diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 285933ad4f..23814425a8 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 
     Bug #3737: Scripts from The Underground 2 .esp do not play (all patched versions)
     Bug #3846: Strings starting with "-" fail to compile if not enclosed in quotes
+    Bug #5453: Magic effect VFX are offset for creatures
     Bug #5483: AutoCalc flag is not used to calculate spells cost
     Bug #6101: Disarming trapped unlocked owned objects isn't considered a crime
 
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp
index 47225bc6f7..6b07fdbb86 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwmechanics/spellcasting.cpp
@@ -737,12 +737,31 @@ namespace MWMechanics
             else
             {
                 // If the caster has no animation, add the effect directly to the effectManager
-                // We should scale it manually
-                osg::Vec3f bounds (MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getHalfExtents(mCaster) * 2.f / Constants::UnitsPerFoot);
-                float scale = std::max({ bounds.x()/3.f, bounds.y()/3.f, bounds.z()/6.f });
-                float meshScale = !mCaster.getClass().isActor() ? mCaster.getCellRef().getScale() : 1.0f;
+                // We must scale and position it manually
+                float scale = mCaster.getCellRef().getScale();
                 osg::Vec3f pos (mCaster.getRefData().getPosition().asVec3());
-                MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->spawnEffect("meshes\\" + castStatic->mModel, effect->mParticle, pos, scale * meshScale);
+                if (!mCaster.getClass().isNpc())
+                {
+                    osg::Vec3f bounds (MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getHalfExtents(mCaster) * 2.f);
+                    scale *= std::max({bounds.x(), bounds.y(), bounds.z() / 2.f}) / 64.f;
+                    float offset = 0.f;
+                    if (bounds.z() < 128.f)
+                        offset = bounds.z() - 128.f;
+                    else if (bounds.z() < bounds.x() + bounds.y())
+                        offset = 128.f - bounds.z();
+                    if (MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->isFlying(mCaster))
+                        offset /= 20.f;
+                    pos.z() += offset * scale;
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    // Additionally use the NPC's height
+                    osg::Vec3f npcScaleVec (1.f, 1.f, 1.f);
+                    mCaster.getClass().adjustScale(mCaster, npcScaleVec, true);
+                    scale *= npcScaleVec.z();
+                }
+                scale = std::max(scale, 1.f);
+                MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->spawnEffect("meshes\\" + castStatic->mModel, effect->mParticle, pos, scale);
             }
 
             if (animation && !mCaster.getClass().isActor())
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
index b578ee25ba..a11d97779c 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwrender/animation.cpp
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 #include <osg/MatrixTransform>
 #include <osg/BlendFunc>
 #include <osg/Material>
-#include <osg/PositionAttitudeTransform>
 #include <osg/Switch>
 
 #include <osgParticle/ParticleSystem>
@@ -1655,12 +1654,21 @@ namespace MWRender
             parentNode = found->second;
         }
 
-        osg::ref_ptr<osg::PositionAttitudeTransform> trans = new osg::PositionAttitudeTransform;
+        osg::ref_ptr<SceneUtil::PositionAttitudeTransform> trans = new SceneUtil::PositionAttitudeTransform;
         if (!mPtr.getClass().isNpc())
         {
-            osg::Vec3f bounds (MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getHalfExtents(mPtr) * 2.f / Constants::UnitsPerFoot);
-            float scale = std::max({ bounds.x()/3.f, bounds.y()/3.f, bounds.z()/6.f });
-            trans->setScale(osg::Vec3f(scale, scale, scale));
+            osg::Vec3f bounds (MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getHalfExtents(mPtr) * 2.f);
+            float scale = std::max({bounds.x(), bounds.y(), bounds.z() / 2.f}) / 64.f;
+            if (scale > 1.f)
+                trans->setScale(osg::Vec3f(scale, scale, scale));
+            float offset = 0.f;
+            if (bounds.z() < 128.f)
+                offset = bounds.z() - 128.f;
+            else if (bounds.z() < bounds.x() + bounds.y())
+                offset = 128.f - bounds.z();
+            if (MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->isFlying(mPtr))
+                offset /= 20.f;
+            trans->setPosition(osg::Vec3f(0.f, 0.f, offset * scale));
         }
         parentNode->addChild(trans);