History Main / ImpossiblyCoolWeapon

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'' seems to be made of this trope, along with a reappearance of the aforementioned Gunblade, we're also introduced to [[DualWielding Twin]] {{Guns|Akimbo}} that combine into an [[BifurcatedWeapon Assault Rifle]], a Giant Folding BattleBoomerang, a [[DoubleWeapon Double-Ended]] [[BladeOnAStick Spear]] that breaks apart into a [[FightingWithChucks Three-Segmented Nunchaku]], and some sort of... Staff-{{Whip|ItGood}} [[ImprobableWeaponUser Fishing Pole]]... thing.

* Characters/{{Wonder Woman|TheCharacter}} has weapons forged by Hephaestus, the god of blacksmiths. Most famous is her Golden Lasso; unbreakable and anyone bound by it must tell the truth. The other most famous of Wonder Woman's accouterments are her bracelets, gifted by Aphrodite and nigh indestructible. She also wields the Sword of Hephaestus, which is sharp enough to split molecules and because it is magic, [[WeakToMagic can kill]] Characters/{{Superman|TheCharacter}}.

* ''Manga/YuYuHakusho'': In the semi-finals of the Dark Tournament Kirenja pulls out a big sword. Bui [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xL4SY1TJgQ counters]] with a [[AnAxeToGrind giant ax]]. Everyone is skeptical that Bui can wield it in time. [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill It turns out he can]].

** Seras's ''shoulder-mounted anti-zeppelin {{BFG}}.'' The doctor prescribed some 30mm [[WeaponOfChoice Harkonnen II]] goodness for those crazy {{Ghostapo}} mooks!

** Even more confusingly, Illidan's WeaponOfChoice, [[http://www.wowwiki.com/File:Illidan_and_Arthas_Redux.jpg the Twin Blades of Azzinoth]] are also called glaives, even though they're more like two curved swords attached to the opposite sides of the same hilt. He took them from a demon he killed. The glaives in question had the option of detaching into the two blades, but Illidan just prefers to use them like that all the time. In ''World of Warcraft'', he has a pair of them, for a total of four blades. Similar weapons are exclusive to the group he leads, the demon hunters.

** For that matter, the same series gave us Nicholas D. Wolfwood's "Punisher", a cross-shaped object wrapped in cloth which he claims is so heavy because it's "so full of mercy." It turns out that apparently Wolfwood considers "mercy" to be synonymous with "ammunition"; the Punisher is basically a (semi-)portable arsenal. One arm of the cross contains a rack of multiple [[CoolGuns/{{Handguns}} Colt 1911s]], the bottom portion contains a [[MoreDakka machine gun]], the other arm most likely contains ammo for the machine gun, and the top portion contains a missile launcher. Wolfwood's mentor, [[spoiler:Chapel the Evergreen]], has his own Punisher, which splits in half to form ''two'' machine guns.

** In ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening'' you get Nevan, a frickin' electric guitar '''scythe''' that shoots out purple lightning and bats. And which used to be a massively hot [[HornyDevils succubus]]. And before that, Cerberus, a three-sectioned nunchaku made of ice.

* ''{{VideoGame/Bloodborne}}'' has these in the form of trick weapons, which are psuedo-realistic {{Morph Weapon}}s. The players' arsenal includes [[BifurcatedWeapon a shortsword that splits into two daggers]], a [[CaneFu metal cane]] that changes to a [[WhipSword serrated whip]], a foldable scythe where the blade detaches to work as a curved sword, a longsword that can be [[SheathStrike inserted into its enormous metal sheath]] to create a greatsword, the same thing except using a giant stone slab engraved with holy text to create a giant hammer, a mace that can charge itself with electricity, and more. The DLC adds, among other things, a metal club that can be attached to a pair of huge circular saws to create the closest thing to a {{chainsaw|Good}} the game has, a hammer with a miniature furnace inside of it that causes massive explosions when the hammer strikes something when the furnace is on, and the still alive and sentient severed arm of an EldritchAbomination which can either be swung around like a giant club or simply held out in front of the wielder and left to its own devices, attacking enemies with its scythe-like hand.

* ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'' also has a triple-barreled shotgun.

** The Mercenaries minigame in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' featured enemies that wielded ''[[ChainsawGood double-bladed chainsaws.]]'' That were '''[[IncendiaryExponent ON FIRE.]]'''

