Difference between revisions of "Shardblade"

|books=[[The Stormlight Archive]], [[The Sunlit Man]]

| According to legend, the Shardblades were first carried by the [[Knights Radiant]] uncounted ages ago. Gifts of their god, granted to allow them to fight horrors of rock and flame, dozens of feet tall, foes whose eyes burned with hatred. The [[Voidbringer]]s.

| [[Szeth]]'s thoughts on Shardblades{{book ref|sa1|prologue}}

A '''Shardblade''' is a type of [[Investiture|Invested]] weapon found on [[Roshar]] that is typically carried by the [[Knights Radiant]]{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} and the [[Herald]]s of the [[Almighty]]. Shardblades wielded by Radiants are [[spren]] who have taken a physical form, and as such are [[Splinter]]s of [[Shard]]s [[Honor]] and [[Cultivation]].{{book ref|sa2|87}} They are usually used with [[Shardplate]], Invested armor that also exists on Roshar,{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} as Shardblades are so large that they are unwieldy on their own.{{book ref|sa1|13}} Making use of a Shardblade is referred to as [[Shardwielding]]{{article ref|The Way of Kings|The Way of Kings cover synopsis}} and thoseThose who are bound to a Shardblade are referred to as Shardbearers.{{book ref|sa2|16}}

[[File:{{image|The Blackthorn by Harry Shea-Pelletier.jpg|thumb|side=right|width=300px|<center><small>by {{a|Harry Shea-Pelletier}}</small></center> [[Dalinar]] wielding [[Oathbringer (Shardblade)|Oathbringer]] ]]}}

While there are a few differences between the various types of Shardblades, they all share a few common traits. All are larger but lighter than any normal sword,{{book ref|sa2|44}} often at or approaching six feet in length,{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} while simultaneously extremely light.{{book ref|sa1|18}}{{wob ref|7134}} All Shardblades that are bound to a specific owner can be summoned{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} and dismissed at will.{{book ref|sa2|8}} When summoned, they appear in one's hand,{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} coalescing out of mist, with the shape the mist takes depending on the type of spren from which it was formed. For example, [[Mayalaran]] manifests as small vines before appearing as a Blade.{{book ref|sa2|50}} Additionally, water condensingcondenses along the length of the Blade when it appears.{{book ref|sa1|13}} They can appear inside liquid, shoving it out of the way, but cannot be summoned inside of a solid object.{{wob ref|14108}} When a Blade is dismissed{{book ref|sa2|5}} it also vanishes into mist.{{book ref|sa1|13}} TheyThe blades are composedmade offrom an unknownalloy metalof thatthe is[[God theMetal|God bodyMetals]] of Honor and Cultivation. Each blade has a Sharddifferent ratio of that alloy depending on which radiant spren it is.{{wob ref|10911949}},{{wob ref|2541}} This alloy is the same type as the one that appears on the keyhole of an [[Oathgate]].{{book ref|sa2|84}} The tensile strength of Shardblades is very high; while they can bend a small amount, Shardblades appear to be unbreakable under natural circumstances.{{book ref|sa2|26}}{{book ref|tsm|30}} Shardblades are said to have a sort of magnetism to them, anyone who sees one is drawn to it.{{book ref|sa3|7}}

Shardblades can cut through non-living objects, such as wood or stone, as if they are passing through water.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} Even though they can cut through nearly any material, there is still a slight bit of resistance even when cutting through inanimate objects.{{book ref|sa2|44}} When cutting through an object, Shardblades leave behind distinctive perfectly clean cuts.{{book ref|sa3|50}} However, when swung at a person or other living object, the edge of the Shardblade will fuzz, leaving the physical body unharmed, and cutting the being's soul. It is still possible to Soulcast a person killed by a Shardblade.{{book ref|sa4|104}}{{book ref|sa4|114}} The wielder of the Blade feels a small tug of resistance as the Blade passes through living material.{{book ref|sa1|13}} If the Blade cuts the core of a person's limb, the person feels a flash of incredible pain and then the limb turns gray and becomes limp and numb.{{book ref|sa2|32}} If an internal organ is pierced by a Shardblade, it may be killed or cease to function.{{book ref|sa1|13}} If the Blade strikes the spine or head, the eyes of the person blacken and burn out with a dark smoke rising from them.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} When a person is killed this way by a Shardblade, death is not instantaneous; it often takes a few moments for the person to be completely dead.{{book ref|edgedancer|8}} Once a person or other living thing has been killed, its remains can be cut like any other inanimate object.{{book ref|sa2|72}} This applies to plants as well; it takes two swings of a Shardblade to sever a plant, one to kill the soul and another to cut it. Non-living portions of a living thing, such as hair or nails can be cut with a Shardblade before the creature itself is killed.{{book ref|sa1|13}} Parts of a body that have been damaged by a Shardblade are typically referred to as Blade-dead.{{book ref|sa2|56}} Blood continues to flow through them, and they do not rot.{{wob ref|12881}}

