Archer (Fate/stay night)

Archer (アーチャー) is the Archer-class Servant of Rin Tohsaka in the Fifth Holy Grail War of Fate/stay night.

He is one of the Servants of Ritsuka Fujimaru of the Grand Orders conflicts of Fate/Grand Order.

Identity
Archer's True Name is EMIYA (エミヤ), Shirou Emiya. He is not a proper Heroic Spirit in the sense of other heroes. He is an alternate version of Shirou from an alternate timeline of Fate/stay night where he made a contract with the World (Alaya) and became the Heroic Spirit EMIYA. He acts as a Counter Guardian for the world as payment for the contract. He is summoned because he still has the jewel pendant that Rin used to save his life after Lancer stabbed his heart. The jewel he owns is the actual catalyst used for his summoning rather than the one that Rin still has at the time of his summoning. After the end of each of the three routes in Fate/stay night, the possibility for Shirou to become Archer still exists, but the chance of it happening is close to zero.

The beginning conditions for Archer's Holy Grail War were mostly the same as that of the Fate/stay night universe, but it could be said that "something was missing." The following events of the war happened in a similar manner to the Fate scenario, having summoned Saber and continued fighting together with her until the end, but while he understood her, he didn't "save Saber's heart." After they destroyed the Grail and parted, he went on to cooperate with Rin and headed to London. He eventually went on to work as a freelance magus to pursue his dream of becoming a hero of Justice. He stubbornly trained himself while pursuing his dream of saving mankind, but later fell into despair upon realizing that his abilities were insufficient in fulfilling his goal. Sometime in his twenties, he obtained his signature red overcoat, possibly as a gift from Ciel of the Church. He at some point encountered and fought beings similar to Angra Mainyu, but he was forced to retreat when he was unable to act against them. He later gained some understanding of such beings as targets of the Counter Force upon entering the Throne of Heroes.

He had to make a life changing decision. Confronted by a calamity which had the potential of killing one hundred people before him, he decided to "make a contract" with the World to become a hero capable of producing miracles and become a Heroic Spirit after his death. He believed he could save both the lives of the dying people before him and save even more as a hero after his death. Although he desperately fought to end a war, he was in turn branded as the mastermind behind that war and subsequently executed because of the betrayal of his allies. Although he died of betrayal, he did not hate mankind. However, the "World" ironically gave him the duty as a Heroic Spirit "to slaughter all humans at a particular location when mankind is at the threshold of complete self destruction", a "Counter Guardian".

His belief that he would continue to save many people as a Heroic Spirit did happen, but it was through being made to clean up after human actions and forced to take many lives to save humanity as a whole, instead of "saving everyone" - protecting humans without having to cause deaths of humans as he would have liked to. After seeing human self-destruction and forced to oppose his own ideals countless times, he began to deny himself and his ideal. Even knowing that the Throne of Heroes was isolated from time and space, Archer desperately came to believe that his only hope of release was to have himself summoned into an era where Shirou Emiya exists and kill his past self, hoping that the double paradox created by Shirou Emiya being killed before having a chance to make the contract with Alaya and that the killing was done by a Shirou Emiya who successfully made the contract with the world would create a time paradox great enough in magnitude that could potentially erase his existence as a Counter Guardian.

Appearance
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Personality
His personality is very contradicting. While he is thoroughly cynical and nihilistic, he is at the same time devoted and protective, and even a little childish to the point that it makes him hard to hate. He does not lie, but he does keep secrets and tell half truths. He means well and is capable of being nice, but often ends up being sarcastic, especially so when he gives advice. He cannot approve of Shirou’s ideal of becoming a Hero of Justice due to his own experience, but at the same time he cannot deny it for the very same reasons.

Archer is a very bitter person due to how his life turned out after constant betrayal by those he deemed his comrades in life and for becoming a counter guardian willingly, a being that is forced to "clean up the messes humanity has made". The reason he chose to become a counter guardian was because he believed that he could save as many people as possible and in a way this was true, but the reality was that the counter force merely sent him to a point in time where it believed humanity was on the brink of collapse and had him kill any and every person it had deemed to be the perpetrators irrespective of the fact if they were good or evil. Archer was forced to kill in spite of his beliefs and feelings, something that shattered him from within and essentially broke his heart. Due to this Archer feels betrayed by his ideal, his sole remaining wish even in his afterlife. That further solidified his bitterness and increased its intensity. His bitterness was so strong that he wished to die.

