Bardiche

Bardiche Assault
Bardiche Assault in Assault Form
Device profile
Other names	Bardiche Battleaxe of Flash
Master	Fate Testarossa
Creator	Rynith
Gender	Male
Language	English
Classification
Magic system	Midchilda
Type	Intelligent
Handling	Weapon
Production
Japanese name	バルディッシュ・アサルト (Barudisshu Asaruto)
First app.	Nanoha (ep.4)
Voiced by	Kevin J. England
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Bardiche (バルディッシュ Barudisshu) is an Intelligent Device created for Fate Testarossa by Rynith, and is upgraded to Bardiche Assault (バルディッシュ・アサルト Barudisshu Asaruto) in A's.

He refers to Fate as "sir" despite her gender, signifying that he may be as old-fashioned as his namesake.

Name

Historically, a "bardiche" is a type of polearm that was used in medieval and renaissance Europe, especially in Eastern Europe and Russia.

He is officially renamed as Bardiche Assault after the upgrade in A's, but similar to Raising Heart Exelion's case, most of the time Fate simply calls him Bardiche like before. Notably, Fate also calls him Bardiche Zanber (バルディッシュ・ザンバー Barudisshu Zanbā) when he is in Zanber Form.

Bardiche is also titled the "Battleaxe of Flash" (閃光の戦斧 Senkō no Senpu), which is originated from Rynith's description when she is creating Bardiche in Nanoha Sound Stage 02.

Appearances

Bardiche Assault as a 5th Generation Device in Force

Bardiche appears primarily alongside Fate in TOS, A's manga, A's, StrikerS manga, StrikerS, ViVid and Force.

Bardiche Assault is the upgraded form of Bardiche after being badly damaged in the first fight with Signum's Laevatein in A's. Due to his request, Bardiche is upgraded with a revolver-style Belkan cartridge system.

By the time of Force, he is further upgraded as an experimental "5th Generation Device", which could turn mana into physical energy to confront anti-magic effects.

In the Brave Duel continuity, certain forms of Bardiche and Bardiche Assault are adapted as Fate's Brave Duel Device (see Bardiche). It mainly includes Bardiche's Axe Form in The MOVIE 1st, Bardiche Assault's three active forms in The MOVIE 2nd A's and Riot Blade Stinger in StrikerS (connected by spark instead of mana string).

