History Main / SinisterScimitar

** The game's second boss, Kleever, takes it UpToEleven. He doesn't just wield one of these, [[LivingWeapon he IS one of these]]. One with [[RedEyesTakeWarning glowing red eyes, to boot!]]

* In the ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' games, the [[AmazonianBeauty Gerudo]], denizens of the [[ShiftingSandLand desert]] (most notably from ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild Breath of the Wild]]''), are known to carry scimitars as weapons, and, in the latter game, Link can wield them himself, including the [[http://zelda.wikia.com/wiki/Scimitar_of_the_Seven Scimitar of the Seven]], a weapon wielded by the Gerudo Champion Urbosa. The Hyrulian Gerudo are never pure evil in and of themselves ([[BigBad Ganondorf]] notwithstanding, though he was never shown to wield a scimitar himself), though they do initially serve an antagonistic role in ''Ocarina of Time'' before Link earns their respect.

* Many of the [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters 108 stars]] of ''Literature/WaterMargin'' wield ''dao''. Though they're technically outlaws, and many [[AntiHero have questionable morals]], they are ultimately the good guys. The most famous dao-swordsmen of the bunch are Wu Song who [[DualWielding carries two]] along with his SimpleStaff, and Yang Zhi, who has his [[AncestralWeapon family heirloom saber]].

* The Calormenes in The ''Literature/ChroniclesOfNarnia''.
** Played even straighter when Eustace isn't even allowed to carry a scimitar even though he knows how to fight with it, but has to relearn how to fight with a Narnian longsword from scratch.

* In ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors'' there are several scimitar users, both heroic and villainous. In the (debatably) latter case, there would be Xiahou Dun pictured above and the much less debatable [[FatBastard Dong Zhuo]] who combined this with SerratedBladeOfPain before his weapon was changed. Inverted early on for the "[[NobleDemon main villain]]" Cao Cao, who has never used weapons beside his trusted straight Sword of Heaven.

* Wan Fu from the first ''VideoGame/SamuraiShodown'' game. Averted of course if you play as him.

* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'': In "His Silicon Soul," when Batman fights Android Batman in the Bat Cave, Batman tries a surprise attack with a straight sword. Android Batman then takes a curved sword out of the weapons cabinet next to him and they clash blades a few times.

Compare and Contrast KatanasAreJustBetter, which is the Far Eastern equivalent to this trope.

* In ''Literature/FengshenYanyi'', at one point tyrannical King Zhou fights against [[DefectorFromDecadence Huang Feihu]] and his generals wielding a large ''dao'',fitting his status as a cruel monarch. Another notable user is Yu Hua, who makes his second appearence wielding the "Blood-Curdling Divine Sword", a curved blade which can suddenly change size and whose blade is coated in a deadly poison which forcibly clots the blood of whoever it cuts.

* [[KidHero Hugh]] is a heroic example -- one of his [[WeaponOfChoice Weapon Of Choices]], the [[BowAndSwordInAccord Simon's Bowblade]], is a curved sword when in blade [[MixAndMatchWeapon form]].

* Some scimitars pop out as outstanding weapons in ''Manga/{{Gamaran}}'': in one case (a very long sword with a massive, curved tip) is noted that the heavy tip can deliver massive damage. The other one (a more Arabian-like shamshir or an indian Tulwar) is only saw but not elaborated upon much as the wielder is killed by [[spoiler: Muraku.]].
* ''Manga/HeroTales'': before getting his hands on the [[CoolSword Kenkaranbu]], the BigBad Keirou's weapon of choice is a massive, single-egded blade. Then there's [[ManipulativeBastard Shimei]], who's always seen with a curved sword around. [[spoiler: Said sword, named [[EvilWeapon Bansho Shimei]], is actually the ''real'' Shimei, the man holding it was merely a corpse animated by his magic.]]

* ''Series/KyoryuSentaiZyuranger'' did this with the very first SixthRanger, Burai the Dragon Ranger. He wasn't an agent of Bandora from the start, but hated his brother Geki for an obvious reason. Apparently, Bandora made him a Sword of Demons to put him under her control, but the sword was destroyed by [[spoiler: his tears when he was defeated by his brother]].

* [[spoiler: Gehrman]] in ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}}'' combines this with SinisterScythe, his signature weapon is the Burial Blade, which can transform between a scimitar and a scythe.

