Some of the best swords in gaming are particularly iconic, such as the Keyblade and the Master Sword from The Legend of Zelda. They help give us a power fantasy in video games as they strengthen our heroes and strike fear into our foes.
So here are the ten most iconic swords in gaming—and naturally—this is my humble opinion. Let’s go.
10. The Crucible (Doom Eternal)
The Crucible from Doom Eternal is the epitome of badass. This huge red sword with the flared blade tip is one of the main marketing images shown within the trailer of the game, as seen above, ramping up excitement for the 2020 sequel. It lets you slice and dice demons with its sheer power. It’s filled with demon energy and has some epic text on the blade that makes the weapon look ancient and rare. It’s so cool that the Demon Slayer had dreams about this mythical sword in the previous game.
9. The Monado (Xenoblade Chronicles)
The Monado is a legendary energy sword that is a major part of the story in Xenoblade Chronicles. It’s a unique blade that has different modes that the protagonist Shulk can switch to. The Buster symbol helps you deal double the damage to the Machina, Shield creates a barrier, and Speed enhances dodging for your party. With each mode, the hilt changes the symbol, which is a neat detail. It’s a long blade that feels powerful in Xenoblade Chronicles and Super Smash Bros. in which Shulk is a playable character.
8. Rebellion (Devil May Cry)
Dante might be the coolest action hero in gaming, so it makes sense that Rebellion is a badass sword. Passed down from his father, Dante’s blood awakened the power of this sword. It’s an extremely sharp weapon that can eliminate all manner of demons, including the Savior himself. The sword looks flashy during combat in the games, and the hilt having a skull is an extremely cool feature.
It’s no surprise Rebellion is one of the best swords in gaming. Dante’s combat is stellar, especially within Devil May Cry V. “One moment you might be twirling around shotguns to keep away a mob, then swap to swords to isolate a big threat, then in half a second throttle to Royal Guard to perfectly parry an attack, throw back the force of the blow, then use Trickster to dart away and flow back into combat with a teleport,” said our review of the fifth mainline entry.
7. Soul Edge (Soul Calibur)
Soul Edge has been a major part of the Soul Calibur story since its inception. It’s a massive two-handed sword that has a creepy eye within its hilt. If you manage to hold it, you’ll wield great power, but it comes with a great cost. It can possess your soul until the end of your life. The weapon itself, while wielded by Nightmare in-game, is powerful. It’s slow but when it manages to hit an opponent like Kilik or Siegfried, it can devastate their HP. If this is a list of the most deadly weapons in gaming, it would certainly be up there.
6. Energy Sword (Halo)
The Energy Sword is one of the few melee weapons you can use in the Halo series, and it certainly is powerful. It can one-shot enemies as you slash this sword across the map. It electrifies Master Chief and Arbiter’s enemies in an instant. The sound design is just as satisfying as attacking foes with it. You can hear the heft of the sword as you swing it to and fro. The energizing sound of the slash is also “untouchable.” There is a reason why this weapon returns in every game.
5. Blades of Chaos (God of War)
God of War, despite how old the series is, is still one of the most gripping action games you can play. That’s partly thanks to the Blades of Chaos that Kratos wields in the original trilogy and into the modern era. They rip and tear through his enemies in ghastly ways. You’ll see these mythical beasts torn apart by the strength of these blades as you perform the most satisfying quick-time events imaginable. The way these dual swords are thrown around like whips is awe-inspiring, and Kratos can perform some impressive combos with this weapon. The Blades of Chaos are indeed mighty, and one of the coolest weapons in games.
4. Diamond Sword (Minecraft)
One of the best items you can craft in Minecraft is the Diamond Sword. It’s hard to find the resources, but once you have it in your hands, you’ll have no fear. Famous YouTuber of the time when Minecraft was in its early years TobyTurner (Tobuscus) even made a song about it and it received millions of views. You can even purchase an officially licensed replica of this sword at stores like Amazon many years later, so it’s easily iconic. The Diamond Sword is also featured in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate with Steve being able to craft it during battles. The sword is so overpowered that it can take out a rival on the stage at 45% stamina as shown by Nintendo Unity on YouTube.
3. The Keyblade (Kingdom Hearts)
The Keyblade is an iconic weapon that Sora wields in the Kingdom Hearts series. Taking on many forms, this weapon can seal or open any lock and can strike foes with strong attacks and magic. Sora can even heal his allies like Donald and Goofy with a Cure spell. The original form of Sora’s keyblade the Kingdom Key features a keychain that resembles the iconic Disney character Mickey Mouse as well. The crown that acts as the blade’s edge is also a heavy symbol of the series overall.
Another neat fact about the Keyblade is that with every hit, a cool effect flies out of the blade. Each Keyblade, such as Jungle King, Monochrome, and Oathkeeper, has a different effect. You can get a replica Kingdom Key from many different conventions, and Bandai makes an official version with a keyhole light attached to it. I dream of having one of those someday.
2. Buster Sword (Final Fantasy VII)
You cannot make a most iconic video game swords list and not include the Buster Sword. This weapon is ridiculously gigantic for a slender man like Cloud Strife, and yet it’s so wild that it works with the character. Each slash of the blade is heavy and feels impactful as you strike the likes of Sephiroth and Cactuars. It looks cool every time Cloud rests the Buster Sword and sheathes it on his back.
You can always see it clearly sitting on his back during cutscenes as well, making its presence known. Additionally, there’s this glowing silver shine that looks so beautiful as you fight through Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Lastly, one of the coolest mechanics with the Buster Sword is that you can change the Materia equipped, adding the glow of the stones that are attached near the bottom of the blade.
1. Master Sword (The Legend of Zelda)
There was probably no doubt since you clicked this article that the Master Sword would take the top spot on this list. And for good reason. The Master Sword from The Legend of Zelda series is legendary. Nintendo makes it an event whenever Link picks up the majestic weapon for the first time. When Link is reunited with the Master Sword in Breath of the Wild, it’s a magical moment, especially after the many, many hours of weapons breaking so quickly.
Additionally, in Ocarina of Time, the weapon lets Link shift between the child and adult timelines in what was an industry-changing moment. It even has its own theme song throughout the series like Zelda does. The hilt has a beautiful blue and yellow ornate design, and the blade itself glows in a stunning blue as it attempts to repel anything malevolent close by.