Forms

Forms	Primary continuity	Movie continuity
Bardiche (バルディッシュ Barudisshu)
Standby Form (スタンバイフォーム Sutanbai Fōmu)	Takes the form of a golden triangular gem on a triangular pedestal. All the six corners are slightly truncated. First seen in Nanoha (ep.4).	Similar to the original series, but the gem and pedestal are not truncated, like Bardiche Assault's Standby Form post-A's. In addition, its isosceles triangular shape is a bit shorter/thicker.
Device Form (デバイスフォーム Debaisu Fōmu)	Takes the form of a bearded axe with angular blade. In addition to melee use, it is also the "staff" form for casting ranged spells like Photon Lancer and Thunder Smasher. First seen in Nanoha (ep.4).	Redesigned as Axe Form (アックスフォーム Akkusu Fōmu), it takes the form of a bardiche with rounded blade rather than angular. A second set of spikes are added to its top, while the original spikes have become longer and curved.
Scythe Form (サイズフォーム Saizu Fōmu)	Bardiche's axe head flips up 90 degrees and a golden curved mana blade springs from the gap, causing the Device to resemble a scythe. In addition to melee use, the mana blade can also be launched as Arc Saber. First seen in Nanoha (ep.5).	Similar to the original series without notable changes other than those in Axe Form.
Sealing Form (シーリングフォーム Shīringu Fōmu)	Bardiche's axe head flips up 180 degrees and extends away from the handle, releasing four mana fins/blades (in an X-shape) at the neck, looking like a spear. It is mainly used for Sealing and Thunder Rage. First seen in Nanoha (ep.5) and not succeeded by Bardiche Assault.	Redesigned as Glaive Form (グレイヴフォーム Gureivu Fōmu) with only three mana fins/blades in addition to the changes in Axe Form. In addition, it is also used for Photon Lancer Phalanx Shift and melee attacks like Piercing Lancer.
Bardiche Assault (バルディッシュ・アサルト Barudisshu Asaruto)
Standby Form (スタンバイフォーム Sutanbai Fōmu)	Basically unchanged from the original Standby Form. The six triangle corners are more truncated and apparently pentagonal in A's, but the truncation design is totally removed in the subsequent series, making all corners sharp. First seen in A's (ep.4).	While the gem remains unchanged (triangular and not truncated) from above, the pedestal's three corners become arrowhead-shaped, resulting in a more stylish design.
Assault Form (アサルトフォーム Asaruto Fōmu)	Identical to the Device Form, except for the addition of a cartridge system below the head. First seen in A's (ep.4).	Redesigned as Bullova Form (ブローヴァフォーム Burōva Fōmu) without notable changes other than those in Axe Form.
Haken Form (ハーケンフォーム Hāken Fōmu)	Enhanced version of Scythe Form, with three smaller fin blades which give Bardiche a forked appearance. First seen in A's (ep.5); aka Second Form in Riot Force 6.	Redesigned as Crescent Form (クレッセントフォーム Kuressento Fōmu) without notable changes other than those in Axe Form.
Zanber Form (ザンバーフォーム Zanbā Fōmu)	Being the Full Drive of Bardiche Assault, the spikes emerge from the top of the head and form a trident shape which becomes the hilt of an enormous mana blade, causing the Device to resemble a claymore. It is used for various powerful attacks like Jet Zanber and Plasma Zanber. First seen in A's (ep.11); aka Third Form in Riot Force 6.	Similar to the original series without notable changes other than those in Axe Form.
Riot Blade (ライオットブレード Raiotto Burēdo)	Compressed version of the Zanber Form in the size of a normal saber. It appears to have enhanced its cutting power as it destroys Thread Cage with ease. First seen in StrikerS (ep.24) and replaced by Riot Blade II in Force; aka Fourth Form in Riot Force 6.	TBC
Riot Zanber (ライオットザンバー Raiotto Zanbā)	Has only been used by Fate in conjunction with Sonic Drive. It can be switched between two sub-forms by physically joining or separating its components: Riot Zanber Stinger (ライオットザンバー・スティンガー Raiotto Zanbā Sutingā) takes the form of two Riot Blades connected by a mana string at their pommels. Riot Zanber Calamity (ライオットザンバー・カラミティ Raiotto Zanbā Karamiti) is the combination of the two Riot Blades, resembling a larger Zanber Form. First seen in StrikerS (ep.24) and replaced by Riot Blade/Zanber II in Force.	TBC
Riot Blade II (ライオットブレードII Raiotto Burēdo Tsū)	Enhanced version of Riot Blade and Riot Zanber Stinger with a different appearance. Can take the form of a single Riot Blade, a pair of Riot Blades (without mana string at pommels), or a pair of Riot Blades connected at their pommels (like a double-headed spear). First seen in Force (ch.9).	TBC
Riot Zanber II (ライオットザンバーII Raiotto Zanbā Tsū)	Enhanced version of Riot Zanber Calamity. It is expected to have an over-spec warship/aerial-suppressing level of power. First seen in Force (ch.14).	TBC

Bardiche's Zanber Form is almost identical to the "Zankantou" (Colossal Blade in the Atlus translation) wielded by Sanger Zonvolt's Thrudgelmir in Super Robot Wars. As a result, fans sometimes jokingly claim that Sanger is Fate's father. In the present SRW continuity Sanger never piloted the Thrudgelmir, and it is instead piloted by a cyborg clone of him with identity issues, similar to how Fate is an enhanced clone of Alicia Testarossa (this version of the Thrudgelmir was introduced after the airing of A's).

Functions

Upgrade	Description
Auto Guard	Fate's Auto Guard spell set by Bardiche is Defenser.
Cartridge System	Belkan Cartridge System CVK792-R (six-cylinder revolver type).
Speedloader (スピードローダー)	Reloading cylinder for Cartridge System.
AED	First seen in Force (ch.9), Bardiche seems to have a built-in defibrillation function for the unlikely event that Fate's heart stops.

Bardiche is one of two Devices in the series (the other being Graf Eisen), that have been subjected to Recovery on screen.

Gallery