Aníbal Barca is presented as a legendary Carthaginian military commander, summoned to a strange new world as a Drifter. He appears as a very elderly man, marked by a long white beard and white hair, with a piece of cloth serving as an eyepatch over his left eye. Having lived a long life before his arrival, he suffers from several ailments associated with advanced age, including dementia and urinary incontinence, which often lead others to underestimate him.

Despite his frail and sometimes seemingly senile demeanor, Aníbal possesses a remarkably intelligent and calm strategic mind. His moments of confusion and childlike behavior, such as his fondness for snacking on raspberries (which earned him the nickname "Mr. Raspberry" from the elves who care for him), mask a tactical genius who, in critical moments, can provide decisive insights that turn the tide of battle. He carries the weight of his past, and when his mind clears, he exhibits the commanding charisma and unyielding confidence of the great general who once made Rome tremble, insisting that victory is always possible even against overwhelming odds.

In the narrative, Aníbal primarily acts as a military advisor to the Drifter leader Oda Nobunaga. Due to his dementia, his advice is rarely given through direct, clear speech. Instead, he communicates through seemingly absurd or nonsensical actions, such as scattering and crushing raspberries on the floor. Nobunaga, recognizing the brilliance behind the madness, interprets these gestures as incredible strategic instructions, such as luring a scattered enemy force to a single point to destroy them. This unique dynamic makes Aníbal a crucial, if unconventional, asset in the Drifters' command structure.

A key relationship is his rivalry with Scipio Africanus, the Roman general who defeated him historically at the Battle of Zama. In this new world, the two former enemies are often seen bickering and arguing about past battles, yet they share a profound mutual respect. They function as a pair, and Aníbal’s condition noticeably worsens, leading to deeper depression and dementia, when he is separated from Scipio, highlighting how integral his old nemesis has become to his stability. Their dynamic represents a powerful alliance born from a rivalry of legends.

Aníbal's character shows moments of significant development, fluctuating between a state of helpless senility and sudden, sharp lucidity. While initially appearing as a diminished old man, he consistently demonstrates that his core tactical brilliance remains intact. His dementia seems almost like a fog that can be temporarily lifted when the situation demands his full genius, such as when he instinctively moves to defend Carthage or devises a key strategy for his allies. This contrast between his feeble exterior and his sharp, commanding interior is central to his role.

His notable abilities lie entirely in his unparalleled strategic and tactical mind. He is a master of classical military maneuvers, renowned for perfecting the hammer-and-anvil tactic. Even in his aged and confused state, he can instantly assess the abilities of his allies and the terrain to devise innovative solutions, like using a combination of an archer's arrows and a mage's amulet to create a staircase to scale a fortress wall. His greatest ability is his power to influence a battle not through direct action, but through indirect, often cryptic, communication that, when deciphered, yields devastatingly effective results.