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This is similar to Personality Powers, but with weapons. Basically, in various works of fiction, characters tend to possess weapons that are either a direct reflection of their personality or the traits commonly deemed to their character type.
This is frequently used to depict a character as having a similar personality type to another famous character who used the same weapon. This is also basically why you don't see ogres with rapiers or ninjas with clubs.
This trope is named after the Fatboy Slim song, mostly because it had a cool video featuring Christopher Walken. However, before the song, Star Wars action figures would list a character's "Weapon of choice" on their bios.
- Sword: The heroic lead usually winds up wielding the iconic broadsword in the west. The katana often takes its place in the east. If both katanas and broadswords are present, the katana will invariably be in the hands of the Badass, because Katanas Are Just Better. Rapiers and smallswords typically go to swashbucklers and foppish characters, while the big two-handed blades, if they're not in the hands of the hero, usually go to The Big Guy. Of course, swordsmen (regardless of sword type) are often Not Compensating For Anything. If they're trying way too hard to be cool, they'll use two swords.
- Axes: Proud Warrior Race Guys tend to get axes. This probably is due to the fact that Tolkien's dwarves, one of the most prominent examples of the proud warrior race, favored axes. A favorite of the Ax Crazy. Also a favourite of the big guy who doesn't have a club (see below), in which case it will be a simple enormous, double-edged job.
- Clubs/Hammers: Big and brash characters, like a giant ogre or The Big Guy, just need the bluntest weapon they can muster: A giant club, mallet, or mace. Dwarves tend to like hammers, too; probably because they like forging so much. Size for size, hammers are heavier, slower, and harder hitting than axes. Smaller, more manageable versions are sometimes favored by paladins and priests or monks who frown upon shedding blood, but have less compunction about causing concussions and breaking bones; this tradition dates back to the fighting priests of the Crusades, who used maces for the same reason, and Dungeons And Dragons popularised the image in the modern day.
- Staves: Wizards and other wise characters that rely on talents other than brute force to deal with conflict still sensibly bring at least a staff for protection. This covers the Staff Chick and the Black Magician Girl, both of whom typically use them. Again, a favorite of monks and also martial artists who aren't monks. There is some overlap with the "improvised/strange weapon" category, as it includes innocent-looking canes and "sports equipment" such as bowling pins and hula hoops.
- Fists: Any person who carries no weapon when everybody around him is carrying one is either cocky enough to believe that he doesn't need a weapon, or highly-skilled enough to know that he doesn't need a weapon. The two are generally completely opposite in characterization, The two are generally completely opposite in characterization, with the cocky version generally being a braggart and a bit of an ass, and the other being contemplative and spiritual to the point of being a Martial Pacifist or a Warrior Therapist. Or they're just a Technical Pacifist. Be warned, however, that the latter level of expertise may also contain the Arrogant Kung Fu Guy, who really is as good as he brags about. However, some others...
- Ninja Crap: Nunchaku, kusari-gamas, multi-sectional staves and the like. These are wielded by showy martial artists demonstrating their prowess, evil martial artists hoping to confuse the nice guy with a scary foreign weapon, or by Highly Visible Ninja who should know better.
- Strange weapons: If a character is just improvising and ordinarily goes unarmed, he's probably the Unlucky Everydude who just got caught in a fight (like most of the characters Jackie Chan plays). If someone regularly goes around with a weapon like this, they're not totally connected to reality -- either The Ditz or the Cloudcuckoolander. This category may include such sports equipment that does not fall under Staves, above, such as baseballs, hockey pucks, and the like.
- Bows: Characters with composed personalities are archers. This again has roots in Tolkien, where the elves typically were depicted as being able to stay composed even in extreme duress. The Sniper Rifle is the modern day equivalent although Bows can still be seen.
- Guns: In a setting where guns are rare, they will be mostly the province of The Smart Guy. In settings where they are more common, they take the place of swords, with the largest going to the hero and the most distinctive going to the Badass. A Badass Longcoat, of course, will combine these and walk around with the katana of guns, the revolver (especially the Magnum ones). If guns are a primary weapon, The Hero and the Big Bad will rely on pistols, Mooks will use submachine guns and smaller-caliber rifles, and shotguns and large caliber rifles go to The Dragon and the Anti Hero. In any case, the protagonists are invariably be impossibly good shots, while the Mooks suck.
- Scythes: Especially for villains and goths despite being very impractical to actually fight with. Associated with death. Oddly enough, rarely if ever used by farmers, who prefer...
