Sword of Omens Lore and Replicas Buying Guide 

Many legendary swords in fiction come from fantasy classics such as the Lord of the Rings’ Anduril, but when it comes to cartoons, few are as recognizable as the Sword of Omens because of its association with the Masters of the Universe franchise.

The Thundercats Sword of Omens is among the swords introduced by DC Comics alongside He-Man’s Sword of Power and She-Ra’s Sword of Protection, making it part of DC’s sword merchandise trifecta in the 1980s. 

The Sword of Omens 101: Origins and Lore

The Sword of Omens is the signature blade of the Lord of the Thundercats. Because the sword is passed down from generation to generation, it has come to symbolize the authority that the Lord of the Thundercats has over the Thundercats, a group of elite Thunderian nobles who serve as a fighting force to uphold Thunderia’s principles of truth, loyalty, honor, and justice, making them more similar to Star Wars’ Jedi Knights compared to other high-born warriors in fiction.

The sword is shown to be so powerful that it can only be defeated by a fighter wielding Excalibur, another legendary weapon by piercing the Eye of Thundera embedded in the Sword of Omens’ hilt. This red gem not only gives the sword its power but it is the source of the ThunderCats’ supernatural abilities, making it vital to the group’s survival after they escaped from Thundera to Third Earth.

Because of its power, Mumm-Ra, an evil sorcerer who seeks to subjugate the people of Third Earth, wanted the sword for himself. In the episode ‘Excalibur’, Mumm-Ra deceives the ThunderCats into accepting him as an ally before challenging Lion-O to a duel where he destroys the Eye of Thundera in order to transform it into the Sword of Plun-Darr, an ancient two-bladed weapon that destroyed Thundera.

The Sword of Omens’ Appearance

The Sword of Omens is depicted as a stainless steel blade with a shiny, mirror-chrome finish that resembles a medieval European longsword, a design choice in line with its Arthurian connotations.  Its pommel has a simple rounded end while the hilt features the Eye of Thundera. The sword’s crossguard is styled to look like cat whiskers by having both sides curl towards the blade. 

The sword is presented in the show in the hands of Thundercats Lion-O who holds it up to his face so that his eyes align with the crossguard and his forehead rests behind the Thundercats logo on the hilt. 

What Does the Sword of Omens Do?

The Sword of Omens’ powers come from the red gemstone embedded in it. As long as it has that stone, the sword is able to do the following:

• Release powerful beams of energy

And it’s not limited to magical laser beams either. The sword can shoot out lightning as well as harmless beams of light to call upon the ThunderCats, kind of like a feline Bat Signal. When its energy is concentrated into heat, though, the sword’s laser beams can blow up enemies, set them on fire, and knock them back. 

• Changing the weather

The sword has been shown to have a form of atmokinesis, a superpower that enables it to change the weather. Building on the sword’s ability to summon lightning, this power allows it to bring down rain and storms in a way that’s similar to Thor’s Mjolnir. 

• Give Lion-O sight beyond sight

The Sword of Omens gives Lion-O a one-of-a-kind psychic ability that allows him to see anything anywhere on Third Earth. This can be activated by aligning his eyes with the sword’s hilt, giving the impression of wearing them like glasses, and saying the words “Sword of Omens, give me sight beyond sight.”

With sight beyond sight, Lion-O is able to solve problems and find objects that would otherwise be impossible to resolve.

• Transform has a dagger form

The sword is able to change from a sword to a dagger and back again. When it is not in use, the Sword of Omens can be transformed into an easy-to-carry dagger that can still be used in combat. That said, the sword isn’t all powerful since coming into contact with certain substances can hamper its abilities, leaving it stuck as a dagger.

Choosing Your Sword Of Omens Replica

The Sword of Omens has tons of miniature copies designed for use with Lion-O action figures, but for cosplay and collecting, the best option are sword replicas. Cartoon sword replicas are full-sized real-world items that emulate the appearance of your favorite fictional swords without having a sharpened edge. 

Replica swords are typically made from stainless steel and wood, though materials such as plastic, foam, and rubber may also be used depending on the shape and size of the sword as well as who it is intended for. For example, swords for small children are usually constructed from foam.

But for older fans of the Thundercats, stainless steel is where it’s at because of the material’s durability and unmatched shine that makes it look exactly like the real deal. 

Our Pick for the Best Sword of Omens Replica

Nothing beats the SV Handmade Sword of Omens replica in terms of durability, attention to detail, inclusions, and overall value. This Sword of Omens replica comes with its own leather sheath so you can easily walk around at conventions dressed as Lion-O without having to carry it by hand. 

The sword features a straight-edge blade with unsharpened edges. Its red imitation gemstone has a crisp and clear print of the Thundercats logo and the crossguard is engraved to match the swirling pattern seen in the show. Its handle doesn’t cut corners either as it has small imitation jewels embedded along its length. The pommel is also rounded at the end, giving it a nice heft that feels perfectly balanced when wielded.

• Material: Stainless steel
• Length: 81.28 cm

Conclusion

Thundercats’ recent reboot may not have reached the same popularity as the She-Ra reboot, but its Sword of Omens remains to be one of the iconic cartoon swords of the 80s and is remembered alongside the Sword of Power and the Sword of Protection. Today, fans of the show can pay homage to Thundera’s mightiest warrior with an accurate replica Sword of Omens.