- "To live... that is my redemption."
- — Siegfried, Soulcalibur III
Siegfried Schtauffen (ジークフリート・シュタウフェン Jīkufurīto Shutaufen?, German: Siegfried Schützen) is one of the most central characters in the Soul series of fighting games and the main protagonist in most of its installments. He is a mainstay of the Soulcalibur series and one of the most iconic characters of the franchise, having appeared in every installment since Soul Edge, with the exception of Soulcalibur II where he appeared as an alternative costume for Nightmare.
In Soul Edge, he was referred to as Innocent Darkside.
What lies in his soul is Redemption.
In Soulcalibur: Lost Swords, he is referred to as He who Fights the Past.
Biography[]
Soul Edge[]
During the late sixteenth century, the oppressed peasants of Germany were revolting against the Holy Roman Empire. With its forces weakened by the Italian Wars, the German peasants finally had a fighting chance. One of the champions of the people, a brave knight named Frederick, met and fell in love with a woman named Margaret while on campaign; and they spent the night together. When Frederick returned after nine months of battle, he rejoined Margaret, having given birth to a son, whom he named Siegfried, after the famous hero. Over the course of the next ten to fifteen years, Frederick spent a lot of his time teaching his son swordsmanship.
Embarking on a foreign crusade, Frederick promised Margaret that he would return; unfortunately, without his father's guidance, Siegfried began to socialize with a delinquent clan of teenagers, and he soon became the leader of their band of thieves known as "Schwarzwind," meaning "black wind." In a misguided act of national pride, the band devised a plan to attack the knights who ran away from the crusades, as they were bound to carry valuable possessions, and were too cowardly to deserve respect in any case. That night, the "Schwarzwind" ambushed a group of war-weary soldiers, too tired to retaliate. Siegfried even managed to kill the commander himself; but as he held the commander's severed head in triumph, the moonlight shone on its face, and Siegfried screamed as he realized he held the head of his own father. In mere seconds, Siegfried's mind had broken upon which point he ran straight into the forest, becoming more and more insane as he ruminated over his previous acts, until he came to a point at which he psychologically convinced himself that his father's murderer was actually someone other than himself. Hearing rumors of the invincible Soul Edge, Siegfried came to believe his father's killer could only be killed with said weapon.
He traveled first to Ostrheinsburg Castle, the refuge of the noble Sir Stefan, who he believed to be the possessor of the Soul Edge; and he joined in its forces as a Landsknecht, rising in its ranks with the hopes of acquiring Stefan's self-proclaimed legendary blade. During a siege on the castle, Siegfried saw an opportunity to take Sir Stefan's prized possession, the sword Grimblade, and killed him, running off with it into the Black Woods nearby the castle; but the sword held no power. Frustrated, he continued to search for weeks for the Soul Edge, growing increasingly more insane for its power as time passed. He finally managed to come across the legendary weapon Soul Edge, lying beside the defeated corpse of the dead pirate, Cervantes de Leon. But as he reached for it, the corpse lit up in a hellish blaze of fire and attacked him. Siegfried raised his zweihänder and defeated the fiery Inferno, breaking his sword in the process, earning the right to wield the Soul Edge for himself.
At the precise moment that Siegfried obtained the cursed blade, the Evil Seed emanated from him in a beam of light that rained across the entire world, leading only to death and destruction. At that moment Siegfried heard the voice of the wicked sword, who arranged a deal with him: Siegfried would help the blade to restore itself by gathering souls, and Soul Edge would resurrect his father Frederick. Siegfried accepted and carried the blade into many slaughters, until he finally succumbed to the sword's restored powers, transforming him into the Azure Knight, Nightmare.
Soulcalibur Legends[]
Siegfried is saved from the Evil Seed by a group sent by the Masked Emperor to investigate it. Once brought to him, the Emperor requested that he resurrect Soul Edge to defeat the Ottoman Sultan Barbaros, who wielded Soul Calibur. He was reluctant, and after six months was brought before the Emperor again and again his request was made. The Emperor reminded Siegfried of his father - who lived in the Empire's service and died protecting it - and he finally accepted the request, starting a journey alongside Iska Farkas, a court jester, and Ivy.
During two months, Siegfried travels around the world, gathering Soul Edge's shards and receiving help from Sophitia, Astaroth Alpha, Mitsurugi, Taki and Lloyd Irving, eventually forming a bond with them, despite the fact that they all wish to either take Soul Edge away from him or destroy it.
Along the way, Siegfried manages to fight off several key creatures, the Guardians of the Soul Edge shards, like Fafnir (a dragon) and restores Soul Edge's power. Using Soul Edge, Siegfried defeats Barbaros and his army of Evils. The Masked Emperor gets Soul Calibur and reveals that she planned to defend her people by annihilating all possible enemies using the combined powers of Soul Calibur and Soul Edge. However, the Emperor is unsuccessful in seizing Soul Edge from Siegfried, and an event seemingly similar to the Evil Seed takes place during their battle. The other members of Siegfried's group are trapped in alternate realms and the power of the Evils is increased. Siegfried realizes Soul Edge's evil nature and that he himself had murdered his father and decides to seal Soul Edge, fighting Inferno when the demon tries to stop him in the form of Nightmare. He defeats Inferno and succeeds in sealing Soul Edge, replacing it with the sword Requiem. Siegrified saves his allies, and together they march against the Empire's army. Siegfried manages to confront and defeat the Masked Emperor and stop her conquest. However, as he leaves her, Soul Calibur, and Soul Edge behind, Iska, the court jester and traveling companion of Siegfried, betrays him and takes both swords, revealing that the Masked Emperor was a homunculus, and fights Siegfried. Killing Iska, Siegfried stands victorious despite the power of the swords.
In his dying breath, Iska reveals the truth of why he did what he did. He had lost his sister to the power of Barboros and wishes not to lose anything else, and so he was driven to the edge of madness in which he created a false human being (The Masked Emperor), even as going as far as making it look like his sister. As Iska dies he exclaims that in the end all will betray Siegfried and that only those with power will prevail in the end, leaving those without it to suffer and ultimately die, just like him. As Siegfried leaves the castle behind, alone, he takes the unsealed Soul Edge with him again, claiming that he regretted "not being able to save you, my friend (Iska)".
