Dáinsleif ("Dáinn's Heirloom"[1][2]) is king Högni's sword, according to Snorri Sturluson's account of the battle known as the Hjaðningavíg.
When Heðinn offers him compensation for the abduction of his daughter, Högni replies:
Thou hast made this offer over-late, if thou wouldst make peace: for now I have drawn Dáinsleif, which the dwarves made, and which must cause a man's death every time it is bared,[a] nor ever fails in its stroke; moreover, the wound heals not if one be scratched with it.
In popular culture
- In Final Fantasy Type-0 and its remake, the first chapter ends with the player fighting a "l'Cie" named Qun'mi, who pilots a magitek weapon called "Dáinsleif".
- Genshin Impact, a 2020 action role-playing game, features a character named 'Dainsleif' (Chinese: 戴因斯雷布), also known as "Bough Keeper" (Chinese: 拾枝者) in the lore.
- Senki Zesshō Symphogear, a Japanese anime television franchise animated by Satelight features an ancient relic in the form of a sword, named 'Dáinsleif'.
- Several games in the Castlevania series feature 'Dáinsleif' as a usable weapon.
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans The Dainsleif was introduced as a banned weapon of war. It was a mobile suit hand held rail gun that fired rods at hyper velocity that would rip through anything it hit with ease.
- Black Summoner Dainsleif was the S rank sword made for Gerard Fragarach by Kelvin Celsius.
- For Honor, a Viking finisher named "Dainsleif" from For Honor, a fighting game by Ubisoft.
- Black Clover, a character named Zenon Zogratis, uses the sword as an ultimate finishing-move
- Monster Hunter Frontier Z, 'Dainsleif' was a pair of Dual Blades that were able to be crafted as a reward for players who played consistently through Internet cafés. Its final upgrade was considered by players to be the strongest Dual Blades in the game.
- In Odin Sphere, 'Dáinsleif' was featured as playable character Oswald's special skill, rather than being a physical weapon.