Elements

[Emily she/her]

Quote

Indeed, on Roshar there are considered to be ten elements; not the traditional four or sixteen, depending upon local tradition.

- OB Ars Arcanum 

I’m not sure if someone else has made a  discussion about this, however, what would the planet be that has four elements. Have we been on it? 

Spoiler

Is the planet with 16 elements Scadrial? Are the 16 metals different elements?  Or would it be Yolen?

As for four, would it be the four that we are used to seeing? (That is, earth, wind, fire and water) 

This seems really interesting to me, if anyone has any thoughts on the matter, please share!

[Andy92]

It might be because the 16 metals on Scadrial are separated into 4 quadrants: Physical, Mental, Enhancement, and Temporal. I've seen some theories of this based around the 16 Shards as well, that they can be grouped into 4 sets of 4. 

Edit: To answer another one of your questions, Scadrial definitely is the planet associated with the number 16. This is because the planet was created by its two Shards and that number was modeled after the original 16 Shards.  

Edited January 25, 2018 by Andy92

[Lord Mistborn Bondbreaker he/him]

Well we know that there are four Aethers.

Edited January 27, 2018 by Lord Mistborn Skybreaker

[Fezzik]

Aether spoilers

Spoiler

Teleport others

Teleport self

Transform self into beast

Transform self into metal

Create vines

Create crystals

I can't remember if controlling the proto-midnight essence was another, and it would have a pair. 

That makes six (or 8) that were in the non-canon version, but some of those may have been removed to make only four.

 

[Leyrann]

I think the 4 just refers to earth.

But hey, I just posted a random theory that Ashyn, Roshar and Braize share one orbit despite the Arcanum Unbounded depicting them in 3 different orbits, so maybe I shouldn't call people out on weird theories.