Anomander Rake's Blade

The silver-hilted two-handed greatsword with a light-absorbing black blade, forged by Draconus the Azathanai.

In Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen, Anomander Rake wields distinct blades rather than a single unnamed artifact. His primary weapon is Dragnipur, a long, silver-hilted two-handed greatsword featuring an inky-black blade that absorbs all light. He also wielded another sword, 'Vengeance,' which was forged by Draconus and given to his brother Andarist. After Andarist's death, Anomander Rake himself renamed the sword 'Grief.'

Quick Facts

Material: Dark Metal

Lore & Background

Dragnipur stands as the most significant of Rake's weapons. It was originally forged by Draconus—an Azathanai, not a god in the strict sense of the Malazan pantheon—before being wielded by Anomander Rake. The blade is described specifically as having an inky-black quality that absorbs all light, contrasting with its silver hilt.

Reader's Guide

To identify Anomander Rake's blades correctly, one must distinguish between Dragnipur and Vengeance/Grief. Dragnipur is characterized by its long bastard sword shape, silver hilt, and light-absorbing black blade. It was wielded by Draconus first, then Rake. The second key weapon, originally named 'Vengeance' by Rake, became 'Grief' when Andarist took it up after Rake secured Dragnipur.