The Legendary Swords of One Piece: A Complete Meito Guide

One Piece is filled with powerful Devil Fruits and crazy abilities, but some of the most iconic weapons in the series are simple steel swords. Among them, a special category stands out – Meito, or Famous Blades, legendary weapons known for their exceptional quality, history, and wielders.

In this guide, we’ll break down how sword grades work in One Piece, explain what makes a blade a Meito, and introduce some of the most famous swords like Yoru, Enma, Shusui, Wado Ichimonji, and Sandai Kitetsu. If you are an anime sword fan or collector, this is your starting point for exploring legendary blades in the series.

What Is a Meito in One Piece?

In the world of One Piece, a Meito is a ranked or famous blade – a sword known for its craftsmanship, strength, and reputation in history. These weapons are often wielded by powerful swordsmen and can perform feats that ordinary blades cannot, such as cutting massive ships or clashing with Yonko-level opponents without breaking.

Not every sword in One Piece is a Meito; only a select number have been officially classified into special grades. The fewer blades there are in a grade, the rarer and more prestigious they are considered to be.

All Sword Grades in One Piece

Officially, there are four known grades of Meito swords in One Piece. From highest to lowest, they are:

• Supreme Grade Blades (Saijō Ō Wazamono) – the 12 best swords in the world
• Great Grade Blades (Ō Wazamono) – 21 extremely powerful, high-quality swords
• Skillful Grade Blades (Ryō Wazamono) – 50 well-crafted, upper-tier swords
• Grade Blades (Wazamono) – a broader category of ranked blades below the top three tiers

In total, that gives us 12 Supreme Grade, 21 Great Grade, and 50 Skillful Grade blades, plus an unknown number of regular Grade Blades. Many of these swords have not been named yet, and some are only known through brief mentions or appearances.

Supreme Grade Blades (Saijō Ō Wazamono)

Supreme Grade Blades are the absolute top tier of swords in One Piece – the rarest and most powerful weapons, with only twelve existing in the entire world. These blades are described as the highest-quality swords ever made and are usually wielded by legendary figures who stand at the peak of strength.

Confirmed Supreme Grade weapons include:

• Yoru – Dracule Mihawk’s massive black sword
• Shodai Kitetsu – the original cursed Kitetsu blade
• Murakumogiri – Whitebeard’s enormous naginata

Not all Supreme Grade swords have been named yet, which keeps this category full of mystery and fan theories.

Great Grade Blades (Ō Wazamono)

Great Grade Blades are the second-highest tier, with 21 swords confirmed to belong to this class. They are still incredibly powerful and durable, and many of the most famous swords in the series fall into this category.

Notable Great Grade swords include:

• Wado Ichimonji – Zoro’s white katana inherited from Kuina
• Shusui – the black blade once wielded by Ryuma and later used by Zoro
• Enma – the Haki-draining sword formerly owned by Kozuki Oden
• Ame no Habakiri – Oden’s other sword, later passed to Momonosuke

These blades are rare, and each one tends to be tightly tied to a specific culture, legend, or major character in the story.

Skillful Grade Blades (Ryō Wazamono)

Skillful Grade swords represent a class of fifty high-quality blades that are a cut above ordinary weapons but not as legendary as Great or Supreme Grade swords. They still offer excellent performance and are highly respected in the world of One Piece.

Notable Skillful Grade swords include:

• Sandai Kitetsu – Zoro’s cursed katana obtained in Loguetown
• Yubashiri – Zoro’s lightweight blade, later destroyed at Enies Lobby

While they may not be the rarest blades, Skillful Grade swords are still Meito and are more than capable of matching strong opponents when wielded by skilled swordsmen.

Grade Blades (Wazamono)

Grade Blades form a broader, less strictly defined category below the top three. These swords are still considered Meito but do not belong to the Supreme, Great, or Skillful classes.

Some swords are confirmed to be Meito, but their exact grade has not yet been revealed in the story, leaving room for future reveals and upgrades.

