Fate Zero Rider

Rider (Alexander the Great) - Fate/Zero

Background

Alexander the Great (King of Conquerors; Iskandar). He is also portrayed in Fate/Grand Order as his younger self (Alexander). He was said to be a beautiful prodigy and prince of a small kingdom in Macedonia. Some believe his father was Zeus and this granted him strength. He trained as a soldier as well as learned much about philosophy, political science, and legends. He began his conquest at the age of 20. His army was extremely devoted to him. His goal was to reach “Oceanus” and stand in front of the “endless sea” which he thought was the end of the world. There was no terrain that held back his army from marching forth.

Appearance

A very large, burly man with red hair, a matching beard, piercing, bright eyes and a confident smile. He wears brown leather armor and a reddish brown mantle with off-white fur. In public he wears an Admirable Tactics video games T-shirt because he plays the game and also likes having the world map printed across his chest.

Personality

Rider preferred to win the hearts of people rather than kill when conquering. He offered several of the other Servants the chance to join him going even as far to share being king with Gilgamesh, however no one took up the offer as they all wanted to win for themselves. He cared for those he bonded with such as Waver Velvet who he consoled, stood up for, and encouraged. He believed a King shouldn’t be a martyr or live a peasant’s quality of life, but live so lavishly his follows would admire his lifestyle. Because of this he often butted heads with Saber who was quite the opposite. He is bisexual. He found wonder in the modern world and enjoyed taking part in such activities as playing video games and watching television. He was especially impressed with fighter jets and wanted a few of them. Waver’s room was often cluttered with his books on war strategies and bags of potato chips.

Wish

Rider wished to be reincarnated in the modern world and hoped to continue his conquest of conquering it all one day.

Abilities

One of his Noble Phantasms is his chariot Gordius Wheel. It is said that it is led by Divine Bulls offered to Zeus by King Gordius which he received instead for clearing the Gordian Knot with his sword. It can be used to trample enemies. It is called Via and brought forth by Rider slashing the air with his sword. Lightning usually accompanies and surrounds it. Due to his burliness and Riding skills he doesn’t have the best agility.

His ultimate Noble Phantasm is Ionioi Hetairoi: Army of Kings which is his immense army summoned in a Reality Marble of a vast desert under a sunny sky. He is also able to summon his noble steed Bucephalus in and outside of it. His use of Ionioi Hetairoi helps him, Saber, and Lancer defeat Caster by buying them some time. He also tries to use it against Gilgamesh but he is able to destroy it with his anti-world Noble Phantasm.

His Sword of the Kurpriotes is a spatha. He also carries at least one throwing knife.

Death

Rider was killed by Gilgamesh who found him worthy enough to be killed by his Noble Phantasm Ea despite being able to kill him without it. This is a big deal because Gilgamesh doesn’t just use his best weapons on anybody. Before his death he tells Waver to tell everyone of him as his follower and Waver calls him his king. Because of this, Gilgamesh spares Waver because he tells him he is not his master but only a follower. You could say he had a very respectable death and faced it bravely.

Master

Waver Velvet summoned him using the mantle he once wore as the Catalyst. The Catalyst (also sometimes referred to as an artifact) was stolen by Waver from his professor Lord El-Melloi whom it was meant for. Waver was often insecure and scared during the Holy Grail War sometimes even thinking Rider thought he was stupid or an unworthy Master, but Rider consoled him that wasn’t the truth. Rider appreciated that he had the courage to always be by his side during battles instead of hiding in the shadows and that he was impressed by his ability to find Caster’s lair using simple alchemy methods rather than an overly and unnecessary complicated method. Waver Velvet’s wish was to be taken seriously by the Mage Association as a skilled mage with great potential.

Role

In Fate/Zero he is summoned by Waver Velvet using the Catalyst he stole from Lord El-Melloi after he was upset with him for making a fool out of him during a lecture. Waver had written a paper on how a mage with a weak or new magical lineage could become just as great as a mage with a long family line of mages and Lord El-Melloi ridiculed this idea in front of the entire class. He quickly bonds with Waver Velvet and throughout the story plays a big part in Waver’s character development. They team up with Saber and Lancer to take down Caster. He also meets with Saber and Gilgamesh to talk over a barrel of ale and ask if they will join him rather than fight. He once raises Saber on her motorcycle with his Chariot which he loses. In the end his life is taken by Gilgamesh, but Waver lives on to tell his tale and always remembers him as his king.