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| 7 | %% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1582102554074514500 |
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| 10 | [[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/darksaber.png]]]] |
| 11 | [[caption-width-right:350: Trainer and Trainee.]] |
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| 13 | ->''"If possible, find the military [machetes] usually sold at Army surplus stores. Its steel tends to be of a higher quality, and its blackened blade helps concealment at night.''" |
| 14 | -->-- '''Literature/TheZombieSurvivalGuide''' |
| 15 | |
| 16 | A {{Fantasy}} trope, but can show up in other genres as well. Want to show that some kind of sword is {{cool|Sword}}, powerful, [[ArtifactOfDeath deadly]], etc? Make this sword black. It can be simply [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluing_(steel) blued]] but sometimes it is made of some fantasy metal that is naturally black. [[ThunderboltIron Meteoric iron]] is often misrepresented as a naturally black metal. (It actually doesn't look all that different from terrestrial iron, once forged and worked.) |
| 17 | |
| 18 | This trope often overlaps with EvilWeapon and ArtifactOfDeath, because the color black has connotations for being "{{dark|IsEvil}}" as well as "cool." Many examples of black swords are not only superior to boring gray swords but also more dangerous for the user. |
| 19 | |
| 20 | If the sword's owner likes to DualWield, their other sword [[YinYangBomb will often be white]]. |
| 21 | |
| 22 | Compare ThunderboltIron, TechnicolorBlade, and FlamingSword. Also note that [[KatanasAreJustBetter black katanas are even better]], [[WoodenKatanasAreEvenBetter wooden black katanas are absolutely better]], and {{flaming|Sword}} [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot wooden black katanas are downright awesome]]. |
| 23 | |
| 24 | ---- |
| 25 | !!Examples: |
| 26 | |
| 27 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 28 | |
| 29 | [[folder:Anime & Manga]] |
| 30 | * Ayato Amagiri from ''Literature/TheAsteriskWar'' wields the purple-black blade, Ser Veresta which was previously owned by his elder half-sister [[spoiler:Haruka Amagiri.]] He has an astounding 97% compatibility rate with it. Though this is a case of AdaptationDyeJob for the anime: in the original LightNovel, the sword's blade was pure white. |
| 31 | * Guts of ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'' fame wouldn't be the Black Swordsman without that [[{{BFS}} huge sheet of black blade]] that he calls the Dragonslayer. |
| 32 | * ''Manga/BlackClover'': Asta's swords are black and through them, he can use AntiMagic to cut through spells and dispel magic. It's later revealed that, when wielded by their original owner Licht, the swords were an almost white color, but turn black and rusted-looking when covered in Anti-Magic. [[spoiler:The same thing happens when he infuses Yami's katana with anti-magic.]] |
| 33 | * ''Franchise/BlackRockShooter'' wields the ''black blade'' (the ''★rock shooter'' part of her name is for her [[{{Handcannon}} gun]]). |
| 34 | * ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'': |
| 35 | ** Tensa Zangetsu, Bankai form of Ichigo's Zanpakutou is an entirely black tachi with a manji-shaped hilt. [[spoiler:His true Shikai becomes two jet black swords.]] |
| 36 | ** The fourth movie set in Hell has the Togabito weapons, Kokuto's sword (the previous trope image) and Muragumo's glaive, which are pitch black. Fittingly enough, Kokuto's name literally means "black sword". |
| 37 | ** Zanka no Tachi, the Bankai form of Yamamoto-Genryūsai's Zanpakutou is a worn-out and scorched black sword. All its fire is concentrated in this blade, making it the most dangerous Bankai. |
| 38 | * Saizo from ''Manga/Brave10'' has one. [[ICallItVera He calls it the Mari Blade]]. |
| 39 | * Subverted InUniverse in ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba''. Demon Slayers' swords take their color depending on the slayer who owns them. Tanjiro's black blade seems to be an oddity, and an ill omen of sorts -- no slayer with a black blade ever became a Hashira. However, it's later revealed that Yoriichi Tsugikuni, who was an incredibly powerful Demon Slayer who created the Sun Breathing, the first and strongest Breathing Style, had a black blade like Tanjiro does. But unlike all normal demon slayers who permanently enhance the color of their blades due to their Breathing affinity when they touch it for the first time, Yoriichi could make his black blade turn red at will when he engaged in battle, showcasing his proficiency in Sun Breathing. |
| 40 | * In ''Manga/FairyTail'', Erza uses a black sword in her Purgatory Armor, the one which supposedly has the biggest attack strength. |
| 41 | * ''Manga/JoujuuSenjinMushibugyou'': when the leader of the Bugmen [[spoiler:UsefulNotes/SanadaYukimura]] decides to test his sword skill against his opponent's newly-powered up vibrating giant sword, he condenses his black butterfly scales into a single pitch-black katana he calls "Masamune". [[spoiler:In a single slash, he cuts the giant sword in half and severely wounds Mugai, the wielder.]] |
| 42 | * In ''Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaInnocent'', Lord Dearche can summon [[StormOfBlades a storm of black blades]] with her Legion of Doom Bringer spell. When she first uses it to destroy every target in the game she's participating in one fell swoop, Arisa wonders if what she's using is still legal. |
| 43 | * In ''Manga/MagiLabyrinthOfMagic'', Sharrkan's sword is pictured as this, and so is his brother's scimitar. Alibaba's dagger turns into one when he transforms it into the [[FlamingSword Sword of Amon]], which can cut through anything. Finally, the Black Binding Mist Sword used by Cassim is the most powerful of the Mist Swords appeared [[spoiler:and allows him to go OneWingedAngel]]. |
| 44 | * [[AcePilot Norris Packard]]'s Gouf Custom wields one as opposed to the glowing red HotBlade carried by the mass production version in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamThe08thMSTeam''. [[AllThereInTheManual According to some of the games]] its actually [[PoisonedWeapons coated in a powerful acid]] rather than using heat to weaken enemy armor. |
| 45 | * ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' has a variation; unremarkable black ''kunai'' knives are very commonly used by ninjas due to [[BoringButPractical their versatility, ease of use, and disposable nature.]] |
| 46 | * ''Manga/OnePiece'' has two black swords so far: [[{{BFS}} Kokutou Yoru]], the strongest sword in the world, owned by the strongest MasterSwordsman Mihawk. The other one is [[KatanasAreJustBetter Shusui]], a long katana with an elaborate black blade formerly owned by Zoro. Is listed as one of the strongest swords in the world, and Zoro even stated that it wouldn't bend even if a dinosaur stepped on it. Mihawk also demonstrates to Zoro that, by using Haki (spiritual willpower), any weapon can be made black and greatly stronger. The story implies and later confirms during the Wano Arc that swords imbued with Haki can become Kokutou permanently. |
