Athrun Zala

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Athrun Zala

Athrun Zala in Gundam SEED Destiny
Genetic type: Coordinator
DOB: October 29, CE 55
Age: 16 [GS]
18 [GSD]
Nationality: PLANT [GS/GSD]
United Emirates of Orb [GSD]
Allegiance: ZAFT [GS/GSD]
Three Ship Alliance [GS]
United Emirates of Orb [GSD]
Terminal [GSD]
Rank/Position: Red Uniform (ZAFT) [GS/GSD]
FAITH (ZAFT) [GSD]
Chief Petty Officer (Orb) [GSD]
Captain (Orb) [GSD]
Family: Patrick Zala (father, deceased)
Lenore Zala (mother, deceased)
Love Interests: Lacus Clyne (former fiancee)
Cagalli Yula Athha (currently on hiatus)
Meyrin Hawke (possible)
Height: 170 cm (5' 7") [GS]
174 cm (5' 8½") [GSD]
Weight: 67 kg (147.7 lbs) [GS][citation needed]
60 kg (132.3 lbs) [GSD]
Blood type: O
Mobile Suit: GAT-X303 Aegis [GS]
ZGMF-X09A Justice [GS]
ZGMF-1000 ZAKU Warrior [GSD]
ZGMF-1000/M Blaze Zaku Warrior [GSD]
ZGMF-X23S Saviour [GSD]
ZGMF-2000 GOUF Ignited [GSD]
ZGMF-X19A Infinite Justice [GSD]

Athrun Zala is one of the main characters from the anime series Gundam SEED and Gundam SEED Destiny, set in the Cosmic Era timeline of the Gundam universe. He is played by Akira Ishida in the original Japanese version and Samuel Vincent in the English dub.

Athrun Zala is a Coordinator, and was a member of the Rau Le Creuset ZAFT special forces team for most of Gundam Seed. The team consisted mostly of young elite pilots, known as 'Reds', who wore the special red uniform that meant that they had graduated at the top of their military cadet class. He is also the son of Patrick Zala, who later became Chairman of ZAFT. Athrun joined the ZAFT militia mainly for vengeance for his mother's death in the Bloody Valentine incident, which was caused by the Earth Alliance.

He was engaged to PLANT pop idol Lacus Clyne through parental arrangements, and has an honest affection for her. (According to the novelisation version of Gundam SEED, she was the first girl Athrun ever kissed)

Among all the Le Creuset team members, he's the only pilot whose views on Naturals differ from his parent's (and with the most dramatic consequences).

In the manga series Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: The Edge, the events of GSD are told through Athrun's POV. Also, Kuori Chimaki's artwork depicts him as a more mature, yet somewhat effeminate figure (According to the author, the series had a shoujo flavour.). Using Athrun as the narrative figure is a concept the animation has revisited for the Gundam SEED Destiny: Special Edition compilations.

In both Gundam SEED and SEED Destiny, his friendship with Kira Yamato formed one of the main themes of the storyline.

Contents

[edit] Pre Gundam Seed

In C.E. 61, Patrick Zala sends Athrun to attend a preparatory school at the lunar city Copernicus. Here, he meets Kira Yamato and they became good friends. Nearly 7 years later, in C.E. 68, Patrick calls Athrun back from Copernicus. It was at this parting that Athrun gave his best friend a robo-pet bird, Torii (Birdy in the English dub).

After returning to PLANT, Athrun finds that Patrick has arranged an engagement for him to the pop idol, Lacus Clyne.

After the Bloody Valentine, Athrun enlists into ZAFT, where he becomes good friends with Nicol Amarfi and Rusty Mackenzie.

[edit] Bloody Valentine War

[edit] Theft at Heliopolis: GAT-X303 Aegis

Morgenroete, Inc secretly developed five mobile suits for the Earth Alliance in a concealed base on the neutral colony, Heliopolis. The suits were intended to counter ZAFT's superior military technology. ZAFT planned and executed a raid to steal the new units, but only managed to steal four because ZAFT pilot Rusty Mackenzie was killed during the raid. Athrun quickly avenged his fallen comrade and successfully stole the GAT-X303 Aegis prototype unit. During the raid he met his best friend since childhood, Kira Yamato, a Heliopolis civilian. Kira was forced to pilot the GAT-X105 Strike, the last of the five mobile suits, to protect his friends on Heliopolis as well as other civilians. In the ensuing conflict, Heliopolis was destroyed.

