Tropes for this episode include:
- Ambiguously Gay: Glass openly blushes when Theresa pulls crystals from her shirt, and also blushes when they talk about reuniting with Kizuna.
- Anti-Magic: The Vassal Katana undoes Raphtalia's slave crest when it chooses her, and "Powdered Snow" cancels out all of Kazuki's magic when she hits him with it.
- Are You Sure You Want to Do That?: Raphtalia tries and fails to dissuade Kazuki from attacking her, knowing full well she outclasses him and whatever he has to throw at her now that she has the Vassal Katana.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: As Kazuki tries to take the Vassal Katana from Raphtalia, she easily defeats him and his white tigers (the former ended up being immobilized by an "Instant Blade - Mist", which will decapitate him if he takes a step).
- Dress Hits Floor: As Raphtalia is being given her new clothing as the Katana Vassal Hero, the clothing she was originally wearing is shown being on the ground as she is undressed by the miko.
- Fanservice: Before getting her new clothing from a miko whose ancestors have served the previous Katana Heroes, Raphtalia is seen nude.
- Instant Expert: Not only is Raphtalia able to wield the Vassal Katana like a pro, but she is also able to use all of its skills with equal grace.
- Loyal Phlebotinum: The reason why their jailers let L'Arc and Glass keep their weapons is because it's impossible to forcibly separate Vassal Weapons from their chosen wielders.L'Arc: Once you draw a Vassal Weapon, you can't get rid of it.
- Necessary Drawback: While the Vassal Katana is very effective for One-Hit Kills — managing to kill two of Kazuki's monsters in a Flash Step move and paralyzing him in a Time-Delayed Death move — the drawbacks seem to be that the attacks take up a large pool of stamina, Raphtalia already too exhausted to move afterwards.
- Only the Chosen May Wield: The Vassal Katana was imbedded in a boulder in the Vassal Katana Country, only its chosen wielder allowed to pull it out. When Kazuki tries cheating with magic, it leaps out of his hands and into Raphtalia's.
- Plot-Relevant Age-Up: Shortly after getting the Vassal Katana, Raphtalia ends up being restored to her adult, leveled-up form.
- Refused by the Call: Kazuki tries to get Vassal Katana from its stone in a public ritual, only for the weapon to immediately go to Raphtalia's hands instead.
- The Starscream: Kazuki confesses that he plans on killing Kyo with the Vassal Katana.
- Wham Episode: Not only does Raphtalia return to her older form thanks to the Vassal Katana, but she becomes the Katana Hero.
