Hilde

Hildegard von Krone

SCLS/V
SCIV

Biographical Information

Birthplace

Wolfkrone Kingdom, Holy Roman Empire (present day Germany)

Birthdate

August 13, 1573

Age

18 (Soulcalibur IV), 35 (Soulcalibur V)

Physical Description

Gender

Female

Height

5'3" (160cm) (Soulcalibur IV), 5'3" (161cm) (Soulcalibur V)

Weight

110lbs (50kg) (Soulcalibur IV), 119lbs(54kg) (Soulcalibur V)

Blood type

AB

Weapon Information

Weapon

Short Sword and Spear

Weapon name

Glänzende Nova & Frischer Himmel (Soulcalibur IV)
Fruchtbare Erde & Glänzende Nova (Soulcalibur V)

Fighting style

Große Erbschaft

Relationships

Family

Father - George von Krone, King of Wolfkrone (went missing prior to the events of Soulcalibur IV)
Two children
Sworn Ally: Siegfried
She currently resides with the mercenary group Schwarzwind

Series Information

Appears in

Soulcalibur IV
Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny
Soulcalibur V
Soulcalibur: Lost Swords

English voice actor

Julie Ann Taylor

Japanese voice actor

Yūko Kaida

"I swear on my name I will prevail!"

— Hilde

Hildegard von Krone (ヒルデガルド・フォン・クローネ Hirudegarudo fon Kurōne), or Hilde (ヒルダ Hiruda) for short, is a character in the Soul series of fighting games. Her first appearance was in the series' fifth installment, Soulcalibur IV, and has returned in Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny, Soulcalibur V and Soulcalibur: Lost Swords. Hilde was first seen in a trailer advertising Soulcalibur IV. Later, she was revealed to be a new character in a scan from Famitsu magazine, which also explained that she was the daughter of the ruler of a fictional European kingdom, Wolfkrone.

What lies in her soul is Duty.

In Soulcalibur V's promotional material, Hilde is referred to as She Who Vows to Rebuild Her Homeland. In Soulcalibur: Lost Swords, she is referred to as Rebuilder of her Motherland.

History

Soulcalibur IV

Hilde was born as the daughter of the king of Wolfkrone, a fictional European kingdom hidden in Germany. Her father, described as a formerly stoic, but kind-hearted, fair man, lost his sanity to the destructive rains of the Evil Seed, virtually transforming him into an animal. After he fell into madness, the king was sentenced to live out the rest of his days in an isolated chamber, located at the very top of the Wolfkrone castle tower. With the king driven to insanity, the kingdom turned to the remaining candidate for leadership, forcing Hilde upon the throne despite her young age. By gathering allies and power, Hilde was able to resist the invading forces of the Azure Knight.

As Hilde devoted much of her youth to protecting and guiding Wolfkrone, she didn’t experience a true childhood, and was forced to handle the burdens of adulthood. Hilde disciplined herself, becoming emotionally and physically stronger over the passing years and leading her country on the front lines of the battlefield.

One day, Hilde learned that Soul Edge was slowly gaining power, and prepared her forces for battle. In the following days, Hilde and her soldiers came to the assistance of a troop of mercenaries traveling through Wolfkrone. Most of the mercenaries’ numbers had dwindled after they were attacked by the inhabitants of the ruined castle. When Hilde and her army traveled out to defeat Soul Edge, they were greeted by a cheering crowd.

Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny

(Non-Canon)

In the Gauntlet mode, Hilde travels with the main character, Cassandra, and Dampierre on a quest to gather ingredients for a cure for her father, the King of Wolfkrone, who has fallen ill, and gives the main character advice during fights.

Soulcalibur V

Hilde's army proudly triumphed in the battle against the cursed sword; destroying the wretched Soul Edge before the justice of the holy sword, Soul Calibur, wielded by her friend, Siegfried. However, even after Nightmare's destruction, Hilde still found her kingdom to be in turmoil, tragically drained of the Wolfkrone legacy, and poisoned by the terrors of the past Azure Knight. Despite this, Hilde still held on to the leadership born from her blood, and vowed to restore her homeland at all costs. Ordering her people to depart from the ruins, the determined princess traveled from nation to nation, negotiating land for the ones who followed her as she continued searching for locations to resettle.

As she and her republic became settled, Hilde received a distasteful message from Siegfried, being informed that a number of malfested planned to bring war upon her throne. Refusing to fall, Hilde immediately assembled her troops alongside Siegfried, anxious to put an end to the demonic evil and finally bring peace upon Wolfkrone. Deep within her soul, Hilde knew that she may not live to witness her subjects' safe return home. However, her two children might.

