Speculah:Magical Powers

From what we could see, magical girls have two kinds of magic power - material (relies on gem power to create items) and supportive (might not use gem power at all, greatly affected by wish).

Material magic

This one allows to create or transform objects using a gem's power. We have seen many applications of this magic already - the magical girl costumes, all the weapons they create and possibly Kyouko's food as well. Sayaka's bat and the binoculars Kyouko used are examples of a enchantment/transformation of a mundane item.

Supportive magic

This one consists of few skills every girl can use, but the power of each skill heavily depends on their wish.

Healing

We see Mami and Sayaka using it. Mami used it outside battle and took some time to heal minor wounds on Kyuubey, while Sayaka used it in battle to fully recover from major damage Kyouko inflicted. Sayaka's power is explained by Kyuubey - her wish gave her very strong regenerative abilities. It is currently unknown if Mami's ability was a result of her wish or not.

Bind/Barrier

This one was a specialty of Mami's. She enchants Sayaka's bat so that it automatically protects her, and can be planted in the ground for a more permanent barrier. Energy ribbons are used twice - first to catch the suicidal lady and the second time to protect Madoka. She uses plantlike tendrils to bind Gertrud and lift Charlotte. Her ribbons with a chain-motif and a lock bind Homura and presumably seal her powers. Also, Mami's last "Tiro Finale" appeared to be a binding variant of the direct damage move she used previously. Mami's proficiency in this area leaves a question - what kind of wish could affect it so much? "I wish I fastened my seatbelt" is hardly a correct answer.

Time stop/Time bubble (unconfirmed)

Possible explanation of Time bubble skill

Seen twice in ep.5. First, Sayaka uses it for few seconds to stop Kyouko's spear with a sword (that's first time we see water drops hanging in the air). Then Homura uses greatly advanced version of it - she leaves message to Madoka and then saves Sayaka, also giving her some time to rest (note how Sayaka is laying when Kyouko is about to strike, and how she's resting behind after Kyouko lands). Although full time stop does leave some major inconsistencies (Homura could use it while hunting Kyuubey and escaping Mami's bind), Time bubble (where time keeps flowing not personally for caster, but in some area of simple form, which can't be left without resuming time) explains most things. Is Homura is really proficient in this, it makes her wish heavily related to time, which supports the time loop theory.

Teleport/Blink (unconfirmed)

Alternate vision of Homura's skill. Time manipulation version does not explain Homura's appearing out of nowhere after being hit by a building in the prologue as well as some of her movements during the Charlotte fight. She might have both abilities, which leads to even more powerful wish and may have been foreshadowed by Sayaka's quip in Ep.1. Re. Homura and Madoka: "You're friends, meeting each other again after having traveled through space and time!"

Spatial Reconstruction (unconfirmed)

Comparison of the background before and after Homura's 'teleportation'

Referred to as Spatial Reconstruction Magic (空間再構成魔法, Kūkan Sai-kōsei Mahō) by Asian fans. In plain language, a user of this class of magic temporarily becomes the 'god' of a limited domain of space, gaining the ability to change, create, or destroy objects within it -- including distances and spatial coordinates. Humans appear to be shielded from manipulation to a degree, though their position may still be freely rearranged. Distinct from the 'object modification' described in the Material Magic section above -- where the qualities of an existing tool or implement are reinforced as it temporarily undergoes a highly stylized transformation -- inanimates affected by Spatial Reconstruction experience a permanent, unstylized alteration.

Speculah regarding Spatial Reconstruction began to surface after Homura intervened in the confrontation between Sayaka and Kyouko in Episode 5: Viewer discussion concluded that the complete redrawing of the wall layout, the floor, and the lighting in the background art following Homura's use of 'teleportation' was suspiciously unnecessary -- it would have been far easier for the animation staff to reuse previously completed artwork. If this was not in fact a production error, the theory follows that the ability used by Homura to save Sayaka may have been something on the order of reconstructing the space within the corridor, rather than mere teleportation or the use of a 'Time Bubble.'

Outside the context of theory, Witches and their Familiars canonically employ magic within the spectrum of Spatial Reconstruction in the manifestation of their Labyrinths. Movement subjectively experienced by persons drawn into a Witch's Labyrinth does not necessarily indicate or overlap any analogous travel within 'real' space; observed space within a Witch's domain comprises thus of 'spoofed coordinates.' Ergo, the manipulation of the position or lay of objects in a given space figures fundamentally into the magical repertoire of a typical Witch. The 'cartoonization' attack used by H.N. Elly and her Familiars against Madoka may classify an offense implementation of Spatial Reconstruction.