Dust

**Dust** is a source of energy in Remnant. The physical properties of Dust make it incredibly useful for a variety of purposes, particularly in the weapons of many characters in the series. It is known to make a distinctive "shimmering" sound passively and when in use.

The name "Dust" is implied to be a reference to the primordial state which mankind originally believed it was born from. As a natural resource, it is sometimes poetically referred to as "Nature's Wrath", or more prosaically as an energy propellant.

## History

According to ancient legends, mankind was fighting a losing struggle against creatures of darkness known as the Grimm. However, through their resourcefulness and ingenuity, Humanity managed to discover and harness a source of power they named "Dust" in order to battle the Grimm.

The advent of Dust became the turning point in the war. It would appear that after mankind drove back the Grimm and built civilizations, Dust became integrated into everyday life within Remnant.

Despite its widespread use and prevalence in society, Humanity has yet to understand the origins or the implications of their involvement with Dust.

## Types of Dust

### Fire

**Fire**, or **Burn**, Dust is red in color and can be used to create fire in various forms, such as fireballs and fire waves.

### Water

**Water** Dust is blue in color and can be used to create water.

### Wind

**Wind**, or **Air**, Dust can be used to create wind in various forms, such as gusts and tornadoes. It has been portrayed as both white and green in color in different appearances. According to The World of RWBY: The Official Companion, Wind Dust is white, but according to Lore Keeper Eddy Rivas, Wind Dust is pale green, while its effects are white.

### Ice

**Ice** Dust is light blue in color and can be used to create ice in any shape, such as crystals, thin sheets or even large structures like curved ramps or platforms that float in water.

### Gravity

Gravity Dust is black, sometimes purple in color and can be used to manipulate gravitational fields, often to pull objects or create a field that pushes outward.

Gravity Dust is used in public transport to make vehicles hover and some Huntsmen incorporate Gravity Dust into weapons for a stronger impact or to recall thrown weapons.

### Electricity

**Electricity,** or **Lightning** Dust, is yellow in color and can be used to generate electricity in forms such as bolts of lightning and electrical currents.

### Plant

Plant Dust is green in color. It still has yet to be used or even appear in the main show proper but has been shown extensively in Team OPRA's story. It can be used to create waves of briar that trap and incapacitate opponents.

### Rock/Earth

**Rock** or **Earth** Dust is dark orange in color and can be used to create rocks.

### Volcanic/Explosive

Explosive Dust or Volcanic Dust, is orange in colour and can be used to cause explosion in varying sizes.

## Uses

Dust serves as a power source for the majority of technology in Remnant, from airships to androids, though some alternative technologies do exist.

Dust can still be used without the aid of weapons or machines and can be unleashed in its raw form such as lightning.

Technology powered by Dust is known to glow.

The people of Remnant attempted to achieve spaceflight and space-based communications with Dust as propellant fuel, but its inability to operate outside of Remnant's atmosphere hindered these endeavors.

### Combat

The discovery of Dust was instrumental to Humanity's initial defeat of the Grimm, and Dust continues to be used extensively in combat. Dust can be harnessed in a variety of ways, but when used in its raw form, its full potential requires both an Aura and the intelligence to use it, meaning Humans and Faunus are the only ones who are able to use it for combat in this state. Furthermore, the effective use of raw Dust requires a certain level of discipline to keep from losing control of it.