History Main / EmpathicWeapon

* ''Video Game/Dust: An Elysian Tail'': The Blade of Arrah is quite alive, having flown out of its own temple in order to find [[TheHero Dust]].

* ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'': The Royal Magic Wand changes into different objects based on who's wielding it. For our heroine Star, it looks like a classic ''Manga/SailorMoon''-style MagicalGirl wand. For the strict and uptight Moon, it was a crystallized scepter. For the warmongering Solaria, it became a large sword with a lightning bolt-shaped blade, for the fun-loving Festivia, it was a wine goblet, for the artistic Estrella, it became a pen, for the strict Eclipsa, it became a parasol, and so on and so forth.

* ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'': The Royal Magic Wand changes into different objects based on who's wielding it. For our heroine Star, it looks like a classic ''Manga/SailorMoon''-style MagicalGirl wand. For the warmongering Solaria, it became a large sword with a lightning bolt-shaped blade, for the fun-loving Festivia, it was a wine goblet, for the artistic Estrella, it became a pen, and so on and so forth.

* In ''Anime/VisionOfEscaflowne'', it is mentioned that at least some Ispano mecha bond with their owners, sometimes even fighting on after the death of their master. Escaflowne itself seems to possess a similar ability.

* In the ''Franchise/DevilMayCry'' franchise, there's the Devil Sword Sparda. The sword originally belonged to Dante's father, the Dark Knight Sparda, and is a living weapon. It can only be wielded by beings of great strength, but it will only release its ''true'' power when wielded by beings who know not only great strength, but also love and compassion.

* Derflinger from ''LightNovel/TheFamiliarOfZero'' is in a sword that is at first thought to be worthless due to the low price it was purchased for, but it's in fact a TalkingSword that is stronger than any sword wielded by Saito. His personality's what you would expect an under-valued sword to be, but he in general considers Saito an equal partner in combat.

* ''Manga/HeroTales'' has the conqueror's sword, Kenkaranpu. It can be drawn only by one acknowledged by the sword itself. First the only one who could do this was TheHero Taitō Shirei. Later, [[spoiler: when Taitō found out he was related to the emperor, but decided not to run for the throne (and thus turned down the fate of the conqueror), [[BigBad The Big Bad]] Keirō]] became able to draw the Kenkaranpu.
* ''Manga/InuYasha'':

* In ''LightNovel/LordMarksmanAndVanadis'', the Dragonic Tools are semi-sentient weapons that choose their wielders. Tigre's black bow goes a step farther, and sends thoughts into his head.

[[folder:Eastern Animation]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/BarbieAndTheMagicOfPegasus'', the Wand of Light refuses to heed Annika's commands to destroy Wenlock and also refuses to work for Wenlock, showing its true powers when Annika uses it to break his spells instead.
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* ''LightNovel/CursedSwordMaster'' starts the story with Soujiro's beloved katana speaking to him telepathically the moment he wakes up in another world after being resurrected from his death on Earth, foiling a robbery led ''by his own estranged father.''

* The ''VideoGame/SakuraWars'' [[Anime/SakuraWarsTV TV series]]:

* The "Hestia Knife" From ''LightNovel/IsItWrongToTryToPickUpGirlsInADungeon'' acts as one for Bell Cranel. Since it's a weapon crafted specifically for him with a blessing from his Familia goddess, Hestia, the knife is only potent when held by him. After seeing it in action briefly, Liliruca steals it from him, and attempts to pawn it off, only to be told it's essentially worthless and not even sharp. However, after Bell gets it back, the runes on the knife light back up, showing her that it's only useful when he's using it.

-->-- '''The General''', ''Series/DoctorWho'', [[Recap/DoctorWho50thASTheDayOfTheDoctor "The Day of the Doctor"]]

* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'' has the Eyelander, a haunted sword that the Demoman can use. It talks on occasion, but all it can say is "headsss". Killing opponents with it decapitates them and provides the user with extra health and damage until he dies. In the comics it’s capable of full speech, watching movies with the Demoman and criticizing them for inaccurate portrayals of ghosts.

* In ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'', Sōsuke's ''HumongousMecha'' comes equipped with Al, an Artificial Intelligence that ends up developing considerably more of a sense of humor than Sōsuke himself has. More importantly, the mech's Lambda Driver superweapon runs off of Sōsuke's own emotions and aggressive impulses. Not the best thing to give to TheStoic, really.

