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The Witchblade - And Its Hosts

The Witchblade, also known as Excalibur, Digitabulum, and The Balance, was created as the balance between The Darkness (universal force of darkness and chaos) and The Angelus (universal force of light and order). It first appeared in the early BCE era and has primarily been hosted by women, with Sara Pezzini being its modern primary host. It requires a host to do anything. Sara Pezzini, a police officer in the New York City Homicide division, became the Witchblade’s primary user after bonding with it during an undercover mission, which healed her gunshot wounds. Her powers are reliant on the Witchblade’s cooperation, and between issues 110 and 130, she only possessed half of the Witchblade. Ian Nottingham was a Captain of the Special Air Service for MI5, later embedded in the Russian Mafia. As Kenneth Irons’ bodyguard, he was modified to absorb and control magical energy, serving as a siphon for the Witchblade. While he gained control over the artifact’s fragments on multiple occasions, its bloodlust would eventually drive him into homicidal rages. His abilities are sometimes reliant on the Witchblade or Bloodsword. During the events of Artifact #13, the Witchblade universe was soft-rebooted by Jackie Estacado (current host of the Darkness) slightly altering the universe in his favor; feats post-reboot are bolded. Feats labeled as ‘[WB]’ refer to Ian Nottingham’s abilities when he has the Witchblade/Excalibur.

The Witchblade - Background - General

Witchblade is organic, resistant to chemicals, and made of a web-like structure. (source)
Excalibur was always a part of the Witchblade and was reabsorbed by Sara. (source)

The Witchblade - Background - Worthiness

If unworthy, the artifact seems to cut you up from the inside. (source)
If unworthy, it obliterates the arm that attempts to wear it. (source)
Tears the arm off of a guy who tries to wear it. (source)
Is shown to have killed/maimed a number of men who tried to wear it. (source)

The Witchblade - Background - Unique Capabilities

The Witchblade is constantly adapting and evolving, to the point that its structure changes every second and its actions can’t be predicted. (source)
The Witchblade adapts and learns how to kill foes. (source)
The Witchblade can absorb/nullify immortality. (source)
Every previous user of the Witchblade is stored in the Witchblade and become part of the current user. (source)
The Witchblade can keep attacking to defend its host, even after the host is knocked unconscious. (source)
Attacks a foe that separated it from Sara. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

The Witchblade - Background - Senses

Detects Nottingham’s arrival before Sara does and warns her. (source)
Warns its users of people it deems a threat. (source)
Can detect the supernatural. (source) (Post-reboot feat)
Per Sara, it can detect the supernatural. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

Sara Pezzini - Background - General

A brief biography, circa roughly half way through her solo. (source)
A brief biography. (source)
An example of Sara’s detective work, with her meticulously working through a crime scene. (source)
Absorbed the memories and skills of every past user of the Witchblade. (source)
Largely off panel, presumably beats one of the alt universe Invincibles. (source)
With the Witchblade, can detect Aphrodite IV’s power source and targets it. (source)

Sara Pezzini - Background - Skill

While depowered, she takes out a group of thugs. (source)
As a police officer, she has received training in hand-to-hand combat. (source)
Witchblade has been bonded with her so long she doesn’t even need to consciously tell it what to turn into. (source)

Sara Pezzini - Background - Marksmanship

Accurately shatters a bottle from a dozen feet away with an energy blast. (source)
Accurately shoots a guy in his kneecaps mid-jump. (source)
Nearly hits an invisible Aphrodite IV. (source)
Shoots multiple bottles in a row. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

Sara Pezzini - Physicals - Strength - Lifting/Pulling/Pushing

Stops a car that’s about to crush her. (source)
Holds open a giant snake’s mouth. (source)
Using tendrils, lifts a grandfather clock. (source)
Tendrils rip a door off, while she’s climbing the side of a truck. (source)
Using tendrils, she pushes open a large blast door. (source)
Holds open a dinosaur’s jaw. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

Sara Pezzini - Physicals - Strength - Striking

Slams a foe into the ground hard enough to create a small crater in concrete. (source)
Throws a foe, warping some metal lockers. (source)
Punches a person’s jaw off. (source)
Pops a dude’s head off. (source)
Hits Nottingham out of a building, destroying part of another and cratering the ground. (source)
Punches through Aphrodite IV, ripping her core out. (source)
Obliterates a large stone statue. (source)
Punches a speeding semi-truck back, stopping it in its tracks. (source)
Punches a huge hole through a wooden floor. (source)
Collateral from slicing through a huge tree, craters a street and cracks a huge area of concrete. (source)
Slams a foe through concrete, creating a large hole. (source)
Chucks a monster far. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

