All 8 Subaru Routes in Re:Zero Explained

Exploring Subaru's Character Development in Re:Zero

Introduction to Subaru's Choices

• In the world of Re:Zero, Subaru faces numerous choices that test his character and lead to personal growth.

• Side stories explore alternative scenarios where Subaru makes different decisions, referred to as "if roots."

• Each "if root" showcases a unique version of Subaru, reflecting how he fails or succeeds in overcoming sins.

Main Subaru: The Hero of Envy

• The primary version of Subaru is linked to the Witch of Envy, representing his journey to save her.

• This iteration progresses the main story, defeating significant foes and achieving heroic feats.

• His last appearance in Ark 9 leaves him in a precarious situation due to Al debron's actions.

Pride Subaru: A Deviation from the Path

• The first deviation introduces "Pride Subaru," who refuses Reinhardt's help due to excessive pride.

• He experiences over 80 deaths trying to defeat Elsa, leading him into madness and corruption.

• After realizing Elsa's strength, he recruits her instead of admiring Reinhardt’s power.

Dark Decisions and Consequences

• Despite saving Emilia, Pride Subaru remains detached from her initially due to lack of engagement.

• He joins the Witch’s cult for information about Emilia but ultimately turns against his friend Beatrice.

• After extensive planning with Elsa’s assistance, he aims for revenge against Betto Gee while committing various evils.

Climax and Destruction

• The narrative explores what happens when characters are absent from Subaru's influence; Cru’s camp is erased by the White Whale.

• Eventually, after 10,000 loops filled with despair and destruction caused by his actions, he confronts Reinhardt again.

Reinhardt's Rage and Subaru's Choices

The Consequences of Subaru's Actions

• Reinhardt, known as the sword saint of Laguna, expresses his rage towards Subaru for eviscerating the Kingdom he vowed to protect.

• Elsa intervenes, allowing Subaru to escape and seek Amelia, where he reveals his transformation into the ultimate evil in their world.

• Subaru declares himself the Archbishop of Pride and attacks Amelia, leading to his own demise as he accepts his fate.

The Wrath Timeline

• This timeline introduces a wrathful version of Subaru who confronts Ram instead of resetting until achieving a perfect outcome.

• With Beatrice’s help, Subaru chooses to fight Ram directly but ultimately kills her after she is incapacitated.

Rise to Power

• Years later, Subaru has amassed significant power and wealth through an organization called Plees, controlling powerful mercenaries.

• Halibel and Cilus become loyal allies to Subaru before their introduction in the main story.

Plans for Eradication

• Puck collaborates with Subaru on a plan to eliminate everyone at Roswell's mansion for Amelia’s safety.

• After capturing Amelia and Federica, they confine her in a cage within their headquarters known as Pandemonium.

Transformation into The Purge King

• As The Purge King, Subaru indiscriminately takes lives based on whims while Amelia develops Stockholm syndrome towards him.

• Reinhardt confronts Plees due to Roswell’s death; despite weakened divine protections from Pandemonium, he defeats Cesis.

Subaru's Mental Breakdown

Clashes with Reinhardt

• During an encounter with Reinhardt, Amelia attempts to save herself but ultimately fails alongside Puck in Beast form.

Isolation and Trust Issues

• Following Halibel’s death during another confrontation with Reinhardt, Subaru experiences a mental breakdown due to trust issues stemming from betrayal.

Alternative Paths: A New Life

A Different Choice with Rem

• In this alternate narrative path, REM agrees to run away from Laguna with Subaru instead of steering him back onto the main storyline.

Building a New Life Together

• Time passes as they live together peacefully; Halibel becomes their neighbor while REM works as an elementary school teacher.

Encounter with the Mysterious Woman

Attack by the White-Haired Woman

• Subaru and REM are attacked by a powerful white-haired woman in a black kimono who can manipulate winds, showcasing her formidable abilities.

• Halel intervenes, surprising Subaru as he learns that Halel is a folklore figure capable of defeating the attacker, forcing her to retreat.

