diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/activespells.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/activespells.cpp
index aae756350d..81f1a9ae1d 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/activespells.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/activespells.cpp
@@ -646,7 +646,7 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         purge([=](const ActiveSpellParams& params) { return params.mActiveSpellId == id; }, ptr);
     }
 
-    void ActiveSpells::purgeEffect(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, const ESM::MagicEffectId& effectId, ESM::RefId effectArg)
+    void ActiveSpells::purgeEffect(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, const ESM::RefId& effectId, ESM::RefId effectArg)
     {
         purge(
             [=](const ActiveSpellParams&, const ESM::ActiveEffect& effect) {
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/activespells.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/activespells.hpp
index 0824405f9a..6a82643e66 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/activespells.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/activespells.hpp
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         void removeEffectsByActiveSpellId(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, const ESM::RefId& id);
 
         /// Remove all active effects with this effect id
-        void purgeEffect(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, const ESM::MagicEffectId& effectId, ESM::RefId effectArg = {});
+        void purgeEffect(const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr, const ESM::RefId& effectId, ESM::RefId effectArg = {});
 
         void purge(EffectPredicate predicate, const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr);
         void purge(ParamsPredicate predicate, const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr);
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/alchemy.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/alchemy.cpp
index 3c08279463..a6534d9c93 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/alchemy.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/alchemy.cpp
@@ -30,12 +30,12 @@ namespace
 
     std::optional<MWMechanics::EffectKey> toKey(const ESM::Ingredient& ingredient, size_t i)
     {
-        if (ingredient.mData.mEffectID[i] < 0)
+        if (ingredient.mData.mEffectID[i].empty())
             return {};
         ESM::RefId arg = ESM::Skill::indexToRefId(ingredient.mData.mSkills[i]);
         if (arg.empty())
             arg = ESM::Attribute::indexToRefId(ingredient.mData.mAttributes[i]);
-        return MWMechanics::EffectKey(ingredient.mData.mEffectID[i], arg);
+        return MWMechanics::EffectKey(*ingredient.mData.mEffectID[i].getIf<ESM::MagicEffectId>(), arg);
     }
 
     bool containsEffect(const ESM::Ingredient& ingredient, const MWMechanics::EffectKey& effect)
@@ -172,11 +172,11 @@ void MWMechanics::Alchemy::updateEffects()
     for (const auto& effectKey : effects)
     {
         const ESM::MagicEffect* magicEffect
-            = MWBase::Environment::get().getESMStore()->get<ESM::MagicEffect>().find(effectKey.mId);
+            = MWBase::Environment::get().getESMStore()->get<ESM::MagicEffect>().search(effectKey.mId);
 
         if (magicEffect->mData.mBaseCost <= 0)
         {
-            const std::string os = "invalid base cost for magic effect " + std::to_string(effectKey.mId);
+            const std::string os = "invalid base cost for magic effect " + std::string(ESM::MagicEffect::refIdToName(effectKey.mId));
             throw std::runtime_error(os);
         }
 
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ void MWMechanics::Alchemy::updateEffects()
         if (magnitude > 0 && duration > 0)
         {
             ESM::ENAMstruct effect;
-            effect.mEffectID = static_cast<int16_t>(effectKey.mId);
+            effect.mEffectID = effectKey.mId;
 
             effect.mAttribute = -1;
             effect.mSkill = -1;
@@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ std::vector<std::string> MWMechanics::Alchemy::effectsDescription(
         if (alchemySkill < fWortChanceValue * static_cast<int>(i + 1))
             break;
 
-        if (effectID != -1)
+        if (!effectID.empty())
         {
             const ESM::Attribute* attribute
                 = store->get<ESM::Attribute>().search(ESM::Attribute::indexToRefId(data.mAttributes[i]));
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/creaturestats.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/creaturestats.cpp
index 83fd5a1f4d..3531b7fde1 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/creaturestats.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/creaturestats.cpp
@@ -649,7 +649,7 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         return mTimeOfDeath;
     }
 
