History Main / SwordFight

** Ra's al Ghul gets into a swordfight with his grandson Ibn al Xu'ffasch in ''[[Comicbook/TheKingdomDC The Kingdom: Son Of The Bat'', and loses to him.

* In ''PushingDaisies'', Ned fought the man who murdered the twin of the man he killed in a sword fight. Ned's sword-fighting skills are [[ImplausibleFencingPowers pretty implausible]], even given his explanation (see quote at the top of the page).
* Happens at least once in ''PrettyGuardianSailorMoon'', where Endymion and the Shitennou all have swords as weapons.
** ''Everyone'' has a sword in PrettyGuardianSailorMoon. Well, except Jupiter who gets a poleaxe instead.
* In ''{{Dollhouse}}'' Adele and Victor have a sword fight. Then have sex.

* Averted in ''WhoFramedRogerRabbit''. Judge Doom has a SwordCane. Eddie Valiant opens an AcmeProducts box marked "Singing Sword" and draws out the sword...which [[RuleOfFunny starts singing like Frank Sinatra]]. Eddie quickly picks another box.

* In ''Film/TheMatrix Reloaded'', Neo has a swordfight with several of the Merovingian's Mooks, after they try shooting him with a wide variety of guns. However, because he is The One, GunsAreWorthless against him.
* ''RobRoy'' features a magnificent duel at its climax that does a terrific job of telling a story and showing character through the fight choreography. Rob Roy is a [[MightyGlacier plodding]], grim, and determined hero fighting a slender, flashy, sadistic [[FragileSpeedster fencer]] who toys with him like a cat.

* In ''DonJuanDemarco'', the title character's related backstory includes a major sword fight, which was responsible for [[spoiler: the death of his father.]]

* ''HellboyIITheGoldenArmy'' features a sword fight between Prince Nuadda and Hellboy (who else?).

* Speaking of ''Film/{{Highlander}}'', sword fighting seems to be the default choice of combat between Immortals in the series proper, what with [[DecapitationRequired Immortals only being vulnerable to decapitation]].

* ''KingdomOfHeaven'' is a rare case where some effort is made to present the use of Medieval European swords at least somewhat correctly. Although not perfect, the guards Balian is taught to use are similar to many real guards in the historical Italian school of longsword fencing, and the use of half-swording and pommel strikes are worked in as well.

* The most famous sword fight in all comics history is probably [[http://atomicwanderers.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/batman-244-scorpion.jpg this climactic one]] that concludes the Ra's al-Ghul arc of ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'', fought between a [[WalkingShirtlessScene shirtless]] Batman and Ra's al-Ghul (Batman still has his cowl on). The fight drags on for the better part of the day, and [[DiabolusExMachina only ends when a scorpion stings Batman]]. Talia lingers behind to give Batman the antidote, and that and HeroicWillpower drag him back to Ra's's tent, [[http://atomicwanderers.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/rasalghul_bythegods.jpg causing the latter to proclaim]]:
--> '''Ra's al-Ghul''': ''By the '''gods'''! You pursue me past your '''dying...'''! Are you '''man'''...or '''fiend from '''hell'''?''

* ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl'' has the classic duel in the blacksmith's shop between Will and Jack -- a duel in which each of the two clearly has learned a different sword style (rapier and saber, I believe) and fights faithfully to it. In between using the shop's environment to gain an edge, and one combatant [[ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks throwing his sword, of course]].

* NeutralFemale

Unfortunately, even when use of swords is justified, it is usually [[{{Flynning}} done unrealistically]]. As a result of choreography safety guidelines (that minimize hazard to actors) as well as a dismissive attitude toward earlier weapons (going back to late 19th century fencers), these factors led to [[TheCoconutEffect a wide acceptance]] of the unrealistic image of swordplay. The weight and ''lack of handiness'' of these ''heavy'' swords was grossly exaggerated and swordplay depicted as a slow and ponderous affair where raw strength is the deciding factor.

* Played, to a point, in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto: San Andreas''. One mission gives you the choice of going sword to sword against a crimelord. Your other options involve whatever other guns you picked up on the way to him.
** There is also a similar mission in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto: Liberty City Stories'' mission, titled Waka-Gashira Wipeout, that ends with you facing off against a Yakuza boss sword-to-sword. If you opt to go with guns instead, he'll order his men to respond in kind.

