History Main / HeroesPreferSwords

** The army books note that this trope holds true for humans in-universe; Empire swordsmen regiments are "often romanticised by Imperial poets as tall, dashing figures, often bravely engaging the best enemy regiments with only their bravery and combat skill." The spearmen and halberdiers who make up the bulk of the front line are far less romanticised, and ditto the [[BoringButPractical handgunners and artillery crews]] who usually end up doing the bulk of the killing. This is enforced on an official level as the Empire's most elite soldiers are the Greatswords, so named because of their very hard to master weapons (in real life, soldiers with greatswords were basically replaced by halberdiers which were about as effective with less training). They're recruited from the best and most proven men, put through rigorous training with their Zweihanders, and assigned as shock troops and noble bodyguards. The Bretonnians take this to the next level, as not only does the nobility prize the sword (and lance) as the most chivalrous of weapons, but they'll flat-out refuse to touch polearms (don't even ask about [[DoesNotLikeGuns guns]] or bows).

* ''VideoGame/EpicBattleFantasy'': The usual first character of the player's party, is Matt, who uses swords and owns many of them.

** Exploited|Trope}} in-universe. Class of Sabers (swordsmen) is considered the strongest class of the seven, so some of participants specifically aim for getting a hero precisely of this class. Since Servants are summoned from [[AllMythsAreTrue different mythologies]], and sword-wielding individuals often happen to be [[TheHero Heroes]] and [[{{TheAce}} Aces]] of their respective stories, this is completely {{Justified|Trope}}.

* While Showa ''Franchise/KamenRider'' heroes were for the most part bare-handed fighters (with a few notable exceptions like Series/KamenRiderX and Series/KamenRiderBlackRX), most Heisei Riders have had swords in one way or another, be it a late-game upgrade ([[Series/KamenRiderKabuto Perfect Zecter]], [[Series/KamenRiderW Prism Bicker]], [[Series/KamenRiderFourze Barizun Sword]]), WeaponOfChoice for one specific form ([[Series/KamenRiderKuuga Titan Sword]], [[Series/KamenRiderAgito Flame Saber]], [[Series/KamenRiderKiva Garulu Saber]]), one of the many forms of a SwissArmyWeapon ([[Series/KamenRiderDenO [=DenGasher=]]], [[Series/KamenRiderGaim DJ Gun]], [[Series/KamenRiderGhost GanGanSaber]]), or just an early-introduced normal use weapon ([[Series/KamenRiderOOO Medajalibur]], [[Series/KamenRiderGaim Daidaimaru and Musou Saber]], [[Series/KamenRiderDrive Handle Sword]]). Hell, one of the main Riders is called Series/KamenRiderBlade, who has two different swords he uses depending on his form. ''Series/KamenRiderBlack'' also kinda inverts this, with melee focused hero Black fighting against sword-wielding foes like Birugenia and the [[BigBad Shadow Moon]]. And then there's '''all''' of the heroes in ''Series/KamenRiderSaber''; they're part of an organization of swordsmen, so expect them to appear with their swords at the ready.

*** ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2TornaTheGoldenCountry'' expansion gives us Addam, who fights with a sword, and Hugo, who has a shortsword and shield combo. Jin from the main game also returns, showing him before his StartOfDarkness.

* ''Franchise/YuGiOh'': The main protagonist of ''Anime/YuGiOhSevens'' has a SignatureMon called "Sevens Road Magician" who wields a sword. When a more villainous character uses "Sevens Road Magician" in the following series, ''Anime/YuGiOhGoRush'', she gives him an equip spell that changes his sword into a lance.

