Magnetism (Magnetokinesis): Drawbacks, Weaknesses & 9 Characters

What is Magnetism?

Magnetism is the power to create and steer magnetic fields. At the low end the user tugs a key out of a pocket or makes a compass spin. At the high end they rip girders out of a bridge, fly on the planet's own magnetic field, wrap themselves in a shield of force, or lift a submarine out of the sea. Anything made of iron or steel is fair game, which in a modern city means almost everything.

For writers, the charm is that the world itself becomes the weapon. Cars, rebar, railings, guns, even the iron in someone's blood can all be pulled into a fight. That also gives the power a built-in rule that readers understand right away: it works on metal and struggles with everything else. A villain with plastic weapons, a wooden room or a glass prison is an instant puzzle.

Magnetism in fiction often comes with history and grudges. Magneto, the best-known user, is a Holocaust survivor who decides mutants must never be victims again, and many later magnetic characters borrow that pull between protecting your people and becoming the tyrant. Others tie the power to a second personality or to anger that leaks out. Decide early whether your character's magnetism is a tool, a burden or a statement.

Variants · 6

Metal Bending. Lifting, throwing, twisting and shaping iron and steel. The classic form: crumple a car, peel open a vault, turn a fence into a cage.

Drawbacks & Weaknesses

Drawback = the price the Holder pays. Weakness = what stops it from outside.

Drawbacks

A strong field leaks into everything nearby, frying electronics and making life around the user hard.
Seen in Magneton (Pokémon)
Long, heavy use can wear on the user's nerves and mind, feeding paranoia over time.
Seen in Magneto (X-Men (Marvel Comics))
Pushing past the limit can drain the power for a while, leaving the user weak right when enemies return.
Seen in Magneto (X-Men (Marvel Comics))
The power can come bundled with a second, angrier personality that uses it in ways the user would never choose.
Seen in Frankie Kane (Magenta) (The Flash)

Weaknesses

Wood, plastic, glass, stone and other non-metals are hard or impossible to move, so a prepared enemy simply avoids metal.
Anything that disturbs the magnetic field around the user, from special devices to satellites, can cut the power off.
Seen in Magneto (X-Men (Marvel Comics))
Characters who can drain or absorb energy can strip the power away mid-fight.
Seen in Doctor Polaris (Green Lantern (DC Comics))
Precise control needs aim and steady footing; a fall or a shove can make the user drop what they hold.
Seen in Link (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild)

Characters with magnetism

9 Holders across Game, Film, TV Series, Comics, Anime & Manga. The same character in another Work is listed separately, because the rules can change.

Showing 9 of 9 Holders · tap a Holder for details

How the rules differ

Pick a question to see how different Works answer it.

MagnetoBorn a mutant
Eustass KidEating a Devil Fruit
Frankie Kane (Magenta)Changed timeline and Doctor Alchemy
Mikoto MisakaEsper training in Academy City
LinkA rune on an ancient tablet

Writing your own magnetism character

1List what is metal in every scene before you write the fight. A magnetic character in a steel warehouse is a god; in a wooden barn they are close to helpless. Use that swing on purpose.
2Pick one signature move instead of everything at once: a railgun coin, a scrap-metal arm, a field that bends bullets. A clear trademark keeps the character from becoming a Magneto copy.
3Give the power a side effect on daily life. Phones die, credit cards wipe, compasses spin and MRI machines are off limits. Small costs like these make the power feel real.
4Decide what the character stands for. Magnetic characters often carry a cause or a grudge; choose whether yours is a protector, a zealot, or someone who just wants a quiet job in a scrapyard.
5Plan a fair counter for your villains to use: ceramic weapons, a wooden safe room, an energy drain or a device that scrambles the field. It keeps the hero from winning every time.

FAQ

What is the power to control magnetism called?

It is called magnetokinesis, or magnetism manipulation and magnetic manipulation in plain English. Ferrokinesis is a narrower word for moving iron alone. Magneto from X-Men is the best-known example, which is why fans sometimes just call it Magneto powers.

What is the difference between magnetism and telekinesis?

Telekinesis moves things with the mind, whatever they are made of. Magnetism moves things through a magnetic field, so it works best on iron and steel and badly or not at all on wood, plastic and glass. Strong magnetic users like Magneto sometimes bend that rule, but the metal limit is the core of the power.

Who is the strongest magnetic character?

Magneto from X-Men is the usual answer. In the comics he has moved asteroids and lifted a 30,000-ton submarine. DC's Doctor Polaris is a close rival, able to bend the Earth's magnetic field to cause earthquakes.

Can Magneto control iron in blood?

Iron in the body is a well-known trick for magnetic characters. Magneto's daughter Polaris is described as able to manipulate iron in the body, and the idea shows up across many stories as a dark, high-end use of the power.

Could magnetism powers work in real life?

Only in a very limited way. Real magnets strong enough to lift cars exist in scrapyards, but they are huge machines that need a lot of electricity. A person creating such fields with their body is not possible, and strong fields would also wreck nearby electronics.

Use Magnetism in a generator

Sources and how this page was written Updated October 23, 2026 +

Each Holder links to a page that confirms the Power in that Work. The descriptions, comparisons and writing tips are our own; we drafted them with AI assistance and checked every Holder by hand. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

Magnetism.