* In ''Film/TheMatrix Reloaded'', Neo has a swordfight with several of the Merovengian's Mooks, after they try shooting him with a wide variety of guns. However, because he is The One, GunsAreWorthless against him.

* In ''SamuraiSentaiShinkenger'', Takeru vs Juzo, Mako vs Dayuu... it's a show about samurai...

* In ''KamenRiderDragonKnight'', sword fights happen a lot; even when some of them don't even have swords they fight the ones that do.

* Sword fights happen often in ''PowerRangers''/''SuperSentai''.

[[/folder]]

* In R L Stine's ''[[TheHauntingHourTheSeries The Haunting Hour]]'' four kids get sucked into a video game and when they get to the final boss he breaks out his twin dao and fights the other four and all the have are baseball bats, chains, and other around the house stuff.

* In the 2012 film of the musical LesMiserables, Javert and Valjean have a sword fight in the Confrontation scene because...why not? Well, Javert has a sword. Valjean makes do with a slab of wood.

* In ''The Mind Robber'' there is a swordfight in the Land of Fiction between Cyrano De Begerac and D'Artagnan, who have been summoned by the Master and the Doctor. Finally Blackbeard is substituted for Cyrano and defeats D'Artagnan, causing the Doctor to replace D'Artagnan with Sir Lancelot, who defeats Blackbeard.

* In The Mind Robber there is a swordfight in the Land of Fiction between Cyrano De Begerac and D'Artagnan.

* Happen several times in ''Film/{{Willow}}'' with Mad Martigan against the evil soldiers, especially against the skull-masked General

Bonus points when it's a modern setting, and using a blade is AwesomeButImpractical because you NeverBringAKnifeToAgunFight and the hero is far less likely to possess the training needed to use a sword. Exactly why this is the case varies. In some settings, swords offer advantages [[GunsAreWorthless that guns do not]]. Perhaps the predominant point-defensive system is effective against ranged weaponry and not against blades, à la ''Literature/{{Dune}}''. Sometimes the enemy and duelists are [[ImmuneToBullets invulnerable to ranged weapons]], such as through using the Force or ImplausibleFencingPowers to deflect bullets, which means that they must battle in close-range with formalized sword martial arts that counteract this invulnerability. Perhaps it is a [[DuelToTheDeath formalized duel]] where modern weapons are forbidden. Or perhaps the [[KatanasAreJustBetter people using swords or edged weapons]] are just ''that'' [[RuleOfCool cool]], à la [[Franchise/StarWars the Jedi]]. Sometimes, of course, it is left unexplained.

