Archer's True Name is HeraclesWP (ヘラクレスWP, Herakuresu?, HerculesWP), the great and noble hero of Ancient Greece. A demigod hero of Greek Mythology, he was born between the King of Gods Zeus and a human girlWP (who herself was the granddaughter of Perseus, a demigod son of Zeus). He received the violent hatred of Zeus' wife HeraWP because of his origins and was tormented by the goddess at every turn. However, he entirely overcame the difficulties he had been given and was enshrined as a god in the end.[4]
Heracles had an extremely violent temperament as an infant and grew up as a shepherd in order to obtain a gentle heart. Having grown into a fine adult, Heracles was recognized for several feats and gained two children as well as the right of succession to the throne. However, Hera made Heracles go temporarily insane and he killed his wife and children, ending up in the role of a slave to the king to atone for his sins. Here the jealous king gave him a challenge, the famous Twelve Labors. The Labors were all things that a human could not achieve but Heracles completed them safely, and at the same time he was freed from slavery, he received an immortal body.[4]
However, the adventures of Heracles and Hera's hatred did not end there. Despite his many great achievements, Hera's numerous artifices eventually resulted in Heracles' poisoning by his own wife from his second marriage. In his final moments, Heracles cremated himself, surrendering to Zeus's judgment. The gods after consulting recognize Heracles' feats, and he was recruited as a god like his father, becoming a constellation.[4]
Appearance[]
Archer was mentioned being more than two and a half meters tall, with an immensely muscular body. Lightning that represents his Divinity continuously pulses beneath his skin. His appearance was said to be beyond human, as he looked more like a statue of a god. Since he isn't under the influence of Mad Enhancement, he no longer has the projections on his arms, his muscles are slightly softer, and his face shows more humanity than his Berserker counterpart.[1]
True Archer, his mind being free of madness or the hate against the gods, is an extremely heroic individual. He holds strong morals, even going against the orders of his Master to preserve his heroism.[5] Being summoned as one of the Three Knight Classes (Saber, Lancer and Archer) his status as a "faultless hero" is all the more apparent and everpresent. Had he been summoned as Rider or Assassin, he would have smashed or sent his master's head flying.[3]
Role[]
Fate/strange Fake[]
Archer is summoned by Bazdilot Cordelion, a ruthless member of the Scladio criminal family. Bazdilot questions Archer if he can kill a child, with the noble hero refuses to commit such an inhumane deed. He even makes it clear that anyone who gives him such an order will become his enemy. Displeased, Bazdilot prepares his Command Seals. Archer is confident that any command Bazdilot gives him will only be momentary obedience, and even if he was ordered to commit suicide three times, he would be fine, instead deciding to use the experience to teach his Master a lesson on trying to control him. He muses that if he were summoned as Rider or Assassin, he would have probably killed Bazdilot for trying to control him. Instead, Bazdilot uses all of his Command Seals (telling him not to make excuses, to remember all the humans he had seen, and to accept human nature) and covers him with the mud of the Grail. As Archer writhes in agony and realizes the commands and mud are twisting his personality, he tries to kill Bazdilot, but is too late and is converted into his mortal form of Avenger, where he holds incredible contempt against the gods.[3]
Abilities[]
Being close to the strongest Heroic Spirit, even when he is a Berserker, and therefore restricted to simple direct melee, Heracles is without a doubt a first-rate Servant. Due to no longer being under the influence of Mad Enhancement, a variety of techniques and skills are no longer lost, including his trusted Nine Lives.[4] When he was alive, his strength was great enough to make him a befitting match for Ares, the God of War.[6]
An excellent warrior, Heracles possesses the qualifications corresponding to six classes excluding Caster.[4] As an Archer Class Servant he is able to demonstrate his true power the most, thanks to it being a pretty comfortable class to someone who overcame many trials with knowledge and resourcefulness and having specialized with the bow.[7] Even among the Servants from Greek legend, he is a hero among heroes who boasts fame and power that ranks next if not above Achilles'.[3][8]
Even including past Holy Grail Wars, Heracles' Magical Energy is top class. His body exerts a great pressure and magical energy, causing Bazdilot's men to break out in cold sweats and their magical circuits to tremble. One look is all it takes to make them understand that the entity that had just manifested before them belonged on a different plane from themselves. When upset, his pure might is capable of releasing a great pressure so heavy that an ordinary human could hardly help losing their life from suffering it head-on and that robbed the mages of their freedom of movement. After Bazdilot spent his second Command Spell trying to restrain Heracles, he released his own magical energy to oppose it, blowing away more than half the magical barriers around the workshop. Being bombarded by more magical energy than they could handle, Bazdilot's men collapsed twitching.[3]
