Video game weapons tend to feel extraordinary when they’re unique. The Legend of Zelda sword and Doom’s BFG 9000 are iconic, not only for their immense power, but also because there’s nothing else like them in their respective games. However, there are some weapons, swords, or explosives that take exclusivity to the extreme, giving players only one chance to obtain them during a playthrough. To have the best chance at victory or achieve a 100 % completion rate, be sure to hunt down these valuable video game items. I’m Jess from What Culture, and here are 10 powerful video game weapons that you only have one chance to obtain.
Scourge of Ages – Baldur's Gate 2
In Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn, there are a few weapons that can turn the tide faster than the Scourge of Ages. To acquire this beast, players need to know exactly what to do. First, they need to travel to Diana's Fortress and locate the four specific components of the scourge. Once these pieces are brought to Roger the Fence in the Temple District, he will be able to forge this monster with little effort. The Scourge of Ages easily cuts Baldur's Gate 2 enemies to size and interrupts magical attacks, leaving spellcasters with little chance to fight back while wielding this beast. Even the most powerful golems, dragons, or trolls should pose no threat. However, it is very easy to miss the scourge due to a villain named Torgal in the very last room of the fortress. If you leave after defeating him instead of looking for these components, the Multi-Headed Flail disappears permanently. Since there is no indication that the weapon is only available for a short period of time, it can be easily missed, especially on a first playthrough.
A321 Plasma Rifle – Fallout 3
In Fallout 3, if players want to survive in the post-apocalyptic wasteland, they should seek out the A321 Plasma Rifle as soon as possible. A single shot from this energy weapon melts enemies in seconds thanks to its abundant ammo, high firing power, and large charge capacity. This plasma rifle has no counterpart. However, this overpowered weapon is only available after completing the side quest "The Replicated Man." The mission involves locating an android named Harkness who is hiding from his creator, Dr. Zimmer. While the quest is neither difficult nor lengthy, some actions will have irreversible consequences. This is because Zimmer and Harkness want different things. Players must decide which side to take. If you ally with the android, he will offer you his plasma rifle. But if Harkness is sold to his master, the A321 disappears. While siding with Zimmer does offer other rewards, they're not on the same caliber as this overpowered Fallout 3 rifle. If you're eager to equip one of the best weapons in Fallout 3, be sure to support Harkness.
The Hyper Chip – Mega Man X3
In Mega Man X3, the titular robot can upgrade his powers by collecting Energy Tanks, Sub Tanks, and Armor Upgrades. In addition to this, there are four Pink Capsules that further enhance X's abilities. However, there is a catch: once the Blue Bomber accepts an upgrade from one Pink Capsule, the other three disappear. Fortunately, there is a way, but only if X deliberately avoids the Pink Capsules. To do this, collect every item in the game and make it to the final stage. After defeating the first mini-boss, drop down the first hole and press the left wall. If you avoid all the upgrades, you will discover another secret Pink Capsule that grants X the Hyper Chip. This upgrade greatly extends X's Charged Shot, allows him to regenerate health, take half damage from enemies, consume less weapon energy, and perform a double air pulse.
The Ice Arrows – The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
After completing the Gerudo Forest in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Link gains access to a new area called the Gerudo Training Grounds. As our hero travels through this labyrinth, he obtains a series of small keys; using these keys to open the locked doors of the facilities, Link is rewarded with Ice Arrows that can freeze enemies in place. However, obtaining these icy projectiles is not simple. Link must be equipped with almost every item in the game, including the Lens of Truth, Iron Boots, Megaton Hammer, and Silver Gauntlets, all scattered throughout the game world. Additionally, there are two paths to reach the Ice Arrows: one sealed by seven locked doors, the other by eight. Since there are only seven keys to find, reaching the Ice Arrows becomes impossible if Link takes the wrong path. If this happens, it's not the end of the world, as Ice Arrows are not required to complete the game, but it's still annoying to miss them, as Ice Arrows are the most powerful projectiles in Ocarina, by far.
The Satori – Cyberpunk 2077
Guns are a sensible choice in Cyberpunk 2077, as they allow V to stay at a distance from enemies while still dealing damage. However, using a katana is a lot more fun. Swords may not have as much range, but they make up for it in sheer power, as they can take down bad guys with lightning speed, especially when performing a stealth attack. Cyberpunk 2077 features the most powerful blade, the Satori, right from the first act. However, it's important to emphasize the "can" as the Satori sword is only available for a short period of time after Saburo dies in the Heist mission. T-Bug will order V to go outside instead of following orders. V can take the stairs to the roof where he will find two guards protecting Arasaka's AV. After defeating the thugs, V will find Saburo's katana inside. While the Satori deals 20 less base damage, it also unleashes 500 critical damage, making this sword a mega-destroyer for the rest of your game.
