Could You Wield These?
Imaginative science fiction and fantasy worlds capture people’s imaginations in a variety of ways. One of them is arming a hero or villain with an appropriately cool device.
Excalibur
This blade from the King Arthur myth is the stuff of legends. There’s a reason why a great film from the 1980s took it as its title.
Excalibur
Of course, part of what makes Excalibur so special is the myth of the sword in the stone. A great origin story is what helps make a true legend.
Anduril
One of many items on this list that hails from Middle-Earth, Anduril has particular importance. This impressive sword, reforged from the fragments of Narsil, features a hilt that exudes a regal air.
Peter Macdiarmid, Getty Images
Anduril
The blade is, of course, wielded by the character of Aragorn. The sword is specifically linked to his journey to becoming the king.
Peter Macdiarmid, Getty Images
The Master Sword
The Legend of Zelda game franchise has many associations over its long history. You may think of Link, or you might come to The Master Sword.
The Master Sword
One of its key features is exerting energy blasts, which always made for fun video gameplay. This also sets it apart from other swords in the medium.
Ragnarok
Final Fantasy has had a lot of longevity as a franchise due to the consistently strong design work. One of these elements is the Ragnarok sword, which first appeared in the third installment.
FINAL FANTASY XVI how to obtain ragnarok sword, JIGSAW2.0
Ragnarok
The sword is also an interesting example of East meets West, taking influence from Norse mythology. The object still appears in the most recent games of the franchise.
RAGNAROK from Final Fantasy VII (ff7 EVA Foam sword #15) DIY, Prop Slayer Studio
Dragon Slayer
Anime and manga distinguish themselves through outlandishness that Western media is often afraid to dabble in. The classic franchise Berserk had the Dragon Slayer to exemplify this.
Berserk 2016 Official Trailer, IGN
Dragon Slayer
Wielded by the protagonist, Guts, this device helps him fend off a number of staggering foes. The title of it alludes to some of those beasts.
Berserk 2016 Official Trailer, IGN
The Trident Of Poseidon
The character of Aquaman has been through many iterations, like the goofy spandex-wearing superhero or the bare-chested warrior of Atlantis. The Trident of Poseidon has gone about establishing the image of the latter.
Unknown artistUnknown artist, Wikimedia Commons
The Trident Of Poseidon
In his earliest incarnation, Aquaman’s power was represented by controlling fish. Having the trident symbolized him becoming a more traditionally masculine superhero.
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom | Trailer, DC
The Weirding Module
The 1984 film adaptation of Dune had to make many controversial changes to Frank Herbert’s text. One of them was the creation of the Weirding Module, which figured as a firing function for the Fremen.
DUNE - Trailer for David Lynch's 1984 adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel, FlamedropProductions
The Weirding Module
The creation of The Weirding Module is one of the many strange design elements that make David Lynch’s film such a pleasure. Even the name rolls off the tongue in a way that makes you smile.
DUNE - Trailer for David Lynch's 1984 adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel, FlamedropProductions
The Glaive
The 80s saw a wave of Star Wars rip-offs that combined fantasy and science fiction to great effect. One of these was Krull, directed by the overqualified Peter Yates.
Retrieving the Glaive | Krull (1983) | Now Scaring, NOW SCARING
The Glaive
One of the things that set Krull apart from all these other rip-offs was the design of The Glaive. The look of it was so instantly iconic, that most of the film’s marketing was based around it.
Retrieving the Glaive | Krull (1983) | Now Scaring, NOW SCARING
The Boltgun
The Warhammer 40,000 franchise, which is best known for tabletop games, made a name for itself with gaudy character design. Nothing exemplifies that better than what the Space Marines carried into conflict.
Warhammer 40K: Boltgun Review, IGN
The Boltgun
Again, this device is perfect for representing the exaggerated universe of that iconic tabletop game. It’s a reason why it connected with so many people worldwide.
Warhammer 40K: Boltgun Review, IGN
Plasma Caster
If you’re in one of the Predator movies, and the three laser dots appear on you, you’re screwed. But it’s fun to see it appear on someone else in one of those action thrillers.
The Predator | Official Trailer [HD] | 20th Century FOX, 20th Century Studios
Plasma Caster
The dots emanate from the Predator’s shoulder-mounted laser cannon, which is called the plasma caster. It got a new spin, blowing up xenomorphs in the long-awaited Alien vs Predator.
The Predator | Official Trailer [HD] | 20th Century FOX, 20th Century Studios
Pulse Rifle
Aliens brought an exciting new spin to what was already a science fiction horror classic by adding a ton of action. Of course, the Marines who filled up the film had to have some high-tech goodies to keep the adrenaline going.
