Weapons Of Mass Destruction
While games constantly evolve, some weapons stay the same. You've seen them and used them. Maybe you've even raged against them. These are the ones that brought us some of gaming's most iconic moments and made players think twice. Here's a look at 20 legendary weapons that earned their place in gaming history and left their mark.
m4mystery from London, United Kingdom on Wikimedia
1. Master Sword From The Legend Of Zelda
Slice through darkness with the blade only a true hero can wield. First drawn in A Link to the Past (1991), the Master Sword isn't just Link's weapon but his legacy. It's been upgraded with time travel, beam attacks, and more across titles.
#1: The Master Sword (Legend of Zelda) - IGN's Top 100 Video Game Weapons by ZeldaIGN
2. Buster Sword From Final Fantasy VII
Massive and unforgettable—this slab of steel introduced Cloud Strife with a bang in 1997. Its impractical size made it iconic. Later versions added materia slots and lore ties to Zack Fair. You can even get it in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate via Cloud's kit.
Zack & Cloud with Buster Swords vs Sephiroth - Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth by Faz Faz
3. Energy Sword From Halo
Charging across a corridor and getting insta-spiked? Blame the Energy Sword. This Covenant blade, usable since Halo 2, flips the meta with one-hit kills and style points. Its lunge range is nearly twice the melee distance of most weapons in ranked multiplayer duels.
4. Gravity Gun From Half-Life 2
Launch sawblades at zombies or yank explosive barrels straight into a firefight. The Gravity Gun turned junk into artillery in 2004. In Ravenholm, it's a must-have. Later, in the Citadel, it supercharges, letting you rip weapons straight from enemy hands. No ammo is needed.
Half-Life 2 - Gravity gun only gameplay [1080p][60fps] by vertigo
5. Hidden Blade From Assassin's Creed
Introduced with Altair in 2007, the Hidden Blade evolved from one stab to dual counters, chain kills, and cinematic executions. Ezio's gauntlet variant added poison and a hidden gun. It's still the go-to stealth weapon across 12+ main games and spinoffs.
Evolution of Hidden Blade in Assassin's Creed Games (2007-2020) by AKG29
6. Blades Of Chaos From God Of War
Whipped across screens like flaming serpents, these chained blades screamed brutality. Kratos first wielded them in 2005, and their twin arcs carved gods and monsters alike. In Norse mythology arcs, Kratos retrieves them, and they retain combo and a rage-boosted upgrade path rooted in Spartan fury stats.
Kratos Gets The Blades of Chaos - God of War 4 (PS4 Pro) - God of War 2018 by RabidRetrospectGames
7. Portal Gun From Portal
The Aperture Science Portal Device dropped into our hands in 2007 and flipped game logic upside down. Momentum-based navigation like "flinging" was key. Valve's devs coined "Thinking with Portals" as a core mechanic, and it's still unmatched in modern puzzle design.
Portal Gun Unboxing by GameSpot
8. Fat Man From Fallout
Launch a nuke and watch the wasteland tremble. The Fat Man debuted in Fallout 3 and fires mini-nukes with arcing ballistics. It's ridiculously overkill—perfect for Deathclaws or Liberty Prime tantrums. In a certain mode, it's risk vs. reward. One mistimed shot? Say goodbye to your limbs.
Fallout 4 - Fatman vs Legendary deathclaw by Damocles
9. Keyblade From Kingdom Hearts
It's part sword and part lockpick. First wielded by Sora in 2002, the Keyblade's powers evolve—summoning spells, gliding, even world-hopping. Different designs boost stats or magic types. Only chosen wielders can use it, so don't expect to pick one up without story weight.
Explaining the Keyblade | Kingdom Hearts Lore by mezukami:GC
10. Mega Buster From Mega Man
The Mega Buster's been Mega Man's core since 1987, and it evolves with charge shots and piercing upgrades. Each robot master drops a unique weapon—you adapt or fail. If you want range or screen-clearing chaos, there's a Buster mod for that.
