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Zhuge Liang (El-Melloi II)

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Caster
Zhuge Liang (El-Melloi II)
# 37
CardType
2
CardType
1
CardType
1
CardType
3
CardType
NP
-
Attribute
Alignments
Neutral Good
NPGainNP Gain
1.64%
NPGainNP when Attacked (%)
3%
NPGainStar Absorption
50%
NPGainStar Generation per Hit
10.8%
NPGainInstant Death Chance
34.5%
Attack
Base1,637
arrow-right
Max10,598
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Lv 10011,601
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Lv 12013,617
HP
Base2,091
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Max14,259
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Lv 10015,621
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Lv 12018,359

Traits

Humanoid
Servant
Weak to Enuma Elish
Brynhild's Beloved
Male
Living Human
Hominidae

Tags

Tag Icon
Crit Damage Support
Tag Icon
NP Gauge Support
Tag Icon
DEF Support
Tag Icon
Damage Cut Support
Tag Icon
ATK Support
Tag Icon
Damage Plus Support
Tag Icon
Support Arts NP
Tag Icon
NP Gauge Down
Tag Icon
Curse
Tag Icon
DEF Down
Tag Icon
Stun
SkillIcon
Discerning Eye A
Increase Critical Strength for an ally (3 turns). Increase NP Gauge for an ally by 30%.
Available from the start
SkillIcon
Tactician's Advice A+
Increase DEF for all allies (3 turns). Apply Damage Cut to all allies (3 turns). Increase NP Gauge for all allies by 10%.
Unlocks after 1st Ascension
SkillIcon
Tactician's Command A+
Increase ATK for all allies (3 turns). Apply Damage Plus for all allies (3 turns). Increase NP Gauge for all allies by 10%.
Unlocks after 3rd Ascension

Append Skills

SkillIcon
Extra Attack Boost
Increase own Extra Attack Card effectiveness.
SkillIcon
Load Magical Energy
Begin battle with NP Gauge charged.
SkillIcon
Anti-Caster (ATK Up)
Deal extra Special ATK damage to [Caster] class enemies.
SkillIcon
Special Attack Technique Improvement
Increase own Critical Strength.
SkillIcon
Skill Reload
When using a skill, reduce the cooldown for the skill by 1 turn for the first time the skill is used per battle (Only 1 time per skill). Lv 1-5: 1 skill Lv 6-9: 2 skills Lv10: 3 skills

Class Skills

SkillIcon
Item Construction B
Increase your Debuff Chance Rate by 8%.
SkillIcon
Territory Creation A
Increase your Arts Card effectiveness by 10%.

Noble Phantasm

Unreturning FormationC-
Decrease DEF for all enemies (3 turns). Inflict Curse (500 damage per turn) for all enemies (3 turns). Decrease Charge for all enemies by 1.
<Overcharge>
Medium chance to inflict Stun for all enemies (1 turn).
Unreturning Formation (Upgrade 1)C
Upgrade via Interlude Quest 3 .
Greatly decrease DEF for all enemies (3 turns). ▲ Inflict Curse (1000 damage per turn) for all enemies (6 turns). ▲ Decrease Charge for all enemies by 1.
<Overcharge>
Medium chance to inflict Stun for all enemies (1 turn).
Ascension
QP
x4,400,000
Skill
QP
x54,400,000
Append Skill
QP
x54,400,000
Ascension + Skill
QP
x58,800,000
Total
QP
x113,200,000

‘I will only ever serve one person. Just think of me as another piece on the board.’

Zhuge Liang (Lord El-Melloi II), AKA Waver Velvet, is a man of many names and many talents, and he brings all of those talents to bear as one of the best supports in the game. Packing a straightforward but broadly effective kit, the Great Tactician is an Arts-based Caster who eschews buffing any one specific card type in favor of being flexible enough to fit into any team. Zhuge’s ability to not only buff the entire team offensively and defensively, but also charge their NP gauges at the same time, allows him to consistently elevate the performance of any team composition he finds himself in. To top his kit off, his own NP is packed with utility perfect for stalling and boosting team damage even further.

However, even the titans of Chaldea aren’t perfect, and Zhuge Liang is no exception. Though his teamwide buffs are fantastic in value, they are also saddled with slightly longer cooldowns. Furthermore, Zhuge’s own lack of healing or hard defensive options means the team needs to bring another servant to help with long-term survival, or simply blitz fights before that becomes an issue. Lastly, his single-target high-potency skill buffs Critical Damage, but Zhuge himself has no way of providing Critical Star support with his single Quick card and all-around low hit counts. Luckily, these weaknesses can be covered fairly easily via careful Craft Essence and teammate selection.

