Merlin

Merlin appears as a tall, willowy man standing at 178 cm and weighing 68 kg.

He has long silvery hair, usually hidden under a distinctive white, hooded robe.

Despite being referred to as "the old man" in some stories, Merlin's physical appearance is youthful, lacking any signs of age on his face or hands.

He is often seen with an enigmatic smile, his eyes always sparkling with mischief or intrigue.

In later appearances, he is characterized by elf-like pointed ears once his hood is removed.

Several stories note his striking and androgynous beauty, as well as his flowing cloak adorned with flower motifs.

Merlin is a dazzling mix of playful mischief, endless curiosity, and gentle detachment.

He claims to love humanity, but as a being part incubus—literally a non-human dream eater—he is incapable of truly empathizing with or deeply loving individuals.

He finds joy in watching the stories of people unfold, like observing a beautiful tapestry or painting.

His superior perspective as a possessor of clairvoyance means he sees reality in terms of outcomes and beauty, rather than sentiment or morality.

He is generous and always smiling, yet at his core, his feelings are described as insect-like, detached, and analytical.

Though cheerful, he is a notorious troublemaker—he will often set events in motion, knowing full well they might bring suffering to his allies, all for the sake of the “best possible ending.”

He enjoys pranks, romance, and pretty girls (to a point that gets him in trouble), but is entirely unfazed by personal blame or guilt.

His charm, enthusiasm, and infectious optimism win him many friends—and just as many frustrated or even vengeful companions.

Merlin is the son of the Queen of Wales and a dream demon, making him a unique half-blood.

He allied with King Uther Pendragon to conceive Artoria, the prophesied king, by infusing her with the element of the red dragon.

He foresaw Artoria’s fate from childhood and warned her upon drawing the selection sword, Caliburn, that she would no longer be human.

He became her teacher—of both sorcery and swordplay—and supported her rule as a court wizard.

Despite his prestige, he was frequently absent from the court, more interested in wandering and enjoying the world.

Ultimately, he was tricked and trapped by a troublesome fairy in the Tower of Avalon, making himself a willing prisoner as penance for the fate he helped Artoria choose.

As a dream demon, Merlin cannot die; by sealing himself inside Avalon, he watches the world for eternity, unable to leave or become a true Heroic Spirit.

He is, in essence, a living mystery—never truly part of humanity, nor ever able to rest.

Merlin stands at the summit of legendary magicians, holding mastery over both martial and arcane arts.

His class is Caster.

He is a confirmed possessor of "Clairvoyance," the highest rank, which allows him to view not only every possible present but even the countless branching timelines—making him aware of his own parallel existences.

With this unfathomable knowledge, he can predict every outcome except against specific, enigmatic foes.

While he is unmatched as a magician, he notably dislikes incanting spells—claiming he’ll fumble the words and preferring a more direct, physical approach.

He taught Artoria swordsmanship himself, and his physical prowess rivals that of knights, with a strength stat of B.

He can summon powerful illusions, grant large-scale buffs, create enchanted fields, and even project the Holy Sword Excalibur itself for brief combat use.

Merlin’s Noble Phantasm, "Garden of Avalon," recreates his tower prison, shielding his allies in a paradise that freely bestows healing and mystical energy over time.

His skills include: Territory Creation (C), High-Speed Casting (C), Item Creation (C), Mixed Heritage (EX), Independent Manifestation (A), Hero Creation (EX), Charisma (B), Phantom Charisma (A), and Illusion (A+).

Being part incubus, Merlin naturally generates mana and cannot die unless his existence is erased in dreams or by specific anti-dream magic.

His magical resilience is formidable, but his true weakness is being attacked directly inside someone’s dream—where the dreamer can turn on him.

In Life

Artoria Pendragon: His chief pupil, king, and the reason for which he shaped history. He takes pride in her growth, but remained a constant source of teasing and headaches for her.

Uther Pendragon: Artoria’s father. Merlin assisted in the mystical conception of Artoria at Uther’s request.

Bedivere: One of Artoria’s closest knights and Merlin’s longtime acquaintance. Merlin equips him with a silver prosthetic and sends him on critical missions.

The Knights of the Round Table: Respected Merlin’s power, but often regarded him as an unpredictable troublemaker.

Morgan le Fay: Once Merlin’s student in sorcery, now an arch-rival; their relationship is fraught with mutual animosity.

Casparlig: Merlin’s magical familiar, dispatched from Avalon to interact with the world beyond his prison.

Mordred: In adaptations, Merlin acts as a psychological guide prompting Mordred’s self-awareness as the "son" of Arthur.

