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[[quoteright:348:[[VideoGame/BerserkMillenniumFalconHenSeimaSenkiNoSho https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/zweihander.png]]]]
[[caption-width-right:348: [[HandicappedBadass Even with]] just one non-prosthetic hand and one intact eye, he can swing the [[{{BFS}} biggest]] heap of raw iron.]]

->''"He's swinging that two-handed sword around with only one arm. I don't even want to get '''near''' him."''
-->-- '''[[VideoGame/MetalGear Solid Snake]]''' on [[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Ike]], ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl''

A ''zweihänder'' is a two-handed sword. It's right there in the name ("zwei" meaning ''"two"'' in German and "händer"...[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin well]]). However, some characters don't want to read the manual...

Say a character has a large sword. It may be anything from a regular two-handed sword, or it may be [[{{BFS}} something utterly ludicrous in size.]] Clearly this thing requires both hands for any normal person to swing it. So anyone who swings around something so huge using only one hand is obviously not normal, and not someone to be trifled with. Often they'll be able to wield this huge weapon as effectively as a 'regular' single handed weapon. In fact, it will often seem as if the enormous slab of metal weighs next to nothing, allowing the character to pull off [[ImplausibleFencingPowers ridiculous(-ly awesome) feats]] that make even expert swordsmen look like amateurs. And if a guy is swinging a sword the size of a Buick around one-handed, ''what would happen if he used both hands?''

The character is typically TheBigGuy, TheBrute, or TheBerserker. Quite often they're the protagonist. Anyone doing this usually possesses some degree of SuperStrength or CharlesAtlasSuperpower.

Very common in {{video games}} and {{manga}}[=/=]{{anime}}. Does not have to involve a {{BFS}} (though it often does), or even be a sword. Any normally two-handed melee weapon qualifies, though swords are by far the most common usage of this trope.

[[JustForFun/TelevisionIsTryingToKillUs In real life, trying to use a two handed sword with one hand is generally a bad idea]], though not for the reasons you might think. While in fiction two-handed blades often look difficult to even ''lift'' much less use in combat, real-life two-handed swords are impressively light and well-balanced for their size ([[http://www.thearma.org/essays/2HGS.html#.VuN4NJwrLIU Renaissance two-handed swords that weren't ceremonial fell within 5-8 pounds]][[note]]8 pounds is nothing to sneeze at; that's about the weight of a gallon of milk. Sure you can ''lift'' it, but try swinging it around energetically for any length of time; it's quite a workout.[[/note]]) Swords like ''Zweihänders'' or the Japanese ''nodachi'' have very long hilts to acts as levers, with the hand closest to the guard (usually the right one) acting as a fulcrum. With one hand you lose this mechanical advantage; it's still possible for a person of average strength to use the sword, it's just a ''lot'' less effective.

'''It is not this trope if the sword or other weapon could be reasonably used one handed by a normal person.'''

Of course, some of the weapons used by practitioners of this trope are so huge that [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un1M7xbCCIs not even using both hands would do them any good]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xogheZdAO18 even if the weapon was made lighter by using an aluminum alloy instead of solid steel.]]

Often comes with ImplausibleFencingPowers. When this is due to the wielder being physically very large, see GiantsKnifeHumansGreatsword. Sometimes taken to ridiculous levels when DualWielding is involved. For the JustForFun/GunCounterpart, see FiringOneHanded. Related to {{BFS}}. Subtrope of ImprobableUseOfAWeapon.
----
!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* ''Anime/AfroSamurai'' has a downplayed example with Afro himself. He uses a tachi, a proto-katana with a longer, more curved, and more unwieldy blade, and is skilled and strong enough to swing it one-handed. When in a fight he deems serious enough, he uses both hands.
* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'': Guts is quite capable of wielding his freakishly large {{BFS}}, the Dragonslayer, using just one hand. He needs to be, because his non-dominant left hand is actually an iron prosthetic, since he lost the original one during the Eclipse; it has a [[HollywoodMagnetism powerful magnet]] inside of it so that he can assist his right hand with a two-handed grip, but he still can only one-hand it with his right. Even before he got the Dragonslayer, his weapons of choice were oversized great swords that he would often practice with one-handed to build his strength. The reason being that he started training with an adult-sized long sword when he was six years old, and got used to wielding way-too-big swords, so he just kept upgrading the size as he grew older and stronger.
* In ''Manga/BlackClover'' Asta's [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Demon-Slayer Sword]] has a blade that's almost as long as he is and is nearly two feet wide; [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower due to roughly a decade of physical training]] he's the only one who can swing it. Not that anyone would be able to since it drains the mana of anyone that touches it, [[RequiredSecondaryPowers with Asta having none to begin with]].
* ''Manga/BladeOfTheImmortal'': Anotsu Kagehisa carries a battle axe mounted with a sword hilt. While others struggle even with two hands, Anotsu can easily swing it around one-handed by taking advantage of the axe's momentum.
* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'':
** Kenpachi Zaraki wields a very large sword, similar in design to a nodachi, in one hand, and uses a very reckless fighting style to boot. In the Hueco Mundo Arc, he encounters an enemy so powerful that he resorts to [[IAmNotLeftHanded holding his sword properly]], which has a marked effect on his power. Amusingly, he had to actually be ''taught'' that this works better when the head captain forced him to take formal swordsmanship lessons. He normally refuses to use the techniques he was taught, because [[SelfImposedChallenge he doesn't want his battles to be too easy]]. [[spoiler:The true form of Kenpachi's zanpakuto, Nozarashi, which he only recently unlocked upon learning his sword's name, is a gigantic axe-like blade that's bigger than he is...and he's a very big man (202cm tall). He ''still'' wields it one-handed.]]
** Nnoitra Gilga (the very guy who Kenpachi had to resort to holding his sword properly for) uses several big-ass scythes in his OneWingedAngel form, all of them with one hand ([[MultiArmedAndDangerous he has six of them]]).
** Protagonist Ichigo remarkably averts this: his Zangetsu in any pre-Bankai form is definitely a BFS (it's generally about as long as his wingspan -- and he's both tall (174cm-181cm) and somewhat long in the arm -- and quite broad, its primary form resembling a giant khyber knife for most of the series) but he typically wields it two-handed. Though it's shown a couple of times that he ''can'' one-hand it. Played straight in the final story arc, when Zangetsu has to be reforged and the resulting weapon is two swords, one of which is similar to the original "giant chopping knife" and the second being the size of short sword or very large knife. Naturally, Ichigo [[DualWielding dual wields]] them.
** {{Justified|Trope}}: [[WordOfGod It's stated]] that a zanpakuto is part of the soul of the shinigami or the arrancar wielding it. Therefore, to that person, even the most massive and absurd-looking weapon is as light as a feather.
* The eponymous half-demon swordswomen of ''Manga/{{Claymore}}'' do this, often being able to SpamAttack with their huge swords. A few even dual-wield them. It's [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in the first chapter and explained as a specific effect of their being made part-Yoma. The thin handles of the claymore swords also are a hint that [[spoiler: the swords are made of ThunderboltIron. Which is why they can survive being used against Awakened Ones and do not break even when subjected to or used for ImplausibleFencingPowers.]]
* In ''Manga/{{Gamaran}}'' the most (and perhaps only) blatant example can be found in [[DrugsAreBad Kibe Ryuho]], the Silver Demon: his gargantuan iron club "Black Claw Comb" (Which is 8 and half feet long and weights around 40 kg/90 pounds) is made to be used with both hands. However, thanks to the ludicrous SuperStrength obtained with the Juugan drug he eventually manages to swing the whole damned thing with a single hand when going all out with his DeadlyUpgrade (And he's not even that big or brawny either). Much later in the story, we see that both Zenmaru and Kai have reached the peak of their skills by using their Sadanaga (a large nodachi meant for sheer offensive power) to perform one-handed swings with incredible speed. Lampshaded in the sequel series ''Shura'', where the BigBad Hiramatsu Tadaie always uses his tachi with one hand... but as the onlookers can see, he can still strike with all the strength of a two-handed slash.
