Recommendations Weak magic is OP with the right application.

Looking for Novels where seemingly weak or "useless" magic is actually pretty strong, IF applied in the right way.
This one might be a little hard, since a lot of novels touch on this idea, somewhat. But I'm looking for something more detailed and flushed out, rather than just an excuse for the MC to be OP.

The idea here is that, for some reason on another, some form of magic is seem as inferior or useless. If its Water Magic, Maybe its only seen as a supportive magic type, but the MC uses it to trap enemies and drown then, or focus Light into a Laser.
If its Earth maybe its only normally used as defensive magic, but the MC uses it to dig Traps and create Golems.
It doesn't have to be just Elemental Magic either.
If its Barrier Magic, maybe the MC uses it as a Barrier Blade or uses it as a trap (like to crush them, Goblin Slayer style).
If its Sound magic, maybe they learn how to turn it into Sonic bombs, or Vibration Swords.

The Big think to keep in mind though, like I said, is that I want this idea to be a major part of the story, not just something like World Teacher – Other World Style Education & Agent where its a covenant Plot device to explain why they are strong. The idea is that "Creativity" is Key and the MC thinks outside of the box to bring out the magic's greatest potential.


NOTES:
1): Decent Length (30+chapters or 2-3 Volumes, depending on chapter length), and/OR being actively translated (Has been updated in the last 1 - 2 months). I.E. I don't want something with 10-15 chapters that's not been updated since August 2016, but something with 5-10 chapters that's been update Mid Sep/Oct (or even the start) is perfectly fine.
2): No Hentai/Smut. Adult themes/Scenes are fine, but no blatant smut (I.E. a bedroom scene just for the sake of smut).
3): Harem tag is fine, but No Polygamy.

 

hold up, harem is fine but no polygamy? what kind of an oxymoron is that

 

the wrong way to use healing magic comes to mind....but either the TL-er is lazy or there aint much chappy to begin with....

 

Harem = multiple girls like mc, but mc not necessarily like em all
Polygamy = multiple girls like mc and mc likes em all back

Well, at least in this community, that seems to be the definition

 

Any story with multiple women who MIGHT be a love interest ends up tagged as Harem now these days.
I'm specifically looking things where they only ever end up with 1 person.

 

Right.

 

Ya, That's a good example of what I'm looking for. Actually one of the ones that got me into the idea. (When Mages Revolt being the other)

 

I Was Kicked out of the Hero’s Party Because I Wasn’t a True Companion so I Decided to Have a Slow Life at the Frontier

MC is the Hero’s older brother with the trash “Guide” occupation - he’s the cliche character at the beginning of an RPG who has a high starting level but low growth potential. In this case, the MC is considered weak because he can learn any basic skill, but not advanced skills. But his “Guide” Class seems to have strengths that even the MC is (maybe willfully) oblivious to, like encyclopediac knowledge of other job classes and skills. Basically, everyone around the MC thinks he is OP except for the MC himself.

Despite the “slow life” tag the story actually has decent action and a real plot with good pacing. Let’s just say he was ready to quit the Hero’s party but the Hero’s party tanked without him playing team manager soooo...

 

Easy,
a returner's magic should be special

 

Hummmm, Kind of? Its a similar idea (at least as far as I've read into it), but it goes down a different route. Rather than the Class itself not being great and the MC making the best of it, its more the Author is turning something that shouldn't into something that is, for the reader's sake. Like you said, almost everyone ELSE Thinks He's actually pretty skilled, even if its more as a support an Logistics rather than combat. (Even the rest of the rest of the team is like "We're screwed without him").
Its just himself and a few Idiots that can't see his value.

 

Konosuba?

 

Hmmmm, not sure. I'm pretty sure the manga is far ahead of the Novel translation at this point, but As far as I've seen, they've not really explained WHAT his skill is. I know he's super skilled at reading and understanding Magical theory and principles, but Its not really Him thinking outside the box and Creative, more just Highly skilled.
Though this DOES have the possibility to go down the route I'm looking for, but time will tell.

 

Isn't there that novel where the MC (girl) can use soap magic (making bubble, cleaning clothes, etc) and turns out that 'soap magic' is actually a high-rank purification magic? iirc the translator dropped it though……

 

Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku o! ? Not sure, what does he do?

 

Extraordinary – Ordinary – Soap!
Yep, that's a good example, I was sad when it was dropped.

 

Too bad Polygamy is out of the question, because Isekai Smartphone's Slip is totally God-class.

 

Ya, that one disappointed me. The girls went from being somewhat interesting to bright eyed Fangirls.

 

https://www.novelupdates.com/series...ta-tsukaikata-senjou-wo-kakeru-kaifuku-youin/

 

Using basic magic 'create water' and 'freeze' to prevent the enermy from drawing his blade.
all the boss fights are pretty cool

 

Is this a one off thing, or something (and similar) he does often to good effect? I'm not looking for just "MC uses op magic", but something were it is a large focus of the story and is creative.

The Wrong way to use Healing Magic is a good example.