History Main / KnightlySwordAndShield

* Franchise/WonderWoman uses a sword and shield and is one of DC's most well known paragons of justice.

* In Season 4 of ''WesternAnimation/Castlevania2017'', when Alucard decides to get off his drunken ass and starts fighting again. He carries his shield from ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaSymphonyOfTheNight'' alongside his sword. Which increases his effectiveness in combat by not only giving him something to defend himself (and others), both defensively and [[ShieldBash offensively]]. Especially when he uses his MindOverMatter powers to turn his sword into a FlyingWeapon.

** Popular with the Warriors of Chaos: The Archaeon the Everchosen, a BlackKnight and top dog of the Warriors of Chaos, uses a sword and shield from horseback. The Chaos Lords Sigvald the Magnificent and Count Mordrek the Damned (both knights) also fight with sword and shield, as does Wulfrik the Wanderer (who is, strictly speaking, not a knight). The Chaos lord Vardek Crom can switch between a sword-and-shield stance and one where he Dual Wields a sword and axe. Chaos Knights are also the only heavy cavalry in the game not to come with the KnightlyLance as standard, instead fighting with magic swords and shields by default.

* ''TabletopGame/WarhammerFantasy'': The Chaos lord Vardek Crom can switch between a sword-and-shield stance and one where he Dual Wields a sword and axe.

* In ''Series/KamenRiderGaim''[='s=] summer movie, the knight-themed Kamen Rider Mars uses this weapon set. Mars' equipment then gets [[PaletteSwap repainted]] and [[PropRecycling brought back]] in the first ''Gaim Gaiden'' spinoff DVD, used by Kamen Rider Idunn in the first half before being passed to the show's main knight Rider, Kamen Rider Baron, in the second. Once again, the shield doubles as the sword's sheath.

* In ''VideoGame/InquisitorMartyr'', the Assault Crusader can equip a [[ChainsawGood chansword]] and a Supression Shield. He also has a JetPack to get him stuck in faster. Of course, said shield pairs equally well with a pistol...

* Monica from the ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'' fanfic ''Fanfic/TheGhostOfOchs'' favors using a sword and shield in battle, doing so mostly out of a desire to protect herself and others from harm, but also to differentiate herself from Byleth and Petra, who don't use shields to go with their swords.

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* Ever the CombatPragmatist, sword and shield is the preferred weapons style of the titular ''LightNovel/GoblinSlayer''.

* ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'': The Warrior of Light, a knight-classic favor, carries a shield and sword into battle. He's notably the only sword-focused character in the game to use a shield. ''Dissidia NT'' also added Kam'lanaut a villainous Archduke from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'', his use of a shield alongside his sword feeding into his noble image.

* For a Warrior or Paladin [[StoneWall Tank]] in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', the [[FandomNickname Sword & Board]] is the way to go. Note that the weapon need not be a sword, it can be any 1-handed melee weapon.

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* Ever the CombatPragmatist, sword and shield is the preferred weapons style of Goblin Slayer from ''Anime/GoblinSlayer''.

* The armored knights of Medieval Europe are the TropeMaker, though the pairing of sword and shield by professional warriors dates back much further. Depending on the time period it may also be subverted: At the very end of the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance the evolution of armor led to different weapons and tactics becoming more effective. While there may have been more spear on the battlefield, prior to the Battle of Nancy in the late 1400s the spear was more successful as a static defense, with the sword being the primary weapon for those worth more training. Afterwards, along with the Swiss introduction of the pike square, the axe, mace, and hammer were much more effective against the armor of that time.[[/note]] Additionally, by the time the full plate armor most people associate with the image of knighthood came about, the shield was abandoned altogether since the knight was already so well-protected by the armor [[ShieldsAreUseless that it was not worth the extra weight]]. This instead allowed the knight to use larger two-handed weapons such as the halberd or polehammer, which were much more useful for contending with another fully-armored knight. The longsword developed alongside these improvements in armor, but even then it remained a backup weapon or sidearm, with knights typically beginning the engagement either with the lance when on horseback, or with the halberd or hammer when on foot.