Sara Pezzini - Physicals - Strength - Other

Flexes out of being frozen solid. (source)
Crushes a metal robot and rips another apart with tendrils. (source)
Matches strength with a giant monster. (source)

Sara Pezzini - Physicals - Durability - Blunt Force - Objective

Tanks a fireblast that sends her back hard enough to crack a concrete wall. (source)
Takes being cratered into the ground by a robot. (source)
Takes being bodyslammed through at least 3 thick concrete floors. (source)
Takes being hit through a concrete wall. (source)
Tanks being hit back through a thick concrete wall. (source)
Takes a hit that sends her across a street, blowing a hole in a concrete building. (source)
Takes a hit that sends her back through one concrete wall, and craters a second one. (source)
While weakened, takes being hit through a wall by someone using another portion of the Witchblade. (source)

Sara Pezzini - Physicals - Durability - Blunt Force - Falling

Tanks a fall that crushes a car. (source)
Takes a fall that destroys the ground under her. (source)
Witchblade forms a protective shell, protecting her from a fall that makes a massive crater. (source)
Tanks a really far fall. (source)
Lands on a wolf monster, red misting it and cratering the ground. (source)
Takes a fall that craters the ground. (source)

Sara Pezzini - Physicals - Durability - Blunt Force - Scaling

Takes a hit from Ken Irons when he also had part of the Witchblade. (source)
While weakened, takes a hit from Aphrodite IV. (source)

Sara Pezzini - Physicals - Durability - Piercing - Bullets

Blocks gunfire. (source)
Blocks automatic gunfire at close range. (source)
Tanks a bullet to the head. (source)
Blocks a bullet from a high powered sniper rifle. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

Sara Pezzini - Physicals - Durability - Piercing - Other

When Kenneth Irons had part of the Witchblade, he was unable to pierce through her armor. (source)
Witchblade can prevent a needle from piercing her if it wants. (source)
Blocks the Bloodsword, which could cut through a gun. (source)
Blocks throwing daggers from The Darkness that can embed themselves in concrete. (source)
Catches a sword. (source)
Gauntlets block a sword that can cut through her chest armor. (source)
Blocks The Angelus’ sword. (source) (Post-reboot feat)
A large monster destroys its teeth trying to bite her. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

Sara Pezzini - Physicals - Durability - Explosions

Survives proximity to a large explosion. (source)
Barely survived a blast that vaporized a nearby wall and obliterated an entire forest, throwing her dozens of feet away. (source)

Sara Pezzini - Physicals - Durability - Extreme Temperature

Blocks fireblast with a shield construct from a guy who vaporized a city block. (source)
Blocks a fireblast with a shield. (source)
Takes being frozen solid. (source)
Takes a huge fireblast. (source)
Takes a heat blast that generates a metal sword. (source)

Sara Pezzini - Physicals - Durability - Electricity

Takes a lethal electrical blast. (source)
Takes some sort of taser. (source)

Sara Pezzini - Physicals - Durability - Other

Unaffected by a sedative. (source)
Unaffected by acid from an Alien spawn. (source)
Unaffected by acid from a full-grown Alien. (source)
Tanks Alien acid that hurts The Darkness. (source)
Takes some sort of energy weapon that vaporizes part of a robot’s head. (source)

Sara Pezzini - Physicals - Speed - Movement

Moves at a comparable speed as a speeding semi-truck. (source)
Catches a speeding semi-truck. (source)

Sara Pezzini - Physicals - Speed - Reaction

Reacts to an arrow when it’s a foot or two from her face. (source)
Catches a bullet. (source)
Catches a bullet from a few feet away. (source)
Catches a bullet. (source)
Reacts to a hail of magically thrown daggers. (source)
Evades gunfire from an invisible shooter. (source)
Reacts to bullets fired at her. (source)
Blocks a bullet, sending it back at the shooter. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

Sara Pezzini - Physicals - Speed - Tendril Speed

Quickly slices up a falling cigarette. (source)
Restrains Nottingham. (source)
Blocks gunfire. (source)
Blocks automatic gunfire at close range. (source)

Sara Pezzini - Physicals - Agility - Combat

Pre-powers, evades gunfire. (source)
Evades Nottingham. (source)
Evades gunfire. (source)
Jumps over a fireblast. (source)
Evades minigun fire. (source)
Flips over a foe. (source)
Jumps over gunfire. (source)

Sara Pezzini - Physicals - Agility - Out of Combat

Jumps off an elevator and swings into a lower floor. (source)
Jumps to the top of a multi-story building. (source)
Jumps really high. (source)
Backflips off a stage. (source)
Recovers from wind knocking her out of flight using a grappling hook-like tendril. (source)

