A vibroblade is a class of science fiction weapon that uses an ultrasonic generator attached to a bladed weapon like a knife or sword. The ultrasonic vibrations along the blade's edge allow it to cut through much denser materials than would normally be possible. Alternatively, friction from the vibrations are used to heat the blade white-hot, and the heat is the source of the increased cutting power.
Vibroblades have been used in numerous settings, including:
- BattleTech (Vibroblades)
- Fallout (Ripper)
- Final Fantasy VIII (Gunblades)
- GURPS (Vibroblades)
- Guyver (High Frequency Swords)
- Heavy Gear (Vibroblades/swords/sabers/rapiers etc.)
- Honorverse (Force blades)
- "If This Goes On—" by Robert Heinlein (Vibroblades)
- Long Tomorrow (Quiver-Shivs)
- Metal Gear (High Frequency Blade)
- Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (Vibroblade used by AEU mecha in first episode)
- Neon Genesis Evangelion (Progressive Knife)
- Parasite Eve 2 (Gunblade)
- Perfect Dark Zero (Vibroblade)
- Perry Rhodan (Swords, daggers, saws)
- Rifts (Vibroblades)
- Shadowrun (Monowhip, Vibroweapons)
- Star Wars (Vibroweapons)
- Transformers (Wreck-Gar and Broadside, among others, carry vibro-axes)
- Unreal Championship 2 (Legion Sword)
- Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain (Vibroblades)
- Mospeada (Vibroblades)
- X-COM: Terror from the Deep (Vibroblades / Thermic Lance)
- Devil May Cry 4 (Red Queen)