 This article is about a Rider in Kamen Rider Saber.
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- "All shall return to the void."
- ―Bahato's first words upon being released.[src]
- "Everything will soon perish. And this world... shall meet its end."
- ―Bahato's declaration to Earth.[src]
- "Worldly conflicts... are eternal. Why do humans fight each other? ...For power. Power is the root of all conflict. If that's the case, then what do you think we're doing right now?! It's because humanity exists! It's because the world exists! It's because power exists that conflict is inevitable! That is the legacy of mankind! Humanity will always fail in moving forward! The true form of existence is the void. For everything was born from nothing... And therefore, all must return to it."
- ―Bahato explaining his motives to Touma.[src]
Bahato (バハト) is the main antagonist of Kamen Rider Saber: The Phoenix Swordsman and the Book of Ruin. He was an ancient swordsman who transformed into the first Kamen Rider Falchion (仮面ライダーファルシオン, Kamen Raidā Farushion).
History[]
Background[]
Bahato losing his wife and child at the hands of his former comrade.
- "Betrayal and murder is humanity's true nature. As long as humans exist, the conflict will never end. The only way to end it is to destroy this world to return it to nothingness!"
- ―Bahato's desent into madness upon unleashing the Book of Ruin.[src]
Bahato's first attempt of using the Book of Ruin.
Bahato was once a noble swordsman who used to be close friends with Yuri millennia ago. One day, their unnamed comrade suddenly betrayed them during a Shimi attack, slaying Bahato's wife and child after becoming corrupted by the promise of power. Although the grieving Bahato cut him down in retaliation, the incident changed him as he believed the inevitable cycle of betrayal within humanity. As Bahato attempted to destroy the world using the Book of Ruin, Yuri was forced to seal him away in the Book of Ruin using Kougouken Saikou and Ankokuken Kurayami to curb his rampage.
The Immortal Swordsman[]
Kamen Rider Falchion fighting Saber.
In present day, Bahato had escaped from the Book of Ruin to unleash destruction in Wonder World. As his actions simultaneously affects Earth, Bahato transforms into Kamen Rider Falchion and leads the Shimi against the Northern Base swordsmen. When Kamen Rider Saber personally faces Falchion, he claims humanity’s hunger for war and conflict stems from power and it will never end. Thus, he believes everything that started from nothingness must return to nothingness.
Falchion sealed back into the Book of Ruin.
Despite Saber dealing major heavy blows against Falchion, he immediately comes back to life. As Touma refuses to back down, he unlocks the power of Emotional Dragon to break through Falchion. Bahato is defeated and remarks that they will meet again someday before he is sealed back into the Book of Ruin. Afterwards, Master Logos is shown to be in possession of the Book of Ruin and locked it away in the Southern Base for the time being.
Hound of Master Logos[]
Bahato returns to battle the swordsmen.
- "How interesting. You're different from the other Masters that we've had... so it would seem."
- ―Kamen Rider Saber[src]
The return of Kamen Rider Falchion.
Master Logos would eventually release Bahato from the Book of Ruin. Bahato, intrigued by the Master's mission to destroy the world, agrees to battle the swordsmen. While interrupting Saber and Saikou's duel, Bahato reunited with his old friend Yuri after a thousand years. As Kamen Rider Falchion, he proved to be a terrifying adversary to the Kamen Riders treating them all as foe regardless of allegiance. Furthermore, the nullifying ability of the Mumeiken Kyomu prevents the swordsmen from using their elemental abilities.
Falchion faces Saber Emotional Dragon once more.
Falchion continues to assist Master Logos gathering the Seiken and Wonder Ride Books. As Master Logos began his ritual to summon the Almighty Book, Falchion battled Calibur to prevent him sealing more of the Seiken and injured Kenzan in the process. Touma would arrive to battle him, before assuming Saber Emotional Dragon to defeat Falchion using the same form that he previously defeated with. However, upon defeat, Master Logos retrieved the Eternal Phoenix Wonder Ride Book, temporarily preventing Bahato from resurrecting. Although the Master completed gathering the Seiken and Wonder Ride Books, Touma managed to foil the ritual and the Seikens to be returned to their rightful owners.
