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{{trope}}
[[File:180px-SwordBeam.jpg|link=Kirby:
{{quote|''You hold in your hand''
''A sword that shoots laser beams.''
|'''Brentalfloss''', [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v{{=}}Y_3hE8TOVxU Zelda with Lyrics]}}
The one flaw with all swords is, of course, the obvious lack of range. How do you solve this problem?
A character will make a slashing motion with their [[Cool Sword]], but at a distance. What springs forth is a beam of [[Pure Energy]], usually crescent-shaped. These can travel through the air or on the ground. Another version is stabbing or smashing the blade into the ground and creating a V-shaped stream of energy that may or may not actually tear through the earth as it crashes towards the enemy. If the "beam" is a shockwave of compressed air which cuts things, this is also a [[Razor Wind]]. If used with a [[Laser Blade]], it often looks more like the blade is extending to strike the target.
Sometimes a [[Ki Attacks|Ki Attack]]. When magical this is a type of [[Full-Contact Magic]], and when not it falls under [[Implausible Fencing Powers]]. Sometimes put on enough steroids to reach [[Wave Motion Gun]] type levels. Not to be confused with a [[Laser Blade|Beam Sword]], although the two are not mutually exclusive.
{{examples}}▼
▲{{examples}}
== Anime & Manga ==
* [[Inuyasha|Inu-Yasha]]'s [[BFS]] has a number of ranged attacks, two of which (Wind Scar and Backlash Wave) clearly are instances of this trope. Sesshomaru can use the Ki of a sword like Tokijin to create a Sword Beam Attack, his reforged Tensaiga shoots a beam which is actually ''a portal to hell'' which sucks the enemy in.
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** Before that, Fate had the "Arc Saber" attack, which basically threw the [[Laser Blade]] of her device's [[Sinister Scythe|Scythe Form]] at an enemy, then regenerated it.
** Signum, meanwhile, has the Fire Dragon Flash/Karyuu Issen, where she creates a shaft of flames and throws it at her target...such as an entire army of [[Mecha-Mooks]].
* ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'' has the Shinmei Ryū Hidden Technique, Zanmaken: Ni no Tachi {{spoiler|In Celebration of my [[First Kiss]] with Ojou-sama Special}} (spoilered part of name courtesy of Jack Rakan, natch). When Rakan demonstrated it, the crescent-shaped energy projectile it produced bypassed all of Negi's [[Deflector Shields]] and damaged the building behind him before finally slicing a giant floating rock some distance away behind that in half.
** The attack originally comes from ''[[Love Hina]]'', where it was used by Motoko and its development was the focus of an arc for her. The Shinmei Ryū school has a large number of ranged attack techniques, some of which have the ability to "skip" the first thing in its path and strike a target behind it.
** Negima also has a character who successfully adapted a [[Razor Wind]]
* In the fairly terrible ''[[Ninja Scroll]]'' TV series, Jubei seems to be capable of this and only this attack. Granted he uses something like this ''once'' in the movie, but...
* ''[[Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple]]'' has shown examples of the [[Razor Wind]] off a sword stroke version. Shigure fought someone with that technique, and has done ranged attacks not only with a sword ''but with a wooden spoon''.
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* Thymilph in ''[[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]'' has a variation: his Alkaid Glaive fires the beam, and he calls it the Condemn Blaze. (Although it can kind of hard to tell what he's shouting.)
* In ''[[Samurai Pizza Cats]]'' Speedy Cerviche's Cat's Eye Slash is a [[Dual-Wielding|two-sword]] variant.
* The [[Samurai]], who appear relatively late in ''[[Naruto]]'', are all capable of doing this, once they've channeled chakra through their swords like [[Laser Blade
* In ''[[Soul Eater]]'', Maka's Straight Hunter used against the Clown works like this. She achieved something similar by mistake when she used Witch Hunter against Sid, and tripped up. Ragnarok's Screech Alpha attack also creates a Sword Beam.
* Snimon of [[Digimon]] demonstrates this ability when it launches its Twin Sickles technique.
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* [[Sailor Moon|Sailor Uranus's]] second attack, Space Sword Blaster, sends blades of energy using her talisman weapon.
* In ''[[Tokko]]'' Ranmaru can fire powerful energy blasts from his sword. Sakura was also able to do this in the manga.
