Archangel Blade
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| Name | Archangel Blade |
| Manufacturer | Archangels |
| Powers | Can kill archangels, angels, and demons. |
| Location/Owners | Michael Men of Letters Bunker |
| Episodes | 5.19 Hammer of the Gods 13.13 Devil's Bargain 13.17 The Thing 13.21 Beat the Devil 13.22 Exodus 13.23 Let the Good Times Roll |
You recall the important errand I had mentioned? Word had got back to me that a certain artifact I thought had been lost forever resurfaced. And now it's mine. Beautiful, isn't it? [...] The only known weapon capable of destroying an archangel -- the archangel blade.
Weapon Properties
One of the few weapons in existence with the capability to kill an archangel, but only when wielded by another archangel. Like a standard angel blade, the archangel blade is a small dagger-like weapon, but differentiates with the blade being made of a golden material and having a twisting tri-blade design, with etchings engraved down each side of the blade.
While the lore indicates that only an archangel can wield it against another archangel, the blade still proves effective against demons when used by a human. The archangel blade is also effective against archangels when wielded by a human vessel powered by an archangel inside of them, regardless of whether the vessel or the archangel is in control.
One archangel blade was believed to have been lost forever, but it was eventually recovered in parts unknown by the Prince of Hell Asmodeus. After rebelling against him, Ketch stole the blade from him and gave it to Sam and Dean in exchange for protection from Asmodeus, who sought to kill him for his treasonous actions.
It is theorized by Sam that the archangel blade can spare the vessel, when used to kill a possessing archangel, when questioned by Nick as to why he is still alive.
Episodes
5.19 Hammer of the Gods
After casting a blood spell on Gabriel to bind him to her, Kali takes what she believes to be Gabriel's blade and stabs him with it, apparently killing him.
This is merely a trick on Gabriel's part as he is still alive and hiding in the Impala, having planted a fake he had "made out of a can of diet orange Slice." Despite the trick, he does confirm that the blade of an archangel can kill him and Lucifer. After a confrontation with Dean, Gabriel confronts his brother with the blade to buy Sam and Dean time to escape the Elysian Fields Hotel with Kali, but is himself stabbed and apparently killed when Lucifer turns it on him.
13.13 Devil's Bargain
As Ketch reports back to Asmodeus regarding his failed attempt to kill Lucifer, he says he fears that as good as he is, he doesn't stand a chance against the Devil at full power. Asmodeus agrees and tells Ketch that the important errand that took him away was in regards to an artifact that had resurfaced and he reveals to Ketch the only known weapon that can destroy an archangel -- the archangel blade. Impressed, Ketch still questions the weapon's usefulness, reminding Asmodeus that the lore on the weapon specifies that it is only effective against archangels when wielded by another archangel. Asmodeus proceeds to lead Ketch to a jail cell and introduce him to one of his prisoners, the Archangel Gabriel.
13.17 The Thing
After taking a beating from Asmodeus, Ketch rebels and rescues Gabriel, at the same time stealing the Archangel Blade and the grace Asmodeus stole from him. During his escape, he uses it to kill a demon. He takes them all to Sam and Dean at the Bunker and relinquishes them in exchange for protection from Asmodeus.
13.18 Bring 'em Back Alive
While reading the story Gabriel wrote in Enochian on the walls of his room, Sam and Castiel learn that the Gabriel stabbed by Lucifer with the archangel blade was in fact a fake so that Gabriel could fake his death again. Presumably the blade Lucifer used was also a fake since he turned it on the conjured version of Gabriel when he stabbed him.
13.21 Beat the Devil
After giving Lucifer a magical roofie, Gabriel takes him by blade point with the archangel blade. A depressed Lucifer begs Gabriel to kill him. However, rather than kill or drain Lucifer of his grace, Gabriel knocks him unconscious with the butt of the blade handle.
13.22 Exodus
After Lucifer shows up in Apocalypse World, Dean demands that Gabriel use the archangel blade to kill him. However, Gabriel refuses and Lucifer claims that Gabriel is not strong enough to kill him. The argument eventually causes Jack Kline to teleport away, causing everyone to calm down for the time being.
After Michael arrives at the portal between Apocalypse World and the Bunker, Gabriel draws his archangel blade to hold Michael off and buy the Winchesters some time to evacuate everyone through the portal. Michael responds by drawing an archangel blade of his own and engaging Gabriel in battle. Gabriel proves to be no match for Michael, who kills Gabriel with his archangel blade. However, Gabriel's sacrifice buys the Winchesters enough time to evacuate everyone through the portal before it closes, trapping Lucifer in Apocalypse World with Michael.
13.23 Let the Good Times Roll
After Jack Kline learns of Lucifer's deeds and rejects him, Lucifer uses Gabriel's archangel blade to extract a portion of Jack's grace, rendering his son human and powerless. Lucifer later throws the blade between Sam and Jack and demands that they fight to the death, with the victor being allowed to live. When neither is willing to kill the other, Jack briefly attempts suicide with the blade.
Before Jack can kill himself, he drops the blade when Dean arrives, now the vessel of the Apocalypse World Michael. Armed with Michael's archangel blade and powered by Michael, Dean battles Lucifer, but is quickly disarmed. As Lucifer attempts to smite Dean, Sam tosses Dean the blade. Dean stabs Lucifer in the heart with the archangel blade, killing him. After Michael reneges on his deal with Dean, he vanishes and takes his blade with him though Gabriel's blade remains in Jack and Sam's possession.
14.01 Stranger in a Strange Land
Sam theorizes to Nick that the reason he is still alive when Lucifer was killed could be that the archangel blades were designed to kill the possessing archangel and spare the vessel.
Trivia
- The blade's design appears similar to that of a Jagdkommando Dagger.
- Note that the blade Gabriel takes to use against Lucifer, and which Lucifer uses to stab and presumably kill Gabriel, looked like a plain silver angel blade. However, as it was later revealed that Gabriel purposefully faked his death, this was presumably another fake.[1] Despite this, Lucifer appeared to believe that this was a true archangel blade as he believed himself to have killed Gabriel.
