The Best in Fictional Weaponry: The Sword of Omens

*Originally published on 2/27/12



While not as iconic or recognizable as Excalibur or the Master Sword, the Sword of Omens is a potent weapon in its own right. For those who are either unfamiliar with the franchise, or have a foggy memory of it, the Sword of Omens was the weapon wielded by Lion-O, leader of the Thundercats.

As one would expect from a high fantasy series, this particular weapon has a variety of attributes that make it far more impressive than your every day, run of the mill sword. Much like the Master Sword, it is a legendary weapon in universe, though to my knowledge it does not have the divine ties that Link's weapon does. It is however, clearly stated to be mystical in nature.

What the Sword of Omens does have is the ability to fire bolts of energy. This gives Lion-O a ranged attack without needing to burden himself with another weapon. Even when comparing this weapon to the animated Master Sword, it comes out on top simply due to the fact that the energy fired is much more powerful than the basic bolts that the animated Link's weapon shot.

Interestingly enough, the sword seems to have some level of sentience. It has an eye and can grant Lion-O an ability called "sight beyond sight" when he looks through two holes in the hilt. This allows him to see across great distances. The eye also acts as a warning system, "waking up" whenever it is needed.

Further proving the weapon's sentience is the fact that it can obey commands. If Lion-O lost his grip on the sword and it fell, he could command it to come back to him and it would comply accordingly.

The sword also takes many shapes. It starts off as a basic short sword, though in some shots it looks more like a dagger, but as Lion-O calls upon its power, the blade extends and becomes thinner, making it more like a katana or a long sword.

Even in basic combat, the sword is a potent asset. It is capable of cutting through steel with little trouble and the blade never seems to dim. I guess that's one of the perks of a magic sword.

While the weapon is powerful in its own right, the value of the weapon increases when we learn that it is the true source of the Thundercats' power and allows him to call on them when the situation calls for it.

Though Thundercats is one of the more iconic nostalgic shows and the recent re-launched series has also proven quite popular, the Sword of Omens remains under the radar when it comes to renowned fictional weapons. It's a pity too as it definitely has its advantages in terms of use in combat.