Martha

Overview

Martha is a Rider-class Servant appearing in the Fate franchise, prominently featured in Fate/Grand Order. Originating from 1st-century Christian tradition and the New Testament, she is celebrated as the holy maiden who subdued the formidable evil dragon Tarasque through prayer and devotion. Uniquely among Riders, she possesses the rare ability to command dragonkind as her mount. While presenting herself as a serene and compassionate saint dedicated to guiding humanity, she retains a spirited, practical disposition from her youth as a hardworking country girl.

Appearance

Martha stands 161 cm tall and weighs 49 kg. She features bluish-purple long hair styled with straight-cut hime bangs, paired with blue eyes. Her signature outfit is a leotard-style robe featuring a deep plunging neckline that exposes her midriff, complemented by earrings, red gloves or gauntlets, and jewelry. In combat, she wields a large cross-shaped staff. She also appears in alternate attires, including a swimsuit as a Ruler and a Santa costume as a Caster.

Personality

On the surface, Martha embodies the ideal saint—gentle, soft-spoken, and infinitely compassionate. However, this outer calm overlays her original personality as a headstrong country girl who raised her siblings. When flustered or among close companions, her polished posture drops, revealing a sharp-tongued, assertive big-sister persona with a surprisingly rough vocabulary. Despite earned fan nicknames referencing her pugnacious streak, her core remains defined by profound faith and devotion to humanity. She is also a skilled homemaker who excels at cooking.

Abilities

Martha possesses high-rank Magic Resistance, Divinity, and an exceptional Riding skill that allows her to command dragons. Her skill set offers self-healing, status cleansing, attack enhancements near water, and granting dragon-slaying properties to allies. In battle, she unleashes magical detonations via her cross staff, strikes targets directly with the staff, or engages in bare-handed martial combat. Her primary Noble Phantasm, Tarasque, summons the iron-armored dragon to spin rapidly and charge like a meteor into enemy ranks. She can also deploy Tarasque's shell as a protective barrier.

Background

Living in 1st-century Europe alongside her sister Mary and brother Lazarus, Martha's life was transformed when she welcomed the Savior into her home. Following His teachings, she embraced a life of pure faith. After the Savior's death, she was exiled by the Roman governor due to her unwavering beliefs. She drifted to southern France along the Rhône River, reaching the town of Nerluc. There, she confronted the vicious dragon Tarasque, subduing the beast through prayer and a holy cross, after which the tamed dragon became her spiritual guardian.

Relationships

Martha holds deep reverence for the Savior who guided her faith. She treasures her siblings, Mary of Bethany and Lazarus. With her Master, Ritsuka Fujimaru, she develops a comfortable rapport, gradually dropping her saintly facade. Her bond with the dragon Tarasque resembles that of a strict leader and a rough follower, often disciplining him physically. She maintains warm ties with fellow saints like Jeanne d'Arc and Georgios, while frequently suffering headaches over rebellious Servants such as Mordred and Caenis.

Trivia

Recognized historically as the patron saint of homemaking, Martha gained popular fan nicknames such as Yankee Saint and Brawling Saint due to her sharp tongue and preference for hand-to-hand combat—traits later incorporated into official story events. Following a battle animation update in Fate/Grand Order, her Noble Phantasm animation vividly depicts her using her staff to swing at Tarasque like a golf club or hockey stick to launch him toward targets.