Aliens - How to use a Pulse Rifle, casio
Pulse Rifle
The Marines needed these fast-firing devices, being up against the sneaky xenomorphs. Even then, many of them didn’t make it out alive!
Aliens - How to use a Pulse Rifle, casio
Klingon Batleth
You can practically hear the iconic music when you see this blade, but don’t get it confused with the classic Star Trek episode of “Arena”. This actually first appeared on The Next Generation.
Klingon Bat'leth (Star Trek) - MAN AT ARMS, AWE me
Klingon Batleth
What we know about the Klingons is actually largely derived from The Next Generation onwards, as characters like Worf fleshed out the antagonists in great fashion. You can thank future Battlestar Galactica creator Ronald D Moore for that.
Making a Klingon Bat'leth from Star Trek, MattMakes
The Noisy Cricket
Men in Black was a surprise smash in the summer of 1997 for several reasons, one of which was the excellent world-building. The Noisy Cricket device was among the film’s gizmos that caught the audience’s attention.
MEN IN BLACK [1997] - Official Trailer (HD), Sony Pictures Entertainment
The Noisy Cricket
If you look at the original poster for Men in Black, it makes a point of emphasizing the gigantic devices stars Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones were carrying. They left a small surprise for the film itself.
MEN IN BLACK [1997] - Official Trailer (HD), Sony Pictures Entertainment
Maleficent’s Staff
A lot of objects associated with men have been on this list, so it’s nice to mention something carried by a female villain. This is the case with Disney baddie Maleficent’s staff.
Maleficent’s Staff
The staff works as both a tool for the villain’s spells and a symbol of her strength. The staff’s elegance, tied to her fairy origins, blends beauty with menace, making it a striking extension of the Maleficent persona.
MALEFICENT All Movie Clips (2014), Entertainment Access
Dagger Of Time
Prince of Persia was one of the most successful video game franchises of recent memory due to its inventiveness. The Dagger of Time exemplified this in a very fun fashion for players.
Prince Of Persia: The Dagger Of Time (Ubisoft), VR Trailers & Clips
Dagger Of Time
In the realm of Persia, filled with ancient artifacts, the dagger stands out due to its power to manipulate time. When wielded by the titular Prince, it grants the ability to rewind time, offering a chance to fix any errors.
Gandalf’s Staff
“You shall not pass!” would be nothing without Gandalf’s staff doing the work. Or how it functioned as a sword of sorts in his wizard duel with Saurman.
Gandalf’s Staff
With the ability to illuminate dark paths and cast powerful spells, it’s truly a jack of all trades. It does a good job of complementing Gandalf’s wisdom and strength.
Mjolnir
Most Marvel heroes shoot beams or fireballs, but Thor has the distinction of holding a heavy-duty object in his hands. This, of course, is the hammer referred to as Mjolnir.
Thor: The Dark World teaser trailer UK -- Official Marvel | HD, Marvel UK
Mjolnir
Only the strongest can wield this hammer, and Thor is up to the task. Probably the coolest part is that it can control lightning.
Thor: The Dark World teaser trailer UK -- Official Marvel | HD, Marvel UK
The One Ring
The One Ring stands out as one of the most iconic fantasy creations ever. Its deceptive simplicity hides the immense power it wields, containing the dark essence of Sauron.
The One Ring
The ring’s ability to render its wearer invisible adds a thrilling dimension. Yet, its corrupting influence serves as a chilling reminder of how power can consume anyone.
Peter J. Yost, Wikimedia Commons
The Lasso Of Truth
Wonder Woman’s accessory from the comics may not take the shape of a blade or firearm, but it packs just as much punch, so to speak. Of course, we’re referring to the Lasso of Truth.
WONDER WOMAN – Rise of the Warrior [Official Final Trailer], Warner Bros.
The Lasso Of Truth
Featuring the ability to make any bad guy tell the truth instantly, it’s a highly valued object without causing any physical harm. One wishes we had it in real life!
WONDER WOMAN – Rise of the Warrior [Official Final Trailer], Warner Bros.
Lightsaber
If we’re being honest, this is probably the most iconic item on this entire list. For one, you can instantly imagine the sound of it being turned on.
Lightsaber
It was always exciting when a Star Wars movie introduced a new colour of lightsaber. A particular favorite was Mace Windu’s purple one from the prequels. But when Disney's The Acolyte showed Osha change her lightsaber from blue to red, representing her turn to the dark side, some fans were outraged.
In Star Wars lore, Sith can change the colors of their lightsabers by infusing the inner crystal (which gives the blade its color) with hatred, thus "bleeding" the lightsaber. Some fans were angered by the way Osha instantly bled the lightsaber, as it's a process that takes time and has not been seen when other, more pivotal characters, like Anakin Skywalker, changed to the dark side.
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