Who is the strongest

[Your average nerd He/him]

I personally think it’s Zane.

[Treamayne]

14 minutes ago, MAxb133 said:

Who is stronger Kelsier or Zane?

Your terms are ill-defined. Stronger how? Mentally, physically, or emotionally? Allomantically? Specifically Iron and Steel?

Keep in mind that Zane has his spike helping him have more power and control with A-Steel.

WoB:

Spoiler

Sporkify

How much control do Allomancers have over pushing and pulling metals?

Brandon Sanderson

Depends on the Allomancer. Zane and Kelsier were both unusually skilled in this area, and represent the higher end of what is possible.

Hero of Ages Q&A - Time Waster's Guide (Oct. 15, 2008)

Question unanswerable without clarification and/or context. 

Edited February 13, 2025 by Treamayne
SPAG

[Your average nerd He/him]

Yes true allomanticlly considering Zane’s spike

[IcedOutPenguin He/Him]

Kelsier

[Duxredux he/him]

At what point in time in their careers? When they were contemporaries or at the height of their power? Preservation vs spiked Mistborn with access to Atium and Duralumin?

Another way of looking at this is asking if Zane is stronger than an Inquisitor? If not, then Kelsier > Inquisitor > Zane though of course rock, paper, scissors formats are a thing.

Since they never actually meet, we have to do indirect comparisons, like how well they fight against Vin. It is worth noting that with all of the shenanigans that Kelsier pulled on Keep Venture, acting as an informant to Straff, observing Vin at the balls, and stealing a safe full of Atium out of Keep Venture, Zane as the house Mistborn never once caught Kelsier in the act.

Other than Steelpushes, I would say that Kelsier is more capable in nearly every other category you could compare them. Ability to survive/immortality, cleverness, sneakiness, charisma, willingness to commit to insane gambits, access to raw Investiture, financially, administrative ability, paranoia, disregard for authority, Cosmere awareness, leading and inspiring, theologically, running cons, and more. Kelsier has proven himself at a high level in all of these categories. Zane's resume doesn't come anywhere close, though he did trick Vin a few times (which may not have been all him, with both of them spiked and influenced by Ruin).

[Your average nerd He/him]

At each of their primes

[DoctaDajman]

6 hours ago, Your average nerd said:

At each of their primes

@Duxredux nailed it. 

Kelsier killed an inquisitor and proved to the whole final empire it was possible. 

While at their base powerlevel Zane may have stronger mistborn blood than Kelsier and he may have a spike boosting his steel beyond that even... we see that mistborn vs mistborn is about so much more. 

Same amount of atium at the end of Mistborn before Kelsier dies... I think his skill would body Zane. Kelsier was the first one we saw on screen spinning metal like propellers around himself. Zane could float. 

I just dont think Zane has the grit nor wits to go up against Kelsier at any time other than if you put an experienced Zane from end of book 2 against a fresh snapped Kelsier just out of the pits... 

[Your average nerd He/him]

Thanks for your opinion