Best weapon in FANTASY setting.

[Thistlehart]

I'd probably go with a combination of a shield, a sling (I've been turned on to the lethality of these little terrors), and a mace along with a spear.

I can put a white-hot hole in something's belly with the sling, knock out its teeth with my shield, keep it at length or drive it with the spear, then cave in it's skull with the mace whether it's wearing armor or not.

 

[CulixCupric]

It's always magical/sacred swords.

Seriously, in almost every fantasy media there is a magical sword or even multiple magical swords that seemingly decide the fate of the entire kingdom/empire/cosmos. I can even take JRPGs into account with this trope.

Examples: Soul Edge/Calibur, Excalibur, The Vorpal Sword, The Buster Sword, The Master Sword, Soul Reaver, Froustmourne, Umbra, Narsil, Glamdring, Sting, etc.

The list goes on and on.

yeah, it's a trope, several in fact:

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/InfinityPlusOneSword
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SwordOfTruth
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CoolSword
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ElegantWeaponForAMoreCivilizedAge
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EveryJapaneseSwordIsAKatana
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/InfinityMinusOneSword
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PenultimateWeapon
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/KatanasAreJustBetter
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/UsefulNotes/Swords
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SwordOfPlotAdvancement
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/UltimateBlacksmith
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AbsurdlySharpBlade
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LikeCannotCutLike

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Psychology.

There's SO much of Fantasy societies can be torn apart by advertising or all the rest of the things we know about now.

Viral Crystal Ball Viewings? Witch-Trials?

While the people are all yokels, or worse, adventurers - a good snake-oil salesman could be rolling in it.

 

[Crazy_Dude]

It still makes me sad there are no Polearms or Halberds in Skyrim. They are pretty darn awesome.

Spoiler: Halberds

 

[Elementary - Dear Watson]

Bow and arrow, all the time! There is no comparason! Although a bow which doubles as a blade would be awesome!

Spoiler: Something like this?

Pitt with his bow-at-range-then-double-blades

Sir, you are a beautiful man! I knew I had possibly seen it before, but couldn't remember where! That is just damn awesome!!

 

[WolfThomas]

For versatility something like long knives, with a spear or bow would be the best, the knives have practical uses and the bow or spear can be used to hunt as well. But really a sword is pretty spectacular for combat, it's a weapon solely designed for the purpose of killing other people, it has no roots or double purpose in hunting or manufacture, just plain killing. It also sends a message that you are willing to kill your fellow man, it's easy and comfortable to carry everywhere in casual setting unlike an axe, mace or warhammer.

 

[Random Fella]

If I can have two then a longbow and duel axes.
If not then I'd have a bow with blades on it, as shown in some picture above
If I can also with one of these sets have the power of ice to freeze my foes, ice is always the best for that
Obvious reasons I want to be able to fight at range when I first see them, take out most of the foes and if any remain cut them down. Also the ice would just be handy at all ranges (Ice walls and taking out multiple foes with a nice blizzard).

 

[gruggins]

Spoiler

The Ba'Gangsaw.

Spoiler

I'm sure it's practical for chopping up things that get in your way.

I just started playing final fantasy 12 the other day and I must admit Ba'Gamnan's buzzsaw-staff thingy has got to be one of the coolest (and most outlandish) weapons I have ever seen in a fantasy setting

 

[GoldenFish]

If I could have a ranged and a melee then probably a spear and a crossbow. The crossbow could wound or kill opponents and the spear would work wonders on anyone injured with lower mobility.

If just one I think I would stick with a hand and a half sword (bastard sword) which has more weight and range than a one-handed blade yet is still easier to use than a two-handed sword.

However if shields were available I might go with a light shield and a short sword (gladius style).

 

[Prince Regent]

A magic nuke. (duh)

 

[weker]

Spoiler: Harp Scythe

The Harp Scythe is the best, as I can play a poetic tune... over your festering corpse muahahaha

 

[ultrachicken]

Realistically, the Halberd is the most versatile weapon I know of. As a polearm, it has a long reach, which is a huge advantage in melee combat, and as a melee weapon, it requires maintenance, but not resupply (eg. arrows). It has your hacking and stabbing motions covered, and should someone breach your defenses and get too close, just pull the end towards you to give your enemy an axe in the back of the head.

Second choice would be a longsword and shield, because I'd like to be able to efficiently block incoming blows and have a reach that at least isn't laughable.

 

[Pat8u]

blunt vs blade blunt always wins swords are so weak

 

[BlastedTheWorm]

I'd say an axe.

It starts off life as a tool, you can hack at folk and hook them too.

 

[Blunderboy]

Some people may find it boring, but there is a reason that spears and pole arms where used for so long by so many people.

 

[GundamSentinel]

Realistically, the Halberd is the most versatile weapon I know of. As a polearm, it has a long reach, which is a huge advantage in melee combat, and as a melee weapon, it requires maintenance, but not resupply (eg. arrows). It has your hacking and stabbing motions covered, and should someone breach your defenses and get too close, just pull the end towards you to give your enemy an axe in the back of the head.

Dark Souls taught me I should agree with this. Halberds FTW.

Also:
Wabbajack. Wabbajack. Wabbajack.
Wabbajack. Wabbajack. Wabbajack.
Wabbajack. Wabbajack. Wabbajack.

 

[snagli]

Let's see. It has to be quick, light, not too big, and it has to rip the flesh off of bones with every strike. Quick enough to react quickly and strike before anyone notices, light enough to throw it and not weigh me down when dodging (Because I'll be doing a lot of dodging with this thing) and small enough to have two of them on my back. It would be a toned down version of a Deadric sword in Skyrim, or maybe something like this, only a little bigger:

 

[Kenjitsuka]

The extra strong "war"-katana. These are katana's made for use in war-scenario's, where the opponent AND his armor need to be cut in one go.

So basically it's a heavy duty, super strong, super sharp, still reasonably light and fast blade...
Of course I'd get it enchanted as much as possible, no reason to just stop at the physical best, after all.

 

[Bassik]

I guess the boring but practical pole army would be best. A halberd... yes.
And don't give me that katana bullcrap, those swords would have sucked outside feudal Japan.

 

[Burs]

Being an Ex Medieval reenactor Id say either a Mace, Poinard, and Poleax combination, although i am getting into the "swing" of using a Cutlass Bayonet avec Buckler ^.^

It would cut pretty much anything(less cut more smash into pieces with a bit of teary flesh) better then a katana and better still is lethal in the hand of the untrained and can be mass produced and still be effective


European Sword design 1 Feudal Japan 0