** Knight Lautrec of Carim is known to DualWield a pair of [[SinisterScythe shotels]], which have become a regular staple in the series. He's also quite the morally reprehensible guy, [[spoiler: murdering the Guardian of Firelink Shrine bonfire halfway through the game]].

* In the ''VideoGame/{{Drakensang}}'' series, wicked scimitar users include Dark Amazons, certain types of skeletons and orcs. Also [[spoiler: Tharkath and the other High Elves he turned against you during the final act of the Expansion.]]

* Again in ''Manga/HeroTales'', where [[spoiler: Housei can split his bladed bow in a couple of scimitars and use them to finish Shimei off]].

--->'''Victor''': I thought swords had to be straight.
--->'''[[DirtyOldWoman Mrs Cosmopolite]]''': Perhaps they start out straight and get bendy with use. A lot of things do.
** In ''Literature/{{Jingo}}'', 71-Hour Ahmed has a huge scimitar. Vimes considers it the opposite of a concealed weapon; the wielder is concealed ''by'' it. He actually does look like one of the bad guys at first, but he's really [[spoiler: an honest cop trying to stop the war, essentially Vimes's Klatchian counterpart.]] He ''is'' still considerably more ruthless than Vimes, as well as an Assassin, but he's not a bad guy.

[[folder: Music]]

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfDragoon'' when [[spoiler:Zieg takes back the Dragoon Spirit from Dart]], his sword becomes a sort of [[FlamingSword flaming scimitar]].

Probably born from the European view of the Crusades, where Christians fought scimitar-wielding Muslims[[note]]In actuality, Arabs and other predominantly Muslim peoples preferred the spear and straight sword as weapons for much of the Middle Ages, until curved swords became widespread under Turco-Mongol influence, while the Crusaders used curved or machete-like falchions alongside their own straight swords.[[/note]], or the Turkic raiders from the steppes such as the Tatars. Another possible influence could be cutlass-wielding pirates of 17th century Caribbean.

In Chinese {{Wuxia}} novels and movies, straight double edged swords ([[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jian jian]], usually the taiji type which is thinner) are also preferred over large single edged swords ([[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dao_%28sword%29 daidao]]), probably because it looks way [[RuleOfCool cooler]] to beat someone who has a bigger sword. Also, adding to the realism, they don't use designer weapons they make up, but RealLife weapons that are roughly the correct size. Some older novels prefer heroes wielding a SimpleStaff or a BladeOnAStick.

* ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'': The huge swordsman has a [[{{BFS}} Big Fucking Scimitar]] and the Thugs in the sequel brandish curved swords too.

** [[KnightOfCerebus Tao Pai Pai]] and [[DemonLordsAndArchDevils Dabura]] from ''Manga/DragonBall''. Also [[http://images.wikia.com/dragonball/images/e/e3/YamchaVsGoku.png Yamcha during his bandit career]]. This was [[http://images.wikia.com/dragonball/images/f/fc/Westwoodsword.jpg carried over in the]] live action adaptation ''Dragon Ball: The Magic Begins''.

** Played with in the [[Film/TheLordOfTheRings movies]], where Elves use a mix of straight cruciform swords and curved ones reminiscent of Japanese types. Might have precedent in ''Literature/TheHistoryOfMiddleEarth''. where one Elf atypically used a curved sword for RuleOfCool.

* ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'': The Orcs and human Southrons or Haradrim wield these, although straight Orc blades are also mentioned.
** Played with in the [[Film/TheLordOfTheRings movies]] where elves too use curved Japanese-like weapons. Might have precedent in ''Literature/TheHistoryOfMiddleEarth'' where one Elf atypically used a curved sword for RuleOfCool.
** Additionally, most [[EliteMook Uruk-Hai]] in the films use their signature straight-bladed [[https://i.stack.imgur.com/Q1jOi.jpg cleavers]], though the book still called them "scimitars" despite the inaccurate shape; that being said, they ''are'' still viable as [[MacheteMayhem over-sized machetes]].
* In the fantasy novel ''Literature/ShadowKeep'' TheDragon (a 10 foot tall humanoid demon) pulls a large scimitar from his throne in order to take on the main characters.

Probably born from the European view of the Crusades, where the Christians were fighting the scimitar-wielding Muslims (even though Arabs preferred the spear and straight sword as weapons, and the Crusaders were likely using falchions), or the Turkic raiders from the steppes such as the Tatars. Another possible influence could be cutlass-wielding pirates of 17th century Caribbean.

