elemental power
Magnetism
Also called Magnetokinesis, Magnetic Field Manipulation, Metal Control
Magnetism is control over magnetic fields. At low tiers it looks like metal manipulation; at high tiers it is manipulation of the electromagnetic force itself, which covers non-metals, light and the Earth's own field. Magneto is written at the second tier, which is why he is classified Omega-level.
How it works
The common mistake is to treat magnetism as "moves metal." That is the entry tier. Ferrous metal control is genuinely narrow — it fails against plastic, ceramic, wood and against the many characters written specifically to exploit it.
The high tier is electromagnetism as a fundamental force. At that level the user manipulates the Earth's magnetic field, redirects charged particles, interferes with light, and applies force to the iron in a person's blood. Magneto's upper feats sit here, and it is the reason he is not simply a strong metal-mover.
Braal, in DC's Legion continuity, is the rare setting where magnetism is a species-wide trait rather than an individual mutation — worth noting because it makes it a trained discipline with a curriculum rather than raw output.
How it scales
- Ferrous
Moves iron and steel. Defeated by non-metallic opponents and materials.
- Field generation
Produces protective magnetic fields and sustained flight.
- Electromagnetic
Manipulates the force itself — charged particles, light, planetary fields.
- Biological
Applies force to the iron in living blood. Rarely used, because it ends fights instantly.
Who has magnetism
Across 3 universes. This list crosses publishers — something no single wiki can do, because every franchise keeps its own separate database.
| Character | Universe | Franchise | Feats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magneto | Marvel | Marvel Comics | 6 |
| Polaris | Marvel | Marvel Comics | 4 |
| Cosmic Boy | DC | DC Comics | 4 |
| Doctor Polaris | DC | DC Comics | 4 |
| Static | DC | Milestone / DC | 2 |
| Rasa | Anime & Manga | Naruto | 2 |
The feat ledger
Every entry cites the work it comes from. Feat means it was shown in the work; Statement means a character or narrator said it. Nothing here is a fan estimate unless it is tagged Calc.
Magneto — Manipulates magnetic fields at planetary scale, well beyond control of ferrous metal
Magneto — Wears a helmet engineered specifically to block telepathic intrusion, the standard counter to his most dangerous opponent
Polaris — Inherited magnetic control from Magneto, written consistently a tier below him in output but identical in kind
Cosmic Boy — Magnetic control is a species-wide trait on Braal, making it a trained discipline rather than an individual mutation
Doctor Polaris — Magnetic power originally derived from equipment he designed himself, later fused into his physiology
Static — His power is electromagnetic rather than purely electrical, which is why he can manipulate metal as well as charge
Magneto — Lifts and reshapes a stadium's worth of structural steel
Magneto — Manipulates the iron in blood, a limit the writers use sparingly
Magneto — Redirects a magnetic pole shift on a planetary scale
Magneto — Detects metal beyond line of sight by its magnetic signature
Rasa — Magnet Release lets him control iron sand, denser than ordinary sand
Rasa — The magnetic control is a bloodline ability, not a technique he learned
Static — Rides a metal disc by magnetising it, his standard means of travel
Polaris — Controls magnetic fields at a level comparable to Magneto's
Polaris — Lifts and reshapes structural metal in bulk
Polaris — Her parentage is a long-running plot thread, not a source of her power
Doctor Polaris — Controls magnetic fields strongly enough to redirect a train
Doctor Polaris — Green Lantern's ring was originally powerless against yellow, not magnetism — the two limits are unrelated
Doctor Polaris — His split personality, not his power level, is the recurring plot driver
Cosmic Boy — Controls magnetic fields, the ability the Legion was founded around
Cosmic Boy — Native to Braal, where magnetic control is a species trait rather than a mutation
Cosmic Boy — Non-magnetic materials defeat him entirely, the standing counter
Limits
- Entry-tier users are hard-countered by plastic, ceramic and wood — the standard anti-Magneto tactic for decades.
- Precision and volume trade off; planetary-scale field work is not compatible with fine control in most depictions.
- Equipment-derived magnetism, such as Doctor Polaris's original rig, fails with the equipment.
Counters
- Non-ferrous materials and opponents.
- Psychic attack — Magneto's helmet exists specifically because this works.
- Overwhelming the user with more mass than they can field at once.
Questions
Can Magneto control non-metal?
At his upper tier, yes. When written as an electromagnetic-force manipulator rather than a metal-mover, Magneto affects charged particles, light and the iron in blood. Lower-tier characterisations restrict him to ferrous metal, which is why plastic weapons became the standard counter.
Last updated 2026-09-06 · machine-readable version