Surgebinding

Surgebinding is the principal magic system of Roshar, the power by which the Knights Radiant manipulate the fundamental forces of nature. It is fueled by Stormlight and granted through the bond between a human and a Spren, and it lies at the heart of The Stormlight Archive. Surgebinding draws on the Investiture of Honor and Cultivation, the Shards of the Cosmere who together with Odium shape Roshar.

Description

A Surgebinder draws Stormlight into their body and expends it to manipulate one or more of the ten fundamental Surges of Roshar -- forces such as Gravitation, Adhesion, Transformation, Transportation, and others. Each of the ten orders of Knights Radiant commands two of these Surges, giving the orders their distinct powers.

The Surges

The ten Surges are Adhesion, Gravitation, Division, Abrasion, Progression, Illumination, Transformation (Soulcasting), Transportation, Cohesion, and Tension. The Surges are paired and shared among the orders so that each Surge is wielded by two adjacent orders. For example, the Windrunners wield Adhesion and Gravitation, while the Lightweavers wield Illumination and Transformation.

Mechanics

Surgebinding requires both Stormlight to fuel it and a bonded Spren to grant access to it. The strength and range of a Surgebinder's abilities grow as they advance through the Ideals of their order, deepening the bond with their spren. The same underlying Surges, when accessed without a spren bond by means of the Honorblades, grant similar powers -- as in the case of Szeth.

Significance

Surgebinding is the source of the Knights Radiant's might and the central magic by which the war against Odium is fought. Its return after centuries of absence signals the renewal of the Radiant orders and the coming of a new Desolation.