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11
12->''"How can you use a weapon of ultimate mass destruction when it can stand in judgement on you?"''
13-->-- '''The General''', ''Series/DoctorWho'', "[[Recap/DoctorWho50thASTheDayOfTheDoctor The Day of the Doctor]]"
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15%%One quote is sufficient. Please place additional entries on the quotes tab.
16
17The Empathic Weapon has a mind of its own, and reacts to the feelings of the people around it. [[OnlyTheChosenMayWield It only allows one person to wield it.]] The weapon acknowledges the hero's desires and good qualities, and is willing to help him out. The hero also tends to treat (and even talk to) it as if it were a person of some kind. The hero doesn't simply wield it. He will ''ask'' it for help.
18
19Quite often, it is [[ClingyMacGuffin designed to be impossible to lose]], no matter how much you wish it gone. If the villain ever gets hold of it, [[LoyalPhlebotinum it simply won't work because it doesn't want to.]] It ''will'' occasionally stop working [[PsychosomaticSuperpowerOutage if the hero is in doubt]], the [[PatheticDroopingWeapon weapon drooping in shame]] is optional. If it ''[[WreckedWeapon breaks]]'', it [[KnightOfCerebus tends to be a big deal]].
20
21A lot of HumongousMecha fall into this category, as it seems Japanese writers love to personify machines. Compare {{Mons}}, which typically also depend on the [[BondCreatures bond]] with the main characters.
22
23Beware of the EvilWeapon, it’s EvilCounterpart and {{Counterpart Artifact|s}}. Compare PsychoactivePowers. It may also serve as an AmplifierArtifact. Empathic Weapons tend to usually be some form of SituationalSword or EvolvingWeapon. It may also be a LivingWeapon. If the weapon "helps out" by taking physical control of its bearer it becomes a case of WeaponWieldsYou. If the weapon decides for some reason the bearer is not worthy, they’re RejectedByTheEmpathicWeapon.
24
25If the weapon communicates actively with the characters, it is instead a TalkingWeapon. May be a literal SmartGun.
26----
27!!Examples:
28
29[[foldercontrol]]
30
31[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
32* ''Manga/AngelSanctuary'': Kira can summon Shiranui, a sword that choose him as its wielder itself. Furthermore, Kira himself is [[spoiler:Lucifer]], the soul powering Setsuna's sword Nanatsusaya.
33* ''Manga/{{Arachnid}}'' features the Kumoito, a pistol that fires a blade hooked to [[RazorFloss a length of thread.]] It is meant to [[TrapMaster spread traps]] around the user but not only it is difficult to control, it will outright turn on its wielder if their concentration wavers. Alice Fuji is able to tame the weapon thanks to her [[DisabilitySuperpower brain condition]], which greatly enhances her senses and enables her to move the blade as if time is slowed down.
34* ''Manga/ArataTheLegend'': The Hayagami are living gods in the form of weapons.
35* ''Manga/BakusouKyoudaiLetsAndGo'': Mini 4WDs evolve into this as the series goes on. These battery-powered minicars without a steering unit can actively move around the track and change paces according to their owners' will. [[HotBlooded Go]] claims that Cyclone Magnum -- [[MidSeasonUpgrade his second upgrade]] -- has the souls of his preceding cars within it.
36* ''Anime/TheBigO'' plays with this trope a lot.
37** Roger Smith's HumongousMecha locks up on him in combat more than once as a direct result of his emotional state.
38** When Alan Gabriel tries to use another mech for nefarious purposes, it outright murders him in particularly nightmare-inducing scene, even if the [[PsychoForHire sicko]] did deserve it.
39* ''Manga/BlackCat''. Creed's Imagine Blade is this in its Level 2 [[spoiler:and Level 3]] stage. Creed explains that it has a [[{{Synchronization}} mental connection]] with him, to the point that breaking the Imagine Blade would break his mind.
40* ''Manga/BlackClover'': Every grimoire is unique, with its design, shape, size, and thickness dependent on the personality of its user. As a mage becomes stronger and undergoes personal development, the grimoire's blank pages are filled with spells. Because the grimoire chooses its mage, a mage's grimoire is unusable for anyone else, and can't be destroyed.
41* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'': Shinigami all have an Empathic Weapon that is born from their own souls and imprinted onto an Asauchi, which is a blank slate with limitless potential. As the Shinigami bonds with the Asauchi, the Asauchi takes on the form of the Shinigami's soul power in the form of a Zanpakutou. Only the most talented Shinigami can realise this process to such a degree that the Empathic Weapon fully awakens into a TalkingWeapon. If the sword breaks in battle, it can heal itself afterwards if given enough time. However, if the sword breaks while in [[SuperMode bankai]], the weapon can never be restored to its original form. The only exception is believed to be Komamura's. At one point, the villainous Pepe Waccabrada points out that since Zanpakutou are sentient, they are vulnerable to his Love ability. He makes Byakuya's sword Senbonzakura fall in love with him, to the point it jumps out of Byakuya's hand and attacks its owner.
42* ''Anime/BrainPowerd'': The Brains are organic and intelligent, and their pilots tend to do more guiding, training and ordering than piloting in the traditional sense. At least for newborn Brains; most of them are outfitted with a cockpit at the first opportunity. Still, it's possible for a Brain to get angry or rattled in battle and do something stupid, at which point the pilot's job is supposedly to ''scold'' it.
43* ''Anime/BubukiBuranki'': The half-titular weapons react to their wielders' will and commands, with many Bubuki being capable of moving on their own through flight or physical movement. This carries over to their [[HumongousMecha Buranki]] [[CombiningMecha forms]] as well -- where you now have a team of five trying to work in synchrony...
44* Creator/{{CLAMP}}: Empathic weapons have a cameo in the super-crossover series ''Manga/TsubasaReservoirChronicle''; in the world of Hanshin, every person has a guardian spirit or ''kudan''. Stronger-willed and more aggressive people use their kudan to fight each other. Unsurprisingly, both the protagonist Syaoran and [[TheBigGuy tough guy Kurogane]] get kudan that take the form of weapons, although they don't get to take the weapons with them when they leave.
45* ''Literature/CursedSwordMaster'' starts the story with Soujiro's beloved katana speaking to him telepathically the moment he wakes up in another world after being resurrected from his death on Earth, foiling a robbery led ''by his own estranged father.''
46* ''Manga/DGrayMan'': Exorcists can activate their Innocence with thought alone, though most utilize [[CallingYourAttacks verbal commands]] to invoke their abilities. Equipment-types are slow to respond while Parasite-types [[spoiler: and Crystal-types]] react much faster. Sentient Innocence are rare, with only [[RedRightHand Allen's Crowned Clown]], Klaud Nine's Lau Jimin [[spoiler: and [[HumanoidAbomination Cardinal/Apocryphos]]]] being known to have sentience.
47* ''Anime/DieBuster'': The Buster Machines are an extreme version of this, as not only do they "talk" to their pilots, but they actually ''outlast'' them; to a Buster Machine, the pilot is little more than a battery, and the oldest Buster Machine, Dix-Neuf, has had ''dozens'' of pilots in its lifetime.
48* ''Manga/DragonQuestTheAdventureOfDai'': Dai's orhicalcum sword can gauge the enemy ability: if he's too weak it stays locked in the scabbard to avoid excessive damage. It's also shown reacting to Dai's determination and protecting him with an energy shield.
49* ''Anime/ElHazardTheMagnificentWorld'':
50** Sometimes the Empathic Weapon is a living, organic creature that just happens to be usable as weaponry or armor. Such as Princess Fatora's cat.
51** Also Ifurita, a living weapon so powerful she helped destroy the previous civilization.
52* ''Anime/EurekaSeven'':
53** The Nirvash type ZERO mech; Eureka frequently communicates with it and says that it has feelings, although Renton seems unable to perceive or understand these things. Further it reacts to Renton's emotions and his desire to protect Eureka. [[spoiler: At the end of the series, it's revealed that Nirvash is actually a sentient being, and experiencing Renton and Eureka's love for one another helps it reach enlightenment and prevent TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt.]]
54** An argument could similarly be made for typeTHE END. By the end [[spoiler:it is willing to sacrifice itself to protect Dominic and Anemone]].
55** The Nirvash requires its pilot(s) to have confidence in themselves and in it; in the ''New Wave'' [=PS2=] game, military pilot-turned rebel Sumner Sturgeon could not get it to start until he said that he believed he could.
56* ''Literature/TheFamiliarOfZero'': Derflinger is in a sword that is at first thought to be worthless due to the low price it was purchased for, but it's in fact a TalkingWeapon that is stronger than any sword wielded by Saito. His personality's what you would expect an under-valued sword to be, but he in general considers Saito an equal partner in combat.
57* ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'': The Kaleidosticks, appearing in the ''VisualNovel/FateHollowAtaraxia'' and ''Manga/FateKaleidLinerPrismaIllya'' spin-offs. They offer their wielders tremendous power and knowledge, but also have the unfortunate tendency to intentionally manipulate those same wielders into humiliating situations for their own amusement. Ruby is much worse about it than Sapphire, but both of them force the MagicalGirl costume...
58* ''Literature/FullMetalPanic'': Sōsuke's ''HumongousMecha'' comes equipped with Al, an Artificial Intelligence that ends up developing considerably more of a sense of humor than Sōsuke himself has. More importantly, the mech's Lambda Driver superweapon runs off of Sōsuke's own emotions and aggressive impulses. Not the best thing to give to TheStoic, really.
59-->'''Sōsuke:''' Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. What a piece of junk...\
60'''Al:''' Agreed. Total garbage.\
61'''Sōsuke:''' Oh, so now you're getting cute on me. Huh, funny guy?\
62'''Al:''' Affirmative.
63* ''Anime/GaoGaiGar'' has the G-Stones, which are powered by the heroes Courage, when their courage begins to wane anything powered by a G-Stone will begin to falter. This is rarely an issue since everyone from the Crazy Commander to Token Foreigner and the robots have [[HotBlooded Lava running in their veins.]]
64* ''Manga/GaRei'': The [[InfinityPlusOneSword Michael Revolution]]. If the user doubts themselves or their cause, the sword won't allow itself to be drawn from its sheath, yet if the user believes hard enough in the PowerOfLove, it can [[spoiler:''[[RealityWarper cross dimensions]]'']].
65* ''Anime/GearFighterDendoh'': The Data Weapon upgrades are [[{{Mons}} sentient data entities]] who won't even let people acquire them in the first place unless that person feels very strongly the emotion associated with the particular weapon (hope for Unicorn Drill, confidence for Viper Whip, etc.) If a person who "saves" a Data Weapon ever loses that driving emotion, the Weapon will leave.
66* ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'':
67** More Gundams do this sort of thing than you'd think. Though it's either Retconned or handwaved away, oftentimes many Gundams somehow respond to their pilot's emotional state. Examples include the Zeta Gundam powering up to destroy the BigBad, or the Nu Gundam's [[spoiler:psychoframe technology suddenly creating a large psychic wave and sacrificing itself (and presumably the pilot) to prevent Earth from being hit with a ColonyDrop]]. The titular mech of ''Gundam 00'' activates itself based on what appears to be Setsuna's [[strike:PowerOfLove]] persuasive argument to do so. The Unicorn Gundam shuts down on its own when Banagher is crying, but once he decides to fight, it activates on its own, and on occasions it has activated its NT-D when Banagher wants it to.
68** ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'': The Gundams all tend to have an empathic component, which is required to use their full strength.
69** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing'': Most of the characters talk to their mecha, though it could be for other reasons. You also have the case of when Quatre activates the Sandrock's self-destruct with the intent of sacrificing himself with it. Sandrock then opens its chest with the implication being that it wants him to survive, before walking towards the enemy on its own so Quatre can get away. Then there is Duo's Deathscythe when it is heavily damaged in space; Duo attempts to hit the self-destruct button, but as he is not wearing a spacesuit to get out, it just plain refuses to work.
70** Where other Gundam shows leave it ambiguous, the Universal Century series make it clear that the entire point behind Psycommu Systems like the Biosensor or Psychoframe is to turn mobile suits into this for [[PsychicPowers Newtype]] pilots. Since its introduction in ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam'' the technology has been refined and enhanced, starting with Kamille and Judau being able to give their machines a power-boost, to [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Amuro]] being able to directly control his Nu Gundam with thoughts alone (to the point where stray thoughts can make him lose control of his [[AttackDrones Funnels]]), and finally [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn Banagher]], who's able to take this to its logical conclusion by being able to control the Unicorn and its Funnel-Shields even when he's not inside the machine.
71** The Gundam Aerial from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamTheWitchFromMercury'' is this on a whole new level compared to its counterparts - a tie-in novel reveals that the Mobile Suit seemingly carries an onboard AI that is both sentient and fully conscious, with the novel ''and'' the theme song of the show being from its perspective.
72* ''Manga/HeroTales'' has the conqueror's sword, Kenkaranpu. It can be drawn only by one acknowledged by the sword itself. First the only one who could do this was TheHero Taitō Shirei. Later, [[spoiler:when Taitō found out he was related to the emperor, but decided not to run for the throne (and thus turned down the fate of the conqueror), the BigBad Keirō]] became able to draw the Kenkaranpu.
73* ''Manga/{{Inuyasha}}'':
74** Tessaiga and Tenseiga both have consciousness and a will of their own, most evident in Sesshoumaru's interactions with both swords. He loathes Tenseiga for being a HealingShiv that can't cut anything and covets Inuyasha's [[InfinityPlusOneSword Tessaiga]] instead, but Tenseiga freely protects him anyway and often prompts him to use its healing power. Tessaiga is less assertive but prompts Inuyasha the same way when necessary. On one occasion, both swords even ''work together'' to nudge their two stubborn masters into cooperation, a phenomenon which Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru end up calling "Resonance." Sesshoumaru unhappily interprets it as a sign that Tenseiga is Tessaiga's slave. [[spoiler: It actually means that Tenseiga is Tessaiga's ''guide,'' which is the role their father intended for Sesshoumaru to play for Inuyasha.]]
75** Along the same lines, Sango's boomerang Hiraikotsu is inhabited by the souls of several demons whose bones were used to make the boomerang, giving it its own degree of sentience. At one point [[spoiler:the demons actually become rather cross with her and refuse to help her because she sacrificed Hiraikotsu in order to save Miroku]].
76** Sesshoumaru's ''other'' sword, Toukijin, has its own [[EvilWeapon evil]] will and takes control of the body of the smith who forged it by sheer force of malice. The terrible amount of malice and evil power contained within it allows it to animate its creator's corpse even after Miroku kills him and not even UltimateBlacksmith Toutousai can get close to the sword later on to negate its power. However, Sesshoumaru is so much more powerful (and strong-willed) that he completely represses Toukijin's will when he takes possession of it, and the sword's will is therefore never again an issue.
