Accio: Also known as the “Summoning Charm.” Summons a specific object to the wand bearer. this is one of the very first spells we see students use, and it the sort of basic everyday magic that Muggles only wish they had for themselves.

Reparo: Fixes broken objects. Another really simple spell, and very useful for clumsy children who are only just entering their preteen years.

Descendo: Causes any targeted object to move downwards. it’s funny that Wingarum Leviosa is so difficult for most of our young wizards (it ranks in the last of the Spring Term spells to be conqueered.) Yet “descendo” is achieved nearly immediately. Blame gravity.

Lumos: Makes light come out of the end of the bearer’s wand. One of the most popular spells with Muggles. (Also chosen as the spell Rolwing named her charity after, as bringing light to children.)

Nox: Puts out light from bearer’s wand (the opposite of Lumos!) And somehow though everyone know Lumos, we all seem to forget Nox.

Flipendo: The spell used to push or topple something. One of the last spells we see conquered before Harry’s first Christmas break.

Next: First Year Spells, Spring Term

First Year Spells, Spring Term

These spells are also on the easiest side of the scale, but we see some of Harry’s peers struggle with them. (Not Hermione, of course.) We consider these to be spells that students are expected to have learned to do well by the very end of their First year at Hogwarts, but not necessarily until after the Christmas break.

part of this is because these spells are a little more complex in what they are trying to do. They’re not trying to help you find your keys, or turn up some light in a darkened hallway. These are spells that cause locks to open, produce elements such as fire and water, and our first taste of using magic on other wizards instead of inanimate objects.

Alohomora: Unlocks doors–and extremely useful one for Harry and his pals, but probably a headache to parents once their kids come home for the summer knowing how to use it.

Incendio: Conjures fire. Does anyone think that a bad thing to teach 11 year olds? And yet, here we are.

Aguamenti: It produces a jet of water from the witch or wizard’s wand.At least they teach this one as the opposite of Incendio.

Everte Statum: Dueling spell used to send the opponent flying. Our first taste of using magic upon other wizards. This one will be very important later.

Petrificus Totalus: Full body-bind, causes the victim to turn as stiff as a board

Wingardium Leviosa: Makes things levitate. If you can’t pronounce it, ask Hermione.

Next: Second Year Spells, Autumn Term

Second Year Spells, Autumn Term

Our second year spells begin with a focus on plants and animals.This may be partly due to the fact that Professor Sprouts course is mandatory for Second Year students. It also is our first taste of using magic upon, or to bring about other beings.

Avis: Conjures birds. This one always confused me a little in the books. where do the bird go after they are conjured? Is there a cage conjuring spell to go with it?

Mobiliarbus: Moves objects (generally plants.) There is a sense that this can also be used to move inanimate objects,. but in terms of using it on concious beings, that does not seem the case.

Oculus Reparo: Repairs glass. That Harry had to wait to learn this –the first of the compound seplls from their First Year lessons, really sucked for him.

Orchideous: Makes flowers come out of the bearer’s wand. Perfect for Mother’s day!

Pluma pondus: Also known as the Featherweight Charm. Makes something lightweight. Our second compound spell, these sorts of variations and next step spells are commonplace in the Second Year.

Quietus: Makes voice quieter. Both yours, and someone else’s. Another example of a spell that can be used against a fellow wizard.

Immobulis: Freezes objects where they are. Unlike Petrificus Totalus, this spell is on inanimate objects.

Next: Second Year Spells, Spring Term

Second Year Spells, Spring Term

It is interesting to me that many of the Second year spells we see students master after the Christmas break are the sort of “tricksy” spells that 12 and 13-year-olds would enjoy using against one another. That couldn’t possibly be a deliberate thing, could it? And yet!

Also, note that for the first time we have more than six spells for students to learn in a term. As we go on through the rest of the school years, we will find that the number of spells students learn per term never falls that low again.

Ardor Glacio: Also Known as the Flame-Freezing Charm. Causes fire to become harmless to those caught in it.

Rictusempra: Tickles victim and they laugh uncontrollably as a result.

Snufflifors: Transfigures small books into mice. I cannot for the life of me figure out why this is a useful spell. You can’t study mice for exams.

Tarantallegra: Makes victim’s legs move uncontrollably.

