Blades and swords
1. Jian (剑) — The classic straight, double-edged sword. Associated with scholars, nobles, and "righteous" heroes; it's the weapon of choice for protagonists who fight with honor rather than brute force.
2. Dao (刀) — The single-edged sabre. Heavier and more aggressive-looking than the jian, it's often given to soldiers, bandits, or characters defined by raw power rather than elegance.
3. Twin swords — Paired short blades wielded one in each hand, usually signalling a fast, acrobatic fighting style — frequently used for female leads who fight with speed over strength.
4. Butterfly swords — Short, broad twin blades associated with southern martial arts traditions; compact enough to conceal, making them popular with undercover or fugitive characters.
5. Saber of the broken hilt — A recurring story device rather than a single weapon type: a blade damaged in a pivotal battle, kept as a reminder of loss or motivation for revenge.
Polearms and staffs
6. Spear (枪/矛) — The signature weapon of generals and cavalry officers; in drama, carrying a spear well usually marks a character as military-trained, not self-taught.
7. Halberd (戟) — A combination blade-and-spear associated with legendary warriors of the Three Kingdoms period — instantly recognizable, and usually wielded by characters meant to look larger than life.
8. Staff (棍) — The classic monk's weapon, strongly associated with Shaolin and Buddhist characters who fight only when forced to, and prefer not to draw blood.
9. Tiger-fork — A three-pronged hunting spear that crosses over from rural and folk-hero stories — a weapon that says "this character grew up working the land, not training in a temple."
Flexible and exotic weapons
10. Soft whip (软鞭) — A segmented metal whip that can be coiled and hidden — a favorite for characters who specialize in surprise and misdirection rather than head-on combat.
11. Meteor hammer — Weighted balls on chains, swung in wide, dramatic arcs — visually spectacular, and usually given to characters whose fighting style is described as "wild" or "unpredictable."
12. Rope dart — A small dart on a long cord, thrown and retrieved — a sneaky, technical weapon that rewards patience and precision over force.
13. Iron fan — A folding fan reinforced with metal ribs; equal parts weapon and prop, it lets refined, scholarly characters fight without ever looking like they're trying.
14. Hook swords — Curved blades with hooks near the tip, designed to trap an opponent's weapon — a flashy choice that signals a highly trained, unconventional fighter.
Ranged and concealed weapons
15. Throwing darts/needles — Tiny, easily hidden projectiles, sometimes poisoned — the signature tool of assassins, spies, and morally ambiguous side characters.
16. Bow and arrow — Less common as a primary duel weapon in wuxia (close combat reads better on screen), but iconic in battle-epic scenes and origin stories about hunters or border soldiers.
17. Throwing knives — Quick, lethal, and easy to conceal — frequently the weapon of choice for characters introduced as "dangerous" before we learn anything else about them.
Symbolic and legendary weapons
18. The "named" sword — Many wuxia stories revolve around a single legendary weapon with its own name and history — finding it, protecting it, or destroying it often is the plot.
19. The master's heirloom — A weapon passed from teacher to student (or parent to child) that carries the emotional weight of a whole relationship — losing it is often more devastating than losing a fight.
20. The "ordinary" weapon — And finally: the deliberately plain, unremarkable blade carried by a hero who turns out to be far more dangerous than they look — a classic wuxia twist that never quite gets old.
Want to see several of these in action? Our guide to Legend of the Condor Heroes follows a cast built almost entirely around contrasting fighting styles — a great place to start spotting these weapons for yourself.
More wuxia features
See these weapons in action — browse our growing library of wuxia drama guides.