* The melee weapons in the UsefulNotes/XBox/[[UsefulNotes/PlayStation3 PS3]] ''VideoGame/NinjaGaiden'' games mostly avert this since they are inspired from real weapons in the first place (apart from one or two BFS). Except the Vigoorian Flail: a pair of chained sickles used like a nunchaku, that would be far too dangerous to use in RealLife. There is also the Plasma Saber Mk. II, a high frequency electrified sword (although gameplay-wise it's every bit identical to the True Dragon Sword). And of course, being a {{Ninja}} game, the projectile weapons are mostly this, from explosive kunai to FuumaShuriken, let alone a gatling spear gun and a portable cannon.
** When you upgrade the Lunar Staff fully, on each end of the staff are maces that flail about on a chain.
** What makes the whole thing even ''more'' impossibly cool is that some of the weapons were invented before the technology behind them even existed. The description lampshades said fact.
* Parodied in ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes''. Rank 1, Dark Star, wields a LIGHTSABER DRAGON. [[spoiler: He does not get a chance to use it before he gets punched through the {{groin|Attack}} shortly after revealing it]].
** And then in the sequel, the tutorial boss uses a revolver that ''revolves revolver cylinders.''
** It'd probably be easier to name characters in ''VideoGame/NoMoreHeroes'' who ''don't'' use impossibly cool weapons. The final five-ranked assassins in the first game come at you with a portable brain-powered earthquake generator, a magic show, a WaveMotionGun disguised as a shopping cart, the aforementioned lightsaber dragon, and...a wooden baseball bat. And the assassin who totes that last one is by far the [[AxCrazy deadliest]] [[BloodKnight of the]] [[PsychoForHire bunch]].
** The sequel carries on the tradition, even moreso than the first game, with the aforementioned revolving revolver (wielded along with a triple-bladed buster sword,) a boom box/rocket launcher that transforms into a giant pair of robot arms, a flamethrower axe, a pair of sniper rifles/scythes, a double beam katana/recorder that shoots deadly bubbles, a pair of guns that shoot money, a giant football-themed robot, an improved, upgraded version of the first game's brain-powered quake-maker, and a backpack covered in waldoes, most of them with lightsabers on the end. It even delivers on the lightsaber dragon from the first game somewhat with a beam naginata that summons giant laser dragons.
** There's also the Peony, a beam katana that [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything grows in length with the user's fighting spirit]], until it's longer than Travis is tall.

* Many of the characters in ''Manga/BladeOfTheImmortal'' use weapons that look incredibly cool... until you start asking questions about how they'd work in reality. The creator, Hiroaki Samura, [[LampshadeHanging hung a lampshade on this]] with the "Samura's Weapon Shop!" feature, which explains all the weapons, including the ones that don't make any sense. Examples: two sickles connected by an expansible chain ("The chain fits into one of the scabbards, and can stretch out to about seven feet. Whether this is good for anything is another question entirely."), a blade with little curved hooks on both edges ("What the hell is this thing? Don't ask me."), and two blades so narrow they look like kitchen skewers ("To be perfectly honest, I wonder why he doesn't just use a normal sword..."). Later, the sadistic Shira, who's [[spoiler: had one hand cut off by Manji]], makes up for this by (warning: squicky) [[spoiler: ''sharpening the protruding bone'' and using ''that'' as a weapon.]] It works about as well as you might expect.

%%* ''Manga/YuYuHakusho'': Bui's [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill weapon of choice]]. (Needs context)

* Franchise/{{Batman}}, being a BadassNormal relies on a whole arsenal of Bat-themed weapons repurposed from other sources. Batman also finds creative uses for more conventional weapons like flashbangs, grenades, C4, smoke bombs, tear gas, etc. For instance, he once used C4 stuck to the back of a dumpster to launch it as a missile against Amazo.
* Having traveled back in time from a [[FishOutOfTemporalWater far-distant future]], ComicBook/{{Cable}} has an arsenal of futuristic weapons at his disposal in modern times. As does Bishop.

* The various power rings of the color-coded emotional spectra in Franchise/GreenLantern mythos; [[ImaginationBasedSuperpower rings that make the user's imagination happen through their expression of the appropriate emotion.]]
* Tony Stark's ComicBook/IronMan armor, and any derivatives thereof; ComicBook/WarMachine, Iron Monger, Crimson Dynamo, et al.