| 47 | * In Mashima's previous work ''Manga/RaveMaster'', the EvilCounterpart sword Decalogue is mostly black in all his forms. Then there's the Ten Commandments' ninth form, Sacrifar, a pitch-black jagged scimitar that bestows a great power to the user, but also merges with his arm and turns him into a psychotic, restless berserker. Last but not least, [[DarkIsEvil Doryuu's]] swords are both darkness-related and mostly black. |
| 48 | * In ''[[Manga/RurouniKenshin Rurouni Kenshin: Hokkaido Arc]]'', five years after the events of the Kyoto Arc, the Mugenjin now sports a charred, blackened appearance after surviving the fires of Shishio and his headquarters burning to the ground. |
| 49 | * ''Manga/SamuraiDeeperKyo'' has the Shibien, one of the four swords crafted by Muramasa. It apparently absorbed too much blood and turned black as a result. |
| 50 | * Kanata Age in ''Literature/SkyWizardsAcademy'' was formerly known as the Black Master Swordsman. He wields the black magic cannon sword Gladius as his main weapon of choice. It can shoot powerful laser beams by consuming his magic power. |
| 51 | * ''Manga/SoulEater'': |
| 52 | ** Masamune ''is'' [[EquippableAlly one]] and after Tsubaki defeats him she gains this ability as well. Slightly subverted when Tsubaki, during her and Black★Star's battle against Masamune, claims that the blade is now black and it has lost some of its original beauty. |
| 53 | ** Also Ragnarok, being entirely made of "black blood". Since he's the Demon Sword, he's one of the most powerful weapons in the series. |
| 54 | * ''Anime/SwordArtOnline'': As the "Black Swordsman", Kirito frequently uses these including Elucidator in the original SAO Arc and the Night Sky Sword in ''Alicization''. |
| 55 | * In ''Manga/{{Yaiba}}'', the Devil King Sword is black colored with white edges. [[spoiler:During the final battle on the back of Yamata no Orochi it becomes a black LaserBlade.]] |
| 56 | [[/folder]] |
| 57 | |
| 58 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 59 | * The ''ComicBook/BlackKnightMarvelComics'''s Ebony Blade. Another example of ThunderboltIron. It can cut through or deflect anything, including magical and technological field and rays, but due to being tainted by its use to shed blood in various wars over the centuries, it can fill its wielder with an uncontrollable bloodlust if he or she sheds blood while using it (the effect is less pronounced if it involves defense of self or others, and extreme if the victim is innocent). |
| 60 | * ''ComicBook/BlackMoonChronicles'': When Wismerhill becomes the commander-in-chief of the armies of the Black Moon and one of the Lords of Negation, his master Haazheel Thorn gifts him with a black sword forged out of steel from the land of the dead. |
| 61 | * {{Inverted|Trope}} in ''ComicBook/CerebusTheAardvark''. Part of the layers of [[Literature/TheElricSaga Elric]] parody in the character Elrod of Melvinbone is that his sword Seersucker is black because of ''rust''. When Elrod tries to attack Cerebus with it, it shatters against Cerebus' sword. |
| 62 | * All-Black the Necroblade, wielded by ''ComicBook/TheMightyThor'' villain Gorr the God Butcher. Finding the sword is what allowed a poor starving mortal to butcher gods. The sword grants power over darkness and turns its wielder into a PhysicalGod. |
| 63 | * The first UsefulNotes/{{Muramasa}} sword in ''ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}'' comics. Like the Ebony Blade, anyone other than the one born to wield it would have uncontrollable bloodlust. |
| 64 | [[/folder]] |
| 65 | |
| 66 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 67 | * In ''Fanfic/TheBoyBehindTheMask'', Hiccup was able to concoct a black metal stronger and lighter than even "Gronkle Iron" called "Nightshade Steel," forging weapons for himself and his friends with it. |
| 68 | * ''Fanfic/ShadowsOverMeridian'': Jade provides Phobos' troops with dark-colored [[CastingAShadow Shadowkhan]] weapons that prove to be strong enough to shatter the regular steel weapons used by Elyon's forces. |
| 69 | * ''[[Fanfic/StarWarsVsWarhammer40K Star Wars vs Warhammer 40K]]'': Lord Inquisitor Tahr Whyler wields a black-colored RoyalRapier in battle. Since his rapier is actually a customized power sword, the black blade can counter lightsaber strikes and be used to [[SpellBlade channel Tahr's psyker abilities]]. |
| 70 | [[/folder]] |
| 71 | |
| 72 | [[folder:Films -- Live-Action]] |
| 73 | * The magical sword from ''Film/TheNorthman'' is black as Hel and symbolic of its role as an instrument of his dark hatred. With it, he is able to kill a camp of soldiers single-handedly and mutilate men beyond all recognition. |
| 74 | [[/folder]] |
| 75 | |
| 76 | [[folder:Gamebooks]] |
| 77 | * In most of the ''Literature/FightingFantasy'' gamebooks, black swords are usually evil weapons employed by the villains, such as [[Literature/TempleOfTerror Malbordus (which may paralyze you in three hits, like a ghoul's claw)]], [[Literature/SwordOfTheSamurai Ikiru (may one-hit kill you)]], or [[Literature/NightOfTheNecromancer the Shadow King and his Dread Knights]], though sometimes the player gets to use one, such as in ''Literature/LegendOfZagor'' as the InfinityPlusOneSword for Braxus. |
| 78 | * In one of the ''Literature/GoldenDragonFantasyGamebooks'', your character is actually a wizard-warrior and start the game with a black sword in his/her possession. Subverted in that the weapon isn't very special in itself. |
| 79 | * ''Literature/LoneWolf'': The Drakkarim and other Darklord soldiers use weapons with black blades, made of [[FantasyMetals Kagonite]]. The most dangerous of them all are of course the Darklord swords like Kraagenskûl's Helshezag or Gnaag's Nadazgada, though they still pale before the Sommerswerd. Wolf's Bane wields a black version of the Sommerswerd that burns with black flames, as well as the God-King of the Drakkarim you encounter in book 20. |
| 80 | * ''Literature/WayOfTheTiger'' has [[LivingWeapon Sorcerak]], a large black sword that can cut through anything, move on its own to attack from afar, and, most notably, [[AntiMagic nullify all spells and magic around it]], making even TheArchmage defenseless against it. [[spoiler:It's also a demon in the form of a sword, and so much better, as a matter of fact, that its wielder must be worthy of its power, or will suffer for his arrogance.]] |
| 81 | [[/folder]] |
| 82 | |
| 83 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 84 | * In ''Literature/AestheticaOfARogueHero'', Akatsuki Ousawa wields the giant sword Laevateinn which is colored black. It requires seven AD's to generate, unlike just one for everyone else. [[spoiler:By putting on eight AD's, the sword becomes bigger, sharper, and gains a massive axe-like blade head on top of it.]] |