[edit] Pursuit of the Archangel

Since he had piloted the new secret unit, Kira and his friends were forced to embark on the Earth Alliance Archangel ship and chose to enlist in their military. Kira engaged Athrun in battle several times. Athrun was in turmoil over having to fight his friend and attempted to convince Kira to join ZAFT, since Kira was also a Coordinator. Athrun told Kira that even though he hates war, he enlisted because his mother was killed in the Bloody Valentine incident. This had a profound effect on Kira, but he refused to join ZAFT and escaped when Mu La Flaga intervened.

The next time they met in battle, Athrun learned that his fiancee Lacus was on board the Archangel and outraged when Natarle Badgiruel said they would not guarantee her safety if their ship was attacked. Before withdrawing, Athrun asked Kira if his idea of justice was to fight with cowards who would use innocent civilians as hostages and he vowed to rescue Lacus. Kira later smuggled Lacus off the Archangel and back to Athrun. Upon retrieving his fiancee, Athrun asked Kira again to come over to ZAFT. Kira refused; he wanted to protect his friends who were on the Archangel. Neither Kira nor Athrun wanted to fight each other and they often thought of one another and their unfortunate circumstance.

Athrun was later appointed head of the Le Creuset Team, where he clashed with some of his fellow pilots on several issues. When the team was sent to Earth, the transport Athrun was in was shot down by Cagalli Yula Athha, who had also been aboard the Archangel, and who was shot down in return.

Athrun successfully landed his mobile suit on an island. There, he encountered Cagalli, who was also marooned there. After an armed clash, Athrun took Cagalli prisoner, in the process discovering she was a girl. While waiting for retrieval, the two talked. Their viewpoints about the war clashed, but they listened to each other. They eventually called a mutual truce and were later rescued by their respective sides. Neither told anyone about what happened on the island. Athrun later discovered that Cagalli was the Princess of the neutral Earth nation of Orb.

Believing the Archangel was hiding in Orb, Athrun led the rest of the Le Creuset Team on a covert mission. There, he encountered Kira Yamato again and the two spoke briefly. With his suspicions confirmed, Athrun and the rest fo the team waited for the Archangel to leave Orb territorial waters. The intended ambush went poorly with the Buster Gundam and its pilot, Dearka Elsman being captured by the Archangel.

Athrun in his duel against Kira to avenge Nicol's death
Enlarge
Athrun in his duel against Kira to avenge Nicol's death

Athrun and Kira met in combat again. Angered by the death of his friend Nicol Amarfi at Kira's hands, Athrun threw the Aegis's shield at a FX-550 Skygrasper killing Kira's friend, Tolle Koenig. Kira activated his SEED mode and attacked fiercely. Athrun also activated his SEED mode for the first time. He appeared to be winning until power ran out and the Aegis lost its Phase Shift armor abilities. In an attempt to kill Kira, Athrun self-destructed the Aegis.

Kira was believed to have been killed in the explosion, but he was saved by Astray Red Frame pilot Lowe Guele. Later, Kira was brought to the Clyne family by Reverend Malchio and received medical treatment.

Athrun was discovered injured on a beach after the battle by Cagalli. When Athrun regained consciousness, Cagalli pointed a gun at him, demanding to know what happened to Kira. Athrun, obviously distraught, said that he had killed his best friend. Cagalli angrily asked why and Athrun snapped back that Kira had killed several ZAFT comrades and his anger had finally reached a head with Nicol's death. Cagalli explained some of the teachings her father, that killing for vengeance would never bring peace but simply more conflict.

Before returning him to ZAFT, Cagalli gave Athrun her red amulet as a good luck charm, hoping that it would protect him, and said that she didn't want anyone else to die.

