List of Fairy Tail characters: Difference between revisions

It has been suggested that some portions of this article should be split into a new article titled Fairy Tail (fictional guild). (discuss) (February 2015)

The Fairy Tail manga and anime series features an extensive cast of characters created by Hiro Mashima. The series primarily takes place in the Fiore Kingdom, a kingdom located in the fictional universe called Earth-land, where several of its residents are able to perform various forms of magic. Those who practice magic as a profession, referred to as wizards (魔導士, madōshi),^{[vol. 2:translation notes]} join guilds where they share information and perform paid jobs for clients. The series' storyline follows a group of wizards from the rambunctious titular guild.

The main characters of the series include Natsu Dragneel, a wizard with the powers of a dragon who is searching for his adoptive dragon father Igneel, and Lucy Heartfilia, a celestial wizard who joins the Fairy Tail guild. During the early part of the series, they form a team with Happy, a flying cat and friend of Natsu; Gray Fullbuster, an ice wizard; Erza Scarlet, a knight who specializes in using various magic weapons and armors. Over the course of the series, Lucy and Natsu interact with and befriend other wizards and guilds in Fiore. They also encounter various antagonists from illegal "dark" guilds, and Zeref, an ancient wizard who is sought out by several of the series' villains.

When creating the series, Mashima was influenced by Akira Toriyama, J.R.R. Tolkien and Yudetamago and based the guild on a local bar. He also used people as references in designing other characters. The characters have been well-received overall.

When Hiro Mashima was creating Fairy Tail, he cited Akira Toriyama, J. R. R. Tolkien, and Yudetamago as influences in his works.^[1][2] Mashima based the titular guild on a local bar he was visiting at the time.^[3] He based Natsu Dragneel on his early years as a junior high school student.^[2] Mashima based Natsu's motionsickness on one of his friends, who gets sick when taking taxis together, and he also cited his father's death as an influence for the relationship between Natsu and the dragon Igneel.^[1]

When Funimation Entertainment acquired the license to dub Fairy Tail in North America, Mashima was worried about actor Todd Haberkorn voicing Natsu since he had a lot of yelling in the series.^[4] Tyler Walker, the ADR Director for the dub, revealed that a "Fairy Tail tea" was made to accommodate the voice actors after each recording session.^[4]

Fairy Tail (妖精の尻尾（フェアリーテイル）, Fearī Teiru) is the series's titular wizard's guild where the series's main characters gather to perform paid jobs with their magical abilities. It is considered to be one of the most famous and popular guilds for much of the series. However, its members are infamous for being rambunctious and causing extensive collateral damage during missions. For this reason, the guild is seen as a nuisance by the Magic Council despite the guild members' heroic deeds.^{[ch. 1, 2]} Eventually, after fighting with Tartaros and Acnologia, the guild's members disband.^[ch. 416]

Mashima has insisted that the spelling of the guild's name, which is a play on the phrase "fairy tale", is intentional.^{[citation needed]} In the story, the guild's name comes from the question of whether or not fairies, which are considered as mythical creatures within the series, have tails, which poses "an eternal mystery and, therefore, eternal adventure".^[ch. 63] Tyler Walker likens Fairy Tail to the Scooby-Doo franchise: "it's got a core group of characters, with one talking animal, sometimes two...they travel, it's episodic...you know, we've seen this kind of thing before with the core group that's affiliated in some way going through adventure after adventure."^[5]

Natsu Dragneel (ナツ・ドラグニル, Natsu Doraguniru), nicknamed "Salamander" (火竜（サラマンダー）, Saramandā, Japanese text translates as "Fire Dragon"), is the primary protagonist of the Fairy Tail series. Hiro Mashima named Natsu after the Japanese word for "summer" (夏, natsu) to follow up on the main character of his previous work Rave Master being named Haru, which means "spring".^{[vol. 2:afterword]} Raised from infancy by the dragon Igneel, Natsu is trained as a dragon slayer (滅竜魔導士（ドラゴンスレイヤー）, doragon sureiyā, Japanese text translates as "dragon-slaying wizard"), a wizard with dragon-like physiology whose magic is designed to combat other dragons. As the fire dragon slayer, Natsu is immune to flames and capable of consuming them to fuel his Fire Dragon Slayer Magic (火の滅竜魔法, Hi no Metsurū Mahō) attacks, which include breathing fire and igniting any part of his body to strike with. However, he also suffers from motion sickness when riding a vehicle of any sort.^[ch. 1] He eventually learns to use Dragon Force (ドラゴンフォース, Doragon Fōsu), an advanced form of dragon slayer magic that boosts his strength and speed, and covers parts of his body in scales. Seven years before the series begins, Natsu embarks on a journey to find Igneel after the dragon disappears. His search leads him to join Fairy Tail at a young age, becoming one of the guild's most loyal yet reckless members who causes most of the collateral damage his guild is blamed for.^[ch. 2] When Igneel is killed by Acnologia shortly after reuniting with his son, Natsu vows to train himself and defeat Acnologia. Unbeknownst to him, Natsu is an Etherious (エーテリアス, Ēteriasu), a demon created by the immortal Zeref whose alter ego, "Etherious Natsu Dragneel" (E.N.D.), is the master of the dark guild Tartaros. He is voiced by Tetsuya Kakihara in the Japanese version of the series, while his voice in English is supplied by Todd Haberkorn.^[6][7]

Happy (ハッピー, Happī) is a 6-year-old anthropomorphic cat with blue fur. He is Natsu Dragneel's best friend and sole traveling companion at the start of the series.^[ch. 1] Mashima originally intended to name him after the Norse god Freyr, but found the name did not fit his character.^{[vol. 2:afterword]} Happy possesses a magic ability called Aera (翼（エーラ）, Ēra, Japanese text translates as "Wings") with which he is able to grow white feathered wings and fly at great speeds.^{[ch. 1, 17]} He uses this form to carry Natsu in midair, and is the only one Natsu is able to ride without succumbing to motion sickness.^[ch. 3] He fulfills a comic relief role with his sarcastic comments at his friends' expense, accompanied by the catchphrase "Aye!" or "Aye, Sir!"^[ch. 1] It is revealed in an omake that he is hatched from an egg found by Natsu and Lisanna Strauss, who name him "Happy" after his birth cheers up their guildmates in the middle of an argument.^{[vol. 15:omake]} Later in the series, Happy discovers his origins as an Exceed from Edolas;^[ch. 178] while there, Happy unknowingly encounters his parents, the farmer couple Lucky (ラッキー, Rakkī) and Marl (マール, Māru), whom he is separated from before birth as part of their queen's plan to evacuate 100 unborn children to Earth-land and save them from their realm's destruction.^{[ch. 177, 198]} He is voiced by Rie Kugimiya in Japanese,^[6] and by Tia Ballard in English.^[7]

Lucy Heartfilia (ルーシィ・ハートフィリア, Rūshii Hātofiria) is the primary female character of Fairy Tail. Mashima named the character after the Beatles song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds".^{[vol. 2:bonus]} She is a 17-year-old celestial wizard (星霊魔導士, seirei madōshi) who uses a set of magical Gatekeys (門（ゲート）の鍵, Gēto no Kagi) to summon celestial spirits.^[ch. 1] She also fights with a whip,^[ch. 8] which she upgrades to the extendable energy whip Fleuve d'Étoiles (星の大河（エトワールフルーグ）, Etowāru Furūgu, French for "River of Stars").^[ch. 184] The series begins after Lucy runs away from home to join Fairy Tail and escape her estranged father Jude, hiding her wealthy upbringing from the guild.^{[ch. 1, 50]} She performs guild-posted jobs alongside Natsu Dragneel and Happy to fund her rented house in Magnolia, and is bewildered by her guildmates' antics.^[ch. 2] She is also an aspiring novelist, and writes letters of her adventures to her deceased mother, celestial wizard Layla Heartfilia (レイラ・ハートフィリア, Reira Hātofiria).^[ch. 67] Over the course of the series, Lucy comes to possess ten of twelve golden keys that allow her to summon the rare and powerful Zodiac spirits. In the year following Fairy Tail's disbandment, she becomes an intern reporter for the fictional Sorcerer Weekly magazine to keep track of her guildmates.^[ch. 418] In the original Japanese series, she is voiced by Aya Hirano.^[6] In the English dub, her voice is supplied by Cherami Leigh.^[7]

Gray Fullbuster (グレイ・フルバスター, Gurei Furubasutā) is an 18-year-old wizard who practices Ice Make (氷の造形魔法（アイスメイク）, Aisu Meiku, Japanese text translates as "Ice-Molding Magic"), which allows him to instantly create weapons and inanimate objects made of ice.^[ch. 21] He is more level-headed and competent than most of his guildmates, but habitually removes his clothing without realizing it, which Mashima based on a personal habit of his own.^{[vol. 2:afterword]} Gray has a fierce rivalry with Natsu Dragneel due to their opposing personalities and magical elements.^[ch. 10] He is a survivor of the Etherious Deliora's attack on his hometown at age eight, leaving him to be taken in by the ice wizard Ur, who sacrifices herself to protect him when he attempts to kill Deliora in revenge.^[ch. 36] During Fairy Tail's war with Tartaros, Gray encounters his reanimated father Silver and inherits his powers as a demon slayer (滅悪魔導士（デビルスレイヤー）, debiru sureiyā, lit. "devil slayer", Japanese text translates as "evil-slaying wizard") to carry out Silver's will to defeat the guild's master, E.N.D. Using Ice Demon Slayer Magic (氷の滅悪魔法, Kōri no Metsuaku Mahō), Gray gains the ability to consume ice, breathe gusts of snow, and create weapons that freeze and heavily damage demons. His voice in the Japanese anime is supplied by Yuichi Nakamura, with Newton Pittman providing his voice in the English dub.^[6][7]

