History Main / GlassWeapon

Not so in fiction, though! In fiction, anything from solid-glass swords to outright hammers made of glass are possible, often with the handwave of magic, which is why it's not uncommon for them to have magical properties themselves. These items still tend to be frailer than the regular versions, but nowhere near as fragile as they would realistically be.

* ''VideoGame/CryptOfTheNecrodancer'' has glass weapons that do very high damage but break if you get hit. There's also glass armour that negates damage but (again) breaks if you get hit and an item called the Glass Jaw that lets you inflict double damage but turns you into a OneHitPointWonder.

* ''VideoGame/{{Warframe}}'' has Gara, [[ThePowerOfGlass whose powers all revolve around glass, either using it to kill or protect.]] Her update also introduced the Volnus (a bladed hammer made of a glass-like material), the Fusilai (throwing knives made of glass) and the Astilla (a shotgun that fires glass slugs). Later updates added a villain known as the Glassmaker, also known as [[spoiler:Nihil, an Orokin [[HangingJudge Judge]] / [[JudgeJuryAndExecutioner Executioner]],]] who killed perceived criminals by [[TakenForGranite entombing them]] in [[ThePowerOfGlass molten glass]] using an ornate glass [[{{BFS}} greatsword]] known as Vitrica, which becomes usable by the player after his defeat. Said process also [[YourSoulIsMine traps the target’s soul]] and [[BrainUploading partially]] [[UnwillingRoboticization transforms]] it into a [[ArtificialIntelligence Cephalon]], [[spoiler: a fate that [[HoistByHisOwnPetard befalls the Glassmaker himself]] when he has his self-uploaded soul trapped in an [[SoulJar oubliette]]]].

* ''Webanimation/{{RWBY}}'' villainess Cinder Fall has a Semblance called "Scorching Caress", which lets her [[PlayingWithFire superheat]] and reshape matter. She can use this power to turn basic earth or [[AppliedPhlebotinum Dust]] into weapons made of obsidian, black volcanic glass.

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* ''VideoGame/{{Warframe}}'' has Gara, whose powers all revolve around glass, either using it to kill or protect. Her update also introduced the Volnus (a hammer made of a glass-like material), the Fusilai (throwing knives made of glass) and the Astilla (a shotgun that fires glass slugs). Later updates added a villain known as the Glassmaker, [[spoiler:an Orokin executioner]] who killed perceived criminals by coating them in molten glass using an ornate glass sword, one which becomes usable by the player after his defeat.

* ''VideoGame/{{Warframe}}'' has Gara, whose powers all revolve around glass, either using it to kill or protect. Her update also introduced the Volnus (a hammer made of a glass-like material), the Fusilai (throwing knives made of glass) and the Astilla (a shotgun that fires glass slugs).

** In the [[TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragonsFifthEdition 5th Edition]] module ''TabletopGame/LostMinesOfPhandelver'', the rogue wizard [[TheyCallHimSword known as Glasstaff]] wields, naturally, a MagicStaff of hollow glass, enchanted to be as hard as oak and to carry spells of shielding.

** In the 5[[superscript:th]] Edition module ''Lost Mine of Phandelver'', the rogue wizard [[TheyCallHimSword known as Glasstaff]] wields, naturally, a MagicStaff of hollow glass, enchanted to be as hard as oak and to carry spells of shielding.

*** ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'' had the most "realistic" take on [[https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Morrowind:Glass glass equipment]]: they were made using an unnamed black metal with glass incorporated into the object, and needed frequent repair due to being relatively brittle and chipping in combat. The weapons were either bladed (swords, knives, axes, and halberds), or piercing (arrows, throwing knives, throwing stars), with the single "blunt" glass weapon being a metal staff with a number of glass spikes on top that would probably make nasty puncture wounds on anyone hit by it. Meanwhile, glass armor is constructed primarily from metal that is studded with glass, with the pauldrons, elbow-guards, and boots incorporating some nasty-looking spikes that could probably be used offensively if the game engine allowed it. An interesting bit of trivia is how people in-game will credit the Altmer (High Elves) of Summerset Isle as the most famous users and creators of glass equipment despite Summerset being on the other side of the continent from Red Mountain, which is located smack dab in the middle of the island the game takes place on. This is because of three major factors that have turned Red Mountain into Tamriel's equivalent of {{Mordor}}[[labelnote:details]]'''A''': it constantly spews massive ash storms carrying incredibly nasty [[MysticalPlague Blight diseases]], with the worst being [[TheCorruption Corprus]], an incurable affliction that ravages the [[BodyHorror body]] and [[MindRape mind]] of anyone infected. The mountain's slopes are home to both animals and people who have caught these diseases and can easily transmit them to anyone they touch. '''B''': It's [[VolcanoLair the home]] of [[EvilOverlord Dagoth Ur]], a SemiDivine lunatic who [[PlagueMaster created]] the aforementioned diseases and has an army of insane cultists and mutated abominations that even the elite, handpicked warriors of the [[CreatureHunterOrganization Buoyant]] [[OneRiotOneRanger Armigers]] try to avoid due to said cultists and abominations being all too eager to "gift" people with Corprus. The various [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Dwemer]] ruins also contain numerous [[RagnarokProofing still-active]] [[KillerRobot Animunculi]] that won't hesitate to slaughter anyone trespassing in their creators' ancient home. '''C''': even without the various supernatural forces infesting the slopes, Red Mountain is still dangerous at the best of times due to the fact that ''it's still an [[LethalLavaLand active volcano]]''.[[/labelnote]], which means that even in Morrowind glass equipment is rare enough that only the elite warriors of the Tribunal Temple or the very rich can ever expect to get their hands on it. On a final note, "raw" glass (the ore) could also be used in alchemy.

* ''VideoGame/ForTheKing'' has a class of glass weapons in three [[ElementalCrafting tiers]]: swords, [[MagicWand rods]], bows, and [[InstrumentOfMurder lutes]] can all be found in glass, sapphire (apparently not a {{crystal|Weapon}}), and [[BlackSwordsAreBetter obsidian]]. It isn't explained how, for example, one could draw a glass bow, but as a small nod to physics, these weapons [[BreakableEquipment shatter]] on a failed attack.

* One of the many, many guns that can be acquired in ''VideoGame/EnterTheGungeon'' is a literal GlassCannon, which, true to its form, is capable of dealing a lot of damage to its targets, but breaks if the wielder takes a hit. Of course, 'breaking' in this context just results in its remaining ammo being lost, so, if you can find an ammo pickup from there...

GrievousBottleyHarm is an improvised version, where a glass bottle is used as a weapon. Contrast SoftGlass, where glass is much ''less'' injurious than it should be, and compare CrystalWeapon for another type of brittle material unrealistically used for weaponry. Also (despite being its TropeNamer) not to be confused with GlassCannon, which is a term for anything with high offensive power but very little defense (although, it is named for what would be an example). Still, compare ThePowerOfGlass. If the glass weapon is really just a shard of glass fashioned into some kind of knife or stabbing and slashing implement, that's a SinisterShiv.

GrievousBottleyHarm is an improvised version, where a glass bottle is used as a weapon. Contrast SoftGlass, where glass is much ''less'' injurious than it should be, and compare CrystalWeapon for another type of brittle material unrealistically used for weaponry. Also (despite being its TropeNamer) not to be confused with GlassCannon, which is a term for anything with high offensive power but very little defense (although, it is named for what would be an example). Still, compare ThePowerOfGlass.

* ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSinII'': The legendary glass sword Anathema holds the spirit of a demon and is powerfully magical, but is brittle and can't be repaired like other weapons, so it [[SuprisinglyRealisticOutcome breaks for good]] after it deals [[LimitedUseMagicalDevice a single blow]].

* ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSinII'': The legendary glass sword Anathema holds the spirit of a demon and is powerfully magical, but is brittle and can't be repaired like other weapons, so RealityEnsues after it deals [[LimitedUseMagicalDevice a single blow]].

