Mana[1] (alternatively spelled as Manna)[2] is the hidden mystic life energy that permeates all of nature, being found in everything from aliens to humans to plants[3] and is the substance of magic. All the mana in the universe flows from Legerdomain.
Known uses[]
Theoretically, any sapient species can potentially learn to manipulate mana through study and practice.[2] While from gifted Humans to Geochelone Aerios can learn to harness mana, a race of "energy beings" known as Anodites are entirely comprised of mana and thus have a strong innate capacity for manipulating it.
Projection[]
Mana can be projected from one's hands, such as in the form of waves and beams. Mana beams can phase through the ground, as shown when Gwen Tennyson used one to hit Octagon Vreedle from afar.
Mana can be used as a laser to break free of restraints or cut through the ground. It can also be fired from one's eyes as a form of heat vision.
Mana users can create a mana explosion by firing a blast of mana at the ground. If given enough mana, they can send out a burst of it from their hands to achieve the same effect at a greater scale.
Constructs[]
Mana can be used in the form of constructs, such as:
- Crushing weights, blades, tendrils, throwing discs, and whips as offensive attacks.
- Shields, bubbles, and domes to protect oneself and others
- Bolases, arms and lassoes to grab or throw people or objects
- Chains to tether oneself to others
- Cuffs, tapes, shackles, walls, and cages to restrain others.
- Cushions, slides, stepping stones, ramps, and platforms as forms of transport or to allow a safe fall.
Mana discs can act as boomerangs, as shown when Gwen fired one to hit Galapagus from behind. Mana domes can protect anyone inside them from being affected by Dagon's mind wave.
Mana bubbles can envelop part of someone's body in addition to their entire body. Using this, mana users can knock opponents' heads together. Since mana constructs are airtight, they can be used to suffocate someone or put out fires.
A floating orb of mana can be used as a light source.
Communication[]
Mana users can communicate with others through the mana field, as displayed by Gwen when she called her grandmother Verdona while struggling with fighting Sunny.
Mana users can receive telepathic messages through their energy field. They can also project a hologram of the sender, as shown when Gwen projected a hologram of Helen Wheels when she sent her a telepathic SOS.
Aura Reading & Dowsing[]
Mana users can detect someone's mana signature as a form of dowsing, allowing them to track them down by either following their energy trail, detecting the traces of mana that they left on their belongings, or being at one with the cosmic mana.
Detecting someone's mana signature also allows the mana user to discern what the person being tracked is doing at the current moment. If the person being tracked is "losing touch with [them]self", it makes their mana signature weaker and harder to track, as was the case with Jennifer Nocturne.
Dowsing can be used to identify someone even if the person in question is deceased, as was the case with Victor Valadis.
Mana users can distinguish beings with physical similarities, such as Ben Tennyson and Albedo, by reading their auras.
Mana users can discern multiple minds inhabiting one body, such as when Gwen was able to detect Ra'ad when he had fused with Ben as Ampfibian.
Mana users can notice the absence of someone's mana signature, as shown when Gwen detected billions of mana signatures had disappeared after almost everyone on Earth had been turned into Esoterica.
Reality warping[]
Mana can be used to warp reality to an unknown extent. For example, Verdona undid the damage to Gwen's house caused by her battle against Ben, Gwen, and Kevin with the snap of her fingers, shifting Ben and Kevin back into their human forms in the process.
Using mana in reality warping also allows one to create, repair, and dissipate objects, seen when Verdona fixed a broken glass at Gwen's house, created duct tape around Ben's mouth, and later made the duct tape disappear.
Magic[]
According to Gwen and Charmcatser, magic is powered by mana and beings with a magical aura can utilize it.
A key distinction is that this form of mana manipulation relies on the casting of "spells", being the word used to signify the means employed to carry out a magical action.
A spell can consist of a ritual action, a set of words, a verse, a gesture or any combination of these. Some spells may require celestial events (such as a solar eclipse or a full moon) and the use of talismans, potions and other ingredients to achieve the desired results.
