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While PSI is mostly a combat-related art, magic has a wider range of purposes. Some of its most prominent appearances are in 'fics like EarthBound: The Horsemen Saga and 101, in which it can be used, among other things, to manipulate objects and surroundings, either visually or physically. Spells may also be employed to have long-lasting protective effects on characters, reducing their susceptibility in certain cases.
In battle, magic users have abilities that are both different from and similar to those of PSI users. Some magicians can cast spells intended to temporarily confine opponents, or use their power to take on different and more physically powerful forms (unlike the Mirror ability, these forms are not dependant on an emulated target actually being present). Theoretically, it is also believed that magic users can generally control lightning-based attacks.
Another notable difference is in the execution of each ability. While the manifestation of PSI is typically dependant on concentration, magic is, by contrast, traditionally dependant on incantation, involving only a spoken word or phrase. As with PSI users, though, verbal expression is not always necessary for more experienced magicians.
On certain interesting occasions, magic and PSI can make for two very entertaining rival arts in "EarthBound" fanfiction.
