History Characters / MobileSuitGundamSEEDZAFT

* TheWorfEffect: A retrospective example - he was basically just seen as a run-of-the-mill ZAFT footsoldier when ''SEED'' first aired, but expanded material later revealed that Miguel was well-known AcePilot in his own right, lauded as the [[RedBaron "Magic Bullet of Dusk"]] for his exceptional marksmanship with his GINN's machine gun and it's custom orange paintjob. His defeat at the hands of Kira demonstrated the sheer power differential between a standard ZAFT machine and a Gundam/G-Weapon.

** SEED Suit CD Volume 5 reveals Yzak was once the chess junior champion of his hometown. As with all skills Yzak has, he is AlwaysSecondBest to Athrun.

* HiddenDepths: The ''Housenka'' MSV manga indicates that Yzak has a degree of Mobile Suit engineering knowledge that he can tell between combat-ready mechanics and blueprints that are better suited for R&D.

* CynicalMentor: To Athrun and Yzak in ''SEED''. He's the opposite of idealistic, yet still rather sympathetic to unhappy, cynical Athrun and also saves hotheaded Yzak from getting killed at Alaska.

* TookALevelInBadass: [[spoiler:A FusionDance variant with the Duel Blitz in ''SEED Freedom'', who is basically an upgraded Duel Gundam with Blitz's weapons such as the Lancer Dart launcher, a variant of the Gleipnir and has been fitted with a nuclear reactor for infinite energy. It can also use a METEOR system.]]

* TookALevelInBadass: [[spoiler:Finally gets a real upgrade in the form of the Lightning Buster in ''SEED Freedom'' where it is nuclear powered and is compatible with the METEOR.]]

* TookALevelInBadass: [[spoiler:A FusionDance variant with the Duel Blitz in ''SEED Freedom'', who is basically an upgraded Duel Gundam with Blitz's weapons such as the Lancer Dart launcher, a variant of the Gleipnir and has being fitted with a nuclear reactor for infinite energy. It can also use a METEOR system.]]

* CharClone: He channels [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Char Aznable's extremism]] to a more sane (but no less sinister) level than his friend Rau Le Creuset, as well as serving as a relatively-benevolent mentor for his army. Not to mention he's voiced by Creator/ShuichiIkeda and in the NYAV dub, Creator/KeithSilverstein.

* CharClone: He checks all the three boxes in ''SEED''.
** A blond AcePilot with an agenda, alias, and CoolMask who is also TheRival? Check! Gundam contractual obligations fulfilled.
** Rau also acts as TheMentor towards Athrun and the rest of the Le Creuset team, fulfilling the Quattro Bajeena branch of the trope.
** At the end of the series, Rau embodies the final Char archetype, becoming the DarkMessiah to the entire human race, purporting to save them from their suffering [[OmnicidalManiac through annihilation]].

* CoolMask: He is a CharClone, after all. In ''SEED Destiny'', we see both how long he's had it and him without it, finally.

* ShoutOut: Given how he interacts with [[Characters/GundamCharAznable the original]], his murky relationship with and potential betrayal of Durandal, surprise red uniform, and a younger sibling with a StrongFamilyResemblance and vastly different personality and goals are all meant to reference Char Aznable, even more so than his original CharClone status. Part of the many, ''many'' ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' {{Mythology Gag}}s in ''SEED Destiny''.

* TookALevelInBadass: [[spoiler:A FusionDance variant with the Duel Blitz in ''SEED Freedom'', who is basically an upgraded Duel Gundam with Blitz's weapons such as the Lancer Dart launcher and a variant of the Gleipnir. It can also use a METEOR system.]]

* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler:In ''SEED Freedom'', Ezalia is now a Clyne Loyalist, a far cry from the racism from ''SEED''. Like to further clear any doubts about her change of heart, she is shown commanding the ''Eternal'' alongside Eileen Canaver.]]