* Happen several times in ''Film/{{Willow}}'' with Mad Martigan against the evil soldiers, especially against the skull-masked General Kael.
* ''Film/{{Ricochet}}'' manages to have a nazi swordfight in prison. What else would you expect from the director of ''Film/{{Highlander}}''?
* Speaking of ''Film/{{Highlander}}'', sword fighting seems to be the default choice of combat between Immortals in the series proper, what with [[DecapitationRequired Immortals only being vulnerable to decapitation]].
* On ''Film/{{Popeye}}'' the movie, in the Final fight scene Popeye fights Bluto, both wielding rusty cutlasses, Poppeye's breaks and then it turns back into a good old fashion fisfight.
* Happens in ''Film/{{Hook}}'', firstly Rufio vs Hook who loses and dies, secondly the final battle between Hook and Peter Pan.
** Weird the second movie Robin Williams is in that has a sword fight.
* Speaking of PeterPan, hook constantly locks blades with Peter Pan. The weird part? Hook wields a saber but Peter wields a dagger.
* ''WaxworkIILostInTime'' climaxes with a sword fight that takes its combatants through several alternative dimensions.
* ''NightoftheMuseumBattleoftheSmitsonian'' ends with Larry taking on Kahmunrah, using a flashlight! It's just cause he's badass like that.
* As mentioned bellow, FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren has many sword fights, including but not limited to the following, Cloud vs:
** Briefly he has a BladeLock with Reno.
** Yazoo (several times)
** Kadaj, a prelude to the next one.
** Sephiroth, the final battle of the movie, extremely epic.
* ''Film/ByTheSword'' is set in a fencing school, so it could easily be called, SwordFight:TheMovie.
* ''KingdomOfHeaven'' is a rare case where some effort is made to present the use of Medieval European swords at least somewhat correctly. Although not perfect, the guards Balian is taught to use are similar to many real guards in the historical Italian school of longsword fencing, and the use of half-swording and pommel strikes are worked in as well.
* In the 2012 film of the musical LesMiserables, Javert and Valjean have a sword fight in the Confrontation scene because...why not? Well, Javert has a sword. Valjean makes do with a slab of wood.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/{{Dune}}'': Personal shields stop any object traveling above a certain speed so projectile weapons are obsolete, and lasers trigger a fusion reaction when they hit a shield. So most fighting is done with sword and dagger.
** The sword was also largely just a diversionary tool, as most shields are set at a rate where the cutting speed of a sword would be repelled. So the point of swordfighting was actually to trick the opponent onto falling onto your knife, or making a misstep long enough for you to make a slow cut with your knife.
** Though the Fremen of Arrakis actually use dart guns because shields attract [[SandWorm Sandworms]].
* ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'': Rand and High Lord Turak have a Sword Fight near the end of ''The Great Hunt''.
** Rand often practices sword fights before he [[spoiler:loses his hand]]. Other people wonder at this, since he's practically a walking god.
* Christopher Paolini's ''Literature/InheritanceCycle'' has Eragon and a mysterious Rider working for Galbatorix fighting at the end of ''Eldest''. [[spoiler:It's actually Murtagh.]]
* ''Literature/TheLiesOfLockeLamora'' is a tale of a roguish character, which is made up almost entirely of cons and mind games. Naturally, then, it culminates in a duel of rapiers between the hero and his foe, although to the book's credit Locke does rather cock it up almost entirely.
* ''ASongOfIceAndFire'' has a couple of pretty intense fights.
* Michael Carpenter and Nicodemus Archleone mix it up with some intense swordplay at the end of ''[[TheDresdenFiles Death Masks'']].
** It's worth noting that while Nicodemus and the [[DealWithTheDevil Knights of the Blackened Denarius]] are very much pragmatic and willing to [[NeverBringAKnifeToAGunFight bring assault weaponry to swordfights]], Nicodemus takes a point of pride in finishing off the [[KnightInShiningArmor Knights Of The Cross]] in sword fights. Justified in that the Knights of the Cross are [[HonorBeforeReason very willing to fight with swords]] (although it helps their swords are holy), and Nicodemus [[ReallySevenHundredYearsOld has had two thousand years to practice]].
* ''TheMalazanBookOfTheFallen'' has several notable ones, such as Whiskeyjack fighting [[spoiler: Kallor]] or Rhulad Sengar and [[spoiler: Brys Beddict]]. Not to mention Anomander Rake, or Gruntle, or Adjunct Tavore Paran... you get the idea.
* Happens a ''lot'' in PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians. It's the thing [[TheHero Percy]] is best at at Camp Half-Blood, and the only one better than him is Luke. [[spoiler: Really, this should make it obvious that Luke's TheHeavy.]]
* ''RangersApprentice'' has sword fights everywhere, from Horace using a stick and his sword against a pair of thieves to Horace against Morgarath.
* In ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' book 1 when Visser 3 meets Elfangor the have a tail-blade fight Elfangor loses and is then unfortunately Eaten Alive.
* ''TheBelgariad'', where the Sword Fight between the Child of Light and the Child of Dark will decide the fate of the world.
* Not often encounter in the ''Discworld'' novels due to the tendency of so many opponents to brawl, but one does turn up in ''Discworld/MonstrousRegiment'', although as per the usual style it's ended when one of the characters [[UseYorHead head-butts]] her more experienced (with a sword) opponent.
* ''The ForeverWar'' uses this at one point - swords IN SPACE!!

