Power Sword facts for kids

The Power Sword is a famous fictional sword from Mattel's Masters of the Universe toy line. It's also known as the Sword of Power or the Sword of Grayskull.

In the first mini-comics from 1981, the Power Sword was a magical item split into two pieces. The villain Skeletor wanted to put them together to control Castle Grayskull. In these early stories, He-Man used an axe and a shield, not the sword.

When the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon started in 1983, the Power Sword became super important. It was the way Prince Adam changed into He-Man. His pet tiger, Cringer, also transformed into Battle Cat with the sword's power. The sword's look changed a few times for newer shows, like The New Adventures of He-Man (1990) and the 2002 remake, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.

Kids loved having their own Power Swords! Many full-size toy versions were sold, letting children pretend to be the hero. Some even made cool battle sounds. The Power Sword was also a popular accessory for He-Man Halloween costumes.

How the Power Sword First Appeared

The Power Sword was added to the Masters of the Universe toy line a bit later in its creation. Early drawings showed He-Man fighting with an axe and shield. Prince Adam, who was a different character back then, had a small, simple sword.

When the first Mattel toys came out in 1982, both the He-Man and Skeletor figures had half of a plastic sword. These two halves could be joined to make one "complete" sword. This matched the story in the mini-comic that came with the toys. The combined sword acted like a key to open the jawbridge of the Castle Grayskull playset.

In the original story, a character called the Goddess (later known as the Sorceress) had split the sword into two. She scattered the pieces to protect the castle and its universal power. The story was told in the He-Man and the Power Sword mini-comic. Skeletor wanted to find the other half hidden in Castle Grayskull. He believed that once the two halves were joined, "magic fires" would blaze again. He also thought the sword could open a hole to his own dimension, letting him bring in help to conquer Eternia.

Once Skeletor joined the two halves, he could use the sword to make objects attack He-Man. But the Sorceress split the sword again. She hid the pieces, making the Power Sword the only key to open the castle's Jaw-Bridge.

Another mini-comic, King of Castle Grayskull, showed where the halves were hidden. One was at Eternia's "highest point" and the other under its "hardest rock." Whoever found them could claim the throne of Castle Grayskull and its "secrets." The Jawbridge opened when the halves were put into a special lock. But Skeletor lost the sword again in a battle. The story ended with the Spirit of the Castle sending the halves to another dimension, making them hard for Skeletor to find.

The Power Sword in Cartoons

When Filmation made the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon in 1983, they wanted He-Man to be a hero kids could easily relate to. They decided to make him Prince Adam, a normal-looking person who could become super powerful with a special item and a magic phrase. This is how the Power Sword became so important.

In the cartoon, the Sorceress of Grayskull gives Prince Adam the Power Sword. This sword lets him transform into He-Man, "the Most Powerful Man in the Universe." It also turns his scared pet tiger, Cringer, into the brave Battle Cat. Prince Adam holds the Power Sword above his head and shouts, "By the Power of Grayskull...." Then, lightning strikes the sword, transforming him. He-Man then grabs the sword's tip and finishes his famous shout, "...I HAVE THE POWER!"

Even though the Power Sword unlocks He-Man's strength, he doesn't use it much for actual sword fights. He mostly uses it to cut things or block energy blasts.

In one episode, "The Problem with Power", He-Man thinks he accidentally hurt someone. He raises the sword and gives up his power, changing back into Prince Adam by saying, "Let the power return!"

He-Man's twin sister, Princess Adora, also has a special sword. It's called the Sword of Protection. It looks just like He-Man's sword, but it has a glowing jewel in its handle. This jewel helps Princess Adora use her powers. She transforms into She-Ra by saying, "For the honor of Grayskull...I am She-Ra!"

The Power Sword in the Live-Action Movie

In the 1987 live-action movie, Masters of the Universe, the Power Sword was called the Sword of Grayskull. The movie makers knew the sword was a big part of He-Man, so they made sure it was important in the movie's final battle.

