diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
index 68d4ac85d..47502fd71 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwbase/world.hpp
@@ -5,9 +5,6 @@
 #include <map>
 #include <set>
 
-#include <osg/ref_ptr>
-#include <osg/Node>
-
 #include <components/esm/cellid.hpp>
 
 #include "../mwworld/ptr.hpp"
@@ -537,7 +534,7 @@ namespace MWBase
             /// Spawn a blood effect for \a ptr at \a worldPosition
             virtual void spawnBloodEffect (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, const osg::Vec3f& worldPosition) = 0;
 
-            virtual void spawnEffect (const std::string& model, const std::string& textureOverride, const osg::Vec3f& worldPos, float scale = 1.f, bool isMagicVFX = true) = 0;
+            virtual void spawnEffect (const std::string& model, const std::string& textureOverride, const osg::Vec3f& worldPos) = 0;
 
             virtual void explodeSpell(const osg::Vec3f& origin, const ESM::EffectList& effects, const MWWorld::Ptr& caster,
                                       const MWWorld::Ptr& ignore, ESM::RangeType rangeType, const std::string& id,
@@ -579,8 +576,6 @@ namespace MWBase
 
             /// Preload VFX associated with this effect list
             virtual void preloadEffects(const ESM::EffectList* effectList) = 0;
-
-            virtual osg::ref_ptr<osg::Node> getInstance (const std::string& modelName) = 0;
     };
 }
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
index 29a6d5e3b..68dc17915 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/character.cpp
@@ -833,7 +833,6 @@ CharacterController::CharacterController(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, MWRender::Anim
         refreshCurrentAnims(mIdleState, mMovementState, mJumpState, true);
 
     mAnimation->runAnimation(0.f);
-    mAnimation->updateEffects(0.f);
 
     unpersistAnimationState();
 }
@@ -1997,13 +1996,6 @@ void CharacterController::update(float duration)
     }
 
     osg::Vec3f moved = mAnimation->runAnimation(mSkipAnim ? 0.f : duration);
-
-    // treat player specifically since he is not in rendering mObjects
-    if (mPtr == getPlayer())
-    {
-        mAnimation->updateEffects(mSkipAnim ? 0.f : duration);
-    }
-
     if(duration > 0.0f)
         moved /= duration;
     else
@@ -2199,7 +2191,6 @@ void CharacterController::forceStateUpdate()
     }
 
     mAnimation->runAnimation(0.f);
-    mAnimation->updateEffects(0.f);
 }
 
 CharacterController::KillResult CharacterController::kill()
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp
index cdadd3b15..1f78e296f 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp
@@ -6,12 +6,8 @@
 
 #include <boost/format.hpp>
 
-#include <osg/BoundingBox>
-#include <osg/ComputeBoundsVisitor>
-
 #include <components/misc/rng.hpp>
 #include <components/settings/settings.hpp>
-#include <components/sceneutil/positionattitudetransform.hpp>
 
 #include "../mwbase/windowmanager.hpp"
 #include "../mwbase/soundmanager.hpp"
@@ -28,7 +24,6 @@
 #include "../mwworld/inventorystore.hpp"
 
 #include "../mwrender/animation.hpp"
-#include "../mwrender/vismask.hpp"
 
 #include "npcstats.hpp"
 #include "actorutil.hpp"
@@ -997,13 +992,11 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         return true;
     }
 
-    void CastSpell::playSpellCastingEffects(const std::string &spellid)
-    {
+    void CastSpell::playSpellCastingEffects(const std::string &spellid){
+       
         const MWWorld::ESMStore& store = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getStore();
         const ESM::Spell *spell = store.get<ESM::Spell>().find(spellid);
 
-        std::vector<std::string> addedEffects;
-
         for (std::vector<ESM::ENAMstruct>::const_iterator iter = spell->mEffects.mList.begin();
             iter != spell->mEffects.mList.end(); ++iter)
         {
@@ -1012,72 +1005,18 @@ namespace MWMechanics
 
             MWRender::Animation* animation = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getAnimation(mCaster);
 
