@Background Pony #9DEF  
Starlight was also completely out of juice at the end of their duel. Look closely as she descends; that tiny magic blast at the end was all she could manage at that point.

@Background Pony #9DEF  
On the other hoof, Twilight Sparkle had just fled a different combat situation, nevermind the emotional drain while Starlight was completely fresh.

Actually, judging by their duel in Season 5 finale, Starlight is stronger. Twilight couldn’t cast any magic at the end there. While Starlight had to continuously cast her flying/levitation spell throughout the battle, so she was bringing her full power against Twilight.

@Background Pony #5C8B  
I strongly doubt Trixie is many times more powerful than the average unicorn.

I, for one, believe it is very possible for a unicorn to surpass a alicorn in powe. It doesn’t say anywhere that they can’t. It’s only the fans who got it in their heads that they can’t.

@Background Pony #5C8B  
Chart fails without an “OVER 9000!” level.

Another Twilight vs. Starlight power discussion… Tempted but nah.
 
Personally I’ll just type I think Twilight has stopped training her magical power/skill at this point as there’s no need to, and just wants to learn how to make more friends and kindle existing friendships. Both Starlight and by extension Sunset could reach her at this point, and I think Starlight is pretty close to her. I think unicorn Twilight and current Starlight are pretty straight even imo.
 
It’s my headcanon that if Twilight were to train further though, no one could reach her, but she doesn’t care for that now at this point. Besides, she wants others to reach her current point. Of course, with Starswirl back, she might just get that motivation to go EVEN FURTHER BEYOND.

@Masque Raccoon  
There’s a reason why Starlight had to jump Twilight and planned layers of traps for months, just to be put herself and Twilight in a standstill. Starlight, despite her amazing skills, could not face her head on.
 
NOW, it may be different. Starlight’s been absorbing Twilight’s teachings (magic, not friendship) like a sponge, and any free time she has, she’s probably used them to practice magic. To the point Twilight even admits Starlight’s mastered many spells she’s taught her, and Starlight even taught Twilight new spells.
 
Starlight may be outclassed by Twilight, but probably not by much. I’m upset that we probably won’t ever see Starlight’s full power post-reformation, because the point of her lessons have been “don’t use magic”.

@Masque Raccoon  
Uh, Twilight didn’t cast the spell alone, Starlight and Sunburst helped her do it. There’s no actual way of knowingly that Twilight used more power than the other two.

@Masque Raccoon  
I agree with this

I really think the Twilight vs Glimmer thing is comparing a scalpel to a bowie knife. Starlight always had raw power, even as a foal, but she lacked control. She’s been learning magic the hard way, while Twilight had careful teaching & guidance her whole life.
 
For this particular scene, though, I think the kicker is that Twilight just got done casting a very powerful spell. She’s tired and weakened, so Starlight appears stronger by comparison. While Starlight might have bested unicorn Twilight, I do think Glimmy is still outclassed versus a rested & prepared Princess Twilight.

@Background Pony #7B34  
In A Royal Problem, Celestia explicitly stated that raising the moon was “even easier” than raising the sun, meaning Celestia at least has the raw magic (without cutie mark affinity) to raise the moon without much trouble. In the movie, Twilight is too weak to freely control the sun and moon on her own, but is strong enough that Tempest was not satisfied with just Celestia’s, Luna’s, and Cadance’s magic for the staff, so her power has to be a decent amount below Celestia’s, but not enormously so.
 
It’s not yet confirmed whether Luna can do the same or not, but Celestia at least is still a decent bit beyond Twilight.
 
 
Personally, from a combination of in-show evidence and gut feelings, I’d personally rank them at something like:
 
Celestia: 1000  
Star Swirl: 350  
Twilight: 300  
Starlight: 300  
Cadance: 300 (she seemed to perform identically to Twilight when lifting the giant flower and fighting the worm)
 
 
Luna could be anywhere from Twilight’s level to Celestia’s level. The gaps between Celestia and the other three could be smaller or a bit bigger, but that’s how I’d roughly rank them.

@soundtea  
They raise the sun and moon so easily because of their Cutie marks not their magical power. We don’t know how draining it was for Celestia to raise the moon by herself, but judging from the fact that, apparently, Equestria didn’t need an army until Luna was banished, I’d say it took a whole lot out of her.

@Background Pony #5C8B
 
Haven’t you heard?
 
“POWER LEVELS ARE BULLSHIT!”
 
Oh, and Twilight quite possibly would’ve been killed by Starlight if she were really on that level in comparison.

@Fwelin  
Aside from them having crazy ease raising sun and moon, I dont think Celestia and Luna are the absolute strongest at magic ever. Starswirl seems to still hold that honor, although Twi and Glim are insanely close, especially given their age.

@shadowfire  
Standing behind two 11/10 mares with their tails flapping in the breeze…

Starswirl: Don’t mind me, just going to stand here and watch

@Background Pony #5C8B  
Such a silly chart; Starlight isn’t stronger than Twilight, and Twilight (and by extension Star Swirl) is unlikely to be that close to Celestia and Luna yet.

@neo4812  

twi is weak sauce compared to starlight! imagine if she became a alicorn, she would trump luna and celestia!