When the laws of reality begin to fray, when gods fall and demons rise, there’s only one-man Marvel calls upon: Doctor Stephen Strange. As the Sorcerer Supreme, Strange commands a vast array of mystical abilities, drawn from ancient tomes, alien deities, and forgotten corners of the cosmos. But his most powerful weapons aren’t fists or relics—they’re the spells he casts with uncanny precision and often dire consequences. Some shield worlds, others tear open the fabric of time. Some cost him blood, others his soul. But each is a testament to Strange’s unmatched mastery over the mystic arts. Across decades of comics, these ten spells stand out as the most jaw-dropping, reality-warping, and fate-altering moments in his magical career. Prepare yourself—these incantations aren’t for the faint of heart.
#10: The Crimson Bands of Cyttorak (Various Issues)
Among Strange’s go-to spells, few are as iconic—or unbreakable—as the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak. When Doctor Strange invokes this spell, glowing red bands materialize to bind even the most powerful beings in the Marvel Universe. Cyttorak, the same entity who empowered the Juggernaut, lends his strength to this spell, making it nearly impossible to break once cast.
Strange has used the Crimson Bands to restrain everyone from the Hulk to Dormammu. In Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #49, he even uses it to hold down Shuma-Gorath, a reality-warping Elder God, for a critical moment. What makes the spell so formidable isn’t just its physical binding power—it’s its resistance to both physical and magical attacks. The bands adapt to the struggle of their target, tightening the more they resist.
Visually, the Crimson Bands are spectacular—swirling ribbons of energy that cage their victim like a magical prison. And like many of Strange’s most potent spells, invoking them comes with a risk: drawing on Cyttorak’s power means dealing with his unpredictable cosmic presence. But for Strange, it’s often worth the gamble. Whether sealing a rogue demon or restraining an enraged ally, the Crimson Bands remain a signature example of Strange’s raw power and tactical brilliance.
#9: The Winds of Watoomb (Various Issues)
When Doctor Strange calls upon the Winds of Watoomb, reality itself responds. This elemental spell allows Strange to summon hurricane-force gusts infused with magical energy, capable of dispelling illusions, blasting enemies across dimensions, and even shielding himself from incoming attacks. It’s a spell of overwhelming force and versatility.
The Winds are often used in tandem with other incantations. In Doctor Strange Vol. 4 #6, he unleashes them to deflect magical shrapnel from a collapsing reality, using them like a gale-force magical firewall. They’ve also been shown to unravel spells cast by other sorcerers, making them useful for magical duels. In The Defenders #2, Strange uses the Winds to rip through a barrier summoned by a rival warlock, clearing a path through mystic defenses.
While they may seem like a blunt tool, strange uses the Winds with finesse. By adjusting their speed and magical charge, he can knock back enemies without harming bystanders or concentrate the spell into a precision blast. The invocation of Watoomb—a powerful magical entity in Marvel lore—also strengthens the spell’s prestige. The Winds aren’t just wind—they’re divine wrath, focused by a master of the craft.
#8: Astral Projection (First Appearance: Strange Tales #110, 1963)
One of Doctor Strange’s earliest and most iconic abilities is his skill in astral projection—the art of separating his spirit from his body. While many mystics dabble in it, none wield it with the elegance or effectiveness of Strange. He’s used astral projection for reconnaissance, evasion, time travel, and even combat across the astral plane.
The most powerful use of astral projection occurs when strange travels beyond the bounds of space and time. In Doctor Strange Vol. 2 #55, he journeys through the Dimension of Dreams to battle the Nightmare himself, using his astral form to protect the sleeping minds of millions. In Infinity Gauntlet #2, Strange astrally summons other heroes while monitoring cosmic activity from his Sanctum—a feat of multitasking only a Sorcerer Supreme could handle.
Perhaps most impressively, Strange can interact with magical artifacts and manipulate spells while in astral form. His spirit isn’t intangible fluff—it’s a blade, a torch, a scalpel, depending on what the moment demands. And in rare instances, such as in Doctor Strange #70, he’s fought and defeated enemies whose souls had also left their bodies. His mastery of the astral plane elevates him from mere wizard to multidimensional strategist, always one step ahead of threats that can’t be seen with mortal eyes.
