Typically in fan art of MLP FiM, the Royal Guards and warrior ponies always had some sort of magic or weapon to aid them. In the case of a sword, they're usually drawn in the mouths. Now I know this is a cartoon and all and ponies could probably grip stuff with their magnetic hooves, but I also know that some of you want to go with the realistic approach.
So for these people, they usually think that when a pony holds a sword, it's mostly by the mouth.

But the problem with this is that ponies are very vulnerable on the other side as ponies would have a hard time trying to switch the blade to the other side. Usually writers and artists try to remedy this by giving them a shield, but let's not ignore the fact that the mouth isn't the best biological part of the body to hold heavy things.

So far, there is only one horse that can successfully use a sword with his mouth, and that's because he is a purebred badass. (Could be wrong about the purebred part.)

But let's not ignore the fact that this is a full-grown (animated) horse. His jaws are probably stronger than that of a pony... probably. Would an Earth Pony's neck be able to support the weight of a sword without being off balance? When you think about it, probably not so.
Which is why some people go with the magnetic hoof approach.
But I think there is a realistic solution that I believe both parties can agree with.

Pata Swords.

Eh? What do you think? This sword is pretty good, and the gauntlet's guard is able to provide decent protection! Not the mention the fact that this sword can easily be held by any of the ponies.
Give it a couple modifications (probably make the blade retractable to save space?), and our little pony warriors should be able to handle a blade perfectly. This way, all pony races don't have to be left behind.
What do you guys think?
Perhaps artists and fan fic writers should start using pata swords in their material the next time they create something involving ponies with swords?

Hmm this is interesting already I could see ponies coming up with a unique fighting style with this kind of weapon and a retractable blade is best after all how else are ponies supposed to unsheathe it at a moments notice?

In my mind they would just assume an aggressive stance while on all four hooves, keeping from unsheathing the blade since they are mostly a peaceful bunch and would prefer a non lethal means of subjugation/incapacitation and would resort to lethal means as a desperate last resort.

Now to attack the enemy unarmed they would use some form equestrian boxing combined with powerful Bucking/Kicking attacks that could knock one out or break bones upon impact or at least cause a dent in their armor, however this unarmed fighting style could be used as a means of switching their stance from a four hooves boxing stance to a two legged sword stance as each move of four-hooved boxing leads to an opportunity to unsheathe the retractable blades and stand on their hind legs as they grip the Pata swords in their fore hooves using a wide array of styles in combat, single wielders are traditional but what can a pony do with their unarmed hoof? They can't carry shields as it's too bulky and restricts movement in their foreleg, they're already having trouble balancing on their hind legs unless they're either REALLY skilled in the act of balancing leaving most swordponies to either use two-handed (or hooved) swords or to dual wield a pair of Pata Swords.

2091622
Chaotic......you are a genius....and here I thought having swords with shovel handles was an awesome idea.....

2091622

Hey hey hey that looks great! We need to spread the word and create a custom pony design. Get those hoof leg armor to be para swords, insted of only the royal gurd versions of swich blades for your hooves.

Let's get our ponys armed to the teeth.

#1 people already were using these swords in their pony stories.

#2 tangled is horrible achilles is better.(hunchback)

#3 this is of course assuming that ponies = our horses which has been disproven many many many times.

The only problem I see with a two-legged fighting style, is that it would require significant training to be able to be adept with a completely different way of moving. For a war-time scenario a common soldier would (in my opinion) not have enough training to be able to fight better on two legs than they would on four and by using the mouth.

Thus using a combination of both fighting styles, where two legged fighting is more for elite highly trained soldiers and duelist than a more four legged and balanced style for the common troops.

Just my two cents on combat for equines.

We already see the use of Pata swords in "Cutie Pox" when Ab gets a "fencing" mark.
If a saddle comes with the padding or armor, it's probably a back brace to extend their time upright.

