History Main / SwordLines

* The Beam Katanas from ''NoMoreHeroes''. But then, even Shinobu's sword leaves trails, and it's metal.

* Sometimes used for rather strange things, like kicks and punches in ''{{Oni}}'', or snowboarding trick {{Combos}} in ''1080''.

* ''SamuraiShodown'' goes here as well. Charlotte's version with her rapier treads into RazorWind territory, at least in the first games: the 'lines' drawn by her sword remain lethal even well past when they were 'drawn' by the tip of her sword.

* ''SamuraiChamploo'' pulls this off quite nicely, since its highly stylized look makes them appears like streaks of lightning.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime'' and ''TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'' both have Link's swords leaving a trail that persist for a second or two after it has been swung.

* Sword Lines are a constant in ''NinjaGaiden''.

* In ''{{Bone}}'', the Hooded One's scythe leaves a visible arc behind it when it's swung.
* Essentially, almost every time someone swings a blade in Western comics, you can expect this. Examples are numerous and include, but are certainly not limited to, {{Wolverine}} claw swipes or when ComicBook/ConanTheBarbarian swings his sword in the comic versions.

* Just about every weapon from the ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'' series has this, but the main offenders are the Blades Of Chaos/Athena/Exile, who start out as just having a small yellow-y trail a la the first kind, then get more spectacular (and [[TurnsRed more red]]) as they gain levels. By the final form, you're tossing around a rock concert's worth of glowy-ness. Sort of {{Justified|Trope}}, as all three kinds of blades are magic and are shown to be wreathed in magical flame-energy stuff when being used.

* Sword Lines are a graphical option in ''NeverwinterNights2''.

** In some games when Link is at full health, he can fire a beam from his sword that looks like a Sword Line.

* Used in the [[TheFilmOfTheBook film adaptations]] of ''KaraNoKyoukai'' to illustrate the speed of the protagonist's knife attacks, but done sparingly, unlike AudibleSharpness.

* ''DevilMayCry''. The lines are usually transparent, but visible (Force Edge specifically disrupts the air when swung). And then there's Devil Trigger.

** Sephiroth has been training with ''FateStayNight''[='s=] Assassin, obviously.

* Used in [[http://www.sluggy.com/comics/archives/daily/041013 this]] ''SluggyFreelance'' strip. Though, in this case, they might simply be blood running off the blade.

* Same for bladed weapons in ''SuperSmashBros. Melee'' and ''Brawl''. The 3DS and Wii U games do this for ''all'' swinging-type attacks, which is intended to [[HitboxDissonance make their effective ranges obvious]].

* ''{{Warcraft}} III'' has very visible sword lines for heroes wielding any variety of non-magic weapon, as well as arrow lines for Night Elf archers.
* In ''WorldOfWarcraft'' many special attacks do this. ([[http://www.wowhead.com/spell=6572 Revenge]], for example.)
* Especially prevalent in ''DissidiaFinalFantasy'', where pretty much every character with a sword gets this effect one way or another. Special mention goes to the aforementioned Sephiroth, who seemingly produces multiple sword strikes from '''one swipe''' of his enormous sword.

* Some melee weapons in VideoGame/Left4Dead2 do this, so that the animation is noticeable to the player while realistically fast.

* In ''RagnarokOnline'', the Sorcerer skill Striking makes your weapon do this with red lines.

* In AmericanMcGeesAlice, the Vorpal Blade leaves noticeable trail whenever it moves, even if Alice as much as runs with it.

* The Gold Tracer in ''DarkSouls'' is the only weapon in the game with this sort of effect. This is intended, as it's used mesmerize the opponent as you stab them with the more discrete and venomous Dark Silver Tracer.

* In ''FinalFantasyVII'', Sephiroth embodies this to a T. Even when he hasn't even swung it in a certain place, LINES STILL APPEAR. Now THAT is skill. The same thing goes for his attacks in ''Dissidia: Final Fantasy'', primarily his Octaslash.

Luminescent lines or gradients added by artists and animators to illustrate the speed and movement of a really fast swipe of a weapon. Only appearing occasionally in 2D games, they have become virtually ubiquitous during the 3D era. Usually comes in three primary varieties:
* A thin line added to the very tip of the blade. Most commonly used on lightweight, slender swords such as the katana or the jian.
* A wide encompassing arc that follows the entire blade. Often seen on heavy broadswords and {{BFS}}es.
* A mixture of the two: Multiple lines that perpendicularly follow the blade swing.

* The Cyborg Ninja's High Frequency Blade in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' (and VideoGame/MetalGearAcid) tend to leave a Type-2 trail.

* The ''SoulSeries'' has Type-2 trails that activate from the character's attacking weapon or limb, meaning punches, kicks, headbutts and other body attacks can leave trails too. The trail gains electric sparks during Guard Break attacks and starts burning during Unblockable attacks. Each character leaves a uniquely coloured trail, and this colour is customisable in Soulcalibur 5.

* Same for bladed weapons in ''SuperSmashBros. Melee'' and ''Brawl''. The 3DS and Wii U games do this for ''all'' swinging-type attacks, which is intended to make their effective ranges obvious.

* ''SengokuBasara'' does this all the time, making for very flashy and colorful combat. Sometimes more justified than others.

* Same for bladed weapons in ''SuperSmashBros. Melee'' and ''Brawl''.

* Zero in the ''MegaManX'' and ''MegaManZero'' series. His [[LaserBlade Z-Saber]] swings drew bright green arcs or sometimes exploded.

* ''Karas'' makes full use of the trail effect to maximum potential.

* In ''FateStayNight'', Saber's sword Invisible Air has a special property that warps the air around it, making it invisible, so it can only be seen by the SwordLines it makes. See the image above.
** Assassin's special ability, Tsubame Gaeshi, slices three times with one slash, making a highly stylized series of sword lines.

[[quoteright:194:[[FateStayNight http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/swordlines2.png]]]]

A form of MotionBlur. Compare with SwordSparks. See also RazorWind, in which the lines are turned into a deadly ranged attack. For ''guns'' that have this effect, see EveryBulletIsATracer. For when ''only'' the sword lines are shown in a possible GoryDiscretionShot, see TheHitFlash.

* [[VForVendetta V]]'s daggers do this in slow-motion.