Shardblade

Shardblades are magical weapons that can be found on Roshar. People who possess a Shardblade are called Shardbearer. They are generally associated with Shardplate, its armor-complement.

Description

There are at least three types of Shardblades. Out of those, two types have been identified. Shardblades of the first type are about six feet long and a handspan wide and have only one edge. Those are the more common Shardblades. The second type-Blades are also long, but thin and edged on both sides. They are smaller than the others. A Blade of that type is carried by Szeth.

Often, the Shardblade is somehow ornamented along the blade.

One can possess more than one Shardblade. It's also possible to dual-wield Shardblades, though the two can only be summoned concurrently, rather than at the same time.

Magical abilities

Shardblades can cut easily through anything inanimate, like stone or steel. In contrast to this, they cut through flesh without leaving a mark or spilling blood. However, when passing through the spine of a human, his eyes smoke and burn, blacken and shrivel up in their head. It is said to sever the soul itself. However, once a creature is killed, the remains interact with the Shardblade like any other non-living material. Also, when the Shardblade cut through a limb rather than the spine of a creature, the limb is "killed" and is paralyzed beyond the point of healing, even by Stormlight-infusion. Other types of magic could potentially heal such damage, though.

The weapon can only be blocked by another Shardblade, by Shardplate or by Half-shards.

When needed, the Shardblade can be summoned from an unknown place to appear in the hand of its Shardbearer. The process of summoning takes exactly ten of its wielder's heartbeats. When summoned, it forms as if condensing from mist, water beading along the metal length.

When the Blade is dropped, it disappears unless it is willed to stay; this is a protection from being the Blade being taken by the enemy during battle.

When the Shardbearer dies, the weapon appears next to the dead Shardbearer. When taken up by someone different, the Shardblade bonds with the person who picks it up.

When the Knights Radiant abandon their Shardblades, the Blades continue to glow for some time before going dull.

History

The origin of Shardblades is unknown. It was known that the Knights Radiant possessed Shardblades. Legend said that the Shardblades were "gifts of their god, granted to allow them to fight horrors of rock and flame".

At the Recreance the Shardblades were abandoned by the Knights Radiant along with their Shardplate.. Soldiers who were present picked them up. At that moment, at least 200 Shardblades existed.

Later the Shardblades became objects of power and immense value. Wars were fought for them and a kingdoms power rose and fell with the number of Shardblades possessed. When the War of Reckoning is fought, there were an estimated twenty Shardblades held by Alethkar, another twenty for Jah Keved, and approximately another forty spread out among the rest of the world. Those forty include five Blades held by Thaylenah, some by Selay and one held by Herdaz. Some Shardblades are held by the Parshendi. Kharbranth and the Unkalaki do not have any Shardblades.

Known Shardbearers

• Adolin Kholin
• Amaram
• Dalinar Kholin - Oathbringer - until he traded it to Sadeas
• Elhokar Kholin - Sunraiser
• Eshonai
• Gavilar Kholin - until his death
• Sadeas - Oathbringer
• Shallan Davar
• Szeth-son-son-Vallano
• Hanavanar, king of Jah Keved, and two of his guards

Cosmere Background

This page or section deals with theories or speculation.

Please read carefully and note that this is not necessarily canonical.

Shardblades are Invested objects. It has been theorized that they are stored in the Spiritual Realm when not used. They also seem to "cut" in the Spiritual Realm, killing the soul of people and not their bodies. A Shardblade bonds with its bearer. This seems to indicate a connection with Honor. It has been theorized that they have been created by the Almighty who himself is known to be Honor. They also seem to have a connection with the Honorblades carried by the Heralds.

It is thought that Helaran Davar owned a Shardblade, until his death at the hands of Kaladin. His blade would be the one now owned by Amaram.