Shardblades cannot be blocked by any typical weapons or armor, but they can be halted by a few things. One Shardblade can block another Shardblade,{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} and when the two collide they may produce sparks.{{book ref|sa1|68}} Shardplate can also stop a Shardblade, although two blows to a section of Shardplate is typically enough to shatter it.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} The [[half-shard]]s of [[Jah Keved]] were also designed by more modern artifabrians to be resistant to Shardblades.{{book ref|sa1|22}} These are shields with an [[Augmenter]] attached,{{book ref|sa1|part=ars}} allowing them to withstand two blows from a Shardblade before breaking.{{book ref|sa1|i|9}} Other highly [[Investiture|Invested]] objects, such as a fully charged [[metalmind]], would be enough to block, or at least resist, a blow from a Shardblade.{{wob ref|3670}} A heavily Invested person can theoretically resist a blow from a Shardblade.{{wob ref|683}} The final known way to block a Shardblade is with [[aluminum]],{{wob ref|1437}} which is a rare material on Roshar as it can only be obtained through [[Soulcasting]].{{book ref|sa2|48}} It is worth noting that the aluminum only nullifies the supernatural sharpness of the Blade, so a thin sheet of aluminum foil would be sheared through easily by a Blade.{{wob ref|1442}}

There are onlya twofew known ways for a Shardblade wound to be healed. A Radiant who is infused with [[Stormlight]] is capable of healing themselves when they are wounded by a Shardblade, but it requires a large amount of Stormlight.{{book ref|sa2|33}} When a Radiant heals a Shardblade wound on themselves, they create an entirely new piece of soul to replace the old and graft it on to their [[Spiritwebspiritweb]], leaving a scar behind.{{wob ref|126}} This healing leaves the wounded limb weakened and aching for a time afterwards.{{book ref|sa2|33}} This process is seemingly incapable of saving a Radiant from the instantaneous death of a Shardblade wound to head or spine. The [[Surge]] of Progression allows for a process known as Regrowth,{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} which is capable of healing Shardblade wounds or even death by Shardblade.{{book ref|edgedancer|8}} It requires near-immediate healing though, and a significant amount of power. Regrowth [[fabrial]]s can be created, and were put to use by Radiants before the Recreance.{{book ref|sa1|19}} AAnother potential third way to heal a Shardblade wound is making use of a fabrial such as this, but it is as of yet uncertain. It is also possible for other magic systems to heal wounds from a Shardblade.{{wob ref|4111}}{{book ref|sa2|epilogue}}

There were three main types of Shardblades used on Roshar during the [[Era of Solitude]]. They were the Honorblades of the Heralds, the Shardblades of the typical Radiants, and the dead Shardblades of the Radiants who abandoned their oaths at the [[Recreance]].

| The Heralds glow like the sun, wield the Honorblades, and speak with the voices of a thousand trumpets. They could cast down buildings with a command, force the storms to obey, and heal with a touch.

| [[Shallan]]'s thoughts on the Heralds{{book ref|sa2|63}}

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Radiant Shardblades are granted to people who are on the path to becoming a full Radiant and have sworn a particular oath of the [[Immortal Words]].{{book ref|sa2|84}} The number of oaths they must swear before obtaining their blade varies from order to order.{{wob ref|7873}} At that point, the spren belonging to the Radiant will gain the ability to become a Shardblade in the Physical Realm unique to that particular Knight Radiant.{{book ref|sa2|84}}{{book ref|sa4|35}} Some Nahel spren are forbidden from telling their Radiant about how to gain their Blade, although this differs between Orders.{{book ref|edgedancer|2}}{{book ref|sa3|90}} As long as the spren is with the Radiant the spren can transform into a Blade instantaneously.{{book ref|sa2|86}} The spren becomes mist and coalesces into the Blade when it is desired,{{book ref|sa2|84}} and then dissipates back to mist when the Blade is dismissed.{{book ref|sa2|86}} If the Radiant is a darkeyes, their eyes are lightened,{{book ref|sa2|85}} though this effect is temporary and lasts only for a few hours after they summon the Blade.{{book ref|sa3|5}} ItThe islonger possiblea thatRadiant and spren are bonded, the effectlonger willit eventuallytakes becomefor permanentthe Radiant's eyes to change back.{{citebook ref|sa4|91}} Each Radiant's eyes also change to the specific color that corresponds with their order.{{wob ref|6736}} This effect may not occur or be less noticeable if the person is already lighteyed.{{wob ref|81}}

| The Honorblades are what we are based on, Kaladin. Honor gave these to men, and those men gained powers from them. Spren figured out what He'd done, and we imitated it.

