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{{magic
'''Heightening''' is a term used to refer to the different levels of power an [[Awakener]] may attain by accepting more [[Breath]]. Each level grants with it new abilities and powers. As the awakener increases in power, so too does the number of Breaths required to reach the next Heightening.
|related=[[BioChromatic Breath]], [[Endowment]]
|type=Ability
|world=Nalthis
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[Warbreaker]], [[The Stormlight Archive]]
}}
'''Heightening''' is a term used to refer to the different levels of power an [[Awakener]] may attain. By obtaining more [[Breath]]s, an Awakener can increase their level of Heightening, gaining more power and abilities.
 
== Overview ==
The Heightenings, while commonly discussed as discrete entities, are in fact merely markers of a continuous progression. Each Breath gathered increases an Awakener's power, giving greater color discrimination or more robust health for example and the heightenings merely mark the point at which these assorted abilities reach their full potential. So, for example, an awakener with 100 breaths has a much better musical ear than an ordinary person while still not having reached the perfect pitch that characterizes the second heightening.
{| class="infobox" style="float:right; margin-left:1em;"
|-
!colspan=3 style="background:#CCCCFF;" |Heightenings
|-
!Number
!Breaths needed
!Abilities granted
|-
|First
|50
|Aura recognition
|-
|Second
|200
|Perfect pitch
|-
|Third
|600
|Perfect color recognition
|-
|Fourth
|1,000
|Perfect life sense
|-
|Fifth
|2,000
|Agelessness
|-
|Sixth
|3,500
|Instinctive awakening
|-
|Seventh
|5,000
|Invested breath recognition
|-
|Eighth
|10,000
|Command breaking
|-
|Ninth
|20,000
|Greater awakening, audible command
|-
|Tenth
|50,000
|Color distortion, perfect invocation, mental commands, possibly others
|}
The Heightenings, while commonly thought of as discrete levels, are in fact merely markers of a continuous progression. Each [[Breath]] gathered increases an [[Awakener]]'s power. For example, although perfect color recognition is reached upon the Third Heightening, every additional Breath gathered before then will incrementally increase an Awakener's ability to distinguish between colors. Reaching a new level of Heightening merely marks the point at which these abilities reach their full potential. There are exceptions to this, like Color Distortion which is unique to the Tenth Heightening.
 
The number of Breaths needed to reach a particular Heightening is not exact. Achieving a given Heightening may require fewer or more Breaths, depending on circumstances and the strength of the Breaths which the Awakener has gathered.{{book ref|wb|part=ars}} Additionally, very little is known about the upper Heightenings as the only known people to have ever reached the Eighth Heightening or above are the [[Hallandren]] [[God King]]s, [[Vasher]], and [[Shashara]], so the abilities associated with those Heightenings may not be the full extent of their powers or may be incompletely understood.
 
By the time of the [[True Desolation]] on [[Roshar]], the term "Heightening" appears to have entered into broader parlance in the [[cosmere]], as the [[Elantrian]] [[Riino]] initially thought [[Kaladin]] had attained a Heightening, though Riino quickly realized that he was mistaken and that Kaladin is a [[Surgebinding|Surgebinder]].{{book ref|sa3|97}}
== First Heightening ==
The First Heightening (Aura Recognition) grants a person the ability to see the Breath auras of other instinctively. This allows them to judge roughly how many Breaths the person contains and the general health of that Breath.
 
== First Heightening ==
Requires - Approx. 50 Breaths
The First Heightening grants Aura Recognition, the ability to see the Breath auras of others instinctively, and an increased life sense. This allows them to judge roughly how many Breaths the person holds and the general health of that Breath.{{book ref|wb|14}}
 
For those who are rich enough to be able to buy Breath from others this is where most stop, as it is enough to extend their lifespan by a decade or so and give an increased life sense.{{book ref|wb|5}}
== Second Heightening ==
The Second Heightening (Perfect Pitch) grants perfect pitch to those who receive it.
 
