Merlin

Overview

First appearing fully in Fate/Grand Order Arcade as a Caster-class Servant, this version of Merlin originates from the parallel universe of Fate/Prototype. In a world where the King of Knights is the male Arthur Pendragon, the legendary Magus of Flowers takes the form of a woman. Serving as Arthur's mentor and advisor, she acts as a self-appointed guide for humanity, supporting the Master's journey out of her own whimsical interest in the continuation of the human story.

Appearance

She is a female figure with exceptionally long white hair featuring an ahoge, paired with purple eyes. Her attire consists of a white robe with wide long sleeves and exposed shoulders, complemented by black fingerless gloves. Distinctive head ornaments, which resemble animal ears, decorate her hair. She is also known to wear swimwear.

Personality

Maintaining a calm and cheerful demeanor, she is a free-spirited entity who fully accepts her nature as an outsider to human society. She openly admits her affection for human world affairs, mischief, and young boys. Living by the mindset that she remains distinct from humanity, she operates without guilt even when her interference alters someone's life path. While she typically addresses herself with formal personal pronouns, she switches to a more casual boyish pronoun in private settings.

Abilities

Possessing exceptionally high magical energy, she focuses primarily on spellcasting in battle. Her staff acts as a mobile workshop for instantaneous item creation, while her succubus heritage grants her the skill Dream Demon's Shore, allowing her to interfere with enemy minds and siphon magical energy across the battlefield. Although an immortal being who normally cannot be summoned as a Heroic Spirit, she independently acquired Independent Manifestation. Her Noble Phantasm, Hope of Avalon, points toward the distant horizon to inspire allies.

Background

Born as a hybrid of a human and a succubus, she selected and guided Arthur Pendragon as king in his world. Unlike her male counterpart in other timelines, she is not trapped within a tower in Avalon, viewing the realm instead as an open goal representing humanity's ideal future. After sending Arthur on his dimensional journey following his battles, she uses her unique manifestative abilities to step into other worlds simply to satisfy her own curiosity.

Relationships

She shares a close, playful bond with her former lord Arthur Pendragon, though her whimsical actions frequently provoke his exasperation. Her familiar Cath Palug holds a strong dislike toward her. She maintains an acquaintance with the Grand Servant First Hassan, though he treats her with stern coldness. Regarding the male Merlin of parallel worlds, both maintain a strict policy of non-interference due to their fundamental ideological differences.

Trivia

The artist responsible for her character design clarified that the prominent structures on her head are hair ornaments rather than actual ears. Fans frequently address her using a shortened nickname derived from her title.