manacore

Manacore is a term used in fantasy writing to denote a concentrated source of magical energy, or mana, that can be tapped to power spells, devices, and wards. In many settings, it functions as both a fuel and a focus for arcane work.

The etymology combines mana, the generic term for magical energy, with core, implying a central, stable reservoir. While used widely in fiction, there is no universal canonical definition; variations appear across worlds and game universes.

Manacores come in forms such as crystalline prisms, roiling orbs, or embedded nodules in golems. They may be stable and well-regulated, or volatile and dangerous, depending on their charge state and origin. Some are sentient or semi-sentient, capable of responding to attunement.

Sources include mining at ley lines or astral nodes and harvesting rituals. They are charged through ritual or device-based methods and then connected to spell circuits, towers, or enchanted vessels. Attunement by a mage or artificer is typically required to regulate release and prevent overload.

Risks include mana backlash, uncontrolled surges, and environmental disturbance from overdrawn cores. Incorrect attunement can damage users or artifacts, while theft or smuggling of manacores is a common element in fantasy economies.

In fiction, manacores drive economies, wars, and technological-arcane synthesis. They may be regulated by guilds or governments and are the subject of legends about awakening or purloined powers.

See also: Mana, Focus, Artifact (fantasy), Ley lines.