Swordfish generally reach 10 feet in length, though the largest specimens can reach 15 feet. Their size, speed, and deadly weapon make them formidable foes, though they generally have little interest in fighting other large creatures unless threatened. Should a swordfish be influenced by external forces driving it to attack other creatures, it can utilize its speed and the reach of its sword to perform hit-and-run attacks against its targets Its speed also makes it difficult to pin down and allows it to make devastating charging attacks. These attacks utilize rapid slashing motions of its sword bill that are difficult to predict and strike targets in unexpected ways.
These strange yet elegant fish are easily recognized by their trademark noses which extend out like a long rapier. The aptly named swordfish is among the fastest swimmers in the world, and it combines this speed with tight maneuverability and its slashing bill to become one of the most effective hunters of the open ocean. The swordfish hunts other fish in open waters where there is nowhere to hide and no hope of outswimming such a high-speed attacker. Even swimming in schools does a fish little good, as the swordfish's slashing bill attacks allow it to cut through swaths of fish at a time.