| 85 | * Cthrek Goru, the Sword of Shadows, wielded by the Dark God Torak in ''Literature/TheBelgariad'', is explicitly black, of unnamed material, and is the counterpart to Garion's Sword of the Rivan King, which is made of ThunderboltIron. In the sequel series the Malloreon, the sword is wielded again by a demon lord in the final confrontation. |
| 86 | * In ''Literature/BladedanceOfElementalers'', Kamito Kazehaya's previous contracted spirit, Restia transforms into a jet-black demon sword known as Vorpal Sword in her elemental waffe form. |
| 87 | * The title weapons of the ''Literature/BlackBlade'' series, which absorb magic. |
| 88 | * In ''Literature/{{Campione}}'', Ena Seishuin's legendary sword Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi is black. |
| 89 | * In ''Literature/ChivalryOfAFailedKnight'', Ikki Kurogane's Device takes the form of a black katana called Intetsu. |
| 90 | * Creator/LloydAlexander's ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfPrydain''. The black sword Dyrnwyn is extremely powerful. It was used to kill not only all of the Cauldron Born but the Big Bad Arawn himself. It was originally a beautiful shiny sword until its wielder slew an innocent shepherd with it. The shepherd's blood stained the blade, turning it black. |
| 91 | * ''Literature/ChroniclesOfTheEmergedWorld'': Nihal's black sword is actually made from a {{mithril}}-like substance called "Black Crystal", which is a ludicrously hard crystal. |
| 92 | * Kring from the first Literature/{{Discworld}} novel ''Literature/TheColourOfMagic'' is probably a parody of Stormbringer. In concept, a jet-black, magically sentient blade that can talk and grant the wielder combat prowess (even when they're not looking) is very cool. In practice, Kring's habit of droning on in a tinny metallic monotone that sounds like metal grinding over stone, not to mention constantly critiquing its owner, means that most warriors tire of it quickly. |
| 93 | * Several examples exist in Brandon Sanderson's ''Literature/{{The Cosmere}}'': |
| 94 | ** In ''Literature/MistbornTheOriginalTrilogy'', Mistborn, [[CapeBusters hazekillers]] and [[TheDreaded Steel Inquisitors]] don't use metal knives because of their enemies' MagnetismManipulation powers. Instead, they favour knives of obsidian. Steel Inquisitors in particular favour obsidian axes. |
| 95 | ** Nightblood of ''Literature/{{Warbreaker}}'' is a black sentient [[TalkingWeapon telepathic]] sword that is just the deadliest thing around. The only thing that keeps people safe around it is its [[AntiMagic aluminum sheath]]. When it is fully drawn, it bleeds black smoke, ''screams'' inside the head of its wielder to "DESTROY!", sucks in any magic in the surrounding area (then when that has run out, the wielder's ''lifeforce''). Due its magical nature, Nightblood exists in all realms (Physical, Cognitive, and Spiritual), making it a SoulCuttingBlade; anything it so much as [[DeadlyScratch scratches]] puffs into smoke. Its soulcutting ability extents to the souls of objects; when Vasher, its current wielder [[spoiler: and co-creator]] needs to move through a building in a hurry, he simply stabs walls and floors to make large holes. Also, anyone who picks it up who might think of using it for 'evil' purposes (as defined by Nightblood) is driven to kill their companions and then themselves; its most common use is being thrown into groups of enemies who end up killing each other off. The only exemptions to this are people who the sword thinks are 'pure of heart' - those people just feel nauseous. The second most common use is to club people with it while it is still safely sheathed. Despite its status as TheCorrupter, it was Awakened with the Command 'Destroy evil'. Only thing is, being a sentient length of metal, it doesn't ''actually know'' what evil is. [[WordOfGod Word of Brandon]] is Nightblood might define evil as "someone who would try to take the sword and use it for evil purposes, selling it, manipulating, and extorting others, that sort of thing". |
| 96 | *** [[spoiler:Eventually, in as-yet-unknown circumstances Nightblood and Vasher [[Literature/WordsOfRadiance find their way]] to [[Literature/TheStormlightArchive Roshar]] where they become separated. Nightblood is later given to the [[ProfessionalKiller Assassin in White]], [[PsychoForHire Szeth-son-son-Vallano]], Truthless of Shinovar.]] |
| 97 | *** ''Literature/{{Rhythm of War}}'' reveals that [[spoiler: Nightblood is ''the single deadliest thing in the Cosmere'', when it is shown to be capable of [[KillTheGod killing]] a ''[[PiecesOfGod Shardvessel]]'']]. |
| 98 | * The title weapon of ''Literature/TheDarkswordTrilogy'', which [[AntiMagic consumes magic]]. |
| 99 | * The Rain Master's Flamberge, [[spoiler:a.k.a. the Sword of Humanity and part of the same set as the titular artifacts]] in ''Literature/DiamondSwordWoodenSword'' is both very powerful and cursed. Its other name is ''the'' Black Sword. |
| 100 | * The Morganti weapons in ''Literature/{{Dragaera}}'' are black blades that [[SoulCuttingBlade eat the souls]] of their victims. Foremost among them are the seventeen Great Weapons, which are [[EmpathicWeapon self-aware]], have unique properties, and are powerful enough to kill the Gods. Merely unsheathing the Great Weapon Blackwand can make a battalion break and flee: the sword is even more of a BloodKnight than its wielder. |
| 101 | * The ''Literature/{{Dragonrealm}}'' series features two, both crafted by Azran Bedlam. The first is the Horned Blade and the second is the Nameless (successor to the Horned Blade after Azran lost it). Both blades have the power to annihilate entire armies of men and dragons. [[spoiler:They're also both examples of a LivingWeapon, as well as an EvilWeapon.]] |
| 102 | * ''Literature/FateZero'' has [[spoiler:Arondight]], Berserker's personal weapon. It's black, spiky, with crisscrossing chains on the hilt, and generally looks pretty evil. In fact, it's said to be as powerful a demonic sword as Excalibur is a holy one. Not only that, but using it gives Berserker a rank up in all his stats, raising him from 'fearsome' to 'borderline broken'. Black swords aren't just better, they make you better too! |
| 103 | * In ''Literature/IsItWrongToTryToPickUpGirlsInADungeon'', Hestia gets down on her hands and knees to beg Hephaestus for a weapon to give Bell to keep up with his inflated growth rate. The result is the Hestia Knife, a black knife that responds to Bell's Falna and is thus only valuable when wielded by him. Its strength will constantly grow along with his, making it even sharper and more powerful the higher his stats go. Once he reaches the pinnacle of adventurers, the Hestia Knife will reach the pinnacle of weapons. As a weapon personally designed and forged by Hephaestus herself and infused with the blood and hair of Hestia, it's a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. |
| 104 | * The sword Dragnipur in ''Literature/TheMalazanBookOfTheFallen''. |
| 105 | * One of the three magical swords of ''Literature/MemorySorrowAndThorn'' is black (Thorn). Another is silver and the third a dull, somewhat mottled grey. |