Erza Scarlet (エルザ・スカーレット, Eruza Sukāretto) is a 19-year-old swordswoman with a guild ranking of S-Class. She is renowned as Fairy Tail's strongest strongest female member, nicknamed "Titania" (妖精女王（ティターニア）, Titānia, Japanese text translates as "Fairy Queen"), and serves as the guild's disciplinarian who harshly punishes rulebreakers.^[ch. 10] Her magic, "The Knight" (騎士（ザ・ナイト）, Za Naito), allows her to summon and exchange various weapons and armors that enhance her abilities using the technique requip (換装, kansō). Additionally, she has an artificial right eye that grants her immunity to illusions and optical magics.^{[ch. 111, 155]} At age 11, Erza is enslaved and forced to build the Tower of Heaven, where she befriends other slaves her age, including Jellal Fernandez.^[ch. 80] During this time, she is cared for by an elderly Fairy Tail member who dies while protecting her in a revolt to save Jellal, causing her to develop her magic power for the first time.^[ch. 81] However, Jellal is brainwashed into serving Zeref and betrays her to continue the tower's construction, leaving her to escape alone and join Fairy Tail.^{[ch. 82, 89]} She initially isolates herself from her guildmates for this reason, but becomes more open and lenient after her friends help save her from Jellal eight years later.^[ch. 104] Erza later helps Jellal atone for his misdeeds after he is restored to his old self,^[ch. 146] which inspires him to form Crime Sorcière.^[ch. 263]

Erza is named after Eru, a character from Mashima's one-shot manga that served as a pilot for Fairy Tail.^{[vol. 2:bonus]} He initially designed her to only shed tears from one eye due to a defect with her artificial eye, but Mashima eventually abandoned this aspect after accidentally drawing some scenes where Erza has tears flowing from both eyes.^{[vol. 12:afterword]} He also admitted that he often forgets what Erza's armor looks like, and changes the design every time she appears.^{[vol. 18:afterword]} She is voiced by Sayaka Ohara in the original Japanese series, and by Colleen Clinkenbeard in the English dub.^[7][8]

Laxus Dreyar (ラクサス・ドレアー, Rakusasu Doreā) is Makarov's 23-year-old grandson and heir to the position of guild master,^[ch. 69] and one of Fairy Tail's S-Class wizards.^[ch. 24] His name is derived from the word "lux", a unit of measurement for light.^{[vol. 27:afterword]} He is an expert lightning wizard capable of generating and transforming into bolts of electricity. He is also a second generation dragon slayer whose father, Ivan, implants a lacrima crystal within him as a child that enables him to use Lightning Dragon Slayer Magic (雷の滅竜魔法, Rai no Metsuryū Mahō).^{[ch. 124, 128]} When introduced, Laxus is obsessed with strength and despises those he considers to be weak, including his own guildmates.^[ch. 24] Originally kind and loving as a child, he comes to resent Makarov during the events preceding the series, feeling overshadowed by his grandfather and rebelling at age 17 after Makarov expels Ivan from the guild.^{[ch. 106, 119]} When Fairy Tail's reputation begins to falter following the war with Phantom Lord, Laxus organizes an intra-guild battle royal called the "Battle of Fairy Tail" in a bid to seize control of the guild from Makarov and reestablish its strength by rooting out the guild's "weaklings".^[ch. 107] He is eventually enraged by his failures and casts Fairy Law to obliterate all of Magnolia, but his genuine love for his guild overrides the spell's effects.^[ch. 125] After being defeated by Natsu Dragneel and Gajeel Redfox, he is expelled by Makarov for endangering his guildmates, although he leaves on friendlier terms with them and abandons his arrogant nature.^{[ch. 126-128]} He later returns to help his former guildmates battle Hades on Sirius Island,^[ch. 244] and is reinstated into Fairy Tail by Gildarts Clive during the latter's brief period as guild master.^[ch. 260] Laxus is voiced by Katsuyuki Konishi in the Japanese series, and Patrick Seitz in the English dub.^[7][9]

Gajeel Redfox (ガジル・レッドフォックス, Gajiru Reddofokkusu), nicknamed "Kurogane" Gajeel (鉄竜（くろがね）のガジル, Kurogane no Gajiru, "Black Steel" Gajeel, Japanese text translates as "Iron Dragon"), is a dragon slayer and Natsu Dragneel's rival who is raised by the iron dragon Metalicana (メタリカーナ, Metarikāna).^[ch. 66] His name is derived from the word kajiru (噛る, "to gnaw") and the onomatopoeia for eating, gaji-gaji (ガジガジ).^{[vol. 27:afterword]} His Iron Dragon Slayer Magic (鉄の滅竜魔法, Tetsu no Metsuryū Mahō) gives him the ability to transform parts of his body into iron weapons such as clubs and swords, cover his body with nearly indestructible steel scales, and breathe gusts of wind containing metal shards capable of shredding a person's body. He can also consume iron objects for nourishment.^[ch. 61] He first appears as a member of Phantom Lord whose attack on Fairy Tail's guildhall and Levy McGarden's team results in a war between the two guilds.^[ch. 48] Left aimless after Phantom Lord dissolves, Gajeel joins Fairy Tail at Makarov Dreyar's request that he improve himself.^[ch. 212] He is initially resented by his Fairy Tail guildmates, but proves his loyalty to the guild and comes to fit in with them the course of the series.^[ch. 105] He also comes to good terms with Levy after defending her from Laxus Dreyar before the Battle of Fairy Tail,^[ch. 106] and later partners with her for the S-Class wizard test on Sirius Island.^[ch. 202] In the Japanese version of the series, he is voiced by Wataru Hatano.^[10] In the English dub, he is voiced by David Wald.^[11]

Juvia Lockser (ジュビア・ロクサー, Jubia Rokusā), nicknamed Juvia of the "Great Sea" (大海のジュビア, Taikai no Jubia), is a 17-year-old wizard originating from the Element 4, Phantom Lord's S-Class team that specializes in magic related to the four classical elements.^{[ch. 47, 56]} Her name is derived from the Spanish word lluvia, meaning "rain". Her magic, Water (水流（ウォーター）, Wōtā), allows her to manipulate and transform her body into water, rendering her immune to physical damage.^{[ch. 56, 104]} She also speaks in the third person. She is initially depicted as a melancholy rain woman who causes downpours wherever she goes.^[ch. 48] She falls in love at first sight with Gray Fullbuster during their respective guilds' battle over Lucy Heartfilia, whom Juvia mistakes for a rival in love, and duels Gray out of jealousy.^[ch. 56] Upon her defeat, the rain around her stops for the first time in her life.^[ch. 57] After Phantom Lord dissolves, Juvia follows Gray and eventually joins Fairy Tail in an effort to become closer to him,^{[ch. 67, 103]} considering any woman he interacts with to be a romantic rival.^[ch. 256] As the series progresses, Juvia becomes more cheerful and changes her appearance several times to suit her new personality, though her feelings for Gray remain unrequited.^[ch. 338] In the Japanese version of the series, Juvia is voiced by Mai Nakahara.^[10] In the English dub, her name is spelled "Juvia Loxar" and she is voiced by Brina Palencia.^[11]

Wendy Marvell (ウェンディ・マーベル, Wendi Māberu), nicknamed "Sky Dragon" Wendy (天竜のウェンディ, Tenryū no Wendi) and the "Priestess of the Sky" (天空の巫女, Tenkū no Miko), is a 12-year-old female dragon slayer.^[ch. 144] She practices Sky Dragon Slayer Magic (天空の滅竜魔法, Tenkū no Metsuryū Mahō), a form of healing magic taught by her foster mother, the sky dragon Grandeeney (グランディーネ, Gurandīne, also "Grandine"). By drawing power from clean air, Wendy is able to heal most injuries and ailments, and temporarily relieve motion sickness.^{[ch. 135, 144]} She first appears in the series as a representative of the Cait Shelter (化猫の宿（ケット・シェルター）, Ketto Sherutā, Japanese text translates as "Bakeneko's Lodging") guild in an alliance with Fairy Tail, Blue Pegasus, and Lamia Scale against the Oración Seis.^[ch. 132] During the guilds' mission, the Seis force her to resurrect Jellal Fernandez, whom she mistakes for Mystogan, her childhood traveling partner from after Grandeeney's disappearance.^{[ch. 145, 167]} Once the Seis are defeated, Wendy discovers Cait Shelter's true nature as an illusion created by their master, the elderly spirit Robaul (ローバウル, Rōbauru), to care for her; she is then left to join Fairy Tail after her old guild vanishes.^[ch. 164] Initially depicted as a meek young girl, Wendy outgrows her timid nature and learns to apply her magic in battle as the series progresses, including the ability to breathe and conjure powerful gusts of wind, and to augment her allies' speed, strength, and defensive power.^{[ch. 161, 191]}

