Unsheathing the Power: Exploring the Best 5 Magic Swords in Fantasy Literature

Magic swords have captivated readers for a long time. More than mere weapons, these legendary blades usually end up representing traits within their wielders. Sometimes these traits are duty and honour, like King Arthur with Excalibur, but sometimes they showcase a character's struggle with the costs of wielding such power.

Many of them have become part of our culture, with names like Excalibur, Masamune, Andúril being known by many fantasy fans. There are so many magic swords, and all of them are cool.

In my Sisters of Jade Trilogy, there is the mottled blade. Imbuing the wielder with tendrils of dark magic, this weapon enhances both strength and speed, and offers a bit of protection from attacks. But the dark magic inside the sword desires to be released. In the hands of a weaker soul, there is a danger that magic will claw its way free. Only a strong-willed wielder can contain the darkness within the mottled blade and still use its power.

Magic swords carry a fascinating history and distinct personality that enriches the stories they're in. In this blog post, I will share my 5 favorite and best magical swords from fantasy literature. There will be minor spoilers here for the Elric Saga, the Wheel of Time, the Shannara Series, A Song of Ice and Fire, and the Malazan Book of the Fallen.

5. Stormbringer from the Elric Saga

Strombringer is the truly awesome weapon in Michael Moorcock's Elric Saga. When first written, it held a unique place among magical swords in fiction, but as time passed other swords inspired by this evil blade have been created. I don't think Erikson's Dragnipur or my own mottled blade would be the same without Stormbringer coming first.

Also called the Black Blade, the Black Sword, and the Stealer of Souls, Stormbringer appears as a huge, black blade (vaguely flesh-like, which I absolutely adore) covered with strange runes. Created by the forces of Chaos, it is in truth a demon in the form of a sword.

Stormbringer grants enormous power to its wielder, but its ability to absorb souls binds Elric to a tragic fate. With each soul taken, Elric's struggle deepens, highlighting the consequences of wielding such great power. Stormbringer showcases the eternal conflict between chaos and order, showing that magic swords can come with significant sacrifices and dark repercussions.

4. Callandor from the Wheel of Time

Callandor, also called The Sword That Is Not a Sword or The Sword That Cannot Be Touched, is a powerful artifact from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time.

This legendary weapon is a crystal sword that serves as a symbol of the Dragon Reborn's authority and strength. Callandor is unique in that it is both a sword and a sa'angreal (a channeling focus that amplifies a male wielder's ability to channel the One Power). The sword is not only a weapon but also a tool for accessing immense amounts of power, making it a critical element in the struggle against the Dark One and his forces.

Callandor is most famously wielded by Rand al'Thor, the Dragon Reborn. When Rand takes up the sword, he gains the ability to channel the One Power with greater potency, allowing him to perform feats that would otherwise be impossible. While a weapon of great power, the sword also carries significant risks. Its immense power can be overwhelming, and it has the potential to lead its wielder to madness if not handled with caution. Callandor is a warning, representing both the potential for great good and the danger of unchecked aggression in the ongoing battle between light and darkness in the Wheel of Time.

3. Ice, Oathkeeper, and Widow's Wail from A Song of Ice and Fire

In George RR Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, swords are not merely weapons. They are symbols of power, duty, and legacy. Among the most notable blades is Ice, the ancestral sword of House Stark, wielded by stupidly noble Ned Stark. I'm cheating here, because by talking about Ice, I really get to talk about 3 swords...

Ice is a massive, two-handed greatsword made of Valyrian steel, and the surface of the blade is dark and smoky. The Starks are committed to justice and their deep-rooted connection to the North, so Ned using Ice to execute a deserter and Lady serves as a poignant reminder of his unwavering sense of duty and the harsh realities of leadership in a brutal world.

Ice eventually meets a tragic fate, with the sword being taken by the Lannisters and reforged into two separate blades: Oathkeeper and Widow's Wail. Oathkeeper is originally forged for Jaime Lannister. The blade has black and red ripples through the steel. Jaime later gives it to Breanne, solidifying his complex journey toward honor and redemption. Widow's Wail, with its cherry red hue, is given to Joffrey Baratheon, representing the cruelty and tyranny that often accompany power.

I know, I know... these blades aren't as "magical" as others on the list. They aren't are bathed in the liquid death of the Hadeshorn. They can't cleave balefire or consume souls. That said, I love the symbolism of the blades nonetheless. The division of Ice into these two swords illustrates the fragmentation of House Stark's legacy, and even once it is reforged continues to symbolize the ongoing struggle for power in Westeros.

2. The Sword of Leah from the Shannara Series

Originally, the Sword of Leah was just a family heirloom wielded by Menion Leah in The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks. It is an impressive weapon, but there is no magic in the blade - yet. It isn't until Brin Ohmsford's quest in the Wishsong of Shannara when the blade truly gains its magic.

Here, the druid Allanon dips the blade into the waters of the Hadeshorn and then seals the magic with his druid's fire. This is a big moment not just for the sword but for the Leah bloodline, making Rone as much a defender of Brin as the druid.

The blade is a black, mirrored surface with murky green pools of light swirling deep within the metal. Unlike the other magic swords I've mentioned here, there isn't any independent will or malice inherent within the blade. The sword represents duty and honour, a devotion to defending what is right.

There are two other noteworthy magical blades in the Shannara books, the Stiehl and the Sword of Shannara, but the Sword of Leah was always my favourite. Rone Leah wields the blade in Wishsong, but it is passed down through the generations, from Rone to Morgan, Quentin, Paxon, and beyond as the story continues.

1. Dragnipur from the Malazan Book of the Fallen

And now for my favourite magical sword on the this list. Dragnipur is a legendary sword from the Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson. Yes, there are quite a few magic blades and other weapons both Erikson's and Esslemont's Malazan books. There are otataral blades. Hust swords. Kyle's weapons, Tcharka and Whiteblade. Traveller's sword, Vengenace. But none hold a candle to the beast that is Dragnipur.

The weapon is described as a two-handed sword with a silver dragonskull pommel and an archaic crosshilt. Long story short, Dragnipur houses a warren. As an homage to Moorcock's Stormbringer, this sword consumes souls. Those the weapon kills are transported into a realm within the sword, and it only gets cooler for the reader but worse for the characters from there.

Dragnipur is wielded by the character Anomander Rake, the enigmatic and powerful Tiste Andii lord. Rake is a complex figure, embodying both heroism and tragedy, and he carries Dragnipur with a sense of burden and responsibility. As a wielder of the sword, Rake is not only a formidable warrior but also a guardian of the balance between light and darkness. His connection to the blade is deeply personal, as it represents the sacrifices he has made and the consequences of wielding such immense power. (Here's that theme again that power is in fact a burden. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, right?) Throughout the series, Rake's relationship with Dragnipur serves as a poignant reminder of the cost of power and the moral dilemmas faced by those who seek to change the world.

Final Thoughts on the Best Magical Swords in Fantasy

Magic swords in fantasy literature are not just weapons, they are integral to the stories they inhabit, revealing complex relationships between characters and their weapons. Each of the five legendary swords explored here has left a lasting impact on me both as a reader and a writer.

As I continue my journey through the exciting world of fantasy, I'm always drawn to the stories behind these blades. They remind us of the epic journeys and moral dilemmas faced by their wielders. Whether you're a reader or a writer, I hope this celebration of magic swords encourages you to deepen your exploration of fantasy literature.

Cheers, and thanks for reading.

Medieval Sword in Snow by Zain Abba