| Syl to Kaladin{{book ref|sa2|87}}

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The spren still is still capable of speaking with their Radiant while in Blade form.{{book ref|sa2|86}}{{book ref|tsm|25}} In addition to that, the spren need not take the shape of a Blade. They can become a spear, a shield, a knife, an axe, a hammer, or a large variety of weapons. In the past they may have even taken the form of bows, although it is uncertain what was used for a string.{{book ref|edgedancer|20}} A spren may take many forms when it becomes solid, but it must be metal.{{book ref|edgedancer|20}} CertainAlmost unseriousanything forms,can likebe amade, tableassuming fork,the areRadiant alsounderstands possible,the thoughconstruction strangeon formsa mayfundamental annoylevel theand spren.all Radiantpieces Bladesof maymetal beare lenttouching.{{book toref|tsm|5}} Unless otherspracticed, justthe likemore theircomplicated deadthe counterpartsitem, andthe maylonger evenit changetakes formthe in orderspren to aidturn theinto borrowerit.{{book ref|sa2tsm|725}} WhenForms thecan Radiantalso whobe ownsaltered thewithout Bladereverting dies,back theto a spren isfirst, freedsuch andas mayadding bondspikes againto with anothera person one dayshield.{{wobbook ref|6688tsm|1}}{{book Aref|tsm|5}} Radiant'sThe living Shardblademetal can also be usedturned totransparent activateor [[Oathgates]]magnetic.{{book ref|sa3tsm|86}}

| Dead. Then they live again a little when someone summons them, syncing a heartbeat to their essence.

| [[Sylphrena]] on dead Shardblades{{book ref|sa2|87}}

[[File: {{image|Shardblades by Marianne Eie.jpg|width=300px|thumb|side=right|<center><small>by [[Coppermind:Artists/Marianne Eie|Marianne Eie]]</small></center>Blade designs]]}}

Dead Shardblades are blades that were once owned by members of the Knights Radiant.{{book ref|sa2|87}} If a Radiant that has a Shardblade betrays their oaths, their spren is killed and its body is trapped in the shape of the Blade. Dead Shardblades lose some of the functionality that they once had. The Blades lose most of their ability to change into different weapons, although the shape of the Blade may change slightly to accomodateaccommodate its owner after being used for a long time.{{wob ref|7728}} The dead Shardblades are nearly identical to how they appeared while still wielded by the Radiants, but there are two small differences. Each dead Shardblade has a [[Polestone]] attached to its pommel or crossguard,{{book ref|sa3|73}} whereas the the Shardblades wielded by Radiants do not.{{book ref|sa2|67}} These gemstones allow for a new bond to be created between a person and a dead Shardblade.{{book ref|sa3|16}} A Radiant cannot draw Stormlight from a gemstone attached to a dead Shardblade.{{wob ref|13088}} They also lack the subtle glow possessed by the Blades of active Radiants.{{book ref|sa1|52}} Another difference between the two is that dead Shardblades do not automatically remain summoned when dropped or placed somewhere by their owner.{{book ref|sa1|13}} If a Shardbearer does not intentionally command their Blade mentally to remain, the Blade will automatically be dismissed and will have to be summoned all over again.{{book ref|sa2|8}} When a Shardblade is not actively summoned, the spren appear within Shadesmar as a [[deadeye]], where their eyes take on an appearance of having been scratched away, like scraping paint off a painting.{{book ref|sa3|89}} This is related to how the eyes of people killed by Shardblades burn.{{wob ref|13131}} The deadeyes have no apparent personality or autonomy, instead they will wander to the location that corresponds with the location in the Physical Realm of their corpse, or the person bonded to it unless prevented from doing so. If the person it is bonded to is themself in Shadesmar the spren will follow them around within Shadesmar.

As the [[Nahel bond]] with the original Radiant seems to have been severed, a new bond has to be formed in order for a Blade to be summoned and dismissed. When a new owner touches a Shardblade for the first time, the gemstone on the pommel flashes.{{book ref|sa1|51}}{{book ref|sa2|66}} The person who wishes to bond with the Blade must keep it in close quarters to his or hertheir self for five days before the bond is set.{{book ref|sa2|5}} At that point they can summon and dismiss it.{{book ref|sa3|16}} The spren inside the Blades are not completely dead, just mostly.{{book ref|sa2|87}} As they are a little alive, they can sync a heartbeat to their [[Ten Essences|essence]]. It takes ten heartbeats for a dead spren to be revived and summoned as a Shardblade, and while being summoned the Shardbearer will always be able to hear their heartbeat.{{book ref|sa1|26}} A dead spren can choose to summon earlier than ten heartbeats, though how they do this is unknown.{{book ref|sa3|120}} If a person attempts to summon a dead Blade while in Shadesmar, the deadeye will turn their head to them in an unnatural way and begin screaming.{{book ref|sa3|89}} Once a person is bonded to a dead Shardblade, their eyes do lighten if they are not already lighteyes.{{book ref|sa2|68}} Since the gemstone on the pommel is the basis for the bond between a Blade and its owner, if the gemstone is removed or damaged, its owner will be unable to summon or dismiss the Blade{{book ref|sa3|75}} until the gemstone is replaced.{{book ref|sa3|76}}{{wob ref|1844}}