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I seemed to have forgotton that ponies can pefectly balance on their hind hooves.

Also, dem glued swords.

2092509
They didn't look like full pata swords though. Just regular fencing swords.
The guard doesn't completely cover the hoof.

2091754

Light shields.

Buckler or BUCKler shields (ha pun) wore on the foreleg light and easy to use even for short pony legs then again the shield would probably be made to fit walking around anyway.

Chalice: Who needs shields when you got Sheild runes *spam*

Chalice Stahp

Screw it.

PONE SHIELD.

A light wooden thing hollowed or with layers and gaps in between a gem shard or metal core. the gem shard supposedly provides magic protection while the metal center better blocks weapon strikes. this variation is for mainly earth pony use as pegasi usually forgo it and unicorns favor heavier shields they can lift in their magic.

Hmm al this is true, if they used normal swords. For example, say the blade is triangular, extending past both cheeks and forward a ways, with a handle easily gripped by the mouth. Eh whatever still have we seen the guards use swords? No they use spears. Also remember it is a vrg, vertual reality game, the machanichs don't need to match up with their real world counterparts

I don't really see swords as being so much of a weapon for ponies actually, they are far too hard and require an amount of dexterity that very few ponies could achieve with their hooves. Unicorns of course would have no problem, but this is about holding swords for all pony varieties. In my mind, it seems that polearms, like spears, halberds, that kind of thing, would be far more common and easier to use. Now, as for fighting styles associated with weapons, it is actually quite easy to devise a fighting style for each of the three varieties of pony, earth, pegasus, and unicorn.
For starters, let's cover the earth pony martial curriculum. Without wings or magic, earth ponies have the fewest ways to vary their combat style based on racial traits; however, they are also the strongest and most durable of the three pony races. This high level of strength and stamina would allow earth ponies to effectively use heavier weapons, like halberds, with relative ease. The fighting style would have to be mainly on the rear legs, using the length of the weapon as a prop to keep them balanced wile on two legs. This would take some training to get proficient at, but with sufficient training, anypony could fight effectively on two legs with a fairly potent weapon with a decent amount of reach, allowing them to keep opponents at bay, or fight multiple opponents more easily.
Pegasi are slightly easier, and would be able to use a more varied arsenal then earth ponies. With their wings as both stabilizers and a means of flight, a pegasus could use either a one or two "hoofed" weapon. If a pegasus were using a heavier weapon, then the wings could be used as stabilizers to keep themselves upright, as well as a means to do short, quick dodging maneuvers. If they chose on the other hand to hover as they fought, then it would open them up to using all sorts of swords, especially rapiers and other thrusting weapons, with witch they could put more force behind a stab with. The ponly drawback is that pegasi would have to wear little or no armor to stay mobile enough to keep the kind of hit and run style associated with their lighter weaponry.
Finally, the unicorns, the physically weakest, but with magic, it allows them to use the larges arsenal of weapons, including simple ranged weapons. Unicorns magic, as has been hypothesized, can lift only a certain weight and speed, the values of which must balance to be less than or equal to the amount of magic a unicorn can constantly sustain. This means that each unicorn would have weapons that are simply too heavy to use. Unicorns would be the easiest to train with weapons, as they don't require the same martial training as the other two races. A unicorn would be taught more of battle theory, allowing their mind to effectively emulate the sword arm of a master. This would vary in the length of time it would take each individual to master a combat style, but it would allow them to be trained as some of the most masterful swordsman. The only drawback is that if a unicorn were to go into combat and lose their magic for some reason, then they would be defenseless, so as a prerequisite to the theory every unicorn soldier would have to go through their own martial training to ensure that they know how to swing a sword with both hoof and magic.
These different racial traits are good, but as stated only two of the races could use swords specifically. I think that if you are looking for specifically swords, then a retractable blade attached to a gauntlet would be the only really viable way to give anypony a sword. The concept is to attach a mechanism, either magic or otherwise, to a gauntlet in a manner in winch the blade could be extended at will. This bladed braces design would more than likely feature the blade on the outside of the hoof, as it provides a larger unobstructed surface to attach the blade, allowing for a thicker, heavier blade. Now, this design could be custom made. Rarity, for example, wouldn't have the same sized (or styled) blade bracer as Big Mac would.
I hope this little discourse in pony military theory was helpful

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The battle for pony weapons continue!

