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1[[quoteright:164:[[ComicBook/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast1992 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mastersword_moss_1395.JPG]]]]
2[[caption-width-right:164:[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast And the Master Sword sleeps again... FOREVER]]![[note]][[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOracleGames But not]] [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds really.]][[/note]]]]
3%%
4->''"Dawn's Ballad was one of my experimental weapons - more or less a failure. I tossed it away in the Beast Glades of your continent during one of my visits to gather minerals, assuming no one would be able to tell it was anything other than a black cane, much less open it. To think that it has somehow ended up in your possession...what are the odds?"''
5-->-- '''Wren Kain IV''', ''Literature/TheBeginningAfterTheEnd''
6
7A SubTrope of the CoolSword, the Excalibur in the Rust has an outward appearance which [[MoreThanMeetsTheEye belies its awesome nature]]. It looks like an entirely ordinary, non-cool sword. In fact, it's extremely likely to be in an apparent state of extreme disrepair. Getting it back into working order may require a visit to the UltimateBlacksmith.
8
9If it appears in a video game, it may be a LethalJokeItem, especially if it's originally listed as "[[ElementalCrafting Rusty Iron]] Sword" or similar.
10
11Compare to WhatAPieceOfJunk. If someone who doesn't recognize its true value throws it away or sticks it in the basement with all the other worthless junk, it's the GrailInTheGarbage. See also WreckedWeapon. Compare and contrast the NerfArm, which doesn't even look like a weapon, poorly maintained or otherwise, but serves just as well as one.
12
13----
14!!Examples:
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16[[foldercontrol]]
17
18[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
19* ''Anime/TenchiMuyo'': When Tenchi first sees the [[LaserBlade Master Key]], a physical blade has been affixed to the hilt. This blade is in a state of extreme disrepair, prompting Tenchi to exclaim, "What a rusty old piece of junk!" after breaking it on a rock... which then splits in two. Which is just as well since it was originally a LaserBlade.
20* In the hands of anyone except ''Manga/InuYasha'', Tessaiga looks like a katana that has seen better days. It's also quite dull, though it's still almost indestructible. When Inu-Yasha wields it, the blade takes its [[{{BFS}} true form]]. Bonus points for Inu-Yasha calling it "''a piece of junk''" constantly in the two episodes that featured him gaining it.
21* Saito's sword, Derflinger, in ''Literature/TheFamiliarOfZero'' is a rusty piece of junk sold cheap by a store owner. Despite this it can talk, absorb magic attacks, and even control the body of its wielder if they're unconscious. It is eventually revealed that [[spoiler:Derflinger is a "spirit sword". The rusted sword wielded by Saito is simply a vessel for its powers; when the blade is broken, Derflinger can transfer its powers to another completely ordinary sword]].
22* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'':
23** Most [[EmpathicWeapon zanpakutou]] look utterly ordinary when sealed, only revealing a special look when they release their powers. The two zanpakutou that exist in permanent shikai form also fit this trope. Ichigo's zanpakutou looks half-finished, missing both a hilt and a cross-guard, and Kenpachi's is a chipped, pitted mess. Several zanpakutou also look completely ordinary when released, as well, and it's only when the power activates that the true nature and incredible power of the weapons are revealed.
24** Yamamoto's bankai played this as straight as possible. On the outside, it looked like a burnt-out, rusty sword. It was also the strongest bankai in existence, with ThePowerOfTheSun, and capable of destroying the world if activated for too long. And its power is concentrated on the edge of the blade, to the extent that a single cut would be enough to obliterate the victim's ''soul''.
25* In ''Literature/{{Slayers}}'', Gourry wields a normal-looking sword that suits him just fine. But if he were to take off the blade, he could turn it into the [[LaserBlade Sword of Light]].
26* In a FieldOfBlades in ''Manga/KingOfBanditJing'', each claiming to be [[StockWeaponNames Excalibur]], Jing finds that the ''real'' {{Excalibur}} is not a worn sword but a key to the resident HumongousMecha.
27* Variation in ''Anime/YuGiOh''. Rafael's cards are so old that the ink is fading and the edges are frayed. That doesn't change the fact that he has one of the most powerful decks in the series.
28* Inverted ''hilariously'' with [[LaughingMad Excalibur]] of ''Manga/SoulEater''; initially it seems to be a gloriously CoolSword, but once it's pulled from the stone, it's revealed to be an EquippableAlly[[note]]Theoretically the ''perfect'' EquippableAlly, since he's capable of synchronizing with any possible wielder and his power surpasses even that of a Death Scythe by a large margin.[[/note]]... who wears a tiny top hat and stands at half the height of any other character. Not to mention he's ''[[PhraseCatcher so annoying.]]'' [[spoiler:It's implied that some of the annoying behavior is actually an act to keep people from abusing Excalibur's incredible power.]]
