Mistborn

Original trilogy (2006-2008)

Sanderson's first idea for Mistborn came while reading the Harry Potter series: He thought it would be interesting to set a story in a world where the "dark lord" triumphed and the "prophesied hero" failed. His second idea, originally unrelated, was to tell a heist story in a fantasy setting, an idea inspired by the Ocean's series. The idea for the titular mist came while he was driving through mist in Idaho, which he combined with his memories of having once seen Washington National Cathedral lit from the inside. He originally developed feruchemy and allomancy for separate stories before deciding to bring them together in one story.^[8]

Sanderson began work on what would become Mistborn: The Final Empire in the early 2000s, while trying to get Elantris published. Experiencing reluctance from publishers in taking on large books from unknown authors, he set out to produce shorter works and developed two in the same world, entitled Mistborn and The Final Empire. The first told the story of a Mistborn hiding out in a small village to avoid capture, while the second was a larger story involving a boy named Vin who attempted to overthrow the government. He referred to both of these works as "unpublishable", and moved on to Stormlight Archive, but they served as inspiration for his later work.^[9] Sanderson ultimately chose to delay publication of the first Stormlight book in favor of completing the Mistborn series, which he thought would serve as a better follow-up to Elantris.^[10] He published a trilogy of Mistborn books from 2006 to 2008.

Era Two (2011-2022)

By the late 2000s Sanderson envisioned a "trilogy of trilogies" for Mistborn, comprising nine books across three eras. A second trilogy was to be set in an urban setting, featuring modern technology, and the third trilogy was to be a science fiction series, set in the far future.^[11] However, Sanderson realised that with his work on Stormlight it would be a decade before he would be able to return to Mistborn, and began exploring a "stop-gap" work to be published during that period. He wrote and discarded a short story before developing The Alloy of Law (2011), set between the first and second trilogy. Set 300 years after the first trilogy, it introduced a western-like setting and early 20th century technology to the franchise.

The Alloy of Law was very well received and sold consistently over the long term. With this in mind Sanderson expanded the structure, and developed three sequels. This established four "Eras" for the planned series, with Alloy marking the start of the second. The sequels were published from 2015 to 2022, interspersed between Sanderson's work on Skyward and The Stormlight Archive.^[12] In addition to the Era Two works, Sanderson also published Secret History, an additional Era One novella. He described the story, which takes place concurrently with the original trilogy, as something that he had developed at the time and then refined over the years.^[13] The final Era Two book, The Lost Metal was substantially delayed by the previously unplanned Skyward series.^[14][15]

Future

Work on Era Three did not commence in earnest until after the completion of Wind and Truth in 2024. Sanderson has earmarked December 2028, 2029 and 2030 for the trilogy. As of December 2025, much of the first book has been written.^[16]

Allomancy

In the Mistborn series, Allomancy is a predominantly genetic ability that allows a person to metabolize ("burn") metals, ingested by the Allomancer, for magical powers that can enhance physical and mental capacities.^[18] For example, by burning tin an Allomancer may improve their perceptive abilities, such as eyesight and hearing. There are 16 metals that such Allomancers can use, with each metal granting a specific ability. In addition to these, there are "god metals" with other effects.^[19] A Mistborn is able to use all 16 and a Misting may use a single one only.^[20][21]

Feruchemy

Feruchemy is a genetic ability found among the people of the Terris region. A person who can use only one Feruchemical metal is known as a Ferring, while those who can use them all are called Feruchemists. They use the same metals as Allomancers, but rather than ingesting them, they can be worn, carried or implanted. The metal is not consumed but is used like a battery to store a property for retrieval later. For example, a Feruchemist could store physical strength in a piece of pewter- making themselves weak for a time- to later retrieve that strength and become very powerful for a short period. Usually only the Feruchemist that originally stored the attribute can use it.^[22][23] Beginning in Era Two, interbreeding has introduced Twinborn, who have a single allomantic power as well as a Feruchemical power.

Hemalurgy

Hemalurgy allows the transfer of allomantic and feruchemical powers from one person to another, though with a net loss of power. It is the least known among the three arts.^[22] It is done by driving metal spikes through the body of the power donor, and then permanently impaling these in the receiver's body in specific locations. These spikes may pierce key organs without killing the host; notably the Steel Inquisitors of Era One had large spikes through their eye sockets.^[25][26]

Role-playing game

In early 2009, Sanderson announced he was working with Crafty Games to release a role-playing game based on the series. While the release date was originally placed as "sometime in 2009", it shifted multiple times^[27][28] before being released in December 2011 in PDF, softcover, and hardcover editions.^[29]

Film

In 2010, Sanderson optioned the rights to the Mistborn books to Paloppa Pictures LLC.^[30] In Q1 of 2014 Paloppa Pictures' option ran out.^[31] In October 2016, the rights to the entire Cosmere universe, including the Mistborn series, were licensed by DMG Entertainment.^[32] On January 27, 2017, Deadline Hollywood reported that DMG signed F. Scott Frazier as the screenwriter for the adaptation of Mistborn: The Final Empire.^[33] On March 5, 2020, Sanderson stated that he was currently writing the screenplay of Mistborn: The Final Empire.^[34] Later, on December 19, 2023, Sanderson stated that the film's development had encountered "hiccups" and was on "pause for now".^[35]

In January 2026, it was announced that Apple TV had secured the rights for Sanderson's entire Cosmere universe, and that Mistborn in particular would be adapted as feature films.^[36] Sanderson indicated he will write the initial draft of the first film's screenplay in early 2026.^[37]

Video games

In March 2012, a video game prequel called Mistborn: Birthright was announced slated for a fall 2013 release. The game had been delayed until 2015^[38] to take advantage of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One and then delayed again to Fall 2016.^[39][40][41] Sanderson said in a November 2016 Q&A that Mistborn: Birthright is "dead".^[42] Developed by Little Orbit, Sanderson had written the story of the game.^[43] On July 24, 2017, an official cancellation of the game was posted by the CEO of Little Orbit, Matthew Scott, on Facebook.^[44]

On May 27, 2021, it was announced that Mistborn would cross over with Fortnite.^[45] Later that day, Kelsier was released in the item shop for purchase, bundled with other items from the Mistborn universe.

Board game

In 2016, a kickstarter campaign raised funds for a board game centered on the Mistborn series called Mistborn: House War.^[46] Developed by Crafty Games and designed by Kevin Wilson,^[47] House War is the first board game set in the Mistborn world and takes players on an adventure to play the role of leaders of the great noble Houses, struggling to weather the cataclysmic events of the first novel of the series. The game started shipping to backers in late August 2017.^[48] In 2018, a digital version of the boardgame was published on Tabletopia.^[49]

Crafty Games also released an expansion for Mistborn: House War called Mistborn: The Siege of Luthadel,^[50] in which players take the role of factions attacking or defending Luthadel during the events of the second novel.

Deck-building game

In 2024, Brotherwise Games released Mistborn: The Deckbuilding Game.

James Austin of The New York Times reviewed the game favorably, saying that it was enjoyable and thematic, but opined that it was not a good beginner card game, because it is more complex than simpler games such as Dominion.^[51]

Audio adaptations

A full-cast audio adaptation of the entire series has been produced by American audiobook company GraphicAudio since 2014.^[52]