Colloportus: Applies a magical lock on a door. Can only be lifted by the Alohamora spell

Furnunculus: Gives the target boils

Homemun Revelio: Reveals human presence in the vicinity of the caster.

Locomotor: Causes the named object to ‘float’ and move around at the caster’s will.

Next: Third Year Spells, Autumn Term

Third Year Spells, Autumn Term

Some interesting notes about the Third Year spells: this is the first (and basically only) year we see Harry have a decent Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and some of the spells–especially in the second term, will be ones that Harry builds on as the years go on and he finds himself actually having to use these in practical applications.

Point Me: Four point spell, points to north; Makes the bearer’s wand act like a compass. one of the only spells that is in English and not Latin. I have no idea why.

Reducio: Decreases the size of something. Interesting to me that we do not have the inverse of this spell included in the same time period. In fact, the first “enlarging” spell that we see isn’t until Fifth Year, Autumn term.

Spongify: Allows the user to bounce on a magical gel-like substance. Always useful for clumsy teens.

Trinus sursum: Also known as the Trip Jinx. Once used, makes the victim trip. Thing of this as the inverse to Spongify.

Flagrate: With this spell, the caster’s wand can leave fiery marks. One would think this would be part of Incendio, but it’s actually a compound spell and far more difficult.

Impervius: Repels water from whatever the bearers wand is aimed at. Another spell that’s the compound, far more difficult next step of Aguamenti from the student First Year classes.

Locomotor Mortis: Stops someone from moving their legs

Next: Third Year Spells, Spring Term

Third Year Spells, Spring Term

Much of the second term for Third Year students is also building on what came before. Note that here we have the next step up from the First Year Lumos spell, “Lumos Maxima,” (which recently was the spell that opened the Fantastic Beasts invite trailer.) We also have Expelliarmus, which the Doctor and Martha used to great effect in the Shakespeare adventure of Doctor Who. It is one of several compound spells included here, along with many Defense Against The Dark Arts spells.

One other thing of note: though Harry learns and performs the Expecto Patronum spell in his Third year, it is noted several times that this is a spell that does not get taught until Hogwart’s student’s final year. We have listed it there accordingly.

Lumos Maxima: Generates a brilliant light. A more powerful version of the Lumos spell.

Arania Exumai: Knocks over or throws back animals.

Impedimenta: This hex is capable of tripping, freezing, binding or knocking back the victim

Ascendio: Propels the caster of the spell upwards.

Waddiwasi: Shoots objects at a high speed

Expelliarmus: Disarms whoever the wand is aimed at

Riddikulus: Defence against boggarts; Makes the boggart take the shape of the caster’s funniest thought

Carpe Retractum: It releases a red beam that pulls items or heavy objects toward you, or you towards them.

Next: Fourth Year Spells, Autumn Term

Fourth Year Spells, Autumn Term

Fourth Year sees a few useful everyday spells come into play, as students are finally given a spell to clean their own stuff–perhaps now that they are around 14/15 years old it is assumed they are responsible enough to be expected to do so.

This is a year where we also start to see a lot of charms getting mixed in to the everyday spells, including the color changing charm in the first term and the banishing charm in the second.

Scourgify: Cleans dirt off anything. Ron and harry have no excuse to be dirty now.

Stupefy: Stunning spell, and another one that is learned somewhat innocently in this period, only to become very useful down the line for Harry and his friends.

Alarte Ascendare: Spell which causes something to shoot up into the air

Densaugeo: Makes the victims teeth enlarge. Unfortunately there does not seem to be a corresponding “orthodontics” spell to shrink them down again and make them straighten up nicely.

Aparecium: Makes both invisible ink appear, as well as some other general invisible things appear

Cultivate Abeo: Also known as the Colour-changing charm: Changes an object’s color

Diffindo: Rips objects in half. Again, the lack of a corresponding “knitting” spell seems like an oversight.

Next: Fourth Year Spells, Spring Term

Fourth Year Spells, Spring Term

By the time Harry gets to his Spring Term in the fourth books, the TriWizard Tournament seems to have totally preoccupied his thinking. All of the spells learned in this period are in some way, shape or form engineered towards his eventually success in the games.

Once again though, we have moved a spell down the line–the “Bibbleheaded” charm that Harry learns in order to succeed in the second challenge is explicitly named in the book as one that someone his year would not have been taught yet (part of why someone his year is not supposed to be allowed to register for the games!) We have listed it under Seventh Year Spells accordingly.