#7: The Images of Ikonn (Various Issues)
Illusions are a classic magician’s tool, but when strange invokes the Images of Ikonn, he doesn’t just trick his enemies—he destabilizes their entire perception of reality. This powerful spell creates multiple tangible duplicates of Strange that can move, speak, and act independently, confusing foes and buying time for tactical maneuvers or escape.
One of the best uses of this spell appears in Doctor Strange Vol. 2 #4, when he faces a swarm of Mindless Ones. Surrounded and outnumbered, Strange summons dozens of illusions to overwhelm the monsters. Each projection acts like Strange, casting spells and mimicking movements. To an enemy, it’s like fighting an army of wizards. In a clever twist, he sometimes casts the spell on his enemies, forcing them to see false versions of him or even of their own allies.
Ikonn, the mystical entity behind the spell, grants not just illusion but a degree of psychic manipulation, making the deception nearly unbreakable. These images can hold their shape even under magical assault, and when paired with other distractions—like the Cloak of Levitation—they make Strange nearly untouchable. The Images of Ikonn are more than a parlor trick—they’re psychological warfare, cast through cosmic elegance.
#6: The Seal of the Vishanti (Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #50, 1993)
The Seal of the Vishanti is one of the most powerful protective spells in Doctor Strange’s arsenal. Unlike defensive spells that block or absorb energy, the Seal creates a mystical ward imbued with the combined blessings of Agamotto, Hoggoth, and Oshtur—the three gods that comprise the Vishanti. When invoked, it forms a shield that repels nearly any form of attack, including magical curses, demonic possession, and even cosmic radiation.
One of its most legendary uses comes during Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #50, when Strange uses it to block an incursion from a demonic realm that threatens to swallow New York City. The Seal doesn’t just block the invasion—it severs the gateway entirely, sending waves of divine energy back through the rift and banishing an entire army of demons. The spell also glows with a radiant sigil that signals its divine origin, often described in the comics as a holy beacon across dimensions.
This spell is rarely cast lightly. Calling upon the Vishanti is a spiritual commitment, and the Seal often requires Strange to undergo purification rituals or to offer something in exchange—usually in the form of magical energy or personal sacrifice. Still, when the fabric of reality is under threat, there’s no better defense than the Seal of the Vishanti. It’s the mystical equivalent of a full-body suit of armor forged by gods.
#5: The Time Spell Using the Eye of Agamotto (Doctor Strange Vol. 2 and Infinity Gauntlet #4)
Time manipulation is one of the most dangerous magical arts, and few wield it with the precision Doctor Strange does when using the Eye of Agamotto. This legendary artifact, often associated with the Time Stone in the MCU, allows Strange to see possible futures, loop events, and even reverse or freeze time in localized areas. But the true power comes from the spell that activates it—a complex incantation that links his soul to the temporal flow of the universe.
In Infinity Gauntlet #4, Strange uses the Eye to examine multiple futures and prepare the heroes for their final stand against Thanos. He doesn’t just view timelines—he analyzes them in real time, adjusting strategies mid-battle as outcomes shift. In Doctor Strange Vol. 2, he uses a variation of the time spell to undo the destruction of an entire city, but only after carefully calculating the potential paradoxes and ripple effects.
The spell is potent but extremely dangerous. Tinkering with time can draw the wrath of the Living Tribunal, summon the attention of Kang the Conqueror, or fracture Strange’s own mind. In some stories, prolonged use has aged him rapidly or split his timeline into unstable branches. That’s why he often uses it as a last resort. But when he does, it’s a breathtaking display of magical mastery—bending time not with machines, but with willpower and sacred words.
#4: The Spell of Forgetfulness (House of M, Doctor Strange Vol. 5)
This is one of Strange’s most emotionally taxing spells. When used, it allows Strange to erase or suppress memories—his own or others’. While not as flashy as time travel or demon banishment, it’s a spell with enormous consequences. In House of M, he uses a version of this spell to help Wanda Maximoff alter the world’s memory of reality itself. In later arcs, he uses it to wipe his own knowledge of certain dark spells that could be used against him if he were possessed or corrupted.
The most poignant use of this spell comes in Doctor Strange Vol. 5, when Strange erases all knowledge of himself from the minds of his loved ones to protect them from a soul-consuming curse that tracks magical connections. He says goodbye to his friends without them knowing it—sacrificing not his life, but his place in theirs. The spell is performed in silence, with only a whispered phrase and a flicker of light.