* ''Manga/{{Inuyasha}}''-villain Bankotsu can effortlessly lift and swing his weapon Banryu with one hand, even prior to being resurrected with the Jewel Shards. The Samurai lord who took Banryu as a trophy after executing the Band of Seven lampshades this, remarking that it took 3 men to carry it.
* In ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', Zabuza Momochi and Kisame Hoshigaki both wield their massive swords (Decapitating Carving Knife and Samehada, respectively) one-handed; both are very heavily built. At later points in the series, Suigetsu and Kakashi both use Zabuza's sword; Suigetsu alternates between both arms and one (sometimes using ninjutsu to make it larger and stronger) but Kakashi has only been shown using it one-handed.
* ''Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi'' gives us
** [[MemeticBadass Jack Rakan]], a man able to throw swords as tall as he is one-handed, or swing a sword the size of a ''building''. Given that he can [[BeyondTheImpossible break the laws of magic and physics by thinking about it]], this isn't too impressive for him.
** Asuna's Pactio artifact, both of Setsuna's swords -- her regular nodachi and her second Pactio artifact (which can grow to enormous size), Yue's Ariadne sword, and (briefly) Fate's stone sword, all of which are positively {{BFS}}es and are usually wielded one-handed.
* In ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'', Ryoga's umbrella turns out to be so incredibly heavy that Akane, who is a highly trained martial artist and in excellent shape, can barely lift it. Yet, as she observes, Ryoga wields it in one hand like a normal person with a normal umbrella, tipping her off to his monstrous natural strength. Ranma can do the same.
* In the Kyoto [[StoryArc Arc]] of ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'' when [[BigBad Shishio's]] assault on Kyoto brings the heroes face-to-face with [[OnlyKnownByTheirNickname Fuji]]; not only is Fuji ([[MeaningfulName as in]] Mt. '''Fuji''') [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever a veritable giant of a man]], but his sword, resembling an oversized Japanese hunting knife, is [[{{BFS}} almost as long as he is tall]], able to carve through houses like a hot knife cutting through butter. And all of this is with ''one'' hand; his special technique is [[IAmNotLeftHanded simply using both hands to swing the whole damn thing.]] Unfortunately for Fuji, the good guys get a BigDamnHeroes moment in the form of [[RetiredBadass Hiko Seijuro]], [[TheHero Kenshin's]] master and ''[[WorldsStrongestMan the strongest swordsman in the series]]'' (in fact, Creator/NobuhiroWatsuki states that the fight was devised as the only way to work around Hiko's status as being [[StoryBreakerPower "just too powerful"]] without him coming directly between Kenshin's duel with Shishio himself, thus easily solving Kenshin's problems). On a positive note, Hiko is the first person to see Fuji as [[WorthyOpponent something other than a monster]] and [[DefeatMeansFriendship spares his life upon defeat]]. On the other hand, Fuji's sword, while humongous for any human being, is overall proportionate to his own size, making this a DownplayedTrope.
* Hishigi from ''Manga/SamuraiDeeperKyo'' has a {{BFS}} named Hakuya. The length of the hilt and size of the blade (it's about as tall as he is, and he's canonically 180cm) suggest it's a two-hander, but Hishigi's left hand never touches it. He can swing it so fast it creates shockwaves capable of one-shotting the main character, and it was made for him because his strength ''shattered'' normal swords -- naturally, Hakuya is too heavy and powerful for anyone else to handle.
* Ikaruga in ''VideoGame/SenranKagura'' is able to handle her nodachi with only one hand.
* ''Literature/SwordArtOnline'': There are certain instances where characters are one-handing sizeable swords that would be zweihänders in real life, but this is usually justified as the weapons being classed as one-handed in the VRMMO the characters are playing. A straighter example is Kirito and Suguha's kendo spar in Episode 15, which happens in the real world; being accustomed to the weight of metal swords after his time in SAO, Kirito finds a timber-bamboo shinai light enough to wield in one hand, only going for a two-handed grip during a BladeLock.
* ''Manga/UshioAndTora'': minor villain Blood Robe appears as a one-eyed WarriorMonk wielding a naginata with one hand and surprisingly high skill: the reason is, he has a ''yumi'' bow embedded in his other arm's wrist, preventing him from properly wielding his glaive.
* Karura from ''VideoGame/{{Utawarerumono}}'' kept breaking the swords she was using, until they finally crafted her a "sword" that was essentially a steel beam on a hilt, and more of a bludgeon than a cutting instrument. Naturally, she carries it around one handed.
* Thorkell from ''Manga/VinlandSaga'' is [[LargeAndInCharge so physically large]] and [[WorldsStrongestMan ridiculously strong]] that he is able to effortlessly wield polearms the way smaller men wield single-handed weapons. His weapons of choice are [[DualWield a pair of dane axes]], 4-feet long poleaxes commonly used to break shield walls and kill horses. For anyone else, a dane ax is a large, slow, cumbersome weapon that requires both hands to swing. Thorkell runs into battle at full speed with one in each hand, swinging them around so ridiculously quickly that most of his enemies get limbs hacked off or are cut in half before they can even react.
* Bui from ''Manga/YuYuHakusho'' wields an axe so large and heavy that it ''causes his footsteps to crack solid stone floors'', and with a single hand he can swing it faster than most humans can percieve. [[IAmNotLeftHanded The axe is by far his weakest form of attack.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* These days, most depictions of ComicBook/{{Magik}}'s Soulsword, make it as wider than her and almost as tall. She easily uses it with one hand, though it's not because she's strong. Instead it's because the weapon is a piece of her soul.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* In ''Fanfic/TheButcherBird'', [[TheBrute Bosque Herman]] wields [[EvilWeapon Amakatta]] in one hand easily, especially when in his [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent hybrid Zoan form]]. There's also [[MadScientist Vinci's]] [[PraetorianGuard Companions]], some of whom wield a tower shield in one hand and a [[MixAndMatchWeapon halberd with a gun mounted on it]] in the other.
* ''Fanfic/DungeonKeeperAmi'':
** After discussion with Cathy, who has experience with a wide variety of weapons, Ami settles on a two-handed sword as the most practical option for her duel with the Horned Reaper. Her Senshi enhancements allow her to use it effectively in just one hand, and she needs the cutting power to have a chance of penetrating his hide.
** She later uses a giant disembodied hand made of ice magic to wield a truly huge sword. The ice belongs to her, so she can use Keeper telekinesis on it, letting her [[GiantsKnifeHumansGreatsword wield a sword the size of a girder as if it were a toothpick]].
* ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'': Kyril [[{{Downplayed}} downplays]] this when wielding his [[SpellBlade Holy Moonlight]] [[{{BFS}} Sword]]. The transformed mode of this weapon (where it turns turquoise and can shoot [[SwordBeam beams]]) is normally wielded in both hands, but he occasionally uses it one-handed either to cut down his foes, [[SwipeYourBladeOff rid it of blood]], or to lean it against its shoulder. The normal mode of this weapon can be wielded in one hand like a bastard sword, so he would have one hand free to [[SwordAndGun wield a gun]].
* In ''Fanfic/RobbReturns'', Robert Baratheon is capable of wielding [[{{BFS}} Stormbreaker]] with one hand while using a shield with the other. This is taken from details in the books that mention how Robert, in his youth, was capable of one-handed wielding a heavy warhammer that Ned Stark (who is no slouch, being able to use [[{{BFS}} Ice]]) could just carry with two hands.
* One of the weapons of [[TheBerserker Asuka]] in ''Fanfic/ThousandShinji'' is an absolutely ''massive'' bronze battle-axe. It's large enough to easily cleave through a man and leave a gouge mark in the concrete wall behind him. And due to her increased strength and muscle mass, she can handle it ''with a single hand''.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film]]
* ''Film/TheMaskOfZorro'': Downplayed. Cavalry sabres are swung one-handed on horseback, but on foot are far more effective when used with both hands. This doesn't stop [[TheDragon Captain Harrison Love]] from not only wielding his sabre one-handed, but attempting to ''fence'' with it, against an opponent armed with a rapier, mirroring Zorro's stance despite having a far heavier and more awkward blade. While Love can hold his own at first, he's clearly overmatched, and when Zorro gains the upper hand, Love abandons this impractical fighting style and starts swinging his sabre with both hands.
