History Main / SwordSparks

** When two [[EmpathicWeapon Devices]] clash in , they will send up sparks. Best seen in the opening of the second season, where Nanoha's [[MagicStaff staff]] and the handle of Vita's [[DropTheHammer hammer]] produce lots of sparks during a BladeLock.

** A particularly silly example comes in ''Series/KamenRiderKiva'' when, during the [[DropTheHammer Dogga Hammer's]] debut battle, Wataru/Kiva drags the hammer along the ground, kicking up sparks every couple of seconds.

* Raiden and Vamp did this with knives during their final battle in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4'', dialed up in ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'' every sword strike causes a massive amount of sparks. Interesting Raiden and Sam's [[CoolSword High Frequency blades]] still make sparks when simply just pressed together, this probably due to molecules bouncing together as the same thing happens when Raiden tries to cut Senator Armstrong's arm which is [[InstantArmor protected]] by Nanomachines.

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* ''LightNovel/ScrappedPrincess'':

* In ''Anime/MyHime'', Mikoto's sword Miroku generates ''enormous'' quantities of Sword Sparks when she [[SwordDrag drags its tip on the ground]]... which is almost all the time, since it's practically bigger than she is. She has to build up speed to swing it.

* Justified in ''Anime/CodeGeass''; the HumongousMecha-sized swords are usually made of vibrating Phlebotinum, if not outright microchainsaw-like in operation. Specifically, the Britannian swords are vibro-swords, while the Black Knights use chainswords with heated blades.

* Many sword fights (or with any edged weapons) in ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight''. Granted, they are all {{Mana}}-charged armaments, so PowerGlows are inevitable.

* Sometimes happens in ''Manga/{{Bleach}}''. When Ichigo fights Ulquiorra [[spoiler: the first time]], sparks fly when Ichigo's sword strikes Ulquiorra's arm. Ulquiorra didn't bother using his sword the entire fight. [[spoiler: He still won.]]
* ''Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren'' plays with this trope. During the final battle between Cloud and Sephiroth, every meeting of blade on blade generates light, but it's not sparks - the light is ''streams'' that twist through the air around them. Given both combatants are [[TheLifestream mako-infused]] [=SOLIDERs=], it's not unlikely that the light is magically induced.
* Contrariwise, ''Anime/LastOrderFinalFantasyVII'' [[https://youtu.be/upmW7r4mEf0?t=12 plays this very straight]] in the sword fight between Sephiroth vs Zack [[spoiler: and Cloud]] which has heaps of sword sparks.
* Actually ''weaponized'' in ''Anime/RurouniKenshin'': the Kyoto Arc's BigBad, Makoto Shishio's sword has oil embedded within the blade edge as a result of its unique design, allowing any sword sparks to [[FlamingSword set it on fire]].
* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'' not only has the regular Sword Sparks, but took it another level by having intense energy discharges every time someone clashes blades, and even in a BladeLock. Of course, [[LaserBlade beam sabers]] don't quite fit this trope, as they aren't solid swords, and Gundam Exia's swords are lined with [[MinovskyPhysics GN particles]], so yeah.
* Used occasionally in ''Anime/AfroSamurai'', but most noticeable in ''Resurrection'' during Afro's fight with the Number Two. Their blades spark every time they connect, even producing sustained sparks during several [[BladeLock Blade Locks]]. One particularly forceful parry on Afro's part has sparks shooting everywhere for several second as the Number Two's sword travels up the length of his (Afro's) sword, with a sound effect like a lightning generator.
* In ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'', [[TheBlacksmith Godo]] states he enjoyed the sparks he made whenever he was working on something, which makes Guts notice [[BloodKnight how they're likewise something he sees a lot of while doing the only thing he knows to do in life.]]\\
Later, when most of the major members of the Band of the Hawk were battling several members of the [[ProfessionalKiller Bakiraka]] in a dark tunnel, Judeau puts out their lights and then uses sparks from several different weapons to reveal where their enemies are as they're attacking.