77** In the third movie ''[[Anime/InuYashaTheMovieSwordsOfAnHonorableRuler Swords of an Honorable Ruler]]'', it's revealed that Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's father had a third sword, Sō’unga, called by Toutousai "the sword of hell," which is so evil it turns Inuyasha full demon, then finds, resurrects, and control's the man who killed Inuyasha's father, and tries to open the portal to hell just out of spite.
78* In the ''Franchise/{{Kirby}}'' [[Anime/KirbyRightBackAtYa anime series]], Meta Knight's sword Galaxia is an ancient, legendary weapon [[ForgedByTheGods forged thousands of years ago]] and is said to have its own soul. If it doesn't like the intent of the person trying to wield it, it electrocutes them. It's also able to [[TalkingWeapon communicate]] with those who try to wield it, apparently telepathically.
79* The legendary Maou's sword "Morgif" in ''Literature/KyoKaraMaoh'' is supposed to be a powerful weapon in tune with its wielder, but because Yuuri's [[JekyllAndHyde demon king side]] is usually sealed, all it does for him is groan a bit.
80* In ''Literature/LordMarksmanAndVanadis'', the Dragonic Tools are semi-sentient weapons that choose their wielders. Tigre's black bow goes a step farther, and sends thoughts into his head.
81* In ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'', there are "Devices" that serve as MagiTek / MagicFromTechnology {{Magic Wand}}s. Armed Devices have limited intelligence and personalities, and no gender. They will provide feedback, advise a course of action, or give a short peptalk (or even a subtle ''[[GetAHoldOfYourselfMan verbal challenge]]'') if their user appears lost. Intelligent Devices, with smarter [=AIs=], do these things more often, have more complex personalities, even genders, occasionally hold whole conversations with their masters, and are willing to undergo dangerous upgrades as a matter of pride to protect said masters. [[FusionDance Unison Devices]] are the epitome, being complete, self-mobile persons in themselves. Though less often seen in-series, the Storage-type Devices are more common in their world, and have no real personalities at all.
82* ''Manga/MagicKnightRayearth'' has the swords of the Magic Knights. As their spirits and convictions mature, so do their weapons (and their armor as well, for that matter).
83* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'':
84** The Akatsuki member Kisame Hoshigaki wields Samehada, a living, shark-skinned sword which ''eats'' chakra and ''visibly digests it''. Also, if anyone other than Kisame tries to grab the handle, it skewers their hands with spikes. Its full form steps right into terror as [[spoiler:it starts making noises, grows at least double its previous size and a mouth grows near the tip of the sword and ''starts drooling'']]. In Chapter 472 [[spoiler:it rebels against Kisame. Apparently it likes the Hachibi's chakra so much that it doesn't want him and his chakra to disappear. Later this turns out to be a ploy, but it still did something it wasn't supposed to. And it goes back to the Hachibi's host ''again'' at the first opportunity, leaving Kisame to fight (and lose to) Might Guy without its assistance. It turns out that when your sword decides it likes your enemy better than it likes you, you're in trouble. Imagine that.]]
85** It's not exactly a weapon, but [[spoiler:Sasuke's version of Susanoo]] seems to work this way in that it changes shapes based on the intensity of his emotions.
86* The Evangelions in ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'' were a rather disturbing deconstruction of this trope, combining it with OrganicTechnology. The reason Shinji is selected as the pilot for Eva 01? It's because Eva 01 [[spoiler: contains his [[HumanResources mother's soul]], who wants to protect Shinji]]. The same is true for Asuka, Eva 02, and [[spoiler: Asuka's mother]].
87* ''Manga/OnePiece'':
88** Zoro often treats the named swords he acquires like they're these, particularly the one he started with that was previously owned by his childhood friend. He also proves his luck is stronger than his named blade's curse.
89** The ''Going Merry'' (the Straw Hats' former ship) is also shown to have a soul and supports them [[spoiler:in Skypiea and Enies Lobby]]
90** Lassoo the dachshund and Funkfreed the elephant... as they are actually a gun and sword, respectively. Through an unknown method, these weapons somehow "consumed" Devil Fruits and ''became sentient''. Like all other Zoan Devil Fruit users, they are freely able to transform between their original form, animal form, and hybrid form.
91* ''Anime/PanzerWorldGalient'': The titular mecha often feels its pilot's distress and reacts, acting off its own accord to protect or save Jordy.
92* In one episode of ''Anime/PrettySammy'', Sammy's baton is shown to have a will of its own whenever it gets separated from her. When Haida ends up with it, it tries to direct her behavior towards being a paragon of justice while she just uses her powers for selfish reasons.
93* ''Manga/RecordOfRagnarok'' has the Volunds, weapons created from the souls of {{Valkyries}} who have had a ritual performed to bond their soul with that of a warrior's, allowing the Valkyrie to transform into a magically enhanced version of the warrior's [[WeaponSpecialization weapon of choice]]. However, this bond also means that [[{{Synchronization}} if the warrior dies, the Valkyrie will also die]].
94* {{Deconstructed}} in ''Literature/TheRisingOfTheShieldHero''. What happens when your Legendary Weapon also reacts to your worst emotions? The result is the Curse Series, the SuperpoweredEvilSide of the Legendary Heroes' weapons, which only become accessible when the wielder flies past the DespairEventHorizon. While they do grant powerful moves and are terrifyingly powerful, they also eat away at the user by intensifying the associated emotion (i.e. hatred or greed) until it is the user's only motivation -- and that doesn't take into account the other detriments.
95* The [[MineralMacGuffin Silver Crystal]] in ''Anime/SailorMoon'' is implied to be one. It's said that it responds to and follows its wielder's heart. Later on, Sailor Moon becomes so bonded with it that she'll die if it's broken or taken from her.
96* The [[PoweredArmor Cloths]] of Athena's Saints in ''Manga/SaintSeiya'' have a will of their own. Those who wear them must first prove themselves worthy of the honor, and they must make ''some'' effort of upholding Athena's ideals (such as when a Gold Cloth outright ''abandoned'' its master in the middle of a battle.) The [[EpicFlail Andromeda Chain]] takes this one step further, as it can sense and attack a source of danger long before its wielder does, sometimes ''against'' said wielder's intentions.
97* ''Anime/SakuraWars2000'':
98** Li Kohran insists that the steam-powered ''kohbu'' armors have "hearts" and respond to the affection and attention of their users; events in the series seem to support her, but no definite determination is ever made.
99** Sakura's holy sword Arataka is also like this. It won't allow anyone unworthy to wield it.
100* In ''Manga/SeraphOfTheEnd'', the vampire hunters have special weapons that give them the power to destroy vampires. Each weapon has a demon in its interior that has made a pact with the owner of the weapon.
101* Most oversouls In ''Manga/ShamanKing'' qualify, since most of them are made from spirits of dead beings. However some Shamans use objects for their oversouls. [[spoiler:The most blatant are the Xlaws, who aside from their leader and Lyserg, use cars to create their angel oversouls. They try to justify it by explaining the cars are one-of-a-kind, loving products of their builders who dedicated so much effort into them that, in a way, some of their creator's spirit ended up in the vehicles.]]
102* ''Manga/SilentMobius'': Grospoliner, Gesso, and Medium are examples of this trope. Of these, only Grospoliner is heard to speak to anyone other than its wielder, and Medium is an evil sword capable of [[DemonicPossession possessing]] its wielder.
103* In ''Anime/{{Simoun}}'', the eponymous vehicles are powered by both pilots' feelings towards each other, as proven in Episode 12 when the twin sisters' aircraft spirals out of control.
104* The Living Weapons in ''Manga/SoulEater''. Conflict, either personal or between meister and Weapon leads to weakened combat ability, and in extreme cases the Weapon can't be wielded without causing harm to the meister.
105* In ''Anime/SpaceRunawayIdeon'', though the title robot itself is not sentient, the strange energy that powers it (called Ide) has a will of its own, and though it is never seen or technically communicated with, the show's cast know when it has been angered or has decided to forsake them.
106* The Master Key from ''Anime/TenchiMuyo'' is quite fussy about who is allowed to wield it. Anyone unsuitable gets a painful electric shock. In one case, when the unsuitable wielder insists on holding on, the jolt got so powerful that it ''blew up his hand''. He promptly grew a new one, but it did stop him from stealing it.
107* In ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' the Gunmen and Lagann are powered by the pilot's fighting spirit; if the pilot is lackluster or doubting, it won't move. Thankfully, they have Kamina. One robot wouldn't start up because the pilot was ''hungry''. Thankfully, they had [[EatTheDog Boota...]]
108* ''Manga/TisTimeForTorturePrincess'': Excalibur, Ex for short, is the Princess' trusted companion who's aided her in many a perilous endeavor. While he and the Princess are in captivity, he acts as pretty much the OnlySaneMan when it comes to all the PokeThePoodle "tortures" the Hellhorde frequently, and successfully, inflict on her, alongside him gradually [[BrokenPedestal losing faith]] in his former image of the Princess as an unflappable warrior.
109* The Seventh Holy Scripture from ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}'', a humongous harpoon gun thing that fires bible scriptures (... as spears, okay?) to stop reincarnations. It's powered by the soul of a young medieval girl crossed with the horn of a unicorn. Generally, it's called Nana (7 in Japanese) until Arihiko renames it Nanako. Oddly enough for this sort of thing, it's definitely its bearer who has the upper hand here, because Nanako is terrified of her.
110* ''Literature/TheTwelveKingdoms'': Youko's magic sword has a mind and a (bad) personality of his own. At one point, Youko's consciousness is sucked into the blade, where she [[spoiler:meets the spirit of the sword in the shape of a talking monkey who tries to corrupt her into TheDarkSide. She must beat him in a dialectical duel to break the psychic entrapping, return to her body and (finally) gain full control of the sword.]]
111* ''Anime/ValkyrieDriveMermaid'': The Extar are this in virtue of being girls turned into weapons through extreme arousal.
112* In ''Anime/TheVisionOfEscaflowne'', it is mentioned that at least some Ispano mecha bond with their owners, sometimes even fighting on after the death of their master. Escaflowne itself seems to possess a similar ability.
113* ''Anime/YuGiOh'':
114** Yugi and his friends talk about the "Heart of the Cards" which is a philosophy that turns out to be correct more than once. Although the actual term is unique to the dub, the effects (that is, drawing the card you need) go all the way back to the manga.
115** Seto Kaiba and his Blue Eyes White Dragon(s! -- he has 3 of them) have a bond that goes beyond the normal {{Synchronization}} between duelists and cards. Even Kaiba, [[AgentScully who insists he doesn't believe in magic]], acknowledges his uncanny ability to draw it when he needs it the most. [[spoiler:It's the spirit of a MysteriousWaif he loved in a past life.]]
116** In ''Anime/YuGiOhGX'', Jaden has a similar bond with Winged Kuriboh, which in the manga has a spirit within it. Manjoume has the Ojama trio in the anime and Light and Darkness Dragon (which is also a spirit card) in the manga. In the anime, Jaden also used to have this with [[spoiler: [[StalkerWithACrush Yubel]], when he was younger. Then he sent her off into space, and she was ''not'' happy when she came back.]]
117* ''Franchise/{{Zoids}}'': All Zoids are technically sentient according canon, it's just that only certain Zoids get to show it in the anime series.
118** The Liger Zero from ''Anime/ZoidsNewCentury'' is an excellent example. It can make its own decisions, which occasionally turn out to be the ''wrong'' ones, requiring its pilot Bit Cloud to pull them out of the fire. Bit occassionally gives {{Rousing Speech}}es to it.
119** The Berserk Fury is the same way (allowing it to continue operating even when its pilot is knocked out cold).
120[[/folder]]
121
122[[folder:Comic Books]]
123* ''ComicBook/TheAvengers'': The Tactigon and Gauntlet's gauntlet from ''ComicBook/AvengersTheInitiative''. The Tactigon has an unsettling tendency to choose...''disturbed''... individuals as the wielders of its immense destructive power -- when we first see it, its host is Armory, a suicidal psychopath. The gauntlet on the other hand [[spoiler: once took over Gauntlet's body when he was in a coma to protect him when an AxCrazy clone wielding the Tactigon was hunting him down]].
124* ''ComicBook/BuckGodotZapGunForHire'': The series by Phil Foglio includes a SpacePirate character called The Pistol Packin' Polaris Packrat who wields two sentient laser pistols. One is called "Smith", and the other is called "Wesson". They are capable of speech and firing themselves, and they are demonstrably smarter than the Packrat (although that's not saying much). They profess to believe that Buck's zap-gun, "Junior", is likewise sentient, but if this is true Junior is keeping quiet about it.
125* ''ComicBook/DarthVaderDarkLordOfTheSith'': While the connection between a lightsabers kyber crystal and the lightsaber's wielder in the force had been touched on before, the series goes into more detail. Darth Vader is sent to hunt down and kill a Jedi and then "bleed" the kyber crystal from the Jedi's saber to make a dark side user's distinctive red lightsaber for himself. The crystal fights back with visions trying to bring him back to the light, but it ultimately fails.
126* ''ComicBook/DoctorStrange'': The Eye of Agamotto serves powerful wielders of light magic. On at least two occasions Strange ventured too far into dark magic and the Eye refused to work for him.
127* ''ComicBook/{{Empowered}}'': The title character's [[ClothesMakeTheSuperman hypermembrane]].
128* ''ComicBook/GoldDigger'': The being who offers herself up for this purpose to Fauntleroy come to mind.
129* ''ComicBook/GreenLantern'': The Green Lantern rings seem to qualify for this [[DependingOnTheWriter sometimes]].
130** This was shown somewhat significantly in the Elseworlds story ''[[ComicBook/TheNail JLA: Another Nail]]''; a Green Lantern was killed while trying to save some of the slaves on Apokolips. The ring fled before the killer could take it. It chose Big Barda as the wielder since she's the only native on Apokolips worthy of such a weapon. It let the Guardians know of the wielder "in a tone and authority that surprised" them. It also merged with a Mother Box and bonded with Mister Miracle, with Highfather's approval.
131** In ''JLA: Earth 2'', Green Lantern's evil analogue, Power Ring, has a... power ring inhabited by a sentient being referring to itself as "entity Volthoom". Pre-Crisis Earth-3, Volthoom was a "mad monk".
132* ''ComicBook/TheMightyThor'':
133** Thor's hammer Mjölnir. It doesn't matter how strong you are, but how ''worthy'' you are to wield it. The ''[[ComicBook/TheIncredibleHulk Hulk]]'' can barely lift it an inch. But ComicBook/CaptainAmerica was able to pick it up and throw it. Another instance had [[TheRealHeroes an emergency worker]] hand Mjölnir to a beaten Thor.\
134Even ComicBook/{{Superman}} isn't worthy of it -- the one time he wielded it, Odin lifted the enchantment because of the crisis at hand. ComicBook/WonderWoman, however, apparently is. Which actually makes sense when you consider that "worthiness" is judged by Odin's standards, and thus a true warrior spirit (including a willingness to kill but only when it's absolutely necessary, something Wonder Woman has demonstrated but [[ThouShaltNotKill Superman has not]]) would likely be part of the equation.
