What order to watch the Fate anime series (2023)

Fate is an anime series that has been going strong since 2006, with numerous different versions for you to try and get into. With so many, in fact, the Fate anime watch order is quite complex.

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As such, it may be problematic coming in as a newbie with no idea where to begin or what order to watch Fate in - it can be quite difficult trying to get your head around it all. This is quite a common occurrence in anime, with the Dragon Ball watch order and Naruto watch order being similarly tricky.

Well, we have a guide for you to follow, so what are you waiting for?

How to watch Fate anime series in order

What order to watch the Fate anime series (2)

If you want to watch the Fate anime series in order, you need to follow this list:

  • Fate/Stay Night (2006)
  • Fate/Zero (2011-2012)
  • Fate/Stay Night : Unlimited Blade Works (2010. 2014-2015)
  • Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel (2017-2020)

Fate/Stay Night

While Fate/Zero takes place before Fate/Stay Night, it does spoil some of the plot points of the show, and so should be watched after the original run. Fate/Zero was the original anime series, coming some five years before Fate/Zero and kicking off the visual novel's adaptation.

Fate/Stay Night was released in 2006, and spans a 24-episode run, based on the first storyline of Type-Moon's visual novel of the same name.

It is a solid story with engaging visuals that lays out details about the Holy Grail War, starting with the fifth instalment- even if it does not quite reach the heights of the Fate/Zero anime.

Fate/Zero

There are advantages to starting out with Fate/Zero and its introduction to the all-important fourth Holy Grail War, but the prequel is best watched after the original Fate/Stay Night.

Set 10 years before the first series, it is among the more popular Fate anime storylines among viewers, despite not being part of the original visual novel.

Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works

You have a choice here. Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works is both a series and a movie, both telling the same story in very different timeframes. The series is the superior choice here without question and if you want to take in as much of the Fate world as possible then go for this.

As the film runs for just 105 minutes, it covers a smaller amount of the content in the original visual novel, which does instead feature in the Unlimited Blade Works series that ran for two seasons.

If you do just want the story basics and don't mind how rushed it feels, however, you can get it done in two hours with the film.

Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel (I - III)

Three movies close this list off as the film route was chosen as opposed to adapting this into another Fate/Stay Night series. These were released between 2017 and 2020, adapting the Heaven's Feel finale of the original visual novel.

It is made up of three films:

  • Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel I: Presage Flower
  • Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel II: Lost Butterfly
  • Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel III: Spring Song

You can catch Fate on Crunchyroll. Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide or Streaming Guide to find out what else is on.

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FAQs

What order to watch the Fate anime series? ›

Yes, you can watch Grand Order without watching any other fate series. Grand Order doesn't follow after Fate/Zero.

Can I skip Fate Zero? ›

Yes, you can watch Grand Order without watching any other fate series. Grand Order doesn't follow after Fate/Zero.

Are all fate series connected? ›

Fate/zero, Fate stay night, Fate stay night Unlimited Blade Works and Fate stay Heaven's feel are connected. The rest are spinoff except Fate apocrypha which is in a separate timeline.

How many Fate animes are there? ›

How many Fate anime series are there? As of January 2020, there have been seven Fate anime series released. The titles are listed below, along with the years they were originally released.

How does the fate series start? ›

It all started with the adult visual novel Fate/stay night, which was released in 2004 by the company TYPE-MOON. At the heart of the series is a “main” storyline that follows this visual novel, while the majority of the entries in the series either extend and expand on this storyline or are set in alternate universes.

Does fate zero start slow? ›

1 Fate/Zero

The first episode of Fate/Zero is a massive exposition dump that can turn people off from the entire experience. A single episode might not equate to a slow start, but it's the meandering pace of Fate/Zero in this episode that makes it somewhat of a chore to get through.

Does fate zero spoil Fate? ›

Basically, the Fate route purpose is to be the basis of the next 2 routes. Zero however spoils everything and therefore ruins the whole mystery of the FSN story.

