Artoria

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Artoria (阿尔托莉雅)
Alias(es)	Saber; King Arthur; Knight King; Knight Princess
Species/Race	A living person summoned as a Servant 1159 1572
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Holy Grail War combatant
Occupation/Role	Knight and Servant; initially Saber, later also granted the Lancer class 1486
Status	Active 1607
First Appearance	1064

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Saber-class Servant	1064 1065	Fights with an invisible Excalibur concealed by the Wind King Barrier; her Mana Burst lets her contend with opponents above her baseline Strength.
Avalon restored	1142 1143	Irisviel returns Avalon, Artoria's lost scabbard, giving her a means to resist the Black Mud.
Living Heroic Spirit growth	1159	As she is still alive rather than a fixed Heroic Spirit, Artoria can grow; she adapts Skadi's swing through Mana Burst to clear black beasts.
Dual-class Saber/Lancer	1486	A resummoning through the Holy Lance grants her the Lancer class and Rhongomyniad, strengthens her body, and allows freer use of Noble Phantasms through her bond with White.
Avalon / Holy Sword awakening	1562 1563	Realizes the golden sword is her Avalon and accepts the burden tied to White and the Sword of Paradise.
Wielder of the Holy Sword of the Star	1573 1574	Completes the Holy Sword through her understanding of White and Avalon; grows in body and power, then defeats the Beast without severing humanity's future.
Greater Command Spell restraint	1597	White's prototype Greater Command Spells regulate Artoria's immense magical energy and let her maintain her form for a full day.

Background / History

Arthurian Past

Artoria was raised as a boy and suppressed her identity as a woman to become an ideal king. Even after accepting herself as a “knight princess,” she still regards being a knight as central to who she is. 1600

Merlin trained her relentlessly, including in her dreams, while her foster brother Might Guy aided her during her travels across Britain. 1600

Fourth Holy Grail War

During the Fourth Holy Grail War, Artoria served alongside Emiya Kiritsugu and Irisviel. Her communication with Kiritsugu was minimal, and she was unsettled by his methods despite recognizing his distress after Fuyuki’s disaster. 1116 1176

She faced Skadi in a battle where Skadi’s strength repeatedly forced her into defense. Artoria temporarily coordinated with Diarmuid, but Skadi’s pressure was specifically intended to deny her an opening to fire Excalibur. 1065 1067

Irisviel later returned Avalon to Artoria, judging that the Knight King needed the scabbard more in the altered war. Artoria subsequently entrusted Avalon to Skadi for Matou Sakura’s protection. 1142 1160

Appearance

Artoria’s natural body is petite, at roughly one and a half meters tall, with long golden hair and a distinctive ahoge. Her appearance can be altered through magical energy; her “adult mode” presents her as a 170-centimeter-tall mature woman, but maintaining it consumes mana. 1449 1591 1594

• Her standard combat attire includes blue armor and the Wind King Barrier around Excalibur. 1064 1091
• Her Lancer transformation makes her taller and changes her armor, though she does not fully become Lancer Artoria. 1486
• She has worn school uniforms, dojo training clothes, an armed nun habit, and a formal gown-like Spiritron Dress. 1437 1449 1574
• During sword training, she ties her golden hair into a ponytail. 1449

Personality

Artoria is disciplined, direct, and deeply committed to protecting others. Even while exhausted and nearly out of magical energy, she stood against the destruction of the sea and refused to abandon the world. 1107 Her conviction is rooted less in blind loyalty to kingship than in her belief that the spirit with which she drew the holy sword cannot be denied. 1159

She is highly competitive and dislikes losing, whether in swordsmanship or even in height. This competitiveness makes her training with White particularly intense, though it is paired with sincere concern for White’s safety and limits. 1484 1485

Artoria can be blunt in social situations and struggles to express affection cleanly, especially when worried about White. Increased mana from White initially makes her restless and emotionally unsettled. 1437 1507 After undergoing the “bestowing a name” magecraft, she becomes noticeably more cheerful and open-hearted. 1591

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship and Instinct

Artoria is an exceptional close-range swordswoman whose skill can overwhelm opponents armed with superior equipment. Diarmuid identifies her as the Knight King through her fierce technique and the extraordinary concealment around her holy sword. 1086

• Uses superior footwork, combat intuition, and rapid adaptation against stronger enemies. 1067 1495
• Her Instinct warns her of otherwise unseen attacks, including Assassin’s ambush. 1580
• Can defeat Sasaki Kojiro’s Swallow Reversal in a single exchange after gaining greater experience. 1564
• Remains disadvantaged against overwhelming raw strength, such as Heracles’ A+ Strength. 1497

Mana Burst

Artoria augments her body and weapon strikes with magical energy.

• Lets her parry powerful attacks and imitate part of Skadi’s destructive sword swing. 1065 1159
• Fully unleashed Mana Burst can block volleys of Noble Phantasms. 1468
• Its effectiveness can be reduced by anti-mana defenses, such as Medea’s layered reinforcement on Heracles. 1493

Excalibur

Artoria’s primary holy sword and Noble Phantasm is Excalibur, a weapon whose radiance is especially effective against evil and corruption. 1159

• Fires devastating beams capable of stopping the sea’s destruction and countering Heracles’ Nine Lives: The Shooting Hundred Heads. 1107 1500
• Can be used as the foundation for White’s forged holy swords. 1462
• Cannot always release its full power during the Holy Grail War due to restraints tied to its nature. 1507
• Its seals can be released to oppose Morgan’s curse magecraft. 1580

Wind King Barrier

The Wind King Barrier envelops Excalibur in wind, concealing the sword’s form and providing offensive and defensive control. 1064

