Do we know Hoids end goal?

[Deejaypenguin]

From what I've seen, Hoid is attempting to get as much access to investature as possible. He becomes Mistborn using a bead of Leaurasium, gains access to stormlight by bonding a spren, becomes an Elantrian and is able to use AonDor, can use Yolen Lightweaving, and holds enough breaths to get him to the second heightening. A major goal might be to defeat Odium, but as one of the original "Shatterers". Could he be against Sazeds ascension to harmony and try to prevent that from happening again, or even try to destroy harmony?

[alder24]

15 hours ago, Deejaypenguin said:

From what I've seen, Hoid is attempting to get as much access to investature as possible. He becomes Mistborn using a bead of Leaurasium, gains access to stormlight by bonding a spren, becomes an Elantrian and is able to use AonDor, can use Yolen Lightweaving, and holds enough breaths to get him to the second heightening. A major goal might be to defeat Odium, but as one of the original "Shatterers". Could he be against Sazeds ascension to harmony and try to prevent that from happening again, or even try to destroy harmony?

We don't know Hoid's end goal, that's a big RAFO. All we know is that Hoid wants to stop Odium by all means necessary (even sacrificing Roshar). There is something in his past that he deeply regrets doing and many think this is about the Shattering. Many people believe that Hoid wants to restore Adonalsium by recombining all Shards - that's why he's collecting all invested arts by this theory, to gain needed Connection to all Shards. There is even one WoB in which Brandon hinted that Hoid wants to "make that which once was." From his interactions with Sazed from SA letters and his involvement with Wax, it seems unlikely that Hoid is against Harmony, rather they seem to be allies right now as Sazed is one of few who sees Odium as a great threat to Cosmere.

Spoiler

Questioner

...Is there anything in [Hoid]'s past that he regrets that he did? An action that he made that he, like, regrets.

Brandon Sanderson

Yes.

Oathbringer release party (Nov. 13, 2017)

 

Spoiler

Ravi

Can any person absorb a Shard? Or do they have to be somewhat "magical"? (Like Vin and SazeD)

Brandon Sanderson

One does not have to be somewhat magical, so to speak, but it does help.

/r/fantasy AMA 2013 (April 15, 2013)

 

Spoiler

DCD328

[Personalization Request] To Hoid, with a message that hints at his quest.

Brandon Sanderson

To make that which once was.

General Signed Books 2018 (Jan. 3, 2018)

 

[AlastorBM He]

Spoiler

Brandon Sanderson

To make that which once was.

That answer always seems curious to me, we could very easily say that it is Adonalsium, but it could be so many other things. Maybe all the separate investiture, maybe the universe as it was before (if it changed radically and we don't know it) is the beauty of this, thinking about the possibilities 

[Keats.The.Listener He, Him]

Spoiler

Since the Iri are stated to be part of the Space Age, I feel that there is an idea of helping the shards reforge into The One. 
 

What I’m not sure is Hoid working with the Iri or against 

 

[Acolyte of Radiance]

I feel like fain life is connected to it, I can’t prove how.i feel it might be revealed in wind and truth with how he has memory loss, he communicates with valor while we know is somewhat friendly to Hoid and it is revealed what he wants to bring back. That or if Sanderson rewrites dragon steel

Edited July 11, 2024 by Acolyte of Radiance

[SPECTRE120]

Hoid wants to get investiture from all 16 shards and then put them in Nightblood so he can swing it and kill half the universe.