Considering his numerous strengths and high consistency, Zhuge Liang greatly improves any Chaldea he chooses to grace with his presence. Zhuge is one of the most useful farming Servants in the game, and is also consistently a standout pick for high-difficulty Challenge Quests.

🟢 Strengths

Strong All-Around Team Support and Utility

Unlike some of the other notable SSR support Servants, Zhuge Liang doesn’t limit himself to supporting any specific card type. His full value is displayed in almost every team equally well due to the universal nature of basic ATK, NP charge and DEF buffs. No team would refuse these simple, yet effective basic stat boosts. His ability to supercharge one Servant’s Critical Damage by up to 50% for three out of every five turns makes him a good cornerstone of strong Critical Damage teams as well. Not for nothing is Zhuge considered the most adaptable Servant in the game.

Flexible NP Charging

Zhuge Liang boasts the best on-demand supportive NP charging capability in the game. Able to give the entire frontline 20% NP charge, and an additional 30% more to a single lucky candidate, he is one of the most valuable members of any farming team. The flexibility he grants in team composition and CE selection cannot be overstated, especially during events where the pool of choices is already pinched. The ability to double up by borrowing a Friend Support Zhuge and give any Servant in the game a full NP gauge on the first turn regardless of CE or other factors is just one of the many benefits he brings.

High Utility on NP

Zhuge Liang’s Unreturning Formation recreates his legendary Stone Sentinel Maze, and is exactly as cunning and effective as you would expect. Starting off with a guaranteed NP drain on all enemies, it has a moderate chance to stun all targets (scaling with overcharge) as well, making it a powerful stalling tool. Furthermore, it inflicts a hefty DEF debuff on enemies, which makes it an ideal candidate to start off NP chains, as well as inflicting a Curse damage over time effect. With his triple Arts deck, high base NP gain, and the NP charge on his skills, Zhuge can use this handy utility bomb fairly often, leaving enemies paralyzed and frustrated as they fail to use their NPs and take increasingly higher damage.

🔴 Weaknesses

Limited Defensive Options

While the double defenses of Tactician’s Advice are extremely powerful, especially when combined with other DEF buffs, Zhuge is unlikely to survive being hit by an enemy NP and has no way to save allies from one either. As he lacks an Evasion or Invulnerability, or even a Guts, he relies entirely on his NP to stall out enemy NPs, unless an ally can cover for him. In addition, because Zhuge doesn’t have any other defensive buffs, the team is vulnerable during the 3-turn downtime of Tactician’s Advice at max rank. The final gap in his armor is that he brings no sustain whatsoever, meaning the team may run out of steam in longer quests.

Lower Ceiling than More Specialized Supports

While Zhuge Liang excels at granting NP charge quickly, and can step into any support role and do it well, he does lack the peaks of dedicated, specialized supports. Without his NP, Zhuge often cannot supply the sheer improved performance/damage a dedicated card type support might provide, nor can his defense buffs provide as much defense as a dedicated tank or stalling Support. Similarly, while he can apply a critical buff, he cannot supply the critical stars to go with it, instead requiring additional sources of Star Generation, whether from CEs, other supports, or a damage dealer who can create their own stars. In essence, Zhuge will greatly amplify all parts of a party’s performance, but cannot completely cover any aspect alone.

Level Up Skill Recommendations

MedSkillIcon
Discerning Eye A
Increase Critical Strength for an ally (3 turns). Increase NP Gauge for an ally by 30%.
MedSkillIcon
Tactician's Advice A+
Increase DEF for all allies (3 turns). Apply Damage Cut to all allies (3 turns). Increase NP Gauge for all allies by 10%.
HighSkillIcon
Tactician's Command A+
Increase ATK for all allies (3 turns). Apply Damage Plus for all allies (3 turns). Increase NP Gauge for all allies by 10%.

Zhuge Liang boasts a fantastic and well-rounded skill set. All three of his skills possess high numbers, strong effects and benefit greatly from leveling. Although the NP charge on any of his skills is not affected by skill levels, reducing their cooldowns is still essential for improving Zhuge’s performance in challenging content. While maxing all of them is important, the priority can vary depending on available resources and teammates.

