Artoria

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Artoria
Alias(es)	Saber; King of Knights; King of Britannia
Species/Race	Heroic Spirit / Servant
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Emiya household; contracted to Shirou Emiya and, in a later recorded summoning, Kiritsugu Emiya 163 217
Occupation/Role	Saber-class Servant; King of Britannia
First Appearance	Chapter 163

Background / History

Artoria answers Shirou Emiya's summon as Saber and immediately establishes a contract with him. At Shirou's direction, she engages Cú Chulainn, wielding an invisible sword concealed by wind manipulation. 163

Shirou brings her to the Emiya residence, where she reunites tensely with Kiritsugu Emiya. Artoria resents Kiritsugu for destroying the Holy Grail when it had been within her reach, viewing the act as betrayal. Shirou postpones the confrontation by offering dinner; Artoria immediately agrees. 164

During the Fifth Holy Grail War, Artoria fights alongside Shirou against Heracles and follows his command to relocate their battle to Mount Enzou. When Attila threatens the group with a large-scale attack, Shirou returns Avalon to Artoria, allowing her to take the front line with her scabbard restored. 167 168

She investigates the black mud that accompanies Attila's retreat, navigates Asterius's labyrinth with Shirou and Enkidu, and later helps defend the Emiya residence from Heracles and Arjuna. 169 172 178

Artoria protects Rin Tohsaka from Rasputin despite her stated opposition to backstabbing. She later uses her Noble Phantasm alongside Enkidu to clear a path through Shadow Servants, then obeys Shirou's order to retreat with Rin while he remains behind to protect Fuyuki. 193 194

After the Holy Grail's failure to grant Shirou's wish, Artoria calls him an impeccable Master and affirms her trust in him. In her final moments, she asks Bedivere to dispose of Excalibur as the legend requires. 215 216

Snow City Summoning

A later recorded sequence depicts Kiritsugu summoning Artoria at Einzbern Castle during a blizzard. Initially surprised that the King of Knights is a woman, Kiritsugu nevertheless forms a contract with her. Artoria remains vigilant when a second Servant, Foreigner Shirou, is summoned, but gradually warms to him after sharing his cooking. 217

She duels Diarmuid Ua Duibhne at the docks. Although she initially gains the advantage, Diarmuid exploits his two-spears style and wounds her wrist with the Yellow Rose, leaving the injury resistant to healing. 219 220

Artoria refuses Iskandar's invitation to join his faction, declaring that no one can force the King of Britannia to submit. She later confronts Caster's monster forces to save children, receives aid from Diarmuid, and works with Foreigner Shirou to rescue the hostages. 220 228

After hearing recordings of her knights' true thoughts, Artoria reflects on her inability to understand them. She abandons the pursuit of an unrealistic dream and later defeats the maddened Lancelot, allowing him a final moment of clarity. 238 252

Appearance

Artoria is a blonde, green-eyed knight who normally appears in skirted plate armor. Her defining ahoge is expressive enough to visibly react to her emotions. 163 193

• Blonde hair and green eyes. 163
• Usually wears knightly armor, but can remove it to fight in an evening dress for greater mobility. 220
• Carries an invisible sword through the Temple of the Wind King. 163 166
• Her ahoge visibly bends or trembles when confused, angry, or exerting herself. 218 201

Personality

Artoria is proud, principled, and unyielding in her identity as the King of Britannia. She refuses Iskandar's recruitment offer and rejects the idea of submitting to another ruler. 220

She is fiercely protective of innocents, particularly children. Caster's use of children as human bombs provokes her anger and drives her to fight through his monster army despite her injured wrist. 228

Although initially self-critical about her kingship, Artoria is capable of reflection. Listening to the thoughts of Tristan and Mordred causes her to reconsider her relationship with her knights and release an unattainable wish. 238

Her regal bearing contrasts sharply with her appetite. Artoria can be readily distracted by food, consumes meals at exceptional speed, and relies on Shirou's cooking as a regular source of mana and comfort. 164 199

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship

Artoria is an elite knight who can contend directly with powerful Servants including Heracles, Diarmuid, Arjuna, and Lancelot. 166 178 219 252

