Riptide is the prized sword of Percy Jackson that is made of Celestial Bronze, a material that is only deadly to gods, demigods, magicians, Titans, Giants, and monsters. It does not affect mortals, as it just passes through them harmlessly. The sword is a medium length xiphos (a Greek one-handed double edged sword).

 

 

History

 

 

     According to Chiron, Riptide was forged in the fires of Mount Etna and cooled in the River Lethe. Riptide was formerly owned and used by Hercules, Zoë and Pleione. The sword's dormant form was originally Zoë's hair clip, which she gave to Hercules to help him fight Ladon. Riptide draws its power from the ocean, which is why it works well for ocean spirits and children of Poseidon like Percy. Hercules did not give Zoë any credit for bypassing Ladon, leaving her to face the wrath of her father and sisters alone. This betrayal was the basis for her later hatred of male demigods, and the reason why she joined the Hunters of Artemis.

Riptide is only wielded by a certain few in the series; Percy used it as his main weapon; Hercules used it to defeat the dragon, Ladon and Chiron possessed it at Yancy Academy before he gave it to Percy. Chiron also hinted that the sword has had other owners, as he claimed it had a long and tragic history.

 

 

Appearance

 

 

     In its dormant form, it's a disposable ballpoint pen that reads Anaklusmos on the side when not in use. Once the pen is uncapped, it transforms into its true sword form. Riptide is about 3 feet long (including the hilt) and weighs about 5 pounds with a perfect balance that Percy wields well. Riptide's blade is also said to have been shaped like a leaf in the The Son of Neptune. On the cover of The Lightning Thief,The Battle of the Labyrinth, and The Mark of Athena Riptide's hilt bends upward. In The Lightning Thief, Riptide was described as "a shimmering bronze sword with a double-edged blade, a leather-wrapped grip and a flat hilt riveted with gold studs".

 

 

 Use

 

 

     Riptide is used in close combat and is perfectly balanced in its wielder's hands. Riptide can destroy monsters and hurt immortals. But, since it is made out of Celestial Bronze, it cannot hurt or kill humans, as "they aren't important enough." As a result, when accidentally or even intentionally swung at humans, the blade simply passes through them. For example, in The Lightning Thief, Percy defends himself against a gang of youths with Riptide, simply acting on instinct, but the blade simply passes through them, which infuriates the gang leader and causes him to chase Percy, Annabeth Chase, and Grover Underwood into Crusty's Water Bed Palace. In The Titan's Curse, Percy swings Riptide at a human named Rachel Elizabeth Dare by mistake and nothing happened to her.

     It is almost impossible to lose as it is enchanted to appear in the owners pocket if it is somehow lost. However, if the owner doesn't have pockets, it doesn't return, and this has led to a disadvantage, such as when Laistrygonian Giant attacked Percy in The Sea of Monsters.

Riptide is used at least twice as a throwing knife, though that was for distracting the enemy instead of being an actual attack. In the books Riptide is summoned when uncapped, and stored away by recapping it on the tip, but in the movie it is summoned when clicked open. It is unknown how Percy stows back the sword in the film, although when Persephone hands him the bolt in the Underworld, it shows a zoom-up of his sword in his hand as it retracts into pen form. This is the only time that it is shown while being transformed. Riptide also reappears back into the pocket of whoever had it last whenever lost, misplaced, or even thrown.

 

     In The House of Hades, it is revealed that, when touching the handle of the sword with the cap, Riptide can transform into working ballpoint pen with ink glowing like Celestial Bronze.

Proficiency with a Shortsword allows you to add your proficiency bonus to the attack roll for any attack you make with it.

Notes: Advantage: Strength Ability Checks, Frightened, Instant Attunement to beings connected to the Ocean, Finesse, Light, Vex