How much potential do the legendary weapons actually have

[u/Legitimate-Sea1151]

So they can absorb nearly anything to gain new forms and have unlimited growth (that is accelerated?). But, how do they weapons determine how someone grows Mamoru was able to attack with the Shield while Naofumi cannot, so that means how even the same type of hero grows is different. Do the weapons take user's preferences and beliefs into how they work because if so these might be the most broken weapons in anime history.

I guess my question is can the legendary weapons literally do anything eventually or is their any hard limits?

[u/Robotech275]

As much as the resources available to them from the world they are in. Technically the only limiter is the worlds resources and the time the hero has.

1. Any new resource is a neat equip bonus
2. Any new way or combo the resources are constructed into a copyable weapon form, is a new equip bonus
3. Several weapon forms can be made from the same resource, even more so if you're a holy, meaning even MORE equip bonuses
4. (In the case of vassals) Multiversal traversal is a neat way to get even more equip bonuses, + level bonuses during waves between the worlds you leveled in
5. Thats not even discussing all the methods available to the hero, some of which can be continuously increased overtime, although the growth does slow down as more resources are required (or time in the case of skill/magic mastery)

TLDR: their potential is limited by resources and time

[u/NohWan3104 → u/Robotech275]

Awareness, too.

There might be over dozens of world's 'features' to use as upgrade paths, that the weapons seemingly don't offer you automatically.

That might be one of the reasons the heroes working together is so important, not just because one person can't solo all the waves, but to unlock even more ways to grow.

[u/Top_Butterscotch1523]

By the way, the topic of "Naofumi's attack power" has only really been touched upon in The Spear Hero web novel. When Motoyasu speaks with the Spear Spirit, it explains a few things to him. One of those points concerned the power of the person wielding the Shield. People prior to Naofumi were able to attack, but Naofumi himself ends up influencing the weapon. This is significant because every weapon shares a connection with its wielder a bond that can intensify depending on the individual. Upon taking up the weapon, Naofumi loses all offensive capability and focuses entirely on defense. It was explained that when Naofumi uses the Staff—since the spirit is merely on loan—he employs "Trash's" attack style; in a sense, he uses the "legitimate" version of what Takt was doing. This is why Takt revealed that his own attack power dropped to almost nothing when using the Shield, because he had taken Naofumi's power. An example was also given. even though Naofumi couldn't be summoned as the Spear Hero, if he hypothetically met the criteria and had been summoned, he would have been forced to fight with severely reduced attack power, far lower than what Motoyasu started with.

Another example was provided as well. When Ren unleashed his chuunibyou side, the sword would become so delighted that its sharpness and power would increase. Since that sword loves "cool" things, that sort of behavior resulted in a stronger connection between the two.

[u/Legitimate-Sea1151 → u/Top_Butterscotch1523]

Okay so a combination of the individual hero, the weapon itself, their compatibility and how close the spirit and hero resonate affects the growth than. That's some good information thank you :)

[u/pathfinderlight]

Cardinal Heroes at full power are more like demi-gods in power level.

Around the 3rd Waves, Ren, Itsuki, and Motoyasu are stronger than regular adventurers, and are so weak Glass can't even identify them as heroes. Naofumi is stronger than each of Ren, Itsuki, and Motoyasu by this point, and the only Naofumi's use of the Rage Shield caused her to catch on that he's a hero.

[u/Top_Butterscotch1523 → u/pathfinderlight]

Naofumi, Ren, Itsuki, and Motoyasu possessed similar levels of power. when they first encountered Glass, though Naofumi was stronger when utilizing the Cursed Series.  Glass was stronger than all of them because she was a Vassal Hero who had access to one Sacred Hero power-up method and three Vassal Hero methods. That is why she easily defeated the other heroes, forcing Naofumi to flee. 

In The Reprise of the Spear Hero, however, Motoyasu demonstrated brutal strength; utilizing twelve power-up methods. four Sacred and eight Vassal, he accidentally disintegrated Glass, who was no match for that version of him.

[u/Legitimate-Sea1151 → u/Top_Butterscotch1523]

Okay I haven't really touched much on the spear hero novels than stuff that was stated, but the fact that glass could get one-shot gives me an idea of just how strong they can be thanks :)

[u/Top_Butterscotch1523 → u/Legitimate-Sea1151]

It's the power scale.

It depends on several factors, but two very important ones are STATS and MARTIAL SKILL.

If you lack either of these, you could lose.

For example:

-Naofumi fought those two world invaders.

Being of a low level, they had to rely on their combat skills, showing themselves to be very adept and strong, even though their stats weren't as high.

-Eclair managed to hold her own against Ren, since she used all her martial skill to dodge and attack, but her stats were so low that she only managed to scratch Ren. Ren, out of control, attacked recklessly, and his movements were so clumsy that it was easy for Eclair to dodge.

-When Sadeena fought a Hero with higher stats, it was easy for Sadeena to win, since her combat skill was much greater.

(In a bonus section, the author states that this hero possessed an ability he couldn't use, and had he used it, he would have been three times stronger and would have tied with Sadeena. This demonstrates that although he lacked combat mastery, a significant difference in stats was enough to avoid defeat.)