As a big anime fan, I figured Fate would be a simple new franchise to get into Until I asked myself, “So where do I begin?”. The fandom has been debating this for years, and fans will know the depth of emotions evoked. Youtuber Gigguk even made a video mocking the irrationality of the Fate series’ complexity and the fandom’s difficulty to agree on where to start watching. Fate is a franchise that spans more than 50 properties, including anime series, films, and video games, for those who are unfamiliar. It all began in 2004 with the release of TYPE-adult MOON’s visual novel Fate/stay night.
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Without going into too much detail, the majority of the series revolves around various Holy Grail Wars set in various eras and universes. The Holy Grail is a magical artifact that can grant anyone’s wishes if they obtain it after winning the War. The Holy Grail selects a group of Masters for each Holy Grail War, and each is given a Servant to summon. The series’ servants are known as Heroic Spirits and are divided into seven classes: Saber, Lancer, Rider, Caster, Assassin, Berserker, and Archer.
Quick Links
- 1 About Fate Anime Series
- 2 What are the facts about Fate Series?
- 3 Fate Series in Order
- 3.1 Fate/Zero (2011)
- 3.2 Fate/Stay Night (2006)
- 3.3 Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works (2010)
- 3.4 Fate/Stay Night: Heaven’s Feel (2017)
- 3.5 Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA ILLYA (2013)
- 3.6 Fate/Grand Order (Anime Movie) (2020)
- 3.7 Fate Apocrypha (2017)
- 3.8 Fate/Extra Last Encore (2018)
- 3.9 Fate/Grand Order: Zettai Majuu Sensen Babylonia (2019)
- 4 Fate Series Filler List
- 5 Conclusion
About Fate Anime Series
Fate/Stay Night is an eroge visual novel that was released in 2004 by Type-Moon. Fate is now a franchise that includes manga, video games, and anime. The plot centers around Shirou Emiya, a dedicated and honest teenager who reluctantly enters the Fifth Holy Grail War, a life-or-death game in which contestants battle magic and Heroes from history for the chance to have their desires fulfilled by the famous Holy Grail. Newbies can get confused about the watch order of the Fate series due to its complicated order. That’s why we created this guide to help readers and ourselves understand the Fate anime universe. So, let’s have a look?
What are the facts about Fate Series?
- Was Originally a visual novel – While hardcore Fate fans are well aware of this fact, some newer fans may be surprised that Fate began as a visual novel. The visual novel comes two years before the anime, which premiered in 2006.
- Original protagonist was female – The visual novel Fate didn’t start with a male protagonist with a female romantic lead. The original protagonist was a girl wearing a spectacle named Manaka who was nervous and got herself caught up in a Grail War.
- Rin was designed as a villain – Rin was also inspired by a character in that version of the novel. Misaya Reiroukan, one of the villains, was Rin’s counterpart. In the anime version of the Grail War, Misaya Reiroukan, the master of Lancer, shares Rin’s backstory. Following the betrayal of her father during the previous Grail War, she became heartless, and harsh, and did a variety of crazy deeds, such as murder. Later, in Fate/Stay Night, she was reimagined as Rin, the heroine.
- Fate/ Grand Order has earned more than 4 Billion dollars – One of the most successful games is Fate/Grand Order. Although the fact that the videogame is currently free, many special gems allow many special gems that allow players to summon potential Servants, and even those gems have been essential to the game’s financial success. Japan alone contributed about 3.3 billion dollars.
Fate Series in Order
Fate/Zero (2011)
The anime follows the Fourth Holy Grail War, a hidden mystic contest hosted in Fuyuki City, Japan, servants, rebirths of legendary souls, and heroes from all time, are summoned by seven magicians known as Masters to combat a fatal fight for the Holy Grail, a magical iconic chalice cast in gold. ten years before the start of Fate/stay the night. It includes the developing stage of Fate/stay night main character, and also their parents and family, as well as main characters. Kiritsugu Emiya, the main character in Fate/Zero, and Shirou Emiya’s foster father in Fate/Stay Night is a brutal mage killer who joins the contest in the best interests of his wife’s family, the Einzberns. This is the ten-year-old Fourth Holy Grail War, that is only described in Fate/stay night. Shirou’s foster father, Rin’s father, and the young Kirei Kotomine’s true identities are disclosed.
