LogFAQs > #923931448

Today's trope is Squishy Wizard. Here is the link: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SquishyWizard

It seems that many who possess great magical, mental, or otherwise mystical might are also in the worst of shape. They may be sickly, horribly ill, crippled, or just physically weak and puny; in general, people who have reality-bending powers seem to suffer for it in other areas.

There are usually reasons. Powerful psychics may suffer from this, as they can do anything with their minds for what do they need their bodies? It may also be the result of a magical Old Master experiencing the declining health that comes with age. Alternatively, physical health can sometimes be traded for magical power, be it through a bargain of some sort or the use of very draining magic... or it may be more mundane: rather than go outside or exercise, the magicians spent all their time studying spells, and are thus very weak physicallynote . From a Doylist POV, it's about game balance. Without their physical weakness there often wouldn't be any reason not to use them.

In game mechanic terms, the Squishy Wizard is usually a Glass Cannon, being able to dole out big hurt but generally dying if a tough monster looks at it funny. Although Squishy Wizard is sometimes not completely Glass Cannon. They can have decent, or even good magical defense, to tank out other wizard (or a monster)'s spell, but a single punch and they're down already.

TL,DR: A character who is very powerful magically, but their physical strength is poor to compensate.

Nominations:
Katara (Avatar: The Last Airbender)
Alakazam (Pokemon)
Babidi (Dragon Ball Z)