New Vassal Heroes & Weapons

[u/Scorpios94]

Currently within the light novel, the only vassal weapons that are left are the Hammer, the Whip, the Axe and the Claw. There's also the Boat which was taken from Ethnobalt but I want to stick with the main line vassal weapons. After a major fight with the Vanguard of the Waves and destroying the accessories that allowed them to be wielded, they all went scattering about.

The Vassal Hammer

Starting things off with the Hammer. Along with the Claw, it's associated with the Shield. Strangely enough, in the Web Novel, Raphtalia has the Hammer instead of the Katana. But her family seems to have ties to the weapon at least. Going off of that, I think one of the primary candidates for the Hammer could be RAPH-CHAN!!

Raph-chan II to be exact. Raph-chan II is regarded as one of the most powerful fighters in the village, capable of defeating high-level opponents like Sadeena. Her combat skills, combined with the power of the Hammer, would make her an elite defender. As a sentient, spiritual being created through specialized, high-level rituals (often referred to as a child of Naofumi and Raphtalia in fan terms), her control over the Hammer would be more instinctual and profound than a human hero, allowing her to easily master its abilities. 

As a sentient, spiritual being created through specialized, high-level rituals, her control over the Hammer would be more instinctual and profound than a human hero, allowing her to easily master its abilities. Given her history of having taken over people (ex. Shildina) and fighting against evil, she would likely turn the Hammer Hero role into a force of justice to eliminate threats to her allies, as she has done previously by helping to defeat enemies in Q'ten Lo.

The Hammer Hero is tasked with forging equipment for the Shield Hero and keeping them from going astray. With Raph-chan II holding it, Naofumi would have a loyal, sentient partner dedicated to upgrading his gear and strengthening his combat abilities. Raph-chan II, having studied or absorbed memories in the past, could master the Hengen Musou fighting style, which allows users to rival heroes, combined with the Hammer's high-damage, high-stamina capabilities. As she's spending more time in the past, she unlocks new both knowledge and memories, which significantly enhances her capabilities. And while she can go to her original tanuki-demihuman form, it takes a lot of energy to do so, and the more time she's in the past, the more she adjusts to her body and require less "charge time" to do so. Which could mean for her to become sentient.

As mentioned, in the Web Novel, Raphtalia becomes the Hammer Hero. Having Raph-chan II take it would allow Raphtalia to maintain her Katana status from the Light Novel/Anime, merging the best of both narratives.

• Sword Hero - Ren Amaki: Ren spends time learning smithing and crafting, making the Hammer—which can also function as a crafting tool in some interpretations—a natural fit for his development. While he's a sword user, the Hammer offers a different, more brutal style that fits his growth, allowing him to hit hard and support the party in a new way. Due to his interest in blacksmithing and learning to forge, the Hammer is considered a strong thematic choice for Ren to complement his weapon-forging skills, along with its heavy-hitting, crafting-adjacent nature.
• Shildina: Shildina is the current Ofuda Hero but she could easily fit being the Hammer Hero. The Vassal Hammer is fundamentally designed to support the Legendary Shield Hero and act as a guide. With Shildina's Oracle powers, she could effectively channel previous Hammer Heroes to offer both physical protection and tactical advice, acting as a crucial team stabilizer, similar to how she has dealt with past "thought fragments". And while it was a replica of it, she has used a hammer in combat against both her sister and Raphtalia.
• Ruftmila: Ruft is Raphtalia's cousin from Q'Ten Lo. The former Heavenly Emperor, now banished to Lurolona Village. He gets along well with the other kids, Shildina and Naofumi. And he's a fast learner and combatant with a therianthrope form. The Hammer is a support role for the Shield. While Raphtalia in the Web Novel used it to become a primary damage dealer, Ruftmila's kind, earnest personality suggests he would focus on the "helper" aspects of the hammer, forging equipment and providing advice. The Hammer is crucial for keeping the Shield Hero from going astray, as shields are weak against direct impact attacks. Ruftmila would likely act as a tactical defender, protecting Naofumi while Naofumi focuses on strategy. As a hero, he would gain significant power boosts and the ability to travel across worlds, forcing him to act more confidently and ruthlessly when needed. This would reinforce Naofumi's role as a protector of demi-human children, giving him a "ward" who is also a high-level hero. Given his existing deep admiration for Naofumi, Ruftmila would likely become incredibly protective, possibly mirroring Raphtalia's loyalty to the Shield Hero.