- Pitchforks: The official weapon of the unruly mob, this is normally used by a farmer or small-town folk defending his home. Shotguns and hunting rifles can also fill this niche in a modern setting.
- Polearms: Usually, a polearm -such as a poleaxe, spear, halberd, or any other weapon that's a long stick with something sharp and metal on one end -is the province of hapless Mooks: city guardsman, honor guard, Spear Carrier and so on. Anyone who needs something long to cross over a portal to prevent someone from entering will use a polearm. When not in the hands of mooks, they are the weapon of choice for calm collected individuals. Occasionally an RPG will have a powerful weapon that happens to be a halberd (probably the best polearm design ever conceived, as it can stab, slash, thump, and trip) or spear (as it has all sorts of cool connotations of being "ancient"), but you're damned if you're gonna find any ancestral bec-de-corbins in any medieval-flavored fantasy novel anywhere.
- See here
 for a lovely little summary of medieval polearms. That, and the obligatory Monty Python joke.
- One particular Japanese polearm, the naginata, is often found in the hands of a Far Eastern Lady Of War. This has historical precedent, as women of the nobility and samurai caste in medieval Japan were typically trained to use the naginata for defense of themselves and their households.
- Trident: The weapon of sea gods like Poseidon, Proteus and Nereus and merpeople is now the weapon of anyone associated with the sea or water. Not entirely contrived, as the trident was originally a fishing spear, hence its pairing with a fishing net in the hands of a retiarius.
- Whips: Whips tend to be found in the hands of cowboys, swashbuckling characters, certain vampire slayers, female villains with a thing for tight leather and a dominatrix streak, brutal slave drivers and torturers.
- Curved Weapons: Hooks, sickles and other such things tend to belong to psychos for hire and similar characters. The same is true for weapons that are notably serrated.
- Knives: Ninjas and assassins go for the lightest and smallest tools. Even most Ax Crazy characters prefer using knives -- though their knives will usually be broader and longer, such as chef knives or machetes.
- Chainsaws: Chainsaws are a very intimidating weapon usually only wielded by those who are truly Ax Crazy. But certain heroes have also made use of them, particularly those who fight zombies, demons and other nasties.
- Magic Wands -- Not so much a weapon for "beating them over the head" but rather "blow them up with a bigger fireball." More of a favorite with wizards, witches and such than staves, but they often combine them for the best of both worlds. Not necessarily always a wand, this covers any object used for spellcasting.
- Baseball Bats/Lead Pipes -- The preferred weapons of street fighters and urban brawlers from bad neighborhoods, especially in the US. (Cricket bats may also be used, but this is more likely to be played for laughs or be ineffectual). Is often something of a throwback to the image of a big angry guy with a club coming towards you. Also tends to be the weapon of choice when someone is caught in a surprise emergency and has to grab the closest thing to them they can use as a weapon. Thus it can suggest either brutal, simple, unsophisticated violence or the desperation of someone clutching one in a time of crises.
- Fundamentally Absurd Weapons -- Often a game will have a weapon that makes the aforementioned scythes look simple and logical. These objects almost always appeal to the Rule of Cool, and are ridiculously overpowered. Napalm Chainsaw-Nunchuck-Missile-shooting Double Gunswords, anyone?
Of course, any true Troper's Weapon of Choice would have to be a Big Freakin' Gatling Shotgun that can be Dual Wielded with a Detachable Chain-Bladed Laser Katana. Anything else just pales in comparison.
Examples:
- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: Peter, leader by virtue of being the first-born and therefore The Hero, is given a sword. Susan, the mature, no-nonsense type, is given a bow and arrows. Lucy, the youngest and not yet old enough to fight, is entrusted with the universal Magic Antidote and given a small dagger - just in case. Edmund wasn't there at the time, so he didn't get a present from Santa. Which is a pretty good point to make.
- Avatar The Last Airbender: Aang, the twelve-year-old peace loving monk, has his trademark staff/glider. Zuko, both the noble Determinator and selfish, troubled Anti Villain, gets not one but two broadswords, indicative of his two sides. Sokka, The Smart Guy, has a Precision Guided Boomerang (indicating he's odd, but effective). The creators have also admitted that they got the idea for giving the Emo Teen Mai a Bottomless Magazine of stillettos by picturing her sulking in her room, throwing things at the walls in boredom.
