Top 10 Video Game Swordsmen

“Fire Emblem” series (1990-)

The protagonist of the first “Fire Emblem” game in Japan, Marth is blade-wielder of legend. His royal blood, blue hair, and skills on the battlefield make him a born-leader and formidable opponent. The West’s first taste of “Fire Emblem” was with the inclusion of Marth and, the young warrior, Roy in “Super Smash Bros. Melee” for the GameCube. Marth was a popular choice among “Smash” players, especially in the competitive scene. His popularity is credited with Nintendo finally bringing “Fire Emblem” to the West in 2003. Marth still makes cameo appearances in “Fire Emblem” games today. Oh, yeah, and good luck finding his amiibo…

“No More Heroes” series (2008-10)

When you imagine a hero, the words “conceited, foul-mouth, and ruthless” don’t usually come to mind. But, then again, Travis Touchdown is not your average protagonist. Wielding a beam katana that he won in an online auction, Travis tries to climb the professional assassin ladder by tracking down and eliminating the world’s deadliest killers. Throughout the game, players come to see that Travis is motivated by more than just his personal gain. Travis definitely has style and the skills to back up his big mouth.

“Soul Calibur” series (1995-)

Originally a sword-for-hire, Mitsurugi set out to find the mythical blade, Soul Edge, so that he could keep up with firearms becoming standardized weapons of war. Though he didn’t find the blade, Mitsurugi was able to refine his skills enough so that he could bring a sword to a gunfight and win. Since then, Mitsurugi has roamed the land looking for skilled opponents so that he may push his abilities further. In a time when swords were becoming obsolete, Mitsurugi stood by his blade; now that is dedication.

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#7: Dante

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“Devil May Cry” series (2001-)

“Paranormal Mercenary” might just be the coolest job title we’ve ever heard of. This kind of work comes naturally when you are the son of a famous demon. Dante uses the sword Rebellion in combination with guns and infuses them with his demonic energy. Despite having to hunt down some of the most fearsome, otherworldly creatures, Dante always has a confident smirk on his face. Don’t let that careless smile fool you, however. Dante takes the stakes seriously and fights for his family and friends. The title of this series could not be any more fitting: devils are certainly going to be crying after Dante has sliced them to shreds.

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#6: Geralt of Rivia

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“The Witcher” series (2008-)

Practice makes perfect, sure, but what do you do when you want to take your abilities to a superhuman level? Well for Witchers it means subjecting yourself to the most brutal, physical and emotional torture with some crazy rituals thrown in for good measure. Survive all of that and you may just be on the same level as Geralt. He can see in the dark, heal wounds, and kick ass with immortal strength and speed. Add a blade and you’ve got one lethal mercenary. Just remember, Steel for Human – Silver for Monsters.

“Chrono Trigger” (1995)

Bet you didn’t imagine a sword-wielding frog would make this list. Aptly named, Frog from “Chrono Trigger” was originally a knight from the Middle Ages – although he started his life as Glenn. He was transformed into his amphibious form by Magus – and only took up the sword after the very same villain took the life of his master – for whom his had been a squire. Luckily, this transformation gave him some useful skills like the ability to jump high, use magic, and, in some instances, his long tongue. A bulk of his strength comes from his powerful sword, the Masamune. After the player finds the two pieces of the sword, Frog is ready to save the world and hopefully restore his form.

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#4: Cloud Strife

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“Final Fantasy VII” (1997)

The spikey, blonde hair and Buster Sword are recognizable by gamers around the world. “Final Fantasy VII” made a huge splash when it hit the West and Cloud was its poster boy. An ex-soldier-for-hire, Cloud joins a rag-tag group of rebels against the Shinra Corporation, his previous employer. Size certainly matters when it comes to sharpened steel. The Buster Sword slices through metal with ease and, in combination with his Limit Breaks, can absolutely devastate foes. With his surprising addition to “Smash Bros.”, the world’s dream matchups can finally be realized.

“Metal Gear” series (2001-)

Jack, codenamed Raiden, was a child soldier whose early life revolved around war. The young operative from “Metal Gear Solid 2” soon becomes a cyborg ninja with extraordinary strength and abilities--no, not that Cyborg Ninja. Raiden shows major change throughout the series. He undertakes intense training and even bodily modifications: all in the name of finding his true purpose. Though some gamers were skeptical of the delicate white locks, getting turned into a cyborg definitely help his rep and allowed him to shake his emo roots. You don’t earn the nickname “Jack the Ripper” for nothing.

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#2: Link

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“The Legend of Zelda” series (1987-)

You know, It’s quite amazing that a little pointy eared boy can become a sword master, simply because an old man warned him that “It’s dangerous to go alone”. Never the less The Zelda series wouldn’t be as memorable as it is today without the Green Tunic hero and his trusty blade. Depending on the adventure, Link will often start off with a rather small blade before finally being able to wield legendary The Master Sword, or sometimes even bigger. Still no matter what weapon Link carries, and he carries a lot, it’s his trusty blade that will get the job done. Hold down attack for a spinning strike.

Yoshimitsu
“Tekken” series (1995-)

Starkiller
“Star Wars: The Force Unleashed” (2008)

Zero
“Mega Man” series (1993-)

Meta Knight
“Kirby” series (1993-)

Sora
“Kingdom Hearts” series (2002-)

Kenshi
“Mortal Kombat” series (2002-)

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#1: Ryu Hayabusa

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“Ninja Gaiden” series (1988-)

The leader of his own clan, Ryu uses the Dragon Sword to chop up the opposition. Starting with his outings on the NES, Ryu set himself apart from other sword wielders by being fast, agile, and able to cut through enemies with a single slice of his sword. These characteristics translated over beautifully into the 3D realm. Ryu can glide between opponents to rack up combos and, once an enemy is injured, Ryu can finish them off with the press of a button. Ryu literally leaves a trail of blood and mangled body parts in his wake. Not the kind of guy you want to piss off.

Do you agree with our list? Who is your favorite video game swordsman? For more informative Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com