Protego: Shields the wand bearer from minor spells, charms, and hexes

Ablegatio:  Also known as The Banishing Charm. Causes the targeted object to be thrown away from the caster.

Reducto: The Reductor Curse blasts solid objects out of the way

Relashio: Used to shoot sparks out or used underwater to shoot hot bursts of water

Fera Verto: The spell transforms an animal into a water goblet

Risus hilaris: Also known as the Cheering Charm. Victim becomes happy and contented

Declino alica: Also known as Hex Deflection. Deflects spells. Similar to a Shield Charm, but the spell doesn’t rebound

Tremo cruris: Also known as the Jelly-Legs Jinx. The victim’s legs wobble uncontrollably, in a jelly-like fashion.

Next: Fifth Year Spells, Autumn Term

Fifth Year Spells, Autumn Term

The Fifth Year of Harry’s time at Hogwarts is an interesting one. Due to the creation of Dumbledore’s Army, and Umbridge’s refusal to teach any defense Against The Dark Arts spells to her class, Harry winds up becoming a teacher, and once again we start to see him teaching students spells they would not normally learn at quite such a young age, or ones that they probably should have learned already if they had decent professors. Since we’re not clear on exactly when some of these spells should have been learned, we’re leaving them listed here.

Lux lucis:  Also known as the Hand-held Light charm. A small, handheld flame, and considered part of the Lumos family of spells.

Anapneo: Clears obstructed airways–the wizard’s version of the Heimlich maneuver.

Engorgio: Enlarges objects. The converse spell to shrink them down again is learned in the Third Year classes.

Planto maior: Also known as the Inflatus charm. Causes someone to blow up like a balloon and fly away.

Arresto Momentum: Slows the speed of a moving object that is falling.

Sonorus: Magnifies a person’s voice

Silencio: Used to tune out a person’s voice. Usually used to counteract the “Sonorus” spell.

Langlock: Glues victim’s tongue to the roof of their mouth

Aqua Eructo: Creates a large torrent of water, mainly to put out large fires

Next: Fifth Year Spells, Spring Term

Fifth Year Spells, Spring Term

The end of Harry’s Fifth Year seems him and his fellow Hogwarts Students involved in their first magical battle as they join in with the Order of the Phoenix in the Battle at the Department of Mysteries against Death Eater forces. The spells we see in the back half of this book are either aimed at leading up to this battle or first seen as part of this battle. One would assume in times of peace that students would not have to learn some of them. Another reminder of why it is a curse to say “May you live in interesting times.”

Bombarda: Spell that can blast open a door.

Deletrius: An erasure spell. It erases images and magical “after-effects”.

Oppugno: Causes animals or beings of lesser intelligence to attack the victim(s)

Confundo: Also known as the Confundus Charm. Causes the victim to become confused and befuddled.

Rennervate: Appears to rouse an unconscious person.

Ferula: Bandages a wounded body part on whoever the wand is aimed at

Lacarnum Inflamari: Ignites a flame in clothing.

Ventus: Shoots thin cord rope out of your wand. Once it’s out you can control the rope

Tentatio volatilis: Also known as the Bat-Bogey Hex. Causes bogies to turn into bats and attack the victim.

Prior Incantato: Reveals previous spell(s) conjured by a wand

Next: Sixth Year Spells, Autumn Term

Sixth Year Spells, Autumn Term

Harry’s Sixth Year at Hogwarts was also his last–and though much of the Half Blood Prince novel involves harry being part of things that are not classroom related–either involving Quidditch, Student Body Politics, real World Politics, or following Dumbledore down memory lane via the Pensieve, we do have a few moments of normality in classrooms, especially that of the new Potions master, Slughorn.

Still, though there is classroom time, many of the spells learned in this year of Harry’s life at Hogwarts once again focus on the major battle to come, or in defending himself against Voldemort’s forces.

Tergeo: The Drying Charm, which clears away any liquid, either from solid surfaces or from clothing.

Deprimo: Places immense downward pressure upon its target.

Duro: Turns target into stone. No counterspell listed.

Episkey: Heals minor injuries. One would think this spell would have been learned earlier, but this is the first time we see it.