Mashima created Wendy after one of his staff members commented that young girls "just don't appear" in the series, and noted the character's popularity among his associates.^{[vol. 16:afterword]} Her original concept was that of a "Water Dragon" based on the Japanese name for Wednesday (水曜日, Suiyōbi, lit. "Water Day"), which Mashima named her after.^{[vol. 27:bonus]} In the Japanese series, she is voiced by Satomi Satō.^[12] In the English dub, her voice is supplied by Brittney Karbowski.^[13]

Carla (シャルル, Sharuru, "Charles"^{[vol. 27:afterword]}) is a six-year-old, white-furred Exceed, and Wendy Marvell's partner and guardian.^{[ch. 133, 145]} In addition to her Aera ability that she shares with Happy, Carla has the power of precognition that allows her to subconsciously see visions of future locations and events.^{[ch. 135, 198]} This ability is inherited from her mother, the Exceed queen Chagot, though she is unaware of her family ties. Carla is evacuated to Earth-land as an egg along with Happy and 98 other unborn Exceed when Chagot has a premonition of their realm's destruction, with the objective concealed as a mission to kill dragon slayers to prevent a panic. Upon being hatched by Wendy, she has fragmented visions of future events and misinterprets Chagot's ruse as her real mission.^[ch. 198] Despite this, Carla decides to protect Wendy, and joins Fairy Tail together with her after helping them defeat the Oración Seis six years later.^[ch. 165] Upon meeting Happy, Carla is annoyed with his obliviousness to their "mission" and rejects his romantic advances.^{[ch. 133, 169]} She later reconsiders after Happy ignores their mission and when Chagot reveals the true purpose of her actions.^{[ch. 177, 198]}

Mashima named the character "Charles" after a princess character in a book he once read; she was renamed "Carla" in various countries where "Charles" would be interpreted as a male name.^{[vol. 27:afterword]} In the Japanese series, she is voiced by Yui Horie and her name is spelled "Charle" in Funimation's subtitles.^[12] In Funimation's English dub, her name is "Carla" and she is voiced by Jad Saxton.^[13]

Panther Lily (パンサー・リリー, Pansā Rirī) is a black-furred Exceed born and raised in Edolas. Unlike most Exceed, Lily has a large, humanoid body resembling an anthropomorphic panther. He wields the magic sword Buster Marm (バスターマァム, Basutā Māmu), which can extend up to four times his size;^{[ch. 186][vol. 22:bonus]} after this sword is destroyed, he replaces it with the similar Musica Sword (ムジカの剣, Mujika no Ken).^[ch. 247] He serves as a division commander of the Edolas Royal Military, exiled from Extalia for saving a young Mystogan's life. He duels Gajeel Redfox while defending the lacrima crystal created from the residents of Magnolia as part of Faust's plan to exterminate the Exceed with it,^[ch. 186] but has a change of heart after seeing the Exceed gather to push the crystal away alongside Fairy Tail.^[ch. 189] After being sent to Earth-land through the reversed anima portal, he joins Fairy Tail as Gajeel's partner.^[ch. 198] In Earth-land, Lily's body shrinks to his species's typical small size, though he is able to assume his original form for limited periods of time in addition to his Aera ability.^[ch. 200]

Lily's name is a play on "a famous character from a certain fairy tale".^{[vol. 27:bonus]} Mashima commented on the character's popularity, saying, "I guess he's more popular now that he's small? Yeah."^{[vol. 32:afterword]} His voice actor in the Japanese series is Hiroki Tōchi.^[14] In the English dub, his name is written as "Pantherlily" and he is voiced by Rick Keeling.

Makarov Dreyar (マカロフ・ドレアー, Makarofu Doreā) is the 88-year-old third and incumbent master of Fairy Tail throughout the series, and the son of the guild's co-founder Yuri Dreyar (ユーリー・ドレアー, Yūrī Dorea). Mashima came up with his name because he wanted it to sound Russian.^{[vol. 2:afterword]} He is a diminutive man registered as one of the Ten Wizard Saints, who are recognized by the Magic Council for possessing magical power and skill higher than any wizard on the continent.^[ch. 47] He has knowledge of numerous forms of magic, with his specialty being the ability to vastly increase his size using the magic Giant (巨人（ジャイアント）, Jaianto).^[ch. 28] His most powerful spell is Fairy Law (妖精の法律（フェアリーロウ）, Fearī Rō), one of the Three Great Fairy Magics developed and utilized by his guild, which produces a brilliant light that only harms those the caster considers to be an enemy.^[ch. 66] He is a grandfatherly figure in his guild, and looks upon its members as his own children. However, he is beleaguered by the problems his guild causes between him and the council.^[ch. 2] A running gag throughout the series is his inability to choose a successor as guild master and retire; he eventually selects Gildarts Clive as fifth master to formally replace his substitute, fourth master Macao Conbolt, but is humorously reinstated as sixth master upon Gildarts's sudden resignation. After Fairy Tail's battle with Tartaros and Acnologia leaves its members emotionally wounded, Makarov disbands the guild to allow them to follow their own paths.^[ch. 416] In the original Japanese series, he is voiced by Shinpachi Tsuji; in the English dub, his voice is supplied by R Bruce Elliott.^[6][7]

Mirajane Strauss (ミラジェーン・ストラウス, Mirajēn Sutorausu) is a semi-retired, 19-year-old S-Class wizard who works as a barmaid and administrator at Fairy Tail, and as a cover girl for the fictional magazine Sorcerer Weekly.^[ch. 2] She is depicted as a bubbly, kindhearted, and absentminded young woman who rarely displays anger towards others.^[ch. 25] She is the eldest of three siblings who use the magic Takeover (接収（テイクオーバー）, Teikuōbā) to transform into creatures they have previously encountered. Mirajane's variety of this magic, Satan Soul (サタンソウル, Satan Sōru), grants her the ability to transform into various demons and access their destructive powers,^[ch. 118] which earns her the nickname "Demon Woman" (魔人, Majin). This ability causes her and her siblings to be isolated from their hometown before joining Fairy Tail, where Mirajane initially takes on a rebellious attitude and has a fierce rivalry with Erza Scarlet.^{[vol. 15:omake]} Two years before the series begins, Mirajane loses her Takeover powers and retires from active missions after her sister Lisanna's assumed death,^[ch. 54] but retains the ability to mimic others' physical appearances and voices.^[ch. 52] She regains her Satan Soul transformation to save her brother Elfman during the Battle of Fairy Tail, and begins taking field missions more frequently afterward.

Hiro Mashima came up with the character's name from an online game he was playing while creating her character.^[15] She and Lucy Heartfilia host the "Emergency Request! Explain the Mysteries of Fairy Tail" sections at the end of several manga volumes where they answer reader questions. In the Japanese version of the series, Mirajane is voiced by Ryōko Ono.^[6] In the English dub, she is voiced by Monica Rial.^[7]

Cana Alberona (カナ・アルベローナ, Kana Aruberōna) is an 18-year-old wizard and Fairy Tail's resident alcoholic who drinks entire barrels of liquor at a time.^[ch. 2] Her name is derived from the tarot term "arcana".^[15] She uses a deck of magic cards (魔法の札（マジックカード）, majikku kādo) both as a projectile weapon and to cast a variety of spells,^[ch. 38] as well as to perform fortune-telling. She is the most senior member of Fairy Tail from Lucy Heartfilia's generation,^[ch. 201] having joined at the age of six in search of her unwitting father, Gildarts Clive. Unable to reveal her relationship to him for twelve years due to his scarce presence and her own timidity, Cana resolves to become an S-Class wizard to build her confidence in telling him the truth, but fails four qualification tests in a row and falls into depression.^[ch. 232] During her fifth and intendedly final test on Sirius Island,^[ch. 202] Cana abandons her guildmates to complete the trial of finding Mavis Vermillion's grave, unknowingly putting her test partner Lucy at risk of being killed by Grimoire Heart.^[ch. 225] Upon realizing her treacherous deed, Cana rejects her chance at S-Class wizardship in favor of saving her friends,^[ch. 232] and finally reveals herself to Gildarts as his daughter after the trial's cancellation.^[ch. 251] She is voiced by Eri Kitamura in the original Japanese series, and by Jamie Marchi in the English dub.^[6][7]