* GoodCostumeSwitch: In an ironic way. [[spoiler: ''SEED Freedom'' has her in a purple military uniform like her old boss Patrick, but she's now firmly a Clyne loyalist like her son, and thus is on the same side as him against the radical faction]]

* MechaExpansionPack: The Duel is later equipped with an "Assault Shroud" armor that greatly increases its combat versatility. [[spoiler:The Duel Blitz's outer armor functions identical to the "Assault Shroud" as it houses the original Duel Gundam underneath rather than being a part of the Gundam like the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDCE73Stargazer Blu Duel Gundam]]]].

* TookALevelInBadass: [[spoiler:A FusionDance variant with the Duel Blitz in ''SEED Freedom'', who is basically an upgraded Duel Gundam with Blitz's weapons such as the Lancer Dart launcher and a variant of the Gleipnir.]]

* LongRangeFighter: The Buster is basically a blunt instrument. It can obliterate opponents from a distance with its powerful long range arsenal [[CripplingOverspecialization but as it lacks any kind of melee weapon it suffers in close quarters combat or direct engagement with other mobile suits.]]. Dearka continues to specialize in long range combat in ''SEED Destiny''.

* CripplingOverspecialization: Relatively speaking compared to the other G-Project Gundams, the Blitz is designed around one thing to the detriment of its other capabilities: stealth. Its general performance is on-par but [[MasterOfNone not superior in any way to the other Gundams]], and its weakness is that its Trikeros shield houses all its weapons except the Gleipnir claw, meaning it cannot defend and fight well simultaneously and it has no high-power weaponry for inflicting heavy damage. So if it were to, say, lose its right arm in combat against another suit with phase shift armor, its options to cause damage would be nonexistent.

* CripplingOverspecialization: Relatively speaking compared to the other G-Project Gundams, the Blitz is designed around one thing to the detriment of its other capabilities: stealth. Its general performance is on-par but [[MasterOfNone not superior in any way to the other Gundams]], and its weakness is that its Trikeros shield houses all its weapons except the Gleipnir claw, meaning it cannot defend and fight well simultaneously and it has no high-power weaponry for inflicting heavy damage.

* FragileSpeedster: Relatively speaking compared to the other G-Project Gundams. The Blitz is quite fast and lighter than the other Gundams except the Duel (without Assault Shroud) and Strike (without the packs) and its Mirage Colloid bolsters its evasive capabilities. Its weakness is that the special shield houses all its weapons except the Gleipnir claw, meaning it cannot defend and fight well simultaneously and it has no high-power weaponry for inflicting heavy damage.

* WeakButSkilled: Played with: The Duel on paper looks like the lowest-spec Gundam in the series, lacking any special role (Artillery, Stealth, Agility, Multi-Role), and its normal weaponry is basically the Aile Strike minus the maneuverability boost. However, the lack of gimmicks is due to the fact that it's the first of the Gundams ever produced, and is in fact ''SEED'''s version of the RX-78-2, and as a result of lacking special features and being a testbed for the other 4 suits, it both carries no weaknesses overall and is incredibly physically powerful in comparison to its siblings. [[note]]And the reason for it's limited armaments? It's main weapon (an incredibly powerful bazooka) was stolen by the pilot of the Gold Frame (who fired the aforementioned bazooka and not only tore open a hole in the colony, but tore off the Gold Frame's right arm in the process. Note this is something the Duel is built to be able to withstand firing repeatedly). And when the unit is upgraded with extra armor, it barely gets slowed down by the excess weight.[[/note]] Despite that it's clearly outclassed by its sibling units and becomes woefully underpowered during the course of the series, Yzak gives Kira no end of trouble in the first half of ''SEED'', and takes out two of the Alliance's {{Super Soldier}}s (the very same ones that could fight Kira and Athrun on even footing). The Duel eventually becomes the only one of the original five Gundams to survive the war in one piece. As for Yzak himself, he is always given the short end of the stick when it comes to machines such as the Duel Gundam (as explained above) and in ''Destiny'' where he is relegated to AceCustom machines rather than receiving anything special.

