Put a Ring on It

Wonder Momo is a parody of Ultraman-style superhero franchises. The game is set on a theatre stage, and the story revolves around Kanda Momo’s newfound super powers. Momo attacks mostly with kicks, but she can transform into Wonder Momo by spinning at high speeds. In her transformed state, Wonder Momo can overwhelm her enemies with her patented Wonder Hoop. Also known as the Wonder Ring or Momo Ring, her Wonder Hoop is a hula hoop-like weapon that will inevitably bounce back to her after it is thrown. In Queen’s Gate: Spiral Chaos, Wonder Momo can form the ring out of thin air by drawing an imaginary circle in the sky. In this game, the ring is powerful enough to tear up the ground when Momo flings it at her enemies! Momo also deserves recognition for being one of gaming’s first female protagonists.

As the only female Koopaling, Wendy is known for her bold and bossy personality. She butts heads with her brothers and views other women as her rivals, but she has enough leadership skills to command armies and oversee territories that Bowser has claimed. Wendy could accurately be described as a tomboy, but she also embraces her feminine side with her pink bow, lipstick, and high heel shoes. Her gold bracelets are a lot more dangerous than they look, however, and they should not be taken as a mere fashion statement. Her bracelets have magic properties and can expand and contract around Mario and Luigi. When she’s not attacking her enemies with weaponized bracelets, she often uses magic wands to generate deadly rings that can ricochet off walls. If nothing else, you have to admire her dedication to the ring theme.

The Robot Masters in the Mega Man series are equipped with a wide array of weapons. It’s easy to understand how fire, electricity, or explosives can be used in combat, but it’s a little harder to buy a robot that fights exclusively with rings. Although it might not make sense on paper, Ring Man was built specifically for fighting. He arms himself with ring-shaped boomerangs that resemble chakrams, but his impressive speed and an ability to throw the rings at almost any angle make him an unpredictable opponent. Multiple rings are typically in play at any given time, and Ring Man will attack with new rings while waiting for his previous rings to return to him. I’ll conceded that rings aren’t exactly the most logical or practical weapon for a robot to use, but there are worse weapons to be saddled with. At least he’s not Clown Man.

Clumsy, clueless, and lacking self confidence, Colette is an unlikely heroine. When she’s not tripping over her own feet, she’s likely putting them in her mouth. Her poor decisions and lack of coordination cause a lot of grief, but Colette is quick to take responsibility and bravely puts everyone else before herself. Colette arms herself with a pair of golden rings that are thrown like Frisbees. She’s not the most powerful fighter at first, but her light-based “Angel Skills” make her a valuable team member. One of her attacks allows her to shoot rings of light at her enemies, leaving a trail of glowing pink feathers behind. Colette was taught to angelic language at a young age and was introduced to the clergy before starting her formal education. She’s destined to ascend the Tower of Salvation as an angel, so it’s appropriate for her weapons to look like halos.

A determined genius who cares only about winning, Mōri Motonari views his soldiers as disposable pawns and will use any strategy that will lead to victory. Many of his trademark attacks rely on trickery and setting traps for his opponents, but his giant ring blade makes him a formidable foe to face head-on. By spinning his ring blade continuously, Motonari attacks with the ferocity of a saw blade and can land spectacular combo attacks with minimal effort. The ring can also be split into two semi-circle blades which adds depth to his repertoire. Although his ring blade is used primarily for melee attacks, it’s also symbolic of Motonari’s obsession with the sun. The ring even mimics the sun at times by floating in the air and emitting powerful rays of light. His outfits are ridiculous, but eccentricities are to be expected of a man who fights with a giant ring.

Also known as the “Flurry of Dancing Flames,” Axel is an enigmatic figure who keeps his true intentions hidden. He’s a member of the vile Organization XIII, but he puts his own agenda first and his motives are unclear. In battle, Axel uses a pair of spiked wheels that he dubs the “Eternal Flames.” In the real world, these weapons would likely be used exclusively for melee purposes, but Axel is skilled enough to throw them and can even use them as shields. Axel also has the ability to manipulate fire, and his pyrokinesis can enhance his weapons in order to unleash powerful attacks in quick succession. The chakrams can effectively be used as remote detonators too, since Axel can somehow set them on fire from a distance. His past may be shrouded in mystery, but his burning rings of fire speak for themselves.

June Lin Milliam is no stranger to tragedy. Intense cultural revolution forced her family to flee China for the UK when she was just 14, and things pretty much went downhill from there. Her father went missing, her mother took her own life, and then her father re-emerged as a dinosaur who took his own life to protect his daughter from his new dino form. Through it all, June somehow found a way to remain optimistic. In her fight to avenge her parents, the futuristic rhythmic gymnast arms herself with a plasma ring formed from her own mind. Most of her maneuvers involve acrobatics and face-sitting, however, so her weapon takes a back seat to her back seat. She’s not especially creative with the plasma ring and basically uses it to extend the range of her strikes, but I feel that she put up with enough shit to warrant a mention on this list.

The younger sister of the legendary Oda Nobunaga has been featured in many different games, but I’m especially fond of how she was depicted in the Samurai Warriors franchise. Although she was initially portrayed as a stubborn teenager, Oichi matured into a calm and graceful heroine who fought only out of obligation. She’s an unconventional warrior, so it only makes sense that she would have an unconventional weapon. Beginning with Samurai Warriors 3, Oichi arms herself with four bladed sakura hoops. She can send her opponents flying with her slashing blows, and she is able to contend with enemies from all angles by spinning her weapons around her. Her hoops can be linked together and be used as a makeshift chain whip, and she can even latch on to the top of the screen and swing around like a 1960s Spider-man.

Sun Shangxiang was taught martial arts at an early age and yearns to prove herself in battle. Although she uses a variety of weapons, she typically arms herself with a pair of bladed wheels. Sun tosses the wheels at her enemies, throws them like boomerangs, and can make the wheels circulate around her to contend with enemies from multiple angles. The wheels will send her enemies flying, but she has no issue catching them herself. She’ll occasionally throw burning wheels to make them more dangerous, and the spinning wheels can even create protective tornadoes around her. The control she has over the wheels and the enthusiasm she has for battle is a testament to her upbringing. Her father and brother express concern that she’s too headstrong and independent, but Lady Sun is a warrior through and through.

Raised to be a cold-blooded assassin and known as the misguided angel of death, Tira derives pleasure from the suffering of others and depends on the stimulation it provides. She relies on speed and flexibility in battle, but her techniques are almost as unpredictable as her mood swings since both of her personalities have their own fighting style. Whether she’s acting upbeat and jolly or dark and gloomy, her “Ring Blade” fits her perfectly. On one hand, it’s a playful weapon that could be likened to a hula hoop. On the other hand, its razor-sharp edge makes it every bit as vicious as a knife. It almost looks like she’s dancing as she effortlessly swings the ring around her wrists, feet, and body, but the bitch will cut you without remorse. Tira is a hot mess and one of the most sadistic characters in the SoulCalibur series.