History Main / PenUltimateWeapon

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!!Examples:

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* In the ''VideoGame/SoulCalibur'' games, characters who get Soul Edge, supposedly the most awesome sword ever (except to people who know about the Soul Calibur), have a Legendary weapon that trumps Soul Edge.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' has the Relic Weapons, hugely powerful grindsinks of weapons said to contain the powers of gods of your class...that usually show up as third best in any best in slot guide after the current Tombstone and 8-man raid weapons, and sometimes even behind [[AntiFrustrationFeatures Crafted Gear]] [[note]]Gear introduced to make it easier for returning players to gear up for endgame.[[/note]]. Although they occasionally alternate between Ultimate Weapon and Penultimate Weapon, as the patch cycle tends to update the relics on the off patch and unlocks the next set of gear on the main patch. And that's for each expansion cycle. Once the next expansion comes out, expect whatever tremendously laborious and special weapon (that in one case was a ''sentient being'' now collecting dust in your retainer's inventory) to be immediately surpassed by the starter version of the new expansion's "Ultimate Weapon" cycle, for you to repeat the upgrade process all over again. Like, [[FakeLongevity the exact same process]], only with different names attached.

* While not exactly weapons, this trope can apply to certain {{mons}} in the ''VideoGame/{{Pokemon}}'' franchise due to their extremely flattering Dex entries. The legendary Regigigas, for example, was said to have moved entire continents by pulling on them with a (very durable) rope. Rampardos, a prehistoric but otherwise unremarkable 'mon, just so happens to have slightly higher attack power. Even Arceus, the [[OlympusMons Olympus Mon]] that reputedly created the Universe, only has a base stat of 120 for each of its statistics. While this gives it the highest base stat total in the series, this does mean a fair number of legendaries and ComMons are individually faster, stronger, or more durable than the creator god.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' has the Relic Weapons, hugely powerful grindsinks of weapons said to contain the powers of gods of your class...that usually show up as third best in any best in slot guide after the current Tombstone and 8-man raid weapons, and sometimes even behind [[AntiFrustrationFeatures Crafted Gear]] [[note]]Gear introduced to make it easier for returning players to gear up for endgame.[[/note]]. Although they occasionally alternate between Ultimate Weapon and Penultimate Weapon, as the patch cycle tends to update the relics on the off patch and unlocks the next set of gear on the main patch.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' has the Relic Weapons, hugely powerful grindsinks of weapons said to contain the powers of gods of your class...that usually show up as third best in any best in slot guide after the current Tombstone and Binding Coil weapons, and sometimes even behind [[AntiFrustrationFeatures Crafted Gear]] [[note]]Gear introduced to make it easier for returning players to gear up for endgame.[[/note]]. Although they occasionally alternate between Ultimate Weapon and Penultimate Weapon, as the patch cycle tends to update the relics on the off patch and unlocks the next set of gear on the main patch.

* Any ultimate weapon in ''WorldOfWarcraft'' that's from an earlier expansion pack (or, goodness forbid, from the unexpanded game). Thunderfury, for example. When new expansions come out, the very best and hard to get stuff from the previous one is eclipsed by lowly quest rewards before long. More, ''Cataclysm'' made it so that it was finally true what people had been incorrectly (exaggeratedly) claiming about the previous expansions: the lowest new items are immediately a match (almost) for the best old ones.

* This can happen in ''Borderlands'' with Atlas guns. They're supposedly the best you can get, but due to the random weapon generation system, it's easily possible to get much better guns from the ([[InformedFlaw allegedly]]) worse brands like Tediore and Vladof, sometimes even from the exact same loot source.

[[folder:MMORPGs]]

* The Eternal Sword in ''VideoGame/TalesOfPhantasia'' is outclassed by some BonusDungeon weapons. It doesn't stop other [[TalesSeries Tales games]] from using it as a proper Infinity Plus One Sword. ''VideoGame/TalesOfEternia'' reverses this, as it's the Excalibur that serves as the PenultimateWeapon to the Eternal Sword.

