Can GIANT SWORDS be practical in combat? 

I'm a simple man, I see Berserk, I get my grasses on.

"A giant sword would be difficult to use in a confined area." Guts : **pillar smashing go brr**

"Imagine someone taking a swing, then jumping and flipping with it..." Artorias has entered the chat.

Guts's Dragonslayer is obviously hollow. Havent you heard the *_C L A N G_*

It was too big to be called a sword. Massive, thick, heavy, and far too rough. Indeed, it was a heap of raw iron. - Description of the Dragon Slayer

On the Dragon Slayer: it's supposed to be ridiculously gigantic in the story. The smith who made it was shamed and threatened into exile when he entered it to a nobles' bidding competition of making a sword that can kill a dragon. All others made swords that were elegant and decorated. And ultimately useless. He made a sharpened slab. It would do the job, if there were any dragons to kill or any men able to lift it. After the Eclipse, it could be said that Guts isn't fully human anymore, so his ability to use the sword could have credence in that regard. Furthermore, after years of killing the astral ghoulies that haunt him every night, the sword has become "enchanted" with the ethereal guts of said wights.

2:30...thats actually Gutts fighting style, he swings, get pulled by the momentum, goes with it, even pushing it and move around with it, thats how he plows through ranks of ennemies...

That's actually how Guts fights. He moves with the sword and since he's already fast, it becomes a whirlwind of blood and *_CLANGS_* so, he therefore is effective. Then the Berserker armor helps.

"Wow, that's a pretty big sword you have there..... how many people have you killed with it?" "13... on purpose." "On purpose?"

a spinning, flipping combat style using a massive blade? so, guts in the berserker armour?

Guts want to know your location

Gatts sword doesn't "cut.". He points out it isn't really sharp and just tears/crushes through his opponents.

"What if you had a sword so big it flipped you?" Knight Artorias, the Abyss Walker!

I feel the need to point out that during the golden age arc of berserk, before all the demons and God's, Guts (the dude in the thumbnail) actually had a more practical sword. It was about as long as he was tall but not insanely thick, and only after all the demons and magic happens does Guts get the upgrade to the mega death thick hunk of iron in the thumbnail and that is most used in giant sword discussions.

You described the farron greatsword in the “large sword carrying you around” description

They kinda explained it in-universe that even the most masterfully crafted blades. They are MADE to combat human and is equally a toothpick against demons. So Guts' dragonslayer : against human? : No(Too overkill) against demon/abominations? : Yes

I am a simple man with simple needs. I see Berserk, I click. HAI YAI FORCES!

Shad Fact: Shad holds the records for the longest bow draw hold, the longest shot, and highest shot, while balancing a sheild, sword, and dragon on his head.

Dragon Slayer is the worst example to use in talking about big swords... It has been mentioned in the comic that it wasn't even crafted for human to use against other human, It was a weapon crafted by the kings order, and was only ever aiming to provide the ability to cleave through Dragons scale and skin, and the weapon was ditched and craftsman exiled due to it wasn't crafted in the way that any human can ever wield it... And the king was enraged and believe that the craftsman was mucking him with this unusable weapon... And Guts once mentioned that "Dragon Slayer have no edge, it's as blunt as a metal plate that you can cook meat on it, so any enemy got hit by it are not cut by the blade, but simply got their body smashed into pieces by the massive weight of this huge lump of metal...". And before the feast, when Guts were still fighting normal humans, his weapon were more close to a giant sword then what Dragon Slayer is all about...

"Thinking about it logically" Guts dragonslayer sword makes a bit of sense in how he uses it. Its usually not too creative, swing it at the enemy and let the edge and weight do all the work XD

So does anyone remember that scene in Final Fantasy VII where Cloud goes crazy and _almost_ kills Aeris with an overhead chop, and he stops right in mid-chop, just short of the sword making contact with her head at the last second? Now imagine that scene, only with real-world physics. The game would have gotten an M rating for sure.

A few chapters of Berserk featured Guts fighting an opponent while the two of them were surrounded by stone pillars. Naturally, it was brought up how the Dragonslayer would be at a disadvantage there. Guts crushed the pillars with the sword, turning the falling rubble into his weapon. Just goes to show that he adapts well, and that he's freaking unbelieveable with that sword.

2:20 “the sword is throwing you around as much you’re throwing the sword around” That’s literally how Guts uses the Dragon slayer. Usually, he swings the sword so hard that he uses it to flip around or throw himself around. His battle tactics usually boil down to “throw himself at the enemy as hard and in as many ways and directions as he can until he takes off something significant.”

