Reinhard van Astrea, often referred to as the Sword Saint, stands as one of the most compelling characters in Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World. As a member of the Royal Guard and a knight serving the Kingdom of Lugunica, Reinhard embodies the ideals of chivalry, strength, and nobility. His journey through the story reveals the complexities of his character, shaped by a blend of familial expectations, immense power, and a burdened past.
Dive into the captivating world of Re:Zero, as we conduct a detailed anime character analysis of Reinhard van Astrea. Discover the complexities of his character, his relationships, and the incredible powers that make him a central figure in the story, all through the lens of Animeking.
Appearance
Reinhard is notable for his striking appearance, characterized by flaming red hair and piercing sky-blue eyes. Standing at 184 cm (6’0″), he possesses a well-toned physique that underscores his status as the strongest warrior in the kingdom. His regal attire includes a black shirt, white trousers, and a double-breasted white coat adorned with the crest of House Astrea, reflecting his noble heritage.
Personality
As a knight, Reinhard exhibits a high degree of respect and honor. He addresses others with courtesy and displays an unwavering commitment to justice. His reputation as the Knight Among Knights stems from his readiness to protect the kingdom, often preferring diplomacy over violence. However, when necessary, Reinhard’s combat abilities are unparalleled, allowing him to swiftly eliminate threats to peace.
Reinhard’s personality is further defined by his interactions with others. Despite facing ridicule from fellow members of the Felt Camp, he remains steadfast and supportive, embodying the role of a mentor. His past as a timid child showcases a significant transformation, as he learns to navigate the complexities of his power and the expectations placed upon him.
History
Born into House Astrea, Reinhard’s life took a tragic turn with the death of his grandmother, Theresia van Astrea, during a battle against the White Whale. This loss bestowed upon him the Divine Protection of the Sword Saint, marking him as a national threat and forcing him into the Royal Guard at a young age. The strained relationships with his family, particularly with his father, Heinkel, contribute to a deep sense of isolation and responsibility that Reinhard carries throughout the series.
In Arc 4 of the manga, when Theresia questions Reinhard’s approach to his title, it becomes clear that Reinhard grapples with balancing his humanity against the expectations of a Sword Saint. He is unwaveringly loyal to Felt, his master, and vows to support her claim to the throne, demonstrating his dedication to serving and protecting those he pledges himself to. Reinhard’s moral compass is both his greatest strength and his most significant source of conflict, as his high ideals sometimes conflict with the harsh realities of the world around him.
His pivotal role in the series unfolds during key arcs, where he aids characters like Felt and battles formidable foes such as Regulus Corneas and Cecilus Segmunt. Reinhard’s experiences reflect themes of sacrifice, the weight of legacy, and the pursuit of justice, making him a character of great depth and resilience.
Abilities
Reinhard’s abilities are augmented by his Divine Protection, which grants him immense strength and combat prowess. His weapon of choice, the Dragon Sword Reid, is symbolic of his status as the Sword Saint and enhances his fighting capabilities. Despite his overwhelming power, Reinhard remains grounded, often choosing to resolve conflicts with restraint and honor.
Reinhard’s various Divine Protections
For reasons that remain unknown, Reinhard van Astrea has the unique ability to receive additional Divine Protections and keep them permanently. Whenever he feels that he needs a Divine Protection in a specific situation, Od Lagna will promptly bestow him one. However, if there is an error in conveying his intention, he may not receive a proper Divine Protection.[5] He also possesses the capability to erase them his stock, as seen when he was bestowed the Divine Protection of Mind-Changing at the age of five years old and quickly removed it several hours after he received it.
- The Divine Protection of the Phoenix enables the user to come back to life immediately only once if they die.
- The Divine Protection of the Phoenix: Next enables the user to come back to life immediately only once if they die. As Reinhard will always be revived by the world upon being killed, he would continue to receive “Next Next” or “Next Next Next” versions of the Divine Protection of the Phoenix when the one he has is used up.
- The Divine Protection of Judgement enables the user to know of any Divine Protections that another individual has.
- The Divine Protection of Anti-Magic makes its user immune to magic buffs, magic debuffs, and curse arts.
- The Divine Protection of Anti-Malignance allows its user to resist miasma.
