Meaning: The Five of Swords shows a figure collecting swords while two others walk away in defeat, a scene generally read as a hollow, costly victory.

Upright: Conflict, win at a cost, tension. Signals a victory that comes at a real cost, whether to a relationship, reputation, or peace of mind.

Reversed: Reconciliation, moving past conflict, releasing resentment. Can point to repairing a rift after conflict, or finally letting go of resentment from a past dispute.