| 106 | * Creator/MichaelMoorcock: |
| 107 | ** ''Literature/TheElricSaga'': In the Elric of Melniboné series of novels, the two demonic runeblades, Mournblade and Stormbringer, the latter of which becomes Elric's iconic weapon, are black. This one is so iconic that it inspired three heavy rock songs -- Music/BlueOysterCult's "Black Blade", Music/DeepPurple's "Stormbringer" and Music/{{Hawkwind}}'s "Chronicles of the Black Sword."[[note]]In this case not just a single song -- a whole multi-media stage performance and a concept LP[[/note]] If it were merely grey, would it have got this attention? |
| 108 | ** Though Stormbringer is most famous, in Moorcock's mythology of the Eternal Champion, it is but an incarnation of a multiversal entity that is used and uses the Eternal Champion in many incarnations, an entity that is outright called the Black Sword. The Black Sword also manifests in its purest form when the Champion incarnates as Urlik Skarsol. |
| 109 | * Nico from ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'' has a sword made from black Stygian Iron from TheUnderworld. Unlike the other magical metals, Stygian allegedly absorbs the essence of monsters it kills, [[DeaderThanDead preventing them from resurrecting]] and is subsequently [[TheDreaded greatly feared by them all.]] |
| 110 | * ''Literature/TheRiftwarCycle'': Draken-Korin, BigBad of the original Riftwar quartet carries a black sword to go with his orange-and-black striped armour. Since his title is Lord of Tigers, this makes sense. |
| 111 | * The Sword of Leah from Creator/TerryBrooks' ''Literature/{{Shannara}}'' series. Once an ordinary sword, it was dipped in the waters of the Hadeshorn by the Druid Allanon and then infused with a measure of the Druid's own magic. The result is an ink-black blade with a liquid sheen, and pools of green swirling through it that devours any magic directed at the user. |
| 112 | * ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'': The two swords, Anguirel and Anglachel were made by Eöl the Dark Elf. These swords were made of meteoric iron, which is not naturally black in real life. While Anguirel was wielded by Eöl, and later his son Maeglin, Anglachel was gifted to Thingol as payment for his home in Nan Elmoth, who in turn gave it to Beleg. Melian, wife of Thingol, could sense malice in Anglachel, and it was known for its blood-thirsty habit of drinking the blood of its victims. Whenever Beleg unsheathed it, it sang with gladness and possessed some level of sentience. Anglachel was later renamed Gurthang, and its blackness was reaffirmed in ''Literature/TheBookOfLostTales'', when it was wielded by Turin Turambar. It eventually revealed that it could talk, just before Turin used it to commit suicide. |
| 113 | * ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': |
| 114 | ** Valyrian steel is described as having a dark, swirling, smokey appearance. Weapons made from it are sharper, stronger, and lighter than traditionally-made steel. Since it's of such high quality and nobody knows how to make it anymore, weapons made from it are extraordinarily valuable and typically owned only by wealthy nobles. |
| 115 | ** Inverted, however, with Dawn, the ancestral sword of House Dayne forged from ThunderboltIron. It's described as ''milky white'' in color, and yet is at least as good as a Valyrian steel sword. |
| 116 | * ''Literature/SagaOfTheForgottenWarrior'': Ancestor blades are made from the magical Black Steel which seems to eat the light. Ashok wields a black steel blade called Angruvadal. |
| 117 | * In ''Literature/AestheticaOfARogueHero'', Akatsuki Ousawa wields the giant sword Laevateinn which is colored black. It requires seven AD's to generate, unlike just one for everyone else. [[spoiler:By putting on eight AD's, the sword becomes bigger, sharper, and gains a massive axe-like blade head on top of it.]] |
| 118 | * ''Literature/SwordArtOnline'': |
| 119 | ** Elucidator, one of Kirito's two swords, is pitch black. In ALO, his sword is also black. In GGO, his sword ''hilt'' is '''still''' black, but it's a LaserBlade is [[PurpleIsPowerful purple]]). And go on, guess what color his sword in Underworld is going to be. There's a reason he's called the Black Swordsman in that series, and it's not just that he favors wearing a black coat. |
| 120 | ** Worth mentioning that, as mentioned in the DualWielding example, in SAO his second sword is white...though only in the original light novel. In the anime adaptation, his second sword is instead blue. |
| 121 | ** And in Mother's Rosario [[RedBaron Zekken]],[[note]]A moniker earned from a 67 duel win streak[[/note]] the only person to defeat him, has a black sword. Kirito also says that Zekken would have gotten the DualWielding[[note]]Given to the player with the highest reaction speed[[/note]] sword skill were she in SAO. |
| 122 | * Lux Arcadia from ''Literature/UndefeatedBahamutChronicle'' has the Black Divine Drag-Ride Bahamut which is color black when in sword form. It was originally owned by his elder half-brother [[spoiler:Fugil, who can still access Bahamut's power due to the special armament of his true Drag-Ride, Ouroboros.]] |
| 123 | * ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'': As [[MookLieutenant powerful agents]] of the [[TheAntiGod Dark One]], the [[HumanoidAbomination Myrddraal]] wield black swords that spread a deadly corruption with the [[DeadlyScratch slightest scratch]]. They're forged in [[Mordor Shayol Ghul]] at the foot of the Dark One's prison and are [[HumanResources tempered with human sacrifice]]. |
| 124 | * ''Literature/AWizardInRhyme'': Matthew Mantrell wields a black diamond sword, at least for the first two books. Not much mention is made of it later in the series. |
| 125 | [[/folder]] |
| 126 | |
| 127 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 128 | * In ''Series/KamenRiderDragonKnight'', Wing Knight is the only Kamen Rider besides Eubulon to carry a black sword and both... kick... a lot of ass. |
| 129 | * ''Franchise/StarWars'': |
| 130 | ** The Darksaber makes its live-action debut in ''Series/TheMandalorian'', though despite its unique look, it's stated by Moff Gideon to be more or less a typical lightsaber in terms of its abilities. However, the myth and legends associated with the Darksaber, and its association with the Visla/Vizla lineage, make it a symbol of Mandalorian rulership. Despite this, it is [[spoiler:the only lightsaber shown to be able to heat up pure beskar to a red glow, as demonstrated by Din Djarin's spear, contrasting his vambraces [[NoSell No Selling]] Ahsoka's lightsabers. Din Djarin (the titular Mandalorian) becomes the new owner of the Darksaber after defeating Gideon in a one-on-one battle, making him technically the new ruler of Mandalore, a position he neither wants nor can abdicate as Mandalorian tradition holds that the Darksaber can only be claimed through violence.]] |
