Knightmare Frame
The giant robots in Code Geass - Lelouch of the Rebellion, created by Sunrise, are called Knightmare Frames (ナイトメアフレーム, Naitomea Furēmu), or simply Knightmares. Template:Spoiler
Introduction
First designed by the Holy Britannia Empire, the first use of the Knightmare Frames in actual combat was during Britannia's invasion of Japan. Using self-propelled roller skate systems christened 'Landspinners' to achieve high mobility and speeds and gain superiority on modern battlefields. They are also equipped with a sophisticated 'Factsphere' open sensor camera on the head or torso to gather visual data. Their power source is also known as the Yggdrasil Drive and their later models now incorporate nuclei made of Sakuradite, a material now paramount in superconductivity technology.
Their main standard weapons are handheld rifles, shoulder or wrist-mounted Slash Harkens (wired rocket anchors), Stun Tonfas, lances and airburst hand grenades. The cockpit, which is set in the protruding 'hump back', can be ejected in case of emergency and is equipped with parachutes, thereby increasing the average lifespan of a soldier on the battlefield and avoiding certain death. The overseeing General(s) are notified on their battlefield overmap when a pilot has ejected. Additionally, a "[signal] lost" indicates a frame's premature destruction or incapacitation before a successful eject. Verbally, the name sounds like nightmare but in spelling, it refers to a knight's mare.
The current fleet of Britannian Knightmare Frames uses the Royal Panzer Infantry (RPI) model series designation.
Britannian models
Lancelot
- Series：Z-01
- Height: 4.49m
- Weight: 6890kg
- Weapons
- Slash Harken×4 (スラッシュハーケン×4, Surasshu Hāken×4) (wired rocket anchors)
- MVS×2 (Maser Vibration Sword (メーザー バイブレーション ソード×2, Mēzā Baiburēshon Sōdo×2))
- VARIS (ヴァリス, Varisu) (specialized particle rifle) (VARIS: Variable Ammunition Repulsion Impact Spitfire)
- Aile Pack (enables flight)
The Lancelot (ランスロット, Ransurotto) is an experimental, one of a kind, Knightmare Frame developed by Lloyd Asplund and the Military Engineering Corps. Being the first seventh generation Knightmare Frame ever fielded, the Lancelot far exceeds the capacity of other models thanks to the heavy amount of Sakuradite scattered throughout its frame as well as well as in its Yggdrasil Drive, the 'Coalminas' core. As a high-performance unit, the Lancelot features a large number of experimental and innovative devices not yet found on its predecessors. Unlike the older Knightmare Frames, the Lancelot features two retractable Factspheres affixed on its chest, two forearm-mounted beam shields, as well as two Slash Harkens on its wrists and an additional two on its hips. Its backborne Maser Vibration Swords (MVS) can cut through any target thanks to their high oscillation ratio, while its VARIS specialized particle rifles can adapt to any type of situation due to its adjustable projectile repulsion output. However unlike other knightmare frames, the Lancelot lacks an ejection seat. The Lancelot is also able to be set-up with an Aile(air) Pack, allowing the Lancelot to fly.
Glasgow
- Series： RPI-11
- Height： 4.24m
- Weight: 7350kg
- Weapons
- Slash Harken (スラッシュハーケン, Surasshuhāken)
- Assault Rifles (アサルトライフル, Asarutoraifuru)
- Tonfa (トンファー, Tonfā)
- Stun Tonfa (スタンガン, Sutangan)
The Glasgow (グラスゴー, Gurasugō) is a fourth-generation Knightmare Frame that has actively contributed to the invasion of Japan by proving overwhelming superiority over conventional, land combat vehicles. Its hull also served as a template for Knightmare Frame research and development for later models. Now considered as outdated, the Glasgow is being quickly replaced by the newer RPI-13 Sutherland, although the civilian Knightpolice and the Japanese resistance still use modified or updated models named Burais. The Glasgow's armament array include Slash Harkens (wired hooks), tonfas and a handheld assault rifle. Kallen Stadtfeld uses customized red Glasgow in the beginning of the series. While saving her mother, her Glasgow was ultimately damaged beyond repair.
Sutherland
- Series： RPI-13
- Height: 4.39m
- Weight: 7480kg
- Weapons
- Slash Harken (スラッシュハーケン, Surasshuhāken)
- Assault Rifle (アサルトライフル, Asarutoraifuru)
- Giant Cannon (大型キャノン, Oogata Kyanon)
- Stun Tonfa (スタントンファ, Sutantonfā)
- Stun Gun (スタンガン, Sutangan)
- Chaos Bakurai (ケイオス爆雷, Keiosu Bakurai, lit. Chaos depth charge)
The Sutherland (サザーランド, Sazārando) is currently the standard Knightmare Frame model for the Britannian Army, the Sutherland is a fifth-generation unit heavily based on the older RPI-11 Glasgow. It boasts improved mobility through a better application of the Landspinner systems as well as enhanced cockpit life support. It carries Stun Tonfas, Slash Harkens and handheld assault rifles.
