What is the best sword in One Piece?

For true One Piece fans, here is the great Guide for Legendary Swords.

Swords are the most stylish and traditional melee weapon in almost every culture across the globe. They come in all shapes and sizes, with curved or straight blades, sometimes made for stabbing and other times made for slashing. And since One Piece is a world full of Pirates, Bandits, Knights, the Marine and of course Samurais there are a lot of various swords and sword fighters. This guide highlights not only the different ranking systems, but also the 10 most legendary swords in One Piece.

Classifications

In the realm of One Piece, there are three categories for the classification and four categories for the grading of legendary swords.

The three categories for the classification of the legendary swords are subdivided into so-called Meito blades, Kokuto blades and Yoto blades.

Meito [meaning Famed Blade], a sword that has gained its own fame, so people recognize it by seeing it. Meitos are of high quality and superior craftsmanship. They are adored by many for their great cutting power and exceptional durability that makes them far superior to ordinary swords. They are considered priceless items, being worth millions of Berrys. Some of them are family heirlooms, or even a country's most prized national treasure.

Kokuto [meaning Black Blade], a sword with a black blade. For a sword to become a Black Blade, it has to endure countless battles so the possibility arises, that it turns permanently black, then it will be specified as Kokuto. Black Blades are stronger than ordinary swords and are well known for their impressive resilience. Also, it is said, that should a swordsman be able to turn their blade into a Black Blade, its grade would increase by a rank. Known Kokuto Blades are Yoru [Night] owned by Dracule Mihawk and Shusui [Autumn Water] temporarily owned by Roronoa Zoro. 

Yoto [meaning Cursed Blade] is a sword that carries a curse and brings misfortune to its wielder, but can be overpowered if the owner’s luck [or wickedness] is superior. Known Yoto Blades, are Kikoku [Demon Wail] currently owned by Trafalgar D. Water Law, Shodai Kitetsu [First generation Demon Splitter] assumed to be owned by the bald member of the Five Elders, Nidai Kitetsu [Second Generation Demon Splitter] currently owned by Tenguyama Hitetsu and Sandai Kitetsu [Third Generation Demon Splitter] currently owned by Roronoa Zoro.

Grading

The four categories of grading of the legendary swords are subdivided into so-called Wazamono [Grade Swords] of unknown number, the 49 Ryo Wazamono [Skillful Grade Swords], the 21 O Wazamono [Great Grade Swords] and the 12 Saijo O Wazamono [Supreme Grade Swords].

For the grading of the swords, there are Wazamono [Grade Swords], which are an unknown number of sharp Grade Swords of the lowest grade possible for a Meito blade. Shigure currently owned by Tashigi and Sandai Kitetsu currently owned by Roronoa Zoro are both Wazamono blades.

Ryo Wazamono [Skillful Grade Swords] are blades of higher quality than normal Grade Swords. There are 49 Skillful Grade Swords [previously 50, before Yubashiri was destroyed] in the world of One Piece.

Confirmed Ryu Wazamono swords are Kashu and Yamaoroshi, both currently owned by Tashigi and Yubashiri previously owned by Roronoa Zoro before it was destroyed.

O Wazamono [Great Grade Swords], are 21 Great Grade Swords of a very high level in quality. Only eclipsed by the Saijo O Wazamono [Supreme Grade Swords]. These blades which are confirmed to be of great grade are Nidai Kitetsu [meaning Second Generation Demon Splitter] currently owned by Tenguyama Hitetsu, Wado Ichimonji and Enma both owned by Roronoa Zoro, Shusui returned back to Shimotsuki Ryuma and Ame no Habakiri currently owned by Kozuki Momonosuke.

Saijo O Wazamono [Supreme Grade Swords] are the 12 Supreme Grade Swords of the highest quality. Confirmed to be of supreme grade are, Yoru owned by Dracule Mihawk, Shodai Kitetsu [meaning First-generation Demon Splitter] owned by the bald member of Five Elders and Murakumogiri owned by Whitebeard before his death.