- Jet had hook swords, which in retrospect may well have been a hint towards the whole Wellintentioned Extremist bit.
- To illustrate their Character Development, some characters have come to lose their weapons. For example, early on, when he was just the thick-headed male figure, Sokka retained a war club. Then of course, there's the symbolic ending of the season three premiere episode, in which Aang burns his staff. On the reverse, as a sure sign of his growing into a capable leader, Sokka has come to receive a straight sword.
- Then the Grand Finale has Sokka losing both of his weapons, and Aang never using his staff. This indicates that, indeed, it's all finally over.
- The Mystic Knights Of Tir Na Nog: Rohan, The Hero, uses a sword. Deirdre, The Chick, uses a crossbow. Ivar, the Knight of Water, uses a trident. Garrett, the Sixth Ranger with serious ego issues, uses an ax. Angus, the Knight of Earth, uses a mace, probably just because it's round, and they had to show boulders shooting out of it.
- Code Lyoko: Ulrich, The Hero, goes from using one katana to two. Yumi, the Japanese Token Minority, uses Tessen (sharp metal fans). Odd (who thinks the more monsters, the better) uses arrows. Aelita, The Chick, started out with the ability just to change the landscape and create illusions, but got powerful energy blasts (a boyfriend who programs your attacks really pays off).
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Leonardo, the heroic leader, uses swords (ninjato, to be specific). Raphael, the pragmatic Loose Cannon who's just a little bit crazy at times, uses knives (sais). Donatello, the intellectual, uses a (bo) staff. And Michaelangelo, being the cool party guy, uses the coolest ninja weapon of the '80s: nunchaku.
- The supporting cast gives another example: Casey Jones, the Badass street-fighting vigilante armed with a variety of sports equipment: baseball bats, golf clubs, hockey sticks... he even produced a cricket bat in the movie, prompting Raphael to mock him.
Raphael: Cricket? Nobody understands cricket! You gotta know what a crumpet is to understand cricket!
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: In the original lineup, Jason the Red Ranger (The Hero) used a sword, Zack the Black Ranger (The Lancer) used an axe, Trini the Yellow Ranger (Action Girl) used twin daggers, Billy the Blue Ranger (The Smart Guy) used a trident, and Kimberly the Pink Ranger (The Chick) used a bow. When Tommy the Green Ranger first appeared, he also used a sword, but he changed to a dagger that could summon his Dragonzord after his Heel Face Turn. All of them had blasters as backup.
- The Dark Tower: Badass Roland uses a pair of finely-wrought six-shooters, passed down from father to son for generations and said to have been made from the melted-down metal of Excalibur.
- In the back story, Roland's constantly joking best friend Cuthbert preferred a slingshot to a gun. Jamie used a bow and arrow, though he only appeared in one scene in the entire series and didn't really do anything. In a possible subversion, the quiet, intelligent, and psychic Alain got to use a machine gun at one point, and enjoyed it very much.
- The Wheel Of Time: Hero Rand uses a crystal sword that conveniently jacks up his magic powers to an insane degree (sometimes literally). Mat starts off using knives, but later moves on to a magic spear(most likely supposed to be a Nagita). Former blacksmith Perrin uses a somewhat symbolic axe and hammer.
- Kull the Conqueror: Proud barbarian warrior Kull uses a battle axe as his main weapon. After he becomes king, his advisors make several attempts to civilize him, including training him in swordsmanship. He never quite takes to it, and goes back to his axe, showing he's truly a barbarian at heart.
- Earthbound has a variation where Ness, the hero, uses a baseball bat (which could be excused by his wearing a baseball cap) or a Killer Yoyo. However, Paula, the Staff Chick, wields a frying pan, Jeff, the smart guy, uses guns, and Poo, the martial artist, uses either nothing or a sword.
- Bleach is full of both this and Personality Powers. Every single weapon used in the series is supposed to be a reflection of the owner's personality. Granted, this doesn't follow the normal guidelines at all, but it's still there.
- Chrono Trigger has this as well. The hero, Crono, has his trusty katana (and starts, like all good swordsmen, with a bokken/wooden sword). Marle, instead of a staff, finds herself with a crossbow. Lucca, the mad genius, gets the guns of the game. The knightly Frog takes to Western weapons (oddly, the game's Masamune is this style and not a katana). Ayla, the primitive woman, gets her bare fists (cutscenes show her with a club). Robo uses robot parts. Finally, gothic and anti-hero Magus gets..yes, the scythe.
- The Masamune is only called that in the western releases of the game. Its original name (and the one used in the retranslation) is Grandleon, which makes sense for a European-style broadsword. It was probably translated on the assumption that it had been given a European name for exotic flavour rather than simply because it's that kind of sword, and so the translators chose a name that would preserve this intention for the English version.
- Firefly follows the trope with Western-inspired (of course) weapons. Mal has a gun based on a six-shooter; Zoe carries a sawn-off shotgun (and, unusually, a bulletproof vest). Jayne, the other badass, has an assortment but favours an assault rifle and a BIG knife. Inara, the mysterious woman, uses a futuristic bow (she also holds a stolen laser pistol, but it doesn't work). Shepherd Book, with his mysterious past, seems content with rifles--he's a Technical Pacifist from his faith (although the Bible, while specific on killing, is 'a mite fuzzier on the subject of kneecaps.') River, the Mysterious Waif, is pretty much a blender with anything. And with nothing. The rest of the crew make do with pistols and shots of varying accuracy. Though notably Wash uses a Mateba auto-revolver which considering their scarcity and quirky design fits his character quite well when he dies this is the gun handed over to River; as she is then shown piloting Serenity at the very end of the film one can't help but wonder if it's a little What Do You Mean Its Not Symbolic
- Madan Senki Ryukendo shows this trope in both showing the Madan Warrior's personalities through the weapons, and by giving the weapons themselves personalities. Kenji/Ryukendo, the title Idiot Hero, uses a sword. The sword itself, Geki Ryu Ken is equally heroic, but a Trickster Mentor. Fudou/Ryugunou and his blaster, GouRyuGun, calculate their strategies, making Fudou the intelligent balance to Kenji's Determinator. Koichi/Ryujinou is an interesting case. His ZanRyuJin becomes an axe and a bow. Koichi himself is powerful and dangerous, but does know how to fight controlled. ZanRyuJin itself is a wiseguy, only on good terms with his partner.
- In the anime series Yoroiden Samurai Troopers, (Ronin Warriors in US), this trope partially applies to the heroes. The main hero has dual wield katanas that also connect into a single double-sided sword, The Smart Guy is an archer, and the one whose powers come from water has a trident. The other two of the Five Man Band are anomalies: the weapon of the quiet, mature Sage is a huge greatsword, while big eating, hot tempered Big Guy Kento uses a sectioned staff.
- Despite having four (or five to six depending on the game) types of melee weapons, Fire Emblem manages to do this; most axe fighters are obsessed with fighting in one way or another (and Kerian in 9/10, who takes "Proud Warrior" to an extreme is an Axe Knight), all but four (all but one of whom play second fiddle) of the lead characters use swords, and ALL thieves and assassins in the series use knives (at least in battle sprites). On the flip side only two archers in the series qualify for the listed personality and spear wielding units are just as competent as the other ones. It also subverts this slightly with weapons effective on certain types of foes (such as a large mallet being good on armored units) though.
- Also of note that there are two different classes that wield Swords. First is Mercenary/Hero (the sprites in the 6th-8th game were broadswords regardless of sword used), the other being Myrmidon/Swordmaster (the sprites here used eastern style katanas). Swordmasters also generally get a specialized sword late game called the Wo Dao (which in the later games just is a Katana). Heroes are generally more manly and romantic-male-lead-ish when it comes to looks. While the majority of Swordmasters are females, or males that are very pretty. The animations for the Swordmaster attacks seem very graceful compared to the straight power of the Hero (graceful is badass). The Rapier weapon (appears in FE 1/3/6/7/8) is usable only by the games leading character (who is always royal, giving them a proper societal weapon). The exceptions are Lyndis (Fire Emblem 7) and Ike (Fire Emblem 9+10). Lyndis has her own legendary Katana, and Ike isn't actual royalty (and all his animations would fit way more with a Broadsword than a rapier).
- Urusei Yatsura: Shinobu the super-strong lesser yandere is known for her use of heavy school desks as bludgeons and projectile weapons. Even in environments where there are no school desks such as Mendou's yard.
- In XXX Holic, the perpetually cool and calm Domeki is a prized member of his school's archery club.
- L. Ron Hubbard's "Mission Earth" series had the protagonist Jettero Heller (distinct from the antagonist narrator, Soltan Gris). Mr. Heller was a champion 'bullet-ball' player back home, and discovered that he could throw Earth "base-balls" with up to lethal speed. He also discovered that baseball cleats make for a deadly surprise against opponents, since no one in these parts expects a cleat-wearer to kick with them.
