There is also a concept that I came across in the series "the Storm light archive" by Brian Sanderson - the Shard wielder
These are warrior who summon a super natural blade with special powers (similar to brilliant energy- cutting through/ignoring armour). The blade can also cut stone etc.
They split into two sorts -
1) A sort of armour bonded sort who also have shard plate - full plate that gives bonuses to strength and dexterity, with short term boosts to huge bonuses (like catching a claw of a colossal creature, or jumping a chasm).
this armour is also immune to brilliant energy by-passing.
2) A sort of assassin type who can bind themselves to other surfaces - walls and ceilings, enabling running on walls, causing items to fall to them or on others.
You win a blade by defeating the existing wielder.
This might suit a prestige class