Copper Savantism

[Trusk'our he/him]

It appears that Smokers and similar powered beings can not only block Invested attempts to affect their Cognitive Aspect, but that they can also block something directly linked to their physical nervous system.

Spoiler

It could read his mind?

Yes, though it helps if you form the words specifically, slowly, one after another. The bite is necessary, as there is no actual bond between us, and I need access to your nervous system to speak to you.

IotED, pg. 292

 

Rokke chirped, bashful. But Dusk couldn't feel the bug's presence in his mind any longer.

Dusk rightfully assumed that her protective shield could keep his mind from being influenced or spoken to, even from this being while it was biting him. He felt at it, and yes, it was still in contact with him. It buzzed with what he suspected was annoyance.

He should be able to think without it overhearing him. After all, it worked for the mindsingers, which would draw a trapper's attention in the forests and lure them with phantom music. And with the black leeches, which would affix and start driving a person mad.

IotED, pg. 294

That's kinda crazy to me, since it feels a little reminiscent of pewter Allomancy where it can affect your Physical Aspect in some way.

This reminds me of aluminum Savantism, which could be expanded to cleansing unwanted Investitures and impurities in the body.

Spoiler

https://wob.coppermind.net/events/105-17th-shard-forum-qa/#e1247

Douglas

What benefit does an aluminum savant get? Yes, I know this would normally never happen because aluminum burns itself up. Suppose a mad scientist with a willing Mistborn test subject shoved a feeding tube down the Mistborn's throat to pump in a continuous stream of aluminum, replenishing it steadily so there's always a new unburned supply. Add another tube to pump out excess water if necessary. What would he discover? Alternatively, what would Sazed with his Shard-granted knowledge know?

Brandon Sanderson

Ha, that IS a little silly of a method. However, on the extreme end of aluminum, I have in the notes the possibility of cleansing the spirit of unwanted effects of other Investitures. You'd get really good at this, and maybe even be able to cleanse the body of other impurities.

Makes me think, perhaps copper Savantism would not only protect the mind from external Invested sources, but I think it could help shield the mind from anything that would cloud its ability to think clearly, such as alcohol, trauma, pain, or some amount of physical warping (like from Hemalurgy). Think the Blessing of Presence, but through Allomancy- it might not enhance the mind's performance in other ways, but I think it would at least protect its standard functions.

[JustQuestin2004 he/him]

Being a Copper Savant is noted to be less debilitating than other forms of Savantism, like Tin Savantism.

I imagine that the drawbacks are difficult to notice, maybe it does make a person more resistant to trauma, to the point that at times they might come off as a sociopath?

[Nitpicking]

On 2/16/2026 at 6:16 PM, Trusk'our said:

That's kinda crazy to me, since it feels a little reminiscent of pewter Allomancy where it can affect your Physical Aspect in some way.

The three Realms affect each other. If you use copper or aluminum to fix your Spiritual aspect, that will affect your physical aspect (and vice versa).

[Trusk'our he/him]

11 minutes ago, Nitpicking said:

The three Realms affect each other. If you use copper or aluminum to fix your Spiritual aspect, that will affect your physical aspect (and vice versa).

I mean, technically true, but a lot of the Invested abilities at least appear to greatly focus on a single Realmatic Aspect. 

I just found it an interesting upheaval of my previous expectations for the magic, is all.