Fate/Stay Night (2006)
The battle for custody of the Holy Grail is stirring up among masters and slaves. Evey master can summon one servant whose task is to eliminate another servant by combating or killing their master. When only one master or servant continues to remain, the Holy Grail is given to him or her, giving them any wish they desire.
Shirou Emiya is a diligent and admirable teenager who voluntarily joins the Fifth Holy Grail War, a survival contest in which participants battle magic and iconic warriors for the possibility to have their wishes fulfilled.
Shirou was rescued as an orphan child and was the survivor of a deadly fire in Fuyuki City. Kiritsugu Emiya, a retired magician who die years later, raised him. His responsibility to the dead, and also his salvation through his father, instilled in him a strong desire for justice and peace.
At his school one evening, two strong brawls with swords and spears, and he is beaten up, as witness statements to the Holy Grail War are generally killed. Shirou is on the brink of being killed when Saber saves him. The saber was created to aid combatants in the War as an ultimate symbol of a best-known historical figure.
Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works (2010)
On the tenth anniversary of Fuyuki City’s great fire, Rin Tohsaka accomplishes the magic ritual and summons Archer. Archer confronts Lancer instantly, but Shirou Emiya witnesses the fight and runs away, only to be captured and killed by Lancer. Rin resurrects Shirou with her necklace, but he is hit by Lancer, who summons Saber, who hunts Lancer away. At a chapel, Kirei Kotomine tells Shirou about Holy Grail War, and Shirou decides to fight. Illyasviel von Einzbern as well as Berserker stop Shirou from advancing Rin about joining up.
Archer completes the fight with a huge blast. Shirou surrenders to his wounds just like Illya withdraws. That night, Shirou sleepwalked to Ryuudou Temple, at which Caster attempts to obtain his command spells. Saber pursues Assassin but is captured, whereas Shirou is saved by Archer, who fights and overcomes Caster, saving her life. Shirou disagrees a disagreement with Archer, who counsels him to accept the fact that he would not be able to save others. Rin and Archer quickly interrogate Caster as well as her master Souichirou Kuzuki after Kotomine is murdered and the church is taken over, but Archer did turn against Rin. Shirou moves in before Archer could ask Caster for support. Outclassed, the two turn to Illya for support.
Fate/Stay Night: Heaven’s Feel (2017)
Shirou Emiya is an adolescent wizard studying at Homurahara Academy in Fuyuki City. After cleaning his school’s Archery Dojo, he witnesses a battle between godlike beings and becomes involved in this Holy Grail War, a ritual in which the magicians known as Masters compete with their Servants for the Holy Grail. Shirou takes a stand to protect an evil force from acquiring the Jewel and also to protect the innocent, but things go bad when a strange “Shadow” begins randomly murdering people in Fuyuki.
Shirou is focused on winning the Holy Grail Conflict to save the world and become a hero of righteousness, while also protecting Sakura Matou from battle and her brother, Shinji Matou, with help of his Servant, Saber, and school friend Rin Tohsaka. Strange things started happening during the battle, and Sakura gets sick with an unidentified illness.
Shirou risks his life and mind to save Sakura by halting the tainted Holy Grail, forcing him to confront his now-corrupted Servant Saber. Shirou and Rin team up with the wandering priest Kirei Kotomine, fellow competitor Illyasviel von Einzbern, and Sakura’s dispossessed Servant Rider in a hurry and save Sakura from insanity and put a stop to the Holy Grail War once and for, even before corrupted Grail ends the world.
Fate/kaleid liner PRISMA ILLYA (2013)
Illyasviel von Einzbern is average Japanese adolescent. Her family is always away, and she resides with her hardworking elder brother Shirou Emiya and her two maids. She has mythic fantasies of using tricks to make her fantasies of love with Shirou come true. Zelretch the Wizard Marshall, Master of Parallel Worlds, dispatched two Magi to Japan, Rin Tohsaka and Luviagelita Edelfelt, to gather the strange Class Cards and clean up their mess.
