Duralumin
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Duralumin is the internal enhancement pushing metal. An Allomancer burning duralumin is able to greatly enhance other metals they are burning. Feruchemists can use duralumin to store Connection, and when used as a Hemalurgic spike, duralumin steals Connection and Identity.
Alloy Composition
The duralumin used in the Metallic Arts is ninety-six percent aluminum, four percent copper.[1]
Allomantic Use
A duralumin Misting is known as a Duralumin Gnat. An Allomancer burning duralumin instantly uses up any metals being burned simultaneously, releasing an enormous burst of power from those metals. Duralumin itself is not completely consumed like metals it is burned in concert with, but it still continues to burn away at a steady rate.[2][3] A Duralumin Gnat gains nothing from their powers.[4]
The use of duralumin could seriously hurt a Mistborn. While burning tin, the Mistborn risks being shocked by the sensory overload and becoming temporarily numb, blind, and deaf. A Push or Pull could become so strong it can feel like the Mistborn is being torn apart.[3][5] When using duralumin, Mistborn usually burn pewter along with tin/iron/steel to avoid injuries.
When combined with emotional Allomancy, duralumin allows Allomancers to "break into" and gain control of Hemalurgic constructs such as kandra and koloss, even if they would not normally have enough raw power to do so.[6][7]
Duralumin could potentially be used to gain a burst of power from other forms of Investiture as well, such as Surgebinding.[8] Burning duralumin while also Compounding any other metal does not gain anything other than time, and is quite dangerous due to the swift effects of the duralumin.[9]
Feruchemical Use
A duralumin Ferring is known as a Connector. Duralumin is used to store Spiritual Connection. Filling a duraluminmind can be used to reduce other people's awareness and friendship of the Connector, as these Spiritual Connections become stored away. Tapping it would strengthen Connections or allow the Connector to form relationships faster.[4]
Southern Scadrians use unsealed duraluminminds to enable them to communicate with others on foreign lands.[10] They still retain their native accent when doing so,[10] though someone could develop a local accent by blanking their Identity.[11] This ability can be used on other planets, though it does not grant the ability to travel between worlds.[12] Tapping a duraluminmind would also allow someone to overcome the location restriction on Selish Invested Arts; for example, an Elantrian could use Aons at full power regardless of location, though there are also easier ways to achieve this.[13]
Compounding
A duralumin Compounder would be able to use duralumin to have a nearly infinite supply of Spiritual Connection. The Compounder would be able to put a Hemalurgic creature under complete control, similar to what Soothers and Rioters can do.[14]
Hemalurgic Use
When used as a Hemalurgic spike, duralumin steals Connection and Identity.[15]
![[15]](#cite_note-Hemalurgy_table.jpg-15){kind=link}
History
During the Final Empire, the Lord Ruler kept aluminum and its alloy duralumin from public knowledge to give the Inquisitors an advantage.[16] Aluminum and duralumin were also unknown to people due to the advanced technology (electrolysis) required to refine it. Without that technology, the Lord Ruler acquired small amounts of aluminum from ashmounts.
Vin, after being fed aluminum by the Inquisitors, figured there should be an alloy for it, too. Despite the risk to herself, she tested out various alloys of aluminum with Terion's help, and eventually discovered an alloy that didn't cause sickness when burned -- duralumin. However, since she wasn't burning any other metal at the same time, the duralumin seemed to generate no effect.[2] Later, while sparring with Zane, Vin was stunned to find out the effect of duralumin.[3]
She carefully kept the secret of duralumin and used it to great advantage on several occasions later in combination with both physical[5][17][18][19][20] and mental[21][22] Allomancy. TenSoon and Zane eventually found out about duralumin, however, allowing Zane to use it against her.[23]
Trivia
- Duralumin is a real alloy of aluminum, and is fairly common.[24]
- If Vin hadn't had duralumin in the fight at the Luthadel Assembly meeting, both Elend and she would have died.[17][25]
- An alternative ending to The Well of Ascension has a conversation about duralumin between Vin and Elend.[26]
- Brandon had Elend burn both duralumin and atium at the Battle of Hathsin because a lot of people had asked about the combination.[27]
Notes
- ↑ The Well of Ascension chapter 2#
- ↑ a b The Well of Ascension chapter 5#
- ↑ a b c The Well of Ascension chapter 8#
- ↑ a b The Alloy of Law Ars Arcanum#
- ↑ a b The Well of Ascension chapter 11#
- ↑ The Well of Ascension chapter 40#
- ↑ The Well of Ascension chapter 54#
- ↑ Skyward Houston signing
— Arcanum - 2018-11-19# - ↑ Arcanum Unbounded Seattle signing
— Arcanum - 2016-12-01# - ↑ a b The Bands of Mourning chapter 22#
- ↑ Arcanum Unbounded signing Fort Collins
— Arcanum - 2016-11-29# - ↑ Salt Lake City Comic-Con 2014
— Arcanum - 2014-09-04# - ↑ DragonCon 2019
— Arcanum - 2019-08-31# - ↑ WorldCon 76
— Arcanum - 2018-08-18# - ↑ Hemalurgy Table
- ↑ The Hero of Ages Annotations
— Arcanum - 2010-04-15# - ↑ a b The Well of Ascension chapter 38#
- ↑ The Well of Ascension chapter 43#
- ↑ The Well of Ascension chapter 55#
- ↑ The Well of Ascension chapter 57#
- ↑ The Well of Ascension chapter 20#
- ↑ The Well of Ascension chapter 27#
- ↑ The Well of Ascension chapter 47#
- ↑ The Well of Ascension Annotations
— Arcanum - 2007-09-10# - ↑ The Well of Ascension Annotations
— Arcanum - 2008-07-07# - ↑ Mistborn 2 Alternate Ending
— Brandon's website - ?# - ↑ The Hero of Ages Annotations
— Arcanum - 2010-06-08#
