Siegfried

Overview

Siegfried is a Saber-class Servant in the Fate series, debuting as the Saber of Black in Fate/Apocrypha. Originating from the medieval German epic Nibelungenlied, he is a legendary hero renowned for slaying the evil dragon Fafnir. Summoned by Gordes Musik Yggdmillennia during the Great Holy Grail War, he stands among the most powerful Saber Servants due to his remarkable combat skills and unmatched defensive endurance.

Appearance

Siegfried is a tall male standing 190 cm tall and weighing 80 kg. He features long hair, with visual depictions showing subtle variations in hair color, eye color, and skin tone depending on the artwork. He wears heavy body armor, yet a specific patch on his back remains entirely exposed due to a curse from his dragon-slaying legend. This uncovered back section persists regardless of any alternate outfits or costumes he dons.

Personality

Siegfried embodies the noble and righteous spirit of a classic knight. Silent and earnest, he is deeply compassionate and incapable of ignoring the weak. In life, he functioned like a living wish-granting device who simply fulfilled every request asked of him. Reflecting on his past as a hero defined solely by others' desires, as a Heroic Spirit he quietly wishes to fight for his own sense of justice. His extreme modesty often leads to self-deprecating behavior and a frequent habit of apologizing.

Abilities

Siegfried excels in close-quarters swordsmanship using his noble phantasm, the greatsword Balmung. His passive defensive noble phantasm, Armor of Fafnir, completely negates physical attacks and magecraft below a certain threshold while drastically reducing the damage of higher-tier attacks. However, this defense does not cover the exposed spot on his back. His skills include Golden Rule, Battle Continuation / Disengagement, and Dragon Slayer, granting him supreme effectiveness against dragon opponents.

Background

During his youth, Siegfried undertook numerous adventures, acquiring the Nibelung treasure, a cloak of invisibility, and ultimately slaying the dragon Fafnir. By bathing in the dragon's blood, he gained near-invulnerable skin, save for a single patch on his back. His glory faded after marrying Princess Kriemhild; fulfilling his brother-in-law's favors led to severe conflict, ultimately forcing Siegfried to accept his own assassination to restore peace. As a Servant, he seeks to act on his own desire to save lives.

Relationships

Kriemhild is his wife, and King Gunther was his brother-in-law. He shares deep tragic ties with his former friend Hagen, as well as with the dragon Fafnir whom he defeated in life. Though sharing an origin with the Norse hero Sigurd, they are defined as distinct individuals in-universe. During the Great Holy Grail War, he serves Gordes Musik Yggdmillennia as his Master and forms a profound connection with the homunculus Sieg.

Trivia

Siegfried's name and weapons were mentioned as early as Fate/stay night within underlying lore explanations. Due to his overly humble disposition and constant habit of apologizing, he earned the enduring fan and official nickname "Sumanai-san" (Mr. Sorry). He holds the distinction of being the first Saber-class Servant in the franchise who is neither a Saber-face nor associated with the Knights of the Round Table.