== Second Heightening ==
Requires - Approx. 200 Breaths
The Second Heightening grants Perfect Pitch to those who receive it.{{book ref|wb|prologue}}
 
== Third Heightening ==
While each gained Breath leads a person to greater appreciation of colors, it isn't until one reaches theThe Third Heightening (grants Perfect Color Recognition), thatthe oneability canto instantly and instinctively determine exact shades of colors and their hue harmonics.{{book ref|wb|3}}
 
It would act strangely with those with color vision deficiency, and supposedly similar conditions such as achromatopsia as well. The way that it interacts with it would supposedly be pleasing to those with the condition.{{wob ref|12664}}
Requires - Approx. 600 Breaths
 
== Fourth Heightening ==
The Fourth Heightening grants Perfect Life Sense, maximizing the ability to instinctively sense other people around you, and to tell when they are watching you. Users can also sense plants, such as grass or lichen.{{book ref|wb|21}} Life Sense can also sense [[spren]], even if they are invisible.{{book ref|sa2|i|6}} [[Drab|Drabs]] are not detectable, though.{{book ref|wb|22}}
At the Fourth Heightening (Perfect Life Sense), an Awakener's life sense achieves its maximum strength.
 
Anyone with Breath has some quantity of life sense, but it is imperfect until the Fourth Heightening.{{book ref|wb|15}}
Requires - Approx. 1,000 Breaths
 
If an [[Aviar]] like [[Kokerlii]] were nearby, it would interfere with the Awakener's life sense.{{wob ref|7436}} [[Copper|Copperclouds]],{{wob ref|6817}} a Feruchemist filling a nicrosilmind with their Investiture fully,{{wob ref|4771}} and [[Aluminum]] can also block life sense.{{wob ref|8897}}
 
== Fifth Heightening ==
At theThe Fifth Heightening (grants Agelessness),; an Awakener's resistance to aging and disease reaches its maximum strength.{{book ref|wb|32}} These persons are immune to most toxins, (including the effects of alcohol,) and most physical ailments. (Suchsuch as headaches, diseases, and organ failure.).{{book ref|wb|35}} The person no longer ages, and becomes functionally immortal.{{book ref|wb|part=ars}}
 
Note: [[Returned]] achieve the Fifth Heightening by virtue of their [[divine Breath]]. They do not actually receive two thousand Breaths when they Return, but instead receive a single, powerful Breath, which brings with it the powers of the first five Heightenings.{{book ref|wb|epilogue}}
Requires - Approx. 2,000 Breaths
 
Note: [[Returned]] achieve the Fifth Heightening by virtue of their Breath. They do not actually receive two thousand Breaths when they Return, but instead receive a single, powerful Breath, which brings with it the powers of the first five Heightenings.
 
== Sixth Heightening ==
All persons of theThe Sixth Heightening (grants Instinctive Awakening), andthe aboveability to immediately understand and can use basic Awakening Commands without training or practice. More difficult commands are easier for them to master and to discover.{{book ref|wb|49}}
 
Requires - Approx. 3,500 Breaths
 
== Seventh Heightening ==
The Seventh Heightening grants Invested Breath Recognition, the ability to recognize the auras of objects, and can tell when something has been Invested with Breath via Awakening.{{book ref|wb|part=ars}}
 
Those few persons who have reached the Seventh Heightening (Invested Breath Recognition) gain the ability to recognize the auras of objects, and can tell when something has been Invested with Breath via Awakening.
 
Requires - Approx. 5,000 Breaths
 
Note: Reaching above the Sixth Heightening is incredibly rare, and so few people understand the powers of the Seventh Heightening and above. Very little research has been done.
 
== Eighth Heightening ==
The Eighth Heightening grants Command Breaking, the ability to instinctively override Commands in other Invested objects, including [[Lifeless]].{{book ref|wb|58}} This requires concentration and leaves the Awakener exhausted. Since some of [[Lightsong]]'s priests can break commands, it is obvious that the eighth heightening is not required in the process, but most likely grants a significant increase in the ability.
 