  • Discerning Eye is Zhuge’s highest-value buff for a single target in terms of damage values and NP charge, and also has the shortest cooldown of his skills. While it is more situational than his other two buffs, if he is being run in Critical teams, or if you heavily value the larger NP charge, it is worth maxing second; otherwise, max it last.
  • Tactician’s Advice is a fantastic double-layered DEF buff and NP charge, but only the two DEF buffs scale with level (albeit strongly). Its universal applicability and high values make it a good idea to max second, unless the focus is being placed on Zhuge’s ability to enable crit teams, in which case max it third.
  • Tactician’s Command is one of the strongest team ATK buffs in the game, like Charisma on steroids, and the NP charge is the cherry on top. It is universally useful and the entire team’s offensive presence is significantly higher while it is active. The good scaling on the ATK buff and the reduced cooldown are both strong reasons to max it first.

🖼️ Craft Essence Recommendations

Zhuge Liang can do his job of all-around team buffing very well regardless of what CE he’s equipped with, but some choices stand out as natural complements to his kit. Valuable CE choices include Passive Star Generation, Passive NP Generation, or NP Gain CEs in order to either enable his Critical support or cast his useful NP frequently.

  • A Fragment of 2030 / His Rightful Place

Passive Critical Star generation is an extremely powerful effect on any supportive Servant, and this is doubly true given Zhuge’s crit buff and lack of other star generation methods. A Fragment of 2030 is the strongest passive star generation CE in the game, and can cover for Zhuge’s weakness in that area, especially if another frontline Servant also has a copy. His Rightful Place is weaker, but provides handy Starting NP Gauge instead.

  • Prisma Cosmos

If Zhuge is run as the sole support or if star generation isn’t required, the passive NP generation of Prisma Cosmos is a potent alternative. In conjunction with his skills and Arts chains, he should be able to NP regularly even if his command cards aren’t selected often..

  • Formal Craft / Little Halloween Devil / Magical Girl of Sapphire

Alternatively, if Zhuge takes a more active role, boosting his active NP generation is another way to improve his NP spam. Formal Craft boosts his NP gain and the damage on his most important card type, while Little Halloween Devil and Magical Girl of Sapphire grant starting gauge and improved overall NP generation.

  • Golden Captures the Carp / Ox-Demon King / Kaleidoscope

If Zhuge Liang is used in combination with the Chaldea Combat Uniform’s Order Change or to clear a quest in a single turn, these CEs all provide instant access to immediate performance boosts for the team. Kaleidoscope will allow for instant access to his NP for further damage improvement, and for short quests will also handily outperform Prisma Cosmos in total NP gauge received.

  • Chaldea Lunchtime / Heroic Spirit Portrait

Zhuge isn’t particularly dependent on any specific CE during low-difficulty or farming quests, where he mostly serves as a fast NP battery for the team. He is a strong candidate to hold Bond Point CEs like Chaldea Lunchtime or Heroic Spirit Portraits.

Analysis by:

Interlude Quests

QuestRequirementsReward
Chapter Completion:Orleans
Ascension:1
Bond:3
Icon
Chapter Completion:Okeanos
Ascension:2
Bond:4
Icon
Chapter Completion:Okeanos
Ascension:4
Bond:5
Icon
Cost16
GrowthS
Instant Death Chance34.5
Damage Distribution Quick33,67
Damage Distribution Arts100
Damage Distribution Buster100
Damage Distribution Extra12,25,63
Damage Distribution NP

Bond

Bond Lv12345678910
Bond EXP5,00015,00010,0002,00018,000150,000430,000340,000320,000405,000
Relic of the King
Relic of the King
When equipped on Zhuge Liang (El-Melloi II), Increases Buster Card effectiveness of all allies by 15% while he's on the field.
IllustratorTakashi Takeuchi
Seiyuu (CV)Daisuke Namikawa
AKA/Alias/NicknamesWaver, Lord El-Melloi II
Country/Place of OriginChina
SeriesFate/Zero
Release Date (NA)Game Launch

Parameters

STR
E
END
E
AGL
D
MP
A+
LUK
B+
NP
A

Valentine's CE

Cigar and Wine
Cigar and Wine

Profile Entries

Character Info

Lord El-Melloi II originally didn't possess the capacity or the history to become a Servant. But due to the extremely special circumstances of this Holy Grail War, he was successfully summoned as a vessel for Zhuge Liang, a Heroic Spirit from ancient China.

Profile 1

Height/Weight: 186cm, 68kg Origin: Romance of the Three Kingdoms Region: China Alignment: Neutral-Good Gender: Male A monster of rationalism.

Profile 2

Zhuge Liang was well-known as a superior politician and serviceman during the Three Kingdoms era of China. It is said that he played a great role in the small, weak kingdom of Shu in resisting the major kingdom Wei for a long time.

Profile 3

This Servant is neither El-Melloi II nor Zhuge Liang. Both of their strengths fused together and enabled this Servant to unleash powers he wasn't able to before. The thought patterns and emotions are based on the vessel, El-Melloi II.

