Proof that the remaining 10% is worth dying for here, provided you don't get CHOMPed.
These are recommendations made by Tropers for Muv-Luv fanfics, all of which have to be signed to stay on the page. After a few samples, you will be able to judge whether you might be interested in the 'fic, based on who recommended it. No-name recommendations will be zapped. Nobody would back up the rec.
Discussion of the recommendation is welcome on the discussion page. As such discussion is important, do remember to add the discussion page to the watchlist, if need be. You can also add to the current recommendations if you want. You can do it by leaving a review, but please make sure it is substantive, or if you do not wish to leave a review by simply adding your handle to the recommended by line. Refrain from posting Conversation in the Main Page though; that goes in the discussion page.
Do warn when a fanfic may head into non-canon territory. Some people just don't like it, and as we all know, Shipping is Serious Business.
General Fics
Muv-Luv Undertow
by Invalidname
- Recommended by Frost Warrior
- Status: Dormant (Last updated March 28, 2023)
- Synopsis: After a fateful encounter with the BETA, an American young man is left with no other option than to join the military. As he attempts to continue a somewhat normal life at the base, he crosses paths with an interesting set of people. He meets a young refugee TSF pilot, a neighbor who is drawn to nationalistic rhetoric, and a local politician. While humanity is waging a war of extinction, all is not quiet at home. Even in a time demanding unity, there will be those looking to sow division. These inconsequential actors must cope with reality as they work to alter it.
- Comments: This is a very well-written fanfiction structured as a series of 5 books. it explores the American story far away from the front lines while still being able to deliver everything you can expect out of a Muv-Luv story. As such, it is a character drama focused on the lives of people impacted indirectly by the BETA war. It is comprised of original characters with figures from the original trilogy, Total Eclipse, and Schwarzesmarken sprinkled in as cameos.
Muv-Luv Reversal (Legacy) by Zuoriel
- Recommended by Selic
- Status: Abandoned (Legacy)/Active again (New) (Last updated November 16, 2023)
- Synopsis: After returning to Extra from Alternative's ending, a series of tragic events forces Takeru to send himself into another loop. However, upon his return everything seems to have taken a turn for the worse. Though he manages to find himself in the employ of Vice Commander Kouzuki once again, new difficulties appear at every turn. Old bonds he forged anew in previous loops remain frozen in this world, and the memories he has kept become an albatross around his neck rather than a benefit. Without knowing why is he given such a cold welcome, Takeru steels himself to try and keep everyone alive this time despite unknown threats closing in on him.
- Comments: This is a much darker flavor of Muv-Luv than usual. It is not for everyone and has sensitive material. Reader discretion is advised. While at first attempting to seem like simply a rehash of the 'Another Loop' fics, Reversal is a story that never lets up on Takeru with many moving parts happening in the background. It's a continuation from Alternative that explores the ramifications and effects of the causality conductor on Takeru and those around him. Reversal, however, is messily organized. Reversal (Legacy) represents the old abandoned story that forms a baseline for the currently active fics, due to pacing issues. Ripples to Waves is a new prologue, while the new Reversal intends to follow in the footsteps of Legacy but with fewer flashbacks and such while keeping the core of the story intact. All versions of Reversal are long reads, and lean on angst and dark themes hard with twists and curves coming at any point.
Someone New by BakaSmurf
- Recommended by Drilltank, CrusaderJerome
- Status: Completed as of November 7, 2021.
- Synopsis: A fairly basic but well-executed fanfiction where the basic premise is that instead of dropping himself into the setting, he instead drops a willing
guinea pigfriend into the setting to see how he'll fare. Though there is one teensy, tiny caveat: Said friend doesn't know what he's getting into! Follow 'Juyo Janai' as he tries to maintain his sanity in a rather grim setting! The story follows the events of the main trilogy of Extra, Unlimited, and Alternative. - Comments: To be completely honest, this is one of the better Space Battles fanfictions I've seen in quite a while. It's amazing what kind of a difference someone whose mind doesn't function like a dense harem anime protagonist can make. (Also, for the love of cod, read the rules of the thread if you're going to post. The friend insert is blind and it should be kept that way.)
Refuge in Audacity or Die Trying by Heir of the Void
- Recommended by BetaHalo
- Status: Dormant (Last updated December 27, 2020)
- Synopsis: One man and one A-12 Avenger Tactical Surface Attacker take on a world of CHOMP.