* The BlackKnight in ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail'' fights with a huge two-handed sword in one hand. Justified as when he fights this way he only has one arm left to fight with, and his one-handed blows are [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome so clumsy and awkward]] that it isn't long before he loses the other arm.
* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
** Lightsabers are usually wielded by Jedi and Sith alike in the two-handed fashion in order to maintain control over their completely weightless blades. However there are two characters whose fighting style is predominantly one-handed:
*** Count Dooku wields his lightsaber one-handed in a fighting style that specializes in dueling.
*** Rey's fighting style, especially in ''The Last Jedi'' and ''Rise of Skywalker'' is primarily one-handed. [[spoiler:At the end of the latter film, she averts the trope by constructing a lightsaber with a one-handed grip.]]
** Darth Vader starts out wielding his in one hand against Luke to demonstrate his superior strength as an intimidation tactic. The younger Anakin periodically uses his lightsaber one-handed, as well. However in both cases these were situational, and most of the time he wields his lightsaber two-handed.
** Kylo Ren's lightsaber is visually similar to an actual [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zweihänder zweihander]] or longsword, with a longer handle and blade, and a prominent crosshilt. He tends to mix up one and two-handed use, as it being a lightsaber does mean the question of swinging a heavy blade one handed isn't really an issue.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* ''Literature/TheBelgariad'': Garion's sword in question is powered by a CosmicKeystone that explicitly makes the sword lighter than it would normally be. When the stone is removed, Garion - who's comfortably over six feet tall and well built - can barely lift or carry the sword at all, much less in one hand. He once removed the stone while forgetting the sword is slung in the scabbard at his back. It brought him to his knees. Torak, by contrast, is a god, and would not be expected to have difficulty handling any sword.
%%** Garion, Torak, and 'Zakath all do this one occasion. Likely justified, as the swords in question are magic.
* In ''Literature/CodexAlera'', the superhumanly strong Knights Terra use greatswords and giant mauls in one hand to devastating effect.
* In "Literature/TheScarletCitadel," Literature/ConanTheBarbarian is described as wielding a 5-foot broadsword one-handed. ''On horseback'', yet.
* In episode 8 of ''Literature/IsItWrongToTryToPickUpGirlsInADungeon'' [[spoiler: [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMoments Bell steals a minotaur's sword and proceeds to utterly wreck the beast while using it in tandem with the Hestia Knife]].]]
* A justified example in ''Literature/TheReturnOfTheCondorHeroes'' as the protagonist Yang Guo [[AnArmAndALeg loses his right arm]] third quarter into the story. Still, he is able to wield the appropriately named Heavy Sword proficiently to become a certified HandicappedBadass.
* ''Literature/TheRippleSystem'': Darling gets an ax that gives her the ability to dual-wield two-handed weapons, and later breaks down that ability and puts it into an item.
* ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms'': Cao Cao's bodyguard Dian Wei proves his worth by brandishing [[DualWielding two]] ''ji'' in battle, each weighting 34 pounds.
* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': Gregor Clegane, known as "the Mountain That Rides," is closer to eight feet tall than seven and freakishly strong even for his size. He's so large that his massive destrier looks like a pony and he wields a greatsword in one hand.
* Shardblades in ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'' are upwards of six-seven feet in length, yet light enough to wield one-handed. However, most styles involving their use still require the wielder to use two hands for control, especially in duels between men in [[PoweredArmor Shardplate]]. It is also very difficult for someone who isn't wearing Shardplate to wield one in a single hand simply due to their sheer size. [[spoiler: {{Justified}} in ''Literature/WordsOfRadiance'' by the fact that Shards aren't made of matter as we know it, but are the physical manifestations of the creatures of pure magic known as spren.]]
* Stated of the length of root that Cord uses as an improvised weapon in ''[[Literature/TheColSecTrilogy Exiles of ColSec]]''. This is meant to emphasize Cord's CharlesAtlasSuperpower.
* In ''Literature/SmallFavor'', Michael briefly [[DualWielding dual-wields]] holy swords ''Fidelaccius'' (a katana) and ''Amoraccius'' (a 5-foot greatsword). Granted, he is a really big man and skilled swordsman, and possibly buffed by the Swords themselves - they tend to do little things to balance out fights. Usually he fights with ''Amoraccius'' two-handed. He also did this in the earlier book ''Literature/DeathMasks''-- that time atop a ''moving train.''
* ''Literature/TheTravelersGate'': All of the Dragon's Fangs, the swords that Valinhall Travelers use, are at least five feet long. They weigh so much they need SuperStrength just to pick them up, but with that they typically swing them around as if they're as light as a feather.
* ''Literature/TheWarGods'': Bahzell's sword is five feet long, and while the hilt's long enough that he ''can'' use it two-handed he often uses it one-handed. When Vaijon manages to get into a judicial duel with Bahzell early in ''The War God's Own'', he rapidly goes from "any weapon that size has to be clumsy" to "how is he swinging it so fast?" to "[[CurbStompBattle ow ow ow]]". Justified in that Bahzell is over seven and a half feet tall, and heavily muscled even by hradani standards.
* In ''[[Literature/SienkiewiczTrilogy With Sword and Fire]]'', Longinus Podbipięta uses a massive bastard sword called [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Zerwikaptur (Hood-Ripper)]], often one-handed, while the other characters have difficulty even holding it up.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'':
** Second and third editions allow a "large" character (such as an ogre) to wield a two-handed weapon with one hand. However, a "small" character (such as a halfling) inverts the trope and must wield a one-handed weapon with two hands.
** Third edition also has a feat called Monkey Grip that allows a medium character to use a two-handed weapon (or a small character use a one-handed weapon) one-handed, with a small penalty to hit. As the system is one of the bigger cases of ShieldsAreUseless, and there is an inherent damage boost to using weapons two-handed, it's not a very popular feat from a power perspective.
** In Third edition a "bastard sword" is a blade between a (one-handed) longsword and a (two-handed) greatsword, it can be used two-handed as a martial weapon but requires a specific exotic weapon proficiency feat to use one-handed. Fifth edition instead gives longswords the damage of bastard swords when wielded two-handed.
** It is possible to enchant greatswords/claymores to be wielded like shortswords, so even the squishy thief can swing around a blade longer than her arm span.
** In second edition, a magical sword known as the "sun blade" is classed as a bastard sword with regards to appearance, damage dealt, and overall size, but is regarded as a short sword in terms of encumbrance and weight, and can be wielded by people with proficiency in using either a bastard or a short sword.
* In ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'', the standard Exalted weapon, the daiklave, is larger than a normal greatsword, but by attuning to them, an Exalt can wield them one-handed (magic makes them lighter, but only to the user). ''Grand'' daiklaves, which are swords the size of surfboards, can be wielded one-handed if you have three times the minimum strength to wield them the normal way. This is somewhat uncommon, since it's hard to have a strength score higher than five dots within a human lifetime without artifacts or charms to provide bonuses. Exalts and others with the necessary essence pools can wield them one-handed. Solars and Lunars can also learn Charms to allow one-hand wielding of grand daiklaves and other giant weapons which are normally too big for this even for them. Lunars take it a few steps further and can eventually wield weapons meant for ''[[HumongousMecha warstriders]].''
* ''TabletopGame/FabulaUltima'': The Monkey Grip heroic skill, which can be obtained by mastering the Fury class, lets you wield certain types of two-handed weapon in one hand. You can even {{dual wield|ing}} them if you feel so inclined.
* In ''TabletopGame/{{GURPS}}'', a two-handed weapon can be used one-handed if the user has at least 1,5 times the required strength, but becomes unreadied (basically, the character next turn will be spent "readying" the weapon instead of attacking) after each strike. Users who have twice the required strength (that is, near superhuman strength for most weapons) can swing them with one hand at no penalty.
