Takeda Shingen
Takeda Harunobu, famously known as Takeda Shingen, is a Rider-class Servant featured in the Fate series, including Fate/Grand Order. Celebrated historically as the "Tiger of Kai," he was a renowned Sengoku-period warlord who led a feared cavalry army and achieved countless victories through tactical brilliance and shrewd diplomacy. In-game, he stands out as an exceptionally powerful physical combatant and brilliant strategist who serves as a reliable ally to Chaldea.
Overview
Takeda Harunobu, famously known as Takeda Shingen, is a Rider-class Servant featured in the Fate series, including Fate/Grand Order. Celebrated historically as the "Tiger of Kai," he was a renowned Sengoku-period warlord who led a feared cavalry army and achieved countless victories through tactical brilliance and shrewd diplomacy. In-game, he stands out as an exceptionally powerful physical combatant and brilliant strategist who serves as a reliable ally to Chaldea.
Appearance
He possesses grey and brown eyes paired with grey, brown, or white hair. His design shifts across Ascensions: his early form wears a modern pinstripe suit, a shirt, black pants, and a red coat with fur trim draped over his shoulders, holding a traditional war fan (gunbai). His second form adopts classic Japanese attire reminiscent of a young samurai commander, while his third form dons a heavily stylized, giant mecha-like armor known as Tatenashi on his shoulders.
Personality
Extremely proud and self-assured, he naturally projects the aura of a born conqueror. He can appear arrogant in combat—often holding back against foes he deems unworthy—yet he possesses a fiercely competitive nature and absolute commitment to his word. Despite his pragmatic mindset where deceit is accepted as part of war, he acts as a grounded, caring leader who deeply loves his people. He holds a strong appreciation for the modern era's peace and has a fond bias toward the color red.
Abilities
Possessing top-tier physical strength and durability, he excels in hand-to-hand brawn, swordsmanship, and manipulating magical energy to unleash fiery punches, strikes, and flame torrents. He holds skills such as Magic Resistance, Riding, Territory Creation (Takeda), Tiger of Kai, Red Flame, and Tatenashi. Harnessing basic magecraft learned in life, his Noble Phantasm, Fuurinkazan, channels the four natural elements—wind, forest, fire, and mountain—to sweep through opposing armies. He can also summon his wild steed, Kurokumo, to crush targets.
Background
Born as the heir to Takeda Nobutora, he exiled his tyrannical father to claim leadership as the 16th head of the Kai Takeda clan. Marching under the iconic Fuurinkazan banner, he achieved famed victories across Japan, notably clashing with his ultimate rival in the Battles of Kawanakajima. Though he fell to illness before fulfilling his ambition, his legacy endured. He initially manifested in the Fate series as an absolute concept of the clan's strength before being summoned as a Rider under his youthful name, Takeda Harunobu.
Relationships
He shares a fierce rivalry with Nagao Kagetora (Uesugi Kenshin), respect forged through their famous clashes at Kawanakajima. Renowned figures like Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi acknowledge him as one of the ultimate warriors of the Sengoku period. He was previously summoned via his biological son, Takeda Katsuyori. In Chaldea, he builds a strong bond of mutual trust with Fujimaru Ritsuka and earns the respectful admiration of the Dry Nobus.
Trivia
His displayed name in-game transitions from Takeda Harunobu in his first two Ascensions to Takeda Shingen upon reaching his third. Enthusiastic about modern technology, he thoroughly enjoys driving sports cars—particularly a bright red model styled after his horse, Kurokumo. His obsession with the color red once led him to eat brutally spicy Mapo Tofu simply because of its crimson color, resulting in severe regret.