Personality

Hilde is a brave and emotionally strong princess. She is also quite honorable as can be seen in her quotes. She has wisdom beyond her years, taking the duties of commander in chief of the Wolfkrone army at only 18. She has a strong disdain for the malfested and calls them beast, as seen in fights introductions against Voldo and Astaroth.

Soulcalibur IV Ending

After the fight against Nightmare, Hilde destroys Soul Edge, quickly noticing that Siegfried is standing nearby. Hilde accuses Siegfried of being responsible for all the atrocities Soul Edge had created. Siegfried confirms the fact he was once Nightmare’s puppet. Hilde sees that he acknowledges his guilt without any hesitation. Siegfried then kneels with Soul Calibur beside him, and expresses his gratitude toward the fact Hilde eliminated Nightmare. He asks her to kill him, to put an end to the cyclical war between Soul Edge and Soul Calibur. As Hilde approaches, Siegfried braces himself for the killing strike, only for Hilde to lower her weapon and refuse to kill him. She says that warriors think not of themselves, but of others. Hilde also states that while sacrificing everything to atone for his sins, he has shown true valor. And then, she knights Siegfried, declaring that she absolves him of his sins.

A text-epilogue states this: The rising sun pierces the name of Soul Edge. The Kingdom of Wolfkrone has proven victorious!

Fighting Style

Hilde’s battle style, ‘‘Große Erbschaft’’, allows her to freely alternate between using her spear or her sword, depending on which button the player presses. Pressing the vertical-attack button controls Hilde’s spear, while the horizontal-attack button controls her sword.^[1] Switching rapidly between these two weapons in moderation can properly assail an opponent from long range, and also dominate him or her in close-ranged environments; her sword is used for close range and the spear for long range attacks, and her signature charge attacks. Her charge attacks vary depending on how long the player holds the button. She has average speed but she has incredible strength in every attack especially her charge attacks. However, her charge attack combos are extremely difficult to perform because the player will have to hold the button for the preferred move after each attack and hold the button long enough to perform the desired move to chain the previous move to create a combo; so chaining charge combos from Hilde is extremely difficult but deals impressive damage to the opponent.

Due to her astronomical ring-out ability with her charged combos, Hilde is banned from offline competitive Soulcalibur IV tournaments in accordance with the official 8WayRun rule set.

Critical Finish

Warrior's Honor: In Hilde's Critical Finish, she impales her opponent on her spear and shakes them into the air. As they fall, she tosses the now charged spear through them, sending them plummeting off screen.

Critical Edge

Storm and Urge: Stabs an enemy five times with her lance.

Weapon Arts

Weapon Arts are special moves in Soulcalibur: Lost Swords which act very similar to the Critical Edge system from Soulcalibur V.

Holy Principal: It's the third stage of Hilde's SCV vertical charge attack called Moonlit Dance. In spite of the fact, that there are still three hits in this attack and it looks exactly the same as SCIV-SCV versions, its mechanics has changed a lot. During the last horizontal strike in the air, the time is slowed down, so now we can see Hilde slowly turn around, while returning back to the ground. Hilde says "Victory! For Honour!" during it, just as she did in SCV. The attack range of the first move is long, but if it's exceeded a little, the second one can miss and the third will fail. In case the first attack misses or is blocked by the opponent, Hilde won't proceed with any other attacks. If the opponent blocked the first strike, he wouldn't be able to punish you anyway. The Weapon Art has a very safe and quick start, as you cannot be stopped by any of the enemy's attacks. It doesn't stun the opponent, and you won't be able to make any combos after it, as the enemy is thrown far away. But however close you're to the wall, the opponent will never hit it during or after the attack. The most complicated thing is its linking with other attacks. If the opponent is hit in the air, the first attack will push him forwards to the ground and the second will just blast him further. While activated in mid-air, the third attack will certainly fail. When the enemy is stunned and slowly falling to the ground, it will work for sure. But it has the extended ability to catch the opponent on the ground. Well, it always misses, when the opponent is lying idly or just stunned on the ground, but it'll work in case the opponent is thrown to the ground from the height and is stunned afterwards (for example, after Pyrrha's Guardian's Judgement). In addition, all three hits of the Weapon Art will be performed, when the enemy is rolling after the attack (after Hilde's Red Stone attack), when he's on the ground with his upper\lower body still in the air (after her Red Stone performed in mid-air), or in some cases shortly before the fall (after the second hit of her Twister or the second stage of Mystic Star)