* ''TabletopGame/LegendOfTheFiveRings'':
** In Fourth Edition, Moto Bushi have the ability to wield ANY two handed weapon in one hand (except for bows). This includes large swords (such as nodachi) as well as other oversized weapons like naginata and tetsubos.
** In the pre-Ivory Edition CCG, Kensai could wield two weapons of any sort. This led to absurd situations where a kensai could somehow wield a set of weapons that made no sense - such as a monk somehow swinging two oversized bisento. In the Ivory Edition core set, this was partially fixed by designating weapons as one- or two-handed, where kensai could only wield two one-handed weapons. That said, it only fixes weapons printed in Ivory Edition core and forward until the errata team can catch up; even in the Ivory-legal sets printed in the Emperor era, unrealistic weapons exist without those designations (and in legacy formats, plenty of other weapons exist that could lead to this trope occurring).
* ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'':
** The Barbarian archetype Titan Mauler, which has the class feature of wielding swords meant for two-handed fighting with one hand.
** There is also the "Thunder and Fang" fighting style, which focuses on wielding an earthbreaker (a massive two-handed hammer) in one hand and a klar (a bladed shield crafted from/in the shape of a giant reptile's skull) in the other.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'''s Elves fight more swiftly and skillfully with double-handed great weapons than humans are capable of with single-handed ones (thanks, in game terms, to all elves having the Always Strikes First rule and a very high Initiative characteristic). The Swordmasters of Hoeth in particular specialise in extreme swordsmanship skills with their seven or eight foot blades. Most elf great weapon wielders tend to use both hands, but many of the champion models are depicted swinging their gigantic swords and axes with one. The White Lion hero Korhil even uses the magical Great Axe Chayal in one hand and a regular hand-axe in the other. Elven great weapons tend to be much lighter and less cumbersome than other races' equivalents however - the power of the strikes coming from sharpness and perfect balance more than brute force and weight.
* Pretty much every sword in ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' is used one-handed regardless of its size (usually justified via PoweredArmor, SuperStrength engineering, etc.), but special mention must be made of Abaddon the Despoiler, whose one-hand-wielded sword is an ''actual'' Zweihander.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Toys]]
* The [[Toys/NerfBrand Nerf N-Force]] foam melee weapons toyline has the Maurader sword, a fairly big foam sword. In this rare case the blade is actually light enough for most people to wield one-handed without being weighted down.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]
* The largest weapon in ''VideoGame/ArxFatalis'', Inut's Giant Magic Sword, is classified as one-handed, can be wielded along with shields and swings pretty fast for it's size. Visually, it resembles a man-sized replica of orcish swords from ''[[Film/TheLordOfTheRings LotR]]'' films, made of pure mithril, which makes it more believable, but not much.
* ''Franchise/BaldursGate'':
** In the first game, [[BigBad Sarevok]] wields a big sword one-handed. In ''Shadows of Amn'', you can get this sword as an actual item -- and only then will you see it was a two-handed sword, by the rules simply impossible for your characters to wield in one hand. (However, in ''Throne of Bhaal'', [[spoiler: this rule applies to Sarevok as well.]])
** ''Shadows of Amn'' also offers an [[InvertedTrope inversion]]: The Pixie Prick is a (somewhat odd-looking) dagger and wielded as such, but according to the [[FlavorText description]] its first owner was an actual pixie who wielded it as a two-handed sword.
** ''[[VideoGame/BaldursGateDarkAlliance Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance II]]'': Dorn the Barbarian can learn a high-level skill (it costs 15 skill points) that allows him to wield two-handed swords, axes and hammers in one hand, and even dual wield them should he wish.
* ''Franchise/BlazBlue'':
** [[TheHero Ragna the Bloodedge]] does this with a sword described as "a massive slab of metal." He also tends to use it in ReverseGrip, making it even more implausible.
** Also played straight by [[ColonelBadass Kagura Mutsuki]], who wields a cricket bat-shaped sword that is even bigger than Ragna's in one hand, and also uses it in ReverseGrip. {{Averted|Trope}} surprisingly by [[WorldsStrongestMan Hakumen]], who wields his Nodachi the correct way, with both hands.
** Bloodedge, the famous hero who sacrificed himself to stop the Black Beast and who Ragna takes his name after, used his giant sword with one arm. {{Justified|Trope}} because his right arm didn't work at all. [[spoiler:Also, because he's Ragna.]]
* The Holy Moonlight Sword in ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}}'', in its un-transformed state is a pretty huge claymore that the hunter none the less swings around with one hand. When it's transformed into its Moonlight form however, it gets even bigger and ''[[SubvertedTrope does]]'' require two hands. The advantages being that its normal form leaves your off-hand open for carrying a gun for parrying or a torch for light, while its transformed state can launch powerful magical attacks. Like all the weapons in the game, the trick is knowing which situations to use which form.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Bujingai}}'', one of Lao's swords is large and has a two-handed grip, but he still uses it with one hand.
* The Leper of ''VideoGame/DarkestDungeon'' wields an executioner's sword. While he carries the sword around with two hands in his neutral animations, most of his attacks has him swinging it with one hand.
* The image for this trope used to be War, from ''VideoGame/{{Darksiders}}''. His {{BFS}}, Chaoseater, is at least eight feet long and two feet wide. War swings it around in his right hand like it weighs next to nothing. His other hand is a PowerFist. Even a de-powered [[HorsemenOfTheApocalypse Horseman of the Apocalypse]] gives [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII Cloud]] a run for his money.
* ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'':
** ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsI'':
*** In the first ''Dark Souls'' as well as its predecessor ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'', a player with the right stats can carry any weapon in a single hand, whether it be a 6 foot katana, a zweihänder, a battleaxe intended for a giant or a solid-stone dragon tooth larger than the person wielding it. The [[MightyGlacier NPCs Havel the Rock and Black Iron Tarkus]] go as far as to wield a giant weapon in their right hand and a [[LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe tower shield]] on their left. The player is even capable of DualWielding two-handed weapons, though [[CoolButInefficient doing so granted no practical advantage]] until ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsII'' introduced the ability to attack with both weapons at once, but only if you have ''1.5'' times the Strength and Dexterity two compatible weapons need to simply be used one hand.
*** Artorias of the Abyss, who is based off of Guts of ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'', the developers having admitted to being huge ''Berserk'' fans, and will ''[[ThatOneBoss destroy you]]''. Even more frightening once you think of the size difference between Artorias and the Player. The player's height (male) is assumed to be around 6 feet tall, Dragonslayer Ornstein is around the same height as the Black Knights (appear around 7 to 8 feet tall). Artorias makes both of them look small in comparison. This means Artorias' sword is at the ''minimum'' '''ten feet''' long or bigger. Even ''more'' frightening when you realize the reason he's fighting one-handed in the first place is because his left arm ([[IAmNotLeftHanded which is also implied to be his stronger arm]]) [[HandicappedBadass is broken and limp]]. If he puts up that much of a fight in his wrecked state, imagine [[WhatCouldHaveBeen how powerful he must have been in his prime...]]
*** Though not as flashy as Havel, Tarkus, or Artorias, [[BadassNormal knights of Catarina]] like [[PluckyComicRelief Siegmeyer]] and his daughter Sieglinde also fit this trope with their zweihanders, a weapon described in-game as needing "inhuman strength" to even wield two-handed, much less with a Pierce Shield as both of them have.
** ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsII'':
*** The mighty King Vendrick [[spoiler:or what's left of him]] wields a huge sword as big as he is with one hand. He's a giant, by the way.
*** In the Crown of the Old Iron King DLC, players fight the Fume Knight [[spoiler: formerly known as Knight Raime]] who starts off with this trope by DualWielding the tremendously large Fume Ultra Greatsword and a thinner, nondescript sword, though notably only using the Greatsword in huge, slow attacks. [[TurnsRed Late in the fight]], he'll discard the smaller blade and start two handing the Greatsword (for the most part).
