Fate 1 - Nendoroid

Fate is a multimedia project that started two decades ago as a very long visual novel by TYPE-MOON, a company well-known for painting the everyday lives and feats of common folk turned heroes in grim situations, where they never forget to stay human.

At the moment, Fate is enjoying critical acclaim for a number of anime series and movies, many books and games in the same universe (known as Nasuverse since it was written by Kinoko Nasu), including the hugely popular Fate/Grand Order. Derivative works, official and otherwise, are plenty. It is one of the most resonant universes of Japanese entertainment.

History of Fate Series and Nendoroid

The first-ever Nendoroid figurine made is #000, "Neco-Arc", who is a character from Nasuverse. Since then, more joke and serious characters became Nendoroids, making it around 50 total covering TYPE-MOON characters that appear in the Fate series.

List of Fate Series Nendoroids

#258 Saber: Zero Ver.

This figurine is a Nendoroid version of the modern-styled Saber also known as Altria Pendragon or Arthur Pendragon, from Fate/Zero complete with her motorcycle. As Zero Saber, the stalwart heroine from Dark Ages is clad in a suit as offered by Irisviel to match her old-life identity as a man and prefers this over dresses for the freedom of movement. This version of Saber shows her when she is summoned by Kiritsugu Emiya to participate in the Fourth Holy Grail War. Although both she and her master wish for peace they don’t get along at all due to their different ideologies and methods. She hates being used as a tool and dislikes the tricks he uses during battles. However, she comes to realize his actions are made due to his pure thoughts of wishing for peace and using any sort of method to achieve it. Saber is confused between his heartless killer image and the loving father side being the same person.

Nendoroid Saber: Zero Ver.	#258
Price	3,810 yen (before tax)
Release Date	December 2012
Sculptor	Kazuyoshi Udono
Cooperation	Nendoron

Additional Parts

Saber: Zero version's replaceable face plates allow her three expressions including her sharp glare, angry face, and an unreadable stare. Additional options include the wonderful motorcycle Saber Motored Cuirassier from the Rider battle, and her sword Excalibur. Saber is able to be posed as the Nendoroid figure itself or while riding her motorbike. She is also able to wield her sword while riding the vehicle for action filled poses.

By combining the different expressions and hair parts between the Nendoroid Saber: Zero Ver. and the Nendoroid Saber Super Movable Edition, additional key scenes become available for recreation.

#050 Saber Lion

This figurine is Saber in her Lion visage (which is definitely not a plush suit!) as seen in Fate/Tiger Colosseum. She was summoned from another world by the Holy Tiger Grail, and she mostly talks by saying "Gaoo" ("rawr" in English comes close) while the meaning of her utterance is translated in parentheses. This is the parody version of Saber and is the mascot character. It is a great change of pace from the usually serious and deadly fight scenes and brings a sense of ease and comfort.

Nendoroid Saber Lion	#050
Price	US $31.99
Release Date	November 2012
Sculptor	Hiro
Cooperation	Nendoron
Height (approximate)	100 mm (3.94")

Additional Parts

Saber Lion's intimidating expression is swappable for a teary face or an unhappy Lazy Saber-style expression. Fans are able to enjoy the cute side of the small Saber as much as they want. The contrast between her usually serious expression and cute outfit makes the Saber Lion Nendoroid very popular. She has her trusty stick of "Meatcalibur" to munch on or do battle with, as well as a mascot-imprinted bowl and a pair of chopsticks.

Past Releases

This Nendoroid was originally released in December 2008 and re-released in November 2012.

#387 Saber Bride

This beautiful Nendoroid recreates Saber wearing a burnt bride's outfit, Bondage Bridal Gown in Fate/Extra CCC or Fate/Grand Order. Fans are able to enjoy a different sort of outfit from what she would usually wear, however still in line with her personality.

Her true name is Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, the Greek version of which, "Nerōn Kaisar", is NRVN QSR ( נרון קסר ) in Hebrew lettering summing up to 666. The reality was, of course, more complicated than the Revelations put it, but that is a tale for another medium.

