Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-4519633-20141022032431/@comment-25926288-20170328000815

It's the latter. A skilled sorcerer could match pure raw power and even defeat them. It's the brains versus brawn.

The only issue I have with the statements about Regina is that the writers sort of forgot she has light magic and don't ever address it. So, I count that as solely a one-time thing as it was only seen once and when the writers are asked about it they give vague non-answering type answers.

You hit the issue on the head with skill and how it succeeds in Once. I did extensive research aka rewatching the show with focus on magic and there's not much rhyme and reason to it. First, I theorized that you couldn't immobolize someone more powerful, at least not fully, but that has been shown not to matter. Rumple encounteres protection spells he doesn't try to break or takes time to break, but she's like more powerful than everyone yet he rarely ever shows it.

It's also dictated by plot until rules are presented but it isn't clear either.

Emma seems overhyped because of statements. She is stated and has shown she has greater raw power. Her skill level is increasing but we can't compare her to Regina or Zelena because we can't measure it. Regina doesn't have the most powerful light magic (besides the writers ignoring her havin light magic altogether) because Glinda spoke a lot of nonsense.