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* Virtually every episode of ''Series/{{Highlander}}'' featured a sword fight between two Immortals, usually to the death. This made some sense in the series, because decapitation was the only way to kill an Immortal and gain his power. The use of firearms to incapacitate them was also seen as dishonorable, so only the most unscrupulous Immortals used them.
* In the ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' second-season finale, Buffy has a fencing duel with Angelus for no apparent reason other than that [[RuleOfCool it's cool.]] (Well, OK, she had to stab him with the sword for mystical reasons related to knights, purity, and the closing of the way to hell).
** There was a perfectly good reason. They were going to fight. They both had swords in their hands. What else are they going to do?
** Series/{{Angel}} occasionally got into swordfights.
* The various alien races in ''Franchise/StarTrek'' were far too eager to engage in this type of combat. Naturally, Starfleet actively shunned it, because swords lack a stun setting. But this didn't stop a preposterous amount of crew members from engaging in Ancient Ritual Combat to avoid offending said aliens' culture.
* In the ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' episode "Shindig", Mal engages in a "duel of honor" with Atherton Wing. He tries for either fist fighting or a gun duel first. Mal, despite generally being proficient in more modern methods of fighting, has ''no'' clue how to fight with a sword. (Gentleman: "If you require it, any gentleman here can give you use of his sword." Mal: "Use of his s-what?") He has to learn from ''[[HookerWithAHeartOfGold Inara]]'' (who is, as part of her back story, classically trained in pretty much everything).
** Played with in [[TheMovie the Big Damn Movie]], where Mal has to fight the Operative hand-to-hand after losing his gun. When the Operative draws his sword, Mal's counter is with a ''screwdriver''.
* Subverted in an episode of ''Series/StargateSG1'' when the team is on an Arthurian grail quest. Lt.Col Mitchell touches Excalibur in an attempt to get at the Main/McGuffin, and is challenged to a sword fight with a holographic knight to prove his worth. While he is a seasoned and deadly warrior, he is a ''20th century'' warrior, and is completely worthless with a sword. As he's taking a whupping, his team discovers that their other weapons go right through the knight and he tries to give the sword to Teal'c (a Main/ProudWarriorRaceGuy that's excellent at this sort of thing), but discovers that only he can touch it. They end up shutting off the trial another way.
** Actually, the first time Mitchell duels the knight, he is actually able to beat it in a straight sword fight. It isn't until the season finale, when he duels a far more powerful one, that they have to take it down via alternate means.
** Mitchell mentions that he took fencing in college, which explains why he's even remotly competent with a sword. In the season finale, prior to the sword fight, he encounters two kids who are mock-swordfighting, and gives them a few pointers.
** ''Series/StargateAtlantis'': Ronon has a rather big sword and he's rather good at it (mainly due to him being even more muscular than a Jaffa, he handles it like a really big kife). In fact, Satedans appear to be naturals at sword fighting despite being skilled at guns and [[RuleOfCool gunplay]] too.
* The [[Series/DoctorWho Doctor]] has always been pretty good with a sword. His skills have been called on in
** "The Christmas Invasion", against the Sycorax leader.
** "The King's Demons", against Sir Giles Estram. The Doctor defeats Estram who then threatens him with a Tissue Compression Eliminator. [[spoiler: He is actually the Master]]
** And then his duel with [[spoiler:Count Grendel, best swordsman on the planet,]] in ''The Androids of Tara''.
*** A lovely parting shot from that gentleman, as he leaps from a high tower into the moat to escape: "Next time, Doctor, I shall not be so lenient!". Apparently Tara is the universe's primary source of both SoftWater and [[MagnificentBastard Magnificent Bastards]].
** Also in ''The Sea Devils'', where he dueled the Master (because it's apparently standard practice to hang swords on the wall outside the cell of the most dangerous and evil man on the planet).
** And then there's the massive sword fight between Rory, Vastra, and Jenny against the Headless Monks.
* In ''PushingDaisies'', Ned fought the man who murdered the twin of the man he killed in a sword fight. Ned's sword-fighting skills are [[ImplausibleFencingPowers pretty implausible]], even given his explanation (see quote at the top of the page).
* Happens at least once in ''PrettyGuardianSailorMoon'', where Endymion and the Shitennou all have swords as weapons.
