TV-Series
Description
In the narrative of Fate/stay night, two distinct figures answer to the class name of Assassin, each with a separate origin and role in the Fifth Holy Grail War. One is an irregular swordsman summoned through forbidden means, while the other is the true embodiment of the Assassin class.
The first, often referred to as the fake Assassin, is a wraith summoned not by a proper Master but by the Servant Caster, who exploited a loophole in the Holy Grail War's rules. This entity has no true heroic spirit as its basis; instead, it is a nameless swordsman who perfectly fits the legendary template of the Japanese folk hero Sasaki Kojirō. Because of this irregular summoning, the wraith is bound to the physical location of the Ryuudou Temple gate, unable to leave its immediate vicinity and entirely dependent on Caster for magical energy.
In terms of personality, this Assassin is a stark contrast to the usual connotations of his class. He is quiet, composed, and carries himself with the stoic dignity of a ronin from a bygone era. He does not use stealth or treachery, preferring direct, honorable combat against worthy opponents. His primary motivation is not the Holy Grail itself, but the pursuit of a fulfilling duel. He is a lover of nature and finds beauty in simple things like flowers, birds, wind, and the moon, often speaking in a philosophical and slightly old-fashioned manner. He holds a deep disdain for his summoner, Caster, whom he disrespectfully calls a vixen, and only obeys her due to a Command Spell forcing his compliance.
His role in the story is that of a gatekeeper. Stationed at the entrance to Ryuudou Temple, he serves as an immovable obstacle, repelling any Servant or Master who attempts to enter. He successfully blocks Saber on multiple occasions, demonstrating that his pure swordsmanship is a match for her formidable power. His key relationship is, paradoxically, with his master Caster, a bond built on coercion and mutual contempt. He holds a far greater respect for his adversaries, particularly Saber, with whom he shares a mutual appreciation for martial honor. In the Heaven's Feel scenario, his story ends unceremoniously; his body is used as a catalyst and his existence is consumed to provide a vessel for the true Assassin, his purpose served as a mere placeholder.
Despite lacking a true Noble Phantasm, his notable ability is a sword technique that rivals one. This technique, Tsubame Gaeshi or the Swallow Reversal, is not magic but a supreme physical skill honed over a lifetime. By swinging his long sword, the Monohoshi Zao, at tremendous speed, he is able to momentarily bend the laws of physics to deliver three simultaneous, unavoidable slashes from three different angles. This feat allows him to briefly touch upon the realm of the Second Magic, a True Magic, through sheer martial prowess alone.
The true Assassin, by contrast, is the legitimate holder of the class. Summoned by the ancient magus Zouken Matou in the Heaven's Feel narrative, this figure is one of the nineteen legendary leaders of the Hashshashin, known as Hassan of the Cursed Arm. He initially manifests in a degraded state, using the body of the fake Assassin as a vessel. At first, he is a near-mindless beast, but after consuming the heart of the Servant Lancer, his intelligence is restored, granting him the ability to speak and think with a calculating and cruel clarity.
His personality is that of a loyal and efficient tool of assassination. He views killing not as a passion but as a duty, following his master's commands with unwavering dedication. He is not suited for direct combat and lacks the raw power of other Servants, but he compensates with a fanatical devotion to his mission and a masterful command of stealth. Unlike the swordsman, he embraces the Assassin's creed of striking from the shadows to eliminate Masters. His key relationship is with Zouken Matou, whom he serves with a strange, mechanical loyalty, and with the shadow that haunts Fuyuki, which he aids in capturing Servants.
His development is grimly fascinating; he transforms from a feral creature into a cunning and articulate monster after consuming Lancer's heart, even briefly adopting some of the fallen hero's mannerisms. His defining ability is his Noble Phantasm, Zabaniya: Delusional Heartbeat. This cursed arm creates an ethereal double of the target's heart and swaps it with the real one. By crushing this phantom heart, he can instantly kill the victim from a distance, bypassing all physical armor and conventional defenses. This ability, coupled with his high-level Presence Concealment, makes him a perfect predator for eliminating human Masters.
