Zanmato (weapon)

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Wards against evil have been carven deep into this giant sword.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift description

The Zanmato (斬魔刀, Zanmatō?), also known as Zanbato, is a recurring weapon in the Final Fantasy series. It is usually associated with Samurai, and may inflict instant death.

Appearances[]

Final Fantasy VI[]

Legendary katana tempered in the depths of the earth.

Description

Cyan can equip the Zanmato in the Advance and 2014 versions. It is the strongest katana available, holy-elemental, and yields an attack power of 245, +7 Strength and Stamina, +30% Evasion, and enables the Bushido and Runic commands. It can be found in the Dragons' Den by defeating the Holy Dragon, or by betting the Godhand in the Dragon's Neck Colosseum.

Final Fantasy XI[]

Zanbato (斬馬刀, zanbatō?) and it's high-quality synthesis result, the Zanbato +1 (斬馬刀改, zanbatō-kai?), are generic level 61 great katanas that have nothing to do with Zanmato in this game and should not be confused with it.

Zanmato (斬魔刀, zanmatō?) is a novelty great katana purchaseable with login points as part of limited-time promotional events; two of them can be used to synthesize the Zanmato +1 (斬魔刀改, zanmatō-kai?). Both are equippable at level 1 by all jobs. The Zanmato +1 has an additional effect of Dispel on hit.

The Zanmato +2, on the other hand, is an actually useful great katana equippable only by Samurai, with Item Level 119, damage 320, delay 464 that increases Strength by 30, Accuracy by 40, Great Katana skill by 269, Magic Accuracy skill by 269, and has a number of attributes that increase the power and utility of Sekkanoki. Currently no one has obtained one yet so its method of obtainment and exactly how it affects Sekkanoki are not yet known.

Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood[]

After traveling to Kugane, Gilgamesh acquires the Zanmato and takes on the identity of Yojimbo in order to pass himself off as a ronin samurai for hire.

Final Fantasy Tactics[]

Zanmato is an Artefact. The indecipherable script engraved into this enchanted blade identifies it as the weapon once used to slay a demon in a single blow. It is a talwar-type sword of immense size.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance[]

Giant sword engraved with words of destruction.

Description

Zanmato is a katana that can be equipped by Ninjas and Assassins. Furthermore, it teaches Ultima Masher to Assassins for 999 AP. It provides +22 Attack, +2 Magic, increases Holy resistance and halves Dark damage, and is Holy-elemental. It can be obtained after completing Mission #029: Wanted!, from raising Smithing to level 50, or by stealing it from an enemy during Mission #27: Royal Valley.

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift[]

Zanmato is a katana in the sequel, and can be equipped by Ninjas, Assassins, and Parivir job. It still teaches the Ultima Masher ability to Assassins. Illua uses this weapon in her last fight. The Ninja leader of the Duelhorn warband, Maquis the Phantasm uses this weapon throughout the whole Duelhorn storyline, except when he first loses his memory in the Lethean Draught mission.

This katana can be obtained by first selling a Lightwing Crystal, Bundle of Needles, and an Aqua Galac on the bazaar. Once unlocked in the shop, it can be purchased for 5,800 gil. The Zanmato gives +8 to the Magic stat, is of the Holy element, and grants immunity to Dark.

Dissidia Final Fantasy NT[]

The Zanmato is one of Garland's unlockable weapons. It is purchased as DLC from the PlayStation Store. Like all other characters' weapons, equipping it offers no advantages or disadvantages.

Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia[]

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Pictlogica Final Fantasy[]

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Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade[]

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Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]

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Mobius Final Fantasy[]

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Gallery[]

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Etymology and origin[]

[view · edit · purge]Zanmatō (斬魔刀?, lit. demon-cutting sword) is a pun based on Zanbatō (斬馬刀?, lit. horse-cutting sword). In addition to sounding similar, ma is also an alternative reading of 馬?.

The Zanbatō is a weapon supposedly made to cut down a horse and its rider in one swing.

Also, being known as "demon-slaying sword" and for its large size, Zanmato in the Final Fantasy series likely takes inspiration from real world offerings of odachi and nodachi from weaponsmiths to religious shrines within Japan as offerings to honor kami and bodhisattvas. Various real world legendary odachi or large tachi also have storied history in being used to slay powerful and tyrannical demons, such as the Dojigiri Yasutsuna and the Nenekiri.