* The legendary Maou's sword "Morgif" in ''LightNovel/KyoKaraMaoh'' is supposed to be a powerful weapon in tune with its wielder, but because Yuuri's [[JekyllAndHyde demon king side]] is usually sealed, all it does for him is groan a bit.

* {{Deconstructed}} in ''LightNovel/TheRisingOfTheShieldHero''. What happens when your Legendary Weapon also reacts to your worst emotions? The result is the Curse Series, the SuperpoweredEvilSide of the Legendary Heroes' weapons, which only become accessible when the wielder flies past the DespairEventHorizon. While they do grant powerful moves and are terrifyingly powerful, they also eat away at the user by intensifying the associated emotion (i.e. hatred or greed) until it is the user's only motivation -- and that doesn't take into account the other detriments.

* ''Manga/ShuumatsuNoWalkureRecordOfRagnarok'' has the Volunds, weapons created from the souls of {{Valkyries}} who have had a ritual performed to bond their soul with that of a warrior's, allowing the Valkyrie to transform into a magically enhanced version of the warrior's [[WeaponSpecialization weapon of choice]]. However, this bond also means that [[{{Synchronization}} if the warrior dies, the Valkyrie will also die]].

* ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'': [[LaserBlade The]] [[{{BFS}} Holy]] [[SwordBeam Moonlight]] [[SpellBlade Sword]], which was bequeathed to [[AntiHero Kyril]] by [[Characters/BloodborneCharactersFromTheOldHunters Ludwig, the Holy Blade]]. According to [[VideoGame/BloodBorne in-game]] lore, it offers "a very private, elusive sort" of guidance to the wielder. This fanfic expands on this, which depicts the sword whispering to Kyril about the prospect of battle whenever it glows. To be fair, the sword would be a bona-fide BloodKnight if it were a person.

* The Titans from VideoGame/{{Titanfall}} and VideoGame/Titanfall2 are these. Titans are piloted via a neural link, and each Titan comes with an onboard [=AI=] that can only link with a single Pilot at any given time. When the pilot isn't in the cockpit, Titans can move and act all on their own. The second game's plot ''revolves'' around the fact that Titans are empathetic weapons to begin with.

* ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall'': Linkara's magic gun showed a minimal level of empathy when it stopped him from shooting himself in the head. It seems to consider him a friend and a partner... her parents, to their [[LaserGuidedKarma deserved misfortunate]], were regarded a bit more poorly.

* ''Manga/ShuumatsuNoWalkureRecordOfRagnarok'' has the Volunds, weapons created from the souls of {{Valkyries}} who have had a ritual performed to bond their soul with that of a warrior's, allowing the Valkyrie to transform into a magically enhanced version of the warrior's WeaponOfChoice. However, this bond also means that [[{{Synchronization}} if the warrior dies, the Valkyrie will also die]].

** The Gundam Aerial from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamTheWitchFromMercury'' is this on a whole new level compared to its counterparts - a tie-in novel reveals that the Mobile Suit carries an onboard AI that is both sentient and fully conscious, with the novel ''and'' the theme song of the show being from its perspective.

* ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'': Shinigami all have an Empathic Weapon that is born from their own souls and imprinted onto an Asauchi, which is a blank slate with limitless potential. As the Shinigami bonds with the Asauchi, the Asauchi takes on the form of the Shinigami's soul power in the form of a Zanpakutou. Only the most talented Shinigami can realise this process to such a degree that the Empathic Weapon fully awakens into a TalkingWeapon. If the sword breaks in battle, it can heal itself afterwards if given enough time. However, if the sword breaks while in [[SuperMode bankai]], the weapon can never be restored to its original form. The only exception is believed to be Komamura's. At one point, the villainous Pepe Waccabrada points out that since Zanpakutou are sentient, they are vulnerable to his Love ability. He makes Byakuya's sword Senbonzakura fall in love with him, to the point it jumps out of Byakuya's hand and attacks him.

** Thor's hammer Mjölnir. It doesn't matter how strong you are, but how ''worthy'' you are to wield it. The ''ComicBook/IncredibleHulk'' can barely lift it an inch. But ComicBook/CaptainAmerica was able to pick it up and throw it. Another instance had [[TheRealHeroes an emergency worker]] hand Mjölnir to a beaten Thor.\\\

The Empathic Weapon has a mind of its own, and reacts to the feelings of the people around it. The weapon acknowledges the hero's desires and good qualities, and is willing to help him out. The hero also tends to treat (and even talk to) it as if it were a person of some kind. The hero doesn't simply wield it. He will ''ask'' it for help.