All about nightblood: his history, how he works, and his many powers

[Koloss17 She/They]

So this is kind of a tag post with @Stormlightsong, who brought up a portion of these points. They will probably also contribute their own thoughts to this post, but here is mine.

WaT gave us a lot about nightblood, which I quite like. We saw the extent of his current powers, as well as some wild implications. Here I’ll summarize them and invite anyone to help explain them/add more to it.

First, we’ll start in the beginning.

at some point, Vasher and Shashara went to Roshar, where they saw shardblades. Inspired by this, they went about trying to create their own shardblade using awakening. This started their quest to awaken metal, which led to the creation of Nightblood.

Originally, Nightblood was an ordinary steel sword, as outlined in Warbreaker. With the command “destroy evil” and potentially further shenanigans by Vasher and Shashara, Nighblood was awakened, immediately turning black. 
 

Clearly this was the first experimentation with awakening steel, but it was clear that something went wrong, and that it was *way* more destructive than anticipated. When Shashara wanted to spread the knowledge of how to awaken metal with others, Vasher quickly had a fight with her about it, eventually leading to him killing her with Nightblood.

Obviously Nightblood is sentient, which is just a consequence of a lot of investiture being in the same place. It is interesting how immediate his sentience was, unlike how it took a long time for Honor’s investiture to become sentient. I suspect this is a consequence of awakening, as awakened objects seem to innately have some amount of personality.

Now why is Nightblood so weird, and why is he black? To me, Yumi has a clear answer in the Father Machine, which is also an awakened object that is very black, destructive, and extremely powerful. All of this screams Ruin, and given that we know that Nightblood has Ruin’s investiture, I am inclined to think this is what’s going on, at least in part.

Spoiler

 

Walin

Does Nightblood contain any of Ruin's Investiture? Like, not atium, but...

Brandon Sanderson

Yes, technically; and I'm not wiggling around that, because technically, location in the Cosmere and who belongs to what gets really weird, right? Because Ruin's Investiture is everywhere--but I'm not talking that way. I'm talking the way you actually mean it. 

Legion Release Party (Sept. 19, 2018)

I suspect the way this happened was that the command “destroy evil” is inherently very Ruinous, and the intent of the command led to Ruin’s investiture automatically getting sucked into Nightblood, turning the sword black (ruin’s color). Given this was meant to be an imitation of a Shardblade, Nightblood became a blade that had the ability to absorb investiture, and basically grow from it, quite similar to Larkins. Which admittedly isn’t at all like shardblades, but has a similar effect when stabbing someone, which is they die very quickly. For shardblades, this kills them in both the physical and cognitive realm, but for nightblood, this kills them in all three realms. 
 

Spoiler

 

Pagerunner

Is Nightblood like the Tzai Blows... from Dragonsteel, where he pulverizes a Spiritual aspect, and it has a result on the Physical? Is that what he does, popping into smoke?

Brandon Sanderson

Yes, he is attacking directly at the spirit.

Oathbringer Houston signing (Nov. 18, 2017)

However, from what we’ve seen with the vast power difference between nightblood of Warbreaker and nightblood of Stormlight, I don’t know if this has always been the case, or that it only became the case later on.

There also seems to be shenanigans involved with the fact that Nightblood was originally steel, as stated by this WoB. How significant, I don’t know, but given that we know steel has inherent Cosmere magical significance (that of pushing things away), I can see that it impacted Nightblood’s power set. How it impacted it, I’m not sure.

Spoiler

asmodeus

If the only variable we change, during the creation of Nightblood, is to use a different Allomantically-viable metal (say, iron or bronze instead of steel), but keep everything else constant (the same Breaths, same people doing the same visualization, and whatever other factors were involved), would it have manifested different powers/capabilities?

Brandon Sanderson

Yes. Most likely.

YouTube Spoiler Stream 3 (Dec. 16, 2021)

When Nightblood takes the investiture, it does eventually leak out of him and go to the spiritual realm, as described in WaT. However, it does seem clear that he does fully consume some amount of investiture, increasing his power over time. The rate at which he takes investiture, both from the bearer and whoever he hits increases over time, which probably coincides with his increase in strength and power, presumably meaning that Nighblood is getting exponentially more powerful as time goes on (more investiture held=more investiture absorbed=more investiture held, etc).