Loke (ロキ, Roki), named after the Norse god Loki,^{[vol. 2:bonus]} is a playboy wizard who surrounds himself with young women.^[ch. 2] He makes use of lacrima-powered finger rings to perform magic.^[ch. 73] Early in the series, he isolates himself from Lucy Heartfilia due to a reportedly bad history with celestial wizards.^[ch. 10] The cause of this is later revealed along with his true identity as Leo (レオ, Reo), the lion Zodiac celestial spirit owned by Karen Lilica: three years before the events of the series, Leo prevents Karen from summoning her other spirits to keep her from bullying her other Zodiac spirit, Aries; this leaves Karen defenseless in battle against Angel, resulting in her death at the hands of Angel and Leo's later exile from the celestial world.^[ch. 73] With Loke near death after spending all of his power to survive for three years in Earth-land, Lucy persuades the Celestial Spirit King to reconsider Loke's exile, which allows him to return to the celestial world and regain his strength, becoming one of her spirits in gratitude.^[ch. 74] In his spirit form, Loke wears the finger ring Regulus (王の光（レグルス）, Regurus, Japanese text translates as "King of Light") to produce light-based attacks.^[ch. 115] Despite his contract with Lucy, Loke is still considered a member of Fairy Tail, and temporarily nullifies their contract to serve as Gray Fullbuster's partner during the S-Class wizard test.^[ch. 202] He is voiced by Daisuke Kishio in the Japanese version of the series, and by Eric Vale in the English dub.^[6]

Elfman Strauss (エルフマン・ストラウス, Erufuman Sutorausu) is the 18-year-old middle brother of Mirajane and Lisanna. Mashima developed his name to sound "somewhat cute".^{[vol. 2:bonus]} He is a burly, muscle-brained wizard who spouts nonsensical speeches about manhood,^[ch. 2] but is also kindhearted and emotionally sensitive.^[ch. 51] He employs the Takeover magic Beast Soul (獣王の魂（ビーストソウル）, Bīsuto Sōru, Japanese text translates as "Beast King's Soul") to steal the powers of any monster he encounters and assume its form. However, his lack of magic skill limits his transformations to his right arm using the Beast Arm (ビーストアーム, Bīsuto Āmu) ability.^{[vol. 15:omake]} His first attempt at achieving a full-body takeover at age 16 causes him to lose all reason and seemingly kill Lisanna in his rampage. The trauma he suffers from the event creates a mental block that prevents him from achieving a full transformation until Fairy Tail's war with Phantom Lord, when Elfman manages to control his Beast Soul form to rescue Mirajane.^[ch. 56] Long after reuniting with Lisanna, Elfman is forced into a pact with Tartaros member Seilah to save her by killing his guildmates in a suicide bombing that destroys their guildhall. Although he and his comrades escape, Elfman is shamed by his actions and distances himself from the rest of his guild. In the Japanese version of the series, Elfman is voiced by Hiroki Yasumoto.^[6] In the English dub, he is voiced by Christopher Sabat.^[7]

Levy McGarden (レビィ・マグガーデン, Rebi Magugāden) is a 17-year-old member of Shadow Gear (シャドウ・ギア, Shadō Gia), a three-wizard team consisting of herself, Jet, and Droy. Mashima intended for Levy to be a minor character in the series, but was surprised by her rise in popularity and expanded her role.^{[vol. 32:afterword]} She uses the magic Solid Script (立体文字（ソリッドスクリプト）, Soriddo Sukuriputo, Japanese text translates as "Three-Dimensional Writing") to transform written words into three-dimensional objects that take on the attributes of what is written. She is also proficient in translating and decoding ancient languages and runic magic. She becomes close friends with Lucy Heartfilia over their shared love of books, and is the only person Lucy allows to read her novel.^[ch. 48] Early in the series, Levy and her team are attacked by Phantom Lord member Gajeel Redfox, prompting Fairy Tail to take revenge on Phantom through war.^[ch. 47] She is fearful of Gajeel when he first joins Fairy Tail, but warms up to him after he defends her from Laxus Dreyar.^[ch. 105] She eventually develops feelings for Gajeel after he offers to become her partner for the S-Class qualification trial.^[ch. 202] In the Japanese version of the series, Levy is voiced by Mariya Ise, while Kristi Kang voices her in the English dub.^[6][7]

Mystogan (ミストガン, Misutogan) is an S-Class wizard who refuses to let others see his face, wearing a mask and casting sleeping spells on his guildmates whenever he visits the guild.^[ch. 24] Mystogan is later unmasked as Jellal Fernandez's duplicate from the parallel universe of Edolas,^[ch. 167] of which he is its prince.^[ch. 189] As a resident of Edolas, he cannot perform magic on his own, instead using staffs infused with magic power to create illusions and draw magic circles to attack.^[ch. 120] Despite this, he remains one of Fairy Tail's most powerful members, demonstrated by his capacity to single-handedly defeat each of Phantom Lord's subdivisions across Fiore.^[ch. 65] Years before the series begins, Mystogan comes to Earth-land as a child to close inter-dimensional anima portals used by Faust, his father and Edolas's king, to siphon magic energy from Earth-land. After failing to prevent Magnolia from being absorbed by anima,^[ch. 168] he returns to Edolas and restores the city by forcing the lacrima crystal formed from the trapped Fairy Tail wizards through another portal after his guildmates prevent Faust from ramming it into the Exceed kingdom.^[ch. 189] He then reverses the portals' effects to return all of Earth-land's stolen magic, intending to be publicly executed for this by his childhood friend Panther Lily to quell the ensuing panic.^[ch. 195] When Natsu Dragneel takes the blame instead, Mystogan earns his people's support by defeating him in a mock battle, and remains in Edolas to replace his father as king.^[ch. 197] In the original Japanese series, he is voiced by Daisuke Namikawa.^[9] In the English dub, his voice is supplied by Robert McCollum.^[7]

Lisanna Strauss (リサーナ・ストラウス, Risāna Sutorausu) is Mirajane and Elfman's younger, 17-year-old sister. Mashima came up with her name feeling that ending it with "-anna" would sound cute.^{[vol. 27:bonus]} Having mastered the Animal Soul (動物の魂（アニマルソウル）, Animaru Sōru) variety of Takeover magic, she can shapeshift into different animals. She is also one of Natsu Dragneel's childhood friends who helps him hatch Happy's egg.^{[vol. 15:omake]} She is thought to have been killed at age 15 when Elfman attacks her in his berserk full-body takeover form.^[ch. 55] She is later discovered to be alive during the series's events as a member of Edolas's version of Fairy Tail, where she is mistaken for her own deceased counterpart after being transported through an Anima portal while unconscious. She chooses to hide her identity from her original guildmates to avoid upsetting her Edolas self's siblings, but is forced to return to Earth-land when Mystogan reverses Anima's effects, and reunites with her own siblings.^[ch. 199] She goes on to participate in the S-Class qualification trial as Juvia Lockser's partner.^[ch. 202] In the Japanese version of the series, Lisanna is voiced by Harumi Sakurai.^[16] In Funimation's English dub, she is voiced by Carrie Savage.^[11]

The Raijin Tribe (雷神衆, Raijinshū, "Thunder God Tribe"), renamed the "Thunder Legion" in Funimation's anime dub, is a trio of wizards who act as Laxus Dreyar's personal bodyguards and followers. They were created by Mashima after he "suddenly came up with" the series's story arc focusing on Laxus.^{[vol. 13:afterword]} The three help carry out Laxus's plans to restructure the guild by participating in the Battle of Fairy Tail,^[ch. 108] but become friendlier towards their guildmates after Laxus's expulsion.^[ch. 128] Aside from their own unique abilities, the three members each share the ability to cast magic by making eye contact with their opponents.^[ch. 115]

Fried Justine (フリード・ジャスティーン, Furīdo Jasutīn), spelled "Freed Justine" in Del Rey's manga translation and nicknamed "Dark" Fried (暗黒のフリード, Ankoku no Furīdo), is the founder and leader of the Raijin Tribe.^[ch. 106] He specializes in creating Jutsu-Shiki (術式, lit. "technique style/ceremony"),^{[vol. 13:translation notes]} barriers formed by magic runes that cannot be passed unless those trapped inside follow what is written.^[ch. 108] He also uses the magic Dark Écriture (闇の文字（エクリテュール）, Yami no Ekurityūru, French for "Dark Writing") to write runes on others' bodies with his rapier to inflict pain and suffering,^[ch. 117] or on his own body to create wings and transform himself into a demon.^[ch. 118] He is characterized by his idolization of Laxus, and initially distances himself from the rest of his guild. He imposes the rules of the Battle of Fairy Tail with his Jutsu-Shiki,^[ch. 108] and reluctantly carries out Laxus's orders to kill their guildmates, which causes him to question Laxus's morality.^[ch. 114] After being subdued by Mirajane Strauss's reawakened Satan Soul form, Fried realizes the error of his ways and temporarily shaves his long hair as a form of atonement.^{[ch. 118, 129]}

Fried's name is derived from the Japanese phrase "Furui-zo" (古いぞ, lit. "It's old"), reflecting the character's initial concept of attacking with archaic words.^{[vol. 27:bonus]} His name was originally going to be Albion (アルビオン, Arubion), but Mashima shortened it to balance out his teammates' longer names.^{[vol. 27:bonus]} In the Japanese version of the series, Fried is voiced by Junichi Suwabe.^[17] In the English dub, he is voiced by John Burgmeier.^[18]

