The Devil's Arms (魔装備 Masoubi?, "Demon Equipment") are a set of recurring weapons in the Tales series. They are designed to perpetually increase in strength based on the number of enemies defeated by the wielder.
Function[]
The Devil's Arms are a set of recurring set of weapons under different names. Each weapon is typically associated with a character and will increase in strength based on that character's kill count, sometimes invisibly. They often require another optional boss to be defeated to unseal their true power, but they can be the strongest weapons due to their almost limitless potential.
Bosses[]
Tales of Symphonia is the first game to introduce this weapon set and featured Abyssion, a powerful boss associated with the weapons. He has the capability of using the weapons in battle, and his moveset features artes taken from all of the playable characters. Some games reference this concept with bosses that also do the same, being able to use the weapons as well as having their artes directly pulled from the playable characters.
These bosses are as follows:
Title | Boss | Notes |
---|---|---|
Tales of Symphonia | ||
Tales of the Abyss | ||
Tales of Vesperia |
| |
Tales of Xillia |
|
History[]
Tales of Symphonia[]
The Devil's Arms (闇の装備品 Yami no Soubihin?, "Dark Equipment") are series of cursed weapons in Tales of Symphonia that are collected to help Abyssion. Each Devil's Arm is specific to one character in the party, with the exception of Soul Eater and Fafnir, as Kratos Aurion and Zelos Wilder can use both swords and daggers. They have no attack power and typically have negative effects, but their attack ratings will increase with every monster killed after beating Abyssion.
The party meets Abyssion at Flanoir after unknowingly obtaining one of the arms. Abyssion tells them the story about a man named Nebilim who sought to conquer Tethe'alla. He was defeated by a single swordsman, but Nebilim infused the swordsman's nine equipment and cursed his descendants. Abyssion is the last of these descendants who become demon hunters but is weakened by the curse. He gives the party the Nebilim weapon and Nebilim's Key which allows them to open the chests that contain Devil's Arms, and he asks them to find the others for him. Abyssion promises to seal them at the bottom level the Temple of Darkness once gathered. Presea Combatir shows discomfort when the Devil's Arms are gathered, however, and after obtaining the Disaster, Abyssion tells them of a legend that the Arms will sometimes choose a wielder and transform them into a magic swordsman under their control, though Abyssion says that they will be fine as long as they do not hear the Arms' voices.
Once all of the Devil's Arms are gathered, however, Abyssion uses them alongside the Necronomicon to revive the power of the Dark Lord Nebilim in his own body. Wielding the Devil's Arms themselves in battle, Abyssion is a formidable foe, but the party subdues him. In his defeat, Nebilim's darkness attempts to take over Presea, who can hear the Arms, but Colette Brunel's holy powers stop the possession, and Genis Sage uses Fireball to destroy the Necronomicon to prevent future incidents.
The Devil's Arms consist of the following weapons:
Weapon Name | Weapon Type | Obtainment Method |
---|---|---|
Nebilim 魔剣ネビリム Maken Nebilim "Demon Sword Nebilim" |
Twin Blades | |
Evil Eye 魔眼イビルアイ Magan Evil Eye "Demon Eye Evil Eye" |
Ring |
|
Disaster 魔玩ビジャスコア[1] Magan Bija Score "Demon Toy Bija Score" |
Kendama |
|
Heart of Chaos 魔杖ケイオスハート Majou Chaos Heart "Demon Staff Chaos Heart" |
Rod |
|
Soul Eater 魔剣ソウルイーター Maken Soul Eater "Demon Sword Soul Eater" |
Sword |
|
Fafnir 邪剣ファフニール Jaken Fafnir "Evil Sword Fafnir" |
Dagger |
|
Gates of Hell 魔符黒翼 Mafu Kokuyoku "Demon Seals Black Wings" |
Card |
|
Diablos 魔斧ディアボロス Mafu Diabolos "Demon Axe Diabolos" |
Axe |
|
Apocalypse 魔装アポカリプス Masou Apocalypse "Demon Equipment Apocalypse" |
Leg Guards |
|
Tales of the Abyss[]
Tales of Vesperia[]
Tales of Hearts R[]
Tales of Xillia[]
Several decades prior to the events of Tales of Xillia, there lived a man named Trille, who had the ability to control monsters and was able to draw on monster's abilities. However, Trille yearned for more than his powers and tampered with several monsters' mana lobes. Over twenty years of research resulted in him creating six monsters that would grow stronger with every battle, able to cast new spirit artes. All six monsters had a weapon protruding from them and were considered living incarnations of the weapons. The weapons were dubbed "Devil's Arms", while the monsters were called "Devil's Beasts". Twenty years prior to the events of the story, Trille took his six creations to the battle at Fezebel Marsh; however, a tsunami hit and took the Trille and the Devil's Beasts.