** ''Everyone'' has a sword in PrettyGuardianSailorMoon. Well, except Jupiter who gets a poleaxe instead.
* In ''{{Dollhouse}}'' Adele and Victor have a sword fight. Then have sex.
** Whatever happened to dinner and a movie?
* In ''SamuraiSentaiShinkenger'', Takeru vs Juzo, Mako vs Dayuu... it's a show about samurai...
* In the ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' episode "Icarus", [[GeneralRipper Slade Wilson]] finds his gun to be ineffective against the mace-wielding Hawkman. What does he do? Draw out a [[KatanasAreJustBetter katana]] and close with the hero. {{Badass}} ensues.
* In ''KamenRiderDragonKnight'', sword fights happen a lot; even when some of them don't even have swords they fight the ones that do.
** Dragon Knight (both Kit and Adam) have fought Wing Knight: Kit's fight is a training fight; Adam's is for real.
** Xaviax poses as Eubulon and uses his Sword Vent against Adam, who uses his own Sword Vent agaianst Xaviax. Xaviax wins via his Speed Vent.
** Strike and Dragon Knight cross blades a couple of times too.
** Wing Knight and Strike have fought each other as well: sometimes Wing Knight is temed up with Dragon Knight.
** Wing Knight and Wrath have crossed swords many times in the series.
** Back when Sting worked for Xaviax, he tried to eliminate Wing Knight and Wing Knight wound up fighting Sting with his own sword. Sting used his Copy Vent and fought Wing Knight with another Wing Lancer.
* In R L Stine's ''[[TheHauntingHourTheSeries The Haunting Hour]]'' four kids get sucked into a video game and when they get to the final boss he breaks out his twin dao and fights the other four and all the have are baseball bats, chains, and other around the house stuff.
* Happens a lot in Series/{{Charmed}}
* Sword fights happen often in ''PowerRangers''/''SuperSentai''.
* In the recent ''Series/ICarly'' episode iStill Psycho Freddie's mom has a sword fight with Nora and her mom who wield fireplace equipment.
* Hiro vs Adam in ''Series/{{Heroes}}''.
* ''((Bibleman))'' has a lot of these.
* The ''{{Frasier}}'' episode "An Affair To Forget" has one between Niles and the German fencing instructor who Maris was having an affair with. It is arguably one of the show's [[CrowningMomentOfFunny Crowning Moments Of Funny.]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'''s chainweapons and powerswords. 'Nough said.
** Nope, [[EvilWeapon Daemon]] [[SoulCuttingBlade Swords]]. Now 'nough said.
* {{Traveller}} dueling is still a custom in the Traveller universe.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theatre]]
* ''{{Hamlet}}''. "A hit, a very palpable hit!"
* ''RomeoAndJuliet'' has several between members of the feuding families.
** Even though he's TheWoobie of the play, [[CrouchingMoronHiddenBadass Romeo walks away from every fight]].
* In ''[[HenryIV Henry IV, Part I]]'', the fight between Prince Hal and Hotspur usually takes the form of a sword fight; however, in many productions it ends up suffering a CombatBreakdown, usually serving to highlight (intentionally or not) the massive amounts of FoeYay going on between the two characters.
* A sword fight is a stock element of the {{Mummers}} play, common to most (if not all) versions.
* CyranoDeBergerac: At Act I Scene IV, Cyrano and Viscount de Valvert engage in one and Cyrano wins, at Act V Scene VI, Cyrano raves another SwordFight with all his enemies (Falsehood, Treachery, Compromise, Prejudice, Folly and Death itself), a combat that Cyrano know he already has lost.
* Theatre/{{Macbeth}} vs. [=MacDuff=].
* ''Theatre/TwelfthNight'' has quite a lead-up to a swordfight set up by Sir Toby because [[ItAmusedMe he thought it would be funny]]--the coward Andrew Aguecheek against the SweetPollyOliver, "Cesario", both terrified because each has been separately convinced that their opponent is pure evil. After [[HalfIdenticalTwins Sebastian]] shows up and gets mistaken for Cesario, he thinks he's being attacked for no reason, and a fray results, ending with Sir Toby (who's jumped in to help his friend) bleeding at the head.
* ''[[http://angevin2.livejournal.com/148520.html The Things I Will Not Do When I Direct A Shakespeare Production, On Stage Or Film]]'', #187: "If the play I am producing does not have a swordfight, I will resist the urge to add one." [[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'''s introductory cinematics, fighters are shown jockeying for air supremacy... [[RuleOfCool while hordes of knights in armour and swords go at each other on the ground]].
* Every game in the ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' series ends in a similar fashion, and one plays it straight. [[spoiler: [=MGS1=] features a two examples, one with Snake's old friend, Gray Fox, where weapons are actually useless against him because KatanasAreJustBetter, and a second against Snake's Brother, Liquid atop the Metal Gear. The second plays it straight with a katana battle on top of Federal Hall. The third subverts this with a duel that allows guns. The finale of the series ends with a recreation of all the games fighting styles atop of a submarine.]]
