Saber

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Saber
Alias(es)	Artoria; Arthur Pendragon; King of Britain; King of Knights
Species/Race	Heroic Spirit / Servant
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Einzbern faction
Occupation/Role	Saber-class Servant in the Holy Grail War
Master	Kiritsugu Emiya; Irisviel von Einzbern acts as her proxy Master 29
First Appearance	Chapter 10

Background / History

Saber is summoned as the Einzbern faction's Saber-class Servant. Though her Master is Kiritsugu Emiya, she primarily operates alongside Irisviel von Einzbern, who supports her as a proxy Master and receives her protection in battle 14 29.

She initially conceals both her sword and gender, identifying herself as Arthur Pendragon, King of Britain when she reveals her True Name to Lancer 20. Her identity as Artoria becomes explicit later, when her past as King Arthur and her doubts over her kingship are central to her conversations with Jizi and Lancelot 43 49.

During Caster Gilles de Rais's assault on Einzbern Castle, Saber confronts an enemy who mistakes her for Joan of Arc. She cuts through his monsters but becomes trapped in a prolonged battle against endlessly regenerating familiars, forcing her to consider revealing her Noble Phantasm 14 16. Rider later joins her against Caster; their combined attack creates an opening for Saber to strike, but a Command Seal recalls her before she can deliver the finishing blow 18.

Saber subsequently duels Lancer, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne. Despite their opposing factions, both recognize the other's chivalry and reveal their identities after an interrupted battle 19 20. Their later encounters become less about direct combat and more about Jizi's attempts to make them question the limits of absolute loyalty and traditional chivalry 46 47 49.

Appearance

Saber is a petite, golden-haired knight with emerald eyes. In combat, she wears silver armor formed from her magical energy and wields an ordinarily invisible sword 14 29.

• Golden hair and lake-green/emerald eyes 14 49
• Silver armor, mail, and gauntlets manifest during battle 29
• An invisible double-edged sword concealed by a magical barrier 14 29
• Initially presents herself publicly as the male King Arthur 20 49

Personality

Saber is disciplined, courageous, and deeply committed to her ideals as a knight and king. Even while overwhelmed by Caster's familiars, she remains focused on protecting Irisviel and achieving victory rather than retreating 16.

Her adherence to chivalry makes her respectful toward honorable opponents, particularly Lancer, but also leaves her vulnerable to manipulation. Jizi repeatedly exploits Saber's reluctance to reject kindness, affection, or appeals to knightly principle 33 34 48.

Saber carries profound guilt over the fall of Britain and doubts whether her path as king was truly correct. Rider's criticism, Lancelot's anguish, and Jizi's arguments force her to confront the possibility that her ideals were flawed rather than wholly righteous 43 44 48 49.

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship

Saber is an elite close-range combatant whose technique and fighting spirit earn Lancer's respect.

• Fights effectively with an invisible heavy cavalry sword 14 29
• Engages Lancer in a sustained duel despite his dual-spear style 19 29
• Can rapidly eliminate large numbers of low-level monsters 14 18
• Her combat skill is assessed as roughly comparable to Berserker's, while her raw strength is lower 14

Magic Resistance and Defensive Capability

As a Saber-class Servant, Saber possesses exceptional resistance to magecraft.

• Resists Lancer's charm effect, which affects Irisviel instead 29
• Fights through Caster's monster horde despite prolonged exhaustion 16 18
• Uses magical energy to enhance her senses and assess enemy magical signatures 25

Excalibur

Saber's holy sword is a city-destroying Noble Phantasm and her principal trump card.

• Normally hidden by an invisibility barrier 14 18
• Its partial revelation produces powerful wind-based sword energy capable of clearing Caster's tentacles 18
• Requires a decisive opening; Saber hesitates to expose it prematurely against Caster's scattered familiars 16
• With Kiritsugu's Command Seal support, it destroys the colossal Eva-01 monster and shatters its A.T. Field 26

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Invisible Sword / Excalibur — Saber’s holy sword and Noble Phantasm, concealed by a barrier in ordinary combat 14 18
• Silver armor — Magical armor manifested when Saber enters combat 29

Relationships

• Kiritsugu Emiya — Master. Their ideals clash, but Saber trusts that he will act decisively when necessary; he uses a Command Seal to support Excalibur against Eva-01 16 26.
• Irisviel von Einzbern — Proxy Master and close companion. Saber protects Irisviel, accepts her healing support, and entrusts her with watching over her battle 14 29.
• Jizi / Caster — A manipulative rival whose apparent confession of love and arguments about chivalry unsettle Saber; Jizi also helps her confront guilt over her past 33 34 47 49.
• Diarmuid Ua Duibhne / Lancer — Honorable rival. They duel, exchange True Names, and later reconsider the meaning of chivalry together 19 20 49.
• Iskandar / Rider — Temporary ally against Gilles de Rais. Rider's criticism of Saber's kingship deeply shakes her convictions 18 44.
• Lancelot / Berserker — Her former knight. His pain over their past and his challenge to her wish force Saber to confront her failures as king 43 44.
• Gilgamesh / Archer — Hostile rival who repeatedly mocks Saber and her ideals 31 44.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Battle against Gilles de Rais

Saber confronts Gilles de Rais after he mistakes her for Joan of Arc. She withstands his monster army, cooperates briefly with Rider, and nearly kills Gilles before being forcibly recalled by a Command Seal 14 16 18.

Duel with Lancer

Saber answers Lancer's challenge at Fuyuki Port. Their battle is interrupted several times, but their mutual respect leads them to exchange identities and promise another proper duel 19 20 29 30.

Confronting the Kings' Ideals

At Rider's banquet, Saber hears Rider's claim that a king must inspire devotion rather than live in isolation. Rider refuses to acknowledge her as a king, leaving her shaken and increasingly uncertain of her own wish 44.

Reconsidering Chivalry

Jizi repeatedly challenges Saber and Lancer's beliefs about loyalty, love, and the knightly path. Although Saber cannot easily abandon her ideals, she begins to acknowledge that chivalry and her own kingship may contain fundamental flaws 46 47 48 49.

Notable Quotes

“I am Arthur Pendragon, the King of Britain. Knight, I too look forward to our next duel!” 20

“Please witness the strength of your knight!” 14