29* In ''Manga/BlackClover'', Asta's Grimoire looks rather tattered and dirty. The huge sword it manifests is also covered in rust. This belies the Grimoire's true nature as the [[AntiMagic Five-leaf Clover Grimoire]]. The rusty sword it summons is a powerful weapon that dispels and reflects magic. [[spoiler:It turns out the "rust" is actually the essence of AntiMagic. When "Licht" reclaims one of Asta's swords for his own use, the AntiMagic crumbles away revealing the sword's true form as a powerful shining blade.]]
30* Gundam Barbatos from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans'' is a centuries-old mobile suit reduced to being a jury-rigged reactor. After being hastily repaired so it can be piloted in a desperate situation, it quickly proves why the Gundams were able to end the Calamity War.
31[[/folder]]
32
33[[folder:Comic Books]]
34* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
35** Pictured above is the Master Sword, the iconic blade from the games, as pictured in the last panel of the ''Magazine/NintendoPower'' ''[[ComicBook/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast1992 comic adaptation]]''. The comic hews to the idea of centuries passing between games: after Link triumphs over Ganon, he returns the sword to await the next hero. This is implied to be a ''long'' time coming.
36** When Link actually '''FINDS''' the Master Sword in the [[Manga/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast2005 manga]] version, it's shown in a similar state to its comic counterpart above. The rust and growth fall away and the sword is drawn as if it were newly forged.
37* An issue of Marvel's ''WesternAnimation/LaffALympics'' comic book has participants from the three teams transposed to the moon to compete against a moon man (named Murray) for Earth but not before he gives them special belts that negate their lack of gravity. One event is to pull a feather from a rock, which thanks to the gravity belts Dread Baron can't do, even with help from Dynomutt and Quick Draw [=McGraw=]. The final event is to pull out a sword with the tip just barely implanted in another rock which nobody can do until Boo Boo Bear arrives sans belt and easily pulls the sword out.
38[[/folder]]
39
40[[folder:Fan Works]]
41* In ''Fanfic/AvengersInfiniteWars'', while Wanda Maximoff is trapped on Dathomir after arriving in the Galaxy Far, Far Away, she discovers an ancient Sith double lightsaber on an abandoned spaceship, alongside holocrons of [=XoXaan=] and Kreia. Later on, Asajj Ventress is shocked to realise that this lightsaber is ''Bane’s Heart'' owned by Zannah, the VERY first apprentice of Darth Bane after the Rule of Two was established.
42* In ''Ghosts of the Past'', a sequel to ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'', Harry encounters Ván, the Sword of Hope, designed to [[spoiler: NoSell Phoenix Fire]] and defeat Surtur -- or to be more accurate, he encounters a depiction of it on the statue of its one and only wielder: Frey, the First King of Asgard. Despite this function, and the fact that it was forged from Uru and Vibranium, going by the replica in Frey's tomb, it doesn't look at all special, with the narration specifically noting that aside from a brief inscription of its name near the hilt, it could be mistaken for any random long-sword. This is implied by WordOfGod to be part of why no one's been able to find the damn thing for the past million years.
43* Kyon's AncestralWeapon is this in ''FanFic/KyonBigDamnHero''. {{Subverted}} in that the sword actually ''is'' in a state of disrepair, to the point of being completely non-functional (only the hilt has survived) until Yuki gives it [[LaserBlade some upgrades]].
44* In ''Fanfic/TheBridgeHumanitysStand'', scientist Joanna Johnson reveals an old, rusted sword that she theorizes may have been Excalibur itself, as well as other legendary swords such as Durendal, Caledfwlch, and Caladbolg. When the weapon is properly infused with mana, it turns into a pristine, glowing, AbsurdlySharpBlade, but reverts to its unimpressive, rusted form once it's no longer being fed mana.
45* In ''Roleplay/ADragonOfTheNorth'', Jon acquires a rusty sword for a pittance in the Vale, and Littlefinger (who owns the shop) even offers to make it a fairer deal. Then Jon manages to clean up the sword and it turns out to be Blackfyre, the sword of the Targaryen kings. Littlefinger proceeds to waste himself in one of his brothels for two days straight and becomes the laughingstock of King's Landing for having such an important sword in his hands and selling it so cheap.
46[[/folder]]
47
48[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
49* In ''Film/{{Conan the Barbarian|1982}}'', the Atlantean Sword looks like a solid piece of rust when Conan first finds it in the tomb. That might just be the decayed scabbard, though, since Conan just whacks the sword on stone a few times and the crud comes right off.
50* ''Film/DarkestSword'': The titular sword is the fabled weapon of a legendary warrior who mysteriously disappeared years ago. It was later discovered near the end of the film to be entombed in a mausoleum, collecting dust next to the warrior's skeleton who has gone through self-imposed exile.
51* In ''Film/{{Krull}}'', the Glaive is initially trapped in a lava pit and covered in stone. When Prince Colwyn, the hero destined to wield it, retrieves it, the stone crumbles away to reveal the Glaive for the ImpossiblyCoolWeapon that it truly is.
