Mana

For mana as an in-game resource, see Mana (game resource).

Mana is a substance. Arcane energy is derived from the phase transitions of mana - if mana were water, then arcane would be steam pressure. Mana most efficiently fills an unbroken vessel.

Mages

Main article: Mage

• Magi are unique in their ability to store mana for future use without alchemical aid.
• A mage can manipulate mana for defense as well as offense. The most generalized abjuration spell is the [Mana Shield], which transmutes raw mana into a protective barrier.
• Mages can disenchant magical items, producing a unique form of crystallized mana which can be used to imbue other items with magical abilities.

Mana bombs

Main article: Mana bomb

Mana bombs are bombs fueled by pure arcane energy. Blood elves had created the cursed things.

Mana creatures

• Arcane Constructs are intelligent, but unpredictable creatures spawned of pure mana and intellect. The high elves outlawed them around 1,500 years ago, but the new era of Highborne have begun using them again.
• Mana surges
• Mana wyrms are attracted to and feed off arcane energies. They are commonly found in Quel'Thalas around Burning Crystals and were used as guardians. Blood elves have been known to drain magic from mana wyrms to sate their arcane addiction. They can also be found in Netherstorm.

Manaforges

Manaforges in art.

Main article: Manaforge

Kael'thas Sunstrider used a number of manaforges in Netherstorm to harvest mana from the Twisting Nether. The mana was channeled to Mechanar where it was packaged into mana cells. After Kael'thas' defeat in Tempest Keep, he used ethereals to smuggle these cells to his forces on the Isle of Quel'Danas. The Shattered Sun Offensive stole mana cells from the ethereals to power their portal to Quel'Danas.

Moonwells

Moonwell

Main article: Moonwell

Moonwells — bound to the magic of nature and the light of Elune — were places of healing for both the land around them and those who drank of their waters. Magi and other spellcasters could even refresh their mana, a gift of the Mother Moon to Azeroth's other defenders.

The moonwells hold the waters of the Well of Eternity, the ancient source of magic that has wrought so many horrors upon our world. The druids take advantage of its properties.

Trivia

• Moam had the ability to summon burning elementals crafted of pure mana.
• Little is known about how the first Obsidian Destroyers were created, but legends speak of Vek'lor himself hammering out the first statue in a molten forge beneath the Ruins of Ahn'Qiraj. To Vek'lor's surprise, his inert creations were quickly imbued with limited sentience by his shadowy overseer, as well as a mysterious power - the ability to drain the magical energies of living creatures. In addition these energies could be stored and then released in a tremendous burst of incendiary mana.

Speculation

This article or section includes speculation, observations or opinions possibly supported by lore or by Blizzard officials. It should not be taken as representing official lore.

• Mana might be life force, or converted life force. In-game, the warlock's [Life Tap] ability takes a portion of the warlock's life and turns it into mana (this might simply be an in-game mechanic though, the art depicting a warlock who has used Life Tap is surrounded by what seems to be fel energy and according to Dave Kosak warlocks convert life into fel). In addition, Chi (the Pandaren word for Spirit) is the life force shamans manipulate and mana is defined as spiritual energy in Blizzard's Diablo (it's also the Hawaain term for life force too). It could be that in Word of Warcraft arcane energy represents life force though: if mana were water, then arcane would be steam pressure

• Water (according to the flavor text for the [Mana Spring Totem] TCG card) is the element of life. This might be because water contains mana. There was a time when all the water in the world was in one location. All the rain and rivers and seas and streams, all the showers and creeks and tears, all in one location, in one well. Volatile arcane magic was once concentrated in the Well of Eternity, which was to be the fount of life for the world. Its potent energies would nurture the bones of the world and empower life to take root in the land's rich soil.

Gallery

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  A warlock draining mana: Tremendous power comes from a warlock's ability to sustain complex rituals.

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  A priest channeling demonic energies into a bolt of negative energy that will burn away an enemy's mana reserves.