Profile 4

Discerning Eye: A Unique skill. This skill did not originate from Zhuge Liang, but rather from El-Melloi II. A variant of Human Observation, this skill allows the user to tell the observed target how to maximize their full potential.

Profile 5

[Unreturning Formation] Rank: C NP Type: Anti-Army The legendary formation used by Zhuge Liang when he had his troops retreat. Once anybody enters his stone sentinel maze, that person will be lost inside the maze until death.

Profile 6

Pseudo-Servant... A Heroic Spirit that cannot become a Servant for some reason, they have been summoned to the world by using a human body as their vessel.

Voice Lines

Battle Start 1
Battle? It's an action I would rather avoid, but it seems I have no choice.
Battle Start 2
I shall destroy you in one go. Let's do this, Master.
Skill 1
Ridiculous.
Skill 2
Hmm, then let's do this.
Command Card 1
Hmph.
Command Card 2
Boring.
Command Card 3
As you command.
Noble Phantasm Card
Fighting is not just physical attacks.
Attack 1
It's a strategy.
Attack 2
It's a trap.
Attack 3
It's futile.
Extra Attack
Deplorable. That was too easy.
Noble Phantasm
This is the ultimate formation of the Great Tactician, Unreturning Formation. Break it if you can.
Damage 1
How careless...
Damage 2
Ahh!
Incapacitated 1
This is it, I leave the rest to you...
Incapacitated 2
Rider... I fear I have disgraced your name.
Victory 1
If the sacrifices are low, that too is a victory.
Victory 2
That was an almost perfect victory, but I should be able to win before the fighting starts.
Level up
Finally, one step closer.
Ascension 1
It seems to me a miracle that I have come so far.
Ascension 2
...There's a long way to go.
Well, I wonder how long until I become a tactician who can advise him.
Bond Level 1
Ah, so annoying.
Bond Level 2
You're in the way.
Bond Level 3
Reines? ...No, I am Zhuge Liang. I don't know what you're talking about. Hey, don't try to contact the Clock Tower!
Bond Level 4
...By the way, is the Far East affected by the change in history? Like Akihabara, or video games... Oh, there's none? I see...
Bond Level 5
As you can see, I'm in the middle of a game. I don't mind you talking to me, but please don't play with my hair. It's very distracting.
Conversation 1
Now, shall we head out soon?
Conversation 2
I will only ever serve one person. Just think of me as one piece on the board.
Conversation 3
I have absolutely no intention of serving anyone other than that conquering idiot. However, I want to be on good terms with you.
Conversation 4
How strange. I had come to terms with not meeting him again, but to have the chance to stand side by side once more.
Really... at least there has been something positive, even in humanity's crisis.
Likes
My likes... well. Perceptive students, quiet classrooms, and colleagues whose brains are not filled with tofu... that's about it.
Dislikes
The type I dislike? Violent men, vulgar men, men without dreams or ambition. It's the same for women.
About the Holy Grail
Holy Grail, hmm, I have no need for it. But I would like to dismantle it.
During an Event
It seems there's been some trouble. Go take a look.
Birthday
Oh, the day you were born If it's something to celebrate, then celebrate.
Summon
I am Servant Zhuge Liang...What? You are asking if I am the wrong person?
Exactly, I am actually El-Melloi the Second. But I did inherit all the powers, so there's no issues there.
Fate/Accel Zero Order 1
The Fourth Holy Grail war?
It might be somewhat harsh for a practical assignment, but there was a Mage even less experienced than you who made it back alive.
Do not fret.
Fate/Accel Zero Order 2
Very well. I'll give your grades.
...Oho? Not too bad. Keep it up.
Fate/Accel Zero Order 3
Submitting your report?
Ah, just leave it there. I'm in an online match right now and I can't leav.. No, nothing to do with you, don't worry about it.
Fate/Accel Zero Order 4
By the way, you didn't take the wrong credits, did you?
Every so often I get a careless student like that. Make sure you check the curriculum.
Fate/Accel Zero Order 5
Even field work is life and death in the Clock Tower.
Though it's an inevitable risk for one who plans to study magecraft.
Work hard so that you don't meet an end worse than death.
Fate/Accel Zero Order 6
Training is over for this term. No supplementary classes. Your results were... Well, your acquisition of credits was satisfactory. Well done.