-            const ESM::Static* castStatic;
-
-            if (!effect->mCasting.empty())
-                castStatic = store.get<ESM::Static>().find (effect->mCasting);
-            else
-                castStatic = store.get<ESM::Static>().find ("VFX_DefaultCast");
-
-            // check if the effect was already added
-            if (std::find(addedEffects.begin(), addedEffects.end(), "meshes\\" + castStatic->mModel) != addedEffects.end())
-                continue;
-
-            std::string texture = effect->mParticle;
-
-            float scale = 1.0f;
-            osg::Vec3f pos (mCaster.getRefData().getPosition().asVec3());
-
-            if (animation && mCaster.getClass().isNpc())
+            if (animation && mCaster.getClass().isActor()) // TODO: Non-actors should also create a spell cast vfx even if they are disabled (animation == NULL)
             {
-                // For NOC we should take race height as scaling factor
-                const ESM::NPC *npc = mCaster.get<ESM::NPC>()->mBase;
-                const MWWorld::ESMStore &esmStore =
-                    MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getStore();
-
-                const ESM::Race *race =
-                    esmStore.get<ESM::Race>().find(npc->mRace);
+                const ESM::Static* castStatic;
 
-                scale = npc->isMale() ? race->mData.mHeight.mMale : race->mData.mHeight.mFemale;
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                std::string casterModel = mCaster.getClass().getModel(mCaster);
-                osg::ref_ptr<osg::Node> model = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getInstance(casterModel);
-
-                osg::ComputeBoundsVisitor computeBoundsVisitor;
-                computeBoundsVisitor.setTraversalMask(~(MWRender::Mask_ParticleSystem|MWRender::Mask_Effect));
-                model->accept(computeBoundsVisitor);
-                osg::BoundingBox bounds = computeBoundsVisitor.getBoundingBox();
-
-                if (bounds.valid())
-                {
-                    float meshSizeX = std::abs(bounds.xMax() - bounds.xMin());
-                    float meshSizeY = std::abs(bounds.yMax() - bounds.yMin());
-                    float meshSizeZ = std::abs(bounds.zMax() - bounds.zMin());
-
-                    // TODO: take a size of particle or NPC with height and weight = 1.0 as scale = 1.0
-                    float scaleX = meshSizeX/60.f;
-                    float scaleY = meshSizeY/60.f;
-                    float scaleZ = meshSizeZ/120.f;
+                if (!effect->mCasting.empty())
+                    castStatic = store.get<ESM::Static>().find (effect->mCasting);
+                else
+                    castStatic = store.get<ESM::Static>().find ("VFX_DefaultCast");
 
-                    scale = std::max({ scaleX, scaleY, scaleZ });
+                std::string texture = effect->mParticle;
 
-                    //pos = bounds.center();
-                    //pos[2] = bounds.zMin();
-                }
-            }
-
-            // If the caster has no animation, add the effect directly to the effectManager
-            if (animation)
-            {
-                animation->addEffect("meshes\\" + castStatic->mModel, effect->mIndex, false, "", texture, scale);
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                // We should set scale for effect manager manually
-                float meshScale = !mCaster.getClass().isActor() ? mCaster.getCellRef().getScale() : 1.0f;
-                MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->spawnEffect("meshes\\" + castStatic->mModel, effect->mParticle, pos, scale * meshScale);
+                animation->addEffect("meshes\\" + castStatic->mModel, effect->mIndex, false, "", texture);
             }
 
             if (animation && !mCaster.getClass().isActor())
@@ -1087,8 +1026,6 @@ namespace MWMechanics
                 "alteration", "conjuration", "destruction", "illusion", "mysticism", "restoration"
             };
 
-            addedEffects.push_back("meshes\\" + castStatic->mModel);
-
             MWBase::SoundManager *sndMgr = MWBase::Environment::get().getSoundManager();
             if(!effect->mCastSound.empty())
                 sndMgr->playSound3D(mCaster, effect->mCastSound, 1.0f, 1.0f);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
index 1b508e593..1bd839ead 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
@@ -8,8 +8,6 @@
 #include <osg/MatrixTransform>
 #include <osg/BlendFunc>
 #include <osg/Material>
-#include <osg/ComputeBoundsVisitor>
-#include <osg/PositionAttitudeTransform>
 
 #include <osgParticle/ParticleSystem>
 #include <osgParticle/ParticleProcessor>
@@ -1117,6 +1115,8 @@ namespace MWRender
                 ++stateiter;
         }
 
+        updateEffects(duration);
+
         if (mHeadController)
         {
             const float epsilon = 0.001f;
@@ -1366,7 +1366,7 @@ namespace MWRender
                             useQuadratic, quadraticValue, quadraticRadiusMult, useLinear, linearRadiusMult, linearValue);
     }
 
-    void Animation::addEffect (const std::string& model, int effectId, bool loop, const std::string& bonename, const std::string& texture, float scale)
+    void Animation::addEffect (const std::string& model, int effectId, bool loop, const std::string& bonename, const std::string& texture)
     {
         if (!mObjectRoot.get())
             return;
@@ -1417,13 +1417,7 @@ namespace MWRender
 
         overrideFirstRootTexture(texture, mResourceSystem, node);
 
