Top 5 Video Game Swords

Top 5 Video Game Swords

Written by Zeromage 49 Comments
Last Updated:: January 23, 2009

The video game sword took the world of fables and put them into real life with the gamer in actual control of the sword. There were plenty of swords throughout video game history, but only a few great ones. Many swords in modern day video games are too big and complicated. And some of the swords are just plain ugly. Can the effeminate hero of FF7 really hold that huge sword? So this list, we’ll go through what we think are the top 5 best swords in video game history. These swords stood out for their power and memorability, while others appeared silly. It’s not a coincidence that these next swords came from the greatest games of all time.

5. Masamune

The Masamune appears in Chorno Trigger as the most powerful two handed sword in the game. Unfortunately this sword was only usable by Frog. He was deserving of it though, as he was the most noble and heroic player in the game, even beyond Crono himself. Once you obtained this sword you would want to have Frog in your party at all times, as the damage that this sword could do was great, especially when combined with triple attacks with Crono in the party. Obtaining this sword was no easy task though. You had to search the world of Chrono Trigger looking for two separate spirits, Masa and Mune. Without this sword, Frog was often weak, even though he was heroic and magnanimous of spirit. Give him the Masamune though, and he was the best character to have in your party.

4. The Dragon Sword

Ryu’s sword in Ninja Gaiden was the Dragon Sword, which has been passed down through the Hayabusa clan for generations. It passed on to Ryu from his father. The Dragon Sword is a Katana, although unlike most Katanas, this one was forged from the fang of a dragon, and possesses untold power to destroy demons and annoyingly timed birds. The Dragon Sword earns its spot on this list for its detailed back story, and the fact that it is wielded by a Ninja. No list of video game swords is complete without the fabled Dragon Sword. After all Ninjas are all the rage nowadays. No one cares about pirates anymore.

3. Mana Sword

The Mana sword was the premiere sword of Secret of Mana. It was with this sword that you could destroy the impenetrable Mana Beast. You would spend the whole game looking for the Mana seeds to replant into the Mana Tree. After the quest for the seeds though, you had to destroy the Mana Beast or your efforts at rebuilding the world into benevolence would be all for naught. This could only be accomplished by the Mana Sword which inflicted massive damage on anything that would cross its path including the Mana Beast would be unable to defeat without. Regardless of how powerful the sprites magic was or the princesses healing power was, nothing would be able to take down this incredible final boss except for the Mana Sword. Not being able to be conquer the game without this word certainly makes it one of the most important of all time.

2. AtmaWeapon

The Atma Weapon was a beast of a sword. When you obtained the weapon, you had one of the most powerful swords in video game history. It was certainly one of the most unique swords of all time. The amount of damage that the sword unleashed on a foe was equal to how many hit points the character using it had, so you would want to keep healing the character with the AtmaWeapon or you would be doing minimal damage if left with little energy. This would come in handy when fighting the final form of Kefka in FF3 (or FF6 for those who make a huge deal out of accuracy of the Eastern numerical ordering). Being able to do 9999 damage to anyone would make that character the most powerful character in the game beyond all of Kefka’s different forms.

1. Master Sword

The Master Sword is THE sword in all of videos games. Link would search all of Hyrule looking for this lost heirloom that would put Ganon in his place. Unfortunately, you would usually only obtain this legendary sword towards the end of the game unless you played with some emulator that allowed you to be stacked before even starting. The Master Sword would not be allowed to be held by just anyone though. It was reserved for only the forces of good. As the fable goes, this sword is more than just steel, “It possesses a magical power which is aligned toward the forces of valor and kindness”. This was not a sword that Ganon could use. It was the sword that only Link could use, as he epitomized virtual altruism more than any other character in video game history. He alone would be able to use the greatest video game sword of all time.

49 Comments

#1 Cromat says:
March 15th, 2010 at 1:52 pm

Fun list.

#2 George says:
March 15th, 2010 at 3:27 pm

Right now, I’m trying to beat the final boss of Chrono Trigger, and I’m curious. Even though some of Frog’s other weapons have better stats, is the Masamune still his best sword. Also, what do you think is the ideal party for the final battle.

I got killed by Lavos’ final form. My party is roughly level 47 on average, and the characters I used were Magus, Frog, and Marle. What do you recommend?

#3 Cheeseknight28 says:
March 15th, 2010 at 3:35 pm

@George

It’s been a very, very long time since I’ve played Crono Trigger but I know I used Crono in the final fight. You do know you can get him back, right?

