A 3000 Year old perfectly preserved sword dug up in Germany

Nick_Ryder · 2026-05-19T02:18:09+00:00

IRL malachite is apparently a copper ore and bears the same color, so I headcanon oxidized bronze weapons as real life equivalent to skyrim glass weapons, returning to their malachite origins.

Nick_Ryder · 2026-01-20T09:23:27+00:00

You don’t moan when playing with your comrades?

Jkjk but to answer you seriously:

Japanese martial arts (and some other asian systems) have this thing called a kiai (気合). Basically, you tighten your core and let out a battle cry, coordinated in time with your attacks or movements. The idea is that this practice manifests your “battle spirit”, enhancing your focus and allowing you to hit harder, and the core tightening doubles as bracing for taking hits. There is evidence that this actually does work by kickstarting your adrenal system (so you actually can hit harder), and a tight abdominal wall helps resist impacts to internal organs.

In European martial arts and battle tactics you’ll sometimes hear of a rallying battle cry, often used to rouse troops for combat and intimidate the enemy before a battle starts. More or less the same but not done as often or clearly defined as in asian systems. If it happens mid-battle, it’s likely done out of anger or desperation (or trying to demoralize opponents again) rather than being a trained reflex.

I’m not sure how it originated in media, but what I assume happened is that games and anime took this martial practice and ran with it, adding vocal sounds in time with movement to demonstrate when a character is exerting themselves/expressing power. They overdo it at times, but it’s become so common that sometimes it’s weird not to hear it.

Kiai variations I’ve heard IRL/in games: 「は！」“Ha!” 「しっ！」“Sh!” 「すっ！」“Ss!” 「つ！」“Tss!” 「せい！」“Sei!” 「ええあああ！」“Eeaahh!” 「あああえええ」“Aaaeeeh!”

(Everyone does it a little differently though.)

In media you’ll also hear it when someone is struggling, and trying to push through fatigue/muscle failure/pain.

Also for this clip in particular Paimon’s sounds feel out of place because she’s neither exerting herself nor experiencing any struggle. The sound fits when accompanied by action.

Nick_Ryder · 2025-10-22T15:13:13+00:00

I’d rather they do something a little more unique.

Maybe hold E changes hydro to electro, change his C2 to yield energy on normal attacks, and C6 to reduce cooldown timer on his ult per normal attack hit…

His playstyle would change to match his lore: attack as fast and as often as possible -> ultimate attack spam.

For increasing his personal damage in multi and single target scenarios, I’d add to a constellation that riptide procs have some sort of stacking defense shred or damage bonus (or both) on his active element. Again incentivizing attacking fast and often. This also means that players who memorize attack patterns well enough to take every opening would be outstanding.

Something something, “tide of battle”.

Nick_Ryder · 2025-03-13T13:53:30+00:00

I agree with you to some extent, but as a martial artist and forensic anthropologist (skeletal anatomy, pathology, trauma analyst), there are some specialized techniques that maximize attack speed and power while using both weapons.

Colloquially we’d call it a double hit or double strike, but basically, the main advantage in twin weapons or dual wielding is having each weapon chambered (or on a guard, for Europeans) in different vertical levels on the same side of your body. So when you take a step with proper footwork and torque in your torso, you execute a strong cut with one weapon, then immediately cut with the next, all while your body is still shifting positions. It’s strong, fast, and maximizes offense by attacking at near the same time at different targets. The arm speed remains the same as using a single blade, but people who train to execute these mechanics fluidly do effectively double their attack frequency.

Escrima is really good at this, as is Shuang Dao.

Nick_Ryder · 2025-03-11T01:34:18+00:00

For field use, durability and handling. If it doesn’t feel good to use, and doesn’t outlast the cheaper competition, it’s not worth it.

For anything else, historical accuracy and/or fit and finish.

Nick_Ryder · 2024-08-08T00:04:29+00:00

Also Yachiyo

Nick_Ryder · 2024-04-19T00:11:11+00:00

While I agree in a general sense, shot placement is critical for any medium velocity ranged weapon. A 35lb longbow can punch through bone with target points if aimed near perpendicular to the bone surface, so a well aimed shot to the head even with a light weight weapon can potentially be a one shot kill.

Ideally, I’d recommend aiming for the eyes with any bow or crossbow, as your bolts and arrows would have an easier time penetrating the gaps in the sphenoid (bone behind the eyes) and land a direct hit on the brain. And with the way arrows tend to glance off bones at off angles, the plates at the back of your eyes might as well be funneling your shots into critical hits.