135** ComicBook/BetaRayBill's hammer Stormbreaker has a similar enchantment. It was forged for him after he had proven worthy of Mjölnir, and really needed its power to defend his people, so that neither Thor nor Bill would have to be de-powered. Bill only realized he was taking his vendetta against Galactus too far when he couldn't lift Stormbreaker after he did something especially awful in a bid to kill Galactus.
136* ''ComicBook/NikolaiDante'': Nikolai has his weapons crest, as do the other Romanovs -- in Nikolai's case, this causes swords to burst forth from his hands at the moment of battle.
137* ''ComicBook/RequiemVampireKnight'': Thurim's hammer will zaAAARRRRCHZZZCHZPTp those who are not worthy.
138* ''ComicBook/RogueTrooper'': Gunnar, a gun fitted with a chip containing the mind of Rogue's dead buddy. There's also Bagman, an empathic backpack, and Helm, an empathic ''helmet''.
139* ''ComicBook/{{Runaways}}'':
140** Old Lace, the psychic dinosaur.
141** Klara's plants might also count. If she doesn't trust you, they will make sure that you don't get anywhere near her.
142* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': Symbiotes (ComicBook/{{Venom}}, ComicBook/{{Carnage}}, ComicBook/{{Toxin}}, you know the guys) may fit the bill, and are about as empathic as a weapon could get. Their level of personality has crept up over the years though to the point they're more like characters.
143* ''ComicBook/SteelgripStarkeyAndTheAllPurposePowerTool'': The eponymous device will only work for Steelgrip because he is pure of heart. He {{lampshade|Hanging}}s this trope when he says it feels like the APPT is silently communicating with him.
144* ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'': The story ''ComicBook/TheDayTheCheeringStopped'' has the Sword of Superman, a weapon forged at the dawn of the universe which avoids every attempt to grab it during billions of years until it is needed by Superman; whereupon it heads towards Earth and leaps into his right hand.
145* ''ComicBook/{{WITCH}}'': The heart of Kandrakar is an empathic-amulet, but with a justified reason: It's a vessel to the soul of Xing Ying, a Chinese nymph, who died when she freed the four element-dragons from an unfair punishment.
146* ''ComicBook/{{Witchblade}}'': The titular shape-shifting magical relic/blade/handcannon/armor.
147[[/folder]]
148
149[[folder:Fan Works]]
150* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'':
151** {{Mjolnir}}, which as per canon only lets those who are worthy wield it, such as Thor, Steve [[NoodleIncident (who, totally unaware of the significance, used it as a doorstop)]], Diana, and to general astonishment, [[spoiler: Maddie Pryor a.k.a. Rachel Grey]]. In the latter case, it also revealed that it has an actual mind of its own, providing an explanation of sorts of what it meant to be Worthy when [[spoiler: Maddie]] enquired.
152** Then there's Alan Scott's Green Lantern Ring. No one's entirely sure how smart it is, but based on Strange's remarks, it's capable of forming nuanced opinions on people. In ''Unfinished Business'', it proves that it can operate on its own, teleporting people and forming constructs, to further its agenda. This is highlighted as part of the problem with wielding it long-term: it influences people towards its agenda, which is protecting the Earth and its magic. Protecting humanity and preventing collateral damage as very much secondary considerations, leading to some obvious problems.
153** All wands are this to one degree or another, as is the Sword of Gryffindor.
154** The Infinity Stones might have some degree of awareness, but the Time Stone, is the 'odd one out' and the only one known for sure to act on its own (no one's sure if the Tesseract was just reacting to the Red Skull or not) but the Time Stone explicitly moves and acts. Most notably, it [[spoiler: gave Doctor Strange his immortality, greatly expanded his mastery of time magic, and immeasurably enhanced his gifts as a {{Seer|s}}, sufficient that he's frequently assumed to be omniscient]]. No one knows exactly why. However, considering that [[spoiler: Strange has spent all his very long life since trying to thwart Thanos]], the smart money is that it knows what Thanos is planning and really, ''really'' does not like it.
155** Harry's sword [[spoiler: Curtana]], after its reforging, is suggested to be this -- Loki warns that one should be careful when trying to pick it up, as it might 'bite'.
156** Van, the sword of Frey, ended up as this, lodging itself in the tree that was the original focus for Yggdrasil and refused to move until a suitably worthy wielder tried to draw it. This was considered somewhat odd since it wasn't actually enchanted to do this, not even by Doctor Strange (who explicitly says that it's NotMeThisTime, and was as puzzled as everyone else), and it hadn't been enchanted for long enough to develop a mind of its own the way Mjolnir did.
157* The [[HumongousMecha Robot Lions]] in ''Fanfic/CodeGeassPaladinsOfVoltron''. If their pilots are in danger, the lions will go to them even if no one's in the cockpit.
158* ''Fanfic/DateALiveAlteredTimeline'': The Spirit's [[OurAngelsAreDifferent Angels]] are sentient, to the point that they will take over the Spirit's bodies when they sense a power strong enough to threaten them, if the Spirits have not yet fully awakened.
159* ''Fanfic/GodSlayingBladeWorks'' has Arondight, formerly wielded by Sir Lancelot of the Lake. It ''summons itself'' within Shirou's hand, because Guinevere cried for help. She wasn't the same Guinevere -- as Shirou came from another dimension entirely -- but she ''was'' Guinevere, and Lancelot loved Guinevere. Loved her so deeply, this love imbued Arondight and granted the sword its ability. Because when Guinevere needs help... Lancelot will rescue her. Always.
160* ''Fanfic/TheGoodHunter'': From how Cyril speaks to his [[SpellBlade Holy Moonlight]] [[{{BFS}} Sword]] in Chapter 6, we can see that the sword seems to have a rather [[BloodKnight battle-hungry personality]], providing guidance to its wielder when a hunt is afoot.
161* Celestia and Luna each had one in ''Fanfic/JustBeforeTheDawn''. While Celestia loses hers during an attack, she ends up gifting Luna's old blade to Tercio after Luna ends up being banished to the moon.
162* What Kyon's new weapon in ''Fanfic/KyonBigDamnHero'' appears to be.
163* Definitely John's Kansael and the Hunter's {{BFS}} Blackfire, and possibly George's Tribune ring, in ''Fanfic/WithStringsAttached''. The Kansael is semi-sentient and often gives John ideas about what to do with water, though he rejects many of them because they're quite scary. It is also rather opinionated and protective of him. Blackfire turns out to be a demon bound in sword shape. George's ring proves to have [[SoulJar soul-bonded]] with him; at the very least, no one but him will ever be able to use it. It leapt onto his hand after having been torn from him. However, whether it's truly empathic is unknown.
164** By ''Fanfic/TheKeysStandAlone: The Soft World'', the Kansael is getting more and more opinionated, but it saves John's bacon because of this at least once.
165* ''Fanfic/MyMiraculousAcademia'': It is implied by Nooroo that the reason why he is able to sprout butterfly wings is because Izuku wanted to be an "active butterfly" and not just support and thus "the suit responded to that."
166* ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'': The Holy Moonlight Sword whispers to Kyril about the prospect of battle whenever it glows. This trait is an expansion of the sword's [[VideoGame/BloodBorne in-game]] lore, where it is said to offer "a very private, elusive sort" of guidance to the wielder. The sword would be a bona-fide BloodKnight if it were a person.
167* In ''Fanfic/RobbReturns'', Dawn, the famous sword of the Daynes, is one. Anyone not worthy of touching it will notice it is quivering.
168** Other similar weapons appear to have the same shtick. [[spoiler:Otherbane, the Gardener's spear, burns Mace Tyrell's hand when he tries to take it for himself when it is meant to be for his son Willas, and when Joffrey tries to grab the Durrandon's sword, Stormbreaker, he gets electrocuted and BlownAcrossTheRoom.]]
169* What Eduardo's plasma gun turns out to be in ''Squad Broken''.
170* Keyblades are described as weapons that reflect the heart in ''Fanfic/TheTieThatBinds'' and display some traits matching their owners. For example, Void Gear is noted to be eager to work with Xemnas/Ansem, and Wayward Wind abandons Ventus for a while because it doesn't want to leave Aqua alone in the Realm of Darkness.
171* In ''Fanfic/TheWizardInTheShadows'', the Sword of Gryffindor is this. It also shows signs of sapience, choosing its next wielder and occasionally [[spoiler: being used by Godric Gryffindor to possess the wielder]].
172[[/folder]]
173
174[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
175* In ''WesternAnimation/BarbieAndTheMagicOfPegasus'', the Wand of Light refuses to heed Annika's commands to destroy Wenlock and also refuses to work for Wenlock, showing its true powers when Annika uses it to break his spells instead.
176* ''Animation/FiringRange'' gives us a literal Emphatic Tank that senses and analyzes the enemy's (actually anyone's) hatred and fear, using them respectively to dodge their attacks and kill them.
177[[/folder]]
178
179[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
180* ''Film/{{Alice in Wonderland|2010}}'': The Vorpal Sword is implied to have a mind of its own. Before the FinalBattle, Alice is advised that all she needs to do is hold the sword and let it do the work. The Jabberwocky seems to have a history with the weapon, addressing the sword as his "ancient enemy" and dismissing Alice as its "insignificant bearer".
181* ''Film/{{Excalibur}}'' treats the title sword this way. When Arthur uses the sword to strike down Lancelot in anger, it shatters. Arthur immediately realizes that he made a ''big'' mistake in using the sword to destroy an honorable knight (and Merlin hangs a lampshade on it with his statement "You have broken what could not ''be'' broken."). His admission of that fact allows the Lady of the Lake to repair Excalibur and revive Lancelot.
182* ''Film/TheHungerGamesMockingjayPart1'': The Mockingjay bow.
183* Excalibur, again, in TNT's ''Film/TheLibrarian'' franchise.
184* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:
185** The Avengers film ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'' has a scene in which various Avengers (all of whom are drunk at the time) try to lift {{Mjolnir}}; Tony Stark tries, fails, and then puts on his Iron Man glove and ''still'' fails; he and War Machine then try to lift it ''together'' and can't budge it. The Hulk (who is in Bruce form at the time, but failed to lift it as the Hulk in the first Avengers movie -- as stated in the Comic Books section, strength doesn't matter) can't move it. Even Captain America can't wield it (though he does manage to ''lift'' it slightly, and Thor's reaction suggests that was a lot closer than Thor was expecting). However, later someone other than Thor ''does'' lift it: [[spoiler: While the Avengers are trying to decide whether to trust the Vision or not, Vision]] casually picks it up and hands it to Thor before heading out. After a few moments of stunned silence from everyone, Thor says "right" and follows, followed in turn by everyone else.
186*** ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' shows that [[spoiler:Captain America lifting it was actually him trying not to show Thor up, because, during the FinalBattle, he manages to call it like Thor does and proceeds to wield it like an expert against Thanos.]] What's more, Thor knew ''exactly'' what was up and had been anticipating it, reacting with a gleeful, "I ''knew'' it!"
187** ''Film/{{Doctor Strange|2016}}'' treats the Cloak of Levitation in this manner, where unlike many other sorcerers' weapons, it has a mind of its own, specifically ''choosing'' the ones it will help and allow to wear it. It also often acts a SilentSnarker and a HypercompetentSidekick -- initially, it's significantly more competent than Strange himself, impatiently dragging him towards a more effective weapon.
188* ''Film/MysteryMen'' has [[ActionGirl The Bowler]], who wields a Bowling Ball inhabited by the spirit of her dead father. More often than not, she ends up arguing with it.
189-->'''Blue Raja:''' Am I to understand that you have inserted your ''father's'' skull into that... ball for bowling?\
190'''The Bowler:''' No, no, of course not. The guy at the pro shop did it.
191* The Jaegers from ''Film/PacificRim'', courtesy of the neural link. The stronger the mental and emotional connection between the pilots, the greater control they have over their Jaeger, which translates into better performance in battle. This is why many pilot teams know each other inside and out by being blood relatives, lovers, or lifelong friends.
192* The Phurba from ''Film/TheShadow'' is a [[LivingWeapon living dagger]] with its own head and hands. While it has a will of its own, it can be controlled by a strong-willed psychic, although it responds better to [[DontThinkFeel attempts to control it as an extension of ones own body rather than simply ordering it around]].
193[[/folder]]
194
195[[folder:Gamebooks]]
196* ''Literature/LoneWolf'':
197** Though no obvious evidence is presented in the books, the actions taken by the Sommerswerd to protect both its wielder and itself may prove that it has a spirit of its own. It will also blast any evil creature who tries to pick it up (as in Book 7) and Book 2 states that it will [[OnlyTheChosenMayWield lose its powers if wielded by one without the Kai gifts]].
198** A darker variant is the Darklord sword Helshezag. The sword actually tries to compel Lone Wolf to ''butcher'' his enemies, bearing more than a passing resemblance to other cursed swords in fiction, such as [[Literature/TheElricSaga Stormbringer]] -- which Joe Dever states was in fact the direct inspiration for Helshezag.
199[[/folder]]
200
201[[folder:Jokes]]
202* The field test of the "smart" nuclear bomb was a complete failure - the bomb refused to be pushed out of the plane.
203[[/folder]]
204
205[[folder:Literature]]
206* The Orb of Aldur from ''Literature/TheBelgariad'' has a personality of its own, about that of a small child. It won't let anyone besides Garion [[spoiler:or Eriond]] use it, but is sensitive to surrounding peoples' emotions. It also has beyond godlike power and a tendency to try and be helpful, whether by giving suggestions (responding with instructions to Garion's offhand, sardonic comment about writing his name in the stars) or just being overenthusiastic. Case in point: Garion uses the Orb to knock down a city's gates as a distraction. Said gates (and part of the surrounding walls) are suddenly blasted miles away into the ocean. A little while after acquiring it, he contemplates the "damaged" world and how to fix it. The Orb promptly starts feeding him instructions on how to REBUILD THE WHOLE WORLD.
207* In both Creator/RobinMcKinley's ''Literature/TheBlueSword'' and its prequel, ''Literature/TheHeroAndTheCrown'', the mage Luthe warns the heroine that Gonturan, the eponymous blue sword, is a good ally, but has thoughts of her own and cannot be entirely trusted. In the former, Corlath explains that Gonturan is a woman's sword which will betray any man older than 21 who attempts to carry her. Again in both books, the sword acts to save the day with little instruction from its wielder.
208* In ''Literature/TheBraidedPath'', the Weavers' masks. The Red Order also have their kana.