Fate/Accel Zero Order 7
I hope you've received your proof of attendance and diploma?
You've taken my intensive class. You should use the skills you've learned.
Fate/Accel Zero Order 8
Training is over for this term.
I hope you've learned something along the way.
Don't leave any personal items in the classroom.
Fate/Accel Zero Order 9
You've finished. I'd guess you've managed a passing grade.
Fate/Accel Zero Order 10
Oho? That's impressive. Keep it up.
Fate/Accel Zero Order 11
Hmm. A new task, then. This one won't be so easy.
Fate/Accel Zero Order 12
Very well. Let's progress to the next stage.
Fate/Accel Zero Order 13
It's in a different classroom next time. Don't be late.
Fate/Accel Zero Order 14
Splendid. One fate has been overturned by your exertions.
Fate/Accel Zero Order 15
You've submitted all your tasks. Well done.
Fate/Accel Zero Order 16
Congratulations. It's been a long journey, but your classes end here. Do you want to participate in my lectures next term? Students with potential are always welcome.
Battle Start 1 [Waver Velvet]
Battle? I would rather avoid that right now, but it seems I have no choice.
Battle Start 2 [Waver Velvet]
I'm going to come at you all at once!
Skill 1 [Waver Velvet]
What a boring lot. Don't you have anything better to do?
Skill 2 [Waver Velvet]
Well, how about this?
Command Card 1 [Waver Velvet]
All right.
Command Card 2 [Waver Velvet]
Yes.
Command Card 3 [Waver Velvet]
Here I go!
Noble Phantasm Card [Waver Velvet]
Everything is as I planned it, apparently!
Attack 1 [Waver Velvet]
It's a strategy.
Attack 2 [Waver Velvet]
It's a trap.
Attack 3 [Waver Velvet]
It's futile.
Extra Attack [Waver Velvet]
Too easy!
Noble Phantasm [Waver Velvet]
This is the ultimate formation of the Great Tactician, Unreturning Formation.
Damage 1 [Waver Velvet]
Aaagh!
Damage 2 [Waver Velvet]
Agh!
Incapacitated 1 [Waver Velvet]
Is this it? Dammit...
Incapacitated 2 [Waver Velvet]
Sorry Rider...
Victory 1 [Waver Velvet]
A victory is a victory, even this one. Yes.
Victory 2 [Waver Velvet]
That was an almost perfect victory, but I should be able to win before the fighting starts.
Level up [Waver Velvet]
Of course I'm going to grow, I'm still a young man.
Ascension 1 [Waver Velvet]
Look, Rider! I can do it if I try! ...Huh?
Ascension 2 [Waver Velvet]
This is my limit... Well, can't be helped. My thanks, Master. It's thanks to you that I have come this far.
Bond Level 1 [Waver Velvet]
What is it? You're so annoying.
Bond Level 2 [Waver Velvet]
You're in the way.
Bond Level 3 [Waver Velvet]
Reines? ...N-no, I am Zhuge Liang, so I don't know what you're talking about. Hey, don't try to contact the Clock Tower!
Bond Level 4 [Waver Velvet]
...By the way, is the Far East affected by the change in history? Like Akihabara, or video games... Oh, there's none? I see...
Bond Level 5 [Waver Velvet]
As you can see, I'm in the middle of a game. I don't mind you talking to me, just don't interrupt. I'm doing a speed run. I couldn't stand to have all the time I've put into this go to waste!
Conversation 1 [Waver Velvet]
Let's head out. Like they say, the early bird catches the worm.
Conversation 2 [Waver Velvet]
I will only ever serve one person.
Just think of me as one piece on the board.
Conversation 3 [Waver Velvet]
I have absolutely no intention of serving anyone other than that conquering idiot. However, I want to be on good terms with you, not just as Master and Servant.
Conversation 4 [Waver Velvet] (Iskandar)
I like you too. To make a contract with one so reckless as him.
Huh, who do I mean?
That's obvious.
That big, loud Rider with the big attitude!
Likes [Waver Velvet]
My likes... That's easy. Someone who can recognize my talent and is worthy of respect.
Dislikes [Waver Velvet]
I dislike violence. He may look like he's progressing, but he's really just retreating.
About the Holy Grail [Waver Velvet]
The Holy Grail? I don't need it. I wouldn't mind dismantling it, though.
During an Event [Waver Velvet]
Seems there's some trouble...
Wanna go check it out?
Birthday [Waver Velvet]
Birthday? That's only a measure, it's not a day to make a special fuss about.
Non-Limited -Available in the general summoning pool.

Future Banners

Banner (Add 2 years for NA Date)JP Period
[JP] Dancing Dragon Castle Zhuge Liang Pickup 2 Summon
[JP] Dancing Dragon Castle Zhuge Liang Pickup 2 Summon
2024-07-03
2024-07-19
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