Theseus

Note: This is a discussion about Theseus and his role in the Nasuverse, as well as gameplay calculations for him in FGO. Please be aware (for non-players & regular visitors) that this will differ slightly from his story when entering the Nasuverse part.

Theseus, a great hero in the legends of Attica, is the son of Aegeus, the king of Athens, and Aethra, the daughter of Pittheus, the king of Troezen. His origins are sometimes attributed to Poseidon, adding a divine touch to his lineage. Raised in Troezen, Theseus embarked on his transformative journey to Athens as a young man, facing a series of adventures and adversaries along the way.

His journey was filled with challenges, from slaying notorious bandits like Sinis, who killed his victims by tearing them between two pine trees, to defeating terrifying creatures like the Crommyonian Sow and the bull that spewed fire from Marathon. These achievements earned him a reputation that preceded his arrival in Athens.

In Athens, Theseus faced political intrigue and family complications. His father, Aegeus, initially failed to recognize him due to the manipulation of Medea. However, after revealing his identity and thwarting a plot to assassinate him, Theseus was proclaimed as the heir to the throne of Athens.

One of his most famous feats was slaying the Minotaur, a creature that was half-human and half-bull, imprisoned in the labyrinth of Crete. With the help of Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos, Theseus navigated the labyrinth and emerged victorious, freeing Athens from the painful tribute of sending youths to their deaths.

Theseus's adventures involved more than just Athens. His friendship with Pirithous, a Lapith, led him on daring adventures, including an unsuccessful journey to the underworld to rescue Persephone. Although they were briefly imprisoned, Heracles eventually freed Theseus.

However, Theseus's life was not without tragedy. His inadvertent neglect of his promise to Aegeus led to his father's death, as Aegeus, upon seeing black sails instead of the expected white ones, believed his son to be dead and ended his own life. Theseus's rule in Athens was fraught with challenges, including rebellions and political instability, which ultimately led him to leave the city.

His legacy endured through various festivals and myths, depicting him as a divine hero who shaped the destiny of Athens and left an indelible mark on Greek mythology.

Now, let's delve into the discussion in the Nasuverse.

Theseus is an ancient Greek hero, considered a relative of Heracles, and also an experienced explorer who participated in the voyage of the Argo. One of his most famous stories is when he challenged the great labyrinth on the island of Crete and successfully defeated the Minotaur. By overcoming this man-eating creature, he became a legendary hero who continued to create legends.

Theseus was born as the son of Aegeus, the king of Athens, but was raised without his father. By lifting the sword and sandals left by Aegeus, Theseus succeeded in claiming his inheritance. After defeating many criminals and monsters on his journey, he returned to Athens, gaining recognition as the heir to the throne.

However, Theseus's life was not always glorious. Upon hearing that King Minos of Crete demanded sacrifices of 7 youths and 7 maidens to the bull creature, the Minotaur, Theseus angrily volunteered. However, after successfully defeating the Minotaur, he brought home deep emotional wounds.

After this sacrifice, Theseus continued to wander between the boundaries of justice and evil, losing his throne through days of glory and frustration, pursued and killed in his place of refuge. He lost his direction and understanding of right and wrong. As a result, he said to himself that he was still lost.

Theseus also deliberately does not speak much about Ariadne. The fact that he left the woman he should have loved deeply wounded him. Therefore, Theseus feels he has no right to speak about Ariadne. If only he could speak, it would be evidence that Theseus could gain something from his second chance at life.

ATK: 1,319/7,105

HP: 1,854/10,302

Lv.100 Grail ATK: 9,616

Lv.100 Grail HP: 13,968

Lv.120 Grail ATK: 11,294

Lv.120 Grail HP: 16,418

Voice Actor: Egoshi Akinori

Illustrator: Shimadoriru

Attribute: Earth

Growth Curve: Reverse S

Star Absorption: 102

Star Generation: 10.2%

NP Charge ATK: 0.55%

NP Charge DEF: 3%

Death Rate: 28%

Alignments: Lawful・Good

Gender: Male

Height/weight: 183 cm/77 kg

Source: Greek mythology

Region: Europe

Role: critter, giant slayer, anti-demonic beast

Basic Traits: Argo-Related, Greek Mythology Male, Hominidae Servant, Humanoid, King, Loved One, Riding, Servant, Seven Knights Servant, Weak to Enuma Elish