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'': The Nintendo DS remake of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem'' introduces a subset of weapons made out of glass. They are as strong as the fairly powerful Silver weapons while also not requiring a high weapon rank to use (all but the Glass Staff, which requires a D rank, can be used at E rank, the lowest weapon level). ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'' brings most of the weapons (with the exception of the Glass Staff) back, where they work the same way.

* ''VideoGame/FireEmblem'': The games ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAkaneia Mystery of the Emblem]]'', its remake ''New Mystery of the Emblem'', and ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'' have a subset of weapons made of out glass. They break after three uses and they're as strong as the fairly powerful Silver weapons, but they also don't require a high weapon rank to use.

* In ''VideoGame/TheBindingOfIsaac: Afterbirth'', you can create the Glass Cannon, which is exactly what it sounds like, in [[GlassCannon every sense]]. It's incredibly powerful, but lowers your health to just 1/2 heart, meaning that you'll be killed in a single blow if something hits you.

*** ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'' had the most "realistic" take on [[https://en.uesp.net/wiki/Morrowind:Glass glass equipment]]: they were made using an unnamed black metal with glass incorporated into the object, and needed frequent repair due to being relatively brittle and chipping in combat. The weapons were either bladed (swords, knives, axes, and halberds), or piercing (arrows, throwing knives, throwing stars), with the single "blunt" glass weapon being a metal staff with a number of glass spikes on top that would probably make nasty puncture wounds on anyone hit by it. Meanwhile, glass armor is constructed primarily from metal that is studded with glass, with the pauldrons, elbow-guards, and boots incorporating some nasty-looking spikes that could probably be used offensively if the game engine allowed it. An interesting bit of trivia is how people in-game will credit the Altmer (High Elves) of Summerset Isle as the most famous users and creators of glass equipment despite Summerset being on the other side of the continent from Red Mountain, which is located smack dab in the middle of the island the game takes place on. This is because of three major factors that have turned Red Mountain into Tamriel's equivalent of {{Mordor}}[[labelnote:details]]'''A''': it constantly spews massive ash storms carrying incredibly nasty [[MysticalPlague Blight diseases]], with the worst being [[TheCorruption Corprus]], an incurable affliction that ravages the [[BodyHorror body]] and [[MindRape mind]] of anyone infected. The mountain's slopes are home to both animals and people who have caught these diseases and can easily transmit them to anyone they touch. '''B''': It's [[VolcanoLair the home]] of [[EvilOverlord Dagoth Ur]], a SemiDivine [[AGodAmI lunatic]] who [[PlagueMaster created]] the aforementioned diseases and has an army of insane cultists and mutated abominations that even the elite, handpicked warriors of the [[CreatureHunterOrganization Buoyant]] [[OneRiotOneRanger Armigers]] try to avoid due to said cultists and abominations being all too eager to "gift" people with Corprus. The various [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Dwemer]] ruins also contain numerous [[RagnarokProofing still-active]] [[KillerRobot Animunculi]] that won't hesitate to slaughter anyone trespassing in their creators' ancient home. '''C''': even without the various supernatural forces infesting the slopes, Red Mountain is still dangerous at the best of times due to the fact that ''it's still an [[LethalLavaLand active volcano]]''.[[/labelnote]], which means that even in Morrowind glass equipment is rare enough that only the elite warriors of the Tribunal Temple or the very rich can ever expect to get their hands on it. On a final note, "raw" glass (the ore) could also be used in alchemy.

GrievousBottleyHarm is an improvised version, where a glass bottle is used as a weapon. Contrast SoftGlass, where glass is much ''less'' injurious than it should be, and compare CrystalWeapon for another type of brittle material unrealistically used for weaponry. Also not to be confused with GlassCannon, which is a term for anything with high offensive power but very little defense (although, it is named for what would be an example). Still, compare ThePowerOfGlass.

* ''VideoGame/MakaiToshiSaGa'' and ''VideoGame/SaGa2'' include the glass sword, an incredibly powerful weapon which breaks after a single use.

* ''Webanimation/{{RWBY}}'' villainess Cinder Falls can manipulate [[AppliedPhlebotinum Dust]] and make weapons out of it. Given this is effectively turning sand into glass, they're transparent and at a certain point [[IncendiaryExponent filled with flames]].