Sometime later, a knight in dark blue armor is seen next to a European city...
Soulcalibur[]
During the following three years he gathered together a group of followers: the golem Astaroth, the lizard man Aeon Calcos, and the alchemist Ivy. Each of them aided him in Soul Edge's quest to devour souls for a rejuvenation ceremony to be performed in his chosen stronghold, Ostrheinsburg Castle. But as the ceremony was about to take place, the clan was quickly laid to waste. Both Aeon Calcos and Astaroth were defeated; and Ivy left the clan after learning the shocking truth of her horrifying past from the Fu-Ma ninja, Taki. Two young warriors confronted Nightmare after slaying many golems: Kilik, owner of both the sacred staff Kali-Yuga and sacred mirror Dvapara-Yuga; and Xianghua, owner of Krita-Yuga, which revealed itself as Soul Calibur.
The battle between the swordsmen took place in a vortex of hellfire and evil energy summoned by Soul Edge. After a raging battle, the evil sword shattered, and Nightmare and Soul Edge fell into the collapsing void. With Soul Edge severely weakened, Siegfried regained some of his humanity. Along with lucidity came the horrifying memories of the sins he committed, as well as the fear and anger of those who were slaughtered by him. Moreover, he realized that he had been the one who murdered his father, and that his "resurrection" was only an illusion brought by his mind.
Expelled from the void into an unfamiliar place, Siegfried disappeared into the night-the evil sword still in his grip. But Soul Edge was weaker now, and splinters of itself were left in Siegfried's footsteps. Siegfried meditated on all he had done and eventually learned to accept responsibility for his sin. He planned to return to his mother, who had no knowledge of anything that occurred during or after that night three years ago; but just as he was about to knock on the door, he could hear his mother praying, and concluded that if he was to be successful in his new resolve, he must distance himself from society so that he never kills again. He could not see his mother until he was fully redeemed; but he knew he was not yet atoned for, for every time he awoke from a night's rest, he found his new zweihänder Requiem covered in blood, and he was surrounded by the corpses of victims he had presumably murdered in his sleep.
Soulcalibur II[]
Siegfried was aware that although he had regained his sanity and learned to accept his past sins from three years ago, he was not yet fully redeemed. He knew that Soul Edge still held power over him, but now it used its strength in his sleep, and no matter how hard he tried not to fall asleep again, he would always eventually give in, and the darkness would continue to operate at night in his subconscious. He tried to forsake civilization as far as he could go, so that no person could be corrupted by the dark energy of the Soul Edge, but to no avail.
Four years passed, and he had eventually assumed the azure armor for a second time, becoming Nightmare all over again, desperately pursuing fragments of the Soul Edge that he might fully restore it. As Nightmare plundered powerful souls and recovered shattered fragments of the sword, the cracks in Soul Edge healed one by one. His goal of reviving the evil sword edged toward completion. After some time, the Azure Knight returned to his old stronghold, Ostrheinsburg, as its bloodied land was a fitting stage for the restoration of the evil sword's true power.
In the ruins of the chapel, a lone fencer, Raphael Sorel appeared in search of Soul Edge. The two of them faced off, but at the end of the fierce battle, Nightmare stood victorious. As he stepped forward to finish Raphael off, he muttered something incoherently.
Deep within Nightmare's eyes a faint light dwelled. It was the will of Siegfried. As he struggled to free his mind from the influence of evil, the spirit of the sword sneered at him. The two held a formless fight, as Siegfried struggled to take his body back while Inferno mocked him and his father. (Sometime during this, Raphael made a desperate last strike and damaged Soul Edge, a contributing factor to Siegfried's final escape.)
Soulcalibur III[]
The battle raging deep within his mind caused the Azure Knight to stand motionless. Beside him, the wounded body of Raphael trembled. Only Raphael's great will enabled his gravely injured body to move. Drawing on his last strength, Raphael unleashed a desperate final blow upon his enemy. The strike pierced the center of Soul Edge.
Nightmare let out an inhuman cry. Inside him, the crazed, wounded mind of the evil sword clawed at his consciousness. Siegfried stood with an iron will against the raging storm, and finally restored control. He who had been lost to the cursed sword for so long had reclaimed his body as his own. In response to the rapidly weakening evil, light poured out like the coming of the dawn...
When it was all over, Siegfried thought back in a daze over what he had done. As he looked around, he sighted a sword that appeared along with the light. As if guided by something, he took the sword in his hand and drove it into the evil eye that was the core of Soul Edge. That sword was the holy sword Soul Calibur, which had been trapped by the power of the evil sword.
The blow, however, was not enough to destroy the evil sword. The evil energy of Soul Edge had quieted, but the holy sword, still piercing cursed sword, had gone silent, as if it too, had lost its power.
"This isn't enough..." Forcing his exhausted mind into motion, as he began to think. He threw off his detestable armor and smashed it into pieces. Then, picking up both swords, he left that cursed land. "I will seal away Soul Edge for all eternity and atone for my sins. This I swear!" His bloody fate would not release him so easily, however. From time to time, the feeling of that grotesque arm rose from the depths of his memory. The residue of the nightmare tormented him. Those seeking revenge on Nightmare would occasionally appear in his path. Each time he was forced to fight them, his mind was wracked with guilt. Moreover, Siegfried did not realize that another dark omen was on the horizon. Indeed, there was no way for him to know that the azure knight would soon be revived and a man who wanted to end an ever-lasting curse wanted the two swords in order to do it.
Eventually, Siegfried and the resurrected Azure Knight would meet again at Lost Cathedral. Zasalamel used his dark arts to break Soul Embrace in order to become Abyss, Siegfried and Nightmare defeated Abyss and both the Spirit Sword and the Cursed Sword were freed. Both Siegfried and Nightmare took their respective swords and clashed one more time, causing an explosion that destroyed the entire cathedral and nearly destroyed them both...
