Unlimited Blade Works

2004Copypasta / incantation parodyclassic

Published March 31, 2026

Also known as: UBW Chant · UBW Copypasta · Unlimited ___ Works

Unlimited Blade Works is a copypasta and meme based on the incantation used to activate the noble phantasm of the same name from the 2004 visual novel Fate/stay night1. The chant, beginning with the iconic line "I am the bone of my sword," spread across forums and imageboards starting in 2006, spawning countless parody versions and one legendary exam essay that earned its author a D+5. It's one of the longest-running anime copypastas, with the "Make Your Own UBW" format thriving across communities for nearly two decades.

fate series memescopypasta memesanime mangasnowclone memesimageboard memes

Overview

Unlimited Blade Works, both a fictional ability from the Fate franchise and one of anime fandom's most recognizable copypastas. In the source material, it's a Reality Marble, a pocket dimension filled with countless replicated swords, belonging to the characters Archer (EMIYA) and Shirou Emiya1. Activating it requires reciting a specific incantation, a dramatic chant that reads like dark poetry about a life forged through endless combat and weapon creation3.

The chant's dramatic structure, with its rhythmic lines building to the shouted title drop "UNLIMITED BLADE WORKS!", made it irresistible for parody. Each line follows a predictable pattern that's easy to riff on: identity declaration, body metaphor, accomplishment claim, duality statement, suffering acknowledgment, tragic irony, and a climactic invocation4. This rigid template is what makes UBW such effective copypasta material.

Origin & Background

Platform
Type-Moon (visual novel), 4chan /a/ board (meme spread)
Key People
Kinoko Nasu, Unknown
Date
2004 (source material), 2006 (meme spread)

The incantation first appeared in the 2004 visual novel game Fate/stay night, written by Kinoko Nasu and developed by Type-Moon6. It shows up specifically in the game's second story route, which shares the ability's name5. Two versions exist in the original work. Archer's version is the darker, more cynical take: "I am the bone of my sword / Steel is my body and fire is my blood / I have created over a thousand blades / Unknown to Death, Nor known to Life / Have withstood pain to create many weapons / Yet, those hands will never hold anything / So as I pray, Unlimited Blade Works"7.

Shirou's version reflects his more determined, accepting nature: "I am the bone of my sword / Steel is my body and fire is my blood / I have created over a thousand blades / Unaware of loss, Nor aware of gain / Withstood pain to create weapons, waiting for one's arrival / I have no regrets. This is the only path / My whole life was Unlimited Blade Works"2.

The difference between the two captures the thematic core of the story: Archer's bitter resignation versus Shirou's stubborn resolve3. Both became copypasta material, but Archer's version is the one most people recognize and remix.

How It Spread

Online discussion of Unlimited Blade Works began as early as 2006, with posts popping up across Reddit, Tumblr, 4chan, GameFAQs, TVTropes, and Zetaboards5. The chant's clean template made it natural copypasta fodder on imageboards and forums where anime fans gathered.

On December 8th, 2008, Urban Dictionary user Arblast submitted a definition for Unlimited Blade Works, describing it as a "Reality Marble created by Archer (Fate/Stay Night) that allows him to control a large number of weapons"7. The entry included the full incantation text, helping spread it beyond anime-specific communities.

The "Make Your Own Unlimited Blade Works" thread on TV Tropes became a hub for creative parodies4. Users swapped in everything from Rick Astley lyrics ("Never Gonna Let You Down is my body, and Never Gonna Run Around is my blood / I have created over a thousand Internet pranks... UNLIMITED RICKROLL WORKS!") to Gurren Lagann references ("I have slain over a thousand leviathans... UNLIMITED DRILL WORKS") to self-aware forum humor ("Snark is my body, and YKTTW is my blood / I have posted over a thousand Tropes... UNLIMITED TROPES WIKI!")4.

YouTube helped boost awareness when user ExiaFr posted Archer's UBW scene from the 2010 movie adaptation on July 31st, 2013, pulling over 276,000 views within two years5. A comparison video by TheSzadow on May 10th, 2015, contrasting the 2006 Studio Deen and 2014 ufotable anime adaptations, hit 199,000 views in about a year5. The ufotable adaptation in particular gave the incantation a massive visual upgrade that introduced the chant to a new generation of fans3.

The copypasta format kept evolving across platforms, with parody versions adapting the template to virtually any fandom or topic. From Fuko's starfish-carving Clannad version to ad-revenue satire ("I HAVE CREATED OVER A THOUSAND ADS... UNLIMITED AD WORKS"), the format proved endlessly adaptable4.

Frequently Asked Questions