Part 56: Conqueror of the Moon - Iskandar - Part 2

Iskandar 2

Iskandar's only other major role prior to this game was as the Rider in Fate/zero. He was the Servant of Waver Velvet, a somewhat accidental entry into the Grail War, Waver was a student at basically the Fate equivalent of Hogwarts when his teacher put him down in class for suggesting mages from less established pedigrees could be capable mages, as well. After discovering the Fuyuki Grail ritual, he decided he would enter and win the War, for no other reason than to prove him wrong. To facilitate this, he stole his teacher's summoning catalyst, a scrap of Iskandar's cape, and summoned the boisterous conqueror after his arrival in Japan.

Waver, kind of a shy dude, was unprepared for his Servant's personality, especially about the king's newfound love of video games and modern life. Iskandar for his part thought Waver was a bit of a stick in the mud, but otherwise fairly capable. Iskandar dragged his Master around everywhere he went, especially into battle. In the early part of the story Iskandar wanted everyone to join him as underlings as he embarked upon a new world conquest, something Waver wasn't into at all. However, problems with the summoned Caster, Gilles de Rais, caused Iskandar to temporarily ally with Lancer and Saber to take him down. Prior to Caster's defeat, Iskandar summoned the two other kings in the war, Saber and Archer, to a big meeting of kings he had arranged. During the fight, Iskandar mocked Saber's motivations for being in the war, before showing her the strength of his own kingship by destroying Assassin with his Noble Phantasm.

After the defeat of Caster, Iskandar treated the rest of the war more or less the same as the first half, but he unintentionally acquired his first defeat after Berserker stole his identity to kidnap one of the pseudo-Masters in the war, and Saber chased him down and destroyed his chariot. As the climax of the war was approaching, Iskandar met Gilgamesh over Fuyuki's bridge for the last time. Iskandar had wanted to treat Gilgamesh as something like a confederate, a sentiment the ornery king didn't reciprocate. Iskandar tried to run down Gilgamesh with his Noble Phantasm, but Gilgamesh made short work of it with Ea. Iskandar mounted one final charge against the king, but Gilgamesh's Chains bound him, the high-Divinity ranking son of Zeus, and finally defeated him by stabbing him through the stomach with his own sword. After his Servant's defeat, Gilgamesh decided to spare his Master, seeing no reason to kill the boy. After the war, Waver held onto the memory of Iskandar as the guy who made him a man.

So are there any alternate forms of Fate Iskandar? There is; just one, though. It's his child form, usually referred to as Alexander to avoid confusion with the grown-up version. In Grand Order, he is also a Rider. The young Alexander was taught by, among others, Aristotle. It helps being well-connected, doesn't it?


Iskandar stage 2

La Pucelle, is it? I have something to ask you. I know i shouldn't have to ask, but aren't we getting pushed back right now?

Your eyes do not deceive you, King of Conquerors. The Saber armies have gained momentum, and they are indeed pushing us back. Our Forces of Destruction had been overwhelming their territories up until now. They way they're moving against us seems unnatural. They're hiding some sort of ace up their sleeve. And they intend to use it in full force here. Our armies are equal in terms of firepower, but all they have is brute force. I wonder if they could handle a sneak attack.

Well, I don't think Iskandar DOES "sneak attacks", but the thought is what's important here.

Ah, so that's what you think of it all.

...What do you mean?

Oh, nothing. I was just thinking you seem fond of Altera. Didn't you want to help people NOT fight before?

...Of course, it is my place to mediate between those who would quarrel, and to bring an end to the fighting. But...when it comes to Altera...

Eh, sorry to bring it up. You must be pretty flexible if you can put your feelings over your principles.

Wha...? You say such things, but what about you, Iskandar? Altera is a greater Lord of Destruction than you, after all. The one who returns and the one who conquers. Did you come here to prove yourself the greatest warrior in history?

...Hmm. I never really thought to compare us like that, but I guess I see your point. Anyway, we've got a fight to win here. I'll just charge in headfirst and do what I can. Sometimes, a man's just got to blow off steam and crush his enemies. Especially when he's outnumbered! That's the best, don't you think?

Not being a man, I'm afraid I don't understand that.

Right, sorry. I shouldn't have put it that way. But you know, it's not about the sexes. It's all about war!

