warlockry

Warlockry is the practice or art of magic associated with warlocks. In fantasy literature and role-playing games, warlockry refers to a set of magical abilities claimed by a warlock, typically obtained through a pact with a powerful patron—such as a demon, a fey, or an elder cosmic being—and governed by terms set by that patron. The powers often emphasize binding, hexing, invocation, and contact with other realms.

The term warlock has roots in Scottish and broader British folklore, where it has historically referred to a male witch. Etymology is debated; some sources connect it with meanings like oath-breaker or deceiver, but scholarly consensus is uncertain. In modern fiction, the label is a conventional shorthand for a male spellcaster who trades allegiance for power.

Practices associated with warlockry typically involve rituals, grimoires, sigils, and tools that focus on pact-based power. A warlock's abilities are commonly linked to a patron and may be subject to pact terms, such as the conditions of use or a limit on the patron's influence. Common themes include invocation, curses, summoning, and fetters on enemies.

In contemporary fantasy and gaming, warlockry is frequently contrasted with wizardry or sorcery, and is heavily patron-driven rather than solely the product of study. The concept appears in games such as Dungeons & Dragons, where the warlock class relies on a pact with a patron for spellcasting, and in various novels and video games.

Real-world usage of "warlock" varies; some modern witches and neopagan groups avoid the term due to its historical stigma or gendered connotations, while others adopt it as a self-identification within fictional contexts.