What’s With All the Giant’s Swords in Video Games?
Oversized swords often featured in video games and other media take inspiration from claymores used by real-life medieval warriors. The claymore represents a category of giant swords, particularly the Scottish two-handed sword, and shares similarities with the German zweihander. These swords deviate from standard weaponry due to their substantial size, making them unwieldy even under optimal circumstances.
Despite their impracticality, claymores boast large, heavy blades that excel at dealing damage to armored opponents. The swords’ extended reach also offers some viability for mounted combat.
Nonetheless, these claymores ranked among the heaviest swords of their time, rendering them too unwieldy for most users. This characteristic has contributed to their formidable reputation, both in real-life history and in fictional portrayals. Notably, the manga “Berserk” played a pivotal role in popularizing giant swords and influenced subsequent works like “Final Fantasy” and “Black Clover.” In “Berserk,” the protagonist Guts wields a rusted giant sword, visually symbolizing his immense strength, possibly bordering on the superhuman.
5 Famous Giant Swords from Video Games
Fantasy swords, designed for dragon slayers, abound in the world of video games, particularly in titles that embrace classic fantasy elements. These swords’ imposing size and power equip them for the challenging task of defeating dragons, demons, and colossal foes such as the Greek titan Hyperion.
1. Cloud’s Buster Sword from Final Fantasy
Even if you’re not a Final Fantasy player, Cloud’s iconic Buster Sword stands out in a sea of video game weaponry. It’s not only Cloud’s signature weapon but also a mascot of the game due to his immense popularity.
In the world of Final Fantasy games, the Buster Sword typically serves as Cloud’s most well-rounded weapon, offering him a balanced stat boost. In real life, a replica of the Buster Sword is much lighter and doesn’t need to be dragged around. This replica is crafted from high-density foam and meticulously painted to give it a metallic appearance on both the blade and hilt, creating a visual illusion of weight without the actual heft.
Material: High-density foam
Length: 140 cm (55 inches)
2. Snow-Tombed Starsilver from Genshin Impact
Snow-Tombed Starsilver is a craftable sword obtainable by Genshin Impact players in the Dragonspine region. This sword is discovered in a vault at the heart of Dragonspine, once the thriving center of an ancient civilization. The civilization was buried in eternal snow due to a catastrophic event, and their princess bestowed this sword upon a hero from a distant land, hoping it would aid him in his quest for a solution.
Regrettably, the hero’s quest was in vain, and upon his return, he found the princess and her people had perished. In tribute, he placed the Snow-Tombed Starsilver in a vault, where it awaits discovery by the player character, another hero from a distant land.
Thankfully, acquiring a Snow-Tombed Starsilver replica doesn’t require embarking on a years-long journey. This lightweight PVC sword is designed for both cosplay and long-term display. The material used ensures greater durability, reducing concerns about denting compared to foam-only claymores.
Material: PVC
Length: 160 cm (63 inches)
3. Wolf’s Gravestone from Genshin Impact
While Snow-Tombed Starsilver serves a more niche role without a clearly defined best user, Genshin Impact fans widely regard the Wolf’s Gravestone as one of the game’s best claymores, particularly for Diluc. This distinction is due to its high base attack, attack-focused passives, and substats.
According to the game’s lore, the sword was once wielded by a knight dedicated to Boreas, the wolf spirit residing near Monstadt. Following Boreas’ passing, the knight left the sword as a tribute to become Boreas’ gravestone, giving the weapon its name.
Thankfully, acquiring a Wolf’s Gravestone replica doesn’t require any direwolf burials. It’s readily available online for those seeking a quick and thoughtful gift for a gamer friend. This sword is constructed from high-density foam, ensuring a lightweight and easily portable option suitable for cosplay.
Material: High-density foam
Length: 99.06 cm (39 inches)
4. Radahn’s Starscourge Greatsword from Elden Ring
In Elden Ring, when facing the formidable Starscourge Radahn, be prepared to confront his Starscourge Greatsword if you choose to challenge him. This massive sword exemplifies his reputation as one of the mightiest living demigods, capable of holding his ground against Malenia and forcing their confrontation into a deadlock.
Regrettably for players, obtaining this weapon in the game requires defeating Radahn, so you must be prepared to showcase your skills and strength. However, outside the game world, you won’t need a real-life sword forged in fire, as this replica of Radahn’s Starscourge Greatsword has you covered, whether for full video game cosplay or TikTok content.
Differing from most swords on this list, this replica is crafted from fiberglass with a metal core frame. This design choice enhances its durability and allows it to better mimic the in-game blade’s obsidian-like appearance, although it comes at the cost of added weight.
Material: Fiberglass and metal
Length: 140 cm (55 inches)
5. Artorias’ Greatsword from Dark Souls
The Greatsword of Artorias, despite its formidable appearance, has a rather poignant backstory. It is said to have originated from the soul of Sif, who guards the grave of the legendary Artorias. The game’s narrative explains that Artorias perished while protecting Sif, making it unfortunate that players are compelled to defeat Sif to advance in the game.
If you happen to have a furry friend for a cosplay companion, this replica of Artorias’ Greatsword is the perfect addition to your Dark Souls cosplay. The sword is more compact and slender, constructed from stainless steel, giving it an appearance that stays true to the original depiction. It features a black blade and a generously sized hilt for two-handed use.
Material: Stainless steel
Length: 140 cm (55 inches)
Conclusion
Faithfully recreating giant swords from video games in real life would make them nearly unusable for the average cosplayer due to their immense size and weight. If you lack the extraordinary strength required to wield them, these replica swords offer a practical and manageable alternative.