let in SPOILERS for Mistborn through The Lost Metal

One ofMistbornEra 3 ’s most crucial goal should be to surpass the series ’ practiced villain , dating back to the first book . Brandon Sanderson knows how to spell compelling villain . Be it a complex human character like Taravangian or Hrathen or a powerful god - alike Ruin , Sanderson is a passe-partout at filling hisCosmere phantasy universewith antagonists who prompt the lector to exchange what they think . However , there are few who have fiddle as key a role in their several intensity as The Lord Ruler , Rashek , inThe Final Empire .

Mistborn’smost recent expiration wasThe Lost Metal , which came out in 2022 after years by from the series . This establish yet another breach , with the next volume set to come out in 2028.MistbornEra 3 , titled “ Ghostbloods,”will be a trilogy set in an era of Scadrial influenced by former 1980s computing machine engineering . It ’s another drastic aesthetic variety from the mediaeval fantasy and urban - Western dash of Eras 1 and 2 , but it ’s signify to involve more connectivity to other Cosmere ledger and ties to characters from the original trilogy than before .

Cover of Mistborn book 1 and Wind and Truth

The Lord Ruler Is Still The Mistborn Series' Best Villain

No Villain Since Has Had Rashek’s Appeal

The Lord Ruler may only have a few scenes where he ’s actually present , but his influence looms over the entire novel from the prologue to the moment of his last . There ’s no scoundrel in the Cosmere who ’s been that directly related to the novel ’s plot aside from Odium inWind and Truth , with the novel ’s premise literally being about the plan to overthrow him . The Final Empireis arguably still thebestMistbornbook , as it ’s the one where the stakes feel simultaneously grounded and dire . A god put down the mankind is n’t quite as poignant as an tyrannical , mass - off potentate .

Readers have been theorizing about this Mistborn era 1 prognostication for 10 , and one major Cosmere change take a leak it closer to coming true .

Not only is the Lord Ruler one of the most imposing threats relative to the power level of the al-Qur’an ’s protagonist , but he ’s also shockingly complex . The plot twist regarding Rashek , his being a Terrisman , and , of grade , the fact that the Lord Ruler ’s comportment was keeping Ruin at bay arouse peck of interesting discussions about his reign . The narrative aspect of uncovering his identity and discover his failing , while the reader has n’t even met the character , allows him to take shape as a terrific god - similar being in and of himself , and it ’s a huge prospect of what makes that first book so addicting .

Mistborn book covers

None Of Mistborn: Era 2’s Villains Were As Compelling As Era 1’s

Wax & Wayne’s Villains Never Had As Much Impact

MistbornEra 2 is generally believed to be a step down from the original trilogy , and a significant element as to why is the deficiency of intriguing villains . Miles Hundredlives , Mister Suit , and Telsin fulfill their character , butthey’re all pretty simplistic resister with predictable personality . Telsin is the strongest of the three , but even she ’s not the most memorable in the saga . liberty , one of theShards of Adonalsium , is Era 2 ’s most important antagonist , but she ’s still disconnected from the story with her Vessel being on another satellite .

villain , unfortunately , are not the four - book saga ’s firm wooing .

MistbornEra 2 has mass of character to complement . The slow - burning relationships between characters , particularly Wax and Sterris , are handle with the excellence one would carry from a Sanderson novel . Not to mention , the world - construction and developing incorporating theMistbornmagic systems into a world with consistently advancing technology is handled with attention and allow for exciting new combat mechanic . Villains , unfortunately , are not the four - Holy Scripture saga ’s unattackable suit .

Dina sharing her backstory in The Last of Us season 2 episode 5

What Mistborn: Era 3 Needs To Surpass The Lord Ruler

Autonomy Or Even Kelsier Could End Up Surpassing Rashek

Surpassing the Lord Ruler will be knotty , as the secret approach shot wo n’t be as potential given how much readers already know about the landscape painting on Scadrial . However , a mystery is n’t integral in creating a compelling antagonist . away from the original characters who will be put in in the Modern book of account , MistbornEra 3 already has two incredible candidates for an iconic villain : Autonomy and Kelsier . self-reliance ’s return will likely be orchestrated throughout the serial , with her urgency amped up by Scadrial ’s chop-chop growing computer engineering .

Mistborn era 2 incorporate a character who will be boast in this approaching Brandon Sanderson book , and it could significantly bear on earned run average 3 .

Kelsier is another phenomenal prospect with decades of growth to contribute . Once a fan - favorite hero inThe Final Empire , Kelsier is a much more significant X - factor one C after . Even Brandon Sanderson has state the reference is dangerous and unpredictable , and a moment ’s decision could be the divergence between him being a legendary hero and one of the Cosmere ’s most horrifying villains yet . It ’s hard to imagine a good candidate to beMistborn’sgreatest villain than the man who work tirelessly to kill the former one .

Covers of The Final Empire and The Lost Metal

Custom image by Ana Nieves

Summary

The Mistborn series , create by Brandon Sanderson , is a high - illusion saga set in the globe of Scadrial , where magic is power by alloy through a system called Allomancy . The series concentre on political intrigue , heists , and the battle between proficient and evil . The first trilogy , Mistborn : The Final Empire , follows the conflict to overrule a tyrannic rule , the Lord Ruler . Later books in the series , admit Era 2 , take spot century of class after the events of the original trilogy , expanding the story into unexampled stage setting with new characters , all while maintaining connections to the original plot line .

The Lord Ruler with spears impaling him from Mistborn Spanish illustrated edition

Kelsier art from Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series

Mistborn: The Final Empire (2006) Book Cover

Mistborn - Franchise