Artoria

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Artoria (阿爾托莉雅)
Alias(es)	Saber; King Arthur; King of Britannia; King of Knights; Knight King
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Britannia; participant in the Holy Grail War as a Saber-class Servant
Occupation/Role	King of Britannia; knight; Saber-class Servant
First Appearance	9

Background / History

Born as the heir to the throne, Artoria was fostered in a noble household and raised as a boy. Despite her royal identity, she lived as a low-status servant and was denied the standing even to become a knight’s squire. She nevertheless trained relentlessly, aspiring to become an upright and respected knight. 9

The household patriarch ultimately ordered her to serve as a knight’s squire, devastating her because she viewed the post as another form of servitude rather than a path to knighthood. The steward publicly humiliated her until Drake D. Xia killed him and offered her an escape from the estate. 9

Artoria fled with Xia into the Fairy Forest while pursued by knights. There, the pair survived its dangers together and grew stronger, while Xia agreed to personally train her as a knight. 10 11 13

At the selection tournament following King Uther’s death, Artoria was prepared to seek the Sword in the Stone. In the original historical course described by the narrative, she accepted the sword’s burden, drew it for Britannia and its war-stricken people, and was recognized by the knights as king. 9 14

As King Arthur, Artoria led Britannia through numerous wars without defeat. Her unyielding dedication to the nation eventually left her isolated from subjects who believed that their king did not understand human emotion; a civil war led by Mordred followed. 29 35

Appearance

Artoria is a slender, golden-haired woman with emerald-green eyes. She is initially depicted in rough servant clothing, later wearing fitted knightly armor and, as king, royal attire and a crown. 9 11 14 21

• Long, radiant golden hair, often described as brilliant in battle. 11 36
• Large emerald-green eyes. 9 11
• Often wears silver or knightly armor while fighting. 14 35
• Uses an initially invisible Holy Sword that reveals a golden blade when its power is invoked. 18

Personality

Artoria is exceptionally determined. Even as a servant without social standing, she refuses to abandon her dream of knighthood and believes that failing to seize an opportunity is worse than failure itself. 9

Her sense of duty is central to her identity as king. She chooses the Sword in the Stone to protect people suffering in war, refuses to submit to another king, and remains willing to fight even when injured or vastly outnumbered. 9 19 34 36

Beneath her knightly resolve, Artoria is emotionally vulnerable and deeply affected by abandonment. Xia’s disappearance causes her to believe he betrayed her, leading her to seal away her own memories of him. The seal leaves her conflicted between hostility toward Xia and an instinctive familiarity with him. 14 17 21

As her memories return, she becomes more openly affectionate and resolves to grow stronger not merely for herself, but to protect Xia in return. 29 33

Abilities & Skills

Knightly Swordsmanship

Artoria is an elite swordfighter whose skill and resolve were forged through years of warfare.

• Fought through twelve major battles and numerous life-or-death struggles as King Arthur. 35
• Held her ground against Alexander Iskandar’s army of roughly a thousand Heroic Spirits despite sustaining injuries. 36
• Possesses combat intuition honed through her wars, allowing her to react to sudden attacks. 36
• Her physical strength is described as the strength of a dragon, exceeding that of dozens of burly Heroic Spirits. 36

Red Dragon Bloodline

Artoria carries the Red Dragon Bloodline and possesses immense awakened potential.

• Ordinary demonic beasts are stated to be unable to threaten her after her potential awakens. 12
• Her dragon-like strength manifests prominently in direct combat. 36

Holy Sword / Excalibur

Artoria wields the Holy Sword associated with her kingship. It is initially concealed by invisibility, but shines gold when its true form and power are revealed. 18

• In the Sword in the Stone account, she draws the sword by declaring her resolve to fight for Britannia and its people. 9
• Uses the sword to fight as Saber during the Holy Grail War. 18 34
• Unleashes Excalibur as a final strike against the Conqueror King’s elite forces. 36
• Kiritsugu orders her to use her strongest Noble Phantasm against the descending Holy Grail. 37

Self-Imposed Memory Seal

Artoria voluntarily seals away her memories of Xia through forbidden memory magic, attempting to escape the pain of longing and perceived betrayal. 21

• The seal erases Xia’s name, appearance, voice, touch, deeds, and their shared memories. 21
• Its effects cause severe internal conflict when Xia reappears before her. 17
• Fragments of her memories and attachment to Xia resurface through dreams and encounters. 18 24 29

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Holy Sword / Excalibur — Artoria’s golden Noble Phantasm and primary weapon as Saber. 18 36
• Sword in the Stone — the Sword of Kings and instrument of Britannia’s king-selection trial. 9 14
• Knightly armor — armor prepared for her by Xia before the Sword in the Stone tournament; built to protect vital areas without severely restricting movement. 14

Relationships

• Drake D. Xia — Her rescuer, trainer, and most significant emotional bond. Artoria initially believes he abandoned her, seals her memories of him, and later regains them and affirms her love and gratitude. 9 11 17 21 29 33
• Merlin — Prophet associated with the Sword in the Stone selection and Artoria’s path to kingship. 9 14
• Kiritsugu Emiya — Saber’s Master during the Fourth Holy Grail War; Artoria later blames him amid her grief after the war’s destruction. 15 37 39
• Alice — Identified as Artoria’s Master during her confrontation with Xia; she witnesses Artoria’s pain during the memory seal’s activation. 17
• Alexander Iskandar — The Conqueror King and a fellow king in the Holy Grail War. His ideals challenge Artoria’s belief that a king must be solitary, though he recognizes her worth as an opponent. 34 35 37
• Mordred — Her rebellious child, whose attempted usurpation culminates in their mutually fatal final battle. 10 35
• Bedivere — One of the earliest Knights of the Round Table to follow Artoria and remain with her until her final moments. 13
• The Knights of Britannia — Artoria’s soldiers and retainers, who hail her as King Arthur and credit her with their victories. 9 22 29

Story Role / Major Arcs

Servant and Fairy Forest Arc

Artoria begins as an abused servant pursuing knighthood. Xia’s intervention removes her from the noble estate, after which she survives the Fairy Forest with him and receives the training she had always desired. 9 11 13

Sword in the Stone and Kingship

Artoria enters the king-selection tournament prepared to claim the Sword in the Stone. Her commitment to protect Britannia establishes the duty-first ideal that defines her reign as King Arthur. 9 14

Fourth Holy Grail War

Summoned as Saber, Artoria meets Xia again but cannot recognize him due to her self-imposed memory seal. Their reunion escalates from suspicion and combat into a gradual recovery of familiarity, trust, and affection. 17 18 20 25 27

King’s Banquet

Artoria declares her wish to use the Holy Grail to return to the past, atone for her mistakes, and secure a true successor for Britannia. She later distinguishes this wish as King Arthur’s aspiration rather than Artoria’s personal desire, accepting Xia’s place in her life. 28 29

ZERO Countdown

Artoria confronts Iskandar’s army while reassessing her lonely model of kingship. She endures overwhelming odds, releases Excalibur, defeats the Conqueror King, and later insists on helping stop the Holy Grail despite her injuries. 35 36 37

Notable Quotes

“Many people are smiling... many people are celebrating happily. Then... I think the path I've chosen must be the right one!” 9

“A king will not submit to another king!” 19

“To make Xia understand my feelings! ... There is also a woman willing to lay down her life for the existence known as Drake D. Xia!” 33

“No matter what danger, I will fear nothing! No matter what kind of enemy, the blade in my hand will never let them succeed easily!” 20