Honorblade

File:Honorblades symbols.png

Drawing by Isaac Stewart

Honorblades were carried by the Heralds. These Blades are similar to Shardblades, but far more powerful. Unlike Shardblades, however, Honorblades disappear when each Herald who is bonded to a given Blade dies. Each of the ten Blades is unique, and they might be synonymous with the mysterious Dawnshards in some as yet inexplicable way. It is generally assumed that Shardblades were modeled after the Honorblades. Much in the same way, it might be said that fabrial technology was modeled after Shardblade technology.

Nine of the Honorblades appear to have been 'lost' at Aharietiam, when the Heralds ended the Oathpact. The tenth is carried by Talenel’Elin; the only Herald who did not survive the Last Desolation.

Initially, during Words of Radiance, it is stated that the abilities of each of the groups of Surgebinders are imitations of the abilities granted by one of the ten Honorblades; Szeth's blade grants him the abilities of a Windrunner without the need of the Nahel bond. (However, this causes the wielder to rely on far more Stormlight than a normal Surgebinder would in a similar situation.)

Syl states that Honoblades are not spren. She also mentions that using Stormlight at the level required to wield an Honorblades is dangerous, hinting that such may have serious drawbacks or ill effects if used for prolonged periods of time. The Honorblades were originally used by and meant for the ten Heralds, not for Knights Radiant.

It is also mentioned by Szeth that the 'other Honorblades' are stored within Shinovar.

Tracings and color by Awesomeness Summoned

Abilities

Betab
Tracing and color by Awesomeness Summoned

Chach
Tracing and color by Awesomeness Summoned

Jez
Tracing and color by Awesomeness Summoned

Kak
Tracing and color by Awesomeness Summoned

Nan
Tracing and color by Awesomeness Summoned

Shash
Tracing and color by Awesomeness Summoned

Each Honorblade grants its user the powers of two Surges and the ability to absorb Stormlight, effectively making the user one of the Knights Radiant without the Nahel bond with a spren.

If the Honorblades are, in fact, the Dawnshards, then they have the power to 'bind' any creature - mortal or Void - according to the Poem of Ista . What this means exactly has yet to be explained.

Honorblades have far more destructive power than Shardblades. Two hits can destroy Shardplate so long as the Blade hits the same place.

“	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. We're bits of His power, after all, like this sword. Be careful with it. It is a treasure.	”
–Syl to Kaladin

“	With this sword, someone can do what you can, but without the ... checks a spren requires. This sword gave the assassin power to use Lashings, but it also fed upon his Stormlight. A person who uses this will need far, far more Light than you will. Dangerous levels of it.	”
–Syl to Kaladin

List of Honorblades

Original Wielder	Surges	Current Location	Current Wielder
Jezrien	Adhesion Gravitation	Urithiru	Szeth (TWoK/WoR); Kaladin (WoR)
Nalan'Elin	Gravitation Division	Unknown	Hinted to be original wielder (WoR)
Chach	Division  Abrasion	Shinovar (assumed)	Unknown
Vedeledev	Abrasion Progression	Shinovar (assumed)	Unknown
Palah	Progression Illumination	Shinovar (assumed)	Unknown
Shalash	Illumination Transformation	Shinovar (assumed)	Unknown
Battar	Transportation Transformation	Shinovar (assumed)	Unknown
Kalak	Transportation Cohesion	Shinovar (assumed)	Unknown
Talenel'Elin	Tension Cohesion	Urithiru	Implied to be original wielder (WoR); Dalinar (WoR)
Ishar	Tension Adhesion	Shinovar (assumed)	Unknown

Notes

Within a Q&A, Brandon stated that Shinovar has seven Honorblades. It is unknown whether this includes Szeth's original blade, now possessed by Kaladin, and/or with the blade previously held by Talenel, now cast aside by Dalinar at the direction of the stormfather, this leaves two Honorblades unaccounted for. Where they are held or by whom by is unknown.

Similarly, at a book signing, Brandon stated that a Honorblade cannot be bonded to anyone; only given. Brandon also confirmed that Honorblades can indeed be wielded by those other than the Heralds. This confirms how Szeth is able to use the Honorblade he wielded (i.e.: Jezrien's) before it was taken from him by Kaladin, but leaves just how he acquired it a mystery. This also confirms Dalinar's ability to use the Shardblade that was likely Talenel's Honorblade. So, did Honor 'give' the Honorblades to the Heralds?