He claims that his memory is confused to the incomplete nature of his summoning, but that is only half truthful. He is able to assess the situation and deduce his circumstances the night of his summoning, believing himself to have the opportunity to achieve his goal to kill Shirou. He had forgotten the name "Rin Tohsaka" over the period of his life, but remembers her the instant she introduces herself. Murmuring "――Rin. Ah, that's the name――" under his breath, it is a statement from his heart filled with "much endearment close to insanity." He claims to no longer have Shirou's memory, but remembers the day Kiritsugu Emiya saved him and the feelings he felt upon seeing Kiritsugu's smile. He has a fond remembrance of the moment Saber was first summoned that he will always recall vividly "even if he should fall into the depths of hell."

He's not interested in video games but he is willing to play, once he gets started.

Archer gains much joy and pride in housework especially cooking. Though he denies that he enjoys doing them.

Relationships

 * Everyone in Fate/stay night
 * Especially Cu Chulainn, who he's bound to end up fighting no matter where they meet.


 * Ishtar
 * "So, you've finally lost your mind!"


 * Sengo Muramasa
 * ".........Hm. Not bad...."

Fate/stay night
In the prologue of Fate/stay Night, Rin intended to summon a strong Saber class servant without a catalyst. Unknowing to her, the jewel pendant was used as a catalyst which summoned the Heroic Spirit EMIYA. Rin's Pendant, a one-of-a-kind jewel kept by Emiya as a keepsake of his unknown savior over the years. Differing from normal, it is not the pendant Rin owns in the present that acts as the catalyst. Emiya is instead a case where he holds a catalyst with a connection to his summoner.

Archer crash landed in one of the mansion room after the summoning process has been completed. He is disappointed by her first impression of him, to which she questions what he is "supposed" to be. After the two of them confirm their relationship as Master and Servant, Archer begins to question Rin as a master. He judges her worth as a master, and even goes so far as to announce he will not follow her orders, regardless of their importance. Archer makes sarcastic remarks about Rin which aggravated her to use one of her command seals to force Archer submit to her. Afterwards, Archer scolds her for being so careless, and asks whether or not she knows the importance of Command Seals. Once their argument is settled, Archer agrees to stay with Rin. He blames Rin for his vague memories due to her incomplete summoning but also acknowledges her talents and skills.

Archer is then seen touring the Fuyuki City, with Rin acting as his guide. As they venture through the city, Archer learns that Rin has no actual wish for the Holy Grail, other than her desire to win it.

One night, after informing Archer of a strange Bounded field around the school grounds, Rin goes to the school in an attempt to destroy it, only to encounter another servant, who she identifies as belonging to the Lancer-class. When Lancer tries to attack Rin, Archer intervenes. The two servants then engage in a fight. While Lancer tries to disarm Archer, he becomes quite agitated at Archer's ability to reequip his swords. During in their fight, Shirou Emiya was a pedestrian who witnessed the two Heroic Spirits battle for the first time. Before their fight can continue, they are disrupted by Shirou's presence. Lancer stops the fight and pursues Shirou, Archer and Rin followed him. Lancer pursues the student, and impales them before fleeing. Archer and Rin stumble upon the student's body. When Rin and Archer found Shirou, Rin ordered Archer to track down Lancer, but he was unsuccessful. Rin identifies the student as a boy she encountered earlier, and uses her healing magic on him. Before the boy can regain consciousness, the pair flee.

Archer gave his own pendant back to Rin making her think that Archer returned to the scene to retrieve the pendant. Shortly after, Archer and Rin come to the conclusion that Lancer's master will gain knowledge of the boy's survival, and have Lancer finish him off. Deciding to protect the boy, the pair travel to the suburbs. However, before they can enter the grounds, they are attacked by a servant, who Rin identifies as belonging to the Saber-class.

Fate
In Fate, Archer is a nameless hero who gives up his life in order to let his master, Rin, escape along with Saber and Shirou. Before facing off with Berserker, Archer advises Shirou to 'imagine something that can defeat it' when presented with an enemy he cannot defeat. He is subsequently killed in combat against Berserker, but not before killing Berserker six times (five in the anime) and reducing his stock of lives from God Hand.

Unlimited Blade Works
In Unlimited Blade Works, Archer is the servant protagonist like Saber in the Fate route and Rider in Heaven's Feel. Despite this Archer develops into an antagonistic character later in the story. Archer early in the story shows to be both a poweful servant and a character shrouded in mystery.