| 131 | ** Din Djarin continues to use the Darksaber when he appears in ''Series/TheBookOfBobaFett'', although it shows that it has quite a few differences from a standard lightsaber. Namely that its hilt is made from beskar (so trying to destroy it with a lightsaber strike is off the books) and its EmpathicWeapon nature makes it actively resist Din wielding it, somehow becoming heavier and heavier the more he swings it. The Armorer explains that it can't be wielded with physical strength alone; he will only get better if he learns to work with the blade. [[spoiler:The burly Paz Visla/Vizla even has trouble lifting the damn thing properly in his duel against Din, showing that he arguably has the same problem but in a worse degree]]. |
| 132 | * During the Season 2.5 finale of ''Series/{{Nikita}}'', Alex buys a combat knife with a black blade. Quite {{justified|Trope}}: see RealLife, below. |
| 133 | [[/folder]] |
| 134 | |
| 135 | [[folder:Music]] |
| 136 | * Music/ClamaviDeProfundis: Negankerdak, the treasured weapon of dwarven kings in Erna, is a sword made of indestructible black diamond that was created by the earth goddess herself. |
| 137 | * Creator/MichaelMoorcock's ''[[Literature/TheElricSaga Elric of Melniboné]]'' inspired three heavy rock songs -- Music/BlueOysterCult's "Black Blade", Music/DeepPurple's "Stormbringer" and Music/{{Hawkwind}}'s "Chronicles of the Black Sword".[[note]]In this case not just a single song -- a whole multi-media stage performance and a concept LP[[/note]] |
| 138 | * Music/SoundHorizon: In "Moira", Elefseus uses two triangular black swords. Other characters, such as Sword Boy, also use a black sword. In almost all cases, the sword(s) seems to carry some sort of significance, linking the characters. |
| 139 | [[/folder]] |
| 140 | |
| 141 | [[folder:Tabletop Games]] |
| 142 | * ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': |
| 143 | ** The ninth-level Arcane spell, ''[[http://dndtools.eu/spells/magic-of-faerun--20/black-blade-of-disaster--1605 black blade of disaster]]''. It bypasses magic barriers, attacks on its own, and disintegrates anything it crits. ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'' only, sorry. |
| 144 | ** From the old ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' S-series tournament modules (which includes the infamous ''TabletopGame/TombOfHorrors''), White Plume Mountain had Blackrazor, described as a piece of the night sky, filled with stars. It's an extremely powerful sword that [[YourSoulIsMine eats the souls of those it slays]] and gives power to its wielder when it does so. |
| 145 | * ''TabletopGame/TheDarkEye'' has the magical metal Endurium and it's alloys which have a natural black colour. Weapons made from either are more durable and deal more damage than their steel counterparts as well as counting as magical weapons and therefore ignoring any resistances to mundane weapons that some creatures like demons have. |
| 146 | * The magus base class from ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' has an optional archetype where they forge a bond with a sentient magical black sword. It is very [[Literature/TheElricSaga Elric-y]]. |
| 147 | ** The Horseman of War, one of the leaders of the [[NeutralEvil daemons]], bears a signature greatsword called [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Lamentation of the Faithless]]. Not only is it a +5 Speed and Unholy artifact, it heals the horseman with each hit and can drive its enemies into despair just by presenting it to them. |
| 148 | * ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' has [[PoweredByAForsakenChild soulsteel]] -- a pitch-black metal made from the tortured, still-aware, souls of humans that can drain a person's essence and willpower away when used as a weapon. While not necessarily better than the other magic materials, it's still better than normal metals. Characters could also acquire weapons made from 'Black Jade', which gave good bonuses to defensive stats. One such weapon was a dagger called ''Black Depths Foretold'', which was fated to kill a powerful God...despite various attempts to [[YouCantFightFate throw it away]]. |
| 149 | * ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'''s Space Marines have two prominent examples: |
| 150 | ** Three of the Dark Angels' most prized relics are the Sword of Secrets, the Sword of Silence, and the Raven Sword, collectively known as the Heavenfall Blades. These master-crafted power swords are said to have been forged from a single block of jet-black obsidian, originating from a meteorite that had struck the Rock, the Dark Angels' Fortress-Monestary. |
| 151 | ** The traditional weapon of the Emperor's Champions of the Black Templars is a massive two-handed power sword called, simply, "The Black Sword". Paired with the Armour of Faith and blessed by the chapter's Chaplains, it's perfectly balanced to allow it to be used either with a one-handed or two-handed grip, allowing the Emperor's Champion to deliver flurries of fast slashes and stabs or slower but much more damaging hacking blows to his opponents. The Black Templars possess only ten of these sacred weapons in their entire armoury. |
| 152 | [[/folder]] |
| 153 | |
| 154 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 155 | * ''VideoGame/BaldursGateIIShadowsOfAmn'' gives us Blackrazor, a +3 longsword that grants +3 to hit, regeneration, immunity to charm and fear magic, and a 15% chance to drain 4 levels from an enemy and provide additional healing and strength to its wielder, and its description refers to it as being a powerful black blade forged of the darkest iron. [[TooAwesomeToUse Sounds amazing, right]]? Problem is, it falls in the category of {{Awesome But Impractical}} due to the fact that it comes at the very end of the game during the five trials of Bhaal, during the Greed Trial, and keeping it is considered the evil path. Not important if you a) have the DLC installed and/or b) your character is some form of Evil alignment anyway, but otherwise most players won't really get a chance to use it at all. |
| 156 | * The InfinityPlusOneSword in ''VideoGame/BaldursGateDarkAlliance'' is jet black. |
| 157 | * In ''VideoGame/BravelyDefault'', the InfinityMinusOneSword of the Swords category, the Night Emperor, is black with white trim. |
| 158 | * Black Knight weaponry from ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'', unlike other bladed weapons, is colored jet black. There is a reason for this though, as the lore says Black Knights were charred by a highly powerful magical flame such that they were burnt to ashes and their armor and their weapons went black from the heat. As for their power, the weapons (large sword, great sword, great axe, and great halberd) were not even originally meant to kill man, but gigantic Demons. Saying that they are powerful is an underestimation at best. |
| 159 | ** The Cursed Greatsword of Artorias is a decent greatsword that is one of the few weapons that can permanently kill ghosts. |
