History Main / WeaponSpecialization

** And Wilykit and Wilykat use pellet-like bombs that can do all kinds of crazy stuff.[[/folder]]

** Katniss Everdeen is an accomplished huntress, and thus prefers the [[ArcherArchetype bow and arrow]].

** Tiecelin, being an ArcherArchetype, uses a bow, one of the only unnamed weapons of the protagonists in the series.

* ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'': Several characters use knives or daggers as their signature weapons.

** ''Literature/TheSilverChair'': Jill Pole carries a knife with her throughout her travels.

* ''Film/TheTexasChainsawMassacre'' lets you know right there in the name what Leatherface's [[ChainsawGood favorite weapon]] is. He does use other weapons throughout the series, most notably a sledgehammer (with which he actually kills more people than with the chainsaw in [[Film/TheTexasChainSawMassacre1974 the first film]]!), but the chainsaw is so iconic that it inspired one half of the HockeyMaskAndChainsaw trope.

* ''Film/TheTexasChainsawMassacre'' lets you know right there in the name what Leatherface's [[ChainsawGood favorite weapon]] is. He does use other weapons throughout the series, most notably a [[DropTheHammer sledgehammer]] (with which he actually kills more people than with the chainsaw in [[Film/TheTexasChainSawMassacre1974 the first film]]!), but the chainsaw is so iconic that it inspired one half of the HockeyMaskAndChainsaw trope.

** Cloe Walsh spits acid, breathes poison and has a [[MakeMeWannaShout sonic scream]].

* ''VideoGame/LufiaCurseOfTheSinistrals'' gives each character a specific weapon. Maxim uses [[{{BFS}} swords]], Tia uses [[ExtendoBoxingGlove gloves]], Guy uses [[DropTheHammer hammers]]/axes, Selan uses [[RingsOfDeath disc blades]], and Artea uses [[EnergyWeapon wave energy guns]]. Dekar, being the world's strongest warrior, [[MultiMeleeMaster can use any type of weapon]].

** CoolGuns: A rifle for Rivalz

* ''Anime/BloodPlus'': Each of the Schiff uses a different kind of weapon, many of them [[{{BFS}} fairly oversized]]. Saya wields a [[KatanasAreJustBetter specially designed katana]] [[spoiler: later reforged with a crystal from George]], David uses a {{revolver|sAreJustBetter}}, Kai wields [[TragicKeepsake his father's handgun]] with [[AbnormalAmmo explosive ammo]], [[ManOfWealthAndTaste Solomon]] chooses to transform his hand into a simple and functional [[BladeBelowTheShoulder blade]]..... the list goes on. The weapons represent either their personalities or their history and emotions. Or both.

** Gokudera generally uses [[MadBomber dynamite]]. [[spoiler: And, briefly, [[EnergyBow a bow]].]]

* The Saint Of Killers, in ComicBook/{{Preacher}}, [[GunsAkimbo dual-wields]] a pair of Walker Colt {{revolvers|AreJustBetter}}. Never mind the fact that he's an unkillable OneManArmy in a [[BadassLongcoat duster coat]], these things were forged ''by Satan himself'' from the sword of the world-weary Angel Of Death; their hammers will never fall on empty chambers, they never miss, and no wound they give will ever be less than fatal. Oh, and he's a supernatural quick-draw artist, too; "I saw a blur, and then shooting. I didn't see no draw." After [[spoiler: surviving a ''nuke'' - in the midst of the inferno, he calmly spits and growls "Not enough Gun"]], he wraps up the series by [[spoiler: ''killing God'']]. I will call your badass and raise you to infinity.

** Lelouch, being the Black Paladin, doesn't have one since the Black Bayard is currently in Zarkon's possession. He instead relies upon his Geass, [[ShockAndAwe which has gained a new trick]]. [[spoiler: He later gains a MorphWeapon in the form of a Blade of Marmora Knife inherited from his grandmother.]]