Soulcalibur IV[]
Someone was calling him, but he could not clearly hear it. He strained to see, but could see nothing. Then the voice came again, and this time he could hear every word.
"So you would forsake our friendship?"
"Yes. No one will ever again be a part of my life. Every man or woman who has known me has ultimately fallen to death's touch. So go. Leave me. Forget you ever knew me."
The voice that had replied was his own. He began to lose his consciousness, his focus wavered, and then another voice came to him from behind.
"I have seen what you have done. Now you devote your life to atoning for your sins and redeeming your soul. Are you not as much a victim of that sword as the others?"
"No, no! No matter what beguiling words you whisper, my sins cannot be forgiven. I-I slew my father with my own bloodied hands. No cursed sword forced me to do that!"
As Siegfried spoke his answer, the man who questioned him faded from his vision, to be replaced once more by the memories of that night. The wind blew the clouds from the face of the moon, and suddenly the head that he held triumphantly aloft was brilliantly revealed. He saw the face, and there was no denying the truth. It was his father. His heart was in agony as if it had been pierced by a white-hot blade.
Siegfried jerked upright, as if yanked by a puppeteer's string. The full moon bathed his face in light. It had been a dream. He was alone.
He pressed his hand against the armor that covered his heart. A terrible scar marked him there. The maelstrom of power unleashed by Soul Calibur and Soul Edge clashed at the Lost Cathedral had torn his body apart. His long quest to destroy the cursed sword had been so nearly completed; redemption had been within his grasp, yet, in that moment, he had died, the scream of frustration at his failure silenced on his lips. Perhaps the spirit sword responded to that outpouring of emotion, for the sword whose destiny it was to destroy the cursed sword resonated with Siegfried's soul. It chose Siegfried for its master, and doing so saved his life.
Siegfried thought again of the dream he had just seen. He thought of the people who had once stood by him and the people he had left despite knowing that Siegfried was none other than Nightmare.
Bathed in the moonlight, Siegfried looked up into the night sky. He knew now what he must do. He would brush aside the outstretched hands that tried to help him. Once, not so long ago, he had stood at the center of the terror that Nightmare wrought. The enemy he now faced was the cursed devourer of souls, Soul Edge. Awaiting him was the maelstrom of destruction unleashed at the cathedral.
Soul Calibur shone with a cold light in his hand. Siegfried made up his mind to become like the sword. No one would touch his heart, no man or woman would sway him from his path, until the cursed sword was destroyed for all time. Images of his brothers-in-arms, comrades, even friends that might have been - and, of course, his father - flashed one by one through his mind. He was alone, and he had no choice but to be alone, for he would never again hurt those he loved.
Siegfried turned his gaze away from the heavens. Before him a black shadow lay heavy over the cursed city of Ostrheinsburg. His journey was coming to an end.
Soulcalibur V[]
Siegfried had played host to Soul Calibur and, ultimately, destroyed Soul Edge. After that epic battle, the knight returned home and enjoyed a brief period of peace. But deep down he knew his work was not over; the cursed sword's minions—the malfested—remained a serious threat. Realizing he couldn't stop them alone, Siegfried gathered his staunchest allies from his old clan known as Schwarzwind, he reformed the clan of thieves into a clan of mercenaries.
One day, after more than a decade of service protecting humanity from the malfested, Siegfried discovered that Soul Calibur had transformed into a new one-handed sword—a clear harbinger of Soul Edge's return. A new champion to wield Soul Calibur would need to be found; Siegfried assigned the task to Z.W.E.I., a wandering swordsman who had joined his mercenary group.
"So... The time has come..."
Soul Calibur, like Soul Edge, possessed dangerous power. Siegfried quietly awaited the one who would be worthy to wield it...
Profile[]
Soulcalibur[]
Siegfried barely hung on to his sanity by suppressing the memory of him killing his father.
He obtained Soul Edge to avenge what cannot by avenged, only to become enslaved by it instead.
Many years passed during which time his soul was consumed by the demonic blade, and he eventually came to be known as Nightmare. The resurrection of his father Frederick succeeded at last, but he discovered it was a mere illusion created by his weak soul.
Admonished by the illusion of his father, he accepted responsibility for his sins by relinquishing ownership of Soul Edge. As penance for his sins, Siegfried now travels the world to destroy an evil left by the demonic blade.
Chapter XIV: A Soul in Purgatory[1]
After the Soul Edge devoured a great number of strong souls Siegfried was able to use it to resurrect his father Frederick. He quickly realized this resurrection was nothing more than an illusion created by his weak mind. Perplexed by the illusion he created, he wondered, "Is there any hope for redemption?"
She lived in a small town in Germany. With both her husband and son missing, her life was completely barren. But on this day a youth stood in front of her house. For the first time since he had killed his father, he returned to his mother Margaret. As his hand raised to knock the door he heard words of prayer from within the house. His body froze as he listened to the sound of his mother's voice praying that her son's soul may see peace.
"I am unworthy to see my dear mother now, I cannot return until I have settled everything," he decided.
"Mom, I met dad," were the only words he muttered as he turned his back and ran away before his mother could notice.
The boy had now grown into a youth and he left the town of his childhood with a refreshed will. The knight left to put down the flames of unholy hellfire that had spread throughout the world. The sun had set and all that remained in front of him was a dim road of uncertainty.Soulcalibur III[]
Collecting powerful souls and the fragments of Soul Edge, Nightmare was approaching the revival of the cursed sword. He returned to Ostrheinsburg Castle, a place that had seen the blood of many spilled, and there found a man wielding a thin sword in his left hand. The man sought Soul Edge, but after a fierce battle, Nightmare defeated him.
Nightmare closed in to finish him off, but at that moment, a brief flicker of Siegfried's will returned, and he struggled against the cursed sword. One voice sought atonement and a desire to restore pride. Another laughed, saying that all men shall despair at the darkness of death.
As this conflict raged within Nightmare's mind, the wounded man drew upon his last strength and unleashed a desperate final blow. The blow cleanly pierced the center of Soul Edge.