-        osg::Vec3f scale3f (scale, scale, scale);
-
-        osg::ref_ptr<osg::PositionAttitudeTransform> trans = new osg::PositionAttitudeTransform;
-        trans->setScale(scale3f);
-        trans->addChild(node);
-        parentNode->removeChild(node);
-        parentNode->addChild(trans);
+        // TODO: in vanilla morrowind the effect is scaled based on the host object's bounding box.
 
         mEffects.push_back(params);
     }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.hpp
index 74224c6bd..cff98a4b7 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.hpp
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ public:
      * @param texture override the texture specified in the model's materials - if empty, do not override
      * @note Will not add an effect twice.
      */
-    void addEffect (const std::string& model, int effectId, bool loop = false, const std::string& bonename = "", const std::string& texture = "", float scale = 1.0f);
+    void addEffect (const std::string& model, int effectId, bool loop = false, const std::string& bonename = "", const std::string& texture = "");
     void removeEffect (int effectId);
     void getLoopingEffects (std::vector<int>& out) const;
 
@@ -446,6 +446,7 @@ public:
 
     void setLoopingEnabled(const std::string &groupname, bool enabled);
 
+    /// This is typically called as part of runAnimation, but may be called manually if needed.
     void updateEffects(float duration);
 
     /// Return a node with the specified name, or NULL if not existing.
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/effectmanager.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/effectmanager.cpp
index c44c5428a..3e785a769 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/effectmanager.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/effectmanager.cpp
@@ -26,13 +26,6 @@ EffectManager::~EffectManager()
 }
 
 void EffectManager::addEffect(const std::string &model, const std::string& textureOverride, const osg::Vec3f &worldPosition, float scale, bool isMagicVFX)
-{
-    osg::Vec3f scale3f (scale, scale, scale);
-
-    addEffect(model, textureOverride, worldPosition, scale3f, isMagicVFX);
-}
-
-void EffectManager::addEffect(const std::string &model, const std::string& textureOverride, const osg::Vec3f &worldPosition, const osg::Vec3f &scale, bool isMagicVFX)
 {
     osg::ref_ptr<osg::Node> node = mResourceSystem->getSceneManager()->getInstance(model);
 
@@ -47,7 +40,7 @@ void EffectManager::addEffect(const std::string &model, const std::string& textu
 
     osg::ref_ptr<osg::PositionAttitudeTransform> trans = new osg::PositionAttitudeTransform;
     trans->setPosition(worldPosition);
-    trans->setScale(scale);
+    trans->setScale(osg::Vec3f(scale, scale, scale));
     trans->addChild(node);
 
     SceneUtil::AssignControllerSourcesVisitor assignVisitor(effect.mAnimTime);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/effectmanager.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/effectmanager.hpp
index cc1c1b42e..5873c00dd 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/effectmanager.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/effectmanager.hpp
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ namespace MWRender
 
         /// Add an effect. When it's finished playing, it will be removed automatically.
         void addEffect (const std::string& model, const std::string& textureOverride, const osg::Vec3f& worldPosition, float scale, bool isMagicVFX = true);
-        void addEffect (const std::string &model, const std::string& textureOverride, const osg::Vec3f &worldPosition, const osg::Vec3f &scale3f, bool isMagicVFX);
 
         void update(float dt);
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/objects.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/objects.cpp
index 523f1774c..f0a3d2e38 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/objects.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/objects.cpp
@@ -138,14 +138,6 @@ bool Objects::removeObject (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr)
     return false;
 }
 
-void Objects::updateEffects(float duration)
-{
-    for(PtrAnimationMap::iterator iter = mObjects.begin();iter != mObjects.end();)
-    {
-        iter->second->updateEffects(duration);
-        ++iter;
-    }
-}
 
 void Objects::removeCell(const MWWorld::CellStore* store)
 {
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/objects.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/objects.hpp
index e97395213..659853763 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/objects.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/objects.hpp
@@ -88,8 +88,6 @@ public:
     bool removeObject (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr);
     ///< \return found?
 
