History Main / KnightlySwordAndShield

As noted frequently below, many of the shields of these combinations also serve as [[MundaneUtility the scabbards/sheaths]] [[SwissArmyWeapon for the swords]]. This is usually done either because it's [[RuleOfCool cool]] or rarely, the shield being the sheath allows for a BifurcatedWeapon[=/=]MixAndMatchWeapon combination.

While there may have been more spears 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. 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.\\

A weapons trope. As WeaponOfChoice explains, a person's choice of weapon can say a lot about them, and using a sword and shield together frequently says "KnightInShiningArmor". It includes all the heroic meaning that HeroesPreferSwords carries, plus the connotations of being a defender that go along with LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe. Sword and Shield users might liberally make use of ShieldBash in a fight and depending on the type of shield might engage in ThrowingYourShieldAlwaysWorks.

* In ''Anime/SDGundamForce'', Zero is the epitome of the KnightInShiningArmor hailing from Lacroa, a magical society dependent on knights and magic to defend the royal family. Naturally, his WeaponOfChoice is a shield and a CoolSword. The shield also acts as the sheath. [[spoiler:He ditches this while merged with the Feather Dragon for the Twin Buster Sword, a {{BFS}} BifucuratedWeapon, to reflect his transformation into Zero Custom.]]

** A heroic example is the Houou Blade and Houou Shield, the WeaponOfChoice and TransformationTrinket of Houou Soldier, one of the {{Sixth Ranger}}s of ''Series/UchuSentaiKyuranger''. 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 {{Precursor Hero|es}} in the story, so he somewhat counts.

* In every game of the ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'' series, the player can choose a combination of a short sword (compared to the usual BFS) and a shield. While less defensively capable than the Lance and Gunlance, it can still block some attacks, and is the only weapon that can use items while drawn; coupled with Wide-Range, they serve the same 'paladin' role as an actual RPG.

A weapons trope. As WeaponOfChoice explains, a person's choice of weapon can say a lot about them, and using a sword and shield together frequently says "KnightInShiningArmor". It includes all the heroic meaning that HeroesPreferSwords carries, plus the connotations of being a defender that go along with LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe.

** Jaune Arc makes use of a simple arming sword and collapsible heater shield which is a [[BoringButPractical stark contrast]] to the other characters' {{Impossibly Cool|Weapon}} {{Mix and Match Weapon}}s. It puts a twist on the shield-as-sheath gimmick as the shield's collapsed form makes it into a scabbard. This is also weaponized into a BifurcatedWeapon as a means to give the sword [{{BFS}} a larger and heftier blade]]. The sword itself is named "Crocea Mors"[[note]]Which is latin for "Yellow Death"[[/note]] and is said to have come from one of his ancestors.
** There's also Jaune's teammate and TheAce, Pyrrha Nikos. She was armed with "Miló and Akoúo̱", Miló was capable of transitioning between three forms: a javelin, a Xiphos[[note]]An ancient Greek straight shortsword[[/note]] and a rifle; Akoúo̱ was a shield. [[spoiler:After the Miló was destroyed and Pyrrha's death at Cinder's hands. Jaune used the remaining parts of her weapons and armor to upgrade his own weapons]].

* 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. It also puts a twist on the shield-as-sheath gimmick as the shield collapses into the sword's sheath. This is later weaponized as a means to give the sword a heftier blade. Pyrrha also wields a sword/javelin/rifle hybrid named Milo and a shield named Akouo.

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

* Inverted in ''Manga/RurouniKenshin'' with Usui, who is trained in the Ryukyu royal martial art of tinbe and rochin (shield and stabbing blade), but is a rough, brutish criminal.

* ''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''. Wolzard's shield serves as his sword's sheath.

** ''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''.

* 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. 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.

* [=ShineGreymon=] Burst Mode from ''Anime/DigimonSavers''. Also supporting character Knightmon in ''Anime/DigimonFusion'', who contributes his shield alongside Shoutmon X4's sword when they FusionDance into Shoutmon [=X4K=].

* [=ShineGreymon=] Burst Mode from ''Anime/DigimonSavers''. Also supporting character Knightmon in ''Anime/DigimonXrosWars'', who contributes his shield alongside Shoutmon X4's sword when they FusionDance into Shoutmon [=X4K=].

* In ''Film/BlackPanther2018'', T'Challa is a wise young king who wields a shield and iklwa (short spear) in duels. The AxCrazy BigBad Erik Killmonger, by contrast, dual wields a sword and a sawn-off spear.
* In the ''Film/{{Thor}}'' movies, Lady Sif uses a sword and shield, and she's usually portrayed as the most dutiful of her friends (compared to boisterous Thor and Volstagg, dashing Fandral, and stoic Hogun).

** [=CycloneJokerXtreme=], the SuperMode of the main protagonists from ''Series/KamenRiderDouble'', is armed with the [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/kamenrider/images/2/20/KRW-Prism_Bicker.png Prism Bicker]] with, as usual, the shield serving as the sword's scabbard.

** A heroic example is the Houou Blade and Houou Shield, the WeaponOfChoice and TransformationTrinket of Houou Soldier, one of the {{Sixth Ranger}}s of ''Series/UchuSentaiKyuranger''. 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 {{Precursor Hero||es}} in the story, so he somewhat counts.

** A heroic example is the Houou Blade and Houou Shield, the WeaponOfChoice and TransformationTrinket of Houou Soldier, SixthRanger (well, Twelfth, but still) of ''Series/UchuSentaiKyuranger''. 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 ''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. Gaining Ringo Arms, Sword Bringer & Apple Reflector. Once again, the shield doubles as the sword's sheath.

As noted frequently below, many of the shields of these combinations also serve as [[MundanteUtility the scabbards/sheaths]] [[SwissArmyWeapon for the swords]]. This is usually done either because it's [[RuleOfCool cool]] or rarely ,the shield being the sheath allows for a BifuricatedWeapon[=/=]MixAndMatchWeapon combination.

* Thanks to the ''Heisei-era'' of ''Franchise/KamenRider'' having a lot of weapons and interesting themes for each entry. A few of the knight-themed riders (or even {{Super Mode}}'s for certain riders) usually have this as either their main weapon or a part of their arsenal.

** CycloneJokerXtreme the SuperMode of the main protagonists from ''Series/KamenRiderDouble'' is armed with the [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/kamenrider/images/2/20/KRW-Prism_Bicker.png Prism Bicker]] with, as usual, the shield serving as the sword's scabbard.
** Downplayed with Kamen Rider Brave of ''Series/KamenRiderExAid'' who is themed after knights typical of the EasternRPG genre. He does have both a sword and a shield, but the arm-mounted shield is buckler-sized and doesn't really get a lot of use as a defensive measure, Brave generally preferring full offense with his CoolSword.

* A common build in all three ''VideoGame/DarkSouls''-games, both among players and {{NPC}}s. A notable example is Artorias of the Abyss in his prime, although he gave up his shield to protect the young wolf Sif after his arm broke and he couldn't bear the burden.

As noted frequently below, many of the shields of these combinations also serve as the sheaths for the swords.

** 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.
** The SuperMode of ''Series/KamenRiderDouble'' is also armed with a sword and shield, with, as usual, the latter serving as the former's sheath.

* In every game of the ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'' series, the player can choose a combination of a short sword (compared to the usual BFS) and a shield.

* The Skull Knight from ''Manga/Berserk'' carries an [[CoolSword an awesome Apostle-killing sword]] with a guard shaped like thorn branches and a [[SerratedBladeOfPain serrated blade]], alongside [[LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe a shield]] bearing an emblem of a rose surrounded by thorny brambles.