-    std::multimap<ESM::MagicEffectId, ESM::RefNum>& CreatureStats::getSummonedCreatureMap()
+    std::multimap<ESM::RefId, ESM::RefNum>& CreatureStats::getSummonedCreatureMap()
     {
         return mSummonedCreatures;
     }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/creaturestats.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/creaturestats.hpp
index 29c2c73e94..4cf4c2e421 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/creaturestats.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/creaturestats.hpp
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         MWWorld::TimeStamp mTimeOfDeath;
 
     private:
-        std::multimap<ESM::MagicEffectId, ESM::RefNum> mSummonedCreatures; // <Effect, Actor>
+        std::multimap<ESM::RefId, ESM::RefNum> mSummonedCreatures; // <Effect, Actor>
 
         float mAwarenessTimer = 0.f;
         int mAwarenessRoll = -1;
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         void setBlock(bool value);
         bool getBlock() const;
 
-        std::multimap<ESM::MagicEffectId, ESM::RefNum>& getSummonedCreatureMap(); // <Effect, summoned creature>
+        std::multimap<ESM::RefId, ESM::RefNum>& getSummonedCreatureMap(); // <Effect, summoned creature>
 
         enum Flag
         {
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/magiceffects.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/magiceffects.hpp
index 45de2c7beb..491f011807 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/magiceffects.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/magiceffects.hpp
@@ -23,11 +23,17 @@ namespace MWMechanics
 {
     struct EffectKey
     {
-        ESM::MagicEffectId mId;
+        ESM::RefId mId;
         ESM::RefId mArg; // skill or ability
 
         EffectKey();
 
+        EffectKey(ESM::RefId id, ESM::RefId arg = {})
+            : mId(id)
+            , mArg(arg)
+        {
+        }
+
         EffectKey(ESM::MagicEffectId id, ESM::RefId arg = {})
             : mId(id)
             , mArg(arg)
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp
index d17bd97744..398ad09d2b 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp
@@ -320,8 +320,8 @@ namespace MWMechanics
                     ESM::RefId school = ESM::Skill::Alteration;
                     if (!enchantment->mEffects.mList.empty())
                     {
-                        short effectId = enchantment->mEffects.mList.front().mData.mEffectID;
-                        const ESM::MagicEffect* magicEffect = store->get<ESM::MagicEffect>().find(effectId);
+                        ESM::RefId effectId = enchantment->mEffects.mList.front().mData.mEffectID;
+                        const ESM::MagicEffect* magicEffect = store->get<ESM::MagicEffect>().search(effectId);
                         school = magicEffect->mData.mSchool;
                     }
 
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ namespace MWMechanics
             MWRender::Animation* animation = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getAnimation(mCaster);
             if (animation)
             {
-                animation->addEffect(castStaticModel.value(), ESM::MagicEffect::indexToName(effect->mIndex), false, {},
+                animation->addEffect(castStaticModel.value(), ESM::MagicEffect::refIdToName(effect->mId), false, {},
                     effect->mParticle);
             }
             else
@@ -585,7 +585,7 @@ namespace MWMechanics
             {
                 const VFS::Path::Normalized castStaticModel
                     = Misc::ResourceHelpers::correctMeshPath(VFS::Path::Normalized(castStatic->mModel));
-                anim->addEffect(castStaticModel.value(), ESM::MagicEffect::indexToName(magicEffect.mIndex), loop, {},
+                anim->addEffect(castStaticModel.value(), ESM::MagicEffect::refIdToName(magicEffect.mId), loop, {},
                     magicEffect.mParticle);
             }
         }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/summoning.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/summoning.cpp
index bf2da8206f..e6c9a85ff2 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/summoning.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/summoning.cpp
@@ -23,9 +23,41 @@
 namespace MWMechanics
 {
 
