Lancer

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Diarmuid Ua Duibhne 19 20
Alias(es)	Lancer; First Knight of the Knights of Fianna 19 20
Species/Race	Heroic Spirit / Servant 19
Gender	Male 29
Affiliation	Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald; Holy Grail War 29 42
Occupation/Role	Lancer-class Servant 19 29
First Appearance	Chapter 11

Background / History

Diarmuid answered the Holy Grail’s summons as the Lancer-class Servant. Having failed to serve faithfully in life, he views the war as a chance to offer his martial skill to a lord once more. He claims no personal wish for the Grail and instead vows to win it for his Master, Kayneth. 19

His devotion is repeatedly strained by Kayneth’s suspicious or self-serving orders, yet he continues obeying despite his misgivings. 19 45 Jizi later exploits this conflict, challenging whether loyalty to Kayneth truly fulfills Diarmuid’s chivalric ideals. 46 47

Appearance

Diarmuid is a handsome man with long hair tied back and a lean, refined appearance. His charm is intensified by a tear mole beneath his left eye. 29

• High nose bridge, sharp eyebrows, and delicate lips. 29
• Gentle, melancholy eyes that convey a notably masculine charm. 29
• Fights with one long spear and one shorter spear, both initially wrapped to conceal their identities. 29

Personality

Diarmuid is an honorable, chivalrous warrior who seeks fair and exhilarating combat rather than indiscriminate violence. He refuses to attack an unarmed magus and treats promises sworn on his knighthood seriously. 19 45

His strongest trait is loyalty, particularly toward Kayneth. Even after Kayneth is severely wounded and their relationship deteriorates, Diarmuid prioritizes recovering his Master’s severed arm and Command Seals over his own safety. 42 45 46 However, Jizi’s arguments leave him questioning whether unquestioning service is compatible with the knightly ideals he values. 46 47 49

Abilities & Skills

Dual-Spear Combat

Diarmuid uses an unusual style built around a long spear in his right hand and a shorter spear in his left, wielding both weapons in coordinated attacks. 29

• His two-spear stance allows him to pressure opponents from differing ranges. 29
• He initially keeps the weapons’ identities concealed to protect their tactical value. 11 29
• His martial skill is formidable, but Berserker’s superior technique and instinctive hostility place him at a disadvantage during their first clash. 11

Noble Phantasms

Diarmuid’s spears are identified as Gae Buidhe and Gae Dearg. 11 30

• Gae Buidhe — treated as a secret weapon during the battle with Berserker, but it cannot pierce the Knight of the Lake’s armor. 11
• Gae Dearg — can pierce Berserker’s black mana-covered armor without the same risk of being seized. 11
• Jizi identifies the two weapons to Kiritsugu as Noble Phantasms with effects related to blocking mana flow and preventing wounds from healing. 30

Mage Eye / Charm

Diarmuid possesses an innate charm ability that affects women who perceive him. 29

• His charm affects Irisviel despite her enhanced resistance as an artificial human. 29
• Saber’s high Magic Resistance prevents the charm from influencing her. 29
• Diarmuid considers the effect an inborn curse rather than something he deliberately chose. 29

Combat Adaptability

Diarmuid can study an opponent’s movements during battle and alter his approach accordingly. 42

• Jizi initially suppresses him using an unpredictable staff-based fighting style. 42
• After enduring several attacks, he reads her patterns, reverses the battle’s momentum, and forces her into a defensive position. 42

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Gae Buidhe — one of Diarmuid’s dual spears. 11
• Gae Dearg — one of Diarmuid’s dual spears. 11
• Concealing wrappings — talisman-like cloth used to hide the spears’ true forms and Noble Phantasm identities. 29

Relationships

• Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald — Master. Diarmuid remains loyal to him despite distrusting his orders and witnessing his deterioration. 19 42 45
• Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri — Kayneth’s fiancée, who attempts to assume command over Lancer while Kayneth is incapacitated. 45
• Saber / Artoria Pendragon — Rival knight and respected opponent. They exchange True Names and seek a proper rematch after their interrupted battles. 20 29 30
• Jizi / Caster — Manipulative adversary who steals Kayneth’s arm, fights Diarmuid directly, and later attempts to recruit him by attacking his faith in Kayneth and traditional chivalry. 42 45 46 49
• Berserker / Lancelot — Opponent whose superior martial skill and armor put Diarmuid in serious danger during their first encounter. 11
• Rider / Iskandar — Rider interrupts Diarmuid’s battle with Berserker; Diarmuid immediately retreats to protect his hidden Master. 11
• Kiritsugu Emiya — Enemy magus whose intervention saves Jizi just as Diarmuid is about to land a decisive blow. 42

Story Role / Major Arcs

Battle with Berserker

Diarmuid enters combat against Berserker while concealing his Noble Phantasms under Kayneth’s orders. Berserker’s armor resists Gae Buidhe, while Berserker’s superior combat ability leaves Diarmuid cornered until Rider interrupts the fight. Diarmuid then retrieves his Master and withdraws. 11

Clash with Saber

Following Caster’s escape, Diarmuid battles Saber in the forest. Saber’s anger initially gives her the advantage, but both Servants halt when they sense an unfamiliar Servant aura nearby. 19 They later formally reveal their True Names, acknowledging one another as worthy knights and promising a proper future duel. 20

At the warehouse district, Diarmuid faces Saber again, revealing his dual-spear style and charm ability. The duel is disrupted by an explosion before either combatant can decisively prevail. 29

Conflict with Caster

When Jizi intervenes in Kayneth’s confrontation with Kiritsugu, Diarmuid engages her in close combat. Jizi’s unusual staff techniques initially suppress him, but he adapts to her patterns and nearly defeats her before Kiritsugu intervenes. 42

Jizi later infiltrates Kayneth’s base through a captured Assassin, severs Kayneth’s right hand containing his Command Seals, and lures Diarmuid into pursuing her. 45

Crisis of Loyalty

After confronting Jizi and Saber in the forest, Diarmuid seeks the return of Kayneth’s arm. Jizi refuses, then challenges his loyalty to Kayneth and argues that chivalry should not demand blind devotion to an unworthy master. 46 47

Her arguments leave Diarmuid conflicted about his knightly path, though he remains focused on recovering Kayneth’s Command Seals and protecting Kayneth’s interests. 48 49

Notable Quotes

“I am Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, the First Knight of the Knights of Fianna. I look forward to our next encounter!” 20

“For someone who failed to serve faithfully in life, the chance to once again offer my martial skills to a lord is nothing short of a miracle.” 19