Fafnir
Fafnir is an evil draconic entity originating from Germanic and Norse mythology depicted throughout the Fate franchise, notably appearing in works such as Fate/Apocrypha and Fate/Grand Order. Characterized as a legendary Phantasmal Species slain by epic heroes, Fafnir serves both as a formidable adversary and as a pivotal force bound to the fate of key characters. Within Fate/Apocrypha, the dragon represents a powerful internal and external threat that ultimately shapes the protagonist's destiny.
Overview
Fafnir is an evil draconic entity originating from Germanic and Norse mythology depicted throughout the Fate franchise, notably appearing in works such as Fate/Apocrypha and Fate/Grand Order. Characterized as a legendary Phantasmal Species slain by epic heroes, Fafnir serves both as a formidable adversary and as a pivotal force bound to the fate of key characters. Within Fate/Apocrypha, the dragon represents a powerful internal and external threat that ultimately shapes the protagonist's destiny.
Appearance
Fafnir is depicted as a massive winged dragon covered in impenetrable scales. In humanoid representations, the character features dark skin, long white hair, and green eyes. The attire includes protective armor equipped with shoulder pauldrons and gauntlets.
Personality
Fafnir embodies intense greed, malice, and destructive draconic impulses. As a sinister presence within the inner minds of others, the dragon constantly tempts and seeks to consume those connected to its heart and blood. Its personality is defined by unrelenting avarice and a menacing demeanor that tests the resolve of anyone attempting to resist its influence.
Abilities
Fafnir possesses potent draconic traits, including blood that grants invulnerability and dragon attributes to anyone who bathes in it. Its heart and blood exert a transformative influence, overwhelming a host's body and mind until they fully turn into the dragon itself. In combat, Fafnir relies on impenetrable scales for defense and functions as a massive, powerful opponent.
Background
In mythic tradition, Fafnir was a notorious dragon defeated by the heroes Siegfried and Sigurd. Within Fate/Apocrypha, after the homunculus Sieg receives Siegfried's heart, Fafnir's lingering spirit haunts Sieg's subconscious. To prevent catastrophic harm at the conclusion of the war, Sieg surrenders to the transformation, fully becoming Fafnir to transport the Greater Grail to the Reverse Side of the World. Additionally, Fafnir manifests as a major boss adversary during the Orleans Singularity in Fate/Grand Order.
Relationships
Fafnir shares a legendary rivalry with the dragon-slayers Siegfried and Sigurd, both of whom defeated it in myth; Siegfried notably acquired draconic traits by bathing in its blood. In Fate/Apocrypha, Fafnir forms a deep psychological bond with Sieg after the homunculus inherits Siegfried's heart, culminating in Sieg taking on Fafnir's physical form. In Fate/Grand Order, Fafnir is summoned by Jeanne d'Arc (Alter) during the Orleans Singularity and acts as a barrier against Jeanne d'Arc.
Trivia
Because Fafnir appears in the sagas of both Siegfried and Sigurd, lore within the universe accommodates interpretations of distinct draconic incarnations. In the gameplay of Fate/Grand Order, Fafnir is well known among players as a giant boss enemy that drops rare ascension materials such as the Dragon's Reverse Scale.