Does it matter if you watch Fate in order? ›

There's no specific watch order, there's stuff that happens in Fate/Zero that is brought up in Fate/Stay Night, but it's done in a way where it doesn't matter if you watched Fate/Zero yet. You can watch Fate/Zero first and then the Fate/Stay Night routes, and when those reference moments come up you'll understand them.

What is the main Fate series? ›

Fate series is a TYPE-MOON media collective that follows various events called Holy Grail Wars that involve Masters, generally accomplished magi, summoning Servants, Heroic Spirits, and battling each other until the last remaining pair can claim the purported Holy Grail.

Is it better to watch Fate series in order? ›

There is no definite order for Fate series since the Visual Novel and the anime are not directly connected. So, this is just based on my experiences and I prefer your own choice and experience to watch the series.

Is Fate anime connected? ›

Though they do not all directly relate to one another, the various Fate entries share settings, characters, and sometimes timelines as well. Other Type-Moon works such as Tsukihime, The Garden of Sinners, Fate/ Grand Order, and more also exist within this universe, though don't necessarily directly relate to the other.

What are the 3 routes of Fate? ›

The visual novel consists of three alternative story routes called "Fate," "Unlimited Blade Works," and "Heaven's Feel," with the narrative intent being to play each route in the given order.

When should I watch Fate first order? ›

You should read the FSN VN, then watch anything you want in any order. If you dont want to read anything, then Grand order has minor heaven's feel spoilers so you might want to wait until those movies come out, but you can watch it now if you really want.

Is Fate Zero the first Fate? ›

Fate/Zero is the third anime production in the Fate series, following the 24-episode 2006 adaptation and the 2010 Unlimited Blade Works film.

Which Fate is canon? ›

The visual novels Fate/Stay Night and its routes (Fate, Unlimited Blade Works and Heavens Feel) are canon along with the sequel Fate/Hollow Ataraxia. Tsukihime and it's sequel Kagetsu Tohya, Mahoutsukai no Yoru and Garden of Sinners are all canon.

Why is Fate Zero so good? ›

Fate/Zero is a show that I found absolutely no problems in. The Story is fantastic and engaging, while the characters are complex and enjoyable to watch. Animation and colors pop and make everything look visually stunning through a nice blend of hand drawn animation and CGI.

How long does it take to finish all of Fate? ›

When focusing on the main objectives, Fate/stay night is about 61½ Hours in length. If you're a gamer that strives to see all aspects of the game, you are likely to spend around 102 Hours to obtain 100% completion.

Does Fate Zero end? ›

The conclusion of Fate/Zero ends up impacting a significant portion of Fate/Stay Night and its characters. First off is the rebirth of Gilgamesh, allowing him to exist after the Holy Grail War has been completed. This is what allows him to make an appearance 10 years later in Fate/Stay Night.

Should I start with Fate Zero or Fate Stay Night? ›

Definitely Fate/Zero. Even though it acts as a prequel, it's very hard to follow /Stay Night if you don't know what happened in /Zero. (Hell, even with that it can be tough.)

What is fate zero real name? ›

Fate/Zero Assassin's True Name is Hassan-i-Sabbah, one of the nineteen people to hold the legendary Persian title of "Old Man of the Mountain". He took advantage of his affliction of Multiple Personality Disorder and acted as an assassin without a true identity, making it his Noble Phantasm.

Why is Fate Zero Rated R? ›

Parents need to know that Fate/Apocrypha is an adult-oriented anime series that features gory battle scenes, physical relationships and sexual fetishes, and other mature content.

Who is the MC of Fate series? ›

Shirou Emiya (Japanese: 衛宮 士郎, Hepburn: Emiya Shirō), also written as "Shiro Emiya" in Fate/unlimited codes, is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the 2004 visual novel Fate/stay night, published by Type-Moon.

