Magic is everywhere in the Warhammer world, it permeates all living creatures and every inanimate thing. Its power is there to use for good or ill. Magic is almost as important as the fighting abilities of warriors, for it can make the difference: between victory and defeat. As a consequence, might rulers and noble lords employ their own Wizards to protect them and fight on their behalf. Some of the races are even ruled over by powerful Wizards.

In the Empire, the Emperor himself encourages the study of magic so that he may have powerful battle Wizards to help fight his wars. In Ulthuan in the far west, the High Mages of the Elves practice the most potent of all sorceries. Even Orcs and Goblins, low minded as they are, have Shamans who can blast the enemy with raw magic. Of all the intelligent races of the Old World only the Dwarfs have no Wizards. Their skills lie in the manufacture of fabulous magical artefacts and enscribing runes of power.

There are many different types of Wizard but they all have a Power Level ranging from 1 to 4. The Power Level of a Wizard represents his ability to cast spells and determines the number of spells he has. These four Power Levels are not intended to represent every possible variation in an individual's abilities; they are useful categories that enable us to match comparable Wizards against each other.

The complete rules for Wizards, spellcasting, and many magic items are covered by the Magic section of this book. Refer to this section for a description of how magic works in the Warhammer game.