Who needs a sword when you can swing around a scythe instead? One of the most intimidating weapons out there, commonly wielded by representations of death. Alternatively, it’s a popular tool for your character in a farming simulator. Sadly, the scythe is an underused choice of weapon in many video games.
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While some games feature scythes as one of many weapon choices, the goal here is to celebrate the characters who make the scythe their main weapon. After all, some epic bosses use one as their weapon of choice, as well as a handful of heroes who wield one.
10 Zasalamel - Soul Calibur
From the Soul Calibur series, Zasalamel is an epic warrior with power over death itself, to some extent. Anytime he’s killed, he just reincarnates. Given this power, his choice to wield death scythes makes perfect sense. In addition to his weapon, he has strong magical abilities, control over illusions and even the undead, and the power to curse his enemies.
Zasalamel first appeared in Soulcalibur 3 and returned for Soulcalibur 4 and 6. He is a powerful fighter and a fan favorite of the series.
9 Marluxia - Kingdom Hearts
Marluxia, a reoccurring boss in the Kingdom Hearts games, wields a scythe styled like a flower that matches his own unique power. Though some might stereotype his pink hair and flower powers as soft, his looks are definitely deceiving regarding Marluxia, as he is among the franchise’s best and most fearsome enemies.
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As one of the Organization XIII, the graceful assassin serves as the Lord of Castle Oblivion and drives the main plot of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. The game ends with Sora taking him on in a legendary boss battle.
8 Death - Castlevania
While Death is a popular scythe-wielding figure, Castlevania is one of the best video games to portray the figure consistently. Also known as the Grim Reaper in some games, Death has been a major boss in nearly every iteration.
Though he’s not the big bad of the whole series, he’s still a formidable foe, wielding his scythe and raising dead armies to stop you. Notably, Death’s Scythe is an unlockable weapon for Soma Cruz and Hector in their respective games and is the most powerful weapon available. No wonder Death is a challenge to take down!
7 Manny Calavera - Grim Fandango
One of the more gentle scythe wielders out there, Manny Calavera hails from the classic game Grim Fandango. Under the cover of a travel agent for the Department of Death, Manny works as a Reaper, which gives him scythe privileges.
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Manny’s game revolves around storytelling and puzzle-solving rather than fighting, making him unique among other characters on the list. Manny’s weapon is largely for aesthetic purposes to mark him as a Reaper, and he certainly isn’t the typical hostile figure of Death associated with most scythe-wielders.
6 Prometheus - Mega Man ZX
While a lot of great scythe wielders hail from fantasy or medieval genres, there are a couple of futuristic scythe designs out there. Prometheus from the Mega Man ZX series is a prime example. With his high-tech scythe, he uses the elements of fire and shadow.
Like many other scythe-wielders, Prometheus is a boss and a strong one at that. While he’s not the big bad of the Mega Man ZX games, he is an excellent and memorable villainous figure, seeking revenge and withholding mercy from his opponents.
5 Margaret Moonlight - No More Heroes 2
An assassin from No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle, Margaret Moonlight is often considered a female personification of Death. Her pale appearance, dark clothing, and weapon choice all add to the imagery of Death in her character. Her battle song also alludes to this comparison, calling her the “Reaper” since she kills anyone who crosses her path.
She wields not one scythe but two, named “le croissant du ange” or “the crescent of the angel.” Her two scythes double as rifles, putting a unique spin on the weapon.
4 Jeritza (Death Knight) - Fire Emblem: Three Houses
The Death Knight has one of the coolest designs for a Death-like figure, with dark armor, a skull-like helm, and, of course, his weapon, the Scythe of Sariel. It is the alias and unique battle class for Jeritza in Fire Emblem: Three Houses.
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Death Knight is a mysterious figure throughout the game and a reoccurring enemy you’ll meet on the battlefield. Yet he can also be recruited if you opt for the Crimson Flower route and is a playable character. Since his identity is initially hidden, the storyline of determining who he truly is adds to the character’s intrigue.
3 Magus - Chrono Trigger
Magus is a fascinating character from Chrono Trigger, the older version of Janus. Despite his role as a significant boss in the game and his darker powers as a user of the shadow element, Magus is also a potential party member. As a dark mage, his use of the scythe as a weapon fits the typical Death imagery it evokes.
You can’t quite describe Magus as a hero, but his motivations are at least understandable. He’s just seeking revenge on Lavos, the game’s big bad, and trying to find and protect his sister.
2 Dante Alighieri - Dante’s Inferno
Based on the poem of the same name, Dante’s Inferno stars the hero Dante Alighieri, based on the poet. In the game, Dante swipes his scythe from Death himself, using the weapon to defeat the entity. After the battle with Death, the scythe becomes his primary weapon for his quest through Hell.
Scythes are rarely in the hands of heroes, yet the way Dante wields one in battle allows it to shine. It is a shame that defeating Lucifer, the final boss, also destroys the scythe.
1 Sice - Final Fantasy
Sice is yet another hero who makes the scythe look powerful in the hands of the good guys. She is from the Final Fantasy series, first introduced in Final Fantasy Type-0 and appearing in a few games since then, including Final Fantasy Agito and Final Fantasy Awakening.
She is a strong warrior with a bold personality, making her distinct and memorable among the others of Class Zero in her debut game. Sice is also one of the only Final Fantasy characters to wield a scythe as their primary weapon of choice.
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