52[[/folder]]
53
54[[folder:Folklore]]
55* In Rumanian Folklore it's a very popular theme with the Hero discovering that the decrepit/rusty looking sword/horse/armour/piece of equipment is actually the needed magical item, not the brand spanking new one next to it. More often than not the decrepit item/animal belonged to the Hero's father. The horse turns out to be able to speak and to actually be a lot smarter and knowledgeable than the hero and practically verbose compared to him/her [[note]]in at least one instance the hero is a heroine who goes through a GenderBender in the end[[/note]].
56[[/folder]]
57
58[[folder:Literature]]
59* ''Literature/TheBeginningAfterTheEnd'': While searching through the Helstea Auction House for a weapon that he can use as an adventurer, Arthur discovers a mysterious black cane that can turn into a teal sword called Dawn's Ballad. During his time in Epheotus, he ends up training under the creator of said weapon, the Asuran artificer Wren Kain IV. To his surprise, he learns Wren had deemed the sword a failure and cast it aside while he was in Dicathen, with Wren remarking that he can give Arthur a better weapon if given enough time.
60* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': The absolutely ordinary-looking, non-magical sword wielded by Carrot Ironfoundersson. Does not gleam, has minor chips along the edge, and [[AbsurdlySharpBlade sharp enough]] to effortlessly nail someone to a marble pillar. His ancestors had explicitly wanted a sword that was really good at ''killing people'' rather than looking good. It is also implied that it has taken on a quasi-magical nature that is far beyond mundane magic weaponry by virtue of being wielded for a good cause by a good man who by all rights should be a king but refuses to be one. One book states that such a sword could cut through a dozen magical swords like butter. Technically, it's a subversion, as the sword is so powerful because it is utterly lacking in magic, making it more real than the rest of the Disc, which cannot exist without magical power.
61* Of course the eponymous blade in ''[[Literature/TheSwordOfShannaraTrilogy The Sword of Shannara]]'' is this, just a well-made if nondescript weapon actually found and overlooked by the heroes as they ransack a sack of junk looking for anything useful. They soon realize their mistake and spend half the book chasing after the luckless gnome they'd let take it away.
62* ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfPrydain'':
63** The CoolSword Dyrnwyn is stained black with the blood of innocents its previous wielder killed.
64** A nonmagical version: Taran makes a sword with a blacksmith, and initially wants to cast it away because it's ugly and has chips in it. It proves very powerful, and he wields it against Dorath, who is using Taran's previous beautiful sword, and it utterly shatters Dorath's sword. When Taran's blacksmith mentor asked him to test his new ugly sword despite his disappointment, Taran tried to shatter it against an anvil...and split the anvil.
65* Fyodor in the ''[[TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms Starlight and Shadows]]'' trilogy has a [[{{BFS}} two-handed sword, clearly too heavy]]... and ''blunt''. Far too many people didn't think it was serious until they learned a few little details: first, it's enchanted and works as if was sharp enough for any purpose except "friendly fire". Second, while most people can lift it with a visible effort, the owner is built like a smith (and was one) and always carries the damn thing with him, so he can use the ugly piece of metal as intended. Third, as TheBerserker, in rage he swings it with enough strength to crash a minor golem and enough speed to hit a superhumanly fast drow fencer.
66* In ''Oathbreakers'', of the ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'' series, the long-lost Singing Sword of Rethwellan that is used to identify the country's rightful king is discovered to be none other than a rusty, dirty old sword that Kethry picked up along the wayside.
67* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''
68** The Knights of the Cross have three swords that can burn faeries, kill demons, and help dispatch all manner of supernatural nasties. These three swords are fairly plain, save for the Nail from the Cross embedded in the hilt. [[spoiler: Turns out that all of these swords are actually pretty famous, because they're {{Excalibur}}, {{Kusanagi}}, and {{Durandal}}]]. So this a very good example of the trope.
69** Taken further with [[spoiler:Kusanagi, the Sword of Faith, in ''Skin Game'' because one person who took it into her custody misused the sacred blade and muted its power, the sword is easily shattered. Now, nothing more than a hilt with a bit of metal at the end and the Nail inside, it fell into the hands of a man strong and pure in faith that good can overcome evil, one person can make a difference, and is willing to die for his faith, the Sword reforged itself into the image of his faith. It now appears as a beam of white angelic light with a soft hum about it, or to be precise, a lightsaber. A genuine holy lightsaber from nothing more than a hilt of a broken blade]].
70* In the ''Conrad Stargard'' series by Creator/LeoFrankowski, Conrad finds a sword forged with watering techniques (a powerful blacksmith's art known in the Near East but not in Poland) and buys it from a sword dealer who has no idea that this watered sword is anything special. It turns out to be more special than even Conrad expects, as it's an AbsurdlySharpBlade planted there by his time-traveling cousin for Conrad to pick up.
71* Played with in ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''. When the hobbits first see what's left of Narsil, it's broken in half and doesn't look very impressive. After it's reforged into Andúril, however, it's said to be beautiful and obviously belonging to a King.