#4 Zeromage says:
March 15th, 2010 at 3:38 pm

George: Yeah the Masamune (well Masamune2) is by far his best sword. Its attack is 200. And its x2 to hit Mg enemies. Although I think the Rune Blade is pretty cool too, just because of its name.

Personally, I’ve always used Magus, Frog and Robo. But I’m strange. The best party I think is Magus, Crono and Frog.

#5 Wild Bill says:
March 15th, 2010 at 3:52 pm

pirates are way better than ninjas.

#6 The Mountain says:
March 15th, 2010 at 4:43 pm

Great list. I forever pray to The Mastersword.

#7 halorulz says:
March 15th, 2010 at 5:19 pm

NO HALO ENERGY SWORD?!?!?!?! WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAT?

#8 Michael .V. says:
March 15th, 2010 at 5:49 pm

Yeah AtmaWeapon was amazing. Combine that with the fact through various relics you can get to attack with 9999 dmg 8 times in one turn and your god like!

#9 Raz says:
March 15th, 2010 at 5:50 pm

where is the SOUL REAVER????? that thing took down foes by eating their souls!!!! you gotta give it to Kain and Raziel….

#10 Untouchable says:
March 15th, 2010 at 6:15 pm

Dante`s Rebellion is the best and coolest sword I have ever seen. My favourite!

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/devilmaycry/images/thumb/a/a4/Rebellion_4.jpg/300px-Rebellion_4.jpg

#11 Dv8thwonder says:
March 15th, 2010 at 6:31 pm

Only the Master Sword could be number one.

#12 Daniel says:
March 15th, 2010 at 6:38 pm

What about the Zwiehander?

or the Buster Sword?

aww maaan

#13 RavenWolfx says:
March 15th, 2010 at 6:54 pm

@George

To get Masamune at its strongest, you have to do a side quest between 600 AD and 1000 AD. There is a busted up castle in the lower right hand area of the map (i think). Also, if you see any of the chests that take the pendant to open, open them in 1000 AD First, then 600 AD. That way you can get the best armor in the game (originally, dunno about the extra stuff in the new DS version).

#14 RavenWolfx says:
March 15th, 2010 at 6:57 pm

I would like to have extended the list to the Top 10 swords, that way the Buster Sword (or Ultima Sword), Sephiroth’s Masamune, the GunBlade, the Light Saber (still a sword), and… um, some other weapon… the energy sword, maybe?

#15 RavenWolfx says:
March 15th, 2010 at 6:58 pm

Oh, the Mastermune would have been a good one, from Chrono Cross.

#16 Chase357 says:
March 15th, 2010 at 8:03 pm

What about Strider Hiryu’s sword?
That thing is HUGE!!

#17 Rob says:
March 15th, 2010 at 8:28 pm

Pirates FTW.

#18 Matto says:
March 15th, 2010 at 9:28 pm

wow
theres waaay better swords than that
Fu Xis sword from dynasty warriors
Voice of rallos zek from champions return to arms
clouds sword?
The Final Sword for okami?
all cooler

#19 xino says:
March 15th, 2010 at 9:35 pm

What a piece of trash list.

I read the title, top 5 video game swords.
I was thinking, this will be interesting and had a rethink.

Why shouldn’t I freaking know I will see the same piece of trash?

As usual, a fanboy writes this kind of rubbish articles.

Why shouldn’t I know Final Fantasy and Zelda wouldn’t be in the list?

Dragon Sword!???

No Golden Sun sword…

please get the hell out!

#20 Zeromage says:
March 15th, 2010 at 9:46 pm

FF and Zelda are on the list.

#21 clone says:
March 15th, 2010 at 10:36 pm

“Why shouldn’t I know Final Fantasy and Zelda wouldn’t be in the list?”

Zelda is #1 on the list. Try reading before complaining.

#22 RuddigerPez says:
March 15th, 2010 at 11:27 pm

Fuck. I’m sick of looking at headlines on N4G.com and seeing a list of “top 5 or 10 whatever” and thinking it would be fun to read this list and then finding its that stupid nintendo fanboy site old-wizard.com. Someone should start making lists like this that are comprehensive across all gaming genres, platforms, and history and they would get a hell of a lot more hits than this piece of crap. Suck it you stupid bastard.

#23 Silva says:
March 15th, 2010 at 3:40 am

no sword list is complete without the blades of choas or athena’s blades

#24 David Macphail says:
March 15th, 2010 at 2:33 pm

Where the heck is the Heavenly Sword???

A sword which is absolutely unstoppable and contains so much power it slowly drains the life force of the person wielding it didn’t make this list???

EPIC FAIL!!!