Evergreen (エバーグリーン, Ebāgurīn) is a 20-year-old wizard and the sole female member of the Raijin Tribe. She is a vain woman obsessed with fairies who originally joins Fairy Tail for the guild's name, and covets Erza Scarlet's title of "Fairy Queen, Titania".^{[ch. 107][ch. 112]} Her primary magic is her Stone Eyes (石化眼（ストーンアイズ）, Sutōn Aizu, Japanese text translates as "Petrifying Eyes"), with which she can petrify others through eye contact after removing her eyeglasses.^[ch. 107] She can also produce golden dust to perform attacks such as explosions and an endless barrage of needles.^[ch. 112] She partners with Elfman Strauss after being passed over by Fried during the S-Class qualification trial, and gradually develops feelings for him, much to their mutual denial. In the original Japanese series, her voice actress is Saori Seto.^[17] Caitlin Glass provides her voice in the English dub.^[18]

Bickslow (ビックスロー, Bikkusurō), spelled "Bixlow" in Funimation's anime dub, is a 22-year-old wizard who practices seith magic (セイズ魔法, seizu mahō) called Human Possession (人型憑, Hitotsuki) to implant up to five wandering souls within inanimate objects and control them.^[ch. 108] He refers to his puppets as his "babies" with the names Pappa (パッパ), Pippi (ピッピ), Puppu (プップ), Peppe (ペッペ), and Poppo (ポッポ).^[ch. 108] His eye magic is called Figure Eyes (造形眼（フィギュアアイズ）, Figyua Aizu, Japanese text translates as "Molding Eyes"), which allows him to take control of others' bodies through eye contact, wearing a grilled visor to contain this magic.^[ch. 115] His name is a corruption of the words "big" and "throw".^{[vol. 27:bonus]} In the Japanese version of the series, he is voiced by Yoshihisa Kawahara.^[17] In the English dub, he is voiced by Scott Freeman.^[18]

Gildarts Clive (ギルダーツ・クライヴ, Girudātsu Kuraivu) is an S-Class wizard celebrated as Fairy Tail's strongest member.^[ch. 106] He can pulverize any object and spell he touches using the magic Crush (クラッシュ, Kurasshu), requiring Magnolia's streets to reconfigure into a single, narrow path towards the guild to prevent him from stumbling into buildings by mistake.^[ch. 166] Because he embarks on missions that have never been completed for up to a century, he only visits the guild on rare occasions for short periods of time.^{[ch. 165, 232]} He is maimed by Acnologia during one such mission before the series, resulting in the loss of his arm, leg, and some of his internal organs.^[ch. 166] He is later revealed to be the widowed father of Cana Alberona,^[ch. 232] but is unaware of his relationship with his daughter due to his deceased wife Cornelia divorcing him and giving birth while he is away on a six-year mission.^[ch. 251] He eventually learns the truth from Cana on Sirius Island, and begins doting on her in a comical fashion afterward.^[ch. 256] Makarov Dreyar elects Gildarts as the guild's fifth master after returning from the island,^[ch. 259] but Gildarts resigns almost immediately and leaves on another journey.^[ch. 260] In the Japanese version of the series, he is voiced by Kazuhiko Inoue, while Jason Douglas voices him in the English dub.^[19]

Doranbalt (ドランバルト, Doranbaruto, also "Doranbolt") is a wizard and intelligence operative from the Magic Council.^[ch. 223] He uses a spell called Direct Line (瞬間移動（ダイレクトライン）, Dairekuto Rain, Japanese text translates as "Teleportation") to teleport himself from one location to another. He is also proficient at using a memory alteration charm to erase memories and plant false ones into people's minds, including his own.^[ch. 213] Originally a member of Fairy Tail, Doranbalt conceals his guild mark and erases his own memory of being in the guild to infiltrate the Council for Fairy Tail's benefit, to Makarov Dreyar's disapproval.^[ch. 416] Instead, he becomes loyal to the Council and re-infiltrates Fairy Tail under the name Mest Gryder (メスト・グライダー, Mesuto Guraidā) to dig up dirt on the guild for his own interests.^[ch. 213] Disguising himself as Mystogan's disciple, Doranbalt participates in the guild's S-Class qualification trial on Sirius Island with Wendy Marvell as his partner.^[ch. 202] After Grimoire Heart attacks the island, however, he gradually becomes sympathetic towards Fairy Tail,^[ch. 223] and is distraught by his inability to save them from Acnologia.^[ch. 248] Seven years later, Doranbalt escapes Tartaros's bombing of the Council as one of the few survivors, and releases the Oración Seis from prison in exchange for information on Tartaros, which he uses to assist Fairy Tail. In the Japanese series, he is voiced by Shūhei Sakaguchi, while Alex Organ provides his voice in Funimation's English dub.

Mavis Vermillion (メイビス・ヴァーミリオン, Meibisu Vāmirion) is Fairy Tail's first master and founder who is deceased during the series's events,^[ch. 203] appearing as a young, disembodied spirit.^[ch. 255] She possesses knowledge of two of the Three Great Fairy Magics (妖精三大魔法, Yōsei San Dai Mahō), a trinity of spells that can only be used by members of her guild:^[ch. 233] Fairy Glitter (妖精の輝き（フェアリーグリッター）, Fearī Gurittā), an attack that eradicates any enemy;^[ch. 232] and Fairy Sphere (妖精の球（フェアリースフィア）, Fearī Sufia), an impenetrable shield that suspends time for those inside the spell for seven years, which she uses to protect her guild from Acnologia on Sirius Island.^[ch. 255] She is also a child prodigy and master strategist whose numerous battle victories earn her the nickname "Fairy Strategist" (妖精軍師, Yōsei Gunshi).^[ch. 305] However, she is also childish and cries whenever she makes a miscalculation. In the prequel series Fairy Tail Zero, Mavis is shown to be a talented illusionist, and learns combative magic from the black wizard Zeref, unaware of his identity at the time. Although her grave is located on Sirius Island,^[ch. 203] her body is secretly preserved in crystal beneath Fairy Tail's guildhall, where it is known as Lumen Histoire (ルーメン・イストワール, Rūmen Isutowāru, "History of Light"), which is known only amongst the guild's masters.^{[ch. 258, 406]}

Mavis's background was included in the very first concepts of the series.^{[vol. 31:bonus]} Mashima originally designed the character to be male, but changed it upon being informed that "Mavis" was a female name.^{[citation needed]} He also expanded her role in the story from what he initially planned due to the character's "immense popularity", remarking that he had "no idea" she would become so popular.^{[vol. 32:afterword]} In the Japanese series, her voice actress is Mamiko Noto.^[20] Her voice in Funimation's English dub is provided by Leah Clark.

In the beginning of the series, the Fairy Tail guild is stated to have over 100 members besides the main cast of characters. By the fictional year X971, seven years after the primary guild members disappear on Sirius Island, the guild is reduced to the following members:^[ch. 254]

