Guardian Tales Japan unveiled [SSR] Mad Engineer V (狂気の機関士 V) through a new hero introduction video on August 31, 2026. V is the engineer of the Kanterbury Express, continuing to run the train while transporting people left behind on the battlefield.
Voiced by Kanon Fujimura, the new hero enters the Japanese Pickup Summon on September 2, 2026 after maintenance together with the ★5 exclusive equipment Express Engine. Both remain featured until September 16 at 13:59 JST.
Quick Summary
- Game: Guardian Tales
- Japanese title: ガーディアンテイルズ
- Hero: 狂気の機関士 V
- English name: Mad Engineer V
- Rarity: SSR
- Content type: new hero / Pickup Summon
- Hero introduction video: August 31, 2026
- Version covered: Japan
- Pickup begins: September 2, 2026 after maintenance
- Pickup ends: September 16, 2026 at 13:59 JST
- Voice actor: Kanon Fujimura
- V's role: engineer of the Kanterbury Express
- Characterization: energetic and keeps the train moving without stopping
- Purpose of the train: carrying people left behind on the battlefield
- Promotional quote: “どこへでもお連れしますっ！”
- Attribute: Dark
- Class: Warrior
- Weapon category: two-handed sword
- Exclusive equipment: ★5 Express Engine
- Pickup equipment: Express Engine
- Story connection: Reply, Kanterbury side story
- Japanese side-story title: 応答せよ！カンタベリー
- Side-story setting: Canterbury Kingdom after Knight and Little Princess depart
- Side-story focus: those left behind continuing the resistance against the invasion
- V's role in the side story: one of the featured characters alongside Seira and Pepper
- Original V description: an energetic engineer who does not know how to hit the brakes
- Kanterbury Express: the train operated by V
- Character video: shows V's battle animation and visual design
- Equipment design: Express Engine resembles a massive train engine
- Progression: V supports Myth progression in regions where the hero is already available
- Myth Leader Skill in the Asia version: Train Departing!
- Regional exclusive equipment: Express Engine
- Developer: Kong Studios
- Genre: pixel-art action RPG
- Japanese platforms: iOS and Android
- Business model: free-to-play with in-app purchases
- Japanese Google Play publisher: Kong Studios, Inc.
- Status: announced for Japan; pickup had not yet begun when the August 31 video was released
- Final Japanese skill values: should be checked against in-game data after the September 2 update
Hero Video, Google Play and V Artwork
V Keeps the Kanterbury Express Running
The profile accompanying the video identifies V as the engineer of the Kanterbury Express. Even in the middle of a battlefield, V continues transporting people left behind and keeps the train running without stopping.
The train concept extends beyond the character's backstory. V's visual identity, the Express Engine exclusive equipment and several battle animations all draw directly from locomotive machinery.
The Japanese Pickup Begins September 2
Guardian Tales Japan will feature [SSR] Mad Engineer V from September 2 after maintenance through September 16 at 13:59 JST.
The ★5 Express Engine will be featured as the corresponding equipment during the same period. Japanese promotional material identifies V as a Dark-attribute Warrior using the two-handed sword weapon category.
V Comes From Reply, Kanterbury
V already has a narrative role before entering the summon pool. The engineer appeared in Reply, Kanterbury, a Japanese side story released on August 5, 2026.
The story follows people remaining in Canterbury after Knight and Little Princess leave the kingdom. Seira keeps communications alive, Pepper contributes through his role as a cook, while V is introduced as an energetic engineer who simply does not know how to brake.
Express Engine Defines V's Combat Identity
V's exclusive equipment is the Express Engine, a ★5 two-handed sword visually designed around a large train engine.
Official patch notes for the Asia region, where V arrived earlier, also list Express Engine as the exclusive equipment and use railway-themed terminology throughout V's abilities, including the Myth Leader Skill Train Departing!. Those numerical values come from another regional implementation, so the final Japanese numbers should still be checked after September 2.
V Also Supports Myth Progression
V supports the Myth progression system in regions where the character has already launched. Guardian Tales Asia's official notes show that Myth development adds a Leader Skill and enhances several parts of the character's kit.
For the Japanese server, it is safer to wait for the September 2 update page and in-game data before assuming that every numerical value will match another region exactly.
Why This Matters
1) V's story and combat design share one clear theme
Being an engineer is not just character flavor; trains also define V's weapon, abilities, animations and visual identity.
2) The hero directly connects to Reply, Kanterbury
Japanese players already received story context for V before the character becomes recruitable.
3) Express Engine gives V a distinctive battle silhouette
The oversized train-engine weapon creates a design that is immediately recognizable among the game's wider hero roster.
4) The video arrives before the banner opens
The introduction footage was released two days ahead of the pickup, giving players an early look at V's appearance and attack style.
Game Information
For now, the additional important information currently known includes:
- Mad Engineer V enters the Japanese Pickup Summon on September 2, 2026 after maintenance
- the banner is scheduled to end on September 16, 2026 at 13:59 JST
- V is an SSR hero
- the official Japanese name is 狂気の機関士 V
- other regions use the English name Mad Engineer V
- Kanon Fujimura voices V in Japanese
- V works as the engineer of the Kanterbury Express
- the character continues transporting people left behind on the battlefield
- Japanese promotional material presents V as a Dark-attribute Warrior
- V uses the two-handed sword weapon category
- V's exclusive equipment is ★5 Express Engine
- Express Engine is also featured in the September 2 equipment pickup
- V previously appeared in Reply, Kanterbury / 応答せよ！カンタベリー
- the side story became available in Japan on August 5, 2026
- Reply, Kanterbury follows Canterbury after Knight and Little Princess depart
- Seira, Pepper and V are among the characters highlighted in that story
- V's earlier description presents the engineer as energetic and completely unfamiliar with braking
- the Asia region released Mad Engineer V and Express Engine earlier
- the regional implementation includes Myth progression for V
- Myth progression adds the Leader Skill Train Departing! in that implementation
- skill values from other regions should not automatically be treated as final Japanese-server values before September 2
- Guardian Tales is a pixel-art action RPG
- the Japanese version is available on iOS and Android
- basic play is free with optional paid content
- gameplay combines action combat, dungeons, puzzles, hero development and multiplayer systems
- official Japanese game information is available through the Guardian Tales Official Website
- official updates are published through Guardian Tales Japan Official X
- V's character introduction is available through the Official X Post
- the V Pickup Summon announcement is available through the Official X Post
- V's introduction video is available through Guardian Tales Official YouTube
- the Japanese Android version is available through Guardian Tales on Google Play
- information on Reply, Kanterbury is available through the Guardian Tales Official Update
Closing
Mad Engineer V carries the Kanterbury Express identity directly into both character design and combat. After appearing in Reply, Kanterbury, the engineer is now preparing to become a recruitable SSR hero in Japan alongside the Express Engine.
The pickup begins on September 2, 2026 after maintenance and ends on September 16 at 13:59 JST. Final skill values and the exact Japanese implementation of Myth progression should be confirmed through the official update and in-game data once the patch goes live.
- Guardian Tales Japan Official X — Mad Engineer V Character Introduction Video and Japanese Voice Cast
- YouTube — Official Mad Engineer V Character Introduction Video
- Guardian Tales Japan Official X — Mad Engineer V and Express Engine Pickup Summon Period
- Guardian Tales Asia — Mad Engineer V, Myth Changes, Exclusive Equipment, and Regional Patch Notes
- AppMedia / KongStudios — Reply, Kanterbury Side Story and V Character Context
- Google Play — Official Japanese Guardian Tales Listing, Platforms, Genre, and Pricing Model