When the holder of a dead Shardblade is killed, the Shardblade appears on the ground next to them.{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} A dead Shardblade may also be given up willingly. This process of breaking the bond requires willing the bond to break{{book ref|sa3|43}} with intense concentration while touching the gemstone of the Blade.{{book ref|sa2|89}} When the bond is severed completely, the gemstone on the pommel flashes,{{book ref|sa2|14}} and the former wielder feels a sensation of icy cold wash through their body.{{book ref|sa3|43}} If someone who was previously a darkeyes breaks their bond with a Blade, their eyes return to their original coloration.{{book ref|sa3|43}} A person may be bonded with multiple dead Shardblades but they have to be summoned individually.{{wob ref|1260}}

| It just feels wrong to me. I hate it. I'm glad he got rid of it. Makes him a better man.

| [[Syl]] on [[Dalinar]] giving up [[Oathbringer (Shardblade)|Oathbringer]]{{book ref|sa1|73}}

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| We had to be given Shardblades to fight, otherwise we would have had to resist the Voidbringers with clubs.

| [[Kabsal]] on the origins of Shardblades{{book ref|sa1|45}}

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A few decades after the Recreance, a process was discovered to add a gemstone to the pommels of the Shardblades.{{book ref|sa2|67}} The Shardblades even shifted form to allow for the gemstones. This returned some of their old function to the dead Blades. They could once again be summoned, but they were not the same. For the next several hundred years following the Recreance, Shardblades were prized among nations of the world both as weapons of war{{book ref|sa1|29}} and symbols of power.{{book ref|sa1|23}} These Blades were considered to be heirlooms, and their paths and histories are accounted for through the generations.{{book ref|sa2|i|7}} InRoughly half of the yearsShardblades immediatelymade followingfrom the Recreance,{{wob ref|900}} a book called [[Arts and Majesty]] was written, dividing disciplines into masculine and feminine.{{book ref|sa2|25}} It claimed that masculine tasks were thoseeventually done with two hands, while feminine tasks could be done with onelost. This was an attempt by men to gain exclusive control over Shardblades;{{wob ref|6245}} an attempt that was almost entirely successful.{{book ref|sa1|19}} This cultural shift happened over a particularly brief period of around twenty years.{{wob ref|900}} During this time, Shardblades were also used for some unusual purposes, such as carving the city of [[Yeddaw]] out of the ground.{{book ref|edgedancer|215647}}

[[File: {{image|Shallan-Veil-Radiant.JPG|width=200px|thumb|side=right|<center><small>by: {{a|Kyle Pearson}}</small></center>Shallan (as Veil) holding her living Shardblade]]}}

| Speak again the ancient oaths and return to men the Shards they once bore. The Knights Radiant must stand again.

| [[Tanavast]] in one of [[Dalinar's visions]]{{book ref|sa1|75}}

The first non-Skybreaker Radiant confirmed to have created a Shardblade following the Recreance was [[Shallan Davar]], a young [[Veden]] girl.{{book ref|sa2|88}} She and her first spren, a [[Cryptic]] known as [[PatternTestament]], reached the point in their bond where Shallan gained a Shardblade. However, Shallan's mother, who was possibly connected with the [[Ghostbloods]] or [[Skybreaker]]s, recognized her potential as a Radiant. She attempted to murder Shallan, but was instead killed in defense by Shallan wielding her Shardblade. This experience was so traumatizing to Shallan that she was unable to recall the exact circumstances of how she gained her Blade for many years, so knowledge of how Shardblades were created remained hidden.

In the year 1168, [[Szeth|Szeth-son-Neturo]], a [[Truthless]] of [[Shinovar]] was sent by the [[Parshendi]] to kill [[Gavilar Kholin]], king of the kingdom of [[Alethkar]].{{book ref|sa1|prologue}} Wielding the Honorblade of the Herald Jezrien,{{book ref|sa2|87}} which he had received from his people,{{book ref|sa1|i|6}} Szeth assassinated many other rulers on the orders of King [[Taravangian]] of [[Kharbranth]].{{book ref|sa1|71}} The use of this Honorblade destabilized the political structures of most of the influential kingdoms of Roshar, particularly [[Azir]]{{book ref|sa2|i|9}} and the nation of [[Jah Keved]], where a succession war occurred.{{book ref|sa2|i|14}}