Pure Conviction: This is the last stage of her horizontal charge attack from SCV, the forth stage of Mystic Star, to be precise. But now this single Unblockable Attack is nothing but a Break Attack. It always causes a Guard Burst, if the opponent is guarding. At the beginning, there's an animation, in which Hilde turns to the right, bending a little, drawing her sword back excessively and saying "Let us end this!", before unleashing a mid-range middle blow. It can easily be interrupted by any of the opponent's attacks, but vertical and high ones have a small chance to miss. There's an unpleasant time gap between the end of the animation and the actual attack, which enable the opponent to take unexpected actions, recover from the stun, or fall to the ground. Once you get used to the delay, it won't be such a challenge to land the attack. Although, it's hard to deny, that it's almost imposiible to continue a combo with this Weapon Art. It won't hit the opponent on the ground or stun him, and there aren't any guaranteed combos after it, unless you don't catch the opponent in mid-air. If you do, he'll be thrown close to you, opened for combos. But at least it flings the opponent far enough to hit him against the wall without difficulty. The safest way of using it, is to activate the Weapon Art after a Soul Break, or in case the enemy is guarding too much.

Serene Divine: That's the third stage of Hilde's SCV Mystic Star charge attack, which consist of two horizontal mid-range attacks. The lasr strike is still a Break Attack and now is performed in slow motion, if delivered successfully. This Weapon Art has a rather quick start, during which Hilde avoids all coming enemy's attacks, but its main drawback is that sometimes it doesn't work on the stunned opponent when other middle attacks do. Of course, it misses if the opponent is lying. After the enemy is thrown away be the second hit, you'll have a chance to make a combo, but in case Ukemi is used, your attack will be avoided. By the way, if the opponent is hit from behind, which may also occur in mid-air, he'll ne thrown close to you. In that case, Ukemi won't save him. Bith of the strikes can hit the opponent against the wall, but none of them will stun him. When the first attack misses, the second one is still performed. If it's blocked, you positively won't get punished, owing to the last Break Attack.

Power's Essence: This Weapon Art consists of her Brave Edge grag from SCV called Heart of Justice and the slow-motioned third stage of SCIV vertical charge attack Moonlit Dance, which is coming right after the grab. As in SCV, during the throw Hilde says "Gales of power!". All in all, there are three hits, but the last strike makes the opponent fly very high in the air, where even Hilde's move Iron Tower, if performed immediately after the attack, will turn into the Attack Throw. So it's very simple to create a damaging combo after the Weapon Art, as it doesn't stun the opponent. Another good thing about it is that it cannot be stopped be the opponent. During the grab, even in case it misses, Hilde becomes invisible for the enemy attacks and is capable of catching him even in the middle of a combo. However, the range of the grab is short, and it's virtually impossible to combo with it. As before, the second hit of the throw can hit the opponent against the wall, while the following charge attack with the lance will never cause a wall hit. If the grab misses, nothing will be performed.

Storm and Surge: That's her Critical Edge from Soulcalibur V, without any changes.

Weapons

Stages

Wolfkrone Monument (SC4/SCBD)

Not much is known about this stage aside from what can be construed from its visual appearance. The battle takes place on an enormous, circular platform, surrounded by wooden statues. Like the figures in a cuckoo clock, the statues are kept in constant, monotonous animation, playing music on their artificial instruments and dancing around the edge of the stage. Carousel horses hover behind the wooden statues, circling the ring. The stage consistently rotates. In the distance, the hills and mountains can be seen, along with (presumably) the Wolfkrone castle, and the enormous brass bells of a bell tower.

Last Rites on the Battlefield (SC5)

It is an enourmous battlefield that doesn't seem to end, creating an immunity to ring out. There are weapons and armor on the ground away from the circle you have to fight in.

Theme Music

SCIV_Valiant_Heart_08 — SCIV Valiant Heart 08

Hilde's theme from *Soulcalibur IV*

Soulcalibur IV

"Valiant Heart"

Daybreaker_-_Hilde's_Theme — Daybreaker - Hilde's Theme

Hilde's Theme from Soulcalibur V

Soulcalibur V

"Daybreaker"

Tower Of Lost Souls Details & Skills

Hilde appears in Tower of Lost Souls as boss in ascend mode under the floor "Blade Piercing Wall" and also appears in "Unseen Sickle"

TOLS Ascend Mode Boss: Blade Piercing Wall (Floor 4) & Unseen Sickle (Floor 49)

Partners: Alhabot (Blade Piercing Wall Floor 4)

Setsuka & Zasalamel (Unseen Sickle Floor 49)

