Shirou Emiya’s life was forever altered during the aftermath of the Fourth Holy Grail War. As a child, he was one of the few survivors of the massive fire that devastated Fuyuki City. He was saved by Kiritsugu Emiya, who later adopted him. Inspired by Kiritsugu’s dream of becoming a “Hero of Justice”—a protector of others regardless of the cost—Shirou made that dream his own, even at the expense of his personal happiness.

Although Kiritsugu attempted to teach him magecraft, Shirou was unable to grasp its intricacies, possessing only a limited talent for structural analysis and projection magic. Despite this, his determination to uphold his ideals remained unshaken.

Shirou’s journey begins when he is inadvertently drawn into the Fifth Holy Grail War after witnessing a battle between two Servants. He unintentionally summons Saber when his life is endangered, and the two form a contract as Master and Servant.

During the events of the Fifth Holy Grail War, Shirou Emiya is depicted as a teenage boy with short auburn hair and golden-brown eyes. His casual attire typically consists of a blue-and-white long-sleeve baseball jersey T-shirt paired with slim blue straight-cut jeans. When attending school, he dons the Homurahara Academy uniform but often wears his signature baseball jersey T-shirt underneath his jacket.

Heaven’s Feel Route
In the Heaven’s Feel route, after obtaining a new puppet body created by Touko Aozaki, Shirou’s appearance remains largely unchanged from his original self. He is seen wearing a long-sleeve shirt and black trousers, maintaining a simplistic and practical style that reflects his personality.

Unlimited Blade Works (Ufotable Adaptation)
TheUnlimited Blade Works adaptation by Ufotable expands Shirou’s wardrobe significantly:

• Casual Clothing
  Shirou wears a black-and-white jersey zip jacket over his usual casual outfit.

• Accessories
  He sports a charcoal-colored Thomson tartan lambswool scarf, often seen paired with his school uniform for additional warmth and style.

• Additional Outfits
  He is also shown wearing a long-sleeve white shirt with a black hooded coat for outdoor scenes and a black long-sleeve shirt during more casual moments.

Shirou’s modest and functional fashion choices align with his pragmatic and unassuming nature, emphasizing his role as an everyman amidst the fantastical events of the Holy Grail War.

Shirou is selfless to a fault, often prioritizing the safety and well-being of others above his own. His unwavering desire to protect others stems from the trauma he experienced as a child during the Fuyuki fire and his admiration for Kiritsugu’s ideals. This altruistic mindset often puts him in dangerous situations and causes friction with his allies, who view his recklessness as misguided or even self-destructive.

Shirou is also stubborn and idealistic, but his character development across the routes challenges and reshapes his beliefs. He learns to question the feasibility of his ideals and the consequences of blindly pursuing them, leading to moments of growth and introspection.

Although Shirou’s magical abilities are limited, he possesses a natural affinity for Projection Magic and Reinforcement Magic. Over time, he discovers his unique Reality Marble, Unlimited Blade Works, which allows him to summon an infinite number of swords and replicate other weapons with near-perfect accuracy. His combat style relies on adaptability and resourcefulness, often compensating for his lack of experience with creative strategies.

Projection Magic
Allows him to create temporary copies of objects, with a focus on weapons.

Reinforcement Magic
Enhances the durability and performance of objects, such as strengthening weapons or improving his physical abilities.

Unlimited Blade Works
A Reality Marble that manifests as a vast expanse filled with countless swords. Within this domain, Shirou can summon and wield any weapon stored within it.

• Saber
  Shirou’s Servant and love interest in the Fate route. Their relationship develops as they support and protect each other, with Shirou striving to grant Saber a semblance of peace.

• Rin Tohsaka
  Shirou’s ally and romantic interest in Unlimited Blade Works. Their partnership begins as a reluctant alliance but grows into mutual trust and affection.

• Sakura Matou
  Shirou’s childhood friend and the heroine of Heaven’s Feel. Their bond deepens as Shirou uncovers her painful history and resolves to save her.

• Archer
  A future version of Shirou, who serves as his antagonist in Unlimited Blade Works. Archer’s cynicism and regret serve as a stark contrast to Shirou’s optimism and determination.

• Kiritsugu Emiya
  Shirou’s adoptive father, whose ideals inspire Shirou’s dream of becoming a Hero of Justice.