Sara Pezzini - Powers - Unique Constructs - Non-Combat

Creates cushioning for a car crash. (source)
Creates a corkscrew. (source)

Sara Pezzini - Powers - Unique Constructs - Weapons

Creates a katar-like sword out of her fist. (source)
Creates wolverine-like claws. (source)
Makes a sword on a rope. (source)
Creates a sword and then, when she stabs it through her foe, generates multiple additional spikes off it, inside her attacker. (source)
Creates chain spear, that cuts through multiple demonic goons. (source)
Creates two chains that tear through a mass of foes. (source)
Generates a sword. (source)
Creates a very long Katar. (source)
Generates a sword out of her palm, extending it through Dani. (source)
Creates a flaming firewhip. (source)
Turns her arm into a giant spike. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

Sara Pezzini - Powers - Unique Constructs - Ranged

Generates and launches darts that cleanly cut through an enhanced person. (source)
Darts move fast enough to catch up to a speeding truck. (source)
Darts piercing some sort of metal armor. (source)
Darts pierce metal. (source)
Creates a throwing spear and pins a wolf monster to the ground. (source)

Sara Pezzini - Powers - Unique Constructs - Shields

Generates a small shield to block a fireblast. (source)
Creates a shield to block a fireblast. (source)
Creates a full-body shield. (source)
Blocks a zombie from attacking an ally. (source) (Post-reboot feat)
Suit catches a bullet and throws it back. (source) (Post-reboot feat)
Creates a shield to protect an ally from falling debris. (source) (Post-reboot feat)
Blocks a ton of gunfire with a large shield. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

Sara Pezzini - Powers - Tendrils - General

Extends her arms by a dozen feet to grab a foe. (source)
Extends her arm to punch a foe multiple feet away. (source)
Disarms a guy of his gun. (source)
Grabs another person with part of the Witchblade and drops them off the side of a building. (source)
Grabs Dani’s leg with a tendril and throws her towards the edge of a roof. (source)
Pumps a ton of tendrils into a monster’s mouth and tears it up from the inside out. (source)

Sara Pezzini - Powers - Tendrils - Fine Control

Pulls the emergency stop brake on the subway. (source)
Grabs a spear head a few dozen feet away. (source)
Precisely skewers hundreds of pieces of glass from an explosion to prevent them from hitting people below. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

Sara Pezzini - Powers - Tendrils - Multi-Tendril

Sends out a half-dozen tendrils to attack an escaping foe. (source)
Sends three tendrils through a foe’s head. (source)
Generates over a dozen tendrils. (source)
The Witchblade auto-generates multiple tendrils and attacks a foe. (source)
Creates a mass of tendrils to take out a family. (source)
Creates a ton of tendrils to fight two supernatural beings. (source)
Sends out half a dozen tendrils. (source)
Attacks 3 foes, puncturing one attacking his internals, crushing another, and ripping the third in two. (source)
Creates a hurricane of blades, destroying a room. (source)
Sends out tendrils to spike each head of a multi-headed monster. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

Sara Pezzini - Powers - Tendrils - Piercing - Use v. People

Shreds multiple people. (source)
Cuts off a superhuman’s hand. (source)
Tendrils stab a dude through the head. (source)
Gores Kenneth Irons. (source)
Kills three people. (source)
Slices off a foe’s head. (source)
Slices through Aphrodite IV. (source)
Tendrils work their way under a foe’s skin. (source)
Sends out a ton of tendrils that embed themselves in an enemy’s arm. (source)
Sends a ton of tendrils through a foe. (source)
Tears a guy to shreds. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

Sara Pezzini - Powers - Tendrils - Piercing - Use v. Monsters

Wraps tendril around a monster to draw it closer to her, and then stabs it through the chest. (source)
Slices through a stone monster’s arm. (source)
Punches through the back of the head of a bullet-proof monster. (source)
Shreds a cloud of insects. (source)
Skewers a monster with about a dozen tendrils. (source)
Shreds a giant monster’s hand to make it let go of Sara. (source)
Sends out tendrils from each of her fingers, stabbing through a giant snake. (source)
Cuts off a giant snake’s head. (source)
When a wolf tries to bite her, her armor sends spikes through its head. (source)
Sends out a ton of tendrils to pin some enemies to a wall. (source)
Sends multiple tendrils into Frankenstein’s brain. (source)
Shreds a monster into ribbons. (source)
Sends multiple tendrils through the back of a monster’s head. (source)
Generates multiple spikes to kill a monster that’s biting her. (source)
Flies into a monster’s mouth and tears her way out from the inside. (source)
Gores two Darkness Imps with a hail of tendrils. (source) (Post-reboot feat)
Sends spikes out of each finger to stab a demon. (source) (Post-reboot feat)
Drills through a large monster. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

