The Balmung (バルムンク Barumunku, translated Balmunc in the Fire Emblem Museum and Balmunk in Fire Emblem Treasure) is one of twelve holy weapons from Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War. Balmung is the blade that was wielded by the Crusader Odo, and is employed as the insignia representing the Kingdom of Isaach.
In the events of Genealogy of the Holy War, only individuals possessing major Odo holy blood flowing through their veins are able to wield the blade. Under normal circumstances, Shanan is the only character with access to the blade. By exploiting a certain flaw in the game's system, it is thus possible for Larcei and Ulster to be able to procure the blade and incorporate it into their inventories, provided that their mother has been paired up with Holyn - A fact that imbues them with major Odo holy blood.
Background
After the conclusion of the Isaachian-Grannvaleian war, the Balmung blade is laid to rest within the confines of the Yied Shrine. Chapter 6 of the game sees Patty/Daisy infiltrating the Yied Shrine and purloining the Balmung blade; Just as she is about to traipse out of the shrine with the loot she has acquired on hand, Shanan, who has embarked on a mission to retrieve it, manages to intercept her in the nick of time. He then succeeds in convincing Daisy/Patty to pass the blade into his possession instead, taking meticulous care to assert the fact that he is the only one able to fully expound the powers that lie dormant within its crux.
Weapon Stats
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
Template:WeaponStatFE4
|
Balmung
|
Sword
|
*
|50
|30
|90%
|1
|3
|50,000
|Bestows a bonus of Skill +10 and Speed +20 to its wielder.
|}
* Holy Blood Requirement: 
Odo
Fire Emblem: Awakening
Template:WeaponStatFE12-13
|
Balmung
| Sword
|A
|25
|13
|90%
|10%
|1
|?
|0
|Bestows a bonus of Speed +5 to its wielder.
|}
Item Locations
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
| Method | Location |
|---|---|
| Event | Ch. 7 - Direct Shanan to speak to Patty/Daisy. |
Fire Emblem: Awakening
| Method | Location |
|---|---|
| Dropped | Simia (Ch. 22) |
| Treasure | Xeno. 15 - Random from Chest. |
Etymology
Balmung may have been named after Siegfried's (Sigurd) sword in the Nibelungenlied. This is a translation from the Norse myth, where Balmung is known as the Gram (Meaning 'wrath' in Old Norse), a sword that was wielded by Sigurd in order to slay the dragon Fafnir. It is called Nothung in Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle.
According to legend, Balmung was forged in the Wayland of Smith and originally belonged to Sigurd's father, Sigmund. The sword came into the hands of Sigmund in the hall of Volsung, after performing the feat of pulling it out of the tree Barnstokk into which Odin had thrust it, defying the belief that it could not be wrenched from its position. Balmung was later destroyed and reforged at least once, a fact that resulted in it possessing the ability to cleave an anvil in twain.
Interestingly, the Japanese romanisation for Siegfried's sword is almost always Balmunc (バルマンク Barumanku) instead of Balmung (バルマング Barumangu), the latter of which is the spelling that is utilised in-game. Along with many other examples of slight romanisation changes for character and weapon names, it would imply that Awakening's localisation of "Balmung" is actually erroneous, as it is the most common spelling for the weapon in English.
Trivia
- According to a conversation that can be viewed when visiting a certain village during the events that occur during the second generation of Genealogy of the Holy War, it is asserted that the Tyrfing, Balmung, and Mystletainn are the strongest blades to have ever been forged.
.jpg "Balmunk (TCG).jpg (247 KB)")
.png "Balmung (FE13).png (100 KB)")