*** Players can obtain the Smelter Hammer weapon, fan dubbed "The Giant Chicken wing," this weapon is a mass of steel literally larger than the player. The weapon is intended to be used with two hands, as it's strong attack has the player spin in place before using the sheer weight of the weapon to launch themselves forward, also fittingly named "The KFC Special" by fans. Despite this, nothing stops players from getting the strength to 1-hand this behemoth. Even crazier? With 99 Strength (The cap in DSII) you can DUAL-WIELD THESE MONSTROSITIES!
*** In the Crown of the Ivory King DLC, the titular king wields his Ultra Greatsword in one hand. Notably, despite being seven feet long, the sword is pretty slick in design and doesn't at first look as heavy, [[LargeAndInCharge especially in the king's hand]], but it has a special attack that encrusts it in ice, effectively ''doubling'' its length and tripling its girth.
** ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsIII'': Artorias's successors, the Abyss Watchers, have a fighting style based around a greatsword in one hand and a dagger in the other. Said fighting style is ridiculously flippy and nimble, meaning that not only are they fighting with a one-handed greatsword, they're fighting ''very acrobatically'' with a one-handed greatsword. And the player can get in on it by transposing the Watchers's boss soul into the Farron Greatsword, which literally ''can't'' be two-handed; pressing the button that would usually two-hand the weapon causes you to draw the dagger instead. This gives you advantages (you can parry with the dagger, and some of the best options in the moveset use the dagger to spin on), but also makes you more vulnerable to parrying.
* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'':
** Dante does this with all his {{BFS}}es. The most noteworthy being Sparda, which is at least as long as he is tall, and can extend to be even longer. He also likes to SpamAttack with these oversized swords. [[JustifiedTrope Of course, he]] ''[[JustifiedTrope is]]'' [[JustifiedTrope half-demon.]] In the first game, Dante encounters ([[RecurringBoss several times, for that matter]]) [[BlackKnight Nelo Angelo]] ([[spoiler:his BrainwashedAndCrazy EvilTwin Vergil]]), [[MirrorBoss who copies his moveset]] with an even ''larger'' blade.
** ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'': Nero also does this with his BFS, Red Queen as well as with [[spoiler: Yamato, Vergil's sword]].
** ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry5'': Appropriately, [[spoiler:Devil Sword Dante, which is named after him]] is also wielded in this manner.
* ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'':
** ''VideoGame/DiabloII'': Barbarians can wield two-handed swords like this, allowing for either a shield or another weapon (even another two-handed weapon) to be used in the other hand, though they take a damage penalty for one-handed use. For barbarians using a Frenzy build, however, nothing tops it.
** ''VideoGame/DiabloIII'': Crusaders using the Heavenly Strength passive skill can also wield two-handed weapons -- even ''polearms'' -- in one hand. Unlike the Barbarian from the previous game, however, the Crusader cannot dual-wield, and primarily uses this in tandem with a [[LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe big heavy shield]].
* ''VideoGame/DiscoElysium:'' The book series ''Hjeimdallerman, the Man from Hjeimdall'', an [[ShowWithInAShow in-universe]] long-running SwordAndSorcery pulp series, and a pretty obvious ''Literature/ConanTheBarbarian'' parody, has the titular character ''dual wielding'' One-Handed Zweihänders, named Sturm and Drang. If they are high enough to comment on it, your skills are less than impressed by this character trait:
-->'''Hand/Eye Coordination:''' The writer has ''never'' held a sword in their life, let alone two two-handed swords at the same time.\\
'''Logic:''' It is physically impossible for a human being to effectively dual-wield ''zweihänder'' swords in any kind of real-life combat situation.
* ''Franchise/DragonAge'':
** ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'':
*** One-handed swords were a little large for humans but start to look more like two-handed swords for elves and dwarves, as a one-handed sword is about as long as the distance between the ground and an elf's chin. Enter the Rogue talent that lets you dual-wield one-handed weapons instead of requiring a dagger in your off-hand...
*** A Warrior power, Killing Blow always uses the same attack animation, a one-handed forward thrust, but can be used with either one or two-handed weapons. Doesn't matter if you're wielding a dagger or a two-handed hammer with a head that's bigger than your torso.
** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', ''two-handed'' swords often come across as this. In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', two-handed weapons were slow, clunky things that made your character look like they're about to tip over. However, in the sequel, characters swing two-handers around like they're made of feathers, and usually one-handed (despite still being classed as two-handers).
*** The Qunari Arishok wields a claymore and a two-handed battle axe in each hand, which is not surprising considering his enormous body height and clearly SuperStrength. On a related note, the in-game model of Arishok belongs to the Rogue class (rather than the burly Warrior you'd expect) and his weapons are technically daggers, since the game's engine limits dual-wielding to this class and weapon exclusively.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Dungeons}}'', the Zombie King wields a very large sword with one hand.
* In ''VideoGame/DwarfFortress'', each weapon [[http://dwarffortresswiki.org/index.php/DF2012:Weapon#Size has a minimum size to be used at all and a minimum size to be used one-handed without penalty;]] units above the second size won't even try to wield the weapon with two hands available. Because they were meant to let at least some dwarves wield any weapon one-handed, the size standards for this are rather unrealistically small. Even slightly above average humans are big enough to wield things like pikes, two-handed swords, halberds, mauls, and great axes one-handed without issue. For reference, the in-game weight of an iron maul or great axe (the two largest weapons) is over 10 kilograms.
* ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'':
** Lu Bu does this with a halberd.
** Pang De and ''[=DW7=]''!Zhang Liao dual-wield two large Pole axes.
** The daughter of Lu Bu, Lu Lingqi, wields a crossed pike -- twin [[DoubleWeapon double-headed halberds conjoined at the center]] -- ''larger than she is'', single-handed. This doubles as a call back to [=DW6=] where this was wielded by Lu Bu himself.
* ''VideoGame/EldenRing'':
** Essentially every sword in the game is this, barring the few stock weapons that are closely modeled on historical examples (which are still on the big side by real world standards and ''always'' the weakest weapons of their class). Take the basic Lordsworn Straight Sword for example, which is used by the most common enemy {{mook}}s. The player's version is [[https://eldenring.wiki.fextralife.com/Straight+Swords a good deal longer than the stock Longsword]] (which again, is already well above-average compared to historical examples) with a blade nearly [[https://i.imgur.com/aBxcW71.png twice as wide as a historical longsword's while also being slightly thicker.]] It easily rivals high-end real-world greatswords in volume/mass, yet in this game it's a quick starter weapon intended for one-handed use (and even a tutorial-level player character is more than strong enough to use it as such). Lordsworn Straight Swords in the hands of said mooks are scaled up appropriately as [[EvilIsBigger they're all close to seven feet tall.]] Their swords about as long as a normal man is tall, making them both longer than real-world greatswords and ''several times'' as massive due to still having the same proportions (i.e. a very wide blade) - and of course, they're all effortlessly wielded in one hand by said mooks while being swung at superhuman velocities (which the game's art style emphasizes with anime-style speed lines). Meanwhile what the game actually ''considers'' "greatswords" are almost comically bulky compared to their real-world equivalents, even the relatively "restrained" ones like the Lordsworn Greatsword.
** The description of the Zweihander sword lampshades the trope, noting that it was designed to be wielded two-handed, and all but the strongest warriors struggle even with that. Even a low-level Tarnished can wield it (and any other weapon) one-handed and even dual wield zweihanders, but two-handing it can help with meeting the weapon's Strength requirement. It appears to be modeled off of a real-world bearing sword (which were never used in combat due to being too impractically heavy), yet is still the weakest weapon of its class.
** [[Characters/EldenRingSecondaryCharacters Blaidd]] wields his Royal Greatsword in one hand. Blaidd's lupine visage and special sword hand are yet another of the developers' many nods to ''Berserk's'' Guts.