Sara Pezzini - Powers - Tendrils - Piercing - Concrete

Sends a ton of tendrils through solid concrete. (source)
Pierces a rooftop for a grappling hook anchor point. (source)
Cleanly cuts through concrete. (source)

Sara Pezzini - Powers - Tendrils - Piercing - Metal

Carves a gash in a gun. (source)
Tendrils punch holes in the side of a truck door. (source)
Slices through a sword. (source)
Her firewhip cleaves a robot in two. (source)
Cleaves another robot in two. (source)
Stabs cleanly through Aphrodite IV. (source)
Cuts a foe’s helmet in two without them noticing. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

Sara Pezzini - Powers - Tendrils - Piercing - Other

Cuts through thick roots. (source)
Cuts herself out of restraints. (source)
Sword construct slices through a huge tree. (source)

Sara Pezzini - Powers - Tendrils - Restraining/Lifting

Wraps itself around a monster, restraining it. (source)
Restrains Nottingham. (source)
Chokes and restrains a shooter. (source)
Basically wraps Nottingham’s arms with barbed wire. (source)
Restrains Finnegan with the Glacier Stone, who can rip up a street. (source)
Pins a foe against a concrete wall. (source)
Throws two goons away. (source)
Temporarily restrains Nottingham. (source)
Restrains and crushes to death one of the Angels of the Angelus. (source)
Restrains a gorilla monster. (source) (Post-reboot feat)
Restrains 7 people. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

Sara Pezzini - Powers - Mobility

Catches herself from a fall. (source)
Uses tendrils to quickly get to the top of a multi-story building. (source)
Uses a foe/an anchor point on a roof to pull Sara up. (source)
Creates a grappling hook to quickly cross between two rooftops. (source)
Generates fins for better swimming. (source)
Generates fins for better swimming. (source)
Grapples to the top of a building. (source)
Generates wings. (source)
Creates wings. (source)
Makes a pair of wings. (source)
Uses tendrils to jump/climb up to the top of a multi-story building. (source)
Climbs up a wall using her claws. (source) (Post-reboot feat)
Climbs up a wall using her claws. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

Sara Pezzini - Powers - Energy Blasts - Objective

Destroys the top of a barrel. (source)
Punches through a large robot, sending it multiple feet into the air. (source)
Makes a small explosion. (source)
Craters the side of a subway. (source)
Blasts a monster back, creating a crater through 2 walls of brick and nearly a foot of concrete. (source)
Obliterates a large statue. (source)
Tears up a roof. (source)
Blasts back a large monster, destroying some wooden crates. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

Sara Pezzini - Powers - Energy Blasts - Scaling

Blasts the head off a demon. (source)
Blasts a demon in half. (source)

Sara Pezzini - Powers - Pyrokinesis

Gives a foe some severe burns. (source)
Ignites a foe that is touching her claws. (source)
Fireblast kills a guy. (source)
Ignites a sword construct on fire. (source)
Destroys a demon. (source)
Lights a dude on fire. (source)
Lights her sword on fire and sends out ‘fire slash’. (source)
Incinerates a room full of demons. (source)
Burns a foe. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

Sara Pezzini - Powers - Electricity Generation

Fries the circuits of an android. (source)
Shocks a guy, forcing him to drop his gun. (source)
KOs a foe. (source)
Fries a guy. (source)
Can channel the electricity through her tendrils. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

Sara Pezzini - Powers - Healing

Witchblade heals her from some gunshots. (source)
Brings her partner back from the dead temporarily. (source)
Heals her from gunshot wounds. (source)
Heals an injured ally. (source)
Heals from a blast to the head that Aphrodite IV believed killed her. (source)
Heals in a few minutes from being stabbed through the heart. (source)
Heals a gash on her arm. (source)
Revives Sara after she dies in childbirth. (source)
Heals near instantly from being stabbed through the gut. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

Sara Pezzini - Powers - Other

For a brief time, when Sara only possessed the part of the Witchblade tied to its father, The Darkness, she could make minions akin to The Darkness. (source)
With this power, transformed an entire bridge into a dark cathedral. (source)
Can physically interact with ghosts and is stated to disrupt supernatural phenomena. (source)
Witchblade adapts to be able to see an invisible target. (source)
Absorbs magic. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