| 160 | * Black Knight weapons return in ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsII'', though they seem to be a bit rusted due to age. Despite that, they are still very powerful weapons. The Crypt Blacksword, crafted from [[spoiler:the Soul of the Old Dead One dropped by The Rotten on NewGamePlus which is heavily implied to be the soul of Gravelord Nito]], is a jet-black {{BFS}} that is potentially one of the most powerful weapons in the game. |
| 161 | * ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'': [[spoiler:Dante's iconic sword Rebellion is destroyed by the BigBad Urizen. After finally realizing the true nature of his sword, Dante stabs himself with its remains unlocking the most powerful stage of his [[SuperMode Devil Trigger]], a.k.a. '''Sin''' Devil Trigger, and gaining a new sword made of a substance resembling hardened lava called Devil Sword Dante.]] |
| 162 | * When sufficiently upgraded, Corvo's balisong sword in ''VideoGame/{{Dishonored}}'' becomes black. |
| 163 | * In ''VideoGame/DontStarve'', the Dark Sword is the most durable and powerful weapon in the game. It's made primarily of Nightmare Fuel, a powerful resource in a game that practically runs on YourMindMakesItReal. |
| 164 | * In ''VideoGame/DreadTemplar'', demon lord Beelsebur II wields a glowing dark sword made of demonic energy, and he's the powerful FinalBoss. His SwordBeam can notably cover half the arena. |
| 165 | * ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' |
| 166 | ** Throughout the series, [[FantasyMetals Ebony and Daedric]] are typically the top two tiers of crafting material, making for the best non-magical/non-artifact weapons. Ebony is a very dark grayish/purplish mineral that is worth more than gold when used as bullion and is theorized to be the petrified blood of the [[GodIsDead "dead" creator god]], Lorkhan. Daedric items are made by fusing Ebony with the souls of [[OurDemonsAreDifferent lesser Daedra]] and are [[RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver black/gray with veins of red]]. |
| 167 | ** Umbra is a [[LegendaryWeapon legendary]] EmpathicWeapon, forged by a witch and commissioned by Clavicus Vile, the [[OurGodsAreDifferent Daedric Prince]] of [[DealWithTheDevil Bargains]] and [[LiteralGenie Wishes]]. In most appearances, it takes the form of an Ebony claymore or longsword and is typically one of the most powerful bladed weapons in the game in which it appears. It also [[YourSoulIsMine steals the souls of its victims]], and its personality eventually takes over the mind of its wielder, turning them into a BloodKnight who refers to themself as "Umbra". ([[GameplayAndStorySegregation Thankfully, this never happens]] to the PlayerCharacter.) It has so far appeared in ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]''. |
| 168 | ** The Ebony Blade is an artifact weapon of Mephala, a Daedric Prince whose sphere is "obscured to mortals" but who is associated with [[ManipulativeBastard manipulation, lies, sex, and secrets]]. It typically takes the form of a black [[KatanasAreJustBetter katana-like]] sword and is among the very best in the games in which it appears. In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'' especially, it has the ability to drain and absorb the health of your enemies, and ''grows more powerful'' for each [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder allied character you kill with it]]. |
| 169 | * In ''VideoGame/FableI'', obsidian weapons are better than iron or steel ones, and second only to 'master' (grey metal with gold trim) among non-legendary weapons. |
| 170 | * In ''VideoGame/Fallout1'' and ''VideoGame/Fallout2'', various Envclave R&D projects had created stronger [[PoweredArmor Power Armor]] for their troops such as the Advanced Power Armor Mk. I & II [[note]]The mk I version returns as the Remnant Armor in New Vegas [[/note]], and Frank Horrigan's Power Armor. ''VideoGame/Fallout3'' has the Tesla Armor and later the Elite Hellfire Armor in ''Broken Steel''. |
| 171 | * ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' has an unusual example in that it's black ARMOR that's better. The Veteran Ranger Combat Armor, 200-year-old riot gear that serves as the main armor for the NCR Veteran Rangers and also called [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin the black armor]], is the game's iconic armor, appearing in nearly all promotional materials. The fact that it has the highest defense of nearly every armor short of PoweredArmor reinforces this. In Lonesome Road, there's the [[AceCustom Advanced and Elite Riot Gears]] that provide special effects alongside the high defense. |
| 172 | ** In the same theme, the strongest PoweredArmor is the black-colored Enclave Armor. |
| 173 | * The ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' series has seen the Dark Knight class in various entries, which can arm Dark Swords. In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIII'', the Dark Sword is the only weapon that can permanently kill otherwise regenerating enemies. |
| 174 | ** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'' gives Cecil a black sword called the Deathbringer for his final weapon as a Dark Knight. Not only is it black, it has a chance to cause instant death on whatever it hits. |
| 175 | ** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'', the summon Yojimbo has, among other weapons, the black sword Zanmato, which, if he uses it, will instantly kill whatever it hits with ''no exceptions''. Not even bosses are immune to this, though, in the case of bosses with multiple phases, it will just move them to the next phase. However, you have to pay him a ''ton'' of Gil to make him use it against anything more powerful than a basic enemy unless his affection level for you is ''insanely'' high. |
| 176 | * ''VideoGame/Halo5Guardians'' has the [[GovernmentAgencyOfFiction ONI]] line of UNSC vehicles, which have stronger, black-colored armor and much more deadly weapons. |
| 177 | * In ''VideoGame/INinja'', the player regularly receives upgraded swords whose colors correspond to karate kyu and dan. In order of increasing superiority, the swords are colored white (steel), yellow (gold), green (jade), blue (sapphire), red (fire), black (onyx). |
| 178 | * In ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire'', the weapon of choice for Prince Sun Kin is a large black sword called the Demon Sword, which is also available to the Spirit Monk in the PC version. Death's Hand dual-wields a black sword in his main hand and a black dagger in his off-hand, as well. [[spoiler:Considering that Death's Hand is really Prince Kin's soul bound to Sun Li's old armour, this is not a coincidence.]] |
| 179 | * ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'': |
| 180 | ** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaFourSwordsAdventures'', the black-bladed Trident of Power grants any sufficiently ambitious evildoer untold magical power, and allowed Ganondorf to become the Demon King Ganon. |
