Fate Medusa

Rider (Medusa) - Fate

Background

Medusa is the True Name of Rider in Fate/stay night. Her character is based off of a creature in Greek mythology. She and her two sisters were known as the Three Gorgon Sisters of the Shapeless Isle. In her legend, she was at first a beautiful woman, but due to Athena’s jealousy, transformed into a demon. Eventually, as commanded by the gods, the hero Perseus cut off her head after reflecting her petrification powers back at her with a shield.

What are Medusa’s aliases in the Fate series?

Medusa is also known as the “Bewitching Black Servant” and the “Female Monster of Gorgon.”

Appearance

In Fate/stay night, Rider appears as a tall beautiful woman with long straight pink hair that runs nearly the entire length of her body. She wears a sexy black dress with black thigh-highs. Her more recognizable feature is the blindfold she wears over her eyes and the red tattoo on her forehead. In Fate/hollow ataraxia, Medusa is more humanized and doesn’t wear the blindfold. Sometimes, she is seen with glasses on. Her 3rd Ascension form in Fate/Grand Order also presents her without a blindfold on, leaving her eyes visible.

Personality

Rider is both sultry and rational. She doesn’t speak much and is extremely loyal to her Master. In all routes of Fate/Stay Night, she is immediately willing to sacrifice her life to protect her Master’s life, whether it be Shinji or Sakura. She likes alcohol, snakes, and reading, but hates mirrors.

Abilities

Rider (Medusa) is an expert in close-combat. When attacking Shirou, she is able to stalk and surprise attack him often, utilizing the woods to her advantage. She wields a dagger attached to a chain called the Nameless Dagger. It is manifested from her hair and can grow any length she wants. Besides manipulating it physically with her strength, she can also control its movement telekinetically.

Noble Phantasms
・Bellerophon: Anti-Army class. Also known as Bridle of Chivalry. Her most powerful attack. With it, she is able to use a golden bridle on Pegasus and soar at incredible speeds, able to dive bomb and destroy a wide area.
・Breaker Gorgon: Anti-Unit class. Also known as Self Seal, Dark Temple. She can use this to seal away an enemy’s magic (or her own) or imprison his consciousness, keeping them in a pleasurable nightmare.

Roles

Fate/stay night
In the Fifth Holy Grail War, Medusa was summoned by the Holy Grail to be a Rider-class Servant. Her original Master was Sakura Matou. However, Sakura didn’t want to participate in the war, so control of Medusa was transferred over to Shinji Matou. She thinks Shinji is disgusting, as rightfully she should, but she obeys him loyally nonetheless. In the Unlimited Blade Works route, she is killed by Caster’s Master, Souichirou Kuzuki, while protecting Shinji. In the Heaven’s Feel route, Rider protects her Master, Sakura, with Mystic Eyes. She eventually teams up with Shirou Emiya and lives in his home.

Fate/hollow ataraxia
Medusa has lived in Shirou Emiya’s house for a while, along with Sakura and others. She’s gotten a job, earns money, and lives a more normal human life. To encourage a romantic relationship between Sakura and Shirou, she casts Breaker Gorgon on Shirou as he dreams to create the illusion of Shirou, Sakura, and Medusa having sex in a threesome. Although Medusa had to wipe this from Shirou’s memory, it helped her realize her true feelings for Shirou.

Who is Medusa’s voice actress?

Medusa is portrayed by Yu Asakawa. Asakawa is also known for her roles as Ranger in Azur Lane (2019) and Chisato Hasegawa in The Testament of Sister New Devil (2015) as well as Misaki Fujima in Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai (2013). Medusa has been played by two voice actresses in English: Karen Strassman, who also voiced Kallen Stadtfeld in Code Geass (2008-2009) and Melissa Fahn, who also voiced Edward in Cowboy Bebop (1999).

What series does Medusa appear in?

Medusa is most typically a Rider-class Servant and appears in:
All Around Type-Moon
Capsule Servant
Carnival Phantasm
Chibichuki!
Fate/Ace Royal
Fate/Extella / Link
Fate/Grand Order
Fate/hollow ataraxia
Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA☆ILLYA
Fate/school life
Fate/stay night
Fate/tiger colosseum / Upper
Fate/unlimited codes
Koha-Ace