Armisael

Overview

Armisael is the Sixteenth Angel appearing in the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. Named after the angel governing the womb, it manifests as a glowing, ring-shaped entity capable of freely altering its physical form. Unlike typical physical combatants, Armisael possesses a unique imperative to invade and fuse with its targets. By making direct contact with Evangelion units, it seeks to assimilate both the mecha and the pilot's subconscious mind, creating a severe biological and psychological threat.

Appearance

Armisael initially appears as a floating, glowing torus approximately one kilometer in diameter, featuring a double-helix structure similar to a plasmid. During combat, this double helix unravels into a single thread-like line that serves as a weapon. Upon invading a target, it freely alters its shape, manifesting internal organ-like structures modeled after previously defeated Angels, or transforming into the likeness of a completely pure white Rei Ayanami.

Personality

Rather than acting out of simple destructive malice, Armisael is driven by a profound sense of loneliness and an intense imperative to fuse with other living beings. Upon contacting Rei Ayanami, it forces her to experience its internal pain while drawing upon her subconscious desire to become one with Shinji Ikari. During the assimilation process, Armisael utilizes Rei's voice to emit screams and chilling laughter, inflicting severe emotional suffering upon Shinji during combat.

Abilities

Armisael possesses the ability to breach AT Fields and physically erode and fuse with both mechanical armor and biological components. By unspooling its double-helix body into a single thread, it can pierce targets and destroy handheld weaponry such as the palette rifle. Additionally, it infiltrates the pilot's biological data and mind to read their thoughts and emotions. In the manga version, it exhibits splitting capabilities, high physical resistance against cutting weapons, and the ability to control hijacked equipment to sever opposing mecha limbs.

Background

Descending as the Sixteenth Angel in Neon Genesis Evangelion, Armisael engages Evangelion Unit-00, piloted by Rei Ayanami. It pierces the unit's abdomen and initiates a physical and psychological invasion. When Shinji Ikari arrives in Evangelion Unit-01 to rescue Rei, the Angel extends its assimilation toward his unit and body. To save Shinji and prevent further infection, Rei reverses Unit-00's AT Field to lock Armisael in place and triggers her mecha's self-destruct mechanism, destroying both Unit-00 and the Angel.

Relationships

Upon invading Evangelion Unit-00, Armisael establishes a psychological link with pilot Rei Ayanami, sharing its isolation while copying her physical appearance and voice. Reading Rei's inner feelings, it targets Shinji Ikari in Evangelion Unit-01, invading his body and inflicting acute psychological distress. In the manga adaptation, it also battles Kaworu Nagisa piloting Evangelion Unit-02, commandeering a dual saw to sever the unit's left leg.

Trivia

Armisael's name translates to "Mountain of God's Judgment" and originates from Jewish angelology, where it is recognized as the angel governing the womb and one of seventy childbirth angels invoked during difficult labors. In the Director's Cut version of the anime, additional footage was included depicting organ-like structures shaped like previously defeated Angels bursting from Evangelion Unit-00's back, as well as a swell on Shinji Ikari's infected hand taking the shape of Rei Ayanami's face.