** [[Characters/EldenRingRadahn Radahn]] dual-wields his Starscourge Greatswords, weapons categorized not as greatswords, but as ''Colossal Swords, Elden Ring's'' new name for the Ultra Greatswords of ''Dark Souls''. In the second phase of the fight, he even uses gravity magic to affix rocks to his blades, and uses them just as well as he did prior.
** [[Characters/EldenRingEnemiesAndBosses Godskin Nobles]] wield the Godskin Stitchers, massive rapiers in the 'Heavy Thrusting Sword' category, in one hand. They use their free hands to cast Black Flame incantations.
** When he reveals himself, [[Characters/EldenRingDemigods Rykard]] begins using the Blasphemous Blade - a golden sword, covered in [[BodyHorror fleshy corpses and serpentine tendrils]]. The sword is wielded in a single, rather scrawny, arm, and it's awfully long when compared to his rather bunched-up body.
** [[Characters/EldenRingMorgott Morgott's]] walking stick is longer than he is tall, and being an Omen means he's already considerably larger than a regular human. At the beginning of his fight in Leyndell, he breaks off the bark covering the bulk of its length to reveal an iridescent blade. Just as in the fight at Stormveil Castle, he uses his left hand to wield weapons made of light.
** [[Characters/EldenRingEnemiesAndBosses Maliketh]] is yet another ShoutOut to Guts, and his Black Blade is also wielded in one hand, and it's positively terrifying in the grip of such an aggressive and mobile threat as him. In your hands, it's the third-heaviest among the eleven Colossal Swords.
** [[Characters/EldenRingMalenia Malenia's]] katana blade is [[https://i.imgur.com/VvfAoeZ.jpg nine feet long]] (taller than she is, and she's a giant) and absurdly heavy even for its size because it's made of enchanted unalloyed gold. She wields it with one hand because it's built in to her prosthetic right arm. She couldn't use her left hand for it if she wanted to, because it doesn't have a proper handle. Not that this slows Malenia down any.
** [[spoiler:[[Characters/EldenRingEnemiesAndBosses The Elden Beast]] wields a sword that is much too large for its small arms, even if it's not as large compared to its own body. A more notable aspect of it is it being [[BodyHorror made of Radagon's deformed corpse.]]]]
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'':
** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'':
*** [[OurMinotaursAreDifferent Minotaurs]] and Xivilai, a GiantMook form of [[OurDemonsAreDifferent lesser Daedra]], wield two-handed weapons in this fashion. Justified in that they are both large enough to do this without issue.
*** The {{Big Bad}}s of both expansions, Umaril the Unfeathered (''Knights of the Nine'') and Jyggalag (''Shivering Isles''), both do this as well. Again, justified, as they take the forms of massive beings.
** ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'': Mounted Combat has you one-handing two-handed weapons, much like the Mount and Blade Examples, for all the same reasons.
* The Damocles in ''VideoGame/EYEDivineCybermancy'' is a huge 15kg katana, with a handle made of generators to create a warp bubble upon contacting flesh, creating a large explosion. Normally it is held with both hands, but with the SwordAndGun combo ([[HandCannon with a fully automatic .45ACP pistol]]), the user can carry it one-handed with the only adverse effect being a slower swing speed. It probably helps that the player is a [[CyBorg heavily augmented]] and clad in PoweredArmor. On the other hand, the Arrancadora De Tripas [[CarryABigStick warp hammer]] cannot be held one-handed at all.
* ''VideoGame/ExitFate'': [[spoiler:Demon Trevor]] wields a sword so large it would give any other swordsman a hernia just trying to lift it, and he does so with his left hand alone. Justified since at this point he's very literally a OneManArmy.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Fable|I}}'', the [[HulkingOut Berserk spell]] allows the player character to do this.
* ''VideoGame/FantasyEarthZero'' features characters with the ability to wield a large sword with one hand.
* ''VideoGame/FellSealArbitersMark'': The Mercenary class has a passive skill, Sturdy Grip, which lets them wield a two-handed weapon in one hand and a shield in the other.
* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'':
*** Cloud prefers to use two hands to wield his signature weapon, but he ''can'' hold it in just one, as seen in his victory animation when he spins it around with absolute ease. The [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake Remake]] has Cloud holding the sword in two hands in Operator mode, but using one hand in Punisher mode. Amazingly, while Cloud moves much slower in Punisher mode, he ''attacks'' much faster.
*** Sephiroth uses his absolute monster of a katana, Masamune, with one hand exclusively. Which is impressive, since it's longer than he is tall.
*** ''VideoGame/CrisisCore'': Angeal and Zack, the first and second wielders of the Buster Sword, are also capable of using it one handed.
*** ''VideoGame/DirgeOfCerberus'': After losing his trademark gunblades in the second-to-last chapter, Weiss fights Vincent with a ''nodachi'' in each hand.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'': The [[MixAndMatchWeapon gunblade]] uses a firing mechanism to [[{{Vibroweapon}} send a shockwave through the blade]]. Squall usually has two hands on the grip when swinging to cope with the recoil, but [[TheRival Seifer]] prefers a FiringOneHanded stance. Come ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'', Squall has figured out that firing a round can give the blade a RecoilBoost, and varies between one-handed and two-handed depending on the attack.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics'':
*** You can learn the ability to do this--called "Monkey Grip" in some games--so you can equip a shield on your free hand. The inverse ability, Two-Handed, forgoes a shield to inflict major damage instead.
*** Knight swords, the [[InfinityPlusOneSword Infinity Plus One Swords]] of the original Tactics, are by far the largest weapons in the game if both their inventory and combat sprites are anything to go by, almost as large as the character models. Despite this, every single one is still classified as a one-handed weapon.
*** In the ''Tactics'' games as well as some other ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' games you can invert this by using the opposite ability--Doublehand--to wield one handed weapons with both arms for extra power.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'': Auron uses large, Western swords (which are labeled as {{katanas|AreJustBetter}}). Although he can clearly lift and use them with no effort, most of his attacks ([[LimitBreak Overdrives]] included) actually have him use both hands. In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', however, he keeps his left hand tucked away under his robes, playing this trope straight.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'':
*** Lightning usually wields light, one-handed gunblades, and her normal battle stance reflects this. However, in ''VideoGame/LightningReturnsFinalFantasyXIII'' her swords range in size from small, light rapiers to great swords, a category that includes the Buster Sword and Caius's sword. While she wields the larger weapons with two hands when attacking with them, her idle stance is always the same one-handed one.
*** None of this takes into account how she wields Odin's Zantetsuken, as massive BifurcatedWeapon. While Odin wields them as a single double-bladed weapon, Lightning, by far the smaller of the two, dual wields the massive blades. [[ItMakesSenseInContext While riding Odin like a horse]].
*** Caius himself has a tendency to swing Chaos' Revenge single-handed in a ReverseGrip in order to show off the [[SummonMagic Eye of Bahamut eidolith]] in the hilt.
** ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'' has an unusual example with the Warrior of Light. His Braveheart sword, by proportions, qualifies as a zweihander, yet he wields it one-handed [[KnightlySwordAndShield with a Lustrous Shield in his other hand]]. However, this is easy to miss, because the same game features the likes of Cloud, Sephiroth, Jecht, and Garland, who all have outright {{BFS}}es.
** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV'': Gladiolus Amicitia uses greatswords, alternating between wielding them two-handed or one-handed as the situation demands. Noctis [[AvertedTrope averts this]], always going two-handed with greatswords and the larger royal arms. His founding ancestor Somnus Lucis Caelum, the Mystic, has an impressive greatsword to his name, but wields it one-handed as an animated statue in ''Kingsglaive'' and ''Royal Edition'' and in flashbacks in ''Episode Ardyn''. [[spoiler:[[BigBad Ardyn]] himself has an identical greatsword, and wields it the same way as Somnus.]]
* ''Franchise/FireEmblem'':
** Ike wields all of his swords in ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemPathOfRadiance Path of Radiance]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn Radiant Dawn]]'' (including his {{iconic|Item}} [[InfinityPlusOneSword Ragnell]]) in this manner and is explicitly pointed out to be doing so in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'' by Solid Snake on Snake's level, [[VideoGame/MetalGearSolid Shadow Moses Island]].