Note: The only known people ever to reach the Eighth Heightening and above are the Hallandren God Kings, Vasher, and Shashara, although [[Xisis]] is known to have the tenth heightening.{{book ref|tress|52}}
Any persons of the Eighth Heightening (Command Breaking) or more gain the ability to override Commands in other Invested objects, including [[Lifeless]]. This requires concentration and leaves the Awakener exhausted.
 
Requires - Approx. 10,000 Breaths
 
Note: The only known people ever to reach the Eighth Heightening and above are the Hallandren God Kings.
 
== Ninth Heightening ==
The Ninth Heightening grants Greater Awakening, the ability to Awaken stone and steel, which create type IV BioChromatic Entities like [[Nightblood]], though doing so requires large Investitures of Breath and specialized Commands.{{book ref|wb|51}} This ability has not been widely studied.
 
The Ninth Heightening also grants Audible Command, the ability to Awaken objects that they are not physically touching, but that are within the sound of their voice.{{book ref|wb|prologue}}
Persons of the Ninth Heightening (Greater Awakening) are reportedly able to Awaken stone and steel, though doing so requires large Investitures of Breath and specialized Commands. This ability has not been studied or confirmed.
 
== Tenth Heightening ==
Persons of the Ninth Heightening (Audible Command) also gain the ability to Awaken objects that they are not physically touching, but that are within the sound of their voice.
{{image|Susebron by Caio Santos.jpg|side=right|height=250px|[[Susebron]] [[Awakening]] using the power of the Tenth Heightening}}
 
The Tenth Heightening grants Color Distortion, the natural and intrinsic ability to bend light around white objects within their BioChroma, creating colors from them as if from a prism.{{book ref|wb|15}} It is unclear if these colors can be used to fuel Awakening.
Requires - Approx. 20,000 Breaths
 
The Tenth Heightening also grants Perfect Invocation, the ability to draw more color from the objects Awakeners use to fuel their art. This leaves objects drained to white, rather than grey.{{book ref|wb|58}} Combined with the Color Distortion, an Awakener can create quite a stunning view. White objects cannot be drained to grey.{{wob ref|11713}}
== Tenth Heightening ==
At the Tenth Heightening (Color Distortion), a Awakener gains the natural and intrinsic ability to bend light around white objects, creating colors from them as if from a prism.
 
A third ability granted is the ability to give commands mentally, called Mental Command, although this is said to be difficult to learn. This is the ability that allowed the God Kings of Hallandren to pass on their breaths after their tongues were removed.{{book ref|wb|58}}
Awakeners of the Tenth Heightening (Perfect Invocation) can draw more color from the objects they use to fuel their art. This leaves objects drained to white, rather than grey.
 
There are rumors of other powers granted by the Tenth Heightening which are not understood or have not been made known by those who have achieved it.{{book ref|wb|part=ars}}
A third ability granted is the ability to give commands mentally (Mental Command), although this is said to be difficult to learn. This is the ability that allowed the God Kings of Hallandren to pass on their breaths after their tongues were removed.
 
== Trivia ==
There are rumors of other powers granted by the Tenth Heightening which are not understood or have not been made known by those who have achieved it.
* The way having more Breaths makes a person experience the world around them more vividly is partially inspired by the similar effect achieved by channelers from the ''Wheel of Time''.{{wob ref|9251}}
 
* The effects of various Heightenings can be replicated through merely being highly Invested, such as by holding a [[Dawnshard]].{{book ref|sa3.5|epilogue}}{{wob ref|14339}}{{wob ref|14328}}
Requires - Approx. 50,000 Breaths
 
== Notes ==
<references/>
The numbers given above are only estimates, as very little is known about the upper Heightenings. Indeed, even for lower levels, fewer or more Breaths may be required to achieve a given Heightening, depending on circumstances and the strength of the Breath.
{{partial}}
 
{{AwakeningWarbreaker}}
[[category: magic]]
[[category: Awakening]]
[[es:Elevación]]
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