72* In ''Literature/TouhouKourindouCuriositiesOfLotusAsia'', the pile of iron scrap [[KleptomaniacHero Marisa]] has been collecting since she was little includes the [[Myth/JapaneseMythology Kusanagi]]. She trades it to Rinnosuke in exchange for his reforging her Mini-Hakkero with {{Hihiirokane}}; ironically enough, Kusanagi was forged using Hihi'irokane.
73* Abstract Weapon in ''Literature/{{Ra}}'' might be the physical embodiment of the concept of weaponry, capable of being any weapon ever conceived, and every weapon never conceived, but in its default state, it takes the form of an unassuming, extremely crude-looking, albeit massive, dull rusted executioner's blade.
74[[/folder]]
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76[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
77* Sikanda, the magical sword from ''Tales from Literature/TheNeverendingStory'', true to the book.
78* Sort of played in ''Series/{{Merlin|2008}}'' where a plain-looking sword is transformed into Excalibur by the dragon's breath.
79* ''Series/TokusouSentaiDekaranger'': Commander Kruger carries around an old sword that looks chipped and battered - but when he [[LetsGetDangerous gets dangerous]] for the first time, it does too, transforming into a much more impressive blade. The same goes for the ''Series/PowerRangersSPD'' version.
80* ''Franchise/SuperSentai'':
81** ''Series/SamuraiSentaiShinkenger'': The Kyoryu Disk, when first found, is an inert disk containing only a cryptic message from the founding Shinken Red. Its power was drained to seal the Kusari Ayakashi general Manpuku, BigBad du jour of the movie who was unsealed by the overall Big Bad's summer power surge. Takeru restores it by slotting it onto his sword and stabbing said sword into the kanji on Manpuku's body left by the seal. Its power restored, the Kyoryu Disk can now be used to transform the Shinkenmaru into the very powerful Kyoryumaru, able to infinitely lengthen its blade to smash enemies and act as a WhipSword. On top of that, it can transform [[HumongousMecha Shinken-Oh]]'s Daishinken into the Kyoryu Origami (A mecha version of itself), which combines with Shinken-Oh as a new helmet and a BFS to swing.
82** Its ''Series/PowerRangersSamurai'' counterpart, the Shark Disk (Saban, like some fans, thought the Kyoryu Origami looked more like an ambulatory shark than a dinosaur), was apparently similarly inert though in this case it was offlined by battle damage, and said to have been mended by the SixthRanger using the same powers and skills he used to repair certain Zords and complete the SuperMode-granting Black Box.
83* ''Series/VRTroopers'' had an EvilWeapon called the Millennium Sabre that the villains wanted in one episode. Many similarly-stored ancient swords turned out not to be the one, but the most rusted, brittle-looking relic turned out to be the real deal. One day every thousand years, its full power awakens and it becomes the expected ornate, shiny weapon, while its wielder becomes an invincible warrior.
84* ''Series/KamenRiderExAid'': In Kamen Rider Brave's debut episode, he finds a rusty sword in a stone[[note]][[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial That totally isn't just]] Series/KamenRiderKuuga's [[PropRecycling Titan Sword painted rust red]][[/note]] and pulls it out, at which point it transforms into his weapon of choice, the Gashacon Sword. Since ''Ex-Aid'' is themed around VideoGames (and Brave specifically {{Homage}}s old-school {{Role Playing Game}}s like ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasy''), this is more than likely a nod to this trope's prominence in the RPG genre.
85* ''Series/UltramanTriggerNewGenerationTiga'' had what looked like a sword that had been encased in Martian rocks appear in the debut episode. Once the titular Ultraman had been revived, the [[CoolSword Circle Arms]] emerged, fully restored.
86[[/folder]]
87
88[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
89* The Templars' swords in ''TabletopGame/{{Deadlands}}: Hell on Earth'' are their iconic weapons and often relics or magically empowered. Physically, they are whatever kind of sword you can scavenge in a [[AfterTheEnd post-apocalyptic]] world, most often stolen from ruined museums.
90* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'':
91** A classic trait of Legacy weapons; they always appear to be something much less than what they truly are.
92** Older editions also made this a key feature of Artifacts, incredibly powerful and unique magical items. Notably in that despite their great power, they normally do not radiate magic and thus can look like simple items. Some may go further, resembling old worn equipment instead of the powerful weapons and armour they are.
93** Often invoked with Glamered weapons, which can change appearance to look like any object of similar size and shape. Doing so also hides the weapon's magical aura, making it a perfect disguise. That rust covered blade you found might be a legendary weapon, but if you just cast Detect Magic on it and toss in on the junk heap, you'll never know.
94** ''Magazine/{{Dragon}}'' magazine #14 article "Interview with a Rust Monster": A {{PC}} party unknowingly carries the Sword of Toshio. "[It] looks like an ordinary sword, bent and worn from use. But in the hands of a samurai, it takes on its true appearance as a katana of great power."
95** The Holy Avenger is an ordinary +2 longsword until a paladin gets a hold of it. (+5, bonuses against evil beings, etc., etc.)
96* In ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'', a possible enchantment is "Rusting". Only found on magical weapons, it makes the weapon look rusty and tarnished, but actually makes it ''immune'' to even magical rust and allows the wielder to cast Rusting Grasp on an enemy with a critical hit.
97[[/folder]]
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99[[folder:Video Games]]
100* ''VideoGame/NierAutomata'' has [[{{BFS}} Iron Will]], a sword that's been in the ''Drakengard'' franchise since the first game, and the prequel revealing that one of its oldest owners was the [[MagicMusic Intoner]] Zero. By the time of Automata, it's been sitting alone for well over 7000 years since the previous Nier, the Weapon Story revealing it was content to finally rust away and die until some androids picked it up ready to carve into robots, starting the cycle of violence again. Even at Level 4, the rust will never go away, but it's still one of the strongest weapons in the game.
101* In ''VideoGame/SecretOfMana'', the player acquires a rusty old sword at the beginning of the game, which is none other than the game's legendary Mana Sword. According to the opening scroll, it actually is Excalibur, as well as many other swords of legend.
102** It also happens in the first ''Seiken Densetsu'' game (''VideoGame/FinalFantasyAdventure''), and the same twist applies: it's the Mana Sword. The remake doesn't let you wield it, but it opens the path to the Dime Tower in both versions of the game.
103* Something of an interesting version in ''VideoGame/DragonsDogma''. Many basic weapons come in "rust" varieties (Rust Daggers, for example). These seem like {{Joke Item}}s at first, but once the player begins to upgrade them, they become much more powerful. While still having a generally lower damage output, they become capable of inflicting numerous useful status ailments on your enemies. The best part? They're still called "Rust Daggers" (etc.) regardless of how much you improve them. [[FridgeLogic Guess the weaponsmith figured out how to]] ''[[FridgeLogic weaponize rust]]''.
104* All of the "base" versions of the Relic/Mythic/Empyrean/Aeonic (REMA) weapons in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'' are poor choices for ordinary use, but the Relic line of weapons is the purest example of this trope. The base version of the Relics are dilapidated weapons recovered from Dynamis zones, and all have a DMG of 1 and delay of 999, making them completely useless and, bar none, the worst weapons in the game. The arduous quests to restore them to full glory, however, result in some of the best weapons in the game (indeed, the absolute best weapons in the game before the rest of the REMA weapons were gradually introduced). The relic sword is a literal example, with its fully upgraded version being Excalibur.
105* Divine Vengeance in ''VideoGame/DungeonsAndDragonsOnline'' gains powers for a Lawful character, more if he's a paladin, and even more if he's an epic-level paladin. Both are probably inspired by the tabletop Holy Avenger (see above). Pale Justice in ''VideoGame/IcewindDale'' is an extremely powerful sword for paladins, and looks exactly like an ordinary longsword.
106** A sidequest during the ''Icewind Dale'' [[EasingIntoTheAdventure prologue]] has you retrieving a broken heirloom sword for a villager named Jhonen (no, not '''that''' Creator/{{Jhonen|Vasquez}}). In the last chapter, if you did this quest, you can talk to him again to find out that the sword magically reforged itself sometime while you were off doing the [[BuffySpeak adventury]] thing. Not being a fighter himself, he's only too happy to hand over the rather nice [[InfinityPlusOneSword Reforged Sword of Aihonen]] to help you out against the BigBad. And it doesn't stop there, either - if you bring it with you into [[ExpansionPack Heart of Winter]], about halfway through you meet an NPC who will upgrade it even further.
107* ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIX'' features the Rusty equipment, the first piece of which you're likely to find is the Rusty Sword towards the end of the game. It's not much use at first, but add a little glass powder and some {{Unobtainium}} ({{Orichalcum}}, in this case) and you get the third-best sword in the game. And then the rest of the equipment is also the third best of its type in the game. It is very difficult [[GuideDangIt to find anything other than the sword.]]
108** ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVI'' has the Sword of Ramias.
109* The Falcata from ''VideoGame/RomancingSaGa'' which becomes the Demonbrand.
110* Various rusted weapons can be found at a low chance in the ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'' series by mining them or from quest drops. They usually tend to subvert this trope by being generic iron swords, hammers, et al. On the off chance you're lucky, you'll get a "Rusted" or "Worn" weapon which, with a lot of work in getting parts to break the rust, become some powerful weapons. In particular are the Eternal Hate and the Divine Exodus, two Sword and Shield weapons with the highest Dragon attributes in ''Tri'', bar none.
111* ''VideoGame/GloryOfHeraclesDS'':
112** The game often hands you Rusty items. These are useless until you visit a Polisher, who scours the rust off. Usually you get pretty decent gear out of it. Sometimes subverted in that the rust is so far gone all you get is Scrap Iron.
