Raphtalia The Rising of the Shield Hero - Nendoroid
Amidst the wealth of gritty isekai stories, The Rising of the Shield Hero continues to amass popularity. Many fans resonate with the antihero qualities of the protagonist Naofumi Iwatani. However, the true standout of the series is his demi-human companion and the story's main heroine, Raphtalia. Raphtalia is not only one of the most popular characters from the series, she consistently ranks high in popularity contests across anime. Her adorable design and brave spirit come across in her many figures, including "Nendoroid The Rising of the Shield Hero Raphtalia."
Nendoroid The Rising of the Shield Hero Raphtalia
The Shield Hero's sword looks as adorable as ever in chibi form in this Nendoroid figure. Raphtalia shows off her mature appearance as a result of her intense level of grinding. She wears her standard adventuring outfit with muted earthy tones that compliment the russet brown of her ears, hair, and tail. The fluffy accents of her ears and tail have also been delicately reproduced to convey their softness. The figure comes with three face plates: her standard gentle smile, a brave combat face, and a pouting expression. Accessories include her magic sword along with a translucent part to recreate her signature Illusion Sword. She also carries a small sandwich made from leftovers and a kids' menu lunch platter.
Manufacturer: Good Smile Company
Sculptor: Shichibee
Specifications: Painted, articulated, non-scale ABS & PVC figure with optional parts and stand
Height (Approx.): 100mm | 3.9"
About Raphtalia
Raphtalia is the main heroine of The Rising of the Shield Hero series. The first true companion of the titular hero, Raphtalia is a tanuki hybrid demi-human. She is a capable fighter and gained immense popularity within both the series fanbase and the larger anime community.
About Raphtalia: Background
Raphtalia was born in a coastal town in Melromarc. In the aftermath of the first Wave to hit the world, Raphtalia found herself orphaned and sold into slavery by the Royal Knights. Her initial owner abused Raphtalia, leaving her with deep emotional trauma. Naofumi purchased Raphtalia with the intention of making her his offensive sword and kept her on a slave contract to ensure her loyalty as a companion. Through training, Raphtalia quickly levels up and her body matures and she finds herself falling for Naofumi.
At her introduction, Raphtalia is scared and withdrawn as a result of her trauma. However, after her time with Naofumi, Raphtalia becomes increasingly bold, opinionated, and strong-willed. She still retains some of her childlike naivety, particularly regarding love and romantic relationships. Despite the struggles of her youth, Raphtalia retains a sense of idealism in her desire to reclaim her home village and see Naofumi become a proper hero.
About Raphtalia: Abilities
As Naofumi's "sword," Raphtalia is an extremely adept swordsman. She has several offensive techniques involving sneaking up on the enemy, like her Illusion Sword ability. Using this technique, Raphtalia deals mental damage to her opponent rather than physical. This may come from her affinity for light and dark magic. Additional illusions include her ability to create a decoy, make herself temporarily invisible, and create illuminations to blind an opponent.
Raphtalia also possesses special attributes as a demi-human. For example, her maturation rate is tied to her level and not by time or age. She also gains additional weapons and abilities in later volumes of the light novel.
Other Important The Rising of the Sword Hero Characters
Raphtalia's core relationship is her bond with Naofumi. However, she still maintains her own character development outside of her work as the Shield Hero's sword. These developments take place as Raphtalia grapples with her past and future as a hero of her own.
Keel
Keel is a dog-based demi-human and childhood friend of Raphtalia. Initially appearing as a boy, Keel is a tomboyish girl raised like a son by her father. Like Raphtalia, Keel survived the first Wave attack on their village. However, they were both captured and sold as slaves, separating the two. Naofumi buys Keel, though Keel resists at first due to her history with slavers, reuniting the two friends.
Like many others, Keel is a huge fan of Naofumi's cooking. She often acts bratty and demanding when waiting for food. At the same time, Keel also displays a strong-will for survival, like Raphtalia, and shows potential as a rallying leader.
Idol Rabier
Idol Rabier is an antagonist in the series and an abusive nobleman and slave trader. Before the events of the series, Rabier was an avid follower of the Church of the Three Heroes and hated the symbol of the Shield Hero. His devoutness stemmed from his intense hatred for demi-humans.
Rabier initially purchased the demi-human survivors of the Wave attack on Raphtalia's village. His abusive and malicious treatment of his slaves left them emotionally scarred and physically weak, killing them in some cases. His murder of Raphtalia's friend Rifana caused Raphtalia's traumatic withdrawal. Uninterested in a listless Raphtalia, Rabier sold her to the trader that brought her to Naofumi.
Links
Nendoroid The Rising of the Shield Hero Raphtalia
Naofumi Iwatani The Rising of the Shield Hero - Nendoroid
Filo The Rising of the Shield Hero - Nendoroid
Nendoroid Label
Raphtalia The Rising of the Shield - Figures
The Rising of the Shield Hero - Figures
Filo The Rising of the Shield Hero - Figures
The Rising of the Shield Hero Label
Raphtalia Label
Good Smile Company Label