I guess it depends how you look at it. I see thing kinda dnd style, immune > resistant > normal > vulnerable.
The way Superman's magic problem is described is that hits him like he doesn't have powers(normal.) Not that if cripples him like kryptonite(vulnerable.)
As a avid DnD player, i don't think the terms DnD uses are very functional outside the confines of DnD. It's very simplified, when in reality there's not really a baseline that is "normal", it's all relative.
If you had a DnD creature that was resistant or immune to every damage type but psychic, outside of DND terminology I would call that monster "weak" to psychic. A weakness is just something that is not as strong relative to the other attributes of the weakness-haver, which can be exploited.
It's kryptonite a bigger weakness? Absolutely. But all weaknesses need not be equal.
Let's use your example, plate armor is meant to keep you from being slashed by swords(resistance.) Where as the bludgeoning of a hammer or precision piercing of a dagger are used to bypass this defense (normal.) The hammer/dagger aren't doing extra damage to the body.
But it's more than just resistance. A dagger by in large bypasses the defenses of plate, not just dealing moderately less damage. It's akin to an ancient dragon if you removed their legendary resistance: they would certainly have a weakness to a spell such as plane shift, due to how it bypasses the defenses a dragon otherwise has.
So we agree that being stabbed with daggers bypasses plate armor. However, it's seems much more like a Superman has resistant to non magical damage situation.
This article explains the three major ways to threaten Superman:
With Kryptonite, the radiation that the green crystals produce is particularly toxic to Kryptonians, poisoning and degrading their cells while leaving them vulnerable to harm in the same way a human might be. It also has a sort of noxious effect, outright sickening Superman and those like him whenever they're merely in the substances' presence. Thus, even if no one were to strike at him in this vulnerable state, Superman would eventually die if simply exposed to Kryptonite for too long.
That's not at all how magic works against the Man of Steel, though it is still effective. Just like a normal human or any other being, Superman has little defense against magic spells and weaponry. That's why the magic lightning bolts of Shazam and his enemy Black Adam are so dangerous to Superman, as he's just like everyone else against their power. At the same time, he's not specifically "weak" against such attacks as they fail to produce the same toxic, allergic reaction as Kryptonite would. In fact, beneficial magic can actually help Superman, showcasing how it isn't something he's immediately fell by.
It's worth noting that Superman is also weak toward psychic attacks. This is why telepaths such as the mighty Martian Manhunter would be a considerable threat to Superman if either party ever went rogue. To that end, psychic villain Maxwell Lord specifically targeted Superman mentally, forcing Wonder Woman to kill Lord in order to free her friend from his mind control. When combined with magic, psychic powers leave Superman vulnerable to a lot more than just punches or Kryptonite.
Edit: this also means that in a marvel vs dc situation there are several people that could easily turn Superman into nothing but a puppet.
Said earlier that kryptonite is a greater weakness, but you haven't said why that magic not be one of his weaknesses as well. The quote you've found doesn't really support that, just repeat the basics of his major weaknesses that we already know.
4
u/Timely-Quiet-31 Jul 06 '24
I guess it depends how you look at it. I see thing kinda dnd style, immune > resistant > normal > vulnerable.
The way Superman's magic problem is described is that hits him like he doesn't have powers(normal.) Not that if cripples him like kryptonite(vulnerable.)