** The BlackKnight also does this with his Alondite, the twin of Ragnell. Ashnard, the BigBad of ''Path of Radiance'', also wields his lance-esque sword Gurgant with one hand.
** Even more ridiculously, the legendary hero Altina ''[[DualWielding dual-wielded]]'' Ragnell and Alondite, but that was ages ago.
** In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheBlazingBlade'', Eliwood, Hector, and Lyn all gain access to [[InfinityPlusOneSword new weapons]] in the Final Chapter, a few chapters after they [[PrestigeClass promote]]; Eliwood gets the Durandal (a claymore as long as ''[[CoolHorse his horse]], if not longer''), Hector gets Armads (a giant axe), and Lyn gets the Sol Katti (a lenghty, [[RoyalRapier rapier-esque]] {{katana|sAreJustBetter}}). Of the three, Eliwood and Hector play the trope straight (though [[AwesomeButImpractical Eliwood's attack speed plummets by 7 points as a result of Durandal's huge weight]]). Lyn subverts it; she holds the sword by one hand for her idle sprite and critical animation, but has to swing the blade with both hands when she lunges at her foe with a jumping slash for her normal battle animation.
** In ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden Shadows of Valentia]]'', a forging system was implemented where you can improve a weapon's stats or turn it into a whole new weapon. One instance of the latter is turning a Brave Sword into a Zweihander, and the unit that equips it does indeed wield it one-handed.
* J.D. in ''VideoGame/GranadoEspada'' wields [[MultiMeleeMaster swords, rapiers, blunt weapons, great swords, and even the human-dwarfing crescent]] one-handed and in the same manner. The way he wields the crescent as if it's made from paper makes its other only wielder, [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Nar]], look like a skinny wimp.
* ''VideoGame/GuildWars'': Your character will always have to wield swords with a shield or an off-hand no matter their size, despite of them being ''really'' huge. The trope is completely averted in ''VideoGame/GuildWars2''.
* In ''VideoGame/HeroesOfTheStorm'', [[VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft Varian Wrynn]] starts battle carrying his two-handed sword in a one-handed fighting style. After leveling up enough, Varian can choose one of three fighting styles that changes his grip. With Arms, he holds the sword properly in two hands. With Protection, he continues to hold the sword in one hand and picks up a shield with the other. With Fury, Varian magically splits the blade in two and dual wields them.
* Magnus in ''VideoGame/KidIcarusUprising'', wields a massive sword. He is a man of Herculean strength, and he is considered the mightiest human swordsman in the world, as well as being a skilled mercenary. He also appears as an Assist Trophy in ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series.
* In ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'', Saïx wields an in-name-only "Claymore" in one hand with a ReverseGrip. [[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep Terra]] also wields some of the largest Keyblades in the series one-handed. Actually, this trope is to be expected of ANY Keyblade that reaches {{BFS}} levels, since, by default, all Keyblades are designed to be one-handed swords, having only enough room for one hand to wrap the grip with some space; Sora and anyone else using or switching to a two-handed grip merely wrap their off-hand around the main hand, which normally, isn't a very comfortable hold on a sword. Especially prominent when [[spoiler:Vanitas]] wields [[spoiler:the χ-blade]], which is literally a sword blade attached to two Kingdom Keys attached to some other fancy decorations.
* Used within the ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends''. Garen, Riven and Tryndamere are examples of this trope... especially Tryndamere, whose joke emote is "My right arm is a lot stronger than my left arm!" Well, there's another reason for that joke too.
* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
** Ganon in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' dual-wields two golden swords about as large as Link is tall. Then again, he'd also just became a twelve-foot tall pig-demon when he does this.
** Ganondorf in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' wields an enormous, glowing zweihander one-handed for the final battle. {{Justified|Trope}} by Ganondorf's enormous stature (somewhere around nine feet tall) and his possessing the Triforce of Power.
** In ''VideoGame/HyruleWarriors'', [[HumanoidAbomination Ganondorf]] is able to dual-wield these as his standard weapon set, [[MythologyGag a nod]] to Ganon in ''[=OoT=]''.
** In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'', the Gorons wield their huge, blunt swords in one hand even though Link needs two hands to do so.
** ''VideoGame/HyruleWarriorsAgeOfCalamity'' cutscenes shows King Rhoam wielding a Royal Claymore, a notable two-handed sword from ''Breath of the Wild'', in one hand. His actual battle model uses both hands however.
* Neo in ''VideoGame/TheMatrixPathOfNeo'' can and does wield the longswords and katana's he picks up one-handed, unless he's charging up a [[OneHitKill killing blow, where he'll sometimes use two hands.]]
* In ''VideoGame/MountAndBlade'', a character on horseback will always wield their weapons one-handed (reasonably enough, as using both hands would be unbalanced and very impractical) and yes, this goes all the way up to six-foot greatswords and longaxes. Any two-handed weapon (except polearms) used this way suffers a 25% damage and skill penalty, though.
* [[AnIcePerson Magara]] [[CameBackWrong Naokatsu]] from ''VideoGame/Nioh2'' is a one-armed giant of a man who can wield a huge oodachi longer than he's tall with one hand and the skill of a MasterSwordsman which allows him to overwhelm even [[spoiler: a younger Honda Tadakatsu]]. What's more, [[spoiler: [[TurnsRed using Youkai Realm to grow his left arm ''doesn't change'' his fighting style at all, save for some extra-strong two-handed slashes and occasional DualWielding (really) with a phantom copy.]]]]
* In some of the ''Manga/OnePiece'' video games, the resident badass MasterSwordsman Mihawk will swing his gigantic sword with one hand. Recently, the New Fishman pirate Dosun is shown using a colossal maul with only one hand.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Risen}}'', putting 9 out of 10 points in the Sword fighting skill allows the Player Character to do this, allowing the combined use of a shield with a [[{{BFS}} huge sword]] that can be swung at the speed of common one handed swords which is arguably one of the most powerful weapon combinations in the game and the best option to spend the majority of your early [[NoStatAtrophy Learning points]] on if you choose to align yourself with the Don's Men instead of [[KnightTemplar the Inquisition]].
* ''VideoGame/RuneScape'':
** An interesting inversion. The Dominion Sword looks for all intents and purposes like a normal, one handed longsword. However, you can only wield it two-handed; as in, [[ObviousRulePatch you aren't allowed]] to equip a shield, even though the sword is obviously small enough for you to do so.
** Played straight with the Slayer master Vannaka, who wields both a steel two-handed sword and Dragon square shield at the same time although not even players with maxed Strength can wield two-handed swords with a shield.
** In "Beneath Cursed Tides", Vannaka offers to teach you to use his sword one-handed, and thereafter you gain a cosmetic override to make a one-handed weapon look like his sword. It only works for one-handed weapons. [[ParodiedTrope You cannot wield Vannaka's zweihander as a zweihander]].
* In ''VideoGame/SamuraiWarriors'', Keiji Maeda and Sakon Shima do this with a pike and a humongous falchion/cleaver, respectively.
* Continuing in Creator/FromSoftware tradition, the FinalBoss of ''VideoGame/SekiroShadowsDieTwice'', [[spoiler:Isshin, the Sword Saint]], starts out just using a normal-sized katana. Then, after losing his first health bar, he pulls a ''massive'' spear from [[{{Hammerspace}} out of nowhere]] and expertly wields it in one hand while continuing to use the katana (plus a pistol) in the other.
* In ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'' there's Yukimura (twin spears), Tadakatsu ([[ThisIsADrill giant drill]]), Shingen (battleaxe), Keiji ({{BFS}}), Motochika ([[AnchorsAway anchor]]), Motonari ([[RingsOfDeath ring blade]]), Nagamasa (longsword), and Mitsuhide (two [[SinisterScythe giant scythes]]).