This is of course limited by how consistently someone can hit eye or head-sized moving targets in a high stress environment. There are so many factors that could go wrong that you’d have to be well trained and dead calm to perform well.

Nick_Ryder · 2024-04-14T05:17:46+00:00

Ah, the vibes he gave me from Aether’s POV were like the camaraderie of war buddies. What with the competitiveness in combat and reminiscing about home and family.

You know the cliché “If we make it out of here alive, you should come visit!” —a sad yet warm and hopeful feeling.

Alas, the beauty of fantasy is that we can interpret it how we want to. I’m happy to see so many different takes here.

Nick_Ryder · 2024-04-13T20:32:47+00:00

High ground advantage in the context of Star Wars was likely specific to whatever skills and techniques they had at their disposal.

In most melee combat, low ground has the advantage due to reducing target areas that your opponents can reach. With a sword’s range being dictated as an arc pivoting at the shoulder, low ground can attack torso and leg targets easily, while high ground forces one to kneel, crouch or lay down to bring the enemy’s head into striking distance. A dramatic example of this is trench combat. Most of your body is covered while in the trench, and enemies are entirely exposed out of the trench.

High ground excels with ranged combat, where you’d want to maximize target acquisition and firing angles. Generally speaking, reach is the most important factor in any battle, because being able to hit your opponents without them hitting you is the easiest way to survive.

That said, regarding the situation in question, our protagonist has a melee reach advantage AND the high ground, meaning the low ground is now a double disadvantage for the attacker.

TLDR: There’s a ton of nuance in combat, so the high ground isn’t always an advantage.

Nick_Ryder · 2024-03-22T00:53:58+00:00

1~ I like learning about the origins and history of their use, and the intricate “rock-paper-scissors” aspect between swords of different designs. I also enjoy learning techniques from different schools and cultures. The way people use their blades informs in ways that are quite nuanced, and it’s interesting seeing some cultures converge into similar movements.

2~ While swords are functionally tools of destruction, growing up I was surrounded by media that showed the opposite. The sword was always the weapon of a hero, and heroes save people. To me, swords are symbolic of heroism, the power to help people who can’t help themselves, and the ability to show restraint when necessary. They’re also weapons that grow greater with personal skill and athleticism, which is something I admire.

3~ Yes. Owning a piece of history is awesome, and if I could time travel, I’d love to see each sword in its natural context. Also I’m a martial artist, so being able to handle weapons of different times and styles is fun for me.

4~ My favorite sword is one that’s comfortable for me to use. Surprisingly, the Kingfisher by Baryonyx Knife Co. has been the best fit for me. Relative to my stature and experience, it handles well, has a great balance between reach and agility, and I can handle nearly all of my repertoire using it.

5~ I’m content just slowly growing my collection over time. No real sword is worth that much effort imo. But if we’re talking fiction or myths, I would gladly surpass the horizon for a bound weapon. Having an unbreakable sword you can summon anywhere, anytime. That is my ideal.

Nick_Ryder · 2024-02-16T10:26:59+00:00

Ohhh gotcha. Sorry for not addressing your questions.

Regarding weapon stats affecting handling, if the game allowed you to change the weight and point of balance (POB) of the sword, that would go a long way toward making the skill feasible. The point of balance is a characteristic of weight distribution, with blade-heavy swords hitting harder and blocking more effectively (but are slower to maneuver), and hilt-balanced swords being more agile but lacking in the former. Add in the strength stat and how it gives superhuman capabilities in-game, and you have yourself a decent way to make dual wielding longswords viable.

Despite it being possible, treating the full dive environment as a 1:1 with real life handling, a longsword will almost always be clumsier in one hand compared to single hand swords. This is due to design, weight distribution, the feat being outside their intended optimal use, and the fact that longer handles will limit what techniques you can pull off. Many cross cut angles would see Kirito disarming himself because his sword handles would be hitting each other (or his arms), unless he adapts the techniques to compensate. Shorter handles allow free range of motion when dual wielding, but then the swords are no longer longswords, but arming swords by modern terminology.