We need a list of weapons for ponys to use and give the new "types"custom names.

The newer Gauntlet Swords may have been used, but the base name hasn't been set and used thru out many different. just your trust basic descriptions as "hoof" something

Pata will stand for the "type" to a standardized name.

Q theVRMMO community G-doc
I was going around trying to list some weps for VRMMOS and use em
VRMMO Weapons list

just a basic type an random weps thrown in

2100133

Chalice : A shield isn't a weapon it's a Sh- *shield bashed*

2100365

of course theres space for armor too

2094418

These different racial traits are good, but as stated only two of the races could use swords specifically. I think that if you are looking for specifically swords, then a retractable blade attached to a gauntlet would be the only really viable way to give anypony a sword. The concept is to attach a mechanism, either magic or otherwise, to a gauntlet in a manner in winch the blade could be extended at will. This bladed braces design would more than likely feature the blade on the outside of the hoof, as it provides a larger unobstructed surface to attach the blade, allowing for a thicker, heavier blade. Now, this design could be custom made. Rarity, for example, wouldn't have the same sized (or styled) blade bracer as Big Mac would.

Maybe a gem with enchantments and blessings placed upon it in order to keep the blade shrunk while it's unretracted?

2100648 I was thinking more along the lines of a spring and lock mechanism that would be triggered by a gesture, maybe a phantom punch, or a flick of the wrist. Although, if it was enchanted, for those with the deeper pockets, the gauntlet itself could have the gem socketed into it to create a blade out of the metal of the gauntlet, a la full metal alchemist. Or, and this is going into my headcannon territory, the gauntlet itself could be fashioned out of crystal from the crystal empire, and then the blade could extend from the crystal itself. The mechanism would likely be like a lock and key, with a socket in the gauntlet and a gem or other magic trigger that could be placed into the socket, and removed as necessary by the wearer.

2100365
That reminds me, the horses in "Ironclaw" has a specialist class in shields, the Pavisor. -Often paired with a Noble who's using a two handed blade and working as a fighting team. This specialist might be more needed with non-anthros than the anthros of Ironclaw for obvious reasons.
The Pavisor is a master at fighting with shields and small one-hoof weapons like short swords and sword-breaker daggers, they are also great at first aid skills, being essentially a royal bodyguard...

2101194

Well shit you play Ironclaw too?

In Ironclaw Online I played a Wolf named Kiranis who specialised in 2H swords. *obsessing over her Zweihander*

No Pavisors that I noticed though. sounds fun.

2100994
So like Fiona's sword from Adventure Time?

2101918 Kind of, if that analogy works better. But of course, the magic and time required to make one would be quite unpractical to just give one to anypony

2101930
Yep.

2101253
Ironclaw... ONLINE?! Is there an actual online gamesite? I've been trying to play by pen and paper but have no players in driving distance anymore.

2103334

It's a MUD also monthly subscription. but fun. dunno if anyone else is on though.

Also I would be interested in a Online game if you ever decide to try that. (maptool is your friend) :3

2094418

including simple ranged weapons.

If AJ can use a lasso, then she can use a sling, and that's about as simple as ranged weapons go. Incidentally, it makes me wonder why so many crystal ponies had bow and arrow cutie marks (aside from lazy animators).
2091923 Do you have a link to this artist? I'm interested in what else they've drawn.

2608272

http://harwicks-art.deviantart.com/gallery/

there you are Blueninja
enjoy

2608479 Thank you thank you!