Difference between revisions of "Allomancy"

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Though Allomancy is hereditary, once Allomantic powers are awakened in a person, it is instinctual. All an Allomancer requires to use their power is enough of the correct metal. Nobles, as the descendants of the nine original allomancers, had more of preservation's power lingering in their bloodlines. As such, during The Final Empire's timeframe, allomancers could all trace their bloodline to nobility.

 

==Allomantic Metals==

 

 

 

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.

 

 

===Abilities===

{{quote|Allomancy, obviously, is of Preservation. The rational mind will see this. For, in the case of Allomancy, net power is gained. It is provided by an external source--Preservation's own body.|[[Harmony]] on Allomancy{{epigraph ref|mb3|32}}}}

 

 

Metal is not the source of Allomancy's power.{{annotation ref|mb3|chapter=38}} Rather, metal is what is called a [[focus]]--a necessary component to a manifestation of [[Investiture]] (magic system), but not the source of the power itself. When an Allomancer burns a metal, that metal specific molecular structure acts as a conduit to Preservation, and then the Allomancer is granted an ability corresponding to the metal, hence the metal "focuses" Preservation's power to the user. Each metal is the only way a mortal can access Preservation and the power of creation's power.{{qa ref|727|45|Allomancy is fueled by Preservation's body?}} Afterwards, the metal is vaporized.{{qa ref|618|61|When non-god metals are burned Allomantically, what happens to the metals?}} This is true for the base sixteen Allomantic metals. However, the god metals, lerasium and atium, are the sources of power themselves. Burning atium, being [[Ruin]]'s body, means the Allomancer is not accessing Preservation in any way in that process.{{epigraph ref|mb3|78}}

It may be quite unclear that Allomancy is of Preservation. After all, Pushing and Pulling on metals isn’t an effect that "preserves," so to speak. However, it is important to know that saying "Allomancy is of Preservation" has a very specific meaning: the way an Allomancer ''accesses'' the power is of Preservation, but the actual effect of the power is unrelated to Preservation.{{qa ref|622|107|How is Allomancy of Preservation?}} This is a fundamental difference between Allomancy and Feruchemy. In Feruchemy, its power comes from your own energy, but Allomancy is of Preservation. The act of burning a metal--accessing the power of Preservation--must be in line with the [[intent]] of Preservation. So burning a metal needs to "preserve" one's own energy, and so the power must come from the external source of Preservation's body.{{cite}}

 

 

Allomancy was not created by Preservation. None of the Metallic Arts were "created" by Preservation and Ruin. Rather, these powers are the natural result of Preservation, Ruin, and Scadrial itself.{{qa ref|727|5|Is Hemalurgy dead?}}