Official News ·

Zoro’s Swords Explained: Names, Grades & History

Zoro carries Wado Ichimonji, Sandai Kitetsu, and Enma at the end of Wano. His earlier named swords include Yubashiri and Shusui. This guide explains the five blades, their grades, and the changes in his three-sword lineup.

Spoilers through the end of Wano. The lineup is pinned to that point in the story, rather than presented as a prediction about later arcs.

Zoro’s five named swords at a glance

Sword Grade When Zoro obtained it Status at the end of Wano
Wado Ichimonji Great Grade — one of 21 Childhood in Shimotsuki Village Carried
Sandai Kitetsu Grade (Wazamono) Loguetown Carried
Yubashiri Skillful Grade — one of 50 Loguetown Destroyed; remains laid to rest
Shusui Great Grade — one of 21 Thriller Bark Left in Wano
Enma Great Grade — one of 21 Wano Carried

These are five important named blades, not every object Zoro has ever used as a weapon. Keeping that distinction avoids mixing his long-term swords with brief substitutes.

When did Zoro get each sword?

Wado Ichimonji: the promise

Wado Ichimonji belonged to Kuina, Zoro’s childhood rival. After her death, Zoro asked her father for it and carried their shared ambition forward: becoming the world’s greatest swordsman. The white-sheathed blade is the easiest place to start when learning his sword history because it remains part of his lineup across its later changes.

Shimotsuki Kozaburo forged both Wado Ichimonji and Enma. That connection matters in Wano, but the two swords have different histories: Wado reaches Zoro through Kuina, while Enma comes through Oden’s family. Official Kozaburo profile.

Sandai Kitetsu: the risk in Loguetown

Zoro finds Sandai Kitetsu in Ipponmatsu’s sword shop. When warned that it is cursed, he tosses it into the air and puts his arm beneath its falling path. It misses him. Impressed by his nerve, the shopkeeper gives him the sword.

Sandai Kitetsu is a Grade sword, not one of the 50 Skillful Grade swords. Yubashiri is the blade from the same shopping trip that belongs to that higher category. The similar timing makes this an easy detail to mix up. See the Sandai Kitetsu reference and manga citations.

Yubashiri: the other Loguetown gift

Ipponmatsu also gives Zoro Yubashiri. It serves him until the escape from Enies Lobby, when Marine officer Shu’s rust ability ruins the blade. Zoro later lays its remains to rest on Thriller Bark. The sequence is important: Yubashiri is not the sword he trades for Enma.

Reference: Yubashiri’s grade and history.

Shusui: the blade won on Thriller Bark

Zoro earns Shusui after defeating the zombie samurai Ryuma on Thriller Bark. It replaces the lost Yubashiri in his usual lineup. Shusui is already a black blade when Zoro receives it, and its significance to Wano later becomes a reason to leave it there.

The official zombie Ryuma profile confirms the duel and the handing over of Shusui.

Enma: the Wano exchange

Kozuki Hiyori offers Enma in exchange for leaving Shusui in Wano. Enma previously belonged to her father, Kozuki Oden. Its tendency to draw out the wielder’s Haki makes control a central challenge for Zoro. A powerful sword does not remove the need to learn how to handle it.

Reference: Enma’s grade and exchange history.

What do the sword grades mean?

The named-blade hierarchy includes 12 Supreme Grade blades, 21 Great Grade blades, 50 Skillful Grade blades, and Grade blades. English translations of the category labels vary; the Japanese terms are Saijo O Wazamono, O Wazamono, Ryo Wazamono, and Wazamono.

A grade is not a complete answer to “which sword wins?” The wielder, technique, Haki, condition, and the demands of the fight still matter. Likewise, temporary Haki coating should not be confused with a permanently black blade such as Shusui.

Reference: blade grades and classification.

Common questions about Zoro’s swords

Did Enma replace Wado Ichimonji?

No. Enma takes Shusui’s place in the regular lineup. Wado Ichimonji remains with Zoro.

Are all three of his Wano swords the same grade?

No. Wado Ichimonji and Enma are Great Grade; Sandai Kitetsu is Grade.

Does Zoro keep Shusui after Wano?

At the end of Wano, Shusui remains in Wano and Zoro carries Enma instead.

Test what you remember

Play the Zoro quiz for a 10-question round drawn from a 20-question bank. For a group challenge, try 50 One Piece questions with answers.

Written and checked for OnePieceQuizes · 30 October 2026. Fan-made guides; One Piece belongs to Eiichiro Oda, Shueisha and Toei Animation.