* In ''VideoGame/ForHonor'', sword-wielding heroes are disproportionately represented opposed to heroes who use other weapons. The Knights have [[JackOfAllStats their Vanguard class the Warden]] who wields a heavy longsword, [[FragileSpeedster their Assassin class, the Peacekeeper]], a [[NinjaPirateRobotZombie knight-ninja-nun]] who [[DualWield dual-wields a pairing sword and dagger]], and their first DLC hero [[BoisterousBruiser the Centurion]], a Roman-inspired hero who wields [[SwordAndFist a gladius and his fists]]. TheVikings have their Heavy, the Warlord, who like the Centurion uses a short-sword and shield for superior defense, as well as their first DLC hero [[BraveScot the Highlander]] who wields a [[StanceSystem Scottish claymore to switch between offensive and defensive stances respectively]]. [[{{Samurai}} The Samurai]] sword-users are the Vanguard [[DifficultButAwesome the Kensei]] wielding a [[{{BFS}} nodachi]], and their Assassin [[KatanasAreJustBetter the Orochi and their katana]]. The Warden and the Orochi are also the heroes of the Knight and Samurai chapter as well, fitting this trope even more.

* In ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', all three members of the PowerTrio are proficient archers, but TheHero Rand al'Thor receives a sword as he leaves home. When this sword is melted in his fight with Ba'alzamon at the end of the second book, he uses a blade [[InsubstantialIngredients made of fire]] until he gets his signature weapon [[AmplifierArtifact ''Callandor'']] from the Stone of Tear. Of the other two, TheTrickster Mat Cauthon uses a knife, MartialArtsStaff, and BladeOnAStick, while TheBlacksmith Perrin Aybara has either AnAxeToGrind or can DropTheHammer.

** The heroes of the first two games, however, avert the trope. Tir [=McDohl=] wields a MartialArtsStaff, while Riou wields DualTonfas.

* In ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', all three members of the PowerTrio are proficient archers, but TheHero Rand al'Thor receives a sword as he leaves home. When this sword is melted in his fight with Ba'alzamon at the end of the second book, he uses a blade [[InsubstantialIngredients made of fire]] until he gets his signature weapon [[AmplifierArtifact ''Callandor'']] from the Stone of Tear. Of the other two, TheTrickster Mat Cauthon uses a knife, SimpleStaff, and BladeOnAStick, while TheBlacksmith Perrin Aybara has either AnAxeToGrind or can DropTheHammer.

** The heroes of the first two games, however, avert the trope. Tir [=McDohl=] wields a SimpleStaff, while Riou wields DualTonfas.

* ''Anime/FutureCardBuddyfight'': [[TheHero Gao Mikado]] favors item cards that resemble either a BFS or [[HeroesFightBarehanded cestuses]]. [[TheLancer Tasuku Ryuenji]] tends to favor sabers and, after he's come to terms with the trauma that robbed him of his childhood, [[FamilyFriendlyFirearms laser guns]]. [[TheBigGuy Tetsuya Kurodake]] doesn't use items terribly often, but on the rare occasions he does he prefers [[PowerStereotypeFlip spellbooks]]. [[TheSmartGuy Zanya Kisaragi]] prefers to use katanas. [[ButtMonkey Noboru Kodo]] uses lances. [[TokenEvilTeammate Gaito Kurusu]] uses [[SinisterScythe scythes]]. Lastly, [[LovableJock Kanata Ozora]] uses cleats that summon ball-shaped energy projectiles for him to kick at his opponents.

* ''Anime/FutureCardBuddyfight'': [[TheHero Gao Mikado]] favors item cards that resemble either greatswords or [[HeroesFightBarehanded cestuses]]. [[TheLancer Tasuku Ryuenji]] tends to favor sabers and, after he's come to terms with the trauma that robbed him of his childhood, [[FamilyFriendlyFirearms laser guns]]. [[TheBigGuy Tetsuya Kurodake]] doesn't use items terribly often, but on the rare occasions he does he prefers [[PowerStereotypeFlip spellbooks]]. [[TheSmartGuy Zanya Kisaragi]] prefers to use katanas. [[ButtMonkey Noboru Kodo]] uses lances. [[TokenEvilTeammate Gaito Kurusu]] uses [[SinisterScythe scythes]]. Lastly, [[LovableJock Kanata Ozora]] uses cleats that summon ball-shaped energy projectiles for him to kick at his opponents.