In Chinese {{Wuxia}} novels and movies, straight double edged swords ([[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jian jian]], usually the taiji type which is thinner) are also preferred over large single edged swords ([[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dao_%28sword%29 daidao]]), probably because it looks way [[RuleOfCool cooler]] to beat someone with a bigger sword. Also, adding to the realism, they don't use designer weapons they make up, but RealLife weapons that are roughly the correct size. Some older novels prefer heroes wielding a SimpleStaff or a BladeOnAStick.

* Many of the [[LoadsAndLoadsPfCharacters 108 stars]] of ''Literature/WaterMargin'' wield ''dao''. Though they're technically outlaws, and many [[AntiHero have questionable morals]], they are ultimately the good guys. The most famous dao-swordsmen of the bunch are Wu Song who [[DualWielding carries two]] along with his SimpleStaff, and Yang Zhi, who has his [[AncestralWeapon family heirloom saber]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Onimusha}}'' series:
** Wielded by RecurringBoss Marcellus in ''VideoGame/OnimushaWarlords'', essentially a reverse billhook.
** Also Nobunaga's OneWingedAngel form from the [[VideoGame/Onimusha3DemonSiege third game]] turns his demonic WhipSword into a massive, serrated scimitar with a hooked tip ominously named "Oni-Slayer Samonji".
* Count Borghen in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyII'' is a cowardly piece of work and a braggart, and his weapon of choice appears to be a cavalry saber.
* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfDragoon'' when [[spoiler:Zieg takes back the Dragoon Spirit from Dart]], his sword becomes a sort of [[FlamingSword flaming scimitar]].
* The Darkspawn in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'' after their redesign (though the Darkspawn Longsword in the original game did look a lot like a Ram Dao).
* In the ''VideoGame/{{Drakensang}}'' series, wicked scimitar users include Dark Amazons, certain types of skeletons and orcs. Also [[spoiler: Tharkath and the other High Elves he turned against you during the final act of the Expansion.]]

* Played straight with ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'''s Kratos who's still an AntiHero[=/=]VillainProtagonist and uses the curved (and multi-jagged) Blade of Chaos/Athena/Exile and, in the first game, Artemis' [[BigFancySword Sword]]. It's even shown in the comics that he used one when before meeting Ares. Also the [[LargeAndInCharge Persian King]] and tons of scimitar-swinging mooks.
* Skeleton Mooks in ''VideoGame/WarcraftIII'' are automatically armed with scimitars, no matter what. Also the AntiHero Illidan Stormrage [[DualWielding dual wields]] a contorted case of [[DoubleWeapon double scimitar]].

* In ''VideoGame/MetalSlug 2'' and ''4'' there are [[{{Qurac}} Arab-looking enemies]], berserkers, and pirates all armed with scimitars. [[ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks They can even toss it at you]].

* In ''VideoGame/BaldursGateDarkAlliance 2'' the monsters haunting the Hammer Hall dungeons combine this with FlamingSword.

* Throughout most of the ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' series, [[SummonMagic Odin's]] instant-kill swords are often curved blades, often wicked into a rough lightning-like shape. Also, the Dark Knight class tends to wield curved swords (Katanas too in some games) while its counterpart, the Paladin, tend to wield straight longswords.
* In ''VideoGame/DeadRising2'' one of the magicians, Roger, dual wields scimitars and are more than willing to wield them against you.
* The [[TheDragon Necromancer]] from ''VideoGame/CastleCrashers'' wields an elegant, curved sword.
* ''VideoGame/CliveBarkersUndying'' has the Trsanti militants attacking you with very large scimitars.
* [[TheDragon Kemsyt]] from ''Videogame/AgeOfMythology'' holds a comically large broad-tipped scimitar to go with his arabian looks. [[DirtyCoward Don't expect to see]] [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere it in action though]].
* In ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'', the Alik'r all wield scimitars, though they aren't evil, just somewhat suspicious in the eyes of the more close-minded Nords of Skyrim. Nazir, who's a member of the [[MurderInc Dark Brotherhood]] fits this to a tee however.
* In ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry2DiddysKongQuest'', there's an enemy croc named Kutlass. Three guesses for what he wields.
** The game's second boss, Kleever, takes it UpToEleven. He doesn't just wield one of these, [[LivingWeapon he IS one of these]]. One with [[RedEyesTakeWarning glowing red eyes, to boot!]]
* ''VideoGame/GauntletLegends'' features mountain grunts carrying [[DualWielding twin]] scimitars.
* ''VideoGame/{{Miitopia}}'' has a boss that is a big sentient scimitar (though the game refers it as the "Sword"), which bears a stolen Mii face. It is fought with a sentient shield. Later in the game, smaller versions of it named Doom Swords and Spirit Swords appear.