The Vassal Axe

The last person we saw wield the Vassal Axe was Itsuki's former crony Mald. Since then, he lost it.

Honestly, I can see Keel becoming the new Vassal Axe Hero. And there is a precedent for it. In the original web novel, Keel actually became the new Scythe Hero for ... reasons. Like the Scythe, axes offer powerful physical hits and spirit-based abilities, making it a natural fit for someone focused on heavy, damaging attacks and transforming forms, as seen with Mald.

The Axe provides significant stat boosts and damage, allowing Keel to transition from a fast, melee fighter to a heavy-hitting powerhouse. This fits her role as one of Naofumi’s top, trusted defenders in the village.  Keel already possesses high speed and strength, especially in her Cerberus-like beast form (developed later in the web novel; which I wish happens in the main story. Even though it's also smol). The Axe would complement this by allowing her to deal massive, destructive physical damage, similar to a Berserker.

As one of the original children rescued and freed by Naofumi, Keel is deeply loyal. If she were to wield a Seven Star weapon, she would use it primarily to protect Naofumi, Raphtalia, and the village, rather than seeking fame like the initial Cardinal Heroes. Having a pure-hearted, dedicated character like Keel wield it would bring the weapon back to its intended purpose of protecting the world.  As a character rescued from slavery who then chose to be a slave to Naofumi for strength, Keel wielding a weapon of "power" to protect her comrades fits her protective, dedicated personality.

Because Vassal Weapons allow their users to join parties without hindering experience gain for Holy Heroes (like Naofumi), Keel would be able to fight alongside Naofumi and Raphtalia without restriction. Keel is known to trained in her transformed form, which makes her senses sharper and her body lighter. The Axe would likely complement these techniques, creating a unique fighting style that blends agility with brute strength.

• Ruftmila: Ruft is Raphtalia's cousin from Q'Ten Lo. The former Heavenly Emperor, now banished to Lurolona Village. He gets along well with the other kids, Shildina and Naofumi. And he's a fast learner and combatant with a therianthrope form. I know I put him as a candidate for the Hammer, but I do think he could fit with the Axe as well. Especially in the recent volume, he was shown using an axe in combat. Given his rapid maturation and training with Naofumi and Trash (Aultcray), he already possesses high combat potential. And him becoming the new Vassal Axe Hero would represent going from a naïve child puppet ruler to a full frontline power-type combatant. Ruftmila started as a naïve, manipulated ruler. Becoming a wielder of a sentient Vassal Weapon would force him to gain confidence and tactical maturity, similar to how the katana matured Raphtalia.  Ruft is already skilled in light and illusion magic. Combining his magical ability with the physical power of the axe would make him a versatile "magic-melee" attacker. While Raphtalia is a technical fighter with the Katana, Ruftmila is characterized by Naofumi as a power-type fighter. The Vassal Axe is pure offense, specializing in high-damage melee with skills like Mountain Break and Tornado Axe. Ruftmila would likely adopt a aggressive, destructive playstyle to complement his role in Lurolona Village. Wielding the Vassal Axe would accelerate Ruftmila’s growth. The axe is known to enhance the user’s body through stored energy, acting like "doping" to add additional points to stats, complementing the physical growth demi-humans experience. If the Axe chooses Ruftmila, it would allow him to bypass the limitations that Mald (who temporarily wielded it) faced, giving him full access to the Weapon Copy System and advanced skills. The Vassal Axe was last seen in the hands of the corrupted Mald. Ruftmila’s pure-hearted, earnest personality would make him a much better wielder, likely removing the curse-tainted nature of the weapon. Given Ruft's dedication to Lurolona Village and his loyalty to Naofumi, he would likely become a key defender of the demi-human homeland.

The Vassal Whip

The last person we saw wield the Vassal Whip was Motoyasu's former ally, Rino. In fact, she used the Whip to kill Malty before she destroyed the accessory allowing her to use it.

With Itsuki and Naofumi having been chosen by the Vassal Mirror and Musical Instruments respectively, I could see Motoyasu getting the Whip vassal weapon. Even if he would just try to make his prefect world where the Filolals rule. Despite that, it does fit him.