• Macao Conbolt (マカオ・コンボルト, Makao Konboruto) – A 36-year-old wizard whose magic, Purple Flare (紫の炎（パープルフレア）, Pāpuru Furea), allows him to conjure flames that cannot be doused by wind or water.^[ch. 37] Macao eventually replaces Makarov as the master of Fairy Tail during the primary guild members' disappearance.^[ch. 254] In the original Japanese series, he is voiced by Masaki Kawanabe.^[6] In the English dub, he is voiced by Brian Mathis.^[7]
• Romeo Conbolt (ロメオ・コンボルト, Romeo Konboruto) – Macao's six-year-old son, who joins Fairy Tail by the age of 13 over the course of the series. He learns from Phantom Lord member Totomaru to use Rainbow Fire (七色の炎（レインボーファイア）, Reinbō Faia, Japanese text translates as "Seven-Color Flame"), a fire spell that produces up to seven different-colored flames, each with their own properties. He admires Natsu Dragneel, and falls into depression during Sirius Island's seven-year disappearance until the missing guildmates return.^[ch. 254] He is voiced by Mariya Ise in Japanese.^[6] In English, he is initially voiced by Kayla Carlyle, and later by Lindsay Seidel.^[7][18]
• Alzack Connel (アルザック・コネル, Aruzakku Koneru, also "Alzack Connell") and Bisca Moulin (ビスカ・ムーラン, Bisuka Mūran, also "Bisca Mulan") – Two 18-year-old wizards and immigrants from Earth-land's western continent. Alzack uses gun magic (銃弾魔法（ガンズマジック）, ganzu majikku, lit. "guns magic") to shoot magical bullets from guns,^[ch. 52] while Bisca is able to requip various firearms with her magic, "The Gunner" (銃士（ザ・ガンナー）, Za Gannā).^[ch. 53] The two marry during Sirius Island's seven-year disappearance and have a six-year-old daughter named Asuka (アスカ, "Asca"^[ch. 260]).^{[ch. 254][ch. 256]} In Japanese, Alzack is voiced by Yoshimitsu Shimoyama and Bisca by Satomi Arai; in English, they are voiced by Austin Tindle and Angela Chase, respectively.^[7][9]
• Wakaba Mine (ワカバ・ミネ) – A 36-year-old wizard who uses smoke magic (煙魔法, kemuri mahō) to manipulate smoke from a pipe.^[ch. 61] He is close friends with Macao and becomes his advisor after he becomes Fairy Tail's master.^[ch. 254] In Japanese, he is initially voiced by Daisuke Kageura, and later by Eiji Sekiguchi.^[8] In English, he is voiced by Charlie Campbell.^[7]
• Jet (ジェット, Jetto) and Droy (ドロイ, Doroi) – Two 18-year-old wizards and Levy McGarden's teammates who form Shadow Gear. Jet has the power of super speed using magic called High Speed (神速（ハイスピード）, Hai Supīdo, Japanese text translates as "God Speed"),^[ch. 43] while Droy uses Plant (植物（プラント）, Puranto) to rapidly grow seeds and use them as weapons.^[ch. 44] Both have unrequited feelings for Levy, but reluctantly accept her feelings for Gajeel Redfox, whom they resent for attacking them as a member of Phantom Lord.^[ch. 105] The two become depressed after Levy's disappearance with the other guild members on Sirius Island, with Droy becoming obese.^[ch. 254] In Japanese, they are voiced by Masaki Kawanabe and Eiji Sekiguchi, respectively.^[6] In English, Jet is initially voiced by Michael Chinnici and later by Corey Ceary-Stoner, while Droy is voiced by Z. Charles Bolton.^[7]
• Max Aloze (マックス・アローゼ, Makkusu Arōze, also "Max Alors") – A 17-year-old wizard who runs the guild's public events. He uses the magic Sandstorm (砂塵（サンドストーム）, Sandosutōmu) to manipulate sand.^[ch. 59] He is voiced by Yūichi Iguchi in Japanese.^[17] In English, he is initially voiced by Shelton Windham, and later by Eric Cherry.^[18]
• Warren Rocko (ウォーレン・ラッコー, Wōren Rakkō) – A 23-year-old wizard who uses telepathy (念話（テレパシー）, terepashī) to communicate with others over long distances.^[ch. 54] He is voiced by Daisuke Kageura in Japanese, and by Gregory Lush in English.^[17][18]
• Nab Lasaro (ナブ・ラサロ, Nabu Rasaro) – A 20-year-old wizard who is noted for always standing in front of the guild's job request board without picking a mission.^[ch. 10] He uses a variation of seith magic called Animal Possession (動物憑, Dōbutsu Tsuki) to imbue spirits of animals within his body and enhance his physical abilities.^[ch. 35] He is voiced by Daisuke Endō in Japanese, and by Mike McFarland in English.^[6][7]
• Vijeeter Ecor (ビジター・エコー, Bijitā Ekō) – A 16-year-old wizard whose magic, Dancer (踊り子（ダンサー）, Dansā), allows him to alter the fighting power of those around him by dancing.^{[ch. 63][ch. 272]} He is voiced by Eiji Sekiguchi in Japanese, and by Tyler Walker in English.^[7][17]
• Laki Olietta (ラキ・オリエッタ, Raki Orietta) – An 18-year-old wizard who is described as having strange turns of phrase such as "severing" her hair instead of cutting it, and "feeding the stomach" for eating. She uses the magic Wood Make (木の造形魔法（ウッドメイク）, Uddo Meiku, Japanese text translates as "Wood-Molding Magic") to produce wood in any form she desires.^[ch. 96] She is voiced by Ikumi Hayama in Japanese, and by Apphia Yu in English.^[7][8]
• Reedus Jonah (リーダス・ジョナー, Rīdasu Jonā) – A 27-year-old wizard who can bring any picture he draws on himself to life using pict magic (絵画魔法（ビクトマジック）, pikuto majikku, Japanese text translates as "painting magic").^[ch. 36] His normally slender body is magically inflated into a rotund shape by Makarov Dreyar's magic to help better cast his spells,^[ch. 36] though his body returns to normal during Makarov's seven-year absence.^[ch. 254] He is voiced by Sonny Strait in English.^[7]
• Kinana (キナナ) – A 20-year-old woman who works at Fairy Tail as a bartender. She is the true form of Cobra's snake familiar Cubellios, trapped in the form of a snake by an evil wizard before being returned to her human form by Makarov Dreyar following the Oración Seis' defeat. She is based on Kina Kobayashi, one of Mashima's assistants.^{[vol. 21:bonus]} She is voiced by Natsue Sasamoto in Japanese, and by Lara Woodhull in English.^[21]

Eisenwald (鉄の森（アイゼンヴァルト）, Aizenvaruto, German for "Iron Forest") is one of the dark guilds that is controlled by the Oración Seis. The guild's ace member and acting leader is Erigor (エリゴール, Erigōru), a wizard who wields a scythe and can create gusts of wind capable of cutting skin and forming barriers. Among the guild's other members are Kageyama (カゲヤマ), who can transform his shadow into a tangible substance that he can manipulate to suit his needs; Rayule (レイユール, Reiyūru), who wields a set of urumi blades around his fingers that he can extend at will; Karacka (カラッカ, Karakka), who can merge his entire body with and move through solid objects; and Byard (ビアード, Biādo), who can produce beams of light from his hands. The guild tries to assassinate the official guild masters in Fiore by using the Lullaby, a flute with a demon sealed inside by Zeref that kills anyone who hears its music. The guild is dissolved after being defeated by Fairy Tail.

Phantom Lord (幽鬼の支配者（ファントムロード）, Fantomu Rōdo, Japanese text translates as "Ruler of the Spirits") is an official wizard's guild of Fiore that rivals Fairy Tail early in the series. It is led by Jose Porla (ジョゼ・ポーラ, Joze Pōra), one of the Ten Wizard Saints who specializes in creating ghostly apparitions to act as soldiers.^{[ch. 47, 52]} Jose boasts his guild's superior numbers and magical prowess, which includes a mechanized guildhall armed with the destructive magic cannon Jupiter (ジュピター, Jupitā),^[ch. 52] and which transforms into a mecha capable of casting Abyss Break (煉獄砕波（アビスブレイク）, Abisu Bureiku, Japanese text translates to "Purgatory Break Wave"), a forbidden spell powered by magic of the four classical elements.^{[ch. 54, 57]} Among Phantom's top members are Gajeel Redfox and the Element 4 (エレメント4, Eremento Fō), a quartet of wizards equivalent to Fairy Tail's S-Class wizards who each specialize in magic based on one of the four elements.^[ch. 47] Aria (アリア, Italian for "Air"), the team's leader, uses air magic to produce invisible attacks and drain wizards of their magic,^[ch. 49] and wears a blindfold to keep his enormous power in check.^[ch. 58] Sol (ソル, Soru, French for "Soil") is a French-speaking man who manipulates earth and can assume a malleable state.^[ch. 55] Totomaru (兎兎丸) is a samurai who uses fire magic to manipulate any type of flame at will, and produces different-colored flames with varying properties.^[ch. 53] Juvia Lockser serves as the team's water magic specialist.^[ch. 48]

Lucy Heartfilia's father Jude hires Phantom to retrieve her after she runs away from home,^[ch. 50] but Jose schemes to hold her for ransom instead, paranoid that Fairy Tail plans to monopolize the Heartfilia family's fortune.^[ch. 64] Deciding to demonstrate Phantom's supremacy to Fairy Tail, Jose orders Gajeel to demolish their guildhall and injure Levy McGarden's team, provoking them into an inter-guild war forbidden by the Magic Council.^[ch. 47] Fairy Tail emerges victorious after Makarov Dreyar invokes Fairy Law on Jose in a catastrophic battle,^[ch. 66] and Phantom is ultimately disbanded by the council.^[ch. 69]

The Tower of Heaven (楽園の塔, Rakuen no Tō, lit. "Tower of Paradise") is a tower designed to bring a deceased individual back to life through a form of magic called the Revive System (リバイブシステム, Ribaibu Shisutemu), also known simply as the R-System, which is activated after the Magic Council fires their ultimate weapon Etherion on the tower, which consequently absorbs the attack's energy and reveals its true form as a giant lacrima crystal.^[ch. 94] It is originally built through slave labor by a cult of evil wizards for the purpose of resurrecting Zeref.^[ch. 81] Among the slaves forced to build the tower are Erza Scarlet and Jellal Fernandez, the latter of whom takes over construction of the tower while brainwashed by Ultear Milkovich, who poses as Zeref's spirit.^[ch. 102] Serving as Jellal's minions in the tower are four other slaves whom Erza and Jellal befriend as children: Shô (ショウ), who wields a magic deck of cards containing pocket dimensions to trap others inside; Simon (シモン, Shimon), a large man with a metal jaw who uses telepathy and shrouds areas in darkness; Wally Buchanan (ウォーリー・ブキャナン, Wōrī Bukyanan), a gangster-like gunslinger with an angular body that he can separate into blocks; and Millianna (ミリアーナ, Miriāna), a cat-loving girl who uses a rope to bind other wizards' magic.^[ch. 76] Jellal tricks Shô, Wally, and Millianna into thinking that Erza betrayed them to save herself from the tower, but they turn on Jellal after realizing his deception.^[ch. 83] Simon, who harbors romantic feelings for Erza, remains faithful to her despite Jellal's lies,^[ch. 83] and later dies while protecting her from Jellal.^[ch. 97] Following Jellal's defeat, Erza's surviving friends decline her invitation to join Fairy Tail and go their separate ways,^[ch. 102] with Millianna joining the Mermaid Heel (人魚の踵（マーメイドヒール）, Māmeido Hīru) guild alongside Simon's sister, Kagura Mikazuchi (カグラ・ミカヅチ), to take revenge against Jellal.^[ch. 282]