209* Lloyd Alexander's ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfPrydain'' series (the books, not the Disney adaptation of ''WesternAnimation/TheBlackCauldron'') featured Dyrnwyn, a sword with runes carved on it warning it can only be drawn by certain people (originally thought to be "Royal Blood", [[spoiler:the true translation is eventually found to be "Noble Worth"]]). Taran tries to draw the sword near the end of ''The Book of Three'' and gets his arm burned as a result. [[spoiler:But then, in ''The High King'', he happens to unearth the stolen Dyrnwyn atop Mount Dragon. Desperate for a weapon to fight a charging Cauldron-Born, he grabs and draws the sword. Only ''after'' he draws it does he realize what he's holding...and the fact that it's not burning him, proving he has actually ''earned'' the right to be the sword's new owner.]]
210* The SIG from David Gunn's ''Literature/DeathsHead'', a [[SwissArmyWeapon Swiss Army Pistol]] with an embedded AI. Late in the first book, a top-of-the-line rifle is heavily modified to host said AI, as an extra dose of badass to the protagonist.
211* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': In ''Literature/{{Sourcery}}'', [[{{Tykebomb}} Coin's]] staff acts like this when no-one is around to see it abuse Coin. It also shocks someone else who tries to pick it up. [[spoiler:This is because Coin's father is possessing the staff to use the wunderkind as a tool of revenge]].
212** The first book, ''Literature/TheColourOfMagic'' features a Conan expy called Hrun, who owns a talking sword that he "acquired" from a nobleman. He regrets keeping it when it turns out to be smarter than him, and constantly attempts to give him advice.
213%%** In the book ''Literature/EqualRites'', the staff left for Esk is an example for this trope.%%How?
214* The Great Weapons of Steven Brust's ''Literature/{{Dragaera}}''. They are linked to the soul of their owners, and because [[spoiler:they contain a soul]], they are intelligent, have personalities, and can even occasionally take action without input from their wielders. The wielders we've seen so far all telepathically communicate with their weapons and often refer to them as people; in fact, Blackwand, Nightslayer, and [[spoiler:Godslayer]] are all described as ''female''. Pathfinder is gender-neutral, while Iceflame (and the other 12 not yet mentioned) are unknown.
215* Multiple weapons and artifacts in the ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' universe are implied to be this way, including to some extent the Dragonlances themselves.
216* The Swords of the Cross in ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' are three such swords. They also happen to be the most powerful weapons known (on special occasions), with the possible exception of the Black Athame. They don't initially appear to be sentient in of themselves, but are often used as a conduit by anything up to an Archangel/God himself (that incident at the end of Changes is a bit ambiguous as to which Judaeo-Christian higher being it was, though Dresden himself suggests it was an Archangel), and each chooses their new wielder, often in fairly spectacular fashion. ''Peace Talks'' very strongly implies that, in fact, each nail worked into the hilt is actually containment for a fairly powerful angel.
217* The Bhelliom from ''Literature/TheElenium'' by the same author shares many traits with the Orb, having apparently limitless power (it actually created the world) and can only be safely handled and used by the wearer of two rings containing fragments of the Bhelliom. [[spoiler: Actually Anakha, that is Sparhawk, being ''TheChosenOne'', can use it safely without the rings, since Anakha is supposed to be Bhelliom's servant anyway.]] The Bhelliom also seems to have a slightly more sophisticated intellect than the Orb; at some point during the second series Bhelliom starts taking over one of the companion's body to speak through their mouths. It still goes in for overblown solutions, though; at one point when they are attempting to flee pursuit, Sparhawk asks the Bhelliom for assistance, and it responds by [[spoiler: raising a new mountain range between them and their enemies.]] It's quite proud of itself, too.
218* ''Literature/TheElricSaga'': Stormbringer, the black runeblade wielded by Elric of Melnibone in the novels of Creator/MichaelMoorcock, is an [[YourSoulIsMine empathic weapon]] with a curious and sometimes hostile relationship with its owner -- forcing him, on one occasion, to [[DeaderThanDead kill]] [[spoiler:his lover after battling to rescue her]]. In the end, [[spoiler:it turns out Stormbringer was never really a sword in the first place. It was actually a powerful demon disguised as a sword that used Elric to destroy and recreate the universe, leaving it as the supreme evil power in the new one. It "rewarded" Elric with a quick death]].
219* ''Literature/EmpireOfTheVampire'': '''Ashdrinker''' is a legendary vampire-slaying sword which Gabriel winds up wielding via means unknown. She is made from MeteoricIron, called ''starsteel'', and is the most legendary vampire slaying weapon in the world. However, the point of her blade has been broken off, leaving the sword with a sort-of speech impediment, which means she usually merely repeats things Gabriel already knows, much to his frustration. Whenever she is not mocking him that is.
220* In Creator/AndreNorton's ''Literature/ForerunnerForay'', the artifact Ziantha found is able to manipulate people about. Ziantha deduces it springs from its being used by sensitives for generations.
221* The title sword of Creator/LordDunsany's ''The Fortress Unvanquishable, Save For Sacnoth''. May also count as an instance of DefeatMeansFriendship since the sword was fashioned from the remains of a monster the protagonist had to slay first and retains one of its eyes and at least a portion of its memories, yet never turns against its wielder.
222* In Creator/JohnCWright's ''[[Literature/TheGoldenOecumene The Golden Transcedence]]'', Atkin's knife. It has a mind of its own, uses WithDueRespect, and engages in philosophical debate with him. And wins.
223* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
224** Wands in this universe seem to act this way (as seen most evidently in [[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows the seventh book]]). "The wand chooses the wizard" and will not live up to its full potential in another wizard's hands. Wand ownership can apparently only be transferred by defeating the original owner in a duel, or by taking the wand by force (and against the owner's will) in some other way. Because "true" ownership has to be transferred in this way, the possessor of a given wand [[{{Foreshadowing}} may not be the true owner]]. Additionally, certain wands are said to "absorb" facets of its wielder's personality over time, and even when properly won by somebody else, may not fully "agree" with the new owner's intents.
225** The Sword of Gryffindor seems to be empathic as well, only allowing a true heir of Gryffindor's philosophy to wield it.
226* Several of the novels and trilogies of Creator/MercedesLackey's ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'' universe feature Need, a magic sword with an occasionally ''highly inconvenient'' mind of its own: the events of ''The Oathbound'' are mostly driven by Need [[RestrainingBolt forcing its bearer and her partner to get involved]] any time a woman is in danger, from instances of basic domestic violence all the way up to demon-worshipping cults. Kerowyn, who inherits the sword next, puts up with such shenanigans much less, but still occasionally has to deal with things like being frozen in her tracks mid-combat because Need won't allow her to harm the enemy priestess who is about to bash her head in. Eventually it is revealed that Need [[spoiler: is inhabited by the spirit of a female priestess/smith who had voluntarily sealed herself into the sword in order to help rescue a number of kidnapped young women. Once she regains her full consciousness in ''The Mage Winds'' she becomes much less troublesome, albeit [[DeadpanSnarker snarkier]].]]
227* In Creator/JohnCWright's ''The Hermetic Millennia'', Menelaus realizes that the Chimarae practice of NamedWeapons stems from {{Ancestral Weapon}}s that had [=AIs=].
228* ''Literature/HisDarkMaterials'':
229** Possibly the alethiometer: it responds to the user's thoughts, and Lyra once thinks she can sense it scolding her for asking a question twice because she can't believe the answer.
230** Appearing in the second book in the series, there's the titular Subtle Knife. Iorek Byrnison examines [[spoiler:and reforges]] it in the third book and tells Will that the knife may have its own intentions that Will himself is not aware of.
231** The armoured bears regard their armour as such -- they forge it themselves from meteor iron, and taking it is explicitly compared to taking a part of a human's soul.
232* ''Literature/HumanxCommonwealth'': The title LostSuperweapon of ''The Tar-Aiym Krang'', by Creator/AlanDeanFoster. It's actually superintelligent but can only be activated by someone with advanced PsychicPowers. Flinx and Pip together are the only beings in the universe capable of establishing the requisite link.
233%%* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': Katniss's Mockingjay bow.
234* The "Hestia Knife" From ''Literature/IsItWrongToTryToPickUpGirlsInADungeon'' acts as one for Bell Cranel. Since it's a weapon crafted specifically for him with a blessing from his Familia goddess, Hestia, the knife is only potent when held by him. After seeing it in action briefly, Liliruca steals it from him, and attempts to pawn it off, only to be told it's essentially worthless and not even sharp. However, after Bell gets it back, the runes on the knife light back up, showing her that it's only useful when he's using it.
235* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': A mage's staff in sentient because it was made from a sentient tree. They can't talk but it ''can'' make their feelings known by transmitting feelings to their mage. In ''[[Literature/AMagesPower A Mage's Power]]'', Eric has to request help from a staff when he first becomes a mage, and he ends up with one that is afraid of fire. Thus, he can't use it for fire spells.
236* R.A. Salvatore's ''Literature/TheLegendOfDrizzt'':
237** Artemis Entreri, a ruthless assassin by anyone's standards, possesses a sentient sword called Charon's Claw, a Netherese artifact that engages the mind of anyone who wields it without a magic gauntlet. Since accidently absorbing the essence of a Shade Charon's Claw has developed a "Liking" to him, and resists even more than usual anyone who tries to wield it. So far the only people other than Entreri who can use it are an epic-level monk, a Netherese lord, and Drizzt Do'Urden. [[spoiler: In its last appearance, it seems to act a lot like [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings The One Ring]], in that it attempts to corrupt its carrier, causes him to be possessive towards the sword, and is destroyed by being thrown into a volcano despite attempts by its former owners to reclaim it and gain in power.]]
238** The same series also includes "Khazid'Hea," [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a.k.a. Cutter]], a sentient sword that can change its shape and design to suit its wielder and cut through solid stone. It has a fiercely ambitious personality and [[SpiritedCompetitor wants to be wielded only by the best swordsman.]] When Drizzt Do'Urden defeated its previous owner, the sword hoped to be taken by him; instead, he gave it to Catti-Brie. There followed a disturbing and hilarious sequence where the sword took over Catti-Brie's mind and tried to use her body to seduce Drizzt into wielding it. In the end, however, Catti-Brie herself was able to master the sword and it agreed to serve her. Until the Thousand Orcs books, [[spoiler: where it escaped in the hands of an Orc, was briefly wielded by Drizzt, lost in a battle with the Orc leader, and found by a Drow assassin, who gets along rather well with it.]]
239** Drizzt's scimitar Icingdeath has a comparatively lower-grade intelligence, but Drizzt repeatedly notes that it transmits to him a feeling of hateful glee when he attacks fiends with it.
240* ''Literature/LightAndDarkTheAwakeningOfTheMageknight'': Bonded can be one or the other depending on how much of their personality they retain from the conversion and whether or not they're broken. Most of them are this trope because the wielder can sense their presence and a gist of their feelings but cannot communicate.
241* The [[FishPeople hydrites]] in the German SF series ''Literature/{{Maddrax}}'' use [[OrganicTechnology organic technology]]. And they also have shock sticks that should [[ShockAndAwe stun attackers]].
242* The eponymous swords of Creator/TadWilliams' ''Literature/MemorySorrowAndThorn'' trilogy are this in addition to {{Clingy Macguffin}}s. Due to the unique magic that went into their creation, they are practically living beings, with the ability to perceive and influence the people around them. At the height of their power, they can compel absolute obedience from their bearers.
243* In ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments'', the seraph blades have the names of angels, and light up when the owner of the weapon pronounces the angel name. These weapons can only be used by [[{{Nephilim}} shadowhunters]], and have been made to destroy demons.
244* ''Literature/TheNightLand'' and ''Literature/AwakeInTheNightLand'' have the [[http://i.imgur.com/bai6cCd.jpg Diskos]]. They are tuned to the soul of the yielder so they cannot be used by anyone else. Also they can selectively hurt only monsters and not humans.
245* {{Excalibur}} in ''[[Literature/{{Nightside}} A Hard Day's Knight]]'' is shown hindering unwanted wielders and helping chosen ones. [[UpgradeArtifact Even if they have almost no experience with a sword.]]
246* ''Literature/{{Okuyyuki}}'': Audrey, who is herself a sentient TalkingWeapon, claims that all weapons have a sort of spirit in the animistic sense, but few are sentient and articulate like she is -- especially with modern weapons, since spirits "grow up" very slowly, so most will be scrapped before they mature. She likens American tanks to dogs: loyal and well-intentioned, but not very bright.
247* Magical objects, such as a necromancer's bells or a Charter-Spelled sword, are implied to have minds of their own in Creator/GarthNix's ''Literature/OldKingdom'' series. Rather than being empathic to their user's desires, however, they seem to often have their own agendas; for example, Sabriel has to be careful when wielding certain bells for fear of causing the opposite of the intended effect, especially as some bells are known to ring of their own accord.
248* The book ''Path of the Sword'' by Henry Lion Oldie essentially revolves around two separate cultures -- sentient weapon and warrior-duellist -- each realizing the other was sentient, as well. Yes, the weapons considered humans hard-to-train living property without any intellect, and were actually pretty angry should some other weapon ruin their favorite "appendage."
249-->''[[ArcWords Be damned that day when]] the weapons began to get [[ICallItVera names]]!''
250* ''Literature/{{Ra}}'': All of the [[ArtifactOfDoom astras]] count to a greater or lesser extent, as they behave in a way that seems to encourage their use. However, special mention goes to [[SwissArmyWeapon Abstract Weapon]], which is capable of transforming itself into any weapon that can possibly exist, from its default form of a dull rusty {{BFS}}, to a [[EnergyWeapon particle beam cannon]], to a HumongousMecha, to [[spoiler: a magic spell capable of preventing its user from being recorded in the AkashicRecords.]] What distinguishes it, though, is that it lists to the user all the weapons it is capable of becoming, and the further it gets into its nigh-infinite list, the more advanced and deadly the weapons are. Furthermore, it suggests potential targets to be used on, based on who the user dislikes or plans to kill, and suggests ways it can be effectively used against them.
251* In the ''Literature/RevelationSpace'' Saga by Creator/AlastairReynolds, the Hell-Class Weapons are controlled by [=AIs=] somewhere between beta- and gamma-level. That is, they don't have fully-fledged personalities, but are quite capable of acting on their own initiative.
252* ''Literature/RumoAndHisMiraculousAdventures'' features a sword that hosts the mind of {{Cloudcuckoolander}}, DeadpanSnarker, MilesGloriosus Dandelion, who claims to have been a demon and declares to have amazing abilities. Subverted, however, [[spoiler: since he was just a weak cave troll who happened to have his ashes mixed with a sword]]. And then DoubleSubverted, because the first time Rumo gets blood on the blade [[spoiler: the other occupant of the sword awakens: it's Krindle the Cleaver, a BloodKnight NobleDemon who was an exceptional fighter and adventurer (and [[OurDemonsAreDifferent an actual demon]]) before dying.]]