#25 CJLopez says:
March 15th, 2010 at 5:35 am

To all those complaining of the lack of their favorite sword:

1.- Go to a forum full of gamers (old and new)
2.- Scream the name of a sword here
3.- See how many knows from which game are those swords

Hence, screaming the name of these 5 sword its most certainly every1 will know from where they are. Ok, maybe there is another sword which can be recognized (Cloud’s iconic Buster Sword) but i’m pretty sure there’s no gamer, who wouldn’t recognize the Master Sword

#26 David Macphail says:
March 15th, 2010 at 6:44 pm

Actually…..i’m not familiar with any of the swords on this list…..then again, i wasn’t born in the 1950’s……………….

#27 Fraught says:
March 15th, 2010 at 6:49 pm

Damnit! How can’t people understand that Cloud was a genetically augmented S.O.L.D.I.E.R. which means he had much more strength than a normal human, thus making him able to carry the buster sword.

#28 Party Time says:
March 15th, 2010 at 10:23 am

Nice list – good example of why your site rocks.

#29 roberto says:
March 15th, 2010 at 7:16 pm

dear old-dookie.com,

what about my schwartz? i think thats the greatest game sword of all time.

#30 Gyb says:
March 15th, 2010 at 9:42 am

Fraught: Do you mean that GENETICALLY-ENHANCED SUPERSOLIDER?

#31 CheeseGundam says:
March 15th, 2010 at 6:02 pm

To the guy below who asked about the Masamune in chrono Trigger, unless you did Frog’s optional sidequest to power up the Masamune, I wouldn’t use it for the final boss.

#32 Meta Knight 293 says:
March 15th, 2010 at 5:50 pm

Cool list!

#33 Meta Knight 293 says:
March 15th, 2010 at 5:51 pm

By the way…NO META KNIGHT SWORD,GALIXIA!

#34 obsidian says:
March 15th, 2010 at 9:50 pm

I’ve got to say that, while possibly not in the top 5, a sword list is not complete without Soul Edge

#35 Gyb says:
March 15th, 2010 at 8:54 am

He, I always like the rare red crystal sword in Diablo II.

#36 johnny says:
March 15th, 2010 at 7:46 pm

The very well known game Zelda is an adventure game which has a lot of games in it. Now the Zelda fantasy swords is a must have for any Zelda fan who is or wants to be an active swords collector. I should know because I am one.

#37 Anon says:
March 15th, 2010 at 6:05 am

The fact that Soul Edge didn’t make it on this list is crazy

#38 vinshety says:
March 15th, 2010 at 4:00 am

this list sucked balls. the only good sword was the master sword and even thats questionable.the dragon sword had a back story? so what!the buster sword had one too and it was better. it was passed from angeal to zack. then zack gave it to cloud in his last moments of life. so why wasnt that in the list?if you ask me the red queen from devil may cry 4 shouldve won.or better yet the yamato. or the sparda sword. all of these are better than anything on this list. oh an for thr guy who said that cloud was in soldier,he wasnt. he had second hand exposure to mako energy before the first time he killed sephiroth. when hogo brought cloud back to life he was exposed to it again.so get your facts together.

#39 SJCpirate says:
March 15th, 2010 at 1:03 am

What?! I figured a list of awesome swords would include more swords that you actually fight with rather then press a button to attack (such as in rpgs). Some better choices that are a bit more immersing:

- Soul Edge (Soul Calibur series)
- Akujiki (Shinobi ps2)
- Lightsabers (Various Star Wars games)

#40 Razgriz says:
March 15th, 2010 at 8:05 pm

excalibur, the claimh solais, the eternal sword, hrunting just to name a few. i do think this list is good but the dragon sword? really? plenty more swords in video game history that deserve a place more. and HALO SUCKS ASS.

#41 MattTheSpratt says:
March 15th, 2010 at 12:18 pm

What, no Cipher?
Anyone who’s played Strider will know what I’m talking about, it’s Hiryu’s sword.

#42 cody floyd says:
March 15th, 2010 at 12:17 am

Without rebellion or yamato from devil may cry this list is as gay as the jonas brothers

#43 bryan says:
March 15th, 2010 at 8:39 am

what about clouds sword? yeah its normal but its so @#$% huge!

#44 POLISH POUNDER says:
March 15th, 2010 at 8:21 pm

Lightsabers should have been on this list.

#45 george grigolava says:
March 15th, 2010 at 5:51 am

nothing from onimusha!!
the game based almost entirely of amazing sword upgrades and magic???

#46 curiousbystander says:
March 15th, 2010 at 6:31 am

where is soul edge?

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