* The armored knights of Medieval Europe are the TropeMaker, though the pairing of sword and shield by professional warriors dates back much further. However it's also subverted: Despite its prevalence in popular culture, historically the sword was only ever a secondary weapon to the spear and lance, with a much more important role as a ''status symbol'' than as a practical weapon of war.[[note]]In addition to the spear's significant advantage in reach, the axe, mace, and hammer were much more effective against an armored opponent.[[/note]] Additionally, by the time the full plate armor most people associate with the image of knighthood came about, the shield was abandoned altogether since the knight was already so well-protected by the armor [[ShieldsAreUseless that it was not worth the extra weight]]. This instead allowed the knight to use larger two-handed weapons such as the halberd or polehammer, which were much more useful for contending with another fully-armored knight. The longsword developed alongside these improvements in armor, but even then it remained a backup weapon or sidearm, with knights typically beginning the engagement either with the lance when on horseback, or with the halberd or hammer when on foot.

* Disney's ''Disney/SleepingBeauty''. When the noble Prince Philip goes up against Maleficent he wields the magical Sword of Truth and the Shield of Virtue given to him by the fairies.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Champions}}'' supplement ''Enemies III''. The supervillain known as The Green Knight is a headless suit of armor controlled by the consciousness of John Nottingham. The Knight carries a shield he received as payment for a job, and wields a weapon created by his armor that can take the form of a sword.

* Kopaka from ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}'' is equipped with a shield and sword. His Toa Nuva form gives him a double bladed sword, and a larger shield.

** Darknuts are the elite knights of Ganon's demon army. While the lower ranked ones only have a {{BFS}}, at mid tier they gain shields, and the most powerful ones have shields and capes just for intimidation.

* Tidus from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' is a variant who uses a {{BFS}} (that he wields [[OneHandedZweihander one-handed]]) and a buckler, and at first doesn't fit the associated personality type, though he is one of Yuna's guardians. However, over the course of the story he grows into a selfless hero.

* "Weapon and Shield" is one of the skill categories for the warrior class in the ''Franchise/DragonAge'' series, and a sword and shield build is intended as the StoneWall of a party. In addition to defensive bonuses the tree also also features multiple varieties of [[ShieldBash just beating enemies to death with the shield itself]]. In addition to potentially the player character, several companions and [=NPCs=] are trained in it:
** Alistair, of ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', begins with Weapon and Shield talents. He is one of the more traditionally good party members, and is a new recruit of the fabled Grey Wardens -- an organization dedicated to fighting [[OurOrcsAreDifferent the monsters known as darkspawn]].
*** Loghain Mac Tir is similarly trained in these talents, [[spoiler:and ultimately serves a replacement for Alistair in the party, if you should choose to spare his life]]. He is one of Ferelden's [[TheStrategist most skilled generals]], and appointed as one of Ferelden's only two teyrns, making him a commoner raised to nobility. Far less heroic than Alistair, [[spoiler:he makes numerous morally questionable choices, sells elves into slavery in order to evacuate them and fund the army, and ultimately hunts down the Grey Wardens in an effort to blame his retreat at Ostagar on them]]. Nevertheless, he is a man of honour, and willing to sacrifice his life for his duty at the end of the game if spared.
** Aveline Vallen was InUniverse named after Ser Aveline, a legendary figure and the first female member of the Chevaliers, an Orlesian knightly order. She becomes a [[CityGuards guardsman]], becomes [[spoiler:guard-captain]] by mid-way through the first Act or before the second one (depending on whether her Act 1 sidequest is done), and is as such focused on law and order. She is also a {{Workaholic}} and MarriedToTheJob. The only sword-and-shield party member in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeII'', she has a personal tree which can be leveled, raising her tanking abilities and turning her from "guardsman" to "indestructible moving wall".

* In ''Franchise/FireEmblem'', the units most likely to have a shield in addition to their main weapon are the horse and armor knights and the "hero" class. Additionally in the original continuity the Fire Emblem itself is a magical shield that the main character uses in accord with his legendary sword. Marth, and his descendants [[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Chrom and Lucina]], all have shields in their most powerful forms.

* In ''Videogame/PhantasyCalradia'', the starting gear of a Paladin player character is a bastard sword and a shield, but nothing prevents to eventually build a two-handed weapon / polearm based Paladin.

* ''VideoGame/AVeryLongRopeToTheTopOfTheSky'': Ivy can equip swords and shields, or go with a two handed sword.

