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Cu Chulainn

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Table of Contents

Tier
B+

Lancer
Max HP 9,593
HP Rank
Max ATK 7,239
ATK Rank
Base Atk1,344Base HP1,726
Max Atk 7,239 Max HP 9,593
Lvl 100 Atk 9,797 Lvl 100 HP 13,007
Lvl 120 Atk 11,506 Lvl 120 HP 15,288
NP per Hit (%) 1.07%
NP when Attacked (%) 4%
Star Absorption 87
Star Generation per Hit 12.1%

Table of Contents

Servant Skills

Battle Continuation A

Apply Guts to self (1 time, 5 turns).

Show Info
Lvl12345678910
Revives with HP 1000 1150 1300 1450 1600 1750 1900 2050 2200 2500
CD 9 9 9 9 9 8 8 8 8 7

Available from the start

Ath nGabla A

Apply Guts to self (1 time, 5 turns).
Increase own ATK based on remaining HP (3 turns).
ATK [+20%-50%] = 20% + (1 - HP / Max HP) * 30%

Show Info
Lvl12345678910
Revives with 1000 HP1150 HP1300 HP1450 HP1600 HP1750 HP1900 HP2050 HP2200 HP2500 HP
CD 8 8 8 8 8 7 7 7 7 6

Upgrades via Rank Up 2 (Available 7/8/2022)

Protection from Arrows B

Apply Evade to self (3 times).
Increase own DEF (3 turns).

Show Info
Lvl12345678910
Defense + 8%8.8%9.6%10.4%11.2%12%12.8%13.6%14.4%16%
CD 7 7 7 7 7 6 6 6 6 5

Unlocks after 1st Ascension

Disengage C

Remove own Debuffs.
Recover own HP.

Show Info
Lvl12345678910
Heal + 50060070080090010001100120013001500
CD 7 7 7 7 7 6 6 6 6 5

Unlocks after 3rd Ascension

Append Skills

Anti-Berserker (ATK Up)

Deal extra Special ATK damage to [Berserker] class enemies.

Show Info
Lvl12345678910
Special ATK +20%21%22%23%24%25%26%27%28%30%

Class Skills

Magic Resistance C

Increase your Debuff Resist by 15%.

Divinity B

Apply Damage Plus for yourself (Total Card Damage +175).

Noble Phantasm

Gae Bolg B

Deal significant damage to a single enemy.

<Overcharge>

Decrease DEF for a single enemy (3 turns).
Medium chance to inflict Death.

Show Info

Gae Bolg

Barbed Spear that Pierces with Death

Rank Classification Hit-Count
B Anti-Personnel 1
Effect

Deal significant damage to a single enemy.

Level 1 2 3 4 5
1200% 1600% 1800% 1900% 2000%
Overcharge Effect

Decrease DEF for a single enemy (3 turns).
Medium chance to inflict Death.

Charge 100% 200% 300% 400% 500%
10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
50% 62.5% 75% 87.5% 100%
Gae Bolg (Upgrade 1) B+

Upgrade via Rank Up Quest 1

Deal significant damage to a single enemy.
Apply Sure Hit for yourself (1 turn).

<Overcharge>

Chance to cause instant death.
Reduces defense (3 turns).

Show Info

Gae Bolg (Upgrade 1)

Barbed Spear that Pierces with Death

Rank Classification Hit-Count
B+ Anti-Personnel 1
Effect

Deal significant damage to a single enemy.
Apply Sure Hit for yourself (1 turn).

Level 1 2 3 4 5
1600% 2000% 2200% 2300% 2400%
Overcharge Effect

Chance to cause instant death.
Reduces defense (3 turns).