When nightblood is drawn, he takes investiture from everywhere, as well as creating a certain bloodlust, which while not quite Ruinous, does seem weirdly Odious. Does that mean there’s some Odium in there? Maybe? I think the command of “destroy evil” has an inherently Retribution-like mentality, which would make sense if he was inspired from Rosharan magic. This investiture sucking is most prominent at his blade, but he also absorbs investiture from his bearer as well, albeit at a less deadly rate. There seems to be some sort of bond formed between him and his bearer, as both the bloodlust and investiture sapping seems to indicate. Is this a Luhel bond? A Nahel bond? Something different? I don’t know. But it is distinctly different from the bond that he made with Kaladin, which is possibly different than him granting surges, which was distinctly a Nahel bond.

Past the whole investiture sucking and super mega overkill, Nightblood can also communicate telepathically with people. This is not unique to Nightblood, but it is interesting. Notably, this is not interfered with when he has his aluminum sheathe on, unlike his investiture sucking ability. Additionally, he can fill people with a sense of unease and sickness if they are not pure of heart, and also goad people into drawing him, which feels very Rioter-esque. There’s a reason as to why he can do all this while the sheath is on, and I will get to that.

Spoiler

 

Questioner

Can you tell me about the mechanics of Nightblood's revulsion vs. compulsion magic?

Brandon Sanderson

What do you want to know?

Questioner

Is it like Rioting? Like in--

Brandon Sanderson

Yes, Rioting is a good parallel to that. 

Questioner

Is agency being taken away?

Brandon Sanderson

I wouldn't say agency is taken away but it depends on how you view Rioting, right? If you are enhancing someone's emotions-- Here is the question for you. If someone is feeling depressed, is their agency being taken away? And this is a question that our society has a really bad answer to, right? So if you are being Rioted, strict-line I would say no, your agency isn't being taken away, but you are certainly under the influence of another force which is taking certain emotions you might have and emphasizing them a great deal.

Questioner

So is it the same kind of push that makes a virtuous person want to vomit?

Brandon Sanderson

Virtuous might be the wrong way to put it. But yes, that sort of thing is related. It's related to Nightblood and it's related to how he was created and all of those sorts of things.

Orem signing (March 10, 2018)

a tidbit on another aspect of nightblood: his ability to read thoughts, like a Radiant spren can.

Spoiler

 

Argent (paraphrased)

How is it that Nightblood, who is merely a near-sentient awakened object, was able to read minds, something a Shard like Ruin was unable to do?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

It requires bonding (with the person whose mind is to be read) to read minds.

Steelheart Chicago signing (Oct. 1, 2013)

Speaking of the sheath, the sheath is…interesting. It was explicitly not created during Nighblood’s construction, and while it limits Nightblood, it doesn’t limit them fully. Additionally, Nightblood imagines himself with a sheath in the cognitive realm, which is incredibly interesting, and I will get to soon. How long that’s been the case is unclear, but it is significant.

Spoiler

Cadmium

With Nightblood. Was the sheath part of its construction when he was Awakened? Or was that kinda afterward?

Brandon Sanderson

The sheath is not part of its construction. Good question.

Cadmium

So... when the intent was placed on it, was the sheath there?

Brandon Sanderson

So-- The sheath was not relevant to that. The sheath was not part of the original Awakening, and it's not part of the intent or anything like that. I'm not saying it wasn't there ready for it, but it is not part of the sword. In the same way.

Cadmium

So, at some point we'll figure out why it learned to stop once its in the sheath?

Brandon Sanderson

Yes, kind of. It's a function of the sheath.

Oathbringer Houston signing (Nov. 18, 2017)

We do know that at this point, even though Nightblood started out as ordinary steel, that he is now something different. What? We don’t know. We know it’s not aluminum, not quite a god metal, and not an aluminum-titanium alloy.

Spoiler

 

Questioner (paraphrased)

Is Nightblood an aluminum-titanium alloy?

Brandon Sanderson (paraphrased)

No, he's something else. RAFO

Stuttgart signing (May 17, 2019)

Walin

Does Nightblood contain any atium?

Brandon Sanderson

No.

Legion Release Party (Sept. 19, 2018)

Kael_the_Adventurer

Did Nightblood's Awakening transform it into a God Metal?

Brandon Sanderson

*hesitant* Yes, you could say that.

Adam Horne

Was that a permanent change, or was that just while...

Brandon Sanderson

You can argue that Nightblood is a God Metal. Is he? You could argue otherwise as well. How about that?