Machine Gun – Resident Evil: Code Veronica
In Resident Evil: Code Veronica, Claire Redfield can pick up two machine guns relatively early in the main campaign. With these rapid-fire weapons, she can target two targets simultaneously, allowing her to mow down anyone who crosses her path. However, there's a catch. Steve Burnside, who's hanging around looking dejected, takes these weapons from Claire shortly after. Given that the machine gun can shred zombies in seconds, it would have been great to keep them. It turns out that this is possible if Claire returns to the military prison and gives Rodrigo a hemostat. He'll trade his lighter for Claire's master key. It may not seem like a big deal at the time, but the trade has a big payoff later. When players take control of Claire's brother Chris, he'll meet Rodrigo, who'll give him his lighter. This allows the special agent to unlock a pair of machine guns in the catacombs. Although there are still plenty of undead to fight, things should be easier now, as you are equipped with two broomsticks.
The Spear of Destiny – Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Unlike other entries on this list, obtaining the Spear of Destiny in Fire Emblem: Three Houses is not a problem. The problem lies in keeping it until the end of the game. After defeating McLennan in Chapter 5, the protagonist Byleth will be able to obtain the precious spear. However, after our hero returns to Lady Raya, she will confiscate it. This is a shame, because the Spear of Destiny is an ideal tool due to its extended range, increased accuracy, and immense power. If the wielder has certain crests, the spear can trigger an additional attack or critical damage. Plus, it looks really cool. Luckily, Byleth can persuade Rhea to let her keep the spear. To do this, Sylvain must be on your party, and for him to automatically appear, you must be a member of the Blue Lions. However, even if you are not a member of this house, you can still convince Sylvain to join by playing as the female Byleth. Unfortunately, the Spear of Destiny cannot be kept permanently if none of these conditions are met.
Iris – Golden Sun: The Lost Age
In Golden Sun: The Lost Age, our heroes can find a summoning tablet in the Animus Sanctum. After acquiring this tablet, players can summon the game's most powerful ally, Iris. If summoned in battle, Iris will flood the area with destructive light, which comes in handy when taking on some of the tougher bosses. Unfortunately, the door to the inner sanctum can only be opened after our heroes have collected 72 small creatures called djinn. The problem is, there are only 44 djinn in the game. So what happens to the other 28? This is where things get tricky. The Lost Age allows data to be transferred from the first Golden Sun using a password or game link cable to enter the Inner Sanctum, players must hunt all the djinn in the first game, transfer the data to The Lost Age, and then find all the djinn in this game as well. If a single djinn in the first version is missed, Iris cannot be obtained. Unfortunately, many Golden Sun players were unaware that they had to meet these requirements to access the Inner Sanctum, and as a result, few Golden Sun fans have had the satisfaction of summoning Iris in battle.
The Lightning of Grand Sax – Elden Ring
Players can find the Bolts of Grand Sax in Lane Dell after defeating Godfrey. Once the Elden Lord is dead, players must take the elevator down, where they will see a gigantic spear coming out of the ground. This aberration is as tall as a building, so it is quite hard to miss. However, the Bolts of Grand Sax rest on this spear and are often overlooked, as the weapon is not visible from afar. Only by climbing onto the spear and exploring the top can the legendary artifact be retrieved. The Bolts of Grand Sax are an incredible weapon, dealing 20 bonus damage to dragons and 10 bonus damage to elder dragons. As a bonus, it can also launch an electric projectile at enemies from afar. However, since this is a From Software game, fans knew that obtaining this ancient god could not be easy. Bolts of Grand Sax can only be obtained while Malikath, the Black Blade, is still alive. Once he is defeated, the lightning projectile disappears into thin air. Unfortunately, most Elden Ring fans learned this information the hard way.
Excalibur 2 – Final Fantasy 9
On average, Final Fantasy 9 takes almost 40 hours to complete, but to obtain the game's most powerful weapon, Excalibur 2, players must reach the Space Gate in the final dungeon in under 12 hours. Accomplishing this feat is even harder than it sounds, as it requires ignoring all side quests first, which means giving up useful items and weapons. Additionally, some battles can drag on due to the game's mechanics, forcing players to restart at the nearest save point. Unfortunately, the game's endless conversations and FMV sequences cannot be skipped, and pausing the game does not stop the timer. To top it all off, the PAL version of Final Fantasy 9 runs slower than the Japanese and American versions, making it even more difficult for European players. Fortunately, the quest is much easier in the remastered version of the game, as it includes a slow-motion feature. However, obtaining such a powerful weapon is a challenge, as the requirements are so strict that most players won't even try it, knowing that they will miss their chance forever if the playtime exceeds 12 hours by even one second.
