TV-Series
Description
Gildarts Clive stands as Fairy Tail's S-Class mage and acknowledged "Ace," its strongest active member. He possesses a tall, muscular build, shoulder-length reddish-orange hair typically slicked back, and facial stubble. A fateful battle with the dragon Acnologia cost him his left arm, left leg, and an internal organ, leading to initial wooden prosthetics later upgraded to armor-like mechanical replacements. Prominent scars mark his chest, which bears the black Fairy Tail guild mark on his left pectoral; bandages frequently cover his torso and right forearm. He commonly wears a tattered, high-collared cloak—designs evolving from shoulder-plated to fur-trimmed—over loose dark pants secured by an armored waist-guard and boots.
His personality blends laid-back indifference with intense loyalty. Oblivious to his surroundings, he often fails to recognize guild members or locations, habitually using destructive magic to smash through walls instead of using doors. This tendency forced Magnolia Town to implement the "Gildarts Shift," a rearrangement mechanism creating clear pathways during his visits to minimize destruction. Despite his easygoing manner, fierce protectiveness surfaces for guildmates, especially in combat. He openly admits struggling with restraint, prioritizing non-lethal tactics against humans but unleashing full power against formidable foes. Gildarts actively avoids leadership, resigning immediately after being named the guild's fifth master; he reinstated Laxus Dreyar's membership and reinstalled Makarov via a note before departing. He maintains a lone-wolf lifestyle, undertaking extended solo missions, and has a history of womanizing involving at least 13 women after separating from his late wife.
His history includes marriage to Cornelia, which ended due to his preoccupation with dangerous missions. Unbeknownst to him, Cornelia was pregnant upon leaving; their daughter, Cana Alberona, later joined Fairy Tail but withheld their relationship for years, believing herself unworthy until proving her strength. Professionally, he completed multiple SS-Class and decade-long quests before accepting a century-class mission in X781. During this mission, he confronted Acnologia, suffering near-fatal injuries but surviving as the first known human to endure an encounter with the dragon. This failure forced his return after a three-year absence.
His combat revolves around Crush Magic, dismantling physical and magical matter into fragmented cubes or harmless miniature versions. This magic disassembles spells, deflects attacks, and shatters terrain, though its indiscriminate nature leads him to isolate himself during battles to protect allies. Notable techniques include "Crushing Evil, Spreading the Truth: Empyrean," a finishing move shattering targets upward. Gildarts supplements this with immense physical prowess: he withstood Natsu Dragneel’s "Crimson Lotus: Exploding Flame Blade" with minimal recoil, overpowered Bluenote Stinger's gravitational forces, and once destroyed Kardia Cathedral in a single strike. His magical aura alone paralyzes foes, as demonstrated against Natsu during the S-Class trials.
Key arcs include mentoring Natsu, whom he views as a surrogate son. After revealing Acnologia’s threat, he later tested Natsu during the S-Class Promotion Trial on Tenrou Island. Employing Disassembly Magic, he fractured Natsu into diminutive forms, then unleashed his full aura to teach the value of acknowledging fear and weakness. Despite Natsu’s defeat, Gildarts permitted his advancement for grasping these lessons. He intervened critically against Grimoire Heart, rescuing Cana from Bluenote and defeating him single-handedly. During this arc, Cana revealed their familial tie; overcome, Gildarts embraced her as his daughter, expressing profound remorse for his absence.
Post-timeskip, Gildarts continued high-stakes engagements, confronting God Serena’s Historia and August of the Spriggan 12. He later encountered Natsu during the latter’s one-year training hiatus, engaging in a sparring match. Though frequently absent, he remains an anchor for the guild in crises, embodying Fairy Tail’s ethos through decisive action.
His personality blends laid-back indifference with intense loyalty. Oblivious to his surroundings, he often fails to recognize guild members or locations, habitually using destructive magic to smash through walls instead of using doors. This tendency forced Magnolia Town to implement the "Gildarts Shift," a rearrangement mechanism creating clear pathways during his visits to minimize destruction. Despite his easygoing manner, fierce protectiveness surfaces for guildmates, especially in combat. He openly admits struggling with restraint, prioritizing non-lethal tactics against humans but unleashing full power against formidable foes. Gildarts actively avoids leadership, resigning immediately after being named the guild's fifth master; he reinstated Laxus Dreyar's membership and reinstalled Makarov via a note before departing. He maintains a lone-wolf lifestyle, undertaking extended solo missions, and has a history of womanizing involving at least 13 women after separating from his late wife.
His history includes marriage to Cornelia, which ended due to his preoccupation with dangerous missions. Unbeknownst to him, Cornelia was pregnant upon leaving; their daughter, Cana Alberona, later joined Fairy Tail but withheld their relationship for years, believing herself unworthy until proving her strength. Professionally, he completed multiple SS-Class and decade-long quests before accepting a century-class mission in X781. During this mission, he confronted Acnologia, suffering near-fatal injuries but surviving as the first known human to endure an encounter with the dragon. This failure forced his return after a three-year absence.
His combat revolves around Crush Magic, dismantling physical and magical matter into fragmented cubes or harmless miniature versions. This magic disassembles spells, deflects attacks, and shatters terrain, though its indiscriminate nature leads him to isolate himself during battles to protect allies. Notable techniques include "Crushing Evil, Spreading the Truth: Empyrean," a finishing move shattering targets upward. Gildarts supplements this with immense physical prowess: he withstood Natsu Dragneel’s "Crimson Lotus: Exploding Flame Blade" with minimal recoil, overpowered Bluenote Stinger's gravitational forces, and once destroyed Kardia Cathedral in a single strike. His magical aura alone paralyzes foes, as demonstrated against Natsu during the S-Class trials.
Key arcs include mentoring Natsu, whom he views as a surrogate son. After revealing Acnologia’s threat, he later tested Natsu during the S-Class Promotion Trial on Tenrou Island. Employing Disassembly Magic, he fractured Natsu into diminutive forms, then unleashed his full aura to teach the value of acknowledging fear and weakness. Despite Natsu’s defeat, Gildarts permitted his advancement for grasping these lessons. He intervened critically against Grimoire Heart, rescuing Cana from Bluenote and defeating him single-handedly. During this arc, Cana revealed their familial tie; overcome, Gildarts embraced her as his daughter, expressing profound remorse for his absence.
Post-timeskip, Gildarts continued high-stakes engagements, confronting God Serena’s Historia and August of the Spriggan 12. He later encountered Natsu during the latter’s one-year training hiatus, engaging in a sparring match. Though frequently absent, he remains an anchor for the guild in crises, embodying Fairy Tail’s ethos through decisive action.