Bayard

The Bayards are the traditional weapons of the Voltron Paladins, created by Alfor, who used a fragment of the transdimensional comet for each Bayard. They take a distinct shape for each Paladin, forming a weapon that complements their individual fighting style and skills. In addition, they can be connected to the Paladin's Lions to form weapons for Voltron itself.

Over time, it appears that the Bayards can be altered to form more than one type of weapon for its user. This is seen most prominently in Zarkon's duel against Keith and the Red Lion, as he fluidly and continuously changed the form of the Black Bayard at will. Presumably, the other Paladins may be able to gain this capability, given enough training and experience.

The Bayard's initial form upon being wielded by its Paladin may be based on the kind of weapon that the Paladin is best suited for, as the current Paladins (omitting Shiro) have been shown to have a considerable degree of skill with their Bayards.

The Bayards are known to change their form over time, reflecting the needs, control, and changes in their wielders over time. Such has been the case with the forms taken by the Bayards of Keith, Pidge, Hunk, and most notably Lance. One example would be how Lance's Bayard changed from being a simple energy rifle to a more compact energy blaster with a scope and has been modified with an extended barrel for sniper rifle capabilities, and now an Altean Broad Sword. Another example would be how Keith could teleport his black Bayard from one hand to another, and how the blade's base is now rounder and less rigid, with stronger and thicker beveling.

During Season 7 the bayards are taken from the Paladins by Exor, Zethrid, and their Galra pirates. Two of these pirates try and activate the bayards with no success, showing that not everyone is capable of manifesting a weapon.

Users

User	Color	Personal weapon	Voltron weapon
Keith	Red (former) Black (current)	Sword(Red and Black) Energy Cannon(Black)	Sword Blazing Sword (with black bayard) Booster Wings (with red bayard)	Scimitar (together)
Pidge	Green	Angular Katar Grappling Hook/Cable Shock Prod	Arm Cannon Dual Swords (with red bayard)
Lance	Blue (former) Red (current)	Multiple forms: Energy Rifle(Blue and Red) Sniper Rifle(Red) Altean Broadsword(Red)	Sword Dual Swords (with green bayard) Booster Wings (with black bayard)
Hunk	Yellow	Energy Minigun Welding torch Miniturret launcher	Shoulder Cannon Multishot Energy beam Missile launchers (with blue bayard)
Allura	Blue	Energy Whip Sword Altean Glaive	Missile launchers (with yellow bayard)
Shiro	Black (former)	Unknown	Blazing Sword (with red bayard)
Zarkon	Black (former)	Multiple forms: Energy Shield Energy Sword Energy Cannon Whip Sword Large Mace Large Sword	Blazing Sword (with red bayard)
Lotor	Black (temporary)	Whip Sword  Energy Sword

Zarkon

When Allura told the new Paladins that the Black Bayard had been "...lost with the original Black Paladin," she implied that the weapon had been lost or destroyed with that Paladin's death. In truth, Zarkon was once the Black Paladin of Voltron prior to his attempted conquest of the universe more than 10,000 years ago. It was still in his possession until Shiro was able to fully bond with the Black Lion and wrest the bayard from the tyrant's grip.

A Paladin's Bayard can be altered to form other types of weapons for its user. Most prominently shown when in Zarkon's hands, as his Bayard constantly took the forms of other equipment during his battle against the Red Paladin; like various shielding and/or weaponry to name a few.

Lotor 

Lotor use the Black Bayard in a surprise attack against Zarkon using first a chain sword, and next turn in a scimitar.

Combinations

While the Bayards have the ability to generate personal weapons as well as individual weapons for Voltron, they can also combine their powers to generate additional powers.

When the powers of the Red, Green, Yellow, and Blue Bayards were combined, Voltron generated an enormous scimitar-like blade, large enough to carve through a Galra battle cruiser. When the powers of Red and Black Bayards were combined the sword the Red Bayard usually summons caught fire, heavily increasing its attacking power in its fight against Zarkon in his armor. This combination can also transform Voltron's wings into large rockets, providing it with vastly greater speed both for travel and in combat. When used in unison, the Green and Red Bayards give Voltron dual, single-edged swords that seem to be as effective as the standard Sword despite being smaller in scale.

Gallery

• Black
• Red
• Blue
• Yellow
• Green
• As Voltron

I think this one classifies as a backsword.

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Batter up!

Somewhere in the multiverse, Cloud Strife is just slowly shaking his head.

Shiro reclaims the black bayard from Zarkon.

Keith’s use of the black bayard still results in stabby things.

Keith demonstrating ability to summon bayard from one hand to another in battle.

Zarkon forms a large cannon with the black bayard shortly before his death.

Keith red sword hilt detail.

Lance’s rifle evolved slightly when formed with the red bayard instead of the blue.

Lance can now switch between close-quarters and sniper rifles.

"I spy with my little eye, something dead. Very, very dead.

You are now a knight of Camelot. Rise, Sir Lancelot... Wait, what the crap? Why are there knights of the Round Table in space? Freaking admins keep screwing with us!

Lance’s blue bayard rifle again.

Hilt detail of Allura's blue bayard weapon.

Allura's bayard used as a grappling weapon.

Used as a massive welding gun.

Side view of Hunk’s gun.

Miniturret detail.

Grapple hook in action.

Tazer variant.

Using the yellow bayard.

Red bayard backed up by blue, yellow and green supersizes things.

Black bayard still forms Voltron a sword when Keith's using it.

Yellow bayard again.

Notes

• The name "Bayard" may be a reference to a horse in French mythology with the ability to change size depending on its rider, much like how the Bayard weapons change shape to match their wielders.
• Pidge's bayard bears a resemblance to the katar, a triangular push-type dagger from South Asia.
  • Keith's bayard also resembles a katar, albeit elongated to a sword length.
• Zarkon's, and later Allura's sword/whip combination bears a resemblance to the urumi, a sword with a flexible whip-like blades from the Indian subcontinent.
  • They also bear some resemblance to Ivy Valentine's 'snake sword' from the "Soulcalibur" series of fighting games.
• In their default form, the Bayards somewhat resemble the Plasma Rifle weapon from the "Halo" series.