* Happens a lot in {{Maplestory}}. Considering the [[AbsurdlyHighLevelCap max level]] being lv 200 and the highest level equipment available overseas in the (original and content-heavier) Korean version being 140, there will always be much room for game designers to add better and stronger equipment in the future.

* ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind]]'': While Chrysamere is hailed as the best long sword in the game and is a true {{BFS}}, it is slightly inferior to the [[SwordOfPlotAdvancement Hammer Of Plot Advancement]] Sunder, which at no point is described as anything but a tool to achieve the final task (it ''is'' a hammer). According to the GuideDangIt, the InfinityPlusOneSword are supposed to be Goldbrand and Eltonbrand, but those are StatisticallySpeaking even worse than Chrysamere. (Though they are the best one-handed weapons, so you can use them with a shield.) The true InfinityPlusOneSword is [[spoiler:a custom enchanted Daedric Battleaxe, using [[AGodAmI Vivec's]] [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu soul]].]]
** Or [[spoiler:Almalexia's, if you have Tribunal.]]

* ''VideoGame/ShadowHearts'': All the games have a penultimate weapon (The first game even had penultimate armor) available in the last two dungeons, usually in chests and some obtained in the trials. These weapons can't be found anywhere else, so once you sell them, they're LostForever. Some of the trials require less damage done to win, so these are worth holding onto. Karin in Covenant actually gets two, one got at the end of Disc One, and the other found in the penultimate dungeon. The real ultimate weapons are usually found in side quests.

* The Dual Blade in the ''Franchise/{{Lufia}}'' series is rarely the game's strongest weapon. [[BonusDungeon The Ancient Cave]] typically provides more powerful weapons, and the Might Sword in ''[[VideoGame/LufiaAndTheFortressOfDoom Fortress of Doom]]'' can be [[RandomlyDrops obtained from Hydras]] long, long before you even know where the Dual Blade is.

* ''{{Arcanum}}'''s "Quench Life" spell, [[GameplayAndStorySegregation described in-game]] as OneHitKill against any living creature. Some creatures just need to be one-hit killed multiple times before grasping the principle of death.

* Out of all the weapons like axes, knives, bats, crowbars, and even guns found throughout ''VideoGame/SilentHillDownpour'', the one you want to hang onto is the ''Fire Hook''. It has the highest range out of all melee weapons, is [[BreakableWeapons unbreakable]], only incapacitates enemies ([[spoiler:not killing enemies is mandatory for the best ending]]), and has the secondary purpose of reaching fire escapes. It even beats out the weapons found in [[BribingYourWayToVictory the green lockers]].

The reality is, just because [[FamedInStory everybody you've ever met]] [[LegendaryWeapon hailed your shiny weapon as the mightiest in all the world]] doesn't always mean that they're ''[[ShroudedInMyth right]]''. Or, perhaps that sword truly is the most powerful sword in existence... when [[CutscenePowerToTheMax cutscenes call for it]]. Sure, it may be able to slice the entire palace in half, but when you're actually playing the game, [[GameplayAndStorySegregation the new one just happens to have 5 more attack points]]. And don't get too attached to that new sword you found - expect to find [[InfinityPlusOneSword a weapon that outclasses]] ''that'' in, or for clearing, the BonusDungeon.

* Any ultimate weapon in ''WorldOfWarcraft'' that's from an earlier expansion pack (or, goodness forbid, from the unexpanded game). Thunderfury, for example.
** Really ''any'' gear from previous content. Within the same expansions, the best gear from one raid tier (with some exceptions) lies between the low and medium grades of the next tier. When new expansions come out, the very best and hard to get stuff from the previous one is eclipsed by lowly quest rewards before long. More, ''Cataclysm'' has made it so that it's finally true what people have been incorrectly (exaggeratedly) claiming about the previous expansions: the lowest new items are immediately a match (almost) for the best old ones. It's probably because getting really good stuff was made much easier in the previous expansion.

