Masamune (weapon)



The Masamune (正宗), Masamune (マサムネ) is a weapon that has appeared in numerous titles in the Final Fantasy series. It is usually one of the most powerful katanas or swords and is often found late in the game.

Final Fantasy
The Masamune is the mightiest sword in the game's original version, and along with the Ultima Weapon, it can be used by all classes. It is found on the air floor of the Chaos Shrine. It provides 56 Attack, 50 Accuracy and 40 Critical.

Final Fantasy II


The Masamune is the most powerful non-character-specific sword in the game and, until the 20th Anniversary Edition, the most powerful sword in the game overall tied with the Ragnarok. It can be obtained either in a treasure chest in a secret room in Pandaemonium, or as the top prize of the Toad-enhanced character portrait-matching minigame available while on board the Snowcraft. It provides 150 Attack, 90% Accuracy and 4% Evade, and when used as an item, will cast Haste XI.

Final Fantasy III
Also been called "The Mystic Weapon". The Masamune can be found in Eureka, wherein it was the strongest regular Dark-elemental sword. Kunoichi must be defeated in order to obtain it. It provides 132 Attack and +10 Agility.

Final Fantasy IV


The Masamune is Edge's ultimate weapon, acquired by defeating the Ogopogo in the Lunar Subterrane. It has a sister sword named the Murasame. However, in the Game Boy Advance port, stronger swords can be obtained. In the non-DS versions, it provides 65 Attack and 49 Accuracy, while in the DS version, it provides 60 Attack, 120 Accuracy, +1 Strength and +3 Speed. In all versions, when used as an item, it casts the Haste spell.

Final Fantasy IV: The After Years
The Masamune is Edge's second strongest katana, with the Mutsonokami only slightly surpassing it. It possesses 65 battle power, boosts Speed by 3, and casts Haste when used as an item. It is won from Ahriman in the Depths of the True Moon.

Final Fantasy V


The Masamune is one of the legendary Sealed Weapons acquired in the Sealed Castle. It is the sealed katana, and its user always goes first in battle. It provides 107 Attack and 15% chance for Critical Hits. Only Samurai and Freelancers can equip this weapon.

Final Fantasy VI
The Masamune was renamed the Aura in Final Fantasy VI until the Advance version's release. Although it is used by Cyan Garamonde, it is not his ultimate weapon, and several Masamunes can be obtained. It is automatically equipped on him after defeating Wrexsoul in Cyan's Soul. It can be stolen from Yojimbo and won from the Dragon's Neck Coliseum by betting the Murasame. It provides 162 Attack, and enables the Bushido and Runic command. In the Advance port, the Esper Gilgamesh uses the Masamune as one of his attacks.

Final Fantasy VII
The Final Fantasy VII Masamune is an oversized Japanese Nodachi used as the game's villain, Sephiroth's signature weapon. Said to be the only one able to effectively use it, Sephiroth wields the Masamune across all of his appearances throughout the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII.

A replica of the Masamune can be acquired as an item in the Speed Square of the Gold Saucer, however it is simply a bonus item and is unequipable.

Final Fantasy VIII
 Masamune in Final Fantasy VIII 5Dp51prE1Eo The Masamune is one of Gilgamesh's weapons when he is summoned into battle, dealing heavy non-elemental damage to all enemies.

The damage formula for Masamune is:


 * $$Damage = 100 * Level / 10 + 100 + 100$$
 * $$Damage = Damage * (265 - TargetSpr) / 8 $$
 * $$Damage = Damage * 100 / 256 $$

Final Fantasy IX
The Masamune is a Thief Sword equipped by Zidane. It is synthesized in the Black Mage Village after returning from Terra for 16,000 gil, a Zorlin Shape and an Orihalcon. However, it is not his ultimate weapon. In Final Fantasy IX, Masamune appears as two katana connected at the hilt. It provides 62 Attack, teaches the ability Sacrifice, and inflicts Doom when used with the Soul Blade skill, making it a useful weapon when battling Yans.

Tetra Master

 * Card 073
 * Location: Treno, Card Stadium (Weapon Master Hunt)

Final Fantasy X
The Masamune is Auron's Celestial Weapon found at Mushroom Rock, and requires the Mars Crest and Mars Sigil to activate. Unlike other versions, it resembles a western sword far more than a Japanese blade. Fully upgraded, the Masamune has the abilities Break Damage Limit, Triple Overdrive, First Strike and Counter-Attack. The Masamune also deals more damage the lower Auron's HP is.