• Conceals Excalibur’s identity until Artoria chooses to reveal it. 1091
• Can clear routes through enemies with Tempest Hammer. 1160
• Can isolate a battlefield, preventing outside interference during her fight with Heracles. 1495
• Can reinforce Black Keys and defend against cursed sword barrages. 1579 1597

Avalon

Avalon is Artoria’s lost scabbard, later understood as a power capable of isolating the five great magics. 1142 1562

• Protects her against the Black Mud and other corruption. 1143
• Lets her cut through White’s curses by wrapping a portion of Avalon around herself. 1580
• Becomes central to her realization that the Beast must be defeated without cutting away humanity’s future. 1574

Lancer Class and Rhongomyniad

Artoria gains the Lancer class when summoned through the Holy Lance as a catalyst. 1486

• Wields Rhongomyniad alongside Excalibur. 1486
• Uses the lance to break free from Heracles’ physical pressure and wound him during their bridge battle. 1497
• Her dual-class state improves her combat power but does not make her invincible against stronger Servants. 1504 1507

Black Keys

After adopting the nun-habit Spiritron Dress, Artoria uses Black Keys against supernatural enemies. 1597

• Easily defeats a True Ancestor in London using Black Keys. 1597
• Can empower them with Jeanne d’Arc’s power and the Wind King Barrier. 1597
• They are less effective against targets that are not evil beings. 1597

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Excalibur — Artoria’s holy sword and principal Noble Phantasm. 1091 1500
• Avalon — Her scabbard, returned by Irisviel; later recognized as a power connected to the Sword of Paradise. 1142 1562
• Rhongomyniad — Holy Lance gained with the Lancer class. 1486
• Marmyadose — A holy-sword reproduction based on Heracles’ greatsword, forged for Artoria by White. 1480
• Projected holy swords — White supplies multiple swords based on Artoria’s armory; they are useful but generally less durable than the originals. 1494 1495
• Clarent-based holy sword — A projected ceremonial sword with limited durability, though it retains Rank B strength in Artoria’s hands. 1495
• Black Keys — Anti-evil throwing blades made from Bible pages and enhanced by Artoria’s power. 1597

Relationships

• Emiya Kiritsugu — Former Master. Their Fourth War partnership is marked by poor communication and disagreement over his methods, though Artoria later comes to understand more of his pain. 1116 1176
• Irisviel von Einzbern — Supporter and Master during the Fourth War; heals Artoria, worries for her safety, and returns Avalon to her. 1065 1142
• Shirou — Artoria’s contract with Shirou is completed when her Command Spells fully manifest. 1407
• Bai / White — Artoria’s closest later partner. White is identified as her Master during the later Holy Grail War, while Artoria teaches her swordsmanship, accepts White’s forged weapons, and becomes determined to save her from becoming a Beast or fairy. 1434 1449 1543
• Skadi — Initially an overwhelming enemy who suppresses Artoria’s Excalibur; later recognizes Artoria’s determination and gives her time to protect the world. 1067 1107
• Diarmuid — A temporary ally against Skadi. Their knightly instincts allow them to coordinate without spoken planning. 1067 1086
• Illya — A complicated ally and rival connected to the Einzbern family. Artoria shares dreams with her, sees memories of the prior war, and remains unwilling to surrender the Grail even if Illya becomes an opponent. 1427
• Morgan — Artoria identifies Morgan as both her mother and sister. Morgan’s presence in White’s dreams forces Artoria to confront her own feelings toward White and her Arthurian legend. 1514 1515
• Mordred — A Knight of the Round Table whose memory helps Artoria understand the holy sword; Artoria ultimately thanks her. 1562
• Bedivere — Appears kneeling before Artoria when she awakens beneath a tree in Avalon. 1563
• Sasaki Kojiro — A recurring swordsman opponent and gatekeeper whom Artoria later defeats in one move. 1433 1564

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Skadi conflict and Fourth Holy Grail War — Artoria fights Skadi, temporarily allies with Diarmuid, and hesitates to expend Excalibur too early in the war. 1065 1067
• Fuyuki catastrophe — She uses Excalibur to halt the dying sea, receives Avalon from Irisviel, and protects Sakura by giving the scabbard to Skadi. 1107 1142 1160
• New contract and school life — After contracting with Shirou and later working with Bai, Artoria attends school, struggles with mana-induced emotions, and grows closer to Bai. 1407 1435 1437
• White’s sword training — Artoria teaches White to forge rudimentary holy swords and trains her in swordsmanship, eventually recognizing that Morgan’s style better suits White. 1449 1484
• Dual-class war — With Rhongomyniad and White’s arsenal, Artoria battles Heracles, using Marmyadose, projected holy swords, Excalibur, and the Wind King Barrier. 1486 1494 1500
• White’s crisis — After White is gravely injured protecting her, Artoria seeks a way to save her and learns that the legend of King Arthur and the Sword of Paradise are essential. 1501 1543
• Beast and Holy Sword awakening — Artoria understands White’s connection to humanity’s hope and despair, completes the Holy Sword, and defeats the Beast by wielding Avalon without destroying humanity’s future. 1562 1573 1574
• Aftermath and travels — Artoria undergoes the “bestowing a name” magecraft, uses Greater Command Spells to regulate her power, fights True Ancestors, visits her grave, and travels with White. 1591 1597 1600 1607

Notable Quotes

“My heart is iron.” 1159

“My wish isn't worth such a sacrifice from you.” 1562

“I have already made my choice.” 1563

Trivia

• Artoria reacts strongly against the idea of White attempting British cuisine, citing a strange prior experience with it. 1437
• She becomes fixated on food when sealing restrictions leave her able to eat only on Sundays. 1595
• Despite claiming she has eaten enough, Artoria readily accepts snacks when White offers them. 1607
• Her insistence on being White’s older sister contributes to her use of mana-consuming adult mode. 1594