** He's kinder, more appreciative, and more understanding to Athrun than Athrun's father is, and saves both Yzak's and Flay's lives in the battle of JOSH-A, even managing to restore Flay's equilibrium to a point where she's more stable than she ever was on the ''Archangel''. Subverted when he nonchalantly shoots her escape shuttle just to cause Kira grief, though it's unclear if he noticed she was inside the shuttle.

** And then there's the famous moment he stops going after the ''Archangel'' after [[MoralityPet Lacus yells at him and tells him off,]] even though someone like him could (apparently) have easily brushed her aside. Even he has limits and a continued willingness to listen, however surprising those might be.

** To Athrun. Patrick Zala treats ''him'' like the favored son and shows Athrun what amounts to zero kindness. Due to his [[AbusiveParent own]] past and probably because of this, Rau's generally quite sympathetic to Athrun. He's also [[MoralityPet somewhat more interested in Athrun's fiancee]] than Athrun is...

* MoralityPet: Lacus. He praises her effusively without an obvious reason, remembers words she said months later, and she's the only one he's ever shown to listen to, even when she does it by playing dirty and threatening a ThisIsUnforgivable in front of his whole command. Her status to him as a sort of BarrierMaiden means he still tries to kill her to usher in the apocalypse, but even while in a manic state of homicidal rage, he also says he enjoyed her songs (even loved, if you go by the original Japanese).

* ParentalSubstitute: Downplayed with Athrun in ''SEED'', but he's still a more reasonable alternative to Patrick. Played straight and invoked on him by Flay, who claims he has her father's voice at their RescueIntroduction. He ends up protecting her and looking after her for quite a while, before subverting this by using her as a courier of chaos and finally killing her at the end.

* PromotionToParent: Given how Rau found Rey, rescued him, reassured him, seemingly gave him a SignificantWardrobeShift to a NiceSuit, and is shown hand-in-hand with him, sitting with him, taking him to visit Durandal, and letting him play the piano, he was apparently this to his sibling. It also explains his ParentalSubstitute tendencies in ''SEED'' with characters like Athrun and Flay.

* RedIsHeroic: Before he became the VillainInAWhiteSuit from ''SEED'', Rau wore what's either the precursor to the modern ZAFT redcoat model or simply an Earth military CustomUniform (or both, but the fact that it isn't elaborated on at all just adds to his mystique). He did it while rescuing a child and attempting to GiveHimANormalLife. It's played with in that he is clearly meant as a ShoutOut to the original Gundam MalevolentMaskedMan, RedIsViolent Char Aznable (who is played by Durandal's seiyuu Creator/ShuichiIkeda). Almost as big a surprise as finally seeing his face, considering he was originally so carefully ColorCodedForYourConvenience.

* SiblingYinYang: Rey is TheQuietOne and an IceKing; Rau's a [[LargeHam flamboyant]] [[DramaQueen dramatist]] with a lot more experience in the world and a definite desire to do particular people a good bit of harm. Contrast the way they both treat Athrun over his Kira issues, or Rau's admiration of Lacus with Rey's HeroWorship of Durandal. Even Rey's persistently straight hair with Rau's very wavy look -- basically, the similarities between them are far outweighed by the differences.

* TalkingYourWayOut: Flay is once again pointing a gun at his head. Rau coolly shrugs it off, points out she'll die if she does do it, points out she's not really living much at the moment anyway and she could just use it on herself if she's so eager, questions whether it's even loaded, and finishes [[BreakThemByTalking breaking her]] by gently and correctly pointing out that she's not really a soldier (so guns and killing aren't really her thing). It's so effective, it not only keeps him alive, her attitude begins to improve afterwards. Compare Lacus with Athrun the following episode of ''SEED''.

* UnfinishedBusiness: Seemingly why he's still a presence in ''SEED Destiny'', although he only appears to Durandal, then Kira (and Lacus), sort of, in the FinalBattle, and Rey at the very end.