[edit] Acquiring the ZGMF-X09A Justice

After returning to ZAFT, Athrun was chosen to be under the direct command of the ZAFT Supreme Council and assigned to pilot the newly developed ZGMF-X09A Justice. He was ordered to track and retrieve the ZGMF-X10A Freedom unit, which had been stolen by Kira Yamato, with the aid of Lacus Clyne. Lacus was also accused of selling ZAFT out to the Earth Alliance, but Athrun had trouble accepting that Lacus was a traitor. He was eventually able to find Lacus and saved her from assassination.

[edit] Defection from ZAFT

Lacus told Athrun that Kira was alive and the Freedom's new pilot. She also told him to think about what he should really be fighting for. Instead of merely following his father's orders or feeling bound to his military duty, he determine what he believes to be right. Lacus then told Athrun that he should speak with his friend Kira.

Athrun followed his orders to locate the Freedom, launching in the Justice and arriving on Earth. Before attempting to locate Kira, he visited the ruins of the Aegis and the Strike. There, he encountered Reverend Malchio, who gave him the latest update on the war, and certain events he experienced would influence his decisions later.

Athrun eventually found Kira in Orb, engaged in combat with the GAT-X131 Calamity, GAT-X252 Forbidden and GAT-X370 Raider. Athrun watched the battle, wrestling with his loyalties. As Kira was overpowered by the enemy, Athrun made his decision and stepped in to save his friend. As the enemy units retreated, the two friends called a truce in order to talk out their differences. Neither wanted to be the other's enemy. Athrun and Kira agreed that they wanted to end the Bloody Valentine War. In order to do this, both friends would have to abandon their nation's militaries. Uncertain at first, Athrun made no promises, but eventually aided Kira during the Fall of Orb, instead of battling him and retrieving the Freedom like he had been ordered to. Athrun then followed the survivors of the battle, along with Kira, into space.

Before deciding to join the Resistance Group with Lacus, Kira and the others, Athrun decided to talk to his father, Chairman Patrick Zala. He wanted to know his father's true intentions, before he made his final decision on which side he wants to fight for. Athrun returned to the PLANTs without the Justice and talked to his father about the war. Athrun's father revealed that he intended to drag the war on until all the Naturals were exterminated. In essence, Patrick Zala had sold his soul to Rau Le Creuset, empowering him to take any needed military measures to exterminate all Naturals (as revenge for the death of his wife, Lenore). Athrun was shocked and angered by his father's revelation and was shot in the arm by his father and arrested for refusing to reveal the location of the Justice and the Freedom. Athrun was later freed by Martin DaCosta (under Lacus's command) and they escaped to the Eternal where Lacus was waiting. With Athrun and DaCosta on board, the Eternal then broke away from its dock and escaped.

[edit] Rise of Three Ships Alliance

Athrun prepares to self-destruct the ZGMF-X09A Justice inside GENESIS
Enlarge
Athrun prepares to self-destruct the ZGMF-X09A Justice inside GENESIS

After Athrun defected from ZAFT, he joined the newly formed Resistance Group called the Three Ships Alliance. Kira, Cagalli, and Dearka were also part of Alliance consisting of the Earth Alliance's "Archangel", Orb's "Kusanagi", and ZAFT's "Eternal".

During the final stages of the war, he and Cagalli developed a romantic relationship. Cagalli swore that she would protect Athrun as well as Kira, who she said was probably her little brother.

Along with the Three Ships Alliance, Athrun was instrumental in ending the Bloody Valentine War, between ZAFT and the Earth Forces. During the Second Battle of Jachine Due, Athrun managed to destroy several ships and mobile suits, including the GAT-X131 Calamity Gundam. While Kira fought with Rau Le Creuset in the ZGMF-X13A Providence, Athrun and Cagalli fought their way into Jachin Due just in time to see his father get shot by ZAFT commander Ray Yuki. As Patrick Zala lay dying in Athrun's arms, he urged his son to fire his ultimate creation, the GENESIS superweapon. Instead, Athrun destroyed GENESIS by detonating the nuclear-powered Justice inside it. Because Cagalli reminded him that he needed to stop running and have the courage to live, Athrun boarded Cagalli's MBF-02 Strike Rouge and escaped the explosion. Afterwards they rescued an injured Kira and his badly-damaged Freedom from the depths of space, both of them crying tears of joy at the sight of him.