DECK

QAABBEx

Q: 4 hits

A: 3 hits

B: 3 hits

Ex: 5 hits

For NP gain, the optimal chain is AQAEx. With NP charge ATK 0.55%, Arts up 30% from skill 1 at level 10, Quick up 8% from passive, assuming no crit or overkill, it would be:

Arts + Quick + Arts + Extra

= 8.09% + 5.76% + 14.52% + 5.50%

= 33.87%

He can also form an Arts chain through NPAA. Assuming no crit or overkill, it would be:

NP + Arts + Arts + Extra

= 8.58% + 11.30% + 14.52% + 5.50%

= 39.90%

In terms of NP alone, he's slightly below Beni-enma, while overall, he's above Lancelot.

For stargen, the optimal chain is ABQEx. With a stargen of 10.2% and Quick up 8% from passive, assuming no crit or overkill, he generates around 13~23 crit stars.

NOBLE PHANTASM

1. Ariadne Apórrito Ádis - And Thus, the Thread Leads to the Extremity

Rank: C++

Classification: Anti-Unit

Type: Arts

Range: 1~3

Maximum number of targets: 2 people

Hit-counts: 4

Effect: Increases own damage against Demonic Beast Servant enemies by 50% for 1 turn (Activates first) + Deals damage (NP5 1500%) to one enemy + Deals 150% extra damage to Giant enemies + Gains 20 critical stars.

Overcharge Effect: Increases own critical damage (50~100% depending on OC) for 3 turns (Activates first)

"It's all or nothing, if there's a path to victory! And I'll wager my life!! Ariadne Apórrito Ádis!!" - Saber

A Noble Phantasm that manifests the thread of Ariadne, allowing Theseus to reach and escape from the Minotaur (Asterios) monster. This thread unlocks the Mystic Code of curses that carves the path to glory and victory, but if the steps are wrong/off the path, it will bind its user to the worst outcome.

This thread can encircle powerful enemies without hindering their movements, also guiding Theseus to find gaps in battle, opening the way to defeat them. Combined with his other skills, it can increase the chances of reaching the "giant killer" level.

For damage calculation, let's gather the data first. With an ATK stat of 8105 at level 70 (including 1000 Fou), NP5 at 1500%, Arts up 30% from skill 1 at level 10, ATK up 30% from skill 3 at level 10, and base multiplier of 1x, it would be:

Normal = 47,256.20

Against Demonic Beast/Giant = 70,884.30

Against Demonic Beast + Giant = 106,326.46

Normally it's quite good, slightly below Nero Bride. Among low-star Servants, it's still behind Bedivere & Caesar, but the increase is quite drastic when encountering suitable enemies.

2. Dyskolia Speira - Greatly Precipitous Kismetic Spiral

Rank: B

Classification: Anti-Unit

Range: 1

Maximum number of targets: 1 person

The arduous journey experienced by Theseus during his process of becoming a hero, immortalized in the form of a Noble Phantasm. Although on a different scale, it can be considered a similar type of Noble Phantasm as Heracles' God Hand. He destroys enemies blocking his path one by one, including his final battle with Asterios, which resulted in an untreated wound for a lifetime.

This journey is a cycle of karma. For those who have attacked with a stick, they will be struck with their own stick. For those who have fed giant turtle monsters with humans, they will become food for the turtle themselves.

Perhaps due to its origin, this Noble Phantasm reflects the attacks of opponents. In FGO, it is generally not used.

ACTIVE SKILL

1. Ariadne's Prayer

Rank: C

Effect: Increases own Arts performance (30% at level 10) for 3 turns + Charges own NP gauge (20% at level 10) + Gains critical stars (10 stars/turn at level 10) for 3 turns.

Cooldown: 8/7/6

He is influenced by prayers to take the right route to the right destination. Combining this with Instinct will remove all doubts from Theseus's actions, and this combination becomes stronger when further combined with his Noble Phantasm.

