Runic magic/All spells

Spoiler Warning

While the encyclopedic nature of the codex means that many articles will have information that could spoil some minor aspects of the game for newer players, this article is known to contain information that provides major spoilers to elements of game plots, quests, and/or puzzles. Specifically, here you will find informtaion about undocumented spells and spell mechanics. Continue reading at your own discretion.

The tables in this article list all the runic magic spells (both documented and undocumented) that can be cast in the games Ultima Underworld and Ultima Underworld II.

Notes

• Runic spells can be easier to remember if one knows the runestone meanings.
• For a list of the undocumented spells and their locations, see: Runic magic/Undocumented spells

Discrepancies

There are several discrepancies in the spells between UW1 and UW2:

• Some spells are in one game and not the other.
• Some spells are in both games but in different circles.
• Some spells are in both games but are cast with different rune combinations.
• Some rune combinations cast different spells in different games.
• Some spells are in both games but function differently in either game.
• Spell descriptions may differ between the two games's manuals.
• The two games's manuals have slightly different categories and different critera for categorizing a spell.

In the following tables:

• The Games column tells which game(s) a particular spell is in, and whether it is documented (known) or discovered (found).
• Spells in different circles are listed in both circles, the Games column refers to the other circle if the spell is not in that circle for that game.
• Spell descriptions come from whichever manual better decribes them. If the documented descriptions are inaccurate or ambigious, a user provided description is given. Undocumented spells have user provided descriptions.
• Spells that are different between games are noted in the description column.
• Spells are categorized similar to the UW2 system:
  • Duration: A spell that stays active for a certain period of time. For those spells the icon in the spell shelf is shown as well for easy identification.
  • Missile: A spell that launches a missle that will be fired from an aiming cursor.
  • Targeted: A spell that needs the user to select a target by touch, either out in the 3d world or in the inventory. The target must be within arm's reach unless a telekinesis spell is active.
  • Instantaneous: A spell that has an immediate effect, no duration, and no user targeting needed.
  • Permanent: A spell that creates an effect that lasts until changed by something else.

Spells of the First Circle

	Spell	Words of Power	Type	Description	Icons			Games
					UW1	PSX	UW2	UW1	UW2
	Bouncing	Uus Des Por	duration	This spell keeps the caster from taking any damage from falls; in fact, the caster bounces right back up.					found
	Create Food	In Mani Ylem	instantaneous	This spell causes a helping of fresh food to appear				known	known
	Detect Trap	Wis Jux	targeted	This spell informs the caster of any non-magical traps on an object					known
	Leap Jump	Uus Por	duration	This spell increases the height and distance of its caster’s jumping ability. It is called Jump in documentation but Leap in-game.				found	2nd Circle
	Light	In Lor	duration	Provides illumination greater than that of a torch but less than a lantern				known	known
	Locate	Bet Wis Ex	instantaneous	Reveals the a lost mage's location on the map					found
	Luck	Bet Ort In	duration	In combat, this spell improves the odds in the caster’s favor by reducing the opponent's attack skill. It reduces the attack skill of all opponents by 3, which is significant in lower-level combat, but should be replaced by Valor as soon as possible.					known
	Magic Arrow	Ort Jux	missile	This spell fires a magic arrow at an opponent. Can also be used to toggle switches.				known	known
	Resist Blows	Bet In Sanct	duration	Temporarily grants the caster the same protection as wearing head-to-toe armour. Adds 2 points to all armor slots				known	known
	Stealth	Sanct Hur	duration	Briefly prevents you from making any noise, making it less likely that creatures will notice you				known