Test your One Piece knowledge

  • The Straw Hat Crew Dreams, fighting styles and who joined when. How well do you know Luffy's nakama? (Easy, 32 questions)
  • 50 One Piece Quiz Questions With Answers: Easy to Hard Play all 50 One Piece questions in one scored challenge. Four choices, explanations, and a final result. Spoilers through the end of Wano. (Medium, 50 questions)
  • Devil Fruit Quiz: Match the Fruit to Its User Match Devil Fruits to their users in 10 random questions from a bank of 32. Four choices and explanations. Spoilers through Wano. (Medium, 32 questions)
  • Arcs & Islands From Foosha Village to Egghead. Test your memory of the whole voyage. (Medium, 31 questions)
  • Who Said It? The lines that made us cry and cheer. Can you name the speaker? (Easy, 30 questions)
  • Bounties & Haki Marines, Emperors, bounties and the powers that rule the sea. For real fans. (Hard, 31 questions)
  • East Blue Saga From Shells Town to Loguetown: how well do you remember where it all began? (Easy, 22 questions)
  • Arabasta Arc Baroque Works, Crocodile and a kingdom on the edge of civil war. (Medium, 21 questions)
  • Skypiea Arc The sky island, the Knock Up Stream and a self-proclaimed god. (Medium, 20 questions)
  • Water 7 & Enies Lobby Galley-La, CP9 and the day the Straw Hats declared war on the world. (Medium, 20 questions)
  • Thriller Bark Arc Zombies, stolen shadows and the first meeting with Brook. (Medium, 20 questions)
  • Impel Down & Marineford Luffy breaks into the world's worst prison to save Ace. Do you know what happened? (Medium, 20 questions)
  • Fish-Man Island Arc 10,000 meters under the sea: mermaids, the New Fish-Man Pirates and a princess. (Medium, 20 questions)
  • Punk Hazard & Dressrosa The pirate alliance, Doflamingo's Birdcage and the colosseum. (Medium, 21 questions)
  • Whole Cake Island Arc A wedding, a plan to kill Big Mom and Sanji's family secrets. (Medium, 21 questions)
  • Wano Country Arc Samurai, Kaido and the day Luffy's fruit awakened. (Hard, 21 questions)
  • Egghead Arc Vegapunk's island of the future, the Seraphim and a message to the world. (Hard, 15 questions)
  • Elbaph Arc The land of giants, Usopp's dream island and old faces from the past. (Hard, 10 questions)
  • Monkey D. Luffy The rubber man who will be King of the Pirates. How well do you know him? (Easy, 20 questions)
  • Zoro Quiz: Swords, Battles & Backstory Play 10 random Zoro questions from a 30-question bank. Test swords, battles, and backstory, with explanations. Spoilers through Wano. (Easy, 30 questions)
  • Sanji The cook with the strongest legs on the crew. Do you know his story? (Easy, 20 questions)
  • Nami & Nico Robin The navigator and the archaeologist: their pasts, powers and dreams. (Medium, 20 questions)
  • Usopp & Chopper The sniper who tells tall tales and the reindeer doctor. (Easy, 20 questions)
  • Franky, Brook & Jinbe The shipwright, the musician and the helmsman of the Straw Hats. (Medium, 20 questions)
  • The Four Emperors Shanks, Whitebeard, Big Mom, Kaido, Blackbeard... and the new ones. (Medium, 20 questions)
  • Seven Warlords of the Sea Pirates working for the World Government. Can you match them to their powers? (Medium, 20 questions)
  • Marines & Admirals Akainu, Aokiji, Kizaru and the rest of the Navy. (Medium, 20 questions)
  • Gol D. Roger & the Roger Pirates The only crew that reached Laugh Tale. (Hard, 20 questions)
  • Dragon & the Revolutionary Army The world's most wanted man and the army fighting the World Government. (Hard, 20 questions)
  • World Government & the Void Century Celestial Dragons, the Five Elders, Imu and the forbidden history. (Hard, 20 questions)
  • One Piece Manga & Anime Trivia Oda, Shonen Jump, the anime and the records. Real fans know these. (Easy, 20 questions)

Written by

Darko is the founder and editor of One Piece Quizes. A One Piece fan for more than ten years, he has followed the Straw Hats from East Blue to Elbaph and writes the site’s chapter guides, recaps, predictions and quizzes. His favorite Straw Hat is Zoro.

Published · How we write about One Piece