History PlayingWith / ExcaliburInTheRust

** Hiro finds the rusty sword in the ruins but leaves it, because his [[WeaponOfChoice preferred weapon is a pistol.]]

* '''Justified''': The Dragonsbane was lost years ago, damaged by the same tragedy that befell its original wielder, and left to rust. However, the magical charms that gave it its power are as strong as ever.

* '''Defied''': "Even if this sword ''was'' great once, it'd be ruined by all this rust!"

** Hiro finds an old, rusty sword and [[GenreSavvy thinks it might be useful]]... But when he tests it out, it breaks.

* '''Subverted''': Hiro finds an old, rusty sword and [[GenreSavvy thinks it might be useful]]... But when he tests it out, it breaks.

* '''Invoked''': The sword is an EmpathicWeapon that disguises itself as a rusted piece of junk to attract a suitably HumbleHero to wield it.

* '''Played For Laughs''': Part of the reason the Dragonsbane is so effective is because every dragon that sees it bursts into uncontrollable laughter and can't concentrate on the battle.

* '''Justified''': The Dragonsbane was lost years ago, damaged by the same tragedy that befell its original wielder, and left to rust.
* '''Inverted''': The Golden Blade of Hope is an incredibly ornate scimitar surrounded by [[FlamingSword yellow-white flames]]... But it's purely ceremonial, and totally impractical in a fight.

* '''Parodied''': Hiro throws away the InfinityMinusOneSword for a rusty piece of junk, acting like it's the InfinityPlusOneSword even though it obviously isn't.
* '''Zig Zagged''': Hiro finds the rusty sword in the first episode, and is convinced that it's the weapon destined to defeat the BigBad. He lugs it around for ages trying to find someone worthy of restoring it, while some characters call him crazy and point out other, more powerful-looking weapons, and others quietly suggest that it might simply be a MagicFeather. Even after it's [[WreckedWeapon broken in a fight]], he keeps DreamingOfThingsToCome and pressing on with his personal quest. Eventually it's restored and discovered to be an EmpathicWeapon, and his unswerving faith in it makes it all the more powerful.

* '''Enforced''': The writers are going for AnAesop that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

* '''Exploited''': An "{{Honest John|sDealership}}" manufacturer of cheap swords covers them with fake rust so he can pitch them as being long-neglected {{Ancestral Weapon}}s going for a song.

* '''Conversed''': "He has to pick the legendary Dragonsbane out of the FlamingSword hanging in mid-air, the shining silver one on a plaque on the wall, or the rusty one sitting in the fireplace? Gee, I wonder..."

* '''Lampshaded''': "You'd think magic swords would come with [[RagnarokProofing anti-rust charms]] as standard..."

* '''Straight''': [[TheHero Hiro]] finds a rusty, chipped sword that's clearly seen better days. This sword turns out to be the [[CoolSword Dragonsbane]], which is still extremely effective against dragons.

* '''Double Subverted''': However, he eventually finds a blacksmith who's able to reforge the broken blade into a powerful weapon.

* '''Lampshaded''': "You'd think magic swords would come with anti-rust charms as standard..."

* '''Downplayed''': Dragonsbane hasn't aged well, and takes a second look to see past the patina of rust and the rotted hilt, but it's still recognisable.

* '''Inverted''': The Golden Blade of Hope is an incredibly ornate scimitar surrounded by [[FlamingSword yellow-white flames]]... but it's purely ceremonial, and totally impractical in a fight.
* '''Subverted''': Hiro finds an old, rusty sword and [[GenreSavvy thinks it might be useful]]... but when he tests it out, it breaks.

* '''Deconstructed''': Hiro recognises the Dragonsbane and, aware of its fearsome reputation, cleans the worst of the rust off and carries it into battle. However, despite his best efforts to polish it up, the years of neglect have left it brittle and dull and a shadow of its legendary reputation.
* '''Reconstructed''': Hiro seeks out the UltimateBlacksmith, who's able to [[ReforgedBlade restore the blade]] to its former glory. Even if it's never quite what it was, the terror on his foes' faces as they [[FamedInStory recognise the ancestral weapon]] more than makes up for it.

** The sword is old and rusty, and no-one so much as suggests that it might be a hidden artefact of power.

* '''Played For Drama''': The Dragonsbane is the only weapon that stands a chance of defeating the dragon god Marduk... but it's been lost for eons, and when finally rediscovered, is in such a state of disrepair that it's practically unrecognizable.

Back to ExcaliburInTheRust.
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* '''Averted''': Hiro finds the rusty sword in the ruins but leaves it, because his [[WeaponOfChoice preferred weapon is a pistol.]]

* '''Invoked''': The sword is an EmpathicWeapon that disguises itself as a rusted piece of junk to attract a wielder of suitably humble nature.

* '''Inverted''': The Golden Blade of Hope is an incredibly ornate scimitar surrounded by [[FlamingSword yellow-white flames]]... but it's so hot that it's insanely difficult to wield, and barely does ScratchDamage.

** The blade was just for decoration. Its actually a LaserSword.

* '''Deconstructed''': Since the Dragonsbane looks old and crappy, Hiro doesn't even bother picking it up -- he already ''has'' a CoolSword, after all, and can easily buy and find even better ones along the way.
* '''Reconstructed''': The Dragonsbane belonged to Hiro's father, so he keeps it for sentimental value, eventually getting it fixed. Only ''then'' does he discover its true power.
* '''Zig Zagged''': ???

** The sword is old and rusty, meaning it is useless.
** There is no sword.
* '''Enforced''': ???
* '''Lampshaded''': ???
* '''Invoked''': ???
* '''Exploited''': ???
* '''Defied''': ???

* '''Conversed''': ???

* '''Discussed''': ???

* '''Averted''': ???

* '''Parodied''': ???