Fate/Grand Order

Fujimaru Ritsuka: Merlin’s contracted Master. He refers to Fujimaru as "my lord" and expresses genuine admiration for their nobility in saving the world’s stories.

Mash Kyrielight: As the demi-servant shield-bearer, her Noble Phantasm is implied to be influenced by Merlin’s magic.

Romani Archaman: Head of Chaldea’s medical department and former "fan" of Merlin’s magical idol alter-ego "Magi Mari." Their dynamic is comic, with Romani bemoaning Merlin’s trickster ways.

Gilgamesh (Caster): Summoned Merlin as court mage in ancient Uruk. Both men possessing Clairvoyance, they share a unique camaraderie as beings who appreciate the beauty of human accomplishment.

Proto Merlin: An alternate female version from another world, nominally his "sister," though they have little rapport and fundamentally divergent desires for humanity.

Merlin is notorious among players of Fate/Grand Order as a "workhorse" support Servant:

His unique combination of universal buffs, critical enhancements, and team-wide invincibility made him the foundation of countless party strategies—often leading to jokes about "double Merlin" teams and his overworked status.

He has an in-game history of rare "banner" appearances when available, causing massive commotion in the player community each time.

In-universe, his hobby is watching apple candies turn people’s tongues red—he has no sense of taste himself as an incubus.

Notoriously, Merlin’s memes include the "Merlin must be erased" meme and frequent jokes about his lack of responsibility.

His classic catchphrase to Artoria: "If you take up that sword, you will no longer be human."

His canonical role is that of the ultimate "Kingmaker," raising rulers for the sake of beautiful endings, not out of love for humans themselves.

Despite his good intentions, many characters believe their troubles increase simply by having Merlin around—he always means well, but his "best outcomes" are rarely painless.

"If you take that up, you will cease to be human."

"Why don’t I cast spells? Because it’s faster to just hit them, isn’t it?"

"Let us speak of kings—let us speak of stories filled with blessings."

"I love beautiful outcomes. The happiness of humankind is a wonderful painting."

"I help humans not because I love them, but because I want to see a happy ending."

Fate/stay night

Merlin only appears in recollections as the court mage who guided Artoria’s rise to kingship.

He has no full visual presence, but is referenced as a mischievous and sometimes morally ambiguous adviser known to have shaped her legendary fate.

Artoria’s challenge in drawing Caliburn and her warning are attributed to Merlin, who also subtly manipulates events leading to her reign.

Garden of Avalon

Merlin is the narrator and central storyteller, recounting the Arthurian legends from his perspective as a spectator, forever sealed in Avalon.

Here, his actual form and voice are established, making him the keystone of the legend’s lore in the Fate universe.

Faced with the eternal monotony of isolation, Merlin reflects on the emptiness left by the pain and beauty of stories he cannot touch.

Fate/Grand Order

Merlin is first alluded to in the prologue, then provides critical support at various singularities.

He directly intervenes in the Fifth and Sixth Singularities, sending allies where they are needed most, preparing the heroes with subtle guidance and magical boons.

In the Seventh Singularity, Merlin is summoned by Gilgamesh as a court wizard in Uruk, where he assists the protagonists with both combat prowess and strategic foresight.

While still sealed in Avalon in the “main” timeline, Merlin uses magical proxies and dreams to interact with the world and give critical advice.

Merlin’s rare playable appearance as a ★5 Caster cemented his legendary status, as his skills made him a top-tier, nearly irreplaceable support.

In subsequent chapters, he continues to support from the shadows, rarely intervening personally but always appearing when a story’s fate hangs in the balance.

He also has complex relationships across alternate universes and timelines, including the infamous female Proto Merlin, with whom he shares a strained sibling dynamic.

Fate/Apocrypha (Anime)

Though not present in the original novel, the anime adaptation features Merlin as a vision conjured during Mordred’s "Selection of the King" ceremony—serving to guide Mordred through her darkest hours.

Merlin’s favorite things: humans, pranks, pretty girls.

Hates: Grand Caster role, responsibilities, and being bored.

He is described as forever young at heart, never aging emotionally or mentally.

He is voiced by several actors: Katsuya Kobayashi (Stay Night anime), Junichi Suwabe (Réalta Nua), and Takahiro Sakurai (Garden of Avalon, Fate/Grand Order).

Notably, Merlin contributed to fan-favorite memes, such as naming a teapot after his color scheme (“Merlin juice”) in Fate/Grand Order.

In the words of his enemies and friends alike: Merlin is "a handsome good-for-nothing," the "ultimate kingmaker," and "the infamous shut-in of Avalon."