Claymore

Lore & Background

In the world of Suikoden, the Claymore is not a single named artifact but a category of armament forged in the blacksmith traditions of the northern and mountainous regions where the Hundred Stars' story unfolds. Its broad, double-edged or single-edged blade is designed to cleave through armor and shield alike, a practical answer to the heavy plate worn by the Black Tiger Army and the various mercenary bands that scar the land during the war.

Blacksmiths in the game's towns describe the Claymore as a weapon for those who have nothing left to lose and everything to gain in a single swing. Unlike the elegant, quick-drawing swords of courtly knights, the Claymore is a tool of the common soldier elevated to legendary status—its weight is its identity, its simplicity its philosophy. A warrior gripping a Claymore signals to enemies that they intend no parry, no feint, no retreat.

Throughout the Hundred Stars' journey, the Claymore becomes a recurring visual motif: the protagonist and several allied Stars are seen shouldering these massive blades over their shoulders as they march between towns, a silhouette that has become iconic to the series' aesthetic of rugged, wandering freedom fighters.

In Their Own Story

The rain had not let up for three days. Leon stood at the edge of the muddy road outside the small trading post, his Claymore resting on his shoulder, the broad blade catching the grey light in a dull, oily sheen. A column of Black Tiger soldiers passed in the opposite direction, their polished armor gleaming, their hands resting on the hilts of shorter swords. One of them paused, looked up, and met his eyes. The silence stretched. Then the soldier tipped his helmet slightly, almost a nod, and the column moved on. Leon shifted the Claymore to his other hand, felt the familiar dead weight settle into his grip, and kept walking. The road was long. The war was longer. But the blade was honest, and that was enough.

Reader's Guide

Type: Two-handed melee sword. The Claymore occupies its own equipment slot, separate from the one-handed Sword, and demands both hands. Its defining stat is a high Attack value that outpaces lighter blades, while its lack of an off-hand slot means the wielder forgoes any shield or secondary item. Defense and evasion are correspondingly lower than Sword or Dagger builds.

Where to find: Claymores appear in the weapon sections of most general shops once the party reaches mid-game towns, and higher-tier variants can be obtained as enemy drops from elite soldiers and boss encounters. They are not locked behind a single vendor, making them accessible to any player who can field a Strength-oriented Star.

Best suited for: Characters whose stat growth skews toward Attack and Strength. Warrior-type Stars who lack the dexterity to make a Dagger or Bow feel effective will see the Claymore's raw numbers shine. It is less ideal for characters whose playstyle relies on quick successive hits or defensive counter-attacks.

Lore and rarity: The Claymore is not a rare or legendary item in the way a named artifact might be; it is a common tier of heavy weaponry. Its distinction lies in commitment—once equipped, the character is locked into a high-risk, high-reward combat identity. In-universe, it is the blade of the rank-and-file hero, the soldier who has nothing to hide behind but the steel in both hands.

Did You Know?

• In Suikoden's weapon taxonomy, the Claymore is a separate equipment slot from the standard Sword, meaning a character cannot simply swap between them without a dedicated re-equip step.
• The two-handed requirement means a Claymore-wielder cannot also equip a shield, making the choice a deliberate tactical trade-off in every battle.
• The Claymore's broad, heavy silhouette became one of the most recognizable character-design elements in the series, frequently featured in promotional art and box covers for the original Suikoden.
• Because the Claymore is a common weapon type rather than a single named item, multiple tiers exist across shops and drops, allowing players to upgrade their heavy-attack build incrementally throughout the campaign.