Transfiguration spells

This is a list of all Transfiguration Spells considered "A.O. Canon". For a full list of all A.O. Canon spells, see List of Spells.

Key

Pronunciation: How the spell is pronounced (roughly) aloud.

Appearance: What the spell looks like, including any accompanying wand motions.

Description: What the spell does and how it works.

Regulations and Skill Level:

Regulation Levels:

Legal: Performing this spell is not specifically prohibited by law.

Controlled: This spell is either legal only in some cases, or legal, but not widely known.

Illegal: Performing this spell is specifically against Wizarding law.

Skill Levels:

Beginner: A first-year student would be capable of performing this spell.

Intermediate: A fourth-year student would be capable of performing this spell.

Advanced: A fully-qualified wizard (17 or older) would be capable of performing this spell.

Master: This spell requires greater experience or specialized knowledge, and is unlikely to be performed successfully by anyone under age 30.

Etymology: The root language and meaning of the word(s) in the spell.

Canon Reference: If the spell is canonical, this section notes at least one reference to it.

Notes: Any other information about the spell.

Transfiguration Spells

Epoximise (Bonding Spell)

Pronunciation: eh-POX-ee-mize

Appearance: Invisible, though the targeted objects may appear gummy.

Description: Whereas the similar Sticking Charm makes things stick together with magic, Epoximise actually Transfigures the objects to bond them together. The objects do not need to be touching prior to the spell, as a second flick of the wand towards the secondary target will send the first target there. Trying to remove the objects physically makes the location of the bond stretch like gum. Unlike Sticking Charms that can be made permanent, to do so with transfiguration requires considerable more skill. The spell, if rushed, will fade within a few hours at most unless recast, or some kind of Untransfiguration is needed. The counter spell to a Sticking Charm will not work.

Regulations and Skill Level: Legal. Advanced.

Etymology: epoxy, which is a type of adhesive [1]

At Absit Omen: Casey O'Doherty casts a rushed version, transfiguring a babbling slug over Kiba Attwood's mouth after a duel. [2]

Facsimilius Pollax (Copy Spell)

Pronunciation: fak-sih-MIH-lee-us PAHL-ax

Appearance: The wizard appears to rip the document in half

Description: Wandless magic. When performed properly, will result in each half of the document spawning the part that was ripped away, resulting in two identical copies. Done improperly, it will simply tear the document in half (though the wizard could theoretically mend it with Reparo and keep trying indefinitely).

Regulations and Skill Level: Legal (unless the document is not allowed to be copied). Advanced.

Etymology: Possibly from the English “facsimile”, the full word usually abbreviated “fax”, and Pollux, the twin of Castor in Greek mythology

As soon as Devlin handed over the notebook paper contract, Theodora took it in both hands and made like she was going to rip it in two! But instead of ripping it down the middle, she was left at the end of the gesture with two identical copies. One in one hand and one in the other. Perfect clones.

Theodora Kingstreet in Please...Teach Me!

Inflecto Gusto (Flavor Changing Spell)

Pronunciation: in-FLEK-toe GOOS-toe

Appearance: Move the wand triangularly - up then downward while incanting. A whisp of silver light surrounds the food.

Description: The spell changes one type of food into another. The food must be similar in size, you could not turn a pea into a carrot with this spell but you could turn a pea into a bean.

Regulations and Skill Level: Legal. Beginner to Advanced depending on the subject.

At Absit Omen: Didymus Tawse taught the spell to First Years [3]; Mary Beth MacEvoy tries it out [4]

Magnus Nobel (Explosive Transfigurations)

Pronunciation: MAG-nus no-BEL

Appearance:

Description: The Nobel series of spells are used to transfigure things that will explode. Magnus Nobel is the least lethal and can be the most creative as it is used only for special effects. Results can include harmless fire or a shower of prizes, like a wizard cracker or piñata. Unless you have all the components you wish to include on hand, it's suggested your subject contains a wide variety of parts to transfigure into your target results.

Regulations and Skill Level: Legal. Advanced.

Etymology: magnus for great, nobel from the inventor of dynamite.

At Absit Omen: Leopold Sandusky teaches a Fourth Year class this spell with pumpkins as subjects. [5]

Manicarcerous (Chaining Spell)

Pronunciation: MAHN-ih-CAR-ser-uss

Appearance: Flick of the wand at the target, which causes the chains to appear.

Description: Binds the subject with iron chains, which wrap around the body and lock on wrists and ankles. Instantaneous.

Regulations and Skill Level: Legal. Advanced.

Etymology: From the word “manacle” and the spell Incarcerous

Notes: A more powerful form of Incarcerous.

Riata Laqueum (Lariat Spell)

Pronunciation: ray-AH-ta lah-que-UM

Appearance: First, build up energy by spinning the wand in a large circle over your head, as though spinning a rope. When preformed properly, the build-up of magic will cause harmless sparks to fall from the wand's tip. Then, while invoking the spell, finish off the motions with a full-arm flick -- power in the shoulder and elbow, direction in the wrist -- ending with the wand's tip pointed towards your target.

In a pinch, the spell may be preformed with only the second motion, but the result will not have as much power or direction as a properly-executed one.

Description: Riata Laqueum conjures a lasso made of rope from the tip of the wand. The size of the lariat and how far it travels in its initial summoning is dependent on the amount of energy built up in stage one. Once conjured, the rope continues to extend from the wand like a tape measure until its user's magic is expended. It can be held at a certain length by grasping the rope rather than the wand, or cut off using a severing charm. A lasso separated from the wand remains a physical object for about two hours after conjuration, or until Banished.

Note: While the lasso remains attached to the wand, said wand is rendered incapable of using any other spells.

Regulations and Skill Level:' Legal, Intermediate (borderline-Advanced)

Etymology: Riata, from Spanish, is another word for a lasso or lariat, all of which derive from la reata, "the rope." Laqueum is a Latin noun meaning noose, trap, halter, or lasso.

Notes: Created by Spanish ranchers and favored by North American cowboys, Riata Laqueum is a vital conjuration skill for anyone who wishes to participate in wizarding rodeos. It is also used by those who continue to herd magical creatures, and is the signature spell of Salem student Taryn Dickenson.

Evanesco Differedeo (Time-Skip Spell)

Pronunciation: ev-an-ES-koh dif-er-RE-day-oh

Appearance: Invisible, but faint blue light accompanies the target on its return. The wand motions end with a spiraling circle movement.

Description: The target object vanishes but is set to reappear from where it left after a delay of time, essentially sending it into the future. When the target object “returns” there is a blink-miss-it flash of pale blue light. The time delay is built in increments of five minutes and the total time gone must have five as a factor. The longer the time delay, the harder the spell is to cast, so the caster must concentrate on the amount of time the target is gone. Inexperienced casters may vanish the object permanently. The complexity of the object itself can also add issues. Objects with powerful magical powers (e.g. Time-Turners, the Sorting Hat, the Deathly Hollows, etc.) are unaffected by this spell. Common, non-magical creatures can be also sent to the future with this spell. However, magical creatures resist and may reappear after a few seconds to a minute or not disappear at all.

Regulations and Skill Level: Advanced. Controlled: Its use is kept with the Dept. of Mysteries and the Time Travel Investigation and Regulation Bureau

Etymology: Comes from "evanescence", something that is fleeting or disappears, and the Latin evanesco, "disappear". “Differedeo” is a portmantu of differo, “delay”, and redeo, “come back”.

Canon Reference: A continuation of the Vanishing Spell

Notes: Once complete, the spell cannot be undone nor the target returned before the allotted time as it exists in “nothingness.” Therefore the only way to stop the spell would be to prevent its casting.