Harry Potter: 15 Spells Ranked From Weakest To Strongest
5. The Memory Charm (Obliviate)
The Memory Charm is one of the most powerful and manipulative spells at a witch or wizard's disposal. When used, the Obliviate Charm erases certain memories within its target.
Like many spells on this list, it was first used to humorous effect in the early stages of the franchise, like when Professor Lockhart attempted to erase Harry and Ron's memories but ended up cursing himself thanks to Ron's broken wand.
As the series grew darker and more mature, though, so to did the originally light hearted memory spell. In The Deathly Hallows, for example, Hermione uses Obliviate to erase memories of herself from her muggle parents, so they wouldn't be harmed in the coming war and wouldn't miss her in the process.
A deeply effective and troubling spell, Obliviate's ability to mess with people's minds and edit their memories makes it a powerful spell best avoided.