In Eternal Darkness, Magick can be performed using runes that have been inscribed in a circle. Nearly all player characters can cast magick as soon as they find the Tome of Eternal Darkness, in which the obtained Spells and Runes are inscribed. Magick is used not only in combat, but also to solve many of the puzzles throughout the game. There are also many yellow-aligned barriers marked with Runes that cannot be passed until the denoted Rune is obtained.
In order to cast a spell, the character needs a Circle of Power, an Alignment Rune, an action Rune, a target Rune, and up to six Pargon (Power) Runes. The name and thus meaning of a Rune remains unknown to the characters until its Codex is also found, although this does not prevent the Rune from being used. Similarly, a Spell's recipe and effects remain unknown until its Spell Scroll is found.
The 3-point Circle of Power, which Anthony finds on the second floor of the old cathedral, produces the lowest power spells. During Heresy! (Chapter 7), Paul Luther finds the 5-point Circle of Power by playing the Oublié Cathedral's organ to open a cabinet. During A war to end all wars (Chapter 9), Peter Jacob finds the 7-point Circle by using a Trapper to remove a soldier blocking a door in the cathedral's basement. The 5- and 7-point Circles allow two and four Pargon Runes to be added, respectively, in order to enhance the spells cast with them.
There also exists a 9-point Circle of Power, although it cannot actually be used during standard gameplay. Pious Augustus uses a 9-point version of Summon Creature to summon the Black Guardian and later to summon his Ancient back into existence, and he can use a Mantorok aligned 9-point version of Dispel Magick during the final battle to remove Alexandra Roivas's barriers, enchants, and shields. Ehn'gha's spell array, which is built as a 9-point Circle of Power, is used by Edward Roivas to dispel the forces of Pious's Ancient that resided within that city. When the array is combined with the other three Essences aside from Pious's own, Alexandra Roivas can summon the superior rival of Pious's Ancient, and once it has triumphed over its foe, the ghost of Edward can Bind it again.
Spells[]
| Name | Runes | Description | MP Cost | ||||
| Verb | Noun | 3 | 5 | 7 | |||
| Enchant Item |  Antorbok (Project) |
 Magormor (Item) |
That which is broken, shall be fixed. That which is dull, will be sharp. Thus is the nature of the Enchant Item magick.
When cast, Enchant Item will fix a broken object, or imbue a weapon with the energy of one of the Ancients. Enchanted weapons will remain imbued for two minutes, and do extra damage against enemies weak to their alignment; x1.375 at level 3, x1.5 at level 5, and x2 at level 7. If the weapon is imbued with Mantarok's energy, its attacks will instead inflict a sapping effect on enemies. |
5 | 10 | 15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recover |  Narokath (Absorb) |
 Santak (Self) |
This spell enables the transfer of magickal power from the environment to the self. Restoration of the body, spirit and mind is this spell's purpose.
When cast, Recover will replenish the user's gauges as determined by the spell's alignment. The gauges will recover 24 points at level 3, 40 at level 5, and 100 at level 7. Ulyaoth Recovers will simply recoup the Magick cost of the spell for no net gain, Xel'lotath Recovers will restore Sanity, Chattur'gha Recovers will restore Health at an increased cost, and Mantorok Recovers, the most expensive, will restore both Sanity and Health. |
X: C: M: |
10 30 40 |
20 40 50 |
30 50 60 |
| Reveal Invisible | Narokath (Absorb) |
 Redgormor (Area) |
With this enchantment the invisible is rendered visible. Use it wisely, for some things are invisible for a reason, and mortalkind not meant to see them.
When cast, Reveal Invisible will remove the glamour from a hidden target so that it is once again visible; these objects are usually marked with the alignment the spell must subjugate, as well as the level of spell that must be used. When aligned with Mantorok, it will instead render the character invisible to enemies for one minute. |
CXU: M: |
10 20 |
15 30 |
30 40 |
| Damage Field |  Bankorok (Protect) |
Redgormor (Area) |
This incantation exerts a force of mystical power within the confines of its runes. Nothing may enter till it is dispelled.
