Fantasy swords appear in many shapes and sizes: they can be an updated version of movie props from virtual video games or popular films; transform fictional medieval swords into real swords; or are fruits of the smith’s creativity. Many of them are not functional swords, their utility being toned down by design.

Dark Fantasy Swords: A subgenre of fantasy swords

The most interesting type of fantasy swords are the dark fantasy swords. They are swords whose designs are a mixture of the fantastic and the horrific. They have the appearance of fantasy because of their intricate designs. They are filled with signs and symbols of horror as well, ornaments that evoke a sense of dread and fright. The attraction of dark fantasy swords is fairly simple: horror is human’s primal instinct, and fantasy heightens it. The presence of supernatural beings—like ghouls, ghosts, and gargoyles—makes the swords all the more appealing.

Dark Fantasy Swords Elements

The ornaments on dark fantasy swords range from the simple to the greatly decorated. The Grim Reaper and the Devil’s Trident (to be discussed later on) are fairly bare from any decorative styles, but they are readily recognizable. There rest, however, can be creatively and imaginatively inventive in appearance. From all the designs, there are common elements of dark fantasy swords.

Since they are references to the gothic, the bizarre, and the grotesque, decors such as horns, skulls, bats, femurs, crossbones, exoskeletons, dragons, and beasts are standards. The blades of dark fantasy swords are forged into a variety of forms: tongues of flame, spikes, pointy arcs, and numerous blade points.

Famous dark fantasy swords: The Grim Reaper Scythe

Oddly, the most famous of dark fantasy swords are very simple and in their simplicity, they capture the essence of horror and fantasy all at once. The scythe of Grim Reaper is the first sword that comes to mind. The ancients have the god Thanatus carrying a Greek sword to cut a lock of hair of the dying.

By 15th century however, Western culture has redefined death as Grim Reaper, a skeletal figure carrying a farmer’s scythe. The scythe consists of a wooden stick fitted with a long sharp blade curving towards a rigid, sharp point.

The Devil’s Trident: The three-pronged spear

The trident is the personal arming sword of Greek sea god Poseidon. This three-pronged spear is later on identified with the Demon or Satan, with the symbolic use of stoking the fire in hell to punish wayward souls for eternity. The Devil’s Trident is carried by a two-horned demon who is often sketched having a furry rat tail and cloven hoofs for feet.

Dragon Sword

The dragon sword is another dark fantasy sword that is as legendary as Devils Trident and Grim Reaper Scythe. The dragon sword was used by St. George of Lydda purportedly to convert one whole town to Christianity in 300AD. It has also been the stuff of legend in many cultures, the dragon symbolizing an adversity that only pure-hearted heroes can slay.

In dark fantasy films on the other hand, villains and heroes alike—such as the dragon sword in Highlander film—can be seen carrying swords with dragon decors on them.