- Comments: Waking up in an unfamiliar ceiling is a familiar trope, but waking up inside of a giant robot that shouldn't exist is kind of worse. Waking up during the 1998 BETA invasion of Japan is the worst one could have asked for (During the Prologue of Muv Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse). Watch as Michael Kranz fight his way through existential crisis, the woes of command and also the brutality of the Unlimited-Alternative world. Also this is Muv-Luv so Harem (in growing process) antics are to be expected. The world demands it. Recently finished Arc 1
Muv-Luv Alternative: Solar Flare by F-14 Tomcat Lover
- Recommended by Mr Terrorist
- Status: Dormant (last updated June 2017)
- Synopsis: Yuuya Bridges, a young Second Lieutenant of the US Army. Normally a young man who would be of no interest. Little had been known about him. But a man known simply as the Agent arranged for Yuuya to go and do something that would change his life forever. Now he's in for the fight that there is no retreat, no surrender, and only victory. Roughnecks, HO!
- Comments: Great fanfic with some cool action scenes with humanity fighting back against the BETA's advance. Also contains Yuuya x Harem shipping.
Muv Luv: One Last Time into the Loop by PaulXion
- Recommended by Gunbazca
- Status: Dead (Though has an impressively large backlog of chapters)
- Pairings: None
- Synopsis: Shirogane Takeru struggles against reality as he returns to the past one more time to change the fate the Alternate World. Armed with only the knowledge of the future and his incredible skills as a soldier, he prepares for the inevitable clash against BETA.
- Warnings: Diverges completely into non-canon after the battle of Sadogashima
3 ReviewsMuvLuv: Comet by Alastor Mobius Toth
- Recommended by MrTerrorist, WildGoose
- Status: Dead
- Synopsis: A comet. Once associated with oncoming despair and misfortune. Then, as a beautiful herald of change. Will a small change in American policy lead to a different outcome for the world? Or will the effect be ultimately remain the same? Or will world fall to ruin? Total Eclipse AU.
- Comments: In this well written, action packed AU fanfic, America has a change of policy and decides to take the war against the BETA more seriously rather than their own interests thanks to Secretary of Defense David Anderson and CIA Director Jack Harper. The fanfic mostly focuses on Yuuya Bridges, who in this timeline is a member of the Comets, a TSF unit from the newly formed United States Space Force who assist their allies by Drop Podding into enemy lines! The story takes an interesting turn when tragedy happens to America. A highly recommended read.
Muv-Luv: Breaking the Tide by Hitokiri OTD
- Recommended by WildGoose, Grant MK 2
- Status: Dead
- Synopsis: Shirogane Takeru had been through hell more times than even he knew. Fighting through despair, failure, and the death of all he held dear, he fulfilled his goals and earned his rest. Yet, somewhere among the unlimited universes, a voice still calls out for him.
- Comments: Takeru went through hell in Alternative, but managed to be sent to Final Extra to live happily... except that today, he wakes up at the start of Alternative, and remembers what happened, and decides to try and make a better run of things.
Muv-Luv: Provenance by G3r Man
- Recommended by Grant MK 2
- Status: Dead
- Pairings: Takeru/Meiya
- Synopsis: Takeru's eyes open to find himself in a hospital bed, inhabiting a new loop in an eerily familiar world. Many things have changed, but the worst of the previous world still remains. The BETA and Alternative V, and a burning desire for revenge. He struggles to find the answers as to why he was pulled into that world, and what he can do to save it.
- It isn't quite clear exactly what the story is yet, but currently at three chapters and nearly 23,000 words it manages to be interesting at least.
Crossover Fics
Luv and Hate, by Cpl_Facehugger.- Recommended by Tanukiro
- Status: Dormant (Circa February 27, 2021)
- Synopsis: Crossover of Supreme Commander and Muv-Luv: Alternative. Colonel Steele, UEF Commander, finds himself awake and, more confusingly, alive after performing a suicide mission, to close a quantum rift by detonating a sufficiently large quantum a explosive on the other side. Soon after surveying his surroundings, he comes into contact with a small group of people, the Cadet Squad 207, who, according to his databases, were speaking an ancient language that had died centuries, if not millenia, ago. Without enough intel nor allies, Colonel Steele will have to cooperate with the locals in this new world, whether he loves it or hates it.
