Moriisummer

They said-

"I am a warrior, but I'm a girl, too." 

.

When Fire Emblem voice actors play Among Us feat Ann from Persona 5

ozai’s angels! 

oh, did i win?

Because really- it’s such a revealing choice of weapon. It’s basically the RWBY equivalent of a taser. I mean not only does it not have a gun or any sort of projectile (something we only see in a few RWBYverse weapons), but it’s the only weapon we’ve seen specifically designed with a reliable, non-lethal (and non-maiming…) way to disarm or disable an opponent.

Sure it’s still capable of dealing a lot of damage. It’s extremely effective against mechs and Atlas tech. But go up against anything with a little more durability, particularly someone with aura, and it has a pretty hard time. It’s just not a weapon designed for cutting through aura, and honestly I think that’s intentional.

See, it would have been easy enough for her to go for a bladed weapon (like virtually every other member of the White Fang). But Ilia didn’t choose a sword, or a dagger, or even throwing knives on a chain. She picked a whip infused with lightning dust. Something capable of deflecting and blocking, something still able to slice and dice it’s way through Atlas mechs, but ultimately? Something designed to be able to do this:

Ilia’s weapon is utterly unique in that it gives her the option to win while inflicting as little damage as possible. She can completely stop a threat without maiming or killing them. No serious injury required, and no chance of them continuing to fight. It gives her a choice- something beyond ‘take a life or abandon your goals’. A choice that isn’t ‘run’ or ‘kill’.