Also serving Jellal at the tower are Trinity Raven (三羽鴉（トリニティレイヴン）, Toriniti Reivun, Japanese text translates as "Three Ravens"), a trio of assassins from the Death's Head Caucus (髑髏会, Dokurokai) guild,^[ch. 84,85] whom Mashima introduced "at the last moment" after he "started feeling really sorry for [Erza's childhood friends]" while planning out their battles with Erza's group.^{[vol. 11:afterword]} Each member's name is named after a different type of bird.^{[vol. 10:translation notes]} The trio is led by Ikaruga (斑鳩, lit. "Japanese grosbeak"), a woman who speaks in haiku and wields a katana capable of cutting through any material.^[ch. 91] Vidaldus Taka (ヴィダルダス・タカ, Vidarudasu Taka, "Taka" is Japanese for "hawk"), introduced before his teammates as Jellal's stoic attendant,^[ch. 76] is a rock musician whose hair can absorb liquids, and uses an electric guitar to brainwash his opponents.^[ch. 86] Fukuro (梟, Fukurō, lit. "Owl") is a man with an owl's head and a jet pack, and performs the same magic his opponents use by swallowing them.^[ch. 88]

The Balam Alliance (バラム同盟, Baramu Dōmei), called the "Baram Alliance" in the anime adaptation, is a trinity of the most powerful dark guilds in Fiore that controls all other dark guilds in the series except the independent guild Raven Tail.^[ch. 131] The "alliance" is described as a "non-aggression pact" whose guilds act independently from one another.^[ch. 200]

Oración Seis (六魔将軍（オラシオンセイス）, Orashion Seisu, Spanish for "Six Prayers", Japanese text translates as "Six Demon Generals") is a dark guild comprised of only six members, named after the same group of antagonists from Mashima's previous work, Rave Master; Mashima intended to use the name as a placeholder, but kept at the last minute.^{[vol. 16:afterword]} The guild controls several lesser dark guilds encountered in the series, including Eisenwald.^[ch. 130] They are led by Brain (ブレイン, Burein), a superintelligent wizard and Jellal Fernandez's mentor from the Tower of Heaven. The other five members are slaves from the tower, adopted as Brain's children. Erik (エリック, Erikku), codenamed Cobra (コブラ, Kobura), is a second generation dragon slayer with hyper-sensitive hearing who can generate poison to attack, and commands a giant snake named Cubellios (キュベリオス, Kyuberiosu). Sawyer (ソーヤー, Sōyā), codenamed Racer (レーサー, Rēsā), is a speed-obsessed wizard capable of slowing down his opponents to appear fast, and summons remote-controlled racecars. Richard Buchanan (リチャード・ブキャナン, Richādo Bukyanan), codenamed Hoteye (天眼のホットアイ, Hottoai), is Wally Buchanan's money-obsessed older brother who can see through solid objects and turn the ground into quicksand. Sorano Agria (ソラノ・アグリア, Sorano Aguria), codenamed Angel (エンジェル, Enjeru), is Yukino Agria's sadistic older sister and a celestial wizard contracted with the spirits Gemini, Scorpio, Aries, and Caelum; she later gains the ability to summon angelic beings.^[ch. 365] Macbeth (マクベス, Makubesu), codenamed Midnight (ミッドナイト, Middonaito), is a wizard who sleeps until awoken by Brain and can deflect others' magic, distort objects, and create illusions. An additional member is Kurodoa (クロドア), Brain's staff, which has a mind of its own.^[ch. 154]

The Seis first appear in search of the morality-switching magic Nirvana (ニルヴァーナ, Niruvāna) to destroy the world's official guilds, requiring Fairy Tail to form an alliance with Blue Pegasus, Lamia Scale, and Cait Shelter to stop the dark guild.^[ch. 131] Following all six members' defeat, Brain is taken over by his split personality Zero (ゼロ), the guild's true, omnicidal master whom Brain normally suppresses via a magic seal on his body maintained by his guild.^[ch. 156] The Seis are arrested by the Magic Council after Natsu Dragneel defeats Zero.^[ch. 162] Cobra is later temporarily released from prison to battle the seven dragons brought through Eclipse by Rogue Cheney's future self.^[ch. 329] Following the Council's demise, Cobra exchanges vital information on Tartaros with Doranbalt to secure his guild's freedom.^[ch. 356] Brain is then left for dead by his children before Jellal convinces the five to join Crime Sorcière.^{[ch. 364, 416]}

Grimoire Heart (悪魔の心臓（グリモアハート）, Gurimoa Hāto, Japanese text translates as "Devil's Heart") is the most powerful dark guild of the Balam Alliance,^[ch. 210] led by Fairy Tail's second master Precht Gaebolg (プレヒト・ゲイボルグ, Purehito Geiborugu), more commonly known as Hades (ハデス, Hadesu).^[ch. 215] The guild's elite team are the Seven Kin of Purgatory (煉獄の七眷属, Rengoku no Nana Kenzoku), wizards trained by Hades who each specialize in a form of Lost Magic,^[ch. 217] ancient spells noted as being lost to history due to their enormous power and terrible side effects.^[ch. 40] Led by Ultear Milkovich, the team includes Zancrow (ザンクロウ, Zankurō), a psychotic god slayer (滅神魔導士（ゴッドスレイヤー）, goddo sureiyā, Japanese text translates as "god-slaying wizard") whose black flames surpass Natsu's dragon slayer abilities;^[ch. 218] Caprico (カプリコ, Kapuriko), a fusion of the celestial spirit Capricorn and human wizard Zoldio (ゾルディオ, Zorudio) who commands human slaves;^[ch. 224] Rustyrose (ラスティローズ, Rasutirōzu), who can bring anything from his imagination to life;^[ch. 222] Kain Hikaru (華院＝ヒカル, Kain-Hikaru), a sumo wrestler who practices the Vodou-like ushi no koku mairi;^[ch. 226] and Azuma (アズマ), who can control trees and harness magic power accumulated in the earth.^[ch. 235] Merudy, Ultear's surrogate daughter, is also a member of the Seven Kin. Grimoire Heart also includes Blue Note Stinger (ブルーノート・スティンガー, Burū Nōto Sutingā), the guild's massively powerful deputy commander with the power of gravity manipulation; and Yomazu (ヨマズ) and Kawazu (カワズ), an anthropomorphic dog samurai and rooster who respectively use an Eastern variety of Levy McGarden's Solid Script and fire magic eggs from his mouth.^[ch. 211]

The guild aims to reawaken Zeref, whom they believe to be in a weakened "sleeping" state, in order to bring about an apocalyptic world where wizards may thrive while non-magic users, who make up over 90% of Earth-land's population, will be annihilated.^[ch. 221] They travel the world on their airship and commit countless atrocities, including Jellal Fernandez's actions at the Tower of Heaven, to produce "keys" necessary to revive Zeref.^[ch. 102] Their discovery of Zeref on Sirius Island results in battle against Fairy Tail,^[ch. 207] but the dark guild retreats following Hades's defeat.^[ch. 249] Afterward, Zeref denounces Grimoire Heart's "keys" as a fable concocted by his fanatics, and kills Hades as punishment for his actions, which summon Acnologia to the island and cause Zeref to forsake the value of human life.^[ch. 250]

Tartaros (冥府の門（タルタロス）, Tarutarosu, Japanese text translates as "Gate of the Underworld") is a dark guild formed by Etherious, demons created from books written by Zeref.^[ch. 373] Instead of using magic, they perform curses developed to kill their immortal creator.^[ch. 361] Most members possess a more powerful "Etherious" form that drastically increases the strength of their curse. The guild's master is E.N.D., a fire demon and Zeref's most powerful creation, whose soul is contained in a book kept by his second-in-command, Mard Geer Tartaros (マルド・ギール・タルタロス, Marudo Gīru Tarutarosu), another powerful demon with the power to produce giant thorn brambles. Tartaros's elite demons make up the Nine Demon Gates (九鬼門, Kyūkimon) led by Kyôka (キョウカ), a female, avian demon with the power to reinforce people's strength and increase their sensitivity to pain. The other Demon Gates include Jackal (ジャッカル, Jakkaru), a canine demon who produces powerful explosions and turns anything he touches into a bomb;^[ch. 360] Franmalth (フランマルス, Furanmarusu), a cyclops who absorbs others' souls and copies their abilities; Torafuzar (トラフザー, Torafuzā), an aquatic demon capable of flooding areas with poisonous water and turning his body harder than iron;^{[ch. 396, 397]} Ezel (エゼル, Ezeru), who can cut through anything with his multiple sword-like arms; Seilah (セイラ, Seira), a female demon who has control over people's bodies; Keyes (キース, Kīsu), a necromancer who reanimates dead bodies; and Tempester (テンペスター, Tenpesutā), a bestial demon who makes imitative sounds that produce tornadoes, firestorms, and lightning strikes. Silver Fullbuster (シルバー・フルバスター, Shirubā Furubasutā), Gray Fullbuster's reanimated father and a user of Ice Demon Slayer Magic, is also included among the Demon Gates as Keyes's unwilling puppet. Lummy (ラミー, Ramī), a bunny girl demon, is responsible for resurrecting demons killed in battle and transforming human recruits into demons, including Ziemmma and his daughter Minerva Orland.

