Mana

This article belongs to the Classic Continuity

Mana
General Information
User	Anodites Gifted Humans Geochelone Aerios
Type	Energy
Details
First Appearance	Lucky Girl What Are Little Girls Made Of? (formally introduced)

Mana (or Life Energy) is the name given to the supernatural substance that is the essence of magic and life itself. Verdona made mention of a mana field and, aside from it being used as a method for communication, very little is known about it.

Anodites, a race of "energy beings", are entirely comprised of mana and can freely manipulate it to their every whim. Humans and Geochelone Aerios can be taught to manipulate mana to a lesser degree than Anodites.

According to Aggregor, the Geochelone Aerio race can't be harmed by mana.

Ectonurites are the only known species who do not have mana present in them.

Known Users

• Adwaita
• Gwen Tennyson
  • Gwendolyn Tennyson
• Sunny
• Verdona
• Ben 10,000 (taught by Gwen)
• Charmcaster
• Hex
• Kevin Levin (temporarily)
• Michael Morningstar
• Spellbinder

Known Uses

• Magic
• Energy Projection
• Aura Reading/Dowsing
• Limited Reality Warping

In Ben 10: Alien Force, it is implied that the magic constantly utilized by both fifteen-year-old Charmcaster and ten-year-old Gwen in the original series is actually derived from mana and that skilled humans like Charmcaster are capable of harnessing it. In Where the Magic Happens, Gwen confirms that what Charmcaster and Hex call magic is powered by mana.

A key distinction is that this form of mana manipulation relies on the casting of spells; a "spell" 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 (e.g. a full moon or a solar eclipse), and the use of talismans, potions and other ingredients to manipulate reality.

Mana can be used in its raw form - as pure energy - for a variety of effects. Mana can be projected as concussive force as well as heat, light, and even electricity; whether mana can be projected as other forms of electromagnetic energy is unknown. Mana can also be used to create energy constructs such as shields, domes, platforms or stepping-stones. Constructs made out of mana seem to have similar properties to either glass or what appears to be metal.

By reading another's aura, one can discern certain information surrounding said individual (e.g. their emotional state, intentions, truthfulness and illness). Dowsing is a related technique for tracking organic life through objects they have touched via their mana energy signature and finding out what he or she is doing at the time. According to Gwen, this form of tracking doesn't work well in an area with few living things and too many machines.

Altering reality is probably the most extreme display of power derived from mana, and this has only ever been shown by the Anodite Verdona. She was seen fixing a broken glass at Gwen's house, creating strong duct tape around Ben's mouth, conjuring/dissapating a disco ball, and repairing Gwen's home when it was damaged during their fight with a mere snap of her fingers. The latter also shifted Ben and Kevin back to their conventional forms.

Trivia

• The concept of mana can be found in many cultures under different names, all revolving around the idea of life force.
• Although it is shown in the captions on television as "manna", it is spelled "mana".
• 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.
• In What Are Little Girls Made Of?, Verdona mentions how most of her corporeal descendants did not inherit "the spark", the catalyst that allows for the control and manipulation of mana.
• Mana constructs are airtight, as shown in Con of Rath when Gwen used a mana bubble to deprive Rath of air and Simian Says when she used a mana bubble to put out a fire.
• In If All Else Fails, Gwen seemed to be able to vary the texture and tensile strength of her mana shields to some extent, rendering it soft and yielding enough to cushion her fall from a great height.
• It was shown in Vengeance of Vilgax and Ghost Town that mana constructs can be summoned by any part of an Anodite's body (e.g. arms and legs).
• According to both Darkstar and Gwen, mana is a very high-quality energy.
• It is shown that absorbing an Anodite or sorcerer/sorceress' powers doesn't mean one is capable of manipulating mana in all its forms, meaning that mana is a power that one needs to study.

See Also

• Gallery
• Magic