@3:00 pretty much describes Guts' fighting style. Whirling tornado of iron death.

I think your thinner buster sword redesign actually looks better.

He can use it because he had his grasses on

"No but they look cool." -Me, before watching the video.

9:17 Dark Souls in a nutshell.

Great video Shad. a couple things I would like to point out to add to your points: 1. Regarding the stress, the way historically in Europe that people have increased the width and strength of a blade without increasing the weight: fullers. Give the 12cm wide sword a double-fuller. 2. In a confined space, you could just use the massive sword like a spear, or use half-swording. 3. In Dragon Age: Inquisition, knight-enchanters use massive swords made entirely out of Fade Magic. 4. Regarding using these swords to fight large creatures, historically both the claymore in Scotland and the nodachi in Japan were used to chop the legs of charging horses: a very dangerous yet effective tactic. So there is a historical basis for using large swords to defeat large creatures.

2:25; this is actually how Thor "flies." He hurls his hammer then holds on for dear life as it drags him along. Also, I already have Knights of pen & Paper II. I hardly went 10 minutes without a big laugh.

*_"If its too thick you're just adding weight"_* That's what she said.

"It was too big to be called a sword. Massive, thick, heavy, and far too rough. Indeed, it was a heap of raw iron."

Now shad I love me some realism as much as the next man. But you best not be talking shit about guts and the dragonslayer. I ain't even gay and he's my husbando.

It's not the size of your sword that counts, it's how you use it.

I really love Gut's pre-eclipse sword, it's somehow practical and unwieldy at the same time

I think Knight Artorias from Dark souls best depicts giant sword combat

I like how magic is just magic, but science is mumbo jumbo.

13:59 I agree, if you handle your giant swords right I have no doubt that it could give you a big slice.

Shad...have you actually read Berserk? Everything you just pointed out was done in the manga. Guts actually started out with basically a very long zweihander, still like 2 meters tall, but a lot thinner than his dragon slayer...so, basically the sword you just described. When he switched to the dragon slayer, his acrobatic fighting style is also basically what you just described. The sword basically throws him around as much has he throws it around. If you have not read it, please do...and skip volume 14...for the love of God, SKIP VOLUME 14!

So as for a giant sword user being tossed about by it as they swing and cut, Monster Hunter World has this with its great swords. Look up Wyvern Ignition, you'll probably get a kick out of that one. Another place I could see such a large blade being useful is on Calvary.

I like giant swords but there's just something practical about longswords. It's not too big but not too small. It's just right.

Congratulations on your new baby! I wish you and your family a lot of success and happiness ^_^

I have a 16 pound sledgehammer (something like 7.5 kilos?) that I use for doing work, and I also swing around, scream and break stuff with when I wanna be a viking or something. Or work out, because I am a very strong person. I weigh about 200 pounds, or 90 kilos, bench twice my weight and deadlifted close to twice even that. I was training to be a power lifter at one point, so basically, I'm pretty strong for a normal human. That thing is fucking HARD to swing around. The only reason I can make it work even remotely well is because all of the weight is in the end. If I was using something the same weight and length, but the center of gravity was closer to me it would be incredibly difficult to control. I think I could probably use something to the same effect if it was two or even three times the weight, but only if all the weight was at the tip and at that point you just have to use it differently. Like you said, the weight just throws around regardless as to how strong you are. Also, I'd like to add that the longer the handle the more weight you can functionally control in my experience. I would have much greater control over a hammer that weighed 20 kg if it had a handle on it that was as long as I am. I don't know what the integrity of such a hammer would be, but you could would have more "point" control and you could do things like after the swing, slightly loosen your grip to increase the distance between you and the point and then pull down hard on it to create an incredible force of impact. Furthering along the point of STRENGTH required, one thing that is more important is FATIGUE. I could swing a 100 pound (45kg) hammer effectively with a TON of force of impact. I'm 100% confident in that, however... Swinging it more than once or twice with effective speed, accuracy and strength becomes an entirely different conversation. It's hard enough to just swing around a 16 pound sledge hammer for any length of time. You'd have to have Olympian endurance to do that for the duration of a battle, or at least a setup so you can actually rest somehow periodically. Just my two cents.

