Caladbolg (85)

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Statistics

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Other Uses

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Synthesis Recipes
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Used in Recipes

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Desynthesis Recipe
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Obtained From Desynthesis

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Quest

 * Trial of the Magians: Great Sword Trials

Historical Background
Caladbolg ("hard sheath", or, in line with its Welsh cognate Caledvwlch, "hard cleft"; the name appears in the plural as a generic word for "great swords" in the 10th century Irish translation of the classical tale The Destruction of Troy, Togail Troi), sometimes written Caladcholg ("hard blade"), is the sword of Fergus mac Róich from the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Spelled Caladcholg, it is also associated with the more obscure Ulster hero Fergus mac Leda, suggesting a conflation of two legends. It was said to be a two-handed sword that made a circle like an arc of rainbow when swung, and to have the power to slice the tops off hills and take out an entire host. During the Táin Bó Cuailnge, Ailill mac Máta takes Caladbolg away from Fergus mac Róich when he discovers Fergus' affair with his wife Medb. He gives it back when the Ulstermen rally against his armies. Fergus wreaks havoc against Ulster's forces with his blade, but Conall Cernach convinces him not to kill Conchobar mac Nessa. Fergus strikes the Three Great Strokes on three small hills instead, blasting off their tops.

Caladbolg may be related linguistically to Cúchulainn's spear, the Gáe Bulg, and is thought to be a source or analogue of King Arthur's sword Excalibur, which in early Welsh is called Caledfwlch.

In Popular Culture
In Final Fantasy X, Caladblog is the main character Tidus' Celestial Weapon. In the Japanese, Spanish, German and Italian version this sword is actually the Ultima Weapon (due to it being more powerful the closer the user's HP is to max), but was changed for the American release.