-    static const std::map<ESM::MagicEffectId, ESM::RefId>& getSummonMap()
+    bool isSummoningEffect(const ESM::RefId& effectId)
     {
-        static std::map<ESM::MagicEffectId, ESM::RefId> summonMap;
+        if (effectId.empty())
+            return false;
+        static const std::array<ESM::MagicEffectId, 22> summonEffects{
+            ESM::MagicEffect::SummonAncestralGhost,
+            ESM::MagicEffect::SummonBonelord,
+            ESM::MagicEffect::SummonBonewalker,
+            ESM::MagicEffect::SummonCenturionSphere,
+            ESM::MagicEffect::SummonClannfear,
+            ESM::MagicEffect::SummonDaedroth,
+            ESM::MagicEffect::SummonDremora,
+            ESM::MagicEffect::SummonFabricant,
+            ESM::MagicEffect::SummonFlameAtronach,
+            ESM::MagicEffect::SummonFrostAtronach,
+            ESM::MagicEffect::SummonGoldenSaint,
+            ESM::MagicEffect::SummonGreaterBonewalker,
+            ESM::MagicEffect::SummonHunger,
+            ESM::MagicEffect::SummonScamp,
+            ESM::MagicEffect::SummonSkeletalMinion,
+            ESM::MagicEffect::SummonStormAtronach,
+            ESM::MagicEffect::SummonWingedTwilight,
+            ESM::MagicEffect::SummonWolf,
+            ESM::MagicEffect::SummonBear,
+            ESM::MagicEffect::SummonBonewolf,
+            ESM::MagicEffect::SummonCreature04,
+            ESM::MagicEffect::SummonCreature05,
+        };
+        return (std::find(summonEffects.begin(), summonEffects.end(), *effectId.getIf<ESM::MagicEffectId>())
+            != summonEffects.end());
+    }
+
+    static const std::map<ESM::RefId, ESM::RefId>& getSummonMap()
+    {
+        static std::map<ESM::RefId, ESM::RefId> summonMap;
 
         if (summonMap.size() > 0)
             return summonMap;
@@ -63,12 +95,7 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         return summonMap;
     }
 
-    bool isSummoningEffect(const ESM::MagicEffectId& effectId)
-    {
-        return getSummonMap().contains(effectId);
-    }
-
-    ESM::RefId getSummonedCreature(const ESM::MagicEffectId& effectId)
+    ESM::RefId getSummonedCreature(const ESM::RefId& effectId)
     {
         const auto& summonMap = getSummonMap();
         auto it = summonMap.find(effectId);
@@ -79,7 +106,7 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         return ESM::RefId();
     }
 
-    ESM::RefNum summonCreature(const ESM::MagicEffectId& effectId, const MWWorld::Ptr& summoner)
+    ESM::RefNum summonCreature(const ESM::RefId& effectId, const MWWorld::Ptr& summoner)
     {
         const ESM::RefId& creatureID = getSummonedCreature(effectId);
         ESM::RefNum creature;
@@ -150,7 +177,7 @@ namespace MWMechanics
         }
     }
 
-    void purgeSummonEffect(const MWWorld::Ptr& summoner, const std::pair<ESM::MagicEffectId, ESM::RefNum>& summon)
+    void purgeSummonEffect(const MWWorld::Ptr& summoner, const std::pair<ESM::RefId, ESM::RefNum>& summon)
     {
         auto& creatureStats = summoner.getClass().getCreatureStats(summoner);
         creatureStats.getActiveSpells().purge(
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/summoning.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/summoning.hpp
index 34fc68dffc..09dac36d39 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/summoning.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/summoning.hpp
@@ -10,8 +10,6 @@ namespace ESM
 {
     class RefId;
     class StringRefId;
-
-    using MagicEffectId = StringRefId;
 }
 namespace MWWorld
 {
@@ -20,13 +18,13 @@ namespace MWWorld
 
 namespace MWMechanics
 {
-    bool isSummoningEffect(const ESM::MagicEffectId& effectId);
+    bool isSummoningEffect(const ESM::RefId& effectId);
 
-    ESM::RefId getSummonedCreature(const ESM::MagicEffectId& effectId);
+    ESM::RefId getSummonedCreature(const ESM::RefId& effectId);
 
-    void purgeSummonEffect(const MWWorld::Ptr& summoner, const std::pair<ESM::MagicEffectId, ESM::RefNum>& summon);
+    void purgeSummonEffect(const MWWorld::Ptr& summoner, const std::pair<ESM::RefId, ESM::RefNum>& summon);
 