It’s a moment that tests the very nature of identity and relationships. What is left of you when no one remembers you? What cost are you willing to pay to protect those you love? This spell may be subtle in its effects, but its emotional and ethical weight makes it one of the most powerful in Strange’s entire spellbook.
#3: The Raggadorr Rings of Raggadorr (Various Issues)
A visually dazzling and brutally effective spell, the Rings of Raggadorr surround an enemy in floating, glowing bands of energy that compress inward until the target is rendered immobile—or disintegrated if pushed far enough. It’s one of Strange’s few purely offensive spells that combines elegance and devastation in equal measure.
The Rings appear in numerous battles, notably in Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #67, where he uses them to trap a corrupted Silver Surfer until the Surfer’s cosmic madness can be cleansed. They also prove effective against magical beings, demons, and even abstract entities. The spell creates rings that are layered with dimensional locks, making escape almost impossible unless you can phase through realities.
Raggadorr, the spell’s namesake, is a being or force of unbreakable binding. Strange often calls upon it when physical force is not enough, but annihilation would go too far. The Rings serve as the perfect prison, versatile enough to be used in short bursts or long-term containment. But they require intense focus to maintain. A single lapse in concentration, and the rings vanish. In prolonged combat, holding them can be like flexing every muscle in your body while reciting a dissertation backward. Still, when the Sorcerer Supreme needs a surgical strike to halt a threat in its tracks, the Rings of Raggadorr are a deadly favorite.
#2: The Spell to Banish Shuma-Gorath (Doctor Strange Vol. 2 #14–15, 1976)
Shuma-Gorath is no ordinary foe—it’s an ancient Elder God from beyond time, capable of devouring dimensions and enslaving minds across multiverses. Banishing such a being requires more than raw magical power—it demands sacrifice, strategy, and terrifying insight into the nature of the cosmos. In Doctor Strange Vol. 2 #14–15, Strange does the unthinkable to defeat Shuma-Gorath: he kills the Ancient One, his beloved mentor, to break the gateway through which Shuma is invading.
The spell to banish Shuma-Gorath is a high-level exorcism woven from forbidden incantations, soul-forged glyphs, and magical death rites. Strange doesn’t just expel the creature—he severs its tether to Earth entirely. This act nearly destroys his body and mind. It pushes him into a metaphysical death state, where he battles Shuma’s essence inside his own soul.
This spell defines Strange’s willingness to pay any price to protect reality. It isn’t a flashy attack or a neatly recited chant—it’s a life-altering act of magical surgery that cuts deep into the soul of magic itself. It’s proof that Strange doesn’t just use magic—he understands it on a level that few mortals (or immortals) ever will.
#1: The Spell of the Vishanti (Multiple Events Across Marvel History)
When all else fails, when the universe is fracturing and the gods have turned their backs, Doctor Strange calls upon the Spell of the Vishanti—a spell that invokes the direct power of Agamotto, Hoggoth, and Oshtur in full unison. This spell is more than just a plea for help—it’s a direct channeling of the divine. Few mages are trusted enough to use it, and even fewer survive its effects.
In The Montesi Formula arc and in major crossover events like The Last Days of Magic, the Spell of the Vishanti is used to rewrite reality, restore the balance of magic, and cast down multiversal threats. When Strange invokes this spell, he essentially becomes a conduit for divine judgment. The Vishanti don’t just lend power—they act through him. The result is world-altering: time resets, evil is undone, and dimensions are healed.
But it always comes at a cost. In Doctor Strange Vol. 3 #30, the spell nearly burns out Strange’s soul, leaving him weakened and blinded for weeks. It’s not a spell to be cast lightly—but when it is, it’s the full force of Marvel’s divine trinity hitting the reset button on reality itself. It’s the ultimate testament to Strange’s role as Earth’s magical guardian: a man trusted to wield the power of gods because he has the humility to ask for it only when the world is truly at stake.
Doctor Strange’s most powerful spells aren’t just mystical fireworks—they’re acts of responsibility, sacrifice, and cosmic understanding. Each incantation carries a price, each moment of power a burden. These ten spells showcase the breathtaking scope of Strange’s magical repertoire and the endless depths of the Marvel Universe’s mystic arts. As the Sorcerer Supreme, Strange doesn’t just fight monsters—he navigates the very fabric of existence, spell by spell, sacrifice by sacrifice, proving that true magic lies not in what you can do, but in knowing when to do it.