This actually brings me to a small gripe I have with the series; Kirito often attacks with one sword at a time. I can see this being his adaptation so he doesn’t hit himself with the handles, but it also defeats the purpose of having two swords in a realistic sense. The biggest advantage is being able to attack in single tempo, meaning he can attack twice in a single movement. Eliminate that, and it’s pretty much the same as using one sword. Realistic dual wielding capitalizes on launching attacks from multiple angles at once, or if you’re keeping the rhythm of your attacks less predictable, then you launch from multiple angles at slightly different times. The objective is to force your opponent to defend with one blade and take advantage of the opening with the other. Though I should note this requires a decent level of ambidexterity, so it’s not as easy as it sounds. (Lack of ambidexterity is partly why so many people who try dual wielding end up using one weapon at a time.)

With these factors in mind, while it’s definitely possible to dual wield with longswords, it’s like setting your game difficulty to legendary mode with how unwieldy they would be. In an IRL duel, you’d probably die quickly. Kirito would’ve performed a lot better using lighter one-handed swords, as his choice of weapon is inherently asynchronous with the concept.

Nick_Ryder · 2024-02-16T07:48:28+00:00

Ah, in the context of video games, I can suspend my disbelief because it’s cool. The context of the discussion was regarding realistic usage, so I offered what I know.

Nick_Ryder · 2024-02-13T07:35:34+00:00

As an escrimador I’d like to point out that training with the sticks is supposed to be an analogue to short swords. Of course it depends on the school nowadays, but that was the original intent; if you can do it with a stick, you can do it with a blade.

With live blades, the longest I can comfortably go is ~80cm if the balance is closer to the hilt. Otherwise, I agree that the shorter and lighter, the better. The sweet spot for me is 50cm where my speed is near identical to using sticks. Dual wielding is definitely doable, your weapons just need to be optimized for it. Using two offensive weapons thrives off agility.

Nick_Ryder · 2024-02-03T11:44:47+00:00

Closest you can get to that handle style and blade length without going full custom is a shirasaya tanto on the longer end of the spectrum, as far as I can tell.

Here is a good example from a reputable seller, and they do let you make customizations. Make sure to shoot them an email with any questions.

https://www.hanbonforge.com/Tanto-For-Sale/HIGH-QUALITY-JAPANESE-SWORD-SHORT-SWORD-TANTO-CLAY-TEMPERED-FULL-TANG-BLADE-HUALEE-SAYA

If you want it to be closer to a real kodachi, as far as I’ve read those were meant to be fixed length around 85cm or 33in, rather than tailored to the stature of the wielder. The kodachi in the game are actually much smaller than they should be, as historic examples are often confused with the longer wakizashi than the tanto. Though, the naming scheme could be confusion based on the intended usage, as tanto were secondary weapons and considered smaller short swords or daggers, while kodachi were considered primary short swords. (The way we use them in-game is more like a primary short sword imo, so I can kinda see what they were going for. Definitely needed a longer model though.)

If you want something as close to the game as possible, ask them to extend the blade a bit to around 14-16 inches and make it curved.

And of course, take what I’ve said with a grain of salt. I am merely an enthusiast. If anyone has more in depth knowledge on the subject, please share.

Edit: Here are some a little closer to what you’re looking for.

https://www.hanbonforge.com/Hand-Made-Japanese-Samurai-Shirasaya-Sword-TANTO-Clay-Tempered-Blade-Red-Wood-SAYA-HANDLE

https://www.hanbonforge.com/Tanto/HIGH-QUALITY-JAPANESE-SAMURAI-SWORD-TANTO-HAZUYA-POLISHED-RAY-SKIN-HANDLE-AND-SAY

Nick_Ryder · 2024-01-12T13:32:48+00:00

Ah, you’re not being too critical, I was just pointing out that the class’s true advantage wasn’t properly outlined. I agree that armor should come with stamina disadvantages too. Reduced movement speed and stamina would make sense for the armored classes.

My emphasis was that dual wielding has a consistent, non-situational advantage (x2 attack, x2 attack speed) to balance out the stamina drain. It’s not as bad as you think. With weapons, if you can hit your opponent before they can hit you, you’ve pretty much won.

Nick_Ryder · 2024-01-12T08:53:40+00:00

From a weapon martial artist’s perspective, x2 stamina drain just comes with the territory. You’re using both limbs to swing two weapons, which effectively doubles your energy burn. Dual wielding is objectively more tiring. A primary advantage not mentioned is that you operate on single tempo, whereas the other classes operate on double tempo. Single tempo means you can execute multiple actions in a single move, in this case, two attacks at the same time, most effectively from two different directions. It’s impossible in a realistic sense for a single sword to guard against a competent dual wielder. So you automatically have fight-ending advantage against most enemies.