The first, often referred to as the fake Assassin, is a wraith summoned not by a proper Master but by the Servant Caster, who exploited a loophole in the Holy Grail War's rules. This entity has no true heroic spirit as its basis; instead, it is a nameless swordsman who perfectly fits the legendary template of the Japanese folk hero Sasaki Kojirō. Because of this irregular summoning, the wraith is bound to the physical location of the Ryuudou Temple gate, unable to leave its immediate vicinity and entirely dependent on Caster for magical energy.
In terms of personality, this Assassin is a stark contrast to the usual connotations of his class. He is quiet, composed, and carries himself with the stoic dignity of a ronin from a bygone era. He does not use stealth or treachery, preferring direct, honorable combat against worthy opponents. His primary motivation is not the Holy Grail itself, but the pursuit of a fulfilling duel. He is a lover of nature and finds beauty in simple things like flowers, birds, wind, and the moon, often speaking in a philosophical and slightly old-fashioned manner. He holds a deep disdain for his summoner, Caster, whom he disrespectfully calls a vixen, and only obeys her due to a Command Spell forcing his compliance.
His role in the story is that of a gatekeeper. Stationed at the entrance to Ryuudou Temple, he serves as an immovable obstacle, repelling any Servant or Master who attempts to enter. He successfully blocks Saber on multiple occasions, demonstrating that his pure swordsmanship is a match for her formidable power. His key relationship is, paradoxically, with his master Caster, a bond built on coercion and mutual contempt. He holds a far greater respect for his adversaries, particularly Saber, with whom he shares a mutual appreciation for martial honor. In the Heaven's Feel scenario, his story ends unceremoniously; his body is used as a catalyst and his existence is consumed to provide a vessel for the true Assassin, his purpose served as a mere placeholder.
Despite lacking a true Noble Phantasm, his notable ability is a sword technique that rivals one. This technique, Tsubame Gaeshi or the Swallow Reversal, is not magic but a supreme physical skill honed over a lifetime. By swinging his long sword, the Monohoshi Zao, at tremendous speed, he is able to momentarily bend the laws of physics to deliver three simultaneous, unavoidable slashes from three different angles. This feat allows him to briefly touch upon the realm of the Second Magic, a True Magic, through sheer martial prowess alone.
The true Assassin, by contrast, is the legitimate holder of the class. Summoned by the ancient magus Zouken Matou in the Heaven's Feel narrative, this figure is one of the nineteen legendary leaders of the Hashshashin, known as Hassan of the Cursed Arm. He initially manifests in a degraded state, using the body of the fake Assassin as a vessel. At first, he is a near-mindless beast, but after consuming the heart of the Servant Lancer, his intelligence is restored, granting him the ability to speak and think with a calculating and cruel clarity.
His personality is that of a loyal and efficient tool of assassination. He views killing not as a passion but as a duty, following his master's commands with unwavering dedication. He is not suited for direct combat and lacks the raw power of other Servants, but he compensates with a fanatical devotion to his mission and a masterful command of stealth. Unlike the swordsman, he embraces the Assassin's creed of striking from the shadows to eliminate Masters. His key relationship is with Zouken Matou, whom he serves with a strange, mechanical loyalty, and with the shadow that haunts Fuyuki, which he aids in capturing Servants.
His development is grimly fascinating; he transforms from a feral creature into a cunning and articulate monster after consuming Lancer's heart, even briefly adopting some of the fallen hero's mannerisms. His defining ability is his Noble Phantasm, Zabaniya: Delusional Heartbeat. This cursed arm creates an ethereal double of the target's heart and swaps it with the real one. By crushing this phantom heart, he can instantly kill the victim from a distance, bypassing all physical armor and conventional defenses. This ability, coupled with his high-level Presence Concealment, makes him a perfect predator for eliminating human Masters.