In the final few days of year 1173, a former slave known as [[Kaladin Stormblessed]], who had bonded a [[honorspren]] named [[Sylphrena]],{{book ref|sa1|57}} swore the third [[Immortal Words|Ideal]] of the [[Windrunners]].{{book ref|sa2|84}} This allowed Syl the ability to become a Shardblade, returning the knowledge of the origins of Shardblades to mankind. Kaladin then used his Shardblade to then killfight Szeth, and reclaim Jezrien's Honorblade.{{book ref|sa2|86}} By this same time, [[Jasnah Kholin]] had also managed to progress to a point in her bond where her spren, [[Ivory]], could become a Blade.{{book ref|sa2|epilogue}} A few days later, in 1174, the [[Order of Edgedancers|Edgedancer]] [[Lift]] swore the third Ideal of her order, allowing her spren [[Wyndle]] to take the form of a Shardblade.{{book ref|edgedancer|19}}

Following the arrival of the [[Everstorm]] and the start of the [[True Desolation]], [[Voidspren]]{{book ref|sa3|i|3}} and the [[Fused]]{{book ref|sa3|43}} made an active effort to gather up available dead Shardblades, as well as Plate. At least one other Radiant, [[Malata]] of the [[Dustbringers]] had progressed sufficiently far to manifest a Shardblade as well. {{book ref|sa3|24}} Renarin Kholin has also managed to manifest a Blade,{{book ref|sa3|10}} but his spren [[Glys]] has been corrupted by [[Sja-anat]], meaning his Blade may be something entirely unique.{{book ref|sa3|117}} Following the rediscovery of Urithiru, living Shardblades have became enormously important for permitting the operation of the Oathgates which allowed for Dalinar's coalition to form.{{book ref|sa3|1}} Jezrien's Honorblade was given by Kaladin to Dalinar, who kept it secret for some time.{{book ref|sa3|16}} During Kaladin's absence on his mission to [[Kholinar]], Dalinar entrusted the Honorblade to the men of [[Bridge Four]], hoping they could guard it and use it to practice their abilities.{{book ref|sa3|64}} Just before the [[Battle of Thaylen Field]], the men of Bridge Four were attacked in Urithiru{{book ref|sa3|i|14}} by an agent of [[Taravangian]] who stole the Honorblade.{{book ref|sa3|122}} Taravangian surrendered the Honorblade to Odium as a part of their agreement, who then gave it as a reward to [[Moash]].{{book ref|sa3|122}} <!-- Add a bit about Teft making a Blade too? How many do we need? -->

| Any man can win a Shardblade. Slave or free. Lighteyes or dark. It's the law.

| [[Moash]] on winning Shardblades{{book ref|sa1|46}}

| This weapon is worth fortunes. Cities, palaces, kingdoms.

| [[Torol Sadeas]] on Shardblades{{book ref|sa1|69}}

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[[File: {{image|Relief.jpg|width=300px|thumb|side=right|<center><small>by: [[Greg Call]]</small></center>The [[Herald]] [[Nale|Nalan'Elin]], holding his Honorblade]]}}

| We have strength and power granted by the Almighty. It's a great responsibility, and it's our duty to use it for the protection of our men.

| [[Adolin Kholin]] on being a Shardbearer{{book ref|sa2|49}}

The cardinal rule of Shardblades is that any person who kills a Shardbearer is entitled to the Shards that person possess, regardless of their social status.{{book ref|sa1|46}} Any person in Vorin society that gains a Shardblade is instantly raised to the level of a fourth dahn lighteyes if they were not already at that rank or higher.{{book ref|sa2|66}} This grants that person the title of highlord, as well as lands of their own and incomes from those lands. Upon being raised, they may make their own noble house or ask permission to join another house. Anyone that bonds a Shardblade instantly becomes one of the most influential people in the kingdom, and their presence is expected at all social events of note.{{book ref|sa2|67}} They are so important that they become, to some extent, above the law.{{book ref|sa2|76}} For more seriesserious crimes, Shardbearers are either pardoned or executed, as it is impossible to imprison a Shardbearer against their will. This is true whether the Shardbearer is lighteyed or dark, but far more lighteyes become Shardbearers than darkeyes.{{book ref|sa2|66}}

=== Greatshell Hunts ===

[[File: {{image|Dalinar_the_Blackthorn.jpg|width=300px|thumb|side=right||<center><small>by: [[Coppermind:Artists/Evan Monteiro|Evan Monteiro]]</small></center>Dalinar, wielding Oathbringer, fights a chasmfiend]]}}

Shardblades are often used in [[greatshell]] hunts, enormous Vorin sporting events.{{book ref|sa1|12}} Typically the Shardblades are used in the very final stages of the hunt, after the beast has been wounded by volleys of arrows and shots from a [[grandbow]]. In the case of the [[chasmfiend]]s of the [[Shattered Plains]], the Shardblades are used on the beasts's legs.{{book ref|sa1|13}} Shardbearers ride around beneath the greatshell, cutting through one leg at a time until the remaining legs cannot support the chasmfiend's weight and it collapses. The creature is then killed with the Blades and its gemheart is harvested. Some consider the Blades to be so effective that the greatshell hunts are unsportsmanlike.{{book ref|sa1|12}} It is unknown what role Shardblades play in other greatshell hunts.