So for some reason this video never hit my feed until today: However that is fine. Great video once again Shad. Talking about the point of using the Greatswords weight as a combat style I'd point out Monster Hunter's Greatswords. The Hunter (Or you the character) Uses a very large very heavy sword like cloud or guts, However when you make your attacks alot of the time you'll also go with the sword. A prime example is the "True Charge Slash" of monster hunter world (Or the 3rd attack in a standard great swords attack string.) You basically make a downward strike, get lifted off the ground, and when you land you pull the blade back up and strike down again. Just thought I'd try and point out a game that does that sort of acrobatic style a little bit of justice.

_sees Berserk in the thumbnail, instantly upvotes_

Its also effective as a support beam for fortifications.

Hey shad I've been binge watching your channel since I found it and when you talk about the big artsy combat of great swords it reminded me of how the players use it in Monster hunter world

The exact thing Monster Hunter does

That sounds like it would be amazing in an animated show.

2:48 Knight Artorias fighting style

Just wanted to say that this style he mentiones in the very beginning is somehow depicted in Koei's Berserk game. Like, Guts in his rage mode uses the mass of the Dragonslayer to perform combos that actually look like both the sword and Guts use each other to crush enemies.

(meanwhile in 40K) "so I decided to put a chainsaw on a sword hilt" "so it's a chainsaw?" "no... its a chain-SWORD" "that is the dumbest idea I've ever heard" "tell that to the servitors" "wha- (gets knocked the hell out by some random guy)"

If you can get the giants to lend them to you, sure.

But what about the dragons? Dragons wielding giant swords....... *mind wanders*

That swinging and flailing around with the momentum reminds me of the weight behind some of the weapons in Soul Blade/Caliber. Very fun to watch.

So Guts does wield the smaller sword from the thumbnail in the Golden Age arc but after using that for a long time he was able to use the Dragonslayer. It wasn't the first and only sword he used lol

Knights of Pen and Paper II is a good sponsor, I quite like that game, as well as the first one.

Funfact: Quillons in German are called "Parierstange". It literally means "Parrying bar"

Maybe it’s just me but that “ realistic” version of the buster sword actually looks more badass than the original one !

Theoretically you can use a sword with any amount of weight as long as you are anchored to the ground with say armor proportional to the weight of the sword, as long as you have the physical strength to not collapse.

the part about using the weapons momentum as part of a combat syle is a theme that is used in the series "rwby" by roosterteeth, a number of the weapons are really large or have huge recoil and the people using them use that as a source of momentum to move and continue their motion, you might like to check it out.

There is a sword in dark souls 3 that kind of uses the idea of using the swords momentum you discribe at 2:30. It's called the farron greatsword. The player has a dagger in one hand that can be used as a wedge and the sword in his other hand. The wedge is used to stop the player from flying away while still being abbel to use the swords momentum for attacks.

Love the vids bro! the going with the movement of a big heavy sword, reminds me of the combat concept of ‘Thor’s Hammer’. the (Marvel Universe) version.. not the historical depiction. but in reality the technology or magic to make such a weapon practical or usable to my knowledge is non-existent. but if for some reason some one could wield such a weapon, it would be a sight to behold. Very interesting topic!!!

This is interesting. Your mention of using the large sword to swing you around reminds me of the animation for gladiolus in final fantasy 15. They use warping to balance this a bit.

that edited cloud buster sword looks beautiful. Much better weapon that would have been.

I love the idea of just flying through the air well fighting

Flippy great sword technique? Like the Monster Hunter: World True Charge Slash combo, for the GREAT SWORD? It even has a greatsword with rockets on it. Rocket. Powered. Great. Sword...

This episode was brought to you by the word *VERTIVCAL* (8:31 and 8:41)

I've always liked you channel but somehow it seems to have gotten even better lately. I also always like the reference to Brandon Sanderson. When you're thinking like this guy can't go wrong !

*Dreams of being Guts destroyed* just wanted to say I'm a big new fan of your Channel, Ben watching for a few days straight now.

You've become one of my favorite original youtuber that isn't copy paste. Because you do actual interesting stuff inside of gaming or stuff like that your different. And your videos will help me in the future with animation with swords and taking into consideration the weight of swords and characters using them.

The width can be needed for making the sword a sheild too, it is much easer to blook palettes or arrows with a wide sword than a thin one. Also with a wide sword there is much higher percentage of cutting the target in tow parts. Also it is much anying to the opposite side than a thin sword. Also it is much lower chance of cutting the blade while fighting or gets break, plus lower reflective wavs frequency on the sword when something hits the sword or the opposite.

