If you had to rank these magic-makers from most powerful to least powerful, what order would you put them in?

Question

From most powerful to least powerful, what order would you put these magic-makers?

Enchanter/Enchantress
Magician
Necromancer
Shaman
Sorceror/Sorceress
Witch
Wizard

Raji and Frater Pan, forgive me for not being more clear, but I put this question in Books and Literature because I meant it to refer to magic-makers in fiction, stories by authors like J, K Rowling, Kim Harrison, or Jim Butcher. I'm surveying for people's opinions for use in, for example, who a reader would see as more powerful in a battle, a witch or a wizard, a sorceror or an enchanter, etc. D&D level stuff.

Answer 1

I wouldn't. All these terms mean pretty much the same thing, albeit in different forms/styles/traditions. How "powerful" an individual "magic-maker" is depends on the skill, knowledge, and experience of that individual. One style of magic is no more or less powerful than any other. If you're talking about literature or folklore, it's up to the author/tradition how powerful they are. If you're talking about D&D, or some other RPG, each character class has its advantages and disadvantages, but the power of the individual character is based on the experience and calss level of the character. If you're talking about modern Paganism or Occultism, it isn't about "power," but rather a quest for personal spiritual growth.

Answer 2

I have to agree with Raji and Frater Pan. I don't see a clear power order to these terms. I understand you're talking about fictional settings, but that doesn't change the fact that I see nothing inherent in these terms that suggests power level. Many of these terms refer quite specifically in the real world to types of magic, none of which is inherent better or worse than the others. If you want to write a story where these are ranks (like in early editions of D&D) that's your perogative, but don't expect people to understand your scale unless you explain it (and even then, some of us will look at it funny. "Necromancer" specifically means someone who divines through the dead. If that's not what you do, the term doesn't make any sense for you.)

To make a mundane life comparison, imagine if I asked you to rank these people from most powerful to least powerful:

Bicyclist
Skateboarder
Rollerblader
Athelete
Snowboarder
Skier

Answer 3

Ummmm Blue, they're ALL the same level of power, the only difference is the kind of Magcik that they do (Except for the magician, which is merely slight of hand, special effects).

Brightest Blessings,
Raji the Green Witch

Answer 4

Enchanter/Enchantress
Sorceror/Sorceress
Necromancer
Wizard
Witch
Magician
Shaman

Answer 5

Enchanter/Enchantress
Sorcerer/Sorceress
Magician
Necromancer
Wizard
Witch
Shaman