Final Fantasy X-2
Auron's Celestial Weapon reappears in Final Fantasy X-2 as the weapon wielded by Rikku when she is wearing the Dark Knight dressphere.

Final Fantasy XI
Available to players since June 2010 as one of the Abyssea expansion's Empyrean Weapons, the Masamune is the Great Katana class Empyrean Weapon, and therefore only used by Samurai. As with other Empyrean Weapons, the Masamune can now be upgraded to its elevated Level 99 (Afterglow) version, far more powerful than the base weapon. The creation of Empyrean weapons utilizes the Magian system of weapon upgrade, requiring players to amass dozens of rare drop items from powerful Notorious Monsters in the Abyssea zones and utilizing the Voidwatch battle system. Masamune is particularly revered by the playerbase for its colossal base damage, its large Strength modifier, and its devastating Weapon Skill "Tachi: Fudo", which furthermore causes the weapon to become temporarily even stronger. Additionally, weapons upgraded to their Afterglow form become capable of imbuing allies with this specific ability, temporarily increasing the strength of their weapons as well.

Final Fantasy XII
The Masamune is the ultimate katana acquired by defeating Gilgamesh and receiving the hunt reward. To equip it, a character must have obtained the Masamune license for 155 LP. The Masamune is also available for purchase in the bazaar, where it is known as the "Master-Crafted Blade". It is obtained by selling two Gemsteels, three Orichalcums and two Mallets, and is purchased for 350,000 gil.

While its Attack power of 93 is less than those of Zodiac Spear and Tournesol, the Masamune can be a devastating weapon when equipped with Genji Gloves due to the Masamune holding a high combo rate of 40%, which the Genji Gloves enhance to 70%.

In the International Zodiac Job System version, the Masamune is found in the Lhusu Mines in the area where Gilgamesh is encountered for the second time; it is possible to acquire it while still fighting him. It is not available in the bazaar. The Masamune can only be equipped to the Mononofu job class, and its license costs 130 LP.

The Masamune has a slightly stronger version called Masamune I (マサムネ I) that is identical to the Masamune in appearance but is a 1H sword instead of a katana. The Masamune I will be available for purchase in the bazaar by selling the two Gemsteels, three Orichalcums and two Mallets. If the player obtains all the new weapons introduced in the Zodiac Job System version the letters at the ends of their names spell "Final Fantasy".

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
Masamune is Gilgamesh's special attack, dealing heavy melee-type damage to one foe.

Final Fantasy XIII-2
Masamune is mentioned in the Brain Blast quiz in Academia 400 AF, which mentions that Masamune is known as the world's best weaponsmith that designs and creates the finest swords known to man.

Gilgamesh wields a Masamune in downloadable battle, dealing heavy damage with it. In the Final Fantasy XIII-2 Ultimania Omega it is revealed that Gilgamesh found it from a poisoned river in Doma, referencing Final Fantasy VI.

Final Fantasy Tactics
The Masamune is once again wielded by one of the game's antagonists, Marquis Messam Elmdore, and must be stolen from him. It may also be thrown by high-level enemy Ninjas, meaning the player can catch it with the right ability equipped. In the remake, Elmdore has the Safeguard ability, preventing his equipment from being stolen, but the sword can still be stolen from a Samurai working for Celebrant Bremondt Freitberg, and is still thrown by high-level Ninjas.

It provides 18 Attack, 15% Evasion and, as mentioned above, cannot be bought. It can be used with the Samurai's Iaido command to perform Ethereal Embrace, a technique that releases the spirit in the user's katana, bestowing Regen and Haste statuses.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
The Masamune is a standard weapon wielded by Ninjas and Assassins. It teaches Oblivion to both classes, and provides +65 Attack. The Masamune can be bought at Muscadet for 25,000 Gil, as a Clan Level-Up Reward, or stolen during the missions Materite Now! and Free Muscadet!. The Masamune 100 can be obtained in the post-game mission, Mission #099: The Fey Blade, and provides +79 Attack and +5 Magic. However, it does not teach any skills.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
The Masamune is a weapon wielded by Ninjas, Parivirs, Assassins, Chocobo Knights and the Heritor. It can be obtained by sending a moon ring, clear sap, and spider silk at the bazaar. It teaches Oblivion to both Ninjas and Assassins. The Masamune 100 returns as Hyakushiki-Masamune, which teaches the skill Elpe to Adelle's special job class, the Heritor.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
The Masamune is an artifact that boosts its possessor's Strength by 5, making it one of the most powerful Strength-boosting artifacts. It can be obtained by defeating the Iron Giant at Mount Kilanda, cycle 3 or later.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates
The Masamune is one of the strongest weapons for Clavats along with it's twin sword, the Murasame. It raises the players ATK by 160. The description for the sword reads "Marvelous sword born of a skilled swordsman, eerily reminiscent of a rich, faroff history." The scroll used to make this is called Foreign Weapon.

