Drawing by Isaac Stewart
From Shallan's sketchbook
Drawing by Ben McSweeney
There are ten basic sword forms, or stances of swordsmanship, one for each of the Ten Essences[1] used by Shardbearers when dueling and in battle. Each is intended to execute a specific holding pattern and follow-through. The stances are more a philosophy than a predefined set of moves.[1] An experienced Shardbearer will know them all and utilize them both to invite and repel a response from his/her opponent and, ultimately, to defeat him/her, thereby winning that opponent's Shardblade, Shardplate or both.
Bloodstance[]
A stance for someone who didn't care if he got hit.[2]
Flamestance[]
Quick and flexible, better for shorter Shardblades. However, a weakness of this form is its one-handed posture.[1]
| “ | His opponent fell into Flamestance, sword held one-handed, other hand touching the blade, standing with a square posture of feet.[3] | ” |
Ironstance[]
The Shardbearer's Blade is held two-handed, up beside his/her head.[1]
Smokestance[]
Better with an imperfect weapon, the form was executed with one foot forward, one foot behind, sword held forward with the tip toward an opponent's heart. Remaining in motion was the essence of Smokestance. It embodied a sword and knife form and a whirlwind of blows. It was practiced and precise.[4]
Stonestance[]
In this stance, a Shardblade was held before the Bearer in two hands, pointed toward the sky, the arms all the way extended.[5] The Shardbearer needed to be focused on delivering the most possible momentum and strength behind each strike,[5] swiping down with precise cuts.[6] Stonestance was one of the few to rely on parrying posture and to be immobile when necessary.[5][7] This allowed for solid footing and straightforward power.[2]
Vinestance[]
A slow and steady form, but with sudden, quick lunges; a style of fighting focused on defensive footing and flexibility.[7]
Windstance[]
Considered to be the best stance against many foes at once, the Shardbearer holds the Blade in front of him/herself with elbows bent, positioned sideways with one foot forward, sword's tip pointing up and backward. It is flowing, sweeping outward with wide, flowing sweeps, and majestic.[1][7][6][2]
Q&A with Brandon[]
Q. What inspired the sword stances in The Way of Kings? Windstance and stonestance ...
A. Yeah, it was old-school, what they call ... the old books that you would see ... sword training guides. Where you would see a guy in a stance, and then go like this, and things. I just thought they were really interesting, and I developed the stances around that.[8]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Words of Radiance, 14. Ironstance
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Oathbringer, 26. Blackthorn Unleashed
- ↑ Words of Radiance, 46. Patriots
- ↑ The Way of Kings, 19. Starfalls
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 The Way of Kings, 58. The Journey
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Oathbringer, 83. Crimson To Break
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Words of Radiance, 56. Whitespine Uncaged
- ↑ Salt Lake City ComicCon 2017, Salt Lake City, UT, 9/21/17
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