253* ''Literature/TheSpiritThief'': Awakened blades, such as Josef's Heart of War, are sentient to some extent. In Heart of War's case, it's humanlike and would be a TalkingWeapon if Josef wasn't completely spirit-deaf. As it is, it communicates mainly by visions and emotions.
254* ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'': In the second book, ''Literature/WordsOfRadiance'', the [[spoiler:bonded spren demonstrate the ability to transform into Shardblades. In fact, all modern Shards are the bodies of the old Radiants' spren]], trapped in an AndIMustScream situation. In ''Literature/{{Oathbringer}}'', [[spoiler: two "dead" blades demonstrate the ability to have and communicate feelings and respond to people. When Dalinar picks up Oathbringer after reclaiming it he hears only a "dull" scream rather then the intense screams Radiants usually hear when handling a dead blade, and is told by the Stormfather that the blade remembers his honourable action in giving it up to save the bridgemen and hates him slightly less then it hates others. Also in the final battle at Thaylen City, Adolin's blade shows the ability to send him vague emotional impressions, as well as her name, and even manifests in seven heartbeats instead of ten when he desperately needs her to.]]
255* Special swords called ''jivatma'' in Jennifer Roberson's ''Sword Dancer'' books are bonded with their owner's spirit. They also contain the wisdom and strength of whatever living thing was the first to die on that blade.
256* ''Literature/TheSwordOfTruth'': The eponymous sword works something like this. It is capable of affecting the wielder's emotions (mostly anger), its magic apparently tests him after the first kill to see if he is worthy of it, and its ability of destroying an opponent hinges on the wielder actually believing the opponent being a threat.
257* In the last story of the anthology ''Literature/WanderingDjinn'', Malik only manages to survive and win a battle after being impaled with an ancient sword because it changed its mind over who it wanted to help. He even says "I've always loved empathetic weapons, they tend to pick who they want to serve in the middle of a battle."
258* ''Literature/{{Warbreaker}}'' features Nightblood, a blade who issues black smoke when drawn, draws evil people to wield it and destroy themselves, constantly snarks at its owner, Vasher. It was created as an Awakened object, and given the command to “Destroy evil”. [[spoiler:Problem is, a sword doesn’t know what evil ''is'', so it tends to destroy everything in its path, on the off chance that some evil will be destroyed along the way.]]
259* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' novels:
260** In Creator/GrahamMcNeill's Literature/{{Ultramarines}} novel ''The Killing Ground'', when Uriel and Pasanius find suits of battle armor in a museum, Uriel picks out one and cannot shake the conviction that it was waiting, and for him. He has all of it but the helmet repainted in Ultramarine colors so he can wear it; not the helmet, as a gesture of respect to the machine spirits. [[spoiler:When the Grey Knights have been convinced of their [[IncorruptiblePurePureness innocence]], they rearm them, and Uriel receives that suit that he had chosen, or had chosen him.]]
261** In ''Courage and Honour'', he is set through the suits of battle armor to replace his; he feels an even stronger urge toward one particular suit. Then, this is his new, permanent suit.
262** In Steve Parker's ''Literature/AstraMilitarum'' novel ''Gunheads'', Wulfe is disgruntled with his new tank, ''Last Rites II'', because it was not its predecessor. When it breaks down near the end, he grumbles that she could not have picked a worse time, and the rest of the crew point out that she could have easily have picked a far worse time -- she had carried them farther than any of the other tanks and broken down near safety. Wulfe realizes that he owes her more respect and when his commander makes the same comment he had, Wulfe repeats his men's objections.
263** In Creator/DanAbnett’s ''Literature/{{Eisenhorn}}'' novels, the force sword Barbarisater has a will of its own. It grows thirsty when enemies are nearby, and it can leap out of its wielder’s hands if it doesn’t wish to be wielded by them.
264* In ''Wizards Abroad'', the fourth ''Literature/YoungWizards'' novel, the [[PublicDomainArtifact Four Great Treasures of Ireland]] are immensely powerful spiritual entities, with their physical "bodies" merely being there to allow them to interact with the physical world. They consider their wielders to be transportation more than anything else.
265* ''[[Literature/TheIcelandicSagas Kormak's Saga]]'' (suggested): When Kormak asks Skeggi of Midfjord to lend him the famous sword Skofnung for his duel with Bersi, Skeggi is reluctant and, though he eventually gives Kormak the sword, warns him that he will find Skofnung "difficult to handle" because "Skofnung is slow and deliberate whereas you are rash and impatient." Kormak subsequently disregards all of the instructions Skeggi gave him for handling the sword, including an incident in which he tries in vain to unsheath Skofnung [[DrawSwordDrawBlood against Skeggi's injunction to only draw it before the fight]], to which the sword reacts by "howling". In the duel with Bersi, Kormak cuts off the point of Bersi's sword with Skofnung, but the split-off sword-point hits Kormak's hand so it bleeds, which means Kormak has lost the duel. [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane This could be accident, or maybe Skofnung (while proving itself superior to Bersi's sword) punished Kormak for his bad treatment.]]
266* ''Literature/VillainsByNecessity'': Truelight, Slayer of Darkness, Fenwick's magical longsword, is sapient with a Good alignment. Sam is able to sense its anger for him after he picks it up, since he's a villain. It still works when he wields the sword though.
267[[/folder]]
268
269[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
270* A possible example is the forcelances in ''Series/{{Andromeda}}'', since if they're given to someone who's DNA code isn't allowed, they'll shock the user.
271* ''Series/DoctorWho'': The Moment in "[[Recap/DoctorWho50thASTheDayOfTheDoctor The Day of the Doctor]]", an ultimate Time Lord weapon that became so advanced it gained sentience, thus no-one dared use it for fear it would turn on them. When the War Doctor activates it [[GodzillaThreshold to stop the Time War by destroying both Time Lords and Daleks]], it [[InterfaceWithAFamiliarFace takes the form]] of [[CallForward future companion]] Rose Tyler in an attempt to convince the Doctor not to activate it [[spoiler: and help him figure out a better option]].
272* In ''Series/EarthFinalConflict'', the ''skrill'' are bio-engineered weapons fused to a human operator's forearm, and which draw upon the operator's own blood supply -- so rapid use can cause the human to pass out. In fact, and not generally known to the characters, the skrill were originally an independent sapient lifeform; and despite the best efforts of the Taelons to eradicate that sapience, they sometimes communicate with their hosts.
273** The Taelons implant their human agents with brain-enhancing implants called [=CVIs=] which secretly suppress their emotions and instill loyalty to the Taelons; it's the CVI which allows the agent to control their skrill. Because protagonist Boone receives a modified CVI that allows him to retain his free will, he can't fully control his skrill and must persuade it to work for him. Once he does, however, his skrill operates at a much higher level than others'.
274* ''Series/JourneyToTheWest1996'': Sun Wukong's iconic golden staff, the ''ruyi jingubang'', has this trait in this adaptation. It's particularly notable in the second season after Sun Wukong was BroughtDownToNormal after losing a fight to the Long-Armed Ape - the staff literally ''drags'' Wukong into a sacred cave after Wukong suffers a HeroicRROD, pushing for its master to regain his abilities.
275* ''Series/MadanSenkiRyukendo'': The Madan Ryu, who are as much a part of the main cast as the heroes themselves. Notable is one scene where SixthRanger Koichi's [=ZanRyuJin=] does his backtalking for him.
276* ''Series/PowerRangersCosmicFury'': The [[TransformationTrinket Cosmic Orbs]] operate according to these principles. They don't seem to be sentient, but when a character displays heroism, they will glow and "bond" with them to make the person into a Cosmic Ranger. Fern's orb activates when she rescues Solon, and [[spoiler:after Zayto dies, his orb glows blue to signify that it's time for Ollie to rejoin the fight.]]
277* ''Series/SledgeHammer'': Though the audience never sees anything unusual about Inspector Sledge Hammer's custom [[HandCannon .44 Magnum]], he treats it as a living, breathing entity. Subverted in one episode in which Hammer is hallucinating and the viewers ''do'' see his gun talking, complete with animated barrel/mouth.
278* In the ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' episode "Warhead", the Series 5 Long-Range Tactical Armor Unit counts as one. It's been launched accidentally, so Voyager's crew have to talk it out of exploding. It's even been programmed with propaganda on the enemy to motivate it.
279* In the ''Franchise/StarWars'' serial ''Series/TheMandalorian'', Din Djarin, the titular character, comes across a legendary Mandalorian artifact: the Darksaber. It was the lightsaber of the only known Mandalorian Jedi in ages past. He learns the hard way that it is an empathic weapon as all lightsabers are, as it is cumbersome and ungainly when wielded by him, and stated as such by the [[HighPriest Armorer]]. In the hands of someone more deft and trained in its use, like Bo-Katan, it is a much more quick and lethal blade.
280[[/folder]]
281
282[[folder:Music]]
283* Music/BlueOysterCult: "Black Blade" is about Stormbringer, the sword of [[Literature/TheElricSaga Elric of Melnibone]], told from Elric's perspective. The words spoken by the blade at the end of the song are spoken by Creator/MichaelMoorcock [[CastingGag himself]].
284* Music/LeslieFish: "The Arizona Sword" tells the story of a lordling who commissions a blacksmith to make a magic sword for him, which the smith shapes so as to embody and defend life and freedom. When the lord announces his plan to use the blade to conquer the land and hold it under his rule, it twists in his hand, falls on him and runs him through.
285[[/folder]]
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287[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
288* ''Series/PiliFantasyWarOfDragons'': Several, most notably the cursed sword of Yenna and the Salamander sword. The latter of which is quite sentimental, being unwilling to harm the man involved in its creation.
289[[/folder]]
290
291[[folder:Roleplay]]
292* In ''Roleplay/DawnOfANewAgeOldportBlues'', the shadows that Sebastian [[CastingAShadow controls]] are said to be semi-empathetic, capable of reacting subtly to his mood and intentions.
293[[/folder]]
294
295[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
296* ''TabletopGame/CthulhuTech'': The Engels are these, which is only natural given that the [[Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion Evangelions]] are a major inspiration for them. Given that they're lobotomised, cyberised {{Eldritch Abomination}}s (and the Hamshall appears to be a Star Spawn of Cthulhu), they're a) kind of [[EvilWeapon alien]] to humanity, and b) require brain surgery to be able to operate them.
297* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' has rules for intelligent weapons, though they are technically treated as [=NPCs=] and often qualify as characters by themselves. Among the examples in the ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' of 3.5 Edition is a talking sword that recalls the above ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' example in that is said it would be best suited for a deaf swordsman.
298** In 4th edition every artifact is this kind of item, although only one of the presented ones is technically a weapon (the Axe of Dwarvish Lords).
299** The mechanism was partially put in as a limiter on power. The more powerful a sword is, the more likely it is to be intelligent and have a high ego score. The higher the ego score, the more likely it is to withhold abilities and/or outright lie to the player in order to fulfill its purpose.
300** In 5th edition, there's a whole subclass of warlocks utilizing these type of weapons called the Hexblades. Instead of signing a treaty with a greater deity who only occasionally steps in to make sure you aren't breaking protocol, the diety actually follows you on your adventure in the shape of your personal weapon and can be transferred between different weapons of your choice if the Pact of the Blades feature is chosen.
301* ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}: Thaumatology'' actually has rules for ''characters'' that are living weapons.
302* ''TabletopGame/{{Ironclaw}}'': The spell "Supernatural Indenture" allows a character to attempt to bind a supernatural creature to an artifact, such as a weapon, which another character can then use by taking the gift of Supernatural Bond.
303* ''TabletopGame/LegendsOfAnglerre'' includes rules for intelligent items both as equipment and PlayerCharacters.
304* ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'':
305** The entire "Bladebound" archetype for the Magus class is a direct ShoutOut to ''Literature/TheElricSaga'', complete with gaining an intelligent bladed weapon that can eventually consume the souls of its kills as their signature weapon.
306** The power invested in artifacts[[note]]enchanted items above and beyond regular magical items[[/note]] is often enough to give them some form of will or personality, and this applies to artifact weapons even when they don't cross into full TalkingWeapon territory. They typically have alignments of their own and give negative levels to wielders whose alignments don't match theirs, and often have stipulations and conditions beyond this.
307*** The Axe of the Dwarvish Lords wants to be wielded by a dwarf, and will grant charisma damage to non-dwarves who dare to take it up. If this goes on long enough, the Axe will actively transform its wielder into a dwarf in order to have the bearer that it wants.
308*** The Seven Relics of Kazavon each contain a fragment of the will of the ancient, evil dragon from whose body they were crafted. These include the Bound Blade, a bastard sword crafted from Kazavon's claws, and the Staff of the Slain, crafted from Kazavon's tailbones and home to both Kazavon's personality and that of the wizard Kolwyddon, who switch control every dawn and dusk.
309*** Most of the Seven Swords of Sin bear imprints of the personalities of their original wielders from whom they gained their names. Chellan, the Sword of Greed, bears an imprint of the original Chellan's fanaticism; Garvok, the Sword of Wrath, is inhabited by the consciousness of the gladiator who first wielded it; Shin-Tari, the Sword of Sloth, is home to the intellects of the conjurers who created it and who were its first victims; Tannaris, the Sword of Envy, is possessed by the soul of either the Runelord Tannaris or his same-named son and bodyguard, who died when Tannaris-the-Runelord tried to kill Tannaris-the-soldier; Ungarato, the Sword of Gluttony, houses the soul of the barbarian warlord who seized it from its Runelord master shortly after its creation.
310*** Ovinrbaane is a cursed greatsword that attempts to trick its wielders into thinking that they're its original wielder, a barbarian warlord named Armag, and that everyone they see is an enemy that needs to be destroyed. Further, Ovinrbaane gradually transforms its wielder into a perfect copy of the long-dead Armag, in an effort to recreate the one it perceives as its true master.
311*** Serithtial is a bastard sword dedicated to defeating the servants of the dark god Zon-Kuthon, especially the dragon Kazavon. It will accept any wielder so long as their goals align with hers, but will attempt to seize control of them should they forsake this crusade.
312* ''TabletopGame/{{Rifts}}'', and much all of Palladium Book's games have these in the form of [[InfinityPlusOneSword rune weapons]]. Which all have a personality because a living sentient creature must be sacrificed during their creation in order to trap its life essence/soul in the item.
313* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'':
314** Certain Imperial devices work like this, particularly their HumongousMecha. Eldar [[{{Magitek}} psychically attuned weapons]] also have personalities of their own. Chaos Daemon weapons are exactly halfway between this and ArtifactOfDoom.
315** Imperial forces act as if all weapons with "machine spirits" are like this, and will treat them with respect. [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane At times, it can be hard to tell if they're right.]]