* The ''StarWars: KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' video game series, in addition to lightsabers and Main/EnergyWeapons, have ''metal swords''. It is [[Main/{{Handwave}} handwaved]] by a shopkeeper, who explains that with personal energy shields becoming commonplace, melee weapons that can penetrate them are also becoming increasingly common, akin to ''{{Dune}}''. Why they didn't just use bullets is not explained. (This is [[Main/{{Handwave}} handwaved]] even ''more'' when lightsabers are involved; the blades are supposedly made with [[Main/AppliedPhlebotinum cortosis ore]], a metal capable of blocking even lightsabers.)
** You do use bullets, sometimes. Ranged weapons that bypass shields are variously explained as being "disruptor" weapons or as being actual projectile weapons (the best of which is the Mandalorian Ripper). Of course, said weapons tend to do [[OnlyAFleshWound crappy damage]] relative to melee weapons anyway.
** KOTOR 2 tried to fix that problem by increasing the damage that ranged weapons do. It helped, but they were still no match for a lightsaber.
* Played straight ''and'' subverted in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII''. The final, final battle is Cloud and Sephiroth, one on one with swords. However, earlier in the game, Barrett fights his old friend Dyne ... and both wield their [[Main/ArmCannon Arm Cannons]].
** Scenes from Crisis Core and Advent Children offer a potential justification for the fact that [=SOLDIERs=] wield large swords: They have a small ability to block bullets with the large weapon, especially from their vitals.
** May also be justified by the better [=SOLDIERs=] having SuperReflexes which makes [[GunsAreWorthless Guns relatively useless against them]]. Zack -- recognized in canon as pretty much the top [=SOLDIER=] around except for Sephiroth -- appears to be capable of pulling off some serious [[DodgeTheBullet bullet-dodging]] (as seen in ''Last Order'') as well as the [[CutscenePowerToTheMax bullet-blocking shown in the intro cutscene]] of ''CrisisCore''.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' starts with Squall and Seifer dueling each other with their gunblades.
* Played, to a point, in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto: San Andreas''. One mission gives you the choice of going sword to sword against a crimelord. Your other options involve whatever other guns you picked up on the way to him.
** There is also a similar mission in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto: Liberty City Stories'' mission, titled Waka-Gashira Wipeout, that ends with you facing off against a Yakuza boss sword-to-sword. If you opt to go with guns instead, he'll order his men to respond in kind.
* Played straight in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess''. Both Zant and [[spoiler: Ganondorf]] go through various stages until finally duking it out with Link in a straight one-on-one swordfight.
** Actually, most games in the series since [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The Wind Waker]] have had a some sort of SwordFight as the FinalBattle.
** Not to mention various minibosses in the series that use swords. These enemies, if appearing in pairs, usually even have the decency to fight you one at a time.
** While Link's been using a sword in every game, SkywardSword puts special focus on his actual skill with the blade beyond "use an item to make him vulnerable, then swing away," because of the improved Wii Motio nPlus controls. Several bosses and Elite Mooks exist mainly to showcase this aspect of the game. It helps that nearly every aiming-based item available to you is less than automatic in Z-targeting mode(it still locks on to enemies, but still uses manual aiming, similar to Metroid Prime.).
*** ''VideoGame/ZeldaIITheAdventureOfLink'' also plays out in a similar manner where Link's abilities come from his swordplay rather than items and various enemies fight Link with swords of their own. The FinalBoss is Link's shadow and the two of them duke it out in a sword duel.
* Played straight in RedSteel. Every level had you fighting a [[Main/MiniBoss boss-type character]] one on one with a sword. This in spite of the fact you just blew away hordes of [[Main/{{Mooks}} cannon fodder]] with all sorts of weaponry. Not to mention the advantage of [[Main/BulletTime slowing time to be able to shoot the guns from their hands]]. Nope, had to be a sword duel. And even then, you had [[Main/DualWielding two swords]] to use.