Spells of the Second Circle

	Spell	Words of Power	Type	Description	Icons			Games
					UW1	PSX	UW2	UW1	UW2
	Curse	An Sanct	duration	seems to decreases defense skills of opponents in combat				found
	Cause Fear	Quas Corp	instantaneous targeted	This spell can cause an opponent to lose heart and flee UW1: Auto-targeted, UW2: User targeted				known	known
	Deadly Seeker	Ort Wis Jux	missile	This spell releases a projectile that tracks down and strikes an opponent					known
	Detect Monster	Wis Mani	instantaneous	Informs the caster as to the presence of nearby creatures				known
	Dispel Hunger	Wis Mani	instantaneous	Causes the caster to feel "well fed"					found
	Leap Jump	Uus Por	duration	This spell increases the height and distance of its caster’s jumping ability. It is called Jump in manual and Leap in the game.				1st Circle	known
	Lesser Heal	In Bet Mani	instantaneous	Heals the caster's minor wounds. Restores 2d8 (2-16) vitality points				known	known
	Rune of Flame	In Flam Jux	instantaneous	Creates an enchantment on a fixed location which will burst into flames should anything disturb it					known
	Rune of Warding	In Jux	instantaneous	Creates an enchantment on a fixed location which will report to the caster should anything disturb it				known
	Slow Fall	Rel Des Por	duration	Allows the caster to fall slowly and to avoid injury when jumping from great heights. Levitate and Fly spells automatically decay into this one				known	known
	Valor	Quas An Corp	duration	Improves a caster's abilities in combat (20% weapon proficiency increase)					found

Spells of the Third Circle

	Spell	Words of Power	Type	Description	Icons			Games
					UW1	PSX	UW2	UW1	UW2
	Bleeding	Jux Mani	targeted	This spell drains blood from a selected creature. It does 10 points of damage, plus half the caster's casting skill. The target's armor value does not affect this.					known
	Conceal	Bet Sanct Lor	duration	Briefly obscures the caster to might remain unseen				known
	Cure Poison	An Nox	instantaneous	This spell acts as an antidote to any poison currently in the caster’s system.				5th Circle	known
	Dispel Rune	An Jux Ort	targeted	Removes a magical rune such as a Rune of Flame or a Rune of Stasis. Note that you do not have to touch a magical rune to set it off. You can also Use the rune to fire it on purpose. This is occasionally useful.					known
	Lightning Electrical Bolt	Ort Grav	missile	Hurls a bolt of arcane electrical energy at a foe. This spell is called Lightning in the manuals and Electrical Bolt in game. The projectile is called a lightning bolt.				known	known
	Night Vision	Quas Lor	duration	Allows the caster to see without the benefit of a light source at a distance equivalent to a lantern.				known	known
	Repel Undead	An Kal Corp	instantaneous	This spell can cause numerous undead in front of the caster to attempt to flee (or attack, if backed into a corner). Already-fleeing creatures take a number of points of damage equal to the caster's casting skill					found
	Speed	Rel Tym Por	duration	Decreases the speed of others thereby making the caster relatively faster				known	known
	Strengthen Door	Sanct Jux	instantaneous	Magically spikes a door				known
	Thick Skin	In Sanct	duration	Thickens the caster's skin to protect from blows.				found	4th Circle
	Water Walk	Ylem Por	duration	Allows the caster to walk on water				4th Circle	known

Spells of the Fourth Circle

	Spell	Words of Power	Type	Description	Icons			Games
					UW1	PSX	UW2	UW1	UW2
	Flameproof Resist Fire	Sanct Flam	duration	Briefly grants a partial resistance to damage from flame. Called Resist Fire in the UW1 Guide and Flameproof everywhere else.				known	known
	Frost	In An Flam	instantaneous	This spell creates frost in an area in front of the caster. This frost will inflict about 10 points of damage to every creature in the area.					found
	Heal	In Mani	instantaneous	This spell heals the caster of even grievous wounds. Restores 4d8 (4-32) vitality points				known	known
	Levitate	Hur Por	duration	Briefly allows you to rise vertically into the air. It grants control of vertical height at the cost of reduced horizontal velocity.				known	5th Circle
	Missile Protection	Grav Sanct Por	duration	This spell renders the caster invulnerable to most missiles, and offers protection from others				5th Circle	known
	Poison	Nox Mani	instantaneous	Poisons all nearby creatures, even through walls, regardless of their mood. If they weren't hostile before they will be now.				known
	Poison Weapon	Nox Jux Ylem	duration	This spell envenoms the caster’s weapons					known
	Remove Trap	An Jux	targetd	This spell negates a non-magical trap				known	known
	Study Monster	Wis Mani	targeted	This spell gives the caster knowledge about a creature. It really comes into its own once you know just how much damage you can do with various combat spells. For example, with it you can tell just how many Bleeding spells you will need to cast to defeat your foe, and you can figure out whether that is within your current mana budget. In addition, you should consider casting it whenever you encounter an unfamiliar creature type.					known
	Thick Skin	In Sanct	dueation	This spell increases resistance to damage, more so than the First Circle spell Resist Blows, but less so than the Eighth Circle spell Iron Flesh. Adds 3 points to all armor slots.				3rd Circle	found
	Water Walk	Ylem Por	duration	Allows the caster to walk on water				found	3rd Circle

