Ultrahard Steel Blades are the primary offensive weapons used by Paradis soldiers in conjunction with their ODM gear for engaging Titans. These blades are forged from a unique material found only within the Walls of Paradis Island, created by processing iron bamboo ore through a specialized smelting process that produces a metal of extraordinary hardness and sharpness. The blades are designed to be replaceable components, with soldiers carrying multiple sets in sheaths mounted on their ODM gear hip boxes. Each blade set consists of two parallel blades connected to a single handle, allowing soldiers to execute powerful two-handed slashes while maintaining the option to discard damaged blades mid-combat. The distinctive rectangular handguard and leather-wrapped grip are instantly recognizable features of the standard Paradis military blade.
Ultrahard Steel Blades are the only known weapons capable of consistently cutting through Titan flesh and bone, making them essential equipment for every soldier who engages Titans in close combat. The blades are designed to cut through the nape of the Titan's neck, where a thin vertical strip of flesh contains the Titan's weak point that, when severed, kills the Titan instantly. Despite their incredible hardness, the blades dull quickly when used against Titan armor and regenerative flesh, with soldiers typically replacing blades after every few strikes. Experienced soldiers learn to conserve their blades by executing precise, economical cuts rather than wasteful slashing. The blades also have limited effectiveness against Titan shifters in human form but can be used for emergency self-defense in close quarters.
Every Paradis soldier trained in Titan combat carries Ultrahard Steel Blades as their standard melee weapon, from fresh Training Corps graduates to veteran Survey Corps officers. Survey Corps members are the primary users in actual Titan combat, consuming dozens of blade sets during a single major expedition against hordes of Titans. The Garrison and Military Police also carry blades but use them less frequently in actual combat. Special Operations Squad members under Levi's command carried specially sharpened high-grade blade sets, as their combat style demanded maximum cutting efficiency against both normal Titans and Titan shifters. Blade quality was tightly controlled by the government, with the military's Supply Division responsible for manufacturing and distribution, maintaining strict quality standards to ensure battlefield reliability.