* ''Manga/{{Claymore}}'': Justified. Since there is a lot of sword-fighting, but the swords are so fast that they are invisible, the sparks are a visual way to tell the audience what is happening.

* Seen in most fight scenes in ''Literature/MoribitoGuardianOfTheSpirit''. Particularly obvious in the ones taking place at night, like [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdKiPOkh0K8 this one.]]

* The first sword fight scene in ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl'' has sparks coming from it... but since Will Turner is attacking Jack with a red-hot poker, striking it against something that doesn't burst into flames would produce sparks.
* The lightsaber duels in ''Franchise/StarWars'' sometimes strike sparks, though these being energy blades it's somewhat [[JustifiedTrope justifiable]]. It might also be from minor bits of scenery being heated white hot in an instant.
* In ''Film/{{Blade}}'', Frost and Blade have a high-speed swordfight. Both Blade and Frost having vampiric strength, Blade having fed recently and Frost [[spoiler:[[PhysicalGod the corporeal form of the Blood God]]]], the sparks are not unexpected.

* In the final battle of ''Film/Ultraviolet2006'', sword sparks are used to light oil.
* [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] in ''Film/RobinHoodMenInTights'', when Robin looks at the camera and exclaims "Shocking!", just after the Sheriff's sword makes sparks from striking a stone column.

* ''Film/XMenFilmSeries''
** Numerous sparks fly in ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}'s battle with Lady Deathstrike in ''Film/X2XMenUnited.'' Notably, since sparks are made by little bits of metal flying off the blade, this should be impossible in an adamantium-on-adamantium duel, since adamantium is indestructible.
** ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine''. Logan's claws have always done it ''some'' of the time, but in this movie, it's taken to unprecedented heights.

* They do this in ''Film/BladesOfGlory'', kicking the air and meeting each other's skates to produce sparks. This was intentional on their part, due to RuleOfCool.
* ''Film/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'''s sword fight with Raoul his rival [[CockFight for Christine's heart]] in the graveyard is full of sword sparks.
* Happens a few times during Shu Lien and Jen's fight in ''Film/CrouchingTigerHiddenDragon''.
* ''Film/CurseOfTheGoldenFlower'' has an entire fight sequence devoted to this.
* The final fight in ''Film/NinjaCheerleaders'' features this prominently, although the sparks in question are electric, not pyrotechnic. [[spoiler:It's how Kinji is incapacitated]]

* Happens constantly throughout a lot of the fight scenes in ''Film/AnEmpressAndTheWarriors''.
* In ''Film/TheAddamsFamily'', when Fester and Gomez dance the Mamushka, sparks are seen from their daggers.
* In Film/{{Dragonslayer}}, the hero fights the king's chief enforcer with his magical dragonspear. Sparks fly whenever their blades touch.
* In ''Film/TheButchers'', the Zodiac Killer generates sparks, as well as a SinisterScrapingSound, by dragging his [[SinisterScythe sickle]] along the wall of the caravan while chasing Ren.

* In ''Literature/TheSongOfRoland'' when Thierry duels Pinabel to determine Ganelon's guilt, sparks fly from their swords and set the grass on fire (Laisse 284-285). This story dates back to the 11th century (and is possibly older) making this trope [[OlderThanPrint older than print]].

* Pretty much every episode of ''Series/{{Highlander}}''. According to the special effects director, the effect was achieved by connecting one sword to an electric line. At least among fans, this is generally considered a PowerGlows effect of the franchise's AppliedPhlebotinum.

* ''Series/{{CSINY}}'': The [=LARPers=] makeshift swords throw off sparks during their battle in the junkyard in "The Box".

* The ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' video games produce streams of them, with both lightsabers and metal swords.

* Raiden and Vamp did this with knives during their final battle in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4'', dialed up in ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'' every sword strike causes a massive amount of sparks. Interesting Raiden and Sam's [[CoolSword High Frequency blades]] still make sparks when simply just pressed together, this probably due to molecules bouncing together as the same thing happens when Raiden tries to cut Senator Armstrong's arm which is [[InstantArmor protected]] by Nanomachines.
* Almost every single cutscene fight in ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'', which will inevitably involve a BladeLock, causes the weapons to spew forth sparks like grinding irons. It's a wonder the characters don't get their face burnt off.

