TV-Series
Description
Gildarts Clive is a prominent supporting character in Fairy Tail, widely recognized within the guild as its most powerful S-Class mage and its acknowledged Ace. He is a tall, muscular man with a rugged appearance, characterized by his shoulder-length orange hair, often slicked back, and a stubbly beard. His body bears significant scars, most notably the absence of his left arm and left leg, which are replaced by advanced, armor-like prosthetic limbs. The black stamp of the Fairy Tail guild is located on his left pectoral, and he is frequently depicted wearing a tattered, high-collared cloak and traveling clothes.
Despite his fearsome reputation, Gildarts possesses a laid-back, easygoing, and warmhearted personality. He is often oblivious to his surroundings, failing to recognize familiar places or even long-time guildmates like Mirajane Strauss. His destructive magical power is so ingrained that he habitually smashes through walls instead of using doors, a habit that prompted the citizens of Magnolia to create a town-wide rearrangement system known as the Gildarts Shift, which clears a path for him to minimize accidental damage during his visits. While he is a kind and supportive figure, especially toward the younger guild members, he is also a confessed womanizer with a history of numerous relationships.
Gildarts's backstory is marked by both great achievement and profound loss. Years before the main story, he married a woman named Cornelia, but their relationship ended due to his obsession with dangerous missions. Unbeknownst to him, Cornelia was pregnant with his daughter, Cana Alberona, who would later join Fairy Tail and keep their relationship a secret for many years. His career as a mage is legendary; he has completed numerous SS-Class quests and decade-long missions. In the year X781, he embarked on a century-class mission, during which he confronted the Black Dragon Acnologia. The battle was catastrophic, costing him his left arm, left leg, and an unspecified internal organ. He survived the encounter, becoming the only known human to do so, but the failure forced him to return to the guild after a three-year absence.
Within the story, Gildarts serves as a benchmark for ultimate power and a mentor figure, most notably to Natsu Dragneel. He appeared as the formidable examiner during the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial on Tenrou Island. In their fight, he effortlessly dismantled Natsu’s magic and even split him into miniature, doll-like versions of himself using his Disassembly Magic. The most crucial lesson he imparted to Natsu was not about strength, but about the value of fear. He explained that acknowledging one's own weaknesses and fear is essential for becoming truly strong and kind, a philosophy that forms a key part of Natsu's development. He also plays a critical protective role, intervening to save his daughter Cana from the Grimoire Heart mage Bluenote Stinger, single-handedly defeating the powerful foe. It was during this battle that Cana finally revealed their familial bond, an emotional moment where Gildarts immediately embraced her as his daughter with profound remorse for his absence.
His combat abilities are centered around his unique and immensely powerful Crush Magic, also known as Crash. This advanced Caster Magic allows him to disassemble and shatter anything he touches, including physical matter and magical spells, into small fragments or harmless miniature versions. He can use this power to nullify incoming attacks and deflect powerful enchantments. Among his signature techniques are Crushing Evil, Spreading the Truth: Empyrean, where he nullifies an opponent's spell and delivers a devastating counter-punch, and its more powerful variant, Crushing Evil, Spreading the Truth: Absolute Heaven. He complements this magic with extraordinary physical strength, immense durability, and masterful hand-to-hand combat skills. His magical power is so vast that releasing his aura alone can paralyze other powerful mages with sheer pressure.
Gildarts was briefly appointed the Fifth Guild Master of Fairy Tail, but he almost immediately resigned, leaving a note that reinstated Makarov as the Sixth Master. He actively avoids leadership roles and prefers the life of a lone wolf, undertaking extended solo missions. Despite his frequent absences, he remains an anchor for Fairy Tail, embodying the guild's core philosophy through his decisive action and immense power whenever a true crisis emerges.
Despite his fearsome reputation, Gildarts possesses a laid-back, easygoing, and warmhearted personality. He is often oblivious to his surroundings, failing to recognize familiar places or even long-time guildmates like Mirajane Strauss. His destructive magical power is so ingrained that he habitually smashes through walls instead of using doors, a habit that prompted the citizens of Magnolia to create a town-wide rearrangement system known as the Gildarts Shift, which clears a path for him to minimize accidental damage during his visits. While he is a kind and supportive figure, especially toward the younger guild members, he is also a confessed womanizer with a history of numerous relationships.
Gildarts's backstory is marked by both great achievement and profound loss. Years before the main story, he married a woman named Cornelia, but their relationship ended due to his obsession with dangerous missions. Unbeknownst to him, Cornelia was pregnant with his daughter, Cana Alberona, who would later join Fairy Tail and keep their relationship a secret for many years. His career as a mage is legendary; he has completed numerous SS-Class quests and decade-long missions. In the year X781, he embarked on a century-class mission, during which he confronted the Black Dragon Acnologia. The battle was catastrophic, costing him his left arm, left leg, and an unspecified internal organ. He survived the encounter, becoming the only known human to do so, but the failure forced him to return to the guild after a three-year absence.
Within the story, Gildarts serves as a benchmark for ultimate power and a mentor figure, most notably to Natsu Dragneel. He appeared as the formidable examiner during the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial on Tenrou Island. In their fight, he effortlessly dismantled Natsu’s magic and even split him into miniature, doll-like versions of himself using his Disassembly Magic. The most crucial lesson he imparted to Natsu was not about strength, but about the value of fear. He explained that acknowledging one's own weaknesses and fear is essential for becoming truly strong and kind, a philosophy that forms a key part of Natsu's development. He also plays a critical protective role, intervening to save his daughter Cana from the Grimoire Heart mage Bluenote Stinger, single-handedly defeating the powerful foe. It was during this battle that Cana finally revealed their familial bond, an emotional moment where Gildarts immediately embraced her as his daughter with profound remorse for his absence.
His combat abilities are centered around his unique and immensely powerful Crush Magic, also known as Crash. This advanced Caster Magic allows him to disassemble and shatter anything he touches, including physical matter and magical spells, into small fragments or harmless miniature versions. He can use this power to nullify incoming attacks and deflect powerful enchantments. Among his signature techniques are Crushing Evil, Spreading the Truth: Empyrean, where he nullifies an opponent's spell and delivers a devastating counter-punch, and its more powerful variant, Crushing Evil, Spreading the Truth: Absolute Heaven. He complements this magic with extraordinary physical strength, immense durability, and masterful hand-to-hand combat skills. His magical power is so vast that releasing his aura alone can paralyze other powerful mages with sheer pressure.
Gildarts was briefly appointed the Fifth Guild Master of Fairy Tail, but he almost immediately resigned, leaving a note that reinstated Makarov as the Sixth Master. He actively avoids leadership roles and prefers the life of a lone wolf, undertaking extended solo missions. Despite his frequent absences, he remains an anchor for Fairy Tail, embodying the guild's core philosophy through his decisive action and immense power whenever a true crisis emerges.