YouTube Spoiler Stream 4 (June 16, 2022)

Now, Nightblood’s cognitive aspect is interesting for a variety of reasons. One, he seems to see through the cognitive realm, or at least partially through it, as he sees himself as the radiant sword that he is in the CR. As I mentioned before, he now sees himself with a sheath, which is incredibly interesting. This cognitive sheath is definitely not the aluminum sheath in the PR, as that is not part of nightblood and would theoretically manifest as a bead, and this cognitive sheath holds back Nightblood’s powers, which is incredibly interesting. As @Stormlightsong told me, this seems to imply that Nightblood is only bound by the aluminum sheath because he thinks he is. This…makes a lot of sense actually. Because again, Nightblood isn’t just the blade. He’s also the hilt, which is not at all covered by the sheath. When exactly Nightblood was trained to think that his sheath limits his powers is unclear, but it is likely that Vasher essentially gaslit Nightblood into thinking that the Sheath limits him. Obviously it doesn’t limit all of his powers, but it does limit at least the blade part of it. 

Now this brings up a lot of questions about why he forgets his actions while unsheathed, and why he basically changes personality and becomes way more single-minded while unsheathed, but it is interesting. 

Additionally, CR nightblood and PR nightblood are distinct entities. When Szeth emerges from the CR, he finds Nightblood to be in the exact same place he left it in the PR, which seems to indicate that his physical form didn’t move when his cognitive form moves. This implies some weird things about how distant Nightblood’s physical and cognitive forms can be from each other, and what would happen when two different people interact with both forms at the same time, but that’s a whole other thing. The possibilities and questions are endless, and I don’t think we have the answers to many of them.

Lastly, let’s talk about Nightblood harnessing the surges. How did he do that? I don’t know. Could he have always done that? Probably not, likely only in his more powerful form that we see in Stormlight. The mechanics of it are slightly unclear to me, but it seems that he is essentially strengthening the bond between the user and channeling the investiture that he holds to imitate the surges. Does he actually channel Honor’s surges when he does this? Uhhhhh idk. Probably not? Again, many questions, almost all of them I don’t think we can even get the answers to right now.

I believe that covers all of Nightblood’s many abilities and how/why they exist, but if I missed any, or if you disagree with any of my points, let me know! Nightblood is weird and complicated, and it seems incredibly likely that how he works have changed over the decade or so that he was created.

[Shardbearer he/him]

I wouldn't put any significance to the fact that Nightbloods physical form doesn't move when it's cognitive form does in the CR. You can go into the CR, find the bead of a sword laying forgotten in storage, carry the bead all over Shadesmar,  manifest it, and the physical sword won't be affected at all.

Also, the aluminum sheath might not have a separate bead because he now sees the sheath as part of himself, so even if it wasn't part of his original construction it's now integrated into his Identity. 

Now, I think Nightblood is going through alot of changes in WaT. Talking to honorblades to learn new abilities? Developing what seems to be more of a conscience and becoming more self-deterministic? My gut reaction while reading was that his consciousness was expanded after consuming the power of a Shard. Or at least what was probably an insignificant amount of power compared to the Shard, but was a glut of investiture to Nightblood. 

 

 

[Koloss17 She/They]

46 minutes ago, Shardbearer said:

I wouldn't put any significance to the fact that Nightbloods physical form doesn't move when it's cognitive form does in the CR. You can go into the CR, find the bead of a sword laying forgotten in storage, carry the bead all over Shadesmar,  manifest it, and the physical sword won't be affected at all.

 

 

I agree with this, mostly. The main interesting thing to me is the sentience aspect of it. If someone ran away with Nightblood's cognitive aspect, would he be present in both? What would he see/who would he talk to? Is him getting sentience going to put a limit on how far apart the two (potentially three) parts of him can be from each other? And of course, the question of if one person drew him in one realm, how would that affect the other realm? can he bond to two people at once? Again, the implications are weird, and I don't think we currently have a good answer to any of them.

Quote

Also, the aluminum sheath might not have a separate bead because he now sees the sheath as part of himself, so even if it wasn't part of his original construction it's now integrated into his Identity. 

This is actually a fair point. However if that was the case, the fact that he has enough power to integrate aluminum of all things into himself would be something. Now, given that its clear that aluminum only does so much to him, it is something I wouldn't be too surprised about. My bet is on the idea of a cognitive sheath though, as that seems more plausible.