| Fighting with Shardblades, though, that could be like a dance. The large weapons took a great deal of skill to swing properly, and Plate was resilient, so exchanges were generally drawn out. The fights were filled with grand motions, wide sweeps. There was a fluidity to fighting with a Shardblade. A grace.

| Dalinar's thoughts on Shardblade duels{{book ref|sa1|58}}

| I am highprince here, Dalinar. In this arena, my word is the only law, granted me by the authority of the king.

| Highjudge [[Istow]]{{book ref|sa2|56}}

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A Shardbearer is typically trained in a specific way among the Alethi. Lighteyed boys of appropriate rank around the age of ten are chosen by an ardent swordmaster for training.{{book ref|sa2|16}} These boys typically already have at least some training with the sword. The swordmasters train in training grounds run by the ardentia. The swordmaster's job is teachesto teach them the ten [[Stances|Shardblade Stances]], which are used in both dueling and regular combat.{{book ref|sa2|44}} They train with Blades in two ways. If the trainee has no Blade of his own, they can make use of wooden practice swords that approximate the balance and weight of a real Blade. They may also borrow one of the King's Blades.{{book ref|sa2|16}} Either way, when training with real Blades a guard is used to blunt the cutting edge.{{book ref|sa2|18}} The origin of these guards is unknown, but they are believed to come from long ago. As the Blades of the original Radiants could naturally dull themselves to prevent injury, it seems likely that they were developed at some point following the Recreance.{{book ref|sa3|15}} The guards are made of metal and conform to the edge of any Blade.{{book ref|sa2|18}} The guards themselves are useless and fragile on their own, but they are perfect for training. A swordmaster also coaches their student on how to control the Blade with their mind, commanding it to remain in place so it can be loaned to others.{{book ref|sa2|35}}

| A Shardbearer wasn't just a force of destruction; he was a force of morale and inspiration. The men fought more vigorously as they saw their brightlord felling foe after foe. Shardbearers changed battles.

| Dalinar's thoughts on Shardbearers{{book ref|sa1|56}}

Shardbearers often lead formations themselves, cutting a hole in enemy ranks with their overwhelming force.{{book ref|sa1|68}} This creates a gap that well-trained men can exploit, which can allow for an army to overcome superior numbers. The usefulness of this tactic is twofold. Few regular men can put up an effective resistance against a Shardbearer, allowing them to lead a spectacularly effective charge, and also this tactic putsalso places the Shardbearers at the front of the regular soldiers, often giving them a boost in morale as well.{{book ref|sa1|56}} Shardbearers willmay also sometimes be used in defensive fights to bolster the gaps in their own lines, moving quickly between weak places to give soldiers a chance to recover and return to their formation.{{book ref|sa1|67}} When a Shardbearer has Plate and Blade, they can also easily cut their way behind enemy lines, where they can wreak havoc with impunity and cause confusion that their own soldiers can then exploit.{{book ref|sa1|65}} Unlike fighting in a duel, the most effective way to combat large groups of soldiers is to maintain momentum and keep the Shardblade in constant motion, always cutting.{{book ref|sa1|56}} Practiced Shardbearers will use their control over their bond with their Shardblade to make use of it unexpectedly. They may throw their Shardblades in a more ranged attack than an enemy is used to and then dismiss it once the damage is done so that they can summon it back to their hands.{{book ref|sa2|35}} Another uncommon tactic is unexpectedly dismissing the Blade, which can surprise an enemy who is preparing to dodge the Blade or parry it.{{book ref|sa1|i|9}} This works particularly well when the Shardbearer is wearing Plate.

[[File: {{image|Arena_adolin.jpg|width=300px|thumb|side=left|<center><small>by: [[User: Sheep|Sheep]]</small></center>Adolin prepares for a fight in the dueling pit]]}}

As Shards are often passed down family lines,{{book ref|sa2|14}} manythey timessometimes it endsend up in the hands of someone thatwho prefers not to be involved directly in combat. Aged warriors, those who lack a talent for fighting, or those who prefer to lead tactically from the rear{{book ref|sa2|8}} may not desire to engage directly in combat themselves, but also do not want to deprive their army of a Shardblade.{{book ref|sa1|52}} Shardbearers can will their Blade to remain and still remain fully bonded to the Blade.{{book ref|sa2|8}} This has lead to the practice of highprinces and other lighteyes lending their Blades to skilled officers. This tactic relies on a great deal of trust on both sides though. As the owner of the Blade has the ability to recall the Blade at any moment, the person fighting with it must trust that the owner will not dismiss the Blade, leaving them unarmed. For their part, the owner of the Blade must trust that the person wielding it will not interfere with the gem on the Blade or allow it to be damaged, which would prevent the true owner from being able to summon it until it is replaced with a new gemstone.{{wob ref|1844}}

| In fighting a Shardbearer, everything became about that Blade. The Blade that nothing could stop, the Blade that didn't just kill the body— but severed the soul itself.