She looks very much like Arturia but they have no blood ties.

Nendoroid Saber Bride	#387
Price	3,704 yen (before tax)
Release Date	April 2014
Sculptor	Shichibee
Cooperation	Nendoron

Additional Parts

Saber Bride's expressions allow her to be her usual determined self, smile kindly, or assume the rather unique chibi-styled blushy expression courtesy of the game's character designer wadarco complete with a note symbol attachable to the people's emperor's unruly lock of hair. Additionally, Saber Bride has her sword, the Primal Flame (Aestus Estus) also known as the Meteoric Iron Bellows (Intetsu-no Fuigo), to defend her happiness. She is able to hold her weapon in her hand for a wide range of action poses.

#492 Rider

This Nendoroid depicts Rider from Fate/stay night in Nendoroid proportions. In her mortal life, the Bewitching Black Serpent was Medusa, the youngest of the three Gorgon sisters who lived on the Shapeless Isle. Again, the reality was different; she was a demi-god, Earth Goddess born of humans' collective will to have "perfect goddesses" and was turned into a monster by Athena's curse out of sheer jealousy, and thenceforth hated by people; ultimately, as they say, evil begets evil. Upon Medusa's decapitation by Perseus, Pegasus was born out of her gushing blood.

Nendoroid Rider	#492
Price	US $44.99
Release Date	May 2015
Sculptor	Ito Ryou-ichi
Cooperation	Nendoron
Height (approximate)	100 mm (3.94")

Additional Parts

Rider comes bundled with two available facial expressions that are her usual confident look and the combat one. Additionally, she has her intimidatingly large visor that is detachable. Rider's chain daggers are included as well, and her stand is large enough to shape the chains in cool ways. In addition, the magic circle of her Noble Phantasm, "Bellerophon", with its own stand, allows for even more battle situations.

Purchase Bonus

All preorders of this Nendoroid at the online store came with a Servant Summoning Circle Sheet as a bonus.

Further Information

This is page 1 of a series of Fate Series Nendoroids. Please select from this list of other pages for information on other Nendoroids in this series.

Page 2: Archer: Super Movable Edition, Gudako, Lancer/Scáthach, Shielder/Mash Kyrielight, Lancer/Jeanne d'Arc Alter Santa Lily
Page 3: Ruler/Jeanne d'Arc, Saber/Arthur Pendragon (Prototype), Saber/Arthur Pendragon (Prototype): Ascension Ver., Rin Tohsaka, Rider of "Black"
Page 4: Saber of "Red", Archer/Ishtar, Saber/Miyamoto Musashi, Shielder/Mash Kyrielight: Casual ver., Caster/Merlin
Page 5: Caster/Merlin: Magus of Flowers Ver., Avenger/Jeanne d'Arc (Alter), Caster/Gilgamesh, Caster/Gilgamesh: Ascension Ver., Saber/Altria Pendragon: True Name Revealed Ver.
Page 6: Lancer/Ereshkigal, Caster/Nitocris, Lancer/Karna, Archer/Arjuna, Gilgamesh
Page 7: Saber Alter: Super Movable Edition, Berserker/Paul Bunyan, Saber/Arthur Pendragon (Prototype): Costume Dress -White Rose- Ver., Foreigner/Abigail Williams, Saber Extra
Page 8: Caster, Saber/Altria Pendragon (Alter) Shinjuku Ver., Saber/Altria Pendragon (Alter) Shinjuku Ver. & Cuirassier Noir, Avenger/King of the Cavern Edmond Dantès, Avenger/King of the Cavern Edmond Dantès: Ascension Ver.
Page 9: Assassin/Okada Izo, Assassin/Okada Izo: Shimatsuken Ver., Avenger/Jeanne d'Arc (Alter) Shinjuku Ver., Archer/Gilgamesh: Third Ascension Ver., Shirou Emiya, Foreigner/Katsushika Hokusai

References