Honorblade
[[Category: Spoilers for Book shorthand incorrect]]
.jpg){kind=link}
The Honorblades are the magical swords carried by the Heralds to fight the Voidbringers during the Desolations.
There are ten Honorblades total, one for each Herald. Every Honorblade is unique, covered in various glyphs and patterns.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content The respective hilts of each of the Heralds's Honorblades appear to be the same as the glyph that represents the order of Knights Radiant that that same Herald leads. Honorblades are technically a type of ShardbladeCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have contentCite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content but are likely more powerful. Honorblades can also be summoned and dismissed like a Shardblade.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content However, if the Herald holding the blade dies, the weapon itself vanishes too. It also doesn't automatically vanish when the holder accidentally lets go of it.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content One does not need to be a Herald in order to use an Honorblade either.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
It seems apparent that the Honorblades are related to the Oathpact somehow. The Heralds all left them behind when the broke the Oathpact, so it is possible that they may have been what bound the Heralds to the Oathpact in the first place. Nine of the Honorblades were left stabbed into the rock at the location where the final battle of Aharietiam occured.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content It is unknown if they have been discovered. Talenel's Blade, which is shaped like a spike, is still with him when he returns to Roshar for the True Desolation.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
Honorblades are not the same thing as the Dawnshards: Shallan refers to them as distinct things.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
Surgebinding
It has been theorized by readers that Honorblades inherently grant the ability to Surgebind. Presumably, each Herald's Honorblade would grant access to the same two Surges with which the order of Knights Radiant he or she is associated had access to. This theory is based off the fact Sanderson has confirmed in interviews that the character Szeth-son-son-Vallano does not have a spren bonded to him in the same way Kaladin does, and so his power is granted to him by some other means.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
Another hint that would seem to confirm this theory is from a preview of Words of Radiance in which Eshonai, a new Parshendi character viewpoint, is discussing what they witnessed of Kaladin's new powers in the climactic battle late in the first book. It's said "The humans have Surgebinders." to which Eshonai replies "Perhaps not. It could have been an Honorblade."Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; refs with no name must have content
This theory has been confirmed after the book's release, with Syl mentioning that an Honorblade consumes the Stormlight of its user as well.