* In ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil6'', the J'Avo B.O.W. met in China are often armed with large Dao sabers and are AxCrazy goons.
* FinalBoss Ein from ''VideoGame/SevenSamurai20XX'' wields a large darkness-shrouded scimitar with a top-heavy tip and an ornated handguard called the "Sword of Algathion", which apparently he created thanks to the teachings of the book he carries around.

* Talon's weapon of choice from ''WesternAnimation/BatmanVsRobin'' is one he carries on his back.
* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'', during the "City of Stone" arc, Duncan duels [=MacBeth=] with a slightly curved falchion, which is quite noticeable, since so far in the flashback everyone used straight broadswords.

* One of the other forms of [[Manga/RaveMaster Ten Commandments]] is [[HolyHandGrenade Million Sun]] which is definetively positive.
* In ''Manga/InuYasha'' the Tessaiga blade is fang-shaped, hence looking a bit like a massive scimitar. Though in its de-powered state it's a katana.

* In ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' [[WarriorPrince Ling Yao's]] main weapon is a dadao.
* In ''Manga/HoushinEngi'' we have Mokutaku, whose Paope [[DualWielding Gokoken]] takes the form of a couple of scimitars.
* ''Manga/SazanEyes'': the [[AncestralWeapon Sword of Madurai]] used by its owner to seal [[TheDragon Benares]] in the past looks mostly like a scimitar. Later on it's used by [[TheHero Yakumo Fujii]].
* Again in ''Manga/HeroTales'', where [[spoiler: Housei can split his bladed bow in a couple of scimitars and use them to finish Shimei off]].
* ''Anime/DragonQuestYourStory'' has Lucas wielding the curved sword of his heroic father Pankraz from the beginning of his adventure to the very end, and is undeniably TheHero, but ''not'' TheChosenOne, who's his son (who gets to wield the Zenithian Sword).

* ''Film/RobinHoodPrinceOfThieves'' has Azeem, played by Creator/MorganFreeman. He is Robin's righthand man and quite noble. As a Muslim warrior, he has a scimitar as a weapon.
* "Film/TheThirteenthWarrior " has the protagonist, Ahmad, struggling with the Viking sword. It's too heavy for him as he keeps on stumbling with his swings, unable to cut a wooden stake which one of his Viking companions had easily chopped off. So he grinds the sword to resemble a scimitar, and proceeds to chop the stake effortlessly.

* In Literature/BelisariusSeries both sides are likely to use curved swords. Belisarius himself on one occasion is noted as using a "Persian sword" instead of a Roman spatha.
* ''Literature/{{Bloodbones}}'': your starting sword is non-descript, but the InfinityPlusOneSword required to end the game successfully is a large cutlass made of bone and enchanted with voodoo magic. Justified by the piratey setting.

* In the ''TabletopGame/{{Eberron}}'' setting, the elves of Valenar - who are ethically ambiguous and warlike, but not outright evil - favour a ''double-ended'' scimitar.

* One of the first characters you play as in ''VideoGame/EternalDarkness'' is an almost stereotypical Persian warrior, and naturally enough, wields a scimitar, and later a huge Ram Dao.

* The [[AlternateContinuity Prince(s)]] in the ''Franchise/PrinceOfPersia'' games tends to favor curved blades. The enemies also use them, but starting with ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaWarriorWithin'' are also armed with a wide variety of various weapons, ranging from knives to chakrams to axes and hammers.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Runescape}}'', scimitars are a popular weapon type, especially on free-to-play servers. Their popularity is attributed to the tradeoff of a faster speed for lower damage. Monkeys also seem to be fairly fond of them.

* ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara'': Some of Keiji Maeda's weapons are scimitaresque, but he's the nicest guy around.
* Blue Dragon from ''VideoGame/SwordsOfDestiny'' is a Da Dao sword used by our hero.
* Now, good scimitar users from ''VideoGame/{{Drakensang}}'' include good amazons, Tulamnid playable characters, Djinns and Tie'Shianna's palace guards. Nothing stops your playable character (whatever class is chosen) to learn how to fight with a scimitar/saber (though larger one are considered as "Two Handed Swords" instead).
* In ''VideoGame/GoldenAxe III'', Sarah Vane uses a scimitar and is one of the heroes.
* ''VideoGame/MountAndBlade'' features scimitars as an available weapon choice, primarily belonging to the Khergit and Sarranid factions--neither of which are any more or less evil than any other kingdom in the setting. The player themselves can elect to carry one, as its speed and cutting power make it well suited to wiping out lightly armored archer units.