Nightmare let out an inhuman howl and writhed in pain, two consciousnesses clashing within him.
And finally, with a will of iron, Siegfried reclaimed control of his own body. At that moment, the area was covered in light, and Soul Calibur suddenly appeared. Reflexively, Siegfried took the holy sword and stabbed it into the eye of Soul Edge.
The power of the cursed sword was sealed, but the spirit sword went silent as well.
"This isn't enough...I swear to seal away Soul Edge for all time and atone for my sins!" Smashing into pieces his detestable armor, Siegfried set out on a journey. However, his blood-stained fate would not release him so easily. The feeling of a grotesque right arm periodically welled up in his memories. The whispers of the cursed sword echoed in his ears.
And each time he was forced to fight those who sought revenge on Nightmare, his mind was wracked by guilt...
"But the strong man is strongest when alone."
-"Wilhelm Tell," Freidrich von Schiller
As Nightmare plundered powerful souls and recovered the shattered fragments of the sword, the cracks in the surface of Soul Edge healed one by one. His goal of reviving the evil sword edged toward completion. After some time, the azure knight returned to his old stronghold, Ostrheinsburg Castle. This land, which had once tasted the blood of many, was a fitting stage for the restoration of the evil sword's true power.
A lone man appeared in search of Soul Edge. He wielded a thin blade in his left hand. The two of them faced off in the ruins of the chapel, and the place became alive with flying sparks and blood.
At the end of the fierce battle, Nightmare stood victorious. The evil incarnate stepped forward to finish off his opponent. The wounded man muttered something incoherent.
Deep within the eyes set in the dark helm dwelled the faint light of a soul that was not that of a murderer. It was the will of Siegfried, the man who had been seduced by the evil blade. Siegfried struggled, as if trying to fight off a nightmare. The spirit of the evil sword sneered at him.
"Your strikes were weak. Fragile. Pathetic. Just like human souls."
"Silence...I will not obey you anymore. I will atone for what I have done..."
"The depth of human greed astounds me. You still seek forgiveness, after all you have done?"
"No! But one must reflect on one's sins and move onward!"
"...Even if the path ahead leads only to darkness? Only death awaits in the end."
"Is it because it is finite that people cling to the joys of life?"
"...Can you not hear them--the wails of the souls that were swallowed unto the abyss by your hand?"
"I am eternally sorry for what I have done...But listen to me!"
"...He sought death. He revered it. Death is beautiful. Your father, too, knew its allure."
"Yes. If I could, I would return to that time--"
"...He must perish. You shall cast his body into the darkness. He shall stagnate and rot, steeped in despair, as you squeeze the final gasp from his lungs!"
"No! That's an illusion! I can see it...I can see the proud way he faces his end!"
The battle waging deep within his mind caused the azure knight to stand motionless. Beside him, the wounded body of the fallen man trembled. Only the man's great will enabled his gravely injured body to move. Drawing on his last strength, the man unleashed a desperate final blow upon his enemy. The strike pierced the center of Soul Edge.
Nightmare let out an inhuman cry. Inside him, the crazed, wounded mind of the evil sword clawed at his consciousness. But he stood with an iron will against the raging storm. The time had come. The eyes that had been dyed crimson by evil were washed away, and the flame of life relit. He who had been host to the cursed sword for so long had reclaimed his body as his own. In response to the rapidly weakening evil, light poured out like the coming of the dawn...
When it was all over, Siegfried thought back in a daze over what he had done. It had been a reflexive action. A sword had appeared along with the light. As if guided by something, he took the sword in his hand and drove it into the evil eye that was the core of Soul Edge. That sword was the holy sword Soul Calibur, which had been trapped by the power of the evil sword.
The blow, however, was not enough to destroy the evil sword. The evil energy of Soul Edge had quieted, but the holy sword, still piercing the cursed sword, had gone silent too, as if it had lost its power.
"This isn't enough..." Forcing his tired brain into motion, he began to think. He threw off his detestable armor and smashed it into pieces. Then, picking up the two swords, he left that cursed land. "I will seal away Soul Edge for all eternity and atone for my sins. This I swear!"
His bloody fate would not release him so easily, however. From time to time, the feeling of that grotesque right arm rose from the depths of his memory. The residue of the nightmare tormented him. Those seeking revenge on Nightmare would occasionally appear in his path. Each time he was forced to fight them, his mind was wracked by guilt. Moreover, Siegfried did not realize that another dark omen was on the horizon.
Soulcalibur IV[]
"So, you would forsake our friendship?"
"Yes. No one will ever again be a part of my life. Every man or woman who has known me has ultimately fallen to death's touch. So, go, leave me, Forget you ever knew me."
As Siegfried spoke his answer, the woman who questioned him faded from his sight to be replaced once more by the memories of that night. The wind blew the clouds from the face of the moon, and suddenly the head that he held triumphantly aloft was brilliantly revealed. Siegfried saw the face, and there was no denying the truth. It was his father. His heart was in agony as if it had been pierced by a white-hot blade.
Siegfried jerked upright, as if yanked by a puppeteer's string. It had been a dream. He was alone.
He pressed his hand against the armor that covered his heart. A terrible scar marked him there. The maelstrom of power unleashed when Soul Calibur and Soul Edge clashed in the Lost Cathedral had torn his body apart. But the sword whose destiny it was to destroy the cursed sword resonated with Siegfried's soul, and saved his life.
Siegfried thought again of the dream he had just seen. His brothers-in-arms, his comrades, cared for him. But his mind was made up: he would brush aside the outstretched hands that tried to help him. No one would touch his heart, no man or woman would sway him from his path, until the cursed sword was destroyed for all time. Before him a black shadow lay heavy over the cursed city of Ostrheinsburg. His journey of repentance was coming to an end.
Someone was calling him, but he could not clearly hear it. He strained to see, but could see nothing. Then the voice came again, and this time he could hear every word.
"So, you would throw away our friendship?"
"Yes. No one will ever again be a part of my life. Every man or woman who has known me has ultimately fallen to death's touch. So, go. Leave me. Forget you ever knew me."