316** Daemon weapons are typically sentient, and are sometimes known to try and impede their users for fun.
317*** The Black Blade of Antwyr wielded by Castellan Garran Crowe is a Daemon weapon that spends its times trying to corrupt and kill its user. Its corrupting evil is so great that it once corrupted three entire sectors of the Imperium and is speculated to be either an incredibly powerful greater daemon or a forgotten Chaos god. The Inquisition could not destroy it and the entire Grey Knights chapter had to be deployed to stop it .Crowe must always have one of his hands holding the blade, otherwise it may possibly escape again and never uses the power of the weapon itself, merely using it as an ordinary two handed sword. The sword also keeps trying to kill him with every swing. It is known to be able to recognise other daemons. [[spoiler:It once offered advice to Crowe on how to defeat Skulltaker, one of it's ancient enemies.]]
318*** Drach'nyen is a Daemon weapon wielded by Abaddon the Despoiler, Warmaster of Chaos. It changes forms to whatever it's current master wishes (Currently a greatsword). The Daemon that is formed from the blade was born from the first murder committed by humans.
319** ''TabletopGame/RogueTrader'' reveals that even Imperial starships have personalities of some sort. Not [=AIs=] per se, but ships seem to have definite preferences (ex. some are constantly itching for battle, others will do anything to get away from a fight.)
320** Asurmen, the Dire Avenger Phoenix Lord, has a Diresword that contains the soul of his brother, who was killed by a daemon.
321[[/folder]]
322
323[[folder:Toys]]
324* ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'': It turns out that the [[ArtifactOfDoom Mask of Life]] is, quite literally, ''alive''. The curses that it strikes onto others are the result of it either attempting to defend itself, attempting to create a new guardian to protect itself, or bestowing a "gift" (though its gifts [[BlessedWithSuck tend to backfire]] [[CursedWithAwesome on the recipient]]). Needless to say, BlueAndOrangeMorality is at work here, and a character who used his Mask of {{Telepathy}} on the Mask found himself astounded by the ''alieness'' of the mind in question. Eventually, it went so far as to give itself [[HumanityEnsues a body to try and understand other living beings better]] and got some CharacterDevelopment.
325[[/folder]]
326
327[[folder:Video Games]]
328* ''VisualNovel/AseliaTheEternalTheSpiritOfEternitySword'': Eternity swords fall under this. Some of them aren't very intelligent, but have will. Some are intelligent as well, and others are intelligent enough to be truly rational.
329* In the game ''VideoGame/AtelierIris2TheAzothOfDestiny'', the Azure Azoth (wielded by the protagonist Felt), and the [[ArtifactOfDoom Crimson Azoth]] (wielded by the antagonist Chaos) are possessed by spirits that give the blades their power. In his case, Felt was the ChosenOne able to pull out the dormant Azure Azoth when his peaceful world of [[FauxSymbolism Eden]] begins to crumble and goes into the parallel world of Belkhyde (which likely represents Earth) to save both worlds, and is assisted along the way by the spirit of his weapon. On the other hand, the spirit of the Crimson Azoth turns out to be TheManBehindTheMan and the actual BigBad of the game who has been using Chaos throughout the game (through a promise to use its power to resurrect his dead little sister if he should succeed). Also, while not a weapon, the [[BagOfSharing Share Ring]] that allows Felt and his adopted sister Viese to communicate (via letters) and send items to each other across dimensions seems to have this quality.
330* ''Franchise/BaldursGate'':
331** Yoshimo's +1 katana from ''VideoGame/BaldursGateII''. To very loosely quote the flavor text, traditional enchantments on katanas are next to impossible due to the extremely high basic quality of the swords. Instead, it's implied that fallen warriors may have begged a Wu Jen to infuse their fighting spirits in their weapons with their last breaths, giving the swords a tiny sliver resembling sentience that improves effectiveness in battle. ([[GameplayAndStorySegregation This might make the enchanted katanas wielded by about everyone in an army of drow in the expansion pack difficult to explain.]]) Yoshimo's own sword isn't mentioned to be magical at all, but instead implied to have bonded with Yoshimo to the point where it's superior to a normal katana and refuses to be wielded by anyone else.
332** Xan from [[VideoGame/BaldursGate the first game]] has an elven moonblade, who are all empathetic weapons. Because the moonblade has chosen him as its wielder, only Xan can use it.
333** Lilarcor, meanwhile, [[TalkingWeapon falls under a completely different trope]]. Not much 'empathy' to be had on that front.
334* ''VideoGame/TheBardsTale'' has the Ego Sword, an arrogant talking blade that the narrator notes is the perfect match to the Bard's personality (to which the sword replies "Well, I am a bastard sword you know.").
335* ''Franchise/BlazBlue'': The Nox Nyctores choose their owners and will protect the owner if the need arises. As seen in Jin's story in ''[[VideoGame/BlazBlueContinuumShift Continuum Shift]]'', a Nox Nyctores can cease to activate if it doesn't approve the owner anymore and will even attempt to take over the owner's mind to fulfill its mission. There are only 10 of such weapons in existence, all in different forms and shapes. More info on them [[http://blazblue.wikia.com/wiki/Nox_Nyctores here.]]
336* ''VideoGame/BraveFencerMusashi'' has the greatsword Lumina, which apart from ANNOUNCING THAT... IT HAS ABSORBED... A SCROLL, will occasionally point Musashi in the right direction or do something surprising to help him stay alive. [[spoiler:And, oh yeah, there's a huge freaking lizard wizard sealed inside it.]]
337* ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight'' had a talking sword as one of the familiars you could gain. Early on, it remarks that Alucard can't possibly use him -- but once you're a high enough level, he starts calling him Master, and ask how he can serve.
338** The Vampire Killer whip that appears in (most) of the other ''Franchise/{{Castlevania}}'' games is also a bit of an empathic weapon as its true power is only unlocked when a Belmont descendant wields it. Also, [[spoiler:the fiancé of [[VideoGame/CastlevaniaLamentOfInnocence the first Belmont]] had to willingly sacrifice her life in order to empower it.]] And in ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaPortraitOfRuin'', [[spoiler: it is shown to preserve within itself a memory of the last Belmont who used it, in ''[=PoR=]'''s case, Richter Belmont.]]
339* The Blade weapon from ''VideoGame/CaveStory''. A throwing sword that has [[spoiler:King's]] soul living on inside it. Nothing special unless you have it at max level, in which case [[spoiler:King's soul takes ghostly form and slices up everything in his path]] when you throw it.
340* ''VideoGame/ChicoryAColorfulTale'': [[spoiler:The brush. It's the ''true'' source of the corruption, manifests the darkness and doubt of ''every'' past wielder, and takes on their forms in the finale.]]
341%%* The Masamune in ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' and ''Chrono Cross''. Also the Einlanzer, to a less extent, in the second game.
342* ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'' has Skippy the SmartGun who temporarily joins you in a sidequest.
343* In ''VideoGame/DarkCloud'', one of the weapons you can find is a talking slingshot named Steve, who gives advice about any monster you aim at, as well as talking about other unrelated things, such as his mother being a catapult, and he seems to have a crush on his owner, Xiao. He can be upgraded just like most other weapons... to ''Super Steve'', which bears very little aesthetic change, apart from the cape adoring the human-shaped slingshot handle. And yes, it still talks.
344* While more than a few guns in ''VideoGame/Destiny2'' qualify for EvilWeapon status, any piece of armor made from the bones of an Ahamkara, a type of "wish-granting" dragon that appeared after the Traveler, and which were eventually hunted to near-extinction because of those abilities, would appear to be this. The lore entries always feature quotes pushing Guardians to [[AmbiguouslyEvil recklessness]] and braggadocio, and the words "O bearer mine," indicating the creature's will lives on through the imbued armor or artifact.
345-->'''Sealed Ahamkara Grasps:''' Plating the Ahamkara bones in silver helps to quiet the [[HearingVoices auditory hallucinations]]... o bearer mine.
346* Most of the swords and other melee weapons in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' are empathic.
347** In the [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry1 first game]], the Alastor (sword) and Ifrit (gauntlets) actually attempt to kill Dante as a test of worthiness.
348** ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening'':
349*** Dante's weapons (aside from the keepsake Rebellion sword and his guns Ebony & Ivory) are all actually the remnant of a defeated boss. Even Rebellion is implied to be this, too, since he can [[WeaponAcrossTheShoulder hoist it over his shoulder without cutting himself]], and [[spoiler:when it ''does'' get a taste of its master's blood, it unlocks his [[SuperMode Devil Trigger form]].]]
350*** [[PlayingWithFire Agni]] and [[BlowYouAway Ruudra]]. While other demons in the game ''become'' weapons for Dante in death, these brothers' true forms ''are'' weapons; a pair of scimitars with head in their pommels, wielded by two identical headless bodies. Which means after being defeated, ''they can still talk''.
351---->'''Agni and Ruudra''': You shall take us with you! We can be of great help to you!\
352'''Dante''': ...Okay, but on one condition.\
353'''Angi and Ruudra''': What is it? Name it!\
354'''Dante''': ''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis No. Talking.]]''
355*** PlayedForLaughs moments later: when Dante shows off his skills with his new weapons, one of the brothers tells him "Impressive." Cue Dante banging their heads together and reminding them of the condition. When they stay silent, he merely comments "Good."
356** The Devil Sword Sparda is the strongest case for this trope, as while the weapon [[AmbiguousSituation may or may not carry the soul of the Legendary Dark Knight]], it certainly shares his will. While multiple villains have been able to use it’s power, [[HeroicLineage it’s full potential can only be accessed by Sparda’s decendants, like Dante]], or wielded by those it deems worthy, like Trish. Even when it is used by the villains, [[LaserGuidedKarma the weapon seems to have a wicked sense of humour]]: [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening Arkham]], a man who gleefully sacrificed his family to transform into a demon, is twisting into a bloated mass of tumours and tentacles, while all that [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry4 Sanctus]], a man who worshiped Sparda and abandoned his humanity to become more like him, can do with the weapon is swing it around, and the power it does provide is fragile and easily overcome. [[OneManArmy And when Dante does use its full power]], he can take on PhysicalGod Mundus and [[DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu win]].
357** The Yamato displays signs of this in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'' as well, seeing as it repairs itself in response to Nero's strong desire to protect Kyrie and grants him its power for that purpose, leaving [[TheDragon Agnus]] in [[ThisCannotBe disbelief]] that Nero accomplished what he had been trying and failing to do for years. [[spoiler: Alternatively, it could be because it sensed that [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry5 Nero is the son of Vergil]], its former master.]]
358* In [[VideoGame/DontStarve Don't Starve and Don't Starve Together]], [[MightyLumberjack Woodie]] has an axe nicknamed Lucy, which has infinite durability and speaks to him periodically. She makes small talk when held, and complains when dropped or left in a backpack. Other Survivors can not pick up the axe.
359--> '''DST Compendium''': The other Survivors are not quite sure whether Woodie is simply mad, or if there might be something else to the seemingly inanimate object. Sometimes they swear they can hear a jovial female voice speaking to Woodie when no one else is around...
360%%* In the ''[[VideoGame/DragonAgeOriginsAwakening Awakening]]'' expansion to ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', the sword Vigilance is implied to be this in the epilogue.
361* ''VideoGame/DustAnElysianTail'': The Blade of Arrah is quite alive, having flown out of its own temple in order to find [[TheHero Dust]].
362* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'':
363** The [[LegendaryWeapon artifacts]] of the [[OurGodsAreDifferent Daedric Princes]] play with it. The artifacts have a tendency to disappear and separate from their wielders if said wielder becomes too dependent on them or otherwise uses them in a way not intended by the patron Daedric Prince. How "empathic" the artifacts actually seem to be varies, and it may be more the will of the Princes simply taking the items back. They are most often handed out by the Princes themselves to faithful servants and tend to show up where important events are unfolding, [[GameplayAndStoryIntegration justifying the appearance of the items in high concentrations in certain regions]].
364** The sword Umbra crosses over with EvilWeapon. It was forged long ago to [[YourSoulIsMine steal the souls]] of its victims. However, the wielder of the blade becomes a victim as well. Over time, it takes over the mind of the wielder, until they begin to refer to themselves as "Umbra", and turns them into a vicious BloodKnight. Either they slay their opponents and steal more souls for the sword, or they are slain, and the sword finds a new and more powerful wielder.
365** From the series' lore, the [=HoonDing=], the [[ScaryBlackMan Yokudan/Redguard]] spirit of perseverance over infidels and "[[OddJobGods Make Way God]]", will [[GodInHumanForm manifest in mortal form]] whenever the Redguards need to "make way" for their people. In some tellings, the [=HoonDing=] does not manifest as a person, but as a weapon. Specifically, a sword.
366* ''VideoGame/EmeraldDragon'' has the Vendidad, a magical sword Atrushan obtains late in the game that contains the spirit of the titular Emerald Dragon.
367* In ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' there is a rare entirely non-Magical example in the form of the K-9000 Cyberdog gun, a fusion of [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Dog and Gun]]. It uses it mechanical sniffer to find enemies for you, which is useful in a situation where you have no companions.
368* Relic Weapons in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'' have their own personalities in cutscenes or when owned by an NPC. (The axe Guttler complains to its owner that it is thirsty for beastmen blood for example.) Once you spend a hundred or so million gil to get one of your own, they become much less talkative.
369* From ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'', Vegnagun is a super-weapon capable of sensing the intents of others, fleeing from those who would dismantle it, and allowing for its firing against a target...which it was less discerning of.
370* Finishing the Dark Knight chapter in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyDimensions'' reveals that the man the party knew as Graham was an empty suit of armor. The ''real'' Graham is a ghost who bound himself to the dark knight's sword. His apparent HeroicSacrifice didn't destroy him, it just broke the spell he had over the armor--he remains with the party as a SpiritAdvisor ''and'' an equippable weapon. (He can even get an upgrade later to bring him up to snuff for the final dungeon.)
371* This is a common justification given in the ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' games for why certain weapons are only usable by a single character. Lyn's Mani Katti in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade'' for example, only allows Lyn to remove it from its sheathe and doesn't let anyone else use it. Zephiel's Eckesachs in ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBindingBlade The Binding Blade]]'' is another example, usable only by the king of Bern.
372* ''VideoGame/GalaxyAngel'': The Angels pilot Emblem Frames, space fighters powered up by LostTechnology. They're equipped with HALO systems that read their pilots' desires, powering up from positive emotions and shutting down when the wrong person is piloting them or when the usual pilot has a breakdown.
373* In ''VideoGame/GoldenAxe'' ''The Duel'', the Golden Axe's power has grown to the point that [[spoiler:it can transform into a living suit of golden armor. Fighting the Axe itself is the final test to determine who will wield it.]]
374* ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear'' has A.B.A., who carries around Paracelsus, a gigantic key (and fights with it, too).
375* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'':
376** Sora's Keyblade is very particular over who wields it, and will normally teleport itself back into his hands if held by anyone else. This is used humorously in the second game when [[Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean Jack Sparrow]] asks for the Keyblade as payment. Sora willingly hands it over to him only for it to return to Sora a second later. He can also summon it back to him if it's knocked out of his hands, as seen in his dream-fight against Roxas. If he doubts himself, the Keyblade won't stick around, as seen at Hollow Bastion.
377** ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' reveals that the ownership of a Keyblade ''can'' be transferred, but only to other worthy wielders, as seen when Riku gives a Destiny's Embrace Keyblade to Kairi.
378** Roxas and Xion have a pair that get passed around a bit, Xion borrowing Roxas's a couple times, Riku taking Xion's a couple times, and finally [[spoiler:Roxas taking Xion's and wielding it along with his own before Riku takes it back ''again'']]... and it all makes sense in context.
379** ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'' sort-of clarifies the process. Sometimes the Keyblade is passed down (Yen Sid giving Mickey the Star Seeker), while in other cases, existing Keyblade wielders can grant the same power to those with strong enough hearts (Terra to Riku, Aqua to Kairi).
380** Data-Sora, the manifestation of Sora as recorded in Jiminy's (digitized) first journal in ''Re:coded'', was supplied with a programmed replica of the Keyblade for use in the Datascape. That imitation Keyblade was [[spoiler:later shattered by Maleficent, only to be replaced by an authentic one responding to Data-Sora's genuine experiences with Mickey & friends.]]
381* ''VideoGame/KingsBounty'' features a great deal of weapons and other items that are emphatic, which is expressed in their "morale" value. For example, a dragonslayer sword likes to fight dragons (duh) and using it for other fights lowers its morale until it refuses to provide its benefits until the morale increases either by killing a dragon or "suppressing" it, which is done through a special fight. Some items can also be upgraded through such fights.
382* ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'' had a lightsaber crystal that changes stats based on your [[KarmaMeter alignment]]. Though it's not technically ''alive'' in any sense, it "just" ([[BellisariosMaxim never mind how]]) reflects your own Force signature.
383* The ''VideoGame/LegacyOfKain'' series has the Soul Reaver, although it's a much more primal version. By the end of ''VideoGame/LegacyOfKainSoulReaver2'', you find out that [[spoiler:the Reaver is actually Raziel's own soul.]]
384* The Master Sword from ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' only accepts pure hearted heroes as its wielder. As ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword'' reveals, it actually did initially have a true mind and personality, complete with the ability to project a body, but she had to go into a permanent sleep mode [[spoiler: to delete the mind of the GodOfEvil after the sword absorbed it]], leaving what amounts to the sword equivalent of subconscious reflex for the most of the series. As of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', she seems to be somewhat conscious again.
385* The Dual Blade from ''VideoGame/{{Lufia}}'' series was originally related to [[TrueNeutral Arek]] the Absolute, who's the mysterious boss of [[BigBad the four Sinistrals]], but then [[VideoGame/Lufia2RiseOfTheSinistrals Maxim]] emerges as a hero and uses the sword to defeat Arek's evil subordinates. Ever since then Dual Blade is to be discovered and used by Maxim's descendant whenever the Sinistrals strike again.
386* Fawful's vacuum helmet is this, at least in ''VideoGame/MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory''. [[spoiler:After Bowser separates it from Fawful to fight him, the helmet is more than capable of fighting the Mario brothers on it's own.]]
387* ''VideoGame/PathOfExile'': Animate Weapon turns weapons you'd find dropping from enemies into temporary minions that attacks enemies on their own. The Dancing Dervish is a unique weapon which after a KillStreak animates on its own.
388* ''VideoGame/PlanescapeTorment'':
389** One of your companions, Dak'kon, wields the last known Karach blade. It is made of chaos-matter and its form and abilities change to match the power of its user. If you did deeper in the dialogue it's revealed that [[spoiler:a former incarnation of the Nameless One saved Dak'kon purely because of the blade, with the intention of eventually taking it for himself. It's implied that the Nameless One's power and force of will would make the blade phenomenally powerful.]]
390** You also meet an NPC called Ingress, whose ''teeth'' are empathic (if not outright sentient; it's hard to tell since The Nameless One doesn't speak Tooth Language). If you help her she'll gift the teeth to you, and they turn into Morte's EvolvingWeapon by having you ask them to improve. Some DummiedOut dialogue also involves the teeth forcefully invading Morte's jaw for insulting them.
391** Finally, Nordom carries a pair of gear spirits, partially sentient spirits of mechanics that have taken the form of crossbows for him to use. Nordom can requisition them for improved ammunition.
392* In the main series, Franchise/{{Pokemon}} are generally shown less as the cute pets/best friends they are in the anime and more as a valued tool or weapon. A tool/weapon treated with love, compassion, and empathy but still a tool/weapon that lives in its toolbox/holster until needed.
393** ''VideoGame/PokemonXAndY'' introduces Honedge, a Steel/Ghost pokemon that's actually a sword, making it a straight example of this trope.
394* The Chaos Emeralds in ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog''. As ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' put it, "The servers are the 7 Chaos. Chaos is power... ''Power enriched by the heart.'' The controller is the one that unifies the Chaos." Downplayed since they're typically used as a PlotCoupon and this aspect doesn't come up that often, but this was key to resolving the conflict in ''Sonic Adventure'' since the water {{kaiju}} Perfect Chaos was empowered by anger at the violence inflicted upon its Chao brethren ages ago, but the Chaos Emeralds still retained enough [[ThePowerOfFriendship positive energy]] for Sonic's friends to empower Super Sonic and calm it down by beating it up. This [[ForgotFlandersCouldDoThat indirectly comes up again]] in the climax of ''Film/SonicTheHedgehog22022'', as it's implied the Master Emerald is manifesting Robotnik's thoughts into power and Sonic similarly uses his own bonds with his friends and family to become Super Sonic.
395* The ''[[VideoGame/SoulSeries Soul Calibur]]'' series of games features a few empathic weapons, all of which are (one way or another) the result of direct or indirect contact with the main evil one:
396** Although much closer to an ''ArtifactOfDoom'', Soul Edge is a fully sentient weapon that seeks to control its wielder into killing people so it can eat the souls and gain power. The sword has an actual soul/mind (Inferno) and can communicate to its wielder mentally, usually to harass or demoralize him/her. It can also form into any weapon the wielder is most familiar with when held.
397** Soul Calibur was originally a bit emphatic, merely choosing to protect its wielder from Soul Edge and help fight it. ''IV'' and ''V'', however, saw the sword go through considerable development: ''IV'' revealed it to actually be a purified shard of Soul Edge itself with an opposed but extreme goal to achieve peace and order by freezing the world in crystals. In ''V'', it becomes the driving force for Patroklos when [[spoiler: his older sister Pyrrha is manipulated into becoming the next wielder for Soul Edge]]. Though apparent in ''IV'', [[spoiler: it becomes clear that Soul Calibur herself can be just as bad as Soul Edge since she is only concerned with killing Soul Edge and its wielder and possesses Patroklos and removes his empathy to become an unfeeling and loyal KnightTemplar.]] Also, much like Soul Edge, it changes shape to accomodate her wielder.
398** Ivy's sword, [[WhipSword Valentine]], is described as sentient, having been (unknowingly, at the time) animated by the evil energy of Soul Edge. It has a mind of its own and will protect Ivy from any harm, as shown in her ending during ''IV'', where the sword shatters itself to protect Ivy from the evil of Soul Edge when the sword was destroyed.
399** Taki's second sword, Mekki-Maru, is somewhat empathic as it was also affected by a shard of the sword forged into it. It reacts strongly to the sword's energy and other similar emanations.
400** Yoshimitsu's self-named katana gains some sentience as well, once again due to its proximity to Soul Edge's aura. It feeds on the negative emotions of its wielder, slowly gnawing at their life. As it fed of Yoshimitsu's desires for revenge, he found a way to keep the sword in check, but since his successor (who's similarly furious at his mentor's killer) is incapable of doing it, he needs a second sword that palliates the effects of the first as a (temporal) failsafe.
401* ''VideoGame/{{Suikoden}}'' uses this trope quite a lot:
402** All the [[MacGuffin True Runes]] are implied to choose their own bearer.
403** Every gun in the setting is also implied to have a soul, and may refuse to work for people who don't have the "right" to operate them.
404** The Star Dragon Sword has a significantly abrasive personality, and often disagrees with its' wielder. You have to ''fight'' it in the second game before you can use it.
405* Perry, the [[ParasolOfPain multi-purpose umbrella]] used by Peach in ''VideoGame/SuperPrincessPeach'', who [[TalkingWeapon also talks]]... and is actually a boy who was [[ForcedTransformation turned into an umbrella]] by an EvilSorcerer.
406* In ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'', the mecha sometimes act like Empathic Weapons, especially when people with PsychicPowers are using them. See [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN0IlOcBykQ this clip]].
407** And then there's the Masou Kishin machines, giant mecha hailing from a techno-slash-fantasy-medieval land, which as quoted by legends function as chariots by a patron elemental god. Their level of empathy is mostly left in the air, however.
408** The Mechanoids also are mostly requested by their pilots to perform their attacks than "piloted"to do so. Justified in that they have a mind and even a voice of their own, and that their power output is highly dependent of the pilot's willpower.
409** Speaking of which, every pilot has indeed a "Will" statistic representing fighting spirit that modifies his or her robot's stats and determines what attacks it can use. Depressed pilots deal less damage, take more, and can only use basic weapons.
410* The Swordians in ''VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny''. They actually contain the spirits of legendary heroes, thus can talk and have to put up of the naive stupidity of ''Tales'' leads.
411** Soma in ''VideoGame/TalesOfHearts'' don't have feelings of their own, but through them you can form a [[PowerOfFriendship Soma Link]]. The party actually meets the "server" for Soma Link transmissions late in the game.
412* ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' has the Devil's Arms, a collection of weapons which are cursed, alive, and probably evil. There is exactly one Devil's Arm each character can wield, and after completing the miniquest associated with them they can be the most powerful weapons in the game, since they deal more damage for every monster you slay.
413* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' has the Eyelander, a haunted sword that the Demoman can use. It talks on occasion, but all it can say is "headsss". Killing opponents with it decapitates them and provides the player with extra health and speed until they die. In the comics it’s capable of full speech, watching movies with the Demoman and criticizing them for inaccurate portrayals of ghosts.
414* The above weapon is seemingly the same one used by the modern-times Yoshimitsu from ''Franchise/{{Tekken}}'', whose katana is described as turning its wielder crazy if it's not used to kill (bad) guys.
415* The Shichishito sword in ''VideoGame/{{Tenchu}}'', owned by Lord Mei-Oh. It appears to have a bit of sentience, capable of seeking and returning to its master. It's also corruptive if used by other people (or forged into their katanas...)
416* ''VideoGame/TooHuman'': Baldur's melee weapon (it can be reforged into practically anything), Fenrir, is a bloodthirsty AI imprisoned in a weapon. It can be heard snarling as Tyr holds it.
417* The Titans from ''VideoGame/{{Titanfall}}'' and ''VideoGame/Titanfall2'' are these. Titans are piloted via a neural link, and each Titan comes with an onboard [=AI=] that can only link with a single Pilot at any given time. When the pilot isn't in the cockpit, Titans can move and act all on their own. The second game's plot ''revolves'' around the fact that Titans are empathetic weapons to begin with.
418* The Blackrock Sword from ''VideoGame/UltimaVII'' and its ''The Black Forge'' expansion. The sword is only usable because of a demon sealed in the hilt of the sword, making it perhaps the ultimate tool in the entire game. This sword can instantly recharge the player's mana, instantly kill any enemy in one swipe, can provide hints for the player (by "talking" to the sword). In the sequel, it is lost ([[BagOfSpilling along with all your other gear]]) to a magical lightning storm. When you finally retrieve the sword, you are soon forced to release the demon and thus lose most of its awesome power. You can eventually repair the weapon, but it never becomes as powerful as it was before.
419* ''VideoGame/UniverseAtWar'' has Viktor, [[ActionGirl Mirabel's]] battlesuit, which has lines of his own (if not understandable). The two serve, together, as one of Novus' hero units. Viktor's just as sentient as the rest of the machine race. It's just that while the others use TranslationConvention and eventually explicitly communicate in English, Viktor only ever speaks to Mirabel, and therefore doesn't bother.
420* ''VideoGame/ValkyrieDriveBhikkhuni'': The Extar's prowess is tied to their emotional state and closeness with their Liberator.
421* In ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII'', Arthas's blade Frostmourne is one part of the Lich King's soul that eventually turns him into the undead.
422** Frostmourne's sister weapon, the axe Shadowmourne. The Lich King speaks to you through it.
423** A cinematic in ''Legion'' shows Shallamayne to have an empathic connection to it's former wielder: as Anduin uses it to speak with Varian.
424** Several of the Artifact Weapons in ''Legion'' are this, and will comment on certain events or characters throughout the expansion. Xal'atath even eventually becomes a hot purple elf chick, and then skeddaddles to goodness knows where. Aluneth has some choice comments about Suramar. The Shards of Frostmourne have some comments about the certain locations. Thal'kiel has commentary about his warlock wielder's style.
425** The Doomhammer refuses to be wielded by Thrall after he cheats at Mak'gora. Although the weapon doesn't speak, this confirms that it at least has an empathic connection to the Elemental Lords.
426* Asgard from ''VideoGame/{{Wild ARMs}}'' activates only when Cecilia shows understanding of its purpose and reluctance to fulfill that purpose. Cecilia also shows respect for it by asking it for help rather than forcefully controlling it. To a minor degree, the titular [=ARMs=] of the series also qualify, as they're usually portrayed as only usable by certain people who have the capacity to attune their bodies and spirits to them.
427* In ''VideoGame/{{Wild ARMs XF}}'' has two. The first is Strahl Gewehr, and gun that can only be used by a princess medium and channels the power of the Guardians. The other is Iskander Bey, which can only be used by Yulia and her descendents.
428[[/folder]]
429
430[[folder:Webcomics]]
431* ''Webcomic/{{Darken}}'': The sword wielded by [[spoiler:Komi]] comes complete with an eye and [[spoiler:shape-changing abilities]]. However, it tends to speak its mind a lot, and thinks its owner is better suited to the Regalia, despite his protestations. Normally, only its owner can hear its voice, although it has also spoken to [[spoiler:Casper]]. The sword also has the unsettling ability to [[spoiler: possess its wielder]]. That, along with the fact that it was found held by its previous wielder's ''corpse'', and the warning that Mephistopheles' servant gave to [[spoiler: Komi]] concerning the sword, brings the sword closer to Stormbringer levels of {{Doom|yDoomsOfDoom}}iness.
