Archmage, archmagi, or archmagus (rarely archimage) is a title used to identify an especially powerful wizard, usually within the context of fantasy fiction. The term is a neologism strung together from the Greek word arché, meaning "first" + magos, a reference specifically to the astronomer-astrologers of ancient Persia.
Archmages are most commonly found in fantasy literature, roleplaying games, and computer games. They are typically portrayed as people who have, one way or another, gained the ability to influence the world around them in ways modern physics does not readily permit. This usually draws upon unusual energy sources, ranging from personal willpower to ambient arcane energy to naturally occurring ley lines. In almost all cases they are a subset of wizards, magicians, druids, or other profession which uses said energy, albeit typically a highly disciplined and usually substantially more powerful and/or influential subset.
The first known use of the word in modern fantasy was in Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea.
The Archmage there is the head of a college of wizards, a primus inter pares or "first among peers". The character of Saruman in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth novels is also an archmage, though he is never referred to by that title; however, as the head of the order of wizards (as Gandalf describes him), he seems to occupy the place of an archmage in Middle-earth.
In Barbara Hambly's writings, the fantasy worlds of both her Darwath series and the Windrose Chronicles feature archmages, the leaders of the wizards of those worlds. In the Windrose Chronicles, the archmage's authority magically moves to another wizard on the death of the archmage.
The "ArchMage" was introduced in the 1986 game, the Bard's Tale II: The Destiny Knight as a character class not available in the first game.[1]
In Dungeons & Dragons, archmage is the name of a prestige class whose features are documented in the 3rd edition Forgotten Realms campaign setting. This prestige class was updated in 3.5 and included as a stock PrC in the Dungeon Master's Guide (the core ruleset for D&D). Their powers allow them to perform feats of magic available to few others, but at the cost of some of their spells. The class was updated again in 4th Edition, as an epic destiny available to characters over 20th level. Now focused on reusing spells and using them more often, archmages can also exist as an arcane spirit. At 30th level, they are said to retreat into seclusion to study magic, eventually merging with the singular Demispell.
In Warcraft III, the archmage is the name of a hero type of the Human race. It is a title given to the most powerful members of the Kirin Tor, the ruling body of wizards.
In Heroes of Might and Magic V the wizard heroes are portaid as being an archmage. The archmage is also a recruitable creature of the wizard faction.
Many characters in the world of Harry Potter may be considered archmagi, most notably Lord Voldemort and Albus Dumbledore, the latter bearing the title of Grand Sorcerer.
In Gargoyles, the Archmage was a 10th century foe of the Gargoyles who returned in modern times to lay siege to the island of Avalon.
In the DC Universe, the Archmage was a being of magic imprisoned at the heart of Zerox, the Sorcerer's Planet.
In the computer game Dungeon Siege II, the Archmage was a being of unparalleled magical power, using his abilities to survive for thousands of years.
The GameBoy Advance game Fire Emblem features an Archmage named Lord Athos, who was the greatest magic user in the game with access to all magic types (called ArchSage in the European version).
In Elder Scrolls games, the Archmage is a title given to the head of Mages; the Archmage rules among the Mages Guild through councils and designating positions to his inferiors.
In the MMORPG Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, the Archmage is a healer/dps casting class. In the in-game universe, Archmages are unmatched by any other mortals in their mastery of magic.
In the Korean fantasy novel, Dragon Raja, Handrake Huritchel is described as an Archmage as he successfully defeated Dragon Lord in the War of the Glorious Seven Weeks. Regarded by all who live in the world of Dragon Raja as the most powerful wizard of all time, only he claimed to have mastered Class Nine of magic in all of history.
In Stargate SG-1 "The Quest" Part 2, the plaque in Merlin's resting place/stasis chamber is enscribed in Ancient to read, "Here lies Myrrdin, Archmage of the Round."
In the DragonLance books by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, the head of the towers, which are the most powerful of all the mages, are considered archmages. Raistlin Majere is considered an archmage.
In the Xbox 360 version of Dragon Age: Origins, there is a Xbox achievement called Archmage for reaching level 20 as a mage.
In computer role-playing game Gothic II and its sequel, the term 'archmages' is used as a title of the leaders of the Fire Mages Order.