Aided by the Magic Council's treacherous chairman Crawford Theme, Tartaros assassinates nearly all of the council's members in order to detonate the cross-continental Face bombs and neutralize all magic in Fiore, thereby allowing E.N.D.'s resurrection. Their operation is interrupted by Acnologia, which brings the dragon slayers' guardians out of hiding to combat him, destroying all of the Faces in the process. Meanwhile, Mard Geer is defeated by Natsu Dragneel and Gray Fullbuster, with Zeref briefly arriving afterward to incinerate him for his failure and retrieve E.N.D.'s book.

Raven Tail (大鴉の尻尾（レイヴンテイル）, Reivun Teiru, Japanese text translates as "Great Raven's Tail") is a dark guild that acts independently from the Balam Alliance,^[ch. 131] and becomes an official guild shortly after Fairy Tail's return from Sirius Island.^[ch. 267] The guild is led by Ivan Dreyar (イワン・ドレアー, Iwan Doreā), Makarov's son and Laxus's father,^[ch. 128] who is expelled from Fairy Tail six years before the series's present.^[ch. 119] Ivan bitterly seeks Lumen Histoire, which he considers to be the guild's "darkness".^[ch. 286] Disguising himself as an armored wizard named Alexei (アレクセイ, Arekusei), Ivan leads a five-wizard team in the Grand Magic Games consisting of himself; Obra (オーブラ, Ōbura), an imp who operates a humanoid puppet and drains wizards of their magic;^[ch. 272] Flare Corona (フレア・コロナ, Furea Korona), a young woman with prehensile hair that can transform and ignite;^[ch. 271] Kurohebi (クロヘビ, lit. "Black Snake"), a snakelike man who performs mimicry to imitate others' magic;^[ch. 277] and Nullpudding (ナルプディング, Narupudingu), a hunchback capable of growing spikes on his body.^[ch. 269] The five use underhanded tactics to win challenges and battles in the tournament, but are defeated single-handedly by Laxus and disqualified.^[ch. 286] Following the games, Raven Tail dissolves entirely while Flare makes amends with Fairy Tail,^[ch. 341] and later assists them in saving the Village of the Sun (太陽の村, Taiyō no Mura), her adopted hometown populated by giants.^[ch. 347]

Zeref (ゼレフ, Zerefu), also known as the "Black Wizard" (黒魔導士, Kuro Madōshi), is the central antagonist of Fairy Tail. He is described as the most evil wizard in history, having created numerous demons known as Etherious 400 years in the past.^[ch. 21] His legacy plays a role throughout the series's events; his worshipers build the Tower of Heaven to revive him from his presumed death,^[ch. 82] while the members of Grimoire Heart believe him to be in a "sleeping" state in which he cannot use the full extent of his power, and seek to awaken him.^[ch. 102] Zeref's first actual appearance in the story is on Sirius Island as an immortal young man afflicted by the Black Magic of Ankhseram (アンクセラムの黒魔術, Ankuseramu no Kuro Majutsu), a curse that causes everything around him to die instantly.^[ch. 200] His strength varies between two different personalities: a benevolent one that cherishes life but is unable to control his deadly magic; and a malevolent one that disregards life and has full command of his powers.^[ch. 250] Zeref is self-loathing because of his curse and wishes to be killed by his ultimate Etherious, Natsu Dragneel, codenamed "E.N.D."^{[ch. 209, 416]} After witnessing the atrocities committed by Grimoire Heart on Sirius Island, Zeref renounces all regard for human life and kills their master, Hades.^[ch. 250] He then spends the next seven years contemplating how to react to the world's continuing conflicts, and concludes he must exterminate all of mankind.^[ch. 340]

While planning out the story, Mashima considered multiple identities and names for the character introduced in Chapter 200, who would later be revealed as the previously unseen character Zeref.^{[vol. 24:bonus]} He intentionally avoided giving any hints to his identity beforehand, wanting it to be a "complete surprise" to the readers.^{[vol. 24:afterword]} Mashima stated that Zeref "has really become a popular character" after the reveal; he also noted that the character is "really dark [...] He'd never make a silly face."^{[vol. 26:afterword]} In the anime adaptation, his Japanese voice actor is Akira Ishida.^[21] His voice in the English dub is supplied by Joel McDonald.

Acnologia (アクノロギア, Akunorogia) is a black dragon that flies around Earth-land and causes widespread destruction. He is noted for his complete disregard for all life, and only speaks to those he recognizes as an enemy.^{[ch. 252, 405]} He is presented in the series as a former human who is granted Dragon Slayer Magic during the Dragon King Festival (竜王祭, Ryūōsai), a quadricentennial civil war between dragons over the fate of humanity. During this time, he massacres the dragons to near extinction and bathes in their blood until he physically becomes a dragon, gaining the title of "Dragon King" (竜の王, Ryū no Ō).^[ch. 301] He first appears in the series on Sirius Island, drawn to the battle that erupts between Fairy Tail and Grimoire Heart, and seemingly destroys the island with his breath attack;^[ch. 253] however, the wizards on the island survive due to Mavis Vermillion's Fairy Sphere spell, which freezes them in time for seven years.^[ch. 255] He returns during Fairy Tail's battle with Tartaros, forcing Igneel and his fellow dragons to emerge from hiding to fight him.^[ch. 400] Acnologia loses an arm and flees from his battle with Igneel, but not before killing the fire dragon.^[ch. 414]

The Kingdom of Fiore (フィオーレ王国, Fiōre Ōkoku, "Fiore" is Italian for "flower") is a fictional country in Earth-land where the majority of the series takes place. It is ruled by King Toma E. Fiore (トーマ・E・フィオーレ, Tōma E Fiōre), who secretly acts as Mato (マトーくん, Matō-kun), the pumpkin mascot of the kingdom's annual wizard tournament, the Grand Magic Games (大魔闘演武, Dai Matō Enbu).^[ch. 325] Toma's daughter, Princess Hisui E. Fiore (ヒスイ・E・フィオーレ, Hisui E Fiōre, "Hisui" is Japanese for "jade"), serves as the secret organizer of the Eclipse Project (エクリプス計画, Ekuripusu Keikaku), a plan that entails using the black magic gate Eclipse to travel back in time and kill Zeref in his mortal state.^[ch. 302] Participating in the plan are Arcadios (アルカディオス, Arukadiosu), captain of the kingdom's Cherry Blossom Holy Knights, who publicly masquerades as the project's villainous mastermind to protect Hisui; and defense minister Darton (ダートン, Dāton), who opposes the plan for its ramifications on the timeline. Also in the kingdom's service are the Hungry Wolf Knights (餓狼騎士団, Garō Kishidan), a unit of wizards who execute prisoners trapped in the city's labyrinthine dungeon; the knights, along with Hisui, were submitted by readers as part of a character design contest.^{[citation needed]}

The Magic Council (魔法評議院, Mahō Hyōgiin) is an organization that administers the legal guilds in Fiore.^[ch. 2] Chaired by Crawford Theme (クロフォード・シーム, Kurofōdo Shīmu) at the start of the series, the council's members have little tolerance for Fairy Tail's property-damaging tactics, despite the guild's role in handling criminals and monsters that threaten the peace.^[ch. 1] Early in the series, the council includes Jellal Fernandez (under the alias Siegrain) and Ultear Milkovich, two of its younger members.^[ch. 1] Another councilor, Yajima (ヤジマ), is Makarov Dreyar's longtime friend who speaks in Fairy Tail's defense.^[ch. 69] Other members include Org (オーグ, Ōgu), Michello (ミケロ, Mikero), Leiji (レイジ, Reiji), and Belno (ベルノ, Beruno). Jellal and Ultear trick the council into helping them activate the Tower of Heaven using the superweapon Etherion (エーテリオン, Ēterion), also called the Satellite Square (衛星魔法陣（サテライトスクエア）, Sateraito Sukuea, Japanese text translates as "Satellite Magic Square"),^[ch. 79] which fires a beam of immense magic energy that is absorbed by the tower.^[ch. 97] The council disbands in disgrace,^[ch. 131] and is later reformed under chairman Gran Doma (グラン・ドマ, Guran Doma, also "Grand Doma") to institute a tighter regime over the guilds.^[ch. 200] Members of the reformed council include Lahar (ラハール, Rahāru),^[ch. 223] an officer who commands one of the Rune Knights' custody units,^[ch. 162] and Doranbalt, a member of the council's intelligence unit.^[ch. 223] Later, Crawford betrays the council and informs Tartaros of Face (フェイス, Feisu), a pulse bomb designed to eliminate all magic in Fiore, also called the White Inheritance (白き遺産, Shiroki Isan).^[ch. 363] Tartaros assassinates most of the incumbent and retired councilors, three of whom serve as Face's unwitting wards, with Crawford killed after replacing Jellal as the last required seal.