* ''Anime/FutureCardBuddyfight'': [[TheHero Gao Mikado]] favors item cards that resemble either broadswords or [[HeroesFightBarehanded cestuses]]. [[TheLancer Tasuku Ryuenji]] tends to favor sabers and, after he's come to terms with the trauma that robbed him of his childhood, [[FamilyFriendlyFirearms laser guns]]. [[TheBigGuy Tetsuya Kurodake]] doesn't use items terribly often, but on the rare occasions he does he prefers [[PowerStereotypeFlip spellbooks]]. [[TheSmartGuy Zanya Kisaragi]] prefers to use katanas. [[ButtMonkey Noboru Kodo]] uses lances. [[TokenEvilTeammate Gaito Kurusu]] uses [[SinisterScythe scythes]]. Lastly, [[LovableJock Kanata Ozora]] uses cleats that summon ball-shaped energy projectiles for him to kick at his opponents.

* ''Anime/FutureCardBuddyfight'': [[TheHero Gao Mikado]] favors item cards that resemble either broadswords or [[HeroesFightBarehanded cestuses]]. [[TheLancer Tasuku Ryuenji]] tends to favor rapiers and, after he's come to terms with the trauma that robbed him of his childhood, [[FamilyFriendlyFirearms laser guns]]. [[TheBigGuy Tetsuya Kurodake]] doesn't use items terribly often, but on the rare occasions he does he prefers [[PowerStereotypeFlip spellbooks]]. [[TheSmartGuy Zanya Kisaragi]] prefers to use katanas. [[ButtMonkey Noboru Kodo]] uses lances. [[TokenEvilTeammate Gaito Kurusu]] uses [[SinisterScythe scythes]]. Lastly, [[LovableJock Kanata Ozora]] uses cleats that summon ball-shaped energy projectiles for him to kick at his opponents.

* ''Anime/FutureCardBuddyfight'': [[TheHero Gao Mikado]] favors item cards that resemble either broadswords or [[HeroesFightBarehanded cestuses]]. [[TheLancer Tasuku Ryuenji]] tends to favor rapiers and, after he's come to terms with the trauma that robbed him of his childhood, [[FamilyFriendlyFirearms laser guns]]. [[TheBigGuy Tetsuya Kurodake]] doesn't use items terribly often, but on the rare occasions he does he prefers spell books. [[TheSmartGuy Zanya Kisaragi]] prefers to use katanas. Lastly, [[TheSixthRanger Gaito]] [[TokenEvilTeammate Kurusu]] uses [[SinisterScythe scythes]].

* In the ''VideoGame/{{Mary Skelter|Nightmares}}'' franchise, Alice and Otsuu, both of which are protagonists and primary {{Action Girl}}s for their respective games, wield swords in their basic classes (heck, the [[UpToEleven only]] class in which Alice doesn't use one is [[HeroesFightBarehanded Marshal]]). In ''Mary Skelter 2'' specifically, Hameln, who tries to play up her whole hero shtick as much as possible, has the same class set ''and'' starting class as Alice in order to [[InvokedTrope invoke this trope]].

* In ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', all three members of the PowerTrio are proficient archers, but TheHero Rand al'Thor receives a sword as he leaves home. When this sword is melted in his fight with Ba'alzamon at the end of the second book, he uses a blade [[InsubstantialIngredients made of fire]] until he gets his signature weapon [[AmplifierArtifact ''Callandor'']] from the Stone of Tear. Of the other two, TheTrickster Mat Cauthon subscribes to the KnifeNut, SimpleStaff and BladeOnAStick schools of combat, while TheBlacksmith Perrin Aybara has either AnAxeToGrind or can DropTheHammer.

* In ''VideoGame/LuxarenAllure'', the ChosenOne, Karuna, uses a sword, while her companions use [[AnAxeToGrind axes]] and [[KnifeNut knives.]]

* Twenty-Fifth Bam and the [[EmpathicWeapon Black March]] from ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod''. In contrast, his [[PowerTrio Lancers]] [[BloodKnight Rak]] and [[MagnificentBastard Khun]] wield a mighty spear and a [[KnifeNut plethora of knives]].

