Board Thread:Off Topic/@comment-25396609-20151120024732/@comment-25396609-20151126005155

We assume that the level of manipulation and type of manipulation for those things are more or less the same, using dust with your semblance is as easy as adding food coloring to cake batter, basic spells is things like using it to create a fireball and would requite some degree of skill, advanced is the giant spell circles like Glynda and Cinder use and would take pretty hefty training.

Aura manipulation is similar, focusing aura basically means using it to power up your weapon for a basic augmentation, like slightly extending the reach. Shaped manipulation is creating force shields like Ren and Cinder, projecting away from the body is advanced things like the slash waves.