Katana

Twin blades? Quicker for getting a close shave.

–Ulrich admiring his dual katanas in "Double Take."

Katana
Ulrich's Katana.
First appearance	XANA Awakens, Part 1 (chronologically) Seeing Is Believing
Channeled through	Hands
User	Ulrich X.A.N.A.-Aélita

The Katana is Ulrich's one and only weapon while on Lyoko. He had had only one throughout the first, second and third seasons, but gains an additional katana in the fourth season; thanks to Jeremie's "digital upgrades and modifications."

Use

Like any swordsman, Ulrich fights using a series of stabs and slashes with his katana. Because his weapon has such limited range, Ulrich relies heavily on his Super-sprint ability in combat, which allows him to quickly get within striking range of his target and then retreat. For defense, Ulrich's swords are capable of absorbing standard laser fire and may even block a Megatank's circular laser for a short period of time. Whenever the katana does so, or whenever it is swung or used to combat other weapons like X.A.N.A. William's Zweihänder, it glows blue.

In the first three seasons, Ulrich only has one katana, and carries it in a traditional Japanese saya, or scabbard. In season four, he gains a second sword, which slightly alters his fighting style. Ulrich's updated avatar also includes a small device attached to his upper back with slots into which he may place his swords when not using them.

Like Yumi's fans, Ulrich's katana may be dropped, stolen, or destroyed when damaged, and Ulrich may require new swords to be virtualized to him.

In the episode Franz Hopper, Ulrich's katana is temporarily updated so that it can fire Energy waves to destroy several enemies at once from a distance. However, this upgrade is lost later in the episode, nor is it mentioned to Jeremie.

Also, in the episode Nobody in Particular, when Ulrich's mindless avatar is possessed, X.A.N.A. grants his sword the ability to emit a greenish beam of electrical energy. However, this ability is lost after Ulrich was reunited in body and spirit.

Appearance

Ulrich's swords are virtually identical to real-world Japanese katana. The swords have black guards and yellow handles covered with black braided cloth. The blades are metallic grey in color, and glow blue when being used for direct combat.

Trivia

• Throughout the series, Ulrich's weapons are referred to intermittently as "sabres", "katana", or simply "swords".
• When a katana is stolen by a person possessed by X.A.N.A., its blade glows red instead of blue.
• The word "Katana" is a Japanese loadword. It's written as "刀" in Kanji, and "かたな" in Hiragana. It's almost never written in Katakana: "カタナ". Interestingly, the symbol for "Katana" is actually the origin of the Katakana symbol for "Ka", which in chain influenced its Hiragana counterpart.
• In Garage Kids, the blade of the katana was made out of binary code that glowed blue continuously and needed to be charged before usage.
• Ulrich's Katana's have a slight resemblence to Vergil's Yamato in Devil May Cry, such as the Katana is only one and is carried in a scabard, it would have his lightning fast speed combined with it's range of attacks and on ocassion, the sword would glow blue, would even emit a wave-like slash at a foe, capable of blowing away foes, able to be damaged, would able to be vanished and brought back if the user never relied on it, and could reflect attacks. However, the only difference was that Yamato never needed to be replaced with a new one.

Gallery

Original series

Ulrich with his Katana in Season 1.

Ulrich with his twin Katanas first seen in Double Take.

Deflecting a laser in Season 1.

His sword is thrown right at X.A.N.A. William, defeating him.

The long green-stream of energy from the Katana is fired at the Core.

Possessed Ulrich grips the katana's handle, continuing to fire the beam at the Core.

Ulrich (Possessed), uses his Katana to attack the Core of Lyoko.

Ulrich and his katana become glitched.

Ulrich jumps up and attacks, his sword pointing down.

Ulrich's katana glows blue when deflecting Monster lasers.

Ulrich and his clones with their katanas drawn.

Ulrich uses his katana to try and cut the connection to a tower.

Using both katanas to destroy a supercomputer.

Ulrich with his duel katanas in the real world.

X.A.N.A. Aelita with one of Ulrich's swords.

X.A.N.A. Aelita about to devirtualize Ulrich.

X.A.N.A. Aelita vs Ulrich

Charging up the Katana in Franz Hopper.

Aelita almost hit by his Katana.

Evolution

Stabbing a Krab with both swords.

Quickly blocking a laser just before it hits his head.

Guarding himself from a monster's attack in the Desert Sector.

Both swords are drawn and ready.

The swords glow blue when deflecting lasers.

Ulrich gets an idea..

..throws his sword..

..and it hits hit's mark.

Hiding below with both swords drawn.

Keeping his swords close.

Ulrich grips the handles tightly before attacking a Krab.

In Evolution.

Both weapons hit the target hard and fast!

Ulrich readys himself, both swords in hand.

Blocking a monster's attack with both swords in each hand.

Ulrich's dual Katanas glowing blue as he prepares to attack.

Ulrich with his katanas fight X.A.N.A. William in Mutiny.

Ulrich draw his katana to fight Krabs.