Bahato annoyed by Mei and Yuri.
However, Master Logos is able to obtain a portion of the Almighty Book and transform into Kamen Rider Solomon, who proved to be a formidable adversary and creates multiple Almighty Books across the globe. The unsealed Bahato was later seen wandering a street watching Master Logos trying to instigate a worldwide war. While Yuri tries to make efforts to restore their friendship with Mei Sudo's help, he lashed out on them and was aggravated over their persistence before leaving.
Final Battle and Death[]
- "I don't know what kind of future you're trying to create... but I shall see to it!"
- ―Bahato's final words before his permanent death[src]
Bahato's final death after being defeated by Saber.
As Kamen Rider Solomon enacted his destruction of the world, Falchion arrived to defend him from the swordsmen to not interfere. Touma later arrive and called out Bahato for blaming innocent people for his misfortunes. Saber and Falchion engage in one final battle, but the latter remained superior. While Falchion ranted how humans could not understand his despair, Touma counters how humans have the potential move forward. Touma reached Kaenken Rekka's fullest potential to finally vanquish Bahato. As his body began disintegrating, he gave one final look at Yuri and Mei. Bahato admitted his interest towards the future Touma sought to create and before disintegrating into nothing but dust, leaving behind Mumeiken Kyomu.
Post-mortem[]
Shortly after his death, Touma used Mumeiken Kyomu alongside Kaenken Rekka to block Solomon's giant Caladbolg and create Haouken Xross Saber with the other Seiken. Once Xross Saber defeated Solomon, Mumeiken Kyomu was secretly taken by Desast, who used it and the late Bahato's equipment to become the second Kamen Rider Falchion and fight Storious. He would later continue to use Bahato's weapon until the Haken was passed onto Ren Akamichi after his death.
Bahato's spirit encourages Touma to return home.
- "Shouldn't you go to where you need to be? Not this stale old place."
- ―Bahato's spirit encouraging Touma to return to Earth.[src]
One year later, Bahato' spirit later appeared in the Wonder World alongside the spirits of Luna, Tassel, the first Master Logos and his former Megid allies to greet Touma after he became the Wonder World's guardian. He now sported a clean appearance to reflect his sanity being healed. Bahato questioned his former enemy if he should continue staying behind Wonder World rather than returning back to Earth and comes into amicable terms with Touma.
Video Game Appearances[]
Battle Spirits[]
Kamen Rider Falchion Eternal Phoenix in Battle Spirits
Kamen Rider Falchion Eternal Phoenix is a playable character in Battle Spirits with other Kamen Riders.
Personality[]
According to Yuri, Bahato was once a good and noble man, having vowed to protect the world. However, the death of his wife and child at the hands of his former friend was the catalyst that broke his mind and drove him insane, turning him into a destructive fatalist.
Even though he was sealed away in the Book of Ruin for over 1,000 years, it only served to further augment his destructive capabilities even more. Bahato is shown to be remorseless, as he has no qualms about the deaths of many innocents that his schemes will cause. Believing that restarting both worlds will end the tainted history of man, his fatalistic and existential beliefs to Touma reveal that his goals stem from how humans are the true sources of conflict in all worlds due to his former friend's betrayal; as long as they crave power, they will always end up repeating their mistakes, and will forever tarnish history by these actions. Even when the other Riders counter his claims about humanity, Bahato refuses to change his ways, as he is adamant of his nihilist beliefs due to his constant declarations that the world is doomed to ruin itself, regardless of what the heroes proclaim to him.
Due to his mindset, Bahato does whatever he wants, having no regard for the thoughts of others. Even after being unsealed by Master Logos and accepting his offer, he still proclaimed all swordsmen as his enemy, and attacked both Durendal and Blades anyways.
