Basic Trope: A weapon which must be acquired in order for the hero to achieve his goal.
- Straight: The Trope Blade is the only weapon which can kill Emperor Evulz.
- Exaggerated: The Trope Blade is the only weapon in the entire universe that can actually kill stuff. All else has no lasting effects.
- Downplayed: While Emperor Evulz is just as mortal as anyone else, the Trope Blade is better suited to counter his fighting style.
- Justified: The curse which made Evulz immortal claims that "nothing Earthborn could beat him". The Trope Blade is made of Thunderbolt Iron, though, which is not from Earth.
- Inverted: The Trope Blade is the only weapon incapable of killing Evulz. Unfortunately, it's also a Clingy MacGuffin that the player has to find a way to destroy.
- Subverted:
- After acquiring the Trope Blade, The Hero finds out that it's no different from any other sword...
- The hero finds out the only use of Trope Blade is to stab himself with it.
- The Trope Blade is a Magic Feather: any weapon can hurt Evulz, but nobody's been brave enough to try.
- Double Subverted:
- ...but its very reputation is enough for Evulz to give up once he realizes Bob has it.
- ...turns out having the hero stabbing himself with the Trope Blade is exactly how to kill off Evulz for real.
- Parodied: The TS2000 Blender is the only thing capable of making Evulz' milkshake.
- Zig Zagged: ???
- Averted: There are no unusual items in the setting.
- Enforced: The author needs something to lengthen the story, thus the quest for the Trope Blade is added.
- Lampshaded: "So we need that before moving on to killing Evulz? Well, fine, let's go!"
- Invoked:
- The man whom Evulz forced to curse him with immortality added the clause.
- Any means by which someone can obtain immortality also, somewhere in the world, creates a means of unravelling it, whether that be the Trope Blade, the Hammer of Brutal Whackings, the Rift to Hell, the Ring of Minor Offense, or the Totem of Heroism, there's always SOME way to kill an Immortality Seeker.
- Exploited: Evulz hides the Trope Blade in his quarters, knowing that whoever would try to get it would have to get past him first.
- Defied: Evulz destroys the Trope Blade.
- Discussed: "Well, he's pretty much immortal." "Sure not! I bet we just have to go on a quest to find some mythical blade or something."
- Conversed: "... and of course they spent first three books looking for the Trope Blade so that they could kill Evulz."
- Implied: The old legends of the world the story takes place in speak of mysterius Trope Blade, which is always present to kill Evulz in his many iterations.
- Deconstructed: The Trope Blade was forged ages ago. By the time the heroes reach it, not only has it rusted, but the world's metallurgy advanced so far that even the most common swords have the Trope Blade's quality, rendering the whole quest for it pointless.
- Reconstructed: Even semi-rusted, the Trope Blade still has magical qualities other swords lack and thus it's still the only thing capable of harming Evulz. It also counts as a Poisoned Weapon since rust can bring out tetanus and tetanus can deal extra damage to (and possibly kill) Evulz.
- Played For Laughs: During the quest, hero's sidekick keeps on thinking up new ways to kill Evulz which do not need a trip across the entire world to obtain it.
- Played For Drama: Evulz destroys the Trope Blade right in front of hero's eyes, thus securing his reign and making any attempts at beating him impossible.
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