In a game, your character casts a spell. A blue bar drops. That is MP. It stands for "magic points" or "mana points." It is the resource for spells and abilities. When MP reaches zero, you cannot cast. You have to wait. Or drink a potion. Or rest. MP is the limit on magic.

MP comes from tabletop role-playing games. Dungeons & Dragons used spell slots. Video games simplified it to a bar. The concept is the same. Magic has a cost. You cannot spam your strongest spell. You have to manage your resources. That is the strategy.

Related terms

• HP: hit points or health points.
• Mana: another word for MP.
• Potion: an item that restores MP.
• Cooldown: the time before you can cast again.

MP is a simple idea. It is a number that represents magical energy. It is also a design tool. A game with too much MP is easy. A game with too little is frustrating. The best games balance it. The bar on the screen is a promise. It says, "You can cast this." Or it says, "You are out of magic." Either way, you watch it.