A classic debate: Who is the greatest sword fighter in the Multiverse?

Lore forum

Posted on Oct. 26, 2018, 11:01 p.m. by legendofa

This is what I think about when I'm driving around for work.

Who is the strongest sword fighter in Magic: the Gathering? I'm putting two criteria in: your nominee must use a sword, and you should be able to defend your selection. (If anyone says Squire, I'll be very interested to hear the reasoning.)

I nominate Konda, Lord of Eiganjo. By himself, he is as strong as any three ordinary soldiers. When he starts really fighting, he's on par with ancient dragons and marine monstrosities. The indestructibility is a side effect of stealing That Which Was Taken, but even without it, he is in the realm of creatures that define entire planes.

Any contenders?

DuTogira says... #2

Toss up between Puresteel Paladin (because holy hell this guy can easily wield 5 swords at once) and Vona, Butcher of Magan (because her sword will break you and your sword, and your ship).

Worst swordfighter: Akroma, Angel of Wrath because look how she holds that sword. It’s stuck between her torso and her armpit... she’s either gotta drop the sword to fix her grip on it or cut her arm off trying to draw the sword... what a noob. Like seriously, WHO HOLDS A SWORD LIKE THAT?!

October 26, 2018 11:17 p.m. Edited.

QuilavaUchiha says... #3

I'd have to nominate Michiko Konda, Truth Seeker, as she was able to defeat both Konda, Lord of Eiganjo and O-Kagachi, Vengeful Kami. In all fairness, she was helped by Kyonda(the freed spirit of That Which Was Taken), but that still means she had a major hand in the defeat of both Konda, Lord of Eiganjo AND O-Kagachi, Vengeful Kami, which is more difficult than singe-handedly defeating either one alone.

October 26, 2018 11:17 p.m.

shadow63 says... #4

I dont know enough about the lore to really back this up but Odric, Master Tactician or Thalia, Guardian of Thraben I'm mostly intrested in where this goes

October 26, 2018 11:52 p.m.

legendofa says... #5

After these early entries, has a very strong presence. Makes sense, since discipline and rigorous training is important. Don't let this stop you from suggesting another sword fighter, though--I'm interested in all responses!

October 27, 2018 12:04 a.m.

dusterGGG says... #6

Tetsuo Umezawa defeated Nicky B.

October 27, 2018 12:36 a.m.

legendofa says... #7

Responding to what's in right now:

DuTogira Maybe Puresteel Paladin is a battle juggler? That would be fun to watch. And Vona, Butcher of Magan does have 400 years of experience in putting holes in stuff--she says so herself. Akroma is clearly using the Mystic Angel Backhand Style, which encourages the use of awkward body position to strike from unexpected angles. (Is anybody buying this?)

QuilavaUchiha coming in with story over mechanics. Totally valid. And Michiko did defeat her father, with help from a spirit fusion. Does that make her any less of a sword fighter? Well, that's why this debate is classic, right? ;) Good call.

shadow63 Pull up a chair, grab some popcorn, and watch the fun!

Anybody else: Feel free to support your favorite, as well as putting in nominations. Just keep it cool and friendly.

October 27, 2018 12:41 a.m.

legendofa says... #8

dusterGGG Tetsuo Umezawa is one of very, very few to even challenge Nicol Bolas, let alone survive, let alone come out on top. He did have to use a unique spell, though. Still a strong contender.

https://mtg.gamepedia.com/Meteor_Hammer

October 27, 2018 12:49 a.m.

Gleeock says... #9

Danitha Capashen, Paragon, Gerrard Capashen, Mirri, Weatherlight Duelist - All have to be in the discussion... probably Edgar Markov as well

October 27, 2018 11:24 a.m.

ERoss8 says... #10

Brass Squire and Legion Loyalist

Bring em down to your level, where you have the advantage

October 28, 2018 12:01 a.m.

shadow63 says... #11

Heavenly Blademaster shes so good that she powers up everybody

October 28, 2018 11:03 a.m.

