Black Matrix † Characters

Last updated: 2024-03-12
Author: Raindare

The following lists characters playable in Black Matrix †, along with an overview of their capabilities. Not every character is currently represented, but that is the goal.

Main Characters

In terms of gameplay, the main characters differ somewhat from other characters. None of them are able to wear Vile Armour, but they obtain Archvile Armour during the plot. Also, among every playable character, only two of the main characters are able to cast spells without equipping Horns as an accessory.

Abel: The main character. A physical fighter whose "vertical slashing" weapon type allows him to hit enemies above or below him, and to equip slashing swords and axes. He obtains possibly the most powerful armour in the game early in the plot, and his stats are generally high, even his INT. Although he cannot cast spells without Horns and only learns two spells, they are both powerful: Heal, the staple healing spell, and Nemesis Blow, the ultimate light spell.

Labolas: A shirtless meathead who's nicer than he looks. His name, レブロブス, is a nightmare to translate, given that it can be anything from "Reburobas" to "LeBrobs." I've gone with Labolas, as in Glasya-Labolas, even though it isn't truly faithful. A pure physical beatstick who shares Abel's vertical attacks and ability to use swords and axes. His stats are not nearly as balanced, however. His movement is low, though not cripplingly so, and magic kills him very quickly. The spells he can learn are learned very late, and include a wimpy light attack and magic nullification.

Gaius: A cynical but just young man who killed the rich and gave the proceeds to the poor.

Philip: A black-winged boy who appears and acts weak but possesses serious courage deep down.

John: An old but still enthusiastic scholar who was once a renowned priest. His name is written "yohane" and can be rendered instead as Johannes, but given the use of his name in Black Matrix OO, John makes the most sense. At any rate, John is the party's resident mage, and his stats say as much. He is the most fragile character, can't even hit as hard as a gentle nurse, and can only theoretically wield maces instead of his default staves. On the other hand, he can turn defeated enemies into zombie meatshields, dish out area attacks with Lumina Cross as soon as he joins, inflict a bevy of status effects, and even cast Nemesis Blow if equipped with a Horn himself. John is exactly what he looks like: a D&D wizard who gets better as the game goes on and helps a great deal as long as he has the juice to do anything at all.

Lupilupi: A somewhat fickle witch who writes screeds of vengeance in her diary. Also potentially translated as Rupirupi, Lupilpi, RupiRupi, and so on and so forth. John's protege is a fantastic and versatile unit, gaining a large list of expensive but useful spells, including petrification, group healing, magic nullification, and attack spells of multiple elements. She uses swords and attacks horizontally, meaning she cannot hit high or low but can attack diagonally on flat ground, very useful for avoiding counterattacks. She starts with 4 movement and can get up to 5, which is very rare. She even comes with her own Vile Armour, which while not the strongest armour in the game by any means is free and improves with her level. Potentially the strongest character in the game, and good from the moment she joins.

Possible Masters

The possible masters are similar to side characters. They are able to wear Vile Armour, never obtain Archvile Armour, and cannot cast spells without equipping Horns. On the other hand, when equipped with Horns, they learn more spells than most characters — usually four each. However, they are often mutually exclusive with one another or locked to specific routes, and of course, you cannot obtain the character you choose as a master as a party member during the story.

Domina: Recruited in the Philip route of Chapter 4 (select the top dialogue choice at the start). A character that operates similarly to a D&D cleric. She is somewhat fragile, but has decent STR and acn wield maces as well as staves. She has two types of direct healing magic and the ability to heal status effects, as well as a powerful lightning spell, Thanatos, at level 30.

Purica: Recruited in Chapter 2, if Praha is not recruited. Has exceptionally poor movement, starting at 2, but can wield bows, one of the best weapon types in the game. She learns various attack spells of three different elements: light, fire, and acid. While any bow user can potentially be very useful, she immediately faces competition from Philip, whose physical stats and mobility are more favourable.

Courreges: Recruited in the Labolas route of Chapter 4 (bottom choice). She has an extremely unique build: she comes with a unique suit of Vile Armour, and learns several rare spells, including Draconell, the most expensive attack spell in the game, as well as Astral and Rage Ghost, spells that buff or debuff all statistics for a time respectively. Like Abel, she attacks vertically and wields swords and axes.

Michette: Recruited in the Philip route of Chapter 4. A solid combat unit who uses swords exclusively and attacks horizontally like Lupilupi. All three of the spells she learns are quite good: Lilim, to heal an area; Sandman, to inflict sleep on multiple enemies; and Thanatos. They are also all expensive. In many ways, she is a weaker Lupilupi, which is not a bad thing to be.

Prague: Recruited in Chapter 2, if you play the final map fast enough and choose to recruit her. Another character with an interesting name. プラハ is pronounced "puraha", but it is the Japanese name for Prague, which is not pronounced that way. In any case, she wields whips, a very rare weapon type similar to spears with two-tile reach, and learns fire, ice and light attack spells, similar to Purica. Because different weapons can have different infusions, and whips are not represented by any main characters, Prague has a niche that Purica does not.

Zero: Recruited in the Labolas route of Chapter 4, and requires Courreges to be recruited as well, so if she is your master he cannot be recruited either. He wields thrusting swords and spears, learns Heal and magic nullification as well as two attack spells, and is extremely mobile when levelled up, gaining 5 movement. Overall, a probably very powerful character who is tricky to recruit.

Side Characters

To be continued…