* The "Reppuzan" attack used by Mio {{spoiler|and Yoshika}} in ''[[Strike Witches]]'' is an example of this, being a beam of magical energy fired through the sky to attack ranged enemies. It's name ''roughly'' translates to "Great Gale Cut", meaning that it may be wind-based. Interestingly enough, it has several similarities to the Getsuga Tensho of ''[[Bleach]]'': It's a
* In ''[[Fairy Tail]]'' Erza's Morning Star Armor's special attack Photon Slicer.
* [[Kurogane no Linebarrel|Linebarrel's]] "Executor", who function as both [[BFS]] and [[BFG]].
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== Live-Action TV ==
* Naturally, ''[[Super Sentai]]'' and ''[[Power Rangers]]'' have featured ''every'' version of this. The most common [[Finishing Move]], though, is an unusual version: the wielder, facing the screen, swings, and a diagonal line appears as it passes. Scene switches to the monster, slash effect appears over him, and [[Made of Explodium|KABOOM]] soon
* ''[[Kamen Rider Blade]]'' has the Royal Straight Flush in his King Form [[Super Mode]]. During the series it's depicted as a giant blast of energy after a sword swing, going through five cards, but ''[[Kamen Rider Decade]]'' depicts it as a wave of energy that goes through the ground.
** ''Decade'' gives Sword Waves to several past Riders, mostly because Decade's Complete Form performs its [[Finishing Move
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*** As does Harupia in that game, [[Beam Spam|excessively]].
** Protoman's ''[[Mega Man Battle Network]]'' incarnation doesn't quite shoot beams from his sword, but he does fire [[Razor Wind|shockwaves]] from swinging his sword.
** [[Mega Man ZX|Model HX]] can do this if you alternate between the two attack buttons.
* In some games in the ''Zelda'' series, Link can fire beams from his sword. Usually, [[Situational Sword|this can only be done at full health]], though ''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap|The Legend of Zelda the Minish Cap]]'' (and the ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages|The Legend of Zelda Oracle Games]]'' with the right [[Ring of Power]]) also features a [[Critical Status Buff|"Peril Beam"]] which can only be used at ''low'' health.
** The Skyward Strike from ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword|The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword]]'', the first 3D Zelda game to have a
** [[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time]] had the sword spin move which, when combined with magic, gave off a circle of energy that expanded beyond the range of the sword and damaged enemies. Not the classic Zelda sword beam, but still...
* ''[[Fate/stay night]]'' has "[[Public Domain Artifact|Excalibur]] the Sword of Promised Victory", and Ea (often [[I Am Not Shazam|mistakenly called "Enuma Elish"]] after its [[Invocation|activation phrase]], though [[Rule of Cool|that name is cooler anyway]]). Excalibur is also prominent in [[Fate/Zero]], the prequel. Both are some of the more powerful listed examples of the [[Wave Motion Sword]]; Excalibur at full power can raze several city blocks at a swing, and Ea could ''[[Earthshattering Kaboom|kill the planet]]'' if Gilgamesh ever decided to [[I Am Not Left-Handed|stop playing around]] and take his opponents seriously.
** In addition, the attacks of the Fifth Holy Grail War's Berserker are so powerful that the wind following the moves of his gigantic sword cuts whatever is standing even a meter away.
** The Jewelled Sword of Zelretch is one of these in the hands of Tohsaka Rin.
* Sword [[Kirby]] has been able to do this in [[Kirby:
** And in the anime, Meta Knight (and later, other people such as Bun and Kirby) actually refers to it as "Sword Beam".
* The first ''[[Custom Robo]]'' released in North America has a partial example. It has two sword-shaped guns that in turn fire sword-shaped lasers at the target with different trajectories. The swords cannot typically be used as melee weapons, though; some Robo models swing the sword while using melee attacks, but the effect is purely cosmetic.
* Demon Fang in the ''[[Tales (series)]]''.
** In addition to the old standard (''Majinken''), there's [[Tales of Destiny|Kyle]]'s ''Souhajin'', Mary's ''Gou Majinken'', [[Tales of Innocence|Ange]]'s ''Kouhajin'', [[Tales of Hearts|Shing]]'s ''Kuuretsusen'' and ''Seieireppa''... suffice it to say, most melee attackers in the ''Tales of'' games are required to have at least one
** For the English speakers, they are "Double Demon Fang" {fires 2 [[D Fs]]}, "Demonic Chaos" {fires three [[D Fs]] in rapid succession}, and "Fierce Demon Fang" {which create a shockwave which hits multiple times at close range}. Variations, such as [[Tales of Legendia|Senel's]] and [[Tales of the Abyss|Luke's]] Demon Fist, [[Tales of Vesperia|Yuri's]] "Azure Edge" and Estelle's "Star Stroke", and Repede's "Demonic Charge", also exist.