| 181 | ** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'', the BigBad, Ghirahim, has a black saber (and later, a black longsword) in the second phase of each fight against him. [[spoiler:Turns out that Ghirahim himself ''[[EquippableAlly is]]'' a sword, belonging to Demise, which resembles a black and bulkier version of the Master Sword]]. |
| 182 | ** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', the Royal Guard weapons are blacked-out {{Palette Swap}}s of the gilded Royal weapons, and have the highest raw damage stats in the game. However, [[AwesomeButImpractical they break easily]], and they tend to only be found in Hyrule Castle. |
| 183 | ** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTearsOfTheKingdom'': The Gloom Sword, like the other "Gloom" weapons, has a black blade. It's also one of the strongest one-handed weapons in the game -- but it will also cause [[MaximumHPReduction Gloom damage]] the longer you use it. And it's one of the weapons Ganondorf uses in the final battle. |
| 184 | * In ''VideoGame/MarySkelterNightmares'' and its sequel, both Alice and Otsuu have black and pink swords, on top of Alice's being [[{{BFS}} freaking gigantic]]. Then again, the weapons of the other Blood Maidens also have the same color scheme, so in this case, it's ''Any'' Black Weapons Are Better, not just swords. |
| 185 | * ''VideoGame/MightAndMagic VIII'' has Glomenthal, the Blade of Dark, which has a blackish brown blade. It's one of the best artefact blades in the game. It's also completely bereft of any restrictions on the morality of the user. |
| 186 | * In ''VideoGame/{{Minecraft}}'', Netherite, a [[{{Unobtanium}} super-rare]] black alloy that the player can forge, creates the most powerful and durable tools, weapons, and armor that the player can make use of when superimposed on a diamond item. So, not only are black swords better, black armor, black axes, black pickaxes, black shovels, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking black hoes]] are better as well. |
| 187 | * In ''VideoGame/NuclearThrone'', by leaving Chicken's starting weapon (the Chicken Sword) in area 1-1 and then looping the game, the aptly named [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Black Sword]] will spawn near you. This weapon swings faster than most other melee weapons in the game, and while it doesn't have too much base damage (12 per hit), it has the ability to deal ''80 damage per hit''... [[DesperationAttack if Chicken is headless.]] |
| 188 | * In ''VideoGame/OdinSphere'', Oswald the Shadowknight's Belderiver is a jet-black sword that is considered the most fearsome Psypher ever forged. Oswald's own foster father Melvin sold Oswald's soul to Queen Odette of the Netherworld to empower it, though this is offset by the sword being powerful enough to fight off Odette's agents the Halja, meaning they can't actually collect on the deal [[spoiler:until Oswald drops the Belderiver in a bout of despair.]] In gameplay, the sword's power grants Oswald his [[SuperMode Shadow form]]. |
| 189 | * In ''VideoGame/PhantomBrave'', Sprout once wielded the Sacred Sword. After his family was killed by Sulphur, he went mad with grief and lived only for revenge. He decided to fight darkness with darkness and absorbed dark energy from the various monsters he encountered. Eventually, his once beautiful Sacred Sword became a pitch-black blade of darkness, Shiva. |
| 190 | * ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'': The shiny coloration for the possessed sword Aegislash is black and red. |
| 191 | * ''VideoGame/RuneScape'' |
| 192 | ** Black swords are a weapon category, above steel and below mithril, uncraftable. |
| 193 | ** There's also Darklight, which was created when the sword Silverlight was coated in ichor while destroying the demon Agrith-Naar. It is stronger than the original Silverlight and is extra effective at killing demons. |
| 194 | ** And then there is the [[http://runescape.wikia.com/wiki/Dominion_sword Dominion sword.]] |
| 195 | * Naotora Ii wields one in ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'' 4. |
| 196 | * When you finally assemble the Nobitsura Kage in ''VideoGame/{{Shadow Warrior|2013}}'', the weapon looks like the blade was forged from obsidian with lava-cracks running through it. It's the most powerful weapon you get ([[EleventhHourSuperpower though you only get to play around with it at the very end of the game]]) and fires off {{Sword Beam}}s that cut through the crowds of enemies running at you, and has a high rate of fire. It's also the only thing that will kill an Ancient since the Ancients are otherwise immortal. |
| 197 | * Subverted in ''VideoGame/ShiningForce''. The Sword Of Darkness is indeed a powerful sword, with slightly better attack power than the Sword Of Light. However, it has two major drawbacks: It's cursed and its spell effect is a UselessUsefulSpell. It's also not even the best sword in the game, though it is one of the two requirements to obtain the Chaos Breaker. |
| 198 | * ''VideoGame/SoulNomadAndTheWorldEaters'' has the Onyx Blade, which only the main character, Revya, is able to wield. [[spoiler:It contains the soul of Master of Death, Gig.... and it once belonged to Median the Conqueror.]] |
| 199 | * In ''VideoGame/UltimaUnderworld'' 1 and 2, the best type of sword is a black sword. Likely a callback to ''The'' Black Sword from ''VideoGame/UltimaVII''. |
| 200 | * In ''VideoGame/VampireTheMasqueradeBloodlines'', the Tal'mahe'Ra Blade is a black {{katana|sAreJustBetter}} forged in a ghost-city of TheUnderworld by an ancient vampire cult; it deals [[WoundThatWillNotHeal aggravated damage]] which, like [[KillItWithFire fire]] and [[WeakenedByTheLight sunlight]], cuts through vampires' defenses and interferes with their HealingFactor. |
| 201 | [[/folder]] |
| 202 | |
| 203 | [[folder:Visual Novels]] |
| 204 | * Played with in ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight''. In the ''Heaven's Feel'' route, [[spoiler:Saber turns evil due to TheCorruption that's been attacking the Servants, and to match her new "Saber Alter" state her golden sword Excalibur turns black. While the sword itself, named ''Excalibur Morgan'' in ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'', is not inherently stronger than the original Excalibur, it ''is'' far deadlier, if only because Saber Alter is now receiving infinite mana from the corruption, and can thus use her sword's devastating SwordBeam function almost infinitely (beforehand, the SwordBeam used by the good Saber had to be used with restraint due to its high mana consumption and Shirou's low mana reserves).]] |
| 205 | * In ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'', both [[GreatDetective Willard H. Wright]] and [[RealityWarper Bernkastel]] have black blades. Given in ''VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry'', colour is ''incredibly'' important, the colour of these weapons is far more than just cosmetic, giving them powers to attack ideas and metaphysical concepts directly. Oh, and fitting Bernkastel's [[GoodPowersBadPeople personality]], her black blade takes the form of a SinisterScythe that can reap miracles. |