* ''Fanfic/SeventhEndmostVision'': [[BareFistedMonk Tifa]] is the only character to maintain her canon weapon choice, being gloves (unusually, we also learn the name of her first equipment, the Scrap Knuckles, made out of junk she found before the story.) Cloud now uses the [[DramaticIrony Masamune]], which was [[WreckedWeapon broken]] at some point prior to him getting it. [[spoiler: He got it from Kisaragi Godo after saving his life.]] Rufus still uses his {{shotgun|sAreJustBetter}}, but here, it's also his [[ArmCannon left arm]]; he lost his arm during his coup attempt against his father, and replaced it with his shotgun. Barret explicitly has both hands, meaning whatever his weapon is, it can't be his canon one. [[spoiler: Lucrecia appears to favor dual katanas, fitting since she's also filling the role of Weiss the Immaculate.]]

** The three [[spoiler: (two, currently)]] Knights of the Cross also have their own signature weapons, each carrying one of the nails from the Crucifixion: Amoracchius, a broadsword that is [[spoiler: Excalibur]]; Fidelacchius [[spoiler: (Kusanagi),]], a katana (possibly a shirasaya, as it's been described as having a cane-like sheath) [[spoiler: and now has the form of a lightsaber based on the new Knight's faith in the ideals of Star Wars]]; and Esperacchius [[spoiler: Durendal]], a saber. Throughout the years, the latter two have been periodically reforged as different types of swords to better suit their wielders.

[[folder: Live Action TV]]

** Jayhun has a katana. [[spoiler: Wook starts using it after his death.]]

* In ''VideoGame/DawnOfWarII'', you technically ''can'' train up and equip most of your squad mates either in melee or ranged combat, or to focus on heavy weapons or lighter and more mobile ones. Most of the time, however, their more [[MinMaxing effective traits and skills]] lend themselves to a certain weapon class or even a certain individual weapon, usually an [[DiscOneNuke incredibly powerful, named one you get as a mission reward, and then never ever ever swap out of, "special needs of the mission" be damned]].

* In 20th-century ''Series/DoctorWho'', [[ArchEnemy the Master's]] signature weapon was their Tissue Compression Eliminator (TCE), a ShrinkRay that almost always killed its victims (according to one novelisation, due to naturalistic square-cube law effects). This showed off the Master's flashiness and sadism, since it was reputedly very painful, but also their streak of practicality, since it made the victim's body concealable. In the 21st-century version of the show, the Creator/JohnSimm Master used a "laser screwdriver" instead as a cruel parody of the Doctor's sonic screwdriver, and the Creator/MichelleGomez version preferred a hand-held PDA with a generic DeathRay built in, but the Creator/SachaDhawan version returned to the TCE.

* ''Franchise/SuperSentai''/''Franchise/PowerRangers'': You can expect almost every team to have character-specific weapons in addition to smaller guns / swords (or guns that turn into swords), and in most cases the personal weapons will combine to form a blaster for the FinishingMove. Listing every example could be a page in itself.
** ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'': In the original lineup, Jason the Red Ranger (TheHero) used a sword, Zack the Black Ranger (TheLancer) used an axe, Trini the Yellow Ranger (ActionGirl) used twin daggers, Billy the Blue Ranger (TheSmartGuy) used a [[DoubleWeapon lance that could split in two]], and Kimberly the Pink Ranger (TheHeart) used a bow. When Tommy the Green Ranger first appeared, he also used a sword, but he changed to a dagger that could summon his [[HumongousMecha Dragonzord]] after his HeelFaceTurn. All of them except Tommy had blasters as backup... because Tommy's dagger could fire energy blasts and lightning.
** ''Series/KyukyuSentaiGoGoV''[=/=]''Series/PowerRangersLightspeedRescue'' and ''Series/MiraiSentaiTimeranger''[=/=]''Series/PowerRangersTimeForce'' are notable exceptions. While the {{Sixth Ranger}}s of these series have their own personal weapons, the core five Rangers have uniform weapons.

* ''Manga/DrStone'': Hyoga's weapon of choice is a pipe-spear, or Kuda Yari, which he wields in the Owari Kan Ryu style (yes, both the weapon and style are real), His custom spear is considered the entire reason why Hyoga is a threat; while a terrifying fighter in his own right for what he can do ''with'' the spear, sabotaging it is what keeps him from killing Kohaku, and characters talk about how separating him from the weapon is probably the only way they can plausibly beat him. [[spoiler:Senku and Tsukasa beat him by baiting him into a killing blow on Tsukasa, who holds it tightly enough while Hyoga would refuse to let go of his weapon as Senku sets up the knock out.]]

** Randgriz, Lü Bu's Volund, takes the form of a [[BladeOnAStick polearm]], allowing Lü Bu to use his most powerful attack, Sky Eater, without fear of breaking his weapon.

