7 Legendary Weapons we could see in Assassin's Creed Shadows

7 Legendary Weapons

we could see in Assassin's Creed Shadows

Throughout Assassin's Creed history, Ubisoft hasn't shied away from including weapons that have become famous in one way or another. Thor’s hammer, Gunignr, Excalibur; just to name a few. However, with the latest game, Assassin's Creed Shadows taking place in Japan, the mecca for martial arts, the potential for legendary weapons is exciting.

7 - Momotaro’s Sword

Momotarō emerges from a peach. Illustration from The Japanese Fairy Book, 1908

Not legendary in the sense of its abilities, but by association with Momotaro, the hero of the folklore tale of ‘The Peach Boy.’ Born from a giant peach, Momotaro goes on to defeat the Oni of Onigashima island relying on the sharpness of his sword and his animal companions: a talking dog, monkey and pheasant.

Momotaro Sword makes an appearance in Kamen Rider, a popular Japanese Tokusatsu show. Even though his sword is normal, I would imagine its association with the popular folkloric tale would make it legendary, along with some relevant perks such as extra bleed damage.

6 - Issun Boshi’s Needle

Illustration and text of the tale of Issun Bōshi from Otogi-zōshi, published in circa 1725.

This might sound strange as Issun Boshi’s needle is just that, a needle. Hailing from the tale of the One-inch boy. In the original tale, a childless old couple prayed to Sumiyoshi Sanjin for a child, and they received one. A child that happened to be one inch tall and never grew. Eventually, he headed to the city to become a warrior with a bowl as a boat, a chopstick as a paddle, a needle as a sword and a piece of straw acting as a scabbard.

Further on in the story, an Oni kidnaps a young girl, and Issun Boshi goes on a quest to defeat the Oni and rescue the girl. When he attempts to save the girl, the Oni swallows him up, and using his needle, Issun repeatedly stabs the inside of the beast until he spits him out and surrenders. Using the Oni’s magic hammer, Issun swings it around and grows to a height of 6 shaku (6ft) and marries the girl. This is one weapon that could appear in name only, as it would be weird to have Naoe or Yasuke wielding a needle.

5 - Totsuka no Tsurugi

Susanoo-No-Mikoto, one of the Shinto gods and wielder of Ame no Habakiri - Susanoo slaying Yamata no Orochi, woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

The term Totsuka no Tsurugi translates as Sword of Ten-Hand Breadths or ten-palm lengths, referring to the size. Confusingly, you might think that this term refers to one sword, when in fact, it refers to a mythological group of swords used by the Gods of Shinto legend. Each of the swords usually has a separate name, such as Ame no Ohbari and Ame no Habakiri, the sword of the Storm God, Susanoo.

While we know that Shadows will have limited mythological and Isu presence, if at all, that doesn’t know Ubisoft from referencing the myths and legends; especially if it’s from the perspective of the people who lived in this period where religion was a major part of everyday life.

4 - Dōjikiri Yasutsuna

Tachi "Dōjigiri" (童子切, "Slayer of Shuten-dōji"), a National Treasure showcased in the Tokyo National Museum. The sword was forged in the 10-12th centuries by the swordsmith Hōki-no-Kuni Yasutsuna

Dōjikiri, or the Slayer of Shuten-dōji, is arguably the most famous and revered of the Tenka Goken blades; Tenka Goken means The Five Greatest Swords Under Heaven.

Crafted by the famous bladesmith, Hōki-no-Kuni Yasutsuna, around the 10th and 12th centuries AD. The Japanese view this as a national treasure and it is displayed in Tokyo’s National Museum.

Perhaps the most famous feat of the Dojikiri is slaying the monstrous orge, Shuten-dōji, who plagued the Izu province. At this point, the sword was wielded by Minamoto no Yorimitsu, a prominent member of the Minamoto clan. Of course, while the slaying of the orge is likely fictional, Yorimitsu’s military exploits are well-documented.

3 - Onimaru Kunitsuna

Onimaru Kunitsuna, as seen in Naruto

Crafted by Awataguchi Sakon-no-Shōgen Kunitsuna, this sword belonged to one of the shoguns of the Ashikaga clan that ruled over Japan in the 14th to 16th century. A story in the historical epic Taiheiki states that the sword could move on its own and killed a demon tormenting Hojo Tokimasa of the Kamakura Shogunate.

The Oni plagued Tokimasa until an old man presented himself as the spirit of the sword in his dreams. He was told to polish the sword by the old man and once Tokimasa did so, the sword sprung to life and cut down the demon.

2 - Muramasa Blades

Muramasa (勢州桑名住村正) from the Tokyo National Museum

Muramasa was a famous swordsmith who founded the Muramasa school of swordsmithing and lived during the Muromachi period. Despite his swords being favoured by Tokugawa Ieyasu the first Shogun, he and his sword gained an unfavourable reputation during the 18th century and ever since, Muramasa has become an umbrella term for ‘yoto’, or cursed swords.

In their book Secrets of the Samurai: The Martial Arts of Feudal Japan, Oscar Ratti and Adele Westbrook stated that Muramasa "was a most skilful smith but a violent and ill-balanced mind verging on madness, that was supposed to have passed into his blades. They were popularly believed to hunger for blood and to impel their warrior to commit murder or suicide."

This perspective was further compounded by Kabuki plays and Ukiyo-e such as A Tale of Sano Jirōzaemon. Playgoers rumoured that Jirōzaemon murdered his lover with a cursed sword. The kabuki drama Kago-tsurube Sato-no-Eizame (1888) claimed that his sword was forged by Muramasa.

If a Muramasa were to appear in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, it would be the first time a cursed sword has made its way into an AC game.

1 - Masamune

The katana nicknamed Kanze Masamune in the Tokyo National Museum. National Treasure.

The antithesis of Masamura, Masamune’s blade is often seen as pure-spirited. In a tale told in Masamune: His Work, His Fame, His Legacy, Muramasa challenged his master, Masamune, to see who could forge a better sword. They both contest suspended their blades in a small creek with the cutting edge facing against the current.

Muramasa's sword cut everything that passed its way; fish and leaves alike , the very air which blew on it. Highly impressed with his pupil's work, Masamune lowered his sword into the current and waited patiently.

Only leaves were cut. However, the fish swam right up to it, and the air hissed as it gently blew by the blade. Muramasa, unimpressed with his master's work, Muramasa scoffed. Smiling to himself, Masamune pulled up his sword, dried it, and sheathed it.

All the while, Muramasa was jeering at his master for his sword's inability to cut anything. A monk, who had been watching the whole ordeal, walked over and bowed low to the two swordmasters. He then began to explain what he had seen.

“The first of the swords was by all accounts a fine sword, however, it is a blood-thirsty, evil blade, as it does not discriminate as to who or what it will cut. It may just as well be cutting down butterflies as severing heads. The second was by far the finer of the two, as it does not needlessly cut that which is innocent and undeserving.”

While the Isu will have a less of a presence in Shadows, I fully expect Ubisoft to reference mythological tales and stories as well as real life history.

This list is far from extensive and there are many weapons that I haven't included such as Sasaki Kojiro's Odachi or Ame no Nuhoko.

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