* The Raincoat Killer in ''VideoGame/DeadlyPremonition'' produces constant sparks from [[SwordDrag dragging his ax]] along the ground - even when it's on grass or another non-spark-producing surface.
* ''Advent Children''[='=]s sword streams from the anime section above make reappearances in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'' and ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasyNT'', from the same combatants.

* Done [[https://static1.squarespace.com/static/54d703d3e4b05ca7b54e8ff6/t/59668b393a0411b0aadd562f/1499983609719/ spectacularly]] in Alucard and Trevor's sword duel in ''WesternAnimation/{{Castlevania}}''.

** When two [[EmpathicWeapon Devices]] clash in , they will send up sparks. Best seen in the opening of the second season, where Nanoha's [[SimpleStaff staff]] and the handle of Vita's [[DropTheHammer hammer]] produce lots of sparks during a BladeLock.

* Raiden and Vamp did this with knives during their final battle in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid4'', dialed UpToEleven in ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'' every sword strike causes a massive amount of sparks. Interesting Raiden and Sam's [[CoolSword High Frequency blades]] still make sparks when simply just pressed together, this probably due to molecules bouncing together as the same thing happens when Raiden tries to cut Senator Armstrong's arm which is [[InstantArmor protected]] by Nanomachines.

* In the first fight between Dante and Vergil in ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry 3'', the two of them lock swords so hard that not only do sparks fly, their weapons start glowing red-hot from the sheer energy being produced.

* In ''Film/{{Blade}}'', Frost and Blade have a high-speed swordfight. Both Blade and Frost having vampiric strength, Blade having fed recently and Frost [[spoiler:[[PhysicalGod the corporal form of the Blood God]]]], the sparks are not unexpected.

* In the final battle of ''Film/{{Ultraviolet}}'', sword sparks are used to light oil.

* ''Slightly'' averted in ''Manga/OnePiece'', during Zoro's battle against TheDragon to Sir Crocodile, Mr. 1, who can create any metallic weapon from his body, including drills. When Zoro strikes them, he's genuinely surprised that sparks kick up and wonders for a moment how fast they're really going.

* In ''{{Manga/Berserk}}'', [[TheBlacksmith Godo]] states he enjoyed the sparks he made whenever he was working on something, which makes Guts notice [[BloodKnight how they're likewise something he sees a lot of while doing the only thing he knows to do in life.]]\\

* Necessary in ''Manga/{{Claymore}}'', where there is a lot of sword-fight, but the sword are so fast that they are invisible : the sparks are a visual way to tell the audience what is happening.
* Happens a lot in ''Anime/TheVisionOfEscaflowne'' when HumongousMecha-sized melee weapons clash.

* In ''Comicbook/{{Supergirl}}'' story ''ComicBook/TheSupergirlFromKrypton'', Kara and Artemis' swords generate sparks when they collide during their training sword match.

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* {{Exaggerated}} in ''Fanfic/NewGamePlusOnePiece'' when Zorro and Mihawk battle. Their swords don't just throw sparks, they throw ''jets of flame'' every time they collide.

In reality, it ''is'' pretty common to strike a few sparks with a sword. Generating a spark by hitting another sword is all a matter of angle and friction, not of strength or sharpness. The spark is actually a little bit of the sword breaking off, so it's a sign you are slowly damaging the sword, and an inevitable result of use for any sharp object. Even fencing swords will spark occasionally and need replacement on occasion. Needless to say, this is less visually impressive because the sparks come more one at a time and only for a moment. Stage performers will use flints on the part of the blade closest to the hilt to achieve this effect consistently.

*** During the battle in the tunnels, Wonder Woman's sword produces sparkles when hitting either Parademons or Steppenwolf's armor and electro-axe. Batman's metal gauntlets also produces sparks when punching Parademons.