*** Most of [[Tales of the Abyss|Guy]]'s second [[Limit Break|Mystic Arte]] "Brilliant Overlord" also counts.
* ''[[Touhou]]'': Resident swords(wo)man Youmu Kompaku uses her sword for both melee and ranged attacks. Of course, this being ''[[Bullet Hell|Touhou]]'', her ranged attacks take the form of [[More Dakka|scores]] of spirit bullets.
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** Removed as of ''Armored Core 4'', however.
** Done with the Human+ and the Moonlight blade in ''Armored Core 2'', you end up with a sort of [[Incredibly Lame Pun|Infinity Plus One Sword Beam]].
** In some games, like Armored Core: Nexus, it's possible to do a Sword Beam with every [[Laser Blade]]. You just have to boost mid-swing.
* Just about every [[A Mech by Any Other Name|Virtuaroid]] in the ''[[Virtual On]]'' series has at least one of these for their melee weapon, unless they have enough guns/missiles to make them redundant.
* Kratos in ''[[God of War (series)|God of War]] 2'' does this with the Blade of Olympus on the last strike of his heavy combo. Furthermore, fully upgrading the Blade allows it to be done ''with every swipe!''
* Vyse and Enrique use these if they attack an enemy at a distance in ''[[Skies of Arcadia]]''. Enrique, using a foil, naturally does a thrusting motion to release a spear-like shot.
* [[Samurai|Kamui]] of ''[[Arcana Heart]]'' can do this, performing two quick slashes in the air to create an X-shaped energy projectile.
* Ky and Sol from ''[[Guilty Gear]]''. Ky swings his sword, while Sol stabs the ground.
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*** Squall also has a ''delayed'' sword beam attack: Rough Divide involves slashing upwards, followed by a massive upwards explosion from directly below the enemy it hits.
** Cloud and Sephiroth both feature an attack literally named Blade Beam that makes them fire off a wave from their sword. Cloud being a Blow Smasher will do this in a single giant ground based blast while Sephiroth will do so in smaller waves but in more accurate and greater quantities.
*** Cloud's "Blade Beam" attack not only does four times as much damage as a regular attack, but also dissipates after hitting the intended target, hitting every other enemy for regular damage. In addition, he also has Meteorain (or Meteor Shots, whichever you prefer) that literally throws meteors from his sword.
*** Sephiroth evidently follows the "hardened air" attack pattern, slashing so quickly with his Octaslash that it hits ''after'' he's finished slashing.
*** In ''[[Crisis Core]]'', during the cutscene of Sephiroth's fight with Genesis, Sephiroth uses a flurry of Blade Beam attacks to neatly slice chunks off the Junon Cannon.
*** Zack Fair apparently taught Cloud the Meteorain/Meteor Shots skill, as he uses it in ''[[Crisis Core]]''.
**** Though he himself only learns it AFTER meeting Cloud. Kinda weird when you think about it, and the other DMW Limits are actually taught TO Zack by someone else. So maybe Cloud taught Zack Meteor Shot?
** ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics Advance]]'' features this with the Earth Render technique where it strikes everything in a straight line regardless of range.
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*** [http://www.nuklearpower.com/2001/08/17/interlude-01-the-fighter-does-not-liek-the-robot/ He shoots laser beams powered with swords which are also laser powered.]
* Ragnell and Alondite, the twin [[BFS]]'s from ''[[Fire Emblem]]'' 9 and 10, can do this.
** There's also, the Wind Edge, Storm Sword, and Tempest Blade as well. And [[White Magician Girl|Mist]] has a unique weapon that shoots Sword Beams.
** And in the earlier games there's swords that cast magic as a form of a sword
** FE 6 has the "King's Lance"
*** And who can forget the Sword Of Seals, a [[Game Breaker]] that launches [[Kill It with Fire|fire]]
* Dante has this in the form of his "Drive" attack in ''[[Devil May Cry]] 3'' and ''4'', which causes a shockwave to jet across the ground and damage all enemies in its path. In ''4'', Nero has Maximum Bet, a [[Super Mode|Devil Trigger]]-exclusive move where he uses his sword(s) to fire off a wide X-shaped energy wave that also pierces through targets, but the crescent beam he uses is only seen during cutscenes. Vergil in ''3'' (and Dante in ''4'') has the Yamato, which can slash enemies far outside its normal range with a delayed effect. It does this for all of its moves, but Judgement Cut is the only one that's actually a projectile.