* Contrasting the books, ''VideoGame/JoeDeversLoneWolf'' features curved one-handed swords for Lone Wolf to use as common weapons aside from the [[InfinityPlusOneSword Sommerswerd]], and this is even discounting the swords you can obtain from the [[OurOrcsAreDifferent Giaks]], which play this trope straight.
* ''VideoGame/BaldursGateII'' has the ''Spectral Brand'', an enchanted scimitar that starts out as a +4 weapon but can be upgraded to a +5 with a Skull of the Lich. While the weapon's description calls it an unholy abomination that should never have been unleashed on the Realms, the good or evil nature of your party (and your gameplay choices) determines whether it's truly sinister or not.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* ''LightNovel/VampireHunterD'': while D himself is an aversion, being an AntiHero at most and wielding an overly long two-handed saber, Rei from the first movie qualifes, being a villainous monster who wields a small curved sword he can unfold into a boomerang.
* Many high-level enemies in ''Manga/{{Yaiba}}'' are armed with large scimitars, namely the [[EliteMook Mushroom Soldier]], [[AttackOfThe50FootWhatever Gold]] and [[NobleDemon Gozuma]].
* Franchise/DragonBall:

* In ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' during her first appearence [[ChineseGirl Shampoo]] wielded a large Da Dao sword.
* In ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' we have Lilynette Gingerback, armed with a [[AwesomeButImpractical far too curved blade]]. Also, a rare heroic exception in Kyouraku Shunsui, whose zanpakutou becomes a [[DualWielding pair]] of scimitars in Shikai release.
* ''Manga/OnePiece'':
** The pirate Porchemy carries a huge scimitar around, and has a penchant for ''scalping his victims [[FamilyUnfriendlyViolence alive]]''.
** Cutlasses are often found for {{Mooks}} on both Pirates and Marines, although higher-ranking marines usually tend to go for Katanas, with the exception of a GeneralRipper by the name of Onigumo who wields eight of them when using his powers.

* The Apostle Nosferatu Zodd from ''{{Manga/Berserk}}'' never holds on a specific WeaponOfChoice, but everytime he shows up with a new sword, chances are he'll be using a curved, cleaver-like sword (and at least once, a Ram-dhao). And in an even better example, [[BigBad Griffith]] wielded a curved saber, contrasting Guts' [[BigFuckingSword humongous straight sword]].
* Not exactly a sword, but [[SmugSnake Kabuto's kunai]] in ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' is curved, unlike those of other ninjas. And unlike other ninjas, [[TheMole he's evil]].
** Its also the preferred weapon of Zabuza Mamochi when he doesn't have his [[{{BFS}} Kubikiribocho]].
* In ''Manga/RaveMaster'' the Sacrifar sword is the second most powerful form of Ten Commandments but is also the darkest and most dangerous to both wielder and enemy. Fittingly enough. [[BigBad Lucia Raregrove]] use Sacrifar in combat against Haru and later reforges his Decalogue (previously straght-bladed) into a single-edged falchion-like sword. Also his Dark Blue Crinsom manifests as a couple of scimitars, opposed to Haru's one, which are longswords.

* Some scimitars pop out as outstanding weapons in ''Manga/{{Gamaran}}'': in one case (a very long sword with a massive, curved tip) is noted that the heavy tip can deliver massive damage. The other one (a more Arabian-like shamshir or an indian Tulwar) is only saw but not elaborated upon much as the wielder is killed by [[spoiler: Muraku.]].
* ''Manga/HeroTales'': before getting his hands on the [[CoolSword Kenkaranbu]], the BigBad Keirou's weapon of choice is a massive, single-egded blade. Then there's [[ManipulativeBastard Shimei]], who's always seen with a curved sword around. [[spoiler: Said sword, named [[EvilWeapon Bansho Shimei]], is actually the ''real'' Shimei, the man holding it was merely a corpse animated by his magic.]]
* In ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'', the Minaret Gundam has the Minaret Scimitar as its chief weapon. For an added bonus, its DubNameChange is "Scimitar Gundam".

* There is an obscure Comicbook/ImmortalIronFist villain called Scimitar. He's TheDragon to Master Kahn, an evil sorceror. Guess what his weapon is.