[edit] Second Bloody Valentine War

Athrun Zala as 'Alex Dino'
Enlarge
Athrun Zala as 'Alex Dino'

After the war, Athrun and the other surviving members of the Le Creuset team, Yzak Joule and Dearka Elsman were tried for their actions. They were ably defended by Gilbert Durandal.

Athrun left ZAFT and moved to Orb. He became Cagalli's bodyguard under the pseudonym "Alex Dino". During the Armory One Incident, he was present in PLANT as Cagalli's bodyguard, and was involved in the fighting to retake the stolen units. He later joined the battleship Minerva and helped to fight against the terrorists in the Junius-7 Colony Drop (alongside former team mates Yzak Joule and Dearka Elsman). Aboard the Minerva, he was eventually unmasked by Gilbert Durandal, the Chairman of PLANT who had also joined the Minerva in its pursuit of the Mobile Suit thieves.

Athrun and Cagalli then desembarked Minerva at Orb, where Cagalli's political duties kept them separated much of the time. Seeing the deteriorating political situation, Arthun decided to return to PLANT. Before he did so, Arthrun silently slid a ring onto Cagalli's finger, which lead to an awkward moment before they regained their composure and shared an emotional farewell. Athrun promised Cagalli that he would keep in touch with her. (According to the manga series "The Edge", Cagalli joked that no one used his method to give away an engagement ring.).

[edit] Return to ZAFT: ZGMF-X23S Saviour

In the turmoil preceding the declaration of the Second Bloody Valentine War, he returned to ZAFT, hoping to avert the war, but it was too late. Athrun met with Chairman Durandal, who convinced him to use his power to keep the world on the right path. Durandal enlisted him back into ZAFT forces, and appointed him with the highest elite-force assignment, FAITH. Athrun was assigned the new unit ZGMF-X23S Saviour, and given total freedom of action. With Saviour, he returned to Earth and joined Minerva in the battle against the Earth Alliance, now allied with Orb.

Athrun became leader of the Minervas mobile suit pilots Shinn Asuka, Rey Za Burrel, and Lunamaria Hawke. Athrun was somewhat of a mentor to Shinn, though the two did not always get along well.

His romantic life also became more complicated. Lunamaria developed an interest in him. She also informed him that his fiancee, Cagalli, had almost gone through with an arranged marriage to Yuna Roma Seiran, but was kidnapped before the ceremony was completed. Athrun also found out he was still considered engaged to Lacus Clyne, whose role was being taken by Meer Campbell a singer who was impersonating Lacus for political reasons, and Meer pursued him rather aggressively. Lunamaria's younger sister Meyrin Hawke was also interested in Athrun, but her shyness made this less apparent.

The FAITH pilot was involved in the Battle of Gulnahan and Dardanelles, where he lost a new, but dear, friend, Heine Westenfluss. After Dardanelles, he bumped into Miriallia Haw, who arranged a secret meeting for him with Kira and Cagalli. Lunamaria Hawke spied on this meeting under orders from Captain Talia Gladys.

Athrun and the others disagreed strongly on many points. He did tell Cagalli that if she wanted Orb to stop fighting against ZAFT, she needed to return to Orb and get them to end their ties to the Earth Alliance. Cagalli eventually chose to do this. Athrun was also told that Coordinators had attempted to assassinate the real Lacus Clyne, which meant Kira and the others did not trust Chairman Durandal.

[edit] Defection from ZAFT

Much was still unresolved. The Saviour was later destroyed by Kira in the Freedom during the battle at Crete, because Kira was angry over what he thought was Athrun's indifference to Cagalli's emotional distress. Not long after watching the epic battle between Shinn and Kira during Operation Angel Down, resulting in the destruction of the ZGMF-X10A Freedom and the supposed sinking of the Archangel courtesy of the Minerva's Tannhäuser Positron Cannon, the distraught and disillusioned Athrun was tipped off by Lacus look-alike Meer Campbell, who had overheard Chairman Durandal and Rey Za Burrel. Since they had failed to fully convince him of their cause, they were preparing to frame him as a traitor using photographs of his meeting with Kira and Cagalli. Athrun's situation probably was not helped by his defection in the first war.