The voice that had replied was his own. He began to lose consciousness, his focus wavered, and then another voice came to him from behind.
"I have seen what you have done. Now you devote your life to atoning for your sins and redeeming your soul. Are you not as much as a victim of that sword as the others?"
"No, no! No matter what beguiling words you whisper, my sins cannot be forgiven. I-I slew my father with my own bloodied hands. No cursed sword forced me to do that!"
As Siegfried spoke his answer, the man who questioned him faded from his vision, to be replaced once more by the memories of that night. The wind blew the clouds from the face of the moon, and suddenly the head that he held triumphantly aloft was brilliantly revealed. He saw the face, and there was no denying the truth. It was his father. His heart was in agony as if it had been pierced by a white-hot blade.
Siegfried jerked upright, as if yanked by a puppeteer's string. The full moon bathed his face in light. It had been a dream. He was alone.
He pressed his hand against the armor that covered his heart. A terrible scar marked him there. The maelstrom of power unleashed when Soul Calibur and Soul Edge clashed in the Lost Cathedral had torn his body apart. His long quest to destroy the cursed sword had been so nearly completed; redemption had been within his grasp, yet, in that moment, he had died, the scream of frustration at his failure silenced on his lips. Perhaps the spirit sword responded to that outpouring of emotion, for the sword whose destiny it was to destroy the cursed sword resonated with Siegfried's soul. It chose Siegfried for its master, and in doing so saved his life.
Siegfried thought again of the dream he had just seen. He thought of the people who had once stood by him, and the people he had left. And the one who still followed him, despite knowing that Siegfried was none other than Nightmare.
Bathed in the moonlight, Siegfried looked up into the night sky. He knew now what he must do. He would brush aside the outstretched hands that tried to help him. Once, not so long ago, he had stood at the center of the terror that Nightmare wrought. The enemy he now faced was that cursed devourer of souls, Soul Edge. Awaiting him was the maelstrom of destruction unleashed at the cathedral.
Soul Calibur shone with a cold light in his hand. Siegfried made up his mind to become like the sword. No one would touch his heart, no man or woman would sway him from his path, until the cursed sword was destroyed for all time. Images of his brothers-in-arms, comrades, even friends that might have been—and, of course, his father—flashed one by one through his mind. He was alone, and he had no choice but to be alone, for he would never again hurt those he loved.
Siegfried turned his gaze away from the heavens. Before him a black shadow lay heavy over the cursed city of Ostrheinsburg. His journey of repentance was coming to an end.[3]Soulcalibur V[]
After becoming the spirit sword Soul Calibur's new wielder and destroying Soul Edge, Siegfried returned home to his friends and enjoyed a short respite. Unfortunately, the destruction of Soul Edge did not undo its evil effect on the world, and the threat of the Malfested was quite clear. If Siegfried hoped to root out the people causing pain and suffering from the shadows, he knew he would have to put together some kind of organization. With that in mind, Siegfried reformed Schwarzwind, the old gang he used to belong to, into a reliable band of mercenaries. Together, they set out to protect innocent civilians from the danger posed by the Malfested.
After leading Schwarzwind against the Malfested for ten years, Siegfried one day noticed that Soul Calibur had taken on a new form. The spirit sword's transformation indicated that Soul Edge's restoration was imminent. Siegfried knew it would be vital to find someone worthy of wielding Soul Calibur, and asked the wandering swordsman Z.W.E.I. to search for such an individual.
"I knew this day would come..."
Soul Calibur possessed a power equally as strong and potentially as dangerous as the cursed blade Soul Edge, so Siegfried had no choice but to wait patiently for its new wielder to appear before him.[4]
Physical Appearance[]
In his debut, Siegfried appeared as a young German man with short blond hair and blue eyes, covered in simple knight armor. Following his redemption, Soulcalibur and beyond, he retains the armor but his hair has grown longer, past shoulder length. During Soulcalibur he gains a long scar dashing over his right eye, which he likely gained fighting against Inferno in the original Soul Edge. Soulcalibur III, he returns with armor bearing the motif of a phoenix as well as feathers on his pauldrons. As of Soulcalibur IV, his armor remains the same, but a second layer of crystalline armor covers with a rather intricate design and wields Soul Calibur instead of Requiem. He also gains a long blue scarf as well, completing the 'knight in shining armor' visage. His weapon in Soul Edge was originally Faust, a simple zweihander with a basic design, but swapped it for Requiem, a large blade with a flat end and a black lining in the center. He continues to use this sword from Soulcalibur all the way to Soulcalibur III and resumes its use in Soulcalibur V. In Soulcalibur V, Siegfried's appearance begins to take on the traits of his father, and has grown a stubble. His hair is swept up with a couple bangs hanging down and his scar still remains. In trailers of Soulcalibur: Lost Swords he wore armor almost identical to his Soulcalibur V counterpart, albeit with blue coloring, but in-game he starts off in his underwear. His appearance changes depending on what equipment the player gives him.
Personality[]
In Soul Edge and Soulcalibur Legends, Siegfried is somewhat cocky and arrogant, never stopping to achieve what he desires. However, after being freed from Soul Edge in Soulcalibur, he stops being selfish and strives to atone for his sins. When he becomes Nightmare again in Soulcalibur II, he is portrayed as a heartless beast. But when he becomes himself again in Soulcalibur III, he regains his desire for atonement. In Soulcalibur IV, Siegfried fears that he would get other people hurt if he lets them join him. So he isolates himself from others in order to destroy Soul Edge and repent for his sins. However in Soulcalibur V Siegfried is much calmer and relaxed, he also acts as a mentor to his comrades.
Costumes[]
Soul Edge[]
In Soul Edge, Siegfried had short slicked back blonde hair with side parted bangs. His outfit consisted of a dark green chainmail under a cool silver knight armor. His alternate costume has him wear a full suit of red traditional knight armor, complete with a helmet that incorporates a triangle visor with three holes on each side. His PlayStation-exclusive outfit is his casual hunting attire, consisting of a green long-sleeved shirt under an orange vest and white trousers. He also wears dark brown boots for this outfit instead of his traditional greaves.
