Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-4519633-20141022032431/@comment-25926288-20160508013909

Haha, Regina isn't weak by any means. Regina has difficult times transitioning magic moreso because she's not a natural. It's like a natural dancer vs a trained dancer and both can be just as good, just different steps at getting there.

The issue with Ingrid is practically what you said. We don't see Rumple doing massive things or anything of the sort, but he's not weaker. It's that the writers don't seem to plan out stuff and it ends up making Rumple and Regina look weaker.

Rumple said Zelena was the most powerful sorceress he met; thus Ingrid must be weaker than Zelena. I think Ingrid would be below Zelena but Ingrid does long range limited, while Regina does short range versatile. Plus, they never did say who taught Ingrid magic, so she's likely a natrual like Zelena.

In terms of just raw power, I would say:

Emma

Zelena

Ingrid

Regina

Cora

But if we go with training and versatility included:

Zelena (just barely, but I'll see the upcoming fight between her and Emma)

Regina, Cora, Emma

Ingrid

It was simply that Ingrid was able to catch Regina offguard and Ingrid is highly specialized in ice magic and has tons of raw power to keep up with the more experienced, versatile Regina. Emma was also a beginner at magic, powerful, but not educated yet.

Like Maleficent, who I'll say is specialized, maybe not as varied, but can likely beat Regina under some circumstances. That's why magic battles tend to be unpredictable.

Ingrid and Past Emma and likely others have tons of raw power, but if they can't use it to the fullest, they aren't really all that powerful. Elsa probably as powerful as Ingrid, but we put her low because she isn't trained and is quite limited.