Final Fantasy Legend II
The Masamune is a MAGI. When used in battle, it hits for roughly 500 damage and ignores Defense.

Final Fantasy Legend III
The Masamune (Masmune) is one of the four Mystic Swords. It can be found in the Crevasse, though it is a simple sword with a curse and goes by the name Muramas. The curse is removed and renamed by Masa the weapon artist on board the Talon. It grants +100 Attack, the second strongest Mystic Sword in the game and +170 to Cyborg HP. Like the other Mystic Swords, it deals Mystic-elemental damage against bosses and does not cause physical damage, a common late-game resistance.

Dissidia Final Fantasy
The Masamune as seen in Final Fantasy VII is Sephiroth's weapon of choice. The Masamune also appears as an equippable weapon exclusive to him. The Masamune gives 64 ATK, increases all damage by 10%, and can be equipped at Level 95.

Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy
The Masamune is once again featured as the sword Sephiroth wields in battle. Vaan wields the Final Fantasy XII version of the blade in his EX Mode. It is also one of the eight weapons Gilgamesh uses randomly when attacking, and Gilgamesh's version borrows its appearance from Sephiroth's Masamune, albeit with a slightly shorter blade, possibly as a reference to Gilgamesh's Final Fantasy XII appearance, where he used fake versions of weapons from previous games. When he uses it, it produces more EX Force than usual.

As an equippable weapon, the Masamune remains as an exclusive weapon for Sephiroth, being now a level 90 weapon with a 63 ATK Bonus, a 34 BRV bonus, and a 1 DEF penalty, and now it only increases all damage by 7%.

Although the Masamune is a weapon in the Final Fantasy series, it is arguably more notable as a broadsword in the Chrono series, in which it contributes a major part to the story. Oddly enough, the Masamune in Chrono Trigger was not intended to be the Masamune, and was called the Grandleon in the Japanese version.

In Chrono Trigger, the Masamune is a sword used by Frog, and it is said to be a legendary weapon capable of defeating Magus. It was forged in 12,000 BC by the swordsmith Melchior out of Dreamstone, and was dubbed the Ruby Knife. However, during the Ocean Palace disaster when the Ruby Knife was used to destroy the machine, it was transformed into the Masamune. The sword was later broken during a fight between Cyrus and Magus. The pieces were watched over by the spirits Masa and Mune. Crono's party came across the broken sword, had it repaired, and Frog uses it to defeat Magus. The sword's power grows more powerful after Frog visits his mentor, Cyrus's grave. In Chrono Cross, set after the events in Chrono Trigger, the sword was stolen and became possessed by an evil spirit. Those who wielded it became possessed as well. Radius uses the sword to kill his friend Garai, and Karsh has to finish off Dario who was possessed by it. It is later seen at the entrance to the Dead Sea. Only the Einlanzer can break its seal temporarily, but only when a new master, Serge, overpowers it, could it be free of evil forever. It is reborn as the Mastermune, and becomes a weapon for Serge. The Mastermune has the unique attribute of dealing Critical Hits with nearly every blow, making it arguably the most powerful weapon in the game despite it not having the highest Attack stat.

(Seiken Densetsu 2)
The Masamune is the Level Six incarnation of the Mana Sword.

Kingdom Hearts series
In Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II, two Keyblades, the One-Winged Angel and the Guardian Soul, are modeled after Sephiroth and Auron's respective versions of the Masamune. The One-Winged Angel is won by defeating Sephiroth in Olympus Coliseum's Platinum Match (Kingdom Hearts Final Mix only), and the Guardian Soul is won by defeating Hades in the Underworld after freeing Auron from his control. Sephiroth also wields his original Masamune when fought as a boss.

Etymology
The Masamune is named after, the legendary Japanese blacksmith, considered the greatest in history. It is often compared to the Muramasa, though always the better of the two. According to legend, Masamunes are marks of an internal peaceful and calm warrior, the exact opposite of Muramasas.