Rather than be arrested, Athrun fled. Meer refused his offer to escape with him, though she did not aid those pursuing him, either. Soon after, Athrun took refuge in the room of Minerva CIC officer and gifted hacker Meyrin Hawke. With her help, Athrun escaped from ZAFT's Gibraltar base in a stolen blue ZGMF-2000 GOUF Ignited mobile suit.

Claiming that Athrun and Meyrin were working for Logos and had stolen ZAFT's top military secrets, including its plan to attack Logos headquarters at Heaven's Base, Chairman Durandal ordered Rey Za Burrel and Shinn Asuka to pursue Athrun with their respective new mobile suits. Although Shinn was shocked and reluctant to shoot at first, he eventually went into SEED mode and destroyed the GOUF Ignited unit, apparently killing both Athrun and Meyrin. The pair was actually injured and unconscious and rescued by a defected Earth Alliance ship led Ledonir Kisaka, the former Kusanagi co-captain in the First Bloody Valentine War, who had infiltrated, now pretending to be an Earth Alliance officer. Athrun recuperated from his ordeal on the Archangel, watched over by his old friends, Kira and Cagalli, and later Meyrin.

[edit] Battle of Orb: ZGMF-X19A Infinite Justice

Lacus Clyne's words got through to Athrun during ZAFT's invasion of Orb and he regained his confidence and decided to launch with the Infinite Justice, wearing an Orb pilot suit to join the battle. Arthrun tried to persuade Meyrin to stay in a place of safety, but she chose to accompany the Archangel.

Athrun went into battle, though he wasn't fully recovered from his wounds, to assist Kira who had been fighting the Legend and the Destiny all by himself. Shinn, pilot of the Destiny, was shocked and angry that Athrun had survived their last encounter. Athrun demanded that Shinn stop attacking Orb and questioned if what he was doing right and something that he wanted to do. Urged by Rey to attack and convinced that Athrun was a traitor, Shinn attacked Athrun but the two were fairly evenly matched. Eventually, Shinn went into SEED mode and charged at Athrun but Athrun also went into SEED mode (for the first time during the war) and sliced off Destiny's right arm, causing a small explosion.

After the ZAFT forces retreated, Athrun lost consciousness and the pilotless suit began a freefall. Kira in the Freedom caught Infinite Justice in mid-air and prevented a crash. When Kira removed Athrun's helmet and flight suit back on the Archangel, Athrun's wounds had re-opened and he was bleeding profusely. Kira then ordered a stretcher to bring Athrun to Archangel's sick bay. Athrun recovered from his injuries under the care of Meyrin Hawke. After a full recovery, Athrun was commissioned into the Orb military and assigned as one of the Archangel's mobile suit squadron commanders.

[edit] Battle of Messiah: Assault on REQUIEM

Captain Athrun Zala on the bridge of the Archangel
Enlarge
Captain Athrun Zala on the bridge of the Archangel

Following Lord Djibril's attack on the PLANTs using the Requiem weapon, Minerva returned to space on Chairman Durandal's orders. There was another conflict between ZAFT and Lord Djibril in space. Athrun and the crew of the Archangel, which now included Neo Roanoke (aka Mu La Flaga), also went into space aboard Archangel and vowed to stop Chairman Durandal from implementing his "Destiny Plan," a radical method by using genetics to eliminate wars and conflicts among the human race.

Before they left, Cagalli Yula Athha addressed the troops. Athrun was surprised to see she was no longer wearing the ring he had given her, and she left without speaking to him. His friends Kira and Lacus attempted to speak with him, but Athrun assured them everything would be all right.

Meanwhile, Cagalli told Meyrin to take care of Athrun and left, crying. Cagalli returned to her homeland, using her political position to sort the issues that had plagued Orb while she had been away.

