Fate/stay night

[Munsu]

To our knowledge, the Servants may have fought in previous Wars, so that Archer knew Ilya from before doesn't prove anything. Ilya was always a mysterious character, so how Archer knew her could've been explained by several different theories.

Without knowledge of Archer being Shirou, Archer using a variety of weapons doesn't mean that he's creating them. At the time, it seemed like it was simply part of Archer's noble phantasm, him being able to access some shit that stored all his weapon's and he merely had the capability to summon them. And that Shirou uses the same weapon doesn't mean shit. Shirou had been copying weapons he had seen before, like him creating Sabers weapon. He doing so doesn't mean that Saber is Shirou. Mere coincidence.

And going back to Servants having the capability of fighting in different Wars might've explained why Archer has so much knowledge on Shirou's ability. He could've participated in a previous War where there was a Master that used the same type of ability that Shirou is using.

So, to respond to your post, no it's not obvious. Looking back it might seem that way because you know the truth, but without previous knowledge of him being Shirou, there's is no real "obvious" way to say that Archer was Shirou.

[Board of Command]

Without knowledge of Archer being Shirou, Archer using a variety of weapons doesn't mean that he's creating them. At the time, it seemed like it was simply part of Archer's noble phantasm, him being able to access some shit that stored all his weapon's and he merely had the capability to summon them. And that Shirou uses the same weapon doesn't mean shit. Shirou had been copying weapons he had seen before, like him creating Sabers weapon. He doing so doesn't mean that Saber is Shirou. Mere coincidence.

I always thought Shirou copied Archer's weapons because he thought they were powerful, not because he is Archer. He only started imaging those two swords after watching Archer fight using them.

If he had created those two blades by himself before Archer fought Berserker, then that would be considered obvious.

[Divinity]

I always thought Shirou copied Archer's weapons because he thought they were powerful, not because he is Archer. He only started imaging those two swords after watching Archer fight using them.

If he had created those two blades by himself before Archer fought Berserker, then that would be considered obvious.

See that's what i figured too... That he has seen Archer's swords that's why he could image them...

As for the advice that Archer keeps giving Shirou... I figured as well that Archer is just familiar with Shirou's magic and he felt he should help him even though he doesn't want to, but because Rin wanted to.

And again... I'm not convinced Archer is Shirou from just watching the anime... There is no proof... These minor hints here and there aren't enough.

Maybe I'm just slow? But I don't know... It's not very convincing... I guess I'll have to play the game...

[Aeon]

If you guys look at ep 15, the bow that Shirou images is the same bow that Archer used when he said my favorite quote from the show*I am the bone of my sword*. But yea I wouldn't have figured it out without the hints that Archer identity was given and I picked up on the necklace after rewatching the show earlier in the series.

[jing]

I checked, it's not.

[Aeon]

The one that Archer images looks like a bigger version of the one that Shirou images.

[jing]

The handle is also different if you observe carefuly.

I do agree that Archer = Shirou though, because there would be no point at all to hide archer's real name.