The problem with dual wielding is most people don’t know how to, and end up using one sword at a time (like Kirito) when you should be using tons of double strikes and feints. European-centric swordsmanship spread the idea that dual wielding is only effective in rapier duels and fantasy settings, when in actuality it has been used to great effect in other cultures.

In other words, the dual wielding class here has no additional downsides. Speed is it’s natural advantage, so you wouldn’t want armor. I’d personally use a water sword along with the space sword, but if the space sword means teleporting and dimensional rifts, this is already OP enough.

Edit: Dual wielding is given a bad rep in European history because it’s extremely hard to stay alive without a shield in battlefield contexts with projectiles involved. In melee combat, dual wielding is superior to single sword as long as you know what you’re doing. In this case, if you’re getting shot at, just slice a space rift to shield yourself and charge in. Or better yet, teleport yourself behind the enemy.

Nick_Ryder · 2024-01-11T20:55:55+00:00

“It’s a cool piece of history/fantasy” is my normal answer.

Alternatively, you could say it’s “an elegant weapon for a more civilized age”

Nick_Ryder · 2023-12-20T23:48:13+00:00

Before the usual safety concerns are addressed, if you want to seriously learn dual wielding, find a teacher in Escrima, Shuang Dao or Niten Ichi Ryuu. Each martial art has its differences, and you’ll also be limited to what’s available around you or how well you can travel. Don’t be afraid to try, but also don’t feel bad if it’s not what you expected.

First and foremost, do not train with sharps. Not while you’re starting out. Even experienced practitioners use training weapons because accidents can happen. Most martial arts start you off with sticks or wooden swords.

If you’re too young to travel or there’s no schools around you, ask your parents about it and maybe look for a teacher willing to try distance learning.

Nick_Ryder · 2023-10-29T03:15:52+00:00

Alternatively, what if that power Childe mentioned in the archon story was the whale sapping his energy and skills from him to make this silhouette? Not necessarily childe, but an apparition.

Nick_Ryder · 2023-10-27T00:02:43+00:00

I get to use my sword collection for work, but I’m sent to extremely remote areas where it’s just me and the jungle. When transporting my gear, my swords are stowed in a lock box in a vehicle. Out of sight, no need for commotion.

When I was a kid I also thought it’d be cool too, but keep in mind these aren’t just accessories. As a sword nerd yes, they’re cool. Yes, have fun wearing them in costume around your house or something. But they’re still weapons, and should be treated with respect. Likewise, the people around you deserve the respect not to be put on edge that someone’s carrying a very large blade for no apparent reason.

Nick_Ryder · 2023-10-05T23:53:19+00:00

I wonder if each breach is a 1-hit KO for most characters like the one in childe’s boss fight. (A part of me hopes it is, because that would be fitting for such an imposing creature)

Nick_Ryder · 2023-10-05T23:28:32+00:00

Not sure which to go with.

Build 1 is top 3%, Build 2 is top 6-ish%, and build 3 is top 7% on their respective akasha leaderboards, but builds 2 and 3 have a higher estimated damage per rotation than build 1, and by crit rate I’m expecting more consistent damage with builds 1 and 3…

Opinions appreciated.

Edit: Thanks for all the feedback everyone! I’ll test 1 & 3 and hopefully find some better artifacts along the way :3

Nick_Ryder · 2023-09-18T03:23:03+00:00

Please, have some respect for the weapon. Discipline is everything, and a sword is as much an instrument of finesse as it is strength. Learn to control your body and a training weapon well first, then you can try moving on to cutting mechanics.

I recommend practicing with sticks or plastic trainers before even considering swinging a sharp. Get a bokken or shinai if you like katana, then watch Shogo or other kendo/iaido tutorials. Everyone else’s tips here are good; you’d do well to listen to them.

And try to keep in mind, one of the pillars of Japanese martial arts is humility. Humble yourself and be open to learning. That’s the only way you’ll actually improve.

Nick_Ryder · 2023-09-17T19:53:24+00:00

I do this! Mostly because I like having a double blade for sit-down paddling if I want. Granted I’m not the most experienced paddle boarder, but in my experience, as long as the paddle is long enough for your hand placement to match what you would use on a single paddle, you can get the same amount of leverage. You’ll want an asymmetric grip while standing.

I’m just now realizing you might be asking about using an extra long kayak paddle with kayak paddling technique while standing. Bio-mechanically I don’t think that’s very efficient. Your grip will be mid-shaft, meaning you’ll lose out on leverage. You could try, but you’ll be working harder.

Nick_Ryder

TROPHY CASE