The Masamune(正宗,Masamune, or マサムネ,Masamune?), also known as Masmune, 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.
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.
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. It is located on the fifth floor of Pandemonium in a hidden room on the right wall of the most upper right room.
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.
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. This weapon is metallic.
The Masamune is Edge's second strongest katana, with the Mutsunokami 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.
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 has an attack power of 162, and enables the Bushido and Runic command. In the Advance port, the Esper Gilgamesh uses the Masamune as one of his attacks.
The Final Fantasy VII Masamune is Sephiroth's signature weapon: an oversized Japanese Nodachi. 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.
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.
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.
There is also a rather less powerful Ninja-only katana, the Hochomasamune (庖丁正宗,houchou masamune?, lit. "Masamune-made chef's knife").
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%. All katana have 2.39s charge, and 1.2s action time, making them average what it comes to attacking speed.
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".
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.
"This katana's sheath is inlaid with beautiful patterns. It is the life's work of a master swordsmith."
—Description
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 Sticky Fingers 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.
"Famous sword known for the wave design on its blade."
—Description
"Masamune that will not dull even after 100 years."
—Description of Masamune 100
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.
"Even should it hew down a hundred men a day for a hundred years, the blade of this magnificent sword will not tarnish or notch."
—Description of Hyakushiki-Masamune
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.
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.
"Marvelous sword born of a skilled swordsmith, eerily reminiscent of a rich, faroff history."
—Description
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.
The Masmune is the second-most powerful sword in the game, beaten out by the Glass Sword, and in the Wonderswan remake is the most powerful sword with more than a single use. It is a Strength-based weapon with 50 durability, and is found on the outside of The Tower, guarded by Su-Zaku2.
The weapon is called Masmune in the game and it has a mystic sword icon before its name. It 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.
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.
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%.
The Masamune is named after Masamune Okazaki, 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.
Edit
One Winged Angel Keyblade from Kingdom Hearts - modeled on Sephiroth's Masamune.
Guardian Soul Keyblade from Kingdom Hearts II - modeled on Auron's Masamune.
Official art from Final Fantasy.
Final Fantasy (PS/GBA).
Final Fantasy II (NES).
Final Fantasy II (PS).
Final Fantasy II (GBA).
Final Fantasy II (PSP).
Official art from Final Fantasy III.
Final Fantasy III (NES).
Final Fantasy III (DS).
Final Fantasy IV (SNES).
Final Fantasy IV (GBA).
Final Fantasy IV (DS).
Field sprite in Final Fantasy V (GBA).
Final Fantasy V (GBA).
In-game model in Final Fantasy VII.
The weapons used by Gilgamesh in Final Fantasy VIII.
Concept art from Final Fantasy IX.
Artwork from Final Fantasy X.
Masamune used with the Iaido command.
Masamune 100 in Final Fantasy Tactics Advance.
Hyakushiki-Masamune in Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift.
Sephiroth's Masamune in Dissidia Final Fantasy.
Gilgamesh's Masamune in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy.
Vaan's Masamune in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy.
Crystal version of Sephiroth's Masamune used by Manikins in Dissidia and Dissidia 012.
Crystal version of Vaan's Masamune used by Manikins in Dissidia 012.
