and slashing your way through enemies in a video game can always be a fun time. That’s probably why there’s such a variety of weaponry that allow you to do just that. With so many swords and blades being prominently used throughout gaming history, some have become more iconic than others. Let’s take a look at the twelve most iconic video game swords and blades.

12) The Spy’s Knife (Team Fortress 2)

Team Fortress 2 may be a first person shooter, but it also has tons of optimal melee weapons to use during battle. Each character gets their own melee weapon that’s unique to their kit, and the super-stealthy Spy gets a butterfly knife. It’s small and simple, but it does the job, as it can be one of the most feared weapons in a match. If you’re sneaky enough and attack an opponent in the back with it, it can kill them instantly regardless of how much health they have. It’s a vital part of the Spy’s kit and an important part of TF2’s meta.

11) Beam Katanas (No More Heroes)

No More Heroes is an underrated gem of a video game series. The primary weapons, the Beam Katanas, are simply awesome. They’re a more sci-fi take on a katana, with an energy blade instead of metal. They can cut through just about anything and put a beatdown on foes. These swords are like a somewhat realistic take on a lightsaber, which is just plain cool.

10) Soul Edge (Soulcalibur)

The Soul Edge is such an important part of the long-running Soulcalibur video game series that the story essentially revolves around it. The Soul Edge, which has an incredibly creepy and demonic design, possesses its wielder. Because of this, it’s more or less the main antagonist of a major video game series. 

9) The Heavenly Sword (Heavenly Sword)

Heavenly Sword is a criminally underrated hack-and-slash game. Whoever wields the Heavenly Sword gains incredible power, but it also drains their life force over time. Nariko uses the sword to sacrifice herself and save her people in an emotional and action-packed story. The sword has a cool design and looks even cooler as it’s swinging through the air. The game itself is named after it, so it’s hard to deny its importance.

8) The Masamune (Chrono Trigger)

The Masamune may have a pretty standard design and isn’t even used by the game’s main character, but it’s still pretty astounding. This blade is used by Frog, and it’s one of his best. It’s so powerful that it is able to bring Magus’s defense down significantly. It’s forged by the Guru of Life, and is composed of Melchoir’s two dreams named Masa and Mune. It’s powerful, allows a sidekick to stand out more, and has a cool backstory.

7) The Monado (Xenoblade Chronicles)

One of the coolest elements of Xenoblade Chronicles is the Monado. It’s a powerful energy blade that can manipulate the ether around it. It gives its wielder the knowledge of the future and the nature of the universe. It has an awesome sci-fi design. It has the power to slay god-like entities. Between how powerful it is and how awesome it looks, it’s nothing short of iconic.

6) Energy Sword (Halo)

The energy sword from Halo has become almost as recognizable as the gaming franchise itself. Halo may be a first person shooter, but the sword packs a punch. There’s nothing quite like running up to other players online and taking them out at close range. Some folks have even gone on to call it overpowered. The energy sword has become such a staple of one of the biggest gaming franchises ever, so much so that it’s even the primary weapon of choice of one of the characters in Red vs. Blue.

5) Blades of Chaos (God of War)

The Blades of Chaos are the signature weapons of Kratos in the original God of War games. They were forged in the darkest depths of the Underworld and imbued with primordial fire, making them especially powerful. The chains of the Blades of Chaos were permanently seared onto his forearms to serve as a reminder of his oath to the God of War Ares. They are a painful reminder of Kratos’ past, making them a truly intriguing part of the story. The Blades being swung by the chains created such unique gameplay mechanics that it inspired future games in the genre.

4) Hidden Blade (Assassin’s Creed)

There are over a dozen Assassin’s Creed games, and all of them use the Hidden Blade as a major weapon. Concealed beneath the wearer’s sleeve, it’s the ultimate stealth weapon. This fast and secretive attack had fans jokingly recreating it with their friends. Plus, like with the Blades of Chaos in God of War, the Hidden Blade and the strategies behind using it left an impact on the action and stealth genres and influenced future games.

3) The Buster Sword (Final Fantasy VII)

Cloud Strife’s gigantic Buster Sword in Final Fantasy VII is easily one of the most recognizable weapons in all of gaming. It gives Cloud the Focused Thrust ability, and it hits like a truck. It looks awesome and is great at dishing out pain to enemies. It’s become somewhat of a symbol of the Final Fantasy VII, which is often considered to be one of the best video games of all time. It’s even gone on to be referenced in other media, like the movie Blue Beetle. 

2) Keyblade (Kingdom Hearts)

The Keyblade from the Kingdom Hearts franchise is one of the most creative and unique video game weapons ever. It works well as a blade to combo enemies into oblivion but also has plenty of magical abilities like healing people and launching fireballs. Being a Keyblade wielder means that you have a particularly strong heart, and only the most powerful are able to join those elite ranks. This is another blade that’s essentially a symbol for the franchise, and given how beloved Kingdom Hearts is, the Keyblade is instantly recognizable.

1) The Master Sword (The Legend of Zelda)

If someone were to think of swords in video games, the Master Sword from The Legend of Zelda is probably what immediately comes to mind. It’s the most powerful sword in the franchise, and is rather handy when taking on Ganon. It was originally crafted by the Goddess of Hylia, and it shows. Tis sword is not just a symbol that represents The Legend of Zelda series, but it’s served as a symbol of gaming itself.

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