After this intro scene, you'll get the next one, the one where Archimedes talks about infiltrating the Zero Dark with Nero. The one from the Dawn Arc stage where you had to achieve victory within 12 minutes to force Gawain out to fight.

The Zero Dark's core is showing interference. Those bastards, are they planning to directly invade the base?! If Gawain infiltrates, our base will be lost. ...Stop him.

Like in the Dawn Arc stage, Regalia Nero will be here to hunt you down. You'll start off in an allied Sector, so just take a few moments, relax, and wait for her to come for you. She'll take about 41 seconds to show up from the start of the stage. Since I'm *very* quickly getting out this Sector, this is the stage-unique dialogue between these two.

The warlord of Macedonia...?! What marvelous luck. Let us engage in battle!

Fine with me, Emperor of Debauchery. Ah wait, now that I think of it, ALL the Roman Emperors were like that!



So our first real fight will be against Nameless. I suppose you could flee to the top right enemy Sector, but that's more putting off the problem. The problem is you'll need to take out Nameless fast, because dealing with him and Nero is...a bit much. This area is swarming with hammer Aggressors, so watch yourself. They can interrupt air attacks if you attack them mid-swing.



Once you're done with him, get the hell out of the Sector. If you take out Nameless, but Nero comes in after you're done, your retreat will be met with Nero very quickly taking the Sector back. The reason this is important is because the Nameless Sector is a pretty crucial one to actually winning the stage.



Howdy there. We're gonna wait for Nero to come fight Altera. While they're busy killing each other, we'll raise some hell.



Nero is a spawn camper.



Only one more Sector, and then it's time for a big ol' rumble.



Iskandar's final special attack is so damn cool. At the end of a S S S S T combo, press T again and he'll bring out his chariot again, but instead of just slamming it down on enemies, he'll spin a massive couple of doughnuts with it. Heavy damage, wide-ranging, it's a lot of fun. Definitely his most effective attack, which is only fair, as it takes the longest to come out. Crowds just have a way of disappearing with that move deployed.



Altera's taken a few lumps, but Nero has as well. I think it's time to make the difference. I spammed the doughnut move to do as much damage to Nero as possible. She's too unpredictable to rely on Iskandar's other attacks, which mostly focus on enemies in front of him.





Phew, that did a lot of damage. A ton of damage to Gawain, and forced Nero to retreat. Now the rest of the map is a cakewalk. The only challenge is making sure I don't kill the actual target before I conquer all the Sectors.

Thank you. It looks like you're of some use.

Hmph, very well, I shall retreat! But let me say, though you are my enemy, you are a splendid performer!

Overcoming Saber in that state... Surprising, but not worthy of my praise.

One of these things is not like the others.





And even still, most of that damage came from Nero getting a couple of cheap shots in. About as well as this stage can be fought.



I think I'm getting a feel for the Moon, too. There's people. There's countries. It's just like Earth. Who cares what's "real" and what's imaginary, or who's human, and who's AI, and who's a Servant? It's all the same to me. Did you say that was the Holy Sword of the Sun? So I saw the brilliance of the Sun with my own eyes. In the end, this place is just another world for me to ravage and conquer - with opponents worthy of all my might!

Oh. An ambitious little mongrel, aren't you? Do I hear a hint of uncertainty in that bark? Seems that Cyber Frame of yours still doesn't quite fit.

Don't say that, King of Heroes. Everyone has one or two weaknesses. Mine just happens to be that the Moon world doesn't suit me. But I'm close to reaching my former glory! At the rate I've been getting used to this place, I bet I could even keep up with you, one on one.

Howl at me, will you? Well, luckily for you, I'm content to be a spectator for you, no matter how loudly the beasts might call. All that aside, I don't hear the wheels of your chariot. Are those bulls you boast of all filled with bravado and bullshit?

Well, I'm glad the trip over here didn't dent your ego! With everything that's different here, it's great to see my nemesis is still the same as ever! Fine, you spectate. I'll trample the earth like I always do, and pull you right down off your high horse when you least expect it.

For more information on why Iskandar and Gil talk like old buddies, check out Fate/zero.

You moron. I'll pick off your filthy chariot the moment it appears on the horizon. You'd have to come from the sky to give me any sort of a challenge.

Ah. I don't know what's changed about him, but he's much more reasonable up here! Guess I have something else to look forward to! That fight to the death with the Holy Sword of the Sun was great! Hope the next opponent's just as strong, if that's possible!