| “ | Power and techniques alone are not everything when it comes to strength | „ |
| ~ Teresa to Clare |
Teresa is one of the main protagonists of the manga/anime series Claymore. She is the 182nd warrior of the 77th generation in the Organization, formerly ranked as No.1. She is among the eight No.1 warriors capable of surpassing the original Abyssal Ones, considered even to be the strongest ever created. She was also Clare's adoptive mother, and the reason she became a Warrior.
She is voiced by Romi Park in the Japanese version of the anime, and by Christine Auten in the English version of the anime.
Nickname[]
She was nicknamed "Teresa of the Faint Smile" (微笑のテレサ, Bishō no Teresa, lit. "Smiling Teresa") because she never disclosed specialized or extraordinary techniques from wich is a Nickname often derive, it is also based on the fact that she never used her massiv yoki-reserve but destroyed though every manner of enemie she faces with ease, in wich especially her smile stood out.
Appearance[]
Teresa was a very tall woman (180cm) with long, wavy, pale blonde hair parted down the middle, which she wore loose. She had silver eyes like all other Claymores, and wore the standard uniform. In a dream, Teresa remembered her once-black hair, which she had considered to be her best feature, and black eyes. She lost both as a side effect of the Claymore mutation.
Teresa was also considered to be beautiful, several of the bandits who attacked her and Clare in the forest commented lewdly that she was very attractive.
Personality[]
As a trainee, Teresa didn't want to be a Claymore and would constantly attempt to escape. She was known as a "problem child."
Before Teresa met Clare, she was a merciless, solitary killer who would accept any assignment without complaint. She seemed to enjoy intimidating the townsfolk and made it sound as if the Organization was responsible for sending Yoma to the towns that failed to pay the required fees. When Teresa met Clare, she obstinately tried to prevent the little girl from following her around and even physically hit and kicked her away, saying that she killed the Yoma because it's her job and nothing else (ironically, Clare herself would later say the same thing to Raki). She always had a faint smile on her face, hence her title "Teresa of the Faint Smile."
However, despite her initial violent nature, she does possess a kind and caring side. When it was made clear that Clare would not give up following her, however, she opened up her heart, and her formerly cold personality changed as she became very attached to the young girl. They grew a bond like a motherly, daughter bond and lived together from then onwards until Teresa's death by Priscilla.
In Irene's opinion, being with Clare had softened Teresa's toughness as a warrior and eventually led to her death when she chose to spare the lives of her executioners. However, Irene theorized that Teresa had found true happiness in her last days because of Clare and would not have changed her actions if she were to relive her life. This conclusion was indeed proven to be true as confessed by Teresa after her revival from within Clare. As such, she thanked God, if He ever existed, for having met Clare.
Abilities and Technique[]
Warrior Physiology[]
As half-breed (half-Yoma, half-Human) her physical prowess is in every term far above humans, include higher regeneration and durability. Her unique constitution enables her to manage longer time without food or water, neutralize toxins and regulate body temperature.
- Strength and Speed: Average half-breeds are naturally faster than even Yoma and strong enough to wild their heavy swords one-handed with blending speed. Ranked number 1 her performance is far above average half-breeds.
- Yoma-Power (Special Class): Half-breeds are able to release the inhuman energy of a Yoma to temporarely increase strength and speed above baseline. Higher Yoma-power baseline enables stronger rise above physical baseline, even at low (ten-percent) release, Teresa overwhelmed Yoma-entities with great reserve despite higher release.
Innate-Abilities[]
- Preemptive Sensing: Innate ability which allows reading Yoki-flow, also enables Detailed Yoki Sensing.
Clare[]
After Teresa's death innherited Clare (Sensing: C+) a reduced version of Preemptive Sensing, by implantation of Teresa's flesh and blood. Clare's version is less effective.
Clare can't use Detailed Yoki Sensing - Technique requires high excel in all abilities.
- Versatility: Eminent competency in every aspect of combat - all-around.
- Standard Sword Technique: Teresa never developed a special-technique, Versatility enables use of ordinary technique to overcome special-techniques from opponents, even when further enhanced by Yoma-Power release, as well as diverse combat situations.
Clare[]
Clare not innherited Versatility, only Preemptive Sensing. High excel in mental and physical ability are essential for advanced abilities and techniques.
Technique[]
- Detailed Yoki Sensing: Advanced Yoki-sensing technique enables Yoki-flow-detection by much finer resolution, anticipate opponents movements, counters attacks before they act.
Organization's Rating/Yoma War Record I[]
Teresa's organization Rating
Abilities[]
- Yoma power: S (Special Class)
- Agility: A
- Strength: A
- Mental: A
- Sensing: S
- Leadership: B
(Highest baseline warrior on Yoma War Records)
Innate-Abilities[]
Class: Offensive, Preemptive (Yoki) Sensing, Almighty (Versatility)
Technique[]
Detailed Yoki Sensing
Evaulation[]
The Organization note Teresa's ability to defeat every manner of Yoma-opponent without releasing any Yoma-power, and sensing ability beyond all other warriors.
Her abilities makes her the most powerful, even among all successive generations of warriors.
Note: It is unknown wether the organization was aware of what Teresa was capable of at 10% Yoma power release, since according to the Evaulation she never used her Yoma power.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Teresa is the strongest of the eight rank 1 warriors in generational history which considered exceptional powerful and also regarded as the most powerful character in the series.
- Contrary to the assessment of the organization, it is unknown if Teresa ever uses her sensing ability/technique during the fight against the suppression squad. Teresa does not need to use it according to Irene. Irene underestimated Teresa's physical abilities and pure skill with ordinary sword technique alone. Noel's suspicion is confirmed: "But she excel in all these things"- Noel to Irene
| “ | Teresa easily brushed aside the suppression squad, as if demonstrating what it truly meant to have the strongest abilities | „ |
| ~ Yoma War Record I |
Previously it was assumed that Teresa had only developed the strongest ability in the area Sensing (S) but not in all combat relevant areas. Noel's suspicion before the four began to fight Teresa, becames an unexpected reality. After battle Irene realized she was underestimating Teresa.
- Manga (Extra Scene 1) shows Teresa was hiding her true abilities. Hence the organization's rating is unlikely to reflect Teresa's real Baseline/Abilities.
- According to Yoma suppression records part 4-Awakened beings, a warrior shouldn't had have the strength to dismemberment high-ranked Awakened beings with bare hands alone.
- According to Orsay, Teresa shouldn't strong enough to overwhelm an Awakened Rosemary, and points out even if she lost rank 1 to Teresa, it doesn't mean she is not an potential Abyssal One.
| “ | You damned Monster | „ |
| ~ Awakened Rosemary's last words |