Soulcalibur[]
Soulcalibur II[]
Soulcalibur III/Soulcalibur Legends[]
Soulcalibur IV/Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny[]
Soulcalibur V[]
Soulcalibur: Lost Swords[]
Endings[]
Soul Edge[]
Siegfried drops to one knee. He looks at the bigger blade of Soul Edge, which is sticking out of the ground. He inches towards it...
Bad Ending: Siegfried grabs the sword and holds it over his head in victory, only to have it clamp down on his hand and transform him into Nightmare. The scene shifts to Siegfried, now Nightmare, standing on a cliff, overlooking a village.
Good Ending: Siegfried hoists Faust over his head and shatters Soul Edge. The scene switches to Siegfried standing on top of a mountain, saddened and unsure about what to do next. It seems that he had finally come out of denial about killing his father.
Soulcalibur[]
- There was nothing that stand in the way of the wind that cut through this valley.
- The evil within him had been exorcised, and now the warrior cast his eyes upon the windblown valley.
- His childhood memories, the valiant figure of his father, the beginning of his madness, and the Schwarzwind.
- Man: Siegfried, where have you been for the last three years?
- Siegfried: I shall tell you about it someday.
- Familiar faces, new faces, it seems the Schwarzwind was alive and well.
- Siegfried: Demons are on the attack! Prepare to fight, men!
- And thus a new wind began to blow...
Soulcalibur III[]
As Siegfried faces Soul Edge, he begins to hallucinate, because he notices for a split second that his hand is the hand of Nightmare's. A weak Nightmare stumbles towards Siegfried from behind him and tells him that he will pay for what he has done. Clones of Nightmare suddenly begin to appear, and as they surround Siegfried, Nightmare's voice can be heard saying "You will never run away from your sin! You have no right to live! It is a sin for you to be alive!". Siegfried then hears a piercing noise that brings him to his knees, and when he turns around, he sees Nightmare with Soul Edge in his hand. The Nightmares raise their swords into the air, ready to strike Siegfried.
Soul Calibur 3 - Siegfried - Ending B
Soulcalibur III - Siegfried's Ending B
Input Ending: Siegfried grabs his sword and slashes through all 3 Nightmare clones before they are able to harm him. The screen fades, and then shows Siegfried kneeling on the ground thinking about what Nightmare has said. "It doesn't matter... I will live on. To live... that is my redemption." Siegfried states.
Soul Calibur 3 - Siegfried - Ending A
Soulcalibur III - Siegfried's Ending A
No Input Ending: Lightning strikes down on all 3 Nightmare's, destroying them. Siegfried knows that his father has just saved him. "Father, I will live on... no matter what happens." he then said.
Soulcalibur IV[]
Soul Calibur IV Siegfried Ending
Soulcalibur IV - Siegfried's Ending
Siegfried defeats Nightmare, as the two collide in a single slash. Both are left standing silently, until Nightmare holds Soul Edge's handle so tightly then groans in agony from Siegfried's apparent connected blow he gave him. Siegfried, still with his back facing Nightmare, utters these words: "With this... it ends." Nightmare collapses onto the floor, seemingly dead. Siegfried turns to look at the body and stabs Soul Calibur into the ground, saying: "Our kind should not exist in this world; not ever again." With those words, he then unleashes Soul Calibur's power, crystallizing Soul Edge and Nightmare's body, but it also crystallizes Siegfried as well and then everything around them.
The screen goes black and the epilogue tells us the world will soon be "covered in crystals, where a utopia without war or suffering lay waiting."
Gameplay[]
Soulcalibur IV[]
Tower of Lost Souls[]
Siegfried appears in Tower of Lost Souls as a boss in Ascend mode, under the floor "Time to Trifle", where the player has to beat Siegfried under a small time limit; and he also appears as a subordinate in "Unfailing Tower".
- TOLS Ascend Mode Floor
- Time to Trifle (Floor 38)
- Unfailing Tower (Floor 31)
- Partners
- Skills On "Time To Trifle"
- Nullify Ringout A
- HP Drain S
- Soul Gauge Boost S
- Auto Grapple Break S
- Skills On "Unfailing Tower"
- HP Recovery C
- Auto Grapple Break C
- Default Skills
- Guard Breaker
- Auto Grapple Break B
- Soul Gauge Rate Up C
- Story Mode Final Boss Skills
- Shave Damage C
- Soul Gauge Recovery B
- Nullify Ring Out S
Fighting Style[]
Siegfried's fighting style relies on utilizing his vast array of moves and stances to keep the opponent guessing. He can be difficult to master at top level play due to the fact that good command of most of his move-set is needed to make him truly dangerous, as well as knowing his numerous stances inside out. However, once Siegfried has the momentum of a match behind him, he becomes very dangerous and difficult to stop. It can take some work, but in truly skilled hands, Siegfried is extremely powerful and can make the opponent look like a beginner.
Siegfried can switch stances either to evade or perform other signature moves. He has a large number of stances and they are all important to Siegfried - they must all be learned inside out in order to be truly effective. Siegfried has great range on his attacks, which can give some characters great difficulty when trying to get in on him. His throw range is also great - throws are a powerful part of Siegfried's up close game, especially since they are damaging and can ring out.
However, Siegfried is slow in general and fast characters can give him trouble if they get close and start to dictate the pace of the match. Also, many of his moves recover quite slowly and can be easily punished, so at times Siegfried can seem like quite a risky character. In addition, he can have difficulty getting around in general due to his speed. To combat these weaknesses, one must time Siegfried's attacks properly and take advantage when the opponent gives an opening. Also, by keeping the pressure on, keeping the opponent guessing to the point that he is scared to attack is a good way to deal with Siegfried's lack of overall speed. This is why it is so crucial to be familiar with Siegfried's moves - one must be able to take advantage of opportunities as they arise, manage Siegfried's slower moves and be able to maintain pressure when necessary. The keys to mastering Siegfried are intimate knowledge of his move-set, the ability to pile pressure on the opponent and the ability to keep the opponent guessing - which is something a good Siegfried can do very well.
