History Main / MasterOfTheLevitatingBlades

* ''LightNovel/Overlord2012'': Two examples of the second variant exist in the setting. Edström of the Six Arms plays it as straight as possible, even dressing like a dancer, while her blades move around her. Then there is Lakyus, leader of the Blue Roses, who simply uses the floating swords on her back as another tool in her diverse arsenal.
* Princess Nashetania Loei Piena Augustra from ''LightNovel/RokkaNoYuusha'' is the heir apparent to the kingdom, and has been named "Saint of Blades." Her magic power enables her to summon multiple blades from the ground (and sometimes thin air), attack an adversary in formation, or form a kind of spinning shield. These blades then disappear when not needed. The princess intersects with LadyOfWar and SilkHidingSteel.

* ''VideoGame/{{Shantae}}'': In ''Half-Genie Hero'' and ''Seven Sirens'', the ultimate form of the Pike Ball spell has a dozen scimitars orbiting Shantae.

[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/kreia_kotorcg.jpg]]]]

* The '''Floating Armory'''. A character whose main strategy is invoking a Main/FlechetteStorm of dozens or even hundreds of weapons on their enemies, which will transform into a Main/StormOfBlades if they are [[TheAce powerful enough]]. Most of the time they'll [[PowersDoTheFighting keep their distance, barely needing to lift a finger]] as their enemies [[BulletDancing hop on their toes]] trying to evade their attacks. If an enemy does manage to close their distance, they will either use their flying blades as a shield to protect themselves, or pluck one from the cloud and start easily fighting their opponent off the conventional way.

* ''VideoGame/HollowKnight'': Xero, one of the [[OurGhostsAreDifferent Warrior Dreams]], fights with two nails hovering near him and launching them at the player character. At low health, he summons two more nails, making the fight more difficult.

* ''VideoGame/SpiderManWebOfShadows''[='=] take on the Vulture shows him as this. His wings are actually comprised of "feathers" that are large blades he magnetically controls and occasionally launches at you.
* ''VideoGame/{{Shantae}}'': In ''Half-Genie Hero'' and ''Seven Sirens'', the ultimate form of the Pike Ball spell has a dozen scimitars orbiting Shantae.

* In ''LightNovel/Overlord2012'', there exist two examples of the second variant. Edström, for the Six Arms, that plays it as straight as possible, being and dressing like a dancer, while her blades move around her. Then there is Lakyus, leader of the Blue Roses, but that simply uses the floating swords on her back as another tool on her diverse arsenal.

* The '''Blade Dancer'''. Typically a female character, who carries a much lower number of blades at one time (normally around four to ten), which move in geometrically beautiful patterns, [[FullContactMagic guided by the gestures of their arms and body]] as if [[DanceBattler part of an elaborate dance]]. They distinguish themselves by getting more up-close and personal, never keeping their weapons more than a few meters away, and relying more on evasive movements and deflecting attacks. This also makes them more likely to carry some of the weapons in their own hands, to more quickly defend themselves.

Compare JugglingDangerously, OrbitingParticleShield and RazorWings.

** ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamAGE'': The final Gundam of the series, the AGE-FX, is one of the stronger "blade dancer" examples in the franchise. It comes equipped with "A-type funnels" - wedge-shaped blades that orbit it in fan formations to cut down enemies - and is sometimes shown to [[FullContactMagic follow their movements with its own]]. Some higher-end Vagan mobile suits can also generate a cloud of "beam bits" - small orbs of energy that can be directed to block attacks or ram into enemies.

Compare OrbitingParticleShield and RazorWings.

Compare OrbitingParticleShield.

* ''Anime/Gundam00'': The "Fang" weapons equipped to some GN-based [[HumongousMecha mobile suits]] are small {{Attack Drone}}s similar to the "funnels" of other continuities, but instead of having a beam rifle most of them are armed only with a [[LaserBlade beam saber]], attacking by flying at the opponent. The later "GN Sword Bits" function similarly with a physical blade, and the "''Shield'' Bits" are ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin.

* ''Anime/Gundam00'': The "Fang" weapons equipped to some GN-based [HumongousMecha mobile suits]] are small {{Attack Drone}}s similar to the "funnels" of other continuities, but instead of having a beam rifle most of them are armed only with a [[LaserBlade beam saber]], attacking by flying at the opponent. The later "GN Sword Bits" function similarly with a physical blade, and the "''Shield'' Bits" are ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin.

There are characters that wield a solitary sword, or any other kind of close quarters weapon, to fight. Many times, supported by a shield, to better protect their unarmed side. There are those that to showcase their skill, prefer to [[DualWielding wield two at the same time]], stating how good they are at their craft. Given how difficult it can be to muster the ability and concentration to effectively use two weapons at the same time.

Then these guys appeared, and decided to take that difficulty Main/UpToEleven.

Either due to magical abilities, or telekinetic ones, these characters can either summon or carry with them a multitude of [[FlyingWeapon flying bladed and blunt weapons]]. Sometimes being real metal weapons, and sometimes being a SpectralWeaponCopy multiplied several times. Ranging from a few, to hundreds, that will float magically behind their back while they fight and wield them. In the majority of cases, they will normally only use swords. But many will also add spears, hammers and such to their repertory. Swords than then, they will either launch indiscriminately at their enemies in overwhelming fashion, or will keep close to them doing deadly circles.