Gerhilde (Story Mode Stages 1& 2 Only)

Skills On "Blade Piercing Wall"

1.Soul Repel

2.Soul Gauge Boost C

3.Nullify Ringout A

4.Will Power

Skills On "Unseen Sickle"

1.Invisible S

2.Soul Gauge Boost C

3.Nullify Ringout A

Descend Mode Skills

1.Start Dash C

2.Venom Fang C

Default Skills

1.Guard Breaker

2.Strengthen Vertical

3.Nullify Ring Out A

Quotes

Soulcalibur IV

Righteousness is on my side, victory will soon follow.
You're challenging me to a duel? Very well. I accept.
State your name, if you have any honor.
I swear by my name, I shall be victorious!
Stand down! Do you know who I am?
I refuse to bow to your logic.
Victory shall be mine!
Witness...
...my power!
You were a worthy opponent. Farewell!
For the glory of the Krones!
Feel the vengeance of my people!
Fall before the flag of Wolfkrone!
Fight with honor.
Here I come!- says in character selection screen.
Stand down!
The time has come to show my courage.
I shall test your words, your resolve.
Don't touch me.
You're open!
Suspicious characters, are you Nightmare's servants?
Silence! Fear he who wields the holy sword! — In Sophitia's story mode
How revolting! An ill omen!
Vile beast! In Astaroth, Voldo, and Lizardman's story mode
So then monsters have no honor!
Our swords and skills give us the strength to fight!
Death awaits, prepare yourself!
I am getting close. I must find their leader! — In her own story mode.
Fool. You've been enslaved by your own delusions! — In Yun-seong's story mode.
An evil creature such as you deserves no mercy! — In her own story mode.
Now that I know who you are, I will not yield! — In Siegfried's story mode.
We have our honor! I refuse to stand aside. — In Kilik's story mode.

Soulcalibur V

Resolve is measured by results!
I swear on my name I will prevail!
This will be interesting, to say the least. — Spoken when engaging in combat against Siegfried.
Feel my people's anger! — Spoken when engaging in combat against Nightmare
Witness my power!
Victory!
What?
Fall!
There!
Aha! - spoken during Piercing Horn only if opponent's attack misses above her.
Useless! - spoken during Aerial Power if Guard Impact is performed.
I failed!? - during grapple break on low health.
This can't be! - during grapple break on low health.
Pierce... through!
Let us end this!
For honor!
Triumph!
Raise our flag!
Gales of power!
Upon my life!
Insolent fool! - performing an attack on Dampierre
I won't falter - spoken during Devine Bolt.
Continue! - spoken during Devine Bolt when health is low.
Give up? - spoken during Devine Bolt to Dampierre
Forgive me - spoken during Devine Bolt to Viola, Z.W.E.I. and Siegfried.
Despicable - spoken during Devine Bolt to Nightmare.
Know my people's... pain! - spoken during Royal Seal to Nightmare.
Know our place - spoken during Mystic Star 4 to Nightmare.
Stand back.
My people... grant me strength! For our homeland!! — Spoken during her Critical Edge.
Enough!
Impossible!
No!
Never cease.
Forfeit!
I will not yield.
Never!
Apologies! - spoken during Mystic Star 3 to Viola, Z.W.E.I. and Siegfried.
Behold!
Yield!
Ready!
Is your resolve this thin?!- spoken when taunting the opponent after winning a round.
I am not alone! - spoken when taunting after winning a round against Nightmare.
You were courageous, a worthy foe.
I can still fight! - spoken during ring out.
Why is it...?! - spoken when hit by a tremor.
Where's your passion?! Fight like you mean it!
Wolfkrone lives in it's people's hearts!
You cannot kill my people's hope for the future!
For shame! Complacent! - Spoken after winning in battle against Siegfried.
Impressive. - After being defeated by Siegfried.
This win is for Wolfkrone! - Spoken after winning in battle against Nightmare.
Fight with honor! - Taunt.
I will not yield! - Taunt against Siegfried, Viola or Z.W.E.I.
This can't be the end! - Spoken when ringed out.
I will not lose! - spoken during Algol's Sadalsuud Markab.
I still have my pride... - spoken when K.O.'d by movements like Ivy's Embrace of Guilt.
I can take it!- spoken during Ivy's Sweet Dominance or Yoshimitsu's Critical Edge.
Does it... end here? - spoken after losing by time out.
I admire... your resolve. - spoken after losing by time out to Siegfried.
My people... forgive me - spoken after losing by time out to Nightmare.
I cannot lose! - spoken when K.O.'d by Nightmare.