113** The very first sword in the game turns out to be [[spoiler:the Titan Sword, a gift from Prometheus to the king of Athens]], and gets buffed to an InfinityMinusOneSword before the final dungeon, and one more time by the Blacksmith God, Hapheastus, right before the BigBad into an InfinityPlusOneSword.
114* In ''VideoGame/SoulOfTheSamurai'' (known as ''VideoGame/RoninBlade'' in Europe), [[PlayerCharacter Kotaro]] can find a rusty sword. It is the ''weakest'' katana in the game, even worse than your starting sword, but if you ''do'' manage to obtain it and follow an advice given by an NPC a few levels earlier, you can bring the rusty sword to the resident UltimateBlacksmith who, by the time you can start the game's final mission, will have turned it into the [[InfinityPlusOneSword Supreme Katana Of Greater Asskickery]], which will have a blade as long as the [[{{BFS}} nodachi]], swing as fast as the [[DeathOfAThousandCuts wakizashi]] and hit as hard as the InfinityMinusOneSword you'll get by sticking to the story without going out of your way to find fancier blades.
115* In ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' one of the most powerful knives in the game when it was introduced looked exactly like a [[GrievousBottleyHarm small broken bottle]]. There are also a few magical maces that just look like unadorned bones.
116* Many of the [[InfinityPlusOneSword Celestial Weapons]] from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' start off looking this way and being rather useless, but with a little polish, some sharpening, and a number of mini-games, their true worth will be revealed.
117* In ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII'', the Sword of Altair (best weapon in the game) is actually the simplest and least-adorned weapon in the entire game, especially when compared with the exceptionally ornate blades and hilts of the other sabers, scimitars, and rapiers Ezio can buy. The only real adornment on the blade is a subtle eagle-head carving in the sword's pommel.
118* In ''VideoGame/LunarTheSilverStar'', Althena's Sword (so named for the goddess of Lunar) can only be wielded by her champion, the Dragonmaster--but has been lost since the last known Dragonmaster, Dyne, died. [[spoiler: From ''Silver Star Story'' onward, the games make it into a ChekhovsGun -- it's been hiding in plain sight, crusted over with debris and buried to the hilt in Dyne's monument right outside the (mostly) SilentProtagonist Alex's own village. After proving himself as the next Dragonmaster, Alex is able to draw Althena's Sword [[OnlyTheChosenMayWield from the stone]] and reveal its true power.]]
119** In the sequel, ''VideoGame/LunarEternalBlue'', Althena's Sword [[spoiler: is being carried by once-TeamPet Nall, now grown up and in human form. Astute gamers will recognize it right off the bat, even though the distinctive carved golden handle is wrapped up in bandages. Nall later deems not-so-SilentProtagonist Hiro worthy of wielding it, despite him not technically passing the Dragonmaster trials.]]
120* ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' has the Greatsword of Artorias. You can create a weaker, "cursed" version by combining the Soul of Sif with any +10 straight sword, but to get your hands on the real deal, you have to combine the soul with one of those useless broken swords that the weakest enemies in the game drop, which you have no business even picking up in the first place, much less upgrading to +10.
121* In ''Videogame/DarkSoulsII'' the Red Rust equipment (sword, scimitar, and shield) definitely look like they've seen better days, but they are still very good weapons. The Greatsword also looks chipped and worn out, but it's still a huge sword that can chop up enemies real good.
122** From the same game's Crown of the Old Iron King DLC we have the Majestic Greatsword, a sword from the Iron King's collection that looks so old it's practically fossilized. [[spoiler: It also happens to be Artorias' Greatsword from the first game, and when wielded left-handed lets you adopt his spinning and flipping fighting style from Artorias of the Abyss.]]
123** All of the Old Knight equipment is quite strong, however the downside is that it's so old and rusty that it's literally falling apart, and has extremely low durability.
124* In ''VideoGame/GoldenSunTheLostAge'', you can find rusty weapons in certain patches of shallow water in the ocean as soon as you get the ship. If you take these to Sunshine the Blacksmith, he will agree to fix them up, resulting in weapons that are reasonably good for that part of the game.
125** Mind you, you find a good majority of the first set of rusted weapons when you get into "Triton's pieces" part of the game, and by the time you actually get around to finding more of them you mostly have weapons that overpower the crafted ones. That's not to say later in the game.
126* In ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Fire Emblem: Awakening]]'', [[spoiler:[[SecretCharacter Priam]]'s]] Ragnell is visibly worn, with a dulled blade and cracks all over. While not the infinite-use juggernaut that it was when [[spoiler:his ancestor]] [[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Ike]] wielded it, it's still a highly powerful top-rank weapon. The fact he uses its ranged attack by [[ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks throwing it at the enemies]] probably doesn't help.
127* In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'', the Yato sword, while boasting respectable stats, has a very aged and rustic look to it. Around halfway through each campaign, the PlayerCharacter would be tasked with visiting the Rainbow Sage to unlock its true power, changing its form depending on which kingdom you've allied yourself with. [[spoiler:Its true form, the Omega Yato, can only be achieved in the ''Revelation'' campaign after uniting both Hoshido and Nohr against a common foe.]]