However, behind this stained mentality is a broken wreck of a man who secretly wishes to end his own life and reunite with his deceased family in the afterlife, but his immortality prevented him from properly doing so. Because of this seemingly hopeless goal, Bahato became incredibly cynical and bitter, but secretly harbored a small glimmer of hope that someone would be able to properly put him out of his misery, albeit by attacking anything that enters his sight. However, he still refuses to accept that the loss of his family was his own fault for failing to protect them from his former friend in time, even though Touma rightfully calls him out on blaming the power of humans over himself. Bahato can also show genuine respect to the people that he is impressed by, such as Touma when the latter managed to bypass his immortality with his resolution alone.
Despite his destructive goals, even he shows some concern when Isaac gives his speech, albeit in the form of a small grimace. Humorously, however, Bahato does not tolerate and can get irritated by anyone who manages to annoy him, showing disinterest in the growing technology and friendship pins that Mei attempts to offer him.
When his spirit appeared to congratulate Touma after he successfully managed to change the Almighty Book's written future for the better, Bahato has finally returned to his former glory before the incident that claimed his family happened, with his appearance being more clean to reflect his restored mentality. He also seems to be somewhat snarky, as he jokingly called the new Wonder World "stale and old" when questioning Touma if he had somewhere else to go after a year of staying in his new home.
Family[]
(both deceased)
Powers and Abilities[]
Powers[]
Falchion resurrecting
- Resurrection: While possessing the Eternal Phoenix Ride Book, Bahato's main ability is to resurrect himself whenever he dies. If he does fall in battle, a glowing orange feather will slowly descend and touch the Haken Bladriver, creating a massive burst of black and orange flames that fade to reveal the already-transformed Falchion. Alternatively, his body can reform from complete nothingness if killed in the air, with glowing orange particles merging into the reformed Falchion.
- Blight Corruption: Bahato can make the environment around him turn gray and dissolve into dust simply by taking small steps on the ground. When doing this, he sends small orange waves that spread throughout the area.
- Longevity: Being the wielder of the Mumeiken Kyomu, Bahato has lived for thousands of years.
- Power Negation: The Mumeiken Kyomu has the ability to negate the abilities of those that Bahato fights as Falchion. In their first rematch, Touma could not rely on his elemental physiology due to Kyomu's negation. Later on, Kyomu's power negation could even negate Kurayami's Seiken sealing, unsealing all of the Seiken and enabling them to be used by their respective users again.
Abilities[]
- Expert Swordsman: Being the chosen wielder of the Mumeiken Kyomu and an experienced knight, Bahato is an expert swordsman, being able to overpower Saber Crimson Dragon simply due to his years of experience, which eclipsed the latter's swordsmanship by a massive margin. By the time of his return, he was very easily able to overpower a much stronger Saber and Saikou.
Weaknesses[]
- Book of Ruin: The Book of Ruin is capable of resealing Bahato, his Haken, and Wonder Ride Book permanently. However, an external force (like Master Logos) can unseal him again.
- Emotional Dragon: The Dragons of Love, Pride, and Courage are proven to be too much for Bahato to handle. However, only the Dragons of Love and Pride are able to push back Bahato back into the Book of Ruin, as they have the same properties due to being created from it, while the Dragon of Courage could only hurt him.
- Kaenken Rekka: When empowered by Touma's resolution, the Kaenken Rekka is able to land a fatal blow on Bahato and even bypass Eternal Phoenix's immortality.
Kamen Rider Falchion[]
Eternal Phoenix
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Falchion bearing Eternal Phoenix's wings.
- "Battou! Eternal Phoenix! Kyomu! Shikkoku no tsurugi ga mu ni kisu."