** [[Film/FridayThe13thPartVIJasonLives Part 6 Jason]] uses a [[BladeOnAStick spear]] fashioned from a fence post that Tommy Jarvis used to pin him to the ground (and which subsequently conducted the lightning that revived him).

** Onyx wields a {{double|Weapon}}-[[BladeOnAStick bladed staff]].

* ''LightNovel/LoveChunibyoAndOtherDelusions'' has make-believe "weapons" to be replaced with classification-defying supernatural tools of destruction when things go delusion-mode.

* ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'': Even when offered a magical axe to carry, Guts sticks with the more or less non-magical Dragonslayer, since it's "what his hand knows best". Schierke quickly realizes [[EvolvingWeapon it's the best weapon for him anyway]].

* ''Anime/CoyoteRagtimeShow'': Most of the major characters have one specific weapon model they use.

* ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'': What makes the Hunters stand out from other combatants is their exclusive [[MixAndMatchWeapon trick weaponry]], weapons running on RuleOfCool with the ability to switch into two modes.

* ''Fanfic/TheNightUnfurls'': What makes the ''VideoGame/BloodBorne'' hunters stand out from other combatants is their exclusive [[MixAndMatchWeapon trick weaponry]], weapons running on RuleOfCool with the ability to switch into two modes.

** Cheetara, TheChick, uses a staff that can extend according to her needs, much like Goku's staff from ''Manga/DragonBall''.

* Yui Lan of ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'' is nearly always seen dual-wielding what look like mecha-sized carbines with bayonets. And her little sister was introduced in a scene where she used two kukris and excessive amount of {{gorn}}.

* In ''Manga/ShuumatsuNoWalkureRecordOfRagnarok'', when a {{Valkyrie|s}} becomes a human's [[EmpathicWeapon Volund]], they take the form of whatever said human's preferred weapon is.

** ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'': In the original lineup, Jason the Red Ranger (TheHero) used a sword, Zack the Black Ranger (TheLancer) used an axe, Trini the Yellow Ranger (ActionGirl) used twin daggers, Billy the Blue Ranger (TheSmartGuy) used a [[DoubleWeapon lance that could split in two]], and Kimberly the Pink Ranger (TheChick) used a bow. When Tommy the Green Ranger first appeared, he also used a sword, but he changed to a dagger that could summon his [[HumongousMecha Dragonzord]] after his HeelFaceTurn. All of them except Tommy had blasters as backup... because Tommy's dagger could fire energy blasts and lightning.

** Ronon Dex instead carries a [[HandCannon Traveler energy pistol]] (plus gunplay), a [[{{BFS}} Satedan ceremonial sword]] and a shitload of knives.[[/folder]]

* [[Franchise/TolkiensLegendarium Tolkien's Legendarium]]: Broadly speaking, Men (and hobbits) prefer swords, Elves bows, and Dwarves axes. Maces and clubs [[GoodWeaponEvilWeapon seem to be the province of evil characters]], as well as the curved swords wielded by orcs. This is not an ironclad rule, however, and exceptions do exist throughout [[Creator/JRRTolkien Tolkien’s]] works.

[[folder:Film--Live Action]]

[[folder:Roleplay]]

** Druids, due to their shapeshifting, usually fight with fists (paws) regardless of what weapon they have equipped. It's usually a twohanded weapon however. Rogues on the other hand tend to prefer daggers, depending on their chosen combat style. Hunters are the only class that focuses on ranged weapons, but the exact type is largely irrelevant.

** Death Knights are explicitly called out as two-handed melee fighters, with the exception being Frost Dual-Wield builds. In both cases, the use of either one huge blade or frenzied dual-wielding suits their characterization as implacable death-dealers.
** Many character are well known for the weapons they wield. Thrall has his Doomhammer, Arthas has Frostmourne.

** Rena has her cleaver/hatchet/axe. She found it in a junkyard and kept it for non-violent reasons, however she does use it as a weapon. When she uses it non-lethally, she hits with the dull side.
** Despite carrying an airsoft gun, Mion doesn't have use weapon. She generally uses hand-to-hand combat instead.

** Diane uses a magic staves.

*** Piper uses a staff that she can attach crystals to for different effects.

** Hibari and his DualTonfas.