Editing Honorblade

{{magic
|image=Broken Oath by Antti Hakosaari.jpg
|related=[[Herald]]s, [[Oathpact]]
|world=Roshar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
{{quote
|Honor gave these to men, and those men gained powers from them. Spren figured out what He'd done, and we imitated it.
|[[Syl]]{{book ref|sa2|87}}
}}

The '''Honorblades''' are the magical swords carried by the [[Herald]]s to fight the [[Voidbringers]] during the [[Desolation]]s. They were pieces of Honor's soul that gave their wielders access to his essence.{{wob ref|1572}}

== Mechanics ==
{{image|Weep As You Kill by Ari Ibarra.jpg|side=left|width=250px|[[Szeth]] using [[Jezrien]]'s Honorblade}}
{{quote
|With this sword, someone can do what you can, but without the . . . checks a spren requires.
|[[Syl]] {{book ref|sa2|87}}
}}

There are ten Honorblades total, one for each Herald. Every Honorblade is unique, covered in various glyphs and patterns.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}} They are technically a type of [[Shardblade]]; they were prototypes of the [[Knight Radiant]] Shardblades, and share many qualities with them.{{wob ref|8499}} Among others, they can be bonded, summoned and dismissed much like a [[Shardblade]] can.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} Like living Shardblades, they can be used to operate [[Oathgate]]s.{{book ref|sa3|16}} Unlike living Shardblades, they cannot change shape.{{book ref|sa4|i|4}} It's unclear if they require ten heartbeats to be summoned, like dead Blades, or if they can appear instantly; this is likely tied to their wielders' perception.{{book ref|sa4|i|4}}{{wob ref|12612}}{{book ref|sa4|111}} They are near-indestructible, with the only thing known to be capable of damaging them being [[Nightblood]].{{book ref|sa4|111}} Honorblades are made out of the [[God Metal]] of Honor.{{wob ref|13996}}

Unlike Shardblades, however, Honorblades do not manifest as [[spren]] in the [[Cognitive Realm]]. Rather, they are made of [[Honor]]'s own [[Investiture]], which he deliberately splintered off himself and crystallized into metallic form.{{book ref|sa3|16}}{{wob ref|13996}} Honorblades are self-aware, but it is currently unknown to what extent.{{wob ref|15901}} In this sense, Honorblades are comparable to the blade wielded by Azure, which is also known to posses an unknown level of sapience.{{wob ref|8970}}{{book ref|sa3|108}} 

One does not need to be a Herald in order to use an Honorblade.{{wob ref|4459}} Likewise, a Herald dying does not cause the Honorblade to be destroyed or vanish.{{book ref|sa3|122}} However, the Honorblades do go with the Heralds when they travel to [[Braize]], and they appear to have a crucial role in the [[Oathpact]], as nine of the Heralds leave them behind in the [[Aharietiam]].{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}}

=== Surgebinding ===
Holding an Honorblade inherently grants the ability to [[Surgebind]] without a [[Nahel bond]].{{wob ref|4685}}{{book ref|sa2|i|1}} This ability is similar to that of [[Feruchemy#Unsealed_Metalminds|unsealed metalmind]]s, though they rely on different magic systems.{{wob ref|9408}} 

Honorblade Surgebinding is in many ways inferior to Radiant Surgebinding; among others, the Surgebinding healing bestowed by Honorblades is less efficient than Radiant healing.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} Additionally, [[Surge]]s require more [[Stormlight]] as fuel to power them, up to dangerous levels.{{book ref|sa3|98}}{{wob ref|4788}} While the latter still applies to the Heralds, they were once powered directly by [[Honor]], which made the issue of Stormlight consumption irrelevant.{{wob ref|1572}}

If a Surgebinder uses an Honorblade that matches the power they already have, their powers will be slightly enhanced.{{wob ref|5618}}

== History ==
{{image|Aharietiam by Micah Epstein.jpg|side=right|width=300px|The [[Herald]]s leaving their Blades behind at Aharietiam}}
=== Heralds and Shinovar ===
{{quote
|Our Blades must be left. The Oathpact ends now.
|[[Jezrien]]{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}}
}}
It's unknown at what point the Heralds received their Honorblades, although it likely happened during the creation of the [[Oathpact]]. They used them throughout the [[Desolation]]s until the [[Aharietiam]], whereupon nine of them left them at the site of the final battle before walking away from the Oathpact, feeling that as they had broken it, they no longer deserved the Honorblades.{{wob ref|16298}} [[Talenel]]'s Honorblade disappeared back to Braize along with him.{{book ref|sa1|part=prelude}}

After the Heralds departed, one of the [[Shin]] soldiers who participated in the battle stumbled upon them. Likely because of this, the nine Honorblades ended up in [[Shinovar]].{{book ref|sa3|38}}{{book ref|sa3|106}} Over the millennia, they retained the Blades, and even occasionally used them, most notably during the Shin invasions.{{wob ref|12700}} Even after the invasions failed, they would still train some of their people in the use of the Blades and the associated Surges.{{book ref|sa3|98}}

At some point, the Herald [[Nale]] reclaimed his own Blade from the Shin, leaving them with eight.{{book ref|sa3|106}}

=== War of Reckoning ===
A few years before the [[War of Reckoning]] broke out, [[Szeth]]'s family was given to the Honorblades. Szeth became the bearer of [[Jezrien]]'s; his father [[Neturo-son-Vallano]] became the bearer of [[Ishar]]'s.{{book ref|sa4|i|7}} Upon becoming the Truthless, Szeth kept his blade.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}}{{wob ref|5089}}{{book ref|sa4|i|7}} The Blade would go on to cut a swath through the [[Roshar]]an leadership as Szeth became the infamous Assassin in White. Among others, [[Gavilar Kholin]], [[Hanavanar]] of [[Jah Keved]] and two [[Prime Aqasix]]es of [[Azir]] fell to Jezrien's Honorblade.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}}{{book ref|sa1|i|9}}{{book ref|sa2|i|9}}