*** [[VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight Marth]], [[VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776 Leif]][[note]]Only as the Lord of ''Thracia 776''; after he promotes in ''Genealogy of the Holy War'', he gets access to every non-legendary weapon in the game except Nosferatu, Aura, and dark magic[[/note]], [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade Roy]], [[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones Eirika]], ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Path of Radiance]]'' Ike, and [[VideoGame/FireEmblemHeroes Alfonse]] all exclusively wield swords.

* ''Series/DoctorWho''. Even though the Doctor DoesNotLikeGuns, swords [[TechnicalPacifist seem to be a different matter]]. In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS14E1TheMasqueOfMandragora "The Masque of Mandragora"]], on seeing [[TheWisePrince Duke Guiliano]] beset by the CityGuards the Doctor quite eagerly joins in with a sword that he accepted earlier (without objection) from Guiliano. Afterwards he claims to have been taught by [[ExpositionOfImmortality a captain in Cleopatra's bodyguard.]]. Other occasions include [[Recap/DoctorWhoS9E3TheSeaDevils "The Sea Devils"]], [[Recap/DoctorWhoS16E4TheAndroidsOfTara "The Androids of Tara"]], [[Recap/DoctorWhoS20E6TheKingsDemons "The King's Demons"]] and in New Who [[Recap/DoctorWho2005CSTheChristmasInvasion "The Christmas Invasion"]]. It's possible a sword enables the Doctor to [[OnlyAFleshWound "pull his punches"]] in a way he can't do with a firearm, or maybe the [[{{Flynning}} swashbuckling nature]] of a SwordFight appeals to his LargeHam, but it's likely just this trope.

* ''Series/DoctorWho''. Even though the Doctor DoesNotLikeGuns, swords [[TechnicalPacifist seem to be a different matter]]. In [[Recap/DoctorWhoS14E1TheMasqueOfMandragora "The Masque of Mandragora"]], on seeing [[TheWisePrince Duke Guiliano]] beset by the CityGuard the Doctor quite eagerly joins in with a sword that he accepted earlier (without objection) from Guiliano. Afterwards he claims to have been taught by [[ExpositionOfImmortality a captain in Cleopatra's bodyguard.]]. Other occasions include [[Recap/DoctorWhoS9E3TheSeaDevils "The Sea Devils"]], [[Recap/DoctorWhoS16E4TheAndroidsOfTara "The Androids of Tara"]], [[Recap/DoctorWhoS20E6TheKingsDemons "The King's Demons"]] and in New Who [[Recap/DoctorWho2005CSTheChristmasInvasion "The Christmas Invasion"]]. It's possible a sword enables the Doctor to [[OnlyAFleshWound "pull his punches"]] in a way he can't do with a firearm, or maybe the [[{{Flynning}} swashbuckling nature]] of a SwordFight appeals to his LargeHam, but it's likely just this trope.

** Throughout the series Buffy is given a number of different weapons to use, including stakes, axes, daggers, and a axe-like weapon called a "Scythe" for some unknown reason. In ''Series/{{Angel}}'', they also fluctuate between swords, axes, and other weapons. Angel himself tends to favor swords, presumably because much is made of his role as The Champion who will save the world (or [[ProphecyTwist maybe destroy it]]).

** Jack of ''VideoGame/StrangerOfParadiseFinalFantasyOrigin'' can wield a variety of weapons, but--at least in the demo--he starts out with a greatsword.

* ''Xenoblade'' series:

*** ''Torna ~ The Golden Country'' expansion gives us Addam, who fights with a sword, and Hugo, who has a shortsword and shield combo. Jin from the main game also returns, showing him before his StartOfDarkness.

** Also averted in ''VideoGame/Persona5''. GentlemanThief Joker is a KnifeNut, and various swords are distributed to the other party members; Morgana uses scimitars, Yusuke favors katanas, Akechi wields {{Laser Blade}}s, and Kasumi has rapiers.