Trivia

General

The symbol of Wolfkrone is, appropriately, the wolf, which adorns Hilde's armor in Soulcalibur IV. In Soulcalibur V however, her 1P and 2P costumes have a griffin motif.
Hilde seems to be similar to Joan of Arc, a French knight who also carries a banner.
Hilde's hairstyle and black outfit in the Soulcalibur artbook is very similar to the Black Widow from The Avengers movie.

Soulcalibur IV

Director Katsutoshi Sasaki describes Hilde as "the 'most alluring'" female character in Soulcalibur IV, because she is "a brave and noble warrior who fights with cunning grace, using a short sword for quick attacks and a spear to do some serious damage from afar.”^[2]
Hilde's spear, "Frischer Himmel" carries the Wolfkrone banner.
In Hilde's Story Mode, Hilde is accompanied by her royal guard, Gerhilde, for the first two stages, but then she is unable to continue afterwards, and Hilde then goes on her own.
- Gerhilde, as well as other soldiers of Wolfkrone that serve as Hilde's royal guard in other encounters with her in Story Mode (Siegrune, Waltraute, Schwertleite and Grimgerde) are named after Valkyries in Richard Wagner's opera Die Walküre, the second of four operas in Wagner's Ring Cycle.
- Incidentally, the soldiers under Astaroth's command (Helmwige, Ortlinde, and Rossweisse) are also named after other Valkyries in that same opera, which (in addition to their similar outfits) could imply that they were also soldiers of Wolfkrone turned evil.
- The only Valkyrie that wasn't represented as a bodyguard to either Hilde or Astaroth was Brünnhilde, however, a character named Brunhild appears as the enemy commander of the Rebel forces in a chronicle in the Chronicles of the Sword mode in Soulcalibur III.
In Scheherazade's Story Mode, Scheherazade brings Hilde along with her after she defeats the princess, some of her royal guards, and Siegfried on the fourth stage. This is so that Scheherazade can have a witness for the conclusion of her "story."
To explain the new features of Soulcalibur IV, Namco released an omake manga, in which returning character Cassandra "taught" Hilde about the game's features.^[3]

Soulcalibur V

As Hilde's screenshots and artworks suggest, her new weapon "Fruchtbare Erde" has a griffin-themed banner attached to it as a nod to her membership in the Schwarzwind. However, when zooming in on the artwork, "Wolfkrone" is visibly written on the banner.
Hilde's Critical Edge, Storm and Urge, is the English translation of Sturm und Drang, a proto-Romantic German movement in literature and music taking place from the 1760s to 1780s.
Oddly Hilde's new weapon looks very similar between her old default weapon and her ultimate weapon "Ga-Dreg & Ga-Boi".
Despite the fact that Hilde is the second youngest returning character, her personality at the age of thirty-five is nearly identical to her eighteen-year-old self from Soulcalibur IV.
Hilde's alternative costume is reminiscent of The Three Musketeers.
Hilde is one of only three characters to have actually aged from Soulcalibur V's time skip. The others are Siegfried, Mitsurugi and possibly Viola.

Etymology

Hilde's full name is derived from Old Germanic words "hild" and "gard", meaning "battle" and "enclosure" respectively, therefore her name means "enclosed area for battle" or even "battlefield". Her title "Von Krone" means "Of the Crown" which relates to her royalty.

Relationships

Led her army into battle against Nightmare before the events of Soulcalibur III.
Sought Siegfried before the events of Soulcalibur IV offering her assistance to help him kill Nightmare. Of course Siegfried denied the help, saying that the battle was his alone, and that he didn’t want anyone getting hurt or ending up dead. Later, when her kingdom fell, she joined Siegfried in the Schwarzwind mercenary group.
Travels with Cassandra, Dampierre, Ivy, and the player in Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny.
Became mother of two unnamed children after the events of Soulcalibur IV.
She is the leader of Gerhilde, Siegrune, Waltraute, Schwertleite and Grimgerde with whom she either travel of fight alongside with in Soulcalibur IV's story mode.

Costumes

Hilde's first-player costume in Soulcalibur IV consists of a suit of armor decorated with a wolf motif; an unusually practical attire, given the Soul series’s reputation for mostly scantily-clad characters.^[4] Her second outfit is an elegant blue dress with her long, red hair let down. It has been described as a beautiful, yet non-sexualized costume for a woman, which is very uncommon in the Soul series. In Soulcalibur V, Hilde still wears armor but this time, it's decorated by a griffin motif. Her player 2 costume has a Three Musketeers theme.