[Treamayne]

1 hour ago, Koloss17 said:

Now this brings up a lot of questions about why he forgets his actions while unsheathed, and why he basically changes personality and becomes way more single-minded while unsheathed, but it is interesting. 

We have this answer - Warbreaker Annotation to Ch 58:

Spoiler

Note that Nightblood doesn’t remember being drawn. When he was created, the Breaths gave him sentience as planned. (That was a big part of the goal in making him—to prove the existence of Type Four BioChromatic entities.) However, once he is drawn, his Command takes force and he acts much more like a regular Awakened object—only one with very strange abilities and powers. During this time, his Breath is diverted to creating the powers, and his mind goes fuzzy.

 

1 hour ago, Koloss17 said:

When nightblood is drawn, he takes investiture from everywhere, as well as creating a certain bloodlust,

Correction. He does not create bloodlust when Drawn - we see Vasher and Szeth both wield him without the bloodlust. The Bloodlust happens during the bonding process, when the scabbard is loosened so that he can more strongly Riot his surroundings allowing his Command to enforce the bond. Note that the Guards in the Prologue, the Thugs in the alley and the soldiers at the GodKing's palace never actually draw the Sword - all of the attacks and death are with the sheath still on - just not locked.

Warbreaker Prologue:

Spoiler

He stepped around the pool of blood—which was seeping down the inclined dungeon floor—and moved into the guard room. The three guards lay dead. One of them sat in a chair. Nightblood, still mostly sheathed, had been rammed through the man’s chest. About an inch of a dark black blade was visible beneath the silver sheath.

Vasher carefully slid the weapon fully back into its sheath. He did up the clasp.

Warbreaker Annotations to Ch 35:

Spoiler

When Nightblood was created, the Breaths infused in him did their best to interpret their Command. What they decided was evil was someone who would try to take the sword and use it for evil purposes, selling it, manipulating and extorting others, that sort of thing. Someone who wouldn’t want the sword for those reasons was determined to be good. If they touch the weapon, they feel sick. If others touch the weapon, their desire to kill and destroy with it is enhanced greatly.

Nightblood himself, unfortunately, doesn’t quite understand what good and evil are. (This is mentioned later in the text.) However, he knows that his master can determine who is good and who is evil—using the sword’s power to make people sick, or through other means. So, he pretty much just lets whoever is holding him decide what is evil. And if the one holding the sword determines—deep within their heart—that they are evil themselves, then they will end up killing themselves with the sword.

 

1 hour ago, Koloss17 said:

There seems to be some sort of bond formed between him and his bearer, as both the bloodlust and investiture sapping seems to indicate. Is this a Luhel bond? A Nahel bond? Something different? I don’t know.

I theorize on Nightblood's Bond (and the other similar bonds that should be based on the same Realmatic principals) in this Q&A thread. Quoted summary reposted here:

On 5/1/2024 at 2:20 PM, Treamayne said:

The bond I was talking about was the one formed by an Allomancer controlling a Hemalurgic Construct, which was specifically named to be a bond (of some type) and persists even when no metals are available or being burned. Summarized:

• Nahel Bond - the bond of Realmic Transition (a cognitive entity bonds to a physical entity and is pulled closer to the PR in echange for <effect>)
  • Radiant Bond
  • Singer Bond
  • Rosharan Lifeform Nahel Bonds (Skyeels, Greatshells, Rhyshadium, etc)
• Luhel Bond - Bond of Physical Transition (an entity in a Luhel Bond receives "matter", likely through a version of Elsecalling that transitions that matter through some unknown SR shenanigans, in exchange for <effect>)
  • Sand Mastery - The Sand received water from the Sand Master thorugh the bond (but no water is seen moving between them in the PR, hence the SR Elsecalling theory moving the matter without crossing intervening space) and the Sand Master gains some control of the sand and RSPs
    • RSP - RequiredSecondaryPowers - as seen after Kenton overmasters the second time
  • Sprouters - a Luhel Bond with some spores (e. g. Midnight) trades control for water
• Unnamed Bond - The proposed third bond occurs when emotion is lapped against a cognitive Identity resulting in a measure of influence (up to and including control when the bond is strong enough); but is not maintained by kinetic investiture or matter transference after the bond has been formed
  • Seen in Allomantic control of Hemalurgic Constructs, as well as Ruin's influence and control with mad/spiked people
  • Possibly (at least part) of the mechanism on which Nightblood influences bonded people
  • Possibly part of the bond used by Father Machine to control the Nightmares, since we see that Liyun's bonds force her back to her role each time she gets free as a Nightmare

 

1 hour ago, Koloss17 said:

Speaking of the sheath, the sheath is…interesting. It was explicitly not created during Nighblood’s construction, and while it limits Nightblood, it doesn’t limit them fully. Additionally, Nightblood imagines himself with a sheath in the cognitive realm, which is incredibly interesting, and I will get to soon. How long that’s been the case is unclear, but it is significant.