-    ESM::RefNum summonCreature(const ESM::MagicEffectId& effectId, const MWWorld::Ptr& summoner);
+    ESM::RefNum summonCreature(const ESM::RefId& effectId, const MWWorld::Ptr& summoner);
 
     void updateSummons(const MWWorld::Ptr& summoner, bool cleanup);
 }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwworld/esmstore.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwworld/esmstore.cpp
index ec55de0b91..ff3bf9fd5b 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwworld/esmstore.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwworld/esmstore.cpp
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ namespace
                     iter->mData.mAttribute = -1;
                     Log(Debug::Verbose) << RecordType::getRecordType() << " " << spell.mId
                                         << ": dropping unexpected attribute argument of "
-                                        << iter->mData.mEffectID.getRefIdString() << " effect";
+                                        << ESM::MagicEffect::refIdToName(iter->mData.mEffectID) << " effect";
                     changed = true;
                 }
 
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ namespace
                     iter->mData.mSkill = -1;
                     Log(Debug::Verbose) << RecordType::getRecordType() << " " << spell.mId
                                         << ": dropping unexpected skill argument of "
-                                        <<iter->mData.mEffectID.getRefIdString() << " effect";
+                                        << ESM::MagicEffect::refIdToName(iter->mData.mEffectID) << " effect";
                     changed = true;
                 }
 
diff --git a/components/esm3/activespells.hpp b/components/esm3/activespells.hpp
index b53e77a6e6..3cd96e9a16 100644
--- a/components/esm3/activespells.hpp
+++ b/components/esm3/activespells.hpp
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ namespace ESM
             Flag_Invalid = 1 << 5
         };
 
-        MagicEffectId mEffectId;
+        RefId mEffectId;
         float mMagnitude;
         float mMinMagnitude;
         float mMaxMagnitude;
diff --git a/components/esm3/effectlist.hpp b/components/esm3/effectlist.hpp
index b02f14dfc8..f7350f40fc 100644
--- a/components/esm3/effectlist.hpp
+++ b/components/esm3/effectlist.hpp
@@ -11,15 +11,13 @@ namespace ESM
     class ESMReader;
     class ESMWriter;
 
-    using MagicEffectId = StringRefId;
-
     /** Defines a spell effect. Shared between SPEL (Spells), ALCH
      (Potions) and ENCH (Item enchantments) records
      */
     struct ENAMstruct
     {
         // Magical effect, serialized to int16
-        ESM::MagicEffectId mEffectID;
+        ESM::RefId mEffectID;
 
         // Which skills/attributes are affected (for restore/drain spells
         // etc.)
diff --git a/components/esm3/loadingr.cpp b/components/esm3/loadingr.cpp
index 6a4753d8e4..b0b5065434 100644
--- a/components/esm3/loadingr.cpp
+++ b/components/esm3/loadingr.cpp
@@ -3,14 +3,26 @@
 #include "esmreader.hpp"
 #include "esmwriter.hpp"
 
+#include <components/esm3/loadmgef.hpp>
 #include <components/misc/concepts.hpp>
 
 namespace ESM
 {
+    template <typename T>
+    constexpr bool loading = !std::is_const_v<std::remove_reference_t<T>>;
+
     template <Misc::SameAsWithoutCvref<Ingredient::IRDTstruct> T>
     void decompose(T&& v, const auto& f)
     {
-        f(v.mWeight, v.mValue, v.mEffectID, v.mSkills, v.mAttributes);
+        int32_t ioEffectID[4];
+        std::transform(
+            std::begin(v.mEffectID), std::end(v.mEffectID), std::begin(ioEffectID), ESM::MagicEffect::refIdToIndex);
+        f(v.mWeight, v.mValue, ioEffectID, v.mSkills, v.mAttributes);
+        if constexpr (loading<T>)
+        {
+            std::transform(
+                std::begin(ioEffectID), std::end(ioEffectID), std::begin(v.mEffectID), ESM::MagicEffect::indexToRefId);
+        }
     }
 
     void Ingredient::load(ESMReader& esm, bool& isDeleted)
@@ -63,15 +75,21 @@ namespace ESM
         // horrible hack to fix broken data in records
         for (int i = 0; i < 4; ++i)
         {
-            if (mData.mEffectID[i] != 85 && mData.mEffectID[i] != 22 && mData.mEffectID[i] != 17
-                && mData.mEffectID[i] != 79 && mData.mEffectID[i] != 74)
+            if (mData.mEffectID[i] != ESM::MagicEffect::AbsorbAttribute &&
+                mData.mEffectID[i] != ESM::MagicEffect::DamageAttribute &&
+                mData.mEffectID[i] != ESM::MagicEffect::DrainAttribute &&
+                mData.mEffectID[i] != ESM::MagicEffect::FortifyAttribute &&
+                mData.mEffectID[i] != ESM::MagicEffect::RestoreAttribute)
             {
                 mData.mAttributes[i] = -1;
             }
 