* In NES side-scroller ''[[The Battle of Olympus]]'', you can do this while wielding the Divine Sword. Each beam costs HP, though, unless you have the Bracelet of Power.
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* There's this nice little semi-hidden treat on Shining Force for the Genesis: if you happen to finish off the final boss (bear in mind that it has three heads to be attacked separately) with a physical blow from main hero while having the legendary sword equipped, his usual attack animation is changed for a neat special animation involving a sword beam. This is the only moment in the game where the main character attacks this way. Also, hidden character Musashi's attack animation is a sword beam.
* In ''[[Rocket Knight Adventures]]'', Sparkster can fling energy beams from his sword. This was taken out in the Genesis/Mega Drive version ''Sparkster'', but made a return in the 2010 ''Rocket Knight'' revival.
* In ''[[Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep]]'', Vanitas, one of the game's main villains, has a basic two-hit combo that consists of a lunging slash and a somersaulting uppercut with his Keyblade. Towards the end of the game, he starts using the latter attack to shoot a fast-moving, short-ranged crescent beam and, later on, a slow-moving, homing one.
** Wave Motion Sword example in the same game: {{spoiler|In the second phase of his story mode's final boss fight, Ventus gains the ability to fire powerful energy beams from his Keyblade. His opponent, a souped-up Vanitas, can do the same, resulting in a [[Beam-O-War]] if the two characters launch their attacks at the same time.}}
* ''[[Severance: Blade of Darkness]]'' had [[
* The Dimension Slash attack (Which has the user focus energy into their weapon before unleashing a gigantic, battlefield-rending sword beam) is a staple of [[Nippon Ichi]] games, especially in the ''[[Disgaea]]'' series where it's first appearance was in the first game.
* In the PC game "Little Fighter", Deep does this, while Woody does it ''with his ARMS''
* In ''[[Lufia|Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals]]'', the [[True Final Boss]] fight against {{spoiler|Erim}} in a [[New Game+]] has the [[Sword of Plot Advancement|Dual Blade]] gain this ability as its standard attack. Unfortunately, the game doesn't tell you this, and many players were too busy engaging in close combat to notice.
* Sonic Boom/Wave/Blast in the Saturn classic ''[[Dragon Force (video game)]]''
* In ''[[Too Human]]'' this effect is used when using a fierce attack with either a two handed sword, one handed sword, or dual wield sword, it manifests as a blue burst of energy flying in a straight line accompanied by the howl of a wolf.
* The [[Magic Knight|Asura]] subclass in [[Dungeon Fighter Online]] specializes in these.
* The [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|Swordsman]] subclass in [[Dragon Nest]] has half of its skill tree dedicated to this Trope. For the third job change (not released in NA yet), they can become Lunar Knights/Moonlords to get a move that lets them spam 5 huge Sword Beams from midair.
** Consequently, ''Bleach fanboy noobs'' is often used as a blanket description of Swordsmen, who are ''vehemently'' hated by much of the community.
* In ''[[Illusion of Gaia]]'', Will's two alternate forms possess variations of this. The first is used by Freedan, and is called the "Dark Friar". By attacking once and holding down on the attack button, Freedan can charge his sword to fire off what amounts to a cross between a
* [[Disgaea]]'s strongest sword, the Yoshitsuna, has the range of a gun.
* In ''[[Turok]] 2'', the Juggernauts' [[BFS]]'s can do this.
* [[
* Augus's blade, Wailing Dark from ''[[Asura's Wrath]]'' uses this as it's projectile, and can be curved sideways and can utilize multiple sword beams at once by default.
* The Moonlight Greatsword in ''[[Dark Souls]]'' unleashes this as its strong attack.
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== Web Original ==
* ''[[Fate Nuovo Guerra]]'' features Clarent as an [[Evil Counterpart]] to Excalibur from ''[[Fate/stay night]]'' above. It feeds on the hate and dispair in the surroundings, and will eventually feed on the Grail itself. To a lesser extent, Tizona and Colada, when [[Dual Wield
* A common attack in ''[[Chaos Fighters]]'', which is called slash waves. In close range, it is possible to slash enemies while launching them simultaneously.
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[[Category:Videogame Effects and Spells]]
[[Category:Ranged Energy Attack Tropes]]
[[Category:
[[Category:Sword Beam]]
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