Open world games thrive on freedom, immersion, and discovery. But beyond sprawling maps and deep lore, it’s often the weapons that define the experience. A blade isn’t just a damage stat; it’s a statement, a legacy, and in many cases, the centrepiece of a player’s identity. Across titles like The Witcher 3, Elden Ring, and Skyrim, certain weapons have earned near-mythic reputations—either for their power, their backstory, or the way they shape how players approach combat.
Here’s a closer look at some of the most iconic weapons in open world gaming, and how they’ve become symbols of the games themselves.
1. Moonlight Greatsword – FromSoftware Titles
Originating in King’s Field and refined across Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring, the Moonlight Greatsword has become a signature of FromSoftware’s design ethos. It’s not simply a powerful magical weapon. It’s a ritual, often requiring a specific build, discovery method, or obscure questline. The weapon favours Intelligence-heavy characters and offers sweeping attacks paired with devastating ranged energy waves.
Its lore shifts with each game, but the presence remains consistent: alien, glowing, and dangerous. In Elden Ring, it’s rebranded as the Dark Moon Greatsword, tied to Ranni’s questline and cold sorceries. It rewards patience, exploration, and a taste for arcane might.
2. Master Sword – The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
The Master Sword carries weight beyond its stats. In Breath of the Wild, it’s not handed to you. It must be earned by reaching a high enough heart count and pulling it from its pedestal, echoing Arthurian imagery. While not the most powerful weapon numerically, its unbreakable nature during specific moments, particularly against Calamity-infected foes, makes it invaluable.
Its reappearance in Tears of the Kingdom adds more depth, binding it to Zelda herself and forcing players to explore the sky to unlock its full potential. Few weapons in gaming have its iconic silhouette and narrative pull.
3. Witcher Steel and Silver Swords – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Geralt’s dual swords are not just equipment. They’re central to the identity of a Witcher. One blade for men, one for monsters. The Witcher 3 refines this into a constant decision-making loop: oiling the right blade, upgrading it, and choosing between fast strikes or heavy blows.
The crafted sets—Ursine, Feline, Griffin, and others—cater to specific builds and playstyles. Whether you favour alchemy, signs, or raw physical damage, your swords evolve alongside you. These aren’t legendary because of a single stat, but because they’re bound to the journey itself.
4. Ebony Blade – The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Few weapons in Skyrim are as morally loaded as the Ebony Blade. Given by Mephala, this two-handed katana-style sword becomes more powerful the more you betray those close to you. It’s a rare case where the upgrade path is woven directly into role-playing choices. The blade absorbs health and eventually turns into one of the deadliest weapons in the game.
Its strength lies less in raw damage and more in its corruption arc. The game asks: what are you willing to do to unlock its full potential?
5. Rivers of Blood – Elden Ring
Rivers of Blood quickly became infamous in Elden Ring PvP circles. Its unique weapon art, Corpse Piler, combines rapid strikes with blood loss buildup, making it a favourite for those embracing dexterity and arcane builds.
Despite nerfs, it remains a standout due to its aggressive flow, visual flair, and how early players encountered it—guarded by Bloody Finger Okina at the Church of Repose. For many, it marked the turning point from cautious exploration to blood-drenched dominance.
6. Biggoron’s Sword – The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Before durability and open world systems complicated the formula, Ocarina of Time delivered one of gaming’s most memorable side quests: the hunt for Biggoron’s Sword. It’s massive, slow, and bypasses the shield, but offers immense damage. Unlocking it required a timed trade sequence and navigating back and forth across Hyrule.
More than raw power, the reward was about patience and persistence. In a game defined by hidden layers, this sword stood as a monument to thoroughness.
7. Dragon Slayer – Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
While not explicitly named after Guts’ iconic weapon, Dragon’s Dogma doesn’t hide its Berserk inspirations. Two-handed greatswords like the Dragon Slayer demand weighty commitment. They reward timing and spacing rather than button mashing.
What makes weapons in Dragon’s Dogma stand out is how the physics respond to them. Heavy weapons stagger enemies, topple beasts, and impact the world in a tangible way. When fighting a cyclops or climbing a drake, the heft of your blade matters just as much as its stat sheet.
8. Blades of Chaos – God of War (2018 and Ragnarok)
In the rebooted God of War, Kratos starts with the Leviathan Axe, but the moment he retrieves the Blades of Chaos is unforgettable. These chained blades are an extension of his past and his violence. Their area control and combo potential make them a crucial part of the combat toolkit.
Though God of War isn’t fully open world, its semi-open design and Metroidvania structure gives players room to experiment with builds. Upgrading the blades transforms them from relics of guilt to instruments of calculated rage.
Seven Swords takeaway
Iconic weapons in open world games aren’t just numbers or gear checkpoints. They affect pacing, tone, and player identity. A good weapon turns an encounter into a memory. A great one becomes a legend. These blades and builds have carved their mark into gaming history, not just for what they can do, but for how they make you feel when you draw them.