Overall, his tier varies, from low to high depending on the user.
Soulcalibur IV[]
Self-Taught[]
A brigand in his youth who later became a mercenary-for-hire, Siegfried learned the art of sword fighting on the battlefield. His weapon has cut down enemies, crushed opposition, and at times served as a shield to protect his very life.
He spent his youth in careless pillaging and plundering, until one day he unknowingly murdered his own father. The shock caused him to create false memories and his life became a ceaseless, bloody quest to find Soul Edge. The sword twisted his mind, he became the Azure Knight, Nightmare, and he began a rampage of destruction and tyranny that would last for years.
Finally, he escaped the grip of the cursed sword and began the long, arduous task of atoning for his wicked deeds. He still fights for his soul today.
Soulcalibur V[]
Personal style[]
The massive zweihänder was originally designed to disrupt the defenses of pike formations, but over the years Siegfried had developed a unique combat style that made effective use of the great sword's weight and length for both offensive and defensive purposes. A younger Siegfried had run around causing trouble with a gang of hooligans, unwittingly murdered his own father, and brought about the calamity of the cursed blade... The forceful and at times seemingly desperate swings of Siegfried's zweihänder tell the tragic tale of a misguided and reckless youth.
The members of Schwarzwind all admired their leader for his prowess in battle, and his unique fighting style had earned him many eager disciples. All of the young mercenaries in Schwarzwind had dedicated themselves to fighting against the evil brought about by Soul Edge instead of turning to a life of petty crime. Though his skill with the sword was steeped in a dark history, Siegfried convinced himself that sharing this knowledge in order to help others fight the good fight was just one more way he could atone for his past sins.
Critical Finish[]
Soul Conviction: He shouts "Get ready!", then uses his sword to knock the opponent in the air and brings them down. He then powers up Soul Calibur by raising it into the sky, yelling "Prepare to die!". As the foe stands up, he slashes his blade through them vertically, sending crystals everywhere as the opponent drops dead, consumed by blue flames.
Critical Edge[]
Legacy Testament: Siegfried raises his sword above his head and stabs it into the ground. This causes a trail of crystal spikes to appear in the direction of his opponent.
Weapon Arts[]
Ashen Blitz: That's a hardly recognizable inverse version of SCIV move called Terror Slap. If Siegfried succeeds in delivering the blow, time freezes for a while. This long-range horizontal high attack is always followed with a blue-white trace, resembling that of Hilde's charge attacks. As the character steps forward in the strike, the attack can be performed at a distance. It has an absolutely safe start, you can't be stopped by the opponent in any case. Although, it's hard to continue a combo with it, because it's high and doesn't hit the opponent immediately after pressing. After the Weapon Art is performed, the enemy is thrown forward, so there is a chance of a wall hit, but there aren't any guaranteed combos after it. It won't hit the lying or crouching opponent, and if it hits in mid-air, the opponent won't hit the wall. In case it's blocked, you won't be punished.
Soul Conviction: This is a mid-range vertical Break Attack, that is very similar to Nightmare's Crimson Vortex. It has a short animation, in which Siegfried turns back saying "Taste... My blade!", and then he releases a single launcher. There's a blue shining sphere at the end of his sword during the attack, it disappears immediately after the Weapon Art's performed. Even if the attack fails, the sphere will still emerge. The attack always causes a Guard Burst in case the opponent guards against it. However, it has an unsafe start. There's a time gap between the activation of the Weapon Art and the animation, during which you're likely to be stopped by any types of the opponent's attacks. And the fact, that there's a chance to be interrupted even after the animation only makes it worse. It doesn't stun the opponent, and doesn't make him hit the wall, but it seems to be a challenge for him to side-step it. After the opponent is tossed in the air by this attack, you won't have time to create any significant combos, though some additional hits can be done. It'll work the same on the opponent on the ground or in mid-air, but the time gap may allow the enemy to land and start guarding or to recover from the stun. In that case you'll still have a chance to do some damage after a Guard Burst. Sometimes it can miss when the opponent's in the air.
Geist Destroyer: That's a combination of Geist Strike from SCIII and Flying Edge performed one after another. If the second strike is landed successfully on the opponent, it creates a tremor, the camera changes it's angle and time slows down a little. However, this tremor doesn't have any actual effect, as it can only be seen when the enemy is physically hit by the attack. Both of the strikes have a good medium range. Although, its isn't very safe, as its first attack can be easily interrupted and if it is blocked, the opponent can prevent you from making the second one by attacking you or side-stepping it. But fortunately, it's rather easy to continue a combo with it. If the enemy is standing still, the first attack will stun him and the second will slam him to the ground. If he's caught in the air, the first strike will land him on the ground without being stunned and the second will come next. In both ways, the last move will put the opponent in the stunned state, but there aren't any guaranteed combos after it. However, if the enemy doesn't use Ukemi, you'll be able to add some more hits. If you've landed only the last one, the opponent won't be stunned and you'll be able to proceed with guaranteed additional hits. If the enemy is guarding, or the first attack misses, the second one will always be performed. In case the he's on the ground, the first attack will certainly miss, while the second can hit anyway. When the opponent is standing stunned and going to fall down (for example, after Siegfried's Piercing Strike), if you're close to him, the first attack will miss, whereas at a distance it will hit. When the Weapon Art is activated with the opponent standing or being in mid-air, the second attack can cause a wall hit. By the way, if the last strike is being guarded against, you won't be punished, but it's better to get up from the ground as soon as possible.