That's because users of this type of fighting style can be divided on two categories:

* Those whose main strategy is invoking a Main/FlechetteStorm of dozens or even hundreds of weapons on their enemies, which will transform into a Main/StormOfBlades if they are [[TheAce powerful enough]]. Doing it most of the time from certain distance, without barely needing to lift a finger, keeping their enemies [[BulletDancing jumping on their toes]] while they try to evade their attacks. In case the enemy manages to get close enough to them, they will use their flying blades as a shield to protect themselves. Or directly grab one in order to make things finally close and personal, having the strenght and skill needed to make an enemy yield with their powerful blows.

* The blade dancers. Typically a female character, that will carry a much lower number of blades than the former. Normally varying from four to ten. They distinguish themselves by making things much more close and personal than the former, never keeping their blades more than a few meters away. Blades that will move in geometrically beautiful patterns around them, guided by the gestures of their arms and body. Which will make them look as if they were [[DanceBattler dancing]], given the elegancy of their movements. This style of fighting will also center more around evasive movements and deflecting attacks, rather than using overwhelming numbers.

Even then, expect many character examples to have some elements of both categories.

Mind that this trope involves only characters whose style of fighting, at least partially, involves using flying weapons with regularity. It does not involve those that only use it as a SpecialAttack, or FinishingMove.

* ''Franchise/FateSeries'':
** Gilgamesh is the perfect example of the first variant. He is so arrogant, and his Noble Phantasm so powerful, that he will stay put with a smug look, as if everyone was beneath him, while a near infinite supply of legendary weapons strike his enemies down at his beck and call.
** In ''Anime/FateStayNightUnlimitedBladeWorks'', both Archer and Shirou also are shown to be capable of doing this thanks mainly to their ability to copy any weapon they see.
** Illyasviel von Einzbern is capable of conjuring familiars made of her hair, which she can shape into birds or levitating greatswords.

* ''Franchise/FateSeries'':
** Gilgamesh is the perfect example of the first variant. He is so arrogant, and his Noble Phantasm so powerful, that he will stay put with a smug look, as if everyone was beneath him, while a near infinite supply of legendary weapons strike his enemies down at his beck and call.
** In ''Anime/FateStayNightUnlimitedBladeWorks'', both Archer and Shirou also are shown to be capable of doing this thanks mainly to their ability to copy any weapon they see.
** Illyasviel von Einzbern is capable of conjuring familiars made of her hair, which she can shape into birds or levitating greatswords.

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* ''Franchise/FateSeries'':
** Gilgamesh is the perfect example of the first variant. He is so arrogant, and his Noble Phantasm so powerful, that he will stay put with a smug look, as if everyone was beneath him, while a near infinite supply of legendary weapons strike his enemies down at his beck and call.
** In ''Anime/FateStayNightUnlimitedBladeWorks'', both Archer and Shirou also are shown to be capable of doing this thanks mainly to their ability to copy any weapon they see.
** Illyasviel von Einzbern is capable of conjuring familiars made of her hair, which she can shape into birds or levitating greatswords.

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[[folder: Web Animation]]

* Byakuya Kuchicki from ''Manga/{{Bleach}}''. His [[EmpathicWeapon Zanpakuto]] can split into thousands or more tiny or large blades to skewer his enemies from all directions.
* Gilgamesh, from the ''Franchise/FateSeries'', is the perfect example of the first variant. He is so arrogant, and his Noble Phantasm so powerful, that he will stay put with a smug look, as if everyone was beneath him, while a near infinite supply of legendary weapons strike his enemies down at his beck and call.
** And at least in ''Anime/FateStayNightUnlimitedBladeWorks'', both Archer and Shirou also are shown to be capable of doing this. Thanks mainly to their ability of copying any weapon they see.

* ''VideoGame/SpiderManWebOfShadows''' take on the Vulture shows him as this. His wings are actually comprised of "feathers" that are large blades he magnetically controls and occasionally launches at you.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': * MasterOfTheLevitatingBlades: Penny fights with blades that are stored in folded format inside a small compartment on her back. She can use up to ten blades at once, which are attached to her body by wires that are as hard to see as a spider's web; being electronically connected to each other and Penny, she can command them to fight in the surrounding air as if she's a MarionetteMaster. She can also form a circular funnel with them from which come blasts of energy, and her blades and wires are so strong that she can use them to winch down airships and slice them in half.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': Penny fights with blades that are stored in folded format inside a small compartment on her back. She can use up to ten blades at once, which are attached to her body by wires that are as hard to see as a spider's web; being electronically connected to each other and Penny, she can command them to fight in the surrounding air like a puppeteer with dancing puppets. She can also form a circular funnel with them from which come blasts of energy, and her blades and wires are so strong that she can use them to winch down airships and slice them in half.

* Penny Poledina from ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'' is an example of the second variant, with some characteristics of the first. Her number of blades is limited and low, and due to the strings attached to them, she can't move them really far. Most of the time, she simply makes them move in circles around her, keeping her enemies at bay. But she can also combine them to canalize powerful shots of energy, able to take down enemy ships, and such.

!!Examples