Illya and Miyu assembled all the Cards and then became friends after a major fight, while Rin and Luvia remained in Japan on Zelretch’s orders. Kuro, a black female who bears an uncanny resemblance to Illya, obscures their lives by trying to kill him. Irisviel, Illya’s mother, halts their fight by explaining that Kuro was destined to become the Holy Grail in Holy Grail War, but then was locked up only when war was avoided to allow Illya to live normally.
A truce is declared when Rin reveals the presence of an eighth Class Card. Gilgamesh, the seventh Class Card, uncovers that Miyu is from a parallel universe in which she was raised as a Holy Grail before even being absorbed, and the gang faces him. Illya transforms into Kaleido Liner Zwei by combining the Kaleidosticks Ruby and Sapphire, giving her the ability to fight Gilgamesh and save Miyu.
Fate/Grand Order (Anime Movie) (2020)
2015 is the final age of magic. Caldea is an organization tasked with keeping an eye on both the magical and scientific worlds, as well as preventing humanity’s eradication. At least another century is promised to humanity, or until Caldea’s future kingdom fades away into nothingness. According to events in the Japanese city of Fuyuki in 2004, Caldea is now certain that humanity will perish after 2017.
The organization issues a Grand Order for a “Holy Grail Expedition,” intending to find and possibly destroy the goal of finding and possibly destroying the singularity that is responsible for humanity’s extinction. To save humanity, the gang now travels to alternate timelines known as “Lostbelts,” which are different forms of human existence that was “pruned away” from the previous cycle after already being considered a total failure.
A Crypter, early human masters, and their slaves represent each of the seven Lostbelts, all of whom are vying with the Chaldean survivors for the ultimate fate of human history. Ritsuka Fujimaru has to make some tough decisions and hardships that will decide whether or not they become a savior or a destroyer.
Fate Apocrypha (2017)
Fate/Apocrypha takes place in a universe separate from Fate/stay night. During Third Holy Grail War, Darnic Yggdmillennia catches the Greater Grail and transports it to Romania. The Black and Red factions are Yggdmillennia’s and the Mage’s Association’s respective squads. Jeanne d’Arc, a French student, is recognized as the conflict mediating Ruler-class.
After seeing visions of Shirou, Jeanne tries to contact the Red faction, but they move to Yggdmillennia’s realm in Trifas via Semiramis’ Hanging Gardens of Babylon. After a trial in their realm, Spartacus is caught by Yggdmillennia. During the war between both the Black and Red factions, the Greater Grail is brought into the Hanging Gardens.
In the war against Mordred, Spartacus and Frankenstein’s monster die. After gaining knowledge that he can temporarily transform into Siegfried, Sieg defends Astolfo from Mordred. Mordred beheads Astolfo’s master Celenike Icecolle Yggdmillennia, and Sieg becomes Astolfo’s new master.
Fate/Extra Last Encore (2018)
The 50-year-old robbery of the Holy Grail sparks a conflict between the Mages Affiliation and the rebel Ygdillemna Family in an alternative world. The stimulation of the Greater Grail summons 15 Servants for an epic fight in the latest Holy Grail War. Tsukimihara Academy is a high school that will serve as the setting for the Holy Grail War.
The Moon Cell computer designed the school, which is inhabited by earthly souls with even the smallest possibility of becoming a “Master.” A total of 188 people will be chosen for the actual tournament and assigned a Servant. The Academy begins a purge after choosing all the Masters, eliminating all remaining lifeforms.
After waking up in a lake of his blood, Hakuno Kishinami keeps going. He makes the decision to fight for his life, fueled by a mysterious hatred. When Hakuno uncovers a crimson blade buried underground while trying to elude a persistent pursuer, he invites his Servant, Saber, who kills his opponent in a shower of rose petals. With his recently bought abilities, Hakuno continues his journey to Moon Cell’s center, the Angelica Cage. He learns the beginnings of this fake universe as well as the dark secrets of his blood-soaked past there.
Fate/Grand Order: Zettai Majuu Sensen Babylonia (2019)
After winning the Camelot Singularity, Ritsuka Fujimaru as well as Mash Kyrielight are sent to the last Singularity. In Mesopotamia, B.C. 2655, they move ahead in an attempt to ensure humanity’s survival. The Mage King Solomon has burned down to mankind’s foundations.
