Element

A fire elemental, a being of pure elemental energy.

In much of the Inner Sea region, people consider all matter to be composed of four basic elements, or forms of elemental energy, or elemental forces—air, earth, fire, and water. Meanwhile in the Successor States of Tian Xia, many people believe in the elemental cycle: the five elements of earth, fire, metal, water, and wood. Elemental creatures are outsiders that are created from these elements and reside in one of the six Elemental Planes associated with each element:

• The Plane of Air has air elementals
• The Plane of Earth has earth elementals
• The Plane of Fire has fire elementals
• The Plane of Water has water elementals
• The Plane of Metal has metal elementals
• The Plane of Wood has wood elementals

For millennia, only the existence of four Elemental Planes was known, until as of 4723 AR, the long-forgotten Plane of Metal and Plane of Wood recently re-emerged. Prior to the Plane of Wood's return, wood energy was believed to be formed from the friction between Elemental Planes and the First World.

Typical elementalism, which uses the six individual primary elements, is known as the practice of discrete elementalism. In contrast, the practice of churn elementalism, or indiscrete elementalism, draws upon the borders between Elemental Planes, where elements mix to form elemental churn, or secondary elements. The secondary elements formed at these planar points of friction can also create elemental creatures. Elemental energy can also be concentrated into planar power components.

Other elements

A hobgoblin chaokineticist.

As well as the traditional four-element and five-element philosophies common in the Inner Sea region and the Successor States, there are others:

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Minkai

Minkaian elemental philosophy believes that a hierarchy of five elements are not only parts of the natural world and a person's physicality, but also aspects of a person's observing mind and personality: void represents creativity and is the most important element, followed by wind, fire, water, and earth. Elemental void energy comes from its namesake plane the Void, and the Shojinawa manor serves as a focal point of its formation on Golarion.

Vudra

Elemental philosophy of Vudra focuses on five elements as parts of the mortal body: aether (or spirit), air (or wind), earth, fire, and water. If a person can perfect their balance of these five, they may achieve immortality and enlightenment.

Among dwarves

Dwarven elementalism divides the elements into sky, stone, and metal, a legacy of the ancient Quest for Sky.

Among elves

Elven elementalists closely relate the elements of earth, water, and wood to life within a habitat.

Among goblins

Individual goblin elementalists often name up to 10 arbitrary concepts as elements, with drink, fire, food, and sleep among the most common.

Elemental magic

Update needed This section should be updated to reflect canon changes by the Pathfinder Second Edition Remaster Project noted in Rage of Elements. Please help improve it if you can; the talk page might contain suggestions.

References

Paizo published a book about the Elemental Planes titled Planes of Power that discusses the traditional four elements, and the book Rage of Elements which expanded the Elemental Planes and updated key concepts about elemental philosophy and practice.

For additional as-yet unincorporated sources about this subject, see the Meta page.