             // is this relevant in cycle from 0 to 4?
-            if (mData.mEffectID[i] != 89 && mData.mEffectID[i] != 26 && mData.mEffectID[i] != 21
-                && mData.mEffectID[i] != 83 && mData.mEffectID[i] != 78)
+            if (mData.mEffectID[i] != ESM::MagicEffect::AbsorbSkill &&
+                mData.mEffectID[i] != ESM::MagicEffect::DamageSkill &&
+                mData.mEffectID[i] != ESM::MagicEffect::DrainSkill &&
+                mData.mEffectID[i] != ESM::MagicEffect::FortifySkill &&
+                mData.mEffectID[i] != ESM::MagicEffect::RestoreSkill)
             {
                 mData.mSkills[i] = -1;
             }
@@ -102,7 +120,7 @@ namespace ESM
         mData.mValue = 0;
         for (int i = 0; i < 4; ++i)
         {
-            mData.mEffectID[i] = 0;
+            mData.mEffectID[i] = ESM::MagicEffect::WaterBreathing;
             mData.mSkills[i] = 0;
             mData.mAttributes[i] = 0;
         }
diff --git a/components/esm3/loadingr.hpp b/components/esm3/loadingr.hpp
index 2a8748e067..289cf839a4 100644
--- a/components/esm3/loadingr.hpp
+++ b/components/esm3/loadingr.hpp
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ namespace ESM
         {
             float mWeight;
             int32_t mValue;
-            int32_t mEffectID[4]; // Effect, -1 means none
+            RefId mEffectID[4]; // Effect, EmptyRefId means none
             int32_t mSkills[4]; // SkillEnum related to effect
             int32_t mAttributes[4]; // Attribute related to effect
         };
diff --git a/components/esm3/loadmgef.cpp b/components/esm3/loadmgef.cpp
index aac4981dc8..b90d985088 100644
--- a/components/esm3/loadmgef.cpp
+++ b/components/esm3/loadmgef.cpp
@@ -826,6 +826,8 @@ namespace ESM
 
     int MagicEffect::refIdToIndex(const RefId& effectId)
     {
+        if (effectId.empty())
+            return -1;
         for (size_t i = 0; i < sMagicEffectIds.size(); ++i)
             if (sMagicEffectIds[i] == effectId)
                 return static_cast<int>(i);
diff --git a/components/esm3/magiceffects.hpp b/components/esm3/magiceffects.hpp
index 82194d0039..ab93288d92 100644
--- a/components/esm3/magiceffects.hpp
+++ b/components/esm3/magiceffects.hpp
@@ -12,13 +12,11 @@ namespace ESM
     class ESMReader;
     class ESMWriter;
 
-    using MagicEffectId = StringRefId;
-
     // format 0, saved games only
     struct MagicEffects
     {
         // <Effect Id, Base value, Modifier>
-        std::map<ESM::MagicEffectId, std::pair<int32_t, float>> mEffects;
+        std::map<ESM::RefId, std::pair<int32_t, float>> mEffects;
 
         void load(ESMReader& esm);
         void save(ESMWriter& esm) const;
@@ -26,14 +24,14 @@ namespace ESM
 
     struct SummonKey
     {
-        SummonKey(const ESM::MagicEffectId& effectId, const ESM::RefId& sourceId, int32_t index)
+        SummonKey(const ESM::RefId& effectId, const ESM::RefId& sourceId, int32_t index)
             : mEffectId(effectId)
             , mSourceId(sourceId)
             , mEffectIndex(index)
         {
         }
 
-        ESM::MagicEffectId mEffectId;
+        ESM::RefId mEffectId;
         ESM::RefId mSourceId;
         int32_t mEffectIndex;
     };