Chaldea, a hidden mystical institution dedicated to protecting the future of humanity, predicted humanity’s demise in 2015. The procedure to rebuild the Singularities in the historical past formed by Holy Grails spread all through time and space began with Effort Grand Order. Uruk, a stronghold city that provides the forefront in the battle against monsters, is humankind’s last stand despite turmoil and despair. King Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, is at the vanguard of the battle, having sought the help of Heroic Spirits as well as taking the position of a magician to protect his city.
Fate Series Filler List
Fate/Apocrypha Filler List
# | Title | Type | Airdate |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Apocrypha: The Great Holy Grail War | MANGA CANON | 07/02/2017 |
2 | The Saint Departs | MANGA CANON | 07/09/2017 |
3 | The First Steps of Fate | MANGA CANON | 07/16/2017 |
4 | Life's Cost, Death's Redemption | MANGA CANON | 07/23/2017 |
5 | Voice From Above | MANGA CANON | 07/30/2017 |
6 | The Knight of Rebellion | MANGA CANON | 08/06/2017 |
7 | Where Freedom Lies | MANGA CANON | 08/14/2017 |
8 | The War Begins | MANGA CANON | 08/20/2017 |
9 | A Hundred Flames, A Hundred Flowers | MANGA CANON | 08/27/2017 |
10 | Like Scattered Petals | MANGA CANON | 09/03/2017 |
11 | Eternal Radiance | MANGA CANON | 09/10/2017 |
12 | The Saint's Triumphant Return | MANGA CANON | 09/17/2017 |
13 | The Last Master | MANGA CANON | 10/01/2017 |
14 | Prayer of Salvation | MANGA CANON | 10/08/2017 |
15 | Though Our Paths Diverge | MANGA CANON | 10/15/2017 |
16 | Jack the Ripper | MANGA CANON | 10/22/2017 |
17 | Träumerei | MANGA CANON | 10/29/2017 |
18 | From Hell | MANGA CANON | 11/05/2017 |
19 | The Last First Light | MANGA CANON | 11/11/2017 |
20 | Dashing in the Sky | MANGA CANON | 11/25/2017 |
21 | Scorpio Shot | MANGA CANON | 12/02/2017 |
22 | Reunion and Separation | MANGA CANON | 12/09/2017 |
23 | Far Beyond | MANGA CANON | 12/16/2017 |
24 | The Holy Grail War | MANGA CANON | 12/23/2017 |
25 | Apocrypha | MANGA CANON | 12/30/2017 |
Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya Filler List
# | Title | Type | Airdate |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Birth! A Magical Girl! | MANGA CANON | 07/13/2013 |
2 | Who? | MANGA CANON | 07/20/2013 |
3 | Girl Meets Girl | MANGA CANON | 07/27/2013 |
4 | We Lost | MANGA CANON | 08/03/2013 |
5 | There are two options? | MANGA CANON | 08/10/2013 |
6 | A Blank, and the End of Night... | MANGA CANON | 08/17/2013 |
7 | Triumph and Escape | MANGA CANON | 08/24/2013 |
8 | The Normal Girl has Returned | MIXED CANON/FILLER | 08/31/2013 |
9 | End it Here | MANGA CANON | 09/07/2013 |
10 | Kaleidoscope | MANGA CANON | 09/14/2013 |
11 | Illya Grow Up!? | MANGA CANON | 07/10/2014 |
12 | Illya x Illya | MANGA CANON | 07/17/2014 |
13 | Normal Life Breaker | MANGA CANON | 07/24/2014 |
14 | Wild Transfer Student | MANGA CANON | 07/31/2014 |
15 | Well, In Other Words | MANGA CANON | 08/07/2014 |
16 | On the Other Side of Lies and Façade | MANGA CANON | 08/14/2014 |
17 | Clash! Cooking Sisters | MANGA CANON | 08/21/2014 |
18 | Her Name Is | MANGA CANON | 08/28/2014 |