Muffliato: Fills ears of people around with a buzzing sound. Not to be confused with playing EDM.

Mobilicorpus: Creates invisible strings used to move bodies

Incarcerous: Ties someone or something up with ropes.

Glisseo: Causes the steps on a stairway to flatten and form a ramp, slide, or chute.

Next: Sixth Year Spells, Spring Term

Sixth Year Spells, Spring Term

Nearly all of the following spells are either compound spells or spells that are used in battle. The sixth novel (and Harry’s final term at Hogwarts) concludes, as we all remember, with The Battle of the Lightning Struck Tower at Hogwarts, after Draco Malfoy manages to circumvent the school’s defenses and allows Death eaters to infiltrate the grounds. between the trip that Dumbledore and Harry take to attempt to retrieve the ring Horcrux, and the Battle, nearly all of these spells are generally geared towards use in battle.

Confringo: Causes anything that the spell comes into contact with to explode.

Lumos Solem (or Solarem): Generates a brilliant blast of light, almost as bright as the sun.

Parum oculus: Also known as the Conjunctivitis Curse. A curse that affects the victim’s eyesight and vision.

Punctum alica: Also known as the Stinging Hex. Produces a stinging sensation in the victim.

Specialis Revelio: Apparently causes an object to show its hidden secrets or magical properties.

Finite Incantatem: Neutralizes spells or a spell’s effect. Can stop mass commotion

Transtuli alius: Also known as the Transfiguration Spell. Transforms non-living things into something else.

Legilimens: The caster can see victim’s memories. Only wizards who can fully cast the spell see clear memories.

Next: Seventh Year Spells, Autumn Term

Seventh Year Spells, Autumn Term

Here’s where our classification system falls down a little, as Harry, Hermione and Ron do not attend their Seventh Year of Hogwarts. (And in the cases of Harry and Ron, they never will.)  But that does not mean that the Deathly Hallows novel does not teach us spells. In fact, this book holds more new spells that we haven’t seen before than any book that proceeded it. Hermione, especially uses a lot of spells in the first half of the novel as she takes charge of the trio while they are on the run.

Levicorpus: A non-verbal spell that causes a person to be lifted off their feet and dangled in the air

Liberacorpus: The counter spell for Levicorpus. Sets the person down from mid-air

Cave Inimicum: Spell used to strengthen an enclosure from enemies.

Cushion Meuscado: Also known as the Cushioning Charm. Creates an invisible cushioned area.

Defodio: Also known as the Gouging Spell. Causes deep gouges to appear in the object targeted by the spell.

Occulto Mihi: Also known as the Concealment Charm. Used to conceal something

Serpensortia: Makes a snake come out of the bearer’s wand. Snake can then be controlled by spell caster if they speak Parseltongue

Evanesco: Also known as the Vanishing spell. Makes anything vanish

Next: Seventh Year Spells, Spring Term

Seventh Year Spells, Spring Term

Our final term at Hogwarts, which sees Harry, Hermione and Ron all return to the school for the final Battle of Hogwarts has the most spells of any of our entries–and that’s not counting the ones we moved down to this section that Harry had to learn ahead of schedule in order to survive his earlier experiences at Hogwarts, including Expocto Patronus (listed last, as it is said that some wizards never achieve this spell) and the Bubbleheaded Charm.

Abeo cultivate: Also known as the Disillusionment Charm. The target changes color to match their background [not invisible:].

Geminio: Creates a duplicate of any object cast upon. Note that it can not be used upon living creatures.

Ebullio: Also known as the Bubblehead Charm. A large bubble of air around the head of the user to breathe underwater.

Obliviate: Eliminates a person’s memory. Usually used on Muggles who discover the Wizarding World

Discrim Enres: Also known as The Protean Charm. Copies of an object are remotely affected by changes to the original.

Enervate: Revives someone after being knocked out, or being the recipient of the Stunning Spell (Stupefy, from Fourth Year, Autumn Term)

Piertotum Locomotor: Used to animate statues and suits of armor to do the caster’s bidding.

Portus: Turns an object into a Portkey, a device which transports the toucher to a desired destination.

Expecto Patronum: A wall between the castor and a dementor. Only a powerful wizard can conjure a fully-fledged one

Next: Ranking the Villains of Harry Potter

Any spells that we left off? Which spells are your favorite? Sound off in the comments!