Charge 100% 200% 300% 400% 500%
10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Assorted Info

ID 17
Cost 7
Gender Male
Growth Reverse S
Inst. Death Chance 32.00%
Damage Distribution Quick 33,67
Damage Distribution Arts 33,67
Damage Distribution Buster 100
Damage Distribution Extra 12,25,63
Damage Distribution NP 100

Attack / HP Growth

Stat Ratings

Interlude Quests

Quest Requirements Reward
Interlude
Chapter Completion: Septem

Ascension: 1

Bond: 1

Rank Up 1
Chapter Completion: Fuyuki

Ascension: 4

Bond: 0

Rank Up 2
Chapter Completion: Fuyuki

Ascension: 4

Bond: 0

Skill 1

✔ = Available ✖ = Unavailable

Ascension Materials

StageCostMaterials
2
30,000
3
100,000
4
300,000
Max
900,000

Skill Enhancement Materials

LevelCostMaterials
1 → 2 50,000
2 → 3 100,000
3 → 4 300,000
4 → 5 400,000
5 → 6 1,000,000
6 → 7 1,250,000
7 → 8 2,500,000
8 → 9 3,000,000
9 → 10 5,000,000

Append Skill Materials

LevelCostMaterials
1 → 2 50000
2 → 3 100000
3 → 4 300000
4 → 5 400000
5 → 6 1000000
6 → 7 1250000
7 → 8 2500000
8 → 9 3000000
9 → 10 5000000

Total Materials Required

Ascension
Skill
Append Skill
Asc + Skill
Total

Costume Dress Materials

Costume Cost Materials
April Fool's 0

Bond CE

Bond Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Bond Pts Req. 2,500 3,750 5,000 6,250 10,000 212,500 220,000 250,000 290,000 350,000
Star of Prophecy

When equipped on Cu Chulainn,
Increase your NP Strength by 30%.
30% Chance to increase critical damage by 10% when attacking (3 turns).

Table of Contents

Overview

“Your heart is mine! Gáe Bolg!”

Despite the ‘Lancer is dead’ memes, Ireland’s Child of Light is easily one of the game’s hardiest Servants. While Cu Chulainn’s defensive kit may seem to conflict with his damaging Quick NP at first glance, this mix of staying power and capability to output single-target damage makes him one of the best Servants in the game in regards to solo or last stand performances.

Aside from the powerful Protection from Arrows skill, what makes Cu Chulainn uniquely powerful is that his two other skills are also survival-oriented. Battle Continuation provides Guts and Disengage provides healing and cleanses Cu of any debuffs, letting him cycle through his defensive cooldowns and minimize his moments of vulnerability. Gae Bolg meanwhile provides an offensive dimension to Cu Chulainn with its single-target nature and defense debuff, though its instant kill potential is utterly unreliable even at best. After its NP upgrade, it not only increases in damage, but it also applies a one-turn Sure-Hit buff on Cu, granting him some extent of offensive flexibility.

Despite Cu’s various defensive tools, Protection from Arrow’s Evasion still forms the centerpiece of his kit, as his natural HP pool is still that of a 3-star Servant. Enemies with Sure Hit, Ignore Invincibility, or buff removal are able to rob Cu Chulainn of his greatest strength, leaving him very vulnerable. Secondly, having a defense-focused kit also means that Cu has no way to boost his own damage. This low offensive power sometimes causes situations where he contributes little to the fight, while also preventing backrow Servants from entering the field. This aspect often leaves Cu on the bench as a Master grows stronger and clearing speed becomes the main priority.

While Cu Chulainn’s limitations mean that he is far from a perfect answer to everything, it is his high survivability, and low investment cost that any new Master can appreciate. From a reliable Lancer in the early game, Cu turns into a solo/last stand specialist that can grasp victory from the jaws of defeat, a role in which he truly excels.

Strengths

Excellent Survivability

With one of the most survival-oriented kits in the game, Cu Chulainn can be expected to reliably survive the toughest of fights. While Protection from Arrows is typically the main talking point in this regard, the additions of Battle Continuation and Disengage's heal are also major factors which distinguish Cu from the rest of the cast.

