--- title: Top 10 Coolest Harry Potter Spells description: Breaking news and analysis from time.com. Politics, world news, photos, video, tech reviews, health, science, and entertainment news. canonical: https://time.com/archive/7123168/top-10-coolest-harry-potter-spells/ author: TIME Staff article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2011-07-11T19:00:00.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-03-16T06:18:05.921Z article:section: Entertainment og:title: Top 10 Coolest Harry Potter Spells og:description: Breaking news and analysis from time.com. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account. by [TIME Staff](https://time.com/author/time-staff/) Jul 11, 2011 7:00 PM UTC by [TIME Staff](https://time.com/author/time-staff/) Jul 11, 2011 7:00 PM UTC ## Bubble-Head Charm 
One of the many reasons wizards happen to look cooler than Muggles? The pointy hats, of course — that goes without saying — but what about their ability to play extreme sports without extremely dorky safety equipment? The Bubble-Head Charm provides the caster with a nice, airtight chamber of oxygen so they can breathe underwater and thus avoid scuba gear or really unpleasant smells. (It's used in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by Cedric Diggory and Fleur Delacour during the Triwizard Tournament.)



On scene at the Harry Potter premiere. allietownsend ## Episkey 
Magic means no Band-Aids. Instead, small scrapes vanish with a swish and a flick. Episkey, a spell for minor cuts and injuries, keeps the accident-prone from telltale scars and heals battered athletes on the field. (It's used in The Goblet of Fire to fix Harry's broken nose.)



See the top 10 wizards. allietownsend ## Finite Incantatem 
The obvious hazard of a magical existence? Dealing with magic. Even Muggle schools can be a treacherous place to send your adolescent child, to say nothing of the added oomph a teenager with a wand could bring to a prank war. At least there's some security. Whisper "Finite Incantatem" and (terrible Latin aside) you'll undo the spells that are vexing you.



See TIME's photo-essay "Growing Up with Harry Potter." allietownsend ## Lumos 
A spell that creates fireworks? Awesome. A spell that doubles as a flashlight? That's just handy. Pragmatic wizards learn Lumos at a young age, the always-ready wand night-light. It's nothing fancy, but neither was our original discovery of fire — and look how that's turned out. (Note: We're unsure of the environmental impact of magical energy, but we have a feeling that wizards' carbon footprints are much smaller than ours, or at least they've been spelled to look that way.)



See "The Boy Who Lived Forever." allietownsend ## Packing Charm 
Travel doesn't faze the magically inclined. Aside from elegantly efficient methods of travel — flying car, broom, apparition — wizards make trips even more stress-free without the need to pack for themselves. A simple Packing Charm will zip everything you'll need into your trunk, and skilled wizards even send their packs packing ahead of them. Airports are right: efficient travel is sexy.



See a primer of Harry Potter. allietownsend ## Bedazzling Hex 
The chameleon of spells, the Bedazzling Hex is a complex spell used to make people or objects appear to be invisible. The spell is often used in the production of Invisibility Cloaks, a highly coveted piece of Potter fare. In the Muggle world, this spell would be handy for hiding Christmas gifts, sneaking out of the house and disguising illegal substances.



See the top 10 movies based on kids' books. allietownsend ## Protego Horribilis 
If you're a Potter veteran, you'll know that with great power comes some seriously spooky stuff. Protego Horribilis protects against dark magic, and in J.K. Rowling's books, it's used to protect Hogwarts against invaders. As spells go, it's certainly light on novelty, but remember, safety first, kids.



See "Is Pottermore Good for Harry?" allietownsend ## Undetectable Extension Charm 
As Harry, Ron and Hermione make their escape from the Death Eaters in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Hermione's handbag doubles as a moving van. Using an Undetectable Extension Charm, the brainy witch is able to pack provisions for their dangerous adventure inside her purse. Books, food, even a tent are carted neatly along, without so much as a shoulder ache. Think of what it could do for international backpacking trips.



See photos from the Harry Potter theme park. allietownsend ## Flying Charm 
For many, flying is the appeal of witchcraft. Harry and friends zoom around on broomsticks, but it's the spell — not the broom — that gives them the power to fly. A strong Flying Charm renders your object ready for the skies. And while we've seen the perils of attempting to pilot a flying car, Hagrid's motorbike seems to sail beside the clouds like a dream. Just beware of trees.



See a video of 10 Questions with Emma Watson. allietownsend ## Expecto Patronum 
The Patronus charm isn't only an extremely powerful piece of magic, it's also a deeply personal one. Each Patronus is specific to its wizard and is conjured by focusing on your happiest memory. Used for protection or even to send a message, a fully formed Patronus will take the shape of an animal or magical creature and act as a shield against dark magic, specifically Dementors. Though the spell is traditionally tough to master, it is one of the most powerful tools a wizard can deploy — and befitting to Rowling's message, it comes from a place of joy and of love.



See photos of Harry Potter's great British thespians.