* The BMW M3 in ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeedMostWanted'' definitely counts. You can get much better results from a fully tuned Vauxhall Monaro by the time you recover it.
** I see your Vauxhall and raise you the Fiat Punto and Cobalt SS, which are tied for 3rd fastest cars in the game after the Carrera GT and Lotus Elise given full junkman parts. That Cobalt just ''keeps'' accelerating.
** Honestly, one of the coolest parts of the game is the fact that you can take a Golf GTI and make it faster then the police spawning engine at level 5 is sweet
** Only in single player. In multiplayer, its stats are so utterly sad that the game takes mercy on you and detunes the other cars. Unfortunately, it does so by lowering their handling while buffing the handling of the M3... which neatly solves its biggest problem and transfers it to everyone else. If there is so much as 1 M3 in a multiplayer match, you have to roll out your own because any other car will now drive on ice.
** The boss cars in ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeed Pro Street'' are nearly useless. For beating the Grip King, you get an M3. Yay. You're probably driving at least a 911 Turbo if not a Pagani Zonda at that point. The Speed King's GTO is one of the slowest cars in the game, not to mention its complete lack of downforce which prevents you from even going fast at all without randomly flipping over and exploding into pieces. And even discounting the many glitches in drag that allow you to build a 3.5 second Toyota Supra, the Mustang you get from the Drag King is probably worse than ''any'' other RWD car you can buy except the Aston Martin. And the ultimate end boss car is a Lancer Evo. The only sensible boss car is the Drift King's RX-7.

** The boss cars in ''VideoGame/NeedForSpeed Pro Street'' are nearly useless. For beating the Grip King, you get an M3. Yay. You're probably driving at least a 911 Turbo if not a Pagani Zonda at that point. The Speed King's GTO is one of the slowest cars in the game, not to mention its complete lack of downforce which prevents you from even going fast at all without randomly flipping over and exploding into pieces. And even discounting the many glitches in drag that allow you to build a 3.5 second Toyota Supra, the Mustang you get from the Drag King is probably worse than ''any'' other RWD car you can buy except the Aston Martin. And the ultimate end boss car is a Lancer Evo. The only sensible boss car is the Drift King's RX7.

* In ''TacticsOgre'', the PenultimateWeapon is the Brynhildr, which drives much of the plot and plays a vital role in the final dungeon. However, it's outclassed by multiple weapons in the PSP remake.

* In the ''SoulCalibur'' games, characters who get Soul Edge, supposedly the most awesome sword ever (except to people who know about the Soul Calibur), have a Legendary weapon that trumps Soul Edge.

* ShadowHearts: All the games have a penultimate weapon (The first game even had penultimate armor) available in the last two dungeons, usually in chests and some obtained in the trials. These weapons can't be found anywhere else, so once you sell them, they're LostForever. Some of the trials require less damage done to win, so these are worth holding onto. Karin in Covenant actually gets two, one got at the end of Disc One, and the other found in the penultimate dungeon. The real ultimate weapons are usually found in side quests.

* Out of all the weapons like axes, knives, bats, crowbars, and even gunsfound throughout ''VideoGame/SilentHillDownpour'', the one you want to hang onto is the ''Fire Hook''. It has the highest range out of all melee weapons, is [[BreakableWeapons unbreakable]], only incapacitates enemies ([[spoiler:not killing enemies is mandatory for the best ending]]), and has the secondary purpose of reaching fire escapes. It even beats out the weapons found in [[BribingYourWayToVictory the green lockers]].

