Saber appears not only in "Fate/stay night" but also in the games and other spin-off series, and the story would not be complete without her.
Even the official site describes her as a "cash cow," so without Saber's appearance, it wouldn't be "Fate" and it would feel lacking.
So what is the appeal of Saber, who appears in "Fate/stay night" and other works?
We'll introduce her personality and other aspects to help you experience more of her charm, and confirm why she is such an essential character in the series.
Her true name is Artoria Pendragon
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Saber, the main heroine of "Fate/stay night" and the servant summoned by the protagonist, Shirou Emiya, has a beautiful yet delicate appearance.
Her real name is "Artoria Pendragon," and her true identity is King Arthur, the legendary hero of England. However, in the story, a girl named Artoria disguised herself as a girl, called Arthur, and pulled out the sword of choice (Caliburn), becoming king.
Two Noble Phantasms Used
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Saber's Noble Phantasms in the Holy Grail War are "Invisible Air," which envelops her sword in wind, rendering it invisible, and "Excalibur," a holy sword capable of unleashing the ultimate slash.
Additionally, in the Saber route, after the "Distant Utopia (Avalon)" within Emiya Shirou's body is returned, it is used as his third Noble Phantasm.
"Distant Utopia (Avalon)" is a Noble Phantasm that has the power to block any interference, including magic, and instantly heal any wounds or illnesses suffered. When Emiya Shirou still possessed Avalon, Saber displayed remarkable healing powers just by being near her.
In addition to these Noble Phantasms, Saber is also blessed by the Holy Spirit, so it can be imagined that she would wield overwhelming power if she had regained her original power.
Saber in Everyday Life
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Normally, Servants can become spirits and disappear from the mortal world, but Saber cannot become spirits because she became a Heroic Spirit while still alive.
Thus, while she is depicted dining with Shirou Emiya and his friends, Saber's everyday life reveals a girlish side appropriate for her age.
Saber has a very earnest personality, but because of this, she can be inflexible and sometimes shows her competitive side, which can be a hassle for her master, Shirou Emiya.
She's also a big eater, and in the TV anime, she's often seen gazing at the food placed before her.
About Saber in the Holy Grail War
Summoned by Shirou Emiya, Saber possesses outstanding combat abilities even among Servants. However, due to her master's inexperience as a magician, Shirou Emiya is unable to properly supply her with magical power, preventing her from fully utilizing her full potential.
However, even without using her full power, she possesses enough strength to rival other Servants, and combined with the advantages of her Noble Phantasms, she can sometimes gain the upper hand.
Saber's combat prowess is depicted in "Fate/Zero," which depicts the Fourth Holy Grail War, where she demonstrates the immense power of Excalibur thanks to the magical energy she receives from Emiya Kiritsugu.
She is also depicted demonstrating her "riding" skill, and in one scene she is shown not only driving a car but also riding a motorcycle, chasing down a fleeing opponent.
She makes a contract with Shirou Emiya
Source: Fate/stay night ©TYPE-MOON・ufotable・FSNPC
In "Fate/Zero," she is summoned by Kiritsugu Emiya, but in "Fate/stay night," she also shares a strange fate, being summoned by her adopted son, Shirou Emiya.
However, there was a reason why Saber was summoned, and the magic circle drawn by Irisviel in the storehouse of the Emiya residence where Emiya Shirou summoned Saber played a role.
Furthermore, Emiya Shirou had the "distant utopia (Avalon)" embedded in his body, and these two things served as the trigger for Saber's summoning.
It was by no means a coincidence; a scenario was prepared that could be described as fate, so it could be said that it was inevitable that Emiya Shirou and Saber would meet.
A Wish for the Holy Grail War
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Saber's wish for the Holy Grail War is to "reselect the king." She believes that "there is a more suitable king than herself, and that this person would have been able to build a peaceful country for a long time."
When Saber pulled out the sword "Caliburn," which was stuck in a rock and was used to select the king, she became a disguised "King Arthur." However, Saber felt no sense of mistake or regret.
However, in "Fate/Zero," after Rider rejected her path to kingship and she witnessed the berserk debauchery of Lancelot, the knight who had fought alongside her in life, Saber began to believe that becoming King Arthur was a mistake.
However, in the final stages of the Fourth Holy Grail War, her final hope was denied when Kiritsugu Emiya used his Command Spell to destroy the Holy Grail, and she disappeared from the Fourth Holy Grail War.
Various Sabers Appear in Spin-off Works
Saber in "Fate/stay night" is also known as the "Blue Saber," a nickname given by fans to distinguish her from the many Sabers with similar appearances that appear in various works in the series.
Not only is she one of the most popular characters in the series, but in character polls conducted by Type-Moon, the publisher of the original game, she continues to reign high, beating out popular characters from other works.
Of course, the other derivative Sabers are just as popular as Blue Saber, so let's introduce the derivative Sabers that have appeared so far.
Red Saber: Nero Claudius
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Nero Claudius, also known as "Red Saber," calls himself an artist and is a servant appearing in "Fate/EXTRA."
He is selfish and self-centered, and always speaks from a condescending perspective, but at the same time he has an adorable side, with an innocent and cheerful personality like a child.
He also has a unique sense of beauty, and not only does he like beautiful young men and beautiful old people, he is even more fond of beautiful girls, and has a side to him that says he likes anything that is beautiful.
He is often seen with a smug look on his face and acting high and mighty, and although he has a generous side when it comes to love, he can become sulky if it goes too far.
Purple Saber: Joan of Arc
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Joan of Arc, also known as "Purple Saber," is not technically a Saber class servant, but rather a Ruler servant. She appears in "Fate/Apocrypha" as the administrator of the Holy Grail War.
Like Blue Saber, she cannot become a spirit, and like humans, she also has physical constraints such as the need to eat and sleep, making her an undeniably unique Servant.
In "Fate/Apocrypha," despite feeling uneasy about the Holy Grail War, she acts to fulfill the mission given to her, but when she recognizes the irregularity, she joins the Black Camp.
She also becomes aware of the protagonist, Sieg, throughout the story, showing a side of her as a lovesick maiden, such as when she asks him if he finds her attractive as "Joan of Arc."
Sakura Saber: Okita Souji
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Okita Souji, a Saber-class servant appearing in "Fate/KOHA-ACE: Teito Seihai Kitan," is a beautiful swordswoman with pale cherry-colored hair.
She appears to be truly worthy of being called a Yamato Nadeshiko, but her true nature is often revealed: she is unexpectedly playful, cheerful, and loves children.
However, when it comes to combat, she also has a realist side, and will mercilessly cut down her opponents if ordered to do so, defeating them with no mercy whatsoever.
She is modeled after Okita Souji, the famous Shinsengumi leader of the late Edo period, and as in history, she is not only physically weak, but also mentally weak.
Saber is extremely popular! It's only natural that you'll be captivated by her charms!
Source: Fate/stay night ©TYPE-MOON・ufotable・FSNPC
Saber = "Fate/stay night" (Blue Saber) is a common understanding among fans, and her immense popularity is unwavering throughout the ages.
As if to symbolize her popularity, derivative Sabers with similar visuals have been created, and characters such as Red Saber have also achieved equal popularity.
There's no doubt that Saber is an indispensable character in the series.
If you watch the TV anime or play the games, you'll definitely be captivated by Saber's charm, and it'll be easy to see why you're so fascinated by her every time.