How many episodes is the Fate series? ›

Fate/stay night
Episodes24
Manga
Written byDatto Nishiwaki
Published byKadokawa Shoten
Himuro no Tenchi Fate/school Life
59 more rows

Is Fate Grand order first order worth watching? ›

Overall, viewers will find more enjoyment out of this movie if they have already watched the other cannon adaptations of the fate series that focused on the Holy Grail War. For those watching this for the first time, you will enjoy it more if you go in with really low expectations.

What fate series is Gilgamesh in? ›

Gilgamesh is one of the antagonists in each scenario of Fate/stay night. He first appears before the start of the Fifth Holy Grail War around Sakura's house.

Is fate grand order part of the fate series? ›

Part of Type-Moon's Fate franchise, it is an adaptation of the "Babylonia" chapter from Delightworks / Aniplex's role-playing mobile game Fate/Grand Order.

Is it worth it to watch Fate Zero? ›

This stark change in tone makes Fate/Zero a worthwhile watch in the entire series. An argument can be made that Fate/Zero should be watched before Fate/stay night; however, the latter's visual novel is meant to be read prior to the former's.

Is Fate series hard to understand? ›

It can definitely be very confusing on where to start or how you should follow the franchise. Just keep in mind that Fate has multiple routes/universes so just an example Fate/Stay Night is completely different from Fate/Extra. And to make it more confusing they decided to make multiple Saberfaces .

Is fate grand order popular? ›

If you didn't already know, Fate/Grand Order is one of the most popular mobile games both inside (and outside of) Japan – a long-running role-playing game with an intricate turn-based battle system, a compelling story, and a wide cast of quirky characters based on history's most prominent warriors.

Is Fate Grand Order First Order a prequel? ›

Fate Grand Order: First Order is a prequel to the events of the anime television series, Fate Grand Order - Absolute Demonic Battlefront: Babylonia. Fate Grand Order: First Order is told as a 74-minute long movie. It first aired in Japan on December 31, 2016.

Can I skip fate Apocrypha? ›

No, keep watching whatever fate anime you're currently watching.

Is Fate anime a harem? ›

The Person and idea of Shirou Emiya is a harem without the show being one. So in conclusion Fate is an overly complex and confusing Harem.

Why is the anime called Fate? ›

There is speculation on what meaning there is behind the name, i.e. "Fate" may refer to the fate of the servants like Saber accepting her fate in her life or the Fate of the magi that battle each other in the war.

Who is the strongest Fate character? ›

1 Gilgamesh

He is considered the strongest Heroic Spirit, and the main source of his power is his Noble Phantasm, Gate of Babylon. It allows him to access all of the treasures he has gathered from across the world, including mythical weapons that eventually get used by other Heroes.

Who is the most popular character in Fate series? ›

1 Saber Is Synonymous With The Franchise (29,185)

Without a doubt, Saber is the most favorite character from the series as well as the games. In fact, her name and face have become synonymous with the franchise.

Which Fate comes first? ›

If you want to follow the “proper” order, you should watch first Fate/Zero, then Fate/Stay Night UBW from ufotable (not the movie version) and finally the movie Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel.

What is the newest fate series? ›

Type-Moon and Nasuverse fans get hype, a brand new entry in Fate, the legendary franchise that started with Fate/stay night, has been announced with a first character key visual reveal. The official Twitter account of Comptiq announced on April 5, 2022, a brand new series in the Fate franchise.

Which anime is Saber route? ›

Fate is one of the routes in Fate/stay night. The main heroine and love interest of this route is Saber. She also serves as the servant protagonist of the route as well.

Has the fate series ended? ›

There will always be new Fate anime series. Fate/Zero finished it's story so there will be no more. It however has the Einzbern's Consultation room, but that has completed too. Same with Unlimited Blade Works, that story has reached it's completion so no more of that.

Should I play fate grand order before watching the anime? ›

The only movie out right now for fate grand order is the prologue. It is pretty much a 1 to 1 storywise of what happens ingame. So whichever you watch first will spoil the other. So either you experience the story first through movie form or virtual novel form (with game mechanics).