Or....just use the Indiana Jones defense and defeat your opponent no matter how big his sword

3:40 - Sounds like a great weapon for a feruchemist.

Berserk !!! Tempered by the fires of Hell, his iron will remained steadfast through the passage that preys upon the weak. For alone he was the Hell Walker. He set forth without pity upon the beasts of the nine circles. Unbreakable, incorruptible, unyielding. He hunted the slaves of Doom with barbarous cruelty. None could stand before the horde but the Doom Slayer.

Well a small bit of late comment,you may want read on the Greek romphaia also known as war scythe which is large sword curved in the front to allow the edge to bite into the target and the more weight behind the curve the more cutting power it has. There is a small axe version called kossora that is still produced nowadays and the weight to cutting power ratio makes it a great tool for cutting vertical wood compared to the outward curve axe,of course at the expense of making it harder to pull out of the wood.

I now want to learn heavy sword style. The way you described that made it sound rediculously fun.

BUT you "NEED" a giant thick sword to fight monsters and demons!

This reminds me of how an old Pathfinder game went in which we stole some stuff from 3.5 D&D to have a brawler with monkey grip using a full blade(super large greatsword). They tried to use it while on one of the lower decks of the ship, they didn’t use the full blade again till we hit land.

I like how you just put the correct word over the screen when you mess up there is a great honesty to this and I appreciate it for the comedic effect

Guts only picked up the Dragonslayer because his other swords would break against the demons (which has been seen on the manga), nothing more, nothing less. He even mentioned before that DS is to clunky to use at it's full potential

Yay! Another video about swords of the giant variety!

when you mentioned letting the weight of the sword pull you around to perform acrobatic kind of attacks it reminded me of the "Farron Greatsword" from dark souls 3. Its a sword that is accompanied by a small sickle that is used to root yourself to the ground for repeated horizontal slashes or to stop yourself from launching too far forward while swinging that can be followed through by removing your anchor to perform an overhead that brings you back up to a standing position.

Shad, you're a blessing to all writers of fiction

For what shad said at 2:30 the farron great sword from Dark Souls is what I would imagine

"I DONT CARE IF THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE SHAD JUST UPLOADED A VIDEO IM NOT GOING ANYWHERE!!!!!"

The technique you describe at the beginning (where you throw your sword and then go with the momentum) is actually used as the main fighting style in "All you need is kill" with a battle axe. (All you need is kill is the original manga version of The Edge of Tomorrow)

I love the idea of moving with the momentum of the sword. I actually had an NPC in a d&d game I ran that did exactly that. She was a Kensai monk (back when they could still use heavy weapons in the UA), she was a small girl who used a greatsword as her kensai weapon. She would basically throw the sword at her enemies and let herself be carried away with it to perform more acrobatic attacks.

I love how you finally fully dove into this topic, because you have repeatedly in the past kinda brushed over it. this is definitely one of my favorite channels because it has just about everything: high quality content, great community, a content creater who is genuine.. but most of all it has... MACHICOLATIONSSSSSSSS!!!!

They need to add Shad in Knight of Pen and Paper 2

9:10 I remember that fight. It was cool.

This video makes good points. Look at the Large and Heavy Claymore, it's about using the weight. Also look at the Japanese Nodachi, light but also has a length advantage.

This vid pretty much covered all of my concerns from the previous vid. Good job covering all the bases, Shad!

I think every follower in Skyrim has walked in to the way of my sword... well swords.

I love that Guts' dragonslayer was made as a joke because the only blade that could kill a dragon is a blade "supposedly" no man can pick up.

Love the Brandon Sanderson talk! The Stormlight Archives is probably my favorite book series right now.

That does give me an idea for one of the party characters that will appear later in the book I'm writing. A buff yet somewhat addle-minded swords-master, and his fighting style could be using a large sword, but fighting in an almost acrobatic manner, where he tears into demons foes by staying in constant momentum. When the sword's momentum is stopped by cutting into a demon's body, he propels himself up and around to dislodge the sword and swings it at another foe.

I sub because you content are interesting and your obsession with weapons is something we have in common

Im glad you tackled this issue haha. Love the channel.

The flipping style and going the the momentum just made me think of Slave knight Gael in dark souls 3 cause the way his swings his giant ass broken executioner sword is very much the same. Also some of Artorias' moves from dark souls 1 as well.