At roughly the same time, the Herald Talenel returned from [[Braize]], carrying his own Honorblade. He dropped it upon entering [[Kholinar]], but for unknown reasons, it didn't vanish.{{book ref|sa1|epilogue}} Talenel was later collected by one of [[Dalinar Kholin]]'s soldiers, [[Bordin]], to be brought to the [[Shattered Plains]]. The Blade was taken along with them; however, at some point during the transit, it was swapped out for a regular [[Shardblade]].{{book ref|sa2|76}} It's unknown at this point who performed the swap and where the real Honorblade is currently located.

During the [[Battle of Narak]], Szeth used Jezrien's Honorblade to battle [[Kaladin]] above the Plains. At the end of the fight, Szeth unbonded it and it ended up in Kaladin's hands.{{book ref|sa2|87}}

=== The True Desolation ===
Kaladin later passed the Honorblade to Dalinar, who hid it in one of the vents in [[Urithiru]].{{book ref|sa3|16}} After a while, he gave it to [[Bridge Four]], to use for training and Oathgate operation in absence of their leader.{{book ref|sa3|64}} The bridgemen would swap the Blade among themselves every once in a while in order to hide who currently had it and remain unpredictable.{{book ref|sa3|96}}

Despite that, agents of the [[Diagram (group)|Diagram]] managed to figure out the time when [[Eth]] held the Honorblade and attacked him. They snuck up to him with [[Teft]]'s sold-off uniform coat, then killed him with a [[Shardblade]] and stole the Honorblade before running off.{{book ref|sa3|i|14}} [[Taravangian]] later gave the Blade to [[Odium]] at the latter's demands. The Blade was later given to [[Leshwi]], who passed it onto [[Moash]] to allow him to join the [[Fused]] in the skies.{{book ref|sa3|122}}

At some point very recently, Ishar killed Neturo-son-Vallano and took back his Blade.{{book ref|sa4|i|9}}{{book ref|sa4|111}}

== Blades ==

{| class='infobox sortable' align=center width=100%
|- class=title
! Original Herald !! Current Owner !! Surges Granted !! Appearance !!class=unsortable| Notes
|-
| [[Jezrien]]
| [[Moash]]
| [[Adhesion]] & [[Gravitation]]
| Short, thin, & double-edged
| Formerly held by the [[Stone Shamans]], [[Szeth]], and various members of [[Bridge Four]].
|-
| [[Nale]]
| [[Nale]] (Reclaimed)
| [[Gravitation]] & [[Division]]
| Straight and unornamented, with two slits down its length.{{book ref|sa3|106}}
| At some point Nale returned to reclaim his Blade.{{wob ref|2562}}
|-
| [[Chanarach]]
| [[Stone Shamans]]
| [[Division]] & [[Abrasion]]
| Medium-long and thin, with a single slit down its length all the way to the tip. The area just above the hilt is heavily ornamented.{{file ref|Chanarach Endsheet.png}}{{file ref|Broken Oath by Antti Hakosaari.jpg}}
| None
|-
| [[Vedel]]
| [[Stone Shamans]]
| [[Abrasion]] & [[Progression]]
| ''Unknown''
| None
|-
| [[Pailiah]]
| [[Stone Shamans]]
| [[Progression]] & [[Illumination]]
| Very slender and curved, with large ornamental flairs, including a small hole, near the hilt.{{file ref|Pailiah Endsheet.png}}{{file ref|Broken Oath by Antti Hakosaari.jpg}}
| None
|-
| [[Shalash]]
| [[Stone Shamans]]
| [[Illumination]] & [[Transformation]]
| ''Unknown''
| None
|-
| [[Battar]]
| [[Stone Shamans]]
| [[Transformation]] & [[Transportation]]
| ''Unknown''
| None
|-
| [[Kalak]]
| [[Stone Shamans]]
| [[Transportation]] & [[Cohesion]]
| Flat and wide, with several roughly circular holes along the length. Examples of in-world art sometimes depicts these holes as holding gems. The blade's tip is semicircular and the hilt is meant for wielding with both hands.{{file ref|Kalak Endsheet.png}}{{file ref|Broken Oath by Antti Hakosaari.jpg}}
| None
|-
| [[Talenel]]
| ''Unknown''
| [[Cohesion]] & [[Tension]]
| Long, molten, and nail-like{{wob ref|13874}}{{file ref|Taln Endsheet.jpg|Taln Endsheet}}
| The Blade Taln returns with is not the same one he has later.{{book ref|sa3|38}}
|-
| [[Ishar]]
| [[Ishar]] (reclaimed)
| [[Tension]] & [[Adhesion]]
| Sinuous and lined with glyphs{{book ref|sa4|111}}
| Previously kept by [[Neturo]] until his death.{{book ref|sa4|111}}
|}

== Trivia ==
* In ''[[The Way of Kings Prime]]'', Honorblades allowed their wielders to locate other Honorblades.{{wob ref|11609}} This has since been removed.
* Surgebinders with Honorblades have been referred to as "unbound."{{cite}}
* Honorblades are somewhat self aware,{{wob ref|15901}} though they lack a spren manifestation and have never been noted to talk to people.

== Notes ==
<references />
{{partial}}
{{Stormlight}}
[[category: magic]]
[[category: weapons]]
[[category: Shardblades| ]]
[[es: Hoja de Honor]]