The Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson is centered on metals and their manipulation. There are three key magical disciplines in this universe: Allomancy, Feruchemy, and Compounding. Here's a breakdown for those that don't know about this magic system.

1. Allomancy: The Art of Burning Metals Overview

Allomancy is a magical ability where individuals consume and "burn" metals or metal alloys to gain specific powers. Only certain people, called Allomancers, can access these powers. Allomancers are divided into two groups:

Mistborn: Can burn all known metals and alloys.

Mistings: Can burn only a single metal.

How It Works

To use Allomancy, an Allomancer swallows metal shavings or beads and "burns" them in their stomach, consuming the metal to fuel their abilities. Each metal produces a unique effect.

The Metals and Their Effects

Allomancy revolves around 16 base metals (plus a few special ones). Each has a distinct power, typically paired with a complementing metal:

Iron: Pulls nearby metal objects toward the user.

Steel: Pushes metal objects away.

Tin: Enhances the user's senses (sight, smell, touch, etc.).

Pewter: Increases physical strength and endurance.

Zinc: Riots emotions, intensifying specific feelings in others.

Brass: Soothes emotions, suppressing specific feelings.

Copper: Hides Allomantic activity from detection.

Bronze: Detects Allomantic activity (hearing the "Allomantic pulses").

Gold: Reveals a vision of the user's alternate past self.

Electrum: Shows the user their immediate future (short-term possibilities).

Cadmium: Slows time in a bubble around the user.

Bendalloy: Speeds up time in a bubble around the user.

Aluminum: Destroys all of the user's Allomantic reserves.

Duralumin: Supercharges the next metal the user burns, consuming it instantly.

Chromium: Destroys another Allomancer's metal reserves on contact.

Nicrosil: Supercharges another Allomancer's current burn.

2. Feruchemy: Storing Power in Metals Overview

Feruchemy is a magic system where practitioners, called Ferrings or Full Feruchemists, store attributes in specially chosen metal objects called metalminds. Unlike Allomancy, which consumes metals, Feruchemy involves storing and later retrieving power.

How It Works

A Feruchemist can "store" a specific attribute in a metalmind by voluntarily weakening themselves in that area for a time. They can later draw on the stored attribute, retrieving it at an enhanced level.

The Metals and Their Effects

Each metal allows for the storage of a specific attribute:

Iron: Stores weight (user becomes lighter or heavier).

Steel: Stores physical speed.

Tin: Stores senses.

Pewter: Stores physical strength.

Zinc: Stores mental speed.

Brass: Stores warmth.

Copper: Stores memories (like a mental archive).

Bronze: Stores wakefulness.

Gold: Stores health.

Electrum: Stores determination (willpower).

Cadmium: Stores the need for breath (survive without breathing temporarily).

Bendalloy: Stores calories/energy (sustaining the body).

Aluminum: Stores identity (who the person is at their core).

Duralumin: Stores connection (spiritual bonds to others or places).

Chromium: Stores luck.

Nicrosil: Stores Investiture (magical power).

Key Difference from Allomancy

In Feruchemy, no power is created or destroyed—it's merely stored and later retrieved. For example, storing strength in pewter makes the user physically weaker in the moment but allows them to become much stronger later.

3. Compounding: A Synergy of Both Systems Overview

Compounding occurs when a person possesses both Allomantic and Feruchemical abilities for the same metal. It creates a dramatic, exponential amplification of power.

How It Works

A Compounder uses Feruchemy to store an attribute in a metalmind. Instead of drawing it out the normal way, they then burn the metalmind Allomantically. This process doesn't just retrieve the stored power—it multiplies it.

Example: Health Compounding A Feruchemist stores health in a gold metalmind by temporarily becoming sick or weakened. A Compounder burns that gold metalmind Allomantically, generating a virtually unlimited supply of health. Significance

Compounding is incredibly rare and is considered almost overpowered due to the immense strength it provides. Those who can Compound are nearly unstoppable when prepared.