The Archangel docked at the free city of Copernicus on the moon, where Athrun, Kira, Lacus, and Meyrin went on an information gathering trip to the city. They received a note addressed to Lacus, in which Meer claimed she was about to be killed (the note read "I'm going to killed!"). Athrun and Meyrin both suspected it was a trap, but Lacus stated she wished to see Meer.

At the meeting, Meer's ZAFT bodyguards attempted to assassinate Lacus. Athrun gunned down most of the hostiles, though Kira and Meyrin proved competent in defending the group as well. Meer however, was shot and killed by a bullet intended for Lacus. Distraught, Athrun carried Meer's body back to the Archangel, where she was given a funeral.

When the Atlantic Federation, Orb Union, and Kingdom of Scandinavia refused to participate in the Destiny Plan; Chairman Durandal used the captured and repaired Requiem superweapon to destroy the Arzachel Lunar Base and part of the Alliance fleet.

The remainder of the Alliance fleet and a few members of ZAFT then joined the forces of Terminal in an attempt to stop Durandal before he could use the Requiem again to fire upon and thus annihilate Orb.

During the final battle Athrun came upon Lunamaria in her Impulse. He had no desire to fight her, but she refused to back down and engaged him. Athrun quickly disable her mobile suit in the skirmish between the two. Shinn arrived in time to witness Athrun's attack upon Lunamaria, his love interest.

Thus the scene was set, the former ZAFT ace vs the current one. The two skilled pilots went all out as they fought in a prolonged duel.

As the battle progressed it became evident that Athrun would emerge victorious, this despite Shinn being in SEED mode while he himself was not. Athrun took everything Shinn had and slowly began to disarm him, quite literally. In one final burst of rage, Shinn charged in ferociously towards Athrun. Lunamaria suddenly moved between them in an attempt to stop the two from fighting, but Shinn did not acknowledge her. Athrun went into SEED mode and halted Shinn's assault, destroying both of the Destiny’s arms as a result. He then destroyed one of the Destiny’s legs and the resulting explosion propelled Shinn downwards onto the moon’s surface, essentially crippling the Destiny and rendering it defenseless.

Athrun left the badly damaged Destiny and Impulse behind; clearly they were no longer a threat. Shortly thereafter, he utilized the multiple beam cutters on the Phantom-01 backpack to disable the Minerva's sublight engines thus rendering it dead in space.

Athrun, along with Mu in the Akatsuki, made their way past ZAFT's last defensive front and penetrated the Requiem's positron deflector. At the very last second, just as the weapon was about to fire, they destroyed the core of the Requiem and the threat to Orb was averted.

His final act in the battle was to board the MESSIAH and ensure Kira's safety. He arrived just in time to see Rey Za Burrel shoot Durandal. He and Kira escaped the MESSIAH safely afterwards. Later, when retreat flares were fired from all surviving ships, Athrun rescued Shinn and Lunamaria in the Infinite Justice.

[edit] Aftermath

Afterwards, at the ravished Orb memorial previously visited by Shinn and Kira in episode 8, Athrun and Shinn (accompanied by Meyrin & Lunamaria) were paying their respects when Kira and Lacus joined them. Athrun introduced Kira to Shinn and Lunamaria as the pilot of Freedom. Shinn was stunned by the identity of the pilot whom he tried to defeat numerous times, and previously met before without that knowledge.

Kira made an overture to Shinn to make peace with him. Kira stated that no matter how many times some humans desired the destruction of other people based on differences that could have been accepted, Kira was prepared to restore peace and to ensure that humans, Coordinators and Naturals alike, never again went down the path of mutual destruction and asked Shinn to join him in the fight for the world he truly wished for. A crying Shinn agreed.

The three pairs went their separate ways with Meyrin accompanying Athrun.

