In The Witch and the Beast, Ashaf is one half of a witch-hunting duo alongside Guideau. So, how strong is Ashaf in The Witch and the Beast?
RELATED: The Best Dark Fantasy Anime for Adults
Who Is Ashaf, Exactly?
Ashaf, who introduces himself as a mage, is an elegant and soft-spoken man who works with Guideau, solving instances of magic misuse and hunting witches. He's also a chain smoker.
He's a member of the Order of Magical Resonance, and his magic focuses on ravens.
To make his appearance more ominous and in line with the anime's gothic roots, he carries a coffin on his back, which is revealed to hide Guideau's true form, a fearsome beast.
Both Guideau and Ashaf are shrouded in mystery. They appear in a town one day without much information about their past so the reason Ashaf hunts witches isn't elaborated upon.
It's clear that Ashaf's appearance and powers are intended to enrich The Witch and the Beast's gothic aesthetics.
How Strong Is Ashaf in The Witch and the Beast? Powers Explained
Physically, Ashaf isn't as strong as Guideau, whose true form is big and monstrous. After unleashing his partner's form from its coffin, he focuses on magic and spells rather than physical combat.
For instance, Ashaf has deep knowledge of sorcery tools that can make one's power equivalent to a witch's. This allows him to practice magic and recognize an opponent's magic use.
His primary form of magic involves summoning birds like crows and ravens and using them to do his bidding.
If he covers one of his eyes, he can see through the birds' own, which is really helpful in battle.
Through the tattoos on his arms, Ashaf can summon force fields and cast protective spells to protect himself and Guideau.
His healing magic allows him and Guideau to recuperate more easily than they normally would, while he can also exercise mind control against his enemies.
Ashaf's quiver of abilities also includes paralyzation and water manipulation. He points out that manipulating liquid elements is hard, and he's struggled with it, but he can manage.
While the anime hasn't elaborated on this too much so far, he likely possesses some knowledge about Guideau's true form as he refers to her as a rare creature.
Discover more anime news and info by following us on X @epicstreamanime.
READ NEXT: What's the Deal With the Mark on Guideau's Neck in The Witch and the Beast?