* ''Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon'':
** ''WesternAnimation/{{Peter Pan}}'': The Turk, one of Captain Hook’s pirates, is armed with a huge scimitar. This doesn’t prevent him from carrying it in his teeth, though.
** ''WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}}'': The guards chasing the title hero wield scimitars. Jafar also conjures up a wall of them to hold off Aladdin for a moment during the final battle, one of which Aladdin himself grabs and uses to attack Jafar, even stabbing him with it after Jafar [[ScaledUp turns into a giant cobra]].
** ''WesternAnimation/Fantasia2000'': The wicked Jack-In-the-Box wields a scimitar against the Tin Soldier. Ironically, because of the curved blade itself he ends up slipping and [[DisneyVillainDeath falling into]] [[KillItWithFire a hot stove head-first]].

* ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'': The huge swordsman has a [[{{BFS}} Big Fucking Scimitar]] and the Thugs in the sequel brandish curved swords too.
* ''Film/StarTrekNemesis'': Not a literal sword, but the BigBad commands a warbird called ''Scimitar''. It proves to be more than a match for the ''Enterprise''.

* ''Film/Mulan2020'', the Rouran's army seems to mostly employ curved swords with barbed ridges, while the Chinese army is mostly using straight swords and spears. Best seen in the final duel between Mulan (holding a jian) and a Bori Kahn (using the above-descripted sword).

* ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'': The Orcs and human Southrons or Haradrim wield these, although straight Orc blades are also mentioned.
** Played with in the [[Film/TheLordOfTheRings movies]] where elves too use curved Japanese-like weapons. Might have precedent in ''Literature/TheHistoryOfMiddleEarth'' where one Elf atypically used a curved sword for RuleOfCool.
** Additionally, most [[EliteMook Uruk-Hai]] in the films use their signature straight-bladed [[https://i.stack.imgur.com/Q1jOi.jpg cleavers]], though the book still called them "scimitars" despite the inaccurate shape; that being said, they ''are'' still viable as [[MacheteMayhem over-sized machetes]].

* The Calormenes in The ''Literature/ChroniclesOfNarnia''.
** Played even straighter when Eustace isn't even allowed to carry a scimitar even though he knows how to fight with it, but has to relearn how to fight with a Narnian longsword from scratch.
* In the fantasy novel ''Literature/ShadowKeep'' TheDragon (a 10 foot tall humanoid demon) pulls a large scimitar from his throne in order to take on the main characters.
* Averted by Drizzt Do'Urden, a ''Literature/ForgottenRealms'' character: he is a good guy, [[DualWielding fighting with two scimitars]]; many bad guys tend to use "straight" blades.
* A very common trope in the ''Literature/FightingFantasy'' series, where the hero usually gets a broadsword or a longsword and scimitars are often employed by enemies, such as the [[Literature/IslandOfTheLizardKing Lizard King]], [[Literature/TheCitadelOfChaos Balthus Dire]] and the [[Literature/NightDragon High Priest of the Night Dragon's cult]]. Tellingly enough, the only gamebook where you start off with a scimitar is ''Literature/SeasOfBlood'', in which you play as a VillainProtagonist.

* Orcs and Goblins in ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasy'' (and by extension in the spin-off board game ''TabletopGame/HeroQuest'') indulge in scimitars. Also the [[TheUndead Tomb Kings armies]], which at least have a Egyptian-like setting. Dark Elves also favour these weapons.

* An EliteMook from ''Manga/KenichiTheMightiestDisciple'' wields one.

* Throughout most of the ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' series, [[SummonMagic Odin's]] instant-kill swords are often curved blades, often wicked into a rough lightning-like shape.

Probably born from the European view of the Crusades, where the Christians were fighting the scimitar-wielding Muslims (even though Arabs preferred the spear and straight sword as weapons), or the Turkic raiders from the steppes such as the Tatars. Another possible influence could be cutlass-wielding pirates of 17th century Caribbean.

Probably born from the European view of the Crusades, where the Christians were fighting the scimitar-wielding Muslims (even though Arabs preferred the spear and straight sword as weapons), or the Turkic raiders from the steppes such as the Tatars. Another possible influence could be cutlass-wielding pirates of 17th century Carribbean.

* Cinder in ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' is a villain and one of the most personally invested in taking down RWBY. While she can create and use a variety of weapons, she's been seen often using a scimitar to fight, such as at Haven against Jaune, and [[spoiler:in Atlas she dual wields a pair while battling Penny and Winter]].