* The Silver Sword of the Gith is unquestionably the most powerful weapon in NeverwinterNights2, but this doesn't make it good -- it's untyped, has stat bonuses for every stat (but middle-level at that), and offers a variety of narrow benefits. Monks especially find it frustrating -- while it gives a bonus to unarmed combat, it has to be equipped for this, so the monk is now armed. On top of that by the time it reappears in the Mask of the Betrayer expansion the system is set up to let you make a weapon that's probably better out of random junk.

* The BMW M3 in ''NeedForSpeed Most Wanted'' definitely counts. You can get much better results from a fully tuned Vauxhall Monaro by the time you recover it.

** The boss cars in ''NeedForSpeed Pro Street'' are nearly useless. For beating the Grip King, you get an M3. Yay. You're probably driving at least a 911 Turbo if not a Pagani Zonda at that point. The Speed King's GTO is one of the slowest cars in the game, not to mention its complete lack of downforce which prevents you from even going fast at all without randomly flipping over and exploding into pieces. And even discounting the many glitches in drag that allow you to build a 3.5 second Toyota Supra, the Mustang you get from the Drag King is probably worse than ''any'' other RWD car you can buy except the Aston Martin. And the ultimate end boss car is a Lancer Evo. The only sensible boss car is the Drift King's RX7.

** It also happens in a linked ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames'', ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'', and ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess''.
** Also in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' the Master Sword is overpassed in range and damage produced by the Biggoron Sword. Its obtained in an optional quest and only has the disadvantage of needing to be wielded with the two hands making it impossible to use the shield. Still, the weapon used to finish the BigBad is the Master Sword. The Biggoron Sword will work for most of the fight, but only the Master Sword can strike the finishing blow.

** This varies, however, depending on the particular stats and effects of each characters particular Soul Edge and Legendary Weapon.

* Strangely, the ''VideoGame/KingdomOfLoathing'' has ''three''. At about level five, you get to smith your class's "Epic Weapon", which has a high power, gives a large stat boost and (for some classes) doubles the duration of buffs that they cast. Soon after that, you get to turn it into the "Legendary Epic Weapon", which has even ''more'' power, a larger stat boost and triples buff duration. During the final part of the Nemesis Quest, the LEW upgrades to the Ultimate Legendary Epic Weapon when fighting your nemesis's OneWingedAngel form. The [=ULEW=] all have the highest possible weapon power (coupled with a lower-than-normal requirement to equip), large stat boosts, all the benefits of the older forms and give access to a special combat move when equipped - and for buffing classes, the buff duration is quadrupled.

** Really ''any'' gear from previous content. Within the same expansions the best gear from one raid tier (with some exceptions) lies between the low and medium grades of the next tier. When new expansions come out, the very best and hard to get stuff from previous one is eclipsed by lowly quest rewards before long. More, ''Cataclysm'' has made it so that it's finally true what people have been incorrectly (exaggeratedly) claiming about the previous expansions: the lowest new items are immediately a match (almost) for the best old ones. It's probably because getting really good stuff was made much easier in the previous expansion.
* Happens a lot in {{Maplestory}}. Considering the [[AbsurdlyHighLevelCap max level]] being lv 200 and the highest level equipment available overseas in the (original and content-heavier) Korean version being 140, there will always be much room for game designers to add better, and stronger equipment in the future.
** Not only do new equipment could come out, new, more dependable methods of improving existing equipment have come out often over time. Any weapon considered good before new items used to enhance equipment come out, would be less good because it becomes easier (though usually either more risky or costly) to make something better then before.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' has the Relic Weapons, hugely powerful grindsinks of weapons said to contain the powers of gods of your class...that usually show up as third best in any best in slot guide after the current Tombstone and Binding Coil weapons, and sometimes even beind [[AntiFrustrationFeatures Crafted Gear]] [[note]]Gear introduced to make it easier for returning players to gear up for endgame.[[/note]]. Although the occasionally alternate between Ultimate Weapon and Penultimate Weapon as the patch cycle tends to update the relics on the off patch and unlocks the next set of gear on the main patch.