- The Divine Protection of Water Drainage allows its user to reflect 80% of water magic.
- The Divine Protection of Fire Avoidance makes its user cut 80% of the damage of fire magic.
- The Divine Protection of Wind Absorption lets its user absorb 80% of wind magic.
- The Divine Protection of Mud Slipping decreases the effect of earth magic on its user by 80%.
- The Divine Protection of Darkness Nullification causes the user to nullify 80% of yin magic.
- The Divine Protection of Light Disentanglement permits the user to split the transfer of 80% of yang magic to another target.
- The Divine Protection of Projectile Evasion makes thrown weapons such as knives change their trajectory, effectively making it impossible for them to hit the user.
- The Divine Protection of Projectile Striking makes ranged attacks always hit the user’s target.
- The Divine Protection of Blue Skies allows the user to become stronger when they are under blue skies.
- The Divine Protection of Teary Skies allows the user to become stronger when under rainy skies.
- The Divine Protection of New Skies allows the user to become stronger when under the morning sky.
- The Divine Protection of Night Skies allows the user to become stronger when under the night sky.
- The Divine Protection of Initiative enables its user’s first attack on an opponent to always land and to never fall victim to surprise attacks.
- The Divine Protection of First Sight enables the user to instinctively know how to counter or dodge attacks that they experience for the first time, including surprise attacks. If the user is unable to physically avoid or counter the attack, the Divine Protection will not activate.
- The Divine Protection of Second Sight enables the user to intuitively respond to an attack that they experience twice or more with vastly greater speed, including surprise attacks. This effectively causes attacks not to land on the user, making it an effective ability against formidable opponents. Reinhard has used this Divine Protection to avoid taking hits from the Divine Dragon Volcanica.
- The Divine Protection of Salt Reasoning enables the user to never mistake salt with sugar.
- The Divine Protection of the Child of Wind prevents the user from being sick.
- The Divine Protection of Panacea makes the user immune from diseases.
- The Divine Protection of Poison Nullification makes the user resistant to all types of poison.
- The Divine Protection of Drafts enables the user to know where any escape route is.
- The Divine Protection of Gardening eases the difficulty of gardening for its user, turning the process into trial and error.
- The Divine Protection of Doubt informs its user when someone is up to no good.
- The Divine Protection of Sandplay prevents the user from sinking into sand.
- The Divine Protection of Air Dashing allows the user to kick and fly through the air.
- The Divine Protection of the Weapon God enables the user to use any weapon masterfully.
- The Divine Protection of Lakes allows the user to choose whether to walk on water or to sink normally into a body of it.
- The Divine Protection of Fog prevents the user’s view from being obstructed by fog.
- The Divine Protection of Clouds enables the user to walk on clouds.
- The Divine Protection of the Lightning Cloud prevents the user from getting hit by lightning.
- The Divine Protection of Swift Running permits its user to move at unusually swift speeds.
- The Divine Protection of Training gives the user keen insight on how to train not only themselves, but also other people.
- The Divine Protection of Unarmed Combat makes its user very strong with their bare hands.
- The Divine Protection of Handling allows its user to know how to use and master any item they hold.
- The Divine Protection of Riding Vehicles allows its user to ride any kind of vehicle.
- The Divine Protection of Riding Animals allows its user to ride any kind of animal.
- The Divine Protection of Shedding Blood causes the user to become stronger as they shed more blood.
- The Divine Protection of Photo-Realism makes its user excel at painting or drawing to the point that their art can be mistaken for photographs.
- The Divine Protection of Fashion allows its user to be a charismatic clothing designer.
- The Divine Protection of Hairdressing allows its user to be a charismatic hairdresser.
- The Divine Protection of Instruction allows its user to assist with a student’s performance when teaching.
- The Divine Protection of Fried Food allows its user to excel at frying foods.
- The Divine Protection of Steamed Food grants its user supreme skill at making steamed foods.
- The Divine Protection of Roasted Food grants its user supreme skill at making roasted foods.
- The Divine Protection of Boiled Food grants its user supreme skill at making boiled foods.
- The Divine Protection of the Flavor King grants its user the ability to make delicious food regardless of the cooking process.
- The Divine Protection of Plating allows its user to excel at serving foods.
- The Divine Protection of Arithmetic allows its user to solve complex mathematical problems, such as quadratic functions.