* ''VideoGame/SilentHill2'' gives us Pyramid Head, who swings and drags his Great Knife in one hand (though his slow movements suggest it isn't easy). While the player can acquire this weapon, James Sunderland wields it with two hands and swings it even ''slower''.
* ''VideoGame/{{Soul|Series}}calibur'': Nightmare usually wields [[EvilWeapon Soul Edge]], which takes the form of a Zweihander, with one hand. It is notable that he does ''not'' normally use the [[RedRightHand freakishly outsized claw that is his right arm]] to do so. Soul Edge itself is an evil sentient weapon, and presumably gives its servant [[RequiredSecondaryPowers the power to wield it no matter what form it takes]]. No such HandWave exists for Siegfried (the guy who used to ''[[BrainwashedAndCrazy be]]'' [[EnemyWithout Nightmare]]), though, who also uses one arm to wield ''his'' {{BFS}} [[StanceSystem in certain stances]].
* In ''VideoGame/TheSurge'' and ''VideoGame/TheSurge2'', all of the "one-handed" weapons are big enough that a normal human would need both arms to hold them. Thanks to being fitted with an Exo-Rig, however, both the player and enemies can wield them like they're one-handed weapons. The actual two-handed heavy weapons tend to be giant axes, hammers, or other [[ImprovisedWeapon repurposed industrial tools]] that are twice the size of a human. [[BladeBelowTheShoulder Single-rigged weapons]] are an unusual case, as while they are attached to one arm, the one wielding them effectively uses their entire body as a fulcrum to swing and stab with them.
* Alvin from ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia'' does this and [[SwordAndGun wields a pistol in his free hand to boot]]. While the slowest melee fighter in the party as a result, he gets abilities that allow him to [[ImmuneToFlinching take hits without flinching]] and [[UnblockableAttack break the opponent's guard]] to compensate.
* All the types of spears in ''VideoGame/TitanQuest'' are used with one hand, no matter how large or heavy they look.
* In ''VideoGame/UltimaVII'', there is a character, Dupre, that comes with a Two-Handed Sword (which is one of the best weapons in the game, magical or not) in just ONE hand, and a shield in the other. It's a bug, since moving the sword to his backpack and then back to his hand makes him to use in both hands, but is awesome nevertheless.
* ''VideoGame/WarriorsOrochi'':
** Orochi wields his massive scythe with a single hand.
** In the sequel Kiyomori Taira wields an absurdly large set of rosary beads with one hand.
* ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'':
** Fury Warriors achieve this with the Titan's Grip talent, which also allowed the warrior to {{Dual Wield|ing}} normally two-handed weapons.
** The infamous Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker, which is particularly notable for being a one-handed sword that is, in fact, ''bigger'' than some two-handed swords.
** Felguards, the front line troops of [[TheLegionsOfHell the Burning Legion]], always wield a axe or zweihander-type sword one-handed. A glyph usable by warlocks gives Felguards under their control the ability to wield any two handed weapon in the warlock's inventory.
** A more specific example of the trope would be the Death Knight Thassarian, a recurring character allied at first with the Knights of the Ebon Blade during ''Wrath of the Lich King'' and the Alliance in ''Cataclysm'' onward. He {{Dual Wield|ing}}s two-handed swords.
* ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles'': In [[VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2 the second game]], Rex holds the Aegis sword in two hands, as expected. However, when he reappears in [[VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles3 the third game's]] [[VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles3FutureRedeemed DLC]], he uses ''both'' Aegis swords at the same time, one in each hand. He's [[KidHeroAllGrownUp decades older]] and [[TookALevelInBadass significantly more muscular]]. Not to mention that the Aegis swords, while clearly designed for two hands, aren't really ''that'' large.

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[[folder:Visual Novel]]
* ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'':
** Berserker one-hands a giant sword that is more a seven foot slab of rock, so fast that even his missed attacks cause a RazorWind. On the other hand, Berserker's ''humongous'' size makes said sword look small by comparison.
** Played straight when [[spoiler:Shirou traces Berserker's sword and fights with it.]] He can't even wrap his hand around the hilt.
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[[folder:WebAnimation]]
* In ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'', the Huntsmen and Huntresses who use warious swords, axes, and maces (and, in one case, a [[ChainsawGood chainsaw]]) as large as themselves are, as a rule of thumb, strong and skilled enough to wield them in any hand, and in battle usually switch between one-handed and two-handed grip to catch their opponent off guard. Particulary, Qrow Branwen can [[SpinToDeflectStuff deflect automatic gunfire by twirling his massive sword-scythe-shotgun hybrid Harbinger around his index finger]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]
* Marty of ''Webcomic/DubiousCompany'' combines this with DualWielding great axes. Predictably, he spends most of his time trying to keep his balance after each swing, that [[CuteBruiser Tiren]] is able to bodyslam him out of [[TheGunslinger Walter]]'s way and [[NonActionGuy Elly]] is able to avoid getting hit just by [[NonchalantDodge fretting]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder:WesternAnimation]]
* Alucard in ''WesternAnimation/Castlevania2017'' wields a sword that is almost as long as he is tall with the ease of a master fencer. Somewhat downplayed as the blade is rather thin for its length, but still impressive. The second season reveals that the sword is capable of being used telekinetically, and that he has super strength on top of it all, which makes this far less mundane and more supernatural.
** Later on in Season 4, Striga slaughters farmers with a huge zweihander of her own, effortlessly swinging it with one hand. Unlike Alucard, however, Striga has to use her weapon the old-fashioned way. As the battle goes on, even ''she'' starts to feel fatigue - wearing a set of "day armor" doesn't help.
* ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'':
** William subverts this. When he tries to use only one hand in "Final Round", he fails miserably because the sword is too heavy.
** Played straight with his X.A.N.A.-controlled self in Season 4. While he is often seen using his two hands, he has no problem using only one hand.
* Rex in ''WesternAnimation/GeneratorRex'' zig zags the trope as his {{BFS}} is larger than him but he's sometimes seen using both hands to hold it. It's justified as it's a construct made of [[{{Nanomachines}} nanites]] that he can easily collapse.
* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'': Darth Maul is shown swinging his new double-bladed lightsaber with one hand while holding [[SwordCane the cane he uses to hide the weapon in the other]].
* {{Deconstructed}} in ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime''. When [[BigBad Megatron]] confronts [[TheHero Optimus]] with both of them wielding {{BFS}}'s, the first clash of swords knocks Megatron off balance because he's only using one hand. Optimus, using a two-handed grip on his {{BFS}}, gets the ([[LiteralDisarming literal]]) upper hand ''very'' quickly afterwards.
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[[folder:RealLife]]
* During the UsefulNotes/PunicWars, Carthage apparently had a Spanish mercenary chief named [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larus_(Cantabrian) Larus]] who wielded a two-headed battle axe, up to then an exclusively two-handed weapon, with a single hand (though translations vary about whether the thing was truly double-headed or just really big). This was significant enough that he was only felled when the Romans managed to cut his axe arm.
* In Giacomo di Grassi's 1570 fencing manual ''Ragione di adoprar sicuramente l'Arme'', he encourages the use of single-handed thrusts with the ''spadone'' or two-handed sword, which are done by releasing the top hand from the grip while the bottom hand holds it at the pommel in order to gain maximum reach, much like a similar technique for spears. Although this is a risky technique since it leaves you vulnerable on the recovery, it can be effective if used judiciously.
* [[https://youtu.be/DbNL_At0IVw This]] WebVideo/ScholaGladiatoria video demonstrates that a lot of the moves done with a two handed sword are at least ''possible'' one handed, but also extremely exhausting (and doing them two handed's no mean feat in the first place). It also shows the single handed thrust mentioned in the Giacomo di Grassi manual.
* Actual [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zweihander Zweihänders]] could occasionally be wielded one-handed [[NotTheIntendedUse despite being designed exclusively for two]], although like the Schola Gladiatoria example above, it's dangerous and exhausting.
* The Japanese martial art ''Tendo-ryu Naginatajutsu'' includes techniques where a naginata is wielded in one hand, and a short sword in the other.
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