- ―Transformation announcement[src]
Rider Statistics[1]
- Rider Height: 218.2 cm
- Rider Weight: 108.7 kg
Ability Parameters[1]
- Punching Power: 60.2 t
- Kicking Power: 94.2 t
- Maximum Jump Height: 97.4 m
- Maximum Running Speed: 100 m per 1.6 seconds
Eternal Phoenix (エターナルフェニックス, Etānaru Fenikkusu) is Falchion's phoenix-based primary form accessed by using the Eternal Phoenix Wonder Ride Book in the Haken Bladriver.
In this form, Falchion's stats are much higher than Saber, Blades, and Espada in their Wonder Combo forms. In fact, he is stronger than even Saber Elemental Dragon, though his speed is slightly slower. While he does have slightly higher punching power than Durendal, Falchion loses to him in every other stat. Falchion is also outclassed by Blades Tategami Hyoujuusenki in every statistic. However, Falchion makes up for his weakness in comparison to Durendal and Blades with his ability to resurrect himself, allowing him to defeat the two aforementioned Riders.
Falchion can summon Eternal Phoenix's wings to gain flight during finishers or stabilize himself when launched into the air. Bearing the motif of a phoenix, he can revive himself in battle and get stronger whenever he dies, mainly due to the Mumeiken Kyomu's nature.
Eternal Phoenix consists of the following parts:
- Falchion Helm Eternal Phoenix (ファルシオンヘルム エターナルフェニックス, Farushion Herumu Etānaru Fenikkusu): The helmet.
- Sword Crown (ソードクラウン, Sōdo Kuraun): The blade on the forehead. It is installed on the top of the head as a proof of being selected by the Seiken. It has the role of adjusting the state of Kamen Rider Falchion and the Seiken, and adjusts the power balance between them and cancels transformation in an emergency. It is also a blade with a sharp edge, and can also be used in battle.
- Phoenicrest (フェニックレスト, Fenikkuresuto): The sensory antennae. It has excellent space grasping ability and can accurately detect attacks from all directions.
- Nil Visor (ニルバイザー, Niru Baizā): The flame-style visor. It grants the user the ability to sort and clarify the power of sacred attributes by color coding.
- Eternal Phoenix Mask (エターナルフェニックスマスク, Etānaru Fenikkusu Masuku): The facial mask. It possesses the power of the God Beast "Eternal Phoenix" and brings an endless eternal life to the user.
- Nil Robe (ニルローブ, Niru Rōbu): An armor worn by a person selected by the Seiken Mumeiken Kyomu. Attached at the same time as the awakening of the Seiken, it gives the user the power to fight, such as improving sword skills, strengthening physical abilities, and activating special abilities. This is a special weapon for using the special abilities of the Wonder Ride Book Eternal Phoenix.
- Ribreas Cuirass (リブレスキュイラス, Riburesu Kyuirasu): The chest and left shoulder armor. If it’s destroyed by an enemy, the user can be revived by the "eternal light" emitted by the God Beast "Eternal Phoenix".
- Eternal Phoenix Bauld (エターナルフェニックスボールド, Etānaru Fenikkusu Bōrudo, play on Eternal Phoenix Pauldron): The right shoulder armor. It possesses the power of the God Beast "Eternal Phoenix" and brings eternity that transcends death and rebirth to user.
- Weben Arm (ウェベンアーム, Ueben Āmu): The arms. The power of the God Beast "Eternal Phoenix" super-activates the body of the user, bringing the power to perform tremendous sword skills.
- Weben Gaunt (ウェベンガント, Ueben Ganto): The gauntlets and gloves. Originally, it has the power to put on the "eternal light" that cuts off the flow, only on the blade of the Seiken Mumeiken Kyomu that returns all attributes to nothing.
- Feather Tassets (フェザータセット, Fezā Tasetto): The armor with ultra-thin blades folded like the tail feathers of a phoenix. By wrapping the impact received with a "permanent light", the attack power is converted into its own energy, creating an inexhaustible power during battle.