* Duke Andre from ''VideoGame/DualBlades'' and its sequel ''Slashers: The Power Battle'' uses both a sword and shield, and also [[ItMakesSenseInContext throws roses]] as projectiles, in battle. He is also notably the only character on the rosters of the games to have a shield.

* In ''VideoGame/InquisitorMartyr,''the Assault Crusader can equip a [[ChainsawGood chansword]] and a Supression Shield. He also has a JetPack to get him stuck in faster. Of course, said shield pairs equally well with a pistol...

** A heroic example is the Houou Blade and Houou Shield, the WeaponOfChoice and TransformationTrinket of Houou Soldier, SixthRanger (well, Twelfth, but still) of ''Series/UchuuSentaiKyuranger''. As the two are a pair, naturally the sword is sheathed in the shield. In fact, unsheathing the sword triggers the TransformationSequence. Not quite a knight, but he is the PredecessorHero in the story, so he somewhat counts.

* In ''Find Mii'' from ''VideoGame/StreetPassMiiPlaza'', all VideoGame/{{Mii}}s come equipped with a sword and shield.

** Let's not forget the Kamen Rider actually ''named'' [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Kamen Rider ''Knight'']] from ''Series/KamenRiderRyuki'', whose SuperMode arms him with an arm-mounted shield that stores his sword. It doubles as a MixAndMatchWeapon as sheathing the sword can activate its crossbow form. His PaletteSwap from the NonSerialMovie, Kamen Rider Femme, is also armed with a rapier and can summon a shield to go with it. Also applies to their ''Series/KamenRiderDragonKnight'' counterparts, Wing Knight and Siren, respectively.

** A heroic example is the Houou Blade and Houou Shield, the WeaponOfChoice and TransformationTrinket of Houou Soldier, SixthRanger (well, Twelfth, but still) of ''Series/UchuuSentaiKyuranger''. As the two are a pair, naturally the sword is sheathed in the shield. In fact, unsheathing the sword triggers the TransformationSequence.

** ''Series/MahouSentaiMagiranger' carries the other heroic example, also a red-themed warrior: [[spoiler: the above mentioned Wolzard/Koragg, freed from his BrainwashedAndCrazy state, [[HeelFaceTurn rejoins his family]] and gains the power to transform into [[GoodCostumeSwitch a red version of Wolzard]], keeping the sword and shield]] Applies as well to ''Series/PowerRangersMysticForce''.
* In ''Series/KamenRiderGaim''[='s=] summer movie, the knight-themed Kamen Rider Mars uses this weapon set. Mars' equipment then gets [[PaletteSwap repainted]] and [[PropRecycling brought back]] in the first ''Gaim Gaiden'' spinoff DVD, used by Kamen Rider Idunn in the first half before being passed to the show's main knight Rider, Kamen Rider Baron, in the second.

* Jaune Arc of ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' has a sword and collapsible shield in [[BoringButPractical stark contrast]] to the other characters' {{Mix and Match Weapon}}s. The sword, named Crocea Mors, at least is said to come from one of his ancestors. Pyrrha also wields a sword/javelin/rifle hybrid named Milo and a shield named Akouo.

* ''Franchise/SuperSentai'' and ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' occasionally have BlackKnight antagonists with this weapon set, including Geildon from ''Series/BakuryuuSentaiAbaranger''/Zeltrax from ''Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder'', Wolzard from ''Series/MahouSentaiMagiranger''/Koragg from ''Series/PowerRangersMysticForce'', and Gaisorg from ''Series/KishiryuSentaiRyusoulger''.

** ''VideoGame/PokemonSwordAndShield'' is set in the Poke-equivalent of England, which has a history of knights and heraldry.

* In ''VideoGame/DragonProject'', the Light Burst Sword and Shield Behemoth, [[LightEmUp Light]] [[KnightInShiningArmor Airgetlam]] and his set invokes this trope's imagery, along with being [[MightyGlacier slow yet tough and deadly]]. This is contrasted by his dark counterpart [[spoiler: or rather his dark side]], [[CastingAShadow Dark]] [[BlackKnight Gauvain]], the Dark Burst Great Sword Behemoth, who [[DualWielding dual wields]] a pair of [[KatanasAreJustBetter katanas]], along with being [[GlassCannon deadly and agile yet fragile.]]