** In RedSteel2 sword fights happen just as often, especially against Shinjiro, whom you face twice, once earlier in the game and he's also the last opponent.
* In ''ProfessorLaytonAndTheDiabolicalBox'', when Layton battles Anton in his manor. But, just so you know, that was the only weapon available, and only 2 swords out of the many in the room (including Anton's) it occurs in are real.
* A number of the Ranking Fights in NoMoreHeroes and its sequel are of the good ol' fashioned "One-on-one sword fight" variety, albeit with laser swords and Mexican Luchador wrestling thrown in. Off the top of the head, the battles with Death Metal, Shinobu, Harvey Moiseiwitsch Volodarskii, Dark Star, and [[spoiler: Henry]] in the first game are all sword duels. The sequel gives us Skelter Helter, Kimmy, Ryuji, and technically Alice Moonlight, if you count "Swords being held by armored frame" as the proper type.
* In ''TheWitcher'', less common but more climactic encounters are sword duals. All of Geralt's techniques are SliceAndDice, and his Group and Fast styles employ the maximum {{Flynning}}.
* In ''VideoGame/MarioAndSonicAtTheOlympicGames'' you can have a fencing match with all sorts of Mario and Sonic characters and even your Miis!
* You can have a sword fight In ''Wii Sports Resort'' in the swordplay part, not only can you fight just one person but in a different mode you can fight a whole horde of Miis.
* You're pretty much forced to do this in ''[[LegoAdaptationGame LEGO Indiana Jones 2]]'' with the guys with black swords.
** Similar to in the movie, in ''LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean'' whenever you face any character with a sword you have a sword fight with them.
* In VideoGame/SuperSmashBros. Brawl Marth fights Meta Knight briefly but they both learn the other is the good guy and team up.
** Speaking of Meta Knight, in his [[VideoGame/{{Kirby}} native series]], he always offers Kirby a sword of his own before fighting him. Most often, he will [[WorthyOpponent refuse to battle until he takes it]].
* ''KingdomHearts'' has several instances of this like whenever Sora fights someone else using a different Keyblade and then there's the bandits that carry ''SinisterScimitars''.
** Also when Sora fights Cloud or Sephiroth.
** And inevitably that's what happens whenever Cloud and Sephiroth meet.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* In ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'', despite being friends with Riff, and therefore having access to most forms of weaponry known to man, Torg tends to prefer using his [[EmpathicWeapon talking sword]] Chaz in battle. This is usually justified, however, since Chaz can kill just about anything in a single strike, even near-omnipotent immortals. Plus, most of the times Torg's used Chaz have been when he's stuck in [[FantasyGunControl another world]] or time where there aren't any firearms around.
** On the one occasion when Torg ''does'' [[http://www.sluggy.com/daily.php?date=020702 bring a sword to a gunfight]], he says, "A sword is an elegant weapon. [[StarWars Not as clumsy or random as a blaster.]]" After almost getting killed by the first hail of gunfire, he runs back to the weapons cache shouting, "Clumsy and random's got my name all over it!"
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]
* WhateleyUniverse: Bladedancer vs. Swordmaiden. Bladedancer vs. Nightbane. Bladedancer vs. Tennyo. Wait, seeing a trend here...
* ''TheQuestportChronicles'': [[AmnesiacHero Mei]] takes on the EldritchAbomination BigBad to buy her companions some time to start the spell that will imprison the monster. [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome She actually manages to hold her own.]]
* There are so many in MallFight, it is impossible to count. Eric and Diablo both had a sword fight that nearly made the Mall itself self destruct.
* There are a lot of LEGO sword fights on Website/YouTube, this one has to be one of the best [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-XWzqZ15LSw]]
* This is a recurring theme in ShadowhunterPeril. It was originally subverted by [[GunsAkimbo the Architect]], but then ultimately played straight when it was revealed that he [[HiddenWeapons keeps a collapsible sword inside his sleeve.]]
** [[ManicPixieDreamGirl Veronica]] and [[TheStoic Osiris]] take it UpToEleven: Veronica has a BagOfHolding that holds multiples of nearly every kind of sword. She'll often grab a bunch and distribute them among her allies. Osiris has seven magical swords, and an [[ImprobableWeapon improbable sword.]]
** Many superpowered beings such as Oblivion and Umbra will create a sword out of thin air to fight with, just because they can.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* There were two sword fights in ''WesternAnimation/{{Metalocalypse}}''.
** One was a (presumably) staged one for a music video between Skwisgaar and Toki.
** The second was a fencing match between Charles Ofdensen (Dethklok's manager, and a college fencing champion) and Melmord Fjordslorm, who had been told by Ofdensen that the only way Melmord would get his job was to kill him. [[spoiler: Ofdensen ended up kicking Melmord off the roof of Mordhaus.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' had Zuko vs Jet, where both of them were DualWielding. Zuko won.
** Also the entirety of the episode "Sokka's Master."
** In "Nightmares and Daydreams" Aang has a daydream about Appa and Momo as samurai fighting each other.
** One of the earliest sword fights happened between the Jangs and the Gan-Jins in "The Great Divide".
* ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGalaxyRangers'': "Heart of Tarkon," "Tower of Combat," and "Heartbeat"
* Crops up from time to time in ''Anime/TransformersCybertron''. The FinalBattle between Optimus Prime and Galvatron turns into one.
* In ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'', Jack has fought beetles with sword-shaped legs, 6-armed robots with scimitars, a robot/ninja/assassin with a blade that could cut through solid metal, a Scottish man with a machinegun for a leg and a magic claymore, his own evil side, a giant mecha, and more.
* In ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'', Perry has a wrench fight with Doofenshmirtz.
** In a later episode they have a sword fight with a hot dog and a bratwurst that make sounds similar to lightsabers clashing.
** In the episode "No More Bunnies", Perry and Dennis the evil bunny fight with barbeque equipment.
* ''[[WesternAnimation/{{Thundercats 2011}} ThunderCats (2011)]]'':
** In "Omens Part One" King Claudus has a sword fight with Lion-O to show off the Sword of Omens' power.
** In "Legacy", Leo has a sword fight against his commander, both using their respective {{Cool Sword}}s.
** In "The Duelist and the Drifter" there are multiple fights against MasterSwordsman The Duelist.
** In "Between Brothers" Lion-O and Tygra have a sword fight both using the Sword of Omens, one the real version, one created in the astral plane. In the end Tygra said he would never betray Lion-O and both put their swords away.
** History repeats itself in What Lies above part 2 when Lion-O takes on Mumm-Ra (technically) again.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Sym-Bionic Titan}}'' episode ''Escape from Galaluna'', Lance has a sword fight with his former Commander. In the end, Lance stabs the commander through the stomach and lets him fall from the platform they were fighting on.
* In the ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' episode "Mystery Train", Finn follows the Train Conductor and finally corners him in the engine and has a sword fight, quickly throws the conductor's sword away and as he is about to dispatch him the conductor reveals he is Jake who was previously believed to be dead.
* Somewhat averted in ''WesternAnimation/TheSuperHeroSquadShow'' episode 1602 due to the fact that a) it's a pretty dumb show, b) Thor used his hammer which he cheated with by breaking Abomination's sword.
* In the ''[[WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries Batman]]'' episode "Showdown", {{Badass}} BountyHunter Jonah Hex takes on Arkady Duval, who is using a saber, and beats him using only a knife!
** Batman himself does this against Ra's al Ghul.
* ''WesternAnimation/GravityFalls'': in the episode "Headhunters", Dipper has a fight with a wax version of Sherlock Holmes, the former uses a piece of fireplace equipment while the latter uses a sword.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Real Life]]
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Churchill "Mad Jack" Churchill]] remarked that "any officer that goes into combat without his sword is improperly dressed." ''During WW2.'' He also carried a longbow, and used them both on several occasions.
[[/folder]]

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Bonus points when it's a modern setting, and using a blade provides almost no advantage and the hero is far less likely to possess the training needed to use a sword.

Exactly why this is the case varies. In some settings, swords offer advantages [[GunsAreWorthless that guns do not]]. Perhaps the predominant defensive system is effective against firearms and not against blades, à la ''Literature/{{Dune}}''. Or perhaps the [[KatanasAreJustBetter people using swords or edged weapons]] are just ''that'' [[RuleOfCool cool]], à la [[Franchise/StarWars the Jedi]]. Sometimes the enemy is [[ImmuneToBullets invulnerable to conventional weapons]] -- and it's fairly rare that the Main/AncientTradition had advanced knowledge of firearms. Perhaps it is a [[DuelToTheDeath formalized duel]] where modern weapons are forbidden. Sometimes, of course, it is left unexplained.