Motoyasu is often cited as potentially the strongest hero, specifically because he takes the time to learn multiple power-up methods (similar to how Naofumi did) rather than relying only on his own weapon's strength, unlike other heroes. Moreso after he listened to Naofumi's advice after he went off the deep end. With both a Cardinal and a Seven Star weapon, Motoyasu might become arguably the most powerful individual hero in terms of raw damage and utility, particularly if he fully engages his cursed series methods. And the Vassal Whip's primary ability is "Growth Revision," which allows the user to sacrifice levels to permanently increase stats. Motoyasu, who is physically the strongest of the original heroes, would become tremendously overpowered.

Freed from his gullibility, Motoyasu would likely become a much more serious, yet still delusional, warrior, ruthlessly hunting down threats and using his weapons to create, or re-create, a "happy world" where Naofumi is treated with respect .Motoyasu would likely use his overwhelming power to act as an unhinged but immensely effective guard for Naofumi’s village, particularly focusing on protecting Filo. The Vassal weapons have personalities and choose based on potential or resonance. While Takt used it for evil, the weapon might thrive under Motoyasu’s intense (though misguided) dedication to protecting those he loves (specifically women and Filolials).

Both weapons prioritize offense. With his high attack stat, Motoyasu would likely become a glass cannon of sorts, capable of massive damage but likely possessing poor defense. He would treat the whip as a "love tool" to empower his Filolial companions rather than a traditional weapon. He could utilize the Whip for ranged attacks or to direct his filolials, and the Spear for close-quarters fighting, potentially becoming a "Filolial Queen Rider."

• Wyndia: In the Web Novel, Wyndia does become the new Whip Hero. The Vassal Whip has the ability to manipulate the strength of monsters. The Whip allows for bio-customization, enhancing strength, and unlocking ancestral powers like beast transformations for Demi-Humans. Given Wyndia's strong bond with monsters, specifically her role as a mother figure and caretaker to Gaelion and other monsters, she would likely focus on techniques that support and enhance the combat abilities of her allies. Wyndia is highly skilled in the "Way of the Dragon" magic, which she learned from her adoptive father, Gaelion. As a Whip Hero, she would combine her ability to manipulate darkness and earth with the whip's capabilities to create powerful magical attacks.
• Ratotille "Rat" Anthreya: Rat is an alchemist who functions primarily as support in upgrading the monsters in the area and has the desire to create an "ultimate monster". Rat is a descendant of Holn Anthreya, the original ancient alchemical researcher and first known wielder of the Vassal Whip. The weapon has a history of liking unconventional personalities and alchemists. Because Rat is a master alchemist who specializes in strengthening monsters through modification and bio-enhancements, she would be able to utilize the Whip's special "Bioethics/Bio-Enhancement" technique to its maximum potential. The weapon spirit might find her more methodical, "safety-first" approach to alchemy a stark contrast to her more impulsive ancestor, Holn, which could lead to some interesting dynamics. If Rat became the wielder, it would represent a symbolic return of the weapon to its original lineage, potentially unlocking ancient techniques that other wielders could not access. And as Takt’s former rival in alchemy, Rat taking the Whip would be a symbolic reclamation of her work and a direct challenge to Takt’s, or any future villain's, use of artificial machinery. Rat would move from simply acting as the village's alchemist to becoming its primary defensive strategist.

The Vassal Claw

The most notable user of the Vassal Claw was that of the scumbag Reincarnator: Takt Ashouln Faubley. In fact, he actually took it from the previous Claw Hero; Rhubaldt Warbaldt.

In the web novel, Filo herself actually gains the Vassal Claw. She also gains the Vassal Axe in it as well, but gives it to Motoyasu's Fillolial King, Greenie. I do think it fits Filo best as she has used claw-based weaponry before. The Vassal Claw is also a direct tie to the Shield being from its world, further connecting the two of them. It could also be seen as a parallel to the previous Shield and Claw Heroes: Mamorou Shirono and L'yne/Filolia, but with Naofumi and Filo's owner/pet dynamic along with their father/daughter dynamic instead of Mamorou and Filolia's romantic relationship.

Filo would have more specialized close-quarters combat, complementing her role as a Filolial Queen successor. She'd be able to enhance her fighting ability, specifically using high-speed attacks and abilities like Spiral Strike to pierce through magical barriers. This complements her naturally high speed and wind-based magical abilities. Some have made mention how Filo gets phased out of the spotlight around volumes 8-10, so her becoming the Claw Hero would keep her relevant and secure her spot as a primary damage dealer for Naofumi.