We have at least part of this answer as well. Warbreaker Annotations to Ch 41:

Spoiler

The strangest thing about him is the idea that his form isn’t that important. The sheath is like a binding for him, keeping his power contained. So drawing him out isn’t like drawing a regular weapon, but rather an unleashing of a creature who has been kept chained.

Once that creature is unleashed, he becomes a weapon—even if he’s unleashed only a little bit. The sheath itself turns into a weapon, twisting those around it. You don’t need to stab someone with Nightblood to kill them; smashing them on the back with the sheath works just as well. It will crunch bones, but beyond that, merely touching them with the sheath when the smoke is leaking can be deadly.

So, the sheath was definitely part of his Identity from early on (before Warbreaker at least) - even if it was not part of the Awakeneing itself.

 

[Koloss17 She/They]

10 minutes ago, Treamayne said:

We have this answer - Warbreaker Annotation to Ch 58:

  Reveal hidden contents

Note that Nightblood doesn’t remember being drawn. When he was created, the Breaths gave him sentience as planned. (That was a big part of the goal in making him—to prove the existence of Type Four BioChromatic entities.) However, once he is drawn, his Command takes force and he acts much more like a regular Awakened object—only one with very strange abilities and powers. During this time, his Breath is diverted to creating the powers, and his mind goes fuzzy.

 

Correction. He does not create bloodlust when Drawn - we see Vasher and Szeth both wield him without the bloodlust. The Bloodlust happens during the bonding process, when the scabbard is loosened so that he can more strongly Riot his surroundings allowing his Command to enforce the bond. Note that the Guards in the Prologue, the Thugs in the alley and the soldiers at the GodKing's palace never actually draw the Sword - all of the attacks and death are with the sheath still on - just not locked.

Warbreaker Prologue:

  Reveal hidden contents

He stepped around the pool of blood—which was seeping down the inclined dungeon floor—and moved into the guard room. The three guards lay dead. One of them sat in a chair. Nightblood, still mostly sheathed, had been rammed through the man’s chest. About an inch of a dark black blade was visible beneath the silver sheath.

Vasher carefully slid the weapon fully back into its sheath. He did up the clasp.

Warbreaker Annotations to Ch 35:

  Reveal hidden contents

When Nightblood was created, the Breaths infused in him did their best to interpret their Command. What they decided was evil was someone who would try to take the sword and use it for evil purposes, selling it, manipulating and extorting others, that sort of thing. Someone who wouldn’t want the sword for those reasons was determined to be good. If they touch the weapon, they feel sick. If others touch the weapon, their desire to kill and destroy with it is enhanced greatly.

Nightblood himself, unfortunately, doesn’t quite understand what good and evil are. (This is mentioned later in the text.) However, he knows that his master can determine who is good and who is evil—using the sword’s power to make people sick, or through other means. So, he pretty much just lets whoever is holding him decide what is evil. And if the one holding the sword determines—deep within their heart—that they are evil themselves, then they will end up killing themselves with the sword.

 

I theorize on Nightblood's Bond (and the other similar bonds that should be based on the same Realmatic principals) in this Q&A thread. Quoted summary reposted here:

 

We have at least part of this answer as well. Warbreaker Annotations to Ch 41:

  Hide contents

The strangest thing about him is the idea that his form isn’t that important. The sheath is like a binding for him, keeping his power contained. So drawing him out isn’t like drawing a regular weapon, but rather an unleashing of a creature who has been kept chained.

Once that creature is unleashed, he becomes a weapon—even if he’s unleashed only a little bit. The sheath itself turns into a weapon, twisting those around it. You don’t need to stab someone with Nightblood to kill them; smashing them on the back with the sheath works just as well. It will crunch bones, but beyond that, merely touching them with the sheath when the smoke is leaking can be deadly.

