Supervillains love their gadgets, their laser beams, their magic portals. But put a sword in their hands, and the story suddenly feels sharper and more personal. There is a reason writers keep going back to blades, they carry weight, history, and drama that no plasma rifle can match.
Here are the 20 most iconic sword-wielding villains in comic book history, ranked with details on where they came from, what they wield, and who they have fought.
Ranked Table of Sword-Wielding Comic Villains
| Rank | Villain | First Appearance | Signature Weapon | Notable Battles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deathstroke (DC Comics) | New Teen Titans #2 (1980) | Promethium Sword | Teen Titans, Batman, Justice League |
| 2 | Shredder (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) | TMNT #1 (1984) | Dual Katana, Gauntlet Blades | Endless duels with the Turtles |
| 3 | Lady Deathstrike (Marvel Comics) | Daredevil #197 (1983) | Adamantium Claws (samurai-inspired) | Rivalry with Wolverine |
| 4 | Silver Samurai (Marvel Comics) | Daredevil #111 (1974) | Tachyon-Charged Katana | X-Men and Wolverine battles |
| 5 | Ra’s al Ghul (DC Comics) | Batman #232 (1971) | Curved Sword / Scimitar | Sword duels with Batman |
| 6 | Gorgon (Marvel Comics) | Wolverine: Enemy of the State #20 (2004) | Godkiller Sword | Wolverine, Hydra missions |
| 7 | Kraven the Hunter (Marvel Comics) | Amazing Spider-Man #15 (1964) | Hunting Knives, Short Swords | Kraven’s Last Hunt |
| 8 | Swordsman (Marvel Comics) | Avengers #19 (1965) | Energy Sword | Early Avengers villain |
| 9 | Bushido (DC Comics) | Teen Titans/Outsiders Secret Files (2003) | Ancestral Katana | Teen Titans skirmishes |
| 10 | Red Sonja (Marvel/Dynamite Comics) | Conan the Barbarian #23 (1973) | Broad Sword | Conan clashes, mercenary rivalries |
| 11 | Azrael (Jean-Paul Valley, DC Comics) | Batman: Sword of Azrael #1 (1992) | Flaming Sword of Sin | Fought Batman before becoming ally |
| 12 | Elektra (Marvel Comics, assassin phase) | Daredevil #168 (1981) | Twin Sai (sword-adjacent, assassin weapons) | Repeated fights with Daredevil |
| 13 | Black Knight (Dane Whitman’s uncle Nathan Garrett, Marvel Comics) | Tales of Suspense #73 (1966) | Power Lance, Sword | Avengers opponent |
| 14 | The Mandarin (Marvel Comics) | Tales of Suspense #50 (1964) | Energy-Charged Sword + Ten Rings | Iron Man’s great nemesis |
| 15 | Morgan le Fay (Marvel Comics) | Spider-Woman #2 (1978) | Magical Sword, Sorcery | Avengers and Doctor Doom |
| 16 | Kurse (Marvel Comics) | Thor #347 (1984) | Giant Sword | Fought Thor and Asgardians |
| 17 | Lady Shiva (DC Comics) | Richard Dragon, Kung Fu Fighter #5 (1975) | Traditional Blades, Martial Weapons | Batman and Cassandra Cain rivalries |
| 18 | Sabretooth (Marvel Comics, sword phases) | Iron Fist #14 (1977) | Katana use in assassin storylines | X-Men, Wolverine |
| 19 | Ninjak’s Enemies (Valiant Comics) | First appeared 1990s | Multiple Katanas | Battles with Ninjak |
| 20 | Thulsa Doom (Marvel/Conan Comics) | Conan the Barbarian #8 (1971) | Serpentine Sword | Fought Conan and Red Sonja |
Why We Like Swords in Comics
Swords carry symbolism that blasters and bombs never will. They are about skill, tradition, and sometimes pure intimidation. A sword duel on the page feels more personal than an explosion in the sky. That is why creators keep handing blades to their villains. It forces the hero into close combat, strips things down to reflexes and grit, and makes the story hit harder.
The Seven Swords Takeaway
From Deathstroke’s Promethium blade to Shredder’s twin katana, sword-wielding villains dominate some of the most memorable fights in comics. These characters prove that even in universes filled with cosmic firepower, a blade can still be the most dangerous weapon.
Whether it is Ra’s al Ghul testing Batman in a sword duel, or Silver Samurai cutting through anything in his path, villains with swords will always feel iconic. Steel against steel just reads better than laser against laser.