- The Divine Protection of Baking Food
- The Divine Protection of Fresh Sashimi
Is Reinhard the Strongest Character in Re:Zero?
Reinhard van Astrea is often regarded as one of the strongest characters in Re:Zero. He is the legendary sword saint, possessing exceptional combat skills, reflexes, and speed that surpass most characters. Reinhard wields the Holy Sword, which can counter and negate magic, making him a formidable opponent in battle.
Example: In Volume 9 of the light novel, Reinhard displays his immense strength when he effortlessly defeats multiple powerful enemies, including some formidable beasts and magical beings. His combat prowess and mastery of the sword make him a beacon of hope against overwhelming odds. However, while he is incredibly powerful, the title of “strongest character” is subjective and can depend on context and circumstances within the story.
Also Read: Haruhi Suzumiya Character Analysis : A Mysterious Existence
Can Reinhard Beat Regulus Corneas, Sin Archbishop of Greed?
Regulus Corneas is one of the Sin Archbishops and possesses the ability known as “Divine Protection of Greed,” which allows him to utilize multiple powerful abilities and manipulate the concept of “greed” to his advantage. In a one-on-one fight, Reinhard’s overwhelming skill with the Holy Sword and his natural combat abilities would pose a significant challenge to Regulus.
Example: In their encounters, Regulus demonstrates his strength by using his powers to absorb attacks and regenerate. However, Reinhard’s Holy Sword can negate magical attacks, making him a potential threat to Regulus’s abilities. While it’s difficult to determine an outright winner, Reinhard’s determination and skills could give him the upper hand in a prolonged battle, especially if he utilizes his abilities effectively.
Can Reinhard Defeat the Witch of Envy, Satella?
The Witch of Envy, Satella, is one of the most powerful beings in Re:Zero, possessing god-like abilities, including time manipulation and the power to summon emotions and thoughts into reality. Reinhard’s strength is immense, but Satella’s abilities are on a different level.
Example: In the series, Satella’s ability to manipulate time and her overwhelming magic make her a near-unstoppable force. While Reinhard’s combat skills are extraordinary, Satella’s capabilities would likely allow her to outmaneuver him. In light novel Volume 8, when Subaru confronts Satella, it’s clear that her powers transcend typical combat, suggesting that Reinhard would struggle against her, even with his Holy Sword.
Even the author stated “Despite him being the strongest, he still wouldn’t be able to kill the Witch of Envy, due to their affinities. Reinhard would not be able to bypass her immortality and Satella would not be able to land a finishing hit either.”
Name of Characters Who Can Defeat Reinhard in a One-on-One Fight from Re:Zero
While Reinhard is incredibly powerful, there are characters within the Re:Zero universe who might stand a chance against him in a one-on-one confrontation. Some of these include:
- Satella (Witch of Envy): As mentioned earlier, her god-like abilities give her a significant advantage, allowing her to manipulate reality and time.
- Regulus Corneas: With his greed-based abilities and combat prowess, Regulus could pose a serious challenge to Reinhard.
- Puck: The great spirit Puck, when at full strength, has shown devastating powers that could potentially overwhelm Reinhard.
- Beatrice: While she may seem less powerful, her magical prowess and abilities as a spirit could give her an edge in the right circumstances.
Fun Facts about Reinhard Van Astrea
- Reinhard’s birthday is on January 1st, which coincides with New Year’s Day.
- He humorously compares his strength to that of Godzilla, emphasizing his immense power.
- Reinhard is likely the 7th or 8th Sword Saint in his lineage.
- His favorite food is chocolate, adding a charming and relatable aspect to his character.
Conclusion
Reinhard van Astrea is not just a powerful knight; he is a complex character who embodies the struggle between duty and personal desire. His journey through Reoffers rich themes of responsibility, identity, and the moral dilemmas faced by those in positions of power. As the Sword Saint, Reinhard continues to be a symbol of hope and strength for the people of Lugunica, making him an unforgettable figure in the anime landscape.
In conclusion, Reinhard van Astrea’s character is a blend of strength, honor, and depth, making him one of the most intriguing figures in Re:Zero. His journey is a testament to the nuances of heroism and sacrifice, explored in this anime character analysis by Animeking.