Key Legendary Swords You Should Know

To keep this guide focused, here are some of the most important Meito that anime sword fans and collectors usually pay attention to first.

Yoru – Mihawk’s Black Sword

Yoru is the most famous Supreme Grade sword we have seen so far, wielded by Dracule Mihawk, the World’s Strongest Swordsman. It is an enormous black blade shaped like a Gothic crucifix, capable of cutting through ships and massive icebergs with ease.

Yoru is also a Black Blade (Kokutō), meaning its entire blade has permanently turned black, which may indicate a sword that has been strengthened through countless battles and Haki usage.

More in-depth lore and replica tips: Yoru – Mihawk’s Supreme Black Blade.

Wado Ichimonji – The Blade of Promise

Wado Ichimonji is a Great Grade katana forged by the legendary swordsmith Shimotsuki Kozaburou. It originally belonged to Kuina and was entrusted to Zoro after her death, becoming the symbol of his promise to become the greatest swordsman in the world.

Visually, Wado Ichimonji is known for its white handle and white sheath, giving it a pure, traditional samurai aesthetic that contrasts with Zoro’s more aggressive blades.

Read the full guide: Wado Ichimonji – The Soul of a Swordsman.

Shusui – The Black Blade of Ryuma

Shusui is a Great Grade sword and one of the very few confirmed Black Blades in the series. It was once wielded by the legendary samurai Ryuma of Wano, and later used by Zoro until he returned it to Wano as a national treasure.

Its heavy, dark design and status as a black blade make it one of the most visually striking swords in One Piece, highly popular among replica collectors.

Full story and design breakdown: Shusui – Zoro’s Legendary Black Blade.

Enma – The Haki-Draining Sword of Wano

Enma is another Great Grade sword forged by Kozaburou and originally wielded by Kozuki Oden alongside Ame no Habakiri. It is infamous for drawing out excessive Armament Haki from its user, making it extremely difficult to control but incredibly powerful in the right hands.

Zoro acquires Enma in Wano as a replacement for Shusui, and training with it pushes his abilities to a new level.

For a full guide, see: Enma Sword – Power, Lore, and Collecting Tips.

Sandai Kitetsu – The Cursed Kitetsu Blade

Sandai Kitetsu is one of the fifty Skillful Grade blades and the third-generation sword in the cursed Kitetsu series. Zoro obtains it in Loguetown after testing its curse by throwing it into the air and betting his arm against fate – a scene that became iconic among fans.

The sword is rumored to bring misfortune to its users, which is consistent with the dark legend of all Kitetsu blades.

More details: Sandai Kitetsu – The Cursed Sword of Zoro.

Real-World Inspiration: Meito and Japanese Wazamono

The Meito system in One Piece closely mirrors real-world Japanese sword classifications known as Wazamono, which also rank blades based on cutting ability and craftsmanship. In reality, there are 12 Supreme Grade, 21 Great Grade, and 50 Skillful Grade swords listed in historical records – the same numbers echoed in the One Piece world.

This connection gives the Meito system an authentic samurai flavor while still leaving plenty of room for fantasy elements like cursed blades and Haki-infused Black Blades.

Where to Go Next: Deep Dives into Each Legendary Sword

This Meito guide is designed as a starting hub for anime sword fans and collectors who want to explore legendary blades in One Piece. From here, you can dive into detailed articles focused on each individual sword – their lore, design, symbolism, and replica collecting tips.

• Yoru – Mihawk’s Supreme Black Blade
• Wado Ichimonji – The Soul of a Swordsman
• Shusui – Zoro’s Legendary Black Blade
• Enma – The Haki-Draining Sword of Wano
• Sandai Kitetsu – The Cursed Kitetsu Blade

Whether you’re here to understand the lore behind these weapons or to build a physical collection of anime-inspired katana, knowing the Meito system is the first step toward appreciating just how important swords are to the world of One Piece.