Emiya Shirou, the protagonist of "Fate/stay night," becomes embroiled in the Holy Grail War through a series of coincidences, summoning Saber and throwing himself into the battle.
Let's take a look at what kind of person Emiya Shirou is and how he behaves in each route.
There are many secrets surrounding Emiya Shirou's past and his relationship with Archer, so be sure to read until the end.
Shirou Emiya, who normally lives as a student
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Shirou Emiya, the protagonist of "Fate/stay night," created by Kinoko Nasu, is a boy who stands 167cm tall and weighs 58kg, and is self-conscious about his lack of discretion and baby face.
His ideal is to become a "hero of justice," and to achieve that, at school he repairs things and takes on requests under the guise of helping people.
Not only is he skilled at repairing things, he is also versatile and can handle general household chores such as cooking, and when he was a member of the archery club, he once demonstrated his ability to hit the target 100%.
However, after accidentally witnessing a battle between Servants, Emiya Shirou becomes embroiled in the fate of the Holy Grail War.
Survivor of the Fuyuki City Catastrophe 10 Years Ago
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Shirou Emiya has a tragic past as one of the few survivors of the Fuyuki City Catastrophe that occurred 10 years prior to the story. He was rescued and adopted by the magician Kiritsugu Emiya.
Having been saved by Emiya Kiritsugu, Emiya Shirou began to admire him greatly, and he began to idealize becoming a champion of justice like him, saving everyone and finding happiness.
As a result, Emiya Shirou began to live a life where he was willing to sacrifice himself if it meant saving others, something that is often pointed out to him by Tohsaka Rin, who acts alongside him in the Holy Grail War, and his friends at school.
Emiya Shirou also asked his adoptive father, Emiya Kiritsugu, to teach him magic, and although he trains diligently up until the start of the story, he is still only able to use "enhancement" magic.
A Boy Who Lives for the Purpose of Helping Others
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Shirou Emiya is known for his tendency to rush around helping others without regard for himself. At school, he readily repairs things and takes on various requests.
Helping others is his purpose in life, and perhaps as a reaction to this, he not only has no interest in anything other than helping others, but is also unable to feel any interest in anything else.
As a result, in the story he is portrayed as insensitive to the affection felt by Matou Sakura, and as being insensitive to Tohsaka Rin's intense emotions.
Furthermore, having been the sole survivor of the great disaster that occurred in Fuyuki City, he is driven by a sense of duty, almost like an obsession, that he must live for others.
He participated in the Holy Grail War as Saber's master.
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After witnessing a battle between servants, Emiya Shirou was nearly killed, but he accidentally summoned Saber while hiding in a storehouse.
As a result, Emiya Shirou participated in the Holy Grail War as Saber's master.
As a magician, he only possessed the ability to use "enhancement" magic and eyes that could grasp the structure of matter, but as he fought alongside Tohsaka Rin, he also became proficient in "projection" magic.
By the end of the story, he possesses the unique barrier "Unlimited Blade Works," which has the ability to "capture, duplicate, and store the composition and essence of swords and other objects that he sees," demonstrating strength strong enough to overwhelm his formidable opponent, the King of Heroes, Gilgamesh.
Shirou Emiya on the Saber Route
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In the Saber Route, Shirou Emiya faces his strongest enemy, the Servant Berserker, and duplicates Saber's "Caliburn, the Golden Sword of Victory," leading to victory.
He then plotted to summon and destroy the Holy Grail himself in order to end the Holy Grail War, and Saber, who wished to "restart the selection of the king," agreed.
At that time, Emiya Shirou returned to Saber "Avalon (A Distant Utopia)," the sheath of Excalibur that had been embedded in his body.
In the final battle, Saber defeats Gilgamesh, and Emiya Shirou projected Avalon to defeat Kotomine Kirei, then ordered Saber to destroy the Holy Grail.
In this way, Emiya Shirou succeeded in granting Saber's long-cherished wish, and Saber was able to convey her feelings to him, before disappearing, bringing the story to a close.
Shirou Emiya on the Rin Route
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Shirou Emiya is drawn to Rin Tohsaka's servant, Archer, but when they confront each other at Einzbern Castle, he learns that Archer's true identity is Shirou Emiya himself, a hero from the future world.
At the same time, the reason why Archer is aiming to kill himself is revealed, but Emiya Shirou denies what he says and remains convinced that the ideals he holds to are not wrong.
In the final battle, Emiya Shirou overwhelms Gilgamesh and corners him, but is saved at the last moment by Archer, who was thought to have disappeared.
And before he disappears, Archer entrusts himself, Emiya Shirou, to Tohsaka Rin, and disappears with a satisfied look on his face.
Emiya Shirou on the Sakura Route
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After losing Saber in battle, Emiya Shirou learns that Rider's master is Sakura Matou, and that Zouken Matou holds her life in his hands.
He then turns to Illyasviel for help, but at that moment he witnesses Saber, who was supposed to have disappeared, defeat Berserker. However, the next person Saber turns her blade on is Emiya Shirou.
Emiya Shirou barely survives thanks to Archer's sacrifice, but loses his left arm. At Archer's suggestion, he has Archer's arm transplanted to him. However, it is revealed that Sakura Matou is the one controlling the "black shadow" behind all the turmoil.
In the final stages, Emiya Shirou defeats Saber Alter and succeeds in freeing Matou from the black shadow.
Finally, he attempts to destroy the Greater Grail, but Illyasviel stops him at the last moment, preventing the Grail from activating, bringing the story and the Fifth Holy Grail War to a close.
The true identity of Tohsaka Rin's Servant, Archer, is Emiya Shirou himself!
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In Rin's route, it is revealed that her Servant, Archer, and Emiya Shirou are the same person.
Throughout the story, Emiya Shirou becomes attracted to Archer's swordsmanship, but when they later cross swords, a battle unfolds in which their ideals and beliefs are at stake.
So, let's take a look at some of the similarities between Emiya Shirou and Archer that are scattered throughout the story.
Similarities Between Emiya Shirou and Archer
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The biggest commonality between Emiya Shirou and Archer is that both were saved by Tohsaka Rin, and Archer always carries the one-of-a-kind red pendant with him.
Early in the Rin route, Emiya Shirou is killed by Lancer, but there is a scene where Tohsaka Rin infuses his pendant with magical power and revives him.
This brings Emiya Shirou back to life, but he cherishes the red pendant that he found nearby as his "lifesaver."
When Tohsaka Rin learns that Emiya Shirou and Archer are in possession of the red pendant that is supposed to be the only one of its kind in the world, she gradually begins to realize the two men's true identities and the causal relationship between them.
Keep an eye out for the different appearances of Emiya Shirou in each route!
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The protagonist, Emiya Shirou, has a significantly different stance and behavior in each story, allowing viewers to enjoy three different versions of him.
In particular, the Rin route depicts a confrontation between Emiya Shirou and his future self, Archer, in a battle that puts his beliefs and ideals on the line, captivating many fans.
Also, in "Fate/stay night [Unlimited Blade Works]," you can't miss his famous lines, such as during his battle with the Heroic Spirit King Gilgamesh.
At first glance, Emiya Shirou may not seem like a very reliable protagonist, but it's worth watching as he throws himself into battle driven by his deep-rooted desire to help others.
