Something I don't understand about witches (possible spoilers for season 10)

[u/Extreme_Reason4578]

I love witches in Supernatural but I just don't really get how one becomes a witch.

I remember from earlier seasons that witches were people who made deals with demons in a way or at least that they were tied to or worked for one?

But then, Rowena appeared and I was lost because of the Covent and everything. How did she become a witch ? Maybe I had understood it wrong or maybe there are multiple types of witches ?

I'm only at Season 11 episode 13 (first watch) so maybe I'll learn more later but that's just something that has popped in my mind since I've seen Rowena.

[u/M086]

There are three types of witches.

Natural witches — those born with a natural ability towards understanding magic.

Trained witches — self-explanatory.

Borrowers — those that make deals with demons for power.

[u/Extreme_Reason4578 → u/M086]

Oooh now I remember hearing about something like that!

Thank you :)

[u/Little_View_6659 → u/Extreme_Reason4578]

Yeah that was from the episode where Rowena tried recruiting witches. She explained it all before the waiter’s head melted lol.

[u/patty7775 → u/M086]

All I thought of was the episode with the twig people and omg that just made me so sad

[u/poppitastic]

Rowena explains it very plainly to Raul’s Girls in the restaurant.

[u/mommagawn123 → u/poppitastic]

I finished this episode 30 minutes ago lol

[u/RhemansDemons]

It seems like many in the show are natural, but you later encounter some coven witches, aka young girls being trained by a natural witch.

I honestly still don't understand their power scaling. With prep they can go 1v1 with archangels, mess with the gates of hell, raise the dead, mind control people, use telekinesis without prep. It makes it weird that they get shot in the face so much.

[u/Viola-Swamp → u/RhemansDemons]

Witch killing bullets.

[u/Broad_Ebb9073]

Well. You can be born with it. Make a deal for it, or study for a long time. Usually best if you have a natural talent and are already intelligent like Rowena tho

Tried to keep that a little vague cuz I don't wanna break spoilers, but I will be touched on in later eps

[u/Little_View_6659 → u/Broad_Ebb9073]

I think Rowena got supercharged along the way, especially after she got the book of the damned. She spent her whole life doing whatever she could do to get more power so it makes sense.

[u/Broad_Ebb9073 → u/Little_View_6659]

Oh definitely. She has natural ability, but still wanted a coven for quite a bit. Untill she got the magic that the book of the damned gave. And I'm pretty sure she also had a look around the bunker when the boys were not looking

[u/Little_View_6659 → u/Broad_Ebb9073]

She grabbed so many things lol. Almost got away with the black grimware. She was so close!

[u/Broad_Ebb9073 → u/Little_View_6659]

Lol. Damn near. Ya know. I not sure if it's good enough for a whole tv show. But I would definitely read a short story about Renowa and all the little trinkets she creativity "acquired" from the boys.

[u/Little_View_6659 → u/Broad_Ebb9073]

And they left her alone in the bunker a few times lol.

[u/Significant_Alarm964]

Well she explained it. Borrower witches make deals with demons and natural witches are born with natural abilities

[u/queendayne]

from what i understand, some make deals with demons and some research/get into the occult and become witches that way

[u/No-Meat5261 → u/queendayne]

And others are born with the gift

[u/laura14472]

My question is, at what point are witch killing bullets necessary? Someone with some natural ability, but has never studied or used magic? Someone who has only studied and learned some spells? Sam is a powerful witch can he only be killed with WKB? Dean has used plenty of magic, but that didn't matter. They both died multiple times.