* ComicBook/{{Lobo}}'s trademark hook and chain, as well as his extraterrestrial [[MoreDakka arsenal]].

* Take your pick of ComicBook/ThePenguin's Swiss-army [[ParasolOfPain umbrellas]]: machine guns, knockout gas, hypno-ray, personal helicopter. Or even the mundane sword-stick, befitting a gentleman such as himself.

* Just about any Asgardian weapon in the Marvel Comics universes. The most famous example being ComicBook/{{Thor}}'s Hammer {{Mjolnir}}; it can be thrown and come back like a boomerang, only he (for the most part) can lift it, it shoots lightning...and if that wasn't enough, it's forged from ''a piece of the meteor that killed the dinosaurs''.

* ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}'s skeleton is MadeOfIndestructium, including the 12" claws that pop out of his hands. They are mono-molecularly sharp, never dull, cut through anything and are indestructible.
* Franchise/WonderWoman has weapons forged by Hephaestus, the god of blacksmiths. Most famous is her Golden Lasso; unbreakable and anyone bound by it must tell the truth. The other most famous of Wonder Woman's accouterments are her bracelets, gifted by Aphrodite and nigh indestructible. She also wields the Sword of Hephaestus, which is sharp enough to split molecules and because it is magic, can kill Franchise/{{Superman}}.

* In the ''Film/BladeTrilogy'' Blade has an extensive arsenal of custom weapons to dispense vampires with.

* In Sylvester Stallone's vehicle ''Film/{{Cobra}}'', the director had [[ForTheEvulz the ultra-psychotic villain's]] [[http://www.i-mockery.com/minimocks/cobra/13.gif bizarre knife]] custom-made, as he wanted "a knife the audience would never forget". His wish became reality to such an extent that actual steel replicas of the knife are now being made - never mind that carrying and pulling out a knife with a giant, almost-double blade and a handle full of sharp spikes without the use of velcro would result in one's clothes being torn to shreds every time.

* The alien weaponry in ''Film/{{District 9}}''. One of the less impressive ones is a cannon that fires a burst of compressed air. Which can knock a guy through a wall.
** Also, [[AbnormalAmmo pig gun]]. There aren't enough weapons that kill your opponent with a '''''goddamn pig'''''.

* ''Literature/HeraldsOfRhimn'' has Brightfate, a sunlit sword bloodforged by the sun god Gardhe himself. It radiates sunlight, burns, and absorbs the souls of those it kills to fuel its enchantment — and as if that wasn’t enough, if you kill a Herald with it, it will also kill the god they’re bound to.

A SisterTrope of AbnormalAmmo, CoolSword, ImprobableWeaponUser, OddlyShapedSword.

** Weapons with multiple transformations that can sometimes be used in combination: examples include Ruby's customised scythe/sniper rife; Blake's sword, which can transform into a gun and a gun-sword-flail on the end of a ribbon; and Sun's staff, which becomes two numchaku, which can simultaneously be used as ''four'' lever-action shotguns.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': This urban fantasy-meets-sci-fi show focuses on the training of "Huntsmen" to protect civilisation from the monsters that go bump in the night. Almost all the combat-capable characters have complex weapons that can perform a variety of functions, including transformations into [[SwissArmyWeapon different types]] of weapons or weapon-combinations. Rooster Teeth {{lampshade|Hanging}}d this with a t-shirt showing off many of the weapons framed around the phrase "It's also a gun", highlighting that most weapons in the show also doubles as guns. Examples include:

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': This urban fantasy-meets-sci-fi show focuses on the training of "Huntsmen" to protect civilisation from the monsters that go bump in the night. Almost all the combat-capable characters have complex weapons that can perform a variety of functions, including transformations into [[SwissArmyWeapon different types]] of weapons or weapon-combinations. Rooster Teeth {{lampshade|Hanging}}d this with a t-shirt showing off a great deal of the series' weapons framed around the phrase "It's also a gun", essentially pointing out that most weapons in the show also doubles as a gun. Examples include:

** Weapons that masquerade as one weapon before transforming into something else: examples include ; Qrow's huge sword, which can tranform into a gun-sword and scythe; the Grimm Reaper's twin kama that can combine into a dual-bladed staff.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': This urban fantasy-meets-sci-fi show focuses on the training of "Huntsmen" to protect civilisation from the monsters that go bump in the night. Almost all of the combat-capable characters have weapons that masquerade as one thing, before [[MorphWeapon transforming]] into something else. Many of the weapons have [[SwissArmyWeapon two or three]] different kind of transformations. Rooster Teeth {{lampshade|Hanging}}d this with a t-shirt showing off a great deal of the series' weapons framed around the phrase "It's also a gun", essentially pointing out that most weapons in the show also doubles as a gun.
** Ruby custom-designed her weapon, which is carried, folded up, on her back. It unfolds into an enormous combat scythe that simultaneously functions as a high-impact sniper rifle. She is naturally gifted at speed and often uses the rifle's recoil as a speed tactic in battle; she also later adds a pull-action to allow the bladed edge to reverse. She's stated to be one of only two known capable scythe/rifle wielders (the other being her uncle and mentor, Qrow), as this weapon is stated to be the most dangerous weapon of all. Later the woman on whose weapon hers and Qrow's were based is introduced; the Grimm Reaper used twin kama witha bomerang and Gravity Dust function that could snare monsters and pull her and them together. They could also combine into a quarterstaff that was bladed at each end.
** Blake's swords transform into a gun that can be wielded at the end of a long ribbon. The weapon is therefore an elaborate sword-gun-flail combination. She's fought the villain, Roman, with this weapon, while he wields a walking stick that functions as both a staff weapon and a rifle.
** Yang's bracelets transform into [[PowerFist gauntlet mounted]] [[ShotgunsAreJustBetter shotguns]]. One of her opponents, Junior, has wielded a rocket launcher that fires [[MacrossMissileMassacre six rockets]] at once and which can also transform into a [[BatterUp giant bat]]. Another opponent, Neo, wielded a pretty sun parasol that can deflect Yang's shotgun blasts and which is really a cane sword in disguise. Yang later upgraded her prosthetic arm to contain another shotgun, before dismounting it to move to a detachable outer brace.
** Sun Wukong wields a staff that becomes two nunchaku, which are themselves ''four'' lever-action shotguns. Yes. He has gun-chucks.
** [[TheHeavy Cinder]] is capable of transforming Dust woven into her clothing into twin swords that further transform into bow and arrows. She can switch between weapons in mid-jump.

* The more severe examples of the {{BFS}}

Usually made from two methods: the NinjaPirateZombieRobot method (take a bunch of cool weapons and mash them together, such as many examples of MixAndMatchWeapon), and the UpToEleven method (crank up the weapon's abilities).

** ''Anime/GaoGaiGarFINAL'' manages to [[UpToEleven top that]], though. How? [[spoiler:The Goldion Crusher. An enormous energy hammer, made by [[CombiningMecha combining]] ''three'' spaceships, which are ''individually'' larger than [=GaoGaiGar=]. Its hammerhead is made of HardLight and [[GravityMaster localized gravitational shockwaves]], and [[SerialEscalation dwarfs the three ships' initial combined form in turn]]. It's so powerful that everyone aboard evacuated, except for Mikoto, who helped to operate it. It was built to [[CrazyPrepared assault enemies]] [[CallBack on the level of the Z-master]], and is so dangerous that it requires a two-key activation system, ''a la'' '''nuclear launches''', just to initiate the three ships' combination. And it was used to destroy an enemy mech that was essentially a sun.]]

** Not to be outdone, the heavy weapons in the sequel are pretty impressive: aside from [[StuffBlowingUp the triumphant return]] of the M-920 Cain, there's the Geth Spitfire ([[GatlingGood a rotary plasma gun]]), the Reaper Blackstar (basically the Blackstorm, [[UpToEleven but as built by]] [[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien the Reapers]]), and the M-560 Hydra (which shoots [[MacrossMissileMassacre eight rockets at once]]).

* An UpToEleven example: the [=FarSight=] from ''VideoGame/PerfectDark'', an alien laser rifle. OneHitKill, unlimited penetration and equipped with a scope that can ''see through walls and doors and automatically track people.'' You literally just have to sit back and pull the trigger. The only downside is that the firing rate is very slow.

* ''VideoGame/PowerStone 2'' had the so called '3-way shotgun' and its powered up version, the [[UpToEleven 5-way shotgun]]. [[RuleOfCool Of course.]]