Great Solo and Last Stand Potential

Cu’s ability to cycle through his various defensive options puts him in the spotlight as one of the best Servants for solo/last stand scenarios. This is mainly thanks to his main defensive skills, Protection from Arrows and Battle Continuation, that can be used preemptively, allowing Masters to save some cooldown turns in advance. This trait becomes far more prominent as he attains higher skill levels, thanks to the lower cooldowns on his base skills.

Amazing Starter Servant

As a 3-star Servant, Cu is relatively cheap to invest in, and his staying power allows Masters to more easily clear (Archer-heavy) stages such as the Chaldea daily quests. While he may get sidelined somewhat as a Master’s Servant roster grows, his solo/last stand potential allows him to provide value even in the later stages of the game.

Weaknesses

Vulnerable to Sure-Hit/Buff Removal

Much of Cu Chulainn’s survivability revolves around his ability to rotate Evasions, and enemies possessing sure-hit or buff removal are able to effectively neutralize his niche. As such, he should aim to avoid these types of enemies as much as possible.

Weak Offensive Presence

Due to his lack of any offensive buffs, Cu’s offensive potential is middling when compared to his alternatives (e.g. Cu Chulainn (Prototype)). This makes him unsuitable for players desiring faster runs and more offensive strategies. After all, the best defense is a good offense, often applies to many difficult encounters.

Level Up Skill Recommendation

Skill Priority
Battle Continuation A

Apply Guts to self (1 time, 5 turns).

Show Info
Lvl12345678910
Revives with HP 1000 1150 1300 1450 1600 1750 1900 2050 2200 2500
CD 9 9 9 9 9 8 8 8 8 7
Protection from Arrows B

Apply Evade to self (3 times).
Increase own DEF (3 turns).

Show Info
Lvl12345678910
Defense + 8%8.8%9.6%10.4%11.2%12%12.8%13.6%14.4%16%
CD 7 7 7 7 7 6 6 6 6 5
Disengage C

Remove own Debuffs.
Recover own HP.

Show Info
Lvl12345678910
Heal + 50060070080090010001100120013001500
CD 7 7 7 7 7 6 6 6 6 5

While Cu Chulainn’s kit works perfectly fine even at base skill levels, all of his skills benefit from the cooldown reduction gained via leveling, improving Cu’s capability to cycle through his defensive options.

  • Normally a middling skill, leveling Battle Continuation is essential for a last stand/solo-oriented Cu Chulainn, as the reduced cooldown is often crucial in buying time until Protection from Arrows comes off cooldown. Outside of solo situations, Disengage is the better investment of the two skills, but in either case, this skill should be leveled after Protection from Arrows.

  • Protection from Arrows B is easily Cu Chulainn’s best skill, as a lot of his survivability is tied to it. As the Evasion only fully expires when he is hit a total of three times, it allows the skill to be used early on in a battle, thus getting a head start on its cooldown. As such, this skill benefits greatly from the cooldown reduction gained at skill levels 6 and 10. The additional Defense buff gained from this skill can also be highly valuable, especially if Cu is equipped with Defense-increasing CEs.

  • Although Disengage C is rotationally the least crucial of Cu’s three skills, the debuff removal and decent amount of healing may help him survive in crucial moments. Leveling this skill would allow it to be readily available in most occasions thanks to its low cooldown, and helps Cu top off his HP inbetween Protection from Arrow usages. It should be leveled second if Cu is not to be used for soloing, though Battle Continuation takes precedence for last stand/solo-oriented Cus.

Craft Essence Recommendation

While most of Cu Chulainn’s damage comes from his NP, his mediocre NP gain means that Starting NP Gauge CEs are recommended. CEs granting Quick Performance Up are his preferred damage boosting option, while those with Invincibility can be used in certain specific situations.

  • Golden Sumo: Boulder Tournament / Holy Night Supper / Knights of Marines: While Cu’s NP is usually not needed in the first couple of turns, the NP charge provided by these CEs ensures that he will be able to unleash Gáe Bolg without having to focus extensively on using his command cards, while also giving strong performance buffs.