While initially these weapons may not be strong, their true potential can be unlocked after completing either side of the story and defeating the Golden Mage Knight, who awaits at the end on Magnus Zero. Defeating him will unlock the Devil's Arms and allow them to grow in power accordingly to the number of kills performed by their respective wielders.
The Devil's Arms consist of the following weapons:
Weapon Name | Weapon Type | Obtainment Method |
---|---|---|
Folzam, the Grudge-Bearer 詠魔爪フォルゼクス Eimasou Folzex "Singing Demon Claw Folzex" (Folzex, the Grudge-Bearer) |
Gauntlets |
|
Dranduo, the Howling Beast 咆魔刀ドランデューオ Houmatou Dranduo "Roaring Demon Blade Dranduo" |
Sword |
|
Vicehein, the Howler 断魔剣ヴァイスヘイン Danmaken Vicehein "Severing Demon Sword Vicehein" |
Broadsword |
|
Tregatoria, the Bellowing Demon 唸魔杖トレガトリア Tenmajou Tregatoria "Reciting Demon Cane Tregatoria" |
Staff |
|
Meladentra, the Deathbringer 叫魔刃メランデトラ Kyoumajin Melandetra "Crying Demon Edge Melandetra" (Melandetra, the Deathbringer) |
Rapier |
|
Padvent, the Incantor 唱魔棍パードベンテ Shoumakon Padvent "Chanting Demon Stick Padvent" |
Rod |
|
Tales of Xillia 2[]
In Tales of Xillia 2, to unlock Devil's Arms, the player must complete Tag Mode of Xian Du's coliseum with every character in Advanced Rank, complete the main story, and complete the Elite Rank in the coliseum's Tag Mode with each character the player wishes to have his or her Devil's Arm unlocked. Two Devil's Arms are acquired by methods different than than of the Elite Rank of the coliseum's Tag Mode. All weapons begin by default with 765 points in P.ATK and A.ATK, and as each weapon's respective owner kills enemies, the stronger the weapons grow, able to achieve 9,999 points in both P.ATK and A.ATK. All Devil's Arms, save Ludger Will Kresnik's, increase the damage that wielder receives.
The Devil's Arms consist of the following weapons:
Weapon Name | Weapon Type | Obtainment Method |
---|---|---|
Euphrosyne, the Graceful 絆双剣エウプロシェネ Basouken Euphrosyne "Bond Twin Blades Euphrosyne" |
Dual Blades |
|
Aglaea, the Trampler 絆鎚アグライア Bantsui Aglaea "Bond Hammer Aglaea" |
Sledgehammer |
|
Thalia, the Shrouded 絆双銃タレイア Bansoujuu Thalia "Bond Twin Guns Thalia" |
Dual Pistols |
|
Folzex, the Grudge-Bearer 詠魔爪フォルゼクス Eimasou Folzex "Singing Demon Claw Folzex" |
Gauntlets |
|
Dranduo, the Howling Beast 咆魔刀ドランデューオ Houmatou Dranduo "Roaring Demon Blade Dranduo" |
Sword |
|
Vicehein, the Howler 断魔剣ヴァイスヘイン Danmaken Vicehein "Severing Demon Sword Vicehein" |
Broadsword |
|
Tregatoria, the Bellowing Demon 唸魔杖トレガトリア Tenmajou Tregatoria "Reciting Demon Cane Tregatoria" |
Staff |
|
Melandetra, the Deathbringer 叫魔刃メランデトラ Kyoumajin Melandetra "Crying Demon Edge Melandetra" |
Rapier |
|
Padvent, the Incantor 唱魔棍パードベンテ Shoumakon Padvent "Chanting Demon Stick Padvent" |
Rod |
|
Soul's Requiem ??? |
Katana |
|
Clasp of Deliverance ??? |
Hairpin |
|
Tales of Arise[]
The Devil's Arms are a set of mighty weapons containing powerful demons inside them. They feed upon the souls that are unfortunate enough to fall to the weapons, thus making the Devil's Arms more potent and powerful. However, their exact origin is not directly stated in-game thus making their existence somewhat of a mystery beyond simple item descriptions. Each Devil's Arm is earned by clearing an area of the Otherworld.
Weapon Name | Weapon Type | Obtainment Method |
---|---|---|
Nebilim 魔剣ネビリム |
Sword |
|
Damonisch Core 魔銃デモニッシュコア |
Rifle |
|
Records of the Fallen 魔典「冥覗忌瞳」 |
Book |
|
Demon's Cry 魔甲オニノウメキ |
Knuckles |
|
Os Rex 魔盾オースレクス |
Shields |
|
Diablo Nox 魔棍ディアボロノクス |
Rod |
|
Other Appearances[]
Tales of Symphonia: The Animation[]
In the third omake of Tales of Symphonia: The Animation's "Tethe'halla" arc, the Diablos axe appeared as one of the reasons the party lacked the funds to produce newer episodes and to pay for the electricity. Although the price is not shown, referring to its obtainment method in the original game, Presea claimed she won the axe in a auction.
Notes[]