How did witches and wizards duel in the world of Harry Potter?

Is it formal? Like two anointed knights going head to head in a tournament? Or is it sneaky and vicious like two shadow assassins? How did Witches and Wizards duel in the world of Harry Potter?

Red Dead Redemption 2 is taking the world by storm. One not inconsiderable part of the game is duelling. Duelling is also a large part of the Wizarding World, and from the books and films there are various steps involved in a formal wizard duel.

There are some wizards who use wandless magic, however wands are a huge part of the Harry Potter world and the most single important equipment for a duel. Good wand maintenance and accessibility are thus essential.

More from Harry Potter

Most wizards have their wands close to hand, and in a convenient pocket of their robes. However, some such as Lucius Malfoy have their wands concealed within objects, in the case of Lucius this is within his walking stick. Not only does this mean that Malfoy can deploy the wand quickly in a formal duel, it allows him in a very underhanded, but Slytherin way, to commit a dastardly deed quickly. This is shown when he tries to attack Harry Potter near Dumbledore’s office no less, at the end of the Chamber of Secrets.

Once the wands are whipped out, as Molly Weasley would say, there is a ritual of respect to the rest of the Duel. This is presented perversely in the Goblet of Fire when Voldemort forces Harry into a ceremony before they battle at the Graveyard. First the witches or wizards bow as Voldemort makes Harry do.

Watch your favorite shows on fuboTV: Watch over 67 live sports and entertainment channels with a 7-day FREE trial!

Image Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc

Then the witches and wizards begin the duel. Most duels are friendly with the object being to disarm the opponent but some are deadly. It is perhaps because of this that international treaties have been signed in order to bring a ban to dueling as Percy Weasley relates to in the Goblet of Fire.

Although, there are formal wizarding duel events such as the All-England Wizard Duelling Competition that was held in 1430 and is mentioned in the first two Harry Potter wizard video games. The reality is most wizard duels seem less than equal and are more informal. Many times this is just a case of one witch or wizard catching another off-guard.

This is not just done by dark witches and wizard such as Bellatrix killing Sirius Black when he was busy fighting off other death-eaters. No, even heroic characters often win the duels by surprise. For instance, Harry Potter himself blasts Severus Snape during the confrontation at the Shrieking Shack, while Snape’s attention was focused on Remus Lupin and Sirius Black.

Even in formal duels, wizards can be taken markedly off guard. There is perhaps no better illustration of this than the dueling club encounter between Professor Severus Snape and Professor Gilderoy Lockhart. Given that Lockhart was a fraud, he was quickly demolished by Severus Snape who was a skilled duelist even if he was better known for his potions.

Next. We have some questions about when Tom Riddle first entered the Chamber of Secrets. dark

Duels might be the ideal way of matching wizard against wizard. However, the chaotic nature of much of the fighting in Harry Potter means that such encounters are as likely to end by surprise as by any formal duel.

Home/Harry Potter