Kataphrakt

Kataphrakt (カタフラクト, Katafurakuto^?, plural: Kataphrakts), also spelled as Kataphraktos (plural: Kataphraktoi), is the name given to mecha units in the world of ALDNOAH.ZERO.

Terran Kataphrakts

The most commonly seen Kataphrakt belonging to the United Forces of Earth is the KG-7 Areion, yet the one used as the cover for ALDNOAH.ZERO is the KG-6 Sleipnir, an orange training unit that is equipped with a 75mm cannon with an attached grenade launcher, a pistol, and blade as sidearms. The Areion is a Kataphrakt built by Earth and is revealed to be more powerful than the Sleipnir. Although both are outclassed by the Martian Kataphrakts, the majority of Earth's weapons follow this trend, being second-rate compared to their Martian counterparts. However, when used with a well-planned strategy, even a training unit such as the Sleipnir can defeat a Martian Kataphrakt. They all use an operating system called ASIMOV.

List of Units

• KG-6 Sleipnir

The first Kataphrakt produced by the United Earth, but the series has been phased out and is mainly used as a training unit.

• KG-7 Areion

The mainstay Kataphrakt combat unit, which replaced the previous generation Sleipnir.

Martian Kataphrakts

The Kataphrakts designed by the Martians, especially the ones used by the Orbital Knights, all have unique characteristics that make them woefully overpowered against Earth's Kataphrakts to make up for their lack of numbers. The majority of Martian Kataphrakts take little to no damage from bullets and possess Aldnoah Drives. The Martian Kataphrakts have abilities that are thought to be out of science-fiction. In a usual battle, one Martian Kataphrakt can take on at least a dozen of Earth's Kataphrakts and emerge victorious with ease. Ironically, the Martian Kataphrakts' highly advanced weapons have also proven to be their greatest weaknesses, as both the Nilokeras' dimensional barrier and the Argyre's plasma swords had features that were used against them and ultimately led to their destruction.

List of Units

• Argyre

It is piloted by Sir Vlad. The Argyre utilized two "Beam Katana." It specializes in close-quarters-combat using a blade field as both an offensive and defensive weapon. The weapon can be used to easily slice through the heavy armor of any object with little to no effort, however, the armor of the Argyre itself is vulnerable to standard weapons. To combat this, the weapon is used to parry and deflect bullets through using the Leidenfrost effect causing high-explosive rounds to detonate and armor-piercing rounds to deflect off the field.

• Deucalion

It is piloted by Viscountess Orlane. The Deucalion possessed the ability to manipulate gravity. It used that characteristic to generate a defensive field that was capable of bending gravity around the unit. It could seemingly float by using its gravity manipulators to keep itself in the air. By manipulating gravity around itself, the Deucalion could deflect any solid projectile.

• Dioscuria

It is piloted by Count Saazbaum. It can transform and combine from different attachments. It possesses the inherent abilities of the Nilokeras, Argyre, and Hellas. Each attachment has the ability to act independently, similar to the Hellas, but is far more advanced by combining each ability. As with the other Martian Kataphrakts, it also has the weaknesses they had as well.

• Electris

It is piloted by Count Zebrin. It utilizes a barrier made of electricity that doubles as a weapon that can be used to surge toward targets, electrocuting them.

• Geryon

It is piloted by Count Keteratesse. It utilizes electrical beams that grasp and constrict enemy Kataphrakts.

• Hellas

It is piloted by Countess Femieanne. It possesses six arms named after the Goetian demons (Botis, Morax, Ronove, Halphas, Raum, Vine), which can be launched as rocket-propelled projectiles. They can become single molecules capable of piercing the armor of naval ships and other Kataphrakt's. Despite being heavily armored, they can easily be destroyed by targeting their rocket. Due in part because they use rockets and gain speed through distance, armor-piercing rounds can deflect them off course.

• Nilokeras

It is piloted by Baron Trillram. The Nilokeras possess' a dimensional barrier. Referred to as a "pill bug" by Calm Craftman, it can absorb or disintegrate any form of matter that comes into contact with its surface. The drawback of this defense is that the barrier also absorbs light, preventing the operator from seeing normally, for this is corrected by using aerial surveillance cameras. This, in turn, causes another drawback as a signal is received through an unprotected point along the Kataphrakts surface. Nilokeras also has a gap in its energy field on the soles of its feet, to keep it from disintegrating the ground under it and burrowing.

• Solis

It is piloted by Count Selkinas. It possesses two plasma beam mounts on its head that can be used to create plasma beams that can cut through anything.

• Tharsis

It was originally piloted by Count Cruhteo, but is now piloted by Count Slaine Saazbaum Troyard. It possesses great agility and maneuverability, beyond that of any other Kataphrakt.

• Elysium

It is piloted by Baron Yacoym. It possesses the inherent characteristic that allows for it to create a 1 km radius Entropy Dilution Field. It saps the molecular motion of all matter. It creates super-low temperatures that can transform the air and freeze it. When bullets are fired at it, they enter a superconductive state, where then they are deflected by the Meissner effect.

• Herschel

It was originally piloted by Count Marylcian, but is now piloted by Sir Harklight. It possesses a Laser Rifle as well as 30 Detachable Mobile Laser Guns that can move as fast, if not faster, than the Herschel itself. This allows the Herschel to overwhelm others by quickly surrounding its opponent and attack from all directions.

• Octantis

It is piloted by Count Barouhcruz.

• Ortygia

It is piloted by Count Orga. It possesses the ability to create multiple copies of itself, and not as holograms.

• Scandia

It is piloted by Countess Rafia. It utilizes optical camouflage that allows for it to make itself invisible, leaving no shadow or heat signature.

• Sirenum

It is piloted by Count Mazuurek.

• Acidalia

It is piloted by both Viscountess Libertina and Viscountess Libitina.

Gallery

United Forces of Earth

KG-6 Sleipnir
(Type: Commander)

KG-7 Areion
(Type: Soldier)

Vers Empire

Argyre
(Type: Commander)

Deucalion
(Type: Commander)

Dioscuria
(Type: Commander)

Electris
(Type: Commander)

Geryon
(Type: Commander)

Hellas
(Type: Commander)

Nilokeras
(Type: Commander)

Solis
(Type: Commander)

Tharsis
(Type: Commander)

Elysium
(Type: Commander)

Herschel
(Type: Commander)

Octantis
(Type: Commander)

Ortygia
(Type: Commander)

Scandia
(Type: Commander)

Sirenum
(Type: Commander)

Stygis
(Type: Soldier)

Acidalia
(Type: Commander)
(Manga Only)

Notes & Trivia

• Kataphrakts appear to be named after the Cataphract, a form of armored heavy cavalry used in ancient warfare by a number of civilizations from the Eurasian Steppe to Western Eurasia. The Cataphract unit originated from Iranians around the Central Asian Steppe, then spread to the Near East with the Parthian and Sasanian-Persian empires, and then to the Mediterranean with the Byzantine-Roman Empire. In Medieval Europe, the Cataphract developed into the Knight unit.

• The United Earth's Kataphrakts are named after mythological horses.

• The Kataphrakts of the Vers Empire are named after Greek-named regions of Mars.

• The Kataphrakts of the Vers Empire do not have any seat belts.