Combat[]
The reason why he surmounted all difficulties in life and achieved numerous feats lied not in the power of the gods, but rather in his martial skills he learned throughout his human life, which bloomed and bore fruit within his soul. He perfected a craft that adapted to every situation, from his default bow and sword to numerous other weapons and core ideas, including how to combat armies or monsters barehanded. This crystallization of experience and technique is his Nine Lives martial art.[9]
Skills[]
Class Skills[]
Magic Resistance: Just seeing him standing gave Bazdilot's men the impression that his body alone would be sufficient to easily dispel even large-scale magecraft that required a group to cast, not to mention their mediocre spells. Thanks to his wall of magic resistance, Heracles is capable of holding back Bazdilot's own magical energy from worming its way through him, however, the mage ended up managing to cut his way through said resistance thanks to his primitive sorcery.[3]
Divinity: Being a mixed-race child of the King of Gods Zeus and a human, and becoming a god after death,[4] Heracles possesses Divinity due to not possessing Avenger Class attributes.[2] Even Bazdilot's men noted that the sheer amount and purity of the Od flowing from his body seemed divine. In fact, every fiber of his muscles, and every drop of blood in his veins, is overflowing with Od so pure it could be called divine.[3]
Valor: It is noted that Alcides' Valor skill was ranked down considerably to E due to his nature. A skill that brushes aside mental interference and increases melee damage.[2] The witches of the Age of Gods would be one thing, but no modern mage should be capable of interfering with his mind. As such, Heracles considers that even if his master tried to impose his dominance by means of a Command Spell it'd be futile, as those restraints are merely momentary and he could easily shake them off with his own magical energy. However, Bazdilot is able to force his own potent magical energy into Heracles' brain thanks to its corrupting nature. Although the mental pollution passed a point that would have likely driven most Servants mad, Heracles managed to endure it until Bazdilot spent his final Command Spell, pouring an unnatural volume of magical energy that finally managed to completely corrupt him.[3]
Noble Phantasms[]
First Labour: Nemean Lion
Second Labour: Lernaean Hydra
Third Labour: Ceryneian Hind
Fourth Labour: Erymanthian Boar
Fifth Labour: Augean stables
Sixth Labour: Stymphalian birds
Seventh Labour: Cretan Bull
Eight Labour: Mares of Diomedes
Ninth Labour: Belt of Hippolyta
Tenth Labour: Cattle of Geryon
Eleventh Labour: Golden Apples of the Hesperides
Twelfth Labour: Cerberus
1/12
Due to not being blackened, Heracles possesses God Hand as a Noble Phantasm, the immortality he received after death thanks to completing the Twelve Labours.[2] Although he has a resistance to Command Spells thanks to his Valor skill, he muses that he could probably safely obey three commands to commit suicide due to God Hand.[3]
He also possesses Nine Lives as his most trusted Noble Phantasm. A technique that can be performed in various ways with a weapon or perhaps even bare-handed. Drawing the maximum power from the weapon, from Anti-Unit to Anti-Army, up to sieging, various forms depending on the circumstances are on display.[2] When using his bow, Heracles shoots out nine arrows shrouded in pure divinity. A culmination of skill and divinity said to be “clad in dragons.”[10] From an onlookers perspective it would appear as nine dragon-like homing lasers. Heracles would mainly use this Anti-Phantasm Beast version.[11] When unleashed with a sword, it was a breathless dance of nine strikes and with a spear, it was a series of nine blows. It was no secret art passed down from father to son. It was a myth that the great hero had created and perfected alone.[10]
Rin Tohsaka conjectures that Heracles would normally be summoned holding the Bow of Hydra (ヒドラの弓, Hidora no Yumi?) as an Archer-class Servant.[12]
Q: Would Heracles still be so huge even if he wasn't Mad Enhanced?
A: He'd still be huuuge! However, the stuff like the projections on his arms wouldn't be there. His muscles would become a little softer, and his face would show more humanity than it does now.
Strength: A
Endurance: B
Agility: A
Magic: A
Luck: B
Noble Phantasm: A++
Class Skills
■ Avenger: A
■ Independent Action: C
■ Magic Resistance: A
Personal Skills
■ Distortion: A
Forced distortion of the class he was originally called forth in. He has received the other class's specialty as proof. Conversely, either of the class skills has declined. In Alkeides's case, Independent Action has dropped to C rank.
