Manna

This article belongs to the Classic Continuity

Manna^{[script 1][DM 1][DM 2]} (alternatively spelled as Mana)^{[outline 1][Bandai 1]} is the hidden mystic life energy that permeates all of nature,^{[AF VG 1]} being found in everything from aliens to humans to plants,^{[guide 1][guide 2]} with the known exception of Ectonurites,^[1] and is the substance of magic.^[2] All the manna in the universe flows from Legerdomain.^[3][4][1]

Known Uses

Theoretically, any sapient species can potentially learn to manipulate manna through study and practice.^{[DM 1]} While anyone can learn to harness manna, Anodites, a race of "energy beings", are entirely comprised of manna and thus have a strong innate capacity for manipulating it.

Projection

Manna can be projected from one's hands, such as in the form of waves^[5] and beams.^[6]

Manna beams can phase through the ground, as shown when Gwen used one to hit Octagon from afar.^[7]

Manna can be used as a laser to break free of restraints^[8][9][10] or cut through the ground.^[11] It can also be fired from one's eyes as a form of heat vision.^[12][13]

Manna users can create a manna explosion by firing a blast of manna at the ground.^[14] If given enough manna, they can send out a burst of it from their hands to achieve the same effect at a greater scale.^[4]

Constructs

Manna can be used in the form of constructs, such as crushing weights,^[15] blades,^[16] tendrils, throwing discs,^[1] and whips^[17] as offensive attacks; shields,^[18] bubbles,^[19] and domes^[1] to protect oneself and others; bolases,^[13] arms^[20] and lassoes^[21] to grab or throw people or objects; chains to tether oneself to others^[22]; cuffs,^[23] tapes,^[24] shackles,^[19] walls,^[25] and cages^[26] to restrain others; and cushions,^[27] slides,^[28] stepping stones,^[29] ramps,^[30] and platforms^[19] as forms of transport or to allow a safe fall.

Manna discs can act as boomerangs, as shown when Gwen fired one to hit Galapagus from behind.^[31]

Manna domes can protect anyone inside them from being affected by Dagon's mind wave.^[32]

Manna bubbles can envelop part of someone's body in addition to their entire body. Using this, manna users can knock opponents' heads together.^[33]

Since manna constructs are airtight, they can be used to suffocate someone^[34] or put out fires.^[35]

A floating orb of manna can be used as a light source.^[36][37][17]

Communication

Manna users can communicate with others through the manna field, as displayed by Gwen when she called Verdona while struggling with fighting Sunny.^[38]

Manna users can receive telepathic messages through their energy field. They can also project a hologram of the sender, as shown when Gwen projected a hologram of Helen when she sent her a telepathic SOS.^[39]

Aura Reading and Dowsing

Manna users can detect someone's manna signature as a form of dowsing, allowing them to track them down by either following their energy trail;^{[22][guide 1][guide 2]} detecting the traces of manna that they left on their belongings;^{[40][33][41][42]} or being "at one with the cosmic manna".^[43][44] Detecting someone's manna signature also allows the manna user to discern what the person being tracked is doing at the current moment.^[45] If the person being tracked is "losing touch with [them]self", it makes their manna signature weaker and harder to track, as was the case with Jennifer Nocturne.^[42] Dowsing can also be used to identify someone even if the person in question is deceased, as was the case with Dr. Victor Valadis.^[46]

Manna users can distinguish beings with physical similarities, such as Ben and Albedo, by reading their auras.^{[DM 3]}

Manna users can discern multiple minds inhabiting one body, such as when Gwen was able to detect Ra'ad when he had fused with Ben as Ampfibian.^[47]

Manna users can notice the absence of someone's manna signature, as shown when Gwen detected billions of manna signatures had disappeared after almost everyone on Earth had been turned into Esoterica.^[32]

Reality Warping

Manna can be used to warp reality to an unknown extent. For example, Verdona undid the damage to Gwen's house caused by her battle against Ben, Gwen, and Kevin with the snap of her fingers, shifting Ben and Kevin back into their human forms in the process.^[48] Her reality warping abilities also allow her to create, repair, and dissipate objects, seen when she fixed a broken glass at Gwen's house, created duct tape around Ben's mouth, and later made the duct tape disappear.^[48]

Magic

Main article: Magic (Classic)

Magic is powered by manna,^[43][4] and beings with a magical aura can utilize it.^[3][49]

A key distinction is that this form of manna manipulation relies on the casting of spells; a "spell" being the word used to signify the means employed to carry out a magical action. A spell can consist of a ritual action, a set of words, a verse, a gesture or any combination of these. Some spells may require celestial events, such as a solar eclipse^[50] or a full moon,^[2] and the use of talismans,^[51] potions and other ingredients^[52] to achieve the desired results.

