History Main / LivingWeapon

* In ''Literature/{{Warbreaker}}'', a sword named [=Nightblood=] infused with so much Biochroma that it became sapient. He is Vasher's sidekick and an UnholyHolySword. He was made with a command to destroy evil, but doesn't really get what evil ''is'', so he mostly just does a lot of destroying. He does do his best to fulfill his purpose, and has a tendency to act almost like a murderous puppy whenever he's ignored, which makes for some surreal and slightly disturbing conversations.

* {{Deconstructed|Trope}} in ''WebVideo/FreemansMind'': [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome a somewhat sane person who just dealt with freaky aliens of all sorts wouldn't want to touch a freaky organic weapon.]]

* We have the [[https://fallout.fandom.com/wiki/K9000_cyberdog_gun K9000 cyberdog gun]] from the ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' DLC ''Old World Blues''. [[BrainInAJar It's a dog's brain stuck in a machinegun frame]]. It barks, whines, growls, and has two metal ear flaps and a little sensor/sniffer thingy that can detect enemies before you see them. Such a thing should ''really'' not be cute, [[UglyCute but it manages, somehow]].
** In addition, [[DemonicSpiders deathclaws]] are also said in the lore to be chameleons genetically engineered and hybridized with other animal stock to replace American troops in the war with China; after the Great War, they have become the intelligent, vicious predators they are in the games. This is considered to be BroadStrokes canon, though, as this backstory is not explained in the main games.

* ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2'': Blades are intelligent beings born from a core crystal. They provide their Driver with a weapon and channel ether into both Driver and weapon, increasing their physical prowess and giving them access to powerful arts. If their weapon is lost or even destroyed, a Blade can simply recreate it from their crystal. Any living thing can have the affinity to bond with a core crystal; humans are the most common, but monsters are occasionally seen with Blades [[spoiler:, and even Blades can become Drivers to their own Blades]]. There's quite a bit of argument in-universe on whether Blades are people or just tools, since a Blade can't [[spoiler:usually]] survive without a Driver, and if the Driver dies the Blade returns to their core crystal and loses all memory of their previous life [[spoiler:unless that Blade becomes a Flesh Eater]]. [[spoiler:It's later discovered that this too is part of their life cycle: Blades eventually grow into [[ThatsNoMoon Titans]] ]].

* The TabletopGame/{{Exalted}} are this, in a sense; they were made as independent weapons, simply because any form of control would utterly defeat the purpose of creating them in the first place. Less metaphorically, there exist ways to awaken the Least Gods of things, helltech involves the use of still-living demons to empower artifacts, and Craft: Genesis has done some interesting things with artificial lifeforms. Soulsteel weapons technically don't qualify, as while they do contain sapient (and eternally suffering) souls, they are usually dead.
* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' has had occasional mentions such as the Dancing Scimitar and its spiritual sequel, Ensouled Scimitar. But there's also a whole group of artifacts called Living Weapons, which are equipments that come with their own hideous Phyrexian token creatures already attached. Considering that Phyrexian culture consists largely of mutilating and cyberneticizing each other into giant living weapons, and then beating the crap out of each other, this is pretty typical.

'''Dark Claw:''' Actually, the program was a resounding success. It produced exactly what it set out to produce: a remorseless killing machine devoid of all human compassion. A perfect weapon. They forgot one important thing about weapons. They are usually inert objects that can't get off the table and do harm by themselves. Their mistake was in creating a weapon with an imagination.

* In ''LightNovel/{{Katanagatari}}'', practitioners of Kyotouryuu like Shichika have it indoctrinated into them from an early age that they are swords, not swordsmen. They aren't supposed to think for themselves and should only attack what their "wielders" want them to attack. A big part of Shichika's CharacterDevelopment throughout the series has him realizing that he is [[IAmNotAGun more than a sword]].
* ''LightNovel/KyoKaraMaoh'' has Morgif, the legendary demon sword with a personality. He seems to be neigh immortal, and can talk in theory although nothing he says is ever intelligible.

* ''LightNovel/NoGameNoLife'' has the Flügel, a race of immortal, angel-like beings specifically raised for war and killing (they can even kill Gods), with Jibril as the most prominent example. However, since the setting's God, Tet, has banned violence in any form, the Flügel are now DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife, so most of them turned to reading as a way to spend their time.

* ''LightNovel/UndefeatedBahamutChronicle'' has the Abyss -- monsters all named and based on various creatures in real life mythology. They can be controlled using horn flutes, but are otherwise hostile to anything (including their former masters).

* ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2'': Blades are intelligent beings born from a core crystal. They provide their Driver with a weapon and channel ether into both Driver and weapon, increasing their physical prowess and giving them access to powerful arts. Any living thing can have the affinity to bond with a core crystal; humans are the most common, but monsters are occasionally seen with Blades [[spoiler:, and even Blades can become Drivers to their own Blades]]. There's quite a bit of argument in-universe on whether Blades are people or just tools, since a Blade can't [[spoiler:usually]] survive without a Driver, and if the Driver dies the Blade returns to their core crystal and loses all memory of their previous life [[spoiler:unless that Blade becomes a Flesh Eater]]. [[spoiler:It's later discovered that this too is part of their life cycle: Blades eventually grow into [[ThatsNoMoon Titans]] ]].

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Film]]

* ''Film/JurassicWorld'': It's revealed that [[spoiler:the ''Indominus rex'' was designed to be an intelligent, hyper-aggressive bioweapon for military use. Likewise, the raptor training programs was to see if they could be given orders for similar reasons.]]

* In ''Film/PacificRim'', the kaiju are revealed to be genetically engineered weapons designed to conquer worlds.
* In ''Film/{{Prometheus}}'' it is learned that the [[Franchise/{{Alien}} xenomorphs]] are genetically engineered superweapons. [[spoiler:Disturbingly enough, ''humans'' were created from the same black liquid that created the Engineers' other monsters.]]
* Eddie Valiant's toon bullets, and the singing sword that he picks up in the climax from ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit''.

* In ''Film/TheDarkKnightReturns'', the U.S. government uses Superman as a weapon against the Soviets.

* ''VideoGame/XenobladeChronicles2'': Blades are intelligent beings born from a core crystal. They provide their Driver with a weapon and channel ether into both Driver and weapon, increasing their physical prowess and giving them access to powerful arts. Any living thing can have the affinity to bond with a core crystal; humans are the most common, but monsters are occasionally seen with Blades [[spoiler:, and even Blades can become Drivers to their own Blades]]. There's quite a bit of argument in-universe on whether Blades are people or just tools, since a Blade can't survive without a Driver, and if the Driver dies the Blade returns to their core crystal and loses all memory of their previous life. [[spoiler:It's later discovered that this too is part of their life cycle: Blades eventually grow into [[ThatsNoMoon Titans]] ]].

* The demonic sword [[VideoGame/SoulCalibur Soul Edge]] appears to be alive (and in several appearances appears covered in flesh and muscle) and even has an enormous eye.
** Its opposite number Soul Calibur is one as well, albeit less prone to [[GrandTheftMe bodyjacking]].

* In ''Literature/{{Warbreaker}}'', a sword named [=Nightblood=] is Vasher's sidekick and something of a subversion of the standard EvilWeapon. He was made with a command to destroy evil, but doesn't really get what evil is, so he mostly just does a lot of destroying. He does do his best to fulfill his purpose, and has a tendency to act almost like a murderous puppy whenever he's ignored, which makes for some surreal and slightly disturbing conversations.