- Weben Leg (ウェベンレッグ, Ueben Reggu): The legs. It possesses the power of the God Beast "Eternal Phoenix", boosts jumping power with flight capability, and is good at aerial combat.
- Weben Sole (ウェベンソール, Ueben Sōru): The feet. By wearing a "permanent light" that cuts off the flow, the user can activate the finisher move "Phoenix Musou" that turns everything into ashes.
This form has three finishers:
- Haken Bladriver Finishers:
- Musou Geki:
- Fushicho Musou Giri (不死鳥無双斬り, Lit. "Phoenix Unrivaled Slash"): Has four variations:
- Falchion is surrounded by a ring of dark fire, which flows into the Mumeiken Kyomu. He then performs a vertical orange energy slash that travels forward with an energy construct of a phoenix flying behind it before it collides with the enemy.
- Falchion is surrounded by red and black energy before sprouting wings in a burst of fire. He then flies into the air with a phoenix made of fire behind him and launches a large orange and black energy slash at the opponent.
- Falchion delivers a slash of orange flames at close range before launching a larger, horizontal slash projectile after a short charging period. Both attacks produce waves of heat upon impact.
- Falchion covers the Mumeiken Kyomu with flames and swings it, creating a phoenix made of fire that flies into the enemy.
- Mumeiken Kyomu Finishers:
- Mugen Ittotsu (無限一突, Lit. "Infinite Single Strike"): Falchion scans a Wonder Ride Book against the base of the blade and performs an attack using its power.
- Eternal Phoenix: Has two variations.
- Falchion charges the Mumeiken Kyomu with red, orange, and black energy before being surrounded by orange feathers and performing two orange energy slashes in front of him. The slashes combine into a single X-shaped slash that flies into the opponent, with an energy constructed of a phoenix flying behind it.
- Falchion covers the Mumeiken Kyomu with flames and swings it, delivers an orange energy horizontal slash, the slash creating a phoenix made of fire that flies into the enemy.
- Eternal Phoenix: Has two variations.
- Mugen Ittotsu (無限一突, Lit. "Infinite Single Strike"): Falchion scans a Wonder Ride Book against the base of the blade and performs an attack using its power.
Appearances: The Phoenix Swordsman and the Book of Ruin, Saber Episodes 34-35, 38
Equipment[]
Devices[]
- Haken Bladriver - Transformation device
- Wonder Ride Books - Transformation trinkets
- Hissatsuholder - Carrying straps for Wonder Ride Books.
Weapons[]
- Mumeiken Kyomu - Transformation device and personal weapon. Later indirectly entrusted it to Touma, which was later taken by Desast after Touma becomes Xross Saber.
Relationships[]
Allies[]
- Isaac/Master Logos/Kamen Rider Solomon: He was the one who freed Bahato from his seal once again. Bahato was at first apprehensive, though after being convinced of taking revenge on Touma he serves under him. Even then, Bahato is keen on doing what he wants, even interfering between Durendal and Blades' fight. When Isaac had no more use for him, he resealed him in the Book of Ruin and took Kyomu and the Eternal Phoenix Wonder Ride Book. Bahato comes back alive witnessing what Isaac has done.
Enemies[]
- Touma Kamiyama/Kamen Rider Saber (II): Touma fought against him and resealed him. But later, once freed again, he vowed revenge. This is one of his motivations after being unsealed by Master Logos. Bahato later indirectly entrusted Mumeiken Kyomu to Touma.
- Unnamed Swordsman: He used to be a both friend and a fellow knight of Yuri and Bahato during their past times by an unknowingly reason he betrayed them by killing Bahato's Family which led Bahato to kill him and lose his own sanity.
- Yuri/Kamen Rider Saikou: It was shown in a flashback that he and Yuri were comrades over 1000 years ago. Due to Bahato straying from the heroic path and wielding Kyomu, Yuri was forced to seal him with Saikou and Kurayami. When they met after Bahato's second unsealing, there is clear hostility between the two of them, though Yuri is clearly disturbed that Bahato had to go down such a cruel path.