Spells of the Fifth Circle

	Spell	Words of Power	Type	Description	Icons			Games
					UW1	PSX	UW2	UW1	UW2
	Cure Poison	An Nox	instantaneous	This spell acts as an antidote to any poison currently in the caster’s system.				known	3rd Circle
	Fireball	Por Flam	missile	This spell hurls a flaming missile at an opponent				known	known
	Levitate	Uus Hur Por	duration	This spell briefly allows the caster to rise vertically into the air. Horizontal movement speed is restricted while airborne. This spell decays into Slow Fall				3rd Circle	known
	Mending	Rel Sanct Ylem	targeted	When cast on a weapon, armor, a light source, food or a door, this spell brings it to top quality					found
	Missile Protection	Grav Sanct Por	duration	This spell renders the caster invulnerable to most missiles, and offers protection from others				known	4th Circle
	Name Enchantment	Ort Wis Ylem	targeted	This spell reveals the true nature of the object on which the spell is cast. It identifies magical items and bones.				known	known
	Open	Ex Ylem	targeted	This spell unlocks a locked door or chest				known	known
	Rune of Stasis	In Tym Jux	instantaneous	Similar to the Second Circle Rune of Flame spell, this spell creates a floating rune that paralyzes the first creature to touch it. The spell lasts until disturbed.					found
	Smite Undead	An Corp Mani	instantaneous targeted	Delivers a crushing blow to a single undead being UW1: Auto-targets nearest, UW2: User targeted				found	known
	Telekinesis	Ort Por Ylem	duration	This spell allows the caster to pick up and/or manipulate items from a distance. Also extends the range of touch spells.				6th Circle	known

Spells of the Sixth Circle

	Spell	Words of Power	Type	Description	Icons			Games
					UW1	PSX	UW2	UW1	UW2
	Charm	Quas Rel Wis	targeted	This spell causes the target to become friendly toward the caster					known
	Daylight	Vas In Lor	duration	This spell provides bright illumination for extended periods of time				known	known
	Gate Travel	Vas Rel Por	instantaneous targeted	UW1: Allows you to travel instantly to a moonstone UW2:When cast on one moonstone, this spell takes the caster instantaneously to another moonstone				known	known
	Greater Heal	Vas In Mani	instantaneous	This spell brings the caster back to his or her original vigor (full Vitality)				known	known
	Invisibility	Vas Sanct Lor	duration	This spell causes the caster to become nearly impossible to detect by normal means				7th Circle	known
	Map Area	Wis Ex	instantaneous	This spell reveals an area around the caster to the auto-map. The radius of this area varies from 15 feet (at casting skill 0) up to 165 feet (at casting skill 30)					found
	Paralyze	An Ex Por	instantaneous targeted	This spell prevents the target from moving UW1: auto-targeted, UW2: user targeted				known	known
	Sheet Lightning	Vas Ort Grav	instantaneous	This spell causes a cone of lightning bolts to erupt from the caster’s hands				found	known
	Telekinesis	Ort Por Ylem	duration	This spell allows the caster to pick up and/or manipulate items from a distance. Also extends the range of touch spells.				known	5th Circle