Other Uses[]
Mana users can leave mana discs on the ground to form a trail.
By enveloping a person or object in mana, mana users can move them around as a form of telekinesis.
Mana can be used to perceive people and events beyond what normal senses would allow, as seen when Gwen scanned a Highbreed ship to look for Max Tennyson.
Mana can be used to create portals and dimensional vortexes. One way she can do this is by retracing the energy path from a telepathic message they have received.
By exploiting the incompatibility between mana and high-tech machines, mana users can send out a wave of mana to intentionally disrupt a nearby piece of high-tech machinery.
By encasing objects in mana, mana users can read objects to figure out how they work, as Gwen once attempted on P'andor's containment suit.
Mana can be used to disrupt holograms.
Mana can be used to see through dimensional barriers, as shown when Gwen scanned Dagon's world to look for Esoterica.
Mana grids can be used to scan an area to discern if the individuals within it have been placed under a spell.
Known Colors[]
Mana appears as different colors based on its manipulator's methods, area of focus, and experience:
- Pink is the color of mana in its purest form.[2] It can be accessed by magic users that are highly trained, such as Charmcaster and Addwaitya, or by Anodites, as they normally manipulate mana very purely.
- Yellow is the color of mana that comes from the original Charms of Bezel and from Bezel himself.
- Blue is the color of mana that is wielded by poorly trained Anodites, such as Gwen Tennyson at age 10.
- Hex's mana first appeared as red before becoming primarily black with a red contour. This was because his own evil added impurities to whatever mana he manipulated.[2]
- When Michael Morningstar is at full strength and absorbing/manipulating energy (mana included), it takes on a golden-yellow color and has a shimmering effect.
- When Michael is starved and operating as his persona Darkstar, or generally whenever he is fully draining someone of their mana, the mana turns pure black with a white contour. This is because Michael is absorbing all stray energy in his path, including light.[2]
- White mana was shown exclusively as the color of a spell Ignaceous performed.
Known users[]
- Anodites
- Gwen Tennyson
- Verdona Tennyson
- Sunny
- Gifted Humans/Osmosians
- Hope "Charmcaster"
- Hex
- Spellbinder
- Michael Morningstar
- Kevin Levin (temporary; as Ultimate Kevin)
- Ben 10,000 "Ultimate Ben" (taught by Gwen)
- Other races
- Addwaitya (mutated Geochelone Aerios)
Notes[]
- The word "mana" is derived from "manna", a food that fell from the sky in the Bible, keeping the Hebrews alive, in much the same way as mana is a life force for all beings.
- "Mana" also refers to the spiritual life force energy or healing power that permeates the universe in Melanesian and Polynesian culture. The term also means energy or power in the sense of authority in Te Reo Māori.
- According to Aggregor, the Geochelone Aerios cannot be harmed by mana.
- Mana users can pool their powers together for a greater effect.
- Verdona mentioned a mana field and, aside from it being used as a method for communication, very little is known about it. Likewise, Gwen mentioned a seemingly similar "energy field".
- Mana is a multidimensional and very high-quality energy.
- There are other mana users on Earth than the ones who are known on-screen.[2]
- While one does not necessarily need mana to live, they will produce mana if they live. Dwayne McDuffie considered that "life energy" is a subset of mana.[2]
- Ectonurites are the only known species who do not have mana present in them. This is because they are not alive in a conventional sense.
- Celestialsapiens cannot manipulate mana directly. They would have to alter the universe to change the nature of mana first.[4]
- The out-of-universe reason for Gwen's mana being recolored from blue to pink was because the crew decided that the color palette needed a review. Regardless, changing the color of Gwen's mana was not Duncan Rouleau's favorite choice.[5]
- According to Verdona, most of her corporeal descendants did not inherit "the spark", the catalyst that allows one to control and manipulate mana.
- Although mana is primarily seen in the original Ben 10 continuity, it has been confirmed that mana does exist within the universe of the reboot, as Hex made mention of mana in the episode "The Greatest Lake".