19 | Lone Battle | MANGA CANON | 09/04/2014 |
20 | The Things Those Hands Protected | MANGA CANON | 09/11/2014 |
21 | It's Like Looking in a Mirror, and I Don't Like It | MIXED CANON/FILLER | 07/25/2015 |
22 | Tricolore Birthday | MANGA CANON | 08/01/2015 |
23 | Girls, Life is Short, So Rot Away | FILLER | 08/08/2015 |
24 | Theme Park Panic! | FILLER | 08/15/2015 |
25 | Yukatas and Fireworks | FILLER | 08/22/2015 |
26 | Blue glass moon | MANGA CANON | 08/29/2015 |
27 | Enforcer | MANGA CANON | 09/05/2015 |
28 | Observer | MANGA CANON | 09/12/2015 |
29 | Golden Boy | MANGA CANON | 09/19/2015 |
30 | Calling Your Name From a Corner of the World | MIXED CANON/FILLER | 09/26/2015 |
31 | City Fading to Silver | MANGA CANON | 07/06/2016 |
32 | Encounters and Reunions | MANGA CANON | 07/13/2016 |
33 | Your True Enemy | MANGA CANON | 07/20/2016 |
34 | For My Weak Little Sister | MANGA CANON | 07/27/2016 |
35 | The Little Lady Attacks | MANGA CANON | 08/03/2016 |
36 | Chilling Hostility | MANGA CANON | 08/10/2016 |
37 | Dolls and Stuffed Animals | MANGA CANON | 08/17/2016 |
38 | People and Tools | MANGA CANON | 08/24/2016 |
39 | Illya's Choice | MANGA CANON | 08/31/2016 |
40 | To The Princess's Side | MANGA CANON | 09/07/2016 |
41 | You Are Not Alone | MANGA CANON | 09/14/2016 |
42 | Woven Miracles | MANGA CANON | 09/21/2016 |
43 | Oath Under Snow | MANGA CANON | 08/26/2017 |
Fate/Stay Night Filler List
# | Title | Type | Airdate |
---|---|---|---|
1 | The First Day | MANGA CANON | 01/07/2006 |
2 | Fateful Night | MANGA CANON | 01/14/2006 |
3 | Opening | MANGA CANON | 01/21/2006 |
4 | The Strongest Enemy | MANGA CANON | 01/28/2006 |
5 | Two Magi (Part 1) | MANGA CANON | 02/04/2006 |
6 | Two Magi (Part 2) | FILLER | 02/11/2006 |
7 | Despicable Act | MANGA CANON | 02/18/2006 |
8 | Discordant Melody | MANGA CANON | 02/25/2006 |
9 | Moonlit Elegance | MANGA CANON | 03/04/2006 |
10 | A Peaceful Interlude | MANGA CANON | 03/11/2006 |
11 | Fresh Blood Temple (Blood Fort Andromeda) | MANGA CANON | 03/18/2006 |
12 | Tearing The Sky | MANGA CANON | 03/25/2006 |
13 | Winter Castle | MANGA CANON | 04/01/2006 |
14 | End of The Ideal | MANGA CANON | 04/08/2006 |
15 | The Twelve Trials | MANGA CANON | 04/15/2006 |
16 | The Sword of Promised Victory | MANGA CANON | 04/22/2006 |
17 | Branded As A Witch | FILLER | 04/29/2006 |
18 | Decisive Battle | FILLER | 05/06/2006 |
19 | The Golden King | MANGA CANON | 05/13/2006 |
20 | Distant Trace of a Dream | MANGA CANON | 05/20/2006 |
21 | The Star of Creation That Divided Heaven and Earth | MANGA CANON | 05/27/2006 |
22 | At The End of Wishes | MANGA CANON | 06/03/2006 |
23 | Holy Grail | MANGA CANON | 06/10/2006 |
24 | All Too Distant Utopia | MANGA CANON | 06/17/2006 |
Fate/Stay Night [Unlimited Blade Works] Filler List
# | Title | Type | Airdate |
---|---|---|---|
0 | Prologue | MANGA CANON | 10/04/2014 |
1 | Winter Day, Fateful Night | MANGA CANON | 10/11/2014 |
2 | When the Curtain Goes Up | MANGA CANON | 10/18/2014 |
3 | The First Battle | MANGA CANON | 10/25/2014 |
4 | Finding the Will to Fight | MANGA CANON | 11/01/2014 |
5 | Dancing After School | MANGA CANON | 11/08/2014 |