- Rintaro Shindo/Kamen Rider Blades (II): Once fought against the Water Swordsman, returns for revenge once freed of his seal.
- Kento Fukamiya/Kamen Rider Espada (II)/Kamen Rider Calibur (III): Once fought him as Espada and later as Calibur.
- Ryo Ogami/Kamen Rider Buster (II): One of the enemy swordsmen.
- Ren Akamichi/Kamen Rider Kenzan (II): One of the enemy swordsmen.
- Tetsuo Daishinji/Kamen Rider Slash: One of the enemy swordsmen.
- Reika Shindai/Kamen Rider Sabela: Sabela learned of Bahato as Master Logos' "hound".
- Ryoga Shindai/Kamen Rider Durendal: Ryoga discovered that Bahato was Master Logos' "hound". He later intervened in the fight between Durendal and Blades, proclaiming all swordsmen as his enemy.
Others[]
- Desast: Although the two have never met, Desast later took the Mumeiken Kyomu after Touma became Xross Saber.
Behind the Scenes[]
Portrayal[]
Bahato is portrayed by Masashi Taniguchi (谷口 賢志, Taniguchi Masashi), who previously portrayed Jin Takayama/Kamen Rider Amazon Alpha in Kamen Rider Amazons and Nagare Tatsumi
in Kyukyu Sentai GoGoFive. As Kamen Rider Falchion, his suit actor in the movie is Eitoku (永徳, Eitoku)[2]. In the series, his suit actors are Takuma Komori (小森 拓真, Komori Takuma), who was the suit actor for Storious and is the current suit actor for Kamen Rider Solomon, and Masashi Takada (高田 将司, Takada Masashi) for Bahato’s final appearance.
Etymology[]
- As with the naming scheme of all the Saber Riders, Falchion is named after the word falchion, a one-handed, single-edged sword of European origin between the 13th and 16th centuries, whose design is reminiscent of the modern machete.
- Bahato's name is almost a homophone of the Japanese word for "Unsheathe" (抜刀, Battō), which is used as a transformation announcement in both the Seiken Swordriver and the Haken Bladriver.
- In the Serbo-Croatian language, "bahato" means "haughtily" or "arrogantly", reflecting Bahato's personality.
- Bahato's name could be derived from Bahamut (バハムート, Bahamūto), a sea monster in Arabic mythology acting as one of the layers of the Earth.
Notes[]
- Bahato's signature screams and laughs during his transformation sequence, battle against Saber, and finishers are a throwback to Masashi Taniguchi's previous role as Jin Takayama/Kamen Rider Amazon Alpha in Kamen Rider Amazons. This is acknowledged by Taniguchi who initially jokingly introduced himself as Jin Takayama during the press conference for The Phoenix Swordsman before correcting himself.
- Bahato is the first movie antagonist to receive a recurring role in his respective TV series.
- In the short movie, Bahato appeared to have a scarred appearance on his right side. Upon his return in the TV series, these scars seem to have vanished completely.
- Although Falchion's official sobriquet is the "Void Swordsman", Bahato is exclusively referred as the "Immortal Swordsman".
Appearances[]
Kamen Rider Saber
- Kamen Rider Saber: The Phoenix Swordsman and the Book of Ruin
- Chapter 34: Wake Up, Immortal Swordsman.
- Chapter 35: And I, Will Become a God.
- Chapter 36: To Be Opened, the Omnipotent Power.
- Chapter 37: Change the Future, Who Will?
- Chapter 38: Uniting the Seiken, the Galaxy Sword. (Death)
- Chapter 39: Hey Swordsmen, Follow the Path You Believe in. (Flashback)
- Final Chapter: The End of the World, the Story that is Born. (Spirit)
- Special Issue: A New Page, Opens (Mentioned)