- Comments: A CYOA type of fic, introducing a powerful ally to the Alternative world. Delves further than Japan-side of the war, providing clever setbacks to humanity despite the advanced technology the MC brings to the world.
Project Ignition by Airship Canon
- Recommended by Sage The Mage
- Status: Dead
- Synopsis: Crossover with Armored Core For Answer. In the past, Humans fought the BETA. After a brutal war, humanity earned its victory at a terrible cost. However, in this day, where the mighty Lynx and the NEXT rule the battlefield... after the hero Strayed felled the Assault Cells... the BETA have returned to once again devour humanity.
- Comments: Surprisingly well blended Crossover, with some amazingly well-written back-stories. Gets violent quick, though, and the main character definitely invokes some mixed feelings, considering he's a Jerkass, although, considering, he's frequently faced with the consequences of his actions I wouldn't say Jerkass Sue. Runs a cute romance story between the main character Adler and his childhood friend, Selene.
Muv-Luv: Do You Remember Luv - Try Again by Sasahara17
- Recommended by Wild Goose
- Status: Complete
- Synopsis: Crossover with Macross Frontier. After the events of Kamchatka Peninsula, the XFJ Plan is reborn as 'Project Valkyrie'. As Captain Yui Takamura prepares to take the reins of her new command, Lieutenant Yuuya Bridges deals with a crisis of faith. Together, they will make the inauguration a day no one will ever forget.
- Comments: An interesting crossover; the initial concept is that a fold drive test causes a Negative Space Wedgie that dumps Strategic Military Services Ace Pilot Yuuya Bridges into the world of Total Eclipse. It's a fascinating and balanced look at the two verses, particularly the culture clash between Muv-Luv and Macross, and Yuuya's displacement into this world is not without consequences. First in a series of planned one-shots.
- Tropes page here.
Muv-Luv: DYRL -Valkyries-, by Sasahara17
- Recommended by: Wild Goose
- Status: Dead
- Synopsis: Two special operatives descend on Atsugi Base with the same mission: find and secure TSF technician Hibiki Tatsunami. Meanwhile, Eishi cadet Yuzuka Sendou meets the young boy in question and discovers he's more than he appears.
- Comments: The sequel to Try Again, timeskipping a few months, sees further development of the story, this time focusing on Hibiki Tatsunami, and his attempts to deal with the culture clash between the worlds of Macross Frontier and Muv-Luv, while at the same time adding in a bit of intrigue to the mix.
The Alternative Effect, by JordanBookWorm
- Recommended by: Mr Terrorist
- Status: Dormant
- Synopsis: Crossover with Mass Effect. After decades of war, Humanity purged the BETA from the Solar System. Now they set their sights on the stars.
- Comments: The story currently has two parts. The first follows Yuuya and Yui's descendant, Mari Bridges, a TSF pilot of an United Earth that has expanded to the stars after driving the BETA out of their Solar System where her fleet makes first peaceful contact with the Turians and battle the BETA. The second follows Commander Shepard in an alternative retelling of the 1st Mass Effect game.
Muv-Luv Unlimited ~From the End of the Galaxy~, by 山崎ヨシマサ
- Recommended by: SuperFeatherYoshi
- Status: Dead
- Synopsis: Crossover with Super Robot Wars Alpha 3. After the failure of Alternative 4 and the activation of Alternative 5, Kouzuki Yuuko, with the support of Koubuin Yuuhi, secretly begins "Alternative 6": the plan to send an inter-dimensional SOS message to parallel worlds with the help of Takeru and Kasumi. Meanwhile, in another universe, the Alpha Numbers, having just defeated Keisar Ephes, suddenly receive visions of a mysterious girl...
- Comments: An absolutely fantastic read that manages to combine hot-blooded giant robot actions, political intrigue, and comedy (Yuuko almost flipped out when Bright asked her if BETAs can fire Homing Lasers or merge with each other to become gigantic, and completely loses it upon seeing the physics defying stunts of the various Super Robots). The Alpha Numbers, though still ridiculously powerful, does not overshadow the Muv-Luv cast. Despite the large cast, everyone gets their moment to shine and nobody feels left out. The Applied Phlebotinum from the various series (most notably Minovsky-Ionesco fusion tech and the Exelion's element conversion device) are used intelligently to help the nations of Earth fight BETA. Unfortunately, it's only in Japanese.