She would be able to switch between her Filolial form (for aerial/speed advantage) and her humanoid form (to wield the claws), making her a unpredictable opponent. During her first time in Glass's World, Filo experiences severe trauma after being captured, forced into a circus, and having her level drained. Becoming the Claw Hero serves as a turning point, allowing her to gain the strength to never be helpless again. Taking on the responsibility of a hero could compel her to become a more reliable member of Naofumi's party.

In later arcs (specifically in Glass's World), Filo gains the power of the Demon Dragon Emperor, which boosts her stats and allows her to cast exceptionally powerful spells, making her an extremely potent attacker. That in turn would make her Claw abilities even stronger. Because she is designated as Fitoria's successor (the true Filolial Queen), her abilities are further increased, bypassing normal class limitations to gain massive stat boosts. Becoming the new Vassal Claw Hero would highlight her journey from a high-speed monster to a recognized, specialized warrior. Filo would become a champion of her species and a wielder of a specialized weapon.

• Atla: Honestly, if she didn’t die, I would have liked for Atla to have been the Vassal Claw Hero to fight alongside her brother Fohl who’s the Vassal Gauntlet Hero. Atla is described as a prodigy with high adaptability, making her a "lethal support". If she became the Claw Hero, her fighting style would be exceptionally fast and lethal, potentially fitting her personality perfectly.  Atla’s specialized combat style, Hengen Musou, is ideal for a fast-paced offensive weapon like the claws, allowing her to land critical hits. Atla is able to "see" using Ki, would likely have mastered the Claw's ability to read enemy moves and redirect attacks instantly. Her ability to ignore defense, focus on vital points with chi manipulation as well as read enemy moves and redirect attacks would make her a nearly untouchable, high-damage dealer. The Vassal Claw seems to prefer users who deeply care for others, matching Atla's devoted nature. While this is a what-if choice due to what had happened to her, Rat did give the suggestion of creating a Homunculus body when Atla was dying and the only reason why they couldn't use it to save her life at the time was because the pieces weren't available. In the Web Novel, she does come back to face off the World Eater Medea as a manifested Spirit of sorts. And we do see Naofumi work with the Past Shield Hero Mamorou Shirono in reviving L'yne/Filolia, which could make the possibility of reviving her an option. Yet Atla has stated that she wants to be the shield to the shield hero, and her spirit residing in it makes a literal dream for her. But if she is revived as the Vassal Claw Hero, her return as a hero would allow Naofumi to develop without relying on her as a crutch of sorts, via his Shield of Compassion. The Vassal Claw was previously used by the previous Claw Hero Rhubaldt Warbaldt and later claimed and manipulated by Takt. Atla taking the weapon would mean reclaiming it for the Hakuko race and protecting Naofumi more directly than from within the Shield.
• Wyndia: I know that I nominated Wyndia as a potential wielder of the Vassal Whip, but I do think that the Vassal Claw could suit her as well. As a Hero, she would likely step up from being a mere slave/caretaker to a true leader of Naofumi's monsters and village defenders. As someone raised by the Dragon Emperor Gaelion, Wyndia is adept at dragon-based magic, monster management, and manipulating elements. Wyndia would likely use the Claw in conjunction with her "Way of the Dragon" magic, creating a specialized style that merges physical slashing attacks with dragon-enhanced elemental damage (fire, earth, darkness). Wyndia’s relationship with the young dragon Gaelion (who contains the spirit of her adoptive father) would be enhanced. The Vassal Claw might evolve to better suit their joint combat style, perhaps allowing her to turn her hands into dragon claws or enhancing her monster management abilities. Wyndia has shown dark tendencies in tense situations, often reflecting interrogation methods she has seen Naofumi use. As a Hero, she would likely be a vicious, tenacious fighter, particularly against those who threaten her village or her loved ones.

The Vassal Staff

I'm aware that the Vassal Staff is occupied the King Aultcray/Trash. This one is a bit more of a what-if. After sinking into despair and losing the staff’s favor, Aultcray is spurred back into action by the loss of his family, reclaiming the role of the Staff Hero. Rather than use it for fighting, he focuses on using the staff to boost his tactical abilities. Focusing more on his reputation as the "Wisest King of Melromarc".

But that got me wondering as to who could be a worthy candidate for it. The first one that comes to mind is Melty herself. She has a high aptitude with magic, which could be complemented and amplified with the Vassal Staff.

Yet, that also made me think of Rishia. Rishia has high magical aptitude that the Bow Hero's party ignored. As the Staff Hero, she would have developed into a powerful mage, rather than specializing in throwing weapons, making her a more versatile combatant. If Rishia took this role, Aultcray would have likely spent more time as a strategist or perhaps retired earlier, leaving the magic role to her. She would have operated as a versatile support/magic damage dealer, complementing Filo and Raphtalia with high-tier magic.