■ Eye of the Mind (True): B
Insight fostered through training and discipline. In Alkeides's case, having his god given abilities thrown away, the techniques he accumulated as a human make their appearance.
■ Bravery: E
A skill that brushes aside mental interference and increases melee damage.
The divine curse lodged inside him has be brought out by the Command Spell. The score has decreased considerably.
■ Battle Continuation: A+
Can continue fighting even with wounds that place him on the verge of death. An ability representing his strong will to stay alive on the battlefield.
Noble Phantasms
■ King's Order: Twelve Glories
Rank: C~A++
Type: -
Range: -
Losing his divinity along with his immortality meant obtaining [proof of crushing the labors]. Starting with [Pelt of the Divine Beast] and [War God's War Sash], this is the embodiment of [having owned the Noble Phantasms in one's legend]. One's own tools can be fully used. However, as using this crushes a convention of the Holy Grail itself, magical energy consumption is increased manifold.
■ Nine Lives: The Shooting Hundred Heads
Rank: C~A+
Type: Unknown
Range: As the occasion demands
The technique that has become a Noble Phantasm is called [Style: Shooting the Hundred Heads], and can be performed in various ways with a weapon or perhaps even bare-handed. Drawing the maximum power from the weapon, from anti-unit to anti-army, up to sieging, various forms depending on the circumstances are on display.
■ Reincarnation Pandora: Usurper of the Celestial Wind
Rank: EX
Type:
Range:
Max Targets:
CLASS アヴェンジャー／真アーチャー
マスター：バズディロット・コーデリオン
真名：アルケイデス
性別：男
身長・体重： ２０３cm １４１kg
属性：混沌・悪
[v] Fate/complete material III: World Material - The Servants of the Fifth Holy Grail War: Berserker, p.036-037 [T]Translations by Kertys
Hercules Class: Berserker Master: Illyasviel von Einzbern Alignment: Chaotic Mad Sex: Male Height: 253cm Weight: 311kg Weapon: Axe-Sword
STR: A+ CON: A AGI: A MGI: A LCK: B Noble Phantasm: A
Legend
A demigod hero of Greek Mythology, he was born between the King of Gods Zeus and a human girl. He received the violent hatred of Zeus' wife Hera because of his origins and was tormented by the goddess at every turn. However, he entirely overcame the difficulties he had been given, and was enshrined as a god in the end.
Heracles had an extremely violent temperament as an infant, and grew up as a shepherd in order to obtain a gentle heart. Having grown into a fine adult, Heracles was recognized for several feats, and gained two children as well as the right of succession to the throne. However, Hera made Heracles go temporarily insane and he killed his wife and children, ending up in the role of a slave to the king to atone for his sins. Here the jealous king gave him a challenge, the famous Twelve Labors. The Labors were all things that a human could not achieve but Heracles completed them safely, and at the same time he was freed from slavery, he received an immortal body.
However, the adventures of Heracles and Hera's hatred did not end there. Hera's numerous artifices resulted in Heracles' poisoning by his own wife from his second marriage. In his final moments, Heracles cremated himself, surrendering to Zeus's judgment. The gods after consulting recognize Heracles' feats, and he was recruited as a god like his father, becoming a constellation.
Tactics
An excellent warrior, he possesses the qualifications corresponding to six classes excluding Caster. Other than specializing with the bow, he has mastered every weapon. However, all that is talk about times when he is not Berserker. Heracles as a Berserker has lost his rationality, and exists only to utterly defeat the enemy from the front as directed by Illya. Naturally, there is no such thing as detailed tactics, leaving it to physical ability and brandishing an axe-sword to strike. Astonishingly, with just that, it is a fact that he demonstrates hand-to-hand combat abilities superior to every Servant. Without breaking to even think about defense, he leaves it to his Noble Phantasm "God Hand."
Class Abilities Mad Enhancements: B
The Class Skill that characterizes Berserker, it reinforces ability at the cost of reason. As Heracles' possesses the skill at Rank B, in compensation for losing most of his sanity, the levels of all his abilities rise. Heracles beat his harp instructor to death when he was a child, and had many episodes when he killed people in his rage without even hearing them speak. It seems that for Heracles, Berserker that receives "Mad Enhancement" was an easy class to adapt to. Focusing on controllability when out of combat, the rank of "Mad Enhancement" is suppressed by Illya.
Being close to the strongest Heroic Spirit, even restricted to simple direct melee as consequence of Mad Enhancement, Heracles was undoubtedly the strongest among the Servants. However, because of Mad Enhancement, a variety of sword techniques and skills, and a part of his Noble Phantasms was lost. Having his emotions also sealed off and not able to perform any personally motivated actions, only the reason within his core was not lost, having occasions when he felt something like the will to protect Illya.