6 | Mirage | MANGA CANON | 11/15/2014 |
7 | Reward for the Desperate Struggle | MANGA CANON | 11/22/2014 |
8 | Winter Days, Whereabouts of Mind | MANGA CANON | 11/29/2014 |
9 | The Distance Between Them | MANGA CANON | 12/06/2014 |
10 | The Fifth Contractor | MANGA CANON | 12/13/2014 |
11 | A Visitor Approaches Lightly | MANGA CANON | 12/20/2014 |
12 | The Final Choice | MANGA CANON | 12/27/2014 |
13 | Time of Departure | MANGA CANON | 04/04/2015 |
14 | Princess of Colchis | MANGA CANON | 04/11/2015 |
15 | A Legendary Showdown | MANGA CANON | 04/18/2015 |
16 | Winter Days, the Form Wishes Take | MANGA CANON | 04/25/2015 |
17 | The Dark Sword Bares Its Fangs | MANGA CANON | 05/02/2015 |
18 | A Destiny Forged in the Beginning | MANGA CANON | 05/09/2015 |
19 | Idealism's End | MANGA CANON | 05/16/2015 |
20 | Unlimited Blade Works | MANGA CANON | 05/23/2015 |
21 | Answer | MANGA CANON | 05/30/2015 |
22 | Winter Days, Faraway Home | MANGA CANON | 06/06/2015 |
23 | Incarnation | MANGA CANON | 06/13/2015 |
24 | Infinite Creation of Swords | MANGA CANON | 06/20/2015 |
25 | Epilogue | MANGA CANON | 06/27/2015 |
Fate/Zero Filler List
# | Title | Type | Airdate |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Summoning Ancient Heroes | MANGA CANON | 10/01/2011 |
2 | False Start | MANGA CANON | 10/08/2011 |
3 | Land of Fuyuki | MANGA CANON | 10/15/2011 |
4 | Blade of the Demonic Spear | MANGA CANON | 10/22/2011 |
5 | The Vicious Beast Roars | MANGA CANON | 10/29/2011 |
6 | Night of Schemes | MANGA CANON | 11/05/2011 |
7 | The Evil Forest | MANGA CANON | 11/12/2011 |
8 | The Magus Killer | MANGA CANON | 11/19/2011 |
9 | Master and Servant | MANGA CANON | 11/26/2011 |
10 | Rin's Adventure | MIXED CANON/FILLER | 12/03/2011 |
11 | The Grail Dialogue | MANGA CANON | 12/10/2011 |
12 | The Grail's Invitation | MANGA CANON | 12/17/2011 |
13 | Forbidden Banquet | MANGA CANON | 12/24/2011 |
14 | The Bloody Battle of Mion River | MANGA CANON | 04/07/2012 |
15 | Golden Radiance | MANGA CANON | 04/14/2012 |
16 | The Terminus of Honor | MANGA CANON | 04/21/2012 |
17 | The Eighth Contract | MANGA CANON | 04/28/2012 |
18 | Distant Memories | MIXED CANON/FILLER | 05/05/2012 |
19 | Where Justice is Found | MIXED CANON/FILLER | 05/12/2012 |
20 | Return of the Assassin | MANGA CANON | 05/19/2012 |
21 | Knight on Two Wheels | MANGA CANON | 05/26/2012 |
22 | All the World's Evils | MANGA CANON | 06/02/2012 |
23 | The Sea at the End of the World | MANGA CANON | 06/09/2012 |
24 | The Last Command Spell | MANGA CANON | 06/16/2012 |
25 | Fate/Zero | MANGA CANON | 06/23/2012 |
Conclusion
The widely popular Fate series spans a wide range of mediums, with the various anime adaptations serving as some of its most well-known works. Given the list form, anyone would be tempted to watch them in that order. However, newbies who are severe about sliding down this rabbit hole should carefully follow the release order. If you’re unfamiliar with the Fate universe, it can be difficult to keep track of all the titles that depict different paths and alternate universes. It is recommended to keep it simple – that is, simply watching it in order of release – is a great way to go.