For gameplay, this skill enhances the effectiveness of Arts cards both in terms of damage and other aspects. Additionally, it allows him to use his Noble Phantasm immediately if given a starting NP gauge, similar to Kaleidoscope.

2. Instinct (Labyrinth)

Rank: B++

Effect: Increases own critical star absorption of Arts Cards (500% at level 10) for 3 turns + Increases own critical damage of Arts Cards (50% at level 10) for 3 turns + Gains critical stars (15 stars at level 10)

Cooldown: 8/7/6

The ability to always "sense" what is best for him to do in battle. His skill is ranked at B, but it sharply increases if he's within a labyrinth. This allows him to continue fighting in battle even if his vision is obstructed by darkness.

For gameplay, this skill focuses on making him an Arts critter through star absorption and crit damage up specifically for Arts cards.

3. Martial Arts Retribution

Rank: B

Effect: Increases own attack (30% at level 10) for 3 turns + Reduces one enemy's attack (20% at level 10) for 3 turns + Gains critical stars (15 stars at level 10)

Cooldown: 8/7/6

A skill derived from the tale when he stole his opponent's weapon and used it against them. Besides reducing the opponent's attack power, this skill also enhances Theseus's own attack power. At rank B, depending on the result of a check, he may even steal weapons held by other Heroic Spirits. However, stealing weapons like holy swords, demonic swords, etc., is impossible.

For gameplay, this skill aligns with its description, increasing his own attack output while reducing the output of one enemy.

PASSIVE SKILL

1. Magic Resistance

Rank: A

Effect: Increases own debuff resistance by 20%.

Can cancel spells with an incantation of A-Rank or below, even spells from greater magecraft.

2. Riding

Rank: B

Effect: Increases own Quick performance by 8%.

Most vehicles and animals can be ridden with above average skill, even vehicles that did not exist in the Rider's era. However, cannot ride Phantasmal Species such as Monstrous Beasts.

APPEND SKILL

1. Extra Attack Finesse Improvement

Effect: Increases own Extra Attack performance (50% at level 10)

2. Mana Loading

Effect: Starts battle with NP gauge (20% at level 10)

3. Anti-Berserker Attack Damage Aptitude

Effect: Increases own attack against Berserker enemies (30% at level 10)

BOND CE

Name: Red Thread of Guidance

ID: 1935

Illustrator: Mibuta Akihiro

ATK: 100/100

HP: 100/100

Cost: 9

Max Level: 80

Effect: When equipped on Theseus: Increases party's damage against Demonic Beast Servant enemies by 15% + Increases party's damage against Giant enemies by 15% while self is on the field.

Lore:

Indeed, it was this thread that allowed me to persevere, to survive the trials of existence. Threads that bind, threads that connect — they are the essence of fate interwoven.

Yet, heed one important note: This thread visualizes the ties between souls; the absence of a red thread does not signify the absence of fate.

If one were to live guided by this thread, perhaps life might have been easier, smoother.

Still, I... I wish to cherish those unseen bonds, those uncertain ties, whether they exist or not. For it is my desire to value them, to honor them, even in the uncertainty of their presence.

So, Master, when you wield it, tread with care, for you have come so close, so intimately near. On that front, I place immense trust.

Suggested CEs

Kaleidoscope

Wizard Marshal

Formalcraft

Afterimage of a Sand Table

Ice Warrior

Mystery Treasure

Welcome to ONILAND!!

Battle Olympia

A'

Ocean Flyer

New Beginning

Dive to Blue

Etc.

Suggested Party Servants

Castoria

Proto Merlin

Tamae

Oberon

Waver

Reines

Hans

Xu Fu

Mozart

GilCas

Lanling Wang

Ibuki Summer

Jason

Kumonryu Eliza

Jeanne Summer

Etc.

Strengths

High HP stat

Good NP damage

All skills and NP provide critical stars

Weaknesses

Relatively low ATK stat

Long cooldowns

Conclusion

Finally, another low-star Saber. While his NP damage may not match Caesar's, his kit is designed for critical hits, in which he excels. While compared to other Arts ST Sabers, he may not stand out, but for a low-star, he's quite competent.