(optional) The dart is made of a hard material, usually iron or steel. It can be of variable weight depending on the users preference, and can be variable in shape (conical, triangular prism, pentagonal prism). The rings (usually 4 or 5) are attached to the dart head. The rope is attached to the final ring. Traditionally, the rope was constructed from Chinese rope and covered with wax to minimize friction. In modern times, the rope is often made of a softer synthetic material and covered with talc powder or some other substance to reduce friction. There is at least one flag attached near, or onto the dart head itself to conceal the dart during play and to add control. Additional flags can be attached to the side rings to slow down the dart and increase control. The handle is made from the last piece of rope as a slipknot to attach to the anchor hand's wrist. As performance art While relatively new, rope dart is used in the object manipulation scenes due to its impressive performances. Because of this, there have been modifications to the original design. Some rope darts have been created to be set alight. A section of fireproof chain between the dart or meteor head and the rope attaches it securely and Kevlar wicks form the flammable head. Other rope darts have heads filled with LED lights. Both of these can be performed in the dark, adding excitement and mystery. In modern media In Season 1 of America's Got Talent: Extreme William Brandon performed a fire dance with the rope dart. In the Assassin's Creed series, the Assassin characters Shao Jun, Edward Kenway, Shay Cormac, Adéwalé, Connor Kenway, Arbaaz Mir, and Eivor Varinsdottir use rope darts. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Shang-Chi’s younger sister Xialing teaches herself how to use a rope dart in secret after being forbidden from training with the boys. In the Mortal Kombat series, the character Scorpion uses a rope dart. In Destiny 2, the Hunter class uses a rope dart as a melee weapon as well as their super ability when using the Strand subclass. See also Aklys – Roman weapon of similar construction Slungshot – a rope with a weighted end, far shorter, though similar in construction. References Further reading External links Rope Dart Academy Homepage Don Hyun Kiolbassa/Rope Dart Description on