-    void updateEffects(float duration);
-
     void removeCell(const MWWorld::CellStore* store);
 
     /// Updates containing cell for object rendering data
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
index e5933a72a..6f0ddba3a 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.cpp
@@ -557,7 +557,6 @@ namespace MWRender
             mEffectManager->update(dt);
             mSky->update(dt);
             mWater->update(dt);
-            mObjects->updateEffects(dt);
         }
 
         mCamera->update(dt, paused);
@@ -842,11 +841,9 @@ namespace MWRender
         mObjects->updatePtr(old, updated);
     }
 
-    void RenderingManager::spawnEffect(const std::string &model, const std::string& texture, const osg::Vec3f &worldPosition, float scale, bool isMagicVFX)
+    void RenderingManager::spawnEffect(const std::string &model, const std::string &texture, const osg::Vec3f &worldPosition, float scale, bool isMagicVFX)
     {
-        osg::Vec3f scale3f (scale, scale, scale);
-
-        mEffectManager->addEffect(model, texture, worldPosition, scale3f, isMagicVFX);
+        mEffectManager->addEffect(model, texture, worldPosition, scale, isMagicVFX);
     }
 
     void RenderingManager::notifyWorldSpaceChanged()
@@ -1125,12 +1122,6 @@ namespace MWRender
             updateProjectionMatrix();
         }
     }
-
-    osg::ref_ptr<osg::Node> RenderingManager::getInstance(const std::string& modelName)
-    {
-        return mResourceSystem->getSceneManager()->getInstance(modelName);
-    }
-
     void RenderingManager::exportSceneGraph(const MWWorld::Ptr &ptr, const std::string &filename, const std::string &format)
     {
         osg::Node* node = mViewer->getSceneData();
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.hpp
index 7a570f249..1c689d29f 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/renderingmanager.hpp
@@ -205,8 +205,6 @@ namespace MWRender
 
         LandManager* getLandManager() const;
 
-        osg::ref_ptr<osg::Node> getInstance(const std::string& modelName);
-
     private:
         void updateProjectionMatrix();
         void updateTextureFiltering();
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwscript/miscextensions.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwscript/miscextensions.cpp
index 243ba7b7e..59f2cc9c6 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwscript/miscextensions.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwscript/miscextensions.cpp
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 #include <components/esm/loadcrea.hpp>
 
 #include "../mwbase/environment.hpp"
-#include "../mwbase/mechanicsmanager.hpp"
 #include "../mwbase/windowmanager.hpp"
 #include "../mwbase/scriptmanager.hpp"
 #include "../mwbase/world.hpp"
@@ -1052,7 +1051,6 @@ namespace MWScript
                 MWWorld::Ptr target = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPtr (targetId, false);
 
                 MWMechanics::CastSpell cast(ptr, target);
-                cast.playSpellCastingEffects(spell);
                 cast.mHitPosition = target.getRefData().getPosition().asVec3();
                 cast.mAlwaysSucceed = true;
                 cast.cast(spell);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
index bbca8a46e..6cf1ead87 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.cpp
@@ -1535,11 +1535,6 @@ namespace MWWorld
         }
     }
 
-    osg::ref_ptr<osg::Node> World::getInstance (const std::string& modelName)
-    {
-        return mRendering->getInstance(modelName);
-    }
-
     const ESM::Potion *World::createRecord (const ESM::Potion& record)
     {
         return mStore.insert(record);
@@ -3329,9 +3324,9 @@ namespace MWWorld
         mRendering->spawnEffect(model, texture, worldPosition, 1.0f, false);
     }
 
-    void World::spawnEffect(const std::string &model, const std::string &textureOverride, const osg::Vec3f &worldPos, float scale, bool isMagicVFX)
+    void World::spawnEffect(const std::string &model, const std::string &textureOverride, const osg::Vec3f &worldPos)
     {
-        mRendering->spawnEffect(model, textureOverride, worldPos, scale, isMagicVFX);
+        mRendering->spawnEffect(model, textureOverride, worldPos);
     }
 
     void World::explodeSpell(const osg::Vec3f& origin, const ESM::EffectList& effects, const Ptr& caster, const Ptr& ignore, ESM::RangeType rangeType,
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
index 023d91bca..0d168c912 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/worldimp.hpp
@@ -640,7 +640,7 @@ namespace MWWorld
             /// Spawn a blood effect for \a ptr at \a worldPosition
             void spawnBloodEffect (const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, const osg::Vec3f& worldPosition) override;
 
-            void spawnEffect (const std::string& model, const std::string& textureOverride, const osg::Vec3f& worldPos, float scale = 1.f, bool isMagicVFX = true) override;
+            void spawnEffect (const std::string& model, const std::string& textureOverride, const osg::Vec3f& worldPos) override;
 
             void explodeSpell(const osg::Vec3f& origin, const ESM::EffectList& effects, const MWWorld::Ptr& caster, const MWWorld::Ptr& ignore,
                                       ESM::RangeType rangeType, const std::string& id, const std::string& sourceName,
@@ -680,8 +680,6 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
             /// Preload VFX associated with this effect list
             void preloadEffects(const ESM::EffectList* effectList) override;
-
-            osg::ref_ptr<osg::Node> getInstance (const std::string& modelName);
     };
 }