Personal Abilities Battle Continuation: A
A skill that allows for the continuation of combat after sustaining mortal wounds. It will also reduce mortality rate from injury. Cú Chulainn’s Battle Continuation represents “never give up no matter what”, while Hercules’ represents the ability to survive. The Noble Phantasm that allows for resurrection after death, God Hand, has exceptional compatibility with the “will not die easily” skill Battle Continuation.
The best result is achieved when a resilient body is combined with this skill.
Eye of the Mind (False): B
A danger avoidance ability based on Intuition/Sixth Sense, gained through many ordeals and adventures. Even though Hercules’ sanity was lost due to Mad Enhancement, this skill remained effective as it is nearly an instinct. When crossing swords with a seasoned swordsman like Artoria, he would not fall for half-hearted feints. It is such a troublesome ability for Hercules’ opponents.
Although monstrous in size, Hercules has the highest rank in Agility. As a result, it is very difficult to corner him.
Bravery: A+
With his brave and daring spirit, Herakles is able to neutralise mental interference such as suppression, confusion and charm. However, under the influence of Mad Enhancement, this skill is unable to take effect. While operating correctly, Bravery also increases the damage inflicted upon the opponent during melee combat. This skill allowed Herakles to defeat several monsters empty-handed.
Even the brave warrior’s heart was painted over by the insanity of Mad Enhancement.
Divinity: A
Being a mixed-race child of the King of Gods Zeus and a human, and becoming a god after death, Herakles naturally possessed the highest level of the Divinity skill. However, this matter became a disaster, ending with his complete entrapment in Gilgamesh's Noble Phantasm "Chains of Heaven" that grows in strength proportionate to the enemy's Divinity.
Noble Phantasm God Hand: Twelve Labors
Rank: B
Type: Anti-Unit
Range: -
Maximum Targets:
A blessing of Gods, as well as a curse. It is a Noble Phantasm given to Heracles, representing immortality. This Noble Phantasm does not have an overt external manifestation such as a weapon or armour, but if you hazard to put a shape to it, the body itself can be called the Noble Phantasm. God Hand turns one’s body into a tough suit of armour and nullifies all attacks Rank B or lower, regardless the attack being physical or magical. It also has the effect of automatic resurrection after death. Because the resurrection effect has 11 uses, Heracles cannot perish unless killed 12 times. In addition, due to Illya’s immense magical energy, given enough time, the lives lost can also be regenerated.
Resurrection as well as attack-nullification. Besides these two effects, God Hand also possesses a third effect: rendering an attack that it has experienced before useless. Regardless how powerful is the Noble Phantasm that defeated Heracles, it would be completely nullified after he resurrects.
Nine Lives: The Shooting Hundred Heads
Rank: -
Type: -
Range: -
Maximum Targets: -
Among Hercules’Noble Phantasms, he trusted this one the most. It was the Noble Phantasm which Hercules used to slay the immortal nine-headed serpent Hydra once upon a time, taking the form of bow and arrow. After killing the Hydra, Hercules could even utilise techniques that emulate the ability of this Noble Phantasm when wielding other weapons. In essence, it is “a high speed attack consisting of nine consecutive strikes, as swift as if the attacks are overlapping”. Even when delivered via sword, spear, or axe, this technique still boasts power on the level of Noble Phantasms. Also, just like Cú Chulainn’s demonic spear Gae Bolg has a technique called “Gae Bolg – Piercing Death Thorn”, Hercules’ technique shares the “Nine Lives – Shooting of Hundred Heads” name with the Noble Phantasm.
Shirou projected this secret sword technique while projecting Hercules’ Axe Sword, thus annihilating the Blackened Hercules. While summoned as a Berserker, Hercules could not use Nine Lives.
Q: Why did the Einzbern summoned Hercules as a Berserker? I'd think that in some other classes, he'd be able to have access to skills and Noble Phantasms that he had originally had....
A: Simple is POWER. Mayhap the Einzbern, who had been up until now been betrayed again and again, felt it safer to have a "loyal dog that'd do only what they told it to do". The aspect of Hercules as a regular Heroic Spirit would have many advantages in his own right, but on the other hand, there's also the possibility of some cooperative friction occurring with the Master because the heroic part of him is a bit too strong. That kind of Master and Servant combo is pretty frequent in Fate/Zero...
Q: About Herakles who was summoned as Berserker, it seems like he can become Saber or Archer. If he had been summoned in a different class, which class would it be that he could demonstrate his true power the most?