432* ''Webcomic/TheDreamlandChronicles'': Alex's sword. [[http://www.thedreamlandchronicles.com/the-dreamland-chronicles/chapter-15/page-1163/ It's not too empathetic to him.]]
433* Dies-Horribly's artificial arm in ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}'' combines this with MorphWeapon. Typically it transforms itself into some sort of spiked weapon in response to Dies' near-constant fear of his PropheticName coming true, but it can also be used as a [[http://www.goblinscomic.com/03252011/ grappling hook]], [[http://www.goblinscomic.com/11152011/ spiked shield]], and a [[http://www.goblinscomic.com/11182011/ protective cocoon]].
434* ''Webcomic/TheLastHalloween'': The weapon of the main character follows this trope, in several scenes actually following her and levitating into her hand.
435* ''Webcomic/MagickChicks'': Melissa's wand has a will of its own and possesses a strong sense of justice. Which is why [[http://www.magickchicks.com/strips-mc/the_magic_thingy_agrees it reacted positively to Tiffany]] and even [[http://www.eeriecuties.com/strips-ec/stupid_magick_stick guilt-tripped Melissa into helping her]], when it heard Tiffany might die.
436* ''Webcomic/{{Nodwick}}'': It was explained once that Yeagar's sword is actually obscenely powerful but was traumatized by his using it for a long list of rather distasteful acts.
437* ''Webcomic/SluggyFreelance'': Chaz is an odd example. While the sword is sentient and capable of killing almost anything, it is only able to do so when it has tasted the blood of the innocent. Even after that, Chaz only stays powered up for a short amount of time. A previous wielder took advantage of Chaz's ability and became an extremely powerful warlord. The current wielder, Torg, is a good person and has never killed somebody for the purpose of activating Chaz. Also, while not powered up, Chaz has very slight ability to influence his wielder, making Torg a slightly more capable swordsman until he learns how to fight for himself.
438* ''Webcomic/TowerOfGod'': The Thirteen Month Series. So far, two have been seen: the needle (think a rapier, but sturdier) Black March, which is actually a lustful woman with a very specific taste in men, so that she never cooperated with her previous Master, Princess Yuri, and Green April, a long hook that is more like a BloodKnight and berserker and can expand and split into multiple branches.
439[[/folder]]
440
441[[folder:Web Original]]
442* In ''Literature/TheMechTouch'', the X-Factor is an unproven theory on how mechs are, in some way, alive and able to affect the pilots that use them. Ves scoffs at the idea until the Mech Designer System allows him to stumble headfirst into it early into his career. Later on, Ves learns how to channel his creativity and passion into his designs to increase the X-Factor of his mechs for pilots to synchronize with.
443* A lot of advanced personal weapons in ''Website/OrionsArm'' have integrated [=AIs=] to make up for their users' [[PunyEarthlings pathetic reaction times]]. Some, known as [[EvilWeapon "Demon Weapons"]] have their own agendas that might conflict with that of their wielders.
444* ''TabletopGame/TechInfantry'' has the magic swords Kuar and the Sword of Omens, both of which have something of a personality and alter that of their owner.
445* The ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'' has Destiny's Wave, the talking sentient sword given to Bladedancer by the Eight Immortals of the Tao. It has the spirit of a great Taoist warrior embedded in it, and is capable of cutting ''anything'' that its wielder ''wants'' to be cut.
446[[/folder]]
447
448[[folder:Web Videos]]
449* ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall'': Linkara's Magic Gun showed a minimal level of empathy when it stopped him from shooting himself in the head. It seems to consider him a friend and a partner... his parents, to their [[LaserGuidedKarma deserved misfortunate]], were regarded a bit more poorly.
450* ''WebVideo/JourneyQuest'' partners the long-suffering wizard Perf with the "the sword of fighting" which has a will entirely its own and the capability to enhance its wielders fighting skills -- or in the case of Perf, is his only source of fighting skill. When not sulking over who the chosen one turned out to be, it is near constantly spewing obscenities, insults, or whatever movement it happens to be performing at the time. The sword is also vaguely sadistic, taking great pleasure in slaughter regardless of the victim although, with a marked distaste for Orc.
451* ''WebAnimation/NoEvil'': All four Tezcatlipoca, having formed from the shattered remains of a mirror born from the merger of two spirits, are sentient weapons. Though only the Black and Red have been seen doing much more than be picky about their wielders. The Black Tezcatlipoca isn't a conventional weapon so much as a shapeless black ooze that creeps across the land putting people into an enchanted sleep [[spoiler: which forms a strange bond with a creepy child,]] while the Red Judgement Scythe has been observed to talk to spirits who tried to wield it, and lived to tell the tale.
452[[/folder]]
453
454[[folder:Western Animation]]
455* In the ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' episode "Blade of Grass", Finn's newly-obtained grass sword first appears to be an EvilWeapon bent on keeping itself attached to his arm whether he wants it or not, but when he accepts the fact that the sword will always be with him, it does a HeelFaceTurn and becomes this.
456* ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGalaxyRangers'': Princess Maya's staff has been known to defy her commands to fire energy bolts, at one point telling her brusquely "lethal force not required," during the middle of a firefight.
457* ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'': The Omnitrix has a mind of its own -- possibly more than one. It will often turn Ben into an alien other than the one he's trying to become, and has a tendency to act in self-defense by zapping bad guys who try to tear it from Ben's wrist. Ben doesn't ask it for help so much as argue with it when it acts up. You could probably even say that the Omnitrix is trying to ''teach'' Ben something. His usual plan is to turn into Fourarms and just smack everything around until the problem's solved; forcing him to use other, more complicated aliens like Grey Matter and Cannonbolt is a good way to make him fight more strategically. It also seems to dislike being removed from Ben's wrist. It seems almost happy and enthusiastic when it jumps back on him after being removed in the Season 2 finale, and after being stuck in the bottom of Ben's closet for [[TimeSkip 5 years]], it refuses to work, and the watchface turns blue [[note]]Forget the Blue Screen of Death; that watch was just ''feeling blue''.[[/note]] When Vilgax later steals it during ''[[WesternAnimation/Ben10AlienForce Alien Force]]'', the watch refuses to work for him... until ''Ben'' presses the dial in a TrickingTheShapeshifter plan. Even though removing the watch is now possible in the sequel series, Azmuth still seems sulkily resigned to the fact that Ben must be the wielder of his invention.
458* WesternAnimation/BugsBunny was tasked to take a singing sword from a castle guarded by a dragon in the Oscar-winning short "Knighty Knight Bugs"; the sword is a bit on the heavy side for him and has the habit of breaking out into song at inconvenient times. Given that this is WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes (and WesternAnimation/BugsBunny), HilarityEnsues.
459* ''WesternAnimation/CaptainPlanetAndThePlaneteers'': The performance of the Planeteers' rings depended on their state of mind. So if someone was ever, say, despairing and feeling sorry for himself, or high -- (stop scoffing, it happened) -- the ring wouldn't respond.
460* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Centurions}}'', the heroes' Assault Weapon Systems respond to their mental commands.
461* In the first season of ''WesternAnimation/ExoSquad'', Able Squad sacrifices their E-Frame mecha to stop a [=NeoSapien=] plan. When Marsh disconnected from his, preparatory to dropping it in a volcano, its onboard computer unexpectedly said, in its emotionless female voice, "Farewell, Operator J.T. Marsh." Another squad member uttered a bromide about "Humans are great creators, but often do not know what they create."
462* WesternAnimation/FelixTheCat's bag of tricks, particularly in ''WesternAnimation/TheTwistedTalesOfFelixTheCat''.
463* The Exotar in ''WesternAnimation/InvasionAmerica'', a glove made of pure [[AppliedPhlebotinum phlebotinum]], gives the hero superpowers -- but eats the hand of anyone else who wears it.[[note]]The wielder has to be of the direct genetic line of the alien ruler.[[/note]]
464* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures''. Jackie uses a magic walking stick to battle some bad guys. When he gets disarmed, he calls for the stick to return to his hand, only for it to fly into his gut and knock him out. It's played straight when Jade retrieves it and fights with it perfectly. [[{{Reincarnation}} It was implied that this wasn't the first time that Jade has used that stick.]]
465* ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'': Though appearing only once in the series, the Lotus Blade is implied to be one. In addition to being able to transform into nearly any kind of weapon (and then some) in the hands of those who possess Mystical Monkey Power, it can be summoned by a pure-hearted wielder, and it seemed to have a sense of humor since it ripped off Ron's clothes as it flew by. Since then, it has become a OneSceneWonder, and has been a subject that appears in many fanfics, as well as having its abilities fleshed out.
466* ''WesternAnimation/ReBoot'': Glitch and the other Guardians' keytools are almost literally a DoAnythingRobot, able to become any tool or contraption ranging from simple devices to complex machines, and has never been unable to respond to ANY command (barring being incapacitated or damaged). In turn they show sentience, being capable of making decisions based on vague wording or the general needs of its Guardian. This was amusingly demonstrated in one episode when Bob was fighting Megabyte and Bob panics, telling Glitch to turn into 'anything'. It decides to turn into a lamppost, which Megabyte runs into it face-first.
467** In one episode Glitch was incapacitated by Hexidecimal accessing a RealityWarper Paint app, literally melting off his arm. Acting on his own Bob managed to gain access to the app and revert all the changes, but still needed Glitch to finish the job. He called for Glitch, now reformed, who immediately flew across the city to aid him.
468** Turbo revealed to Matrix that keytools choose their wielders and would refuse to function for anyone they don't like, and it's later shown that keytools are intelligent and can even communicate directly with their guardian. Glitch was the one to suggest to Bob to [[FusionDance fuse together]].
469** The Daemon arc revealed that the keytools abandoned any Guardians that Daemon had infected. This is why Daemon needed to infect Bob to make portals. Being fused with Bob, it was impossible for Glitch to leave like all the other keytools.
470** It's later shown that Keytools are also able to enact plans behind their guardian's back. When Bob and Glitch unmerge (Glitch upgrading in the process), Glitch attaches itself to the duplicate Bob [[spoiler:actually Megabyte with a portion of Bob's code, letting his take his appearance]], seemingly rejecting "our" damaged Bob. Bob seeing this assumes he is indeed the copy between the two Bobs. [[spoiler:Only Glitch didn't reject Bob. It went to the Fake Bob to retrieve the missing fragment of Bob's code, unmasking him as Megabyte before returning to the real Bob and repairing him]]. For extra irony, Glitch waits until Phong, administering the wedding, asks "if anyone knows why they shouldn't be joined in marriage" [[spoiler:to expose Megabyte]].
471* ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'' has Jack’s sword in this role.
472** It cuts through anything when he wields it, but in the hands of the evil [[BigBad Aku]], it's suddenly as lethal as a plastic butter knife. It's specifically an evil-destroying weapon, so it can't (or won't) harm the pure-hearted.
473---> '''Aku:''' How!?\
474'''Jack:''' ''[laughs]'' Even I had forgotten that the sword was forged with purity and strain. It can only be used for good. In the hands of evil it can never harm an innocent and so Aku... [[PreAssKickingOneLiner it cannot harm]] ''[[PreAssKickingOneLiner me]]'' [[PreAssKickingOneLiner but it can harm]] ''[[PreAssKickingOneLiner you.]]''
475** In episode XLII, "The Aku Infection", it was practically Jack holding the sword, but due to being controlled by Aku, it couldn't harm the monks, having the effectiveness of a club when used on them.
476** In the fifth season, Jack is shown to have dropped his sword down a hole at some point during the last 50 years. In the episode "XCVIII", [[spoiler: it's shown that he was tricked into murdering a trio of goat kids that Aku had turned into monsters. The goats were technically innocent, and upon using it to kill them the sword "abandoned" Jack, requiring him to go on a spiritual quest to retrieve it.]]
477* In ''WesternAnimation/SofiaTheFirst'', although not properly a weapon, the Amulet of Avalor possesses a certain degree of self-awareness, enough to know when its bearer is doing something good or bad, in order to deliver a blessing that can be very useful for Sofia or deliver a curse in order to make her understand when she's doing something bad. We then find out why it acted that way -- it's holding its original wielder.
478* ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'': The Royal Magic Wand changes into different objects based on who's wielding it. For our heroine Star, it looks like a classic ''Manga/SailorMoon''-style MagicalGirl wand. For the noble and uptight Moon, it was a crystallized scepter. For the warmongering Solaria, it became a large sword with a lightning bolt-shaped blade, for the fun-loving Festivia, it was a wine goblet, for the artistic Estrella, it became a pen, for the strict Eclipsa, it became a parasol, and so on and so forth.
479* The Darksaber from ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' and ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'' seems attuned to its wielder's state of mind. If it's held by someone who's conflicted or who lacks belief in oneself, it becomes heavy and hard to use. Someone who is self-confident and clear-headed can wield it as gracefully as any Jedi.
480* ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCats1985'':
481** The Sword of Omens seems to be partly empathic. On many occasions the Sword of Omens reacted on its own, usually by flashing and growing, to Mumm-ra or other evil characters touching or even just approaching it. In one episode the sword was broken after Lion-O was tricked into attacking Tygra with it, and the rest of the episode revolved around the [=ThunderCats=] trying to find a way to fix it. Furthermore, the sword has exhibited something of its own personality, such as when Lion-O decided to hunt for sport. The sword reacted by flying from the [=ThunderCat's=] hand, embedding itself in the ground, and refusing to be removed until the spirit of Jaga appeared to tell Lion-O that it will not cooperate in an act of evil.
482** At one point Mumm-ra uncovers Excalibur, King Arthur's legendary sword. The swords do battle (eventually abandoning their wielders and duking it out in the air) until Excalibur pierces the Sword of Omen's eye. The [=ThunderCats=] suddenly collapsed at the destruction of the Eye, but fortunately Merlin the Magician appeared to restore it before Mumm-Ra could fully triumph.
483** In another instance, Mumm-Ra tricked a Samurai named Hachiman to go after Lion-O, only to discover that both of their respective weapons refused to come out of their scabbards, since neither person was evil.
484* In the ''WesternAnimation/Thundercats2011'' episode "The Forest of Magi-Oar", the Wood Forgers tell the Cats that [[GiantFlyer Viragor]] has been terrorizing them and the forest. But when Viragor attacks later in the episode, the Sword of Omens won't work against him. Lion-O later figures out that [[spoiler:it's because Viragor is the forest's true protector, and the Wood Forgers are really the ones terrorizing him and the forest.]]
485* ''WesternAnimation/{{Wakfu}}'': It has a set of weapons with demons known as Shu-Shus that are bound to them. One of the main characters has the demon-bound-in-sword [[SdrawkcabName Rubilax]] which never limits its use, rather ''encouraging'' its wielder to go all the way, sometimes into being possessed by it. Rubilax's eye in the hilt is fairly expressive.
486[[/folder]]
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