Honedge is a Pokémon that resembles a sword from medieval times. Its body is a silver sword with a light gray hilt. Embedded in the hilt is a blue gem with a dark center that appears to be its eye. Attached to the pommel is a long, dark blue cloth with a swirl design in lighter blue at the tip; the tip of the sash splits into four tassels. Honedge's sheath is dark brown with curved lines resembling a triquetra across its surface. Near the top of the sheath are two rings and a hole that in conjunction with the shape of Honedge's blade create the illusion of a face, with eyes and a mouth. A third ring extends onto the hilt and encircles its actual eye.
Honedge is said to have been born when the departed spirit of a person inhabits the sword that killed them a long time ago. Its old cloth is prehensile, and it holds its sheath with it when battling. Honedge is known to attach itself to people and wrap its sash around their arm to suck their life energy completely if they dare to grab it by the hilt. The eye on its handguard is actually its true body. Honedge is a nocturnal species and typically resides in grassy plains.
Two soldiers' Honedge appeared in The Redemption, during a fantasy of a story from the past. They were some of the many Pokémon fighting in the great war of Kalos 3,000 years previously.
NA:The origin of this Pokémon is a great ghost tale: it's said that Honedge are ancient swords possessed by a departed spirit. Should people try to grab the sword, Honedge will attack them or wrap its sash around their arm, slowly draining the life energy from their body. Moral of the story: be careful around ancient swords.
PAL:There's a rather spooky tale behind this Pokémon's origins: apparently, it's an ancient sword possessed by a departed spirit. Honedge won't let anyone grip its hilt. If they try, it will attack them or wrap its sash around their arm and drain the life energy from their body! Yikes!
Trivia
Honedge and its evolved forms were designed by Hitoshi Ariga.[1]
Origin
Honedge appears to be based conceptually on a fully sentient, possessed magical sword. The fact that it starts off as an ordinary sword may mean it could be based on the bushido mythos behind katana use; katanas possessed the user samurai's soul and attacked of its own free will. In Japanese legends, any object left behind or forgotten by its owner can and will after a while become a tsukumogami, and most commonly in legends, swords or umbrellas were the ones to attack humans. Considering it drains the life of those who wield it, it may have also been based on Tyrfing, a cursed sword from Norse mythology. Visually, considering its build and hilt, Honedge seems to be based on either a spatha, claymore, or possibly jian sword, with its own scabbard and tassel-like prehensile limb. The design on both Honedge and Doublade's sheath resembles that of a triquetra, clearly depicted on Honedge and more ornately designed on Doublade's. Its shiny form resembles a blood-soaked sword.
Name origin
Honedge may be a combination of hone, one, and edge.
Hitotsuki may be a combination of 一つ hitotsu (one) and 突き tsuki (stab, lunge, or thrust) or 憑き tsuki (spirit possession).
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.
Honedge with its sheath removed
A Honedge wielded by Shauna
For other sprites and images, please see Honedge images on the Bulbagarden Archives.
