TV-Series
Description
Lancer of Black is the Lancer-class Servant summoned by Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia to represent the Black Faction in the Great Holy Grail War of Fate/Apocrypha. His true name is Vlad III, the 15th-century ruler of Wallachia who is revered as the greatest hero of Romania and feared as the Impaling Prince for his brutal tactics against the Ottoman Empire. In this incarnation, he appears as a tall, pale man with long white hair and black royal attire, exuding an overwhelming presence. His personality is generally noble and dignified, a king who values competent vassals and despises betrayal and ambition in his subordinates. However, once he marks someone as an enemy, he becomes utterly relentless. His primary motivation is to defend his homeland and to erase the false legend of the vampire Dracula that has been attached to his name; he despises that stigma and will never willingly use the cursed power associated with it. This desire drives much of his behavior during the war, as he seeks to prove that he is a heroic king, not a monster.
His role in the story is central to the Black Faction’s defensive strategy. Because the Holy Grail War takes place on Romanian soil, Vlad receives the maximum possible fame bonus, which elevates almost all of his parameters. Furthermore, his unique skill Demonic Defender of the State allows him to claim territory by securing local ley lines in advance. Within this claimed territory, he gains a combat boost comparable to Madness Enhancement of A-rank, and his Noble Phantasm becomes fully usable. This Noble Phantasm is Kazikli Bey, an Anti-Army ability that summons up to twenty thousand stakes from the ground or from space within a radius of one kilometer. The stakes can be used for attack, defense, and area control; each successful lance strike also creates the concept of impalement, generating stakes directly from the target’s heart. The sheer number and spread of stakes inflict psychological pressure on enemies. Outside his territory, his power is drastically reduced, making him a formidable defender but a weaker aggressor.
His key relationships are marked by tension and tragedy. His master, Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia, is a mage consumed by ambition. Vlad initially respects their pact but grows increasingly wary as Darnic’s schemes strain their cooperation. The disappearance of the Black Faction’s Saber and the collapse of their camp push Vlad into a corner. Ultimately, Darnic uses a Command Spell to force Vlad to activate his forbidden Noble Phantasm, Legend of Dracula. This ability materializes the fabricated vampire legend, transforming Vlad into a monstrous vampire with enhanced physical abilities, shapeshifting powers, and the capacity to turn others into familiars through bloodsucking. The transformation comes at the cost of sealing his normal skills and Noble Phantasms and leaving him vulnerable to sunlight and holy symbols. Vlad had warned Darnic immediately after summoning that he would kill him if forced to use that power, but the Command Spell overrides his will. In the end, Darnic absorbs Vlad into himself, and the hero loses his consciousness, becoming a mere puppet monster. The Ruler, Jeanne d’Arc, even has to cast a Command Spell to try to stop him. This makes Lancer of Black one of the most tragic figures in the series, a noble king reduced to the very monster he sought to erase.
Notable abilities beyond his Noble Phantasms include high magic resistance that nullifies incantations of three verses or fewer, making him difficult to harm with standard spells. His personal combat skill is formidable, especially when supplemented by the territory boost. His physical attributes are all raised to high levels due to the Romanian fame advantage. In summary, Lancer of Black is a proud and tragic hero whose strength as a defender of his homeland is unmatched in the war, but whose forced transformation into Dracula leads to his downfall and loss of identity.
His role in the story is central to the Black Faction’s defensive strategy. Because the Holy Grail War takes place on Romanian soil, Vlad receives the maximum possible fame bonus, which elevates almost all of his parameters. Furthermore, his unique skill Demonic Defender of the State allows him to claim territory by securing local ley lines in advance. Within this claimed territory, he gains a combat boost comparable to Madness Enhancement of A-rank, and his Noble Phantasm becomes fully usable. This Noble Phantasm is Kazikli Bey, an Anti-Army ability that summons up to twenty thousand stakes from the ground or from space within a radius of one kilometer. The stakes can be used for attack, defense, and area control; each successful lance strike also creates the concept of impalement, generating stakes directly from the target’s heart. The sheer number and spread of stakes inflict psychological pressure on enemies. Outside his territory, his power is drastically reduced, making him a formidable defender but a weaker aggressor.
His key relationships are marked by tension and tragedy. His master, Darnic Prestone Yggdmillennia, is a mage consumed by ambition. Vlad initially respects their pact but grows increasingly wary as Darnic’s schemes strain their cooperation. The disappearance of the Black Faction’s Saber and the collapse of their camp push Vlad into a corner. Ultimately, Darnic uses a Command Spell to force Vlad to activate his forbidden Noble Phantasm, Legend of Dracula. This ability materializes the fabricated vampire legend, transforming Vlad into a monstrous vampire with enhanced physical abilities, shapeshifting powers, and the capacity to turn others into familiars through bloodsucking. The transformation comes at the cost of sealing his normal skills and Noble Phantasms and leaving him vulnerable to sunlight and holy symbols. Vlad had warned Darnic immediately after summoning that he would kill him if forced to use that power, but the Command Spell overrides his will. In the end, Darnic absorbs Vlad into himself, and the hero loses his consciousness, becoming a mere puppet monster. The Ruler, Jeanne d’Arc, even has to cast a Command Spell to try to stop him. This makes Lancer of Black one of the most tragic figures in the series, a noble king reduced to the very monster he sought to erase.
Notable abilities beyond his Noble Phantasms include high magic resistance that nullifies incantations of three verses or fewer, making him difficult to harm with standard spells. His personal combat skill is formidable, especially when supplemented by the territory boost. His physical attributes are all raised to high levels due to the Romanian fame advantage. In summary, Lancer of Black is a proud and tragic hero whose strength as a defender of his homeland is unmatched in the war, but whose forced transformation into Dracula leads to his downfall and loss of identity.