Then there are also unclassified Meitos, these are blades that have been confirmed as Meito, but their grade hasn’t been specified yet. These swords are Raiu currently owned by Shiryu, Durandal currently owned by Cavendish, Shirauo currently owned by Charlotte Amande and Pretzel currently owned by Charlotte Cracker.

Of course, this list is at least partially subjective. Also we tried to stay within the parameters of our two previous parts of the Legendary Sword Guide. There are certain parameters that decided whether certain legendary swords appeared on the top ten list. History, grade, rarity in classification, fame and so on and so forth.

Meaning: there are not too many known Kokuto or Yoto blades, which makes them extremely rare and interesting. This list includes lore heavy blades, blades of personal importance to certain main characters, they're absolute uniqueness or straight up because of the coolness factor. Besides Trafalgar Laws cursed sword, Kiokou, these are all blades of true sword fighters and not characters who channel their devil fruit powers through their swords. There is a big difference. We also left out some spoilers, this guide is up to the point of Chapter 974 in the One Piece Manga 96 [Print]. So the fight with Kaido did not happen yet. Very important to mention for this list!

The 10 most Legendary Swords List

10 Murakumogiri - Whitebeard - Classification: Meito, Grading: Saijo O Wazamono 

It was used by Edward Newgate for over 30 years until his death. As one of the 12 Supreme Grade swords, Murakumogiri is one of the most powerful weapons ever created.

9 Shodai Kitetsu - Bald head guy with glasses of the Five Elders - Classification: Meito, Yoto, Grading: Saijo O Wazamono

Shodai Kitetsu is one of the 12 Supreme Grade swords, a cursed blade and among the strongest, highest-quality swords ever smithed, also the highest grade of the three Kitetsu Swords.

8 Nidai Kitetsu - Tenguyama Hitetsu - Classification: Meito, Yoto Grading: O Wazamono 

Nidai Kitetsu is cursed and among the finest blades in the world, being the second strongest of the Kitetsu swords with extraordinary sharpness and strength.

7 Ame No Habakiri - Kozuki Momonosuke - Classification: Meito, Grading: O Wazamono 

Ame no Habakiri was once wielded by Kozuki Oden alongside his other blade, Enma, both swords were the only weapons [until the present day] ever to injure Kaido.

6 Enma - Zoro - Classification: Meito, Grading: O Wazamono

Enma has the distinctive trait of drawing out Busoshoku Haki from its wielder. This makes it extremely difficult to wield, so much that Oden was the only one to have ever tamed Enma (obviously now Zoro has also tamed it).

5 Sandai Kitetsu - Zoro - Classification: Meito, Yoto, Grading: Wazamono

Sandai Kitetsu is cursed, bloodthirsty and was the last of the three Kitetsu blades to be made.

4 Kikoku - Trafalgar Law - Classification: Yoto, Grading: none

Kikoku is a cursed sword, but surprisingly not a ranked blade at all. Still probably the most famous blade from One Piece especially in the world of cosplay.

3 Wado Ichimonji - Zoro - Classification: Meito, Grading: O Wazamono 

The Wado Ichimonji is a sword of great personal importance to Roronoa Zoro, after Kuina's death, the sword was in the possession of her father, Koushirou. Zoro declared to Koushirou that he will become the strongest swordsman in the world and asked for the sword.

2 Shusui - Zoro - Classification: Meito, Kokuto, Grading: O Wazamono

Shusui is one of the finest swords in the world, being a „Black Blade“ and a national treasure of Wano Kuni. After training with Dracule Mihawk for two years, Shusui has become Zoro's favored blade.

1 Yoru - Dracule Mihawk - Classification: Meito, Kokuto, Grading: Saijo O Wazamono

As a Supreme Grade sword, Yoru ranks among the strongest, highest-quality swords ever crafted and is additionally a „Black Blade“ that is currently owned by Dracule Mihawk, the "Strongest Swordsman in the World“.

About the author:
Karim Murtada is a design student and creative multi-talent based in Germany. Having grown up reading Japanese Manga, listening to Rap and skateboarding, he also developed a great interest in design, art and architecture more recently that he is channelling and reflecting on in his articles.