Do you know your Diffindo from your Confundo? How about the difference between Protego and Obscuro? Let’s put your magical knowledge to the test with this list of 30 Harry Potter spells and learn what they do.
30 Harry Potter Spells
1. Accio
A summoning spell, Accio! brings objects to you. Great for finding something when it’s misplaced or, you know, fighting off a dragon during the Triwizard Tournament by Accio-ing your broom right to you, this spell is a fan-favorite for its frequent use and relatability. (Because all of us muggles wish we could just Accio remote!)
2. Lumos
Lumos lights up the tip of your wand kind of like a flashlight. Another super simple, super handy spell that’s used all the time throughout the Harry Potter series, this is the spell you want to know in a crunch.
3. Oculus Reparo
Most famously, Hermoine Granger used Oculus Reparo upon first meeting Harry (and Ron Weasley) while on the Hogwarts Express in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. As the words themselves suggest, this spell repairs broken glasses.
4. Muffliato
Muffliato is the Wizarding World’s version of “shhh.” Except it actually works. This spell creates a buzzing noise around the people talking so their most private of conversations is shielded from unwanted listening ears.
5. Petrificus Totalus
Another spell made famous by Sorcerer’s Stone, Hermione notoriously targeted poor Neville Longbottom with this one (he was just trying to do the right thing!). Petrificus Totalus temporarily petrifies the body of your opponent, trapping them in a paralysis-like state until it wears off.
6. Confundo
The Confundus Charm does exactly that—it confunds. By throwing adversaries into a state of inexplicable confusion, you can then get away or, you know, at least temporarily confuse baffle them long enough to get them out of your hair. (Say, if you’re in the Chamber of Secrets and you need your arrogant Defense Against the Dark Arts professor to stop yapping.)
7. Stupefy
Very similar in theory and practice to Petrificus Totalus, Stupefy is a Stunning spell that freezes objects in their tracks. On people, it renders them temporarily unconscious.
8. Wingardium Leviosa
Also very important to Sorcerer’s Stone—and really, an iconic movie moment that every Potterhead loves to revisit—Wngardium Leviosa proved crucial when Harry, Ron, and Hermione found themselves fighting off a troll in the girls’ bathroom. It also produced one of the most talked-about scenes of all time when Hermione put Ron in his place and carefully and sassily explained how he was pronouncing the word wrong—it’s leviOsa not levioSA.
9. Expecto Patronum
A rather advanced protective spell that Professor Remus Lupin teaches Harry in Prisoner of Azkaban, Expecto Patronum repels Dementors. In order to conjure this spell, the wizard or witch has to channel a very powerful memory before reciting the encantation. Eventually, this charm produces a Patronus, which generally takes the shape of an animal and in its most complex state, can even deliver messages.
10. Locomotor Wibbly
Locotomotor Wibbly turns your opponent’s legs into jelly.
11. Nox
The opposite of Lumos, Nox turns off one’s light on their wand.
12. Riddikulus
Another one from Professor Lupin’s classroom in Prisoner of Azkaban, Riddikulus is what one utters when facing a boggart. A pest of sorts that finds its way into dark corners and rooms, a boggart’s true appearance isn’t known as it only takes on the shape of what the person is afraid of. To diminish the boggart, one yells, “Riddikulus!” and thinks of a ridiculous thing to transform the boggart into.
13. Homenum Revelio
HomenumRevelio doesn’t appear much throughout the series, but certainly came in clutch in Deathly Hallows when Harry, Hermione, and Ron were on the run. That’s because this spell reveals if there is a human presence around you so you know whether you’re alone or not.
14. Obliviate
Another one made famous by Hermione in Deathly Hallows, Obliviate is a complex spell that erases the memory of an adversary. It’s tricky though as if not executed properly, can cause permanent memory loss.
15. Protego
At Hogwarts, Protego was most often used during Defense Against the Dark Arts—or by Dumbledore’s Army in Order of the Phoenix—whilst sparring. A shield charm, Protego causes an adversary’s spells to bounce back at them.
16. Obscuro
Obscuro can be particularly useful when in a bind where you need to getaway. This spell literally obscures your adversary’s sight by conjuring a blindfold over their face.
17. Crucio
One of the Three Unforgivable Curses, the Cruciatus Curse causes insufferable pain to a subject, torturing the target.
18. Sectum Sempra
A bit of an off-the-beaten-track spell, Sectum Sempra is a particularly egregious spell that slits the skin of your opponent all over their body so that they slowly bleed out. This first came about in Half-Blood Prince in which Harry discovers the homemade spell written in the margins. The “Half-Blood Prince” takes credit for making up the spell and Harry later finds out that the mysterious spell-maker is Professor Severus Snape.
19. Expelliarmus
One of Harry’s go-to defense spells, Expelliarmus is an absolute classic that whips your target’s wand out of their hand. If the opponent is holding some other item, Expelliarmus will also work to remove that from their possession as well.
20. Geminio
A frustrating spell that forces objects to multiply, Geminio is the cause for all of Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s strife in Gringotts Bank when they’re trying to retrieve Hufflepuff’s Cup from Bellatrix Lestrange’s vault in Deathly Hallows.
21. Engorgio
As the name of this charm suggests, Engorgio literally engorges—or makes bitter—an object or target.
22. Imperio
Another one of the Three Unforgivable Curses, the Imperius Curse asserts control over another person, making them do things against their will. This was crucial during Voldemort’s reign because many people maintained that they only did Voldemort’s bidding because they were under the influence of the curse.
23. Finite Incantatem
Finite Incantatem is a counter-spell of sorts that undoes spells cast from a specific area.
24. Levicorpus
A cheeky, kind of fun one to kind of throw your adversary for a loop, Levicorpus takes your opponent by the ankle and turns them upside down.
25. Furnunculus
Furnunculus is strictly for your opponents as this unforgiving charm covers your adversary in boils.
26. Diffindo
Diffindo rips things apart. While it’s usually used for tearing paper or trying to break open an ominous Horcrux in the form of a locket, Diffindo can also (terrifyingly) work on people if another person is your target.
27. Incendio
Another one used while trying to break open (or really, destroy) the locket Horcrux, Incendio sets its target on fire.
28. Alohomora
Most notably used in Sorcerer’s Stone to unlock the door when Fluffy was kept, Alohomora does precisely that—unlocks something that’s locked. 41 Magical Harry Potter-Inspired Recipes That Will Instantly Transport You to Hogwarts
29. Reducto
Reducto literally reduces its target, shattering it into pieces.
30. Avada Kedavra
The last of—and most evil—of all the Three Unforgivable Curses, Avada Kedavra is the Killing Curse. It instantly kills the target if hit; Harry Potter is the only living person to survive the curse. Next up, all the details on the glorious Harry Potter cast reunion on HBO.