During the battle with Berserker and Illya, Archer shows his great skill when he protected Rin from Illya and attacking Berserker with his Caladbolg which he fired as an arrow to destructive effect. Rin initially  thought it was an A rank noble phantasm. In reality it was an A rank broken phantasm.

During the early part of the route Archer awakens Shirou's dormant magic circuits.

Throughout his many battles in the route Archer demonstrates that he is on par with Caster in devising strategies with them both being regarded as the best tactians in the holy grail war. Often winning with his well planned strategies that he often doesn't share with Rin beforehand. Archer throughout the route tries multiple times to kill Shirou Emiya or not assist in dangerous situations Shirou is caught in, in hopes of it resulting in his death.

Archer betrays Rin after she tells him that she wants to rescue Saber so that she can form a contract with Shirou and become his servant once again. He aligned with Caster because he claimed, she had the highest chance of acquiring the Holy Grail.

After conceding to Lancer, he then betrays Caster and her master and kills them both, revealing his true intentions. Archer's identity as an older version of Shirou is revealed. Archer reveals he needed to be freed from his contract with Rin in order to accomplish his goal of killing Shirou. Archer then kidnaps Rin after she forms a contract with Saber, forcing a situation where Shirou must engage Archer.

During the battle it's revealed that due to Shirou and Archer being the same person. The more he engages with Archer the more Shirou absorbs Archer's skill and abilities.

Archer loses the battle, but only because he does not attack Shirou as he is stabbed through the chest. However, he survived the blow due to Independent Action, and remains hidden up until the final battle. Despite everyone believing him to be dead. He saves Rin from the Holy Grail and eliminates a cornered and nearly defeated Gilgamesh who had lost to Shirou.

Rin appears before him desiring to form a contract with him. He tells her he does not want to and he believes it would not be possible. He then disappears for good with a smile on his face, confident that Rin will stop Shirou from taking a path that he will regret.

Heaven's Feel
In Heaven's Feel, Archer abandons his wish to kill Shirou, opting instead to fulfill his duties as a Counter Guardian to eliminate 'the shadow'.

During a battle with Saber Alter, Assassin and "the shadow", Archer's core is critically damaged and he is mortally wounded. Since Shirou has discarded his heroic ideals to save Sakura, Archer chooses to have Kotomine graft his left arm onto Shirou, who lost his arm protecting Ilya (following the way of the Counter Guardians, sacrificing one life to save another rather than losing both). Much of Archer's knowledge was subsequently transferred to Shirou, though the foreign arm began to invade his body as well.

Archer's final appearance in Heaven's Feel is a motivational image for Shirou, who is struggling with taking off the Shroud of Martin.

Manga
The Fate/stay night manga follows parts of both Fate and Unlimited Blade Works. He remains loyal to Rin instead of joining Caster of his own free will, and he displays the same antagonistic attitude towards Shirou. He is forced to join Caster once Kuzuki captures and holds Rin hostage. After freeing himself from her control, he proceeds with his plan to kill Shirou. He is stopped by Rin, who begs him not to kill his younger self and erase his existence as a Heroic Spirit, as she has respect for both Shirou and Archer. Eventually, Archer decides not to kill Shirou and continues his role as Rin's Servant, reforming their contract. Finally, during the group's rescue of Shirou from Illya's mansion, Archer sacrifices himself to stall Berserker in battle and take away half his stock of lives - but not before entrusting Rin to Shirou, giving him a final few words of encouragement before walking to the hero's end he'd always previously disdained, smiling to the very end.

Fate/hollow ataraxia
When Rin went to Mage's Association to attend a court, she asked Archer to protect Fuyuki City in her absence.

In the loops, Archer guards the bridge that connects Miyama and Shinto districts of Fuyuki city. Should Shirou try to cross the bridge at night time without meeting certain conditions first, he will be sniped off by Archer from the roof of the center building in Shinto district.

After Shirou/Avenger "relearn" his Projection magic, he and Saber challenge Archer. They fight from a long distance. Archer fired the Broken Phantasm Hrunting towards them while Saber flew towards Archer with Shirou's Command Spell. Saber defeated Archer while Shirou/Avenger deflected the Hrunting with Rho Aias. Defeating Archer grants Shirou/Avenger the access of Shinto at night patrols. After that, he began to shows up in Fuyuki to be interacted with.

At the night of the final loop, Rin and Archer guard the Fuyuki Bridge from a horde of "monsters" to prevent them from chasing after Shirou/Avenger.

Fate/Unlimited Codes
In Fate/Unlimited Codes, he is known as the Wrought Iron Hero (錬鉄の英雄). In his arcade story, he monologues his situation about him being summoned in the Fuyuki Holy Grail War and how it was a miracle for him to achieve his goal to alter his past by ending Shirou and allowing Rin to win the Holy Grail War. He has to deceive his Master in order to do this.

Archer unexpectedly faces Shirou early and by the time he faces Shirou, Shirou figured out his identity and challenged Archer. Archer expected Saber to fight him personally, however Shirou decided to settle things between the two as the Hero of Justice. As the fight turns into a clash of their ideals, Archer responds to Shirou that an ideal amounts to nothing if there is no strength to back them up and is forced to cut him down. Although he wins, it is hinted that Archer didn't kill Shirou and continued the Holy Grail War against the other participates.

His last opponent is Gilgamesh, who asked if Archer requested assistance for death. However, Archer claims that he is doing something stupid by eliminating the villain who will burn the whole city. His original goal was to let Rin win, but he can't allow Gilgamesh to continue and Archer prevails in their fight. In his ending, many years has past and Archer is fighting along with an adult Rin against an army of Golems. Archer turns out more cheerful and Rin finds him cooler than in their first encounter.

In Rin's ending, Rin sealed the Holy Grail and transformed Archer into a smaller scale of himself. She claims that she transformed Archer into this form because he didn't help her out in the war. Archer regrets that he didn't destroy the Holy Grail.

Fate/Extra CCC
There exists an alternate version of Archer in Fate/EXTRA universe. Although their life experiences were the same, this version made a contract with the Moon Cell rather than the World. This resulted in him becoming a nameless Heroic Spirit embodying the concept of a "hero of justice" rather than the Counter Guardian EMIYA.

Through fluctuations in the Moon Cell, Fate/stay night version of Rin and Archer appear in Fate/Extra CCC. Should the two versions face each other, the Fate/stay night Archer is noted to be more cynical.

First Order
In First Order Archer was one of the Servants summoned into the Holy Grail War being fought in Fuyuki, but after battling Saber Alter, he was blackened along with the other Servants. After being blackened, he acts as Saber Alter's guardian, patrolling the burning ruins of Fuyuki and attacking anyone he deems a threat with his bow.

During this time, he seems to have had several encounters with Caster, where they fought at long-range with neither being able to get the upper hand. When Caster teams up with the Chaldea team, he faces Archer on Mt. Miyama, finally ending their battle at the Miyama Temple with Caster being the victor.

GUDAGUDA Honnouji
EMIYA appears in the singularity under the name Chousokabe Emichika. After hearing Shimuza Setanta's complaint about having to be grouped with him and Mouri Medinari, Chousokabe states that he wished could've refused to obey as a Servant this time around. Chousokabe then asks Mouri if she knows what is happening after she complains that the Holy Grail is being used for something weird again. Then, after Mouri complains again about being named after a strategist from Warring States period that she knows nothing about, he notes that the Grail has made strange pairings for pairing a grand strategist and the Witch of Betrayal. Chousakabe then agrees Mouri's plan for him to ambush Ritsuka, Mash, Okita, and Nobunaga when Shimuza lures them. Before the group though, he tells Shimuza to careful about the mini-nobu, which wonders if it's male. Later, Shimuza succeeds in luring the group to the ambush spot, which Chousakabe assaults his arrows. After the ambush is successful, he asks Mouri what she plans to do with the group. However, when he says his given name along with his allies, Okita becomes enraged and dons the Coat of Oaths, which he blames on him being Chousakabe. After being he and the others are defeated by her, Chousakabe states that this incident was stranger than expected.

Miss Almost Weekly Santa Alter
EMIYA goes on a fishing trip with Robin Hood as a continuation of their competition since both were equally matched at hunting in the woods. Unfortunately their contest was interrupted when David, having stowed away earlier without their prior knowledge, had steered their ship out to sea due to him wanting to meet the ladies of Southern Lands. David's decision however leads them into a storm, and both EMIYA and Robin blame him for their situation as the ship is torn apart by the storm. They then get further infuriated with David when he tells them jump overboard and swim for shore, believing that the ship's weight can withhold his weight alone. EMIYA then agrees with Robin's decision to throw David overboard when he begins to recount the. Santa Alter then suddenly lands on the ship; EMIYA remains silent when Robin asks him if he knows her when she mentions him regarding that a Servant should think of their Master's safety. However, he and the others fight Santa Alter when she decides to test David's claim of being the "Most Victorious King". After being defeated by her, EMIYA asks if everyone has calmed down now and why Santa Alter had come, which she answers that she came in response to a Dear Santa letter. This prompts EMIYA to accuse David of wanting jewels for his many wives, and chastise him for writing letters to Santa as an adult. But David asserts that it wasn't him as he sends his prayers only to God and finds the concept of Santa to be scary, which makes EMIYA realizes that Robin had sent the letter. He then refutes Santa Alter's claim that he's too overprotective unlike Robin's more subtle method of protecting his Master. After Santa Alter leaves after giving presents to Robin and David, EMIYA notices that the storm had passed, and is glad that he won't have to hear the tale of Carneades. He and Robin then both yell that David hasn't learned anything since Uriah incident when he asked who was talking about Carneades. EMIYA then again agrees with Robin's decision to throw David overboard, but he contemplates David's request for them to form a team. However, they're interrupted by the arrival of Elizabeth Báthory, who had came to perform a concert for them as Santa Alter's last gift to them.

Interlude
In his first interlude Requirements of a Master (マスターの条件), EMIYA, Ritsuka, and Mash go to Fuyuki, which he suspects turned into its present due to the Masters there letting their Servant run wild without the interference of the Mage's Association and the Holy Church. After telling Ritsuka to control their Servants with their Command Spells, he goes to explain the different attributes of the Heroic Spirits. However, his lesson is interrupted by the appearance of monsters, which the group are soon able to defeat. Afterwards, EMIYA goes on to explain the differences between different Servant classes, but he interrupted once again by monsters. After killing the monsters, he tells Ritsuka that Masters and Servants should work together on equal terms. However, a group of Amazons appear targeting EMIYA, but they are soon defeated by him and the others. EMIYA then says that they should return to Chaldea, realizing that Ritsuka didn't need his lectures since they already have wonderful Servant with them like Mash. He tells Ritsuka that they have a long journey ahead of them, and that they'll learn better through experience, not words. He continues to tell Ritsuka to go at their own pace, but he soon asked by Mash why he's being nice to both of them. EMIYA answers that he wants others known that his Masters succeed, saying that a true Servant increase their reputation by helping their Master grow.

In his second interlude Unlimited Blade Works (無限の剣製), EMIYA, Ritsuka and Mash travel to the cavern of the Greater Grail in Fuyuki due to him sensing a presence within. He then tells Ritsuka that he purposely seal away his Noble Phantasm until they were strong enough as a Master, not wanting Ritsuka to rely too much on Noble Phantasms. After he tells Ritsuka to defeat the Servant that guards the Greater Grail as proof of their growth, Mash realizes that he is talking about Heracles, but monster appear to attack the group. After killing the monsters, the group encounters the corrupted Hercales, and proceed to him after EMIYA warns of his multiple lives. After the group defeats the corrupted Heracles, EMIYA congratulates Ritsuka on no longer being a novice.

Carnival Phantasm
Archer makes a regular appearance in Carnival Phantasm. Like in Fate/Stay Night, he is Rin's servant and often follows her orders. However he acts more light-hearted and comical than his usual self.

Other appearances
In Type-Moon's April Fools' Day 2009, moon.cinemas.jp is a fake movie theater site listing a number of parody films. He was featured in Dog Fate -DooGSDAY- (いぬふぇいと　―DooGSDAY―).

In April Fools' Day 2010, Tmitter is a fake online social networking, a parody of. His online user account is @Archer_tm41.

In Type-Moon's April Fools' Day 2015, Archer is part of the Imperial Roma enforcer. His Tmitter user account is @tmtt15_archer.

Abilities
Archer is not a regular Heroic Spirit who was revered as a hero, but instead a Counter Guardian who made a contract with World for power. He is a Heroic Spirit from the future, so he does not gain any blessings normally provided by fame. He also does not possess any actual Noble Phantasms, but his Reality Marble, Unlimited Blade Works, can be called his Noble Phantasm in a way. He wears a cloak and mantle set that are first rate Conceptual Weapons made from the Holy Shroud of a saint. It does not oppose enemies, but instead the external environment.

Due to his nature, he has no fame as a hero and he cannot be recognized by those with knowledge from the Throne of Heroes. This makes him a confusing existence for the other Servants, displaying his projection that turns normally important Noble Phantasms into items that can be discarded and destroyed on a whim, varied abilities that would normally mark the identity of a Servant, and contradictory abilities that do not match any known hero. Lancer believes there should be no Archer with a shield capable of blocking Gae Bolg, and Berserker thinks that being defeated in six different ways, all abilities of the highest class, without learning of the enemy's identity is very strange.

In combat, Archer is proven to easily best Caster and True Assassin. Caster believed he wouldn't be able to scratch her within her own domain. But he quickly proved her wrong as he used two attacks capable of killing her, one of which he warned her to dodge. While in a fair fight with True Assassin he nearly killed him having almost sliced his body in half. Which he did all the while protecting Illya and Shirou. He deflected every one of True Assassin attacks even the ones aimed at Shirou and was able to match True Assassin's speed with ease.

Though Archer possesses weak parameters he is a powerful servant regardless of this fact. So he is deemed as a heroic spirit that's unconventionally strong. This is mainly due to the fact that Archer can compensate for his weaknesses by refining what little talents he has. Never focusing on trying to strengthen what he's weak at but rather by advancing his best abilities to their absolute limit.

Combat
Due to lacking an actual Noble Phantasm, Archer's basic abilities are below those of other Servants. His main strength lies within his versatility and adaptability, shown through his exceptional use of tactics and battle experience making his combat style very distinct from those of other Servants. His strength does not come from natural talent like Rin or Saber, but instead from single-minded refining of what little talent he had in life. He had nothing at first, and through improving himself for reason that he was not extraordinary, his techniques trained by his will alone reached the point where it is obvious to Shirou that he should be naturally considered strong. He is not fixated on the exact method of winning, opening many possibilities not available to those who fight with chivalry and codes of honor.

Unlimited Blade Works is his sole magecraft, allowing for the use of Reinforcement and Projection. As a "blacksmith Heroic Spirit", it includes the “all the elements necessary to shape swords”, allowing for the replication of Noble Phantasms. All weapons are copied upon seeing them once, he has thousands stored as of the Fifth Holy Grail War, and all can be freely deployed. Many varieties of weapons can be summoned for melee combat, though he primarily utilizes Kanshou and Bakuya. Swords can also be summoned and modified to be fired as arrows and utilized as Broken Phantasms by overloading them with energy to generate overwhelming destructive power from exploding upon contact. He also has the ability to summon weapons in the air and fire them like arrows in the same way as Gilgamesh uses his Gate of Babylon.

He can fight in a variety of ways depending on the situation, allowing him to match or even exceed other Servants even without an actual Noble Phantasm of his own. Utilizing Broken Phantasms requires for the destruction of a Noble Phantasm, so it is not something able to be utilized by a normal Servant without sacrificing their strength. Due to him being able to replicate as many weapons as he wishes, the use of Broken Phantasms became a trump card available only to him. He can turn the odds in his favor by assaulting melee Servants with such long range attacks. Even if he attempts to replicate an Excalibur-class holy sword, he does not have the magical energy necessary to bring out its full potential and may simply end up fading away after using all his energy in a suicidal attack.

Close combat
Though he is of the Archer class, which originally focuses on long range combat, he is adept at melee combat, and due to his wish to conceal his trump card, he mainly focuses on melee tactics, primarily utilizing Kanshou and Bakuya when engaging other Servants. Even when told to fight seriously by utilizing a bow as expected of the Archer class, he continues to rush into close combat without intentions to draw his bow. Utilizing his unorthodox tactics, he is even able to slay Berserker six times. He will also use other weapons like Caladbolg II to thrust at the opponent's heart or Durandal to perform powerful strikes.

Kanshou and Bakuya are his preferred weapons, and his usage of them has allowed him to develop a style of fighting perfectly suited to him. Though he can fight with a single blade, he generally wields them both at once. The advantage of projection allows for him to replace swords if they are destroyed or if he is disarmed. He has no trouble projecting twenty-eight pairs during a strenuous clash consisting of over a hundred strikes and constantly being disarmed. His greatest strategy, Triple-Linked Crane Wings, involves utilizing multiple projected pairs in succession to completely seal the opponent.

Ranged combat
Archer utilizes a bow that he projects when he does make use of projectiles, which, along with his armor, is made from a special material that has yet to be discovered by mankind as of the present time. Archer's Bow (アーチャーの弓) is a matte black, western-style straight bow, with a simple design that was constructed to be resistant enough to fire Noble Phantasms. It is a completely original weapon, a projection whose structure and composition is not directly taken from another hero's bow. He often uses regular arrows for quick and accurate attacks that cost less magical energy than Noble Phantasms. Their accuracy is spot-on, and their power is still great enough to bring down houses with a small barrage released in quick succession. Releasing over a dozen arrows at once, they are accurately fired at the opponent whether as a sneak attack or support for another. He is capable of performing Broken Phantasm shots from various distances, from hundreds of meters away up to four kilometers away from the target.

His Clairvoyance, a visual ability also called Hawk Eye (鷹の瞳) that affects the accuracy of bows, allows him to execute his "ultra long-range sniping" precisely even against targets moving at high speeds as long as they are within a four kilometer range. With accuracy transcending the realm of men, it is an ability often used for scouting that is able to fully survey the town simply upon looking down from a high location. Utilizing the "must-have ability" of the Archer class, such strikes greatly differ from his regular arrows, and they are a means to certainly kill the opponent. Differing from his former Japanese shooting method, nocking the arrow in the palm of the left hand, Archer utilizes the traditional European method of nocking the arrow over the back of the left hand. He is skilled enough to mark two enemies and fire a single arrow with the intention of striking both, surpassing the normal rules being unable to alter its course.

He can make use of specific strategies to defeat opponents from long range, such as Saber, who would not fall in single combat easily even inside Unlimited Blade Works. Burdening her with protecting Shirou and keeping her from utilizing Excalibur, he is free to fire upon her without worry of being counterattacked and increase the power each time. If such tactics are unavailable, such as with Assassin, it is possible that fighting directly may lead to his defeat. Utilizing sniping can cause him to falter when suddenly forced into close combat, as returning to his true method of attack leaves him unable to draw his sword and respond properly due to focusing on his arrows.

Nasu stated in an interview that Archer would be able to defeat Rider through range combat as he said "If you think about it, Archer will win, but at long range."

In Fate/Hollow Ataraxia, Archer used his advantage of long range combat to defeat Saber. As he was able to snipe at her from a building many kilometers away. And the only way Saber was able to defeat Archer was by having Shirou use his command spell to transport her to Archer's location. So under normal circumstances she wouldn't've been able to do so, due to not being able to close the distance between Archer and her with her own abilties alone. Though she was burdened by having to protect Shirou (Avenger) during the fight so it's undetermined what the outcome of the battle would've been had she not needed to protect someone else. But it should be noted that Archer has twice defeated two enemy servants while forced to protect Shirou himself.

When discussing the terms of a match up between Archer and Saber, Nasu stated that "It might really depend on the wit of their masters' not their own in determining who has the upper hand."

Magecraft
Although classified under the Archer class, he was not a swordsman nor an archer in life, but a magus at his core relying on his one spell, Unlimited Blade Works, to fight. Despite being a skilled combatant, his true unique strength lies within the manufacturing of weapons rather than their use. His abilities in life were unremarkable overall, utilizing Reinforcement with difficulty and the "structural analysis" step of projection more often than anything else. Only Projection had any worth, having granted him the many Noble Phantasms and combat skills they hold. Aside from Projection, he can also use magic detection and magic resistance, which are considered very basic. He does not posses the ability to utilize offensive magecraft that work around the lines of nature interference. His dark skin, white hair, and gray eyes are a side effect of extensively using Projection Magecraft.

He has weak Magic Resistance, D rank, that is only the equivalent of an anti-magic amulet. He can nullify spells of one bar, but anything higher than that will annul the resistance. It can easily be overcome by a relatively strong magus, as his affinity with magecraft is much worse than Heroic Spirits of ancient times. He may have been a magus possessing the unusual Projection magecraft, but they were those who saw magecraft and even Magic as commonplace. Due to that resulting in his low ability, even spells greater than two steps can be fatal to him.

Without any support, he is at a serious disadvantage against a Caster, capable of great sorceries and ritual spells, and even spells from magi Masters must be watched carefully. When holding both Kanshou and Bakuya, his magic resistance is improved, and he proves capable of deflecting even Caster's A-ranked spells, though they still pose fatal danger should they strike him.

Eye of the Mind
Eye of the Mind (True) is a danger-avoidance ability that utilizes the intelligence collected up to the current time as the basis to predict the opponent’s activity and change the current situation. Servants like Lancer and Saber cannot be matched in direct combat under normal circumstances. They are too fast and strong for him to last more than a few blows before falling to their strength, should he take them on without any strategy. He reads the oncoming attacks and counterattacks ahead of time, constantly thinking tens of steps ahead in order continuously prolong his survival by seconds in avoiding blows, parrying, and striking back without being overwhelmed.

It is "combat logic" that utilizes calm analysis to take information obtained from the current situation and enemy's abilities to make predictions, and makes use of his cultivated battle experience to plan his attack. In spite of danger, he takes consideration of all possible actions in a particular situation, and if there is even a one percent chance of a comeback, the ability improves the chances of success. Although superior to Shirou, the circumstances of their battle lead to Archer being unable to see through Shirou's "passion-infused strike which puts 'ideal' on the line", and he ultimately is struck by it. He does not to answer as to why he did not block an attack he should have been able to easily block, and it is possible he does not know the answer.

His nerves of steel, his mind's eye obtained through experience, is nothing extraordinary compared to Saber's Instinct, but noted to be the only skill that he possesses, a weapon wielded by a mortal that anyone can gain through tenacious training. It is the result of an overwhelming amount of combat experience, allowing him to see even Lancer's thrusts, fast enough that they are not visible to even his honed eyes. Though Lancer is far superior, Archer is able to guide the fight to his advantage through his experience, utilizing his inferiority as a weapon to control the attacks coming at him.

Archer battles such opponents by leaving fatal openings, dodging them and risking instant death instead of slowly being cut up, which would ensure his loss as the fight drags out. Through battle, he is able to think of at least thirty ways to "show an opening", and this allows him to match Lancer's onslaught without being overwhelmed. Although he should not be a match because he should only be able to put up a true fight as a long-range archer and holds no prospect for victory in close combat, he is able to block Lancer's full force strikes, leaving Lancer perplexed at the situation and noting Archer's mysterious strength.

Independent Action
Archer's ability to survive alone is extremely great, displayed in his Independent Action. Independent Action allows him to act without constant support from his Master, and while normal Servants fade within hours after losing their Master, he can last much longer due to the ability. He can also survive for a short period of time even should he sustain lethal damage to his spiritual core. Servants of his rank normally have two days in the world without active support from a Master, but that figure is based upon maximally conserving energy while also avoiding battle and the usage of Noble Phantasms.

Archer is able to switch Masters, act independently without a Master and do battle with ten percent of his abilities left, sustain ultimately fatal injuries, observe the battle between Shirou and Gilgamesh in spiritual form, protect Shirou with Rho Aias, save Rin and Shinji from the mud, and then finally eliminate Gilgamesh to save Shirou in the Unlimited Blade Works scenario. His final attack is a regular arrow instead of a Noble Phantasm, and due to his gradual fading after the attack, it shows the final limits of his materialization. Even after sustaining a lethal injury, he is able to survive long enough in the Heaven's Feel scenario to allow for his arm to be transplanted due to the ability.

Blackened
EMIYA is shown to appear in Singularity F.

The blackening seems to have affected Archer to a degree, as not only is his equipment and appearance different, his preference for combat and tactics has changed as well. Discarding the stance of only drawing his swords when the time is right, Archer instead uses his bow extensively and attacks as soon as he spots an enemy. It is possible that given the effects of blackening, Archer's Eye of the Mind(True) skill has been downgraded, reflected by his simpler mentality as his snarky and analytical personality has been replaced with a sour and aggressive one, along with an inability or unwillingness to use his usual more elaborate tactics.

Development
The scene "Decisive Battle" in Fate/hollow ataraxia shows Archer remembering the very first scene of the Prologue of Fate/stay night with Shirou Emiya summoning Saber, and though it was meant to show that the Prologue scene was from Archer's perspective, Kinoko Nasu was surprised when nobody made the connection.

Reception

 * In the first Popularity polls of Fate/stay night in 2004, Archer was ranked 3rd and the top most voted male character.
 * In the second Popularity polls of Fate/stay night in 2006, Archer was ranked 3rd and the top most voted male character.
 * In the Type-Moon's 10th Anniversary Character Poll, Archer was ranked 3rd and the top most voted male character.