#I really want to know branderson's answer to spikes as metalminds

[puddlejumper38]

I hope this isn’t a completely dumb question, but can hemalurgists use their spikes as metalminds? Does it have to be that particular spike? Like, does the steel spike that steals feruchemical steel have to be the one used to store speed or can any steel spike be used as a metalmind for speed even if it’s stealing a different power? Can hemalurgic feruchemists use any metal as a metalmind or do they have to use their spikes? Along those lines, Marsh would have to have a atium spike for his age compounding, right? Similarly, would the Lord Ruler have to have armbands made out of ALL of the different metals or could he double up on allomantic and feruchemical powers for his compounding with one metal, essentially double-dipping with the powers?

Sorry if this is a lot or too confusing, I’m just incredibly vague on the specifics of hemalurgy and have trouble actually interpreting the official table.

Thanks!

(I actually checked coppermind in the middle of writing this so just going back to amend a previous statement because it’s still a question I mean to ask: steel spikes wouldn’t steal feruchemical steel, that would be a pewter spike, but my point stands)

Thats not a dumb question - actually I think its a really good one!

I've been wondering whether Marsh needs metalminds with all the spikes and I think we don't know.

...we don't know anything about Marsh.

Right so yeah, with your last paragraph there, the metal in the spike is not necessarily the corresponding metal power you get. This simplifies some things because if Marsh does not have a spike of that metal then he certainly needs a metalmind for it (no spike of copper, no coppermind... not that I think Marsh has feruchemical copper).

Urg, this could get complicated to talk about.

Also its going to be a lot of speculation.

First up - yes I do think Marsh has metalminds separate to the spikes. Or at least some of them. This is because you have to eat the metal to compound since you have to burn it for allomancy.

(Disclaimer - spikes obviously pierce the body: Can you burn them for allomancy like that? I don't know. Since some of them keep him alive I wouldn't have thought it'd be ideal either way.)

I like to think the spikes can be used as metalminds though, and I have some evidence because Marsh uses his feruchemical abilities on Vin in the Inquisitor battle in Luthadel. BUT, for reasons best known to Ruin, Marsh is shirtless in this scene so while its possible he had anklets and toe rings I think he might have had the theoretical spike metalminds. Interestingly though, we don't actually see Marsh use any feruchemy for sure in this fight excepting gold. Still, I have to assume Ruin wouldn't have sent him there without those abilities.

Now I suspect there are limits to using spikes as metalminds because an already inversted metal can cause problems - for example trying to steelpush a metalmind has resistance. But compounding works, if with a different effect, so it doesn't make the whole concept impossible. I just think there would be differences. Can you use a Steel metalmind to store speed when its granting you a different ability via hemalurgy? I think yes, if you can use a spike as a metalmind this would have to be possible. But it would be interesting to see if those different purposes interacted and changed anything.

To try and answer another of your questions (if I'm interpreting it right), to compound atium as far as we know you need: - A spike granting you allomantic atium (not necessarily made from atium) - A spike granting you feruchemical atium (ditto) - Some atium Again, I say Not The Spike for that last part because you need to burn it to compound it after you've made it a metalmind. But possibly the spike, y'know? If you were willing to compromise the spike because using Allomancy burns up the metal.

I think the Lord Ruler would need allomantic metals + his metal minds because I suspect (but do not know) that once its a metalmind when you burn it you're tapping the stored attribute. I.E; if you're compounding atium for age and you also want the sick atium allomantic future powers, then you need fresh (non-metalmind) atium for the latter.

(I don't know this for sure. Maybe you can choose which ability you get, but we know you don't get both simultaneously because of Miles in AoL.)

I hope this helps, its confusing to talk about allomantic, feruchemical and hemalurgic abilities at the same time particularly when I'm referencing the same metal.

Also, again, this is speculation, but fun speculation, thanks for the ask!

TLDR: Yeah I think you can used the spikes as metalminds but possibly not for compounding. And you can definitely use other metalminds.