128* In ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia]]'' the player can obtain rusted weapons from battles against monsters. Rarely, some rusted weapons can be forged into the [[InfinityPlusOneSword Infinity +1 Swords]] Sol, Luna or Astra.
129* Like ''Echoes'', ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'' has rusted weapons that can be obtained by defeating monsters or stepping on tiles left behind from the online features. While these weapons are usually forged into strong-but-unremarkable silver weapons, it is possible to obtain [[InfinityPlusOneSword Infinity +1 Swords]] such as Mercurius, Gradivus, Hauteclere, and Parthia.
130* Appears in ''VideoGame/HalfMinuteHero'''s Hero 30 mode late in the game. [[spoiler:It becomes the ultimate weapon if you refuse to kill Sasha after she becomes a zombie.]]
131* ''[[VideoGame/{{Boktai}} Boktai 2]]'' had a ridiculously weak sword, spear, and mallet free for the taking from treasure chests after the first boss. These items also have a chance of nullifying defense, and when that happens their low attack levels do ''tons'' of damage against 0 defense.
132** You could also craft them into moderately average weapons with the same abilities if you were good enough at sword smithing.
133* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'':
134** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'', you may stumble upon a unique "Rusty Dagger" in a tomb with pitiful stats that will break after a single hit. However, return it to a specific shrine to Mehrunes Dagon, and the [[OurGodsAreDifferent Daedric Prince]] of [[DestroyerDeity Destruction]] will restore it to its true, ''powerful'' glory as [[LegendaryWeapon Mehrunes' Razor]].
135** ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]''
136*** Mehrunes Razor is this once again, this time having been [[DismantledMacGuffin broken into pieces]] and the pieces placed in the care of members of a group dedicated to opposing Mehrunes Dagon. After [[CrueltyIsTheOnlyOption liberating]] the pieces, you will travel to Dagon's shrine with a servant of Dagon. Dagon will reforge the blade, but only if you kill his servant. (Then, just ForTheEvulz, he'll sic two [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Dremora]] on you.)
137*** The [[CarryABigStick Mace of Molag Bal]] is initially found as a rusty piece of scrap. However, Molag Bal (Daedric Prince of [[TheCorrupter Domination and Corruption]]) [[ViolenceIsTheOnlyOption forces the player to kill]] a priest of Boethiah (another Daedric Prince and rival of Molag Bal) before he'll restore it.
138* ''Videogame/BreathOfFireIV'' has a rusted sword that will upgrade into a much more powerful sword, the Slayer, if Scias uses it to kill 1000 enemies.
139* In ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' the game simulates item condition and it is common to find some great weapons in really poor shape. The straightest example though is the Infinity +1 sword Mercy. It's an incredibly rusted-looking grenade machine gun you find in a death claw-filled cave. However, it shoots 40mm grenades rather than 25mm, making it nearly twice as powerful.
140* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'':
141** Certain dungeons will drop ancient, broken equipment that has an effective level several below its actual level requirement. A player with a relevant crafting class can repair it, making it ''the'' best equipment available for its level. Shame none of it is very useful once you hit the level cap...
142** Also, the quests to acquire each class's [[InfinityPlusOneSword Relic Weapon]] first involve tracking down the old, broken thing and then jumping through some hoops with [[UltimateBlacksmith Gerolt]] to restore it to its former glory.
143* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'':
144** In the [[http://zeldawiki.org/File:BotW_NA_Logo.png title logo]] and E3 2016 trailer for the game, the Master Sword is shown rusted and heavily chipped. This is somewhat consistent with the portrayal of the Master Sword from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'' where the sword was stuck at the bottom of the ocean, its power to ward evil having been sealed by Ganondorf eliminating the guardians of the temples used to keep the sword empowered. Although in the game itself [[spoiler:it's an inversion; the sword is in such a damaged state because Link used up all of its power slaughtering a ''ridiculous'' number of monsters. Leaving the sword in its pedestal for 100 years allowed it to repair itself so that it would be usable when Link finds it again]].
145** Played straight with the various rusted weapons and shields that you can find strewn in the wilderness, having belonged to adventurers and soldiers who had long since perished during the Calamity a century prior. Link can use them as they are, though they're weak and not very durable. However, [[HelpfulMook Rock Octoroks]] on Death Mountain are capable of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ip62hAQwKos cleaning them and spitting them out if they inhale them.]] These restored weapons and shields can be anywhere from as weak as the Traveller weapons to as powerful as Royal weaponry.
146* ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' has the armor of the Crusader's fallen commander, Balderich, which appears as two skins for Reinhardt. As a skin, even though it's covered in ivy, moss, and rust in its Greifhardt form, it is still formidable and capable. Reinhardt later cleans it up and repairs it to full functionality.
147* The Burial Blade from ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}}'' hasn't been used since Gherman took control of the Hunter's Dream and certainly looks pretty ramshackle even by the standards of a lot of the equipment in the game. [[spoiler:It doesn't stop it from being a source of constant rage at how powerful it if you decide to fight Gherman at the end, and the version you can get after the battle is easily one of the strongest Skill weapons in the game.]]