Spells of the Seventh Circle

	Spell	Words of Power	Type	Description	Icons			Games
					UW1	PSX	UW2	UW1	UW2
	Ally	In Mani Rel	instantaneous	Causes the ensorcelled being to fight the last enemy he or she saw you attack				known
	Enchantment	Vas Ort Ylem	instantaneous	This spell can either be used to add charges to any magic item which can take charges, or to permanently enchant a weapon or armor.					found
	Fly	Vas Hur Por	duration	This spell allows the caster to fly through air for a time, and then glide gently to the ground				known	8th Circle
	Invisibility	Vas Sanct Lor	duration	This spell causes the caster to become nearly impossible to detect by normal means				known	6th Circle
	Magic Satellite	Ort Por Grav	instantaneous	This spell creates an object that orbits the caster, and that explodes on contact with any creature					known
	Confusion Mass Confusion	Vas An Wis	instantaneous	Sends all nearby creatures into an upset mood. Hostiles are no longer hostile and friendlies are no longer friendly. All are upset. Called Confusion in UW1, Mass Confusion in UW2				known	known
	Portal	Vas Ex Ylem	instantaneous	This spell transports the caster forward some distance, regardless of intervening objects, as long as there is an open space to arrive at. Useful for passing through walls.					known
	Reveal	Ort An Quas	instantaneous	This spell reveals hidden objects and concealed exits from the caster’s current location				known	known
	Shockwave	Jux Hur	instantaneous	This spell causes a devastating shockwave to expand outward from the caster’s body. It affects all creatures within 12 feet of you, and does 15+(casting/2) points of damage to each creature in the area.					known
	Summon Daemon	Kal An Mani	instantaneous	This spell summons a daemon whose power depends on the casting skill of the summoner. Unfortunately, being a daemon, it will be hostile.					found
	Monster Summoning	Kal Mani	instantaneous	Summons a random critter in front of the caster, usually in a mellow state				found
	Tremor	Vas Por Ylem	instantaneous	Creates a vast upheaval, causing the ground to quake and rocks to fall				8th Circle	found

Spells of the Eighth Circle

	Spell	Words of Power	Type	Description	Icons			Games
					UW1	PSX	UW2	UW1	UW2
	Armageddon	Vas Kal Corp	instantaneous	Ends all life everywhere, and destroys all objects in the world and inventory, trapping the caster in a dead and desolate world				found	found
	Flame Wind	Flam Hur	instantaneous	This spell unleashes a storm of fireballs in front of the caster				known	known
	Fly	Vas Hur Por	duration	This spell allows the caster to fly through air for a time, and then glide gently to the ground. This spell decays into Slow Fall				7th Circle	known
	Freeze Time	An Tym	duration	This spell stops the flow of time for all save the caster				known	known
	Iron Flesh	In Vas Sanct	duration	This spell greatly increases resistance to damage. Adds 5 points to all armor slots.				known	known
	Restoration	Vas Mani	instantaneous	This spell restores the caster to full health, wakefulness and satiation					known
	Roaming Sight	Ort Por Wis	duration	This spell allows the caster to move his or her point of view at will, regardless of physical constraints				known	known
	Smite Foe	Vas Jux Mani	targeted	This spell is a more powerful version of the Third Circle Bleeding spell. It causes a single creature (which must be one that can bleed) to take 110 points of damage, plus 3 points per level of the caster's casting skill. It will kill almost any creature.					found
	Tremor	Vas Por Ylem	instantaneous	Creates a vast upheaval, causing the ground to quake and rocks to fall				known	7th Circle

References

•  Ultima Underworld The Stygian Abyss PLAYER'S GUIDE (Ultima Underworld). Origin Systems, Inc.: 1992. Pages 26-29.
• Aaron Allston. Ultima Underworld Clue Book: Mysteries of the Abyss (Ultima Underworld). Origin Systems, Inc.: 1992. Pages 58.
• Grossman, Austin et al. Ultima Underworld II Labyrinth of Worlds PLAYER'S GUIDE (Ultima Underworld II). Origin Systems, Inc.: 1992. Pages 13,28-32.
• Austin Grossman. "Undocumented Spells". Ultima Underworld II Clue Book: Gems of Enlightenment (Ultima Underworld II). Origin Systems, Inc.: 1993.
• Austin Grossman. "Spell Mechanics". Ultima Underworld II Clue Book: Gems of Enlightenment (Ultima Underworld II). Origin Systems, Inc.: 1993. Page 56.