| [[Kaladin]]'s thoughts on Shardblades{{book ref|sa2|18}}

|side=right|size=300px|

As swords and arrows are practically useless against a Shardbearer, heavy weapons such as war hammers and axes are often used in an attempt to shatter the plate.{{book ref|sa1|56}} The most common tactic is to simply drown a Shardbearer in enemies.{{book ref|sa2|85}} Enemy forces attempt to attack from all directions, hoping that the Shardbearer may grow distracted or disoriented.{{book ref|sa1|56}} Despite the fact that most regular soldiers are afraid to face a Shardbearer, when they attack in large groups the weight of the army can force even the reluctant forward,{{book ref|sa1|56}} and there is always the chance that someone will get in a lucky blow.{{book ref|sa2|85}} Shardbearers are vulnerable if they can be separated from the soldiers supporting them, so if an army can separate a Shardbearer from their honor guard and limit their mobility, they have a decent chance of killing him.{{book ref|sa1|28}} One tactic to reduce a Shardblade's effectiveness is to get in close to the Shardbearer, staying within the Shardbearer's reach{{book ref|sa3|11}} and taking advantage of the Blade's long, non-lethal hilt.{{book ref|sa1|56}}{{book ref|sa2|89}} Fortifications may be constructed with this principle in mind, keeps built with narrow corridors to prevent a bulky Shardbearer from maneuvering.{{book ref|sa3|66}} There are also soldiers trained specifically to deal with Shardbearers. They utilize ropes and hooks to try to unbalance or trip the shardbearer, though this isn't always successful as shardplates are heavy. As the Shardblades cut through corpses instead of knocking them away like a normal weapon would, Shardbearers often become surrounded in corpses, which can lead to unstable footing and decreased mobility.{{book ref|sa1|56}} In extended battle, Shardbearers are rarely the last fighting, their enemy focuses on bringing them down first so that their Blades can be turned on their own men once they have fallen.{{book ref|sa1|67}} This means when a Shardbearer is killed, recovering their Blade and Plate are a higher priority than even retrieving the highlord's body.{{book ref|sa2|82}}

! Spren Name !! Radiant Name !! Order !! class=unsortable| Typical Form !! class=unsortable| Notes !! class=unsortable| References

| Spear, hammer, sword or shield

| [[Order of Edgedancers|Edgedancer]]

| ''UnknownNone''

| Glys is a corrupted spren, so the situation is unique. Appears thin, almost without a crossguard with waving folds to the metal

| Spear with a strangecross crossguardlugs, like those on a hunting spear.

| ''Distinct from his Honorblade, otherwise not described''

! Shardbearer !! Blade Name !! Previous Holder !! class=unsortable| Appearance !! class=unsortable| Notes !! class=unsortable| References

| Sunraiser's current owner is an unknown followingsinger, Elhokar'swho death.was Elhokarin alsothe possessesinvasion hisof fatherUrithiru following Elhokar's old Blade, Firestormdeath.

| CurrentlyWas in possession of Elhokar as King's Blade, lookingpresumably forwent worthyto ownerJasnah after her coronation{{book ref|sa2|16}}

| {{book ref|sa2|66}}{{book ref|sa2|56}}

| [[Meridas Amaram]] (Deceased)

| Stolen by Amaram from Kaladin, now owned by Rock after he killed Amaram

! Shardbearer !! Blade Name !! Previous Holder !! Next Holder !! class=unsortable| Appearance !! class=unsortable| Notes !! class=unsortable| References

| Thick, curved, one edge in shape of flames or ripples, helidorheliodor pommel

| [[Oathbringer (Shardblade)|Oathbringer]]

Shardblades, like the spren they are made from, can likely be termed Splinters, due to the fact that they are fragments of a Shard.{{wob ref|10563}} They are made out of a mixture of the unnamed godmetalsgod[[metal]]s of Honor and Cultivation. The precise proportion of the two differs depending on the type of spren that forms the Blade; as such, there are at least ten alloys.{{wob ref|11211}}{{wob ref|11949}}{{wob ref|2541}} Like all godmetals[[God Metal]]s, they are Allomantically viable, and thus burnable by a [[Allomancy|Mistborn]], although it's yet to be seen what the effects would be.{{wob ref|13315}} Presumably, they would also have [[Hemalurgic]] and [[Feruchemical]] effects.{{wob ref|6082}}

