Highlights
- Legendary swords in One Piece, like the Sandai Kitetsu, play a huge role in defining powerful characters like Zoro and their adventures.
- The Kitetsu swords made in Wano Country are among the most powerful blades, with the Sandai Kitetsu being formidable despite being the weakest.
- The Nidai Kitetsu, a Great Grade Blade, is known for its extraordinary durability and sharpness, able to cut through even the Earth itself.
Swords and their standing in the world play a huge world in One Piece, as some of the most revered characters in the series have owned blades that are just as legendary. Made by the hands of some of the greatest blacksmiths on the entire Grand Line, weapons such as Ace and Murakumogiri have gone down the history books as some of the biggest reasons why Roger and Whitebeard were as powerful as they were.
Since there is such an emphasis put on these weapons and their role within the overall story of One Piece, it should also be noted that some of the most powerful swords in the world belong to the legendary Kitetsu line. Made in the Wano Country, the 3 Kitetsu swords have been present in the series since the early days, so let’s break down each of these weapons and see what makes them so formidable!
The Sandai Kitetsu
Other Name: Kitetsu 3
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First Appearance |
One Piece, Episode 49, “Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri! Zoro’s New Swords, and the Female Master Chief Petty Officer” |
|---|---|
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Debut Date |
November 22, 2000 |
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Sword Grade |
Grade Sword |
The first of the 3 legendary Kitetsu blades is the Sandai Kitetsu, which was shown in the early days of the series and has seen many battles in the hands of Zoro. Being the weakest of the line, Kitetsu 3 is still classified as Meito, or named blade, but it doesn’t fall into the category of Fine, Great, or Supreme Grade Swords, instead just being a Grade Sword.
Still, though, this doesn’t mean that this weapon is weak by any means. Found by Zoro in the shop of a sword seller very early in the Loguetown arc, the Sandai Kitetsu was introduced as a cursed blade, a fact that was later revealed to be the calling card of the Kitetsu line. It is said whoever wields any of them will eventually meet a gruesome end. After realizing that his luck is greater than the curse of the sword, Zoro decides to keep it.
Why don’t we test what’s stronger? My luck… or its curse?
Forged by one of Wano’s greatest blacksmiths, Kozuki Sukiyaki, the Sandai Kitetsu is a formidable blade able to easily destroy any other run-of-the-mill weapon, yet pales in comparison to the graded blades above it. The cursed power of the blade is something Zoro can sense from it, and can even use to his favor, as was seen whenever he uses the sword in battle. The Sandai Kitetsu is famous for its sharpness, as Zoro was able to cut the Water Train in half by using this blade in the Water 7 arc.
Moreover, the sword was powerful enough to go up against the legendary Shusui in the hands of arguably the greatest swordsman to have ever lived, Shimotsuki Ryuma, though Zoro did say that it would have broken if the fight went on any longer. Kitetsu 3 is called a ‘problem child’ blade, always making Zoro want to cut more and cause devastation even when he doesn’t want to. Zoro still uses this blade alongside his other 2 Great Grade Blades, showing just how formidable this weapon truly is.
The Nidai Kitetsu
Other Name: Kitetsu 2
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First Appearance |
One Piece, Episode 897, “Save O-Tama – Straw Hat, Bounding through the Wasteland!” |
|---|---|
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Debut Date |
August 11, 2019 |
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Sword Grade |
Great Grade |
The further down one goes through the Kitetsu line, the less is known about them due to their sparing appearances in the series. However, just like the Sandai Kitetsu, the Nidai Kitetsu is also cursed but is far greater in terms of its strength due to being one of the 21 Great Grade Blades. The extraordinary durability and sharpness of this sword are what make it so formidable, though it hasn’t seen much use in battle.
It’s a well-known sword! It’s a sin to carry it so casually!
However, despite its brief showings, it is still on par with Enma, Shusui, Wado Ichimonji, and Ame no Habakiri due to it being a Great Grade Blade and the direct creation of the legendary blacksmith, Kotetsu. This means that, in the right hands, this weapon is strong enough to cut the very Earth itself. Furthermore, this blade is extremely dangerous even when wielded by those who are inexperienced with swordsmanship, as Luffy, who is famous for never wielding a sword, was able to cut through other weapons with ease when he used it during the Wano arc.
The Shodai Kitetsu
Other Names: Kitetsu 1
|
First Mention |
One Piece, Episode 49, “Sandai Kitetsu and Yubashiri! Zoro’s New Swords, and the Female Master Chief Petty Officer” |
|---|---|
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Debut Date |
November 22, 2000 |
|
Sword Grade |
Supreme Grade |
Unlike the other 2 Kitetsu blades, the Shodai Kitetsu has only ever been mentioned, with its possible location only being theorized. However, this blade is the original in this line and is known to be a Supreme Grade weapon, which puts it on the same level as Ace, Murakumogiri, and Yoru, meaning that its power is second to none. Pretty much nothing more is known about this weapon, but it’s fair to assume that the durability, strength, sharpness, and curse of this weapon are far greater than those of the other 2.
The possible location of the Shodai Kitetsu is still a mystery, though many fans seem to have an idea where it might be. More than sharing the curse, the Kitetsu blades are also very similar in appearance due to being made by the same school of blacksmiths, which is why many think that Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro of the Gorosei has the legendary Shodai Kitetsu.
My ancestor, Kotetsu, forged that world-famous sword!
This is because he is always pictured with a long katana. This katana has the same tsuba, or guard, as Kitetsu 2 and 3, leading many to think that it is the Shodai Kitetsu. It would also make sense for him to have it, since the other known Supreme Grade weapons belong to some of the most powerful characters in the series, so one of the 5 Elders of the One Piece world would be a perfect contender to use such a fearsome weapon!
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