History Main / SwordLines

[[folder:Anime and manga]]

** [VideoGame/MusouStars Warriors All-Stars] uses colored sword lines for all swinging attacks as well, even for non-bladed weapons such as fists and staffs. The color of the sword lines vary depending on the character; for example Lu Bu's attacks are accompanied by dark red sword lines to reflect his attire and [[RedandBlackandEvilAllOver personality]]. Sword lines in this game can also change color depending if the player character receives an elemental buff or not.

** [[VideoGame/MusouStars Warriors All-Stars] uses colored sword lines for all swinging attacks as well, even for non-bladed weapons such as fists and staffs. The color of the sword lines vary depending on the character; for example Lu Bu's attacks are accompanied by dark red sword lines to reflect his attire and [[RedandBlackandEvilAllOver personality]]. Sword lines in this game can also change color depending if the player character receives an elemental buff or not.

** VideoGame/MusouStars started to add colored sword lines to all swinging attacks as well, even for non-bladed weapons such as fists and staffs. The color of the sword lines vary depending on the character; for example Lu Bu's attacks are accompanied by dark red sword lines to reflect his attire and [[RedandBlackandEvilAllOver personality]]. Sword lines in this game can also change color depending if the player character receives an elemental buff or not.

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

** ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The Wind Waker]]'' uses SwordLines. {{Cel-Shaded}} ones, which look exactly like on the concept-art.

* The Omniwrenches in ''Franchise/RatchetAndClank'' have this when swung. They notably evolve in ''[[RatchetAndClankUpYourArsenal Up Your Arsenal]]'' as the player upgrades their armour, gradually becoming more fire-like to indicate increased damage.

** In the [[VideoGame/BerserkandtheBandoftheHawk Berserk collaboration title]], all swinging-type attacks are accompanied with white-ish sword lines. Some characters, like Guts, will have their attacks accompanied by a bloody sword trail instead.

Note that Sword Lines aren't just limited to swords, or even bladed weapons for that matter. Axes, sabres, staffs, clubs, punches, kicks, and even arrows have a high tendency to leave behind conspicuous lines which portray their path. Somewhat justified with {{Laser Blade}}s.

** The 9th main iteration, Dynasty Warriors 9, took a different approach and added sword lines that weren't always colored. The lines themselves are depicted by the air becoming distorted following the swing of the weapon, which depicts the weapon's trail in a more realistic manner. Colored sword lines are still present when the attack is enhanced by an element, and also in several characters' Musou attacks.

* In the VideoGame/DynastyWarriors franchise, several games implement colored sword lines to visually depict the hitbox of each attack, as well as for visual effect. In certain games, they also serve to visualize what kind of buff/status effect the player character is currently using.

** The 9th main iteration, Dynasty Warriors 9, took a different approach and added sword lines that weren't actually colored. The lines themselves are depicted by the air becoming distorted following the swing of the weapon, which depicts the weapon's path in a more realistic manner. Colored sword lines are still present in the Musou attacks though.

** At first it looks like [[http://mspaintadventures.com/?s=6&p=003482 Rose's knitting needles]] have done this, but [[SubvertedTrope it's actually purple yarn]].
** Jack however is fond of sword lines, often doubling as TheHitFlash.

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'', taking inspiration from ''Anime/SamuraiChamploo'', has this in the fight between Zuko and Jet, which led some to believe that Zuko was using blue fire.

[[folder:Film]]
* [[Film/VForVendetta V]]'s daggers do this in slow-motion.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* This happens a lot in {{Tokusatsu}}.
[[/folder]]

* In the VideoGame/DynastyWarriors franchise, several games implement colored sword lines to visually depict the hitbox of each attack as well as for visual effect.
** In the [[VideoGame/BerserkandtheBandoftheHawk Berserk collaboration title]], all swinging-type attacks are accompanied with white-ish sword lines. Some characters, like Guts, will have their attacks accompanied by a sword trail of blood instead.
** VideoGame/SamuraiWarriors started doing this in the 4th main iteration to visualize hitboxes, adding dark-purple sword trails to all normal attacks, even for non-bladed weapons. The sword lines are also sometimes accompanied with various elemental effects, to indicate which element is being applied in that particular attack.

** VideoGame/MusouStars started to add colored sword lines to all character's attacks as well, even for non-bladed weapons such as fists and staffs. The color of the sword lines vary depending on the character; for example Lu Bu's attacks are accompanied by dark red sword lines to reflect his attire and [[RedandBlackandEvilAllOver personality]].

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/4f39814c06b61245e62d5783bfbb4842.jpg]]

* In ''MapleStory'', many of the classes that rely on swinging attacks will have sword lines of varying colors. Maxing out a Weapon Mastery skill changes the colour of the character's SwordLines to red for that kind of weapon.

* In ''MapleStory'', many skills used by the bladed classes have sword lines of varying colors. Maxing out a Weapon Mastery skill changes the colour of the character's SwordLines to red for that kind of weapon.

* In ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'', these are used to differentiate between certain characters from Fire Emblem. Marth's sword lines glow more at the tip to show where his sword's power is. In contrast, Lucina's sword lines are evenly glowy, and Roy's are glowy at the base.

* The page image above: In ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' and ''LightNovel/FateZero'', Saber's sword has the special property "Invisible Air" that warps the air around it, making it invisible, so it can only be seen by the SwordLines it makes.

* Same for bladed weapons in ''VideoGame/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]].

** Roy and Marth's sword trails specifically are important for visualizing their tipper and non-tipper hitboxes, respectively. Marth does more damage closer to the tip of his blade, signified by the intensity of his blue sword lines, which are brightest at the tip. Whereas Roy does more damage closer to the hilt of his blade, signified by the intensity of his orange sword lines, which are brightest near the hilt.

Note that Sword Lines aren't just limited to swords. Axes, sabres, staffs, clubs and even arrows have a high tendency to leave behind conspicuous lines which portray their path. Somewhat justified with {{Laser Blade}}s.

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

* In ''MapleStory'', maxing out a Weapon Mastery skill changes the colour of the character's SwordLines to red for that kind of weapon.

* In the VideoGame/DynastyWarriors franchise, several games implement colored sword lines to visually depict the hitbox of each attack.

** VideoGame/MusouStars started to add light-blue slashing effects to all characters as well.

** VideoGame/SamuraiWarriors started doing this in the 4th main iteration, adding dark-purple sword trails to all normal attacks. The sword lines can also be accompanied with various elemental visuals, to indicate which elemental affect is being applied in that particular attack.

** VideoGame/MusouStars started to also add light-blue slashing effects to all characters as well.

* ''BattleForWesnoth'' uses these.

* The ''SoulSeries'' has 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.