History Main / SwordOfPlotAdvancement

* In VideoGame/{{Warframe}}, there exists a whopping three different examples. They're also pretty handy weapons to keep around in their own right, too, and [[AntiFrustrationFeatures you can always get them back from Simaris if you accidentally sell them]].
** During the course of ''The Deadlock Protocol'', you are tasked to construct the [[DeadlyDisc Xoris glaive]] to fight off Parvos Granum's specters, thanks to its ability to disrupt specters and bypass the Protea specter's [[TimeMaster rewind ability]]. It's stats are a step up from most early-mid game weapons, making it a nice crutch to take on the Star Chart with, and it's gimmick of infinite combo duration makes it hold its own up to higher levels. Oh, and [[GameplayAndStoryIntegration it has the ability to extend the time you get in the Granum Void and kill the errant specters therein]] after the quest.
** After ''[[WhamEpisode The Sacrifice]]'', [[spoiler: The Man In The Wall leads you to the Lotus's old hideout, where you end up seeing a vision of Ballas, [[WeCanRebuildHim with some new Sentient parts grafted on]], who bemoans his fate while secretly constructing [[WeaponOfXSlaying the blueprint for Paracesis]], and turning to the Operator, claiming that it's "the only way your war can end".]] After building it and ranking it up, it turns out to have the ability to destroy [[AdaptiveAbility Sentient resistances]] and [[WeaponOfXSlaying deal extra damage to them]]. Handy, and perfect the incoming New War, right? As it turns out, [[spoiler: [[SubvertedTrope it's Ballas's]] SwordOfPlotAdvancement as well, with him [[UnwittingPawn tricking you into building it for him]], taking it back and using it to [[DisneyDeath kill you and Natah before sending them into the Void]]. And after some alternate timeline shenanigans, it's a DoubleSubversion, as Ordis rebuilds the original for you, and you take it to finally put down Ballas for good]].
** During ''The New War'', [[spoiler: the Drifter [[EnemyMine goes to Hunhow to request aid to save Natah]], and after a good case of CallingTheOldManOut, Hunhow gifts him with the Nataruk, a Sentient bow with the ability to put down [[AnimalisticAbomination the Archons]]. Said bow [[ActionCommands has a timed shot mechanic]] shared by only one other bow[[note]] The Cinta, a bow introduced in ''The Duviri Paradox'', which came out post New War[[/note]], which lets it deal a guaranteed CriticalHit]]. You get to keep it after the quest, and modding it properly lets it cut through {{Mooks}} like a hot knife through butter.

** ''Film/StarWarsEpisodeIVANewHope'': Receiving his father's lightsaber is part of Luke's CallToAdventure near the end of act 1.
** ''Film/StarWarsEpisodeVIITheForceAwakens'': Rey is actually drawn to the saber and has an intense vision when she first touches it.

** ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles1'': The Monado. Almost everything in the game's plot is done in to, by, or in response to it. It's also the only weapon [[TheHero Shulk]] can use once he obtains it, and its strength scales with his level to keep it from ever becoming obsolete. It turns out to be [[spoiler:Alvis' sword (or perhaps Alvis himself ''is'' the sword), and unlocking the true power of the Monado grants the ability to reshape reality. It was originally used to create the universe, and Shulk uses it to defeat Zanza]].

** ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIV'' has Cecil receive the Legend sword (or Mythgraven Blade in the remake) when he becomes a Paladin. Though it can eventually be reforged into the Excalibur, the [[InfinityMinusOneSword second]]-[[PenultimateWeapon best]] (or third, depending on the version) sword in the game.

* ''Manga/TalesOfWeddingRings'': Late in the story, Satou and his allies head to the Empire's capital to obtain the Sword of the Ring King from the imperial mythology storehouse, believing that this legendary weapon can give them an edge in their battle against the [[BigBad Abyss King]]. [[spoiler:In a subversion, the sword turns out to be completely ordinary, nonmagical, and rusted to the point of uselessness.]]

%%* ''Film/{{Thor}}'': Mjölnir also serves this purpose.
%%* ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'': Stormbreaker replaces Mjölnir as [[spoiler:Thor needs it to kill Thanos]].