Is Fate Apocrypha part of the fate series? ›

Fate/Apocrypha is a Japanese light novel series in Type-Moon's Fate franchise, written by Yūichirō Higashide and illustrated by Ototsugu Konoe. Type-Moon published five volumes from December 2012 to December 2014.

Why not start with Fate Zero? ›

The biggest reason is because Fate/Zero is a prequel. It not only spoils major plot points for FSN (including revealing who the main villain is, long before they reveal themselves), but you also lack the knowledge to full appreciate what is going on in FZ.

What are the 7 classes in fate zero? ›

Originally founded by the Einzbern, Tohsaka, and Matou families, the war involves seven Masters and seven Servants under seven classes: Saber, Lancer, Archer, Rider, Caster, Assassin and Berserker.

Is Fate Zero a different timeline? ›

Fate Zero is a alternate timeline prequel because the author of Zero (Completely different author from the FSN Visual Novel) has a different interpretations that's why it has many things that contradict with the Visual Novel.

Is Saber a boy or girl Fate? ›

Saber
GenderFemale
Height154cm
Weight42kg
Master
10 more rows

Who is Saber in love with Fate? ›

Saber is the love interest of Shirou Emiya in the first route of the visual novel Fate/stay night and the main love interest of the first anime adaptation. She is Shirou's Servant, an agile but powerful warrior.

Is Fate anime dark? ›

FSN can get very dark, but it always shows that there is beauty in this world. The worst offender in the "dark" camp is Fate/Zero (the prequel; you should probably avoid it, unless you come to like Fate), but even that has a moment of beauty. So it depends.

Is Fate Zero required to watch? ›

Anyways since Fate/Zero came out first, both UBW and the Heaven's Feels movies make references to moments in Fate/Zero, and you would miss those if you don't watch it first. However if you really want to avoid spoilers, then watch the Prologue+Unlimited Blade Works first, then Heaven's Feel, and finally Fate/Zero.

Do I need to watch Fate Zero first? ›

While Fate/Zero takes place before Fate/Stay Night, it does spoil some of the plot points of the show, and so should be watched after the original run.

Do I need to watch Fate Zero in order? ›

There's no specific watch order, there's stuff that happens in Fate/Zero that is brought up in Fate/Stay Night, but it's done in a way where it doesn't matter if you watched Fate/Zero yet. You can watch Fate/Zero first and then the Fate/Stay Night routes, and when those reference moments come up you'll understand them.

Which fate series should I skip? ›

Skip the original F/SN, then also skip UBW and just watch Prisma Illya. I don't like recommending skipping the route order, and the first anime is the first route, but I also wouldn't subject anyone to DEEN's VN adaptations, especially Fate. So don't bother.

Can I just watch Fate Zero? ›

Fate/Zero - watch online: streaming, buy or rent

Currently you are able to watch "Fate/Zero" streaming on Hulu, Crunchyroll, Funimation Now.

Is Fate Zero the same as Fate series? ›

The anime adaptation was approved for production by December 2010. It was produced by studio Ufotable and began airing in October 2011. Fate/Zero is the third anime production in the Fate series, following the 24-episode 2006 adaptation and the 2010 Unlimited Blade Works film.

Is Fate Zero connected? ›

1 Answer. Fate/Zero is the prequel to Fate/Stay Night, taking place 10 years before the latter. It originally consisted of 4 light novels written by Gen Urobuchi with the story set by Kinoko Nasu, who wrote the original visual novel.

Is Fate Zero and Fate Grand order same? ›

Grand Order is an alternate universe to FSN. They deal with history being altered to bring extinction to mankind. I would watch it later. If you can not play or watch a blind Let's Play of the original Visual Novel, then I would recommend watching Fate/Zero first.

How long is Fate anime? ›

A 24-episode anime series created by Studio Deen aired in Japan between January and June 2006.

Is the Fate series big? ›

The Fate series has become one of the largest and most popular multimedia franchises in Japan. Starting with the Fate/stay night visual novel released back in 2004, the franchise has grown tremendously in the near two decades since. There has been a boom in Fate related media.

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