Other

Manna users can leave manna discs on the ground to form a trail.^[53]

By enveloping a person or object in manna, manna users can move them around as a form of telekinesis.^[54][24][19]

Manna can be used to perceive people and events beyond what normal senses would allow, as seen when Gwen scanned a Highbreed Cruiser to look for Max.^[55]

Manna can be used to create portals^[39] and dimensional vortexes.^[2] One way manna users can do this is by retracing the energy path from a telepathic message they have received.^[39]

By exploiting the incompatibility between manna and high-tech machines, manna users can send out a wave of manna to intentionally disrupt a nearby piece of high-tech machinery.^[56]

By encasing objects in manna, manna users can read objects to figure out how they work, as Gwen once attempted on P'Andor's containment suit.^[40]

Manna can be used to disrupt holograms.^[57]

Manna can be used to see through dimensional barriers, as shown when Gwen scanned Dagon's world to look for Esoterica.^[58]

Colors

Manna appears as different colors based on its manipulator's methods, area of focus, and experience:^{[DM 4]}

• Pink is the color of manna in its purest form.^{[DM 1]} It can be accessed by magic users that are highly trained, such as Charmcaster and Addwaitya, or by Anodites, as they normally manipulate manna very purely.
• Yellow is the color of manna that comes from the original Charms of Bezel, and from Bezel himself.
• Blue is the color of manna that is wielded by poorly-trained Anodites.^{[DM 4]}
• Hex's manna appeared as red^[59] and, later, primarily black with a red contour.^[60] This was because his own evil added impurities to whatever manna he manipulated.^{[DM 1]}
• When Michael Morningstar is at full strength and absorbing/manipulating energy (manna included), it takes on a golden-yellow color and has a shimmering effect.
• When Michael is starved and operating as his persona Darkstar, or generally whenever he is fully draining someone of their manna, the manna turns pure black with a white contour. This is because Michael is absorbing all stray energy in his path, including light.^{[DM 1]}
• White manna was shown exclusively as the color of a spell Ignaceous performed.^[22]

Known Users

• Hex (yellow; red/black)
• Charmcaster (pink)
  • Charmcaster (Time Heals Timeline) (pink)
• Gwen Tennyson (blue; pink)
  • Gwendolyn Tennyson (Original Series Future Timeline) (yellow)
  • Gwendolyn Tennyson (Omniverse Future Timeline) (pink)
  • Gwen Tennyson (Ultimate Alien Future Timeline)
• Darkstar (gold; black)
• Trina and Schoolgirls (white)
• Verdona (pink)
• Addwaitya (pink)
• Ultimate Kevin (pink)
• Sunny (pink)
• Ignaceous (white)
• Dagon (via controlling Gwen)
• Bezel (yellow)

Appearances

Ben 10

Season 1

• Lucky Girl (first appearance)

Season 2

• Tough Luck

Season 3

• Ben 10,000 (Original Series Future Timeline)
• A Change of Face
• The Visitor

Season 4

• Divided We Stand
• Don't Drink the Water
• Big Fat Alien Wedding
• Ben 10 vs. Negative 10: Part 1
• Ben 10 vs. Negative 10: Part 2

Movies

• Ben 10: Secret of the Omnitrix
• Ben 10: Destroy All Aliens

Alien Force

• All episodes except Above and Beyond

Ultimate Alien

• All episodes

Omniverse

Season 2

• Showdown: Part 2 (first reappearance)

Season 3

• Ben Again

Season 4

• Evil's Encore (flashback)

Season 5

• Mystery, Incorporeal
• Charmed, I'm Sure

Season 6

• Weapon XI: Part 1
• Weapon XI: Part 2

Season 7

• Charm School

Season 8

• From Hedorium to Eternity (flashback)
• Third Time's a Charm
• The End of an Era (Omniverse Future Timeline)

Etymology

Manna is a food that fell from the sky in the Bible, keeping the Hebrews alive, in much the same way as manna is a life force for all beings.

"Manna" also refers to the spiritual life force energy or healing power that permeates the universe in Melanesian and Polynesian culture. The term also means energy or power in the sense of authority in Te Reo Māori.

Trivia

• Manna users can pool their powers together for a greater effect.^[4]
• Verdona mentioned a manna field and, aside from it being used as a method for communication,^[38] very little is known about it.
  • Gwen mentioned a seemingly similar "energy field".^[39]
• Manna is a very high-quality energy.^[61]
• Manna is multidimensional, and can function and persist between dimensions.^[62]
• There are other manna users on Earth than the ones who are known.^{[DM 5]}
• While one doesn't necessarily need manna to live, if they live, they produce manna.^{[DM 2]}
  • "Life energy" is a subset of manna.^{[DM 6]}
  • Ectonurites are the only known species whose bodies do not contain or produce any manna.^[1]
• Celestialsapiens can't manipulate manna directly. They would have to alter the universe to change the nature of manna first.^{[MW 1]}
• The out-of-universe reason for Gwen's manna being recolored from blue to pink was because the crew decided that the color palette needed a review. Regardless, changing the color of Gwen's manna was not Duncan Rouleau's favorite choice.^{[DR 1]}
• The decision to introduce Anodites and manna in Alien Force was influenced by Dwayne McDuffie's opinion that magic and science fiction shouldn't mix.^{[DRi 1]}
• During early development of Alien Force, "manna" was meant to be Gwen's nickname for the energy, rather than its official name.^{[HG Bible 1]}
• In the Reboot Continuity, Hex made mention of manna in The Greatest Lake.

References

Production Material

Scripts

Script Outlines

Ben 10: Hero Generation Series Bible

Crew Statements

Dwayne McDuffie

Matt Wayne

Duncan Rouleau

Dan Riba

Merchandise

Guide Books

Ben 10: Alien Force (Video Game) (DS version)

Bandai

See Also

• Magic

Mysticism
Abstractions	Manna • Magic • Spells • Soul
Spellbooks	Archamada Book of Magic • Gwen's Spellbook
Artifacts	Alpha Rune • Bag of Tricks • Charms of Bezel • Door to Anywhere • Seal • Sorcerer's Engine • Staff of Ages