• Uses a two-handed sword style centered on Excalibur. 220
• Fights with increased agility after discarding her armor. 220
• Her skill is formidable, but Lancelot is stated to surpass her in pure swordsmanship. 222 252
• Her injured wrist substantially reduces her combat effectiveness and prevents use of her full light-based attack. 220

Mana Burst

Artoria reinforces her physical combat power with Mana Burst, enabling her to confront stronger opponents and destroy hostile restraints. 166 228

• Compensates for Heracles's strength advantage under Mad Enhancement. 166
• Blasts apart Caster's tentacles and monsters. 228
• Can be used alongside Excalibur and other Noble Phantasms. 194

Temple of the Wind King

Artoria uses wind manipulation to conceal her sword and control the battlefield. 163 166

• Distorts the air around Excalibur, rendering the blade invisible. 166
• Creates powerful gusts that can give her a tailwind advantage. 193
• Its concealment is defeated once Diarmuid disrupts the wind and determines the sword's length. 219

Excalibur

Artoria's holy sword is her primary Noble Phantasm and an anti-city, anti-fortress weapon. 194

• Releases a dazzling beam of golden light capable of dissolving formations of Shadow Servants. 194
• Requires both hands for her full-power attack. 220
• Is entrusted to Bedivere for disposal in Artoria's final moments. 216

Avalon

Avalon is Artoria's lost scabbard, later returned to her by Shirou. 168

• Grants near-invincible defensive capability while in her possession. 168
• Protects against attacks that would otherwise be impossible to block. 100
• Artoria is positioned to activate Avalon against Arjuna's Pashupata and shield the group. 180

Intuition and Riding

Artoria possesses instinctive combat perception and the Riding skill. 220 246

• Her Intuition lets her react immediately upon recognizing Diarmuid's trap, though it cannot prevent her wrist injury. 220
• Her Riding skill allows her to quickly operate modern vehicles, including a car. 246
• She cannot control Fantasy Kind or Dragon Kind through Riding. 246

Red Dragon Factor

Artoria possesses the Red Dragon Factor, functioning as a mana-producing furnace fueled through food intake. 99

• Converts consumed calories into substantial mana. 99
• Causes her extraordinary appetite. 99
• The same factor is shared by Mordred. 99

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Excalibur — Artoria's holy sword and principal Noble Phantasm. 220 194
• Avalon — Her scabbard, which provides exceptional protection. 168 180
• Temple of the Wind King — Wind-based concealment used to hide Excalibur. 166
• Knightly armor — Her standard combat attire; she removes it for agility against Diarmuid. 220

Relationships

• Shirou Emiya — Her Master during the Fifth Holy Grail War. Their partnership grows from a formal contract into mutual trust; Artoria follows his commands in battle and later calls him an impeccable Master. 163 167 215
• Kiritsugu Emiya — Her former Master. Artoria initially resents him for destroying the Holy Grail, but they later cooperate to defend the Emiya residence. 164 178
• Foreigner Shirou — A fellow Servant in the Snow City sequence. Artoria initially regards him warily, then comes to rely on his advice, protection, and cooking. 217 219 228
• Irisviel von Einzbern — Kiritsugu's wife and Artoria's ally. They travel together, and Artoria assists her with fragile belongings at the Emiya house. 217 246
• Enkidu — An ally who works with Artoria in Asterius's labyrinth and against Rasputin's Shadow Servants. 172 194
• Rin Tohsaka — An ally whom Artoria protects from Rasputin's attack. 193
• Lancelot — Her former knight. Artoria defeats him after recognizing his madness and resolves to understand what happened to him. 252
• Bedivere — A trusted knight whom Artoria asks to dispose of Excalibur at the end of her life. 216
• Mordred — Her rebellious descendant. Artoria reacts strongly to Mordred's conduct but does not truly resent her. 99 246

Notable Quotes

“Henceforth, my sword shall be with you, and your fate shall be with mine. Thus, the contract is established.” 163

“I am the King of Britannia! No one, no matter where they are, can make me bow my head in submission!” 220

“No, Shirou. As a Master, you are impeccable.” 215

Trivia

• Artoria's appetite is directly tied to the Red Dragon Factor, which converts calories into mana. 99
• Kiritsugu regrets not feeding Artoria more during their earlier partnership. 164
• She can drive a car on her first attempt through her Riding skill. 246
• Artoria strongly opposes backstabbing, partly because a past “righteous backstab” broke her sword. 193