Difference between revisions of "Allomancy"

{{quote|There are two metals for every power. One Pushes, one Pulls--the second is usually an alloy of the first. For emotions--the external mental powers--you Pull with [[zinc]] and Push with [[brass]]. You just used pewter to Push your body. That's one of the internal physical powers.|[[Kelsier]] to [[Vin]].{{ref|b|mb1|c|7}}}}

There are sixteen base Allomantic metals (though, despite being called "Allomantic" metals, these same metals are shared in all three Metallic Arts). The metals come in pairs: one metal is a pure metal, and it is paired with an alloy (a mixture) of that base metal. These pairs have complementary effects. [[Iron]] Pulls on nearby metals, while [[steel]] (an alloy of iron) Pushes on metals. Similarly, each base metal is classified as a "Pulling" ability, whereas each alloy is classified as a "Pushing" ability. The purity of the metals is important. The more pure a metal, the more effective they are. Alloys require precise metal percentages for maximum power. If an Allomancer burns a metal or an alloy that is impure, they can get sick, and even more severe effects happen if an Allomancer attempts to burn a metal that is not one of the sixteen.{{ref|b|mb1|c|7}}

{{quote|Never try to burn a metal that isn't one of the ten. I warned you that impure metals and alloys can make you sick. Well, if you try to burn a metal that isn't Allomantically sound at all, it could be deadly.|[[Kelsier]] to [[Vin]]{{ref|b|mb1|c|7}} (note that more metals were discovered after Kelsier's time than ten)}}

In addition to Pulling and Pushing classifications, there are external and internal metals. External powers influence things outside an Allomancer's body, while internal powers influence the Allomancer. This naturally divides the sixteen Allomantic metals into four groups of four metals each: physical, mental, temporal, and enhancement powers. Each quadrant has a metal and alloy pair of an external power, and another pair of internal powers. For example, the external physical powers are iron and steel, while the internal physical powers are [[tin]]--which enhances the Allomancer's senses--and [[pewter]]--which enhances the Allomancer's physical attributes.