History Main / CombatHandFan

A subtrope of ImprobableWeaponUser, using a handheld fan as a weapon is often associated with grace, class, elegance, and an air of mystery. It is often wielded by a LadyOfWar or DragonLady, as a folding fan is about as literal as SilkHidingSteel can get. Given the normal use of fans is to blow air, it's often taken to its logical extreme and used to boost [[BlowYouAway wind-based]] abilities as well.

A subtrope of ImprobableWeaponUser, using a handheld fan as a weapon is often associated with grace, class, elegance, and an air of [[MysteriousWoman mystery]]. It is often wielded by a LadyOfWar or DragonLady, as a folding fan is about as literal as SilkHidingSteel can get. Given the normal use of fans is to blow air, it's often taken to its logical extreme and used to boost [[BlowYouAway wind-based]] abilities as well.

* ''[[VideoGame/{{Onmyoji}} Onmyōji]]'':

* Glass in ''LightNovel/TheRisingOfTheShieldHero'' wields the Vassal Fan, a pair of steel fans that allow her to do attacks like [[RazorWind “Reversed Four Seasons”]] and [[AntiArmor “Tortoise Shell]] [[SwordBeam Breaker”]], and even shatter Raphtalia’s sword simply by blocking. She very much fits the LadyOfWar aesthetic, being an elegant woman in a kimono.

* ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'': Every iteration has had a large—as in at least three feet long—one of these as an item. Its usefulness varies depending on the game, but its usefulness more often lies in how quickly you can swing it than how much damage one swing will cause.

* Tomoe, the FriendlyRival of TheNineties heroine ''ComicBook/{{Shi}}'' (and who had her own titles) uses a razor-sharped fan as her WeaponOfChoice, usually [[DualWielding two of them]].

* In ''Fanfic/FriendshipIsMagicalGirls'', this is the WeaponOfChoice for both Rarity and minor villain Antleo.

** ''WesternAnimation/BarbieAndTheThreeMusketeers'': Since women are not allowed to train as musketeers, the heroines and their mentor improvise with "womanly" items like handheld fans. Aramina uses two as her WeaponOfChoice.

* In ''Literature/TheFinishingSchoolSeries'', bladed fans are one of the seemingly-innocent weapons that students at [[AcademyOfAdventure Mademoiselle Geraldine's]] are trained to fight with. Sophronia turns out to be a natural, and adopts one as her WeaponOfChoice.

* ''Series/TenMilesOfPeachBlossoms'': Bai Qian's WeaponOfChoice. She defeats a phoenix demon and fights her way across a battlefield while armed with only a fan.

** In games where [[MovesetClone everyone]] has [[WeaponOfChoice their own weapon]], the folding fan will most likely be wielded by [[BrattyHalfPint Xiaoqiao]] (or her sister [[ShrinkingViolet Daqiao]] in older installments, though ''9'' gives it back to her) and the feather fan by [[TheChessmaster Zhuge Liang]]. Also Sima Yi wielded one in most appearances except 6 and 8. Zhuge Dan also wielded one in his first appearance. Pang Tong gains a Shadow Fan in ''8''.

* ''VideoGame/Persona4'': These are the WeaponOfChoice for [[TheOjou Yukiko]] [[YamatoNadeshiko Amagi]]; they're exactly as powerful as the other weapons in the game, including swords, claws, and even a [[GunsAreWorthless GUN]]. However, Yukiko's main strength is in magic, so most players will only occasionally order her to use the fan.

* ''VideoGame/SamuraiShodown'': Although the [[BladeOnAStick naginata]] is his WeaponOfChoice, the Kabuki fighter Senryo Kyoshiro uses fans in his attacks [[PlayingWithFire involving fire]], like fire fans as projectiles and using one to expand his [[BreathWeapon fire breath]].

* ''VideoGame/SonicRiders'': [[TheRival Jet]] uses these to attack opponents and slow them down mid-race. His [[VideoGame/SonicAndTheBlackKnight Arthurian counterpart]], [[Myth/KingArthur Lamorak]], also uses a pair of swords modeled on them.

** ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles3'' upgrades dual fans to a normal weapon type, which can be used with Troubadour [[JobSystem Class]]. This time around, it's a weapon of a Healer class, that can utilize CooldownManipulation and stop {{Status Buff}}s from expiring. In a bit of MythologyGag, they are once again related with RingsOfDeath, as both weapon types [[spoiler:belong to Agnian off-seers, who used to be friends and partners]].

* ''VideoGame/SenranKagura'': Yumi uses these as her weapons of choice. She can also manipulate ice with them.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'': A possible weapon of the Solar Exalted, especially favored among the [[{{Ambadassador}} Eclipse Caste]]. Since this is [[UpToEleven Exalted]], there are ''several'' martial arts built around using one.

* ''Manga/DemonSlayerKimetsuNoYaiba'': Upper Moon 2, Doma, fights with a pair of razor-sharp Japanese war fans fashioned from his flesh and blood, using them as melee weapons in conjunction with Tessenjutsu to take on multiple aggressors at once and engage in combat effectively at supersonic speeds, fully utilizing them for both offense and defense, slicing apart enemies and expertly parrying physical attacks. His Gunsens also have a secondary function as support items by channeling his [[AnIcePerson cryokinetic]] abilities through them to expand his range significantly and also spread his demonic ice powder that causes necrosis when inhaled by using them to generate huge gusts of wind.

* ''Videogame/FatalFury / VideoGame/TheKingOfFighters'': Mai Shiranui is known for using folding paper fans in combat. And [[MostCommonSuperpower two other things]].

* Glass in ''LightNovel/RisingOfTheShieldHero'' wields the Vassal Fan, a pair of steel fans that allow her to do attacks like [[RazorWind “Reversed Four Seasons”]] and [[AntiArmor “Tortoise Shell]] [[SwordBeam Breaker”]], and even shatter Raphtalia’s sword simply by blocking. She very much fits the LadyOfWar aesthetic, being an elegant woman in a kimono.

* ''Series/MyCountryTheNewAge'': Bang-won uses a fan to block Bang-gan's attacks.

* Sylvia (Creator/MonicaBellucci) from ''Film/BrotherhoodOfTheWolf'' slits a woman's throat with a serrated fan the vanes of which extend into daggers.

* ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'':

* WesternAnimation/{{Barbie}}'s films: