Mordred from Fate/Apocrypha (Saber of Red Version)

Mordred from Fate/Apocrypha

I’ve written a lot about my newfound fondness for mobile games – specifically, gacha games. Besides Epic Seven, which is my main game, I’m enjoying Counter Side, though I know little about its game mechanics – a rather liberating circumstance, in actuality – and I gave Genshin Impact a try, though I’m not sure it’s the game for me. I still play Azur Lane every now and then, and there’s a few newer games – like Girl Cafe Gun and Nier: Reincarnation – and a few older games – like Arknights and Langrisser – that I’m curious about. However, there’s one gacha game that I have zero interest in playing and that’s Fate/Grand Order. From what I can tell, it’s not a newbie-friendly game. Nor is it a particularly modern game, and I’ve heard its gameplay systems are not one of its strengths (that said, I did enjoy the old PSP RPG Fate/Extra, a game whose combat was basically a randomized rock-paper-scissors system). On top of that, its summoning system lacks a pity mechanic, and I’ve heard of unfortunate players who’ve sunk over a thousand dollars chasing a particular character and came away with nothing. It’s difficult not to think that those funds would be better spent elsewhere – on Fate figures, doujinshi, and dakimakura covers, for example.

While I have no emotional connection to the Fate franchise aside from a residual curiosity as to whether I might actually like some of its series (this has not yet been the case with the anime adaptations that I’ve watched), I do very much like the character designs. That brings us to this figure; this is Mordred, the son of King Arthur, or Artoria or Altria as she is known in the Fate universe. I’m not entirely familiar with how gender works in the franchise – I assume it has something to do with servants not being human – but that’s not what we’re here for, anyway.

Mordred from Fate/Apocrypha

This figure is manufactured by Kotobukiya in 1/7 scale, measuring about 26.5 centimeters in height including the base. She was released in October 2018, and while Kotobukiya has re-released several Fate figures in recent times, I don’t recall that Mordred was among those so honored.. She’s not a particularly complicated character and comes essentially ready for display out of the box, needing only to have her sword placed in her hand.

Mordred from Fate/Apocrypha

I have only a cursory familiarity with Fate/Apocrypha but from what I can tell, Mordred is a far more savage character than her forebear. That’s clearly evinced by her face, where her lopsided grin and aggressive stare convey her hot-blooded nature. Her shaggy hair and rough ponytail also distinguish herself from Saber and her coterie of clones.

Mordred from Fate/Apocrypha

In contrast to Saber, Mordred’s thematic color is red, as represented by her jacket. Also in contrast to Saber, Mordred wears a very revealing outfit, consisting of her jacket, a bandeau, and very abbreviated denim shorts.

Mordred from Fate/Apocrypha

On the surface, this is not a particularly complicated figure, but a closer look reveals some unexpected details. For example, her musculature is nicely accented, particularly around her midsection. Also, her jacket shows a number of seams and features a glossy finish; both of these aspects enhance its realism.

Mordred from Fate/Apocrypha

Another nice detail includes the detailing around her backside. While her hips are covered, the insinuation that she is not wearing any underwear is tantalizing.

Mordred from Fate/Apocrypha

Her sword seems a little less impressive compared to some other weapons in the Fate milieu, though maybe I’m just not a big fan of the Ohio State colors. Nonetheless, I like the incongruity between her fashionably modern appearance and her medieval melee weapon.

Mordred from Fate/Apocrypha

This figure is, from a cursory glance, not particularly complicated, but a closer examination shows that there are some subtle details that enhance its overall quality. I think the thing I like most about Mordred is the way she contrasts with Saber, and while I would – probably – say I prefer Saber in the end, this ferocious, rougher-edged Saber clone has many of her own charms. While I may not be a devoted fan of the Fate franchise, I really like their character designs, and I’m certainly happy the series has so many excellent figures.

Mordred from Fate/Apocrypha
Mordred from Fate/Apocrypha
Mordred from Fate/Apocrypha
Mordred from Fate/Apocrypha
Mordred from Fate/Apocrypha
Mordred from Fate/Apocrypha
Mordred from Fate/Apocrypha
Mordred from Fate/Apocrypha
Mordred from Fate/Apocrypha
Mordred from Fate/Apocrypha
Mordred from Fate/Apocrypha
Mordred from Fate/Apocrypha
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7 Responses to Mordred from Fate/Apocrypha (Saber of Red Version)

  1. Drae says:

    I didn’t know you played Epic Seven. I hope the game gets some figures made eventually.

    • Tier says:

      Yeah, I started playing it shortly before the first Guilty Gear event and now it’s my main game. I really like it a lot. And funny that you mention it getting some figures someday …

  2. wieselhead says:

    Yeah, delinquent Saber!

    I currently enjoy playing Atelier Ryza, I expected more fanservice, but it has a very nice looking world. Ah yeah I played Fate/Go… urgh, it had such an ugly menu design and it took too many rounds to clear a stage, I gave up on it.

    I accidently stumbled over the Fate/Apocrypha anime, it was nice and Mordred was so cool.
    The scenes that got in detailbabout her being Sabers son/daughter were funny since Arturia was obviously female too.

    A fate based anime you might even like could be Fate/Grand Order: Zettai Majuu Sensen Babylonia, I really liked it and it is without Saber, surprisingly, but definetely interesting.

    This looks like a cute Kotobukiya figure, I like the overall smooth look of this figure, she has a lovely face also with rebelish grin. Her super detailed midsection is sexy and her legs are not made too long a small detail that I appreaciate more lately, many normal women aren’t blessed with extremely long shins in reality.

    I like her red jacket combined with the sporty tube top, the hotpants reminded me of Black Lagoon. The fingers of her right hand look like a bit cartoonish,
    other than that it’s a nice figure with nice colors.

    • Tier says:

      I should try Atelier Ryza someday; I like the character designs a lot and really, that’s all I really need in a video game. (The opposite is also true; I’m not that interested in playing the Diablo 2 remake due to how hideous the characters are, even though I played the original game for years.) I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying it. I do recall that there’s an Atelier series gacha game but I haven’t heard many great things about it, unfortunately. And the same thing applies to FGO too.

      I took a peek at the Fate/Apocrypha anime and I thought it actually looked kinda cool. I liked that Mordred’s master didn’t look like the typical milquetoast male anime protagonist and that Mordred had a rough edge. I’ve been looking for an anime series to watch as I haven’t actually gotten hooked on a show for a really long time … I think the last series I finished was Cross Ange. I might take a look at the FGO anime you suggested too; if this is the show I’m thinking of, I remember seeing a clip of Ishtar getting zapped by Ereshkigal after flunking a quiz. I thought that was pretty funny.

      I’d agree with your assessment; this is a pretty nice figure of Mordred. Not amazing and not one that’s gonna demand that people buy it, but a good figure of what might be one of the prominent secondary characters in the Fate milieu.

  3. wieselhead says:

    I’m nearly through with Atelier Ryza 1, it’s been a great game for me. I tried an Atelier Game before, but it gave me a slight pots, since there was no way to get everything done in time to meet the win conditions, it was a beautiful looking game but ended in big stress XD
    Yeah I can’t play games with ugly characters and in mmo’s I always choose the ladies.

    There are a bunch of new anime I could recommend, that were probably better than Cross Ange. I don’t feel too old for this type of entertainment media, which might be strange.

    Ishtar is my favorite Rin version, she is a little clumsy, but tries her best.
    That Fate anime was really awesome with Gilgamesh, whatever name he used there.
    It’s very difficult to see old Fate characters in other costumes and roles.

    I think she looks very good. After there were many years where I wasn’t happy with Kotobukiya figures with my latest Kotobukiya figure, Matoi I was more than happy ^^

    • wieselhead says:

      Damn, that was intended to be be a reply 🙁
      lol

    • Tier says:

      I remember way, way, way back in the day, there was a game called Atelier Marie that looked pretty cute. I remember hoping that it would get released in the US but Sega wasn’t really into Japanese RPGs at the time and it never happened. I didn’t give much thought to the Atelier franchise until Ryza came out, and that game piqued my interest for obvious reasons.

      I really enjoyed Cross Ange 😀 It wasn’t a great series but it was good trashy fun. It would’ve been pretty neat if someone would have made figures of Ange and Hilda but I suppose that ship has sailed. I feel like I should be watching some sort of anime and I’m certainly open to more suggestions.

      Haha, yeah, Kotobukiya figures can be good and not so good. I think I’m a little more forgiving of them but they have this tendency to use translucent hair on figures where it’s not really necessary, and it drives me bonkers.

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