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I think there has already been a lot of speculation about how the structure of the fifth oath of the radiant would be formed and what it means for each order in particular. But a topic that I think has not been discussed much is: What benefits does it bring to the radiant? Here I have a series of proposals that I have collected in the comments that I have been able to read on this issue: That simply increases the amount of investiture they can use at one time and the efficiency with which they use it. That they acquire the ability to use the full extent of the Surge. An example would be that Windrunners could use Spiritual Adhesion like Bondsmiths, in addition to Spiritual Gravitation. Like the above, a Dustbringer could use spiritual Division. That they can manipulate the essence corresponding to their order. This would be reminiscent of an initial idea of Brandon's that was discarded [ref 1] in which he postulated that all orders could Soulcast their associated essence. It seemed to him that then all the orders would be too similar. But if he includes it in the 5th ideal, he gives enough room for them to be narratively (for the reader) sufficiently differentiated. As a variant of the previous proposal, there is also the idea that the ideal 5th radiant can take full advantage of the conceptual characteristics of its platespren. A Windrunner could more directly manipulate the wind. A Skybreaker could directly manipulate gravity (and not just the perception of realmatic orientation), potentially creating black holes (although they may need the help of a Bondsmith to do so). An Elsecaller could manipulate the logic. If this seems very abstract, imagine that you can remotely manage systems that depend on logic, for example you could indirectly manipulate a computer or decrypt messages. Finally, although this is not so much a benefit depending on who you ask. A 5th ideal Radiant could acquire the inability to violate oaths like Sprens. This is because his soul fusion has reached such a degree where he is practically a Spren in the physical realm. This would have the benefit of instantly realizing if you are going to fall into a moral hole (like Kaladin) where you physically could not swear contradictory things since your body (soul) would prevent you from swearing anything that contradicts a previous oath. With this said written, which do you think is the closest to being correct or do you have another one in mind?

With RoW we've had exactly two informations about the Skybreaker order, and they change everything The first is this one So the fourth Ideal is about proving your dedication and worth and not about actually doing something, it's about how you will complete your crusade and in Szeth's case him not going on his crusade proved he was worthy to be given a plate and to possibility to advance to the Fifth Ideal. Then there's the real new information, one about the elusive Fifth Ideal. In the italic part the Highspren implies that by swearing the fifth oath will liberate Szeth from his Third Ideal. This seems to clash with the fact that one of the Highsprens' grievances against the Honourspren was the latter's willingness to forgive people from breaking oaths but it actually doesn't, having an oath has an end condition is not the same as breaking an oath. In the bolded part the Highspren explains what the 5th oath means: "I'm now able to give myself rules on how to live and follow them. And I'm confident these rules will be just" The path of the Skybreaker is therefore the following 1st Oath: accept to start the path, get absolved from any previous crimes. 2nd Oath: a more experienced member accept to guide you on the path. If there was more 5th Oath Skybreaks I suspect only them would take squires, as they're the most able to guide someone on this path. 3rd Oath: chose a clear set of law and learn of it, it's strengths and limitations 4th Oath: prove you're able to stay true to your Oaths under duress, that you will not compromise even if it allow you 5th Oath: use what you've learned to become a person able to Autonomously chose their own laws and uphold them. Yes. Capital A. A Fifth Oath Skybreaker is, if I'm right about the 5th Oath, the best candidate for someone able to hold both Honour and Autonomy. I don't think Honour made the Skybreakers to be that way, he didn't really make them anyway, I think it's just the usual "the Order resemble the Herald" (which by the way we have no idea why it happens) and Nale was attuned to Honour+Autonomy. Which may or may not part of why Honour chose him. Actually, I'd say other Heralds where attuned to Honour+x, possibly each of them Jezrien, Herald of Kings: Dominion+Honour. A good king, putting protecting and caring for his people the most important priority Chana: Ruin+Honour. Destruction fettered and given purpose by Honour Paliah, who had the attribute of Learned: Honour+Cultivation, equal Science. Ishar: Honour+Odium Taln: maybe Devotion+Honour, the Stoneward are noted to be the order with the members the closest to their Herald and their motto "I'll be there when I'm needed" fit decently with the "I'll be there for you" idea I think Devotion+Honour would be the incarnation of. Now back to the Skybreakers. You might have noticed that current day Skybreakers are kind of stuck, most of them stay at the third oath and those who try the fourth take decades to fulfil it which... How? I get taking time to chose a Crusade, but Szeth managed to be deemed worthy of skipping the fourth oath after a year, of doing nothing. And none of them reached the Fifth Oath in centuries. I think it's because they don't understand their path. The 4th Oaths Skybreakers told Szeth there'd be no game here but when asked about the Fifth Oath he refused to understand saying that it was unimportant despite that -if anything I said until here is true- the 5th Oath is not only the most important of the five, but the only one that will matter in the end except for the first. Without this the Skybreakers get stuck at the 3rd-4th Oath. I think it could even be the reason Nale took so much time befor endorsing them, and I suspect the reason he descided to endorse them after the Revv toparchy incident was either because the first 5th Oath Skybreaker was sworn there or that he had the occasion to interact with 5th Oath Skybreakers and observe they were actually not like the stuck-at-third he had met Also you might have noticed I said Nale was attuned to Honour+Autonomy. After Millenia of torture he's confidence in himself isn't as strong as before and he now advise not to swear to obey him as the Third Oath. I think if he was Fourth Oath and in this state he would not be able to swear the Fifth, and if he become any worse he'll end up breaking his 5th oath, and kicked from his own order.