In the movie, He-Man is already in his superhero form for most of the story. So, he doesn't need to shout his transformation phrase with the sword. Sometimes, He-Man even uses laser guns along with his sword. The sword's exact magical purpose in gaining the powers of Grayskull is a bit unclear at first. However, Skeletor captures He-Man and takes the sword. He places it in a special slot, suggesting it's needed for him to gain godlike powers.

The sword's magic is clearest in the final fight between He-Man and Skeletor. He-Man pulls the sword from its slot while Skeletor attacks him with energy. When He-Man pulls the sword out, he shouts "I have the power!" The sword glows, and blue electricity flows through He-Man, making him stronger. As they fight, blue electricity from the sword and yellow electricity from Skeletor's staff clash. Finally, the Power Sword smashes Skeletor's staff, making him lose his new powers.

New Adventures of He-Man (1990)

The original toy line ended in 1987. But Mattel tried to bring He-Man back just two years later. They changed his look, making him less muscular. He-Man was sent to the future for science-fiction adventures. The Power Sword also got a new, futuristic design. It had a green laser blade that could shoot energy bolts.

In 1990, Jetlag Productions made a new cartoon called The New Adventures of He-Man. In this show, Prince Adam's transformation phrase changed to "By the Power of Eternia..." He-Man's sword was even more important in this version. It could fire energy blasts and pulses of magic.

The Power Sword in the 2002 Cartoon

The 2002 animated remake, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, changed the story of the Power Sword and Castle Grayskull. The castle was shown to be the old home of a warrior king named King Grayskull. He looked like He-Man but was bigger. He also had a huge green saber-tooth lion as a pet.

The Power Sword was King Grayskull's personal weapon. After a big battle with Hordak, the dying king put his magical powers into the sword. His helpers then became the Elders who sealed the castle. His wife became the first Sorceress, guarding it. So, when Prince Adam holds the sword and says "by the power of Grayskull," he's calling on King Grayskull's own energy.

The sword's design was very different for this cartoon. It looked more complex and mechanical. When Prince Adam held it, it seemed smaller. But during the transformation, the handle changed shape and the sword grew bigger in He-Man's hands. In the show's finale, the blade could even split open to show another emerald blade inside. This special mode was used to fight Serpos, a giant snake god.

In this cartoon, Skeletor had two swords that could join into one bigger sword. This was a nod to the original toy line where the Power Sword was in two halves. However, Skeletor's twin swords had no magic.

Sword of Protection

The Sword of Protection is the weapon used by Adora, who is Prince Adam's twin sister. She uses it to transform into the hero She-Ra. Instead of saying "By the Power of Grayskull," Adora says "For the Honor of Grayskull" to transform. The Sword of Protection looks just like the Power Sword, but it has a jewel in its handle.

This jewel is very important for the Sword of Protection's powers, including Adora's transformation. If the jewel is damaged, she can't turn into She-Ra. This was shown in the episode "The Stone in the Sword." The Goddess of Grayskull created the stone. It lets Adora/She-Ra use all the powers of Grayskull if she needs them. She-Ra's sword was made to be a copy of He-Man's sword. The Goddess felt Adora would also need to use Grayskull's powers with her own sword.

The Sword of Protection is a strong weapon that can cut through most things and block attacks. It also has a special ability that the Power Sword doesn't: it can change its shape! She-Ra can command the sword to become different weapons or tools, like a shield, a lasso, a helmet, or even a flaming blade. She-Ra can also use her sword to draw on the magic power of the planet Etheria itself, making her even stronger.

In the 2015 DC Comics series He-Man - The Eternity War, the Sword of Protection was created as a backup. It was made in case the Sword of Power fell into the wrong hands or its user became evil.

In Netflix's She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, the Sword of Protection is a mix of technology and magic. It was made by an ancient group called the First Ones. Many people have used the sword before Adora, and they all became She-Ra. This suggests that "She-Ra" is more like a title than just one person. The sword can also work with other First One's technology. It can shoot energy bolts and transform animals, just like Swift Wind's transformation.

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