A: Surprisingly, it would be Archer. Archer is a ranger so it's a pretty comfortable class to someone like him who overcame many trials with knowledge and resourcefulness.
Rider of “Red” [Servant]
One of the Servants of the Red camp. Though he was deceived by Shirou Kotomine, he understood the situation and reluctantly decided to serve him. A natural-born warrior who, rather than concerning himself over whether or not Shirou’s wish would be fulfilled, looked forward to his showdown with Archer of Black more than anything else.
His true name is Achilles. The fastest hero among all humanity, lauded for his great valor and prowess in the Trojan War. He definitely ranks equals with Heracles in terms of fame—after all, his name is attached to one of the vital points of the human body.
However, in contrast with his fame, the time during which Achilles accomplished great deeds was comparatively short. His deeds are also almost completely carved into the Trojan War alone. He had the turning point of his life thrust before him at a young age: he could run through his life like a transient gale in exchange for accomplishing magnificent deeds in the Trojan War, or he could become a person unknown to anyone in the world and live a long life.
Achilles gave his answer to his mother without hesitating. “—I will live a short yet brilliant life.”
Achilles was raised by Chiron and, after undergoing training as a hero, he threw himself into the Trojan War. Meeting his sword friend Patroclus, meeting his wife, battles and sworn rivals, meeting Hector—
Without a doubt, Achilles ran through his life while treating all of those things as a joy to have experienced.
He is without a doubt first rate as a Servant. Even among the Servants from Greek legend, he boasts of power that ranks next to Heracles. He also has an abnormally abundant number of Noble Phantasms. In the beginning, all these Noble Phantasms were written out, and when I consulted over how many of them should be used, Mr. NP said, “Isn’t a super-strong Servant with an abundance of Noble Phantasms fine?”, and easily permitted all of them to be adopted. I never thought I would end up using all of them…
Naturally, he is a Servant who would instantly run out of prana if he used them in a normal Holy Grail War. The prana consumption of Rider’s chariot is uncommonly harsh in particular, and only a first rate Master could fully utilize him.
Additionally, besides the Rider class, Achilles has aptitude as a Lancer, Berserker and, quite unusually, a Shielder. His complement of Noble Phantasms is slightly different in each of the other classes. For instance, as a Lancer, he would lose his chariot since it is his Noble Phantasm as a Rider, but his spear would gain the secondary effect of causing HP reduction.
His fatal weak point, his heel, serves as the linchpin for his Noble Phantasms “Andreis Amarantos: Amaranth of the Brave”, which maintains his immortality, and “Dromeus Cometes: Comet Form”, for which he is extolled as the fastest, and when his heel is pierced, these two Noble Phantasms disappear. After being pierced once, it is extremely difficult for his heel to be healed, and, without the use of some extraordinary means, there is no way for him to completely regain his running speed afterwards.
In this Great Holy Grail War, Achilles wished for a showdown with his teacher, Archer of Black, and gave his assent to Shirou Kotomine’s actions for the sake of accomplishing that. This might be because, leaving aside his animosity towards Semiramis, he does not really hold much ill feelings towards Shirou. Just as Archer of Black aptly pointed out, Achilles is naïve when it comes to his recognition of enemies and allies. This is a probably demonstration of the difference of experience between him and the older Cu Chulainn, who is able to decisively kill when he needs to kill even when split between enemies and allies in such a manner.
His connection to Atalanta actually begins from a story he heard from his father in life. His father, who was always somehow gentle and could never stand up against his mother, had spoken of his encounter with Atalanta embarrassingly, and because of that the young Achilles always remembered her. He never got the chance to meet her in life, though.
Achilles thinks that it is his fault for overlooking Atalanta’s transformation while engrossed in his own battle. He fought her in her rampage as a way of atonement. Achilles cried out of guilt for having crushed Atalanta’s dream.
But I’d like to think that it was that very naivety and tears of her that granted Atalanta a small measure of salvation at the very end.
Q: What sort of technique was the "Shooting of a Hundred Heads" that Shirou used in Sakura's route?
A: The Noble Phantasm of Heroic Spirit Heracles is an all-purpose Noble Phantasm that he changes according to the target and situation. Bluntly put, it's the "Shooting of a Hundred Heads Style." What Shirou used was the anti-personnel version of Shooting of a Hundred Heads. Honestly, just think of it as nine consecutive high-speed attacks. By the way, the Shooting of a Hundred Heads that Heracles mainly uses is the anti-Phantasmal Species version, which is like nine dragon-type homing lasers fired simultaneously. What the hell, man?
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