  • Volumen Hydrargyrum: Mostly used in solo scenarios, Volumen’s triple-hit Invincibility can be active at the same time with Protection from Arrow’s Evasion, allowing Cu to rotate his cooldowns more reliably in the early fight. The Invincibility charges are consumed before the Evasion ones.

  • Kaleidoscope / The Imaginary Element: In the rare occasions where a very early Gáe Bolg is desired, these CEs become Cu’s primary option, especially in the absence of NP charging supports. Starting NP Gauge also helps him come in for clean-up duty and quickly mop up any remaining enemies while staying alive himself.

  • Imaginary Around / Gandr: These generic CEs improve on Cu’s Quick cards all around, granting him increased damage, NP gain, and to a lesser extent, star generation. The lack of Starting NP means they benefit him less offensively compared to the above choices, but these can still be used if other options are unavailable.

Gameplay Tips

Cu Chulainn’s survivability is so great that he is capable of tearing up some challenging encounters all by himself.

A typical solo setup involves two level 1 Servants with a taunt: generally a Leonidas and a Georgios. In Cu Chulainn's case, Protection from Arrows should be used first, while letting the two others taunt and die one at a time. After turn 3, Cu Chulainn will be left alone, granting him access to constant Brave chains. Starting from this point, the Master’s ability to rotate Protection from Arrows, Battle Continuation, Disengage, as well as their Mystic Code abilities will determine the strategy’s success.

Due to the strategy’s emphasis on repeated skill usage, having maxed out skill levels to reduce cooldowns is key.

Table of Contents

Other Info

Release Date Game Launch
AKA/Alias/Nicknames Setanta, Lancer, FSN Cu, Bro Cu, Cu Lancer, Dog, etc.
Country/Place of Origin Ireland
Illustrator Takeuchi Takashi
Seiyuu (CV) Nobutoshi Canna
Series Fate/stay night

Parameters

STR
B
END
C
AGL
A
MP
C
LUK
E
NP
B

Profile

Character Info

With a dislike of decorations and honor, this spearman prefers to listen to his instincts.
If it's a job, he won't hesitate to kill even an ordinary citizen.
Though he can be merciless outside of the job, he's honorable and takes care of others.

Profile 1

Height/Weight: 185cm, 72kg
Source: Celtic Mythology, Ulster Cycle
Region: Ireland
Alignment: Lawful-Balanced
Gender: Male
It was too much trouble to use the Runes, so he sealed them away.

Profile 2

[Gáe Bolg]
Rank: B
NP Type: Anti-Personnel
Barbed Spear that Pierces with Death.
The cursed spear that always pierces the target's heart.
The secret is that this spear is able to reverse cause and effect, so that the spear is thrust AFTER it already pierces the target's heart.
Because of such, this spear is said to be impossible to dodge.

Profile 3

Battle Continuation: A
Doesn't know when to give up. He makes it possible to fight even with critical wounds, and survives unless given a fatal blow.

Disengage: C
The ability to escape from battle.
Because of these two skills, Cú Chulainn's true value shines in group skirmishes over one-on-one duels. But he loves duels, so this fact doesn't get noticed all too much.

Profile 4

Runes: B
He possesses Northern European magical crests called Runes.
Warriors in the Land of Shadows excel at many arts, and no warrior is ever raised to merely thrust a spear...
This is the way his mentor Scáthach thought, so Cú Chulainn is well-versed in Rune spells.
He is close to being a top tier rune user but he thinks the Runes just get in the way, so he does not use them often.

Profile 5

As a child, he grew up with the name Setanta.
Cú Chulainn means "the Hound of Culann."
When he was young, Setanta accidentally killed the watchdog of a wealthy merchant named Culann.
The name stems from the vow he made to the merchant:
"If this dog has a child, I will raise it, and turn it into a faithful watchdog.
Until then, I will make sure to protect you."