Gloucester
- Series： RPI-209
- Height: 4.29m
- Weight：7750kg
- Weapons
- Slash Harken (スラッシュハーケン, Surasshuhāken)
- Assault Rifles (アサルトライフル, Asarutoraifuru)
- Chaos Bakurai (ケイオス爆雷, Keiosu Bakurai, lit. Chaos depth charge)
The Fifth-generation Gloucester (グロースター, Gurōsutā) Knightmare Frame and actually a remodeled Sutherland focused on close combat. Featuring enhanced hand-to-hand capabilities, the Gloucester is exclusively used by Princess Cornelia's royal guards and is first seen piloted by Guilford and Darlton during the conquest of Area 18. The Gloucester, as a close combat unit, uses a large jousting lance, and to further represent a medieval knight's appearance, is occasionally draped in a cape. Although normal Gloucester models are painted blue, Cornelia's aides sport a red or purple color scheme instead.
Cornelia's Model
- Series: RPI-00/SC
- Height: 4.84m
- Weight: 7850kg
- Weapons
- Slash Harken (スラッシュハーケン, Surasshuhāken)
- Assault Rifles (アサルトライフル, Asarutoraifuru)
As Princess Cornelia's personal Knightmare, the Gloucester Cornelia Unit (グロースター・コーネリア機, Gurōsutā Kōneriaki) is a custom model featuring slight differences from the original model, namely two horn-like antenna arrays protruding from both sides of the headpiece.
Gawain
- Series: unknown
- Height: unknown
- Weight: unknown
- Weapons unknown
A new Knightmare Frame that appears in episode 18, and currently belongs to Schneizel El Britannia. Very little is known about this frame other than the fact that it features a double seated cockpit, is capable of flight, and has a devastating power. In episode 19, Zero and Kallen steal the Gawain from Schneizel.
Japanese models
Burai
- Series: Type-10R
- Height: 4.56m
- Weight: 7530kg
- Weapons
- Slash Harken (スラッシュハーケン, Surasshuhāken)
- Assault Rifles (アサルトライフル, Asarutoraifuru)
- Protector (プロテクター, Purotekutā)
The Burai (無頼 lit.Rascal) is remodeled version of the Glasgow manufactured by a group located in Kyoto and used by the Black Knights and the Japan Liberation Front. It is basically the same as a Glasgow, except for the head, which resembles the face of an oni (鬼) with the addition of fang-like cheekbones and the presence of a torso-mounted machine gun for antipersonnel warfare. Its hands have also been refurbished so that they can guard, a feature totally exclusive to the Burai model and not to the original Glasgows. Lelouch pilots a customized head unit reserved, easily recognizable by its golden horns almost resembling a samurai.
Burai Kai
- Series: Type-1R
- Height: 4.37m
- Weight: 7480kg
- Weapons
- Slash Harken (スラッシュハーケン, Surasshuhāken)
- Protector (プロテクター, Purotekutā)
- Template:Heat Katana
The Burai Kai (無頼改) is an optimized version of the Type-10R Burai, solely used by the General Toudou's Japanese Liberation Front as well as his group of subordinates, the Four Holy Swords. Its distinctive feature is the increase in length of its head antennas, which now extend to the back of the torso. The Burai Kai's performances in battle have proven to be equal to Britannia's Gloucester Knightmare frames.
Gekka
- Series: Unknown
- Height: Unknown
- Weight: Unknown
- Weapons
- Slash Harken (スラッシュハーケン, Surasshuhāken)
- Heat Katana
- Machine Cannon, embedded in its left forearm
The Gekka (月下 lit.Under the moonlight) is a new model revealed in Episode 17. It features the same style of cockpit as the Guren Nishiki. Based on the design of the cockpit and the reference of Kyoto's replacement knightmares, it is assumed to be a Japanese-made frame. It's piloted by the Shisei-ken and Toudou (with his own customized unit). Toudou's model is black and has a slash-harken that can extend from the handle of the sword.
Guren Nishiki
- Series: Type-02
- Height: 4.51m
- Weight: 7510kg
- Weapons
- Fukushahadō (輻射波動, lit. radiation surge)
- Slash Harken (スラッシュハーケン, Surasshuhāken)
- A short-barreled cannon embedded in its left forearm
A Knightmare Frame model manufactured by Japan and built by a group located in Kyoto, the Guren Nishiki (紅蓮弐式, lit. Crimson lotus type-02) features a different take on Knightmare Frame development, resulting in obvious differences in design and appearance with its Britannian counterparts. Despite the few similarities, the Guren Nishiki is on par with a seventh generation Knightmare Frame, a fact that is a source of pride for its manufacturers. Although equipped with devastating weaponry, the Guren Nishiki is however considered a defensive unit lacking ranged weapons. Shortly after its delivery to Tokyo, the only existing unit is given to the Order of the Black Knights. Zero entrusted this one-of-a-kind unit to Kallen as a replacement for the Glasgow unit she lost during episode 09. The Guren Nishiki features a helm-like outgrowth surrounding the retractable head as well as a silver, large, clawed right hand that houses a radiation wave emitter in its palm. When in close combat, the Guren Nishiki is able to grab nearby enemies by extending its collapsible arm and disable them by unleashing short bursts of high-energy oscillations known as Fukushahadō (輻射波動, lit. radiation surge). This devastating weapon can overload an enemy Knightmare Frame with microwave-like energy and destroy it by literally frying its components. Contrarily to other Knightmare cockpits, the Guren Nishiki features an unconventional pilot seat, shaped in the form of a motorbike seat. Its other weapons include a handheld blade as well as a short-barreled cannon embedded in its left forearm. The model was designed by Laksharta.