adamantite

Adamantite is a fictional material that appears in multiple fantasy settings. The term is often used to denote an extremely hard metal or alloy and is sometimes spelled adamantine in various works. The name derives from adamas, Greek for invincible.

In most depictions, adamantite is exceptionally durable and resistant to damage, has a high melting point, and is rare and valuable. Properties vary by setting: some portray it as virtually indestructible when tempered, others describe brittle aspects or magical enhancements that affect its performance.

Common uses include weapons, armor, and protective constructs, as well as components for magical devices. Forging adamantite usually requires specialized forges, enchanted fuel, or rare tempering methods.

Notable appearances: In the Warcraft universe, Adamantite Ore is mined in Outland and used to craft powerful equipment. In some role-playing games and novels, adamantite is the metal from which legendary blades are forged or from which barriers are built.

Relationship to real materials: The term is etymologically linked to the legendary hard substance adamas; it has no direct real-world counterpart, though it is often likened to diamond in descriptions. It should not be confused with the Dungeons & Dragons material adamantine, which is a different adaptation of the concept in that game.