148* ''VideoGame/GodOfWarPS4'': Kratos had kept [[spoiler:the Blades of Chaos from [[VideoGame/GodOfWarI the first game]]. After not being used for centuries, they look worn out and rusty. Once he wields them again, they light up with their trademark flames and are immediately shown to be as deadly as ever (and can be upgraded to eventually lose the rust).]]
149* A lot of powerful magical weapons in ''VideoGame/PillarsOfEternityIIDeadfire''. Ordinary items can become spontaneously enchanted in various ways -- Xoti's sickle and Edér's Saints War armor are two examples where the wielder knows for certain they were never deliberately enchanted -- which leads to a few of these. Other examples include a broom that makes a great quarterstaff, a shiv carved from a copper beer stein that grants some seriously powerful BoozeBasedBuff (at [[HangoverSensitivity a price]]), and a chunk of wood dipped in pitch, covered in glass shards, and blessed by the Goddess of Vengeance. Downplayed by the Huana magical weapons; though made of wood, bone, obsidian, and other "stone age" materials, they are very well-made and intricately carved, making it obvious they are more than the materials they are crafted from.
150* In the tutorial mission of ''VideoGame/{{Starbound}}'' the Player Character is given a [[StarterEquipment Broken Broadsword]], which looks visibly dented and chipped and has the worst stats of any melee weapon in the game. You will want to switch to another weapon as soon as you can, but you will not want to throw it away entirely as it can become the [[InfinityPlusOneSword Protector's Broadsword]] [[spoiler:once you rescue The Baron much later in the game as he can help you reforge it.]]
151* [[PlayerCharacter The Knight's]] Nail in ''VideoGame/HollowKnight'' starts off dull, cracked, and doing not very much damage at all, described as "blunt with age and wear". [[UltimateBlacksmith The Nailsmith]] can upgrade it into stronger and fancier-looking forms, culminating in the exquisite-looking and incredibly damaging Pure Nail. [[spoiler:The Nailsmith will beg the Knight to cut him down after this, believing he has nothing left to live for after forging a weapon of such caliber.]]
152-->''"The ultimate weapon of Hallownest. Crafted to perfection, this ancient nail reveals its true form."''
153[[/folder]]
154
155[[folder:Visual Novels]]
156* In ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'', Gilgamesh pulls out a somewhat goofy-looking drill-like sword. This sword quickly loses all jokes about it, as it is actually Ea, one of the most powerful weapons in the entire Franchise/{{Nasuverse}}.
157[[/folder]]
158
159[[folder:Web Comics]]
160* On ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'', the Crimson Mantle looks like an old red cape almost in tatter (because the majority of its previous owners met a violent death). It's in fact a powerful ArtifactOfDoom.
161* Averted by Madison Vrax, of ''Webcomic/CassiopeiaQuinn'', who wins a historic sword as a trophy, whereupon it starts to shed its corroded patina. No one, including Madison herself, understands why this is happening, or exactly WHAT is happening
162[[/folder]]
163
164[[folder:Western Animation]]
165* Minor ''WesternAnimation/WinxClub'' example: during a defence lesson, Professor [[spoiler:(Impostor!)]] Avalon instructs Bloom and another student to pick two magic swords and spar, and Bloom's shiny sword is ''shattered'' by the chipped one chosen by the other. The other sword happened to have survived an ''extremely'' powerful attack, and that single chip (the ''only'' sign of disrepair) was where the attack had hit and [[MoreThanMeetsTheEye the sign it was the better sword]].
166* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'' has the heroes fighting against the Forever Knights to obtain a five-thousand-year-old superweapon of a sword. By the time both parties reach the hidden weapon, [[spoiler:[[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome it was so old that it crumbled to dust as soon as the Forever Knight drew the blade]]]].
167* Lula from ''WesternAnimation/DaveTheBarbarian'' is a magic LivingWeapon who went two thousand years without use before Dave found her and was never treated in that time or sense. She can shoot magic lightning, but in her own words, she's about as sharp as a bowling ball.
168[[/folder]]
169
170[[folder:Real Life]]
171* UsefulNotes/JoanOfArc's sword was found buried under the altar of the Church of Saint Catherine de Fierbois based on instructions from Joan's voices. It was covered in rust, but the rust wiped off easily, revealing a Fleur-de-lis pattern, and it turned out to have belonged to Charles Martel who left it as an offering after the Battle of Tours for the next hero of France to take up. Before the Siege of Paris, Joan broke ''a'' sword by using the flat side to beat a CampFollower (she had a habit of beating any prostitute she found in the camps), which was assumed to be the same sword, which was viewed as a bad omen and had a demoralizing effect. Joan herself stated at her trial it was a different sword taken from a Burgundian soldier and refused to elaborate on what happened to the sword of Saint Catherine de Fierbois.
172[[/folder]]

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