When cast, Damage Field will generate a magical barrier that damages enemies on contact; 50 points at level 3, 100 at level 5, and 200 at level 7. When aligned with Mantorok, the barrier will also inflict a sapping effect on enemies. It can be dispelled with Dispel Magick. |
30 | 40 | 50 | |
| Dispel Magick |  Nethlek (Dispel) |
Redgormor (Area) |
For every magick there is a counter. That which is protected, is protected no more. That which is bound, is unbound. Be warned that a more powerful magick than this will endure its ravages.
When this spell is cast under an alignment, enchants, barriers, shields, and magick pools that are both weak against that alignment and of equal or lower strength are dispelled (e.g., 5-point Chattur'gha Dispel affects a 5-point Xel'lotath barrier and a weapon with a 3-point Xel'lotath enchant; however, it would not affect a 3-point Chattur'gha barrier or a 7-point Xel'lotath magick pool). When this spell is cast under Mantorok's alignment, enchants, barriers, shields, and magick pools of any alignment (even Mantorok's) and equal or lower strength are dispelled. Cannot be used to dispel existing creatures or creatures summoned by Summon Trapper/Zombie/Horror. |
||||
| Summon Trapper |  Tier (Summon) |
 Aretak (Creature) |
Evoking this magick brings into existence a creature known as the 'Trapper'. Trappers possess the unique ability to transcend space and time, and to relocate objects and creatures to their own plane.(3 Point Circle of Power Only)
Summons a Trapper of the corresponding alignment. The only alignment that cannot cast this is Mantorok. |
||||
| Shield | Bankorok (Protect) |
Santak (Self) |
From all manner of magick will you be protected when encased in this geas. The alignments can help but never hinder, for within well-conjured magick comes greater protection.
Casts a shield spell, which manifests as balls of light that protect the user from attacks. The color depends on the alignment, but Mantorok adds a sapping effect for each ball of light. |
||||
| Summon Zombie | Tier (Summon) |
Aretak (Creature) |
This conjuration summons a shambling corpse from the Planes of Eternal Darkness, where the dead, and all manner of fell things, dwell. This magick should not be undertaken lightly, for its toll on the psyche of mortalkind is not pleasant. To see with the eyes of the dead is to become them...(5 Point Circle of Power Only)
Summons a Zombie of the corresponding alignment. The only alignment that cannot cast this is Mantorok. |
||||
| Magickal Attack | Antorbok (Project) |
Redgormor (Area) |
This incantation saturates an area with aligned magickal energy, inflicting massive damage to all enemies within its influence. This magick will affect both large and small - for even the greatest of enemies are made of many small parts.
Deals damage to enemies struck by the spell. Appears to strike one enemy, then quickly bounce to others. |
||||
| Summon Horror | Tier (Summon) |
Aretak (Creature) |
The bestial fury of the 'Horror' is unleashed by this magick. The Horror's abilities are yours - enemies may be crushed or rent apart, wracked by magick. This spell should not be undertaken lightly, for its toll on the psyche of mortalkind is high.(7 Point Circle of Power Only)
Summons a Horror of the corresponding alignment. The only alignment that cannot cast this is Mantorok. The Summon Horror Scroll is found by Edward Roivas in the basement of the Roivas Mansion. |
||||
| Magick Pool | Tier (Summon) |
Redgormor (Area) |
This magick transfers the innate magickal energy of the environment to the self. The limitless power of the Ancients will be at your disposal for the duration of the magick. Once the magick has waned, you will be bereft of spiritual power, until it naturally seeps back into your being.
Causes the player to regenerate the associated gauge. Casting with Mantorok causes regeneration of all gauges. Casting this spell under the Chattur'gha or Mantorok alignment will also allow stamina to immediately recharge within one second intervals, allowing "infinite" running and wild swinging without tiring. Spell level seems to effect duration, but not speed of regeneration. The Magick Pool Scroll is found by Edward Roivas in the room with the grandfather clock within the Roivas Mansion. In the cutscene accessed after finding the third chapter of the Tome of Eternal Darkness, Pious uses a similar spell to summon a communication channel with the Ancient he is aligned with. |
||||
| Bind | Bankorok (Protect) |
Aretak (Creature) |
This magick enables the caster to bind a creature with magick forcing it to ally with them.