[edit] In Super Robot Wars Alpha 3

  • Athrun appears along with many other Gundam SEED characters in the Super Robot Wars Alpha finale - Super Robot Wars Alpha 3: To the end of the galaxy. While an above average pilot (whose stats are boosted once he goes into SEED mode at 140 morale) and his Justice Gundam being one of the most powerful Real Robot units available to the player, his shooting and dodging stats are poorer compared to that of Newtype aces like Amuro Ray or Kamille Bidan.
  • In Alpha 3, if Athrun fights Amuro Ray, Amuro will occasionally exclaim, "A red Mobile Suit?! Can it be...?!" This is a clear reference to his rival Char Aznable, who was known for piloting red Mobile Suits into battle. By that point in the Alpha series, Char had been killed during his attempt to drop Axis on Earth (as per Char's Counterattack), thus explaining Amuro's shock at facing a red MS.
  • Also, Amuro jokingly threatens Athrun with legal action over the latter's creation of various Haros, since in the Alpha universe, Amuro holds the trademark to Haro.
  • During Kira's fateful fight against Rau Le Creuset (the Providence being a boss unit), players have the option of letting Athrun join in the battle. New dialogue was recorded for this non-canonical encounter.

[edit] Trivia

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:
  • Athrun has a talent for mechanical tinkering, and has created robot pets for some of his friends. The multitude of multicolored Haros that fill the Clyne residence are Athrun's creations, as is Kira's mechanical pet, Tori.
  • Athrun is an expert with pistols (his aim with heavier guns seems to be more mundane). He was always able to hit the heads and hearts of the flashing targets during the shooting demonstration to Lunamaria in Destiny Episode 7. Also, during his escape from ZAFT, he managed to shoot Rey's rifle out from his hands, though it took him a while to do so.
  • Athrun is a very skilled hand to hand combatant as well. Able to disarm Cagalli with one fluid motion and fend off opposing armed guards when he escaped.
  • Athrun's Gundams, from the Aegis onwards, are all red and have a very high, almost mohawk-like sensor on their heads. This design trait is usually credited to The Gundam Geminass, from Last Outpost/G-Unit, a side-story to Gundam Wing originally published in 1997. However, that is inaccurate, as the first Mobile Suit to display such a design trait was the XM-07 Vigna Ghina, from 1991's Gundam F91, two years prior to G-Unit's publication.


Cosmic Era characters
Earth Alliance / OMNI Enforcer & Blue Cosmos / Logos / Phantom Pain
Shani Andras | Muruta Azrael | Natarle Badgiruel | Sven Cal Bayan | Clotho Buer | Morgan Chevalier | Lord Djibril | Al Da Flaga | Edward Harrelson | Tolle Koenig | Stellar Loussier | Auel Neider | Sting Oakley | Neo Roanoke | Orga Sabnak
PLANT / ZAFT & FAITH
Miguel Aiman | Aisha | Nicol Amarfi | Shinn Asuka | Rey Za Burrel | Meer Campbell | Rau Le Creuset | Gilbert Durandal | Dearka Elsman | Talia Gladys | Lunamaria Hawke | Courtney Heironimus | Yzak Joule | Rusty Mackenzie | Heine Westenfluss | Patrick Zala
United Emirates of Orb / Orb Union
Cagalli Yula Athha | Uzumi Nara Athha | Lacus Clyne | Miriallia Haw | Ledonir Kisaka | Kojiro Murdoch | Murrue Ramius | Rondo Ghina Sahaku | Rondo Mina Sahaku | Yuna Roma Seiran | Captain Todaka | Andrew Waltfeld | Kira Yamato | Athrun Zala
Clyne Faction / Three Ships Alliance / Terminal
Cagalli Yula Athha | Jean Carry | Lacus Clyne | Siegel Clyne | Martin DaCosta | Dearka Elsman | Mu La Flaga | Miriallia Haw | Meyrin Hawke | Yzak Joule | Ledonir Kisaka | Kojiro Murdoch | Murrue Ramius | Andrew Waltfeld | Kira Yamato | Athrun Zala
Junk Guild / Civilian / Other
Flay Allster | Sai Argyle | Sahib Ashman | Kuzzey Buskirk | George Glenn | Lowe Guele | Ulen Hibiki | Via Hibiki | Reverend Malchio | Canard Pars | Prayer Reverie | Sato
In other languages