Profile 6 (Unlock by clearing Interlude 1)

As an adult, Cú Chulainn joined the "Red Branch Knights" who protected the King of Ulster.
In order for him to marry the woman he loved, he was tasked to enter a place called the Land of Shadows.
Cú Chulainn overcame many obstacles to reach the Land of Shadows.
There the lord of the land, the witch Scáthach, took a fancy to him.
He trained under her to learn many spells and martial arts skills.

Voice Lines

Battle Start 1 Yeah, come at me.
Battle Start 2 You might entertain me a little.
Skill 1 Okay, let it rip!
Skill 2 This red thorn is just the wild rose.
Command Card 1 Hey!
Command Card 2 Let's go!
Command Card 3 Leave it to me!
Noble Phantasm Card You asked for a cursed, red spear?
Attack 1 Sh!
Attack 2 Hmph!
Attack 3 Here!
Extra Attack There we go!
Noble Phantasm Your heart is mine!
Gáe Bolg!
Damage 1 That hurts!
Damage 2 Tch!
Incapacitated 1 I messed... up...
Incapacitated 2 Wait, time out.
Victory 1 What, over already?
Victory 2 Huh? Is that all you got?
Level up My body condition is getting better. Good, good.
Ascension 1 This reminds me of my training in the Land of Shadows.
Ascension 2 Yeah, let's continue with this pace!
Ascension 3 My spear is about to reach the realm of the gods... Yeah, if only it were that easy.
Ascension 4 With this we've reached the top!
How is it? Now my spear is the strongest amongst Heroic spirits, right?
Man, I wish I could show this to my mentor, Scáthach!
Bond Level 1 Have we met before? This doesn't feel like the first time... Ah, well, nice to meet ya!
Bond Level 2 The rules and scope of the Grail War are different depending where it takes place.
It's going to be a huge one this time, too.
Bond Level 3 Geis is an oath for Celtic warriors. The more you have, the more accomplished a warrior you become... But usually, it's just harassment from those who're jealous, envious, and begrudging! Aha ha!
Bond Level 4 There were 3... No, 4 women.
There was my mentor, a princess, the goddess of death, and the queen of an enemy nation.
I couldn't keep all my promises to them. So this time I hope I can be more dependable.
Bond Level 5 We've been together for some time now.
I may be the veteran here, but if I can help, I'll give it all I've got.
Man, this is kinda embarrassing! What I'm trying to say is I'm counting on you, Master!
Conversation 1 Ahh, this is boring. Let's go fight, Master!
Conversation 2 Hmm? I'll follow your orders, Master. That's the Ulster way of doing things.
Conversation 3 Good fights and good spoils. If I get a good Master as well... As a guard dog I couldn't ask for more.
Conversation 4 (EMIYA) So, that bastard is here too. I'm talking about that Archer in red. No matter where I'm summoned I see his face. It's starting to feel like fate? Ugh, I hate it.
Conversation 5 (Fergus mac Roich) Many thanks, Master. With Fergus here, our strength has gone up big time! Now, if my mentor were here, we would be unstoppable!
Conversation 6 (Scathach) Hey Master, Scáthach was my mentor, but... What is with this? Isn't she stronger than when she was in the castle? I mean, she's dual wielding Gáe Bolg! What's the point of me being here?
Likes My likes? You mean, like, unreasonable demands and strong willed women? Well, neither of them are what they're cracked up to be.
Dislikes I'll be clear about what I don't like.
If I'm betrayed, I'll get payback. Tedious things don't suit me.
About the Holy Grail The Holy Grail, huh... Well, I wonder what I'd use it for... Ah well, I'll figure it out after we get it.
During an Event Hey, looks like some idiot just attacked us. Want to go punish them a little?
Birthday Your birthday? Come on, tell me that sooner! I'll hunt for a boar right now!
Summon Lancer-class Servant! I have been summoned and come at your request.
Let's take this easy Master!

Availability

Non-Limited - Available in the general summoning pool.

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