** [[TheHeavy Cinder]] is capable of transforming part of her clothing into twin swords that further transform into bow and arrows. She can switch between weapons in mid-jump.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': This urban fantasy-meets-sci-fi show focuses on the training of "Huntsmen" to protect civilisation from the monsters that go bump in the night. Almost all of the combat-capable characters have weapons that masquerade as one thing, before [[MorphWeapon transforming]] into something else. Many of the weapons have [[SwissArmyWeapon two or three]] different kind of transformations.

** [[TheDragon Cinder]] is capable of transforming part of her clothing into twin swords that further transform into bow and arrows. She can switch between weapons in mid-jump.
** Rooster Teeth actually {{lampshade|Hanging}}d this with a t-shirt showing off a great deal of the series' weapons framed around the phrase "It's also a gun", essentially pointing out that virtually every weapon here also doubles as a gun.

** Ruby custom-designed her weapon, which is carried, folded up, on her back. It unfolds into an enormous combat scythe that simultaneously functions as a high-impact sniper rifle. She is naturally gifted at speed and often uses the rifle's recoil as a speed tactic in battle. She's stated to be one of only two known capable scythe/rifle wielders (the other being her uncle and mentor, Qrow), as this weapon is stated to be the most dangerous weapon of all. Later we meet the woman on whose weapon hers and Qrow's were based, and she adds a pull-action to hers to allow the bladed edge to reverse.

* Having traveled back in time from a [[FishOutOfTemporalWater far-distant future]], ComicBook/{{Cable}} has an arsenal of futuristic weapons at his disposal in modern times. As does ComicBook/{{Bishop}}.

** Frequent Thor villains The Wrecking Crew have construction-themed weapons gifted to them by Loki (or because one of them was mistaken for Loki DependingOnTheWriter):

* ''Literature/WizardsWarriorsAndYou'': Among the weapons the titular Warrior can choose in this series by Creator/RLStine, is the Triple Crossbow. The Triple Crossbow is shaped like an upside-down Mercedes symbol with 2 extra bolt slots pointing about 40 degrees away from the centre and can shoot bolts in 3 different directions as a mob control weapon. It should be an impractical weapon, but is actually one of the best choices for the Warrior and is a life-saver on many occasions.

** ''VideoGame/{{Bulletstorm}}'' does one better by giving you the Boneduster - a four-barreled shotgun. They also brought the Penetrator (a literal [[ThisIsADrill drill-gun]]) and the Flail-Gun (a gun that shoots two grenades chained together).

* The XADA Destroyer from ''VideoGame/{{Implosion}}'' shoots stationary spinning discs with lasers that can kill all but the strongest monsters who wander into their radius, but ignore your [=WarMech=]. It's so powerful its ammo is limited to three shots. Runner-up would be the Singularity Gun, which shoots ''black holes'' and is limited to 8 shots. Earning enough badges unloc* ''VideoGame/JetForceGemini'' gives each of your characters their own ''[[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill tri-rocket launcher]]'' [[DiscOneNuke relatively early in the game.]]

* Many weapons in ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'', though [[WarriorPrince Jarvan IV's]] lance takes the [[IncrediblyLamePun crown]]. It is a giant lance that can [[SwissArmyWeapon launch its head]] at a target point where it [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice falls from the sky]] and deploys a banner of [[TheFederation Demacia]], raising the courage of his allies. It can also extend to about the range of a frickin' arrow in order to impale all enemies in front of him and break their armor. If this connects with his flag, it [[GrapplingHookGun pulls him]] to the flag and flips the enemies in his path into the air.

* Inverted Weapons in ''Film/Tenet''. While actually being typical guns and other ordnance that have been Temporally Inverted, the unique visual of bullet holes reforming into undamaged walls, sending a bullet flying back into the gun, is as Impossible and Cool as it sounds. If the user is Inverted, they will of course percieve the gun functioning as normal, but non-Inverted characters are also shown to be able to catch Inverted bullets at several points. And that's not even getting into the mind-bending effects of Inverted injuries.

** [[BaldOfAwesome Ikkaku Madarame's]] [[SuperMode Bankai]] Ryūmon Hōzukimaru, which turns his [[EmpathicWeapon zanpakutou]] Hōzukimaru into that monstrosity of a weapon; all three blades give us one of the most creatively designed (and enormous) adaptations of a monk's spade seen in manga or anime.

** "Lightwhips" are introduced in the Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse; despite the name, they're not lightsaber-whips, they're electrified whips that can withstand a lightsaber's blade.Except for the ones that ''are'' lightsaber-whips. Confused yet?