Causes an enemy of a weaker alignment to attack and be attacked by others in the area. The Bind Scroll is found by Michael Edwards in the room with the small shrine within the Forbidden City. |
||||
Runes[]
| Name | Meaning | Rune Location | Codex Location | Used by |
 Chattur'gha |
Claw | Chattur'gha playthrough: In Karim's chapter Ulyaoth playthrough: In Anthony's chapter, inside the Blue Urn item. Xel'lotath playthrough: In Maximillian Roivas's chapter, held by a Chattur'gha Horror in the Roivas mansion's entrance room after finding the Sealed Envelope. |
Chattur'gha playthrough: Ulyaoth playthrough: In Anthony's chapter, in the room with the fountain. Xel'lotath playthrough: |
All |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ulyaoth |
Veil | Chattur'gha playthrough: In Maximillian Roivas's chapter, held by an Ulyaoth Horror in the Roivas mansion's entrance room after finding the Sealed Envelope. Ulyaoth playthrough: In Karim's chapter Xel'lotath playthrough: In Anthony's chapter, inside the Blue Urn item. |
Chattur'gha playthrough: Ulyaoth playthrough: Xel'lotath playthrough: In Anthony's chapter, in the room with the fountain. |
All |
 Xel'lotath |
Sigil | Chattur'gha playthrough: In Anthony's chapter, inside the Blue Urn item. Ulyaoth playthrough: In Maximillian Roivas's chapter, held by a Xel'lotath Horror in the Roivas mansion's entrance room after finding the Sealed Envelope. Xel'lotath playthrough: In Karim's chapter |
Chattur'gha playthrough: In Anthony's chapter, in the room with the fountain. Ulyaoth playthrough: Xel'lotath playthrough: |
All |
 Mantorok |
Black Heart | In Edwin Lindsey's chapter, at the north corridor of the second level of the temple. Hidden behind a wall that opens when a summoned Trapper presses a floor switch located in the room opposite that wall. | In Edwin Lindsey's chapter at the second level of the temple. Located in a room that a Horror opens up after Lindsey obtains the rune itself. | All except Summon Trapper/Horror |
Bankorok |
Protect | In Maximillian Roivas's chapter, held by a Mantorok zombie in the room below the well. | Damage Field Shield Bind | |
Tier |
Summon | Summon X Magick Pool | ||
Narokath |
Absorb | Recover Reveal Invisible | ||
Nethlek |
Dispel | In Edwin Lindsey's chapter, the "night" chamber. It is being held by a large Zombie within the room, surrounded by smaller zombie. | Dispel Magick | |
Antorbok |
Project | In Anthony's chapter, held by a zombie of inferior alignment to Pious's Ancient in the room below the well. | In Anthony's chapter, in the room with the pressure plate. | Enchant Item Magickal Attack |
Magormor |
Item | In Anthony's chapter, held by a Mantorok zombie in the same room as its Codex. | In Anthony's chapter, in the same room as its Rune. | Enchant Item |
Redgormor |
Area | In Maximillian Roivas's chapter, held by a Horror of the same alignment as Pious's Ancient in the Roivas mansion's entrance room after finding the Tome of Eternal Darkness. | Reveal Invisible Damage Field Dispel Magick Magickal Attack Magick Pool | |
Aretak |
Creature | Summon X Bind | ||
Santak |
Self | Recover Shield | ||
 Pargon |
Power | In Paul Luther's chapter, held by a Zombie of the same alignment as Pious's Ancient in a room that can only be reached after three gems have been placed on a pedestal. | In Paul Luther's chapter, in the same room as Diary Page 3. | All except Summon Trapper |