So, the sheath was definitely part of his Identity from early on (before Warbreaker at least) - even if it was not part of the Awakeneing itself.

 

Good catch! Does that mean he essentially absorbed the physical aspect of the aluminum sheath? Would be pretty crazy if he did it that early on.

[Treamayne]

53 minutes ago, Koloss17 said:

Good catch! Does that mean he essentially absorbed the physical aspect of the aluminum sheath? Would be pretty crazy if he did it that early on.

Barring further data, my personal headcanon is that Shashara (and Vasher) was aware of the properites of Aluminum (Ralkalest) and had already prepared the sheath. Then, during the Awakening, part of the Command visualization was the aluminum sheath acting as an on/off switch. So, the sheath was not Awakened (it couldn't be since it is aluminum and would resist Breath), but it's function, as part of the Whole, was part of the Visualization (and therefore part of Nightblood's Identity).

Edited January 17, 2025 by Treamayne
SPAG

[Koloss17 She/They]

11 hours ago, Treamayne said:

Barring further data, my personal headcanon is that Shashara (and Vasher) was aware of the properites of Aluminum (Ralkalest) and had already prepared the sheath. Then, during the Awakening, part of the Command visualization was the aluminum sheath acting as an on/off switch. So, the sheath was not Awakened (it couldn't be since it is aluminum and would resist Breath), but it's function, as part of the Whole, was part of the Visualization (and therefore part of Nightblood's Identity).

I’m a big fan of that idea! It ties things together pretty nicely. Of course it’s one of those theories we have no evidence for whatsoever, but that’s the case for a lot of Nightblood theories.

[Darth_Hel]

Can’t know for sure, but I think before the end of the Cosmere, Nightblood’s creation timeline will include Valor somehow. We know Valor asked Endowment for help, and Endowment implies she helped without personally meeting with Valor. Vasher and Nightblood seem to be the most Cosmere affecting result of Endowment’s magic (except probably breaths to store memories). 
 

Could Valor know that a Shard is out there killing other Shards and have its intent allow it to avoid that fight?

[OverlordBob999]

4 hours ago, Darth_Hel said:

Could Valor know that a Shard is out there killing other Shards and have its intent allow it to avoid that fight?

I would guess that the Shard of bravery would not be avoiding fights, especially if it comes from the mindset of defending/avenging its fellow Shards

[LeondeBowa]

On 1/17/2025 at 4:08 AM, Treamayne said:

We have this answer - Warbreaker Annotation to Ch 58:

  Hide contents

Note that Nightblood doesn’t remember being drawn. When he was created, the Breaths gave him sentience as planned. (That was a big part of the goal in making him—to prove the existence of Type Four BioChromatic entities.) However, once he is drawn, his Command takes force and he acts much more like a regular Awakened object—only one with very strange abilities and powers. During this time, his Breath is diverted to creating the powers, and his mind goes fuzzy.

 

Correction. He does not create bloodlust when Drawn - we see Vasher and Szeth both wield him without the bloodlust. The Bloodlust happens during the bonding process, when the scabbard is loosened so that he can more strongly Riot his surroundings allowing his Command to enforce the bond. Note that the Guards in the Prologue, the Thugs in the alley and the soldiers at the GodKing's palace never actually draw the Sword - all of the attacks and death are with the sheath still on - just not locked.

Warbreaker Prologue:

  Hide contents

He stepped around the pool of blood—which was seeping down the inclined dungeon floor—and moved into the guard room. The three guards lay dead. One of them sat in a chair. Nightblood, still mostly sheathed, had been rammed through the man’s chest. About an inch of a dark black blade was visible beneath the silver sheath.

Vasher carefully slid the weapon fully back into its sheath. He did up the clasp.

Warbreaker Annotations to Ch 35:

  Hide contents

When Nightblood was created, the Breaths infused in him did their best to interpret their Command. What they decided was evil was someone who would try to take the sword and use it for evil purposes, selling it, manipulating and extorting others, that sort of thing. Someone who wouldn’t want the sword for those reasons was determined to be good. If they touch the weapon, they feel sick. If others touch the weapon, their desire to kill and destroy with it is enhanced greatly.

