Today we’re looking at this cool and dark figure of Fate/Apocrypha’s Jeanne d’Arc! Justice? Virtue? Martyrdom? Nah. Max Factory paints it black and summons Jeanne Alter straight from the Orleans Singularity, twisted, mad and hungry for revenge, with a heart as dark as a necromancer’s.

(ꉺ⍸ꉺ)

 

For those who are new to the Fate universe, welcome! Hope you enjoy your stay… because you might be here a while. Everyone here looks like Saber and is like Saber in one way or another. Allow me to explain how the real-life saint Jeanne d’Arc got a role in this strange universe.

(●⌒ᴗ⌒)ﾉ

The summoning of a saint

The universe of the Fate series isn’t so different from ours. In fact, it might as well be the same if you live outside of the millennial struggle between powerful mage families. In this fight for magical supremacy, heroes (and sometimes villains) of the past, the myths and the pantheons of the world are summoned to fight on their masters’ stead. Kind of like Pokémon, but with all the flair of ufotable animations. The main storyline is explained in this blog post, which you should definitely check out, especially if all this Fate/Stay Night talk is confusing to you.

(๑・ω-)～♥”

However, Jeanne first appeared in a different context, which was shown in a separate series: Fate/Apocrypha. As the series’ name suggests, it is a timeline of the Fate universe that exists outside of the Fate canon portrayed in the Fate/Stay Night series. It is further explored in the Fate/Grand Order game, but her origins in this anime universe started in Fate/Apocrypha.

In the timeline of Fate/Apocrypha, the Yggdmillennia have stolen the Greater Grail and declared war on the Mage's Association. The Holy Grail War is usually a battle royale, but this unusual turn of events caused the summoning of a new type of servant: the Ruler class, the Heroic Spirit of Arbitration. This servant class is a neutral third party, summoned with the purpose of upholding the laws of the Holy Grail War. Because without rules, wars are just wanton slaughter.

(ﾒ｀ﾛ´)/

There are no better souls to fulfill this role than the souls of saints, and the first one that comes to mind is Jeanne d’Arc, the Maid of Orleans. She’s a young farmer girl turned war heroine, spurred on by nothing more than her pure and stalwart faith. (´д｀人) The real life story of this historical character is just as fantastic and moving as the anime series! Definitely worth checking it out if you’re a history buff.

 And even if you’re not, the anime series and the game still get quite a lot of references right, so you get to learn lots while watching an awesome anime. (＾∀＾)

Justice incarnate

As beautiful as she is fair, Jeanne d’Arc descends upon the battlefield of the Greater Holy Grail War like an angel, making sure the innocent are protected, the wounded are spared and the fighters are honorable.

ଘ(੭ˊᵕˋ)੭* ੈ✩‧˚

This awesome PUP of Jeanne is coming to our store in October 2023! Pre-orders are currently open, so don’t miss out! （●＞ω＜●）

Jeanne is a sight for weary eyes. But this virtuous saint isn’t the one you came to see, I’m sure.

Vengeance fulfilled

Light casts shadows, and the divine light emanating from Jeanne is no different. Any virtue can be twisted into vice if history flows down darker paths. In Fate/Grand Order, the game set in the Fate universe, you have to solve the problem of the Orleans Singularity. In it, you experience what would have happened if Jeanne had drowned divine inspiration with the desire for revenge. (▼皿▼)

Die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become a villain, they say… but when you have a necromancer as your #1 fan, it’s more like die a hero AND get brought back to life as a god-tier villain. Which is exactly what happened in the Orleans Singularity.

(´Д｀;)

All the virtue and benevolence are gone from this darkened version of Jeanne, referred to by the fanbase as Jeanne Alter, or Jalter for short. Her once gentle smile became a gleeful smirk that appears when she executes her revenge upon the people who burned her at the stake. (ᇴ‿ฺᇴ)

I personally love the poetry of her pose in this PUP. The best thing about this figure series is how they never skimp on character essence: though they are 1/10th scale, they’re packed with action, personality and expression, with quality comparable to that of standard 1/7 and 1/8 scales!

Take a look at them side by side:

With the OG Jeanne d’Arc, the hand that stays the blade and upholds the honor of battle becomes, in Jeanne Alter, the hand that forsakes the integrity of a warrior to cast hellfire. One lives by the blade, while the other lives by the hatred burning in her heart. 🔥🔥🔥

OK, there is no flame in the PUP, but it’s implicit. Her ultimate weapon is a fiery banner made of her hatred. ( ´ ˙○˙ `)

 In this state, she’s no longer justice, she’s retribution. Here, Jeanne is no longer a Ruler, but an Avenger.

Awe-inspiring, isn’t it? Her part in Fate/Grand Order is just as awesome. What she does and the lengths she goes to in order to bring retribution to those who wronged her is a refreshing dose of schadenfreude to an otherwise tragic story. It’s the alternative timeline we didn’t know we needed but, gosh, we’re so happy we got it.

ψ(｀∇´)ψ

Don’t mind my alter side coming out. (╬≖U≖)

How to summon Jeanne Alter (in Solaris, that is)

This dark and cool Pop Up Parade figure of Jeanne d’Arc is scheduled to be released in January 2024. Pre-orders are currently open! With our rewards system, summoning Jeanne Alter won’t even require magic rituals: if you get the OG, the pure, uncorrupted Maid of Orleans, it’s even easier to get this vicious Avenger! Get those sweet, sweet points and make your purchase worth it! Jeanne and Jeanne Alter are, after all, best displayed together. (๑ゝω・)

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We hope you enjoyed this one!

Until next time! ヾ(＾∇＾)