Quick Facts About Genji’s Sword 

Blizzard’s Overwatch quickly became the “it” team fighting game following its release in 2016, thanks in no small part to its enchanting array of characters each with their own unique weapons. Though characters like Reaper carried guns, many fans favored Hanzo and Genji, two samurai/ninja style characters who fight like cyberpunk Demon Slayer hashiras.

Fans have taken to making their own Genji cosplays while they wait for Overwatch 2, but if there’s one thing no Genji cosplay can have, regardless of the Genji skin, it’s the cybernetic samurai’s swords. 

The Dragonblade: Lore Tidbits About Genji’s Sword

Overwatch Genji swords may just be video game weapons, but the game’s creators put a lot of thought into fleshing out his steel blades, giving them an air of authenticity that ties them with real life samurai swords from Japan.

Genji’s Katana Is An Odachi

Anime shows typically have katanas that are simply known as katanas, but Blizzard Entertainment decided to shake things up a bit by specifying Genji’s sword as an odachi.

Odachi are large swords that were typically used by soldiers in feudal Japan. Its size offered better reach that kept enemy soldiers from advancing on friendly infantry, an advantage that allowed the Asakura clan to win against Oda Nobunaga’s troops.  In Genji’s case, the larger size and longer reach favor his height and build, allowing him to make stronger, more lethal strikes than a regular katana would.

Genji’s Carries A Smaller Sword

You may have noticed that Genji carries a smaller, shorter sword on his hip. This is called a wakizashi, a shortsword typically worn on a swordsman’s obi, a sash tied at the waist of the kimono or hakama, and is designed to be a backup sword for close range fighting or, as a final choice, for committing seppuku. 

Genji’s Sword Has An Inscription That Reads “Gan Jiang”

With Overwatch being a live service game, Genji was always bound to have a limited edition skin that would change his appearance, voicelines, and lore. His Lunar New Year skin did just that in 2018 by reimagining him as an ancient Chinese general.

The new skin came with a sword that had the Chinese characters on it. These characters could be read as “Gan Jiang”, the name of a legendary swordsmith who worked on a sword with his wife Mo Ye that was meant to be given to the emperor of China. Gan Jiang then kept the real sword for his son so that it could become a family heirloom because he knew the emperor would have him killed for taking so long to make the sword. 

Choosing A Genji Sword Replica For Your Cosplay

While you could definitely pre-order a real katana sword for your next Genji cosplay, it’s not exactly the most cost effective or Transport Security Administration (TSA) friendly option. The next best thing is to get a realistic cosplay prop that can serve as your accessory and as a collectible item.

• Material

Cosplay swords come in different materials such as wood, carbon steel, stainless steel, foam, and PVC. Of course, the metal options offer the best visual copy because of their unique sheen, but wood, foam, and PVC tend to be lighter and more malleable, making them perfect for oddly shaped swords. Foam is a special favorite among DIY cosplayers because the lightness of the material makes it easy to carry a claymore replica.

• Style

Genji has been out for years and in a live service game, that means he’s had several skins over the years. Aside from Lunar New Year Genji’s sword, you can also choose from Genji’s Kenkoda, Blackwatch, Sentai, Baihu, and Carbon Fiber skins, just to name a few. 

• Size

Just because Genji’s sword is massive doesn’t mean your replica has to be. Don’t forget that you will have to carry your replica around event centers for hours on end so an oversized sword can tire you out before you’re ready to go home. We suggest choosing a replica that’s large but still reasonable relative to your own body size and strength.

Our Picks for the Best Genji Sword Replicas

1. Genji’s Dragon Blade Katana

This Genji sword replica is a copy of Genji’s original sword from his base model. Rendered in green and black, the sword is a cyberpunk take on the classic katana that features silver details to match Genji’s new robotic body.

The sword’s hilt is designed to resemble the grip of a gun and connects to a tsuba reminiscent of Genji’s helmet. The blade shows a bright green hamon line to imitate traditional swords.

• Material: Stainless steel
• Length: 106 cm

2. Genji’s Oni Katana

A more menacing take on Genji’s sword, the Oni skin katana is inspired by Japanese demon myths. Hence, the sword has three sharp teeth jutting out from below the tsuba while the tsuba itself has a gemstone orb that looks almost like a bloody eye. 

The sword features a bright red edge, adding to the “bloody” appearance of the sword. It comes with its own scabbard which is tipped with metal details that complement the tsuba.

• Material: Stainless steel
• Length: 105 cm

Conclusion

The ultimate Genji sword for your cosplay depends on which skin or material you prefer, but regardless of what type you get, Genji’s katanas remain a great way to reminisce on the flory days of Overwatch while you wait for the next video game installment.