Mega Man Suit Up | Secret Level | Prime Video by Prime Video AU & NZ
11. Dagger Of Time From Prince Of Persia
Want to control time or fix screw-ups mid-air? The Dagger of Time helps. It debuted in The Sands of Time (2003) and lets you rewind deaths and freeze enemies. That blade made parkour puzzles bearable—plus, it rewrote death as just another mechanic to master.
PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE DAGGER OF TIME TRAILER by Ubisoft
12. Lancer Assault Rifle From Gears Of War
The Lancer blends assault rifle accuracy with up-close evisceration. Since Gears of War (2006), it has owned CQC firefights. Lancer’s chainsaw bayonet allows for devastating close-quarters attacks. Dom or Marcus—either way, it's your best bet against a Wretch swarm or Berserker rush.
Gears of War: 17 YEARS LATER.. by Hollow
13. Super Shotgun From Doom
As for the Super Shotgun, it made its debut in Doom II (1994) and never left. It has high knockback and brutal sounds. Every shell lands like a brick through a window. Even DOOM Eternal gave it a grappling hook because demon face-punching wasn't enough.
How to Make the Super Shotgun Prop from DOOM: ETERNAL (Father and Son Build) by DIY Gene
14. Lightsaber From Star Wars Games
The Lightsaber's power varies per game, but Jedi Outcast and Jedi: Fallen Order gave it skill trees and dismemberment. Always deadly. Deflect blaster fire, and chain flips into Force Push with it. You're not a Jedi without it—and enemies know it's personal.
If Star Wars games had Lore Accurate Lightsabers by Sharp47
15. Crowbar From Half-Life
Introduced in 1998, this rusty wrecking tool became Gordon Freeman's badge of survival. Use it to smash crates, bust vents, or fend off headcrabs when ammo's dry. In Half-Life: Alyx, you don't get one, and fans still ask Valve where the crowbar went.
Half-Life Series - 50 Crowbars Comparison by noclick
16. Red Shell From Mario Kart
Auto-target mayhem in a tiny red package. The Red Shell locks onto whoever's in front and chases them like heat-seeking vengeance. Its behavior varies per title—Double Dash uses straight-line logic, while 8 Deluxe tracks turn. Knowing the AI's quirks can win you races.
Mario Kart Red Shell Light with Sound | Paladone by Paladone
17. Needler From Halo
Fire crystalline spikes with the Needler and watch them stick and explode. This weapon looks weird, but it works. Halo 3 saw it dual-wielded with brute weapons, and in Infinite, it received a redesign and balance tweaks. Against unshielded enemies, the supercombine effect deletes health bars instantly if timed right.
Halo Series - Needler Supercombine Evolution by Hectorio
18. Plasma Cutter From Dead Space
The Plasma Cutter, Isaac Clarke’s first weapon in Dead Space (2008), flips 90 degrees to target specific joints. Aim for the limbs, not the head. Maxing out its upgrades releases the weapon's alt-fire and burn damage. In the 2023 remake, it's still the top speedrun choice.
How to Make a DEAD SPACE Plasma Cutter EVA Foam DIY Cosplay Tutorial by SKS Props
19. Holy Hand Grenade From Worms
Shout, “Hallelujah,” then run. The Holy Hand Grenade made its chaotic debut in Worms: Armageddon (1999), parodying Monty Python. It’s stronger than standard grenades and deals 65+ base damage. Tossing it right in ranked matches often clears multiple worms off the scoreboard.
Worms 3D - Holy Grenade (HD) by Laurent Cousineau
20. Gunblade From Final Fantasy VIII
The Gunblade, wielded by Squall Leonhart since 1999, adds rhythm to strikes. It can slice and trigger at the same time. Pressing R1 boosts criticals if timed perfectly. Its presence in Dissidia and Kingdom Hearts cemented its legacy across Square titles—mechanics and all.
Final fantasy 8 Squalls Gunblade. Made for 3D printing and CG. Free download. ✨ by KaptenR