Nightblood himself, unfortunately, doesn’t quite understand what good and evil are. (This is mentioned later in the text.) However, he knows that his master can determine who is good and who is evil—using the sword’s power to make people sick, or through other means. So, he pretty much just lets whoever is holding him decide what is evil. And if the one holding the sword determines—deep within their heart—that they are evil themselves, then they will end up killing themselves with the sword.

 

I theorize on Nightblood's Bond (and the other similar bonds that should be based on the same Realmatic principals) in this Q&A thread. Quoted summary reposted here:

 

We have at least part of this answer as well. Warbreaker Annotations to Ch 41:

  Hide contents

The strangest thing about him is the idea that his form isn’t that important. The sheath is like a binding for him, keeping his power contained. So drawing him out isn’t like drawing a regular weapon, but rather an unleashing of a creature who has been kept chained.

Once that creature is unleashed, he becomes a weapon—even if he’s unleashed only a little bit. The sheath itself turns into a weapon, twisting those around it. You don’t need to stab someone with Nightblood to kill them; smashing them on the back with the sheath works just as well. It will crunch bones, but beyond that, merely touching them with the sheath when the smoke is leaking can be deadly.

So, the sheath was definitely part of his Identity from early on (before Warbreaker at least) - even if it was not part of the Awakeneing itself.

 

Huh, is this a case of aluminiums anti-magic properties being overwhelmed?

I can't think of examples of that happening so far...

[Treamayne]

12 minutes ago, LeondeBowa said:

Huh, is this a case of aluminiums anti-magic properties being overwhelmed?

I can't think of examples of that happening so far...

Where would you see it being overwhelmed?
I'm not sure what you are referencing since you quoted the whole post.

(Please see the Sharder FAQ for different methods of quoting - partial posts, whole posts, multiple posts)

[LeondeBowa]

The sheath becoming part of nightblood when partdrawn and can be used as a conduit of it's power

The annotations to chapter 41 of warbreaker

Maybe it would be more accurate to say the aluminiums properties are being circumvented?

Edited January 21, 2025 by LeondeBowa

[Treamayne]

7 minutes ago, LeondeBowa said:

Maybe it would be more accurate to say the aluminiums properties are being circumvented?

I think it is more that, when sheathed and locked, Nightblood's Command expresses as searching to Bond in service of his Command. When the lock is undone, the fragment of power allowed to express itself from the exposed section of blade is enough to turn all parts of Nightblood into a weapon (and Nightblood's Identity includes his scabbard). 

So, not so much "overwhelmed" - in that the Sheath is still blocking the majority of Nightblood's power. However, the unblocked part is still enough to fulfill his Command when the bonded person does in-fact view themselves as Evil (by the definition of the Command and the Bond). 

[Hoids Imaginary Friend]

On 1/17/2025 at 3:00 PM, Koloss17 said:

If someone ran away with Nightblood's cognitive aspect, would he be present in both? What would he see/who would he talk to? Is him getting sentience going to put a limit on how far apart the two (potentially three) parts of him can be from each other? And of course, the question of if one person drew him in one realm, how would that affect the other realm?

Just reread the Shadsmer fight and it sounds like Nightblood got pulled into the CR with Szeth, whilst still existing in the PR.

Nightblood says he sunk into beads and landed on something hard by a wall..

I'm thinking he doesn't always exist in both realms but can be projected into both similar to Spren. So technically we haven't seen him physically go into the CR, though I'm inclined to think it's the same.

Also, we're glossing over Nightblood helping Szeth manipulate the beads when he was out of Stormlight. Though I'm unclear if Nightblood does it or just helps.? Either way, the energy to manipulate beads is coming from Nightblood.

[A Begger from Scadrial]

Hypothetically with the WOBs provided he could be essentially an awakened aspect of hemalurgy, thus being technically 'of Ruin'

 

 

[AlmightyGir]

On the Godmetal argument specifically:
I believe there's a WOB that states Nightblood is one of the most heavily Invested objects in the Cosmere, though he doesn't specifically state that they're more powerful than, or even equal to a Shard, and it would indeed make sense that they aren't so.

However, given that Nightblood drinks Investiture, it's possible that over time one could argue that they've become a Godmetal alloy. Having drunk Breaths, Stormlight, and Voidlight that we know of, and possibly other forms of Investiture throughout the cosmere.

We know that the Shards unused Investiture coalesces and becomes tangible via their Shardpools. So if Nightblood is drinking that Investiture and holding it within themselves, it's entirely possible that those Investitures have transformed their physical form.