| 206 | [[/folder]] |
| 207 | |
| 208 | [[folder:Web Animation]] |
| 209 | * The Sick Sabre featured in the [[https://vimeo.com/236345931 pilot animatic]] of ''WebAnimation/KnightsOfAllRealms''. The blade is black because it's covered in centuries worth of filth and bacteria, [[PoisonedWeapons making the slightest touch of the blade nearly fatal due to illness.]] |
| 210 | [[/folder]] |
| 211 | |
| 212 | [[folder:Webcomics]] |
| 213 | * In ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', cold iron weapons are especially effective against demons. In ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', they're black; examples include [[http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0409.html Hinjo's awesome katana.]] |
| 214 | * In ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}'', Minmax touches a PowerCopying sword to a hole in reality, which turns it black and gives it the PowerOfTheVoid: it vanishes from reality when he's not using it, is unaffected by any physical force other than him wielding it, and appears to bypass monsters' usual resistance to damage. |
| 215 | * ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'' features [[{{Portmanteau}} the Regisword]], and various other weapons [[JustAddWater combined with it]]. It appears to be a ceremonial piece, though most of the characters using it are skilled enough to use it effectively anyways. |
| 216 | * In ''Webcomic/TheRedStar'', the GrimReaper [[http://www.beyondrealitymedia.com/the-red-star/issue-3/page-22/ uses a black scythe]]. |
| 217 | [[/folder]] |
| 218 | |
| 219 | [[folder:Web Original]] |
| 220 | * ''Literature/EmilyHTheVikingPrincess'': Samson has a "long slender dark as night blade", which is [[AbsurdlySharpBlade ridiculously sharp]] and the only recurringly used weapon in the fic. |
| 221 | [[/folder]] |
| 222 | |
| 223 | [[folder:Websites]] |
| 224 | * ''Website/SCPFoundation'': SCP-076-2 can summon bladed weapons made of a mysterious non-reflective black material. |
| 225 | [[/folder]] |
| 226 | |
| 227 | [[folder:Web Videos]] |
| 228 | * ''WebVideo/CriticalRole'': Craven Edge, the sword formerly wielded by Sylas Briarwood and given to Grog after his death, is an obsidian blade that absorbs the blood of those it wounds and grants their strength to its wielder. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, it is also capable of influencing its wielder's mind, and once it's fully powered, it is capable of absorbing their soul.]] |
| 229 | * In ''Series/{{Noob}}'', Omega Zell eventually upgrades to weapons that are [[KatanasAreJustBetter not only a pair of katanas]], but a pair of black katanas. He actually points out the color to another character some time after getting them. |
| 230 | [[/folder]] |
| 231 | |
| 232 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 233 | * Sokka's sword, also made of [[ThunderboltIron meteoric iron]], in the third season of ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. |
| 234 | * Sylas Briarwood's sword in ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfVoxMachina'' absorbs the blood of those it wounds to become an even more powerful weapon over the course of a battle. [[spoiler:It's eventually picked up by Grog after Sylas's death.]] |
| 235 | * In the ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'' episode "[[Recap/SamuraiJackS2E5JackAndTheUltraRobots Jack and the Ultra-Robots]]", the last Ultra-Robot uses a black katana. Subverted as Jack is still able to defeat it by praying to the spirits of his ancestors. |
| 236 | * ''Franchise/StarWars'': The Darksaber, a unique black-bladed lightsaber introduced in ''[[WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars The Clone Wars]]'' and also makes an appearance in ''[[WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels Rebels]]'', is actually a subversion, despite providing the page image. It was made by Tarre Vizsla, the first Mandalorian Jedi, and while it looks very cool and has a lot of cultural significance, it ultimately works no differently than any other lightsaber.[[note]]The only notable differences are that its hilt is made of beskar and it appears to be an EmpathicWeapon as while it has some weight compared to the usual lightsaber its weight can differ greatly depending on the mental state of the user.[[/note]] |
| 237 | ** [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Pre Vizsla]] wields it as his melee [[WeaponSpecialization weapon of choice]]. Notable as uniquely implausible, even for lightsabers, for being a black ''laser beam'' that still has a white outline. However, the Darksaber's coolness factor doesn't help him win duels. He loses every fight he's in with it, the last one fatally. Of course, all of those fights were against Force-users. |
| 238 | ** In ''Rebels'', it comes into the possession of fellow Mandalorian Sabine Wren, who, unlike Vizsla, is a good guy. She gets some training from a Jedi in how to use it, and then actively avoids actually using it in combat as anything but a symbol. In fact, in the situation shown in the page image, Kanan is deliberately letting her win a training bout to make a point about committing to learning how to use the weapon. It later returns to the hands of Bo-Katan, who wields it as the true leader of Mandalore... [[spoiler:until ''Series/TheMandalorian'', when Moff Gideon destroys the planet, wipes out its populace, and steals the weapon from her]]. |
| 239 | [[/folder]] |
| 240 | |
| 241 | [[folder:Real Life]] |
| 242 | * Many blades designed for modern military use or survival are painted black or blued so they don't give away their owner's position by reflecting light. The bluing also prevents rust, which is the point of bluing in the first place. |
| 243 | * The sharpest manufacturable blades are made of obsidian, which is a black volcanic glass (it has an entry under AbsurdlySharpBlade). Obsidian saw more use as arrowheads and knives than swords, and currently is often used to make surgical scalpels for when an incredibly clean cut is required. |
| 244 | * A steel cutting tool (such as a knife or machine tool head) with a layer of titanium carbonitride deposited upon it will have a glossy, very dark gray finish. It'll also hold its edge longer and much more resistant to corrosion and wear as a bonus. |
| 245 | * At one point, civilizations capable of creating the much darker steel (from which the term ''black''smith came) ''is'' this trope, especially if their neighbors were using the comparatively inferior bronze weapons. |
| 246 | * [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damascus_steel Damascus steel,]] while not black, is ''much'' darker than normal steel, and thanks to unique impurities in the metal is also far stronger than any other form of steel humans were capable of making up until the industrial era. |
| 247 | [[/folder]] |
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