Shardblades also seem to have a unique interaction with the Innate Investiture. When a Shardblade cuts a living being, it seems to sever the [[Spiritwebspiritweb]] of the being it is used on. It is uncertain how a Shardblade would behave if it was used on a post-[[Reod]] [[Elantrian]], as they are simultaneously living and dead, so it is possible that it would cut the Elantrian's flesh or merely leave the limb dead, depending on when the Elantrian is struck by the Blade.{{wob ref|1363}} Shardblades of all types also seem to be bonded directly to a person's Spiritwebspiritweb. [[Hemalurgy]] could be used to steal a Shardblade from someone, although it is unknown how Hemalurgic decay would impact this.{{wob ref|1153}} As heavily Invested objects,{{wob ref|5799}} Shardblades would be mostly immune to [[Allomantic]] Pushes and Pulls.{{wob ref|2801}} Influencing a Blade with Allomancy would require more power than even [[Rashek]] or [[Waxillium Ladrian]] with the [[Bands of Mourning]] wielded.{{wob ref|5258}} Additionally, Shardblades are theoretically capable of cutting or interfereinterfering with the lines produced by burning [[iron]] or [[steel]], due to as they are manifestmanifested in the Spiritual Realm.{{wob ref|2796}} People from off-world are able to use Shardblades.{{wob ref|1180}}

[[Forgery]] could be used to gain a Shardblade, with some restrictions.{{wob ref|7235}} The Investiture is not powerful enough to temporarily create a new Shardblade, and if it somehow could it would be terribly inefficient.{{wob ref|4859}} Instead, if a person had once held a Shardblade and gave it up, a Forger could rewrite their past to make it that they had never given up the Blade, and they would then be able to summon that same Shardblade.{{wob ref|7235}} This would have the effect of tricking a Blade into believing that it is bound to two people at once and could be summoned by both of them. It is theoretically possible for the [[seon]]s and [[skaze]] of Sel to take the form of a Shardblade, but something would need to pull them more fully into the Physical Realm, like the Nahel bond does for the spren.{{wob ref|6197}}

While there are only three known ways to heal from a Shardblade wound on [[Roshar]], it seems likely that other magic systems would also allow for that same healing. On [[Scadrial]], [[Gold#Feruchemical Use|goldminds]] of [[Feruchemy]] could be used to heal Shardblade damage.{{wob ref|4111}} The [[BioChromatic Breath|Divinedivine Breath]], the Breath of the [[Returned]] of [[Nalthis]], able to heal any typical wound or illness,{{wob ref|6724}} is also a possible solution for repairing the damage. On [[Sel]], the [[Aon]] [[Aon#Ien|Ien]], used for healing,{{book ref|elantris|19}} could potentially heal a Shardblade wound as well.

While most Shardblades originate on Roshar and seem to be ultimately derived from the power of [[Honor]] and possibly [[Cultivation]], this is not true of all Shardblades. The technical definition of a Shardblade is a heavily Invested weapon,{{wob ref|4878}} so Shardblades can be crafted with any manifestation of Investiture from any Shard, although some methods are far more difficult.{{wob ref|4859}} For instance, the sentient sword [[Nightblood]], created by [[Vasher]] and [[Shashara]] of [[Nalthis]] using [[Awakening]] and [[Investiture]] derived from the [[Shard]] [[Endowment]],{{book ref|wb|51}} is also considered a Shardblade.{{wob ref|6892}}{{wob ref|5152}} However, it is no ordinary Shardblade. While heit cannot be summoned or take other forms like a [[spren]] can,{{book ref|sa2|86}} heit is in fact several orders of magnitude more powerful than the Shardblade of a Radiant.{{wob ref|5617}}{{wob ref|163}} ItNightblood is unknown,possibly buteven possiblemore thatpowerful he is on a similar power level tothan the Honorblades. ItWhen isstruck alsoagainst unknownIshar's whatHonorblade, wouldthat occurBlade whenwas hechipped.{{book ref|sa4|111}} It is struckunknown againstwhether a spren Shardblade orstruck Honorblade,by whetherNightblood it willwould be destroyed or damaged in any way. LikeUnlike thetypical HonorbladesShardblades, heNightblood consumesfeeds far moreon Investiture--such thanas a Radiant Shardblade, which does not require any fuelBreaths,{{book ref|sa2wb|8756}} and typically would feed on BreathStormlight,{{book ref|wbsa3|5690}} orand, aultimately, the personbearer's soul--when it is drawn.{{wob ref|5813}} NowNightblood thatis hecapable hasof arrivedconsuming onalmost Roshar,all ittypes seemsof thatInvestiture.{{wob he can also use [[Stormlight]] as fuel for his abilities.ref|661}}{{wob ref|6631}}

| Can I make a situation where these oversized, over-stylized blades are actually practical? Why in the world would you need a weapon like that? And how do you actually use one?

| [[Brandon Sanderson]]{{wob ref|9020}}

*Adolin Kholin has a habit of repeatedly summoning and then dismissing his Blade when he is nervous.,{{book ref|sa2|50}} a trait he may have inherited from Gavilar, his uncle .{{book ref|sa3|11}}