Mail Vortex: This is a combo of his Maelstrom and a quick version of Rampart Buster. There are three hits in this Weapon Art. The first two horizontal middle and low attacks knocks the opponent to the ground and the third vertical Break Attack smashes him down. It is very efficient in combat due to its comfortable medium range, pretty safe quick start, easy chaining and heavy damage. As Siegfried steps forward during the attack, the range of the last two strikes is definitely long. There's a small chance of being interrupted by some of the opponent's attacks, but when the enemy is far from you, and your first strike misses, he can stop you from making the other two without trouble. Even if the first attack is blocked, the opponent is very unlikely to guard against the second low one. If the whole thing misses or the enemy holds the guard, all three attacks will be made. Now, a few words about its chaining qualities. The first attack stuns the standing opponent, though in mid-air it doesn't and just makes him spin opened for the next attack. When he's lying, it misses. The second one doesn't stun him, but knocks him off his feet. If the enemy is lying idly it won't hit too, and in the air it tends to miss sometimes after the first one, but usually it knocks the enemy down. The last strike always stuns the opponent, except when the first two strikes were delivered in the air or it is the only attack landed on the opponent on the ground. If he is caught in mid-air, you won't be able to continue a combo after the Weapon Art, as the opponent can stand up right after it, but in case he's standing still, the third strike will stun him, enabling you to create a guaranteed combo after it. If everything is blocked, you won't be punished. With the opponent on his feet, you can hit him against the wall with the second strike (only if the first one had caught him off guard). In mid-air when you're close to the wall only the first strike can cause a wall hit, but at a distance from the wall the second one may also lead to it. In case it's used to continue a wall combo, it'll have the same effect as it has as on the standing opponent.
Legacy Testament: This is Siegfried's Critical Edge without any new features really. It provides a long distance, however it's more useful to use it, when the enemy's close to you, as in this case is has an additional hit at the beginning, which accounts for a forth of the attack's total damage. In contrast to the most of Weapon Arts which take origin from Critical Edge attacks, it can easily be interrupted (only before the animation), it's still rather hard to make a guaranteed combo with and it's impossible to add anything, besides the least damaging Grief Low Kick, after it as well, even if its second strike makes the enemy hit the wall. Moreover, it isn't a completely safe move to be used randomly, since there's a slight possibility a being punished after it, which increases if the wall or the edge of the arena shortens the distance between you and the guarding enemy. It doesn't cause stun and works both on the ground and not high in the air.
Abilities[]
Siegfried possess high strength and sword fighting skills, as shown by him wielding and effectively utilising his Zweihanders. This is displayed by how he effectivley fought off a large number of malfested soldiers by himself. Despite no longer having Soul Calibur in his possession, Siegfried still retains some of the abilities he had while using the sword, as shown by how he can make trails of ice crystal spikes by stabbing his sword into the ground. If in extreme danger, it is shown that his father's spirit will protect him by summoning bolts of lightning from the sky to strike his enemies.
Whilst wielding Soul Calibur, Siegfried is able to use the sword's numerous abilities. He is able to summon numerous ice crystal spikes to attack his opponent, and can create ice crystal structures to act as prisons for his enemies, he also gains additional body armor made from the crystals, giving him two layers of armor. As shown in his Soulcalibur IV ending, at full power he can cause crystals to burst out of the ground and spread, eventually covering the entire world and making it a "utopia". He can also create a massive beam of light around his sword which causes massive crystals to burst out of the ground that it hits. When he had Soul Calibur clash with Nightmare's Soul Edge (both swords were in a weakened state at the time), they completley obliterated the entirety of the Lost Cathedral.
Siegfried was also once Nightmare, at the time he was the Azure Night he was able to absorb people's souls into Soul Edge and could release the Evil Seed.
Quotes[]
- "I never had such an easy victory."
- "I will not rest until I wreak vengeance for my father."
- "No one can stop me!"
- "I'm sorry...father."
- "I... I don't know... what to do..."
- "Go to hell!" (Japanese)
- "Know your place!" (Japanese)
- "You deserved it." (Japanese)
- "Let this be a lesson for you." (Japanese)
Relationships[]
- Son of Margaret and Frederick, he accidentally killed the latter before the events of Soul Edge.
- Archenemy and former alter-ego of Nightmare. Defeated him in the end of Soulcalibur IV.
- Considered a rival by Mitsurugi.
- Fought and defeated Cervantes and Inferno in Soul Edge.
- Sophitia saw a vision of him as Nightmare and wanted to help him in Soulcalibur.
- Raphael unintentionally freed him from Soul Edge's control before Soulcalibur III.
- Met Hilde on his way to Ostrheinsburg in Soulcalibur IV, whose help he denied. Currently she is living with his mercenary group, the Schwarzwind due to her kingdom falling.
- Taki witnessed his battle against Nightmare before Soulcalibur IV. She followed him to prevent Soul Calibur from colliding with Soul Edge.
- Cassandra followed him to Ostrheinsburg, mistaking his sword, Soul Calibur for the Holy Stone in Soulcalibur IV.
- Reassembles and reforms the Schwarzwind into a clan of mercenaries, following the events of Soulcalibur IV.
- Took Z.W.E.I. and Viola under his command.
References[]
- ^ "Soul Calibur -- Siegfried Schtauffen". Soulcalibur. Namco Limited. Archived from the original on December 16, 2000. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
- ^ "SOULCALIBUR III". Soul Archive. NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. Archived from the original on March 20, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
- ^ Deats, Adam; Epstein, Joe (July 17, 2008). SOULCALIBUR IV Signature Series Fighter's Guide. BradyGames. p. 119. ISBN 978-0-7440-1006-0.
- ^ SoulCalibur: New Legends of Project Soul. Richmond Hill: UDON Entertainment Corp. February 2014. p. 48. ISBN 978-1-926778-95-2.
[]
| Original Timeline Main Characters |
|---|
| Aeon (Lizardman) • Algol • Amy • Astaroth (Mass Produced) • Cassandra • Cervantes • Charade • Edge Master • Hilde • Hwang • Ivy • Kilik • Leixia • Li Long • Maxi • Mitsurugi • Natsu • Olcadan • Patroklos (α Patroklos) • Pyrrha (Pyrrha Ω) • Raphael • Rock • Seong Mi-na • Setsuka • Siegfried • Sophitia • Soul Calibur (Elysium) • Soul Edge (Inferno, Nightmare, Night Terror) • Taki • Talim • Tira • Viola • Voldo • Xianghua • Xiba • Yoshimitsu • Yun-seong • Zasalamel (Abyss) • Z.W.E.I. |