On September 13th, Nintendo fans watched in awe as the new Nintendo Direct aired, showcasing several new video games and their release dates. Most fans have been focusing on two games: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. At last, fans learned the game's official name and its release date, which will come on May 12th, 2023.
Fans of such fantasy games are sure to love these new entries and the weapons they wield. Swords have been both beloved and hated by various gaming fans. But there's no doubt they feature some of the most iconic and best weapons in gaming.
Sword of Light (Dragon Quest XI)
The Sword of Light is the most pivotal weapon in Dragon Quest XI and is one of the key objectives the Luminary and his party are after to save the world. There happens to be primarily two Sword of Lights in the game with one of them being stolen by Mordegon.
This makes for an interesting quest many fans didn't expect as the Luminary and his companions retrieve the materials necessary to forge a new Sword of Light capable of combating Mordegon. This makes an already impressive sword more personal to the characters and players.
Dawnbreaker (The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)
The quests given to the Dragonborn by the Daedric Princes are without a doubt some of the most fun in the game. One of those quests leads players to obtain Meridian's blade, Dawnbreaker, one of the best weapons players can get in Skyrim.
This sword is incredibly useful against undead warriors like draugr and vampires. However, Dragonborn should be careful when the light explodes as if they themselves are a vampire (or if any of their companions are undead) it will harm them slightly. For players getting swarmed by tons of draugr however, this blade will put them down swiftly.
Frostmourne (World of Warcraft)
The Lich King has likely become the most iconic villain, if not character, from World of Warcraft, and what is nearly as legendary is his mourneblade, Frostmourne.
This icy sword takes inspiration from several blades from fiction like King Arthur's legendary Excalibur and Elric of Melniboné's Stormbringer, a black blade that consumes the souls of all it slays. These two blades alone are some of the most iconic in fiction, so to create Frostmourne from both of them was certain to make quite the epic weapon.
Excalibur (Assassin's Creed: Valhalla)
Whether real, myth, or legend there likely isn't a more well-known sword in the world than Excalibur, the blade of King Arthur. Assassin's Creed: Valhalla brings this blade to life in this Viking era of England. Eivor travels below Stonehenge, retrieving this Isu artifact.
The blade bears a mixture of fantasy and sci-fi as everything does surrounding the Isu. It retains the qualities of the blade from legend while maintaining the mythos surrounding best weapons in Assassin's Creed: Valhalla.
Falchion (Fire Emblem series)
Most of the protagonists in the Fire Emblem franchise have wielded swords, but none are more iconic or better than the first one, Falchion. The sword has undergone a few changes depending on the title it appears in, but it always remains pivotal to the plot.
This holy sword was forged from the fang of Naga and is the bane of dragons. It's enriched in plenty of history beginning in the hands of Marth's ancestor, Anri, later falling to Marth, and much later to Chrom and Lucina.
Buster Sword (Final Fantasy VII)
Most of the protagonists of Final Fantasy are known for their iconic swords. However, there is no better sword in the franchise than Cloud's Buster Sword.
This ridiculously large sword bears a heavy resemblance to Guts's from the manga, Berserk, and is oversized when compared to Cloud's body. Not only is this blade a sensation to look at and to watch cleave through enemies, but it also has a great backstory with how Cloud attained the sword from his friend Zeke.
Moonlight Sword (FromSoftware's Souls titles)
The Moonlight Sword has appeared in every Elden Ring, it can be wielded by players each time though it usually has a different name. It's the only weapon in the franchise to appear in every single game in this manner.
The sword is a perfect Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice wielded by the Divine Dragon boss but bears a much different appearance due to the game taking place in a fictional Japan.
Yamato (Devil May Cry series)
Vergil's signature weapon, Yamato has played a rather important role in the the best Devil May Cry games, Devil May Cry 3. This blade is what initially helped Nero awaken his demonic powers.
Much like Dante's Rebellion, and the sword Sparda, Yamato was one of the three weapons that Sparda split his powers into. While Yamato has played an important role in the story of Devil May Cry, mainly surrounding Nero, Devil May Cry 3, 4, and 5 always gives players the opportunity to play through the story after completing it as Vergil with his blade once more.
Mortal Blade (Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice)
This blade seems impossible to wield due to it killing anyone who wields it. However, thanks to Sekiro's constant resurrection, he is one of the few capable of holding the blade. This sword has a dark aura leaking off of it of red and black capable of slaying even immortals
It is the most important object in the story and is the deciding factor of the game no matter what ending is chosen. The crimson odachi also bears a counterpart called the Black Mortal Blade that has a much different ability.
Master Sword (The Legend of Zelda series)
There is not a single sword better in video gaming than Link's iconic weapon, the Master Sword. This sword was first introduced in the third game, A Link to the Past, and has since then been obtained similarly to Link pulling a sword from stone.
The blade has mostly been the same throughout the years with the most radical change being in Skyward Sword which gave an origin story to the blade. The Zelda installment, Tears of the Kingdom, also appears as if it will give a new take on the blade.
