Shardblade edges

[Ascended Grubberfly He/Him]

Why is a Shardblade’s magic cutting nature limited to edges? Could someone who knew that a Shardblade “cuts” by turning the material into Investiture make a sledgehammer or other object with a large surface area to remove enemy fortifications or clear the snow from your driveway really fast?

[Myst He/Him]

45 minutes ago, Ascended Grubberfly said:

Why is a Shardblade’s magic cutting nature limited to edges? Could someone who knew that a Shardblade “cuts” by turning the material into Investiture make a sledgehammer or other object with a large surface area to remove enemy fortifications or clear the snow from your driveway really fast?

Considering that the flat part of the blade doesn’t “cut” I don’t think so. I have no idea where the line between an “edge” and a “face” is, but it is there

[alder24]

8 hours ago, Ascended Grubberfly said:

Why is a Shardblade’s magic cutting nature limited to edges? Could someone who knew that a Shardblade “cuts” by turning the material into Investiture make a sledgehammer or other object with a large surface area to remove enemy fortifications or clear the snow from your driveway really fast?

No. Sharp edges cut, flat surfaces smash and it's not something you can change because that's the nature of those objects. We've seen Shardhammers being used several times and none did any damage to the soul (but apparently per WoB I can't find, a one that would get inside the body would damage the soul). Even if you know why Shardblades cut, I doubt you would be able to change it - a sword knows what it itself is and knows that sharp things cut, while blunt don't.

[Treamayne]

38 minutes ago, alder24 said:

No. Sharp edges cut, flat surfaces smash and it's not something you can change because that's the nature of those objects. We've seen Shardhammers being used several times and none did any damage to the soul (but apparently per WoB I can't find, a one that would get inside the body would damage the soul). Even if you know why Shardblades cut, I doubt you would be able to change it - a sword knows what it itself is and knows that sharp things cut, while blunt don't.

WoBs:

Spoiler

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Questioner

So, a Radiant's blade. When it takes other forms, does it take on any different properties? So, like, if Kaladin beat someone with the butt of his Sylspear, would it still do something in regards to the soul?

Brandon Sanderson

Would he still hit the soul? That is theoretically possible to make happen. It requires a lot of work. That is theoretically possible.

Oathbringer release party (Nov. 13, 2017)

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Questioner

So, the Shardfork. A very versatile, Shard-whatever. Would it be possible to do, like, a Shardrock, or something, that would go in a catapult?

Brandon Sanderson

Yeah, it has more variety than people would think, but it isn't limitless, what they can become. But that would totally be possible.

Questioner

And what would a Shardrock do if it hits you?

Brandon Sanderson

Uh, bean them on the head and be really strong. If you can get into the spirit, if you can start getting past the skin and stuff, you can do some serious damage.

Oathbringer release party (Nov. 13, 2017)

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airsicklowlanders

If someone shaves with a shardrazor is that shave their last shave?

Brandon Sanderson

No, not unless you cut down beneath the skin--so nicks maybe would be a problem...

Jimbyl

Would a living spren be able to choose whether or not they cut something? Like could Syl make herself cut nonliving objects without also harming living things? If that's possible, could that go even farther and make it so a radiant's blade could only harm specific targets?

I'm starting to think up a ridiculous scenario where a radiant cuts through an ally without harming them to get to an enemy.

Brandon Sanderson

As it stands, no, this is not possible. (Sorry.) It's possible the spren could dismiss in time, then reappear on the other side, and FAKE that they'd done this--but couldn't simply choose not to do damage while cutting someone.

General Reddit 2017 (Dec. 18, 2017)

 

Hope that helps