# Its A Simple Spell But Quite Unbreakable "It's a Simple Spell But Quite Unbreakable" is a reaction image meme based on a line spoken by Doctor Strange in the 2018 Marvel film *Avengers: Infinity War*. The screen capture of Benedict Cumberbatch's character deflecting a magical attack became a popular image macro template starting in late 2018, used to joke about simple but effective protective measures in everyday life. ## Origin *Avengers: Infinity War* hit theaters in the United States on April 27, 2018[2]. The film featured Doctor Strange, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, in a confrontation with Ebony Maw, played by Tom Vaughan-Lawlor. During the scene, Strange blocks one of Maw's attacks with a magical shield and says the now-iconic line. The earliest known meme using the screenshot appeared on September 7, 2018, when Instagram user @momsdelfructas posted a Spanish-language version featuring the scene[1]. That post picked up over 300 likes within two months. - **Platform:** Instagram (first meme use), Reddit (viral spread) - **Creator:** @momsdelfructas (first known meme post), tr7272 (Reddit popularizer) - **Date:** 2018 ## Overview The meme uses a screen capture from *Avengers: Infinity War* showing Doctor Strange casting a defensive spell against the villain Ebony Maw[2]. In the scene, Strange deflects the attack and delivers the line, "It's a simple spell but quite unbreakable". Online, the image paired with that quote became a punchline for situations where someone uses a basic, obvious precaution that turns out to be foolproof. The humor comes from framing mundane everyday actions (like turning off Bluetooth or clearing browser history) as powerful, unbreakable magic. ## How It Spread The meme hit critical mass on Reddit in November 2018. On November 6, Redditor tr7272 posted a version to r/dankmemes with the caption about disabling Bluetooth while watching porn to prevent accidentally streaming it to another room. The post earned more than 15,000 upvotes with a 96% approval rate and 130 comments within 24 hours. The success of that post triggered a wave of similar memes on r/dankmemes over the following days. Users applied the template to all kinds of simple-but-effective precautions: incognito mode, locking phone screens, muting microphones on video calls, and other relatable tech-savvy moves. The format worked because the Doctor Strange quote elevated trivial actions into something that sounded epic and magical. The meme spread beyond Reddit to Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook throughout late 2018 and into 2019, riding the broader wave of *Infinity War* meme culture that produced formats like the Thanos Snap and "I don't feel so good." ## How to Use The template typically follows a two-part structure: 1. **Set up a scenario** where someone takes a simple, obvious precaution (usually tech-related or everyday life). This goes as caption text above or beside the image. 2. **Pair it with the Doctor Strange screenshot** showing him casting his defensive spell with the quote "It's a simple spell but quite unbreakable." ## Fun Facts - The first viral version of the meme was specifically about the fear of accidentally Bluetooth-streaming adult content to a family TV. - The original Instagram meme by @momsdelfructas was in Spanish, making this one of many MCU memes that crossed language barriers early[1]. - The meme peaked during November 2018, benefiting from both the *Infinity War* hype cycle and No Nut November timing. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is "It's a Simple Spell But Quite Unbreakable"? It's a reaction image meme using a screenshot of Doctor Strange from *Avengers: Infinity War* where he deflects a magical attack and says the line. People use it to joke about simple protective measures that are surprisingly effective. ### Where did "It's a Simple Spell But Quite Unbreakable" come from? The quote comes from the 2018 film *Avengers: Infinity War*. The first known meme version appeared on Instagram in September 2018 from user @momsdelfructas[1]. ### What does "It's a Simple Spell But Quite Unbreakable" mean? In meme usage, it frames a basic, everyday precaution (like clearing browser history or turning off Bluetooth) as if it were a powerful magical defense. ### How do you use "It's a Simple Spell But Quite Unbreakable"? Describe a simple precaution or life hack as the setup, then pair it with the Doctor Strange screenshot and quote as the punchline. ### Is "It's a Simple Spell But Quite Unbreakable" still popular? The meme saw its biggest surge in late 2018 and remained in regular rotation through 2019. It still appears occasionally, especially in MCU fan communities and during No Nut November. ### Who says the line in the movie? Doctor Strange, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, says it while deflecting an attack from Ebony Maw, played by Tom Vaughan-Lawlor[2]. ### Why did the meme go viral on Reddit? A November 2018 post by Redditor tr7272 about disabling Bluetooth while watching adult content hit over 15,000 upvotes on r/dankmemes, sparking a wave of similar posts. ## References 1. [List of Garo characters]() 2. [It's a Simple Spell But Quite Unbreakable - Know Your Meme]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/its-a-simple-spell-but-quite-unbreakable Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library