Ej1997 says... #12

Gisela blade of the Goldnight was the strongest of Avacyns lieutenants and could defeat hordes of the undead and demons while also leading the entirety of the goldnight

October 28, 2018 11:13 p.m.

I think this should be looked at two ways - best swordsman and best magically enhanced swordsman. A lot of the nominees have had to heavily rely on magic (thinking about Tetsuo Umezawa) to augment their natural abilities. In this vein of swordsman, I think Nahiri, the Lithomancer is a good candidate. She has thousands of years of experience, and not only can she wield two swords at once, Nahiri's Wrath depicts her with 5. So while her raw talent as a swordsman (swordswoman?) might be less than other characters from lore, I think she might be able to beat many of them with her enhanced abilities.

October 29, 2018 6:02 p.m.

FogonaFrog66 says... #14

I don’t think my research is as deep or respectable as the comments before me, but Fencing Ace could hold his own with a blade.

November 1, 2018 9:12 a.m.

sonnet666 says... #15

If you read through all the story the answer is probably Ob Nixilis of the Black Oath.

From THE FIRST WORLD IS THE HARDEST:

I muttered seven words under my breath. Raximar shook his head as both our ears popped.

"What? I didn't hear that."

I snapped my fingers, and one of Raximar's guards shuddered. The guard took lurching, uneven steps over to me, drew his greatsword, and handed it to me. I snapped my fingers again, and the other six guards in the room all slumped, lifeless, to the floor. The wave of expended magic tasted like hot tar in the back of my throat.

Raximar drew his sword and stood, taking a moment to find his bearings. "What is this? Guards!"

I smiled. "No sound will escape this place for the next several minutes. And your closest guard? I cursed them years ago. Up until this moment, I wasn't sure whether the enchantment would hold this long. Lucky me."

Raximar looked around frantically, and said nothing.

"Here's what's going to happen. You and I are going to engage in a rite of challenge, and then I'm going to take over your forces."

He scoffed. "You've never given a moment's thought to the old codes! Rite of challenge? Ridiculous!"

"You're right, of course. It's nonsense. But you have a reputation as an honorable man. It's the sort of stupid thing you'd do. And either way, I'm going to kill you and tell the rest of your men that that's what happened. So we might as well."

Raximar slammed his helmet down over his bright red face. "You're a coward, Nixilis. If this is how you want to die, so be it."

I stepped into a back stance and leveled the tip of my greatsword at him.

"Begin."

The greatsword is an easily misunderstood weapon. A novice feels the heft and striking power of the weapon, and concludes that it rewards pure force. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is an indescribably complex tool, a lever and a thrusting wedge, and especially against a brute like Raximar, not a big metal club to be swung around as hard as you can.

Raximar was bigger, faster, and younger. He could practically use his blade one-handed, and the sheer crushing force he could generate could shatter stone and bone alike. So I let him come to me. He opened with a series of huge, reaching, diagonal cuts, and I kept my distance, just at the edge of his reach. I kept my balance low, trying to avoid the need to actually parry one of his strikes. A hard parry is as good as getting hit. He took a giant lateral cut, and I stepped in to meet it. As the cut approached, I flipped the sword upward from beneath, redirecting the attack high over my head. It left me in position to deliver a crushing shot to Raximar's right hip; despite his armor, I knew I had damaged bone. He flinched hard, but to his credit, he stayed upright.

But it was irrelevant. A wound like that limited his mobility, and against an opponent who was willing to fight patiently, that meant the fight was over. I wore him down over the next two minutes, delivering a glancing shot to his shoulder, then a swift cut to the left knee. He stumbled with a desperate strike, and I slammed my sword upward into his wrists, breaking both and sending the sword flying.

Raximar dropped to his knees, barely able to hold his body off the floor. He was panting, desperate for air, desperate for a way out. I rammed the sword down on the back of his neck, and it was done."

And before anyone says it. Nahiri beat him with lithomancy when they were both pre-mending planeswalkers, not in a sword duel.

November 5, 2018 6:34 p.m.

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