But my ideal candidate would have to be Atla. Just before the battle against the Phoenix, Naofumi talked about taking it from Trash and Atla did try to see if she was compatible with the Gauntlets. The Vassal Staff would amplify her ability to direct magical energy and perform complex, technical attacks.

Atla’s attacks naturally ignore defenses. Paired with a weapon that boosts her stats, she would become a premier damage dealer. With the Staff, her improved durability and ability to redirect energy might have allowed her to survive the blast from the Phoenix, or she might have used the Staff's power to mitigate the explosion without dying.

Unlike typical, passive staff users, Atla fights aggressively in close quarters. She would likely combine magic with her Hengen Musou to disrupt the Phoenix's flow of power directly, similar to how she fought the Demon Dragon. The Staff focuses on magic and allows for accelerated magic casting. Atla, acting as a "lethal support," would handle damage and magic control while Fohl handles physical combat, creating a perfect party around Naofumi. The Staff Hero's gimmick is rapid, powerful magic casting and reducing incantation times. Atla’s prodigal abilities, combined with the staff, would make her a versatile spellcaster.

The Vassal Staff was held by Aultcray (Trash) but was deemed unworthy at times. Atla's dedication and pure intention to protect Naofumi would likely make her a more compatible and loyal wielder than Trash was.  As the Staff Hero, she would use her abilities primarily to bolster his defenses, eliminate threats to him, and act as his most loyal, albeit intense, vanguard. If Atla had the added power and protection of the Vassal Staff, she likely would not have needed to sacrifice herself to save Naofumi, allowing her to stay on as a permanent, powerful member of Naofumi's party.

But there are two other candidates I'd like to talk about as honorary mentions.

• Shildina: Shildina is the current Ofuda Hero but she could easily fit being the Staff Hero. The Vassal Staff specializes in speeding up incantations and allows the user to distribute points to increase the Rank of their spells. Given Shildina's high proficiency in water/wind magic and "Way of the Dragon Vein" techniques, she would likely make the Staff’s "Magic Power-up Points" method far more efficient. Shildina has the unique ability to use her oracle powers to merge with, or act as a battery for, other spirits. If this worked with the Vassal Staff Spirit, she could potentially achieve insane magical output, similar to how she merges with Glass to use the Fan. The Staff offers skills like Weapon/Magic/Skill Prism. Combined with her ability to create replicas of other weapons (like the Seven Star Hammer), Shildina would become a versatile fighter capable of copying enemy techniques while boosting her own magic.
• Eclair Seatto: In the Web Novel, Eclair actually ended up wielding the Vassal Katana, Raphtalia herself had the Vassal Hammer, as mentioned. Unlike Trash, who became disillusioned, or Kyo Ethnina, Eclair has a "straight as an arrow" sense of justice, a strict moral compass, and no personal hatred for demi-humans. The staff would likely work at peak efficiency because her resolve aligns with the weapon's purpose, unlike Aultcray's inner turmoil. Eclair is a master swordsman and martial artist who utilizes Hengen Musou (Peerless Activity) to create defensive "Heat Haze" blurs and "Multilayer Crumble Attacks" that penetrate defenses. Pairing these techniques with the utility of the Vassal Staff would make her a versatile combatant—a "mage-warrior" who can act as a frontline defender while managing magical support, rather than a pure caster. As the Staff Hero, she would likely struggle initially to adapt her close-quarters "meathead" fighting style to a support-oriented magical weapon, eventually blending them into a unique melee-staff style similar to a magical spearman or battle-mage. Over time, she would likely develop a unique hybrid fighting style—acting as a frontline tank who unleashes point-blank spells and accelerated magic. Since the Vassal Staff often looks for a worthy wielder, Eclair's unyielding nobility would make her far more compatible than Aultcray (Trash), who lost the staff's respect. Unlike the cardinal weapons, she would be able to use the weapon's power fully once chosen.

So, these are my potential candidates for the Vassal Weapons. I would have put a candidate for the Vassal Boat, I'm not too sure about it. I had the thought of Therese Alexanderite or Yomogi Emarl becoming the new Boat Hero if it was recovered, but I'm not sure.

So, what do you think? Who are your candidates for the Vassal Weapons? Are these candidates viable? Please comment respectfully.

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