* VillainousLegacy: Many of his predictions from ''SEED'' come true and drive the plot of ''SEED Destiny'' as well as his debates with Durandal, and Rey's relationships with him, Gil, and Shinn. Kira also continues to battle with the severe PTSD he induced.

* BeautyEqualsGoodness: In ''SEED Destiny'', the less-deteriorating and war-and-pain-crazed version of Rau ''also'' saves kids from hell...and without the mask, he's probably the most handsome character in the entire series. This is how Rey sees him at the very end.

* {{Dehumanization}}: He's physically, mentally, and emotionally suffering from the consequences of the war as well as his own body breaking down -- the scene where he needs his pills after Mendel makes him seem more animal than human -- and in the end claims not to believe people will ever stop trying to kill each other. He also loathes Kira for several reasons, two major being getting to live without any comparable consequences and also that Kira's true existence IS likely to set off waves of greed and violence, just like George Glenn's -- not to mention the dehumanizing and philosophically horrifying ramifications of being born "exactly how someone else wants you to be". It takes Lacus's countering kindness to keep Rau's initial BreakingSpeech to Kira from sticking.

** Then there's the point where he talks about Athrun returning sobbing with Lacus's dead body at the beginning of ''SEED''. Not only does it flash his dark side, Athrun ended up doing exactly this in the sequel, with ''Meer,'' [[ExactWords who certainly counts as "Lacus's" body]] -- Rau tends to be right about a lot of things...

* VillainousFriendship: He was well-acquainted with the previous BigBad, Rau Le Creuset, providing him with his signature drugs and being a chess and debate partner. Given Rau is either firmly in his memories or appearing to him as an actual apparition, they apparently have some UnfinishedBusiness...

* GenderFlip: He presents himself as a saint to various "poor unfortunate souls", transforms Meer in accordance with her dream, then steals her voice ''and'' Lacus's for his own use. Meer may be the Creator/HansChristianAndersen version of ''Literature/TheLittleMermaid'', but Durandal borrows a lot from [[Characters/TheLittleMermaidAntagonists Ursula]], even down to a tentacle-like black mass of hair. He also plays the sea witch in a SEED Character Theater PictureDrama.

* ShoutOut:
** Meer's character is this to the Creator/HansChristianAndersen version of ''Literature/TheLittleMermaid''. (A mermaid is "Meerjungfrau" in German.) The mermaid in the story transformed her appearance completely through a bargain, gave up her voice for her dream, did not regain it, and DidNotGetTheGuy she was in love with. Oh, and she ends up losing her life by sacrificing herself instead of the person she cares most about, just like that mermaid. It's even represented in one of the ''SEED Character Theater'' {{picture drama}}s, with Durandal playing the sea witch who transformed her.
** She's also this to the heroine of the eponymous 80's cartoon ''WesternAnimation/{{Jem}}'', given that she's a highly-talented accessory-wearing pink-haired popstar who exists for reasons of necessity and her identity is incredibly popular, but not real[[note]] the twist being that ''Jem'' was one person, two identities; where in ''SEED Destiny'', is two people, one identity[[/note]]. Meer's slightly-elongated star hairclip can be seen in the Jem logo.

He was a civilian employee of Verne Design Bureau and worked as a test pilot. He began working for ZAFT after Verne was merged with other companies to form Integrated Design Bureau. He has particular skill with the DRAGOON system. Before the beginning of the second war, he was the test pilot of the Proto-Chaos, and later, tChaos Gundam. When the Chaos was stolen, he launched in the Proto Chaos to fight against a separate group that attacked Armory One.

!!!'''Main mecha:''' [=XMF-P192P Proto-Chaos=], [=ZGMF-X56S/θ Destiny Impulse Gundam=]

He was a civilian employee of Verne Design Bureau and worked as a test pilot in the development team. He began working for ZAFT after Verne was merged with other companies to form Integrated Design Bureau. He has particular skill with the DRAGOON system.