Ian Nottingham - Background - General

A brief biography, circa roughly halfway through the Witchblade solo. (source)
A brief biography. (source)
Seemingly can detect magic. (source)

Ian Nottingham - Background - Skill

Can cut a car in half with the precision of a surgeon. (source)
Sneaks around and takes out a large number of guards when imprisoned in Rykers. (source)
Per Word of God, he is an expert in several forms of martial arts and swordsmanship. (source)
Has achieved a level of control over his mind and body beyond what most people could dream of. (source)
Claims to have killed men using only a paperclip. (source)
Quickly takes out three Yakuza goons with three shurikens. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

Ian Nottingham - Physicals - Strength - Striking W/ Blade

Per Word of God, can cut through cars. (source)
Cuts through the top of a car. (source)
Cuts car in half, widthwise. (source)
In a single blow, cuts two people and fully cleans a third in half, while choking out a fourth person. (source)
With the Bloodsword, he cuts partially through Finnegan’s leg. (source)
With the Bloodsword, cuts a man’s skull in half. (source)
Cuts a man in half. (source)

Ian Nottingham - Physicals - Strength - Striking W/O Blade

Shatters a chunk of a bridge. (source)
Casually throws a foe back, destroying a Grand Piano and damaging the floor. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Bodyslams Sara through at least 3 thick concrete floors. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Cracks a huge chunk off of a building. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)

Ian Nottingham - Physicals - Durability - Blunt Force

A 50-foot fall doesn’t even stagger him. (source)
Takes a multi-story fall. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Takes being hit by Sara, destroying part of another building and cratering the ground. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Tanks a fall from a skyscraper. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)

Ian Nottingham - Physicals - Durability - Piercing

Takes pistol fire to the head. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Takes point-blank automatic gunfire. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Takes gunfire. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Cuts a sword in two. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)

Ian Nottingham - Physicals - Durability - Extreme Temperature

Takes a fire blast. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Takes an iceblast. (source)

Ian Nottingham - Physicals - Durability - Other

Withstands an extended timeframe where he was tortured by having thousands of gallons of high-pressure water forced into his mouth. (source)
Multiple arrows through the chest/shoulder and a slash across the abdomen barely seems to faze him. (source)

Ian Nottingham - Physicals - Speed - Movement

Blitzes an enhanced supersoldier, cutting off his arm. (source)

Ian Nottingham - Physicals - Speed - Reaction

Per Word of God, can catch bullets. (source)
Catches a bullet. (source)
Catches two bullets in a row. (source)
Explicitly can catch a bullet with his hand. (source)
Evades tendrils from Sara. (source)
Deflects bullets with a sword. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Grabs a bullet out of the air. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Grabs another bullet out of the air. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Catches a dagger thrown at him. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)

Ian Nottingham - Physicals - Speed - Tendril Movement

Deflects gunfire. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Deflects gunfire. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)

Ian Nottingham - Physicals - Agility

Backflips over a wall. (source) (Post-reboot feat)
Charges a car and times a jump to stab all 4 passengers at once. (source) (Post-reboot feat)

Ian Nottingham - Powers - Magic Absorption

Absorbs part of the Witchblade into himself. (source)
He is designed to absorb vast quantities of power. (source)
Absorbs the Darkness and the Witchblade. (source)

Ian Nottingham - Powers - Unique Constructs

Fires out a hail of darts. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Working with Sara, makes a giant bat-like creature that takes out an attack helicopter. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Creates a katana. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Creates dual blades from the sides of his fist. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Pins a guy to a wall with darts. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)

Ian Nottingham - Powers - Tendrils - General

Creates a large number of tendrils. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Creates a mass of tendrils and shreds some CIA operatives with them. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)

Ian Nottingham - Powers - Tendrils - Piercing

Gores a guy. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Cuts through Irons’ robot hand. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Punches through attack helicopter armor. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Cuts through a gun barrel. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Sends tendrils through a concrete floor to force Sara back. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Tendrils cut through a stone statue. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)

Ian Nottingham - Powers - Tendrils - Restraining/Lifting

Generates a mass of tendrils, restraining another peak human assassin. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Disarms a guy of his shotgun. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Hangs a guy from the ceiling using a mass of tendrils. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Generates a mass of tendrils that wrap around and restrain multiple people. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)

Ian Nottingham - Powers - Energy Blasts

Blasts a huge hole through dirt/stone. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Obliterates the corner of a building. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Blasts a statue in two. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)

Ian Nottingham - Powers - Other

Tazes Irons. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)
Quickly heals from being stabbed. (source) (When possessing Witchblade/Excalibur)

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