Mage cadres were instrumental attachments to the Malazan Army. A typically mage cadre consisted of six mages and the mage commander. In the Malaz 2nd Army the rank of cadre commander was indicated by a silver emblem attached to the cloak of the wearer. In the time of the Emperor, mages were so abundant that mage companies of Adepts were formed. Much later, the number of mage cadres came down drastically, with the Malazan 5th army posted in Genabackis left without mages of any extraordinary skill.