In the Age of Sorrows, there are five substances which are tightly tied to the Exalted. Even among magic substances, they are magical because each one is uniquely attuned to one type of Exalted, and consequently serves as the foundation for many of the devices and artifacts used by that type of Exalted. They are collectively termed the Five Magical Materials, and are:
- Orichalcum: Gold purified by the Sun, Orichalcum is noted for making equipment which is good at everything. Orichalcum artifacts are used by Solar Exalted.
- Moonsilver: Moonsilver is silver touched by Luna, and lends some of Luna's protean nature to the material. Moonsilver is considered sacred by Lunar Exalted.
- Starmetal: Rarer than all other materials, because the Sidereal Exalted must predict where this congealed essence of dead Gods will fall. Starmetal shines with the nature of the Five Maidens and warps fate slightly as part of its basic nature.
- Jade: Commonest of all the magical materials, and used to make the weapons and armor of the Terrestrial Exalted. Jade comes in five colors, one for each Aspect.
- Soulsteel: Comprised of the bodies of ghosts and scrapings from the Mouth of the Void in Stygia, Soulsteel mutters and moans with the pain of the spirits trapped within. This horrifying black material is the trademark of the Abyssal Exalted.
There is a sixth magical material: Adamant, which is a form of highly sharp but brittle glass. It is not associated with any caste, but comes up occasionally when discussing the other five.