In Michael Moorcock's 'Elric' series, what is the name of Elric's soul-drinking sword?

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In Michael Moorcock's Elric series, Elric's soul-drinking sword is Stormbringer.

Stormbringer is a huge black enchanted blade covered with strange runes. It is not merely a weapon: the sword has its own will and is portrayed as a member of a demonic race serving the forces of Chaos. When it wounds an unprotected living creature, it can consume that victim's soul and transfer strength and vitality to Elric, its albino wielder.

The sword first appeared in Moorcock's 1961 novella The Dreaming City. Its powers and nature became especially important in the stories collected in the 1965 book Stormbringer. Elric depends on the blade because it sustains his physically fragile body, yet he also fears and hates it because its hunger can drive him to kill friends, lovers and allies.

Mournblade is the most important common mix-up: it is Stormbringer's brother sword and was associated with Elric's cousin and enemy Yyrkoon. Andúril and Excalibur belong to different fantasy traditions. Stormbringer's combination of power, addiction and betrayal made it one of fantasy literature's influential cursed swords.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Aug. 2026

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