REM's Condition

• After the attack, REM collapses from exhaustion rather than injury; she is revealed to be pregnant with Subaru's child.

• Halel goes out to find medical help while Subaru tries to protect REM from the returning white-haired woman, who appears in a different outfit this time.

The Nature of Zestia and the Oni

Identity Revelation

• The two women encountered are actually different beings: one is an Oni resembling REM, while the other is Zestia, a spirit with a tragic past.

• Zestia’s light bulb was stolen by the Oni, causing her to take on Zestia's appearance; this connection explains their similarities.

Conflict Resolution

• Despite believing that REM stole her light bulb, Zestia refrains from harming her due to her pregnancy. Halel protects them both.

• Eventually, they return Zestia’s light bulb and eliminate the Oni threat. A time skip reveals Subaru living peacefully with his family.

Subaru's New Challenges

Greed and Contracts

• The narrative shifts focus as Subaru faces new trials presented by Akna, who offers him power in exchange for forming a contract.

• Disgusted by Akna’s true intentions for infinite knowledge at any cost, Subaru rejects her offer despite feeling overwhelmed.

Consequences of Choices

• Following his rejection of Akna’s offer, Subaru has died over 100 million times and become desensitized; he manipulates others for strategic advantages.

• His relationships suffer as he forces Beatrice and Garfield away from their homes instead of convincing them like before.

Amelia's Instability

Amelia's Trials Unfinished

• Amelia fails to complete her trials due to Subaru taking on those burdens himself; this leaves her emotionally unstable and potentially dangerous.

Rising Tensions

• With Reinhardt present in Amelia’s camp and tensions high due to Amelia’s instability, there are dire consequences looming for everyone involved.

Subaru's Despair

Seeking Solutions

• In his despair at not being able to save REM or stabilize Amelia, Subaru seeks advice from Akina about potential solutions involving royal bloodlines.

Final Moments

Subaru's Journey Through Death and Memory

The Impact of Weather on Subaru's Life Choices

• Subaru uses his ability, "Return by Death," to inform Petra about the day's weather, highlighting how he has died countless times yet undervalues his own life in this side story.

Gluttony and Memory Loss

• In Ark 6, Subaru loses all memories from the world of Re:Zero, reverting to his original self as seen in the first episode.

• The "Books of the Dead" are introduced; each deceased individual has a book containing their memories stored in a library within the Plee's Watchtower.

Struggles with Identity and Decision-Making

• Without memories, Subaru is trapped in a situation where others depend on him for decisions, leading to confusion and repeated failures.

• He discovers that he could regain his identity by taking the lives of those who know him but ultimately chooses not to do so.

A Dark Path of Sacrifice

• Instead of sacrificing friends for knowledge, Subaru resolves to save everyone while rediscovering himself amidst dire circumstances.

• His plan involves obtaining information from others' Books of the Dead before potentially ending his own life to return with knowledge.

Consequences and Despair

• After taking lives within the Watchtower, Subaru confronts Reinhard but faces insurmountable challenges due to an overwritten safe point.

• This version of Subaru is marked by despair; regardless of outcomes against Reinhard, he cannot reverse his tragic choices.

The Redeemed Yet Troubled Version of Subaru

A New Timeline Post REM's Death

• In an alternate timeline after Rem’s death at the hands of Betelgeuse, Reinhard takes Subaru under his wing as a student.

Growth and Power Dynamics

• A 20-year time skip reveals a more powerful yet still limited Subaru who can handle mob beasts but struggles against stronger foes like Sin Archbishop.

Team Dynamics Against Betelgeuse

• Assembling a team including Elsa and Beatrice, they strategize against Betelgeuse while aiming for personal confrontations.

Climax with Legendary Weapons

• The climax sees Subaru wielding one of ten legendary swords to defeat Betelgeuse through self-sacrifice which leads him back to an earlier save point.

Exploring Alternate Realities

Mobile Game Adaptation Insights

• This storyline exists primarily in a mobile game format; it lacks depth compared to main arcs but offers engaging content nonetheless.

Character Variations Impacting Outcomes