Harry Potter: "And what if I wave my wand and nothing happens?" Ron Weasley: "Throw it away and punch him on the nose." — Ronald Weasley suggests resorting to Muggle duelling as a last ditch effort in a Wizard's Duel[src]

Muggle duelling[1] is a wizarding term used to refer to non-magical combat — that is, fighting without the use of wands or spells. It is thus in direct contrast with a formal wizard's duel, in which combatants may only use magic against their opponent and Muggle duelling is an illegal tactic. In most cases, Muggle duelling involves the use of one's own body for attacking, such as punching, kicking, or tackling. Though usually undertaken by Muggles, who obviously cannot perform magic, wizards have been known to engage in Muggle duelling on occasion.

In the wizarding world, Muggle duelling is seen as particularly dishonourable and unscrupulous, and as such, it is typically only done by inexperienced or impulsive wizards, or those who are in especially messy confrontations.

In extreme cases, Muggle duelling can also involve weaponry, such as knives, swords, or even firearms. One variant of Muggle duelling that was in great use during the Middle Ages was swordsmanship. Godric Gryffindor, one of the Four Founders of Hogwarts was known for his great skill in the style, as were many wizards of the era.[2] Another formal variety of Muggle duelling is known as boxing.

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History

Prior to the establishment of the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, wizards intermingled freely with Muggles, and many wizards were accustomed with formal Muggle duelling as well as wizard duelling, as it was considered unsporting to use magic in a duel against a Muggle. Godric Gryffindor was a noted practitioner of both varieties of duels, and carried the Sword of Gryffindor for the purpose of duelling Muggles on equal ground.[2]

The wizard Knight Sir Cadogan used a sword during his lifetime but had limited success in wielding it.[3]

At Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Muggle duelling is against the rules along with Wizard duelling and is furthermore considered a childish activity to be caught doing. Severus Snape docked Gryffindor five house points in December of 1991 for witnessing Ronald Weasley instigating a fight with Draco Malfoy by aggressively grabbing the front of his robes.[4] In 1992, during the first meeting of the Duelling Club, Millicent Bulstrode resorted to Muggle duelling, putting Hermione Granger in a headlock.[5] In 1995, Minerva McGonagall attempted to give both Harry Potter and George Weasley a week's worth of detention for simultaneously assaulting Malfoy when he insulted both of their families after a Quidditch match. However, Dolores Umbridge changed this punishment to disbarring them from playing on the Gryffindor Quidditch team instead.[1]

Behind the scenes

In a interview with Melissa Anelli in the enhanced edition of Harry a History, JK Rowling said that she and her American editor Arthur had an interesting conversation during the editing of book seven - the moment when Harry takes Draco's wand: " Arthur said, God, that's the moment when the ownership of the Elder wand is actually transferred? And I said, that's right. He said, shouldn't that be a bit more dramatic? And I said, no, not at all, the reverse. I said to Arthur, I think it really puts the elaborate, grandiose plans of Dumbledore and Voldemort in their place. That actually the history of the wizarding world hinged on two teenage boys wrestling with each other. They weren't even using magic. It became an ugly little corner tussle for the possession of wands. And I really liked that - that very human moment, as opposed to these two wizards who were twitching strings and manipulating and implanting information and husbanding information and guarding information, you know? Ultimately it just came down to that, a little scuffle and fistfight in the corner and pulling a wand away." [6]

As they lack a wand, Muggle characters in the LEGO Harry Potter games can do a physical attack similar to a roll to harm enemies or destroy LEGO objects.

Appearances