- Tsukihime's protagonist Tohno Shiki only ever uses his knife, which has the symbols for '7 Nights' carved into it (the actual meaning of the characters is 'Nanaya,' it is an heirloom from his true family of demon-slaying assassins that was passed down to him.).
- In the Mai-HiME/Mai-Otome universe, this is quite evident on the elements used by the main characters. The stoic loner Natsuki uses pistols or other guns, elegant Shizuru uses a naginata or a similar polearm, somewhat crazy Nao uses claws or wires, the Determinator Haruka uses a mace or a ball and chain if she has an element of her own but the original lead Mai has odd bangles/anklets with magatama beads. This is solved in the sequel where new lead Arika has a double-bladed sword.
- In The Dresden Files, Thomas the White Court vampire has begun to use kukris (curved knives used by gurkhas) as his signature weapons.
- Warhammer 40000:
- Eldar favour advanced laser weaponry and blade-firing "shuriken catapults", along with long swords.
- The standard weapon of the Space Marines is a fully-automatic-armour-piercing-rocket-propelled-grenade-launcher. Their heavy weapons are quite varied. For close combat, theres the good old fashioned chainsword.
- Daemonhunters (the "Ordo Malleus") like really big force hammers.
- Orks don't usually have a preferred weapon of choice; rather, they prefer to ensure whatever they're carrying is either "more choppy" or "more dakka." Or both.
- The Tau are in love with their plasma guns, as well as railguns and guided missiles.
- The humble Imperial Guardsman typically carries a simple, durable, and (for the setting) low-powered lasgun. However, the sheer variety of weapons available to the Imperial guard also means that any given squad can have everything from grenade launchers to bipod-mounted autocannons to handheld anti-tank fusion cannons.
- Wild ARMs 3 : sunny heroine gets pistols akimbo (with flowery holsters). Wise, composed, always suggests best course of action science guy has the sniper rifle. Impulsive ditz gets the sawed-off shotgun. Badass amnesiac loner gets machine gun and ammo bandoliers.
- The Servants of Fate/stay night generally use the weapons according to their Class (Saber, Archer, Lancer, Rider, Caster, Assassin, Berserker) but there are occasional exceptions; Rider generally fights without her mount, only revealing it as an Eleventh Hour Superpower. Archer uses twin dao (Chinese falchions) despite having a literal endless Field of Blades at his disposal.
- It might be argued that they are symbolic of his deep inner conflict over (and bitter acceptance of) the gap between ideal and reality, though...
- The characters in Persona 3 openly state the reasons for their specific weapons, whenever it isn't obvious. The Hero can use anything. Junpei uses a two-handed sword that he holds like a baseball bat (which is to say, improperly). Yukari, a member of the Archery Club, uses a bow. Mitsuru, the rich girl, uses an "elegant" one-handed sword. Akihiko, star boxer of the school, uses his fists. Aigis, a Robot Girl, uses attached guns of various types. Koromaru, the team pet, uses a small knife held in his teeth, presumably to avoid actually biting the monsters. Ken, a shorter team member, uses a spear to even the playing field between him and larger enemies. Shinjiro, the dude with issues, uses an axe or mace. In FES, Metis, Miss Exposition, also uses an axe, due to its power.
- Though he often uses other weapons, James Bond's iconic weapon is a Walther PPK, chambered for 7.65mm Browning ammunition. Most actors used the well-known standard model, but for some reason, Roger Moore tended to use a PPK with an extended barrel. This has recently been updated to a P99.
- The main characters in Team Kimba at the Super Hero School Whateley Academy in the webfiction Whateley Universe largely fit this trope. Chaka, the cool martial arts expert who controls Ki, has become an amazing chain fighter (and show-off with it). Bladedancer, the Handmaiden of The Tao, has a mystical ancient Chinese sword. Fey, the powerful mage, has been given a magical scimitar. Generator, the tiny pseudo-deviser, has a linear induction pistol and what looks like a Hello Kitty makeup compact. (It really, really isn't.) Tennyo has an antimatter light-saber-like 'sword' that she generates herself. Lancer, the brick, sometimes carries a baseball bat: he has learned to extend his PK field over the bat, basically making it indestructible. He also has a pair of paper swords: when he extends his PK field over them, they become WAY more dangerous than an unbreakable bat wielded by a superboy-type brick.
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